Marcus Baugh is a tight end from California. The OSU freshmen reported to campus in June.

Marcus BaughOhio State Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State freshman tight end Marcus Baugh, according to Franklin County court records, entered a not guilty plea this morning to a charge of underage drinking after he was arrested just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday near the OSU campus.

A team spokesman confirmed that the football program is aware of the arrest.

Baugh is a four-star recruit from California. The OSU football freshmen reported to campus in June. Preseason practice begins Aug. 4.

Ohio State has two established tight ends in junior Jeff Heuerman and sophomore Nick Vannett, as well as redshirt freshman Blake Thomas.

A Cleveland Indians season-ticket holder ended up with four foul balls on Sunday during a game at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Greg Van Niel beat the odds Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. The Indians season-ticket holder caught four -- that's no typo -- foul balls by the fifth inning of the Tribe's 6-4 win over Kansas City, according to a story on tribevibe on mlblogs.com.

The odds of that happening? One in a trillion, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

Sitting in section 160 (row FF, seat 3), Van Niel's fourth foul ball of the afternoon came off the bat of Michael Brantley in the fifth inning. While he kept the first three balls, he flipped the fourth ball to other fans nearby. Sunday's attendance: 15,432.

"Three of them were catches and one was a ball I picked up off the ground," said Van Niel in a story on the site. "The third one I think was the hardest one -- I think I ended up sprawled across a few rows, and I got some cheese on myself. But the other ones were just a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

Coming to the game, Van Niel had never caught a foul ball at Progressive Field. He exchanged tickets to book seats in section 160.

"Michael Bourn hit one that was off the facade [of the suites overhead], and that's where I was in the cheese fries. . . . [That] one was crazy acrobatics. I was strewn across three rows, and I needed some assistance getting back. The others were just being in the right place at the right time," said Van Niel on the tribevibe site.

His advice to fans hoping to get just one foul ball? "We had the exchange tickets, so yeah, I'm going to try to get these seats for next year. Row FF, Section 160, Seat 3 if you're looking for tickets – it's the magic seat," he said.

And, in case you were wondering, yes, he did bring a glove to the game.

Tonight is the 2013 MLB Home Run Derby from Citi Field in New York City, and this year's show will feature several unheralded stars ready to shine bright. Get updates throughout the night.

Tonight is the 2013 MLB Home Run Derby from Citi Field in New York City, and this year's show will feature several unheralded stars ready to shine bright.

Participants: American League - Prince Fielder, Tigers; Chris Davis, Orioles; Robinson Cano, Yankees; Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics.

Greg Van Niel didn't check the math himself, but he doesn't think it's really so outlandish that he caught four foul balls at Sunday's game between the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals. Watch video

Greg Van Niel is no math major, but he has serious doubts that the odds are really one-in-a-trillion.

Given that section 160 of Progressive Field is in perfect alignment for left-handed batters, given that there were just 15,432 fans at Sunday's Tribe game, given that there are only a precious few sections where foul balls can even land in a stadium, he thinks it's not that unusual that he caught four foul balls in the Indians 6-4 victory over Kansas City.

"I don't know if I believe the trillion-to-one," the Cleveland Heights resident said Monday. "I think someone made that up."

Statisticians, your move.

No matter what the odds, it's undeniable that Van Niel catching four foul balls in one game Sunday was pretty impressive.

The first was a line-drive from Tribe third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall that was headed for Van Niel's wife and 10-year-old daughter until he stuck out his glove.

The second was a pop fly off the bat of Royals' outfielder Alex Gordon that he had to fend off his own brother to come up with.

The third is what Van Niel refers to as the "cheese fries ball," the one off the bat of Michael Bourn that bounced off the upper-deck facade and ricocheted back to row FF, where he was waiting in seat No. 4 ... but he still had to lean backward and fall into a plate of cheese fries in order to make the snag.

"The third one was my favorite," Van Niel said, grinning.

By the time Van Niel nabbed his fourth foul ball -- off a Michael Brantley foul, a ball that he humbly proclaims nearly fell into his clutches when the fans behind him missed it -- it was so ho-hum that he tossed the ball into another section.

Dan Linder and his 15-year-old son Chad came up with that ball -- but happily returned it to its original catcher Monday.

"I didn't even register with me then that I should give it back to him," Linder said. "(But) I'm a baseball purist. That was a record-setting ball."

Still modest about the whole ordeal a day later, Van Niel proclaimed he didn't buy a single lottery ticket afterward, didn't even think that the fourth foul ball is something he should have held onto during the game for its Ebay potential.

"I don't think foul balls merit a whole section in the Hall of Fame," he scoffed, grinning. "Though, I guess from a statistical perspective it's kind of special."

But a trillion-to-one? Van Niel isn't buying it.

As for whether his heroics in the final Indians game before the All-Star break is a good omen for the Tribe's second half? Van Niel thinks that one adds up logically, of course.

