Written by Cris Sykes

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We had a lot of positive emails this week about "The Feel Of The Fan", a new piece we debuted last weekend that encapsulates all the hottest topics that people are talking about on our message boards here on the site. This week, on the Browns front, the discussion turned from Mangini to Kokinis and the NFL Draft. Other hot topics included Wedge as a manager, Garko in the outfield, LeBron delivering CTown a title, and Donald Washington and Brian Hartline leaving OSU early.

Mock This!

Let's start this week off with an announcement of sorts.  With the NFL Draft around the corner, it is time to take a look at who will be available and who the Browns may be selecting.  We're doing a TCF mock draft here on the site, and have about two-thirds of the people necessary to cover all of the teams, so if you like to do mock drafts, click here, there are still about 10 NFL teams that need representation.  

So, it looks like George Kokinis has the inside track on the General Manager Train.  And boy, is there some opinions about that floating around cyber world.  This thread should give you a pretty good idea about how most think this will turn out.  Yinzer Hater may have wrapped up the thread best, coming strong with "Great job Lerner. We now have one front-runner candidate for each position. One is not on anyone's interview list for open coaching spots, and the other is not on anyone's radar when it comes to executive positions".  Guess he didn't like the Mangini hire either?  Board legend Crash Davis answered Yinzer Hater, explaining why Randy Lerner makes the decisions he makes by reminding us, "This is because Randy Lerner is from the Art Modell ownership tree." 

Who are you cheering for this weekend?  The hated Inbred?  The Hated Raturds?  A power outage to save us the pain of watching these two play for the right to go to Tampa?  I am just glad I will be in a car heading for North Carolina, saving myself from the agony.  To sum up my feelings, who better to quote than the author of The B-List himself, Steve Buffum.  According to Mr. Buffum, "The only "good" scenario involves aliens vaporizing Heinz Field during the opening kickoff."  Cheers! 

Showing that we are all a bunch of bitter fans, General brings it the way most of us would be thinking if we could be rational about the situation, "Team hates aside, this is truly the "game of the year" if you enjoy what used to be NFL Century Division, AFC Central/North Division football. Forget points, what is the over/under on body count?" 

Got a Wedgie?

You want to get a thread started and guarantee a lot of responses?  Here is the blueprint.  You had better be ready though, because a comment that is positive about Tribe Manager Eric Wedge is sure to bring out the wolves.  You see, poster Chris actually had the audacity to watch an interview with Eric Wedge on "All Bets are Off", gain a bit of respect for him based on Wedge's comments about understanding the plight of Cleveland Fans, and attempting to instill an appreciation of the fans into his players.  It took some time (and probably some prodding from Peeker643), but eventually the vultures started circling. 

Does anyone have any plans for catching the Indians on any road trips in 2009?  If so, click here and share your plans.  Or find out who else is already planning something to get an idea of good times to maybe meet up and catch some Tribe baseball.  It is an odd year, so this could be a fun season. 

Garko in the outfield?  Could this possibly be true?  According to nwizzle, it is a clear sign that "Wedge has officially lost his mind".   

As with most threads, we find a way to take it even further, with TitoFrancona zeroing in on a portion of the story that this also translates to an improved chance for Josh Barfield to make the 25-man roster.  Tito no like Josh Barfield.  It did give carnegie44115 an opening for an excellent piece of analysis on how Barfield could make the roster, "Well with 13 position players, that is Sizemore, Choo, BenFran, Dellucci, DeRosa, Peralta, ACab, Carroll, Garko, Hafner, Vic, Shoppach, that still leaves one spot on the bench. AAA is full in the MIF, with Valbuena and the trio of guys that were signed earlier this off-season. So he would sit on the bench primarily in AAA, so if Barfield can learn how to play LF or 3B, they could have him as an additional guy." 

Getting back to Garko shagging fly balls, some of the better takes are as follows:

~tribefan333 - "I think analysts, writers and fans use 100% and 0% way too much, so I'll give this a 1% chance of actually working." 

~cozmeesah - "I know the thought conjures up quite a few amusing mental images, but I just didn't take it that seriously. It's just a "hey, what if?" thing to me where they probably thought, "well it couldn't possibly hurt to give him a few reps." And I figure, so what?"

