"Delonte is a baller. If he ever gets consistent, he can give you 14, 5 and 5, plus he plays with an edge unlike most in the league. I wish he could have elevated his game at playoff time when we needed him. Hope he does well for Boston." - Phunkville

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerDelonte West agreed to terms with the Celtics earlier this week.

In response to the story Former Cavs guard Delonte West rejoins the Boston Celtics, cleveland.com reader Phunkville likes Delonte in green and white. This reader writes,

"Delonte is a baller. If he ever gets consistent, he can give you 14, 5 and 5, plus he plays with an edge unlike most in the league. I wish he could have elevated his game at playoff time when we needed him. Hope he does well for Boston."

"Well, he hasn't looked great so far, but I feel comfortable with him at third string getting experience. Sometimes it just clicks these guys and it would be great for once to have a guy like that on the Browns." - xsmoker

View full sizeCleveland Plain DealerIf all goes as planned for the Browns, Colt McCoy won't see the field on Sundays in 2010.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy looking forward to action vs. Bears, cleveland.com reader xsmoker hopes McCoy spends this year learning and figures it out next season. This reader writes,

"Well, he hasn't looked great so far, but I feel comfortable with him at third string getting experience. Sometimes it just clicks these guys and it would be great for once to have a guy like that on the Browns."

"I think this is a good setup. 'The Game' will still be played on the last Saturday in November, and if that team up north ever gets its stuff together, the Buckeyes will get to play them again a week later. Two Michigan weeks in a row would be great." - vet420

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerIt's been a while since Michigan has beaten Ohio State, but there may come a time when they'll have shots at it consecutive weeks.

In response to the story OSU, Michigan fans were heard as Big Ten announced its 2011 divisions: Doug Lesmerises analysis, cleveland.com reader vet420 loves the idea of an Ohio State-Michigan rematch in a Big Ten championship game. This reader writes,

"I think this is a good setup. 'The Game' will still be played on the last Saturday in November, and if that team up north ever gets its stuff together, the Buckeyes will get to play them again a week later. Two Michigan weeks in a row would be great."

Running back Hardesty and quarterback McCoy own secure roster spots as second- and third-round draft picks. Saturday, 22 players will be cut to finalize (temporarily) the roster.

The Plain DealerBrowns fans will see Montario Hardesty and Colt McCoy get extended playing time tonight.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Running back Montario Hardesty and quarterback Colt McCoy were drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second and third rounds, respectively, in April.

Tonight, they will get extensive playing time as the Browns close their preseason schedule against the Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

For Hardesty and McCoy, it's a chance to enhance their NFL experience with the comfort of knowing they will make the Browns' roster.

For 30 players or so, the game will be critical to their immediate NFL futures. The Browns must cut 22 players by Saturday at 6 p.m. to reach the regular season roster count of 53.

Certainly, the 53 will be fluid, with a few likely to depart within the next few weeks, and the 22 departed may find work on the practice team if not, eventually, on the regular roster or with another team.

The Plain Dealer and the cleveland.com/browns pages on the PD's cleveland.com website continue to cover the Browns. PD Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot previews tonight's game, highlighting Hardesty and McCoy.

The Browns open the regular season at Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers on Sept. 12.

Don Delco previews tonight's game for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com. He writes about Hardesty, who missed the first three preseason game with an injury:

Hardesty suffered a bone bruise in his right knee before camp began. He also battled injury problems at Tennessee, but still finished with 2,391 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns on 560 attempts. Last season was his best rushing for 1,345 yards and 13 scores on 282 carries.

If Hardesty holds true to form, he is expected to compete for carries in an ever-increasing backfield with Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis.

“We have the talent in our backfield,” Hardesty said. “I feel like competition makes everybody better and I look forward to get out on the field and start competing.”

Browns watch

Besides Cabot's game preview, other Plain Dealer Browns coverage inludes Cabot talking about the Browns on Starting Blocks TV; PD reporter Branson Wright's video interview with safety Abram Elam; a video preview of tonight's game with Cabot and PD Browns beat writer Tony Grossi; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns' running backs; columnist "Bud Shaw's Sports Spin."

Browns blockers

Don Banks previews the Browns' AFC North Division for Sports Illustrated's SI.com. He writes about what might be the Browns' greatest strength:

It probably takes all of one finger to count the positions on the Cleveland depth chart that inspire true envy around the league: That would be offensive line. After years of floundering around in free agency and in the draft, wasting dollars and picks, the Browns have built a pretty good wall up front on offense, which is led by All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas. Entering his fourth NFL season, Thomas is close to becoming the standard by which offensive left tackles are measured these days.

But the Browns also have a talented young center in Alex Mack and a valuable veteran left guard in Eric Steinbach, putting them light years ahead of some of the lines Cleveland has run out there since returning to the league in 1999.

Mangini on the spot

FoxSports.com has a photo gallery of 10 "NFL football players and coaches in dead end jobs this season." Included is Browns coach Eric Mangini.

Text that accompanies a photo of Mangini:

The Mangenius once was so huge he got 15 seconds on the Sopranos (most among active coaches). But thanks to one bad December with Brett Favre in New York and an even worse run with the Browns last season, he's suddenly in the situation of needing at least a .500 mark this year to avoid heading back to the ranks of eternal "assistant." If this wasn't a team with Jake Delhomme as its QB (see: 23 INTs in final 12 games as Panther) and one with a slight confidence problem at home (four wins in 16 tries the past two seasons), that might not be such a challenge. But Mangini’s seemingly being set up to fail to allow the team's GM (Mike Holmgren) the opportunity to turn it all around in 2011.

Sideline to sideline

ESPN.com previews the 2010 Browns.

Browns notes by Scott Petrak for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

Where the Browns stand in USAToday.com's new power rankings.

Mike McLain reports on the Browns quarterbacks for the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

On ClevelandBrowns.com, Steve King looks at the history of Browns-Bears games; Matt Florjancic writes a game preview and about Colt McCoy.

Rucker on the Brown-Browns dispute: "Mike Holmgren has a right to run this organization the way he wants, but he should have made every effort not to demean or disrespect Jim's work and value in this community."

(Editor's note: Former Browns wide receiver Reggie Rucker offers a point of view on the Jim Brown-Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor debate)

Plain Dealer file photoAs a friend of Jim Brown, former Browns receiver Reggie Rucker says there was more to Brown's role with the team, and that it's time owner Randy Lerner helped resolve the situation.

Reggie Rucker

Special to The Plain Dealer

Jim Brown is my friend and I am here to support him. I've listened, I've watched and I've read just about everything regarding Jim Brown and the letter. I feel it's time for me to weigh in on this, mostly because I'm eminently more knowledgeable of all things Jim Brown than anyone in this city.

First, let me say this and say it unequivocally, Mike Holmgren did not understand Jim Brown's relationship to the team and to the city. Secondly, this is not about money. He doesn't need it.

The man is an historic figure for his accomplishments in football and his pioneering achievements in motion pictures or as Sports Illustrated so aptly described him, "one of the most significant figures of the twentieth century." Is there anyone who doesn't know this?

Here is what you don't know -- Jim Brown is the architect of a curriculum used in schools, juvenile detention facilities, prisons, churches, and boys and girls clubs that teaches the responsibility of self-determination. It is a self-empowering movement giving at-risk youth a second chance. He has personally been responsible for stopping the "gang violence way of life" for thousands all across this country. He is an acknowledged expert, very smart and wise beyond even his years. To be more succinct, his Amer-I-Can program has kept young people out of jails and cemeteries, many in this city.

The "shift blame" game is now on. Let's attack Jim Brown and focus on his past history, or whatever indiscretions that can be dug up. Are any of us that holy?

