While Brandon Weeden has been criticized, how about the defense? And those silly penalties? And when will the Browns have a running game?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook as the Browns lost, 32-28, to Jacksonsville.

1. Here is something good that can come from a loss to a team ranked dead last in offense and coming to town with a 2-9 record -- it's reality. That's right, reality. And the reality is much more disturbing than this team needing another quarterback.

2. It's easy to pound on Brandon Weeden, and I've done my share lately. I even picked the Jags to win because the Browns were at home -- and Weeden has such a bad vibe with the home fans. Sure, the Browns win with Tom Brady or another elite quarterback. But Weeden did throw three touchdown passes. He was in perfect tune with Josh Gordon, and they had an amazing day.

3. This is not to discount the two interceptions and one lost fumble by Weeden that became 13 Jacksonville points in the first half. Weeden is not the answer at quarterback. But the Browns have played all year with no running game. You know it's bad when they rush for 97 yards and they have a 3.2 average -- and that's considered a good day on the ground for the orange helmets.

4. Some NFL teams seem to think you can find a running back almost anywhere. They point to Trent Richardson and others as warning signs of drafting a back in the first round. Fine. But you still need someone to run the ball, and this team is desperate.

5. Consider this: Two rushing touchdowns … all season. Willis McGahee has both, the second coming Sunday. McGahee actually had a respectable day, 57 yards on 14 carries. But you know it's a sad state of affairs when you run the ball 30 times against the team ranked dead last against the run -- and the longest carry covers 11 yards.

6. I liked the Richardson trade when it was made, so that's not a second-guess. It looks even better now that Richardson has flopped with the Colts and has been benched. I know that Dion Lewis broke his leg -- he was supposed to add depth to the backfield. Montario Hardesty also was injured, but I'm not sure what he would have given the Browns this season.

7. But the Browns absolutely, positively must address the position. They have given Fozzy Whittaker 24 carries, and he's averaging 3.0 per rush. McGahee is at 2.8. You'd like a back who is close to 4.0.

8. Time for a break and something positive. Josh Gordon had 10 catches for 261 yards. He had 237 yards last week in the loss to Pittsburgh. He is the first NFL receiver to have back-to-back games of at least 200 yards. He did it with Jason Campbell and Weeden throwing to him. Actually, Weeden's strong arm does help him -- because Gordon is such a deep threat.

9. Gordon is on pace to break several franchise records. Now think about this: a) He was suspended for the first two games. b) He's done it with three quarterbacks -- none considered long-term NFL starters at this point.

10. One more thought: The Browns have not had the same quarterback start four consecutive games this season.

11. Meanwhile, back to the dismal details of Sunday -- including the defense giving up 137 yards in the fourth quarter. Five times, Jacksonville was in the Browns' red zone. Three times they scored a touchdown. Remember, we're talking Jacksonville and Chad Henne -- not Denver and Peyton Manning. Henne came in with only four TD passes in 315 throws. He now has six. The defense was totally fooled when running back Maurice Jones-Drew threw an 8-yard touchdown pass.

12. The defense entered ranking 31st in allowing touchdowns in the red zone -- 66 percent of the time. This was more of the same.

13. The Browns sacked Henne twice. Those are the only two sacks in the last three games.

14. After no tackles last week and only one sack in his last seven games, rookie Barkevious Mingo looked more like he did early in the season. He had five tackles, a quarterback hit and deflected a pass. But overall, this has been a very uneven and rather disappointing season for the No. 6 pick. He has the speed and ability to become a good pass rusher, but he needs to gain some weight and strength.

15. Defensive end Armonty Bryant has had a few nice moments, and he's the only other member of this rather small draft class to do anything. Leon McFadden (third-rounder) plays primarily on special teams.

16. The Browns have invested a lot of their free-agent money (Paul Kruger, Desmond Bryant) and their top two draft picks (Mingo and McFadden) on defense. The fact is that the defense has had some major letdowns in fourth quarters.

17. The Browns were flagged for 12 men on defense, and not enough men on the line of scrimmage for the punt team. Shaun Lauvao and Jordan Cameron were penalized for false starts, Paul Kruger for jumping offside. So five of nine penalties came before the ball was snapped, inexcusable at home where crowd noise is not a factor.

18. It was this kind of day. Two of the Browns' most reliable players have been Joe Haden and Alex Mack. But Haden was faked out by Cecil Shorts for the game-winning 20-yard TD pass. Mack snapped the ball over Weeden's head, and it became a safety.

19. A Collinwood and Mount Union product, Shorts battled Haden all day. He dropped a past (a sure first down) early. He had only five catches for 44 yards before making that final touchdown grab. He ran a perfect route, one that had to make his father, former Collinwood coach Cecil Shorts Jr., and former Mount Union coach Larry Kehres very proud.

20. Weeden was diagnosed with a concussion after the game. If he can't play next week and Jason Campbell (concussion and bruised ribs) remains out, that means Alex Tanney would make his first NFL start in New England. A product of Monmouth College (the alma mater of former Cavs broadcaster Joe Tait), Tanney has had only two full practices after joining the team last week.

Watch Mary Kay Cabot's and Tom Reed's analysis of the Cleveland Browns loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Watch video

 CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns had the lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars four times before losing the game 32-28 on a Chad Henne pass to Cecil Shorts with 40 seconds left in regulation with Joe Haden defending.

Josh Gordon once again set the Browns record for receiving yards with 261, eclipsing the 237 yard record he set last week against the Steelers.  Gordon now sits in second place on the Browns single season receiving yardage list with 1,249.  Braylon Edwards leads with 1,289 yards.

Brandon Weeden reported concussion type symptoms after the game and did not talk with reporters per league rules.  He threw two interception, fumbled twice, lost one and watched a bad shotgun snap go over his head for a safety.  Weeden ended the game with a 94.8 quarterback rating.

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Gordon finished Sunday's game with 1,249 receiving yards this season, the second-most receiving yards in a season in Browns history. He needs 41 yards to break Braylon Edwards' team mark of 1,289 set in 2007.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Browns receiver Josh Gordon broke the team record for receiving yards in a game - one week after he had set the record. Gordon's 261 yards on 10 catches bettered his 237 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Steelers.

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Gordon is the only player in NFL history to have more than 200 receiving yards in back-to-back regular-season games.

• Also according to Elias, he is one of eight players in NFL history to record two 200-yard-plus games in the same season. The others: Charlie Hennigan, Houston, 1961 (he had three); Alshon Jeffery, Chicago, 2013; Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 2012 and 2011; Don Maynard, New York Jets, 1968; Lance Alworth, San Diego, 1963; Choo-Choo Roberts, N.Y. Giants, 1949; and Don Huston, Green Bay, 1942.

• Gordon is the only player in Browns history have 200-plus receiving yards in a game. The next-highest total was 191 by tight end Ozzie Newsome against the New York Jets on Oct. 14, 1984.

• Gordon has hauled in 498 yards of passes in the last two games and 623 in the last three. Both are NFL records, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The previous mark for two games was 484 by Detroit's Calvin Johnson on Oct. 20 and 27 this season. The record for three games was 612 by Houston's Charley Hennigan from Oct. 13-29, 1961.

• Gordon's 95-yard TD catch from Brandon Weeden on Sunday was the third-longest offensive play in Browns history. The others: 99 yards, Jeff Garcia to Andre Davis vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 17, 2004; and Bernie Kosar to Webster Slaughter vs. Chicago, Oct. 23, 1989.

• Gordon's 2,054 receiving yards are the most by a player in his first 26 games as a Brown. No. 2 on that list is Kellen Winslow with 1,582. Gordon also joined WR Gary Collins (1965) and WR Webster Slaughter (1989) as the only Browns players to record three straight 100-yard receiving games. Gordon's six 100-yard games this season are a club record.

• Gordon's 64 receptions tied for the third-highest total by a Brown 12 games into a season. Kellen Winslow hat 67 in 2006 and 65 in 2007. Like Gordon, Ozzie Newsome also had 64 in 1984. Gordon, however, has only played 10 games this season - he was suspended for the first two for violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Josh Gordon made NFL history Sunday while the Cleveland Browns found a way to lose at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Josh Gordon is really going to have to stop dogging it.

The Browns need 300 yards and four TDs from him one of these weeks, possibly as soon as Sunday in New England.

Would it kill this guy to double as a punt returner?

When the opponent is driving long distances on the Browns’ sagging defense -- something Jacksonville, of all teams, did more than once Sunday -- the least Gordon can do is practice taking wildcat snaps.

You know, between concussion testing.

Would that be enough for Joe Banner to hang up on Gordon’s suitors in the off-season, or does Gordon need to produce pencil drawings of the new scoreboard design in his down time to earn his keep?

Gordon stood at his locker Sunday after becoming the first receiver in NFL history with consecutive 200-yard games and quietly said the numbers were fine but that “it’s all about winning.”

(Oh, did I mention, Jacksonville 32, Browns 28?)

Well, I’m afraid Gordon has come to the wrong place then. I’d suggest a change of identity and a relocation for him if winning is his thing but that “Gordon 12” tattoo on his back is problematic. So he’ll have to settle for being the latest – and most conclusive – measure of how ridiculous life can become in this forsaken football town.

The Browns can’t win with this guy producing 498 receiving yards and three touchdowns in two weeks?

Blown out last Sunday. Beaten by 2-9 Jacksonville the next after Gordon gave the Browns the lead with 3:55 remaining. Talk about renewable waste at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns have now wasted 237 Gordon receiving yards against Pittsburgh and 261 Gordon receiving yards against Jacksonville in two weeks.

Whatever “garbage time” label you wanted to attach to his work against Pittsburgh did not apply against Jacksonville. Yes, so the Jags’ porous defense and insistence on playing lots of single coverage – (“That surprised me,” Gordon admitted) -- is a mitigating factor. 

