BEREA, Ohio - The final game at tonight’s boys basketball Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic has been postponed due to weather. The final matchup was slated to be between John Hay and Massillon Jackson at 7:30 p.m. at Baldwin Wallace University.
BEREA, Ohio - The final game at tonight’s boys basketball Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic has been postponed due to weather.
The final matchup was slated to be between John Hay and Massillon Jackson at 7:30 p.m. at Baldwin Wallace University.
“Jackson called to let us know they’re not coming,” said event promoter Jeremy Treatman.
The rescheduled date and site has not yet been determined, said John Hay coach Chris Sanders.
BEREA, Ohio — No. 5 Shaker Heights snapped a two-game losing streak with a 81-77 overtime win over No. 14 Cleveland Heights Sunday at the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic at Baldwin Wallace University. Shaker’s Esa Ahmad finished with 27 points and 18 rebounds. Marcus Bagley led Cleveland Heights with 26 points. The Raiders (9-3) outscored the Tigers (5-2), 8-4 in...
BEREA, Ohio — No. 5 Shaker Heights snapped a two-game losing streak with a 81-77 overtime win over No. 14 Cleveland Heights Sunday at the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic at Baldwin Wallace University.
Shaker’s Esa Ahmad finished with 27 points and 18 rebounds. Marcus Bagley led Cleveland Heights with 26 points. The Raiders (9-3) outscored the Tigers (5-2), 8-4 in overtime.
A technical foul on Shaker’s Rosel Hurley gave put Cleveland Heights on the line, trailing by four with 50 seconds left. Dondre McDowell hit one of the free throws, then Marcus Bagley hit a step-back 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to knot the game at 73.
Ahmad’s jumper at the regulation buzzer came up short.
This post will be updated with reaction, photos and video.
The Tigers used an 11-0 run in the third quarter to help make it a two-point-game heading to the fourth. That spurt included a personal 8-0 run by Dondre McDowell.
Shaker’s lead grew to a much as 11 in the first half behind some hot 3-point shooting in the second quarter. The Raiders were 4 for 6 from deep in the quarter, including a pair of 3s from Ahmad.
Bagley helped will the Tigers back, scoring eight points in the second quarter and finishing with 16 in the first half. Shaker led 43-36 at halftime.
Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
They Chargers advance to play next Sunday in Denver.
CINCINNATI -- Philip Rivers' gloved hands found the right touch in the January cold.
The Bengals? Still can't do anything right when it's playoff time.
San Diego took advantage of Andy Dalton's three turnovers in the second half on Sunday, pulling away to a 27-10 victory that extended the Bengals' stretch of playoff misery to 23 years and counting.
With Rivers making accurate throws in the chilling rain, the Chargers (10-7) won their fifth in a row, beating the last team that had knocked them off. They'll play next Sunday in Denver, which has the AFC's top seed.
It was a shocking finish for the Bengals (11-6), who won the AFC North, went unbeaten at home and had their top-ranked defense for the playoffs. With everything in their favor, they fell apart, getting outscored 20-0 in the second half.
"We asked a lot of our defense today and they came up with three big turnovers," said Rivers, who was 12 of 16 for 128 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. "We didn't turn it over, which is always big in the playoffs."
The Bengals now have the sixth-longest streak of playoff futility in NFL history, stretching all the way back to the 1990 season. They've lost their playoff opener three straight years, matching a league record as well, according to STATS LLC.
Coach Marvin Lewis fell to 0-5 in the playoffs during his 11 seasons as head coach, but is expected to stick around and get another chance to try again.
A lot of it fell on Dalton, who has a trilogy of bad playoff games. He fumbled and threw two interceptions in the second half that set up San Diego's win. Dalton finished 29 of 51 for 334 yards with a below-average passer rating of 67.
Combined with the Saints' victory over the Eagles on Saturday night, the two No. 6 playoff seeds won for the first time since 2010, when the Packers won the Super Bowl.
And the Chargers are thinking: Why not us?
"We talked all week about this being the fifth round," Rivers said, referring to their five-game winning streak. "So the sixth round will be in Denver next week."
This one was a reversal from the last time they met. The Bengals forced three turnovers for a 17-10 win in San Diego on Dec. 1, which became the Chargers' turning point.
The Bengals got the rematch at home, where they had scored 49, 41, 41, 42 and 34 points in their last five regular season games. They were blanked in the second half on Sunday, when Dalton went 17 of 34 for 170 yards with two interceptions, a fumble and three sacks.
In first-round playoff losses each of the past three seasons, Dalton has thrown one touchdown pass and six interceptions.
Rivers completed a team-record and NFL-best 69.5 percent of his passes this season for 4,478 yards. He was only 5 of 6 in the first half for 48 yards with San Diego frequently backed inside its 20-yard line to start drives.
He completed all of his six passes during a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that put the Chargers ahead to stay, with his 4-yard pass to Ladarius Green giving San Diego a 14-10 lead.
Dalton then made the mistakes that turned the game, allowing the Chargers to pull ahead. Ronnie Brown finished it off with a 58-yard touchdown run, the longest TD run against the Bengals in their playoff history.
Reports have circulated that Oklahoma's Bob Stoops is a frontrunner for the Browns job and that he has the inside track, but a source told cleveland.com that reports the Browns will interview him are false.
CLEVELAND -- Reports that the Browns will interview Oklahoma's Bob Stoops for their head coach job are false, a league source told cleveland.com.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Stoops, the Youngstown native, and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Canton native, are the Browns' top candidates. He also said the Browns were expected to interview Stoops this week.
The club has no plans to talk to Stoops, but did interview McDaniels Saturday in New England.
In addition to Rapoport's report that Stoops is a frontrunner, St. Louis 101 ESPN radio reporter Tony Softli reported this week that Stoops has the inside track for the job.
Stoops was asked about Softli's report Friday, the day after his Sooners upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and said "You never know.''
Earlier in the day, on The Dan Patrick Show, he said, "You never know what will come your way. Right now, I love what I'm doing. Right now it's not something I will pursue."
Asked if the Browns have contacted him, he said, "I never acknowledge or deny whether somebody's contacted me or not."
