NFL GMs and owners came out in strong support of NFL draft prospect Michael Sam, saying they'd still draft him even though he came out as gay Sunday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A day after NFL draft prospect Michael Sam came out as gay, decision-makers all over the NFL said they'd draft him regardless of his groundbreaking revelation.

Sam, the linebacker from Missouri who earned 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors for his conference-leading 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss, is projected as a mid- to late-round pick.

The timing of the announcement is significant, because the NFL Scouting Combine begins next week in Indianapolis.

Three NFL personnel executives told cleveland.com that Sam's homosexuality wouldn't be a factor and that they'd draft him regardless.

"I absolutely believe if his talent as a football player can help this team win, then he gets draft,'' said one personnel man.

Another estimated that as many as 50% of teams would pass on him.

"I can't predict what the other 31 teams would do,'' said the executive. "For us, it's a non-issue. If he can help us, we'll take him.''

The third personnel man said he didn't think the first openly gay player in an NFL locker room would "present a distraction for very long since the news is out now.''

One of the talent evaluators said he didn't think Sam's declaration would impact his draft status much "because he's not a very high pick anyway.''

Cleveland.com requested a comment from the Browns through their media relations department, but as of Monday evening, they had not released a statement.

But other owners and GMs around the league were very vocal in their support of Sam Monday.

“Michael stated with great poise and confidence who he is as a person and football player, and I have tremendous respect for him in the way he conveyed his thoughts, and the courage it took to state them publicly,” Bears GM Phil Emery wrote the Chicago Sun-Times. “Each and every player in the NFL is a unique individual, as we all are in life.

"We all ultimately gain respect in our jobs by how well we perform at our chosen profession and if the level in which we perform adds positively to the collective goal of success. Michael stated this and I agree with his thoughts. It is about his skill set as a football player to add positively to a team’s goals and that’s how he will be evaluated.”

Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the Boston Herald that he'd welcome Sam and has already talked to coach Bill Belichick about the possibility of acquiring a gay player.

"We're about winning," Kraft told The Herald. "And anyone who can come in here and help us win, I personally don't care what their ethnic background is, their racial background, the gender preference. If they can help us win, and they're about team first, then I'm happy to have him here."

Kraft went so far as to say that Sam would flourish in the Patriots organization

"He'd gain strength by being in here," Kraft said. "And it wouldn't be divisive and he'd make friends for life and they could help him win."

Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway told the team's website that he'd treat Sam like any other player.

"I applaud Michael Sam and wish him the very best as he continues the pursuit of his NFL dream," Elway said. "As we look toward the Combine and draft, we will evaluate Michael just like any other draft prospect — on the basis of his ability, character and NFL potential. His announcement will have no effect on how we see him as a football player."

Elway predicted that Sam will thrive in an NFL locker room.

"Having spent 16 years in an NFL locker room, the bottom line is that it’s about treating others with respect and earning that respect," he said. "By all indications, it appears Michael has done just that throughout his football career.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has received favorable reports about Sam and will focus on his ability.

"I think you definitely have to feel he's a courageous young man but my understanding is he's a talented young player," McCarthy told reporters Monday during a session to introduce new members of his coaching staff. "We always from Day 1 talked about our program, about our culture. Ted (Thompson) is going through the draft process right now and at the end of the day it comes down to good football players.

"Any player who can come here and be a good teammate and follow the rules of our program, which is one be respectful and produce on the football field, we have room for that guy.

Giants co-owner Steve Tisch told the New York Daily News, "Michael Sam is a gifted athlete and a courageous man. I hope any NFL team would not hesitate to draft Michael if he is right for their team. Our game is the ultimate team game, and we often talk about how a team is a family.

"Regardless of where you are from, what your religious beliefs are, what your sexual orientation is, if you are good enough to be on the team, you are part of the family. How the University of Missouri and its football program embraced and supported Michael is a tremendous blueprint for all of us, but frankly, I think the lessons of our game also provide the same positive example.”

The NFL also released a statement through spokesman Greg Aiello: “We admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.”

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The latest AP boys basketball state poll was released earlier tonight. Click here to take a look. These polls are voted on by a group of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout the state of Ohio, including cleveland.com's David Cassilo and Tim Bielik.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The latest AP boys basketball state poll was released earlier tonight. Click here to take a look.

These polls are voted on by a group of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout the state of Ohio, including cleveland.com's David Cassilo and Tim Bielik.

Every week, we will show you how we voted compared to the end result of the state poll and provide some insight into our choices.

(State poll is listed first, followed by cleveland.com's ballot)

DIVISION I

1. St. Edward (15) 16-1 228

2. Cin. Moeller (5) 17-1 208

3. Zanesville (4) 18-0 199

4. Massillon Jackson 15-2 132

5. Trotwood-Madison 17-2 121

6. Perrysburg 17-1 112

7. Cols. Northland 16-3 82

8. Berea-Midpark 16-2 69

9. Uniontown Lake 16-2 36

10. Tol. Bowsher 16-2 26

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Shaker Hts. 17.

cleveland.com ballot

1. St. Edward

2. Cincinnati Moeller

3. Zanesville

4. Trotwood-Madison

5. Shaker Heights

6. Toledo Bowsher

7. Massillon Jackson

8. Perrysburg

9. Cols. Northland

10. Medina

Notes: Once again, there's very little respect for Shaker Heights. If they beat St. Edward on Tuesday and don't make the state poll next week, the Raiders never will.

Despite losing to North Royalton on Saturday and being seeded behind them in the district playoffs, Berea-Midpark is still ranked this week.

DIVISION II

1. Cols. Watterson (15) 16-1 224

2. Mansfield Ontario (6) 19-0 196

3. Day. Dunbar (3) 16-3 187

4. Norwalk 17-1 155

5. Circleville Logan Elm 17-1 122

6. Day. Thurgood Marshall 14-4 86

7. Franklin 16-3 80

8. Millbury Lake 17-1 37

9. Central Catholic 13-4 43

10. Defiance 15-3 40

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Athens, 22, 12. St. Vincent-St. Mary 19.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Bishop Watterson

2. Dayton Dunbar

3. Mansfield Ontario

4. Cleveland Central Catholic

5. Norwalk

6. Dayton Thurgood Marshall

7. Millbury Lake

8. Elida

9. Toledo Scott

10. Franklin

Notes: It's clear that there's a distinct difference of opinion as to who is No. 1 in Division II with three teams getting first-place votes. At this moment, it seems as if both Cleveland Central Catholic and St. Vincent-St. Mary are being underrated based on their records. 

