Halladay signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Blue Jays, where he spent the first 12 years of his career.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Citing a desire to avoid surgery for an ailing back and wanting to spend more time with his family, two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay retired Monday after 16 seasons in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.

Halladay signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Blue Jays, where he spent the first 12 years of his career. The 36-year-old right-hander choked up and held back tears while making the announcement at a news conference at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

"As a baseball player, you realize that's something you can't do the rest of your life," Halladay said. "I really don't have any regrets. You realize there's other things for you to accomplish in life."

Halladay pitched a perfect game and also a postseason no-hitter. But never made it to the World Series and leaves without the ring he badly wanted.

The Phillies had already won three straight division championships, the 2008 World Series and 2009 NL championship by the time Halladay arrived in a blockbuster trade the same day Philadelphia sent ace Cliff Lee to Seattle in a separate deal.

The Phillies had the best record in the majors in Halladay's first two seasons, but lost to San Francisco in the 2010 NLCS and St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 NL division series. In his final postseason performance, Halladay lost to Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals 1-0 in the decisive Game 5 of that 2011 matchup.

Down 2-1 in the series, the Cardinals won two straight to upset the Phillies after a squirrel scampered across home plate as Skip Schumaker batted against Roy Oswalt.

"I think the one thing I took away from that is you can have the best team on paper, you can have the guys who want it the most," Halladay said. "But when the squirrel runs across home plate while your team is trying to pitch, there is nothing you can do about that. So you really start to realize there are a lot of things out of your control. It takes more than nine guys. It takes nine guys, and it takes the 25 on the roster. It takes the coaches, the staff, and it takes a lot of luck."

Halladay played for the Phillies from 2010-13, finishing with two injury-plagued seasons. He won an NL Cy Young Award in 2010, throwing a perfect game that season and a no-hitter in his first postseason appearance.

Halladay was 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA in 416 career games, including 390 starts. He had 67 complete games and 20 shutouts. His resume includes three 20-win seasons, eight All-Star games, and three other top-3 finishes for the Cy Young Award.

Known as a workhorse, Halladay led the league in innings four times and in complete games seven times.

"He was one of the best competitors who ever played this game and taught everyone around him to prepare the right way in order to be the best," Phillies lefty Cole Hamels said.

Halladay was a six-time All-Star, won the 2003 AL Cy Young Award and went 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA in 12 seasons with the Blue Jays. He was traded to the Phillies after the 2009 season, and was 40-16 with a 2.40 ERA in his first two years in Philadelphia. But back and shoulder issues limited Halladay in 2012-13. He was 15-13 with a 5.15 ERA in 38 starts.

Halladay had shoulder surgery during the season and returned in September, but clearly wasn't right. He was 4-5 with a 6.82 ERA in 13 starts this year.

"It's so much fun to play the game and go out and compete," he said. "I looked forward to that fifth day more than anything. To go out there and know it's not going to feel good and I wasn't going to do it the way I wanted was frustrating. I tried to give everything I can but something was holding me back. I felt I couldn't give them what I wanted to."

Despite Halladay's decline, the Phillies were still interested in bringing him back for another year if he was healthy and at a price much lower than the $20 million he earned in each of the last three seasons. He was a popular teammate and a valued presence in the clubhouse for his influence and strong work ethic.

"Roy Halladay is the ultimate competitor," second baseman Chase Utley said. "He is by far the hardest worker that I've ever seen and treated every game as if it were his last. It was no coincidence why he was the best pitcher of his era. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to watch him pitch for four years. I'll miss his presence and passion but, most of all, I will miss his intensity."

What would be a success for the Big Ten during the bowl season? A winning overall record? Two wins in BCS bowls?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The reputation of the Big Ten probably couldn’t get worse.

So the hope for the conference is that it can start working its way back toward respectability with a reputable performance during the Big Ten’s seven games in this year’s bowl season.

Winning the highest-profile games against the best opponents is typically the best way to earn respect, and the Big Ten has two teams in BCS games. Ohio State, who faces Clemson in the Orange Bowl, and Michigan State, matched up with Stanford in the 100th Rose Bowl, have extra responsibility to perform well on big stages.

What would be considered a success? Either posting a winning record overall as a conference, or getting two wins in BCS games. Will the Big Ten be successful in doing either? I examine the conference’s chances below in a game-by-game breakdown.

Texas Bowl, Dec. 27: Minnesota vs. Syracuse

Ari’s Take: Projecting Minnesota to finish last in Big Ten was a popular pick before the season, but the Gophers surprised everyone by posting an 8-4 record, and a 4-4 mark in conference play, despite health issues with head coach Jerry Kill. Minnesota finished the regular season with two losses, but the Gophers had a very tough finish against ranked foes Wisconsin and Michigan State. In reality, the Gophers are a fairly competent team this year, and though this isn’t overly exciting, it could result in a coveted Big Ten bowl victory.

Predicted winner: Minnesota

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, Jan. 1: Nebraska vs. Georgia

Ari’s take: What is most fun about the bowl season is the opportunity to see matchups you wouldn’t see under any other circumstance, which is why this year’s Gator Bowl seems rather boring. Nebraska and Georgia met in last year’s Capital One Bowl, so this isn’t new, and both teams will play this year’s game without their starting quarterbacks. Running backs Ameer Abdullah and Todd Gurley have been dynamic talents to watch, but this is a rematch of Georgia’s 45-31 win last year. The Big Ten is itching for wins over the SEC, so there’s that angle. Can Bo Pelini save his job? I’m guessing not.

Predicted winner: Georgia

View full sizeMichigan quarterback Denard Robinson was a successful two-point conversion attempt away from leading the Wolverines to a stunning upset over then-No. 3 Ohio State. Can Michigan salvage a disappointing season with a bowl win? Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Dec. 28: Michigan vs. Kansas State

Ari’s take: Despite a horribly disappointing season that included five conference losses, the Wolverines were one successful two-point conversion attempt from knocking off then-No. 3 Ohio State and saving their season. But the Buckeyes survived with a thrilling 42-41 win, and now all Michigan has left is the sour taste of disappointment. The Wolverines are matched up with a hot Kansas State team that has won five of its last six games. Can Michigan play like it did against Ohio State and end the season on a high note?

Predicted winner: Kansas State

Outback Bowl, Jan. 1: Iowa vs. LSU

Ari’s take: When looking at Iowa, it seems like a flawed four-loss team that LSU, a traditional SEC power, will have no trouble walking over. But when you look at Iowa’s four losses – Northern Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin – the Hawkeyes are probably a lot better than most give them credit for. The Tigers are 7½-point favorites, but the Hawkeyes could make this one of the more entertaining non-BCS bowls of the season.

Predicted winner: LSU

Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1: Wisconsin vs. South Carolina

Ari’s take: This is also one of the more intriguing bowl matchups because, of course, it has the Big Ten-SEC narrative. Both teams are consistently at the top of their respective conferences, and the game features two of the best defensive players in the country -- Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The two teams, however, come in with dramatically different vibes. Wisconsin finished its regular season with a stunning loss to Penn State, while South Carolina went on the road and beat Clemson. Will the roles reverse in Florida?