But you can keep stacking qualifiers high and it still won’t reach the mountain of production Gordon is building. All it will do is obscure one of the great receiving seasons in Browns’ history. All that separates Gordon from Braylon Edwards’ single-season record set in 2007 is 40 yards. Edwards accumulated 1,289 in 16 games. Gordon, suspended for the season’s first two games, has played 10.

“He’s making plays and showing the improvement he’s making and the type of player that he can be,” said head coach Rob Chudzinski. “With the attitude he’s taken I think his future is bright.”

Gordon’s first catch covered 42 yards to the Jacksonville 5, put him over 1,000 yards and led to the Browns scoring a touchdown on the initial drive for the first time in 20 games. His last covered 95 yards for a score after the bad shotgun snap became a safety and Jacksonville’s subsequent field goal was an all-too-familiar gut punch.

“Individually, it’s great,” said Gordon, who spent part of the third quarter in the locker room being checked for a concussion. “If this was one of those individual sports, you could (appreciate it more)."

Because Gordon was unstoppable from the first snap to the last Sunday, the Browns had to find ways to stop themselves. It wasn’t easy. They did it with the worst game management of the season at the end of the first half, Chudzinski and Norv Turner apparently deciding Brandon Weeden was Tom Brady in disguise.

They did it with their best defensive player, Joe Haden, giving up a game-winning touchdown a week after T.J. Ward called out the offense for its weekly sabotage.

They did it despite Gordon’s best work since … last week.

“That definitely raised my confidence,” Gordon said of the Pittsburgh loss. “It gave me a boost to think that (kind of performance) could be done in this league.”

From Weeden Part I to Brian Hoyer to Weeden Part II to Jason Campbell to Weeden Part III, Gordon has provided the offensive continuity. Despite not expending every ounce of effort on every play, Gordon somehow isn’t often covered and almost never caught.

The slacker.

“He’s big, strong and he can run,” said Jaguars’ linebacker Paul Posluszny. “There aren’t too many guys like him that have his skill set and play like him. He is an unbelievable receiver.”

Minus Gordon, the Browns are the Jacksonville Jaguars. With him, they can’t beat the Jacksonville Jaguars at home?

That’s truly unbelievable.

Browns allow eight-play, 80-yard drive to beat them in the final minutes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The emotion was raw and uncensored. It could be seen in Joe Haden’s eyes and heard in his quivering voice.

The Browns cornerback didn’t attempt to bottle the frustration minutes after the Jacksonville Jaguars marched 80 yards on their final possession and capped a 32-28 victory at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Haden was victimized by a double move on the game-winning, 20-yard touchdown pass from Chad Henne to Cleveland native Cecil Shorts with 40 seconds remaining.

The defensive back didn’t want to hear about the failings of his defensive teammates. Haden blamed himself and the disappointment of a sixth loss in seven games poured out of him.

“We (bleeping) can’t stand losing, it hurts,” Haden said. “I go out there and put my (bleeping) heart out there every time. Every time. You know what I’m saying? And we end up coming up short. It was my fault on the touchdown. (Short) ran a good route, a good play, good offense.

“Don’t take anything from our D, we’re out there every time grinding, fighting. This (stuff) hurts. Every time we start losing . . . we’re tired of it and there’s nothing we can say. And, you’re gonna to come with the same questions every week and we’re gonna give you the same answers. ‘We’re gonna get better next week, we’re gonna get better next week.’ Until we do it, there’s nothing else to talk about. Straight up.”

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and Collinwood high school grad Cecil Shorts III catches the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. The Browns fell to the Jaguars, 32-28. Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

Teammates said the defensive back, who recorded his fourth interception of the season in the second quarter, was visibly upset as the Browns entered the locker room. Nobody other than Haden was pinning the final defensive series on him.

“I saw his emotions, his tone, but I didn’t hear what he was saying,” Browns defensive captain D’Qwell Jackson said “Something like that, that’s on the entire defense, that’s not on one man and it would be a crime to put it on one man. It’s 11 guys out there each and every snap . . . I’ve got the utmost respect for Joe, he’s made a ton of plays for us. That’s a defensive letdown.”

For the second straight week, Haden had to answer for being on the wrong side of a big play. Last Sunday, Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown beat him for a 41-yard touchdown, igniting the Steelers to a 27-11 win.

Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant said Haden’s disgust speaks to the high standards he sets for himself.

“Joe is an elite player in this league and he knows that and I think any time someone is able to get an upper hand on him, he feels as if it shouldn’t have happened,” Bryant said. “Yeah, he was pretty frustrated. That was obvious. But he’s a helluva a player like I said and he will be ready to go next week.”

There was plenty of blame to distribute on a day the Browns lost to an opponent that arrived in Cleveland with two wins. The Browns committed three more turnovers and suffered a safety as center Alex Mack sailed a shotgun snap over the head of quarterback Brandon Weeden in the fourth quarter.

The Browns have 11 giveaways in the past three games.

“Turnovers are killing us, everyone knows it,” nose tackle Phil Taylor said.

But the Browns defense, which entered the game ranked fourth overall, again did not make enough momentum-altering plays. It registered one turnover and two sacks. It also helped squander four leads and allowed a Jacksonville offense ranked dead last in yards and points to drive 80 yards on eight plays for a touchdown in the closing minutes.

“It’s easy to go down the field when you do those dinky-ass passes and (stuff) the whole way,” Taylor said. “But you can’t win a game with all those turnovers.”

Taylor’s comments come days after Browns coaches spoke of the need to channel post-game emotions and not blame others. Despite the mistakes, the Browns did amass 439 yards.

“(The Jaguars) shouldn’t have been in the game, period,” Taylor said. “It shouldn’t have come down to that.”

But it did, and the Browns defense couldn’t hold a three-point lead after Josh Gordon raced 95 yards for a touchdown with 3:55 remaining.

The Jaguars hit pass plays of 25 and 16 yards to work the ball into Browns territory. Henne had been throwing short passes all day. Shorts, a Mount Union product, said the Jaguars knew Haden loves to jump short routes.

When the defender bit on a slant, Shorts darted behind him and ran under the well-thrown Henne ball.

“They had been setting that up the whole game,” Haden said. “It was a really, really good route. Quarterback threw it, (Shorts) caught it, touchdown.”

When Haden was asked if the defense should have stopped the Jaguars on the final series, he didn’t want his teammates involved in the breakdown.

“Man, you always come with the defensive stuff,” Haden said. “We’re doing a good job, they scored on me at the end of the game.”

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - For the third consecutive year, Rocky River won the Thanksgiving tournament that bares its name and did so by defeating Hudson, 3-2, on Sunday.  The first period of the Rocky River Classic was as different from the next two as night and day. As heavy on offense as the first frame was the second and...

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - For the third consecutive year, Rocky River won the Thanksgiving tournament that bares its name and did so by defeating Hudson, 3-2, on Sunday. 

The first period of the Rocky River Classic was as different from the next two as night and day. As heavy on offense as the first frame was the second and third were equally devoid as all of the scoring occurred in the first. 

Tommy Robenalt got the ball rolling for Rocky River, scoring off of an assist by Mike Ittu. Less than one minute later, the Pirates scored again with J.R. Schiau knocking one in off of a feed from Matt Lowry. 

Rocky River got its third goal courtesy of Pat Morse who redirected a pass from P.J. Sperli into the net to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead with a little more than 11 minutes still to play in the first period. 

Hudson, however, did not allow another Pirate goal and the Explorers used the power play to their advantage as they climbed back into the game. 

They got on the board with less than five minutes left in the first period with Zach Thibault scoring the first power play goal of the night for Hudson. Anthony Giamo and Matt Murphy assisted on the score. 

Hudson had two more power play opportunities in the first frame, capitalizing on one of them with time running down in the period. 

With only eight seconds remaining in the first, Giamo made an unassisted goal to bring the Explorers to within one at 3-2 and give Hudson a confidence boost heading into the second period. 

The following two periods resulted in zero goals but plenty of physicality by both teams as well as well as some crucial defensive plays. 

Hudson goalie Austin Ganley made eight of his 15 saves in the second period and another six in the third. On the other hand, Rocky River goalie Ryan Kostelnik, who fought off nine shots on goal in the first period, only had to ward off six shots through the entirety of the final two frames. 

Both teams had power play opportunities but were unable to take advantage. 

The two teams came together with only 13 seconds left in the game near the Pirates' goal in a face-off that was do or die for Hudson. Rocky River's defense held strong, clearing the puck out of scoring range and sealing the deal on the victory. 

Rocky River 3, Hudson 2

RR: Robenalt, Schiau, Morse. H: Thibault, Giamo. 

Goalies: RR, Kostelnik (17 shots, 15 saves); H, Ganley (18 shots, 15 saves). 

Note: Check back with this post for comments by players and coaches as well as a video. 

Center's shot-gun snap sails over the head of quarterback Brandon Weden and leads to safety.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Prior to Sunday’s game, center Alex Mack had snapped the football 4,671 times in his Browns’ career.

Most exchanges were flawless, few were memorable and none had the Browns’ media corps coming in waves seeking an explanation.

But in their latest bizarre defeat one of the team’s most reliable players committed one of most egregious errors. Mack sailed a fourth-quarter, shot-gun snap over the head of quarterback Brandon Weeden that resulted in a pivotal safety as the Browns fell, 32-28, to the Jacksonville Jaguars at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The hosts were clinging to a one-point lead when Mack’s snap on a first-and-10 from the Cleveland 14 eluded Weeden. The stunned quarterback chased the ball and opted to kick it through the back of the end zone with 7:42 remaining rather than risk the opponents recovering it for a touchdown.

The gaffe gave the visitors a 22-21 lead and forced the Browns to punt the ball back to the Jaguars, who added a field goal on the ensuing possession.

“(It’s) my fault 100 percent,” Mack said. “I’m going to be sick to my stomach for quite awhile about that.”

The play called for a run, Mack said, and he was eager to throw a block. Perhaps, too eager.

