Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

No. 19 Brunswick boys basketball wins double-overtime thriller against Strongsville

0
0

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Regulation was not enough on Friday night in Strongsville. Not even one overtime was enough as the Brunswick boys basketball team defeated Strongsville 76-75 in double overtime. The Blue Devils appeared to be on their way to the victory, leading by 10 points as the game went to the fourth quarter. However, the Mustangs would not...

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Regulation was not enough on Friday night in Strongsville. Not even one overtime was enough as the Brunswick boys basketball team defeated Strongsville 76-75 in double overtime.

The Blue Devils appeared to be on their way to the victory, leading by 10 points as the game went to the fourth quarter. However, the Mustangs would not go away, outscoring Brunswick 21-11 to force overtime.

The Blue Devils were able to do just enough in the second overtime, prevailing by a single point.

Ryan Badowski was the star of the night, scoring 34 points in the victory for the Blue Devils. Zach Parker was the only other Brunswick player to reach double figures, scoring 11 points. Strongsville was led by Drew Robertson, who scored 22 points.


Four observations from 1st day of North Coast Wrestling Classic 2013

0
0

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The North Coast Classic may not have the star power the Ironman at Walsh Jesuit brings. But that doesn't mean the wrestling tournament isn't important. Here are four observations from the first day of the event contested at the Independence High School Field House. It concludes Saturday. 1. Some of the best wrestlers in the nation...

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The North Coast Classic may not have the star power the Ironman at Walsh Jesuit brings. But that doesn't mean the wrestling tournament isn't important. Here are four observations from the first day of the event contested at the Independence High School Field House. It concludes Saturday.

1. Some of the best wrestlers in the nation are at the Walsh Ironman, but the North Coast Classic guarantees wrestlers plenty of time on the mat.

Gary Kanaga’s company, Tournaments Done Right, runs the North Coast Classic. Kanaga, who coached wrestling at several Northeast Ohio high schools as well as Ashland University during his 23-year coaching career, said while the Ironman has some of the best wrestlers in the country, his tournament offers a chance for the participants to gain valuable match experience.

“What I love about this tournament is it’s a pool-style tournament,” Kanaga said. “Kids coming here are going to get the experience; they’ll get to wrestle at least seven matches, while at the Ironman they can go two and out.”

Four schools from Pennsylvania are also participating in this year’s North Coast Classic.

“I like to see Ohio and Pennsylvania mix it up a bit, just like you see in the Ironman, where you see different states coming in and participating,” Kanaga said. “We want to see those teams coming in.”

The first day of the tournament featured a round robin format. Wrestlers are then placed in the gold, silver and bronze divisions based on their records in the round robin.

Count Shaw wrestling coach Jerry Brown as a fan of the format because a wrestler is never eliminated and ultimately ends up competing against wrestlers of similar skill level during Day 2.

“I like the tournament because it’s demanding. You don’t lose and go home,” Brown said.

Wrestlers in the gold division will wrestle for medals.

The finals of the tournament start Saturday at 6 p.m.

2. Wrestling five matches in one day is grueling, but can be done. Greg Page, who wrestles at 195 pounds for Benedictine, was winded immediately following his second match of the day — an 8-5 loss to Mentor’s Desmond Rasberry. But Page remained confident he’d have no problem making it through his five matches. Asked what’s going to keep him going he didn’t hesitate in responding.

“Just the will to keep fighting,” Page said.

Aric Paine, a freshman from Columbia, saw his day get off to a rough start when he was pinned in his first two matches. However, he was confident he’d be able to get through his five matches.

“It’s not going to be hard. There’s plenty of rest between matches. You just have to relax. I’ll eat some honey for energy boosting. Five matches won’t be hard,” Paine said.

Mike Sala, an assistant coach at Hawken, has the following advice: “Don’t waste a lot of time and effort. If you can get in there and take care of business, take them and get off the mat."

3. Mentor was one of 20 Ohio high schools participating in the tournament, but none of the players from the Cardinals' standout football squad were present.

Two players from Mentor’s Division I state runner-up football team are expected to join the Cardinals wrestling program in the near future, according to assistant coach Keith Pollock.

Billy Hudson, a sophomore who started on the defensive line, is expected to join the team early next week, Pollock said. He’ll be joined by Peter Kunka, a junior who saw action on special teams for the Cardinals. Hudson is expected to wrestle heavyweight and Kunka will be somewhere between 170 to 195 pounds, according to Pollock.

Both Hudson and Kunka were starters on the wrestling team a year ago. Both wrestlers were given a week off between sports, according to Pollock.

“We have to allow them a week,” Pollock said. 

4. The tournament is organized chaos. There were 619 matches scheduled for Friday’s first day, according to Kanaga. To get that many matches in, nine mats were used.

“That’s a lot of wrestling,” Kanaga said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugly ending as Cleveland Cavaliers beat Orlando Magic, 109-100

0
0

Andrew Nicholson's flagrant foul 2 and ejection marred the end of the Cavaliers' 109-100 victory at Orlando on Friday night. Nicholson shoved a wide open Anderson Varejao under the basked after Varejao's layup gave the Cavs a 108-100 lead with 10.2 seconds left.

ORLANDO, Florida -- None of the Cavaliers actually saw the ugly play that marred the end of Cleveland's 109-100 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night at Amway Center.

Anderson Varejao, all alone under the basket, made a layup to give the Cavs a 108-100 lead with 10.2 seconds left. As the ball slipped through the hoop, Orlando's Andrew Nicholson used two hands to shove down an unsuspecting Varejao. Dion Waiters charged toward Nicholson and was escorted away by Cavs rookie Matthew Dellavedova.

Eventually, Nicholson was called for a flagrant 2 foul and ejected. Jarrett Jack made the technical free throw to account for the final score.

"I didn’t mean to hurt him,'' Nicholson said. "I didn’t try to hurt him. I didn’t think I pushed him that hard, but it’s part of the game.”

The Cavs were trying to sort things out.

"I still don’t know what happened,'' said Varejao, whose banged his left knee on that play after banging his right knee on Orlando rookie Victor Oladipo's knee in the first half. "I laid it up, then a second later somebody hit me. I didn’t even know it was him. I’m going to watch [film] and see what really happened. But yes, I was surprised. The game was over and there was no reason for that.''

Coach Mike Brown said he never saw Nicholson.

"I just thought Andy was wide open,'' Brown said. "That's how late he was coming in fouling him.''

Even Waiters didn't see the play.

"I just heard Andy scream,'' he said. "I think it was a cheap shot. I really didn’t see it, but he could’ve hurt himself worse than what he did. You just don’t do that.

"That’s Andy man. That’s my big brother, you know? I learned a lot from him and a person like that, you’ve got to have his back, no matter what. That’s everybody on the team. If anybody else was in that situation, I’d have done the same thing. It’s not about being the toughest guy on the team, it’s about having your teammates’ back and sticking up for one another. We say '1-2-3 family' [coming out of huddles], so at the end of the day, we’re all we got.''

