Now that the NFL Draft Combine is over and the rest of the country is in love with Robert Griffin III, it is now clear that the Heisman Trophy winner will be the second pick in April’s selection meeting.

Besides the Browns (and we still aren’t convinced that Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert want Griffin), the other teams said to be on the RGIII train are the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.

Other teams could be in the mix too, such as Kansas City, Seattle, and Tennessee. 

The biggest winner in this scenario are the St. Louis Rams, who have the second pick, and also already have their franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford, the overall #1 pick in 2010.

So, if Cleveland likes and wants the rookie from Baylor, there is no doubt the Browns have to trade up.  Hoping he will fall to #4 won’t work.

There is no question the Browns are in the best position to move up, as they have a pick in the top five and another at #22, the pick acquired from Atlanta last year.

None of the other teams who should be interested in a passer has those types of picks. 

Remember that the NFL’s free agency period will be before the draft, so a couple of teams in need with drop out after Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn find new places to play.

The fear is that Washington will go crazy and offer first round picks for the next three years to move up from #6 to get to the second pick in the draft.

If you’re the Browns, you have to say no to that, unless you can keep the pick at #22.

At that point, it really depends on how quickly the Rams want to get better.  If new coach Jeff Fisher wants to get better as quickly as possible, then dropping down two spots and gaining another first round choice would be the thing to do.

If they want to take a chance on the Redskins having another bad season, and feel next year’s Washington pick can be in the top ten, then the “Skins might be the way to go.

At what point do the Browns have to say no?

A fair package to move up two spots for a potential franchise quarterback would be the 22nd pick this year (along with swapping the 4th pick for the 2nd pick), a third rounder this year and a second rounder next season.

That way the Browns would be able to add some quality players to have around Griffin, and not have no other pick until #100 in the fourth round. 

With two picks in the 4th round, GM Tom Heckert would have ammunition to move up into the 3rd round if they see someone they like.

If they need to sweeten the pot, Heckert could always throw in another later round pick next year.

That’s not too much if you believe Robert Griffin III can and will be your franchise quarterback.

There is no doubt that because Cleveland has an extra first round pick this year, that they are in the best position to move up.  But that doesn’t mean St. Louis has to deal with them.

It’s the same as free agent bidding, it only takes one idiot to go wild and be willing to pay too high of a price. 

The Browns have to be willing to go a little higher than normal if they think they can change the future of the franchise in this year’s draft by getting the man everyone wants.

JD

Another All-Star weekend in the NBA has come and gone, and it is starting to look more and more like an event that’s time has passed. 

Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving was named the MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge, although from the highlights shown on ESPN, you would only know that because of a shot of the Cavs’ rookie holding up the trophy.  There really wasn’t any footage from the game showing how he earned the honor. 

And the Slam Dunk contest becomes more and more of a joke every year.  It would be interesting to know if anyone has ever heard of Jeremy Evans prior to Saturday night. 

Anyway, back to the games that count, and the wine and gold plays its last game on a nine game home stand tomorrow night against the Celtics.  What does the second half hold for the Cavs?

The trading dealine is coming in the middle of March, and GM Chris Grant will probably be active in the market.  The most likely guy to go is point guard Ramon Sessions, because he has value around the league (the Lakers are the most common team discussed), and because he is a restricted free agent at the end of the year.

Sessions wants to have his own team to run, and in averaging 10.4 points and 5.5 assists per game in 25 minutes a night as Irving’s backup, he has shown the rest of the league that there isn’t much doubt he can do it. 

Since Anthony Parker’s injury, Sessions has been getting more time and is shooting the ball better as a result.  He’s even made 20 three-point shots this season (shooting 43%) after making just 13 in the previous four years he was in the league.

Grant should be able to squeeze a first round pick from his trade partner, but since it would appear only a contender would pull the trigger on a deal at the deadline, it will not be a lottery pick. 

Still, it’s a deal the GM has to make.

The other high-profile trade piece Grant has is veteran forward Antawn Jamison.  He’s averaging 17.4 points for the year, but 22.6 over the Cavs’ last ten games.  He’s also raised his shooting percentage to 44% in the month of February after struggling earlier in the season.

What Grant has to weigh is what is better for the future of the Cavs.  Is it better to deal the 35-year-old for young players and draft picks to a team looking for a boost going into the playoffs or would it be more beneficial for the wine and gold to simply let his contract expire after the season and gain valuable cap space.

