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Buchtel WR Deric Rucker to miss at least the first half of the season, per the team

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Rucker will be away from the team due to personal reasons, according to the school.

AKRON, Ohio - Buchtel wide receiver Deric Rucker will miss at least the first half of the upcoming football season, according to Buchtel coach Ricky Powers.

Rucker (6-2, 180 pounds) will not be with the team due to personal reasons, according to the school. He will be eligible to return to the team later this season but is expected to miss most of the year.

Powers and Buchtel had no further comment at this time.

Rucker last season was one of the best players in the Akron City Series, racking up 831 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 44 catches. He currently has scholarship offers from Toledo and Cincinnati.


Cleveland Browns are third least desirable team to play for in the NFL, according to survey

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The Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills all have something in common. Unfortunately it's not what NFL times are shooting for. According to a survey of more than 100 NFL players asked by ESPN in confidence, the trio of teams ranked as the least desirable places to play.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills all have something in common. Unfortunately it's not what teams are shooting for. According to a survey of more than 100 NFL players asked by ESPN in confidence, the trio of teams ranked as the least desirable places to play.

Oakland has been tabbed as the worst, getting 23 percent of the vote. The Buffalo Bills (19 percent) followed and then the Browns came in third place with 16 percent. The Jaguars (9 percent) and Green Bay Packers (6 percent) round out the top five.

The teams that finished one, two, three in the voting have a few things in common, which are unsurprisingly turnoffs for players in the NFL: instability, frequent losing and questions at quarterback.

The Browns were forced to hire a new head coach this off-season, the third in the last four years. Ray Farmer took over as GM after Joe Banner and Michael Lombardi were let go. The Browns have piled up double-digit losses in nine of the last 10 seasons. As for the playoffs, the last appearance was 2002.

Quarterback has also been a problem, and it's one position that can cause an otherwise promising roster to crumble quickly. A jersey made listing the names of different starters since 1999 outlines the struggles. 

But things could be starting to change for the Browns. This past season, Donte Whitner, Karlos Dansby and Andrew Hawkins were among the free agents signed in hopes of being part of the franchise's turnaround. If wins start to follow, and Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel become the answer at QB, the Browns might not be on this depressing list in 2015.

Tribe Insider: Paul Hoynes on the Indians playing 30 games in 30 days (video)

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Chris Fedor was joined by Cleveland Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes on a special edition of Tribe Insider.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What specifically will it take for the Cleveland Indians to make a late-season push for a playoff spot? Who are some names the Indians will consider calling up in September to strengthen the roster?

Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in a special edition of Tribe Insider with cleveland.com's Chris Fedor

Among other topics discussed:

• Which player has been the biggest surprise this season?

• How many of the 13 games against Kansas City and Detroit do the Indians have to win to stay alive in the AL Central?

• Will manager Terry Francona have to change his approach during a stretch of 30 games in 30 days?

Tracking which Ohio State Buckeyes freshmen have lost their black stripes

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The Buckeyes continue the Urban Meyer tradition of rewarding the freshmen who have proven they are ready to go at the college level. So far, 21 have seen their stripes removed

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Twenty-one Ohio State freshmen, including 17 members of the 23-man recruiting class, have had their black stripes removed from their helmets during preseason practice. That's Urban Meyer's way of acknowledging that a first-year player has shown that he's ready to really be a college football player and full member of the roster.

The order of stripe removal doesn't tell you everything, but it does give a peek at the young players the staff likes, and it can be some predictor of which freshmen could earn playing time.

We'll continue to update this list as we go.

• At least according to Meyer's Twitter account, the most official dispenser of black stripe info, the six recruits who haven't are linebacker Kyle Berger and defensive lineman Dylan Thompson, both out for the season with the injuries and therefore unable to prove themselves on the field; receivers Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell; offensive lineman Jamarco Jones; and cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who has also battles hamstring issues.

1. Curtis Samuel, RB

2. Raekwon McMillan, LB

 

3. Darius Slade, DE

4. Damon Webb, CB

5. Aaron Parry, DL (walkon)

6. Noah Brown, WR

7. Jalyn Holmes, DE

8. Sam Hubbard, LB

9. Dante Booker, LB

10. Johnnie Dixon, WR

11. Stephen Collier, QB

12. Brady Taylor, OL

13. Kyle Trout, OL

14. Erick Smith, S

15. Kosta Karageorge, DL (walkon)

16. Demetrius Knox, OL

17. Sean Nuernberger, K

18. Malik Hooker, S

19. Marcelys Jones, OL

20. Guy Ferrelli, TE (walkon)

21. Mike Maduko, S (walkon)

Learning from Evan Spencer's 'wipe the floor' comment, Braxton Miller's regular season travel situation: Monday afternoon quick hits

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"The biggest lesson I took is that I am confident to a fault at points," Spencer said. "Maybe I just took it a little bit too far. But on the same token, I love my teammates and I am confident in my teammates."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Did you miss hearing from Evan Spencer?

Maybe you didn't notice, but since Spencer made his infamous remarks about Alabama last season, the senior wide receiver has been limited by Ohio State in his media interactions. 

But coach Urban Meyer typically relies on upperclassmen to do the brunt of media obligations, and Spencer, a senior, could now be one of the regulars this season.  When he was available Monday afternoon, he still conversed articulately. Now he's just being more careful. 

"The biggest lesson I took is that I am confident to a fault at points," he said. "Maybe I just took it a little bit too far. But on the same token, I love my teammates and I am confident in my teammates." 

When asked how he thought Ohio State stacked up with Alabama in November last year – at the time, both were in a national title race – Spencer said he felt the Buckeyes would "mop the floor" with the Crimson Tide.

Later that afternoon, Spencer expressed apologizes on his public Twitter account and said he meant no disrespect.

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller will not be in Baltimore this weekend when OSU opens against Navy because he'll be recovering from shoulder surgery, which coach Urban Meyer said is set to take place Tuesday morning. 

However, Miller, who was named a captain Monday, will still travel with the team this season. When he does, that'll figure against the 70-person travel roster limit.

miller-pass-mich-2012-mf.jpgView full sizeBraxton Miller was named one of Ohio State's five captains Monday morning. He'll still travel with the Buckeyes for their road games.  

"He'd be one of the 70 if he can go," Meyer said of Miller. "He won't be able to go this time because of his (surgery), but there will be times we have to make that decision."

• J.T. Barrett is still Ohio State's starting quarterback heading into the opener, but Meyer didn't dismiss the idea that the Buckeyes could use Cardale Jones against the Midshipmen if the redshirt freshman doesn't perform as expected. 

Senior tight end Jeff Heuerman still isn't 100 percent despite being limited during fall camp with a foot injury.

"We anticipate he'll be ready to go," Meyer said, "it's just going to be volume, and that's what we're dealing with right now." 

Sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott was cleared last week, but he'll begin taking hits in practice this week in preparation for the Navy game. Though he missed time the last few weeks while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured left wrist, Elliott will likely be the top running back on Ohio State's depth chart when it's released Tuesday. 

• Ohio State still has ongoing position battles at left guard, center and cornerback, but Meyer said that it's typical for positions to still be up for grabs heading into the first game. 

"If they're bad players, you got a problem," Meyer said. "If they're really good players and they're just battling and battling and battling, it means they're both going to play. That's kind of normal this time of year." 

Four-star wide receiver Van Jefferson, an Ohio State target, announces his commitment to Georgia: Buckeyes recruiting

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Four-star wide receiver Van Jefferson of Brentwood, Tenn., one of Ohio State's top remaining wide receiver targets, announced his commitment to Georgia during a ceremony at his high school on Monday afternoon.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Four-star wide receiver Van Jefferson of Brentwood, Tenn., one of Ohio State's top remaining wide receiver targets, announced his commitment to Georgia during a ceremony at his high school on Monday afternoon. 

Rated by 247Sports the No. 17 wide receiver in the 2015 recruiting class, Jefferson racked up roughly 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan State, Mississippi, Ohio State, Tennessee, Penn State, South Carolina and others. 

Jefferson narrowed it down to four programs – Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Ohio State – before announcing his commitment to the Bulldogs. 

According to 247's "Crystal Ball" – which is experts predicting college destinations – 34 percent predicted Jefferson would pick Georgia, 34 percent predicted Tennessee and 29 percent thought Ohio State. 

Ohio State, however, is really holding out for one of the premier wide receiver prospects in the 2015 recruiting class – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro prospect Christian Kirk. 

Rated by 247 sports the No. 5 overall wide receiver in the 2015 recruiting class, Kirk unofficially visited Ohio State during the summer and is expected to make a return trip to Columbus for an official visit this fall. 

Kirk, a 5-foot-10, 191-pound prospect, is most considering Texas A&M, USC and Ohio State. 

Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA links: Zydrunas Ilgauskas thinking about a comeback?

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The summer frenzy, filled with wild speculation and rampant rumors, slowed down for a bit as the top targets had already found homes, but there was one more domino that still needed to fall: Kevin Love.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The summer frenzy, filled with wild speculation and rampant rumors, slowed down for a bit as the top targets had already found homes, but there was one more domino that still needed to fall: Kevin Love.

All signs pointed to Love joining LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team blockbuster, and the worst-kept secret was made official on Saturday afternoon, further cementing Cleveland as the NBA favorite. Love will hold up his new No. 0 jersey for the first time on Tuesday during a press conference in Independence. 

It's unlikely that another move can top that this off-season, but it's the NBA and things change quickly so ... 

More than likely, expect minor deals to complete rosters to be all that remain as the rumor mill continues to churn, with Cleveland remaining at the center.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas thinking about a comeback?

Ilgauskas is 39 and has been retired for three years. Last season, the Cavs had a touching ceremony, attended by LeBron James, where Ilgauskas had his number raised to the rafters inside Quicken Loans Arena.

But now that James is back, Ilgauskas could be ready for a return, according to ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Rizzo, who first talked about an Ilgauskas return on his TV program, The Rizzo Show, late Sunday night. Rizzo then reiterated it on Monday morning.

Cleveland welcomes Kevin Love

The newest member of the Cavaliers' formidable Big 3 brought excitement to the city on a memorable day in Cleveland sports. The Browns, Indians and Gladiators all played on Aug. 23, but the lasting memory from the big sports day centered on Love. The city has wasted no time showing its appreciation for the three-time All-Star as 92.3 The Fan's Dustin Fox shows by snapping a photo depicting a mural for Love, which was put up Monday morning. 

Kyrie Irving set to start for Team USA

It's been a good summer for point guard Kyrie Irving, who is about to start his fourth pro year. He was given a maximum contract extension at the start of free agency, but that was only the start. Since then he has seen the arrival of new teammates James, Mike Miller, James Jones and Love. Soon, Shawn Marion will officially sign on. Now, Irving is the starting point guard for Team USA, at least in the short term, according to ESPN.

"Kyrie Irving will start opposite Goran Dragic at point guard Tuesday night when Team USA plays Slovenia in its final tuneup game leading into the FIBA World Cup.

But Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski, in tabbing Irving as his starter against the Dragic-led Slovenians, told ESPN.com that one option under consideration is letting Irving and Derrick Rose trade off as the starter throughout the tournament, which opens Saturday in Bilbao with the Yanks facing Finland."

At the start of training camp for the National Team, the point guard spot was deep, with Rose, Irving, John Wall, Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard fighting for roster spots. Irving beat out Lillard and Wall and figures to be a prominent player during the tournament.

ESPN also believes Irving and Rose, two players who will likely play a big part in the Eastern Conference this season, could form a powerful backcourt for the National Team.

"Krzyzewski says he can also envision Irving and Rose playing together once the tournament starts as Rose continues to acclimate himself to full-speed basketball after two major knee injuries limited him to just 10 games over the past two seasons with the Chicago Bulls." 

Emeka Okafor in high demand

As the free agency pool continues to get more shallow, one name keeps popping up for teams in need of frontcourt help. Emeka Okafor, who missed the 2013-14 season while recovering from a herniated disc in his neck, could be ready for a comeback.

"Roughly half of the league, I'm told, has registered interest this summer in Okafor, despite the fact that the 31-year-old free agent missed all of the 2013-14 season."

The defensive-minded veteran will take his time before picking a team. He is unlikely to pick before midseason, but the Cavs are one of many showing interest.

"The list of pursuers, according to NBA front office sources, includes LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers as well as LeBron's old friends in Miami."

As the Cavs continue to build a title contender, the one thing that may be missing is frontcourt depth, specifically a rim protector.

Anderson Varejao is on the wrong side of 30 and has been plagued by injuries. Brendan Haywood, who arrived in an off-season trade, missed last season with a foot injury, and his availability is a question mark. The Cavs did sign undrafted big man Alex Kirk, who played for the wine and gold in summer league, but it's hard to see him getting valuable minutes on a team with title aspirations.

With the biggest question remaining in the middle, Okafor could be a key addition midway through the year if the Cavs can convince him to sign for cheap.  

General Manager David Griffin has overseen the biggest off-season transformation in the NBA, so don't put it past him to pull off another such deal. Plus, an opportunity to play with LeBron could be appealing to Okafor. 

Richmond Heights football season preview 2014: Keys for a winning season, top players, schedule (video, poll)

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See a season preview for Richmond Heights football, including top players, newcomers to watch, schedule, stats and more.

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio – Check out a preview for Richmond Heights’ football team as it enters the 2014 season, which begins at home against Wickliffe on Aug. 29.

