Browns Officially Name Freddie Kitchens Head Coach

The Cleveland Browns could have gone in many different directions, but they chose to stay in house and hire offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens as their next head coach. Was this a good move? Or is it a gamble they hope will pay off big time for them? The answer to those questions we will find down the line as the seasons progress under Kitchens watch. Let's look at what we know and why this hired went down like it did.

Freddie Kitchens made the offense more innovative in a very short time and he won games and scored points. Maybe the No.1 thing he did was put Baker Mayfield in position to make plays and help win games. Baker Mayfield probably also lobbied for him to be the head coach as well. Now I really do not mind the hire, but I think he will need to hire some really good assistant coaches. Kitchens knows the offense, but they will need to hire a good defensive mind. The Browns defense is loaded with studs, but they need a good coach to get them even better.

I think Kitchens as an offensive coordinator was great, but as a head coach, only time will tell if that is a good fit. No matter what happens the Browns have got their man and the fans and the media will have to deal with it. Give John Dorsey credit so far in his tenure he has made very few mistakes. This could be a great hire if everything works out for him.

North Dakota State Runs The Table On Way To Another Championship!

If you ask most people they have never heard of the North Dakota State Bison football program or should we say dynasty. They just completed another 15-0 season and another National Championship. This makes there 15th overall as a program in various Divisions they have played in. This season they started as the Pre-Season No.1 and they never moved from that spot. They ran the table and ended up with another National Championship after there 38-24 win over Eastern Washington.

How impressive is this program? Many people scoff at what they have done since they are not Division I, but the numbers speak for themselves. The Bison own a 112-8 over the last 8 seasons. That is a number that is very impressive. They even send players to the NFL on a regular basis. Carson Wentz played at North Dakota State so don't look down at these smaller schools as they also have talent. As people in North Dakota would say FEAR THE BISON!

Saying Goodbye To Mean Gene Okerlund

Over the years I have been a wrestling fan off and on, but the one guy that I never forgot or missed was a guy named Mean Gene Okerlund. Was he a wrestler? Nope! Was he someone that people missed when he was not on television? Yes, he was. Then who was this guy they called Mean Gene?

Mean Gene was nothing more than an announcer and topnotch interviewer. What set him apart from the others is he was a star at what he did. In fact, many times he was more popular than the guy who he was interviewing. That is rare in this business. Many people will tell Mean Gene was one of the most genuine guys in front of the camera and also behind the scenes.

Saying goodbye to a legend is tough. Mean Gene was 76 years old, but he gave us so many great memories. Mean Gene might be gone, but his memory will live forever. Below is a clip and from it, you can gather how great of an on-camera figure he actually was. RIP Mean Gene.

Clay Matthews Once Again Snubbed By The Hall

It seems year after year Clay Matthews does not get any love from the Hall Of Fame football committee, but it's really no shock. When the committee announced the 15 finalists Clay Matthews name was nowhere to be found. Now the real question is what does the committee want or is there something Clay did wrong. Is his resume not good enough? Or is it a Cleveland thing that is holding him back.

Matthews is third on the all-time list with 1,561 tackles and played 19 years. I guess two of the things they do not look at is durability and making plays. This is what Clay Matthews was all about. You got a guy who showed up every Sunday to play and gave it his all. Isn't that what a Hall Of Famer is about being the best on and off the field of play.

The committee can give all the excuses they want but the reality is Clay Matthews should have at least made the list. Yes, there are other players who got snubbed as well but Clay Matthews has waited long enough. It's time he gets into the Hall Of Fame where he rightly belongs.

Should The Steelers Consider Parting Ways With Antonio Brown?

When does the time come when no matter how good a player is you must part ways with them. The Pittsburgh Steelers might have reached that point with Antonio Brown. In recent years Brown has been a locker room problem and now this season there have been a few times where the diva has come out in Brown. Now his talent cannot be questioned at all. He is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL without a doubt, but when do problems outweigh talent.

Pittsburgh is at a crossroad with Antonio Brown and it seems a disconnect between Brown and some teammates have happened. The Steelers though have other talented receivers on the team which make it easier to get rid of Brown. On the open market, Brown should command some top talent in return. If I was the Steelers trading him is something I would consider. They can rebuild a team in many areas with the value they could get for him. Sometimes the headaches are not worth it and I think Brown was worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh.

What Did We Learn From UCF After 40-32 Loss To LSU In Fiesta Bowl

UCF for the longest time has said they deserved to be in the College Football Playoffs, and with this loss, they have shown a great desire, but still not up to elite competition. I'm not saying that UCF played badly today, but they left a lot of plays on the field. To beat a team like LSU you must make those plays when given the opportunity. Better scheduling is something that UCF needs to do which will make them an even tougher team to handle.

LSU did show why they are an elite program by ending UCF winning streak and doing it with a depleted secondary. When it looked like UCF was going to make it close give LSU credit they did enough to keep them at bay. LSU is a program that will only get better and this Fiesta Bowl win can't hurt recruiting either. This was an entertaining game and both teams showed that they both belong in this type of game. On this day though LSU was just the better team right now.

Baker Mayfield Keeps Browns Slim Playoff Hopes Alive With Another Win

Baker Mayfield keeps doing whatever it takes to win games and Cleveland Browns fans could not be happier. Mayfield did not play well in the Browns latest win a 17-16 up against the Denver Broncos on the road. People need to realize it does not matter what the score is or how bad you play it's all getting about getting the win. At Oklahoma Mayfield proved to be a winner and at this level, he has done that as well. I think great things will come from Baker Mayfield Browns fans just need to be patient as there will be highs and lows as well.

Overall Mayfield did make some mistakes and it was a sloppy game, to say the least. Cleveland made mistakes on both sides of the ball and that probably will continue for rest of the season. They are a young team and getting them to listen and follow directions sometimes can be a daunting task, to say the least. The key to the Browns and how well this resurgence will do is the coach. Will Gregg Williams stay at the helm or will they bring someone else in to run the team. By the way, the Browns are playing right now you may want to keep Gregg Williams around for a lot longer. Everything is clicking and sometimes it is best not to mess with a good thing.