The NFL schedule is out and the Cleveland Browns saw themselves from starving from lack of respect from TV networks and the schedule making gods last year to gorging on it next season.

The Browns will appear on national television a whopping FIVE times in the 2008 campaign. That's going to make for a lot of late nights in Cleveland.

Here's the rundown:

Pittsburgh Steelers: Sunday, Sept. 14, 8:15 p.m., NBC (WKYC Channel 3)
New York Giants: Monday, Oct. 13, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Denver Broncos: Thursday, Nov. 6, 8:15 p.m., NFL Network
At Buffalo Bills, Monday, Nov., 17, 8:30p.m., ESPN
At Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 15, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

Additionally, one other game, the home opener against the Dallas Cowboys has a 4:15 starting time which means that more than likely it will be the national game for the FOX Network that week. Three other Sunday games also start after 4 p.m.

Find the entire schedule here.

What should Browns fans make of this? First of all, the league rewarded the Browns entertaining play on the field and their perceived status as an up-and-coming team. It will however, mean nothing should they not win.

And at first glance, this schedule is fair to middlin' with respect to difficulty. The combined winning percentage of every team on it is .535. If the Browns have improved the way everyone believes them to have they should have a successful season.

The toughies: Pittsburgh, the Giants, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts (how many of you want payback for them not playing with any desire in their season closer?) and the Titans. That's not to say the rest of the teams on the schedule will be pushovers. Far from it. But the Browns find themselves in an unenviable position - they either perform on the limelight or they likely won't be invited back as often in the future. Additionally, it's going to be interesting to see how this funky schedule affects this team the following week. Three of those national matchup will cause the team to play on short weeks.

Look for the Gladiators on these days and times: No broadcast teams have been selected.

3.15.08 at Columbus – 7:00 p.m. Time Warner (Ohio News Network) (LIVE)
Cox (COX 45) (LIVE)
SportsTime Ohio (Tape Delayed, 4:00 p.m. Sunday)
4.19.08 at Los Angeles – 10:30 p.m. FSN Ohio (LIVE)
4.26.08 at New York – 7:00 p.m. FSN Ohio (LIVE)
5.31.08 vs. Dallas – 7:00 p.m. FSN Ohio (LIVE)
6.7.08 vs. Chicago – 7:00 p.m. FSN Ohio (LIVE)
6.14.08 at Philadelphia – 7:00 p.m. FSN Ohio (LIVE)
6.21.08 vs. Columbus – 7:00 p.m. FSN Ohio (LIVE)

It's a goofy game to be sure and although I'm still trying to wrap my head around the AFL's version of America's passion, I'm beginning to develop and affinity for it.

This is where my head has been these past few weeks - hanging around Cleveland Gladiators practices, learning the rules of the game and I've received the pleasure of being assigned to cover the team.

Will it ever equal the NFL in terms of popularity? I highly doubt it, but I will never say never. I will, however, give the brain trust behind Cleveland's second AFL team (the Cleveland Thunderbolts were the first) for putting together an entertaining package. For those who don't know, that would include Bernie Kosar, formerly of the Cleveland Browns.

The game itself is fast paced. I liken it to watching a game of pick-up football in the backyard. It's fun to watch and rarely boring, especially if you like offense.

But what's shocked me is the fact that the crowds have actually shown up the first two game. It was to be expected at the home opener - more than 17K came - but on the day after a snowstorm dumped more than two feet on most people, another 14K watched at the Quicken Loans Arena.

The AFL may have something here. The Gladiators may succeed where the Thunderbolts failed because of stable ownership, a stable league with a national TV contract and a partner in ESPN that has a vested interest in expanding the audience and the league. It doesn't hurt that the team plays in a venue that can't be equated to being a "white elephant on the prairie."

From the Cleveland Browns:

BROWNS AGREE TO TERMS WITH RB JAMAL LEWIS ON A THREE-YEAR DEAL

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms on a three-year contract with RB Jamal Lewis through the 2010 season, the club announced today.

Lewis, 5-11 and 245 lbs., finished fifth in the NFL with 1,304 yards rushing last season and also tied for seventh in the league with nine rushing touchdowns. In 2007, Lewis helped propel the Browns rushing attack to rank tenth in the NFL with 118.4 yards per game, the best mark since 1985 when the Browns ranked eighth in the league in rushing.

