Lake Erie Monsters knock off Toronto Marlies on Sunday, 4-1.

TORONTO, Ontario — The Lake Erie Monsters scored three goals in the third period to break open a close game and claim a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Sunday in Ricoh Coliseum.

The victory was the Monsters second in three weekend games and raised their record to 7-8-2-2.

One night after being out-shot 45-22 in an overtime loss to Hamilton, the Monsters came out strong Sunday and out-shot the Marlies, 37-29, including 16-10 in the final period.

Michael Schumacher, Sam Henley and Kenny Ryan scored for the Monsters in the third period. Schumacher's was a short-handed goal and Ryan scored on an empty net.

Karl Stollery scored the Monsters first goal on a power play in the second period to tie the score at 1-1.

Rookie Roman Will started in goal for the Monsters and had 28 saves, blanking the Marlies after allowing a goal by Brad Ross at 5:19 of the first period, to record his first AHL victory.

The Monsters return to Quicken Loans Arena to host the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday and Friday.

Notes: The Monsters are 1-0-0-0 against Toronto this season... Schumacher has goals in back-to-back games, and became the fifth Monster to score a shorthanded goal this season... Troy Bourke's assist extends his point streak to three games... With an assist, Joey Hishon has five points over his last five games... The Monsters are 3-5-1-1 on the road this season.

Watch Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed as they analyze the Cleveland Browns 26-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Also watch reaction from Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel and Mike Pettine after the game. Watch video

ORCHARD PARK, NY --  Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, who hoped to bounce back from his disappointing game last week against the Falcons, was benched early in the fourth quarter in favor of Johnny Manziel. 

Manziel came in and added the spark head Coach Mike Pettine had hoped for.  In his first series, Manziel led the team on an 80-yard drive ending with him driving into the end zone for the Browns only touchdown.

Hoyer has now gone nine straight quarters without throwing a touchdown pass and six infections in the last three games.  Against Buffalo, he completed 18-of-30 attempts for 192 yards with two interception and a 51.0 rating. 

Manziel went 5-of-8 for 63 yards with no touchdowns or picks and a 87.0 rating.

Pettine said that the coaches will get together and decide who will start against the Colts. "We'll look at the tape," he said.  "We'll have more on Wednesday.  We're not going to overreact."

The big blow for the Browns came in the third quarter when running back Terrance West fumbled the ball on the Bills 18 and defensive lineman Jerry Hughes returned it for a touchdown.  It was the second TD for the Bills in a span of 10-seconds.

"The West fumble changed everything. It's inexcusable," said Pettine.

The Browns (7-5) slipped into a three-way tie for second place with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.  The Bengals lead the division at 8-3-1.

The Browns next play the Indianapolis Colt Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The big question: Who will be the starting quarterback?

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Facebook page: CLEvideos

According to police, Karageorge died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the gun was found in the dumpster. Karageorge, 22, wrestled for three seasons at Ohio State before walking on the football team this season. He was reported missing Wednesday morning. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The body of missing Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge was found Sunday in a dumpster behind his residence, Columbus police said, a block from the High Street business district and just south of Ohio State's campus.

According to police, preliminary indications are that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and handgun was found in the dumpster.

Karageorge hadn't been seen since leaving his Columbus apartment early Wednesday morning, around 2 a.m. The site where police found his body is about a mile and half from Ohio Stadium, where Karageorge was scheduled to be part of Senior Day festivities on Saturday before the win over Michigan.

It is also about one block from the gray townhome where Karageorge lived with his roommates, a black Ohio State flag on the back porch. A gleaming block-long Kroger is around the corner from the residential area, while fliers asking for help in finding Karageorge still hung in area businesses.

View full sizeThe site in Columbus where police were investigating is about a block from where a family member said Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge lived.Doug Lesmerises, NEOMG 

His family and friends had been searching for him ever since he went missing.

Karageorge, 22, was from the Columbus suburb of Worthington. He wrestled for three seasons at Ohio State before walking on the football team this season. His family has said that he has a history of concussions, and they were concerned he may have left his home Wednesday while dealing with issues related to those head injuries. His absence was noted in part because he didn't show up at football practice Wednesday morning.

According to the initial police report filed after Karageorge went missing, he sent his mother a text message shortly before he told his roommates that he was going for a walk to clear his head, apologizing if he was an embarrassment, but stating that concussions had messed with his head.

Ohio State released a statement from coach Urban Meyer and the OSU football team doctor on Friday. That had been the team's only official mention of his absence until the aftermath of the win over Michigan.

Sunday evening, Ohio State was practicing for Saturday's Big Ten Championship, and a player said that Meyer told the team of Karageorge's death before they left the field.

According to police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner, Karageorge's body was discovered around 2:30 p.m. Sunday by a woman who was looking in dumpsters. That was roughly 108 hours since he was last seen. For now, police believe Karageorge climbed in the dumpster and took his own life. There has not yet been a time of death established.

