Cleveland.com will be broadcasting live from the ballpark from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday. We'll be joined by manager Terry Francona, general manager Chris Antonetti and a handful of Tribe players and alumni.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Memories of Snow Days have all but melted away. The Indians will host the third annual Tribe Fest at Progressive Field this weekend.

Cleveland.com will be broadcasting live from the service level of the ballpark from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday. We'll be joined by manager Terry Francona, general manager Chris Antonetti and a handful of Tribe players and alumni, including Dennis Martinez, Charles Nagy and Trevor Bauer.

Here is what to know, regarding this weekend's event.

Which players will be in attendance? Bauer, Corey Kluber, Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Kipnis, Cody Allen, Mike Aviles, Michael Bourn, Lonnie Chisenhall, TJ House, Roberto Perez, Jose Ramirez, Marc Rzepczynski, Danny Salazar, Carlos Santana, Bryan Shaw, Brandon Moss, Zach McAllister, Zach Walters and Nick Swisher.

Which alumni will be in attendance? Martinez, Nagy, Paul Assenmacher, Sandy Alomar

When is the event? There will be three sessions:

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

How much does a ticket cost? Admission is $10 and can be purchased online in advance or at the gate. Kids age 12 and under can attend for free when reserved with purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets for kids at the gate are $5.

How much for autographs? Fans can purchase a ticket to an autograph session with current players for $20, or with alumni for $25.

What else is there to do? Fans can take swings in the batting cages, tour the home clubhouse and listen to Q&As with players and broadcasters.

Keep up with Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman as they make their return trip from the national championship in Dallas by writing stories about Ohio State along the way.

SOMEWHERE, USA - The Ohio State football team is fresh off a national championship season. By recruiting at an elite level and developing superior talent, Urban Meyer and his staff have built a Buckeyes program primed for further ascension.

But what impact is Ohio State's recent success is having on the South and its recruiting hotbeds?

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman chucked their airplane tickets back from Dallas and are driving back to Ohio to pursue stories about Ohio State, its recruiting efforts and other interesting college football stories that pop up.

Just call it "Bill and Ari's Excellent Adventure."

Their trip is taking them through Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky. If you have ideas or suggestions on places they should go or stories they should write, leave those in the comments below.

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First leg: Dallas to Wichita Falls, Texas

• Will J.T. Barrett be back at Ohio State?

Rider High School football coach Marc Bindel, who was Rider's offensive coordinator during J.T. Barrett's high school career, expects Urban Meyer is going to have to make a difficult decision next season, because Barrett anticipates that Braxton Miller will return, along with Barrett and Cardale Jones, at Ohio State next year.

"Obviously it's nothing official," Bindel said, "but right now J.T. told me that he expects both of them to be back with him."

• How a North Texas town raised a Buckeye quarterback

When it comes to football, Wichita Falls fits all of the stereotypes you've come to expect from Texas towns. There's the massive stadium — home to three high schools and Division II Midwestern State University — with a two-tiered press box overlooking the field and enough seats for 15,000 fans on a good night.

Barrett and his family moved to Wichita Falls when he was 2 years old. They didn't know they'd be moving to a place that would develop an emotional attachment to their middle son, but that's the kind of effect football can have on folks in Texas.

• Inside the Texas high school that saw Barrett recover from injury before

A day at Rider High serves as a reminder that what Barrett is going through after his injury against Michigan is actually repeated history: It comes two full years since he tore is ACL in high school.

And knowing that should give Ohio State a warm sense of security, a calmness knowing that Barrett is still the keeper of a bright future in Columbus.

"He wasn't done then," said Marc Bindel, the offensive coordinator during Barrett's senior year, "and he's definitely not done now."

• Stephen Barrett says his brother will be back better than ever

"He handled it better than the other ones he's had previously," Stephen said of J.T.'s injuries. "He bounced back from his ACL just fine and I expect him to do the same with the ankle. The only thing that bothered him when he broke his ankle is not the fact that it hurt, but the fact that he couldn't play. He was bummed out he couldn't play."

• Meet T.J. Vasher, J.T. Barrett's ex-teammate who has heard from OSU

Rated by 247Sports as a composite four-star prospect and the No. 46 wide receiver in the 2016 class, Vasher has early offers from Texas Tech and SMU. He also has basketball offers from SMU and Tulsa.

Vasher is still figuring out what sport he wants to play, but given Ohio State has reached out, there is potential in the big target at the next level.

"He is a freak. He has a ridiculous wingspan, his vertical is off the charts," Rider coach Marc Bindel said. "He has to put some muscle on, but our No. 1 red zone play was to hurry up and throw a fade and he'd go up and get it. With him, if you throw it anywhere in the vicinity, he's going to out-jump a guy. As he continues to get older, I expect his recruitment to expand."

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Second leg: Back to Dallas, then to Houston

• Rising DeSoto High School star Kadarrian Nixon would accept OSU offer

"They came last year and I met them," Nixon said of Ohio State. "If they come this year and they try to offer me, I'll be happy because that's where Dontre went and where I see myself going."

• DeSoto hallways explain why OSU should expect more from Dontre Wilson

This season, Wilson was supposed to be Ohio State's biggest offensive playmaker. But Wilson only scored three touchdowns until the Michigan State game in early November. Then Wilson broke his foot vs. the Spartans, but didn't come out of the game before scoring his fourth touchdown.

He was lost until playing sparingly in Ohio State's win over Oregon to capture a national title.

• Why OSU is still alive for '16 DeSoto QB Tristen Wallace

"I love Ohio State," Wallace said. "What they are doing with those three quarterbacks that they have and that played this year was fantastic. It kind of reminded me of how we did things here when I went down. It's a good feeling."

