Agnew started every game this season. He had two carries for 2 yards and had two catches.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns waived fullback Ray Agnew on Monday morning and moved fullback Kiero Small to the active roster from the practice squad. General manager Ray Farmer made the announcement.

Agnew started all six games this season and recorded two carries for 2 yards. He also had two catches for 15 yards.

Small is a 5-9, 242-pound rookie out of Arkansas. He was originally drafted by Seattle in the seventh round and has spent the first seven weeks of the season on the Browns' practice squad. Small appeared in 26 games during his two years at Arkansas, where he was moved to fullback after playing linebacker at Hartnell Community College. The Baltimore native is a graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School.

The band's halftime show, titled "Classic Rock," had a playlist of favorites matched with several scenes of the on-field animation that has become a trademark of 'The Best Damn Band in the Land.'

Frankenstein walked down the field Saturday in Ohio Stadium during the OSU Marching Band's halftime show.Robert Higgs, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Frankenstein walked the field Saturday in Ohio Stadium as the Ohio State University Marching Band paid tribute to some rock-and-roll classics.

The band's halftime show, titled "Classic Rock," matched a playlist of favorites with the on-field animation that has become a trademark of "The Best Damn Band in the Land."

Among then highlights: A drummer playing a drum set to the Scorpion's "Rock You Like a Hurricane," a guitar player jamming to the music during the Rolling Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and a sideline-to-sideline Frankenstein that walked 40-yards down the field to the Edgar Winter Group's song of that name.

The show closed with "the incomparable" Script Ohio, a double script performed for both east and west sidelines.

Where'd the idea come from?

The theme for the show grew out of planning sessions in the spring with a student show-planning committee, said Associate Director Christopher Hoch.

From that meeting, a number of potential songs were forwarded to Steve Pfaffman, a member of the band in the '70s who has done musical arrangements for two and a half decades.

Pfaffman worked with Hoch, who came up with the on-field drills, to match the music to choreography.

How does the band do that animation?

Early in the week, the show music is recorded during rehearsal. That music is played back on the practice field as band members begin learning the formations. Later in the week, as the drills and music are learned, the band members play the songs.

The drills are designed with the help of computer programming, and drill sheets for the formations are distributed via iPad to each member of the band.

Each day the band reviews video of the previous day's practice that was shot from the top of a dormitory adjacent to its practice field. That allows for critiquing, with attention to specific parts of the show that need work.

Ultimately, the band members have to translate that to on-field movement, with each hitting their spots on the field, Hoch said.

What was the hardest part of the show?

The animated scene of the guitarist smashing his guitar on stage during Kiss' "Rock and Roll All Night" was a challenge for those marchers who formed the outer edges of the guitar.

"They're taking a step size that is not normally what we'd ask them to do," Hoch said.

As the guitar swings down, the band members at the outer edge of the formation had to take giant steps to swing their end of the guitar down while maintaining the guitar's shape.

San Francisco Giants have edge in manager, pitching and experience and that will help them to defeat the Kansas City Royals in six games in the World Series.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The San Francisco Giants have the best manager, a better rotation than the Kansas City Royals and more postseason experience.  That's why they'll win the World Series.

That's not to suggest the Royals are charmed pretenders or that what they've accomplished in an undefeated postseason is the product of a magician waving a pine-tarred wand (that's the obligatory George Brett reference that must accompany every story on the Royals).

They have speed, fly paper in their gloves and a killer bullpen. But I buy Giants' manager Bruce Bochy's line when he said of his team, "You just can't kill cockroaches. They keep coming back."

I know. I know. Bochy could just as easily been talking about the Royals, who won the wild-card game in improbable fashion, then decided they wouldn't lose again. SI points out they've trailed a total of 2 1/2 innings in the postseason.

The Royals are younger and more athletic. The Giants are mudders by comparison.

It's been five years since teams that squared off in the World Series met during the regular season. If it means anything to you, the Royals swept the Giants in a three-game series in Kansas City in August, beating Madison Bumgarner, Tim Hudson and Tim Lincecum.