~McCreek - "If you want to determine Garko's speed it would require a sun dial. He has to be the slowest player I have seen in my yrs as a Tribe fan. I would have to turn my head watching a fly ball hit in his direction. It would be reminiscent of watch the Bad News Bear's"

Nique or MJ?

Has JB finally turned the corner?  There has been a long time debate, probably covering ten years and a couple of different message boards where posting icon JB has said that LeBron James is more Dominique Wilkins than Michael Jordan.  You can probably imagine the responses.  So the most shocking thread of the week just may be this one, Bron will deliver us this year.  It forced me to ask JB if this ends the debate about LeBron being 'Nique.  Do yourselves a favor and click on the thread and give it a good read.  Just be sure to fly past the little spat about a Boston fan sneaking in and out watchdog davemannd defending his roost. 

Would you want to trade Wally for Marcus Camby?   A good portion of the forum agrees that this would, as HermanFontenot says, "We make this deal, we win the title. End. Of. Story."

And Papa Cass goes a little deeper into why the trade makes so much sense, "With Camby working down low as the goalie, cleaning up mistakes, it would free up Ben and Andy to do more freelancing on defense. They could come out to the perimeter and pressure smaller players more often. I believe that is a strength of Wallace, in particular. If he can't really guard smaller players man-up, he can certainly help pressure and smother them. Wallace helped out against Pierce on Friday." 

On the other side of the fence, I shared my concerns with splitting up enough playing time to keep four bigs that quality of Z, Ben, Andy and Camby happy.  Message board superstar, Madre Hill says it goes even deeper than that, "Make that 6 guys. Hickson and Jackson won't learn just by osmosis."  As the banter goes back and forth, aoxo1 brings up an excellent point, "Seriously. The reason to bring in a DPOY level guy is that we need JJ or DJ to get a few minutes this season?" 

You got one shot with the Wally contract Mr. Ferry.  The city of Cleveland is counting on you.  No pressure.

Buckeyes Leave

We covered Beanie Wells last week.  This week, we have Brian Hartline and Donald Washington leaving Columbus early for a shot at the National Football League.   

The impression Brian Hartline's decision left on Buckeye Fans?  Peeker says it best, "Thank God".  FUDU, do you have anything to add?  Yes he does, "I wish the kid all the best, this is best for him and the university."  Jack_tors?  "Best news I heard all day."  And as only JB could sum up the feelings of Jim Tressel upon hearing the news, "Jacks, jacks, no take backs! And can you go talk to Smalls?" 

The news of Donald Washington leaving was met with at least a slight bit of sadness.  Cornerback is always a position where depth is very important, which Furls touches on, "the Bucks are a year away from having depth in the secondary. Next year's secondary will hinge on the development of guys like Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson. We'll see how this turns out."  Fellow Cleveland Fan Buckeye contributor wiz1001 (Dan Wismar) agrees with Furls about the lack of depth, noting that the Buckeye depth chart will include "I'm worried about CB too, Furls. The coaches say they like Travis Howard, but he has never played a minute. Andre Amos is talented, but has never been able to stay healthy. I think Corey Brown could be a dynamite CB, but at this moment he's in high school...and he may end up at WR anyway. There's Devon Torrence (who might still bolt to play baseball) and Clarke (who knows what we've got there?) and Donnie Evege (smaller than the prototype OSU corners)...in other words, a large group of maybes." 

McCreek gives us the heads up about a future Buckeye who could help replace Washington, "Justin Green could be the real gem in this class. He is a big hitter as well as having great speed. He actually played LB out of necessity last season (in high school)." 
 
Post of the Week: 

Discussing the Steeler/Raven game, renowned Steeler Hater Dr. Prove makes no bones about his allegiances:

"Perfect scenario is a game which is perpetually tied and won't end. In the ultimate irony Donovan McNabb and the Eagles are awarded a bye in the Super Bowl due to a tie in the AFC Championship game.  That and what JB said. No Ratbird fans in NE Ohio. I was driving down Pearl Road in my hometown over Christmas and saw a kid walking down the street in a #7 Black & Yellow jersey. I almost threw up. Well I almost ran over him in my truck, thought better of it, then almost threw up."