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Another championship that wasn't for Ohio State as Michigan State wins the Big Ten Championship Game: Bill Livingston

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MIchigan State gives Ohio State fans another night to forget -- if only they could.

INDIANAPOLIS -- There is a dark place in the soul of every Ohio State fan, a place where everything that got away has gone.

There resides the memory of Roy Hall Jr. rolling Ted Ginn Jr.'s ankle, not that it mattered. Florida was far better that night.

There, everything that went wrong down on the bayou against LSU, all the mindless penalties before halftime, is going wrong again, and John Cooper's teams are somehow slipping on a maize-colored banana peel.

There, Charles White is running that Student Body Directional play time and again against Earle Bruce's first and best team, and even Woody Hayes is leaving plenty of baubles and trophies uncollected.

What happened in a 34-24 loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium -- under the exposed steel girders, of the retractable dome, beneath the huge windows that let you see but not feel the snowy winter scape outside -- will have to serve as the summation of this flawed team. The heavily partisan Ohio State crowd, even safe inside, certainly felt the chill.

The defeat, the first after 24 straight wins under coach Urban Meyer, as well as the circumstances for it,  will mean the final word, given the aspirations the Buckeyes held, is "disappointing." Also "overrated." And maybe, as was typical of  Luke Fickell's defense this season, "unacceptable" and perhaps "inexcusable."

Simply put, you cannot count on winning by scores of 40-30, 52-34, 60-35, or 42-41.

Actually, Auburn, which now certainly will move to the BCS national championship stage against another sunshine and nice days team, Florida State, beat Missouri, 59-42, in the SEC Championship Game Saturday.

This, however, will not be considered evidence of a porous defense. The national media will say the Southern football machine is so all-fired powerful that it cannot even be stopped by its own. (Although, you know, Missouri is actually a Midwestern state.)

Ohio State lost despite overcoming the biggest deficit a Meyer team had ever faced at any of his career stops, 17-0, to reel off 24 in a row.

 Ohio State is new to this conference championship game format, but it should have been clear that the Buckeyes needed to be ready, that they should not commit  dumb pass interference penalties or rough a player making a fair catch, or just generally misplace their field awareness and poise.

Quarterback Braxton Miller got the Buckeyes going with a 48-yard scramble. Nobody glues the pieces of a broken play together and turns them into a heirloom any better than Miller. No wonder Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio calls him "a magician."

But that surge seemed to be the anomaly. Michigan State would score the final 17 points. The confusion and ineffectiveness of the defense, repeated on offense when Ohio State most needed to be sharp, was the image that will last.

When a team has bigger plans than regional dominance, when it has just gotten the ball beyond midfield after a 19-yard  punt that was deflected  by Ryan Shazier, when it is midway through the fourth quarter and  it is winning time, down by only a field goal, 27-24 -- then that team will either take over the game  or its chances will be swallowed in a black hole.

Ohio State did not even make a first down on its last chance. One for 10 on third downs in the game, OSU finished 0-for-two on fourth down when Miller, running a sweep, came up one yard short on fourth-and-2 at the Michigan State 39.

"My call," said Meyer. "I wanted to put it in the hands of our best player."

It was predictable and predictably sad. There was no balance to the offense, because Miller's erratic arm lamed the passing game. There was only some spread-formation variation of Ice Age Woody, bulling his running backs into a stone wall.

Scratch Miller from many Heisman ballots, and he had been as high as second in my estimation. Stunningly, Walsh Jesuit's Connor Cook, the game's Most Valuable Player, was better than Miller. Few saw that coming, except perhaps Dantonio.

Scratch Ohio State from Pasadena, either in the title game or the Rose Bowl game.

Buckeye fans can scratch everything but where it hurts.

What is left now for Ohio State?

It is probably an Orange Bowl bid. There is a line out there about taking their talents to Miami, but that is just another joke that fell as flat as the Buckeyes.




Braxton Miller revived a dead Ohio State team, but he didn't have enough magic to keep national title hopes and Heisman dreams alive

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Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller had a strong performance, but he wasn't enough to lead the Buckeyes to victory. Now Ohio State's national title hopes, and his Heisman Trophy dreams are lost.

INDIANAPOLIS – Urban Meyer called timeout to discuss the fourth-and-2 situation, Ohio State down three, situated at the Michigan State 39 with less than six minutes left. 

The No. 2 Buckeyes were either going to convert the attempt to keep alive the drive that would to define their season, or they were going to fail and lose it all.

But there was nothing to talk about. The ball was going in Braxton Miller’s hands.

“It was my call,” Meyer said. “I wanted the ball in the hands of our best player, Braxton Miller … It was a chance to go try and win the game.”

Miller was the player who took an Ohio State team that fell to its lowest point of the season, a 17-point deficit to the No. 10 Spartans in the second quarter, and dazzled while bringing an otherwise dead Buckeyes team back to life. 

But there was no more magic left. Meyer called a quarterback-keeper with running back Carlos Hyde the lead blocker, and Miller was tackled short of the marker. Michigan State scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession, and the Spartans took the Big Ten Championship Game from the Buckeyes, 34-24.

Miller was the same quarterback he has been all season, and had things gone differently, Ohio State would be on its way to Pasadena to play for a national title.

And maybe Miller would have first made a pit stop in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Now he’s going to neither, and where he’s headed next is unknown.

Braxton Miller tackled by MSU defendersView full sizeOhio State quarterback Braxton Miller had another productive game, but it wasn't enough for the No. 2 Buckeyes in their 34-24 loss to No. 10 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

“You know, (we have to) just grow together as a team,” Miller said. “Things happen in games, really don’t go your way. You got to come back and fix the mistakes. Keep your head high, come back stronger.”

Ohio State hopes Miller will come back stronger, and not just for the Buckeyes’ next game – which is presumably the Orange Bowl. Because as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the quarterback’s first loss in two years, Miller saw everything he had Saturday morning evaporate.

Miller’s national championship dreams are gone, and with it went Ohio State’s 24-game winning streak. Also gone is Miller’s chance to win the Heisman Trophy, even if that were a slim proposition to begin with. And if he wants a chance at either of those things, Miller will have to return to the Buckeyes as a senior.

But whether Miller will now jump to the NFL is a discussion for another day. On this day, Miller is mourning a loss with his teammates, even if it wasn’t on his shoulders.

“He has been a spark for us his whole career here,” Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman said. “He did a fantastic job, and he completed some really tough balls and obviously ran really well, too. He has made a lot of progress. I was proud of him. I was really proud of how hard he played.”

Until Saturday, a performance like this from Miller was always enough. He had another game with more than 240 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, and this time his efforts came on the biggest stage on which the Buckeyes have been in his career.

But it went beyond his statistics. Without Miller, Ohio State may not have ever sniffed that crucial fourth down attempt late in the game.

Braxton Miller TD vs. Michigan StateView full sizeBraxton Miller scores a six-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of No. 2 Ohio State's 34-24 loss to No. 10 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

With Ohio State facing its 17-point deficit in the second quarter fresh off a Michigan State touchdown, Miller rallied. He broke off an electrifying 48-yard run – like he has done all season – on the ensuing possession to give Ohio State confidence that had been sucked away. Three plays later, Miller threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Philly Brown.

Ohio State was no longer flatlining. After Miller led an improbable field goal drive before the half ended and scored two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, Ohio State took a 24-17 lead and it seemed as if the Buckeyes were ahead for good. 

In the end, Miller's superior athleticism, his spark, all of it wasn’t enough as Michigan State scored the final 17 points of the game to win the conference and punch its ticket to the Rose Bowl. 

Even through Miller’s impressive performance, nothing matters once a team loses. It’s a scarlet letter. Ask Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch or Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, both of whom were considered shoo-ins to go to New York for the Heisman ceremony before their teams suffered losses to end their perfect seasons.

Now it is Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and everyone else. Winston led the top-ranked Seminoles to their first unbeaten regular season since 1999, and Florida State is on its way to the national title game with a blowout win over Duke in the ACC Championship Game.

Now Miller is left with only impressive numbers and one defeat.

Everything else is lost. And it’s so final. 