After the Buckeyes beat Michigan 42-28 Saturday, the Buckeyes acknowledged Karageorge's absence and asked the crowd to think of the missing member of the scarlet and gray.

"It's unbelievable," Meyer said after the game. "All you can do is grab a knee and play hard.

"I know there's a lot of prayers on the team because a lot of the guys are friends with Kosta. He was only with us since August, so I didn't know him that well but talked to his mom a few times. Just come home safe, man."

His teammates spoke with hope of finding Karageorge, on a day when he should have been taking the field with his family. Sunday night, Ohio State released a statement after the news of the death of a Buckeye.

"The Ohio State University Department of Athletics was shocked and saddened to learn today of the death of student-athlete Kosta Karageorge, a senior from Columbus. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Karageorge family, and those who knew him, during this most difficult time."

Check out the Division IV state football bracket for the 2014 OHSAA playoffs.

Check out the Division IV state football bracket for the 2014 OHSAA playoffs.

Here is a look at the top offensive performers in Week 14 football

Here is a look at the top offensive performers in Week 14 football

Here is a look at the top defensive performers in Week 14 football.

Here is a look at the top defensive performers in Week 14 football.

Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Tom Herman breaks down what Cardale Jones needs to work on this week as he prepares for his first start in Saturday's Big Ten Championship.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Expecting Cardale Jones to come out in Saturday's Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin and make people forget about J.T. Barrett is unfair.

That was Tom Herman's message to the offense when Barrett fractured his ankle against Michigan, an injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Jones now has the keys to the car, as Urban Meyer put it.

His driving style is a little different from Barrett, but Herman doesn't believe that means Ohio State's offense has to suffer because of it.

"The guy has accounted for 45 touchdowns in 12 games," Herman said of Barrett. "I think what our team needs to understand, is Cardale going to come in and account for seven touchdowns in this game? Probably not. And he doesn't need to, and shouldn't have that weight put on him."

Barrett was praised for his leadership, and his intense study that took him on a path to Heisman Trophy candidate before his season ended on an early fourth-quarter play against the Wolverines.

That part of Jones is still an unknown.

"For J.T., it was very unique and he was the ultimate grinder as far as the preparation," Meyer said. "You hear stories throughout college football history and pro football history about the guys that are gym rats, and that's what J.T. was. Is Cardale that type? I'll let you know. It would be a great bonus for all of us, but he'll certainly put in a lot of time getting ready to go."

Herman was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach, on Monday. Getting Jones adequately prepared for his first start in a conference title game might be his best coaching feat yet.

Here's what is known about Jones: He's a physical freak. He's 6-5, 250 pounds and has good speed when he gets into the open field. He's a fearless runner who's not afraid to lower his head for more yards, or leap a defender who tries to go at him low.

Barrett proved he was a good runner too, but what made him good was his ability to know when to pull it down and take off. He wasn't exactly shifty, but he could make guys miss.

"Probably doesn't have quite the same short-range change of direction that J.T. has, but long range speed and the ability to kinda open it up in stride, he's pretty fast," Herman said of Jones. "You guys have all seen him run the football because a lot of times when he does get in that's all we're gonna do at that point in the game. I'm excited to see what he can do. I think he's got a chance to be pretty effective at it."

Herman has said Barrett is one of the most, if not the most, accurate passers he's ever coached. Jones has a bigger arm, meaning he can throw longer and faster, but getting the accuracy to where it needs to be will be the task this week.

Jones has evolved as a passer, and now realizes that it's not all about arm strength. Herman jokingly estimated that Jones' arm strength is "Eleventy Billion." Harnessing that starts with Jones' feet.

The arm strength doesn't mean much if you can't put the ball where it's supposed to go.

"A lot of accuracy issues start from the hips down," Herman said. "As long as he keeps his weight distribution good, his hips in the right place, his feet in the right place, he has a chance to be as good a passer as I've coached in terms of accuracy, plus arm strength. That's a big "if", if we can keep the muscle memory intact and keep his feet underneath him at all times."

But perhaps the biggest adjustment for Jones will be preparing like a starter. He's never had to do that while at Ohio State, and though he was running with the first-team offense in the spring, he doesn't know what it's like to do that in the regular season.

He'll be facing a Badgers defense ranked No. 3 in yards allowed and No. 4 in scoring. Preparing for something like that takes a high football IQ.

Like Barrett, Herman said Jones has that to rely on.

"He's really football smart," Herman said. "He gets the game. He understands it. There's always going to be some rust issues, but he's a really football smart guy."

 

The examination of Kosta Karageorge's brain will focus on his history of concussions.

