Leadoff with Lee 8.12.15 #GenoSmith #Jets #Browns

By @cleeverizon

- New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will miss 6-10 weeks after suffering a broken jaw from the hand of IK Enemkpali.

Sources inside the locker room say the backup linebacker, Enemkpali, organized a youth football camp and charity in Texas last month. He invited Geno to attend and even put his face on the flyer. Enemkpali paid $600 for Smith's plane ticket. Problems arose when Smith did not show to the camp, which took place days after someone close to Smith died in a motorcycle accident in Miami. 

Smith told Enemkpali he would reimburse him the money, but he had not as of Tuesday morning. Enkempali confronted Smith about the money, and the confrontation ended in a punch and a broken jaw. Veteran cornerback Darrell Revis stated "I hold both players responsible, just how it all played out in the end”.

Enkempali was immediately released from the team and issued a apology:

Geno Smith will have surgery potentially in the next few days.The Jets have no imminent plan at this time to workout quarterbacks Rex Grossman or Matt Flynn, as they have been rumored. But there have been reports the Jets have reached out to veteran quarterback Tyler Thigpen who may workout Friday.

Although Geno Smith hasn't made a final decision, but the early indication is that he'll won't pursue a civil suit against IK Enemkpali.

-Browns HC Mike Pettine has acknowledged that the team has discussed signing troubled free agent running back Ray Rice in a interview with Sports Illustrated's Don Banks. Browns RB coach Wilbert Montgomery was the Ravens RB coach for six years.

“We’ve talked about it, but I don’t think we’re there at this point,” Pettine said.

In my opinion, if the injuries linger and no one steps their game up, you will see Ray Rice in a Browns uniform. And he won't cost them a lot of money since he has so much to prove after the horrific fight with his wife.

- Browns Training Camp Notes:

Johnny Manziel did not throw in practice yesterday. QB's coach Kevin O'Connell said "He had some stiffness and soreness in his elbow" Manziel is still expected to play Thursday against Washington.

Joe Thomas did not practice after Danny Shelton rolled up on his knee on Monday. Mike Pettine said it was Thomas' scheduled day off and probably will not play on Thursday vs. Washington. Pettine also said that no MRI was done on Thomas, but said he should be fine.

Those who did not practice yesterday and will not play Thursday against Washington include: Cornerbacks Pierre Desir and Robert Nelson, Wide Receivers Dwayne Bowe and Terrelle Pryor,and lastly Running Backs Duke Johnson and Shaun Draughn.

- Single-game tickets went on sale yesterday for four Browns home games:

Week 3 vs. Oakland
Week 12 vs. Baltimore
Week 14 vs. San Francisco
Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh

The other 4 home games, Week 2 vs. Tennessee, Week 6 vs. Denver, Week 8 vs. Arizona and Week 13 vs. Cincinnati, go on sale today at 10 am. Very limited supply.

FYI: The Browns-Steelers game in Week 17 has not sold out yet, but the cheapest available seats are in Section 508 (upper level) for $97.75 each.

- The 2016 NFL Draft, from April 28-30, will once again be held in Chicago.

- While LeBron James may not decide if he will play for Team USA until after this upcoming season, USA Basketball’s Jerry Colangelo says LeBron James has a spot on team if he decides to play. James has a chance of becoming the first player to represent the U.S. Olympic team on four different teams.

- Kevin Love says he'll be back on the court in 7-10 days. Not sure yet when he can face full contact but should be ready for camp. The three-time All-Star averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season. 

Leadoff with Lee 1.16.15 #CardaleJones #Browns #Cowboys

By @cleeverizon

- “Cardale’s brand right now has never been stronger, might never be stronger again in his life,” said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.

Cardale Jones passed up NFL dollars and decided to return back to school. He made the announcement at the Ginn Academy in front of national media and 98% of them thinking he was going to declare for the draft. Despite his rough upbringing in East Cleveland with little or no money, he wanted his education because he knows that will take him further in life than his NFL career will. You can always waste money, but you can never waste a chance for a good and free education. If the NFL is meant to be for him, it will happen next year. If not he will have a diploma that says THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY! What a great role model for inner city kids and kids in general. He wanted to show people it's not about the money, it's about the education. And he could overcome everything he went through, so can you! 




- The Browns can mark off Cowboys play-caller Scott Linehan from their list of candidates for offensive coordinator. He reached an agreement on a new contract to stay with the Dallas Cowboys. Also off the list is Bill Callahan, the former offensive coordinator/offensive line coach of the Cowboys, has signed a three-year deal to be the offensive line coach of the Redskins.                                    

- Help Wanted! Browns have parted ways with wise receivers coach Mike McDaniel after one season. McDaniel's previously served as wide receivers coach in Washington where Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator.                          

