Manager Terry Francona has spent all spring training saying that opening day is an "artificial deadline' for injured players such as Nick Swisher. On Monday, Francona and GM Chris Antonetti said that Swisher would not be ready to open the season on April 6 as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired knees.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - The calendar has caught Nick Swisher.

Manager Terry Francona and GM Chris Antonetti said Swisher will not be ready when the Indians open the regular season April 6 against the Astros in Houston.

"As this progresses, it's probably a little bit of a reach to think he'll be ready," said Francona.

Swisher is recovering from double knee surgery on Aug. 20. He ran the bases Sunday for the first time without braces and played in a minor league intrasquad game Monday.

Still, with only 13 games left in the Cactus League season, there doesn't appear to be enough time for Swisher to get the at-bats and innings needed to start the regular season on time.

"We're starting to run out of time," said Antonetti. "We've all been on the same page from the outset. We want to get Nick as close to 100 percent as possible and have him ready to play the field on a regular basis.

"Those are the things we've been trying to work toward and we're all aligned on. Where we are in the schedule in spring training it's going to be hard to build enough volume even if things go perfectly from here on out for him to be ready for the opening day roster."

Swisher is entering the third year of a four-year $56 million deal with the Indians. He played mostly first base last season, but is expected to play right field and DH when he joins the team this year.

Francona and Antonetti have said since the start of camp that opening day was an artificial deadline for Swisher and other injured players such as Brandon Moss and Ryan Raburn. While Moss (right hip) and Raburn (left knee) are in line to make the opening day roster, Swisher's rehab has taken longer.

"There are two components," said Antonetti. "There are the at bats to get him ready, but there is also building volume because he has yet to play nine innings in the field. Let alone being able to play four out of five days in a row in the field.

"It takes time to build that volume."

What Swisher has to do is go through a normal spring training in terms at-bats, innings and games.

"Nick has done a tremendous job with the way he's approached his rehab and his work," said Antonetti. "He's giving his full effort to try and do everything he can to get ready as quickly as possible."

When told about Francona's comment about not being ready for the season opener, Swisher said, "I've got to talk to Tito about that. I just do what I'm told around here."

Swisher just finished getting several at-bats in the intrasquad game and said he felt fine.

"I ran without the braces on Sunday, but I put them back on today to play in the game," said Swisher. "I feel good."

It's not clear how long Swisher would have to rehab before joining the Indians. He could stay in Goodyear in extended spring training or begin his rehab assignment with one of the Tribe's minor league teams.

Francona said Swisher will run the bases with more intensity Tuesday and then the trainers will set a schedule for him regarding how often he'll play in games.

"When he's in the minor league games, we can pinch run for him or if he hits a ball in the gap he doesn't have to run," said Francona. "It's not like he's in a stadium. So we can gradually increase the intensity of what he's doing."

Francona indicated that Swisher still needs to get in "baseball shape' as he progresses through minor league games.

"I think some of the things will probably come quick for him because he's in such good shape from doing so much more running that he's ever done before," said Francona.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before you get to your spot at Quicken Loans Arena, RTA says it has the best seat in town for March Madness. Cleveland hosts the Midwest Regional of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball at the Q on Thursday and Saturday. RTA says fans can park for free at any rapid station, buy an all-day pass ($5),...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before you get to your spot at Quicken Loans Arena, RTA says it has the best seat in town for March Madness.

Cleveland hosts the Midwest Regional of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball at the Q on Thursday and Saturday.

RTA says fans can park for free at any rapid station, buy an all-day pass ($5), and ride the Red, Blue or Green train to the Tower City Station.

From there, you can take the walkway to your seat. The 1,000-foot walkway connects Tower City to the arena, so you don't have to head outside. That could be nice on Saturday in particular: The forecast is for temperatures hovering around freezing.

The walkway opens 90 minutes before the game and stays open for 90 minutes afterward. RTA rail service continues for 90 minutes after the last game. There will be increased frequencies on the Red Line -- with service after the rush hour every 15 minutes, instead of the usual 30 minutes, in the evening on Thursday and Saturday.

The HealthLine is another way to get to the Q. Board at any westbound station along Euclid Avenue, exit on Public Square at Tower City and head for the walkway. Go to the first floor food court and head left. The walkway is to the right of the restaurants.

The C-Line trolley can get you close to the doorstep of Tower City, and from there, through the walkway to the Quicken Loans Arena, for NCAA tournament games on Thursday and Saturday.Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority 

If you're already downtown, the C-line trolley can get you to close to the doorstep of Tower City. It runs at night and weekends from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Because of construction in the redesign of Public Square, the stop at Euclid Avenue and East Roadway is out of service for the next 16 months or so.

Thursday's NCAA games pit Notre Dame against Wichita State at 7:15 p.m., and Kentucky vs. West Virginia at approximately 9:40 p.m. Winners of those games play each other on Saturday. The time for the Saturday game probably won't be set until after the Thursday results.

There's expected to be a sell-out crowd at the 20,000-seat Q, plus other fans pouring into the city center to watch the action at downtown bars and restaurants.

University of Kentucky men's basketball fans have been reserving blocks of rooms at local hotels and booking parties at area bars. Bob Megazzini, general manager of the Westin Cleveland Downtown, told The Plain Dealer earlier this month that Wildcat fans had booked a block of 100-plus rooms at the 484-room hotel, for Thursday through Saturday.

Destination Cleveland said about 10,000 out-of-town visitors are expected for the tournament.

The winner of the Saturday game heads to Indianapolis for the Final Four on April 4.

Get scoring updates and analysis as the Indians take on the Athletics and join Indians reporters Zack Meisel and Paul Hoynes in the comments section.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Get scoring updates and analysis as the Indians take on the Athletics and join Indians reporters Zack Meisel and Paul Hoynes in the comments section.

Where to watch/listen: SportsTime Ohio and Indians.com

Pitchers: Zach McAllister, Scott Atchison, Marc Rzepczynski, C.C. Lee, Kyle Crockett, Bryan Shaw

Indians lineup: 

CF Michael Bourn

SS Jose Ramirez

LF Michael Brantley

1B Carlos Santana

RF Brandon Moss

3B Lonnie Chisenhall

DH Ryan Raburn

C Roberto Perez

2B Michael Martinez

Five things to know about the Wichita State Shockers, including how the Shockers nickname came to be.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are five things to know about the Wichita State Shockers for the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional.

Did you know: The Wichita State Shockers have an interesting nickname. According to the school's website, legend has it that "Shockers'' first appeared on a poster advertising a football game in 1904. The football manager had invented the nickname because many students harvested or "shocked" wheat to earn money in the summer. The team's mascot, WuShock, is described as a "muscle-bound bundle of wheat.'' Its name comes from a time when the school was known as Wichita University, or WU.