I believe the attempts to ridicule and personally attack Jim for his life-long convictions about respect and loyalty are wrong. I know only a few people who know what was said in the initial meeting between Jim and Mike Holmgren. Holmgren has a right to run this organization the way he wants, but he should have made every effort not to demean or disrespect Jim's work and value in this community. He didn't know what Jim's role was or his accomplishments in the community.

I am going to tell you.

Jim Brown served at the pleasure of the owner of this team, Randy Lerner. He believed he answered only to Lerner. If you review someone's work record for successes or failures, there should be some evidence-based support for determining the impact that individual has made in the company. So, let's start with the 2009 season when we were witnessing some of the most horrific football ever seen in Cleveland. Everyone wanted to fire Eric Mangini, including me. Jim wasn't so quick to pull the trigger and condemn Mangini. In fact as the season progressed, Jim was the only one brave enough to publicly support Mangini. He told me Mangini was a good man and a good coach.

Mike Holmgren enters the picture, reviews and interviews Mangini and Holmgren decides to keep Mangini as head coach. Well, Jim had already given us his professional opinion about Mangini. As executive advisor to the owner, he was doing his job in the best interests of the owner.

Jim was involved behind the scenes with contract holdouts, including getting Kellen Winslow to come in sooner that he would have if he had not intervened. When Braylon Edwards got into trouble and there were threats to both Edwards and the Browns organization, it was Jim Brown who had his Amer-I-Can teams provide security for Browns players and provide street intelligence to Lew Merletti, Browns chief of security, regarding those threats.

Jim received the 2009 humanitarian of the year award from Our Lady of the Wayside for his commitment and work in this community, yet another one of the roles he was supposed to play while representing the Cleveland Browns. He received the W.O. Walker award from the Call and Post newspaper for his work in Cleveland schools. This is the work that the Browns hoped he would do on their behalf. I know this because I was employed by the team at the time and was told to offer the support of the Cleveland Browns to then-Mayor Jane Campbell. I did this and subsequently the Browns sponsored the Amer-I-Can program in Cleveland Schools with a $1.6 million grant. I would also add that when funding ran out, Jim Brown spent $80,000 of his own money to keep it going.

Jim partnered with U.S. Marshall Pete Elliott and the United Pastors in Mission in the fugitive safe surrender program, which helped to get guns and bad guys off the streets of Cleveland. These are the kinds of things that were discussed when Jim was brought back here to advise the Cleveland Browns, not just in football but in areas of need in this community. Jim was a huge supporter and partner in the Municipal judges "Get on Track Program," giving young people a second chance to get their lives together.

So, Jim Brown didn't just hang out with the owner and talk to a few players. He held a very dignified position and added real value as executive advisor to the owner. His job was to give advice, not run the team. Holmgren employs men in this capacity. Gil Haskell is a senior adviser. Do you know what he does? It's not important to you what he does; it's only important to Mike Holmgren.

Finally, I once made a comment about Randy Lerner and it brought about one of the ugliest confrontations between Jim and me. I knew then that I should never say anything negative about Randy again. That was off limits. He had a fierce father-like protective covering for Randy and one knew never to challenge that. It's called loyalty.

As a member of the Browns family, I know we are all hurting on this, I can tell you that Jim is hurting more than anyone.

Randy, I call on you to step up now, put an end to this. Jim loves you; he is your friend. It is time for us to hear from the owner of the Cleveland Browns!

Sincerely,

Reggie Rucker

Cleveland Browns, 1975-81

A minute-by-minute review of the season opener.

UPDATED: 12:50 a.m.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerDan Herron (1) and the rest of the Ohio State offense found plenty of room to roam in building a 35-7 lead against overmatched Marshall in the first half of Thursday night's season opener at Ohio Stadium.

INSIDE THE VEST
Get ready for this debate all season, one that Jim Tressel will have with himself as well. How long should he keep Terrelle Pryor in the game, when his quarterback is in the Heisman running, the Buckeyes are in the national title race and second-half blowouts should continue to occur?
Thursday night, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris sat out the second half of a 45-0 blowout of Florida A&M after completing 12 of 15 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Tressel kept Pryor into the game into the fourth quarter against Marshall, as he finished 16-of-23 for 242 yards and three touchdowns.
Tressel did get his second-team offensive line and second-team receivers into the game early, and worked second-team defenders into the first-team rotation throughout. That worked well.
Tressel always lived dangerously with how long he kept Troy Smith in the game during blowouts in Smith’s Heisman season in 2006. Expect the coach to do the same with Pryor this season. There will be times when you think Pryor should be on the bench. But Tressel has been through this before. And he’s probably not going to change.
— Doug Lesmerises

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A minute-by-minute review of the season opener, which ended happily with a 45-7 romp for the Buckeyes.

6:40 p.m.: Ohio State Jim Tressel is on the field during pre-game warmups, chatting with Marshall coach Doc Holliday, and he is not wearing a sweater vest. On the day that the Plain Dealer referenced Tressel's typical attire while previewing his 10th season at Ohio State, this is a startling revelation. Sure, the temperature is 92 degrees for the Buckeyes' opener with the Thundering Herd, but could Tressel really be changing his routine for the first time since 2002?

Fans just worked so hard to save one tradition, voicing their opinions to ensure that the Ohio State-Michigan game remained the last game of the regular season. Will OSU AD Gene Smith now be getting emails about what his football coach wears on the sideline?

7:24: Crisis averted. After returning to the locker room, Tressel leads the Buckeyes' charge out of the tunnel wearing a gray sweater vest over his white short-sleeved dress shirt and red tie. So this is the same old Tressel. But will the Buckeyes be the same old Buckeyes, a team that sometimes starts slowly on offense and looks less than sharp in early nonconference games?

7:27: Always interested to see who inherits the role of leading the Buckeyes in their midfield bounce. One Buckeye stands in the middle of a mass of his teammates, removing his helmet and barking out motivation. Two years ago it was Malcolm Jenkins. Last season, Thaddeus Gibson. This year, Nate Oliver, a fourth-year junior backup safety from St. Ed.

7:29: What does having six captains mean? It means they can't all go out for the coin toss. Four is the limit, so for the opener, Brian Rolle and Bryant Browning hang back as Ross Homan, Cameron Heyward, Brandon Saine and Dane Sanzenbacher head to midfield.

7:33: The Buckeyes were concerned about their special teams coverage units a year ago, Tressel feeling that injuries to their depth at linebacker and safety cost them good cover guys. Backup linebackers are at the heart of those cover units, as Rolle proved in the past. Rolle said one of the players he was emphasizing that to in camp was freshman Dorian Bell, who redshirted a year ago.

So in his first play as an Ohio State Buckeye, the former star recruit from Western Pennsylvania cracks Marshall return man Andre Booker, forcing a fumble that is recovered by ... Oliver. This should not be the last time you hear Bell's name on special teams this year.

7:34: It's only one play. But it's the first play of a season that OSU fans hope, and anticipate, ends in the BCS National Championship. It's the first play after Terrelle Pryor threw 37 passes while winning offensive MVP honors in a Rose Bowl victory. It's the first play of a season in which Pryor is supposed to put it all together. So what is it?

Shotgun. Flanked by both tailbacks, Brandon Saine and Dan Herron. And a pass to, egads, the tight end, as Jake Stoneburner makes the catch for an 11-yard gain. As a snapshot of what fans hope the OSU offense becomes, you couldn't do much better.

7:35: Touchdown DeVier Posey in the front left corner of the end zone, hauling in a six-yard pass from Pryor on third down. They look like two guys who have worked together for three years - which they are.