The Royals were on a hot streak then, as they are now. Or were. The image you have of Kansas City is the gambler on a roll at the casino who gets a visit from The Cooler. The days off between the sweep of Baltimore in the ALCS and Tuesday's World Series figures to affect KC more than San Francisco.

The other advantage comes when the series shifts to San Francisco for Games 3, 4 and (if necessary) 5 when KC's Billy Butler becomes a man without a position.

At some point baseball will get rid of the crazy DH-no DH in the World Series. Until then, KC benefits from the even crazier notion that the All-Star game winner gets home-field in the Series.

Just not enough to kill off the Giants. San Francisco in six.

"The visit to Ohio State went really well," Cupp said. "I talked to Coach Warinner, got to meet some other recruits and I saw the different pregame traditions. I got to be in the locker room for the post game and talked to the linemen.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Whether or not Gavin Cupp ends up at Ohio State is probably going to be Ohio State's choice. That's why Urban Meyer is spending his time wisely in recruiting the 2016 offensive lineman from Leipsic, Ohio. 

Cupp was in Columbus for Ohio State's 56-17 win over Rutgers on Saturday, and he spent time with Buckeyes offensive line coach Ed Warinner. 

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound prospect doesn't have an offer. But if he did, it would be very tough for another school to beat the Buckeyes out. 

"It would be hard not to commit immediately," Cupp told cleveland.com when asked if he would commit to the Buckeyes with an offer. "But I'm trying to keep an open mind. Ultimately, I want to be at school like Ohio State with great tradition and fan base." 

While Cupp works to earn an offer from Ohio State, he's starting to gain interest from other top programs. He has an offer from West Virginia, and he's hearing a lot from Michigan State and Notre Dame. 

Cupp plans to make a return visit to Ohio State for the Buckeyes' home night game vs. Illinois on Nov. 1. He's also taking visits West Virginia and Notre Dame later that month. 

But as he continues to progress through his junior season, Cupp is hoping to prove he's worthy of an Ohio State offer. Warinner said one could be on its way, but the Buckeyes won't decide whether to offer until after the season. 

Cupp is willing to wait it out after another positive visit to Columbus. 

"The visit to Ohio State went really well," Cupp said. "I talked to Coach Warinner, got to meet some other recruits and I saw the different pregame traditions. I got to be in the locker room for the post game and talked to the linemen. 

"My favorite part of the day was getting to do 'Carmen Ohio' with the team. Growing up a Buckeye fan, I always watched that, so it was really cool to actually do that."

As for an offer? 

"I want an offer really bad and it would mean a lot to me," Cupp said. "Always growing up an Ohio State fan like many Ohio kids, it would be awesome to have that opportunity." 

Ohio State and Ohio prospects. 

That's the name of the game. 

Take a look at six top storylines playing out during this year's OHSAA boys soccer district tournaments.

Take a look at six top storylines playing out during this year's OHSAA boys soccer district tournaments.

Michigan State is at No. 8, fifth among one-loss teams.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- To truly simulate the College Football Playoff selection committee, which was one of our goals of doing this, I'm going to have knee surgery and remove myself from our voting.

Everyone cool with that? While I double-check if that's allowed, let's examine what this week's poll tells us.

The SEC is in good shape.

For the first time this season, a one-loss team is in our 'First Four Poll' for the College Football Playoff, and it's an SEC team. With losses by undefeated Notre Dame and Baylor last week, one-loss Alabama now holds down our No. 4 spot, ahead of fellow one-lossers Auburn, Oregon, Notre Dame and Michigan State.

We're going to have more shuffling, especially since the SEC West contains four of our top five, with No. 1 Mississippi State and No. 3 Ole Miss as well as Alabama and Auburn. So things will change.

But this is like the early laps of an auto race, and positioning matter. The positioning at the moment? Two one-loss teams from the SEC, independent one-loss Notre Dame and one-loss Pac-12 member Oregon are ahead of Michigan State, the highest one-loss Big Ten.

And Big 12 teams, TCU, Kansas State and Baylor are all ahead of Ohio State, the second Big Ten team, right now.