Notable alums: Those who attended Wichita State include: U.S. Army's Riley Leroy Pitts; NFL's Bill Parcells and Mickey Loomis; MLB's Joe Carter, Casey Blake, Eric Wedge, Mike Lansing and Conor Gillaspie; PBA's Chris Barnes and Sean Rash; and pro wrestling's Paul Wight -- aka The Big Show.

Path to the NBA: Those who attended Wichita State and have played in the NBA include: Xavier McDaniel, Antoine Carr, Cliff Levingston, Maurice Evans and Cleanthony Early.

Last season, Early helped the Shockers enter the NCAA Tournament at 34-0. He had 31 points and seven rebounds in a Round of 32 loss to Kentucky. He was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 34th overall pick in June.

Ohio connections: Wichita senior forward Darius Carter was born Oct. 15, 1992, in Akron. Carter played at Firestone High School, where, as a senior, he averaged 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. He played two seasons of junior college, at Vincennes (Ind.), before coming to Wichita State. The move to Wichita State earned him a congratulatory Tweet from LeBron James. ... According to Wichita State's website, standout guard Ron Baker "briefly guarded'' LeBron James while attending the Kevin Durant Skills Academy last June in Washington, D.C. No word on how it turned out.

Football tragedy: On Friday, October 2, 1970, two planes carried the Wichita State football team to Logan Airport in northern Utah for a game against Utah State. One plane arrived safely but the other, which had taken a scenic route in clear visibility, crashed into a mountain near Silver Plume, Colo. Thirty-one of the 40 passengers and crew -- including 14 football players -- were killed in, or as a result of, the crash.

On Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying the Marshall football team crashed in Wayne County, W. Va. All 75 on board were killed, including 37 players and eight coaches and administrators.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer shared his thoughts on the Buckeyes wrestling team winning its first National Championship. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For Urban Meyer, there's plenty of room for more than one national champion at Ohio State.

So count the Buckeyes football coach among the fans of the wrestling team, which just won the program's first National Championship over the weekend in St. Louis.

"Awesome," Meyer said Tuesday. "I just never really followed wrestling myself. I always had great respect for the sport, the toughness and all that, but now that I've watched it, wow."

Meyer, who served as an honorary coach for the Buckeyes' match against Iowa on Jan. 4, said he felt a connection with the wrestling team through his relationship with head coach Tom Ryan.

"Tom Ryan and I are very close, he was at our national championship game," Meyer said. "And I know the process he's gone through, the work that he's put into this thing. I wasn't in here a week before he was in my office, Tom Ryan was, and we were talking about how we could work together and all that stuff. I love him, I love his program."

Meyer wasn't alone in his admiration for the wrestling team. Other football coaches and players shared their congratulations on Saturday when the Buckeyes wrapped up the title.

That was before Ohio State senior Logan Stieber won his fourth consecutive national title at 141 pounds. Redshirt freshman Nathan Tomasello also won an individual title at 125 pounds.

"Stieber, what he did? My goodness," Meyer said. "I'm just a huge fan, an over-the-top fan of what our guys did."

There's more to Cleveland than the 750,000 square feet inside The Q. College hoops fans, in town to see their favorite teams compete this week, undoubtedly will have some down time between buzzers. Need some suggestions on how to pass the time? Here are five.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's more to Cleveland than the 750,000 square feet inside The Q. College hoops fans, in town to see their favorite teams compete this week, undoubtedly will have some down time between buzzers. Need some suggestions on how to pass the time? Here are five:

Cleveland Museum of Art

11150 East Blvd., Cleveland (Cuyahoga County)

There might be no space in all of Ohio more elegant than the new, light-filled atrium of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The museum, founded in 1913, has completed a stunning eight-year, $320 million expansion and renovation. And though there is much to love about the entire museum, the atrium -- the city's newest gathering place -- tops the list, with its dramatic skylights, marble walls and wood-and-steel accents. 

Seeing Cleveland's cultural grand dame updated with 21st-century style should top any traveler's to-do list in Northeast Ohio. If you haven't been here lately, it's definitely worth a visit. The expansion also allows for the display of art in a more open and inviting atmosphere. The collection hasn't changed much: All the favorites, including the Egyptian galleries, the Armor Court and the Impressionist paintings, are still here. But don't miss Gallery One, the new high-tech, family-friendly space that features playful interactions with top pieces of art. (216-421-7350)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., Cleveland (Cuyahoga County)

This is the attraction for which Cleveland is best-known -- and with good reason. The hall, open since 1995, draws close to a half-million music fans every year. They come to see Michael Jackson's glove and Kurt Cobain's electric guitar. Special exhibitions now on display include "Paul Simon: Words & Music" and "Herb Ritts: The Rock Portraits.

Tremont neighborhood

Cleveland (Cuyahoga County)

There are a dozen cool neighborhoods in Cleveland that are worth an afternoon (or more) of exploration. But Tremont, just southwest of downtown, is probably the coolest, with dozens of galleries, shops and terrific restaurants. This is also where you'll find the Christmas Story House (3159 W. 11th St.), a small museum devoted to the 1983 movie. Parts of the movie were filmed outside the Victorian-era home.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

2121 George Halas Drive NW, Canton (Stark County)

It's always football season at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 by completing a $27 million expansion. Included in the new and redesigned space: more interactive exhibits, a new lobby area, a research and preservation center, and an expanded gift shop. What isn't new: more than 200 former players immortalized in bronze in the Hall of Fame Gallery, a must-see for any fan.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Ohio's only national park has something for everyone: 125 miles of hiking trails; a 20-mile stretch of the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail that is terrific for biking; plus concerts, train rides, overnight inns and more. Perhaps the park's best feature is its accessibility -- 33,000 acres between Cleveland and Akron, in Summit and Cuyahoga counties, easily reached from the Ohio Turnpike, I-77 and Ohio 8.

Get updates on several Northeast Ohio high school football recruits and the latest offers from Division I college programs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Northeast Ohio high school football standouts are adding Division I college scholarship offers to their recruiting profiles seemingly by the hour this week, and some of the area's biggest targets are starting to narrow their final choices.

The depth of local talent is evident. Members of the classes of 2016 and 2017 are picking up offers from Ohio State and recruiting rivals such as Alabama and Michigan.

Archbishop Hoban sophomore running back Todd Sibley already has an offer from Ohio State on the table, and last week he received a Michigan offer from coach Jim Harbaugh.

Sibley has more than 2,700 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in two varsity seasons for the Knights. Last year he averaged better than eight yards per carry.

The Wolverines have been busy making offers to Northeast Ohio players in recent weeks. Harbaugh offered Walsh Jesuit lineman Jack Wohlabaugh a scholarship on Saturday.

Meanwhile, St. Ignatius lineman Liam Eichenberg is winding down his recruiting, according to coach Chuck Kyle.