Overall, Stoops has gone 160-39 in his 15 seasons at Oklahoma, with 15 bowl games -- nine of the BCS variety -- eight conference titles and one national championship in 2000.
While the Browns aren't expected to talk to Stoops, they will apparently speak with Vanderbilt coach James Franklin.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that the Browns have requested permission to interview Franklin, as have the Redskins. He also reported that Franklin met with the Texans before Penn State's Bill O'Brien took the job.
Franklin, 41, has also been mentioned in connection with the Penn State and Texas vacancies.
CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora, who first reported the Browns' interest in Franklin, also said they like Auburn's Gus Malzahn -- who will face Florida State in the BCS national championship game Monday night.
The Browns have also interviewed Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
Even if Saturday's interview with McDaniels went well, the Browns can't hire him until he's out of the playoffs.
Ladd Biro hands out his end-of-the-season fantasy awards here.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - We're almost done. But not quite.
Before we close the books on another exhilarating / frustrating
/ victorious / humiliating (circle one)
fantasy season, we must take a quick stroll back through 2013 to examine the
players we rooted for and against and – with as much objectivity as we can
muster – give credit where credit is due.
As always, our annual accolades (and condemnations) have but
a few important criteria:
Consistency
on a weekly basis is next to godliness.
Production
during the fantasy playoffs – for our purposes, NFL Weeks 14 through 16 – is
given extra weight. Players who let
their owners down at the worst possible time earn our eternal scorn. (Hear that, A-Rod?)
Week
17 is dead to us. (Sorry, LeGarrette.)
Without further ado, I am pleased to present the 8th
Annual Biro's Heroes & Zeros Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos. Manning stood so far above his so-called
peers, they needed a telescope to see him. The next-closest QB (Drew Brees) had 16 fewer passing TDs, for crying
out loud. Runner-up: Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs.
"Peerless Price Memorial" Bust of the Year: Trent Richardson,
RB, Colts. There are plenty of candidates here, including Ray Rice, C.J.
Spiller and Doug Martin. But Richardson
gets the nod because he was given a new lease on life (the trade out of
Cleveland) and yet he still was unstartable virtually the entire season. His top rushing day? 64 yards.
Runner-up: C.J. Spiller, RB,
Bills.
Rookie of the Year: Eddie
Lacy, RB, Packers. The hard-nosed
back proved that the Packers really can run.
Runner-up: Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers.
Comeback Player of the Year: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles. He suited up for only 11 games last season, managing
just 700 yards and 2 TDs during that time.
Thanks to Philly's up-tempo offense, D-Jax nearly doubled his yardage
and reached the end zone nine times. Runner-up: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers.
Mr. Reliable:Antonio
Brown, WR, Steelers. Delivered at
least five receptions and 50 yards in every game. Usually much more. Runner-up:
Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints.
Surprise of the Year: Julius Thomas, TE, Broncos. If I was
better at math, I'd tell you the percentage increase in Thomas's production
from his first two years in the league (1 reception, 5 yards, 0 TDs) and this
season (65 for 788 yards and 12 TDs). I
think it's, like, 282 percent or something.
Runner-up: Knowshon Moreno, RB,
Broncos.
Best Waiver Wire Acquisition: Nick Foles, QB, Eagles. No
quarterback gave you a better chance to compete with Peyton's owner down the
stretch than Foles. Runner-up: Julius Thomas.
Mr. Big Play: Josh
Gordon, WR, Browns. Among his nine TDs were scoring jaunts of 37,
39, 43, 47, 74, 80 and 95 yards. Runner-up:
A.J. Green, WR, Bengals.
Most Devastating Injury Loss: Julio Jones, WR, Falcons. He was the top receiver in the land went he went
down in Week 5. Compounding the problem,
he took Matt Ryan and the Falcons down with him. Runner-up: Arian Foster, RB, Texans.
Steal of the Draft: Knowshon
Moreno. Montee Ball was supposed to
win the starting role. Ronnie Hillman
was supposed to be the change-of-pace back. Moreno took both of their jobs, and could have been had in the last
round of most drafts. Runner-up: Fred Jackson, RB, Bills.
Most Overrated:Doug
Martin, RB, Buccaneers. His owners seemed
almost relieved when he was lost for the season in Week 7, thankful they no
longer had to make the painful choice to bench him. Mike James, then Bobby Rainey, both looked
better running behind the same offensive line.
Runner-up: Colin Kaepernick,
QB, 49ers.
"Thomas Jones Memorial" Most Underrated:Fred Jackson. Despite a
quiet consistency that led to his Top 10 finish, skeptical owners routinely questioned
whether or not Jackson was start-worthy.
Runner-up: Frank Gore, RB,
49ers.
Made Chicken Salad from Chicken Scratch:Josh Gordon. On a team
virtually bereft of talent to support him, and after being suspended for the
first two games of the season, Gordon finished among the top three fantasy
wideouts. Runner-up: Rashad Jennings,
RB, Raiders.
Biggest
Postseason Disappointment: Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings. Gained just 13
yards before injuring his groin and foot in Week 14. Missed the next week, then returned to post 47
combined yards before being pulled early in a blowout. Runner-up:
Matt Stafford, QB, Lions.
Most Spectacular Bench Performance: Nick Foles. He was dreadful in Week 7 against the Cowboys
before he was knocked out with a concussion.
After sitting out the following week, there was no guarantee he would
play in Week 9. But he proceeded to
ravage the Raiders for 406 passing yards and seven, count 'em, seven TDs, landing
a perfect 158.3 QB rating for good measure. Runner-up:
Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns (6 receptions for 66 yards and 3 TDs in Week 3).
Most
Marginalized by Pathetic QB Play: Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings. The once-elite
wideout's talents were squandered by a rogue's gallery of passers, including
Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman.
Runner-up: All Jets WRs.
"Frisman Jackson Memorial" Irrational Exuberance Award: Eddie Royal, WR, Chargers. Collected five TDs in his first two
games. Then, aside from a couple of
cameo appearances, pretty much disappeared.
Runner-up: Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals.
Worst Sophomore Jinx:Trent Richardson. Awful.
Just awful. Runner-up: Robert Griffin III.