Check cleveland.com/hssports all preseason for conference-by-conference previews, as well as team-by-team outlooks for each of the 136 area squads.

3 keys for a winning season

Go with the run game. With big men like Duncan LePage, Landen Scott and Anthony Titas (all 200+ pounds) making up the offensive line, the Spartans shouldn’t have a problem finding gaps to run through.

Look forward. Last year was Doug Miller’s first year at the helm of Richmond Heights. The team won four games but they’re more adjusted to Miller’s coaching style and his staff. That should help.

Let the talent rise. Tonie Hamilton, Anthony Titas and Scott are all All-League players. If those three players lead, the Spartans road to victory should be paved smoother.

MORE ABOUT RICHMOND HEIGHTS

2014 schedule

OHSAA division, region: Division VII, Region 23.

Conference: Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division.

2013 record: 4-6.

Coach: Doug Miller.

Coach’s record at school: 4-6.

Key players: 

Tonie Hamilton/ QB/TB/LB, Jr., 5-9, 160.

Eric Hooks, TB/LB, Jr., 5-10, 180.

Duncan LePage, LB/OL, Sr., 6-3, 200.

Landen Scott, OT/DE, Sr., 6-2, 210.

Anthony Titas, OT/DE, Sr., 6-2, 220.

Malcolm Collins, NG/OL, Sr., 5-10, 165.

Follow Richmond Heights all season

Bookmark the team’s cleveland.com webpage to see every post pertaining to Richmond Heights. 

   

Follow our new high school sports Twitter account above and tag your related Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag. Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.


Kevin Love deal isn't over; cities swap naming rights for octopus

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Kevin Love to the Cavs isn't the only deal involving Minnesota and Cleveland; the cities have swapped naming rights over an octopus named 'K-Love.'

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The three-team deal involving the Cavaliers acquiring Kevin Love is not over.

Sea Life Minnesota has traded naming rights of K-Love, its Giant Pacific Octopus, to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium for similar rights for an octopus to be named later for Andrew Wiggins.

The basketball trade, made official Saturday, sends Love to Cleveland. The Cavaliers gave up Anthony Wiggins, this year's overall No. 1 pick, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick in 2015. The deal, which also involved the Philadelphia 76ers, could not be finalized before Saturday. NBA league rules stipulate that rookies cannot be traded for 30 days after they sign a contract.

The aquarium swap is much simpler: Naming rights only, no waiting, done deal.

Sea Life Minnesota's John Sullwold came up with the proposed trade and reached out to his Cleveland counterparts.

"It was my idea to start the trade talks with the Greater Cleveland Aquarium just because we had the name K-Love and with all the rumors and speculation about the trade," Sullwold told The Plain Dealer.

Kevin Love Releases Baby OctopusView full sizeKevin Love released an octopus named for him at Sea Life Minnesota in 2012. 

He said Sea Life Minnesota acquired the octopus in early 2012 and Love came out to the aquarium, he said.

"He loved it," Sullwold said. "It was really fun. We're hoping to do something similar with Andrew Wiggins. We're tossing around the names Sqwiggins, Iggy or A-W."

Joe Prada of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium said the deal actually has been in the works for some time. The octopus in Cleveland was named Ocho.

"He reached out to us two weeks ago," Prada said. "It's funny because he's a big basketball fan, and I am, too. And I said 'Oh yeah, we've definitely got to do this.'"

He added: "The Cavs wanted us to wait to release (the news)."

Sea Life Minnesota is located in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. It's the first naming-rights trade for either aquarium. Only the names are changing; the invertebrates are staying put.

"In general I love sports, and I've always been interested in the business of it and trades and rumors, and when it actually happens you feel like a GM for the aquarium and you're moving around pieces," Prada said.

According to National Geographic, the Giant Pacific Octopus "grows bigger and lives longer than any other octopus species." Its lifespan is three to five years. Sullwold said it grows about two to three feet "from tentacle to tentacle" and could hit five to six feet.

Love, a 6-foot-10 forward, has stopped growing. He has a reported wingspan of about 7 feet.

Love is 25 years old. K-Love the octopus is "fairly young, a few years old," Sullwold said.

"It's tough to time-stamp the octopus," he said.

The next step, Prada said, is to get Love to meet his namesake in Cleveland.

"We're hoping we can get him in here," he said.

It's not the first tie to sports for an octopus. It has been the good-luck charm for the Detroit Red Wings ever since one was tossed on the ice in 1952. The symbolism of eight tentacles and eight victories needed (then) to capture the Stanley Cup proved symbiotic; the Wings won, and people have tossed them on the ice ever since.

Video: Nate Burleson returns to the practice field - Cleveland Browns Berea report

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Watch Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap the news from practice Monday in Berea.

BEREA, Ohio --  Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap what happened during Monday's practice in Berea.

The first roster cuts were made today by General Manager Ray Farmer.  The most notable were running back Edwin Baker and wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, who's contract was terminated.  The Browns roster is now at 76.

Other topics include: Wide receiver Nate Burleson returned to the practice field after missing a couple weeks due to a strained hamstring.  Cameron Jordan was excused from practice by head coach Mike Pettine for undisclosed reasons.  Josh Gordon and the team still awaits a decision from the league on his suspension.  Top draft pick Justin Gilbert will benefit from Joe Haden returning after a tough game Saturday against the Rams.

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Browns WR Nate Burleson's hamstring might cost him his job, but Mike Pettine will consider his experience

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Browns receiver Nate Burleson has hurt his chances of making the team by not staying healthy. Will he be cut on Saturday?

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns receiver Nate Burleson returned to practice Monday for the first time since straining a hamstring on Aug. 6, but coach Mike Pettine cautioned that the 12th-year pro isn't a lock to make the final roster Saturday.

"It does hurt your chances not being out there, but it's something where we'll consider his entire body of work,'' said Pettine.

Pettine first let on during a conference call on Saturday that the 33-year-old could be in trouble when asked about him and Miles Austin, who missed the entire offseason with a hamstring injury but has made it through camp healthy.

"It's a little more concerning with Nate just because he's missed so much time,'' Pettine said. "It's tough with guys you think are going to be out there and you're not getting quality reps with them, which as I've said a bunch of times, there's just no substitute for that work."

In addition to the hamstring, Burleson missed all of organized team activities and the mandatory minicamp after undergoing minor surgery to repair a plate in his surgically repaired arm, the one he broke in two places last September while trying to save a pizza from falling off the passenger seat.

He started camp healthy and looked poised for a solid 12th season -- until he pulled up lame with the hamstring in practice about a week in. He's missed all three preseason games and participated only in individual drills Monday, meaning he might not play Thursday night against the Bears. At this point, why risk it for the fourth meaningless preseason game?

