Happy Birthday Joe Thomas

Best by the Number - Cleveland Edition

Below is a list of Cleveland sports players according to their jersey number. By some players I will be writing some stuff like other players who had a chance of being in that spot, or some information about the player. Please also note that since some players had multiple numbers in their tenure in Cleveland, there may be players next to numbers that don't seem to fit, but they do!

1. Terrell Brandon
2. Jhonny Peralta
3. Craig Ehlo - Also considered were Bob Sura, Matt Stover & Derek Anderson
4. Phil Dawson - The current Brown who has been on the team the longest
5. Steve Kerr - Many people are unaware that Kerr even played for the Cavaliers
6. Larry Nance - Also wore # 22
7. Kenny Lofton
8. Albert Belle
9. Dan Marjele - Also considered was Carlos Baerga
10. Brady Quinn - Never considered was Eric Zeier
11. Zydrunas Illguaskus - "Big Z" 'nuff said
12. Roberto Alomar
13. Omar Vizquel
14. Larry Doby - Most people here might put Browns QB Otto Graham, but Doby deserves to be on this list more than anyone else. Larry Doby was the first African American to play in the American League, and while it's true he started playing after Jackie Robinson he was the first African American to play in American League ball-parks
15. Sandy Alomar Jr.
16. Josh Cribbs - probably the most exciting player the Browns have had since Eric Metcalf
17. Brian Sipe - Even with "Red Right 88" he makes this list ahead of Braylon Edwards
18. John "Hot Rod" Williams
19. Bernie Kosar
20. Eric Snow
21. Eric Metcalf
22. Chris Dudley - No list would be complete without the worst free-throw shooter of all-time
23. LeBron James
24. Manny Ramirez - ManRam is still my favorite all-time Indian
25. Jim Thome - Others considered include Mark Price
26. Sean Jones
27. Jaret Wright
28. Leigh Bodden
29. Hanford Dixon
30. Andy Marte
31. Frank Minnifield - "Created" the Dawg Pound with Hanford Dixon
32. Jim Brown
33. Luke Jackson
34. Austin Carr
35. Danny Ferry - Former Cavalier is current GM
36. Paul Byrd
37. Jake Westbrook
38. Franklin Gutierez
39. Daven Holly
40. Bartolo Colon - Was traded to Montreal for Lee Stevens, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips & Cliff Lee
41. Charles Nagy
42. Paul Warfield
43. Brad Daugherty - My favorite Cavalier. I wore # 43 when I was on the Ashar Basketball team in honor of Daugherty.
44. Leroy Kelley
45. Jeremy Sowers
46. Lou "The Toe" Groza - Also wore # 76
47. Joe Borowski
48. Travis Hafner - "Pronk"
49. Edward Mujica
50. Tom Cousineu
51. Michael Doleac
52. C.C. Sabathia
53. Bill Cowher - Cowher was also an assistant coach under Marty Schottenheimer
54. Andra Davis
55. Orel Herschieser - "Bulldog"
56. Antwan Peek
57. Clay Matthews - Played in 232 games for the Browns between 1978-1993
58. D'Qwell Jackson
59. Mike Johnson
60. Shaun O'hara
61. Steve Everitt
62. Lennie Friedman
63. Rafael Bentacourt
64. Joe Delamielleure - Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003
65. Chuck Noll
66. Hank Fraley
67. John Jurkovic - Played for the Browns when they came back in '99
68. Gene Hickerson
69. J'vonne Parker
70. Alvin Mckinley
71. Walter Johnson - Not "The Big Train"
72. Jerry Sherk
73. Joe Thomas - Played well as a rookie
74. Andrew Hoffman
75. Simon Fraser
76. Marion Motley
77. Dick Shafrath
78. Dan Footman
79. Bob Golic
80. Kellen Winslow Jr.
81. Jack Gregory
82. Ozzie Newsome - One of the greatest TE
83. Mark Bavaro
84. Webster Slaughter
85. Kevin Johnson
86. Brian Brennan
87. Keenan McCardell
88. JaJaun Dawson
89. Gerald McNeil
90. Drew Gooden
91. Sam Clancy
92. Ted Washington
93. Jerry Ball
94. Gerard Warren
95. Kameron Wimbley - Lead the team in sacks during the '07 season
96. Don Shula
97. Ryan Kuehl
98. Anthony Pleasant
99. Orpheus Roye

Chris Mortenson discusses the Cleveland Browns

After the Browns signed Donte Stallworth and trade for 2 DL over the weekend Chris Mortenson says he likes the moves and that Cleveland may make a Super Bowl run.

NFL Draft Winners

Here are some of the winners of the 2007 NFL Draft:

1. Cleveland Browns - They got Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, a slew of defensive players who will add much needed depth to the team.
2. New England Patriots - Getting Randy Moss for a 4th round draft pick is highway robbery. They also picked up some good players in the picks that they kept.
3. San Francisco 49ers - They got LB Patrick Willis, OT Joe Staley and WR Jason Hill.

