Leadoff with Lee 3.11.15 #NFLFreeAgency #Cavs #LeBron

By @cleeverizon

Move over Cedar Point, the NFL was America's roller coast yesterday. This was the most active first day of free agency that I have ever seen. We had trades,players retiring and unexpected signings. All I have to say in the morning is "Ya betta have my donuts." Here we go:

-The blockbuster of the day came when the Eagles traded Nick Foles, a 4th round pick in 2015 and a 2nd round pick in 2016 for St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford and 5th round draft pick in 2015. Here's the kicker, The Eagles will surrender a 2016 2nd-round pick to Rams in the trade no matter what. But will get back a conditional 2016 pick from the Rams. It will be a 3rd if Bradford does not play at all and a 4th if he starts less than 50 percent of plays.

- Here is the other blockbuster trade of the day: the Ravens traded their multiple time pro bowl, star lineman Haloti Ngata and 7th-round pick to Detroit for a 4th and 5th round pick in 2016. Nice steal for Detroit.

- Blockbuster trade number 3. Seattle Seahawks trade C Max Unger and a 2015 1st-round draft pick to Saints for pro bowl star tight end Jimmy Graham and a 2015 4th-rd draft pick.

- The Kansas City Chiefs signed SS Tyvon Branch to a one-year, $2 million contract. The Chiefs will release WR Dwayne Bowe today.

- The New York Jets signed Buster Skrine to a four-year,$25 million contract, including $13 million in guaranteed. But it didn't stop there. Cornerback Darrelle Revis signed a 5 year year deal worth $70M, $39M fully guaranteed. He gets $33M in first two years, and $48M in first three. WoW! They also released receiver Percy Harvin.

-The Colts signed running back Frank Gore to a 3 year deal with $7.5 million over the first two years. They also brought in former Houston Texans wide out Andre Johnson and re-signed S Mike Adams to a 2-year deal. Along with those moves, Trent Cole signed a two-year deal with the Colts for $14M, $8M guaranteed  $2M signing bonus, $3.75M 2015 roster bonus, $2M 2016 roster bonus; salaries $2M (guaranteed), $4.25M; $1M incentive.

- The Carolina Panthers released RB DeAngelo Williams.

- Linebacker AJ Hawk signed with his favorite childhood team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

- The Denver Broncos signed tight end Owen Daniels to replace Julius Thomas, who agreed to a deal with Jacksonville earlier in the week.

- The San Francisco 49ers signed former Ravens receiver Torrey Smith to a five-year, $40 million contract.

- The Raiders signed ex-Seahawks linebacker and Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith. Oakland also signed running back Roy Helu, formerly of Washington.

- The Tennessee Titans signed former Falcons receiver Harry Douglas.

- The Cardinals signed linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

- Tennessee Titans free agent QB Jake Locker shockingly retired after only 4 years in the league. Locker, 26, was the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft, but suffered from injuries and inconsistencies in his time with the Titans. Locker was expected to be one of the top free agent quarterbacks available this offseason.

- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis retired after 9 years due to health concerns with feet, along wanting to leave the game on his own terms.

- Steelers free agent linebacker Jason Worilds has also decided to step away from playing football, announcing his decision via a series of tweets on Twitter. Worilds, 27, had 15 sacks the past two seasons in Pittsburgh and was expected to get offers up to $15 million in guaranteed money.

- Lastly, the Cavaliers went down to Dallas and hung the biggest home loss of the season on the Mavericks, smashing them 127-94. LeBron James led the Cavs with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. This was the third time this season that all five Cavaliers starters scored at least 17 points, with James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and JR Smith all above 20 points. Timofey Mozgov had 17. On the Mavs side, Monta Ellis had 17 points while Dirk Nowitzki struggled with 13 points on 3/10 shooting. In the game, LeBron James also became the team's all time assist leader, passing Mark Price. The Cavs have off tonight while they prepare for their TNT nationally televised game versus the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Tip off will be at 9:30 pm.

Leadoff with Lee 3.10.15 #Hartline #Browns

By @cleeverizon

The heartbeat of America finally has a Hartline. Brian Hartline will sign a 2 year, $6 million dollar deal with the Cleveland Browns today. The North Canton native from Glen Oak high school told Northeast Ohio Media Group, "I plan to compete at the highest level. I'm just starting to hit my peak.'' Hartline was courted by several teams including the Bears, Patriots and Texans. "It came down to a gut feeling. I did my due diligence. I'm very excited.'' Hartline had 1,000 plus yards receiving 2012 and 2013. He will be the taller, possession wideout that the Browns were looking for. I still see the Browns drafting a receiver for Hartline to mentor.

