Tuesday's Thoughts

While not being able to handle the first winter weather of the year, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Well, I had a feeling Brian Cashman wasn't done yet and sure enough the Yankees acquired fireballing reliever Aroldis Chapman for 4 minor leaguers, none of which were any of the team's top prospects.  With Chapman, the Yankees will have an awesome back of the bullpen with Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Chapman.  The only concern is whether the 3-time 27 year old All-Star will be suspended for an alleged domestic violence incident.  One would think that the Yankees would have checked out the situation and believe even if Chapman is suspended he would still be available for most of the 2016 season.  A bulked up hard throwing bullpen will help to bolster a fragile starting rotation.

* As many of you who follow me know, I have been extremely critical of Cashman but right now I would give him high marks for this off season's acquisitions as the Yankees continue to get younger and more athletic.  It will only get better as the 4 big contracts come off the books.(Beltran, Sabathia, Texiera and ARod)

* The Maple Leafs continue to shock many in Leafs Nation as they defeated the New York Islanders in the Barclay Center.  It is apparent that the team is responding quite well to Head Coach Mike Babcock and if they can get decent goaltending they will be a factor in determining who gets into the playoffs.  One only wonders where they would be in the standings if they hadn't had such a terrible October.

* What will be interesting to see is who General Manager Lou Lamiorello will try to move at the trade deadline.  Certainly it's possible that Michael Grabner and P.A.Parentau could be moved but one has to wonder if there would be any consideration to move Roman Polak or fan favorite Leo Komorov.  Of course, there is the persistent speculation about the Leaf futures of Joffrey Lupul, Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak.

* Speaking of Bozak, it has been really annoying how this guy has been a constant whipping boy.  The fact remains that he didn't ask to be the team's number one center.  He is a college free agent who has played up to his ability and has served the Leafs well.  Babcock seems to have slotted him perfectly as is the case with Dion Phaneuf.

* Watching William Nylander get knocked out of Team Sweden's game against Switzerland had me thinking that this franchise is cursed.  Luckily, the word is that he very well may play again in the World Juniors and that is good news for Sweden and better news for the Marlies and the Maple Leafs.

* It's interesting how Manzielmania continues to grow with each game that Johnny Football plays.  I guess I'm confused as to how an NFL quarterback who rushes for nearly the same number of yards as he passes for is the formula for a Super Bowl contender.  

* While I would agree that it may be unfair to evaluate Manziel with the receivers that he has to throw to, his actions off the field may be just as important when determining whether or not he is the quarterback of the future.  Of course, now we see the Christmas Eve video of Manziel with an alcoholic beverage in his hand.  Many will say what is the big deal.  But the big deal is this kid was in an alcohol rehabilitation program.  He shouldn't be drinking period.  This has to call into question his judgment. To me the Browns have 2 options: 1.) get rid of him or 2.) keep him and draft another quarterback, not necessarily with their first round pick.

* The Bleacher Report is reporting that Ray Farmer will be shown the door once the season is over but Mike Pettine will be retained as head coach.  I don't have a problem with that, particularly if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam insists that Pettine bring in some assistants who have some pro football experience.  There is also rumors that Haslam will bring in former Green Bay GM Ron Wolf to act as a consultant to rebuild football operations.  Would be a good move in my opinion.

* It didn't take long for the honeymoon to end between Bills fans and Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan.  What is very telling is how the Bills have regressed under Ryan and the Jets are on the verge of making the playoffs under Todd Bowles.

* If I were a member of the Jets and needed additional motivation for Sunday's game, all I would think about is how Ryan was jumping around on the sidelines after the Bills win at MetLife Stadium earlier this season.

* Would really like to see Arizona or Carolina win the Super Bowl.  Bruce Arians has done a great job and it's fun watching Carson Palmer have a chance to go far in the playoffs, particularly after the crushing injury he received a few years back against the Steelers when he was playing for Cincinnati.  What can I say about Cam Newton.  The kid is having an awesome year and Ron Rivera has this team really playing well.  Would be a great NFC Championship Game.

* I don't know what to think about the Al Jazeera report about Peyton Manning and others using HGH. It seems hard to believe that Manning would risk his reputation.  With the so-called source recanting his story, one would have to give Peyton the benefit of the doubt.

* For all of the gasbags and self-righteous morons who are slamming Mike Ditka for calling Al Jazeera not credible and garbage, I'm with Ditka.  Since when is Al Jazeera a sports reporting agency.  Credit to Da Coach for telling it like it is.

* With word that the Maple Leafs are looking to change their uniforms, one has to wonder how much of this is a result of Addidas getting the NHL contract for apparel next season.  We know that Nike was involved in the ridiculously stupid new uniforms for the Browns.  So much for tradition.

