DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Mary Kay Cabot takes over as "ask Mary Kay"

Looks as if Mary Kay is going to be the replacement for Tony Grossi..


http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/submit_your_questions_for_hey.html

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Submit your Browns questions for Hey, Mary Kay!
Published: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 11:09 AM Updated: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 11:22 AM
By cleveland.com The Plain Dealer


Got a Browns question? Send it in!

If you've got questions about the NFL Draft, free agency or anything related to your favorite NFL team, Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot's got answers. Just submit your question by filling out the form here.

Every Sunday, Mary Kay's responses will appear online here and in The Plain Dealer. What are you waiting for? Send in your question today.

© 2012 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.

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LOL, Somehow it doesn't seem to have the same ring to it.

At least it's a fresh view from a different perspective.

This is going to be great!

Lots of make up and dieting tips!

Is it a cosmetics blog?

Yes I'm a misogynist and an awful person and I believe a woman's place is in the kitchen so for all the women here i hope that laptop you're typing on is next to the stove.

Not sure what I think about Mary Kay Cabot. Not bad, not great...just kind of lukewarm on her. I hope she works out and improves.

Sorry, I work with a guy who's wife sells Mary Kay, and thats all I hear about. She's gonna make them millionaires, and he's gonna retire early...etc etc.

Looks like Paul is the only male left covering the major sports teams. Mary Kay is usually pretty bad, hopefully as this is her full time gig she gets better.

An attractive woman that likes football; what's not to like?

LOL, she cleans up pretty well

I kinda like Mary Kay. I had the opportunity to talk football with her several years ago at training camp, and she's a knowledgeable writer. She tends to favor the QB a bit too much, whether or not he deserves such favor, but that's really the biggest issue I see with her. She was really nice, and I enjoyed meeting her and getting to talk to her.

My aunt knows her and says she's a nice lady. She's always running in her neighborhood in Rocky River or something.

But, she pisses me off all the time. Her article seem to just drum up controversy when there shouldn't be any. It's everything I hate about the Cleveland Media.

I guess I've been pissed at her ever since she interviewed Dennis Northcutt and asked the most prying freakin questions about how he felt about losing his starting receiver spot to Braylon Edwards. I understand that it's a reporter's job, but I sometimes wish she thought more like a fan and less like a "I'm gonna make a story out of nothing" reporter

Blecch! I hate the media coverage with stupid questions and obvious answers, and it usually boils down to "Feelings, nothing more than feelings . . . . " Just insane. How do you feel after your royale butt kicking. Can you describe how you feel. NOT why choose to watch a wildly physical sport like football. Adds nothing. I hope she can handle. I much prefer Pluto as an authority AND his sportswriting quality. Good luck to her. Don't gin up grief that isn't really there.

Hey Mary Kay..

what will a bottle of wine and a Brady Quinn autographed mini-helmet get me

Wow ..... I cannot believe that she has so many people who dislike her so much.

She's also been through a lot in the last couple of years, with her husband battling cancer and all. Fortunately, he seems to have beaten it, last I heard.

I can't remember any articles by her that would elicit such dislike by so many.

I'm not particularly familiar with her work.

From what I am hearing it sounds like she isn't much more well informed or schooled in football than your average fan. And people would like the person answering football questions to be an expert on the subject. It seems it is questionable if Mary Kay is going to have anything remarkable to say.

I'd rather have an "Ask Bernie" section.

Mary Kay actually has a pretty damn good idea of what's going on in Berea. She doesn't generally blast people .... so maybe that's what people have against her. She's a reporter ...... and she generally reports what the team says and does. She asks some of the questions that people want asked ...... and because she asked a couple of them a couple of times rather than let a matter die, (like asking Holmgren if he was going to coach the team .... even though other reporters asked the same thing on other occasions ........ maybe that's it. I dunno.

