QB Ben Mauk

(Cincinnati Commandos, CIFL) 

 by Todd Patrick Coleman:

As today’s athlete loses touch with reality and history, one begins to wonder if there are any role models left.  I think I found one, and his name is Ben Mauk.  This former UC, Wake Forest and current Cincinnati Commandos quarterback gives his thoughts on several issues and shows why everyone should be pulling for him.  Entering the interview, I had respect for Mauk simply because of what he had to overcome in college.  After completing the interview I found a sense of honor in him and have no doubt that he will succeed at whatever he puts his mind toward.  This young man not only shows appreciation for his family and friends, he holds a special place in his heart for our country.  It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to ask him some questions and I hope that you enjoy what came out. 

TPC- What was your Major at Wake Forest/UC, and why did you choose it?

BM- (Wake Forest) Secondary Social Studies Education.  I love American History and learning about our forefathers.  My father is a high school teacher, so I grew up in the school and have always admired how he has an impact on kids’ lives.

- (UC) Criminal Justice.  I have always been interested in the FBI and decided that this would be a good opportunity to better my understanding of the criminal justice field.  Also, the University of Cincinnati has one of the best Criminal Justice programs in the country. 

TPC- What were or are the differences between the ACC and Big East Conferences, on and off the field?

BM- (On the field) There were many differences for me because I was involved in two very different offensive philosophies.  College defenses tend to be the same, running the same coverages and blitzes, so a lot of times I was focused on the similarities rather than the differences.  For instance, North Carolina State and South Florida are very similar in their personnel and defensive philosophies.

- (Off the field) The biggest difference off the field is the fans.  Many students in the ACC attend games dressed in 3-piece suits and sun dresses as if they’re attending a social event.  Students in the Big East are more apt to paint their chest and face and scream the whole game.

TPC- How frustrating was it to deal with the NCAA, not once but twice, in regards to you gaining additional years of eligibility and what was their rationale for turning you down the second time?

BM- The most frustrating thing about dealing with the NCAA is that the committee who decides whether or not you deserve a MEDICAL hardship waiver for a season of sports is made up of 5 people that have no medical background or medical education or training.  They base their decisions solely off of the information they are provided, without any medical expertise???  The doctor that performed the surgery on my toe after my senior year of high school (before my first year at Wake Forest) is based in Columbus and stated that I would not have been able to participate fully until 9 months after the surgery.  Because he was not a Wake Forest doctor, his statement was thrown out the window.  So the doctor that actually performed the surgery never cleared me to play, but because I passed the basic entry level physical at Wake Forest, I was considered healthy.  The physical had no tests on my toe or ankle; it was the basic “check your eyes, ears, heart” and move on.  Wake Forest couldn’t even confirm who the doctor was that signed off on my physical.  It was just a big mess, and ended up in the end with the NCAA asking my former quarterback coach whether or not he remembered if I was able to play that first year.  Note, the quarterback coach was the Offensive Coordinator at West Virginia, UC’s rival, at the time the NCAA approached him.  I’m sure he was ready to do anything possible to help give me the opportunity to play my 4th year of college football at UC.  It’s not hard to make it through practices as an injured redshirt freshman (you don’t do anything).  My advice to any college athletes is to not be tough if something is bothering you; complain to the training staff as much as possible; and make sure they WRITE DOWN every time you complain.  If you don’t, it will come back to bite you.  I didn’t want to lose my scholarship because I was injured (yes, scholarships are decided upon by the coaching staff if they want to renew it or not every spring), so I made it through practices, however, if called upon to play in a game I would not have been able to protect myself.  You don’t realize how important your big toe is until you don’t have full strength in it.  I wish the NCAA committee would have been medically-trained.

TPC- What attracted you to the Cincinnati Commandos, and has it lived up to your expectations?

BM- The fact that I would be playing with a lot of former teammates and in the city of Cincinnati.  I love it here.  My expectation was to win a championship.  That is still up in the air, but we’re definitely headed in the right direction.

TPC- Has it been an easy transition to the indoor game, and does being back on the field with Goodman, Jackson, and Byrd help?

