Golfers recording hole-in-one or double eagle in the past week at local courses.

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here is the list of holes-in-one and double eagles as reported by golf courses for the past week.

Ryan Baker of Brooklyn aced the 115-yard 15^th hole at Springvale G.C. using a sand wedge.

Chris Balus of Middleburg Heights aced the 134-yard 14^th hole at Briarwood G.C. using a 7-iron.

Roger Cuffari of North Ridgeville aced the 147-yard 10th hole at Pine Brook G.C. using a pitching wedge.

Joe Dominak of North Ridgeville aced the 126-yard eighth hole at Valleaire G.C. using an 8-iron.

Richard France aced the 140-yard fifth hole at Manakiki G.C. using a 4-hybrid.

Jim Mandera of Medina aced the 167-yard 14^th hole at Briarwood G.C. using a 7-iron.

Linda Martin of Cleveland aced the 110-yard fifth hole at Grey Hawk G.C. using a 6-iron.

Thomas Mather of Independence aced the 155-yard 11^th hole at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville, Pa. using an 8-iron.

Michael Messina of Richfield aced the 147-yard 11^th hole at Cherokee Hills G.C. using a 6-iron.

Scott Montgomery of Avon Lake aced the 110-yard 12^th hole on the south course at Thunderbird Hills G.C. using a 9-iron.

Rufus Murdock of Spring Valley, Ca. aced the 165-yard fourth hole at Grantwood G.C. using a 4-iron.

T.J. Murphy of North Olmsted aced the 80-yard 14^th hole at The Links G.C. using a lob wedge.

Danny Patrick of Hinckley aced the 120-yard 25^th hole at Mallard Creek G.C. using a 9-iron.

David Petras of Strongsville aced the 204-yard 12^th hole at Royal Crest G.C. using a driver.

Mike Sakai of Brecksville aced the 160-yard fourth hole at Hinckley Hills G.C. using a 5-iron.

Jeremy Schutte aced the 152-yard seventh hole at Cherokee Hills G.C. using an 8-iron.

Alister White of Olmsted Falls aced the 80-yard 14^th hole at The Links G.C. using a sand wedge.

Jim Wise of Ravenna aced the 170-yard 16^th hole at Lakewood G.C. using a 5-hybrid.

Stephen A. Smith issued an on-air apology Monday, saying it was the most egregious mistake of his career.

NEW YORK -- ESPN has suspended outspoken sportscaster Stephen A. Smith for a week because of his comments about domestic abuse suggesting women should make sure that they don't do anything to provoke an attack.

In this Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, photo, Stephen A. Smith arrives at Spike TV's Video Game Awards in Los Angeles.AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file 

Smith's commentary occurred during a discussion on ESPN2's "First Take" last Friday about the NFL's two-game suspension of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following charges he assaulted his now-wife. The remarks attracted widespread attention, including a stinging rebuke online from a fellow ESPN personality.

Smith issued an on-air apology Monday, saying it was the most egregious mistake of his career.

A day later, ESPN took action. The network's chief executive, John Skipper, told ESPN's staff in a memo it was done after a "thoughtful discussion" about appropriate actions with men and women in his company.

"I believe his apology was sincere and that he and we have learned from what we've collectively experienced," Skipper said.

Smith will not appear on "First Take" or ESPN radio until Aug. 6, the network said.

During the Rice discussion, Smith alluded to women in abuse cases when he said, "Let's make sure we don't do anything to provoke wrong action ... we got to also make sure that you can do your part to do whatever you can do to make, to try to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Shortly after Smith's remarks, colleague Michelle Beadle responded on Twitter that "I was just forced to watch this morning's First Take. A) I'll never feel clean again B) I'm not aware that I can provoke my own beating."

Beadle, host of ESPN2's "SportsNation," continued with a series of tweets. She said that "Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting."

Smith, during his apology, said it wasn't his intention to say that women could be responsible for their own abuse. "It was not what I was trying to say," he said. "Yet the failure to clearly articulate something different lies squarely on my shoulder."

Smith didn't explain the point that he was trying to make.

ESPN frowns upon its personalities attacking each other on social media or other forums. But it did not announce any punishment for Beadle.

The Indians have lost seven of nine.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 106.

Opponent: Mariners.

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland.

Time of day: Night.

Time elapsed: 3 hours, 15 minutes.

Attendance: 15,713.

Result: Mariners 5, Indians 2.

Records: Mariners 55-51, Indians 52-54.

Slumping: The Indians have lost seven of nine.

Scoreboard watch: Pointless when a team is sub-.500 through 106 games.  

Streak ended: The Mariners had lost six in a row at Progressive Field (four via walkoff).

Fresh-brewed three: The Mariners are 50-17 when scoring three or more runs.

Seattle's road show: The Mariners improved to 29-20 on the road -- one of the best such records in the majors. They are 17-8 since June 1.

On Tuesday, they defeated a team that is good at home (Indians now 29-20).

Iwakuma's road show: Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma gave up two runs*  on six hits in seven innings to earn the victory. He walked one and struck out six.

Iwakuma is 9-0 with a 2.17 ERA in his past 14 road starts covering 95 1/3 innings.

*In real time, Iwakuma appeared to have allowed a third run. With one out in the seventh, David Murphy hit a towering fly to right that Endy Chavez failed to catch after a leap at the wall. The ball hit what almost certainly was the wall's roof and, because of the backspin, caromed on the field. First-base umpire Vic Carapazza ruled double.

A review from MLB headquarters backed Carapazza. The only plausible explanation for not over-ruling to a homer was lack of irrefutable evidence because of insufficient replay angles.

Murphy remained at second when Yan Gomes lined to center and Chris Dickerson struck out swinging. The Tribe's deficit remained 5-2.

Relying on the defense: Iwakuma (9-5, 3.06 ERA) pitched well and deserved what he got -- but, as the line suggests, he wasn't lights-out dominant. The Indians made a series of loud outs, including two by Michael Brantley.

Rare sight: Iwakuma's walk occurred in the first. He threw four balls to Brantley.

It was Iwakuma's first walk in six July starts. His walk-less innings string ended at 36 1/3.

Brantley was just the eighth batter to see a 3-0 count against Iwakuma this season, the third to draw a four-pitch walk.

Off his game: Right-hander Trevor Bauer authored the worst of his 15 starts as an Indian this season. He allowed five runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Bauer's streak of quality starts ended at four. In seven previous starts at home this season, he was 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA.

Bauer struggled against an offensively challenged club. In his other start against the Mariners, June 27 in Seattle, he allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 3-2 loss.

Bauer gave up four runs in the fourth -- three with two outs -- as Seattle took a 4-0 lead. After Mike Zunino homered with one out in the fifth, Indians manager Terry Francona summoned lefty Nick Hagadone.

When Bauer missed his spots, he paid for it. He allowed four doubles and one homer.

Fourth-inning fizzle: Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, who wears out the Tribe, opened the fourth by beating the shift with a bunt single toward nobody at third. The Indians adhered to their spray charts but subjected themselves to second-guessing by shifting against Seager in that spot, especially because, for Seager's next at-bat leading off the fifth, Tribe third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall returned to near his normal spot.

Bauer seemed to be unnerved by the bunt. The next batter, Mike Zunino, fouled a pitch, then was plunked. After Logan Morrison lined to second, Corey Hart ripped a 2-0 fastball past third for an RBI double.

Hart is batting .211.

James Jones struck out. Dustin Ackley pounced on the first pitch and smoked a two-run double off the wall in right-center. Two pitches later, Chris Taylor lined an RBI double to left.

Interesting exit: When Francona came to get Bauer after Zunino's homer, Bauer paused before turning over the ball. Soon after Bauer returned to the dugout, Francona appeared to signal for him. Bauer disappeared down the steps.

Get the popcorn ready: It doesn't get any easier for the Indians' offense Wednesday night, when the Mariners send out righty Felix Hernandez. All Hernandez has done is go 11-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 22 starts. He is riding an American League-record 13 straight starts of at least seven innings and two or fewer runs.

The Indians counter with their ace, Corey Kluber, who is 10-6 with a 2.77 ERA in 22 starts.

Nick Swisher, tired of losing, says it's time for the Indians to get their heads on right and start winning some games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio –There are still over two months of baseball left for an average team to prove it can be better than that.

So far the Indians have given no indication they can do that.