Eichenberg has unofficial visits to Notre Dame (April 10) and Ohio State (April 17) on his agenda, and could have a decision shortly afterward.

"He's getting closer," Kyle said. "Certainly it will be before next season starts. There's no debate about that."

Rated the No. 7 overall player in Ohio and No. 11 offensive tackle in the nation by 247 Sports, the 6-6, 285-pound Eichenberg has held an offer from Ohio State since his freshman year.

Other offers out there:

Demario McCall: A 2,000-yard rusher for North Ridgeville last season, McCall now holds more than a dozen offers from schools such as Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, UCLA, Georgia and Arizona State.

Luke Farrell: At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, the Perry junior tight end is already a big target for major programs such as Ohio State and Michigan State. Alabama scouts took notice and offered Farrell during basketball season. He most recently picked up offers from Arkansas and Iowa.

Picked up offers from Iowa and Arkansas... pic.twitter.com/xJsbt4NL7B

— Kronk (@LukeFarrell88) March 24, 2015

Jaylen Harris: Known for his basketball prowess, the 6-5, 210-pound WR from Cleveland Heights got his first Division I offer last week from Kentucky, where former teammate Dorian Baker had a solid freshman season in 2014 for the Wildcats.

Shakif Seymour: The Holy Name junior running back rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 22 TDs. He has offers from six Mid-American Conference schools including Akron and Kent State.

Jatairis Grant: Akron Garfield standout WR/DB holds offers from six MAC schools including Toledo and Bowling Green.

Warren Saba: Benedictine DB picked up his first Division I offer from Eastern Michigan last week.

Tyler Tupa: Brecksville All-Ohio WR has three MAC offers, including most recently Ohio University.

Terek Zingale: Nordonia 6-6, 300-pound OT is being pursued by Akron, Toledo and Bowling green as well as Ohio University.

Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your related Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag. 

Follow high school sports reporter Joe Noga on Twitter @JoeNogaCLE or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Cleveland Browns and Johnny Manziel would both be better off if there were no big expectations for him in 2015 -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Any promising uptick in the Johnny Manziel narrative would be a bonus for the Browns in 2015.

But if they revert to counting on it, expecting it, falling prey to that expectation (again), that's a riskier organizational strategy than it was to draft him.

The Browns believe he'll come back to the team April 20. If he's prepared, GM Ray Farmer told the media in Arizona, "he should get every opportunity to be the guy."

Oh, boy. Where do we start?

If only preparation had mattered so much a year ago. Instead Manziel still got the opportunity to be the guy in the biggest game of the year despite admitting he'd really only dedicated himself to preparation when he was given the reins.

In the same conversation at the owner's meetings, Farmer spoke about how Aaron Rodgers needed time to develop in Green Bay.

You'd love to know the content of Farmer's text messages. Because if he's chiding people for expecting too much too soon of Manziel, while he was lobbying for Manziel to replace Brian Hoyer, that would be too rich for words -- at least the printable variety.

Manziel as the starter shouldn't be by default again. But you look at the competition -- Josh McCown, Thad Lewis, Connor Shaw -- and see the danger despite Farmer's rosy takes.

On McCown: "He's never been given the chance to be the guy full-time and play the full season out and do things that way. When you saw the guy line up in shotgun and throw the ball any number of times in the course of a game ... may not be his best strong suit.

"When you watch a guy play and they run the ball and they give him play-action reads, that may be his strong suit.''

McCown turns 36 in July. If what Farmer says is true about the absence of opportunity, it seems more the case by now that he hasn't earned the chance.

On Shaw: "I think a lot of people are missing out on Connor Shaw. Don't lose sight of a young man who went into the last weekend of the regular season with limited reps and opportunities and took our division rival to the brink of beating them at their place."

Shaw was impressive in Baltimore. But it was even more true what Mike Pettine said of him, that the ball he throws "looks big in the air." If only his arm were as big as his heart.

Shaw is actually a good barometer but not the way Farmer is using him to suggest the Browns have viable starting options. Shaw looked markedly better than Manziel. Was that all preparation? Or was it style of play, instinct, guts?

If Manziel returns from rehab a changed man -- and that should be everyone's rooting interest -- it may in fact trigger an improved commitment to his craft. That's not a given, though, just a possibility.

It's a big jump from there to projecting him as a pocket passer who can tamp down his urge to run under pressure. Not escape. Run.

It's a long way from there to overhauling his mechanics, to Manziel realizing he can't throw jump balls just because they worked in college. He has a long way to go. Period.

Farmer said as much when he brought up Aaron Rodgers. The key difference: Green Bay had Brett Favre. There are other differences, too many to go into here.

But the main one is the Browns don't have a big road block to Manziel becoming their best option two years into his career and just a few months removed from rehab.

They'd both be better off if they did.

In Cleveland for the NCAA Tournament? Here's a handy guide that will direct you to Plain Dealer and cleveland.com coverage of the Midwest Regional featuring Kentucky, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Wichita State.

In Cleveland for the NCAA Tournament? Here's a handy guide that will direct you to Plain Dealer and cleveland.com coverage of the Midwest Regional featuring Kentucky, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Wichita State.

You'll find everything here -- from sports coverage to dining picks to entertainment suggestions to weather links and transportation tips. Bookmark it. You'll find what you need here -- even if you're a native Clevelander looking to share in the tourney fun.

Visitor's guide to the NCAA Regionals in Cleveland:

The insider's guide to getting the most out of the Midwest Regional experience:

Sports coverage: The latest news, game previews, game coverage, photos, video & more from The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, including commentary and analysis from sports reporters Bill Livingston, Elton Alexander, Tim Warsinskey, Branson Wright, Dennis Manoloff & others.

Fan HQ: Everything Kentucky, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Wichita State fans should know about their trip to the CLE, including details on action at headquarters' hotels, bars from entertainment reporter Marc Bona.

Where to eat: The best dining options inside The Q from Restaurants & Dining editor Joe Crea, plus recommendations for great restaurants within walking distance of the arena.

More dine & drink: Cleveland's best restaurants, bars, happy hours, things to eat & drink: A 'Sweet 16' guide.

Where to party: Plain Dealer nightlife reporter John Petkovic takes you on a tour of the best bars around The Q.

Things to do: Down time before or after games? Check out Travel Editor Susan Glaser's Top 5 Cleveland-area tourist attractions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art & more.

Live music this week: The home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum plays host to dozens of concerts each week. Check our Concert Calendar for the latest shows at the area's major venues.

Weather: The forecast calls for highs in the 30s and 40s, lows in the 20s for Thursday-Saturday in Cleveland. There's a chance of showers and flurries, too. Be sure to check here for hourly and daily forecasts.

