LeBron eyeing Lakers & Mavs

Privately, LeBron James' circle had been telling people that they don't just expect him to leave in the summer of 2010, but in the words of one James associate to a high-ranking league official: He's gone. With the Knicks, there are two teams a source familiar with James' thinking says intrigue him: The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

Yahoo Sports

Salty's Thoughts: Please LeBron, don't hurt 'em. Don't make Cleveland witness that.

Tailgate Menu for Sunday

Pickle and Relish Dish
Cracklin Rosie Corn Bread
Bacon and Gorgonzola Potato Salad
Buffalo Chicken Wraps w/ all the toppings!
BLAZIN BROWNS Baked Beans (FULLY LOADED!!)
DUDE' 'RANCH PORKCHOPS!
Finishing Touch: Raven Pie Bites (Assorted Mini Pies Custom Built for Tailgating)
AND! CLEVELAND BROWNIES!

Salty's Thoughts: Can't wait. Jam out.

In Honor of Hal...

A little of this and a little of that ...
By: Coach

So there are some things bringing me to the boiling point this week, a week during which I should be ecstatic because we have a World Series, NFL, College Football and the start of the NBA season. Is this the most exciting time of the year or what?

MLB
I don't need to even get into the issue of how Major League Baseball has handled this postseason, with all the days off, late start times in order to fulfill primetime television obligations, etc. My gears have been grinding bigtime lately when it comes to MLB and I don't really want to get into it. It's satisfying to say that professional football is America's favorite sport, and that baseball is still America's favorite pastime. As far as Major League Baseball is concerned, it is not America's pastime. The MLB has been a joke in the past decade and that is due in large part to the aging crapbag wearing a double-knot windsor that calls himself a commissioner. He needs to go!

America's pastime can be seen at youth games – ranging from Little League all the way up to High School baseball. If you are ever looking to find the game of baseball at its best, please refrain from going to the stadium. Just go to the local park instead. Trust me when I say that it is much more fulfilling an experience.

NFL Week 8
It was a great week in the NFL. Go Titans! As much as I would like to hang around a bonfire with a good 'ol boy like Peyton Manning, as a quarterback I love even more to see him walking off the field shaking his head with a mush face. I hope the Titans go 16-0 and the Colts go 3-13. That would be funny and I would dance with delight in my Ozzie Newsome jersey.

I was pleased to see the Browns beat a good Jaguars team on the road. Even more pleased to see them accomplish that without Kellen Winslow in the lineup. And as I looked at The Team's results over the last five weeks, I was shocked to see that they have lost only one time! One loss in five weeks! And that one loss came in the form of a 14-11 defensive battle with the Redskins on the road. The Browns have gone 3-1 over this span (one of those weeks was their bye). Have the Browns really turned it around after starting out 0-3? Or should I ask: Was there really anything there to "turn around" considering they started out vs. Dallas (L, 10-28), vs. Pittsburgh (L, 6-10) and AT Baltimore (L, 10-28)?

Those first three losses were against strong opponents (Baltimore IS strong at home). And then the Browns did get a break as they played Cincinnati, a game in which they won 20-12. I should mention that they won 20-12 while playing poorly. So they were sitting at 1-3. Still in a huge hole because Pittsburgh was 3-1. We were 2 games back.

And then the Browns had to face the defending NFL champion New York Giants. Shake the 8-ball. Wait a second … "Outlook Not Good." Shit! But this was Monday Night Football, baby! And the Browns were playing on The Lake! Orange and Brown showed up and took care of business, stomping the Champs 35-14! Sittin' at 2-3. Still in a big hole to Pittsburgh, who won during our bye week, going up 2.5 games. With our win and Pittsburgh's Week 6 bye, they were 4-1 and we were 2-3, back to 2 games out. F@$% wild card. We want the division! Right?

Going on to Week 7. Sure, the Browns looked like garbage, but they were playing a quality Redskins team on the road and despite Clinton Portis going off on our front seven, we held them in check to 14 points. Problem was … we only scored 11. It was a battle, and both Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards both lost this game for Cleveland. So we fell back to two games under .500 at 2-4, while the Steelers won again, improving to 5-1 and now holding a 3-game lead over Cleveland.

But here we are, Week 8. This week could either make or break the season. You'd have to consider the possibility of Pittsburgh beating the Giants, improving to 6-1, and the Browns falling to Jacksonville on the road and falling to 2-5. This would put us in a 4-game hole. Instead, the unthinkable happened. The Steelers blew a 4th quarter lead and lost to the Giants. And as for the Browns, they manhandled the Jaguars who have been so potent behind nearly mistake-free David Gerrard, and running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. But Shaun Rogers – all 6-4 and 350 (listed) pounds of him – plugged up all the holes created by one of the best lines in football and consistently pressured Gerrard. He tackled Jones-Drew on a 3rd-and-3 for a loss, then on the very next play blocked a field goal attempt. Talk about stepping up.

Capitalizing on the Steelers' loss, bringing them down to 5-2, the Browns took their game at JAX by a 23-17 count and improved to 3-4, yet again back to 2 games behind the Steelers.

If you consider Pittsburgh's schedule, it is probably as difficult as Cleveland's for 3rd toughest in the league this year. I'm saying Cincinnati and Baltimore have the most difficult.

Cleveland's sked doesn't get any easier than Week 16 vs. CIN (0-8). Upcoming they have Baltimore (4-3) at home next week, then it's vs. DEN (4-3), at BUF (5-2), vs. HOU (3-4), vs. IND (3-4), at TEN (7-0), at PHI (4-3), the Cincy game, and finally at PIT (5-2). Ouch!

But for now, things are looking good. After starting 0-3, Cleveland is 3-1 against mostly good teams.

STEROIDS AND CHEATING
Why is it that baseball continues to get looked upon negatively when it comes to steroids and cheating, while when it comes to other sports everybody seems to open their eyes wide, lift their brows, and then suddenly then turn their cheeks. What gives?

We love to hate Major Leaguers using steroids and we simply just don't give a shit when players from other sports use them.

Let us go back to 1998 when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa became larger than life when they competed in a race to break Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs in a single season. McGwire won, ultimately finishing up the '98 campaign with a stunning 70 to Sosa's 66. Both broke the record but McGwire was King of the Longball!

America was like Stevie Wonder, blind to something, while moving their collective heads back and forth in joy. The following year these two monsters were at it again when McGwire hit 65 to Sosa's 63. Amazing, right?

