Shaver Sports Joins Sports Blog Net.com

Shaver Sports has joined Sports Blog Net.com. We are excited to be a part of the network, and encourage you to check it out the site. We have a link to the website in this post above, and also have a push button link in the sidebar off to the right. Check it out today!

Breaking News:Stallworth detained in FLA

Shaver Sports has been informed that Donte Stallworth is being detained by Florida police. Apparently it is for questioning in the death of a pedestrian. Word is that he is cooperating with authorities. Expect the main stream media to come out with more soon.

From the Corner Office of Top Men...

The Need for Greed

A big topic on both the Really Big Show and the Reghi show yesterday was the talk of Shaun Rogers asking the Browns to release him before they pay him his 6 million dollar roster bonus next month. According to Adam Scheffter at NFL.com, there are a couple reasons for Rogers wanting to skip town. Both of them have to do with Eric Mangini not going out of his way to say hello to the big man.

Top Men aren't buying it. The real reason is MONEY. Rogers agreed to come to Cleveland when he found out that the Browns were willing to renegotiate his contract. Last March, the Browns agreed to pay Rogers $42 Million over 6 years, through 2013. In the first 3 years of the contract, Rogers is guaranteed $23 Million. At the time, a great deal. Would Eric Mangini not saying hello really make Big Daddy not want to cash in on another $15 million guaranteed? Probably not. So what are the real reasons?

One, rumors are that Pro-Bowler Albert Haynesworth, the free agent nose tackle from Tennessee, is close to signing a deal for up to $15 million a year. Yes, that's right. $15 million a year. More than double than what he and Rogers made this year. He would be the highest paid Defensive Lineman in the league. Rogers must see that kind of cash out there and want to capitalize on his Pro Bowl season.

And two, the NFL collective bargaining agreement ends at the end of the 2010 season. This brings some uncertainty to free agency and the dollars teams will be able to spend. The threat of Lockout by the Owners is making agents and players approaching their peak earning years very, very nervous. Players are looking to cash in now under the current agreement. Rogers may just be the first in line of players looking to opt out and sign a short term, high guaranteed dollar contract, vs. a long term, high total dollar contract. (notice the Nnamde Asomugha contract. Biggest contract in the NFL. HUGE dollars in the first two years, all guaranteed, with a club option for the third year. If the CBA changes the salary cap structure, the Raiders can opt out of the top contract in the league in year 3)

An interesting note: One of the proposed changes to the CBA is rumored to be a Team's ability to recoup money from players when they do not fulfill their contract. Meaning-when players like Rogers/Winslow try to get out of their current contracts, or hold out demanding a trade, Owners will get some of the money back they paid in signing bonuses.

We can't imagine the Browns new front office taking any action on this. They wont release him. Rogers was obviously the most talented player on the defensive side of the ball last year. And we don't think the Browns want to set the precedent of re-negotiating with disgruntled players. As we all know, Disgruntled Browns players are a dime a dozen these days.


*Top Men frequently take time out of their busy schedule to contribute to Shaver Sports.

Around the Blogosphere: Part IV

Slam Online - Delonte West:

I was at the Q on Sunday and glad to see Delonte West back. How about adding a guy to your line-up that can score 25 points, grab 5 rebounds, and dish out 5 assists in his first game back after missing 17? Slam Online was glad to Delonte back as well:

"Delonte West returned for the Cavs last night. Man, did it feel good seeing him out there after 16 games off, with that broken wrist. Postgame, he joined the NBTV crew and he was great. He definitely marches to the beat of his own drum, and I love that about him. 5-5 from the three-point line and he had that wrist wrapped in more ice than you could imagine. Great to see him back on the court where he belongs."

Deadspin - C.C. Sabathia:

With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, I am of the opinion that the Indians will be better off without C.C. I am sick of him coming into camp out of shape, and folding down the stretch. Deadspin has this picture posted with the headline: 'CC Smuggles a Small Child Into Camp'. Hilarious.

Awful Announcing - Charles Barkley:

Lastly, not that I am happy about it, but noted Cavalier hater, and old school Flats Brawler, Charles Barkley was sentenced to jail yesterday. Awful Announcing has that story posted. At least for the next 5 to 10 days he wont be able to hate on Cleveland.

Around the Blogosphere: Part III

Thanks for Spreading the Word...

Shaver Sports wanted to send a couple shout outs to our brothers in blogging for linking us up the last few days...thanks to the Big Lead for linking us up for a second time, this time by way of our Aaron Goldhammer calls Randy Lerner a Weirdo post - we're helping you out Hammer, don't even mention it - and thanks to the MWSF as well as WFNY for the love on the ACDG post. While JD Shaver, of Shaver Sports, is a contributer to the MWSF team, we nevertheless appreciate the link for the official rules and regulations on the ACDG game. Lastly, thanks to the WFNY for the shout out by way of MWSF on their site today - we appreciate that as always fellas.

Bill Cowher: Playing the Field?

Monday we learned that Bill Cowher met with Browns President Randy Lerner on Saturday, and apparently he told Randy "NO". First off. Good Move by Randy. How could you get anyone to take over this team after watching that garbage on Sunday?

Initial reports were that Cowher does not want to coach in 2009. Don't believe everything you read. Cower most likely said "No...for now" Rumors are now being floated in by ESPN Radio 1050 in NYC that Cowher may be interested in the Jets HC position.

Cowher's name will probably be connected to all teams with Head Coaching vacancies, and see which position may be most lucrative for him.

Shaver Sports does not think Randy Lerner will wait long enough for Cowher to slow dance with all the girls at the prom. The quicker Randy can finalize this decision, the better.

