With nine games left in the season, there's a chance Donald could be shut down for the remainder of the season because of an injured finger.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerAsdrubal Cabrera has been out of the lineup because of an injured wrist by might return Friday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera said he could be back in the lineup Friday night. Cabrera missed his third straight start Thursday after jamming his left wrist Monday against the Twins at Target Field.

Cabrera took infield and a round of batting practice before Thursday's game against Kansas City.

"The wrist feels good," Cabrera said. "I think I could play right now. We'll have to see what the doctor says."

Dr. Thomas Graham was scheduled to examine Cabrera and infielder Jason Donald (right index finger) late Thursday afternoon.

With nine games left in the season, there's a chance Donald could be shut down for the remainder of the season. He injured the finger bunting Sept. 11.

"We've watched films of the play over and over again," said Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer. "Jason didn't bunt the ball with the bat, he bunted it with his finger.

View full sizePDJason Donald might not play again this season because of an injured finger.

"We're going to be cautious with Donald. We just want to make sure he finishes the season healthy. If that involves him progressing to full baseball activities and not playing, that's an option. Playing a game is an option, too, if he's on track to do that."

Other injury news: Center fielder Michael Brantley was scratched from Thursday's lineup because of a strained left hamstring. Trevor Crowe replaced him in center and the leadoff spot.

Brantley entered the night having hit safely in 29 of his previous 31 games.

Reliever Hector Ambriz, the Rule 5 reliever the Indians carried all season, could face Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles earlier this week.

"He's looking over his options," manager Manny Acta said.

Soloff said the Tommy John surgery option would cost him next season.

The Indians placed Ambriz and Carlos Santana on the 60-day disabled list Thursday to make room for right-hander Vinnie Pestano and catcher Luke Carlin on the 40-man roster. Pestano, Carlin and manager Mike Sarbaugh joined the club from Class AAA Columbus.

Sarbaugh managed the Clippers to the International League championship and Class AAA championship this season.

Grady Sizemore is in Vail, Colo., for a regularly scheduled examination of his surgically repaired left knee. Sizemore underwent microfracture surgery in June. Dr. Richard Steadman performed the surgery at his clinic in Vail.

Sizemore is working out five days a week at the Indians' spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

"Grady has been working a lot in the pool," Soloff said, "and he's doing some lower-level quadriceps activity. He's doing extensions with the quad and doing a lot of work on the exercise bicycle as well.

"He'll progress to land-based activities -- lunging and squatting activities -- roughly in the next two to four weeks. They protect him a great deal after microfracture surgery, but so far, so good."

James Quinlan, Indians rehabilitation coordinator in Goodyear, is overseeing Sizemore's training sessions.

Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff contributed to this report.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Ohio State's Gene Smith turned his football experience into a career as one of the nation's leading athletic directors. Former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman, whose playing career ended because of an enlarged heart, could follow a similar path.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerFormer Ohio State linebacker Marvin Freeman is serving as a graduate defensive assistant coach this season. While at Ohio State, Freeman got an up-close look at the business side of college athletics through an internship with OSU AD Gene Smith.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There were four people in the room: Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith, an associate AD, the candidate for the head coaching job the Buckeyes were looking to fill in a non-revenue sport, and a football player. And Smith would turn to the football player and ask, "Marcus, do you have any questions?"

"By the third interview, he was asking all the questions," Smith said.

As a fifth-year senior at Ohio State in 2008, Marcus Freeman interned with Smith in the OSU athletic department, including interviewing coaching candidates, as part of his degree in sports management. His only career goal was to eventually be an AD.

"I wanted to be Gene Smith," Freeman said.

Now Freeman is back at Ohio State thinking he might rather be the next Jim Tressel, Jim Heacock or Luke Fickell. The former OSU linebacker is a graduate defensive assistant when he thought he'd still be busy playing the game. A fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 2009, Freeman was on the practice squad of several NFL teams before he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart valve in the spring while taking a physical for the Indianapolis Colts.

His playing career ended immediately, but he has plenty of opportunities to stay around the game. Freeman has the coaching bug now, but he knows that also could be a great step toward the administrative path that Smith followed. Mike Cleary, the executive director of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, said the organization would like to see more former athletes like Freeman stay in the game on the business side, and NACDA has scholarship programs in place to encourage that.

"We're really not seeing as many as we should," Cleary said, "but I think [the major] is still rather new, and I think it will be something that we'll see more of in the next five years."

Freeman said basketball player Kyle Madsen was the only other athlete he remembered from his sports management classes. He's not sure why more athletes don't investigate the major, though he made it clear how challenging the business side of the equation can be. What Freeman has gained both as a linebacker with the Buckeyes and now as a coach would provide valuable background for the suit-and-tie world some day, Smith said.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerMarcus Freeman, a linebacker known for his speed and tackling ability while at Ohio State, had to give up football when it was discovered in a physical with the Indianapolis Colts that he had an enlarged heart.

The Buckeyes host Eastern Michigan on Saturday and it was 27 years ago that Smith was hired as an assistant athletic director at EMU after playing for Notre Dame and then serving as a graduate assistant and a full-time assistant with the Fighting Irish for four years. But Smith knew he didn't want to stay in coaching his entire life, so in 1981, when Gerry Faust was hired at Notre Dame and brought in a new staff, Smith entered IBM's training program and began selling computers.

"Nobody had computers, so it was like selling candy," Smith said. "But my heart wasn't in it. I loved the paycheck but I didn't love the business."

When a former Notre Dame coach and mentor, Paul Schoults, then at Eastern Michigan, called Smith to gauge his interest in joining him, Smith interviewed and was hired as an associate athletic director. Two years later he was named interim AD, then the full-time AD. He eventually moved on to Iowa State and Arizona State before landing at Ohio State, his experience on the field helping him every step of the way. And now Freeman is building that same first-hand knowledge.

