Written by Andrew Clayman

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Ever since LeBron James blessed us with his absence two years ago, The Cleveland Fan has been trying its best to assess the next wave of "Who's Who in Cleveland Sports." The hunt for these new heroes has not always been a fruitful one, of course. And as we'll see in this edition of the Power Rankings, the current Top 25 is perhaps notable more for who isn't there any longer, rather than who is. Recently, a sea change for the Cleveland Indians has brought about the mass exodus of some longtime Power Rankings staples, including former Top 5 players Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, and Roberto "Fausto" Hernandez. If you believe the rumors, more popular Tribesmen may soon be joining them in the past tense before the hot stove has cooled. So, in all this turnover, who is stepping up to claim the open slots in the rankings? With the Browns and Cavs both among the youngest teams in their respective leagues, which kiddos are earning their keep? 

Well, we'll get to that in a minute. First, it's time once again to review how this whole Power Rankings nonsense works. Simply put, every athlete, coach, and front office person in our Top 25 list is ranked on STAR POWER-- a metric of success and popularity that breaks down into four subsections: On-Field Performance (OP), Local Recognition (LR), National Recognition (NR), and Marketability (M). For each one of these sub-categories, the player in question gets a 1-10 ranking, and the combination of the four scores is his STAR POWER RATING (with 40.0 being the highest possible SPR, reserved for the likes of your iconic Hall of Famer types). For good measure, I also throw in the guy's current Twitter follower count (presuming they have any) for a better sense of his engagement with the ever judgmental online community. 

So where is Cleveland's sports attention focused as we approach the end of 2012 (and possibly the world as we know it)? Let's dive in.

 Cleveland Sports Star Power Rankings: November 26, 2012

#1 Kyrie Irving  35.5
PG, Cavaliers | OP: 8.5, LR: 9, NR: 9, M: 9 | Twitter Followers: 294,901 | Previous Rank: #1
Kyrie's hold on the #1 spot remains more than safe for the moment, as he is arguably the only no-doubt, bonified superstar the city currently has to offer. That being said, Irving's continued string of injury problems is causing some whispers as to his long term durability, and how this may impact him reaching his full potential. As we speak, the Cavs' leading scorer is shelved for a month with a broken finger.

#2 Jimmy Haslam  31.0
Owner, Browns | OP: 7, LR: 9, NR: 7, M: 8 | Twitter: --- | Previous Rank: --
Oh yeah, the Browns got a new owner since the last time we rattled off the Top 25. And while Randy Lerner never did see his name anywhere near this list, his successor is debuting in a dangerously optimistic spot. Sure, Mr. Flying J is largely benefiting from simply being the "Anti-Lerner" at the moment. But even so, his fiery presence and deep pockets have Browns fans lining up, yet again, with hopes of this next regime being "the one."

#3 Trent Richardson  31.0
RB, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 8.5, NR: 8, M: 7 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #3
A 1,000 yard season is still a possibility for the 21 year-old, but it's clear we haven't seen T. Rich entirely unleashed just yet. Electric TD runs like his game deciding scamper against the Steelers are sometimes balanced out by a lengthy series of 1-2 yard stumbles. Time will tell how much those nagging injuries have hampered him.

#4 Terry Francona  29.5
Manager, Indians | OP: 5, LR: 7, NR: 8.5, M: 9 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: --
Oh yeah, the Indians got a new manager since the last time we rattled off the Top 25. And surprise surprise, they nabbed themselves the biggest name on the market. The arrival of the curse-breaking ex-Boston skipper is a double edged sword, however. While Francona may help the Indians entice free agents and develop their young talent quicker, he also has a contract that essentially goes void if ownership parts with his front office buddies Shapiro and Antonetti. So if you haven't liked the way the roster's been handled of late, don't expect that end of things to be changing any time soon.

#5 Anderson Varejao  29.0
C/F, Cavaliers | OP: 8.5, LR: 7, NR: 6, M: 7.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #11
Andy's league leading rebound pace and eye-popping 14 point / 14 board per game averages have him at a career high rank of #5. Naturally, this only makes him the topic of increasing trade speculation, as the rebuilding Cavaliers would theoretically be looking to sell high on an injury prone veteran such as Varejao. Still, if we presume one more offseason's worth of development and additions could make the Cavs into a decent playoff team, unloading a unique weapon like this sure would seem like a step back in that process.

#6 Joe Thomas  28.5
OT, Browns | OP: 8.5, LR: 8, NR: 7, M: 5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #8
Another Pro Bowl trip likely awaits the Browns' most reliable and respected player. Though it's hard for offensive lineman to rack up "statistics" in the classic sense, it may be enough to say that-- with a rookie QB and rookie RB-- Cleveland has still allowed the 9th fewest sacks in the NFL.