* There was an interesting article last week in the NY Post that raised the question as to whether or not Sidney Crosby is a coach killer.  Crosby has had four head coaches in his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The article pointed out that Crosby has a close relationship with Penguins owner and icon, Mario Lemieux.  I'm a Crosby fan, but the article gave me something to think about.

* If the playoffs started tomorrow in the NFL, the starting quarterbacks for the AFC playoff teams would be: Tom Brady, AJ McCarron, Brandon Weeden, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Alex Smith and Brock Osweiler.  A far cry from the days of Kelly, Elway, Kosar, Marino and Esiason.

* By the way, the Browns could have had Bruce Arians or Todd Bowles as their head coach.

* Really looking forward to watching the Final Four in the College Football Playoffs and the Fiesta Bowl with Notre Dame and Ohio State.  I'm pulling for Oklahoma, Michigan State and the Fighting Irish.

* Wonder if the gasbags on WGR550 realize that these college games are taking place this weekend.  I'd bet anything I have that there will not be a segment in the morning or during drive time about them. More concerned about getting the right musical effects when they talk about Ryan O'Reilly.

* Here's hoping that you all have a Happy and Healthy 2016!!

Tuesday's Thoughts

While loving the fact that we may not have a White Christmas, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The Cleveland Browns had an impressive win on Sunday against the Blaine Gabbert led 49ers and many are ready to anoint Johnny Manziel as THE guy to lead the Browns to the Super Bowl.  I'm not ready to go that far as the better tests will be upcoming against Seattle, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.  While I don't expect the Browns to win any of those games, it would be encouraging if they were competitive and Manziel played a part in that.

* It's amazing that the Browns were able to finally run the ball and the defense played their best game of the year.  Of course, one has to wonder how much of this was as a result of San Francisco being awful.  That's why the next 3 games will be interesting.

* I'm hearing rumblings that Browns GM Ray Farmer may be saved and that it will be Mike Pettine who will be shown the door.  For Farmer to keep his job after having blown 4 first round draft picks in 2 years, terrible free agent signings, allowing productive players leave via free agency and an inability to realize that you need playmakers to win is a total outrage.  Pettine ends up being the fall guy for an organization that is a joke.

* The Maple Leafs play tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steven Stamkos.  Rumors are flying big time about the feud between Stamkos and Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and that Stamkos will head to free agency on July 1st.  There are many in the Toronto media who believe that Stamkos could come to the Maple Leafs as a result.  This was further fueled by Stamkos "liking" a tweet talking about the 25 year old superstar coming back to his hometown.  I am not going to get overly excited just yet.  If we get past the trade deadline on February 29th and Stamkos is still playing for Tampa Bay without a contract extension then come see me.

* Tonight's game is going to be a big one for Jonathan Bernier as this will be his first game back since coming off his stint with the Marlies.  A weak performance could be the beginning of the Garrett Sparks era for at least the remainder of this season.

* The announcement that the Maple Leafs are going to change their logo and uniform for their 100th Anniversary season next year has me on high alert.  The Leafs are an Original 6 franchise and the Maple Leaf logo is iconic.  While a uniform re-design is one thing, playing around with the logo and the colors is another.  Would the Green Bay Packers, New York Yankees, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks or Detroit Red Wings change their logos and team colors?  If the plan is to go back to the early 60's logo I'm ok with that.  But any Star Wars type change is a disgrace. Besides, I still haven't got over the Browns stupid uniform changes!!!

* Someone should tell LeSean McCoy to keep his mouth shut.  His rant against Eagles head coach Chip Kelly during the week got rammed down his throat after the Eagles defeated the Bills on Sunday essentially ending Buffalo's chances to make the playoffs.  Then he shows no guts by storming off the field, throwing his helmet and blowing off reporters after the game.  What a great role model!!!

* I'm beginning to wonder about Rex Ryan.  I believed that he got a raw deal in New York and that he would be a good fit for the Bills.  But, his team's performance this year calls into question his coaching abilities.  What's most troubling is the lack of discipline which has resulted in an alarming number of penalties.

* Despite his ability, the Bills need to move Jerry Hughes.  His stupid uncalled for penalties week after week are an embarrassment.

* Take a look at this Sunday's NFL schedule.  There is only one game, Denver vs Pittsburgh, where both teams are over .500.  What a joke and it shows that the product being put out there every weekend is inferior to what it used to be.  But it doesn't matter as ratings are up and the NFL continues to make money hand over foot.  I'm so glad I canceled The Sunday Ticket.

* Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has determined that Pete Rose's reinstatement request has been denied.  Manfred's decision is based upon the fact that Rose has shown no remorse and he continues to gamble.  Noble reasons indeed however hard for me to swallow when Major League Baseball are partners with Draft Kings, the fantasy sports website which has been outlawed in a number of states because it has been determined as a form of gambling.

* Let me start out by saying that I was never a Pete Rose fan.  But, he is the all time hits leader and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.  What has never been proven is that Rose threw games in order to win a bet.  In fact, he bet on the Reds.  In the Black Sox Scandal, it was determined that members of the White Sox threw games in order to get paid.  As a result, Shoeless Joe Jackson has been barred from the Hall even though many believe that Jackson was not directly involved with the plot.

* I still believe that Brian Cashman will make another move or two to shore up the Yankee pitching staff.

* And finally, take a look at the nationally prime time games coming up this week.  Tampa Bay - St. Louis on Thursday, NY Jets - Dallas on Saturday, Arizona - Philadelphia on Sunday and Detroit - New Orleans on Monday.  In this group, only the Jets and Cardinals are over .500.  Yet, people will watch.  Enjoy!!!

Tuesday's Thoughts

While hoping El Nino' never leaves Western New York, here is what's on my mind:

* As many of you may know, I have been very critical of Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman.  But his trades this off season have been good ones acquiring Aaron Hicks in November and this evening getting Starlin Castro from the Cubs for Adam Warren and Brendan Ryan.  Castro is 25 years old and a 3 time All-Star and immediately answers the second base question.  These moves continue to make the Yankees younger which has been long overdue.  

* I have a feeling that Cashman is not done as it has been reported that the Yanks are looking for another young pitcher.  Ivan Nova and Brett Gardner are possible trade chips and with the acquisition of Castro, Rob Refsnyder could also be available.  It also could set up the possibility for Refsnyder to go back to the outfield which is the position he originally played.  It's about time that the Yankees realize that they must avoid these long term mercenary contracts to older players.  

* The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to be fun to watch as they turned in a 3-2 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils.  The Leafs outshot the Devils and young goalie Garrett Sparks earned his 4th win since coming up to the big team from the Marlies.  The kid has filled in admirably with James Reimer injured and Jonathan Bernier being sent down for a conditioning stint.

* You would have to be blind to not see the difference in the Leafs from last season.  Nazem Kadri has really picked up his play and that has also been the case with Peter Holland.  The Mike Babcock effect is evident.

* With the way William Nylander and Mitch Marner have been playing, the future is looking brighter for the Blue & White.

* Well it's official: Johnny Manziel will be the starting quarterback Sunday for the Cleveland Browns against the San Francisco 49'ers.  I'm glad he's starting because I'm tired of hearing the Manzealots whine and complain.  As far as I'm concerned, Head Coach Mike Pettine was right in sitting him.  What hurts Pettine is he doesn't have the pedigree that a more experienced coach has because no one would be questioning the move if this was Bill Belchick or Tom Coughlin doing this.

* The Browns organization is a total joke and the man who needs to be held accountable is Jimmy Haslam.  It's obvious he doesn't have a clue and must get rid of General Manager Ray Farmer and Pettine.  Farmer had an opportunity to move this franchise forward as he had 4 first round draft picks.  Instead he has set this franchise back at least 3-4 years by his terrible drafts and questionable free agent signings.

* I agree with a caller from the Drennan Live show that Haslam needs to overpay for an established current general manager and name him President of Football Operations and give that person total control.  Anything short of that will continue this disaster.

* Was interested to see on Twitter someone calling for a boycott of the Browns game on Sunday.  It's about time.

* The number of bowl games is a complete joke.  What's worse is that there are 3 teams with 5-7 records playing in a bowl game.  

* Really looking forward to the Ohio State - Notre Dame game at the Fiesta Bowl.  Go Irish!!

* The NFL continues to alienate long time fans like yours truly by the ridiculous rule interpretations that seem to change weekly.  By far this season has been the worst for officiating in the NFL.  

* There are so many mediocre teams in the NFL that the NFC East and AFC South division winners could be below .500.

* And finally, only at Orchard Park can people be having sex in the parking lot after a Bills game.  Hence, Buffalo being called the City of Good Neighbors.

Leafs: What A Difference A Coach Makes

For those people who don't believe that a coach makes a difference, I submit to you the 2015-2016 Toronto Maple Leafs.  No, Head Coach Mike Babcock is not going to coach this team to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Hell, the Leafs may not even make the playoffs.  But what he has done is instill the importance of hard work, paying attention to detail and competing every night.

