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Inside Solon girls basketball’s 57-53 upset win against Ohio's top-ranked Mason (video, slideshow)

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Solon girls basketball upset Mason 57-53. Mason is ranked No. 1 in the Ohio state AP poll.

Solon girls basketball upset Mason 57-53. Mason is ranked No. 1 in the Ohio state AP poll.


Former Cleveland Browns OC Kyle Shanahan agrees to become Falcons OC

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Former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan take his zone-blocking scheme and play-action passing game to Atlanta.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyle Shanahan, who resigned as Browns offensive coordinator with two years left on his contract, has agreed to become offensive coordinator of the Falcons, a league source confirmed for Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Shanahan is expected to be paired with Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who will be offered the Falcons head coach job after he faces the Patriots in the Super Bowl Feb. 1.

Quinn was a finalist for the Browns' head coach vacancy last year, but they opted not to wait for him to play in the Super Bowl, and hired Mike Pettine instead.

Quinn told cleveland.com after the Super Bowl that he likely would've taken the Browns post had it been offered to him.

A source said Quinn and Shanahan are extremely close, meaning Shanahan probably would've ended up in Cleveland last year even if Quinn had taken the job. Question is, would Shanahan have lasted longer here?

Shanahan asked to be let out of his contract Jan. 8 because of issues with the front office, sources told cleveland.com. The same day Shanahan told Jimmy Haslam he wanted out, the Browns fired quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains and sent receivers coach Mike McDaniel home while they decided his fate.

McDaniel, who parted ways with the Browns last week, came from Washington with Shanahan and will likely join him in Atlanta.

Shanahan also would've had a chance to join the Ravens, according to the Baltimore Sun. Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak agreed to become head coach of the Broncos Sunday night, and Baltimore had Shanahan on their short list. He interviewed with them last year, and they really liked him. Shanahan also interviewed for the Bills head coaching vacancy, a job that went to Rex Ryan, and turned down a chance to interview with the 49ers.

Former Browns CEO Joe Banner, who hired Shanahan last year and made Quinn a finalist for the Browns' job, helped the Falcons with their coaching search this season, and landed two of his favorites from the Browns' search in Shanahan and Quinn.

Meanwhile, the Browns continue their quest for a replacement for Shanahan. They'll interview at least two more candidates this week in Raiders senior offensive assistant Al Saunders and Jets assistant head coach/running backs coach Anthony Lynn.

Seattle Seahawks to face New England Patriots in Super Bowl: Reaction from media, fans and players

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It's the Patriots vs. the Colts in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1.

One team arrives in Super Bowl XLIX coming off a ridiculous comeback that left a quarterback in tears ... and he was on the winning side.

The other team arrives after cooly and efficiently crushing its opponent.

It's the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. For the Seahawks, it's the chance to be the first repeat champion since the Patriots did it after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. For the Patriots, it's a chance for coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady to add to an already impressive winning legacy and for their first championship since the repeat in 2004.

Seattle's chances to defend its title looked remote as they trailed, 19-7, with about four minutes remaining. But Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who had thrown four interceptions, led Seattle to two late touchdowns (one after a successful onside kick), then ended it in overtime with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse for a 28-22 win.

While the Packers let a Super Bowl berth slip away, it was Wilson who was in tears after the improbable and emotional win.

It's a comeback that has USA Today columnist Nancy Armour shaking her head:

Anyone outside the Seahawks locker room who claims to have seen this coming is lying. Seattle was beaten. Done. Finished. The game was so over, some of those devoted Seahawks fans even left early. "The game started off kind of ugly," Wilson said. "But the last three minutes, plus the overtime, is probably as good as it gets." As good as Wilson gets, too. After looking so inept all afternoon, he was brilliant in Seattle's last three drives. Needing to be perfect, he was about as close to it as you can get.

But if it's a dream ending for one team, that means it's a nightmare for the other side, and that's exactly what it was for the Packers as they watched what appeared to be a locked-up trip to the Super Bowl evaporate. Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says it might be one of the worst collapses in NFL history. Dunne points out that the Packers had a chance to bury the Seahawks early but squandered great scoring chances by coming away with only field goals. What really hurt, though, was the Packers' Brandon Bostick had a chance to recover the onside kick, effectively ending the game, but let it slip through his fingers:

"I let my team down, I feel like," Bostick said. "There was a lot on this game. I just feel like if I was able to do my job - my assignment was to block - Jordy would've caught the ball and the game would've been over. ... I felt like I had my hands on the ball," Bostick said. "It just slipped away, I guess. I just got hit and didn't have the ball."

Bostick didn't get much slack from Packers coach Mike McCarthy: "Brandon, just like anything, you get into one of those critical spots, it is important for everybody to do their job," McCarthy said. "Unfortunately that wasn't the case on that play. And that's the result of it."

APTOPIX AFC Championship FootballView full sizeBill Belichick is heading to his sixth Super Bowl as the coach of the New England Patriots.  

There was nothing improbable about the Patriots' win over the Colts. Leading, 17-7, at the half, New England poured it in the third quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points on its way to a 45-7 drubbing of Indianapolis. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck struggled throughout the game, going 12-of-33 for 126 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and Steelers discard LeGarrette Blount ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Now Brady and Belichick are heading to their sixth Super Bowl together. It's the Patriots' eighth appearance overall, tying them with the Cowboys and Steelers for most times in the Super Bowl.

UPDATE: Early Monday morning, Bob Kravitz, a former Plain Dealer columnist now with WTHR.com in Indianapolis, reported the NFL is investigating whether the Patriots deflated footballs used during the AFC Championship Game:

 

The Seahawks have opened as a one-point favorite over the Patriots. Feel free to offer your prediction at the end of the story.

Bill and Ari's Excellent Adventure - A trip to the swamp: Buckeye Breakfast

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Bill and Ari check in from Houma, Louisiana, where they're gearing up for the second leg of their return trip from Dallas. Watch video

HOUMA, La. — The plan was to drive until the road ends and the only way to go any farther was by fan boat, but we ran out of daylight so we're coming to you this morning from Houma, Louisiana.

