CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard Monday at Progressive Field as the Indians prepared to play the White Sox: Clubhouse confidential: The non-waiver trade deadline is Wednesday afternoon. Indians manager Terry Francona is counting down the minutes -- sort of. "It's funny: Carlos Santana asked me something (on Sunday) about the deadline,'' Francona said. "It wasn't about him or...

Cleveland Indians pitcher Brett Myers had a bullpen session, but manager Terry Francona had no word on how it went.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard Monday at Progressive Field as the Indians prepared to play the White Sox:

Clubhouse confidential: The non-waiver trade deadline is Wednesday afternoon. Indians manager Terry Francona is counting down the minutes -- sort of.

"It's funny: Carlos Santana asked me something (on Sunday) about the deadline,'' Francona said. "It wasn't about him or anything. And I thought (Sunday) was July 25. That's how much I've been into it. Obviously, it's not that much of a distraction.''

Francona acknowledged that the run-up to the deadline can be unsettling to players.

"Especially nowadays, with so much internet and so much stuff out there that isn't true,'' Francona said. "Guys see their names a lot more than they used to. But I haven't seen any sign of distraction in here. If I think a guy's worried about it, or if I know it's not true, I'll talk to him.''

Tiger tales: The first-place Tigers acquired Astros closer and former Indian Jose Veras on Monday. Francona said the Indians and General Manager Chris Antonetti do not necessarily need to "counter'' the club they are chasing with a move of their own.

"Sometimes, you can react to something,'' Francona said. "You try to keep up with the Joneses. But I think Chris has a real good grasp of who we are, where we're going, and how we're trying to get there. I don't think he'll ever lose sight of that.''

Myers update: Right-hander Brett Myers, on the 60-day disabled list because of elbow inflammation, had a bullpen session Monday afternoon. Francona, asked about it during his meeting with reporters in the afternoon, said: "I don't know how that went.''

Nice work: The Cleveland girls senior softball team that won the East Regional RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Tournament on July 15 was recognized by the Indians organization before the game.

The team has won the regional tournament five consecutive years, and again advances to the RBI National Championship Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 3-14.

Brandon Weeden threw a pick when he needed a touchdown in his two-minute drill, and Jason Campbell threw a TD pass to Jordan Norwood while working with the second team.

BEREA, Ohio -- Quick hits from the fifth day of training camp:

* The practice featured plenty of red zone work and two-minutes drills, and the results were mixed. In Brandon Weeden's first chance at the two-minute drill, he was trailing with 21-20 with :50 seconds left and no time outs remaining. He hit Travis Benjamin with two nice passes to set up Shayne Graham's 43-yard game-winning field goal.

* In Weeden's second crack at the two-minute drills, he was trailing 24-20 with 52 seconds left and no timeouts remaining. Starting at the opponent's 38, he moved to the 7 on a 20-yard pass to Greg Little, but was picked off by Chris Owens in the end zone on third down. Owens, who's been alternating first-team cornerback reps with Buster Skrine, started again Monday and has impressed the coaching staff.

“He’s done a nice job,” coach Rob Chudzinksi said. “I am really pleased with our secondary and the job those guys have done. Again, going back, it is a competitive group. I love going over there and watching the one-on-ones with the receivers.”

* Brian Hoyer was intercepted on his two-minute drill by rookie Kent Richardson on a third and 9 from the 14.

* In later red zone drills, Trent Richardson had a nice cutback run for a touchdown and Joe Haden broke up a deep ball from Weeden to Little. Craig Robertson intercepted a pass from Weeden to running back Dion Lewis in the right flat.

“This is a little bit different than a game would be,” the coach said. “You still, at the same time, do not want to see interceptions, but you do want to see guys make throws and work on the throws that they are going to need to be able to complete within working in the system.”

* Rookie safety Jamoris Slaughter, who's coming off an Achilles tendon suffered last year at Notre Dame, has been sidelined the last two days with a hamstring injury, but coach Rob Chudzinski said he doesn't think he'll be out long.

* Receiver Greg Little had a solid day, twice making leaping grabs in the back of the end zone from Brandon Weeden for touchdowns in red zone drills.

“Greg has good size and he’s a physical player,” Chudzinksi said. “With less space down there in the red zone, that becomes a premium and can really help.”

* Defensive tackle Phil Taylor (calf) took a few reps in 11-on-11s today, but then gave way to others, including Ishmaa'ily Kitchen.

* Defensive end Desmond Bryant is still out with is back spasms and Montario Hardesty missed the second straight day with his hamstring injury.

Thomas is a six-time Pro Bowler, but has never experienced a playoff game

BEREA, Ohio – After the Browns team president gave a detailed account of planned improvements to the game-day experience Monday, Joe Thomas shared a simple vision for fan enhancement.

“I think about the day I run out of the tunnel of Cleveland Browns Stadium for a home playoff game,” Thomas said. “That’s my dream, that’s why I show up every day.”

For all of his individual accolades, Thomas heads into his seventh season bereft of a postseason appearance. Yes, the Pro Bowl tackle is optimistic for a new year, but experience has been a cruel teacher to him.

 Thomas arrived here in 2007, the year the Cavaliers reached the NBA Finals and the Indians were a win from the World Series. The city crackled with possibility and the Browns contributed to the good vibes, logging a 10-6 record in Thomas’s rookie season.

“Sitting here today am I’m surprised we haven’t gone to the playoffs?” Thomas said. “Yeah, probably. Six years, that’s a long time especially when you start 10-6 with a fairly prolific offense.

“Obviously, at the end of that year I was thinking, ‘We are going to be better the next year and have a better offense because we had pretty much everyone coming back.’”

Instead, quarterback Derek Anderson lost his mojo, the team dropped 12 games and coach Romeo Crennel was fired. Thomas had never endured a losing season or a coaching dismissal in his football career.

There was more of each to come.

The perennial All Pro has played under four coaches and protected 10 starting quarterbacks since 2007. It’s one reason why he tempers his enthusiasm when analyzing the rebuilt Browns

“There certainly have been a lot of changes,” he said. “It remains to be seen if they were the right changes because in this game you are measured by wins and losses. There’s been a lot of change, that’s for sure. It’s good to talk about it now, but it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about those changes. It’s what happens on Sunday.”

Thomas, however, knows the excitement the club would generate with a return to the relevance. He’s good friends with Browns radio analyst Doug Dieken who tells him what it meant to play in Cleveland and later chronicle the club’s success during the 1980s and early 90s.