It took that sort of fight for the Cavs to battle back and win their third straight game, their fifth in six games, to improve to 9-13 overall, 2-10 on the road.

"It was a good win for our guys,'' Brown said. "For us, any road win right now is a good win.

"That's what's going to have to happen sometimes on the road. You're going to have to win ugly. You're going to have to find different ways to win.''

The Cavs got off to their typical slow start away from home, falling behind in the first quarter, 26-12.

"I just wasn't happy,'' Brown said. "Not taking anything away from Orlando…but I thought we were doing little things where we were hurting ourselves. That's where I was more irritated than anywhere else. We were hurting ourselves a lot in that first half.''

But the Cavs regrouped and were within 51-50 at halftime. Kyrie Irving finished with 31 points, and Waiters came off the bench to score 21, 14 of them in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter as Cleveland broke open the game. Oladipo had 26 points to lead Orlando, 7-16

Waiters went 0 for 5 in the first half, then made 8 of 13 shots in the second.

"I had to turn it up,'' Waiters said. "That’s the most important time to turn it up. I had to be aggressive. I was frustrated in the first half, mad at every little thing. I let it get the best of me in the first half and I told myself in the second half to come out and be aggressive.

"Once that first shot goes down, I’m always in the zone. In the first half a couple ones went in and out on me, I put my head down. It was frustrating, a frustrating half for me. I gathered myself in the second half, had to get my thoughts together, go out there and perform.''

He was there for his teammate at the end, too.

"It means a lot,'' said Varejao, who finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds. "That’s how we have to be. We have to fight for everybody. We have to have everybody’s back. It’s a nice thing, it’s a good feeling. It means we’re getting better as a team.''



Josh Gordon: Track every pass thrown to him and read the latest on the Browns wide receiver's historic season

0
0

The Cleveland Browns are 4-9, in the midst of a four-game losing streak. There haven't been too many reasons for excitement. But there has been one: Josh Gordon. Take a look at his record-setting season thus far, including a database of every pass thrown No. 12's way.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns are 4-9, in the midst of a four-game losing streak. There haven't been too many reasons for excitement. But there has been one: Josh Gordon. 

This piece, filled with information such as stories, a breakdown of every pass thrown in Gordon's direction and photos, is a look at the overnight sensation who's overcome drama at every turn en route to a record-setting season. 

First, there was a two-game suspension. Then there were trade rumors. Now the receiver known as "Flash" has electrified the city of Cleveland, while shattering records along the way. Gordon's 261 yards receiving against Jacksonville is a new club record. His 1,400 yards has him atop the Browns' single-season receiving yardage list. 

NFL records are falling too. 

Already owning the mark for a four-game stretch (774 yards), Gordon is closing in on Wes Chandler's record for receiving yards per game. Averaging 127.3 yards per game currently has him second on that list. For Gordon to break the record, he would need to gain 407 receiving yards over the last three games of the season, and finish this season with 1,807 yards.



A pass-by-pass look at Gordon's historic season


Dennis Manoloff's passing chart 

Josh Gordon-Brandon WeedenView full sizeCleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) celebrates with wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) after they connected on a 21-yard touchdown pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Cleveland.

Here is a list of all the passes thrown to Gordon this season. (Includes all legitimate targets, which means it does not include passes for which Gordon was credited with being the target but where the ball clearly was thrown far out of bounds or out of the end zone.)

Another impressive element of Gordon's season is that he has 10-plus catches, 200-plus yards and at least one TD from each of three quarterbacks. 

Here is the breakdown: 

From Brian Hoyer: 14 catches for 217 yards and 1 touchdown. 

From Brandon Weeden: 31 catches for 660 yards and 4 touchdowns.

From Jason Campbell: 26 catches for 523 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

View chart in a new window or mobile device

Stat box key: UC/SG -- Quarterback under center or shotgun; YIA -- Yards that the pass was in the air from the line of scrimmage; Game Totals -- Receptions (Legitimate targets) / Yards / Touchdowns. 

*Legitimate targets: The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com DVR review is a stickler about targets. It disagrees with the NFL official stat books almost every week by declining to assign a receiver a target when the quarterback blatantly throws the ball away. The NFL official stat book periodically will credit a receiver with a target simply because he is closest to the throw as it sails out of bounds or the back of the end zone. The dvr review focuses on the QB's eyes and body language; if he is not even looking at a certain receiver upon release, that receiver will not be assigned a target just because the ball flew nearest to him. It is why the review uses "legit'' targets and why its numbers don't always match those of certain stats services. 

Regarding drops: They can be subjective. What one person considers a drop is not necessarily what CBS or the game's stats crew sees. The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com dvr review assigns drops when it thinks the receiver had a realistic chance to catch the ball -- and NOT simply if he got his hands on it. The dvr review is careful about assigning drops; it treats them like errors in baseball: If a receiver needed to make an extraordinary effort to come down with the ball but it deflects off his hands for an incompletion, a drop likely will not be assessed.



The Power of One: No sidekick for this Flash Gordon


Josh GordonThe Browns have the league's biggest yardage disparity between their top two receivers.

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

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. | Read Tom Reed's story



Josh Gordon: Pro Bowler?


Josh Gordon finally believes he's Pro Bowl worthy after NFL-record 774 yards in past four games

GORDON-CATCH-TALIB-JK.JPGView full sizeCleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon catches a second quarter pass for a first down as New England Patriots defensive back Aqib Talib covers on the play December 8, 2013 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. lib and the Patriots.

All it took for Josh Gordon to finally believe he belongs in the Pro Bowl conversation was to set the NFL record with 774 yards in the last four games, to break the Browns' single-season receiving record with 1,400 yards and to blow past Detroit's Calvin Johnson for most yards in the NFL this season.

That's not to mention his league-leading 127.4 yards per game and 19.7 per catch, or his NFL-best 24 catches of 20 yards or more.

“Hopefully with the rest of the season -- if the numbers stay where they are and I can do good individually -- yeah, I definitely expect to be there,'' Gordon said of making the all-star squad.

It marked a dramatic departure from the last two times Gordon was asked that question over the past three weeks. | Read Mary Kay Cabot's story



Gordon's new running mate could come in the 2014 NFL draft


NFL Draft: An early look at the Top 5 wide receivers

Sammy WatkinsView full sizeClemson's Sammy Watkins leads a talented group of wide receivers for the 2014 NFL draft.

As is the case in so many drafts, quarterbacks will be the focus. The importance of the position can't be overlooked. But neither can wide receiver. And like it is most years, this year's receiver class is loaded with depth and talent.

Last year, 11 receivers heard their names called in the first three rounds, including Keenan Allen - one of the frontrunners for the Offensive Rookie of the Year. With an emphasis on passing, May's draft could see a repeat. 