- Who said the Browns weren't going to be active one the free agency this year? The Browns have tendered qualifying offers to defensive backs Johnson Bademosi & Tashaun Gipson, defensive lineman Ishmaa’ily Kitchen & LB Craig Robertson. The Browns gave Gipson and Robertson 2nd round tenders (can match any offer from another team, if tender is not matched will receive 2nd round pick). Kitchen and Bademosi received low tenders and will get no compensation. All offers can be matched by the Browns. Tashaun Gipson didn't seem happy about his tender offer and tweeted this:

😐😐😐

— Tashaun J. Gipson SR (@Gipson_duos24) March 9, 2015

Obviously Gipson is upset and thinks he's worth 1st round tender money which would have paid him $3.356 million per year.

- Johnny  Manziel is in his sixth week of treatment. Mike Pettine said yesterday "We're giving him his privacy and let him do what he has to do," Pettine said. "It was something he was very resolute needed to get done." "Football is still an 'afterthought.'

- The Browns are still in contention for OLB/DE Trent Cole. He left Cleveland yesterday afternoon on his way to visit the Colts. Expect a decision to be made by Wednesday.

- The Houston Texans officially released WR Andre Johnson.

- Former Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas is expected to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars later today.

- Lineman Mike Iupati will be leaving the San Francisco 49ers and joining the Arizona Cardinals.

- The San Francisco 49ers released WR Stevie Johnson. Keep a eye out, as the Browns may make another move to sign the speedster.

- Brett Keisel, who has said he wants to play in 2015, was released by Steelers after playing all of his13 seasons with the team.

- Glenville Tarblooder and Ohio State alum Ted Ginn Jr signed a two-year deal with Carolina Panthers, worth $4.2 million. His first year salary is $900,000 and $1.4 million in the second year. He receives a $1.7M signing bonus, and up to $750,000 in incentives each year.

Leadoff with Lee 3.3.15

By @cleeverizon

- Despite having over $50 million dollars in cap space, the Browns did not sign any of their own free agents or use the transition or franchise tag on any of their players, including oft injured tight end Jordan Cameron and QB Brian Hoyer. So at this point and time the Browns are letting go more players than they have draft picks.

As of now, the Browns own 10 picks including [round in ()] - Nos. 12 (1), 19 (1), 43 (2), 77 (3), 108 (4), 112 (4), 139 (5), 173 (6), 186 (6), 204 (7).

The players who are set to become unrestricted free agents come March 10th along with Hoyer and Cameron are: Ahtyba Rubin, Jabaal Sheard, Miles Austin, Buster Skrine, Marlon Moore and Sione Fua. Cleveland also has four players who are restricted free agents. The Browns have until March 10 to tender qualifying offers to them should they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation for them. Tashaun Gipson, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Johnson Bademosi. Since the franchise/transition tags have been in effect, the Browns have franchised one player (Phil Dawson) and transitioned one (Alex Mack).

- Two key wide receivers were franchise tagged yesterday, Dallas' Dez Bryant and Denver's Demaryius Thomas. The Detroit Lions did not place the franchise tag on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. For a list of notable franchise/transition tags and free agents, click HERE.

- The Texans gave Andre Johnson permission to seek a trade. Houston said he would have a reduced role next season. Johnson asked to be traded or cut instead. He has two years and $21.5 million remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to make $11.5 million ($10.5M base/$1M roster bonus) in 2015.

- Bulls guard Jimmy Butler will not need surgery, but will be out 3-6 weeks with a sprained left elbow. He is averaging 20.2 PPG & 5.9 RPG this season.

- The NBA suspended James Harden one game and will miss one game check for kicking LeBron James Sunday. The NBA upgraded the call to a Flagrant 2 foul. He'll miss tonight's game in Atlanta.

- The Columbus Blue Jackets made a series of moves yesterday as they traded defenseman James Wisniewski & 3rd round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson & 2nd round pick. The Blue Jackets also agreed to terms on a 3-year contract extension with forward Cam Atkinson. They also acquired defenseman Justin Falk and a 2015 fifth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Jordan Leopold.

- The first black player to play for the Chicago White Sox and former Cleveland Indian Minnie Minoso has passed away at the age of 90. Minoso spent parts of four seasons with the Tribe and hit 45 homers combined in '58-'59.                  

- Spring training starts today in Goodyear,Arizona as the Indians face the Reds. Zach McAllister will get the start and the batting lineup will go as follows:                      

1. SS Jose Ramirez
2. C Yan Gomes
3. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
4. 1B Carlos Santana
5. RF David Murphy
6. 2B Mike Aviles
7. DH Tyler Holt
8. LF James Ramsey
9. CF Tyler Naquin

- Finally, a possible stadium design for the St. Louis Rams to stay in St. Louis was released. The riverfront stadium that sits on the banks of the Mississippi River would cost a proposed $1 billion and seat 64,000. While there's no guarantee that this would keep the Rams in St. Louis, this could be a good start to convince them to stay.