Chud Nation: Browns Draft Preview and other matters

One thing is for sure in this year's draft, Leon Sandcastle
will not be the #1 overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The excitement of free agency has come and gone, the thrill of seeing your team's 2013 schedule released, was last week's news, meaning only one thing left to do this off-season in the NFL. The 2013 NFL Draft beginning with first round coverage LIVE Thursday Night at 8PM on ESPN, or what some people like to call the "Roger Goodell Reality Show". Coverage will continue into Friday Night with Rounds 2 & 3, then conclude on Saturday with Rounds 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Chud Nation: Two weeks out from the 2013 NFL Draft

Weeden to Nelson? David Nelson added to the Browns
WR depth yesterday, signing a one-year deal.

The Browns over the past couple of weeks, have picked up a veteran QB, a high-priced pass rusher, some depth to the front-7 of the defense and now looks like they have themselves a new target for second-year QB Brandon Weeden to throw the ball to. David Nelson, a former Buffalo Bills wide-out, will don the Orange & Brown this fall. Nelson, a three-year vet out of the University of Florida "Tebow Era", with the Bills he had 94 catches, 1,042 receiving yards and five TD's in 2011. He only played in the season opener last season, due to an injury, so it will be interesting to see how he bounces back, and if he can be that third wide-out behind Josh Gordon and Greg Little. Now, who in the heck, are the Browns looking to take in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Chud Nation: An End of an Era in Believeland

Up on the lake, we said goodbye to some old faces,
and welcomed some new faces over the last couple of weeks.

As the 2013 NFL Draft approaches (23 more days), lets take a minute and look back at what the Cleveland Browns have been up to since the beginning of the March, as well as how they did in the NFL free agency sweepstakes.

Chud Nation: NFL Scouting Combine & Weeden's confidence

The drills and interviews wrap up today over in Indy, for
 NFL Scouting Combine 2013.

A brand-new feature here on The Rock, called "Chud Nation". Named after the Browns newest Head Coach, hometown boy Rob Chudzinki, who Browns fans are hoping is the guy finally to turn things around up in Believeland, and not another name on the office door for the next two to three years. Topics that will be discussed under this new banner will include PLENTY of Browns notes/news, as well as, stuff that interest me across the NFL at the current time. First up, the NFL Scouting Combine.

Boomer's Diamond/Gridiron Notes: Things to look forward to in the upcoming months

HAHA!!!

If the NBA, NHL, or College Basketball isn't enough to keep you busy till spring, here's the Countdown to Opening Day for the 2013 MLB season. On top of that, while you wait on your favorite teams first pitch, here are a couple items in the upcoming months in the world of baseball & football to keep you occupied till then.

Boomer Report: A Super Bowl Bucket List

Hoisting the Lombardi trophy, the ultimate
bucket list item for any NFL player(s).

With Super Bowl XLVII just days away from happening down inside the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, the grandest stage of Professional Football, it sure got me thinking.

Boomer's Gridiron Notes: Why I will be rooting for the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII

Sunday Night at 6:30pm EST, Super Bowl XLVII, down in the Big Easy.

SUPER BOWL WEEK! With the playing of the 2013 Pro Bowl Game,  one more game is left to play in this the 93rd season of the NFL. Super Bowl XLVII, between the Baltimore Ravens (AFC) & the San Francisco 49ers (NFC) with plenty of story lines, should be an entertaining game to watch down in New Orleans inside the famous Louisiana Superdome. Currently, the 49ers are a 3.5 point favorite in this one.

Boomer Report: Is this the last NFL Pro Bowl & the Browns continue to add pieces

This year's NFL Pro Bowl might just be the final one.

The 2013 NFL Pro Bowl, is this weekend (Sunday Night at 7pm on NBC) if anyones interested in tuning it and the Browns hire a former-Head Coach to call the plays on offense, along with adding to the coaching staff, as well as the front office.

Boomer's Diamond/Gridiron Notes: Stars coming to town in 2015 & Harbaugh (Super) Bowl

Great American Ball Park, the host for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.

Well, what a pleasant surprise last night. The reported announcement from MLB commissioner, Bud Selig, that the 2015 MLB All-Star Game will be played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Boomer Report: Browns fans need to embrace changes

Rod Chudzinski, answering questions last week, following the Browns
announcement of hiring him as their new Head Coach.

Like the classic 90's hit from the late-rapper Tupac "Changes", the Cleveland Browns organization, face another wave of changes. As a lifelong Browns fan, there is always feelings of "pessimism" surrounding the Browns franchise, especially since their return to the NFL in 1999, which has resulted in two winning seasons, and one playoff berth. I'm here now, to offer you all some "optimism" with the Browns recent changes, and look at things with a positive spin, because as a Browns fan, I've sure had enough of cheering for a losing organization over the years. It's time for "changes" to be embraced and viewed in a positive way. HERE WE GO BROWNS, HERE WE GO! #chudthesavior

Boomer's Diamond/Gridiron Notes: Ranting about the WBC & Conference Championship Weekend in the NFL

Seriously, do we need to do this?