Predicted winner: South Carolina

Rose Bowl, Jan. 1: Michigan State vs. Stanford

Ari’s take: This is an old school, smash-mouth football game that will be heavy with runs in between the tackles and solid defensive play. And it couldn’t be more appropriate for the most traditional bowl in college football. Michigan State had one of the most program-defining wins in its history by knocking off Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Both teams are stacked with talented defenders, and it should be one of the better games of the bowl season. At this point, it’s hard to pick against the Spartans.

Predicted winner: Michigan State

View full sizeCan Urban Meyer have his team properly motivated for the Orange Bowl after Ohio State saw its national title hopes shattered on Saturday? Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Discover Orange Bowl, Jan. 3: Ohio State vs. Clemson

Ari’s take: Given Ohio State had national championship aspirations three days ago, its hard not to wonder if the Buckeyes will have enough motivation to approach this game with the respect it deserves. Sure, the Buckeyes haven’t played in a BCS bowl for a few years, but the team was deflated after losing to Michigan State. Clemson has proven to be one of the best teams in the country, but it also is coming off a loss to South Carolina. Ohio State’s pass defense has been its weakness, and the Tigers throw it all over the place behind quarterback Tajh Boyd. But Ohio State runs the ball as well as anyone in the country, and Clemson ranks No. 51 in rush defense. This game seems like a toss-up, but the Buckeyes are favored by three points.

Predicted winner: Ohio State 

Based on my predictions, the Big Ten finishes with a 3-4 record overall. But if the conference finishes the bowl season with Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl wins, that would be a huge success. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Each team in the final cleveland.com High School Football Top 25 qualified for the playoffs this season. Here's a look at how each of them finished:

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Each team in the final cleveland.com High School Football Top 25 qualified for the playoffs this season.

Here's a look at how each of them finished:

(Rankings are from final poll following Week 10. Records include playoff results.)

1. St. Vincent-St. Mary, 15-0

Division III state champion.

2. St. Edward, 12-2

Division I regional finalist/state semifinalist.

3. Mentor, 13-2

Division I state runner-up.

4. St. Ignatius, 8-5

Division I regional semifinalist.

5. Glenville, 13-2

Division II state runner-up.

6. Avon, 11-1

Division II regional semifinalist.

7. Hudson, 10-2

Division I regional quarterfinalist.

8. Highland, 12-1

Division II regional finalist.

9. Cleveland Heights, 10-2

Division I regional quarterfinalist.

10. Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 10-2

Division II regional semifinalist.

11. Aurora, 10-2

Division III regional quarterfinalist.

12. Chagrin Falls, 9-3

Division IV regional quarterfinalist.

13. Avon Lake, 8-3 

Division II regional semifinalist.

14. Stow, 10-2

Division I regional quarterfinalist.

15. Wadsworth, 9-2 

Division I first round.

16. Nordonia, 8-2

Division II regional quarterfinalist.   

17. Kirtland, 15-0

Division VI state champion.

18. Columbia, 10-1

Division V regional quarterfinalist.

19. Kent Roosevelt, 9-2

Division II regional quarterfinalist.

20. Ellet, 10-1

Division II regional quarterfinalist.

21. Bedford, 10-2

Division II regional semifinalist.

22. Elyria, 7-4

Division I first round.

23. Solon, 6-5     

Division I first round.

24. Brunswick, 6-5

Division I first round.

25. Madison, 10-3

Division II regional finalist.

It has taken the Cavaliers the first month of the season to start to get familiar with each other, coach Mike Brown says

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This won't come as a surprise to anyone who watched the Cavaliers the first month of the season, but if it didn't look like they knew what they were doing, it was because they didn't.

"In November, there were times that we didn't know what to do on each individual play," coach Mike Brown said on Monday as his team prepared to host the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. "Not only them, but sometimes me.''

New center Andrew Bynum had missed all of training camp. New guard Jarrett Jack missed a majority of it. Brown was starting guys who'd never practiced together and closing with guys who'd never been on the court together either.

"The month of October for us was all training camp,'' Brown said. "The month of November was training camp with games.''

No wonder the Cavs finished the month with a 4-12 record. But they've opened December 2-1. Both victories came at home -- over Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers -- and the team has won three in a row at The Q.

Brown wasn't quite ready to call this a turning point.

"We’re getting better," he said. "I thought early on at times we played some pretty good basketball, we just didn’t quite know how to finish games. We couldn’t string possessions together long enough, so we’re getting a little more consistent and trying to do things that will help us win games.''

Of course, he still can't explain what happens in games like Friday at Atlanta, where Kyrie Irving and Alonzo Gee went scoreless and the Cavs got clobbered by the Hawks, 108-89.

"It might happen to us again,'' Brown admitted. "We’re not going to go out and be world beaters and beat everybody by 20 and hold teams that score 100 to 80 and 39 percent. We could get our heads handed to us again. I think that’s part of the growth process, too.

"You have to remember the majority of these guys won 24 games (in 2012-13). It was a process and everybody’s growth and development as a unit on how to win not only at home but on the road and how to play the game the right way. ... We got our behinds kicked in Atlanta. I said that and I’ll continue saying that. We didn’t play as hard as I thought we were capable of. I don’t like that, I didn’t like it before and I still don’t like it now and I’m not using that as an excuse, but that’s just the reality of this process.

"It could happen again in the future. Hopefully it doesn’t, but I wouldn’t put it out of the realm of possibilities. We have to take each game one at a time, go compete and play hard. If we do, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win.''

Jack thought there might be another reason for the radically different performances on Friday and Saturday.

"You get up for teams with big names,'' he said. "Atlanta is a bunch that might not have the names on the team that perk you up. They are a well-rounded ballclub. The Clippers have multiple all-stars and are one of the glamor teams in the league. Maybe that’s the case. But we have to get to the level that no matter who we’re playing against, every time we step into the gym we have to have the same mindset.''

Brown thinks that in addition to learning his defense and offense, the Cavs also have to learn how to win again.

"As a franchise the last couple years, we haven't experienced winning. Sometimes when you go through that, it's almost like the plague," he said. "So now when you go through games, not only do you feel like at a certain time this thing's going to fall apart, but your opponent has a certain confidence that, 'Hey these guys haven't won in a few years. We can turn it on and kick their behinds at this point in the game or that point in the game.'

"So there's some hidden things that you're fighting against during the course of ball games whenever you step out on the floor. That's just a mindset, a feel, not only for us as players on the floor but as an organization and the city as a whole, Northeast Ohio as a whole that, 'Hey, we can't have that. We're fighters.'

"A lot of times you hear that with the Browns. I hear people telling me, 'Yeah, they're going to find a way to lose,' and, yeah, they lost yesterday and it sucked, but you know what? Excuse my French, but F that. Let's fight. Let's support one another and try to get rid of that attitude right now because at the end of the day it will help you as a group to become that winner that everybody so desperately wants.''

Back from Canton: The Cavaliers recalled forward Carrick Felix and center Henry Sims from their D-League affiliate in Canton on Monday. In two games with the Charge, Felix averaged 11.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. Sims averaged 15 ppg and 5 rpg.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks

Time: 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Q.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Ohio, WTAM AM/1100.

Notable: New York is 5-14, coming off a 114-73 loss to Boston on Sunday at Madison Square Garden and rumors are swirling about the future of head coach Mike Woodson. … Knicks swept the season series last season, 3-0, including two games in Cleveland. Before that Knicks had lost 10 straight in Cleveland. … Tyson Chandler is out with a non-displaced fracture of the right fibula.