Getting around: Cleveland's Regional Transit Authority says it has the best seat in town for March Madness. Tips and advice for using RTA buses and rapids to get to the NCAA tournament games in Cleveland, plus information on taxi services in town. Bus & Rapid | Taxi

"Everything is positive," Meyer said of his quarterbacks Tuesday. "Talent. Quality of people. Value to the program. Investment in the program. Check, check, check, check. Negative? Two people are going to have to watch." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The most interesting part of the Ohio State quarterback battle will be the losers.

Not that there will be any. Not when the competitors are a two-time conference MVP, last year's fifth-place Heisman finisher as a freshman and the guy who beat Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Whether it's Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett or Cardale Jones, Ohio State knows its quarterback in 2015 will be an accomplished winner who will give the Buckeyes a chance to repeat. The two who aren't the starter won't be losers. Just backups.

But it's the two backups that provide the drama. And that's what Urban Meyer admitted on Tuesday he's starting to realize.

"Everything is positive," Meyer said. "Talent. Quality of people. Value to the program. Investment in the program. Check, check, check, check. Negative? Two people are going to have to watch."

The focus on that tightens every day that Miller continues rehab for his shoulder, with every step Barrett takes on the right foot healing from surgery. The math has been clear. But Meyer just started working the equation.

"It's not like receiver, where you can put three of them out there," Meyer said Tuesday after the Buckeyes returned from spring break with their third practice of spring football. "That's the one thing that's weighing a little bit. It didn't for a while because you're just so busy. But now I'm seeing what I'm seeing, and I have such great respect for all three guys."

What Meyer is seeing is a relationship between the three that he believes makes the choice more difficult. Tuesday, he said Miller backed off a bit on his comeback from August shoulder surgery just because the trainers are concerned about Miller falling on the shoulder.

"Everything's fine," Meyer said. "But a fall would be bad."

Barrett is a little ahead of schedule, with Meyer saying, "He's doing more than I thought," including full reps in seven-on-seven passing drills.

It's not the drills that are making it difficult on Meyer. It's the interaction. He said he saw Miller and Barrett talking football during Tuesday's practice, before Miller came over to tap Jones on the head for a good play.

"That's not common," Meyer said. "That's not common."

So what's the worry? Offending the two on the bench. Why? Because they've done it. But could it be possible that their success in the past won't make this quite as difficult as we're making it out to be? In the end, three people will determine how difficult his competition really is.

Actually, two. 

We know all three would be thrilled to start. And we know what while Meyer on Tuesday didn't sound like a coach ready to play multiple quarterbacks, injuries are always possible.

But if two have to sit, consider the potential of the three players as backups if they don't win the job. The possibility? Miller may not be a healthy backup, and Barrett and Jones may be able to deal with it if they are.

* Miller: The fifth-year senior is the center of the intrigue. To go from one of the biggest names in college football to the third quarterback on his own team? That would be difficult. 

And last year was difficult for Miller, as the team he led for two seasons won a national title without him. Make no mistake about that. But that was out of his hands.

Here's what is very difficult to imagine -- a completely healthy Miller just sitting.

Miller's shoulder is the unknown in all of this, having undergone a serious second surgery last August. There are no guarantees on a comeback from that, but the expectation is that Miller could be 100 percent by July. In the meantime, he's playing it smart, knowing he may have pushed things last August when his shoulder gave out a second time. So Meyer has said all the focus is on Miller's health right now, not something like a potential position switch.

Let's remember, Miller has to think as well about his potential NFL future, not just his final season in college. Without his first shoulder injury in the 2014 Orange Bowl, Miller may be prepping for his second year in the league.

But if he is healthy? If Ohio State is preparing for the opener against Virginia Tech on Sept. 7 and Miller is 100 percent and still a Buckeye? Is he really going to be zero part of the gameplan in his final college season, after two years as the starter, then losing the job to injury?

If so, that's a heck of a story, a heck of a weight for Meyer, a heck of a thing for the team to handle. That's why I don't think that scenario unfolds -- a healthy Miller as a pure backup. 

* Barrett: A healthy Barrett as a backup is far more plausible. Why? Because he was always staring at three years as the starter as a best-case scenario. That would have been watching behind a healthy Miller last season, then starting in 2015-17. 

Last year was a surprise. If Barrett sits this season, he'd still be on track for those three seasons starting, just in a different order. The Buckeyes wouldn't be giving up on him, not a player that the coaches praise constantly for his maturity and leadership.

And it's those traits that should make Barrett able to handle a year away, if that's what happens.

"There's gonna be patience, if I'm not the starter, definitely patience," Barrett said earlier in spring practice. "That's not anything I'm afraid of, or something I don't want to do. If I'm not the starter then obviously I'm not doing something right, I can always get better." 

* Jones: In the end, Jones may be the guy this is really about. He's the starter now, having finished the season that way and as the only fully healthy quarterback for spring.

He's the guy who led the Buckeyes past Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon on the way to the national title. He's the guy who passed on a roll of the dice in the NFL to return for his fourth season at Ohio State as a redshirt junior. 

He's also a guy way into the bonus round. Jones never thought any of this would happen. He's embraced every part of how his life has changed for the better. He'll get NFL interest next year no matter how this season unfolds.

As far as losing a quarterback competition? He's done that before.

"We're going to always keep each other razor sharp," Jones said earlier during spring practice. "We're going to stay on each other. But it's so weird that you guys are making a big deal out of it now, because it's always been like that. Just now you guys got a chance to see all of us play. It's always been a competition in that room."

If they handled it before, maybe they'll handle it like that again.

"We always compete with each other. It's not like, 'Oh, Braxton's the starter or J.T.'s the starter, just let me chill or not prepare like a starter or go compete with them,'" Jones said.

So everyone wants to start. But Jones, if he's not the one, may be able to accept it, as he has before.

"I don't think it will be difficult because we always want to see each other succeed," Jones said. "But it's going to be bittersweet for everyone because only one guy gets to play. As long as we know in our hearts that guy is the guy the coaches pick and the guy the coaches want to lead the team and give us the best chance to win, it's understandable to us all." 

So it may not be easy on Meyer to make the choice. But it may be easier for the backups to handle it than we expect.

LeBron James said he didn't make much of Kevin Love's picking someone else for MVP, said "the voters are going to decide."

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James said he didn't "really think too much" of teammate Kevin Love's picking Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook instead of him as the NBA MVP, arguing Love is entitled to his own opinion.

"I didn't hear about it until this morning," James said after practice on Tuesday. The Cavaliers play in Memphis on Wednesday night. "I don't really think too much of it, really. I don't really get involved in that. I think the voters are going to decide who's MVP."

On Monday, Love told the Dan Patrick Show that he would give the edge to his college teammate Westbrook for MVP instead of James, citing the two weeks James took off to rest nagging injuries earlier this season and the huge numbers Westbrook has posted of late.