Thomas also loves the fact coach Rob Chudzinski grew up a Browns fan and understands the connection between the franchise and its fan base.

“When the Cavs went to the finals that was cool,” Thomas said. “But it’s such a football town. (Winning) would mean so much to everybody. It would be unbelievable.

“I try to talk to the young guys and let them know how important this team is to the city. We could be legends if we bring this organization back to where it was a couple decades ago or even win a Super Bowl. You’d never buy another drink, never buy another dinner the rest of your life if you won a Super Bowl here.”

The Cavaliers declined to comment on reports that former Cavs guard Daniel Gibson turned himself into police in New Orleans, charged with second-degree battery in connection with an incident at the Essence Festival July 4-7.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — An arrest warrant in New Orleans says former Cavalier Daniel Gibson broke a man’s jaw in an incident in a New Orleans club on July 8.

Gibson, facing a charge of second-degree battery, turned himself in to New Orleans police on Monday morning and was released on a $20,000 bond.

The Cavs said they would have no comment about the free-agent guard, and neither Gibson nor agent Andy Miller responded to texts from The Plain Dealer, but Monday afternoon Gibson Tweeted, “Those who know me know I operate one way. Out of Luv for my Family..& out of Respect for God. The situation was unfortunate but when things like this happen you rely on your foundation &

#KeepPushin.”

Earlier Monday, Gibson told TMZ.com, “Earlier this month during the Essence Music Festival, I was involved in an incident with other individuals while I was out with my wife. .¤.¤. It’s unfortunate that some see opportunity in taking advantage of people who work hard for what they have achieved. .¤.¤. Once all the facts of the incident come out, I expect to be fully vindicated.”

Gibson’s wife, singer Keyshia Cole, appeared at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 6.

Later Monday, Gibson called TMZ Live to say the victim disrespected Cole in a “profane way.” Gibson told TMZ an altercation broke out and “safety was threatened” so he “needed to take action.” Gibson also said “I have nothing to be ashamed of or hide.”

According to the arrest warrant, the victim was at a party at the Club Venue on July 8 when Gibson and his wife walked by. The victim said he thanked Cole “for keeping it real” and then turned to tell his friend something, at which time Gibson struck him with a closed fist to the jaw. The warrant says Gibson was restrained and the victim was escorted out of the club and went to the hospital, where his broken left jaw was diagnosed.

Gibson, 27, was a second-round draft choice of the Cavs in 2006 and has spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Cavs. Even before the incident, he was not expected to return.

New Orleans television station WDSU was first to report that Gibson had turned himself in. The station reports that Louisiana state law defines second-degree battery as an assault in which the offender “intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury” on another individual.

The game that has been called a combination of ping-pong and badminton is a medal sport in the National Senior Games this year. Watch video

 CLEVELAND, Ohio – About five years ago, Rodney Grubbs was just like you. He knew nothing of this newfangled sport some friends were trying to introduce into his community in Brookville, Ind.

But he watched with interest as they demonstrated the racquet sport that used solid paddles and a bright, yellow-green whiffle ball on a hard surface. Some say it’s like a combination of tennis and ping-pong. Others have called it badminton with a whiffle ball.

It’s pickleball, and it’s the newest medal sport in the National Senior Games.

“We just fell in love with it, instantly,” said Grubbs, 58.

Grubbs so loves the sport that he goes by his alter-ego “Rocket” when he steps on the court, the moniker that’s scrawled on his paddle.

He answers questions on the Website he runs, allaboutpickleball.com, and last year he trademarked a phrase that every good Clevelander would appreciate: “Pickleball Rocks.”

He and his doubles partner, 61-year-old Jeff Siebert, both are tennis coaches back in Indiana, and both saw how their skills from that sport translated to pickleball relatively easily. However, there are enough differences that it has taken plenty of practice to get them to the National Senior Games.

“The best way to describe it, is it’s ping-pong, only you’re standing on the table,” Grubbs said.

Got it?

It’s a relatively new sport, invented in 1965 by Washington congressman Joel Pritchard. According to legend, Pritchard and some friends were looking for something to do one weekend, had portions of an old badminton set, and eventually settled on the sport that bounces the perforated plastic ball with wood paddles.

Randy Chilton, 61, bends to nail a shot during a pickleball game in the National Senior Games.Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

The sport got its name from Pritchard’s cocker spaniel, Pickles, who loved to chase after the ball; it was Pickles’ ball.

Joyce Jones began playing pickleball about 15 years ago with her husband – who was friends with Pritchard. Jones, therefore, has known about the sport for as long as its existed, and watched its metamorphosis from her home in Bothell, Wash.

“It just stayed dormant for about 25 years, nothing happened,” said Jones, 83. “Then, all of a sudden, it started picking up and picking up and now it’s fastest growing sport in the country.”

The sport isn’t just for the senior set, however.

“It’s a family game,” said David Jordan, president of the USA Pickleball Association. “You can play it anywhere, you can play it in your driveway, if you want to. It’s just a great game. Exercise, and not nearly as taxing on your body as a lot of other racquet sports.”

Jordan, in fact, explained the sport of pickleball to a rapt group of children from the Akron JCC on Monday morning.

“I’m sorry you can’t play it,” Jordan said. “We have a tournament going on right now. But I know you’d love it.”

Contrary to how many begin playing the game, the goal is not to score points by outhitting opponents with power. Rather, finesse often is the difference as points are best scored by hitting the ball at tough angles and placing it at the feet of opponents.

Regardless, it’s a sport that sees plenty of fast-paced action with each “thwack!” of the ball against the paddle.

“The most beautiful thing about this sport is any athletic ability can play, any age can play,” Grubbs said. “We’ve got kids from 6 years old to 99. The beautiful thing is anybody can play and do well.”

Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, who needs all the reps he can get, sat out today's team drills with patellar tendinitis in his knee.

Josh Gordon was sidelined from practice by a knee problem.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, who needs every rep he can get this preseason before serving his two-game suspension, was pulled out of practice Monday with patellar tendinitis in his knee.

Coach Rob Chudzinski said he's not too concerned about it, but every snap in training camp is vital Gordon, who will be banned from the facility from Sept. 2 through Sept. 16 for his positive codeine test.

What's more, Gordon was starting to come on strong in practice and impress the coaches with his determination.