DIVISION III

1. Belmont Union Local (18) 19-0 229

2. Beachwood (1) 16-2 188

3. St. Bernard Roger Bacon (2) 15-3 150

4. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (3) 12-6 132

5. Chillicothe Zane Trace 16-2 125

6. Lucasville Valley 18-2 112

7. Gilmour 15-2 100

8. Lima Cent. Cath. 14-3 97

9. Cols. Ready 13-5 46

10. Warrensville Heights 10-7 21

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Creston Norwayne 19, 12. Portsmouth 17, 13. Archbold 16.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Villa Angela-St. Joseph

2. Beachwood

3. Belmont Union Local

4. St. Bernard Roger Bacon

5. Cincinnati Clark Montessori

6. Columbus Bishop Ready

7. Lima Central Catholic

8. Warrensville Heights

9. Gilmour

10. Paulding

Notes: There are four teams in the Division III poll once again. Perhaps most significant, though, is that all four of these teams will play each at the Garfield Heights district. There aren't many tougher districts in the state.

DIVISION IV

1. Convoy Crestview (21) 18-0 225

2. New Madison Tri-Village 18-1 196

3. Berlin Hiland (1) 17-2 166

4. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (1) 20-1 145

5. Tol. Ottawa Hills 14-1 134

6. Troy Christian 17-2 95

7. Tipp City Bethel 14-3 79

8. New Washington Buckeye Cent. 16-2 78

9. Haviland Wayne Trace 14-2 31

10. Peebles 16-2 23

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Maria Stein Local 16.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Convoy Crestview

2. Berlin Hiland

3. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep

4. New Madison Tri-Village

5. Toledo Ottawa Hills

6. Troy Christian

7. New Washington Buckeye Central

8. Tipp City Bethel

9. Plymouth

10. Newark Catholic

Notes: No Northeast Ohio teams were ranked.

The Indians and outfielder Michael Brantley are closing in on a multi-year contract extension, sources told Cleveland.com.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and outfielder Michael Brantley are closing in on a multi-year contract extension, sources told cleveland.com.

Brantley, 26, could sign a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year, according to a source. Acquired in the CC Sabathia trade in 2008, Brantley is a career .277 hitter in parts of five seasons with the Indians. He batted .284 with 10 home runs and 73 RBIs last season.

Brantley and the Indians were scheduled to meet for an arbitration hearing on Feb. 17. The Indians won their case against right-handed reliever Vinnie Pestano on Friday, their first arbitration hearing with a player since 1991. Pitchers Josh Tomlin and Justin Masterson also have arbitration hearings scheduled.

The Indians had conversations about extensions with both Brantley and second baseman Jason Kipnis last year. Kipnis said he hoped the two sides could work something about before the start of the season and that he would end talks once the season commenced. 

Watch Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam talk about replacing CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi with new General Manager Ray Farmer. Also, Farmer talks about his new role. Watch video

 BEREA, Ohio -- Jimmy Haslam named Ray Farmer the new general manager of the Cleveland Browns in a front office shakeup that has CEO Joe Banner and former GM Mike Lombardi leaving the team.

Haslam said that streamlining the organization will set the stage for success.  Farmer, along with President Alec Scheiner and Head Coach Mike Pettine will report directly to him.

“I felt like the previous setup was cumbersome and this new arrangement is much more streamlined,” Haslam said during a press conference at the Browns facility.

Banner will stay on for a couple months to assist in the transition.

Haslam said, “We're going to work, and we're fully committed to make this organization a winner.”

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Chat with other fans as well as cleveland.com personalities in the comments section below about the departures of Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi. Click on the video player for live shows throughout the day reacting to the changes Jimmy Haslam announced today.

Listen to our live audio call-in show from 7:30-9 p.m.

Read our live blog and chat in the comments section.

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam speaks to media. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer)

BEREA, Ohio -- Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi are out as CEO and general manager, respectively, of the Cleveland Browns.

What did you think of the moves and what's next for the organization?

Listen to our live show with Glenn Moore and Dennis Manoloff from 7:30-9 p.m. You can also call in at 440 678-7599.

Chat with other fans as well as cleveland.com personalities in the comments section below.

Video: Miss a live video show from earlier? Click here to watch the archives.

More Browns Shakeup stories

Return to Browns section

Wrestler at Kent State, Sam Wheeler from Copley, is suspended indefinitely for inappropriate tweets.

John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kent State wrestler Sam Wheeler was suspended indefinitely from the wrestling team Monday for recent inappropriate tweets regarding TV coverage after Missouri linebacker Michael Sam publicly announced that he was gay.

According to athletic director Joel Nielsen, and head wrestling coach Jim Andrassy, there could be more action forthcoming.

"We are aware of the insensitive tweets by one of our student athletes,'' a Nielsen statement read. "on behalf of Kent State University, we consider these comments to be ignorant and not indicative of the beliefs held by our university community as a whole. This is an educational opportunity for all of our student-athletes.''

Coach Andrassy also had a statement, where he said he was offended by the remarks, and that Wheeler is now remorseful. But, "he will be suspended indefinitely while we determine the best course of action moving forward."

Wheeler, 20, is a sophomore 184-pound wrestler from Copley, O. who is 27-5 on the KSU wrestling team.

Joe Banner's departure from the Cleveland Browns came as a complete shock, but the writing was on the wall for Mike Lombardi to leave. These and other observations from Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jimmy Haslam's blockbuster announcement Tuesday that Browns CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi are gone only came as half of a shock to me.

• Browns Fan Central: Listen to live audio, read our live blog and chat in the comments  live about the team shakeup

The writing was on the wall for Mike Lombardi's departure as long ago as Dec. 30 when the Browns conducted their press conference to address the firing of Rob Chudzinski.

That day, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was asked why Lombardi was not part of the press conference or other big Browns moments.

“I’ve never really thought about it, to be honest,'' Haslam responded.

It was telling, that it never really occurred to Haslam that Lombardi wasn't there. Then, on the day coach Mike Pettine was hired, Farmer turned down a second interview with the Miami Dolphins for their GM job, and Haslam pumped him up after the Pettine presser, calling Farmer a rising star in the NFL. I bounced my hunch that Lombardi was gone off two NFL GMs that day, and neither had heard the whispers yet.

I also asked Farmer and Banner during Super Bowl week if Farmer was promised the GM job here, and both said no.

But it all added up to one thing: Lombardi was persona non grata with the team and not long for Cleveland.

