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Winners will be notified THURSDAY, MARCH 27. The winners can pick up the tickets at Northeast Ohio Media Group’s offices at 1801 Superior Avenue East, Cleveland 44114.

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In the last six years, the Browns have had five different opening day quarterbacks, five different offensive coordinators and four different head coaches.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ray Farmer wants to keep everyone guessing about what the Browns may do in the draft, so it's dangerous to read a lot into what is being said by the Browns general manager.

That's especially true when it comes to quarterbacks.

His latest comment was Monday: "I’m comfortable (with Brian Hoyer). You’ve got to identify the guy that you think can do the role that you’re asking him to do. Once you do that, there’s a lot of guys that’ll come into any team this year as rookies and they’ll contribute."

What exactly does that mean?

Remember, this is guessing, because Farmer must keep his draft options open.

But the fact that the Browns didn't trade for Matt Schaub says something about Hoyer, who started three games for the Browns last season (playing nine quarters) before he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Oakland sent a sixth-round pick to Houston for the veteran quarterback. The Raiders also picked up $11 million in guaranteed money on Schaub's contract.

The Browns have the cap room and the extra picks (10 in this draft) to acquire and take on Schuab's salary.

But they declined, even though new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan likes Schaub. The two were very successful together in Houston in 2008-09.

What does this decision say about the Browns and Hoyer?

Exactly what Farmer said on Monday: "So here’s a guy (Hoyer) that’s had NFL experience. He’s been in NFL camps. He has some tools to move forward with."

I absolutely agree with Farmer on this: Even if they draft a quarterback, the Browns should plan to open the season with Hoyer at the position. All of that assumes Hoyer continues his recovery from ACL knee surgery.

Even if the Browns draft Teddy Bridgewater, they still should open the season with Brian Hoyer. AP

Gym rat

My favorite quarterback in this draft is Teddy Bridgewater. If the Louisville star falls to No. 4, pick him.

But assuming Hoyer is healthy, start Hoyer.

That would keep the pressure to immediately perform off Bridgewater. Hoyer also is a tremendous role model in terms of handling the huddle, the film room and the media -- all key parts of the job. This would be a tremendous way for Bridgewater to break into the NFL.

Farmer talked about Hoyer being "smart" and a "gym rat," meaning the St. Ignatius product spends hours preparing for games at the practice facility. When he took over the offense in the third game of the season (a victory at Minnesota), you'd never guess it was only his second NFL start.

Brandon Weeden's lack of confidence was even more glaring when compared to how Hoyer looked at press conferences and on the field.

One former Browns coach admitted to me that the team ran more variations in the offense when Hoyer played compared to the other quarterbacks. It's wasn't just mental, but Hoyer was more mobile and seemed to see more of the field.

Farmer also said this about Hoyer: "You have to identify truly what the young man is going to be asked to do and can he perform in that role. And if he can, don’t be afraid to move forward in that direction.”

Everything is subject to change, but there are more than a few things that Farmer must like about Hoyer.

Farmer spoke at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando.

His boss, Jimmy Haslam added, "I think Hoyer is a gamer."

But let's be real, the Browns known it can't be All Brian Hoyer, All The Time.

Regardless of what they say, they must realize finding a quarterback somewhere in the draft is important.

Remember, I still want a quarterback in this draft.

Few great ones

In an interview with Northeast Ohio Media Group's Mary Kay Cabot on Feb. 16, Farmer said he had a college quarterback "in mind" in terms of being ranked No. 1.

Of course, he offered no names.

But he addressed the reality that most teams have to find a way to win without a future Hall of Famer under center.

"People seem to think you can't win unless you have a superstar quarterback," Farmer told Cabot. "In the NFL, the vast majority of quarterbacks are guys that have to be managed. You have to put them in situations where they can be successful.

"When you get them out of their comfort zone, or you put them in situations where they fail, it's not going to be positive for your club."

But year after year, the Browns have often hurt rather than helped their quarterbacks.

Change and more change

How can a team develop a quarterback with four different coaches and five different offensive coordinators in the last six years?

Here's the list:

2008: Romeo Crennel (HC), Rob Chudzinski (OC).

2009-10: Eric Mangini (HC), Brian Daboll (OC).

2011: Pat Shurmur (HC), Pat Shurmur (OC).

2012: Pat Shurmur (HC), Brad Childress (OC).

2013: Chudzinski (HC), Norv Turner (OC).

Now it's Mike Pettine as the head coach, Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator.

In those six years, the quarterbacks who started the opener:

2008: Derek Anderson.

2009: Brady Quinn.

2010: Jake Delhomme.

2011: Colt McCoy

2012: Brandon Weeden

2013: Brandon Weeden

Others who started games in those years: Ken Dorsey, Seneca Wallace, Thad Lewis, Jason Campbell and Hoyer.

"The position isn't as complicated as people think it is," Farmer told Cabot.

Well, Ray, it is when the Browns do it. And that is what really needs to change.

The best way to do that is open with Hoyer, add another veteran as a backup and then draft and develop a younger quarterback (not necessarily at No. 4) who doesn't need to be rushed into action.

The Plain Dealer's Jodie Valade joins Chris Fedor on Cavs Insider today at 11 a.m.

View full sizeWatch Cavs Insider with The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer today at 11 a.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio - What's gotten into Jarrett Jack lately? How do the Cavs view their season? Does this stretch of play without Kyrie Irving say anything about the Cavs?