Team Bust of the Year (a.k.a. They Are Who We Thought They Were): New
York Jets. There isn't a player on this
team that you regret not drafting. Runner-up: Oakland Raiders.
"Plaxico Burress Memorial" Bonehead of the Year: Aaron Hernandez,
TE, Patriots. He makes Burress look like a choirboy. Runner-up: Kenny Britt, WR, Titans.
Most Likely to Succeed in 2014: Gio Bernard, RB, Bengals. Who would be surprised if BenJarvus
Green-Ellis plays elsewhere next season?
Bernard is poised for greatness in Cincinnati's high-octane offense. Runner-up:
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Vikings.
As always, I'm open to your feedback on these awards. Feel free to comment below, and be sure to
begin your message with "You're an idiot because..."
Be sure to follow the Fantasy Fools blog for all the offseason news you
can use, and we'll be back in August to chase another championship.
Ladd Biro was named Football Writer of the Year by the
Fantasy Sports Writers Association for two consecutive years (2010, 2011). He is a finalist for the award again in
2013. Follow all his advice daily at the
Fantasy Fools blog (fantasy-fools.blogspot.com), on Facebook
and via Twitter (@ladd_biro).
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There was more turmoil in the cleveland.com boys basketball rankings this week than any other so far this season, as seven of the Top 10 teams suffered a loss. As a result, there's plenty of reshuffling in the poll this week. Some familiar faces near the top of the poll took a tumble this week, as...
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There was more turmoil in the cleveland.com boys basketball rankings this week than any other so far this season, as seven of the Top 10 teams suffered a loss. As a result, there's plenty of reshuffling in the poll this week.
Some familiar faces near the top of the poll took a tumble this week, as well. Most notable, Mentor fell from No. 6 to No. 14 with two losses.
Each Monday at 11 a.m., the cleveland.com high school sports team will release its updated poll, along with a video discussing the picks. See the Top 25 under the video player.
We are excited to introduce comments to all cleveland.com high school sports stories this school year. Please sound off and share your top 25 in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
If the Eagles' fifth-place finish in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic and 49-point win over Mentor taught us anything, it's that St. Edward is one of the deepest and most versatile teams in the area if not the state.
This week: Friday vs. Chicago Currie (Ill.), Saturday vs. Arsenal Tech (Ind.) in McCracken County Festival of Hoops.
Villa Angela-St Joseph's tough schedule doesn't get any easier this week. The Vikings play just one local team (Jan. 14 at St. Thomas Aquinas) between now and Jan. 24.
Last week: Defeated No. 4 Central Catholic and No. 9 St. Vincent-St. Mary, lost to University of Detroit Jesuit.
This week: Friday at University School, Saturday vs. Walsh Jesuit.
Few teams are playing as well as St. Ignatius right now, and the Wildcats should avoid another loss before a showdown with No. 1 St. Edward on Jan. 18.
Last week: Defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, lost to No. 3 St. Ignatius.
This week: Tuesday vs. Buchtel, Friday vs. No. 22 Holy Name.
Offense is the focus as the Ironmen try to shrug off their first loss of the season. In the defeat to St. Ignatius, they scored seven points in the fourth quarter.
Last week: Defeated No. 7 Shaker Heights and Cleveland JFK.
This week: Friday vs. No. 21 Brunswick, Saturday vs. Benedictine.
The biggest risers this week are the Bulldogs, and the key to their recent success has been defense. They have allowed 54 points or less in their last four games.
Last week: Defeated No. 13 Cleveland Heights, lost to No. 6 Garfield Heights.
This week: Friday at No. 5 Medina.
There's just something off about this team right now, as it needed overtime against Cleveland Heights to avoid losing its third straight. Look for coach Danny Young to work the Raiders hard in practice this week.
Last week: Defeated Firestone, lost to No. 3 St. Ignatius.
This week: Friday vs. Athens.
With VJ King back in the fold, the Irish are a different team. Still, his absence wasn't the only reason for a 3-6 start to the year, as the team has questions down low.
This week: Friday vs. Fairport Harding, Saturday vs. No. 1 St. Edward.
Since losing to Central Catholic, the Bison have rattled off four straight wins. But the real test of how good this team is comes Saturday against St. Edward.
Last week: Defeated Shaw, lost to No. 7 Shaker Heights.
This week: Friday at No. 19 Warrensville Heights.
The Tigers gave Shaker Heights everything they had in an overtime thriller, but came up short in the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic. They have scored 77 points in both games played in the new year.
Last week: Defeated Elyria and Brecksville-Broadview Heights.
This week: Friday vs. Valley Forge.
Omari Spellman has been the Bears' best closer of late, scoring his team's last 11 points to beat Elyria and 13 in the second half to claim the Honey Jar against Brecksville-Broadview Heights.
With the week off, the Demons were supposed to kick off 2014 with the only other unbeaten in the Top 25, No. 8 Berea-Midpark, visiting. However, that game has been postponed due to weather.
Last week: Defeated Cardinal Mooney and Benedictine.
This week: Friday vs. Padua.
Following a close loss to No. 4 Central Catholic, the Cougars have bounced back with a pair of close wins. The combo of Zavier Powers and Justin Robinson continues to put up big numbers.
This week: Tuesday at Mayfield, Saturday at Edgewood.
The Lancers continue to win and have done so behind some stifling defense. They also have been winning big, with seven of their eight wins coming by double-digits.
Last week: Defeated Maple Heights, lost to No. 5 Medina.
This week: Friday vs. No. 13 Cleveland Heights, Saturday vs. Buchtel.
The Tigers are still playing the waiting game for transfers Jermaine Brown and Trevon McGhee, so we don't know exactly what this team has to offer yet.
The Bulldogs are back in the rankings after an impressive 70-57 win over Glenville. Olmsted Falls doesn't have much height but has plenty of talented shooters.
Last week: Defeated No. 14 Mentor and Richmond Heights.
This week: Tuesday vs. No. 23 Brush, Friday at No. 6 Garfield Heights.
Ryan Badowski and Zach Parker put the Blue Devils on their back to lead them back into the Top 25 after beating Mentor at home for the second straight year.
