Category: Cleveland Browns (Page 56 of 114)

Kenny Roda will be writing a weekly blog on Cleveland Scores covering the entire Cleveland sports universe. Check back often for his updates!

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE

If professional athletes really wanted to clean up their sport and even the playing field, they would allow their players union to agree to any form of testing for steroids or any type of drugs. The problem is they really don’t want to rid the sport of those drugs. They’re attitude is that it is a level playing field. Those who want to take the drugs can and those who don’t “Just Say No!” What a great message these so-called heroes are sending to today’s youth!

I say way to go to Jason Grimsley. Name names. Let the cat out of the bag. That seems to be the only way athletes will react to cheating. Look what Jose Canseco started. Without Jose’s book we wouldn’t have made the improvements we have so far on steroids. So if Jason Grimsley turning rat helps the sport of baseball and maybe the other professional sports, then I’m all for it.

TIGER RETURNING

Tiger Woods is coming off a nine week layoff and the death of his father to participate in this week’s U.S Open. One of the things Earl Woods taught his son was mental toughness. Earl Woods would purposely jingle his keys or make noises while Tiger was in his back swing. He wanted to teach Tiger to stay focused no matter what he heard or what the situation was. Well, if Tiger Woods is able to win this year’s U.S Open, it would be his greatest Major victory in my opinion. To be able to overcome that physical layoff and then focus mentally while still trying to deal with the death of his father on Father’s Day weekend would be quite a feat. A win like that would put the biggest smile ever on Earl Woods’ face!

WORLD CUP

This just in…the United States sucks at soccer. In its first game of the over hyped World Cup, the United States lost to a country known for hockey, the Czech Republic, 3-0. In soccer, from what I’ve been told, that’s a butt whoopin’. Now maybe the World Cup will die a fast death and I won’t have to hear about it in this country from Drew Carey or anyone else for another four or eight years or however long it is until this event happens again.

BIG BEN CRASHES

Why do athletes feel like they are invincible? Players these days are of the mindset that they can take any drug and not be affected. They can drink and drive and they’ll beat the rap if they get caught. They can ride a motorcycle with or without a helmet and nothing could ever happen to them physically because of who they are. This just baffles me beyond belief. Did Ben Roethlisberger not see what happened to Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. last May when he crashed doing wheelies? He lived, but missed the entire 2005 season. What about former Chicago Bulls point guard Jay Williams and his horrific motorcycle crash that nearly killed him and has him trying to make it back into the NBA three years later? This just in…riding a motorcycle is career-threatening and, more importantly, life-threatening no matter how good of a driver you think you are.

For Big Ben, to have been aware of these two previous bike accidents and still not wear a helmet is just plain stupid! With the money athletes make and considering how important they are to their franchises, GMs everywhere should create each contract with a no motorcycle riding clause in it. If the player doesn’t like it, they don’t play and can go try to make millions of dollars elsewhere, like maybe McDonalds or K-Mart. For an athlete, their body is their tool for their trade and you would think they would want to take care of it as best as possible. Take as few risks as possible. But the “God” complex they have makes them feel like they can do anything they want and nothing will happen to them and even if by chance something bad does occur, they will overcome it.

Winslow and Williams say they looked back on their accidents and realized how dumb their choices were and have learned from them. Winslow hopes to return this season for the Browns, but he may never be the same player he was coming out of the University of Miami because of the knee injury he suffered. Same with Williams, as he’s received a couple of tryouts from NBA teams so far. The Steelers are hoping that Roethlisberger’s injuries to his face, head and other body parts will not be career-threatening and they’ll have him back under center, maybe as early as this year. That is yet to be determined. If anything, you hope Big Ben has learned a valuable lesson about risk versus reward and the consequences that may come from the choices you make. Ben, let me help you with one choice. If you and Tom Cruise’s character Mavrick in “Top Gun” still feel the need for speed and must ride a motorcycle, do all Steeler fans a favor. Do all youngsters who look up to you as a hero a favor and pretend you’re at work and wear a damn helmet!