They lost Tuesday night 5-2 to Seattle at Progressive Field where they've played their best baseball. At 52-54 they've lost five of their last six and seven of their last 11 games.

"I've almost had enough of this losing stuff," said DH Nick Swisher. "We have to start turning things around. "

Does that mean the clock inside Swisher's head has told him the season is slipping away?

"No, never," he said. "Not around here. We have too good of an attitude, too many good players and too good of a manager to quit on anybody. I hope no one else is quitting on us because we're not quitting on ourselves."

Swisher has had a miserable season. Before he doubled off the left field wall in the fifth inning and came around to score the Indians first run, he was in a 1-for-22 skid. In fact, he's been skidding all season on a pair of bad knees.

In his next at-bat, Swisher lined a ball to the fence in center where James Jones somehow caught it before slamming into the wall and slumping to the warning track.

"I'm starting to get a little more healthy, but I'm worried about myself," he said. "I'm worried about these losses. If we want to turn this thing around, we have to do it collectively. It's not a one-man show around here. It never has been, never will be."

Right fielder David Murphy knows all about collective efforts and collective folds. He says that no one should count the Indians out of the AL Central or wild card race.

"No, at this point, there's still way too much time left," said Murphy. "Have we been through almost 4 months, yes? Have we played inconsistent, yes? Have there been plenty of games we've lost that we could have won, yes?"

In spite of that, Murphy still believes there is hope. He's seen it happen as a member of the 2012 Texas Rangers.

"The beauty of this game is that you play 162 games," said Murphy. "There is so much that can be done in two months. We've seen teams come back from 10 and 15 games down. I was a member of the Rangers in 2012. We must have been 10 1/2 games up on Oakland. They came back and beat us on the last day of the season to win the division."

Actually, Oakland was 13 1/2 games out on June 30. Texas had a six-game lead on Aug. 25 and a four game lead entering the last weekend of the season. So Murphy's point rings true.

"I've seen it personally," he said. "It's easy to say something like that (is the season over?) after a loss, but this is a talented team. I've said that when we play well and get it going, we're a great team. If we can find that consistency, we'll be in great shape."

The Indians (52-54) are 6½ games out of first place, one-half game out of second and one-half game out of fourth. They are five games behind Toronto for the second wild card with four teams in front of them.

"What's great is that with the extra wild card game, everyone has a chance," said Swisher. "What's great about where we are is that no one is running way with the division."

But being placed in a good situation means nothing if a team can't take advantage of it. Swisher understands that.

"We have to come back Wednesday get our heads on straight start picking up some Ws," he said. "At the end of the day, no one checks the boxscore to see how the individual did, they check to see how the team does."

Finally: Swisher was asked if he'd have to undergo surgery on his sore knees after the season.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he said.

Davis beats China's Shuai Peng in the first round of the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. She had lost to Shuai at Wimbledon earlier this year.

WASHINGTON – Lauren Davis, of Gates Mills, dropped the first set but stormed back to beat Shuai Peng of China, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the first round of the Citi Open on Tuesday.

Davis staved off 10 break points during the match, which lasted nearly two hours.

For Davis, it avenged a defeat at the hands of Shuai, who got the best of her in another three-set match at Wimbledon nearly a month ago.

Davis' strong play on the grass courts in Britain (she reached the round of 32 at Wimbledon, her best performance at a Grand Slam event) has lifted her ranking to No. 43 in the world. That's her highest ranking in her career.

Davis will next face second-seeded Ekaterina Makarova of Slovakia in the second round. She is ranked No. 20 in the world and had an easy time defeating Russian Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round.

In other women's matches, top-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic lost to France's Kristina Mladenovic. Also, fourth-seeded Sloane Stephens lost to fellow American Christina McHale.

Ty Roth, a former Ohio high school football coach, took his experiences around high school athletes and the dangers of concussions and included them in his new young adult novel "Goodness Falls"

PORT CLINTON, Ohio – For 18 years, Ty Roth watched kids grow into men, become family with their teammates and take serious blows to the head under the lights of Friday nights.

After four not-so-winning years as head coach at Port Clinton, Roth decided to turn to his passion outside of football. Writing. An English Literature and Composition teacher at Port Clinton, Roth returned to school for his Master's in English Lit.

Since 2009, he's worked on a book called "Goodness Falls", a young adult novel that addresses many issues pertaining to teenagers, including traumatic brain injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Spending his life around athletic situations, he decided to turn those situations, including the risks of the way the game of football is currently played, into a book that is available as an e-book, for Kindle or through Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

"I don't want to preach," he said. "I want to tell anyone what they should do. I just want to make them aware of the issues. My goal is to improve football at youth levels."

Following is the fifth installment of Mind Over Matter, Northeast Ohio Media Group's two-month concussion series. This installment includes three quick-hit questions with Roth on his book, TBIs and CTE. 

How do you address something like traumatic brain injury and CTE in a young adult novel?

"Originally I didn't even address CTE very much. ... There were six players who died in high school football, four from indirect blows to heads and two that were spinal related but nothing was about CTE. Short of actual death for traumatic brain injury, CTE is probably the most traumatic outcome of these injuries The problem was, I was hesitant because there's a little bit of debate regarding young people and CTE, so I didn't want to put anything in the story that wasn't legitimate. 

"Then I learned of Eric Pelly.

"He was an 18-year-old athlete from North Allegheny High School near Pittsburgh. He was a hockey player, a football player, a rugby player. He died shortly after he suffered his fourth sports-induced concussion.

"When they did the autopsy, they found deposits of tau protein on his brain, and we know that's a primary indicator of CTE. For the first time, they actually found CTE not in one of these NFL veterans, but in an 18-year-old boy. He had the same signs and deposits as a 15-year vet of the NFL. 

"In 2012, Sports Legacy Institute did a study of 85 suffers of TBI and six of the patients they found with CTE were boys who had never played football beyond high school. All of their blows to their head were experienced in high school, so what I realized is the science was backing it up.

"CTE is occurring in kids."

Obviously when you set out to write this book you had an audience in mind, but who do you hope now picks up the books? Referees? Coaches? Players? Parents? Fans?

"The easiest thing to say is yes. All those. I write about young adults but really for adults. My goal is not to dissuade them from participation in collision sports or whatever sport they choose, but my goal is to give them the information, at least to be aware of the risks that are involved.

"If you weigh the risks versus the benefits in these sports – and there are many benefits to all and I believe in them and I profited myself from having playing football and coach football – but I think people should do it with more knowledge. I think a lot of parents and kids aren't aware of the risks they're taking."

Goodness Falls covers a wide range of topics and issues pertaining to teenagers. Why was it important to you to include something like head injuries and CTE?

"People ask, 'Why did you do it? Why did you write this book this?' I almost automatically want to say the guilt. As if writing this book is a sort of a cleansing of my own sins from my own ignorance regarding the serious nature of concussions during that time.

"I actually suffered a very severe concussion when I was a 14-year-old kid playing football. I was out for over an hour. Within 48 hours, I was back on the practice field, practicing full contact. I'm lucky I didn't take another direct blow or it literally could have killed me.

"That was the protocol back then. Concussions are weird. There's no blood. There's no broken bones. And they didn't have trainers like they do nowadays. There was nothing unusual about that. ...

"A kid would say I had my bell rung and so that's exactly what I said, 'No I'm okay, I had my bell rung.' What I didn't realize then and what I learned later was that each time your bell rings, its your earlobes from the concussion blows ....

"It was something I had a lot of first-hand experience with as a player, as a coach and even as a father. One of my sons suffered a severe concussion while playing high school football and so it was an issue I wanted to draw attention to. This whole thing is kind of a passion project for me ... To be honest, it's the only way we're going to save the game.

"I get some blowback from people in the football community who think I'm anti-football and that I'm somehow being hypocritical being a former coach and player. But the truth is actually the opposite.

"I'm pro-football, but I think rules need to be made in order to save the game. Otherwise, parents understandably are going to grow increasingly reluctant to allow their kids to play. Lawsuits will mount. Other less dangerous sports will become more popular and football will face the danger of being discarded. That's extreme and it would take years, but I think we need to be ahead of it and make some rules. California passed a new law limiting amount of contact. I think youth football is at a critical junction. If we're going to save it, keep it, make it a positive thing, we need to do something about these head injuries.