This week: Tuesday vs. Strongsville, Friday at No. 4 Central Catholic.
The dip in the rankings has more to do with the success of other teams than anything Holy Name did. Friday's showdown with the Ironmen presents a big opportunity.
This week: Tuesday at Midview, Friday at Rocky River.
Lakewood found some offensive balance to top North Olmsted and stay within the Top 25 for the second week. Two road games against West Shore Conference teams give the Rangers a chance to assert themselves in the chase for a conference title.
This week: Friday at No. 23 Brush, Saturday at No. 14 Mentor.
The Bulldogs' reward for staying inside the Top 25 for the second straight week isn't a good one: two games against Top 25 teams in two days.
Dropped out: Buchtel and Maple Heights.
Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Contact sports reporter Tim Bielik by email (tbielik@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@bielik_tim). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Here are five keys to watch in tonight's BCS National Championship game between No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Auburn.
1. Rush to defend: Florida State leads the nation in fewest points allowed per game (10.7) and the Seminoles are 13th in rush defense (116.5), so on the surface, it looks like FSU would be a good match for Auburn's nation's leading rush offense (335.7 YPG).
Forget all that.
Gus Malzahn's offensive approach is so different, one can't use how FSU held Miami to 83 yards and Duke to 99 yards as a barometer for how the Seminoles will fare against a Tigers offense full of elements of misdirection and option football.
Certainly, Auburn is capable of lining up and pounding you. But if you don't respect the possibility of a counter or the option to fake a handoff and keep, that's where the opponent gives up big plays and large chunks of yards.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall (14) hands off to Auburn running back Tre Mason (21) during the first quarter Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
Will FSU maintain its gap integrity against the Tigers' offense? If not, Auburn thousand-yard rushers Tre Mason (1,621 yards) at running back and Nick Marshall (1,023) at quarterback could wind up with the kind of big plays that have allowed the Tigers to make 300-yard rushing days routine. Against the Tigers, one missed assignment or missed tackle will result in a 20-plus yard chunk on the ground.
2. Winston Sail 'Em: If there is a mismatch in this game, it's when Florida State's offense takes the field.
On one side, FSU quarterback Jameis Winston is a Heisman Trophy winner with 3,820 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. On the other side, Auburn's defense is ranked 102nd out of 123 FBS teams in passing yards allowed (260.2 yards per game).
If Winston is sailing deep balls to Kelvin Benjamin and Rashad Greene, that will put that much more pressure on the Auburn running game to produce points the way it did in its miracle wins over Alabama and Georgia.
3. Robinson vs. Edwards: Auburn left tackle Greg Robinson has been a road grader in the run game who's capable of pass blocking. Florida State defensive end Mario Edwards is a monster who is capable of holding his own at the point of attack in the run game and bringing pressure in the passing game.
4. Irving vs. Ford: On the other side of the ball, FSU second-team all-American tackle Cameron Irving has the task of holding Ford at bay.
Ford is capable of being disruptive with 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss on the season. If he and the front four can't get to Winston and the Auburn defense has to manufacture pressure by blitzing, thus making defensive coordinator's blitz calls more predictable, it will be a long night for the Tigers' defense.
5. Special night?: Both teams have solid kickers, but Florida State freshman kicker Roberto Aguayo has been phenomenal, making 19 of 20 field goals en route to winning the Lou Groza Award. But if the game is close, the edge might go to Auburn kicker Cody Parkay (14-for-19 on the season), who has made big kicks in close games, something Aguayo hasn't had to do in a season full of FSU blowouts.
One Cleveland professional sports team has benefited from their league adding an extra wild card spot to the playoff system. Why can't the Browns? The NFL may be switching their playoff format.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One Cleveland professional sports team has benefited from their league adding an extra wild card spot to the playoff system. Why can't the Browns be the next?
Dan Patrick, of the "Dan Patrick Show" and NBC Sports, reported Monday that the NFL may expand the playoffs by adding one more playoff team to each conference.
Dan Patrick says he's been told that the NFL will add a wild card team in both conferences.
"There been no such decision. It would require a vote of the clubs and it has not yet been taken up with them. If it’s taken up this year, it would happen at the annual meeting in March. The agenda for the meeting has not been formulated."
CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora offered some of his insight on the report:
To this point it hasn't been presented to them. Of course, it could be at May meeting. DP may have inside info that enough votes are there
Would placing 14 of the 32 teams in the playoffs be the right thing to do? Browns fans would be in favor, but would we see a team with a 7-9 record sneak into the postseason?
If the new playoff format was in place for this season, the Arizona Cardinals would have qualified in the NFC with a 10-6 record, while the Pittsburgh Steelers would have overcame a 0-4 start to get in as the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
Are you in favor with the possibility of the NFL adding two more playoff teams to the mix? Vote in our poll below and voice your opinion in the comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — With Monday’s weather bringing school closings around Northeast Ohio, the expectation is many sporting events will be postponed early this week. Whether or not a school postpones practices or games is a decision left up to the individual school district. The Ohio High School Athletic Association does not weigh in on matters pertaining to school closings...
CLEVELAND, Ohio — With Monday’s weather bringing school closings around Northeast Ohio, the expectation is many sporting events will be postponed early this week.
Whether or not a school postpones practices or games is a decision left up to the individual school district. The Ohio High School Athletic Association does not weigh in on matters pertaining to school closings during the regular season.
“That’s entirely up to the school involved,” said Tim Stried, Director of Information Services for the OHSAA. “If it’s a practice, it’s the school’s decision. If it’s a contest, then the two schools would need to be on the same page. That involves administrators from both schools.”
See a list of this week's postponements shortly.
In the event that one school wants to postpone, and one thinks it’s OK to play, the OHSAA may offer its suggestions, Stried said, but the decision is still left up to the schools, with the host school having the biggest say.
Similarly, the Ohio Department of Education leaves decisions on all extracurricular activities up to the individual districts.
“Decisions to close schools and to cancel or postpone extracurricular activities is a local decision,” Department of Education spokesman Jon Charlton said in an email. “Many local districts have policies in place regarding extracurricular activities.”