The Banner departure, on the other hand, came as a complete shock to me -- but it shouldn't have. Here's why: The day Pettine was hired, Banner said the toughest decision of the entire coaching search was passing up a chance to interview Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn a second time. He praised Quinn and predicted he'll be an excellent head coach someday. It was clear that Banner wanted to wait for Quinn, and that Haslam pulled the trigger on hiring Pettine.

I asked Haslam about that on Tuesday, and he said, "I was really committed to coach Pettine.''

Some other thoughts rattling around my brain in the aftermath of this huge overhaul:

• The Peyton Manning Factor: Haslam currently has no CEO in the front office. My guess is that he'll offer that job to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning someday. He loves Manning, they're great friends, and he's watched what John Elway has done in running the Broncos. Manning will play at least one more season to break Brett Favre's record for TD passes, but might be lured into a CEO role after that. The day Haslam agreed to purchase the Browns, I asked him if he'd bring Manning aboard, and he praised Manning, saying among other things, "he's very smart.''

• What does this mean for quarterback Brian Hoyer? Lombardi has long loved Hoyer and brought him to Cleveland. The new staff seems to love him too, but what if the Browns draft a quarterback with their No. 4 overall pick? If Hoyer wants a chance to start now that he's proven he can win, Texans coach Bill O'Brien, who coached Hoyer in New England, would probably at least be intrigued. Would the Browns part with him? Maybe not. But if they're looking for a good backup for their rookie, they can try to trade for Redskins backup Kirk Cousins, whom offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan really likes.

• Banner saved Haslam: Haslam had no idea what he was doing when he first purchased the Browns, and couldn't have gotten up and running without Banner. Banner hired tremendous people, including president Alec Scheiner, and helped secure financing for the stadium improvements. He also helped secure naming right for FirstEnergy Stadium and completely redesigned the Browns facility in Berea. But Banner took a huge risk in bringing Mike Lombardi in as his general manager, and it indirectly led to his own departure. Lombardi was never accepted by the local media, and when it came to the coaching search, some candidates just didn't want to work with him. Others were leery of Banner and some had issues with both. Whether the concerns of the candidates were real or perceived, it's a fact that some shied away from the Browns because of Lombardi and Banner -- and Haslam knew it.

• Would Rob Chudzinski have been fired if this shakeup had happened before the end of the season? Some insiders have told me that Haslam really liked Chudzinski ("Chud was Haslam's guy,'' said one source) and probably would have given him at least another year. "Those are hard decisions,'' Haslam said Tuesday. "I think we made the right decisions, we’re really excited about coach Pettine.'' Too bad Chudzinski had to lose his dream job in the midst of this upheaval.

• Who are some of the candidates that didn't want to come? I've been told that O'Brien and Ken Whisenhunt didn't want to come because of either Banner, Lombardi or both. O'Brien didn't even interview for the job this year. I've also been told that Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase declined to talk to the Browns because of concern over the management team in place.

• A sea change? One NFL GM told me today "I will do business with the Browns again -- and I'm not the only one that feels this way.''

Farmer is one of seven current minority GMs in the NFL.

BEREA, Ohio – Ray Farmer understands few football scouts and front-office personnel ascend to the level of NFL general manager. He knows the number is even smaller among minorities.

On Tuesday, Farmer made history in becoming the Browns’ first African-American GM as part of the franchise’s front-office shakeup. The 39 year old, promoted from assistant general manager, acknowledged what the opportunity meant to him in that regard.

“It definitely is an element of pride,” Farmer said during a news conference. “I definitely am very proud and happy for this day. As I get older, my Mom and Dad are dear to me, and I wanted them to see this moment in my life.

“I’m extremely excited for them to witness their son achieve this milestone that I had set for myself. It’s definitely important, and I am very grateful and thankful for the opportunity that (Browns owner Jimmy Haslam) has given me.”

Farmer is one of seven minority general managers in the league. The others are: Baltimore's Ozzie Newsome, Buffalo’s Doug Whaley, Detroit's Martin Mayhew, Houston's Rick Smith, the New York Giants’ Jerry Reese and Oakland's Reggie McKenzie.

Longtime friend and former Philadelphia Eagles’ teammate Brian Dawkins said Farmer knows what’s at stake and how it could impact future minority hires.

“Let’s be frank, there’s always pressure to succeed in that position," the ESPN analyst said. "But he realizes if he does a great job it will help other African Americans who aspire to be general managers achieve their goals.”

Former Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli told cleveland.com in October that Farmer merited a top job during last off-season, when no minorities were hired for eight coaching and seven GM openings. The Rooney Rule requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority for such positions.

The Browns added Farmer as an assistant GM after he interviewed for the job that went to the ousted Michael Lombardi.

“He’s absolutely ready,” said Pioli, now an Atlanta Falcons executive, said at the time. “I think it’s shameful he didn’t get more interviews and offers in a league that talks so much about diversity. Kudos to Jimmy ... for giving him a seat at their leadership table. You’re not going to find someone who’s more intelligent and hard working.”

One man who spoke with particular pride regarding Farmer’s promotion was John Wooten. The former Browns guard and member of the 1964 NFL championship team was part of the Eagles’ management team that drafted Farmer as a linebacker in 1996.

Wooten has witnessed Farmer's rise through the scouting and front-office ranks with the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. The 77-year-old also is chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes diversity and equality in NFL coaching and front-office hires.

He supported Farmer’s decision last month to withdraw his name from consideration for the Miami Dolphins’ GM job even when it appeared he was the front runner.

“We knew he had the opportunity to take the job in Miami and he felt it wasn’t the right time and place for him,” Wooten said. “We wanted him to finish out the process, but he felt like it was time to not go any farther. Now, he has a chance to take over a club that means so very much to us and push it in the right direction.”

Wooten, a two-time all-Pro, is thrilled Farmer will get his opportunity with the Browns.

“I’m probably more excited by the fact that it’s Cleveland,” said Wooten, who played for Browns from 1959-67. “Cleveland is the heart and soul of what I’m about. I love Cleveland. So many of the things I cherish in my life are tied directly or indirectly to Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns deserve to have this club brought back to the top where it rightly deserves to be and I’m hoping this will be the young man to do it.”

Jimmy Haslam has proven to have a quick trigger as Browns owner. What he hasn't come close to showing is that his increased involvement is what the Browns need to finally build a winning organization.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Jimmy Haslam says no more major changes are in the works.

Now that he's going to be more directly involved in running his football team, he can only hope the FBI agrees.

Haslam did not preface the assurance with “candidly.” Maybe he knows that word is totally played out in Berea, where other Haslam proclamations promised stability and still more sung praise of coveted, talented people signing up to be part of something special.

