Pestano says the magnitude of the moment at Progressive Field on Thursday did not hit him until after the game.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerVinnie Pestano worked a scoreless ninth inning in his major-league debut on Thursday.

Clubhouse confidential: Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano kept waiting for the nerves that are supposed to accompany a major-league debut.

They never came.

Thursday night against the Royals, Pestano worked a scoreless ninth inning in the Tribe's 4-2 loss at Progressive Field.

"I tried to treat it as if it were any other outing, any other inning," he said. "That's how I felt going through it. I actually was calm. It was strange. Nothing was fluttering."

The right-handed Pestano got Mike Aviles to ground to the mound and caught dangerous Billy Butler looking at a 2-2 slider. Wilson Betemit walked, then Kila Ka'aihue flied to right.

Pestano, who had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2006, said the magnitude of the moment did not hit him until after the game. He met with his parents, sister, high school coach and agent.

"It was really fun to share this with them," he said. "I realize that getting here is one thing, and staying here is a totally different thing. Right now, though, I feel like a little weight's been lifted."

After the game, Pestano was given the lineup card, the ball from the first out and the ball from his first strikeout, and he gave them to his parents.

Pestano was a Tribe mid-round draft pick in 2006 out of Cal State Fullerton. He went 1-2 with a 1.55 ERA and 14 saves for Class AAA Columbus this season.

Stat of the day: Tribe righty Fausto Carmona, who starts Sunday, is 12-14 with a 3.79 ERA in 31 starts. Last year at this time, he was 3-12 with a 6.81 ERA in 22 starts.

-- Dennis Manoloff

There isn't enough evidence to suggest a need for a change in the Buckeyes' running game, but seeing more of Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry today would be intriguing. Just don't get too caught up in it.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerOhio State running back Jaamal Berry could see plenty of action today against Eastern Michigan, but Buckeyes fans shouldn't get carried away if he puts up some big numbers.

1. Backup running backs

More Jaamal Berry! Ohio State's No. 4 running back, in the pecking order clearly explained by the coaches, continues to be one of the most asked about Buckeyes, with many fans wanting the freshman to get more carries.

Ohio State's top tandem, Brandon Saine and Dan Herron, hasn't put up huge numbers. Yet, it's difficult to believe that on the No. 2 team in the country, which is averaging 41 points per game, taking carries away from two fourth-year players -- one of whom [Saine] is a captain -- to give more carries to two second-year players, one of whom [Berry] missed last season with repeated hamstring injuries, is the way to go.

This isn't to criticize Jordan Hall, the No. 3 back, or Berry, both of whom have shown good moves and a nice burst during practices, scrimmages and at the ends of blowouts. And it's not to say that either Saine or Herron are on the level of former OSU stars Beanie Wells or Maurice Clarett. Saine is a good-sized back with great speed in the open field and when he has a clear hole. But he doesn't break a lot of tackles or grind out tough yards. Herron runs hard and has shown better, but not great, vision this season. But he isn't a big breakaway threat.

However, it seems too many people are swayed by Berry averaging 11.4 yards per carry on seven late runs in the blowout against Marshall and some effective kick and punt returns from both Hall and Berry.

There's more to being a running back than a little wiggle, and it's clear right now the coaches trust their veterans most when it comes to taking care of the ball and taking care of the quarterback by blocking for Terrelle Pryor on pass plays. The best way for Ohio State to get knocked out of the national title race is for someone to whiff on a block and have Pryor get injured on a hit he doesn't see coming. That part of the game is more critical than an extra juke between the tackles.

"They are not going to turn it over," OSU running backs coach Dick Tressel said of his top two backs. "You're going to have to mug them to get the football away from them. That would be the No. 1 thing. They also understand that you do what the team needs. That's not an issue for them. That really takes them to the top, and then throw in talent and they're hard to beat out."

It can be frustrating for fans to see running backs not hit a hole hard or get brought down by the first tackler. That's happening at times with the Buckeyes, but teams also are ganging up to stop Ohio State's running game. Hall and Berry could get extra carries today in a blowout, but remember to judge them in context. Try to watch what Hall and Berry do in protection whenever the Buckeyes pass the ball.

Remember this -- when Ohio State leaned on the run game last November against Penn State, Iowa and Michigan as Pryor was nursing a knee injury, Saine and Herron combined for 506 yards on 110 carries in those three games, a 4.6-yard average. They weren't All-Americans, but they were enough to win.

There isn't enough evidence to suggest a need for a change, but seeing more of Hall and Berry today would be intriguing. Just don't get too caught up in it.

2. Ohio State's punt formation

Last season, the Buckeyes began using the punt formation in which the players on the line spread several steps apart from each other rather than bunch in a typical offensive line. No one noticed much until last week, when Ohio blocked a punt. Three OSU players -- defensive linemen Adam Bellamy and Garrett Goebel and linebacker Jordan Whiting -- are left to defend the punter, and they were overwhelmed when five Ohio players shot through the line and went for the block.

Coach Jim Tressel said this week the scheme, adopted by many teams, allows the Buckeyes to get downfield quicker to cover the punts. However, you can understand how it might be more vulnerable to blocks. He said the players hadn't seen that type of pressure, designed that way, in practice, so they didn't deal with it properly. Take note today, because the Buckeyes won't be changing what they do.

"You get better coverage. Last year we went probably 90 percent to it. We've just seen from a statistical standpoint that we've done a better job with our net punt," Tressel said. "Does it scare you when someone doesn't block the B gap? Absolutely. But we've had that happen in the tighter punt where someone didn't block when they were supposed to."

3. Tressel's tough luck with Eastern Michigan

In a broadcast that will have plenty of time to fill, this certainly will be pointed out: Tressel's career record against the Eagles is 1-4. All the games were played when Tressel was the head coach at Youngstown State, and he was actually 0-4 before winning, 24-14, in 1990.

"In 1986, we were up, 14-3, with four minutes to go and they threw the same route like seven times and we kept covering the tight end and they kept hitting the dig and they beat us, 17-14, at the buzzer," Tressel said. "Then they ran a fake punt in '89 and beat us."

4. Ron English's knowledge of the Buckeyes

The second-year coach of Eastern Michigan hasn't won a game yet, his tenure off to an 0-15 start. But he knows Ohio State. English was Michigan's secondary coach for three seasons, then the Wolverines' defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007, when they ranked in the top 25 in the nation both years in fewest points and fewest yards allowed. Michigan hasn't ranked in the top 65 in either category since.

A listing of college football games nationally and locally.

Today's Top 25 games

No. 1 Alabama (3-0) at No. 10 Arkansas (3-0), 3:30 p.m., WOIO Channel 19

No. 3 Boise State (2-0) vs. No. 24 Oregon State (1-1), 8 p.m., WEWS Channel 5

No. 5 Oregon (3-0) at Arizona State (2-1), 10:30 p.m., Fox Sports Ohio

No. 6 Nebraska (3-0) vs. South Dakota State (0-2), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Texas (3-0) vs. UCLA (1-2), 3:30 p.m., ESPN

No. 8 Oklahoma (3-0) at Cincinnati (1-2), 6 p.m., ESPN2

No. 9 Florida (3-0) vs. Kentucky (3-0), 7 p.m., ESPNU

No. 12 South Carolina (3-0) at No. 17 Auburn (3-0), 7:45 p.m., ESPN

No. 13 Utah (3-0) vs. San Jose State (1-2), 8 p.m.

No. 14 Arizona (3-0) vs. California (2-1), 10 p.m.

No. 15 LSU (3-0) vs. No. 22 West Virginia (3-0), 9 p.m.

No. 16 Stanford (3-0) at Notre Dame (1-2), 3:30, WKYC Channel 3

No. 20 Southern Cal (3-0) at Washington State (1-2), 3 p.m.

Today's Big Ten games

No. 2 Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan, 3:30, WEWS Channel 5: OSU leads the nation in turnover margin (plus-3.3). EMU is 0-5 against Associated Press Top 25 teams.

No. 11 Wisconsin vs. Austin Peay, noon, BTN: The Badgers have won 27 consecutive nonconference regular-season games dating back to 2003, the third-longest active streak in the country.

No. 18 Iowa (2-1) vs. Ball State (1-2), noon, BTN: Iowa will wear 1960s throwback uniforms for the game. BSU is sixth in the MAC in scoring (21.0) and eighth in total yards (307.3) per game.

No. 21 Michigan (3-0) vs. Bowling Green (1-2), noon, ESPN2: Michigan QB Denard Robinson is averaging 223.7 yards through the air and 186.3 on the ground. He leads the nation at 410 total yards per game.

No. 23 Penn State (2-1) vs. Temple (3-0), 3:30, BTN: Joe Paterno is 26-0 against Temple since 1975. Temple is 3-0 for the first time since 1979, but has not beaten PSU since 1941.

No. 25 Michigan State (3-0) vs. Northern Colorado (2-1), noon, BTN: With coach Mark Dantonio sidelined by last weekend's heart attack, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will act as head coach.

Northwestern (3-0) vs. Central Michigan (2-1), noon, BTN: The Chippewas have won their past two meetings with Big Ten opponents -- 29-27 at Michigan State in 2009, and 37-34 at Indiana in 2008.

Minnesota (1-2) vs. Northern Illinois (1-2), 7:30, BTN: Minnesota is averaging 27.7 points and 400 total yards per contest. NIU is ranked No. 63 nationally in pass defense at 200.7 ypg.

Purdue (2-1) vs. Toledo (2-1), noon, BTN: The Rockets will try to win three consecutive road games for just the third time in school history, but they rank last in the MAC with just 221.0 total ypg.

