The Puck Drops Here 1.18.16 #BlueJackets #CBJ #NHLAllStar

By @CLulovics


Where to start? Well at the start of the year a lot of people from GM'S, broadcasters, national writers and television personal predicted that the Columbus Blue Jackets would be back to their former form and make the playoffs. As of January 16th, the team is in last place and it all appears to look like everyone was wrong. But weirder things have happened, just like in any professional sport. So we can't count this team out just yet.

Some of the good news this year has to be Brandon Saad. Saad is having a career year in goals and is currently on pace to set a new high in that statistic category. Saad was rewarded before the season even started with a new multi-year contract, has been rewarded yet again with his first ever All-star game to be played January 31st down in Nashville Tennessee. Boone Jenner is also having a career year as he is on pace to blow away his current highs in goals and points.

In other news, with the team not living up to expectations, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen traded former first round pick and number 1 center Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators for their former first round pick defenseman Seth Jones. Will that trade prompt more in the coming weeks leading up to the trade deadline or will Jarmo stay put if this team finds its way? My take is that we have not seen the last as possibly more big names could be moved to free up salary cap space or to secure future prospects and or draft picks.

Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been battling a nagging groin injury since December 8th was activated off of injured reserve on January 15th. Also back up goalie Curtis McElhinney was placed on injured reserve during Sergei's stint resulting in the Jackets calling up both goalies from their minor league team the Lake Erie Monsters. Both young goalies were thrown into the fire put did their part in holding the net.


Either way, no one saw this season unfolding the way that it has. As a fan, it is discouraging that the results aren't better and I know the players feel the same way. The Blue Jackets fans have been with this team from the start of their franchise, through all the ups and downs, wins and loses, and they will continue to be there for their team as many have said that they are the most loyal and die-hard fans in the league.

As always, I will continue to fight the good fight and will be with this team until the end of time as I'm sure many of you will. So join me in either watching on T.V. or going down to Columbus and catching a game at Nationwide Arena or going down to Cleveland at The Q Arena and watching the future studs in action.

As always Carry The Flag, We Are The 5th Line, All Of Us, March With Us.

Leadoff with Lee 11.20.15 #NLMVP #Indians #NHLAllStar #NFL

By @cleeverizon

- Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has unanimously won the National League MVP award. Harper hit 42 home runs, scored 118 runs and had a .470 on-base percentage, while batting .330. At 22 years and 353 days at the end of the season, Harper becomes the youngest player to win the award since Cal Ripken in 1983, and youngest since Johnny Bench in 1970 for the National League.

- Not to be outdone, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson won the American League MVP award. In his fifth year, Donaldson hit 41 home runs, scored 122 runs and led the American League with 123 RBIs. Donaldson received 23 out of a possible 30 first place votes, besting Los Angeles Angels outfielder, Mike Trout.

- The Cleveland Indians signed former Twins outfielder Shane Robinson and catcher Adam Moore to minor league deals. In 2015, Robinson played in 83 games with the Twins, hitting .250 with a .299 OBP and a .322 SLG in 197 plate appearance. He'll add depth to the outfield as Micheal Brantley recovers from surgery.

Adam Moore spent most of the 2015 season at Triple-A Columbus, but was called up and played in a single game for the Indians on September 30.

- The 2016 NHL All Star Game will introduce a new wrinkle and will be changing into a 3-on-3 All-Star tournament. The tournament format will be comprised of three 20-minute games, played by divisional all-star teams competing for a winner-take-all $1 million prize, the NHL and NHL Players association announced yesterday. Each divisional all-star team will have 11 players: six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies. 

Fans will select one player from each division, without regard for position, in the 2016 NHL All-Star Fan Vote. Each NHL team will have at least one representative. The first two 20-minute games will be the semifinal round, with the Central Division all-stars playing the Pacific Division, and the Metropolitan Division all-stars playing the Atlantic Division. The winners will play for the championship in the third game. This will be the second year in a row the NHL has made changes to the games' format.

