I have to say, it feels good seeing Jim Thome wearing an Indians uniform again. When left Cleveland, I was very disappointed as he was one of my favorite players. I don’t think he’ll make a huge impact to the Cleveland lineup, but it doesn’t matter, I’m just glad he’s home. I hope he hangs up his cleats in Cleveland. Welcome back!

The Browns cannot afford to lose too many key players having possibly lost Eric Steinback and Brandon Jackson to season long injuries. Losing Steinback is a huge blow considering who is behind him, unproven talent. The left side was suppose to be the strong side of the line.

And losing Jackson at RB feels like it’ll be 2010 all over again where Hillis seemed to play 95% of the time with no real backup. Here’s hoping Hardesty stays healthy, but Clevelanders feel he’s very fragile at best. Let’s hope he proves us wrong.

The WR’s are banged up with the exception of Robiskie and Greg Little, however Cribbs are Massaquoi are recovering and are expected back soon. Still, this group has done little to prove that they can separate from top notch cornerbacks. I like what I saw of Greg Little though, tall, strong receiver with a lot of athletic ability.

I think the strongest part of our offense is our tight ends, led by Ben Watson. Evan Moore has been the star of training camp and preseason, but let’s not forget Alex Smith and Jordan Cameron who seem capable as well. I’d like to see the Browns utilize the strength of this group, especially in the red zone.

On Defense, we lack depth in all places and with injuries to TJ Ward and Chris Gocong the Browns might find themselves struggling a bit. Add to that the high ankle sprain of Titus Brown who has been playing very well.

I think the Browns are turning it around, but key injuries may get them off to a slow start. Hopefully some of the players can recover quickly enough to give the Browns a legitimate chance to win on Sundays. Their schedule isn’t that tough until the latter part of the season where they have to face the Steelers and Ravens twice each.

What we do know is that MJ had a lot more heart and loyalty, and for that, he will always be more of a Champion in my eyes than Lebron.

The Browns are also rebuilding, so it’s always fun to look at the potential of our younger players and see what our new coaching staff can do.

And lastly, spend these next couple of weeks with your friends and family! Take a vacation, don’t watch TV or the news and spend quality time with a loved one. How can it get any better than that?

About Lebron James, this is the 4th time in as many recent games that he has failed to bring home a win. Outside of a few game winners in Cleveland (Orlando, Golden State, Wizards), he hasn’t had a lot of success doing so. Why don’t the Heat run a play for Wade? I can only guess that Lebron’s ego has taken over the Heat organization like it had in Cleveland. That Heat fans is a sign of doom or failure.

This Heat season reminds me  of 2 years ago when Cleveland had the best record in the NBA but failed so miserably against the top teams in the NBA. I would surmise that the Heat will make the playoffs, even sweep their 1st round opponent, but get beat by a more formidable team either a Boston or Chicago, and don’t count out the Magic.

1. Chicago Bulls – How many times did Michael Jordan beat the Cavaliers in the 80′s and 90′s. How many heart breaks and disappointments were there, trying to get over the hump to beat their #23.

2. Boston Celtics – Probably the Cavaliers most heated rivalry in the past few years, going 7 games in Round 2 of the playoffs 2 years ago. Paul Pierce has a history with the Cavaliers having spat on the Cavaliers bench during a preseason games a few years back. The teams don’t like each other, no one outside of Boston likes Kevin Garnett. Cavs will look to revenge their loss 2 years ago to the Celtics.

3. Orlando Magic – Revenge from last years Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers added players this year specifically to solve the match up problem with the Magic’s Dwight Howard and Lewis and Hedo duo. Although Hedo has fled to Toronto, Pietrus and Vince Carter take up the slack, albeit probably not as effective as the Lewis/Hedo combination. Shaq was brought in specifically to go one on one with the reigning Defensive player of the year in Dwight Howard.

Now, if the Spurs happen to make it to the final (which isn’t far fetch with the way they are playing), it could really be called a sweet revenge tour.

The Cavaliers will need to treat Derrick Rose like they were playing Dwayne Wade, both play a similar style, both shifty, can get into the paint easily and get to the hole. The only problem is the Bulls have more help for Rose than the Heat have with Wade. Both Joakim Noah and Luol Deng are much better than J O’Neal and M Beasley of the Heat, although Beasley is getting better on offense, he lacks on defense.

The Cavaliers will need to use Parker, Delonte, Moon and some Lebron on defending Rose if the Cavs are going to pull out Game 4. Also, the Cavs need a better performance from Shaq, Varajeo and Mo Williams. Mo Williams needs to penetrate and make Rose work on defense. Shaq needs to stay even with Noah and Varajeao needs to get back to what he did in game 1, rebound and just be Mr Energy all over the floor.

