Sorting through plenty of emails on the Browns' exhibition opener keeps Terry Pluto busy.
John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrandon Weeden felt a real NFL pass rush on Friday, and getting experiences like that in the preseason is much more important than the actual results, says Terry Pluto. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What can you learn in the Motor City? Let's start talkin'...
About the Browns ...
Many of my emails from fans after the Browns preseason game were like this on my Facebook page:
"It's a lousy team being led by a rookie QB and ... a lousy head coach ... (Brandon) Weeden's problem is A) He's not 22, so he needs to catch on faster. B) He might be washed away with the rest of this regime if he ends up being the starter on a 2-14 train wreck when the next front office moves in."
Hey, the guy played almost one full quarter with no Trent Richardson and in a dome on the road against a team that was 10-6 last season. Nine passes, that's enough to judge, right?
Or as someone posted under one of my Browns' stories: "Brady, Brady!"
Was that a plea to bring back Brady Quinn? Really?
An NFL scout from another team told me to check on Andy Dalton's preseason in 2011 as a point of how little we can learn about rookie quarterbacks in the early games.
Josh Kirkendell wrote this in the Cincy Jungle Blog after Dalton's first two preseason games in 2011:
"If we exclude a pair of knees taken to end the first half against ... the New York Jets, quarterback Andy Dalton has led 11 offensive possessions this preseason which have resulted in:
1. Three interceptions.
2. Five punts (three of which were 3-and-out).
3. A missed field goal.
4. A converted field goal.
5. A touchdown.
6. Just under half (5) of Dalton's 11 possessions have gained 10 yards or more."
This is not to pick on Kirkendell, who also knew this was such a small sample. But it's what happens in the preseason when all of us -- media and fans -- make so much out of so little. Eleven possessions ... it's barely one half of football. Just as Brandon Weeden was 3-of-9 passing with a fumble and an interception.
If this were the regular season, he plays the second quarter.
Weeden's struggles shows why he needs to play a decent amount in the preseason. The game is faster. Players are allowed to tackle him, something not permitted by any team in training camps. It makes sense not to hit QBs in camp. But it also makes sense to play the QB (especially a rookie) in the preseason where he will get hit and so he can get used to the speed of the game. Yes, the game is faster. Much faster. Especially in Detroit on turf.
By the way, in Dalton's third preseason game -- when they finally let him play for a while, he was 11-of-17 for 130 yards.
Part of the reason backup quarterbacks often look good in the preseason is they are allowed to play longer -- and they also face inferior defenses. But simply being on the field helps.
About Colt McCoy ...
Rick Osentoski, Associated PressWin, lose or overtime tie, there's always a number of Colt McCoy believers eager to defend their hero. George Gortz believes I have been unfair to McCoy. Here is part of his email: "The kid plays his heart out as a rookie with a lousy O-line and worst receivers in the league. Play-calling stunk and he fights on.
"The writers throw one question after another at him trying to get him to say something negative since Brandon Weeden was drafted. McCoy says his job is to compete for the starting QB position. The guy wants to be ready to compete.
"Between the Browns and the media, you guys decide how many times you are going to discuss this man's fate and whether he would or should or could be traded. Then you all corner him in the locker room hoping he understands that, get your quotes and beat him up some more in the papers.
"Terry Pluto writes about McCoy: 'He has to come to terms with the fact that being a star in Texas doesn't count anymore.'
"Really? Exactly how does McCoy do that? And why would he try? He's a professional. What does the media want him to do?
"May I suggest a good start to the process would be for the media ... leave the kid alone instead of asking him endless questions and then picking apart his answers."
(Dear George, the reality of being a quarterback is that part of your job is to deal with questions, good, bad, stupid or strange. You don't have to answer them all, but a quarterback is always interviewed nearly every day. That has been the case for 50 years in the NFL.)
About Travis Hafner and Jake Westbrook ...
Amy Sancetta, Associated PressThe many times that Travis Hafner was not available for the Indians will be one of the legacies of the slugger -- just as much as his once-frequent blasts to Pronkville. As Hafner went on the disabled list with back problems, it made me wonder if he's played his final game with the Tribe. Because if he does want to come back in September, why would the Indians play him? He's not in the plans for next year. They plan to look at other players.
In a real sense, it's finally over for Hafner and the Tribe. He played 60 games, batting .239 with 11 homers and 32 RBI.
Think back to July 2007. The Indians were in first place in the AL Central. Hafner signed a 4-year, $57 million extension that began in 2009. In 2007, he played 152 games, hitting 24 homers with 100 RBI. From 2004-06, he averaged 31 homers, 110 RBI and batted .307.
Hafner would never again play more than 118 games (2010) in a season. He never again hit more than 16 homers or drove in more than 57 runs. This is his ninth trip to the disabled list. Hafner is making $13 million this season. Next year, the Indians will pay him $2.5 million as a buyout for the final year of his contract.