Stried said it’s very possible for schools to still hold practices and games despite school being closed, particularly in the fall when issues like fog can keep schools closed, but dissipate in time to allow regular after-school activities.
The only circumstance under which the OHSAA interferes is during postseason tournaments, when it is often in charge of contracting officials.
Even in those cases, the OHSAA stays it works with the schools to find the best solution.
“If they believe it’s not safe to play and we agree, which most of the time we do, we would work with those schools so they play the game at the earliest possible time,” Stried said.
Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
The Houston Texans finished the season with 14 straight losses. Their 2-14 record earned them the first pick in the 2014 NFL draft. But with more than four months until draft day, Texans owner Bob McNair says his team is willing to move out of the top spot despite their glaring need for a new quarterback.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Houston Texans finished the season
with 14 straight losses. Their 2-14 record earned them the first pick in the
2014 NFL draft. But with more than four months until draft day, Texans owner
Bob McNair says his team is willing to move out of the top spot despite their
glaring need for a new quarterback.
"Maybe
we'll trade down and still get a quarterback that can do the job and get an
outstanding defensive player," McNair said last week. "It's an
exciting time. Everything's a moving target. Lot of different pieces."
The draft class hasn't been finalized. New underclassmen are
making their declarations every day. UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is the latest
to announce his intentions, with still more to come.
Quarterbacks will likely dominate the early selections. The
Texans (first pick), Jaguars (third pick), Raiders (fifth pick) and Vikings (eighth pick) are all drafting in the Top 10 and need a quarterback. After yesterday's playoff debacle, the Cincinnati Bengals
could also go searching for a new signal caller.
Then of course there are the Browns - the team that has had
so many different QBs since 1999 that an ever-changing jersey has been
created.
The Browns front office has racked up the frequent flyer
miles traveling across the country, doing their homework on this group of QBs.
With Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden currently listed on the
quarterback depth chart, finding a new quarterback is near the top of the Browns' priority list.
With the fourth pick, they seem to be positioned well if that's the direction they chose to go in. However, the QB class was reduced after UCLA's potential star - Brett Hundley - decided against entering early.
It could mean the Browns are once again left without a
seat when the final note plays in another game of off-season quarterback musical chairs.
Whether the Texans stance changes by the draft is anyone's guess. For now they are willing to do business if some team comes calling
with an offer. Could the Browns be one of the teams to pick up the phone? Could
they make a bold move to ensure leaving the draft with the top QB?
Teams may not completely abide by the NFL Draft trade value chart. The
Washington Redskins blew it to pieces when they dealt numerous picks for
the right to move up four slots in 2012 and draft Robert Griffin III, last
year's Offensive Rookie of the Year. But as you can see below it would take the
Browns and Texans swapping the first-overall and fourth-overall picks as a start. Along
with that, Cleveland would have to give Houston its second first-rounder that
the Browns received in the early-season Trent Richardson deal as well as a
second-rounder.
Is that price worth it for the Browns to move up and select the top quarterback - Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M's
Johnny Manziel or Bortles?
Would you be in favor of the Browns moving up in the draft? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Nine losses in the AP Top 25 poll ranks last week and seven came on the road in conference play. This will not be a fluke.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With no apparent powerhouse college basketball team in the Associated Press Top 25 -- although Michigan State shows possibilities -- this is probably the first week of many with a lot of movement in the poll votes.
The culprit is the start of conference play, where road games are the trap that almost every Top 25 team will fall into at some point the rest of the season.
Last week eight Top 25 teams suffered nine setbacks, and of the nine, seven were on the road in conference play.
The outliers were Memphis losing at home to unranked Cincinnati, and Kansas losing at home to ranked San Diego State. This week the word `upset' should be used very quietly when Ohio State plays at Michigan State, and Baylor travels to play at Iowa State. Should the home teams win, those really aren't upsets.
Looking around the country, keep an eye on Wichita State. Now that the Wheat Shockers have come through non-conference play unscathed, the question is can they do the same in the Missouri Valley Conference.
With Creighton now off to the Big East, WSU seems to be the overwhelming power in the Mo-Valley. A Final Four team last season, the Shockers could be a threat for a top four NCAA Tournament seed, with a pair of losses or less, come March.
My Top 25 votes this week: 1. Arizona 2. Syracuse 3. Ohio State 4. Wisconsin 5. Michigan State 6. Wichita State 7. Baylor 8. Oklahoma State 9. Duke 10. Villanova 11. Florida 12. Iowa State 13. Louisville 14. Kentucky 15. Oregon 16. San Diego State 17. Colorado 18. UMass 19. Gonzaga 20. Missouri 21. Kansas 22. Iowa 23. North Carolina 24. Cincinnati 25. Memphis
Top 5 in the state: 1. Ohio State 15-0 2. Cincinnati 13-2 3. Xavier 12-3 4. Toledo 12-1 5. Dayton 12-3
Waiting in line: Ohio University, Cleveland State.
Cincinnati's Bearcats have quietly gone about their business all season, with the lone stub coming in back-to-back losses to New Mexico and rival Xavier six games ago. Xavier is much the same, winning seven straight since losing three in a row.
OU is charging hard, winning four of its last five with the lone loss to nationally-ranked UMass. And despite a record barely over .500, Cleveland State seems poised to go on a winning streak to perhaps rise into the Top Five.
Glenville athlete Marshon Lattimore issued an oral commitment to Ohio State with teammate Erick Smith on Saturday to put the Buckeyes' recruiting class up to 21. But the Buckeyes have a few more spots to fill, and inside are the names you must keep tabs on.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – There may have been a little drama along the way, but in the end Ohio State kept Marshon Lattimore and Erick Smith, two four-star Glenville defensive back prospects, at home.
And once Lattimore and Smith made their oral commitments to Ohio State official Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Game, the Buckeyes’ 2014 recruiting class got two big steps closer to taking its final shape.
Now with 21 commitments, Ohio State has already assembled one of the top classes in the country. Rivals.com rates the group as No. 2 overall behind only Alabama, but the Crimson Tide also has three more committed prospects than the Buckeyes.
Ohio State isn’t done.
