Today marks the first Sunday without football since September. Mrs. Joe Cleveland calls this a "holiday" for herself, since she's survived another football season with me.
On this day, we can take a look at the three pro teams in Cleveland and see how they stand or what's to come. That, and I realized I've done nothing but write about the Browns in this blog for the last three months, and "Joe Cleveland" was supposed to encompass the entire sporting scene in Northeast Ohio. So, let's take a whirlwind look at our three pro teams, starting with the only one that's currently playing, the Cavs:
CAVS
The Cavs were in the midst of another forgettable and miserable season "A.L." (aka "After LeBron") when things suddenly began to click.
It started when GM Chris Grant traded a stiff journeyman named Jon Leuer to the Memphis Grizzlies for Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby (who was demoted to Canton) and a future first-round pick. Speights has been a force for the Cavs since coming here on Jan. 22, picking up the slack for the injured Anderson Varejao down low, while Ellington has been a solid contributor off the bench adding some depth to the guard positions.
Suddenly, coach Byron Scott has a bench he can trust to give his superstar point guard Kyrie Irving a breather now and then.
The Cavs are still pretty miserable at 16-33, but they've put together two three-game winning streaks since the deal, including a huge 115-110 win at Quicken Loans Arena against defending NBA runner-up Oklahoma City (who currently have the best record in the NBA) and have gone 7-4 since Jan. 16.
They have two more home games before the All-Star Break, in which Irving may become the East's starting point guard due to the season-ending injury to Rajon Rondo and Irving, Deon Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller are all members of the Rising Stars game held during the weekend. Irving will also take part in the 3-Point Shootout as well.
The Cavs are interested in signing former Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden (the former No. 1 overall pick who hasn't played since 2009 due to chronic knee injuries) and could sign him after Feb. 22 for the next two seasons. If Oden is healthy, he could be a huge coup for this young team.
And, of course, the rumors about "you know who" coming back to Cleveland during the summer of 2014 continue to pick up traction. A few published reports have said that LeBron James winning the NBA title last year with the Heat means that "his job there is accomplished," and that he's looking for the next challenge. According to several close to LeBron, he still has a "soft spot" for Northeast Ohio and the fans and would "love nothing more" than to come back and deliver on his promise to bring a championship to his hometown.
Of course, other reports link him to the Lakers to pick up the slack from Kobe Bryant, who is on the downside of his career, and the Knicks, Bulls and Brooklyn Nets are always speculated destinations when it comes to him. It could be another circus all over again as fans await "The Decision II."
For the Cavs to become serious players, they'd need to improve on the court, starting now. The playoffs aren't likely for this season, but anything less than the playoffs in the 2013-14 season would seriously diminish their prospects. Why would the best player in the NBA come to a team that has been a perennial loser since he left following the 2009-10 season?
The team he'd be coming back to would, arguably, have the most and deepest talent he's ever seen. Irving would be a bonafide superstar by then at point guard, and Thompson, Waiters and Zeller should continue improving. If Oden bounces back, that's another bonus, and if Varejao can shake off the injury bug, that's more depth.
Speights could be dealt before the deadline for more picks, with speculation that he might want to opt out of his contract. If he stays, he's another piece to make it that much more enticing for James to come back.
Joe Cleveland, for one, isn't ready to buy into this hype. LeBron still has some apologies to make and some explaining to do. And, it could be another giant ruse where he plays Cleveland and signs with L.A. or New York (which I'm sure the NBA would love for him to do). Fool me once, shame on you; fool my twice, shame on me.
Joe Cleveland's not ready to get fooled again, so I'll believe LeBron James becomes a Cleveland Cavalier again when it actually happens. Until then, hopefully the young nucleus we've put together continues to improve and be ready for a playoff run of their own.
It does seem like this team is becoming more entertaining to watch lately, which is nice. They have the sports landscape all to themselves until April (with some offseason stuff by the Browns and spring training by the Indians to contend with), so let's see how they do.
INDIANS:
To say Joe Cleveland's been impressed by what the Indians have done this offseason would be an understatement.
The hiring of veteran skipper Terry Francona was an incredible hiring that immediately gives the Tribe a credible voice in the clubhouse. According to Francona, if the Indians didn't hire him, he'd return to ESPN, so the fact that this two-time World Series winner wanted to be here is huge.
Francona's presense has helped the Indians make their biggest free agency spash in many years, signing Ohio State standout Nick Swisher to a $57 million contract to play the outfield/first base for the next four seasons. Swisher could quickly become a fan-favorite based on his local ties and the way he carries himself on and off the field, and he gives the Tribe a credible bat they've been lacking in the middle of their order for the last few years.
Coupled with the signing of Mark Reynolds to play first base and DH -- a classic power hitter who can hit the ball a country mile but tends to strikeout whenever he doesn't -- is another big bat this team has been sorely lacking and gives the team a solid stick at a position that's been lacking that big bopper for a long time. Carlos Santana should be a happy guy with that type of protection in the lineup.
The Tribe dealt Shin-Soo Choo, an impending free agent who had no desire to re-sign here, to the Reds in a three-team deal that landed, among others, speedy outfielder Drew Stubbs and promising pitching prospect Trevor Bauer, along with some solid bullpen arms. Stubbs could be a presense either at the top or very bottom of the lineup, and Bauer could be a promising starter for many years (although speculation has him starting the season at Columbus).
Of course, it wouldn't be a Tribe offseason without some bargain-basement minor-league signings of retread, oft-injured players. The Tribe just finished signing former steriod cheat Jason Giambi and oft-injured former Japanese phenom Daiskue Matsuzaka to similar deals, while also signing pitchers Matt Capps and Scott Kazmir to those types of deals earlier in the offseason.
It baffles me that Paul and Larry Dolan, after selling their fledgling network SportsTime Ohio to FOX Sports for $250 million and getting additional money for the broadcast rights to their games, they wouldn't invest more of that windfall into their team. Sure, signing Swisher was a big one that normally wouldn't happen under this regime. However, it looks like the Dolans are going to pocket as much as they can to turn whatever kind of profit they can while still crying the poorhouse blues to their front office and the media and the Indians' fan base.
Hopefully, this spurs them on to sell off their last remaining asset, the Cleveland Indians themselves, winding up in the black and being away from the business of running a professional sports franchise. We can only hope.
Until then, we can hope that the Indians make enough moves to keep themselves relevent. Their pitching is still suspect, with the shaky Justin Masterson, the even worse Ubaldo Jimenez and the converted closer Brett Myers as the top three starters, and Matsuzaka and Kazmir in the mix with Carlos Carrasco (returning from Tommy John surgery), Corey Kluber and even Bauer.