If the GM can get a solid, young player, particularly a #2 guard or a small forward who can step right into Byron Scott’s rotation for Jamison, he’ll pull the trigger.  Getting players now would help speed up the rebuild, as those guys would be able to develop chemistry with Cleveland right now.

Plus, it would open up more playing time for Tristan Thompson, a better defender and rebounder, although he doesn’t score the ball like Jamison.  Still, Thompson is most definitely part of the future for Cleveland.

Although the Cavs are just a game and a half behind Boston for the last playoff spot in the East, Grant will probably not let the standings affect his thinking on deals. 

This is mostly because his team went into the year knowing this was the first step in the rebuilding process, so although it would be nice to get some post-season experience, Grant’s job is to look at the bigger picture.

The continued development of players like Irving, Thompson, and Alonzo Gee are more important to the future of the Cavaliers.  Plus, a playoff push is made more difficult because of the absence of Anderson Varejao, who will be out a few more weeks with a fractured wrist.

There is no question the Cavs are a fun and interesting team to watch on the floor, but that excitement will extend to the front office as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

JK

Sports fans around northeast Ohio spend much of the football season complaining how they need to hear from Browns’ owner Randy Lerner.

Usually, it’s the cry of he doesn’t care if his football team wins or loses, and we, as fans, need to know he has the same passion we do.

Maybe Lerner has the best idea.  Say nothing unless you are prodded, and even then, say little.

After hearing Indians’ owner Paul Dolan make the media rounds over the last couple of weeks, Lerner’s silence would be welcome.  And it would certainly make Tribe PR guru Bob DiBiasio’s job much easier.

The beginning of spring training is an anticipated event for a baseball fan.  We should be excited about which phenom is going to take Goodyear by storm, how hard Ubaldo Jimenez is throwing, and how Jason Kipnis reminds everyone of Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia. 

Instead, Dolan threw a wet blanket on that excitement.  And he wonders why people do not storm the ticket gate at Progressive Field to see the 2012 edition of the Indians.

As usual, Dolan’s message was filled with “can’t” and “won’t”.  The Tribe can’t spend with the bigger market teams, they won’t pay a single player more than $20 million per year. 

This year, he even added that Progressive Field isn’t big enough to allow his franchise to compete.  Really?  That beautiful ballpark is not even 20 years old, but perhaps the owner is bucking for a new bigger place to play?

Judging by the reaction of the fans who listen to sports talk radio, the owner’s words angered the fan base.  A fan base that is tired of waiting. 

In case Mr. Dolan doesn’t realize it, the Cleveland Indians haven’t won a World Series in 63 years!

Dolan talked about how the front office has worked hard to make sure the Indians have fielded competitive teams recently, unlike the Pirates and Orioles.  However, he should define what he means by competitive because in the last ten seasons, the Tribe has been over the .500 mark exactly twice (2005 and 2007).

He also complained at how the Indians have never been as bad as a team like Tampa Bay, so they didn’t accumulate a bunch of draft picks in the top five. 

We are not idiots.  That might be a good argument for an NBA team, but there are plenty of superstars in the major leagues who weren’t picked in the top five choice in the MLB draft. 

Remember Manny Ramirez?  13th pick overall.  Jim Thome was drafted in the 13th round! 

What should have Dolan said?

He should be positive, for one.  Talk about how his organization is obsessed with winning, and that they will do everything in their power to bring a title to this city. 

He could talk about how he will review the performance of his front office, and continued seasons of non-winning baseball will not be tolerated. 

He could talk about the good, young players on the roster right now, and that the Indians will do everything they can to make sure SS Asdrubal Cabrera and OF Shin-Soo Choo will continue in a Cleveland uniform for the foreseeable future.

Stop talking about finances!  No one cares. 

Obviously, the Dolans can own a major league baseball team, they bought one.  However, it appears they cannot run a major league baseball team.  And it seems like the local media doesn’t put a lot of pressure on them.

The most vociferous voices critical of recent Dolan platitudes are two guys who recently came to Cleveland and now work on 92.3 The Fan, Kevin Kiley and Adam the Bull.  Both have been stern in their comments that the message sent by the Tribe ownership is not acceptable.