Faith in Haslam’s ownership is close to being played out, too. And nobody thought that would be the case so soon after Randy Lerner. If he doesn’t get it right this time with another GM and rookie head coach, or he's indicted as part of the Pilot Flying J investigation (or both) he’ll have lost complete traction here among the most forgiving and patient fan base in the country.

In his short and calamitous tenure, he’s fired Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi.

The first regime was a given. But you know what they say. Sweep out the old. Sweep out the new?

Now that GM Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine will report directly to him -- so, too, Alec Scheiner on the business side – we are supposed to see that as a new and improved flow chart based, I guess, on how well he's run his primary business at Pilot Flying J.

The positives? Giving more power to Farmer is seen around the league as a good step but only a first step. Bringing in someone to help Farmer -- Bill Kuharich was the speculation by ESPN's Adam Schefter -- would bring more help at this late date.

The scope of Banner’s power over the football side was counterproductive to bringing in a strong GM and/or a head coach with any kind of resume. That's been the case since the beginning. We saw that in two coaching searches.

But two weeks ago, Haslam was still adamant that wasn't an issue, blaming the media for creating a false perception. Why such a blind spot?

The defrocking of Banner and Lombardi would’ve been more helpful before the head coaching search. After the fact? The Browns fired the two executives who headed the talent hunt, then turned things over to a GM who wasn't as involved in the coaching search.

I thought when it started the Browns must’ve had a head coach in mind to have fired Chudzinski after 11 months. Why go through the same exact process two years in a row in hopes somebody would wow them over dinner?

I guessed Josh McDaniels or Bill O’Brien were the target. The fact the Browns and McDaniels were talking on the rebound, the fact the Browns were flying to Florida to interview Greg Schiano a few days before hiring Pettine sent mixed signals. How sure were they?

Now they have a head coach they didn’t contact until two weeks after the search began and who wasn’t interviewing anywhere else. Now, within a month, Haslam has fired his top execs, cloaking their departures in the need to simplify the organizational structure. Pretty simple before. Everybody reported to Banner, who reported to him.

You can feel good about Banner and Lombardi leaving. I get it. I thought Banner's power was over-arching and counterproductive. Lombardi hadn't worked anywhere in the league for five years (Sorry, Jim Nantz).

Just save me the “Give Jimmy Haslam credit” line today. It's a little premature. You know you’ve heard it before.

Randy Lerner got credit for cutting his losses with Butch Davis and Pete Garcia, then Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage, then Eric Mangini and George Kokinis (though not so much with Mangini, a fan favorite by comparison).

Swinging the wrecking ball is easy, if expensive, work.

In this case, Haslam found Banner and Lombardi expendable. But he’s put the organization in the hands of two more Banner hires, Farmer and Scheiner.

Yes, you can feel better about the Browns without Banner and Lombardi. But feeling good about them without having seen Farmer run a draft, or Pettine coach a game, or -- most importantly -- Haslam settle on a direction for any length of time?

Candidly, that's yet another leap of faith.

Ohio State earned its third oral commitment in the 2015 class from Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian defensive back Ben Edwards. Now Urban Meyer wants two other prospects from Edwards' high school.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ben Edwards fixed himself a salad for lunch, and it was so good that he had to tell the Twitter World about it. Those are the types of distractions a teenager is supposed to have on a random weekday.

But before the sun went down, Edwards’ salad was just a minute detail in what turned out to be a very significant day. Because Tuesday was the day the four-star defensive back of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian would give his oral commitment to Ohio State.

“It was a good salad,” Edwards joked during a phone interview with Cleveland.com. “And I had no idea while I was making it that I was going to commit to Ohio State later.”

It was also a significant day for Ohio State, because the Buckeyes – not even a week removed from signing a 2014 recruiting class nationally regarded as a top-five unit – added their third oral commit in 2015.

A four-star prospect rated by Rivals.com the No. 5 safety in the class, Edwards joins fellow Florida defensive back Jamel Dean and Canton McKinley’s Eric Glover Williams. Edwards said it was important for him to be one of the first in Ohio State’s class.

He had no reason to wait.

“I have known for a while that I was going to commit to Ohio State,” Edwards said. “They have been wanting me to commit since the day they offered me, and I just have been talking to Coach (Tim) Hinton and Coach (Chris) Ash, and they loved me. Ohio State is the place for me, so I went all-in and committed.”

After having only one commitment from Florida in the 2014 class in Johnnie Dixon of West Palm Beach, the Buckeyes' now have two for 2015. Urban Meyer will continue to attack the Sunshine State, more specifically at Edwards' high school.

Edwards has two teammates in the 2015 class who also have Ohio State scholarships – five-star cornerback Kevin Toliver II and four-star linebacker Jeffery Holland. Toliver is Rivals top cornerback in the class and an LSU commit, while Holland is the No. 4 outside linebacker. Ohio State would love to get its hands on both. 

And Edwards says that's his first task as an Ohio State commit.

"I know they are both already big on Ohio State," Edwards said. "We have been talking a lot about it, so we're going to see. I think now that I'm committed, they may come with me. I am going to talk to them a lot about it."

A 6-foot, 196-pound prospect, Edwards was one of the top emerging players in the country. He had offers from schools like Auburn, Missouri, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA and Penn State. That list was sure to grow.

But it's Edwards' reputation as a punishing defensive back that had Ash, Ohio State's new co-defensive coordinator, excited about adding him to the roster.

"Coach Ash said they liked my aggressiveness," Edwards said. "He said that I am the type of player Ohio State needs. I can't wait to get up there and start playing. I think I can help them, and I plan to do that when my time comes." 

Edwards doesn't anticipate taking other visits, though he had one scheduled to Auburn next weekend. Instead, Edwards said his focus now is continuing to improve as a player while helping Ohio State build its next class. 

"I have just felt more comfortable with them than anyone else," Edwards said of Ohio State. "They have been recruiting me harder than any other school, and that meant a lot. I just can't wait to get up there." 

Justin Masterson can take his pick. Will it be arbitration, a multiyear deal or free agency?

CLEVELAND, Ohio – It has been a busy winter for Justin Masterson.

His wife, Meryl, recently gave birth to twins, a boy and girl. There have been trips to Africa and the Dominican Republic involving Masterson's charitable works. And the journey is just beginning.

Masterson reported to spring training Tuesday with the rest of the Indians pitchers and catchers. He will be trying to build on his winningest season in the big leagues, while facing the business end of baseball on at least three fronts – arbitration, multiyear deal and impending free agency.

