The Cleveland Browns were awarded punter Spencer Lanning off waivers from Jacksonville.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears on July 26, 2011, Lanning was waived by the Bears on September 2, 2011. He signed with the Jaguars on January 14, 2012.
He was a four-year letterman at the University of South Carolina (2007-10) who finished his career with 171 punts for a 42.6-yard average and 46 punts inside the 20-yard line. He also served as kicker during his final two collegiate seasons, connecting on 34 of 44 field goal attempts and 80 of 84 PATs.
A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, the 5-11, 200-pound Lanning attended York High School in South Carolina. He was born May 21, 1988.
WOW A Free agent signing by Heckert 
One afternoon a wealthy lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass.
Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and got out to investigate. He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?"
"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat grass."
"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you," the lawyer said.
"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree."
"Bring them along," the lawyer replied.
Turning to the other poor man he stated, "You come with us also."
The second man, in a pitiful voice then said, "But sir, I also have a wife and SIX children with me!"
"Bring them all, as well," the lawyer answered.
They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine. Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."
The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my place; the grass is almost a foot high
One of the grievances filed by the NFLPA attaches as exhibits the four letters sent by Commissioner Roger Goodell to the individual players who have been suspended.
The letter to former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita makes clear that he is accused only of pledging a “significant amount of money” to the broader pay-for-performance/bounty pool. The pool paid out money both for big plays and “cart-offs” and “knockouts.”
While Goodell’s letter to Fujita states that the pool “paid large cash rewards for ‘cart-offs’ and ‘knockouts,’” the NFL still has produced no specific evidence that anyone received any payment for players being carted off and/or knocked out of games. (That’s possibly because the only player carted off of any Saints game from 2009 through 2011 was Saints running back Reggie Bush, who broke a leg against the 49ers in 2010.) Absent such evidence, Fujita merely contributed to a pool of money that was paid out to players who intercepted passes, forced fumbles, etc.
If that’s the case, Fujita’s three-game suspension seems a little excessive, especially without specific evidence of the “significant amount” of money he supposedly contributed.
TONY STEWART ADJUSTS COMPETITION SCHEDULE TO TACKLE OUTLAWS AT ELDORA
Track Owner and Reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Has Goal to Beat WoO Teams on his Home Turf
ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 4) – Tony Stewart’s accomplishments at Eldora Speedway are impressive, but his goals are not complete. The reigning and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and current owner of Eldora Speedway has entered Eldora’s fabled Victory Lane as a winner in Late Models, Winged Sprint Cars, Non-Winged Sprint Cars, a Modified, a Midget and three times in the charity driven Prelude to the Dream – but never in a World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car sanctioned event.
With the travelling WoO at Eldora for the Outlaw Thunder by Goodyear this weekend, Stewart has adjusted his busy competition schedule to make every possible effort to fly into Rossburg, Ohio both nights with the goal of not only challenging, but beating the WoO stars and other invaders in their own game.
Only one of two things could possibly deter Stewart from getting into Ohio – a delay in the NASCAR schedule at Talladega or flight issues due to weather.
Other than that Stewart is ‘game-on’ and ready to return to his passion of grassroots racing.
His competition is formidable with the WoO in the midst of an intense point battle that include two Stewart owned teams (Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser) in the top five. Sammy Swindell carries a seven point margin to lead the series into the Goodyear sponsored weekend.
Joining Stewart as challengers against the touring WoO teams will be the likes of Tim Shaffer, Dale Blaney, Stevie Smith, Jac Haudenschild and Paul McMahan with two complete nights of racing slated for the .500 mile clay oval each evening.
A doubleheader program each night will feature the Eldora Stock Cars on Friday and the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds on Saturday, as those two divisions continue their points chase and earn a position in the Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream invitational on June 6.
Tickets for the Outlaw Thunder by Goodyear, the Kings Royal weekend, and all other Eldora events are available through the track office at (937) 338-3815 or online 24 hours a day at www.EldoraSpeedway.com. Like us at www.Facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway or catch all the behind-the-scenes preparation for the event on Twitter @EldoraSpeedway.