Like most positional rankings, the list will change when underclassmen make their decisions. But this is a window into a position that the Browns might target early when May rolls around. 

1. Sammy Watkins, Clemson, Junior

The most explosive skill position player in college football, Watkins is a threat to score on every touch. At 6-foot-1, Watkins has good size and a strong frame along with excellent speed. Blessed with strong hands and great body control, Watkins makes the tough catches look easy. He needs to polish his game as he tends to get by on athleticism and talent, but as soon as that happens, the sky's the limit. He reminds me of Julio Jones with his run-after-catch ability. | Read Chris Fedor's rankings 



Other stories

No amount of numbers in the NBA is ever enough: NBA Insider

0
0

The NBA offers advanced statistics on players and teams, and the Cavaliers recently began working with Krossover to learn more about statistics in practice.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – If you want to refresh your memory on how many points Bob Cousy scored in the Boston Celtics game against the St. Louis Hawks on Dec. 15, 1956, the answer (26, by the way) is a click away.

If you want to know who is the best catch-and-shoot player in the NBA right now, that's easy to quantify and label, too. (That's Golden State's Klay Thompson, who scores an average of 10.4 points per game on catch-and-shoot opportunities.)

And if the Cavaliers want to know which player scores the most from the left side of the court during practice, they can have that information instantaneously, too. (Though it's classified, and not something they are willing to share with the public, or the rest of the NBA.)

It's a new statistics-based NBA world we're living in, and the league has done all that it can to embrace it with upgraded information available to everyone on www.nba.com/stats. The Cavaliers, too, constantly are looking for any statistical edge possible, a pursuit that has led to a partnership agreement with Krossover, a sports film analysis and statistics company, to analyze practice film.

The NBA's statistical offerings began in February, when they unveiled their new stats Website, powered by SAP. The site began offering every NBA box score from the inaugural 1946-47 season, advanced shooting charts, top lineup combinations, and in-depth statistical breakdowns that includes such options as per-possession breakdowns, "clutch," and efficiency.

It is, frankly, overwhelming at times. Simply finding a player such as Kyrie Irving's career scoring average is more difficult than seeing a breakdown of his shot chart (and that he shoots better from the left side of the court).

But the most interesting part the NBA added to its online offerings this fall came through its partnership with STATS and SportsVU, a system that nearly every league team already had, individually.

With SportsVU, six cameras are installed in various angles around the court, recording images 25 times per second. Somehow, with all that data, obscure statistics can be compiled: a player's speed, rebounding chances, how many times a player drives to the basket, how many pull-up shots he takes.

"We are a league driven by data, and our expanded partnership with STATS provides our teams and fans with access to uncover groundbreaking statistics," said Steve Hellmuth, NBA Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology, in a news release. "In this new era of statistical information, SportVU will be an invaluable resource for basketball executives and our passionate fans."

For the Cavaliers' part, they've upped the ante by incorporating Krossover into their vast compilation of statistics. With the software, players and executives can access statistics and film from practices.

The Cavaliers also are using Krossover to record data and film from college games, something that will be invaluable during the draft.

Krossover CEO and founder Vasu Kulkarni originally developed the software with the intention of marketing it toward analyzing statistics at lower levels such as high school, but college and professional sports have found a need for it, as well.

"There's nothing different that we're doing, realistically, as you compare it to what Synergy has done for years as well as what the SportsVU cameras can do automatically," Kulkarni said. "The difference is we're doing it for the lower levels in sports. But in doing so, we built a very very, very unique system that there's just no one else that does this where the front office, the ownership, the coach, the player can log in and find what they're looking for. ... It's so easy. We didn't have to train anyone on the Cavs side to learn how to use this product."

Simplicity in the world of statistics? That might be the most innovate part, yet.

Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears preview: What you need to know

0
0

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium, and the contest will be shown on Fox. Here's what you need to get ready for the game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Josh McCown kept the Chicago Bears afloat with three wins in five starts, but he'll hand the reins back to Jay Cutler on Sunday as the Bears play the Browns at FirstEnergy Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and the game will be shown on FOX.

The Bears (7-6) hope to grab at least temporary control of the NFC North and put the pressure on Detroit. Cutler went through a full practice on Thursday after working out with the receivers following a walkthrough, and got the green light to start this week.

The Bears are tied for the division lead with the Lions, who play Monday night against Baltimore. The defense will again be without linebacker Lance Briggs, who will miss at least one more game after fracturing his shoulder Oct. 20.

The Browns (4-9) have dropped seven of eight, including four in a row to ensure their sixth straight losing season. 

Here's a look at what you need to know ahead of Sunday's game. And don't miss Sunday's wall-to-wall coverage, including Chris Fedor's fantasy football preview and our pregame show in the morning; live chat in the comments and our running blog during the game; and full postgame coverage with our entire team at FirstEnergy Stadium:

What's up with the Browns

Ranking the 20 best Ohio State Buckeyes of 2013: Explaining the list

0
0

Cleveland.com's Ohio State coverage crew ranked the top 20 players from Ohio State's 2013 season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State didn't land in the BCS National Championship game, neither Braxton Miller nor Carlos Hyde made it to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Urban Meyer wasn't the Big Ten Coach of the Year and Ryan Shazier wasn't the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

After 24 straight wins, the Buckeyes' season ended with some nots - some expected and some ... not.

Ohio State did have some pretty good players, though. Ten made first- or second-team All-Big Ten. And Miller was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Once it was all over, Ari, Zack and I met at Chili's, mostly talked about rap, and then went our separate ways and compiled our own lists of the 20 best players from this Ohio State season. What does "best" mean? It could mean a lot of things.

How a guy did his job at his position. What he meant to the team. How much he was, or would have been, missed if he went down. All those things that usually go into a consideration of "best."

Then we put those three rankings together and came up with the final ranking of the 20 best Buckeyes of 2013 that will run, one each day, between Dec. 10 and Dec. 29, the day we arrive in Miami for the first pre-Orange Bowl news conference.

You might think you know how this list will go, at least at the top, but I can tell you we didn't all vote the same guy No. 1. There are 12 offensive players and eight defensive players on our list, which may have changed if Urban Meyer had used kicker Drew Basil a little more.

Check back here throughout the rankings for an easy reference for the entire list. And remember one thing. While you may disagree with our rankings, I did eat two bowls of tortilla chips by myself at our meeting.

The 20 best Ohio State Buckeyes of 2013

No. 20: Dontre Wilson

No. 19: Taylor Decker

No. 18: Doran Grant

No. 17: Devin Smith

No. 16: Marcus Hall

No. 15: Kenny Guiton



No. 15, Kenny Guiton: Ranking the best Ohio State Buckeyes of 2013

0
0

Though Kenny Guiton was Ohio State's backup quarterback, the senior had a profound impact on the Buckeyes' season. Not only did he win all three of his spot starts, but he also pushed starting quarterback Braxton Miller from the bench.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Our list of the top 20 Buckeyes from the 2013 Ohio State season enters the top 15.