It's unusual, to say the least, for a player to publicly say someone on a different team should be MVP if one their teammates is also up for the award. On a separate radio appearance with ESPN's Mike & Mike, Love said he and James were "not best friends" and that their relationship was "evolving."

Love also told Patrick that he planned on remaining a Cavalier, even though he could become a free agent this summer. He spoke on both shows about learning to accept his role on a Cleveland team that is clicking with James and Kyrie Irving as the first two scoring options.

James didn't crack a smile or try to lighten the mood Tuesday, but he reeled off his list of MVP candidates. The award winner is ultimately chosen by the media.

"I think Russ, what Russ has been doing, his numbers have been pretty crazy, keeping those guys afloat in the West with his play," James said. "Steph Curry can make a case with what he's been doing, for sure. And James Harden and myself as well.

"Kevin has his own opinion, who he believes is MVP, no one should fault him for that."

Love said he wasn't surprised that his pick of Westbrook -- whom he teamed with in college at UCLA for one season -- caused a stir because "you choose to get the little three- or four-second clip."

"In my whole answer I said LeBron could very well be the MVP," Love said. "Steph Curry, James Harden, those are guys that you all talk about and know very well. All of them could be the MVP."

On Monday, Love said James and Westbrook were "both having an MVP-type season, but I'm going to go with Russell Westbrook because he's, every single night you're looking at his stat sheet, they're fighting for a playoff spot, with Serge Ibaka going down now, Kevin Durant potentially being out the rest of the year and him still going out there and fighting for his team, and winning, and fighting for that seventh or eighth spot in the playoffs.

"I think Russ is arguably having the better season."

Heading into play Tuesday, James is averaging 25.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. The Cavs are 46-26 this season and in second in the East, but were 2-9 without James.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in eighth place in the West, despite their considerable injury problems. That includes Westbrook, who's played fewer games than James due to injury.

Westbrook has nine triple-doubles and is averaging 27.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists this season. He's averaging a triple-double -- 32.2 points, 10.4 boards, and 11.1 assists -- over the past month.

Of all the commonly agreed upon candidates for MVP, only James is a past winner, with four.

"When I'm on the floor, you judge me by when I'm on the floor and do I win," James said. "When I'm on the floor, am I playing at a high level? And that's all I care about. When I'm on the floor, is my team winning, because I think that has a lot to do with it, and how are my numbers when I'm on the floor? Judge me by that."

Cleveland sports fans wonder about Jimmy Haslam's affection for Tennessee and J.R. Smith's love for the three-point shot -- 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 Mildly Popular Tuesday Edition)

Bud: Do we send the money to you for the "Moving Jimmy Fans Fund"? - Joe S.

Keep me out of this. Just remember if there is one expression a Cleveland sports fan should be familiar with by now, it's "be careful what you wish for."

Hi Bud: Nothing says "we support our athletes' academic requirements" like a NCAA basketball tournament game at 9:40 pm on a Sunday - Dave F, Westlake

No problem. The students who are taking the tests for them are getting a better night's sleep.

Bud: If Jimmy Haslam swaps out for the Titans will he suffer the vitriol of "Y'all Said It" down there in Tennessee? - Michael Sarro

I'm sure column contributors have much more charm in Tennessee than they do here. #faintpraise.

Bud: I see where the NBA is planting a tree for each three pointer this week. My kids and I plan on going hiking in J.R. Smith National Forest soon - Ken, Broadview Hts.

First-time You Said It winners get their prayers answered.

Hey Bud: Is there any truth in the rumor that in addition to "Hard Knocks" filming in Berea that "America's Funniest Home Videos" will be there, too? - Scoop, Middleburg Heights

People laugh with repeat winners, not at them.

Is Notre Dame the team that can bring down Kentucky? Here how it can happen.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notre Dame will meet Wichita State in the first game of the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday at The Q.

A victory over the Shockers will grant the Irish a date against the Kentucky/West Virginia winner on Saturday. The winner on Saturday advances to next week's Final Four in Indianapolis and this is how the Irish can do it:

Notre Dame's ability to get past Wichita and the Kentucky/West Virginia winner is not insurmountable.

Tool belt: The Irish (31-5) have all of the tools and ability to succeed throughout the tournament no matter the opposition, and Notre Dame's first two tournament wins (over Northeastern and Butler) are not good news for teams in this region because the Irish squeezed out close victories without playing at its best.

Notre Dame can only get better. And if the Irish return to how they played and became ACC Tournament champs, that could only mean doom for the opposition.

The Irish's offensive prowess is common fodder when it comes to their scouting report.

Defense does not rest: Notre Dame entered the tournament second in the country in field goal percentage (51 percent) and 12th in points per game (78.8). But the Irish defense made the difference in the conference tournament (held teams to 24 percent shooting from 3-point range) and that often overlooked defense will key the run this weekend.

Swingman Pat Connaughton, who shoots 44 percent from 3-point range, made a key play with his defense in the final seconds of regulation against Butler. Connaughton's leaping block of a potential 3-point game-winner helped move the game into OT.

One-two-punch: Success in the tournament often involves teams with a superior backcourt and the Irish may have the best in senior Jerian Grant and sophomore Demetrius Jackson. They cause trouble because of their ability to play either guard position and their ability to defend multiple positions.

Match up issues: Notre Dame, like Wichita, runs an offense with a third guard. Notre Dame's offense may even have four guards because swingmen Connaughton and Steve Vasturia play more like guards than forwards, and they have the athleticism to play in the post. This lineup allows Notre Dame to control tempo and many teams don't have the ability to adjust.

One of Wichita's three losses was against Northern Iowa. It was a game where NI pulled out the victory due to its defense. The Irish will duplicate the same effort on Thursday.

Kentucky's path through the Cleveland Midwest Regional to the NCAA Tournament Final Four will be heavily dependent on its superior defense and size, as well as making free throws in games that will become increasingly tight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As talented as Kentucky is, getting to the Final Four, is not a foregone conclusion in perhaps the most intriguing regional of the NCAA Tournament. Here are some key points about the Wildcats as they navigate the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday and Saturday:

Forever young: This team plays beyond its years, and has yet to crack or show its youth in a serious way. There were a few moments against Cincinnati where they appeared rattled, but it didn't last. That has to continue. The Wildcats start two freshmen forwards (Karl-Anthony Towns and Trey Lyles), two sophomore guards (twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison) and a junior post (Willie Cauley-Stein). Its average experience of 0.73 years before the season began made UK the fifth-least experienced team in the NCAA.

Defense: Kentucky entered the NCAA Tournament allowing 53 points per game, third-best in the NCAA. With the Wildcats' almost unprecedented height, length and quickness - 7-footer Cauley-Stein often will step up to guard the perimeter - opponents are shooting a mere 35 percent from the field and 27 percent on 3-pointers. Kentucky averages 6.9 blocks per game and had nine against Cincinnati in the second round. West Virginia is not a strong shooting team, and this could be its death knell.