Those familiar with the show "Swamp People" might recognize the name, but sadly we didn't come across any alligators. Still we both got to see an area of the country worth seeing. That's been one of the great parts of this trip, going through areas we've never been and meeting people we'd otherwise never meet.

Don't worry, we're not taking a break, just finishing off the reporting we did in Texas and loading up for the second leg of our return trip home through Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

Today look out for some more recruiting updates from Ari and a Q&A with DeSoto High School defensive coordinator Mark Howeth, who knows Ohio State associate director of strength and conditioning Anthony Schlegel and took some time to share some thoughts.

And don't forget we'll have stories from our time at the University of Houston, the new home of former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman.

Thanks for following along. Here's our Ohio State coverage from Sunday:

'It's not like I crossed them out' - Why Ohio State is still alive for '16 DeSoto QB Tristen Wallace: Buckeyes recruiting

How Jim Harbaugh recruited Andrew Luck out of Houston and what it could mean for Michigan's future in Texas

DeSoto hallways depict Dontre Wilson as a legend, explain why Ohio State should expect more

Cleveland Browns, other NFL talent evaluators descend on Mobile, Alabama for Senior Bowl week

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The top quarterbacks at the showcase are Baylor's Bryce Petty and Colorado State's Garrett Grayson.

MOBILE, Alabama – Draft season is well underway and NFL talent evaluators get a look at another round of prospects this week during the Reese's Senior Bowl.

While none of the top three draft-eligible quarterbacks are expected to attend, the game, practices and interview sessions give pro scouts plenty to assess. Almost all clubs, including the Browns, will have coaching staffs and management teams in Mobile. They can speak with players after practices and in the lobby of the team hotel.

The Browns have a pair of first-round picks – No. 12 and No. 19 (courtesy Buffalo) – and needs at quarterback, offensive and defensive line, receiver and perhaps edge rusher. If they don't re-sign Jordan Cameron then tight end becomes a need and these rosters have some intriguing ones.

The two top quarterbacks here are Baylor's Bryce Petty and Colorado State's Garrett Grayson. Fans will get an opportunity to watch practices and the game on the NFL Network.

Coaching staffs from the Titans and Jaguars will coach the sides.

Cleveland.com will provide coverage starting Tuesday morning. Here is a quick primer:

Preview show: Monday night at 10:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.

The rosters: North and South.

Players from Ohio colleges: WR Devin Smith (Ohio State), DB Doran Grant (Ohio State), DB Quinten Rollins (Miami University), TE Casey Pierce (Kent State).

Practice schedules: Tuesday through Thursday. NFL Network will air highlights from them each day starting at 3 p.m.

Game: Saturday, 4 p.m., at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.

See how coaches can nominate an athlete for Players of the Week (deadline today at noon)

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Find out how coaches can nominate an athlete for Players of the Week.

Find out how coaches can nominate an athlete for Players of the Week.

Ohio State National Championship celebrated at OSU Alumni Club banquet: 'It's like Christmas times 100'

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Check out photos, video and quotes from Sunday night's banquet in Cleveland from former coach John Cooper and other members of the 1994 OSU team that was honored, while everyone talked national title. Watch video

CLEVELAND -- In the end, sitting alone in a Tampa hotel room Monday night, John Cooper wasn't that surprised. It was everything up until Monday night that surprised him about Ohio State's season.

"I thought we had a better football team than Oregon. Now, I've got to admit, I was a little surprised with Alabama. I thought we'd have more trouble with Alabama than we did," Cooper said. "I didn't think we could beat Alabama."

When the Buckeyes did that in a College Football Playoff semifinal, then downed Oregon in the National Championship last Monday, Cooper felt the way everyone else at the OSU Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland annual football banquet Sunday night felt.

"I was obviously very, very pleased," Cooper said, "and proud to be a Buckeye."

That pride was obvious Sunday night at Windows on the River in the Flats as about 200 fans and alumni turned out for the 62nd Annual Football Appreciation Banquet put on by the Cleveland-area OSU alumni chapter. The event serves as a fundraiser for scholarships handed out to OSU students and typically wraps up the year for Northeast Ohio Buckeye diehards.

In years past, the event was always the Tuesday after the Michigan game. In recent years, that has changed, as the gathering has also been forced, by NCAA rules and precautions, to morph from an event specifically honoring current players to one that celebrates the past.

So while everyone, less than a week removed, was obviously talking national title, the theme of the evening was the 20-year anniversary of the 1994 OSU team, Cooper's first that beat Michigan.

Last year, the event honored past Heisman Trophy winners and featured Archie Griffin and Eddie George. Two years ago, it served as the 10-year anniversary of the 2002 national champs, with Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett among those in attendance.

This year, Cooper was there along with several members of the 1994 team: running back Pepe Pearson, cornerback Ty Howard, linebacker Ryan Miller, fullback Matt Calhoun and tight end Bob Houser.

Miller served as the master of ceremonies for a roundtable discussion. It was fun to look back 20 years. But it was also nice to look back just six days.

"What's so exciting for us as former players and as Buckeye fans throughout the country is the fact that I'm not so sure many of us would have anticipated it would end with a national championship," Miller said. "As Buckeyes we think Ohio State should win it every year. But realistically, after the first few games of the year, the realistic view would have been it's going to be tough to capture it this year. That makes it even that much sweeter."

"We were not that good early in the year," said Cooper, who a week ago was checking out prospects at the East-West Shrine Game practices while consulting for the Cincinnati Bengals, which is why he was in Tampa for the game Monday. "No question about it. But we kept getting better and better. Credit goes to the coaching staff. Great, great coaching job by Urban Meyer this year."

"For Buckeye fans who thirst for a national championship every year, to get it after such a crazy turn of events," Miller said, "it's like Christmas times 100."

