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.

On The Mark 9.28.15: #Browns v #Raiders Recap

McCown starts slow, defense doesn't start at all in 27-20 embarrassing loss to the Raiders
By @MarkW2112

When Josh McCown was named starter after being cleared to play after a concussion suffered against the Buffalo Bills, Mike Pettine said that McCown gave the Browns the best chance to win.  Sadly for Pettine, that idea blew up in his face.  The Browns lost 27-20 to the Oakland Raiders at First Energy Stadium due to McCown slow start and interception at the end of the game to Charles Woodson.  In between, McCown, who was 28 of 49 for 341 yards and 2 touchdowns, missed his receivers many times and either over threw or under threw several long balls to Travis Benjamin, including on the game ending interception.  The running game once again was non existent with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson being non-factors. 

But as bad as the offense was, it was the defense that was a true nightmare.  The secondary, which was supposed to be one of the best in the NFL, were sliced and diced by Derek Carr, who now has Amari Cooper to do a lot of damage against any NFL defense.  Carr ended the day 20 of 32 for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He was barely touched at all day as the Browns did not sack him.  Cooper was spectacular, with 134 yards receiving yards on 8 catches.  With the exception of a fumble, the Browns had no answers for him.  Latavius Murray slashed through the Browns porous run defense for 139 yards and 1 touchdown.

My take:  The Browns are a disaster once again.  Can't stop the run on defense, can't run on offense.  Josh McCown was rusty to start the game but was able to find a rhythm near the end.  That said, he was sacked 5 times, and missed wide open receivers, namely Travis Benjamin.  It proved that perhaps Mike Pettine out thought himself once more by starting McCown over Johnny Manziel.  But what's really disturbing is the defense.  The Browns invested a ton of money and draft picks in to the defense and they still can't stop the run and still get beat on pass protection.  This is a nightmare scenario for both Pettine and Ray Farmer, who would appear to be on a very tight leash with Jimmy Haslam.  It appears that, once again, the Browns will have another losing season and have fans longing for the good old days.

Player of the game: Derek Carr, who was suburb against the Browns defense.

Play of the game:  Brian Hartline, making another spectacular catch, this time with his legs.

Turning point:  Josh McCown's interception to Charles Woodson to end the game when it looked like they could tie it.

Next game:  In San Diego against the Chargers