Hangs sign on door ..Gone Racing !!!!
draft pick numbers:Now people who bought an Anderson jersey's can repurpose them by taping "Weeden" over the name ;)
Richardson 33
Weeden 3
Schwartz 72
Hughes 93
Benjamin 80
Johnson 50
Miller 63
Acho 59
Winn 79
Wade 26
Smelley 47
And as far as Brandon Weeden goes....I think he was their guy all along. I don't think Tannyhill was ever a consideration. I do believe they would have taken Floyd or Wright at #22 if they were there, but they then would have traded up for Weeden anyway....At the end of the day, you just have to look at what they got.....A strong armed, intelligent, pro-ready, mature QB and a big time stud RB.I was of the mind that they should have traded up for Malcolm Floyd. I won't go as far as saying he was overlooked, as many people had him on their boards, but I think he could be better than Blackmon when it is all said and done. Hell Wright was a no brainer. If they even hinted that they wanted him they should have gone back up and gotten him. Overall I am more than complacent with the Browns draft. I am not overly excited about anything after the first and second rounds. I am more than happy that the Browns got Weeden, Richardson, and Schwartz. I think that Weeden could have been had at #37, but again who is to say for certain as we have no privy to other teams' draft rooms. If they would have come away with Weeden, Wright (Floyd) and Richardson, I quite frankly wouldn't have given a damn what they did the rest of the draft, As a consolation prize though I like that they have built depth and overall increased talent at many positions. You can't have it both ways. Heckert and Holmgren had to make a trade-off. They picked their poison. They had many discussions I am sure about which route was more proper. Ultimately it is their heads that will be crowned or detached. So I hope that they have their own security as priority number one. I don't think they would knowingly make major mistakes contrary to what their consensus opinion was. Heckert, Holmgren, and Shurmur have a vision of what they want in a football team. It is their duty to put the product on the field with best Shurmur can succeed. We as fans can either take it or leave it. The outcome is yet to be determined, but I have a feeling people are going to like the development of many of these players either this year or next. Then in 2013 all bets are of as a certain Mr. Bruce Drennan would say. They can go all-in for the kill in getting ultra impressive talent at key positions like wide receiver, safety, corner, LB, etc... The first step fellas is to solidify the core of both units. I think they did that.
Former Cleveland coach Sam Rutigliano does not doubt Browns general manager Mike Holmgren.
"I have respect for Mike Holmgren," he said. "He comes from the Bill Walsh tree. He was with Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre, Matt Hasselbeck. Nobody knows that position better than Mike Holmgren."
Many Browns fans are anxious to see how that theory holds up after the team drafted Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State in the first round last week.
"The pick with Weeden ... he has the size, the athletic ability, he played minor league baseball and he has a bullet for an arm," Rutigliano said.
Rutigliano also believes Trent Richardson was a solid pick at No. 3, even if Richardson's doubters seem to include franchise legend Jim Brown.
"A running back will help the offense, and the quarterback No. 1," Rutigliano said. "They picked up a nice offensive guard (Mitchell Schwartz) from Cal. The receivers we'll get to.
"They got two outside linebackers and they need linebackers who can play in space."
Rutigliano said the Browns filled a lot of needs.
"The most dramatic is Trent Richardson and then Brandon Weeden because of their positions," he said. "When you draft a quarterback in the first round he's the guy. Every team that wins has impact players."
Rutigliano would like to see Cleveland use Colt McCoy as a backup.
"I hope they keep McCoy as an asset to Weeden," he said.
And he hopes the Browns have a few surprise wrinkles when it comes to the offense. Rutigliano said Cleveland was 32nd in plays of 20 or more yards in 2010 and 29th with draft pick Greg Little as the primary weapon last season.
"I don't care if it's RGIII or Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Eli Manning -- you have to have the pieces," Rutigliano said. "The game has changed to where receiver gives you more chances to win than running back.
"Richardson is great because he does all three (run, catch, block) things but it's receivers now. Look at the tight ends and five receiver sets. I hope (the Browns) have something up their sleeve."
Rutigliano knows Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have provided Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton and Ben Roethlisberger, respectively, with multiple dangerous receivers and tight ends as production tools. He would like to see the Browns eventually pick up on the trend and possibly utilize tight ends Cameron Jordan and Evan Moore in different ways in the meantime.
"Maybe Jordan or Moore or a free agent or a trade for McCoy -- I'm dreaming now," Rutigliano said. "One of those free agents would have been great for us, but I think we'll be better."
Rutigliano, who would be thrilled if Cleveland brought back offensive lineman Eric Steinbach, also likes the Richardson pick because of his experience at Alabama. Richardson played for a national championship team and fumbled once while in college.
"You want them coming in with preparation," he said. "In my day, most guys had five years (in college)."
I doubt the last 3 on the list will even make the team. I really hope the Weeden/Benjamin tandum pays off. I'm so freaking over mediocrity with our QB/WR tandums. Here I thought Frye/Edwards would be a tandum for years to come back in '05. D'oh!Who wouldn't want a Smelley jersey...
