The Cleveland Browns sacrificed a 2013 2nd round pick in order to pick former Baylor WR Josh Gordon today.  The 6'3, 225 lb WR ran a 4.52 forty at his Pro Day earlier this week, but that involved a pulled quad and is seen as more of a 4.4-speed type guy.  Comparisons put Josh Gordon in the same area as Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill, who is the same type of raw physical talent and was picked at #43 in the 2nd round.  Most gave him a 2-3 round grade.

Gordon was a big play Receiver at Baylor, catching 42 passes for 714 yards and 7 TD's in 2010 (a 17 yard per catch average).  However, he was suspended indefinitely from that school for a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, then transferred to Utah where he sat out the 2011 season.

The move can be seen as possibly overpaying for a work in progress, or it can be seen as an aggressive move to get more WR talent now rather than later.

One thing that can't be disputed is that the Browns have gone to great lengths to strengthen their offensive firepower this offseason.  To provide a vast understatement - It should be mildly interesting to see how this completely revamped offense looks this year.

Mark Spears of Yahoo! Sports reported on Wednesday night that the Cavs have had talks with the Brooklyn Nets.  The discussions have not been about Kris Humphries and Dwight Howard.  These talks are surrounding Cavalier PF Antawn Jamison.  The 36 year old big man was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Raptors in 1998 and traded to the Warriors during the draft.

Like his shooting, Jamison's tenure with the Cavs was streaky.  He was traded to Cleveland at the trade deadline in 2010 and was supposed to be one final offensive piece to take pressure off LeBron James.  He did not fit in with the team and played like he was out of place.  Expectations were high and for a miriad of reasons, he and the rest of the Cavs could not deliver a deep playoff run.  

Antawn Jamison spent a little over two years of his career in Cleveland.  His scoring has been consistent but his shooting has had a steep decline since arriving.  Jamison shot at 48.5% in his first season with Cleveland and dipped down to 40.3% last year.  Antawn Jamison was a bit of a disappointment on his high-priced contract that he came with from Washington, but he could be a valuable player if the price is right.  Other than his decreased shooting percentage, his game has not had that much of a statistical decrease.  Jamison has always been a liability on defense and that isn't changing with age, but he could be a decent acquisition for the right team.

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Cleveland Cavalier point guard Kyrie Irving is making quite a splash in Las Vegas as a member of USA Basketball’s Select Team.

The squad of younger players is on hand to allow the U.S. Olympic basketball team to practice against some tough competition before heading off to London to defend its Gold Medal at the Summer Olympics in August.

In a scrimmage last week, the Select Team won, 14-11, with Irving scoring 11 of his team’s 14 points. Read that again: Irving scored almost all of his side’s points against a team that includes Kevin Durant, LeBron James and a host of other NBA stars.

According to Kelly Dwyer at Yahoo! Sports, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo may be wishing he had included Irving on this year’s Olympic team.

"Kyrie Irving is a player that literally you could move from one court to the other court," Colangelo told the site, referring to shooting drills that have the Olympic team and the select team practicing on different courts.

"He's that far advanced in terms of his talent, it appears. He's made a good showing here. He had a terrific rookie season in the NBA and certainly he will be one of the leading candidates going forward."

Irving may have been passed over for the Olympic team this year, but there is little chance of that happening in 2016. And while that is a nice honor for Irving, it makes us a little nervous. The Cavs really don’t get anything from having their players participate with their national teams, but they do run the risk of having someone get injured (see Anderson Varajeo, Brazil).

But that is a discussion for another day. For now, the experience that Irving is gaining in a Las Vegas gym should only help him next season with the Cavs.

Former Utah and Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon is holding his pro day workout in Houston Tuesday, and members of the Browns coaching staff will be in attendance. This not only shows the Browns are interested in the 6-4, 220 pound wideout, it also indicates that they’re considering selecting him in the upcoming supplemental draft.

Gordon is a physical, long-striding receiver that has the ability to break a play open if he gets enough room. During his sophomore season at Baylor, Gordon caught 42 passes for 714 yards and seven touchdowns. He was suspended the August going into his junior season after a marijuana arrest, and later left Baylor to join the Utah Utes. After sitting out last year, Gordon opted for the NFL’s supplemental draft for financial reasons.

If the Browns are interested, they might have to go as early the second round to select Gordon. Other teams like the Cowboys and Bills have shown interest, and most think the wideout won’t last past the third. If the Browns do select him, they will forfeit whatever pick they use to draft him in the 2013 draft. So, for instance, if Holmgren and Co. decide to select Gordon in the second round of the supplemental draft, they will not have a second round selection in next year’s draft.

