One of the most obvious points that can be made – and surely has been made – about the San Francisco 49ers this season is that Alex Smith could be even better than his current just-good-enough status if he had a clear cut No. 1 receiver. Even without one, he’s still managed to put together a decent enough statline of 3,000 yards (most likely) with 16 TDs and only 5 INTs. Somewhere Trent Dilfer is nodding his head in approval.

The guy that was supposed to be that difference maker in the receiving corps was Braylon Edwards, who signed a sweetheart deal with the 49ers while rehabbing his knee. Turns out that knee never healed enough and Edwards couldn’t be the receiver the NFC West champs wanted him to be, and for that they released him today. Boy, I bet he’s super pissed about that. Give ‘em hell, Ol’ Dropsies.

“I was released today by the 49ers due to my injury that required more time to rehab and hasn’t allowed me to re-sync with the offense. I wish the 49ers organization the best of luck during the Playoffs. I will be working hard this off season to strengthen my knee and prepare for the 2012 season. Thanks for your continued support and for being such loyal fans.”

I suppose the first thing he’ll want to do is change that banner title on his website. But it’s cool that he holds no ill feelings toward San Fran and he’s willing to wish them luck. Now, though, the team is a man short and my choice for MVP, kicker David Akers, can’t carry this team all on his own like he did during the regular season.

So let’s go ahead and make our way down to the rumor bomb shelter and prepare for Terrell Owens rumors in 3… 2… 1…

While most New York Jets fans were being talked off their figurative ledges, the team’s stars were out tearing up the clubs in New York City in the hours after their 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. Quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Braylon Edwards showed up to the Juliet Supper Club around 3 am, where Edwards racked up a $2,500 tab, which included a $1,100 bottle of champagne. Meanwhile, I drank George Dickel and Tab.

But while Edwards was in the DJ booth, telling the crowd that the Jets will make it to the Super Bowl next year, Sanchez was wiping his boogers on more important matters:

A source said: “Mark sat with Braylon for a short while, but soon enough he was back at the bar flirting with the bartender, a gorgeous South American girl — busty with long, dark-reddish hair. They were doing shots together, and he kept whispering in her ear and holding her hand. He looked pretty enamored and was at the bar until closing time.” (Via Fox Sports)

Play on, playboy. Meanwhile, World Vision, a humanitarian organization that focuses on child poverty throughout the world, has secured two generous donations from the Jets and the Chicago Bears – their respective AFC and NFC Championship merchandise.

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New York Jets Mark Sanchez threw for three touchdown passes as his team won on the road in a close Sunday night game against the Tennessee Volunteers Miami Dolphins, 31-23. Sanchez’ exploits, which coincided with the league’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, were overshadowed by the stellar play of Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall and the return of Jets receiver Braylon Edwards, who racked up 87 yards and a TD to compliment the 0.16 BAC he scored two weeks ago.

“He worked so hard all week long,” Sanchez said. “As soon as he stepped in the building, he let everything outside the building go. … We loved him all week long, just the same as before the incident, and we’ll continue doing the same thing.”[..]

“I really am glad that I have teammates and an organization like the Jets,” Edwards said. “They’ve been very supportive, been there for me and they’ve allowed me to have a better week than maybe somewhere else.” –Y! Sports.

I don’t know exactly how one “celebrates” Hispanic Heritage Month in a way that doesn’t come off as racially patronizing. Should I hang up a piñata and beat it while wearing a sombrero? Should I high-five my landscaping neighbors as all 15 team of them parade, clown-car-style, out of their one-bedroom apartment? Help me out here, people. I’M TRYING TO COMMEMORATE DIVERSITY!

Jets wide receiver and avid taunter, Braylon Edwards, was arrested for a DWI early this morning. Edwards blew a .16, twice the legal limit, when breathalyzed, but authorities were more concerned with the toxicity of his beard. It was quickly rushed to the emergency room after blowing a .36.

Edwards, 27, was stopped while driving erratically in a Range Rover with heavily tinted windows at 34th St. and 12th Ave. at 5:13 a.m., according to cops.

Edwards, who was riding with two men and a woman in his vehicle, blew .16 on a Breathalyzer test of blood-alcohol content, police sources said. The legal limit is .08.

Edwards, according to one source, told the officers that “he was fine and had two drinks or so.” –NY Daily News

Two drinks? Unless they were triple distilled moonshine, you’re what we professional boozers like to refer to as a ‘lightweight.’ What’s the matter, Braylon, too full to finish your appletini? That’s fine, now let me proceed to shotgun this Natty Light right in your face. It tastes like testosterone. Edwards could face up to a $50,000 fine by the NFL if convicted, which may keep him from taking that weekend to Vegas in a private jet. That’s a shame, considering the prepubescent factory workers in Taiwan making his shoes slept in til 5:30 today.

Less than a week after punching out on of LeBron James’ “kids,” Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards was literally kicked out of Cleveland. And I thought all those references to LeBron “owning the town” were just figurative. Braylon was sent to the Jets for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik, and two draft picks, reportedly a 3rd- and a 5th-round pick.

The trade comes just two days after a Cleveland man accused Edwards of assault outside a nightclub in the city. The man is a friend of Cavs star LeBron James, who said Edwards’ alleged assault was motivated by “jealousy.”

This is the second major trade between the Browns and Jets since Mangini joined Cleveland after being dismissed by the Jets in January. The Jets acquired the fifth overall pick from the Browns in April, and then selected Sanchez with the choice. via.

Yeah, what the hell is up with the big trades? Is Mangini raiding the Browns? We’ll know in three months, depending on whether or not the entire Jets locker room ends up with a staph infection. also.

The “Friends of Lebron” tag makes its debut on With Leather today as we discuss this bizarre story of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards allegedly punching out Edward Givens, who works as an events promoter-slash-Friend of LeBron. I have no idea why I spelled out the slash there.

A police report gives these details: Givens was talking to the suspect outside the club when the suspect started an argument. The suspect then punched Givens with a closed first on the left side of his face. Givens told officers he would seek treatment at Lutheran Hospital.

The suspect’s name on the police report is redacted. But multiple sources and the victim say the suspect is Edwards. via.

Givens wasn’t surprised that the NFL’s droppingest receiver came after him outside of View Ultralounge & Nightclub early Monday morning.

“Everyone knows Braylon has a problem with LeBron. So I had to speak up for myself. The conversation started to escalate. As some of his teammates started to pull him back, he punched me. I have a black eye and a cut. I’m not a violent guy.

“As long as I’ve known Braylon, I’ve allowed him and his friends to come into our events free of charge. Whatever jealousy he has with LeBron, he felt he needed to take it out on me.”

Braylon would probably do well for himself to get to bed a little earlier and stop dropping so many passes. But this…this is just weird. Dude PLAYS IN THE NFL. And not well, either. Why’s he punching out club promoters? Why not punch out somebody that deserves it? Like Larry Dolan. Or Eric Mangini. Or anyone living in Cleveland that’s not friends with LeBron.