He is scheduled to go to an arbitration hearing on Feb. 20. The Indians have already gone to arbitration with Vinnie Pestano and are headed to another hearing Friday with Josh Tomlin. Outfielder Michael Brantley was scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 17, but he has agreed to a four-year deal worth $25 million with a club option worth $11 million in 2018.

The Indians and Masterson talked about a multiyear deal, but decided to concentrate on a one-year agreement.

“Initially we exchanged some things and it was like 'let’s hammer out a one-year deal and then work on it after that,'” said Masterson. “Once we get this hammered out then we can continue to have those talks.”

Masterson can be a free agent at the end of this season, but he’s still interested in staying with the Indians.

“Without a doubt,” said Masterson. “You never want to close any doors, you want to open doors. We’ll talk, we’ll listen, we’ll see.”

Masterson likes playing for manager Terry Francona and believes the Indians have a chance to return to the postseason after claiming one of the AL’s two wild-card spots last year.

“I like what has been going on here,” he said. “With bringing in Tito and you’ve got Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis here for a while. There’s a core to this team that’s pretty impressive.

“To want to be a part of it is there, but there is always the temptation in the back of your head as to what comes next (in free agency).”

Free agency will always offer untold riches, but under the new basic agreement, the riches are getting harder to come by. Free agents Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana, Kendrys Morales and Nelson Cruz are still unsigned, largely because their old teams made them qualifying offers before they became free agents after last season. When they turned down those $14.1 million offers, they had draft pick compensation tied to them. If another team signs those players, they would lose a high draft pick.

For the second straight year, several free agents have had to play the waiting game because they’ve been tagged with qualifying offers.

Should Masterson not sign a multiyear deal this year, and has a similar season to last year’s (14-10, 3.45 ERA, 193 innings), the Indians would almost certainly make him a qualifying offer. Depending on the market, he could be left twisting in the wind like Jimenez, his teammate from 2013.

As for arbitration, Masterson would rather skip the hearing. He is seeking $11.8 million, while the Indians have offered $8.05 million. The $3.75 million difference was the biggest of a player who filed for arbitration in January.

“At any point in time, you want to avoid that,” said Masterson. “I don’t think anyone wants to do that. Then again, it’s a part of the process. This week will be a big week as we talk and see what we want to do.”

The loss of Anderson Varejao leaves a big void in the middle for the Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Officially, Anderson Varejao missed Tuesday night's game against the Sacramento Kings with a bad back.

But when asked about what hurt Varejao, coach Mike Brown joked, "His whole body.'' One staffer joked the team could just write ''ouch'' in the injury report.

After playing a season-high 43:23 in Sunday's 91-83 overtime home victory over Memphis, Varejao is now listed as day-to-day, as is C.J. Miles, who is out with a sore right foot. Their status for Wednesday's game at Detroit will be determined before tipoff. Tyler Zeller started Tuesday in place of Varejao.

Unfortunately for Brown's Cavaliers, they could use Varejao's interior defense against the Kings and Pistons.

"It's a pretty big blow,'' Brown admitted. "Andy's been good for us. Not only has he been good for us, he's probably our best post defender. Last game out we played a post-up team. Tonight we're going to see some guys post up, and tomorrow, too.

"His forte is that -- defending the paint -- so you hope it's not a long-term thing.''

Brown admitted he has to walk a fine line between trying to win and trying not to overtax Varejao.

"You know he can help whoever he's on the floor with. He can help our first unit. He can help our second unit. So you want to run him. But you have to be careful because you know that's not in his best interest. And if it's not in his best interest, it's not in the team's best interest, especially after being injured the past three years.

"We talked, it seemed like every timeout in our last game against Memphis, 'Should we give him a blow? Should we give him a blow? Should we give him a blow?' Obviously, it came back to, 'No. We're going to have him keep playing.'''

Brown knew on Sunday that was probably too much.

Asked about Varejao after that game, Brown said, "After playing 43 minutes his whole body's hurting. The only thing that may not be hurting are his curls.''

Welcome back: Sacramento coach Mike Malone was one of Brown's assistants the first time around, but Brown said coaching against a former assistant is not as awkward as going against a mentor, such as San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, Dallas' Rick Carlisle or current assistant Bernie Bickerstaff.

"It was weirder when I first got the job to coach against Pop and to coach against Rick and Bernie than it is for me to coach against Mike or anybody else I've worked with,'' Brown said. "I don't know why that's the case, but that's just how I feel. There's nothing strategic. He's a good coach. He's a smart guy. He works his tail off. But I'm not going to be able to read his mind ahead of time to guess what he's going to do. You can try to guess, but I don't feel like I have an advantage because we worked together.''

That being said, Brown said some of what Malone runs looks familiar.

"If they're coming down and they're about to run a play, I couldn't guess what play they're going to run before he calls it,'' Brown said. "There definitely are some similarities in our approach. But as a coach, too, you do take philosophies from guys you work with, but your form your own philosophy, and you also form it based on what type of team you have, too. That's a lot of what he's done.''

Wheelchair Cavs: Dan Lemmer of the Wheelchair Cavs will compete in the 16th annual NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic Thursday in New Orleans as part of the All-Star festivities.

The last word: From Malone, asked about his fondest memories of Cleveland, besides being with LeBron James: "Being with LeBron.''

Cavaliers at Detroit

Time: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

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

Notable: Detroit won the first matchup, 115-92, on Dec. 23 in Cleveland. Pistons fired coach Mo Cheeks, replacing him with assistant coach John Loyer, a former Akron player, on Monday. … Detroit has won three straight, including two straight before Cheeks was fired. In Loyer's first game, Pistons beat visiting San Antonio on Monday, 109-100. … Cavs will be playing the second game of a back-to-back. … Anderson Varejao (back) and C.J. Miles (right foot) are day to day. Both missed Tuesday's game against Sacramento.

The sport many Americans care least about once again provided thrills and surprises Tuesday that define the Olympics' universal appeal.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – I try not to being conversations with, “When I was in London ...,'' or “When I was in Torino ...'' It's not polite to sound braggadocios about covering the Olympics, the greatest gig in journalism. I often fail in that quest for humility. This is one of those failures.

My favorite memory of the 2006 Olympics when I was in Torino surged back Tuesday morning while watching the Sochi Winter Olympics broadcast in my basement bunker bureau with my four-legged foot warmers, Toby and Darla.

Seeing the stands in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, awash in waving Norwegian flags and their devoted cross country skiing fans with painted faces and funny hats was a powerful reminder that the Olympics are not an American event, even though that's how we too often view it (myself included), and that cross country skiing is the bomb. The sport many Americans care least about once again provided thrills and surprises Tuesday that define the Olympics' universal appeal.