Then in 2001, Barry Bonds was smacking balls into McCovey Cove at an incredible pace considering how much he walks. He wound up hitting 73 home runs that year with right around 400 at-bats. Oh yeah, and he was 37 years old. What the heck?! Those are slow-pitch softball numbers. Finally, we started questioning things.

In March 2005, Rafael Palmeiro, McGwire, Sosa, Jose Canseco and Curt Schilling were summoned to testify in front of Congress. Canseco admitted his steroid use, Palmeiro explicitly denied any and everything, McGwire refused to discuss the issue and Sosa was suddenly no longer bilingual. Schilling sat there, a pitcher alongside sluggers, and talked about how important professional athletes were to kids and how wrong it is to take performance-enhancing drugs.

All of a sudden Jason Giambi was forgotten about and since nobody cared about Canseco or Palmeiro, McGwire and Sosa were our new focus.

Since then Bonds has been charged with perjury for lying under oath about his involvement in the BALCO scandal, so since he is the single-season and all-time home run king, he is the new blacklist focus and McGwire and Sosa have been lost in the shuffle.

All this focus on MLB players using 'roids, while any player who had been suspended for doping in other sports only makes headlines when the story first breaks.

The Tour de France has been plagued by cyclists doping, even its winners (Floyd Landis in 2006) and highly-publicized favorites (Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso in 2006, Alexander Vinokourov and Michael Rasmussen in 2007 and Manuel Beltran in 2008). This is an athletic event considered by many to be the most physically-grueling considering it's daily sprints and mountainous climbs over the course of a monthlong ride through the Pyrenees and the Alps. But the Tour de France doesn't really matter much to Americans. French reporters have been trying to pin doping scandals on American and 7-time Tour champ Lance Armstrong for years now. He keeps coming up clean though.

And in the NFL, several players have been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Most notably was the case with a 6-foot, 4-inch, 272-pound 24-year-old named Shawne Merriman. The guy is a physical freak. He was drafted 12th overall in 2005 and in 3 NFL seasons has posted 39.5 sacks, earning All-Pro honors in all three seasons. However, he has been forgotten about and forgiven for his steroid usage.

Here we are, quick to hate Giambi, McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro and Roger Clemens at a time when performance-enhancing drugs were running rampant through professional sports, but on the other hand, quick to forget about Landis, Ullrich, Merriman and others. Is it simply because these players aren't as recognizable because nobody in the States cares about the Tour, and football players hide beneath their helmets and behind their face masks, while baseball players are recognized both at the plate and in the field with their faces clearly exposed and more recognizable? Or is it because, deep down, we as a country love baseball more than any other sport and hold its players more accountable than professional athletes in other sports?

My beef here is that baseball players who are found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs are rightly-so dragged through the mud, but on the other hand, professional athletes found guilty for the same offenses in other professional sports are all but forgotten about for their wrongdoings after a few days or a week. What gives? Why the hate in baseball and the love for athletes who are just a guilty in other sports?

Have I mentioned the NBA? Nope. The issue of using performance-enhancing drugs in the NBA has not even been mentioned in the media. Maybe other controlled substances are more of an issue in basketball, but I'd be willing to bet that if the NBA tested for performance-enhancing drugs and released information on positive results like MLB did, that you would find several high-profile players testing positive and ultimately being suspended. But then again, maybe we would just forget and forgive because the fan base in the NBA is not nearly as sophisticated and polished as it is with MLB. Right?

Major League Baseball is supposed to be America's sport. Although the game of "baseball" might be, the NFL is hands-down America's favorite game to watch. So with that being said, MLB players are more high-profile because their faces are more recognizable. The NFL might be more popular with Americans, but it is considered more of a team sport with teams being recognized, followed by fans and loved more so than the individual players. The NBA nobody cares much about because the majority of Americans sees its players as nothing more than a bunch of high-jumping, slam-dunking kids from the projects who were raised on Cheerios, marijuana blunts and 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor (even though that couldn't be further from the truth), and nobody in America cares about professional cycling outside of Lance Armstrong's career.

So what we have here when it comes to cheaters and dopers is one sport/league (baseball/MLB), being subject to more public scrutiny than all the other sports, and that is completely wrong. At some point we have to hold other athletes more accountable for their actions.

Salty's Thoughts: Coach is like a verbal Pirate who has exchanged his sword for a pen and bottle of ink.

Let me rant for a minute...

At what point do professional athletes forget what it's like to "work" for their money? At what point do they forget that $100,000+ is a TON OF MONEY, and more than most people make in a year? I'd like to see a poll of every fan in the stands at a Cleveland Browns game and see how many make $100,000+ a year. I bet it's the minority.

That being said, why run your mouth and incorporate a $100,000 fine? And by "your mouth" I mean the mouth(s) of professional athletes. Stop bashing the referees. They are human. Human Error is part of sports, and it has been since you were little. Remember growing up thinking, "I want to be a Pro _______ one day!"? Did you ever dream, wish, think you'd actually get there, and then F it up by spitting drinks in someones face, or smoking weed, or just being a prick? Instead of showboating after you scored a touchdown, which is what you are PAID to do, take that $50,000 and buy a family a home to get them off the street. You don't see me spike my weekly reports that I have to turn into my boss. If I did, I'd probably be fired. I can honestly tell you I don't pound my chest every time I send an email. It's what I get paid to do. I've been there before.

In case you've forgotten what it's like to work for your money, and have it count, come down to Muni Lot one brisk Sunday in Cleveland. You can meet thousands of people that bust their ass 5+ days a week to buy a ticket to see YOU FOOLS compete on a weekly basis.

If we are paying the money, you better be on the field. If you're hurt, we understand. If you did something ignorant to get benched/suspended, where's our refund? Take the $250,000 you just lost and split it among the season ticket holders that paid to be there to see the best players play.

Actually, now that I think about it, give that money to that guys back up. Give it to a Midget Football team that needs helmets. Basically, give it to a player that gives a damn. Obviously half of these "super athletes" have lost their vision.

That's my rant for the day.

Holmes apologizes

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes apologized Monday for being involved in a marijuana-related case that caused coach Mike Tomlin to bench him for Sunday's loss to the New York Giants.

Holmes, a 2006 first-round draft pick, was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana after a traffic stop Thursday in which city police smelled burning marijuana and found marijuana-filled cigars in his car.