Day 1 of the NFL Draft

Although my "Official Draft Recap" post will not be till next week, I did however want to bask in the glory of the Browns drafting Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn.

ENJOY!!!

NFL Mock Draft

On April 28th & 29th will be the NFL Draft. So here is the first round of the Draft as I see it. I was going to do this later in the month, but after yesterday's trade between Atlanta and Houston, in which they swapped first round picks, I decided to just do it now.

1. Oakland: JaMarcus Russel, QB, LSU - Oakland likes the strong armed QB to turn the Raiders' woes around.
2. Detroit: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin - Although they picked up George Foster from Denver I still think they will take Thomas instead of Brady Quinn because Detroit's Offensive Coordinator is Mike Martz, who has proven in the past that he does not need a top of the line QB to win with (Kurt Warner was an undrafted player who Martz made into a Super Bowl MVP).
3. Cleveland: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame - Firstly, Quinn grew up as a Browns fan and has said he would love to play for them. Secondly, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is very close with Browns coach Romeo Crennel, and Weis has told him to trade up to get Quinn. Lastly, the Browns have good receivers, picked up RB Jamal Lewis and OL Eric Steinbach so now they need a big time QB to put in the mix.
4. Tampa Bay: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech - Possibly the best player in the Draft, Tampa Bay will be giddy to get Johnson.
5. Arizona: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan - Arizona allowed an average (how is that for alliteration) of 119 yards and a touchdown on the ground per game last year. The running backs in Arizona's division are Shaun Alexander, Frank Gore, Steven Jackson, so Arizona needs to shore up the defense.
6. Washington: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson - Washington needs a pass rush and adding Adams' 13.5 sacks will help.
7. Minnesota: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State - Since Moss and Carter left Minnesota has not had a deep threat. Ginn needs to work on his route running, but he can still make the big play.
8. Atlanta (from Houston): Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville - He is quick, strong, and gets penetration in the backfield. One other thing to think about is Atlanta's new coach Bobby Petrino used to coach Okoye in Louisville.
9. Miami: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State - Miami needs to address an inadequate offensive line. If they get 36-year old QB Trent Green then they will need someone to protect him.
10. Houston (from Atlanta): Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma - Houston needs a RB. It's just as simple as that.
11. San Francisco: Jamal Anderson, DE, Arkansas - They have signed an elite CB, a couple of solid LBs, but their defense still needs help, and Jamal Anderson is a complete player.
12. Buffalo: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan - Hall can step in for Nate Clements who was lost to San Francisco.
13. St. Louis: LaRon Landry, S, LSU - Some of the leagues best WRs are in their division, so St. Louis could use the help in their secondary.
14. Carolia: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC - Keyshawn Johnson hasn't played well, plus he is mulling over the idea of retirement, so Carolina should take Jarrett to team up with Steve Smith.
15. Pittsburgh: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia - New coach Mike Tomlin is moving to the 4-3, and they could use Johnson's 19 tackles for a loss.
16. Green Bay: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California - The fact that he can catch as well as run makes him a good fit for the Packers.
17. Jacksonville: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida - They are looking for an impact defender in the secondary and Nelson would be a good fit.
18. Cincinnati: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas - The Bengals were vulnerable at corner last year.
19. Tennessee: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU - When you have a franchise QB (Vince Young) it makes sense to surround him with playmakers.
20. New York Giants: Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State - His production and consistency are what jump out at you about him. Also the Giants have had issues at linebacker in recent years.
21. Denver: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska - They need help along the defensive front and Carriker is good against the run and the pass.
22. Dallas: Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi - He's a fierce tackler who will add a lot to the middle of the Dallas defense.
23. Kansas City: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina - They need a threat outside to help the passing game.
24. New England (from Seattle): Brandon Siler, ILB, Florida - The Patriots picked up OLB Adaulis Thomas in free-agency, but their inside linebackers, Teddy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel are getting older, so it's time to draft a young guy.
25. New York Jets: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami (FL) - They have gotten little from the tight end position in the passing game and Olsen can change that.
26. Philadelphia: Michael Griffin, S, Texas - With Michael Lewis going to SF and Brian Dawkins getting older they need youth at the safety position.
27. New Orleans: Daymeion Hughes, CB, California - With Fred Thomas getting scorched most of last year the Saints need a good corner to "march in".
28. New England: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee - I know you are thinking, wait a minute didn't the Patriots add 3 wide receivers this offseason, well yes they did but the Donte' Stallworth deal is really a one year contract.
29. Baltimore: Anthony Spencer, DE/LB, Purdue - With losing Adaulis Thomas to the Patriots, Spencer would be the logical pick because he can play defensive end or outside linebacker.
30. San Diego: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State - San Diego needs a total makeover at the wide receiver position and Gonzalez would be a good fit because of his combination of speed and good route running.
31. Chicago: Quinn Pitcock, DT, Ohio State - Their defense had problems on the interior part of the d-line.
32. Indianapolis: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh - Revis can step in for Nick Harper who left for Tennessee, plus he can return kicks and punts.