Factory Lines: Brian Hoyer and Brian Sipe, LeBron James To Lead Fight Against Max Contracts, It Was Always Ohio State For 4-Star QB Danny Clark, and Justin Masterson’s Free Agency

Oct 5, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) looks to pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Fans starving  for good quarterback play want to immediately draw comparisons between Brian Hoyer and Bernie Kosar. Hoyer appears to have a high football IQ, and we all know Kosar’s is off the chart, but still, it might not be the right comparison.

Perhaps the better measuring stick is Brian Sipe, who also had a knack for heart-attack inducing comebacks.

• Remember all the heat that was deservedly aimed toward Roger Goodell? All the talk radio shows wondered if the NFL Commissioner would make it though the season.

He has, and he won’t be going anywhere, according to this article from the Wall Street Journal.

"“All modern sports commissioners are servants of the league’s owners, but this is especially true of Goodell. Watch on Wednesday, during Goodell’s news conference in downtown Manhattan following the league meeting, when the inevitable question arises about the Washington Redskins’ team name. Goodell will again play defense attorney for the controversy surrounding owner Daniel Snyder. He will say, again, that the name isn’t meant to offend anyone, and Goodell again will take the heat for it.”"

Ohio State

Let’s start with this…

• When big-time recruit is born Ohio and wants to play for the Buckeyes, nothing can get better for Scarlet and Gray’s head coach at the time, and it’s the case with Massillon’s Danny Clark.

Clark, a four-star, pro-style quarterback, won’t graduate until 2017, but committed to Ohio State on Dec. 13, 2013. The recruiting service, 247Sports, rates him as the 44th best player in the country in the 2017 class, and the second best player in the state.

Cleveland.com’s Ari Wasserman writes:

"“While Ohio State continues to find the most elite quarterbacks in the country and tries to bring them to Columbus, there’s a sense of program security knowing that Clark is all but signed for 2017.Nobody knows what will happen with Braxton Miller next year, or if J.T. Barrett is an emerging star, or if Ohio State will land quarterback studs in 2015 and 2016. But what Clark does know is that he’s the only quarterback in the 2017 class, that much coach Urban Meyer has promised.”"

Cavaliers

NBA owners hit the jackpot with the announcement of a new television deal on Monday, but what impact could this have on the rest of the league?

Remember, LeBron James supposedly signed a two-year contract with the Cavs last summer because of the influx of money that was supposed to be coming the NBA’s way.

While many, including myself, will continue to look at James suspiciously, if his intentions are true, it was a smart business move.

A nice bump for sure, but James may not be done yet, because he may lead the union into a battle for the abolition of a max contract in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement, according to Windhorst.

It may seem ridiculous, but the argument could be made that superstars, such as James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant are underpaid in terms of the value they bring to their franchises. Thoughts?

Cleveland Indians

Now that the Indians season is over, there’s a lot of time to analyze the disappointments and surprises from the 2014 campaign.

The Wahoo’s On First blog profiled how quickly left-handed deliver Kyle Crockett reached the Major Leagues. Crockett was drafted in 2013, and was pitching meaningful innings for the Tribe a year later.

• Sometimes, gambling on yourself doesn’t always pay off as former Tribe starter Justin Masterson learned. The big righty turned down a three-year, $45 million deal during spring training, choosing instead to test free agency this winter.

Aug 8, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; St. Lous Cardinals starting pitcher Justin Masterson (63) pitches in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Well, Masterson’s dismal 2014 contributed to the Tribe missing the playoffs and resulted in him being dealt before the MLB trade deadline to St. Louis.

Masty didn’t improve in a new uniform, and now he’ll probably have to sign a one-year deal to try and salvage his career.

MLB Trade rumors speculates Masterson will end up signing a one-year, $12 million deal.

Masty was always a good citizen while with the Indians, but front offices have to be weary of his future. The velocity on his fastball dropped from 92.9 to 90.2 mph. That is a BIG difference.