"Yeah, they better do well because I caught four foul balls," he said. "I did my part."

Nine employees depart Pilot Flying J amid investigation into fuel rebate fraud

Jimmy Haslam says Pilot Flying J has finished auditing the accounts of its manual fuel rebate customers and sent checks to every trucking company in the program that was owed money.

In a letter made public Monday, but dated July 12, the chief executive of the nation's biggest truck stop chain invited all its manual rebate customers to discuss or verify Pilot's audit findings.

Haslam said Pilot is continuing an internal review of each of the nearly 5,000 diesel fuel accounts of any type that it has with truckers, from January 2008 to date.

"We understand that Pilot Flying J still has lots of work to do to regain your trust," Haslam said in a three-page letter updating customers on steps he pledged to take after release of the explosive affidavit the FBI used to support its mid-April raid on Pilot offices.

Federal agents said top Pilot officials devised a scheme to secretly reduce fuel rebates to trucking companies, targeting customers they deemed too unsophisticated to notice.

Five employees have pleaded guilty to federal charges arising from the alleged fraud, and several of them have agreed to cooperate with investigators. About 20 trucking firms have sued in federal or state courts. The suits are expected to be consolidated during a judicial hearing July 25 in Portland, Maine.

In his letter, Haslam said six members of Pilot's sales team have resigned or been fired. He earlier had announced that three sales employees were placed on administrative leave.

Haslam did not identify any of the employees who have departed, but his letter named a replacement for John Freeman, vice president of sales.

Freeman is quoted extensively in the FBI affidavit in conversations secretly recorded by an informant. In one excerpt, Freeman offers to cut a check to a trucking firm, Western Express, that suspected it had been cheated out of fuel rebates. Instead, Pilot went along with a Western Express demand that it buy a plane for which the trucking company owed $1 million, according to the affidavit.

Haslam said in his letter that David Hughes, who joined Pilot last year from a Chattanooga, Tenn., trucking company, has been promoted to Freeman's job. Haslam also announced two other hires, for manager of inside sales and vice president.

Although Pilot has finished auditing its manual rebate books, the independent investigator hired by Pilot's board of directors - Reid Weingarten -- continues with an internal investigation into the alleged fraud scheme.

Meanwhile, Pilot lawyer Aubrey Harwell said Monday that he also has investigators at work, a team of auditors and retired FBI agents who are probing what took place. The group includes former agents Bob Gibson and Ben Purser, Harwell confirmed.

"The Weingarten team was retained by the board to do an outside independent investigation," Harwell said. "My job is to represent the company, so my objectives are not the same as theirs."

Defensive end Ford was a great pass rusher and superb run-stopper, helping the Browns win three NFL championships.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.

No. 12, LEN FORD, defensive end, 1950-57

The headlines usually went to the Browns offense with its array of high-profile stars, but the defense was even more of a constant for Cleveland during the dominating early years of the franchise.

The Browns won the All-America Football Conference title in all four years (1946-49) of the league's existence. They played in the NFL championship game each of the next six years (1950-55), winning three times. After a 5-7 record in 1956 following the retirement of Otto Graham, the Browns got back to the title game in running back Jim Brown's rookie season, 1957, though they lost.

In their first 12 seasons, the Browns allowed the fewest points in the league 10 times. In the two other seasons, they gave up the second-fewest points.

End Len Ford was the Browns' most dominating defensive player for several years after the team's move to the NFL. In fact, many longtime observers would say that Cleveland has not had a defensive player since who could match Ford's impact.

Hall of Famer Ford was a revolutionary player in a sense. His variety of attributes allowed the Browns to use him in multiple ways on the outside of their defensive front. Often, he would line up in a two-point (standing) stance though positioned on the line of scrimmage. In large part due to Ford, defensive end was re-defined as a prime pass-rushing position. Until Ford, more of the effective routes to the quarterback may have come from the interior linemen. His play was a preview of what would be expected of today's "speed rushers."

The University of Michigan used Ford at both defensive and offensive end. The Wolverines won the national championship in his senior season.

Ford was picked by the Los Angeles Dons in the third round of the 1948 AAFC draft. He excelled at defensive end for the Dons, but also at receiver, used much like the modern tight end. Ford caught 67 passes for eight touchdowns and an average gain of 17.5 yards with L.A. He also intercepted two passes.

The Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts joined the NFL when the AAFC folded following the 1949 season. Former AAFC players not on those teams were put into a dispersal draft for the established NFL teams and for the three former AAFC teams which had been absorbed into the NFL. The Browns took Ford with their second pick.

Cleveland had some of football's best receivers with Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie and running back Dub Jones hauling in Otto Graham's passes. Thus, Ford would play exclusively on defense for the Browns.

Ford, in his first Cleveland season, 1950, took over the starting spot at right end -- the position where he would stay. In the season's fifth game, though, a 34-24 Browns win over the Chicago Cardinals at Cleveland Stadium, Ford broke his nose, fractured both cheekbones and lost some teeth in a fight.