No. 15: Kenny Guiton, senior quarterback

From: Houston, Texas

Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 208 pounds

Recruiting rating: A three-star prospect, Guiton was rated by Rivals.com the No. 35 overall quarterback in the 2009 recruiting class. Guiton was the last signee in the class and committed to the Buckeyes after picking up an offer days before National Signing Day. Before receiving the offer, Guiton thought he was headed to Prairie View A&M.

2013 stats: Despite being Ohio State’s backup quarterback, Guiton completed 75 of his 109 passes (68.8 percent) and was 3-0 as a starter when replacing an injured Braxton Miller. Guiton also threw 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

The full top 20 Buckeyes list and explainer

Kenny Guiton San Diego State View full sizeOhio State quarterback Kenny Guiton played so well while filling in for Braxton Miller that he created a quarterback controversy.

What went right: The backup quarterback is always the most popular player on the team, but that popularity typically fades quickly once the backup gets into the game. But that wasn’t the case with Guiton, who won all three of his spot starts in place of an injured Miller and performed beautifully every time he came onto the field. Guiton won games, he broke a school record – he threw a 90-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith at California, the longest in school history – and he performed well enough with Miller out to make people think twice about who should be Ohio State's permanent starter. Think about that – the Buckeyes’ preseason Heisman Trophy candidate didn’t seem good enough at times when Guiton was playing in his place.

Considering Guiton was labeled a “throw in” prospect in Ohio State’s 2009 recruiting class, he came a long way in making a name for himself despite being sandwiched between game-breaking quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Miller. And one very underrated contribution Guiton had was pushing Miller. Guiton made Miller have to look over his shoulder, which kept the Buckeyes' starter motivated and on his toes. 

Guiton will forever go down in history as he quarterback that won the 2012 Purdue game to preserve Ohio State’s perfect 12-0 season, but he’ll also be remembered as an integral piece to the 2013 team’s success.

What went wrong: Part of the reason a backup quarterback would be rated on this list is because everything seemed to go right for Guiton in his senior year. Statistically, Guiton was even one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten despite not playing nearly as much as other teams’ starters. So what went wrong? After searching, the only thing that didn’t go ideally for Guiton was his performance on Senior Day. Though the Buckeyes beat Indiana 42-14 that day, Guiton didn’t throw a pass and he turned it over with a fumble on his first carry of the game.

Ohio State Kenny Guiton Cal 2013 actionView full sizeDespite being a backup, Kenny Guiton made a name for himself by winning all three of his starts in relief of an injured Braxton Miller.

Looking at 2014: Guiton won’t suit up for the Buckeyes next year, but it is possible that he could be on the sidelines. There was talk a few weeks ago that Guiton could be working toward becoming a graduate assistant with Ohio State next year, fulfilling his dream of staying involved in the game through coaching. Urban Meyer started calling the quarterback “Coach Guiton” during his junior season, and it looks like Ohio State’s head coach may have been on to something. But before Guiton goes into coaching, he’ll try to test the NFL waters and see if he can find a role in the league first.

Meyer, however, is open to keeping Guiton around.

“The impact Kenny Guiton has made on this program and Braxton Miller is just profound. It is profound what he’s done,” Meyer said. “He’s an excellent preparation guy. He’s the guy that really studies the game, is a nut about his fundamentals. As a result, every other quarterback sees that. That’s really helped Braxton.”

What we’ve written about Guiton

Sept. 6: The starter and the finisher -- how Ohio State's Kenny Guiton and Chris Fields saved each other: Bill Livingston

Sept. 7: How far could Ohio State go with backup quarterback Kenny Guiton? The Buckeyes are keeping the faith: Bill Livingston

Sept. 11: For Ohio State quarterback and trash-talk extraordinaire Kenny Guiton, it's all about the one day 'that changed a lot'

Sept. 11: How many teams could Ohio State QB Kenny Guiton start for? Of the other 124 FBS teams, about 75

Sept. 18: The hottest book at Ohio State: 'Kenny Guiton's Guide to Being a Backup and Thinking Like a Starter'

Sept. 27: How a new coach, an old coach and a newborn helped spawn a changed Ohio State quarterback: The Kenny Guiton story

Oct. 6: What to think after Urban Meyer was 'real close' to putting in Kenny Guiton: Braxton Miller breakdown



Browns vs. Bears: Watch our pregame show and Fantasy Football Insider starting at 11 a.m.

0
0

Join cleveland.com's pregame coverage online, starting at 11 a.m., as they preview the Browns-Bears matchup and talk fantasy football.

AX156_7779_9.JPGThe Browns face Brandon Marshall and the Bears Sunday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns return to FirstEnergy Stadium to face the Chicago Bears for their final home game of the 2013 regular season.

Chicago and Cleveland last faced off in 2009, with the Bears winning, 30-6. The teams have met eight times in Cleveland, with the Browns holding a 7-1 edge when at home. The Bears' one win was in 1972.

Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed and Glenn Moore preview today's game at FirstEnergy Stadium in the video below. Listen to Chris Fedor's Fantasy Football Insider audio chat here.

Voice your opinions in the comments section below.

Cleveland Browns Pregame Scribbles: Terry Pluto laments the Browns being 17-30 at home in the last six years

0
0

Can the Browns win and finish with a 4-4 home record. Since 2007, they are 17-30 at home ... YIKES!

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It has snowed all weekend. It's cold. The Browns are 4-9. And this is how the home season ends. For too many years, I have written something like that before the Browns final home game.

Lousy weather.

Lousy record.

Lousy team.

I feel for the Browns fans, especially those hitching up their sled dogs and going to the stadium for today's game.

My sense is most are doing it out of a sense of obligation: "It's Sunday. The Browns are home. I am supposed to be there. Just don't ask me to explain any of this rationally."

The Browns will never fully appreciate the loyalty of their fans. The people running the team for more than the last 20 years (Yes, even before The Move) have no idea what the fans have endured.

They haven't lived it -- by that, I'm mean ALL of it.

And I'm not going to dig up all the gruesome bones of the two decades of Browns football. I'll simply say the Browns face the Bears with a 4-9 record. At one point this season, the Browns were 3-2.

That's right, 3-2.

It seems like that happened centuries ago in a galaxy far, far away.

But they have lost 7-of-8. They are 3-4 at home.

Since 2007 (7-1 in Cleveland), the Browns have a 17-30 record.

That' 17-30 … AT HOME!!!

Guess what has been the best home season since 2007?

It was 4-4 in 2012.

Who knew that 2012 was the good old days?

So if the Browns manage to upset the Bears today, they will be 4-4 at home once again.

I guess that's something.

We all know what creates the best "fan experience." It's winning.

And maybe one year that will indeed be the real "fan experience" for those who love the orange helmets.

Some quick scribbles:

1. Curious to see if Josh Gordon remains on his receiving rampage. There are so many impressive aspects to what he's done this season, including setting records while catching passes from Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell -- neither quarterback is expected to start next season.