At the very least, the Indians should be more entertaining than they've been in the past. Perhaps they won't flirt with 100 losses this year.
However, even with a high-profile manager and a high-profile free agent signing, this team will still struggle to win 81 games this season. Hopefully, they can turn Asdrubal Cabrera (who always mails in the second half and has been an attitude problem) and Chris Perez (enough said) into some more positive assets to help this team improve.
BROWNS:
The first offseason of the Jimmy Haslam-Joe Banner era has begun, with defensive end Frostee Rucker being released before his contract kicked in. Rucker, who signed a large contract with Tom Heckert last season as a key defensive end in their 4-3 scheme, was expendable thanks to the switch to the 3-4.
While the Browns have some significant holes to fill, especially in the defensive secondary and may have to replace both their punter and kicker (I hope not on the latter's sake; I'm a big Phil Dawson fan), the quarterback talk is fired up once again.
Haslam, Banner, Mike Lombardi and head coach Rob Chudzinski have been non-committal to Brandon Weeden's future as the Browns' starting quarterback. Haslam said he wants to bring in someone to provide competition and "push" Weeden for the job.
There's competition, and then there's an outright successor. If the Browns make a run at (and sign) former 49ers No. 1 overall pick and starting quarterback Alex Smith, either via trade or through free agency if Smith is released, Smith will be the starting quarterback, hand's down.
It will take a large salary to pluck Smith from other suitors. As it is, he has a large contract that he signed with the Niners prior to this season, so if you decide to part with draft picks or other assets, you will still have to pay him. You don't pay a quarterback a large salary and then have him "compete" with the starter from last year.
Some Browns fans are hoping they make a run at free agent Joe Flacco. However, the Ravens will franshise Flacco before he even gets a chance to test the market. Sure, the Browns could try to sign him to a big offer sheet that Baltimore would have to match to drive up his price (the Browns have the cap room to do it), but I doubt that happens. As it is, the Ravens will have to part with several assets to sign Flacco to the huge contract that he will command (he was the real winner of this Super Bowl based off of that), so it looks like this was Baltimore's one chance to win a title. It may be another 12 years before the Ravens get back to a Super Bowl (like the gap was the last time), so enjoy the title while it lasts, Baltimore.
Smith is really the only other starting-calibur QB that could be available on the open market. Other veterans that could be available, such as Matt Moore, Derek Anderson (please, God, hell no!), Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer, Brady Quinn (see the Anderson comment), Tim Tebow or Kevin Kolb would fit Haslam's description of "competition" for Weeden.
Michael Vick would be a dumb decision, and not just because of his baggage and the PR nightmare that is a convisted dog killer playing in front of fans who sit in a section called the Dawg Pound. Vick is an old 33. His skills are clearly diminishing. He's taken too many hits to be at his best, which is using his legs along with his arm to beat you. The two-year layoff for prison may have given Vick an extended life, but it was clear that he's taken a beating with the Eagles over the last three years. Banner was the person who sold the Eagles' organization on signing Vick upon his release from prison, but Banner would be foolish to think that the 29-year-old Vick is the same as the 33-year-old Vick.
I, for one, believe that Weeden deserves another chance. I think Chudzinski's and Norv Turner's vertical-based offense fits Weeden's skill set like a glove and that he can truly be "coached up." I think Colt McCoy will be let go, as will Thaddeus Lewis (both are more West Coast-style quarterbacks), which is why I think they go shopping for a new signal-caller, if only to provide a new backup.
There's no one in the draft that is worthy. The supplemental pick of Josh Gordon cust the Browns their second-round pick (which would have been sixth-overall in that round), so they have to make their first-round selection (No. 6 overall) count. The deficiancies of the defense, along with the weakness of this quarterback class, should dissuade them from reaching on a Mike Glennon or a Matt Barkley. Stick with Dee Millner of Alabama and be happy, or look at trading down to get lower in the first and add a second-rounder.
If the Browns give up on Weeden, it essentially makes Tom Heckert's decision to trade down with Atlanta so they could acquire Julio Jones two years ago a horrible decision. Weeden was taken with Atlanta's first-rounder last year. With the four picks they acquired, the Browns essentially acquired nose tackle Phil Taylor, wide receiver Greg Little, fullback Owen Marecic and Weeden, and used the other pick to move up to get Trent Richardson. Meanwhile, Jones made his first Pro Bowl this season and has emerged as a stud wideout that the Browns have been seeking since Braylon Edwards displayed an occasional flash of brilliance.
Some fans are up in arms about the switch from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4, but I'm not as angry about it. I think we're all a little concerned about the last time we made this switch, and Romeo Crennel (and later Eric Mangin) continued to forcefeed their bland 3-4 onto the Browns that never seemed to be built correctly for the scheme. What's funny is the switch to the 4-3 under Pat Shurmur and Dick Jauron almost seemed seemless.
Ray Horton's 3-4 scheme isn't as bland and predictable as Crennel's and Mangini's was. Horton's scheme should be adapted fairly easily by the existing personnel. In fact, you can say that if they remained a 4-3, they would have still have had to fill the same holes on defense (linebackers and secondary) this year that they have to with the 3-4.
Free agency will get underway the second week of March. Haslam cautioned against any "splasy" signings. However, I think they will be active and try to acquire some pieces that can make an impact on this team. Unlike the last two years, where Heckert and Holmgren essentially ignored the free agent market, I think that changes this year.
We'll see what happens.
MISCELLANEOUS:
<> It was good to see Ohio State reel in a No. 1, 2 or 3 recruiting class (depending on which service you trust) this month after National Signing Day. Urban Meyer only had a few months to bring in a top freshman class last season. With the benefit of a full season under his belt, Meyer showed why he is one of the best college coaches/recruitors in the country.
I don't buy into the hype about recruiting classes. How often to you see a "can't miss" high school, blue-chip senior fade into obscurity while the guy who accepted the final scholarship become one of the best players in the country? A lot, actually. I don't follow the recruiting scene or anything like that. All I know is the Buckeyes did farily well on paper, and that's encouraging for this season and beyond.
<> The Ravens winning the Super Bowl last Sunday was the lesser of two evils, in my opinion. The fact that the Hall of Fame shut the door on Art Modell again (and did it as decisively as they did back in 2001) tells me that his chances have greatly diminished in the future.