National title hopes dashed, defense gashed: Ohio State falls to Michigan State, 34-24, in Big Ten Championship Game

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Ohio State's national title hopes? Dashed. Ohio State's defense? Gashed. The seemingly inevitable Florida State-Ohio State party in Pasadena? Crashed. Michigan State captured the Big Ten title with a 34-24 win.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indy was supposed to be the layover.

In the itinerary Urban Meyer and Ohio State mapped out two years ago, the final destination was Pasadena, Calif., and not for a New Year's Day soiree.

No, the Buckeyes' ideal travel agenda, first sketched out at the tail end of 2011, culminated in a trip to the BCS Championship Game on the first Monday of 2014.

They didn't plan this, though.

The Buckeyes rushed for 273 yards against the nation's top-ranked defense. They erased their largest deficit of the season. Despite designation as the "road team," they played before a scarlet-painted crowd.

And yet, Michigan State hoisted the Stagg Championship Trophy before exiting Lucas Oil Stadium with a 31-24 upset of Ohio State.

Those national title hopes? Dashed.

Ohio State's defense? Gashed.

The seemingly inevitable Florida State-Ohio State party in Pasadena? Crashed.

"It's going to haunt all of us, I imagine, for a little while," Meyer said, visibly shaken as he spent most of his postgame media session with his head down.

A trip to the Orange Bowl now seems likely for the Buckeyes' holiday reprieve. "The Chase," the team's self-instituted moniker for its pursuit of a national title, is over. The program-record and nation-long 24-game win streak is no more.

"It sucks," said senior center Corey Linsley. "It's a reality check."

Ohio State converted only once on 10 third downs. The Buckeyes twice failed to convert on fourth down. Quarterback Braxton Miller completed only eight of his 21 pass attempts.

The Spartans scored the game's first 17 points. 

"We hyped them up a little too much," Linsley said. "They're obviously a good team, but it was like we were playing the Bears or something. We were looking for everything and then we settled down and realized we had to do what we had been doing all year."

The Buckeyes responded with 24 points in a row. Michigan State then sealed its fate with the contest's final 17. 

With two minutes remaining, running back Jeremy Langford bolted 26 yards up the middle and into the end zone, where a sea of frenzied, green-clad fans greeted him.

In mere moments, debate about Ohio State's merits for entry into the national title game dissipated. 

"What makes the loss harder is I really wanted these guys to experience something special," Meyer said.

The Buckeyes are still bound for a BCS bowl, but it's not the one that they had built toward for two years.

Miller and running back Carlos Hyde both topped the 100-yard mark on the ground for the fourth straight game. Michigan State entered the affair having allowed only 64.8 rushing yards per contest, but Miller gained 142 yards on 21 carries and Hyde totaled 118 yards on 18 rushes. 

It didn't matter. 

Langford surpassed the century mark for the eighth consecutive game, finishing with 24 carries for 128 yards. Spartans quarterback Connor Cook completed 24 of 40 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Once again, Ohio State's shaky pass defense reared its head.

"It is what it is. Guys have to make plays," said co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell. "We have to put them in situations where they can make plays. There's no finger-pointing."

Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier deflected a punt midway through the fourth quarter, with Michigan State clinging to a 27-24 lead. The Buckeyes took over in Spartans territory, but on a fourth-and-2, Michigan State linebacker Denicos Allen corralled Miller behind the first-down marker. There it was, right before the Buckeyes. 

They came up short when it mattered most.

"Coulda, woulda, shoulda," Linsley said. … "That was the game."

Cook took a knee with 30 seconds left and the Spartans spilled out onto the field, a Rose Bowl berth in hand. That reward is typically the crown jewel, the ultimate prize, for a Big Ten team. Michigan State will head to Pasadena for the first time since 1988.

The Buckeyes will head elsewhere, not to a site they had ever considered during this two-year journey.

"Our only option left is having a lot of fun working our butts off to win whatever game we get in," Linsley said. "It'll show our true character. We could sit there and blame this and blame that, but the only way you're going to get any production out of yourself is if you look at what you did wrong and correct it."

Cincinnati Moeller holds off Mentor to win Division I state football title in 55-52 shootout (videos, slideshow)

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CANTON, Ohio — As the onside kick came off the foot of Mentor kicker Mike Muzic and went out of bounds, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller football coach John Rodenberg could finally exhale. It was over. His team could run out the clock.

CANTON, Ohio — As the onside kick came off the foot of Mentor kicker Mike Muzic and went out of bounds, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller football coach John Rodenberg could finally exhale.

It was over. His team could run out the clock.

A furious comeback by Mentor turned what briefly looked like a potential blowout into a state title game for the record books, one Moeller won, 55-52, Saturday at Fawcett Stadium to claim its second straight Division I state crown. Mentor is now 0-3 in title games, also finishing as the state runner-up in 2007 and 2006.

The teams combined to break 16 state title game records — 12 team and four individual — in the shootout. Moeller quarterback Gus Ragland finished with 462 total yards (273 passing, 189 rushing) and eight total touchdowns.

Mentor quarterback Conner Krizancic set a new Division I state title game record with 419 passing yards. Cardinals running back Eddie Daugherty had 19 receptions, the most ever in a state championship game.

Both teams eclipsed the previous mark for points in the Division I state title game, and the combined 107 points were a Division I record.

“I was a wreck until I saw that ball go out of bounds on that kick,” Rodenberg said.

He had good reason to be.

Mentor’s 26-point fourth quarter, a record for points scored in a quarter of a Division I title game, put an 18-point Moeller lead in doubt. Krizancic’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Daugherty cut the Crusaders lead to three with 44 seconds left in the game, but Muzic’s onside kick attempt went out of bounds, ending Mentor’s comeback.

“You gotta give the kids credit,” Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno said. “They battled their butts off. We fell a little behind early and had to play catch-up. Our shots just came up a little short.”

An onside kick recovery earlier in the quarter helped Mentor (13-2) start its rally. An 8-yard score from Krizancic to Daugherty made it 48-32, then after a recovered onside kick, Daugherty took a pitch, ran to his right and threw downfield to Corey Plavcan for a 44-yard touchdown.

Mentor failed to get the two-point conversion after both scores, but a run of 19 straight points had the Cardinals within striking distance at 45-42 with 4:12 left.

A 3-yard score by Ragland, his fifth rushing touchdown of the game, put the Crusaders back up by 10 with 2:13 to play.

“Gus had a fantastic night tonight,” Rodenberg said. “He’s been getting after it all year long.”

Mentor found itself down early after Daugherty's fumbled punt led to 57-yard touchdown pass from Ragland to Chase Pankey that put the Crusaders up 13-0 with 3:58 left in the first quarter. That started a string of a combined eight straight scoring possessions to end the first half.

Krizancic scored from 8 yards out for Mentor’s final touchdown of the first half. The extra point was blocked by Sam Hubbard, which prompted Trivisonno to go for two later in the game.

“Missing that extra point hurt us a little bit,” Trivisonno said. “I wasn’t overly confident in it after that. (Hubbard) was getting through the hole before our guys could get there.”

Mentor got the ball to start the second half and marched into Moeller territory, but a Krizancic fumble was recovered by Moeller at the Crusaders 22-yard line. Ragland busted his longest run of the game, a 70-yard touchdown, three plays later to put Moeller up 41-23.

“We’ve been down before,” Daugherty said. “We all trust each other. We play with great chemistry and we knew we could get back into the game.”

The teams went score for score on the next two possessions before Mentor began its comeback with three straight touchdowns.

“I thought it was a great football game,” Rodenberg said. “We knew playing Mentor that it would be a shootout. We knew we had to score points. That’s what it turned out to be. It turned out to be a heck of a game.”

Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Mid-American Conference lands five teams in bowl games

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Five Mid-American Conference teams picked to play in bowl games, but Toledo Rockets are shut out.

MAC logo.jpg
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Invitations were issued Sunday and five Mid-American Conference teams are going to bowl games. The one team that was shut out was the Toledo Rockets (7-5), who saw their bowl chances diminished with a season-ending loss at Akron.

Instead, Ohio University (7-5) which staggered to the end of the season was selected.