- Browns CB Joe Haden has been named an NFL Pro Bowl captain. This shows the respect that his teammates and coaches have for him.  
                                                     
- Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight. The show taped yesterday evening so I would am going to expect Meyers first reaction to Cardale Jones' decision and possibly the first indication who will be the starting quarterback next season.                          

- Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett was named to the Football Writers of America Freshmen All-America team.                                                      

- Ray Rice and the Baltimore Ravens have come to a grievance settlement prior to the start of todays hearing. The Ravens cut Rice within hours of the infamous elevator video surfacing. Baltimore owed Rice $3.5 million dollars for the 2014 season, but it is unknown how much they agreed upon during the settlement. Ray Rice is a free agent and can sign with any team in the NFL.

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.

The Raven Report, 9.9.14 (By @nevaRWilliams)

By @neveRWilliams

-The Baltimore Ravens terminated running back Ray Rice's contract on Monday. The NFL also suspended Rice indefinitely. All of this was due to the release of a TMZ Sports video that shed more light on the domestic violence that occurred between Rice and then fiancee, now wife Janay Palmer in February 2014. While each hit the other, there really isn't ANY reason for that man or any man to throw a punch into a woman's face, body or anything.

The Ravens and the NFL reacted "swiftly" due to the release of the video and warranted outrage from it on Monday morning. Rice, if you remember, was initially suspended 2 games on July 24. Rice, 27, was charged with felony aggravated assault in the case, but in May was put into a pretrial intervention program that let him avoid jail time.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after seeing the video for the first time on Monday, "It changed things" and "It made things a little bit different".

Another interesting note, is that the NFL and Roger Goddell said that they also did not see this video until yesterday. BUT, if they did, and Goddell did, and still only issued a 2 game suspension, this could very well lead to the ouster or resignation of Commissioner Roger Goddell.

-The NFL Players Association is set to vote on a new drug policy later today. The vote will consist of the 32 player representatives of each team deciding whether or not to approve human growth hormone (HGH) testing for the first time ever and make significant changes to the testing for marijuana and expand neutral arbitration. Why should Browns fans be interested? If a new policy is agreed upon, suspended WR Josh Gordon could be reinstated and play THIS season for the team. Under the new revised policy, Gordon would not have been suspended. The same could be said for Broncos WR Wes Welker. Fingers crossed...

-Our very own @MarkW2112 found out late last night that Browns running back Ben Tate's injury suffered in last week's Steelers game was "nothing that serious".

@MarkW2112 yep nothing that serious I will be ok thanks for asking

— Ben Tate (@BenTateRB) September 9, 2014

-2014 first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney underwent arthoscopic surgery Monday on his right knee. Clowney is expected to miss 4-6 weeks for the Houston Texans. Definitely not the rookie season anyone envisioned for him.

-Indianapolis Colts pass rusher Robert Mathis has been lost for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. Mathis is currently serving a suspension for a performance enhancing drug violation, suffered the injury last week while working out.

-Well, I guess 'Happy Valley' is happy again. Monday the NCAA decided to remove the sanctions put onto Penn State in 2012 from the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The NCAA Executive Committee eliminated the postseason ban, effective immediately and returned the full amount of available scholarships in 2015-16 to the school. Looks like Penn State will be in a bowl game this winter, IF they are good enough.

-Sometimes, you just wish you didn't have to do games like yesterday's make up game. The Angels came into Cleveland for a make up Monday afternoon and put the wood to the Cleveland Indians, 12-3. Danny Salazar got shelled for 8 hits, 2 walks and 6 earned runs, including 2 home runs, in just 4.2 innings. Jered Weaver picked up the win for the Angels. Not much you can really say about a 12-3 pounding. Just one of those games you have to try to forget ever happened and get ready for the next game. That next game is tonight at 7 PM against the Minnesota Twins. Trevor Bauer is expected to get the start for the Tribe.

-Major League Baseball announced that the 2015 season schedule will begin on April 5, 2015 and end the regular season on October 4, 2015. Now if you put two and two together, that means playoff baseball will stretch into the month of November, possibly as late as November 5 if the World Series were to get to a seventh game.

-Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 6 later today at their special event.

-In box office news, Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" is at number 1 again, raking in $10.1 million over the weekend. The comic based action comedy has now made $294 million domestic and $586 million globally. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" held tight to the number 2 slot, adding $6.5 million to its $300 million worldwide tally. Rounding out the top 5 were "If I Stay" with $5.7 million, "Let's Be Cops" with $5.4 million and "The November Man" with $4.2 million. The Idris Elba thriller "No Good Deed" opens this Friday.

-Finally, quite possibly the biggest video game of 2014 is out today! Bungie and Activision's "mythic science fiction", first-person shooter/roleplaying game "Destiny" is out on Playstation 4, Playstation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. There is also a new all white Playstation 4 bundle that includes Destiny available today. Check out more about Destiny here on the game website.