http://www.theclevelandfan.com/The One Stop Shop For The Cleveland Sports Fanrichswerb@gmail.comThe NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council are on a collision course at the moment, a semi-high stakes game of chicken as they both run toward the edge of a cliff that is still just a spec in the distance. But each day the representatives of each, DeMaurice Smith for the union and Roger Goodell for the owners, posture and preen draws them one step closer to mutual self-destruction. In Gary Benz's latest, he takes a look at the behind the scenes saber-rattling, and how it could affect the NFL in 2010 and beyond.9 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5693http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5693Although the ultimate narrative of Sunday's Super Bowl will surely focus on the figurative rebirth of an American city, the actual game should be remembered for Sean Payton's gutsy playcalling. Showing the kind of true grit wrapped in cryptic common sense, the Saints delivered a stunning message by recovering an onside kick to open the second half. As for how all this relates to the Browns, let's consider Eric Mangini. In a similar situation, would Mangini have made this call? Dave Kolonich gives us his thoughts.9 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5692http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5692Forty-four years ago, when the NFL and AFL's elicit affair birthed the Super Bowl, pro football in America essentially hit the reset button. The game's new crowning jewel proved so bright that, as a consequence, nearly half a century of pre-merger history was cast in a permanent shadow-- acknowledged, but statistically bordering on irrelevant. This is why it sometimes seems like only Northeast Ohio still remembers the Cleveland Browns' four NFL Championships of the '50s and '60s. And it's also why virtually no one-- including Northeast Ohioans-- remember the Akron Pros: first ever World Champions of the NFL. Andrew Clayman takes a look back.9 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5685http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5685The offseason is upon us. Time for months of speculating about potential free agents and draft picks. One might argue that the Browns could do little better than they already have this offseason, what with the acquisition of both Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert (not to mention the plethora of new Heckgren underlings and hirelings). On paper, it's really hard to argue that the Cleveland professional football organization hasn't made leaps in the right direction. In Chris Hutchison's latest edition of The Browns Outsider, he primes our readers for the off-season, touching on all the winter developments with the organization ... and by taking a position by position look at where the Browns stand in terms of personnel and talent.8 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5691http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5691What a well-played football game. I mean Super Bowl-caliber play by both clubs. There were very few penalties, very few errors and, after a slow start to the scoring, the game took off and became what we thought it might be when the match up was determined two weeks ago. Right up until the moment Peyton Manning committed the only turnover of the game and threw a ball intended for Reggie Wayne directly to Saints DB Tracy Porter instead. Porter took it back for a 31-17 lead with just three minutes remaining and delivered the city of New Orleans its first Super Bowl title. Peeker hits on the Super Bowl and all the latest developments in the world of Cleveland sports in The Weekend Wrap. 8 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5690http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5690With winter imposing its snowy will on the North Coast over the weekend and now knee deep into 14 hours of Super Bowl pre-game coverage, time to bring Paulie C back in for his regular Lazy Sunday piece here on the site. It's been another slow news week in terms of Indians coverage, with the biggest "story" of the week was Grady Sizemore addressing reporters for the first time to discuss the "coffee cup" incident that occurred earlier in the off-season. Paulie hits on Grady and his contract status, points out some incredibly irresponsible journalism, and addresses the notion that the Indians simply don't have any money to spend on the free agency market.7 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5689http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5689The list of Super Bowl virgins has been reduced by one, as perhaps the hardest of hard luck franchises, the Saints, have emerged as a worthy contender. Now, the Browns stand alone with the woeful Lions and two franchise start-ups in Jacksonville and Houston as the only teams to never reach the league's big dance. Because our Super Bowl slate is wide open, we're resigned to the nether regions of the Super Bowl basement, holding onto archaic facts from the 1950's and a littany of soul-crushing what-if's. So, until our beloved franchise can finally reach the pinnacle of NFL credibility, Dave Kolonich can only offer the following top Super Bowl memories for Browns fans - and believe me, it's petty. You've been warned.7 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5688http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5688What started out as a celebration at Quicken Loans Arena Saturday night turned into a grim battle for survival, as the Cavaliers built a 24-point lead but had to hang on for dear life against the spirited Knicks. Despite a terrifying fourth period Cleveland held the lead throughout- by the hardest- and pulled out its eleventh consecutive win, 113-106. It's been a weekend of upsets in the NBA- the Magic blowing a 21-point lead at home to the Wizards, the Lake Show falling at home to the Nuggets sans Carmelo Anthony- and for much of the harrowing final period it looked as if the Cavaliers would be the latest victim. But LeBron James made sure that wouldn't be the case. 7 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5686http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5686UFC 109 took place in Las Vegas last night and this is the first time in a long time that my cousin was let down in a UFC event. Seven of the eleven fights went to the score cards, and there were no memorable knockouts or matchups. In the main event, "The Natural" Randy Couture pretty much ended the career of Mark Coleman last night with a dominating submission victory. Scott Swerbinsky recaps that fight as well as the rest of the card in his latest piece for us.6 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5687http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5687Jim Tressel and OSU recruiting coordinator John Peterson finished off National Signing Day Wednesday just about the way they started it...with commitments from 18 football players... resulting in a 2010 recruiting class in the top 15 or 16 or 20 or 26 in the country, depending on which experts you believe. The signing day story for the Buckeyes this year was how a few big fish got away at the last moment, but Dan Wismar says that's mostly because the media only pay attention to the last few days of a 365-day recruiting cycle. In his latest edition of Buckeye Leaves, Dan gives us an excellent and comprehensive breakdown of all 18 members of the 2010 Buckeye recruting class.6 February 2010http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5683http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=5683