3 1/2 weeks to training camp

These are the last days before the obsession kicks in. In some ways training camp can be much more consuming than the regular season because there is just so much going on at once. For 6 weeks we observe as all the players battle it out for the privledge of getting on the field. If you have a wife or a girlfriend now is the time to be spending some quality time with her. You might also want to get as much work at the office taken care of so you can skip out to go watch camp a few times.

Reading this article in USA today I was kind of struck my Gerard Warren's quote -- "I want to run along with it and not be left behind. I'm not a tone setter." Huh? Sure, on some plays it's enough for Warren to eat some blockers and let the linebackers make a play, but the Browns are looking for Warren to make a statement a few times a game. Earl Little, Ben Taylor, Anthony Henry -- those guys may not be "tone setters." But Warren has to be. I hope he is just looking at it from some other perspective that I don't understand. And, of course, never underestimate the value of dampening expectations.

I started gearing up for fantasy football recently and have been a little surprised at just how high William Green is predicted to go. Most drafts have him as a top 15 back, and many as a top 10. I can envision it happening because the Browns offense will be, IMO, fantastic this season. But I think the presence of Lee Suggs bears close watching before you spend your second-round pick on Green. Consider: The Browns just gave James Jackson a contract extention, he should make a good backup RB and he has some special teams value; it's very likely he makes the team. The reports about Lee Suggs, who we all initially thought would sit the year on IR recovering from shoulder surgery, are very encouraging and Suggs thinks he'll be ready for full contact when camp starts. Suggs is being projected as a short yardage back. So it seems a pretty good possibility that the Browns carry 4 running backs this season and Green may not get all the carries inside the 10 yard line. This doesn't kill Green's fantasy value but it could significantly affect it. If Suggs makes the active roster Green's not a 2nd round fantasy pick. That said, if you want to bet on Green this year perhaps it'd be worth talking up the Suggs-threat prior to your draft.

Finally, tha Cavs. You can now officially buy a Lebron jersey. Admist all the hoopla it'll be interesting to see how 2nd-round selection Jason Kampano makes out. He's a great shooter, but he's slow for the NBA which means he's not going to be able to defend very well. The Cavs left some interesting talent on the board in favor of a guy who will basically be a role player but I think it's a good pick and that suits the team well. Getting a college senior who survived the chaos at UCLA is the closest thing to a veteran you can get in the draft. And the makeup of the team may make it difficult to develop an unproven/high-celing guy like Beasely. If all goes as planned Lebron is going to need someone to pass to occasionally and it'd be nice to have someone who can nail a 3 here and there. It should be an interesting autumn and winter in Cleveland sports.