Also in 2007, the Indians extended Westbrook's contract, giving him $33 million for three years (2008-10). Starting in 2008 until he was traded in the middle of 2010, Westbrook had elbow surgery and made only 26 starts. He was 7-9 with a 4.30 ERA.
So the Indians committed $80 million to Westbrook and Hafner, and received so little in return because of injuries.
Here's what Hafner and Westbrook chewed up on the payroll after their extensions:
2008: $18 million of $79 million payroll.
2009: $22 million of $81 million payroll.
2010: $22 million. The Indians paid about $18 million before Westbrook was traded. Payroll was $61 million.
2011: Hafner, $13 million of $52 million.
2012: Hafner, $13 million of $65 million.
This is not about dumping on Hafner, who got hurt. It is to show that the two biggest contracts given out during in the Dolan Era (2000-present) backfired. It's also a reason they are careful now to make long-term commitments.
About the Indians ...
1. The Indians plan to have Roberto Hernandez make as many starts as possible in the rotation as they try to figure out what to do with the former Fausto Carmona. He'll start Wednesday against Los Angeles. His contract is for $2 million this season. The Indians have a $6 million option for 2013, and they are desperate for starting pitching. Hernandez will be 32 in December and the Indians want to see if he helps them.
2. Jeanmar Gomez has thrown 15 scoreless innings in his last two starts at Class AAA Columbus, and he could be promoted soon. He is 6-2 with a 2.59 ERA for the Clippers. When it comes to the 2013 rotation, only Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson and Zach McAllister (probably) appear likely to start. After that comes a parade of Corey Kluber, Gomez, Hernandez (maybe), Chris Seddon and Josh Tomlin. They do like Tomlin in relief.
3. The case for pitching coach Scott Radinsky being fired is that so many starters regressed (Masterson, Tomlin, Gomez) or stayed the same with a 5.00 ERA (Jimenez). The case against Radinsky being fired is that I'm almost always against dumping the coach during the season unless the man has some type of character flaw. Radinsky does not.
4. In 2010, the Indians fired batting coach Jon Nunally in the middle of the season. In 2003, Eric Wedge dismissed pitching coach Mike Brown in spring training, because he wanted Carl Willis. Former General Manager John Hart fired a few pitching coaches during the season during Mike Hargrove's tenure. Rarely does it change anything.
5. I don't know why the Indians bothered to trade for Brent Lillibridge as opposed to just recalling Jason Donald from the minors to be the utility man. The Tribe said they wanted Donald to play every day in Class AAA a little longer ... and work on his defense. Donald has now replaced Jose Lopez on the roster as an extra infielder.
About the Cavaliers ...
Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerDaniel Gibson's frequent trips to the disabled list have undermined his value to the Cavaliers. That figures to make his 2012-13 season -- the last under his current contract -- pivotal to his NBA career. 1. The Cavs wanted C.J. Miles for a couple of obvious reasons, starting with he can play shooting guard and small forward -- two of the weakest spots on the team. Miles was in town last week, working out with some of his new teammates. He said he wanted to play for Byron Scott and with Kyrie Irving. Miles had some of his best seasons in Utah with Deron Williams, a very good point guard.
2. But they also know that Daniel Gibson is in the last year of his contract, which pays him a healthy $4.8 million. Meanwhile, Gibson has battled injuries the last three seasons, missing a total of 72 games. He had a miserable year on the court in 2012, shooting career low 35 percent, averaging 7.5 points.
3. The price tag for players such as Gibson has dropped. Consider the Cavs signed Miles for $4 million over two seasons, with the second year not guaranteed. Miles was paid $3.7 million annually for the previous four years. Gibson needs to play well and stay healthy to secure a decent deal next season.
4. The Cavs are still talking with Alonzo Gee about a multi-year contract. He is a restricted free agent and could accept a one-year, $2.8 million qualifying offer. That would make him unrestricted next summer.
5. Small forward Omri Casspi is in the final year of his contract, meaning the Cavs could be without Gibson, Gee and Casspi after the 2012-13 season. That would leave them with Miles and Dion Waiters at the wing positions. Next summer is when the Cavs also should begin to make significant moves to upgrade the roster. Waiters has also been in town working out at the Independence facility and is said to be getting in much better shape.
6. Scott has told Miles that he has a chance to start, he can compete with Waiters for shooting guard and Gee for small forward.
7. The Cavs passed up Jonas Valanciunas to pick Tristan Thompson at No. 4 in the 2011 draft. Valanciunas is a 7-footer from Lithuania. He was picked by Toronto and signed this summer with the Raptors. He's playing very little for the Lithuanian Olympic team -- averaging 3.6 points in 10 minutes per game. The key will be patience, as he's only 20.
8. The Cavs insist Thompson has taken major steps forward with his offense, so we'll see if that turns out to be true. He has been at the training facility more than any other player in the off-season.