Gordon, who came up limping on the first day of practice with what was later said to be a cramp, had been suffering from some discomfort in the knee, but planned to practice on it Monday. It's unknown if the tendinitis was related to the limping, which occurred after he dropped a long pass from Brandon Weeden.

"He started out, tried to push through it, but we sat him down for the rest of practice,'' said Chudzinski. "It shouldn't be too big of a deal.''

Chudzinski stressed that the injury was a pre-existing condition and not something that occurred in Monday's position drills.

"No, it had just been bothering him,'' he said. "He had gone through a little bit of the individual (drills) and it was bothering him enough that we stopped it.”

At one point, an assistant coach snapped at Gordon after a drill to hustle, and he walked instead. That's not uncommon for Gordon, who's effort is inconsistent, but this time he had a legitimate reason to waltz.

"Today, yes,'' said Chudzinski.

Chudzinski, who's team will have a mandatory day off Tuesday, said he wasn't sure if Gordon will undergo an MRI.

“We will see about that,'' said Chudzinski. "It doesn’t look to be too serious, but I will let you know (Wednesday) on that. Obviously, as far as reps, we want our guys to get as many reps as possible, especially our young guys.”

Patellar tendinitis affects the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone. It's most common in athletes who jump a lot in their sport, which is why it's often called jumper's knee. Treatment includes physical therapy, ice and rest. In fact, Gordon was unavailable to talk after practice because he was receiving treatment on the knee.

The setback for Gordon -- however minor -- comes at a time when he was starting to flash in camp. His route-running is still erratic at times, but the new coaching staff has harnessed his raw ability and he's gotten better.

"The last (few) days, Josh has really come out and competed,'' Chudzinski said Sunday. "He's come out with a plan in practice specifically of what he wants to work on and get better. He’s done that. You see those plays he's able to make; he is going after the ball and going strong for the ball.”

Chudzinski acknowledged that consistent effort is a challenge for everyone on the team, not just Gordon.

"Here, you want to push guys,'' said Chudzinski "You want to put them in situations that are tougher, stress them and push them when they are tired, and that is what training camp is really for. It’s about developing mental toughness and we want to do that with everyone on our team as well.”

Gordon's development hasn't been lost on his teammates.

"That year off of football took a toll on him,'' said Richardson. "This year, he's practicing hard and working hard. I ain't never seen nothing like it coming out of him. He's doing much better than he did last year. It's always good when you've got somebody like Josh that's trying to get to earn everybody's respect and get back to where he needs to be to be playing football. He's doing real good.''

Quarterback Jason Campbell has seen in Gordon a young player who wants to make amends for the suspension.

"He's a guy that wants to succeed and with the incident that happened, he's definitely trying to put that behind him and move forward,'' said Campbell. "We're moving forward as a team with him. We support him 100% and when a guy's in a situation like that, one of the things you want to do is just reach out and bring him closer to you and to the team and let him know we're his brothers and put our arm around him and help him succeed and get through this.''

Campbell, who's working primarily with the second-team offense, has started to develop some nice chemistry with Gordon, who soars above smaller defensive backs and catches the ball effortlessly with his hands.

"He has natural ability and the sky's the limit for him,'' said Campbell. "He has to continue to keep learning and striving, but he definitely has the things that you just can't teach sometimes, including a knack for the ball. he's definitely a good player and I hope he's back out here soon.''

The Browns hope so too.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Giambi is the most dangerous .194 hitter alive. Giambi, pinch-hitting to lead off the ninth inning, homered to give the Indians a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Monday night at Progressive Field. It was Giambi's ninth career walkoff homer and 10th pinch-hit blast. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Giambi became the oldest player in major-league history to hit a...

The Cleveland Indians' Jason Giambi watches his walk-off homer off Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Ramon Troncoso in the ninth inning Monday night at Progressive Field. The Indians won 3-2. Tony Dejak, Associated Press

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Giambi is the most dangerous .194 hitter alive.

Giambi, pinch-hitting to lead off the ninth inning, homered to give the Indians a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Monday night at Progressive Field.

It was Giambi's ninth career walkoff homer and 10th pinch-hit blast. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Giambi became the oldest player in major-league history to hit a walk-off home run. He was 42 years, 202 days old on Monday. He eclipsed Hank Aaron (42 years, 157 days in 1976).

Giambi received a cold-water shower during a postgame interview, one of several displays of gratitude by his teammates.

"I might catch pneumonia,'' he said with a chuckle. "I'm too old to get a bucket of cold water dumped on me.''

Giambi is not too old to flex. He crushed a 1-1 pitch from right-hander Ramon Troncoso over the center-field wall and into the lower foliage. It left a vapor trail.

"It jumped out of there like a golf ball,'' said his buddy Nick Swisher. "Gorgeous. That just shows what he's capable of doing. When you're getting up near the Thome Terrace, you're doing something.''

Giambi is 24-for-124 in 45 games, but he has seven homers and 24 RBI.

"Big G means so much to the ballclub, on and off the field,'' Swisher said. "That's why, when he does what he just did, the party's off the charts.''

Giambi, who pinch-hit for Mark Reynolds, carried the Indians (57-48) to their fifth straight victory. Chicago (40-63) has dropped seven of eight.

"There's nothing more special in the game than to do that,'' Giambi said. "To help the ballclub win in the last at-bat. That moment is what keeps you coming back every single year.''

The Indians have eight walkoffs this season, four courtesy of the long ball. Giambi's walkoff homer was the ballpark's 68th -- most by any team since 1994.

Tribe right-hander Zach McAllister, making his second start since returning from a middle-finger injury, made Giambi's heroics possible, He allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out two.

"I felt confident in the finger again, confident in my stuff,'' McAllister said. "It was nice to have gotten the first start out of the way. This was another step in the right direction.''

McAllister helped extend the Cleveland pitching staff's scoreless-innings streak to 26 before allowing two runs in the sixth.

Two terrific catches by left fielders saved McAllister and closer Chris Perez (3-1, 2.56 ERA). Ryan Raburn tracked a ball near the wall to prevent a run while ending the sixth. Michael Brantley equaled it while ending the ninth.

"Two phenomenal plays,'' Giambi said.

Center fielder Michael Bourn also contributed defensively, with a sliding catch early and hustle late. He chased after a ball hit by Dayan Viciedo in the ninth that had skipped away from now-right fielder Raburn. Viciedo stopped at third on what could have been an inside-the-park homer if not for Bourn. Moments later, Brantley reached high and behind him to smoothly snare Gordon Beckham's liner.