"I believe in the power of story to raise awareness and to affect change. Often times, I think story does that better than science does, raw scientific data, a stern lecture or better than posters hanging on locker room walls do. A good story can go a long way to raising awareness and bringing about change."

St. Edward football wide receiver Alex Stump is a big reason why the Eagles have such high expectations this season.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio –St. Edward football wide receiver Alex Stump has developed into a star on the field.

Last season, Stump helped guide the Eagles to an appearance in the state semifinals, while finishing the year with 987 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

The football field isn't the only place where he is having success, as he has proven to be able to achieve big things in another place, the classroom.

Every day in July, check out a profile featuring one of the many standout football players in Northeast Ohio as part of the 31 in 31 series.

“Academics have always been important to me, in large part because of my parents,” Stump said. “To play sports growing up, I had to make sure that I was staying ahead in school and got good grades. Sports are a huge part of my life, but they are not the only part of my life. I am focused on being the best student-athlete I can be this senior year.”

One of the people that have seen the work ethic that Stump brings to the table is St. Edward football coach Rick Finotti. While Stump has the talent to be a star on-and-off the field, it is his work ethic that Finotti says makes him reach his special.

“Alex is a bright kid who is also talented,” Finotti said. “However, that can only get you so far. From the weight room to the classroom, he really gives his best effort in everything he does. He has a lot of potential on-and-off the field, and that work ethic will help him reach his potential.”

If you ask any quarterback, being able to count on their receiver makes the job that much easier. Stump’s quarterback and South Florida commit, Brett Kean, said his job is made a lot easier because of Stump’s ability to read the defense.

“Playing with Alex makes the game a lot easier because I can always trust him to go make a play,” Kean said. “The trust that we have built throughout the past two seasons allows for quicker decisions in the game, eliminating hesitation.”

With the team getting so close to the state title game, the whole off-season has been focused on taking the next step and making it to the state championship.

“We were so close last season, and have set the goal since that night of making the state title,” Stump said. “We have a ton of returning players with the same mindset, so we are going to be ready to go. For me, it is all about going out and doing my job and helping the team to the best of my abilities.”

Expectations are very high at St. Edward, as Maxpreps has ranked the team No. 7 in the country. For the team to reach their goals, the work ethic of Stump may be what helps propel the team.

More about Stump:

Height: 6-foot-3.

Weight: 193 pounds.

Position: Wide receiver.

Grade: Senior.

College: Kentucky

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email mkern@cleveland.com or Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

"He's a rookie; he has a lot of stuff to work on," Pettine said. "[But] he's flashed some of the things that we saw coming out of college. He's flashed the ability that was one of the reasons why we took him when we took him."

BEREA, Ohio -- Justin Gilbert wants to start at cornerback opposite Joe Haden on Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh.

Who wouldn't?

His progress during training camp and the preseason, though, will not be defined by whether he beats out Buster Skrine for a starting position. After all, Haden didn't start in his first game as a professional and he made only seven starts during his rookie campaign in 2010.

"They brought that up the first week," Gilbert said, "They were like, 'If you don't start the first week, Joe Haden didn't start until a couple of game into the season,' so whatever we can do in the defensive room to win games, that's the main key."

The Browns selected Gilbert with the eighth overall pick in the first round of May's NFL Draft. Thanks to the daily circus surrounding fellow first-round choice Johnny Manziel, Gilbert has not received a whole lot of attention. The defensive back has, however, caught the eye of his coaching staff. Head coach Mike Pettine said Monday that, even in the first few days of training camp, Gilbert has displayed an impressive array of skills.

Gilbert oozes athleticism. He has practiced with the kick return unit during training camp, though Pettine seemed hesitant to lump him in with potential regular-season returners.

"Not at this point," Pettine said. "I think he might be the in-case-of-emergency last kick return guy. I think I'd hold my breath or watch with one-and-a-half eyes covered if he was returning a kick."

Do his speed and agility make him an intriguing option, at least?

"It's much more intriguing for [special teams coach] Chris Tabor than it is for me," Pettine said, laughing.

Gilbert has other areas to shore up first. He listed a few.

"Being able to get the hands on the receivers," Gilbert said, "re-route them at the line, be able to play like I want to play and be more physical at the line of scrimmage."

Gilbert grabbed seven interceptions in his final season at Oklahoma State. He averaged nearly 18 yards per pick return and took two back for touchdowns. Two years earlier, he tallied five interceptions. He showcased his ballhawking ability on Monday, when he ripped the ball out of receiver Andrew Hawkins' hands for an interception in one-on-one cornerback drills. The play elicited a loud heap of praise from the fans, which attracted the attention of Pettine, who was coaching on the other side of the practice field.

Gilbert downplayed his pick, instead suggesting that his goal for the next day was to record two interceptions. Why limit himself?

"He's a rookie; he has a lot of stuff to work on," Pettine said. "[But] he's flashed some of the things that we saw coming out of college. He's flashed the ability that was one of the reasons why we took him when we took him."

Trevor Bauer gave up four runs in the fourth inning and that was enough for Seattle to beat the Indians. The Indians have lost five of their last six games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – After a long trip following the All-Star break, the Indians returned to the safe haven of Progressive Field on Tuesday night to start an eight-game homestand.

The Indians, seeking to save their season, have played well at home all season. However, such was not the case Tuesday night as Seattle scored four runs in the fourth inning and rode the pitching of Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5) to a 5-2 victory.

Trevor Bauer (4-6) took the loss, while the Indians managed just two runs on eight hits. The Indians' only runs came in the fifth on a Yan Gomes single and a Chris Dickerson double. Slumping Nick Swisher started the rally with a double off the left field wall.

Fernando Rodney worked the ninth for a AL-leading 29th save.

What does it mean?

The Indians (52-54) lost for the seventh time in their last 12 games. They fell to 29-20 at home and 8-12 against the AL West. They are 1-3 against the Mariners this season.

Seattle (55-51) won for just the fourth time in its last 11 games. They are 13-11 against the AL Central.

Bauer's night

For the first time in 12 starts, Bauer didn't reach the sixth inning. He was knocked around for five runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three, walked one and threw 78 pitches. Bauer fell to 0-2 against the Mariners this year. He's allowed eight earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.

In the fourth, Seattle scored four times and batted around. The inning featured a bunt single, hit batter, intentional walk and three doubles.

Corey Hart made it 1-0 with a double past third. Dustin Ackley followed with a two-run double off the wall in right and Chris Taylor doubled home the fourth run with a drive off the wall in left.

Bauer came out for the fifth, but gave up a leadoff homer to Mike Zunino to end his night. It was Zunino's 16^th homer.

Walk this way

Iwakuma had not walked a batter in five starts. Two batters into the game, Michael Brantley drew a two-out walk. This season Iwakuma has walked nine batters in 117 2/3 innings.

Not this time

It appeared that David Murphy hit a home run off the top of the right field wall in the seventh inning, but it was called a double by first-base umpire Vic Carapazza. Crew chief Larry Vanover called for a review and the decision on the field was upheld.

Stretch it out

Lefty Nick Hagadone relieved Bauer after Zunino's homer and pitched a career high 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three and allowed one hit.

Carlos Carrasco relieved Hagadone after Kyle Seager's two-out triple in the seventh. Carrasco struck out Zunino to strand Seager.

What's next?

The series continues Wednesday night when Corey Kluber (10-6, 2.77) faces Seattle's Felix Hernandez (11-2, 1.99) at 7:05 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.

Kluber will be facing the Mariners for the first time in his career. Hernandez is 1-0 against the Tribe this year and 7-5 in his career.

Corey Kluber threw his first career shutout on Wednesday to beat Seattle and out-duel Felix Hernandez.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Yan Gomes doubled home two runs and Corey Kluber took care of the rest Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Kluber threw three-hitter as the Indians beat Seattle, 2-0, in front of 14,863 fans. In beating the Mariners, Kluber (11-6, 2.61) out-pitched King Felix Hernandez. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter in 85 pitches.

It is Kluber's second career complete game and first shutout. He retired 13 straight and 15 of the last 16 batters to come to the plate.

The game flew by in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Hernandez (11-3, 2.01) allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Gomes doubled past first in the fifth inning to score Lonnie Chisenhall and Nick Swisher for the game's only runs. Carlos Santana opened the inning with a walk, after Hernandez had recorded 12 straight outs. Lonnie Chisenhall doubled Santana to third and Nick Swisher beat out a ground ball single to first, but for some reason Santana held third.