• Anthony Schlegel's Texas past offers insight on OSU's body-slamming assistant strength coach

Mark Howeth, the defensive coordinator at DeSoto High School in Texas, has known Ohio State strength coach Anthony Schlegel since Schlegel was in high school.

• Meet four-star CB Jared Mayden, an OSU prospect from Sache, Texas

"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."

• Why 'there shouldn't be a drop-off' in OSU's Texas recruiting

"Coach Beck is well respected by Texas high school coaches," said DeSoto offensive coordinator Todd Peterman. "Some guys come in and they're uncomfortable, Coach Beck isn't one of those guys."

• Inside the new Houston office of former OSU coordinator Tom Herman

Though Herman, Ohio State's former offensive coordinator, has officially been Houston's head coach for three weeks, he couldn't dive into the job until Tuesday, the day after the Buckeyes captured the national title. Here's a look at what his office looked like.

• A day at Houston powerhouse North Shore explains why not all OSU scholarship offers are equal

North Shore is out of Ohio State's primary recruiting territory despite having some of the most talented prospects in the country. Though its only a shade less than four hours away from Dallas - an area Ohio State has recruited successfully - it's a long four hours. Houston isn't ever going to be an emphasis.

It's a "Net School" for Ohio State, meaning Urban Meyer and his staff cast their net over the program with the hope of reeling in big fish like Monroe or Long. It's a riskless venture to offer an elite prospect a scholarship, and Ohio State knows fairly early if it has a catch.

• Four-star Texas WR Devin Duvernay has OSU offer, wants to visit

Devin Duvernay, a four-star prospect from the Dallas area, has an Ohio State offer and wants more contact with the Buckeyes.

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

View full sizeAri Wasserman, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Third leg: From Houston to Baton Rouge and New Orleans

• 'I've been to the mountaintop': How Tom Herman's future at Houston will be immediately influenced by Ohio State

This stop on an Ohio State themed roadtrip through Texas and the South was supposed to be an interview about the rebranding of Houston's football program, about the awakening of a "a sleeping giant" after the Cougars hired Tom Herman, one of the fastest-rising assistants in college football, away from Ohio State.

Instead, it was clear how Ohio State is going to influence Herman at Houston.

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

"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."

View full sizeBill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Fourth leg: From Baton Rouge/New Orleans to Tuscaloosa

• Inside John Curtis - The New Orleans powerhouse that helps explain why Ohio State doesn't recruit Louisiana: Buckeyes recruiting

Maybe you've heard of John Curtis, the small football powerhouse on the west side of New Orleans that's won 26 state championships and put out 40 or so Division I players since 2002. Would it surprise you to hear Urban Meyer has never been here? It's not that surprising when you consider Meyer has never signed a player from Louisiana in his career.

• 'The exception': How Ohio State pulled off a rare feat in getting former RB Jonathan Wells from Louisiana

The only player to ever leave John Curtis for Ohio State? Former Buckeyes RB Jonathan Wells. But as you'll see, Wells' recruitment wasn't typical, which is why he bucked the trend of top Louisiana talent staying close to home.

• What do SEC fans at LSU think about Ohio State, Big Ten after Buckeyes national championship?

Did the perception of the Big Ten change at all after Ohio State's national championship? Bill and Ari stopped on the campus of the LSU to ask SEC fans what they thought.

View full sizeBill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

Fifth leg: From Tuscaloosa to Columbus, Ga.

• 'We'll be thinking about Ohio State more than ever': What Alabama fans are saying after Buckeyes' national championship

It would be a lie if we said we weren't turned down a few times while trying to get Crimson Tide fans to talk about Ohio State during a trip to the University of Alabama. But that probably had more to do with us looking disheveled from our long drive than Bama fans actually being averse to talking about Ohio State.

The answers from Bama fans were mostly cordial, and frankly surprising. We even managed to randomly find a Northeast Ohio native who is a student at Alabama.

Based on what new Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said Thursday, the organization didn't sell Johnny Manziel as the 2015 starter in interviews for Kyle Shanahan's replacement. And that's a good sign -- Bud Shaw's Spinoffs.

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

• Much is being made of offensive coordinator John DeFilippo saying the Browns don't know if their starting quarterback "is in the building."

That's really no surprise. The only quarterback currently available are Johnny Manziel and undrafted Connor Shaw.

"If he is (on the roster), great," DeFilippo said. "If he's not, great, too."

Here's what we can determine from that statement.

John DeFilippo has a different definition of "great" than many of us.

• I guess one promising development on that front is that if you worried Ray Farmer had told offensive coordinator candidates Manziel must be the starter in 2015, DeFilippo's words might put you at ease.

And by "ease," I mean still worried sick that another season could get wasted while the Browns' search for functional QB play.

• Bill Belichick as Nathan Hale during The Revolution:

"I regret I only have but one life to give for my country...and that 's Tom Brady's life."

Tom Brady as Nathan Hale during the Revolution:

"I regret I only have but one life to give for my country...and that's the equipment manager's life."

• Belichick sounded credible when he said he "never talked to any player about football air pressure."

Because he's been too busy talking to MIT profs about how to use stealth drones.

• Former Browns' linebacker D'Qwell Jackson says he was only looking for a souvenir when he intercepted Brady and carried the ball to the sidelines. Jackson said he didn't alert officials that the ball felt underinflated.

He also told NFL Media's Jeff Darlington the Patriots were using a Colts' football on offense at the end of the second quarter.

Apparently refs had no more luck finding a properly inflated Patriots ball than the Indians did finding an uncorked Albert Belle bat to substitute for the corked one confiscated and taken to the umpire's room in Chicago.