I really liked MKC for a long time. (Stunning revelation) I actually thought she did a pretty darn good job of 'reporting the facts". Then I don't know what happened. Probably 2 maybe even 4 years or so ago, there was some kinda change in the way she did things..

More contraversy, less journalism. It was at first a subtle change, then became more overt.

At this point, she's Grossi Part Deux..

I know she's better than that. What I don't know is why she changed her style of reporting.

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What I don't know is why she changed her style of reporting.

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Why not..." ask, Mary Kay "

Can you give examples of what you see as changes to her reporting style, specifically?

You mean that there is nothing ...... nothing that stands out to you that makes you dislike her writing now ......... but you do anyway?

I can tell you exactly why I do like Tony Grossi, and that's because he stood firmly in the way of Art Modell getting into the Hall of Fame. I can tell you why I didn't like him .... because he was an ass, and blasted people for no good reason whatsoever ..... and because of his insistence that Bill Cower was on the way ....... even in the face of the facts showing the complete opposite was true.

You can't tell me anything that makes you dislike Mary Kay Cabot? You dislike her ...... yet nothing ...... nothing sticks with you as something you'll never forget? I mean, usually when someone goes from liking a person's work to disliking their work, there is a specific reason. It's not a matter of ...... eh .... "there was something, I'm sure ........ "

Of course, given your answers in regards to this type of question, football questions, and political questions ...... I'm not surprised at all.

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You mean that there is nothing ...... nothing that stands out to you that makes you dislike her writing now ......... but you do anyway?

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Is that what I said? NO...

You like to do that don't you.. Ask someone a question that you absolutly know they won't take the time to research, then you lay out a pack of untruths to further your own agenda..

Man, you should be a politician... you'd be perfect

You said:

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I'd have to go back to get articles from that time period to compare them to what she writes today and frankly, I'm not gonna do that..

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So there is nothing that stands out in your mind as a reason to dislike her ....... you just ....... do.

There was no catalyzing factor that caused it ..... no article or stand she took ..... no question she asked ........ you just kinda ......... just stopped liking her for ..... some reason.

Makes perfect sense.

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Man, you should be a politician... you'd be perfect

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Actually, you are the one that takes positions and then does absolutely nothing to back them up. That should qualify you for politics 101.

You just love putting words in peoples mouths..

LIke I told you the other day,,, If I didn't say it, don't say I did.

J/C...

I don't understand how people have such negative perceptions of MKC already. I don't mind her - she's been a reporter - and maybe having Grossi out of the way gets her more material or access, I don't know. I also don't buy into the thinking that Grossi was the only person who could keep Modell out of the HOF - can you imagine the hellfire and damnnation that would rain down on ANY Cleveland repoter that voted yes for his induction or didn't put up a fight to block it? That writer would be out of town in a week.

I wish MKC all the best.

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I don't understand how people have such negative perceptions of MKC already.

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first off, it's not "already".. My impression of MKC has been dropping for years. Once I like someone,, it takes forever for me to "unlike" them. And I really had a great deal of respect for her.. then, like I was trying to tell Ytown before he tried to stuff words in my mouth, there was a point, where I started wondering,.. "What the hell is she doing"?

Her articles began to get more rumorish (is that a word). She used to be totally informative.. and I prefer that.

And at times, she still is (to be fair, Grossi had his great moments as well)

So it's not that I "JUST" started disliking her.. it's been building for quite a while.

Hope that clears it up for you.

Peter King credits Grossi for giving heartfelt and detailed speeches that have helped keep Art Modell out of the HOF. He's in the room, so I'll trust that it has helped and for that I thank Grossi.

I understand that and thank Grossi for it - but it's not like he's the only one who could or will "defend Cleveland".

Ugh just read the first Ask Mary Kay, all I can say is WOW that was bad!

For those wondering ...... here is her first "Ask" type column. I don't see anything "bad" about it. It's readers asking questions and her giving her opinion. Her answers seem to be right about what most people would believe right about now.