"Little things add up,'' Giambi said. "Those are the things we've been doing to win games.''

The Tribe has won eight straight at Progressive Field, its longest such streak since a 14-gamer, April 3-May 10, 2011. The Tribe is 32-13 at Progressive Field since April 30, the second-best home record in the majors in that span.

The Indians prevailed despite being held to four hits and  going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

"We made some mistakes, but they didn't cost us because guys picked each other up,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. "That's huge.''

The Indians, thanks to the defensive issues of White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie, took a 1-0 lead in the second. Asdrubal Cabrera led off with a grounder to third. It was routine until Gillaspie bounced the throw to first baseman Adam Dunn.

The next batter, Raburn, chopped a 3-1 pitch toward the third-base line. The last hop ate up Gillaspie and rolled away far enough for Cabrera to secure third and Raburn second. Official scorer Bob Maver's ruling: double.

Carlos Santana hit a sacrifice fly to left. As Cabrera scored, Raburn moved to third.

The run came wrapped in history. It was the 16th consecutive time the Indians scored first, establishing a franchise record. The 1906 club had a string of 15. The 16-gamer is longest in the majors since the Milwaukee Brewers' 21 in 1990.

Chicago's first hit came in the fourth, when Alexei Ramirez led off with a single up the middle. With Alex Rios batting, Ramirez stole second despite a strong throw by catcher Santana. The opposition is 43-of-48 attempting to steal against Santana.

Rios eventually struck out looking. Dunn popped to third baseman Mike Aviles in foul territory and Paul Konerko lined to first baseman Swisher.

The White Sox broke through and pulled ahead, 2-1, in the sixth. It happened in a blink.

With two outs, Rios doubled to right on McAllister's third pitch. Dunn ripped a second-pitch double into the right-field corner to drive in Rios. Konerko singled up the middle on the first pitch to deliver Dunn. Konerko entered the night as a .277 hitter with 47 homers and 174 RBI in 867 career at-bats against Cleveland.

Rare wildness from White Sox lefty John Danks enabled the Indians to tie it in their half.  Bourn led off with a five-pitch walk. Swisher walked after four straight wide ones. Jason Kipnis executed a quality sacrifice bunt toward third that Gillaspie failed to pick up with the bare hand. Maver deemed the bunt good enough to score it a single.

Cabrera hit a one-hop liner to short. Ramirez did well to stop the ball while falling down and flipped to second baseman Beckham wide of the bag. Beckham threw to first to retire Cabrera for the only out on the play as Bourn scored.

Danks walked Reynolds to being the seventh. White Sox manager Robin Ventura signaled for righty Matt Lindstrom. Reynolds reached third with two outs, at which point lefty reliever Donnie Veal got Swisher to ground to third.

Danks gave up one earned run on two asterisk hits, walked four and struck out three. Danks entered the night with nine walks in 76 2/3 innings. He had not walked more than two in any of his 12 starts.

In his previous six road starts, Danks posted a 6.03 ERA.

The White Sox, benefiting from a blown call by second-base umpire D.J. Reyburn, threatened in the eighth against Cody Allen. Ramirez reached on a fielding error by Allen with one out. Ramirez's attempt to steal second appeared to be unsuccessful -- except through the eyes of Reyburn. Second baseman Kipnis and Francona argued; TV replays supported the Indians.

Rios flied to right, Ramirez advancing to third. Francona lifted Allen for lefty Rich Hill, who faced Dunn. Hill froze Dunn with a full-count fastball down the middle.

"That's why he's here,'' Francona said of Hill.

Francona said he would have been ready to rumble if the White Sox had scored as a result of Reyburn's missed call.

"I don't think (Ramirez) was safe,'' Francona said. "That would have been a tough one to take. I probably would have gotten thrown out during the next pitching change.''

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched eight innings and picked up the win, as the Columbus Clippers defeated the Durham Bulls, 5-4, in an International league game Monday night in Columbus.

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitches in spring training in March.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Class AA: Akron Aeros The Aeros were idle Monday night. 

Class A Advanced: Wilmington 4, Carolina 3 Shawn Morimando (7-10) surrendered four runs, all earned, and five hits in 5Ð innings, and took the loss as the Mudcats lost at Wilmington, Del. 

Class A: Great Lakes 9, Lake County 0 A trio of Loons limited the Captains to four singles in a shutout in Midland, Mich. Lake County starter Luis DeJesus (4-11), gave up seven runs in three innings. Corey Seager hit a grand slam home run in the second inning to put the Loons up 7-0. 

Class A Short Season: Mahoning Valley 5, Williamsport 2 The host Scrappers pounded out 15 hits to win a New York-Penn League game over the Crosscutters. Nellie Rodriguez clubbed his seventh homer for Mahoning Valley, and Robel Garcia hit his fourth. Rodriguez was 3-for-4 and is hitting .345 in 148 at-bats. 

Independent: Lake Erie 4-4, Evansville 1-5 Lake Erie won its third consecutive road series, as it split a doubleheader at Evansville, Ind. Matt Smith (3-3) tossed a two-hitter for Lake Erie in the opener. 

Highlights include Indians' home game against the White Sox.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

4 p.m. St. Louis at Pittsburgh, MLB Network

7 p.m. Seattle at Boston, MLB Network

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

7:05 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at Fort Wayne, AM/1330

7:05 p.m. White Sox at CLEVELAND INDIANS, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

10 p.m. Cincinnati at San Diego MLB Network

CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

7:30 p.m. British Columbia at Toronto, NBCSN

cleveland.com's Glenn Moore recapped today's Browns practice with The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed.

Can Chris Owens earn the starting corner back job? Glenn Moore talked about his and more with The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed during Monday night's show. (Plain Dealer photo) 

See details on the volleyball competition at the National Senior Games.

View full sizeSenior 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 volleyball.

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., Cleveland).

Notable: Rosters are capped at 15 players and the team's youngest player determines its age division. Matches are the best of three sets. The tournament begins with round-robin pool play to establish seeding for the championship bracket. When possible, teams will be divided into three skill levels for the championship bracket.

Double the fun: The Frederick Volleyball Club won the men's 50+ age division at the 2011 National Senior Games and apparently had a good time doing it. The defending champions not only returned this year, they brought two teams to Cleveland. But they couldn't duplicate their success, as both teams were knocked out well shy of the championship match.

