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Cleveland Browns' Tashaun Gipson on facing the Bears' Jay Cutler: "No disrespect to McCown, but Cutler is a different monster''

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The Browns are gearing up to face Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who will return Sunday from a high ankle sprain.

BEREA, Ohio - Now that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has been named the starter for Sunday's game at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Browns are gearing up for him and his high-scoring offense.

"No disrespect to (backup) Josh McCown, but Jay Cutler is a different monster, and we’re definitely going to be prepared for him,'' said Browns safety Tashaun Gipson. "Anytime you’re dealing with who I perceive is one of the more elite quarterbacks in this game -- Cutler, he’s arguably a top-10 quarterback in this game -- I think that amplifies the situation.''

Regardless of who's at quarterback, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson stressed that the Bears -- second in the NFL with 28.3 points per game -- will provide the Browns with their stiffest challenge to date -- and the Browns are coming off a 27-26 loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

"This is probably the best offense we’ve faced this year,'' said Jackson. "Getting Cutler back, he’s going to come in with a ton of confidence, and they’re playing at a high level right now. (Receiver) Alshon Jeffery is having a remarkable year, and Brandon Marshall, he is who he is. 

"It helps to have a two-headed monster on each side of the ball and then a beast behind you, meaning (running back) Matt Forte. Studs everywhere, even the tight end position with Martellus (Bennett), so we've definitely got our work cut out. This is probably the best offense, balance-wise that we’ve faced all year.''

Bears coach Marc Trestman opted for Cutler over the hot-handed McCown, who beat the Cowboys 45-28 on Monday night to earn NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. McCown (3-2) threw four touchdowns and no picks in the game to run his totals to 13 and one, but Trestman planned all along to reinstate Cutler when he recovered from his high ankle sprain.

"This decision was made a long time ago,'' said the former Browns offensive coordinator, "and that was when Jay was ready to play, he would play. And that's how we planned to do it. I look at it like Jay is our quarterback and when he was ready to play, he was going to play. That was the same view I used a month ago. And there's no change today."

Cutler -- 2-0 against the Browns -- returns amid controversy over whether Trestman should've stuck with McCown, who climbed to No. 3 in the NFL with a 109.8 rating.

"There's not a debate in this building,'' said Cutler. "That's where my concern lies. (McCown's) played really well. I'm happy for him.''

While McCown has thrown only one interception this season, Cutler has thrown eight against his 13 TDs, a fact that hasn't been lost on the Browns defensive backs.

"Cutler’s definitely going to put some balls up for us to make chances, so I’m definitely excited that Cutler’s playing,'' said Gipson. "I think we’ve got a great game plan for those guys and this offense, and when the ball’s in the air, we’re just going to be situated and make plays on the ball.''

Last season, Cutler defeated the Arizona Cardinals - and their defense under current Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton - 28-13. But Horton's unit limited Cutler to 146 yards on 12-of-26 passing with one TD and no interceptions for a 76.8 rating. The Bears also scored on a fumble return and an interception return.

“For me, playing him the last couple of years, to me it’s his feet,'' said Horton. "You know how strong his arm is, and he’s a smart quarterback and all that, but when you watch his feet, and the ability to throw off the wrong foot, to get the ball out quickly, I’ve been impressed. Because he’s smart, strong-armed, everybody knows that, but to me, it’s his ability to move in the pocket and to get the ball off, sometimes on the wrong foot.”

In addition to Cutler, the 12th-rated quarterback in the NFL (88.4), the Bears possess the most formidable receiving duo in the NFL: Marshall (1,090 yards) and Jeffery (1,193 yards). The Bears also have the NFL's fourth-leading rusher (1,073) and second-leading receiver among backs (518) in Forte; and one of the league's best tight ends in Bennett.

"This team is a lot like Detroit in that they have weapons at every position,'' said Horton. "Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery have the most catches in the league. I think they have the most combined yards in the league. They’re both, in our mind, No. 1 receivers. Then you put in a Matt Forte coming out of the backfield, the quarterbacks are playing hot, so they present a challenge that you can’t double everybody.

"You can’t roll up (coverage) to one guy, because then the other guy’s open. What we plan to do is kind of what we’ve done. Roll things through. Mix them up. Jam them at the line. Get off the ball. Blitz them. Play some soft zones and make the quarterback, again, try to beat you. Because the wide receivers, the back and the tight end are all pretty good.”

The Browns will try to limit Forte coming out of the backfield after surrendering 12 pass for 153 yards to New England's Shane Vereen last week.

“They’re different-type backs in that Matt Forte is probably the premier screen-catcher in the game, meaning behind the line of scrimmage, and probably the best contact runner in the game, meaning hard to knock him down,'' said Horton. 

"There are different types of backs in the league, whether scatbacks, which Vereen is, vs. Matt Forte being a more balanced all-around runner, hard to get on the ground because he has a low center of gravity. He’s probably a better screen runner, so it presents to us a different challenge. We’re well aware of I think what his specialty is as far as the screen game.”

Added Jackson: "(Forte's) deadly whether he’s catching the ball or running the ball. So we got some things lined up for him that we think we can take advantage of. but at the same time, you can’t stop a guy like that, you can hope to contain him. He’s that good.''

The defensive backs are also prepping for Marshall and Jeffery, who stand 6-4 and 6-3,  respectively.

“I have a great deal of respect for those guys, big guys, physical, can make all the catches, but also I have a great deal of respect for what we can do on the back end,'' said Gipson. "It’s going to be an interesting matchup. Whether it be Joe (Haden) against Marshall or Joe against Jeffery, Buster (Skrine) against Marshall or Jeffery, I think that our guys are going to be able to hold up well.”

Regardless of who's at quarterback, the Browns' defense is seeking redemption from the past two weeks, when it surrendered the game-winning touchdown passes in the final seconds of both games -- one with 40 seconds remaining against the Jaguars and two in the final 61 seconds against the Patriots.

"I know speaking from the defensive side of the ball, we definitely feel like we've got a lot to prove,'' said Jackson. "We felt like we played pretty good for three quarters (against the Patriots) and then that last five minutes of the game it just swung back and forth and we've got to do a better job of when we have a lead, we've got to hold onto it and not give it up.''



Returning for his senior season - Why Ohio State QB Braxton Miller should stay

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Miller could chase a national title and add to his legacy, but mostly he could maybe show more to NFL talent evaluators and avoid what looks like a deep crop of quarterbacks. Watch video

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Should he stay or should he go? Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller made his most expansive remarks to date about his NFL future in an interview with the Chicago Tribune after he was announced as the winner of the paper's Silver Football award as the Big Ten's best player.

“It’s tough; I just don’t know,” Miller told the Tribune. “I’ve really got to sit down and go through the pros and cons. I’ll talk to my parents, take it slow. Hopefully ball out on January 3rd and see what the scouts are looking at.”

You can make a case either way. We made them.

Here are five reasons Miller should leave after his junior season.

Here are five reasons that Miller should stay for his senior season:

• He can improve his skills and help his draft stock: This is the strongest argument for the money part of the decision, which is, you know, kind of important.

Miller has skills that aren't fully developed. Plenty of Buckeyes, in basketball and football, have decided to go pro with decisions that sometimes surprised fans. But often, those players had shown who they were, or had flashed enough potential, so that coming back for another year wasn’t going to much change the minds of scouts and GMs evaluating  them. In fact, they may have only hurt themselves by returning and showing what they couldn't do.

In those cases, no one should ever blame a player for leaving, even if they wound up not going as high as they wanted in the draft. Basketball Buckeye Deshaun Thomas, now playing in Europe after leaving Columbus as a junior and going late in the second round, falls into this category. Miller, in my opinion, isn't that. Everyone knows he can run. He also has a good arm but hasn't shown his full range as a passer. His accuracy and command of the offense could get better with one more year. And that could help him become a first-round pick, which he doesn't seem like at the moment.

Miller also told the Tribune he'd like to be more of pocket passer and take less of a pounding. Troy Smith went from running a lot as a junior to running much less as a senior while establishing himself more as a thrower. Miller could maybe do the same while still flashing his feet when needed.