The positioning continues. And the SEC seems to be in very good shape to get two teams in the playoff.

Here's my top 10:

1. Mississippi State
2. Florida State
3. Ole Miss
4. Notre Dame 
5. Arizona
6. Oregon
7. Auburn
8. Baylor
9. TCU
10. Alabama

And here's the rest of top 25, which stands as my full AP ballot this week.

11. Michigan State
12. Kansas State
13. Ohio State
14. Arizona State
15. Georgia
16. Nebraska
17. Marshall
18. USC
19. Minnesota
20. Utah
21. East Carolina
22. Oklahoma
23. West Virginia
24. Duke
25. Clemson

About the First Four Poll: Each week during the college football season, our committee of 13 national experts will rank the teams competing for a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. These rankings will provide a look at how the contenders for the four playoff berths stack up in advance of the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings on Oct. 28 and provide an alternative perspective to those official rankings thereafter.

About the voters: We've assembled a baker's dozen of top college sports writers from coast to coast. They are: Nick Baumgardner, MLive.com; Ken Goe, The Oregonian; David Jones, PennLive.com; Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune; Gary Laney, Advance Digital National Desk; Tom Layberger, Advance Digital National Desk; Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group; Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com; Kevin Scarbinsky, Alabama Media Group; Keith Sargeant, NJ.com; Patrick Stevens, Syracuse.com; Jim Waggoner, Staten Island Advance; Brad Wilson, lehighvalleylive.com/The Express-Times.

======

The First Four

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen will have to take his team on the road for big wins the rest of the year, including Saturday at Kentucky. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

1. Mississippi State (129 points), 6-0

Previous rank: No. 1

Last week: bye. This week: at Kentucky.

Projected playoff position: vs. Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Being idle didn't help or hurt the Bulldogs. Perception of their biggest win, over Auburn, remains the same. The win over Texas A&M has been diminished by the Aggies' continued poor play since, but the win at LSU looks better after the Tigers completely dominated Kentucky, 41-3. Mississippi State's eventual fate will be settled on the road. Playing at Kentucky is a start, and perhaps how the Bulldogs perform there will give us a preview of how they'll compete at Alabama and Ole Miss down the road.

Voters' take:

"The only downside to Mississippi State being off this week is that the rest of the top 10 is finally getting a resume that's as good as theirs. Almost. Can we fast forward to when they play Ole Miss to end the season?" -- Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com

Notre Dame lineman Jarron Jones, right, chases Florida State quarterback Jameis Winson during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. Florida State defeated Notre Dame 31-27. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)

2. Florida State (113), 7-0

Previous rank: No. 2

Last week: def. Notre Dame, 31-27. This week: bye.

Projected playoff position: vs. Ole Miss in the Rose Bowl.

These aren't the 2013 Seminoles. This year, FSU struggles and survives, holding off a last-ditch drive late to beat the Fighting Irish. FSU has been a distracted, sometimes sloppy team with the off-field issues that surround Jameis Winston, but FSU, which may not play another ranked team in the weak ACC, keeps finding ways to win.

Voters' take:

"I've been see-sawing between Mississippi State and Florida State the past two weeks at No. 1, and this week the nod goes to the Seminoles for their win over Notre Dame. Twenty-three straight wins is quite impressive" -- Keith Sargeant, NJ.com

"Florida State once again finds a way to win against a quality foe. But the Seminoles needed an assist from the officials this time, and while I thought the call that reversed the Notre Dame touchdown was correct, it just reinforces the idea that FSU isn't the No. 1 team." -- Brad Wilson, The Express-Times/lehighvalleylive.com

Mississippi defensive back Senquez Golson (21) runs with an interception of a Tennessee pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. No. 3 Mississippi won 34-3. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

3. Ole Miss (106), 7-0

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: def. Tennessee, 34-3. This week: at LSU.

Projected playoff position: vs. Florida State in the Rose Bowl.

