Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot make their predictions for the Browns record this year and preview the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa Sunday.
Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot make their predictions for the Browns record this year and preview the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa Sunday.
Terry Pluto Plain Dealer Columnist Cleveland -- Mark Iammarino remembers the first time he meant Brian Robiskie. "He was in eighth grade, kind of tall and skinny," said the Chagrin Falls football coach. "He didn't look like a natural athlete, just a kid who was still growing into his body." Iammarino said Robiskie's decision to attend Chagrin Falls was motored...
Terry Pluto
Plain Dealer Columnist
Cleveland -- Mark Iammarino remembers the first time he meant Brian Robiskie. "He was in eighth grade, kind of tall and skinny," said the Chagrin Falls football coach. "He didn't look like a natural athlete, just a kid who was still growing into his body."
Iammarino said Robiskie's decision to attend Chagrin Falls was motored by his mother, who loved the "New England feel" of the town. Terry Robiskie had been hired as the Browns' receivers coach, and the family was looking for a small town in which to live with a good school system.
"Cynthia [Robiskie] was very concerned about academics, and we are strong in that area," said Iammarino, who also is a guidance counselor at the school. "Terry and I talked a lot of football. But in the end, I think it was the academics that convinced them to send Brian."
In the ninth grade, Brian Robiskie played primarily on Chagrin's freshman team. He was on not one list as a hot college prospect.
"People have underestimated Brian for a long time," said Iammarino. "Things take a little time for him. He is not a super athlete. He has to work at everything, which he is willing to do."
While Robiskie became a star for the Tigers, he was playing Division IV. Chagrin Falls is a very good program, but it's not a major high school power.
"Even after he became a big time receiver for us, the major colleges mostly stayed away," said Iammarino. "He was a three-star recruit. Ohio State and Miami [Florida] were probably the two elite programs that wanted him. After that, it was Boston College, Northwestern and schools like that. He was not the guy that everyone was convinced would be a star."
But that's what Robiskie became at Ohio State.
"He's the kind of player who grows on you," said Iammarino. "He has tremendous character. He's very smart. When coach [Jim] Tressel came to the school to recruit Brian, he looked at his transcript with all these A's in honors courses, and coach Tressel said, 'You don't see many transcripts like these.' You look at all the boys in that family -- they are well-dressed and polite."
At Ohio State, Robiskie was on special teams as a freshman. He started only five games as a sophomore. By the time he graduated, he was an All-Big Ten receiver and an academic All-American. He finished No. 8 in school history with 127 catches, No. 4 with 24 for touchdowns.
"They probably won't say it, but I imagine Ohio State took Brian because he comes from a good family with his dad who is a coach -- and they figured he'd be a good kid for the program," said Iammarino. "They also knew he'd graduate, and signing him would create goodwill in the Cleveland area. But I doubt they ever dreamed he'd be that good on the field."
Which is why Iammarino says Browns fans should be patient with Robiskie.
Last year was a frustrating rookie season for Robiskie, the team's second-round pick. He was inactive for five games, had only one start and seven catches for the season. The coaches criticized him for not being able to help on special teams. There was a concern that Robiskie was "robotic" when running patterns, not adjusting to some of the coverages he faced.
Robiskie's confidence seemed to be shaken -- even if he won't admit it.
"There were just some things that I had work through," he said. "I really don't spend a lot of time looking back. I just want to get better."
If history matters, that will happen according to his high school coach.
"Brian is a different type person," said Iammarino. "He went on his college visit to Miami, and had no real interest in the South Beach party scene. When we talked about college, he was as interested in the academics as football."
Robiskie graduated in 3 1/2 years with a degree in business marketing and a 3.5 grade-point average.
Something else to consider about Robiskie: He's 22 and already in his second pro season. He is young enough to get physically stronger.
"High draft choices, rookie receivers, it's a different world for most of them," Browns President Mike Holmgren said. "You'll see a lot of fine college receivers drafted high, come in their first year and kind of putz it around a little bit. Then the second year, bang, because 'Now I get it.' Brian has a chance to be someone like that."
That has been the case ever since the players reported for voluntary workouts in the spring. For months, Browns coach Eric Mangini has made a point of praising Robiskie in news conferences -- sometimes when he was not even asked about the receiver.
"I think he's had the best off-season of any of the guys in terms of his growth and progress, and all of those things," said Mangini. "My expectation is that trend continues. It just reinforces the value of hard work and the value of consistency and the value of believing in your ability. It's not always easy, it's not always fun, but it's right."
Veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme has praised Robiskie for his "precise" running of pass patterns. The receiving group of Joshua Cribbs, Mohamed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey and Robiskie is one of the youngest in the NFL.
Cribbs is in his six season, but only now is the former Kent State quarterback expected to play regularly as a receiver. Stuckey has only five career starts. Massaquoi and Robiskie are in their second seasons.
Robiskie is expected to be in the starting lineup when the Browns open the season Sunday at Tampa Bay.
"Think about last season," said Iammarino. "The Browns had two young quarterbacks [Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn] not knowing who would start. They had a bunch of young receivers. That's not easy for any rookie. You watch, he'll be a different player this season with a veteran quarterback and knowing he'll get a real chance to play."
"He's a Buckeye," Pryor said of James.
The last time LeBron James took in an Ohio State game in person, he was still a Cleveland Cavalier and the Buckeyes lost to Penn State 13-6 during OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor's freshman year.
Pryor wants another shot.
"I told him I owe him a show," Pryor said Wednesday.
Pryor is now a junior and James plays for the Miami Heat. Pryor said he has exchanged text messages with James this week and hopes to see him at Saturday's home game against the Miami Hurricanes, believing James plans to attend. If he does, Pryor has a message for fans.
"If LeBron does come, just treat him with respect and respect his decision," Pryor said. "Please, no name calling or booing or anything like that. Please. That's my mentor, and I've got a lot of respect for him and a lot of love for him."
In fact, Pryor said he was there for support after James announced his decision to leave Cleveland.
"When he was down, when people were throwing him under or burning his jersey, I just picked him up and said, 'I'm with you 100 percent,'" Pryor said.
If James is in Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Pryor said James will be with him 100 percent, not backing the team from his new place of employment.
"He's a Buckeye," Pryor said. "He's a Buckeye."
The Indians' Lake County Class A team boasts several pitchers who seldom give up the long ball and have impressive strikeout-to-walk ratios.
