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 4.23.15 #GregHardy #ScottBrooks #Hawks #Rondo

By @cleeverizon

- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Cowboys DE Greg Hardy without pay for violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. The Investigation concluded that Hardy violated the code by using physical force against his then girlfriend Nicole Holder in at least 4 instances.

According to the NFL reports, he used force which caused her to land in a bathtub, threw her on a futon covered with rifles and put his hands on her throat, leaving a visible mark and threw her against a wall. Hardy has three days to appeal. He has reached a civil settlement and NFL says Holder did not participate in the investigation. Hardy has $2M coming from base salary and workout bonus. He gets $578K for each game he is active, and sack bonuses that start at 8 sacks. Greg Hardy and the NFLPA will appeal the suspension. His suspension begins September 5th and he can participate in the Cowboys offseason program, OTAs, mini and training camp, as well as preseason games.

Here is the statement released by Roger Goodell and the NFL. 

- Judge Anita Brody has approved the settlement against the NFL and players who have suffered damages from concussions during their playing years. The $765M will be used for players who need financial assistance to help deal with the head injuries and medical costs from concussions that came during their playing years. But as always when a lawsuit happens like this the NFL is set to appeal.

- Wide receiver Greg Jennings will be trading places with Mike Wallace as Jennings signs a 2 year $8M contract with the Miami Dolphins. He is a great fit for a team who was in search of a veteran wide receiver after Brian Hartline signed with Cleveland, and Mike Wallace was traded to the Vikings.

- The Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach Scott Brooks Wednesday after 7 seasons with the team. During that time, Brooks had a 338-207 (.620) regular season and 39-34 (.534) playoff record as coach. He reached the NBA Finals in 2012 and was the 2009-2010 Coach Of the Year. Upon his firing, he instantly became the top candidate in Orlando and in Chicago if/when Tom Thibodeau gets fired. University of Connecticut head coach Kevin Ollie and University of Florida's Billy Donovan are the front runners to replace Brooks.

- Looks like the Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of being sold for nearly $900 to a ownership group that includes Jesse Itzler, co-founder of Marquis Jet whose wife, Sara Blakely, is the founder of Spanx. Former NBA star Grant Hill will also be an investor in the group. Current team owner Bruce Levenson is being forced to sell the team after a racially sensitive memo surfaced last year. The NBA Board of Governors will need to approve the new ownership group before the sale can be final.

- The Mavericks have ruled Rajon Rondo out indefinitely Wednesday due to a back injury. Ever since being traded to Dallas, Rondo and coach Rick Carlisle haven't been the best of friends. Reports early yesterday indicated the Mavs had to choose between bringing back Rondo or Carlisle next year. And if this is true, it looks like the team will choose the coach over the disgruntled player.

3 Rivers Rundown 1.24.15: NFL is the National Fraud League

By @Kratoslives

Ok, Roger Goodell enough is enough! It is time to get your League under control. Why is it that this league is always involved in scandals? Here's proof of what I'm talking about, Big Ben rape allegations, Ray Rice domestic violence assault, Adrian Peterson child abuse, Jim Irsay drug possession, Bill Belichick Spygate, the Saints Bounty Gate. Now this Deflategate story. I'm sorry, enough is enough. We want real answers Goodell!

Even though we know the answer, the Patriots are guilty, how did I come to this conclusion. Easy answer Belichick told the equipment people to cater to Brady needs. Everyone knows this, but they are trying to Jedi mind trick us into believing other wise.

Here's my proof.

The equipment manager gives Brady the balls to pick for the game. Then he warms up with these same balls, which are then used in the game. So let's go over all the hands that handles them. Equipment manager, Bryan Stork, Tom Brady, then a Wr, Rb, or Te. So none of these people didn't notice the irregularities in the footballs?

I know for a fact Bryan Stork should've noticed it. Why? He's the damn starting center and he touches it the most. Also, I just love how his name has been omitted. Think folks, Bill Belichick pointed to Brady, Brady pointed to an "I'm a dumb blonde" defense. With a splash of ask the equipment manager because "I'm not aware of the PSI pressure of a football". However, no one and I mean no one has mentioned Bryan Stork's name. Hello! HELLO! Don't you think this is odd? I do! I waited all week before even posting this. ESPN, FOX Sports, Bleacher Report, NFL Network, CNN Sports none of them has brought up this fact. Not even the National Press everyone has failed to mention his name. So do you think this is by accident or by design? I believe it's by design because they are guilty of cheating. People, please question what you've seen and read on this and watch the glaring oversight. Afterwards, question the most glaring thing which is 11 out of 12. This isn't a little mistake it's a failure to follow orders.

How can I write this with such confidence? Easy answer, he put the twelfth ball in the wrong pile before deflating it. That's how you get 11 out of 12.