One only has to look at Toronto's last two games to see the Babcock effect.  The Leafs were blown out by the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.  They traveled to Minnesota to take on the Wild the following night.  Last year's team would have gone through the motions after a rough front half of a back-to-back.  Not Babcock's team.  While they lost 1-0 to Minnesota, the Leafs played a good road game and could not cash in on their chances.  That had more to do with a lack of skill players than it did with a decrease in work ethic.

You can also see what I'm talking about during a game.  This team has fallen behind in games only to come back and give themselves a chance to win.  That just didn't happen last year.  The most important acquisition the Leafs made this off season was getting Mike Babcock.

In the last 20 years, the Leafs reached the Stanley Cup semi-finals four times.  In those seasons, their head coach respectively was Pat Burns and Pat Quinn.  Quality hockey men who the players knew meant business.  That's where we are now with Babcock behind the bench.  

Brendan Shanahan and Babcock have said that there will be pain during this rebuilding process.  But with Babcock as their coach and Lou Lamoriello as their general manager, the Leafs are setting the stage for a resurgence.  With William Nylander and Mitch Marner in the wings and other youngsters like Connor Brown, Stuart Percy and others ready to emerge to partner with Morgan Reilly and JVR, the future looks bright.  In the meantime, the Leafs have become a team that the fan base can rally around.  Hard work, paying attention to detail and competing every night is what Leaf fans are looking for at this point as we know that better days are around the corner.

No Shame for Notre Dame

Last night, Notre Dame's hope for a berth in the college football playoffs was completely extinguished as a result of a last second field goal falling to Stanford 38 - 36.  Two 2 point losses on the road has cost the Fighting Irish a chance to be national champions.  What makes it even more incredible is that they put up a 10-2 record with a multitude of injuries which includes the loss of their starting quarterback, starting running back and starting tight end.

Head Coach Brian Kelly deserves a ton of credit for an outstanding job that not only includes his coaching but also his recruiting which helped Notre Dame withstand the onslaught of injuries.  There is no way in the recent past that Notre Dame would have been able to survive these types of personnel losses.

In my opinion, this year's team has been Kelly's deepest and as a result his best.  This includes the 2013 team that made it to the BCS Championship Game against Alabama and was embarassingly blown out.  I'll go one step further and say this team is the best ND football team in the last 15 years.

Here's hoping the Fighting Irish has a great bowl game and look forward to 2016.

Browns: Can It Get Any Lower Than This?

When it was announced that the Browns were coming back to Cleveland, long time fans were looking forward to once again cheering for their football team.  We looked forward to once again enjoying fall Sunday afternoons like we did watching Jim Brown w/Frank Ryan, Bill Nelson w/Leroy Kelly, Brian Sipe w/Greg/Mike Pruitt and Bernie Kosar w/Mack & Byner.  Well, we were in for a big letdown as they've only been in the playoffs once (2002) and have had only 2 winning seasons since their return in 1999.  In fact, their record since coming back into the league, including this year, is 86 - 180.

It's been hard being a Browns fan since 1999 but this year may be the worst yet as this franchise is totally identified with the circus known as Johnny Football.  There have been a multitude of bad first round picks going back to the Modell days but the selection of Johnny Manziel may very well be the worst of them all.  I say that because it's not just his inability to be a franchise quarterback but it illustrates the total dysfunction of a franchise that was a perennial contender prior to their hijacking to Baltimore in 1995.

While I understand the argument that the Browns need to play Manziel to see if he is "their guy", his actions off the field demonstrate to me that he cannot be the man to lead Cleveland to a Super Bowl.  Moreover, his recent incidents illustrate something bigger: Manziel has an alcohol problem.  This is a guy who was in rehab for 73 days and has fallen hard off of the wagon.  The following was in a 2013 ESPN The Magazine article: "Manziel's father, John Paul, acknowledged that he was concerned about his son's anger issues, his drinking and his struggles dealing with celebrity. 'Yeah, it could all come unraveled', Manziel's father said. 'And when it does, it's gonna be bad. Real bad'."  This isn't from a media person who has an ax to grind.  This is coming from his own father.

On top of his alcohol issues, he has difficulty being truthful to his teammates, the Browns organization and the fans.  On multiple occasions he has said that he learned his lesson.  That he was going to be dedicated to being a professional and not a rock star.  So much for that.  But the icing on the cake was instead of admitting to his coaches that he screwed up, he lied and he has his so-called friends lie for him.  Sounds more like a 14 year old busted for drinking cheap wine after the homecoming game than the guy who will lead his team to a championship.

Head Coach Mike Pettine was right in changing starting quarterbacks as a result of Manziel's shenanigans this past weekend and his lying.  For those who want to see whether Manziel is "the guy", Pettine has left the door open for him to be named the starter before the season is over.  In my opinion, this organization should cut its losses and end the circus known as Johnny Football.