Who to watch: PA Spike Force has won back-to-back Games championships. They are entered in the men's 55+ age division this year. The Texas Ladybugs won the 2007 and 2011 Games. They are competing in the women's 65+ age division this year.

Did you know: Virginia Buckles has competed at five National Senior Games with the Arch Rivals volleyball team from St. Louis and helped the team win the 55+ age division in 2011. Her day job, however, is also of interest to many Games participants. Buckles is the executive director of the Washington University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, a position she has held since 1999.

-- Teddy Cahill, Special to The Plain Dealer

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns. Featured today are Bleacher Report, Dawg Pound Daily and Waiting For Next Year.

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

Greg Little has a new attitude going into training camp. (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer) 

"If the work does pay off, the amount Little can bring to this offense is enormous. With Josh Gordon working as the all-around threat who can attack anywhere on the field, Little can be a great asset to catch passes underneath and create yards after the catch. Little was, afterall, a running back when he arrived at North Carolina and every so often, he shows glimpses of what he is able to do with the ball in his hands. He has quickness and remarkable strength that make him difficult for opponents to bring down. It appeared as though Little was rushing too much at times last year and that is what prevented him from doing as much as he should be able to do after the catch. The combination of more experience and more confidence in his hands should help him be more comfortable after the catch and show his natural instincts as a playmaker.

In addition to being a receiver, he is a good fit in a power offense because he can be a good blocker and really help seal the edge to create opportunities for Trent Richardson and the other backs in the running game. Whether he is lined up on the outside or as a power option in the slot, Little offers a lot of versatility if he can put things together as a blocking threat."

How will the Browns offense look during the preseason? (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer) 

"How Much of the New Offense Will Be Shown?

By bringing in offensive-minded coaches Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner, there is reason to be excited for the offensive side of the ball in Cleveland.

With second-year players Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson to build around, Chudzinski and his staff have plenty to work with. The Browns were ranked No. 25 in the league in total offense a year ago, so they also have a lot of room to improve.

Many offenses have gone to using two tight ends, and that is a position Chudzinski specializes in. However, they probably won't tip their hand in the preseason opener.

Expect to see Weeden and the starters play a series or two before handing the reins to Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and the backup players looking to earn a spot on the roster."

Can Jordan Cameron and Brandon Weeden be on the same page this year? (AP Photo/Mark Duncan) 

"Jordan Cameron is the unknown commodity with the high upside. The former basketball player turned tight end has the height, speed and body type that offensive coordinators want. His leaping ability should make him a dangerous red zone threat. The problem is Cameron plays much smaller than his 6’5″ frame and 33.5 inch arms.

Cameron doesn’t seem to be aggressive to the ball. He has had passes deflected away from just about every defensive back in the Browns’ rotation over the last week. The Browns selected Cameron in the fourth round in 2011. At the time, the Browns had Ben Watson, Evan Moore and Alex Smith. Cameron was a player that Tom Heckert thought could develop into a difference maker. Now in his third season, Cameron is in sink or swim territory. If he sinks, the Browns don’t really have a solid plan underneath."

Have a post that you think should be featured in our daily Blog Roundup? Email the link here. You can also follow Glenn on Twitter.

Police released the video today after no charges were filed against Hyde and the case was closed.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – You can now sit in Urban Meyer’s chair, watch the video of Ohio State’s star running back at a Columbus nightclub, and attempt to determine the college football future of Carlos Hyde.

As Ohio State’s head coach, Meyer obviously has some more information, including his conversations with his senior, who ran for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago.

But the video should play a major role in what Meyer decides with Hyde. Today, Columbus police announced that the alleged victim in this incident chose not to press charges. So Hyde faces no more legal ramifications at this point. The case is officially closed.

That doesn’t mean it’s closed with Meyer, however, who has expressed a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence against women. After the police became frustrated with media reports, some that said Hyde definitely struck the woman, and some that said he did not, the video helps explain some of the confusion.

It is unclear.

Starting at the 2:45 mark of the video, Hyde moves from a position closer to the camera and steps up a step into a darker area. He talks to the woman for about 30 seconds. Then, as he is about to step away, Hyde points toward her face and she steps forward and raises her right arm and appears to attempt to strike Hyde.

As she steps back, Hyde steps toward her and raises his left arm and appears to attempt to strike her. It is unclear whether either swing of the arm landed.

And that is what Meyer must decipher. His specifically stated rules of his program actually address having respect toward women. In a dark nightclub, Meyer must determine what he sees and how that fits with his football team.

See tee times for the 74 golfers Thursday and Friday in Akron.

AKRON, Ohio - Golf fans headed to Firestone Country Club for Thursday's first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational might want to find a spot near the 10th tee well before 9 a.m.

From 9-10 a.m. a star studded cast will go off the back side, including Tiger Woods, Cleveland native Jason Dufner, 2011 champ and Masters winner Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell, Webb Simpson, Lee Westwood and Bubba Watson. On Friday, the same stars will circle through the first tee from 12:50-1:50 p.m.

Tee times for the first and second round were announced Tuesday afternoon. Click here to see the list of tee times for all 73 players, who are paired in twosomes.

Woods is paired with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. They tee off on No. 10 Thursday at 9:20 a.m. and on No. 1 Friday at 1:10 p.m. 

Scott, paired with Dustin Johnson, follows at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and 1:20 p.m. Friday. Dufner starts the set of featured pairings Thursday at 9 a.m. from the 10th tee with England's Chris Wood, followed by a Friday tee time of 12:50.

Some other notables:

• British Open champion Phil Mickelson is paired with Justin Rose and starts Thursday at 1:40 p.m. from the first tee and Friday at 9:50 a.m. from the back side.

• Rickie Fowler is playing with Sergio Garcia and the duo will go off Thursday at 1:10 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 9:20 a.m. from No. 10.

• Two groups later is Rory McIlroy and Brandt Snedeker, teeing off Thursday at 1:30 p.m. and Friday at 9:40 a.m.

• Defending Bridgestone Invitational champ Keegan Bradley is paired with Luke Donald. They go off No. 1 Thursday at 2 p.m. -- the final tee time of the day -- and No. 10 Friday at 10:10 a.m.

• Both Thursday and Friday, groups go off No. 1 and No. 10 starting at 8:40 a.m.

The Indians and White Sox continue their series tonight at Progressive Field. Chat live during the game and get updates from the ballpark.