7:44: After the defense forces a three-and-out from Marshall, and Jordan Hall shows off a nice little move on a 12-yard punt return, Saine breaks off a 40-yard run, then finishes the drive with a 4-yard touchdown on a toss right. It's 14-0 Ohio State.

Saine's 45-yard touchdown run will come later, but only after Marshall blocks an Ohio State 53-yard field goal try and returns it for a touchdown. Pryor will answer that with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher.

There is more game to play and a season ahead, but consider what has happened in 11 minutes of real time and 4:33 of game time. In a season when hopes are so high, were these 11 minutes, against an obviously overmatched team with a first-year coaching staff, what the Buckeyes needed?

Tressel wore the usual. The Buckeyes looked a little better than that.

QB Ryan O'Rourke's debut with the Yellow Jackets is a winning one as B-W cruises to an opening win.

Norm Weber

Special to The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- All that could be said about Baldwin-Wallace's football performance Thursday is that the Yellow Jacket faithful are happy that Avon native Ryan O'Rourke decided to come home.

O'Rourke, a transfer from Slippery Rock State, threw three touchdown passes, completing 9 of 13 attempts for 154 yards to lead B-W to a 38-14 home win over Wooster in the 33rd annual Lee Tressel Shriners Night.

It was a great night all around for a host of talent from local high schools. B-W started off with a bang-bang effort. Kevin Johnson, a freshman from St. Ignatius, made his first collegiate play a memorable one, returning the opening kickoff 55 yards to the Wooster 40.

From there, O'Rourke, the Avon High 2009 graduate, took over. The sophomore transfer made his first Division III pass one for the scrapbook, connecting with Keith Darbut for a 40-yard TD pass to give the Jackets a 7-0 lead with the game only 19 seconds old.

Darbut, normally a defensive end, lined up for his first offensive play of his four-year college career, taking the crisp O'Rourke aerial at the 15 and jaunting in for the final yardage on the play.

Brad Pollock, a Brecksville-Broadview High product, kicked a 37-yard field goal on the next B-W possession to make it 10-0. It was the longest field goal of Pollock's collegiate career.

B-W's second first-quarter touchdown had a lot of local flavor as well. O'Rourke found a familiar face in Brett Jensen, one of his favorite receivers at Avon High, near midfield. Jensen was able to snare the ball and dash 50 yards untouched for the score.

"We've been playing together since seventh grade," Jensen said. "After we both went to Slippery Rock last year and it didn't work out, we knew we wanted to come here. It just clicks when a quarterback and receiver know each other that well."

O'Rourke's third TD pass of the first half was also to Jensen, this one for 19 yards with 11:15 left in the first half for a 24-0 lead.

"There is more of a family atmosphere here at B-W," said O'Rourke. "Slippery Rock just didn't seem right. This felt good right from the start. I saw enough Avon people in the stands that indicates that we should have a good following the rest of the season."

While the B-W offense dominated in the first half, the defense well. Wooster could not manage a first down in the first quarter. At one point in the second quarter, B-W had a 298-2 advantage in total offense.

Parma High product Tim Miker scored the first B-W TD on the ground, a 1-yard plunge in the second quarter that made it 31-0.

Wooster finally got on the scoreboard in the final minute of the half when quarterback Richard Barnes, a freshman from Painesville Harvey, threw 18 yards to Logan Dunn.

Barnes started getting used to this college game by the second half. He engineered a 12-play, 58-yard drive in which he did all the passing and quite a bit of the running. His 3-yard TD pass to Cameron Daniels cut the deficit to 31-14 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.

For the game, Barnes was 20-of-35 for 171 yards and two TDs. Barnes and O'Rourke received plaques as the Shrine game MVP for their respective teams.

Matt Breidegam, who played at Rocky River, was the leading tackler for the Scots, racking up nine tackles. Chris Aukerman, another former Rocky River Pirate, chipped with six tackles.

"Three of us went from Rocky River to Wooster," said Breidegam. "Two of us are still here and it's a nice place to play. It felt good playing in front of a lot of locals here."

Amherst's Ryan Kish had nine tackles for B-W to share game-high honors with Breidegam.

B-W's insurance TD came on a pass from Padua alumnus Andrew Dziak to Aaron Manders in the fourth quarter.

Norm Weber is a freelance writer based in Lakewood.

Browns running back Montario Hardesty suffered a left knee injury vs the Bears.

UPDATED: 12:23 a.m.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerMontario Hardesty relished his first-quarter touchdown run Thursday night, but his debut game was over all too briefly when he suffered a left leg injury just minutes later.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty hobbled out of the Browns' locker room late Thursday night on crutches, with a full brace on his left leg and very concerned expression on his face. He'll undergo an MRI Friday to determine the extent of his injury.

"I'm hoping for the best and I'm going to pray for the best,'' said Hardesty, standing at his locker. "I'm discouraged about it now, but I'm going to make sure I stay strong-minded, and whatever it is, I'll be back.''

Hardesty, who injured the leg making a cut on a 2-yard run in the second quarter, was asked if it was a knee injury, as was originally announced in the press box.

"Not necessarily,'' he said.

He declined to be specific, but said it didn't feel like anything he's had before. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate in his right knee in 2005 and had a left scope in 2006.

"I'll go in tomorrow and find out more and get back on a program to get back on the field,'' he said.

Asked about his reputation for getting injured, he said, "It's somthing that happens in football. I'm just making sure I stay positive, and turn my focus to getting better.''

He admitted he was frustrated after missing most of preseason and seeing his first action against the Bears.

"I can't say it's not frustrating,'' he said. "Being out there today and getting back into the flow of football (was great) and then something goes wrong, but at the same time I'm not going to put my head down.''

He said, "I'm hopeful that whatever it, it can be done as fast as possible and I'm definitely going to work hard to come back.''

James Davis, who replaced Hardesty in the game and is now almost certain to make the team, said, "I feel bad for Montario. I tried to encourage him. I hope he can come back.''

Now Browns fans can see why Mike Holmgren brought in two veteran quarterbacks.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerThe frustration was easy to see in rookie quarterback Colt McCoy's eyes after he fumbled the snap on the first Browns play Thursday night. The fumble was recovered by the Bears, but McCoy bounced back to complete all 13 of his pass attempts as the teams played to a 10-10 standoff in the first half.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Colt McCoy completed all 13 of his passes in the Browns' game against Chicago Thursday night -- and not one fan should think for one moment that he should be the starter.

What a relief.

The Browns know exactly what they are doing at quarterback since ... well ... when?

Maybe the early years of Tim Couch?

None of this is meant as a criticism of McCoy. Rather, it's an acknowledgement of life for a rookie quarterback in the National Football League.

Usually, it's painful, physically and emotionally. That's why team president Mike Holmgren was wise to bring in not one, but two veteran quarterbacks.

The Browns have the NFL's second worst record since 1999. Jake Delhomme will be the team's seventh different opening day quarterback in the last seven years. This shaky team needs some stability at that position, and it's doubtful any rookie quarterback could bring it to these Browns.

Delhomme has been brilliant in the preseason, completing 38 of 48 passes with a sparkling 110.5 rating. Wallace also has been strong, connecting on 13-of-26 for three touchdowns and 230 yards. The two veterans had only one interception in 74 passes.

Odds are that production will slip once the season opens on Sept. 12 in Tampa. But odds do favor that between Wallace and Delhomme, they will have acceptable play at quarterback.

And McCoy can sit and watch and learn under absolutely no pressure.

A talented rookie running back such as the Browns' Montario Hardesty can miss a big chunk of training camp and still impress in a preseason game. Didn't he look good hitting the holes? Notice how he fell forward when tackled. That's why it was so discouraging to go down with a knee injury, even if it turns out to be minor.