After David Murphy forced Santana at the plate, Gomes doubled past first.

What it means

The Indians (53-54) won for just the fourth time in their last 11. They improved to 30-20 at home, 9-12 against the AL West and 2-3 against Seattle.

The Indians remain five games behind the second wild card. New York, Seattle and the Royals are in front of them.

The Mariners fell to 55-52. They have lost seven of their last 11.

Speed racer
The Indians' two fastest games of the season featured complete games by Kluber. On April 24th, Kluber threw a four-hitter to beat Kansas City in 2:15. He struck out 11 and didn't walk a batter in 101 pitches.

Wednesday he allowed three hits, struck out eight, didn't walk a batter and threw 85 pitches. So there's the five-minute difference. Kluber threw 74 percent of his pitches for strikes against the Royals. On Wednesday, he did so on 81 percent of his pitches.

On Kluber

Pitching coach Mickey Callaway on Kluber's performance: "He did everything you could possibly want a pitcher to do. Everything you stress from Little League to the first day of spring training this year -- 0-0 strikes, 1-1 strikes, control the count, pound the zone. I mean he did it all and it was fun to watch."

Callaway says he can tell from Kluber's bullpen session how the game will probably go. "I told (manager Terry Francona) when we came in tonight from the pen, 'He's going to pitch pretty well tonight.'"

Fashion statement

The Indians players wore their socks up Wednesday night in honor of Justin Masterson, traded to St. Louis before the game. "No one told me until about 15 minutes before the game so I had to go running up to the clubhouse," said Kluber with a laugh.

Second half mojo

Gomes, who doubled home the Tribe's two runs, is hitting .409 (18-for-44) with six doubles, two homers, nine RBI and nine runs in 13 games since the All-Star break. His two-run bases-loaded single was just his second hit in 13 at-bats with the bases loaded.

Don't forget King Felix

Hernandez set a big-league record by making his 14th straight start in which he pitched seven or more innings, while allowing two or fewer runs. He passed Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who did it 13 times from July 17 through Sept. 16, 1971.

No walk zone

Kluber has not allowed a walk in his last two starts, both lasting nine innings. Cliff Lee was the last Indians pitcher to make to consecutive starts of nine or more innings without a walk. He did it in 2009 against Seattle and Toronto. 

What's next?

The Tribe's three-game series against Seattle ends Thursday night with RHP Zach McAllister (3-6, 5.65) facing Seattle RHP Chris Young (9-6, 3.04) at 7:05 p.m. The game will be carried by SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS.

Texas arrives Friday for a three-game series. Danny Salazar, T.J. House and Trevor Bauer are scheduled to start for the Tribe.

The non-waiver trading deadline is at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Indians righty Corey Kluber faced one over the minimum in a 2-0 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the Seattle Mariners in the second of a three-game series Wednesday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 107.

Opponent: Mariners.

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland.

Time of day: Night.

Time elapsed: 2 hours, 10 minutes.

Attendance: 14,863.

Result: Indians 2, Mariners 0.

Records: Indians 53-54, Mariners 55-52.

Klubot vs. King Felix: The matchup of Indians right-hander Corey Kluber vs. Mariners righty Felix Hernandez lived up to expectations.

Kluber entered at 10-6 with a 2.77 ERA in 22 starts. He allowed three hits, walked none and struck out eight in notching his second career complete game and first shutout. He faced one over the minimum.

Hernandez entered at 11-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 22 starts. He allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings (the first four of which were perfect). He walked two and struck out five. Lefty Joe Beimel relieved to begin the eighth.

Hernandez set the modern MLB record with 14 straight starts of at least seven innings and two or fewer runs.

Economizing: Kluber threw 85 pitches. Let it marinate: Kluber crafted a shutout and struck out eight in just 85 pitches. Being able to throw 69 of them for strikes helped keep the count so low.

The offensively challenged Mariners weren't going to spot Kluber strikes, only to be put away by the nasty secondary stuff. So they were aggressive early in the count.

"Usually guys get into trouble when they don't throw too many balls,'' Indians catcher Yan Gomes said. "But every ball he threw was a good pitch. And he stayed out of the middle of the plate all night with his strikes.'' 

Gomes said the start, in large part because of Kluber's efficiency, had the feel of a perfect game or no-hitter.

On Oct. 2, 1908, Cleveland Naps righty Addie Joss threw a 74-pitch perfect game in a 1-0 victory over the White Sox.

Five-star repertoire: Kluber rode a fastball/cutter/slurve/changeup combination to dominance. He used more changeups than in previous starts because of Seattle's eight-lefty lineup. Gomes said Kluber's cutter was "unreal'' and his slurve "nasty.'' (Gomes says that Kluber's cutter has so much depth, he will refer to it as a slider.)    

Gone in a blink: Here is a breakdown of Kluber's start by batter, with final pitch of each at-bat listed:

First inning:

LH Dustin Ackley -- fly to left on 95-mph fastball away (0-2 count, 3 pitches).

LH Endy Chavez -- grounder to second on 89 cutter on inside corner (0-2 count, 4 pitches). Broken bat.

LH Robinson Cano -- grounder to second on 95 fastball at shins (0-0 count, 1 pitch).

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 3/3.

Second inning:

LH Kendrys Morales -- looping fly to left on mid-90s fastball over plate (0-1 count, 2 pitches). Morales missed a hittable pitch.

LH Kyle Seager -- single to left on 94 fastball off outside corner (2-2 count, 8 pitches). Seager stayed hot against the Indians. Kluber: "Seager beat the shift (near vacated spot at shortstop). He had a good at-bat, and I got a ground ball that found a hole.''  

LH Logan Morrison -- grounder into 3-6 double play on 94 fastball off inside corner (1-2 count, 5 pitches). Morrison did a decent job with a tough pitch, but first baseman Carlos Santana, close to the bag because he was holding Seager, made a quality play. Santana continues to get better and better defensively.

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 3/3.

Third inning:

RH Mike Zunino -- strikeout swinging at 84 slurve outside corner at knees (1-2 count, 5 pitches).

LH Brad Miller -- liner to third on 94 fastball (0-0 count, 1 pitch). Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall barely needed for backhand grab. 

LH James Jones -- strikeout swinging at 84 slurve down and in (1-2 count, 4 pitches). Jones had no chance.

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 2/3.

Fourth inning:

LH Dustin Ackley -- strikeout swinging at 83 slurve to back leg (0-2 count, 4 pitches). Kluber went cutter for a called strike, changeup for a called strike, slurve away for foul and cartoonish slurve for swinging strike.

LH Endy Chavez -- fly to center on 93 fastball up (0-2 count, 3 pitches). Kluber made a rare mistake -- Gomes wanted the pitch under the hands but it leaked over the plate -- and Chavez put a charge into it. Center fielder Michael Brantley smoothly ran it down in front of the Tribe bullpen in center.

LH Robinson Cano -- single to right on 90 cutter inside corner (1-2 count, 4 pitches). Right fielder David Murphy mishandled the hop, enabling Cano to reach second. Kluber: "Yan wanted a changeup or breaking ball. I went with a cutter and tried to throw it up in the zone, but it ended up being a low strike -- a good pitch for his swing plane.''

LH Kendrys Morales -- grounder to first on 92 fastball at knees with tailing action (0-0 count, 1 pitch). Morales commits too early to pitch running down and away from him.

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 3/4.

Kluber four-inning pitch totals: 6 balls, 39 strikes.

Fifth inning:

LH Kyle Seager -- strikeout swinging at 90 cutter under hands inside (2-2 count, 5 pitches). Cartoonish cutter.

LH Logan Morrison -- single to right on 93 fastball outer half (1-0 count, 2 pitches). Grounder eluded second baseman Jason Kipnis diving to his right. Kluber: "I got a ground ball, so I'm not complaining.'' 

RH Mike Zunino -- grounder into 5-4-3 double play on 93 fastball inside corner (0-0 count, 1 pitch). Four-star defensive play. Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall fielded cleanly moving toward the line and made a strong, accurate throw to Kipnis, who had a cat-quick turn.

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 2/3.

Sixth inning:

LH Brad Miller -- grounder to second on 86 changeup inside corner (1-1 count, 3 pitches).

LH James Jones -- strikeout swinging at 84 slurve to back leg (0-2 count, 3 pitches). Jones was overmatched by 93 fastball with tailing action (called strike), 88 cutter (swinging strike) and the cartoonish slurve.

