Watch as the Cleveland Browns participate in the first day of Training Camp in Berea with comments from Jimmy Haslam, Rob Chudzinski and Brandon Weeden.

BEREA, Ohio --  The Cleveland Browns begin their 2013 Training Camp in Berea in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

The quick paced tempo of rookie head coach Rob Chudzinski was evident and he was excited to get things started.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden was happy with day one.  He said they started out slow, but finished strong.

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

Trent Richardson had a strong opening practice of training camp and gained an endorsement from Jim Brown.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns Hall of Famer Jim Brown kicked off training camp Thursday by pulling Trent Richardson up in front of a team meeting and telling him he no longer thinks of him as an ordinary back, which is what he called him on draft day last year.

Brown had been asked by coach Rob Chudzinski to provide the opening address of camp, and he used the opportunity to let the whole team know just how special Richardson is and how great he can be. For Richardson, who sat out minicamp and some organized team activities with a strained right shin, there couldn't have been a better opening bell to the 2013 season.

"For what my mind is set to (this season), it's big hearing it from him,'' Richardson said after the first practice. "With Jim Brown present, it’s an honor. It makes me work that much harder for him to just be out there. At the same time, I'm not going to let my head get big. There's still a lot that I've got to prove, first to the fans, then my teammates and the NFL world.''

Chudzinski called for a handoff to Richardson on the first snap of team drills, to the roar of the crowd. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said during the week that "it all starts with Richardson,'' and that first handoff was symbolic. Richardson darted through the defense -- albeit with no pads or contact until Saturday -- as if homefield advantage were on the line.

"I completely trust it,'' Richardson said of the shin. "I did a lot of rehab on it and I did a lot of stuff in the off-season to build my muscle back up. Right now I’m feeling pretty good. When it comes down to it, you’re going to see my game elevate. ... I’m just going up this hill we’re climbing on. I’m going to keep striving to win every time.”

As the practice wore on, Richardson caught the ball out of the backfield well and turned upfield with speed and agility. He was far removed from spring rumors that he might miss the start of camp with concerns of a stress fracture.

View full sizeTrent Richardson impressed his teammates with a crisp performance in Thursday's opening of fall training camp -- giving a stiff arm to linebacker Craig Robertson on this play.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer 

"I don’t hold back at all,'' he said. "I play every down like I can get better and every down like it’s a new down and my last down. To me, I’m working so I can be in the game and working as if I’m in a game situation. I don’t hold back on nothing.''

Richardson spent the past month training in Florida with high school track and football coach Derrick Boyd. He looked light on his feet Thursday, seemingly quicker than last season, during which he endured arthroscopic knee surgery and broken ribs.

"I feel way quicker, especially without all that extra padding I had around my ribs,'' he said. "I lost weight. I'm 225. I probably came into camp 230 last year, probably played at 233 not being able to run fully other than Friday before the game due to injury. It’s a blessing to be in the shape that I am right now."

During a special teams period, Richardson walked over to the sidelines and chatted with team owner Jimmy Haslam. Then, he spent a few minutes with his new BFF Brown, now a special advisor to the team.

"I asked (Brown), was he happy to be back? And he was like, 'man, I couldn’t wait,'" said Richardson. "He was telling me he's going to be on me, that we're gonna have our one-on-ones, we’re gonna have our talks but our minds have to be put together.

"I said 'our minds are already put together, you don’t have to worry about that.' I will be getting advice from him because he is the best of all time and there’s no question about it.''

Richardson's opening-day sharpness wasn't lost on his teammates.

"He looked great,'' said quarterback Brandon Weeden. "For sitting all of that time, he didn't have any missed assignments, he was playing extremely fast, I thought he looked great. Trent's a big asset, not only for our offense but for this entire football team and it's nice to have him back out there."

Richardson was cheered throughout the practice and mobbed afterwards when he walked over to greet some fans with a wide grin.

"It was a great day,'' he said. "It was great to be back out with my teammates. It's been a while since I've been out there as a whole with them. To be back in that huddle man, to be starting, and to be that guy, to have everybody on my back and telling me, 'let's go, let's get it' and to be in the presence of the fans who came out today, the presence of y'all man, it's a great feeling.''

Richardson acknowledged that he never really caught up after arthroscopic surgery in training camp last year. He missed the preseason schedule, finishing the year with 950 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“Soon as I did catch up, I broke my ribs," he said. "When I did that, I was just trying to make sure I could get back to where I could break tackles or get the first down or get in the red zone and score touchdowns.

"I think toward the end of the season my body was telling me like, ‘Mmm, don’t do too much,’ but my head was telling me I have to keep fighting, not only for me for my teammates, fans and everybody."

Richardson plans to experience a preseason game for the first time.

"It’s very important,'' he said. "It’s a blessing to be able to play this game. I play a game that a lot of people wish they could play. ... For me to be out in preseason and get the game speed down like I want to and for the line to get the game speed down with me is a big plus.”

Considering the Browns personnel, it would be best for the defense if rookie McFadden joins Joe Haden as a starter at cornerback. An energetic first day of training camp for first-year head coach Chudzinski. More Browns story links.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns opened training camp on Thursday, beginning what they hope will be a turnaround after going 5-11 in 2012 and a combined 23-57 over the last five years.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for extensive Browns coverage.

Most starting jobs on most teams are assured as training camps begin. Scott Petrak writes for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County about five players to watch as camp begins for the Browns, including one -- cornerback Leon McFadden -- who could be a starter as a rookie:

The Browns have options if McFadden, the third-round cornerback from San Diego State, isn't ready for a starting role. They just don't want to have to use them.

Chris Owens and Buster Skrine will compete with McFadden for the spot opposite Joe Haden. Owens and Skrine have experience in the NFL, but are better suited for work in the slot or as backups.

That's where McFadden comes in. He's only 5-9, but is a solid 195 pounds. The Browns drafted him because they believed he had the physical toughness to compete consistently as a starter on the outside.