The Rebels took care of business in a 34-3 rout of Tennessee and now they start a two-week gauntlet. No. 24 LSU looks much better than when Auburn blew the Tigers out in Baton Rouge Oct. 4. Then, the Rebels host Auburn the next week. If Ole Miss gets by these two games, the Rebels should have pretty clear sailing until the Egg Bowl. The Rebels' biggest advantage? LSU is likely the toughest road test Ole Miss will face the rest of the way.

Voters' take:

"I'm unimpressed with Mississippi's schedule to date. The Rebels three non-conference victories all have been at home or at a neutral site, and over mid-majors. Their single signature victory, over Alabama, also was at home. Their other conference victories over Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Tennessee are over teams outside the Top 25. Notre Dame's narrow loss at Florida State is more impressive." -- Ken Goe, The Oregonian

"I imagine Ole Miss' defense as some sort of college football boogie man, that Pop Warner coaches tell scary stories about, like the Landsharks are gonna come get them if they don't study their playbook. That team is legit." -- Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com

Alabama head coach Nick Saban steps onto the field before the game against Texas A&M during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct, 18, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

4. Alabama (77), 6-1

Previous rank: No. 7

Last week: def. Texas A&M, 59-0. This week: at Tennessee.

Projected playoff position: vs. Mississippi State in the Sugar Bowl.

As soon as you are ready to doubt the Crimson Tide after a loss to Ole Miss followed by a surprisingly close 14-13 win over Arkansas, 'Bama comes out and displays the full force of its enormous talent in a 59-0 blowout of Texas A&M. To make the weekend even better, West Virginia, the team Alabama beat to start the season, upset Baylor and became a ranked team, giving the Crimson Tide another quality win. Alabama, Notre Dame and Auburn are the only three one-loss teams that can claim their only loss is to an undefeated team.

Voters' take:

"Alabama is clearly the best one-loss team and I think they've gotten their issues sorted out. On a neutral field they could beat any of the three ranked above and have that luxury of having lost early with a favorable home schedule." -- Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune

"...We're down to finding the best one-loss team for the fourth playoff spot. As so many things do, this one comes down to Alabama and Auburn. The schedule favors Auburn, but the eye test gives the nod to Alabama. The Crimson Tide scored on its first eight drives against Texas A&M -- the last seven scores were touchdowns -- and the Aggies didn't cross midfield on any of their first eight possessions. If the eye test matters, and it should, that's what a playoff team looks like." -- Kevin Scarbinsky, Alabama Media Group

======

The Next Four

5. Auburn (71), 5-1

Previous rank: No. 6

Last week: bye. This week: vs. South Carolina.

Even sitting home in southeast Alabama, the Tigers came out of the weekend looking better than before. Kansas State's 31-30 win at Oklahoma reflects well on the Tigers, given Auburn's road win at Kansas State early in the year. It's the kind of quality win that should have Auburn well in the playoff conversation even if they don't win the SEC West. Auburn is one of three one-loss teams whose only defeat has been to an undefeated team.

6. Oregon (57), 6-1

Previous rank: No. 8

Last week: def. Washington, 45-20. This week: at California (Friday).

The issues that were plaguing the Ducks when they lost to Arizona seem to be behind them. Oregon is playing better defense and what had been a porous offensive line is protecting, and opening holes for, quarterback Marcus Mariota. Get by Cal and the Ducks face nemesis Stanford, which has not been as strong as in recent years. But if the Cardinal isn't as strong as normal, Oregon may still be challenged Nov. 8 by Utah, which plays a physical style of defense similar to Stanford's.

7. Notre Dame (56), 6-1

Previous rank: No. 5

Last week: lost to Florida State, 31-27. This week: bye.

How much credit do you get for a "good" loss? The Irish have to hope that it's a lot. While it was impressive in coming within an offensive pass interference call of beating Florida State on the road, Notre Dame's total body of work otherwise has been taking hits. The 31-0 rout of Michigan has been diminished by the Wolverines' subsequent slide. The rally over Stanford has been dampened by the Cardinals' other losses, most recently to Arizona State Saturday. The Irish have a great loss, but will they have big wins at the end?

8. Michigan State (29), 6-1

Previous rank: NR

Last week: def. Indiana, 56-17. This week: vs. Michigan.