It’s time for the Dolan family to stop producing excuses and start winning games. 

They’ve already brought a championship when it comes to telling the fans why it can’t/won’t happen.

MW

Most of the football talk in Cleveland at this time of year centers on the upcoming draft, and 2012 is no exception. 

The biggest name on the lips of Browns’ fans is Baylor QB and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.  Does GM Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur want him, and can Cleveland get him on draft day.

There still are doubts as to whether or not the Browns actually want Griffin, but they are certainly perceived as a team who should be interested.

Many of the national experts say if the Browns do indeed draft the signal caller, they will need to adjust the offense to take advantage of Griffin’s talent.

That would mean more plays run from the shotgun formation, which Shurmur seemed to scorn last season for Colt McCoy, who is also more comfortable set up a few yards behind the center.

The head coach and team president Mike Holmgren have stated they prefer to have their quarterback under center, just like a “pure” west coast offense.

Look, quarterbacks need to take snaps from center, no one runs out of a shotgun at all times.  So, this is not to say that Shurmur should not develop his passers to be able to get the ball at the line of scrimmage, and be able to read defenses from that spot.

Even if Griffin is drafted, the coaching staff should work to get him comfortable playing from under center.  There is no question about that.

However, you still have to allow the guy to come in and do what he does best, and have him do it right away. 

If he’s as good as scouts say, he should be able to make a positive impact immediately for the Browns.  But you have to let him be the player he was at Baylor to some extent.

And the Browns need to start winning football games.  Everyone is aware the last three seasons have yielded records of 5-11, 5-11, and 4-12. 

It’s time to be at least a .500 football team if not better. 

It means the organization doesn’t have to time to teach a player who seems to be a top-notch prospect an entirely new way to play the game. 

Let him do what he does well.  Let him play in a style he is familiar with and succeed.

The bigger question is this:  Are Pat Shurmur and Mike Holmgren willing to do that?  The way they talk, they seem reticent, and if they are going to force Griffin to play one way and one way only, then 2012 is going to be yet another developmental year.

And developmental means another 4-12 or 5-11 campaign.

That’s not acceptable again.

The best coaches in sports take the talent they have and put those players in the best position to succeed.  Last year, Pat Shurmur didn’t do that. 

We can chalk that up to it being his first year on the job, but on the other hand there are a lot of former NFL coaches for whom it wasn’t enough to win, they had to win a certain way (see Mangini, Eric).

Look at the guy considered the best in the business, Bill Belichick.  He favored a strong defense and a running game when he was here, but when he got Tom Brady, he decided to air it out.

Don Shula did the same with Miami.  He won with Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Mercury Morris in the 70’s, but when he got Dan Marino, he switched his thinking to take advantage of Marino’s golden arm.

The point is this:  If the Browns draft Robert Griffin III, here’s hoping Pat Shurmur allows him to do what he can do, and not try to make him a “system” quarterback.

JD

Today is the day baseball fans have yearned for since the end of last year’s World Series:  Pitchers and catchers report today to Goodyear, AZ.

The sports’ pundits have conflicting opinions on the Cleveland Indians.  Many of them feel the Tribe can contend for the AL Central Division title if they stay healthy, but there are several experts who feel the Indians did pretty much nothing in the off-season, and blew a chance to be in the race.

However, you have to remember that Cleveland was in the race for much of the 2011 campaign.  And with the struggles expected in Minnesota and Chicago, it appears the Tribe and Royals will be the chief challengers to Detroit in 2012.

For that to happen, a few things will have to break the Indians way. 

The biggest things would be performances of three players, one pitcher and two hitters.  These guys must show significant improvement for Cleveland to contend.

Ubaldo Jimenez.  The guy who came in the big trade last season is the biggest key to success in ’12. 

If the big right-hander pitches like the guy who toiled for the Rockies in 2010 (19-8, 2.88 ERA), suddenly Manny Acta has an imposing top two to his rotation (with Justin Masterson). 

If he doesn’t, the rotation is filled with soft tossers who will depend on defense for success.  Winning teams have starters who can strike people out, and with the other spots being filled by guys like Josh Tomlin, Derek Lowe, Kevin Slowey, and Jon Garland, Cleveland needs Jimenez to provide a consistent power arm.

The good news is he’s coming from a hitter park in Colorado to a pitcher’s park in Progressive Field. 