• "Deflategate" led all three network newscasts Thursday night.

Because nothing of any global importance happened anywhere.

• Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch was fined for a crotch-grabbing gesture after scoring a TD against Green Bay late Sunday.

He was more upset that teammate Chris Matthews was apparently also fined during the celebration.

I feel embarrassed to work for a particular organization that fined a teammate of mine for shaking my hand after a touchdown

— Shawn Lynch (@MoneyLynch) January 23, 2015

So, if you were wondering, Marshawn Lynch can be embarrassed just not by grabbing himself.

At the rate Lynch is accumulating fines, and with Super Bowl media availability on next week's horizon, he may soon be working for a particular organization for free.

• Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane isn't ready to put New England tight end Rob Gronkowski in the Hall of Fame.

"I actually don't think he's that good," Lane said. "He's OK."

Not that good.

As unstoppable goes.

• Former Browns' head coach Eric Mangini is the new San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator.

Which should make for a better Niners' defense almost immediately.

And a particularly long bus ride for defensive rookies to his football camp in Hartford, Conn.

• Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis says Andy Dalton is his quarterback.

"We don't have time to waste on a quarterback competition," Lewis told reporters at the Senior Bowl. "Where has it worked?"

Lewis has a point. He should avoid it for a lot of different reasons.

One of which is copyright infringement since the Browns have trademarked the term. 

A look at the top girls basketball performers midway through the season in Northeast Ohio.

A look at the top girls basketball performers midway through the season in Northeast Ohio.

The Irish have excelled despite losing their top scorers from last season.

The Irish have excelled despite losing their top scorers from last season.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff in a live chat at 12:30.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff during his weekly podcast today at 12:30 p.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get your questions ready and join Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

DMan will talk with me about the Browns' new offensive coordinator, the Cavaliers winning streak and the Indians as spring training approaches. 

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

Watch video interviews from Thursday night's Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. Watch video

The 2015 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards took place at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Cleveland on Thursday night. The event honors professional, college and high school athletes in the area.

Cleveland.com was at the event capturing video at the reception prior to the event and backstage.

Former Ohio State running back Eddie George

Indians play-by-play voice Tom Hamilton

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones

Browns linebacker Craig Robertson

Olympian Kelli Stack

Nick Lenyo: Recipient of the Courage Award

Kevin Burke, Mount Union quarterback

Hudson quarterback and Toledo commit Mitchell Guadagni

If you could bring in one local football coach to turn a struggling team into a contender, who would it be? Look for the high school sports roundtable question twice a week on cleveland.com.

If you could bring in one local football coach to turn a struggling team into a contender, who would it be? Look for the high school sports roundtable question twice a week on cleveland.com.

Villa Angela-St. Joseph hosts Cleveland Central Catholic in a meeting of top-three teams and potential state championship contenders.

Villa Angela-St. Joseph hosts Cleveland Central Catholic in a meeting of top-three teams and potential state championship contenders.

Hallie Thome is spotlighted in this week's Player of the Year Contender watch.

Hallie Thome is spotlighted in this week's Player of the Year Contender watch.

Cleveland State, Kent State and Akron are all tied, or within one game of first place in Horizon League or Mid-American Conference play.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Northeast Ohio basketball has three teams in the thick of conference championship races as the third week of league play for Cleveland State, Akron and Kent State draws to a close. Not that long ago, who would have thought even one would be in the mix.

Cleveland State (11-9, 5-1): The Vikings sit in a three-way tie (Valparaiso, Green Bay) atop the Horizon League standings as they set to host the Detroit Titans (10-10, 3-2) tonight. As their overall record suggests, the non-conference season was not particularly smooth, giving no hint at all that coach Gary Waters team would blast off in HL play.

But a solid backcourt, led by Trey Lewis (16.5 points), and suddenly consistent play from junior center Anton Grady (12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) has CSU in good shape. That will be tested immediately, however, as starting guard Andre Yates is out at least the next two games with a sprained ankle suffered last week at Youngstown State.

Freshman Terrell Hales, who also suffered a sprained ankle at YSU, is expected to play. This puts stress on what seems to be Waters almost annual plight, finding production off the bench. Look for transfer guard Kaza Keane to slide into Yates starting spot, and 6-4 freshman Kenny Carpenter to get more action off the bench.

Akron Zips (12-6, 3-2): For the Zips to be anywhere near the mix -- one game behind the leaders -- in the rugged MAC East is a testament to the depth and talent coach Keith Dambrot has assembled, and his own personal resolve.

To lose team leader and MAC Player of the Year Candidate Demetrius Treadwell to suspension after the first game of the season, while nurturing a pair of freshmen point guards and Treadwell's young replacement (Kwan Cheatham), could lead to the demise of most teams.

But the Zips play at Western Michigan (13-5, 4-1) on Saturday at 2 p.m. with a chance to erase the taste of a 64-61 setback at Northern Illinois. Led by junior Pat Forsythe (9.9 points), sophomore Cheatham (8.7), and senior Deji Ibitayo (10.0), Akron started the MAC season with a 72-52 home win over the Broncos. Now the Zips look to snap an eight-game road losing streak that dates back to last season.

Kent State (13-5, 4-1): The most surprising of the bunch, coming off a .500 2014 season with one double-figure scorer returning and no team identity.

Yet bolstered by three straight wins at home, the Golden Flashes have defined themselves as gritty and opportunistic, considering the majority of their major stats sit below the 200 line in the nation. At the same time, KSU now has four double-figure scorers, plus a definitive inside-out attack featuring 6-7 sophomore transfer Jimmy Hall (14.1 points) and three senior guards who combine for 33 points a game.