BM- It is a tough transition because the game is so much faster, but having Goodie, Jackson, Byrd and the rest of my teammates definitely helps.   I just get the ball in our play-makers’ hands as fast as possible.

TPC- What about the Commandos offense makes it so conducive to your game?

BM- Our fast-paced tempo.  It is very similar to the pace at UC, so that part made it an easy transition.  We try to get as many plays off and make it as fun for the fans as possible.  No one wants to come to a game and watch a team stand in a huddle the whole game.

TPC- After watching several of your games, it appears that you guys are clicking on all cylinders.  Does that have more to do with talent or familiarity?

BM- I think a lot of it has to do with familiarity.  I’m comfortable with all of our receivers.  There’s only a limited number of receivers on our team, so we get a lot of reps in practice and have time to develop that chemistry.  Once I get the ball in their hands, their talent takes over and they make plays.

TPC- With one of the CIFL’s best defenses behind you, how realistic is it to think that you guys will run the table and finish the season undefeated?

BM- Well, we’re just taking it one game at a time.  We obviously want to win every game we play, but we keep focus one week at a time.  Once you start looking ahead, you get beat.  We only worry about what we can control, and that is winning games.

TPC- What impact has the Commandos affiliation with the Thank You Foundation had on you or any of the other guys in the locker room?

BM- It has made a huge impact.  We love partnering up with the Thank You Foundation and the support of our troops.  We wouldn’t be able to play, I wouldn’t be able to do this interview, we wouldn’t have any freedoms we have today if it weren’t for them.  It’s not possible to show enough appreciation to the men and women that serve our country.  They are the heroes.

TPC- With the numbers you and the Commandos are putting up in the CIFL, are there any plans to change leagues in the coming years (AFL2, etc)?

BM- I know individually, everyone wants to move up to the next level, and ultimately the NFL.  Playing in the CIFL allows teams to see that we’re still healthy and gives us a chance to send out film from the games to teams at the next level.  As long as you’re still playing, they’re still watching.  As far as the Commandos, I have no idea.  I know you can’t hold back a team that wins every game and has as big of a fan base as we do, but, again, you only worry about what you can control.  For us, that is just winning games.

TPC- Is there any truth to articles stating that you are the Offensive Coordinator at Western Brown High School, and if so, how did you get involved with them?

BM- If I am not playing football anywhere this fall, I will be working as the Offensive Coordinator at Western Brown High School.  I’m excited about the opportunity to work with such a good group of kids.  Brandon Boehm, one of our receivers for the Commandos, coaches there as well so he got me involved.  Shout out to Alex Steele, WBHS’s graduate assistant next fall!

TPC- What are your plans for the upcoming NFL/CFL seasons?

BM- I’m hoping to sign on with someone.  If not in the NFL or CFL, then possibly in the UFL.  Playing professional football is my dream, and while I’m still at a young age, I’d like to try and attain those dreams.  Playing in the CIFL has opened up some doors for me, so we’ll see what happens.

TPC- Who is your agent, and has he made you aware of any teams interest?

BM- Charles Henry Sports Agency, specifically Kelly Cook, works with me.  He is on the phone working his hardest to try to get me to the next level.  Hopefully I have proven I am fully healthy and will get a shot with someone in the near future.

TPC- What charities do you promote, and how can people help?

BM- Right now, I try to get involved as much as I can with the Thank You Foundation.  The biggest thing that people can do is to just keep supporting our troops and letting them know how much we appreciate them.  There’s not a greater adrenaline rush than when military veterans are honored in a public setting.  http://www.thethankyoufoundation.org/   

 TPC- What interest/s do you have that people would be surprised to hear?

BM- I love to read.  I love to read the Bible and American History books. 

TPC- Finally, how will your Bearcats fare in the post – Kelly era, and what are your impressions of Zach Collaros?

BM- As long as Zach Collaros is playing, UC is in good hands.  I know no greater competitor.  Coach Kelly is an unbelievable coach with a genius, Coach Charley Molnar, as his Offensive Coordinator.  They will both always be successful, and fans should be appreciative of their time here.  I believe that Coach Jones, however, is prepared to take UC to the next level, the National Championship level.  It is definitely a good time to be a Bearcat fan.  If we can just get my little brother to get down here after Collaros, it could be a good stretch of 6 years in the national spotlight!