FARM REPORT
AAA Columbus Clippers
Tonight: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Clippers, 6:35, Game 1, best-of-five International League playoff series. Yankees RHP D.J. Mitchell (2-0, 3.57) vs. Clippers LHP David Huff (8-2, 4.36).
Notes: RHP Zach McAllister (9-12, 5.29) is scheduled to start for the Clippers in Thursday night's Game 2, going against Yankees RHP David Phelps (4-2, 3.07) at 6:35 p.m. in Columbus. McAllister, the New York Yankees' third pick in the 2006 draft, was 8-10 with a 5.09 ERA in 24 starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, before being acquired by the Indians from the New York organization on Aug. 20 as the player-to-be-named-later in Cleveland's July 31 trade of Kerry Wood to New York. McAllister is 1-2 with a 6.88 ERA in three starts for the Clippers....Clippers OF Jose Constanza hit .378 (37-of-98) in his last 24 games to finish second in the International League with a .319 batting average....OF Ezequiel Carrera (.286) was 13-of-41 (.317) with two doubles, one triple, one home run, six stolen bases, five RBI and five runs in his last 10 regular season games....1B Wes Hodges (.270) hit three homers and a double in the last eight games, going 10-of-34 (.294) with seven RBI....RH reliever Vinnie Pestano (1-2, 14 saves, 1.55) has posted five saves in his last 10 games, pitching 10 scoreless innings and striking out 12, while allowing three hits and two walks....RH reliever Zach Putnam (0-1, 3.33) has allowed one run (unearned) in his last 10 games, fanning 15, walking three and giving up five hits in 14 1/3 innings....RH relieer Josh Judy (3-0, two saves, 2.68) has allowed one run (unearned) in his last eight games, fanning 12 in nine innings, while yielding five hits and two walks....The Yankees won the season series against the Clippers, 5-3....The Clippers finished the regular season 79-65, one-half game behind IL West Division champion Louisville. Columbus lost its final four games....The Yankees won the North Division championship with an 87-56 record.
Advanced A Kinston Indians
Tonight: Indians at Winston-Salem, 7:00, Game 1, best-of-five Carolina League playoff series. Indians LHP T.J. McFarland (11-5, 3.13) vs. Dash RHP Terry Doyle (8-8, 3.71).
Notes: Indians RH starting pitcher Joe Gardner and RH reliever Cory Burns were named to the Carolina League year-end all-star team, which includes just one starter and one reliever. It is the first time Kinston has swept the pitching spots on the year-end all-star team since RH starter Bartolo Colon and RH reliever Danny Graves won the honors in 1995....Gardner, Cleveland's third-round pick in the 2009 draft, Gardner (12-6, 2.65) led the league in wins and was third in ERA. He was also first in the league in holding hitters to the lowest batting average, .199. Including his time with Lake County to begin the season, Gardner led pitchers in the Indians minor league system with 13 wins and 142 strikeouts. He finished 13-6 overall with a 2.75 ERA, walking 62 and allowing just six home runs. Overall, Gardner held hitters to a .197 batting average.... Burns (1-2, 1.83) led the league with 30 saves. With Kinston, Burns struck out 56, walked 13 and held batters to a .210 average with two homers. Burns began the season with Lake County, and he finished a combined 1-2 with 42 saves (in 45 opportunities) with a 1.96 ERA. Burns struck out 81 and walked 14 in 55 innings, while allowing a .212 batting average and two homers....Catcher Chun Chen (.320) was 13-of-31 (.419) with five doubles, one homer, six RBI, six runs and eight walks in his last nine regular season games. Chen, in 172 at bats with Kinston, had 17 doubles, six homers, 30 RBI and 38 walks. Including his time this season with Lake County, Chen hit .315 with 38 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 69 RBI in 390 at bats....RHP Austin Adams finished the regular season 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for Kinston. Including his stint with Lake County to begin the season, Adams was 8-5 with one save and a 2.49 ERA in 26 games (20 starts), striking out 112, walking 36 and holding batters to a .218 average in 112 innings....3B Jeremie Tice (.283) slugged three homers, two doubles and a triple in his last 10 games, going 11-of-39 (.282) with 11 RBI and eight runs....LF Bo Greenwell (.292) was 14-of-36 (.389) with two doubles, one triple, one homer, seven runs and five RBI in his last eight games....OF Donnie Webb (.267) was 12-of-30 (.400) with one double, one triple, one homer, 12 runs, six RBI and three stolen bases in his last 10 games....The Indians finished the regular season 36-34, going in the first half and then clinching a playoff spot by going 37-33 in the second half....The Dash, a Southern Division rival of the Indians, posted the Carolina League's best overall record, 81-58. Winston-Salem won its division in both the first and second halves of the season, going 43-27 and 38-31, respectively.
A Lake County Captains
Tonight: Captains at West Michigan, 7:00, Game 1, best-of-three Midwest League playoff series. Captains RHP Brett Brach (5-8, 3.46) vs. Whitecaps RHP Victor Larez (8-11, 4.27).
Notes: RHP Jason Knapp (1-0, 3.94) is scheduled to start for the Captains if a third game is necessary in the best-of-three series. Knapp was a 2008 second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, who sent him to the Indians in the Cliff Lee trade last July. Knapp, coming back from offseason shoulder surgery yet still regarded as an elite prospect, began pitching in July for the Indians Arizona League rookie team. He has struck out 29 in 16 innings for the Captains in four games, after fanning 18 in 12 1/3 innings over five outings in the Arizona League. In the 28 1/3 combined innings, Knapp has given up just 17 hits -- including no homers. He has walked 12....LHP Giovanni Soto is 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA in six starts with the Captains since the Indians acquired him from West Michigan, a Detroit Tigers farm team, in exchange for Jhonny Peralta. In a combined 22 games -- all starts -- for the Captains and Whitecaps, Soto is 9-8 with a 2.93 ERA and two shutouts. He has struck out 107, walked 36 and held batters to a .237 average and seven homers in 113 2/3 innings....1B Adam Abraham (.264) hit .357 (65-of-182) with 16 doubles, 10 homers and 43 RBI in his last 46 regular season games....RH reliever Preston Guilmet (4-1, 11 saves, 2.25) struck out 79 and walked 10 in 52 innings, holding batters to a .188 average and two homers....RH reliever Jose Flores (1-1, six saves, 2.14) was 1-0 with two saves in his last seven games, pitching 9 2/3 scoreless innings. Flores fanned 51 and walked seven in 42 innings, holding batters to a .224 average and one homer....RH reliever Francisco Jimenez (8-1, one save, 3.59) was 2-0 with an 0,92 ERA in his last seven games, striking out 24 in 19 2/3 innings while yielding 14 hits and four walks....OF Delvi Cid (.253) led the Midwest League with 71 stolen bases (in 87 attempts)....The Captains won the season series, 11-10, against West Michigan....The Captains clinched a playoff berth by winning the Midwest League Eastern Division first-half championship with a 44-25 record. They went 33-37 in the second half to finish 77-62....The Whitecaps, also in the Eastern Division, were 26-43 in the first half, but went 36-34 in the second half to earn a postseason spot....Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3 will be played at the Captains' Classic Park in Eastlake on Thursday and Friday nights at 6:30. LHP Vidal Nuno (6-8, 4.96) is scheduled to start Game 2 for the Captains.