Restoring Joe Paterno's vacated wins or Ohio State's erased 2010 wins would change neither's legacy: Bill Livingston

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Joe Paterno's legacy of negligence in the sexual assault case will remain. So would Ohio State's legacy of ineligible players in 2010. But it is dishonest to pretend the season never happened.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – By doing the least possible in the biggest moral crisis of both his life and American sports history, Joe Paterno posthumously received the biggest honor he could get, short of exoneration last week.

The NCAA restored Paterno's place at the top of the coaching heap. By returning 111 victories "vacated" in the Jerry Sandusky sexual assault scandal, the ruling gave the late Paterno 409 victories for his career, the most ever.

Some victory.

At best, Paterno, a symbol of moral rectitude for decades, passed the buck to his superiors when the first allegations surfaced 17 years ago about his long-time defensive coordinator, Sandusky, who was later convicted on 45 counts of sex-abuse of young boys.

At worst, Paterno helped cover up the horror to protect the Penn State program and its image.

The NCAA backed down when faced with a coming trial about the constitutionality of its actions. By imposing such severe penalties on Penn State, the organization intruded on the area of criminal justice, which is beyond its jurisdiction of policing competitive balance infractions.

A representative list of such infractions would include paying players (SMU),  revelations that a booster rewarded players with drugs and hookers (Miami), and discovering that a coach lied about players receiving discounted tattoos in exchange for game memorabilia (Ohio State.)

One should ponder that sentence for a moment to understand how trifling were Ohio State's infractions, compared to those at Penn State.

Still, all the Buckeyes' victories in the 2010 season were "vacated" by the NCAA, just as were, for a time, all the victories from the first barely heeded alarm about Sandusky by Paterno in 1998 until the long-time coach's firing in 2011.

Ohio State deserved to be punished. Former coach Jim Tressel knowingly played players who were ineligible under NCAA rules. Selling memorabilia for free or discounted tattoos, even if the trinkets and jerseys were the players' property, is a violation of the "improper benefits" language in the NCAA rulebook.

By falsely denying knowledge of the violations, Tressel gave his team an unfair advantage. What he did was punishable by firing under the rules.

The NCAA and bowl sponsors, however, cynically granted full rights and privileges to the Ohio State violators, at least as far as playing in the 2011 Sugar Bowl went. Gate revenue and television ratings were at stake. Both would have been much reduced without the star players.

It was only when Tressel's cover-up came to light that the heaviest penalties came down -- vacated wins in 2010 and the 2011 Sugar Bowl, in addition to  bowl ineligibility for the undefeated 2012 team.

Vacating victories smacks of the concept of an "unperson" in George Orwell's "1984." An "unperson" is one who has been vaporized, his name erased from all official records, his achievements rewritten in official histories to remove the credit he was due.

Soviet bureaucrats who ran afoul of Josef Stalin became unpersons.

Former Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger, a man who was world-class in building athletic facilities and holding grudges, ordered photos of controversial running back Maurice Clarett excised from a montage that celebrated the 2002 national championship team at the Buckeye Sports Café in Columbus. The café was where Tressel held his Monday news conferences in those years.

"Vacating" Clarett from the montage was simply an arbitrary act by a vengeful man.

"Vacating" is all the rage these days, though, no matter that it rewrites history by ignoring it.

Baseball writers in effect vacate the entire steroids era by refusing to vote for the top players in it for the Hall of Fame if they were even suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The Hall of Fame will never be complete until the era is recognized with such players' admission by asterisk, as in "Barry Bonds  (*steroid era)."

In the same way, Ohio State's 2010 wins should be restored. The official summary of the season should read: "Record: 12-1, Big Ten co-champions, Sugar Bowl champions. (*Conference and bowl championships revoked for using ineligible players.)"

You can't un-ring a Victory Bell. Terrelle Pryor's 13-yard scramble in 2010 on fourth-and-10 from midfield at Iowa will remain his signature Ohio State play. No one who saw it will forget it.

Not even restoring Paterno's victories can change his legacy and that of Penn State's top administrators. The program's motto was "Success with honor." Sandusky is their shame and legacy, not victory and validation.

Restoring the wins is an empty accolade for leadership devoid of honor when it was needed most.


Meet four-star CB Jared Mayden, an elite Texas propsect Ohio State has a real shot to land: Buckeyes recruiting

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"They don't have to change anything they've been doing," Mayden said of Ohio State. "Just keep talking to me, talk to my parents, get them comfortable and get me comfortable leaving the state." Watch video

SACSHE, Texas – Like many prospects located a flight away from Ohio, Jared Mayden expressed public interest in Ohio State from the time he got a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes. 

But when dealing with a prospect who lives far away like Mayden – a four-star corner of Sacshe, Texas – Ohio State needs more than public admiration to know the player is serious. 

• A day at Houston powerhouse North Shore explains why not all Ohio State scholarship offers are equal: Buckeyes recruiting

Mayden wasn't all talk, and that was evident when he took an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Michigan game in November. 

Now the Buckeyes are in Mayden's top five along with Oregon, TCU, Baylor and Rice, and he's a real Dallas-area prospect the Buckeyes have a legitimate shot at landing.

And he is saying things like this ... 

"I don't see myself going to the SEC," he told cleveland.com during an in-person interview last week. "It's not what conference I want to play in. I want to be in a difference conference.

"People think it's SEC and everyone else, but obviously SEC isn't that higher echelon (conference anymore) because it was Big Ten vs. Pac 12 in the national championship." 

Rated by 247Sports the No. 8 cornerback in the 2016 recruiting class, Mayden also earned scholarship offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Mississippi, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, Wisconsin and many others before narrowing his decision. 

The 6-foot, 190-pound Mayden hopes to soon narrow his list to three and is banking on an invitation to "The Opening" camp in Oregon during the summer, one that hosts the nation's top prospects. If invited, Mayden will announce his decision there. 

Ohio State is making its push to land in that top three. Mayden said the Buckeyes cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs and co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash make constant effort to communicate. 

Pulling a prosprect from Texas is hard, but Mayden said he could see himself leaving. It's all about the relationship he continues to build with Ohio State's assistants. It also doesn't hurt that Mayden stayed with Dontre Wilson – a prospect who starred at DeSoto, Texas, before becoming a Buckeye – during his unofficial visit. 