Todd Patrick Coleman 05-13-10

For years, professional football in the state of Ohio has struggled. The Cincinnati Bengals spent nearly a decade as the laughing stock of the NFL and since coming back in 1999 the Cleveland Browns have had just two winning seasons. If there is one thing that every bad franchise can point to for their lack of success it is how their picks from the NFL Draft have fared on the field. For the Browns and the Bengals, there have been many bad drafts and many highly-publicized bad draft picks, and as a result Pro Football Fans has put together their list of the biggest NFL Draft Busts featuring two Browns picks and a single Bengals pick.

In the heart of the Bengals run as one of the worst franchises in the NFL, they drafted Ki-Jana Carter #1 overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. But just three plays into his first preseason game Carter tore his ACL and never returned to his pre-injury form.

For the Browns, since their return in 1999, Cleveland has had just one playoff appearance and just two winning seasons. The major reason for this terrible run? Bad drafts. The Browns took Tim Couch #1 overall in 1999 and followed by taking Courtney Brown #1 overall in 2000 with neither making a major splash in the NFL. Couch was turnover-prone and later had a dead arm while Brown was never the anchor on the defensive line that Cleveland expected.

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2010 NFL Draft with 10 total picks and began the draft by selecting Florida CB Joe Haden in the first round on Thursday night. Cleveland followed that pick up on Friday night by once again bolstering their secondary in selecting Oregon Safety TJ Ward with their lone 2nd round pick at #38 overall. While Mike Holmgrem said his staff had to “twist his arm a bit” to make the choice of Ward, he said that they needed to select a safety based on the team’s needs. With 8 picks remaining the 2010 Browns draft picks will be many, assuming they do not make any deals to move up, as they still have 3 picks remaining tonight, all in the 3rd round.

The 2010 NFL Draft is underway in primetime on ESPN tonight and the first round is winding down. As expected, Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh went #1 and #2 to the Rams and Lions, but the Cleveland Browns rumored #1 target for the 7th overall selection, Eric Berry from Tennessee, was selected two spots prior to Cleveland selecting at #5 to Kansas City. With the Browns on the clock ESPN cut to Florida CB Joe Haden showing him crying as he received the news. While it is not yet clear if he was shedding tears due to the fact that he has to play for the Browns or because he was so excited to be drafted, the Browns have a fantastic corner who will likely step in and start right away. With 9 picks remaining including 3 in the 3rd round alone, Cleveland may look to trade up into the end of the first round or earlier in the 2nd round and we will be sure to track all of the 2010 Cleveland Browns draft picks.

The Browns Beat

April 21 2010

The Cleveland Browns are approaching their biggest draft in years as Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert go into their first draft in Cleveland.  There are plenty of needs in a draft that may be the deepest ever.  Following is a list of the Browns picks by round with the overall number:

1st Round-    7th
2nd Round- 38th
3rd Round- 71st
3rd Round- 85th
3rd Round- 92nd
5th Round- 134th
5th Round- 146th
5th Round- 160th
6th Round- 177th
6th Round- 186th

Although the offense was horrible for the 2009 Browns, a defensive player will likely be the 1st pick.  Hopefully that resides in the form of Eric Berry or Rolando McClain.  In the 2nd round the Browns will select Colt McCoy if he is available.  If he is not the possibilities are endless.  If they can select Eric Norwood in the early part of the 3rd round the Browns will immediately be much better with Berry, McCoy and Norwood.

The fact is that draft picks are often overvalued-it’s a guessing game.  Incredibly, teams will trade proven commodities on a lottery ticket.  The fact remains that Brandon Marshall and Santonio Holmes are extremely talented but were shipped for middle to late round picks.  A team like the St. Louis Rams could have unloaded some later round picks and had the best duo of starting receivers in the league.  Instead, they have an atrocious group of wide outs to go with a rookie QB.  Big Ben Roethlisberger is simply one of the best QBs in the league.  He is only 28 years old and holds two Super Bowl rings.  Yes, Big Ben has questionable morals and poor judgment but the bottom line is he wins game.  He will clean up his act following his four game suspension (according to reports) and be a difference maker.  So why wouldn’t teams offer a legitimate trade offer to the Steelers who would likely take far less than he’s worth?  Because today’s franchises are enamored with the what could be instead of the what is.  Any team that needs a QB they should offer their 1st round pick in a heartbeat-that includes the Cleveland Browns.

