This is the January 31, 2013 news archive. View today's Cleveland Sports news and rumors.

Cleveland Sports News and Rumors

Cleveland Browns (and Cincinnati Bengals) fans: Warning!! Warning!! Pittsburgh Steelers favorite team of Facebook users in much

Starting Blocks, cleveland.com

Some 35 million Facebook account holders in the United States have Liked a page for one of the 32 teams in the NFL, allowing Facebook to examine which teams are most popular in which areas.

Associated Press, ESPN.com

The Indians have signed free-agent reliever Matt Capps to a minor league contract.

CNNSI.com

NEW ORLEANS (AP) San Francisco defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois made one of his greatest football memories to date in the Superdome, where he won a national championship with LSU against Ohio State in January 2008.

CNNSI.com

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms on 2013 contracts with second baseman Neil Walker and right-handed pitcher James McDonald on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

theclevelandfan.com

Forbes Magazine says that Las Vegas is shooting for $95 million in betting on this year’s Super Bowl. Jay Rood, sportsbook manager at MGM Grand, sets his prediction at $92 million. That’s just money wagered in Las Vegas. That doesn’t include money w…

Starting Blocks, cleveland.com

Newsome, the Browns Hall of Fame tight end, has kept Baltimore a perennial playoff contender. Moss doesn't back off on his "greatest" claim. Tight end Pitta gets little notice, makes big plays. More Super Bowl story links.

Glenn Moore, cleveland.com

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Dawg Pound Daily, Bleacher Report and Yahoo! Sports.

Glenn Moore, cleveland.com

On today's PD Sports Insider, Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore talked with Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.

Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com

On Wednesday, we shared some comments from Panther coach Ron Rivera about the decision to promote Mike Shula to offensive coordinator with Rob Chudzinski off to Cleveland to coach the Browns. Rivera said that the move was done to ensure continuity from …

Don Banks, CNNSI.com

NEW ORLEANS -- In some form or fashion, on multiple fronts, the issue of legacy hangs over every Super Bowl these days. But that discussion at Super Bowl XLVII should start nowhere else but with the singular feat that would be Ozzie Newsome's if his Bal…

CNNSI.com

Twelve years and a host of changes separate the Ravens from their last title. Yet Ozzie Newsome still presides over one of the NFL's model franchises. Don Banks examines how.

Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com

The Indians have spent this winter figuratively loading up their dugout with two-time World Series-winning manager Terry Francona and veteran outfielder Nick Swisher, among others. And on Thursday morning, it was time to literally load up the equipment …

Branson Wright, cleveland.com

Scott Fujita says people can get too wrapped up in the 3-4 vs. 4-3 debate.

Jim Trotter, CNNSI.com

NEW ORLEANS -- After receiving his first NFL scouting job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991, Lionel Vital was told he should take college coaches to lunch when visiting their schools. Scouts want as much background as possible on draft-eligible prospect…

theclevelandfan.com

This is one installment in a team effort by The Cleveland Fan, highlighting the top local sports figures by jersey number. Please weigh in with your thoughts on the "Boards". As David Letterman would say, "For entertainment purposes only;…

Glenn Moore, cleveland.com

"I don't see Smith being an improvement over Weeden in our system. Sure Smith was good the last couple years but look at the talent on the 49ers team. If Weeden or McCoy had that talent they would look good too." - br541

ESPN.com

Thursday marks the final day for the media to meet with the players on the Ravens and the 49ers before Sunday's Super Bowl. The only availability on Friday is with the head coaches. Now that you have the schedule, it's time for your wake-up call ... RAV…

theclevelandfan.com

Nobody around here asked for this region to be the Atlas burden-bearer of sorrow. Yet, here we are. Nobody asked for Art Modell to move the Browns in 1995. Nobody asked LeBron James to take his talents to South Beach. Nobody asked the Indians to choke a…

CNNSI.com

The Grizzlies' brass has shown a willingness to spend to win. But by dealing Rudy Gay, Memphis did the opposite, losing its spot as a title contender along the way, says Chris Mannix.