View full sizeFormer OSU football player Kosta Karageorge.Jay LaPrete, Associated Press/OSU 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A neuropathologist will look for signs of traumatic brain injury in an Ohio State athlete who was found dead in a trash bin of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and had a reported history of concussions, a coroner said Monday.

The examination, not normally part of the autopsy process, is being done on Kosta Karageorge because of that history, said Dr. Anahi Ortiz, the Franklin County coroner.

The pathologist "may or may not be able to determine any sort of abnormality or defect from traumatic brain injury," Ortiz said.

Preliminary results from a Monday morning autopsy confirmed that Karageorge died of a gunshot wound, Ortiz said, but she hasn't yet definitively ruled it a suicide. However, Columbus police said Sunday that Karageorge died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found in the trash bin with him, police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner said.

His mother, Susan Karageorge, told police her son had had several concussions and a few spells of being extremely confused.

Karageorge, 22, was a Buckeyes wrestler for three years, and the senior defensive tackle joined the football team as a walk-on this season. Although earlier reports said Karageorge played in one game, Ohio State spokesman Jerry Emig corrected that Monday, saying Karageorge had not played in any games.

A woman and her son looking for items in a trash bin Sunday found the body of Karageorge, who disappeared four days earlier after sending his parents a text message.

The message said, "I am sorry if I am an embarrassment but these concussions have my head all f----- up."

Police reports released Monday indicated a man looking for food in the trash bin earlier in the day may have found Karageorge's body, but he didn't report it and instead told other people who called police.

After Karageorge went missing, the football team's physician, Dr. Jim Borchers, said he could not comment on the medical care of student athletes. But, he said, "We are confident in our medical procedures and policies to return athletes to participation following injury or illness."

Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer said Monday he'd been instructed not to talk about medical issues surrounding Karageorge.

"I can say this: This is the best group of medical people I've ever been around, the way they handle their business and the attention to detail," Meyer said.

Wrestling coach Tom Ryan told The Columbus Dispatch that Karageorge did not have documented concussions as a wrestler.

Brain injuries seem to increase people's risk for depression, though most studies on that have been with people who had severe head injuries, said Dr. Tom McAllister, chairman of psychiatry at Indiana University, who has studied concussions in college athletes.

If the person had depression or an anxiety disorder in the past, "it often is the case that the concussion seems to exacerbate it," he said. "These injuries don't occur in a vacuum. People bring their own past history ... into the injury."

Police found Karageorge's body within a couple hundred yards of his home and about a half-block from High Street, the main artery of the campus. Karageorge had last been seen at his Columbus apartment, when roommates said he left for a walk.

Several teammates on Monday recalled Karageorge as a hard worker at every practice, often staying for extra work, knowing he had little chance of ever playing.

"Every day he came out with the same attitude, no matter what the circumstance was," said offensive lineman Pat Elfein, adding: "The kid was just a grinder, you know?"

Other notes include updates on Gary Barnidge, Justin Gilbert and Tashaun Gipson.

BEREA, Ohio – Browns receiver Miles Austin remained hospitalized in Buffalo with a kidney injury he suffered in Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Bills.

Coach Mike Pettine told reporters Monday the veteran wideout is staying a second night at Erie County Medical Center as a precaution. He was transported there following the game after complaining of abdominal pain.

Austin caught seven passes against the Bills, and he's made numerous clutch catches throughout the season with 34 of 47 producing first downs.

Pettine wasn't sure which play led to Austin's injury. It would be a key loss if he cannot return in time for Sunday's home game against the Colts.

• The news also wasn't encouraging for tight end Gary Barnidge, who injured his ribs while sustaining a blow from Bills linebacker Nigel Bradham. Pettine did not consider it a dirty hit, even as it appeared Bradham led with the crown of his helmet.

The Browns already are without Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion).

• Pettine said center Nick McDonald (ankle) was medically cleared to return to Sunday's game. They chose to keep playing his replacement, Ryan Seymour.

• Rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert, who missed the Bills game with an undisclosed illness, should return to practice Sunday, the coach said.

• Pettine said the Browns will make a decision in the next couple days whether to put Tashaun Gipson (knee) on the injured-reserve list.

• Pettine on All Pro Joe Thomas being flagged for three holding calls and a false start against the Bills: "I think he was going against a pretty good player (defensive end Jerry Hughes), for one, and it's difficult for a guy with that good a get-off with that type of crowd noise. I think that's a bad combination for even an elite tackle. Having coached Jerry, I just know the type of player that he is and sometimes the smaller, faster guys give the bigger tackles trouble."

See snapshot on all local football players named first team All-Ohio in Division II 2014.

See snapshot on all local football players named first team All-Ohio in Division II 2014.

Here is the 2014 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio high school football team.

Here is the 2014 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio high school football team.