Today's MAC games

Akron (0-3) at Indiana (2-0), 7, BTN: The Zips are 1-20 all-time against current members of the Big Ten. Their lone win was 12-6 over Ohio State on Sept. 5, 1894.

Buffalo (1-2) at Connecticut (1-2), noon: UB's offense is only averaging 15.7 ppg, 112th in the nation.

Miami (2-1) at Missouri (3-0), 2: Miami's defense is second in the MAC (280.0 ypg), but Mizzou has won 20 straight nonconference games.

Ohio (1-2) at Marshall (0-3), 7: OU's offense ranks 111th nationally in yards gained; Marshall's defense ranks 112th nationally in yards allowed.

Today's Division II games

Lake Erie (0-3, 0-2 GLIAC) at No. 12 Hillsdale, Mich. (2-1, 1-1), 1: Hillsdale's loss was 44-41 on the road against top-ranked Grand Valley State.

Today's NAIA game

Notre Dame College (1-3) at Taylor, Ind. (1-2), 1: Taylor comes into the game ranked ninth in the NAIA with 284.0 passing ypg.

DIVISION III

Case Western Reserve (2-0) vs. Denison (3-0), 7: CWRU senior QB Joey Baum (Walsh Jesuit) has thrown for 480 yards and four touchdowns in two games.

John Carroll (0-2) vs. Marietta (1-1), 2: The Blue Streaks are 21-0-1 against Marietta.

No. 2 Mount Union (2-0) at Wilmington (0-2), 1:30: Mount has won 45 straight regular-season games.

-- Compiled from staff and wire reports

The Zips (6-0) have defeated teams ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 in the nation by a combined score of 9-0.

AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Zips put their consensus No. 1 soccer ranking on the line Friday night against No. 2 Tulsa and showed once again that all accolades are justified. So dominant was the Zips' 4-0 victory over the Golden Hurricane that -- save for several shots on goal -- an Akron crowd that was boisterous to begin the game became amazingly quiet most of the second half. Perhaps even the Zips are stunned by their overpowering play.

The Zips (6-0) have defeated teams ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 in the nation by a combined score of 9-0, two of the wins coming on the road, then Tulsa (6-1) before a record 4,744 fans at Lee Jackson Field.

By 12:36 of the first half the Zips were already ahead, 2-0. The first goal was somewhat of a gift as a bullet off the toe of Akron's Kofi Sarkodie from 22-feet went off the head of Tulsa's Blaine Gonsalves, then deflected past the outstretched arms of Tulsa goalie Ray Clark and into the net.

Less than four minutes later, Akron's Michael Nanchoff sent a corner kick into the box, where a pair of Akron deflections landed at the foot of Perry Kitchen. He punched a goal into the net from 5 yards.

"They're very opportunistic," Tulsa coach Tom McIntosh said. "And they are very good on set pieces. They don't need many chances for goals. The problem is we got two goals down, then we had to chase the game. This is not a team you want to chase a game against."

Not only was the normally high-scoring Hurricane without a score, they only had two shots at the Zips, while Akron had eight.

The Hurricane did have two corner kicks to one for Akron in the opening half.

The second half started well for the Zips as they first defended yet another early corner kick from the Hurricane, then scored off a second corner kick for a 3-0 lead. It was extended to 4-0 at the 69:47 mark.

From there on, the main question seemed to be if the Zips' consecutive shutouts streak would be extended to an NCAA record-tying 11. Mission accomplished. The Zips join Furman (2002) and Virginia (2009) at 11 and look to set a new standard Wednesday against Ohio State in Columbus.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

It's unknown when Perez will return after his wife goes into labor Friday with the couple's first child.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerChris Perez left early Friday when his wife, Melanie, went into labor with the couple’s first child.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Indians closer Chris Perez was unavailable for Friday night's game against the Royals because he flew home to Tampa, Fla., to be with his expectant wife.

Perez left the club early Friday when his wife, Melanie, went into labor with the couple's first child. It is not known when Perez will return.

Perez owns a 0.57 ERA since June 28, having allowed two earned runs in 31 innings. The ERA in that span entering Friday was lowest among all major-league relievers (minimum 18 innings).

Perez has 21 saves this season. The remaining pitchers on the active roster have combined for two -- one each for Frank Herrmann and Tony Sipp.

After Perez, the Tribe pitcher with the most success as a major-league closer is Jensen Lewis, who has 14 career saves.

Cabrera is back: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the lineup Friday after missing three games because of a jammed left wrist. Center fielder Michael Brantley did not play for a second straight game because of a sore left hamstring.

Cabrera jammed the wrist Monday against the Twins at Target Field.

Brantley's hamstring flared up Thursday afternoon. He was a late scratch for a game that the Tribe lost to Kansas City, 4-2.

"Michael just has a tight hamstring, and we're going to be careful with him," manager Manny Acta said.

View full sizePDAsdrubal Cabrera watches his second single of the game head to right field in the fifth inning on Friday at Progressive Field.

Brantley stretched and threw before batting practice Friday afternoon. Acta said Brantley will swing the bat today and run under the supervision of head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff.

"He could be available [today]," Acta said.

On the mend: Second baseman Jason Donald gripped a bat and ball Friday for the first time since bruising the tendon of his right index finger while attempting to bunt Sept. 11 against the Twins.

Hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham examined Donald in Cleveland on Thursday.

"Dr. Graham was pleased with the way things have progressed," Donald said. "The swelling's gone down. But we're not up to real baseball activity."

Donald said he likely will know by Sunday afternoon if he has a shot at playing again this season.

Chalk talk: The Yankees and Phillies are the most popular picks in the Indians' clubhouse to represent their respective leagues in the World Series.

Five of seven players in a straw poll had the Yankees or Phillies or both playing for the title.

Perez is confident the Phillies and Yankees will be the final teams standing, and he sees the Phillies prevailing.

"They're the best team," Perez said of the Phillies on Thursday. "They're peaking, and everybody is healthy except Jimmy Rollins. They have enough offense and plenty of starting pitching. The 1-2-3 punch of [Roy] Halladay, [Roy] Oswalt and [Cole] Hamels is awesome."

Perez projects the Yankees will beat Tampa Bay in the ALCS, which means he is not a big believer in the Central champion

Twins.

"They're a scrappy little team with a great bullpen, but they don't have the starting pitching," he said. "After [Francisco] Liriano, they don't really have a shut-down starter, which you need in the playoffs. Plus, you've got a question about Joe Mauer's health."

Reliever Joe Smith thinks the Twins simply don't have the firepower to run with the Yankees.

"The Yankees' lineup is loaded," Smith said. "People can talk about their starting pitching and Mariano Rivera, but that lineup is unbelievable. They've got a bunch of veterans who know how to win, and they're the defending champions. I hope Philly wins, but I've got to go with the Yankees."

Among Indians polled who do not see a Yankees-Phillies matchup are Chris Gimenez and Jensen Lewis.

Gimenez thinks the Giants will surprise in the National League and knock off Minnesota for the title. "The Giants have quality bats, and their pitching staff is ridiculous -- terrific front-of-the-rotation starters and a great closer," he said.

Gimenez grew up in the Bay Area of California as an Oakland Athletics fan.

Lewis projects the Rays will defeat the Rockies.

"Sometimes you've got to bang on the door a couple of times before you punch through, and I think this is Tampa Bay's year," Lewis said. "I like how the Rays have come together. I like how they play. They're not going to be intimidated by the Yankees."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

Browns plan to get Josh Cribbs more involved in the offense Sunday in Baltimore.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerBig plays, such as this 65-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cribbs against Kansas City and defensive back Brandon Carr, have been rare so far in 2010 for the Browns offense, which is why coaches want Cribbs to touch the ball more Sunday in Baltimore.

"I think more touches for Josh would be a good thing," Daboll said. "When things are getting kind of stale, it's usually good to go to 16 and give him the ball a few times; hopefully get you into a little bit of a rhythm."

It shouldn't be hard to find reps for Josh Cribbs against the Ravens, especially with receiver Brian Robiskie doubtful for the game with a pulled hamstring and rookie Carlton Mitchell suffering a head injury in practice. Mitchell sat out practice Friday and is listed as questionable. Cribbs tweaked his left ankle early in practice Friday, but is listed as probable.

"[Cribbs] will get plenty of reps," Daboll said.

Cribbs, who touched the ball only six times against the Chiefs -- including returns -- is eager for the increased role.

"Oh yeah, it's an opportunity for me to just hone in more on my receiving skills," he said. "More is expected out of me and I'll do my best to try to do more and make more plays."

With the other receivers struggling to produce, Cribbs has suddenly become the Browns' biggest threat at the position. Against the Chiefs -- when Mohamed Massaquoi was held to one catch for 9 yards and Robiskie one for 12 -- Cribbs led all receivers with three receptions for 74 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown.

"I think it re-affirms [him as a receiver]," Daboll said. "He's come a ways. He did a nice job with the route. He had to read it and go to the right spot."

Mangini praised the big play, something the Browns have had few of this season.

"I like the fact that Josh is becoming -- and I hope you guys see it -- the type of receiver that he's becoming," Mangini said. "I think that will help open things up."

Mangini also lamented the Browns scant use of the wildcat formation against the Chiefs -- one time to be exact -- and would like to see more of it, especially with Seneca Wallace starting at quarterback.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerSince Josh Cribbs is the team's most dangerous offensive player, the Browns have decided they should try to get the ball to him more often during games. That move will be popular with fans, who congratulate Cribbs after he leapt into the Dawg Pound after scoring a touchdown against the Chiefs.