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — Shaker Heights senior defensive back and wide receiver Odell Spencer verbally committed to play football for Cincinnati Sunday, just over a month after decommitting from Bowling Green. “I just loved the coaches, loved the facility, loved the whole feel at Cincinnati,” Spencer said.

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — Shaker Heights senior defensive back and wide receiver Odell Spencer verbally committed to play football for Cincinnati Sunday, just over a month after decommitting from Bowling Green.

“I just loved the coaches, loved the facility, loved the whole feel at Cincinnati,” Spencer said.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Spencer decommited from Bowling Green on Nov. 6, opening his recruiting back up in hopes of landing at a school in a bigger conference. An offer from Cincinnati gave him that chance.

He also had offers from a handful of MAC schools as was drawing interest from Washington State.

Spencer had 30 receptions for 463 yards and six touchdowns this season for the Raiders, who lost to St. Edward in the first round of the Division I playoffs. He also had five interceptions.

The All-District honorable mention will play corner initially at Cincinnati, but hopes to have the chance to play receiver as well.

“I’ll play on both sides of the ball, but I’ll go there as a corner,” Spencer said. “They have a corner spot for me, but I have to wait for some people to graduate to play at receiver.”

Spencer is the 21st commitment in Cincinnati’s 2014 class according to Rivals.com. The 3-star prospect joins Mentor’s Conner Krizancic and six other players from Ohio in coach Tommy Tuberville’s 2014 class.

“I just love Ohio, you gotta play in Ohio,” Spencer said. “If it isn’t Cincinnati, it’s Ohio State. You have to be somewhere in Ohio.”

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.

Watch as Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed report on the news from Berea Monday after the Browns 27-26 loss to the Patriots. Also, a video from Rob Chudzinski's Monday press conference. Watch video

 BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed report from Berea Monday, as the Browns recover from their 27-26 last-minute loss to the New England Patriots in Foxborough.

Topics include: The onside kick by New England at the end of the game that the Patriots recovered.  The two bad calls by the refs in the final minutes that went against the Browns.  Quarterback Jason Campbell with another great game.  Josh Gordon breaking the Browns all-time receiving yards record for a season.  The Browns showing that they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league.

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

Inconsistency, funky delivery and draft-pick compensation could be hurting Ubaldo Jimenez on the free agent market.

BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Has anybody seen Ubaldo Jimenez, the guy who pitched the Indians into the postseason?

First he turned down a club option for 2014 worth $8 million. Then he declined a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Indians. When Jimenez hit the free agent market, he had to be thinking big money.

So far, there's been little, if any, free-agent buzz about the 6-5 right-hander, who went 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in September to lead the Indians to the postseason for the first time since 2007.

What we have here might be a lesson in supply and demand, the nuts and bolts of free agency.

Twelve free agent starting pitchers have already signed, but there are some big-ticket guys still looking for work. Yes, that would be Ervin Santana, Matt Garza and Jimenez. Besides them, there are several more layers of free-agent starters, including Bronson Arroyo, Bartolo Colon, Bruce Chen, Joe Saunders, Jason Hammel and John Lannan.

As one general manager said Monday on the first day of the winter meetings, "There are seven or eight starting pitchers still out there. When there are that many options, the market is going to move slow."

Rumors have linked Jimenez to the Orioles, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Mariners and Angels. But the rumors have been more like whispers. The Indians have remained in contact with his agent Diego Bentz of SFX Sports, but they could merely be playing a waiting game should Jimenez still be unsigned come spring training.

Jimenez picked the right time to pitch well. He went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA in 32 starts last season. After the All-Star break, he had a 1.82 ERA in 12 starts.

His ERA+ of 114, adjusted to Progressive Field, meant that the AL ERA was 14 percent higher than his. (An ERA+ over 100 is better than average and less than 100 is below average). That is a good thing.

Jimenez's inconsistency, however, could be making teams cautious. After the Indians acquired him from the Rockies on July 31, 2011, he went 13-21 with a 5.43 ERA in his next 42 starts through the end of the 2012 season.

His delivery is also a concern because it often resembles an accident waiting to happen.

"It's a tough call," said one scout. "He really pitched well last season, but he's got that delivery. The right guy (Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway) was able to reach out and touch him this year, but it's a tough one if you're going to spend $50 million or $60 million on him."

Whatever team signs Jimenez will have to forfeit a high draft pick because the Indians made him a qualifying offer. Draft pick compensation was part of the reason Michael Bourn and Kyle Lohse didn't sign until after the start of spring training last season. The same thing could be happening to Jimenez and Santana, who received a qualifying offer from the Royals.

"The draft pick compensation affects every guy," said Phillies GM Ruben Amaro. "'It's part of the process, part of the agreed-upon process."

Amaro feels there is a strong market for Jimenez.

"He went out and performed this year," he said. "He kept his delivery under control and performed."

The Twins have already signed free agents Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes. After posting the highest ERA for a starting rotation in the big leagues last season, they are also reportedly negotiating with Arroyo.

When asked about the demand for Jimenez, Twins GM Terry Ryan said, "Like any free agent, if you're out there and you have talent, there's a market. He's talented and in the prime of his career."

Does that mean the Twins are interested?

"We're interested in pitching ... let's leave it at that," said Ryan.

For the right player, teams seem more than willing to give up a draft pick. The Indians did it twice last year, losing a second-round pick for signing Nick Swisher and a third-round pick for Bourn.

"Last year we were focused on trying to find the best guys to improve the team," said GM Chris Antonetti. "There were some guys we were willing to lose a draft pick for and some guys that we weren't."

The Indians didn't lose their first-round pick last year because they finished with one of the 10 worst records in the big leagues in 2012.

The Twins, Mariners, Phillies and Toronto are in that same situation this year. The Blue Jays, in fact, have two No.1 picks. So the market is out there for Jimenez, all it has to do is start percolating.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jason Campbell's outstanding performance was lost in the stunning 27-26 loss to the Patriots.

BEREA, Ohio -- If Browns quarterback Jason Campbell hadn't suffered bruised ribs and a concussion this season, the Browns might still be talking about that final wild-card spot in the playoffs.

In the games in which he's been healthy this season, Campbell has earned ratings of 105.4 in a loss to the Chiefs; 116.6 in a victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens; and 116.8 in Sunday's 27-26 loss to the Patriots.

In fact, for most of Sunday's 27-26 loss to the Patriots, Campbell outplayed the great Tom Brady -- despite coming off a concussion and practicing only twice before the game.

What's more, he put on a quarterback clinic against defensive genius Bill Belichick -- and he did it in a hostile environment where the Patriots rarely lose. In fact, they're 7-0 at home this season, and Brady improved to 93-16 at Gillette Stadium -- the best home record in the NFL since the 1970 merger.

Heading into the game, the Patriots had been holding opposing quarterbacks to a combined 76.7 rating. Campbell's 116.8 QB rating was the second-highest rating against the Patriots this season, trailing only Cam Newton, who posted a 125.4 QB mark in Week 11.

Campbell is one of only three quarterbacks to post a rating over 100 against the Patriots this season, the other being Buffalo's EJ Manuel (105.5) in Week 1. His 391 yards were also the third-highest passing output against the Patriots this season, trailing only the Falcons' Matt Ryan (421 yards) and the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger (400).