In Torino, I was swept off my feet by the wave of passion the Russians, Germans, Norwegians and especially the Italians showed when the host country won the climactic event of the Games, the men's 4x10-kilometer relay. Grown men wept in the stands and the public-address announcer barely could contain himself as he screamed “historical day for Italy!'' that day. For many Europeans, Olympic cross country is the winter equivalent of the soccer World Cup, also held every four years. The 4x10 frequently goes down to the wire in thrilling fashion.

View full sizeU.S. cross country skier Kikkan Randall catches her breath after her women's sprint free quarterfinal Tuesday at the Winter Olympics. In a major upset, Randall failed to reach the semifinals.AP

Tuesday's stunning events in Krasnaya Polyana came in the wild and crazy women's and men's sprint free. Free means skiers don't stay in pre-carved grooves, and the distances were just 1.3 kilometers for women and 1.4K for men. Four rounds of short, all-out races were skied without much time for recovery.

The women's sprint saw the most shocking development of the Sochi Olympics thus far. Alaskan Kikkkan “Kikkanimal” Randall failed to advance out of the quarterfinals. She had been favored to win the gold medal and become just the second American cross country medalist, joining 1976 silver-medalist Bill Koch. No one ever considered she wouldn't even make the semifinals.

Her quarterfinal heat featured some of the sport's' best skiers, and she missed advancing by five-hundredths of a second in a race she had led most of the way, then faded badly. She broke down in tears upon realizing her fate.

“Unfortunately I fell apart a little bit at the finish and didn’t get that lunge in,” Randall told fasterskier.com. “[Five] hundredths of a second is an incredibly close margin and I’m sure I’ll be reliving those moments hundreds of times in my head. I’m sure it’ll sink in a little bit and sting for a while, but I’m still happy with the way I came into this and I gave it my all.”

Another surprise of a different nature occurred when 23-year-old Sophie Caldwell became the first American to reach a sprint final. She fell and placed sixth (last).

So, that was the American disappointment. What followed not long after was an Olympic highlight that will last a long time, the chaotic men's final. No American skied, but anyone watching had to be captivated.

Behind eventual winner Ola Vigen Hattestad of Norway and silver-medalist Teodor Peterson of Sweden, a NASCAR-style pileup on a tricky downhill bend collected Swede Marcus Helner, Norwegian Anders Gloeersen and Russian Sergey Ustiugov, one of the favorites.

Gloeersen and Hellner fell into a barrier and Ustiugov ran over Hellner like road kill, then and dove headfirst into the snow.

Swede Emil Joensson, who apparently suffered an injury and was behind in sixth place, skied past the wreckage and limped to the bronze medal, collapsing at the finish line, where he lay for a long time. Hattestad's gold was Norway's 102nd cross country Olympic medal of all time, which tells you something about how big the sport is a country of 5 million people. The U.S. still has one medal.

“That was the wildest cross country sprint of any major event I've ever seen,'' NBC color analyst Chad Salmela said.

Salmela was breathless. So were the competitors. So was I.

Shaun White placed fourth in snowboard halfpipe. On Wednesday, Shani Davis goes for his third gold medal, and the U.S.-Canada women's hockey game is at 7:30 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Shaun White couldn't do it Tuesday. Maybe Shani Davis will Wednesday.

Nothing is guaranteed at the Olympics. Halfpipe snowboarder White finished fourth, cross country skier Kikkan Randall didn't reach the sprint semifinals, and ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson flew first, but finished 21, Tuesday at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

White was attempting to become the first American man to three-peat at the Winter Olympics. Davis can do it Wednesday in long track speedskating 1,000 meters.

Leave it to dancing California teen luger Erin Hamlin to upstage White and other U.S. stars Tuesday. Hamlin earned a bronze medal in singles luge. Hamlin, whose pre-race routine of dancing while listening to music was criticized by NBC announcers this week, is the first American to medal in singles luge, so, hey, whatever works, right?

Canadian Dara Howell won women's ski slopestyle and dedicated her gold medal to freestyler Sarah Burke, who died in a 2012 halfpipe crash. American Devin Logan won the silver medal.

White withdrew from slopestyle last week to concentrate on halfpipe. So much for that idea. He stumbled in his first run of the finals, as did two American teammates. Jumping last in the final run, he wasn't good enough. Switzerland's Iouri “I-Pod” Podladtchikov won, 15-year-old Ayumu Hirano of Japan took silver and Japan's Taku Hiraoka beat White by two points for the bronze medal.

Randall sought to become the second American to medal in cross country skiing, and the first since 1968, but the World Cup overall champion in the women's sprint faded badly in her semifinal. Norwegians won the women's and men's sprints and there was a terrific crash in the men's final that collected three racers, none of whom was injured.

Women's ski jumping made its Olympic debut and world champ Hendrickson was first to jump, but her injured knee didn't holdup. Jessica Jerome was the top American in 10th.

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov set a pairs figure skating short program world record with 84.17 points. In second were Olympic bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, and Russians Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov were third. The top American team, Marissa Castelli and Simon Scnapir, are ninth heading into the freeskate at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

South Korean Lee Sang-hwa broke her own world record to repeat as Olympic champion in 500-meter long track speedskating. Sarah Richardson was eighth, continuing a medal drought for U.S. women that extends to 2002.

U.S. curling teams have yet to win. Tuesday, the women lost to Russia and Great Britain, and the men fell to China. The British women set an Olympic record with seven points in one end of a 12-3 win.

NBC's primetime broadcast at 8 p.m. is to feature halfpipe, slopestyle, figure skating and ski jumping.

Fans of Northeast Ohioans Kelli Stack and Brianne McLaughlin and the U.S. women's hockey team can sleep in – a little – for Tuesday's highly anticipated showdown with rival Canada at 7:30 a.m. EST on NBCSN. Both teams are 2-0 heading into the final game in group play.

Before that, women's downhill is set to begin at 2 a.m., although mild weather canceled training runs Tuesday. Regardless of conditions, keep an eye on super-combined bronze medalist American Julia Mancuso, who was the top downhill racer in that event Monday.

Men's hockey begins Wednesday. The Czech Republic plays Sweden and Switzerland faces Latvai, which features Bowling Green sophomore Ralfs Freibergs.

Despite late hire, one league executive says Farmer has enough 'war room' experience to know how to run an NFL draft.

BEREA, Ohio – A decade ago, Les Snead had the opportunity to hire Ray Farmer as a scout for the Atlanta Falcons.

On a day the Browns promoted Farmer to general manager, Snead reflected on the choice he made in 2002.