Ford had surgery and missed the remainder of the regular season but returned for the NFL championship game matching the Browns and Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Stadium. He wore a helmet with a specially-fitted mask to protect his injuries. He had been on a liquid diet and lost significant weight. Still, Ford made several key plays as the Browns rallied to win, 30-28, on Lou Groza's 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left.

The Browns and Ford would also be champions in 1954 with a 56-10 rout of the Detroit Lions in Cleveland, and in 1955 with a 38-14 victory over the Rams in Los Angeles. Against Detroit, Ford intercepted two passes, returning one for 45 yards. He also picked off a pass in the win over Los Angeles.

Ford was strong and fast. He'd shed and overpower blockers or get around them with his quickness. Occasionally when a blocker was set up low, Ford would simply jump over the guy. Statistics weren't kept back then for quarterback sacks and for tackles of running backs behind the line of scrimmage. If they had been, Ford certainly would have been among the leaders year after year. Opponents would abandon some of their pet plays to avoid direct confrontations with him. Ford's pursuit always brought him around the football. He recovered 19 fumbles in regular season Browns games, scoring a touchdown on one of them.

Prior to the 1958 season, the Browns traded Ford to Green Bay for a 1959 fourth-round draft pick. He played one year for the Packers then retired at age 32.

Ford died of heart disease on March 13, 1972. He was 46.

(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)

Video: (No sound in this video) Len Ford (80) is at right defensive end for the Browns during their 17-16 loss to the Lions in the 1953 NFL championship game at Detroit. Beginning at about 6:40 in, see the five plays Ford makes -- the first two, at 6:40 and 8:10, in a 3-point (one hand on the ground) stance; the next three, beginning at 9:15, in a two-point (standing) stance. In order, Ford recovers a Lions' fumble; tackles a running back near the line of scrimmage; hurries Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne into two incomplete passes with his pass rush; is in on a sack of Layne:

Video: Len Ford (80) is at right defensive end, usually in a two-point stance, in early action during the Browns' 17-7 loss to the Detroit Lions in the 1952 NFL championship game at Cleveland Stadium:

Tyler Zeller totaled 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting with 12 rebounds before fouling out and Dion Waiters scored 16 points but was 5 of 16 from the field and committed five turnovers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, 66-62, in a Las Vegas Summer League game on Monday.

Cavaliers center Tyler Zeller scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in 28 minutes before fouling out. Shooting guard Dion Waiters scored 16 points in 30 minutes but was 5 of 16 from the field and committed five turnovers.

Jermaine Taylor scored 10 points in 15 minutes for Cleveland, making 4 of 6 field goal tries, including 2 of 3 from beyond the 3-point arc. Taylor is a 6-4 shooting guard who played 34 games for the Houston Rockets in the 2009-10 season and a combined 31 games for Houston and the Sacramento Kings in 2010-11.

Swingman Carrick Felix, the Cavaliers' second-round pick (33rd overall) in last month's NBA draft, had four points and three rebounds in 25 minutes. He was 2 of 8 from the field.

Forward Lance Thomas led New Orleans with 14 points and 10 rebounds and guard Austin Rivers had 13 points.

Both teams are 2-1 in Summer League games. Tournament play begins Wednesday.

Video: Dion Waiters scored a game-high 16 points in the Cavaliers' first summer league loss. Tyler Zeller added 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Cleveland Indians All-Stars Jason Kipnis and Justin Masterson are thrilled to be in New York, but they're more excited about the second half of the season for the second-place Tribe. Watch video

NEW YORK  -- It was hot in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field on Monday afternoon. Justin Masterson and Jason Kipnis sweated freely in a room packed with reporters prowling about asking every available American League All-Star questions they'll probably never hear again.

Masterson was asked about his favorite music and recording artists. He answered in depth.

Another reporter asked him which National League All-Star he feared the most as a pitcher.

"Anyone who can hit a homer off me," said Masterson with a smile.

Kipnis was asked to make a funny face into a TV camera. He did.

He was asked about his thoughts on Twitter, his new Instagram account (@jasonkipnis22) and what makes Miguel Cabrera such a great hitter. A reporter asked him about New York's reputation for brashness.

"I'm from Chicago," said Kipnis. "I'm used to it. I like big cities and I like New York."

The Indians' two rookie All-Stars handled things just fine. Even the heat.

"Sweaty ... very sweaty," said Kipnis, when asked his impression of his first All-Star Game. "But you're not going to hear me complain. For the next couple of days I'll be on cloud nine."

Masterson and Kipnis brought plenty of friends and family to share the experience.

"My mom, dad, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister, brother, my sister's husband and a couple of friends are here," said Masterson. "We've got a nice little crew coming in."

Kipnis' guest list included: "Everyone. I brought them all in. We even have a few cousins. We needed the All-Star Game bonus ($10,000) because now it's all gone."

Masterson and Kipnis said they planned on enjoying Monday night's home run derby and the festivities that followed.