By putting Johnny Manziel into Sunday's game, the Browns signaled they are ready to make a quarterback switch.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talking to myself about the Browns' quarterback situation:

Question: Can the Browns go back to Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback for Sunday's game?

Answer: Yes, they can.

Q: Wait a minute, you wrote Sunday that they need to play Johnny Manziel for the rest of the season. What gives?

A: You asked if they CAN go back to Hoyer. Of course, they can. It's an option. But I expect Johnny Manziel to start.

Q: What do you think about Hoyer's comments about wanting to remain the starter?

A: Here's what he said: "We're 7-5... You don't get to 7-5 in the NFL just lucking into it. It's been a lot of hard work, and I think I've proven that I've gotten us to this point. I feel like I can carry us through the next four games. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll be ready to go."

Q: And?

A: And it's exactly what Hoyer should say. And it's what he should believe.

Q: But they are 7-5 with him, their best record since 2007. And you still want to change quarterbacks?

A: Mike Pettine made the decision Sunday when the coach replaced Hoyer with Manziel in the fourth quarter. His decision screamed, "We have a problem at quarterback." This is not taking out Hoyer for Spergon Wynn or Seneca Wallace.

Q: Wynn was drafted ahead of Tom Brady, what about that?

A: So were Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman, Tee Martin and Marc Bulger. That's not the point.

Q: So what is the point?

A: Manziel may be the most hyped No. 22 draft pick in NFL history. He's a former Heisman Trophy winner. NFL scouts are divided on him. Some think he'll be a bust. Others believe he can be an impact player. At some point -- and that appears to be now -- the Browns need to find out what Manziel can do in the NFL.

Q: Didn't the Browns also take Brandon Weeden and Brady Quinn at No. 22?

A: I'll ignore that. The Browns picked Manziel -- in fact, they traded their No. 26 and No. 87 picks to move up and grab Manziel. They did it for a reason. They are intrigued by him. Pettine saw enough from Hoyer lately that made him turn to Manziel. So now, there should be no turning back this season.

Q: You said Pettine made the decision when he pulled Hoyer. Why can't he go back?

A: Suppose he starts Hoyer. Suppose he throws a couple of bad passes in Sunday's home game. The crowd will turn on him, wanting Manziel. The players will be thinking, "When will Pettine switch to Manziel?" That makes it even more difficult for Hoyer to perform.

Q: Is it fair to blame Hoyer for the problems on offense?

A: I can see the problems, and they are deep. Ryan Seymour was at center in the 26-10 loss at Buffalo. He was the fourth center this season for the Browns. The run-blocking was poor, the running game disappeared. Josh Gordon is running some of the wrong pass patterns. It's not all Hoyer. But Hoyer has played poorly in the last month.

Q: So why not give him another chance?

A: As Pettine said, "We're not a two-quarterback system. If you're expecting to play two, you're expecting one not to play very well."

Q: Is anyone expecting the Browns to keep switching quarterbacks?

A: If you start Hoyer, there is an expectation that Manziel can replace him -- based on what happened Sunday. And that is a bad situation for Hoyer.

Q: How do you think Manziel played?

A: I agree with Pettine, who said it isn't wise to put a lot of emphasis on a drive late in the game when the issue is decided. Manziel did take the Browns on an eight-play, 80-yard drive. He scored a touchdown on a smart 10-yard run with 8:54 left. That cut Buffalo's lead to 20-10. He looked pretty solid on that drive, shaky on his next chance in the game. In reality, it didn't mean much.

Q: Why not?

A: The key is Pettine expressing serious concern about how Hoyer is playing. In five November games, he has thrown eight interceptions compared to three touchdowns. One of Hoyer's strengths had been staying away from interceptions, but those have haunted him lately. If Pettine wanted to stay with Hoyer, then he would have left him in the Buffalo game to finish.

Q: I still don't follow all your reasoning.

A: For a quarterback to be successful, the coaches have to be behind him. If the coaches begin to think the other guy is a better option -- then it's time to play the other guy. When the other guy is a rookie and first-round pick, you can't just give him a game or two. You have to say, "OK, we're going with Johnny for the rest of the year."

Q: You seem to think that Pettine has already made up his mind, so why not announce the quarterback decision now?

A: It's possible that he still wants to talk to a few more people, and be utterly certain of his decision. I also believe he wants the Colts preparing for two quarterbacks for the next few days, assuming he does announce a starter on Wednesday. Coaches like to play those games with the opposition.

Q: So you think Manziel starts?

A: Absolutely.

Q: How will he play?

A: I have no idea. I don't like his scrambling style because the risk of injury is very real. But the Browns seem ready to go with him, and I'm hoping for the best. If he plays well, it will be so much fun -- and that makes for great stories.

A year ago, eight Buckeyes were named first-team all-conference.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett was named the Big Ten's quarterback of the year, defensive end Joey Bosa was named the defensive lineman of the year, and two other Buckeyes were named first-team All-Big Ten by either the league coaches, media or both on Monday.