"As a player, you've always got to be worried (about making the team),'' Burleson said last week before the Rams game. "That's the nature of the business. Hopefully I've put enough film on tape at practice to convince them that I'm a guy they need on this squad. But for me, it's just getting healthy. I would love to force the issue and go out here and do something, but I've got to be smart.''

While Burleson is realistic, "I never try to stress myself out about (making the roster). After 12 years, you just control what you can control. You show up and work. I've played in just about every preseason game for 12 years, so it's not in my character, trait or my makeup as a professional athlete to sit out practices or games. I'm too much a competitor.

"If you talk to the trainers, they'll tell you I've been harassing them for the last the week or so to let me practice. So, yeah, I just show up and go to work and try to do my job, and my job is to heal up and give the best product out on the field. So we'll see what happens. I guess I'm pretty even-keeled when it comes to that stuff."

Burleson, who celebrated a birthday just last week, stressed that even at his advanced football age, he wants to play in these practice games.

"The preseason for me is a big deal,'' he said. "I like it because it helps me with my confidence and creates momentum for me for the regular season. "(Everybody's) like, 'Hey, just heal up, man. We know what you can do.' And that's reassuring, but at the same time, it is a business. I want to play because that's what I get paid to do.

"They brought me here for a reason and that's to add a spark plug to this offense and make plays when the ball's thrown to me. And then after that, I'm new here. So no new guy wants to be on the sideline and I know that first hand."

A natural-born leader who organized a receiver dinner this offseason and is a mentor for the young receivers, Burleson knows how much the Browns are counting on him, especially with Josh Gordon set to exit stage left any day now.

"Oh yeah 100 percent, which is why you don't see me around here skipping and smiling and cracking jokes too much,'' said Burleson, signed to a one-year free-agent deal in the offseason worth $1.02 million. "This is serious to me. I'm probably the most optimistic guy. I've always got a smile on my face. I'm a glass-half-full type of individual. When I'm on the sideline (injured), all that disappears from me. I literally am sick just because this is my job. I don't take this lightly at all.

"They cut the check for me to come out here and make plays and be a leader, and it's tough for me to do that on the sideline. It's just my personality. I'm more quiet. I'm up here 6 a.m., 7 a.m., trying to do whatever I can to get on the field. And on top of that, watching the games, seeing where there are opportunities to be made and not just that, bringing a level of energy that can ignite the team and ignite the offense. I'm that guy that celebrates the first down. I'm that guy that barks, yells and screams. I'm that guy that challenges the offense in the huddle. I know what I'm capable of doing. It's just hard to watch when you're not doing it.

"But the good thing is, this is the preseason. It's only preseason game two and all of the people in my inner circle have been telling me that, because I've been complaining to them behind closed doors, like 'I'm sick of this.' But they say 'Look, man, the preseason's for a reason and you've been playing for 12 years, I think everybody knows how passionate you are.' Yeah, hopefully I can just get out on the field, give you guys a taste of what I'm about before the season starts and then hit the ground running for 16 games.''

At one point in camp, Burleson went stride for a stride with a young cornerback and made a fine leaping catch. On his jog back down the sidelines, he turned to reporters and said playfully, 'Did you see that, did you see that?' ''

It was plays like that that made Burleson realize he could coax another season out of his journeyman body.

"After 12 years, I realize how tough it is to wake up everyday,'' he said. "I told myself, if I can't get open, then I'll retire. And going up against some of these young guys, getting open consistently over the last couple of weeks, it gave me a lot of confidence. I said that because I think we can do something special here and the plan for every football player is to ride off in the sunset after a great year.

"I think we have the capability to do it. Obviously we have some chemistry things we need to work on, everybody's still learning the system, learning the playbook, and once we do what we need to do throughout the rest of this preseason, I think we can do that, so when I mentioned (retirement to reporters in Detroit), it was more about me writing the perfect ending to this movie and that's playing a tremendous season, giving Cleveland what they've always wanted in their football team which a team they can be proud of and then walking off into the sunset.''

He stressed that he's all in for this season, even though it's likely his last.

"I don't know if you guys notice, man, but when I step on this grass, it brings life to me, so that comment has no indication on how I feel about this sport,'' he said. "I love this dearly and I was born to play football and I'm committed to this organization 100 percent.
 
And if all goes well this year, who knows if he'll even be able to walk away?

"The plan is to go out there and be the best 33-year-old wide receiver, make some plays, put up some numbers and then make the decision from there,'' he said. "I want to do something special here, as an organization and as an individual. I want to be able to show these young guys that you can age with grace and still make plays, and that's my plan. I've got a lot of selfish intentions to the season. I feel like I can do something and be very productive statistically. But first and foremost I've got to be here to help this squad.''

Hopefully for Burleson, the Browns still think so too.

Brian Hoyer to play about 1st quarter and Johnny Manziel will finish the half vs. Bears Thursday night

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Brian Hoyer will play about a quarter and Johnny Manziel will finish the half vs. the Bears Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Bears will start rookie David Fales and likely let him play the whole game.

BEREA, Ohio -- If quarterback Brian Hoyer had played better this preseason, he might have gotten a bye in the preseason finale Thursday night against the Bears at FirstEnergy Stadium.

As it is, he'll play up to a quarter and then give way to Johnny Manziel, who will finish out the half and possibly play into the third quarter. Rex Grossman and Connor Shaw will likely split the second half, coach Mike Pettine said.

Contrast that with what the Bears are doing: starting sixth-round rookie David Fales --  their third-string quarterback -- and likely letting him play the whole game.

But Hoyer said after the 33-14 loss to the Rams Saturday that he welcomes a chance to play. Hoyer and the first-team offense have produced only one touchdown in 14 possessions and Hoyer has earned a 63.7 rating.

"For sure, I think we need it,'' Hoyer said. "This is our first time together in this offense and with the competition that was going on, we need to go forward and be unified in one direction.  I think it's going to come, because we show flashes.  We have just got to stop kicking ourselves and finish the drives.''

Pettine said he plans to play his starters on both sides of the ball for a little less than a quarter.

If Grossman plays, it will be his first action of the preseason, and will come against his former team. He was a first-round pick of the Bears in 2003 and spent his first six seasons with the team, leading Chicago to Super Bowl XLI in his first full season as a starter.

Pettine said the club hasn't yet decided if it will keep two or three quarterbacks.

In other news:

• The Browns on Monday were awarded rookie offensive linemen Karim Barton and Donald Hawkins on waivers from Philadelphia. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia out of Morgan State on May 10, Barton (6-3, 313) played as a reserve in all three of the Eagles' preseason games.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia out of Texas on May 10, Hawkins (6-4, 310) played as a reserve in all three of the Eagles' preseason games. After transferring from Northwest Community College, Hawkins started 24 of his 25 games at Texas.

• The Browns roster is currently at 78 players. All NFL rosters must have a maximum of 75 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m.