If not for the defense giving up two touchdowns in the final 61 seconds and the special teams failing to recover an onside kick, Campbell would've been the first quarterback to defeat the Patriots at home since San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick threw four TD passes in a 41-34 victory Dec. 16, 2012.

"He played great (Sunday),'' said Browns coach Rob Chudzinski. "(He made) good decisions, made plays, managed the offense, had no turnovers and was a real positive in that game. There were a lot of positives. I thought our protection improved significantly over what it had been the past couple weeks. We got some good play. We were able to run the ball and mix it. Guys made some plays down the field. Our playmakers made some plays. Jason’s leadership and his presence had a lot to do with that.”

Overall, Campbell completed 29 of 44 attempts (65.9 percent) for 391 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran 21 yards in the first quarter en route to a field goal for a 6-0 lead in the second. His touchdown passes included a 40-yard to tight end Gary Barnidge, an 80-yarder to Josh Gordon; and a 4-yarder to Jordan Cameron off a bootleg right that made it 26-14 with 2:39 remaining.

"I thought Jason did a phenomenal job of orchestrating the offense and managing the offense,'' said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "He was making his throws, guys were catching the ball, and Josh Gordon has another phenomenal day (seven catches, 151 yards, one TD). Jordan Cameron had a great day (nine catches, 121 yards, 1 TD), Davone Bess made some tough catches and everyone contributed.''

On the final drive, Campbell went 3-of-4, completing passes of 9, 18 and 13 yards - the latter two to Cameron -- to set up Billy Cundiff's 58-yard attempt that fell short.

"It looked good for a second,'' said Campbell. "When he kicked it, it looked like it was going right down the middle, then all of a sudden it just felt like a gust that came and pushed it back. Just felt a yard and a half short. It was like, ‘Man. When are we going to get our break?’ At some point, hopefully.''

The missed kick, the defensive meltdown and the botched onside kick all robbed Campbell of a much-deserved victory. He also had a chance to beat the previously undefeated Chiefs in Kansas City until Bess muffed a punt and dropped several passes.

He hit his stride in the 24-18 victory over the Ravens, but suffered "bruised'' ribs when Haloti Ngata fell on him. Last week, he just smiled when asked if the ribs were broken, but admitted they were horribly painful in the loss to Cincinnati the following week and that he couldn't drive the ball. A week later, he suffered the concussion in a loss to the Steelers, and forced to sit out last week's 32-28 loss to the Jaguars.

"That’s the healthiest I’ve felt since the Kansas City game,'' said Campbell after Sunday's game. "The Cincinnati game was tough. It was tough to fight through it. Coming back in the Pittsburgh game I felt better but I still wasn’t healed yet. Missing the game last week healed my mind and it healed my body. I was out there to play, I wasn’t worried about trying to protect myself.''

Like the true pro that he's been all season, Campbell lamented the fact he wasn't able to score a TD in the red zone early in the second quarter. But the refs didn't help the Browns there either. Gordon juggled and hauled in a ball at the Patriots' 10, but it was ruled incomplete. Cameron false-started and the Campbell threw a little wide to Fozzy Whittaker to set up the field goal for the 6-0 lead.

"They have a great coach and a great quarterback and they were reigning champs in a lot of different years,'' said Campbell. "It's a tough place to come in and win, and we feel like with two minutes to go in the game maybe we can close this thing out. That would have been a big giant step for us. Some things happened at the end, there’s going to be different opinions about what happened. We have to go back and watch the tape and see what we can improve on. Me looking at myself, hit some of those easier throws early in the game and maybe we’re not in that position.''

Campbell lumped the Patriots loss in with that of the last week's to the Jaguars on a TD with 40 seconds remaining and the close game in Kansas City that turned on the muffed punt.

"We’ve had two in the past two weeks and three in the last five games, you can go back to the Kansas City game, the way we lost that game,'' he said. "We’re so close to being a 7-6 team than 4-9. Those three games were so close. Coach Chud said we’ve just got to keep working, don’t get our heads down, keep fighting. I’m proud of this team. We showed a lot of resilience. We’ll continue to fight these last three games and there won’t be any giving up in any of us.''

Especially not if Campbell can finish the season healthy.

Braxton Miller will not be headed to New York City this weekend for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Six players will head to New York City for Saturday's Heisman Trophy presentation. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller will not be among them.

The six finalists: Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Auburn running back Tre Mason and Boston College running back Andre Williams.

Winston is considered the heavy favorite, having thrown for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns while leading Florida State to a 13-0 mark and BCS Championship Game berth. He would be the second consecutive redshirt freshman to win the heralded award. Last year, Manziel took home the trophy. Should he win it again this year, he would join former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as the only two-time winner.

Winston's Seminoles will meet Mason's Tigers in the national title game. Mason tallied 304 yards on 46 carries with four touchdowns in Auburn's 59-42 win against Missouri in the SEC Championship Game. He has gained 1,621 yards on the ground this season.

Miller missed nearly three games with a sprained knee ligament, but he still managed to throw for 1,860 yards and rush for 1,033 more. He totaled 32 touchdowns and tossed only five interceptions. He struggled in the passing game the last two weeks, completing only 14 of 36 passes. He did, however, average 156 rushing yards over his last four contests.

Miller finished fifth in the Heisman balloting last season. Only the top three vote-getters received invites to New York in 2012. Miller garnered three of the 892 first-place votes.

This year, Miller established career highs in completion percentage, passing touchdowns, quarterback rating. For the second consecutive year, he was named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year and the league's top quarterback.

Ohio State claims seven Heisman Trophy awards. In addition to Griffin's two laurels, tailbacks Eddie George, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and Vic Janowicz and quarterbacks Les Horvath and Troy Smith have earned the honor.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said the team proved it can keep pace with anyone in the NFL if it eliminates a few mistakes.

BEREA, Ohio -- Coach Rob Chudzinski was as sick as anyone about the outcome of Sunday's 27-26 loss to the Patriots, but the fact that his team almost knocked off a 10-3 club in hostile territory left him encouraged.

"It was a hard-fought December football game against a great team,'' said Chudzinski. "I'm not at all happy with the outcome, but as I mentioned (Sunday) I'm very proud in the effort our team gave both in preparation for the game as well as during the game itself. Experience is a great teacher for a team and the things that we can take from this game and build on are that we can go toe-to-toe with anybody in this league.''

Chudzinski lamented the Browns surrendering two touchdown passes to Tom Brady in the final 61 seconds, "(but) I see the light and am encouraged by our team and how they continue to work and move forward.

"I see a lot of really positive signs, and I think they see it, too. You see the progress we’ve made in terms of the mindset of the team and the togetherness of this team and how they’re playing that way, a lot of great examples of relentless play out there on the field. I think you saw us attacking all day long, which is something we’re trying to build that mindset as well. That happens over time. We have to build on the positives and the results will come. That’s what we’re preaching, and I believe that. I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen it with other teams. Of course, we’re not getting the outcomes that we want so bad, but that will come.”

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was so buoyed by the victory he predicted that the 4-9 Browns could win out.

"I see us finishing off with a better record than we’ve had in a long time around here,'' said Jackson. "That's a positive. That’s moving in the right direction. They're a tough team.''

