While We’re Waiting… Weeden, Waiters and Bears Oh My!

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.

“I feel the Browns would be making another mistake by making a move at quarterback just to make a move without there being an obvious upgrade. Weeden was clearly in a system in 2012 that wasn’t the best for his skills. He now has a coach in Chudzinski and an offensive coordinator in Turner who most likely will run an offense tailored to Weeden’s strengths.

The Browns would be best suited to add weapons to the offense and structure an offense for Weeden and if he fails, there will be no question where the fault lies and the Browns can continue their search for that elusive franchise quarterback.” [Greetham/The OBR]

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Checking in on our old pal Travis Hafner- “The Travis Hafner who arrived to Yankees camp this spring is quite a bit more polished, quite a bit more accomplished than the one who showed up to community college. But as he prepares for the 2013 season, it might benefit the left-handed-hitting Hafner to summon those Sykeston instincts. The short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium awaits him, and it could be a factor that helps Hafner reclaim the Pronk power of old.

The Yankees certainly hope that’s the case, especially now that they’ll be without the left-handed power of Curtis Granderson for at least the first month of the season.” [Castrovince/MLB.com]

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“If Varejao stays and finishes his career in Cleveland, he might not sniff a title, and he certainly won’t come close to one while he’s still playing at a borderline all-star level. When I say Varejao doesn’t seem to notice he’s a Cavalier, I mean he plays and conducts himself like Cleveland is a fine place to be, even as he gives his prime to a lottery-dweller. Of course, we fans are also giving, if not exactly our primes, our time and psychic effort and hope to a team that’s just now, two and a half years after LeBron’s departure, figuring out how to not embarrass itself on a weekly basis. We keep coming back because we can’t transfer our allegiance to the Clippers or the Thunder, though that would probably be more gratifying. Varejao is stuck with the Cavs, and so are we.

And when he runs pick-and-rolls with Kyrie Irving, it becomes easier to think that being a Cavaliers fan might be fine too. Maybe not in a long-run, rooting-for-a-promising-young-team way, but definitely in the sense that in small moments, you can enjoy a terrible team for what it is right now. Which is, at least, ours.” [McGowan/The Classical]

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“Of all the pro prospects on Ohio State last season, Hankins clearly has the most potential. At the combine, Hankins graded out as an “immediate starter.” He’s a mastodon with a combination of strength and agility that doesn’t come along too often for defensive linemen. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 320 pounds, Hankins actually did below-average in the 40-yard dash (5.31 seconds), vertical (26 inches) and broad jump (104 inches). But his size and athleticism kept him solidly positioned to be selected in the first round.

Hankins declined to do the bench press, choosing instead to partake in the drill at Ohio State’s Pro Day on March 8 because of a minor pectoral muscle injury. “I’ve been working extremely hard,” he said. “I’m just going to let my talents and my efforts speak for themselves. Wherever I get drafted, I’m blessed to even be there. Where I go, I’m happy with that.”

Even with his skills, Hankins said his decision to leave Ohio State was tough. He revealed that he had second thoughts and that head coach Urban Meyer was surprised when Hankins delivered the news about his departure one year early from Ohio State. In the end, though, Hankins’ inner circle believed the NFL was the appropriate path when the advisory council indicated he was projected to be a first-round pick.” [Rowland/Eleven Warriors]

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“On draft night, despite not having a workout or interview, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant spent the fourth overall pick on Waiters. Grant indicated that the Cavaliers had done more research on Waiters than perhaps any other player in his time in an NBA front office. Coach Byron Scott was an influence in the selection of Waiters. Now, I realize that for many (most) of the readers on this site, the history lesson on how Waiters’ background and how he came to be a Cavalier is unnecessary. But I want to stress it because I cannot think of a player whose identity is so integral to the way they play the game of basketball. I don’t mean it the way Michael Jordan’s ridiculous competitive drive supposedly made him the greatest player ever. You can see Waiters’ personality, faults and attributes, on display at virtually any point of any Cavaliers game.” [Zavac/Fear the Sword]

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OK, there were no bears in today’s links. Sorry.