If McFadden can win the job, that would allow Owens and Skrine to play in sub packages and give coordinator Ray Horton greater peace of mind.

But it's no lock McFadden will be ready. He didn't get much work with the first-team defense in May and June and must quickly get acclimated to an NFL training camp to give himself the best chance to compete.

Owner Jimmy Haslam talks about his commitment to helping the Browns become winners, as his Pilot Flying J company is under investigation. (By Fred Greetham, Orange and Brown Report)

Running back Trent Richardson looks healthy on the first day of training camp. (By Fred Greetham, FoxSportsOhio.com)

The first day of training camp is on record. (By Rick Grayshock, WaitingForNextYear)

Notes and observations from the first day of training camp. (By Tony Grossi, ESPNCleveland.com)

What to expect from the Browns in the first season with Rob Chudzinski as coach. (By Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com)

Jimmy Haslam is optimistic about the eventual outcome of the probe into Flying Pilot J. (Canton Repository/Associated Press)

Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians' top draft pick in 2011, hit his first home run for the Class AA Akron Aeros Wednesday night. Hitting lead-off, he also had a double and single, and 3 runs batted in.

Francisco Lindor limbers up in spring training in Goodyear, Airz. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Class AAA: Buffalo 7, Columbus 6 Buffalo scored four in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Nick Hagadone (1-2) to win an International League game. Moises Sierra ended the game with a two-run double. In two-thirds of an inning, Hagadone surrendered four hits, four earned runs and a walk. The Clippers outhit the Bison, 12-9. Carlos Carrasco started for Columbus. He lasted five innings and gave up three runs, but none was earned.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 5, Winston-Salem 4 Starter Joseph Colon (2-3) gave up two runs in five innings, as the Mudcats beat the Dash in Winston-Salem, N.C. Rob Nixon gave up two runs in the ninth but still picked up his third save. Three Carolina middle relievers picked up holds.

Class A: South Bend 7, Lake County 4 RHP Jake Sisco (4-8) pitched four plus innings and allowed nine hits and seven runs, as the Captains lost to the Silver Hawks in South Bend, Ind. South Bend took advantage of two errors and a passed ball to score two runs in the third. 

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Independent: Lake Erie 1, River City 0 Lefty Dave Middendorf tossed a complete game shutout at All Pro Freight Stadium, as the Crushers opened a three-game series with a victory over the Rascals. 

Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving said he was looking to separate himself from the group during the USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas this week. He did that by leading all scorers with 23 points as his White team beat the Blue, 128-106, in an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday night at UNLV. Fellow Cavs Dion Waiters started for the Blue team and finished with 5 points, while Tyler Zeller came off the bench for 8 points and 5 rebounds for the White team.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- In a town where gambling is king, bet on Kyrie Irving to win.

The Cavaliers All-Star point guard put on his usual display of dazzling drives and added two 3-pointers for good measure to lead all scorers with 23 points and 7 assists as his White team beat the Blue, 128-106, in the Team USA intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV.

Cavs shooting guard Dion Waiters started for the Blue team and finished with 5 points in 23 minutes. He made 2 of 10 shots. Cavs center Tyler Zeller came off the bench for the White team and contributed 8 points and 5 rebound in 14 minutes.

The game capped off a four-day USA Basketball minicamp that was the first step in creating a pool of candidates for the 2014 World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero. Irving is considered a sure thing for the World Cup team and a strong candidate for the Olympic team, depending on which Olympians return.

"The experience...I'll remember it forever,'' Irving said. "The last three days were great. I wanted to separate myself from this group and show what I could bring to the team for next year.''

Nick Swisher has felt the weight of the four-year, $56 million contract he signed with the Indians in January, but knows he made the right choice by coming to Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With big contracts comes big pressure, but Nick Swisher, he of 1,000-watt smile, off-the-charts optimism and can-do attitude, would certainly avoid such a trap.

From the moment he was introduced to Cleveland in January after officially signing the biggest free-agent deal in Indians' history, Swisher seemed like the happiest man in the world. He still does, but a four-year, $56 million deal can be a tough thing to lug in and out of the cleanup spot four or five times a night.

On Monday, manager Terry Francona officially moved Swisher from fourth to second in the lineup. It may last for a couple of weeks, it may last for the rest of the year.

"I'm one of those guys who puts a lot of pressure on themselves," said Swisher, regarding his contract. "You want to live up to that. You don't want to let anyone down. I think that was probably half my battle. I was worrying so much about that and I forgot about going out there and playing the game you love."

Swisher's best power year was 2006 with Oakland when he hit 35 homers and 95 RBI. He enters the Indians' three-game series against Texas Friday at Progressive Field hitting .242 (76-for-314) with 45 runs, 16 doubles, one triple, 10 homers, 32 RBI and a .741 OPS (slugging+on base percentage) in 85 games.

After 85 games last year with the Yankees, Swisher was hitting .258 (78-for-302) with 40 runs, 22 doubles, 14 homers, 54 RBI and a .812 OPS.

Swisher has never been the classic cleanup hitter. He has pop, averaging almost 26 homers a year from 2005-12, but until this season he's never been a day-in, day-out No.4 hitter. In fact, he's spent most of his career hitting second and sixth.

"Coming over here, and being in the four hole, I felt like I had to hit 40 home runs and this and that," said Swisher. "I don't know if I'm capable of hitting 40 home runs. Maybe trying to play outside my game has been kind of my downfall a little bit."

Francona has seen this happen to other players. His message to Swisher has been the same since the day he signed.

"I've told Swish to just play his game," said Francona. "We just want him to be himself. We brought him over here because he's a good player. That's all he has to be.

"Swish is a conscientious guy. It's a good quality, but it can get you in a rut."

In his first at-bat in the No.2 spot, Swisher homered Monday against Seattle at Safeco Field. He added a single in his next at-bat.