"I'll hang out with the people," said Masterson. "I'm a man who likes to meet people and understand what they're about. It's been fun to be around chit-chatting with a few of the guys, just hanging out and enjoying the whole craziness of the All-Star Game."

Kipnis grew up watching the Home Run Derby on TV. Monday night he planned on taking in the power display.

"I'm going to be right on the field with my camera," he said.

In listening to Masterson and Kipnis, it seemed like the best part of the All-Star Game was what awaited them when they rejoined the Indians on Friday in Minneapolis to start the final 2 1/2 months of the season.

The Indians, working on a four-game winning streak, trail Detroit by only 1 1/2 games in the AL Central. At 51-44, it's the first time they've had 50 or more wins at the All-Star break since 2007, the last year they made the postseason.

Still, if the season ended today, they wouldn't make the postseason, even with an extra wild card. Right now that doesn't mean a whole lot to Masterson and Kipnis. The fact that the Indians are in the race does.

"I don't think anyone is really satisfied with the way we've played in the first half, but we've kept it really close," said Masterson. "But as the second half comes, I think you're going to see guys step up offensively. Our bullpen is going to get better and our starters, myself included, are going to get deeper into games.

"If you would tell me I'd never play in an All-Star Game, but I'd win a couple of World Series, I'd take that in a heartbeat."

Two years ago Kipnis was the starting second baseman for Team USA in the Futures Game. He homered.

The Futures Game begins MLB's All-Star three-day party every year. Now Kipnis is playing in the grand ballroom.

"It's been a fun two years," said Kipnis.

But he realizes the real work of the season resumes Friday at Target Field.

"We're right in the thick of things," said Kipnis. "That's what you want. That's what you play for. It's an honor to be part of All-Star Game, but it's two days and then you go back to your team.

"To go back to a team that's still in the thick of things is the best."

AL manager Jim Leyland says retiring New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game.

New York -- Not a bad pitching matchup for Tuesday night's 84th edition of the All-Star Game at Citi Field.

Max Scherzer will start for the American League, while Matt Harvey opens for the National League. Scherzer won his first 13 decisions for Detroit before losing Saturday to Texas in his last start before the break. Harvey, the Mets No. 1 starter, will be pitching in front of his hometown crowd.

It will be the first All-Star Game appearance for both Scherzer and Harvey.

Scherzer (13-1, 3.19) has 152 strikeouts in 129 2/3 innings in 19 starts.

"This really means a lot to me, especially since it's my first All-Star Game," said Scherzer. "This is what you dream about in the game. We go through the season and you see guys who can just deal. For the skipper [manager Jim Leyland] to give me the nod over those guys means so much to me."

Harvey (7-2, 2.35) is the third Mets pitcher to start an All-Star Game. Dwight Gooden started in 1986 and 1988 and Tom Seaver in 1970. The 6-4, 225-pound right-hander has struck out 147 in 130 innings.

"It really wouldn't have mattered what city we were playing in, Matt would have been the starting pitcher," said NL manager Bruce Bochy. "He's just had a tremendous year."

Dream weaver: Leyland has a scenario in mind on how he'd like to see Tuesday night's game end at Citi Field.

The main ingredient is a late-inning lead over the National League.

"I think it would be the most beautiful touch in the world if we can somehow get a lead and play the ninth inning with the greatest closer of all-time," said Leyland during Monday's All-Star workout day. "I can assure you that, that would happen."

Leyland paused and added, "We need to get that lead first."

If there is no lead, Leyland still plans on pitching Mariano Rivera, baseball's all-time saves leader, who is retiring at the end of the season.

"I'm assuming that Mariano Rivera comes to this game very healthy," said Leyland. "You can rest assured that he will be on the mound at some point. You will see No. 42 pitch."

Pen to paper: Leyland on what went into making out his lineup: "We put [Mike] Trout up top and bunched a bunch of power guys together. I felt comfortable with my lineup. These are the greatest players around so it's pretty hard to mess up."

Change of plans: Cardinal closer Edward Mujica, who made his big-league debut with the Indians, found out Sunday that he was going to the All-Star Game.

"I never thought something like this could happen," said Mujica. "This is something they can never take away. You're always going to be an All-Star."

Adam Wainright, Mujica's teammate, started Sunday and made the decision to give up his spot if Mujica could replace him. Mujica is 26-for-27 in save opportunities.

"The first time I went to the big leagues in Cleveland I was 22 years old," said Mujica. "I was just going out there and trying to pitch.

"But as you get older, you get smarter. I'm 29 now. I'm not the same guy I was in Cleveland, who just went out there and tried to throw the ball. My stuff is better. I learned more and got more opportunities to be out there and make it happen."

Mujica said All-Star catcher Yadier Molina has had a lot to do with his success.

"When you have Yadie behind the plate, it's an unbelievable feeling," said Mujica. "He makes you feel comfortable and when you feel comfortable that's the best thing."