Jackson said he's optimistic not only because the Browns almost beat the Patriots, but because they defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens and and the 9-4 Bengals this season.

Call still bad: Chudzinski still felt the 29-yard interference call against Leon McFadden was bogus after studying it on film. It led to Brady's gamewinning 1-yard TD pass.

 "I still feel the same way about that,'' said Chudzinski. "But the things that are important are the things that we can control and we had opportunities to win that game and make the plays to win that game.''

He also said he wouldn't change the pass interference rule to a 15-yard penalty instead of from the spot of the foul.

Fozzy had the right idea: Chudzinski said running back Fozzy Whittaker did the right thing by pouncing on the dribbling ball on the onside kick, but just wasn't able to secure the ball.

The Patriots lined up six players to the right of the kicker and four to the left. The Browns covered both sides, leaving the middle open. But instead of a typical kick to the outside, they went with a brilliant middle bunt, in which kicker Stephen Gostowski is actually kicking it to himself. Gostowski ran alongside the dribbling ball, waiting for it to hit the requisite 40 so he could scoop it up. Whittaker pounced toward the ball and it hit him in the gut, but it squirted away from him and the Patriots recovered.

It was the first time in Patriots history that they won the game after recovering an onside kick. The last time they recovered one was in the 1994 wildcard playoff loss -- to Bill Belichick's Browns.

"On the middle bunt -- which they've shown before and done before -- as they start coming in and their guys start covering into the middle, we slide and go and you go get the ball in that case,'' said Chudzinski. "It was a great kick by Gotkowski for that type of kick and we had an opportunity and we just weren't able to come up with the ball."

Whittaker explained after the game, "No, I wasn’t going after the ball. I was trying to hit the kicker that was standing by it because I thought it hit him.''

Several players said they weren't prepared for the middle bunt, but Chudzinski said they had seen it. Still some weren't sure what to do. Safety Tashaun Gipson, for instance, hesitated, thinking he had to wait for the ball to travel 10 yards before going for it.

"The ball didn't cross 10 yards, so I'm not going to go in there and jeopardize the team by trying to save the day,'' he said. "I'm just going to do my job. As soon as I saw one of our players jump in there, then I tried to jump in there, but I think the ball might've rolled eight yards….It's not my business to go out there and jump on the ball if it don't get to me yet.''

The call was made by special teams guru Scott O'Brien, who worked here under Belichick.

Injury update: Guard John Greco sprained his knee and left the locker room in a brace….running back Willis McGahee suffered a concussion and must pass tests by the independent specialists.

Chud on Gordon: Josh Gordon is now leading the NFL with 1,400 yards, surpassing Detroit's Calvin Johnson (1,348) despite missing the first two games of the season.

"He's playing at a high level, no question about it,'' said Chudzinski. "I think that you have to put him in that conversation of those guys. Consistency is the thing that we'll be looking for as he continues to improve. He has a lot of things he can get better at but he's great example of a player that you see developing. His best days are ahead of him like our best days are ahead of us.''

Ward courage award: Ward, who's in the news for delivering the legal blow that knocked Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski out for the season with a torn ACL,

has been chosen by his teammates to receive the 2013 Ed Block Courage Award.

The Ed Block Courage Award is given annually to a member of each of the 32 NFL teams who exemplifies the qualities of Ed Block, the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts, based on courage, compassion, commitment and community. All 32 winners will be honored at an event in Baltimore.

Ward, who was placed on injured reserve at the end of 2012 with a knee injury, ranks second on the team this season with 106 tackles (84 solo), leads the club with 13 tackles for loss, boasts two interceptions and seven passes defensed and has played almost every defensive snap.

“First of all, I want to say thank you, and it means a lot in being chosen as the winner of this award by my teammates and my peers,'' Ward said in a statement. "It means a lot to come back from injury, period. A lot of guys go through this, like other guys on the list, Phil Taylor and Jason Pinkston, so it was definitely an honor to receive this award and to be awarded by my teammates. It means a lot to me.”

SOLON, Ohio – One night after defeating the Mentor Cardinals by 29 points, the Solon Comets were back in action on Monday night, defeating Chagrin Falls 52-38. After the game, Solon coach Trish Kruse talked about the ability of her team to defeat two quality opponents on back-to-back nights.  “We were able to get the win, and that is...

SOLON, Ohio – One night after defeating the Mentor Cardinals by 29 points, the Solon Comets were back in action on Monday night, defeating Chagrin Falls 52-38. After the game, Solon coach Trish Kruse talked about the ability of her team to defeat two quality opponents on back-to-back nights.

 “We were able to get the win, and that is a good thing,” said Kruse. “ The first half, we came out and played terrific. The girls played with a lot of energy, and they did everything that we asked them to do. However, in the second half, we just didn’t do the things necessary to compete and they were able to score a lot of points.

Leading the way for the Comets was senior guard Kristen Confroy, who finished the night with 28 points and six assists. In Sunday night’s victory over Mentor, Confroy scored 19 points after rolling her ankle. Confroy said that while it hurt, it didn’t prevent her from doing what she wanted to do.

 “There were a couple times when I went to do a move it hurt, ” said Confroy. “However, I was able to still go out and play the type of basketball that I was able to, and we were able to get another win against a good team.”

 The game was close in the first few minutes as Confroy and Chagrin Falls’ Hallie Thome were going basket-for-basket early in the game. However, the Comets hit their first five 3-pointers of the game to help build a 12-point lead midway through the second quarter. Chagrin Falls coach Brittany Anderson talked about how the Comets’ hot shooting played a role in the game.

“We were a little shell shocked in the first half after the start that they got off to,” said Anderson. “ We knew that they were able to shoot the ball well, but we didn’t expect them to hit their first five shots. After that, I thought we settled down a lot and really started to attack the basket, and it really showed in the second half.”

To make things worse, junior center Hallie Thome picked up her third foul midway through the second quarter, forcing the Tigers to go to a small lineup. This isn’t something the Tigers had practiced a lot of, but Anderson understands that they must be ready in case this happens again.

“You never know what is going to happen during the course of a game,” Anderson said. “ You have to be able to adjust quickly, and we weren’t able to do that when we went to our five-guard lineup.

With the win, Solon moves to 3-1 on the season, while Chagrin Falls is now 4-1 on the season.

Prospect Jose Ramirez injures his left thumb sliding in a base playing winter ball.

BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Infielder Jose Ramirez, who added speed and enthusiasm to the Indians during their stretch drive last season, is expected to undergo surgery on his left thumb Wednesday at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Thomas Graham would do the surgery.

"We're in the process of getting another opinion and seeing what we'll do at that point," said GM Chris Antonetti. "Surgery is an option, but we want to get a little bit more information before confirming that.

"In any event he's likely to be ready for the start of spring training."

If Ramirez needs surgery, he could miss eight to 10 weeks. Ramirez suffered the injury sliding into a base while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic while playing for Este. He was injured on Nov. 22.

Ramirez, 21, was hitting .287 (29-for-101) with eight doubles, one triple, seven RBI and 11 runs in 25 games at the time of the injury.

The Indians promoted Ramirez on Sept. 1 and he hit .333 (4-for-12) with one triple and five runs. He spent the bulk of the season at Class AA Akron where he hit .272 (131-for-482) with 78 runs, 16 doubles, six triples, three homers and 38 RBI in 113 games. He led the Eastern League with 38 steals in 54 attempts.

