Hoyer is not the Browns’ answer

Predictions and opinions.
Those items are a large part of the realm of a sports columnist.
Fans want to read sentiments about what has happened and speculation about what will happen.
That was the case with readers this month. It’s all about what has happened with the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback position, Indiana University men’s basketball and Jay County High School athletics, and what will happen in the National Football League the rest of the way.
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Will Josh Gordon save our Browns? Is Brian Hoyer deserving of starting quarterback money?
—Bob Staugler, Fort Recovery

Maybe, and no.
The second question is the far easier one, because Hoyer has proven he’s not franchise-quarterback material. Don’t be fooled by the win-loss record. Instead, trust your eyes, and trust the stats.
Hoyer regularly misses throws — by feet, not inches. He ranks 31st in completion percentage at 55.7, which is worst in the league among qualified quarterbacks.
I don’t believe Johnny Manziel is the long-term answer, but neither is Hoyer.
As for Gordon, I hope he plays at an All-Pro level and leads the Browns to the playoffs. It’s possible, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Gordon was the best receiver in the NFL last year, but that didn’t exactly help in terms of Cleveland’s overall record. I’m afraid the Browns have already done irreparable damage to their own playoff hopes with poor performances in losses to Jacksonville and Houston.
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With the average records and players getting in trouble, do you see Tom Crean lasting after this season at IU?
—Aaron Loy, Portland

It’s a little early to be chasing coach Crean out the door.
His first three seasons can be thrown out because Kelvin Sampson left the program in shambles. So it took time to rebuild the Hoosiers.
Since then, Indiana has posted records of 27-9, 29-7 and 17-15 with two Sweet 16 appearances. That’s a .700 winning percentage.
Yes, the Hoosiers would have liked better tournament results, especially in 2012-13 when the team was ranked in the top five for most of the year. But before Crean’s arrival, IU had not been past the second round of the tournament since Mike Davis led it to the national championship game in 2002.
The disciplinary issues are disturbing, and Crean has to get them under control. But he shouldn’t be anywhere close to the chopping block yet.
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Who will be outside looking in for the NFL playoffs?
—Josh Gibson, Portland

Of the teams that are currently in legitimate playoff contention (and ignoring the truly pathetic NFC South), the following will not advance to the tournament: Kansas City, Baltimore, Detroit, San Diego, Buffalo, Seattle, Houston and Cleveland.
Yes, Mr. Gibson, that means I have your San Francisco 49ers making the playoffs, but just barely. I believe they will edge Detroit for the final NFC wild card spot.
I believe Arizona, Green Bay and Philadelphia will take NFC division titles with 12 or more wins, and New Orleans will stumble to 8-8 to win the South. The wild cards will go to Dallas and San Francisco.
In the AFC, my division-winning picks remain the same as they were in the preseason: New England, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Denver. Miami, thanks to a weak schedule down the stretch, will take one wild card while Pittsburgh will earn the other.
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What are your thoughts on Jay County’s move to the Allen County Athletic Conference through the fall sports season?
—Adam Gray, Fort Wayne

So far, so good.
The benefits of being in a conference showed most clearly for the volleyball team, which was in a tight three-way race for the ACAC title throughout the season. The Patriots ended up placing third behind Leo and Heritage, but the season-long competition (and the tournament) were fun to follow.
Rivalries began to form, with the other Patriots — from Heritage — standing out. And the JCHS athletes saw their first postseason all-conference recognition since the Olympic Athletic Conference dissolved in 2010.
As winter rolls around, the ACAC should be even more fun for Jay County. The school will get to host the wrestling and swimming conference tournaments, and most of the Patriot squads should be in contention for championships.
The ACAC is not a perfect fit, but it has been good for the Patriots thus far.