"Whether [teams are] catching up or not catching up to it, giving Josh a few more chances to carry the ball -- he changes things. Yes, [I want to use it more] to get Josh more touches. I think with him, they may load the box, they may do a lot of different things -- but he's got a chance on any play."

Against the Chiefs, Cribbs ran once out of the wildcat for 1 yard, caught the three passes, returned one punt for 5 yards and one kickoff for 19 yards. The Chiefs kicked away from him all game, but Cribbs expects his old special teams coach Jerry Rosburg, now with the Ravens, to kick right to him.

"Rosburg is the kind of guy not to back down," Cribbs said. "Even when he was here, I remember we used to play good returners and we used to get up for games when we had good returners. If I gash them with a big return, they'll start pop-kicking. But they have really good special teams and we'll have our work cut out for us. He [Rosburg] gave me my start in the NFL and he knows me in and out."

Cribbs returned seven kickoffs for 245 yards during an overtime victory over the Ravens in 2007 and had kick returns totaling 237 yards -- including a 92-yard touchdown -- in a loss a year later.

"We're not scared of anyone," safety Haruki Nakamura, a St. Edward grad, told the Carroll County Times in Maryland. "We respect everybody, especially him. He's a great player, the best player they've got, but you don't want to just concede field position."

Likewise, the Ravens are geared up to stop the wildcat.

"If we stop it early, then they won't come back to it as often," defensive tackle Haloti Ngata told the Carroll County Times. "We've just got to make sure that when they run it, it's getting Cribbs down as fast as we can. He's such a dangerous player. He can make you miss, he can run you over. If we play strong up front and get him stopped or not creating any holes for him, we'll be able to stop the wildcat pretty easy."

However he handles the ball, he gives the Browns the best chance against the Ravens.

"He's hard to tackle," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "There's no hesitation in him. I don't know if there's a guy in the league that breaks tackles better than Josh Cribbs."

Ohio State is favored by six touchdowns against the Eagles.

Greetings from Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes are on the field warming up and from the players who aren't in pads, it's easy to see how much of a hit the beleaguered OSU special teams are taking.

Players out for today include No. 3 cornerback Travis Howard, backup linebacker Dorian Bell and backup safety Nate Oliver, all of whom are valuable members of the Buckeyes' kickoff coverage team. Other players out include backup corner Donnie Evege, backup offensive lineman Josh Kerr, freshman defensive back Adam Griffin, freshman safety Chad Hagan, freshman linebacker Scott McVey, freshman quarterback Taylor Graham and sophomore safety C.J. Barnett.

Sunday's game against Baltimore begins and ends with 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRay Lewis is using the NFL's fascination with young prospects instead of proven veterans as some of the motivation to continue his stellar defensive career. "People would rather play a younger Ray Lewis than an older Ray Lewis, but an older Ray Lewis is much wiser. Now, I'm beating you to the punch and knowing exactly where you're going to be before you even get there."

BALTIMORE, Md. -- To hear the Browns tell it, this week's opponent should be re-named the Baltimore Ray-vens.

As in Ray Lewis, the 11-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Lewis, now in his 15th season, has been wreaking havoc on the Browns for 11 seasons, and shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 35. In fact, in some ways, he's gotten even better.

"I'm hungrier in my 15th year than I was in my first year," he said on a conference call this week.

His motivation? Folks who suggest that perhaps he's lost a step.

"It's what keeps me going over and over again," said Lewis. "People make that a big thing time and time again. I'm not worried about [intimidating] fewer people. I worry about whoever lines up in front of me with a football. They get knocked out, period."

Lewis, who led the Ravens with 10 tackles last week against the Bengals and helped keep the opponent out of the end zone for the second straight week, is on a mission to prove that the elder statesmen of the league deserve more respect than the young hotshots.

"The owners pay all these young guys all this money that have never done anything for you," said Lewis. "But you see all these old vets still putting up legendary Hall of Fame numbers and you disrespect them, saying they're at the end of their career.

"When people try to compare these young kids to us, there's no comparison. When you try to tell a 19- or 20-year-old kid to come running at me full speed, his body isn't even close to being mature. People would rather play a younger Ray Lewis than an older Ray Lewis, but an older Ray Lewis is much wiser. Now, I'm beating you to the punch and knowing exactly where you're going to be before you even get there."

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerOn Sunday, Seneca Wallace will try to avoid this fate suffered by Derek Anderson in a 2008 game in Baltimore -- having no protection against an onrushing Ray Lewis.

TONY GROSSI’S FOUR THINGS ON BROWNS VS. RAVENS
1. That’s scary: The Ravens defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in eight quarters this season. It didn’t allow a touchdown in two games against the Browns last season. The Browns haven’t scored a point in the second half of a game this season. Now watch the Browns come out and light up the scoreboard for 30 points. Oh, I know, I know.

2. Special teams battle royale: Seems like every game is a monumental matchup for the Browns’ highly targeted special teams. Brad Seely and Jerry Rosburg are two of the NFL’s finest special teams coordinators. Prior to joining the Ravens as head coach, John Harbaugh also enjoyed that reputation with the Eagles. It’s evident the Browns need every ounce of field position it can muster from its “teams” to help the offense. Rosburg’s troops claimed during the week they were not afraid to kick the ball to Josh Cribbs. Gentlemen, toe your kicking tees.

3. Flustering Flacco: The Ravens are intent on developing Joe Flacco into an elite quarterback on the way to the Super Bowl. Through two games, he’s the lowest-ranked QB in the league and has six of the team’s seven offensive turnovers. Cincinnati flummoxed Flacco by blanketing his receivers with great coverage and applying pressure without having to blitz much. I would expect the Browns to try to limit their rush group to four or five and keep six or seven in coverage.

4. Where’s Brian? The Browns haven’t defeated the Ravens since Brian Billick was their coach. I always considered Billick kind of the Browns’ 12th man in these games because there was always the chance his emotions would take over and he’d do something to contribute to the Browns’ cause. Under the more level-headed Harbaugh, the Ravens have dominated four meetings by the scores of 16-0, 34-3, 37-27, and 28-10.
— Tony Grossi

The Browns know full well that Lewis is the inspirational leader and driving force behind a defense that has surrendered only three TDs in its last six games. What's more:

• They haven't allowed a TD in 10 consecutive quarters, dating back to the divisional playoff game last season at Indianapolis;

• They currently boast the second-ranked defense;

• They've forced opponents to settle for field goals on all six of their opportunities in the red zone -- tied for first with Atlanta; and

• They've picked off the Browns 18 times in 11 games and have had at least one interception in each of those contests.

"The one consistent thing there is Ray Lewis," said Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. "He's the ringleader. He's a Hall of Fame player and it doesn't seem like he slows down with age."

Browns coach Eric Mangini was with the Ravens when they drafted Lewis in 1996 and has admired him ever since.

"They've got one guy, Ray Lewis, that's a pretty special guy," said Mangini. "That's not taking anything away from the rest of the group. But Ray does a really outstanding job of getting that group up. He makes people want to push themselves because he is constantly pushing himself to be as good as he can be.

"When you have arguably your best player with that type of work ethic, it affects everybody. I think all the great ones have that quality. I remember Jerry Rice, Paul Warfield and Jim Brown talking about it."

The challenge for Mangini will be to get some of his younger players, such as running back James Davis, not to be in awe of him.

"Some of our young guys have probably been Ray Lewis on PlayStation -- now they're playing against him," said Mangini. "You've got to be able to get past that."

Running back Peyton Hillis, who might also get extra playing time if Jerome Harrison (thigh) is limited, has gotten the message.

"He's a great player, a high intensity player, but he's human like the rest of us," said Hillis. "We just have to treat him like he's any other linebacker. When we're clicking, we can move the ball on anybody."

Fullback Lawrence Vickers, who see his share of Lewis, had the utmost respect for him.

"He has a passion for the game that's indescribable," Vickers. "He's going to be known as one of the best linebackers of all-time when he's done. It brings attention towards me, so I look at it as a blessing. But I'm not going to get caught up in the hype."

In 20 games against the Browns, Lewis has made 245 tackles, 149 solo, four interceptions, one touchdown, one forced fumble, two recoveries, seven sacks for 64 yards and 11 passes defensed. His seven sacks are his most against any opponent. His four picks are his second-most against anyone.

"He's tremendous. He's a measuring stick," said defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. "I don't know if there's ever been a middle linebacker that great. Unfortunately, I've seen him up close too many times when he's just been just a violent wrecking ball. But what a warrior."

Lewis will face a Browns offense that hasn't been able to score in the second half, likely without its starting quarterback in Jake Delhomme and No. 2 receiver in Brian Robiskie. Harrison is questionable.

"Ray Lewis has been the sole reason that their defense has been so powerful and one of the top-ranked defenses," said Josh Cribbs. "He's an idol to the players who play against. But we still can't allow him to disrupt our offense."

The Indians moved out of last place in the AL Central. But can they stay there?

UPDATED: 11:23 p.m.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerAsdrubal Cabrera slides nearly uncontested into second base with a successful steal in the third inning of Saturday night's 7-1 victory over Kansas City.

INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Josh Tomlin and Shin-Soo Choo owe Trevor Crowe a thank you.
When Kansas City’s Kila Ka’aihue flied out to Choo in right field Friday night for the final out in the in the Indians’ 7-3 victory, Choo tossed the ball to a fan in the stands. He didn’t realize it was the last out in rookie Josh Tomlin’s first complete game in the big leagues.
Crowe ran over from center field and did some fast talking with the fan who caught the ball.
“He was pretty cool about it,” said Crowe. “I told him it was Josh’s first complete game in the big leagues. I was going to send him out a bat, but by that time we’d already given him another ball.”