Ramirez, who made the Indians’ roster for their wild-card game against Tampa Bay, was expected to compete for a bench job this spring. The injury could change that. 

New guy: The Indians have signed first baseman David Cooper for the second time in less than a year. This time they signed him to a big-league contract.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick was first to report the signing.

The Indians signed Cooper to a minor-league deal in August. When he didn’t get promoted to Cleveland later that month, he opted out of the deal.

"He'll come into spring training and compete for a spot," said Antonetti. "He can come in an compete for DH at-bats or at-bats off the bench. He's a guy we've liked for a long time and we had him in the organization last year."

If Cooper doesn't make the club, he still has options.

After signing with the Indians last year, the left-handed-hitting Cooper played six games for their Arizona Rookie League club and hit .440 (11-for-25) with five RBI. After being promoted to Class AAA Columbus, he hit .192 (5-for-26) with one RBI in seven games.

Cooper, 26, was Toronto’s No.1 pick in 2008. He is trying to rebound from major back surgery. In 2012, he hit .300 (42-fo-140) with 11 doubles, four homers and 11 RBI in 45 games. He started that season at Class AAA Las Vegas, hitting .314 (82-for-261) with 27 doubles, 10 homers and 52 RBI in 62 games before being promoted.

"It's impressive that he's back healthy," said Antonetti. "It was a complicated surgery to resolve the issues he had."

On sight: Free agent closer Chris Perez was at the winter meetings Monday looking for work. The Indians released Perez on Oct. 31 after a year filled with injury and off-the-field problems. 

Perez has been linked to the Orioles, who need a closer after trading Jim Johnson to Oakland. Perez saved 25 games for the Indians.

Heard this: Charlie Manuel, who led the Phillies to two World Series before being fired last season, is looking to get back in the game.

Manuel, former Indians manager and hitting coach, would like to be a roving minor league hitting coach.

Hot corner update: The Carlos Santana experiment at third base is expected to start within the next two weeks.

Santana, who opened last season as the starting catcher only to lose the job to Yan Gomes, asked Antonetti and manager Terry Francona at the end of season if he could play third during the winter to give him a chance to stay on the field more next season.

"Carlos will start playing in a week to 10 days," said Antonetti. "He'll play third and DH."

Santana is scheduled to play for Escogido in the Dominican Republic.

The Indians have talked about signing a third catcher to back up Gomes, depending on how Santana plays at third. Kelly Shoppach and Lou Marson are possibilities.

"We'll see how things progress with Carlos, but at this point the vast majority of scenarios we've looked at have Carlos continuing to catch in a share role for us," said Antonetti.

Neither the brutal cold nor one of the league's worst defenses could stop Josh McCown and the Chicago Bears.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) and quarterback Josh McCown (12) celebrate after making a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, in Chicago.AP Photo 

McCown threw for a career-high four touchdowns, and the Bears scored on their first eight possessions to grab a share of the NFC North lead with a 45-28 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on a frigid Monday night.

The Bears (7-6) retired Hall of Famer Mike Ditka's number at halftime and pulled even with Detroit in the division race on a night when the wind chill factor was below zero. Dallas (7-6) fell a game behind Philadelphia in the NFC East.

The conditions didn't stop McCown from throwing for 348 yards or keep the Bears from running away with a lopsided victory after consecutive losses.

Alshon Jeffery's leaping catch between two defenders in the corner of the end zone in the closing seconds of the second quarter gave the Bears a 24-14 lead, and they continued to pour it on in the second half after a gut-wrenching overtime loss at Minnesota last week.

McCown, making his fourth straight start with Jay Cutler sidelined by a high left ankle sprain, completed 27 of 36 passes.

Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 100 yards, and Jeffery added 84 yards receiving after breaking his own team record the previous week with 249.

Matt Forte chipped in with 102 yards rushing and 73 receiving, and the Bears racked up 490 yards in all.

Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns but completed just 11 of 20 passes for 104 yards. DeMarco Murray ran for 146 yards, but the Cowboys were overmatched after winning two straight.

They also lost linebacker Sean Lee to another injury -- this time a neck issue after making a tackle in the third quarter. He missed the previous two games with a hamstring problem.

The game-time temperature was 8 degrees with the wind chill at minus 9, but the freezing conditions did nothing to slow either team in the early going.

Murray burned Chicago for 52 yards on six carries on the game's opening possession to set up a 2-yard scoring pass from Romo to Dez Bryant, but the Bears scored just about every time they got the ball.

After Bryant's TD, McCown tied it with a 4-yard pass to Earl Bennett and put Chicago ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter with a 7-yard scramble, leaping at the goal line and getting spun in mid-air.

Jason Witten tied it at 14 when he dragged Major Wright across the goal line on a 10-yard touchdown catch, but the Bears grabbed a three-point lead on Robbie Gould's 27-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining in the half.

A couple of Auburn fans could cash in big if the Tigers beat Florida State in the BCS Championship Game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Thanks to a strong showing during SEC play, a miracle heave on a fourth-and-18 against Georgia, a surreal field goal return against Alabama, a triumph against Missouri in the conference championship game and, as the final chapter in an improbable storyline, an Ohio State loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten title game -- Auburn is headed to the BCS Championship Game.

And because of that series of events, at least 14 people are one step away from cashing in on 1,000-to-1 odds of the Tigers capturing the national title.

Jeff Sherman, the assistant manager at the Las Vegas Hotel Sportsbook, told the Bloomberg News that at least 14 people purchased tickets that would pay out 1,000 times their bet should Auburn top Florida State in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6. According to Sportsbook.com, at least two people placed $100 on Auburn winning the national title.

(Author's note: It would be wise to hedge that bet and place some money on Florida State, no? You know, if sports gambling weren't frowned upon and I were knowledgeable enough to share expertise on the subject.)

Auburn went 3-9 last season (0-8 in the SEC) and replaced coach Gene Chizik with Gus Malzahn. They now stand at 12-1 and they defeated Missouri, 59-42 in the SEC title game on Saturday, thanks to 304 rushing yards and four touchdowns from tailback Tre Mason, who earned an invite to New York City as one of six Heisman Trophy finalists.

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller is not one of those finalists. Miller, whose stock suffered when he missed nearly three full games with a sprained knee ligament, threw 22 touchdown passes against only five interceptions and compiled 1,860 yards through the air. He added 1,033 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Doug thinks Jameis Winston will win, which wouldn't shock anyone.

Ohio State and Clemson will square off in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. Can the Big Ten restore its reputation with a healthy bowl season? Ari ponders that in his Big Ten bowl breakdown.

The Buckeyes lost out on a four-star recruit, but can you blame a kid for wanting to go to Florida State, the top-ranked team in the nation?

Have a great Tuesday. In honor of Ohio State's upcoming travel to South Beach for its bowl game, here's a classic song to set the mood. Big fan of Will Smith's sunglasses. And of Eva Mendes.

Watch as Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap what happened in the AFC North in week 14 and what lies ahead for the Browns, Bengals, Ravens and Steelers.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed take a look at what happened in week 14 in the AFC North and what lies ahead for the Browns, Bengals, Ravens and Steelers.