What playmaking receiver might be a good fit with the Cleveland Browns? Hey, Mary Kay! | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/what_playmaking_receiver_might.html

Hey, Mary Kay: You're Tom Heckert. Who do the Browns pursue in free agency and why? -- Rich Markovich, Schaumburg, Ill.

Hey, Rich: First and foremost, I'd go after playmaking receivers, and there should be some good ones on the market. I'd focus on younger players still in the prime of their careers, such as Indy's Pierre Garcon, who's 25 and caught 70 passes for 947 yards last season. The Saints' Robert Meachem, 27, is another good prospect. Of course, their current teams can re-sign them before they hit the market.

Hey, Mary Kay: With Eric Steinbach expected to be healthy next season, what moves need to be made at the O-line to give us the best chance to run and pass block like a team needs to be able to win a Super Bowl? -- Mike Butcher, Fairborn

Hey, Mike: Steinbach is recovered from his back surgery, but the Browns must decide if they want to pay him the $6 million he's due for 2012. If not, they could try to reduce that. If he comes back as the left guard, the Browns can try Jason Pinkston at right tackle, where Tony Pashos battled through injuries all last season.

Hey, Mary Kay: I know that I'm asking for an educated guess here, but what QB scenario do you think is most likely? Keep Colt McCoy as a viable starter and not a backup? Get a player like Matt Flynn in free agency? Move up for RG III? Something else? What do your instincts tell you about the Browns' ultimate QB decision? -- Jeff Biletnikoff, Erie, Pa.

Hey Jeff: I think there's a good chance the Browns will make a play for Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, even if it means trading their No. 4 and No. 22 picks to the Rams at No. 2. If they land Griffin, they can either keep McCoy as a backup or try to trade him and use Seneca Wallace as the No. 2.

Hey, Mary Kay: Do you think the Browns would consider making a move to get RG3 with the fourth overall pick (or Claiborne, Coples or Blackmon) and then trade the 22nd and 37th picks (draft value chart 1,310 points) for something in the 10th pick area and draft Trent Richardson? If he falls, which many experts are projecting, I think that would be a no-brainer even if we had to throw in a third rounder in 2013 to sweeten the pot! Getting two of the top five-rated players would go a long way to jump-starting the team's win total and fan base! -- Joshua DeVore, Canton

Hey, Joshua: The Browns will most likely need that No. 22 to move up to No. 2 to draft RG3. That would prevent them from pulling off the intriguing shocker you're proposing.

Hey, Mary Kay: What do you think about drafting Justin Blackmon with the first selection and Ryan Tannehill with the second first-round pick? At 6-4 and 222 pounds he has NFL size with great accuracy, arm strength and intelligence (a 3.60 GPA in biology). Our offense is anemic. -- P. Cleary, Tallmadge

Hey P.: I think the Browns would be more likely to move up and take RG3 at No. 2 then to draft Blackmon at No. 4. If the Browns didn't draft Julio Jones at No. 6 last season, I doubt they'd pick Blackmon at No. 4. Besides, I expect Tannehill's stock to climb and he'll likely be gone by No. 22.

Hey, Mary Kay: Why in the world would the Browns have to trade both of this year's first-round picks to move up? I'm personally against trading up for RG3, but if we are to, why not trade whatever the Redskins are offering, we have the higher picks so it should be an easy deal. If we do trade up for RG3 it would probably be a much easier development if Kendall Wright came with him. -- Lloyd Mullen, Coventry, R.I.

Hey, Lloyd: The draft value of the Rams' No. 2 pick is 2,600 points. The Browns' No. 4 is worth 1,800 and their No. 22 is worth 780 for a total of 2,580. So those two picks would just about get them there. They might even need to throw in a sixth-rounder to pull it off. Washington would have to offer their No. 6, No. 39 and another third-rounder or so. At No. 4 the Rams would be guaranteed either OT Matt Kalil or Blackmon.