“You’re just excited, you’re fired up, you’re ready to explode off (the line), hit this guy and the ball goes a little high,” he explained. “It’s one of those things . . . You want to be fired up, you want to get after people, but at the same time you have to keep cool enough to do your job.”

Mack hasn’t missed an offensive play in his four-plus years with the Browns and has been enjoying a strong season. He’s never made such a mistake in a game.

“It’s happened in practice and stuff, and generally it’s the worst-case scenario, as you can see,” Mack said.

Coach Rob Chudzinski said Weeden made the right choice in kicking the ball out of the end zone despite surrendering two points.

“. . . A lot of times you don’t know where the defenders are coming from,” the coach said. “Taking a safety is what you would do in that case.”

Four minutes after the miscue, Weeden and Mack were celebrating the sight of receiver Josh Gordon catching a short pass and turning it into a 95-yard touchdown. But while the Browns regained the lead, the two points sacrificed on the safety would loom over the outcome.

After the Jaguars tallied again to make it 32-28 with 40 seconds left, the Browns were forced to score a touchdown rather drive the ball into Billy Cundiff’s range for a field-goal attempt. The contest ended with Weeden heaving an incomplete pass into the end zone from midfield.

The quarterback was not available for comment as Browns medical staff diagnosed him with a concussion.

Network cameras kept showing Mack on the sidelines after the errant snap, but he said he needed to put it quickly behind him.

“The game is more than one play,” Mack said. “I’m going to blame myself from here to kingdom come, but it turns out that there’s more plays to go. (You) flush it down the toilet and see what the next one is.”

Urban Meyer landed his second oral commitment in the 2015 recruiting class on Sunday evening from cornerback Jamel Dean of Cocoa, Fla. The full story, and comments from Dean, inside.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ever since visiting Ohio State in late July for the program’s Friday Night Lights camp in Ohio Stadium, junior cornerback Jamel Dean of Cocoa, Florida has been thinking about committing to the Buckeyes.

On Sunday, he finally did it.

The 6-foot-0, 180-pound prospect became Ohio State’s second oral commitment in the Buckeyes’ 2015 class, joining four-star athlete Eric Glover-Williams of Canton McKinley.

“Why did I do it today?” Dean asked during a phone interview with Cleveland.com on Sunday evening, “because today felt like a good day.”

For Ohio State, it was a great one.

The Buckeyes secured one of the top emerging prospects in the country, and they landed Dean’s services before his recruitment really took off. Dean had offers from Florida, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State and Temple, but said he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling of Ohio State since the summer.

Dean made a return visit to Columbus on Oct. 26 for the Buckeyes home game against Penn State, which was a night contest. Ohio State beat the Nittany Lions 63-14, but Dean said the game’s atmosphere blew him away.

“It was unlike anything I have ever seen,” Dean said. “I looked up into the stadium, and it was really big, and there wasn’t one empty seat in the entire place. I never really saw anything like that in my entire life.”

Dean initially called Ohio State tight ends coach Tim Hinton to inform him of his decision to commit, then Hinton put the cornerback on the phone with head coach Urban Meyer. 

 “He was really excited and he congratulated me,” Dean said. “Coach Meyer said he was going to come visit me and get to know me better. It feels really great to have my recruitment over so I can focus on me, my team and school.”

Why the Buckeyes? Why now?

“Because you don’t get a lot of opportunities as good as Ohio State,” Dean said. “I know that’s where I want to go, so I didn’t feel like waiting anymore. It is a great program and I am exciting. It feels good to officially be a Buckeye.” 

The Buckeyes were No. 2 in both polls and in the computer average on Saturday night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s regular season may not quite end next Saturday night when the Buckeyes walk off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium after their Big Ten Championship matchup with Michigan State finishes sometime before midnight.

If Ohio State wins and Auburn beats Missouri in the SEC Championship, which kicks off at 4 p.m. next Saturday, the Buckeyes and Tigers could continue a fight until late next Sunday morning, when the final poll ballots are cast. But the Tigers have a lot of ground to make up.

After waiting all season for teams above them to lose, the Buckeyes are at No. 2 and look to be in very good shape for a trip to the BCS Championship on Jan. 7.

Sunday night, Ohio State moved to No. 2 in the BCS standings, behind new No. 1 Florida State after Auburn’s miraculous upset of previous No. 1 Alabama on Saturday.

Florida State was at .9948, with Ohio State at .9503 and Auburn at .9233. That’s a lead of .0270 for the Buckeyes.

One of the great plays in college football history started the OSU buses rocking with player celebrations as they trekked home from a 42-41 win at Michigan. And it seemed to set up the Buckeyes to play Florida State for the BCS title in Pasadena, as long as the 12-0 Buckeyes beat the 11-1 Spartans in Indianapolis. The voters like how the Buckeyes stack up.

In the 16th and final year of the BCS, with a four-team playoff looming next year, there have been three instances, the last in 2003, when a team is ranked in the top two of both polls used by the BCS didn't wind up in the top two of the final BCS standings.

Ohio State had clear leads on Auburn in both polls on Sunday, a 25-point lead in the 62-voter coaches poll, and a 66-point lead in the 105-voter Harris poll.

Crunching the numbers, it appears the Buckeyes were ranked ahead of Auburn by 46 of the 62 coaches. That’s 74 percent of the coaching electorate believing Ohio State should be ranked higher. 

The numbers are more difficult to figure in the Harris poll, which released no information beyond Ohio State getting five first-place votes to Auburn’s three votes, and the overall point totals of the teams. If the AP and coaches polls are any indication, Ohio State has a wider range on the ballots. None of those voters had Auburn lower than fourth, while Ohio State had six total voters between No. 5 and No. 8. But while we’re taking educated guesses, let’s say 85 voters liked Ohio State more, and 20 preferred Auburn.

That would mean of the 167 voters who are part of the BCS, about 131 like Ohio State more this week, compared to 36 giving Auburn the edge. 

So Auburn needs to change a lot of voters' minds next week, and would need more help from the computers.

Sunday night, Auburn’s six computer ratings were No. 1, No. 3, No. 3, No. 3, No. 3 and No. 6. Ohio State’s six computer ratings were No. 1, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2 and No. 3. Ohio State is ahead of Auburn in five of the six computers. That's better position in the computers than predicting models earlier Sunday had projected.

The BCS model throws out the high and low score and averages the other four to get a BCS number. A No. 1 rating is worth 25 points, a No. 2 rating worth 24 points, a No. 3 rating worth 23 points, etc. 

Auburn’s BCS rating in the computers was .920. Ohio State’s was .960.

That was that was then averaged with the team’s BCS numbers from the polls. In the coaches poll, Ohio State’s number is .9432. Auburn’s is .9271.

In the Harris poll, Ohio State’s number is .9478. Auburn’s is .9227. The BCS percentage numbers for the polls take the number poll points for each team divided the number of total possible points.

Again, Ohio State’s overall BCS number was .9503. Auburn’s was .9233.

Next week, Ohio State will play Michigan State, ranked No. 10 in Sunday night’s BCS standings. Auburn will play Missouri, ranked No. 5 in the BCS.

In just the computer portion, Michigan State is No. 11 and Missouri is No. 5. So if both teams win, Auburn should get more of a bump in the computer ratings. But it would have to be a sizeable bump.

If everything else stayed the same this week, the same exact voting numbers, Auburn would have to gain nine computer spots on the Buckeyes to pass them. That would mean something like Auburn gaining five spots and the Buckeyes losing four. Every time Auburn would pass Ohio State in the polls, that would be a gain of two spots. But it would take a lot.

So while Auburn’s AD was making his case for the Tigers this weekend, telling ESPN it would be “un-American” for a one-loss SEC team to not make the BCS Championship, Urban Meyer and Gene Smith have turned down chances to politick so far. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — On Monday, the 14 coaches participating in this weekend's Ohio High School Athletic Association football state championship games participated in a teleconference discussing the games ahead. Here are 10 takeaways from the teleconference. 1. Mentor and Cincinnati Moeller are more similar than you would expect

CLEVELAND, Ohio — On Monday, the 14 coaches participating in this weekend's Ohio High School Athletic Association football state championship games participated in a teleconference discussing the games ahead. Here are 10 takeaways from the teleconference.

1. Mentor and Cincinnati Moeller are more similar than you would expect

Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller and Mentor enter Saturday's Division I championship game on opposite ends of the record books. The Crusaders have won eight state titles and the Cardinals are looking for their first. But Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno and Moeller coach John Rodenberg know there are some similarities between their respective teams, particularly at quarterback. Mentor's Conner Krizancic and Moeller's Gus Ragland are converted wide receivers that are each in their first year at quarterback and both are dual-threat guys in their respective spread offenses. Ragland is more of a power-runner in the Moeller offense compared to Krizancic, a Cincinnati recruit at wide receiver. Expect both QBs to be the primary running option for most of Saturday's game.

2. Thursday night game won't affect Irish or Rams

St. Vincent-St. Mary and Trotwood-Madison will take part in the first Thursday night state championship game in the new seven-division format. But Irish coach Dan Boarman and Rams coach Maurice Douglass insist that having one less day of rest won't affect either team. Boarman's Irish have played on Thursday night twice already this season, including in Week 10 against Youngstown Ursuline. Douglass said Trotwood-Madison only had to slightly alter his practice plans to get ready for Thursday night. "The only thing that is different is that it's Thursday instead of Friday," Douglass said.

3. Messiah DeWeaver can be the difference for Trotwood-Madison 

Trotwood-Madison is in its fourth straight state championship game and sophomore QB Messiah DeWeaver is a huge reason why. After starting as a freshman last year, DeWeaver has taken a huge step forward for the Rams as a passer, throwing for six touchdowns against Clyde in the state semifinal on Friday. Coach Douglass has such high praise for DeWeaver that he allows his sophomore QB to check in and out of plays almost every single time he steps on the field. He praised DeWeaver's work in the offseason and believes he has set himself up for big things after he is done with high school. DeWeaver has also done great work in the classroom where he has a 4.2 GPA. 