"I was encouraged by that swing when he drove the ball to left center field for the home run," said hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo. "He really wants to contribute and ends up trying too hard sometimes. But he's going to get it. He'll be fine."

Besides coping with expectations, Swisher has been dealing with a sore left shoulder since spring training. He's received cortisone shots and been rested periodically, but it's something that is going to linger for the rest of the year.

At the moment, Swisher is about as healthy as he has been this season.

"This game came put you on top of the mountain and it can put you down in the gutter," said Swisher. "You have to take the good with the bad. I know what type of player I am. I've proved it every year I've been in the big leagues.

"Sometimes you have a little down year, but if we win and I don't do as well as I would like, I don't care because it's all about winning."

While the season has frustrated him from a personal standpoint, Swisher said he and his wife, JoAnna, knew early on that they'd made the right choice by signing with the Indians.

"The thing about this team is that these guys have picked me up the whole season," said Swisher. "I've been on some teams where it's not like that. Sometimes you have to figure stuff out on your own.

"Being part of this team, you know everybody has your back. Every at-bat you have, guys come up to you and say, "Hey, it's going to be all right. You're going to get the next one.' I think that's so great. Even a guy who has been in the league 10 years still needs someone to pick them up because this game is so frustrating."

The Indians trail Detroit by three games in the AL Central. So far in 12 head-to-head meetings, the Tigers have beaten the Indians nine times.

"Whether a team has your number of not, if you're not beating the team in front of you, you better be beating everybody else," said Swisher. "When you're talking about No.1 and No.2 teams in a division, we feel we have great talent and everyone knows the Tigers do."

Swisher, however, feels the Indians have something the Tigers do not.

"We feel we have nothing to lose," he said. "No one even thought we'd be here. That is a great and dangerous place to be because we are capable of great things."

Railbirds looking for a stretch duel Saturday afternoon in the $100,000 Ohio Derby could get it if Silver Tongued and jockey Lori Wydick can put together another dazzling last-to-first finish.

Silver Tongued and jockey Lori Wydick win the $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup at ThistleDown Racino on July 7. The colt is back in action today in the $100,000 Ohio Derby. JJ Zamaiko / Special to The Plain Dealer

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - There's some early speed in the 79th edition of the $100,000 Ohio Derby Saturday afternoon at ThistleDown Racino.

If you're looking for a stretch battle, you might find it in unsung Silver Tongued.

If the colt is a challenger with Lori Wydick in the saddle, it won't happen early in the race. A 3-year-old with an absence of early speed, Silver Tongued was lightly regarded in his last start, the $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup here on July 7. Dead last at the half-mile mark, Silver Tongued didn't appear to have a chance.

Wydick got the son of Whitelacenpromise rolling, though, and Silver Tongued notched his first win in five starts this season, a half-length win in 1:52.24.

This time around, Silver Tongued won't have quite as much recovery room. The Ohio Derby is a half-furlong shorter at 1 1/16th mile. But it's likely front-runners such as early favorites Title Contender and Mongolian Saturday will set the fast pace that's needed by the brown colt. If the pace is too slow, said trainer Jeffrey Greenhill of La Grange, Ky., Silver Tongued won't be able to make up ground.

An unexpected Ohio Derby entry, Silver Tongued seems to like the Thistledown dirt track, and distance races, Greenhill said. He wants to enter the Ohio-bred in ThistleDown's 1 1/4-mile Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes on Oct. 12, another $100,000 race. 

Ohio Derby's future: ThistleDown general Manager Rick Skinner sent word through a spokesperson that track owner Rock Ohio Caesar and ThistleDown officials plan on boosting the purse and the quality of the Ohio Derby field in the coming years.
 

Terry Francona gives his defense some extra work before facing the Rangers, and repeats his confidence in the potential of third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians infielders, coming off a brutal road trip defensively, put in extra work Friday afternoon at Progressive Field. They fielded dozens of grounders from multiple coaches before batting practice.

The Indians went 2-4 in the first six games after the All-Star break, losing two of three in both Minnesota and Seattle. They had an off-day Thursday.

"You get in routines at home, and we want to take advantage of that," Tribe manager Terry Francona said. "Just because we took grounders doesn't mean we're going to have a flawless game, but getting back into the routine certainly does help -- a lot.''

The Tribe faced the Rangers on Friday night in the opener of a seven-game homestand.

Francona did not view the additional field work as any big deal.

"It's the same reason you take batting practice: You want to reinforce good habits," he said. "You can't just get to a point and quit; you need to get to a point and continue to do it. Offensively or defensively, you work so hard to get to a point where you think you're comfortable. Then you need to work just as hard to stay there."

The Tribe's leaky defense factored in four one-run losses on the trip. The victories were by wide margins (7-1, 10-1).

"If we would have been swinging the bats well, it wouldn't have been (that much of an issue)," Francona said. "When you're playing one-run games, you need to play very clean if you want to win. Teams go through stretches where you don't hit or don't pitch. We've gone through a little streak where we're not finishing plays, or missing plays.

"Hopefully, that will change because that's a big part of winning -- playing clean baseball. For us to be a good team, we need to play very clean baseball. And that's OK."

Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall struggled defensively more than anyone on the trip. He made mistakes on pop-ups, grounders and throws.

"Not just with youth, but especially with youth, sometimes the game goes fast," Francona said. "It helps when you slow things down. That comes with experience. Lonnie's going to be just fine defensively. There's nothing he can't do. He's got all the tools to be a good, every-day third baseman."

Chisenhall's future earnings will hinge on his ability to mash, not channel Brooks Robinson. Chisenhall, 24, entered Friday batting .240 with six homers and 25 RBI in 52 games. Prior to 2013, he had hit .260 with 12 homers and 38 RBI in 109 games.

"I don't think he's even tapped into what he's going to be," Francona said. "There's going to be a day when it clicks. There's going to be thunder in that bat."