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Salty's Thoughts: Smoking weed during the NFL season? You must be half Gump. That's some expensive cheeba, fool. At least he didn't blow the smoke in some ladies face, right Larry?

Johnson Charged With Assault

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City running back Larry Johnson, already facing possible suspension by the NFL, was charged Monday with simple assault for spitting his drink in a woman's face. It's the second such charge the former Pro Bowler is facing.

Kansas City police spokesman Darin Snapp said Johnson turned himself in and was released after posting a $500 bond.

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Salty's Thoughts: Idiot.

Are the Browns better...

without K2?

The more I watch, and the more I see it, I think they are.

Steve Heiden is a MUCH better blocker, and has proven in his last 2 starts (and in previous games with the Browns before this season) that he has very capable receiving skills.

The offense seems to sputter when K2 is on the field. Is it because defenses know he won't/can't block?

I'm not sure what it is, and I'm surely not against K2 in any way, but I have to ask again; Are the Browns better without K2?

Thoughts?

Leisure Suit Larry...a spitter?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is being investigated for allegedly spitting a drink in a woman's face at a nightclub, the fourth time in five years he's been accused of assaulting a woman.

Kansas City police are looking into a report of nonaggravated assault against Johnson for telling a woman that he was going to kill her boyfriend then spitting in her face at Club Blonde on Oct. 10.

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Salty's Thoughts: You know things are tough in the streets when high profile NFL players can't even get ladies. Attention parents: train your kids to be swimmers. Phelps is getting his.

Attention NFL players: stay home.

Browns TE Winslow could face discipline for comments on GM

ESPN.com news services

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Romeo Crennel confirmed Monday that tight end Kellen Winslow was hospitalized last week with a staph infection and that he may discipline the Pro Bowler for

"Sometimes the emotions of the game and the emotions of your personal situation kind of overflow," Crennel said. "So I think he probably said some things that he didn't need to talk about to the media."

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Salty's Thoughts: zip it K2. Don't blame you for being bummed that Savage didn't call you, but Savage did pay you after you were playing Stuntman on your motorcycle. (remember the thumbs up, Kellen?)

Browns Need A Change Under Center

By Mark "Coach" Catalano

When will the powers that be who run the Cleveland Browns – Phil Savage, Rob Chudzinski and Romeo Crennel – finally get it through their thick skulls that Derek Anderson should not be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns?

I mean, everybody outside of Scappoose, Ore., knows that Derek Anderson's place in the National Football League is as a backup. He's only a slightly better version of Charlie Frye.

I love the Cleveland Browns but I hate to see them like this, with so much potential hidden behind a clipboard, lurking in the shadows of a coach with a 65–inch waist.

So what will it take for Savage, Chud and "Big Belly" Romeo to finally see the light? I've got it! Maybe just another 5-11 or 6-10 season. Ho-hum, those are a dime a dozen in Northest Ohio.

The Browns looked really bad against the Redskins in Week 7 and I honestly thought that each time Cleveland regained possession that Brady Quinn would be under center. Never happened though.

If you look at the one bright spot this season, the thrashing of the defending-champion Giants on national television Week 6, the Browns looked bad even in that game. When I think back to it, the one thing that stands out in my mind is how often the Browns were penalized and how they somehow found a way to continue their drives looking like clueless fools. I think the Browns were more shocked than the Giants. Did you see the look on Jamal Lewis' face through his facemask when they'd show replays of his few decent rushes? It was the same expression you'd expect to see adorn the face of a man stepping out of jail for the first time in 30 years. Like, "Holy cow! This is what it's like out here!"

Perhaps Anderson is still under center because of the three-year contract extension he signed this offseason that gives him $14 million in guaranteed money. I mean, how can "BB" Romeo justify benching a guy who eats up so much of your team's payroll. Maybe they're keeping him at the helm with their fingers crossed, hoping and praying he can string together 3 to 4 respectable games so they can dump him off to another team that is in need of a quarterback. Because the way it looks right now, nobody is going to touch Anderson and his contract with the way he's played thus far.

In two preseason games he was 8-for-15 for 40 yards, with one TD and no picks. In six regular season games this year, his completion percentage is below 50 percent and his quarterback rating is a dismal 62.9. He was sacked 14 times in 16 games a year ago. This year he's already been taken to the turf nine times in just six games.

Take away the Giants game in Week 6, and Anderson has not thrown more than one touchdown pass in any other single game. Take away the Giants game and he has four TD passes to six INTs. His single-game quarterback ratings – excluding the Giants game, of course – have all been less than 75, and he's completed less than 60 percent of his passes in four games this year.

Why draw a strike through the Giants game? Because it was a lucky one. It was the first time he's actually put together a quality game against a legitimate contender.

Take for example last season. The Browns' schedule was much easier than it is this year and all the team did was beat most of the teams that it was supposed to have beaten.

Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh. Anderson completed only 46 percent of his passes. Threw for 184 yards and had a rating of 65.2.

Week 5 vs. New England. Anderson completed 51 percent of his passes, threw three picks and had a rating of 59.0.

Week 10 vs. Pittsburgh. Anderson completed 45 percent of his passes for just 123 yards.

And really the only other good team the Browns played last year was Buffalo. Sure the game was a blizzard, but let the record show Anderson completed just 37 percent of his throws for 137 yards and a QB rating of 57.1.

Those four contests were the only difficult ones for Anderson and the Browns in 2007. The rest of last year's schedule was against Cincinnati twice, Baltimore twice, Oakland, Miami, St. Louis, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, New York (Jets) and San Francisco. Yes, I am counting Seattle as a feeble team because they choke in games outside their division consistently every year and we all know they have historically dominated probably the weakest division in football.

Of those 12 games against pushovers, Anderson padded his overall season statistics in roughly 4-5 of them with big games for lots of yardage and touchdown passes, and good completion percentages and QB ratings. Oh yeah, and in the other 7-8 games against lackluster teams he churned out mediocre performances while other players like Lewis and Josh Cribbs shined.