 

» Get updates from the pressbox here

» You can also follow Tweets about the game and join cleveland.com's Glenn Moore in the comments section for updates and live conversation during the game.

Tweets from @clevelanddotcom/indians

When it comes to the Tribe's Jason Giambi, ignore the batting average unless you are talking about hitting in the clutch.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Some Tribe fans look at Jason Giambi's .194 batting average and wonder, why is he on the team? Does it make sense to carry a part-time designated hitter who happens to be 42?

Before making the case for Giambi, I'll simply ask this question -- if not Giambi, then who? Who on the Class AAA Columbus roster would be a better idea? Zeke Carrera (.250, 5 HR)? Tim Fedroff (.254, 5 HR)? Cord Phelps (.267, 9 HR)?

The answer is simple -- no one.

Fans have been hearing about Giambi's leadership and positive influence from the moment he was signed. But he had to show he could produce in his limited role.

Start with Giambi's .323 batting average with runners in scoring position, along with his seven homers and 24 RBI in 124 at-bats. Or how about the fact that he can still grab a bat and pole-axe a pitch into the trees 416 feet away, as he did to win Monday's game against the White Sox. He became the oldest player ever to hit a walk-off homer, surpassing Hank Aaron.

"I knew I could contribute," said Giambi. "I can still catch up to a heater and put up some quality at-bats."

Manager Terry Francona likes how Giambi not only still has power, but "he can still take a walk."

"Not every team can carry a guy [like Giambi], but it works for us," said Francona, who has wanted to manage Giambi for years. He was "thrilled" when General Manager Chris Antonetti presented the idea of bringing Giambi to spring training.

Francona's influence

While Francona didn't talk about it, he was taking over a team that had lost at least 93 games in three of the last four seasons. Things had to change, from the talent level to the clubhouse attitude. He believed Giambi could help. Antonetti knew Giambi was so respected by his former team, the Colorado Rockies, that they interviewed him for the managerial job.

"That was impressive," said Antonetti. "We heard so many great things about Jason as a person and teammate."

When Francona was hired, the Indians not only wanted his experience, they asked for his input on how to build a winning team.

"I have a great deal of respect for Tito," said Antonetti. "From the moment he was hired, he was going to be a big part of [assembling the roster]. We collaborate on everything."

He's a manager with two World Series rings who wanted to find a way for Giambi to be his team's 25th man. Giambi proved his desire to play "until they tear off my uniform" by going to Arizona on a minor-league contract with no promise of a roster spot. That's rare from a player with 429 career homers.

Antonetti and Francona were looking for two things in spring training. Giambi still had to be able to hit, and he clubbed three homers in Arizona. And Ryan Raburn needed to make the roster. He delivered a monster spring.

"The key was that Raburn had to work out," said Francona. "He really worked out."

Veteran influence

With Raburn and Mike Aviles, the Tribe had two guys who could handle multiple positions. Aviles could doing everything except catch. Raburn is mostly an outfielder, but he has played 143 games at second base in his career. But he batted just .171 with one homer in 205 at-bats for the Tigers last season. Like Giambi, Raburn went to Goodyear on a minor-league contract.

One of the lessons from the second-half swoons of the last two seasons is the lack of depth on the Indians, and the need for veterans who could produce in part-time roles. Aviles (.265, 6 HR, 29 RBI) and Raburn (.268, 11 HR, 31 RBI) have been terrific. Add backup catcher Yan Gomes (.283, 7, 23 RBI) and Giambi (.194, 7 HR, 24 RBI) to that collection.

Those four have combined for 31 homers and 107 RBI in 671 at-bats.

"I love the role that I have on this team," said Giambi. "We win as a team. We've had so many different guys doing it. ... At this point, I just want to be one piece of a big wheel."

The Tribe entered Tuesday night with a 57-48 record, 2 1/2 games behind Detroit in the Central Division. Giambi called a team meeting in the middle of the Tigers series earlier this month, and they have a 12-6 record since then.

"In terms of the [off-field] influence Jason has had on the team, he's exceeded all of our expectations," said Antonetti.

Giambi talks about how baseball is one of the few places where "you can get 25 guys all going in one direction." He talks about how he senses being on this team "is part of something special, that's so gratifying. I love this team."

He is preaching the gospel of hope to players and fans, insisting that a recent frustrating history is just that -- history.

"We have a different manager, different players," he said.

And Giambi is making a difference, too, one this team really needed.

Fearless Fausnight faces Firestone fans

View full sizeRick "Fuzzy" Fausnight, manager of the equally popular 55th Hole at Firestone Country Club.Tim Rogers, The Plain Dealer

 AKRON, Ohio - The 55th Hole is a gathering place that sits on the second floor of the clubhouse at Firestone Country Club, adjacent to the men's locker room and overlooking the first tee and the ninth green.

The always engaging Rick "Fuzzy" Fausnight has been running the place for more than 20 years, holding court behind the bar, pouring drinks, popping beers and making friends with enough stories to fill the water tower across the street. The guy never forgets a name or face. It is no secret he is one of the club's most popular employees, although he will disagree.

Recently expanded and remodeled, the 55th Hole -- there are 54 golf holes at Firestone, by the way -- is a place where golfers go to drown their sorrows or celebrate their triumphs. Seating capacity, by law, is 118, but at least twice as many packed the place several weeks ago when Fausnight celebrated his 55th birthday on the night of the 55th Hole's grand reopening.

This week FedEx will take over the 55th Hole, entertaining clients while watching the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational down below. Undoubtedly, Fuzz will be in full go.

Fausnight grew up in the Manchester area of Akron and attended his first golf tournament at Firestone in 1972. He hasn't missed one since and has witnessed some of the tournament's best episodes, from the day Tiger Woods knocked his ball onto the clubhouse roof to the day Woods and Phillip Price finished their final round in the dark as the spectators flicked their Bics for illumination with flashbulbs popping. Don't ask him about the year Greg Norman beat Nick Price and Billy Mayfair in a playoff with a chip-in. Here's more with Fausnight.

First job at Firestone: "I flipped hamburgers."