What are your thoughts on Gordon? Is he worth a gamble?

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Super Football genius Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com started his preseason rankings today, placing the Cleveland Browns in last place.  The article is filled with analytical gems such as this:

Beyond quarterback, the offense features plenty of potential weak spots and, at a minimum, question marks.  Can second-round rookie Mitchell Schwartz step right in and take over for Tony Pashos at right tackle?

As if replacing the immortal Tony Pashos is a huge challenge.

Basically, the ranking reasons that somehow the Browns improved (we hope) noticeably at QB, RB, and RT to go along with their 10th ranked Defense and still got worse.

Somehow Cleveland was leapfrogged by truly pathetic rosters such as the Colts and Rams and Vikings and Jaguars.

Somehow a team that was competitive in all but 3 games last year is subject to this assumption:

It’s unlikely, however, that the Browns will be able to consistently compete in the first season of the Trent Richardson-Brandon Weeden offense.

Didn't they just consistently compete with the hellish Montario Hardesty-Colt McCoy duo???... sigh.  

It's unworthy of arguing.  Teams like the Browns will be subject to this type of lazy analysis - even by their own fans - until they turn it around.  If you put, say, the Colts at #32, then their fans would complain that they shouldn't be below the Browns/Jags/Vikes/Rams.  It's simple to look at the previous season's results and assume that this year will be a carbon copy.  And knowing the Browns, they'll probably live down to these un-lofty expectations.

So bring it on, Mike Florios of the world.  I'm sure even some people that know what they're talking about will preach the same thing.

The Orlando Pro Summer League is already underway, which means that the Las Vegas Summer League is just around the corner.  The latter is of a higher-profile than the Orlando League.  There will be 20 games played between the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder Indiana Pacer and Detroit Pistons.  Of all of those teams, the Pistons picked the highest with the 9th overall selection.  There simply is not as much intrigue in Orlando as there will be in Las Vegas.  The standout players in Orlando are Andre Drummond, Perry Jones III And Jared Sullinger.  The fact that John Stockton's son, Michael Stockton, plays for the Utah Jazz is interesting, but Las Vegas is where the really good players will be.

It is questionable if top pick Anthony Davis will lace up for the New Orleans Hornets because he sustained an ankle injury.  Whether he plays or not will have a major impact on the entertainment value of the Las Vegas league, but there are plenty of other reasons to watch.  Charlotte will be getting a look at Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for the first time as a professional and the Washington Wizards fans will be able to see how Bradley Beal does.

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It’s that time of year again.

With college football still seven weeks away, the Maxwell Football Club has given fans a brief oasis from the offseason/desert by announcing their 2012 “watch lists” for some of the NCAA’s most prestigious individual awards. As these lists continue to pour out, more and more Buckeyes are getting preseason love.

Defensive linemen John Simon and Jonathan Hankins were both named to the Bednarik Award watch list -- a trophy that’s given to the nation’s top defensive player. Simon had a stellar year for the Buckeyes in 2011, notching a team high 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Hankins also had a huge year at defensive tackle for Ohio State, recording 67 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller was one of just eight sophomores to make the Maxwell Award watch list -- an honor given to “the most outstanding collegiate football player.” Miller enters his second year at Ohio state after totaling 1,874 yards of offense with 20 total touchdowns in 2011.

Finally -- currently suspended tight end Jake Stoneburner was named to the John Mackey Award watch list -- a trophy given to the nation’s top tight end. Stoneburner had a breakout year in 2011, hauling in a team high seven touchdowns on 14 catches for 193 yards. Stoneburner is just one touchdown catch away from tying John Lumpkin’s record for TD catches from a tight end (10). Stoneburner was suspended after an arrest earlier this summer but is expected to be reinstated before Ohio State’s season opener against Miami (OH).

(Photo credit - Jim Davidson - TheOzone.net)

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The Major League Baseball Players Association may file a grievance over the Cleveland Indians placing relief pitcher Nick Hagadone on the minor-league disqualification list.

"I'm very aware of the matter," Michael Weiner, executive director of the player's association, told members of the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday according to The Plain Dealer. "We've already been in touch with the Commissioner's office about this matter and there's a potential grievance. I don't want to get too much into it."

Hagadone injured his pitching hand Friday night in what the Indians have described as a "self-inflicted" incident. Now the players' union is investigating the matter, which Weiner seems to consider to just be part of baseball.