Hey, Mary Kay: Is the front office interested in Mario Manningham and DeSean Jackson in free agency and drafting a quarterback and an offensive lineman? -- Matt Jaffe, New York, N.Y.

Hey, Matt: The Eagles are playing it coy with their plans for Jackson. Will they franchise him? Re-sign him? Trade him? If he's franchised, the Browns won't touch him. If he's free, they might make a pitch. I'm guessing the Giants will wrap up Manningham, especially after The Catch II. If not, the Browns should take a gander.

Hey, Mary Kay: What do you think about the browns selecting Trent Richardson with the fourth pick, OSU tackle Mike Adams with the 22nd pick, and Chase Minnifield with 36th pick? In Round 3 draft an outside linebacker, in the fourth round draft two defensive linemen for depth. Sign free agent WR Eddie Royal from Denver. -- Stanley King, Jacksonville, Fla.

Hey, Stanley: Wow! You have it all figured out. I really think the Browns will try to land RG3 at No. 4. If not, Richardson is a viable option. Some experts rank him right up there with Adrian Peterson coming out. I think No. 22 might be a little high for Adams and they need a playmaker there. Minnifield at No. 37 isn't a bad idea. Royal is intriguing, but he's only 5-10.

Hey, Mary Kay: I enjoyed your article on Bill Belichick during Super Bowl week. Do you see any similarities between young Belichick and Pat Shurmur? -- Dave Jackson, Columbus

Hey, Dave: Not really. Belichick was more consumed by the job, sleeping in his office and constantly multi-tasking. He alienated a lot of his players back then. Shurmur is a players' coach and less obsessive. Belichick was a defensive guy from the Parcells tree, Shurmur an offensive guy from the Walsh tree.

Hey, Mary Kay: Don't you believe that The Season From Heck began when the Browns let go of Lawrence Vickers? By doing that they ended up wasting a pick on Owen Marecic, who was less than stellar. The running game faltered and Marecic only caught five passes. For crying out loud, one of the reasons we let Vickers go was because he did not fit in the WCO where we needed a catching fullback. What a mess! -- Ammar Adam, Frankfort, Ill.

Hey, Ammar: No, I believe The Season From Heck began to unravel when Peyton Hillis got off to a slow start because of contract issues, then Strep-gate and his pulled hamstring. I believe the Browns can run the ball with Marecic at fullback and that he'll be better in 2012.

Hey, Mary Kay: Hopefully 2011 was a learning season for Coach Shurmur. Give me three reasons why he should warrant the confidence of Mike Holmgren to stick around for the long term and Browns fans can look forward to the future. -- John Kusich, Hermitage, Pa.

Hey, John: Here you go: 1. He had no off-season to install his system and didn't know his personnel. 2. He wore too many hats and now has an OC in Brad Childress. 3. He'll have more playmakers this year on offense.

Hey, Mary Kay: What if Colt McCoy is better than RG3? Will he get a chance to prove it in training camp or will the Browns decide he already had his chance and it is now RG3's team? What makes people so sure that Colt cannot lead the Browns to the Super Bowl with the right supporting cast? -- Kenn Luthanen, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Hey, Kenn: I still believe Colt McCoy can be a winning quarterback in this league with a good supporting cast. But if the Browns draft RG3, he'll be their starting quarterback from day one.

Hey, Mary Kay: It is infuriating that the Browns might be thinking about bringing Payton Hillis back. Not because he could possibly be a really good player for a position we are lacking at, but because all the drama could have been avoided. I don't buy the injury nonsense ... he could have developed a chemistry with Shurmur, and the fans that turned on him could still be fans. We could have had at least one position with some sort of consistency instead of the disaster that ensued. Why is there no criticism for another wasted year? First Mangini and now possibly Hillis. Does the front office not know where they are going? -- Eliot Clasen, Cape Coral, Fla.