"So you're not just saying I'm a CEO and I'm telling these people what to do," Freeman said. "I think that's what makes Gene so great, because he has the playing side and the coaching side and the business aspect of it."

Recurring knee surgeries forced Freeman to think about the end of his playing career even before his heart diagnosis. He said Smith helped find a place for him, and Tressel and co-defensive coordinators Heacock and Fickell welcomed him back to the program with one piece of advice. Tressel recognized that Freeman loves to plan things out, just like Tressel does.

"But coach Tressel said you have to be here now," Freeman said. "It's all going to work itself out, but be here now. So I look ahead, but I'm not sitting here killing myself over what I'm going to do next year."

So he's redefining his friendships with former teammates like Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, making sure he's a coach first. He's living near campus with his wife, Joanna, and children Bria and Vince. And he's realizing that his time with both Smith and Tressel means he's giving his life as many options as possible.

"I'm happy," Freeman said. "I'm happier now than I think I was on the practice squad in Chicago when I was away from my wife and kids. I was never a guy that said if I didn't have football, I wouldn't have anything."

Freeman, like Smith did, instead is finding a way for football to give him everything.

Believe it: The new high school football quarterback factory is Willoughby South, where Ray Russ seeks to become the Rebels' fifth straight All-Ohioan.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerQuarterback Ray Russ has thrown 17 touchdown passes without an interception for 4-0 Willoughby South this season.

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — OK, high school football fans, let's play word association. Ready?

First words: All-Ohio quarterback.

Response: St. Ignatius.

Right?

Well, there are no wrong answers, but there is a new correct one: Willoughby South. As in, what school is on the verge of producing its fifth consecutive All-Ohio quarterback?

Willoughby South?

Now, you're learning!

While no one will confuse South's football tradition with that of 10-time state champion St. Ignatius, when it comes to quarterbacks, the Rebels under coach Matt Duffy have few peers in recent years.

It goes like this:

D.J. Delande was All-Ohio in 2002, and he preceded two-year starter Nick Lester (All-Ohio 2004), who preceded Dan Whalen (All-Ohio 2005), who preceded three-year starter Patrick Nicely (All-Ohio 2008), who preceded current second-year starter Ray Russ.

All Russ has done this season is throw 17 touchdown passes and no interceptions for the 4-0 Rebels, who tonight play a highly anticipated nonleague game at Mentor (1-3). South is averaging 56 points per game.

Russ (6-0, 180) is as good as any of his predecessors. He's not as big as Nicely, and doesn't run like Delande and Lester. Russ doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve like Whalen.

Russ offers a steely grasp of both his emotions and South's complicated spread offense, and he has a strong, accurate arm.

View full sizeABJFormer Willoughby South quarterback Patrick Nicely is now the starter at the University of Akron.

"I think his poise is outstanding," said former South and Case Western Reserve coach Jim Chapman, a highly regarded offensive coach. "He stays calm, cool and collected, and he's so accurate. To me, that's the important thing. He's a quarterback who can throw long well."

In some ways, Russ resembles former Mentor quarterback Bart Tanski, the 2007 Mr. Football winner. In fact, Russ grew up in Mentor. Back then, baseball was his focus until the family moved to Willoughby Hills before his seventh-grade year and he tried out for the middle school football team.

Russ didn't know it at the time, but he moved to a good town for quarterbacks. Besides his four predecessors, South's quarterback tradition goes way back. Chapman's South teams in the 1960s and '70s featured five All-Ohio QBs: Rich Kirbus, who played at Louisville; Tim Morris (Cincinnati), Dan Kipp (Miami of Ohio), Doug Kytta and Pat Snee (Yale). The Willoughby area also was home for St. Joseph star Elvis Grbac (Michigan and the NFL) and Rudy Kirbus (St. Ignatius and John Carroll).

At South, they are fond of comparing Russ to Whalen, who went on to stardom at Case. Both are undersized, brainy and bold in the pocket.

"I met Ray his sophomore year and I could tell from the beginning he had a lot of physical skills like mine. He can move when he has to and he can throw," Whalen said. "I see a lot of myself in him. I see a guy who puts in time off the field, during football season and the following summer. He's got a command of the offense and [teammates] respect him."

Russ won the starting job the summer of his junior year in 2009, after Nicely had gone on to Akron on scholarship. Russ had big shoes to fill.

Days before his first start, Duffy handed him an envelope with his name on it. Inside was a two-page letter from Whalen, then the senior starter at Case.

"He told me how to carry myself and how to lead, and now that I look back on it, that letter means so much to me because it set me up for the whole season. It gave me a lot of confidence," Russ said.

Russ and Whalen are close, and Whalen is leading the charge to recruit Russ to Case. Russ has a 3.9 grade-point average. In fact, Whalen teases Russ that he has to stop having five-touchdown games (he's had three) because he's going to wind up with a Division I or II offer and turn down Case. Several Division I and II colleges have contacted Russ, but no offers have been made.

Russ and Whalen both say Duffy is the reason for South's quarterback success. Duffy was an assistant during Delande's senior season, and became head coach the following year when Lester took over. Besides being head coach, Duffy is the team's quarterbacks coach. South is 55-25 in Duffy's seven-plus seasons. The Rebels are ranked No. 5 in The Plain Dealer Top 25 poll and 11th in the Division I state poll.

Duffy never played quarterback. He was a wide receiver at Mayfield and Ashland University. At Ashland, his receivers coach was offensive guru Stan Jefferson, who now is Ohio State's director of player development. Jefferson left Ashland to take the head coaching job at Mansfield Senior, and Duffy soon followed, coaching and learning under Jefferson for six years.