2. But nearly as impressive is how this young man from Texas has been making big plays in the cold weather. The conditions don't seem to bother him, a very big deal for a player who wears an orange helmet.

3. The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff did some excellent work looking at the Browns blitzes -- meaning five or more rushers. In the last six games, they have blitzed 56 times -- and guess how many sacks? ZERO!

4. They do have six sacks in the last two games -- including four against Tom Brady in New England last week. But all six have come out of four-man rushes. Usually, it was three linemen and one linebacker. Not sure what to make of it, but it just seems some of those aggressive rush-the-passer formations would have produced at least one sack.

5. To be fair to Ray Horton, it's not clear how many of those blitzes produced a frenzied quarterback making poor throws. The blitz is about more than producing a sack. But you'd still like more sacks.

6. The Bears have the worst defense against the run in the NFL. But the Browns have a terrible running game. So I'm not sure it matters.

7. I just know that a year from now, I better not be writing sentences like: "The Bears have the worst defense against the run in the NFL. But the Browns have a terrible running game. So I'm not sure that matters." THIS HAS TO CHANGE.

8. Greg Little has 35 catches this season, his lowest production in three years. He's now had a chance with two different coaching staffs. He's worked very hard this season. But the bottom line is no real progress for the second round pick from 2011.

Former Cleveland State guard Gravelle Craig looks ahead; The Akron Zips do the same

0
0

Former Cleveland State guard Gravelle Craig has Bethune-Cookman looking ahead; Akron Zips head coach Keith Dambrot does the same.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bethune-Cookman head coach Gravelle Craig stood outside of his locker and shook his head. His junior point guard, Ricky Johnson, had sat on the bench all night against the Akron Zips, recovering from a concussion. For the 5-9 Johnson that made for a bitter homecoming as the product of St. Vincent-St. Mary's could not play before family and friends.

For Craig, former point guard for the Cleveland State Vikings, it meant no point guard to handle Akron's pressure defense, and was compounded by the fact his top recruit before the season was ruled ineligible until 2014.

"When I set this schedule up we were much more competitive,'' Craig, in his third year as head coach at BC, said after the 84-56 defeat left his team at 2-11 on the season. "We'll do OK in conference. But non-conference, we're just trying to fight through this right now.''

Typical for a Historical Black College, the non-conference for Bethune-Cookman is a national tour. By the time the calendar turns to January the Wildcats will have hit every point on the compass. Going forward BC plays at Youngstown, at North Florida, at Detroit, and at Northern Illinois before getting another home game. Akron marked the eighth of 12 straight games on the road, including stops at New Mexico State, Colorado State, and Norfolk, Va.

Fighting through might be a good way to describe the Zips, despite the margin of victory. When your starting point guard, Carmelo Betancourt, only scores one point in 14 minutes, and has three turnovers vs. four assists, you still have a problem.

Akron head coach Keith Dambrot admitted as much when he said Quincy Diggs passed the eye test at the point, even with two turnovers and no assists to go with his nine points.

"I thought Diggs was good when he played the point,'' Dambrot said. "We'll probably see more of Diggs at the point."

Another positive player was the extended minutes, and production, from freshman post  Isaiah Johnson. The 6-10, 285-pounder is slimming down fast, increasing his speed, quickness and footwork. In 17 minutes against BC he had seven points three rebounds and four blocked shots.

"When he gets the ball, if teams don't double him pretty fast, you get the feeling he's going to score every time,'' Dambrot said.

That should serve the Zips well going forward as the schedule this week becomes markedly tougher with home games vs. Oral Roberts (5-5) on Monday and Detroit (5-6) on Wednesday. ORU has played a tough schedule, but does count a 63-56 victory over fast-improving Bowling Green on its ledger.

NFL kickoff: The RGIII fiasco, Week 15 buzz, headlines and picks

0
0

Here's a look at the top storylines and big matchups from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Sunday of NFL football.

Here's a look at the top storylines and big matchups from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Sunday of NFL football:

The Big Buzz: Another shutdown in Washington

Kirk Cousins, Robert Griffin IIIWashington Redskins quarterbacks Robert Griffin III, left, and Kirk Cousins work during their NFL football practice Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Ashburn, Va. Kirk Cousins will start for the Washington Redskins on Sunday, and Robert Griffin III will be the No. 3 quarterback behind Rex Grossman. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Can things get any worse in Washington? Just one year after energizing their fan base by winning the NFC East championship behind an electrifying season from quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Redskins are 3-10 and in complete meltdown mode.

On Wednesday, head coach Mike Shanahan announced that he has shut down Griffin, deactivating the team's franchise player for the final three games of the season -- supposedly in hopes of getting the hobbled QB healthy for the offseason and beyond.

The aftermath? One angry superstar, an owner accused of playing favorites, a lame-duck coach with questionable motivations, a new starting quarterback branded as walking trade bait, and a demoralized and distracted team that could very well get hammered by the equally woeful Atlanta Falcons today.

Now this is the unmitigated disaster that we've become accustomed to seeing in Washington since owner Daniel Snyder took control of the team in 1999. Snyder's tendency to favor his star players over his head coaches has been one of the Redskins' biggest stumbling blocks, writes Ashley Fox of ESPN.com:

Griffin is a big enough star. He doesn't need Snyder to prop him up or single him out. And Snyder needs to understand that the best-run NFL teams -- such as New England, Baltimore and the New York Giants -- have stable structures and a clear chain of command with owners who care deeply about the team but don't undercut the leadership of the men they employ. They let their head coaches coach and their general managers manage and their players play.

Many have insinuated that Shanahan has his own agenda for sitting Griffin, possibly making the move to put RGIII in his place or to ensure his own firing. Ex-Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb blast Shanahan for the benching, citing the damage it could do to Griffin and the team: (via SI.com)

"Yeah, I understand this kid has been banged up. He's coming off of ACL injury. I've had ACL/MCL injury. But you wait 13, 14 weeks in the season to say, 'I want him to be healthy going into the offseason?' You might not even be there in the offseason. And so, what message are you sending to the guys in the locker room who are banged up in the training room every morning that are still going to meetings and out there practicing? We're gonna rest the franchise quarterback, but you guys gotta get out there and play and finish the season out the right way and hopefully you don't get hurt.

I think that the locker room has turned their back on RGIII, and now you've solidified it."

But ESPN.com's Jason Whitlock applauds Shanahan for sitting Griffin in an effort to give the spoiled superstar a much-needed lesson in humility:

Washington (3-10) is not a playoff team this year. Shanahan is going to be fired. The absolute best thing Shanahan can do for the Washington franchise is deliver Griffin to the offseason physically and mentally healthy. Griffin has an overabundance of confidence. The key to his mental health is humility. Can he bring the right spirit to the offseason? Does he understand that his hey-look-at-me 2013 offseason was inappropriate on a team loaded with proud veterans such as London Fletcher and Santana Moss?

