Leadoff with Lee 2.25.15 #Browns #McCown #Kane #JoshHamilton

By @cleeverizon

- Josh McCown visited the Browns Tuesday & Wednesday. But before we get to excited about signing McCown, he also visited with Bills last week and met Bears & Jets at combine. However Josh McCown will make his decision on a team possibly in a few days. The Browns are in the running. And he wants  to talk things over with family. It sounds as if the Browns have offered him a contract.

He would be a good transition quarterback for the Browns as they prepare their future signal caller whomever that maybe. Even though I would rather have Sam Bradford who the Rams maybe be willing to part with for a 3rd round pick or future conditional 1st or 2nd round pick depending on Bradford's play and health. But the Browns will need to find out the punishment that he NFL will issue for "TextGate" before they can even dip their feet into those waters.

- Looks like the quarterback situation is going to get interesting, per Pro Football Talk the Browns Ray Farmer & Brian Hoyer are set to meet. It's a safe assumption they will be talking about the "TextGate" situation and both sides will determine where to go from there.

- The Browns are also rumored to be interested in Buccaneers free agent DE Adrian Clayborn. He's had 13 sacks in 4 years in the NFL but was hurt in 2012 and 2014. His rookie year in 2011 he has 7.5 sacks and started all 16 games. Most recently in 2013 he has 5.5 sacks and 16 games started. He suffered a torn bicep cost him his 2014 season. Despite his two season ending injuries Clayborn has produced on the field. Cleveland needs help on the defensive line and would be ready to play right away rather than sit like a rookie would.

- NFL sources have indicated that free agent wide receiver Cecil Shorts and the Browns have mutual interest with each other. Shorts would provide a big target as he is 6'0, 200lbs and would allow Andrew Hawkins and/or Miles Austin to play their natural slot position.

- Sources close to Browns tight end Jordan Cameron have said he is not interested in resigning with the team and will test the free agent market.

- The Packers released LB AJ Hawk, their 2006 first-round pick. It saves them $3.5M this year, which comes off their cap.  He ranks No. 1 in franchise history with 1,118 tackles.

- The Detroit Lions have parted ways with RB Reggie Bush.  

- Bulls announce Derrick Rose will undergo surgery after an MRI revealed medial meniscus tear in right knee and will be out indefinitely. The Bulls have paid Derrick Rose $944,608 for each game he has played in over the last 3 seasons (56 games).

- LeBron James set the all-time NBA record for assists by a forward, with 6,136 passing Scottie Pippen (6,135).

- Kendrick Perkins officially signed with the Cavs Tuesday, his Cleveland salary will be $443.068 for the remainder of the season with a salary-cap number of $279,975.

- Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane is expected to miss 12 weeks after undergoing surgery of his left clavicle. The Florida Panthers' Alex Petrovic cross checked Kane in the lower back which led Kane to be slammed into the boards, causing the fracture. The regular season ends April 11, with the playoffs starting a week later. Kane would be expected to miss the start of the playoffs with hope that he could return in the Western Conference finals, should Chicago reach that far.

- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton could be facing some discipline from Major League Baseball after revealing that he's had a drug related relapse which may have included but not limited to cocaine use. Hamiltion is currently undergoing rehab after his shoulder surgery earlier this month and is expected out until at least May. That could change now, obviously. Hamilton signed a 5-year, $125 million deal with the Angels before the 2013 season.

- Former St. Louis Ram Michael Sam and Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin have joined the cast of the new season of Dancing With The Stars.

- The city of Inglewood, CA has approved the "Hollywood Park" stadium plan project to build a Los Angeles based NFL stadium for the St. Louis Rams. The unanimously approved project would build a $1.86 billion, 80,000 seat stadium adjacent to the multi-use redevelopment at the old Hollywood Park racetrack. Workers could potentially start building by the end of 2015.