“Hiring Ray is one of the easiest and best decisions I've ever made,” said Snead, who’s now general manager of the St. Louis Rams.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam hopes he can make a similar statement in years to come. As part of the franchise’s latest reset, the Browns named Farmer its top football decision-maker Tuesday while announcing the departure of CEO Joe Banner and GM Michael Lombardi.

Many are focused on the continuing dysfunction in Berea and an owner who cleans house more than Molly Maid. But in a league-wide sampling of opinions the decision to promote Farmer is being greeted with mostly favorable reviews.

The 39 year old, who becomes the NFL’s second-youngest GM, has taken the proper steps in climbing the ladder from ex-player to scout to pro personnel director and assistant general manager.

“Ray is a highly-regarded guy around the league,” said former Washington and Houston GM Charley Casserly, now an NFL Network analyst. “Ray Farmer was going to be a general manager within the next 12 months somewhere and that probably played into Cleveland’s decision.

“He’s a bright guy and he’s well organized and I know people around the league who are big fans of his.”

One current NFL executive, talking on conditions of anonymity because he’s not authorized to speak for his franchise, was more direct.

“Ray is absolutely ready for this,” the executive said. “You can say, ‘Well, he’s never run a draft before,’ but everyone has to do it for the first time, right? It’s not like he hasn’t been in war rooms in years past. He was in there last year with Cleveland and was in there in years past with Kansas City.

“By promoting him, the Browns also are giving themselves some continuity. He is familiar with the scouts, he’s done his own scouting and knows how to evaluate talent.”

From a draft standpoint, Cassserly does not believe Farmer has been handicapped by Browns' decision to make the change now rather than after the season. Farmer would have spent weeks occupied by a coaching search, he said. The fact the draft (May 8-10) is two weeks later also affords him more time.

Casserly does wonder about Farmer’s comfort level with a scouting staff he did not hire. The Browns are reportedly adding front-office help in Bill Kuharich, a former Chiefs and New Orleans Saints executive who worked with Farmer in Kansas City. There’s also the matter of Farmer co-existing with new coach Mike Pettine, a man he did not hire.

Snead considers Farmer an excellent communicator, an executive who can be tough without forcing his agenda on someone.

“He is a people person who genuinely wants to build a united team on the field and inside the building," Snead said. “He knows this requires asking inquisitive, but often hard, questions as well as listening to the answers to those questions.”

ESPN analyst Brian Dawkins, a former Farmer teammate, echoed Snead’s sentiments.

“Ray is not pig-headed,” he said. “He’s going to have a strong opinion, but he’s going to let the people around him do their jobs.”

Dawkins and Farmer have known each other since their days of playing in ACC for Clemson and Duke, respectively. What impresses the former Pro Bowl defensive back is how quickly Farmer processes information and puts it to use.

Some believe the Browns are placing Farmer in a difficult spot given the number of picks (10), the importance of the draft and the amount of time he has to prepare for it. Dawkins isn’t concerned about his friend’s readiness.

“I don’t think the moment is too big for him,” Dawkins said. “I know people have questions about him, but nobody works harder at what he does. He is a football nerd like he says. He’s put in the work and now he’s ready to spread his wings.”

The Indians haven't talked to Ubaldo Jimenez's agent since the end of January.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – It would take something extreme for the Indians to re-sign free agent Ubaldo Jimenez at this point of the year.

There has been no communication between the Indians and Jimenez’s agent, Diego Bentz, since the end of January. What’s more the Indians value the draft pick they’ll receive for Jimenez if another team signs him.

If they did re-sign Jimenez, the draft pick would have to figure into how much they’d pay Jimenez. The Indians will receive a pick between the first and second rounds of the June draft if another team signs Jimenez.

Ervin Santana, another free agent pitcher, is in the same spot as Jimenez. He’s a free agent with draft pick compensation tied to him. The Indians have talked to his agents from time to time this winter, but it would cost them their No.1 pick if they signed him.

At the moment, they appear unwilling to do that.

Testing, testing: Matt Capps is one of the 23 spring-training invitees in camp with the Indians. He is the only one with 138 career saves.

Capps, 30, was in camp with the Tribe last year, but he wasn’t healthy. He’d been pitching with a torn tendon in his right shoulder for about two years.

“It’s the tendon that keeps the biceps tendon in place in the front of the shoulder,” said Capps. “It’s a rare injury for a thrower. No one could find it.”

Capps, pitching for Class AAA Columbus, underwent season-ending surgery to correct the problem on June 4.

“There’s no comparison to the way I feel now and the way I felt last year at this time,” said Capps.

Free agency turned the Indians bullpen upside down. Chris Perez, Rich Hill, Joe Smith and Matt Albers are gone from last year’s pen. It means there are a lot of opportunities, which explains why the Indians have 31 pitchers in camp, including 20 who are primarily relievers.

“There’s nothing wrong with competition,” said Capps. “The numbers (of relievers) are great for the team and the organization.”

Healing: Reliever Frank Herrmann, recovering from Tommy John surgery, faced batters for the first time Monday.

“I’m about 11 months removed from surgery,” said Herrmann.

Herrmann is scheduled to throw three bullpen sessions this week. By the end of spring training, he should be in position to pitch at some level.

“That’s why I had the operation (March 31) when I did,” he said.

Like all Indians pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery, Herrmann has spent a lot o time in Goodyear. He left the Tribe’s spring training headquarters in October and returned on Jan. 15.

Finally: Pitchers and catchers will have physicals Wednesday and go through their first workout Thursday . . .Jeff Francoeur, Bryan LaHair, Francisco Lindor, Matt Carson, Michael Brantley, Carlos Moncrief, Jesus Aguilar, Jason Kipnis, Jose Ramirez and Lonnie Chisenhall are among the early arrivals for position players.

Listen to this episode of Browns Insider as we talk about the hiring of Mike Pettine.

Is a surprise that Joe Banner is out as CEO? Will Ray Farmer succeed as new GM?

Cleveland.com's Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot, Glenn Moore, The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff, Terry Pluto and Bill Livingston answered those questions and more during today's episode of Browns Insider.

Among other topics discussed:

• Why did Jimmy Haslam make this move now?

• Future of the Browns and the perception around the team.

You can download the MP3 or listen with the player to the right.

New General Manager Ray Farmer will be given a grace period from the fans simply because he replaces an unpopular front office.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook after yet another Browns firing:

1. Owner Jimmy Haslam's talk of "streamlining" the organization by dumping CEO Joe Banner and General Manager Mike Lombardi really doesn't explain why he made the moves now. The Browns had the same set up from the end of the 2012 season, when Banner and Lombardi took over the front office. If you were going to do "streamline" the front office, why not do it when Coach Rob Chudzinski was being fired after the season?

