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NFL
News & Notes
The
Cleveland media is basically playing the "just shut up"
side of the Baltimore Ravens getting to the Big Dance. It is not
directed toward the Ravens' perspective but flung toward the Browns
fans. The headlines have essentially read "Cleveland, this is
your Super Bowl," meaning don't begrudge "Artie"
Modell's Ravens, you should be cheering for them because they are as
close as you're going to get for a while.
Unfortunately,
they could be correct. Hang in there Brownie fans, you just took
another step backward.
The
prolonged timing involved with firing head coach Chris Palmer has
put the Browns behind the eight ball again. The Browns front office
has missed the window of opportunity to hire a good, experienced head
coach. The college ranks and unproven assistant coaches are all that remain.
The
Houston Texans have even filled their head coaching vacancy before
the Brownies, hiring Dom Capers. And they don't start playing for 18
months! In other coaching moves, the Jets hired Tampa Bay coordinator
Herman Edwards as their coach and Terry Bradway as their GM.
Hot
Stove
The
big news (no pun intended): Mo Vaughn is out for at least six months
and David Wells is swapped to Chicago.
Anaheim's
Big Mo Vaughn, and I stress BIG, had been complaining of pain in his
left arm since the middle of last season. Angels GM Bill Stoneman had
to know this was coming. Why else would he sign perennial DH Jose
Canseco the day before announcing that Vaughn would undergo surgery
Feb. 6 to repair a ruptured tendon in his left arm? Good Luck trying
to plug 36-year-old Canseco in Mo's spot in the lineup.
Lefty
starter David Wells is on the move again. No, not to McDonald's for
another Extra Value Meal . . .
Wells
was shipped to Chicago White Sox for left-hander Mike Sirotka in a
six-player deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Chicago will be Wells'
sixth team since the 1994 season. Sirotka, who went 15-10 with a 3.79
ERA for the Sox in 2000, has a sore shoulder and will undergo rehab.
The deal was almost rescinded as the Blue Jays were concerned that
Sirotka was damaged goods. After a thorough exam, Sirotka is expected
to be ready for opening day. Fan Spin: As out of shape as David Wells
is, I'd take him any day. He has excellent fan numbers, averaging 18
wins, 165+ SO and a 4.11 ERA in 220+ innings in over 30 starts per
year for the last four years.
The
A's, who have been busy revamping their already strong lineup this
off-season, have reportedly offered OF Jason Giambi a deal worth $91
million for six years. The hitch is supposedly deferred money. The
A's had better find a way to keep Giambi or they can forget winning
the AL West for a long while. AL MVP Giambi, 29, will make $4 million
this season, the final year in a three-year deal, and he is eligible
for free agency next winter.
Finally,
Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield deservedly have been elected to join
the rest of baseball's immortals in the Hall of Fame. Induction
ceremonies will be held Aug. 5 at Cooperstown, NY. The festivities
will also include anyone selected by the Veterans Committee.
Locker
Room is written by Michael Skordeles
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