Leadoff with Lee 10.8.15 #Indians #NFL #MattBarnes #DerekFisher #LakeErieMonsters

By @cleeverizon

As expected, the Cleveland Indians made promotions within the front office as outgoing Indians President Mark Shapiro leaves for the Toronto Blue Jays. Chris Antonetti is now the club’s President of Baseball Operations, while assistant General Manager Mike Chernoff has been named the Indians General Manager. Director of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey is now the Tribe’s Assistant GM.

Antonetti just completed his fifth season as the General Manager of the team. Under Antonetti's leadership, the team secured the long term contracts of players like Corey Kulber, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley and others. Chernoff has been with Cleveland for 12 seasons, with the last five years as assistant general manager. In his time, he's assisted Antonetti with player contracts.

As stated in the Indians press release, these moves will not impact the business operations as those responsibilities will still be in the hands of Indians owner and chairman, Paul Dolan.

- Browns running back Duke Johnson was nominated for the "Pepsi Rookie of the Week" after his 116 total yards and 1 TD performance last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Johnson also ranks second for rookie receptions with 15, trailing Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper, who has 24 receptions.

- Daily fantasy websites DraftKings and FanDuel are being investigated by the New York attorney general after DraftKings employees reportedly won nearly $6M playing daily fantasy at rival FanDuel while using internal data.

One DraftKings employee admitted that he inadvertently released data before week three of the NFL season. That same employee won $350K at rival site, FanDuel. The question was then raised if employees have internal information not available to the public that is used to gain a unfair advantage which has been labeled similar to insider trading. FanDuel and DraftKings have permanently banned it's employees from playing daily fantasy sports for money. ESPN is also cutting down on FanDuel and DraftKings advertising and sponsored segments. FanDuel has brought in former US Attorney General Michael Mukasey to review facts, evaluate internal controls, standards & practices.

The link to the letter that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman can be read HERE.

- The NFL and owners have agreed to continue to schedule regular season international games through the 2025 season. With that announcement, other countries are being considered to host games next season in addition to the games in the United Kingdom. The NFL did not specifically identify Germany and Mexico, but they have been mentioned as leading contenders to host games. The league is playing three games this season at Wembley Stadium in London. In July 2015, the NFL agreed to a 10-year deal with English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur to play games at the team's new stadium, which is slated to open in 2018. 

- NFL owners are expected to vote in January 2016 on a team or teams to relocate to Los Angeles. With three teams backing two different competing stadium plans in L.A., the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams will all file for relocation. Eric Grubman, the league's main point man on Los Angeles, added that the NFL is not married to a vote in January, and that it could come later, particularly if one of the applicants is in the playoffs. The vote could come as late as April of 2016.

- Matt Barnes attacked his former Lakers teammate and current Knicks head coach Derek Fisher this past weekend for dating his ex-wife, Gloria Govan. When Barnes learned that Fisher was at Govan's Los Angeles home, he drove 95 miles from Santa Barbara to physically confront Fisher. A scuffle ensued between the two and the police were called to the scene, but Fisher left before they arrived but won't be pressing charges.

Barnes allegedly spit on Govan during the fracas and will seek a protection order against Barnes. Fisher missed Knicks practice on Monday. The team announced at the time it was for personal reasons, as the Knicks played in their exhibition opener Wednesday night against a Brazilian club team.

"My state of mind is that we have a game tonight and nothing that I've experienced has anything to do with how we perform tonight," Fisher said before the game. Adding that he was, "completely focused and committed to the team." The NBA has refused comment stating it is "premature" at this time.

- Broken Buckeyes: Urban Meyer said freshman LB Nick Conner is out for the season with a knee injury. He hurt himself at practice Tuesday. Meyer also noted DB Cam Burrows is out for the season with foot surgery. He could potentially take a medical redshirt.

- Have you seen the new Lake Erie Monsters jerseys with a color scheme of the Columbus Blue Jackets? Looks sweet, I'm going to add this to the collection