Starting at Ball State on Saturday at 2 p.m., KSU plays five of its next seven away from home, including stops at Buffalo, Akron, Western Michigan and Toledo, all contenders in their own right.

If Kent remains in the MAC title hunt by Valentine's Day, coach Rob Senderoff's Flashes could be hard to beat down the stretch.

LeBron James didn't seem concerned that Stephen Curry passed him as the NBA's leading vote getter for the All-Star Game.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – LeBron James didn't know what to make of losing out to Golden State's Stephen Curry as the NBA's top vote getter for the All-Star Game, but he didn't seem to mind.

"I don't know. And I'm just excited I get another opportunity to be a part of All-Star weekend, and my fans voted me in," James said Friday, following Cavaliers' morning shootaround in preparation for tonight's home game against the Charlotte Hornets. "It means a lot and it's pretty cool."

James was voted by the fans as a starter for the East for the 11^th consecutive season with 1.47 million votes. But Curry finished with 1.51 million votes, surpassing James in the final days of voting.

James missed two weeks during that time recovering from nagging injuries.

The 64^th NBA All-Star game is at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden – a place where James has delivered multiple memorable performances in his career.

James has also had some huge nights in the All-Star Game, twice winning Most Valuable Player and another time recording just the second triple-double in the game's history.

"I'm not quite sure what my approach is going to be just yet," he said. "I've been too focused on what we're doing here and trying to get our ship back going the right way, and focusing on that. I haven't thought about All-Star too much."

Asked if, in general, James turns it on in the fourth quarter in the All-Star Game – the first three quarters are often an exhibition of dunks and no-look passes with virtually zero defense – he said "It all depends on what the score is and how the game is going at that time.

"We've always kind of ramped it up in the fourth quarter in the past and that's made some pretty good, memorable games," James said.

James also said that he "would expect" both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to be named as reserve for the East. The conference's coaches vote on reserves and those results will be announced Jan. 29.

You'll see players you may not recognize at Saturday's National Championship celebration in Ohio Stadium. They were wrapped up in the title as much as the Buckeyes' stars. Watch video

COLUMBUS -- Junior Devan Bogard, with three torn ACLs in three seasons, danced on the victory platform, his cheeks wet with tears. Freshman Dylan Thompson, with two surgeries already on a fractured kneecap, pulled out his phone and called his mother in the stands during the celebration. Scout teamers Stephen Collier and Kato Mitchell smiled and laughed in the locker room as much as MVPs Ezekiel Elliott and Tyvis Powell.

"This is the craziest feeling of my life," injured freshman linebacker Kyle Berger, yet to play a down as a Buckeye after two torn ACLS, said on the field in the moment. "Everyone knows how each other is feeling, and it's unbelievable."

At Saturday's celebration in Ohio Stadium of the Buckeyes' 14-1 season that ended with a 42-20 win over Oregon on Jan. 12 in the College Football Playoff National Championship, you'll see stars.

Players like running back Ezekiel Elliott and defensive end Joey Bosa and quarterback Cardale Jones and linebacker Darron Lee and left tackle Taylor Decker and receiver Michael Thomas.

You'll also see players you may not recognize. Players who didn't play against Alabama or Oregon. But players who let the joy on the night of Jan. 12 wash over them as much as the players who led the wins against the Crimson Tide and Ducks.

Forced by injury to basically serve as a student-coach this season rather than play, senior J.T. Moore, who saw time on both offense and defense in his career as a Buckeye, stood with his family in the celebration and talked about this team.

"You live your dreams through your brothers," Moore said. 

Plenty of Buckeyes had to think that way this season. With two injured quarterbacks in Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett out for the championship run, more eyes than usual were directed to the Ohio State sideline. 

So with gold confetti littering the field at AT&T Stadium on Jan. 12, I found Barrett and Miller and asked them.

Was this what Barrett imagined when he decided to come to Ohio State?

"Of course," he said, heading toward the locker room on his scooter, which his broken right ankle still required then. "I planned on making it happen. It didn't matter when. This is only the beginning."

Miller, in his locker, was subdued. But did the title mean something?

"Absolutely," Miller said, before a teammate encouraged reporters to leave Miller alone.

But they weren't the only Buckeyes who watched. In the end, you didn't have to play to win. You didn't have to be a star to be a champion.

"What are we talking about? We just won the (bleeping) National Championship," shouted senior lineman Joel Hale, a former starter forced onto the scout team by injury this season. "It's a brotherhood and we capitalized on it."

"It's unbelievable," screamed Thompson, the defensive lineman redshirting during his first year because of injury. "It's not about playing, it's not about sitting on the sideline. It's about doing what needs to get done to make sure we win as a team. As a team, we won. That doesn't happen without everybody. Starters, scout team guys - I'm injured and I'm doing my part trying to get back healthy for next year. 

"It's a program where there's a culture, and if you don't believe it, you don't belong. And it's about teamwork and hard work and dedication and being together.

"Those guys busted their butts, and oh man, we're going to go back next year and do it again."

"It all feels the same. There's no difference between people," said Collier, the Buckeyes fourth-string quarterback and a scout team stalwart. "Everybody feels the same way. We put in work together. From the last guy on our roster to the captains, everybody helped. And this is the outcome."

"I didn't play in the game," said Mitchell, a walk-on receiver and scout teamer. "But the coaches really help us. They tell us we're a big part of the team. We call ourselves the 'Scout Team Assassins,' and we try to give the best look we can. So I feel like everyone felt it, definitely."

They celebrated it once. Saturday, they'll celebrate it again. Celebrate it together.

Berger, a St. Ignatius grad, was initially worried after his injury in the preseason that he wouldn't feel like part of the team. Those worries gradually faded.