• Pettine said he has no idea how long Josh Gordon will be out.  "No,'' he said. "I mean, we kind of have a feel for the range of it. ....We're just impatiently waiting."
 
• He said cornerbacks Joe Haden (foot), Buster Skrine (thumb) and Isaiah Trufant (knee) are all expected back for the opener, and that rookie cornerback Pierre Desir (knee) might be the only one to sit.  

• Pettine was encouraged that rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert made some plays in the second half against the Rams, and expects a better outing against the Bears. "On the one where he got beat across his face and then he ended up knocking the ball out – one that was a sure touchdown,'' said Pettine. "That was encouraging. He needs to test his limits more. He kind of played off (the receivers). That hurt us in some of those third down situations. Of all times, it's in preseason. Go ahead and challenge and see where you stand with guys."

• Pettine, on running back Dion Lewis stepping up for the third running back spot: "He has just the short-area quickness. Even though he's a small guy, he proved in the game that he's not afraid to stick his face in there in the pass-protection stuff. It's not much of a separation, but like I said before, if I had to handicap it, I would put him ahead."

• Pettine said defensive ends Armonty Bryant and Desmond Bryant will likely job-share when Desmond Bryant returns from his recent wrist surgery.
 "That way they're both fresh on third down,'' he said. "If a guy is an elite pass rusher, I would rather work his reps backward to forwards. Work him on third down. Work him on second and long. That way you're guaranteeing that you have guys that have fresh legs in the third quarter."

Chris Kirksey can't play receiver, but Cleveland Browns were right to draft him where they did: Tom Reed analysis

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The Iowa product has been the Browns' best rookie since the start of training camp.

BEREA, Ohio – Inside linebacker Chris Kirskey dropped into coverage Saturday night, tipped an Austin Davis third-quarter pass with one hand and returned an interception 23 yards to set up a Browns touchdown.

It's what the rookie didn't do next that revealed something of his character and priorities.

Kirksey didn't keep the ball. He didn't retrieve it, either. Trotting off the field, his team trailing the St. Louis Rams, 23-7, he wasn't visualizing a spot in his trophy case for his first NFL pick.

"It didn't cross my mind to keep it," Kirksey said Monday afternoon. "I was still in the heat of the battle. I just moved onto the next play and celebrated with my teammates."

On a club that includes Johnny Manziel and No. 8 overall pick Justin Gilbert, the Iowa product has been the Browns' best rookie since the start of training camp. With youngsters and veterans alike on a learning curve, adjusting to new systems, Kirksey plays as if he's been in Mike Pettine's defense for five years.

There's plenty of cause for concern in Berea, particularly with the feckless offensive output, but Kirksey is justifying his status as a high third-round pick. He's consistent, instinctive, fluid and versatile.

If only he could play receiver.

"He's a talented guy," inside linebacker Karlos Dansby said. "(He) reminds me of myself. ... He's got some God's gifts, you can't coach that. He just goes out and plays the game the way it's supposed to be played."

The Browns are a mess right now coming off a 33-14 thumping in their dress rehearsal at FirstEnergy Stadium. While it's only preseason, the room for improvement seems large and windowless.

The defense played poorly against the Rams, allowing nearly 500 yards. But the unit was without All-Pro corner Joe Haden and several other veterans. It says here that performance was an outlier. The first-string defense was decent in the first two games and it should recover from Saturday's shoddy effort.

The Browns' passing game, however, is worrisome and the receiving corps alarmingly lacking. Which brings us back to the selection of Kirksey and the second night of the draft. News of Josh Gordon's potential drug ban broke on May 9 and as the Browns prepared to make their second- and third-round picks many assumed at least one of them would be a receiver.

Cleveland Browns lose first preseason game to the Detroit Lions, 13-12.View full sizeBrowns linebacker Chris Kirksey has broken up a pair of passes in preseason, including this one against the Detroit Lions. 

Instead, they chose guard Joel Bitonio, Kirksey and traded up for running back Terrance West. The decision to tab Kirksey seemed a bit curious, especially given he played outside linebacker with the Hawkeyes.

He knows some fans were upset the teams didn't grab a second-day receiver.

"I heard it from time to time once I got drafted," he said. "But with the way I think everything happens for a reason. ... I didn't feel like I had to come out here and prove these people wrong, (that) I'm a true third-round pick. It was come out here and try your best. Work hard and good things will come of that."

As the receivers continue to drop passes and fail to impress, Kirksey's showing has taken a few degrees of heat off General Manager Ray Farmer. The speedy linebacker leads the team in tackles (18) and solos (13) and appears solid against the run.

Unlike the quarterback battle, competition has brought out the best in Kirksey and incumbent Craig Robertson. Pettine plans to find playing time for each as the regular season unspools.

In the age of spread offenses, the requirements of inside linebackers are changing. Quickness and coverage skills are necessary. Kirskey dropped 15 yards from scrimmage to intercept Davis' pass. As the game becomes more specialized, the kid seems capable of multi-tasking.

Dansby looks at Kirksey and sees a player who was well coached in college. Growing up in St. Louis, the rookie took to heart the importance of consistency. It's not just about big plays, it's about making the routine ones, too.

Pettine has watched Dansby mentoring Kirksey, teaching him what it takes to thrive in the league. It's an interesting friendship given the veteran's bravado and the youngster's humility. Kirksey speaks like a freshman from the Tresselsonian era at Ohio State.

"(Dansby has) been in the league for 11 years, so when you get a guy like that to say something good, that's always an honor," he said. "I learn from him every day. I'm always picking his brain. Just to hear him say that, it's just really encouraging. It makes me want to strive to get better."

Kirksey doesn't possess the ceiling of Gilbert or Manziel. And plenty of rookies who excel in August don't adapt to the regular season's climate change when the intensity gets turned up.

But Kirksey looks like a reliable addition to a team fumbling for answers. He's going to be a good one – even if he can't run a post pattern.   

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron misses practice, is 'dealing with an issue'

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Browns coach Mike Pettine would not elaborate on whether Cameron's issue is medical or something else.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron was absent from practice Monday afternoon, and coach Mike Pettine said Cameron is "just dealing with an issue. He was excused today."

He would not say if the absence was related to the sprained shoulder joint Cameron suffered Aug. 2 during the Family Day scrimmage at the University of Akron, but it is not believed to be.

"He was excused from practice today,'' Pettine repeated tersely. "I won't go into any other detail on that.''

He said "the expectation'' is for Cameron to be back at practice on Tuesday.

A source said Cameron was not getting a second opinion on the shoulder, which is believed to be healthy now.

He suffered a sprained AC shoulder joint in the Family Day scrimmage at the University of Akron on Aug. 2 and sat out through the Lions game Aug. 9. He returned to practice the week after and played in the Monday night game in Washington Aug. 18, but had a poor outing. He failed to get his head around on the first pass and failed to corral a few catchable balls.