Words from above: Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti spoke with reporters. General managers are especially busy this time of year given the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31.

Antonetti's Indians entered Friday at 53-48, three games behind Detroit in the AL Central. Here are some nuggets from his chat:

On making a move by July 31: "I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but we're not going to make a trade just to say we made a trade. I feel good about the group of guys we have, but we're always looking for ways to improve our club, both internally and externally."

On the second wildcard's role in trade talks: "It's definitely had an impact. (The majority of teams) are buying, or at least holding on."

On the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline: "August represents another opportunity, maybe even a better opportunity, as teams begin to separate themselves."

On prospect right-hander Danny Salazar, pitching for Class AAA Columbus: "If there's a need, Danny will impact our staff in the second half, whether it's in the bullpen or the rotation. Long-term, we think he's going to be a very good starting pitcher."

On prospect righty Trevor Bauer, who is pitching for Columbus: "It's been a progression for Trevor. He's obviously not a finished product. The encouraging thing is, Trevor works tirelessly to get consistent with his delivery. We think the changes he's working on are good; they'll just take time.''

Corey Kluber tries to continue his recent home dominance Friday night when the Indians open a three-game set against the slumping Rangers.

 

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Make a video of yourself hitting for power; post it on YouTube and send in the link. The most impressive power hitters will earn a spot in the Home Run Derby on Aug. 17 at Classic Park in Eastlake.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland area is home to one of the all-time great home-run hitters in the history of slow-pitch softball, Mighty Mike Macenko.

A member of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, he is one of only two players to hit more than 6,000 home runs during his career, including 844 during the 1987 season alone.

Now, here's your chance to try to swing like Mighty Mike and earn a spot in the Home Run Derby for The Plain Dealer-Cleveland.com Softball Championship.

We are seeking a few big-time power hitters to round out the field for the Derby, which will be held before the tournament championship game on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 17, at Classic Park in Eastlake, home of the Lake County Captains.

Are you up to the challenge?

Here's how to earn a spot:

• First, make a video displaying your slow-pitch softball power-hitting prowess. Keep it around 90 seconds.

• Second, post the video on YouTube.

• Third, send a link for the video to this email address: sports@plaind.com. Or, you can Tweet the link to the tournament Twitter address, @pdsoftball.

The sluggers judged to have the best videos will be invited to participate in the Home Run Derby at Classic Park against a handful of competitors hand-picked by Macenko from around Northeast Ohio.

The last day to submit videos is Monday, Aug. 5. Questions? Put them in the comments below.

And if you want a few tips from one of the best, watch the video posted here featuring some advice from Macenko on how to hit it deep for your team.

Good luck, and swing away.

Learn more about the shuffleboard competition at the National Senior Games.

View full sizeNational Senior Games

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Each day we will spotlight one or two of the 19 medal-contested sports being held at the National Senior Games throughout Cleveland. 

Up today is shuffleboard.

Dates of competition: Runs daily through Thursday, beginning at 8 a.m. See detailed schedule at cleveland.com/national-senior-games online.

Where: Cleveland Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave.

Notable: There are two shuffleboard events -- singles and doubles. Doubles teams may be of mixed gender but don't have to be. All tournaments begin with a round-robin preliminary round before moving into a single-elimination championship bracket. Players use a cue to push a disc along the court and make it stop in a triangular scoring section. Singles games last 12 frames in the preliminary round and 16 frames during the championship bracket. All doubles matches are 16 frames, with each partner playing eight.

Who to watch: Charles and Janet Crouse of Arizona both won their singles age division at the 2011 Senior Games in Houston (65-69 and 60-64 age divisions, respectively) and teamed up to win the 65-69 doubles age division. They will return to defend all their titles this year in Cleveland, though they will move up an age division in all their events.

Did you know: Shuffleboard traces its origins back to England in the 16th century. The game became common on ships in the 19th century, but what we know as shuffleboard today didn't become popular until a hotel in Daytona Beach built the first court in Florida in 1913.

-- Teddy Cahill, Special to The Plain Dealer

Gurley has made five NFL practice squads, but not appeared in a regular-season game.

BEREA, Ohio – As another NFL training camp opened, Tori Gurley found himself in a familiar position Thursday – within earshot of the crowd’s applause, but not the object of their affection.

The tall, athletic receiver ran routes and caught passes on an adjacent practice field along with others fighting for a roster spot while veterans and top prospects scrimmaged 11-on-11 to the delight of Browns fans. He donned a jersey number (9) more befitting a quarterback and a nameplate that catches the eye in a testosterone-charged sport.

Gurley got an opportunity late in practice in front of the entire coaching staff and made a nice grab over the middle in a 7-on-7 drill. Asked later if it’s difficult to spend long stretches on fields removed from the discerning eyes of the decision makers, the 25-year-old smiled broadly.

“I had a great practice down there,” the South Carolina product said. “When they put on the tape, that’s my resume.”

It’s a resume that features stops in Green Bay, Minnesota, Oakland, Tampa Bay, San Diego and Baltimore in the past two years. It also reflects time spent at Home Depot and Thompson Caterpillar, where he learned to stretch a buck to support his ailing grandmother.

“I don’t need to watch that ESPN 30 for 30 ‘Broke’ to understand how to manage my money,” Gurley said. “I’ve made a few dollars, but if I get cut I can’t be living the life some other guys lead. I pinch pennies and clip coupons.”

Gurley is among the roster fillers in training camps trying to establish themselves in the league. Fans don’t recognize their faces or shout out their names for autographs.

When introduced to a reporter Thursday by a member of the Browns media relations staff, Gurley joked: “What do you want to talk to me for? I’m a scrub.”

The Browns represent his seventh NFL organization since the Packers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He’s made five practice squads and proven he’s good enough to wear team-issued gear Monday through Saturday. Gurley, however, still awaits his first regular-season game.

