Tribe's Start, Cavs' Title Run & Browns' Draft

Indians’ Start
Panic is setting in with the Tribe after a 1-7 start. The pitching has been horrible, the defense poor and the offense average at best.

Things are likely to change for the better. They aren’t this bad. That is unless Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona don’t get locked in soon.

Forget what you hear elsewhere. That’s all background noise. This is the key to a competitive season - Your horses on the mound have to deliver.

We noted a while back, with CC gone, these two guys (Lee & Carmona) needed to combine for a minimum of 30-32 wins for the Tribe to be competitive in their division – especially with all the other question marks (aka: fragile arms) on this pitching staff.

If Lee doesn’t settle into 2004-2006 form and Carmona continues to find too much of the plate with his stuff, this start will not be an anomaly and it truly will be a long season.

Here’s the good news – Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner have shown some power early. Unfortunately, that’s been hidden with all the pitching woes.

Remember this - the Tribe is likely to have a Plan B if their fragile arms don’t hack it. There is no Plan B for when your expected #1 and #2 starters falter.

Cavaliers
Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers for achieving home court advantage throughout the playoffs. This is an important achievement if you want to win a title.

There are no excuses left. This is the best team in the NBA in 2008-09 and they will have ample opportunity and the well-earned advantage (homecourt) to prove it over the next two months.

As we noted prior to Thanksgiving, there should be a parade down Superior Avenue some time in June. I hope Cleveland fans enjoy it and behave themselves.

One request - Please, no “Detroit style celebration.” We don’t need burning cars, broken glass and cops using clubs and tear gas to subdue the morons.

By the way, I won’t be attending. As you know – I don’t like crowds of any kind.

Browns
The last silly rumor had the Browns in a three-way trade with Denver and another team involving Jay Cutler going elsewhere and the Browns trading Brady Quinn.

That never materialized of course.

Now, one local television talking head has Quinn leaving for sure on draft day, or before, for a #1 pick.

Right.

Follow this logic - Let’s dump the young quarterback on the roster other teams want, before giving him a chance to show if he’s got game, and turn the offense over to the quarterback (DA) others don’t want, who failed in ’08 and the fans have turned on.

That would be a great PR move heading into year #1 of the Mangini ERA.

Could you imagine that announcement on draft day and the reaction of semi-intelligent Browns fans everywhere?

Imagine what the drunk Quinn fans would do? And I’m only talking about the women who love his (Quinn’s) looks.

My wife, who is not a drunk, but loves Quinn, asked me this question when she heard this new rumor?

“Why would Mangini do something so stupid so soon?

I re-assured her, no need to panic – yet. This one (rumor) makes no sense either.

Talking heads love to throw mud on the wall and hope something sticks so they can say they were first on the story. And now with the internet, this silliness is totally out of hand – especially at this time of year.

By the way, I would love to have been a fly on the wall if/when Mangini and company told Randy Lerner of this plan.

As for the “Butterfingers” rumors, which make some sense, again, I would not deal him for a second round draft pick (Giants) and a #3 receiver.

We noted in our last entry the reasons why. If I could get a mid-#1 pick and a #3 receiver in return, yes. If not, I sit with Braylon and hope he has a big year on the opposite side of Michael Crabtree.

My Top 3
A footnote first – I have not see most of this year’s draft class play.

Regardless, here are three guys I have seen play who I believe will be anywhere from good pros (aka: 10 year starters) to perennial Pro Bowlers 9 - assuming good health.

1. Michael Crabtree (WR/Texas Tech) – Hopefully, the Browns won’t get cute with this pick and just take Crabtree and watch a taller Hines Ward potentially set a franchise record for career receptions.

2. Malcolm Jenkins (DB/Ohio State) – He’s athletic, versatile (CB and/or S), will also make plays on special teams while starting in your secondary from day one.

3. Rey Maualuga (LB/USC) - He can play either inside or outside, constantly wins the battle at point of impact (something the Browns need badly) and will make big plays.

If yours truly were in charge of the Brown and Orange, Plan A would not only include taking Crabtree at 5, but also trying to get back into the first round to land Jenkins or Maualuga if they slide. However, I would not deal Quinn as part of this plan. There are other ways of getting this done.

Andre Smith (OL/Alabama)
I love this story.

This knucklehead costs himself between $10-15 million with his off the field exploits the past several months, and yet, some NFL team is STILL going to be stupid enough to make him a top-10 pick.

Why?

We are told by the talking heads that his coach at Alabama, the wonderful Nick Saban (aka: the coaching Gypsy), has vouched for Smith and re-assured the pros, this guy (Smith) is not a trouble-maker – regardless of what your eyes and ears tell you.

First, why would anyone believe anything Nick Saban told them? There was no way he was leaving Miami, right? He absolutely loved it at LSU, correct?

And secondly, what was he supposed to do when asked about Smith – tell the truth and let everyone know the kid is a risk?

That would go over real well with the other players in his program at LSU and potential recruits.

This was classic Nick Saban looking out for Nick Saban and nothing more.

I wouldn’t touch Smith. Remember, 50% of draft picks with good work ethics and clean backgrounds don’t make it.

What do you think the odds of making it in the NFL for those who have off-the-field issues?