While 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.
Breaking down the positions in the South Beach rematch: “The Cleveland Browns face two big questions when they take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday: Will Jake Delhomme throw another pick six? Will the defense go for the tackle instead of the strip?” [Chris Pokorny/Dawgs By Nature]
Thoughts from a true Northeast Ohio sports star on LeBron James and facing a Miami team: “Cribbs, 27, is roughly the age of LeBron James, who will turn 26 this month. James called it a day in Cleveland at a young age, and when he came back in another uniform, Cribbs was there to see it.” [Steve Doerschuk/Canton Repository]
Previewing the rest of the stories and news from behind the scenes with the Browns, and at least one solid prediction here: “If past games are any indication, a pick-six, or some facsimile there of, will happen to the Browns on Sunday, as they travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins at 1 p.m. Why? Colt McCoy is not playing.” [Don Delco/The OBR]
Some wise words from the sage of sports in Cleveland: “I did several national talk shows this week on LeBron James, but several questions on Cleveland sports dealt with these themes: “Is Eric Mangini’s job on the line?” The answer is — of course. Any coaching coming off a 5-11 season with a new front office that includes an established coach as president means the current coach has to produce.” [Terry Pluto/Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Harsh words from a Cleveland sports writer, but is this really that big of a news story? I’m still not convinced at all: “People went to see an intensely competitive basketball game. And a Times Square VJ-Day Day embrace broke out. Nice. The really scary thought is the Cavs believe they did offer resistance to James. Gibson says his words jeopardized his friendship with James. Wow.” [Bud Shaw/Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Byron Scott has only been in Cleveland for six months, but he has already mastered the popular local art of understatement: “‘We played like the word that starts with an s and ends with a t,’ Scott said. ‘It’s only four letters. That’s the bottom line. On both ends of the floor, that’s how we played.’” [Mary Schmitt Boyer/Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Enough said: “The Minnesota Timberwolves set a franchise record for three-pointers when they went 18-26 from beyond the arc against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have lost their last three games by an average of 27 points.” [John Krolik/Cavs: The Blog]
Two days old, but a nice story on former OSU back Tyler Whaley and his playoff perspective: “The amazing: Ohio State jumped from No.7 back to No.1 as a series of upsets unfolded in the final two weeks of the season, propelling the Buckeyes into the title game against LSU. The more incredible: Whaley still wanted a playoff.” [Rob Oller/Columbus Dispatch]
Some more updated chatter on the third base position for the Tribe. Includes some Jack Hannahan discussion as well. [T.J. Zuppe/ESPN Cleveland]
Beautiful 90s reference here: “Prediction for Indians Winter Meetings: Indians will kick tires on NRI’s, fans will complain, Danny Graves may be involved.” [Let's Go Tribe/Twitter]
Appears that the Indians made a few more minor moves in signing relievers Joe Smith and Jensen Lewis to avoid arbitration. [Ed Caroll/Deep Left Field]
Photo above via AP Photo/Amy Sancetta