Winter repairs: As soon as the season ends, Luis Valbuena is going home to Venezuela, take a couple of weeks off, and start playing winter ball for Lara.
“I’ve got to work on my hitting,” said Valbuena, who is hitting .187 after a 2-for-4 effort in Saturday night’s game.
After a promising 2009 season, Valbuena has struggled all season at the plate. His batting average has been below .200 since April 12.
“I think I’ve just been unlucky this year,” said Valbuena.

Stat of the day: The Indians have two rookies with complete games this season, Tomlin and Mitch Talbot. The last time that happened, according to Elias, was 2003 when Billy Traber and Jason Davis did it.
— Paul Hoynes

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Out of the darkness and into the light of fourth place did the Indians go on Saturday night at Progressive Field. They have done it several times since this season turned bad so long ago, but have never managed to stay there or push ahead.

But with just seven games left, and only one more against their rival for fourth, Kansas City, perhaps they can avoid ending the year among the dank laundry and broken ab-busters scattered about the cellar floor of the American League Central.

They showed serious intent in such an endeavor with a 7-1 victory over Zack Greinke and the Royals on a chilly late-September night at Progressive Field. It was their first win over last year's AL Cy Young winner since September, 2008, and moved them a half-game ahead of the Royals for fourth.

It happened quickly in a flurry of hits.

The Indians sent Greinke (9-14, 4.23) to the bench with seven hits and 11 runs in 3 2/3 innings. It's the most hits Greinke allowed all year and his second shortest start.

Rookie Jeanmar Gomez was the recipient of this cornucopia of offense. Gomez (4-5, 4.68) pitched only five innings, but ended a losing streak in which he went 0-5 with a 7.67 ERA in his last seven starts.

Greinke, 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in his first three starts against the Tribe this year, struck out four of the first seven batters. All that changed in the third, as the Indians started hitting and never stopped.

"We never changed our approach against him," said manager Manny Acta. "We stayed up the middle. We've got some guys who have had success against him in the past -- Asdrubal Cabrera and Luis Valbuena -- and they did it again.

"It's a good thing because he's a tough cookie."

The Indians took a 3-0 lead in the third on four hits. Valbuena's leadoff double turned into a run on Luke Carlin's first hit as an Indian. Carlin alertly took second on a bad relay from center fielder Gregor Blanco and scored on Cabrera's single through the middle. After Cabrera stole second, Shin-Soo Choo doubled him home.

The Royals made it 3-1 in the third on Brayan Pena's two-out single, but that was as close as they came. The Indians scored four in the fourth for a 7-1 lead. Three runs came with two out.

Jayson Nix, who homered twice Friday, started the inning with a double high off the left-field wall. He broke into a home-run trot, but it hit high off the wall. Greinke struck out Jordan Brown, but Matt LaPorta doubled to left to score Nix.

Valbuena singled LaPorta to third, but Carlin grounded out as the runners held. LaPorta scored on a wild pitch and Trevor Crowe singled to score Valbuena for a 6-1 lead. Crowe came around on singles by Cabrera and Choo.

Choo, who went 4-for-5 with two RBI, is hitting .385 (25-for-65) with six doubles, four homers and 20 RBI against the Royals this year.

Valbuena, an offense disaster this season, went 2-for-3 against Greinke.

"He throws a lot of fastballs and I feel I can hit the fastball," said Valbuena.

Gomez allowed one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked four. The rookie right-hander has thrown 173 2/3 innings between Cleveland and Class AAA Columbus. The Indians didn't want him or fellow rookie Josh Tomlin to pitch more than 175 innings this year.

Acta wouldn't say if Gomez would make one more start or not. Gomez said he's scheduled to start Friday in Chicago in the final series of the season.

"This is about it for Gomez," said Acta. "Tomlin and him could go over a couple of innings over (175). I'm happy with the progress he's made."

The Indians' bullpen followed Gomez with four scoreless innings from Aaron Laffey, Joe Smith, Justin Masterson and Jensen Lewis.

Another rout Saturday showed dimensions in Ohio State that make it fully capable of being ranked the nation's best college team.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerWhen your offense is threatening all-time records for a single game, the defense doesn't have to be great. But Ohio State defenders Ross Homan (51), John Simon (54) and Nathan Williams make sure Eastern Michigan's Javonti Greene feels their wrath on this second-quarter play.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bad moon on the rise.

Night had fallen Saturday on another example of a collegiate football team winning fast cash in return for the loss of personal dignity. The final score was Ohio State 73, EMU 20. The Eagles' tote board registered an $850,000 payday.

It was the most OSU points in a game since they scored 83 in 1950, before Woody Hayes even. Over The Horseshoe, clouds wreathed a ghostly moon. Down below, the Buckeyes had met all the imperatives to score "style points" in the BCS pecking order.

Thus, there was a trick play, a pass to quarterback Terrelle Pryor from tailback Jordan Hall for a touchdown late in the third quarter with a 25-point lead. There was a three-touchdown flaying of the Eagles in the final quarter.

But give the Eagles some credit. By not going all LeBron when they got behind, 24-0 -- by fighting on to 38-14 halftime and 45-20 third-quarter deficits -- they ensured their prolonged exposure to Pryor.

This is not an encouraging development because Ohio State has athletic ability that is superior everywhere to EMU, and Pryor has it over almost everybody. He has become a Swiss Army buzzsaw, accounting for a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, and four passing touchdowns against the beleaguered Eagles.

If former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallet hadn't vaporized in a mist of hideously conceived interceptions, Arkansas, his current team, would have beaten Alabama in a roaring stadium in the Ozarks Saturday. Ohio State would have become the top-ranked team in the nation.

It did not happen because Alabama knows how to win in difficult circumstances, but nothing so far has provided a rebuttal to the notion that Ohio State is worthy of the top ranking.

This game was a point orgy, but it also was a display of the many dimensions that make up what might be remembered as Jim Tressel's most talented team. The Buckeyes have been so dominant thus far that the only quibbles seem to be complaints made in the service of combating complacency.

The defense gave up three touchdowns. No special-team escapades or coverage guys falling down a manhole were involved in any of the scores. It was a tribute to EMU quarterback Alex Gillett's touch and his receivers' grit, but it was also an indictment of the Buckeyes' motivation.

Last week was devoted to letdown avoidance after the big victory over Miami. The memory of a close call in 2008 against that week's payee, Ohio University, helped stifle any notions of not playing well.

The EMU game felt different. The Eagles are terrible, with 16 straight losses. OSU was favored by six touchdowns. It is human nature for the crispness evident against Ohio and the crazy energy of the Miami game before that to lag against such an unimposing opponent.

"We talked about guys were just flying around and really not thinking about tackling," said defensive end Cameron Heyward, who is the team's best player, including Pryor. "We had that little huddle [defensive players only, after EMU's third touchdown] and guys did their job and pulled together."

Defense is the rock upon which Tressel's teams are built. But the offense has come out week after week, shining like glory hallelujah.

The Buckeyes are averaging 49.3 points. They should have scored 50 against Miami with the field position the defense created. As it was, they scored 36. They laid 45 on Marshall, which took nationally ranked West Virginia to overtime in a come-from-ahead loss. Ohio took a 43-7 lump.

Yet critics wonder why Brandon Saine and Boom Herron aren't re-enacting the land rush of the post-Purdue regular season last year.

Pryor, coping with a knee that would require off-season surgery, turned into a game-manager after that stunning upset. But he was healthier in the Rose Bowl, when he delivered the progress in familiarity with the offense and in soundness in passing technique that had long been promised. This season, Pryor has simply had a much bigger role.

Also, since the starting tailbacks and the offensive linemen are the same and since the depth at running back is greater, when the Buckeyes finally have to run it in a traditional fashion, they will probably be able to run it.

Behind Saine and Herron are Hall, the two-way threat who was Pryor's high school teammate in Jeanette, Pa., and Jaamal Berry, who has the biggest quick strike ability as a kick returner since Ted Ginn Jr. On his late 67-yard touchdown run, Berry outran the angle a defender had on him.

Tressel couldn't order substitutes hungry for playing time not to try. He might as well try to banish the clouds that trailed over the moon, like smoke from a distant fire.

Pryor dodges the Eagles and avoids any injuries, freshman kicker Drew Basil pleased with better length on kickoffs.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerWere Terrelle Pryor and OSU coach Jim Tressel interested in "style points" to impress the nation's voters on Saturday. No, not at all, they said. Really.

INSIDE THE VEST
Jim Tressel isn’t typically one for style points, but the Buckeyes accrued them Saturday regardless.
For a while, it looked like Ohio State might end the day as the new No. 1 team in the country, up until top-ranked Alabama ended Arkansas’ upset attempt.
Entering Big Ten play, Tressel only has to keep the Buckeyes doing what they’re doing. It’s not about style. No matter what happens in the rest of college football, an undefeated Ohio State team, playing this schedule, will reach the national title game. So it’s a two-month exercise in dealing with success.
“I suppose if someone isn’t sold on your league, maybe that’s something that you consider,” Tressel said on style, “but we’ve always said that if we could be successful in our league and obviously in our nonconference schedule that we’ll have enough style and you’ll see where you land.
“But it’s a whole different world when you go into conference play. There’s not a whole bunch of style points — more heavyweight bout than it is a style show.”
— Doug Lesmerises

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Checking out one observer's grades for Saturday's game. 

A -- Terrelle Pryor's luck

On Pryor's first touchdown pass, a 31-yarder over the middle to Dane Sanzenbacher, Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Brad Ohrman got late penetration and dove and hit Pryor in the left knee just after he released the ball. In the first half Pryor took three hard shots after releasing the ball. But this one was the kind of hit a quarterback fears most.

