Join us » as and featured paw prints and dog

Still without a quarterback, having lost their leaders during free agency and with an owner renowned for his ruthless attitude to disposing of head coaches - the Cleveland Browns seem a long way from competing at the top level. The Browns havent had a winning season since 2007, and it was 2002 when the organisation last made the playoffs. Following his takeover in October 2012, owner Jimmy Haslam has seen four head coaches take charge of the franchise and since their reintroduction to the NFL in 1999, the team have had a record 24 starting quarterbacks.The inconsistency is staggering, and it doesnt take much to draw conclusions between an unsettled management team and poor results on the field. Free Agency LIVE! Latest rolling news as NFL sides recruit A frightened Johnny Manziel features in the Top 5 funny moments of 2015 Last year the Browns finished 3-13, ranking 25th in offence and 27th in defence. The head coach and general manger were both relieved of their duties as the franchise finished the season in turmoil.It feels like the team is once again starting over. Having released Johnny Manziel after two frustrating seasons, the Browns have seen their core group of influential players leave during free agency. Three time Pro-Bowl centre Alex Mack, who joined the Atlanta Falcons last Wednesday, cited his reason for leaving as the opportunity to join a winning franchise. Its hard to blame him, having gone 29-70 in seven seasons with the Browns. Tashaun Gipson, Travis Benjamin and Mitchell Schwartz have also left Ohio in search of success elsewhere. Alex Mack (right) has jumped ship and Joe Thomas could follow Its another blow for new vice-president Sashi Brown, who said at the Scouting Combine that keeping the experienced nucleus of the roster was a key task to rebuilding. With talk of trading Pro-Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas now on the cards, the squad is skeletal. Brown and head coach Hue Jackson now have a mountain to climb. The plan seems pretty clear; use the draft to develop a championship calibre side rather than splashing big money on players that care more about their wallets than their team. Browns HC Hue Jackson has an uphill struggle to build a competitive team The strategy is not unprecedented; the Packers, Bengals, Steelers and Patriots all tend to use free agency sparingly. However, the key difference between these organisations and the Browns is that the playoff contenders tend to lock down their stars before free agency approaches.The Browns have no starting pieces to build around, and their record in the draft in recent years has been notably poor. If things are going to change for this organisation, they need to be a little savvier in player recruitment. What do Cleveland need?Quarterback North Dakota States Carson Wentz is the top QB prospect in the draft Clevelands saving grace is that they have the No 2 pick in the draft. If they havent secured Colin Kaepernick, they are likely to have their pick of the board. Carson Wentz seems to be the stand-out choice, and Jackson is the perfect coach to develop the young talent from North Dakota State.Centre Nick Martin (No 72) of Notre Dame could be a Cleveland target Replacing Mack must be high on the Browns to do list. Developing a good relationship with the incumbent QB is pivotal in the offensive lines ability to protect the passer. They have been linked with the Jags Stefen Wisniewski but could look for a middle draft pick, potentially Notre Dames Nick Martin.Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (No 80) was a disappointment for Browns last season Dwayne Bowe was supposed to be Clevelands big splash in last years free agency. He caught five passes and ran for a total of 53 yards throughout the season. No 1 receiver Travis Benjamin has joined the Chargers, and Jackson desperately needs to hit on a WR in the draft to give the new quarterback a legitimate weapon.Tackle Alvin Bailey (No 78) has joined Cleveland but they need more support After losing Schwartz and supposedly considering a trade for Thomas, further development of the offensive line is inevitable. Alvin Bailey signed from the Seattle Seahawks last week, giving the Browns options at either tackle or guard, but further depth is needed. One option might be Baileys former team-mate Russell Okung, who is still available as a free agent.What happens next?It is another roll of the dice for owner Haslam. In Jackson, the Browns have a talented young coach who must be allowed time to develop a philosophy and get the fan base excited again. Drafting quality is key, and changing the mindset of a losing franchise into one that is ready to compete in the AFC North. Easier said than done, but the Seahawks have provided a perfect example that with stable infrastructure, anything is possible in the NFL. Also See: NFL Video Rookies guide NFL on Sky Sports Pundits James Harden Rockets Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Robert Horry Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Charles-Barkley-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. DeAnthony Melton Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Gerald