• There's a deep QB crop this year: Chris Fedor has been showing this all season with his list of the top 10 NFL prospects among college quarterbacks, with Miller never cracking his top 10. There are a lot of guys to choose from this year. Miller could be good but still fall behind 10 to 12 other quarterbacks. The announcement of Oregon QB Marcus Mariota that he is returning to school, and ACL injuries to Georgia's Aaron Murray and LSU's Zack Mettenberger that could affect their draft stock, might be in Miller's favor. But there are still a lot of other guys out there. There may not be as much draft competition next year.

• His OSU legacy: This kind of thing typically gets overblown. There's no reason for a player to care as much about his mark in history when what matters most is the career right in front of him. Negatively affecting your NFL future to enhance what you did in college football is a tough tradeoff to ask any player to make. However, when I asked Miller about it this year, he did talk about his OSU legacy meaning something to him.

"Leave a good legacy and make sure people remember what you did for the university from the football side," he said.

But this reason is down the list compared to the top two.

• His guys: Some players want to go out with the guys they came in with. Devin Smith, Michael Bennett, Curtis Grant, Doran Grant, Joel Hale, Evan Spencer, Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett – Miller has some guys from his recruiting class he's been around for three years. That's why I think it's always a different decision for a redshirt junior than a true junior. For instance, Bradley Roby has been in Columbus four years and many of the guys in his recruiting class will be leaving, and he is leaving as well. Brian Hartline surprised some people with what turned out to be a smart decision to leave after his junior year, but he was a redshirt junior and he was going to be left on a team without the guys he knew best if he stayed. Miller did enroll early in 2011, and Ryan Shazier said this season that he and Miller grew close to the current seniors by arriving for spring football. But Miller will still have plenty of his guys around in 2014.

• A championship: Miller and the Buckeyes didn't get what they wanted out of this year, which was a shot at a national title. Next season, there will be four spots in the playoffs. It may be a tougher road for Ohio State to get there, with the players they know they will lose, but Miller might want to go down that road. Of course, after experiencing his first defeat in two years, he also might have gotten a taste of losing, know that 2014 might be more of a challenge and decide it's time to go.

Leaving for the NFL - Why Ohio State QB Braxton Miller should go

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Miller would know there's always an injury risk to a return to college, and he would be coming back behind an inexperienced offensive line. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Should he go or should he stay? Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller made his most expansive remarks to date about his NFL future in an interview with the Chicago Tribune after he was announced as the winner of the paper's Silver Football award as the Big Ten's best player.

“It’s tough; I just don’t know,” Miller told the Tribune. “I’ve really got to sit down and go through the pros and cons. I’ll talk to my parents, take it slow. Hopefully ball out on January 3rd and see what the scouts are looking at.”

You can make a case either way. We made them.

Here are five reasons that Miller stay should stay for his senior season.

And here are five reasons that Miller should leave after his junior season.

The injury risk: Career-changing injuries are what should concern star college players the most. Greg Oden got hurt right away when he got to the NBA. But he had already been the top pick in the NBA Draft. Imagine if he'd stayed in Columbus and been hurt as a sophomore. He'd have been in much worse shape.

Miller has gone down a few times as a Buckeye, and he also suffered a serious injury in high school. But the knee injury this year may have affected him the most. A sprained MCL isn't all that far from a torn ACL. Miller told the Chicago Tribune that he is tired of taking hits, and clearly that injury will linger in his mind. It's a reasonable concern for any quarterback, and Miller puts himself on the line a lot.

An inexperienced offensive line: Lots of coaches will tell you that the biggest injury danger for a quarterback is in the pocket, not on the run. Taking a shot on the knee from a pass rusher who got through the line is a problem. The Buckeyes are losing four starting offensive linemen from this team. Miller will almost certainly have less time to throw next season, which could increase the injury risk but also make it more difficult to show off his skills. If he's trying to evade sacks all the time, showing what he can do as a passer may be more difficult.

Miller has a son: He's far from the only college player to potentially factor this into a decision. Miller's father, Kevin, told the Chicago Tribune that having a son hasn't created a hardship situation, and wouldn't factor into Miller's decision. Many players' main goal in football is to support their family, and that can be a little different when family isn't just your parents and siblings, but a child as well.

Starting the clock: Agents will tell players getting out and starting your professional clock, and getting closer to free agency and just starting to earn money in general, is always the smart move. A body may only have so many years of football in it. Four years in college instead of three might mean, for instance, 10 years in the NFL instead of 11. And that's one less season of making money.

• The plan: Major high school recruits are often on a three-year plan in their heads when they hit college. Miller was the No. 1 quarterback in his recruiting class and the No. 34 overall player in the nation according to Rivals.com in the Class of 2011. If leaving after his junior season has been on a player's mind since he was in high school, it can be difficult to adjust to changing that plan.

Coming back for a fourth season, if your heart and head aren't all the way in it, can be a bad thing for the player and even the team. Bradley Roby seemed to get off to a slow start this season after thinking about the NFL and choosing to return. If Miller isn't 100 percent comfortable with a return, maybe there really is no choice.

Mount Union's Vince Kehres and Kevin Burke fueling the winning tradition: Terry Pluto

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In his first season as head coach, Vince Kehres has Mount Union in the Final Four of the Division III playoffs.

ALLIANCE, Ohio -- I sat in the office of Vince Kehres, the Mount Union football coach.

"Did you talk to your defensive coordinator about that last game?" I asked. Kehres laughed.

"I really need to do that," he said.

Vince Kehres is in his first season as the head coach of the Purple Raiders. For the previous eight years, he was the defensive coordinator for his father -- Larry Kehres. Now, Vince Kehres is doing both as Mount Union hosts North Central College on Saturday at noon.

Division III has a real championship playoff system, and Mount Union is in the Final Four -- again. This is the 19th year in a row that Mount Union has appeared in the Final Four. That's 19 years in a row where you need to win three playoff games to make the Final Four -- and five playoff victories to win a national title.

No shortcuts at this non-scholarship football level. No BCS to pick the elite teams for the top bowls. You win it on the field. The Purple Raiders are aiming for their 12th national title. But it will be the first for Vince Kehres as head coach.

Last week, Mount had a 38-7 lead over Wesley early in the second quarter. It was 48-34 at the half.

It was 62-59 after yet another Wesley touchdown.

"I didn't think we'd lose," said Kehres. "But I also didn't think that clock would ever get to zero."

KEHRES.JPGLarry Kehres coached more years (27) than he had losses (24) at Mount Union.

Leave it to Burke

It helps to have Kevin Burke at quarterback, as the St. Edward product threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more last week.

"In the huddle, Kevin kept telling us not to worry, we're going to do whatever it takes to win this game," said Michael Frank, a sophomore guard from Eastlake North.

In the fourth quarter, a Wesley player was ejected for decking Burke on a late hit. The 5-foot-11 junior then heaved a 41-yard touchdown pass to Sherman Wilkinson on the next play.

Burke draws praise from his teammates -- especially his linemen -- because he sometimes throws blocks. He has run for 904 yards (a school record for a quarterback).

No stand-in-the-pocket diva, Burke is as gritty as he is good.

"I think he's establishing himself as one of the best (quarterbacks) to ever play here," said Vince Kehres. "We've had some quarterbacks who could really run and some who could really throw. He is as good a combination of both as you'll find."

Burke is having a sensational season, one of four finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy -- the Heisman for Division III. As a starter, Burke is 29-0. Last year, he helped the Purple Raiders end a three-game losing streak in the Stagg Bowl -- giving Larry Kehres his 11th national title in his final game as coach.

"We respect (Vince) a lot and we trust him, just like we did Coach (Larry) Kehres," said Burke.

Burke talked about the players knowing there is pressure on Vince Kehres (called "V.K." by most players), and they want to deliver a title for the son.

"Kevin and I have talked how we're in the same boat," said Kehres. "We get too much credit when we win, and maybe get too much the other way when we don't play well."

The son's turn

Meanwhile, the head coach was talking to his defensive coordinator -- still digesting those 59 points by Wesley.

Mount Union allowed only 51 points in its first seven games this season. Even after Wesley's explosion, Mount's defense is still ranked No. 2 in Division III. One of the lessons Kehres did learn from his father is that in the playoffs the key is winning. Keep advancing. Keep preparing. Don't coach looking in the rear-view mirror of a crazy game like Wesley.

Larry Kehres is the school's athletic director. He handed the coaching job off to Vince at the same age (37) as when Larry took over. There were no cries of nepotism. Vince Kehres had been an assistant for 13 years, defensive coordinator for eight years. He had been offered two head coaching jobs at the Division III level, and more were destined to come his way.

