It's a GREAT Day in Cleveland!

Cleveland Browns 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 6. Let me just type that again. Not so much for you, but for myself. Cleveland Browns 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 6. GOD that feels good! The Cleveland Browns came out of the locker room last night and played that game like they were fighting for their playoff lives and the did the unthinkable. They ended a, nearly, SIX year losing streak against the most hated team in Cleveland. More than the White Sox, Yankees, Bulls and Pistons combined. I could not fall asleep last night I was so ecstatic about beating the Steelers. And you know what? I really like what I am FINALLY seeing from this team! Let me explain.

First, their was the rushing game. Josh Cribbs lines up in the backfield in the Wild Cat. The Steeler KNOW he is going to be running the ball. He gets 14 yards anyways. Chris Jennings is a former CFL ball carrier, now he's got 73 yards on the Steelers Defense. In total, the Browns racked up 171 yards on the ground. Brady Quinn did not have a great night and the Steelers still could not stop the run.

Second, the defense. Are you freaking kidding me??? The Browns sacked Ben Worthlisberger EIGHT TIMES for a total of 60 yards. Not exactly what you want to hear about your quarterback who just had a concussion a few weeks ago. Being behind the whole game caused the Steelers to go away from the run (Only 75 yards rushing) and the Browns knew they would pass. The Browns pass defense has been weak but they stepped up big time and held Little Ben to 201 yards passing. With the sacks, that's a net of 141. The Steelers attacked the Browns' weakness and couldn't beat it.

Third, the coaching. Somehow, someway the coaches were able to get the players jacked up for this game, BIG TIME. The Browns seemingly have nothing to play for except a good draft pick and there was even the thought that Eric Mangini wouldn't make it through the entire season. Now this city and the players are loving the guy. He's let the reins loose a little bit and he's got this team fighting, tooth and nail, to the end of every game. Eric Mangini HAS to be the coach next year. The man can draft and we have ELEVEN draft picks in April. Awesome. We are going to have the chance to get a bunch of quality players and turn this team around for good.

It's a great day in Cleveland.

It's not a great day in Bowling Green. Freddie Barnes was passed over for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the Nation's top Wide Receiver, for Golden Tate. Really? The kid who finished on a .500 team with 45 less catches than Freddie Barnes? More yards, more touchdowns, more receptions per game. But, because BG isn't in the National Spotlight like Notre Shame, Lame, Tame, _ame (They have no "D"), the award goes to Taint...excuse me, Tate. The Irish aren't even going to a bowl game because they are far too superior to put themselves in the position to possibly lose to a MAC team.

Barnes should have won it, hands down. He was the biggest weapon on his team, everyone knew the ball was going to him and they could do NOTHING to stop him. He's five catches away from breaking the single season record and should get that done in the Humanitarian Bowl against the Idaho Vandals. That's right. Bowling Green IS going to a Bowl Game, unlike the school from South Bend, Indiana. Go Falcons!

Manny Acta - What to Expect

From the beginning of the Indians' Managerial search I was very critical of the fact that Manny Acta was one of the people being considered. I was even more disappointed that he was the man who was eventually hired. But I think I may have to re-think my position on this guy. First, it is clear that Acta had no talent to work with in Washington D.C. I think he is a born leader and it seems to me that all of the players he had looked up to him. Also, I read today in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he is well respected by most of the league. That is a great thing. He's built a good coaching staff, including Sandy Alomar Jr. The only position he has left to fill is the bullpen coach.

The next thing that excites me about Acta is that he exudes a confidence that Eric Wedge never had and Charlie Manuel couldn't muster. He plans on giving this team all the confidence they need to go out and win ballgames. One of his quotes that struck me was "We don't want to compete. We want to win" which is the greatest mind-set a manager can give his players. The big test will be when the Indians lose a few in a row, because it will happen, and how he deals with it. Giving his team the ability to bounce back after a tough string of games is most important. I can honestly say that I never saw a "quit" in the Natinals, even when they were 30 games under .500.

Acta also believes that he has talent in place to compete and that this team is NOT rebuilding. While that may or may not be true, it is very important for the Indians' players to believe that they belong in the Majors. Again, it's all about the mindset that Acta puts his players in. He needs to keep the clubhouse upbeat and fun while getting his players to focus on fundamentals and achieving all they can. If he can do that, he and his team will be successful.

It's going to be very important for Acta to recognize the leaders of the team and let them take charge at times as well. It is equally important for those leaders to make themselves known. We can't have Grady sitting back and keeping quiet any longer. Give the man a "C" for his jersey so everyone knows, including him, that he is the leader of this team when it is on the field. Shake things up, make it fresh, fun, new. Make this team want to do its best.

Only time will tell just what Manny Acta can do with this team but I will be there, supporting the team, win or lose. Let's just hope that Mark Shapiro doesn't royally screw something up during the Winter Meetings to really put the Tribe behind the 8-ball.