So watch as Roger Goodell twists in the wind, praying for the Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl XLIX, just so he can come back later and take a couple of draft picks. Then brag that the league did a complete investigation to remove the picks. But never owning up to the fact that Bill Belicheat  (Thank you Don Shula for the name) was cheating again right under their noses.

So as this goes forward please remember who told you this first, Jaison Roberts on this Blog!

Leadoff with Lee 9.11.14

By @cleeverizon

-A law enforcement official says the Ray Rice video of him punching his now wife, Janay Rice, was sent to NFL offices back in April. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell claims he, nor anyone at the NFL had seen the video until Monday when TMZ Sports put it on their website.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the law enforcement official played a voicemail from a phone number coming from NFL offices that stated, "Your right, that's terrible". Ray Rice was initially suspended by the NFL for two games, until Monday when the video leaked and was ultimately was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and cut by the Baltimore Ravens. Roger Goodell and the NFL order a independent investigation into who was on this voicemail and who this law enforcement official is. Former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III will lead the investigation in the handling of evidence in the Ray Rice domestic violence case for the NFL. Apparently 25-30 casino staff members saw the video, with a dozen or more members having access to the recording. To Be Continued...

-Browns head coach Mike Pettine officially labeled running back Ben Tate out for Sunday's game versus the New Orleans Saints. Tate suffered a sprained knee in last Sunday's loss against the Steelers. He's expected to miss about two weeks. Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell will see plenty of playing time this weekend. Monday, the Browns worked out tight end Kellen Davis, but ultimately signed Gerell Robinson on Tuesday off of the Broncos practice squad. Robinson is a former wide receiver turned tight end who can stretch the field. Jordan Cameron has a injured A.C. joint in his shoulder and is listed day-to-day. With this signing, it seems as if the Browns will give Cameron a rest this weekend.

-The NFL and NFLPA are a mere day or so away from increasing the marijuana threshold, modifying DUI penalties and HGH testing. If the two sides can come to a agreement, approximately 20 players could be able to play for their teams sooner rather than later. The most notable players are the Denver Broncos' Wes Welker and Cleveland Browns' Josh Gordon.

-The Cavs officially announced they signed "The Matrix", Shawn Marion on Monday. The 17-year veteran power forward will come off the bench for the first time in his career. He averaged 10.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last year. The 6'7", 228lbs forward will offer increased depth for the bench.

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Leadoff with Lee 7.5.14

-Here's what I know and have been told. Rich Paul, who is Lebron James' agent, has spoken and met the Mavericks, Suns, Rockets and Cavaliers. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak actually flew to Cleveland to meet with Paul on Friday. With that being said, my "source" who gave me the tip about all of the big 3 opting out days before ESPN or the big networks told you they would, told me "It's 80-20 he goes back to Cleveland". LeBron wants to cash in on a max deal. Chris Bosh wants a max deal for the first time in his career. Dwayne Wade wants the most money he can get. Miami can't get key free agents due to salary cap restraints unless they unload talent. But that's not giving the Heat the personnel that they need to win a championship.

LeBron's kids will attend Akron city schools this year. Do you think LBJ wants to miss any or all his kids events? Or be without his wife for most or all the season while he is in Miami? Do you think LBJ trusts his mom to handle all of his kids school, personal and home life? After all was said, my answer to all questions was NO! Now even if he stays in Miami, James will take a 1-year deal with a 2nd year option or 2 year deal with a option to opt out. If Lebron and Bosh decide to stay for a year or two, neither will see a max contract. Furthermore, if they want or need to add pieces of the puzzle to get them past the San Antonio Spurs, they will need to take a further pay cut. So how does Cleveland really sound to LeBron James? Remember the Cavs were right there for the 8th seed in the playoffs. James can take them right to a 3rd or 4th seed immediately, if not higher. This team is better than the team he took to the NBA Finals in 2007.


-Former Cavs center Spencer Hawes agreed to a 4-year, $23 million dollar with the LA Clippers. He averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game last season and on top of that, the 7 footer shot 42% from three point land. He can really stretch a defense and open up lanes for his guards. Funny part about this all, he's making all this money as a bench/role player...WOW!

-Joey "Jaws" Chestnut wins his 8th straight hot dog eating contest eating 61 Nathan's hot dogs, but falling short of the 69 hot dog record he set. He slowed up in the final 3 minutes or so but according to him it was due to the rainy Brooklyn weather. Prior to the event, he proposed to his girlfriend and she said "Yes"! Good for you Joey, on both parts.

-I love my Cleveland Indians but they fell to the Kansas City Royals 7-1. Not much to write home about, I just wanted to give you the score. The Tribe will be in action at home for the next 9 games prior to the upcoming All-Star game.

-Josh Gordon's appeal hearing has been set for late July, but a deal could be negotiated before then. Deal? Negotiation? What does that tell you? 0,4,6,8 games? Doesn't sound like a season to me. Roger Goodell has been handing down suspensions like white or brown on rice, but none have taken this long.