Jimmy Haslam in,Mike Holmgren out

The official word on Jimmy Haslam began as the NFL approved Haslam as the new owner of the Cleveland Browns yesterday.
Haslam quickly announced that Mike Holmgren resigned as team president and former Philadelphia Eagles executive Joe Banner was in Holmgren's former position after a transition period.
Haslam announced that there would be no further changes in personnel until the season concludes, which means that Tom Heckert as general manager and Pat Shurmur as head coach are safe in their jobs for a few more months.

So, now the worrying and wondering begin about the changes in a few months for the Cleveland Browns.
Ranging from personnel on the field, to personnel in the front office, to uniforms, to domes over the stadium, and who knows what other potential changes are on the mind of Jimmy Haslam?

As much as uniform changes are important (Keep the jerseys, move to orange pants), the top decision to be made has to be on the future of Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur.
Tom Heckert worked with Joe Banner with the Eagles, which could be a plus or a minus, but an undisclosed source reports that Heckert is "not optimistic" about being retained.

That would be unfortunate for Browns fans, as I think Heckert has drafted very well, and I think his record would be even better had Mike Holmgren not intervened in the draft twice to insist on quarterbacks being selected (Colt McCoy in the 3rd round in 2010 and Brandon Weeden in the last draft) when better players were available.
Heckert could do a better job in free agency, although that might have something to do with the budget/saving Randy Lerner's money, so I am even open to that possibility.

Pat Shurmur's future looks a bit grimmer.
As excited as Browns fans are about last week's win over Cincinnati and a possible win this week against the Colts, the schedule then gets tougher for a while before weakening in December.
Shurmur's dull play-calling makes one wonder if he will survive even with a few more victories.

Considering the lack of on-field success, the less-than-fan-friendly Shurmur has to wonder about his chances of returning as well!
Short of winning at least six of the last ten games, I would think that it is a foregone conclusion that Pat Shurmur will be terminated, or I would hope someone would not be "Manginied", which is a term I just coined for being deluded that progress is being made for a few meaningless late-season wins over mostly other bad teams.

If Shurmur goes, and I believe that he will, the biggest question is this-Does Haslam make a huge splash with a big-name coach that is proven as a winner? Or does he select another assistant like the Browns usually do?
That selection can either inflame the fan base, as the Browns Backers can realize that change is finally here by the lake, or take away the enthusiasm that is being generated right now.
I like Tom Heckert and I think that he has done a good job, but not a great one as GM, but if landing a Jon Gruden or even a (Bleech) Bill Cowher type of winner means sacrificing Heckert, then I would be in favor of that, even reluctantly so.

Mike Holmgren leaves Cleveland as a failure.
Holmgren appeared to me to be disinterested (other than a few personnel decisions that he was involved in) and will be remembered mainly for rarely being seen, along with his two major decisions- the retention of Eric Mangini despite the clear philosophical differences after the 2009 season and the hiring of Pat Shurmur.

Keeping Mangini, when it was clear that the two men's ideas for football were never going to mesh, was the worst decision that Holmgren could have made.
That decision lessened the excitement of Browns fans for Holmgren (Take note, Mr.Haslam) and his ability to turn things around when hopes were still sky high.

The hiring of Shurmur after a lost season under Mangini was the knockout blow, as it appeared that it was more important to hire a crony at a lower cost than it was to hire someone with a winning background.
Those two decisions were the major calls of the Holmgren era, and both proved to be wrong ones.

Jimmy Haslam has brought hope and excitement to Cleveland as the Browns now have an owner who will not tolerate mediocrity, let alone bad football.
Changes are inevitable for both good and bad, I am afraid, under the new ownership.
Let's see how long this lasts for fans of the Cleveland Browns.

Photo Credit:Chuck Crow- Cleveland Plain Dealer

Reviewing the tape-Buckeyes survive Indiana!

The Ohio State Buckeyes had little problems in scoring on the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington.

That they figured on,but what they did not count on was their defense reverting to non-conference form as a furious Indiana rally made Buckeye fans sweat around the country in a 52-49 win.
The now 7-0 Buckeyes will host Purdue next Saturday.

Buckeye Leaves

1) Another great game from Braxton Miller with 360 yards of total offense.
Miller seems to mature by the week with his role in the offense and I am sure that there will be an eventual speed bump,but I will say this-this is a 4-3 team without Braxton Miller.

2) The most improved part of the game of Braxton Miller has to be his improved touch on the deep ball.
Miller tossed touchdowns of 60 and 46 yards to Devin Smith and showed the touch that last year he lacked.
Or was not allowed to show by the prehistoric game plan of previous offensive coordinator Jim Bollman.