There likely won’t be as many fireworks heading into National Signing Day as there were last year – remember, Urban Meyer landed four top prospects in the final week of the process a year ago – but the Buckeyes could take up to three more pledges before Feb. 5.
Following is a list of six prospects to keep an eye on over the next month:
• John “JuJu” Smith, S, Long Beach (Calif.) Poly – Right now it seems as if Smith is a heavy lean to USC, but the five-star prospect told Cleveland.com in a recent interview that Ohio State is a program he’ll consider until the very end of the process. Rated by Rivals the No. 2 safety in the 2014 class, Smith is no longer a necessity in this class because the Buckeyes recently landed Erick Smith and Lattimore, but he’s good enough for Meyer to make room. Getting players out of places with warmer climates like Southern California is a battle for Ohio State, and one it likely wont win with Smith. The Buckeyes, however, are still alive.
• Malik McDowell, DE, Southfield, Mich. – Meyer has a specific taste with defensive lineman. He likes them large, and McDowell’s 6-foot-6, 292-pound frame fits the bill. But Meyer also wants athleticism, and that’s why McDowell is one of Ohio State’s top remaining targets. It’s also why McDowell is one of the top players at his position. Rated by Rivals the No. 4 defensive end in the 2014 class, McDowell has Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State as his leaders. The Buckeyes are in good shape with McDowell, and landing him would be the cherry on top of an already stacked recruiting class.
• Jermaine Roberts, CB, New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine – This would be a tough pull for Ohio State given Roberts is committed to Texas, and the Longhorns recently made a splash with the hiring of former Louisville coach Charlie Strong. The Buckeyes, however, have been the program working the hardest to get Roberts to flip. Roberts is a three-star prospect rated by Rivals the No. 27 cornerback in the class, and he also has offers from Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, UCLA and many others.
• Derrick Nnadi, DT, Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes – A four-star prospect rated by Rivals the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2014 class, the 6-1, 299-pound Nnadi is another big and athletic defensive lineman. Right now he’s focused on Virginia Tech, Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State and Virginia. The Hokies seem like the team to beat for, but the defensive lineman is taking an official visit to Ohio State in mid-January. As has been true in the past, Meyer is quite successful with top prospects who visit Ohio State late in the process. Sometimes the biggest battle for the Buckeyes is getting the prospect on campus, and Ohio State has won that battle with Nnadi.
• Trevion Thompson, WR, Durham (N.C.) Hillside – Ohio State has been involved in Thompson’s recruitment for a while, and the Buckeyes had him on campus for an official visit in November. Ohio State, however, seems to be fading behind Clemson and N.C. State to land Thompson, who is rated by Rivals a four-star prospect and the No. 26 wide receiver in the 2014 class. West Virginia and North Carolina are also in the mix.
What kind of head coaching style fits the Browns? Will the Browns hire a coach from the college ranks? Our Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot answered those questions and more during today's podcast.
Mary Kay Cabot Podcast, Jan. 6, 2014
What kind of head coaching style fits the Browns? Will the Browns hire a coach from the college ranks?
"It was really hard for me to not play as much as I wanted to. It's something I can learn from and use to motivate me through the spring," Bell said.
Watch video
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The talent and the inexperience, the why and the why not, the good and the bad – Vonn Bell's first start of his career in the Orange Bowl showed it all.
In the first quarter the Ohio State freshman nickelback was beaten by future NFL first-rounder Sammy Watkins for a 34-yard touchdown after somehow winding up on the Clemson star one-on-one in the slot.
“You know the guy is fast, but I've got to be a little better in playing the outside, but that's a lot of learning for a young guy,” Bell said in the locker room Friday after Ohio State's 40-35 loss to Clemson. “He's the number one receiver in the country, so it's good experience for me carrying on. I'm going to be ready next time.”
In the second quarter Bell made a leaping one-handed interception that shut down a Tigers' scoring drive and kept the game from getting out of hand early.
“I just said I've got to make a play for my team and for these seniors,” Bell said. “I said I'm a playmaker. That's the reason why I'm out there here. So I had to make a play for this team.”
Bell's game and season encapsulated the battle Urban Meyer and Buckeyes faced in deciding whether to play more young players or more veterans during their 12-2 season. The Class of 2013 didn't make as much of a difference for the Buckeyes as many expected, outside of defensive end Joey Bosa and punter Cameron Johnston. Meyer talked before the season about the chance a freshman class had to put a team over the top. But in the end, there was more watching than helping for most of the first-year guys.
Bell was at the front of that list, as fifth-year senior Corey Brown filled the hole at safety when Christian Bryant was injured. Meyer talked about Bell since the middle of the season, but he never really got on the field.
“It was really hard for me to not play as much as I wanted to. It's something I can learn from and use to motivate me through the spring,” Bell said. “That's every young guy. It's a little bit frustrating but you've always got to be patient and wait for the right time. So I was always ready.”
Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said before the game that hindsight is 20-20, admitting to some degree that maybe Bell should have played more earlier. Of course he was going to make mistakes, but so were the other players who were on the field in the OSU secondary. But Bell showed with his pick that he also had the talent and instincts to make up for those errors.
“It's confidence. You always think you're ready to go,” Bell said. “I never knew, but I always felt deep in my heart I was ready and I could make plays for this team. I thought that from the first game, but I've got to keep showing the coaches day by day and earning their trust.”
And what did Bell learn when he made his first start?
“I am one of the top players and I am one of the elite players out there,” Bell said. “It is something special out there for me.”
He'll be out there next year. With safety C.J. Barnett graduating and the redshirt appeal of Bryant denied so far, Tyvis Powell and Bell are sure bets to be two of the starters in the OSU secondary, at either safety or nickel. If Bell thought he should have been starting more this season, that might be a good thing. The pass defense had a rough year – it could use a guy confident he can help it.
“I've been having that all through high school,” Bell said. “Every DB's got to have that chip on their shoulder to think they're the best out there and they can cover anybody.”
Like a lot of defensive backs, Bell had trouble covering Watkins. But he showed enough in a tough loss to give the Buckeyes hope that next year he, and this secondary, won't have as much trouble.