#7 Asdrubal Cabrera  28.0
SS, Indians | OP: 7.5, LR: 8, NR: 7, M: 5.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #2
2012 wound up being a statistical drop off in nearly every single category for Droobs, including a disappointing showing defensively-- as his limited range has raised some questions. As of now, though, all Cabrera related questions relate to whether he will, in fact, be an Indian come next spring, as shortstop needy teams like the Red Sox and Cardinals have been sniffing around the Tribe's doorstep. The arrival of Mike Aviles via trade could very well be the first sign that Asdrubal's days are numbered.

#8 Joe Haden  28.0
CB, Browns | OP: 6, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 8 | Twitter: 104,480 | Previous Rank: #5
Alternately one of the city's most beloved and most frustrating athletes, Haden's value to the Browns defense is undeniable, as his presence is beyond necessary for the team's thin secondary to stand a chance. This makes his 5 missed games (4 to suspension, 1 to a somewhat mysterious injury) all the more difficult to forgive. 

#9 Dion Waiters  27.5
G, Cavaliers | OP: 7, LR: 7.5, NR: 6, M: 7 | Twitter: 53,463 | Previous Rank: #14
Considering some of the outrage following his selection at the #4 spot in last summer's NBA Draft, it's worth noting that Waiters-- at the very least-- has been a pleasant surprise. At 15 ppg, he is the Cavaliers' second leading scorer. At times, he has looked like a star in the making. At others, he has looked clueless and reckless. Dion's unconventional shooting style still leaves room for concern, but 13 games into his pro career, he has at least passed the first test. He appears to belong (which sadly is all it takes to make the Power Rankings Top 10 these days).

#10 Brandon Weeden  27.0
QB, Browns | OP: 5, LR: 8.5, NR: 6, M: 7.5 | Twitter: 78,063 | Previous Rank: #6
Can we just agree that the jury is out? Like many rookie QBs, Weeden has been wildly inconsistent this year. Considering his advanced age, though, it's a bit harder to forgive some of his apparent regression in the accuracy department of late. Given excellent protection for much of the year, he has generally been his own worst enemy, telegraphing throws or failing to recognize open receivers. Brandon's in the bottom rung of NFL quarterbacks for now, but his chance to try again in 2013 will depend on Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner's assessments, not ours. 

#11 Phil Dawson  26.5
K, Browns | OP: 9.5, LR: 8, NR: 4, M: 5 | Twitter: 18,528 | Previous Rank: #17
It's generally been more than a little embarrassing these past few years to realize that the most popular Cleveland Brown is quite likely the team's place kicker. But so far, 2012 has been the year we all come to terms with our Phil Dawson worship. It's not just because he's been through the entirety of this expansion nightmare with us, either. Fact is, Dawson is the best kicker on the planet right now, and his 27 straight makes are the furthest thing from a fluke.

#12 Jason Kipnis  26.5
2B, Indians | OP: 6.5, LR: 7, NR: 5, M: 8 | Twitter: 41,420 | Previous Rank: #4
Kipnis still looks like a star in the making, but his drop in the Power Rankings isn't just a result of an offseason "out of sight, out of mind" effect. Fact is, Jason struggled mightily in the second half of the season, with his OPS dipping to .714 by year's end. It could very well have been a result of fatigue in the midst of his first full MLB season. But for the Tribe to be remotely competitive next season, they're going to need the slugging, speedster Kipnis of the spring to show up, rather than the sluggish, slumping Kipnis of August.

#13 D'Qwell Jackson  26.5
LB, Browns | OP: 8, LR: 7.5, NR: 5, M: 6 | Twitter: 22,691 | Previous Rank: #13
Jackson has managed to stay healthy again this year, and with Scott Fujita gone, there is no doubt as to who the veteran leader of the Browns defense is. With rookie James Michael Johnson on one side of him and the less-than-legendary Kaluka Maiava on the other, Jackson has had to carry quite the load for a linebacking core missing both Fujita and Chris Gocong. The dude deserves a Pro Bowl nod.

#14 Chris Perez  26.0
RP, Indians | OP: 8, LR: 7.5, NR: 6, M: 4.5 | Twitter: 53,900 | Previous Rank: #7
What more can be said of Pure Rage? Like most of the useful members of the Indians, he is currently being dangled as trade bait. But unlike most of the useful members of the Indians, he won't be missed all that much if he departs. Decent closer though he may be, Perez has just been too much of a headache for a team trying to find an identity. Fire is good. Pyromaniacs are not.

#15 Josh Cribbs  26.0
WR, Browns | OP: 4.5, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 7.5 | Twitter: 127,022 | Previous Rank: #10
Josh still ranks a solid #6 in the NFL in kick return average, but as he himself has famously stated repeatedly, the offense hasn't really constructed much of anything with his number in it. Despite being a "wide receiver," he has just six receptions on the season. And the wildcat plays of a few years ago have been long since abandoned. Fumbling problems have added to Cribbs' issues, and some have questioned whether he may be near the end of the line as a Brown.