Last year Ohio State entered the Big Ten Championship with eight first-team All-Big Ten players. The Buckeyes are headed back to Indianapolis to play for the Big Ten title again, with half as many players among the best in the league.

First team by media and coaches:

• QB J.T. Barrett

• DE Joey Bosa

First team by coaches

• RG Pat Elflein

• CB Doran Grant

Second-team choices for the Buckeyes were left tackle Taylor Decker, tight end Jeff Heuerman, defensive tackle Michael Bennett and linebacker Joshua Perry.

Honorable mention choices were receivers Devin Smith, Evan Spencer and Michael Thomas, right tackle Darryl Baldwin, safety Vonn Bell, running back Ezekiel Elliott, defensive tackle Adolphus Washington and punter Cameron Johnson.

Overall, Michigan State and Minnesota led the league with five first-team picks; Ohio State and Wisconsin each had four; Maryland, Penn State and Nebraska had two; and Michigan, Iowa, Rutgers and Indiana each had one.

The Buckeyes maybe could have seen another player or two make first team, but that's still a step up from the preseason. There is no preseason all-conference team in the Big Ten, but both BTN.com and ESPN.com named preseason All-Big Ten first-teams in August, after the injury to Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller.

The only Buckeye to make the list? Bennett.

Here were the positional players of the year in the Big Ten voting:

Quarterback: J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

Running back: Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

Receiver: Tony Lippett, Michigan State

Tight end: Maxx Williams, Minnesota

Offensive lineman: Brandon Scherff, Iowa

Defensive lineman: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Linebacker: Mike Hull, Penn State

Defensive back: Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State

Kicker: Brad Craddock, Maryland

Punter: Peter Mortel, Minnesota

The awards for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the year and Freshman of the Year will be announced Tuesday.

Barrett has a lock on the freshman award. He'll fight Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon for the offensive award, while Bosa will have a good shot at the defensive award and either Urban Meyer or Minnesota's Jerry Kill should win the coach award.

Nordonia had two players earn Player of the Year honors for the Division II All-Ohio football team.

Nordonia had two players earn Player of the Year honors for the Division II All-Ohio football team.

Josh Tomlin, Bryan Shaw, Carlos Carrasco, Lonnie Chisenhall and Marc Rzpeczynski are eligible for arbitration. If the Indians don't offer it by midnight Tuesday, they will be free agents.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians have until midnight Tuesday to tender 2015 contracts to the players on their 40-man roster. Of special importance are the five players eligible for salary arbitration.

If they are not offered or tendered contracts, they will become free agents.

The five players eligible for arbitration are Josh Tomlin, Bryan Shaw, Carlos Carrasco, Lonnie Chisenhall and Mark Rzepczynski. MLBtraderumors.com speculates that this is what they'll make in arbitration: Tomlin $1.7 million, Shaw $1.5 million, Carrasco $1.4 million, Chisenhall $2.2 million and Rzepczynski $1.9 million.

Tomlin, 30, went 6-9 with a 4.76 ERA last season for the Tribe. He made 16 starts in 25 games and pitched 104 innings. He will go to camp at the end of a starting rotation featuring AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Danny Salazar and T.J. House. Zach McAllister, Tomlin and House could compete for the fifth spot, but McAllister is out of options and could open the season in the bullpen.

Tomlin has two options left.

It seems unlikely that the Indians would non-tender Tomlin because the rotation was a team strength last season. Non-tendering Tomlin would hurt the Indians' depth unless they have a free agent signing or trade in the works.

Vinnie Pestano and Tomlin last spring became the first players to go to an arbitration hearing with the Indians since 1991. They both lost.

Shaw, 27, set a franchise record with 80 appearances last season. He went 5-5 with a 2.59 ERA. He struck out 64 and walked 22 in 76 1/3 innings. The opposition hit .216 against Shaw.

Carrasco, 27, had a breakout season in the bullpen and rotation. After opening the year with four shaky starts, Carrasco moved to the bullpen where he went 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 26 relief appearances. He replaced Tomlin in the rotation on Aug. 10 and went 5-3 with a 1.30 ERA in 10 starts.

Chisenhall, 26, completed his first full season in the big leagues this year. He hit .280 (134-for-478) with a .770 OPS. Chisenhall's inconsistent year (.332 batting average in first half, .218 in the second) included 13 homers and 59 RBI.

Rzepczynski, 29, gave the Indians solid left-handed work from the bullpen. He went 0-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 73 games. His 73 appearances ranked fifth in the AL with bullpen mates Shaw and Cody Allen occupying the first two spots.

Lefties hit .180 against Rzepczynski, while righties hit .338.

Hudson quarterback Mitch Guadagni was named Offensive Player of the Year.