What also needs to happen is that the guy responsible for the state of this team needs to be fired.  General Manager Ray Farmer may go down as the worst general manager in NFL history as he has blown four first round draft picks over the last two drafts.  Not one of these players have had any type of positive impact for a franchise starving for playmakers.  Farmer is in over his head and needs to be shown the door.

I feel bad for Mike Pettine.  He is a football guy and he seems to have the respect of his players.  Unfortunately, he is also known as a defensive minded coach and the Browns defense is one of the worst in the league.  While I would have no problem if he was given another year without Farmer and Manziel, I think that if you are going to have a new General Manager that person needs to hire his own Head Coach.

The one guy who can't be replaced but deserves a lot of the blame is owner Jimmy Haslam.  When Haslam bought the Browns, we were sold on the idea that since he was a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers that he knew the importance of continuity, both in the front office and with the coaching staff.  That has hardly been the case.  Instead of following the Rooney family model, he seems to be following the footsteps of such meddling owners like Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder.

In fact, under Haslam's ownership, he has brought this franchise to it's lowest point ever.  From changing the team's iconic uniforms to those resembling that of a high school program to applying pressure to draft an undersized 20 year old quarterback who has character issues and a sense of entitlement, Haslam has made it harder for long time Cleveland fans to follow this team.  What he has created is a bad soap opera that needs to be cancelled.  

Tuesday's Thoughts

While counting down the days to pitchers and catchers, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The NFC Championship Game turned into an instant classic with Seattle's stunning come from behind overtime win over Green Bay. While everyone will point to the botched recovery of the onside kick by the Packers, the game was lost in the first half when Green Bay had to settle for field goals in the red zone as opposed to touchdowns. As a Browns fan I know that it always comes back to bite you.

* The New England Patriots emphatically became the AFC representative in the Super Bowl by manhandling the Indianapolis Colts 45-7. You can't help but be impressed and respect the job that both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have done with the Patriots.

* While the NFL has become a passing league, both Super Bowl teams received huge games from running backs in the Conference Championship games. I guess you still need to be able to run the ball to win in December and January.

* If the Indianapolis Colts are to take the next step, they must be able to find a running game. Ahmad Bradshaw was playing well prior to his injury but the ex-Giant running back will be 29 years old next year and is on the small size. They thought Trent Richardson would be the answer but he wasn't even dressed for the playoffs. Without a go to back, Andrew Luck is going to have a tough time as evidenced by Sunday's game.

* The Chicago Bears made an excellent move by hiring John Fox to be their head coach. Fox is a defensive minded coach and that should bode well for a team that has been awful defensively for the last two years. The other thing about Fox is that he has had a history of building good coaching staffs and that will be important particularly as it relates to the offensive coordinator position.

* Can't wait to hear what the NFL finds out from their investigation on the claim that the Patriots deflated footballs in order to give their team a better grip on a wet ball. The Patriots may have taken over from the Yankees the title of "Evil Empire".

* Mike Harrington's column in Sunday's Buffalo News about the state of the Buffalo Sabres is right on point. Harrington calls into question the team's quest to be able to select Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel when there is hardly anything in place to help either of these kids if they get one of them. What veteran help is in place? Brian Gionta and Matt Moulson? Give me a break. And what about Jeremy White's man crush, Mikhail Grigerenko, who is becoming the latest NHL draft bust. Moreover, what about the fans who spend good money to come and watch the Sabres play. Some are buying the notion that this season is necessary to get the next Sidney Crosby. But there are no guarantees and it is foolish to think that an 18 year old kid is going to automatically turn a franchise around that is devoid of talent. As Harrington put it, this organization is a joke.

* I have no problem with the NCAA reinstating Joe Paterno's victories to his record which made him the most winning coach in college football history. What happened with Sandusky had absolutely nothing to do with those wins. The fact that the NCAA included this as part of a settlement shows that there was no basis for its action other than to bury Paterno.

* The All-Star break can't happen soon enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they dropped their fifth game in a row losing to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 at the ACC last night. But for the last 6 minutes of the game, the Leafs looked like a team totally lost. With each loss mounting it is becoming a foregone conclusion that they will not make the playoffs. As a result, Brendan Shanhan and Dave Nonis should take a page out of Knicks President Phil Jackson and start tearing things down.

* Not sure what is up with Tyler Bozak but he looked awful last night. He has regressed badly since the early part of the season and management should explore what kind of market there is for the soon to be 29 year old center. Jonathan Bernier is another player who did not look good last night and by his own admittance did not play well on Saturday night against St.Louis. If it were me, James Reimer would get the start in Ottawa on Wednesday. Based on what I saw last night, Nazem Kadri needs to be paired with Phil Kessel for the rest of the year. They seem to have a good chemistry and provided some real offensive creativity which the Leafs are in desperate need. Another player who seems to be regressing is James van Riemsdyk.