Perhaps game 3 was a energy game for Chicago, don’t expect the same performance from them as you saw in Game 3. I don’t expect K Hinrich or Deng to shoot as well as they did in Game 4 or even Rose for that matter. I expect the Cavs to win this handily and by double digits, then take game 5 back at the Q next week.

I like how Joakim Noah plays, I like that he tells how he feels, I don’t like that he said those things about Cleveland, where I grew up. Having said that, I think he’s a really good player and openly rooted for him last year against the Celtics, and I hope Shaq woops his butt in Chicago.

Will the real Mo Williams show up? Mo, the reason you were so successful down the stretch of the regular season this year is that you penetrated and didn’t settle for the 3 pt shot. You gotta continue to be aggressive and get to the hole or pass it off, don’t settle!

I know it’s hard to find minutes for JJ Hickson, but I think you gotta put him out there sometimes. Let him get experience, the Cavs may need him in the later rounds. Especially with when Noah is on the bench, Hickson is so much much better athletically then anyone on the Bulls bench.

I’m happy for Jamario Moon. He was effective off the bench all year in spot duty, and came through again in Game 2 against the Bulls. He’s an X- factor, can shut down opponents and make the open 3. I know that Mike Brown has a thing for Jawad Williams because of his size and toughness, but Jamario just makes more if an impact.

And how about James Johnson trying to irritate Lebron? Come on man!

Until next time.

You gotta like what’s going on with the Browns, now having one 3 games in a row. What’s the best part? They can actually run the ball on offense with Jerome Harrison emerging as the teams future starter. What’s the other best part? The Run defense, which the Browns haven’t had since they returned to the NFL in 1999 is also improving. These are good signs, as the Browns haven’t been able to do both at the same time, ever.

Holmgren will have a very difficult decision during the off season whether to keep Coach Mangini or bring in his own guy. The players seem to like the direction the Browns are heading and perhaps Holmgren will give Mangini another year to make progress, either way, it will be interesting to see which way the Browns head. It would even be more difficult of a decision if the Browns win their final game next week against Jacksonville.

I like the way the Cavs are winning the games against the elite teams. Last year they were dismal, couldn’t handle the tough teams. Shaq has definitely made an impact against the Orlando’s and the Lakers. The first game of the season against the Celtics doesn’t count since the team had not really played together. The defense is improving, the players are getting use to playing with each other, which is a very positive sign. Barring any injuries, the Cavs will definitely last longer in the playoffs this year. The question is does Danny Ferry think the team has what it takes to get to the final and win? Last year, the Cavs didn’t make any moves thinking it had the right personnel. It was a mistake, considering the Cavs did not do well against the Elite teams. Will the Cavs make a move to bolster their lineup, there are trade rumors now about the Cavs looking for a power forward who can shoot from the outside.

I personally think it has to be the right person, to give up JJ Hickson and Z (he will be bought out and return). Someone like Antwan Jamison perhaps who can make a real impact. Otherwise, I say we stick with the players we have now.

After the Browns loss today, Derek Anderson is now the worse QB in the NFL if you look at passer ratings, according to the NFL telecast earlier today. I’m just re-iterating what other Browns fans are saying, we know what Derek Anderson brings to the table, mediocrity! He just doesn’t have the ability to read the defenses well, or the accuracy to get the ball where it needs to go.

Yes Quinn was not torching opposing defenses either, but he wasn’t expected to, only having played 2 games before the start of this season. Let’s face it, Mangini further made the Browns QB situation worse than ever. Quinn doesn’t have the confidence of the coaches or team mates, and Derek Anderson lives in futility. The Browns are probably better off with their 3rd string QB at this point in the season.

I would suspect that both or at least 1 of these QB’s will be gone by next year’s training camp.

Mangini impressed me by adding depth and competition to every position on both offense and defense, but after watching the Browns play, it’s full of average players who will most likely be backups on other outstanding teams. The Browns defense has not improved, they still can’t stop the run, or the big plays. There is no leader on the Browns defense, no playmaker, and it was so evident today, it seemed like the whole team was just going through the motions.

On offense, it’s just as bad. Jamal Lewis’s days are over, our receiving core is too young and not talented enough, our QB situation is dismal. The Browns make over, or rebuilding, whatever you want to call it, could last some time. They just don’t seem to have the players who make enough impact on both sides of the ball.

And one last thing, Mangini needs to admit he made a mistake, and play Brady Quinn in the 2nd half of the season, just to see what he has.