I don't want to even start talking about Anderson's performance in the Pro Bowl. So we will just continue and jump straight to my point that Derek Anderson looks better than he really is. You know, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning make other players on their teams better. With the Browns, it's the other players on the team who make Derek Anderson better. Lewis, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius are just flat out quality football players. Joe Thomas is a stud who could find a way to block a King Ranch F-350. Carefully put these pieces together and as long as they are healthy it does not matter who is at the helm of the Cleveland offense and the man in command will look halfway decent. Heck, you could've thrown Joey Harrington or (ready for this?) TIM COUCH in there, and the Browns still would have won 10 games a year ago. Why? Because the players around the quarterback are that good, and Chudzinski's offensive mind is off the chain.

So there is a clear explanation as to why Cleveland was 10-6 last year, narrowly missing the playoffs, and why they are 2-4 this season. That's because last year the Browns had one of the weakest schedules in football and this year they have one of the most difficult.

Take a minute and look at how the team has done overall and how they stack up against the rest of the league. In 2007 the Browns were No. 8 in total offense, averaging 351.3 yards per game. This year? Try No. 30, averaging about 100 ypg less at 255.5. Why? Strength of sked!

Passing the ball last year the Browns were No. 12. This year No. 28. Rushing last year No. 10. Rushing this year No. 24. Yes, the running game has suffered this year and that is only because opposing defenses are not respecting the pass. The only real bright spot for the Browns has been their defense – believe it or not!

Last year the Browns defense was ranked No. 30 with an easy schedule. This year they are ranked No. 18 with a tough schedule. Against the pass last year they were No. 24. This year the Cleveland defense is No. 7!

Average score from a year ago? Browns 25.1. Opponents 23.9. Those numbers are the ingredients for what makes very exciting games!

The hype was reminiscent of what it was like in 80s. On offense Anderson was our Bernie Kosar. Lewis was our Earnest Byner/Kevin Mack back, combining power and speed. Winslow was our Ozzie Newsome, always there, catching everything. Edwards was our Webster Slaughter, the big play guy. Jurevicius was our Brian Brennan, the sure-handed, clutch receiver. Cribbs was our Gerald "Ice Cube" McNeil, finding a way to make punt and kick returns exciting week-in and week-out. Thomas was our Cody Risien, making all the key blocks when we needed 'em most. On defense there was really nothing much to talk about last year. I can draw no comparisons. But on special teams, along with the Cribbs-McNeil comparison, you could say that Phil Dawson and Dave Zastudil were about as clutch as Matt Bahr and Jeff Gossett from those mid-80s teams. The Browns buzz was running rampant! Fans were painting their faces and eating dog bones again!

But then, average score this year? Browns 15.3. Opponents 17.7. Back to resembling more of the expansion Browns than those of the glorious 80s playoff teams.

So why not bench Anderson after one of the numerous drives that have stalled due to his inaccurate passing and inability to simply make something happen, and go with fan-favorite Brady Quinn – the hometown boy? I don't get it!

Crennel can't speak of inexperience anymore. Quinn has been standing on the sidelines for quite some time. How can a guy get experience unless you put him into a regular season game. Quinn has been under center during the regseas for about 20 snaps – and that was against the 49ers in Week 17 of last year. This guy knows the offense, probably better than Anderson. In fact, I'd bet my tackle box on it. I say that simply because the man is just flat out smarter. He double-majored at Notre Dame in finance and political science. Anderson majored in liberal studies at Oregon State. Yep, he's a real Beaver.

All Quinn played in 2007 were three preseason games, mostly in the fourth quarter, and one regular season game (2 drives in Week 17). In those four total games, he was 32-for-53 (60.3 comp pct.), for 345 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. He was not sacked once!

So far in 2008, Quinn has not taken a regular season snap. This is a travesty! In his four preseason appearances this year he completed 41 of 62 passes (66.1 comp pct.), for 428 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked just once.

In his first seven NFL games (combined preseason and regular season), Quinn has completed 73 of 115 passes (63.5 comp pct.), for 773 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, and has been sacked one time.

Quinn is younger, more physically fit, smarter, more athletic and can take a hit (when he actually does get hit, because he is also more astute in the pocket than Anderson), so why not order him to shed the ballcap and strap up with the big boys? What are we waiting for? Lets get rid of the Baltimore Ravens' sixth round pick from 2005, and play the Cleveland Browns' first round pick from 2007.

With the way the AFC is going lately, a team could possible snag a Wild Card spot at 9-7. But then again, Cleveland would have to go 7-3 the rest of the way. And with Anderson under center, I just don't know that they can do that.

Five keys to guarding a woman in pick-up basketball

by Joe Tone
Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 07:58:28 AM

"Finally I get to guard someone who's shorter than me!"
-- the Chick Who Shut Me Down in Pick-Up Basketball the Other Day

If you're anything like me – that is, built like Dakota Fanning – you know the travails of being small. Aside from an ability to accurately depict Marty McFly at Halloween (I'll be the one on the Hoverboard, ladies), there is no upside to being short. It's well known that shorter guys get paid less, get laid less, and are viewed by every potential mate as little more than a genetic liability.

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Salty's Thoughts: never a dull read from J-Tone. He also has a wicked 3 point shot.

Polamalu says NFL's fines for hits more about money, not player safety

ESPN.com news services

Troy Polamalu is usally soft-spoken off the field, hard-hitting on it. The recent rash of fines leveled at his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates have caused him to take a shot at the NFL, however.

The Steelers safety suggested Wednesday that the NFL is leveling fines for hits more for its own interest than that of the players.

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Salty's Thoughts: I despise Polamalu. That's why you get a fun picture, instead of staring at his fugly grill.

Trick...

or treat...

Was the Browns victory a TRICK or a TREAT?

Are they for real...or was it a must win game, on a huge stage?

Let's hear it.

- Salty

Browns Win the Super Bowl!!

Well, kinda.

As we walked into the game, we made a pact:

If the Browns get destroyed, let's not get upset, instead, let's enjoy the Monday Night Football atmosphere.

As we walked out, the conversation was:

Did that just happen? I'm still in shock. Boy, Downtown sure is packed.

Traffic leaving was horrid. We should've just grabbed a beer.

I got home at 1:30am. Couldn't fall asleep 'til 3.

Did the Browns win the Super Bowl? Not even close.

Did it feel kinda like it? You have no idea.

- Salty

Tailgate Sponsor...what?

Vitamin Water just delivered our cases of Revive Vitamin Water.

Trust me, chug one of these before bed after tailgating and you will notice the difference!

Stop by our tailgate spot in Muni for a cold one...Revive that is!

http://www.glaceau.com/

log on...your headache will thank you!