* The Dion Phaneuf bashing has grown to epic proportion and I believe it is unwarranted. He didn't ask to be captain and he didn't hold a gun to Nonis' head over his current contract. As has been said by many, he's not a number one defenseman but he is a top 2 or 3. I thought last night he tried very hard to get things going for his team yet he will still be criticized. A guy who should be criticized is David Clarkson. While it is true that Clarkson didn't hold up Dave Nonis for his massive free agent contract, the problem is unlike Phaneuf there is no redeeming value to Clarkson's game. Clarkson being on the second power play unit is an absolute joke and he is nothing more than a fourth line player at this point. He's also taking valuable ice time away from a younger player.

* There is no question that the Leafs are missing Peter Holland, Joffrey Lupul and Leo Komorov. As these players come back, it will be time for some moves to be made. If the Leafs are not going to use David Booth then they should put him on waivers. Trevor Smith should be sent back down to the Marlies and Troy Bodie should not be in a Maple Leaf uniform again. The Leafs need to explore if there is truly a market for Joffrey Lupul and if there is they need to move him. I'm not sure what to make of Cody Franson. Based on his age and his ability to score from the blue line, I would like to keep him. But management needs not to overpay and if they determine in their discussions with Franson's agent that his price is too steep, then they need to move him. With respect to David Clarkson, he would be healthy scratch. The Leafs need to give guys like Sam Carrick more ice time. Why bring Matt Frattin up if you are not going to give him regular minutes. If he can't get that ice time then you need to send him back down and he needs to stay with the Marlies.

* And finally, does anyone really care about the NFL and NHL All-Star Games?

Tuesday's Thoughts

While counting down the days until spring, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Well, the ax finally fell on Randy Carlyle and I predicted back in September he wouldn't make it past January. All of the numbers show that the Leafs were regressing as far as puck possession and shots on goal. Leafs President Brendan Shanahan indicated last week that it was during the team's 10-1-1 streak that management began to consider making a change. The Leafs needed to make this move if they were going to utilize Shanahan's commitment to bring analytics into the team's mindset in evaluating players. Carlyle was coaching to save his job and not necessarily to let the young kids grow and become better players.

* After the Carlyle firing, an overwhelming majority of the mainstream media in Toronto focused their attention on Phil Kessel. Kessel is uncoachable. You can't win with Kessel. If the Leafs are to progress they must trade Kessel. What a joke. Kessel is the best scoring winger that the Leafs have had since Lanny McDonald. He has scored 30 goals or more for four of his five seasons with the Leafs and had 20 goals in the 48 game season in 2012-13. He is clearly the most talented player on the team yet he is the reason why this team has problems. It's a bunch of crap. As EJ Hradek said Monday morning on TSN1050, the Leafs have failed to provide players around Kessel that would allow him to be what he is: a top ten scorer. He's not a Selke Trophy candidate and those Gasbags in the Toronto media know better. Part of the problem is that many in the media don't like the fact that Kessel is not comfortable around them. He also is an American and that irritates some because he is the highest paid player on the team. The geniuses in the media also equate making the most money meaning that you are the team leader. Kessel is being paid to be a goal scorer and a point producer. In case they haven't noticed, he doesn't have a C or an A on his jersey. If you want to complain about how much money he makes then place the blame where it belong which is on Dave Nonis. 

* If the Toronto Gasbags want to look for who's responsible how about focusing on Nonis. It was Nonis who extended the current contracts to Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner and Tyler Bozak. He is also responsible for the terrible contract given to David Clarkson. Speaking of which, how come there isn't as much finger-pointing at number 71 as there is at Kessel? Maybe it has to do with him being a Mimico boy. 

* The Toronto Gasbag media was getting on Shanahan for his press conference last week. Oh they were saying he should have came out on the day when Carlyle was fired. But these are the same morons who got on Brian Burke for being so loud and out front. Shanahan's explanation was a good one: he has a GM and it was his responsibility to address the firing. He also indicated that he said all along that he would address the media at the beginning, the middle and the end of the season. The other criticism was that Shanahan did not spell out what his plans were for the team, ex.: who will they possibly look to coach the team next year,etc. Really?? No general manager or top executive of a team is going to share that type of information, particularly during the middle of the season. But, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is an easy target and the Toronto Gasbags love to take shots at them when they can.

