Leadoff with Lee 8.13.15 #Indians #Phase2 #Browns #Cavs

By @cleeverizon

- The Cleveland Indians announced that Phase 2 of the Progressive Field renovations will start in October. The renovations include extending the "Right Field District Themes" throughout the ballpark. Which includes adding more local themed restaurants to the district. Also, a new club will be added behind home plate for season ticket holders that will include a full glass front to watch the game, concessions and a customer-service center. The club will stay open after games and provide season ticket holders a place to go while everyone else clears.

- Court was adjourned yesterday in the NFL’s “Deflate-Gate” case, that many see as Roger Goodell vs. Tom Brady and NFLPA, with no resolution.

Judge Richard Berman stated, "I have not made up my mind on which side will prevail”. Judge Berman continues emphasizing hope for a Deflate-Gate settlement.

"Everyone is of a view that this case can be resolved expeditiously." The Judge seemed skeptical of Ted Wells's dual role as lead investigator and attorney hired by the NFL. Berman also added civil cases of this nature typically last 2 years. "I think it’s safe to say nobody here wants to wait that long”, ”I think there are strengths and weaknesses to both sides here”.

So with this all being said its back to the drawing board to reach a settlement between Brady and the NFL. The biggest hang up is that the NFL wants Brady to admit guilt. But Brady can't accept Wells’ report in settlement since his testimony refutes it. The union and Brady's position remains same: A fine, no games suspended and no admission of guilt. Looks like a long road ahead and we will likely see Brady Week 1 versus Pittsburgh.

- One day after breaking Geno Smith's jaw, IK Enemkpali finds himself with the Jets former head coach, Rex Ryan. The Buffalo Bills claimed Enemkpali off of waivers yesterday. Ryan was the Jets' head coach when the team drafted Enemkpali in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. Contract terms are not known at this time.

- The NBA released the Cavaliers regular season schedule last night. The Cavs open the season October 27, on the road against the Chicago Bulls. The home opener will be October 30, as they host the Miami Heat. Cleveland has a league high 34 national televised games, with ten on ESPN, nine on TNT, six on ABC and nine on NBA TV. The Cavs will play 19 back-to-backs during the course of the season and play 4 games in 5 nights, from December 25-29. One of the highlights of the season is the Christmas Day game that will see the Cavs on the road playing the Golden State Warriors, in a rematch of the 2015 NBA Finals.

You can click on the picture to enlarge, or download the schedule HERE.

- Tonight’s uniform combo for when the Browns host the Washington Redskins will be white on white. 

- Browns Injury Report
The following players did not practice Tuesday:

WR Dwayne Bowe (hamstring)
DB Pierre Desir (hamstring)
RB Shaun Draughn (hand)
DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (knee)
RB Duke Johnson Jr.(hamstring)
RB Luke Lundy (concussion)
RB Joe Madsen(concussion)
OL Andrew McDonald (concussion)
LB Barkevious Mingo (knee)
DB Robert Nelson Jr. (hamstring)
WR Terrelle Pryor (hamstring)
DB De’Ante Saunders (calf)
TE Randall Telfer (foot)
OL Joe Thomas (rest)
DL Billy Winn (knee/ankle)
RB Glenn Winston (knee)

Leadoff with Lee 8.8.14

-It seems as if the Kevin Love to Cleveland deal is about as official as it comes. The news hit the wire yesterday morning about the trade of Kevin Love to Cleveland in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a protected first round 2015 draft pick. Cleveland has received word that Kevin Love will opt out of his 2015 player option and re-sign with the Cavs for the max deal of 5 years, $120 million dollars.