Tony Grossi Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland -- Jake Delhomme knows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers better than anyone in the Browns' locker room. With Carolina, he beat the Panthers' NFC South rival nine times in 11 starts. He also beat the Bucs with one pass coming off the bench for New Orleans in a game in 2002. He said he...
Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter
Cleveland -- Jake Delhomme knows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers better than anyone in the Browns' locker room.
With Carolina, he beat the Panthers' NFC South rival nine times in 11 starts. He also beat the Bucs with one pass coming off the bench for New Orleans in a game in 2002.
He said he has a lot of respect for their speed on defense, their intensity and their ballhawking. The Bucs intercepted him 14 times in his 11 starts against them.
So don't for a second think that Delhomme sized up the Browns' 2010 schedule when it came out, like most of their fans, and circled the season-opener in Tampa as a gimme, or even a "must win."
"Never," Delhomme said of handicapping a season based on the schedule. "I used to. I quit about six or seven years ago, after our Super Bowl year [2003]. We go to the Super Bowl and think, 'We're going back next year, there's no doubt.' And we started out 1-7, so that went out the window way back when.
"You can't look at a schedule in July. Who knows about injuries? Things change so much. And if you do that, you're really doing a disservice to yourself. I know it's coachspeak, but if you don't take it one game at a time . . . Honestly, and you're gonna laugh at me, I might know who we play the first three weeks, but other than that I really don't know. I don't pay attention to what's down the line. It does you no good. I don't even know when our bye is this year."
Delhomme's wizened voice in the locker room is one reason why he was signed by Browns President Mike Holmgren 10 days after Carolina released him in March. It's also why he was elected by his teammates this week as one of six team captains.
By the nature of the position, the quarterback -- if he has any ounce of respect from his teammates -- should expect to be voted a team captain. But it certainly hasn't automatically happened here in the past. Neither quarterback last year garnered the vote.
So when the Browns take the field in Tampa on Sunday, you would feel they are in better hands at the position than in the recent past.
Outsiders may judge Delhomme on his 23 interceptions over his last 12 games with Carolina. But those who know him well -- especially opponents -- have a much higher opinion.
"Jake's the consummate pro," Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris said on a conference call Wednesday. "He's a guy that can find people all across the board. He gets the ball into his playmakers' hands."
Veteran Tampa cornerback Ronde Barber said, "I know Jake very well. We have a great feeling of some of the things he's brought to Cleveland. They're the same things we saw him do in Carolina. He's never had the strongest arm, but he knows how to deliver the ball to the right guys. He's probably the best back shoulder-throw guy I've ever seen. His confidence in himself is what makes him a great player."
The last observation made by Barber is particularly cogent. If Delhomme's descent in Carolina can be largely attributed to a loss of confidence, then restoring it obviously is the key to his success with his new team.
And Delhomme's dead-eye accuracy in roughly six quarters work in the preseason -- 38-of-48 for 79.2 completion percentage, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 110.5 -- has him entering the season on a positive note. That change-of-scenery hope of Holmgren looks to be coming to fruition.
"I think the biggest thing is having the same approach since I've been here in spring -- just come and play football, let the offense work for itself," Delhomme said. "That's what I've tried to do all preseason. Don't change who you are, or what you are. Things have kind of gone somewhat smoothly so far. I'm just trying to keep that same approach."
Delhomme knows the weather challenge that awaits the Browns on Sunday. He has opened a season in hot and humid Tampa on two occasions and has played there in September one other time. But the stifling conditions will be offset by the excitement of a new beginning.
"It's always different every year. It seems like you always have to fly over for the opener and for whatever reason that just makes everybody . . . the spine just tingles," he said. "For me, it's always special because you never know if it's going to be your last season opener. That's how I've approached the last couple years. You just have to enjoy it. The emotions do fly, no doubt. It's opening day."
Like the rest of us, Delhomme is unsure about what to expect from the Browns' offense -- at the start and over the season."We're excited to get going," he said. "Offensively, it's going to be up to us to define ourselves. How do we define the 2010 Browns? It starts this week. Certainly, I think this team ran the ball extremely well last year. That's something if you can do that consistently in the NFL, you're going to be in every game and give yourself a chance to win."
Browns rookie safety T.J. Ward isn't intimidated by his first pro assignment: meeting up with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow in the middle of the field in the opener Sunday in Tampa. "I'm going to be physical with anyone I play against," said Ward, a second-round pick out of Oregon. "It doesn't depend on the player. I want...
Browns rookie safety T.J. Ward isn't intimidated by his first pro assignment: meeting up with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow in the middle of the field in the opener Sunday in Tampa.
"I'm going to be physical with anyone I play against," said Ward, a second-round pick out of Oregon. "It doesn't depend on the player. I want to be effective against any tight end -- physical, small, big -- I want to be an all-round safety that can guard anybody that places himself in front of me."
That doesn't mean Ward is disrespecting Winslow -- just not letting the premier tight end get in his head.
"He's a very good, athletic tight end. He has great hands. He's physical," said Ward. "I'm studying a lot of film on him and I'm just going to go in there and try to compete. I'm trying to offset my immaturity or lack of experience by a lot of study. I'm looking at last year's film [of him]."
Ward (5-10, 200) showcased his big-hitting ability in the exhibition opener in Green Bay, and continued to progress throughout the preseason. But he knows he still has a lot to learn.
"If you make a mistake, you might as well make it full speed," said Ward. "If you're going to hesitate, you're almost making two mistakes. I just try to do everything full speed."
He said he hopes to avoid Winslow pushing off on him and drawing an interference penalty.