Watch Cavs Insider with The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer and cleveland.com's Chris Fedor today at 11 a.m.

Mary and Chris will talk about all things wine and gold, including their most recent win against the New York Knicks.

You can join them to ask your questions about the Cavaliers in the comments section below.

Come back at 11 a.m. to watch the live show, now available both on desktop and mobile devices.

Note: To turn off audio alerts in the chatroom, click on the round button on bottom left of the chat room, then preferences. Uncheck all audio options and save.

"Stretching Out" the column may have been idle for several weeks, but your "Stretching Out" columnist has been as active as ever, trying out all sorts of pursuits in the name of better fitness.

It’s been weeks since I last wrote about fitness. But I haven’t been "stretching out" on the couch.

Just the opposite, actually. While the column has been idle in deference to music and dance, I myself have been as active as can be, trying all sorts of pursuits in the name of better exercise.

Here at last are brief accounts of what I’ve done recently. Thanks for waiting. Maybe think of the delay as fitting: For a stretch to be effective, you have to hold it.

While in Miami covering the Cleveland Orchestra’s residency, I availed myself of the chance to experience Ki-Hara, a little-known form of therapy aptly labeled “resistance stretching.”

I say aptly because resistance was key. As trainer Steven Sierra kneaded my legs with his feet and pushed or pulled my limbs into vigorous contractions, my muscles rebelled with forces ranging from strong to violent.

Bit by bit, though, they relented, and by the end of the session, my legs were stretching much more deeply and reaching points I’d thought for sure were off limits. What I wouldn’t give to do that on a regular basis. Too bad it’s not yet available in Ohio.

I also wouldn’t mind the ability to take more classes at Flywheel, a posh indoor cycling chain with studios in Miami Beach and about 20 other U.S. cities with high per-capita incomes.

The differences there were small but huge, nearly justifying the steep $25 entrance fee. From the high-tech rides and bike-shoe service to the stadium seating and big-screen display of my classmates’ power output, Flywheel offered a group cycling experience like no other.

But what truly won me over was the sheer intensity of the ride. Instructor Dwayne Frection pushed the class I took hard for a solid 45 minutes, rarely letting up and forever demanding greater resistance or faster pedaling.

That’s not all I did in South Florida. In the little free time I had between traveling, writing and attending concerts, I also fulfilled my longtime dream of obtaining Scuba certification.

The process was easy enough. Here at home, at my leisure, I cleared the online portion of the program: about 10 hours of academic training and tests. That left just four training dives and a short series of real-world skill demonstrations to complete over two days in Miami, through a local dive shop.

Now onto my next diving-related goal: dry-suit and cold-water certification, so I can dive closer to home, in and amongst the wrecks of the Great Lakes. The only problem? It won’t count as exercise much longer. The more I dive, the easier it gets.

Back in freezing Northeast Ohio, I also finally got around to another pursuit that’s been on my list for a long time: downhill skiing. After missing several opportunities last year, I took advantage of a recent sunny, snowy day in February and visited the slopes at Boston Mills.

There, I spent about an hour with a trainer learning properly the skills I never actually obtained as a teenager in the company of friends. Very slowly, but with great delight, I learned how to turn, brake and stop, well enough to take on the venue’s second-gentlest hill.

But while I like few things in fitness more than cross-country skiing, and had a blast at Boston Mills, I’m not sure how long I can pass off downhill as exercise. If and when I improve, I’m pretty sure the sport will come to feel less like a heart-pumping, leg-draining workout and more like a pleasant pastime.

Finally, an update. Many readers have written to ask how I’m faring with the Maffetone Method, a style of running training that emphasizes slow paces and calm heart-rates. I wrote about it here in September.

The answer is very well. I’ve ditched the heart-rate monitor, but I’m still paying close attention to my perceived exertion, never allowing myself to go into the anaerobic red zone.

Meanwhile, I’ve noticed definite improvements. My pace at what feels moderate exercise has increased dramatically and my overall endurance is getting close to what it used to be.

More importantly, I’m enjoying myself and running long distances again. I’m not as fast as I was five years ago, but I’m happy with my speed. After falling out of love with running, I’m back under its spell, head over heels.

How much interest does GM Ray Farmer have in Fresno State QB Derek Carr?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- GM Ray Farmer will not tell "us" if quarterback Derek Carr is in the Cleveland Browns' future.

Carr has emerged as a candidate for the Browns in the upcoming draft and reporter Steve Doerschuk writes on CantonRep.com that the Browns are weighing two big questions regarding Carr. One, does he have a better head for the game than his big brother? Two, rather than being a bust way up high, might he be a bargain down at 26?

The kid brother certainly gave Fresno State its money’s worth. In the opening game of his 2013 season, he fired 73 passes, completing 52 of them for 456 yards in a 52-51 win over Rutgers. Two games later, he went 39 of 60 for 460 yards in a 41-40 win over Boise State.

He wound up throwing 1,616 passes in his three years as a starter. Compare that to the 1,025 passes Tim Couch attempted in his five years as a Brown.

Doerschuk adds how mock drafts are piling up that foresee Carr suiting up for the Browns. Popular sites that have him going to Cleveland at No. 26 include Walterfootball.com. He is ranked as the 31st-best player available by NFL Draft Scout.

More Browns and NFL news

Owner Jimmy Haslam says Alex Mack wants to remain with the Browns (Cleveland.com).