- The NFL will appeal the $1B settlement plan it's agreed to pay former players for CTE. If the settlement was to go forward without the appeal it would have covered 6,000 former NFL retired players for 65 years. They would receive an average of $190,000, although the awards could reach several million dollars in the most serious cases, which include young men with Parkinson's disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. Some of the 90 objectors complain that it compensates only a few neurological conditions, and not the depression and mood disorders they link to concussions and CTE. The 3 judge panel is expected to make a ruling early next year.

- For first time this spring, the NFL is expected to allow teams to begin trading compensatory draft picks. NFL owners are expected to approve the change in December at the next meeting. Compensatory picks are awarded in March. Under the rules, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The number of picks a teams received equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. 

Leadoff with Lee 1.12.15 #Packers #Colts #Bills #RexRyan #CBJ

By @cleeverizon

- From East Rutherford, New Jersey to Orchard Park, New York? The Buffalo Bills have hired former Jets head coach Rex Ryan to become their next head man.

The Bills signed Rex Ryan to a 5-year $27.5 million deal which will have him stay in the AFC East. A few things concern me though. Who will Rex hire to fill out his coaching staff? After sending out some tweets and text messages early yesterday morning, this is what I found out. The offensive coordinator will be Greg Roman from San Francisco while the defensive coordinator will be Dennis Thurman, from the Jets. The Bills also have said they would like to keep Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator. Ryan already has spoken to Schwartz about staying with Buffalo, but Schwartz runs a 4-3 defensive scheme with a wide-9 front while Ryan prefers a hybrid 3-4 scheme. 
Also, if Roman does accept the job in Buffalo, that means back to the drawing board for the Browns and Trestman moves ahead of the pack. I personally am intrigued by Raiders QB coach John DeFlippo.

- Ohio State are in discussions to hire former Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck to replace Tom Herman. Beck was not retained after the Huskers fired head coach Bo Pelini. The Ohio native is a Cardinal Mooney grad and will serve as the Buckeyes quarterbacks coach and will be the primary recruiter in Texas. Beck is a former Texas high school coach in the Dallas area who had been recruiting the state for Nebraska.

- The Green Bay Packers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 26-21. Aaron Rodgers threw 316 yards and 3 touchdowns. Green Bay receiver Davante Adams caught 7 balls for 117 yards and a touchdown and Randall Cobb added 116 yards on 8 grabs. The Cowboys running game was on "Fleek" as DeMarco Murray rushed for 123 yards on 25 carries and 1 touchdown. Tony Romo was sacked 4 times in the game while going 15/19 for 191 yards and 2 TDs. Dez Bryant scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but only had 38 yards and 3 catches. Bryant would've had another big time catch down the field, BUT after further review the officials said he did not maintain control of the ball as he crossed the goal line.

Without getting into depth about the rule, here is what the V.P of officiating Dean Blandino had to say about it: 

Bryant going to the ground. By rule he must hold onto it throughout entire process of contacting the ground. He didn't so it is incomplete.

— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 11, 2015

-Andrew Luck took the horseshoes off the Colts for a 24-13 upset of the Broncos. Peyton Manning had a extremely quiet game, throwing only 211 yards, 1 touchdown and was sacked twice. Andrew Luck threw for 265 yards, 2 touchdowns but also threw 2 interceptions. The Broncos weren't able to capitalize on the turnovers. Manning didn't have his magic in the fourth quarter and had two "3 and out" series. Will Manning return for his 18th NFL season? Will John Fox return as head coach next season? Will offensive coordinator Adam Gase get a head coaching job elsewhere or in Denver if John Fox is canned? Only time will tell, but this next month of the coaching carousel will be interesting.

- Three Columbus Blue Jackets were named to the NHL All-Star team. Forwards Nick Foligno, Ryan Johansen and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The game will be played January 25th at Nationwide arena in Columbus.