Rookie running backs can make an immediate impact because their level of responsibility is much smaller than the quarterback. They really have to worry about only a few things.

Not so for a rookie quarterback.

McCoy is learning that the first pro season can be a real shock to your confidence. The game seems so fast while a young quarterback's head feels so full. The linemen and linebackers are bigger and quicker than anything McCoy had seen before when they rush. The defensive backs seem to cover the receivers tighter than they did in college.

Keep in mind that McCoy faced a rugged schedule and played under intense pressure with major media scrutiny at Texas. He started 53 games, finished with 47 school records and became the first player in NCAA history to win at least 10 games in all four of his college seasons.

But the NFL really is a different ballgame.

Look at the difficulty that McCoy had even taking some snaps from center Thursday night. He's been slow to pick out a receiver, taking some sacks that could have been avoided. The Browns were wise to make sure he threw a lot of short passes.

In the preseason, McCoy was 28-of-39 for 232 yards. But he also had six sacks. His longest pass was for 17 yards. None of this is reason for alarm because this is like a college red-shirt season, something nearly every rookie quarterback could use.

A few months ago, I talked to Brian Sipe about McCoy. Sipe recalled feeling lost as a rookie, "I got only a few reps in practices, and I kept fumbling." He didn't even play in a regular season game until his third season.

So there's no need to write off McCoy, or even make any significant judgments about his future.

Think about the other Browns quarterbacks since 1999 who were rushed into action: Tim Couch, Charlie Frye, Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. It seemed all of them appeared ill-prepared and shell-shocked at various points in their careers.

That's why this approach with McCoy and veteran quarterbacks is refreshing, and something the Browns should have done earlier with their quarterbacks.

Ohio State's 45-7 victory over Marshall Thursday night was the start of something new -- with some familiar reasons, and some fresh ones, for Buckeyes' fans to like what they saw.

UPDATED: 12:32 a.m.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerBrandon Saine sprints past Marshall's Ahmed Shakoor (6) and Devin Arrington (25) on his 45-yard TD dash in the second quarter of Thursday's 45-7 victory over the Thundering Herd.

REPORT CARD
A -- Ohio State running back Brandon Saine
He was the recipient of some outstanding blocking, center Mike Brewster and fullback Zach Boren leading him through the hole the first time and left guard Justin Boren leading him the second time. But with a 40-yard run and then a 45-yard touchdown run, the senior showed why he's a player many expect to take that next step. He finished with nine carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns, also adding a 6-yard TD run.
He'll continue to share the load with Dan Herron. But Saine looked like a No. 1 tailback, no doubt.

A- -- Freshman defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins
This is really based on only one play. But when a 335-pound freshman defensive tackle playing in his first college games is out tracking down a swing pass and falls on the receiver to make sure he can't recover his own fumble -- well, you take notice. Hankins' teammates have raved about Hankins' agility for a man his size, and as OSU cornerback Chimdi Chekwa forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Ross Homan in the second half, Hankins showed that. He'll continue as a backup in the defensive line rotation, and the Buckeyes will want to keep him fresh. But, as expected, he will help Ohio State this season.

B -- Playing on Thursday night
This was Ohio State's first weekday game since opening the 1997 season with a Thursday night victory over Wyoming. There were some parking issues that Ohio State was worried about on a weekday, but it didn't seem to keep fans from arriving early and creating a regular pregame tailgate atmosphere.
The Buckeyes ran their streak to 33 years of not losing a home opener, dating back to their 1978 loss to Penn State. They've now won 11 straight openers overall, dating back to their 1999 loss to Miami in the Kickoff Classic.
So it worked, and today the Buckeyes are thinking about No. 13 Miami, which opened its own season with a blowout of Florida A&M on Thursday night. So if the Buckeyes hadn't moved their game, they'd already be behind. But let's not get too accustomed to this weekday stuff.

C -- Special teams
It was a worry entering the preseason for Jim Tressel, so he must have loved it when OSU freshman Dorian Bell knocked the ball loose on the opening kickoff, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Nate Oliver.
But there were too many other problems. The extra-point try after Ohio State's first touchdown was tipped, but Devin Barclay's kick still fluttered through the uprights. The Thundering Herd returned one kickoff for 63 yards. And, of course, Marshall's only points came on a 61-yard return of a blocked 53-yard Drew Basil field goal attempt.
Ohio State has two extra days to prepare for Miami on Sept. 11. That's plenty of time to work extra on blocking during those kicks.
-- Doug Lesmerises

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Eight months and a day is a long time to keep momentum going.

So Ohio State's 45-7 victory over Marshall to open the season Thursday night was the start of something new -- with some familiar reasons, and some fresh ones, for Buckeyes' fans to like what they saw.

The 26-17 win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 gave the Buckeyes their first chance in four seasons to enter the off-season on a high note, and an across-the-board domination of the overmatched Thundering Herd gave credence to the idea that this season could end on an even higher note.

"We wanted to be able to come out and prove as an offense that we could deliver on all those things we've been working on in the off-season," OSU senior receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said after Ohio State outgained Marshall, 529-199.

The progress of junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor was, as it has been and always will be, the No. 1 point of interest, and by completing 17 of 25 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, Pryor showed what he's learned. Other than a fumbled snap with the second-team offensive line that led to a desperate heave that could have been intercepted, Pryor never seemed to lose control.

He stepped up in the pocket. He ran at times, but not as a first option. He was accurate more often than not. On a 65-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher, he showed excellent touch down the field, answering immediately what had been Marshall's only highlight of the night, a 61-yard return of a blocked field goal for a touchdown.

That pass was the featured presentation in Pryor's first foray into the Heisman race, and his numbers will carry the day. He also stayed into the game into the fourth quarter with the Buckeyes ahead by five touchdowns.

"I thought Terrelle had confidence in where he was going with the ball," OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "I thought his anticipation was good."

He was not alone on offense. Running back Brandon Saine scored two touchdowns while running nine times for 103 yards. DeVier Posey caught two touchdown passes from Pryor and finished with four catches for 41 yards. Sanzenbacher finished with three catches for 113 yards, highlighted by that 65-yarder.

It was an offense that came out throwing with confidence and still pounded the run. It was an offense that looked comfortable to the players running it and to the coaches calling it.

"It definitely makes you feel good when you put a lot of points on the board," said center Mike Brewster, who said last season's four-point win over Navy in the opener almost felt like a loss. "I think this just showed how mature this team is and what we can do."

The defense was just as impressive, only a special teams gaffe costing the Buckeyes a shutout. Marshall blocked Drew Basil's 53-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter with a strong push up the middle and returned the block 61 yards for a touchdown. Special teams guru Tressel will make note of that, as will an OSU defense that held Marshall to under 200 yards of offense but didn't get to post a zero.

The defense did manage to outscore the Marshall offense, as linebacker Brian Rolle dropped into coverage, picked off a pass from Herd quarterback Brian Anderson and returned it 30 yards for a second-quarter touchdown. Safeties Jermale Hines and C.J. Barnett threw some key early blocks on the return before defensive lineman Cameron Heyward walled off four Marshall players near the goal line to allow Rolle to reach the end zone.

It was just a play by veteran players on a night when everyone knew what they wanted to do, and for the most part, did it.

"We obviously were confident we could do that," Sanzenbacher said. "But you're never in a position when you're on this team, playing at this level, to rely on what you've done in the past. We're expected every week to prove it over and over again to ourselves and everyone else."

They'll have to do it again next week against Miami, the top-15 team that claimed its own 45-0 Thursday night blowout over Florida A&M on Thursday night. The buildup to the rematch of the title game from the 2002 season will conjure up a lot of history and animosity. And both teams did what they needed to do to prepare themselves.