4. Marshon Lattimore is among Ted Ginn, Sr.'s best at Glenville

There is a reason Marshon Lattimore is among the top prospects in the country and part of it is that he and the Glenville Tarblooders are one win from their first state championship in school history. But Glenville coach Ted Ginn, Sr., who has coached his fair share of superstars from Troy Smith to Ted Ginn, Jr., feels Lattimore is among the top-five players that he has ever seen. Lattimore has been an impact player for Glenville on both sides of the ball and has helped his team win 13 games in a row following a Week 1 loss to St. Edward.

5. Loveland feels prepared for Glenville's speed

Fred Cranford and his Loveland Tigers bring a stout defense that has allowed just seven points per game into Friday's Division II championship game against Glenville. But Cranford, who is in his first season coaching the Tigers, feels his team's road to Massillon has prepared them well for the Tarblooders, with games against Winton Woods and Cincinnati Mount Healthy behind them. "A 4.4 (40-yard dash) is the same in both (Cincinnati and Cleveland)," Cranford said. He added that his team's goal will be to force Glenville to be football players and not athletes by making them play assignment football.

6. Kirtland is eager for the big moments

Tiger LaVerde has quickly turned the Kirtland Hornets into one of the premier small school programs in the state of Ohio, leading his team to its third-straight championship game. The Hornets have lost just once in three years but needed a last-second field goal to knock off Columbus Bishop Ready, 10-7, in the state semifinals last week. LaVerde was proud of how hard his players competed in the fourth quarter where his team outgained Bishop Ready despite it being maybe the only time his team has had to play four full quarters. He said he prepares his team for those games and he wants his players to be excited for those tough games.

7. Tiger LaVerde will miss playing at Massillon

The state football championships will move from Stark County for two years and all seven games will be played at Ohio Stadium, known as "The Horseshoe," in Columbus. For Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde, who has seen his school's fans pack Paul Brown Tiger Stadium the last two years, it won't be the same. "If you go to the Horseshoe and have 9,000 people there, it's going to look pretty empty," he said. He added that while he will never complain about playing in a state championship game or where it is played, he would prefer to play in Massillon. This year, the Hornets will play at Canton Fawcett Stadium on Friday in the Division VI championship game against Haviland Wayne Trace.

8. Mooney and Clinton-Massie bracing for run-heavy showdown

There is no secret about what Youngstown Cardinal Mooney and Clinton-Massie do: they both run extremely well. So don't expect many passes in Friday's Division IV championship game at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The Cardinals, who are eight-time state champions including one as recently as 2011, run downhill with a big offensive line and two speedy backs in Mark Handel and C.J. Amill. Mooney coach PJ Fecko considers the duo interchangeable in that both are almost the exact same type of player. The Falcons, last year's Division IV champions, operate a triple-option game led by Bayle Wolf, who has battled injuries all season. But Clinton-Massie coach Dan McSurley said Wolf is as close to 100 percent as possible.

9. Brody Hoying will affect the Coldwater-Bishop Hartley rematch

Division V's championship game is a rematch of Week 2 where Coldwater routed Columbus Bishop Hartley 41-16. Even though Coldwater coach Chip Otten said the game was a lot closer than the score indicated, Bishop Hartley coach Brad Birchfield knows the game will be won or lost based on how Coldwater QB Brody Hoying performs. Hoying plays both ways and Birchfield went so far as to call him "the best football player we've played since Kenton's Maty Mauk." Otten and the Cavaliers anticipate that Hartley will bring a different game plan into Saturday's rematch.

10. Healthy Marion Local will try to overcome Trimble's "Mohawk Mafia"

Defending Division VI champions Marion Local will try to win the first-ever Division VII state championship against the Glouster Trimble Tomcats, which make their first state championship game appearance. Not only are the Flyers a perfect 14-0, but they are healthy, returning star QB and Pittsburgh recruit Adam Bertke. They will need him against Trimble, which has a defense that has shut out eight teams this season. The Tomcats' first trip to Massillon has been powered by what coach Phil Phares calls the "Mohawk Mafia." His players have had mohawks since Week 2 of the season and the trend has even spread to Glouster's elementary schools. Led by star QB Conner Standley, the Mohawk Mafia will have their hands full slowing down a Marion Local team which has won a state-best 21 straight games dating back to 2012.

If the next three weeks play out in similar fashion to Week 13's games, then the strongest fantasy teams, from top to bottom, should walk away with their leagues' championships.

If the next three weeks play out in similar fashion to Week 13's games, then the strongest fantasy teams, from top to bottom, should walk away with their leagues' championships.  In other words, this doesn't look like one of those years in which a roster comprised of waiver-wire wonders and shooting stars is going to compete against the big boys.

Fantasy owners savvy or lucky enough to have drafted Peyton Manning are in the driver's seat.  But the odds-on NFL MVP will have to keep the missiles firing to topple squads led by Cam Newton, Drew Brees, Matt Stafford, Tony Romo and even, belatedly, Tom Brady. 

Nick Foles might have something to say about it, and Aaron Rodgers is the ultimate wild card.  But teams with second-tier passers had better be awfully solid at the RB and WR positions to run the postseason gauntlet.

Right on cue, the elite rushers are separating from the pack as well.  Adrian Peterson is closing out the season in battering-ram style. Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Marshawn Lynch, Knowshon Moreno, Reggie Bush and Matt Forte are workhorses we can trust.  Heck, even CJ Spiller, Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew are stepping up their games when it counts the most.

Second-tier backs like Ben Tate, Steven Jackson and DeMarco Murray are well positioned to contribute meaningfully down the stretch.  And thanks to the sheer volume of touches they're receiving, Zac Stacy and Le'Veon Bell have emerged as every-week starters, provided they can stay healthy.

But woe to those banking on the likes of Bobby Rainey, Donald Brown, Rashad Jennings and the incredible shrinking Ray Rice.  Their postseason run is likely to be a brief one.

Again, the top-tier wideouts are leaving little to chance.  You have to feel confident heading into the playoffs with Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown and Denver's prolific trio.  (Just please spare me another Peyton Manning-Eric Decker buzz saw!) We're also witnessing the emergence of three exceptional second-year wideouts – Josh Gordon, Alshon Jeffery and Michael Floyd – that are staking their claims to elite status.  They should not be benched under any circumstances.

Finally, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Vernon Davis and a healthy Julius Thomas regularly give their owners a weekly advantage at the tight end position that is difficult to overcome.

So, if you're about to enjoy a first-round bye, I like your chances to raise a tacky trophy at season's end.  That is, assuming the next few weeks are like Week 13.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at a couple of players worth considering for your postseason run.

Catch 'em while you can

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Steelers.  Those banking on Le'Veon Bell must consider scooping up Dwyer, who would be pressed into the starting lineup if Bell's concussion symptoms don't clear up quickly.  On the positive side, Dwyer will be facing the weak Dolphins run defense in Week 14. On the other hand, Dwyer is no Bell.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers.  We've now seen that Crabtree has recovered his explosiveness and he's in reasonable sync with his quarterback.  He's also still available in the vast majority of leagues.  Likely freed from his precautionary snap count going forward, Crabtree can be very helpful down the stretch.  Grab him if you can.

Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde were two of a cast of 10 Ohio State players selected to the all-Big Ten teams on Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer was asked on Sunday if he would choose quarterback Braxton Miller or running back Carlos Hyde as his offensive player of the year. Ohio State's coach chuckled and dodged the question.

It's no surprise that it's a tough choice. Miller and Hyde were recognized as the conference players of the year at their positions on Monday, and they were two of 10 Buckeyes named to the all-Big Ten teams. Eight Ohio State players were named first-team all-Big Ten.

For the second consecutive season, Miller was selected as the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. The junior has accounted for 29 touchdowns, despite missing nearly three full games because of a left knee injury.

Hyde was chosen as the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year. The senior missed the first three games of the year while serving a suspension, but has rushed for 1,290 yards, including 1,164 over his last seven contests.

Miller and Hyde were both named to the conference's first team by the coaches and the media. Hyde has routinely forwarded along all credit to his backfield production to Ohio State's offensive line. Center Corey Linsley was named a first-teamer by both the coaches and the media. Left tackle Jack Mewhort and left guard Andrew Norwell were selected to the first team by the media and to the second team by coaches. Receiver Corey "Philly" Brown, who hauled in nine touchdown catches, was a second-team all-Big Ten selection.

Three of Ohio State's defensive players earned conference recognition. Defensive end Noah Spence, who tallied eight sacks, was a first-team choice by the media and a second-team selection by the coaches. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett was a second-team selection by the coaches and the media. Cornerback Bradley Roby was named to the first team by both entities. Roby's 16 pass break-ups ranked tied for third in the conference. He also logged three interceptions and two blocked kicks.

Linebacker Ryan Shazier, who has recorded 50 tackles over his last three games, was a first-team choice by both the media and the coaches. Shazier is a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker, though Wisconsin's Chris Borland captured the conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award.

Braxton Miller: First team both

Carlos Hyde: First team both

Philly Brown: Second team coaches

Jack Mewhort: Second team coaches, first team media

Corey Linsley: First team both

Andrew Norwell: Second team coaches, first team media

Noah Spence: First team media, second team coaches

Michael Bennett: Second team both

Ryan Shazier: First team both

Bradley Roby: First team both 

AKRON, Ohio — Newman Williams will play his college football right at home after the St. Vincent-St. Mary linebacker committed to the University of Akron on Monday. Williams, at 6-foot, 235 lbs., is one of two Irish linebackers to announce his intentions to play Division I college football, joining Ohio State recruit Dante Booker.

AKRON, Ohio — Newman Williams will play his college football right at home after the St. Vincent-St. Mary linebacker committed to the University of Akron on Monday.