GM Ray Farmer is comfortable heading into the season with QB Brian Hoyer as the starter (Cleveland.com).

Despite the twitter rumors, the Browns will not trade Joe Haden (Cleveland.com).

The Browns sign free agent guard Paul McQuistan (Cleveland.com).

It looks like center Alex Mack is here to stay, but for how long (Cleveland.com)?

Ray Farmer is open to make a deal on draft day (Ohio.com).

GM Farmer says he likes keeping everyone in the dark (ESPNCleveland.com).

Several Browns players cashed in with bonus money (ESPNCleveland.com).

The Browns may have some interest in Derek Carr but so do the Raiders (NFL.com).

Mark Cuban says the NFL is on the brink of implosion in 10 years (USA Today).

Lee led the American Athletic Conference in rebounding this season, but he is more interested in playing the four, not the five, at his next school. He has family roots in Iowa, which could help Iowa State.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Former Temple big man Anthony Lee, who is planning to transfer for his senior season, has included Ohio State on the list of five schools he is considering.

Lee also will entertain attending Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville and Notre Dame. He posted his five finalists in a message on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

Good morning! Blessed to be able to choose between these institutions an have in my Top 5. Thanks to… http://t.co/QTsgSEmCuE

— Anthony Lee (@AntLee_3) March 25, 2014

Lee will be eligible to play immediately, without sitting out a season, thanks to the NCAA rule that allows players who have graduated to take the court without the one-year penalty. At 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, Lee would seem to be a quick and obvious answer to the Buckeyes' woes inside. Amir Williams and Trey McDonald combined to play 27 minutes without scoring in Ohio State's season-ending loss to Dayton in the Buckeyes' first NCAA Tournament game.

Lee led the American Athletic Conference in rebounding with 8.6 per game, which would have ranked second in the Big Ten. He also averaged 13.6 points per game, which would have ranked second on the Buckeyes. Lee can play power forward or center, and he played inside a lot with the Owls.

The thing is, he'd rather play outside more.

“I’m definitely more of a four, but I had a lot of experience playing the five,” Lee told the Temple student radio station WHIP after he had decided to transfer. “I need to be able to face up to the basket more instead of having my back to the basket.”

Given that’s his preference, the departure of LaQuinton Ross would probably help the Buckeyes in selling Lee. But what Ohio State really needs is more help for Williams and McDonald.

Lee’s parents are pastors based in Davenport, Iowa, and he told the student radio station they would like to see him play more than they were able to at Temple. That’s why schools in the Midwest make up his final five.

But that also makes it seem like Iowa State, which is still alive in the NCAA Tournament and actually in the state of Iowa, could have the edge in the chase for Lee.

Cleveland.com wants to see your Indians photos, too. But we want your best photos taken with current and past Tribe players.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians are continuing to connect players with fans as they are asking for photos, essays and videos to potentially be used in a new mural that players will see in the tunnel from the clubhouse to the dugout.

Cleveland.com wants to see your Indians photos, too. But we want your best photos taken with current and past Tribe players.

Image title: Briefly tell everyone what your photo is.

Caption: Your name, community, where the photo was taken and who is in it.

Tags: List the location, school, landmarks and other things relevant to your photos. Separate tags with commas (for example: lakewood, indians).

The 4:05 p.m. game between the Indians and Rangers will not be shown on television.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Raburn played the field for the first time since running into an outfield wall and homered Monday as the Cleveland Indians beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-3.

Raburn also had a sacrifice fly while driving in three runs. He made a nice play at first base, too, on a low liner by Brayan Pena.

Raburn had been limited to designated hitter duty since crashing into the right-field wall on March 7.

Today's game between the Indians and Texas Rangers will be played at 4:05 p.m. The game will not be shown on television, but it can be heard on MLB.com.

Lonnie Chisenhall found out earlier in the morning that he had earned a spot on the Indians' opening-day roster. He celebrated with his second homer this spring, connecting off starter Alfredo Simon.

Jay Bruce had two hits, including an RBI double off Indians starter Carlos Carrasco.

Carrasco allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked none.

On Cavs Insider, cleveland.com's Chris Fedor is joined by The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer to talk about Jarrett Jack's recent play and the maturity of Dion Waiters.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - What has changed with Jarrett Jack recently? Would Dion Waiters be more comfortable as a point guard? Will the Cavs shut down Kyrie Irving for the rest of the season?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was a season to remember for Northeast Ohio boys basketball, as the talent level made it one of the most exciting years in recent memory. With the season now officially over, here's a look at reporters David Cassilo's and Tim Bielik's top moments from boys basketball. DAVID CASSILO'S TOP 5 MOMENTS

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was a season to remember for Northeast Ohio boys basketball, as the talent level made it one of the most exciting years in recent memory. With the season now officially over, here's a look at reporters David Cassilo's and Tim Bielik's top moments from boys basketball.

DAVID CASSILO'S TOP 5 MOMENTS

5) Lakewood blows past North Royalton in sectional final

Few performances stood out to me more than the game Lakewood had against North Royalton. Despite losing once all year, the Bears fell at home, 65-41, in their first playoff game.

A fast-paced and attacking style led to nine 3-pointers for the Rangers, who did not have a starter taller than 6-foot-3. They locked down on defense too, as North Royalton sophomore Omari Spellman did not score in the second half.