The Bobcats lost three straight by a combined margin of 123-16 before a last-game win over hapless UMass.

League champion Bowling Green will make a return trip to Detroit in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl while MAC West Champ No. 24 Northern Illinois will play in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. In a statement MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher applauded the teams that were invited, including Buffalo, Ohio University and Ball State.

"I am extremely proud of the student-athletes, coaches and fans at our five MAC member institutions that have received bowl invitations, and our collective accomplishments as a conference this season,'' the commissioner said.

2013 MAC Bowl Schedule

Dec. 21, Buffalo vs. San Diego State - Famous Potato Bowl, Boise, Idaho.

Dec. 23, Ohio University vs. East Carolina - Beef O' Brady Bowl, St. Petersburg

Dec. 26 Bowling Green vs. TBD - Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Detroit

Dec. 26 Northern Illinois vs. Utah State - Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego

Jan. 5 Ball State vs. Arkansas State - GoDaddy Bowl, Mobile, Ala.



Cleveland Browns Final Scribbles: Terry Pluto talks about Gordon, Cameron, iffy officiating and a good game from Paul Kruger

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Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron combined for 16 catches and 272 yards.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Scribbles in my notebook as the Browns lose, 27-26, at New England:

1. Jason Campbell threw nine passes to Jordan Cameron, and the tight end caught them all. That's right, he was 9-of-9. This is the Cameron that we saw a few times earlier this season, who can be an elite tight end.

2. Then there was Josh Gordon, seven catches for 151 yards. I didn't think any play made by Gordon would rival that electric 95-yard touchdown catch-and-sprint a week ago in the 32-28 loss to Jacksonville. But his 80-yarder on the same type of slant pattern in New England came close. Very, very close. It's as if Gordon catches the ball, takes two long strides ... and then just glides into the end zone. One second, a defender is with him, almost step-for-step. And three steps later, Gordon is by himself.

3. You know Pats coach Bill Belichick warned his defense about Gordon. He had fresh tape of that 90-yard catch against Jacksonville. He knew that no one on the Browns could possibly beat him quite like Gordon. He still had seven catches, averaging 21.6 yards per reception.

4. Watching Gordon and Cameron combining to give Belichick's defense a migraine made me wonder, "If the Browns have just average quarterback play, what can these two accomplish? Put one split out to the left side, the other on the right side of the line. That has to stretch any defense."

5. I know I'm gushing, but lost in the defeat was the 34 yards that Gordon gained on a reverse. He has four carries for 66 yards this season. New England defensive back Aqib Talib on Gordon: "He's a helluva player … he's going to make some noise in this league. He's young …"

6. Talib lived in East Cleveland until he was 11, then moved to Texas. He said he was a Cowboys fan growing up, not a follower of the Browns.

7. Cameron has 72 catches this season, Gordon 71. Gordon was suspended for the first two games. There are only three games left, so it's doubtful that either will end up with 100 receptions. But the fact is the Browns have found two impact receivers -- one a wideout (Gordon) and the other a tight end.

8. Cameron has only five drops this season, Gordon has four. By contrast, Davone Bess has eight and Chris Ogbonnaya has six drops. Gordon and Cameron combined for 16 catches and 272 yards.

9. When you cover a team and they lose partly on a key penalty, it sounds like making an excuse. That said, I'm complaining about the pass interference with 40 seconds left on Browns rookie Leon McFadden. He was flagged for bumping New England's Josh Boyce. I've looked it at least five times. If anything, McFadden grabs the arm of Boyce about the 10. You could possibly have dropped the flag there. But not in the end zone -- giving New England the ball on the 1. That set up the winning touchdown.

10. It was a first guess on my part: I wondered why Rob Chudzinski called his final timeout with 35 seconds left -- after that McFadden penalty. He wanted his defense to set up, but then had no timeouts left as the Browns drove down the field. They ended up attempting a 58-yard field goal. Having a timeout would have allowed at least one more play.

11. My complaint: I thought the Browns set themselves up for the loss when they had a 26-14 lead with 2:35 left. New England started on its own 18, but the defense allowed Tom Brady to march 82 yards in 91 seconds. D'Qwell Jackson told me that the Browns were "trying to keep them out of the end zone," and that they were OK with "giving up short and intermediate passes." Sounds like the dreaded prevent defense prevented the defense from playing as aggressively as it had most of the day.

12. I know he was flagged for a high hit on a two-point conversion in the end zone, but I thought rookie defensive back Jordan Poyer had a solid game. Claimed by the Browns from the Eagles, Poyer has potential as a defensive back and punt returner.

13. Paul Kruger had the kind of game the Browns imagined when they signed him to the most expensive free agent contract ($40 million, five years) in team history. Kruger sacked Brady twice. He forced a fumble and batted down a pass. He was a factor all day. Barkevious Mingo also had a sack, his second in the last two games. He leads the team with five, while Kruger has 4.5.

14. D'Qwell Jackson picked off his first pass this season. Brady came into the game with only eight interceptions in 471 attempts. That was Jackson's eighth career interception.

15. In addition to his excellent passing day (29-of-44, 391 yards, 3 touchdowns), Jason Campbell had two key runs of 21 and six yards for first downs. He was sacked only once. Campbell had no turnovers. In five starts, Campbell has nine touchdowns compared to three interceptions.

Lake Erie Monsters fall as Hamilton scores four goals in third period

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Monsters fall in Hamilton, 6-2.

lake erie monsters logo

HAMILTON, Ontario — Hamilton broke open a close game with four unanswered goals in the third period to hand the Lake Erie Monsters at 6-2 loss here Sunday.

Hamilton held a 2-1 lead entering the third period before Patrick Holland, Stefan Fournier, Gabriel Dumont and Louis Leblanc scored for a 6-1 lead.

Markus Lauridsen scored in the final minute for the Monsters, who fall to 12-10-0-1. Bryan Lerg also scored for the Monsters, his team-leading 11th of the season.

Calvin Pickard stopped 22 of 28 shots for the Monsters and is now 7-7-1. Robert Mayer stopped 29 of 30 Monsters shots.

Notes: The Monsters are 7-4-0-1 over their last 12 games… The Monsters are 3-3-0-0 on their current stretch of 11 straight games against North Division opponents… The Monsters are now 3-2-0-1 against Hamilton this season, and 8-5-0-1 against the North Division… The Monsters are 4-5-0-0 on the road this season… Paul Carey’s point streak snaps at three games… New Monsters defenseman Brett Clark, who had an assist in his debut with the Monsters, brings 689 games of National Hockey League experience to the team… The Monsters were 1-6 on the power play and 3-5 on the penalty kill… Monsters next play at Rochester on Wednesday night at 7.

Cleveland Browns' DB Leon McFadden has eventful, controversial end to his game in New England

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Rookie cornerback Leon McFadden was seeing his first substantial action this season, and ended up being in the middle of many of the big plays against the Patriots.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- For 57 minutes, rookie defensive back Leon McFadden could not have had a more uneventful afternoon against a legendary quarterback.

He made a couple tackles, was sound in his coverage and did his part to limit Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to one touchdown as the Browns held a surprising 12-point lead with 2:39 remaining.

Then, the savvy quarterback turned his attention to the 23-year-old, who was seeing his most extensive action of the season, and McFadden couldn’t escape the spotlight. Brady targeted McFadden repeatedly on the final two TD drives and drew a controversial pass-interference call on him with 35 seconds left as the Patriots rallied for a 27-26 win at Gillette Stadium.

Moments after New England recovered an onside kick, Brady lofted a 30-yard pass down the right sideline where McFadden was running in stride with receiver Josh Boyce. As they jostled for position, the ball sailed through Boyce’s hands in the end zone and field judge Dyrol Prioleau threw his flag. The 29-yard penalty gave the Patriots first-and-goal at the 1 and Brady hit Danny Amendola on the next play for the game winner.

Coach Rob Chudzinkski did not agree with the ruling. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger labeled it “a horrible call.”

McFadden stood in front of his locker, surrounded by reporters, and maintained his composure as he answered the same question asked multiple ways. He was bleeding from scrapes on his neck and near his right eye.

"I don't feel it was pass interference, but I have to go back and look at the film and make corrections,” he said.