"I will say this, though, there is a long standing precedent in baseball, and arbitration precedent going back to Doyle Alexander, a great player and a great union member, saying that baseball is a very intense game," Weiner said. "And if a player, in the intensity of the moment, makes a mistake and whams his hand against the dugout or a door or does something else, that's a work-related injury. That's part of the game.

"Clubs want players to compete, to compete very hard, and sometimes those emotions come out. No player is proud of the fact that he injured himself in that kind of situation. But Nick is not the first player this year, and certainly not the first player in baseball history, who unfortunately suffered that kind of injury."

We get that the union wants to stand up for the players, but saying this iis a work-related injury seems like a stretch. Hurting your arm throwing a pitch or pulling a muscle while running the bases? Sure. Hitting something, especially with your pitching hand? Not so much.

Whle on the disqualification list, Hagadone will not be paid. Weiner said the union will make a decision after July 15 - the next scheduled payday for Hagadone.

Dwight Howard wants to play for the Brooklyn Nets.  This much is known.  He is under contract with the Orlando Magic for another year.  Obviously the Magic would like plenty of assets in return for trading the three time Defensive Player of the Year.  This is complicated because the Nets are the only team that Howard would sign an extension with.  The Nets lack the proper assets to make the trade.  Because of this, there are rumors of a third team being brought in to facilitate a trade.  Because Cleveland has been stock-piling assets (i.e., hoarding), there is speculation that the Cavs are going to get involved.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports tweeted that Cleveland is indeed having discussions with the Magic and Nets.  The idea is to send Kris Humphries to the Cavs in a sign-and-trade.  Many Cavs fans are confused because the Cavs need big men who can score.  Kris Humphries is a solid player, but there simply has to be more to this trade rumor. The Cavs are not in the business of trading assets for veterans.  Since 2010, the M.O. for the team was to gather assets to help expedite the rebuild.  If Kris Humphries is traded to the Cavs, hopefully he comes along with a draft pick or a young player like MarShon Brooks. 

Humphries averaged 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds in 62 games for the Nets last year.  Having Humphries and Anderson Varejao on the same team is a bit redundant.  If this trade happens, it seems like there has to be more to it that we are not hearing about.  If not, the Cavs would have quite the collection of big men who are solid rebounders and offensively-challenged.  

The good news is that any potential trade with the Nets no longer comes with Kim Kardashian. 

The sudden demotion of Nick Hagadone has taken another interesting turn. Hagadone was sent down on Saturday following a rough outing in relief of Justin Masterson on Friday. Hagadone gave up two runs of his own off two hits and two walks, in addition to the two runs from Masterson that he let score. 

At first it would have appeared that Hagadone's demotion on Saturday was a direct result of his recent struggles. Manny Acta even came out and said on Saturday that he was simply suffering from a lack of confidence and command and that he needed to go down and find success to gain it both back.

Then came reports that Hagadone suffered an injury to his wrist following the game and today the Indians have "disqualified" him by placing him on the minor league disqualification list. What this means is that Hagadone will not be paid for the duration of his time on the list. The Indians cited a "self-inflicted injury" and MLB.com's associate reporter Justin Albers reports that Hagadone punched something following the Friday meltdown.

Save your Amare Stoudamire jokes... This is ugly...

Not only is he coming off a really rough stretch in which he gave up 12 earned runs in just over seven innings in the month of June, he's injured, not getting paid, and perhaps a little out of favor with the club. This follows up a stretch following his promotion from Columbus in which he seemed to have establish himself as the Indians number one lefty out of the bullpen with Rafael Perez still out and Tony Sipp struggling. Things have been gone downhill quickly for Hagadone and if anything, there's now a big question mark as to Hagadone's standing in the organization.

The Indians will continue to search for a reliable left-hander and bullpen arm in the time they wait for Rafael Perez to return and Tony Sipp to turn it around. Scott Barnes was recalled on Sunday after a few scoreless efforts in Columbus following his demotion at the end of June and is expected to be sticking around for the time being.

But the situation with Nick Hagadone is far from over, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds. He was acquired as the second big piece to the Victor Martinez trade (the first being Justin Masterson) with the intent that he'd be another starting pitcher. However when that didn't work out he was looked at as a late-inning impact relief pitcher from the left side. Something that could be a valuable commodity for any bullpen. If anything, the Indians need to stick with him and hope this is just a blip on the radar and he can eventually turn his situation around.