"A lot of the players made it feel like home," Berger said. "Especially toward the end of the season, when we started stringing wins together, we've been on a roll. And we've been one big family."

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff talks all things Cleveland Sports in his weekly podcast.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What will John DeFilippo's offense look like? Can the Cavaliers keep their positive momentum going?

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff tackled those questions and more in his weekly podcast on Friday.

Among the other topics discussed:

- What does DeFilippo mean for Johnny Manziel?

- What is the key to the Cavaliers winning streak?

- Will the Indians make the playoffs?

You can download the MP3 or listen with the player above.

Be sure to follow DMan on Twitter.

Iman Shumpert could make his Cleveland debut tonight, but LeBron James said expectations on Shumpert should be tempered because of his six-week absence.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – New Cavaliers shooting guard Iman Shumpert (separated shoulder) is questionable for tonight's game against the Charlotte Hornets, meaning his Cleveland debut is both a distinct possibility and in doubt.

Shumpert, who was acquired along with J.R. Smith in a three-team trade from the New York Knicks on Jan. 5, hasn't played since Dec. 12. He's been working out on the floor since he arrived, but conditioning remains an issue because of his extended absence.

Shumpert was seen following shootaround Friday at the Cavaliers' practice facility soaked in sweat, but did not speak with reporters.

Smith, who has been starting at shooting guard, was wearing the Cavs' wine-colored practice jersey, which typically means he worked with the starters at shootaround.

"Guy's been out six weeks, so let's not make too much of it," Cavaliers star forward LeBron James said. "Whenever he decides to get back on the floor, it's going to be an adjustment for him, more than it is for us. It doesn't matter how long you've been playing basketball, you take that much time off you're going to be a little rusty, there's going to be some things out there you don't feel comfortable with."

Shumpert is averaging 9.3 points and 3.4 rebounds, but was acquired for the physical presence he'll bring as a wing defender. He is expected to eventually plug into the Cavs' starting lineup, but the team is clicking without him right now.

In Wednesday's 106-92 win over Utah, all five starters scored at least 15 points for the second consecutive game – the first time in Cavs' history that's ever happened. Cleveland is also riding a four-game winning streak.

"We're going to make him feel as if he hasn't been out, but his body will tell him when he's ready to go," James said. "But we're excited for when he comes back."

James continued to tout the personal benefit to him of taking two weeks off to rest nagging knee and back injuries. In the five games since his return on Jan. 15, he's averaging 30.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

"I listened to (his body) for the first time in my career," James said. "And maybe I need to do it more often."

James later clarified that he didn't mean he intended to sit more games any time soon.

"I'm fine right now," he said. "I'm not saying I'm doing it in the near future, I'm saying I need to listen to my body a bit more in the future, not the near future."

James had his back wrapped following shootaround for several minutes, and said he doesn't feel 100 percent and might never get to that point.

New offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has a real quarterback challenge on his hands. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- By now, most fans have heard that new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said he's "not sure if our starting quarterback is in the building right now..."

DeFilippo watched the same games we did. Maybe not all the Browns games ... but enough. And my guess is he probably caught a little of Johnny Manziel (at least the lowlights) on ESPN.

Furthermore, he did homework for his Browns interview -- and that had to include some film study. All new coaches need to keep an open mind, but DeFilippo obviously saw more than he indicated at his introductory press conference. He wisely wanted to keep his opinions to himself.

DeFilippo was Oakland's quarterbacks coach when his Raiders lost to the Browns, 23-13. It was the seventh game of the season. He also is friends with his new boss, head coach Mike Pettine.

DeFilippo said if the quarterback is currently with the team, "that's great." It actually would be close to a miracle -- unless Manziel comes back as a new guy on the field and off.

I start with "on the field" because that's where it begins. Does he even have the talent to be a starting quarterback? Very little in the six quarters he played offered much hope -- five non-penalty first downs, three points and one hamstring injury.

It's easy for the media to focus on where Manziel is this week and who is at the party. I wish the main issue was him becoming more serious about his job and his personal life.
 

I question his talent because he looked physically overwhelmed. It's what I feared before the draft and right after. It's why I hoped the Browns would look to someone else (my choice was Teddy Bridgewater) rather than the Texas A&M star.

Owner Jimmy Haslam was a huge Manziel fan ... but not any more. At Thursday's Greater Cleveland Sports Awards banquet, Haslam had far kinder things to say about the undrafted Connor Shaw.

"We've got to get a quarterback and get it fixed," he said. "Connor ... in the last game played really well ... right, for the first time? Hadn't worked with the first team (in practice) ... and faced a really good team (Baltimore) on the road ... and played well."

Shaw was 14-of-28 for 177 yards and a 55.2 rating in a 20-10 loss to the Ravens. A nice job for an undrafted free agent, but not any reason to believe he can solve the quarterback question.

Part of the reason Shaw looked good was because Manziel was so bad in his two starts.

"I think that Johnny has to show on and off the field that he can be professional," Haslam said. "He knows that. Everybody in the organization has told him that. ... He knows what we expect on and off the field, and it's up to him to prove he can do that."

THINGS CHANGED

Remember how the Browns talked about Manziel having the "it" factor when they drafted him? Now, they are hoping he can be "a solid" starting QB, as General Manager Ray Farmer mentioned at his postseason press conference.

I doubt the Browns have much confidence in that happening. Maybe that's why DeFilippo said if the quarterback is not in the building right now, "that's great, too." It may be a nice way of saying that the Browns are very open for suggestions. But it's not an OK situation ... much less "great," as DeFilippo mentioned.

