<script type=”text/javascript” charset=”utf-8″ src=”http://static.polldaddy.com/p/8506508.js”></script> <noscript><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/8506508/”>Meatloaf (the dinner, not the singer)…</a></noscript>
Well, let’s get the bad one out of the way…
S’HOYER LATER, BRIAN..
. 
One month and one day ago, Brian Hoyer was being interviewed by the NFL Network crew after carving up the division-leading Bengals in a Thursday prime time showdown. Speaking of ‘Prime Time’, during that interview, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders annointed #6 by giving him his ‘pay the man’ endorsement. Brian Hoyer had the world on a string. And his bank account future looked bright. I had recently blogged about Mr. Hoyer possibly being the next… 
I also wrote about it being a looooonnnnngggg season, and to be patient to see how it played out for Hoyer and the Browns. Then came the Texans. The Falcons. The Bills. The Colts. The 6-3 division-leading Browns have deflated into a 7-6 team holding on to their season by their fingernails. After being pulled in the 4th quarter of last week’s Bills’ loss, the clamor for…
was the talk of the week.
Mike Pettine took a lot of heat for sticking with Hoyer, but I was completely behind his decision. In his two years here, Cleveland was 9-5 with Brian Hoyer at QB, and 2-12 without him under center. Hoyer had earned enough slack to keep his starting job. And in the Bills game, the offensive line was overwhelmed. They couldn’t open holes for the running backs, and struggled to protect Hoyer. That was a recipe for the disaster. Johnny Football led them on a nice TD drive, but the Bills had turned the heat down at that point.
Today’s game against the Colts was a completely different story. To put it simply, Hoyer looked like a broken man. His play and his body language showed that he has lost that magical mojo that he had used for so many ‘Kardiac Kids’ comebacks this year. Some drops by his receivers–hey Josh Gordon, your suspension ended three weeks ago–didn’t help his cause. So, for the first time, I officially declare that it’s time to turn it over to Johnny.
Browns fans feel pretty low right now. We all knew that there was a 95% chance the Colts were scoring on that last TD drive. But to be honest, I am more encouraged about their play-off chances now than a week ago. Why? Because they played play-off caliber defense! They battered Andrew Luck and the NFL’s leading offense. They simply got worn down by carrying their offense for the entire game. So if the defense can continue to play at that level, and Johnny Manziel can muster up some ‘Johnny Football’ magic, beating the Bengals at home and the Panthers on the road is very possible. That would make them 9-6 heading into their finale at the Ravens. I would take that in a heartbeat.
Lets move on to the good stuff…
BIG 10 STAGE BRINGS OUT THE BIG TIME BUCKEYES…
Ohio State 59, Wisconsin 0. Nobody saw that coming. My spider senses were telling me that Heisman hopeful Melvin Gordon would run all over the Buckeye defense, QB Cordale Jones would be up and down, and the Buckeyes would be on the wrong end of a 27-21 score. I think most of us felt the best case scenario was a two TD win for the scarlet and gray. But 59-0? 59-0! How could the playoff selection committee leave them out?
And that 59-0 performance showed that they actually have a decent shot at winning the whole thing. The defense was dominant, while Jones was poised, powerful, patient, and potent in his first start. Their win at Michigan State last month was an impressive statement, but remember, they gave up 37 points that day. Likely not good enough to beat Alabama, Oregon, or Florida State. The Silver Bullet defense that played last night is good enough.
Imagine this. There actually is a chance that next August, Urban Meyer will have to choose a quarterback from…
The 2012 and 2013 Big 10 offensive player of the year (Braxton Miller)
2014 Heisman finalist and Big 10 single-season touchdown record setter (J.T. Barrett)
2014 National Championship quarterback (Cordale Jones)
Maybe the Browns can offer a trade for their 3rd stringer!
I gotta get one more team in this blog to complete the classic Meatloaf song…
<script type=”text/javascript” charset=”utf-8″ src=”http://static.polldaddy.com/p/8506644.js”></script>
<noscript><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/8506644/”>Meatloaf, the singer…</a></noscript>
KYRIE IRVING CAN BALL!!!!!!!!!!
Did you get to see that Cavs-Knicks game Thursday night? The show that Kyrie put on at Madison Square Garden what one of the most entertaining NBA performances that I have ever seen. Jordan and Kobe’s dominance, LeBron’s power, Bird’s silky shooting, and Magic’s magic have been breathtaking to watch through the decades. But for me, watching this 6 foot, 3 inch player on offense is like watching this movie…
Non-stop, pure, amazing entertainment!
He handles the ball like a yo-yo, and shakes defenders out of their shoes with his crossovers. And he doesn’t settle for jump shots. He fearlessly drives to the basket, finishing over the NBA giants with twisting moves and one-hand bank shots that kiss high off the glass and drop innocently into the hoop. He was at his finest against the Knicks. You could hear the New York fans ‘oohhing and ahhing’ throughout the game for Irving’s virtuoso performance.
I am not a huge NBA fan. For the four years while LeBron was gone, I watched some 4th quarters of Cavs’ game, as well as parts of some of those Spurs-Heat NBA Finals’ match-ups. But not much else.
That being said, watching LeBron, Kyrie, and Kevin Love this year is must see TV! I have great doubts about their chances to go deep into the play-offs. Some questionable front office personnel choices last summer have given them almost no depth. Does Shawn Marion have the worst looking shot in NBA history? He starts for us. The flaws of the Wine and Gold is a blog topic for another day. We all need to remember that is a loooonnngggg season.
For now, I need to just sit back and enjoy the show!