The Cleveland Browns continue to build a complete offense to support their lack of experience at the quarterback position next season. The Browns offensive line looks stronger and deeper than it has since Cleveland returned to the league.

Phil Savage, showing support for his two young quarterbacks said the Browns won’t sign a “name” older quarterback for fan security. He feels that the line and skilled positions are talented enough to give Charlie Frye the support he needs to succeed.

The team will have many offensive weapons and it will be interesting to see if Maurice Carthon knows how to use them. I don’t believe the Browns can rely on their defensive during this transition of players and defensive schemes, so it’s important to keep the offensive on the attack.

The Cleveland Browns have some bad news to deal with as minicap approaches. Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel and the front office have been dwelling on a solid draft and the recovering of their two stars, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. The Browns offense is looking as strong as the Bernie Kosar days, with the improved offense line and talented players at the skilled positions.

As a Cleveland fan, you knew something had to go wrong, everything was going to smooth. We open the paper to see Reuben Droughns accused of beating his wife and throwing her out door of their home.

Droughns is free bail and his wife is trying to get the charges dropped. This type of activity and press is what started William Green on his downward slide as a Cleveland Brown. Savage and Crennel have very little patience for this type of behavior and I’m positive the NFL will have something to say about it. He could receive anything from probation to a suspension. As we look to next season, I hope this offense can stay together through injuries and off the field embarrassments.

I was recently riding home from work and decided to turn on 1100 (WTAM) to see if the Indians game was complete. The game was over and the Indians had lost, but to my dismay Mike Trivisonno (Triv) was on the radio attempting to debate sports with callers. I took about 10 minutes to listen to this man. I have to say the city of Cleveland should be embarrassed. WTAM is broadcasted through many counties, states and a couple countries to numerous types of listeners.

This guy was rude, controlling and never allowed someone to finish a statement that didn’t agree with his. This is a very cheap imitation of Cleveland’s famous Pete Franklin, who allowed callers to finish a thought. In the short time that I was listening to this show, I counted 5 callers that were hung up on in the middle of a sentence. What is this? If this is a sports talk show, allow people to talk sports. I couldn’t determine if this guy had any knowledge because he only wanted people on the line who agreed with him.

When you become a sports reporter or broadcaster, you understand that people will disagree with you and question your facts. I have always heard that the only reason his ratings are so high, is the ability of WTAM to reach so many customers. This is a good reason why reading this site and debating with us is such a refreshing change. I may always think I’m right, but I will at least respect and read your opinion.

SAVAGE DOES WELL IN HIS SECOND DRAFT

So how did the Browns really do in the NFL Draft this year? To know for sure, the draftees will have to be given at least three years to fully gauge their abilities, so the answers may not come as soon as everyone might like. But since we live in an instant gratification world and need our answers yesterday, I’ll give you my answer right now, with a little twist. I think GM Phil Savage, his scouts, and head coach Romeo Crennel had a very solid draft and off-season. If I were to put a letter grade on it I would give them an “A”. They improved their team in many ways via the draft this year. They filled needs in the draft by taking three linebackers in the first four picks. They added a wide receiver to help with the lack of depth due to the Braylon Edwards injury. A third down, scat back was added on offense and they bolstered the O-line and the D-line as well. Here’s the twist and the reason why I give them an “A” grade. These additions in the draft, along with their free agent acquisitions, filled many needs and brought in QUALITY, EXPERIENCED, and IMPACT players that should provide immediate, positive results in this “what have you done for me lately” society. That will play well with Browns fans everywhere.

MONEY TALK$

Sources tell The Roadman that if the NFL’s salary cap had not been increased from a reported $94.5 million before the new collective bargaining agreement to around $102 million after the new CBA, there’s a good chance the Browns would not have been able to sign center LeCharles Bentley, who I believe was the best pick up of the off-season in the entire NFL. Reportedly his average salary is about $6 million a year.