"It hurts just as much every time," he said of getting released. "But it motivates you. Are you going to get better or get worse?"

He is among 12 receivers in camp vying for six spots. Greg Little, Josh Gordon, Davone Bess and Travis Benjamin appear to be locks, and David Nelson is a good bet presuming his surgically repaired right knee cooperates.

“The hardest part about this league is getting in,” said Bess, who made the Miami Dolphins in 2008 as an undrafted free agent. “You have to stand out from an attention-to-detail standpoint. You can’t mess up. You have to capitalize on every opportunity because you don’t get many.”

Getting cut six times would discourage many players, but Gurley’s spirit seems indomitable. His mother tells the story how the late Eddie Kendricks -- the original tenor of the Temptations -- touched her belly when she was pregnant with Gurley and told her, “there’s a star in your stomach.”

The multi-sport prep standout comes from good stock. His late father, Norris Gurley, played basketball at Virginia Tech. His godfather is former NBA veteran Dell Curry and his good friend is Golden State star guard Steph Curry.

North Carolina offered the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder a scholarship to play football with a promise that he could compete for a spot on the Tar Heels basketball team. But Gurley did not qualify academically.

“I was so good in sports I thought somehow my grades were magically going to change and I was going to be a college athlete,” Gurley said. “I was humbled.”

He moved from Rock Hill, S.C. to Birmingham, Ala., to help his grandmother for a year. He joined the labor force, working in the flooring department at Home Depot and in the mailroom at Thompson Caterpillar, before giving college another shot.

Gurley earned a scholarship at South Carolina after attending a New Hampshire prep school, but his decision to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft following his redshirt sophomore year was ill advised.

“I was a 21-year-old freshman,” he said. “I thought it was time and maybe it really wasn’t. I’m looking at Brandon Weeden and he’s older than me. I thought I knew it all.”

Gurley spent the entire 2011 season with the Packers and made a 54-yard catch in a preseason game last August. But he careened from practice squad to practice squad last year, earning $5,700 a week when he was on a roster.

“If I wasn’t talented enough the phone wouldn’t ring,” Gurley said. “There’s a lot of guys who get a whiff of it and that’s it. I have been able to flirt.”

His fiance, Brie Dixon, a med student at Wake Forest, remains supportive, but Gurley acknowledges a return to college and a career in coaching is a possibility. He can do the math and knows the other prospects are several years younger.

If he quit today, he’d have enough NFL gear to stock a sporting goods store. But Gurley, a six-day a week football player, longs for his shot at Sundays and the stadium’s roar.

“My time is going to come,” he said. “And, I’m very optimistic it’s going to be now.”

All-Star memories are meaningful for Tribe hurler Justin Masterson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard before Friday's series opener with the Rangers.

Clubhouse confidential: When the Indians returned to Progressive Field, right-hander Justin Masterson had a large box waiting for him. It contained contents of Masterson's locker the All-Star Game, played July 16 at Citi Field in New York City.

Masterson did not pitch as the American League won to secure homefield advantage in the World Series. He and second baseman Jason Kipnis represented Cleveland. It was the first All-Star experience for both.

"It was everything I'd hoped it would be,'' Masterson said. "Even though I didn't get to pitch, I had a great time. It's a privilege to be part of something like that.''

Among the contents from the All-Star locker was his pair of banana-yellow game spikes.

"When I first saw them, I was like, 'Whoa, that's pretty loud,''' he said. "I thought about not wearing them. But I said, 'It's an All-Star Game, it's once a year, so I might as well get a little crazy.'''

Alas, the shoes, with NYC2013 printed on them, never will see the mound for a game.

"They were fun to wear in the bullpen,'' he said.

The All-Star box also contained a commemorative bat signed by many players. Beyond the bat, Masterson did not care about collecting memorabilia.

''Getting to meet the players and coaches, talking with the players and coaches, is what mattered to me,'' he said.

Masterson (11-7, 3.60 ERA) starts Saturday night against fellow All-Star Yu Darvish (9-4, 2.86).

He's the man: The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association honored Kipnis before Friday night's game as one of 30 preliminary winners of the 2013 Heart and Hustle Award. The award recognizes active players who demonstrate a passion for baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game.

Stat of the day: The Indians are 16-13-5 in 34 series, including 11-5-1 at home.

Nose tackle Phil Taylor has been sidelined with a strained left calf muscle, but coach Rob Chudzinski doesn't expect it to be a lingering thing.

BEREA, Ohio -- Quick hits from Day Two of training camp:

• Defensive tackle Phil Taylor sat out practice again with his strained left calf muscle, but coach Rob Chudzinski said it's not believed to be serious and that he expects Taylor back soon. Second-year defensive lineman John Hughes has been starting in his place.

Last season, Taylor missed all of training camp while recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, and spent the first eight games of the season on the physically unable to perform list. When he returned, he wasn't really 100 percent and finished the year with 14 tackles and a sack.

The Browns are counting on Taylor to man the middle this season, with Ahtyba Rubin and Desmond Bryant set to start on the outside.

• DBs reign: The defensive backs ruled the day, with interceptions and knocked-down balls aplenty. Cornerback Joe Haden got a pick-six off Brandon Weeden in 11-on-11s. Johnson Bademosi dropped two sure interceptions and rookie safety Josh Aubrey dropped one.

Buster Skrine stole one from Jason Campbell on a comeback route by Josh Gordon and Trevin Wade intercepted Brian Hoyer on a ball tipped by Jordan Norwood. The DBs dropped and did 20 pushups and for the dropped interceptions.

• Running back Brandon Jackson got the cheers going right off the bat in warmups. During one exercise, the players all had one hand stretched up to the sky. A heckler in the crowd yelled, "Raise your hand if you're glad Shurmur's gone!" Jackson, who was benched until the final game, shot up both, to a chorus of cheers.

Who knows? Maybe he just needed to stretch both arms.