"They don't have to change anything they've been doing," Mayden said of Ohio State. "Just keep talking to me, talk to my parents, get them comfortable and get me comfortable leaving the state." 

It's surprising that Mayden would rule out the SEC considering the area of the country in which he lives, but he has simply been impressed with the other programs recruiting him. 

TCU and Baylor have the in-state pull, Oregon has become known as the top program on the West Coast and his older brother plays for Rice. 

As for the Buckeyes? They just won a national championship, beating the Ducks in Dallas last Monday. 

"I don't think how people view Ohio State is much different because people always know that Ohio State is good," Mayden said. "They never have a bad year. Now it's more like they are on their A-Game, especially because they have three quarterbacks coming backs who can start." 

So now crunch time starts for Ohio State with Mayden. 

And the Buckeyes have a real shot. 

Cleveland Browns fans wonder about Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon (as usual) -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

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Cleveland sport fans wonder about Johnny Manziel, Josh Gordon and Kevin Love's defense -- Bud Shaw's You Said It.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than a championship is a sense of humor...

YOU SAID IT

(The Normal Size Weekday Edition)

Bud: Just heard Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon were on an airplane together.  I understand they had to pay additional fees because the airline considered them both excess baggage -- Jay

 I can't think of a better way for Manziel and Gordon to improve their images than an offseason trip to Colorado. Unless it's perfect attendance at the Cheech and Chong Tour.

Hey, Bud:  My wife is certain that you actually write all the "You Said It" questions and that they aren't submitted by real people. Who should feel most insulted by that? --  Jerry Kiel, Dublin (OH)

Hard to say. She's wrong, though. All the You Said Its I receive are submitted by real shut-ins and 100 percent genuine misfits. And you, of course.

Hey Bud: This headline caught my eye: "Pro golfer beaten, robbed after missing the cut in Hawaii." Do you think all pro golfer's sponsors get that upset and resort to beatings if their clients miss the cut? – Doug, Westlake

I wouldn't rule out Bob Barker.



Bud: In his first eight years here, LeBron ran the show and ZERO championships; 4 years with Pat Riley in charge in Miami, 4 finals, 2 rings! I see a pattern here, how about you?  -- Russ

When I look at LeBron I do see a pattern I'm sadly familiar with, and, from personal experience, I have no faith that Rogaine is the answer.



Bud: Isn't the real reason Cardale Jones went back to college is he heard the Browns were going to draft him? – Angelo, Cleveland

It's a little premature to draw that conclusion without knowing where the homeless guy has him ranked.

Bud: Which reality show is more likely to happen, "The Kardashian Convent" or "Kevin Loves Defense?" – Nate J., Brunswick

First-time You Said It winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection. Repeat winners receive a dose of one-T-shirt-per-winner reality.

LeBron James passed the eye test and everything else you need to know about him this week

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LeBron James did more than pass the eye test last week. His numbers tell the truth.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James let everyone know how things were going to be on his second shot upon return from vacation.

There it was, at 8:14 of the first quarter against Phoenix, LeBron James caught the Suns in a switch and blew past Alex Len for a dunk.

That James drove around a 7-foot-1 center isn't news, or at least he shouldn't be. But the velocity with which James attacked the rim and dunked from a reverse angle was startling.

And he's played that way for each of the 118 minutes he's logged since returning from a career-long, two-week hiatus to rehab nagging knee and back injuries.

"I felt better in the last three games than I have the whole season and all 30-plus games that I've appeared in," James told reporters Sunday.

It appears so.

He even looks better when he misses.

More than an eye test

It's not just that James looks more explosive, more like his old self since his return. His numbers are up, nearly universally. Take a look

            Pre-break (29 games through Dec. 28)      Post-break (3 games)

PPG --                 25.2                                                          33.7

RPG --                  5.3                                                            7.7

APG --                  7.6                                                            5.7

FG %                   48.0                                                         52.3

FG % (<5 ft.)       65.0                                                         73.1

FG % (restricted)  64.9                                                         72.0

Dunks/per game     1.0                                                           1.3

Usage %             31.4                                                         35.1

What's it mean?

These numbers support what your eyes are telling you -- James played these last three games at a higher level.

Shotchart_1421642845319.pngLeBron James' shooting chart through Dec. 28, covering his first 29 games before he sat out due to injury. 

He's more involved (usage), dunking more, shooting better, and doing a much better job converting when he attacks the room (restricted area percentage).

I've written before about the danger of using one week's statistics to judge a player, and last week was not the first monster week for James this year.

If James' injuries were because of wear and tear, who's to say he won't revert back to the way he was playing before his recent break?

Shotchart_1421642730599.pngLeBron James' shooting chart for his last three games, all after he sat out for two weeks to rest. 

Editor's note: James wasn't playing bad before his break. To the contrary. The Cavs were 18-11 before he went out and he was the only player in the league averaging better than 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.

It's just, well, he's different. How often had we seen this (below) from him prior to last week?

Stat tracker (top-line numbers, to date)

32 games, 26.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.4 apg, 37.7 mpg

The significance?

The Cavs are halfway through this season -- 41 games in with a 21-20 record. James has missed a career-high nine games due to injury.

The update

Much has been made of James' relationship with coach David Blatt, and James' reaction after he made the play of the Cavs' year -- a pass from out-of-bounds to Tristan Thompson for a layup Friday night -- was viewed as a good thing for the coach.

James was pointing toward the bench, seemingly as a hat tip to Blatt for the play call. But here was James' quote, about his celebration:

"Uh, I was pointing to the coaching staff and my teammates, cuz it was set up for Delly to take the ball out. Once I knew that I was going to be a decoy in the play, and get Kyrie to the top, I told em let me take the ball out, make sure we secure it in, so I pointed to those guys."

No mention of Blatt, when it would've so easy. Two things will make stories of a strained or non-existent relationship between player and coach: Winning, and James taking an opportunity like that one to give Blatt an atta boy.