Pryor wears a brace on his left knee after having arthroscopic surgery in the off-season. He got up from the Ohrman hit, none the worst for wear.

But center Mike Brewster said he didn't run to join the celebration in the end zone because he was checking on Pryor after the play.

"I was nervous for a second," Brewster said. "But he was all right. We know we need to keep hits off Terrelle, but he's a pretty big and strong guy, so he forgives us sometimes."

B -- Kicker Drew Basil

The true freshman knew he wasn't getting the job done on kickoffs, his shorter kicks contributing to the Buckeyes' coverage woes. He got a major workout as the Buckeyes kicked off 12 times against Eastern Michigan. With a minor adjustment in his steps during the week, he did his job much better.

Basil said his goal is to at least kick the ball inside the 5. He did that eight of 12 times, including three touchbacks. The four kickoffs outside the 5 landed at the 6, 7, 9 and 13.

Best of all, the Buckeyes didn't allow a kickoff return TD.

"It's a great feeling. That's what I've been working most of my life for, to hit the ball well," Basil said. "I just listened to the coaches and they said we needed to get better at this as a team and I felt like we did a lot better today. ... I think we've got it sorted out."

C -- Ohio State's injuries

The Buckeyes entered the game with the depth in their secondary depleted -- former starting safety C.J. Barnett is out for the year, No. 3 cornerback Travis Howard out with a shoulder injury, and veteran backups Nate Oliver and Donnie Evege sidelined.

So it didn't help things when starting cornerback Chimdi Chekwa was forced out for much of the game with back spasms, though he eventually did return.

Tight end Jake Stoneburner did not return after hurting his ankle in the first half. But Jim Tressel said Stoneburner just rolled it and isn't expected to miss next week.

So there were some bumps and bruises, but it doesn't sound like anything major. In a blowout, that's always at the top of the list of priorities. Remember, Terrelle Pryor first hurt his knee in the blowout against New Mexico State last season, when kicker Aaron Pettrey also went down.

D -- Kenny Guiton's end zone celebration

The Buckeyes used the blowout to get several players into a game for the first time, including senior tight end Ricky Crawford, who said before the season his goal for the year was to finally get on the field.

The Buckeyes also got their backup quarterbacks into the game, and second-stringer Joe Bauserman threw his first career touchdown pass to Jordan Hall. Third-string quarterback Kenny Guiton scored his first career points on a 15-yard TD run but drew a post-game admonishment from Tressel for dropping the ball in the end zone instead of handing it to the official.

Tressel said Guiton "lost his mind."

"I've already been told by plenty of coaches," Guiton said after the game. "I told them it was my first time, so please excuse me."

So the redshirt freshman maybe deserves a break on this one.

"Right now, getting in the end zone is a real big deal," Guiton said. "Me and the center Scott Sika always talk about what we want to do. I try to leave my best out there and let them know I do want to get to the end zone."

Derek Bush scored three touchdowns as Case Western Reserve extended its regular-season winning streak to 34.

Norm Weber

Special to The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Derek Bush scored three touchdowns as Case Western Reserve extended its regular-season winning streak to 34 with a 37-7 triumph over previously unbeaten Denison.

Bush had two touchdown runs in the first six minutes of the game, the first from seven yards out and the next from the Denison 1.

Bush's second touchdown came after Case successfully pulled of a flea flicker for a 24-yard gain. QB Joey Baum handed to Shaun Nicely on an apparent end around but Nicely flipped the ball back to Baum who passed the ball to Brian Webster.

"Our defense and special teams did a great job in getting the turnovers and giving us the opportunities to get the short drives," Bush said. "Naturally after getting that second [touchdown], I was hoping to get the chance for a third one."

Case (3-0) held a 7-0 lead just 38 seconds into the game. Denison (3-1) fumbled the opening kickoff and Steve Magister recovered at the Big Red 19. Two plays later Bush was in the end zone.

Baum, who threw an 18-yard touchdown pass Zach Homyk in the second quarter, had more than 200 yards passing at halftime, when the Spartans led, 20-0. Homyk caught six passes in the first half for 65 yards.

The Spartans' Dale English had two sacks, two passes defensed and three tackles for loss to lead the defense. Adam Murray (one sack, two tackles for loss) and Dan Calabrese (five tackles) also played a large role in the near shutout.

The Spartans were up, 37-0, when the Big Red got on the board.

"The other guys did a good job on their blockers to open the holes to allow me to get back there and makes the tackles," English said.

"We would have liked to have gotten the shutout, but at least we got the 34th win in a row so there is no letdown from letting up that late TD," Calabrese said.

Bush scored his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter on a four-yard run, about three minutes after Trevor LeBarge ran in from two yards out to put Case up, 27-0.

Norm Weber is a freelance writer in Lakewood.

Before the Browns decide whether to pursue Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, they have to come to grips with what they want to be on offense.

Ed Zurga / Associated PressKevin Kolb's potential value in a trade will likely depend on what teams -- including the Browns -- will be committed to a West Coast-style offense that suits Kolb's skills.

THE KICKOFF
Voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame have received the preliminary ballot for the Hall’s 2011 class.
At this stage of the process, 113 eligible candidates have to be shaved to 25. In December, the list of 25 is pared to 15. Those 15 then join the two senior nominees, Chris Hanburger and Les Richter, in the finalist round debated the day before the Super Bowl.
Out of 113 on the original list, only four to seven will make it to Canton this year. Included on this year’s ballot for the first time are running backs Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk and Curtis Martin, cornerback Deion Sanders and coach Dick Vermeil.
Those seemingly slam-dunk first-timers join candidates who did not make it to the Hall in previous years of eligibility. These include prolific receivers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed; tight end Shannon Sharpe; center Dermontti Dawson; defensive linemen Richard Dent, Charles Haley, Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Cortez Kennedy and safety LeRoy Butler; not to mention eight other coaches and 20 contributors.
Included on the ballot are two former Browns — linebacker Clay Matthews and coach Bud Carson. Matthews played outstanding football for 19 years at one of the game’s most demanding positions. Carson might not have lasted two seasons as Browns head coach, but his contributions with the Steelers and other teams earned him the reputation as one of the league’s all-time finest defensive coaches. The Tony Dungy “Tampa Two” defense now in vogue was originated by Carson in Pittsburgh.
I hope Matthews and Carson at least advance to the round of 25.

KEY STAT
Nineteen of the 32 games (59.4 percent) so far this season have been decided by seven points or fewer. It’s the most at this point of the season in NFL history.
-- Tony Grossi

BALTIMORE, Md. -- What's going on in Philadelphia regarding quarterback Kevin Kolb?

According to a league source, coach Andy Reid's decision to bench Kolb in favor of Michael Vick signals the end of Kolb with the Eagles. The source said that General Manager Howie Roseman is canvassing the trade market to see what they could get.

When the Browns explored Philadelphia's price tag for Donovan McNabb or Kolb in March, the answer was a first-round pick. McNabb eventually was traded to division rival Washington for a second-rounder and conditional future, believed to be a 2011 fourth.

Reid thought Kolb was ready to take the reins from McNabb in his fourth season. Two 300-yard passing games as a fill-in starter last year was the impetus for the off-season trade of McNabb. But Kolb struggled in preseason and in his only start this year before leaving with a concussion.

Vick outplayed Kolb in preseason and wowed Reid with an eye-opening game in his start last week in Detroit. Reid has made a decision which he can't go back on now.

The source said that Philadelphia will not intensify trade talks until Vick proves in games against Jacksonville Sunday, Washington next week and San Francisco on Oct. 10 that he indeed is for real. The price tag for Kolb eventually could drop to a third-round pick.

Will the Browns pursue Kolb, who is 26 years old and apparently a has-been in Philadelphia?

This source speculated that the debate in Cleveland will be whether President Mike Holmgren is willing to tear up the Browns' current offensive system and green-light an immediate transition to the West Coast offense.

Kolb has been schooled for four years in Reid's version of Holmgren's old Green Bay offense. The source does not believe the Browns would pursue Kolb and force him to adapt to the Brian Daboll offense.

Thus, a move toward Kolb would signal, in this source's mind, a commitment by the Browns to blow up their current offensive thinking.

Labor stuff: Players union leaders are visiting each team to educate players on the option of decertifying the union as a means of avoiding an owners lockout next year. Several teams have voted to authorize the union to decertify if it comes to that.

The Browns' vote will take place on Sept. 29, union rep Joe Thomas said. It's expected that DeMaurice Smith, the union's executive director, will visit the team prior to the vote.

At that time, the Browns also will elect new union reps. They are amply represented right now. Because the union rep receives a two-year term, which carries over if a player switches teams, the Browns currently have four union reps -- Thomas and Robert Royal, holdovers from last year; Sheldon Brown, whose term carried over from Philadelphia; and Tony Pashos, whose term carried over from Jacksonville, via San Francisco.

Also, Scott Fujita is a member of the union executive board.

Fujita's take on decertifying: "I need to know more about it, but right now it's strictly procedural, a non-issue. It's one of those things where you need to secure the votes to play that card if you have to. I don't even know if it's the last possible strategy we employ. I just think we have to cover all the bases if we're going to protect ourselves."

North nuggets: The Ravens are paying veteran QB Marc Bulger $3.8 million this year, so there will be calls to play him, first in relief, if Joe Flacco continues to struggle. Coach John Harbaugh declined to say whether he considered yanking Flacco during his career-high four-interception game against Cincinnati.

The next day, Harbaugh said on a radio show, "I don't ever really buy into the thing that one position is different than another position. I would never say you never take a quarterback out of the game. I've never believed that." We'll see if Flacco struggles against the Browns. ...