Grantland's Andrew Sharp agrees that sitting Griffin is the right move, but not because the young quarterback needs an attitude adjustment. The only thing wrong with RGIII, writes Sharp, is that he's injured:

His confidence was ruined and he was taking a beating every single week. RG3 should've been benched weeks ago. Sure, the way his benching has been handled is the 12,000th example that the Redskins franchise under Dan Snyder is a complete disaster, but that doesn't even matter here. What's important is that we no longer have to watch RG3 wobble around and get destroyed every week. Thank you, God.

At this point, writes Eric Adelson of Yahoo! Sports, it's difficult to believe that either man's motivations are noble:

Shanahan's logic in benching Griffin for the rest of the season would make perfect sense in any other setting: the quarterback is the future, and he has no business getting sacked again and again in meaningless games - especially after two ACL surgeries. But the theories behind the decision show a lack of faith in the coach: he's trying to get himself fired; he's tired of dealing with Griffin; he wants to show, through backup Kirk Cousins, that Griffin has been doing more harm than good.

Griffin's reaction to the benching, similarly, would be accepted or praised in any other situation: he wants to play; he's a competitor. But after rushing back to make the season opener and then struggling to reach the levels of his rookie season, it's easy to wonder if Griffin is determined to lead a team or simply to preserve his image.

Watch NFL Network analysts Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin discuss the mess in Washington -- including an epic rant by Irvin:

Headlines

• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will start today against the Browns after missing the last four games with an ankle injury. (via Cleveland.com)

• Russell Wilson is flying high as the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, but that didn't stop the Texas Rangers from selecting him in MLB's Rule 5 draft Thursday -- just in case he ever decides to return to baseball. (via OregonLive.com)

• Giants quarterback Eli Manning says he is open to restructuring his contract to give the team more cap flexibility this offseason. (via NJ.com)

• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) has been ruled out of today's game against the Cowboys. (via CBSSports.com)

• The Jaguars released defensive end Jeremy Mincey on Friday after he was late for another team meeting. (via ESPN.com)

• Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is done for the season after tearing both the ACL and MCL in his right knee against the Browns last week. (via MassLive.com)

• Cornerback Orlando Scandrick signed a two-year contract extension with the Cowboys on Friday. (via SI.com)

• Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill will miss the remainder of the season because of knee problems. (via NJ.com)

Who they're picking

SI.com's Don Banks expects the Redskins to be routed 38-17 by the Falcons, predicts a 24-20 victory for the Patriots over the Dolphins, and sees the Cowboys topping the Packers by a score of 27-17.

• There are a few upset picks from ESPN.com analysts this week: Merril Hoge likes the Browns to surprise the Bears, Mark Schlereth takes his chances with the Texans over the Colts, and Chris Mortensen has the Rams knocking off the Saints.

• The experts at CBSSports.com unanimously pick the Eagles to beat the Vikings, the Seahawks to beat the Giants, the Panthers to beat the Jets and the Saints to beat the Rams.

USAToday.com's panelists choose Panthers over Jets, Chiefs over Raiders, 49ers over Buccaneers and Seahawks over Giants as their "Locks of the Week."

What they're saying

Marshawn LynchMarshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks present a serious challenge for the struggling New York Giants. (AP Photo/David Seelig)

• It's been a humbling season for the Giants, but defensive end Justin Tuck says he isn't about to suffer more indignation today against the physical Seahawks: (via NJ.com)

"The last thing you want to be is embarrassed," Tuck said on Wednesday. "This is a team if you're not ready to play, they will embarrass you. And laugh about it. That's point blank. I ain't in the business of being embarrassed."

• Lions players were bemused after Ravens rookie safety Matt Elam took a shot at Calvin Johnson this week, dismissing the 28-year-old All-Pro wide receiver as "pretty old": (via MLive.com)

"It's just interesting, you know, the things rookie say," Detroit receiver Nate Burleson fired back. "It's like, kids say the darndest things? Rookies say the darndest things. I just don't understand why you'd throw shots at The Beast.

"Maybe he's not watching the same film I'm watching. From what I see out of Calvin, he's physical, he's fast, he's a freak. He's unstoppable. And he's definitely not old."

• Speaking of the man they call Megatron, Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irving says that Johnson isn't even the best wide receiver in the NFL this season -- reserving that distinction for red-hot Josh Gordon of the Browns:

"He's a phenomenal, phenomenal talent --- and we're going to look at Megatron and certainly he's a beast of a player,'' said Irvin, an NFL Network analyst. "But if you ask me right now, the wide receiver MVP of the 2013 season -- it is Josh Gordon. It is Josh Gordon. Period.''

• The NFL's decision to outlaw tailgating at this year's Super Bowl in New Jersey has The MMQB's Don Banks wondering if the league has finally found something it won't be able to regulate:

You must stay within the boundaries of a single parking space with your food and drink? For a league that has its hands full just keeping Mike Tomlin off the field during a game, this sounds like someone is biting off more than they can chew. Or police. Will there really be parking-space monitors patrolling the MetLife lots? Lord help us if there are Eagles or Raiders fans on the premises. I know from personal experience you don't really want to tangle with those people when they get their tailgating groove on. Your car may be the one to suffer.

Tom BradyTom Brady's job got a lot harder when the New England Patriots lost tight end Rob Gronkowski for the season this week. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

• With a receiving corps comprising mostly rookies and newcomers, the Patriots are going to be hard-pressed to maintain their recent offensive success without injured tight end Rob Gronkowski, writes Nick Underhill of MassLive.com:

Though he wasn't going to receive much consideration for the actual award, a strong case could be made that Rob Gronkowski was the Patriots' most valuable player during the run of games for which he was healthy. His presence transformed the New England passing attack from mediocre to incredible, but now the team is going to have to head back to drawing board to find a way to replace his presence.

And so poor Tom Brady is Gronk-less once again. That guy just can't catch a break -- aside from the money and the fame and the good looks and the Super Bowl rings and the supermodel wife, that is.

Fantasy Football Q & A with Chris Fedor live today at noon (post questions now)

0
0

Who should you start and who should you sit in Week 15 of fantasy football? Chris Fedor answers your questions live at noon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The fantasy football playoffs continue today. With kickoffs fast approaching, fantasy football players everywhere are scrambling to fill out their lineups. cleveland.com's Chris Fedor will answer your last minute questions in a live Q & A session Sunday starting at noon.

Who should you start and who should you sit? Who is in and who is out? Who are the sleepers this week? How will Aaron Rodgers being out impact the Green Bay Packers? What should owners with Adrian Peterson do?

Chris will answer those questions and more in the comments section below. You can also check out his profile page here to read all of his answers.

Remember, you'll need a cleveland.com profile to participate in our next Q&A. So, register here if you don't have one so you'll be ready to go for our chat.