- Salty

5 hour countdown...

In 5 hours I will witness kickoff of a Monday Night Football game. I can't imagine the atmosphere.

Unfortunately I am a bit worried that the Browns may get blown out and be embarrased.

I've told myself: Go to the game (and the bars before!) and enjoy the atmosphere. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Monday Night Football.

Hell, it may be the last Monday Night game we'll see in Cleveland for quite a while...

Lovely.

Browns TE Winslow Misses Practice

Berea, OH -- (Sports Network) - Cleveland Browns starting tight end Kellen Winslow missed Thursday's practice with an undisclosed illness.The Browns, coming off a bye, are unsure of Winslow's availability for Monday night's tilt against the New York Giants. The Miami-Florida product has recorded 19 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown thus far for 1-3 Cleveland. Starting right tackle Kevin Shaffer (concussion)) also missed Thursday's practice session and his status for Monday is also unknown.Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network

Salty's Thoughts: He better play. It's Monday Night against the champs. Be there, K2, Be there. ps: his arms look intense in that pic.

If you had ONE quarter...

Which game are you putting it in?

One on One or Arch Rivals?

ps: that Arch Rivals machine looks hit. Must've been kicked by some unruly youth at a local Shopping Mall. Darn ruffians.

Hidden Gem Found While Cleaning Basement

Who says cleaning out the basement doesn't pay? I dug up my old Apple IIc, and low and behold, One on One (Dr. J Vs. Larry Bird) was in the floppy disk slot. Call it what you want. I call it endless hours of enjoyment. Give me an old apple with such classics as Spy Hunter, Load Runner, Strip Poker(green boobs are still boobs), Montezuma's Revenge, Winter Games, Zaxxon, Hard Hat Mac, and Choplifter and i'll show you pure joy spread across a late twenty somethings face.

Raptors Down Cavaliers as James Rests

By TOM WITHERS

Posted Oct 7 2008 10:00PM

Toronto 104, Cleveland 84

When he had the chance, Mo Williams pushed the ball up the floor and he wasn't shy about directing his teammates.

"Other side, Sasha,'' he hollered when Cavs forward Sasha Pavlovic was slow to react to a called play.

Toronto vs Cleveland recap.

12 pts, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 three pointers and 1 TO in 26 min, not bad for the new guy, it should be nice to have a real PG finally this year. (and how about the guy who has been with the team for a few months telling Sasha who has been playing solid minutes for 3 years now where to be on the floor)

Also its nice to see Ben Wallace & Andy V combine to grab 2 boards in 35 total minutes on the floor. Weak. - jdm

Paul Newman Honored For 'Slap Shot' Role

Arena Hanging Banner Celebrating Classic Film

POSTED: 5:20 pm EDT October 7, 2008

UPDATED: 5:37 pm EDT October 7, 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The No. 7 that Paul Newman wore as Reg Dunlop in the classic 1977 hockey comedy "Slap Shot" is going to the rafters of the Syracuse War Memorial.The Syracuse Crunch announced Tuesday that the team will pay tribute to the late actor by raising a banner before Saturday's American Hockey League game against the Rochester Americans. The banner will stay there for the entire season.Crunch president Howard Dolgon said it's appropriate Newman's legacy should be recognized and honored in the arena where parts of the legendary movie were filmed.Newman died last month at age 83 after a battle with cancer.A video tribute to Newman's role in "Slap Shot" will be shown during the ceremony.

Link.

Fielder: 'I'm garbage'

Prince Fielder doesn't make excuses. After another hitless performance in Game 2 of the NLDS Thursday night left him 0 for 7 in the series, this is what he had to say: "Right now I'm just kind of garbage but hopefully I can make it up." Well, Fielder's not the only guy in the trash bin. The Brewers hit .115 as a team and scored three runs in losing the first two games to Philly, putting them in must-win situations for the rest of the series. Mike Cameron is 0 for 7. Jason Kendall is 0 for 6. Corey Hart is 1 for 7. J.J. Hardy is 1 for 6. Craig Counsell is 1 for 6

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Salty's Thoughts: That's one big piece of garbage. He may eat his way out of the Majors.

Clemens coming back in '09?

It's a feeling - not necessarily hard evidence - but something tells me Roger Clemens is going to attempt a comeback next season.

Boston Globe

Salty's Thoughts: Please don't. Make a new video game instead. Oh yeah, leave young, female, country singers alone. Perv.

Drew Gooden to get "used a lot"

Why Gooden will get big minutes with Bulls

In a contract year, these are the words any player wants to hear. "He's going to be used a lot," Vinny Del Negro said. The Bulls' coach was referring to Drew Gooden, who, other than journeyman Michael Ruffin, is the only veteran frontcourt player at training camp. But Gooden, entering the final year of a three-year, $23 million contract he signed with Cleveland, insists he is focused on nothing but winning. "Nah, nah, nah, I'm not thinking about my contract," Gooden said. "I've been in this position before, and I put too much pressure on myself that time. This time I know if I play my [butt] off, things will take care of themselves." It's sometimes easy to forget that Gooden averaged 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in 18 games with the Bulls last season, including a 31-point, 16-rebound effort against Atlanta. That's because Gooden, acquired in the Ben Wallace trade, sat the final 10 games with a strained abdomen. Gooden insists that injury is old news after an off-season trip to Vancouver, home of noted sports physiotherapist Alex McKechnie, who has worked with NBA, NFL and NHL players. After several weeks of core-strengthening work with McKechnie, Gooden claims he's in the best shape of his seven-year career.

Salty's Thoughts: Drew Gooden takes plays and games off. That's reality. Want another dose of reality? Vinny Del Negro is good on fair fries. Take that to the bank.

Trading One Old Man for Another

Gruden leaning toward Garcia

With Brian Griese sustaining an elbow injury on his right (throwing) arm against the Broncos on Sunday, coach Jon Gruden is noncommittal about who will start the next game -- just as he was after Jeff Garcia bland performance in a Week 1 loss at New Orleans. Gruden will again have a chance to make a quarterback change if he deems it necessary. And, once again, he can attribute such a move to injury. He said Monday that no decision has been reached on who will start Sunday's division game against the Panthers, who sit atop the NFC South at 4-1. But, from all indications, the chances of Garcia starting have increased exponentially.