Williams, at 6-foot, 235 lbs., is one of two Irish linebackers to announce his intentions to play Division I college football, joining Ohio State recruit Dante Booker.

He was one of the stars in last year's Division III state championship game against Bellevue, running a fake punt for a touchdown in his team's 42-21 win.

Williams has also played some running back this season, sharing the backfield with Ohio State recruit Parris Campbell, Jr.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here is the 2013 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here is the 2013 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel.

This post will be updated with photos and details about Northeast Ohio first teamers, players and coaches of the year.

DIVISION I

First Team

OFFENSE: Ends--Torrodd Carter, Westerville South, 6-2, 180, sr.; Brandon Fritts, Mentor, 6-4, 220, sr.; Colton Whited, Hudson, 6-2, 175, jr. Linemen--Chuck Zaborsky, Austintown Fitch, 6-1, 251, sr.; Jimmy Byrne, St. Ignatius, 6-4, 285, sr.; Jarrett LaRubbio, Liberty Twp. Lakota East, 6-5, 270, sr.; Nick Richardson, Westerville Central, 6-4, 270, sr.; Kyle Trout, Lancaster, 6-5, 315, sr. Quarterbacks--Jared Drake, Westerville Central, 6-1, 208, sr.; Gus Ragland, Cin. Moeller, 6-3, 205, sr.; Conner Krizancic, Mentor, 6-2, 195, sr. Backs--Darrin Hall, Austintown Fitch, 6-1, 203, jr.; DeTuan Smith-Moore, Cin. Colerain, 5-7, 185, sr.; D.D. Clark, Hilliard Davidson, 5-10, 184, sr.; Mikel Horton, West Chester Lakota West, 6-0, 225, sr. Kickers--Matt Colella, St. Ignatius, 5-9, 155, sr.; Karch Holland, Pickerington North, 5-9, 210, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen--Alex Backenstoe, Hilliard Davidson, 6-1, 230, sr.; Curtis Mitchell, Westerville South, 6-4, 245, sr.; Kent Berger, Mentor, 6-4, 245, sr.; Chalmer Frueauf, Cin. Moeller, 6-2, 250, sr.; Tyler King, St. Edward, 6-3, 280, sr. Linebackers--Tegray Scales, Cin. Colerain, 6-2, 220, sr.; Conner Kamczyc, Elyria, 6-0, 215, sr.; Jamal Davis II, Canton McKinley, 6-2, 215, sr.; Dorian Hendrix, Huber Hts. Wayne, 6-1, 225, sr.; Troy Dipre, St. Edward, 6-0, 220, jr.; Justin McMahon, Mentor, 6-1, 215, sr. Backs--Brian Groves, Stow, 5-11, 185, sr.; Marcus Elliott, Tol. Whitmer, 6-1, 198, sr.; Sam Hubbard, Cin. Moeller, 6-6, 225, sr.; Isaiah Williams, Clayton Northmont, 6-3, 187, sr. Punter--Rudy Stefanitsis, Pickerington Central, 6-2, 190, sr.

Offensive players of the year: Gus Ragland, Cin. Moeller; Conner Krizancic, Mentor.

Defensive players of the year: Alex Backenstoe, Hilliard Davidson; Tegray Scales, Cin. Colerain.

Coaches of the year: Jason Krause, Fairfield; Phil Annarella, Austintown Fitch.

Second Team

OFFENSE: Ends--Rashod Berry, Lorain, 6-5, 220, jr.; Chris Boykin, Tol. Whitmer, 6-4, 205, sr. Johan Hostetler, Massillon Jackson, 6-0, 225, sr.; Mitch Morrison, Mentor, 6-2, 250, sr.; Darius Bradford, Elyria, 6-2, 300, sr.; Jared Weyler, Centerville, 6-4, 285, sr.; Luke Callahan, Powell Olentangy Liberty, 6-4, 280, sr.; Jared Johns, Hilliard Davidson, 5-11, 220, sr. Quarterbacks--Mitchell Guadagni, Hudson, 6-2, 185, jr.; Luke Grandjean, North Canton Hoover, 6-3, 180, sr.; Eric Glover-Williams, Canton McKinley, 5-10, 158, jr. Backs--Jordan Connell, Elyria, 5-9, 185, sr.; Ricky Spradling, Massillon Jackson, 5-11, 135, jr.; Martice Jackson, Wadsworth, 5-8, 209, sr. Kicker--Grant McKinniss, Findlay, 6-0, 180, soph.

DEFENSE: Linemen--Joe Henderson, Shaker Hts., 6-4, 230, sr.; Ryan Sayers, Austintown Fitch, 6-1, 210, sr. Dustin Applegate, Cin. Elder, 6-3, 220, sr. Linebackers--Dylan Weigel, Pickerington North, 6-0, 210, sr.; Isaiah Richmond, Pickerington Central, 6-0, 215, sr.; Chris Frey, Upper Arlington, 6-3, 230, sr.; Sam Ortz, Austintown Fitch, 6-0, 175, sr.; Nick Winkler, Wadsworth, 5-10, 172, sr.; Airius Moore, Beavercreek, 6-2, 218, sr; Ben Hart, Hudson, 6-0, 230, sr.; Matt Beech, Stow, 6-2, 220, sr. Backs--Brendan Ganser, Canton GlenOak, 5-10, 165, sr.; Ryan Looser, Wadsworth, 6-2, 179, sr.; Eldin Anu, Westerville Central, 5-8, 165, sr.; Justin Childers, Pickerington North, 6-2, 195, sr.; Pat Riley, St. Edward, 5-10, 170, sr. Punter--Ryan Nuss, Fairfield, 5-9, 185, sr.

Special Mention

Logan Roston, Marysville; Darius Shackleford, Newark; Brennan Dudziak, Pickerington Central; Dre Kendrick, Dublin Coffman; Darrian Miller, Westerville South; Curtis Mitchell, Westerville South; Noah Spielman, Upper Arlington; Ethan Tucky, Delaware Hayes; Austin Pfarr, Marysville; Alec Draughon, Marysville; Nick Stull, Hilliard Davidson;

Tristan Davis, Huber Hts. Wayne; Isaiah Gentry, Cin. Moeller; George Asafo-Adjei, West Chester Lakota West; Jarred Jacon-Duffy, Cin. Moeller; Ross Demmel, Cin. Colerain; Damian Popp, Centerville; Matt Coghlin, Cin. Moeller; Tito Odenigbo, Centerville; Justin Hilliard, Cin. St. Xavier; Tinashe Bere, Cin. Sycamore; Tyree Kinnel, Huber Hts. Wayne;

Marcus Bagley, Cleve. Hts.; Eddie Daugherty, Mentor; Alex Stump, St. Edward; Jamerez Bowen, Shaker Hts.; Jake Pruehs, St. Edward; DeAngelo Ware, Cleve. Hts.; Shaun Crawford, St. Edward; Nico Lautanen, Mentor; Michael Jayjack, North Royalton; Zach Robinson, Elyria; Kollyn Crenshaw, Solon; Eriq Hall, Lorain; Aaron Neal, Lorain; Mike Muzic, Mentor;

Alex Binnie, North Canton Hoover; James Angel, Uniontown Green; Zeke Martin, Medina; James Daniels, Warren Harding; Pierce Royster, Hudson; Zack Meronoff, Canton GlenOak; Elijah Galloway, Brunswick; John Zuccaro, Hudson; Brian Groves, Stow-Munroe Falls; Zach Parker, Brunswick; Nick Kairys, Findlay.

With two concussion and countless questions swirling around the Browns quarterbacks, who knows if this team will win another game this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The emails from fans are starting to arrive -- the ones about not wanting the Browns to win another game.

Draft as high as possible, right? What's the difference between 4-12 (if the Browns lose the rest of their games) and something such as 6-10? Not much, other than a few possibly precious spots in the draft order.

Given the sad state of the quarterback situation -- who knows if the Browns will win another game. Hey, who knows who will start at quarterback in New England?

After listening to press conferences the last few days, here are the choices:

A. Brandon Weeden recovers from his concussion suffered Sunday in time to play.

B. Jason Campbell recovers from his concussion that occurred in the loss to Pittsburgh the previous week -- and he starts in New England.

C. Alex Tanney, who has never thrown a pass in an NFL regular season game.  He was signed last week, but he starts as someone has to do it.

D. An unnamed quarterback is signed at some point this week and given the start.

Staring at that list after Sunday's 32-28 loss to Jacksonville, I can't blame the fans for turning their attention to Ohio State, the bowl games -- and yes, the 2014 draft.

Ken Dorsey started three games at quarterback for the Browns in 2008. The offense didn't score a touchdown in any of those games.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

Ah, the memories!

This season suddenly is a flashback to 2008.

In 2007, the Browns with a young offensive coordinator named Rob Chudzinski and a hot quarterback named Derek Anderson finished 10-6.

The next year, it was 4-12. At one point, the Browns were 3-4. But Anderson was injured.

Brady Quinn was injured.

Ken Dorsey was injured.

Bruce Gradkowski started the final game.

The Browns lost their final six.

Know how many touchdowns the offense scored in those final six games? ZERO! The one touchdown in the final six was Brandon McDonald's interception return.

Quinn started one of those games, Anderson another. Dorsey started three, Gradkowski started the finale.

I don't think the final four games will be utterly void of offensive touchdowns -- not as long as Josh Gordon is on the field.

But given how the Browns can't keep a quarterback healthy -- this will be very hard to watch.

Wait until next year … again

At the start of this season, I wrote how the Browns seemed to be pointing toward 2014: "Even the (2013) draft had a vibe of: 'Wait Until Next Year.' The Browns actually drafted only five players: Barkevious Mingo, Leon McFadden, Jamoris Slaughter, Armonty Bryant and Garrett Gilkey. This is a 5-11 team that settled for five picks with only one expected to make an immediate impact. That's Mingo, assuming he heals quickly from his bruised lung."

