Has the luck started to reverse in Cleveland? The Cavaliers landed the top pick in the NBA draft, with the help of some famous Browns.

We know, you’re good and ready for the lockout to end and for free agency to begin. As the Commissioner said in Radio City Music Hall last month, we hear you. So if we can’t start free agency yet, let’s at least talk about it.

The reality is that anyone can win the NFC South, in any year. In fact, the NFC South has never had a repeat division champ in nine seasons.

It’s been a conclusion for many throughout the offseason that Alex Smith would return for a chance to win back his starting job with the 49ers under new coach Jim Harbaugh, who openly campaigned on the idea.

As the evaluation process unfolding leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, the stock of Alabama RB Mark Ingram was a consistent source of debate.

Chad Ochocinco is smart and knows what he has to do to prepare for the season, but his latest stunt was a very high-risk thing to do that doesn’t offer much reward.

The reality of a condensed offseason means teams are better off looking at their own free agents — understanding their deficiencies, age or injury history — as providing the best options to win.

Three months after Deion Sanders learned that he was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011, it was announced Tuesday morning that he was also among the 16 newest members of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Most league observers agree that Bengals owner Mike Brown won’t budge off his stance that he won’t trade QB Carson Palmer, who has threatened retirement if he doesn’t get a ticket out of Cincinnati.

We’ve seen players use their draft position as a source for motivation as they enter the NFL before, but Marcell Dareus really hasn’t wasted any time in picking out his enemies.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo could be one of the biggest steals in fantasy football drafts this season. Find out why.

Admit it, you’re one of the thousands of NFL fans suffering from draft withdrawal. We understand. And we agree with you that it is never too early to talk about next year’s draft.

Recently we delved into the clubs that were penalized most frequently, with an errant finger pointed towards discipline. Maintaining “football” discipline will be much more challenging with players organizing team workouts during the lockout. Adhering to fundamentals, as much as following the rulebook, might be adversely affected by such informal practices. So can pass defense.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger outlined some of the trickle down benefits of the addition of Julio Jones for the Falcons, namely the benefit to QB Matt Ryan and the running game behind Michael Turner.

One of the first names mentioned in most discussions regarding quarterbacks thought to be available via trade or free agency (eventually) during the offseason is Kevin Kolb.