Leadoff with Lee 10.22.14

By @cleeverizon

-The Giants are hunting "Blue October". Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants dominated the Kansas City Royals in their 7-1 route, giving San Francisco a 1-0 lead in the World Series. Bumgarner improved to a 5-0 postseason record while pitching 7 innings, giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run with 5 strikeouts. Hunter Pence was 2-3 with a home run, 2 RBI and scoring 2 runs. James Shield lasted 3 innings for the Royals giving up 5 runs and exploding his post season era to 5.74. Game 2 of the series is tonight with Yordano Ventura getting the start for the Royals, while Jake Peavy takes the mound for the Giants.

-It's a party in Cleveland October 30th for the Cavaliers season opener against the New York Knicks. TNT, with Kenny Smith and his knees, Shaq and Sir Charles Barkley, come to town for a concert featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar who will perform his latest single "I", which is the featured promo song for TNT and the NBA. Comedian Kevin Hart will be the host of the night, so expect to see him at the concert and during pregame, halftime and postgame festivities.

-Johnny vs Hoyer? I say give Brian Hoyer a full season to play. The quarterback position hasn't been stable in 15 years, no need to rush Manziel in at this point. Did you see Blake Bortles throw 3 interceptions on Sunday? W.W.J.D under that Jaguars D-Line and pressure? Thanks to a ESPN and FOX, the national media has Cleveland going as crazy as the Ebola story. Just wait and see what happens. If the Browns are a playoff team with Hoyer under center, let him be. If we are out of the picture, let Johnny play. I don't mind throwing in a Johnny package or two during games.

-Ray Rice has filed a grievence against the Baltimore Ravens for terminating his contract. Rice was cut after the TMZ video surfaced of him dragging his girlfriend, now wife, out of an elevator was made public. Soon afterward, the NFL suspended him indefinitely. Rice has since appealed his suspension with a hearing set for November 4-5. Rice could receive $3.5 million dollars if his grievence and appeal are approved.

-The Dallas Cowboys waived rookie linebacker Michael Sam yesterday from their practice squad. Sam was the Co-Defensive player of the year and First team All SEC selection in 2013. Sam made $6,300 per week as a practice squad player with the Cowboys. You'll remember that Sam is the NFL's first openly gay player.

-Peyton Manning has a NFL record 510 touchdowns. Do you think he discriminates on who he throws the ball to? Here is a breakdown of his touchdown passes thrown.(Add unproxx October 20 chart) or any other TD chart.

-South African paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to a 5 year prison term for the culpable homicide (U.S equivilent of manslaughter) of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. According to Pistorius, after he was frightened and awakened by what he thought was a intruder, he shot his gun at them, who ended up being his girlfriend. Pistorius could be released after 10 months to serve the remainder of his sentence on house arrest.

-Baseball America ranked the Cleveland Indians 2014 draft tops in Major League Baseball. Among the prospects, the Tribe walks away with the best defensive player Alex Pantoja who plays shortstop and best pure hitter Bradley Zimmer, first baseman (Arizona League MVP). Just to name a few.

Leadoff with Lee 9.3.14

By @cleeverizon

-Despite a 2 a two run homerun by Carlos Santana, despite the Tigers being shutout from innings 3-8 and despite the Tribe heading into the top of the 9th with a 2-1 lead, J.D. Martinez hit a 3 run homerun to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-2 win at Progressive Field over the Indians. Carlos Carassco pitched 5.1 innings giving up 10 hits, 1 earned run and recording 10 strikeouts. The Indians pitching staff as a whole had 14 strikeouts for the game. Cody Allen have up the 3 run bomb in the top off the 9th to earn his 2nd blown save within a month and recording his 4th loss of the season. Tonight, Danny Salazar (5-6, 4.23 era) will face Detroit's Justin Verlander (12-11, 4.68 era). The Indians are 3 games behind Seattle for the last wild card spot. FYI: Indians tickets for the last 2 games of the Detroit series are going for as little as $10 on StubHub.

-Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wants the NBA all-star game to return to Cleveland. The last time Cleveland hosted the mid season spectacular was in 1997. This is also when the NBA honored the 50 Greatest Players. If Cleveland can host the 2017 game, that will be officially 20 years since Cleveland had the festivities. And wouldn't it be nice to have all eyes on Cleveland with LeBron James having a all-star game in his own backyard? LBJ, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving would all be in their 2nd year of max deals. Downtown Cleveland and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer and is growing with massive improvements and renovations. Casinos, new hotels being built, the soon revival of the East Banks of The Flats, the vast array of dining and culture throughout and the Republican National Convention coming to town. Things are looking good for the 'Land. New York and Toronto have the All Star festivities in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

-Weeks ago, Under Armour offered Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant a 10-year $265-$285 million dollar endorsement deal. Nike told Durant and his represenitives at Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports that they would match the Under Armour offer. Durant should make $41.2 million dollars more than what he is being paid by the Thunder over the next 2 years.

-Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was suspended by the NFL for the first 6 games of the season and also fined $500,000 dollars after pleading guilty to one count of misdemeanor OVI charges. Irsay was pulled over for eratic driving. Toxicology reports showed he had Xanax in his system. But he was also found with pill bottles containing large amounts of oxycodone and hydrocodone. Also having over $30,000 cash on hand. People may say "Well Josh Gordon got suspended a full season and only failed a drug test". I agree, but owners are not subject to the same collective bargaining agreement as players. Now the "average Joe" like me or you, if we would have been caught with as much weight as Irsay did, we would be doing time under the jail. Prime example of "Money will make your problems go away".

-Wes Welker has been suspended for the first 4 games of this NFL season for testing positive for amphetamines. Welker appealed the suspension 2 weeks ago but was denied by the league. Amphetamines is the parent compound of the drug ecstasy or as the kids call it "Molly". I guess Welker was on his "TURN DOWN FOR WHAT" ish.

-Star defensive end J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans have agreed on a 6-year contract extension that could net him a total of $100 million. The deal that kicks in on the final two years of his current contract will keep Watt in a Texans uniform through 2021. He is guaranteed $51.8 million, the highest amount for a defensive player in NFL history. The $16.6 million annual value is also the most for a defensive player ever.

-The Kansas City Chiefs signed quarterback Alex Smith to a 4-year, $68 million dollar contract extension, which includes a $18 million dollar signing bonus. His salary for 2014 is $1 million dollars,but spikes up to $11.9 in 2015,$14.1 in 2016,down to $10.2 in '17 and back up to $14.5 in '18. $2 million in roster bonuses in '17 and '18.

-Michael Sam was cut by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday, but is on his way to Dallas for a physical with the Cowboys. The NFL's first openly gay player is expected to be signed to the Cowboys practice squad pending his physical results. In related news, the WWE has invited Sam to the September 8th episode of Raw. I expect Sam to decline this offer especially if the Cowboys sign him to the practice squad.

-The NFL and the NFLPA have begun talks to raise the marijuana test levels for the next CBA. It's very clear both sides see the need for the change considering it is the lowest out of all competitive sports. If this was the NBA, MLB, Olympics or the United States Army, we wouldn't even have this issue.

-Browns, Directv, Raycom. Ok I have been corrected on my previous tweets by saying Directv NFL Sunday ticket subscribers will be able to watch the game this weekend despite the contract dispute between Raycom and DirecTV. After further research, I found out the since it is a AFC game and the visiting team is responsible for the national feed the game WILL NOT be available. Unlike baseball to where you can select the local or visiting feed for announcers on different channels. NFL guidelines state it is the visitors who are responsible. But don't feel bad Cleveland fans. There are other markets that are owned by Raycom and broadcast NFL football games that are going through the same thing. Raycom had this same issue with Dish Network last year around the same time and a resolution was found. Too much advertising money will be lost by Raycom if they don't strike a deal. Companies pay millions of dollars to have their commercials shown during football games. Fellow DirecTV customers just need to remain calm.