Given how this season has turned so dismal, I'm now glad they traded their fourth-round pick to Pittsburgh and their fifth-rounder to Indianapolis. Those trades gave them picks in the third and fourth rounds next season. Add in the first-rounder that they acquired from the Colts in the Trent Richardson deal, and the Browns have 10 picks in 2014 -- with five in the first three rounds.

And I know that's a good thing, but I don't want to think about it right now. I'm sick of following a team where the next draft is like the playoffs.

In some ways, this season was a cruel tease. Brian Hoyer seemed to save the Browns and was a quarterback the fans were beginning to embrace before a knee injury ended his season early in his third start.

At one point, the Browns had a 3-2 record. At another point, they were 4-5 and leading the Bengals, 13-0. Campbell was at quarterback, and he seemed to have brought some stability.

Three losses and two quarterback concussions later, the Browns are 4-8. And fans are talking about the draft, which is five months away -- May 8, 2014.

It's enough to given anyone who follows this team a migraine.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 2013 Associated Press Division II All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel: This post will be updated throughout the evening with information about local honorees.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 2013 Associated Press Division II All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel:

This post will be updated throughout the evening with information about local honorees.

DIVISION II

First Team

OFFENSE: Ends: Chekiah Washington, Mansfield Senior, 6-0, 200, sr.; Dar Stanford, Zanesville, 5-11, 175, sr.; Reggie Rogers, Massillon Washington, 6-1, 185, jr. Linemen: Nathan Puthoff, Cols. St. Charles, 6-5, 285, sr.; Nathaniel Devers, Massillon Washington, 6-5, 280, sr.; Marcelys Jones, Glenville, 6-5, 325, sr.; Kyle Ritz, Willoughby South, 6-6, 285, sr.; Andrew Alten, Loveland, 6-2, 295, sr. Quarterbacks: Bruce Kinsey, Highland, 6-1, 190, sr.; Tim Tupa, Brecksville, 6-1, 190, sr.; Thomas Wibbeler, Zanesville, 5-11, 170, sr. Backs: Nate Slagel, Loveland, 6-0, 200, jr.; J.D. Orr, Mount Vernon, 5-11, 195, jr.; Trent Yeomans, Piqua, 5-11, 186, jr. Kicker: Hutch Blackstone, Mansfield Senior, 6-3, 190, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen: Charlie Lawler, Loveland, 6-1, 200, sr.; Daniel Cage, Cin. Winton Woods, 6-3, 295, sr.; Aaron Tiller, Pataskala Licking Hts., 6-1, 240, sr.; Antonio Sanderfer, Mansfield Senior, 6-1, 215, sr. Linebackers: Hayden Hatten, New Albany, 6-0, 200, sr.; Tristan Rock, Zanesville, 6-2, 215, sr.; Alex Woicehovich, Nordonia, 6-0, 220, sr.; Reginald Howard, Cin. Withrow, 6-3, 220, sr. Backs: Marshon Lattimore, Glenville, 6-0, 175, sr.; Nate Hall, Sylvania Southview, 6-3, 210, sr.; Seth Hill, Worthington Kilbourne, 5-9, 165, sr.; Nick Johnson, Canton Timken, 6-0, 175, sr.; Matt Mesker, Perrysburg, 5-11, 180, sr.; Brandon Paschal, Cols. Walnut Ridge, 5-9, 169, sr. Punter: Jake Hartbarger, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 6-4, 195, sr.

Offensive player of the year: Nate Slagel, Loveland.

Defensive players of the year: Marshon Lattimore, Glenville; Hayden Hatten, New Albany.

Coaches of the year: Mike Fell, Lima Senior; Chioke Bradley, Mansfield Senior; Fred Cranford, Loveland; Tom Lombardo, Highland.

Second Team

OFFENSE: Ends_Logan Bolin, Grafton Midview, 6-2, 180, soph; Alex Alders, Macedonia Nordonia, 6-2, 195, jr.; Kyle Rowe, Oregon Clay, 6-1, 175, sr. Linemen_Skylar Hartley, Hilliard Bradley, 6-2, 305, sr.; Austin Kimble, Zanesville, 6-3, 255, sr.; Myles Houska, Median Highland, 6-4, 280, sr.; Ben Oxley, Avon Lake, 6-6, 280, sr. Quarterbacks_Jalen Reese, Mansfield Senior, 6-3, 185, sr.; Ramroth Finnegan, Cols. Whetstone, 6-3, 215, sr.; Cody Callaway, Grafton Midview, 6-3, 195, sr.; Gus Dimmerling, Perrysburg, 5-11, 190, jr. Backs_Marcus Davis, Cin. Winton Woods, 5-10, 205, jr.; Matt Blasiole, Uniontown Lake, 6-0, 190, sr.; Juniel Liles, Lima Senior, 5-7, 170, jr.; Brandon Davis, Madison, 6-3, 200, sr. Kicker_Eric Sumislawski, Avon, 6-2, 165, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen_Mickey Crum, Cols. Hamilton Twp., 6-4, 243, sr.; Ty Green, Ashland, 6-4, 250, sr.; Ryan Stout, Sylvania Southview, 6-5, 260, sr.; Nyck Grayson, Macedonia Nordonia, 6-3, 205, jr. Linebackers_Nick Conner, Dublin Scioto, 6-4, 215, jr.; Matt Sommers, Kent Roosevelt, 6-2, 225, sr.; Ricky Simcic, Madison, 5-11, 205, jr.; Brian Popp, Loveland, 6-0, 220, sr. Backs_Nilijah Ballew, Cin. Walnut Hills, 6-2, 200, sr.; Mike Edwards, Cin. Winton Woods, 6-0, 165, sr.; Denzel Ward, Macedonia Nordonia, 5-11, 160, jr.; Kolton Davis, Tol. Bowsher, 5-9, 150, sr. Punter_Mike Knoll, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 6-1, 210, sr.

Third Team

OFFENSE: Ends_Marcus Whihtfield, Massillon Washington, 6-2, 185, sr.; Cory Moncol, Medina Highland, 6-1, 170, sr.; Ryan Bailey, Mayfield, 5-11, 175, sr. Linemen_Hussain Hamdan, Akron Ellet, 5-10, 215, sr.; Walter Rauterkus, Avon, 6-6, 290, sr.; Joe Schick, Worthington Kilbourne, 6-3, 265, sr. Quarterbacks_David Murphy, Macedonia Nordonia, 6-2, 180, jr.; Tommy Glenn, Avon, 6-3, 172, sr. Backs_Tony Harvard, Thomas Worthington, 5-10, 175, sr.; Marcus Caddiell, Kent Roosevelt, 5-7, 165, sr.; Isaac Schmeltzer, Logan, 5-11, 175, sr.; Demario McCall, North Ridgeville, 5-9, 165, soph. Kickers_Andrew David, Massillon Washington, 5-8, 170, jr.; Kyle Kostoff, Cin. Northwest, 5-10, 175, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen_David Johnson, Zanesville, 5-8, 175, sr.; Jordan Thompson, Cin. La Salle, 6-3, 255, jr.; DeShanon Oats, Cin. Withrow, 6-1, 220, sr.; Troy Lang, Brecksville-Broadview Hts., 5-11, 190, sr. Linebackers_Anthony McKee, Cols. Walnut Ridge, 6-2, 195, jr.; Bryan DiCillo, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 6-2, 210, sr.; Jordan Lackey, Cin. Mt. Healthy, 5-9, 185, sr.; Jay Rose, Brecksville-Broadview Hts., 6-2, 220, sr.; Derek Eibon, Amherst Steele, 5-11, 190, sr. Backs_Josh Correll, Cin. Anderson, 6-2, 200, sr.; Mike Hansinger, Olmsted Falls, 6-2, 185, sr.; Erick Smith, Cleve. Glenville, 6-0, 181, sr.; Jacob Allton, Ashland, 5-10, 185, sr. Punter_Taylor Wilson, Worthington Kilbourne, 6-0, 205, sr.

Special Mention

Charles Holland, Cols. West; Darius McDonald, Dublin Scioto; Sean Hennessey, Cols. St. Charles; Jacob Hopkins, Pataskala Licking Hts.; Case Troyer, Lewis Center Olentangy; Lorenzio Bridges, Cols. Hamilton Twp.; Jacob Bell, Lewis Center Olentangy; Gabe Klinger, Cols. St. Charles; Brennen Sawicki, Dublin Scioto; John Quinn, Cols. St. Charles; Jhustus Cornley, Cols. Northland; Khari Golden, Canal Winchester;

J.T. McFarland, Zanesville; Granger Long, Zanesville; Zach Clapper, Zanesville; Jamal Gladden, Zanesville;

Bryce McBride, Logan;

Derek Kief, Cin. La Salle; A.J. Glines, Harrison; Alex Dalton, Troy; Keonte Chambers, Cin. Northwest; Noah Listermann, Cin. Winton Woods; Joe Townsend, Cin. Mount Healthy; Cory Roberson, Cin. Northwest; Marco Anverse, Troy; Kole Patterson , Xenia;

Davon Anderson, Cleve. Glenville; Ugochukwu Onunwar, Lyndhurst Brush; Nick Meola, Ashtabula Lakeside; Tony Gaydos, Mayfield; Eric Sumislawski, Avon; Kyle Kuhar, Avon Lake; Danny Disbrow, Avon Lake; Jarred Patton, Ashtabula Lakeside; Ross Dawson, Painesville Riverside; Jarred Yoe, Madison; Wyatt Ohm, Avon Lake; Dylan Caruso, Willoughby South; Adam Horvat, Painesville Riverside;

Marcus Whitfield, Massillon Washington; Stan Zalewski, Kent Roosevelt; Alex Conley, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit; Jordan Nobles, Macedonia Nordonia; Alex Harris, Medina Highland; Jacob Ivery, Akron Ellet; Tyson Jackson, Wooster; Nolan Luther, Uniontown Lake; Danny Robinson, Massillon Washington; Matt Geer, Akron Ellet; James Friedl, Medina Highland;

Ruben Flowers, Lima Senior; Cale Bonner, Perrysburg; Tyler Knitz, Tol. St. Francis; Justus Satterfield, Tol. Bowsher; Tarrance Brooks, Mansfield Senior; Drew Dickinson, Ashland; Lamar Carswell, Tol. St. Francis; L.J. Scott, Marion Harding; John Fudacz, Tol. St. Francis; Mark Washington, Tol. Bowsher; Mark Delas, Perrysburg; Zach Uram, Tol. St. Francis; Jaleel Taylor, Mansfield Senior; Jacob Allton, Ashland.