The Browns suffered a stunning 27-26 loss to the Patriots in Foxborough.

Cleveland gave up two touchdowns in the final 61 seconds due to two favorable calls for New England by the refs and the recovery of an onside kick.

The loss spoiled a good performance by quarterback Jason Campbell.  Josh Gordon set a franchise record for receiving yards with 1,400.

The Bengals rolled once again with a 42-28 victory over the Colts giving them a 6-0 record at home so far  this season.

Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.  Running back Giovani Bernard had 148 total yards with 99 on the ground and 49 through the air.

The Ravens beat the Vikings 29-26 in a wild game that started in a driving snow storm.  The two teams combined for five touchdowns in the final 125 seconds.  Joe Flacco threw a 9-yard pass to rookie Marlon Brown with 4 ticks on the clock to win the game.

Pittsburgh lost 28-34 at home to the Dolphins in another game played in the snow.

The Steelers seemed to score the winning touchdown as time expired.  The play featured five laterals, but Antonio Brown, the final ball carrier, stepped out of bounds on the way to the end zone.

This week, the Browns (4-9) host the Bears (7-6).  The Bengals (9-4) travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers (5-8).  The Ravens (7-6) are in Detroit Monday night to take on the Lions (7-6).

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

The Browns' defense repeatedly failed when it mattered most in a 27-26 loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Upon DVR review of the CBS telecast, here are some observations.

Watch Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed deliver the news from Berea as the Cleveland Browns begin their preparations to play the Bears. Watch video

 BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap what happened at practice Wednesday in Berea as the Browns begin their preparations to play the Bears Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium. 

Topics include:  Quarterback Jason Campbell, who last year backed up Jay Cutler for the Bears, has been playing well when not injured.  Josh Gordon, who leads all wide receivers in receiving yards with 1,400 in just 11 games.  The Browns secondary will be going up against two receivers with over 1000 yards this season in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jefferies.  Injury updates on John Greco, Brandon Weeden and Willis McGahee.

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

BEREA, Ohio -- When the news came down that Berea and Midpark were merging high schools, Alex Brown was worried. A two-year starter at Berea, Brown was unsure what his role would be at his new school. Adding to his concern was having to play for a new coach, Duke Barther, the former Midpark coach.

BEREA, Ohio -- When the news came down that Berea and Midpark were merging high schools, Alex Brown was worried.

A two-year starter at Berea, Brown was unsure what his role would be at his new school. Adding to his concern was having to play for a new coach, Duke Barther, the former Midpark coach.

Barther, though, started calling and texting Brown to let him know that he was a key part of the team's plans. He knew there was something special about Brown.

"When he plays, the love of basketball just shines," Barther said. "He doesn't need to do anything extra to be a leader. It comes naturally."

When Brown knew Barther was depending on him to lead the squad, his concerns evaporated.

"At first I was bummed, but then I realized it was just basketball," Brown said. "I was still going to be able to play the game. Nothing had really changed."

Brown's leadership has translated to a smooth transition for the team. Berea-Midpark is off to a 4-0 start and is ranked No. 14 in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll.

A senior point guard, Brown leads his team in scoring at 17.3 points per game. He should surpass the 1,000-point mark for his career this season. Although he stands at 6-feet tall, Brown often mixes it up with bigger players to snatch away rebounds too.

He quickly developed great chemistry with all of the players from Midpark who joined him this season. That part has been easy, as his teammates feel he is really easy to play with.

"He always has the ball in his hands," said junior Nolan Gerrity. "He always makes good decisions. He’s not selfish even though he is our leading scorer."

Gerrity knew of Brown and other Berea players through pickup games, but early on it was still a weird feeling to be their teammates.

"I felt like I should be playing against a couple of these guys," Gerrity said.

That's where Barther came in. During the offseason, he organized several non-basketball activities that allowed the players to get to know each other better. Events included dinners, wiffle ball games and bowling.

It was exactly what the Titans needed to build a strong bond.

"That helped a lot," Brown said. "We knew them as rivals so it was still a little shaky early on."

Through these activities, Brown emerged as the true leader of the team. He didn't have to do much. His teammates just wanted to follow him.

"He has such a charismatic personality as a kid," Barther said. "His smile is infectious."

Brown was the go-to guy for Berea as a junior. When his school merged with Midpark, he wasn't too concerned about scoring. He just wanted to win.

It was a sentiment that the whole team bought into. The Titans do not care who leads in scoring each night.

"We’ve built good chemistry," Gerrity said. "We’ve had no selfishness. No one man has taken over the show."

Barther points to the chemistry for the team's quick start. Included in the Titans' 4-0 start is a road win against No. 18 Medina.

But the key going forward is not to celebrate any victory too long. That's another message Brown is trying to stress to his team.

"We have to keep working hard and know that last game is in the past, and we’re on to the next one," Brown said.

Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Gordon was a surprise pick in the second round of the 2012 supplement draft. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What did you think when the Browns took Josh Gordon in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft?

Surprised? If so, you weren't the only one.

Here is what Gordon told Houston television station KRIV on the evening that his selection was announced:

"I was more than shocked for sure. I definitely didn't think that high, but I'm definitely in shock."

Tom Heckert drafts have come under a lot of criticism lately. I looked at the 2011 draft day deal that yielded Phil Taylor and Greg Little. There were a lot of other picks involved. Two years later, the trade does not look good for the Browns.

The first round of 2012 has already unraveled, Brandon Weeden losing the starting quarterback job and Trent Richardson wisely traded by the new front office for the Colts' first-round pick in 2014.

Then there's Gordon, a major gamble by Heckert that has paid off dramatically. In the last four games, Gordon has 36 catches for 774 yards and five touchdowns.

Give him two of the most dramatic plays since the Browns returned in 1999. There was the 95-yard touchdown sprint against Jacksonville, followed by last week's 80-yard rocket run at New England. Give Gordon a team-record 1,400 yards receiving, and he's done it in 11 games.

 Finally, give Gordon a spot on the Pro Bowl team. But did anyone really see this coming when the supplemental draft took place in 2012?

"We hope he comes in and plays right away," was what Heckert said on the day his selection was announced.

Remember that Gordon sat out the 2011 college season after he was kicked out of Baylor for flunking two drug tests for marijuana. He enrolled at Utah, and was on the scout team -- and also flunked a drug test there.

How did Gordon perform when he actually did play?

In 2009-10 at Baylor, he had five starts and appeared in 22 games. He had 43 career catches, seven for touchdowns. You can find video of a 94-yard touchdown catch and gallop that looks like some of his long-distance catches in recent weeks.

With NFL.com at the time, current Browns General Manager Mike Lombardi said Gordon was a "waste" pick in the second round. Other unnamed executives thought he was a "stretch" to be picked that high.

NFL.com's Dave Jeremiah (a former Browns scout) wrote this before the supplemental draft, in which he projected Gordon as a third-round pick:

"He is a very intriguing prospect because of his combination of size, speed and athleticism. At his workout before a reported 21 NFL teams, Gordon measured 6-foot-3, weighed 224 pounds and posted a respectable 4.52. He was a very productive receiver in Baylor's offense before he was dismissed from the team in August 2011 for off-field issues.