McFadden conceded there was contact, but thought it went both ways. He received no explanation from officials, McFadden added. The rookie, thrust into more playing time due to the season-ending knee injury to Chris Owens, said he needs to keep working on his technique.

It’s as cruel of a “welcome to the NFL moment” as can be imagined for a youngster. Less than three minutes from a shocking upset, only to find himself in the middle of the Browns’ meltdown. McFadden’s teammates offered support. Inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson spoke to him on the sideline after the touchdown.

“He played a heckuva game,” Jackson said. “(I) didn’t think it was (a penalty). It was two guys going for the ball, he had his head turned around. ... I don’t throw the flag in my opinion, but (Prioleau) did. We got another opportunity to stop 'em. Great defenses find a way. You hate to play so well and have a penalty just give yards to a great team like that.”

McFadden, a third-round pick, struggled mightily in preseason after returning from a groin injury. He didn’t earn a defensive snap until Week 8, but has received more playing time in recent weeks as he’s gained the trust of defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

On Sunday, he was part of a defensive effort that blanked the Patriots in the first half. They sacked Brady four times and forced him into two turnovers. But the three-time Super Bowl winner led New England to 16 fourth-quarter points.

After the Browns took a 26-14 advantage with less than three minutes left, Brady engineered an 11-play, 82-yard drive. He victimized McFadden on consecutive plays, finding Julian Edelman on seam routes for gains of 23 and 19 yards.

“I'll go back and look at the film and make corrections on my technique,” said McFadden, who finished with seven tackles.

His media obligation concluded, McFadden dressed quietly before boarding a bus to the airport. In his biggest NFL game, the rookie discovered how quickly it could turn.



Ohio State never replaced Christian Bryant and something about the defense has to change: 5 Doug Lesmerises observations

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The Buckeyes' pass defense was burned by Bryant's broken ankle, but that isn't the only thing that needs to change.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A look back at Saturday's 34-24 loss by Ohio State to Michigan State and a look forward to what it means.

1. Ohio State never overcame the Christian Bryant injury.

When Urban Meyer slammed the podium in his postgame news conference after the Wisconsin win in the Big Ten opener, he probably could have smacked it a few more times. Meyer was upset about losing safety Christian Bryant to a broken ankle because he felt for the senior captain he had grown to respect so much. There was an on-field cost that should have made Meyer pound the podium on behalf of his defense.

That loss stuck with the secondary all season.

The Buckeyes stayed with fifth-year senior Corey “Pitt” Brown in Bryant's spot, and while losing Bryant's ability to both calm and encourage the defense in difficult times, they also lost his playmaking and coverage. Brown was beaten on a 72-yard touchdown Saturday when he took a bad angle in coverage with no one behind him and had the pass go over his head.

Brown has been a Buckeye for five years, and he has the respect of his coaches and teammates. But many were waiting for freshman Vonn Bell to get a shot as well. Bell and Meyer both seemed to be among them, with the coach mentioning during the season he was interested in seeing more of Bell. But it never happened. After Saturday's loss, Bell's brother on Twitter was wondering why his brother didn't play.

A freshman would not have completely filled the shoes of Bryant, either. No one would have. As the senior from Glenville limped off the field before the final minutes ticked off the clock Saturday, that was more obvious than ever.

5 Zack observations / 5 Ari observations 

2. It doesn't feel like the Buckeyes can just hope this defense gets better.

Meyer hasn't always seemed to be on the same page with his defensive coaches when it comes to how much pressure should be put on the quarterback and how aggressive the secondary coverage should be. In 2012, it was a big deal when Meyer went into the defensive room in the middle of the year after Ohio State suffered tackling problems. And in the last month of 2012, the defense improved.

This season, the pass defense gave up at least 300 passing yards, including the last three games. Meyer called the past defense “alarming” weeks ago, yet with the national title game on the line, it let the Buckeyes down again. Yes, there were personnel issues, thanks to Bryant's injury and Bradley Roby going out Saturday night. But there was also a basic plan that didn't work often enough. Meyer probably needs to do something about that.

3. The passing game fell short when it couldn't afford to.

My main point Saturday night was that the Buckeyes didn't run the ball with Carlos Hyde enough. I still believe that. But offensive coordinator Tom Herman said Ohio State had to throw the ball over the top to loosen up the MSU defense, and though the Buckeyes tried five or six times, it only worked once. So then Herman said he was reluctant to keep trying that. Michigan State has a high quality secondary. But for a quarterback in Braxton Miller expected to grow as a junior and for wideouts praised all season for how far they had come, an 8-for-21 passing night doesn't cut it.

4. Michigan State will be Ohio State's new Wisconsin – the main rival in the Buckeyes' new division.

Of course, Michigan will be part of the East next year, too, but the Wolverines still have to prove they can compete consistently at the top of the Big Ten. Penn State and Bill O'Brien could start to come around as well. But Mark Dantonio and the Spartans, who have won at least 11 games in three of the last four seasons, are there now. Dantonio doesn't have the bluster of former Badger coach Bret Bielema, who voted Ohio State lower than any other coach in the final coaches poll, but he possesses what a rival to the Buckeyes needs. That's a firm belief in himself and his team that doesn't waver in the face of the big guy on the block. Dantonio and the Spartans showed that Saturday night, and all week leading up to the championship game, and that shouldn't be going away.

5. The Buckeyes are trapped. I'm not sure how they're going to get out of it.

They are expected to win the Big Ten every season, and they'll continue to legitimately compete for that nearly every year. But they also are on the outside looking in when it comes to truly elite teams at the moment. National perception suffered a blow Saturday night, and it wasn't great to begin with. That's one thing the Buckeyes will be playing for, at least a bit, in their bowl game. Beating Clemson won't sway a lot of people, but a loss would be another step back.

For much of the last two years, Ohio State has been almost too good for its conference, but not good enough for the rest of college football. The bar is tremendously high for Ohio State right now, yet it doesn't seem to match the respect for the program.

There's nothing the Buckeyes can do but keep their heads down and try to win. Two big games to already think about in 2014 – the top nonconference game, vs. Virginia Tech, on Sept. 6, and the rematch with Michigan State in East Lansing on Nov. 8.


Jason Campbell gives Cleveland Browns reason to hope despite another tortured Sunday -- Bud Shaw

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The Browns found enough offense with Jason Campbell at quarterback to upset the New England Patriots Sunday. They also found another cruel way to lose.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- “Only In Cleveland” is a dangerous enough concept on its own, let alone when it collides with “Only in New England.”

Together these soul mates hooked up and produced a 13-point Tom Brady comeback in the final minute or so (ho hum) built on two bad officiating calls against the Browns (why not) and the Patriots’ recovery of an onside kick (of course).

Maybe you have seen it all before. But Jason Campbell? He’s still pretty new around here. He believes it when he says, “We’re so close to being a 7-6 team instead of 4-9” but he understands if you don’t buy in.

He’s only been around long enough to get bruised ribs and a concussion, after all, not for long enough for a completely shattered psyche.

But, hey, I know what you’re thinking. There’s still three games left.

“Jason played very well,” Rob Chudzinski said of Campbell’s 391-yard, three TD performance in a short practice week. “He managed the game. He made plays. He really was on the top of his game.”

The thought to take away from an afternoon that covered the gamut from improbable victory to ridiculous loss at the speed of Usain Bolt in the 100 meters is that you truly have seen it all now, at least until next week.

The thought to take away from this tortured season is that the Browns are more than competitive when they get reasonably good quarterback play. Campbell and Brian Hoyer before him are the proof of it. The trick is getting more of it from Campbell before he becomes institutionalized to the madness.

For now, being an experienced pro and not yet beaten down by a lost season is a benefit that explained a few things Sunday.

How he led what he must’ve thought was the winning touchdown drive (only to find out there’s no such thing when the clock is running and the Browns are on the field).

How he still pushed his team into position one final time after a home-field pass interference call and Brady's 1-yard touchdown dart to Danny Amendola gave the Pats their first lead of the day with 31 seconds remaining.