Last year at this time, Billy Cundiff kicked for the Browns in place of injured Phil Dawson. Today, he's kicking for the Ravens. He thanked the Browns for giving him an opportunity to revive his career last season. "I obviously have a lot of positive emotions when it comes to thinking about the Cleveland Browns," Cundiff said in Baltimore this week. ...

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer praised rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham and receiver Jordan Shipley, who have been instant contributors. "They have a great grasp of the game and are hard workers," Palmer told reporters. "They watch a ton of film and the older vets around them. It's definitely easy to say I haven't seen two rookies come in and pick it up as easily as they have." ...

No mystery as to why the Steelers are winning despite using two backup quarterbacks. Safety Troy Polamalu is healthy and making plays all over the place for the defense again. He's got two interceptions and a highlight-play tackle of Kerry Collins to preserve Pittsburgh's second straight win last week. He missed 11 games with two knee injuries last year and the defense wasn't close to the same without him. He deserves MVP consideration if he stays healthy.

The Ravens say they won't take the Browns lightly when the teams meet Sunday afternoon.

AP file photoJosh Cribbs carries plenty of respect in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room, with the Ravens expecting to see more of Cribbs' offensive skills on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's never a shortage of topics during this time of year when Terry's Talkin ...

How Baltimore sees Sunday's game against the Browns ...

1. Talking to some members of the Ravens, this could be a very long afternoon for the Browns. Not that Baltimore is cocky. Rather, the team is desperate after losing at Cincinnati last week. The word at practice is the Ravens simply cannot, will not, and must not lose this game at home to the Browns -- and drop to 0-2 in the Central Division.

2. The Ravens played their final two regular season games of 2009 on the road. Both playoff games were on the road. They opened this season with games at the New York Jets and Cincinnati. So that's six road games. They were 6-2 at home in each of the last two seasons.

3. They believe the Browns will use a lot of wildcat formations, and have been preparing all week. Like most teams facing the Browns, they will put their two cornerbacks on the Browns' two receivers -- bringing the safeties close to the line. They'll dare the Browns to beat them downfield with a pass. They fear the Browns' wildcat more than any other used by various teams.

4. They love Joshua Cribbs and don't want him to beat them. We may see more of what happened against Kansas City, where the Chiefs simply refused to kick the ball to the Browns' prime return man.

5. They think the Browns defense is "vastly improved." They noticed it last season. In Game 3, the Browns lost, 34-3, in Baltimore, a game that felt as if it were 50-3. In Game 10, Baltimore worked hard for a 16-0 victory at Cleveland. They think Rob Ryan and Eric Mangini are making a major impact on the defense.

6. They are very impressed with Athbya Rubin, marveling at the diving interception that the 300-pound nose tackle made of a deflected pass last week. They believe Chris Gocong is playing in the correct spot as an inside linebacker in Ryan's 3-4 defense. They also think Scott Fujita brought some needed speed to the linebackers.

7. While they believe the Browns have upgraded their secondary with Sheldon Brown, Joe Haden and T.J. Ward -- they still think the defensive backs are short and can be hurt by taller receivers. All of the Browns' key defensive backs are in the 5-10 to 5-11 range.

8. Ward has caught their attention with his reckless style, the kind of fearless safety the Ravens love. Like several teams, they were surprised that Haden went as high as No. 7, but believe he is a first-round talent. Tight end Todd Heap has bounced back from a couple of years marred by injuries and they believe he's ready for a monster season. Left unsaid is they know the Browns have had trouble covering tight ends.

About the Browns ...

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerThe defensive work of rookie safety T.J. Ward (behind Tampa Bay's Sammie Stroughter) and veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown (right) have clearly made the Browns' better -- even if the record is 0-2, says Terry Pluto.

1. The Football Outsiders Almanac projects the Browns to win 5.4 games. Formerly called Pro Football Outsiders, this group comes up with some great stats and generally has been pretty accurate. In the last years, here is the Browns' record and what they predicted -- 2005: 6-10 (6.3 wins); 2006: 4-12 (4.8 wins); 2007: 10-6 (8.9 wins); 2008: 4-12 (6.1 wins) and 2009: 5-11 (5.3 wins).

2. The authors must be spanked for part of their essay where they take some cheap shots at Mangini and failed to do their homework. They brought up the $1,700 fine for Braylon Edwards' water bottle, not mentioning it was at least the 10th time he broke team rules. They dragged up the charge of James Davis being hurt in an extra practice session when he was not wearing pads and hit by someone who was in shoulder pads. The practice was on tape. The NFL reviewed it. That simply did not happen. All of these details were reported by myself and others -- more than once.

3. But when it comes to stats, they have great stuff. Last season, the Browns allowed 6.9 yards after a receiver made a catch -- most in the NFL. That's why the front office brought in Brown, Ward and Haden -- to tackle somebody. They wrote, "Brown missed only five tackles last season, compared to 14 from his ballyhooed [Philadelphia] teammate Asante Samuel." Former Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald ranked No. 5 in giving up yards after catch, Eric Wright was No. 19.

4. For the second consecutive season, Joe Thomas was flagged for seven penalties. They believe that is too high for an elite left tackle. Otherwise, they really like Thomas. Tackle John St. Clair "blew 6.0 blocks" with Chicago in 2008 and 6.5 with the Browns in 2009. St. Clair was the only Brown in the top 20 of "blown blocks" last season.

5. The defense stopped only 8.7 drives with either fumbles or interceptions -- the lowest in the NFL, the eighth lowest since 1999. The authors believe the revamped defense with the new linebackers and defensive backs will change that. So far, the Browns have picked off three passes in two games -- compared to only 10 last season.

6. The average age of the Browns key defensive players is "27-28 ... ideal for a strong [positive] projection."

7. The average wide receiver catches about 57 percent of the passes thrown to him; it's 64 percent for tight ends. Last season, Cribbs was at 54 percent, followed by Chansi Stuckey (48 percent), Mohamed Massaquoi (36 percent), Brian Robiskie (35 percent) and tight end Robert Royal (42 percent). With New England, tight end Ben Watson was at 71 percent. It will be interesting to see how Watson does here, and if the current receivers improve with the new quarterbacks.

8. Yes, Jake Delhomme was terrible last season in Carolina -- ranking 31st in starting quarterbacks. But the authors still rated him slightly above Brady Quinn. He was twice as effective as Derek Anderson in their complicated overall statistics. Seneca Wallace was rated the best of the four, but had only two starts. The authors think Delhomme and Wallace can help at quarterback, but they don't expect a huge improvement in the Browns' passing game.

About the Cavs ...

AP PhotoDaniel Gibson figures to get plenty of chances to show off his long-range shooting in the pick-and-roll offense of new Cavaliers coach Byron Scott.

1. If Mo Williams or any other Cavaliers have some doubts about what life will be like without LeBron James, they need to talk to Daniel Gibson. The guard knows it will be harder to win games, that it's doubtful the team is a championship contender. But when new coach Byron Scott talks about opportunities for players, he means it. Gibson is one of the first who has a chance to benefit.

2. Scott is saying he's especially impressed with Gibson, who can count on some regular minutes with the departure of Delonte West. Scott has told players that he's not afraid to use two small guards, that he wants two ballhandlers on the court at the same time. The three main ballhandlers are Ramon Sessions, Williams and Gibson. He said Anthony Parker also fits into that group.

3. All the defensive attention drawn by James created open shots for guards, but Scott insists his system will do the same -- only in a different fashion. Instead of four guys standing and watching James dribble, Scott will accent movement to create open shots.

4. Gibson started 10 games last season when West and Williams were both injured, and averaged 11.7 points -- shooting 48 percent from the field and at 3-point range. Those shooting numbers mirrored his overall performance in a season of very erratic playing time. Former general manager Danny Ferry believed Gibson's shooting problems two seasons ago were due to a nagging turf toe injury that took a long time to heal. When it did last season, Gibson returned to the sweet shooting stroke that he showed early in his career.

5. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is a friend of Dan Gilbert, so it's no surprise he's backing the Cavs owner. Nonetheless, I liked his comments on the Dunham and Miller Show on SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket in Dallas: "LeBron has every right to go wherever ... he wants to. Going to the Heat was his choice ... Where I think LeBron made a mistake, was in how he did it. I don't even have a problem that he had the TV show. But it turned out to be the largest public humiliation in the history of sports. He humiliated the organization. He humiliated the state of Ohio, the city of Cleveland. All of a sudden he became a bad guy, he lost a billion dollars in brand equity, give or take a couple bucks here or there."

6. Scott also has met with Antawn Jamison, stressing to the veteran that he will thrive in Scott's offense. It's the same offense that Eddie Jordan (a former Scott assistant) used when Jordan coached Jamison in Washington -- where Jamison was a 20-point scorer.

7. For six weeks, Scott has been warning the players to show up in shape. He will have trash cans near the court in case some players feel sick in the early practices. He said it happened three times in his first season with the Nets, once in his first year with New Orleans. He hopes the players have taken his warnings about being in shape seriously, so they won't be needed. Like his mentor, Pat Riley, Scott is known for physically demanding training camps.

About the Tribe ...

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerChris Perez offers one of the most significant bright spots for the Indians as they look ahead to 2011.

1. What young player has made the most of his chance this season? It's Chris Perez, who entered the weekend with a 2-0 and 1.02 ERA since June 1. He has not allowed a run in 30 of his last 31 outings. He's 9-of-10 in the clutch 1-run saves. If nothing else, the Indians appear to have found a closer. According to fangraphs.com, the average Perez fastball is 94.6 mph, his typical slider is 83.7. He has intimidating stuff.