More Mancias

For my Sunday profile of James' personal trainer, Mike Mancias, I spoke with Joe Resendez, an assistant trainer for the Los Angeles Clippers.

For context, Mancias holds the same title with the Cavaliers, but he is James' personal trainer who went with him from Cleveland to Miami and back, and to two Olympics with James.

I asked Resendez if the Clippers' big stars -- Blake Griffin and Chris Paul -- had personal trainers, for reference. He said they didn't.

Resendez said he suspects the Cavs "know the dynamic between LeBron and Mike, the players have respect for them both, and so I am sure they respect the situation. Mike is such a good dude, he pretty much treats everyone relatively the same as he treats LeBron, whether it's Kyrie or the 15th man on the roster."

Mancias has been seen stretching and working with other Cavaliers before games, such as Kevin Love and Mike Miller.

Tweet of the week (to @joevardon)

Who's next?

Here's a look at the Cavaliers' opponents and how James last performed against them.

Monday vs. Chicago (36 pts, 8 rbs, 5 ast in 114-108 victory on Oct. 31)

Wednesday vs. Utah (31 pts, 3 rbs, 4 ast in 102-100 loss on Nov. 5)

Friday vs. Charlotte (27 pts, 7 rbs, 14 ast in 97-88 victory on Dec. 15)

Sunday vs. Oklahoma City (33.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg in two games last season)

Cleveland Cavaliers have revamped their defense and Iman Shumpert can't wait to contribute

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Iman Shumpert can't wait to join the Cavaliers as they ramp up their defensive intensity.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – If you think the Cavaliers are clicking on the defensive end after smothering the Chicago Bulls in a 108-94 rout, just wait until Iman Shumpert joins the festivities.

"I think I can add a little bit of aggression, a little bit of an attitude on both sides of the floor," said Shumpert, still recovering from a separated shoulder. "That's always been my thing, to carry that and with that comes energy, so I'm just hoping that energy rubs off."

Shumpert, who could log his first minute as a Cavalier on Friday, watched his team lay the smack down on the Bulls Monday night at The Q, putting forth a clinic on how to keep the opponent from scoring. Head coach David Blatt has implemented new defensive coverages tailored to the new acquisitions and it's noticeable.

"Needless to say we've improved some things and they fit well with our new roster," Blatt said. "We've incorporated some new players into our team and we've tried to make changes that suited the skill-set of the new players we bought in and it has."

The perimeter players are playing with a level of freedom and aggressiveness unseen this season, but they are doing so with a purpose. Their defensive stance is open to where the backside help is waiting, and often times, it's big man Timofey Mozgov back there patrolling the paint.

That tactic forces the offensive player to go one way and it's the way of Mozgov Mountain. Derrick Rose had trouble shaking Kyrie Irving, and when he did elude him, he had a mountain to climb and he was unsuccessful in doing so.

"We've changed up our defensive scheme, so a lot of guards are not necessarily getting in our paint as easily," Irving said after producing 18 points and a game-high 12 assists. "You have a seven-footer back there that you have to shoot over every single time that's contesting jump shots. [It] makes it tough for opposing guards."

Rose's statline was 5-of-14 for 18 points in 30 minutes of play. The Bulls shot 37 percent from the field, the second-lowest percentage Cleveland has held an opponent to this season.

"I think this was our best defensive game of the year," Blatt said.

LeBron James led a balanced attack with a game-high 26 points along with five rebounds and four assists. He was asked if he agreed with Blatt's that it was the team's best defensive showing.

"Well, it is because it's the recent one on the mind right now," he said. "We came in with a lot of energy and effort and we competed. That's all you can ask for."

When General Manager David Griffin acquired Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Shumpert, he did so with the objective of adding toughness to a roster that lacked a physical enforcer on the inside and outside.

The Cavaliers have won three straight and are starting to establish a defensive identity, but there's another level to this game plan. As early as Friday, opposing teams may find the defense even tougher with Shumpert, who won't be making any new acquaintances.

"I don't think anybody likes to play against me," Shumpert said. "I would hope nobody likes to play against me. I feel like If I'm going to go all out, there's no way you're going to like me at the end of the game. Until the clock hits zero, you're probably not going to be my friend. I would hope that that's everybody's mindset going into the game that until the clock hits zero, we're not friends."

Shumpert is going to harass, disrupt, talk trash and do whatever is necessary within the confines of the rules. For much of this season, nobody feared the Cavaliers even though they have three of the top 15 players in the league.

The 6-5 guard out of Georgia Tech adds some edge, and it's exactly what the Cavaliers needed.

"If you're on the other team, it might seem like a little bit like negative energy, but if you're in the same locker room as me it's nothing but positive energy I'm going to bring," Shumpert said.

Blatt said when his team lost 10 of 12, he wasn't disturbed because it still had some guys on the mend who were either contributors or would be contributors. Critics called for his job in that span.

Now, the sky appears to be the limit for this team.

Blatt said he knew things would eventually settle down.

"If you have your whole unit and you're playing like whatever, then, OK," Blatt said. "But now we got our guys coming in. We're getting them together, getting them in shape and again, I stress it's a long way to go, but it's coming together."

'There's a blueprint at Ohio State': Success for Tom Herman means building a recruiting wall around Houston

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"Recruiting is like shaving — if you don't do it for a couple days, you look like a jerk," former Ohio State assistant Tom Herman said. "You have to do it all day, every day." Watch video

HOUSTON — The first floor of the Royal Sonesta Hotel in downtown Houston wasn't all that lively for a Friday afternoon, but you could feel the momentum building.

Football staffers from the University of Houston bustled about the lobby, putting the finishing touches on things before recruits started filing into the hotel. One eager staffer popped out of a conference room ready to greet who he thought were a couple of recruits. You can imagine his dismay when he found out they were just some sportswriters looking for new Cougars coach Tom Herman.

Herman wasn't there yet.

The former Ohio State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach was catching a break in his newly-furnished office before heading over to the hotel for a recruiting summit with prospects from the Houston area. But even a few miles away Herman was starting to get his soldiers in place, and beginning to build his wall around Houston.