3) Carlos Hyde rambled for 156 yards on the game and continues to show the season of the hard nosed,between the tackles runner that every team needs in the offense.
Without Hyde's ability to move the chains,Ohio State would have no semblance of an inside force with the loss of Jordan Hall.

4) Devin Smith and Corey Brown continue to alternate between dazzling and dizzying with big plays and plays that make your head shake.
Smith grabbed the two long scoring passes,but dropped two passes,one of which would have been a huge play.
Brown tends to disappear at times in the passing game,which makes the offense smart for keeping Brown in the game with the odd gimmick running play...

5) Starting fullback Zach Boren led the team in eight tackles.
Boren did it at linebacker as injuries to several Buckeyes including senior Etienne Sabino forced Boren to move until the injuries subside.
Boren should be on the defensive side of the ball for another two or three more games.

6) The defense is hobbled.
Yes,I get it,but to allow this many points to the lowly Hoosiers is not good news.
Four touchdowns allowed through the air?
Injuries do make a difference,but some young players will need to grow up and quickly....

7) Bad night for the special teams.
Despite one TD scored off a blocked punt,the Buckeyes allowed a blocked punt and of course the difficulties in recovering onside kicks make me wonder about this unit against better teams.
The special teams have been inconsistent all season,they need to raise their game...

8) The defensive injuries are concerning,especially in the back seven.
The injury report for the secondary will be very interesting to see against a Purdue team that looked tough before two recent lopsided losses...

9) The offensive line could have been stronger as well.
Indiana was able to rush Braxton Miller effectively off the edge,forcing him to step up into the pocket.
Keep in mind that was Indiana rushing not Wisconsin or the team up north..

10) A win is a win and I'll take it,but this game showed that there is still plenty of work to do.
Injuries have and will continue to test the Buckeye depth,which was a question entering the season.
How those backup performers play could tell the tale of the last five games....

Photo Credit;Chris Russell-Columbus Dispatch

Reviewing the tape-Browns earn first win!

The Cleveland Browns became the final team to earn their first win of the season as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 34-24 in Cleveland.
The Browns were paced by two touchdown passes by Brandon Weeden that included a 71 yard heave to Josh Gordon in the first half.
Cleveland put the game away with a Sheldon Brown interception that he took 19 yards for the final blow against the Bengals for a touchdown.
The now 1-5 Browns travel to Indianapolis next Sunday for the waiting Colts.

Brownie Bits

1) I picked the Bengals in the PPM,but I have told/written all during the football season that I saw two windows of opportunity for wins,this one with the Bengals at home and the Colts on the road,along with one in December with a three game run of the Chiefs,Raiders and Redskins.

2) I wish that the Browns would throw the occasional crossing pattern to Josh Gordon to get him more involved in the offense,but there can be no denying that the Browns have found themselves a deep threat.
Gordon still has work to do as a fledgling NFL pass catcher,but the speed is there and if he can stay away from his college issues,the Browns might have themselves with their number one receiver in Josh Gordon.

3) The Browns did not have all good news as Trent Richardson injured his ribs and finished with a very pedestrian 37 yards on 14 carries.
Richardson is iffy for next week's game in Indy and it might not be a bad thing.
Ribs are the type of injury that are easily aggravated and if he misses a game to get things right,I would not complain.

4) The surprising note from the win?
The reappearance of Montario Hardesty,who led the team with 56 yards rushing and his first rushing touchdown as a pro.
Hardesty might be down to his last chance,so if Richardson does miss a game,it would behoove him to play well for his future endeavors.

5) The true play of the game might have been the Emmanuel Stephens hit/strip of Andy Dalton deep in Cleveland territory with the Browns up ten,but the Bengals looking to make it a one score game.
Billy Winn scooped and ran the ball out of the danger zone,but that essentially ended any comeback worries.

6) Brandon Weeden's long bomb to Josh Gordon into a tough (I repeat TOUGH) wind showed the arm strength that the Browns hoped for,but his interception off a deflection by Geno Atkins still showed the work that needs to be finished.
Weeden still needs to get rid of the ball quicker as I think he holds it a hair too long and that results in more deflections.

7) Joe Haden's return to the lineup certainly lifted the Browns emotionally,but A.J. Green once again had his way with Haden.
It happens sometimes,every corner has players that he covers the blanket and players that they struggle with and it appears that Green is Haden's blind spot.
I wish that was not with someone inside the division,but....

8) Jordan Norwood had been very productive in the slot over the last two games,but Norwood was out and Josh Cooper was activated from the practice squad.
Cooper caught two passes for 39 yards,but showed the potential to continue the production from that position.