Modell's best chance may have been this year. With the dirt over his grave still fresh and his former franchise making a Super Bowl run, Modell became a hot name. Baltimore made a full-court press to promote his candidacy, while Cleveland did one to diminish his candidacy. Modell's name was the second-longest debate among the 16 candidates, and his name was the first one to get cut from 15 to 10 regardless.
I got into a very heated argument about the subject with my dad and one of my uncles during the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, we can be a very stubborn family. There's no reasoning with us. They believe that the City of Cleveland was at the most fault. I've stated my case as to why it was Modell's fault. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth.
The voters did the right thing. Part of me believes that, ultimately, the location will keep Modell out. If the Hall of Fame was in Hershey, PA., or somewhere like that, Modell probably would have already got in. But because the Hall of Fame is in Canton, right in Browns Country, it may be his undoing.
<> Baltimore liked to bring up the fact that there are several team owners in the Hall of Fame that moved their franchises, such as Lamar Hunt, Al Davis, George Preston Marshall and Dan Reeves. Reeves, in fact, moved his Rams franchise from Cleveland to Los Angeles following the 1945 season.
Allow Joe Cleveland to dissect each one, starting with Reeves.
Reeves was a Cleveland businessman who bought the Cleveland Rams in 1941, but struggled during his ownership. The Rams never had a definite home stadium, alternating between League Park and Cleveland Stadium, and even had to suspend operations in 1943 due to a shortage of players during World War II. Thanks to rookie quarterback Bob Waterfield, who wound up winning the NFL's MVP award, the Rams turned it around in 1945 and won the NFL Championship with a 15-14 win over Sammy Baugh and the Washington Redskins. But, Reeves convinced the NFL to let him leave Clevveland for the West Coast.
The news that Paul Brown was going to be involved with a new professional football franchise in Cleveland in a new league starting in 1946, and that team (which would called the Browns) already locked down a lease to play in Cleveland Stadium, along with the untapped resourses of Los Angeles, gave Reeves the reason he needed to relocate. The move was met with little resistance from Clevelanders, who were gaga over the new Browns (and justifiably so -- the Browns won the AAFC title all four years, won the NFL title their first year in the league and reached 10 consecutive championship games their first 10 years of existance, winning seven). The Rams came back to Cleveland for the 1950 NFL Championship Game (losing a thrilling 30-28 game) and beat the Browns in L.A. in 1951.
Reeves ultimately got in because he had the foresight to take advantage of the West Coast, which helped the NFL blossom, broke the NFL's color barrior in 1946 with the signing of Kenny Washington and Woody Strode, and hired a young executive named Pete Rozelle who wound up becoming the NFL commissioner in 1960.
Hunt was the founder of the American Football League. For that alone, he deserves to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
Hunt moved his team from Dallas (known as the Texans) to Kansas City following the 1962 season (and the Texans winning the AFL title) because his team couldn't compete financially with the more stable NFL Cowboys, which debuted the same year as his Texans did. To help the league succeed, Hunt sacrificed his home market and found a viable market in Kansas City. The move did help the league thrive, as the newly-christened Chiefs became one of the AFL's most recognizable franchises.
Marshall was a notorious bigot who stubbornly refused to break the NFL's color line until 1961, when he acquired Bobby Mitchell from the Browns (who wound up making the Hall of Fame himself). Marshall might not have gotten into the Hall of Fame today if he was still on the outside looking in.
However, Marshall is enshrined because several of his innovations, such as pushing for the forward pass to be legal from anywhere beyond the line of scrimmage, moving the goal posts to the goal-line (which was changed back to the end line in 1974), and pushing for a standardized schedule for each team, defined what the NFL became.
The Redskins were initially called the Boston Braves, having shared Braves Park with the baseball Boston Braves. A year into Marshall's tenure, he moved the team to Fenway Park and called the Redskins. However, he moved to the Nation's Capital in 1937, citing the need to put an NFL presence in the capital. It was also the NFL's southern-most market until they expanded to Dallas in 1960, and Marshall kept his teams lily white to appeal to the Southerners (or so he said). Marshall also found it difficult for his team to succeed in the baseball-mad Boston area, and when football returned in 1959 with the AFL's Boston Patriots, they had a tough time gaining a foothold in the market.
Finally, Davis, the most notorious mover of them all. Davis is enshrined mostly because of how he helped the AFL blossom from a fly-by-night operation into a legitimate rival to the NFL, which necessitated the merger. He was the NFL's most controversial owner, suing the league and Pete Rozelle many times during his tenure. However, he built the Raiders' organization into one of the most respected organizations in football during the 1960s through the early 2000s, reaching the Super Bowl in four different decades and winning three of them.
While Davis moved his team twice (and both more recently than the other three men I've mentioned), both moves were within the same state. After the Rams left L.A. for a stadium in suburban Anaheim, Davis sued the NFL in 1980 to move into the vacated L.A. stadium. He won the suit in 1982 and moved to Los Angeles. In the late 1990s, he sued again to move back to Oakland, and then sued after the move claiming that he still had control of the L.A. market.
It would be like if Modell decided to move the Browns to Columbus (which almost happened. If Modell was forced to stay, Cleveland was prepared to build a new stadium. They would have torn down the old stadium and had the Browns play at Ohio Stadium while the new stadium was built).
So, of the owners in the Hall of Fame who moved, the most comporable to what Modell did was Davis, and Davis didn't exactly move to another state when he moved the Raiders.
<> The best collegiate basketball team in the state of Ohio may not be Ohio State (even though they are ranked in the top 10). It's definitely not Cleveland State, who is below .500 this season after battling injuries. No, it may be the University of Akron.
The Zips have won a nations-best 15-straight games and are 19-4 overall. They became the first Zips hoops team to ever be ranked in the Top 25 during the regular season a few weeks ago and they continue to keep climbing up the poll.
Akron could be an interesting decision made by the NCAA Tournament selection committee if they don't win the MAC Tournament. The MAC hasn't had more than one bid in recent years, and the Zips have been a notable snub in the past. However, they may have both the national ranking and RPI ranking to make their case for an at-large bid.
That's about all for now. Glad I was able to cover a wide range of topics in this one.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Super Blog III
This is Joe Cleveland's third installment of our pre-Super Bowl entry. Two years ago, it was before Green Bay defeated Pittsburgh, 31-25. Last year, it was before the New York Giants defeated New England, 21-17.