Last season ended pretty well for Ohio State. On Thursday, the Buckeyes proved they're ready for the future.

While Montario Hardesty's injury problems at Tennessee have been well-chronicled, he has now hurt both knees before playing a regular-season game.

UPDATED: 12:10 a.m.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns rookie running back Montario Hardesty grimaces in pain after suffering a left knee injury in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears Thursday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Hardesty walked to the locker room under his own power, and an immediate report on his injury was not available.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty's preseason debut was good while it lasted. But it ended prematurely with an injury to his left knee.

It brought the Browns' preseason to a thudding conclusion, with Hardesty talking dejectedly after the game with crutches lying in front of him and an MRI exam waiting on Friday.

"I can't say it's not frustrating," Hardesty said. "I've just got to keep my head up and keep working in the program."

The Browns pulled out the win over the Chicago Bears, 13-10, on a Phil Dawson 36-yard field goal as time expired. The victory evened their exhibition record at 2-2. Dawson earned both wins with field goals on the last play.

In perhaps his last act as a Brown, quarterback Brett Ratliff patched together the game-winning drive in the final 2:18. Veteran receiver Bobby Engram had two catches for 21 yards on the drive.

Coaches always manage their final preseason game with fingers crossed, hoping to avoid injuries. But this could become a routine occurrence whenever Hardesty takes the field. The talented back's injury problems at Tennessee have been well-chronicled. Now he has hurt both knees before playing a regular-season game.

A bone bruise on his right knee caused Hardesty to miss 27 days of training camp and three preseason games. That's the knee on which Hardesty had surgery to repair the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament tear as a freshman in 2005.

The injury to his left knee occurred on his seventh carry in his preseason debut against the Bears. That's the knee that reportedly received an arthscopic procedure in 2006.

Hardesty started the game and quickly demonstrated the skills that endeared him to Browns General Manager Tom Heckert on draft day. His second and third runs each went for six yards, and his fourth was a one-yard burrow over right guard for a touchdown.

Hardesty had another six-yard run, breaking through a tackle. Then on his seventh attempt, Hardesty did not get up after gaining two yards.

He was quickly surrounded by Browns' medical personnel. Hardesty left the field on his own and then was swarmed by five medical personnel as he sat on a table on the sideline.

After a few minutes, Hardesty walked dejectedly to the locker room with a trainer. He finished with 25 yards and the TD on seven carries. Coach Eric Mangini said he won't know the extent of Hardesty's injury until tests are completed.

James Davis replaced Hardesty and made an emphatic case to make the final roster. Davis, locked in a battle with Chris Jennings as a reserve back and special teamer, rushed 15 times for 66 yards and had gains of 12 and 14 yards on short Colt McCoy completions.

Jennings had 18 yards on five carries.

Speaking of McCoy, the rookie finally had some fun and reason to feel good about his first NFL preseason. But it didn't start out that way.

McCoy fumbled the first snap from rookie Shawn Lauvao -- who started at center and probably added that backup role to his starting job at right guard. McCoy then suffered a sack on his fourth play when he tap-danced in a well-formed pocket.

But McCoy showed the resiliency that made him the NCAA's all-time winningest quarterback at Texas. Playing into the third quarter, McCoy regrouped and went on to complete all 13 passes he attempted for 131 yards. He was sacked three times.

Last week, McCoy said he never practiced a single play he ran in the Detroit game. He obviously got more reps in two days of practice this week, and it showed.

McCoy, though, may have broken a bone in his left (non-throwing) hand.

Defensively, the Browns' "starters" for this game allowed Chicago quarterback Todd Collins to complete six of his first seven passes in his first outing with his new team. Collins, an old pro entering his 16th NFL season, needed only three plays to find the end zone after McCoy's first-play fumble.

Collins flipped an easy touchdown to tight end Greg Olsen from 15 yards. Olsen beat backup safety DeAngelo Smith by about five yards.

Collins finished the first half completing 10 of 15 for 139 yards. His passer rating was 118.5. Backup running back Chester Taylor hit the Browns for 23 yards on four carries.

The Browns fielded a defensive unit to start the game that included mostly backups. Rookie Joe Haden got a few reps at cornerback. The linebackers were Jason Trusnik, David Veikune, David Bowens and Marcus Benard. Veikune, Trusnik and Benard were still playing into the fourth quarter.

Usually, playing time in the fourth quarter of the final preseason game is a ticket to the waiver wire. But Benard might be the team's best pass rusher at linebacker and he was working with the No. 1 unit earlier this summer.

Ratliff's winning drive at the end took receiver Jake Allen off the hook. Ratliff had the Browns close to scoring territory with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter when his pass deflected off Allen's hands and was intercepted by Bears safety Aaron Webster.

The Browns' deep backups denied Bears rookie quarterback Dan LeFevour the chance to savor victory. LeFevour moved the Bears to the Browns' 39, but was flattened for a sack on third down by defensive end Brian Sanford.

An impressive opener by Terrelle Pryor was noteworthy for his best plays being passes. Then again, Marshall was easy pickings.

UPDATED: 12:18 a.m.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerThe best news for OSU fans on Thursday night was the realization that Terrelle Pryor's best plays against Marshall came from his right arm, not his feet, says Bill Livingston.

COLUMBUS -- Autumn, which seemed on its way only a few days ago, wasn't around the corner, down the street, or on the next block Thursday night. It was retreating from the heat in which 105,040 spectators sweltered at Ohio State's opener.

The weather keeps switching, but the stakes in college football do not.

Every game counts. The score, in this case Ohio State 45, Marshall 7, stays on everybody's permanent record. There is no "preseason." This is an enormous advantage for college football in terms of bang for the consumer buck, but it is also a burden.

Ohio State, in particular, has no margin for error, due to the outmoded perception of the Big Ten as the Sun Belt schools' punching bag. 

The opener began with the last streaks of light making the stands at the open end of the stadium glow. Wherever the season's journey ends, odds are that junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor will blaze the trail.

He is high on the sprawling list of Heisman Trophy possibilities. Sports Illustrated proclaimed him the preseason favorite, which means only that memories remain vivid of his MVP performance in the Rose Bowl against Oregon.

In the opener, he showed he can put two straight good games together, although they were separated by eight months and one day. The disclaimer is that Marshall is not very good, although the Thundering Herd did go to a bowl and win it last season, beating Ohio (University, not State).

But Pryor was all that could be expected, and more. There were no "wow" moments with his legs, proving that the "running quarterback" description of his freshman season is no longer accurate. A knee injury that required surgery curtailed the gliding runs in his sophomore season.

But Pryor suprisingly came out throwing early and often against the Ducks in Pasadena, when he was expected to hand off. A chorus of praise followed. Thursday night was more of the same.

The "wow" moments were his passes. Take the snap, drop back in the pocket, and put a 65-yard spiral, tight as the budget of a have-not baseball team, right in the hands of a receiver, on time and in stride, for a touchdown.

It went to Dane Sanzenbacher on the second snap after Marshall had scored on a return of a blocked field goal to cut OSU's lead to 14-7. The competitive aspects of the night were over then and there.

Pryor finished 17 for 25 for 245 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and one sack. He hit his wide receivers, his running back and high school teammate Jordan Hall, and even his tight end, a forgotten weapon at OSU.

Coach Jim Tressel said, "He had confidence in where he was going with the ball. His anticipation was good. He has a better handle on how the guys up front and the backs are going about their protection. So he has a much better feel for where people are coming from."

When Troy Smith stopped looking to run and learned to think through his progressions, he became a Heisman winner. The difference is that Pryor is bigger, taller and faster than Smith. It is also that, in Oregon, Pryor is coming off a statement game against a tougher opponent than Notre Dame, despite its reputation, posed to Smith in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2005 season.