Good teammate: Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips, the NL's starting second baseman, is a fan of his center fielder, Shin-Soo Choo: "Shin-Soo Choo is one of the best players in the game," Phillips said. "One of the reasons I have the number of RBI I do is because he gets on base."

Finally: There are 39 first-year All-Stars in this year's game.

Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes won the 2013 Home Run Derby on Monday night, 8-9, over Washington's Bryce Harper.

NEW YORK -- Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis, whose 37 homers were the most by any player in the big leagues before the All-Star break, didn't make it out of the second round Monday night in MLB's Home Run Derby at Citi Field.

Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes and Washington's Bryce Harper, who hit a combined 28 homers in the first half, swung their way past Davis and Michael Cuddyer to reach the finals where Cespedes out-homered Harper, 9-8, to win the title.

Cespedes sent a buzz through the sellout crowd in the first round by hitting 17 homers. He sent most of them into the left field seats.

He followed that with six in the second round and nine in the third.

Harper, with his father Ron pitching, hit eight homers in the first, eight in the second and eight in the third. Harper started the final round with eight homers -- homer totals from the first two rounds do not carry over into the finals -- giving Cespedes a target. He did not miss it.

Cespedes won it with a 455-foot drive to center field for his ninth and final homer. He hit 15 homers going into the break for the A's.

Mike Gallego, Oakland's third base coach, was Cespedes' pitcher.

Video: Home Run Derby highlights

Cespedes, Harper, Cuddyer and Davis advanced to the second round.

It was not a good night for former Derby winners. Prince Fielder, a two-time champion, hit five and was eliminated in the first round. Fielder was a Derby winner in 2009 and 2012.

AL captain Robinson Cano, who won it in 2011, joined Fielder by the wayside as he hit just four homers in the first round.

NL captain David Wright, swinging in front of his hometown Mets fans, didn't make it out of the first round. Wright, who finished second in the Derby in 2006, hit only five homers.

In each round, a player had 10 outs to hit as many homers as he could. Any ball that didn't go over the fence was an out.

Video: CineSport's Noah Coslov reports from Citi Field as Bryce Harper talks about finishing runner-up in the Home Run Derby.

American League, with a roster that includes Indians pitcher Justin Masterson and second baseman Jason Kipnis, plays the National League in the All-Star Game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

 

7:05 p.m. Erie at AKRON AEROS, AM/1350


7:30 p.m. Major League Baseball All-Star Game, WJW 



CYCLING

 

8 a.m. Tour de France, Stage 16, NBCSN 

 

If Brown matches his number of receptions from last season, he would wind up No. 5 on Ohio State's list of all-time catches.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Maybe we've been thinking about Philly Brown the wrong way. A track man in high school, Brown came to Columbus built for speed. Maybe he should be admired more as a reliable ride who can get up and go at times, but whose greatest attribute is being there when he's needed.

Last year, Brown led the Buckeyes with 60 receptions, which tied with DeVier Posey's 2009 season for the sixth-best by a Buckeye. And that was with a passing game still earning its wings.

Now, there will be more options. Freshmen are coming to help. Devin Smith might be a more consistent deep threat instead of a hit-or-miss guy. Jake Stoneburner is gone, but the tight ends with Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett look good. Quarterback Braxton Miller will improve.

But like with running back Carlos Hyde, don't forget the guy who got it done on a fairly regular basis last year when he was just learning the ropes of a new system. The countdown of the 25 most important things in Ohio State's 2013 season now reaches another guy who shouldn't be taken granted, because his consistency will be needed …

No. 19: Relying on Philly Brown

19 days until the start of preseason practice

There's a video of Philly Brown (known then as Corey, which he still personally prefers to this day, but we can blame Jim Tressel for the Philly nickname) rallying in the anchor leg of the 4 X 400 relay in the Pennsylvania high school championship, taking his Cardinal O'Hara team from fifth to first, that makes you say, “I want that guy on my team.” I wonder if Urban Meyer has ever watched it? Seems like the kind of thing he'd like.

Brown is that guy. He's got that speed. Last year, after some drops early in his career, his hands improved. But he still didn't have enough wiggle for the coaches. His tendency to not get away from defenders was joked about by coaches last season, with Meyer saying, “He's allowed to make a guy miss once in a while and get more than eight yards.”

With freshmen like Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall this year, as well as the move of Jordan Hall to the slot, the Buckeyes should have more guys who can do that. But they'll work as a complement to Brown, who should still lead Ohio State in receptions and could end his career among Ohio State's top five in that category.

He has 82 catches right now, which puts his 21st in OSU history, one behind Posey. Another 60-catch season would put him fifth all-time, two ahead of Santonio Holmes and behind only David Boston, Cris Carter, Michael Jenkins and Gary Williams. Even if he takes a step back, if other slot guys take away some of his touches, 50 catches would tie him for seventh all-time.

