Cleveland Cavaliers’ Trade Exception Might Still Be Valid
November 30, 2011NBA Free Agency Rumors: Cavs Looking to Anthony Parker
December 1, 2011While 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.
“So what can we look forward to over the next few weeks? Hopefully, the emergence of a true WR stud in Greg Little. Despite the case of the dropsies that he has right now, I think he can be a stud. Big, fast, good blocker, you can tell this kid has it. Maybe a little more involvement for the tight ends? That couldn’t hurt the outside passing game. And maybe, just maybe, the Browns actually start utilizing Josh Cribbs more in the offense, and less in the return game. I love Josh Cribbs, but he’s 21st in the league in punt returns and 11th in kick returns (among returners with more than 10 this season.) He just doesn’t have the burst on the returns any more, it seems. He is, however, making up for that by having the hands and the nose for the ball at wide receiver. Might be time to rotate our returners a bit, and give fellow fan favorite Joe Haden a few more looks. And finally, a strong finish for a defense that hasn’t been half bad this year. Maybe the numbers don’t show it, but this Browns defense makes plays more often than would be expected. Unfortunately, they too often give up big plays when they can least afford it. Frustrating, but promising, at least.” [Brian/Cleveland Sports Torture]
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Interesting piece on the Chief Wahoo argument- “While some may see the logo as controversial and potentially offensive a poll conducted by the National Annenburg Election Survey between 2003 and 2004 showed that 91% of Native Americans surveyed had no objection to the use of Native American names or imagery in sports.
The Indians method of honouring both their team’s branding history and by catering to those fans who may be uncomfortable by said history, seems to be working. While the club may have faced a lot of pressure in the media and from protests held outside their stadium throughout the 1990s the team says there’s been no real recent pressure to drop the logo. Chief Wahoo looks to be here to stay for many more years.” [Chris Creamer/The Score]
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“At Ohio State, a head football coach seldom has the opportunity to leave the job on his own terms. Even the two most accomplished OSU coaches, Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel, ended their respective tenures with a firing and a forced resignation. Urban Meyer’s mentor Earle Bruce was unceremoniously dumped on the Monday before his last Michigan game.
By today’s standards, Tressel actually had a pretty good run at Ohio State by coaching for 10 years. His immediate predecessor, John Cooper, managed to last for 13 seasons, while Bruce coached for 9. And of course, Hayes set the record for longevity as OSU head coach with his 28 marvelous years. But prior to that, there was a period of upheaval in the position caused by some unforeseen circumstances both within and outside of the Ohio State program.” [Joe/Eleven Warriors]
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“It will probably be January before Meyer is able to finalize his coaching staff. Most assistants, either at the college or pro level, are under contract and will either need to wait until those contracts expire or receive permission from their current employers to interview with Ohio State.
Many of Meyer’s former assistants already have head-coaching jobs, including Louisville’s Charlie Strong, Temple’s Steve Addazio and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, who’s rumored as a candidate for the vacant head-coaching job at Penn State. Given their backgrounds, Mullen potentially building a new staff at the same time could complicate matters even further for Meyer.” [Jackson/FSO]
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Finally, Don Cockroft has put together a book about the 1980 Cleveland Browns, the ‘Kardiac Kids’. Yes, please. (But yikes! That’s pretty steep.) [The Kardiac Kids]
11 Comments
Cockroft’s book looks amazing. He must have had a lot of fun putting it together.
Not to go all “woe is us” (again), but that’s how low the bar is set here. We have a beautiful book that costs several hundred dollars dedicated to a team that lost its only playoff game, albeit in legendary Cleveland fashion.
I want one.
I wonder what kind of book we’d see if we actually ever did win something.
Why would you want your franchise cornerback returning kicks on special teams? So he can end up like Jason Sehorn?
“91% of Native Americans surveyed had no objection to the use of Native American names or imagery in sports.” In no way does that even remotely address the specific racist/sambo-type imagery of Chief Wahoo.
Also, Cribbs’ struggles probably have more to do with losing Brad Seely and some key special teams contributors than with Cribbs losing his explosiveness.
@Harrison – Agreed. Big diff between the distinguished profile of a Seminole warrior and the toothy grin of Chief Wahoo –> chek da meffuhdawlogy pweeze
@3 and 4: agree, 100%.
@3, 4 & 5 – Agreed.
The version of Cockroft’s book that costs “several hundred dollars” is a limited edition signed by the Ksrdiac Kids’ starting lineups.
The standard, unsigned, book costs $54.95. Considering the book has 672 pages and 650 photos, that’s a pretty good price.
To take off on Harrison’s point, I also think there are new rules this year in special team blocking patterns that don’t allow as many big returns.
#2 is right. There’s no reason to put Haden on kicks and punts, he’s much more valuable as a CB (hello putting Kellen Winslow on the onside-kick recovery team). Obie could be a possibility on kicks if Hillis’s return continues to cut into his carries.
Meyer is a great coach, but he had an absolute top-of-the-line staff at Florida. It’s going to be very important for OSU to shell out top dollar, more than they already have, to give Meyer the staff he’s going to need to succeed.
@5kMD Right. I was just trying to account for Cribbs’ relative performance decline since every special teams unit in the NFL is dealing with the same rule changes.