4) Cleveland Central Catholic spoils opening of LeBron James Arena

The night that St. Vincent-St. Mary opened the LeBron James Arena ended on a sour note, as Cleveland Central Catholic earned a 53-52 victory.

After Montel McRae gave the Ironmen the lead, the Irish had six shots at the end of the game but could not convert any of them. After they won, the Ironmen fans stormed the court.

3) Shaker Heights hands St. Edward only loss in Ohio

With a cut above his left eye, junior Esa Ahmad led the Raiders to a 53-50 victory over St. Edward. At the time, the Eagles were No. 1 and the Raiders were No. 2 in the cleveland.com poll -- the only such game of the season.

Ahmad had 14 points in the win and played much of the second half with a bandage over his eye following an elbow in the face in the first half.

St. Edward nearly came back after trailing by six points with 42 seconds remaining, but the Eagles fell short and lost their only game all season to a team from Ohio.

2) Markell Johnson's jumper sends East Tech to first state semifinal since 1972

With 3.1 seconds remaining in overtime, freshman Markell Johnson sank a jumper to give East Tech a 62-60 regional final win over Uniontown Lake.

It capped a big night for Johnson, who broke out for 27 points in the victory.  His shot also sent the Scarabs to Columbus for the first time in 42 years.

Watching coach Brett Moore slide on the court as the final buzzer sounded and all the East Tech fans celebrate behind him was a scene that will always be hard to top.

1) St. Edward wins state title behind the heroics of Marsalis Hamilton

Prior to the Division I state title game against Upper Arlington, St. Edward senior Marsalis Hamilton had made just two 3-pointers all season. But with his team down three points at the end of regulation, Hamilton hit a buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime.

From there, the Eagles never fell behind again and won the game 62-58 for the school's first state title since 1998 and its second ever.

Prior to Hamilton, it was Nichols who hit the big shots all night. He finished with a game-high 26 points and missed just four attempts from the field.

The win capped a dominant season for St. Edward and was the perfect way to end a terrific year of boys basketball in Northeast Ohio.

TIM BIELIK'S TOP 5 MOMENTS

5) Westlake escapes Lakewood despite Mike Angers' record-setting night

Mike Angers couldn't miss.

The Lakewood senior sharpshooter set a school-record with 10 3-pointers to help his team erase a 21-point deficit against then-undefeated Westlake. He had 31 of his game high 37 points in the second half after his team scored just six points in the second quarter.

Westlake didn't flinch and hung tough to earn a hard-fought 86-80 win in overtime.

While Angers and the Rangers cooled, the Demons stepped up behind seniors Makis Beach and Gavin Skelly to get a big road win to stay undefeated.

4) Tervell Beck, Antwon Lillard and Cleveland Central Catholic spoil Villa Angela-St. Joseph's Senior Night

24 hours after Villa Angela-St. Joseph lost to St. Edward, the Vikings said goodbye to its only senior (Deandre Forte) when it hosted Cleveland Central Catholic.

Tervell Beck, Antwon Lillard and the Ironmen played the role of unkind guests as the duo combined for 50 points to give Central Catholic a 72-68 win in the regular season finale for both teams.

Beck started strong with 19 of his 28 coming in the first half, and Lillard was the closer, scoring 18 of his 22 in the second half.

The win avenged a 54-44 loss the Ironmen suffered against VASJ earlier this season when Carlton Bragg did not play.

3) St. Edward rallies to stun host St. Ignatius

St. Edward trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter on the road against its bitter rival, St. Ignatius.

Despite giving up a 13-point lead, the Eagles rallied to force overtime and hung on for a 73-70 win.

Marsalis Hamilton had a double-double to lead the way for the Eagles with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

2) Deven Stover hits game-winner for St. Ignatius against Berea-Midpark

St. Ignatius sophomore Deven Stover watched his team lose an 18-point lead to Berea-Midpark in the Division I Grafton District Final, and then saw the Titans' Devon Posey tie the game with a three with five seconds to go.

Stover got the last chance and took advantage, hitting a three from in front of his bench to give the Wildcats a 67-64 win in the district championship.

He hit 4 of 5 threes and had a game-high 25 points, none bigger than his final shot.

1) Marsalis Hamilton gives St. Edward a second chance

St. Edward got everything it could handle in its final test when it battled Upper Arlington in the Division I State championship game.

The Golden Bears had the home-court advantage, the fire to erase a 77-year title drought and a perfect gameplan.

But Marsalis Hamilton made sure none of that mattered when he hit a game-tying three at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.

His Eagles won, 62-58, and he fulfilled his promise that he made to his entire team, to go out on top and give coach Eric Flannery his second championship.

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.

Kyrie Irving remains out for the Cavaliers, even though he put up some shots after shootaround on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving stood on the far side of the court launching jump shots long after the Cavaliers shootaround ended on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

The All-Star point guard, still a week away from having his strained left biceps re-examined, spent most of the session riding an exercise bike, but did some court work and running after most of his teammates departed.

Though it looked like progress, coach Mike Brown cautioned observers not to read too much into it. Basically, the right-handed Irving is improving because he has had some time to heal since suffering the injury against the Clippers on March 16 in Los Angeles.

"He's getting closer but he's not playing tonight,'' Brown said as the Cavs prepared to host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night at The Q.

When Irving got hurt, NBA sources indicated to The Plain Dealer that -- in the worst-case scenario -- his season could be over.

