Leadoff with Lee 12.23.15 #Browns #ProBowl #Indians #Akron #Toledo

By @cleeverizon

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack were selected to the NFL Pro Bowl. For Thomas, this will be his 9th selection to the annual game and 3rd time for Mack. Special teamer Johnson Bademosi, tight end Gary Barnidge and wide receiver Travis Benjamin were selected as alternates. Pro Bowl players are voted in by players, coaches and fans, with each groups ballot counting for 1/3 of the votes.

In a All-Star game many consider to be tag football, the Pro Bowl has some rule differences from a traditional NFL game.

-Field Goal Post width will be 14-feet, down from 18.6-feet from the regular season
-PATs will be from the 15-yard line, making the kick 33-yards long.
-2 timeouts per quarter
-2 minute warning every quarter
-Change of Possession at the end of each quarter. Just to name a few. For the complete Pro Bowl roster click HERE.

- The Indians signed Ross Detwiler to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The team also released Chris Johnson, but still owe him $17.5M. Johnson is scheduled to make $7.5M in 2016 and $9M in 2017 and the Tribe will be on the hook for his $1M buyout in 2018 with a contract worth $10M.

Ross Detwiler is a 29-year-old southpaw who posted a 7.25 ERA (6.12 FIP) in 41 appearances between the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves in 2015. In 58.1 combined innings, Detwiler struck out 41, walked 36 and allowed 10 home runs. Left-handed pitchers Tom Gorzelanny and Joe Thatcher were also recently signed to Minor League deals with spring training invites by the Tribe.

- The Akron Zips defeated Utah State for their 1st bowl win in school history with a 23-21 victory in the Idaho Potato Bowl.

- Another Ohio team won a bowl game yesterday, as the Toledo Rockets won the Boca Raton Bowl over Temple, 32-17. It's the 1st time since 1969-71 Toledo has won a bowl in consecutive seasons.

- After announcing his retirement Monday, Ohio native Charles Woodson was named to his 9th Pro Bowl at the age 39. Woodson was a three-time, first-team All-Pro at cornerback for the Packers and Raiders. Named to the All-2000s Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the in 2009 season which featured nine interceptions and three touchdowns. He is also sixth on the all time interceptions list with 65 and is tied for the most career defensive touchdowns with 13.