2. After Shin-Soo Choo, what Indian has the most at-bats? It's Trevor Crowe, who entered the weekend hitting .256 (.651 OPS) with 2 HR and 31 RBI in 406 at-bats. He also leads the team by hitting into 13 double plays. He's had the opportunity to establish himself as a possible regular, but he's shown to be a backup -- especially at the age of 26. A switch hitter, Crowe is batting only .206 vs. lefties. He has some speed (18-of-24 in stolen bases), but his on-base percentage is only .308.

3. Travis Hafner is hitting .331 since the All-Star break. His 29 doubles are tied with Choo for best on the team. A real disappointment is his .194 (19-of-98) average with runners in scoring position. Hafner has 11 HR and 41 RBI in 377 at-bats. The 29 doubles is the most for Hafner since 2006, but it's still hard to know how much power he will get back next season.

4. Coach Sandy Alomar has done a great job with the young catchers. Most Tribe fans know Lou Marson leads the league in throwing out base runners (35), but Carlos Santana (29 percent) and Chris Gimenez (28 percent) have done well. The league average is 24 percent.

5. In 2009, Jayson Nix hit .224 with 12 HR and 32 RBI in 290 at-bats for the White Sox. In 2010, he's at .229 with 14 HR and 32 RBI in 336 at-bats for White Sox/Tribe. He's 28, and the Indians should not be fooled into thinking he can be a regular at third or second.

6. Mitch Talbot was 8-8 with a 3.99 ERA before the All-Star break, 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA after when he had couple of minor injuries. Because Talbot had some arm problems last season (4-4, 4.47 ERA in 54 innings at Class AAA), the Indians can only write him into a rotation spot for 2011 in pencil. If Talbot struggles or can't stay healthy, the Indians seem to have a spot starter in place with Josh Tomlin. The right-hander (5-4, 4.50) has made 11 starts, always pitching at least 5.0 innings. Opposing batters are hitting only .253 off him, and he throws strikes (18 walks in 68 innings).

7. No one asked me, but only Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson and Carlos Carrasco would be guaranteed spots in the 2011. Yes, Carrasco has earned it with six superb starts since being promoted. Carrasco's average fastball is 92.9, tops among Tribe starters. Next are Carmona (92.6) and Masterson (91.3). The average is about 90.1.

Ohio State gave up three touchdowns to Eastern Michigan as a young secondary allowed some big pass plays.

Jay LaPrete / Associated PressBackup defensive back Dominic Clarke (28) can't prevent Eastern Michigan's Kinsman Thomas from crossing the goal line for a 41-yard TD reception in the second quarter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On The Clock as the Buckeyes and Eagles take the field.

4:30 p.m.: A year ago, Ohio State shut out three opponents. This season, the Buckeyes' first-team defense had allowed just 10 points entering Saturday's game, but scores allowed on special teams or by the second-team defense had prevented Ohio State from posting a zero on the scoreboard.

This seemed like a reasonable time for a shutout. Now that chance was gone, with Eastern Michigan finding the end zone on a two-yard Dwayne Priest touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Eagles weren't done, either, as they scored three times in the 73-20 rout.

"We just didn't come out and play as good as we usually do," OSU defensive back Tyler Moeller said. "We didn't play like a Silver Bullet defense."

That was hard to argue. This Priest run was set up by a 19-yard pass from Alex Gillett to Donald Scott. OSU defensive lineman John Simon popped Gillett just after he released the ball and safety Jermale Hines cracked Scott as he caught it, but both hits were too late.

"I think we probably hit the quarterback 10 to 15 times," defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. "On all the long passes we were hitting him, but it's a fraction of a second [late]. You've got to get there. We'll have to look at how we can get there quicker, because we were hitting him, but what good does that do when the ball is already gone?"

5:01: Gillett made another tremendous throw, this time getting the ball out just ahead of a Brian Rolle blitz. Devon Torrence had pretty tight coverage over the middle, but Kinsman Thomas hauled in the 41-yard completion.

"I tip my hat to them," Torrence said. "I was in perfect coverage and he made a great catch on it."

The Buckeyes were hurting in the secondary, though. Chimdi Chekwa, the other starting cornerback, spent much of the game on the sidelines riding an exercise bike while trying to work through back spasms. With No. 3 corner Travis Howard out with a shoulder injury, that put No. 4 corner Corey Brown, a redshirt freshman, in with the first team. Orhian Johnson was already new at the safety spot, starting his second game ever.

"Those guys have to step up," Torrence said. "It's good to get them experience, we just have to make sure Chimdi is healthy for next week."

5:04: The Eagles scored their second touchdown, cutting the OSU lead to 38-14, as Thomas beat No. 5 corner Dominic Clarke on a slant for a 13-yard score.

Heacock said the Buckeyes did have to adjust their coverage a bit to make it easier on the younger players. He agrees they need Chekwa back.

"You can't forget that those guys are young and you've got to cut it back a little bit," Heacock said. "We've got to get those guys healthy and regroup. But the guys we have on the field, we've got a good group of guys but we've got to keep it simple. They can run and hit and we feel good about that."

5:46: Eastern Michigan's final score came on a 32-yard pass from Gillett to Scott, as Johnson was late helping in coverage.

"I believe there was supposed to be safety help over there, but that's football," Torrence said. "They're going to catch touchdowns. And those guys are pretty young.

"Sometimes somebody is going to make a play and they're going to score touchdowns. It was good for us to face that. We haven't faced too much adversity with the last few games.

"With the Big Ten, you'll have a little gut check. But those are the types of things that are definitely correctable. It's not as big a deal as it may seem. Yes, we gave them up, but it probably won't happen anymore. We'll correct it."

Cavaliers beat writer Brian Windhorst answers some of this week's best letters in the fan mailbag.

AP file photoMo Williams will be needed at his best for the Cavaliers to compete with the East's best teams. Brian Windhorst believes Williams will work hard to provide that leadership, regardless of his off-season emotions when LeBron James left for Miami.

Hey, Brian: Mo Williams' comments that he considered retirement when LeBron left were pretty surprising. Do you think the Cavs can count on him this season? -- Frank Jurgensen, Jacksonville, Fla.

Hey, Frank: Williams is obviously the most talented guard on the roster and if the Cavs are going to be competitive they need Williams to play well, as well as he's played over the last two seasons. He is an emotional person, which he's shown often since coming to Cleveland. His comments about considering walking away were emotional and also real, he was showing how LeBron's departure truly affected him. With $26 million left on his contract, I can assure you that was just a fleeting thought. The reality is the team needs him to show leadership and to move on from what happened. But quite often his emotion is an asset and so it can be a benefit as well.

Hey, Brian: Do you think Jawad Williams could really benefit the most by LeBron's departure? -- Duane Lumpkin, San Francisco

Hey, Duane: In so much as there's 40 minutes of playing time at small forward available, I suppose that is a benefit for him. Williams is truly an NBA success story, working his way up from minor leagues in Europe to a rotation player in the league. The fact that he's playing on his hometown team adds a pleasant extra layer. But it is still unproven that he can become a guy who can play 25 minutes-plus effectively every night. The opportunity to play that much is there now and Williams has a chance to take the next step, yes.

Hey, Brian: With the Cavs changing their colors is there going to be a new court at The Q this season? -- Jessica Chambers, Cleveland

Hey, Jessica: Yes. The new floor design will feature the deeper wine and brighter gold colors. There's also a new center court logo that features two swords and the new letter style that will be on the uniforms.

-- Brian

John Carroll maintains undefeated mark vs. Marietta, Mount Union rolls over Wilmington.

John Carroll 24, Marietta 18: The Blue Streaks (1-2, 1-1 OAC) built a 24-6 lead through three quarters and held on to beat the Pioneers (1-2, 0-2) in University Heights. JCU has never to lost to Marietta in 23 meetings.

Mike Elsaesser gained 96 yards on 15 carries for the Blue Streaks while Michael Locke ran for 35 yards and two touchdowns.

Mount Union 51, Wilmington 0: The Purple Raiders (3-0, 2-0 OAC) averaged nearly eight yards per play in the rout of the Quakers (0-3, 0-2) in Wilmington, Ohio.

Cecil Shorts III (Collinwood) scored three touchdowns -- two receiving and one on a 68-yard punt return.

Oberlin 47, Hiram 21: Joey Zebelian threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Yeomen (2-1, 1-1 North Coast Athletic Association) past the Terriers (1-3, 1-2) in Hiram. Zebelian completed 22 of 28 attempts without an interception.

The Yeomen set a school record with 622 yards of total offense.

Danny Enright led Oberlin with seven catches for 127 yards.

Wooster 22, Ohio Wesleyan 13: Richard Barnes (Harvey) threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns, Robert Flagg ran for 120 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries and Mike Redick caught seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in the Fighting Scots' (2-2, 2-1 NCAC) win over the Battling Bishops (0-4, 0-3) in Delaware, Ohio.

Taylor 40, Notre Dame College 13: NDC's James Flowers (Padua) threw for 216 yards and one touchdown in his first career start, Derrick Paster (Berea) caught eight passes for 124 yards and Pedro Powell ran for 125 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, but the Falcons (1-4) lost to the Trojans (2-2) in Upland, Ind.

Hillsdale 42, Lake Erie 37: Sean Bedevelsky (Brunswick) passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 114 yards and another score, but the Storm (0-4, 0-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Association) fell to the Chargers (3-1, 2-1), Division II's No. 12 team, in Hillsdale, Mich.

Brandon James (Mentor) led the Storm with five catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

N. Michigan 23, Ashland 19: The Wildcats (3-1, 3-0 GLIAC) scored a touchdown with 1:40 left in the game and beat the Eagles (1-3, 0-3) in Marquette, Mich.