When Kehres decided to give up football at the age of 63, it was natural for Vince to be the replacement.

"V.K. has done a good job of being his own person," said Matt Fechko, the senior defensive captain from Twinsburg. "He can't look at his dad's records -- or he'll get all stressed out. How can you match that?"

In addition to the 11 national titles, perhaps the most incomprehensible stat is this: Larry was the head coach for more years (27) than he had losses (24). He comes to a few practices each week. Vince had hoped to put him on the headphones in the press box, but Larry refused.

"He has taken some of the young kids on the J.V. (Junior Varsity) team and worked with them during practice," said Vince. "He hasn't been as involved as I'd like."

Larry does watch many of the games from the end of the sidelines, near the end zone.

"He does a lot of pacing," said Vince.

Larry Kehres specialized on offense and left the defense to the coordinator. Vince takes the opposite approach. He works with the defense, leaving the offense to coordinator Geoff Dartt and his staff.

"I'm not going to tell those guys what plays to call," he said. "We talk about a lot of things in general (on offense), but I also leave a lot to them."

And Burke is also given freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage.

"Kevin has saved him from some real disasters," said Vince Kehres. "He has a great feel for the game."

What really matters

Vince Kehres still has the same small office that he's had for years, in the middle of a small row of offices connected to the school's weight room.

It is a very nice weight room. But this is Division III football. It's where the team's defensive captain -- Twinsburg's Matt Fechko -- is looking forward to an internship with the Portage County Sheriff's department after he graduates this spring. He wants to eventually become a U.S. Marshall.

Yes, Mount Union has Pierre Garcon (Washington) and Cecil Shorts III (Jacksonville) in the NFL as starting receivers. Kyle Miller and Jasper Collins are on the Miami Dolphins practice squad. But this is non-scholarship football. For nearly all of these players, the peak of their football careers is right now -- the journey to the Stagg Bowl and the Division III national title.

Mount opponents will say the roster is always loaded, but the fact is that Burke was the only returning starter on offense. But like so many other Mount teams, players seem to come out of nowhere when needed.

The leading receiver is Jack Nicholls (71 catches). The senior from Galion waited three years to start.

The top rusher is B.J. Mitchell. He opened the season on the junior varsity team and didn't start until the sixth game. He has 1,226 yards -- the most ever by a Mount Union freshman running back.

On defense, St. Edward product Tom Lally leads the team with 10 sacks. Kenston's Alex Kocheff is the top tackler. Tre Jones (Twinsburg) plays one cornerback, Isaiah Chambers (Bedford Chanel) is the other cornerback. Fechko (Twinsburg) has played on both lines this season -- 107 total snaps in one game.

"This time of year is why you come to Mount Union," said Burke. "You come here because you are expected to play for a national title. You come here because it's all about winning. And you know the same coaches are going to stay here. I love it. This is big time football at a small school."

Cleveland Cavaliers defense at home much better than on the road

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The Cavaliers defense on the road has been terrible compared to their play on that end of the floor at home.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavaliers coach Mike Brown gave his players a little pop quiz during practice on Wednesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts in preparation for Friday's game at Orlando and Saturday at Miami.

He wrote the following team rankings in two columns on a white board.

DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY -- .962 (5th) 1.059 (26th) (based on points per 100 possessions).

OPP FG% -- .421 (4th) .472 (25th)

OPP 3FG% -- .307 (2nd) .406 (27th)

Then he asked his players what the difference was between the columns. One player suggested it was the difference from last year to this year.

But all the statistics and rankings are from this year. After a couple of minutes, Brown wrote HOME over the first column and AWAY over the second. There's the answer in black and white to the question of why the Cavs are 7-3 at home, 1-10 on the road.

"I told our guys, ‘I don’t know what we’re doing on the road, but we’ve got to change it -- before we go to the gym, the night before -- but this is as black and white as it can be,''' Brown said. "What that means to me is mental toughness, physical toughness, grittiness, focus. And the willingness to understand that we may not make shots tonight, but we’re going to keep pushing the pace to get the easy buckets. We’re going to keep trying to spread the floor. We’re going to keep trying to share the basketball. We’re going to keep trying to do all the things we know how to do offensively. Even though it may not work as well.

"But for sure I’m bringing my hard hat on the defensive end of the floor, and I’m bringing some grittiness because it’s hard as heck to win on the road. If we can ever get to that point where we’re understanding that, then we have a more than better chance to have success.''

Getting off to a better start will help, as the Cavs never recovered from horrible starts in their last three road games at San Antonio, Boston and Atlanta.

"We need to play with more intensity and we need to understand shots aren’t always going to go in, and we’ve got to accept it, which is hard for a young team,'' Brown said. "We’ve got to accept that’s the reality of playing on the road in this business, and we really have to hang our hat on our identity, which is on the defensive end of the floor. … We have to know we’ve got to get stops because the shot’s not always going to go in, and the more stops you get, the more you’re going to take the crowd out of the game.

"The reality of it is, good crowds, or even halfway decent crowds that make a little bit of noise can give anybody that extra energy they need to get over the hump.''

Irving second in All-Star voting: Point guard Kyrie Irving is No. 2 behind Miami's Dwyane Wade in the first returns for the Eastern Conference All-Star voting released Thursday by the NBA. Wade has 396,279 votes, while Irving has 365,712.

Miami's LeBron James is the leading vote getter with 609,336. The other top frontcourt players in the East are Indiana's Paul George (489,335) and New York’s Carmelo Anthony (424,211).

The top five players in the West are Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (607,407), Houston's Dwight Howard (295,120), the Clippers’ Blake Griffin (292,925), the Lakers' Kobe Bryant (501,215) and the Clippers’ Chris Paul (393,313).

Fans can vote in arenas, on nba.com/asb and on Facebook, Twiter and Instagram. Fans can also access the ballot and vote through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint applications, available on Android and iOS. Voting concludes on Jan. 20, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 23.

The All-Star Game will be played in New Orleans Arena on Feb. 16.

Trio recalled: Carrick Felix, Sergey Karasev and Henry Sims have been recalled from the Cavs D-League team in Canton. Karasev and Sims will accompany the team to Orlando and Miami, but Felix has a sore left knee and remained in Cleveland for treatment and additional examination.

Want to see Cavs on NBA TV? Fans can vote to see the Cavs home game against Portland next Tuesday on NBA.TV by visiting NBA.com, the NBA Facebook page, NBA TV’s Facebook page, Yahoo.com, NBA.com mobile web, mobile NBA Game Time App, the NBA Game Time from Sprint App and Twitter. The other games in the running are Sacramento at Charlotte and Oklahoma City at Denver.

Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic

Time: 7 p.m. Friday at the Amway Center.

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

Notable: Cavs are 1-10 on the road and have lost last four away from home. … Orlando is 5-5 at home. … Magic have won 10 of the last 13 matchups with Cleveland and 16 of the last 22 in Orlando.

Lake Erie Monsters face Rochester Americans outdoors Friday night

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It is the sixth outdoor game in the American Hockey League's 78-year history.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Monsters will take their game outdoors Friday night when they face the Rochester Americans at Frontier Field in Rochester, N.Y. It is the sixth outdoor game in the American Hockey League's 78-year history, the first of two this season.

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05. SportsTime Ohio will televise. Frontier Field is home to baseball's Rochester Red Wings.

Cleveland was a charter member of the AHL; the Barons won nine titles between 1936 and 1964. The Monsters debuted in 2007. The Amerks have been AHL members since 1956, winning six Calder Cups. The teams will wear special jerseys inspired by their cities' AHL histories.

Monsters who have played outdoors include: Paul Carey (2010 and 2012 at Boston College), Trevor Cheek (2011 for the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL) and Matt Hunwick (2010 for the Boston Bruins).

The Monsters (12-11-0-1) and Amerks (11-10-2-2) are coming off a game against each other Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. The Amerks won, 4-2.

Craig Randall leads No. 18 Medina boys basketball to a victory against No. 6 Garfield Heights

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GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – It was Craig Randall’s night. The junior guard scored 27 points on the road in the Bees’ 65-58 victory over Garfield Heights on Thursday. “We play like we practice,” Randall said. “Tonight we came out and executed and did what we had to do to get the win.”

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – It was Craig Randall’s night. The junior guard scored 27 points on the road in the Bees’ 65-58 victory over Garfield Heights on Thursday.