Brown was asked on Tuesday if he thought Irving would return this season.

"He's doing the things we need him to do, but it's too early for me to say,'' the coach said.

Cavs vs. Toronto

Probable starters: Cavs -- F Luol Deng, F Tristan Thompson, C Spencer Hawes, G Dion Waiters, G Jarrett Jack. Raptors -- F Terrence Ross, F Amir Johnson, C Jonas Valanciunas, G DeMar DeRozan, G Kyle Lowry.

Injuries: Cavs -- Kyrie Irving (strained left biceps), C.J. Miles (sprained left ankle), Anthony Bennett (strained left knee tendon), Sergery Karasev (right knee tendonitis), Carrick Felix (stress fracture, left knee) are out. Raptors -- Patrick Patterson (sprained right elbow) out.

Officials: Sean Wright, Mark Lindsay, Haywoode Workman

Up next for Cavs: Wednesday at Detroit.

Will this be Justin Masterson's last season in Cleveland? Should the Browns draft best player available or by need? Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.

Will this be Justin Masterson's last season in Cleveland? Should the Browns draft best player available or by need?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com’s Glenn Moore.

Among other topics discussed:

• Dion Waiters and his progress this season.

• Best QB in the draft.

• Grading the Cavs' draft from last season.

• Who will win the final spot in the rotation?

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Smith's contract calls for him to get a bonus of one week's pay for every individual NCAA title by an Ohio State athlete.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - When Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith received a contract extension in January, we were the first to get the details and point out a bonus that had already been in place in previous contracts.

It's a detail, in an era where the discussion of paying college athletes is more and more of a topic, that doesn't seem to be going over so well.

Smith receives a bonus every time Ohio State wins a national title in sports.

• Vote in our poll: Should Smith get the bonus?

He could make six weeks extra salary for a team national title in football or men's basketball. He could make two weeks extra salary for other team sports titles.

But this is the one that seems to grind people - he gets a week of bonus pay for an individual national title by an athlete. That's more than $18,000. So when Logan Stieber won his third NCAA wrestling title on Sunday, Smith's bonus kicked in.

Here is Smith's full new contract.

Rusty Miller of the Associated Press put out a short story on Smith's latest bonus on Tuesday. And the reaction from various sportswriters on Twitter was rather swift. Many fans reacted the same way.

Quite a detail RT @RustyMillerAP: #OhioState AD Gene Smith gets $18,447.94 bonus for wrestler winning NCAA title: http://t.co/wsbYNqayDH …

— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) March 25, 2014

Game is rigged. RT @RustyMillerAP: Ohio State AD Gene Smith gets $18,447.94 bonus for wrestler winning NCAA title: http://t.co/NI1tW02Hz4

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 25, 2014

Oh man RT @RustyMillerAP: Ohio State AD Gene Smith gets $18,447.94 bonus for wrestler winning NCAA title: http://t.co/6Q9ASTRxZ6

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) March 25, 2014

These ppl are shameless. RT @RustyMillerAP: AD Gene Smith getting $18,447.94 bonus for wrestler winning NCAA title: http://t.co/kF1jy6UiQA

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 25, 2014

No money for the kids tho RT @RustyMillerAP: AD Gene Smith getting $18,447.94 bonus for wrestler winning NCAA title: http://t.co/n7HRmZ6lnB

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) March 25, 2014

Do you think Smith should get a bonus of a week's salary when someone like a wrestler wins an NCAA title?

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Is this a normal part of doing business? And there's no doubt that running an athletic department with a budget of more than $100 million is certainly a business.

Is this bad form in an era when the definition of an amateur when it comes to college athletes is a popular discussion?

Is this some weird money thing that interferes with talk of spring football?

The contract of Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith calls for him to get a bonus of a week's salary whenever an individual OSU athlete wins an NCAA title. He got that bonus when Logan Stieber won a wrestling title on Sunday.

What do you think of this clause in Smith's contract, which has been around for years but is getting more attention in the current climate of college sports?

Vote in our poll:

The Indians (17-7-2) look to win their second Cactus League game in a row as they square off against the Texas Rangers at Goodyear Ballpark today. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Arizona -- The Indians (17-7-2) look to win their second Cactus League game in a row as they square off against the Texas Rangers at Goodyear Ballpark today. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

Indians RHP Josh Tomlin is matched up against LHP Robbie Ross.

Where to find the game: webcast on MLB.com.

Read Tweets from @hoynsie and chat with other fans in the comments section below. Click here to participate on a mobile device.

Tweets from @clevelanddotcom/indians

Browns coach Mike Pettine acknowledged it's a possibility the Browns will start a rookie quarterback this season, but he might not be drafted No. 4 overall. He praised some of the quarterbacks, calling Fresno State's Derek Carr the "best natural thrower in the draft.''

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Browns coach Mike Pettine, speaking to reporters for an hour at the NFL Annual Meeting AFC coaches breakfast Tuesday, said "it's a possibility'' the Browns will start a rookie quarterback in 2014, and he's looking for one who has that "it factor.''

Here are some quick notes from Pettine's comments:

• He said he'll attend all of the private workouts of quarterbacks, including Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles and "it's a big list.''

• For now, the schedule of private workouts contains quarterbacks only.

• He called Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr "the best natural thrower in the draft'' and added, "don't bet against family history (referring to his big brother, David, a former first-round pick).''

