Written by Andrew Clayman

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The quest to find the new face of Cleveland sports continues with another edition of the Star-Power Rankings-- a Top 25 list slightly less controversial than the BCS standings, but no less arbitrary and ridiculous. This week, despite coming off arguably the least exciting two-week period in recent Cleveland sports history, there have still been a few shake-ups on the Star Power board. Most notably, it would appear as though the PR nightmare brewing in the Browns' backfield may have already taken the Madden cover boy down a peg. But if Peyton Hillis has jumped the shark, just who the hell has done enough to jump over Hillis in the rankings?

For those that missed out on the first week of the Cleveland Sports Power Rankings, the concept is pretty simple (and oddly depressing). Ever since the so-called "King" abandoned his throne more than a year ago, the remaining characters in the Cleveland sports universe have been a tad hesitant to stake their own claims to the city's devotion. Mo Williams had his shot, and promptly fell on his sword-- eventually cast out of the city in shame. Shin-Soo Choo seemed primed for a run at it, but perhaps started his celebration a tad early. And then there was Colt McCoy-- the latest in a long line of golden boy quarterbacks to see his popularity hindered by happy feet and wounded ducks. So, how do we determine which sports figures currently rank as the Top 25 stars in Cleveland's post-apocalyptic, LeBron-less world? Well, by grading them in four made-up, completely subjective categories of recent success: On-Field Performance (OP), Local Recognition (LR), National Recognition (NR), and Marketability (M). Adding together these mini ratings (on a 1-10 scale), we come up with each man's STAR POWER RATING, which can fluctuate depending on events both on and off the field. So, let's see how things have changed this week.

 Cleveland Sports Power Rankings: October 18, 2011

#1 Josh Cribbs 32.5
Receiver, Browns | OP: 7, LR: 9, NR: 7.5, M: 9 | Previous Rank: #2
Well, it's official. We've got a new #1, but in case you haven't noticed, this picture ain't so rosy either. Coming in at a less than impressive 32.5 Star Power, Josh Cribbs only has 14 catches on the season, and his frustrations are becoming just as public as the man he leapfrogged for the top spot.

#2 Jim Thome 32.0
DH, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 6, NR: 10, M: 9 | Previous Rank: #3
It's been almost ten years since the Thomenator last reigned atop the Cleveland Sports Power Rankings. Could the embarrassing struggles of the 2011 Browns and the surprisingly aggressive forgiveness of Tribe fans make him the unlikely lord of the local scene again?

#3 Peyton Hillis 31.5
Running Back, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 8, NR: 9, M: 7 | Previous Rank: #1
You could blame it on the strep throat, the hamstring, or other effects of the Madden Curse, but facts are facts. Peyton Hillis has been a total nonfactor this season, and the fans don't seem to be entirely enamored with his buttery biceps anymore.

#4 Joe Haden 30.5
Cornerback, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 9, NR: 5, M: 8.5 | Previous Rank: #5
The best thing about Sunday's game for Joe Haden was that he didn't appear in it due to injury. As a result, he moves up to his highest ranking yet, #4, thanks as much to his wardrobe and tweets as his shutdown capabilities.

#5 Asdrubal Cabrera 29.5
Shortstop, Indians | OP: 8.5, LR: 8, NR: 7, M: 6 | Previous Rank: #6
With the Tigers eliminated from the playoffs, it becomes easier for Cleveland to avoid any acknowledgment of Jhonny Peralta's inexplicably terrific season and focus solely on the powerful emergence of his replacement.

#6 Joe Thomas 29.0
OT, Browns | OP: 8.5, LR: 9, NR: 7, M: 4.5 | Previous Rank: #9
Is Joe Thomas even having a good season? Seriously, do you know? Does it even matter? The awful running game and constant pressure on McCoy would seem to indicate otherwise, but Thomas still looks like maybe the only solid, signed, known quantity on the entire Browns roster.