9) Hustle award goes to tight end Jordan Cameron,who fell down on a route and yet scrambled up and down the field to catch a Weeden toss before being tackled at the one yard line.
Cameron shows the ability to be a large part of the offense with his physical skills,but when you see the hustle as well,I have reason to think that Jordan Cameron just might be a big time tight end in a year or so....

10) One disappointing part of the game was a strong performance by the Bengals Vontaze Burfict.
Burfict went tumbling down draft boards after a poor combine effort and a reported awful attitude.
I wanted the Browns to take a shot at Burfict in the late rounds (He went in the final round) and they passed.
Five games into the season,Burfict is starting,playing very well and is exactly the type of linebacker that Cleveland is badly in need of.
Another missed opportunity for the Browns.

The Overhand Right!

Time for our monthly look at the fight game with the overhand right.

This month's featured bomber is former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Michael Spinks.
Spinks ranks among the greatest 175 pounders of all time and it is unfortunate that he is remembered more for his only loss-a one round demolition at the hands of Mike Tyson in a heavyweight unification bout.
Do not be fooled by Spinks as a heavyweight,where he used an awkward style to combat much bigger men,check out the 175 pounder,who might have been (along with Bob Foster) the biggest hitter in the division's history.


I was very pleased with Sergio Martinez's victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and even with his being knocked down in the 12th round,I was still pleased.
Martinez went for the knockout win and almost lost because of it,but Martinez attempted to be entertaining for the people that paid to see him even to his own detriment.
I had Martinez winning every round until the final round and won handily as only maybe one round might have been stretched to go Chavez's way.
There might have been a rematch early next year,but a post fight positive for marijuana for the loser might shove that further down the road.
I'd love to see Martinez against any one of Daniel Geale,Gennady Golovkin or Dmitri Pirog and word is that HBO is interested in a mini-tournament involving the four to unify the middleweight belts.
Good idea and one that I would like to see happen in 2013!

HBO brings two excellent fights tonight to the video dish with 122 pound Nonito Donaire against Japan's Toshiaki Nishoka.
Nishoka,a former champion that gave his belt up in order to fight Donaire brings a style to the ring that I think is going to give the touted Donaire fits.
Donaire gave up his IBF title before the weigh in as his next fight against the winner of a mandatory contender bout looks to have little promotional or television interest.
I like Nishoka to pull a huge upset tonight....

The other bout looks to be an all action war between junior welterweights Mike Alvarado and former lightweight champion Brandon Rios.
This one looks like a possible Arturo Gatti-Mickey Ward fight and if it is half that good-it is a must watch!

Showtime has a three world title fight card next week with Danny Garcia defending his WBA and WBC Jr,Welterweight titles against Erik Morales,who he won the WBC belt from before adding the WBA title with a KO win over Amir Khan.
Their first fight was a good one and I think this one should be as well.
As tired as I am of hearing about the "new" Paul Malignaggi (Zab Judah fits this category as well), I have to give credit to the New Yorker for traveling to Russia to win the WBA Welterweight strap.
Malignaggi defends against Pablo Cesar Cano while the IBF champion hard punching Randall Bailey defends against Devon Alexander in what should be an interesting bout.
Bailey can knock out anyone he hits,but can he hit the slick Alexander?

I referred to Malignaggi as the "new" version because yet again,he gets attention for being revitalized,renewed and energized in order to put him in a big fight that he will fall short in.
Point is this-Malignaggi is world class but not elite and will fall short every time that he is put in with elite fighters.
Zab Judah pops up every year or so with this stuff and the same thing occurs-and I think higher of Judah than I ever will of Malignaggi.....

Some interesting stuff in November coming up too,so stay tuned next time for more Overhand right action!

Quick PPM

Another quick PPM due to time constraints
College
Ohio State over Indiana 42-20
Bowling Green over Miami Ohio 24-20
West Virginia over Texas Tech 60-32
Game of the Week
South Carolina over LSU 16-12

NFL
Bengals over Browns 27-17
Game of the Week
49ers over Giants 31-27

Last Week 6-1
Season 29-9

Talkin' VP Debate

Last night's Vice Presidential debate might have been the best debate in years as far as entertainment and straight speaking.

First,allow me to preface this column with this statement.
I like Joe Biden.Always have.
As someone that has been known to say something awkward (albeit the way I see) on several occasions,I know how Biden can slip up.
When you have passions in life,it can be tough to restrain your passion at times when you speak about things and Biden has been known to not always be able to ride that horse.
However,Joe Biden comes across as the most authentic politician of our times and whether you like what he says or not,he says what he feels,which may not always be what is best for him or his political positions.
When a politician plays the "I'm one of you" card,few actually come across as,well,one of us.
Joe Biden does.
For all the weaknesses and foibles,Joe Biden relates to the,excuse the pun,average Joe.