How he completed three passes for 40 yards with no timeouts and twice hit sideline routes when the Patriots gave him the middle of the field. How he spiked it in time to give kicker Billy Cundiff a last desperate try to pull the latest pin out of the Brownie Elf voodoo doll. Cundiff was dead straight, just a few yards short and the Patriots won a game, 27-26, they had no business winning.

“This ranks right up there,” Campbell said of the bizarre turns he’s seen in his first year as Browns quarterback. “We talked about it all week. How we were doubted as a football team. How we needed to come together and see where we could be if we put (all the negativity) behind us.”

Where they were first was leading New England 12-0, then 19-3, then 26-14 with 2:39 remaining. Campbell had thrown touchdown passes to Gary Barnidge (40 yards), Josh Gordon (80 yards on a slant) and the re-discovered Jordan Cameron (4 yards).

The drive that should’ve sealed the deal was an example of how Norv Turner and Chudzinski see their offense working. Leading 19-14 at his own 20, Campbell threw from the shotgun for 13 yards on first down. Conservatism be damned, Turner called a reverse to Gordon that covered 34 yards.

After an intentional grounding call that surprised Campbell, he found Gordon for 19 yards on third-and-17.

It was the same aggressive approach Turner and Chudzinski entrusted to Brandon Weeden late in the first half last week. You may remember how that turned out.

“That drive said a lot about our team,” said Campbell, who finished it with two completions to Cameron. “They scored and we had to answer. (The reverse) was a magnificent (call). A lot of (coordinators) wouldn’t do that.”

We interrupt here to acknowledge that you think you’ve heard this all before. I won’t argue that point. But the Browns weren’t crushed nearly as much by this loss as they were by botching the Jacksonville game. On either side of the ball. I get why.

Part of it is their effort against a far superior opponent on the road. Part of it is defensively they thought their effort was greatly compromised by two bad calls: the roughness penalty on Jordan Poyer that affected field position on the New England’s onside kick recovery; the pass interference call on Leon McFadden. They have a case about both.

But some of the positive attitude is traced to Campbell, who was healthier than he’s been since the beginning of the Baltimore game.

“Jason did a phenomenal job of creating offense,” linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said. “He had a great, great day.

With him, they know there’s a reasonable chance of winning.

Barring something, you know, bizarre happening on the usual weekly basis.

Final 2013 BCS standings released: Ohio State finishes No. 7, Florida State and Auburn end up as top two

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Florida State and Auburn finished atop the final BCS rankings. Ohio State finished at No. 7.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The final BCS rankings were released on Sunday night.

As expected, Florida State and Auburn finished as the top two teams. Michigan State, after its 34-24 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, jumped six spots to No. 4. The Buckeyes fell five spots to No. 7.

The top 10 is as follows:

1. Florida State (13-0) .996

2. Auburn (12-1) .964

3. Alabama (11-1) 906

4. Michigan State (12-1) .860

5. Stanford (11-2) .819

6. Baylor (11-1) .772

7. Ohio State (12-1) .771

8. Missouri (11-2) .726

9. South Carolina (10-2) .715

10. Oregon (10-2) .581

11. Oklahoma (10-2) .576

12. Clemson (10-2) .555

13. Oklahoma State (10-2) .523

14. Arizona State (10-3) .442

15. Central Florida (11-1) .434

16. LSU (9-3) .432

17. UCLA (9-3) .370

18. Louisville (11-1) .320

19. Wisconsin (9-3) .237

20. Fresno State (11-1) .168

21. Texas A&M (8-4) .167

22. Georgia (8-4) .159

23. Northern Illinois (12-1) .157

24. Duke (10-3) .113

25. Southern California (9-4) .067


Off to Miami: Ohio State officially to play in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 against Clemson

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The Buckeyes haven't played in the Orange Bowl in 37 years.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - No. 7 Ohio State will play in the Orange Bowl for the first time in 37 years, paired against No. 12 Clemson on Jan. 3. The game was officially announced Sunday night, when the BCS standings and BCS bowl pairings were released.

This is the final year of the BCS system after 16 years, and Ohio State will have appeared in more BCS games than any program, this being the 10th trip for the Buckeyes. Officially the number is nine, with the 2011 Sugar Bowl against Arkansas vacated because of NCAA sanctions.

Corporately named the Discover Orange Bowl, the game will be played at 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 in Sun Life Stadium in Miami Lakes, Fla. The stadium's capacity is 71,540. The teams are expected to arrive in Miami on Dec. 29.

The Buckeyes (12-1) and Tigers (10-2) have played once before, in the 1978 Gator Bowl won by the Tigers 17-15 and known primarily as Woody Hayes' last game as the coach of the Buckeyes.

Dating back to after the 2011 season, the last three postseasons for Ohio State have been at the site of the Hayes' last game, the Gator Bowl, which the Buckeyes lost to Florida; a postseason ban because of NCAA sanctions after a perfect regular season; and now a detour from a hoped-for national title game to play the team from Hayes' last game.

Tickets for the game are available at Ticketmaster.com and range from $99 to $215. Ohio State received 17,500 tickets for game and the school said information about a public sale will be available soon.


No. 4 Solon girls basketball routs No. 3 Mentor, 72-43

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SOLON, Ohio – Led by senior guard Kristen Confroy, Solon defeated Mentor, 71-43, on Sunday night. Confroy scored nine consecutive points early in the second quarter, sparking an 18-1 Solon run to open the quarter. The run opened an 18-point advantage for the host Comets, who are ranked No. 4 in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll. Their lead didn’t...

SOLON, Ohio – Led by senior guard Kristen Confroy, Solon defeated Mentor, 71-43, on Sunday night.

Confroy scored nine consecutive points early in the second quarter, sparking an 18-1 Solon run to open the quarter. The run opened an 18-point advantage for the host Comets, who are ranked No. 4 in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll. Their lead didn’t shrink below 10 points the rest of the game.

This story will be updated with more detail and reaction shortly.

Confroy, a Maryland recruit, led all scorers with 19 points and grabbed four rebounds. Junior Emily Russell and freshman Alexis Stover added 15 points and 12 points, respectively.

Seniors Kayla Gabor and Christine Dawson led the No. 3 Cardinals. Gabor scored 13 points and had eight rebounds. Dawson had 12 points and nine rebounds.

The game was a matchup of the preseason favorites in the Northeast Ohio Conference. The teams have also met in the Division I regional semifinals in each of the past two years, with Solon winning both times.

Teddy Cahill is a freelance writer in Cleveland Heights.

Can this loss in New England really be a sign of progress for the Cleveland Browns?

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D'Qwell Jackson had an interception and played well in the loss to the Patriots -- and he remains hopeful about the Browns.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- "Bizarre."

That's the word that Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson used to describe his team's 27-26 loss to New England. It could apply to so much of what has happened this season.

To think that the week opened with the Browns pondering a choice between Alex Tanney and Caleb Hanie starting at quarterback in New England, and it ended with Jason Campbell under center, throwing for 391 yards and three touchdowns.

It started with a lament about how the Browns make too many turnovers and don't force enough turnovers on defense. It ended with the Browns without a turnover in New England -- while the Browns harassed Tom Brady into an interception and a lost fumble.

The week had a sense of doom hanging over it, the 32-28 loss to Jacksonville stinging as the Browns coughed up a 28-25 lead. If you can't beat Jacksonville on the shores of Lake Erie…

And you give up 32 points to Chad Henne and the lowest-ranked offense in the NFL…

Then what will happen against Tom Brady in New England?

OK, what happened was that they lost. That was about the only thing that went as expected -- a final score with the Browns coming up short. But they looked like a real football team, even with their collapse in the final 2:39.

It took great plays by Brady combined with timely and very suspect flags from the officials to sink the Browns.

"Give the man credit," said Jackson. "He's a Hall of Famer." The man is Brady, who completed 16-of-20 for 142 yards -- in the fourth quarter! Most of that is on the defense, which gave 134 yards in last week's fourth quarter against Jacksonville.

The red zone defense remained a problem.

"I know," admitted Jackson. "But I am energized by this game. We are playing better in every phase of the game."

Jackson has been with the Browns for eight years. He has seen one winning season (10-6) in 2007. He has remained positive through some of the bleakest seasons.