Hudson quarterback Mitch Guadagni was named Offensive Player of the Year.

Northeast Ohio Media Group was informed that the Cleveland Cavaliers have placed a bid to host the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission have submitted a bid to host the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. 

Cavaliers Chief Executive Officer Len Komoroski and President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission David Gilbert both confirmed to Northeast Ohio Media Group that the bid has been placed.

Cleveland has gone through a transformation in recent years and is already primed to hosting some big-time events.

For starters, the return of LeBron James certainly helps, and in March for the first time the city will host the 2015 NCAA regional basketball tournament that includes the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. Cleveland also was awarded the Republican National Convention in 2016.

Komoroski said there's something special brewing in Northeast Ohio.

"You can just sense the momentum in this town," Komoroski told NEOMG. "There's incredible pride and enthusiasm. Having major events at The Q of this magnitude and being able to handle them is a defining point for our community. It shows we are ready and capable at the highest level."

New York is hosting the NBA All-Star Game in 2015, followed by Toronto in 2016, leaving vacant slots in 2017 and 2018. Based on recent studies of other cities that have hosted the All-Star Game, Gilbert estimates the city of Cleveland would experience an economic impact of approximately $100 million.

The last time Cleveland held the All-Star Game was in 1997. However, the downtown infrastructure has since grown dramatically and features many more quality hotels and restaurants.

In 2007, the downtown area only consisted of approximately 2,700 hotel rooms. In 2016, that number will skyrocket to 5,200. Gilbert says nine more hotels in the downtown area will be constructed before 2018.

The new Cleveland Convention Center would serve as the home for All-Star Jam Session in addition to the Celebrity Game and the NBA D-League All-Star Game.

"We're 100 percent sure we can host All-Star Weekend. We hope the NBA recognizes that this is a new city with new energy and a new attitude," Gilbert told NEOMG. "This city is ready for prime time."

The Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Bobcats have placed bids for 2018, as well. The Cavaliers anticipate an official ruling within the first quarter of 2015.

"This is a major shift to our entire image," Komoroski said. "We're changing the narrative of Cleveland nationally and internationally. The All-Star Game would be a great opportunity to showcase our community to the world. This is truly a destination city."

--

- Cleveland will host the NCAA Division I Wresting Championships in 2018.

- NBA ALL-STAR 2014 DIGITAL AND VIEWING NUMBERS:

• NBA All-Star 2014 on ESPN and TNT reached 21.7 million unique viewers across the Celebrity Game, Rising Stars Challenge, All-Star Saturday Night and the All-Star Game.

• The 2014 NBA All-Star Game on TNT garnered 7.5 million viewers and a 5.1 coverage rating.

• Viewers watched an average of 110 minutes of NBA All-Star coverage, the highest ever recorded.

• The All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night saw close to four million tweets, capturing 51 percent of total TV tweets over the two days.

• The NBA All-Star game was the most tweeted game during the NBA regular season with nearly 2.3 million tweets.

• Videos viewed on NBA.com were up 14 percent (184.4 million vs. 161.2 million) for All-Star 2014.

• Unique visitors to NBA.com were up 18.5 percent (206.7 million vs. 174.4 million) for All-Star 2014.

The wetlands and woodlots of the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area were surprisingly quiet on Monday morning, with the opening salvos of the annual deer gun season noticeably absent.

MILLERSBURG, Ohio – The wetlands and woodlots of the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area were surprisingly quiet on Monday morning, with the opening salvos of the annual deer gun season noticeably absent.

There were orange-clad hunters sprinkled around the sprawling 5,671-acre public grounds in Holmes and Wayne counties. But barely enough of them to keep Wayne County Wildlife Officer Aaron Brown of the Ohio Division of Wildlife and his partner for the day, Watercraft Officer Scott Stafford, busy checking hunting licenses and deer permits.

"It's about as quiet of an opening day as I've ever seen here," said Brown, as we toured the muddy back roads of the wildlife area looking for a spot of orange that would identify a hunter. Deer are plentiful here, Brown said, and with lots of public access, both local hunters and big city sportsmen usually converge on the area for this special week of deer hunting.

"I didn't kill a deer yet, and I'm getting cold," said Brian Price of Cleveland, as Brown and Stafford checked his tags. "I haven't heard a lot of shooting this morning. I guess I'll take a break and go kill a cup of hot coffee."

Price hunts squirrels and rabbits here, and tagged a deer a couple of years ago. On Monday morning, he would have been happy just to see a buck or a few does.

Brian Torrence, 53, of nearby Shreve has hunted the Killbuck area for years. His best buck was a nice 7-point three years ago, and Torrence tagged a smaller 5-point buck last gun season.

On Monday morning, he settled for a fat doe, and let his son, Justin, 22, do the hard work of hauling the deer to their truck.