WHY DRIVING A BENTLEY WAS SO IMPORTANT TO CLEVELAND

By landing Bentley in free agency, it gave GM Phil Savage the confidence to trade with the enemy. Savage felt he could allow friend, former boss, and current archrival , Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome, to take Oregon’s run-stuffing defensive tackle Haloti Ngata because Savage feels that Bentley will be able to handle Ngata when they face each other twice a year. Savage knew that Newsome, or should I say Ray Lewis, wanted Ngata and blew enough smoke during the time leading up to the draft that the Ravens thought the Browns would take the player that they coveted most. So give credit to Savage for fooling Newsome and getting a sixth round draft pick out of his former boss. But by doing so, it will test Savage’s talent evaluation skills against Newsome’s. The performance of Ngata and the Browns’ top pick, Kamerion Wimbley, will be watched closely over the years and whoever turns out to be the better NFL player will be a reflection on which GM made the better pick.

KALIMBA OR KAMERION?

The Browns, 30th out of 32 teams in the NFL in sacks last year with only 23, had their eye on free agent defensive end/outside linebacker Kalimba Edwards. This was due to the fact that head coach Romeo Crennel felt in order to run his 3-4 defense successfully, he needed a pass-rusher first and foremost. So Savage went hard after Edwards. In fact, the GM felt confident after Edward’s visit to Cleveland that the Browns would land their man. However, Edwards never put his name on the dotted line for the Browns and instead re-upped with the Detroit Lions. As soon as that happened Phil Savage turned his attention in the draft from a run-stopper in Ngata to a pass-rusher in Wimbley. That’s why the Browns valued Wimbley more than Ngata on their board.

WHY NOT KUDLA?

Did the Browns have an interest in Ohio State DE/OLB Mike Kudla? Yes, but only as an undrafted rookie free agent. So why didn’t they sign him? Because the Pittsburgh Steelers offered Kudla two important things. First, a two-year deal if he makes the team as an undrafted free agent. Secondly and probably most important, a better chance of making the team. The Browns signed LB Willie McGinest as a free agent and then went out and drafted three linebackers in the draft. The Steelers did not draft one defensive end or linebacker in the draft. This was the main reason why Kudla, a Medina native and a diehard Browns fan, selected the archrival Steelers over Cleveland. His dad emailed me and told me that Mike feels his chances of making the team and fulfilling his dream of playing the NFL are better in Pittsburgh because of the numbers game. Kudla joins fellow OSU teammate Santonio Holmes in the steel city as the Steelers traded up seven spots to the 25th pick in the first round to select Holmes to replace the departed Antwaan Randle El at wide receiver.

ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION!

The recent trade of Trent Dilfer, when you really look at it, should not come as a shock to any of us. Dilfer was brought here to be a bridge at quarterback. His job was solely to get the Browns from 2005 to either 2006, 2007 or as soon as they found their quarterback of the future. When you take that into account, along with the fact that Dilfer didn’t see eye-to-eye with offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, Charlie Frye went 2-3 as a starter for the Browns, and Dilfer wasn’t getting any younger, this was a no-brainer. It takes the pressure off head coach Romeo Crennel as far as the quarterback battle goes. Frye is now the number one guy and will get the necessary reps he needs in mini camps, passing camp, training camp and exhibition games to become a better quarterback and leader of the offense.

The Browns received a conditional draft pick from San Francisco in the 2007 draft along with QB Ken Dorsey. The former Miami Hurricane will serve as Frye’s backup at the moment unless the Browns go out and sign a free agent signal caller. The best of that bunch right now is probably Kerry Collins. Another guy to keep an eye on is former St. Ignatius QB Dave Ragone, who has played the role of backup QB to Houston’s David Carr since being drafted out of Louisville a few years ago.

NEXT WEEK

A look back at LeBron James and the Cavaliers’ thrilling playoff series win over the Witnesses of Washington and how they’re doing against the Pistons. Also, why LeBron finished second to Steve Nash in the NBA’s Most Valuable Player voting this year.