"If I'm on him, then I'm going to try to shut him down," he said. "If I'm not then I'll take my responsibilities to another player."
Coach Eric Mangini acknowledged the task facing Ward. "Yes, it's tough, but it's not going to get any easier for him as we go on," Mangini said. "The guys that he's going to be asked to deal with throughout the course of the year, they're all pretty good."
Winslow, who was traded to the Bucs in February 2009 for a second-round pick that year (used on receiver Mohamed Massaquoi) and a fifth-round pick in 2010 that was sent to Philadelphia in exchange for Chris Gocong and Sheldon Brown, is viewing this as just another game.
Winslow was not permitted by the Bucs' public-relations department to be on the conference call with Browns media, but spoke in Tampa on Wednesday.
"It's going to be good, man," he told reporters. "It's just another team. It's a blessing to be here. It's where I want to be. I'm fortunate."
He acknowledged his great relationship with Browns' fans, who always appreciated him playing through excruciating knee pain following his motorcycle accident and torn ACL in 2005.
"Everything that went on there with Cleveland was a growing process for me," he said. "I really grew up and matured. It was hard up there because we weren't winning a lot, and it was just frustrating at times. But I'm here now, and I'm having fun."
He said of playing in pain, "Nobody really knows what I go through. But it's just special to play this game. It's a privilege to play this game. It is all about the fans. That's what motivates us to play. That's where the support comes from, and it is special."
Last season, Winslow led the Bucs in receptions (77), receiving yards (884) and receiving touchdowns (five).
Captains set: Team captains, as voted on by players, were announced Wednesday. They're Jake Delhomme and Joe Thomas on offense, Scott Fujita and Robaire Smith on defense, and Phil Dawson and Josh Cribbs on special teams.
"That's always an honor to me," said Delhomme. "Anything you get to accomplish, one to be a player in the National Football League, but to be elected captain, that was always something that means more to me than just about anything else because it's voted on by the people that know you best."
Smith, an 11-year veteran, was honored. "Anytime your peers select you, it's special," he said.
Said Mangini: "Robaire's tough, he's physical, he's really smart and contentious. Even though he's a little bit more quiet than the rest of those guys, his leadership is felt in other ways."
Rogers, four others limited: Nose tackle Shaun Rogers (leg) was among five players who were limited in practice because of injury. He practiced a little more Wednesday than Monday and will increase his reps throughout the week. The others were linebackers Marcus Benard (shoulder) and David Bowens, tight end Robert Royal and offensive lineman Floyd Womack.
Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (pectoral) is out for the game and defensive back Nick Sorensen (concussion) did not participate today. Sorensen said he was out cold when he got hit in the head in Detroit, but that the headaches are subsiding and he's feeling better. For the Bucs, starting quarterback Josh Freeman was limited a right thumb injury.
Extra points: In preparation for the 90-degree weather in Tampa, the Browns practiced inside Wednesday and cranked up the heat. . . . The right side of the offensive line is still not set, with either Womack or rookie Shawn Lauvao set to start at right guard and Tony Pashos or John St. Clair at right tackle.
Jake Delhomme knows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers better than anyone in the Browns' locker room. With Carolina, he beat the Panthers' NFC South rival nine times in 11 starts. He also beat the Bucs with one pass coming off the bench for New Orleans in a game in 2002. He said he has a lot of respect for their...
Jake Delhomme knows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers better than anyone in the Browns' locker room.
With Carolina, he beat the Panthers' NFC South rival nine times in 11 starts. He also beat the Bucs with one pass coming off the bench for New Orleans in a game in 2002.
He said he has a lot of respect for their speed on defense, their intensity and their ballhawking. The Bucs intercepted him 14 times in his 11 starts against them.
So don't for a second think that Delhomme sized up the Browns' 2010 schedule when it came out, like most of their fans, and circled the season-opener in Tampa as a gimme, or even a "must win."
"Never," Delhomme said of handicapping a season based on the schedule. "I used to. I quit about six or seven years ago, after our Super Bowl year [2003]. We go to the Super Bowl and think, 'We're going back next year, there's no doubt.' And we started out 1-7, so that went out the window way back when.
"You can't look at a schedule in July. Who knows about injuries? Things change so much. And if you do that, you're really doing a disservice to yourself. I know it's coachspeak, but if you don't take it one game at a time. . . . Honestly, and you're gonna laugh at me, I might know who we play the first three weeks, but other than that, I really don't know. I don't pay attention to what's down the line. It does you no good. I don't even know when our bye is this year."
Delhomme's wizened voice in the locker room is one reason why he was signed by Browns President Mike Holmgren 10 days after Carolina released him in March. It's also why he was elected by his teammates this week as one of six team captains.
By the nature of the position, the quarterback -- if he has any ounce of respect from his teammates -- should expect to be voted a team captain. But it certainly hasn't automatically happened here in the past. Neither quarterback last year garnered the vote.
So when the Browns take the field in Tampa on Sunday, you would feel they are in better hands at the position than in the recent past.
Outsiders may judge Delhomme on his 23 interceptions over his last 12 games with Carolina. But those who know him well -- especially opponents -- have a much higher opinion.
"Jake's the consummate pro," Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris said on a conference call Wednesday. "He's a guy that can find people all across the board. He gets the ball into his playmakers' hands."
Veteran Tampa cornerback Ronde Barber said, "I know Jake very well. We have a great feeling of some of the things he's brought to Cleveland. They're the same things we saw him do in Carolina. He's never had the strongest arm, but he knows how to deliver the ball to the right guys. He's probably the best back shoulder-throw guy I've ever seen. His confidence in himself is what makes him a great player."
The last observation made by Barber is particularly cogent. If Delhomme's descent in Carolina can be largely attributed to a loss of confidence, then restoring it obviously is the key to his success with his new team.
And Delhomme's dead-eye accuracy in roughly six quarters work in the preseason -- 38-of-48 for 79.2 completion percentage, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 110.5 -- has him entering the season on a positive note. That change-of-scenery hope of Holmgren looks to be coming to fruition.
"I think the biggest thing is having the same approach since I've been here in spring -- just come and play football, let the offense work for itself," Delhomme said. "That's what I've tried to do all preseason. Don't change who you are, or what you are. Things have kind of gone somewhat smoothly so far. I'm just trying to keep that same approach."
Delhomme knows the weather challenge that awaits the Browns on Sunday. He has opened a season in hot and humid Tampa on two occasions and has played there in September one other time. But the stifling conditions will be offset by the excitement of a new beginning.