One of the reasons DeFilippo was hired was the success of rookie QB Derek Carr. He started all 16 games and rarely looked overwhelmed, despite playing for a 3-13 team. The hope is DeFilippo can help Manziel, Shaw or another young quarterback develop into a starter.

In 2012, the Raiders had Carson Palmer and Terrelle Pryor. In 2013, it was Pryor, Matt McGloin and Matt Flynn. So DeFilippo knows what it's like to search for a quarterback: It's a road map to a losing season and fan frustration. It doesn't change until you find someone, somewhere, who can at least do a competent job.

The Browns must find viable alternatives to Manziel. The Browns do have Shaw on a $435,000 non-guaranteed contract for 2015. Brian Hoyer is a free agent, but I doubt he'll return.

"I think every option is on the table for us in terms of who's going to play next year," said Haslam.

Now, they have to find a good one.

OAKLAND'S RECENT HISTORY

DeFilippo was the Raiders quarterback coach from 2012-14. Oakland is such a hard place to judge coaches because the Raiders have rivaled the Browns in recent ineptitude. They went to the 2002 Super Bowl, and that was their last winning season. They were 8-8 in 2010 and 2011.

In the last 12 years, the franchise endured the decline of Al Davis, then the takeover by his son. Recently-hired Jack Del Rio becomes their ninth coach since the 2002 Super Bowl. Carr was their ninth opening day quarterback.

Browns fans know the story. Keep firing coaches, keep looking for a quarterback, keep losing games. So when looking at the Raiders' stats for the last three years, it's hard to know what they mean -- especially because DeFilippo was not the one calling the plays.

Anyway, here are some thoughts:

1. In 2014, the Raiders were last in total offense, last in rushing, 31st in scoring (15.8 points) and 26th in passing. Greg Olson called the plays.

2. In 2014, they had a pass/run ratio of 629/337 -- I doubt that appealed to the Browns.

3. In 2014 and 2012, they ranked in the top five in passes attempted.

4. So Oakland liked to throw the ball.

In his one season calling plays at San Jose State (2011), DeFilippo threw the ball 40 times a game ... but ran it 30 times. Not a bad balance in the pass-happy Western Athletic Conference.

THE RUNNING GAME

"You have to run the football in this division," DeFilippo said. "I'm a big believer in running the football. You don't ever want to put a number on it like, 'Hey, we're going to be 50/50.' I'm a big believer in our offense doing whatever it has to do to win."

DeFilippo sounded impressed with running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, who combined 1,280 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Browns had 17 rushing touchdowns, No. 4 in the NFL.

"There's a good, young stable of backs here," he said. "(There also is a) combination of athleticism and strength on the offensive line. ... The backs run downhill. ... They did a great job in some of the play-action stuff last year, being able to get some of their receivers open behind guys. Those are the things we're going to continue to explore."

General Manager Ray Farmer and Pettine like the zone blocking scheme, and that's part of the reason offensive line coach Andy Moeller remains.

"I've been in the zone blocking scheme," said DeFilippo. "It's a fabulous scheme. My first year (2012) in Oakland, Greg Knapp was our offensive coordinator. He came from Houston. It was the exact same scheme as the Browns ran last year."

He also mentioned working in other schemes, and didn't commit to zone blocking. But I expect the Browns to continue to use it.

• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.
• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

The two trades by General Manager David Griffin brought in three players who wanted to come to Cleveland and helped Dion Waiters find a fresh start with a new team.

Timofey Mozgov and LeBron James have struck up a quick friendship.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --
General Manager David Griffin was trying to trade for Timofey Mozgov long before he hired David Blatt as coach. His quest for the 7-foot-1 Russian began within weeks of Griffin replacing Chris Grant as general manager on Feb. 6, 2014.

But Denver was not interested. That changed three weeks ago when Griffin turned Dion Waiters and a future Memphis first-round pick into J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Mozgov -- it took two trades in three days.

Mozgov is exactly what the Cavs need -- a legitimate, athletic center who likes to block shots, defend the rim and has a nice shooting touch. He also is a relentless worker.

Late in the summer, Griffin mentioned his interest in Mozgov to LeBron James. The Cavs star said, "Get him if you can." So James was ready to throw a welcome party, and that has made Mozgov's adjustment to the Cavs very easy.

But it did something else -- the trade has helped Blatt. Mozgov is a huge fan because he played for the Blatt-coached Russian national team. Mozgov has been telling his teammates that Blatt is a good guy, a good coach.

Mozgov seems to have struck up a quick friendship with James. Notice their immediate chemistry on the court. James loves to throw lob passes to the team's new center. They also have gone out to dinner on the road.

James tends to bond with big men. Remember his close relationship with Zydrunas Ilgauskas. He is very close to Anderson Varejao, and was heartbroken when Varejao went down for the season with an Achilles injury.

James has been a big brother to Tristan Thompson. They both share the same agent, Cleveland-based Rich Paul.

Blatt naturally is thrilled with the acquisition of a familiar player. Blatt has created a bigger role in the offense for Mozgov than he had in Denver.

Consider that no Cavalier assistant had coached with Blatt in Europe. Nor did any of the players have a previous experience with him. So it's natural that there was a rocky period of adjustment -- especially with James dealing with a bad back.

WHY GRIFFIN SPOKE OUT

The general manager thought much of the Blatt criticism was unfair. James was hurting. Varejao was out for the season. Kyrie Irving and Shawn Marionhad  missed a few games with injuries.

Griffin knew the roster needed work, and the flaws were soon exposed. The Cavs lacked a big man, even when Varejao was healthy. They weren't athletic enough at guard.

