By Zac Jackson
Fox Sports Ohio
November 1, 2010
November? Really?
1. For the first time in 26 months, the Cleveland Browns are (technically) out of the AFC North basement. The Bengals are now -- very deservingly -- occupying that spot. It's an epic crash landing for a team that has talent, experience and isn't getting more national scrutiny only because the Cowboys and Vikings stinking up of their respective joints gets most of the headlines. Carson Palmer isn't consistent, Cedric Benson has been solid but unspectacular and the four-game losing streak has seen lots of dropped passes, blown coverages, injuries and lack of spark. Save one stretch in Atlanta, the Bengals aren't making big plays, are getting next to nothing from their special teams and either miss blocks or draw flags at inopportune times. If this keeps up, are they in the top 10 quarterback business next April? Oh, we've got plenty of time to debate that. The Marvin Lewis Watch is on for sure.
2. As far as the Browns' quarterbacking story goes, Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace still aren't practicing. They might be back Wednesday, but either way look for Eric Mangini to try to protect the identity of his starting quarterback all week as part of his chess match with Bill Belichick. Bill, by the way, isn't the least bit scared of Colt McCoy, which is why if Wallace is healthy he absolutely should be the starting quarterback. Mangini is coaching for his job, has the two biggest games in terms of personal meaning of his team's season the next two weeks, and both are at home against quality opponents. Read: The Browns must win one and compete in both for Mangini to show the type of progress he needs to show to save his job. Wallace has limitations, but he brings mobility, leadership, experience and gives the Browns the best chance to win. Delhomme is an immobile turnover machine and shouldn't be considered. McCoy has been OK; by Browns standards, the fact that he hasn't fallen on his face make it seem like he's been great. He shouldn't be completely shut down and needs to build on the confidence he's gained the last two games, but the next two games are not the time to do it.
3. Re: Saturday night's Cavaliers second-half collapse. The Kings wouldn't miss. It's pretty clear the Cavaliers miss The King. After the feel-good upset of the Celtics, reality has arrived. The Cavaliers are still learning each other, still not at full strength and still have lots of season left to get things right, but we've seen that their margin for error is small. Except for a stretch against the Celtics and two minutes against Toronto, Antawn Jamison has been completely invisible. Forty-seven turnovers in three games is too many. Byron Scott says the defensive communication isn't where it needs to be, which is why "90 percent" of Monday's practice was dedicated to defense. Jamison has some swelling in his knee, and the Cavaliers need his offense. Atlanta is a quality opponent, and it's going to take a much-improved effort from the Cavaliers to get back to .500.
4. Mo Williams will be back Tuesday night against Atlanta, and the hope is that he can eventually become the go-to-guy. It's pretty clear that Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson are among the best players on this roster, so look for lots of small lineups with two of the Williams-Sessions-Gibson combo on the floor at the same time. Williams will boost the offense and Byron Scott's desire to play fast. He says he's healthy and anxious, and we'll see. Scott hasn't decided if Williams will start but it's clear he's very much a part of the plans for now. If he can be 100 percent and be himself by the weekend, he'll help in winnable games at Philadelphia and Washington.
5. A big weekend for Joshua Cribbs saw Cribbs get his jersey retired by Kent State and the announcement that Cribbs had donated $100,000 to the university's athletic programs. Here's an even better story: Wadsworth High School senior football and baseball player Joey Collins has been undergoing treatments after being diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer. Word got to the Browns that Collins was a big fan and might need something to boost his spirits, and Cribbs -- as he often is -- was the guy called upon. Here's where the story really gets good: Collins found out Monday morning that he's cancer free, the tumors gone from his stomach and lymph nodes. Monday afternoon he received an autographed jersey from Cribbs.
Won't top that the rest of the week, but we'll try.