"I've helped Justin get his deer out of the woods over the years," said Torrence, with a smile. "This year he's doing the hard work for his dad. There are some really nice 12-point bucks running around here, and some big-antlered 8-pointers, but we weren't lucky enough to see any of them."

Brown had only a pair of does to check throughout the morning. The lone report of a buck came from a hunter who wounded the deer, then saw it escape to private land where the hunter wasn't allowed to follow it. Brown suggested contacting the landowner in a bid to try to retrieve the deer.

After the slow morning of recording deer hunting success at Killbuck Marsh, it was expected that a few hunters would be bringing their deer to a check station at the Millersburg Fire Department, one of six chronic wasting disease check stations set up in Holmes County. The check stations were established after Ohio's first positive test for CWD in late October, a captive deer at World Class Whitetails, a deer farm and hunting preserve in Holmes County.

In recent weeks, six captive deer with ear tags had been harvested by hunters outside of fenced deer farms in Holmes County, two that were traced back to World Class Whitetails.

None of the deer tested positive for CWD, said Geoff Westerfield, the ODOW assistant wildlife manager supervisor in northeast Ohio.

World Class Whitetails was charged by the Ohio Department of Agriculture with violating the state-mandated quarantine after the two deer had escaped. As a result, ODA officials have now ruled all of the deer remaining on the Holmes County farm will be euthanized, according to a report in the Zainesville Times-Recorder.

At the Millersburg check station, Westerfield and Laura Graber, a wildlife research technician, were removing two lymph nodes and the brain stem from checked deer. They send the deer parts the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Reynoldsburg laboratories to be examined for CWD, a brain disease that is always fatal for deer and elk.

The pair had one adult deer to check on Monday morning. Another deer, a button buck, was considered to be too young to have had a chance to contract the disease.

Wildlife officials were puzzled as to why more deer weren't brought by hunters in to the check station in downtown Millersburg. A couple of local taxidermists and a few deer processors were cooperating with wildlife officials, making sure those deer were tested.

"It's opening day, and it's chilly out there, so the venison won't spoil if hunters wait a while to check their deer," said Westerfield. "I expect a lot of hunters will warm up, have lunch, then bring in their deer."

At 4 p.m., with an early sunset on the horizon, the number of deer checked at the station remained at just one.

Wildlife officials had made a big effort to let everyone in Holmes and Wayne counties know about CWD, and the check stations. They had issued press releases, notified community groups and passed out informational material in both counties, as well as around the state.

Hunters have already been assured there has been no record of CWD being contracted by humans. And the only positive test was from a captive deer, not a deer in the wild.

Browns coach Mike Pettine will wait until Wednesday to decide if he's starting Johnny Manziel or Brian Hoyer against the 8-4 Colts on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- A subdued Browns coach Mike Pettine said Monday he'll likely announce Wednesday if Johnny Manziel will replace Brian Hoyer, and that he hasn't made up his mind yet.

"(I'm) not ready to make a decision on that at this point,'' he said. "I'm not leaning one way or the other, but there's a lot to consider."

Pettine acknowledged that it's a difficult decision and one he'll take very seriously. He'll make it in conjunction with his offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains and general manager Ray Farmer. The 7-5 Browns are in the thick of a playoff hunt and will host the 8-4 Colts on Sunday. Indianapolis walloped the Redskins and Colt McCoy 49-27 Sunday.

"I don't know where I want to go, and it's certainly important,'' Pettine said. "We'll spend a lot of time on it. I'll lean on the people I trust to help make it."

Asked if he still believes in Hoyer, who's 7-5 this season but slumping over the past five games, he didn't answer directly. For his part, Hoyer said Monday "you don't get to 7-5 just lucking into it'' and feels he deserves the nod.

"As I said yesterday, I just felt we needed to make a change,'' he said. "We needed a spark. We had been listless for a good amount of time. Really two of the past three games on offense (we've) had those issues. I think the defenses had a lot to do with it.

"Atlanta, I do think that we were very confident. It was our highest yardage production output of the year, but interceptions were obviously a concern. I don't want to say that he was taken out because we lost confidence. It was a decision in-game to spark our team."

Pettine was asked what's holding him back from saying 'Hoyer's our guy.' 

"We believe that competition is a cornerstone of what we do,'' he said. "We do look at the body of work, but I think given the play recently at that position that it's time to discuss it....it's our normal procedure that we do week to week, and this week is no different."

Pettine admitted that this isn't the first time the staff has discussed switching to Manziel. Hoyer, 10-5 as a Brown overall, has faltered over the last three games, throwing one touchdown pass and six interceptions in that span and earning ratings of 61.2, 52.3 and 51.0. He's gone 1-for-9 in the redzone in those three outings, and his once top-10 rating has toppled to No. 27 at 79.9. He's mustered one touchdown pass in the last 15 quarters, and none in the last nine. He's last in the NFL in third-down passing.

What's more, the defense has gifted him with 17 takeaways over the past six games -- most in the NFL in that span -- and he's spun them into only three touchdowns. If not for some horrible clock management on the part of Falcons' coach Mike Smith, the Browns would likely be in the midst of a three-game tailspin with a 6-6 record and -- and virtually out of playoff contention.

"After Houston it certainly came up,'' said Pettine. "After some of the mistakes last week it came up. Just where we've been and the level of Brian's play, it's warranted discussion, but to me it's not just that one position. Anytime we're having a player not perform to our standards on a given week, it comes up for discussion.''

Pettine stressed that Manziel's involvement in a fight at his downtown apartment building in the wee hours before the Browns' flight to Atlanta the following day had nothing to do with the fact he "never considered'' using him against the Falcons, a game in which Hoyer threw three interceptions. Two of them were in the final five minutes, and Hoyer pulled out the 26-24 victory with a field goal in the final 44 seconds.
He said they've addressed behavior with Manziel and everyone else on the team but that "we're not going to overdo it. As I said before, we're not going to micromanage our players outside of the building. At the same time, they know that there is a standard that they need to live up to. I think Johnny understands that certain positions should be held higher than others."
He indicated that Manziel is ready for the challenge of this playoff run if called upon. After the Colts, the Browns host the first-place Bengals (8-3-1), then finish on the road at Carolina and against the 7-5 Ravens.

"His attitude and effort and energy and just overall quarterback play, it's shown steady improvement through the year,'' said Pettine. "We see a lot of him in practice week to week. We got a taste in the game of what he's capable of. We saw some of that in preseason. It's not like this is the first time we've seen him out there."
 
He said Manziel had a couple of hiccups in his debut "but showed good energy, made some throws. I know he missed Travis (Benjamin) on the one boot. I thought the throw to (tight end Jim Dray) was in a pretty tight window, I thought Jim made a heck of a catch. I thought he was very decisive on the scramble for the touchdown.''

However, the Browns will have plenty to consider when they huddle up to make the decision over the next two days.

*  Manziel would be making his starting debut against Andrew Luck and the Colts, who are first in the NFL with 31.8 points per game.

* He'd be without his starting tight end in Gary Barnidge (ribs) and clutch third-down receiver in Miles Austin, who remains hospitalized in Buffalo with a kidney injury.

* He might have to play with a third-string center in Ryan Seymour if Nick McDonald's ankle is still bothering him.

* In the hotly-contested AFC North race, every game will be a virtual elimination proposition.

But Pettine will throw anything out the window that doesn't answer his fundamental question.

"I've said it a million times, "Who gives us the best chance to win this weekend? Period,'' said Pettine. "For us involving the playoffs, we have to win and that's the bottom line. It's not like anything beyond that would influence the decision. It's that simple. It makes it easy when you look at it like that and shut out everything else."

He said he won't paint himself into a corner by saying the decision has to be his last one of the season. "We work very short term, and we're getting down to the end with four left,'' he said. "They're all huge, none more important than this one.''
He also stressed that he's getting no pressure from the front office or from owner Jimmy Haslam to start Manziel. He also acknowledged that whole offense played poorly against Buffalo's fourth-ranked defense, but he ticked off Hoyer's deficiencies nonetheless.

"I felt we were stagnant and he had missed some reads and made some poor throws,'' said Pettine. "He wasn't having a very good day. I thought he rushed some throws. There were some instances throughout the game and it was just a cumulative thing. Just felt we needed to make a change."

Question is, will it be permanent?

Joey Bosa was named the Big Ten's Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When is it OK to accept an award with a shrug? When Joey Bosa wins that award.

Bosa was named the Big Ten's Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday night. The last Ohio State player to win the award was John Simon in 2012. Buckeyes have won the award five times since 2000.

• Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett wins Big Ten Freshman of the Year, gets beat out for Offensive Player of the Year

Bosa, named the conference Defensive Lineman of the Year on Monday, leads the Big Ten in sacks (13.5) and tackles for loss (20), and is fourth and fifth nationally in those categories, respectively. He's already been named a finalist for the Lombardi Award, awarded to the nation's best lineman or linebacker, and the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's best defensive player.

He's a half-sack away from tying Ohio State's single-season record. Last month, Bosa said he'd do a back flip if he breaks the record.

Just a sophomore, Bosa has already built a reputation as one of the more dynamic defensive players in the country. He had a rare walk-off sack in Ohio State's double-overtime win over Penn State on Oct. 25. He had a season-high 2.5 sacks in that game.

Bosa had two sacks in Ohio State's win over Michigan last week. He's forced four fumbles this season, and been a points machine for the Buckeyes. His four forced fumbles have led directly to 30 points for Ohio State.