Leadoff with Lee 1.10.15

By @cleeverizon

- It's unknown if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will practice today. Earlier this week, it was discovered that the Green Bay starter has a torn and strained calf muscle. Despite his injury, he will make the start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. One team official said Rodgers won't be 100%, the bigger question is whether he will be 50% or 95% on game day. I expect the Cowboys to blitz more in this game than any other because of Rogers limited mobility.

- The NFL is investigating the Browns for allegations of using electronic devices on the sidelines for play calling. The rules prohibit smartphones and cellphones from being used in team areas, including sidelines and coaching booths from 90 minutes before kickoff and in locker rooms after kickoff. The restrictions on the devices end after games end.

"We are reviewing internally and will fully cooperate with the NFL on this matter.”, said a Browns spokesman on Friday.

- Former Browns head coach and current 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini will interview with the Washington Redskins for their open defensive coordinator position. Mangini was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in 2005 after several years as a defensive backs coach and then was hired as the Jets head coach the next year. Randy Lerner then hired Mangini in 2009 after the firing of Romeo Crennel. Mangini spent time with ESPN a few years then, he joined the 49ers staff in 2013 as an offensive assistant and then moved to the tight ends job for the 2014 season.

- Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington has reportedly been suspended for failing a drug test, and he will miss the National Championship Game against Ohio State, Carrington reportedly tested positive for marijuana. In the voice of Stephen A. Smith, "Stay off da weeeeeeeda!" The Ducks will be missing their number 1 and 2 receivers for the game as Devon Allen is out with a knee injury.

- NCAA basketball official Karl Hess has resigned as a official in the ACC after allegations the official used an ethnic slur during a game between Wake Forest and Louisville. Hess' removal from ACC basketball games will not affect his ability to officiate games for other conferences, including the Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference and Colonial Conference.

Here is a copy of the tweet that Hess used to Mit Shah who is a former chairman at Wake Forest board of trustees and now a hotel mogul: Karl Hess to me at the Wake-Louisville game tonight..."When I'm older, I want to sit in your seat & watch your Egyptian ass ref a game" #Wow

- Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill has requested and been granted his release from the program and can transfer to any school of his choice. Hill replaced former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and was a early Heisman hopeful with a 511-yard, three-touchdown victory of fellow SEC opponent South Carolina to open the 2014 season. Hill started off the season 5-0 then was benched and suspended from the team for two-games for a violation of team rules and athletic department policy. Prior to the season beginning Hill also was suspended for the final part of spring practice in 2014 after an alcohol-related arrest.




- Former Dallas Mavericks center Roy Tarpley, whose star fizzled due to drug and alcohol problems, died Friday afternoon. He was 50. Cause of death was not immediately known although when the Mavericks arrived in Los Angeles for their game Saturday against the Clippers, several members of the traveling party had been informed that liver failure was at least partly to blame. 

The 6'11" Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 draft by the Mavericks out of Michigan. In his second season, he was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, before drugs and controversy clouded the rest of his six seasons in the league. Tarpley would spend most of his career battling personal problems. He was suspended by the NBA after five games in the 1989-90 season after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. In 1991, he drew another suspension after a second DWI arrest and, a few months later, had a third violation and was banned from the league for violating the NBA’s drug-use policies. He returned to the Mavericks briefly in 1994 but then was permanently barred in December, 1995, for violating terms of his aftercare program. Tarpley’s abilities on the court were never a problem. In 280 games, he averaged 12.6 points and 10 rebounds. In the 1987-88 season, he averaged 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds in 17 playoff games before the Mavericks lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals in seven games.

And last but not least the inductees of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame were announced yesterday, led by former Ohio State couch Jim Tressel. 


Here is a full list of inductees:


Youngstown State and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder
Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts
Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig
Millsaps defensive end Sean Brewer from Division III
Pittsburgh offensive tackle Rugen Brown
Florida split end Wes Chandler
Notre Dame split end Thom Gatewood
Yale running back Dick Jauron
Michigan state halfback Clinton Jones
Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy
Michigan running back Rob Lytle
Marshall quarterback Michael Payton
Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas
Kentucky defensive lineman Art Still

Leadoff with Lee 5.10.14

-In Day 2 of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns made three additions to the team. In the second round at pick 35, they selected offensive tackle Joel Bitonio from Nevada. Bitonio is 6'4", 302 pounds and is said to have a "mean and nasty" style of play. He may outplay Mitchell Schwartz and/or Jason Pinkston and take the starting spot. The third round seen the Browns selecting linebacker Chris Kirksey from Iowa. Kirksey is a hard hitter, but weighing in around 230 pounds some think that he may be able to play safety as well. Lastly on Friday, the Browns traded up into the late third round to pick up running back Terrence West at 30. From Towson, West may appear short in stature at only 5'9", 225 pounds, but makes up for it in speed and powerful running. Many say he comparable to Maurice Jones-Drew. Rounds 4-7 start at Noon today.

-Browns Wide Receiver Josh Gordon faces a 1 year suspension from the NFL after allegedly failing a drug test. The drug he supposedly tested positive for is marijuana. Gordon entered the league in the NFL substance abuse program for testing positive for weed, before being drafted in the supplemental draft, which put him in stage 1 of the program. Josh Gordon then tested positive for "purple drank", a drinkable codeine cough syrup mixture, but was only suspended for 2 games last season for the offense. Purple drank was not on the banned substance list at that point in time. Gordon led the NFL last season in receiving yards with 1,646 yards.

-Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has been named the new President of Youngstown State University. Tressel was the head football coach for the Penguins from 1985-2000 before leaving to become head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

-The Ohio State Buckeyes football team had 2 players go in the 1st round on Thursday. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected linebacker Ryan Shazier with the 15th overall pick and cornerback Bradley Roby going 31st to the Denver Broncos. On Friday, the San Francisco 49ers selected running back Carlos Hyde in the 2nd round with the 26th pick in the round and 57th overall.

-The Indiana Pacers go up 2-1 in the series as the showed the Washington Wizards some magic last night winning 85-63, in the Eastern Conferece semis. Paul George had a game high of 23 points and 8 rebounds. On the defensive end, Roy Hibbert had 5 rebounds with 3 blocks on top of his 15 points. Washington's John Wall didn't help with 5 turnovers for the game and 6 points. Game 4 will be Sunday night in Washington.

-The late game seen the Los Angeles Clippers taking a 2-1 series lead, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-112. It was a very chippy game that seen a lot of shoving and even the bloodying of Blake Griffin's nose. Griffin however had a great game with 34 points. Chris Paul had 21 points and 16 assists, while Jamal Crawford added 20 off the bench. Kevin Durant led all scores with 36 but just wasn't enough to overcome the Clippers. Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka had 23 and 20 points, respectively. Game 4 will be Sunday afternoon in L.A.

-The Cleveland Indians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 in Tampa yesterday. Asdrubal Cabrera went 3-4 with two runs scored. Mike Aviles was 1-3, but his one hit scored 3 RBIs with his homerun. Corey Kluber started and got the win for the Tribe. He improves back to .500 evening his record to 3-3. Kluber had 9 strikeouts! Can we say lights out?