Impressive as Pryor's opener was, he is currently far from getting the Buckeyes over "that little hump" to a national championship, as he promised to do when recruited.

"It will be a different world next week," said Tressel.

Next week is Miami, the first big obstacle. The first Hump Day.

Kent State showed a lot of sizzle against Murray State Thursday night.

Paul Tople / Akron Beacon JournalKent State's Dana Brown Jr. (52), Josh Pleasant (2) and Brian Lainhart (31) pile on Murray State's Drew Hall in the first quarter Thursday night at Dix Stadium in Kent.

KENT, Ohio -- Kent State showed a lot of sizzle against Murray State Thursday night.

Yet inside KSU's 41-10 victory over the Racers were plenty of warning signs to let the 16,535 in attendance know a coveted and rare winning season for the Golden Flashes is far from a sure thing.

But there is hope.

"There haven't been many times we've scored 41 points in the opening game," Kent head coach Doug Martin said. "We've got more explosive players than we've had in a while."

Big plays including a 49-yard catch and run for a score, and a 92-yard TD kickoff return on back-to-back possessions turned a slim Kent lead into a comfortable cushion in the opening moments of the second half.

Later, a gadget play on fourth down led to a 19-yard gain and set up a 37-yard field goal for a 34-10 lead midway through the third quarter.

But the anticipated running game the Golden Flashes were expected to unveil never materialized against a Murray State defense that ranked eighth overall in the Ohio Valley Conference last season, and was missing its starting noseguard.

Once it was clear all KSU could do was throw, protection for quarterback Spencer Keith (24-of-35 for 275 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception) became spotty. Keith was sacked three times.

It became clear that Kent's offensive line is a work in progress. The Flashes tried to cover that weakness by passing on every first down throughout the first half and well into the second. A 20-yard rush by tailback Eugene Jarvis (45 yards rushing, 1 TD) and a 17-yard keeper by Keith accounted for the bulk of Kent's 46 yards on the ground at intermission on 16 rushing attempts.

"They had everybody in the box," Martin said of his run game. "It got a little better in the second, but it wasn't as good as it needs to be."

'The Racers trailed just 17-10 as the first half was winding down, and building momentum. On three straight Kent possessions, Murray State picked off a Keith pass and forced a pair of punts.

But with 1:13 to play, Keith stepped up to avoid pressure and found tailback Jacquise Terry down the sidelines. The junior speedster exploded through a tackle and turned a short gain into a 49-yard jaunt for a score to give Kent breathing room at the half, 24-10.

Anthony Bowman's 92-yard kickoff return to start the second half made it 31-10.

Kent's defense did the rest, holding Murray State to minus-65 yards rushing, setting a Kent record, and just 193 yards of total offense.

But KSU still has a long way to go and a short time to get there with Boston College and Penn State up next.

Colt McCoy left a lasting impression, going 13-for-13 for 131 yards for a 108.7 rating in the preseason finale -- his last game action for the foreseeable future.

UPDATED: 12:26 a.m.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerAfter an error-prone start, Colt McCoy steadied himself and completed all 13 of his pass attempts Thursday night against Chicago.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thirteen proved to be a lucky number for rookie quarterback Colt McCoy against the Bears Thursday night.

McCoy was a perfect 13-for-13 against the Bears for 131 yards in a little more than two quarters of work.

The Browns were looking for flashes of potential from their third-round pick and got that and more. Included in his streak were passes of 14, 13, 12 and 12 to second-year back James Davis and 16 yards to Joel Gamble and Syndric Steptoe. Granted, it was against most of Chicago's backups, but McCoy was surrounded by reserves as well. It was a good confidence-builder after a trying preseason.

After the game, McCoy underwent X-rays on his swollen left throwing hand, which got stepped on. But he said he'll be fine and was encouraged by his performance.

"I still have a long way to go, but I felt this capped it off pretty well,'' he said.

McCoy was also sacked three times and lost a fumble. He mishandled what appeared to be a good snap from rookie Shawn Lauvao on the Browns' first play, and the Bears converted it into a touchdown.

McCoy and Lauvao, the projected starting right guard, haven't executed many exchanges together in practice. McCoy also held the ball too long on the ensuing drive and was sacked on third and 1, but then heated up in the second quarter, completing all nine of his attempts.

Coach Eric Mangini said McCoy had shown growth last week in Detroit, where he completed 10 of 14 attempts, but that he needed to make better decisions. It's the last time Browns fans will see him for a while, and he left a good impression.

Davis dazzling: With rookie running back Montario Hardesty sidelined with a left knee injury in his NFL debut, second-year back Davis seized the moment and ran to daylight. Then he kept running and catching and running some more.

By the time the first half was over, Davis had 33 yards rushing on seven carries and 38 yards receiving on three catches in only two series of work. Late in the third, he ripped off a 19-yard run.

The forgotten man ever since Hardesty was drafted in the second round in April, Davis replaced him with nine minutes left in the second quarter and served notice to the coaching staff that he won't go down without a fight.

"I just went out and made the best of my opportunities and it just came to me,'' he said. "I've always been able to catch the ball coming out of the backfield and make defenders miss.''

Davis, who sat out the final 14 games of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery, ripped off 14 yards on his second run and then eight more later on the drive. He also caught a 12-yard pass from McCoy to set up a 24-yard Phil Dawson field goal and a 10-7 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Davis caught passes of 14 and 12 yards to set up a 58-yard field goal attempt by Dawson that was wide left. Davis, a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in 2009, also threw a key block on a Steptoe kickoff return, offering value on special teams.

Determined McDonald: Fourth-year cornerback Brandon McDonald, who started 25 games over the past two seasons, will be as anxious as any of the other bubble players when cuts are made Saturday.

"I'm not really sure if I'll make the team," he said. "I won't really know until cuts are being made. Right now, I'm not really focused on it. If I'm here, I'm here. If not, it's not my decision."

McDonald, who started the first 10 games last season before being replaced by Mike Adams, started against the Bears. He broke up two passes on a second-quarter drive that forced Chicago to settle for a field goal.

"I think I've been better with my consistency this preseason," he said. "I'm just trying to clean some things up and put myself in the best position to make this football team."

McDonald, the Browns' fifth-round pick in 2007, plans to play somewhere in 2010.

"I'd love to be here, but if I'm not, it's a situation I'll have to deal with. I've just got to let this coaching staff know that I'm a guy that can make plays and help this football team win."

Veikune hopeful: Linebacker David Veikune, a 2009 second-round pick, was hoping to show up more on film against the Bears than he did in Detroit. He finished with four tackles.

"I need to step up and make plays," he said. "Last week, I played all right here and there. I want to play within the scheme of the defense, but make plays."

He said playing about 15 pounds lighter than he did last year has helped.

"I feel like I can run and move a little quicker," he said. "Also, at this time last year, my head was still spinning. The game has slowed down for me."

But will it be enough?

Jackson on track: Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is scheduled to return in the second or third week of the season from a partially-torn pectoral muscle suffered on Aug. 10, a source said.

"Every day is progress and that's all I can ask for at this point," Jackson said.

Trusnik shows up: Linebacker Jason Trusnik, relegated to backup duty this preseason, recovered a Bears fumble in the first quarter to set up Hardesty's 1-yard TD run. ... Linebacker Marcus Benard was active, leading the team with eight tackles.

A frustrating moment for rookie Montario Hardesty may provide an opening for second-year running back James Davis.

