The NBA God Contract

"He's the best player in baseball, and the best players in each sport should be rewarded. It'd be nice to sign a 10-year deal worth $300 million." -LeBron James, reacting to Miguel Cabrera's 10-year, $292 million extension with the Detroit Tigers

I never used to think pro athletes deserved big contracts.  I always felt that after a certain threshold, the benefit derived from each additional dollar or two or million had to be so marginal that to gripe about having earnings capped at multiple millions of dollars bordered on offensive.  I was one of those people--and "those people," probably make up 90% of the population, so I guess I should just say I was a "person"--who recoiled in disgust at deals like A-Rod's (twice!) and Ryan Howard's.  How could anyone be worth such obscene amounts of money?  How could somebody even ask for such sums?

Who Says No? Exploring Andrew Bynum Trade Possiblities

Someone should have told Andrew no.

Apparently, the Cavs are mulling a number of offers for Andrew Bynum (or, more accurately, the $6 million in savings he represents for the remainder of the season).  They are expected to decide which offer to accept on Monday, and while I'm sure the deal is going to be much worse than anything I can dream up, I figured I'd try anyway.  Welcome to the first edition of Who Says No? where I go around the league peddling deals to every other franchise and gauge who would reject each respective offer.  And, yes, you're right, I really do need to go back to work.

Ranking The "New" Browns Head Coaches (so far)

Where does he rank?

Before their move to Baltimore in 1995, the Cleveland Browns had employed 9 full-time head coaches over a 49-year span. Since their return in 1999, that count is 6, with the 7th being hired sometime in the next few weeks.  Before the next in the line of mediocre-to-terrible field generals is introduced, let's reflect on just how awful things actually have been, and who exactly has been the least awful.  Enjoy.

2013 Cavs Off-Season Preview Part 2: Current Roster

My Cavs Off-Season preview continues today with a look at what the Cavs should do with players on their current roster.  Here's Part 1 if you missed it.

2013 NBA Draft Quick (haha, yeah right!) Thoughts

Cavs Draft Thoughts

Anthony Bennett

I was just as shocked as everyone else when the Cavs took Anthony Bennett*.  The problem isn't that there was a more overwhelmingly-obvious choice (there wasn't) or that Bennett doesn't have the talent to live up to #1 pick hype (he does).  The issue I have with the selection is where does Bennett play?  Tristan Thompson developed into the Cavs' 2nd-best player last season (he led the team with 8.48 WP, 9th among all NBA power forwards), and I'm not sure how Bennett fits alongside him in the front court.  Neither player is big enough to man center for any significant amount of time, and if the plan is to stick 6-8, 240 lbs. Bennett at the 3, Cleveland's defensive woes from last season will be exacerbated.

*Except Terry Pluto, who seemed adamant the choice would not be Nerlens Noel.  While Pluto leaned heavily towards Alex Len as the top pick, Bennett was also a prospect he consistently mentioned as a very real possibility.

2013 Cavs Off-Season Preview Part 1: The Draft

The 2013 NBA season is in the books, and I didn't write a single word about it.  This likely disappoints no one but me, but, just in case you actually did miss my thoughts on the season, I'd like to make it up to you with a mega-post previewing the Cavs' upcoming off-season.  I'm going to start with an overview of their options, then conclude with my thoughts on what they should do.  It's a long one, but since I probably won't post anything until next fall, you should have ample time to get through it.  Enjoy.

2013 NFL Mock Draft

Unlike past years, I know nearly nothing about this upcoming NFL Draft.  Therefore, this year's mock will serve only to the best possible outcome for the Cleveland Browns (at least in my eyes).

1st Round

1. Kansas City Chiefs-Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2. Jacksonville Jaguars-Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
3. Oakland Raiders-Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
4. Philadelphia Eagles-Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon
5. Detroit Lions-Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
6. Arizona Cardinals (via Cleveland for #7 & # #38)-Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
7. Miami Dolphins (via Arizona through Cleveland for #12, #77, & #111)-Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
8. Buffalo Bills-Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
9. NY Jets-Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
10. Tennessee Titans-Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
11. San Diego Chargers-Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia
12. Chicago Bears (via Miami with # 139 & #175 through Cleveland for # 20 & #50)-Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
13. NY Jets (via Tampa Bay)-Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
14. Carolina Panthers-Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints-Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
16. St. Louis Rams-Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
17. Pittsburgh Steelers-Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
18. Dallas Cowboys-Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
19. NY Giants-Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
20. Cleveland Browns (via Chicago)-Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati Bengals-Alex Ogletree, ILB, Georgia
22. St. Louis Rams (via Washington)-Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
23. Minnesota Vikings-D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
24. Indianapolis Colts-Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
25. Minnesota Vikings (via Seattle)-DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
26. Green Bay Packers-Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
27. Houston Texans-Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
28. Denver Broncos-Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
29. New England Patriots-Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
30. Atlanta Falcons-Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
31. San Francisco 49ers-Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
32. Baltimore Ravens-Keenan Allen, WR, Cal

DREAM DRAFT FOR BROWNS

1 (20). Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
2 (38). Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
2 (50). Damontre Moore, OLB, Texas A&M
3 (68). Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
3 (77). EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
4 (104). Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State
5 (164). Kevin Reddick, ILB, North Carolina
7 (227). Jasper Collins, WR, Mount Union

Eifert gives Brandon Weeden a dangerous underneath target to complement Josh Gordon and Greg Little on the outside, while Rhodes provides a physical defensive backfield partner for Joe Haden.  Moore has consistency issues, but his tremendous upside is worth a shot at #50.  Warford fills a need, as does Thomas (I honestly have never heard of either of them).  Reddick is the kind of athletic underachiever UNC has been producing for years, while Collins is a local boy who will have a chance to work his way onto the field as a possession receiver.  EJ Manuel in the 3rd round would be neat, especially since Coach Chud seems pumped about him. I would be happy with this haul.  What do you guys think?