#16 Shin-Soo Choo  26.0
RF, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 7.5, NR: 6.5, M: 5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #12
Like Asdrubal and Perez, Choo could very well be making his final appearance on the Power Rankings. A solid comeback season in 2012 only helped to make him a stronger trade chip this offseason, as the Indians will likely seek to avoid the inevitable failure to negotiate a deal with Scott Boras a year from now.

#17 Carlos Santana  25.5
C, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 4.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #24
The Tribe's slugging catcher didn't take the next step like we all hoped he would this year. If you bailed on the team after August, however, you may not have realized that Carlos did, in fact, close out the season strong. After hitting under .200 for much of the early portion of the season, he wound up at .252, while driving in just 3 fewer runs (76) than the year before. Still, it may be time to accept that Santana-- while a solid bat-- will never be the second coming of Victor Martinez.

#18 Josh Gordon  24.5
WR, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 7.5, NR: 4.5, M: 5 | Twitter: 15,182 | Previous Rank: --
You might have to go all the way back to Bernie to find a supplemental draft pick with this much potential upside for the Brownies. Gordon hasn't quite exploded on the scene (he only has 28 catches all year), but his 19 yards-per-catch average and four touchdowns have raised eyebrows. In the process, he has also gradually surpassed Greg Little as Cleveland's most intriguing pass catcher heading into next season.

#19 Vinnie Pestano  24.5
RP, Indians | OP: 8, LR: 6.5, NR: 3, M: 7 | Twitter: 20,286 | Previous Rank: #19
He is the main reason Chris Perez has become somewhat expendable this offseason. But will Vinnie Pestano adjust smoothly to the closer role if it falls in his lap next season? The better question might be, will the Indians be a better team with somebody else facing the opponents' best hitters during those inevitable 7th and 8th inning rallies?

#20 Byron Scott  23.5
Head Coach, Cavaliers | OP: 3, LR: 6.5, NR: 7.5, M: 6.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #21
Once again, the record wouldn't indicate it, but Byron Scott seems to be handling his unenviable task with class and wisdom. He's got himself a hodge podge of green projects and journeymen riff raff, and yet-- even with Kyrie Irving on the shelf-- they came out and took Miami right down to the wire on the road. 

#21 Michael Brantley  23.0
CF, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 6.5, NR: 4, M: 5.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #22
Grady Sizemore is gone for good, and whether you like it or not, Michael Brantley is your center fielder to stay. On the bright side, the kid was quietly the team's most consistent hitter last year, winding up at .288. On the negative, he remains surprisingly devoid of both speed (just 12 steals) and power (only six homers). 

#22 Tyler Zeller 22.5
C, Cavaliers | OP: 5, LR: 6, NR: 5, M: 6.5 | Twitter: 34,962 | Previous Rank: #18
Poor Tyler already has been indoctrinated into the world of plastic NBA face gear just a month into his rookie season. He's also been inexplicably awful from the foul line (48%), where he shot 78% at UNC. But overall, after nine games, he's worked his way into the rotation and shown some flashes. He's at 7 pts and 5 rebounds per game right now. His goal ought to be 12 and 8 by season's end.

#23 Justin Masterson  22.5
SP, Indians | OP: 5, LR: 7.5, NR: 5, M: 5 | Twitter: -- | Previous Rank: #9
The biggest falloff in the rankings this time around goes to Indians "ace" Justin Masterson, who may have been better than Ubaldo Jimenez (a guy who's now off the list entirely), but was still hugely disappointing in 2012. Justin's ERA moved from 3.21 to 4.93, and his WHIP leaped from 1.28 to 1.45, as he dropped 15 games for the flatlining Tribe. Suffice it to say, like everyone else, Masterson is currently on the trade block.

#24 Tristan Thompson  22.5
C/F, Cavaliers | 5, LR: 6.5, NR: 4, M: 7 | Twitter: 51,661 | Previous Rank: #23
Everything we used to say about J.J. Hickson now seems to apply to Tristan Thompson, only Hickson actually had a better jump shot and shot blocking ablities. Fortunately, Tristan is only 21 years old, and while nobody was looking, he's actually gotten off to a pretty decent start this season, averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds in just 30 minutes per night.

#25 Dan Gilbert  21.5
QB, Browns | OP: 3.5, LR: 8, NR: 4.5, M: 5.5 | Twitter: 67,372 | Previous Rank: #25
The new hot debate in town: which owner would you rally your wagons around: Jimmy Haslam or Dan Gilbert? Gilbert has already had his successful run, while Haslam is just the pretty new girl in school. Still, Gilbert's once popular Comic Sans rant against LBJ has slowly become a sore spot of sorts, as the embarrassment of that whole incident-- and the current Cavs product-- has reduced Mr. Quicken to something less than ingenious.

As the NFL season winds to a close, NBA heats up, and the Indians trade away all their damn players, you can bet the Power Rankings will be shaking up again soon. So be sure to stay tuned. Until next time...