If he's going to be successful in his first head coaching job, Herman must pull out all the stops to keep the talent in this fertile recruiting ground close to home.

"Certainly the goal is to make sure the kids that are gettable in the city of Houston don't leave," Herman told cleveland.com. "How do we do that? There's a really good blueprint at Ohio State. Recruiting is like shaving — if you don't do it for a couple days, you look like a jerk. You have to do it all day, every day."

IMG_4379.JPGView full sizeFormer Ohio State assistant Tom Herman will be coaching in the new TDECU Stadium at the University of Houston. 

Possible offense to any bearded recruits aside, Herman knows what he's doing when it comes to recruiting Texas. That's part of what landed him his job at Houston. The work he did with Ohio State's quarterbacks is also significant, as is his new national championship ring, but this business is about recruiting and Herman does it well. 

The Houston job is a special one in that Herman can build a strong program by going after players in the 60-mile radius. Much like Urban Meyer wants to build a wall around the state of Ohio, Herman wants to make Houston a must-land area for local prospects in the same way Kevin Sumlin and Art Briles did.

The pieces are starting to come together. There's an athletic department more willing than ever to pour money into the football program, and a shiny new on-campus stadium that, among other things, is a way to get high school players on campus by hosting playoff games.

"He's been at places that don't have all of the resources, and he had to learn how to be creative," Houston athletic director Mack Rhoades told cleveland.com. "He had to outwork people, be resourceful. Here's a guy that comes into our place that we're trying, every day we're fighting to increase our resources and be like an Ohio State, and he understands that.

"He understands that as well as anybody that we could've talked to, what that feels like, what that takes, how do you get there? The fact that he can relate, the fact that he's respected by the high school coaches, all of that factored in."

All of that is great, but the last part might be the most important. If you want to get Texas kids at your school, you need to have a good relationship with the state's high school coaches.

That comes a bit naturally to a man who's spent the majority of his coaching career in Texas.

"The one thing about Coach Herman is he's got Texas ties," said DeSoto High School offensive coordinator Todd Peterman, who saw first-hand Herman's recruitment of Buckeyes H-back Dontre Wilson and 2016 quarterback Tristen Wallace.

"When he comes in here he knows what Texas coaches are, he's just easy to talk to and he does an exceptional job. I've watched him talk to our kids like Dontre and Tristen, he's good at it. He's a guy you come in and you like him. Coaches like him."

One way to curry favor with the Texas high school coaches? Hire one to your staff. That's what Herman did when he tabbed Houston-area high school coach Corby Meekins as his tight ends coach.

Not to take anything away from Meekins, but that's a calculated move by Herman to endear himself even more to the most powerful force in Texas when it comes to getting the state's high school football players.

"Football is obviously important in Texas, we have a strong coaches association," Houston Stratford coach Eliot Allen told cleveland.com "It's very organized. We lobby at the state level. If you anger the state coaches, you get the door slammed in your face. We don't do that to hold people back, we do that to make sure our kids go to places where the coaches care for them."

That guys like Peterman and Allen remember Herman and have fond memories of him walking through their hallways is a good sign for the future of Houston football.

The fact that Herman was able to get players like J.T. Barrett, Demetrius Knox and Wilson to come to Ohio State might mean more. It's one thing to get Texas players, and that will always be the lifeblood of Herman's program at Houston, it's getting the best ones that makes the difference.

There are plenty for Herman to chose from in his own backyard, that's why when he looked around that new office, with his staff getting the wheels in motion a few miles away, he couldn't help but be excited about the opportunity in front of him.

"Everything we do, every picture we put on the wall, every piece of carpet we put down, everything you do has to be through the lens of a 17- or 18-year old kid and make sure the University of Houston is as appealing as it can be for local prospects," Herman said.

Berea-Midpark girls basketball coach Kevin Braaten answers five questions: Varsity Timeout

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Braaten's Titans are 9-4 and ranked No. 14 this season.

Braaten's Titans are 9-4 and ranked No. 14 this season.

Cleveland Browns' fan dilemma: Is Belichick's or Modell's Super Bowl success more deflating? -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

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What's more deflating for Cleveland Browns' fans? Super Bowl success in New England or in Baltimore -- Bud Shaw's You Said It.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than a championship is a sense of humor...

YOU SAID IT

(The Average Sized Weekday Edition)

Bud: So Bill Belichick used to coach the Browns and now he's headed to his 6th Super Bowl. How deflating is that? – Tom Hoffner, Broadview Heights

I'd have to put it to a vote. But I'd guess not as deflating as one Art Modell Super Bowl jig.

Bud: Prior to moving to the NFL did Bill Belichick install the parquet floor at the Boston Garden? -- Tony Supan, Beachwood

Remember "Casablanca" when Captain Renault said, "Round up the usual suspects?" He had Belichick in mind.



Bud: Is it too late for Manziel and Gilbert to go back to school? -- Matt D. Brunswick

Not if you mean Hard Knocks.

Hey Bud: Now we know if the Browns ever make the AFC Championship game again how they will lose – Ron Glazer, Orange

How? Fozzy Whittakered on an onsides kick? Or death by Belichick?



Bud: Is it true that Austin Carr's catch phrase "Get that weak stuff outta here!" was actually coined by your editor? -- Dave Graskemper

First-time You Said It winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

Bud: But couldn't Bill Belichick suck the air out of a football just walking by? – Michael Sarro

Repeat winners suffer a T-shirt deflation.

Bud: Which had the greater impact on these two players' respective careers, Tom Brady and the 'Tuck Rule' or Ray Lewis and a 'Plea Bargain'? -- Jim Corrigan, Fairview Park

Repeat winners are judged by their peers.


North Royalton wrestler Cameron Mayell answers five questions: Varsity Timeout

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Cameron Mayell discusses his goal of reaching the state tournament.

Cameron Mayell discusses his goal of reaching the state tournament.

