I think one thing PFT.com is failing to consider when talking about the "guaranteed money" flaw is that lots of NFL players do stupid things with their money, particularly top rookie draft picks who are flush with cash after spending a few years living in a dorm room and eating off the meal card at the cafeteria. So, if Alex Smith's 4 million in 2010 equates to only about 3.275 mil, that might no be so bad if the percentage of wasteful big-time-rookie spending averages, say, 40%. Even if that factor decreases the longer a player is in the league (and presumably gets a little more attuned to money matters), one could presume that your average rookie's 4 million in 2006 might equal significantly less in 2010 once all the Bentleys are paid for. I like Alex Smith might be better off, whether he knows it or not.
The Browns have now signed all rookies except Travis Wilson. Cool. I'd expect Wilson to sign ASAP too, since he's the guy who most needs to get into camp on time. Overall, this sounds good -- little drama in signing draft picks is a nice thing for a team that needs bodies. It will be particularly interesting to see how the new blood at linebacker shakes out. Let's get it on...
The PD's Bob Livingston is quick to pour cold water on the cautious optimism surrounding Charlie Frye and the QB position. This seems sort of lame to me. I agree with everything Livy says except his attitude, which is one of presumed failure. At this point I don't see any harm in expecting moderate success from Frye. The fact is that the Browns do have a better team around him than they've had for probably any QB in the last 8 years except maybe Couch in 2001, and that's even debatable. But Livy takes it to an absurd extreme, coming to the conclusion that ignorant Joe Montana comparisons are inevitable, which is flat out stupid. Once again, Livingston mistakes fans enthusiasm, enjoyment and simple fun-loving attitude of Browns fans for fans actual expectations. No wonder he sounds so out of touch. Has he never tailgated after an early season win and high-fived a buddy saying, "We're going to the f'n Super Bowl!" ??? If not, you have to ask yourself whether a Bob Livingston column is at all meaningful to actuals fans of the Browns.
Meanwhile, Grossi details the Browns failings are quarterback since 1999. I think you could argue that the premise is a bit flawed, since even the utmost Couch-hater would allow that having such a poor team around him really hurt the team. In fact, it didn't even allow the Browns for several years to truly get a clear sense whether the guy was any good. And knocking Savage for a poor QB track record is a bit disenguous when I think everyone would agree that the Browns are in a stage where they want to build up the team before investing a high draft pick or a pile of dollars at the QB postion. Grossi even concludes with, "Savage's reputation is on the line." Is it? I think it's on the line if the defense doesn't improve. If the offensive line doesn't get better. But as much as we want him to succeed, Frye is not a make or break deal.
For anyone even remotely, faintly interested in English soccer, check out a great article on picking an English Premiership League club to root for. In the coming years you can bet these games will become more prominent in the US. And now is the time to buy in before you'll have blatantly jumped on a bandwagon. And if you are as annoyed with the @game experience of NFL football (as well as most pro sports), you'll appreciate the article's slant... describing the Middlesbrough club: "One of their fans ran on the field last year and ripped up his season tickets right in front of their coach. True story." I think any decent Browns fan can respect that...
From the did-I-hear-that-right file: The news that the old Cleveland Greyhound garage is being converted into a luxury gay bathhouse strikes me as... just flat out weird. But what is crazy is I heard about it on a local NPR station where they were advertising an upcoming program where they planned to discuss the "risks and benefits of gay bathouses." Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people doing their thing, but, c'mon, you couldn't make this stuff up!
It's cool to drive home from work along the east shoreway and see the scoreboards being tested in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Although it sort of sucks that what is being tested are the usual in-game promotional and manufactured "go-team-go" pap. That is another matter. What is cool is that football is upon us. Even if it's two months of poor substitutes for actual games-that-matter action.
This SI Brown preview will tell you nothing you don't already know, except this: "The Browns have played the eventual Super Bowl champion in every season since rejoining the league in 1999. They are 0–9 in such matchups, getting outscored 260–68." Ouch.
A week before the All-Star break I was allowing the Indians one more stretch of games before agreeing that they were finished in 2006. Well, obviously, they are finished and the season has been a big dissappointment. The fact they didn't measure up to 2005 isn't that suprising, but that they are headed for a sub-.500 finish is. Guys are getting traded and clearly 2006 is now an attempt to check out some minor-leaguers and maybe acquire guys to help in subsequent years. Not what we all wanted to see.
Still, I think the alarmism I read and hear is premature. The buzz now is how the Indians have so many players who either play out of position or are not very good fielders. While I think that is valid criticism for Victor Martinez, it's not for guys like Peralta, Michaels, Broussard and Boone. Those guys are not great fielders but they are good enough if their bats are solid. And it doesn't speak to all the other dissappointments pitching-wise. I think everyone should shrug their shoulders, so oh well, and still consider that the team is still poised to at least be decent for several years to come. That's the way baseball works sometimes.