* Funny how the same media types who hated Ron Wilson when he coached the Leafs were now welcoming him with open arms when he said that "Phil is 2 weeks on and then he's 2 weeks off." Oh, the TO Gasbags thought they had just received enlightment from the Dali Lama. As Brian Burke noted, he never heard Wilson complain about Kessel while he was head coach.

* The Dave Feschuk-Phil Kessel interaction on the day when it was announced Carlyle was fired was typical rat-bag Feschuk. What was more funny was how everyone in the Toronto mainstream media defended Feschuk. 

* Kyle Shanahan leaving the Browns does not bother me. Quite frankly I felt that his play calling in the second half of the season, particularly in the red zone was putrid. However, reports that Shanahan wanted out because of interference from the "personnel people", including the texting to the sidelines on what plays to call sheds a different light on his departure. It's also being reported that Shanahan was against putting Manziel in after the Indy game. Kudos to Shanahan for taking a stand. Unfortunately the dumpster fire that is the Cleveland Browns continues to burn thanks to the "personnel people". I would love to know who are these "personnel people". Is it Ray Farmer? What role does owner Jimmy Haslam have to play in all of this? It all leads up to the fourth offensive coordinator in four years.

* The Denver Broncos firing of John Fox was surprising. This guy has had an outstanding record and has had an outstanding coaching staff. Now with Fox gone, Defensive Coordinator Jack DelRio going for his second interview with the Oakland Raiders and Adam Gase being pursued by the 49ers, this team is looking at a major shake-up. I guess the genius John Elway has it all figured out.

* Many arouund the NFL believe that John Fox may end up in Chicago as the Bears head coach. The Bears need to rebuild their defense and Fox is a defensive-minded coach. He also has a relationship with Bears advisor Ernie Accorsi. This would be a good move for the Bears.

* With the upheaval in Denver, it makes you wonder if this will be the final straw that forces Peyton Manning into retirement. While it's been reported that Manning was suffering from an injury which was more serious than reported, I'm not sure if that was why he looked like an old quarterback struggling to hang on. Manning was non-committal on whether he would come back for another season. Time will tell but from what I saw on Sunday, Manning should call it a career, He has nothing further to prove.

* Rex Ryan's decision to accept the Buffalo Bills' offer to be their head coach was surprising. Ryan is a defensive minded coach and Buffalo's strength is their defensive unit. What was his undoing with the Jets was an unproven quarterback which is what he inherits in Buffalo along with no first round draft pick in this year's draft. From the Bills perspective, this was a great hiring. Ryan is an established head coach and he got a raw deal in New York. He took the Jets to 2 conference championships with Mark Sanchez as their quarterback. For years, the Bills have never hired an established NFL head coach. They have now and it remains to be seen how Ryan will be able to deal with an offensive unit that has major question marks. The first sign to look for is who he hires as his offensive coordinator. Rumor has it that Rex may be interested in Marc Trestman, who failed miserably as an NFL head coach but has been a good offensive coordinator in the NFL.

* I'm not an Urban Meyer fan but I have to acknowledge the job that he did this year with Ohio State which was capped off by their 42-20 victory over Oregon giving the Buckeyes the National Championship. It's incredible how Meyer was able to get this team to reach the top of the college football world with a third string quarterback. The Buckeyes are going to be good for a long time and the Big Ten is back on the map in college football.

* The New York Yankees have hired two hitting coaches (Jeff Pentland and Alan Cocknell) and an infield coach (Joe Espada). Espada will also be the third base coach, Tony Pena will be the first base coach and Rob Thomson will be the bench coach. Despite being interviewed, Willie Randolph was not hired as Brian Cashman indicated that Randolph would be an asset to any major league coaching staff. Any staff except the Yankees, a team and organization that Randolph loved as a player and as a coach. Another example of how this current Yankee regime could careless about one of their own.

* And finally, I can't wait to see and hear the interactions between Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Gasbags like Paul Hamilton and the other GR dopes. Could be very entertaining.

Tuesday's Thoughts

While trying to stay warm, here's what is on my mind this morning:

* The Toronto Maple Leafs are limping home after a terrible 2-7 road trip which leaves them hanging on to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. There has been plenty of discussion about what needs to be done to turn this team around. There are those who believe that the coach should be fired and there are others who say that some of the core players should be moved. But another piece that should be considered is the general manager. If you want to talk about the core players, it was Nonis who re-signed Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel to their current contracts. It was Nonis who gave the ridiculous contract to Mimico's own David Clarkson. And it was Nonis who signed 37 year old Stephane Robidas. Maybe the first person that needs to go is Dave Nonis.

