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The Columbus Crew has new owners and management, and the team plans a summer g

in General Discussion Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:12 am
by panxing18 • Farseer | 334 Posts | 3340 Points

COLUMBUS Cleveland Browns Hoodie , Ohio (AP) — roundbreaking for a $230 million downtown stadium.The Save the Crew movement gained momentum last year after the team owner, Precourt Sports Ventures, announced plans to move the franchise to Austin, Texas.The incoming ownership group includes Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, and former Crew team physician Peter Edwards, whose family owns a Columbus-based development/construction business. "We think this about soccer. We think this about a team, but it really isn't," Edwards said Wednesday as new owners and management were introduced. "It's about a community. It's about having pride in our city, and it's about having pride in our team. All those things roll into the fabric of our community. For us to not have this team here would have left a hole in our city, and my family said that wasn't acceptable, and we were going to do whatever we could to figure out a way to keep this team."Caleb Porter, who won an MLS Cup in 2015 with the Portland, was hired as coach to replace Gregg Berhalter, who left to coach the U.S. national team. Porter said local enthusiasm for the team drew him to the job."When I saw all of you in this community rallying behind this club, that's the type of club I want to manage, a club that's relevant https://www.brownsfanshop.com/James-Burgess-Jersey , a club that the people are proud of, a club where they're going to fight and roll up their sleeves to save it," Porter said. "I felt compelled to come back and jump on board with that movement to save the Crew — but not just save it but elevate it."The new stadium will be near Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Huntington Park, where the Triple-A Columbus Clippers play. The plan also calls for redevelopment of the team's 20-year-old stadium north of downtown into a training facility and community sports park."One of the things we have to get going on is — because we want to break ground really quickly on the stadium — is doing the whole, entire comprehensive plan," Dee Haslam said. "We've done this so fast. I don't know that anyone has ever put a concept together (this fast), and we hope to be in the ground this summer for sure in order to make deadline. I think we're going as fast as we can go."Haslam promised a winning team."It's a big investment," she said. "We're committed to winning. It's so important to win for a community. We obviously have experienced not winning (with the Browns), so winning is so important. We get that message loud and clear." KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mitchell Schwartz was chosen by Cleveland in the second round of the 2012 draft with the idea he could be the next Joe Thomas, or at the very least learn from the Browns‘ star offensive tackle.Well, he did learn a lot of lessons. The biggest may have been durability.Thomas once played 10,363 consecutive snaps over the span of 11 seasons before hurting his left arm in a game against Tennessee. The streak that began with Week 1 of his rookie year and survived a slew of injuries, including torn and strained knee ligaments and multiple high ankle sprains.Schwartz, who returns to Cleveland for the first time on the opposing sideline Sunday Jim Brown Color Rush Jersey , has his own incredible streak going now that he’s with the Kansas City Chiefs.After playing every snap his first four seasons with the Browns, and continuing it during the past two-plus seasons in Kansas City, the snap count is up to 6,870 over the course of 104 games.“He’s done a heck of a job being able to endure,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He had a good teacher he learned from, too, in Thomas. He had a nice streak going before he got hurt. Mitch has been tremendous. He’s one of the smartest linemen I’ve ever been around.”Schwartz filled a massive need when the Chiefs signed him to a $33 million, five-year deal, and he has met all expectations. Not only did he help protect Alex Smith during some of his best years, and is now keeping young quarterback Patrick Mahomes clean during his breakout season, Schwartz also paved the way for Kareem Hunt to win last year’s NFL rushing title as a rookie.So far, the Chiefs have allowed just 10 sacks — one behind the New Orleans Saints for the fewest in the league — while leading the NFL in scoring and a number of other offensive categories. Delving deeper into the numbers, the Chiefs have a league-high 13 carries of at least 10 yards while running behind Schwartz on the right side of the offensive line.In other words, the soft-spoken Schwartz is a big reason why Mahomes leads the NFL in yards passing and Hunt is fourth in the league in yards rushing.“Those two tackles are really good players, Schwartz and (left tackle Eric) Fisher. They’re the best we’ve played since I’ve been here,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “They’ve blocked us one-on-one from time to time and they win a lot against us.”That may be the most incredible part of Schwartz’s success rate: It has come against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL, including Broncos linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.Elsewhere in the AFC West Jamie Collins Jersey , he has to deal with the Chargers’ Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, and until this past offseason, Raiders star Khalil Mack and his teammate Bruce Irvin.“I’ve been very blessed and fortunate to play and coach with a number of offensive linemen, and those guys never get the credit that they deserve,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “They get all the negative flack when they give up a sack or something, but those guys are the ultimate team players because they are going to do whatever it takes to win.”Even if it means playing through bumps and bruises to keep a consecutive snaps streak going.Schwartz acknowledged this week that it will be odd returning to Cleveland, where he learned from one of the best offensive tackles to ever play the game. He has good memories from playing with the Browns, even if they never won enough, and he’s looking forward to seeing some old friends.Once the game begins, though, Schwartz is only worried about helping Kansas City keep winning.“We just keep trusting. No one gets upset, starts screaming or any of that stuff,” Schwartz said. “We’re a pretty good offense and if we go out there and do our jobs, it’s pretty hard to stop us.”Notes: Strong safety Eric Berry (heel), C Mitch Morse (concussion) and LB Frank Zombo (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. LBs Justin Houston (hamstring) and Anthony Hitchens (ribs) were limited.

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