Green Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. The NFL usually frowns on customized footwear, but that will change this Sunday, as hundreds of NFL players will be wearing custom-designed cleats to support charitable foundations and raise awareness of important causes.When it comes to charity and sacrifice, there are no best or worst designs, no brand loyalties, no My kicks are better than your kicks -- all of these cleats are winners. Still, some are particularly notable, either for their visual impact or for the storylines behind them. Here are a dozen that have caught your friendly uniform columnists eye this week:Von Miller, BroncosMiller, who has worn glasses since the second grade, has a foundation called Vons Vision, which provides low-income Denver children with the eye care and corrective eyewear. His cleats feature an eye-catching eye chart motif. Additional info here.Vernon Davis, WashingtonDavis always had an artistic impulse but kept it under wraps as a kid because other children ridiculed him. He now has a personal foundation that promotes art education and appreciation among disadvantaged youth. His cleats have a paint-splatter theme that nicely captures the spirit of artistic improvisation. Additional info here.Devin McCourty, Patriots, and Jason McCourty, TitansTwin brothers Devin and Jason McCourty have sickle cell disease in their family, and they have a foundation devoted to battling the disease. Their custom cleats show the foundations logo along with both brothers, in uniform, defending a pass. Devin will wear his shoes this Sunday, while Jason will have to wait until Week 14, because the Titans have a bye this week. Additional info here.Doug Baldwin, SeahawksBaldwin represents the Southern Youth Sports Association, whose logo is a tiger -- hence the tiger stripes on the cleats hell be wearing this Sunday. Although Baldwin plays for the Seahawks, it seems like a safe bet that everyone on the Bengals will soon be clamoring for a design like this one.Brock Osweiler, TexansOsweiler is showing his support for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides assistance to families with sick children. His cleats have a nice design element: If the two shoes are positioned together side by side, McDonalds signature golden arches are formed.Aaron Rodgers, PackersRodgers supports the MACC Fund -- thats Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. The organizations logo features a green child and a gold child, so Rodgers will wear one green shoe and one gold shoe -- which should also mesh nicely with Green Bays color scheme.Ben Roethlisberger, SteelersHeres another case of a big-name quarterback wholl be wearing two different-colored shoes. Roethliisbergers personal foundation supports police and fire departments, with a particular emphasis on K-9 units and service dogs, which explains the K-9 logo on his cleats.dddddddddddd Not the flashiest design youll see this Sunday, but the mismatched colors should definitely stand out.Johnny Hekker, RamsHas any NFL player ever worn a cleat with a two-tone paint job, split down the center? Its a really sharp look, and Hekker will be wearing it in support of Waterboys, a group that partners with NFL players to provide clean drinking water to rural East African communities.Cameron Jordan, SaintsThe United Way and the NFL have been partners for generations. The nonprofit groups blue, red and orange logo is a perfect fit for the color scheme on Jordans cleats -- nicely done.Pierre Gar?on, WashingtonGar?on, who is Haitian-American, has a foundation that supports sustainable initiatives in Haiti. With its vibrant colors and silhouetted logo, this will be one of the boldest designs of the week. Additional info here.Ezekiel Elliott, CowboysElliott already wore his custom cleats in last nights game against the Vikings, but theyre too good not to include here. Elliott is a lifelong animal lover, so his cleats supported the SPCA of Texas and featured paw prints and dog bones, along with a portrait of Elliotts own dog, Ace. Additional info here. (Elliott isnt the only player using his feet to support our four-footed friends. Check out the pair being worn on Sunday by Logan Ryan of the Patriots.)Stefon Diggs, VikingsThis is another one from last night. Diggs supported the American Heart Association with a design that showed the inner workings of a human heart, complete with veins, valves and more. Very anatomical! (Several other players are also representing the AHA on their cleats with more conventional but nonetheless powerful designs, like this pair being worn by Saints Brandin Cooks of the Saints.)For additional photos and information on the custom-designed cleats that players will be wearing this week, look here and here, and follow the hashtag #MyCauseMyCleats.Paul Lukas, if he were playing in the NFL this week, would wear cleats supporting the Southern Poverty Law Center. If you like this column, youll probably like his Uni Watch Blog, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program or Uni Watch T-Shirt Club, be added to his mailing list so youll always know when a new column has been posted, or just ask him a question? Contact him here. ' ' '