Ohio State senior offensive lineman Marcus Hall will face no further discipline from Urban Meyer or the Big Ten for flipping off the Michigan crowd after his ejection from Saturdays' game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Because he was one of the first players to run from the Ohio State bench toward a fight that occurred during the Buckeyes’ 42-41 win over Michigan, senior center Corey Linsley said he felt personally responsible for Marcus Hall’s ejection.

Linsley can exhale a little now.

That’s because the Big Ten issued a public reprimand of Hall for flipping off the Michigan crowd with both hands after being ejected, but Hall, and freshman speedster Dontre Wilson, who was also ejected, face no further discipline from the conference.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said on his teleconference Sunday that he had no plans to further discipline either player, so both will participate in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday in Indianapolis.

"The rules are very clear," Meyer said. "If you fight, you're going to lose a game. They lost a game. They didn't play from that point forward. They were ejected from the game. It's a tough penalty in a rivalry game, but it is one I agree with."

Hall’s gesture toward the crowd as he left the field drew a little extra attention from the Big Ten, but it turned out to not be grounds for further punishment.

“The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship,” the conference’s release read, “[including] integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”

Hall and Wilson were removed from the game for throwing punches in a fight that occurred with Michigan players toward the end of the second quarter. Because both missed three quarters of the game, the Big Ten said they paid the necessary consequences for their actions in the form of their ejections.

After reviewing the video of the incident, the Big Ten ruled that the officials handled the situation properly.

“The officials and coaching staffs from both institutions did a good job of containing the situation once it started,” the release read. “As bad as it was, we’re fortunate the incident did not escalate any further. More can, and should, be done by both coaching staffs in the future to prevent similar incidents from detracting from this rivalry.”

The Big Ten considers the situation closed, and it will have no further comment on the matter. Hall issued a long apology for his actions on Sunday, and Linsley, a close friend of the Glenville product, said Hall feels great remorse for his actions.

“I can speak on his behalf and say that he is really distraught and completely wiped out,” Linsley said of Hall. “He feels so bad for what he did. It was in the heat of the moment and we have all done things in the heat of the moment that we regret.

“After the game I sat in the locker room and waited for him after he had a talk with Coach, and he was at a loss of words. He said, ‘Everything was going right in my life.’ I was like, ‘Whoa, dude, it’s just football, man, it’s not like you’re life is off track now.’ I think we all did an OK job of bringing him back. He’s feeling a little bit better. But he is distraught, it's terrible." 

Joe Haden said the root of his emotional outburst was a failure to make a play at winning time.

BEREA, Ohio – A day after his emotional outburst, Browns cornerback Joe Haden crystallized the anger and frustration that poured from him in wake of a 32-28 loss to Jacksonville.

He spoke for 15 minutes, addressed numerous topics and delivered an “it’s not OK to lose” sound bite. But the nut of Haden’s message was about accountability -- something that’s been lost during a month of Sundays in which the team has morphed from unlikely playoff contender to the same old Browns.

Haden was part of a defense that allowed the NFL’s worst offense to march 80 yards in eight plays at winning time. The Jaguars’ decisive touchdown came on a 20-yard pass to Cecil Shorts, who beat Haden with a double move.

“. . . No matter how the game went down, no matter what happened, I feel like I was so upset because it was me against another player at the end of the game,” Haden said Monday. “I’m supposed to make that play. I work hard enough to make that play. I should’ve made it. That was my whole thing. I’m mad because we’re losing and everything, but then the game was on the line, I feel like I’m the type of player that I work to make those plays.”

Over the season's final four weeks the mantra must be: Know your role, do your job, make a play.

Browns players need to stop grousing about other unit’s failures and focus on what’s within their control. The team made about a half dozen plays Sunday in a loss to the lowly Jaguars. Unfortunately for the Browns they almost all were made by the same person – receiver Josh Gordon, who’s record-setting 261-yard performance went to waste in the team’s sixth loss in seven games.

His individual brilliance prompted one of the day’s best tweets when the wideout left the game temporarily with an injury:

Josh Gordon heading to the locker room. It's the first time in NFL history that the whole offense got injured at once.

— All Things Cleveland (@AllThingsCLEVE) December 1, 2013

Results haven't been much better on defense, despite what some might think. Since beating Baltimore a month ago, the league's fourth-ranked unit has forced three turnovers – all coming off Haden interceptions. The defense also has a combined two sacks in losses to Cincinnati, Baltimore and Jacksonville.

But after Sunday’s game, frustrated nose tackle Phil Taylor alluded to the three Brandon Weeden giveaways and the safety that helped account for 15 points.

“Turnovers are killing us,” said Taylor of a club that’s committed 11 in the past three games. “Everyone knows it.”

Taylor is enjoying the best season of his career, but his comments come a week after safety T.J. Ward made similar remarks following a 27-11 loss to Pittsburgh. Right or wrong, it gives the impression of a locker room divided and it saps credibility from those who speak of a changing culture in Berea.

The Browns are 4-8 and they’ll be hard pressed to better their five-win total from last season. On Monday, safety Tashaun Gipson was asked about the defense’s struggle to limit the damage in the red zone – the Browns rank 30th allowing TDs on 64.7 percent of their opponents’ trips inside the 20.

“As you guys see, we go out there on a short field sometimes,” Gipson said referring to turnovers. “I’m not making that as an excuse, but it’s tough sometimes. It’s tough for any good defense. I don’t care whether it’s the ’85 Bears.

“But at the end of the day, we just got to truly come down and make plays . . . keep them out no matter the circumstance, and we haven’t done that.”

Reporters seek out the likes of Haden, Ward, Taylor and Gipson because they often make themselves available and speak their mind. Ward never ducks a question good game or bad.

“You guys are coming right after a loss, right after we put everything out on the field and we lose and (we're) expected to do an interview and be calm and cool and collected after that and that takes a lot of strength,” he said. “Some players have it and some players don't and I think in certain situations it gets the best of us. It does . . . I think we've just got to individually find a way to channel that.”

The Miami Heat and University of Alabama football team are big believers in building a culture of accountability. Nick Saban’s message to players is fairly simple: Do your job, don’t worry about anyone else. Obviously, it’s a lot easier to espouse such a philosophy when your roster teems with talent.

But Haden made it clear Monday the Browns boast their best team since he joined the club in 2010. It’s up to CEO Joe Banner, general manager Michael Lombardi and Chudzinski to upgrade the lineup in the offeseason, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where’s Gordon’s production is remarkable given the paucity of playmakers surrounding him.

It’s too easy and too convenient, however, to place all the blame on the offense. The Browns had a three-point lead with less than four minutes remaining Sunday and nobody on the defense made a play. Desmond Bryant probably came closest with a quarterback hit that led to an errant Chad Henne throw.

The frustration with losing is understandable and palpable. Nobody feels it more than the fans who keep wearing the jerseys long after so many players are shuttled out of Berea.

Haden’s emotions were raw and genuine Sunday and he didn’t take back a word Monday.

“I feel like when you lose that’s how players should feel,” Haden said. “If you don’t feel upset, if you’re not angry, it doesn’t mean anything to you. I just know that, I hope you all know, everybody knows that it’s not OK to lose, no matter how much money you get.

“ . . . I put myself out there. I know we got a lot of dudes in the locker room that do the same thing and it just hurts when you don’t come in with a W.”

Haden has made strides from the player who cost his team dearly a season ago with a four-game drug ban. He's demonstrated his accountability over the past two days. It’s up to others to follow his lead.

Know your role, do your job, make a play.

Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden was sent home from the Browns facility today with a concussion, and Jason Campbell hasn't yet been cleared to practice. Will newcomer Alex Tanney have to start against Patriots?

BEREA, Ohio -- With Browns quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell both concussed, trickshot quarterback Alex Tanney might have to pull off his biggest stunt yet: making his first NFL start against Bill Belichick and the 9-3 Patriots Sunday in Foxboro, Mass.

Of course, they're hoping it doesn't come to that, but with Weeden suffering a concussion during Sunday's 32-28 loss to the Jaguars and Campbell not cleared to practice yet with his own concussion, it's one of the options.

"These next 24-48 hours will be key,'' said coach Rob Chudzinski on Monday afternoon. "We have a number of contingency plans and we’ll see, as I get more information, how that plays out. But all of the possibilities are open right now.''

League sources said both Weeden and Campbell are hoping to be cleared and both want the opportunity to start in New England.

Weeden, who's not sure exactly when he suffered the concussion and didn't report symptoms until after the game, went to the Browns facility Monday morning but was sent home. A league source said he had a headache, which was also one of his postgame symptoms.

Campbell was cleared for activity, but not for practice yet. Both players are in the NFL's concussion protocol, and must follow the stringent guidelines set forth by an independent specialist. How Campbell feels on Tuesday will go a long way toward determining the course of action.

“Jason’s getting better,'' Chudzinski said. "We'll see how he progresses in the next couple of days.''

Might he be cleared to practice on Wednesday?

“It goes by a day-to-day basis, so we’ll have to see,'' said Chudzinski.

If neither can play, the Browns might have to sign another quarterback, perhaps even a free agent not on a team now who could start against the Patriots.

“As I said, all of the possibilities are open right now,'' said Chudzinski.