The focus of the schedule is Nov. 8, when Sparty takes on Ohio State, likely for the Big Ten's claim at a playoff spot. The question is, are there going to be enough quality wins to go with a good loss to Oregon? Nebraska is the only ranked opponent to lose to MSU so far and this is the rare year one can't count Michigan as a quality win.

======

The Rest

Dropped out: No. 4 Baylor

Others receiving votes: Georgia (24), TCU (15), Arizona (13), Kansas State (12), Baylor (8), Marshall (4), Ohio State (1)

Urban Meyer's message to the offensive line since that loss in week two has been that every defensive line they've faced hasn't been as good as Virginia Tech's. Rutgers was supposed to be the best test yet. Meyer indicated that Penn State's defensive front might be closer to Virginia Tech's than Rutgers' was. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Give Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker credit for not throwing his hands up in frustration after getting asked the question again.

It seems that after every one of the Buckeyes' wins during this four-game display of offensive prowess, the topic comes up: So, Ohio State Player X, how much do you wish you had that game against Virginia Tech back?

No pointing fingers here, I've asked the question myself. But let's take a page out of Decker's book.

"I know we'll never get that back," Decker said after No. 13 Ohio State ran roughshod over another opponent in its 56-17 win over Rutgers on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

When it comes to the Buckeyes' offensive line, let's not make the question, "Do you want that game against Virginia Tech back?" Let's change it to, "How much has the offensive line improved from that game?"

Because in the eyes of Urban Meyer, Ohio State's offensive line still has a lot to give. Three straight games of at least 500 yards and 50 points weren't enough for Meyer to throw praise on the offensive line during his radio show last week.

Meyer's message to the line since that loss in week two has been that every defensive line they've faced hasn't been as good as Virginia Tech's.

Rutgers was supposed to be the best test yet. Against the Scarlet Knights, Ohio State had 585 yards of total offense, 324 of that on the ground. Quarterback J.T. Barrett wasn't sacked, and was hurried just once.

Not good enough.

"The last two weeks, we haven't played as good offensively up front as we expect," Meyer said Monday. "That will really surface this week. We have to play better on the offensive line than we did Saturday."

The Buckeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) travel to Penn State on Saturday night. The Nittany Lions (4-2, 1-2) have struggled more than their record shows, but Meyer indicated their defensive front might be closer to Virginia Tech's than Rutgers' was.

Penn State is No. 1 in the nation in rushing defense, and No. 6 in the nation in scoring defense. Those numbers have come against such offensive juggernauts as Central Florida (123rd in total offense), Akron (83rd), Rutgers (66th), UMass (54th), Northwestern (109th) and Michigan (113th).

Maybe Meyer will be more eager to throw praise on the Ohio State offensive line if the Buckeyes leave Happy Valley with a fifth-straight win, keep the offense rolling and keep Barrett clean.

It's more likely he sticks with his show-me-more mantra.

That's fine with the offensive line.

"You just gotta keep playing like we are and get better" guard Pat Elflein said after the Rutgers' game. "We're an offensive-line driven team. We have to play to that standard, carrying this team, keep playing well, putting points on the board. Keep getting better and never be satisfied."

Despite Meyer's desire for more, this group is starting to come into its own.

After some shuffle and questions of if the Buckeyes had the right mix up front, the offensive line has paved the way for this prolific offense. But they're nowhere near what Meyer expects.

He expects what the Buckeyes had last year.

Ohio State's offensive line looked like world beaters for much of last season. Two members of that senior-laden group are now starting in the NFL. How does this year's line compare?

"I don't want to compare them to last year's group," offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. "This group has it's own personalities, it's own strengths. It's a good group of guys."

A group that's seemingly feeding off the pressure Meyer is putting on them when he says to take their success in stride, because maybe the competition hasn't been that good.

"They are starting to play with a chip on their shoulder because going into it there were a lot of people around here who questioned how good they could be," Warinner said. "They heard that noise. The goal on this team is to be nine units strong, so you don't want to be that unit that gets picked on."

They were the unit that got picked on against Virginia Tech.

Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster found a chink in the armor and exposed it time and again. Others have tried what Virginia Tech did and failed. More will try as the season wears on.

Penn State has had an extra week to prepare for Saturday's game, and they'll be looking to show the Buckeyes' offensive line something they haven't seen before.

Good luck trying to throw this group off its game, because even if they'll never get that game against Virginia Tech back, they'll never forget it.

"That game is always gonna hurt and I think that's motivating people," Decker said. "I know every game that motivates me. I think we're a more talented team than them. It was humbling. It's motivation, and it's kinda spurred the type of preparation and starts we've had."

Buchinsky just wrapped up her senior tennis season at Laurel.

Buchinsky just wrapped up her senior tennis season at Laurel.

Talk Cleveland sports with Terry Pluto today at 10 a.m.

View full sizeTerry Pluto talks Cleveland sports at 10 a.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at 10 a.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

Pluto will talk with cleveland.com's Chris Fedor about the Browns' loss against the Jaguars, whether the Browns' issues in the game against Jacksonville are correctable and the Cavs getting set to open the regular season in a little more than a week. 

You can jump in the comments section below and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Pluto's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.

Best has been one of the big reasons for Bay football's turnaround season.

Best has been one of the big reasons for Bay football's turnaround season.

Hudson and Mentor will face each other on Thursday.

Hudson and Mentor will face each other on Thursday.

Orange girls tennis team won the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Division II state team championship.

Orange girls tennis team won the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Division II state team championship.

Orange football player Chris Von Hendrix performs every Friday night, including the halftime show with the marching band.

Orange football player Chris Von Hendrix performs every Friday night, including the halftime show with the marching band.

Leave your questions about Ohio State football. Doug, Ari and Bill will answer them during our live Ohio State, Big Ten football show today at 12:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State has won four games in a row in convincing fashion, and the Buckeyes remain just outside of the top 10 in both polls with one week until the first College Football Playoff rankings come out.

What questions do you have about the Buckeyes? We'll get to those and more during our Ohio State, Big Ten football show today at 12:30 p.m. Check back to this post later for the video player.

If you have questions or comments about the Buckeyes or the Big Ten, leave them in the comments section below.

Our Ohio State team of Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis will break down all things Buckeyes and Big Ten on our weekly live show.

Ohio State (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) hits the road this weekend for a Saturday night game against Penn State (4-2, 1-2) in Beaver Stadium.

The Buckeyes are coming off another lopsided win after Saturday's 56-17 win over Rutgers. Penn State, which lost at Michigan two weeks ago, is coming off its second bye in three weeks.

Ohio State beat Penn State 63-14 last season in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes will be looking for their fifth straight game of 50 points or more on Saturday, but could be in for their toughest offensive test since week two.

Penn State has the No. 6 scoring defense in the country, but the Nittany Lions have struggled on offense. The Lions have the worst rushing offense in the Big Ten, and average just over 375 yards of total offense per game.

Avon tennis players Madison Nakon and Madisyn Rini make up the first doubles team in school history to qualify for the state tournament.

Avon tennis players Madison Nakon and Madisyn Rini make up the first doubles team in school history to qualify for the state tournament.

The Cleveland Browns are still auditioning for Ben Tate's top sidekick and it's costing them in the running game -- Bud Shaw's Spinoffs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Because there's always something to spin in Cleveland sports...

• Terrance West says the Jaguars wanted it more than the Browns Sunday.

"We looked like the 0-6 team and they looked like the 3-2 team," West said.

Head coach Mike Pettine said of West's comments, "That's difficult to hear when you have guys say that afterwards."

Not sure a rookie should be speaking for a locker room full of veterans.

Even if what he says is probably right.

But especially when he dances his way out of a first down in a critical situation.

We know one thing about Kyle Shanahan's zone blocking running scheme. It requires the running back to make one cut.

Not cut the rug.

• West went from benched in the Pittsburgh game to second man in behind Ben Tate against Jacksonville. That seems like a unnecessary promotion until you remember Isaiah Crowell's fumbles against the Steelers.

It reminds you how young the Browns are at the position behind Tate. And exactly why Tate seemed so dismissive of the notion that he could lose the job to one of them in training camp.