Yes, Blatt was making some rookie mistakes, but Griffin believed part of the problem was the roster that he had provided. Very little of the criticism was aimed at Griffin, yet he knew he also was part of the problem.

On Jan. 4, Griffin went public to back Blatt -- and then watched the Cavs lose the next six games. James was on the sidelines, dealing with his back and knee problems. Waiters was not buying the bench or much of anything being preached by Blatt.

Furthermore, the Cavs had the fifth-hardest schedule in the NBA -- and the second-toughest in the Eastern Conference.

Griffin was working the phones -- wanting to add talent that would give Blatt a chance. As the losses mounted, Griffin didn't waver in his support. He knew that he needed to bring in reinforcements.

Welcome Mozgov, Smith and Shumpert. Then James came back feeling healthy.

Suddenly, coaching is not an issue as the Cavs have a five-game winning streak.

J.R. Smith has made a huge impact at shooting guard. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

ABOUT THE NEW GUYS

Mozgov didn't have a problem playing in Denver, but he was overjoyed at the idea of joining Blatt.

Smith and Shumpert were with the Knicks, who have the worst record in the East and no hope of quick improvement. They viewed the trade as a season-saving deal for them.

And Waiters was traded to Oklahoma City. So the one player who wanted out was traded -- and three guys who wanted to come were imported.

Blatt has praised all three new players for making it easy for the coaches. They want to fit in.

Smith has made a huge impact. He has surprised the coaches with his dedication to defense and his understanding of when to double-team -- and when it's best to stay with his man.

Smith also is a fearless long-range shooter. He entered the weekend averaging 14.6 points and shooting 42 percent. Unlike Waiters who likes to dribble the ball, Smith either quickly shoots it or passes it. He will take some awful shots, but he also can change a game by being sizzling hot from the outside.

Smith has had some legal problems off the court. Before the deal was made, the front office talked to Irving and James, two players who know him. Both urged the team to make the trade.

The feeling was that Smith tends to play very well when he's on a good team. In 2012-13, he was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year averaging 18 points for the 54-28 Knicks. He also had some very strong seasons with Denver when George Karl had the Nuggets in the playoffs.

Smith has already made an impact.

Shooting guard Shumpert returned Friday after missing five weeks with a shoulder injury. The Cavs may give him a chance to play some backup point guard.

Suddenly, the Cavs have been transformed from one the NBA's biggest disappointments to a team that is now developing into one of the best in the Eastern Conference -- and with room to become even better.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.
• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

Was trying to play third base the reason for the slow start by Carlos Santana last season?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlos Santana playing third base. That was what the Indians were talking about at this point a year ago.

Santana realized that Yan Gomes had emerged as the regular catcher in 2013. Gomes was superior defensively, and he was a right-handed hitter with power -- something the Tribe needed desperately.

Nick Swisher was returning at first base. Third base was open, so Santana decided to try it. He had been an infielder as a teenager in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system. He went to winter ball and played third, and did the same in spring training.

The 28-year-old Santana did not want to be a designated hitter. He was not a defensive disaster in Arizona, and opened the regular season at third base as well as the backup catcher.

Is that why he was batting .162 on June 1? Perhaps. This much is certain: Once Santana was given the regular job at first, his hitting improved dramatically.

Consider the following stats in 2014 for Santana:

• Third base: 12-of-93, .129, 2 HR, 6 errors in 26 games.
• Catcher: 3-of-34, .088, 0 HR, 11 games.
• DH: 19-of-81, .235, 5 HR.
• First base: 91-of-332, .274, 20 HR, 5 errors in 94 games.

The stats show that Carlos Santana hits best when he plays first base. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

Even for his career, Santana has been most productive as a hitter when he plays first base:

• First base: .270, .887 OPS;

• Catcher: .241, .790 OPS; and

• DH: .253, .773 OPS.

It's important for the Tribe to squeeze the most out of Santana, who is a switch-hitter with power. In his last four seasons, he has averaged 25 homers and 78 RBI.

Despite his dismal start and a .231 batting average, Santana still finished with career highs in homers (27), RBI (85) and walks (113) last season. He also improved the infield defense. Earlier in the week, I wrote about the sad state of how the Tribe handled the glove last season.

Trying to play first base with two knees that eventually required surgery, Swisher was awful. He made nine errors in 52 games, along with batting .208. Santana was ranked No. 7 in the American League by Fangraphs at first base. Swisher was dead last.

So the move to first helped the Indians on two fronts -- Santana was a better hitter and fielder.

Manager Terry Francona recently said that Santana had "gotten pretty beaten up" while catching. He suffered a concussion at the end of May, the second of his career. Santana also seemed to absorb a lot of foul tips. He has never appeared very comfortable as a catcher.

ABOUT JOSE RAMIREZ

When the Indians traded Asdrubal Cabrera to Washington at the end of July, he had 14 errors -- second most in the AL. Fangraphs rated him No. 21 out of 25 AL shortstops on defense.

Swisher and Cabrera were two of the reasons the Tribe had the worst defense in baseball. Replacing Swisher at first with Santana at least offered average defense at that spot.

Jose Ramirez took over at short after Cabrera was traded, and he was superb. Ramirez had only four errors in 68 games. Fangraphs rated him as the league's third-best defensive shortstop, behind Baltimore's J.J. Hardy and Erick Aybar of the Angels.

Fielding ratings can be subjective, but there was no debate that Ramirez was a major upgrade. Once Ramirez took over (July 23), he batted .283 with 10 stolen bases and 13 sacrifice bunts in 57 games. He performed like a solid starter at the age of 22.

Even more impressive, he'd played only 74 games at short in his minor-league career. He usually played second (199 games), because he was paired with phenom Francisco Lindor in the minors.

