Here's a feel-good story on how an area baseball team made up of 12-year-olds found a sponsor. It just wasn't any sponsor, it was one familiar to many local football fans.
Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com writes how a league official texted the coach of the team to tell him that their sponsor had backed out. So Mike Clapper decided to send Joe Haden a message via Twitter about sponsoring the baseball team.
To the manager's surprise, Haden responded.
“Less than a minute later, I got a direct response from Joe,” Clapper said. “He asked me for my number and called. He asked how much, and when was it due.
“That was on April 1. When I let Roy know, he thought it was an April Fool’s joke.”
Haden arranged for Clapper to meet his manager, Sean Cabble, at the Bulls-Cavaliers game Friday. There, Cabble handed the $325 sponsorship fee to Clapper.
The team plays in Stark County. They will open their season under the name Haden’s Nation.
Visits
Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how linebacker Von Miller from Texas A&M, and Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers were in Berea Tuesday.
The Browns also have visits by wide receiver A.J. Green of Georgia, cornerback Jimmy Smith of Colorado, wide receiver Julio Jones of Alabama, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus of Alabama, cornerback Patrick Peterson of LSU, cornerback Prince Amukamara of Nebraska and defensive tackle Nick Fairley of Auburn scheduled.
It is a safe bet the Browns' first pick will be a player from that group. All are talented enough to become instant game-changers.
Also, Mary Kay Cabot writes in The Plain Dealer about A.J. Green's visit to the Browns today.
Sleepers
The NFL Lockout could have an impact on free agents. These are the players that slip through the cracks on draft day, but those same free agents have the potential to become stars like Antonio Gates or Josh Cribbs.
Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com writes:
Often, undrafted players who become stars don’t make the first NFL team that invites them in. Such was the case with Saturday, signed immediately after the 1998 draft and cut before he even made it to training camp.
Both Gates and Cribbs were snapped up within hours of drafts by teams for which they became Pro Bowlers.
This year: Not so snappy, Jack.
Teams that might have signed key men immediately after the draft stand to lose them amid the tumult of a prolonged hiatus.