2. That's why I sense something else happened to cause Haslam to make the move now. If you are going to "streamline," you want the new front office to hire the coach. But Haslam allowed Banner and Lombardi to lead the search that led to Mike Pettine being hired to replace Chudzinski.

3. Under the new setup, team president Alec Scheiner is in charge of the business side of the operation. New General Manager Ray Farmer runs the football operation. He is in charge of the 53-man roster. Pettine will determine the 45-man roster on game day. All three report to Haslam, who seems to want a very active role in the franchise.

4. I don't buy the "streamline" argument for a moment. Something else went wrong between Haslam and Banner.

5. Browns fans know that it's always easier to fire "the wrong guy" than to hire the "right" one. Farmer will be blessed with a wonderful grace period -- simply because Lombardi was so unpopular with the media and fans. Because Banner hired Lombardi, his image also took a hit.

6. Now, Farmer faces major decisions, and not just the draft. D'Qwell Jackson has a $4 million bonus coming in March. It was doubtful that Banner would pick it up. Jackson would either have been cut, or perhaps had his contract re-worked. Not sure what Farmer thinks of Jackson. But the new general manager seems to prize character and leadership, and Jackson excels in both areas.

7. T.J. Ward and Alex Mack are free agents. Word was the former front office didn't like to pay big money for a center. But Mack has played every snap since joining the team in 2009. He may not be a great center, but he is a Pro Bowler. You don't let that kind of talent walk away, especially when the Browns need to add at least another guard and perhaps a right tackle to replace Mitchell Schwartz.

8. You can be sure the blame game will begin when it comes to who was at fault for the Browns 2013 draft and free agent signings. Lombardi has a lot of friends in the national media and they will support the former general manager, insisting that the moves that went wrong were the ideas of Banner. Yes, Banner had the final word. But Lombardi was in charge of doing a lot of research on the various players.

9. So far, Director of Player Personnel Jon Sandusky remains with the Browns. He was hired in 2010 by former general manager Tom Heckert. Sandusky is a key guy in the draft preparation.

10. The Browns are bringing in Bill Kuharich in as a consultant to Farmer. That's a wise move as Kuharich is a long time NFL executive and was a former general manager of the New Orleans Saints. With a rookie general manager and coach, it's important to bring in someone with experience.

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven't had much to be proud of during a disappointing season. However, putting together a modest win streak prior to the All-Star break could have them right back in the mix for one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spots.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers haven't had much to be proud of during a disappointing season. However, putting together a modest win streak prior to the All-Star break could have them right back in the mix for one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spots.

They'll try to notch a third straight victory for the second time this season and avenge last month's blowout loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Get updates from The Plain Dealer on Twitter @PDCavsInsider and post your comments during the game below.

Tweets by @PDcavsinsider

The U.S. has nine medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze), tied with Russia for fourth behind Norway (12), The Netherlands (10) and Canada (10).

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The United States rocks snowboards at the Winter Olympics. Skis, skates and whatever it is curlers wear to keep them from falling are another matter.

Kaitlyn Farrington, who grew up on an Idaho cattle ranch, topped three previous gold medalists to win women's snowboard halfpipe by .25 points Wednesday. Farrington earned the United States' third gold medal of the Games, and its first since Sunday. The other two champions were snowboard slopestylists Sage Kotsenburg and Jamie Anderson.

Farrington, 24, threw down a 91.75 on her final run, then watched the three previous gold medalists try to beat her mark. Australian defending champ Torah Bright scored 91.50 and won silver. Hannah Teter, who took gold in 2006, fell and finished fourth. The last to go, 2002 gold medalist Kelly Clark of the U.S., scored a 90.75 for bronze.

Looking ahead to Thursday, Lorain native Kelly Gunther skates in her only event, the long track 1,000 meters at 9 a.m. EST. Gunther is in the fourth pairing. It is not scheduled to be on live television, but all events can be live-streamed on nbcolympics.com, and a recap will be posted on cleveland.com/olympics.

Other highlights Wednesday:

• Kelli Stack and the U.S. women's hockey team learned a valuable lesson in its 3-2 loss to Canada: Don't let up. Trailing 1-0, Canada dominated the third period in their final game of group play.

Canada (3-0) and the U.S. (2-1) received byes to Monday's semifinals, and barring a major upset, there's every expectation the world's two dominant teams will meet again Feb. 20 for the gold medal, as they have done four times at the Olympics. Until then, the U.S. needs to find a way to counter Canada's physical play.

• Another lesson learned Wednesday? Two gold medals mean nothing the third time around. Like snowboarder Shaun White before him, American speedskater Shani Davis failed to medal in his quest for a third straight gold in his main event, 1,000 meters. Missing his customary late surge, Davis finished eighth. On Tuesday, White placed fourth in halfpipe.

• The unlikely sight of a Russian figure skating pair performing to “Jesus Christ, Superstar” in the free skate bedazzled the home crowd as Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov won Russia's 13th pairs gold medal in the last 14 Olympics.

• Men's hockey got underway with Erik Karlsson scoring twice as Sweden beat the Czech Republic, 4-2. Switzerland averted an early upset when Simon Mozer scored with 7.9 seconds remaining to beat Latvia, 1-0. Latvian defenseman Ralfs Freibergs, a Bowling Green sophomore, did not play.

• Headline writers' dream Tina Maze was, wait for it, a-Maze-ing in winning the first Winter Olympics gold medal for Slovenia in downhill skiing. Even more amazing? She shared the gold medal with Switzerland's Dominique Gisin. Both were clocked at 1:41.57 and, for the first time in an Olympic Alpine ski race, two golds were awarded. Switzerland's Lara Gut won bronze and American Julia Mancuso was almost a second slower in eighth place.

• Germany won its third luge gold medal when the “Two Tobis'' – Wendl and Arnlt – captured doubles luge.

• American Billy Demong, who won Nordic combined gold and silver medals in 2010, faded badly and placed 24th in the sport's first event, small hill/10-kilometer and placed 24th.

• The U.S. finally won its first curling match. The men beat Denmark. The women fell to 0-4 with a loss to China.

• The U.S. has nine medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze), fifth most behind Norway (12), The Netherlands (10) and Canada (10). Russia also has nine. Germany has eight, and six are gold.

NBC's primetime broadcast at 8 p.m. is to feature figure skating, downhill skiing, halfpipe, speedskating.