• Wide receiver David Nelson, recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, passed his physical and came off the active/PUP list, but didn't practice much. He was limited to some receiving drills and was held out of team drills. He declined to talk to the media.

• Offensive lineman Oniel Cousins rolled his ankle late in practice. Chudzinski said he'll know more Saturday.

• Gordon returned to practice after suffering a lower left leg cramp on Thursday, but seemed a little off in his route-running. Several of the interceptions and pass breakups came on throws to Gordon.

• Pads go on for the first time Saturday and Chudzinski's excited. He said there will be contract, but no tackling to the ground. Practices are already lively, and promise to be more so.

Watch highlights from Joe Haden interview after Training Camp practice on Friday.

BEREA, Ohio --  The Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden said after Training Camp practice Friday that last year was last year with his four game Adderall suspension and is looking forward to a fresh start this year.

Haden also discussed how this camp, under new head coach Rob Chudzinski, is different with guys running around everywhere.  He also talks about how himself and T.J. Ward are now the leaders in the defensive back room.

Finally, Haden talks about third round draft pick Leon McFadden and how he is doing and learning both the cornerback position and nickelback.

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

Oscar Peyton, 60, makes many of us jealous. Despite a late start in competitive track, he has excelled.

View full sizeOscar Peyton, 60, is a seven-time Masters National Champion in the 100 and 200 meters. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quick, who's the fastest player in the NFL right now? There are so many great options, but if you guessed Chris Johnson and his blazing 4.24-second 40-yard dash you would be correct. Now, who's the fastest man in the world right now? A little easier, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and his otherworldly 9.58 100-meter dash take the cake.

Now, who is the fastest man in the United States in the 60- to 64-year-old age bracket? The answer to that question is a little bit tougher to answer. To find the answer, you can look to ... the man who is a five-time winner at the National Senior Games in the 100 and 200 meters ... the man who has run the 100 in a time that would beat many high school athletes ... the man who didn't start running track competitively until he was 49 years old.

Oscar Peyton, 60, makes many of us jealous. Despite getting such a late start in competitive track, he has excelled. No high school track, no college track, no problem. After just one year of competition, he won the 100 meters at the 2003 National Senior Games with a time of 12.06 seconds. He also won the 200 meters that year with a time of 24.24.

He will compete in the 100 and 200 Saturday at Baldwin Wallace University.

"The speed that I have is natural," Peyton said. "I could not train at all for six months and just go out and run and I could probably run fast."

Much like Bolt and Johnson, Peyton was blessed with amazing speed. The 2003 National Senior Games -- his second full year of competition -- was just the beginning. In time, he only got better. When the 2005 Games rolled around, Peyton was ready to defend his crown. But he wanted to improve on his own personal times. And improve he did.

In 2005, he ran the 100 in 11.56 and the 200 in 24.00. He produced even better results in 2009 when he finished the 100 in a jaw-dropping 11.51 and the 200 in 23.71.

Here's some perspective. The ninth-place finisher in the 100 meters at June's Division III OHSAA state meet had a time of 11.37. Peyton's personal-best of 11.46 in the 100 meters would've placed him just .09 seconds out of ninth place. Peyton is 60.

Have you gotten on your treadmill yet?

At first glance, Peyton appears to have been built for track. Track athletes generally share one of two body types, short and compact or tall and lean. Peyton falls under the tall and lean category. He possesses many of the same characteristics as Olympic champion Bolt. Both are tall and fluid, and their long strides make running fast look effortless.

So why didn't Peyton run track in high school or college? At Grambling State, Peyton considered running for the track team but only on one condition.

"If a coach would've seen me and recognized my speed and my potential then I would have joined the track team but not without encouragement, which I didn't get. I just went unnoticed," Peyton said.

If only the Grambling track coach at the time could hear those words now. Alas, the track career of Oscar Peyton was delayed again, this time for a relatively lengthy period of time.

After college, Peyton worked for 31 years as a computer specialist and programmer for the federal government. While working, he still managed to stay active. He routinely went to the gym and played basketball a lot before it was too tough on his knees.

It was a routine visit to the doctor some years ago that made him realize he needed to change something in his life.

"I got a checkup and my cholesterol was around 200 so the doctor said 'You have to change your eating habits and exercise.' Since then, I've been feeling pretty good health-wise."

Despite his success in his first few years as a track competitor, Peyton experienced the pain that comes with picking up a new sport and having to train more often, exercise more often, and compete more often.

"The first three or four years I was getting injured every year, maybe a couple of injuries a year."

But with experience comes knowledge. Through high-level competition, Peyton has learned when to stop, how hard to train, and generally what he has to do to keep his body in peak physical condition. Even though his speed comes naturally, he isn't getting any younger. Taking excellent care of his body is becoming more important as the years go by.

"I've learned about how much my body can take before it begins to breakdown and I've learned how to listen to my body and read the signs for when an injury is about to occur and back off. The last few years, I've been running major injury-free."

I know what you're thinking in the back of your mind. Old guy, getting better with age, less injuries with age, he must be taking deer antler spray or some sort of performance-enhancing drug, right? Wrong. Leave that stuff to Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun.

Besides "an aspirin here or there," Peyton doesn't use any medication in order to compete. He doesn't plan on it either.

"At the point where I have to use a medication that might help me run better, that's when I'm gonna hang it up," he said.

Since entering the 2003 Games, Peyton has won gold in the 100 and 200 five straight times. But don't think he's getting complacent. He's still hungry for more gold.

"I know I don't wanna lose. I wanna keep the streak going so that's my motivation now for the Senior Games. I want to make it six consecutive Senior Games winning the 100 and 200."

If you get a chance, put your money on Oscar Peyton. You won't regret it.

Craig Robertson arrived at camp last season with hopes of simply making the team, yet finished with the second-most tackles

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns will don pads for the first time in training camp Saturday afternoon. But Craig Robertson was still running around Friday with the chip on his shoulder that he brought to town a year ago as an undrafted free agent.