Here's hoping history repeats itself with an NFC victory tomorrow night as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Baltimore Ravens (aka the Thieving Bastards; aka the Thieving Modells; aka the Ratbirds) in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
Why does it seem like every year there is a team in the Super Bowl that most Cleveland fans dispise. Going back to the 2000 Super Bowl (won by the Ravens, 34-7, over the Giants), I can think of only threethat didn't have a serious anti-Cleveland sentiment going in -- Super Bowl XXXVIII (Tampa Bay over Oakland), Super Bowl XLI (Indianapolis over Chicago) and Super Bowl XLIV (New Orleans over Indianapolis). Unless you still hate the Raiders over "Red Right 88."
The rest have been dominated by Bill Belichick's New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers and now the Thieving Bastards of Baltimore. This is now three in a row where the regular Cleveland fan (like Joe Cleveland) is definitely rooting against a team because of their ties to the Browns.
For Pittsburgh, it's easy. The Steelers are the Browns' biggest rival and we don't like to see them succeed (and their front-running local fanbase to rub it in).
For New England, it's because of Belichick, the coach who, for the most part, failed here in the early 1990s but re-emerged as a "genius" with the Patriots. By the way, let the record reflect that "SpyGate" tainted thost three Super Bowl wins in four years and that, since that broke, Belichick and the Patriots have not won a Super Bowl since. They've gotten to two, but they lost both ... and to the same team in almost similar fashion.
For Baltimore, gee, where do I begin.
We can start with the fact that the Ravens shouldn't even exist. They exist only because of the selfish maneuvers of the one they called Modell, who virtually bankrupted himself as the owner of the Cleveland Browns because of poor business decisions and then wound up taking a sweetheart deal to move the franchise to Baltimore. That should be OUR team. Instead, we're left with a franchise that never seemed to fully emerge from expansion hell due to constant mismanagement from ownership on down.
While Modell is dead and hasn't had a hand in running the franchise since 2004, the spectre is still there. From the "Art" patches the Ravens wore this year dedicating the season to their fallen Judas to the Modell T-shirt Ray Lewis wears under his shoulder pads to the dedications from everyone surrounding the team for this season for him to Modell's appearance as a finalist on the Hall of Fame ballot, it's been there. He's coming back to haunt us.
Of course, Ozzie Newsome is still there sporting a purple Ravens golf shirt as their general manager. Newsome has been viewed by some Browns fans as a traitor because he rode along in the moving van when the franchise relocated to Baltimore and wound up getting a promotion. Newsome was never given the chance to be the head-honcho of the front office here in Cleveland, but when he got the chance in Baltimore, he put together a franchise that won one Super Bowl and have been, by and large, a consistant winner ever since that 2000 season.
Newsome didn't help his cause among the traitor sect when he wrote an open letter to the Plain Dealer proclaiming that Modell should get into the Hall of Fame. There were many Browns fans who felt it was disrespectful of him to appear on the "Cleveland 95: A Football Life" NFL Network special wearing a Ravens shirt. There were many more who felt that his endorsment of Public Enemy No. 1 in their own newspaper went a bit too far (Joe Cleveland agrees with both of those statements).
Joe Cleveland grew up a Browns fan during the 1980s. The Browns teams that followed the closest were the group from 1985-89 -- Bernie's Bunch -- that went to the playoffs five consecutive years and reached three AFC Championship games. I can remember Newsome winding down his Hall of Fame career as a glorified decoy during that span, running out on the field to catch some three-yard out pattern, where he'd immediately fall down, so he could keep up his reception-per-game streak.
My dad kept referring to Newsome as "Catch-And-Fall-Down," and I bought along with that. Newsome's actions this year, especially with the Modell letter, is another example of "Catch-And-Fall-Down."
If you don't hate the Ravens due to their former existance as the Browns, Ray Lewis is an easy target. Lewis, the heart-and-soul of their defense for 17 years, has been on this retirement tour all through the playoffs. If I see him cry and "praise Jesus" one more time, I think I'm gonna puke. It's been nauseating.
Of course, let's not forget that Lewis fathered six children with four different women, was involved in a double-homicide during a party at Super Bowl XXXIV (the year before his team won and he was named MVP), was indicted for murder, and pled down to obstruction of justice and testified against his friends (they were eventually acquitted). And, during Super Bowl week, Lewis was linked to performance-enhancing drugs when the owner of a company called S.W.A.T.S. claimed that he provided Lewis deer-antler spray, which contains a banned performance-enhancing supplement, to help him rehab from a torn biceps injury that normally costs players an entire season.
Yes, so many reasons for us Clevelanders to root against the Baltimore Ravens. But, how would you like some reasons to actually root FOR their opposisition, the San Francisco 49ers?
For starters, the 49ers' legacy traces back to the Browns, as both franchises were original members of the All-American Football Conference from 1946-49. When the NFL absorbed the AAFC, they only kept three of the franchises in tact -- the Browns, the 49ers and the Baltimore Colts (which folded once before coming back for good).
The 49ers have been to five Super Bowls before -- all since 1981. They've won all five. They are the only NFL franchise to be undefeated in Super Bowls that have played in two or more.
The only NFL franchise that has won more than five Super Bowls is those hated Steelers with six. A win by the 49ers not only ties them with the Steelers at six, but essentially knocks the Steelers out of their self-appointed perch as best NFL franchise of the Super Bowl era because they would have won six Super Bowls in six chances (the Steelers lost two other Super Bowls). Anything to knock those obnoxious Steeler fans out of their perch is a good thing.
The 49ers have several Ohio ties. Guard Alex Boone, defensive back Donte Whitner and wide receiver/kick returner Ted Ginn Jr. are all not only former Ohio State Buckeyes, but are all native Clevelanders. All three will impact the game in some fashion -- while Ginn doesn't start at receiver, he is the Niners' regular kickoff and punt returner. Root for them to win.
While the 49ers coach is a Michigan grad (Jim Harbaugh), you can't deny the job he's done since taking over this franchise two years ago after a stellar college coaching career at San Diego and Stanford. Last year, the Niners reached the NFC Championship Game and were two muffed punts away from beating the Giants. This year, despite a few red zone turnovers, they rallied from a 17-0 deficit to knock off the host Atlanta Falcons, 28-24.
Two years ago, when the Browns were searching for a head coach to replace Eric Mangini, I spoke against the possibility of Harbaugh taking over, citing my long bias against coaches making the jump straight from college. I was wrong (as it is, Harbaugh was never even interviewed for the Browns' position that went to Pat Shurmur. Nice hire, Mike Holmgren).
Harbaugh was a tough-nosed gritty NFL quarterback for 14 years, primarily with the Chicago Bears but most notably for the Indianapolis Colts. Harbaugh never reached a Super Bowl, coming one dropped Hail Mary pass away from getting there in 1995 (the Steelers won that AFC Championship Game over the Colts). And, he started 12 games for the Ravens in 1998, before they were any good when they were still feeling the residual effects of the move from Cleveland. After he retired, he spent time as an assistant coach with the Raiders before becoming a head coach at the collegiate level.