People have said why would he do that when LeBron only signed a 2 year deal with a player option for the second year? Real simple. The NBA television contract renewals are coming up. LeBron will opt out and re-sign for a max deal. After "The King" signs his deal, Kevin Love will sign his max deal. Well what if LeBron doesn't want to re-sign? He didn't come home to go somewhere else. Remember he's from here, his wife's family is from here, his mom is here, he wants his kids to go to Akron schools and don't forget about that nice ass house in Bath Township in which he's barely lived in. Interesting tidbit I received from a source in Minnesota today, was that the Wolves gave the Cavs permission more than 3 weeks to negiotiate with Kevin Love and secure a trade. Andrew Wiggins also has known about him being involved in a trade and his agent has already negotiated sponsor deals with Minnesota businesses. Once Wiggins gets traded this will only be the 2nd time since the NBA/ABA merger that a player will be traded before playing a game for the team that drafted him. The first time was the Golden State Warrior (Anfernee Hardaway) and Orlando Magic (Chris Webber) trade in 1993. Talk about a flashback Friday!

- Kevin Durant withdrew from USA Basketball. Durant is citing physical and mental fatigue from the lengthy season. Personally, I'm saying he fears of being injured after watching Paul George's gruesome, season ending injury last Friday.

-There is now a "Big 5"! The 5 largest conferences in college sports (ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and PAC-12) will create their own governing body with a 80 person committee including 15 athletes. Some of the changes that will be made within these conferences are increasing the amount of scholarship money, health care for student athletes, agent jurisdictions (agents can start interviewing prospects while juniors), decreased time demands allowing student athletes more free time and paying for families of student athletes to post season play plus a player stipend. These by-laws will be voted on by members in January of 2015 and will take effect the same season. Just imagine if this was in effect during tattoo-gate. We would have had another trophy in the case down in Columbus.

-Wow! That's all I could say when I seen the artist renderings of the renovation plans at Progressive Field. A stadium that was built 20 years ago will look like it was built in 2015 after it gets a facelift. The upgrades will include the LONG awaited Larry Doby statue, a new kids clubhouse, an upper deck bar, feature local area foods from the Tremont and Ohio City areas of Cleveland, a new team shop, new social area, bullpens that will be redesigned (so we won't have 2 balls on the field like we did Tuesday), a brand new Gate C and many more upgrades. The first phase will be complete by the beginning of the 2015 season using "Dolans Dollars" and the second phase will be paid for by the "Sin Tax" money.

-In Browns training camp news... LeBron James attended camp with his kids. In a practice that was closed to the public and obviously a secret that was kept between Browns brass and LBJ, LeBron and his crew watched the last hour of practice. After practice, many Browns players scrambled to their lockers to get their phones so they could snap a picture with LBJ. Joe Haden and Phil Taylor had the second best picture besides the Lebron and Johnny Manziel picture. Head coach Mike Pettine had a chance to talk to James and refrained from having James lineup on offence so Manziel could throw him a pass.

-One key note that was said during practice is that WR Travis Benjamin will be the Browns kickoff and punt return specialist this season. Benjamin is returning from a season ending ACL injury last year and is 100% ready to take on the challenge.

-My Grandpa, I mean Greg Oden was arrested Wednesday night for battery. No weapons were involved so this will be a misdemeanor case. When police arrived, they found a woman lying on the ground with blood on her face. Police said she also had swelling on her nose and cuts to her forehead. The victim refused medical treatment. A witness and relative tried to hold Oden back but his arm got free and struck the victim. Oden was calm, apologetic and cooperative during his arrest. Greg Oden and the his ex-girlfriend broke up about 2 months ago. It is not known what started the argument at this time.

-The Indians lost 4-0 to Cincinnati. And that's all I will say about that.

-The Tribe traded Vinnie Pestano to the Angels for class-A right hander Michael Clevinger, the Angels 4th round pick in 2011. Clevinger is 23, with a 4-3 record and a 4.31 ERA in 18 starts this season. The 6'4" 220 pound righty has 85 strikeouts and 42 walks in 79 1/3 innings pitched.

-Can I dunk on my momma? Jeremy Lin did. Check the video below...lol.