“I am thankful to the Browns for the opportunity they gave me last year to come out and prove that I was still one of the top running backs in the NFL,” said Lewis. “I feel the future is extremely bright for this team and I’m excited to be a part of it for another three years. I said all year long that I wanted to get a long-term deal done to stay in Cleveland and it looks like with this new contract I will be able to finish my career as a Brown.”

Lewis, 28, had 298 carries for 1,304 yards (4.4 avg.) and nine rushing touchdowns last season and added 30 receptions for 248 yards (8.3 avg.) and two receiving touchdowns. Lewis’ 1,304 yards rushing ranked seventh best in franchise history and his 298 attempts ranked third in team annals. Lewis added five games over 100-yards rushing and became only the 26th running back in NFL history to top 9,000 yards rushing in his career.

“The Browns are pleased that Jamal has decided to continue his career here in Cleveland,” said Phil Savage, Cleveland Browns Senior Vice President and General Manager. “He brings a maturity, toughness and football temperament to the team that is critical to our success on top of the physical abilities that he possesses. Plus, he'll have the opportunity to go over 10,000+ career yards in 2008, which will put him in elite company.”

Was it a witch hunt by those congressional muckety mucks by having Roger Clemens
show up on the Hill to answer questions about his alleged use of steroids and human growth hormone. Oh, joy! Just what I want to hear regurgitated over and over and over…

It's getting to the point to where I am numb on this topic, primarily because it's too little too late. For all practical purposes, the steroids era ended almost six years ago.

Now Congress decides it wants to stick its nose in because someone that stature of Clemens may have actually been a cheater. Wonderful. Apparently they've forgotten it's an election year and people are more concerned about things such as oh, I don't know, the mortgage crisis, a possible recession and the rising cost of health care. I dunno, it seems to me that those itty bitty things might take precedence over a gazillionaire ballpayer who allegedly shot his ass full of muscle medicine.

This all should have been left dead and buried after the Mitchell Report came out in December. Mitchell seemed to take a common sense approach to this entire scenario. It happened. The league was at fault for turning a blind eye and the players were certainly at fault, but it's over. Mitchell recommended no retroactive investigations, but that is being ignored by Congress and my guess would be that baseball czar Bud Selig will do the same. If that's the case he comes across as someone trying to protect a sorry legacy that likely will have little worth remembering when he's done anyway.

Derek Anderson wants more years and Kellen Winslow wants to renegotiate, according to reports.

Hmmm…Is this what success brings? The obvious answer is "yes."

Browns current starting quarterback Derek Anderson turned down a three-year, $17 million contract offer from the Cleveland Browns, according to reports.

For the record, a Beacon Journal report from Marla Ridenour disputes the one linked to above, but for supposition let's just say that Anderson is looking for something longer term.

This one I do not get. Anderson was the Browns starter for 15 games last season and was fairly successful. Apparently he believes that should get him Tony Romo and Matt Schaub like cash.

Hold on there, big guy. I don't think so. One decent season, does not a five-year contract make. Not buy a long shot. Mind you, after the Browns dispensed with Charlie Frye after the home opener debacle against the Steelers way back in September, Anderson showed that he had some skills at the QB position.

Anderson delivered a 10-6 season, but no playoff appearance and it can be argued that he cost the Browns a playoff appearance with some inconsistent play in road games which led to a 3-5 record when away from the comfy confines of Cleveland Browns Stadium. Check out these home stats:

134 of 231 for 1,827 yards, 14 TDs and 6 picks for a 93.5 QB rating.

Look at the road stats:

164 of 296 for 1,920 yards, 15 TDs and 13 picks for a 73.9 QB rating.

What do I remember of Anderson in road games? Throwing one away against the Arizona Cardinals and tossing another away that would have clinched a wildcard berth in Cincinnati in weather that was admittedly not conducive to throwing the ball.

You have to admire Anderson's perseverence and, for now, he has earned the right to be the Browns starting passer going into next season, but he needs to show more before the club invests five years in him and what certainly would be more bonus money.

Winslow's position isn't as cut-and-dried to me. I can certainly see how many fans will view the fact that he's seeking to renegotiate his contract as suspect. That's the way I viewed after his utter lack of maturity his first couple of seasons including the infamous motorcycle accident.

But Winslow has grown since then - by leaps and bounds. He shut his mouth and the megaphone bravado and self-promotion have calmed to a whisper, he still possesses quiet confidence that he shows on the field week after week. He plays hurt, remains productive and has evolved into one of the best tight ends in the game.