"I have always been intrigued by the quarterback position and have gone and talked to every human being about the position and schemes," Duffy said.

Duffy spends hours virtually year round with his quarterbacks reviewing tapes and teaching schemes.

"We work so much off the field in the film room and in the classroom, bouncing ideas off each other," Russ said. "The system makes it a lot of fun for the quarterback reading checks. The quarterback has to know just as much as the coaches."

Russ and Duffy usually aren't alone during those skull sessions. Often with them is backup quarterback and heir apparent Casey Klicman, a 6-0 sophomore who also is Duffy's nephew. Rebel camp insiders say he is the next big thing.

"He has more knowledge of the quarterback position than any sophomore in South history," said Russ, who promises to keep in contact after he graduates.

So, it would seem, the tradition continues.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

Ekey, a 2005 graduate of Walsh Jesuit and a former two-time all-Southeastern Conference player at Alabama, sails through the first stage of the LPGA Qualifying School last week. Fairlawn's Gutowski also advances.

View full sizePDKathleen Ekey

Few golfers become touring pros with one giant step.

Usually, it takes a series of baby steps, and two players from the area recently took successful first steps.

Sharon Township's Kathleen Ekey, a 2005 graduate of Walsh Jesuit and a former two-time all-Southeastern Conference player at Alabama, sailed through the first stage of the LPGA Qualifying School last week when she finished in a tie for fourth place with a 72-hole score of 7-under 281 on the Dinah Shore and Arnold Palmer courses at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The top 30 players advanced.

"I hit the ball really well all week," Ekey said in a telephone interview. "I put myself in good positions, and I was able to make some putts, which was exciting for me and kind of refreshing."

It marks the second year in a row Ekey reached the final stage, which this year takes place Dec. 8-12 at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Play is conducted over 90 holes, with a cut to the low 70-and-ties after 72 holes. The top 40 players will advance to the LPGA Tour, with the top 20 receiving a status enabling them to play in any Tour event they choose.

Ekey had a veteran caddie on her bag in California in Carl Laib, who has worked for Patty Sheehan, Betsy King and Wendy Ward.

Fairlawn's Ryan Gutowski shot rounds of 72-70-72-71--285 to finish in a tie for 31st at a PGA Tour Q School pre-qualifier at Yankee Hill Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb.

As one of the top 42 players from a field of 84, Gutowski, the 2003 state champ while playing for Copley, gets a spot in the first stage of the PGA-Q School. He is waiting to hear from the PGA as to where and when he will play.

Cavey repeats: For the second year in a row, Medina's Ben Cavey won the Northern Ohio Golf Association's Tournament of Champions by making a birdie on the first playoff hole. This year, he defeated Oberlin Golf Club's Brian Smith at the Sharon Club on Tuesday to become the first repeat winner since Bob Miller of Sharon in 1994-95. Last year, Cavey beat Hudson's Peter Eells.

Smith still can earn his first NOGA Player of the Year award despite his playoff loss to Cavey. Based on a points system, Smith will win unless Jim Perry of Tippecanoe Country Club wins the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be played next week at the Atlantic Golf Club on Long Island. Smith, the Oberlin club champ, had two runner-up finishes this season, along with a tie for third and a tie for 15th. He also had two first and a tie for second in three team events.

Senior salute: Canterbury Golf Club's Jeff Knox will win his second NOGA Senior Player of the Year title unless Barrington's Jim Harless wins the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship next month. Knox won two events during the season, was runner-up twice and added a third and a tie for sixth.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

The Ray Lewis-led Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Ravens have allowed an average of 109 yards passing and 105 yards rushing in their first two games. The Ravens also haven't given up a touchdown in those two games against two solid offensive teams in the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals....

Nick Wass / Associated PressLinebacker Ray Lewis remains a force in the middle for the Ravens.

The Ray Lewis-led Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Ravens have allowed an average of 109 yards passing and 105 yards rushing in their first two games.

The Ravens also haven't given up a touchdown in those two games against two solid offensive teams in the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns, on the other hand, average 231 yards in the air and only 88 yards rushing. The Browns have scored four touchdowns in their two games.

Fall trout stockings are coming and steelhead trout runs are poised to begin on Lake Erie tributaries in Northeast Ohio when big rains arrive. Lake Erie yellow perch fishing is outstanding, but golden and emerald shiner minnows are in short supply and big winds are in the forecast. Lake Erie walleye fishing is slow, but inland lake fishing is...

D'Arcy Egan/The Plain DealerFall trout stockings are coming and steelhead trout runs are poised to begin on Lake Erie tributaries in Northeast Ohio when big rains arrive

Fall trout stockings are coming and steelhead trout runs are poised to begin on Lake Erie tributaries in Northeast Ohio when big rains arrive. Lake Erie yellow perch fishing is outstanding, but golden and emerald shiner minnows are in short supply and big winds are in the forecast. Lake Erie walleye fishing is slow, but inland lake fishing is heating up with the cool nights.

Cleveland area

Check the wind and waves before launching, with brisk winds in the forecast for today and the weekend. The yellow perch bite has been very good off Cleveland Browns Stadium, East 72nd Street and Euclid General Hospital in 41 to 55 feet of water, with some jumbo perch being reported. Perch are also being caught from Vermilion to Avon Lake in 30 to 40 feet of water, with good reports from the Beaver Park and Vermilion areas.

Some steelhead trout are being caught while casting from the piers off Cleveland, Fairport Harbor and Conneaut. Anglers are casting spoons, in-line spinners and working jigs and live bait under a float.