• You know the only guy who thinks a three-back platoon isn't one too many in the Browns' backfield? The third back in the rotation.

• An ESPN story asks, "Is Kobe Bryant the reason for the Los Angeles Lakers' downfall?"

The story is rife with anonymous agents killing Bryant as the reason free agents won't sign with the Lakers. The premise is players are no longer sufficiently attracted to his talent to abide his out-sized ego and abrasive personality.

"It's horrendous," one source described as a "rival executive" said. "It's evil ... Kobe has cost the Lakers dearly in human capital."

Almost as horrendous and evil as attacking someone anonymously.

• Tampa Bucs' head coach Lovie Smith is denying reports that his 1-6 team is looking to unload talent. Smith said the Bucs are "not shopping any of our players."

What a blow to the contenders around the league who must now try to win a Super Bowl without former Buccaneers on the roster.

• Joseph Randle, the Cowboys' running back who was arrested for shoplifting underwear and cologne, got an endorsement deal with MeUndies.

As part of the deal, he will donate $15,000 worth of underwear to needy kids and make public appearances telling kids to learn from their mistakes.

The head of MeUndies marketing who launched the endorsement deal is named Dan King.

Somehow I feel the need to say he's no relation to Don King.

• I also feel the sudden urge to rob a bank or steal a Mercedes.

• When Peyton Manning broke Brett Favre's NFL record for career TD passes Sunday night, his teammates played keep-away with the game ball.

Because it was a Manning production, the keep-away game was staged and practiced during the week.

The only surprise was that everyone involved wasn't humming the Nationwide jingle.

• Former Browns' quarterback Colt McCoy came off the bench to throw a 70-yard TD pass in Washington's win Sunday. He will start Washington's next game in place of the benched Kirk Cousins, provided Robert Griffin III isn't ready to play.

It would be good to see McCoy get another chance after his tribulations here.

But I just realized while typing "former Browns' quarterback" that those three words have been the No. 1 cause of my carpal tunnel syndrome over the years.

• Banished wide receiver Percy Harvin, let go by the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, says his new team, the New York Jets, has told him to be himself.

I think they also told Santonio Holmes that. So things should work out just as well.

• Harvin actually tried to meet with Jets' management and head coach Rex Ryan to explain some of the problems he had fitting in with the Seahawks.

"The coaching staff, the management, on to the owner, they're not worried about (my past)," Harvin told reporters after his first practice. "I even tried to explain a couple of things. They told me to be quiet and not to worry about it. It's been all smiles here."

You know the slogan: "New York Jets: Where Due Diligence is just a cliché."

• If you're on a 1-6 team and it's "all smiles," that might be part of its problem.

• Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher cut short an interview with AL.com after he was asked if he thought his reputation took some hits by defending Seminoles' quarterback Jameis Winston.

"Why is my reputation taking a hit?," Fisher said. "For backing a kid's who's done nothing wrong?"

I'm pretty sure it's for pretending Winston's done nothing wrong.

• The Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls, 107-98, in Columbus Monday despite Kevin Love shooting 2-for-10.

The knee jerk is to predict the Cavs will win a lot of games 115-105 with Love playing well this season.

But not so fast.

More like 125-115.

• Cavs' coach David Blatt watched Derrick Rose dominate and said, "I don't know what to do with that guy."

Other than wait a year and have LeBron recruit him.

For more Bud Shaw, read You Said It.

Terry Pluto talked Browns and Cavaliers in a live chat on cleveland.com earlier today.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What happened to the Browns against the Jaguars? Are the issues correctable? How many more poor games can Brian Hoyer afford before the team turns to Johnny Manziel?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered that question and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

Among other topics discussed:

• The growth of Kyrie Irving.

• Which player aside from the Cavs' Big Three will benefit the most from the new offense?

• Would the Indians be willing to trade Francisco Lindor?

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

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

LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love played as a unit against just one NBA team this preseason.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The preseason for the Big Three ended Monday night.

It was all of 32 minutes long -- which is about how much LeBron James played in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 107-98 win over the Chicago Bulls.