• He said he won't attend the Pro Day Thursday of Manziel. Neither will Browns general manager Ray Farmer, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan or quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains.

• He called Manziel "a gifted playmaker. The play starts when he makes the first guy miss.'' He said he doesn't think there's any reason that Manziel can't play in structure.

• He described Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins as "an explosive playmaker, plays violently, has passion, loves the game.'' They interviewed him at the NFL Scouting Combine.

• He said Bridgewater is "NFL-ready, extremely accurate, cerebral, has a calming presence and quiet confidence.''

•He said of Bortles: "If you draw me an NFL quarterback, that's probably who you'd draw.''

• On South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney: "He's a freakish athlete. As a defensive coach, I don't think I'd be too sad to turn in the card on Clowney at No. 4.''

• He said it's possible that the Browns will draft two quarterbacks.

• On top draft prospect Khalil Mack, the linebacker from the University of Buffalo: "He's an explosive athlete, can play on and off the ball, plays violently.'' He said his current strong crop of linebackers wouldn't preclude him from drafting Mack.

• He said the team will discuss free-agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, who is set to sign with the Eagles. He said he really likes Sanchez and was with with him when he took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game as a rookie. "I have a great relationship with him.''

• He said former Bills defensive end Alex Carrington, who visited the Browns last week, is still a possibility. Carrington started three games for Pettine last year before tearing his quadriceps and undergoing surgery.

• He acknowledged that the Browns "kicked around'' acquiring cornerback Darrelle Revis, but "I don't know how serious it ever got.'' Revis ended up signing with New England.

• He stressed that if a quarterback is the best available player at No. 4, the Browns will take him. If not, they can draft one later, and that even a later-round pick will have a chance to start. He used third-round pick Russell Wilson of the Super Bowl champion Seahawks as an example.

• He said running back Ben Tate can "absolutely'' be the Browns' featured back and that he's not concerned about his durability.

• He said Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo have "flashed the ability'' to disrupt the quarterback, and it's his staff's job to get them to do it on a consistent basis. He noted that Mingo has some "technique things'' that have to be cleared up.

• He said Karlos Dansby was the team's top target at inside linebacker and Donte Whitner was the club's top target at safety. He said the goal was to get tougher up the middle of the defense. As for Dansby's big playmaking ability, he said he's "really figured it out'' at this later stage in his career.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- While the image of St. Edward boys basketball cutting down the nets is still fresh in our minds, it's never too early to start thinking about next season. The 2014-15 season should once again be at a high level in Northeast Ohio. Two players (Shaker Heights' Esa Ahmad and Villa Angela-St. Joseph's Brian Parker) voted Associated...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- While the image of St. Edward boys basketball cutting down the nets is still fresh in our minds, it's never too early to start thinking about next season.

The 2014-15 season should once again be at a high level in Northeast Ohio. Two players (Shaker Heights' Esa Ahmad and Villa Angela-St. Joseph's Brian Parker) voted Associated Press Player of the Year are expected to be back next season and lead a loaded group of talent.

Although there will be several coaching changes and transfers between now and the start of next season, here's a look at how the Top 10 stands right now for the 2014-15 season.

1. Villa Angela-St. Joseph

With all five starters returning from a team that went to the Division III state title game, the Vikings are the clear choice here. Carlton Bragg, Brian Parker and Dererk Pardon makeup the best returning trio in Northeast Ohio and perhaps the state. Look for the Vikings to not only be one of Ohio's top teams but one of the top teams in the country.

2. St. Edward

The Eagles said goodbye to four starters from a team which was arguably the best in Ohio all year long. But returning final four MVP Kipper Nichols along with fellow big man Derek Funderburk should keep St. Edward back near the top next season. 

3. Central Catholic

There are a lot of question marks around the Ironmen right now, but if this roster stays intact, it will be really good. Tervell Beck, Antwon Lillard and Montel McRae are all potential Division I caliber players. However, keeping them on the team is the key. After coach Jonathan Harris resigned in early March, the Ironmen will need to hire the right replacement to keep the talent from transferring.

4. Shaker Heights

Esa Ahmad is one of the top returning players in the entire state of Ohio. He will need some help after two starters graduate, including Kent State recruit Rosel Hurley. Expect Kaleb Roy and David Wright to have bigger offensive roles.

5. St. Vincent-St. Mary

While the Irish lose Virginia Tech signee Jalen Hudon, coach Dru Joyce still has a lot of talent back. VJ King is one of the best players in the country for the Class of 2016, and he'll team up with Akron signee Josh Williams to make a terrific backcourt. Like this past season, the key for the Irish will be finding the frontcourt balance to give this team balance.

6. East Tech

The Scarabs, who made their first trip to Columbus in 42 years, will miss two-time Senate MVP Kyauta Taylor and Johnell Free. But Markell Johnson had an outstanding freshman season and he has another returning starter in Anthony Carmon to form one of the top duos in the area.

7. Garfield Heights

The Bulldogs have the tools to bounce back after a disappointing finish to the season. Willie Jackson and Frankie Hughes are two of the most talented wing players out there next season. The key will be finding a leader for this season. That was something that hurt Garfield Heights down the stretch this past season.

8. Medina

Craig Randall broke out as one of the top guards and shooters in Northeast Ohio. He will need help from Jon Teske among others to take some of the scoring pressure off of him. This team can be a great one.