Lake Erie

Walleye fishing has been slow lakewide, with little angling pressure. Rough waters could limit the off-shore fishing through the weekend. Some walleye have been caught from reefs by anglers casting weight-forward spinners and small spinner rigs tipped with night crawlers, with Gull Shoal and Kelleys Island Shoal the top spots.

Yellow perch fishing in the Western Basin has been good around Kelleys Island and Green Island.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

Stocked trout will perk up area fishing, with trout releases Oct. 8 at the Ohio & Erie Canal pond in Cuyahoga Heights and Petros Lake in Canton, and Oct. 15 at Mentor’s Grand Pond and Painesville Recreational pond in Lake County. Cleveland.com/outdoors has list of trout stockings. The daily limit is five trout per day.

Largemouth bass fishing has warmed up because of the cool nights, with bass moving to near-shore weed beds and structure. Top bass lakes are Wingfoot and Nimisila and the Portage Lakes. Cast topwater lures early and late and work weed bed edges with spinner baits, shallow-running diving plugs and plastic flukes and swim baits.

Mosquito and Pymatuning lakes have been good for bluegills, which have moved shallow, with crappies still suspending in 10 to 12 feet of water. Work maggots on small hooks under a float for bluegills, and tip hooks with minnows for crappies. Catfish continue to bite in most lakes, with good reports from LaDue, Mosquito, Berlin and West Branch lakes.

Rivers and streams

Some steelhead trout are moving up the lower sections of Lake Erie tributaries, where anglers are casting spoons and spinners and streamer patterns. Big rains are needed to kick off early runs of trout.

Fishing tournaments

Electric Elite Invitationals (Mogadore Reservoir)

How they finished: 1. Steve McClung and John Shriver, five bass, 17.67 pounds, $530; 2. John Heater and Jerry Heater, five, 15.18, $500; 3. Ray Halter Sr. and Ray Halter Jr., five, 14.67, $155.

TwistedWhiskerz Ohio Catfish Tournament (Alum Creek Reservoir) How they finished: 1. Skip Martin and Chrissy Jones (Copley), six catfish, 38.36 pounds, $468; 2. Mike Hall (Gahanna) and Jeff Blakley (Ottawa), six, 36.50, $304; 3. Nick Burnsworth (Wellington) and Nathaniel Torres (Elyria), six, 34.18, $164. Big Catfish: Burnsworth and Torres, 10.22 pounds, $225.

Bad Bass Champs Tournament Trail/Sixth Qualifier (West Branch Reservoir) How they finished: 1. Ed Hankins and Bret Hankins (Clinton), five bass, 11.13 pounds, $1,409; 2. John Williams (Barberton) and Dave Lecon (Akron), five, 10.89, $887; 3. Art Knight (Cuyahoga Falls) and Tony Maglousky (Uniontown), five, 10.02, $761. Big Bass: Dan Blackert (Akron) and Ed Shockley (Clinton), 5.19 pounds, $353.

Fall steelhead trout fishing is ready to begin. Just add some chilly nights and a lot of rain. Steelhead trout are beginning to stage in the near shore areas and around the breakwalls and harbor mouths,” said Kevin Kayle, head of the Division of Wildlife’s Fairport Harbor Research Station. “When we get some cold nights and heavy rains to...

Lynn Ischay/The Plain DealerSteelhead trout are beginning to stage in the near shore areas and around the breakwalls and harbor mouths like here at Fairport Harbor.

Fall steelhead trout fishing is ready to begin. Just add some chilly nights and a lot of rain.

Steelhead trout are beginning to stage in the near shore areas and around the breakwalls and harbor mouths,” said Kevin Kayle, head of the Division of Wildlife’s Fairport Harbor Research Station. “When we get some cold nights and heavy rains to raise the river levels, we’ll see good numbers of steelhead trout moving up the rivers.”

Kayle expects an average run of steelhead trout over the next six or seven months, with good numbers of 25- to 26-inch fish. Surveys show fishing pressure will be constant when steelhead weather arrives.

“The trout program is now so popular, we see just as many fishermen during the week as on weekends,” Kayle said. “About 12 percent of the anglers we survey are from out of state.”

Next year’s steelhead stockings could decline by about 100,000 fish. Ohio usually gets a mix of 400,000 fingerlings and eggs from Michigan, but asked for all fingerlings this year because of construction at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery. Michigan is expected to supply only about 300,000 wild Little Manistee River trout fingerlings because of its own hatchery problems.

“On the plus side, with the lower number, we’ll have more hatchery room for them, and the trout could grow a little bigger than the usual 6 inches before they’re released. That increases their chances of survival,” Kayle said.

Ohio wants to collect its own eggs, but that is still a few years away. Kayle has been crunching last year’s trout numbers, and said catch rates and fishing pressure were slightly down. Poor angling weather was mostly to blame, as well as mediocre fishing on shallow Arcola and Cowles creeks, where a lot of rain is needed to lure a constant parade of trout.

To get anglers in the mood, steelhead trout seminars and events are filling the calendar.

Chagrin River Outfitters in Chagrin Falls is hosting Steelhead Trout Day on Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with free seminars and demonstrations. Distance and accuracy fly casting contests are at 1 p.m.

The 17th annual Steelhead Expo is Oct. 2 at the Rocky River Nature Center in North Olmsted. Sponsored by the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and the Cleveland Metroparks, the free show features exhibits and seminars from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Metroparks and fishing: The Cleveland Metroparks has a wide variety of fishing programs in October, starting with the Outdoor Odyssey for kids at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation on Oct. 9.

The Accessible Adventures-Fishing program is Oct. 9 at Wallace Lake in Berea, with a Family Fishing program Oct. 10 at Shadow Lake in Solon. A couple of Steelhead Fly Fishing Basics classes are Oct. 16 and Oct. 23.