"It was his first real action out there and he was upset afterwards,'' Pettine said last week before the Rams game.  "He knows he didn't play his best game. I'm looking forward to seeing a much better Jordan Cameron out there (against St. Louis)."
Against the Rams Saturday night, Cameron caught two passes for 18 yards in the Browns' 33-14 loss at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Pettine has been gearing up to use Cameron in a multitude of ways to make up for the team's deficiencies at receiver. Against St. Louis, he split out wide several times and went in motion on a number of plays.

"When you have a tight end with that kind of skillset, you can split him out as the single wide receiver, and you can put him in an unconventional position to take advantage of it,'' Pettine said. "It might not necessarily be a speed mismatch, but it could be a body type, jumping ability type mismatch. That's something that he brings to us and we'll look to take advantage of."

Cameron's absence is not expected to result in any more time off, which is good news for the Browns' beleaguered offense.  With the team bracing for the loss of Josh Gordon for all or part of the season, the Browns can ill afford to be without their best remaining pass-catcher.

In other Browns news:

* Cornerbacks Joe Haden (foot),  Pierre Desir (knee) and Isaiah Trufant (knee) all sat out practice today.

* Receiver Nate Burleson, who's been out since Aug. 6 with a pulled hamstring, returned to action, at least on a limited basis.

Kevin Love's journey to No. 0 a trip back to the start

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Kevin Love's No. 0 is a throwback to his early days playing basketball.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Kevin Love simply wanted a new start with the Cavaliers when it came time to pick a jersey number. That was easier said than done.

"All respects to Nate Thurmond, I really appreciate him and pay my homage to him for having the conversation of allowing me to wear the number 42," Love said Tuesday during his introductory press conference at Cleveland Clinic Courts, "but I thought this was a chance for me to, one, start fresh, and, two, pick a new number that would suit me."

Love's search for a new number, however, found him right in the middle of Cavaliers history and retired numbers. 

"I looked at 11, which is my Olympic number," Love said. "[Former Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas] had that number, so the third one I was going to pick was No. 7 because my mom had that as my lucky number growing up."

No such luck there either, Love said. "Seven was taken by Bingo [Smith]."

So where did Love turn for a new jersey number? 

"I went all the way back to my grassroots," Love said, "and my first number I ever played with."

Love recalled playing in a tournament in Beaverton, Oregon and showing up late. "I was the last guy to the gym for the tournament, and there was the 0 for me."

Now, years later, the 0 carries additional meaning. "I just decided that 0 was the right fit for me and it really brings me back to Portland, which is Oregon, the O."

General manager David Griffin reminded Love of a more modern meaning to the 0 via text. "He also said 'Can't forget Ohio, too,' and he's right."

 


Chagrin Falls football season preview: Keys for reaching the playoffs, top players, schedule (poll)

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A look at the Chagrin Falls football team as it prepares for the 2014 football season.

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – Check out a preview for Chagrin Falls football team as it enters the 2014 season, which begins at home against Madison on Aug. 28.

Check cleveland.com/hssports all preseason for conference-by-conference previews, as well as team-by-team outlooks for each of the 136 area squads.

5 keys for making a seventh consecutive playoff appearance

1. Development of quarterback Michael Brigeman:

As only a sophomore last season, Brigeman had his fair share of ups and downs. He was able to throw for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns, but he also threw 11 interceptions. With another season under his belt, Brigeman should be able to take the next step as a quarterback.

2. Strong secondary:

With players like Cam Orzen, Bradley Hollis and Ernie Defoy, the Tigers have a lot of talent in the secondary. The combination of experience, speed and athleticism of this unit gives them the potential of being a great unit.

3. Sean Mackin builds off a dominant junior campaign: 

Once committed to Syracuse for lacrosse, Mackin decided to stay with his roots and commit to Harvard for football. Last season, Mackin led the team with 109 tackles, with 11 of them behind the line of scrimmage. He has terrific speed, which allows him to fly all over the field to make the play.

4. Develop a kicker: 

Last season, Ed Shelley proved to be one of the very best kickers in the area. His 52-yard field goal in the playoffs against Cleveland Central Catholic set a school record. While it may be difficult to find a kicker capable of making it from that distance, the Tigers must find someone to come in and fill the position.

5. Play Chagrin Falls football: 

Under coach Mark Iammarino, the Tigers have become one of the most consistent teams in the area. This is a program that has proven to be one of the most disciplined teams. If this team can continue to play the style of football this program has shown to the past six seasons, the Tigers once again figure to be making noise in the playoffs.

MORE ABOUT Chagrin Falls

2014 schedule

OHSAA division, region: Division IV, Region 11.

Conference: Chagrin Valley Conference, Chagrin Division.

2013 record: 9-3.

Coach: Mark Iammarino.

Coach’s record at school: 152-65 in twenty seasons.

5 key offensive players: 

Michael Brigeman, QB, Jr., 5-11, 170.

Corey Tull, RB, Jr., 6-2, 215.

Cam Orzen, WR, Jr. 6-2, 175.

Bryant Kennedy, C, Sr., 6-0, 195.

Tyler Kennedy, T, Sr. 6-0, 200.

5 key defensive players: 

Sean Mackin, LB, Sr., 6-2, 214.

James Sferra, DE, Sr., 6-0, 200.

Desmond Maddox, NT, Sr., 5-11, 215.

Bradley Hollis, CB, Sr., 5-10, 175.

Ernie Defoy, CB, Sr., 5-10, 180.

Newcomers to watch: 

Tom Vandertill, WR/LB, Soph., 6-0, 170.

Tyler Zaluski, OT/DT Jr., 6-0, 215.

Key stats from 2013: 

Mackin, 567 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns, 6.7 yards per carry.

Orzen, 209 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Follow Chagrin Falls all season

Bookmark the team’s cleveland.com webpage to see every football post pertaining to Chagrin Falls.

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.

Cleveland Browns short on time, long on questions -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin (slideshow)

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The Cleveland Browns' exhibition season comes to an end Thursday night, with more questions than when it started -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns' winless preseason is, by itself, as insignificant as it gets.

They don't give Emmys for a series pilot. Nobody ever won a Tony for a dress rehearsal. So Thursday's final exhibition game against Chicago doesn't matter much beyond coming out of it healthy and fleshing out the roster.

Except these are the Browns, led by yet another rookie head coach, and Sept. 7 is looming, and, well, nothing is ever so simply stated when it comes to this town's favorite soap opera cast.

The finish to Mike Pettine's first camp should be window dressing. Except few are buying that his offense can truly be something to behold 12 days from now after spending most of the summer getting schooled. The saving grace (if there is one): was that it occurred often by the Browns defense.

It means nothing except his quarterback decision was less reason to toast the winner than to cross fingers and hope Brian Hoyer can deliver something more than 0-3 at the bye week. 