"It's always different every year. It seems like you always have the flyovers for the opener, and for whatever reason, makes . . . the spine just tingle," he said. "For me, it's always special because you never know if it's going to be your last season opener. That's how I've approached the last couple years. You just have to enjoy it. The emotions do fly, no doubt. It's opening day."
Like the rest of us, Delhomme is unsure about what exactly to expect from the Browns' offense -- at the start and over the season.
"We're excited to get going," he said. "Offensively, it's going to be up to us to define ourselves. How do we define the 2010 Browns? It starts this week. Certainly, I think this team ran the ball extremely well last year. That's something if you can do that consistently in the NFL, you're going to be in every game and give yourself a chance to win."
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Travis Hafner was off Wednesday. The Angels started left-hander Scott Kazmir and the Indians are off today. It fit the Indians' schedule for Hafner since he came off the disabled list Aug. 15. Four to five days on, one day off, in order to keep his right shoulder strong. But while he was off, the conversation...
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Travis Hafner was off Wednesday. The Angels started left-hander Scott Kazmir and the Indians are off today.
It fit the Indians' schedule for Hafner since he came off the disabled list Aug. 15. Four to five days on, one day off, in order to keep his right shoulder strong. But while he was off, the conversation about hitting never really stops.
The Indians have the youngest team in the big leagues. When the young position hitters want to talk hitting, they seek out hitting coach Jon Nunnally and Hafner.
"Grandpa Pronk," said Hafner, 33, with a laugh. "Somebody said that right away."
Hafner, who doubled and homered in Tuesday's 6-1 victory over the Angels, said the abundance of conversation about hitting has a lot to do with the Indians' youth.
"It's something you always do," said Hafner, "being a younger team, it seems like we talk about it more than in the past."
Hafner said the group can include up to seven or eight players.
"It's actually been great, we've actually got quite a few guys on the team who sit around and talk hitting a lot. It's helped me out a lot, too. You bring up things you used to do.
"There are quite a few guys on the team . . . probably seven or eight us. We talk in the clubhouse, in the batting cage, on the plane. It's fun."
Said Trevor Crowe: "We talk with Nuns [Nunnally], but a lot of guys talk among themselves. We've seen each other play, we're facing the same pitches. A guy like Jordan Brown has seen my swing for seven or eight years.
"It's always nice to have veteran players like Hafner around so you can pick their brains. He knows the swings so well, he's easy to talk to."
Hafner isn't just dispensing knowledge, he's learning as well.
"It's good if we're going over pitchers, mechanics or approach," he said. " You'll get to talking and realize things you used to do and maybe have gotten away from. You try to incorporate that into your approach or swing. It's helped me out a lot, too."
Hafner is hitting .274 (93-for-339) with 25 doubles, 11 homers and 43 RBI for the season. He's hitting .304 (21-for-69) with two homers and 11 RBI since on Aug. 15.
"Other than the amount of home runs, we should be pretty happy with the at-bats he's giving us," manager Manny Acta said. "The second half, he's been very good batting-average wise, on-base-percentage wise and slugging wise.
"It he can finish the season the way he's hit in the second half, continue to get healthy, who knows what can happen next year."
Hafner is hitting .347 (34-for-98) with 11 doubles, three homers and 14 RBI since the All-Star break.
Nominated: Jensen Lewis is the Indians' nominee for the Roberto Clemente award. Every team nominates a player based on performance on and off the field. The winner is chosen during the World Series.
"It's a great honor," Lewis said. "After getting called back up [Sept. 1], it's just really a nice surprise."
Swing away: In Sunday's 3-0 loss to Felix Hernandez and Seattle, Michael Brantley had one of the Tribe's four hits. He hit the ball hard two other times against the Mariners' No. 1 starter.
In Monday's 3-2 victory over the Angels, Brantley started the Indians' winning rally with a line-drive double with two out in the ninth off hard-throwing closer Fernando Rodney. He singled earlier in the game against starter Dan Haren.
Tuesday night, in the Tribe's 6-1 victory, Brantley had two hits against starter Trevor Bell.
"He's not intimidated," Acta said. "He's had some great at-bats against good pitchers . . . like Monday night against Rodney.
"Mike is going to hit up here. There's no doubt. He's done it his whole life. He's a lifetime .300 hitter in the minor leagues. He's very young. Very coachable. He's able to make adjustments."
Brantley is hitting .294 (32-for-109) with 18 runs, three doubles, two homers and 12 RBI since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on Aug. 6. It's his third tour with the Tribe this year.
Travis Hafner and his young Indians teammates talk hitting here, there and everywhere.
UPDATED: 10:05 p.m.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians 2010 regular season. The Indians play the Angels tonight in the final game of a three-game series at Angel Stadium.
Angel Stadium dimensions: Left field line 333 feet, left field bullpen 362, left field 370, left center 386, center field 404, right center 386, right field 370, right field bullpen 362, right field line 333. Outfield fence, 8 feet high.
In-game notes:
Score: Angels 3, Indians 3 after 10 innings.
Tied up: Jayson Nix's pinch-hit single in the ninth pulled the Indians in a 3-3 tie. In the 10th, Michael Brantley saved the game for the Tribe by stealing a homer from Juan Rivera as he stretched over the fence in center to catch it.
Flex time: Josh Tomlin, who had a no-hitter through 4 1/3 innings, gave up a two-run homer to Mike Napoli to give the Angels a 2-1 lead. Tomlin walked Torii Hunter to start the inning and Alberto Callaspo hit into a force play.
Rookie Peter Bourjos made it 3-1 with a leadoff homer in the sixth. Tomlin has allowed eight homers in eight starts for the Tribe.
Short-lived lead: Jason Donald doubled and Trevor Crowe singled him home to give the Indians a 1-0 lead off Scott Kazmir in the fifth. Donald's double, just his second hit of the trip, was the first hit of the game.
No pop: The Indians drew three walks against left Scott Kazmir in the first two innings, but couldnt turn them into runs. Asdrubal Cabrera and Shelley Duncan walked in the first, but Matt LaPorta flied out to center field to end the inning.
Chris Gimenez drew a two-out waslk in the second, but Trevor Crowe struck out. Michael Brantley started the third by reaching base on an error, but Cabrera bounced into a double play.