Perch tourneys: The North Coast Charter Boat Association has its second annual Lake Erie Perch Shoot Out Tournament on Saturday at the East 55th Street Marina in Cleveland. There’s a $100 entry, and a maximum of eight fishing rods in action per boat. Call John Babroski at 440-773-2168. A meeting of captains is tonight at 7. If the weather is bad, the tourney will be moved to Sunday.

Clams and fishing: The Cleveland Fishing Association’s Clambake is Oct. 10, and the public is welcome to the club’s top social event of the year at the Pipefitters Hall, 6305 Halle Drive, Valley View. Tickets ($37) include a reverse raffle. Call Bob Hanousek at 216-469-8064.

Bowhunters beware: The four-month Ohio archery deer hunting season opens Saturday and bowhunters must be cautious in the warm weather. Venison will quickly spoil on a warm autumn day. If you tag a deer, field dress it quickly, stop at the check station and head straight to a store that sells ice. Pack the body cavity with plenty of ice, and plan on butchering the deer as soon as you get home.

Make it official: Hunters and anglers can make that first deer, walleye, turkey or any critter they bagged a special memory by creating a My First Harvest Certificate on the Ohio Division of Wildlife website. A downloaded photo or a stock image can be part of the certificate. Visit wildohio.com

Family outdoor fun: There is still time to make a reservation for Saturday’s Family Fun Day at Elkhorn Lake Hunt Club in Bucyrus, which includes a youth pheasant hunt for kids, fishing, shooting and lunch.

Owners Sam and Peg Ballou are hosting, along with the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bowhunters Association and other groups. Visit elkhornlakehuntclub.com or call 419-562-6131.

Duck stamps needed: Local hunters are complaining once again about the difficulty in finding a location to buy a federal duck stamp, which waterfowlers need to hunt geese and ducks. Post offices are supposed to offer the stamps, but the smaller post offices often do not — and the big post offices sometimes run out of the stamps.

The early Canada goose and teal seasons are already over, but hunters looking for the stamps for the regular waterfowl seasons can go online a t duckstamp.com to order them. The online receipt is good for 45 days, by which time the stamp should have arrived. The large post offices and some local Gander Mountain stores have the federal stamps, but call before making the trip.

Outdoor news: The Kincaid State Fish Hatchery is stocking 6,634 9- to 10-inch young muskies this week at Lake Milton (1,100 muskies), Pidemont (1,528), Leesville (732), Alum Creek (2,234), Clear Fork (708) and West Branch (1,432).

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

The auto racing season continues at Norwalk this weekend with a return of the American Drag Racing League, today and Saturday with the “Ohio Drags IV” at Summit Motorsports Park. The 1/8-mile drags have carved a niche for themselves with an almost continuous stream of racing throughout the day. “Fans have really taken to it,” ADRL vice president Josh...

Special to The Plain DealerOhio Drags IV comes to Norwalk this weekend.

The Kansas City Chiefs were the latest team to avoid kicking the football to Josh Cribbs, but Cribbs doesn't expect the same thing from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Why? Cribbs played for Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg when he worked here with the Browns. Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun writes: "Rosburg is the kind of guy...

Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerThe Baltimore Ravens want to get a hold of Joshua Cribbs .

The Kansas City Chiefs were the latest team to avoid kicking the football to Josh Cribbs, but Cribbs doesn't expect the same thing from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Why?

Cribbs played for Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg when he worked here with the Browns.

Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun writes:

"Rosburg is the kind of guy not to back down," said Cribbs, who spent two seasons with Rosburg when he coached special teams for the Browns. "He doesn't back down. Even when we played here, I remember we used to play good returners, and we used to get up for games when we had good returners. That's the kind of coach that Coach Rosburg is."

Is Cribbs playing trying to use psychology here? Is he trying to psych the Ravens into kicking to him? Lee, however, points out that since 2008 when Rosburg became the Ravens special teams coordinator, Cribbs has returned 19 of 23 kickoffs. And at least one Ravens player said the team doesn't plan to kick away from Cribbs at the risk of providing Cleveland with advantageous field position.

"No, we're not going to shy away from anybody," said rookie David Reed, who leads the team in special-teams tackles with four this season. "We're going to go at him and contain him."

That assignment has not been terribly easy for the Ravens, who have had a tortured history with Cribbs. Two of the Browns' top three single-game kickoff return records were registered by Cribbs at the Ravens' expense.

Cribbs has been difficult for the Ravens to contain because of his speed and power. Free safety Haruki Nakamura has often experienced Cribbs' bulk and burst up close.

"It's like he's a middle linebacker running with the football," Nakamura said. "So everybody has to get to the football, everybody has to get a piece of him and hit him as much as possible, and that's with any returner. If you hit a guy hard once, twice, three times, they start running a little bit different. He consistently runs hard, but that's our goal, to kind of take him out of his own game. That guy is so explosive, it's hard to do, but we've been doing a good job the last few times containing him."

Josh Cribbs had a few nice things to say about two Baltimore Ravens assistants. he should have. Cribbs, Cleveland Browns return specialist and wide receiver, owes plenty to Ravens assistant coaches Jerry Rosburg and Dean Pees. Baltimore Sun reporter Ed Lee writes how In 2005, Cribbs signed with the Browns as an undrafted rookie, with the help from then Browns special teams...

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer Joe Haden (left) bats the football away from intended receiver Joshua Cribbs during a Browns scrimmage over the summer.

Josh Cribbs had a few nice things to say about two Baltimore Ravens assistants. he should have. Cribbs, Cleveland Browns return specialist and wide receiver, owes plenty to Ravens assistant coaches Jerry Rosburg and Dean Pees.