“We play like we practice,” Randall said. “Tonight we came out and executed and did what we had to do to get the win.”

After the game, Ohio State associate head coach Dave Dickerson, who was scouting several players from each bench, said he was “pleasantly surprised” with Randall, and told Randall’s coach, Anthony Stacey, to “keep him going and bring him down for a visit” to Ohio State.

“It means the hard work’s paying off,” Randall said when told of Dickerson’s comments. “It’s a good feeling, actually.”

Randall’s three-pointer with 3:21 left in the game gave the Bees a 56-55 lead, and Medina then took off for an eight-point run to solidify the win.

After Randall’s late three-pointer, sophomore forward Jon Teske blocked a Garfield Heights shot, which then led to Brandon Wilkins hitting two free-throws with less than three minutes in the game, making it 58-55.

Junior guard Evan Schreck then went on to score a three-pointer off a pass from Randall.

“He was unbelievable tonight,” Stacey said. “I thought he really stepped up. He led us to a victory.”

Garfield Heights was its own worst enemy Thursday night, giving up 23 free-throws and fouling the Bees 25 times. Twelve of Medina’s 18 points in the first quarter were off of free-throws.

“Any time you foul a team 25 times, you have a slim chance of winning the game,” Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson said. “I’m lucky we were in the game.”

With more than two fouls early in the second quarter, Garfield Heights was left without four starters for the rest of the first half, including Willie Jackson, who averages 22 points per game, and senior Ohio State commit Dave Bell.

Ten colleges were in the gym to watch the Bulldogs and Bees, ranked No. 6 and No. 18 respectively in cleveland.com’s Top 25 poll. The recruiters included Michigan coach John Beilein, Dickerson, representatives from Michigan State, the University of Miami (Fla.), and Notre Dame.

Jackson, who Johnson said was being scouted, scored 18 points for the Bulldogs. Senior Vonte Montgomery added 17 points in the loss.

“Talk about one heck of a high school basketball game — two really good teams,” Stacey said. “I was really proud of our guys."

Johnson offered the same acknowledgement to his own team.

“If you’re going to get us, get us early,” Johnson said. “I think I have a special group of kids. We have a chance to be pretty special.”

After the win, Medina is now 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley division, while Garfield Heights is now 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley division.

Is rebuilt Trevor Bauer ready to help Cleveland Indians pitching staff?

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GM Chris Antonetti left the winter meetings Thursday saying he's still trying to improve the pitching staff with a starter or reliever.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- GM Chris Antonetti left the winter meetings Thursday saying he was closer to getting the pitching help that the Indians need, but what if some of it is already in his organization's possession?

It’s clear the Indians need a closer to replace Chris Perez. It’s even clearer that manager Terry Francona feels that the closer has to come from outside the organization because he doesn’t want to take Cody Allen or Bryan Shaw out of their set-up roles.

There are free agent closers all over the market including Fernando Rodney, Joaquin Benoit, Grand Balfour, Jose Veras, John Axford and Kevin Gregg. Cash-strapped or not, the Indians should be able to sign one of them.

Add a closer to the current group of relievers and the Indians should have enough arms to make up for the free agent loss of Joe Smith and the potential free agent losses of Matt Albers and Rich Hill. The Indians are excited about the possibility of having sidearmer C.C. Lee for a full season, while Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin give them experienced depth because they can start and relieve.

But when you think about what made the Indians such a good story last season, it had to be starting pitching. The Indians have lost Scott Kazmir from that group. They’ve kept their porch light on for Ubaldo Jimenez, their other free agent starter, but it he finds his way back to Cleveland it will most likely be in an opposing uniform.

Stripped of Kazmir and Jimenez, the rotation looks like this: Justin Masterson, Danny Salazar, Corey Kluber and Zach McAllister. The fifth spot, for now, will be decided among Carrasco, Tomlin and Trevor Bauer.

Yes, Trevor Bauer, who spent all last season trying to rebuild his delivery at Class AAA Columbus. What if Bauer is able to replace a big chunk of the innings consumed by Kazmir and Jimenez last year?

Anyone who saw him pitch last season would say that’s a stretch. Not only was Bauer his usual eccentric self, but he couldn’t throw strikes. He walked 16 in 17 innings with the Indians and 73 in 121 1/3 innings at Columbus.

This off-season, however, the reports have been more than encouraging about Bauer’s work at the Texas Baseball Ranch in Montgomery, Tex. The Indians have sent minor-league pitching coaches and front office people to watch Bauer work. He’s sent regular video packages to the Indians of the changes that he’s made in his delivery.

Said one long-time Bauer associate, “This is how he looked when he came out of UCLA.”

The Arizona Diamondbacks made Bauer the third pick in the country in 2011. Eighteen months later he was sent packing to the Indians, which does not happen with a prized prospect unless something has gone wrong.

“I saw some video of him the other day and he was good,” said manager Terry Francona. “He’s making key adjustments. It’s exciting. Hopefully, we’ll see some results in spring training, but it’s exciting.

“He’s kind of revved up to come to camp to show who he is and what he’s about. You’re talking about a 23-year-old kid ... that would be great for us.”

At the end of last season the Indians and Bauer agreed on what his delivery should look like. Some may find that surprising because of the apparent communication breakdown that took place between Bauer and the Diamondbacks, but Antonetti said that hasn’t been his experience.

“We’ve always had good dialogue with Trevor,” said Antonetti. “It’s one thing to know what you want to do. It’s another to accomplish it.

“Trevor got to a level pitching one way and was very successful doing it. He undertook considerable adjustments in his delivery which he initiated last off-season. Maybe we and he, if anything, underestimated the magnitude of those adjustments and how long it would take for him to feel comfortable executing that delivery.”

Antonetti said the changes in Bauer’s delivery have been subtle.

“He thought he’d be more efficient with his delivery and allow himself to pitch longer and healthier,” said Antonetti. “He had some lower body issues with Arizona. He thought he would be more efficient this way.”

Where Bauer is concerned, considering the exposure he’s received for his unique training methods and career as a rapper, subtle is good. Except on the mound where the Indians need him to make a statement.

Rule 5 update: The Indians didn’t select or lose anyone in the Thursday’s Rule 5 draft.



Former All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar wants details on ban of collisions at plate

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Former All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar wants to hear the specifics on how MLB plans to ban collisions at the plate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sandy Alomar still remembers the message manager John McNamara gave him before his rookie season in 1990.

“McNamara told me two things – I want you to play hard and if you see Bo Jackson coming around third, get the heck out of the way,” said Alomar.

Alomar played 20 years in the big leagues and went to six All-Star games as a catcher. He never suffered a concussion from a collision at the plate, but the rest of his body is battered because of them. Still, Alomar has questions about MLB’s proposal to ban such collisions, starting in 2014 if the owners and players association give their approval.

“A play at the plate is the most exciting play in the game,” said Alomar, Indians first base coach and catching instructor. “It’s part of a catcher’s pride. If he’s not doing well offensively, he can still help his team by stopping a run from scoring.”

Wednesday at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Mets GM Sandy Alderson, a member of the rules committee, said managers and general managers voted that collisions at the plate should be banned because of the injuries to catchers and baserunners and the growing concern about concussions on all level of sports.

“The exact language and how exactly the rule will be enforced is subject to final determination,” said Alderson.

This much is known, catchers will not be allowed to block the plate and runners cannot seek out catchers with shoulder-first dives. Alderson said catchers and baserunners will be subject to penalties for infractions.

Managers who approved the proposed rule include former catchers Mike Scioscia, Bruce Bochy and Mike Matheny. Scioscia earned his reputation as a player for fearlessly blocking the plate. Bochy lost All-Star catcher Buster Posey for much of the 2011 to a broken ankle suffered in an ugly collision with Miami’s Scott Cousins. Matheny had his career cut shot by concussions.

The groundswell for such a rule started with Posey’s injury.

Indians manager Terry Francona was one of the few dissenting voices to the proposal.

“I might be a little bit in the minority,” said Francona. “I think there is liable to be more injuries with baserunners than maybe we realize . . . I guess I feel like if you don't want your catcher not to block the plate, just tell him not to block the plate. “

Alomar said how a catcher defends the plate is dictate by what kind of throw he gets.

