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.
“With the hopes of a competitive team, potentially one approaching the .500 mark, the Browns have yet again pulled the rug out from under a fan-base believing progress would be something viewed in the 2012 season. The early issue is, the Browns are a more talented team than a season ago. Added were potential dynamics with the names of Richardson, Weeden and Gordon, the remaining problem is there are issues within the roster and/or coaching staff which leaves much to be desired on game-day.
The youth of the team is an easy scape-goat for what ails the Cleveland Browns. But, when I look at the performance of the team, I see something other than the youth being the issue holding back the team.” [Lane Adkins/The OBR]
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A must-read feature on former Indians slugger Al Rosen: “He had hung up his own glove by the time I was eight and sleeping snugly with my own. But the former All-Star third baseman had nevertheless become guardian angel of my baseball ambitions. After nine years with the Indians, Al Rosen had retired — perhaps even been gently nudged out the door — and become a full-time Cleveland stockbroker. I would glimpse him – repeatedly, with fascination and awe — in black-and-white footage, hitting the same unidentified home run over and over again.” [RD Rosen/SB Nation]
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Stay classy, Steelers fans [WFNY Facebook Page]
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The case for Greg Little: “In thirteen drives on Sunday, the Browns offense managed to cross the Bills’ 44-yard line exactly twice. On a staggering seven of these drives, they couldn’t move the ball more than 9 yards. Six of them were three-and-outs or worse, and eleven of the thirteen ended in punts (9) or interceptions (2). [...] On the other side of the ball, the defense was as resilient as a wet paper towel for long stretches, including the entire first quarter, and in the fourth when it mattered the most. But Greg Little is the one we’re going to come down hard on today because he dropped one short pass in Browns territory.” [Cleveland Frowns]
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Leading up to conference play: “The Buckeyes, deficient as they looked on Saturday against their 37-point underdog visitor, are still in line to accomplish all of their goals. However, one has taken on more value over the last few weeks of nationally-ridiculed B1G bloodletting: Ohio State’s absence in the B1G title game looming menacingly over Jim Delany’s crown jewel is no longer a potential embarrassment. It’s now the conference’s only shot at salvation. It’s that simple. The Buckeyes have to steal the virtual conference title.
Ohio State’s tentatively-scheduled but mandatory title game forfeit has been on the books since last November. Finishing atop the Leaders Division and sending a runner-up in its place didn’t suddenly emerge as Plan B for a season abbreviated by NCAA sanctions.
But the circumstances have changed. Simply rebounding from that 6-7 aberration has taken on less importance now that the conference has already piled up over a dozen losses. The B1G might actually be worse than you’re willing to accept.” [Ramzy/Eleven Warriors]