#7 Colt McCoy 28.5
Quarterback, Browns | OP: 4, LR: 8.5, NR: 7, M: 9 | Previous Rank: #7
Colt hangs in at #7, despite growing whispers about his role as "The Man." Once again, the Browns are in the unenviable position of trying to judge a QB's skills when they've surrounded him with shit protection and either talentless or disgruntled weapons.

#8 Justin Masterson 28.0
Starting Pitcher, Indians | OP: 8, LR: 8, NR: 5, M: 7 | Previous Rank: #10
Congratulations, Justin. You've long since thrown your last pitch of 2011, and yet you keep moving up the ranks. Now, most fans seem to agree that you're a bit awkward for the role of "Cleveland Sports Icon," but hey, so was Bernie Kosar, and he was roping in Star Power scores in the high 30s for years.

#9 Dan Gilbert 28.0
Owner, Cavaliers | OP: 4, LR: 9, NR: 8, M: 7 | Previous Rank: #4
Yup, the only Cav in the Top 10 is still the team's owner, and he's dropped 5 spots from last time, thanks to the fans' increasing frustration-- or worse yet-- apathy, where it concerns the endless NBA lockout.

#10 Mike Holmgren 27.5
President, Browns | OP: 3.5, LR: 9, NR: 10, M: 6 | Previous Rank: #8
With his puppet coach Pat Shumur's Star Power sitting somewhere in the single digits, the venerable Browns president is seeing his own stock continue to drop, as well, as more fans seem to pine for the Mangini regime.

#11 Kyrie Irving 27.0
Point Guard, Cavaliers | OP: 2, LR: 8.5, NR: 7.5, M: 9 | Previous Rank: #11
Hope you're happy you came out early, Kyrie. Your reward is sitting around for a year while people slowly forget about the new era you're supposed to represent for a mortally wounded franchise. And yes, this injury plagued teenager ranks #11, which says about all you need to know about the state of Cleveland sports.

#12 Carlos Santana 27.0
Catcher/1B, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 6 | Previous Rank: #12
The Axeman holds steady at #12, as cooler heads in baseball circles finally start to reflect on what was a pretty damn good first full season for the youngster. Now if only he could be compared to Manny more for his bat than his brain.

#13 D’Qwell Jackson 26.0
Linebacker, Browns | OP: 8.5, LR: 7, NR: 5, M: 5.5 | Previous Rank: #13
So far, so healthy. The return of D'Qwell Jackson and his Defensive Player of the Month honors in September has to easily rank as the feel good story of a mostly angsty first six weeks of the season.

#14 Travis Hafner 26.0
DH, Indians | OP: 6, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 6 | Previous Rank: #14
We're almost unavoidably stuck with Pronk for one more year, so we might as well accept it. Only trouble is, will the extreme limitations of keeping TWO defensively useless lefthanded DHs ultimately lead to Hafner blocking the last hurrah of #2 ranked Jim Thome?

#15 Grady Sizemore 25.5
Center Fielder, Indians | OP: 2.5, LR: 9, NR: 7, M: 7 | Previous Rank: #16
Grady moves up one spot, maybe as a possible final tribute to what he once was (namely, a legit #1 contender). Will he re-up for the Tribe for yet another comeback attempt, or has this downward spiral reached its inevitable conclusion?

#16 Anderson Varejao 25.0
Center/Forward, Cavaliers | OP: OP: 5, LR: 7, NR: 6, M: 7 | Previous Rank: #15
So what's up with Andy these days? Is he recovered from the injuries that put him on the shelf last season? Is he gonna play in Brazil during the lockout? Europe maybe? Is the fact you don't know or care more telling than anything?

#17 Shin-Soo Choo 25.0
Right Fielder, Indians | OP: 5, LR: 8, NR: 7, M: 5 | Previous Rank: #17
Center field is a question mark. Left field is question mark. But despite a super shaky 2011 campaign, right field is not a trouble spot for the Cleveland Indians. Based on how he was swinging before winding up back on the DL again in September, Choo is a good bet to rediscover his old form and climb back into Top 10 territory in 2012.

