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Monday Mailbag: January 13, 2019

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

This week’s Monday Mailbag features questions about NCAA student-athlete commitments, the Cleveland Browns and tonight’s national championship game.

Q: Van Wert County now has two high school players committed to Ohio State, which is nice. My question is, are those commitments binding? Name withheld upon request

A: It’s not often that you see major Division I student-athletes come from small area, so it really is quite nice to see. Kalen Etzler of Ohio State committed earlier this year and Landon Price of Lincolnview committed last week.

As far as those commitments being binding, at this point, the answer is no.

If my understanding of NCAA rules is correct, a high school student athlete is free to verbally commit anytime he she wants, but it isn’t binding until a letter of intent is signed, which doesn’t happen until his or her senior year of high school.

Q: Thoughts on Cleveland’s new head coach? Name withheld upon request.

A: Only time will tell with the Browns and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

I say that because who knows how long the Haslams will stick with the guy and the new general manager, whoever he/she will be.

I want to be encouraged, but it’s hard to be at this point. However, he did do some nice things in Minnesota, including using a strong running game. His quarterback there, Kirk Cousins, is a hit-or-miss kind of guy, good, but not an elite franchise quarterback.

We’ll see what kind of staff he can put together in Cleveland and how the draft and free agency goes. The biggest need is the offensive line, which really struggled in pass protection.

Q: Do you think the Browns whiffed by not getting Josh McDaniels as the new head coach?

A: Personally, I still think they whiffed by not getting Mike McCarthy, a proven winner in Green Bay. Yes, he didn’t get along with Aaron Rodgers, but no one gets along with Rodgers.

Having said that, I don’t think McCarthy was coming to Cleveland unless it was the only job left.

As far as McDaniels, I think a number of things worked against him. While I can’t say for sure, I think he wanted too much power in Cleveland and I’m guessing his mind-changing stunt with the Colts in 2018 may have been on some people’s minds.

It seems like McDaniels likes the attention and the interviews, but it’s hard to see him accepting another job at this point, at least until Bill Belichick retires, whenever that may be.

Q: Who do you like in Monday night’s national championship game: LSU or Clemson? Name withheld upon request

A: This is a tricky one and I honestly don’t know.

I know LSU is a slight favorite, and if their offense is clicking on all cylinders, they should win. However, I can’t help but think Clemson’s experience in this situation will play a role.

In my mind, it’s a coin flip.

If you have a question for next week’s Monday Mailbag, simply email it to sports@thevwindependent.com.

POSTED: 01/13/20 at 4:51 am. FILED UNDER: Sports