Factory Of Sadness
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Ohio Snow Makes ‘NFL Combine’ The TV Show Of Choice

By Nick Dudukovich

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Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (left) talks to Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Here in Ohio, we’re snowed in, which means we’re forced to watch NFL Combine “highlights.” Not sure if I’m lucky, but that’s the word I’ll go with. Anyway, I was “lucky” enough to catch the NFL Network superimpose a 40-yard dash race between Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston.

Marietta torched Winston, but as we Browns fans witnessed with Johnny Manziel, running doesn’t mean a heck of a whole lot if you can’t throw from the pocket. Winston played form the pocket in a pro-style offense and that’s why he’ll go No. 1.

Speaking of Mariota…are Browns fans getting carried away into thinking Cleveland can acquire the reigning Heisman Trophy winner? To get him, they’d have to make a trade, because there are six teams drafting ahead of the Browns who need a quarterback. If the Browns feel they need to make the trade because Mariota is the future, I’m on board, but they better be right.

More from Factory of Sadness

Spring Training is finally here, which means the Indians are that much closer to Opening Day. I’m as excited about the Tribe’s No. 4 ranking on ESPN.com as the next Tribe fan, but are we putting a lot of expectations on a young unproven pitching staff? After Corey Kluber, the next winningest pitcher on the Tribe is Carlos Carrasco. He won a grand total of eight games.

And one more thing about those rankings…Maybe it’s the Cleveland in me, but I couldn’t help but cringe when the Tribe was picked to be good at the national level. All I could think about was 1987–the year Corey Snider and Joe Carter graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and the Indians lost 100 games. And in recent memory, there were the 2006 and 2008 seasons. In 2005, the Tribe won 93 games, and just 78 the next year. In 2007, it was 96. But in 2008, the team struggled to finish at .500.

Trending up:

UCLA School Of Mechanical Engineering: If your’e sending your kid here, you’re probably getting your money’s worth. That’s where Cleveland Indians starter pitcher Trevor Bauer attended, and he built his own drone and used it to take cool photos of the Tribe’s Spring Training facility.

MLB has since grounded Bauer’s drone.

Mike Pettine: Maybe it’s on purpose, and I hope it isn’t…but what’s with Ray Farmer having trouble answering the most basic of press conference questions? He struggles to even answer questions about his own teams’ free agents! Thank goodness for Pettine. He’s a football guy who can also communicate. He may be the light that keeps shining in the Browns dark, dark tunnel.

Jason Cole: Last fall, the Bleacher Report writer had the “Brian Hoyer doesn’t want to stay here if Johnny Manziel is still on the roster” story, and on Friday, he said during a B/R vlogcast that the Browns are hot on the trail of acquiring Sam Bradford. If there is a Browns link you have to click, Cole is probably behind it.

Trending Down:

Carmelo Anthony: Anthony had knee problems, decided to play major minutes in last weekend’s All-Star game and then announced he was undergoing surgery to get the knee fixed. How bad has it gotten in New York?  The New York Times would rather shine the spotlight on other more worthy basketball stories in its “Not The Knicks” series. This one about the Harlem Globetrotters was a good read.

Sep 24, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez walks back to the dugout after flying out to end the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod apologized for his “mistakes” through a handwritten letter and the Huff Post gave it to five public apology experts to mark it up. They agreed that Rodriguez’s letter was impersonal and vague. It’s easy to pile on, but watching A-Rod this season is one of baseball’s biggest storylines. He was already a player with diminishing skills, what does he have left?

NBA All-Star Game: Complaining about a lack of defense is the curmudgeon move here, but I can’t help it. I’m not asking for the defensive intensity of the NBA Finals–or even early January for that matter. But guys where literally moving out of the way so the opposition could run the fast break. Switching over to Saturday Night Live’s 40th Anniversary was an easy call.

Closing time: The Big Ten is being linked to talk of making freshman ineligible? It will never happen, but for some reason it does, there are some 18 and 19-year olds who are going to become very familiar with the Europe.

Next: Report: Browns Hot On The Trail Of Sam Bradford

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