Jim Harbaugh seems to have "it," when it comes to head coaching. There are a few guys that had "it." Bill Cowher comes to mind, as does Bill Parcells. The last coach that seemed to have "it" that coached the Browns was Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer never reached a Super Bowl after several collossal playoff collapses with the Browns, Chiefs and Chargers. But, he won everywhere he went.
Harbaugh is an easy guy to root for, even though he is a bit brash and can rub some the wrong way.
The 49ers are the ultimate redemption story as a franchise. The glory days of Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott disappeared in the mid-1990s when owner Eddie DeBartalo Jr. (a Youngstown native) gave up control of the franchise following a riverboat gambling scandal. His sister and brother-in-law, John and Denise York, ran the franchise into the ground with several shaky head coach hires (Dennis Erickson, Mike Singletary, Mike Nolan) and player acquistions. They've redeemed themselves with some nice draft choices over the past few years and the Harbaugh hire, which was the glue that put it all together.
Root for the 49ers because of the Cleveland guys on the roster. Root for them to give the Steelers a run for their money. Root for them because they are playing the Thieving Modells of Baltimore. Root for them because they share a lineage with the Cleveland Browns.
Joe Cleveland grew up with the San Francisco 49ers as his "second-favorite" team, mostly because of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. They've become my second-favorite team this season, and definitely tomorrow night.
***
While the heart is rooting for the 49ers, the head says that the 49ers are the favorites for a reason.
San Francisco's defense was the second-best in the NFL this season. Linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman are bonafide stars, and second-year linebacker Aldon Smith has become a phenomenal pass rushing specialist. Former Bengal Justin Smith has become a standout defensive lineman for the Niners.
Offensively, Harbaugh raised eyebrows when he stuck with second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick over established starter Alex Smith. However, the move paid off. Kaepernick has emerged as a bonafide dual threat quarterback, easily capable of beating you with his legs as well as his arm (as Atlanta found out). His running threat has helped open things up for running backs Frank Gore and LaMichael James, and former first-round receiver Michael Crabtree has shaken off that bust label with his best NFL season. Randy Moss is long in the tooth and his best days are behind him, but his presence has helped the receivers. And, their offensive line was graded as the best in the NFL this season.
Baltimore has seemed to luck its way into this Super Bowl. The team struggled at times during the regular season, winning an AFC North Division that, quite frankly, wasn't as strong as it's been in years past. The emotional return of Lewis to the lineup seemed to give the Ravens a bit of a lift, but that double-overtime win over the Broncos was arguably the luckiest win of this postseason for any NFL team. They became the first team to beat a Tom Brady-quarterbacked team in the playoffs after his team led at halftime, mostly because the Patriots' defense forgot to come out of the locker room and couldn't stop anybody.
Nobody would have predicted Baltimore to be in this Super Bowl, and yet here they are. They seem to have the "destiny" thing going for them. But, as we've seen in the past, destiny can only go so far.
Many experts are picking the Ravens to win, mostly based off of that destiny factor. Not me.
The head sticks with the heart on this one.
49ers 28, Ravens 24.
***
If Baltimore wins this Super Bowl, with Modell getting the Hall of Fame nod the day before, Joe Cleveland will chalk up 2013 as a terrible year -- and it hasn't even really started yet.
It would be MISERABLE!
Obviously, the best thing that could happen is that Modell gets denied the Hall of Fame berth (and deservedly so) and the Ravens lose the Super Bowl. But, let's not get too greedy.
If I had to pick one of these scenarios -- Modell becoming a Hall of Famer or Baltimore winning the Super Bowl -- I'd pick the Super Bowl. The Modell thing would hurt just a little too much. My weekend would be ruined if Modell got in, and the Ravens losing the Super Bowl would be justice, in my opinion, but wouldn't totally take the sting out of it.
Here's hoping and praying that both scenarios don't come to fruition. But if fate says I can only choose one, I choose Modell being denied the Hall of Fame berth, easily and by far, 100 times out of 100.
If he does get in, you better believe Joe Cleveland will show up to that induction ceremony, just to make sure that moment is forever ruined. Hopefully, I don't have to do that.
***
Lastly, here's some Super Bowl-related trivia to astound your family and friends or bar patrons at your Super Bowl parties.
<> There have been two quarterbacks to reach the Super Bowl with two different franchises (Craig Morton, Dallas and Denver; Kurt Warner, St. Louis and Arizona). Ironically, both suffered losses, although Warner did win his first Super Bowl appearance. For Morton, ironcially, his second Super Bowl loss came against his former team. For Warner, ironically, his third appearance came for a franchise that once called St. Louis home (the Cardinals).
<> There have been five former Cleveland Browns quarterbacks to start in the Super Bowl, but only one of them started AFTER he left Cleveland. That quarterback is Hall of Famer Len Dawson, who started Super Bowls I and IV with the Kansas City Chiefs (winning SB4) after playing one season for the Browns. The other four are Jim McMahon (Chicago Bears, Super Bowl XX), Mark Rypien (Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXVI), Trent Dilfer (Baltimore Ravens, Super Bowl XXXV) and Jake Delhomme (Super Bowl XXXVII). McMahon, Rypien and Dilfer were victorious in their lone Super Bowl appearances. Rypien played for the Browns in 1994, while McMahon played for the Browns in 1995 (both as backups to Vinny Testaverde). Dilfer was the Browns' starting quarterback in 2005, while Delhomme was the Browns' starting quarterback in 2010.
<> Only one time in Super Bowl history has a player from the losing team won the Most Valuable Player Award. That was Super Bowl V, where Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley got the top individual honor despite the Cowboys losing to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13.
<> In the first 10 years after the AFL merger (1970-80), only two former AFL franchises won the Super Bowl -- the Miami Dolphins (VII and VIII) and the Oakland Raiders (XI and XV). In fact, only four former AFL franchises have won the Super Bowl since the merger through now -- the Denver Broncos (XXXII and XXXIII) and the New England Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXIX) join the Dolphins and Raiders (who also won the Super Bowl as the Los Angeles Raiders in SB XVIII). That fact won't change after this year's game.
<> A Baltimore franchise has won two Super Bowls -- Super Bowl V (Colts) and Super Bowl XXXV (Ravens). Baltimore is officially 2-1 in Super Bowls.