The bad news is there are a lot more good hitting teams in the American League. 

If the big righty struggles, not only does it make the trade look bad, the rotation will be short the dominant top two needed to win.

Carlos Santana.  This might sound crazy, because he hit 27 home runs and knocked in 79 in his first full year as a big leaguer.

However, his batting average was just .239 and that must be raised if the switch-hitting catcher is to become the lethal offensive player he was thought to be during his days in the minors.

Santana’s lifetime average in the minors was over .290, and if he can raise his average to around the .270 level, his on base percentage, which was .351 last year, will jump close to .400 and with his power, he would become an elite middle of the order hitter.

That’s what the Indians’ lineup has lacked since Travis Hafner’s heyday in the mid-00’s. 

Being able to pencil a hitter like that in the batting order everyday changes the entire offense. 

Santana will be just 26 this year and should be ready to take the next step.  If he does, the entire offense will be better.

Shin-Soo Choo.  Choo’s return to being the player he was from 2008-10 would be a significant help to the batting attack.  In those three years, the right fielder hit over .300 every year and averaged 19 homers during that span. 

His lowest OPS in that period was 883, meaning he was an elite offensive player in those years.  He was getting on base 40% of the time and his slugging percentage hovered around .500. 

Having Choo and Santana both at top form would form a formidable 3-4 punch for the Indians, and together with SS Asdrubal Cabrera would give Cleveland a potent top of the batting order. 

Three players like that can provide a spark that the rest of the lineup can feed off of.  It would also take the pressure off young players like Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall, and would make the club less dependent on oft-injured veterans Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner to contribute. 

If the Indians are going to contend this season, these three players must contribute in a big way.

MW

Would you or wouldn’t you? 

That was the question being asked throughout Cleveland this week as the Miami Heat came for their only visit to Quicken Loans Arena this season to take on the Cavaliers.  Of course, one of the Heat’s players is the former member of the Cavs and northeast Ohio resident, LeBron James.

James was asked if he would consider ever coming back to the franchise where he started his career and he said it had crossed his mind.  Seriously?

The most realistic thought fans had was that they root for the team, and if James were on the roster, they would support the “King”, but most people prefer that the former #23 never again wears the Cleveland uniform.

You see, James is an insecure superstar.  He has shown no history of making the players around him better, and he certainly has shown no loyalty to the guys who helped him give the wine and gold the NBA’s best record each of the last two seasons he played in Cleveland. 

Just ask Mo Williams, who was publicly dissed by James in his comments about Cleveland rookie Kyrie Irving. 

He’s also a star chaser.  He wanted to play with his buddy, Dwyane Wade, in Miami, and he comments publicly (via Twitter, of course) about dunks by Blake Griffin.  In fact, the way he kisses the behinds of other great players in the NBA, it looks like he’s preparing for a job as an analyst on ESPN.

It is this kind of stuff that irritates some of the hard-working good players in the league, like Kendrick Perkins, who would prefer James keep his mouth shut on such matters.

In fact, James would be better off keeping quiet on most matters.  He needs to see Kevin Costner’s character in Bull Durham for lessons in how to handle the media.  Give reporters a sound bite, but don’t say anything.  It’s a trait that has served Derek Jeter very well in baseball.

LBJ’s comments to the Cleveland media this week sounded like he was lobbying to lessen the inevitable booing that was going to take place in last night’s game.  Look people, I might want to come back, so please be nicer to me!

The stupid aspect of his comments was what do people in Miami think?  The fans won’t care too much, because there aren’t a lot of them, but you have to imagine team president Pat Riley was seething. 

One of Riley’s pupils, Cavs’ coach Byron Scott seemed surprised by James’ words, and spoke about the lack of respect for teams today’s players have.  Talking about going somewhere else during the season just wasn’t done in Scott’s day. 

If the Heat don’t win a title this year with Wade, James, and Chris Bosh, changes will likely be made, and you have to believe James will be the one to go.  Riley has to feel that he just doesn’t have the mental toughness to win a championship. 

So why would Clevelanders want him back?  It’s part of the intense yearning for a title that comes from not winning one since 1964. 

James made his decision on this area after the 2010 season.  He didn’t think he could lead the Cavaliers to a title.  Now that the Cavs have Irving, all of a sudden, it’s a place he might want to play?