9. St. Ignatius

The Wildcats lose a lot from this year's squad including Eric Black and Danny Bova, but the cupboard is never bare for coach Sean O'Toole. The most important player returning is Deven Stover. Expect a lot of the offense to run through him next season, and his offensive numbers could take a big leap.

10. Warrensville Heights

Few teams in Northeast Ohio ended the regular season as strongly as the Tigers did, storming to the Lake Erie League championship. Two of their top four scorers are back to try to do it again in Yavari Hall and Jahmere Howze.

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.

The 49ers coach, speaking at Wednesday's NFC Coaches Breakfast, said there was 'zero opportunity to go there in my mind.'

ORLANDO, Fla. -- San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated Wednesday at the NFL Annual Meeting NFC Coaches Breakfast that the news about the Browns trying to lure him to Cleveland was much ado about nothing.

Because Harbaugh is under contract, the Browns would have had to complete a trade for Harbaugh with the 49ers. Harbaugh said when 49ers CEO Jed York called him in January and "said the Browns say there’s a rumor that you would be available. I said, ‘Well, dismiss that. It’s not true.'

"(There was) zero opportunity to go there in my mind. If that opportunity existed, then it existed in somebody else’s mind, not my own. That was my response to it. Another mini-controversy. I’ve been there before, and I give [controversies] the attention that they deserve, which is very little.”

Asked if that was the first time he heard of Cleveland's interest, he said, “Yeah.”

Was he flattered? “Yeah.”

Did his close friendship with former Browns general manager Mike Lombardi contribute to the Browns’ interest?

“Could’ve been, if I was speculating,'' he said.

He stressed that he wants to remain with the 49ers, who have had extension talks with him.

“I love coaching this team,'' he said. "I love the players. I love the coaches, and the organization they serve. I want to be here for a very long time.”

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam also downplayed the report.

"You know we went through an extensive search, OK?'' he said. "And (we) talked to a lot of different people, and that search process is an inexact science and we talked to a lot of quality people and I think we got a great coach. I think that’s the appropriate thing to say.

"I said this last night when we took everybody to dinner, all our Browns group, and I mean this: I think Mike Pettine will be a great pro football coach. I do. I think he’s smart. He’s tough. He’s organized. I watched him interact when we brought in (free agents Karlos) Dansby and (Donte) Whitner. I think he’s going to be an excellent football coach.”

He declined to say if the Browns made Harbaugh an offer.

"I’ve learned that when things don’t materialize, that water’s over the dam, let it go,'' Haslam said. "I’m worried about going forward. Jim Harbaugh’s a great coach. He’ll do a great job with the 49ers. We’re totally focused on doing a great job with the Browns. You all know we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

All four No. 1 seeds advanced to the women's Sweet 16 with relative ease.

Two rounds in the books of the NCAA women's tournament and everything is almost going according to seed, well except for the Nebraska Regional.

Coming into the tournament it seemed that UConn may have the easiest road to the Final Four. That path got potentially easier with the upset of fourth-seeded Nebraska and No. 2 seed Duke.

Don't count UConn coach Geno Auriemma among those looking at it that way.

"I'm sure all the talk will be for the next three days how, 'If it wasn't going to be easy enough for Connecticut to go to the Final Four, now it's going to be real easy, because No. 2 and No. 4 are out," Auriemma said. "That would be kind of disrespectful to the teams that are already there."

While the Nebraska Regional has 12 seed BYU and No. 7 seed DePaul still standing, the other three regions didn't have too many surprises.

The top four seeds advanced to Stanford. Fifth-seeded Oklahoma State joined the top three seeds in South Bend, Ind. Seventh-seeded LSU crashed the Louisville region by beating No. 2 seed West Virginia. Then again, the Lady Tigers did win at home.

It marked the first time since 2010 that two No. 2 seeds got knocked out in the second round.

Home-court advantage could be huge for Notre Dame, Stanford and Louisville. The trio, which are hosting regionals, have lost one game combined on their own courts this season.

Five things to watch for in the regional semifinals:

PARTY CRASHERS: BYU is the biggest party crasher to the Sweet 16. The Cougars earned their first trip to the regional semifinals with a victory over Nebraska. The Cougars reward -- top seeded UConn. Throw in seven seeds DePaul and LSU and there is some intrigue. It's not the same as the men's bracket which has three double-digit seeds still standing.

"You start to understand that the game is changing a little bit," Auriemma said. "It's not automatic anymore that if you're seeded higher you're going to win. It's been rewarding to see teams play great basketball and get rewarded with wins and having new teams in the regionals."

DOMINANT ONE SEEDS: All four one-seeds advanced to the regional semifinals with relative ease. Only three times since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1994 have the top seeds not all advanced to the Sweet 16. The last was in 2009 when ninth-seed Michigan State upended Duke.

STAR POWER: Some of the best seniors in the women's game are still playing. Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford), Kayla McBride (Notre Dame), Odyssey Sims (Baylor), Alyssa Thomas (Maryland), and Maggie Lucas (Penn State) were all instrumental in getting their teams to the Sweet 16.

GO WEST YOUNG WOMEN: North Carolina and Penn State will have to make cross-country journeys to play in the Stanford regional after opening up at home in the first two rounds. It will be the first time the Lady Lions have been in the Pacific time zone this season. The Tar Heels played out West twice this season, competing in a Thanksgiving tournament in Mexico and taking on UCLA.