“If you go high to catch a high bounce, you can expect contact,” said Alomar. “A catcher’s glove isn’t made to field a short hop, but if you go low to lengthen out the hop, that’s when a lot of guys get hit. That’s what happened to Posey.

“And what if the throw takes you up the third baseline and into the runner? Are you just supposed to let the ball go?”

Alomar would welcome protection for a catcher who gets blinded sided by a baserunner when he’s awaiting a throw from right field with his back turned toward the plate. In that regard, and in so many others, Alomar is anxious to hear the specifics of the proposal so he knows how to coach the Tribe’s catchers.

There’s one other thing Alomar is waiting to see.

The 90-feet from the plate to first base and from third to the plate are baseball’s drag strips. They are the only bases that allow a runner to run through them after the tag without fear of being tagged out. It creates speed, momentum and contact.

“It’s a two-way street when a runner is coming home,” said Alomar. “If you drive in the wrong lane, you get smoked. And if you leave the garage door (home plate) open, some kid is going to come in and steal your bike.”

How MLB keeps runners and catchers in their own lanes, while giving the catcher a chance to protect the plate, could be one of the biggest stories of next season.


Cavaliers at Magic: Get updates and post your comments

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The suddenly hot Cleveland Cavaliers look to keep it going as they take on the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center tonight. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Orlando, Florida -- The suddenly hot Cleveland Cavaliers look to keep it going as they take on the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center tonight. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Cavs have won 4 of 5 games, but are just 1-10 on the road. The Magic are coming off a win over Charlotte on Wednesday after losing 5 straight.

Get updates from Mary Schmitt Boyer in Orlando @PDCavsInsider and post your comments during the game below.

Game box score

Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving thrilled to be ranked 2nd in first returns of All-Star backcourt voting

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Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving would love to be voted into the starting lineup of the All-Star Game, but he's not going to worry about it. His focus is on the Cavs.

ORLANDO, Florida -- Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving was cautiously optimistic about his chances of becoming an All-Star starter for the first time.

Irving, who made the team last season as a reserve, was second to Miami's Dwyane Wade in backcourt voting as the first results were released on Thursday. The top two vote-getters in the backcourt will start.

"It’d mean a lot if it happens,'' Irving said before Friday's game against the Magic at Amway Center. "It’s a credit to a lot of hard work this summer coming into the season, but until they name the starters, I’ll continue to work for my teammates.''

Irving's numbers are down from last season but it would appear his popular Uncle Drew character in PepsiMAX videos has broadened his audience.

"I think it’s attributed to it, but this is my job out here,'' Irving said. "Uncle Drew wasn’t anything that was part of my job, I just kind of did it on my own -- just part of my branding team working hard. You have to perform on the court.''

Irving doesn't think non-basketball fans are a factor in the voting.

"I think they would’ve heard about my name regardless of Uncle Drew or not,'' Irving said. "Pretty sure about that.''

Irving was asked if starting in the All-Star Game was on his bucket list.

"I feel like all that stuff comes with teams that win the most and point guards that are on that team,'' he said. "Couple years ago you saw Mo Williams on the team and they won a lot of games. That attributes to the popularity. Winning is a big thing.''

Cavs coach Mike Brown is happy for Irving.

"It's great,'' he said. "He's a developing superstar. It's part of his growth process to be able to experience stuff like that. The thing about it is, and I talked to him about it, it's great to be an All-Star. It's better to be an All-Star if you can really help your team continue to grow and propel into a winning organization and I think that's the direction that he's headed.''

Man of the night: The Magic saluted Cavs forward Earl Clark with a video tribute as part of the organization's 25th anniversary. Clark played 78 games with the Magic from 2010 to 2012.

What did he remember most about Orlando?

"The weather was great,'' he said. "The fans were cool. They supported us a lot. It was a packed house every night. Obviously it's a different team right now. In the community they always showed a lot of love and positive energy. I had fun. I had a lot of vets. Being a young kid, coming not too far from college [Louisville] guys like Q Rich [Quentin Richardson], and Jameer [Nelson] and Dwight [Howard], they helped me out a big bunch with staying the course and not just hanging my head, worrying about not playing. It came around for me, so they were right.

"It was a close team. It was the first team I was on where I felt like the chemistry was there on and off the court. We went to each other's houses, ate dinner. We always went out on the road together. When you're on teams like that, winning and losing matters, but you know you're going out there fighting with your brothers and it's a lot of fun.''

The 25-year-old Clark was asked the last time he was in a tribute video?

"Oh, man,'' he said, laughing. "Probably in college. I'm still kind of young.''

Trade talk: Rumors are swirling about the Cavs trading Anderson Varejao for Omer Asik, but two NBA sources said that the Cavs are not interested in the Houston big man.

Cavaliers at Miami

Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

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

Notable: Second night of back-to-back for Cavs. … Cleveland has lost eight straight to the Heat, including six straight in Miami. … The Heat beat the Cavs, 95-84, on Nov. 27 at The Q. ... Miami is 16-6 overall, 9-2 at home.

No. 11 East Tech boys basketball grinds out win over No. 16 John Hay

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — East Tech fought off a determined John Hay team to stay undefeated on Friday, winning 64-52 on Friday in Senate Athletic League play. Kyauta "KT" Taylor led all scorers with 23 points, and Anthony Carmon added 14 for the Scarabs, ranked 11th in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — East Tech fought off a determined John Hay team to stay undefeated on Friday, winning 64-52 on Friday in Senate Athletic League play.

Kyauta "KT" Taylor led all scorers with 23 points, and Anthony Carmon added 14 for the Scarabs, ranked 11th in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll.

Cristen Wilson had another double-double for the Hornets, ranked 16th in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll, scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 points.

East Tech's defense forced 26 John Hay turnovers, but also committed 18.

The Scarabs improved to 4-0 and already have wins over three teams ranked in the Top 25.

This story will be updated later with detail and reaction.

If he can't have the playoffs, Cleveland Browns' Jordan Cameron will still aim for the Pro Bowl

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Browns tight end Jordan Cameron is the second-leading tight end in the NFL with 72 catches and 825 yards. His seven TDs are tight for fourth.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns tight end Jordan Cameron hoped to lead the Browns to the playoffs this year, but he'll settle for a Pro Bowl at the end of his breakout season.

"That's what I strive for,'' he said. "That's my goal this season. You want to be the best in the league at your position (but) you can't worry about that stuff right now. It's one of those things that's really out of my control. I've just got to come out and play the best I can every week and let the chips fall where they may.''

Cameron registered a career-high 121 receiving yards at New England, marking his second career 100-yard game. He added his seventh touchdown to take sole possession of second place for most TDs by a tight end in Browns history. He's currently second in the NFL only to New Orleans' Jimmy Graham with 72 catches and 825 yards. He'd tied for fourth among tight ends with his seven TDs.

Against the Patriots, he not only caught a 4-yard TD pass with 2:39 left to widen the Browns' lead to 26-14, he caught two more clutch passes on their final drive -- of 18 and 13 yards -- to set up Billy Cundiff's 58-yard field goal attempt, which fell short.

"That's what I really want to do,'' said Cameron. "That's my whole goal. My main focus is to be accountable when the team needs somebody, they can rely on me. The buzzwords are accountability and being reliable and those are the things I really wanted to focus on this year. So far I feel like I've shown up for my team and I've just got to continue to do so.''

Cameron hopes he's opened things up for Josh Gordon, who set the NFL record with 774 yards in the past four games.

"I think he opens up even more stuff for me,'' said Gordon. "He's obviously a freak of nature the way he's been playing, so they've got pay attention to him. Hopefully we can feed off each other and whatever they looks they give him it opens me up or vice versa. So it's just one of those things, it's a privilege to play with a player like that.  You don't get to see that all the time, what he's been doing.''

Cameron plans to give the home fans something to cheer about in the home finale against the Bears Sunday.

"We kind of want to end on a positive note and it's huge for a young team to end strong and really get it going and for the fans especially, it's really important not to leave a bitter taste in their mouth,'' he said. "This is the last time we're going to put a show on for them this year and hopefully we can come out with a lot of energy and feed off their energy.''

Weeden No. 2: Brandon Weeden has been cleared from his concussion to play against the Bears, and will serve as the backup to Jason Campbell.

Weeden (0-5) this season sat out last week's game against the Patriots after suffering the concussion against the Jaguars. He reported concussion symptoms after the game, but doesn't know exactly when he suffered it.