Tough Tomlin: Josh Tomlin retired nine straight Angels through three inning. He struck out three. Shin-Soo Choo made a nice sliding catch to rob Kevin Frndsen in the first. Crowe went into the gap in left center to retire Torii Hunter to start the second.
Pre-game notes:
Game 140: The Indians are the youngest team in the big leagues. When some of those young hitters want to talk hitting, they seek out Travis Hafner.
"Grandpa Pronk," said Hafner, 33, with a laugh. "Somebody said that right away, but I haven't heard it."
Hafner, who doubled and homered in Tuesday's 6-1 victory over the Angels, said the abundance of conversation about hitting has to do with the youth of the Indians.
"It's something you always do," said Hafner, "being a younger team, it seems like we talk about it more than in the past."
Hafner said the group can include up to seven or eight players.
"It's actually been great, we've actually got quite a few guys on the team who sit around and talk hitting a lot. It's helped me out a lot, too. You bring up things you used to do.
"There are quite a few guys on the team. . .probably seven or eight us. We talk in the clubhouse, in the batting cage, on the plane. It's fun."
Hafner isn't just dispensing knowledge, he's learning as well.
"It's good if we're going over pitchers, mechanics or approach," he said. " You'll get to talking and realize things you used to do and maybe have gotten away from. You try to incorporate that into your approach or swing. It's helped me out a lot, too."
Hafner, who had a scheduled day off Wednesday, is hitting .274 (93-for-339) with 25 doubles, 11 homers and 43 RBI. He has 43 walks, 84 strikeouts, a .317 on base percentage and a .446 slugging percentage.
He's hitting .304 (21-for-69) with two homers and 11 RBI since coming off the disabled list (sore right shoulder) on Aug. 15.
"I feel pretty good health wise," said Hafner, hitting .347 (34-for-98) with 11 doubles, three homers and 14 RBI since the All-Star break. "I've been able to make some adjustments in my swing that have really helped out in terms of driving the ball."
Quick hits:
-Jensen Lewis is the Indians nominee for the Roberto Clemente award. Every team nominates a player based on the performance on and off the field. The winner is chosen during the World Series.
Lewis, by Tweet, said, "Stoked to be the Roberto Clemente nominee for the Indians. It's an incredible honor."
-In Sunday's 3-0 loss to Felix Hernandez and Seattle, Michael Brantley had one of the Tribe's four hits. He hit the ball hard two other times against the Mariners No. 1 starter.
In Monday's 3-2 victory over the Angels, Brantley started the Indians winning rally with a line-drive double with two out in the ninth off hard-throwing closer Fernando Rodney. He singled earlier in the game against starter Dan Haren.
Tuesday night, in the Tribe's 6-1 victory, Brantley had two hits against starter Trevor Bell.
"He's not intimidated," said manager Manny Acta. "He's had some great at-bats against good pitchers. . .like Monday night against Rodney.
"Mike is going to hit up here. There's no doubt. He's done it his whole life. He's a lifetime .300 hitter in the minor leagues. He's very young. Very coachable. He's able to make adjustments."
Brantley is hitting .294 (32-for-109) with 18 runs, three doubles, two homers and 12 RBI since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on Aug. 6. It's his third tour with the Tribe this year.
Lineups:
Indians (57-82): CF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), DH Shelley Duncan (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Andy Marte (R), 2B Jason Donald (R), C Chris Gimenez (R), LF Trevor Crowe (S) and RHP Josh Tomlin (3-3, 4.14).
Angels (66-73): CF Reggie Willits (S), 2B Kevin Frandsen (R), LF Bobby Abreu (L), RF Torii Hunter (R), 3B Alberto Callaspo (S), 1B Mike Napoli (R), SS Erick Aybar (S), C Bobby Wilson (R), CF Peter Bourjos (R) and LHP Scott Kazmir (8-13, 6.19).
Umpires: H Joe West, 1B Angel Hernandez, 2B Dan Bellino, 3B Rob Drake.
Quote of the day: "I was never nervous when I had the ball, but when I let go I was scared to death," former pitcher Lefty Gomez.
Next: Twins come to Progressive Field for three-game series starting Friday. RHP Carl Pavano (16-10, 3.52) vs. RHP Fausto Carmona (11-14, 4.05) Friday at 7:05 p.m.
COLUMBUS -- Asked what he admires most about Jacory Harris' game, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor pointed to the Miami quarterback's ability to throw the ball deep. Can Pryor throw that deep pass, too? "It's pretty good," Pryor said. "I worked on it a lot. I've got a good spiral now. He throws a good one and I throw...
COLUMBUS -- Asked what he admires most about Jacory Harris' game, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor pointed to the Miami quarterback's ability to throw the ball deep. Can Pryor throw that deep pass, too?
"It's pretty good," Pryor said. "I worked on it a lot. I've got a good spiral now. He throws a good one and I throw a good one, and we'll let it rest at that."
So they can both fling it. They're both juniors. Both came in with a lot of hype, Pryor as the No. 1 recruit in the 2008 recruiting class, Harris in the same class as the quarterback of the No. 1 high school team in the nation, Miami Northwestern. Both played early, Pryor taking over as a starter four games into his freshman season, Harris splitting time as a freshman, then taking the job as a sophomore.
That's about it. When No. 2 Ohio State plays host to No. 12 Miami on Saturday, no one will be confusing the quarterbacks.
"Terrelle is a guy who, if you give him the opportunity to run, he'll kind of take that and make you pay," OSU senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa said. "I think Jacory is a guy who wants to sit back there. He'll throw the pass even with the opportunity to run. That's just his style, the way he wants to sit back there and throw. I don't think there's too much similar, but they're both good quarterbacks."
The difference in the styles could make all the difference. Pryor ran 162 times for 779 yards last season. Harris ran 48 times for minus-219 yards. A year ago, OSU coaches were asked if Pryor ran too much. Now, is it possible in Pryor's quest to mature that he may not run enough? No, Pryor said, that won't happen.
He has talked many times of his efforts to become a more complete quarterback, and not just a runner, but he won't abandon what he does so well. He will study the defense longer before he takes off, and he may be more judicious about choosing his spots. He said the coaches may call fewer running plays for him. He ran eight times against Marshall for 17 yards. But taking off when things break down? Absolutely.
"My goal is still to get over 1,000 yards rushing," Pryor said. "That's my goal, to move the chains, and we could still possibly get that many yards.
"I'll always be able to run. That's who I am."
And that's just not who Harris is.