Top-seed South Carolina played its first two games in Seattle and will stay out West in between rounds.

"We're staying out on the West Coast," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "It doesn't really make sense for us to fly 3,000 miles to Columbia to turn around and have to leave the next day. We have study hall and exams being proctored and Skyping into classes. We want to make sure our student-athletes get the full balance of basketball and making sure they stay on top of their school work."

TOP CONFERENCE: The SEC has five teams in the Sweet 16 with the ACC being the next closest conference with three advancing. It probably didn't hurt the SEC that four of the five teams played the first two rounds on their home courts.

Here are the defining moments (so far) of this year's Big Dance.

It would be hackneyed and entirely unoriginal to call the 2014 edition of March Madness the best in years. We can't just ignore Florida Gulf Coast's improbable Sweet 16 run last year. Or pretend that Norfolk State-over-Missouri didn't happen in 2012. What about Davidson's Steph Curry-fueled run to the Elite Eight? And who can forget that Duke-Butler title matchup from 2010?

The point is, March Madness is great every year. It's always been a month of basketball mania and upset magic; this year is no different. So rather than argue over how this year's tournament compares to prior versions, let's just celebrate the 2014 NCAA tournament for what it is: a time of nonstop and unequivocal madness.

So without further ado, here are the defining moments (so far) of this year's Big Dance:

1. Floored by the Flyers
The crown for top team in Ohio is no longer a one-horse race. Not after Dayton reserve Vee Sanford ignited the most improbable tournament run of the year. A former Georgetown castoff, Sanford drove to the basket with a mere 10 seconds left in the game, maneuvered past Ohio State star Aaron Craft and knocked down a beautiful 4-foot jumper. The Buckeyes had one last shot at keeping their season alive, but Craft's last-second 10-footer rolled off the rim. In a tragically iconic moment, Craft could only lay on the court and stare up at the rafters. 

.@EyeOnCBB put together the 30 best photos from the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament: http://t.co/HlwkUg7QaJ pic.twitter.com/P3djBqxFjY

-- CBSSports.com (@CBSSports) March 24, 2014

2. More cowbell
Aside from an upstart basketball team, Stanford also apparently boasts the coolest school band in the nation. In a Will Ferrell-esque performance, the Stanford cowbell player briefly stole the show during Stanford's win against Kansas with his wholly spastic cowbell performance. And you thought that SNL skit was played out.

3. The 4-point shot heard 'round the world
How about that unbelievable four-point play from Stephen F. Austin senior Desmond Haymon to force OT against heavily-favored VCU? Truth is, despite their unheralded reputation, the Lumberjacks were always a decent team; they had the nation's second-longest winning streak at 29. But that shot was the stuff that legends are made of.

4. Doing the Mercer dance
Aside from beating Duke, the team everyone but Blue Devils fans loves to hate, the Mercer Bears endeared themselves to America with senior Kevin Canevari's impromptu postgame bop. Beyond entertainment value, it encapsulated everything that's great about March Madness: the achievement of the seemingly impossible, and the shameless celebration that follows suit.

5. Dayton parties with the president
Another memorable celebration came after Dayton's 55-53 over Syracuse, when Dayton President Daniel Curran was given the rock-star treatment, crowd-surfing over the student body amidst a campus-wide street party. Also of note: a personal congratulations from President Obama.

6. 'Cause that's a technical foul
Kansas State walk-on Brian Rohleder -- who averages 0.1 points per game -- managed to make an impact on his team's second-round loss to Kentucky in an innovative (but totally bad) way. Rohleder was given a technical foul for dunking during warmups, forcing K-State to spot Kentucky a 1-0 lead before the game even started. Luckily for Rohleder, his team lost by six, so he can't take too much blame.

7. Poetic justice
In a now infamous pre-game press conference, Kansas freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Wayne Selden showed no respect for Stanford guard Chasson Randle, openly giggling when they were asked what they knew about the junior Cardinal guard. Randle, motivated by the slight, went out and scored 13 points against Kansas while setting a Stanford record for steals in an NCAA tournament game with six. When the buzzer sounded on Stanford's huge 60-57 upset win Sunday, Randle had the last laugh -- while making little Jayhawks fans cry.

8. Look, Mom! One hand!
Every time Tony Wroblicky shot a free throw, TV viewers were spellbound and American University fans were given at least a few moments' solace. The Eagles center's unique one-handed approach to free throws was about the only thing that went right for American Thursday, as they lost 75-35 Wisconsin in blowout fashion. Hey, he was 5-for-6 from the line in the game and shot 72 percent from the stripe this year; maybe some of his peers should take notice.

9. Leaving so soon? 
After enduring a woeful start from his team, which scored just 16 points before halftime, Nebraska head coach Tom Miles got himself ejected midway through the second half for unsportsmanlike conduct. It's not often that a coach gets himself ejected from an NCAA tournament game, but it's hard to blame Miles for wanting to escape an absolutely dreadful day for his Cornhuskers, who shot a woeful 19 percent from beyond the arc in a 74-60 loss to Baylor. Even more abysmal, that loss brings Nebraska's all-time tournament record to 0-7, going back to 1986.

10. Waving bye-bye to Buffett's billion

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett wears Creighton stickers prior to an NCAA college basketball game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

There are no longer any perfect brackets left in the @QuickenLoans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge: http://t.co/HOHlP9F97G

-- Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 22, 2014