LH Dustin Ackley -- fly to left on 81 slurve up (0-0 count, 1 pitch). Pitch squirted on Kluber. Left fielder Chris Dickerson charged had to catch it without leaving feet.

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 3/3.

Seventh inning:

LH Endy Chavez -- liner to left on 89 cutter (0-1 count, 2 pitches). Dickerson made an excellent diving catch and dug up some turf. He was helped by having played the orange juice defense: squeezing the slap-hitting Chavez. 

LH Robinson Cano -- strikeout swinging at 84 slurve in dirt inside (1-2 count, 4 pitches). Cartoonish.

LH Kendrys Morales -- strikeout swinging at 84 slurve in dirt inside (2-2 count, 5 pitches). Morales went too far.

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 2/3.

Eighth inning:

LH Kyle Seager -- grounder to short on 93 fastball outside corner (1-0 count, 2 pitches). Surprising that Seager didn't try to slap that pitch to the left side.

LH Logan Morrison -- strikeout called on 83 slurve outside corner (0-2 count, 3 pitches). Wicked backdoor pitch locked up Morrison, who didn't agree with the call by plate umpire Vic Carapazza. K-box showed the pitch to be borderline.

RH Mike Zunino -- grounder to third on 87 cutter outside corner (0-0 count, 1 pitch).

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 2/3.

Ninth inning:

LH Brad Miller -- grounder to first on 88 cutter inside corner (0-1 count, 2 pitches). Santana with slick pick on short hop.

LH James Jones -- grounder to third 93 fastball tailing away (0-0 count, 1 pitch). Chisenhall fielded well onto infield grass.

LH Dustin Ackley -- grounder to second on 91 cutter inside (2-2 count, 5 pitches). Gomes: "I put down cutter. Corey wanted to throw a curve. I basically said, 'Let's get out of here.' He went with the cutter.''

Kluber first-pitch strikes: 2/3.

Three for the money: Kluber got 17 outs by using three pitches or fewer.

Two incredible months: In May, Kluber went 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA and 60 strikeouts in six starts. In July, he went 4-0 with a 1.54 ERA and 43 strikeouts in five starts. 

The uncaged Yanimal: Gomes used his mind and his bat to give the Tribe a superb all-around performance.

Gomes called a terrific game for Kluber, who said: "It seemed like he was in my mind; that's how in sync we were. Yan is such a student of the game, and he studied the hitters from the night before. He knew what they were looking for in certain counts -- and called for other pitches. I followed his lead.''

Gomes, realizing that Seattle batters were hacking early, called for secondary stuff instead of fastballs. It helped Kluber get ahead consistently.

Gomes provided the margin for victory with a two-run double in the fifth. He stayed compact to a 2-1 fastball on the outside corner and punched it inside the first-base line.

Socks up: The Indians wore their socks high as a "shout-out'' to right-hander Justin Masterson. Extremely popular in the clubhouse but struggling this season, Masterson was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the day.

Corey Kluber stepped out of Justin Masterson's shadow in Wednesday night's 2-0 victory over Seattle, but not before thanking his mentor. Masterson was traded to St. Louis on Wednesday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio –Terry Francona was on manager John Farrell's American League coaching staff at this year's All-Star game when Derek Jeter came to the plate to leadoff the first inning at Target Field.

The crowd and players from both teams stood and cheered for the Yankee shortstop, who is retiring after this year. Then Adam Wainwright grooved a fastball and Jeter lined it into right field for a double. Whether it was a gift from Wainwright or not it was a good moment.

"That's what's special about our game," said Francona afterward. "I don't think you see those kind of moments in the other spots."

On a smaller scale, but a much more competitive one, there was a moment Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

The Indians' starting lineup took the field against Seattle wearing their socks high in honor of Justin Masterson, who opened the season as their No.1 starter, but faltered and was traded to St. Louis on Wednesday afternoon.

Corey Kluber, the man who replaced Masterson at the top of the rotation, didn't know about the sock tribute.

"No one let me know about it so I had to run up here and change after I warmed up," said Kluber. "I didn't want to be the only one with them down. It was a little late notice."

It was the last time Kluber (11-6, 2.61) was late all night. He threw a three-hit shutout as the Indians beat the Mariners and Felix Hernandez, 2-0. It was Kluber's second complete game of the season first ever shutout.

Unlike Jeter, Kluber's moment lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes. In the Tribe's fastest game of the season, he officially stepped out of Masterson's shadow and into the role of No.1 starter.

"I probably learned more from him than I'll ever know," said Kluber. "He was a big part of me learning how to be a big leaguer, how to pitch up here. Stuff like that. Hopefully, I can pass along some of the information he's given me."

Masterson never met a stranger. Kluber is more reserved, but leaders come in all sizes and personalities.

"I told Klubes, "if you continue to do just what you're doing, just the way you're doing it, guys will follow you,'" said Francona. "When you have your best players do things properly, it's really hard for younger guys not to follow them. Klubes is about as model a citizen, competitor, person and teammate as you can get."

Kluber said the socks were just a "minute' thing to let Masterson know how his teammates felt about him. As for a leadership role, Kluber said, "I think we all have to accept a little more responsibility. He was the quote unquote leader of the staff. Guys looked to him. Now we all have to do a little more."

Seattle used a lineup of eight left-handed hitters against Kluber. Lefties came into the game hitting .262 against him compared to .220 by righties. It didn't matter.

Kluber gave up three hits in the first five innings and then retired 13 straight to end the game.

In his last two starts, Masterson has not allowed an earned in 18 innings, while striking out 18 with no walks and five hits. Wednesday night it took him just 85 pitches for the shutout and he threw 81 percent (69-for-85) of them for strikes.

"There have been three or four times when I've seen him like this," said pitching coach Mickey Callaway. "In his last two starts, after he warmed up in the bullpen, I came in and told Tito, "He's going to pitch pretty good tonight.' The key for him is fastball command. He's throwing 95 mph and putting it where he wants."

Callaway liked the timing of Kluber's first shutout.

"He really stepped up," he said. "We're looking for him to be a leader, especially with Masty gone. There's a big void to fill there because Masty did such a great job.

"I think Kluber is that guy. And a little part of me feels that he went out there and pitched like he did because he knows he's going to step up and do what he can do to lead this staff."

The Minnesota Timberwolves' list of trade partners for All-Star forward Kevin Love has been narrowed to one team: Cleveland Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Minnesota Timberwolves' list of trade partners for All-Star forward Kevin Love has been narrowed to one team: Cleveland Cavaliers. 

ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein reported on Wednesday night that the Cavs still have the best and most appealing offer, and other teams around the league are starting to realize it.

"After ESPN.com reported last week that the Cavaliers remain the front-runners to acquire Love in a trade co-headlined by No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, sources this week have described the Cavs as the only team currently in contention for Love.

Sources say the Chicago Bulls are increasingly pessimistic about their chances of trumping Cleveland's offer, while the Golden State Warriors remain unwilling to bend on their longstanding refusal to surrender Klay Thompson in a deal for Love."

Of course, things change quickly in the NBA. Golden State could soften its current stance about trading Thompson, a lethal outside shooter. There's also a chance that a third team could enter the discussions or Chicago could make another pitch. But ESPN described the trade as a "when" transaction as opposed to an "if."

Love, 25, is a three-time NBA All-Star. He is coming off a career season where he averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists, making him the first player since the merger to average at least 26 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. 

The versatile power forward was expected to play for the United States National Team this summer, but he withdrew from competition over the weekend because of his current status. 

The Cavs' desire is to keep Wiggins out of a deal. However, the opportunity to acquire a proven All-Star could be too tempting, especially because Love's array of skills - rebounding, passing, inside scoring and long-range shooting ability - would work well alongside LeBron James. 

Per league rules, a trade involving Wiggins can't be made official until August 23, which is 30 days after the first overall pick signed his rookie contract. If Minnesota is adamant about the prized youngster being a part of the deal then the waiting game will continue for a little while longer. 

Trade talks have dragged on since June, but given the latest report, the Cavs are getting ever closer to creating a formidable Big 3 of Love, James and Kyrie Irving, and putting the finishing touches on a landmark summer. 

Lockett holds scholarship offers from Air Force and Akron.