St. Petersburg Times

Salty's Thoughts: Garcia has the hotter girl. (see picture, Go Ohio) He should get the start. Don't complain, it's how football works. How do you think Tony Romo ever beat out Drew Henson to win the backup QB job in Dallas? That's right, Jerry Jones can see into the future. Two words: Jessica Simpson Is Hot.

Browns + Boss = Amazing.

With Bruce Springsteen jamming at halftime of the Super Bowl this year, I figured it had to be my year.

I mean, if I'm going to pony up $2,000 to see the Browns in the Super Bowl, may as well catch a few songs of The Boss as well, right?

Well, at least we know Bruce will be there. The Browns however may shatter another dream of mine.

Either way, Springsteen at halftime is huge. Be there, be aware.

Hot Seat?

Depending on which national NFL media or Internet site you follow, Marvin Lewis is either on the coaching hot seat or has the most secure job in the league. Lewis' job status came up at his regular news conference Monday, the day after the Bengals fell to 0-5 with a loss at Dallas. Lewis' Bengals are 7-14 in their last 21 games. Lewis is under contract through 2010 after receiving a contract extension in February 2006. He said he's committed to turning things around in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Salty's Thoughts: How can he NOT be on the hot seat? 0-5 and 7-14 in your last 21 games? Reminds me of Chris Palmer. Oh wait, Palmer didn't win that much.

Sign of the Apocalypse?

Luke Walton (the queen on the right) has a stalker? Are we even kidding around here? That's like saying that a woman was stalking Alf or something. She fired shots at him with her hand? Haha, so classic. A must read.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- A woman has been charged with stalking Los Angeles Lakers Luke Walton. Stacy Elizabeth Beshear of El Segundo was arrested Sept. 18 after she pulled up to his car and pretended to fire gunshots at him with her hand, police Sgt. Steve Tobias said. The 34-year-old Beshear has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of stalking. A Nov. 6 trial date has been set in the case. She faces up to a year in county jail if convicted, district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said Tuesday.Woman charged with stalking Lakers forward Walton.

More...

Bonds likes 'freedom' from baseball

Posted: Tuesday October 7, 2008 4:56PM; Updated: Tuesday October 7, 2008 4:56PM

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (AP) -- Barry Bonds made a rare public appearance Tuesday and said he is enjoying life away from baseball.

"I'm happy now that I have more time," Bonds told the crowd at the kickoff event of the Macy's Christmas tree lighting. "I've actually enjoyed myself immensely."

Bonds, honorary chair of this year's lighting, did not talk to reporters and left quickly after giving a brief speech during the 30-minute ceremony. Lights adorning the large tree in Union Square are sold to benefit the UCSF Children's Hospital palliative care program, and nearly $700,000 has been raised during the past five years.

Bonds was questioned by a young patient about potentially returning to baseball.

"I had fun," Bonds said. "But I like my freedom."

More...

Salty's Thoughts: He should enjoy his freedom. He should go to jail for perjury. I am glad he's gone, and hope he stays away.

Your thoughts?

Just in case...

Ok, so let's say the Browns get whipped by the Giants. Let's say Derek Andersen blows the game.

We leave the Monday Night game with a short week, and presumably a new starting quarterback in Brady Quinn.

Well, if that's the case, it's time to check out the NFL Draft!

Click here to check out Scout Inc's Top 32 NFL Prospects.

Note there are 2 Buckeyes in the top 6!

Thoughts?

ESPN Power Rankings - NFL

ESPN has the Browns ranked 25th in their newest Power Rankings.

Where do you think the Browns belong? Click below to read the whole article.

"Following the bye, the Browns are finally healthy. Let's see what they're really made of when they play host to the Giants next game."

Down with Tebow?

LSU lineman targets Gators QB Tebow for take-out duty

The Florida rivalry never seems to run short on vitriol. LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois upped the ante this week by vowing that his linemates, if the opportunity presents itself, will try to knock Gators quarterback, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, out of the game. "If we get a good shot on [Tebow], we're going to try our best to take him out of the game," Jean-Francois said Monday, according to the Orlando Sentinel's Web site. "With his size and his heart, it's hard to get a clean shot. "I think every lineman wants to get a good hit on a Heisman Trophy winner."

More...

Salty's Thoughts: Tebow seems like a prick anyways. Do you really think ANY lineman across the country doesn't want to knock a QB out? I'd hope they don't all want to hurt someone, but to get a really solid hit on a QB? That's their job. ps: those aren't real. Fact.

Your thoughts?

Ok, Real Breaking News

There's a new Punch Out! coming out!

Check out the trailer.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/40745.html

Has the old school feel to it. Sweet!

BREAKING NEWS!

Ok, it's not. Not at all actually. The Plain Dealer must be bored due to the bye week.

Anderson's job on line in Cleveland

Derek Anderson isn't at rock bottom, but only a few ladder rungs remain in his descent to a place where headlamps are the practical fashion of the day. Anderson is in line to start against the New York Giants next Monday when the Browns return from their bye, in part because he's coming off a productive fourth-quarter drive against Cincinnati. That's faint praise, but in this trying season it's what passes for a recommendation. A better performance in prime time next Monday would carry extra weight and likely earn Anderson road starts against Washington and Jacksonville. Then all bets are off. Give Anderson three weeks - at most - to show he's really not the second coming of Scott Mitchell, the Lions lefty who had one big year, signed a lucrative deal and was never all that again. The Browns need to win two of the next three to avoid a 2-5 start or this bye week must soon be followed by a buh-bye week for him.

Outside of the sports world...

There are other things in life. I know, what a shocker, right?

Ohio Homeowners To Get $103M In Loan Help

Bank Of America Settlement To Help Homeowners

POSTED: 11:31 am EDT October 6, 2008

UPDATED: 12:18 pm EDT October 6, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Ohio homeowners with Countrywide mortgages will receive about $103 million in reduced interest and principal. That's Ohio's share of a more than $8 billion multistate settlement with Bank of America, which acquired Countrywide Financial and its troubled mortgages over the summer. Ohio Attorney General Nancy Rogers said Monday that the settlement should help about 8,000 Ohioans who are struggling to keep their homes. She notes that foreclosures have devastated Ohio communities and crippled the state's economy. Rogers said depending on the type of loan, up to one-half of all Countrywide subprime loans in the state are delinquent. Ohio is one of 11 states that are part of a settlement with the bank. Some borrowers stuck with Countrywide mortgages might qualify for having to pay nothing but interest for a decade. Even people who can't afford to keep their homes with such changes will be able to get help moving to a new one.