Lindor is considered even a better defensive shortstop. He is expected to open the season at Class AAA, but could be promoted to Cleveland at any point in the regular season if they need help at short.

ABOUT ASDRUBAL CABRERA

Tampa Bay signed Cabrera to a one-year, $7.5 million deal. After being traded to Washington for Zach Walters, Cabrera was moved to second by the Nationals. He stabilized that position by making only one error in 49 games.

But Cabrera only batted .229 (.700 OPS) with five homers. The market for him was limited because he has become a liability at short. At 29, he has lost a lot of range and seems headed to becoming a utility infielder.

Cabrera was an All-Star in 2011-12. In those two seasons, he batted .272 (.775 OPS), averaging 20 homers and 80 RBI. Since then, his game has been in a serious decline. His new manager is Kevin Cash, the former Tribe bullpen coach.

ABOUT THE TRIBE:

1. They are very encouraged by the condition of Brandon Moss. He is coming back from hip surgery and has had no setbacks. The same is true of Swisher after surgery on both knees. The Indians aren't saying much, but I expect Swisher (if healthy) to spend a lot of time as the DH.

2. The thing to remember is that in most cases, everyone is upbeat at this time of year. It isn't until spring training and full baseball activity begins that players discover if they are ready to play in regular season games. So it's no surprise that all heath reports on Jason Kipnis (finger surgery) are positive.

3. Ryan Raburn had knee surgery in September. That ended a frustrating season (.200, four homers) for the outfielder. In 2013, he was a .272 hitter (.901 OPS) and was especially effective against left-handed pitching. He is under contract for $2.5 million in 2015, and it's guaranteed. But he is not guaranteed a spot on the team. Raburn is also doing well with no physical setbacks.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.
• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.

Amherst's upset of No. 22 Brecksville was one of the highlights of a great Friday night of basketball.

Amherst's upset of No. 22 Brecksville was one of the highlights of a great Friday night of basketball.

Ohio State hosted four 2015 prospects at its national title celebration that could eventually end up in its recruiting class, including five-star defensive tackle Terry Beckner.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Urban Meyer walked up the tunnel on the southeast part of Ohio Stadium toward Ohio State's locker room like he did after every home game. 

When Meyer arrived at the top, there were a group of visiting prospects standing around, so he took the moment to shake each one of their hands and share a quick thought.

They all smiled during their individual moment with Meyer, even though it was brief. Depending on what Meyer said, it could eventually be a defining moment in one of their recruitments. 

What had just happened in Ohio Stadium wasn't supposed to be about the future. The Buckeyes just finished officially celebrating their 2014 national championship in front of 45,000 fans on a day taken to specifically remember one of the most memorable seasons in Ohio State football history. 

But Saturday was just as much about the future as it was the past. In sports, is always about the future – what's next – not what has just been accomplished. 

So it was appropriate that as Meyer gave his speech to the fans he hinted at the future, and so did the returning Ohio State players that got some time in front of the mic. 

And it couldn't have been more appropriate that recruits were on hand in a stadium that was packed despite not having a game to witness it all.

This weekend was always going to be a big recruiting weekend, but Ohio State's national championship – as if that wasn't a big enough selling point already – created the perfect stage to sell recruits about what Meyer's program is about, and yes, what's ahead. 

"Recruiting is pretty much done," Meyer said of his 2015 class. "We're wrapping up and we're pretty much into the next year. Nowadays, it's all about digital video so this will be sent around everywhere. It's obviously a big hit."  

Meyer may have embellished a little bit. Ohio State isn't done in 2015, as the Buckeyes hosted four visitors that could end up in this year's class. 

Following is a list of prospects who were in attendance to see everything with a little breakdown of their recruitments: 

• Five-star DT Terry Beckner Jr. of East St. Louis, Ill. – Rated by 247Sports the No. 3 defensive tackle in the 2015 class, Beckner is the top remaining Buckeyes target who is on his official visit. He's also closely considering Missouri, Auburn, Florida State and LSU, but the Buckeyes are hoping to land another dominant force on their defensive line in this year's class. 

• Three-star OT Venzell Boulware of Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside – Another 2015 prospect, Boulware is also on an official visit despite being committed to Tennessee. Cleveland.com stopped in on Boulware's high school on Thursday – the day before his visit started – and the offensive lineman said Meyer sent him a message the day he committed to the Volunteers that read, "You're still going to be a Buckeye." Boulware is down to Ohio State and Tennessee.

• Four-star WR K.J. Hill of North Little Rock, Ark. – A recent Arkansas decommit, Hill is in Columbus after a recent official visit to Alabama his stepfather referred to as "mind blowing." The 6-foot, 188-pound receiver is also considering Mississippi. 

• Three-star DT DaVon Hamilton of Pickerington (Ohio) Central – A Kentucky commit, Hamilton doesn't yet have an offer from Ohio State but the Buckeyes are hosting him for an official visit. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound prospect is one of the best prospects in Ohio and could end up filling Ohio State's need on the defensive line if it doesn't land Beckner. 

• Four-star RB Mike Weber of Detroit Cass Tech – Weber is committed to Ohio State, but that came after broke his pledge to Michigan. Some worried that he'd flip back to the Wolverines after Jim Harbaugh got hired, but he has remained true to Ohio State. It was a big sign for the Buckeyes that Weber was in attendance. 

• Four-star WR Justin Layne of Cleveland Benedictine – Ohio State has a commitment from Layne's teammate, 2015 linebacker Jerome Baker, but the Buckeyes are hoping for more. Baker and Layne, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound prospect, were both in attendance for the celebration. Could Layne be the next Benedictine player to commit to Ohio State?