Paul Ryan comes across as an intelligent person that knows his stuff.
Nothing wrong with that nor is there anything wrong with Ryan's being a policy wonk.
It's always good to have knowledgeable people in charge,something the GOP lacked from from January 2001-January 2009,so no knock on Ryan there.
However,Ryan seems to believe that he is the smartest guy in the room,which I suppose is often the case,but he comes across as plastic as a water bottle and articulately unauthentic.
I suppose I have just coined the catch phrase for future opponents to whack Ryan over the head with in future campaigns!

That was the difference in what I saw in the debate as I saw two talented politicians coming from two different directions that did not have anything to do with their policies or ideas.
I saw one person that came across as a person that understood the average person,even if some of his policies that he represented are flawed that will not work and another that has the look of some of the people that I saw in high school/college of privilege with some ideas that might work,but with an air of superiority that comes off as quite condescending.

As I said in the look at the last debate,these debates really prove little as most people on either end of the political rope tend to have decided that their candidate blew the other person away before they even take the stage,but this one was way more interesting as both Biden and Ryan made reasonable statements,yet it had a tinge of legitimate interaction.
Biden's grins brought to mind something thinking "This is such a load of B.S" and Ryan's smirks reminded me of someone pondering "this guy's day has passed".
Actually,Ryan made me think of a high schooler or college grad,if you prefer,that walks into the world after the graduation day and believes that they have all the answers because they went through school.
I suppose all of us think that way in the idealism of the young,but in the political game,being in your 40's on the national scene is much like being 18/22 in the real world.

Another political touch that I love is the constant "my friend" that Biden uses constantly when it soaks through that they do not really consider the other a friend at all.
A little bit of animosity can be a good thing,especially when it's real and considering that it is definitely real between the two party bases.
I would much rather have a little nastiness during a debate far more than these gutless commercials that accuse each other of everything and anything and then shake hands,play patty cake and smile on the debate stage.....

Who won? Well,I believe the reader/watcher can make that decision for themselves,but I will say this-for one night,it was fun viewing.....

Buster's bomb completes comeback! Giants NLCS Bound!

The San Francisco Giants completed a feat never done in National League as they completed a three game comeback with a 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds to win the NLDS and move onto the league championship series against the winner of the Cardinals-Nationals series.
Buster Posey crushed a grand slam to pace a six run fifth inning and the Giants were able to hold off several Reds chances (and they had a few good ones) to give the margin back in piecemeal manner for the victory.
Matt Cain was the winner as he pitched five and two thirds,allowing three runs with Sergio Romo grabbing the save as the final of five Giants relievers to throw on the day.
Game 1 of the NLCS will either be in Washington Sunday against the Nationals or in San Francisco against the Cardinals...


Giant Steps

1) The talk going into this series was that the Giants starting staff would be strong,but there were concerns about the bullpen.
Things reversed is other than maybe Ryan Vogelsong,the starters did not pitch nearly as well as they are capable of.
Hopefully,that will bode well for the Giants going forward and will not foreshadow problems in the next round...

2) The bullpen stepped up and pitched beyond expectations in the three wins over the Reds.
Take the final line of note one and place it here for the bullpen.

3) Buster Posey's grand slam off the face of the second deck gave the Giants a 6-0 lead and obviously was the key blow,but to me,it made me think about the stat heads of the game that believe clutch hitting is a myth,
I can understand that the numbers crunch makes it appear that clutch hitting is non-existent and looking at those numbers,one could agree.
However,there are players that just appear to "rise to the moment" far more often than the norm-Buster Posey is one of those players....

4) Brandon Crawford may be less than average with the stick,but wow,he is a future gold glove winner,if I ever saw one.
Crawford makes plays that are not only flashy,but he makes the routine play as well.
Bank on Crawford winning a fielding award in the year or so....

5) Biggest play other than the Posey pop?
Cincinnati running into a double play with no outs in the fifth.
Ryan Hanigan took strike three from Matt Cain as he looked to have missed a sign and Jay Bruce was then thrown out at third by Buster Posey.
A quick two outs and that enabled Matt Cain to leave the game with two down instead of just one.
George Kontos retired the next batter and the threat was finished...

6) The Reds had not lost three games in a row at home all season.
It is funny how things like that seem to happen in the post season after not happening at all in the long term,but it happens more than you think.
One that strikes my mind was the Cubs-Marlins series where the Cubs had not lost back to back starts of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior all season and then did just that to lose the set.

7) Now the future.
Cardinals or Nationals?
Cardinals gives you home field,Nationals gives you a greater stage.
Washington would be more enjoyable to root against,but a loss would be more painful to take.
Anyone out there have tickets for Nats-Giants????

Photo Credit:Andrew Weber