Hey, Eliot: Hillis showed up a different person in 2011 because of the contract issue. By the end of the season, he got his head back on straight and re-opened the door to return. If he comes back, he'll be the blue-collar Hillis fans loved in 2010. But it still seems like a long
shot to me.

-- Mary Kay

Uh Oh! Sound's like Mary Kay has found her new Man Crush at QB. That didn't work out so well for the last guy no matter how much she tried to Polish that turd. I just wonder if she has a nighty that matches his socks yet? Now Mary Kay gets to know what Tony felt like getting her news from the same websites we do. She uses history to rebuke the idea of drafting Blackmon at 4 citing last years draft but uses no such in The fact that Holmgren or Heckert has never drafted a QB in the first round.

I believe that she said, as almost every major sports reporter has opined, that the Browns are likely to go after RG3.

Heckert has never drafted a QB in the 1st round largely because he already had Donovan McNabb in place while he was in Philly. He then had already drafted Kevin Kolb (2nd round, 36th overall) as a backup/potential future starter, who was then traded for value after the Eagles signed another former 1st overall pick in Michael Vick.

If he had an established starter and a reasonable backup, why would he go after another 1st round QB?

Holmgren has only gone out to get one QB, that being Hasselbeck in Seattle. Ron Wolf traded for Brett Favre. Also, let's not forget that Holmgren had his GM duties stripped in Seattle, in no small part due to ineffective drafting. Regardless, he had an effective Hasselbeck for nearly his entire time in Seattle, so he didn't have to go looking high and low for another guy.

Also, who did he draft as QBs in Seattle? Well, he was with Seattle from 1999-2008, so let's look at those years:

1999: 3rd Round- Brock Huard
2001: 6th round - Josh Booty
2002: 7th round - Jeff Kelly (Who?)
2003: 4th round - Seneca Wallace
2005: 3rd round - David Greene


Were these guys worth a chance? Maybe. Worth much more than that? Not really. Seneca Wallace was probably the most successful of the lot ..... and that's not saying much.

*Edit to add* I just remembered that we also dumped the "Immortal" Charlie Frye on Holmgren .........

So ...... because she, like almost every other local and national reporter thinks that the Browns are going to take RG3, even if they have to trade up for him ....... and she answers questions accordingly ....... that means she has a crush?

What is she supposed to say if someone brings up the 1st round and/or trades/picks that she does not believe are what will happen? Is she supposed to lie? Should she answer the question: "Dear Mary Kay, What do you think about the Browns drafting Trent Richardson at 4, and then trading the 22nd pick for Terrelle Pryor? with"Oh yeah, I think that would be a wonderful trade", even when she knows that it stands no chance of happening?

She has sources, and they tell her what's going on in Berea. Sources may have varying degrees of reliability, but if she has a reliable source telling her one thing, why would she say something completely contrary? Is that reporting to you?

Or ........... if her sources say that the Browns really like RG3 and are likely to do whatever they can to get him, should she answer questions based on that premise, or lie to the people asking her questions?

One guy asked about drafting Trent Richardson at 4 and Mike Adams at 22. Isn't the way she answered a more honest answer than "Oh sure, I can see the Brown taking Richardson at 4 and Mike Adams at 22." Can you see the Browns doing that? Really?

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I believe that she said, as almost every major sports reporter has opined, that the Browns are likely to go after RG3.

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Really??? I must have missed that in her column [/sarcasm]

I stoped reading her column about half way through.... I'm ok with having an opinion on something, but when every answer is the same "the browns will trade their 4th and 22nd pick for RG3" I just get tired of reading...

Hey Mary Kay: When is the Plain Dealer going to allow Grossi to return from Siberia, and in what role?

Hey Dave: Although the Browns think McCoy could succeed given some help at the skill positions and the right side of the offensive line, I believe they will trade their #4 and #22 picks to move up and draft RG3.