UPDATED: 11:53 p.m.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerJames Davis shows his pleasure after a solid run in the third quarter of Thursday's game with the Bears. With Montario Hardesty injured, Davis' chances of making Saturday's final roster may have increased greatly, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles as the Browns held off the Bears, 13-10, in the preseason finale...

1. Didn't your heart just sink when Montario Hardesty went down with a knee injury? He had only seven carries for 25 yards, but you could see how he smartly hit the right holes -- and fell forward for an extra yard when tackled. He had knee and other injuries in his career at Tennessee, but stayed healthy as a senior and averaged 109 yards per game rushing. You can see the talent, but who knows if he can stay healthy?

2. But the thought of Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis – neither played Thursday -- along with a healthy Hardesty shows how the Browns could be an elite running team. With an aging Jamal Lewis and emerging Harrison, the Browns finished eighth in rushing a year ago. They ran for 900 yards in the final four games of 2009, the most in the NFL, with horrible quarterback play.

3. If Hardesty can't play, then James Davis probably is in the picture. But the guy who really matters is Hillis. He has been impressive not only with his power running, but he led the team with nine catches in the first three games.

4. It's hard to believe that veteran linebacker David Bowens may be cut. Or at least, Bowens believes it's a possibility. He is close to the coaching staff and is one of the most grounded players on the team. Bowens is gray-haired with a cranky knee and lots of miles and bruises on his 33-year-old body. But the guy really is a team leader, a physical player and a major asset. While he struggles to get physically ready for the season, when it starts -- he plays. Bowens has been in all 16 games in each of the last six seasons.

5. Bowens began the 2009 season at outside linebacker, then took over inside for Game 11. He also assumed the role as captain of the defense. He was second on the team in tackles and second with 5.5 sacks. He is not quick, but strong against the run. Yes, the Browns added Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong, but the linebackers are not that deep as to make Bowens expendable.

6. Money? Bowens makes $1.65 million. So cutting him does not save a ton of cash or salary cap room. If the decision is between Bowens and fellow veteran Eric Barton, I prefer Bowens because Barton is coming off a serious neck injury that limited him to only eight starts. Barton will make $2.3 million this season. Neither contract is guaranteed.

7. The Browns also have to decide if David Veikune is making enough progress at linebacker to remain on the roster. He has improved from a year ago, but then again, he was a non-entity. He had some good moments Thursday with five tackles, but it's hard to see him playing much with all the veterans in front of him.

8. A year ago, the Browns picked Alex Mack, Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and Veikune in the first 52 picks. Only Mack and Massaquoi became starters. The Browns received little from Robiskie and Veikune. Robiskie has become a starter this season, but the point is they had only two of those picks who helped as rookies. This season, their top four picks are Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, Hardesty and Shawn Lauvao. Ward and Lauvao are expected to be starters, with Haden and Hardesty (if healthy) slotted to be in the rotation.

9. My point is you can already see how the new front office upgraded the scouting and draft. Haden was a No. 7 pick. Then came Ward (38), Hardesty (59) and Lauvao (92). It would be super if the Browns found a starting offensive linemen as a rookie found in a later round. That is smart drafting.

10. Fifth-rounder Larry Asante may not make the team or the practice squad. But he did have his best preseason performance by far with six tackles.

The Indians were swept, but gave the contending White Sox all they could handle. How will they respond to facing the last-place Mariners?

UPDATED: 12:04 a.m.

SEATTLE, Wash. -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Indians play the Mariners tonight in the first game of a four-game series at Safeco Field.

Safeco Field's dimensions: Left field line 331 feet, left center 390, center field 405, right center 387 and right field line 326. Outfield fence, 8 feet high.

In-game notes:

Score: Indians 4, Mariners 3, after six innings.

Break on through: The Indians had one hit and no runs through the first five innings against Doug Fister. Then they scored four runs on six hits against him in the sixth.

The big hit was Shin-Soo Choo's three-run double to the gap in right center to tie the score, 3-3. Travis Hafner followed with a single to right to give the Tribe a 4-3 lead. After Jayson Nix singled, lefty Garret Olson relieved.

Luis Valbuena started the rally by beating out an infield single to second. Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera followed with singles to load the bases before Choo delivered against his former team.

Fister entered the game with a 1-8 record in his last 13 starts. For five innings, however, the Indians could barely touch him.

Rough waters: Rookie Josh Tomlin pitched two trouble-free innings before giving up three runs in the third. Ichiro Suzuki doubled with one out, took third on Chone Figgins single and scored on Franklin Gutierrez's sac-fly to left.

Russell Branyan, traded by the Indians earlier this season, followed Gutierrez by crushing a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for a two-run homer. Branyan hit the ball off the facing off a restaurant above the lower deck for his 21st homer. He hit 10 of them with the Tribe.

Oops: Nix made his six error in 20 games at third base when he whiffed on Ryan Langerhaus' pop up in the fourth.

Pre-game notes:

Game 134: For non-contenders, September is a waste. They should play the games on the dark side of the moon. Nobody's watching anyway.

Manager Manny Acta knows all about Septembers at the bottom of the barrel. He's managed four years in the big leagues and September has found him in last place three times. He spent the other season, 2009, at home after getting fired by Washington in July.

It's hard to judge success or failure in September, because bad clubs have lost their edge. They're playing kids and looking toward next year.

There is one upside to September besides it being the last month of a long year. Bad teams still get to play contenders in games that mean something. It is a decent way to gauge their development.

"The energy level should always be there regardless of who you play, but when you play a contender it's automatically there," said Acta. "Not necessarily for the spoiling thing, I don't enjoy that. . .I like it because something is on the line."

The Indians played that way against Chicago. Yes, they were swept, but they were in every game until late, losing 10-6 Monday, 4-3 Tuesday and 6-4 Wednesday.

That was Chicago. Now the Indians open a four-game series against a last-place Seattle club that has won one fewer game than the Indians. Few thought the Indians would contend this season. The Mariners, however, were thought to be in position to win the AL West.

But they fired manager Don Wakamatsu and traded Cliff Lee to the division-leading Rangers. Ken Griffey Jr. fell asleep in the clubhouse, woke up and decided to retire; Milton Bradley got hurt (again); Franklin Gutierrez signed a big contract and is hitting .251; Chone Figgins signed a big contract, got into a fight with Wakamatsu in the dugout and laid an egg, Felix Hernandez might be pitching better than he did last season when he won 19 games, but he's 10-10.  

It will be interesting to see how the Indians respond to this challenge.

Quick hits:

Indians went 3-6 on just completed nine-game homestand.

Tribe has lost 34 of the last 53 road games. They're 24-41 on the road.

Tribe starts September a season-high 24 games out of first place in the AL East.

Tribe has won five straight at Safeco Field. They are 93-78 overall in Seattle and 27-19 at Safeco Field.

Alex Lavisky, eighth-round pick, hit .200 (3-for-15) with three RBI, Tony Wolters, third-round pick, hit .211 (4-for-19) with three RBI and DeVon Washington, second-round pick, hit .444 (4-for-9) with three RBI, for the Indians' Arizona Rookie League team.

Lineups:

Indians (53-80): CF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), DH Travis Hafner (L), 3B Jayson Nix (R), 1B Jordan Brown (L), LF Trevor Crowe (S), 2B Luis Valbuena (L), C Lou Marson (R) and RHP Josh Tomlin (2-3, 4.08).

Mariners (52-81): RF Ichiro Suzuki (L), 2B Chone Figgins (S), CF Franklin Gutierrez (R), DH Russell Branyan (L), 3B Jose Lopez (R), 1B Casey Kotchman (L), C Adam Moore (R), LF Ryan Langerhaus (R), SS Chris Woodward (R) and RHP Doug Fister (4-10, 3.73).

