Mid-week Thoughts

Romeo – A Class Act
This is how Romeo Crennel responded to his players defending him publicly and shouldering the blame for the Browns’ poor season:

“They’re incorrect. I’m the head coach and the buck stops at my desk. If we don’t win games, it’s on me.”

That tells you all you need to know about Crennel. He’s not only a good man but one who does not shirk responsibility – unlike many other coaches, general managers and player personnel types in big-time sports who spend a great deal of time and energy trying to re-write history on their way out the door of one job so they can quickly land another.

Not Crennel. He knows he’s on borrowed time, but continues to go about his business – preparing the 4-7 Browns for the next game. Good for him. He's a class act.

That’s not to say we feel sorry for Crennel – who is now a multi-millionaire, thanks to Randy Lerner, with plenty more cash headed his way down the road after last year’s ill-advised extension.

Crennel knows this business is all about being hired to be fired. But that doesn’t change the fact that a good man failed but he’s man enough to admit it.

I wish I could say the same for many of his peers who rarely admit mistakes, talk down to those who question them and give new meaning to the word “arrogance.”

LeBron
You know how I feel about this issue. He’s gone in two years and to think otherwise is wishful thinking. This guy wants to be the first billion dollar athlete and that’s hard to do when you are based in Cleveland. Regardless, that’s not where I’m going with this.

I want to be the first to give the Cavaliers measured and prudent advice as to how to handle this mess in 2009-10 before the %#@ hits the fan.

So here goes.

If you can’t sign him, deal him. That’s right boys and girls, I’m going back to basics when it comes to Free Agency 101 (see C.C. Sabathia).

But with the NBA, and specifically, with LeBron James, it gets really difficult to even consider doing the right thing long-term for your franchise.

James is the game’s best player – we’ve been beating that drum for three years now. He's capable of putting this team on his back and taking it to the Finals (i.e. 2006-07).

With the addition of Mo Williams, he finally has a legitimate borderline all-star to run with – making another long post-season run possible. So I am guessing there is no way the Cavaliers would deal this guy before he walks. It would be a PR nightmare beyond belief.

Regardless, that option has to be kept on the table if the Cavaliers can’t get James to sign an extension in the upcoming off-season. If he doesn’t put this name on the dotted line this summer, that will tell you all you need to know.

Yes, James will say all the right things about wanting to come back. Meanwhile, his people will likely be picking out the drapes to go with his new Manhattan sky-rise crib.

It’s July of 2009 and you’re the Cavs’ GM. Would you play it safe and play things out hoping he leads you to a title in 2009-10 before he bolts or would you begin to quietly solicit offers from teams?

As you know, I like to think long-term. Therefore, I would do the latter and see if there’s an owner out there with enough ego to rent James for one year while also thinking he can sign James to play in his city. NBA owners with big egos shouldn’t be hard to find.

What would you rather have two years from now – no LeBron James and money to spend or no LeBron James, money to spend and an outstanding young player or two to go with a pair of first round picks recently acquired for 23?

I know - it will never happen – especially if James leads the Cavaliers to the promise land in 2008-09. There will be immense pressure to play out the string with the game’s best player and blindly think he will eventually sign with the home team. Right.

And Santa Claus will be coming down your chimney soon so make sure you leave the milk and cookies out before bedtime.

Think about the immense distraction this organization will be dealing with all season long in 2009-10 if James doesn’t sign an extension this coming summer? It will be an albatross around this team’s collective neck from start to finish.

Some fans might also turn ugly if they under-achieve, or if the unthinkable happens, and James struggles a bit.

Folks, by not signing, he’s telling you he’s gone. You just refuse to see what’s in front of your eyes.

It’s not like the Cavaliers have to come up with an offer and then the negotiations begin. There’s nothing to negotiate. It’s the NBA, not MLB. They can offer him the max - more then anyone else can offer based on league rules. The process is a simple one if he wants to stay.

Instead of kissing his behind until the very end hoping his highness stays put, I would be working feverishly behind the scenes to see what he would bring in the open market.

What do you think New York or New Jersey would be willing to part with in order to hold that press conference a year early and announce they have LBJ in uniform for 2009-10?

Again, the Cavaliers’ organization should keep all options on the table. Contrary to popular opinion, James doesn’t hold ALL the cards. The Cavaliers have one card to play if they have what it takes to play it.

They should at least seriously consider it.

Quinn Done
Reportedly, the infamous Dr. James Andrews told Brady Quinn he’s done for the year. No, there’s no Cleveland Curse, so don’t go there with me.

I would like to know where these guys get their medical degrees. One set of doctors say he’s good to go while another tells the kid he’s ready for an early vacation. I thought medicine was a science, not a guessing game where the advice of the pros can differ so much. At least they weren’t trying to diagnose cancer.

Quinn can’t seem to catch a break since turning pro. First, he has to sit forever through a torturous first round of the draft in full view of “NFL Nation,” then he sits for another year and a half behind Derek Anderson.

And when he finally gets his shot, he gets hurt, gets pulled after just his second career pick, and finally gets shut down for good in '08 because his index finger is screwed up.

College Football
I’m sure the experts all felt Oklahoma was 30+ points better than Texas Tech. Right.

I think I heard at least three different talking heads on television indicate Texas Tech had the best offense they had seen in the past 20 years of watching college football. Right.

And what happened to those college football followers, who back in August, declared that USC was absolutely loaded and a shoe-in for the National Title game this coming January?

Now they are trying to figure out who has the edge down the stretch in terms of Alabama’s likely opponent – Texas, Texas Tech or Oklahoma.

Of course, that’s assuming Alabama wins out, which is certainly in doubt with one-loss Florida left on the schedule.

Then who plays who for the "mythical" National Title? That's right - mythical!

There’s one reminder after another that Division I college football’s system for choosing its best team is flawed beyond belief.

It's actually comical listening to these guys (experts) trying to convince you and themselves who is better than who, depending on which week the discussion is taking place of course.

Here’s my best argument for opposing the current system – Why are there 119 Division I teams if they don’t all play for the same prize?

Imagine if you were a senior student/athlete who played football at Utah, Boise State or Ball State knowing you had NO CHANCE to compete for a National Championship even though you play by the same rules and guidelines and in the same division as those that will.

It happens every year.

Indianapolis at Cleveland Pick
I was told just recently that I have a terrible batting average this season for picking Browns’ games. I reminded the person in question that’s why I don’t gamble, and besides, the first rule of gambling is you never bet on or against the team you follow.

Regardless, here’s my pick – Indianapolis wins 37-24.

For some reason, we expect it to be somewhat competitive. Don’t ask me why.

I’m the first to admit some of these guys wearing Browns’ uniforms have already quit on their coach, some have been playing with their own agendas since they arrived in town, and others are still trying hard but have limited tools.

Still, we figure with the pressure off, Anderson will let it fly and they’ll at least put some points on the board.

The question is will Peyton Manning really need to go through all those girations before the snap considering he should have guys running free all over the place. It's hard to imagine the Browns' defense confusing Manning before the snap or forcing him to go deep into his reads after the snap for that matter.