He’s not happy in Miami, so he wants to come home.  Remember, he’s not one of us!  He roots for the Yankees and Cowboys.  He doesn’t embrace this area, he just happened to grow up around here.

If James does opt out of his deal, which he probably will because Wade will be 32 then, and will be on the downside of his career, so it will be time to chase another great player, let him go elsewhere.

Fans here will have more integrity than the so-called “Chosen One”.

JK

One of the great debates going on in the Cleveland sports landscape is should the Cavaliers try to win as many games as they can this season, or would another lottery pick be more beneficial.

Winning is learned.  For the most part, young players need to learn how to do it, how to close out close games.  So, in that regard, putting games in the “W” column can only help the wine and gold going forward.

Also, remember that you cannot expect professional athletes and coaches to try not to win.  Once the ball is tossed in the air, the adrenaline takes over and players want victories.

No matter which way the season goes, and with Anderson Varejao out for 6-8 weeks with a fractured wrist, the playoff dreams took a huge hit, the key for this organization going forward is GM Chris Grant.

In particular, his eye for talent. 

Even if you have a high lottery pick in the 2012 draft, if you don’t have the correct person judging the talent, you make a bad choice. 

The NBA is filled with players who were thought to have all kinds of ability and potential that have washed out.  If you take one of those guys, it will keep you in the lottery for years to come.

Ask the Los Angeles Clippers before they drafted Blake Griffin.  Check out the Washington Wizards.  Certainly, the Charlotte Bobcats have benefited greatly from the lottery.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers have one player picked in the top five of the draft, Evan Turner.  Indiana isn’t loaded with high lottery picks, either.  Yet, both are among the top teams in the league right now.

The reason is they have people within the organization that have made the right choices in terms of players, and it has paid off.

That’s why the most important person for the Cavaliers is Grant.  He has to make the right picks going forward.

At this point, you would have to say Grant has done a solid job bringing players in. 

After LeBron James left, Grant targeted two point guards to bring to Cleveland:  Ramon Sessions and Kyle Lowry.  He got Sessions, who is currently worth a first round pick in a deal, from Minnesota with Ryan Hollins for Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair, and the 2nd round pick.

Sessions has averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 assists with the Cavs since the trade. 

Lowry stayed with Houston after they matched an offer sheet tendered by the Cavs, and has averaged 13.9 points and 6.9 assists per game since the 2009-10 season.

Grant certainly hit a home run with Kyrie Irving as the first overall pick this season, although many suggested Cleveland take Derrick Williams, now with Minnesota.

The 4th overall pick, Tristan Thompson, is contributing as well, and you would have to search hard at this early date to find someone taken after the rookie from Texas that is playing better than him.

And you can’t forget Alonzo Gee, who has emerged as one of the Cavs’ best five players, and was found in the NBA D-League.  He has shown that he definitely has the ability to play in the Association.

Some people will point out the J.J. Hickson-Omri Casspi deal and put that in the negative column for Grant.  Casspi hasn’t worked out as well as expected, but Hickson is struggling to get playing time for Sacramento as well.

At worst, that deal is a push.

At this point, you have to give Grant a very good grade in judging talent. 

If he can continue down that road, he will be the most important Cavalier in bringing the wine and gold back to contention.

JK

The Dolan family bought the Cleveland Indians during the 2000 season they made the famous claim that they wanted to win multiple World Series championships.  Kind of makes them the Miami Heat right now, doesn’t it.

Of course, the city is still waiting for just one, and it doesn’t appear to be on the horizon soon.  Several baseball people wonder about the fact that currently, the Tribe has no one under contract for the 2013 season.  Not a single player. 

There is speculation that the current owners are planning to sell the franchise and Sportstime Ohio, the broadcase entity they started several years ago, and what better way to make the Indians sellable than to have no future large contracts on the books.

After the rollicking 90’s, with constant participation in the sport’s post-season and two trips to the World Series in a three year span, the 11 full seasons of Dolan ownership has returned Indians fans back to the desert. 

For the record, 11 seasons, three years over the .500 mark (2001, 2005, 2007), and two trips to the post-season (’01 and ’07).  And for the record, let’s remember that the first of those years were done with players already on the roster from the great AL Central Division title teams of 1995-1999. 

Yes, the Dolans did sign OF Juan Gonzalez to replace the departed Manny Ramirez, who went to Boston via free agency, but the rest of the core of that team was already in place.