Baltimore Sun reporter Ed Lee writes how In 2005, Cribbs signed with the Browns as an undrafted rookie, with the help from then Browns special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg.

“He started my career,” Cribbs said of Rosburg. “He gave me my drive and he set me off on a path. He’s the one who told me I could be a great player, that I can be one of the greats. He watched me in college and he gave me a name. He told me, ‘Brian Mitchell.’ And he knew I was from Washington, D.C., and I grew up watching Brian Mitchell. He said Brian Mitchell played quarterback and came in and made a career out of returning kickoffs and when he got on offense, he made plays. That’s who I’m trying to emulate my career after and try to surpass. I want to do better than him and make a name for myself in the process. We still live by [Rosburg’s] coaching in the way we play.”

At Kent State, Cribbs played for current Ravens linebackers coach Dean Pees.

“He was like a second father to me,” Cribbs said. “So I know he’s not going to hurt me too bad."

Laying down the law

Cleveland Browns tight end Evan Moore suffered a hit last Sunday against Kansas City that he didn't believe at the time was a big deal.

He found out later that it was.

Ohio.com reporter Stephanie Storm writes:

''When it first happened, I felt fine,'' Moore said Thursday. ''I went back out on the field two plays later. [But] when I hit full speed; I definitely had a real bad dizzy spell.''

But Storm wonders with all the attention paid these days to concussions in the NFL, including reminders plastered on the walls of all its locker rooms, it's a wonder Moore was allowed to return to the game.

Moore did not seem troubled that the doctors allowed him to return at first.

''Honestly, no one is going to protect this head more than I am,'' Moore said on the same day that Congress was presented with the risks of permanent brain damage to athletes who aren't properly protected from head trauma. ''I don't need the coaches to tell me. Even if they said go back in, I wouldn't go back in. . . . I love football, but I'm not going to do it. When you start talking about putting your head at risk, it's not happening."

Moore knows there's life after football, and Moore will make sure he takes care of himself now, so he can take care of himself later.

 ''I'll probably go to law school. I don't know how long I'm gonna play, but I hope I play for a long time so I can put myself through law school.''

 

 

Poor approval rating

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 and ESPN's James Walker writes how Mike Tomlin has the highest approval rating (73 percent) among coaches in the AFC North, and coach Eric Mangini has the lowest (21 percent).

Skinny: Living in Cleveland, I can tell you there is a lot of unhappiness with the Browns' execution in the first two weeks. Although this team doesn't have much talent, the coaching, particularly in the second half, isn't helping. An upset win Sunday over the Ravens would definitely increase Mangini's popularity.

Davis misses friend

Cleveland Browns running back James Davis was friends with Kenny McKinley, the Denver Broncos receiver who committed suicide earlier this week.

They became friends in high school and stayed close while in college, Davis at Clemson and McKinley at South Carolina.

CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk writes how it sobers Davis to think that the last time he will see McKinley will be in a casket, if the Browns allow him to attend the funeral on Monday.

McKinley was found dead in his home this week, having taken his life with a gun, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office in Colorado.

Davis says he was stunned when he heard the sad news. He has no idea what happened, and could only speak for himself about the difficulties of trying to fight his way up in the NFL.

 

The Indians will turn Progressive Field into a winter playland starting in late November. The organization wants to get more use out of its facility.

View full sizeVocon via Cleveland IndiansThe Batterhorn, a snow tubing hill, will rise 60 feet, 6 inches (the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate) from Progressive Field's bleachers during winter wonderland at the park starting in late November.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Come winter, Clevelanders will have a reason to enjoy going to Progressive Field again.

The Indians, struggling to draw fans in another rebuilding year, will turn their ballpark into a five-week wonderland starting Friday, Nov. 26. You can ice skate, play on a 10-lane snow tubing hill that starts in the bleachers and stroll along a lit walking trail in the outfield. Kids will have a special play area.

Each day, 150 tons of artificial snow will be poured over the field, said Bob DiBiasio, the Indians vice president of public relations. He said the fake snow can withstand temperatures over 60 degrees.

In colder temperatures, people can look forward to a fire pit and concessions to warm themselves.

"We've been trying to come up with some concept that can maximize the use of the facility outdoors," said DiBiasio. He said the wonderland idea came after watching the popularity of outdoor hockey in other cities.

"We explored trying to do some hockey, and from that blossomed the Snow Days," he said.

Some of the new daily snow will be packed onto the Batterhorn, the 60-foot, 6-inch high snow tubing hill.

Activities will be kept away from the baseball infield.

DiBiasio would not reveal the budget nor projected revenue. He said good results are expected.

"I think it will be popular. It's family affordable," he said.

General admission is $5 with limited activities. The cost can go to $100 for a pass for a family of four.

Snow Days ends Jan. 2, giving the organization plenty of time to prepare the field for the Indians season opener in April.

"Snopening" day on Nov. 26 goes from noon to 10 p.m. The stadium will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. New Year's Eve. Hours vary, depending on the date. 

Wednesday's announcement

Branson Wright and Chuck Yarborough talk with Rob Stefancin of Akron, who finished 12-4 last week in the You Pick the Winners weekly contest. Shubert is now a finalist for a $250 gift card. In addition to becoming a finalist, Stefancin took the time to give his expert opinion on five games this weekend. Chuck got lucky in a...

Branson Wright and Chuck Yarborough talk with Rob Stefancin of Akron, who finished 12-4 last week in the You Pick the Winners weekly contest. Shubert is now a finalist for a $250 gift card.

In addition to becoming a finalist, Stefancin took the time to give his expert opinion on five games this weekend. Chuck got lucky in a head-to-head competition with Wright in their picks from last week. The dynamic duo are now tied with 16 wins each for the season.