Jackson is doing what he can to motivate himself and others. But he also seems to have faith in this coaching staff, and believes the talent has been upgraded. Watching Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron and some of the other younger players make an impact has given him some hope. He also feels secure with Campbell at quarterback.

When Brian Hoyer and Campbell have played, then team generally has looked more organized and efficient. Not great. Not good. But better than the usual 4-12, 5-11 models that fans have watched for the last five years.

The problem is the Browns are 4-9. They can look at the last two games as missed opportunities.

Of course, some in the fan base are ready for the draft and prepared for a team that ends the season on a 7-game losing streak -- putting another 4-12 in the books.

Jackson talked about "all the banners" at Gillette Stadium. This is their 11th year in a row with at least 10 victories. The Browns have done that only twice since 1990 -- 11-5 in 1994 and 10-6 in 2007.

Since 2001, the Patriots are 47-6 in December. The Browns have lost more games in the last two Decembers (7) than the Pats have in a dozen years.

But Jackson also knows that at some point, it has to change. Every season can't be about the next draft. Every few years, they can't keep changing coaches and front offices. Jackson has played for four head coaches and three general managers in his eight seasons.

He's waiting for the day when the Browns begin to win games like this -- and so are the fans.

Cleveland Indians prospect Leandro Linares in Haiti waiting for visa

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Cuban right-hander Leandro Linares is still working through red tape to get his visa so he can pitch for the Indians.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Remember Leandro Linares, the Cuban defector the Indians signed for $950,000 in July?

The 19-year-old right-hander had to jump through several legal hoops to be declared a free agent and sign with the Indians after defecting from Cuba more than a year ago. He is not done jumping.

After officially signing with the Indians in August and coming to Cleveland for his physical, Linares was scheduled to go to the Indians' spring training site in Goodyear, Ariz., to continue his development. He never made it.

Linares had to return to Haiti, his temporary residence, and apply for a visa. He’s been there ever since.

Linares is scheduled to visit the U.S. Consulate on Monday in Miami for his first interview for a visa. The Indians believe it will take to the end of December for the process to be concluded.

An MLB source said that one of the problems is Linares’ last name. Certain last names appear on terrorist watch lists of the U.S. government and Linares apparently is one of them.

Since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has tightened the restrictions on visa applications to enter or work in this country. Several pro baseball players from Latin American countries have been caught using false identities over the last several years.

“This isn’t a big setback,” said Ross Atkins, the Indians' director of player personnel. “We sent a trainer to Haiti to work out with Linares. Another player we signed lives with him and they work out together.”

Linares missed the Arizona Instructional League and did not play winter ball. If he gets his visa, he will report to spring training with the rest of the minor leaguers.

“He’s only 19 so missing four weeks in the instructional league isn’t a big deal,” said Atkins.

Linares is a power pitcher, who throws between 93-95 mph. When the Indians signed him, they compared him to a high school pitcher taken with a late first-round pick in the June draft.

Job hunting: Indians free agents Lou Marson and Jason Kubel are getting feelers from teams in both leagues. Marson, a catcher, was non-tendered on Dec. 2. Kubel filed for free agency after the World Series when the Indians didn’t exercise his $7.5 million club option for 2014.

It will be interesting to see if they get big-league deals or have to go to camp as spring-training invitees.

The Indians are not interested in Kubel following the signing of David Murphy and re-signing of Jason Giambi. Reportedly, there is a scenario in which the Indians could bring back Marson.

Right now the catching situation is secure with Yan Gomes and Carlos Santana. Should Santana, who lost the starting job to Gomes, prove a legitimate option at third base, there might be a spot for Marson as Gomes’ backup.

Santana is working out at third base at the Indians' complex in the Dominican Republic. He is scheduled to play games there in winter ball. At the end of last season Lonnie Chisenhall and Mike Aviles were platooning at third. Chisenhall has been the third baseman in waiting for three years, but has yet to claim the position. It seems the Indians would have to make a trade for Marson to return.

Marson played only three games last season because of neck and back injuries. The Indians directed his rehabilitation at Goodyear after the regular season ended and when they non-tendered him he was said to be healthy.

The Indians acquired Kubel from Arizona before the Aug. 31 trading deadline. They felt his bat would help them in the drive to the wild card, but he appeared in only eight games.

Kubel was not in a good place mentally when he came to Cleveland because he was struggling at the plate and had lost his starting job with the Diamondbacks. But those close to him said spending a month sitting next to Giambi in the locker room and talking hitting with him improved his outlook.

He could be an interesting “sleeper’ free-agent signing.

Touchdown: GM Chris Antonetti and the Indians' contingent arrived Sunday night at the Magic Kingdom to start the winter meetings.



Cleveland Browns find themselves in middle of player-safety issues with Gronkowski injury, Poyer penalty

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The Patriots' Rob Gronkowski absorbed a low hit from T.J. Ward and reportedly suffered a torn ACL.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Two big hits -- one low, the other chest high -- brought the debate regarding player safety and the sometimes unintended related consequences into sharp focus Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

New England star tight end Rob Gronkowski reportedly suffered a torn right knee ligament in the third quarter after absorbing a shot from the Browns’ T.J. Ward in the Patriots’ 27-26 victory. The safety, who drove his shoulder into Gronkowski’s knee, said there was no intent to injure and that he was afraid to hit him high for fear of a penalty and/or fine.

In the final minutes, Browns rookie defensive back Jordan Poyer was penalized for unnecessary roughness as he slammed his shoulder into the chest of Patriots receiver Julian Edelman on a two-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 remaining. Referee Jerome Boger announced the flag was for hitting a defenseless receiver.

The 15-yard infraction loomed large because it enabled the Patriots to kick off from midfield and recover an onside kick at the Browns’ 40. They scored the game-winning TD with 31 seconds remaining.

The two plays illustrated the frustration, confusion and potential danger involving the strike zone and the league’s desire to protect players from hits to the head and neck region.

“I was right there -- Poyer hit him in his chest,” Ward said. “There was no helmet contact, no head contact. They’ll review it. They’ll probably overturn it if they do decide to fine him. I had no idea what the flag was. I kept asking until I heard it, but that was a totally clean hit.”

Poyer thought Edelman was juggling the ball as he fell out of bounds.

A year ago, Ward predicted the league’s intent to penalize and fine defenders for high hits would lead to an increase in leg injuries as players adjusted their strike zone. His words have proved prophetic and, on Sunday, he was involved in such a play.

Ward lowered his shoulder and struck Gronkowski following a 21-yard completion to the Cleveland 34. The tight end, who missed the first season's six games recovering from back and forearm surgeries, flipped over Ward and remained down for several minutes. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder was taken from the field on a cart and transported to the hospital. ESPN reported that Gronkowski had torn his anterior cruciate ligament, which if true would be a season-ending injury.

Ward shook Gronkowski's hand and spoke to him as he was loaded onto the cart.

“I just wanted him to know whether he accepted it or not, it wasn’t an intentional hit to injure him,” Ward said. “But we have to play this game the way that they force us to, and unfortunately it [resulted] in an injury for him.”

It took several seconds for Ward to realize Gronkowski was seriously injured, he said.

“I honestly prayed for him ‘cause it looked bad the way they were over there,” he said. “I know he’s coming off an injury and he’s been out for a while. It’s not a good thing.”

Ward spoke at length to reporters about the hit and the evolution of how the game is being called. A season ago, the NFL fined him $25,000 for a concussive blow to Dallas receiver Kevin Ogletree as he ducked his head at the moment of impact

“When they set the rule, everyone knew what was going to happen,” Ward said. “This can happen if you have those types of situations. It’s pretty much inevitable and they forced our hand with this one.

“I’ve been fined three times, and I don’t like playing for free. If you go ask anybody in this league would they like to play for free? No. Repeat offenders, they’re starting to suspend people for the year. I can’t risk that. I won’t risk that. And, I’ve got to play within the rules, point blank.”

The Patriots’ offense had been revitalized by Gronkowski’s return. Losing him would be a major blow to their Super Bowl hopes. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked if took issue with Ward’s decision to go low on the tight end.

“I think that’s a question you should take up with the league,” Belichick said.