The quarterback "competition" was so alarmingly unsatisfying that a small percentage of a fan base that loved Hoyer a year ago and celebrated Johnny Manziel on draft night has grown curious about ... no, not you, Rex ... undrafted Connor Shaw.

Hoyer, of course, was the 2013 odd man until the third week of September, finally getting noticed in the last exhibition game (Chicago) when Jason Campbell was felled by the old "flu-like symptoms."

That's irrelevant to this season, obviously. Except if you've followed the parade of  changing faces in Berea over recent years. Then you rush to compare Pettine in hopes of seeing traits that suggest he's a cut above the last coach (Rob Chudzinski).



Pettine got early points for winning the press conference and looking the part. (Raise your hand if you're tired of both those expressions.) That ends Thursday night, if it hasn't ended already.

A victory in Pittsburgh changes everything, but for now there's not much to convince anyone that this coaching staff is more able than the last one blown up by owner Jimmy Haslam. To be fair, preseason doesn't offer much opportunity for a rookie head coach to prove himself. Which, I'd argue, made it more important for this team to play well, or at least move the ball occasionally.

Pettine still has a locker room to win over. For now he is the product of the coaching search that prompted Haslam to fire the two men who led it, Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi.

If Pettine turns out to be the next bright, young head coach, Banner gets another gold star to go along with the one he deserves for the Trent Richardson trade. But other than the belief Pettine can produce a Top 10 defense, not much else has presented itself this summer to rally around.

Gallery preview

The Browns looked inept offensively in last week's dress rehearsal. And the first team defense looked like it preferred to share Joe Haden's night off.

Josh Gordon went from playing into the fourth quarter against Washington to sitting out against the Rams. The offense is making Kyle Shanahan's playbook look like quantum physics.

The QB square-off backfired with neither guy standing out. Now Pettine comes off unconvincing when talking about the Browns as Hoyer's team. If the coaches feel that Manziel taking over the offense is only a matter of time, you know the players do, too.

This is less than an ideal way for a rookie head coach to take on his first season, let alone one that starts with Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Baltimore.

The Browns will handle the Chicago game the way most teams do, with Hoyer playing just a few series before going to the sideline like a five-year starter with nothing to prove.

Rarely has a team needed to find so much hope in such a small sample.

For more Bud Shaw, read Spinoffs and You Said It

'My eyebrows raised a little, too': Second shoulder surgery no easy road for Ohio State QB Braxton Miller, experts say

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Dr. James Andrews performed shoulder surgery on Miller in Florida on Tuesday and Ohio State reported that it went well. But with a second surgery in six months on the same shoulder, nothing can be taken for granted.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Braxton Miller's original surgery on his right shoulder in late February wasn't uncommon. Six months later, a second surgery on the same shoulder, required after the OSU QB reinjured it making a normal practice throw last Monday without taking a hit -- that raised some eyebrows.

"I think that's fair. My eyebrows raised a little, too, looking from the outside in," Dr. Mark Schickendantz, director of Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, told cleveland.com on Tuesday.

• Meyer doesn't second-guess Miller shoulder plan

Schickendantz, the head team physician for the Indians and formerly the head team doctor for the Browns, spoke on the same day that Miller had surgery on his torn labrum in Florida performed by prominent sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Miller, in a post on his Instagram account, and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, in a conference call with reporters, called the surgery a success.

"All the reports are that there are no surprises and everything went well," Meyer said.

It's not quite that simple. The surprise already happened – Miller needed a second surgery.

 

"Having an injury from throwing a single pass without any contact during a comeback from a labral repair, that would be unusual," said Dr. Orr Limpisvasti, an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at the Kerlin-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in California. "That's not typical."

In interviews with three orthopaedic surgeons from around the country, it was made clear that this second surgery means Miller is in for a longer recovery with a greater risk of having issues. All three also emphasized they had no details of Miller's injury. Some of the details from Ohio State have been hard to come by, starting with when the first surgery was called "minor." Reportedly both surgeries dealt with labral tears, though the degree of the injury wasn't specified.

None of the three doctors questioned Miller's care in any way, and Schickendantz praised the Ohio State medical team. But they provided a look at what, at this point, has to be considered a serious injury for any high-level quarterback.

The labrum is the ring of cartilage in which the shoulder joint rests. It's where the ligaments of the shoulder and biceps attach. As Dr. Schickendantz said, "a lot can go wrong with the labrum." 

That's especially true for quarterbacks, who are basically unique among athletes in that they can hurt it two ways. The labrum can wear down and fray from overuse, as with other athletes who use an overhand motion, like baseball pitchers and tennis players. And it can be damaged if the shoulder takes a blow and dislocates or comes out of the socket and tears the labrum, as can happen to other football players. But they don't have to worry about throwing.

Miller's first injury came from taking a hit on the first drive of the Orange Bowl against Clemson, as Miller said he played through pain that was a 9.5 on a scale of 10. The second injury obviously came without contact, on what Meyer said was a 7-yard throw.

"I can tell you that the labrum doesn't heal particularly well," Dr. Schickendantz said. "The surgery is difficult, the blood supply is poor and it's hard to get these things to heal. It's a difficult thing to come back from.

"If you look across the board, successful return to play is not all that predictable. People don't understand how difficult it is to come back from that type of surgery. So I am not completely surprised he is having ongoing issues with the shoulder."

The fact that Miller was on his way back and had another problem helped show that difficulty. Miller's second injury occurred on Aug. 18, just short of six months from his original surgery on Feb. 21.

The first surgery could be described, for lack of a better word, as normal.

"You wouldn't think twice," Dr. Limpisvasti said. "It's not uncommon for elite quarterbacks to suffer a labral tear. And if there's good tissue to repair and enough time to rehab, they should do well."

Quarterbacks ranging from NFL players like Drew Brees, Mark Sanchez and Blaine Gabbert, to college players like West Virginia's Clint Trickett, who remains on track to start the season after his surgery in January, have undergone some type of labrum repair.

If examined, most quarterbacks would probably show some fraying of the labrum, or what Dr. Schickendantz called "normal wear and tear." But it's now that Miller, who smiled in a photo with Dr. Andrews after the procedure, is entering more serious territory.

Dr. Schickendatz said there is no thorough study, to his knowledge, of college football quarterbacks and torn labrums. But, in general, the doctors cited about a 10 to 15 percent rate of failure when it comes to these surgeries, in terms of the player getting back to his previous level.

And a second surgery on the same area is always more difficult than the first.

"For a lot of different injuries, we know the success rates are not quite as good the second time," said Dr. David Geier, an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in South Carolina. "But we don't have a lot of date of revision labral surgeries. It's just not all that common."

As Dr. Schickendatz said, take 100 patients off a first surgery and 100 off a second surgery, and the second group will have fewer coming back to full health.