Harris threw for 3,352 yards a year ago, compared to Pryor's 2,094 passing yards, and he is in the top 10 on Miami's all-time list of most major passing categories after just two seasons.
"He's a great passer first," OSU safeties coach Paul Haynes said. "So first of all, he wants to get the ball downfield to his guys."
While Pryor built on an MVP performance in the Rose Bowl in his first game against Marshall last week, Harris was trying to get past his performance in a Capital One Bowl loss to Wisconsin. Harris told reporters in Miami, he's better "as a team player, more of a leader, more vocal.
"I know that's the past and we want to forget about those things," Harris said, "but mistakes help you learn from what happened."
Both made their share last year, Harris throwing 17 interceptions against 24 touchdowns, while Pryor threw 11 picks and 18 touchdowns.
"I know he went through some of the troubles I went through, going after the big play and getting yourself in trouble," Pryor said. "So I can relate to him from that standpoint."
Harris is 6-4 and 200 pounds, plenty big, but not on Pryor's level. So it's no surprise what impresses him most about Pryor.
"His size," Harris said. "To be a quarterback that big and have the athletic ability he has -- he's 6-6, 235, runs a 4.33 -- you don't see that around too often. I think his size is something that sets him apart from a lot of people."
Pryor and Harris have become texting friends, introduced by Miami defensive tackle Marcus Forston, whom Pryor befriended at a high school all-star game. They most recently talked briefly three days ago, though Pryor didn't want to get too friendly this week.
"It's hard to talk when you're about to play," Pryor said. "I don't want any soft feelings in the back of my mind."
Both know what the other is going through and know what's at stake. Harris and Pryor are among the best quarterbacks in the country. Both will hold the game in their hands. But Harris doesn't have the size or speed to be Pryor. And even if he can throw the deep ball and has come a long way in his understanding of the game, Pryor realizes he doesn't have to sit in the pocket and try to be Harris.
The Indians go 16 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Angels. The end their West Coast trip with a 4-3 record.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Indians and Angels, two teams with nothing left to lose this season, played into the night Wednesday as if they had nowhere to go. In reality, they really didn't, except for the little matter of the Indians four-hour flight back to Cleveland.
The proceedings finally ended in the 16th inning when Jeff Mathis scored Torii Hunter on a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Angels a 4-3 victory over the Indians in the second longest game in the big leagues this season.
Hunter hit a leadoff inning double off Hector Ambriz, who was starting his fourth inning. Alberto Callaspo moved Hunter to third on a grounder to first and Mathis sent the fly ball to right.
The loss prevented the Indians first sweep in Anaheim since August of 1999. They went 4-3 on this West Coast trip.
The Indians out-hit the Angels, 14-6. They out-hit the Angels, 11-3, from the eighth through the 16th.
Ambriz (1-1), pitching in front of his hometown crowd, made his best appearance of the year. He allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings.
Hunter's double came on the 500th pitch of the game.
The win went to Matt Palmer (1-1), who pitched the final three innings.
Tribe reliever Justin Germano worked himself into trouble in the 11th by walking Bobby Abreu with one out. Hunter sent him to third with a single to right center. After an intentional walk to Callaspo to load the bases, Mathis tried to squeeze home the winning run, bunt bunted foul to catcher Lou Marson.
Germano completed his escape by striking out Erick Aybar.
The Indians put runners on second and third in the 11th, but couldn't score. They stranded 12 runners from the eighth through the 14th. In that same period, they out-hit the Angels, 11-2.
Michael Brantley kept the game going in the 10th by stealing the game-winning home run from Juan Rivera to start the inning. Brantley stretched over the fence to bring catch Rivera's drive.
The Angels put runners on second and third with two out in the ninth against Joe Smith. With Rivera batting, a Smith pitch got past Marson as Albert Callaspo tried to score from third. Marson recovered the ball and threw to Smith, who applied the tag at the plate for the third out.
In the 10th, the Indians left runners on second and third.
After missing a chance to tie or take the lead in the eighth, Jayson Nix pulled the Indians into a 3-3 tie with one out in the ninth. Nix blooped a pinch-hit single into left field to score pinch-runner Luis Valbuena from second.
Singles by Matt LaPorta and Jason Donald off closer Fernando Rodney put the inning in motion.
The Indians missed a great chance to tie or take the lead in the eighth. They loaded the bases on singles by Trevor Crowe and Michael Brantley and an intentional walk to Shin-Soo Choo after Asdrubal Cabrera advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
Jordan Brown pinch-hit for Shelley Duncan against Kevin Jepsen. Brown grounded a 2-1 pitch to first baseman Mike Napoli, who stepped on first for the second out and threw home. Crowe was caught in a rundown for the third out.
The Angels took a 3-1 lead off Josh Tomlin thanks to homers by Peter Bourjos and Mike Napoli hit homers.
Scott Kazmnir allowed one run on two hits in six innings. Kazmir entered the game with a 1-8 record in his last 10 starts, but the Indians barely mussed his hair.
The Angels, hitless through the first four innings, ambushed Tomlin with their power.
Bourjos started the sixth with a homer for a 3-1 lead. It was the eighth homer Tomlin has allowed in eight starts for the Tribe.
Napoli gave the Angels their first lead with a two-run homer in the fifth. Tomlin walked Torii Hunter to start the inning and Alberto Callaspo hit into a force play. It was Napoli's 23rd homer.
Andy Marte cut the Angels lead to 3-2 with a one-out homer off Jordan Walden in the seventh. Marte sent a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center for his fifth homer and first since Aug. 4.
The hit was Marte first of any in September. Before getting Wednesday's start at third, Marte was 0-3 in September.
Tomlin allowed three runs on 89 pitches. He struck out four and walked two. The loss ended his two-game winning streak.
Donald doubled and Crowe singled him home to give the Indians a 1-0 lead off Kazmir in the fifth. Donald's double, just his second hit of the trip, was the first hit of the game.
The Indians drew three walks against left Kazmir in the first two innings, but couldnt turn them into runs. Cabrera and Duncan walked in the first, but Matt LaPorta flied out to center field to end the inning.
Chris Gimenez drew a two-out walk in the second, but Crowe struck out. Brantley started the third by reaching base on an error, but Cabrera bounced into a double play.
Tomlin retired nine straight Angels through three inning. He struck out three. Choo made a nice sliding catch to rob Kevin Frndsen in the first. Crowe went into the gap in left center to retire Hunter to start the second.