Poyer, impressive in his most extensive playing time with five tackles, was asked about the strike zone for defenders.

"You saw what T.J. did today and you saw the outcome of it,” he said. “I don't know what else they want us to do.

“That's what they preach, that's what they tell us to do. I feel like it's a fair hit. My prayers go out to Gronk because (the result) was nasty. At the end of the day that's how they want defenders to come in and hit guys. If he had come high there would have been a flag. I don't know what happened to Gronk, but it looked bad.”


Cleveland Browns lose, 27-26, to the New England Patriots: What people are saying (slideshow and video)

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Another agonizing loss has Cleveland Browns fans wondering how things can get any worse. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio — How did it happen?

That's the question on the mind of Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto after the Cleveland Browns lost to the New England Patriots, 27-26, at Foxboro, Mass. It's easy to understand why.

There is 2:39 left in the game. The Browns lead ... that's right, the Browns lead ... 26-14 at Foxboro after tight end Jordan Cameron catches a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jason Campbell, the quarterback's third TD pass of the game.

The Patriots get the ball and manage to close to within 26-21 with 1:01 left. Recover the onside kick and this game is over.

Of course it didn't work out that way.

The Patriots get the onside kick, a controversial pass interference penalty puts them on the 1-yard line, and they score the winning TD with 30 seconds left. (Go here to listen to a podcast with analysis from Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Dennis Manoloff.)

How does this keep happening to the Browns? Pluto knows the facts, but he has other concerns:

Right now, I just feel bad for the Browns and their fans. ... It has happened before to Browns fans. First, a heart stops, then it is broken. And the Browns lose. ... This probably was the Browns' best all-around game of the year. They would have beaten Jacksonville by two touchdowns with this type of effort. ... In fact, you watch a game like this and wonder "How did it happen?" Then you ask, "Will the Browns win another game this season?" But then again, if you're a fan, you have been through this before. But that still makes it so hard to accept.

Pluto is not alone in his disappointment. But this game also is bringing a lot of outrage from Browns fans and other observers because of a 29-yard pass-interference penalty called in the end zone against Leon McFadden against Josh Boyce, giving the Patriots a first and goal at the 1. Some reaction from Twitter:

And so it goes. Another game, another agonizing result. Another wasted performance from receiver Josh Gordon, who had seven catches for 151 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown. His league-leading 1,400 yards receiving are team record for a season. (Gordon reportedly was in no mood to discuss the game afterward.) Campbell plays maybe his best game in years — 29-for-44, 391 yards and three touchdowns — and it's a loss. (Go here to grade Campbell's performance.)

But it was a rough game for McFadden. As Cleveland.com Browns beat writer Tom Reed points out, McFadden had a quiet afternoon until the final few minutes, when Patriots quarterback Tom Brady began targeting the cornerback. By the time Brady was done the Patriots had the win and McFadden was left questioning the pass interference called against him:

"I don't feel it was pass interference but I have to go back and look at the film and make corrections,” he said. McFadden conceded there was contact, but thought it went both ways. He received no explanation from officials, McFadden added. The rookie, thrust into more playing time due to the season-ending knee injury to Chris Owens, said he needs to keep working on his technique. It’s as cruel of a “welcome to the NFL moment” as can be imagined for a youngster. Less than three minutes from a shocking upset, only to find himself in the middle of the Browns’ meltdown.

The Browns were complicit in the loss. But Craig Lyndall, writing for the blog waitingfornextyear.com, says the refs didn't have to make it easier for the Patriots:

It’s just such a shame because the Browns could have and should have won this game. Yes, they could have recovered the onside kick so as not to allow the referees to decide it with a penalty. Yes, the Browns could have played tougher defense while nursing a 26-14 lead when they allowed the Pats to go 82 yards and a score. They didn’t and they very well might have given up a touchdown anyway even without the call, but it sure would have been nice to give the Browns’ defense a chance to do it from the 30 yard-line instead of giving it to them at the one.

Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal says the loss shows the Browns need to earn respect from the rest of the NFL, and that includes from the officials:

For much of the day, they had two opponents, the Patriots and referee Jerome Bogar’s crew. From the minute Patriots quarterback Tom Brady talked Bogar into picking up a flag for intentional grounding in the first quarter, it seemed like the Patriots got more than their share of calls. It was almost as if the officials were blinded by Brady’s three Super Bowl rings or owner Robert Kraft’s status as one of the league’s top power-brokers.

There were some bright spots. In his postgame scribbles, Terry Pluto raves about Gordon and Cameron, but he says the Browns also got an excellent effort from another player:

Paul Kruger had the kind of game the Browns imagined when they signed him to the most expensive free agent contract ($40 million, five years) in team history. Kruger sacked Brady twice. He forced a fumble and batted down a pass. He was a factor all day. Barkevious Mingo also had a sack, his second in the last two games. He leads the team with five, while Kruger has 4.5.

The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw says Campbell's excellent play gives the team a reason to hope despite another heartbreaking loss:

The thought to take away from this tortured season is that the Browns are more than competitive when they get reasonably good quarterback play. Campbell and Brian Hoyer before him are the proof of it. The trick is getting more of it from Campbell before he becomes institutionalized to the madness.

The Patriots escaped with the win, but it's not all good in New England. The team fears that star tight end Rob Gronkowski is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Gronkowski injured his knee after taking a hit from Browns safety T.J. Ward. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says the loss of Gronkowski means "everything" to the Patriots:

Tight end Rob Gronkowski being carted off the field midway through the third quarter with a serious leg injury is a season changer for New England. Gronkowski is that much of a difference-maker. ... Gronkowski's injury cast a cloud over a remarkable comeback. How do the Patriots keep digging themselves into an early hole, when it seems the game is lost, only to pull it out? It's one of their most redeeming qualities -- they are hard to knock out and play all 60 minutes (and sometimes beyond).

Ward says he hit Gronkowski low because was worried about drawing a penalty if he aimed higher. His concerns likely are legitimate: Defensive back Jordan Poyer was penalized for his shoulder to the chest of Patriots receiver Julian Edelman on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 remaining. It allowed the Patriots to try their onside kick from midfield. Cleveland.com's Tom Reed says the plays illustrate the "the frustration, confusion and potential danger involving the strike zone":

“When they set the rule, everyone knew what was going to happen,” Ward said. “This can happen if you have those types of situations. It’s pretty much inevitable and they forced our hand with this one. I’ve been fined three times, and I don’t like playing for free. If you go ask anybody in this league would they like to play for free? No. Repeat offenders, they’re starting to suspend people for the year. I can’t risk that. I won’t risk that. And, I’ve got to play within the rules, point blank.”

After all of this, Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is finding some positives. He tells Terry Pluto the Browns are playing better, despite the 4-9 record:

Jackson also knows that at some point, it has to change. Every season can't be about the next draft. Every few years, they can't keep changing coaches and front offices. Jackson has played for four head coaches and three general managers in his eight seasons. He's waiting for the day when the Browns begin to win games like this -- and so are the fans.

Headed to the Orange Bowl, the Buckeyes are blue; to sulk or be hungry, what will they do?

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Will the Buckeyes drown in their sorrows or regroup for the Orange Bowl against Clemson on Jan. 3?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Scarlet and Gray are heading to the Orange Bowl. When the affair arrives on Jan. 3, will they still be feeling blue?

Ohio State returned to Columbus at 4 a.m. on Sunday, a few hours after Michigan State handed the Buckeyes their first loss in 705 days and foiled their plans of participating in the national title game.

"Everybody was down in the dumps," said coach Urban Meyer.

After the 34-24 loss, Meyer opened the floor for players and coaches to speak to the team in the locker room. He said the theme was "about finishing this thing the right way."

This postseason has been two years in the making in Columbus. Meyer's bunch was banned from a bowl game last season, despite a 12-0 record. That made Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game -- the last leg on their two-year-long journey that had Pasadena, Calif., as a final destination -- more difficult to swallow.

The phone call Meyer received on Sunday inviting the program to the Orange Bowl to face Clemson on Jan. 3 helped numb the sting a bit.

"They're heartbroken, but they're competitors," Meyer said. "Also, I think the fact they're playing in a BCS bowl game against Clemson, that's going to wake you up real fast."