Wright guarantees that will change this week.

Each week, fans can go online to cleveland.com/footballpicks and make their predictions. The winning prognosticator will be the guest of SBTV hosts Wright and Yarborough on You Pick the Winners streaming on cleveland.com every Friday morning.

In the event of a tie, we'll use the total score of the Browns game as a tiebreaker. Whoever comes closest to the total without going over will prevail. If there's still a tie after that, we'll do a random drawing. See official contest rules for further details. Whoever makes the most correct picks will become a finalist for a $250 gift card to be awarded at the end of the season. (OK, it's not much; this is mostly for fun.)

So get out your stat sheets and start picking.

WaitingforNextYear.com writers Rick Grayshock and DP join cleveland.com to talk about the team's start, whether they can turn it around in Baltimore and more. We also touch on realistic expectations for the Cavaliers, whether Mo Williams can be trusted as a go-to-guy and the Indians' Snow Days promotion.

View full sizewaitingfornextyear.com

Who's to blame for the Browns' 0-2 start? We try to answer that question as we welcome WaitingforNextYear.com writers Rick Grayshock and DP to talk about the team's start, whether they can turn it around in Baltimore and more. We also touch on realistic expectations for the Cavaliers, whether Mo Williams can be trusted as a go-to-guy and the Indians' Snow Days promotion.

More from Waitingfornextyear.com:

• Browns mob is angry, but at whom?
• Fausto Carmona's new face
  
• Cavaliers' new offense not as important as new defense
  

Check out previous WFNY podcasts with cleveland.com.

Kelly Pavlik will not fight Daniel Edouard as originally planned, instead, Pavlik will face Brian Vera in the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito HBO PPV card at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov. 13. The switch was made, according to ESPN, because concerns were raised about Edouard's fitness to fight. Edouard collapsed because of a blood pressure problem following...

Tim Harrison/Special to The Plain DealerBoxer Kelly Pavlik

Kelly Pavlik will not fight Daniel Edouard as originally planned, instead, Pavlik will face Brian Vera in the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito HBO PPV card at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov. 13.

The switch was made, according to ESPN, because concerns were raised about Edouard's fitness to fight. Edouard collapsed because of a blood pressure problem following a split decision loss to Alfonso Mosquera in his last fight in July in Panama.

That's where Vera (17-5, 11 KOs), who is from Austin, came in. They'll meet at 164 pounds, according to Cameron Dunkin, Pavlik's co-manager.

Vera, a former participant on "The Contender" reality series, has lost four of his last five fights. The lone win during the slump was an upset third-round knockout of Sebastien Demers on his turf in Montreal on ESPN2. In March 2008, Vera pulled off a major upset, also on ESPN2, when he stopped Andy Lee, heralded prospect and 2004 Irish Olympian, in the seventh round.

 

Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme, running back Jerome Harrison and receiver Brian Robiskie all sat out practice again today.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns running back Jerome Harrison might not play Sunday against the Ravens.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme (ankle), running back Jerome Harrison (thigh) and receiver Brian Robiskie (hamstring) are among the six players who sat out practice again today with injuries.

The others are linebacker Marcus Benard (ankle), guard Shawn Lauvao (ankle) and nosetackle Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip).

Seneca Wallace will most likely start vs. the Ravens, but Browns coach Eric Mangini said he doesn't know yet if Delhomme will be inactive for the second straight week.  He's still in a walking boot because of his high ankle sprain.

"Each day he's better,'' said Mangini. "I have total confidence in his ability to execute the plan if he is available.''

Mangini also said there's a chance Harriison will play despite not practicing all week.  If not, James Davis will get plenty of reps, along with Peyton Hillis. Mangini said Davis has been working hard all through the offseason, preseason and into the season.

The only one of the injured players expected to practice today is  tight end Evan Moore, who suffered a concussion vs. the Chiefs.

PD Browns reporter also answers fan questions about Romeo Crennel, Mark Ingram and Jon Gruden.

Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerBrowns QB Seneca Wallace will have his hands full against Baltimore on Sunday.

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Branson Wright.

Let's go to the highlights:

• The Browns face a tough test Sunday when they hit the road to face the Baltimore Ravens. Will the Browns score an offensive touchdown against Baltimore's vaunted defense? Vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

• Today's guest, Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi, says he thinks the Browns will score an offensive TD on Sunday. He also answers fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature about Romeo Crennel; the Browns' possibility of drafting Alabama running back Mark Ingram in 2011; and Jon Gruden.

SBTV will return Monday with Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff breaking down the Browns-Ravens game. And don't forget to play our new You Pick the Winners Contest where you can outpick Chuck and Branson each week and earn an appearance on SBTV and a chance at a $250 gift card.

Cleveland sports bloggers wrap up the week that was by discussing the Browns' reported interest in Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, Fausto Carmona's re-emergence as a frontline starter, Mo Williams' recent interview with Yahoo! and Jamario Moon's 2010-2011 role.

View full sizeGail Burton | APThe Browns reportedly contacted the Eagles about the availability of Kevin Kolb.

Browns

Cleveland Frowns: "It's not even just three seconds of thinking about who we'd have to give up to get Kevin Kolb from the Eagles, or that the 2011 draft looks like it's going to be loaded with actual franchise quarterbacks from which the Browns look like they'll be in a decent position to choose. It's not even that Kevin Kolb's only decent game as an NFL quarterback, ever, in history (one), came against the very same 2009 Kansas City Chiefs defense that Jerome Harrison gashed for 900 yards." » Read more

No Logo Needed gives us a list of things to watch for when the Browns play the Ravens.