That's what Miller will face. His injury came six months after the first surgery, but Meyer said the second recovery time will be more like nine months to 12 months. That timetable made sense to the doctors, who were, while unsure of the severity of the initial Miller surgery, a little surprised he was throwing after six months.

Everything from Miller's throwing mechanics, to his approach to rehab to the natural thickness of his labrum to the size of the tear will help determine how and when he gets back to football.

If the Buckeyes characterized Tuesday's news as good news, then there's reason for Ohio State and Miller to be optimistic. But as this second injury shows, nothing can be taken for granted, especially with the natural stress Miller will be putting on his labrum whenever he starts throwing again months down the line.

"The sweeping statement is it's never not a big deal," Dr. Limpisvasti said. "He may still do very well and get back and have terrific arm function. But that's two labral surgeries in six months in an elite quarterback in his throwing arm. So he's going to be asking a lot of it. And it's going to make it that much harder from a rehab standpoint to get the same outcome."

Cavaliers GM David Griffin suffers 'angst-ridden' 30 days waiting for Kevin Love trade to become official

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Cavaliers GM David Griffin discusses the moratorium period between the signing of Andrew Wiggins and the moment the trade for Kevin Love became official.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Think you were on pins and needles during the 30-day moratorium between when the Cavaliers signed rookie Andrew Wiggins and when they were able to include him in a deal for Kevin Love? Try being Cavaliers GM David Griffin.

"I told Kevin the first time I actually felt joy over those 30 days was when I got to the Arena Bowl [Saturday] night, after we had made the trade call, and it finally dawned on me what had actually, really transpired," Griffin said following a press conference introducing the new Cavaliers forward at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Wiggins was the centerpiece of a trade that also shipped second-year forward Anthony Bennett to Minnesota along with a 2015 first-round pick that ended up going to Philadelphia as part of the three-team swap that brought Love to Cleveland. NBA rules prohibit a team from trading a draft pick within 30 days after signing his rookie contract.

"That whole time you're so tight because you really just want to make sure that it happens," Griffin said. "Anything can happen at any point during trade discussions."

Griffin, who said the final iteration of the deal was agreed to shortly after Wiggins officially signed his rookie contract, cited past experiences which made him aware that the world of verbal NBA trade agreements can be a fickle one. 

"I've actually been in situations in the past where I've had a verbal agreement with a team that backed out on a trade," Griffin said. "And so those things are always in the back of your mind."

Griffin said giving up Wiggins was difficult, but adding Love was the right fit. "As the summer unfolds and you get a commitment from Kyrie [Irving] and you get a commitment from LeBron and you start to see that the pieces really are potentially going to fall in place, we know who we are and we know what we're about and we have a mission, and Kevin's 26 years old and if we could have picked a person and a player with a skillset to fit this group it was him. And so it was perfect."

But what of those days waiting for the pieces to fall into place?

Said Griffin, "It was an angst-ridden 30 days, to be honest with you."

The Cavaliers' Kevin Love and the three-pointer -- Bill Livingston (slideshow, video)

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Kevin Love shoots a lot of three-pointers for a big man and from the same area LeBron James likes. Such shots by big men reduce offensive rebounds. But Love says no worries, he'll fit in. Watch video

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- When Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin asked new coach David Blatt what he needed most a while ago, Blatt said, " A spacing '4' who can shoot and pass and knows how to play."

Four is the playbook designation for Kevin Love's power forward position.

"We've got one of those in mind. His name's Kevin Love, he's a trade target," said Griffin.

"Wow," said Blatt, an exclamation probably destined for overuse in the coming Cavs' season. "Kevin Love would be amazing. If you could get Kevin Love to go with LeBron James, you would have had a really good off-season."

And now, from behind Door No. 0 (it is Love's choice of number) steps Love. Welcome to Cleveland, where amazing happens.

An 18-month-long quest for Love has reached its triumphant conclusion in "Can you believe this?" fashion.

Granted, the game has changed dramatically since height made right. Basketball, a sport with a vertical goal, turned into one in which strategists  valued unclogged free throw lanes, created by the three-pointer and the breadth and depth of the shooters' increased range.

The sport had been inverted. Seven-footer Dirk Nowitzki once won the All-Star game's three-point contest and 5-7 Spud Webb once won the Slam-Dunk Contest.

It turns out, Nowitzki was a role model for Love, who over the six years he labored outside the playoff stage in Minnesota, went from saint of the paint to angel of the arc.

Only four players – Love and snipers Steph Curry, Damian Lilliard and the Incredible Mr. Missile Range, Kevin Durant – took 450 or more threes last season. Love's 37.6 percent made was the second-best of his career.

'That's where the game is going -- the European influence," Love said "No. 41, Dirk Nowitzki, I loved his game, what he's done with his career being a 7-foot player able to shoot the ball while still playing with his back to the basket. I knew I'd be a better commodity in any system if I was able play inside and outside."

It has become something of a millennial basketball manifesto: Big men, shed the yoke of oppression on the block! Strike off the shackles that bound you to the lane!

Nevertheless, years ago, a veteran assistant coach often groused that the one thing James had left to do was get on the block and punish defenders. When James finally committed to that under the critical gaze of Miami team president Pat Riley, championship rings followed.

We all know James is one of the greatest and most versatile players ever -- inside-out, offense-defense, pass-finish. But he likes the left wing to initiate offense and as a launching pad for threes, and so does Love.

With so many "spacemen" in James, Love, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Mike Miller, it will not take a rocket scientist to exploit the opportunities inside.

Sometimes, expansion of range becomes, like an overextended empire, a liability. As long as the pattern is more inside-out than the reverse, there should be no problem, other than the expected getting-to-know-you early meshing.

In an intriguing piece of basketball analytics, however, Grantland.com's figure filbert Kirk Goldsberry wrote, "It's fair to ask: Given (Love's) tremendous interior skill set, is his outward migration premature and/or too extreme?"

It's not just the "effective shooting metric," which determines shot effectiveness. Most serious fans understand that stat, in which 33.3 percent on three-pointers (say four of 12) equals in points 50 percent (six of 12) on shorter shots.

But it's unwise to fall in love with the "home run ball." You leave too much potential "stranded on the bases." In this case that's a reference to offensive rebounds.

Love's missed threes have never produced bundles of second-shot opportunities. The old fear that missed threes lead to long rebounds that can be claimed by guards and turned into countering fast breaks is true.

Asked if he expected Love to play in the post more often, Griffin said, "Probably. David's system is about efficiency as a player. Love can do that at the elbow (of the lane) or in the post. The most efficient shots are not normally from the post. He may generate offense out of there with his passing, but I don't know that necessarily his shots come from there."

"I can fit any system, and I think I can fit in coach Blatt's," said Love.

If true, how many are going to Disney World after the parade?

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