If Shaq wants to go after a former teammate, Game 5 against Boston produced a pretty good target. Next up in the “Shaq Vs.” series: Shaq vs. his insecurities.
Pick the winner and the margin of victory for Saturday's Ohio State vs. Miami game.
Cleveland, Ohio -- Ohio State is No. 2; Miami is No. 12. The last time these two football powerhouses met, it was for a national championship. It took two overtimes, but the Buckeyes prevailed, 31-24, in what has been dubbed the greatest college game ever.Get your questions ready and talk Indians baseball with The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes in a live chat.
Jump in the chat room below and ask your Indians questions or just listen. Can't make the chat? An archive will be made available in mp3 format shortly after the chat's completion.
Shortly after Eric Mangini was named the coach of the Cleveland Browns, he traded Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay. Reporter Brian Dulik of The Medina County Gazette writes Mangini and Winslow never sat down for a meeting. They just parted ways, and Winslow says on Wednesday that he has moved on. “I’m having fun, and we’re riding with (Buccaneers coach) Raheem...
Shortly after Eric Mangini was named the coach of the Cleveland Browns, he traded Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay.
Reporter Brian Dulik of The Medina County Gazette writes Mangini and Winslow never sat down for a meeting. They just parted ways, and Winslow says on Wednesday that he has moved on.
“I’m having fun, and we’re riding with (Buccaneers coach) Raheem (Morris). We love him so much. He’s a leader of men. He has us right. Trust me.”
Sunday will the first meeting between the Browns and Tampa Bay since Winslow was traded prior to last season. Both sides are certainly looking forward to the game.
“No question, Kellen is going to be really fired up,” Browns safety Mike Adams said. “And I’m going to be fired up, as well, to see him out there. You know it will be a great battle because of the kind of competitor he is.”
Dulik writes how Winslow says he is relishing the chance to help Tampa Bay return to prominence. He even is embracing a subtle leadership role, which would have been unfathomable regardless of how long he stayed in Cleveland.
“You know this is year seven for me, I’m nowhere close to there yet,” a laughing Winslow said, acknowledging that he still has a ways to go. “Yeah, I am one of the older guys on the team and it is kind of weird, but man, we ride for Raheem. I’m just trying to do my part.”
Recovery
Nick Sorensen's helmet-to-helmet collision in the preseason game in Detroit was a reminder of the brutality of football. The hit left his body motionless. He was carted off the field.
Ohio.com's Stephanie Storm writes how Sorensen's wife, seven months pregnant, was at Ford Field in Detroit along with her in-laws.
In his first comments since the injury, Nick Sorensen shared Wednesday what he and his family went through during and after that game on Aug. 28.
''The doctors up in Detroit were awesome, and ours were good, too,'' said Sorensen, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder who signed with the Browns as a free agent in 2007. ''They phoned my wife right away. It was a smooth, informative thing.''
When his wife and parents arrived at the hospital, Sorensen was surprised.
''I was like, 'What are they doing here? You guys don't have to be here,' '' he said, not realizing the seriousness of the concussion he had suffered.
Offensive line
CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk wonders if the Cleveland Browns will ever get their offensive line situation right. Will the right side of the offensive line, a revolving door that has caused problems for the offense so often in the past, can stabilize.
Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas said it doesn’t matter whether Tony Pashos or John St. Clair plays right tackle, or whether Floyd Womack or rookie Shaun Lauvao plays right guard.
“We’re going to have a good starter, and we’re going to have quality depth,” Thomas said.
New England quarterback Tom Brady reportedly was unhurt in a rush-hour accident Thursday morning in Boston.
New England quarterback Tom Brady was involved in a car accident this morning in Boston, according to a report in USA Today.(Boston radio station WEEI/AM 850), with which Brady has a scheduled appearance each week, said Brady did not go to the hospital but was "shaken."The Boston Globe reported that Brady was still expected to arrive at Gillette Stadium this morning.
The Patriots host the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener on Sunday.
Boston police confirmed to the Globe that one person was removed from a car via the Jaws of life and then taken to a hospital. One car hit a pole, which then fell.
Police first learned of the accident at 6:34 a.m. today, the paper said.
Boston television station WHDH.com has a video of the scene. Click here to see it.
We'll pick the best questions to ask Doug during this morning's SBTV show.
The showdown between Miami and Ohio State is only two days away. Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer's Ohio State beat writer, will be the guest on this morning's edition of Starting Blocks TV. He has a story posted this morning comparing the styles of play of OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Miami QB Jacory Harris. And he has a short story about the relationship between Pryor and LeBron James, who plans to attend Saturday's game.
Have a question about the matchup or anything related to the Buckeyes and Hurricanes? Ask it in the comments below and we'll select the best ones for this morning's show.
Glenville's controversial victory over Florida's Dwyer High School remains in the news, not only because of two disputed calls late in the game, but now because of Dwyer tight end Nick O'Leary. Following the game, O'Leary, the grandson of golf great Jack Nicklaus, responded with an obscene gesture that was caught on camera and replayed continually on TV and...
Glenville's controversial victory over Florida's Dwyer High School remains in the news, not only because of two disputed calls late in the game, but now because of Dwyer tight end Nick O'Leary.
Following the game, O'Leary, the grandson of golf great Jack Nicklaus, responded with an obscene gesture that was caught on camera and replayed continually on TV and the Internet.
The Florida High School Athletic Association took action against O'Leary, writes reporter Matt Porter of The Palm Beach Post. O'Leary was suspended for two games. Dwyer coach Jack Daniels said his team will not play without O'Leary and would instead forfeit the games.
"We think it's a bunch of crap," said Daniels. "There are no repercussions for the adults who made the calls on the field, but there is for an 18-year-old kid who reacted in the heat of the moment.
"You have a kid who has busted his butt since August. He played 140 snaps against Glenville, on both sides, punting and returning kicks. He was frustrated."
Injury to Shawn Lauvao forces insurance move.
BEREA -- The Browns re-signed guard-center Billy Yates and waived linebacker Titus Brown.
The move was made as insurance for the offensive line because right guard Shawn Lauvao suffered a twisted ankle at Wednesday's practice, coach Eric Mangini said.
Lauvao will miss today's practice, Mangini said. He will be replaced today by veteran Floyd Womack, who is competing again after missing the preseason following a procedure on his knee.
Mangini said that veteran John St. Clair also would take some snaps at right guard. St. Clair missed the final weeks of the preseason because of undisclosed personal reasons.