So, when Indians’ fans display some anger about the recent past, it’s with reason.  The plan structured by former GM Mark Shapiro, now the team president, and continued by current GM Chris Antonetti hasn’t been very successful. 

Shapiro decided to start the rebuilding process in 2002, trading Roberto Alomar to the Mets for several players, most notably OF Matt Lawton and big time prospect OF Alex Escobar.  Shapiro was right to deal the future Hall of Famer, his last productive year in the bigs was 2001, but while Lawton turned into a serviceable player, even making an All-Star team with the Indians in 2004, Escobar had injuries and was a bust.

The biggest move Shapiro made came in the middle of ’02, when he made the famed Bartolo Colon deal, which netted the Tribe a bevy of all-stars:  2B Brandon Phillips (now with the Reds), OF Grady Sizemore, and former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee. 

It was that deal, along with the development of pitchers C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona, C Victor Martinez, SS Jhonny Peralta, and a minor deal which netted DH Travis Hafner for C Einar Diaz, that put the Indians in the mix for the post-season in 2005 and 2007.

Since then, it’s all gone south for the front office.

The last four seasons has seen 81 victories as the high water mark (2008), and two seasons of over 90 losses.

Hafner and Sizemore have been ravaged by injuries, keeping them off the field for most of that time period, while Cleveland has traded Sabathia, Lee, Martinez, and Peralta as they approached big paydays in free agency.  The best player acquired in any of those transactions has been P Justin Masterson.

You can certainly question the front office for either not identifying at least one of those players as keepers and making them the face of the franchise (Sabathia should have been that guy), and making poor judgments in the players received for these guys. 

The point is this, right now the current regime simply isn’t getting the job done. 

Antonetti made a bold move last season with the Tribe off to a great start (30-15), trading for former 19 game winner Ubaldo Jimenez for two former first round draft picks, LHP Drew Pomerantz and RHP Alex White.  If Jimenez doesn’t regain the form of 2010 (19-8, 2.88 ERA), this deal will be viewed the same way the Sabathia, Lee, and Martinez trades have been evaluated.  As failures.

This isn’t to say the front office hasn’t made any good moves.  They basically have stolen OF Shin-Soo Choo and SS Asdrubal Cabrera in minor deals with Seattle, and pilfered C Carlos Santana from the Dodgers.  The farm system has provided 2B Jason Kipnis and 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, who should be contributors over the next several seasons. 

However, if the Indians don’t finish over .500 this season, it will be five consecutive years of non-winning seasons.  It will be time to make a change in the way the team does its business. 

Patience is running out for the fans.  It should also be doing the same for the people who write the checks.

KM

For the most part, Cleveland professional sports franchises have one thing in common:  A lack of star power. 

You can certainly make the argument right now that the Cavaliers have their star in point guard Kyrie Irving, but he’s still a rookie and has a lot more improving to do.  No one doubts that once he gets better, he can become a perennial all-star and the face of the franchise. 

Basketball fans in this area did have a megastar for several years in LeBron James, but he proved to be someone who did not want to embrace the role of leader and winner.  He was content, and still is to some extent, to be more famous as a personality than as a winner. 

People in Orlando are experiencing the same thing with Dwight Howard.

The Indians seemingly want to build their team with a bunch of hard-working, seemingly anonymous (at least to people who don’t live in Northeast Ohi0) guys.  They fear that if a player shows signs of greatness, it is simply a fact that he will soon depart for a bigger market team when free agency arrives.

That’s why the Dolans talk about the window of opportunity opening every four or five years or so.  It gives them time to put together another “core group” of players.

The Browns haven’t had a nationally recognizable face since the team returned to the NFL in 1999.  Yes, Joe Thomas has been a perennial All-Pro, but he’s an offensive tackle.  NFL Films isn’t putting out DVD’s featuring the best blocks of Joe Thomas.

That’s why it would be such a shot in the arm of the Browns if they were to draft Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III this April.  Griffin would provide the buzz around the franchise that it so badly needs.  It would force people around the country to watch Cleveland highlights.

Unfortunately, that the state of sports today.  You need to have stars or you need to win to put people in the seats. 