With Weeden being benched three times this season, Sunday's game could mark his last at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Against the Jaguars, Weeden overcame a second-quarter turnoverfest and put the Browns up 28-25 with 3:55 remaining on a 95-yard TD pass to Josh Gordon but they lost 32-28 after giving up a 20-yard TD pass to Cecil Shorts with 40 seconds remaining.

In other injury news, running back Willis McGahee (concussion) and starting left guard John Greco have been ruled out.

Pinkston back: With Greco out, Pinkston is back in the starting lineup for the first time since suffering a life-threatening blood clot in his lung last October.

He'll replace Greco on the left side and Shawn Lauvao will start on the right. Last week, Pinkston started alternating with Lauvao until Greco went down with the knee injury.

After recovering from the blood clot, he suffered a high ankle sprain in August that landed him on short-term injured reserve and kept him sidelined until last week.

"It's pretty exciting,'' said Pinkston. "This is my first time in a long time doing this. Coming back at home and playing will be cool.''

Pinkston headed into last week's game knowing he'd rotate with Lauvao at right guard.

"I was just excited to play,'' he said. "It’s been over a year, so it was fun …."I thought I did pretty good in the pass game. In the run game I really didn’t help myself too much or the team. That’s just from being out and not really doing it as much. I’ve been working on it this week, so should be better.''

Pinkston said it's still emotional for him to be back after all he's been through.

"It is, just because I haven’t played in so long,'' he said. "It’s been so long, especially anything you love, you get a chance of losing it, it’s emotional when you get back.''

Coach Rob Chudzinski is thrilled to have Pinkston back.

“It’s been a long road, a tough road for him,'' said Chudzinski. "I’ve really been impressed with his attitude, how he’s worked, the weight room, all the extra things, the rehab; he was in there non-stop. Just in the game, you could see him excited about playing again, so I feel good for him. He did a good job last week and he’s had a good week of practice.”

No fine for Poyer: The NFL fine didn't fine safety Jordan Poyer for his unnecessary roughness penalty against Patriots receiver Julian Edelman after his 2-yard TD in the end zone, meaning it didn't think Poyer hit Edelman in the head. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton also said Thursday that he felt Poyer did exactly what he's been coached to do in that situation

“We teach, you can’t hit them in the head, you can’t launch,'' said Horton.

Poyer's penalty enabled the Patriots to kick off from the 50 instead of the 35, and they recovered the onside kick. Then the refs gifted them with a 29-yard pass interference call against Leon McFadden that was universally regarded as a bad call -- except by the Patriots.

"There were 45, 44 yards in penalties on two plays within I think 30 seconds,'' said Horton. "That’s a lot of yardage in penalties for a team that has a pretty good quarterback.”


ESPN says "creative liberties" taken with "Youngstown Boys," promises changes will be made before Saturday broadcast

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The Toledo Blade received a response from ESPN after a story detailed multiple errors, including a change in a score graphic that made it appear that Maurice Clarett scored the winning touchdown against Michigan in 2002.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Plenty of people noticed some inconsistencies in the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Youngstown Boys,' which was screened in Columbus for an audience that included Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett on Thursday night.

On Friday, ESPN noticed as well.

We wrote Friday morning of one glaring error that used a soundbite when Tressel was talking about Terrelle Pryor in 2008 and made it appear as if he were speaking about Clarett in 2002. Tom Reed, in his review posted Friday, thought the tone of the film didn't reflect every reality of Clarett and Youngstown. Ohio State writer David Briggs of the Toledo Blade noticed other errors that prompted a response from ESPN.

Briggs pointed them out in a story Friday, including the ABC score graphic being changed to make it appear as if Clarett scored the game-winning touchdown against Michigan in 2002, when it was Maurice Hall who scored the game-winner, while Clarett scored Ohio State's first touchdown.

In a response released to The Blade on Friday night, ESPN said that "30 for 30" is a "filmmaker-driven series," before promising that changes would be made.

"Some creative liberties were taken by the storytellers that ESPN Films did not feel were appropriate and we’ve been adjusting Youngstown Boys accordingly prior to its television premiere.”

I spoke with co-director Mike Zimbalist for a one-one-one phone interview Monday morning and  mentioned some of the inconsistencies. At that time, he said reporters had been sent an early copy that did not reflect the final film. But the same errors were in place Thursday at the screening, two days before the film TV debut at 9.pm. Saturday after the Heisman Trophy presentation.

After the screening Thursday, I spoke with Zimbalist specifically about the quote about Pryor being used. At the time, I felt it was the most important error, not having noticed the score change pointed out by Briggs. Zimbalist said that error had been brought to his attention, and that changes were being made before the Saturday broadcast.

While some re-enactments are used, and some things like crowd shots may not match exactly, he said those are acceptable parts of documentary filmmaking. But he said using a quote out of context like that should not have been done, and he felt it needed to be corrected. I did not specifically ask him about the score change at that point.

Now multiple changes are being made, according to ESPN. What is shown Saturday won't be exactly the same thing Tressel and Clarett saw on Thursday night.





Even as Josh Gordon soars, Cleveland Browns must diversify their pass game in the future

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The Browns have the league's biggest yardage disparity between their top two receivers. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – Browns receiver Josh Gordon doesn’t know how hard Brandon Marshall has had to work to get open, but he probably will soon.

The second-year player has emerged as the NFL’s leading receiver without attracting many double teams.

Marshall, the All-Pro receiver who comes to town Sunday with the Chicago Bears, likely would tell Gordon to enjoy it while it lasts. In the past few seasons, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound Marshall has looked like a man swimming through seaweed as he negotiated coverages designed to slow him.

His burden has been lightened with Alshon Jeffrey starting to post big numbers and forcing defenses to broaden their focus.

“From a personal standpoint, it makes my job easier,” Marshall said during a conference call Wednesday. “It’s going to extend my career. Any time you have a guy who’s going to take pressure off you on the other side and helps lead the way it’s special. It definitely helps me out because teams can’t double me and triple me the way they used.”

Sunday’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium pits a pair of top-10 passing offenses whose distribution of yards and receptions could not be more contrasting.

The Bears boast a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Marshall and Jeffrey to go along with tight end Martellus Bennett (588 yards) and running back Matt Forte (518 yards). The Browns, meanwhile, rely heavily on Gordon, who has a league-leading 1,400 yards on 71 receptions with help from tight end Jordan Cameron (825 yards).

No NFL team has a greater yardage disparity between their Nos. 1 and 2 wide receivers than the Browns. Greg Little is second on the club with 384 yards. Only the New York Jets have a No. 2 receiver with fewer yards than Little.

People inside and outside the organization know that gap must be filled heading into next season. While finding a franchise quarterback has been on the Browns’ to-do list since 1999, locating another top-flight receiver to complement Gordon could become a priority in the draft. They have two first-round picks available in May and the talent pool at receiver is expected to be deep.

Coach Rob Chudzinski was asked Friday about the need for balance in the passing game.

“It’s real important and as people look to us and look at what we’re doing and pointing more and more to Josh or to Jordan than you have other guys able to step up,” Chudzinski said. “Whether that’s in the run game or whether that’s in the pass game and it being other guys, they’re going to get opportunities.

“It happens a lot of times in cycles where guys get more opportunities in one game or another, and them responding and our ability to move the ball in different ways with different guys is the key to ultimately succeeding on offense.”

 

Gordon has amassed more than half his yards – 774 to go along with five touchdowns -- in the last four games. During the record-breaking span, some have wondered why opponents have not doubled him. New England covered him with the physical Aqib Talib, who surrendered seven catches for 151 yards including an 80-yard touchdown.

One former league executive speaking on conditions of anonymity said opponents will make the 6-3, 225-pound Gordon a greater emphasis.

“They’re going to start putting a safety over the top and shade him,” he said. “I think it’s going to change. Gordon’s production merits it.

“I love his size and his build-up speed is really good.”

Gordon has been as noticeable as his fellow receivers Little and Davone Bess have been invisible. In the Browns’ 27-26 loss in New England, a game in which Jason Campbell threw for 391 yards, the duo combined for three catches and 24 yards.

“Bess has been really surprising,” the former executive said of a receiver who leads the NFL with 13 drops, according to ProFootballFocus.com. “He’s been very reliable in the past.

“I’m not surprised at all with Little. He was inconsistent in college and he’s not been reliable as a pro. He can make a good play and then drop a ball.”