<> There have been five relocated franchises that have won the Super Bowl in their new location (including the Ravens). But the first of those relocated franchises may surprise you. The answer -- the Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl IV). They were originally known as the Dallas Texans. Ironically, the Texans are one of just two NFL/AFL franchises who won a championship in one town and defended in their new town. The other answer -- the Cleveland Rams (1945), who moved to Los Angeles in 1946.
<> The other relocated franchises are the Los Angeles Raiders, the St. Louis Rams, the Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. All have only won one Super Bowl apiece in their new cities.
<> Kurt Warner owns the top three passing yardage performances in Super Bowl history (414 in SB 34, 377 in SB 43, 365 in SB 36).
<> The longest pass thrown in Super Bowl history was an 85-yard touchdown pass. The quarterback -- Jake Delhomme.
<> The best Super Bowl single-game rushing performance is still held by the obscure Timmy Smith, who gained 204 yards for the victorious Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII.
<> John Elway has the most career interceptions thrown in Super Bowl history (8 in five appearances).
<> The most receptions in a Super Bowl game has been done four different times. It is 11 catches, and it is shared by Cincinnati tight end Dan Ross, San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice and New England receivers Deion Branch and Wes Welker. Rice and Branch's performances not only came in victories, but also resulted in MVP honors.
<> Who is the most decorated Super Bowl athlete of all time? Try Jerry Rice. Rice holds the record for most career receptions (33), yards (589), total yards (604) and touchdowns (8, both receiving and overall), along with single-game marks for receptions (11), yards (215), total yards (220) and touchdowns (3 on 2 different occasions; both receiving and overall).
<> Tom Brady has the most career Super Bowl passes completed (128), attempted (198) and yards (1,284), but his nine career TD passes are second behind Joe Montana's 11. Montana did his in one less Super Bowl, by the way. Brady's career rating of 96.02 is ranked eighth all-time.
<> The Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the most Super Bowls with eight appearance apiece. Ironically, they have played each other three different times, with the Steelers holding a 2-1 advantage.
<> Besides the 49ers and the four teams that have won the only Super Bowl they've ever appeared in, the highest winning percentage in Super Bowl history is .800 -- NOT HELD BY PITTSBURGH. Both Green Bay and the New York Giants have identical 4-1 records.
<> The 49ers and Ravens matchup is, ironically, the only time in Super Bowl history that neither team has ever suffered a Super Bowl loss coming in with at least one appearance under their belts.
<> There have been four teams that have made multiple Super Bowl appearances without getting a win. They are the Buffalo Bills (0-4), Minnesota Vikings (0-4), Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (0-2).
<> The Ravens are one of four teams that are 1-0 in Super Bowls. The other three are the New York Jets, the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
<> Besides the four franchises who have never appeared in the Super Bowl, the Jets have the longest Super Bowl appearance drought. Their last (and only) appearance -- Super Bowl III at the conclusion of the 1968 season.
<> And, the four NFL franchises who have never qualified for a Super Bowl -- the Detriot Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans and ... wait for it ... our own Cleveland Browns.
Someday soon, my friends, someday soon that streak will be over. And not for the Lions, smartasses!
Happy Super Bowl Sunday, and Go 49ers!
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Here's hoping history repeats itself with an NFC victory tomorrow night as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Baltimore Ravens (aka the Thieving Bastards; aka the Thieving Modells; aka the Ratbirds) in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
Why does it seem like every year there is a team in the Super Bowl that most Cleveland fans dispise. Going back to the 2000 Super Bowl (won by the Ravens, 34-7, over the Giants), I can think of only threethat didn't have a serious anti-Cleveland sentiment going in -- Super Bowl XXXVIII (Tampa Bay over Oakland), Super Bowl XLI (Indianapolis over Chicago) and Super Bowl XLIV (New Orleans over Indianapolis). Unless you still hate the Raiders over "Red Right 88."
The rest have been dominated by Bill Belichick's New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers and now the Thieving Bastards of Baltimore. This is now three in a row where the regular Cleveland fan (like Joe Cleveland) is definitely rooting against a team because of their ties to the Browns.
For Pittsburgh, it's easy. The Steelers are the Browns' biggest rival and we don't like to see them succeed (and their front-running local fanbase to rub it in).
For New England, it's because of Belichick, the coach who, for the most part, failed here in the early 1990s but re-emerged as a "genius" with the Patriots. By the way, let the record reflect that "SpyGate" tainted thost three Super Bowl wins in four years and that, since that broke, Belichick and the Patriots have not won a Super Bowl since. They've gotten to two, but they lost both ... and to the same team in almost similar fashion.
For Baltimore, gee, where do I begin.
We can start with the fact that the Ravens shouldn't even exist. They exist only because of the selfish maneuvers of the one they called Modell, who virtually bankrupted himself as the owner of the Cleveland Browns because of poor business decisions and then wound up taking a sweetheart deal to move the franchise to Baltimore. That should be OUR team. Instead, we're left with a franchise that never seemed to fully emerge from expansion hell due to constant mismanagement from ownership on down.
While Modell is dead and hasn't had a hand in running the franchise since 2004, the spectre is still there. From the "Art" patches the Ravens wore this year dedicating the season to their fallen Judas to the Modell T-shirt Ray Lewis wears under his shoulder pads to the dedications from everyone surrounding the team for this season for him to Modell's appearance as a finalist on the Hall of Fame ballot, it's been there. He's coming back to haunt us.
Of course, Ozzie Newsome is still there sporting a purple Ravens golf shirt as their general manager. Newsome has been viewed by some Browns fans as a traitor because he rode along in the moving van when the franchise relocated to Baltimore and wound up getting a promotion. Newsome was never given the chance to be the head-honcho of the front office here in Cleveland, but when he got the chance in Baltimore, he put together a franchise that won one Super Bowl and have been, by and large, a consistant winner ever since that 2000 season.
Newsome didn't help his cause among the traitor sect when he wrote an open letter to the Plain Dealer proclaiming that Modell should get into the Hall of Fame. There were many Browns fans who felt it was disrespectful of him to appear on the "Cleveland 95: A Football Life" NFL Network special wearing a Ravens shirt. There were many more who felt that his endorsment of Public Enemy No. 1 in their own newspaper went a bit too far (Joe Cleveland agrees with both of those statements).
Joe Cleveland grew up a Browns fan during the 1980s. The Browns teams that followed the closest were the group from 1985-89 -- Bernie's Bunch -- that went to the playoffs five consecutive years and reached three AFC Championship games. I can remember Newsome winding down his Hall of Fame career as a glorified decoy during that span, running out on the field to catch some three-yard out pattern, where he'd immediately fall down, so he could keep up his reception-per-game streak.