#18 Alex Mack 24.0
Center, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 7, NR: 4, M: 5.5 | Previous Rank: --
Rumor has it that Alex Mack was none too thrilled about being left completely off the first Power Rankings chart. So great was his motivation, in fact, that he bounced back from having his appendix yoinked to start his 37th straight game Sunday. Unfortunately, it would appear I still accidentally replaced his picture with that of actress Larisa Oleynik, who famously played the title character in the '90s Nickelodeon series, The Secret World of Alex Mack.

#19 Ubaldo Jimenez 24.0
Starting Pitcher, Indians | OP: 3, LR: 5.5, NR: 8, M: 7.5 | Previous Rank: #19
Like Choo, there is every reason for optimism when it comes to the Tribe's inconsistent ex All-Star. Of course, he might also drop clean off this list as Fausto Carmona did before him. But in the meantime, Drew Pomeranz's legal troubles might at least take a little heat off Ubaldo.

#20 Scott Fujita 23.5
Linebacker, Browns | OP: 5.5, LR: 6.5, NR: 6, M: 5.5 | Previous Rank: #18
Three tackles against Oakland this week. Eighteen for the season. He still has that whole veteran leader with a Super Bowl ring thing for working for him, but overall, Scott's been a bit of a ghost this year.

#21 Jason Kipnis 22.5
Second Baseman, Indians | OP: 6, LR: 7, NR: 2.5, M: 7 | Previous Rank: #21
In retrospect, it was Jason's stint on the DL that may have derailed the Tribe's late summer chase of the Tigers more than anything else (along with the terrible pitching of our #19 superstar). Oddsmakers love this kid to leap into Top 5 contention next summer.

#22 Manny Acta 22.0
Manager, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 7.5, NR: 4.5, M: 3 | Previous Rank: #22
He looked like a lock for AL Manager of the Year for a good chunk of the 2011 season, but now Manny Acta doesn't appear to be on the radar thanks to Joe Madden and, according to some idiots, Joe Giradi's amazing ability to win with a $200 million payroll.

#23 Phil Dawson 21.5
Kicker, Browns | OP: 8.5, LR: 7, NR: 3, M: 3 | Previous Rank: #23
Phil Dawson booted through his only field goal attempt Sunday to stay perfect on the season at 7 for 7. For his career, his 83.55% field goal percentage is good enough for 9th best all-time. Again, folks, this is the best player of the Expansion Browns era. We have to live with this sad truth.

#24 Greg Little 21.5
Wide Receiver, Browns | OP: 5.5, LR: 6.5, NR: 3.5, M: 6 | Previous Rank: --
Only one rookie jumped into the Top 25 this week, and it wasn't Mondroppio Hardesty. Instead, second round pick Greg Little celebrated his overdue insertion into the Browns starting line-up by looking... well, visible (6 catches, 72 yards)-- which, compared to Brian Robiskie, is a step in the right direction. Greg also wound up knocking T.J. Ward out of the top 25, despite a solid performance from the safety.

#25 Vinnie Pestano 20.5
Relief Pitcher, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 6.5, NR: 2, M: 5 | Previous Rank: #24
Vinnie was one of the few Clevelanders pleased with the outcome of the Browns game Sunday, as he's a diehard Raiders fan. If he wants to hang on to a spot in the Top 25, however, Pestano might want to consult with Joe Haden about embracing the local sports scene a little more.

So, with Alex Mack and Greg Little entering the fray this week, T.J. Ward and Baron Davis have at least temporarily dropped out. But with no Cavalier games on the horizon and a good six months until Choo and Ubaldo try to make their drives back into the conversation, we're basically left with no Power Rankings drama outside of the weekly headache that is the Cleveland Browns. Can Peyton Hillis somehow right the ship, get healthy, and prove his worth as a #1 contender again? Will Josh Cribbs let the top spot get to his head? Is a 41 year-old Benedict Arnold with a bad back really one step away from being the current icon of Cleveland sports once more? Find out next time, I guess.