Gordon’s remarkable four-game run has coincided with the Browns’ season-long losing streak. The tandem of Bess and Little has averaged 4.2 catches and 30 yards in that stretch.

In their last win, a 24-18 victory over Baltimore, Little contributed seven catches for 122 yards and Bess chipped in three receptions for 24 yards, including a pair touchdowns and fourth-down conversions.

“That’s our goal every week to help the team win,” Bess said. “Would we like to make more plays? Of course, who wouldn’t? But at the same time you have to play within the system.”

Cameron had an electric start to the season, but had cooled considerably until a nine-catch, 121-yard effort against the Patriots. His fourth-quarter TD was his first in six games.

If the Browns can get consistent efforts from the 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end, the former executive said they’re one receiver away from resembling Sunday’s opponent. The Bears enter action ranked seventh overall offensively a year after finishing 28th.

“It will make a big difference if they can’t get that third guy,” he said of the Browns. “Look what’s going on in Chicago. Having that third guy really makes that a dangerous offense.”

The Detroit Lions have a similar yardage disparity between their top two receivers, but the dual threat of running back Reggie Bush helps make up the difference. Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano believes the next Browns feature back needs to be a pass-catching threat.

“In 1980, we had five guys with at least 50 receptions and two of them (Mike and Greg Pruitt) were running backs,” Rutigliano said. “(Chris) Ogbonnaya catches the ball well, but he’s not that consistent runner.”

Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner has earned praise for helping make Gordon a bigger threat and the offense more vertical, especially in recent weeks.

“I always tell our guys, you get five eligible receivers, and you want each one of those guys to be able to contribute and contribute at a high level,” Turner said. “We’ve had that in some games. We haven’t had that as much as we’d like, and that’s something that we’re looking towards.”

Maybe on Sunday. More likely in May.



Warrensville Heights holds off Bedford

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WARRENSVILLE, Ohio—Warrensville Heights Tigers win in hotly contested game over Lake Erie League rival Bedford 60-55  

WARRENSVILLE, Ohio—Warrensville Heights Tigers win in hotly contested game over Lake Erie League rival Bedford 60-55

 

Initially it appeared the Tigers would run away with it by jumping out to quick 10-0 lead energized by a quick eight points from senior Charles Franklin who finish with 15 in spite of not scoring in the 4th quarter.

 

However, the Bobcats weren’t going to go away that easily putting on a run of their own to close lead to four bringing the score 15-11

 

Seven point run to end the third quarter was capped off by back to back thundering dunks by Franklin and Jahmere Howze. That quick outburst gave the Tigers a 43-30 lead and it made it the hill too arduous to climb for the Bearcats.

 

Bearcats made a late dash once Tiger’s Jalen Jackson who scored 12 fouled out and Franklin went out for an extended time with four fouls. In that fourth quarter run the Bearcats were paced by Shamal Jeffey’s six fourth quarter points to get the game within four at 57-53 and it was a close at they would get before finally losing.

No. 5 St. Edward finishes strong for 72-59 victory over No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary (video)

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LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Neither team was at full-strength, but No. 5 St. Edward and No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary still played one terrific basketball game. The Eagles outlasted the Irish to pull off a 72-59 home victory on Friday.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Neither team was at full-strength, but No. 5 St. Edward and No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary still played one terrific basketball game.

The Eagles outlasted the Irish to pull off a 72-59 home victory on Friday.

This post will be updated with game reaction and video shortly.

The Irish got off to a rocky start by committing eight turnovers in the first quarter. St. Edward was able to capitalize, as it started the game on a 10-0 run. The Eagles hit halftime up 42-32.

Both teams weren't at full-strength on Friday. St. Edward was shorthanded due to an on-court altercation last Saturday against No. 24 John Adams.

For the Irish, standout sophomore VJ King was hampered by a sprained left wrist that he suffered in practice on Tuesday. King was mainly a decoy on Friday and played only in the first half. He did not score.

St. Edward is off for the rest of the weekend after its game scheduled for Saturday against University of Detroit Jesuit was canceled due to the impending snow. The Irish will be in action on Saturday as it opens to LeBron James Arena against No. 9 Central Catholic.

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.

Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown says he would talk to Kobe Bryant (video)

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Jim Brown created a stir with comments that questioned Kobe Bryant's commitment to social issues.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kobe Bryant became the latest African-American athlete to get called out by a pillar of social activism in James Nathaniel Brown.

In a recent interview, Cleveland native Arsenio Hall asked Brown on his late night show about his thoughts when it comes to Bryant. Brown praised Bryant's athletic ability but he criticized Bryant's social consciousness. Brown referred to Bryant being “confused” about African-American culture “because he was raised in another country.”

It didn't take Bryant long to respond on Twitter. He was more in depth when asked by the media following today's Los Angeles Lakers practice.

Brown's comments about Bryant is nothing new. Brown made similar statements about Michael Jordan, who Brown deemed a professional athlete bankrupt when it came to social awareness.

Prior to Friday's third annual Peace Makers Alliance at the Key Center Marriott, Brown provided depth to his comments about Bryant, the goal of creating another summit similar to the Ali Summit here in Cleveland in 1967, and the responsibility of all Americans when it comes to participating in social activism.

"My message today is calling all individuals with consciousness to come together and show the world that there's a difference between charity and change," Brown said. "People think being charitable is what is needed, but all of us have been successful because of people who have fought their butts off to create change. There's a major difference between the two."


Beachwood's Ryan Harris, Rootstown's Travis Linton lead local wrestlers into Day 2 at Walsh Ironman (video, slideshow)

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CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - When the wrestling season began, Beachwood senior Ryan Harris had not lost since the first round of the 2012 individual state tournament. After one day at the Walsh Ironman, that streak is still intact.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - When the wrestling season began, Beachwood senior Ryan Harris had not lost since the first round of the 2012 individual state tournament.

After one day at the Walsh Ironman, that streak is still intact.

Harris won the Division III state title at 170 pounds last season, going 50-0 in the process. On Friday, he won his first two matches at the Ironman, qualifying him for Saturday's quarterfinals.

He is one of two state champions from the cleveland.com seven-county region still in the hunt for an Ironman title. The other is Rootstown senior Travis Linton, a Division III champ at 182 last season, who is seeded sixth at 170.

Video will be added to this story shortly.

Three other area state champs – Lake Catholic's Anthony Tutolo, St. Vincent-St. Mary's Aaron Adkins and Perry's Billy Miller – were scratches due to injury and a late end to football season.

Ninety-six area wrestlers competed at the 20th annual event, which is held at Walsh Jesuit and features some of the top wrestling programs in the country. By Friday night, just nine local wrestlers had survived into the quarterfinals.

Harris was excited to be one of them.

"Obviously, I want to do as well as I can here, but this is not the tournament that matters to me. That's mostly state, and I know that I have a very tough field, and I'm excited for it," said Harris. "I take my chance going up there and competing with them, and I'll do whatever I can do."

Linton, who was seventh at last year's Ironman, survived a 1-0 decision in the second round, then beat Kevin Khoma of St. Edward, 4-2, to reach the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

"I'm right where I was last year, it doesn't really mean much," said Linton. "I have to get one step higher than last year. I want to win it."

Linton will face Josh Llopez of St. Mary's Ryken (Md.) in the quarterfinals.

Harris had a bye in the first round, then won his second round match by fall in 2:30. The third round was a big rougher. After trailing early, Harris got an escape and a takedown in the second period, then held off Kyle Coniker of Pittsburgh Central Catholic for a 4-3 win. Harris faces Myles Martin of McDonogh (Md.) in the quarterfinals.

Both Linton and Harris acknowledged the Ironman isn't getting their top form. Linton took the summer off to deal with injuries and sickness and just now feels like he's getting back into the flow of things.

Harris, too, doesn't think he's in the best shape. Not that it's altering his goal.

"I know this is the beginning for another state title, considering (Ironman and state are) two big tournaments and this is the first one I have," said Harris. "Actually, I'm trying my best, I'm trying to win this, that's my goal."

If both Linton and Harris win Saturday morning, they would meet in the semifinals.

Still have an eye on the prize

Along with Harris and Linton, other area wrestlers in Saturday's quarterfinals include St. Edward freshman Alan Hart (120), senior Gabe Dzuro (182) and junior Parker Knapp (220); Brecksville-Broadview Heights junior Austin Assad (120) and senior Josh Murphy (195); and Walsh Jesuit sophomore Alex Mackall (120) and senior Mike Kostandaras (138).

