NFL owners got more from their agreement, but fans get something less on the field: Bud Shaw's Sunday Sports Spin

Only the NFL could overcome the casualties of an unnecessary owners lockout but get ready for a sloppy September, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

View full sizeMichael Perez, Associated PressSure, it's only the exhibition season, but the Browns aren't the only team displaying less than crisp efficiency as the NFL season approaches. This middling product, says Bud Shaw, is courtesy of the owners lockout.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are you ready for some (mediocre) football?

The Browns looked sloppy Thursday. They are hardly alone and it's not likely the end of the exhibition season will be the last of the rough edges.

The owners lockout, a strategy made necessary by the desire to make oodles of money instead of mere piles, can be expected to unleash a two-headed monster once the 2011 season begins: Winning Ugly, and his less popular twin, Losing Ugly.

Late free agency. No off-season workouts. Players unable to rehab injuries at team facilities. Head coaches wary of asking too much of veterans too soon. New rules limiting coaches in pushing younger players to get them up to speed.

The owners might be worried about such a dilution in quality of play except they know their audience can't get enough. So what if the games feature all the haphazard action and costly collisions of "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark" on Broadway. The NFL has a built-in saving grace. Or five.

• Interest generated by the betting line;

• Interest generated by fantasy leagues;

• Rules that favor the quarterback.

(The only surprise in the roughing-the-quarterback call on D'Qwell Jackson for having the audacity to tackle Michael Vick is Jackson was allowed to fly home with the Browns and not immediately be detained by league mandate in the stadium jail the Eagles operate.)

• The stadium experience. Nothing comes as close to the atmosphere of a big-time prize fight than an NFL Sunday. The owners suspect you won't care that you're watching a bunch of undercard brawlers once a half-season of injuries takes its toll.

• The HDTV experience. I find myself riveted to all things HD, including "Shedding for the Wedding." I'm not about to stop watching if Greg Little has more parking tickets than catches come November. Quality of play would normally make the list of the NFL's best selling points. Not sure that will be the case this season, especially early.

The consensus seems to be that the teams with new head coaches will face the toughest challenges. Like the Browns. It stands to reason those head coaches will also get the most slack. Like Pat Shurmur. But don't count on it. An email received in the last 24 hours declared Shurmur an undisciplined failure and the media "comfortable in your own sloth" for not already taking the new regime to task.

I'd chalk that up to OIC (Only in Cleveland). But my guess is unwarranted early criticism will fall on the heads of players and coaches in NFL cities everywhere this season.

For that they can thank the owners.

SPINOFFS

Ubaldo Jimenez's domination of the Kansas City Royals should bode well when the two teams meet in the postseason...

Heard on ESPN: Eric Mangini explaining how best to bring along a young quarterback like Cam Newton. Next up: Investment advice from Scottie Pippen...

The L.A. Dodgers sent out questionnaires asking fans to rate their announcers, including legend Vin Scully. Apparently when the Dodgers hire you, there's a 62-year probationary period...

Alex Rodriguez says the meeting in which Major League Baseball asked about his involvement in high-stakes card games "went well." How could that be? Did MLB officials call him by his poker name?

I guess when the commissioner says players should know the consequences of gambling because the warnings are spelled out on the clubhouse door, he only means Pete Rose and gambling on baseball...

BYU reinstated junior forward Brandon Davies, who was suspended March 1 when the school learned he'd engaged in premarital sex. First the shock of Magic Johnson being HIV positive, now the haymaker that sex happens on college campuses and not just between married students...

Former Mets' and Phillies' outfielder Lenny Dykstra was charged for allegedly exposing himself to women he met on Craigslist. He has been jailed since June on car theft and drug possession charges while also facing bankruptcy and fraud charges. No word on whether he's officially changed his nickname from "Nails" to "Nailed"...

Newton called his passing in the Panthers' game against Cincinnati embarrassing and unacceptable. Why do you get the feeling that after a similar performance by Terrelle Pryor, agent Drew Rosenhaus will call a press conference to say Pryor makes "Peyton Manning look like Ryan Leaf."

I can't think of a better match than Raiders-Pryor unless it's Snooki-Jersey Shore.

View full sizeAP fileThis fellow's humor will be equally appreciated by either Buckeyes or Wolverines.

Ron Artest's request to change his name to Metta World Peace is delayed until mid-September. The court says it's because he has an outstanding traffic warrant but speculation says the court is waiting out of empathy for Dallas guard J.J. Barea's neck to fully heal after the future Metta World Peace clothes-lined him in the NBA playoffs...

Thank goodness college football's behind-the-scenes money grubbing is back to save us from the blatant money-grubbing of professional sports...

Fred Couples has confirmed Tiger Woods as a captain's pick for the President's Cup a month ahead of the deadline. Woods' performance in the PGA apparently impressed Couples, who must've expected him to miss the cut by two miles instead of one...

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Pauly D from Jersey Shore and Jhonny Peralta -- Frank Willett

View full sizeAP fileThis guy insists that finally beating "Ohio" is no laughing matter.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke and comedian Artie Lange -- Les Moore

YOU SAID IT

(The Greatly Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Hey Bud:

"I heard you missed on the opportunity to go out with Scarlett Johansson because you could not score tickets to The Great Lakes Classic. Is that true?" -- Dan Coughlin

And they said putting me, "score" and Scarlett Johansson in the same sentence couldn't be done.

"Bud:

"Do you foresee difficulty with the University of Miami getting under the salary cap this year?" -- Wayne Kuznar

I'm told the bigger issue down there is staying below the tinted windows loaner car cap.

"Bud:

"You could say the Tribe got a Wedgie from the Mariners." -- Walt Zimmerer

You could, but this column is far too sophisticated for that.

"Bud:

"We all know there are two certainties in life: Death and taxes. But there's also a third: The Tribe slowly sinking in the Central." -- Doug, Westlake

This is Cleveland. You're complaining about "slowly" sinking?

"Bud:

"It's very nice to get Jim Thome back, but isn't the front office asking the commission to allow WinterDays construction to begin on Sept. 29 more telling of their true feelings?" -- Jim, Shaker Heights

Don't you mean August 29th?

"Bud:

"Jim Thome is only 100 strikeouts away from 2,500 for his career. Do you think Tribe fans will get to see No. 2,500 this September?" -- Tommy, Lyndhurst

Since strikeouts in the Indians batting order are multiplying like head lice in kindergarten, it cannot be ruled out.

"Bud:

"Since Fausto Carmona was injured running to first base, Travis Hafner was hurt going to second, and Matt LaPorta was DL'd going to third, if someone gets injured trying to score, should we call that hurting for the cycle?" -- Brad, Toledo

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"Are you like me or did you know that the English translation of Ubaldo Jimenez is 'a more costly Mitch Talbot'?" -- Vince G, Cincinnati

Repeat winners receive a visit from Tim Belcher.

To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639

Previous columns online: cleveland.com/columns

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/budshaw/index.ssf/2011/08/nfl_owners_got_more_from_their.html

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