Cleveland Indians set minor league staffs: Travis Fryman, Carl Willis return to field

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Former Tribe All-Star Travis Fryman will manage Class A Mahoning Valley this year, while Carl Willis will be the pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two familiar names to Indians fans are returning to the minor league fields for the organization this year.

Travis Fryman, former All-Star third baseman, will manage at Class A Mahoning Valley. Fryman, who played for the Indians from 1998 through 2002, managed Mahoning Valley from 2008 through 2010. He's been a minor league infield coordinator and special assistant to baseball operations for the last four years.

Carl Willis, Indians pitching coach from 2003 through 2009, will be the pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus. Willis rejoined the Indians last season as a special assistant to baseball operations after being Seattle's pitching coach from 2010 through 2013 under Eric Wedge.

In other changes in the minor league system, Mark Budzinski will manage Class A Lynchburg, the Indians new affiliate in the Carolina League, after managing Class A Lake County last year. Shaun Larkin will manage at Class A Lake County after serving as its hitting coach last year.

Scooter Tucker, who managed Class A Carolina last season, will be the Tribe's catching coordinator, while Jim Rickon has been named hitting coordinator. Rickon was the hitting coach at Columbus last year.

Rouglas Odor will replace Rickon as hitting coach at Columbus after holding the same job last season at Class AA Akron. Tony Mansolino, hitting coach at Class A Carolina last year, replaces Odor at Akron.

Eric Binder has been promoted to assistant director of player development under Carter Hawkins, who is entering his first year as director of player development. Binder spent the last two years as an intern in the baseball operations department.

The Indians hired Bobby Magallanes as the new hitting coach for their rookie league club in Arizona and Larry Day as hitting coach for Mahoning Valley. Ken Knutson joins the organization as coordinator of pitching programs and rehab. Knutson, the former head coach at the University of Washington and pitching coach at Arizona State, will oversee throwing programs and the care and feeding of the Tribe's young arms.

Former Tribe right-hander Steve Karsay will be the pitching coach at Lake County after joining the organization last year as Carolina's pitching coach. Tony Arnold, pitching coach at Columbus for the last two years, begins his 23rd year in the organization as Lynchburg's pitching coach.

Chris Tremie returns for his third straight season as manager at Columbus. David Wallace will be back for his second straight year as manager at Akron and Anthony Medrano will manage the Tribe's rookie league Arizona team for the fifth straight season.

Jose Mejia begins his third year as field coordinator and manager of the Indians Dominican Summer League team. His staff includes newcomers pitching coach Carlos Yan, hitting coach Danny Bautista, outfield and baserunning coach Jesus Tavarez, tryout coach Lionel Vargas and trainer Gabriel Garcia.

The Indians named Ceci Clark as their new performance coach.

The Indians are still looking for a hitting coach at Lynchburg.

John Carroll, Baldwin Wallace women's and men's basketball showdowns Wednesday

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After her 500th career victory, BW coach Cheri Harrer turns her attention to beating crosstown rival John Carroll with first place at stake.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace women's basketball coach Cheri Harrer sat in her office enjoying the fruits of victory. Really, there was fruit, and it was from one very big victory.

"I'm snacking on an Edible Arrangement from a bunch of our alums,'' she said over the phone Monday. "I came in from practice, and there it sat on my desk.''

The bouquet was in honor of Harrer's 500th career victory Friday at Ohio Northern. Her former players knew to send it to her office, where Harrer virtually has lived during this and every one of her previous 24 seasons at BW.

"This is true,'' she said.

Harrer is highly regarded on and off the court and has heard from a wide range of people since her latest milestone.

"The coolest thing about it is the outpouring of support from alums and people that are associated with our program, or that we have met along the way,'' she said.

Harrer (500-182, .734 winning percentage) is second all-time among Ohio Athletic Conference women's coaches behind Capital's Dixie Jeffers (651).

Harrer's teams have won 13 OAC championships (eight regular-season titles and five OAC Tournaments), and have 12 NCAA Division III tournament appearances. They advanced to five "Sweet 16s,'' including last season, and three "Elite Eights.''

"I look at Cheri and Dixie and what they have given to this game for an extended period of time, and they are deserving of the respect and accolades they receive,'' JCU coach Kelly Morrone said. "They are two permanent fixtures who set the standard.''

Looking for 501: No. 500 was important for another reason. The 69-64 victory at Ohio Northern dropped ONU into a first-place tie with BW and John Carroll at 7-1.

BW (12-3 overall) plays host to John Carroll (14-1) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in their first meeting this season. Harrer will be honored before tipoff.

John Carroll has won eight straight since a loss to Ohio Northern on Dec. 6. Baldwin Wallace has won nine of its last 10 since a loss to Mount Union.

Wednesday's first-place showdown and crosstown rivalry features teams with little in common other than success.

Fast-paced John Carroll's 73.9 points per game leads the OAC by four points. Guard Katlyn Spahar's 18.2 points per game leads the league and guard Beth Switzler's 14.2 points ranks fourth. Switzler is second in field goal percentage (56.8) and rebounds (8.5).

Spahar (5-9) is the sophomore sister of Missy Spehar, who graduated last year as JCU's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and was the OAC's Player of the Year.

"(Katlyn Spahar) is a tough matchup because she's long and she's effective,'' Morrone said. "Rarely do you see her outside what she's comfortable doing.''

JCU could be without third-leading scorer and center Megan Weber, who has an ankle injury.

Baldwin Wallace is averaging just 64.1 points, which ranks ninth, but its 53.1 points allowed leads the OAC by six points. BW is limiting opponents to 33.6 field goal percentage, and that ranks 22nd in the nation.

JCU also plays solid defense and is holding opponents to 62.7 points per game.

"They are very, very talented,'' Harrer said.

Forward Audrey Smolik's 12.1 points lead BW. Guard Janaya Feaster is the OAC Player of the Week after scoring 30 points off the bench in wins against Ohio Northern and Heidelberg.

BW-JCU men's showdown: The rivalry isn't limited to the women Wednesday.