Depth: Even when key players don't perform well, as was the case with the Harrison twins in the first half against Cincinnati, Kentucky's second wave overwhelms opponents bench or tired starters. A deep bench led by freshmen guards Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis and sophomore center Dakari Johnson probably would start for a Sweet 16 team. Second-leading scorer Booker is averaging 10 points in 21 minutes per game and shooting 40 percent on 3-pointers. A rising player who continues to receive more minutes is Ulis, a 5-9 point guard who had an outstanding tournament in Louisville. His play could be key against WVU's highly regarded pressure defense.

Free throws: Kentucky's biggest weakness is a 72.2 free-throw percentage. West Virginia loves to foul. If an upset happens, this will play a factor. Down the line, as games grow tighter and sometimes more conservative, this will be an even bigger factor.

Big bigs: You know the old saying: Can't teach height. Kentucky's Four Firs are among the tallest timber in college basketball: Cauley-Stein (7-0), Towns (6-11), Lyles (6-10) and backup Dakari Johnson (7-0). It goes beyond the big men. The Harrison twins and Booker give Kentucky a trio of 6-6 guards. A team of this size is almost unprecedented in college basketball. Before 6-8 junior forward Alex Poythress was lost to an injury in December, the only taller front court in North America was the Portland Trailblazers. Lately, 6-9 sophomore Marcus Lee has been getting more time.

There's a lot to be said for pure talent and ability, and while that never is a guarantor of success during March Madness, Kentucky clearly has a special group that will take an almost perfect effort to stop, or an incredibly bad night by numerous UK players. NBAdraft.net's latest 2015 mock draft has these Wildcats going with these picks in the first round: 1. Towns, 10. Cauley-Stein, 12. Lyles, 14. Booker (14); and in the second round: 41. Johnson, 47. Poythress, and 52. Andrew Harrison. The roster's McDonald's high school All-Americans are the Harrison twins, Poythress, Johnson, Lee, Booker, Lyles, Towns and Ulis.

The Wichita State Shockers face Notre Dame in the first game of the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional in Cleveland, with hopes of making their second Final Four in three years.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Wichita State will face Notre Dame in the first game of the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional on Thursday at 7:15 at Quicken Loans Arena. Win that and the Shockers will face the winner of Kentucky vs. West Virginia for the chance to move on to the Final Four at Indianapolis on April 4 and 6. Here's how the Shockers can make that happen:

(Extremely) well-coached: One of these days, the name Gregg Marshall will roll off the tongue when great college coaches are discussed at the sports bar or coffee house. Until then, he will keep winning (and winning) at Wichita State of the Missouri Valley Conference. In his eight seasons with the Shockers, Marshall is a tidy 204-75. In the most recent five seasons, he is 151-28, including 30-plus victories in three straight. The Shockers have reached the Sweet 16 in two of the past three years.

Marshall's Shockers are fundamentally sound, unselfish, relentless and tough. They don't make excuses. They don't panic in pressure situations. Such attributes enable them to perform much better as a unit than the individual talent evaluations suggest.

Quality guards: It's no secret -- guards matter in the NCAA Tournament, especially in the later rounds. Wichita State features junior Fred VanVleet, redshirt junior Ron Baker and senior Tekele Cotton. They have skills that complement each other; they are smart enough to adjust on the fly to what the opponent is trying to do; and they sell out defensively. They help the Shockers compensate for lack of size on the interior.

Not a one-man show: VanVleet is the leader of the Shockers, with the resume and basketball IQ to validate. He scored 27 in Wichita State's first 2015 NCAA Tournament game, a victory over Indiana. But VanVleet typically does not need to win games by himself.

Against Kansas, VanVleet scored 17 -- as one of five Shockers with double-digit points. Cotton, best known for his defense, had a game-high 19. Guard Evan Wessel, who is averaging a tad more than four points and had zero against Indiana, scored 12.

Wichita's State's defense is predicated on teamwork.

Won't look behind or too far ahead: Last Sunday in Omaha, Neb., the Shockers played one of the most significant games in program history. The seventh-seeded Shockers defeated No. 2 Kansas, 78-65, in the Round of 32. It was the first meeting between the schools since 1993; Wichita State and its fans have railed against Kansas for ducking them. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Wichita State became the fifth team to defeat an in-state opponent seeded at least five spots higher in NCAA Tournament history.

The Shockers had every right to be thrilled -- Sunday night and, perhaps, Monday morning. But Marshall made sure his players got back to work and didn't get full of themselves for knocking off the hated Jayhawks. The schedule helps; the Kansas game was at the end of a weekend, not the beginning, so the Shockers will have had plenty of time to return to "normalcy.''

Wichita State plays Notre Dame on Thursday. The other game in Cleveland pits undefeated Kentucky against West Virginia, with Kentucky the obvious favorite.
Last season, in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32, No. 1 Wichita State played No. 8 Kentucky in what turned out to be an epic game. Kentucky prevailed, 78-76, ending Wichita's bid for an undefeated season at 35-1.

Of course the Shockers want revenge, with the opportunity to reach their second Final Four in three seasons. But Marshall won't let his players daydream while they are trying to defeat the superb Irish.

The West Virginia Mountaineers do not lack for confidence as they prepare to face the Kentucky Wildcats, but that confidence must be backed up by continued stellar defense and a bit more quality offense than WVU has shown to date.

CLEVELAND -- The challenge is huge for the West Virginia Mountaineers, some might say insurmountable -- defeat the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats.

But the players don't feel that way.

"It's another team,'' forward Devin Williams said. "They put their drawers on the same way we do. We just got to prepare and get our minds right."

Here's how they can do it.

Defensive pressure: They have forced 40 turnovers combined against Buffalo and Maryland. The Mountaineers fullcourt press will need to force another 20, at least, to have a chance against the Wildcats. They will have to be true to their numbers overall - outrebounding their opponents on the offensive glass, 562-301, and taking 15 more shots than the opposition as well. That will lead to the next big challenge for coach Bob Huggins crew.

Take a shot: They have to score, because the Kentucky defense is equally as smothering, especially if the Wildcats get the game played in the halfcourt. West Virginia does not shoot the ball particularly well from long range, and 66.2 percent from the line is just on the low end of average. Kentucky, at 72.5 percent from the line, is one of the Top 75 teams in the country. So that fullcourt press must generate turnovers with most of them leading to at least two points, and hopefully their share of threes. At the same time, cut down on fouls as the Wildcats can easily win the game from the line.

And one: Next will be the Wichita State-Notre Dame winner. The plus for WVU against both teams is neither will have time enough to prepare for the fullcourt onslaught the Mountaineers can bring. Also, while they will be undersized against Kentucky, that will not be the case against the Shockers or the Fighting Irish. They should have their way on the boards against both.