The list of free agent quarterbacks, according to thesidelineview.com, includes Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Tyler Thigpen, Byron Leftwich, David Carr, Tim Tebow, Trent Edwards, Charlie Batch, John Beck, Caleb Hanie, Mike Kafka, JaMarcus Russell, Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman, Pat White, Nathan Enderle, John Parker Wilson, Levi Brown and Jerrod Johnson.

The Browns kicked the tires on five-year veteran Hanie last week, but opted to sign Tanney off the Cowboys' practice squad instead. Tanney, a second-year pro out of Division III Monmouth College, has never played in an NFL regular-season game. Browns assistant general manager Ray Farmer spent the 2012 season with Tanney in Kansas City, where he spent the season on injured reserve with a finger injury.

Tanney is most known for a trickshot video of him throwing footballs through windows and into garbage cans or moving vehicles, or hitting a crossbar from his knees 50 yards away.

" If Alex (Tanney) is the guy, then we’ll have him ready and have him working and he’ll have a package that he can be successful with,'' said Chudzinski.

Even if Weeden is healthy, would Chudzinski bench him for the third time this season because of his three turnovers at the end of the first half of the Jaguars game?

“Let’s let these next couple of days sort themselves out and we’ll look where everybody is at that point,'' Chudzinski said.

Chudzinski, who typically settles on his starter by Monday night, indicated he could wait at least until practice time Wednesday to make a decision. The players are off on Tuesday, and both Campbell -- who suffered his concussion Nov. 24th against the Steelers -- and Weeden will be re-evaluated then.

“We can wait,'' Chudzinski said. "We have a few days to let it sort it out and we’ll have to know something by the time we get into practice time. 

He acknowledged that he might have to be flexible with two quarterbacks on different concussion schedules.

"'We’ll have different possibilities and we’ll have to see how it plays out during the course of the week, when guys can practice or be cleared to practice, or be cleared to play,'' he said. "Then (we'll see) how much practice time they would need in those situations. It may be different for each guy.”

Chudzinski said he doesn't know when Weeden suffered the concussion or how much it impacted his performance.

He also said it's not unheard of for a quarterback to report concussion symptoms after a game.

"I've seen that happen before,'' he said.

Weeden was planted after his first play -- a 42-yard strike to Josh Gordon -- and his head hit the ground. But he didn't show any ill effects afterwards. He also took an apparent shot to the helmet by defensive lineman Jason Babin after a slide late in the third quarter, and came up adjusting his helmet asking for a flag, which wasn't thrown. Two plays later, he was sacked by Babin and linebacker Paul Posluszny, and his head was jostled around. Defensive end Andre Branch piled on late, and Weeden's head hit the ground again.

But if he was woozy thereafter, he shook it off enough to hit Josh Gordon with a mid-range pass down the right side, where Gordon beat his man and then raced 77 yards to the end zone for the 95-yard TD catch that put the Browns up 28-25 with 3:55 left in the game. He was also alert enough after an errant shotgun snap to kick the ball out of the end zone for a safety instead of letting the Jaguars recover it for a touchdown.

Overall, Weeden threw for a career-high 370 yards and tied his career high with three TDs. He also overcame his second-quarter meltdown and came right back in the second half with an 80-yard touchdown drive that put the Browns up 21-20 with 9:44 left in the third quarter.

He then overcame the safety fiasco, courtesy of the Alex Mack snap that sailed over his head, and the field goal that followed shortly thereafter for a 25-21 deficit when the kick coverage team gave up a 31-yard return.

Weeden hit Gordon with the 95-yard TD a play after the field goal, and it seemingly snuffed out all the first-half adversity. If not for Joe Haden giving up the 20-yard game-winning TD pass to Cecil Shorts with 40 seconds left, Weeden would be lauded for his heroic -- and hazy -- comeback.

Instead, Chudzinski came down hard again on him Monday for his trifecta of doom at the end of the half -- the interceptions on back-to-back plays and the strip sack that led to 13 points in the final 1:19 of the second quarter.

“I think, as you look at it, those were not good (quarterback) decisions; they were tight coverage,'' said Chudzinski. "Obviously, Brandon would like to have those back.''

He cut Weeden no slack on the two picks, the one over the deep middle to Jordan Cameron that was thrown behind the tight end and into extra coverage, and the sideline route to Greg Little.

“(The throw to Cameron) wasn’t late,'' said Chudzinski. "Again, it was just a tough throw to try and fit in there.”

As for the one to Little, Chudzinski also pinned that on Weeden and not on Little's route.

“It was a timing route that he threw to a spot and, again, coverage was too tight,'' said Chudzinski. "Again, they weren’t good decisions. As I said before, those are the things that I know Brandon would want back. I thought that he did play very well at times; he made some good decisions and some great throws. But those are the things that we have to correct and get better at.”

But Weeden's comeback performance -- one in which Gordon set the club record with 261 yards receiving -- wasn't lost on his star wideout.

"I look up to Brandon, I admire him,'' said Gordon. "I don’t think anybody is half the man, could take what he takes week in and week out, social media-wise, interview-wise, out here on the field, people booing you like that, it’s rough on him. I definitely appreciate everything he’s doing.''

Chudzinski again defended his decision to have Weeden throwing after the two picks and right up until the strip-sack with five seconds left in the half.

"The last drive, I felt like we threw a couple of short passes and put ourselves in position at midfield,'' he said. "The last play there (the sack-fumble) was a matter of protection. We actually had Gordon open for about a 25-yard gain on the sideline that would have put us in field-goal range.

"The opportunity to get a field goal there would have been huge going into the half and then having the ball (to start) the next half. I think it’s a philosophical thing. Generally, I want our guys, and we’re going to continue to develop that type of mentality, aggressive mentally. We’re going to play to win. We’re going to expect good things to happen and make good things happen, as opposed to being concerned about the bad things that might happen.

"There’s going to be times where it works out and there’s going to be times where it doesn’t work out. Obviously, hindsight is 20/20.”

Now, he's hoping Campbell's or Weeden's vision is too.

A look at the Jason Babin hit that Weeden took during Sunday's game:

Scott Kazmir, who revitalized his career with the Indians, follows reliever Joe Smith to the West Coast for big free agent money.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – For the second time in 10 days the Indians have lost an important part of their pitching staff to free agency as Scott Kazmir came to terms on a two-year, $22 million deal with Oakland.

Kazmir’s flight to the West Coast follows that of reliever Joe Smith, who reached a three-year, $15.75 million with the Angels on Nov. 23.

The Indians brought Kazmir back from oblivion. He pitched independent ball in 2012 and appeared in one big-league game in 2011 before the Indians signed him to a minor league deal worth $1 million and invited him to spring training for the 2013 season. Kazmir not only made the club, but revitalized his career, going 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 29 starts.

"Scott positioned himself to be a very attractive alternative on the free agent market," said GM Chris Antonetti."He deserves a lot of credit for getting back to this level of competition and for putting himself in line for a contract like this."

Last season was the first time Kazmir took a regular turn in a big-league rotation since he made 28 starts with the Angels in 2010. His velocity returned last season, allowing him to strike out 162 batters in 158 innings. He walked 47 and allowed 162 hits.

The opposition hit .262 against Kazmir with a .418 slugging percentage and .316 on-base percentage.

Ubaldo Jimenez and Kazmir combined to win 23 games and pitch 340 2/3 innings. Jimenez is a free agent and, like Kazmir, is not expected to return to the Indians.

So if you’re scoring at home, Kazmir went from a $1 million make-good deal to a two-year, $22 million contract in 28 starts. Now that’s a raise.

The Indians never made more than a one-year offer to Kazmir. There was concern about his ability to stay healthy over the length of a multiyear deal.

Right now the Indians rotation looks like this: Justin Masterson, Danny Salazar, Corey Kluber and Zach McAllister. Josh Tomlin, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer will compete for the fifth spot.

If the Indians can find the right veteran starter, at the right price be it trade or free agency, they'd like to sign him. Right now, however, they feel they are in a better position from a rotation standpoint than they were at this time last year.

In or out: The Indians did not tender a contract to catcher Lou Marson after being unable to trade him by Monday's midnight deadline. Outfielder Matt Carson and right-hander Tyler Cloyd, recently designated for assignment, were also non-tendered, although they were not eligible for arbitration as Marson was.

Marson made $1 million last season and spent all but three games on the disabled list.

Masterson, Michael Brantley, Drew Stubbs, Vinnie Pestano, Frank Herrmann, Marc Rzepczynski, Tomlin and Blake Wood were eligible for arbitration and were tendered contracts. Wood and Herrmann avoided arbitration by signing one-year deals for $560,000 each.

Wood missed a chunk of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Herrmann missed all last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in spring training.

Marson was sidelined much of the year with neck and right shoulder problems. On April 6, Marson was run over at the plate by Tampa Bay’s Desmond Jennings and suffered a cervical neck strain.

He was placed on the disabled list on April 8 and wasn’t activated until April 24. After started against the White Sox, he was placed on the disabled list on April 25 with right shoulder soreness and stayed there the rest of the year.

Marson played nine rehab games, eight with Class AAA Columbus and one with Class AA Akron.

The Indians acquired Marson from the Phillies as part of the Cliff Lee-Ben Francisco deal on July 29, 2009. They also received Carrasco, Jason Donald and Jason Knapp. Carrasco is the only player still on the Indians from the deal.

In parts of five seasons with the Indians, Marson hit .217 (162-for-747) with 38 doubles, four triples, four homers and 58 RBI in 253 games. His slash line with the Tribe was .217/.295/.308 – batting average, slugging percentage and on base percentage.

"We still feel Lou can be a good a major league catcher," said Antonetti. "With our catching situation with Yan Gomes and Carlos Santana, he probably has a better chance with another team."

The Indians are expected to try and sign Carson to a minor league deal.

Monday's tender deadline was for all unsigned players on the 40-man roster. The Tribe's 40-man roster is at 38.