Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers: Open Thread
December 11, 2009Top-Ranked Akron Zips Advance to Sunday’s National Championship
December 12, 2009While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
- Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal
Cribbs put on quite the show Thursday, but could he stick in the backfield? Nothing is beyond a satisfied 2-11 team: “Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas is convinced that Josh Cribbs could be a top running back in the NFL. ‘There’s no doubt,’ said Thomas, after watching the game film of Cribbs rushing for 87 yards against the Steelers’ top-ranked run defense. ‘I think he’s too valuable to take off of kick return and punt return and special teams, but there’s no doubt in my mind, especially after seeing the things that he did [Thursday night] that he’d be an extremely successful running back in the NFL.'” [Mary Kay Cabot/Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Just when we thought that Kosar had locked up the GM slot: “So with last night’s stunning win over the Steelers, Browns coach Eric Mangini is safe, right? Um, maybe not. In the end, Mangini’s fate could be decided by a new football czar and/or G.M. And the man occupying one or both of those roles soon could be former Titans G.M. Floyd Reese. That’s the current talk in league circles, which comes on the heels of recent indications that the Browns will soon be making a move in the front office.” [Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk]
Of course, blame ol’ Eric Mangini for bringing in new people after the biggest football win in Northeast Ohio in at least six years: “One day after a satisfying upset victory over the reeling defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns took a look at potential reinforcements. The Browns auditioned 10 players today, according to a league source. The last-place AFC North franchise has tried out more players this season than any other NFL team.” [Aaron Wilson/National Football Post]
Scott and Rick contributed to this neat piece so give it a look y’all: “Everyone has that one guy. Sometimes it’s a Kosar or a Daugherty or a Webster Slaughter, but oftentimes it’s not. It’s just some guy that we find a strange way of identifying with. Everyone has a Kuiper. So I decided to round up some contributions from friends and some other bloggers and put together a list of other Cleveland Kuipers.” [Vince Grzegorek/’64 and Counting]
Not sure what I feel about this move, since LaPorta, Marte/Brown, Sizemore and Choo should technically be playing every day anyway: “Free agent Marcus Thames, a popular part-time player for the Tigers in recent seasons, is drawing interest from the Indians and Blue Jays, a major league source told FOXSports.com. Both teams need right-handed power and have yet to establish clear everyday left fielders for 2010. Thames has averaged 20 home runs per year since 2006, despite the fact that he’s never had more than 400 plate appearances in a major league season.” [Jon Paul Morosi/FOXSports.com]
Suh > Texas O-Line > Colt McCoy sooo Suh wins the Heisman? “You won’t understand what a travesty Ndamukong Suh not getting the Heisman is for two reasons. The first reason is that you already know the award is a multi-layered slice of FAIL-flavored tiramisu based on the often incoherent reasoning of sportswriters we wager have not watched all of the candidates play more than three games combined each.” [Spencer Hall/SBNation.com]
Extended article about the details behind a college football post-season extravaganza and how it would play out this season: “‘Playoffs?! Don’t talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?!’ While the famous quote above was once uttered by former Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Jim Mora Sr., it’s also the sentiment echoed by the vast majority of university presidents across the nation whose institutions compete as one of the 120 members of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A.” [Matt Barker/BuckeyeBanter.com]
Passed over in the mainstream news this week, but Akron hired Notre Dame recruiting coordinator Rob Ianello as their new head coach. Loads of expectations in the Rubber City with the new stadium: “The first official duty of Rob Ianello as the new football coach at the University of Akron was to address his most valuable asset. Even before he met with members of the Zips’ community and the media Thursday afternoon, he met with the players hours earlier.” [Tom Gaffney/Akron Beacon Journal]
(Ha yes, I am well aware that that is Pittsburgh punter and Baylor alum Daniel Sepulveda trying to take down Cribbs in the above picture, so clearly he is returning a punt. Still an epic photo. Keep a watch out for a look at the recent Indians front office/Rule V moves, Cavs/Blazers recap, and some college sports on this freezing December Saturday.)
13 Comments
I was on the Floyd Reese train back during the original hiring bonanza that brought us Mangini. I would be happy with having him in some capacity. He built Tennessee’s good teams over the last decade, and knows how to build through the draft.
I love the fact the Browns are trying out new players almost daily. It sends the message that there’s no hiding, we’re actively looking for better talent and if you’re not it, you’re gone. Plus, with all the injuries and nothing to lose, these players that we sign mid-week actually get a chance to play so we can see firsthand, in real game speed, if they’re someone to keep around.
I had no idea that Suh is that manly. Those stats are unreal.
The MAC conference’s new motto: “We were relevant 5 years ago”
Why Mangini will likely be back next year (or why Josh Cribbs is becoming the Prince to Lebron’s King):
“To give a football coach one year to turn a football team drastically around is not possible,” Cribbs said. “To get rid of coach Mangini, I don’t think would be a good decision for our organization. To start rebuilding all over again, this will be three different head coach regimes in the past [three] years. Who would want to come coach here knowing if they don’t win right away they’re gone?”
I think Brian Brennan would be my Kuiper. I don’t remember him dropping anything when I was a kid.
I think Reese is the man. I see Mangini lasting one more year. If 2010 looks like thise year, he does not make it through the season, which sets us up for Jon Gruden (whose Monday Night Football contract is only through the 2010 season).
@nullster save that motto till you watch freddie barnes play a few downs, I think he might change your mind. Save the relevancy questions for parties that deserve it….say like the entire michigan football program….except that 5 years is more like 10
btw can we please pay josh cribbs now? please?
It is hard not to like the idea of Reese coming on board. An experienced candidate who has a a major hand in building a winning franchise. Sounds exactly what we need.
Good week for Lerner, Villa just beat MANU
As a current BGSU student I can say that Freddie Barnes is the real deal. Also, look at Dan LeFevour. Dude is a great QB.
[…] of next season, but that main question will dictate how this draft goes. The Browns and whoever is the GM or “Czar” will need to decide somehow if Quinn has taken advantage of his recent opportunities and proven he […]