Of that group, only Hart is not seeded at the event. After a first round bye and a 2-0 decision in the second round, Hart beat Chris Lacayo of Santiago (Calif.), 3-2, to reach the quarterfinals.

Dzuro was runner-up at 195 at last year's Ironman, Assad was third, Mackall was fourth and Murphy was seventh.

Top programs lead the pack

Blair Academy (N.J.) (95.5 points) and Oak Park River Forest (Ill.) (81.5) finished the first day atop the team standings. They are the consensus top two teams in the country, according to national wrestling websites intermatwrestle.com and flowrestling.org. Blair Academy has won the Ironman 11 times.

St. Paris Graham, last year's Division II state champion at both the team and individual state tournaments, is third (71).

St. Edward, which has won the Ironman five times, is 11th (47.5) and Brecksville-Broadview Heights is 15th (44.5).

Chasing the consolation prize

Elyria senior Armando Torres, a state runner-up last season, won his first two matches before being knocked to the consolation bracket, 2-0, by Markus Simmons of Broken Arrow (Okla.). He survived Friday's consolation rounds and remains alive for third place.

Also alive for third is Beachwood senior Sammy Gross, who has a state title from 2012 on his resume, along with St. Vincent-St. Mary senior Ryan Skonieczny, who was a state runner-up last season.

2013 Walsh Ironman quarterfinal pairings

(Visit walshironman.com for complete Day 1 results)

106 – Grass (Huntington, W. Va.) v. Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.); Pawelski (Montini Catholic, Ill.) v. Smith (Graham, Ohio); Prata (St. Christopher, Va.) v. Hart (St. Edward, Ohio); Rosen (Edmond North, Okla.) v. Warner (Claymont, Ohio).

113 – Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) v. Lee (Marysville, Ohio); Smith (Allen, Texas) v. Mueller (Trinity Christian, Texas); Megonigal (McDonogh, Md.) v. Bosco (Marmion Academy, Ill.); Warner (Claymont, Ohio) v. Duncan (Montini Catholic, Ill.).

120 – Fleetwood (Smyrna, Del.) v. Mackall (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio); Tucker (Blair Academy, NJ) v. Hight (Caesar Rodney, Del.); Assad (Brecksville, Ohio) v. Simmons (Broken Arrow, Okla.); Atkins (Trinity Christian, Texas) v. Hayes (Park Hill, Mo.).

126 – Kolodzik (Blair Academy, NJ) v. Forys (North Allegheny, Pa.); Jeffries (Broken Arrow, Okla.) v. Macri (Canon McMillan, Pa.); Bavery (Massillon Perry, Ohio) v. Seipel (Graham, Ohio); Blackwell (Union County, Ky.) v. Jimenez (Marmion Academy, Ill.).

132 – Z. Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) v. Thomas (Santiago, Calif.); Erneste (Park Hill, Mo.) v. Kutler (Blair Academy, NJ); Ervin (Union County, Ky.) v. Gessic (Perry, Ohio); Hodges (Wauseon, Ohio) v. Meredith (Cheyenne, Wyo.).

138 – McKenna (Blair Academy, NJ) v. White (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.); Longo (Santiago, Calif.) v. Klee (Cardinal Newman, Calif.); Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) v. Turk (Montini Catholic, Ill.); Kostandara (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio) v. Adams (Scottsbluff, Neb.).

145 – Jordan (Graham, Ohio) v. Early (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.); Chishko (Canon McMillan, Pa.) v. Garcia (Montini Catholic, Ill.); Joseph (Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa.) v. Bannister (Bishop McNamara, Md.); Maruca (Franklin Regional, Pa.) v. Leeth (Kearney, Mo.).

152 – Danishek (Dayton Christian, Ohio) v. DiBlasi (Park Hills, Mo.); Rundell (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) v. Downing (Broomfield, Colo.); Manville (Blair Academy, NJ) v. Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); Shields (Franklin Regional, Pa.) v. Sparkman (Massillon Perry, Ohio).

160 – Milonas (Blair Academy, NJ) v. Dailey (Massillon Perry, Ohio); Reese (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) v. Weiler (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); Montalvo (Montini Catholic, Ill.) v. Schram (Bellbrook, Ohio); Walton (Edmond North, Okla.) v. Marinelli (Graham, Ohio).

170 – A. Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) v. Dallavia (Blair Academy, NJ); Dixon (Edmond North, Okla.) v. Mahomes (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.); Llopez (St. Mary's Ryken, Md.) v. Linton (Rootstown, Ohio); Harris (Beachwood, Ohio) v. Martin (McDonogh, Md.).

182 – Nickal (Allen, Texas) v. Harris (Urbana, Ohio); Dzuro (St. Edward, Ohio) v. Griego (Sultana, Calif.); Perkins (Omaha North, Neb.) v. Fiegener (Folsom, Calif.); Stodden (Broomfield, Colo.) v. Caywood (Perrysburg, Ohio).

195 – White (Edmond North, Okla.) v. Rogers (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); Gambill (Loveland, Ohio) v. Smith (North Allegheny, Pa.); Barlow (Haverford Prep, Pa.) v. Scales (Colerain, Ohio); Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.) v. Murphy (Brecksville, Ohio).

220 – Dixon (Edmond North, Okla.) v. Pfarr (Marysville, Ohio); Allen (Broken Arrow, Okla.) v. Knapp (St. Edward, Ohio); Thornberry (Archbishop Moeller, Ohio) v. Anderson (Malvern Prep, Pa.); Smith (McDonogh School, Md.) v. Ruano (Montini Catholic, Ill.).

285 – Johnson (Montini Catholic, Ill.) v. Parker (Caesar Rodney, Del.); Henderson (Franklin, Ohio) v. Jackson (Dayton Christian, Ohio); Scanlan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) v. Bonner (Perrysburg, Ohio); Cook (McDonogh, Md.) v. Vough (Elyria, Ohio).

Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Lexi Pluym contributed to this story.

Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@ScottPatsko). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

No. 12 Cleveland Heights' defense keys 72-61 boys basketball win over Maple Heights

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CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – The formula for victory for Cleveland Heights' boys basketball team is simple. Play shutdown defense.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – The formula for victory for Cleveland Heights' boys basketball team is simple.

Play shutdown defense.

The host Tigers did that on Friday night, yielding just 26 second-half points to defeat Maple Heights, 72-61, in a Lake Erie League game.

“We know that it’s all about defense,” senior guard Marcus Bagley said. “We play defense, and the game will fall in our hands. Defense, and pass the ball around and get everybody touches.”

Bagley’s 18 points led Cleveland Heights, ranked 12th in cleveland.com’s Top 25. Tigers forward Jeremy Holmes and guard Dondre McDowell scored 15 points each. Guard Melon Barnes’ 12 points and center Sharif Saleem’s eight contributed to Cleveland Heights’ second win in as many games. The Tigers opened their season at home on Dec. 6 with a 67-62 win over Canton McKinley.

The Tigers held a 48-47 lead to begin the fourth quarter then pulled away from Maple Heights (3-2, 0-2) with a 16-4 run and a 64-51 lead with 3:25 left.

“That’s us. We’re a team of runs,” said Tigers coach Andy Suttell. “We’re under-sized. That’s OK with us. We have to compensate by controlling the pace of the game. Make it up and down. A little controlled chaos.”

Cleveland Heights’ aggressive man-to-man half-court defense and its full-court pressure contributed to the rally. Bagley began the scoring with a basket off an offensive rebound and a fastbreak layup off a Barnes pass for a 52-47 edge.

Bagley got another putback basket, putting the Tigers up, 56-51, with 5:27 to go. Maple Heights’ junior guard/forward Laquan Taylor, who had scored 20 points, injured his left ankle on the play and was forced to sit out the rest of the game.

The Bagley putback launched a 10-point Tigers’ run that ended with their 13-point advantage. Saleem scored on a tip, McDowell on a layup off a Barnes’ pass, Holmes on a steal and dunk, and Barnes inside thanks to a Bagley assist.

“We went through a stretch where we missed some easy baskets and turned it over,” said Maple Heights coach Phil Schmook. “We compounded that with giving them some second and third shots. Bottom line is we were right there with them.”

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