AKRON, Ohio -- Wherever you turn in St. Vincent-St. Mary running back Vince Lockett's life, the theme of brotherhood creeps in. For instance, it pours through when he describes his relationship with former teammate and Mr. Football winner, Dante Booker.

"I've known Dante ever since I've been at school," Lockett said. "We went to middle school together, and we've always been pretty close. He's always been kind of a role model."

Lockett is hoping to step up this season and be a leader like Booker. He splits time between linebacker and running back, so he'll help fill the shoes of both Booker and Parris Campbell, both of whom are at Ohio State this season.

Every day in July, check out a profile featuring one of the many standout football players in Northeast Ohio as part of the 31 in 31 series.

The task this season will be leading St. Vincent-St. Mary to another title. The Irish have won a state title in each of the last two seasons. The last team to win three in a row was Maria Stein Marion Local from 2011-2013.

Originally a hockey player, Lockett switched to football when he was 10 years old. Although he was a crushing force on the ice, he has the physique to play football.

"I was the biggest kid in the grade and they told me I should start playing," Lockett said.

Lockett played a little of everywhere to start, including quarterback, but his body type had him settle into the running back position.

When he's not playing football, he'll unwind by watching movies. Most of his picks are war films like Saving Private Ryan.

"I just like the brotherhood behind those and all the values they bestow," Lockett said. "It hits right at home with me."

His interest in that aspect of American culture extends into the classroom at St. Vincent-St. Mary, where his favorite subject is history.

"That just fascinates me," Lockett said. "I like learning about all the customs. We're really focused on the United States nowadays, and we don't seem to explore and expand our minds to other countries."

Lockett holds two offers right now -- Akron and Air Force. If he chooses the latter, he might get a chance to see the rest of world soon.

But for now, Lockett is focused on his senior season. As he prepares, he's looking at another St. Vincent-St. Mary kid, LeBron James, as inspiration.

"It drives me how he works so hard," Lockett said. "He was just a kid from Akron. If we set our minds to it, we can do anything, just like him."

More about Lockett

Height: 5-foot-11.

Weight: 190 pounds.

Position: Running back.

Grade: Senior.

College commitment/offers: Air Force and Akron.

"We will never raise the white flag," Francona said. "That's not an option. We're going to play."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Terry Francona and Chris Antonetti met with players in waves on Wednesday afternoon.

As the Indians filtered into the clubhouse prior to their affair against the Mariners, the players sat down with their skipper and general manager, who both assured the group of the team's direction.

There is one message Francona and Antonetti stressed: The Indians are not mailing in the 2014 campaign, even after dealing pitcher Justin Masterson to the Cardinals for a 24-year-old outfield prospect.

"We will never raise the white flag," Francona said. "That's not an option. We're going to play."

That's also the one message Francona felt he did not need to relay to his players when they congregated in his office.

"I think they're very aware of that," Francona said. "Anybody that stands next to me in the dugout knows that'll never happen."

The Indians remain involved in trade discussions, with Thursday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline approaching. Masterson's exodus doesn't cement the club's status as rigid "sellers." While the team could ship out shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera -- who will hit the free-agent market at the end of the season -- to a contender in need of a middle infielder, Antonetti also is aiming to acquire immediate help.

"We're going to try to continue to win as many games as we can in the second half," Antonetti said. "We continue to believe in the guys in the clubhouse and our baseball that's left in front of us. We're currently in the midst of conversations to bring in players to impact our major-league team. Whether or not that happens over the next 24 hours, there are a lot of factors in play and it's hard to handicap that."

Masterson fashioned a 5.51 ERA in 19 outings for the Tribe this season, one ambushed by his sharp decrease in velocity and lack of command. He averaged a little more than five innings per start and, prior to his recent stint on the disabled list, he had taxed the Tribe bullpen. So, it's not as if his departure will leave a gaping hole in the rotation.

That factored into the decision to deal the right-hander. So, too, did the fact that the Indians likely would not have extended a qualifying offer of $15 million to Masterson this winter. That would have meant the club would not receive a draft pick as compensation for him joining another team in free agency.

"We have to factor all of those things in," Antonetti said. "With the way the game has evolved, especially for players approaching free agency, it's a complex equation. But that was certainly a consideration."

The Indians now lack a bit of starting pitching depth. T.J. House will fill Masterson's spot in the rotation for the time being. Josh Tomlin, optioned to Triple-A over the weekend, waits in the wings. Meanwhile, Antonetti continues to search for an available arm and a right-handed bat.

"I could see it, I just need to get other teams to agree to it," Antonetti said, laughing. "We have a lot of other conversations that are still ongoing. Whether or not that ends up materializing in anything is really difficult to say.

"You've heard me say it before: For every hundred discussions you have, you're lucky if you get one done."

The draft-night trade will have significant implications for the Bills and Browns for years to come. Watch video

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Under duress, Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel threw a ball up for grabs and into double coverage at a recent training-camp practice.

Rookie receiver Sammy Watkins, adjusting his route and soaring above defensive backs Aaron Williams and Leodis McKelvin, turned the ill-advised pass into a 20-yard touchdown.

The crowd assembled at St. John Fisher College roared its approval. Since Bills camp opened July 20, Watkins has made several dazzling catches a day, leading some observers to suggest he's not only their top rookie or receiver, but their best player.

Such scenes might have unfurled in Berea had the Browns selected the braided playmaker at No. 4 overall instead of trading down to No. 9 and acquiring the Bills' first- and fourth-round choices in 2015. It was an impressive return for Browns first-year General Manager Ray Farmer and a gutsy call, considering he knew at the time the club might lose All-Pro receiver Josh Gordon to a one-year drug ban.

Farmer has said he'll have no regrets if Watkins evolves into the next Randy Moss. But the decision to pass on the Clemson product and stockpile a future first-rounder will have substantial implications for both franchises in the coming seasons.

"We needed a No. 1 wide receiver, and with the help of Cleveland we were able to get a No. 1 wide receiver and he's going to be a No. 1 wide receiver for a long time here," Bills GM Doug Whaley told cleveland.com. "We couldn't pass that up.

"We owe it to our fan base, our late Hall-of-Fame owner (Ralph Wilson) and everyone who's been busting their hump here to do whatever we can to get pieces to the puzzle to end this (14-season) playoff drought. Everyone says it's a gamble; we look at it as a possibility."

View full sizeBuffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) carries his own equipment and that of a teammate while leaving the field after practice Associated Press 

This weekend is a significant one in the young life of the May 8 trade involving the long-suffering, Lake Erie-based franchises. The NFL conducts its Gordon appeal hearing Friday in New York. Watkins and the Bills travel to Canton to open the preseason in the Hall of Fame Game against the New York Giants.

Walking across the scenic suburban Rochester campus, Watkins cautiously engaged in a game of "What if" regarding the Browns.

He confirmed he met with Farmer in Clemson just days before the draft and that they had a great conversation. He had no idea, Watkins said, if the Browns were planning to select him.

He's never met Gordon, but the 21-year-old smiled when asked what it might have been like to play with the league's leading receiver.

"It would have been great, but I'm happy here," Watkins said. "I've got some great receivers here and I'm in the best situation possible."

Gordon awaits clarity on his immediate future. Sources in his camp are trying to win his case in the court of public opinion, saying he's passed 70 drug screenings since entering the NFL two years ago; and that his most-recent failed test came as the result of exposure to second-hand marijuana smoke.

View full sizeSammy Watkins put up outstanding numbers while playing three seasons at Clemson.Courtesy Sports-Reference.com 

The Browns have no plans to cut him. However, a source close to Gordon told cleveland.com he's concerned that if the receiver is banned for a year and barred from contact with the team and its support system he'll have difficulty making it back into the NFL.

Absent Gordon, the Browns enter the season with a collection of veteran castoffs and unproven youngsters at wideout. Meanwhile, anticipation builds in Buffalo.

"I understand he hasn't played a down yet, but I see him every day and the way he goes up and makes plays," Williams said. "There are certain balls that you don't think he can get, and all of a sudden he one-hands (them). It's things like that. We know he's going to be a special player."

Sizing up a draft pick

Stand next to Watkins and you're struck by the thickness of his 6-foot-1, 211-pound frame. Combine his build and his 4.43 speed in the 40 and it's easy to see how he's a nightmare for defenders.  Many of his 3,391 career receiving yards at Clemson came after the catch.

Watkins isn't tall, but he's got hops on loan from Tigger and tracks balls like Cincinnati's A.J. Green.