* While many like to get on Kessel and Phaneuf, the fact of the matter is that both of them are players who are miscast. Phaneuf is not a true number one defenseman. He's a good number 2 or 3 but he is expected to be the shut down guy. Kessel is a goal scorer. He's not a Selke Trophy candidate but neither is Patrick Kane. Kane has Toews, who does Kessel have? Both of these players are miscast and I have more of a problem with the contract that Clarkson has than Kessel's and Phaneuf's. Let me ask who would have more value on the trade market: Kessel, Phaneuf or Clarkson?

* In my mind, Randy Carlyle needs to go. Carlyle's teams have historically declined in the area of puck possession. This includes his time in Anaheim. In the three seasons that Carlyle started as head coach, the Leafs have had monumental collapses. Players certainly share in the blame, but so does the head coach.

* I find it interesting how in love so many Leaf fans are with Cody Franson. He certainly has a great shot from the point but he is slow and I don't find him all that great defensively. If history tells us anything, the Leafs will overpay to keep him. In case anyone realizes it, Franson is part of the core.

* In the end, the problem stills circles back to Dave Nonis.

* The National Football League should be ashamed of itself for a lot of reasons but one of them has to be the state of the performance of their referees. Officiating this year has been awful and the Detroit-Dallas playoff game really put a spotlight on this sad state of affairs. I have been watching football for over 50 years and all I have ever heard was that a defender needs to be looking at the ball in order to potentially make a play. The Dallas linebacker never looked back toward the ball and he made contact with the Detroit receiver. How the flag could be picked up on that play is a joke. But it doesn't end there. At the end of this play, Dez Bryant goes on the field without his helmet on and was screaming at the officials. This is a blatant unsportsmanlike penalty but apparently no offical saw this. The NFL is the most popular major sport in North America but it is the only sport of the four major ones that employs part-time officials. The integrity of the game is being called into question with such terrible officiating.

* Of course, no one should think that the NFL cares about integrity when money is what drives it. Case in point, the owner of the St.Louis Rams has announced that he is going to build a new stadium in Inglewood, California which would lead to the franchise moving to Los Angeles. How does a current St.Louis season ticket holder re-up for the 2015 season? And where is Roger Goodell looking out for those fans? He could careless because it is all about the money.

* But for the Dallas game, the other three wild card matchups were not very exciting. 

* The situation with the Buffalo Bills has really gone south. While everyone wants to blast Doug Marrone, it was Russ Brandon who gave him his contract with the $4 million dollar guaranteed opt out and it was Doug Whaley who traded away the team's first round draft pick in 2015 in order to acquire Sammy Watkins. The problem is there is only one person currently on the roster who could throw to Watkins and that is EJ Manuel.

* Speaking of the Watkins trade, it seems that Marrone was extremely opposed to the trade as he and Whaley argued over the move. While Bills fans may feel that Marrone is a control freak jerk, he was right about the trade as the Bills could have drafted an Odell Beckham Jr. and still had their number one draft pick this year. 

* Reports out of New York is that the interview with the Jets did not go very well for Marrone. One has to wonder how much of that was as a result of the New York media, particularly the Daily News, slamming the Jets if they settled on Marrone. In the end, Marrone may find himself sitting out this season while he collects his $4 million dollars from Terry Pegula.

* Johnny Manziel was involved in another bar incident, this time in Houston, Texas. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said that the team would not put up with players who are not committed to winning. What more does this organization need to see that this kid is a media creation who is nothing more than a cartoon character. Manziel needs to be removed from the Browns organization.

* While very painful to watch, Phil Jackson is doing the right thing by tearing down the New York Knicks. With only 5 wins, New York is going nowhere this season and so it is imperative to clear cap space and be in position for a top pick in this year's draft.

* It has been reported that the Yankees have interviewed Willie Randolph for the first base/infield coaching job. I have been calling for this to happen since Mick Kelleher was fired. This is a no-brainer and Number 30 should be in the first base coaching box this season.

* When is the NCAA going to start looking into the lawless college football program called Florida State. Jimbo Fisher is an enabler who condones all of the various misdeeds. If you want a window in the mindset of this program, just look at the end of their game against Oregon when the team went straight to their locker room without congratulating the Ducks.

* I pity the team who drafts "Crablegs" Winston in the 2015 NFL Re-entry Draft.

* Here's hoping that Jim Harbaugh restores the Michigan football program.

* Love the fact that the SEC had a terrible bowl season. The smugness of its fans and the ESPN connection is enough to make anyone get sick.

* As someone pointed out yesterday, if there was no playoff format the national championship game would have been between Florida State and Alabama.

* I'm not an Urban Meyer fan, so I will be rooting for Oregon to win the national championship.

* And finally, congratulations to my Canadian friends in the big win for Team Canada in the World Juniors Tournament.