But there should be two more games on the schedule, with the Big Ten title game and a bowl game, and if he'd somehow get to 87 catches, he'd be second all-time, behind just Boston's 191.

That's a lot to ask. But Meyer said in the middle of last year how much better Brown could get. That still holds true. The number of options on offense are growing, and that's a good thing for Ohio State. But with Hyde and Brown, the Buckeyes still need the guys who got it done last year.

At the time of his retirement, Speedie -- counting AAFC play -- ranked second all-time in American pro football in receptions and receiving yardage.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.

No. 11, MAC SPEEDIE, wide receiver, 1946-52

Mac Speedie caught the football at about as prolific a rate as any professional player ever had.

He didn't do it for some madcap, pass-happy team. The Browns usually threw the ball less often than half or so of the teams in the league. They happened to do it more efficiently over the course of a decade than did anyone else -- thanks to the design of the pass offense by coach Paul Brown and his staff in the team's early years and to the players, with quarterback Otto Graham, receivers Speedie, Dante Lavelli and Dub Jones and a committed group of pass blockers.

Speedie played for the Browns in their first seven seasons, during which they played in seven championship games, winning all four in the history of the All-America Football Conference (1946-49) and the title game in their very first NFL season (1950).

When Speedie retired, he had caught 349 passes for 5,602 yards (16.1 yards per catch) and 33 touchdowns in just 86 regular season games. The Browns played 14-game regular seasons in their first three years as a franchise and then 12-game slates over the rest of Speedie's career.

At the time of his retirement and despite his relatively few number of seasons, Speedie -- counting AAFC play -- ranked second all-time to only Don Hutson of the Green Bay Packers in receptions and receiving yardage.

Speedie's entire career was spent with the Browns, and he didn't begin it until he was 26. He was picked by the Detroit Lions in the 15th round with the 135th overall pick in the 1942 draft. That same year, he began a four-year stint in the U.S. Army, just after graduating from the University of Utah. He signed with the Browns as Paul Brown was building the first Browns' team. Brown, a U.S. Navy lieutenant, trained recruits at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and coached the station's football team. He saw Speedie playing for his Army base's team and was impressed with Speedie's abilities.

Speedie's final year with the Browns was at age 32, when he still had some good football left in him. He had just caught 62 passes in the 12-game campaign, leading his league in pass catches for a fourth time.

Speedie and coach Paul Brown were often at odds, though. Brown was intense, always serious, and Speedie was more casual. It's not that Speedie didn't take his work seriously. He, Graham, Lavelli and Jones (who joined the Browns in 1948, two years after the others) were diligent in spending extra time with each other on the practice field and in film study.

Prior to the 1953 season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union -- which in essence became the Canadian Football League -- offered Speedie a contract that represented a huge raise over what the Browns were paying him. He signed with the Roughriders and had two productive seasons with them. He went to the British Columbia Lions in 1955 but was sidelined after one game with knee and ankle injuries that resulted in surgery. Then 35, Speedie's career was over.

Speedie is recognized by football historians as one of the best players not in the Hall of Fame. His Browns teammates lobbied for years for his induction and he was a finalist in the voting in 1970 and 1972. Speedie and others speculated that his cool relationship with Paul Brown and the nature of his departure from the Browns -- going to another league -- negatively affected his Hall of Fame chances.

The 6-3 Speedie, an excellent blocker, played at about 200 pounds. He ran precise pass routes, had moves that confounded defenders and caught most everything that came his way. He was fast and extremely athletic, one of the nation's premier hurdlers in both high school and college. He accomplished all that he did despite having an awkward-looking running style. One of Speedie's legs was shorter than the other, the result of having to wear a leg brace for a few years when he was a youth. The brace was worn to correct a condition in which a growth or loss of bone mass in a hip joint affects the blood supply to that area of the hip.

Speedie earned various first-team all-league honors in all four AAFC seasons and in 1950 and 1952 in the NFL. In 1948 and 1949 he was on the combined AAFC/NFL first-teams.

In eight Browns' post-season games, Speedie caught 28 passes for 366 yards. He missed the Browns' 17-7 loss to the Detroit Lions in the 1952 championship game after hurting a knee in the regular season finale, which turned out to be his last game with Cleveland.

Speedie was the Denver Broncos' coach for the last 10 games of the 1964 season, all of 1965 and the first two games in 1966.

Speedie died at age 73 on March 12, 1993.

(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)

Video: Receiver Mac Speedie (58), usually lined up on the left side, and the Browns play the Rams in the 1951 NFL championship game in Los Angeles. Speedie caught seven passes for 81 yards but the Browns lost, 24-17:

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J and trucking companies strike deal to settle civil lawsuits

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J reached a settlement agreement today with trucking firms that sued the company over fuel rebate shortages -- a deal that is expected to cover thousands of customers of the nation's biggest retailer of diesel fuel.

The 38-page agreement reached in the court of U.S. District Judge James Moody in Arkansas calls for repaying the trucking firms what they are owed, plus 6 percent interest.