Your fondest memory: "Being introduced to Nick Price prior to the 1983 tournament. He would pass by me every day and say hello, ask me how I was doing. He goes on to win the tournament, went wire-to-wire. That night the phone rings at my house and the guy on the other end is telling my mother that he's Nick Price. So, I get on the phone and I think it's (co-worker) Dick Robbins busting my chops. I say, 'That is the worst Nick Price imitation I've ever heard.' To make a long story short it was Nick Price and he says, 'You are one of three people I know in Akron. Get down here and drink some beer with us.' So, I go back to the club and sit with Price and we have a ball. Nick Price is the coolest guy ever to walk through the doors here."

Most memorable tournament: "It was 2000, the year that Tiger Woods and Phillip Price completed their final round in the dark and all the fans stood around the green and used their lighters and the photogs had their flashes going off every two seconds. It was an unreal sight."

Favorite member: "The next one to walk through the doors."

One more honor: Two-time state champion and Plain Dealer player of the year Andrew Bieber has been named as the national player of the year by the National High School Coaches Association. 

Bieber, who graduated from Gilmour and is about to leave for Duke, will be honored in the NHSCA National High School Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which is going to be constructed in Easton, Pa. 

Bieber intends to major in neuroscience and psychology and minor in theology or philosophy at Duke.

Going like 90: More than 40 players have registered for the 90th annual Cleveland Women's Golf Association's district championship to be played next week at The Country Club. A qualifying round for the Championship Flight will be played Sunday. Natalie Goodson, Ohio State Women’s Champion and CWGA 2012 Champion, will not be at Country to defend her title. Neither will twelve-time champion Mary Ann Bierman.

On Twitter: @TimRogersCLE

Browns have historically not pressured quarterbacks with regularity

BEREA, Ohio -- Joe Thomas was a member of the 2008 Browns team that recorded 17 sacks -- or three fewer than Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

Heads of state have been afforded less protection than quarterbacks opposing the Browns since their NFL return in 1999. In that span only the Houston Texans have fewer sacks (347) than the Browns (440), and they didn’t enter the league until 2002.

But Thomas, among the great offensive linemen of his generation, spoke Monday of a dramatic organizational shift. He was asked to compare what he sees in practice to what he’s experienced over the years facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I think this defense is going to take more risks,” Thomas said. “I think (Steelers defensive coordinator) Dick Lebeau is less likely to take a risk and give up a big play with a blitz or a pressure than our coordinator Ray Horton. He’s more willing to try to hit the quarterback and force an interception, force a turnover.

“I see our team willing to bring the house.”

The Browns are philosophically, financially and schematically committed to pressuring quarterbacks like never before. From CEO Joe Banner to coach Rob Chudzinski to Horton, the Browns brain trust wants its 3-4 base defense in attack mode. They believe it’s the best way to succeed in a league in which 300-yard passing days have become as routine as stadium flyovers.

Whether it produces the desired outcome or a parade of 50-yard touchdowns against a vulnerable secondary is to be determined. But for a franchise that’s rarely possessed a dominant rush even in good times, the approach marks a sea change. Yes, former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan liked to bring the heat, but management did not allocate as many resources to buttress his plan.

Banner signed outside linebacker Paul Kruger and defensive end Desmond Bryant in free agent and used the sixth pick in the first round on edge rusher Barkevious Mingo. It’s believed the organization also was intent on drafting LSU defensive lineman Bennie Logan, who went to the Philadelphia Eagles one pick before the Browns selected in the third round. Cleveland chose cornerback Leon McFadden instead.

“If you don’t provide the staff with the players who can actually execute it, the scheme is going to fail,” said Banner, who spent $80 million to upgrade the defense. “We are focusing on that. We believe to win and win potentially big at this time in the NFL you have to be able to pressure the quarterback very aggressively and in all different situations.”

Lack of continuity

 

When a quarterback sets to throw, former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano says, a defense wants him to see “Times Square on New Year’s Eve.” A wall of humanity, arms and bodies obstructing passing lanes.

The Steelers have supplied such chaotic visions for decades. Banner’s old team, the Eagles, has created plenty of mayhem as well. Not the Browns. The team’s most famous sack – Joe ‘Turkey’ Jones' spike of Terry Bradshaw – is 37 years old.

The Browns have finished among the top-10 in sacks just six times in the last 30 years. They have finished last twice since 1999. Team radio analyst Doug Dieken said the franchise’s most formidable pass rush might have come in the early 1970s in the form of linemen Walter Johnson, Jerry Sherk, Jack Gregory and Jones.

Clay Mathews is the team’s career leader with 76 sacks – or 124 behind NFL standard bearer Bruce Smith. Sherk had a productive career before the stat was officially kept in 1982, while Chip Banks, Jamir Miller and Kamerion Wimbley all enjoyed excellent single seasons. But the pass rush has never been part of the organizational identity. The Browns haven’t had a premier sack master. They haven’t wed themselves to the same system, allowing a team like the Steelers to transition from Kevin Greene to Chad Brown to Jason Gildon to Joey Porter to James Harrison.

“Just look at how many coaches and GMs and player personnel directors we’ve gone through since Dick LeBeau came back to the Steelers (in 2004),” Rutigliano said.

Even during the Browns’ successful run through the 1980s they preferred a more conservative defense employed by Marty Schottenheimer.

“Our philosophy was we’d always be deep as the deepest and wide as the widest,” Rutigliano said.

The club’s best three-year sack total came under Bill Belichick. The Browns finished among the league’s top-10 from 1992-94, only to see its most memorable blindside hit applied by owner Art Modell.

Since 1999, Mingo is just the fourth first- or second-round pick used on a pass rusher. Of course, when you can’t develop a quarterback, you’re forever investing valuable assets and free-agent money to find one. The Steelers and Eagles, who’ve registered the most sacks in the past 14 years, each have had franchise signal callers for a good portion of that span.

“If you asked what the are two most important things to win, I’d say have a great quarterback and be able to pressure the quarterback,” Banner said.

Can the secondary hold up?

The new CEO has mandated an attacking defense since his introductory news conference in October. He’s assembled a coaching staff and roster he hopes will take the first step toward realizing the vision.

NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly, a former Washington Redskins and Houston Texans general manager, favors the direction of the Browns defense. He’s a big fan of Horton and likes the rotation of edge rushers and that Jabaal Sheard and Mingo give them a viable threat opposite Kruger.

“Sheard is a heck of a player and now you’ve added Mingo,” Casserly said. “You’ve got to be able to pressure from both sides.”