In his mind, it is standard equipment.

He would just as soon step on a field without a helmet or mouthpiece. Sure, Robertson is virtually guaranteed a roster spot this season and he’s likely to start at inside linebacker next to D’Qwell Jackson.

“But I still keep my chip,” Robertson said. “You gotta have your chip. You can’t have your chip and just get rid of it. You can’t get comfortable.”

The second-year linebacker has transformed himself from a player who didn’t earn a training camp invite in 2011 to someone defensive coordinator Ray Horton considers his “ace in the hole.”

Robertson’s quickness, coverage skills and football acumen have allowed him to overcome his lack of size (6-1, 229) and pedigree. He’s excited to play in Horton’s attacking defense, one which emphasizes speed and deception.

“I more than like it, I love it,” Robertson said. “Being able to run around, you have the freedom to be you. You are not confined to be a textbook player. (Horton) makes calls to the strengths on the field.”

He dismisses the notion that he and Jackson are too small to play together at inside linebacker. The North Texas product points to Pittsburgh’s Lawrence Timmons (6-1, 234) and Arizona’s Daryl Washington (6-2, 226) as undersized players who have excelled at the position.

View full sizeCraig Robertson demonstrated his ability to be in the right place at the right time with this interception of Joe Flacco in Baltimore last season. Now a second-year linebacker and a likely starter, Robertson is determined to keep his edge in training camp.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer 

“The game of football is not how much you weigh or how strong you are,” he said. “Any way you can get to the ball and get the guy down -- that’s football.”

Robertson arrived last season with hopes of simply making the team, yet finished with the second-most tackles (83) on the team. After recording eight tackles and two interceptions in his NFL debut against Philadelphia on opening day, he quickly revamped his goals.

He called his agent, Cleveland-based Vince Calo, and asked him to make a “goal board.” Agents receive plenty of unusual requests, but rarely are given an arts-and-crafts project. Calo made a computer printout of eight goals -- only two statistical in nature -- and affixed them to a board that Robertson kept by a mirror in his house. He wouldn’t reveal the goals only to say he met six of them.

“That’s just Craig being Craig,” Calo said. “He’s always challenging himself.”

Robertson still has the board, and is making plans for another one this season. Horton sounds as though he’s got plans of his own for Robertson.

“I would say he was what I had envisioned and hoped he would be,” the defensive coordinator said. “(He’s) a young, athletic backer, who is savvy. When I came here I wasn't sure how he would be on picking things up, but he's been everything I wanted. That’s my little ace in the hole.”

Master of Ceremonies, champion figure skater Scott Hamilton, drew howls of laughter with his pokes at the athletes, who have to be 50 or older to participate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The band “My People” made the senior athletes feel at home tonight in The Q.

They greeted the athletes with such ‘60s hits as “Dancing In the Streets,” “Satisfaction” and “My Generation” at the opening of the National Senior Games “Celebration of Athletes” ceremony. 

About 2,500 people, in a festive and party-like atmosphere, sang and danced as representative athletes from each state were announced.

Master of Ceremonies, champion figure skater Scott Hamilton, drew howls of laughter with his pokes at athletes, who have to be 50 or older to participate.

“How can someone swim in Depends?” he said. He also joked other tragic possibilities such as participants suffering from broken bones and experiencing a “cardiac event.”

Among those taking part in the ceremony was mother and daughter athletes Frances and Jackie Allison traveled from North Carolina to participate in this years’ game in Cleveland.

They wore bright green T-shirts that read, “We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grew old because we stop playing.” This is the 10th time that Frances will compete.

The games, which are held every two years, are like the Olympic Games for older athletes

“I will continue to play as long as I can,” said 79-year-old Frances before ceremony. She will compete in track and field, basketball and tennis. “It helps me to stay in shape and gives me something to look forward to everyday.”

Daughter Jackie, 56, qualified for track and field, but will only compete in basketball so she can support her mother.

“I’m her biggest fan,” she said as she embraced her mother .

Another family team, Oklahoma natives Bill Pahdocony and his daughter Debi Pahdocony, will compete in the singles, doubles and mixed-doubles bowling competitions.

“This is something that we can do together and that we enjoy,” said Bill, 75. “We rely on each other. There’s encouragement as a family.”

Debi, 55, was really impressed with the competitors.

“It’s cool to see the different ages,” she said. “There’s 100-year-olds competing seriously. It’s awesome.”

With one week remaining in the games, Ohio is leading with 159 medals. Rounding out the top five are Florida with 86; Texas with 84; and Pennsylvania and California both with 62.

David Gilbert, president and CEO of Positively Cleveland, said that almost 11,000 people from all 50 states and about 8 countries are participating in this years’ Senior Games.

About 30,000 people are expected to attend.

Gilbert said that the games are also helping to bring $38 million into the city’s economy. Positively Cleveland and Kent State University will conduct a study at the conclusion of the games to confirm that number.

“The games are a great way to show off the city,” said Gilbert. “We will have 30,000 ambassadors for our city from all over the country.”

At the end of the ceremony, the Senior Games banner was passed to representatives from Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington, Minn., which will host the 2015 games.

Raburn's three-run homer in the 11th rescues the Indians, who saw another lead wasted by a struggling bullpen.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- To heck with the sacrifice bunt.

Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning as the Indians defeated the Rangers, 11-8, Friday night at Progressive Field. The Indians improved to 54-48 overall, 31-19 at home. They played their first home game since July 14.

Texas (56-47) has lost 10 of 13.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off the 11th with a single against Jason Frasor. Cabrera moved to second on Carlos Santana's single. Raburn showed bunt on the first two pitches as the count went to 1-1.

Indians manager Terry Francona, to the delight of sabermetricians across the globe, then scrapped the sacrifice.