John Carroll (10-4, 6-2) and Baldwin Wallace (12-3, 6-2) men play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at JCU. They are tied for third place behind Marietta (8-0) and Mount Union (7-1).

JCU is reeling from a 95-92 loss at Mount Union last week. The Blue Streaks blew a 90-83 lead. BW has won eight straight.

BW senior guard Justin Roth is the OAC's leading scorer at 17.8 points per game. Freshman freshman guard Cameron Kuhn, last week's OAC Player of the Week, is averaging 18.7 points in his last six games and has made 37 consecutive free throws.

John Carroll continues to use its two-platoon rotation and has six players averaging more than 9.5 points per game, led by forward Jake Hollinger's 13 points in 23 minutes per game.

Senior Bowl prospects who could be of interest to the Cleveland Browns (slideshow)

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The Browns have multiple draft picks in the first, fourth and sixth rounds.

MOBILE, Alabama – Browns general manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine are among the slew of NFL personnel in town to evaluate talent – and maybe hire an offensive coordinator – as Reese's Senior Bowl week gets underway Tuesday.

The North and South squads are conducting practices over the next three days. The Browns hold the Nos. 12 and 19 picks in the first round. They also own multiple picks in the fourth and six rounds as well.

Here is a sampling of prospects playing in Saturday's game who might be of interest to the Browns:

DL Danny Shelton (6-1, 327) Washington: The Browns ranked dead last in rush defense in 2014. This husky Husky, likely to be taken in the first round, could help them alleviate the problem. Shelton made 16.5 tackles for loss last season, and possesses good strength and quickness. He demonstrated great ability to shed blockers and was a nightmare to block one-on-one. He's potentially the draft's top nose guard.

With Ahtyba Rubin likely heading to free agency and Phil Taylor coming back from knee surgery, Shelton could get a long look from the Browns.

QB Bryce Petty (6-2, 230 Baylor: The Browns are in the market for a quarterback. (This sentence has been accompanying the team's draft needs since 1999.) The Baylor product is the top signalcaller at the Senior Bowl and NFL personnel will get the opportunity to see him practice under center and out of the comforts of the Bears' spread offense.

With Johnny Manziel already in the fold and a veteran free agent certain to join him, the Browns might not invest a first-round pick in the position. Petty might still be available in the third round. He has decent size and arm strength, but he tends to lock onto receivers and doesn't always follow his progressions. The quarterback has been likened to (welp) Brandon Weeden.  

OT T.J. Clemmings (6-5, 305) Pittsburgh: The lineman made the switch from defense to offense two years ago, and the move has been quite beneficial. He's athletic, long-armed and quick. Clemmings might ultimately project as a better fit at left tackle because of his leaner frame, according to Dane Brguler of CBSSports.com.

The Browns might be looking to upgrade from Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle and Clemmings quickness would be coveted, especially, if they continue to run the wide-zone blocking scheme. He could still be available in the second round. As for perennial left tackle Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, he's available to the Browns through the 2018 season.

Edge rusher Hau'oli Kikaha (6-3, 260) Washington: The Husky led the nation in sacks with 19 a season ago. The question here is whether he possesses enough strength to battle in the trenches.

With Jabaal Sheard potentially headed to free agency, the Browns might consider Kikaha in the second round.

WR Devin Smith: (6-2, 198) Ohio State: The future of Josh Gordon with the franchise remains cloudy after a troubling end to the season that saw him suspended for the final game for missing a walk-thru. That's after serving a 10-game, league-imposed drug ban.

Smith is an excellent deep threat coming off a championship season with the Buckeyes. The Massillon product will get an opportunity this week in practice to show NFL personnel he's also reliable on intermediate routes.

OLB Zach Hodges (6-2, 235) Harvard: He enters the week as one of the top small-college prospects. Harvard coaches used him all over their defense. He possesses terrific quickness and is a relentless defender, showing an ability to drop in coverage. But questions about his lack of strength persist. Browns fans probably read that and envision Barkevious Mingo 2.0.

Cleveland Browns interviewed Mike Martz, former Rams HC, for OC vacancy

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The Browns have now interviewed two out-of-the-league former NFL head coaches in Mike Martz and Chan Gailey.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Looking to enhance their passing game, the Browns have interviewed former Rams head coach Mike Martz for their offensive coordinator vacancy, a league source confirmed for Northeast Ohio Media Group.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported the interview.

Martz, 63, is best known for being the offensive coordinator of "The Greatest Show on Turf,'' -- the high-powered Rams offense that won the Super Bowl after the 1999 season under head coach Dick Vermeil. The Rams' top-ranked offense scored 526 points that season, fourth-most in NFL history.

Martz took over for Vermeil in 2000 and went on to post a 56-36 record in five seasons as the Rams head coach, including 3-4 in postseason. His club went 14-2 in 2001 and lost to New England in the Super Bowl.

Martz has been out of football since he resigned as offensive coordinator of the Bears after the 2011 season for what were believed to be philosophical differences with then head coach Lovie Smith.

Martz is the second former NFL head coach who's been out of football awhile to interview for the job. The other is Chan Gailey, who's been idle since being fired by the Bears in 2012.

Martz' passing offense was 28th in his first season as Bears' coordinator, and he clashed with temperamental quarterback Jay Cutler. But he helped the Bears to a 7-3 start in 2011 before injuries to Cutler and running back Matt Forte.

A member of Martz' 1999 offensive staff, current Raiders senior offensive assistant Al Saunders, will interview with Browns general manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine for the Browns coordinator position Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. They'll also talk to Jets assistant head coach/running backs coach Anthony Lynn for the job today.

The Browns have also interviewed Marc Trestman, Gailey, their tight ends coach Brian Angelichio, Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and Bills assistant Jim Hostler.  They had planned to interview Greg Roman (now with the Bills), Bill Callahan (now with the Redskins) and Scott Linehan (who remained in Dallas.

The Browns are also believed to have some interest in Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements, but it remains to be seen if they will request permission from the Packers to interview him. Mike McCarthy currently calls the plays in Green Bay.

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