The dilemma?

The Browns have stood by him through all of his trials and tribulations over the years - most notably after the motorcycle accident. Sure they docked him some cash, as they should have, but they gave him the chance to make some of that money up by extending his contract.

Should Winslow show a bit more loyalty? Perhaps. I do know one thing, the Browns shouldn't deal with his demands until they've cleared up things with Anderson and running back Jamal Lewis.

So yeah, I'm sitting at home sifting through OSU notes today when I get notice that the Indians 2008 schedule has been set.

I open the email like a fat guy attacking a cupcake only to see that the Indians' first home game of the season will arrive on March 31. March 31? MARCH 31?!!!!! Are you freakin' kidding me or did the brain trust at Major League Baseball not get a look at Opening Day 2007.

Ya know, take me out to the ball game…buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack and, gee, by the way, my freakin' limbs are freezin' so gimme some hot chocolate.

I don't know who is responsible for this debacle, but this date does Tribe fans a disservice. Better they start praying for good weather beginning March 1 and hopefully the baseball gods will be listening. Of course, we know what happened with them last week now, don't we?

I have the utmost respect in the world for Bill Belichik's ability to coach a football team and the New England Patriots. However, I am to a point where I say no mas! I'm tired of hearing about the Patriots and how they're going to go undefeated.

The latest prediction comes from Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports in this article. In it Cole suggests it would be to the benefit of the league if the Pats go undefeated until the final week of the season when they have a game on the NFL Network. Then, untold milllyuns and millyuns of Americans would go screaming "I want my NFLN." No, that statement isn't as catchy as "I want my MTV!" but the effect is the same.

Yeah, that would be something, but as the national media continues to power the New England Patriots hype machine, there sits the Indianapolis Colts, defending Super Bowl Champions and de facto also-ran, getting more and more frustrated. Perhaps the Colts like flying under the radar, but I cannot help but believe that the longer this goes on, the more that team, which has developed a dominating defense, stews and comes out against the Patriots on Nov. 4 in Indy with a boulder-sized chip on its shoulder and with something to prove.

Last night was a wee bit surreal.

I'm in West Lafayette for the OSU-Purdue game, but managed to catch the last 4 innings of that marathon between the Tribe and Yankees. And all I could do is sit in the bar where I was having a cold beverage and laugh because the big bad Yankees freaked out over some midges.

Joba Chamberlain looked as if he wanted to squirm right out of his uniform and may as well have done just that given the two wild pitches he threw. You contrast that with the resolute attitude displayed by Fausto Carmona and you have the exact reason I believe the Indians will be going on to the ALCS against the Red Sox. It also doesn't hurt that Alex Rodriguez is currently in the midst of his annual post-season disappearing act.

To be such a young team they possess a seriousness, an earnestness that comes through on every player's face whenever a camera fixates on an individual player. It's refreshing to see a team that has fun but knows when to be serious.

Call it a weekly rant or rave, your choice.

I'm sitting here in Cleveland Browns Stadium with the Browns up by three TDs - wait I just jinxed them, make that two TDs - against the Ravens.

You see something in this team you haven't in Coach Romeo Crennel's last squads, they actually seem to be enjoying playing and save one ridiculous run by Ravens running back Willis Magahee on what should have been a loss for a couple of yards, they've been fairly solid.

The record may be 1-2, but with the exception of that opening day disaster against the Steelers, they've been competitive. The could just as easily be 2-1 now, as opposed to 1-2. There are still huge problems here, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. The bend-and-bend-some-more defenise sometimes look like a sieve - especially on the line and you can beat this team passing. Still, I'll take competitive any day.

On a completey different note…

Courtesy of a ridiculous Saturday afternoon in college football the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were ranked outside the Top Ten in many pre-season polls - find themselves sitting at No. 4 because four teams ahead of them - Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and West Virginia - all went down in defeat over the weekend.

Do the Buckeyes deserve it? Probably not given the Eazy-Bake schedule they faced in non-conference play. But they don't make the rules. They could find themselves 6-0 by the time they get what could be a test against the Michigan State Spartans. But recall listening to all the college football pundits (are you out there Mark May) who said they didn't deserve it in 2002. This year is starting to remind me somewhat of that one.

You've got a QB some are still unsure of. The offense is proficient, not explosive and the defense is plain out vicious. Running the table is conceivable, but like most I am leary of the Penn State Nittany Lions and this year's surprise team, Illinois.