Great clip: The Mountaineers have to score at a quality clip -- a solid 43- to 45-percent from the field -- to advance to the Final Four. That is a bit over their average on the season, 41.3 percent field goal shooting and 31.8 percent 3-point shooting. At this point in the season, against this quality of competition, that is a big chore. But ultimately, along with its physicality and smothering defense, scoring at a quality clip will be key.

Kelly, who turned down the Browns job, runs an imaginative offense, but seems to have similar core philosophies about high-end receivers and the importance of the ground game.

BEREA, Ohio - Imagine if Ray Farmer released a Pro Bowl receiver last offseason and allowed another high-caliber one to leave in free agency this year.

Imagine if the Browns general manager revealed how much he valued a receiver's downfield blocking and the ability to sell a pattern in which he wasn't the primary target.

Farmer has been criticized for his perceived war on high-end wideouts, characterized as a decision maker falling behind the times in a pass-oriented NFL.

But the aforementioned actions and philosophies are from an NFL coach considered an offensive innovator. Chip Kelly has led the Eagles to a pair of 10-6 seasons in his first two years and runs one of the league's most imaginative attacks. He's also the coach who released DeSean Jackson, let Jeremy Maclin walk on the open market and is ramping up his rushing attack with the acquisitions of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.

Please don't misinterpret this as a defense of Farmer or an attempt to liken him to Kelly, who's now also in charge of the Eagles' player personnel moves. It's just interesting to see how others approach the game, especially considering the Browns' pursuit of the former Oregon coach following the 2012 season.

Since spurning the Cleveland offer, Kelly has made a series of bold decisions -- swapping quarterbacks with the Rams -- and retooling the Eagles' lineup with a flurry of offseason transactions. Some Browns fans can't help but wonder what their club would look like today with Kelly and fellow unconventional thinker Joe Banner in charge and Farmer serving as an assistant general manager.

There's no doubt the franchise would have taken on a different appearance, but how much so? The basic offensive philosophies appear similar. Heading into the draft, the Eagles are emphasizing the running game while taking a receiver-by-committee route.

Sound familiar?

Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has gone 10-6 in each of his first two seasons.Associated Press

This isn't to say Farmer deserves the benefit of the doubt. The Browns general manager survived a turbulent first season that produced a pair of dubious first-round picks and a texting scandal that could cost him a future draft choice along with the trust of his head coach. But there exists an against-the-grain mentality in both Farmer and Kelly, most notably in how they view receivers.

(It's important to note the Eagles reportedly were willing to pay Maclin almost $10 million per season, but not $11 million per season, which he earned over five years with the Chiefs and his once-and-future coach Andy Reid.)

The Browns bolstered their receiving corps in free agency with the acquisition of Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe. Neither is considered a legitimate No. 1 wideout at this stage of his career, combining for two touchdown catches last season, both by Hartline. The club ranked last in TD passes with 12 a year ago.

Farmer took considerable grief for not selecting a wideout in the receiver-rich 2014 draft despite being armed with two first-round picks and the knowledge former All-Pro Josh Gordon would miss a substantial portion of the season due to another failed drug test. The general manager remained unapologetic for his decision at a season-ending news conference.

"Again, I'm a believer that this whole notion that you've got to have this one guy that's the silver bullet is a myth," Farmer said. "I think it's like trying to catch werewolves and vampires. They just don't exist."

If fairness, the Browns were a more efficient passing team before Gordon's late-season return, and they won't have to worry about his presence this year as he's been suspended indefinitely.

Based on the release of Jackson following the 2013 campaign, you can make the argument Kelly would have taken a similar road with Gordon and his off-field conduct.

The Browns were 3-6 when Gordon compiled at least 100 yards receiving the past three seasons.

"A wide receiver may touch the ball 10 times if he's having a great day so I just like the idea of let's get the guys that affect the game all the time and let's try and get those guys and make a difference for our football team," Farmer said at the end of last season.

The general manager conceded at the NFL combine that his perceived 'anti-receiver' campaign might be a "smokescreen," as the Browns approach the draft holding the Nos. 12 and 19 overall picks.

Prior to free agency, I made the case for using one of those assets on a front-line wideout. After the Hartline and Bowe acquisitions, I can see them trading one or both picks to upgrade at quarterback. I'm not sure it's the right move - it will depend on the asking price and whether Marcus Mariota falls past the Titans, who select at No. 2.

Former Eagles' wideout Jeremy Maclin enjoyed an outstanding season, but the Eagles refused to outbid the Chiefs for his services.Michael Perez 

What's impossible to ignore is the value of a great quarterback. Here are some statistics regarding quarterbacks, receivers and running backs in the past decade using the Associated Press' All-Pro status as a guide.

--- Among All-Pro quarterbacks all but one of the first- or second-team selections have led their teams to the playoffs in the corresponding seasons.

--- Among All-Pro wide receivers, 27 of 41 helped their team reach postseason.

--- Among All-Pro running backs, 23 of 39 contributed to playoff teams.

What's eye catching is the similar figures between receivers and running backs - and rarely did a playoff team possess one of each.

Farmer and Kelly could become well acquainted in the coming weeks. Both could make runs up the draft board for Mariota, recruited to Oregon by Kelly. The Browns GM might also consider trading the No. 12 pick to the Eagles for Sam Bradford. There are reports the Browns already have inquired about him this offseason.

In a spare moment, Farmer and Kelly might chat about their feelings regarding the importance of top-tier wideouts and the grief each has absorbed from their respective fan bases.

"I'm a big believer in it's a team sport, and when we combine the requisite skill sets necessary to let guys have success we have that success," Farmer said.

The Eagles also stress a team-first attitude when it comes to receivers, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer story published Sunday. Kelly is a big proponent of player performance away from the ball, dating to his days with the Ducks, wrote Jeff McLane. Some of Oregon's toughest players were receivers. The coach lauds downfield blocking and running good routes that draw defenders away from the primary target.

It sounds as though Taylor Gabriel and Andrew Hawkins might earn more praise than Gordon if Kelly coached the Browns.

Farmer and coach Mike Pettine allocated prime assets a year ago to improving the Browns' woeful running game and produced better numbers in yards per game (108) and touchdowns (17). The Eagles led the NFL in rushing (160.4 yards) two seasons ago and clearly want to get back to that plateau with the combination of Murray and Mathews.

Kelly wants to push the pace and spread the field. He's fashioned top-10 overall offenses with Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Michael Vick at quarterback over the last two seasons. It's a testament to good schemes and a healthy ground game.

It will be fascinating to see if the Eagles and Browns go after high-end receivers in the draft. The Browns are breaking in a first-year coordinator and uncertainty abounds at quarterback.

The clubs are in different stages of offensive development, but it seems they share basic core philosophies when it comes to the receiving game.  

