X-mas Edition

Quarterback Perception
Perception is reality. This is especially true when talking quarterbacks.

One quarterback has 23 touchdown passes and 12 picks while completing 63% of his passes while the other has 15 touchdown tosses and nine interceptions with a 60% completion mark.

Which is more deserving of Pro Bowl honors? Wrong.

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers had the better stats going into Mondays’ game against the Bears, but it is Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan who is going to run away with the NFL Rookie of the Year Award and is being hailed as a “Franchise QB” by the media.

The difference is obvious – Ryan’s team had an amazing one-year turnaround from 2007 while the Packers went from 13 wins last season to under .500 in ’08.

It’s all about winning – especially at the quarterback position.

Keepers
After watching some of the Browns’ 14-0 loss to the mighty Bengals, I came to the conclusion that D’Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis should return next season.

No one has been more critical of Cleveland’s linebackers than me the past two years. However, Jackson improved from his rookie season of 2007 to be among the league-leaders in tackles n ‘08.

I don’t ever see him as an impact player at that position, but he could develop into a solid starter for years to come based on where he is after two years in the league.

Davis returning is more of an emotional call on my part. He’s seen more than his share of losing and turmoil playing for the Browns the past eight years and he’s been a class act on and off the field.

Yes, they need to upgrade at that position and if the draft were held tomorrow and the Browns had the #1 overall pick, I would take USC’s Rey Maualuga to take Davis’ spot.

Regardless, if the veteran agrees to come back as a part-time player, I would make a roster spot for him. He’s good in the locker room and does what’s asked of him.

Top-5
I have revamped my top-5 players coming out this year. Here goes.

I have seen USC player three times this season and they have numerous defensive players who will be playing on Sunday in 2009, but none will have more impact than the aforementioned Rey Maualuga.

USC linebackers usually do very well in the NFL and this guy has some Junior Seau in him.

Next on my list at 2A & 2B include Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins, who we already have said can play any of the secondary positions on the field at the next level and excel, and Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree (aka: Hines Ward).

You can’t go wrong with either one. It just depends which side of the ball you have the greater need at.

We also love SC’s 6’3’’/230 pound safety Taylor Mays, placing him at #4 overall. He has some Steve Atwater in him; the hard-hitting safety who roamed Denver’s secondary while John Elway was playing Superman on the other side of the ball.

The final player on the list is courtesy of my inside source – my 17-year old son. He’s good at this and this year he’s settled on Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo as his “best senior” in the draft.

The kid’s at about 75% when picking out potential first round studs, a much better percentage than the experts that get a paycheck for doing this.

Here’s the good news for Browns’ fans. Even they can’t screw this up. They are heading for a top-5 pick and should not waste time and money sending their scouts anywhere and everywhere to prepare for their first choice. Just take Maualuga if he’s there, followed by Jenkins, then Crabtree, etc…You get the point.

Fewer Downs Versus More Yards
I caught some of the Bears’ – Packers’ and noticed something that has been bothering me for some time. Why do teams, the large majority of the time, take a five yard penalty and push the offense back instead of taking the loss of down after a no gain or minimal gain play.

I would much rather give a team just two cracks at getting nine yards than three shots at getting 15. This is especially true if I’m defending in the red zone. I guess I’m in the minority, but I don’t get why.

Too Soft
Pretty soon, NFL players will only be allowed to make tackles below the knees. The horse collar penalty is about as ridiculous as you can get. I understand not being allowed to go to the head anymore. That’s similar to pitchers head hunting – it’s very dangerous. But when was the last time a player suffered a career-threatening injury due to a horse collar?

Marvin Lewis
Why does Marvin Lewis keep his job? He’s had more guys show up on the 10 Most Wanted List than Pro Bowlers and he hasn’t won consistently, even with a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback on his roster.

Yes, his winning percentage is better than many who came before him, but it’s under .500 and the team gets more publicity for off-the-field issues than on-the-field success. Besides, he was touted as a defensive genius coming in and his offense has carried that franchise since he’s been there.

Affordability
Times may have changed some for the Tribe in terms of finances.

A few years back, the Indians would never have considered a $10 million deal per year deal for a relief pitcher. In fact, it took the ill-fated Travis Hafner signing ($14 million per) for the Tribe to have their first eight figure a year player. Unfortunately, Hafner looks closer to Carlos Baerga after the switch hitter hurt his wrist than the MVP candidate Pronk was before he went down.

Give John Hart (aka: I love the cameras) credit on this one. He got it right with Carlos and dealt him when it was unpopular fearing he was done as an everyday player. Shapiro got it wrong and signed Pronk – despite our suggestion to let him walk.

I don’t know what that says, but I know what I would do next.

The Indians need to try to sign their best player, Grady Sizemore, to an extension ASAP. This will be a watershed moment for this franchise after not being able to keep any of their best players, this side of Hafner in the last 10 years of trying.

We have been critical of Sizemore’s long swing and mediocre batting average. However, he is a special player and this organization cannot afford to lose its fourth potential Hall of Fame everyday player in the last 10 years.

Think about that. The Tribe’s farm system produced three everyday HOF talents since the early 90s - Albert Belle, Jim Thome & Manny Ramirez. Unfortunately, MLB economics did not allow Cleveland to keep them.

And before, you take me to task for mentioning Belle, I realize he won’t get into the HOF because of the hip injury that cut his career short. Regardless, even with his abrasive personality, he was a shoe-in for the HOF had he stayed healthy.

The signing of a relief pitcher for $10 million per season indicates Cleveland will go to the wall to sign Sizemore. As usual, it will be up to the player to decide if he REALLY wants to sign with the home team.

DÉJÀ VU
The Browns are down to their fourth quarterback in the season finale against the Steelers. This one should be off the board in Vegas, but that’s another story.

The point is how awful the offensive line has played in recent weeks. Some of those guys have obviously packed it in. Hopefully, the new coach will look carefully at film to see who sustained their blocks and who didn’t in December when the wheels came completely off for this team.

The “O” line play has by far been the most disappointing aspect of this team’s play to this observer in 2008. We raved about the line’s play in 2007, indicating it was the best work by a Browns’ OL unit we have ever seen dating back to the late 1960s.

Unfortunately, we have to go the opposite direction this time around. With the exception of a brief four-week stretch in the middle of the season, the “O” line has failed miserably in ‘08.

In 2007, thanks in large part to that unit up front, DA hardly got touched and put up good numbers that convinced many he was the real deal at quarterback, while in 2008, all the quarterbacks on the roster when the season began have been abused and will be in street clothes this coming Sunday. Enough said!

Trade Rumors
The S. Marion for Andy V. and Wally Z. rumors persist.

Marion is a byproduct of playing with Steve Nash in a run and gun system. Nash made Marion a lot of money, but he’s (Marion) not nearly as good as he thinks he is. Just check is numbers post-Nash.

Secondly, Andy V. brings a unique skills set to the Cavaliers – something we have stated over and over again.

Right now, we see no reason to make that trade. We like Marion’s athleticism and ability to score, but we think the Cavaliers have enough scoring right now, and the loss of Andy V. would cost the team a variable off the bench in the front-court that’s hard to replace.

Bowl Selections
Go Boise State and Utah!

Enjoy the holidays....
Enjoy the holidays.