While We’re Waiting…Patriots QB Coming Home, Belichick Takes a Shot at Mangini , Week One Cavs Thoughts

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.

Hoyer returns home tomorrow:  “Anyway, I remember we were at [Municipal Stadium] for the last game. People were ripping out seats and that’s what I really remember. It was the last game there, they were going to get rid of the stadium, the Indians had already moved, so everyone already knew (they were gone). Those are the memories I have of the Browns.”  Yikes. Not really what you want to remember from the team you rooted for growing up. And, make no mistake, Hoyer did root.  “I’m sure if I went back home and looked at my closet,”  Hoyer said, “I have a bunch of old Bernie Kosar jerseys.”  In an odd twist, the coach Hoyer grew up watching was — wait for it — Bill Belichick. Strange.”  [Ian Rapoport/Boston Herald]

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Some week one Cavs thoughts: “Things to feel good about: J.J. Hickson. He’s the future, and looks like the real deal. Right now I’d put his ceiling as “2nd offensive option on a legit playoff team,” which is something to get excited about.  Biggest worry: Ramon Sessions. He’s fearless, but his shooting game is non-existent and he’s disturbingly adverse to passing. I love his tenacity, but driving to the basket over and over again with no plan is not winning basketball.” [John Krolik/Cavs: The Blog]

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Belichick taking shots at Mangini:  “More likely, it was a jab by Belichick at his estranged protege, Browns coach Eric Mangini. Perhaps Belichick’s way of saying, ‘Hey, Mike Holmgren’s running the show over there and not you.’  Belichick said: ‘This is probably more of a West Coast team offensively than what we saw last week [in Minnesota] with [coach] Brad Childress. ‘[I’m] not sure exactly who’s doing what, but the foundation of this offense is clearly from the roots that Mike [Holmgren] had and what he did in Seattle.’  He went on to drive the point home, saying, ‘They run a West-Coast type of offense and that’s nothing like what they ran at New York.'” [Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer]

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Andy Marte and extrapolating on the Tribe’s development of prospects: “No prospect could develop the way the Indians handled Marte. Some players just don’t perform without consistent playing time and not every player can be like Carlos Santana and provide an impact right away. People jump all over Eric Wedge for running Brandon Phillips out of town, but he did the same injustice to Marte. I find it hilarious that Wedge is taking over another young team in Seattle, because he’s the reason Phillips is in Cincinnati and Marte sucks.  The difference between Marte and Phillips (besides that whole production thing)? Marte stayed.” [Ed Carroll/Deep Left Field]

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Handing out some creatively titled midseason awards for the Browns: “Yet for all of Mangini’s hard work, most of the praise falls on Rob Ryan.  While Ryan has certainly improved the defense – another unit void of talent – his best performance came against New Orleans, when he dialed back the self-crippling fake blitzes and endless stunts in favor of playing traditional, hard-nosed defense.  And speaking of the personnel involved, it’s worth noting that Ryan’s defensive line is old and brittle, while his secondary is featuring two rookies and the likes of Abe Elam.” [DK/Cleveland Reboot]