My dad kept referring to Newsome as "Catch-And-Fall-Down," and I bought along with that. Newsome's actions this year, especially with the Modell letter, is another example of "Catch-And-Fall-Down."
If you don't hate the Ravens due to their former existance as the Browns, Ray Lewis is an easy target. Lewis, the heart-and-soul of their defense for 17 years, has been on this retirement tour all through the playoffs. If I see him cry and "praise Jesus" one more time, I think I'm gonna puke. It's been nauseating.
Of course, let's not forget that Lewis fathered six children with four different women, was involved in a double-homicide during a party at Super Bowl XXXIV (the year before his team won and he was named MVP), was indicted for murder, and pled down to obstruction of justice and testified against his friends (they were eventually acquitted). And, during Super Bowl week, Lewis was linked to performance-enhancing drugs when the owner of a company called S.W.A.T.S. claimed that he provided Lewis deer-antler spray, which contains a banned performance-enhancing supplement, to help him rehab from a torn biceps injury that normally costs players an entire season.
Yes, so many reasons for us Clevelanders to root against the Baltimore Ravens. But, how would you like some reasons to actually root FOR their opposisition, the San Francisco 49ers?
For starters, the 49ers' legacy traces back to the Browns, as both franchises were original members of the All-American Football Conference from 1946-49. When the NFL absorbed the AAFC, they only kept three of the franchises in tact -- the Browns, the 49ers and the Baltimore Colts (which folded once before coming back for good).
The 49ers have been to five Super Bowls before -- all since 1981. They've won all five. They are the only NFL franchise to be undefeated in Super Bowls that have played in two or more.
The only NFL franchise that has won more than five Super Bowls is those hated Steelers with six. A win by the 49ers not only ties them with the Steelers at six, but essentially knocks the Steelers out of their self-appointed perch as best NFL franchise of the Super Bowl era because they would have won six Super Bowls in six chances (the Steelers lost two other Super Bowls). Anything to knock those obnoxious Steeler fans out of their perch is a good thing.
The 49ers have several Ohio ties. Guard Alex Boone, defensive back Donte Whitner and wide receiver/kick returner Ted Ginn Jr. are all not only former Ohio State Buckeyes, but are all native Clevelanders. All three will impact the game in some fashion -- while Ginn doesn't start at receiver, he is the Niners' regular kickoff and punt returner. Root for them to win.
While the 49ers coach is a Michigan grad (Jim Harbaugh), you can't deny the job he's done since taking over this franchise two years ago after a stellar college coaching career at San Diego and Stanford. Last year, the Niners reached the NFC Championship Game and were two muffed punts away from beating the Giants. This year, despite a few red zone turnovers, they rallied from a 17-0 deficit to knock off the host Atlanta Falcons, 28-24.
Two years ago, when the Browns were searching for a head coach to replace Eric Mangini, I spoke against the possibility of Harbaugh taking over, citing my long bias against coaches making the jump straight from college. I was wrong (as it is, Harbaugh was never even interviewed for the Browns' position that went to Pat Shurmur. Nice hire, Mike Holmgren).
Harbaugh was a tough-nosed gritty NFL quarterback for 14 years, primarily with the Chicago Bears but most notably for the Indianapolis Colts. Harbaugh never reached a Super Bowl, coming one dropped Hail Mary pass away from getting there in 1995 (the Steelers won that AFC Championship Game over the Colts). And, he started 12 games for the Ravens in 1998, before they were any good when they were still feeling the residual effects of the move from Cleveland. After he retired, he spent time as an assistant coach with the Raiders before becoming a head coach at the collegiate level.
Jim Harbaugh seems to have "it," when it comes to head coaching. There are a few guys that had "it." Bill Cowher comes to mind, as does Bill Parcells. The last coach that seemed to have "it" that coached the Browns was Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer never reached a Super Bowl after several collossal playoff collapses with the Browns, Chiefs and Chargers. But, he won everywhere he went.
Harbaugh is an easy guy to root for, even though he is a bit brash and can rub some the wrong way.
The 49ers are the ultimate redemption story as a franchise. The glory days of Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott disappeared in the mid-1990s when owner Eddie DeBartalo Jr. (a Youngstown native) gave up control of the franchise following a riverboat gambling scandal. His sister and brother-in-law, John and Denise York, ran the franchise into the ground with several shaky head coach hires (Dennis Erickson, Mike Singletary, Mike Nolan) and player acquistions. They've redeemed themselves with some nice draft choices over the past few years and the Harbaugh hire, which was the glue that put it all together.
Root for the 49ers because of the Cleveland guys on the roster. Root for them to give the Steelers a run for their money. Root for them because they are playing the Thieving Modells of Baltimore. Root for them because they share a lineage with the Cleveland Browns.
Joe Cleveland grew up with the San Francisco 49ers as his "second-favorite" team, mostly because of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. They've become my second-favorite team this season, and definitely tomorrow night.
***
While the heart is rooting for the 49ers, the head says that the 49ers are the favorites for a reason.
San Francisco's defense was the second-best in the NFL this season. Linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman are bonafide stars, and second-year linebacker Aldon Smith has become a phenomenal pass rushing specialist. Former Bengal Justin Smith has become a standout defensive lineman for the Niners.
Offensively, Harbaugh raised eyebrows when he stuck with second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick over established starter Alex Smith. However, the move paid off. Kaepernick has emerged as a bonafide dual threat quarterback, easily capable of beating you with his legs as well as his arm (as Atlanta found out). His running threat has helped open things up for running backs Frank Gore and LaMichael James, and former first-round receiver Michael Crabtree has shaken off that bust label with his best NFL season. Randy Moss is long in the tooth and his best days are behind him, but his presence has helped the receivers. And, their offensive line was graded as the best in the NFL this season.
Baltimore has seemed to luck its way into this Super Bowl. The team struggled at times during the regular season, winning an AFC North Division that, quite frankly, wasn't as strong as it's been in years past. The emotional return of Lewis to the lineup seemed to give the Ravens a bit of a lift, but that double-overtime win over the Broncos was arguably the luckiest win of this postseason for any NFL team. They became the first team to beat a Tom Brady-quarterbacked team in the playoffs after his team led at halftime, mostly because the Patriots' defense forgot to come out of the locker room and couldn't stop anybody.
Nobody would have predicted Baltimore to be in this Super Bowl, and yet here they are. They seem to have the "destiny" thing going for them. But, as we've seen in the past, destiny can only go so far.