With the NFL Draft’s new schedule it is highly likely the Browns will move around to get coveted players.  They have a wealth of picks and with Holmgren calling the shots, this is an exciting time to be a Brown’s fan.  Although they showed dramatic improvement over the 2nd half of the season, there is still plenty of room for improvement.  However, with Holmgren in charge and the dramatic improvement of the defense, the Browns could be a factor in the AFC North in 2010.

Stemavo Rheulus, Senior Writer

The 2010 NFL team schedules have been released with both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals schedules now having become public. The 2010 Cleveland Browns schedule begins with two very winnable games playing at Tampa Bay in week one and against Kansas City in week two. Overall, if the Browns can show improvement in the first year with Mike Holmgrem in charge and in Eric Mangini’s second season as head coach, the Browns could potentially start moving their franchise in the right direction thanks to a somewhat favorable schedule. The 2010 Cincinnati Bengals schedule has the defending AFC North Champions starting the season @ New England before hosting division rival Baltimore in week two.

Cleveland Browns 2010 1st Round NFL Draft Preview

The 2009 version of the Cleveland Browns looked like an expansion team for most of the season and had their share of distractions to boot.  The distractions were in the form of butter fingers and bad attitude.  Each were eliminated when malcontent Braylon Edwards was sent packing to New York.  The Browns also fired GM George Kokinis during the season.  As result chaos ensued and the offense was putrid to say the least.  Then something astonishing happened in the 2nd half of the season- the Browns looked like a legitimate football team.  Head Coach Eric Mangini rallied the troops resulting in a four game winning streak to end the season.  Near the end of the season veteran Head Coach Mike Holmgren was hired as the team’s new President.  Speculation arose that Mangini would be sent packing but he survived the storm.  Former Philadelphia Eagle GM Tom Heckert, JR. was brought in at the same position with the Browns.

As the NFL playoffs continue, talk of the 2010 NFL Draft increases.  The draft “gurus” act more like soothsayers instead of football analysts in their tabloid style reports.  Their projected drafts change more than Tiger Woods’ personality and have as much substance.  Instead of the typical rhetoric and quarterback hyperbole, we will focus on team needs and player evaluations.

It has been long debated what are the most important positions in football.  Obviously, QB is the first position that comes to mind and few teams can win without at least an adequate QB.  Teams such as the 2008 Baltimore Ravens and the 2009 New York Jets have won with sub-par play behind center but their margin for error is miniscule.  Left tackle is also another position that is quick to mind.  However, like in baseball where teams build up the middle, the same applies to football where d-tackles are essential as are middle linebackers but the most important position may in fact be the safety position.

In the 2009 season the Pittsburgh Steelers lost All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu for the majority of the season.  Their vaunted defense, which led them to the 2008 Super Bowl, wasn’t the same as Pittsburgh limped to a 9-7 record.  The New Orleans Saints defense was given little respect after the 2008 season until they signed grizzled veteran Darren Sharper.  The team became more aggressive and forced turnovers behind the passion and instincts of Sharper.  The Denver Broncos also had a horrible 2008 season on the defensive side of the ball which prompted them to sign veteran safety Brian Dawkins.  Dawkins made an immediate impact as he became the emotional leader just as he was in Philly.  Granted, the safeties mentioned are extremely good but from a Browns’ perspective the same situation occurred in 1991.

