Leadoff with Lee 1.15.15 #Browns #OhioState #49ers

By @cleeverizon

- Greg Roman is officially off the table for the Browns. He will serve as offensive coordinator for Rex Ryan in Buffalo.

What's the next step for the Browns in hiring a new offensive coordinator? The Browns interviewed former Bears head coach Marc Trestman yesterday (a hire/interview I don't like) and Raiders QB coach John DeFilippo will interview Friday(a hire/interview I do like).

Other candidates that have been discussed are Anthony Lynn of the New York Jets, who had the Jets finishing third in the NFL in rushing with 142.5 yards per game in 2014, Cowboys assistants Bill Callahan and Scott Linehan, Raiders senior offensive assistant Al Saunders, and former Bills head coach Chan Gailey. Gailey has been highly recruited and is expected to be hired by new Jets coach Todd Bowles. The Browns will also interview their tight end coach Brian Angelichio.

- The 49ers promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula as their next head coach. Jack Del Rio was hired by the Raiders to become head coach. Todd Bowles was hired as head coach of the N.Y Jets.

- The 49ers parted ways with all of their assistant coaches except running back coach Tom Rathman. So that means former Browns head coach Eric Mangini is unemployed once again.

- Oregon QB Marcus Mariota announced he will forego his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL draft.

- The future of Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is something everyone wants to know. Reports have surfaced that Jones is seeking a extension from the NFL to decide if he wants to declare for the draft. Obviously he wants to workout in front of some scouts and agents just to gauge where he is projected to be drafted.  

- Marc Bindel, who was J.T Barrett's offensive coordinator in high school, has been quoted as saying "Obviously it's nothing official, but right now J.T. told me that he expects both of them (Jones and Braxton Miller) to be back with him". That's the best problem a coach can have, a plug and play quarterback. If I were Cardale I would declare for the draft, If he feels that he's ready. If he wants another year of college under his belt, I would transfer to a D1-AA  school and light it up there. Remember Steve McNair from Alcorn State?

- Ohio State officially hired Tim Beck who will serve as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. Ed Warinner was promoted from offensive line coach to co-offensive coordinator.      

- Nick Foligno of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been named team captain for All-Start weekend in Columbus. Team Foligno is going to be the home team and wear the black Reebok All-Star jersey.

Leadoff with Lee 1.9.15 #Browns #HOF #Olympics

By @cleeverizon

- Boston will represent the United States in its bid for the opportunity to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United States Olympic Committee announced today. The decision followed a spirited discussion and more than one round of voting. Ultimately, the Boston bid received the unanimous endorsement of the USOC’s board of directors.

The U.S. last hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 1996 (Atlanta). St. Louis hosted in 1904 and Los Angeles held the Games in both 1932 and 1984.

- The Browns will be in need of a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Browns will be parting ways with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Also, the club has relieved quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains of his duties.

The 35-year-old Shanahan and 34-year-old Loggains were with the club for just one season. The Browns finished 23rd in yards gained and 27th in points scored in 2014, and the club’s QB play was too often a weakness, with rookie Johnny Manziel’s subpar performance a disappointment.

The news of Shanahan’s departure comes two days after the Plain Dealer reported Shanahan was open to leaving the franchise because of tension between the coaching staff and front office. Kyle Shanahan had a interview with the Buffalo Bills for their head coaching vacancy on Thursday.

If Shanahan doesn’t land a head coaching gig, it’s possible he could land elsewhere as a coordinator, especially if his father, Mike Shanahan, gets a head coaching job. Other possibilities would be for Kyle Shanahan to join the New York Jets or the San Francisco 49ers as a offensive coordinator.

Charlie Weis and former Bears head coach Marc Trestman have shown interest in becoming the Browns offensive coordinator.

- Newly acquired Cavs center Timofey Mozgov will change his number as #25 is retired (Mark Price). He will wear #20 like his father, a Soviet handball player.

- The Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists were announced. You can see the list below and find more information on the NFL's website here.

The semi-finalists include:

Morten Andersen, kicker (1982-2004, 2006-2007) NO, ATL, KC, NYG, MIN
Jerome Bettis, running back (1993-2005) STL, PIT
Tim Brown, wide receiver (1988-2004) OAK, TB
Don Coryell, head coach (1973-77, 1978-1986) SD
Terrell Davis, running back (1995-2001) DEN
Tony Dungy, head coach (1996-2008) TB, IND
Kevin Greene, defensive end/linebacker (1985-1999) STL, PIT, CAR, SF
Charles Haley, defensive end/linebacker (1986-1996; 1999) SF, DAL
Marvin Harrison, wide receiver (1996-2008) IND
Jimmy Johnson, coach (1989-1993, 1996-1999) DAL, MIA
John Lynch, safety (1993-2007) TB, DEN
Orlando Pace, offensive tackle (1997-2009) STL, CHI
Bill Polian, contributor (1978-1982, 1984-2011) KC, BUF, CAR, IND
Junior Seau, linebacker (1990-2009) SD, MIA, NE
Will Shields, guard (1993-2006) KC
Mick Tingelhoff, center (1962-1978) MIN
Kurt Warner, quarterback (1998-2009) STL, ARZ, NYG, OAK
Ron Wolf, contributor (1963-1974, 1976-2001) OAK, NYJ, TB, GB

Leadoff with Lee 12.30.14 #Harbaugh #Michigan #Manziel #BlackMonday

By @cleeverizon

- Former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh will become the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He'll be signing a reported 6-year, $8 million dollar annual contract and becoming the highest paid coach in college football history. Michigan will also pay the consulting firm of Korn Ferry $80,000 for helping conduct the "search" for the new coach. This is the same firm that was used when they hired Brady Hoke, and we all know how that ended. The official press conference is scheduled at Noon today and I also expect Harbaugh to address the Michigan fans prior to the men's basketball game, ala Urban Meyer. The average Big Ten head coach salary in the 94-95 season was $132,800. Harbaugh made $50,000 in 2002 as quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders.

- Johnny Manziel had a "social gathering" at his apartment Friday night. Saturday morning he was set to seek treatment for his hamstring injury and was not able to be reached via phone. Browns security staff went to Manziel's apartment to search for him after he didn't return calls or show up to the team facility. Ultimately, Manziel was fined a undisclosed amount of money for his tardiness. In a season ending interview yesterday, "Money Manziel" apologized to Jimmy Haslam and his teammates. It was initially reported Justin Gilbert and Josh Gordon attended Manziel's "social gathering". Manziel shutdown rumors yesterday and told reporters neither of the players were in attendance. Justin Gilbert was inactive Sunday because he was late for a team meeting. The Browns suspended Gordon after he failed to show up for Saturday's walk-through. He'll finish with just five games active this season, which could prevent him from being eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016. The Browns nearly traded Gordon prior to the 2013 deadline and could shop him again this offseason. This means the Browns now have control of Gordon as he will then be a restricted free agent in the 2016 season and can match any offer made to him by any other team.

- Yesterday was #BlackMonday aka the time when most teams inform their head coaches they have been fired. The following #NFL head coaches and general managers were fired: Chicago Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer and general manager Phil Emery. They hired consultant Ernie Accorsi to help them in the search of a new coach and general manager. The New York Jets fired Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik. Ryan is rumored to be the leading candidate for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, which became vacant after firing head coach Mike Smith. The Falcons hired, you guessed it, Korn Ferry to identify potential candidates for the position.

- Per Eric Garafalo, 49ers assistant Eric Mangini is slated to interview with the Raiders for their head-coaching job, source says.