Former Lutheran East High School football coach Eric Mitchell will be named the new coach at Firestone later this month, according to reports.

AKRON, Ohio -- Eric Mitchell is set to take over as football coach at Firestone, pending approval by the Akron Public Schools board later this month, according to a report by the Akron Beacon Journal.

Mitchell guided Lutheran East to a 4-5 record last year after going 0-10 in his first campaign. He has previous coaching experience as an assistant at Brush and Warrensville Heights.

Mitchell, who stepped down in November after two seasons at Lutheran East, replaces interim Falcons coach Billy Adair, who led the team after Tim Flossie was suspended in Week 2 of the 2014 season.

Mitchell was not immediately available for comment on the hiring.

Mitchell was selected from a pool of 25 candidates for the Firestone job. Thirteen candidates were interviewed, according the Akron Beacon Journal.

Firestone finished 1-9 in 2014 after Flossie was placed on leave amid allegations he was abusive toward at least one player.

An investigation by Akron school officials later found that Flossie had been verbally abusive, but had not physically abused anybody.

Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your related Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag. 

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Browns coach Mike Pettine addressed a wide range of topics during the AFC coach breakfast today, including Hard Knocks.

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Browns coach Mike Pettine acknowledged that Johnny Manziel coming off a stint in rehab was one of the reasons the Browns don't want to be on HBO's Hard Knocks this year.

The Browns, reportedly frontrunners for the inside look at training camp, met with NFL Films here at the annual meetings and provided several reasons why 2015 is not a good year for them to featured. Manziel, who will be in an aftercare program once he gets out of treatment, was among them.

Pettine, speaking at the AFC coaches breakfast here, said Manziel's situation didn't necessarily loom large in the Browns not volunteering for the show, but it was a factor. Another one was the fact that Pettine and Farmer are only in their second year together as head coach and GM.

Pettine, who was on Hard Knocks with the Jets, said, "It's hard to be yourself. Some guys played to the camera. If you have to change, then it's a distraction.''

As for why the Browns didn't volunteer to be on, Pettine said, "we're just not ready to do that at this point.''

The Browns are hoping another team steps forward and that they'll be off the hook. Other candidates include the Bills, Saints and Texans.

Pettine covered a wide-range of topics during his hour-long interview. Here are some quick hits:

* He confirmed that the Browns will practice for two days against the Bills at St. John Fisher College outside of Rochester N.Y. The two clubs requested to face each other in preseason, and that game will likely take place in Cleveland in the first two weeks. Pettine said the joint practices give teams a good gauge of where they're at heading into preseason games.

* He echoed general manager Ray Farmer in saying that he expects Manziel to be back with the club in time for the start of the offseason program April 20th, but "I don't think any date's been set'' for his discharge from inpatient rehab.

* He said the feedback on Manziel has been good and that the club has been pleased with his progress. He stressed that his primary concern is about Manziel the person and that the football stuff will come later.

* Pettine sounded very optimistic about No. 8 overall pick Justin Gilbert, who's working hard to mature off the field. "I'm very much looking forward to getting him in town in April.'' He said the club encouraged Gilbert to work with Joe Haden this offseason and that the alliance has paid off.

* Pettine said he doesn't know if a private workout with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota is necessary given the fact that quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell had private workouts with him every day while preparing him for the pre-draft process in San Diego.

* He also declined to say if the Browns will work out Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty, who also worked with O'Connell.

* He said O'Connell "turned a weakness into a strength'' with Mariota when he worked with him on functioned from within the structure of the pocket.

* Pettine said his increased involvement with the offense this season will include more time spent in offensive meetings and gameplanning. He said as a former high school quarterback and a former offensive playcaller, it's something he's always wanted to do. Conversely, he'll be less involved with the defense, but trusts defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil to run the show.

* He said center Alex Mack (broken leg) and defensive tackle Phil Taylor (knee) are on track in their recovery from injuries. He said they might have to limit Mack some because he'll want to jump ahead. He added that Taylor will be penciled in at nosetackle along with Ishmaa'ly Kitchen.

LeBron James' cousin -- Wichita State's Darius Carter -- and friend John Calipari are both competing in the Sweet 16 in Cleveland this week.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- LeBron James has not one, but two rooting interests in the NCAA men's basketball regional in Cleveland this week, to the point where he's almost guaranteed to be sitting courtside at The Q on Saturday night.

James and the Cavaliers play in Memphis tonight and travel to New York from here for a game Friday night in Brooklyn, so he won't be there Thursday when his "cousin" -- Akron Firestone graduate and Wichita State forward Darius Carter -- plays Notre Dame in a Sweet 16 matchup.

Nor will James be there to watch Kentucky coach and friend John Calipari lead the undefeated Wildcats against West Virginia.

But if both, or even one, of them should happen to reach Saturday's regional final, it's a safe bet James would be there for support.

"Yeah, for sure. If they win on Thursday, which they play Thursday night, I'll definitely go support him for sure," James said of Carter. But with the way James speaks of Calipari, it's likely James is keeping his Saturday night open either way.

Carter is a 6-7, 245-pounder from Akron who is averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 11.1 rebounds for the Shockers. James said Thursday -- when asked directly -- that Carter is his familial cousin and he explained their relationship, though it turns out they are not actually related by blood.

Carter is the cousin of James' long-time friend and business partner Maverick Carter.

"I held him ... when he was a baby," James said. "His dad (Darius Carter Sr.) played high school basketball at (Akron) North High school. I grew up on the north side, so I used to watch him play basketball, so I've been doin' it my whole life.

"We all grew up playing on the same courts, even though his dad was a lot older than me, but he's one of those guys you was like, oh yeah, he can really play."

In this photo provided by University of Kentucky, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, stands with University of Kentucky's head coach John Calipari in 2009.David Coyle 

As for Calipari, James said they first met when Calipari -- then the coach at the Univerity of Memphis -- was recruiting him at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. He said he was introduced to Calipari by a "family friend" -- believed to be William "World Wide Wes" Wesley -- and "once I went to the NBA I kind of always stayed in touch with him."

James said his close friend and former St. Vincent-St. Mary teammate Brandon Weems was on Calipari's coaching staff at Kentucky for two years, and "I gained even more of a relationship" with Calipari.

"What I admire is how he's able to take, year after year, these high egos coming out of high school and turn it into a team," James said of Calipari. "He makes them believe, not even believe, it's what it should be, that the team is more important than the individual. No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, in order for the team to have success everyone has to buy in.

"I love that about him, he doesn't cap, he doesn't put a cap on his talent, on those guys," James continued. "He gives them the reins if they play the right way, and he wants them to succeed at the highest level. So, you can respect that."

The Cavs reportedly tried to land Calipari before hiring current coach David Blatt last year. Blatt was hired before James returned to Cleveland.

This story was updated to accurately reflect James' relationship with Carter.