Earlier today: Fantasy Football Insider audio show with Chris Fedor audio


Cleveland Browns' Countdown to Kickoff: Jason Campbell has passed himself into the plans for 2014 - Bud Shaw

0
0

The only thing missing from Jason Campbell's respectable season as the Browns' starting quarterback is wins. His record as a starter is 1-4. A porous Bears' defense gives him the opportunity to turn that around Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Bears at Browns, 1 p.m., FirstEnergy Stadium…

5. Former Ravens’ head coach Brian Billick did a standup preview of the game for Fox from outside the “A Christmas Story” house in Tremont.

Someday the football product on display here in December will be enough to carry the Browns' story but what do you expect in another 4-9 season?

Like so many others intrigued by Bears’ head coach Marc Trestman’s decision to return the reins to Jay Cutler, Billick pointed out that backup Josh McCown hadn’t just played OK in place of Cutler but “brilliantly.”

The Bears would like Cutler back next year (he’s a free agent). And that has to play a role in Trestman’s decision. Because of a high ankle sprain and a groin injury before that, Cutler has basically played one game in the last eight weeks.

With the Bears fighting for first place in the NFC North, starting Cutler on the road after so much time off is as risky as it gets.

I picked the Bears to win. I would’ve picked them bigger if McCown were quarterback.

4. Today’s broken record goes like this: If the Browns’ defense is ever going to establish its reputation beyond a good statistical ranking, this is really the last chance to do it. Chicago's high-powered offense features Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, tight end Martellus Bennett and running back Matt Forte.

The Browns blew the same chance in New England last week. Cutler isn’t Tom Brady, but overall this is a more balanced offense.

3. Finishing seasons has been a weak point for the Browns since 1999, as you might have noticed. So has starting seasons and what happens in between.

But if D’Qwell Jackson has any chance to be right when he says the Browns will finish 2013 with a much better record than they’ve managed the past few seasons, today might be a good time to back it up.

A bold thought coming from a team that's lost seven of eight games.

Winning out gives them a 7-9 record and propels them (as much as a losing record can propel a team) into the offseason.

That’s a long shot but if possible it has to start in the final home game. The Browns were 3-2 at home at one point before crushing losses to Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. A win today gives them a 4-4 record at home

A loss gives Mike Polk Jr.'s old Factory of Sadness video more hits. This time we’d suggest he wear an Edwin Baker jersey.



2. When Jordan Cameron said he had a front row seat to a great show, he was talking about Josh Gordon, whose receiving yards in the last four weeks are as follows: 151, 261, 237, 125.

Gordon promised he’d make more plays than New England corner Aqib Talib, and backed up his words. He’s outnumbered by Jeffery-Marshall-Bennett this week but he’s as unstoppable right now as any receiver I’ve seen.

I’ve got him for 150 yards and two touchdowns. (Try not to look at my record in picking Browns’ games, please).

1. Jason Campbell faces his old team. I know, you could say that a lot about Campbell. He left the Bears after last season because he thought he wouldn’t play much behind Cutler (barring injury).

This has been a strange season for Campbell who was passed over for Brian Hoyer in Week 3, then again for Brandon Weeden coming off a thumb injury. Campbell doesn’t have the record (1-4) to seal his return in 2014 but he’s also faced New England, Kansas City and Cincinnati on the road during that stretch.

The Browns have to decide on picking up his option long before they know what they’re going to get in the draft. He’s not the most durable guy but it makes sense to bring him back.

Campbell has a chance to solidify his status with a strong finish to the season. I have him playing well in a close loss.

Bears 20, Browns 17

Fantasy Football: Chris Fedor gives his last minute fantasy advice for Week 15 (audio)

0
0

Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor gives you his last-minute analysis and talks about which players can give you the best chance to win this week in your fantasy football league.

Podcast: Fantasy Football Insider (12/15/13)

Foxboro, Massachusetts -- Who should you start and sit during Week 15 of the NFL season for your fantasy football team?

Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) gives you his last-minute analysis and talks about which players can give you the best chance to win this week in your fantasy football league.

Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed and Glenn Moore preview Browns-Bears (video)

0
0

Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed and Glenn Moore preview the matchup and talk about the big storylines.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears battle Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium.


Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot (@marykaycabot), Tom Reed (@treed1919) and Glenn Moore (@glennmoorecle) preview the matchup and talk about the biggest storylines.


Will Josh Gordon continue to dominate opposing defenses? Can the Browns establish a running game against the Bears?

Tailgate Talk: Who do you want to see as the starting QB next season? (video)

0
0

QB Jason Campbell is the starter now, but who will become the starter next season?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Campbell is coming off his best game of the season, and with one exception, Campbell has been steady in each of his starts.

But is that good enough for Campbell to become the Browns' starter next season? Maybe local product Brian Hoyer will get the nod, or will the Browns find their quarterback in the draft or free agency?

Today's final home game will not determine next season's starter, but a solid performance by Campbell could have a lasting impression.


Cleveland Browns' Josh Gordon involved in minor car accident on snowy road, cleared to face Chicago Bears

0
0

Browns star receiver Josh Gordon was involved in a minor accident on Saturday, but he wasn't injured and has been medically cleared to play vs. the Bears today.

CLEVELAND -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon was involved in a minor car accident on Saturday, but he was medically cleared to play against the Bears Sunday and was not injured, a team spokesman said.

According to team spokesman Zak Gilbert, Gordon was a passenger in his SUV Saturday on the way back to Cleveland when a car in front of his lost control on the snowy roads. To avoid a collision, his car swerved. Gilbert said as far he knows, there were no injuries. He said Gordon made his meetings at the team hotel and that he's been medically cleared.

Gordon posted a photo of his Range Rover being towed on Instagram. The caption reads "First day out here and we nearly died.''

The man in the photo is apparently Bram Koulhausen, Gordon's high school quarterback at Lamar High School in Houston.

Gordon heads into Sunday's game needing 88 yards to break Detroit's Calvin Johnson's five-game NFL receiving record of 861 yards.

Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears: 2013 NFL Megablog

0
0

Keep up to the minute with today's home finale for the Browns with our exclusive in-game Megablog.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's the finale to the home season, with the Browns playing spoiler to the Chicago Bears.

Welcome to today's Megablog for the Browns-Bears, otherwise known as "is there one more really good day left in this season, or do we have to just believe we're seeing an improved team?" As always, we'll have minute-by-minute updates from our cleveland.com and Plain Dealer reporters and columnists, along with observations from around the league.

Of course, you're welcome to open a second tab and chat along with others in our pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.

1:47 p.m.: Cutler's first incompletion is a 20-yard pass to Marshall broken up by T.J. Ward. Bears flagged for a false start. On second-and-15, Cutler isn't within five yards of Marshall on the left side against Haden.

Third down pass is deflected by Jabaal Sheard for the Browns' best defensive series of the half. Adam Podlesh's punt is fair caught by Poyer at the Browns 23.