A spokeswoman for Moody said more than 4,000 customers of Pilot Flying J fall into the settlement class.
 
The agreement suggests the principal owed to trucking firms that were shorted on fuel rebates or discounts could total more than $40 million, and that attorneys' fees could add as much as another $14 million.

Also, the deal calls for the defendants to pay $10,000 to each member of the class as an "incentive award," within 30 days of the final settlement date.

Moody has not yet signed an order approving the settlement, but is expected to do so early this afternoon.

The agreement names nine trucking firms or individuals, but says it also covers "all others similarly situated."

Listed as defendants are Pilot Flying J; parent company Pilot Travel Centers; CVC Capital Partners, which owns a minority share of the truck stop chain; CEO Jimmy Haslam; and seven Pilot executives or managers, including President Mark Hazelwood and Vice President John Freeman.

The agreement calls for Pilot's internal auditors to continue investigating and calculating any money owed to individual trucking firms. An independent accountant is to be appointed by the court to review and verify the internal auditors' work.

Reporter John Caniglia contributed to this story.

Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips, the National League's starting second baseman for the All-Star game, talks and talks and talks.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips is having a blast at the All-Star game.Al Behrman, Associated Press 

NEW YORK -- Brandon Phillips, the National League's starting second baseman in Tuesday night's All-Star, was talking and smiling and joking with reporters during Monday's press conference at Citi Field.

Even talk of the Biogenesis investigation, that could lead to the suspension of several of his peers in the coming months, couldn't ruin his mood.

Asked if it would be a good or bad day for MLB if the suspensions become reality, Phillips said, "It's going to be a good day for me because my name is not on the list. No.2, it's going to be a bad day for the guys who could get kicked out of baseball and for all those guys who are sitting in their houses right now saying, "Dang, I could still be playing if not for that.'

Phillips, the former Indians' second baseman, continued.

"The other bad thing is for the guys who might get suspended, they are going to hurt their teams," he said. "They could be the superstars on their teams and the next thing you know they could miss 50 to 100 games. That's going to be a bad thing."

Phillips is appearing in his third All-Star game. He went into the break hitting .266 (93-for-349) for Cincinnati with 15 doubles, 12 homers and 74 RBI. Phillips, moved into the cleanup spot in early April, finished last year with 77 RBI.

He is one of MLB's most popular players on Twitter. His Twitter handle of @DatDudeBP has over 720,000 followers. But only Phillips could call Twitter "fun' and "the devil' in almost the same sentence.

"Twitter is fun," he said. "It's all about what you make of it. I think kids, when they reach a certain age, should be allowed on Twitter. But young kids shouldn't because they say all sorts of crazy things. . .Twitter is the devil."

Phillips doesn't mind the negative comments his Twitter account sometimes attracts.

"I have fun with it," he said. "You need haters, you need haters in your life. If you have haters in your life, it means you're doing something. That's like motivation to me.

"When somebody says something smart to me, I might comment on it. I might just laugh it off. Nobody gets to me. Anybody is bold behind a computer, but do they want to say it to my face?"

Here are four more points of view from Phillips:

-Mike Trout: "I think he's the best all-around player in baseball because he can do everything. He does the small things. He can play defense, steal bases, he has a good arm. Also, he has a Subway commercial."

-Shin-Soo Choo: "I'm looking forward to playing with him in the World Series."

-NL Central race in the second half: "I think it's a fun race for MLB and the fans. The Pirates are for real. The Cardinals are always for real. I tell everybody that the Cardinals are the best team in baseball.

"As for the Reds, we have to play better."

The Cardinals (57-36) went into the break with a one-game lead over the Pirates (56-37). The Reds (53-42) were five games back.

-Best thing about being at the All-Star game: "The best thing about being here is representing the city of Cincinnati and being here for the fans because they voted me in here. What else I can say. . .I look good up here."

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Fear The Sword, Dawg Pound Daily and Did The Tribe Win Last Night.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

Can Leon McFadden hold down the other corner position? (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer) 

"The other corner spot is a big question mark at this point. Most assume the team might as well hand the job to third round rookie Leon McFadden, but the Browns are going to make him earn the job. McFadden is slightly undersized but plays extremely tough and is not afraid to mix it up as a tackler. He has good body control with the ability to flip his hips and stay with receivers. His lack of height could be targeted early by opponents who have receivers with size. McFadden brings some talent out of San Diego State but it would be a mistake to assume he will automatically start.

This is the second coaching staff and front office that likes Buster Skrine. Fans assume he is terrible but he was good when he was within the script they had written out for him. Skrine was a project coming out of Chattanooga much like Jordan Cameron was out of USC with a long term focus on his development and a step by step approach. Athletically, he had it all coming out of college but he was more or less a track athlete that really needed technical development in the NFL. When Haden was playing and Skrine had a smaller role, he was effective and played physical, which is why NFL people like him. When Skrine was forced to play above his head, he struggled and really had trouble maintaining his confidence."

