As I wrote in a previous post, I spent two days this past weekend at Browns training camp.  Here are a few things that I noticed:

- IF Jamal Lewis plays the regular season like he's running at camp, he could be very productive in during the season provided the offensive line gels.  What I saw out of Lewis is a guy hitting holes quickly, without hesitation and the ability to hit the corner with some speed as well.  Then again, it is just training camp.

- Kellen Winslow Jr. looks to be preparing for a HUGE year.  He's hungry yet humble, catching everything in his general direction and doing so, not recklessly, but with full gusto.

- If Braylon Edwards (again see previous post) can learn from Winslow's example, he could have a huge year as well.  Notice that last season K2 (as he's called on the team) kept his mouth shut and let his actions on the field speak for him.  Heed that lesson Braylon.

- The quarterback derby is going to be close.  Even if Brady Quinn gets into camp soon.  Don't think that Quinn is going to start the season against Pittsburgh Sept. 9 if he signs.  The likelihood of that is zero - unless of course he's the second coming of Joe Montana.  Throwing him in against the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals to start the season is akin to sending an army to war not properly equipped.  Please, watch the Iraq War barbs.  Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye look to be locked in a serious battle for Top Gun.

I got the chance to spend some time out in Berea over the weekend after dealing with the recent death of my grandmother.  I don't know what it is about such a violent game that is so soothing to me, but I won't over analyze it.

So I was there the first day to get the lay of the land to help out our beat writer, Pat McManamon as much as he'll allow and Sunday I covered for him and the media had the pleasure of given some time to chat up Braylon Edwards.

The gist of my story:  Edwards wants you to see a changed man. 

 ‘‘People don't know you, bottom line,‘‘ Edwards said. ‘‘People only have the perception of what they hear, what everybody else portrays. It bothers you because you know who you really are, but at the end of the day you can't control what anybody thinks, what anybody feels. All you can do is control what you do, what you say, what you think and how you play. Taking that into consideration, I guess I have matured from that standpoint and not worrying about what everyone else says, just being my own guy."

Personally, I'd love to believe that simply because I believe he could be an elite receiver in the NFL.  The problem:  it's a song sung by too many professional athletes.  This is a critical year for Edwards.  His occasional hands of stone will either turn to two-ton boulders this year or he'll blossom into a fluid, speedy elusive receiver.  Sorry folks, I'm not taking bets.

What about you guys?

How would you like to be NFL Commish Roger Goodell now?

 Sure, the league has issued its statement about Michael Vick' s federal indictment related to dogfighting.  Accordring to a Virginia grand jury, Vick wasn't exactly dog's best friend.  Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

But let's be realistic, is anyone really surprised that he was indicted?  If nothing was coming this would have blown over weeks ago.  It didn't, like I'm sure the Atlanta Falcons wanted.  There's little wonder why these soon-to-be-caged birds won't be singing this year - they won't have Vick.   And if the NFL's new sheriff, Goodell, is true to precedent he established, Vick will be gone.

Here's the league's official stance on the Vick situation:

We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him. We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case, and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick’s guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts. The matter will be reviewed under the League’s Personal Conduct Policy.

 Ruh-roh, Shaggy.  Yes, that sounds very omninous. But we will see what happens.  Goodell has knocked Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Tennessee Titans down and Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals, but this is an entirely different animal.

Why?  Because the NFL and the Falcons have promoted Vick as one of the faces of the league since he arrived from Virginia Tech expected to re-invent the position of quarterback.  Notice that hasn't happened yet.  Perhaps, just perhaps, that explains the interest in dogfighting.  He needed a hobby.   Yeah, that's it.

Yes, Vick is guilty until proven innocent, but Goodell, in the interest of fairness will have to smack him too - and he should.  That being the case, Vick should expect to have at least one season to consider new hobbies.

Yes, the silence is gone and I'm back ranting and maybe raving.  We shall see.

What's there to talk about? Well despite the fact that the only real sport playing right now is baseball plenty.  But let's start with America's Pastime and the hometown team.

After several years of being labeled cheap and not wanting to be competitive, the Cleveland Indians have to be given some serious props for inking DH Travis Hafner - a.k.a. Pronk - to a four-year contract extension.  Although the DH struggled the first half of the the season, his bat will eventually awaken and he is a core member of what will hopefully be a championship season.  With him and Westbrook signed, the Tribe can concentrate on C.C. Sabathia.  Although I suspect that will be much more difficult because the hurler hasn't been shy about saying that he'd would love to pitch near his home in the Bay Area.  But as they say: "money talks and …."

Speaking of a little bull.  Apparently Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants to buythe Chicago Cubs - or at least is applying to check out the team's books.  Good for him.  Baseball needs a little showmanship, but more importantly it needs owners such as Cuban who possess a competitive spirit and are willing to actually spend some cash to win.  It would also be enormously entertaining to see how he tweaks the noses of the powers-that-be in baseball.

My colleague, Brian Windhorst, who I soon learned was one of the best NBA beat writers in the country after spending some time with him covering the Cavaliers during the playoff run, reportedthat the Cavs still itching to get the Sacramento Kings' Mike Bibby in the wine and gold.  If nothing else it's going to prove to be an interesting off-season.  The Kings reportedly want Drew Gooden in the deal.  Eh.  Gooden has his flashes, but where he might be missed most is the locker room.  He's one of the Cavs' genuine good guys.  As for Bibby?  He can score.  The assists this past season were a bit scant, but what I'm afraid of is a contract that he can opt out of after next year.  If I were the Cavs I'd want nothing to do with that.

Brady and Thomas where are you?

Cleveland Browns' training camp is two weeks away and still there is little mumbling out of Berea.   Word is that both Brady Quinn and left tackle Joe Thomas might go through lengthy holdouts.  That's not music to the ears of Browns fans, but it's reality.  With respect to Thomas, it has a lot to do with his slotting.  Players selected in the No. 3 position in the draft the past three years - Larry Fitzgerald (WR), Braylon Edwards (WR) and Vince Young (QB) - all received ginormous signing bonuses.  But keep in mind that they play skill positions, which means those huge piles of cash weren't out of line.

The Browns will likely argue that kind of cash is out of line for a left tackle.  Given the state of the left side of the team's offensive line since its return in 1999, allow me to disagree.  The team drafted him there.  He fills a cavernous hole.  Now pay him.

As for Quinn that's a different story.  General Manager Phil Savage said all along that Quinn was listed in their top five on the draft board.  Don't think that Quinn's agent, Tom Condon, didn't take note of that and will use it as leverage.  Additionally, the Browns worked feverishly to get back into the first round so they would get Quinn, Condon will use that as well.  The reality of the situation, however, is that Quinn fell fast and hard during the draft and it will cost him a huge hunk of cheddar.  He should be paid like the 22nd choice in the first round and get his tookes into camp on time.