View full sizeBrowns receiver Josh Gordon has been taking part in training camp while awaiting Friday's appeal hearing. The coaching staff has been working him with the first, second and third-team units.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer 

"The one thing is he goes up and gets the ball," Williams said. "You saw it today. I had a plain view of an interception and he surprised me and got up higher than I did. That's one of his strengths."

Gordon proved last season you don't need Pro Bowl quarterbacks to shatter franchise receiving records. Many Bills observers liked Whaley's bold bid to energize the club. The organization is for sale, and its future in Buffalo not promised after the 2019 season.

But by moving a 2015 first-round pick for the rights to Watkins, Bills management is doubling down on Manuel, the No. 16 overall pick in last year's draft. The Florida State product started just 10 games due to injury and posted the league's 28^th-best passer rating (77.7).

Watkins could excel and the trade might still blow up in the Bills' faces if Manuel struggles. Imagine another 6-10 season and the prospect of finding a new quarterback without owning a first-round pick.

"We decided that we needed to surround our quarterback – it's a quarterback-driven league – with the best pieces of the puzzle that make him successful," Whaley said. "When you have a chance to get a guy like Sammy Watkins . . . we feel it will help not only our quarterback but our offensive coordinator in how he calls a game."

Watkins appreciates the steep price paid to acquire him. Asked if thought he could win Rookie-of-the-Year honors, the receiver replied: "It's something I could do, but we've gotta win. As long as we're winning that's the main thing."

Maturing assets

Whaley instantly recognized Watkins' talents, but it's the rookie's maturity that makes him feel good about the trade.

During rookie minicamp, a Bills security officer pulled the general manager aside early one morning to inform him Watkins was the first person in the building. He beat every player and coach into the facility to work on his route running.

Whaley also relayed this pearl from the wideout's stepfather.  

"His agent apparently told Sammy he'd get him a car after he signed with him," Whaley recalled. "Sammy said, 'When I get drafted, I'll get my own car with my own money.' "

Bills reserve quarterback Thad Lewis, who played for the Browns in 2011-12, marvels at how Watkins conducts himself on the practice field and in the classroom. He understands the Bills' offense, Lewis said, the signals, the routes and where to line up.

Watkins said success is rooted in details.

"What you put on tape is who you are in this league," he said. "I need to find a way for them to keep me another day. That's the biggest thing. It's been my approach my whole career."

For now, both teams are satisfied with the trade.

Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert, whom Cleveland selected No. 8 overall after trading up a spot, looks like a player. And if the Bills flounder, the Browns likely will have at least one top-10 pick in 2015.

But Cleveland fans know too well the misery of the 2011 draft, when the Browns traded down and allowed Atlanta to select receiver Julio Jones. In return, the Browns got the No. 27 pick (Phil Taylor), No. 59 pick (Greg Little), No. 124 pick (Owen Marecic) along with a 2012 first-round pick (Brandon Weeden) and a fourth-rounder they used to move up to nab Trent Richardson.

The trade genealogy shows the Browns essentially swapped Jones for Taylor.

The Browns face the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 30

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Sammy Watkins still isn't sure what he said to provoke such a strong rebuke from Donte Whitner a month ago.

Truth be told, the Buffalo Bills rookie wasn't aware the Browns had "traded" for Whitner when answering questions about facing the club that could have drafted him May 8.

Watkins certainly has been aware the Glenville graduate plays for the Browns since Whitner confronted him on Twitter regarding comments made to a reporter at the NFL Rookie Symposium.

The Clemson product was asked if he hoped to prove the Browns wrong for trading out of the No. 4 spot and allowing the Bills to acquire him in a deal. The Browns received the No. 9 pick as well as a first- and fourth-round selection in 2015.

"I have a chip on my shoulder for every game, so it's not just the Browns," Watkins told the Akron Beacon Journal on June 27. "I come out and dominate my opponent every game. I'm sure they've got great cornerbacks and great safeties, but my job is to do my job on the field no matter who's in front of me, whether it's (Browns cornerback) Joe Haden or (New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle) Revis or (Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard) Sherman, all the greats. My job is to win on the field and do my best."

The Browns travel to Buffalo for a Nov. 30 game.

"It'll be a great matchup," Watkins added. "We can go out there, battle, scrap, have a couple fights. It's going to be great."

Not exactly bulletin-board material, but Whitner took to Twitter to respond.

Be quiet Sammy. Trust me!

— DonteHitner (@DonteWhitner) June 27, 2014

All you wack buffalo fans don't have to feel this. Sammy will!

— DonteHitner (@DonteWhitner) June 28, 2014

Whitner was asked why he reacted so strongly.

"What (Watkins) said came off – everybody says he didn't respect you -- but don't talk about teams that aren't your own.

"To say it's gonna be a fight or it's gonna be this say that about all the other teams in the National Football League. Don't just circle the Browns. Even if he didn't say anything disrespectful he really circled the Browns . . . If you're talking, 'it's gonna be a fight,' you're talking about me. So don't circle us and don't point us out. That's disrespectful so that's why I took it that way."

Watkins said he respects Whitner, but admits he didn't know " he got traded from the (San Francisco) 49ers" or he would have mentioned him.  The Browns actually acquired the two-time Pro Bowler via free agency in March.

Whitner has had several Twitter dustups, including one with former Bills linebacker Darryl Talley. The Browns safety played for Buffalo from 2006-10.

Watkins hopes to put the entire episode behind him.

"I really don't know what happened and why he came at me like that," Watkins said. "I was in Cleveland for the symposium and someone asked me about the team and I basically told him that they have great cornerbacks and they drafted a great cornerback in (Justin) Gilbert. They have Joe Haden. I really just shouted those guys out and I look forward to competing with those guys . . . . I really don't know what made him come after me. He's a veteran and I respect him and I really didn't say too much back."

After a delay in the series (sorry), we follow up part one on the past of Ohio State's 10-year basketball coach with a look at what might lie ahead for Matta with the Buckeyes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What could take Thad Matta away from Ohio State?

The school could let its basketball coach go, Matta could decide to stop or another opportunity could pull him away. Given his 10-year success, option one isn't on the table at the moment. His friendship with Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens could make option three interesting as it relates to the NBA, but Matta swatted that idea away.

Which leaves option two.

Thinking of the future, Matta immediately brought up a date from the past.

June 16, 2007.

"It's been seven years and nine days since it happened," Matta said late last month, the countdown always there, remembered with a moment's notice.

That's the date his back surgery went wrong and changed his life, leaving his right foot not fully functional. But it didn't necessarily change how he sees his future, though that once was the case. At age 47, Matta knows he won't coach until he's 80, he promises that. But he doesn't know what else would stop him.

"It used to be health," Matta told cleveland.com. "But I feel great. I was always worried if something else went wrong.

"But I've adapted, which was not easy at first, but now it's sort of like, 'You're going to limp and you've got to put on your brace, and away you go.'"

(Note to readers: This is the second part of a four-part series based off an extensive interview with Matta this summer. Part one on Matta's past ran last week, and we apologize for the delay getting to part two. Parts three and four, on his life and the current team, are still on the way.)

Could he ever go off to the NBA? Stevens, now coaching two of Matta's best former players in Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger, was hired by Matta at Butler, took the underdog program to two national title games once he ascended to head coach and then moved to the most storied franchise in the NBA.

Matta called Stevens the opposing coach he's still closest to, and when the time came, Matta said he advised Stevens to take his shot.

"He was always intrigued by the NBA, and from the standpoint of leaving Butler, the one thing I told him was if it doesn't work, you'll be able to get any job in college you want," Matta said.

But it's not a shot that Matta ever wants.

"I love my job here, and the NBA thing, it's like (former OSU assistant, now Sacramento Kings assistant) Chris Jent is an NBA guy. He had been in it, he had played, he had coached, it's a different world," Matta said. "Now, the thing that every college coach will tell you is, 'God, I'd love to do nothing but basketball 365 days a year and not have to deal with the other stuff.' There's times when you're hopping on the redeye (for recruiting) and thinking, 'Whew, man, this isn't basketball.'

"But for me, I like the college experience, what this university can provide kids, not just football or basketball players, but kids. This place is the most amazing thing I've ever seen in terms of what it does for its students, the opportunities presented to them.

"I like that phase of it, I like seeing the guys come in and becoming young men and hopefully going on to pursue their careers."