The Cavaliers are tied for the NBA lead in turnovers in the last 10 seconds of a game -- .3 -- including a big one that sealed Sunday's 82-78 loss to visiting Indiana.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's not how often the Cavaliers turn over the basketball, it's when.
As of Monday morning, they were tied for eighth in the league (with Detroit and Orlando) with 15.4 turnovers a game. Philadelphia leads the league in turnovers, with 17.4 a game as of Monday, while the New York Knicks have the fewest -- 12.6 a game as of Monday.
But, as any Cavs fan who watched Sunday's 82-78 loss to visiting Indiana knows, with 6.9 seconds left and a chance for a 3-pointer to tie the game at 81-81, Earl Clark stepped out of bounds. According to NBA.com/stats, the Cavs, Detroit and Philadelphia lead the league in turnovers in the last 10 seconds of a game -- averaging .3 a game. They're tied for fifth with Brooklyn, Orlando and Utah in turnovers in the last five minutes of a game -- averaging 1.3.
Clark's turnover was his only one of the game, but the Cavs had 18, including a whopping 8 in the fourth quarter. That's the most they've had in a fourth quarter this season. They also had eight in the fourth quarter at San Antonio on Nov. 23. They've twice had nine turnovers in a quarter -- against Minnesota on Nov. 4 (a game they managed to win, 93-92) and against Miami on Nov. 27.
Admittedly, the Cavs were without their two main ball-handlers on Sunday. Kyrie Irving missed his third straight game with a left knee contusion, and Jarrett Jack was a late scratch with back spams. Then again, because of the amount of time they have the ball, they're two of the team leaders in turnovers. Irving is averaging 3 a game and Jack has 1.8. Dion Waiters is between them with 2.6 turnovers a game.
At any rate, Cavs coach Mike Brown knows it's an area of concern.
"That's something we have to get better at,'' the coach said after Sunday's game. "It's funny. A couple nights ago [against Orlando] we had a lot of turnovers [seven] in the second quarter. We talked to our guys about it at halftime, and I think we had two the entire second half.
"We can't get sloppy with the basketball. We do get sloppy from time to time, whether it's a mental lapse or whatever. It's something we have to just keep preaching. We're telling our guys to pass, to pass, to pass. Sometimes they leave their feet to make a pass that's uncharacteristic. Or we have a lot of times where the ball hits our hands, we take a dribble and it comes off our foot. Those are the type of things that, in time, hopefully we can clean up, especially if we expect to be a playoff team or an elite team, we can't do those types of turnovers where we're hurting ourselves.
"But it's something we're addressing with the team and will continue to address. We see moments of us not doing that, and there are moments where it comes back. The only thing we can do is coach them. ''
No news on Irving: The Cavs did not practice on Monday and Brown said he'd like to see Irving practice before he returns to a game. although it didn't sound like a hard and fast rule.
"I'd like for him to practice, but we'll see how he feels,'' Brown said. Irving has not spoken to the media since suffering the injury in the third quarter at Indiana on Dec. 31.
The Cavs play host to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
No TV: The Cavs game at Sacramento on Jan. 12 will no longer be televised by NBA TV, the league announced on Monday.
The last word: From Waiters, on Indiana's decision to force him to his right on his last shot, which could have tied the game with 9 seconds left, "I'm not one-dimensional. I just love going left.''
Most Cavs turnovers in a quarter this season
First quarter – 8 turnovers, twice 11/16 at Washington 12/23 vs. Detroit Second quarter – 9 turnovers 11/4 vs. Minnesota Third quarter – 9 turnovers 11/27 vs. Miami Fourth quarter – 8 turnovers, twice 11/23 at San Antonio 1/5 vs. Indiana
Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia
Time: 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Q.
TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio, WTAM AM/1100.
Notable: Cavs have split two games with Sixers this season, with each team winning at home. Cavs got pounded in Philadelphia, 94-79, on Nov. 8 but turned around and won in double-overtime the next night at The Q, 127-125. … Philadelphia will be playing the second night of a back-to-back after playing host to Minnesota on Monday. … The Sixers are 5-13 on the road.
Weather forces Northfield Park to cancel live race program.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Northfield Park has canceled its Monday night live racing program after a forecast of below-zero temperatures and a harsh wind chill.
The race track will be open for simulcast racing.
Live racing is expected to resume on Tuesday, with a 6 p.m. post time.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite having three members of the cleveland.com wrestling Top 10 on the sidelines, a lot certainly happened last week. One of the area's top wrestlers made his season debut, a defending state champ was beaten in exciting – and a bit controversial – fashion, and two dual meets saw clashes between Top 10 teams.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite having three members of the cleveland.com wrestling Top 10 on the sidelines, a lot certainly happened last week.
One of the area's top wrestlers made his season debut, a defending state champ was beaten in exciting – and a bit controversial – fashion, and two dual meets saw clashes between Top 10 teams.
The bout featured St. Vincent-St. Mary's Aaron Adkins, Division II 182-pound state champ last season, against Perry's Alec Schenk, who was third at 160 in Div. II last season.
As the tournament's most anticipated match, it didn't disappoint. Schenk fought off multiple takedown attempts by Adkins, and got a third-period escape to tie the match 1-1.
After Adkins shot for a takedown with 15 seconds remaining, Schenk pulled Adkins to the mat and, at first, was trapped underneath Adkins. But Schenk him over as one official signaled time had expired, and the other signaled a takedown.
Schenk raised his arms in victory and the home crowd erupted. Irish coach Anthony Gary immediately made his way to the scorer's table to talk with the officials.
"I think it was controversial because time is running down and (Schenk) is in position, but when he took Aaron down he was sitting on (Schenk's) chest," said Irish coach Anthony Gary. "One official is looking at the clock and the other official though it was a takedown. But it's wrestling and you're not always going to get the call."
Here's video of the final takedown, and Schenk's reaction to the big win.
Adkins, who caught Schenk in a hallway afterward and offered a congratulatory handshake, used Twitter to let everyone know his goals haven't changed for this season.
Minor setback to my major accomplishment, time to get crazy cause nothing can stop me from my 4th, nothing
Schenk and Perry coach Dave Rowan are still deciding if the four-time Pin City champ will drop down to 170 or stay at 182 for the remainder of the season.