The Browns drafted head hunting safety Eric Turner out of UCLA with the second pick of the draft in 1991.  His arrival coincided with the arrival of new Head Coach Bill Belichick.  Although the Browns were mired under .500 for three seasons it wasn’t a result of their play on the defensive side of the ball.  Turner dramatically impacted the defense and made wide receivers squeamish when coming across the middle.  In their lone playoff season under Belichick, Turner led the league with nine interceptions and was a member of the Pro Bowl squad.  Will the Browns follow the 1991 draft?  There are two safeties who could be elite.  The first is Eric Berry from Tennessee.  He is a ball hawking safety who lacks size but has the ball skills an instincts that defensive coordinators dream of.  He will likely be gone when the Browns pick at # 7.  Their only likely shot at safety will be hard hitting Taylor Mays.  Many pundits have dropped Mays down do to what they feel are lack of coverage skills.  The fact is the 6’3”-230lb Mays is incredibly fast for a player his size and would be very effective against the run and most importantly pack the lumber.  If they do not choose a safety the linebacker position is the obvious choice.

The Browns have the defensive tackle position solidified with monster Shaun Rogers but the linebackers struggled throughout especially with the injuries to starters Eric Barton and D’Qwell Jackson.  The Browns not only lack sure tacklers and physical enforcers but also emotional and spiritual leaders.  The signing of Matt Roth certainly helped but if they do not take a safety they should go to the best linebacker in the draft, Alabama’s Rolando McClain.  McClain was the leader of one of the best defenses in the nation both in the huddle and in the field of play.  He is smart, instinctive and a head thumper as he stands in at 6-4 and 258 lbs.  He would step on the field and start immediately.  He would be the glue to the Browns defense for years to come while calling out the pre-snap reads and being a vocal leader.

In summary, if the Browns land Berry, Mays or McClain fans will have a player they can be proud of and a player that will make a impact.  Remember Browns fans, Mangini is largely responsible for what happened with the Jets.  He turned in the same record as Rex Ryan did this season when he received overblown accolades.  With Holmgren, Heckert and Mangini-the Browns future is finally looking bright.

Stemavo Rheulus, Senior Writer

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Eric Mangini will return to coach the Browns in 2010.  Speculation rose, despite the four game winning streak to end the season, that new Browns President Mike Holmgren would oust the heavily scrutinized Mangini.  Mangini met the Browns brass the last two days which led to the announcement today.

This is a good move for the Browns.  Yes it was a miserable season but with consideration to the hand he was dealt, Mangini did a great job in the 2nd half of the season.  The team played hard and improved as the season wore on.  Key players such as Josh Cribbs and Jerome Harrison excelled over the final four contests and will be key to a successful 2010.  Mangini’s system is a complicated but his philosphy and team concept is even more difficult for players to grasp.  The fact that Mangini was able to clean house (sending malcontents Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow packing) and still show improvement is a testament to his coaching style and doctrine.  He believes firmly in high character guys who believe in team first.  The future may finally be bright in Cleveland with Holgren overseeing the organization, Mangini as the Head Coach and defensive guru Rob Ryan coaching the defense.

Keep checking in with ohiosportstime.com as we will have updated needs for the team and draft previews.

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Tonight’s National Championship game will be filled with NFL prospects.  For the Browns, the one that matters is Rolando McClain.  Yes the secondary struggled and the offense was inept for most of the season; however, in a 3-4 defense linebackers are key.  None are better than the studious McClain.  He is the leader of the best defense in the nation and has a rare combination of size and speed- the kind defensive coordinators drool over.  There is no doubt the Browns defense would instantly be better with McClain on board.  The junior linebacker will have his hands full tonight against Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns.

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

The Browns end their season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game which only impacts their position in the draft.  The Browns look to finish the season with four straight wins under the watchful eye of new President Mike Holmgren.  The Jags are still scratching their heads on a season that got away.  Speculation grows surrounding the drafting of college phenom Tim Tebow.  Next week we will review the 2009 Browns and offer a glimpse of the 2010 draft.

The Bengals sit at 10-5 as they travel to New York to face the 8-7 Jets on Sunday night.  The only movement for the Bengals is possibly moving up to a number three seed.  All will be settled before the game kicks off so there may be little drama.  The Jets will most likely still need a win to get in the playoffs.  The Bengals best match-up in the playoffs would be a Jets team that severely struggles on the offensive side of the ball.  As result it would behooves the Bengals to rest their starters and prepare for the wild card game to be played in Cincinnati.  Next week we will have a complete preview of the Bengals 1st round game and the playoffs as a whole.

Enjoy week 17!!

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer