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Minnesota coach Jerry Kill beats out Ohio State's Urban Meyer for Big Ten Coach of the Year

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Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was beat out by Minnesota coach Jerry Kill for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The drought continues.

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year on Tuesday, winning both the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote) and Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote).

Kill beat out Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who could've been the first Ohio State coach to win the conference's top coaching honor since Earle Bruce in 1979.

Minnesota finished the regular season (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) under Kill this year. The Gophers finished second in the Big Ten West Division after losing to Wisconsin in last week's de facto division championship game. The Gophers climbed as high as No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings before losing to the Badgers.

Ohio State beat Minnesota 31-24 on Nov. 15. Kill is 25-25 in four seasons in Minnesota, but has improved the Gophers' standing in their division each year.

In Meyer's third year at the helm, Ohio State (11-1, 8-0 Big Ten) will play in the Big Ten Championship for the second straight year when the Buckeyes play Wisconsin on Saturday in Indianapolis.

This season marked the third straight year the Buckeyes finished unbeaten in conference play under Meyer. He is the first coach to go undefeated in Big Ten play three years in a row.

Meyer was in the running for Coach of the Year Honors last year, but lost out to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio. The award is typically reserved for coaches who lead teams through a turnaround season. That wasn't the case with the Buckeyes this season, but their journey to being in the College Football Playoff mix at this point is impressive nonetheless.

Ohio State lost starting quarterback Braxton Miller in August. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett took over and put up Heisman-type numbers that earned him First-Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Quarterback of the Year honors on Monday. Barrett fractured his ankle last week against Michigan and will miss the remainder of the season.

The Buckeyes have also been without All-Big Ten defensive end Noah Spence all season. It was recently announced Spence has been ruled permanently ineligible by the Big Ten.

H-back Dontre Wilson was lost in Ohio State's win over Michigan State, and his return for this season is unknown.

Ohio State's season started slow with a less-than-impressive win over Navy, and a Week 2 home loss to Virginia Tech. Since then Ohio State has established one of the best offenses in the country and climbed the playoff rankings.

The win over Michigan State was the turning point and arguably the biggest win of the Meyer era. It vaulted the Buckeyes back into the national conversation. If they can win the conference championship on Saturday with former third-string quarterback Cardale Jones, Ohio State will have a strong case for a spot in the playoff.


Brady Hoke fired: 'Brady had enough time to produce results, and they're just not there today'

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Since going 11-2 in Brady Hoke's first season as Michigan's coach, the Wolverines have slipped each year. Over the last three seasons, Michigan is 20-18.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.  - The quote became symbolic of Brady Hoke's attitude, and the promise his tenure as Michigan's coach seemed to offer.

"This is Michigan, for God's sakes," he said shortly after being hired in 2011.

Lately, Michigan has looked like just another program, and that's a major reason why the Wolverines will have new leadership next season.

Hoke was fired Tuesday after Michigan stumbled to a 5-7 record and missed the postseason in his fourth year at the helm. Interim athletic director Jim Hackett's announcement ended weeks of speculation over Hoke's future and put one of college football's most storied programs in the market for a new coach.

"This was not an easy decision," Hackett said. "He's really earned the respect of all, as being a values-centered coach. We need more men like him in sport today."

Hoke's record, however, fell well short of Michigan's standards. He went 31-20 with the Wolverines, and the team declined steadily after an 11-2 mark in his first season. Hired after the tumultuous tenure of Rich Rodriguez, Hoke was supposed to help Michigan regain its place among college football's elite, and his familiarity with the program's culture and tradition helped make the initial transition a successful one.

But after going to the Sugar Bowl in Hoke's first season, the Wolverines slowly slipped back into mediocrity, and they were among the Big Ten's also-rans this year.

"I believe that Brady had enough time to produce results, and they're just not there today," Hackett said. "Therefore I believe it's time to make this transition."

After problems on the offensive line derailed the 2013 campaign, turnovers did Michigan in this year, all the way to the final game, when the Wolverines lost 42-28 to rival Ohio State on Saturday. Hoke's arrival was supposed to mean a return to smash-mouth football after three years of Rodriguez's spread system, and while Michigan did play well defensively at times this season, the mistake-prone Wolverines weren't much of a threat on the other side of the ball.

"I feel very fortunate to have been an assistant and head coach at the University of Michigan. I will always support the university and this football program," Hoke said in a statement. "I want to thank all of the sons that played for our teams and appreciate the commitment that our coaches and support staff made to the program every day. I will miss the relationships that I've been fortunate enough to make within this university and community."

Hackett replaced Dave Brandon as athletic director at the end of October. Brandon's resignation was part of the fallout from the football team's problems. In September, quarterback Shane Morris kept playing despite receiving what was later determined to be a concussion. The school later apologized for the "confusion" and "lack of communication" as it changed its protocol to better monitor potential injuries.

A message posted on Morris' Twitter account Tuesday wished Hoke the best: "I can truly say that I wouldn't be the man I am right now without having played for Coach Hoke. He believed in me and every player he coached no matter what the situation."

When Brandon resigned, Mark Schlissel, the school's president, said the athletic department was in great financial condition, but the results at the Big House have not measured up. Brandon, a former CEO of Domino's Pizza Inc., and a player under Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, had less than a year on the job when he made the decision to fire Rodriguez after three seasons.

Less than two weeks after Brandon stepped down, Schlissel expressed concerns about the relationship between athletics and academics at the university, pointing specifically at the football program.

"We admit students who aren't as qualified, and it's probably the kids that we admit that can't honestly, even with lots of help, do the amount of work and the quality of work it takes to make progression from year to year," he said then. "These past two years have gotten better, but before that, the graduation rates were terrible, with football somewhere in the 50s and 60s when our total six-year rate at the university is somewhere near 90 percent, so that's a challenge."

Schlissel later issued an apology to Hoke and the football program via the university's website for not clearly stating that the situation has gotten significantly better since Hoke replaced Rodriguez.

Hoke was an assistant at Michigan before turning around San Diego State and Ball State, his alma mater, as a head coach. When he left San Diego State to take over the Wolverines, he made little secret of his excitement about the job. His habit of referring to rival Ohio State as simply "Ohio" quickly caught on, and Hoke was a hit when Michigan beat the Buckeyes in his first season.

The Wolverines won the Sugar Bowl and finished the 2011 season 11-2, but that was with some talented holdovers from Rodriguez's teams. Hoke's recruits were well regarded, but the results on the field didn't measure up. Michigan went 8-5 in 2012 and 7-6 in 2013.

The Wolverines made a major change this past offseason, firing offensive coordinator Al Borges and hiring Doug Nussmeier away from Alabama. But even with a senior quarterback in Devin Gardner, the Michigan offense was anemic at times. The first sign of trouble this season came when Michigan lost 31-0 to Notre Dame in the second game, and back-to-back home losses to Utah and Minnesota left the Wolverines looking like a team in crisis before September was even over.

Fan reaction ranged from apathy to open hostility. A loss to Maryland in the team's home finale was played before the smallest crowd at Michigan Stadium since 1995.

Whoever takes over at Michigan now faces the same challenge Hoke encountered and never fully conquered: Make the Wolverines matter nationally again.

Michigan has not won the Big Ten since 2004, and the Wolverines are now 1-10 in their last 11 games against Ohio State.

Even in-state rival Michigan State - which for so many years played second fiddle to the Wolverines - has been superior to Michigan recently, winning six of the last seven meetings.

What cleveland.com has written about Michigan's coaching situation this year:

• Ohio State vs. Michigan: Who should be Wolverines next coach? See our picks, make yours

• Jim Harbaugh, Kevin Sumlin, Bret Bielema: Urban Meyer-type dream hires for every Big Ten school

Coverage from Mlive.com:

• UM assistant: We didn't win enough games

• Twitter reaction from UM players

• Hoke will get a $3 million buyout

A timeline of Hoke's tenure

Ohio State football ranked No. 5 in latest College Football Playoff poll

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Alabama, Oregon, TCU and Florida State are the top four teams.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State was ranked No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff poll released Tuesday night, a spot higher than a week ago.

The Buckeyes moved up after a loss last week by previous No. 4 Mississippi State, which fell to No. 10.

Ohio State needs to move up one more spot to make the first four-team playoff.

The Buckeyes did not lose any ground with the loss of injured quarterback J.T. Barrett. Ohio State likely needs a loss from one of the top four teams to make the playoff.

"Ohio State's situation has not been impacted at this point due to J.T. Barrett's injury," committee chairman Jeff Long said on ESPN's show unveiling the poll. "We'll evaluate his injury and his replacement in this championship game. The No. 5 ranking is not impacted by the injury at this point."

The top two remained the same with Alabama and Oregon, while TCU moved up to No. 3 and undefeated Florida State, which has been gradually moving down, is now No. 4. Here are the matchups this weekend involving the top six teams:

No. 1 Alabama plays No. 16 Missouri in the SEC Championship;

No. 2 Oregon plays No. 7 Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship;

No. 3 TCU plays Iowa State in a regular-season game;

No. 4 Florida State plays No. 11 Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship;

No. 5 Ohio State plays No. 13 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship; and

No. 6 Baylor plays No. 9 Kansas State in a regular season game.

The top 25

No. 1 Alabama

No. 2 Oregon

No. 3 TCU

No. 4 Florida State

No. 5 Ohio State

No. 6 Baylor

No. 7 Arizona

No. 8 Michigan State

No. 9 Kansas State

No. 10 Mississippi State

No. 11 Georgia Tech

No. 12 Ole Miss

No. 13 Wisconsin

No. 14 Georgia

No. 15 UCLA

No. 16 Missouri

No. 17 Arizona State

No. 18 Clemson

No. 19 Auburn

No. 20 Oklahoma

No. 21 Louisville

No. 22 Boise State

No. 23 Utah

No. 24 LSU

No. 25 USC

OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross discusses state championships returning to Ohio State's Ohio Stadium

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Ohio State has the "wow" factor that smaller venues can't provide, OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross said.

Ohio State has the "wow" factor that smaller venues can't provide, OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross said.

Benedictine linebacker Jerome Baker headlines local players named to Associated Press Division IV All-Ohio football teams

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See which local players made the Division IV All-Ohio teams.

See which local players made the Division IV All-Ohio teams.

Kosta Karageorge funeral set for Wednesday; Ohio State football players, wrestlers to attend

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The service was scheduled for Wednesday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus, with a private burial in Athens County.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football players, wrestlers and other athletes plan to attend the funeral service for a teammate found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the university said Tuesday.

Fellow football players have described Kosta Karageorge as a hard-working and enthusiastic athlete who often stayed for extra practice even though it was unlikely he would ever play in a game.

The service was scheduled for Wednesday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus, with a private burial in Athens County.

Athletes from other sports will also attend, and football teammates planned to wear a No. 53 helmet sticker — Karageorge's number — during Saturday's Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin, said Ohio State spokesman Jerry Emig.

Dr. Anahi Ortiz, the Franklin County coroner, says Karageorge died of a gunshot wound to the head, but she hadn't definitely ruled it a suicide as of Tuesday afternoon.

Karageorge's mother says he had had several concussions, and the coroner says a special examination will be done of Karageorge's brain to look for any traumatic injury.

Columbus police said Sunday, the day Karageorge's body was found, that he died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found in the trash bin with him, police said.

Karageorge, 22, disappeared four days earlier after sending his parents an apologetic text message.

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

His mother, Susan Karageorge, told police her son had had several concussions and a few spells of being extremely confused. Players also knew of Karageorge's history of concussions, they said in interviews Monday.

Karageorge was a Buckeyes wrestler for three years, and the senior defensive tackle joined the football team as a walk-on this season. He hadn't played any games. He was known as a "scout team" member, meaning he likely wouldn't see playing time and took the role of an opposing team member during the regular starters' weekday practices.

His body was found Sunday by a woman searching trash bins near her neighborhood for scrap metal to sell.

Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer says he's been instructed not to discuss Karageorge's medical issues but said he is confident in the quality of medical care athletes receive.

More than half of concussions don't get reported, said Dr. Robert Cantu, co-founder of a center that studies these injuries at Boston University Medical School.

The emotional after-effects of repeated concussions can include depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and there can be cognitive problems like trouble concentrating, he said.

See AP All-Ohio football teams for Division III 2014

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Take a look at the 2014 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel.

Take a look at the 2014 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel.

Cleveland Browns' Billy Winn on Johnny Manziel: 'He made everything come to life'

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Browns defensive end Billy Winn says Johnny Manziel makes defenses hesitate because he "can take off at any time -- and he can fly.''

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns players are firmly in Brian Hoyer's corner, but if coach Mike Pettine announces Wednesday that Johnny Manziel is his starter for Sunday's game against the Colts, his teammates will rally around him.

"I was excited to see him get a chance to show the league what he can do,'' said defensive end Billy Winn. "He went out there and made everything come to life.''

Like the handful of other players polled in the locker room Monday, Winn stressed "we have a lot of trust in Brian. If he is the starter, Brian's our guy, but if not, if Johnny goes out there, we're still behind him 100%. They brought Johnny here for a reason and he went out there and he put a drive together and ran fearlessly into the end zone. He looked good.''

He acknowledged he's curious to see how the former Heisman Trophy winner would operate given a full game.

"Watching him here since training camp, I've been really surprised at the kid,'' he said. "He's able to do a lot of things for the team and he's going to confuse a lot of defenses because he has the aspect of his game where he can run the ball.''

Winn has practiced a lot against both Manziel and practice squad quarterback Connor Shaw, who run the scout and simulate the opposing team's quarterbacks. Manziel has admitted he'll sometimes go off script and improvise like he does in a game.

"Both of those guys, they're definitely ready,'' said Winn. "If they have to step up and play in a game, they know the playbook, they know their checks, their audibles, they know everything they need to do. They're really smart guys and they're professionals, otherwise they wouldn't be in this business.''

He said he's Manziel gotten better each week in practice despite sitting for eight straight games.

"When he's here in the building, it's all business with him,'' said Winn. "Johnny keeps his head down, keeps his nose clean and he does what he needs to do as a quarterback. He's really involved.''

As a defensive linemen, Winn has seen first-hand what the fleet-footed, nimble Manziel can do to a defense.

 "It makes you hesitate because the kid can take off and go,'' said Winn. "He can fly. Johnny can fly. It's exciting. He's definitely an exciting guy to watch.

"You never know what he's going to do. You want a quarterback that can stay in the pocket and put it where it needs to be, but he's one of these guys that if his read's not there, he's going to take off and pick up what he can get.''

Winn admitted he was concerned when Kyle Williams flattened Manziel after he fumbled the snap on his second drive. Manziel remained on his back a little longer than necessary, knowing that nothing good was going on behind him in the end zone.

"I was worried about him,'' said Winn. "Those things happen. I prefer they don't happen, but fortunately it worked out in our favor that we were able to get up and run another play.''

Winn is confident the locker room will embrace the rookie despite the fact they're in the thick of a playoff hunt at 7-5 and need to win almost every game to make the the playoffs.

"I know that (offensive coordinator) Kyle (Shanahan) will have him ready,'' said Winn. "It's a very explosive offense and it has a lot of complex parts, but we have the quarterbacks that can get it done. We're going to keep doing our thing on defense, so whoever the quarterback may be, this team is going to stand behind them 100%. We trust each and every guy in here.''

He acknowledged that a matchup between Manziel and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck would be intriguing. Luck has the 8-4 Colts averaging a league-high 31.8 points per game.

"We know what Luck can do and we got a little glimpse of what Johnny can do,'' he said. "You just hope that it carries over if he is the starter and that Johnny can do some things for us. If not, we're standing behind Brian 100%.''

Winn said the defense hasn't gotten frustrated over the offense's failure to cash in on takeaways. The Browns have forced a league-high 17 turnovers in the past seven games, and the offense has converted only three into touchdowns.

"We're not upset,'' he said. "We just try to focus on our job, we don't like to worry about any of the other things.''

He admitted, however, that a scintillating TD drive such as Manziel's re-energizes the defense.

"It puts us at ease and allows us to get our rest so we can go out there and have a successful defensive stop,'' he said.

Travis Benjamin said the receivers had a meeting on Monday about the possible switch and are coming in Wednesday prepared to make plays for either quarterback.
"They both bring a little bit of two different things with (Manziel's) scrambling ability and Hoyer's poise in the pocket,'' said Benjamin. "We'll just be prepared to practice Wednesday.''

He acknowledged it will be all hands on deck if Manziel gets his first NFL start.  Even after the Buffalo game, Manziel admitted he needed plenty of help from his supporting cast.

 "We just figure, as receivers, we have to work more,'' said Benjamin. "If Johnny comes in the huddle and he pronounces the play wrong, we've got to make sure we correct it. We've got to make sure we correct him. Offensive linemen, tight ends, all the receivers, all the running backs, we've just got to make sure we've got to be in form when he's in the game.''

But like mostly everyone else on the team, Benjamin is excited about Manziel's gutsy, wild playmaking ability.

"Johnny is a baller, no matter what,'' said Benjamin. "Ready or not, you put him in the game and if he doesn't make the play with his arm, he'll make the play with his legs. Running backs, receivers, tight ends and linemen also have to come together and help him and make sure we have limited mistakes so we can push Johnny to get the edge on people.''

He stressed, however, that the locker room is not divided.

"It's no Team Johnny or Team Hoyer,'' he said. "We just, as a team, as a unit, want the best for the offense. Even though they go with Johnny or go with Hoyer, we, as a receiver group, know we still have to catch the ball and we still have to block.''

Guard John Greco said the line doesn't change it's technique much with the mobile Manziel in the game.

"We've still got to keep it clean,'' he said. "We've got to pass protect. Our biggest thing right now is try to get the run game alive again. We fell short of that last week and it puts more pressure on Brian and Johnny and the receivers to get open and makes our job tougher because we have to protect forever. That's going to be our mindset this week.''

Greco noted the added dimension Manziel brings to the game.

 "Well, obviously (it's) his athleticism and playmaking ability,'' he said. "You saw that he's able to make big plays with his legs, and he's got a cannon. Whoever's in there, if it's him, he'll have a full week in the playbook and taking reps with the ones and we'll try to build that chemistry as quickly as we can."

Greco credited Hoyer with mastering a difficult situation -- staving off the college phenom for this long and leading the Browns to 7-5, where they're locked in a three-way tie for second place in the AFC North, behind the 8-3-1 Bengals.

"He's got a lot of things he's battling whether he's hearing stuff from the outside (or whatever),'' Greco said. "He comes to work every day and focuses because it's his job. I heard him say in the press conference (Sunday) he feels like he's the guy and we do, too, and it's his job. And he's been our leader all year, but decisions are out of our hands, and we're going to roll with it no matter what they choose."


Family of Kosta Karageorge, Ohio State football player, wrestler, makes first statement since his death

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"Kosta was a beloved son, brother, nephew, grandson, cousin, and friend. His untimely death has shocked and devastated all that knew him," the family said. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kosta Karageorge, the Ohio State walkon football player and wrestler who died at age 22, his body discovered Sunday, will be laid to rest Wednesday.

Tuesday night, Karageorge's family made its first statement since his death.

"The Karageorge Family would like to thank the friends, family, coaches, teammates, and even kind strangers who helped us in the search for Kosta.

"Kosta was a beloved son, brother, nephew, grandson, cousin, and friend. His untimely death has shocked and devastated all that knew him. As we await official findings and try to understand the circumstances surrounding Kosta's death, we ask that the media allow our family time to grieve privately."

The statement was released to the Northeast Ohio Media Group through Karageorge's older sister, Sophia, on behalf of the entire family, including their parents, George and Susan.

Karageorge's body was found Sunday a block from his Columbus apartment off the south edge of Ohio State's campus. The initial police determination was that Karageorge died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The coroner has determined that he did die of the gunshot but has not made a final ruling on whether it was self-inflicted. A time of death has also not been determined, Columbus Police Sgt. Rich Weiner said Tuesday.

Police did recover a handgun with Karageorge. Weiner also confirmed Tuesday that investigators have found his cell phone. 

Kosta Karageorge motorcycleView full sizeRoses rest of the motorcyle of Kosta Karageorge outside his Columbus apartment on Monday. 

According to the police report, Karageorge sent a text message to his family early last Wednesday morning, around 1:30 a.m., complaining that the effects from past concussions were bothering him. His family has said he suffered multiple concussions during his athletic career.

Upset over something, according to his family, he left the apartment he shared with his roommates to go for a walk around 2 a.m. His cell phone pinged off a tower about 2.5 miles from his apartment about half an hour later. Police are still investigating where he may have gone that night.

Karageorge was remembered at a vigil on campus Sunday attended by several hundred Ohio State students as a loyal and passionate friend who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. His funeral will be held Wednesday morning at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus.

Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Dec. 2, 2014 (slideshow)

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Plain Dealer photographers Chuck Crow and Joshua Gunter are at Quicken Loans Arena tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Milwaukee Bucks. The gallery will be updated throughout the game. Check back for all the action.

Plain Dealer photographers Chuck Crow and Joshua Gunter are at Quicken Loans Arena tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Milwaukee Bucks. The gallery will be updated throughout the game. Check back for all the action.

Kenston coach Jeff Grubich honored along with local players on 2014 Division III All-Ohio football team

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Check out snapshots on the local players named to the first team of the 2014 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio high school football team.

Check out snapshots on the local players named to the first team of the 2014 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio high school football team.

Cleveland Indians offer 2015 contracts to all unsigned players on 40-man roster

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All five Indians who are eligible for arbitration were offered 2015 contracts.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – There were no surprises regarding the Indians tendering contracts to unsigned players for 2015.

All players on the Tribe's 40-man roster who were not signed to multiyear deals were tendered contracts before Tuesday's midnight deadline. That included the five players eligible for salary arbitration: Josh Tomlin, Bryan Shaw, Carlos Carrasco, Lonnie Chisenhall and Marc Rzepczynski.

Players who aren't tendered contracts become free agents. Last year the Indians signed reliever John Axford after he was non-tendered by St. Louis.

Tomlin, Shaw, Carrasco, Chisenhall and Rzepczynski can file for salary arbitration on Jan. 13. Salary figures are exchanged on Jan. 16 with hearings scheduled for Feb. 1 through Feb. 21.

Last spring Vinnie Pestano and Tomlin because the first Indians to go to arbitration hearings since 1991. They each lost their case.

Players on multiyear deals who did not have to be tendered contracts were Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Jason Kipnis, Yan Gomes, Michael Brantley, David Murphy, Ryan Raburn, Carlos Santana, Mike Aviles and Scott Atchison.

Akron Zips ride Kwan Cheatham's double-double for an 81-60 victory

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Akron Zips pull out of their second-half doldrums to roll up a big home victory, 81-60, over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

AKRON, Ohio -- The Akron Zips proved life is fine on the baseline as sophomore power forward Kwan Cheatham paced the Zips to an 81-60 comeback victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tuesday evening in Rhodes Arena.

UAPB (1-6) led at the half, 32-31, and pushed that margin to 42-37 with 16:16 to play before the lights went on for the Zips. A 23-0 run followed, triggered by an inside hoop, then a 3-pointer from Cheatham, the 6-9 replacement for suspended Demetrius Treadwell, lifted the Zips to 5-2 on the season.

Cheatham finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Zips, who had five players in double figures. That included 13 points from sixth man Deji Ibitayo, plus 11 points each from Reggie McAdams, Pat Forsythe and Nyles Evans.

Add in what at one point was a 29-0 difference in at the foul line in favor of the Zips, and UAPB was destined to its third loss against a MAC team, including 75-43 to Central Michigan and 69-60 to Ohio University.

UAPB lives off turnovers, and it showed early on against the Zips as they forced Akron into 11 miscues by halftime which helped put Akron into a 32-31 hole.

Akron was not helping itself at the line, going 10 of 17, which combined with 9 of 23 shooting overall helped keep the Golden Lions within range of an upset, even as they did not attempt a free throw in the opening half.

UAPB guard Marcel Mosley was the early benefactor of Akron's turnovers as he had 10 points at the break, including several breakaway layups. Akron coach Keith Dambrot had nine players with points by intermission.

That changed in the second half as Cheatham scored 11 points and snatched five boards to lead Akron's roll. In the end, Akron was 23 of 35 from the line to UAPB's 7 of 9. Add in a 39-23 advantage on the boards and the Zips now have two straight wins.

LeBron James scored 15 in 4th Quarter to hold off Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Vardon's instant analysis

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LeBron James does chalk toss, then gives strong fourth quarter performance for Cavaliers' fourth consecutive win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – LeBron James was good when it counted most.

James poured in 15 of his 26 points in the final quarter and the Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 111-108 for their fourth consecutive win.

James mostly struggled through three quarters and had a turnover problem (seven) in this one, but was buoyed by Kyrie Irving (28 points) and Kevin Love (27 points). 

James took over in the final period getting to the line for 12 free throws, making nine. He added 10 assists and four rebounds and shot 6-of-15 from the field.

Here is an instant, quarter-by-quarter briefing on James' performance against the Bucks.

1st Quarter

Stats: 1 pt, 1 rb, 3 ast, 0-3 FG, 1-2 FT

Highlight: After at least a two-game hiatus, James returned to his pregame chalk toss.

Briefing: Yes, the chalk toss was the James highlight from Q1. Love hogged the spotlight anyway, dialing up 17 points and five rebounds. James started each of the previous three games on fire, either with points or pace. In this first quarter, he was more of a bystander. He missed a short runner at the buzzer with the Cavs up by seven. Chalk in his lungs?

2nd Quarter

Stats: 6 pts, 1 rb, 2 ast, 2-5 FG, 2-3 FT

Highlight: James banged into a Bucks defender on his way to the hoop, flipping the ball underhand off the glass and in with 1:09 to go. Ensuing free throw = success.

Briefing: That seven-point lead transformed into a four-point deficit by the time James and Love returned with 7:21 left. James was involved in more plays in the second quarter, some of them good. He rifled a bounce pass between defenders to Shawn Marion for a dunk (good). He also had two turnovers, missed a layup, and was well short on a three-pointer to close the period (not as good).

3rd Quarter

Stats: 4 pts, 1 rb, 3 ast, 1-2 FG, 2-4 FT

Highlight: With Jabari Parker barreling toward him, James stood his ground and drew the foul with 1:06 remaining.

Briefing: Four turnovers and two missed free throws for James in the third quarter did little to shake the look and feel of this one. But he also continued to find Anderson Varejao for buckets, and James' free throw with 20.9 seconds left tied the score at 79, setting up a fourth-quarter showdown. Irving scored 10 in the third.

4th Quarter

Stats: 15 pts, 2 rbs, 2 ast, 3-5 FG, 9-12 FT

Highlight: James found Tristan Thompson cutting behind the Bucks defense for an alley-oop with 1:44 to go.

Briefing: Easily his best. James closed this game with a steely nerve at the foul line, making 7-of-8 in the final 25 seconds. James also had two strong drives to the basket, but it as the charity stripe (where overall he struggled) that he sealed this one.

Totals: 26 pts, 5 rbs, 10 ast, 6-15 FG, 14-21 FT, 41 mins

Cleveland Cavaliers extend win streak to 4 with a scrappy win over Bucks

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The Cavaliers narrowly escape the young Bucks with a 111-108 win at home to extend their winning streak.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A young team that is having success early makes for a fearless, scary opponent.

The Cavaliers (9-7) found that out about the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday in a hard-fought 111-108 win at The Q to extend their winning streak to four.

The young, scrappy Bucks put up a quality fight as they demonstrated their continued growth in Jason Kidd's system. Their 10-9 record indicates a group of individuals believing in the system set out by their coach.

"I have a young group of guys that are willing to learn and want to get better," Kidd told Northeast Ohio Media Group before the game. "They are buying in and that's one of the reason why we have got off to such a quick start."

Kevin Love continues to operate with the hot hand. He supplied 17 of his 27 points in the opening quarter to go with 10 rebounds. He snagged his eighth double-double of the season. However, he did commit a game-high seven turnovers.

In his last three games he is averaging 25.3 points and shooting 66 percent from the floor. He left in the final minutes Tuesday with what appeared to be a mild right-foot injury.

Kyrie Irving recorded 28 points and six assists. LeBron James was sluggish offensively, converting on six of 15 field goals taken. But he finished with 26 points, five rebounds and 10 assists, making several key plays in a nip-and-tuck fourth quarter. James was 14-of-21 from the charity stripe and committed six turnovers.

Cleveland's bench underwhelmed for much of the game until Mike Miller and Tristan Thompson picked up the pace with a combined 10 second-half points. They combined for all of Cleveland's 12 bench points.

Brandon Knight made Kyrie Irving work. When Irving had no backside help, Knight attacked early and often, scoring 27 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out eight assists.

Rookie forward Jabari Parker exhibited his scoring versatility. He did his work early in the paint and then took his defender outside where he has a quickness advantage over most power forwards.

The 19-year-old registered 22 points and eight rebounds. He was one point shy of tying his career high in points.

Bucks forward Ersan IIyasova (nine points) suffered a facial contusion in the first half and did not return.

Play of the Game

It was midway in the second quarter and James had the eyes of three Bucks watching him dribble on the wing. He threw a bounce pass across the court to Shawn Marion and Marion slammed in a one-handed dunk in the face of Larry Sanders.

Who's on deck?

Cleveland will embark on a three-game road trip starting with the New York Knicks on Thursday. The Knicks handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the season on opening night at The Q.


Brian Hoyer to start over Johnny Manziel: Reaction from around the web

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Check out reaction on Mike Pettine's decision to start Brian Hoyer on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns head coach Mike Pettine's decision to start Brian Hoyer on Sunday against the Colts seems like the safe pick -- Hoyer's recent performance notwithstanding. Still, it has some wondering if the Browns are passing on an opportunity to create a spark.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Browns are giving something up by not starting Manziel:

"Make no mistake, the Browns give up something by not starting Johnny Manziel, something the offense needs.
"Playmaking. Instincts. Athleticism.
"Manziel is a threat to take off and run off play-action.
"He is a threat to turn a dead play into something positive.
Backyard ball? Maybe. But backyard ball can thrive for four to six games until defenses adjust."

ESPN's Pat McManamon writes that the reinvigorated quarterback discussion provides an opportunity to utilize Manziel's skill set:

"That is to keep the Johnny Manziel option ready and available, and to use it in the right time and circumstance.
"It may well help win the game."

Prior to the announcement, WaitingForNextYear.com's Craig Lyndall and Colin Hass-Hill posted differing opinions on the quarterback situation.

First, Hass-Hill on the argument against Hoyer:

"The argument for starting Hoyer over Manziel has always been and remains that Hoyer is a better quarterback right now and can win more games this season than the rookie. But, it is sometimes hard to separate a quarterback who wins games from a quarterback who is on a winning team which is what I feel the issue is with Hoyer, this season. He played well in a couple games, notably in the big win against the Steelers, but his good games are out-weighed by a few the porous performances, notably against Houston, Atlanta, and Buffalo."

And Lyndall on the argument for Hoyer:

"I'm guessing Brian Hoyer is still more prepared to make pre-snap reads to take advantage of a linebacker in coverage. I would assume Hoyer is still the best guy to work with the Browns’ inexperienced center and two rookie running backs in getting plays set up and avoiding procedural penalties. I would guess Brian Hoyer still has the support of his teammates and I’d like to see how Hoyer plays knowing this will be his final shot to lead them if he struggles."

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco isn't a fan of the decision:

Surprisingly, ESPN's Skip Bayless was OK with the choice.

We have complete coverage of the quarterback decision at cleveland.com/browns and will talk about it live tonight at 7:30 on Browns Insider.

Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics talking trade for Brandon Moss

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The Indians are interested in acquiring Brandon Moss from the A's.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are talking trade with the Oakland Athletics. They reportedly are interested in first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss.

John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group was the first to report the Indians' interest in Moss. GM Chris Antonetti and his staff have been huddled since Wednesday morning at the executive offices at Progressive Field discussing a deal.

It's not known what the A's want in return for Moss should he stay at the center of these talks, which have continued to swirl the last couple of days.

On Friday A's GM Billy Beane traded MVP candidate Josh Donaldson to Toronto for second baseman Brett Lawrie, 18-year-old shortstop Franklin Barretto and young staring pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin.

If the Donaldson trade is any indication, it appears Beane is once again reshaping the A's with an eye toward the future. In that regard, the A's could be seeking young middle infielders and pitchers.

Shortstop Erik Gonzalez, who hit .357 (46-for-129) at Class AA Akron this year, is a possibility. The Indians have Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor in front of Gonzalez. Utility man Mike Aviles is also a proven big-league shortstop.

It's unclear how deep the Indians would want to go into their pitching depth, but they have some in the rotation.

The A's are also reportedly shopping right-hander Jeff Samardzija, acquired at the trading deadline last season from the Cubs. Samardzija went 7-13 in 33 starts, but posted a 2.99 ERA in 219 2/3 innings.

He has not been mentioned, according to sources, in the current trade talks between the Indians and A's. 

Moss hit .234 (117-for-500) with 25 homers and 81 RBI last season. He appeared in 147 games, 67 at first, 56 in left field, 34 in right, 12 at DH and 12 as a pinch-hitter.

The 31-year-old Moss, who bats left-handed, is eligible for arbitration in January. He made $4.1 million this year and will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season.

The Indians have been looking for a way to upgrade their offense. They have spent a big chunk of the off-season looking for a hitter to play a corner position. Moss could bring that search to an end.  

Moss made his big league debut with the Red Sox in 2008 when Tribe manager Terry Francona was in Boston. He was traded to Pittsburgh, played with the Phillies in 2011 and has spent the last three years in Oakland.

Colts LB D'Qwell Jackson, on this week's return to Cleveland: 'I loved every minute of being in Cleveland when I was there'

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A lot has changed for veteran linebacker D'Qwell Jackson when he relocated from Cleveland to Indianapolis over the off-season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- D'Qwell Jackson didn't feel right wearing colors other than orange and brown. The first time he placed an Indianapolis Colts helmet onto his head, he acknowledged the strange feeling.

"I quickly got over that," Jackson said Wednesday on a conference call with Cleveland reporters.

A lot changed for the veteran linebacker when he relocated from Cleveland to Indianapolis over the off-season. He had new colors, blue and white. He had heightened expectations, plastered all over the walls of the team's facilities. Every which way he walked, he encountered reminders of past AFC South titles and postseason trials.

Not everything changed, though. A handful of familiar faces eased his transition to the Colts. On Sunday, Jackson and a slew of other former Browns, including Trent Richardson, Josh Cribbs and Mike Adams, will return to FirstEnergy Stadium.

"This is the first time I'll be going through something like this," Jackson said. "I was drafted there. I spent a lot of time there. At one point, I thought I was going to finish my career there. Things obviously have changed. Things have been good for me here.

"Going back, in a sense it's almost like playing a home game away from home. I'm used to that stadium. I'm used to the elements. It's where I played the majority of my career. It's going to be good to see the guys that I built a lot of relationships with. But once the whistle blows, it's down to football."

Jackson spent the first eight years of his career with Cleveland. The Browns made him the 34th overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was a starter during his rookie season and never looked back. Now, he's a senior citizen counted on to provide leadership and guidance, as well as tackles.

"He's a great mentor," said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. "He's great for the young guys. He's been tremendous."

Richardson said he has leaned on Jackson plenty during his three years in the league.

"There's so much more to D'Qwell to me than just football," Richardson said. "He's always been a big inspiration and a leader to me."

Jackson admitted he had plenty of anxiety once the Browns severed ties with him in late February. A week later, the Colts scooped him up and inked him to a four-year pact.

"You don't know how things are going to turn out," Jackson said. "Once I signed that contract and met with Coach Pagano and the defensive staff, I felt like this was the place for me."

Still, it's a different place.

"I'm just fortunate enough to still be able to play this game that I love," Jackson said. "I loved every minute of being in Cleveland when I was there."

More from Jackson:

On whether he thinks the Browns will deploy a Johnny Manziel package on Sunday: "I think at some point, there's a good chance we could see Johnny Manziel. If I were to put my offensive coordinator hat on, I would probably sprinkle in a little, just to keep us honest and on our heels."

On Josh Cribbs saying he'll jump into the Dawg Pound if he scores a touchdown: "I'll tell you this, if I ever make a play and if I'm in the end zone, I'm definitely not jumping in the Dawg Pound. I can guarantee that."

On his relationship with Rob Chudzinski, who serves as a special assistant for the Colts: "I think Chud probably had a lot to do with me being here. When I was on their radar, I'm sure they picked his brain about what type of player and guy I was."

Funeral for Ohio State's Kosta Karageorge packed by family, friends, teammates

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More than 600 mourners turned out for a standing-room-only service for the 22-year-old, whose body was found Sunday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- More than 600 family members, friends and teammates filled Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus in Wednesday morning for the funeral of Ohio State wrestler and walk-on football player Kosta Karageorge.

The line to greet his family wrapped through the church for two hours before the standing-room-only service, which remembered Karageorge for his passion, particularly his "yeah, baby" shout before football practice that had been retold by teammates earlier this week.

Three Ohio State buses brought teammates to the funeral, with football players and staffers, and wrestlers and coaches, filling the pews along with family and friends from Ohio State and Thomas Worthington High School, just outside Columbus. Some of his former teammates were among those who helped carry Karageorge's casket from the cathedral.

Karageorge, 22, was found dead on Sunday afternoon, 4 1/2 days after he left his Columbus apartment just south of Ohio State's campus about 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, looking to clear his head with a walk.

Police have said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though the investigation is not final. His family has said he suffered from several concussions, and he sent his family a text message just before he was seen for the last time that complained about what concussions had done to his mental state.

There will be a time for more answers about what led to Karageorge's death. Wednesday was a time to reflect on his life, which was filled with stories that friends shared at a vigil on on campus on Sunday and that football teammates have shared this week.

"Kosta was a beloved son, brother, nephew, grandson, cousin, and friend. His untimely death has shocked and devastated all that knew him," his family said as part of a statement released on Tuesday night.

Ohio State will wear a helmet decal in Karageorge's honor for the Buckeyes' Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin on Saturday. The Big Ten also plans to hold a moment of silence for Kostageorge at the game.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound backup defensive tackle was lauded by teammates for his practice work despite the fact Karageorge joined the football team for the first time this season and never made it into a game.

Teammate Pat Elflein said he wants the Buckeyes to get a Big Ten Championship ring for their friend.

"He's put in the work to deserve that," Elflein said.

Fantasy football QB rankings: Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Sanchez face tough Week 14 matchups

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The best and worst matchups for quarterbacks in fantasy football leagues this week.

*This content is provided by our sister site, PennLive.com. For additional resources, check out PennLive.com's complete fantasy football coverage.

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A look at the best and worst matchups for quarterbacks in fantasy football leagues this week, including projected top 20 rankings:

THREE UP

Tony Romo, DAL, at Chicago: While Romo no longer ranks among the NFL's elite quarterbacks, he could produce numbers that are in that neighborhood in Chicago. The Bears have had their struggles across the board but are particularly having problems defending the pass. Among the biggest producers have been Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 10 touchdowns in two meetings; Tom Brady, who torched them for five touchdowns in Week 8, and Matthew Stafford who registered 390 yards and two scores on Thanksgiving day. Romo is coming off a subpar Week 13 effort but gets nudged back into QB1 territory, even as the season hits a month that hasn't historically been good to him.

Ryan Tannehill, MIA, vs. Baltimore: It's safe to call Week 13 a letdown for Tannehill and the Dolphins, who barely escaped MetLife Stadium with an ugly 16-13 win over the struggling Jets. Tannehill failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time all season and managed just 235 yards and an interception. A return trip to South Florida to face a lackluster Ravens pass defense should help Tannehill get back on track after he threw for nine touchdowns in four games before the Jets debacle. On the other side of the field is a Ravens defense that has generated some pressure, but has also allowed 13 touchdown passes in its last four games, including Ben Roethlisberger's big six-touchdown day in Week 9.

Teddy Bridgewater, MIN, vs. New York Jets: Bridgewater has been on a typical rollercoaster ride for a rookie quarterback with fluctuating yardage totals and just two multi-touchdown performances in nine starts. On the bright side, both of his two-touchdown efforts have come in his last two games against the Packers and Panthers, and Bridgewater stands a chance of making it three in a row against the Jets in Week 14. New York is 2-10 and folding under Rex Ryan and allows more passing touchdowns (27, tie) than any team in the NFL. Bridgewater could be a solid streaming play as a sub for starters with shaky matchups.

THREE DOWN

Ben Roethlisberger, PIT, at Cincinnati: Roethlisberger has a few factors working against him as the Steelers hit the road for a key Week 14 matchup against the Bengals. He was largely ineffective in a loss to the Saints last week as he played through an injury that was later diagnosed as a fractured wrist. Roethlisberger has also been far less effective on the road this season with an 83.2 passer rating, an average of 244 yards per game and six touchdowns to five interceptions in six games, compared to marks of 118.0, 374, 20 and three in six home contests. He's also thrown 20 interceptions in 20 career games against the Bengals, the highest total of any opponent he's ever faced. It's risky to bench Roethlisberger, but historical trends back up the decision.

Mark Sanchez, PHI, vs. Seattle: Sanchez has been effective in five games (four starts) with the Eagles, throwing eight touchdown passes and averaging over 281 yards per game. But the turnover story is worth monitoring after Sanchez threw six interceptions and lost two fumbles in four games before posting a "clean" performance in the Eagles' Week 13 win over the Cowboys. Giveaways have blemished Sanchez's NFL career as he's totaled 97 turnovers (75 interceptions, 22 fumbles lost) in 67 career games. That trend could get ugly against a Seahawks defense that has returned to dominant form by limiting Alex Smith, Drew Stanton and Colin Kaepernick to 378 combined passing yards and zero touchdowns in its last three games.

Joe Flacco, BAL, at Miami: Flacco has taken a small step toward the upper echelon of fantasy quarterbacks this season, thanks in part to a pace for new career-highs in completion percentage (63.1), yardage (3,985 pace) and touchdown passes (27). He's enjoyed a new arsenal of weapons and improved offensive line play while still playing an efficient, not flashy, brand of football. That style has yielded terrific results against soft defenses such as Carolina (3 TDs), Tampa Bay (5 TDs) and San Diego (3 total TDs), but less so against defenses with more bite, including zero-touchdown efforts against Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Playing in Miami against a versatile, aggressive Dolphins defense, Flacco could have similar struggles in fantasy.

WAIVER WATCH

Colt McCoy, WAS, vs. St. Louis: McCoy was outstanding again in his second start of the season with 392 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-27 loss to the Colts. McCoy got the nod over Robert Griffin and made a brand new case for keeping the job over the season's final month. In addition to his big statistical day against the Colts, McCoy also has an upset win over the Cowboys on his season resume. Armed with plenty of weapons and a sound running game, McCoy is playing the "super game manager" role to near-perfection, showing more fantasy potential in Washington than he ever did in Cleveland. The schedule sets up nicely for more value with three home games down the stretch.

TOP 20 RANKINGS

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB, vs. Atlanta
2. Drew Brees, NO, vs. Carolina
3. Peyton Manning, DEN, vs. Buffalo
4. Andrew Luck, IND, at Cleveland
5. Tom Brady, NE, at San Diego
6. Russell Wilson, SEA, at Philadelphia
7. Tony Romo, DAL, at Chicago
8. Jay Cutler, CHI, vs. Dallas
9. Ryan Tannehill, MIA, vs. Baltimore
10. Cam Newton, CAR, at New Orleans

11. Philip Rivers, SD, vs. New England
12. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT, at Cincinnati
13. Matthew Stafford, DET, vs. Tampa Bay
14. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF, at Jacksonville
15. Colin Kaepernick, SF, at Oakland
16. Eli Manning, NYG, at Tennessee
17. Matt Ryan, ATL, at Green Bay
18. Mark Sanchez, PHI, vs. Seattle
19. Teddy Bridgewater, MIN, vs. New York Jets
20. Shaun Hill, STL, at Washington

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