Umpires: H Mike Winters, 1B Hunter Wendelstedt, 2B Brian Runge, 3B Jerry Layne. Layne, crew chief.

Quote of the day: "I loved the game. I loved the competition. But I never had any fun. I never enjoyed it. All hard work all the time," Boston Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski from the Baseball Almanac.

Next: RHP Fausto Carmona (11-13, 4.19) vs. LHP Luke French (3-4, 4.13) Friday at 10:10 p.m.

Watch video as Browns head coach Eric Mangini addressed the media following the team's 13-10 win over the Chicago Bears in the preseason finale at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mangini talks about looming decisions on the roster, the risk of playing running back Montario Hardesty in the last preseason game and the progress of quarterback Colt McCoy.

Defensive back Tyler Moeller's first game back from a head injury suffered more than a year ago brought aggressive hits, confident laughs and the declaration that he's back for Ohio State.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerTyler Moeller (26) looks for someone to block after Brian Rolle intercepted a pass in the second quarter of Ohio State's victory over Marshall Thursday night. Rolle scored on the play.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It wasn't that Tyler Moeller forgot what it was like to be in Ohio Stadium. In the past year, he's heard the roars and seen the raucous cheering, he's felt the electric atmosphere that comes with Buckeyes football games.

But when Moeller sprinted onto the field Thursday night to play his first game in more than a year, it was different. He was back on the field to play, back to hit opponents hard and back to show everyone that he hadn't lost his passion or power. And that he could still hit, and hard.

"I think I had something to prove out there," Moeller said, "and I think I proved that tonight."

After more than a year away from football after suffering a head injury in an off-field incident in Florida, Moeller recorded six tackles, one shy of his career-high of seven in 2008. Playing the Buckeyes' star position, the fifth defensive back on passing downs, Moeller was an aggressive force against Marshall's offense. He helped swarm the run game, was active zipping around the field, and he had the green light to go after Thundering Herd quarterback Brian Anderson on more than one occasion -- which resulted in a third-quarter sack.

He had some jitters, and some over-eagerness at times. But he was just happy to be back on the field, again.

"You don't realize, I was out for a year and a half," Moeller said. "It was just getting back to that love of football, that love of running around and hitting people. I took a pretty long time off and I kind of forgot what it felt like in a game. Tonight when I came out and saw that crowd, that feeling I got ... it all came back."

Moeller suffered a head injury in July 2009 when a Florida man punched Moeller at a bar, causing Moeller to hit his head on the ground and suffer bleeding on the brain that required surgery.

He missed the entire 2009 season, and was back with the Buckeyes for spring practice in April -- but couldn't hit until this fall. He said he went through a subpar training camp, and tried his hardest in recent days to regain the toughness that he feels defines his play.

Teammates think he's rediscovered it.

"We bring him in at nickelback, and he brings that more physical speed to the field," said linebacker Brian Rolle. "He's a guy who knows what he's doing and has played that position since he's been here."

On one play, Moeller chased down a receiver with what Rolle said was "no effort at all." Moeller roared triumphantly and boasted to his teammates that he's got some pretty decent speed.

"I just cracked up," Rolle said, laughing after the game. "I just kept thinking, 'He's back. Tyler's back.'"

If you're worried about the Indians starting rotation this year, what about next year? The rotation is in need of help -- lots of it.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerMitch Talbot has struggled to return to form after spending time on the disabled list with a back injury.

Who comes after that?

Rookie Mitch Talbot had a promising first half. Then he went on the disabled list with a strained back. He hasn't been the same since being activated Aug. 14. He's 0-2 in his past four starts and hasn't won since June 27.

Justin Masterson has been in the rotation all year. He's one of three Tribe starters to lose 11 or more games. Masterson is 5-12, Talbot is 8-11 and Carmona is 11-13. But the Indians still aren't saying if the 6-6, 250-pound Masterson is going to start or relieve next year.

"We're going to send him home after this season as a starter," Acta said.

Decision time on Masterson could take place during the winter. It will depend on what kind of moves, if any, the Indians make to improve a rotation that entered Thursday's game against the Mariners at 36-61 with the third highest ERA (4.66) in the AL.

Indians starters have walked the most batters in the AL, while striking out the fewest. Opposing batters are hitting .281 against the starters, the second-highest average in the AL. To make matters worse, Indians starters have pitched the third fewest innings in the AL.

View full sizePDReliever Chris Perez says he's not upset that he wasn't called upon for a four-out save on Wednesday.

This is a rotation in need of help.

"We need to get where we have at least seven guys who can start," said Acta. "Every major-league club wants that. When it comes to No. 2 and all of that, it all depends what's on the market. You know, that's not part of my job description."

After Masterson, there are rookies Josh Tomlin, Jeanmar Gomez and newly arrived Carlos Carrasco. Alex White, the Indians' No. 1 pick in 2009, and recently acquired Zach McAllister could be in the wings next year. McAllister, in fact, could be called up later this month depending on the fate of Class AAA Columbus' playoff hopes.

Acta said that more pitchers will be called up from Columbus in the near future. He would not say if they'd be starters or relievers, but the overworked bullpen is sagging.

No problem: Closer Chris Perez wasn't sure if Acta would call on him for a four-out save in the eighth inning in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to Chicago. Acta went with Justin Germano instead and he gave up a three-run homer to Paul Konerko to erase the Tribe's 4-2 lead.

"I'm not mad or anything," said Perez. "I know it would have been different if we were three games out."

Acta said he didn't go with Perez because he didn't want to put him in harm's way. Perez threw 27 pitches Monday against the White Sox. He threw 14 more Saturday against the Royals and worked a five-out save against Oakland on Aug. 26.

Germano relieved Rafael Perez. He walked a batter and then gave up the three-run homer to Konerko.

"I think I let the situation get the best of me," said Germano. "I think I had more adrenaline than I needed. My body was way ahead of my arm. I just missed the location.

"It was the first time I'd been in that kind of situation, and I'm certainly not putting any blame on that, but I let my emotions get scattered."

On the bench: Matt LaPorta (left hip) missed his fourth straight start Thursday. He took batting practice before the game and was available to pinch hit.

"Our training staff still doesn't feel he's ready to be on the field," said Acta.

LaPorta, injured Sunday, could start tonight.

Changes: Carrasco, who pitched well in his 2010 debut with the Indians, worked closely with pitching coach Charles Nagy at Class AAA Columbus.

"He asked me once if he could make a suggestion to change my mechanics a little," said Carrasco. "I said, 'Yes.' So I started turning a little bit more. The first time in the game, I felt a little more comfortable, a little more in control of my fastball so I could hit all my spots."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

The Mariners and Indians are battling to see who will draft higher in 2011.

View full sizeAssociated Press Some Indians players were doing an imitation Thursday of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, above ... well, at least the shoeless part.

Clubhouse confidential: There's always something to play for in the big leagues. Take the four-game series between the last-place Indians and the last-place Mariners.

What's at stake? Draft position for 2011, of course.

Before Thursday's game, the Mariners (52-81) were in position to get the third pick, while the Indians (53-80) were looking at the fourth pick.

Barefootin': A Seattle reporter spied Trevor Crowe, Joe Smith and Jordan Brown standing in the grass by the third base coach's box Thursday afternoon at Safeco Field. Brown was wearing flip flops, Crowe and Smith were barefoot.

"Hey, can't the Indians afford to buy these guys shoes?" the reporter said.

He was reminded that "Shoeless" Joe Jackson once played for the Tribe. Unfortunately, no one on the Indians can play like Shoeless Joe.

Stat of the day: Indians hitters have the AL's second-lowest batting average (.248), while their pitchers have walked the most batters (496). Now that's a bad combination.

-- Paul Hoynes