Christmas business kinda of took care of that,but the Cleveland Browns loss in Denver will pop up in this post.
Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy suffered shoulder injuries against the Broncos that will likely see them sit out in this Sunday's finale against Pittsburgh.
The winner in this scenario besides the Steeler defense?
Thad Lewis will be getting the start in his first chance to get an NFL snap.
Lewis has long been a Shurmur favorite dating back to their time in St.Louis and is pretty mobile,which is something that he should need this week.
Why will Lewis need his mobility?
Between his inexperience,an angry bunch of Steelers (Between being eliminated from the playoffs last week and the Browns win earlier) and a missing Trent Richardson,Lewis might be running for his life.
Why will Lewis not have Trent Richardson in the lineup?
Because Pat Shurmur pulled a "Steve Robinson" (I've told you many times why this tactic got its name) and called three timeouts to have a final possession with less than two minutes to go in a 34-12 game.
This same drive was where Colt McCoy was injured,but that is understandable-someone had to take the snaps.
However,having Richardson in the game as a pass blocker made no sense to risk injury and that is exactly what the Browns received-Richardson injured on a meaningless play that should have seen him on the sidelines to start with.
The injury will likely cost Richardson a 1,000 yard season as he currently has 950 yards entering Sunday.
These are the types of decisions that will see Pat Shurmur hunting employment on Monday and deservedly so.
I would not mind Tom Heckert staying,but he looks to be gone as well.
I am very much against Mike Lombardi as Heckert's replacement because,well,he has been a failure at every job he has had with the exception of being Bill Belichick's mouthpiece/shill at NFL Network.
I am open to hearing names for head coach.
Jimmy Haslam wants Nick Saban and I would be fine with giving Saban a second NFL chance and I would not be against Josh McDaniels either,assuming McDaniels does not have a huge say in personnel decisions as he did in Denver
Two names keep appearing as Browns QB possibilities-Michael Vick and Ryan Mallet.
Vick is a no,cannot stay healthy and looks washed up to me,but I liked Ryan Mallet at Arkansas.
Huge arm to fight the Lake Erie wind and large in stature,Mallet (at Arkansas) reminded me of Ben Rothlisberger with better arm strength.
I am ordinarily skeptical of dealing with Bill Belichick,who deals players that usually do not fare as well in new places,but Mallett is not smallish Brian Hoyer or chicken winged Matt Cassell.
If the price is right,I'm interested....
Back later with thoughts on Nick Swisher....
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