"I attended a Utah practice last fall while scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles and several Utes coaches told me to keep an eye on Gordon. He wasn't eligible to play on Saturdays, but he was very easy to spot on the practice field. He has an ideal NFL body for the wide receiver position. He's tall with a lean, muscular build and long arms."

Jeremiah's report was one of the most optimistic. The NFL.com's Greg Rosenthal projected Gordon in the third round.

On the day of the pick, Heckert said: "He is a guy that can come in here and be an eventual starter for us and make plays for us. I think anytime you draft a guy there is always some risk involved, but we think we got a good football player and we were able to get him in the second round. … We are getting a really good football player and we are getting him a year early. I think next year we will be sitting there going, ‘Wow,’ if he plays like we think he is going to play this year."

Gordon has indeed delivered when it comes to the "Wow" factor.

Heckert took several risks with the Browns. He picked Little on the second round of 2011 after Little was suspended in 2010 by North Carolina for taking money from an agent. His career with the Browns has been spotty and his future with the new front office is questionable. Little has caught only 35 passes this season.

Heckert gambled on Weeden, who was 28 when drafted. That didn't work out. And Gordon remains a risk, because he flunked another drug test -- this time in the NFL. He could be banned for at least a year if he fails another. That's why the new front office considered trading him this season -- but backed off.

On the day of the draft, Heckert said: "We brought the kid in and met with him here then I talked to a zillion guys at both Baylor and Utah. To be honest with you, I couldn’t find anybody to say one bad thing about the kid."

While Heckert had too many swings and misses, his call on Gordon could be one that helps the franchise finally become a contender -- if the new front office can make the right moves in the 2014 draft and free agency.

In 2001, Marc Trestman, then the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders, took an aging journeyman quarterback and helped turn him into an MVP two years later. It was Rich Gannon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In 2001, Marc Trestman, then the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders, took an aging journeyman quarterback and helped turn him into an MVP two years later. It was Rich Gannon.

Now more than a decade later, Trestman is writing a similar script.

After a pit stop in Miami with the Dolphins, Trestman went to N.C. State. Most recently he dominated the competition in the CFL as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, winning a Grey Cup with a 38-year-old quarterback. Now he is back in the NFL, only this time as a head coach. Once again he is showing why he is the QB Whisperer.  

It was the second quarter of a Week 7 game against the Washington Redskins. Jay Cutler had just been taken to the locker room with a groin injury. The Bears, 4-2 at the time, were at a season crossroads. Nobody knew how much time Cutler would miss, but his loss put a damper on any Windy City playoff aspirations. In years past the team fell apart without their offensive captain.

But Trestman, an offensive mastermind, didn't panic. He went into the lab and cooked up a winning formula with another journeyman quarterback, just as he did with Gannon. This time it was Josh McCown, who didn't throw a pass in 2012.

Thanks to a quick-hitting, highly-efficient and quarterback-friendly offense, McCown has flourished in five starts, with the Bears going 3-2. He's coming off a career game on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, where he engineered eight scoring drives, throwing for over 300 yards (for the third straight game) and four touchdowns. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 14.

Instead of Chicago counting down the days until Cutler makes his return -- which could be this weekend -- the Bears have been able to stay in a tie atop the NFC North. McCown is completing 66 percent of his throws; he has tossed for more than 1,800 yards and has 13 touchdowns against one interception.

Offensive overview

View full sizeBrandon Marshall (left) and Alshon Jeffery (right) have turned into a formidable pair of receivers.Associated Press

As good as McCown has been, and Cutler was prior to his injury (completing 63 percent for 1,908 yards and 13 touchdowns), they have gotten a lot of receiving help.

The Bears have a duo now known as the "Monsters of the Midway." Both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery have topped the 1,000-yard mark. Marshall (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) is a four-time Pro Bowler and pass-catching machine. At 84 catches (4^th in the NFL), he has at least 80 receptions in seven of his eight years. His nine touchdowns are two away from his single-season best of 11, set in 2012.

Then there's Jeffery (6-3, 216 pounds), who is having a Josh Gordon-like breakout in his second season. Around the time of the 2012 NFL draft there were questions about the physically imposing and sticky-handed wideout. People questioned his motivation, speed and work ethic.

Six receivers (Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, A.J. Jenkins, Brian Quick and Stephen Hill) were drafted before him. After a quiet rookie campaign (24 catches, 367 yards and three touchdowns), he has silenced the doubters this year. Jeffery is seventh in catches (75) and fifth in yards (1,193). Three of his six touchdowns have come in the last two games, and he has been a fixture on Sportscenter's top plays with spectacular catches. He also has at least one carry in eight straight games. 

Tight end Martellus Bennett, once buried on the Dallas depth chart behind Jason Witten, came to Chicago in the off-season to provide a pass-catching weapon at tight end, missing since Greg Olsen departed after the 2010 season. Bennett -- also a big-bodied target at 6-6, 265 -- is two catches and 38 yards from single-season highs. His five touchdowns in 2013 match his best prior season. 

As much attention as the passing game has gotten, Matt Forte has been overlooked – as he is most every year. Forte is fourth in rushing yards (1,073) and tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (seven). He is a versatile weapon in Trestman's attack, leading the NFL in RB receptions (65).

Defensive overview

Cleveland-native Mel Tucker Jr. is in his first season as defensive coordinator. Despite keeping the same 4-3 scheme and language, this unit has no resemblance to the one that was so dominant in 2012. The Bears have fallen to 29th in total defense (386.0 yards) and 29th in scoring defense (27.7 points) after ranking in the top five of both categories last season. 

Missing Pro Bowlers at each level of their defense, injuries have led to the decline. Tackle Henry Melton, the best defensive lineman, has been on injured reserve since Week 3 (knee). Cornerback Charles Tillman, who has forced the most turnovers of any NFL defender the last decade, has been on IR since Week 10 (triceps). Outside linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder) hasn't played since Week 7.

The Bears signed D.J. Williams from Denver to replace retired Brian Urlacher, but he's been on IR since Week 6 (pectoral).

View full sizeThe Bears have missed linebacker Lance Briggs.Associated Press

While the passing defense has held up admirably (10^th), the run defense has been gashed, allowing 1,429 yards in the last seven games -- more than 13 teams have allowed all year.

With Briggs, Chicago allowed 3.9 yards per carry. Without him that number balloons to 6.6. He still hasn't been cleared to return and Trestman said he wasn't optimistic this week.

The lackluster season by the once-dominant Julius Peppers hasn't helped either. Peppers, who had 22.5 sacks the previous two seasons and made a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2012, has 6.5. He has played eight games where he failed to record more than one tackle.

Special teams overview

One of the first moves that Trestman made was switching Devin Hester back to his original role as a return specialist. Hester, the all-time leader with 17 touchdown returns, has one in 2013. The gamebreaker is sixth in kickoff return average (28.1). He has 16 punt returns and is averaging 11.6 yards, including his 81-yard TD.

Kicker Robbie Gould has 24 makes in 27 tries, with a long of 58. He was 3-for-3 in the freezing cold Monday night after being one of the goats in Chicago's overtime loss to Minnesota in Week 13. His one failure in 37 extra point tries was a block by the Steelers in Week 3.

Punter Adam Podlesh is 32^nd in gross average (41.6 yards) and 24^th in net (38.6). 

Prediction

Bears 27, Browns 24