So how long will it be before the despondency dissipates? Players, understandably, appeared dejected and emotional when meeting with media following Saturday's loss. On Sunday, senior left tackle Jack Mewhort offered a more encouraged outlook.

“I think it means a lot for us to go back and play in a BCS bowl game,” Mewhort said. “To get a win in a big-time bowl and at the same time show some resiliency would be a great way to go out. I couldn’t ask at this point for anything more than to play in a BCS bowl game, and getting to go to battle with these guys I’ve been fortunate to play with for the last four or five years will be great.”

Ohio State, ranked No. 7 in the final BCS standings, will play in the Orange Bowl for the first time in 37 years. The Buckeyes and Tigers have squared off once before, in the 1978 Gator Bowl, a tilt recognized more for being Woody Hayes' last game as coach of Ohio State.

Meyer is looking to Mewhort and the other seniors -- who will don Ohio State uniforms for the final time when they take the field at Sun Life Stadium in Miami -- to provide guidance to a team that hadn't experienced defeat in two years.

"He's a captain, he's a leader, he's a tough guy," Meyer said. "We all follow him, including our staff. He's that kind of player. He's going to be very important in these next few weeks to get us focused and get back to work very fast."

Meyer gave his team the day off on Sunday. Some assistant coaches secured hotel rooms in Indianapolis after the conference championship game and flew out to recruiting spots on Sunday morning. The Buckeyes have already initiated the process of moving on from a jarring defeat and preparing for the next opponent.

Having fallen short of its ultimate goal, will the team drown in its sorrows, or derive motivation from the nadir of its season? Meyer said he worries about that unknown answer, but only because he worries "about everything." He doesn't expect the blues to last much longer, especially with the Orange Bowl, a heap of golden sunshine and green palm trees on the horizon.

"This team has a chance to win 13 games in a season and obviously finish ranked very highly," Meyer said. "Especially with what a lot of these players have gone through the last two years, I saw a look in their eye and they were very disappointed, but they understand there's an incredible opportunity."


Cleveland Browns' Josh Gordon in no mood to chit-chat about setting the team record with another blistering day

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Browns Josh Gordon set the team receiving record with 1,400 yards, but was in no mood to talk about it after the 27-26 loss to the Patriots.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon was in no mood to stick around and celebrate all the records that fell at his feet like confetti at a New Year's Eve party.

Following Sunday's 27-26 loss to the Patriots, Gordon snuck out of the locker room with nary a word, and offered only a sentence later through a team spokesman.

"It means nothing to me if we can't win as a team while doing it,'' said Gordon, who caught seven passes for 151 yards, including an 80-yard TD that extended the Browns' lead to 19-3 with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

Gordon's 151 yards passed Braylon Edwards (1,289 in 2007) for the franchise’s single-season record. Gordon now has league-leading 1,400 yards (and eight TDs) in 11 games -- five fewer games than it took Edwards to set the mark.

He surpassed Detroit's Calvin Johnson (1,348) for most yards in the NFL -- despite missing the first two games of the season on a suspension.

He has totaled 774 receiving yards over the last four games, an NFL record, according to Elias Sports Bureau.  Gordon’s seven 100-yard games this season are a club record and he is the only Browns player to record four straight 100-yard receiving games. Twelve of Gordon’s 13 career touchdowns have come from 20-plus yards. Gordon is the first Browns player with at least one touchdown catch in four consecutive games since WR Kevin Johnson in 2001. In addition, his 2,205 receiving yards are the most by any player in their first 27 games as a Brown.

He came into the game proclaiming that premier cornerback Aqib Talib would make plays "but I'll definitely make more plays.''

It was a brash statement to make against a future Hall of Fame coach in Bill Belichick with a penchant for using such fodder as bulletin-board material.

But then Gordon went out and backed it up.

"He's a hell of player, man,'' said Talib. "He's young. He's going to make some noise in this league. He's pretty good.''

On the 80-yard catch and run, Gordon beat Talib at the Browns' 30, stiff-armed him at the 35 and the outraced Talib and cornerback Devin McCourty to the end zone, where he performed a nifty TD dance.

"Gordon’s an outstanding receiver,'' said Browns quarterback Jason Campbell. "He welcomes the competition. He knew he’d get double-teamed sometimes. He’s got so much confidence right now he can win, regardless. We don’t want to put ourselves in position where we were forcing it to him, but we still want to give him opportunities to make plays. He’s making a big name for himself in this league.''

Gordon's big day opened things up for Jordan Cameron, who caught all nine passes thrown his way for 121 yards -- including a 4-yard TD with 2:39 remaining.

"Everyone feeds off Josh’s success,'' said Campbell. "I feel like the success he’s been having, the other receivers and Jordan all feel like they want to have a piece of that kind of success.''

Gordon also made two huge plays on the the Cameron TD drive, a 34-yard gain on a reverse and a sensational 19-yard catch over Talib on a third and 17 to the New England 21. The catch survived a Belichick challenge.

"That was big,'' said Campbell. "We got called for a penalty before, I was trying to throw it away and got hit at the same time and we got an intentional grounding penalty and that kind of set us back. We knew it was a critical play. Once I saw the coverage I knew I was going to go to Josh and he would have an opportunity to win. He made a great catch and put us in position to keep moving the ball.''

Gordon made plays all the way until the end.

Unfortunately for him, there was nothing to talk about it when it was over.


Billy Cundiff's 58-yard field goal attempt falls just short in Cleveland Browns' 27-26 loss

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Browns kicker battled calf cramps in the final minutes.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Billy Cundiff returned to the scene of his worst moment as a pro.

While the Browns kicker left Gillette Stadium with another late-game miss, there was hardly any shame in this one. Cundiff’s 58-yard field goal attempt, which could have won the game as time expired, was down the middle but fell a few yards short in a 27-26 loss to the New England Patriots.

“If I could have that ball the rest of the year for every kick I would be extremely happy,” Cundiff said. “I just know when I looked up I expected to make it.”

Two years ago, as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Cundiff shanked a 32-yarder that could have sent the AFC Championship Game into overtime. Instead, the Patriots went to the Super Bowl with a 23-20 win.

On Sunday, Cundiff was 2-of-3 with makes of 43 and 37 yards before suffering a calf cramp on his final extra point with 2:39 left. Punter Spencer Lanning kicked off, but Cundiff felt healthy enough for the long attempt with one second left.

His career long is 56 yards in 2005.

“I don’t think it had any effect on the final field goal but 24 degrees and 58 yards had more of an effect on it,” he said. “My calf cramped but we got it settled and it went away enough for me to go out and give it a good shot on the last field goal.”

Greco sidelined: The Browns lost left guard John Greco to a second-quarter sprained knee, coach Rob Chudzinski said. He was replaced by Jason Pinkston. Greco left the locker room with a brace on his knee.

The Browns entered with the intention of rotating Shawn Lauvao and Pinkston at right guard. Pinkston did see some time on the right side before the Greco injury.

It marked Pinkston’s first game action since Oct. 14, 2012 when he suffered a blood clot in his lung.

McGahee concussed: Running back Willis McGahee sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter. He appeared to get hit in the head by Dont’a Hightower.

The 32-year-old back stayed on the ground for several minutes before walking to the sidelines. He finished with 33 yards on 14 carries.

Quotable: Defensive back Jordan Poyer on the perception of all the calls going against the Browns: "We are on the road. We cannot expect any calls to go our way, especially when you are playing the New England Patriots. You just have to keep playing and fighting and get back to practice this week. I feel like we've got a good group of guys and we'll get the focus going.”

Big game: Outside linebacker Paul Kruger nearly doubled his sack total on Sunday with two sacks, including a third-quarter strip sack of Tom Brady which led to a John Hughes fumble recovery. He entered play with 2.5 sacks.

Rookie Barkevious Mingo and Jabaal Sheard also registered sacks.

Rare happening: The last time the Patriots recovered an onside kick? Against the Browns, of course. It was Jan. 1, 1995 in an AFC Wild Card Game won by the Browns. Cowin Brown recovered a Matt Bahr attempt against the team led by Bill Belichick.


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