"Their infielders were being so aggressive,'' Francona said. "It looked like it made more sense to let him swing. When infielders are moving and we have a good hitter up, I'd just rather we force the issue.''

Frasor threw a ball. Raburn lined the 2-1 pitch, a hanging slider, over the left-field wall for his second career walkoff homer.

"It's funny,'' Raburn said. "In the back of my mind, I still thought about bunting, on my own. I wanted to make sure the runner at least got to third. But the way I've been feeling at the plate, I thought the best chance was for me to swing. Fortunately, it worked out.'' 

The Tribe has seven walkoffs this season, one more than in all of 2012.

• Rangers-Indians boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

Raburn's blast enabled the Indians to rescue what could have been an especially painful evening. The Tribe held leads of 7-1 through four innings and 8-4 through six. The Rangers scored two in the seventh and tied it with two in the eighth.

"We set out to win the game,'' Francona said. "We took a circuitous route to get there.''

Nick Swisher, who went 2-for-6 with a homer, said: "Let's be flat blunt: If we would have lost that game, it would have hurt. But we didn't.''

Swisher raved about Raburn, who is hitting .273 with 11 homers and 31 RBI in 161 at-bats over 58 games. The Indians signed Raburn to a minor-league contract in January. Raburn, having struggled with injuries, batted .171 in 66 games for Detroit last year.

"When I found out he was coming over here,  I could not have been more excited,'' Swisher said. "He's having an unbelievable year. For him to have signed a one-year deal....Better lock him up.''

Raburn was the designated hitter Friday and went 2-for-6. He has 10 RBI in his last 11 games with an at-bat.

The Tribe opened the scoring when Swisher homered off lefty Martin Perez with one out in the first. At that point, Swisher was 5-for-13 with two homers since being moved from cleanup to the two-hole.

The Indians made it 3-0 in the second. With one out, Michael Brantley grounded to first and beat Mitch Moreland's throw to Perez for a single. Brantley advanced to second on Mike Aviles' single.

Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux visited the mound. It did not help. Perez's first pitch to Drew Stubbs was wild, pushing the runners to second and third. Perez's second pitch to Stubbs was just as wild, enabling Brantley to score and Aviles to get to third. After Stubbs walked, Michael Bourn had an RBI grounder to second.

The Rangers capitalized on bad Cleveland defense to break through in the third.

Moreland led off with a walk against right-hander Corey Kluber. Elvis Andrus grounded sharply to the mound, where Kluber fielded cleanly but spun and threw away a potential double play. Moreland moved to third as the ball ended up in center.

Leonys Martin lined to left. Brantley's one-hop throw to catcher Santana arrived in time to erase Moreland, but the ball popped loose and rolled toward the Texas dugout once Moreland's shoulder met Santana's glove. Andrus advanced to third on the error charged to Santana.

Kluber retired the next two to limit the damage to one run.

The Indians scored four in the fourth, knocking out Perez in the process. They loaded the bases with none out when Raburn singled, Brantley walked and Aviles singled. In a span of six pitches, Stubbs and Bourn delivered two-run singles. Rangers manager Ron Washington signaled for right-hander Ross Wolf.

Bourn has three-plus RBI in two straight games.

Texas pulled within 7-2 in the fifth. Martin doubled and scored on Ian Kinsler's single. It was the first earned run allowed by Kluber since July 7 against Detroit.

The Rangers pressured Kluber in the sixth. Nelson Cruz led off with a homer, then Adrian Beltre and A.J. Pierzynski singled. Beltre scored on Jeff Baker's double-play grounder. Kluber struck out Moreland swinging to end the uprising.

Cabrera's RBI single gave the Tribe an 8-4 advantage in the sixth. Cabrera drove in Swisher, who had singled.

Cody Allen relieved Kluber to begin the seventh. Andrus led off with a single, giving him at least one hit in all 35 career games against Cleveland. It is the longest such streak by a Ranger, career-opening or otherwise, against any opponent.

Martin singled, Andrus stopping at second. They executed a double-steal ahead of Kinsler's sacrifice fly. Engel Beltre slapped a single toward the left-field line. Brantley pounced, whirled and zipped the ball to second baseman Kipnis, who tagged out Beltre with room to spare.

Brantley's play proved huge because Cruz walked and Adrian Beltre singled. Rich Hill relieved Allen and got Pierzynski to line to first.

Texas tied the score, 8-8, in the eighth against Joe Smith. With two outs and runners on second and third, Kinsler shot an 0-2 pitch to right for a single.

Kluber gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out three. In his previous start, July 20 at Minnesota, Kluber exited after five scoreless because of hip trouble.

"He was a little stiff when we had a couple of long innings, so he rode the bike,'' Francona said. "I think he's fine.''

Indians closer Chris Perez, in a non-save situation, worked a perfect ninth and 10th. He retired his first three batters on five pitches. Perez equaled his career-high for innings (nine times). He had not pitched two since May 29, 2010.

Texas threatened against Bryan Shaw (1-2) in the 11th. Martin reached on a leadoff bunt single toward first. With one out and Engel Beltre batting, Martin advanced to third on a wild pitch that resulted in a swinging strikeout. Cruz popped out.

Chud won't follow Steelers coach Mike Tomlin onto Twitter

BEREA, Ohio – Former Browns coach Pat Shurmur was no fan of Twitter.

He wasn’t thrilled his players used social media -- sometimes to their detriment – but grudgingly accepted it as a way for athletes to communicate with fans and expand their brands.

New coach Rob Chudzinski isn't anti-Twitter, yet don’t expect him to speak in hashtags any time soon. On the day Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin joined the 140-character community, Chudzinski was asked if he might follow.

“I’m not a real technology guy,” he said. “I wouldn’t even know how to get started on that. I have a hard enough time with my cell phone. I’ve got a lot going on.”

Hello Twitter. Expect no BS from me. Just straight fire!

— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) July 26, 2013