"This (match) would definitely help me decide if I was going to or not," said Schenk. "I guess we'll see what happens."
Crestwood went 2-1 at Lake Catholic's Jimmy Cook Quad on Saturday and finally got a first look at senior 170-pounder Aaron Yonker.
A transfer from Garrettsville Garfield, where he was a state runner-up as a sophomore and had a junior year derailed by injury, Yonker was finally eligible to join his Red Devil teammates on Saturday.
He went 3-0 at the event, wrestling at both 170 and 182. He had pins in 1:16 and :14, along with a 7-2 decision over Lake Catholic's Kaz Struna.
Crestwood defeated Lake Catholic 45-30 and West Carrollton 75-0, and lost to Uniontown Lake 40-24.
ST. EDWARD vs. WADSWORTH
St. Edward hosted Wadsworth, Division II state power Claymont and Westerville North in a quad meet on Saturday. The Eagles and Grizzlies both went 2-1 at the event.
The Eagles beat the Grizzlies 39-15, but the final score was a deceiving. Six of the 11 matches the Eagles won were decided by three points or less. They included a 3-0 decision for L.J. Bentley over Noah Baughman at 113 and a 10-7 decision for Gabe Dzuro over Tim Knipl at 182.
After that defeat, the Grizzlies rebounded with a 31-29 win against Claymont. The match was close throughout, and five bouts were decided by three points or less. The 126-pound match was the last of the dual, and Connor Gray was able to beat Claymont's Kollin Clark 2-1. The scoring came on two stalling calls and an penalty for an illegal slam.
The Eagles lost 31-29 to Claymont in another dual that was close entering the final bouts. But Claymont was able to clinch with Clark's 5-2 decision over Isaac Collier, making Ladnier's technical fall victory at 132 not enough.
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.
Stow High graduate Shawn Porter, who captured the IBF welterweight championship last month, says he is ready for all challengers.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shawn "Showtime" Porter (23-0-1, 14 KOs) went from being a guy only known by
hardcore boxing fans to being a legitimate champion when he defeated Devon
Alexander (25-2, 14 KOs) to win the IBF welterweight belt Dec. 7.
"It
was a major moment for me, it makes me a hot commodity in boxing, if I
get the right fights and win, I can write my own ticket," said Porter, a Stow High School graduate. "I always knew I was special, but now I have an opportunity let the world know who I am and what I'm about."
Before the upset, some would say Porter's claim to fame was being a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao in 2009 for the Miguel Cotto fight.
"Training with Manny was huge for my father (Kenny Porter) and I," Porter said. "I was in the ring with one of the best fighters in the game, and my dad was learning from Freddy Roach. It was crazy how much knowledge they dropped on us. I find myself using the lessons learned in all my fights," Porter said.
Shawn Porter is honored by the Akron Zips men's basketball team and coach Keith Dambrot after Porter captured his IBF title last month.Photo courtesy of Shawn Porter
He isn't sure who his next opponent will be, but he's angling for a unification bout with WBA champion Marcos Maidana (35-3,
31 KOs).
"I went to the Adrien Broner vs. Maidana fight with my belt, knowing
I wanted the winner," Porter said. "I really want this fight. Boxing needs the its
best young fighters in the ring together. I have the style to beat him,
but I know it's going to be a battle because he doesn't quit."
Porter is enjoying the perks of his success but realizes he can't get too comfortable.
"I don't want to end up like some guys who have too much fun and start taking opponents for granted," Porter said. "I'm back in Northeast Ohio to have some fun for now, but I'll be back in Vegas training next week to prepare for my next fight."
In this video, Porter discusses his beloved Browns, meeting Floyd Mayweather, and his community service.
Scot Atchinson is the 11th player the Indians have invited to big league camp on a minor league deal for spring training
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have signed right-hander Scott Atchison to a minor league contract and invited him to big league spring training. Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 11.
Atchinson, 37, spent last season with the New York Mets. He made 51 relief appearances, going 3-3 with a 4.37 ERA. In 45 1/3 innings, he struck out 28, walked 12 and allowed 45 hits in 45 1/3 innings.
The 6-2, 200-pound Atchinson has pitched for Seattle, San Francisco and Boston besides the Mets. He pitched for Tribe manager Terry Francona in Boston in 2010 and 2011.
Atchinson has mad 205 appearances, all out of the bullpen, in his big league career. He's 10-10 with one save, 29 holds and a 3.64 ERA.
He earned 10 holds for the Mets last year despite two trips to the disabled list with a strained right elbos and a strained right groin.
Atchinson is the 11th player the Indians have invited to spring training on minor league deals.
Pitchers (seven): Atchinson, Travis Banwart, Matt Capps, Tyler Cloyd, Shaun Marcum, J.C. Ramirez and Mike Zagurski.
“We met and that’s about all there is at this point,” McDaniels said on a conference call with Patriots reporters.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels confirmed Monday that he interviewed with the Browns on Saturday, but declined to elaborate on his interest in the job.
“We met and that’s about all there is at this point,” McDaniels, a Canton native, said on a conference call with Patriots reporters. "Nothing, nothing further.”
McDaniels, 37, characterized the opportunity as flattering but stressed he loves his job. The Patriots will face the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night in the divisional playoffs.
“I appreciate the question, and I understand it,” said McDaniels, a Canton native. “I know that’s something that comes up each time this year for other coaches. The opportunities are certainly flattering if they come up.
"That being said, I am going to try to keep my focus on the Colts and our preparation this week. Like I’ve said in the past, I’m fortunate to have the job I have, and I love being here. I love doing what I’m doing. Each opportunity that comes along is a little different, and I’m going to leave it at that and continue to put my effort and attention into the Colts this week.”
McDaniels is one of the three NFL assistants the Browns have interviewed. The others are Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. The Browns have also received permission to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, but he has declined overtures from the Browns and Vikings until the Broncos are out of the playoffs.
McDaniels has long been on the radar of Browns general manager Mike Lombardi, and has also long been admired by Browns CEO Joe Banner.
The Browns have also requested permission to talk to Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, and are interested in Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, whose team will play in the BCS national championship game Monday night against Florida State.