Indians

WaitingForNextYear: "But keeping in mind my temporary moratorium on South Koreans, it looks like Fausto Carmona has probably been the most valuable Indian this season. It's funny, his 2007 dominance seems so long ago, and for reasons we'll discuss below, he really was a different pitcher then than he is now." » Read more

Cavaliers

Cavs HQ: "Mo Williams knows what it is like to play in a small market without a superstar. He did it with the Milwaukee Bucks for four seasons prior to coming to the Cavaliers, and in that time his teams went a combined 124-204. They were trounced by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of their only playoff appearance. A trade to the Cavaliers in the summer of 2008 must have seemed like a dream coming off of a 26-56 season in Milwaukee in the previous season. Now, suddenly, the Cavs look quite a bit like that Milwaukee team he left two years ago." » Read more

Stepien Rules: "It's been a weird summer for everybody around here, and count me as a guy that doesn't blame Mo for being as confused as his comments would indicate over the last few days. There's no denying that this offseason's been confusing. I just hope that, now that he's gotten all that garbage out of his system, he can get his mind right for training camp, because Cavs fans need him now more than ever." » Read more

Cavs: the blog: "You've gotta hope Jamario gets the starting spot [over Jawad Williams]. Jawad is the more complete player, but if the team needs him to make plays, the offense will be in serious trouble. Jamario can run with the point guards, create turnovers and is a pretty good shooter when he has his feet set. Jamario's production will be a pretty good watermark of how the Sessions/Mo backcourt is working: if they do what they're supposed to, he'll thrive. If not, he could be an issue." » Read more

Have an old LeBron James jersey? '64 and Counting has a solution for getting rid of it.

The injured elbow that slowed LeBron James down during the postseason is finally healed, says Miami Heat President Pat Riley. Miami Herald reporter Michael Wallace writes that James and Chris Bosh recently passed voluntary conditioning tests and have recovered from injuries that limited both late last season and into the playoffs. James played with a strained right elbow during Cleveland's...

Joshua Gunter, The PDPat Riley says LeBron James' elbow is fine now.

The injured elbow that slowed LeBron James down during the postseason is finally healed, says Miami Heat President Pat Riley.

Miami Herald reporter Michael Wallace writes that James and Chris Bosh recently passed voluntary conditioning tests and have recovered from injuries that limited both late last season and into the playoffs.

James played with a strained right elbow during Cleveland's playoff run that ended with a six-game loss to Boston in the second round of the playoffs. Bosh sustained a facial fracture April 6 that required surgery. He missed the final five games of the regular season with Toronto. He also has missed dozens of games in recent years with soreness in both knees.

Although James and the Cavaliers initially downplayed the significance of the strain last season, Riley said Thursday ``it was a real injury'' the Heat checked out after James signed with the Heat as a free agent in July.

To make sure before they signed James, Riley said LeBron passed a physical examination before signing his six-year, $110 million contract. Riley also said James has not shown any discomfort in workouts,

 ``There was some soreness there, and there was some treatment there,'' Riley said of James' elbow during Thursday's preseason press conference at AmericanAirlines Arena. ``It was a real injury, based on what we found out. But it's all fine now. He's getting up a lot of shots and he doesn't look like he's having any after-effects from it at all.''

James' right elbow had been a sensitive subject during the playoffs, James even shot a free throw with his left hand against Chicago.  There was speculation the injury played a key role in a subpar performance from James in Cleveland's series loss to Boston, and there was also speculation, in light of James' departure to Miami, that the injury was a fake.

James has not conducted interviews with the mainstream media since July 9, and it is unclear if his injury required surgery over the summer. James also has not made any references to his elbow on his popular Twitter feed this offseason.

Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who sat out the last 10 games of last season with a torn pectoral muscle, left practice Thursday with tightness in the other injured pec and will shut it down at least until next Wednesday.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerD'Qwell Jackson will rest at least until Wednesday after feeling tightness in his pec.

CLEVELAND -- Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson experienced tightness and fatigue in his partially-torn pectoral muscle Thursday and will be out of action again until at least next week.

Jackson, who first suffered the injury Aug. 10, quit practicing Thursday after he felt something in the pec and sat out again on Friday. He'll miss Sunday's game in Baltimore and will try to hit the field again next Wednesday.

 "If I go out there, I don't want to feel anything,'' said Jackson. "At this point, it was too early. It was best I stayed in today and try to shoot for next week.''

Jackson said it wasn't one particular play that set it off. "I knew it was going to happen (feeling tightness),'' he said. "But it was a little frustrating.  I felt like I could've finished it out, but I want to make sure everything is 100% ready to go when I do step out there on Sunday.''

Jackson began practicing on Wednesday and said he felt fine heading into Thursday's session.

Browns center Alex Mack was fined $5,000 for his late hit in the Chiefs game, and Kansas City's Kendrick Lewis was fined $5,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Evan Moore, which left Moore with a concussion.

Thomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerBrowns center Alex Mack was fined $5,000 for his late hit in the Chiefs game.

CLEVELAND -- Browns center Alex Mack was fined $5,000 for striking an opponent late during the Chiefs game, a league spokesman said.

Specifically,  Mack jumped over the pile and drilled linebacker Derrick Johnson. Mack was flagged 15-yards for unnecessary roughness, and two plays later Phil Dawson was wide right on a 42-yard field goal attempt.

The penalty came just a few plays after Mack said that Chiefs defensive lineman Shaun Smith grabbed his testicles, which incited Mack and had him shouting at Smith. It's unknown whether or not that incident led to Mack's penalty.

Meanwhile, Kansas City's Kendrick Lewis was also fined $5,000 for the helmet-to-helmet hit that left Browns tight end Evan Moore with a concussion. Browns defensive end Kenyon Coleman was not fined for his unnecessary roughness flag.