That’s why the Indians struggle with attendance.  Despite their attitude that they know how to build a winner, the fact is that since Mark Shapiro started running the team (along with the Dolan ownership), the Tribe has had just two seasons (2005 and 2007) over the .500 mark. 

That sustained mediocrity doesn’t build excitement around the team, and that results in the lack of people in the seats. 

The Indians haven’t had a true face of the team since Jim Thome left either.

Sure, C.C. Sabathia and Grady Sizemore had all-star years here, but neither either stayed long enough (Sabathia) or kept the performance going long enough (Sizemore) to be that face.

And the attitude of ownership is such that it is likely no one will ever spend the majority of their career with the Indians again, that is, if they have a great deal of talent.

Instead, the city and Browns’ and Indians’ management seem to gravitate to the hard-working, lunch pail type players.  Guys like Josh Cribbs and Jack Hannahan.  Cribbs is great at what he does, but do you want the face of your team to be a special teams ace?

That’s the mentality of Cleveland, and it has to change.

You win in professional sports with talent.  If that talent has heart, determination, and the will to win, then you can win championships. 

Cleveland sports fans don’t want to hear that, but until they get some very good players, the title drought will continue.  That’s why the Cavaliers might just be the closest to winning right now.

MW

With spring training on the horizon, the Cleveland Indians will claim they have competition so several roster spots. 

However, history shows that GM Chris Antonetti and skipper Manny Acta have a good idea of who will come north with the big club to start the regular season on April 6th.

Here are the supposed spots that are up for grabs, along with the likely outcome:

Third base:  The competition will be between Lonnie Chisenhall, Jack Hannahan, Jason Donald, non-roster invitee Jose Lopez, and newcomer Russ Canzler, who is also in the mix at 1B.

Unless Chisenhall bats .050 in Arizona, he should be the starter.  He’s 23 years old, and batted .255 with 7 HR and 22 RBI in 212 at bats last season.

In reality though, he will probably be sent back to Columbus to start the season, with Hannahan and Lopez or Donald sharing the spot to start the year.

Why?  Because Acta would rather go with the better glove even though his team struggles to score runs. 

Remember, Hannahan’s .250 batting average last year raised his career mark to .231 (lifetime 675 OPS).

Bullpen:  Assuming five relief spots are in stone–Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Tony Sipp, and Joe Smith, that leaves two spots open in the bullpen.

The contenders are holdover Frank Herrmann, rookies Nick Hagadone and Chen Lee, and invitees Dan Wheeler, Chris Ray, Jeremy Accardo, and Robinson Tejeda.

Wheeler is pretty much a lock to make the squad.  He went 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA with the Red Sox last season, and has been a solid reliever in the AL since 2008.  He’s also saved 43 games in his career.

The other spot will likely come down to Hagadone, a lefty, and Tejeda.  The former would give Acta three southpaws in the bullpen, while Tejeda’s just 30 years old and offers another power arm if healthy. 

He’s fanned over a hitter an inning his last two healthy years in the majors (2009-10). 

If his arm is sound, look for Tejeda to get the spot.

Starting rotation:  Once again, we are assuming the top four starters are Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Tomlin, and newly acquired Derek Lowe. 

That leaves several candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation:  Lefties David Huff and Scott Barnes, and right-handers Kevin Slowey, Jeanmar Gomez, and Zack McAllister.

It should come down to whoever pitches the best in spring training, but in reality, unless Slowey falls out of a tree or gives up home runs to every other hitter, he’s going to get the nod.

Cleveland will overlook the veteran’s horrible 2011 season (0-8, 6.67) and remember his time with the Twins from 2008-10 (35-20, 4.36), thinking he can recapture that performance.

Last bench player:  Assuming Shelley Duncan has a roster spot locked up, the last spot on the bench is between Donald, Aaron Cunningham, Canzler, Ryan Spilborghs, Felix Pie, and Fred Lewis.

Since the roster is filled with left-handed hitters, it would be a big surprise if either Pie or Lewis came north.

Donald may be a platoon partner at 3B, so that leaves the spot between Cunningham, acquired from San Diego in a trade, Canzler, and Spilborghs.

This spot maybe the only one that will be based on performance in spring training.  Cunningham and Spilborghs have slight edges because they can play CF and have more big league experience than Canzler.

You can refer back to this piece when the final roster is announced in early April.  Based on the history of this organization, the guess here is our accuracy will be very high.

MW