But the secondary is as thin as a runway model after cornerback Joe Haden and strong safety T.J. Ward and skeptics forecast lots of big plays for opponents. Besides two games each against Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco, the Browns also must face Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

“You have an attitude which we want to become part of the personality of the organization,” Banner said. “It’s an attacking, physical, get-after-you kind of thing. You have a coach who believes in it and has the guts to frankly stick with it when it doesn’t work.

“And when it doesn’t work it can be a conspicuous thing. You have to stick with it anyway and have the strength to do it.”

Horton inherited a unit that collected 38 sacks last season, the same total as the Arizona Cardinals, whose defense he coordinated. But Horton points to other metrics that help measure the value of his multi-front schemes. Arizona had the league’s lowest opposing quarterback rating (71.2 percent), ranked second in third-down efficiency (32.9) and interceptions (22) and finished third in red-zone defense (44.4). Only the Texans blitzed more last season than the Cardinals.

The Browns will align in varied formations and apply pressure from all angles.

“When I first got here the Steelers were the exotic blitz team, but they’re almost vanilla with some of the 3-4 teams you see out there today,” Thomas said. “And, our defense is going to be some of the most exotic that anybody sees.”

Exotic doesn’t guarantee success. But it probably ensures the days of the 17-sack season are history.

Michael Brantley preserved a 2-2 tie Monday night in the ninth inning with a great running catch against Chicago's Gordon Beckham.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard at Progressive Field.

Left fielder Michael Brantley felt he was fortunate to catch Gordon Beckham's ninth-inning liner Monday night, but he said more than pure luck was involved.Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer 

Clubhouse confidential: Just how did Michael Brantley catch Gordon Beckham's line drive Monday night with two out in the ninth and a man on third? The ball hooked back over Brantley's head as he stuck his glove up to make the catch and preserve a 2-2 tie.

"He hit it hard and it tailed away back over my head," said Brantley. "I knew the vicinity where it was. I reached back, stuck my glove up there and the ball went in."

But it wasn't just luck.

"I don't think it was pure luck," said Brantley. "First, I was trying to get a good read off the bat. He hit it so hard I didn't have a lot of steps to gain ground on it. I was just trying to get in a good situation so I had a chance to make a play on it and help my team.

Replay this: The Indians had a call go against them Monday in the eighth inning when Chicago's Alexei Ramirez was called safe on a steal of second base when replays showed he was clearly out.

Still, manager Terry Francona is not an advocate for increased use of replay.

"No, because I don't have the right answer," said Francona. "Until you do, I don't think you can sit up here and complain."

Stat of the day: The Indians entered Tuesday night's game with 34 victories at home. three fewer than they had all last season.

Meyer said last week that he likes Ohio State's depth at running back. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio – When senior running back Carlos Hyde raised his left arm in the early morning hours of July 20, he put his future as an Ohio State football player at risk.

That decision will cost him at least the first three games of his final college season.

Urban Meyer announced the suspension of Hyde on Tuesday night for his involvement in an incident at a Columbus nightclub. Meyer, in a statement, said the suspension was for “conduct not representative of this football program or this university.” Meyer also said that Hyde will have to fulfill other obligations before he is allowed to return to action.

• Alleged victim's statement | Police will not press charges | The right call?

The three games Hyde will certainly miss are the home opener against Buffalo on Aug. 31, a home game against San Diego State on Sept. 7 and a trip to Cal on Sept. 14. If he is allowed back for the fourth game, his return would come against Florida A&M, and Hyde would miss no Big Ten action.

Hyde will not face charges from police however, another decision announced Tuesday. The evidence behind the decisions was acted out on a video surveillance recording from Sugar Bar 2, a Columbus nightclub.

Hyde's 30-second conversation with a young woman on the dance floor went south. He gestured at her as he began to step away. She responded by attempting to strike him with her right hand. He retaliated by swiping at her with his left hand. It's unclear from the video, which is in pretty clear black and white, if either Hyde or the woman connected with their attempts. The angle of the video makes that difficult to see. But the woman reacted by putting her hands to her face, and after Hyde walked away, she was consoled by friends.

Hyde was named as a person of interest in the potential assault on July 22. Police spokesman Rich Weiner said that the woman told police during an interview Saturday that she didn't want to press charges. And that closed the case.

“This is a case where it's up to the victim,” Weiner told The Plain Dealer. “We were in the middle of the case, and the important part was interviewing her. We were able to do so, and it was during that interview when she said she didn't want to press charges.”

What was left for Hyde was how his coach would rule.

Meyer suspended Hyde indefinitely last Monday. By the time the news from police came out Tuesday, the OSU coaches were well aware that charges would not be filed.

Meyer's decision was made in the public eye. Already, Weiner and the alleged victim both have been frustrated by media coverage of the event, with the woman saying in a statement she released to NBC Channel 4 in Columbus that she believed there had been a rush to judgment.

“It is unimaginable to be exposed to these false reports, claims and rumors,” she wrote.

Now Meyer had to find what he believed to be the truth. After there were reports both ways in the last week – one that said the video showed that Hyde did not strike her, one that said the video showed that he did – the release of the video itself still doesn't draw a firm, clear conclusion.

Meyer certainly talked with Hyde, and he said in Chicago last week at the Big Ten meetings how angry he was when he first heard about the incident.

"My concern is I don't want to disrupt this team. I'm disappointed,” Meyer said then. “I think furious might have been word when I first got the phone call."

Meyer said that every player is ultimately accountable for his actions, but that “the head coach needs to set a standard, direct, guide and push these guys.” He also said he wants the punishment at Ohio State for players who get in trouble to be as harsh or harsher as any program in the country.

It's that mindset he took into his decision-making about Hyde. The senior ran for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns last year, coming on in the second half and serving as an ideal complement to the run threat of quarterback Braxton Miller.

Meyer expressed confidence about the depth behind Hyde, with junior Rod Smith the most likely candidate to start while Hyde is out. However, Smith carried just 32 times for 215 yards last year. Hyde had 185 carries, including four games with 20 or more. Other options at running back include sophomore Bri'onte Dunn (25 carries for 133 yards last season), redshirt freshman Warren Ball, and true freshman Ezekiel Elliott. And senior Jordan Hall and freshman Dontre Wilson, both ticketed to play in the slot, could also grab some tailback carries if need be.

So with the police case done, this was now a football decision. It affects the Buckeyes, who should be ranked among the top three teams in the country in the preseason, and their hopes for a national title. It affects Hyde. It affects Meyer. And one way or another, it affects how people look at Ohio State.