Possible Teammates of the King in 2010

Like the 11 year of kid in the midst of a presents crazed Christmas morning with wrapping paper flying like shrapnel, I too am going to get into the spirit of greed this Christmas Eve...with regards to the Cavaliers.

I am going to say the Cavaliers will sign LeBron early, and then ask the question, who should Danny Gilbert sign to play alongside the King in 2010?

The list of possible Free Agents in 2010 is as follows:

Stars:

Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Michael Redd, Ray Allen, Josh Howard, Manu Ginóbili, Jermain O’Neal, Steve Nash.

Top Role Players:

Luis Scola, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Jackson, Mehmet Okur, Hedo Turkoglu, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, Marcus Camby.

Since its Christmas Eve, and all you have to do is ask Santa Claus I'll take one of each...Joe Johnson and Tyson Chandler...but if you say I can only have one that would be fine too...Mr. Wade, how would you like to buy a house in Strongsville?

Around the Blogosphere: Part III

Nationally, just about every sports blog is talking about the (216) at the moment, and thanks to the Browns it ain't all good...however, thanks to the best basketball - and football - player in Cleveland it ain't all that bad either.

Brian Windhorst set the blogosphere afire with his article about LeBron considering the possibility of signing early with the Cavaliers over the weekend...how do you like them apples Spike? And they are still talking about it.

Tom Ziller at Fanhouse reitereated that LeBron James signing a contract extension is a very real possiblity, Slam Online suggested that this whole time, maybe LeBron was just messing with everyone's head and the Sporting Blog suggests that signing the extension could elevate LeBron to god like status in Cleveland...too late.

Credit Windhorst for asking a simple, seemingly obvious question, that nobody anywhere thougt to ask until he did. Its stories like this, coupled with a 21-4 record, that makes me feel like its Christmas in Cleveland already.

I almost forgot about that team with Orange helmets that plays here.

Around the Blogosphere Part II

Drama Continues for Poor Man's Cowboys

Jim Rome called the Browns "A Poor Man's Dallas Cowboys" last week, and I agree. He said the Browns "have as much drama as the Dallas Cowboys, just not as much talent, or as many wins."

The Drama Continues:

Tony Rizzo read a letter he received from an "anonymous Browns Player" today on the Really Big Show, 850, WKNR that was sent to him at his Fox 8 studios. The letter said that "Phil Savage is the cancer tearing this locker room apart."

The letter went on to say that Romeo is not to blame for the Browns debacle, and the culture that is created by Phil Savage has lead to players listening to IPods and talking on cellphones during meetings, as well as voicing their complaints about how long meetings are.

Rizz went on to talk to Bernie Kosar on the radio afterwards, who seemed to indicate that he will be taking a front office position next year saying that he did not want to speculate on jobs that people currently have "out of respect for them," but that he felt he "knew football, knew this area, and "was willing to do anything Randy Lerner asked of him."

Also, in the Shaun Smith punching Brady Quinn in the face news, Bernie said that things like that went on while he was on the team but he, "was never stupid enough to fight a defensive lineman." The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot did confirm an altercation took place later on in the day on WKNR.

Braylon Edwards Starting Trade Rumors

After the Browns embarrassing 30-10 loss last night to the Eagles, where again the Browns O failed to get in the End Zone, Braylon Edwards decided it was time to talk to the media. The NFL Leader in Dropped Passes felt it was time to start his own trade rumors, saying that he was on the trade block. He went on to say that "he has always been unappreciated in Cleveland. Not by the organization, but by the fans and the city." He feels coming out of Michigan he has always had an uphill fight in this city.

Braylon, if I may....We don't care that you played College ball in Michigan. You could put Wolverine stickers on your helmet. We wouldn't care. We just want to see winning football in this town. Your losing attitude and propensity to DROP pass after pass on Sunday is why you have a tough time in this town. Not because of where you went to school.

Keep starting your own trade rumors. Maybe they will come true. We will send Shaver Sports Moving Truck over to help you move. And Braylon, leave the boxes marked "Fragile" for us.....

D'Qwell Jackson: NFL Leader in Tackles

Lone Bright Spot?

Shaver Sports, in a constant effort to find something positive to say about your 2008 Cleveland Browns, decided to look beyond the obvious bright spot in Josh Cribbs and glanced over at the defensive side of the ball. Much was said last week after the Browns defense held The Great One, Peyton Manning without a TD. No need to look further than the NFL's Tackle Leader in D'Qwell Jackson, right? Jackson, leads the league in Total Tackles with 130, after Sunday's 12 tackle, 3 Assist performance.

As Old Man Corso would say, "Not So Fast My Friend". Upon further review, Jackson's numbers are somewhat misleading, and definitely a product of the system, a.k.a. An Awful defense that can't get off the field. The Shaver Sports research department found that the Browns are ranked 25th in the league in Total Defensive Plays (407 total). Only 7 teams have been on the field, for a defensive play more than the Browns. That being said, it makes sense that the Browns would have a good chance to have a League Leader in tackles, right? (In the NBA, the guy who makes the most Free Throws is usually is among the tops in Free Throws Attempted) The Browns Defense ranks 27th in Yards Per Game and 28th in Rushing Yards Per Game. Amazingly, only two teams have have seen more Total Running Plays, Oakland and Detroit. Not a surprising stat. The Browns D is giving up a ridiculous 4.5 Yards/Attempt.

We are not bashing DJ by any means. If he wasn't out there making all of these tackles, who would be? Shante Orr? Overall, Jackson is a good young talent, and one of the few defensive players the Browns can build around for the future. But don't be fooled by the hype. Good but not Great.

Here's hoping Browns management logs onto Shaver Sports before they offer Jackson a huge contract + signing bonus after one big year. (see Rueben Droughns, Jamal Lewis, Derek Anderson, do I need to keep going?)