When the ball went in the air for the opening tip, James and fellow all-stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were on the floor together for the first time against an NBA team this preseason (Maccabi Tel Aviv on Oct. 5 doesn't count).

James, having put up his hand in a sign to Cavaliers coach David Blatt to get him out of the game with 6:29 to go, left to a standing ovation from the 19,049 in sold-out Value City Arena on Ohio State's campus.

James is a Buckeyes fan who has his own locker in the school's men's basketball locker room, stood back from the sideline to wave in acknowledgement. He might as well have been waving good-bye to any more minutes for him, Love, and Irving to play together before the games count on Oct. 30.

James emphatically declared himself out for Cleveland's preseason finale Wednesday in Memphis. The preseason thus ends successfully for James, save for one area: time spent with Love and Irving, who together are supposed to help James make the Cavaliers the East's best team.

"We're not a Big Three, we're a team," James said afterwards. "We're a Big Fifteen."

This was it for the Cavaliers' Big Three because, well, James doesn't want to play in Memphis.

At 29 and entering his 12^th pro season, James has made it through these first six practice games healthy and is feeling good about the shape his body and his team is in. Why risk it?

In his last preseason game, James finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. It was the first time he played into the fourth quarter this month. He ends the preseason having averaged 15 points in his five games. 

Irving had a team-high 28 points. Love added just nine points but 13 rebounds. Anderson Varejao – not a Big Three member – chipped in 22 points and eight boards. Hence James' declaration that the Cavaliers are more than just three players deep.

"Tonight is a good example of what we can do," James said.

James tried to nip the Big Three talk, recognizing how Varejao, or Dion Waiters, or Shawn Marion feels about his role on the team is just as important as Cleveland's three stars.

But more or less, the issue is that James, Irving, and Love are stars, and stars playing together for the first time need to figure out how their considerable skills mesh in a team setting.

That hasn't happened yet.

An injury to Irving, an injury prevention program for James, and just a night off for Love prevented the three of them from playing together more. It's probably why, on Friday morning before a preseason loss to Dallas, Blatt suggested the three of them would play against the Bulls and in Memphis.

That all changed when James announced Friday night, after the Dallas game, that he planned to sit against the Grizzlies.

"I want my guys coming healthy and happy," Blatt said Monday. "And if LeBron needs to sit another game, he'll sit another game. That's the priority."

Love said Monday night what is obvious – that the cohesion is "going to take a while." He said there were "some offensive juggernauts" on the floor, and that included Derrick Rose, who ran up 30 points and pumped more pace into a game than is common in the preseason.

Blatt, assessing where the Cavaliers stand through six preseason games – five of them won by his team, one to go without his best player -- that he thinks the Cavaliers have "done a pretty decent job putting this together.

"Remember, we're a new team. We're a good team, in terms of the pieces that we have. We're a new group," he said.

The broader picture here is that no matter how many minutes James, Irving, and Love logged together this preseason, they would still need time to mesh during the regular season.

What's that look like? Ask James, whose first year with a previous Big Three in Miami started with a 9-8 record.

The Cavaliers appear on paper to be deeper than that 2010-11 Heat team that struggled at the beginning but reached the Finals. Nine wins and eight losses in 17 games is not something even being whispered around Cleveland.

But there will be some growing pains. Not just for the Big Three, but for the "big fifteen."

"Are we ready for the (season opener), not right now," James said. "We will be. We will be as ready as any team is ready for the first game of the season. At the first game of the season, you're not ready to win the championship then."

See 136 football helmets then vote for which local high school dons the best lid. Hurry, voting to determine which 25 helmets move to the second round ends today at noon.

See 136 football helmets then vote for which local high school dons the best lid. Hurry, voting to determine which 25 helmets move to the second round ends today at noon.

Take a ride with Mentor football coach Steve Trivisonno and get his thoughts on Woody Hayes, Johnny Manziel and some of his favorite things.

Take a ride with Mentor football coach Steve Trivisonno and get his thoughts on Woody Hayes, Johnny Manziel and some of his favorite things.