Hello! Family & friends, I bring to you once again my weekly post from the diamond & gridiron, with the latest topics of discussion from the two sports. This week, with a little help from "The Rock" co-founder/creator, we will discuss the 2013 World Baseball Classic (spoiler alert: what's the World Baseball Classic?), along with Boomer's take on this weekends NFL Conference Championship games.  Hold on everyone just a little bit longer till spring is here with, baseball, blue skies, and half-naked co-ed's, ooops, did I say that last one out loud? HHEEEEYYYYYOOOOOO!!!!!

Boomer Report: A "Dream" Coaching Staff for the Cleveland Browns

The Browns original Head Coach, Paul Brown diagraming,
arguably what looks like, an unstoppable
passing play back in the glory days.

It's been 11 days since the Browns newly established front office, showed Head Coach Pat Shurmur & staff the door, making him the 5th full-time coach to be let go or leave (BUTCH DAVIS!) since the team's return to the NFL in 1999.

Boomer's Diamond/Gridiron Notes: MLB Hall of Fame announcement & Divisional round in the NFL Playoffs

Early polls have Houston Astros great,
Craig Biggio elected into the Baseball
Hall of Fame later this afternoon.

The end of college football, conference play heating up in college basketball, the NBA, the START of the NHL season, and the NFL Divisional round playoffs, could mean only one thing, BASEBALL IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

Boomer Report: Browns (again) await the "rebuilding" process



CEO Joe Banner & team owner Jimmy Haslam III are the next,
dynamic duo in charge of (finally) turning the Browns
into yearly contenders.

 Since their return to the league in 1999, the Browns have had five Head Coaches (not including an interim for 5 games in '04), once again are in search for lucky #6 to take the helm, and become the Head Coach that finally turns the Orange & Brown into yearly contenders.

Boomer's Diamond/Gridiron Notes: MLB resolutions for 2013 & Wild Card weekend in the NFL



What is in store for all 30 MLB teams this year.

 I figure giving the fact everyone is making New Year's resolutions for themselves, I thought I'd take a couple minutes and give each MLB team a resolution for the 2013 season. Enjoy!

Boomer's Game Recap: Turnovers (once again) doom Browns, lose to Big Ben & Steelers

Browns QB Thaddeus Lewis #9 lofts a TD pass to the back of the endzone
in the 3rd quarter of yesterday's loss to the Steelers.

Recap: Shurmur era ends with lose to Steelers
Box Score: Steelers 24, Browns 10 Final

Well, despite having to start a third-string QB making his first career NFL start, the Browns didn't completely fall apart in the team's 2012 finale vs. a Steelers team, that looked very disinterested for most of the afternoon. Despite moving the ball at times against the #1 defense in the NFL, the Browns were once again doomed by turnovers (-4 on the day) and costly penalties (9/79 yards). Once again, the Browns finish another frustrating season at 5-11, the third time in four seasons finishing at that mark. #Shurmurfired

Boomer Report: Browns end the season with a game in Pittsburgh



The Shurmur Era in Cleveland comes to an end on Sunday
over in Pittsburgh vs. the Steelers.

 The Cleveland Browns (5-10) finish out the 2012 season on Sunday, in what most likely will be Head Coach Pat Shurmur's final game at the helm. The Browns opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) will provide a stiff challenge for the Browns, who try to finish the season on a high, and win their 6th game of the season, the most since 2007 (10 wins that year).

Boomer's Diamond/Gridiron Notes: MLB Free Agents & Week 17 in the NFL



The Cleveland Indians received an early Xmas present,
with the signing of 1B/OF Nick Swisher.

A big name out in the MLB free agent market this off-season, Nick Swisher is trading Yankee pinstripes for Chief Wahoo. In a surprise turn of events this past week, Swisher tweeted his announcement out to his fans.

Boomer's Game Recap: Browns no match for Peyton, Broncos fall 34-12

Browns WR Greg Little stretches the football, over the endline for the Browns lone
touchdown on the day vs. the Broncos.

Recap: Peyton Manning tosses 3 TD's for 72nd time in his career
Box Score: Broncos 34, Browns 12 Final

Pretty much what I had expected. One of those games you don't even get upset or angry, not even disappointed. What I saw were two teams, one that has plans of heading to the Big EZ in Feburary, and the other...well, the Browns. Yesterday's games was one of those, that was over the minute Peyton Manning took the field. For the majority of the afternoon, Peyton played pitch and catch with his skilled players, as the Browns D was unable to come up with any answers to stop one of the best QB's of this generation. The Broncos continue to dominant the all-time series over the Browns, running their record to 22-5 vs. the Browns. By the way, I'd like to thank whomever from CBS, who thought it would be grand to show flashbacks of the 1986 & 1987 AFC Championship Games. Just what I wanted to get reminded of, as I watched the current Browns squad get blown out, I appreciate that CBS.

Boomer Report: Browns head out west to face their (old) rivals the Denver Broncos

Ernest Byner's fumble was one reason
the Browns never got past Denver,
during the playoff's in the late 1980's.

As a Clevelander/Browns fan, whenever the current Browns take on the Denver Broncos, I'm sure a number of unforgettable (or maybe forgettable) past memories, creep back into their heads.