Danny Salazar has been getting ahead of hitters at every level. (Scott Shaw/Plain Dealer) 

"Overall, Salazar has shown what he is capable of over the month of July. He has an absolutely strong three pitches, with a dominant changeup. He seems to have a great control of his pitches, using his location to keep even some of the best hitters in the league guessing. When he is locked in he can induce ground balls when needed, get strikeouts or fly balls with what seems like a great understanding of the game and the type of team he is facing. The future is very bright for Salazar with his first MLB start and last two minor league starts making everyone in the Indians organization excited to see what the rest of July holds, let alone the rest of the season or his career."

Sergey Karasev has been playing well overseas. (AP Photo/Mikhail Serbin) 

"Sergey Karasev was taken 19th overall in the NBA Draft last month by the Cleveland Cavaliers, to the delight of slavophiles everywhere. It became clear almost immediately that Karasev was planning on coming over to the NBA right away, despite his young age of 19. With 1st overall choice Anthony Bennett injured, many were counting on Karasev to be a young prospect to keep an eye on at Las Vegas Summer League. That dream was squashed, though, when it became clear that Karasev was planning on playing at the World University Games with other young Russians. Taking place in Kazan, Russia, it makes sense that Karasev would want to play in a tournament that his country was hosting. So far, Karasev hasn't just been playing; he has been dominating.

In today's semifinal game against Canada, Karasev scored 20 points, recorded 10 rebounds, and passed out 7 assists in a 10 point victory. It is just a game, but I have been a little worried about Karasev's rebounding, so 10 against a pretty good Canadian team is pretty solid. His 20 points came on 12 shots, and he converted 6/7 free throws. This is excellent offensive efficiency."

Was Anthony Bennett the right pick at No. 1 for the Cavs? Who should the Cavs target in free agency? Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.

What kind of a player will the Cavs get in Andrew Bynum? Terry Pluto talks about this and more during his weekly podcast. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) 

Will Andrew Bynum be able to play a full season with the Cavs? Should the Indians look to improve their bullpen before the trading deadline?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com’s Glenn Moore.

Among other topics discussed:

• Indians at the All-Star break.

• Nick Swisher and Mark Reynolds in the lineup.

• Browns training camp coming up.

• Where do the Cavs stack up in the East?

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

Terry Pluto tackles your questions today at noon.

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

Pluto will talk with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about the Indians, Browns and Cavs.

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Pluto's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.

Kent State won a $1.2 million judgment against former men's basketball coach Geno Ford for leaving in 2011 to become coach at Bradley.

In this March 12, 2009 file photo, Kent State coach Geno Ford reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Buffalo at the Mid-American Conference men's tournament in Cleveland. Kent State has won a $1.2 million judgment against Ford for leaving in 2011 to become coach at Bradley.AP File Photo

Kent State won a $1.2 million judgment against former men's basketball coach Geno Ford for leaving in 2011 to become coach at Bradley.

The lawsuit claimed Ford had no permission to terminate his Kent State contract, which was scheduled to expire in 2015. Ford's teams went 68-37 in three seasons at Kent State.

Bradley issued a statement Tuesday saying its actions and Ford's actions “have been entirely ethical, legal, and transparent. The lawsuit is ongoing and will continue to be addressed through the court system.”

Fritz Byers, an attorney representing Ford, declined comment. Messages seeking comment were left for the coach.

While Kent State agreed to let Ford talk to Bradley, “Consent to interview was not a consent to breach the employment contract,” Portage County Common Pleas Judge John Enlow said in a 14-page ruling Friday. “KSU did not acquiesce to Coach Ford's abandonment of their mutual contract.”

Ford was Kent State's head coach from April 2008 through March 27, 2011, when Bradley announced him as its new coach.

Ford led Kent State to its second consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season title in 2010-11. The Flashes finished 25-12 and lost in the NIT quarterfinals.

Ford also has coached at NAIA Shawnee State and Division III Muskingum.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the ruling reflects a state obligation to ensure contract enforcement.

“When coaches and high-profile employees leave public universities in breach of their contracts, the state of Ohio has an obligation to seek the compensation to which it is entitled,” DeWine said in a statement Tuesday.

Kent State's claims against Bradley for alleged contract interference are scheduled for trial Oct. 7, DeWine said.

Workers from Forest City Erectors installed "The City of Light" on Mall B in downtown Cleveland in advance of the National Senior Games, which will run Friday through Thursday, Aug. 1, at various venues in Northeast Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Workers from Forest City Erectors installed The City of Light monument on Mall B in downtown Cleveland Tuesday, in advance of the National Senior Games, which run Friday through Thursday, Aug. 1, at various venues in Northeast Ohio.

The sculpture, commissioned by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, will be illuminated during the games. It’s 18 feet tall, weighs 18,000 pounds and contains the vision of three designers.

Click on the caption button above to read more as you flip through the photos.