Link.

Ohio State moves up...barely

I thought we'd move up a little more, but I guess I'm wrong once again.

Here's a good recap of the game. Welcome to "manhood", Terrelle.

Link.

Fantasy Screw Up

Well, I thought that Ben Rothlisberger would have a rough night against Jacksonville. So in the heat of the moment, I started Brian Griese. Nicky Thumb told me it was the right decision.

I mean, what if Ben doesn't play? Then I have to snag Byron "Should be At Home" Leftwich and start him against a stingy Jacksonville Defense? Too risky. My game against Deans's Lybians was way too close.

Greise netted me 3 points. Rothlisberger scored 23 while riding the virtual pine in the PBRXFL.

Luckily Santonio Holmes didn't sniff the endzone.

Legends win...by 2 points.

Concussions

Is it just me, or does there seem to be more and more concussions every week in football?

Trent Edwards was in la-la land as he was being carted off.

Thoughts?

Why is it that all Cleveland Sports teams fail when there are High Expectations?

Let's take a look at the recent history of Cleveland Sports Franchises:

The Browns: Headed into last year fans realistically had to hope that the Browns just returned to some level of respectability. Charlie Frye started and lasted in Cleveland for all of one game. Based on the performance of the entire team, fans had to think that the Browns were going nowhere fast. It turns out that they did not go to the playoffs, but only after playing well, getting the fans expectations up, and putting up a clunker against the Bengals, and losing at Arizona. They did manage to beat SF in the last game, but by that time it was too little, too late.
Headed into this season, they had HUGE expectations. It appears that based on the schedule they MAY win three games this season

The Cavs: Two years ago they were expected to make the playoffs and not much more. Instead, they go out and beat Detroit, and go to the Finals. Headed into last year, they were expected to compete for a title. Instead, they spent a good part of the season underperforming, got into the playoffs and fell to the Celtics in 7 games, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.

The Tribe: They were one game away from the World Series two years ago and expectations were high headed into this season. Instead, they fell flat on their face right out of the gate and never managed to right the ship, or at least not in time to make a serious run at the postseason.

I think the key here is to place no expectations on your Cleveland Sports Franchises, they simply can't handle the pressure of being expected to win.

Ravens' Rolle has neck surgery

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens starting cornerback Samari Rolle underwent neck surgery this week and will be out at least a month.

Rolle suffered a stinger in a 28-10 victory Sept. 21 over the Cleveland Browns after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter.

"It was all kind of related from a stinger perspective. That was what he felt, the tingling in the shoulder, too," Raven coach John Harbaugh said Friday. "We have a time frame on him; it's maybe a month plus. He had a surgery this week on his neck to clean things up in there."

Link.

What a joke...

Troubled former RB Phillips sentenced to 10 years in prison

Oct. 3, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports

LOS ANGELES -- Former football star Lawrence Phillips has been sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years in prison after being convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.

The sentencing Friday had been repeatedly delayed while he dealt with another case.

The 31-year-old Phillips was convicted two years ago on seven counts. He has been jailed since he drove onto a field near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His car struck three people after he became upset over losing a pickup football game.

Phillips was once one of the nation's top college football players. The St. Louis Rams released him for insubordination in 1997 and he went on to play for a number of teams.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Link.

Salty's Thoughts: Stay home. A man who tries to run down teenagers over a pickup game obviously has mental issues. I mean, I've been known to throw a controller or two during a loss in Madden, or witness Natey quit when playing against me in College Baseball for the Xbox, but a car? A vehicle? What a waste of talent. Play some Tecmo and move on.

Early top 10 ranking for defense

Steve King, Staff Writer

10.02.2008

A perfect 10?

No, but the Browns will gladly take it.

Don't look now, but the Browns defense of first-year coordinator Mel Tucker is ranked 10th overall in the NFL this week in average yards per game allowed, 313.0.

The Browns were not ranked anywhere close to that at any point in 2007. They were 23rd -- their high-water mark of the season -- after the first week. Their 365.0 yards given up wasn't the tops on the year, but it was close.

More...

Poor Mans...?

Can a brother be their brothers "poor mans version of..."

Think about it...

Cal vs Billy Ripken (can you say, Billy is a poor mans Cal?)
Mark vs Brent Price
Peyton vs Eli vs Cooper Manning (yes, there's a 3rd brother. See his picture to the right.)
John vs Ted Kennedy
And then you have the Baldwins. All the brothers not named Alec should be legally forced to change their last names to Baldlosers. They don't win.

Thoughts?

A Rookie MVP?

ESPN.com news services
Updated: October 3, 2008, 11:48 AM ET

Before Detroit and San Antonio tangle in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, they will yield the floor to a player who raised the bar for future players.

Preceding tip-off in San Antonio, Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker will receive the league's Most Valuable Player award, The Los Angeles Times reported. Parker would become the first WNBA player to win MVP and the rookie of the year award in the same season.

The Times reported on its Web site late Thursday that Parker would be named MVP.

More...

Salty's Thoughts: Only in the WNBA.

Ginn Academy Gets Passing Mark On State Report Card

POSTED: 8:17 pm EDT October 2, 2008

UPDATED: 8:39 am EDT October 3, 2008

CLEVELAND -- A boys academy that was started in Cleveland by a tough-minded man who is a security guard and football coach has received passing marks from the state in its mission to provide order, discipline and a safe school environment for young men.Glenville High School football coach Ted Ginn Sr. started the Ginn Academy last year with ninth- and 10th-graders. It scored a rating of "continuous improvement" on its first state report card. The mark is the equivalent of a "C" but stands out in the Cleveland school district, where most other schools failed or were on the brink.All of last year's 101 ninth-graders moved up to 10th grade at the academy, and 37 of the 39 10th-graders were promoted.Enrollment is expanding to a target of 500 to 550.The district promoted Ginn Academy as being for boys "at risk" of dropping out.But Ginn, who coached 2006 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith, now with the Baltimore Ravens, as well as son Ted Ginn Jr., a Miami Dolphins wide receiver, says any child can go astray without guidance.The school accepts a boy if the family makes a good case for admission and gives assurances it is committed to the program.Some Ginn Academy students require direction, others a school where they feel safe. The school addresses their varied needs with strict rules, mentoring and teachers devoted to kids whose personal lives are often unsettled and complicated.Ginn is not a certified teacher or school administrator. The former high school security guard serves as executive director, which includes setting the tone in the building and promoting the school.