Many experts are picking the Ravens to win, mostly based off of that destiny factor. Not me.
The head sticks with the heart on this one.
49ers 28, Ravens 24.
***
If Baltimore wins this Super Bowl, with Modell getting the Hall of Fame nod the day before, Joe Cleveland will chalk up 2013 as a terrible year -- and it hasn't even really started yet.
It would be MISERABLE!
Obviously, the best thing that could happen is that Modell gets denied the Hall of Fame berth (and deservedly so) and the Ravens lose the Super Bowl. But, let's not get too greedy.
If I had to pick one of these scenarios -- Modell becoming a Hall of Famer or Baltimore winning the Super Bowl -- I'd pick the Super Bowl. The Modell thing would hurt just a little too much. My weekend would be ruined if Modell got in, and the Ravens losing the Super Bowl would be justice, in my opinion, but wouldn't totally take the sting out of it.
Here's hoping and praying that both scenarios don't come to fruition. But if fate says I can only choose one, I choose Modell being denied the Hall of Fame berth, easily and by far, 100 times out of 100.
If he does get in, you better believe Joe Cleveland will show up to that induction ceremony, just to make sure that moment is forever ruined. Hopefully, I don't have to do that.
***
Lastly, here's some Super Bowl-related trivia to astound your family and friends or bar patrons at your Super Bowl parties.
<> There have been two quarterbacks to reach the Super Bowl with two different franchises (Craig Morton, Dallas and Denver; Kurt Warner, St. Louis and Arizona). Ironically, both suffered losses, although Warner did win his first Super Bowl appearance. For Morton, ironcially, his second Super Bowl loss came against his former team. For Warner, ironically, his third appearance came for a franchise that once called St. Louis home (the Cardinals).
<> There have been five former Cleveland Browns quarterbacks to start in the Super Bowl, but only one of them started AFTER he left Cleveland. That quarterback is Hall of Famer Len Dawson, who started Super Bowls I and IV with the Kansas City Chiefs (winning SB4) after playing one season for the Browns. The other four are Jim McMahon (Chicago Bears, Super Bowl XX), Mark Rypien (Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXVI), Trent Dilfer (Baltimore Ravens, Super Bowl XXXV) and Jake Delhomme (Super Bowl XXXVII). McMahon, Rypien and Dilfer were victorious in their lone Super Bowl appearances. Rypien played for the Browns in 1994, while McMahon played for the Browns in 1995 (both as backups to Vinny Testaverde). Dilfer was the Browns' starting quarterback in 2005, while Delhomme was the Browns' starting quarterback in 2010.
<> Only one time in Super Bowl history has a player from the losing team won the Most Valuable Player Award. That was Super Bowl V, where Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley got the top individual honor despite the Cowboys losing to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13.
<> In the first 10 years after the AFL merger (1970-80), only two former AFL franchises won the Super Bowl -- the Miami Dolphins (VII and VIII) and the Oakland Raiders (XI and XV). In fact, only four former AFL franchises have won the Super Bowl since the merger through now -- the Denver Broncos (XXXII and XXXIII) and the New England Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXIX) join the Dolphins and Raiders (who also won the Super Bowl as the Los Angeles Raiders in SB XVIII). That fact won't change after this year's game.
<> A Baltimore franchise has won two Super Bowls -- Super Bowl V (Colts) and Super Bowl XXXV (Ravens). Baltimore is officially 2-1 in Super Bowls.
<> There have been five relocated franchises that have won the Super Bowl in their new location (including the Ravens). But the first of those relocated franchises may surprise you. The answer -- the Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl IV). They were originally known as the Dallas Texans. Ironically, the Texans are one of just two NFL/AFL franchises who won a championship in one town and defended in their new town. The other answer -- the Cleveland Rams (1945), who moved to Los Angeles in 1946.
<> The other relocated franchises are the Los Angeles Raiders, the St. Louis Rams, the Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. All have only won one Super Bowl apiece in their new cities.
<> Kurt Warner owns the top three passing yardage performances in Super Bowl history (414 in SB 34, 377 in SB 43, 365 in SB 36).
<> The longest pass thrown in Super Bowl history was an 85-yard touchdown pass. The quarterback -- Jake Delhomme.
<> The best Super Bowl single-game rushing performance is still held by the obscure Timmy Smith, who gained 204 yards for the victorious Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII.
<> John Elway has the most career interceptions thrown in Super Bowl history (8 in five appearances).
<> The most receptions in a Super Bowl game has been done four different times. It is 11 catches, and it is shared by Cincinnati tight end Dan Ross, San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice and New England receivers Deion Branch and Wes Welker. Rice and Branch's performances not only came in victories, but also resulted in MVP honors.
<> Who is the most decorated Super Bowl athlete of all time? Try Jerry Rice. Rice holds the record for most career receptions (33), yards (589), total yards (604) and touchdowns (8, both receiving and overall), along with single-game marks for receptions (11), yards (215), total yards (220) and touchdowns (3 on 2 different occasions; both receiving and overall).
<> Tom Brady has the most career Super Bowl passes completed (128), attempted (198) and yards (1,284), but his nine career TD passes are second behind Joe Montana's 11. Montana did his in one less Super Bowl, by the way. Brady's career rating of 96.02 is ranked eighth all-time.
<> The Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the most Super Bowls with eight appearance apiece. Ironically, they have played each other three different times, with the Steelers holding a 2-1 advantage.
<> Besides the 49ers and the four teams that have won the only Super Bowl they've ever appeared in, the highest winning percentage in Super Bowl history is .800 -- NOT HELD BY PITTSBURGH. Both Green Bay and the New York Giants have identical 4-1 records.
<> The 49ers and Ravens matchup is, ironically, the only time in Super Bowl history that neither team has ever suffered a Super Bowl loss coming in with at least one appearance under their belts.
<> There have been four teams that have made multiple Super Bowl appearances without getting a win. They are the Buffalo Bills (0-4), Minnesota Vikings (0-4), Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (0-2).
<> The Ravens are one of four teams that are 1-0 in Super Bowls. The other three are the New York Jets, the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
<> Besides the four franchises who have never appeared in the Super Bowl, the Jets have the longest Super Bowl appearance drought. Their last (and only) appearance -- Super Bowl III at the conclusion of the 1968 season.
<> And, the four NFL franchises who have never qualified for a Super Bowl -- the Detriot Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans and ... wait for it ... our own Cleveland Browns.
Someday soon, my friends, someday soon that streak will be over. And not for the Lions, smartasses!
Happy Super Bowl Sunday, and Go 49ers!
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
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