1:42 p.m.: Browns have just six plays compared to the Bears' 20, so the defense would appreciate a little ball control. Campbell's first-down rollout gets four yards on a flip to Ogbonnaya. Ogbonnaya a little slow to get through a hole on the left side, and loses a yard. On third-and-7, Bears blitz a safety and Jordan Cameron is held by Isaiah Frey for five yards and a first down at the 28.

Ogbonnaya tests the Bears run defense and gets five yards on first down. Campbell's play-action pass to Cameron on the left sideline is way overthrown and an easy interception by Zack Bowman at the Bears 40.

1:37 p.m.: With just three drives so far in this game, Fox is well behind on its commercial breaks, so there's another stop in the action after Gould's touchback.

Browns 3, Bears 3; 12:55 left in second quarter

1:34 p.m.: Cutler had 100 yards passing in the first quarter, and didn't have a ball hit the ground -- 7-for-8 with the Gipson interception.

First down at the 11, Forte gets three yards on an inside handoff. Bears go back to the six-lineman formation, but the Browns get great penetration from Gipson and Ward on a sweep left and Forte loses a yard. Browns haven't stopped a third-down play on this series, and on third-and-8, Cutler's slip screen to Jeffery gets just four.

Robbie Gould's 23-yard field goal is good.

Browns 3, Bears 0; end of first quarter

1:28 p.m.: After marching down the field only to have Cutler's interception deny early points, how aggressive will the Bears be with the passing game? They add Eben Britton for a sixth offensive lineman, but Jackson and Ward stuff Forte for no gain. Gipson read a running play on second down and was blitzing into the backfield to stop Forte for a yard loss. On third-and-11, Cutler patiently waits for Bennett to open up over the middle for 22 yards against Jordan Poyer.

Reverse to Jeffery loses three yards on good recognition by Craig Robertson. Cutler to Marshall on a short slant gains nine yards. On third-and-4 at the 47, Cutler finds Jeffery for a first down against Joe Haden at the Browns 45.

Back to the run to Forte, who gets four yards up the middle. Cutler, in the pistol with Michael Bush, hands to Bush, who loses two yards with Billy Winn and Phil Taylor getting penetration. On third-and-8 at the 43, Bears bunch three receivers left, hits Marshall over the middle for a first down at the 25. Browns just not able to get to Cutler on these big third-down plays.

Forte for eight up the middle on first down. Bush gets a first down on an isolation handoff up the middle to the 11. Quarter ends.

1:19 p.m.: Bears start at 20 after Cundiff touchback.

Browns 3, Bears 0; 7:26 left in first quarter

1:16 p.m.: After pressure forces a first-down incompletion by Jason Campbell, Edwin Baker debuts with 10 yards over right tackle for a first down at the 37. Bears blitz but Browns have perfect call, and alley screen to Greg Little, who has Alex Mack leading a convoy to the Bears 19 for 44 yards.

Baker for a yard on a cutback over the middle. Fozzy Whitaker gets two more on a delay over the middle. On third-and-7 at the 16, Davone Bess drops a potential first-down pass at the 7 against a Bears blitz. Some things just don't change.

Billy Cundiff's 35-yard field goal splits the uprights.

1:11 p.m.: It's fan appreciation day for the Browns, but some fans aren't feeling it.

1:09 p.m.: Matt Forte gets 15 yards on his first two carries, giving Cutler an easy start to the game. His first throw to Forte gets five yards when Buster Skrine whiffs on a shoulder tackle in the backfield. On third-and-2, Bears flagged for delay of game as Cutler was late in pointing out blocking assignments on the Browns' linebackers.

On third-and-7, Marcellus Bennett beats D'Qwell Jackson on a short crossing route and gets 22 yards. First-down curl pass to Brandon Marshall against Craig Robertson gets 16 yards to the 14. Browns defense struggling to find assignments -- right until T.J. Ward deflects a Cutler pass intended for Marshall at the goal line and Tashaun Gipson intercepts and returns to the Browns 27.

1:03 p.m.: Devin Hester back for the opening kickoff, takes the ball nine yards deep and still gets the ball to the 32. He's still stunning ... and we're off.

1:01 p.m.: Bears call heads, lose the coin toss, Browns defer to second half and the Bears will take the ball to start today's game.

Meanwhile, Fox had a sideline report from Laura Okmin before a commercial break as the National Anthem was audibly being performed. Wonder if Fox News will report that as a crime against America.

12:53 p.m.: Fox's experts -- except for Terry Bradshaw, who's very skeptical of Jay Cutler's return -- believe in the Bears today. At the same time, Jimmy Johnson is predicting a big day for Chris Ogbonnaya.

Unfortunately, Bradshaw has the worst prediction record on the show. Oh well.

12:51 p.m.: Some last-minute news from Mary Kay Cabot on Josh Gordon (who was getting a fair amount of national love in today's pre-game shows).

12:47 p.m.: Brandon Marshall, in a Fox interview, on teammate Alshon Jeffery ... "He's the best in the league at tracking the deep ball." Jeffery on Jay Cutler ... "We don't expect a clean game ... we'll just deal with it."

If you're keeping score, that's one big compliment, and one that's not so much.

12:37 p.m.: Here's how Bud Shaw sees today's game.

"Today’s broken record goes like this: If the Browns’ defense is ever going to establish its reputation beyond a good statistical ranking, this is really the last chance to do it. Chicago's high-powered offense features Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, tight end Martellus Bennett and running back Matt Forte.

"The Browns blew the same chance in New England last week. Cutler isn’t Tom Brady, but overall this is a more balanced offense."

Meanwhile, Terry Pluto is getting a little surly as the season winds down.

"I just know that a year from now, I better not be writing sentences like: 'The Bears have the worst defense against the run in the NFL. But the Browns have a terrible running game. So I'm not sure that matters.' THIS HAS TO CHANGE."

12:30 p.m.: OK, the Bears are fighting for a playoff spot, but that won't really be the reason today's game will be a favorite for highlights on the networks. Of course, it's the weather.

Today's inactives provide a short list for the Bears.

Bears: LB Lance Briggs

Browns: RB Willis McGahee, G John Greco, TE Andre Smith, QB Alex Tanney, OL Martin Wallace, OL Reid Fragel, TE Keavon Milton

Browns vs. Bears: Live chat and video with Glenn Moore at the game

0
0

Join cleveland.com's Glenn Moore for a live chat during the game, halftime show and an audio postgame show from FirstEnergy Stadium.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the second quarter, the Browns and Bears are tied, 3-3, after trading field goals.


Get in-game updates and chat live with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore (@GlennMooreCLE), in the comments below. Join Glenn with Tom Reed for a live hafltime video show.

Then after the game, Glenn will be chatting with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff (@dmansworld474) about the game. You can call into the show: 440.678.7599. You can watch and listen to both shows below. Read what our reporters and columnists are saying in real time in our live Browns-Bears blog.


Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images