Link.

Salty's Thought:

I guess it's sad that his school gets a "C" and that is good. Other schools "failed or were on the brink"? How do we expect Cleveland to become a better city with marks like that? I hope Ginn is teaching more than just sports at this school, the future of Cleveland needs it.

Fantasy Talk....

Wes Welker (WR) is questionable this week now.

Should a team start Domenik Hixon (WR) vs SEA or Devery Henderson (WR) vs Minnesota?

I'm leaning towards Hixon because he's starting for Plaxico Burress (WR).

Thoughts?

Cavs talk is heating up...

and J.J. Hickson is getting quite a bit of love.

He called himself the "biggest sleeper in the draft" last year. Everyone seems impressed with this kid.

What do you think?

Something that bothers me...

The little video thing on ESPN.com

It drives me insane. I never, ever want to hear it, and don't care what they are talking about. I go there to read articles, not have my speakers start blasting unexpectedly.

Why not make it optional to view the video? It's like having an arch enemy and having to walk past them in the street on a daily basis. Sooner or later, someone is going to snap.

ESPN: 1
Me: 0

Go away, ESPN Video. And take John Madden with you.

- Salty

Dear Milwaukee,

This is an open letter from a die hard Cleveland Indians fan.

You saw the best of C.C. Sabathia during the regular season. He quickly became the ace of your staff. Your city embraced him. Heck, he even carried a heavy stick in your lineup!

Then you made the playoffs! Your city rejoiced! It feels so good when a non-major market makes the playoffs, doesn't it?

Then you got the C.C. that we watched last year against Boston. 98 pitches to record 11 outs? You seem shocked! Grab last years Cleveland Indians playoff run. It will look very familiar. Grand slam to Shane Victorino? Reminds me of watching Kevin Youkilis go yard time and time again.

So, to you, Milwaukee; enjoy your playoffs and enjoy the C.C. that kept us awake at night last post season.

Love always,

Salty

Closer Wanted

Finding a closer top priority for Wedge

Tribe manager dissects season gone wrong, looks ahead

By Justice B. Hill / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Eric Wedge, dressed for a business meeting more than for a postseason press conference, walked into the media dining room at Progressive Field and shook hands Tuesday with the men who followed his ballclub throughout the 2008 season.

They had seen what Wedge had seen: a season that ended in disappointment. They were here now to ask Wedge what happened and what was next.

He was ready with answers.

More...

Salty's Take: Music to my ears. Jensen Lewis would look great in a set up role, but we need a bulldog of a closer. Bring baseball back to Cleveland in October! Shine in '09!

Bill Lund dies at 84

Steve King, Staff Writer

09.30.2008

Bill Lund, a versatile two-way halfback on the 1946 and '47 clubs, has passed away a month shy of what would have been his 84th birthday. A resident of the Cleveland suburb of Chagrin Falls, he died last Saturday of complications from MDS, a type of bone marrow cancer that he had been battling for several years.

His death means there are just three surviving members of the 1946 Browns: Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Dante Lavelli, center Mike "Mo" Scarry and middle linebacker Lou Saban.

More...

Edwards All Hype?

Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram

BEREA — Braylon Edwards had four 100-yard receiving games, a team-record 16 touchdown catches and a career-high 80 receptions last season for the Browns.
Through four games this year, the Pro Bowl wide receiver has 95 yards — total — and just 11 receptions.
Regardless of how one crunches those numbers, they don’t look good, which Edwards freely admits.
“There is a level I can play at that I’m not playing at yet,” he said Wednesday. “I’m still having fun, but I and our whole team are going to use this bye week as a self-evaluation period.
“With the way the offense is going, I don’t think we can go any further down.”
Edwards’ drop-off has been one of the most troubling developments for Cleveland in its disappointing 1-3 start. The Browns return to action on Oct. 13 by hosting the New York Giants on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

More...

Four ways to improve the Browns

October 2, 2008 12:00 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

A quarter way into the season, the Cleveland Browns (1-3) and Cincinnati Bengals (0-4) have dug themselves a deep hole to get back to respectability. So the AFC North edition of the Blog Network wants to help to prevent 2008 from being a very long season.

First, let's look at four things the Browns could do to improve:

1. Gain composure

We put this up first, because it's the foundation of everything it's going to take to improve. The Browns are not a mentally strong team right now. Even in victory we see careless mistakes. We notice arguing on the sideline. There's a lack of focus that's getting in the way of consistently playing winning football. This group need to tighten up over the bye week and really hone in on the task at hand.

2. Stick to the running game

The Browns improved to 5-0 on Sunday when Jamal Lewis gets 25 carries or more. Hang this stat up in the locker room and on the door of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's office. Give Lewis a chance. Sure, he's battling ankle and hamstring ailments, but Lewis is one of the few players who can be counted on every week. Backup Jerome Harrison can be used more as well.

3. Continue pressuring the quarterback

Something happened with Carson Palmer's injury last week. It suddenly gave the Browns the confidence to bring the wolves on backup Ryan Fitzpatrick and they registered three sacks. Learn from that and don't just do it against backups. Even the really good signal callers don't enjoy being hit in the mouth. The constant pressure even helped young cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald play more aggressively, knowing the pressure was on.

4. Get healthy

We're not too fond of the injury excuse here at the AFC North version of the Blog Network. It's the NFL and every team has them, so we'll keep this brief. The Browns need key players like receiver Donte' Stallworth (quad), guard Ryan Tucker (hip), safety Sean Jones (knee) and possibly Joe Jurevicius (knee) back in the lineup.

Up next: Four ways to improve the Cincinnati Bengals.

- Salty's Take: nobody should waste their time "improving" the Bengals. You want my 4 ways to start?

1. Get rid of Chad Johnson.

2. Get rid of Chad Johnson.

3. Get rid of Chad Johnson.

4. Get rid of Chad Johnson.

The guy is a cancer. You don't win with bad attitudes.

Link.

Donte Stallworth done stalling?

Various reports are saying that Donte Stallworth (WR) will be suited up opposite Braylon Edwards (WR) next Monday Night against the New York Giants.

This can only help an anemic offense get stronger.