As Matta looked ahead, he talked more about what could be in store at Ohio State and for the rest of his basketball career. If he stays long enough and wins enough (20 more years at his current pace and he'll win 825 games at Ohio State and 927 overall), he could have a road named for him one day.

On whether this will be his final coaching job, with Matta becoming a long-term coach in one place, like Syracuse's Jim Boeheim or Duke's Mike Krzyzewksi:

View full sizeThad Matta (center) said former OSU assistant Chris Jent (left), now with the Sacramento Kings, is an NBA guy, but Matta doesn't see himself that way.File photo 

"You hope this is the last place, and that I can do that in terms of winning a ton of games and hopefully bringing this place a national championship. Yeah, I would love to have that, but in today's society, things can change so drastically, and if you look across college basketball, how many guys have been at one place for more than 10 years? It's astonishing.

"Look in the Big Ten, it's (Michigan State's Tom) Izzo, (Wisconsin's) Bo Ryan and myself. I'm the third longest-tenured coach in the Big Ten presently.

"I love this place. But it's an amazing phenomenon."

On his reputation among his colleagues, and whether he cares what it is:

"I don't care. The one thing that I hope people would say is he cares about the welfare of college basketball. And I think one of the things I always tried to do is help the game in terms of bringing young coaches in and getting them in position to be head coaches and expand the game of basketball.

"I've got a lot of introvert tendencies, in terms of I'll just keep quiet and do my thing. I probably turn down eight out of 10 interviews. That's not important. The marketing side of it is really not. I just want to do my job the best I can."

On whether he sees himself changing as a person over his career, or whether the job is changing:

"I'm the same person I was at age 32 when I first got the Butler job. I'm the same person I am today. Now, people paint you in a different perspective because everyone thinks they know you or can judge you. But I think one of the biggest changes I have seen is coaches dealing with the social media aspect. Just in terms of the outside influences that can affect a player, that can affect a team, that can affect the chemistry. That's probably the most challenging thing we deal with on a daily basis.

View full sizeThad Matta (left) trails just Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Wisconsin's Bo Ryan (right) when it comes to Big Ten coaching seniority. File photo 

"Coach (Jim) Tressel and I used to laugh about this. The perception is we are with these guys 24 hours a day, and we're not. And all the things that are going on on the outside, you've got to get that out in the first 20 minutes you're with them and get them refocused on what we are trying to get accomplished here. And that's the challenge. But with that said, it's the old Phil Jackson thing, you always look at things through your players' eyes.

"Like I tell parents, nobody wants your son to play better more than I do. My life is on the line. So I think I am the same person, but in terms of how the job has changed, it's completely different now."

On the one thing that would make him retire:

"If this becomes a business to me, I'm done. Because you are dealing with kids. And that's probably a little bit of the misperception nowadays, because of how kids are put on these pedestals - they're kids.

"But the day that it becomes a job, that it becomes where I don't cherish the time with the kids, then I would say it's probably time to find something else to do. But I don't feel like I've ever worked a day in my life. Even through the dog days, you're on the grind but you're excited about the next day and the next opportunity to right the ship."

On what a national title would be like at Ohio State:

"You have windows of opportunity, and you know that as a coach. Obviously, '07 was a great opportunity. A couple of years ago (in 2012) when we went to the Final Four (and lost to Kansas), it was probably going to be tough to beat Kentucky in the championship, they were that good.

"The year we were 34-3 (in 2011), that was an opportunity. We just had a bad 20 minutes of basketball (against Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen) and got beat on a last-second shot.

"So in terms of what it would mean to the university, it's been so long, and there's been so many ups and down to Ohio State basketball, I would hope it would make a lot of people happy.

"I hope people are proud of what we have today. Ultimately, that would probably be the pinnacle of Ohio State basketball, in terms of you're looking at 10 years of steady success, there haven't been too many dips, but that would be the ultimate."

And if you won a national title, you'd still be the same guy?

"I'd become the most egotistical (jerk) you've ever seen."

But really, would it change you at all?

"I want the players to experience it. For me, I really don't care. I care, obviously, but I see what our guys do on a daily basis. And everybody (around the country) is doing it. But you get groups of guys sometimes and you fall in love with that group of guys. You fall in love with the dynamics of the team, and you hurt for them when things don't go well. And you're elated for them when things go well.

"So one thing I've always tried to do, I do enjoy myself. I'm not afraid to lose. You've seen that. I'm going for it, and I want our players to play that way. We're going after this thing, and we're going to let the chips fall where they may."

Elsewhere around the web, Charley Casserly says neither Johnny Manziel nor Brian Hoyer is the answer for the Browns and more.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman takes the crown as the highest rated player in Madden '15 this season. That's even without including postgame interviews as a category.

From Adam Rank of NFL.com:

"But Sherman won more than the cover vote. Just minutes after Sherman was announced as the winner, he was whisked to a nearby portrait studio to take photos for the new cover. It was at that point that one of the EA staffers pulled me aside and said, 'You know what, Sherman is also the highest-rated player in the game, too.'"

As for other cornerbacks in the league, Rank tells us:

"The ratings for the rest of the cornerbacks are as follows, Darrelle Revis (97 OVR), Joe Haden (95 OVR), [Patrick] Peterson (93 OVR) and Vontae Davis (92 OVR)."

You can see more Madden '15 rankings here.

NFL links

Raiders' Mark Davis met with San Antonio city officials (NFL.com)

Player-tracking system will let NFL fans go deeper than ever (USAtoday.com)

More 2014 NFL over-under win totals released (cbssports.com)

Browns links

Casserly: Hoyer nor Manziel is answer for Browns (NFL.com)

Johnny Manziel is apparently really lowkey so far at Browns camp (cbssports.com)

Browns hope they are on the run in 2014 (Yahoo! Sports)

Video

Sports Illustrated's Boomer Esiason lists the five most overrated players going into the 2014 National Football League season. Spoiler alert: one of them plays for the Browns.

California passed a new law restricting tackling in high school football practice.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Last week, California passed a law that puts a time limit on how long high school football game-speed tackling drills can be practiced in one week.

That time limit? A 90-minute session, twice a week.

The law, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed, also prohibits any sort of those drills in the offseason. The rules apply to all public, private and charter schools.

News of the new law begs the question: Does Ohio – the state with the third-most high schools after California and Texas – need to implement such a law?

What do you think about California’s new law? According to the Los Angeles Daily News’ Clay Fowler, coaches aren’t even fazed by the law.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and make sure to share your vote on if Ohio needs to create a similar law.

Independence coach Jim Wotowiec, who has gone from youth coach to his first year at the helm of the Blue Devils, doesn’t think so.

“I don’t know if legislation teaches good tackling, I think good coaching does that,” Wotowiec said. “You’ve got to use common sense because a lot of times contact is not needed but proper technique is. We spend a lot of time on technique and how to tackle. We make it a part of our practice.”

Fairview coach Tom Narducci even has a saying for his players to follow on good, proper tackling: “Numbers on numbers. Arms like a dumpster. Send him back from where he came from.”

“It takes the head out of the equation,” Narducci said.

Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky couldn’t believe 90 minutes was the "restriction" for California.

“That’s crazy to me,” Rotsky said. “If you think about it in a game, you’re not even going 90 minutes."

There is no law in Ohio that restricts the amount of contact in practice.

The most recent law passed by Ohio involving concussions was return to play guidelines that went into effect April 26, 2013. 

In its rules, the Ohio High School Athletic Association prohibits contact in football pads in the offseason. That includes if an Ohio player were to go to a camp in another state, say Indiana, which can be problematic.

Indiana allows its players to wear football pads in the offseason so all the Indiana players would be allowed to wear pads at a camp in their state, while the Ohio players would be breaking a rule.

As for the second part of the law, that only allows game-speed tackling for two 90-minute sessions weekly, OHSAA spokesman Tim Stried said for the most part that’s what already happens in Ohio.

“Contact is usually only on Tuesday and Wednesday anyway,” Stried said. “Usually Monday is scouting report day, prep day, full conditioning, full practice Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursday is a walk-through.

“That’s the way the majority of the teams do it. There’s a lot of states that are now scaling back how much hitting is allowed, where Ohio’s already been in the boat for a while.”

But there is no law that limits game-speed tackling in Ohio.

Why?

St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle has been asked that question many times. 

“It’s a law that can’t be policed,” Kyle said.

Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.