“A season that began with controversy and excitement ended in pain and disappointment.” ~Salt Lake Tribune

A foot injury will keep Cleveland traitor Carlos Boozer out for the rest of the regular season. Boozer, out the last 20 games with the injury, most likely will not need surgery, though that remains a possibility if the injury doesn’t continue to improve with rest.

Ah, sweet redemption. The Jazz own the second-worst record in the West at 22-48 while Boozer, who dreamed of becoming the next Karl Malone in Utah, is averaging a mundane 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, the Cavs are battling for home-court advantage in the East and Boozer’s replacement, Drew Gooden, is scoring 14.3 points per game and pulling down 9.4 boards a night. Even better, Cleveland is paying Gooden $3.4 million this year while the Jazz are paying $10.9 million for Boozer’s 51 games.

After failing to land Baltimore second-string running back Chester Taylor, the Browns on Tuesday traded DE Ebenezer Ekuban to Denver for Reuben Droughns, the Denver back who rumbled for 1,240 yards and six touchdowns last year. Of course, the Broncos’ system inflated Droughns’ overall numbers but he still represents a significant acquisition for the Browns. A converted fullback, Droughns, 26, will back up Lee Suggs while also providing potentially explosive insurance for the Browns’ injury-prone starter. Another fantastic move by Savage and Crennel.

As for the Broncos, again, I’m having a hard time understanding why they insist on rebuilding their defensive line with Cleveland’s castoffs. That’d be like Martin Scorsese watching the cast of “Son of the Mask” and thinking, “Damn, I gotta get me some of that.”