Ashland place-kicker Gregg Berkshire made 4-of-5 field-goal attempts, connecting from 20, 40, 44 and 50 yards.

Watch out LeBron, the NBA is taking aim on a cast of star-studded complainers, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerHistrionics such as this one displayed by a certain ex-Cavalier during last spring's playoffs are supposedly on the NBA's hit list on improved decorum in 2010-11. But Bud Shaw is less than impressed by the idea or the likely execution.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The people who hand out Emmy nominations are protesting this decision.

The NBA is giving refs more leeway in assessing technical fouls in hopes of dissuading player complaints. The league announced the expanded guidelines at the refs' annual meeting in Jersey City.

Reasons to "T" players in 2010-2011 include:

• Aggressive gestures, such as air punches;

• Running at officials to protest a call;

• Demonstrative disagreement, such as when a player incredulously raises his hands, or smacks his own arm to demonstrate how he was fouled;

• Excessive inquiries about a call, even in a civilized tone;

• Answering to the name "Rasheed" or "Wallace."

I made one of those up. You decide which.

Even with Wallace's planned retirement, the league believes fans are tired of watching all the gyrations. They're probably right, but the guidelines leave a lot of room for interpretation.

In addition, some of the best players in the NBA were near the top in technicals a season ago. So strict enforcement could hurt the product. Better they complain like Snookie during a power outage at the tanning salon than be sent to the showers early.

The Top Five Players Who Should Be Worried:

1) Dwight Howard. Second in the league a year ago with 16 technical fouls. Once assessed a delay-of-game tech for calling in Ben Matlock to defend him.

2) Kendrick Perkins. Also had 16 technicals. The wording "demonstrative disagreement" will be his bane just on the basis of the way he looks. Reacts to foul calls like a baby eating a lemon.

3) Kobe Bryant. Had 14 technicals last season. Argues everything. Cites GPS coordinates to prove he was nowhere near a fouled shooter. Almost makes you want to side with Joey Crawford. Almost.

4) Stephen Jackson. Just because.

5) LeBron James. Wasn't high on the technical list last year, but not for lack of trying. The Drama King does for "incredulity" what Eastwood did for the cold stare.

If the NBA adds another category for assessing technicals – "Getting fouled and dying like a cowboy in a bad western" -- James could be in serious trouble.

And how sad would that be?

HE SAID IT

"Players can go out and recruit, and coaches and GMs can't. These players obviously wanted to collude together and do this." -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson on James and Chris Bosh joining forces with Dwyane Wade.

Jackson smiled when he said "collude." He's a little unfamiliar with the true meaning of the word.

An entirely different word describes how the Lakers got Pau Gasol. "Larceny."

HE PICKED WHAT?

I'm often asked about my prognosticating skills.

Questions like, "Do you have any?"

Or this one just a few days ago from emailer Dustin P:

"Bud:

"How long will it be until the P.D. Browns picks are moved to the funny pages?"

But mostly people want to know if my prognosticating skills transfer beyond the world of sports. Seriously? What do you think?

My Top Non-Sports predictions over the years. I had:

• C-SPAN's "Women Lawyers and the Supreme Court" trouncing "American Idol" in the ratings.

• Dukakis!!!!

• Investment gold: the invisible dog leash

• Jimmy Dimora going down ... as the George Bailey of his day.

So, yes. My skills transfer.

SPINOFFS

Curtis Compton / Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionWho is this man, and why does the PGA Tour expect fans to be excited about him?

Now that Dimora is back on the job, for some reason I'm having a harder time getting outraged about Braylon Edwards being allowed to suit up Sunday after his Tuesday morning DWI...

Oregon State used 440 gallons of paint on one of its practice fields to replicate Boise State's blue field, the aerial view of which resembles an expanse of open water. In related news, the Oregon State Duck was badly injured in a diving accident...

Stevie Williams, Tiger Woods' combative caddy, was bumped off the charter flight for the Ryder Cup. Unfortunately for golf galleries scolded by Williams or having cameras tossed into a nearby lake by him, Williams was bumped off the flight before it left the ground...

Matt Kuchar came into Atlanta this week leading the FedEx Cup standings. It's a shame you can't bottle that kind of excitement...

The Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America includes one MLB owner (Arte Moreno of the Angels), one NBA owner (Mark Cuban) and 11 NFL owners. ... We interrupt this Forbes list to bring you a message from NFL owners claiming player salaries are driving them to the poor house...

YOU SAID IT

"Bud:

"After LeBron left the team, the Cavs' Mo Williams contemplated retirement, almost forfeiting $26 million left on his contract. Have you ever suffered from such despondency?" -- Regards, Tom Hoffner

No. At the PD only the editors are contemplating my retirement.

"Bud:

"I was channel surfing the other night and came across a promo for Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns." Is that The CW and Rob Ryan's answer to Rex and HBO's "Hard Knocks"? -- Pat

No. In "Meet the Browns," the father of Brenda (Angela Bassett) dies before she gets a chance to meet him. The Browns' 2010 season doesn't die until the third week.

"Bud:

"I have another separated at birth for you. Jimi Hendrix and Joe Haden." -- Devin

Thanks for not saying me and every Hair Club for Men "before" picture.

"Bud:

"Former Browns' QBs Bruce Gradkowski and Derek Anderson will face each other as starters on Sunday in Arizona. Not exactly Sabathia vs. Lee in the World Series, but still worth noting." -- David, Shaker Heights

You're right. It's nothing like consecutive Cy Young winners matching up for new teams in the World Series. In fact, it's a statistical probability that every NFL game will feature an ex-Browns' quarterback -- but only if it doesn't feature two.

"Bud:

"Do Eric Mangini and his staff actually think that half-time adjustments are illegal, or does it just appear that way?" -- Jack, Lyndhurst

There could be that fear. I mean once you see innocent civic leaders in cuffs, it's understandable if everybody gets a little spooked about what constitutes a crime.

"Ho Bud:

"With so many changes in The Tribe this year, a team photo might be difficult. Could a group photo of the fans be done instead?" -- Bud Huston, Willoughby

Getting fans together for a picture could take some doing but let's try. You call six and I'll call the other six.

"Bud:

"Is it possible the PD misquoted Braylon Edwards when he said, 'Cleveland didn't understand my New York flair and swagger.' Shouldn't that read 'Flair and Stagger?" -- Eddie C., Parma Heights.

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

"Hi Bud:

"Was Braylon Edwards' DWI arrest an inevitable result of 'The City That Never Sleeps' trading for 'The Receiver That Never Thinks'?" -- Bryan Fields

Repeat winners receive a fake Taliban beard just in time for Halloween.

Beat writer Paul Hoynes answers the best (and otherwise) from this week's readers mailbag.

Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerJustin Masterson might not be a starter for some other teams in the big leagues, but he fits a need for the Indians, says Paul Hoynes.

Hey, Hoynsie: Didn't the idea of "leveraging" Justin Masterson out of the starting rotation begin in June when the Boston Red Sox were trying to reacquire him for use as a long reliever? If so, does his current status indicate he will be offered back to the Sox again next year? -- Steve Gaylo, Thompson

Hey, Steve: Last week manager Manny Acta said if the Indians were an elite club, Masterson would be pitching set-up for them instead of starting. The Indians are light years from being an elite club and they need starting pitching badly.

I predict Masterson will be in the rotation next year. If he isn't, he will not be traded back to Boston.

Hey, Hoynsie: Has Indians CEO Paul Dolan commented publicly about the leaked financial statements of the Pirates and Marlins? -- Jeff Greene, Cleveland

Hey, Jeff: What did you want him to say, "I'm sure glad the Indians' statements weren't made public?"

Hey, Hoynsie: After decades of success with the wild card, including huge bumps in revenue, attendance, and fun for the fans, there was one lone owner who vociferously voiced his dissent. Back in September of 1993, this owner stated regarding the then-proposed wild card, "I made my arguments and went down in flames. History will prove me right. This is an exercise in folly." Who was that owner? -- Robert Beajulais, New Orleans

Hey, Robert: I'm 59 years old and I still have that nightmare about waking up for a test and not having cracked a book. I broke out in a cold sweat just reading your question. I'll take a guess and say George Steinbrenner.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why are the Indians continuing to play guys like Matt LaPorta, Jayson Nix, Luis Valbuena, Shelley Duncan and Chris Gimenez? Do we really not have more capable players in the farm system? -- R.E., Jackson, Mich.

Hey, R.E.: On Sunday, there will be seven games left in the season. It doesn't matter who plays anymore.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think the Tribe will give Drew Sutton a shot at third base next year? He reminds me a little bit of Casey Blake size wise and hustle wise. Sutton has done okay at shortstop so he should be able to play third. He is a switch hitter with some pop. -- Joe Eversole, Pelman, Ala.

Hey, Joe: I've liked the way Sutton has played in his short time with the Tribe. If he has any kind of shot with the Tribe next year, and this is just my opinion, it will be as a utility infielder.

Hey, Hoynsie: Recently there was a Plain Dealer article about Shin Soo Choo being a 'keeper' because he hit 20 homers and stole 20 bases this season. It reminded me of the time Omar Vizquel got the hero treatment for 2,000 hits (as opposed to the major-league standard -- 3,000). Now 20 homers and 20 steals is a nice season, but isn't 30/30 or 40/40 more worthy of praise? -- Brett Ormsby, Bay Village

Hey, Brett: Choo's 20-20 is a long way from 30-30 or 40-40. But to reach 30-30 or 40-40, you first have to reach 20-20.

-- Hoynsie