The Indians score five runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Royals, 5-3.

Mark Duncan / Associated PressMichael Brantley watches his two-run double off Kansas City reliever Robinson Tejeda in the eighth inning Sunday at Progressive Field. The hit capped a five-run rally for the Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Michael Brantley's left hamstring is not 100 percent, but both his hands are just fine.

Pinch-hitter Brantley turned on an inside fastball and ripped it down the first-base line for a two-run double as the Indians defeated the Royals, 5-3, Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Brantley, pinch-hitting for Lou Marson, capped a five-run eighth inning off reliever Robinson Tejeda. The Tribe entered the eighth trailing, 3-0.

Brantley did not start for the fourth consecutive game because of the hamstring.

The Indians (65-91) won the final three of a four-game series. They have a 1 1/2-game lead on Kansas City (63-92) in the race for fourth place in the AL Central.

The Tribe won the season series, 10-8.

Substitute closer Vinnie Pestano earned his first major-league save in his second appearance. He pitched a scoreless ninth. Regular closer Chris Perez was unavailable because he is with his wife and newborn son in Tampa, Fla.

Royals lefty Bruce Chen was denied a fourth victory in four decisions against the Indians this season. Chen remained 11-7 overall after giving up four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He exited with a 3-0 lead. 

Fausto Carmona gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. Justin Germano relieved to begin the sixth.

Left fielder Shelley Duncan bailed out Carmona with a terrific catch in the second inning.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first when Josh Fields singled to drive in Billy Butler.

The Indians squandered scoring opportunities in the first and second. Trevor Crowe led off the first with a double. He did not advance. In the second, the Indians loaded the bases with one out but did nothing with it.

The Royals made it 2-0 in the fifth when Mike Aviles homered into the Tribe bullpen in center. It was the 5,000th homer in Royals history.

Chen cruised through the middle innings.

Butler's two-out RBI single in the seventh gave the Royals a 3-0 advantage.

The Tribe erupted in the eighth off Tejeda. Asdrubal Cabrera led off with a single. Shin-Soo Choo blooped a single to left. Duncan homered to left to make it 3-3. Minutes later, Brantley did his damage.

First-pitch temperature was 58 degrees -- 30 degrees colder than the opener of the four-game series Thursday.

Stunningly, New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum says on a radio show this morning: "We felt he didn't deserve to start based on the fact that ... not for the arrest as much as going out and being out until 5 in the morning," Jets play at Miami tonight.

Associated PressBraylon Edwards as he was arraigned on charges of driving while intoxicated on Tuesday.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Wide receivers Braylon Edwards of the New York Jets and Donte' Stallworth of the Baltimore Ravens were Cleveland Browns teammates when they were drinking together the night of March 13, 2009.

Early the next morning, Stallworth was driving in Miami Beach when his Bentley hit and killed a pedestrian. Stallworth later pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter.

Edwards was arrested this Tuesday on drunken driving charges. The Jets are "punishing" him by not starting him in their game tonight against the Dolphins in Miami. He is expected to play.

Apparently, the Jets' biggest problem with Edwards' behavior isn't that his drunken driving could have put the safety of not only himself, but others, too, in jeopardy.

The Jets -- if general manager Mike Tannenbaum's thoughts are representative of the team -- are more bothered that the controversial Edwards wasn't getting his proper rest.

Rich Cimini writes for ESPNNewYork.com:

Embattled wide receiver Braylon Edwards won't start for the New York Jets Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins, but not because of his drunken-driving arrest.

It's because of when he was arrested, according to Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

"We felt he didn't deserve to start based on the fact that ... not for the arrest as much as going out and being out until 5 in the morning," Tannenbaum said Sunday morning as a guest of Ian O'Connor on 1050 ESPN Radio.

Tannenbaum's comment could add more fuel to the firestorm that has developed in the aftermath of Edwards' Tuesday-morning arrest on the West Side of Manhattan. The Jets have been widely criticized for not taking a harsher stance with Edwards, whose blood-alcohol level registered .16 -- twice the legal limit.

The players with Edwards at the time of his arrest -- offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and defensive end Vernon Gholston -- will not face any team discipline, the Jets have said.

Tannenbaum offers some weak "other guys have played...," and "it's a legal matter..." excuses in defense of the Jets' handling of the matter. Maybe it will sit well with some people, but probably not with those whose loved ones have been harmed by drunk drivers.

Cimini writes:

Explaining the decision not to deactivate Edwards as punishment, Tannenbaum cited precedent, claiming no team over the last two seasons unilaterally benched or deactivated a player after a drunken-driving arrest.

"It's a pending legal matter," Tannenbaum said. "When that case is adjudicated, he'll be held to a standard established by the CBA. Clearly, that's how other teams have handled it over the past couple of years."

If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum fine of $50,000. Because of a previous violation of the league's personal-conduct policy, he also could be suspended.

 

 

Browns cornerback says Anquan Boldin is "obviously a good player, but I didn't play up to my ability, not even close."

UPDATED: 10:10 p.m.

Doug Kapustin / McClatchey-TribuneBrowns cornerback Eric Wright is trailing badly as the Ravens' Anquan Boldin grabs his third touchdown pass of Sunday's game against the Browns in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Admitting he had "a horrible day," Browns cornerback Eric Wright pinned the entire 24-17 loss to the Ravens on himself because of the three touchdowns he surrendered to Anquan Boldin.

"I let my team down," said Wright. "This loss -- I'll definitely take that especially defensively because if you take away even just one of those plays, we win the game. It's as simple as that."

A source said something was definitely wrong with Wright both physically and mentally, but he wasn’t about to reveal it or use it as an excuse.

"I didn't feel like myself at all and I didn't play like myself," Wright added. "(Boldin is) a good player, but I don't think it's anything that he did that I wasn't expecting, or anything special that he did. He's obviously a good player, but I just didn't play up to my ability, not even close.

"It's just unfortunate, just because you have 10 other guys on the field that are doing their jobs and really depending on me to be a certain type of player and I wasn't that player by a longshot today."

Wright gave up TD passes of eight, 12 and 27 yards to Boldin -- although the second appeared to be a miscommunication between him and rookie safety T.J. Ward. Overall, the three-time Pro Bowl receiver caught eight passes for 142 yards.

"Mentally we have to be at a certain place in order to play the game," he said. "You try to get there as best as you can. I just never settled in. I never got to where I needed to be."

Wright said he wasn't sick. If there was something off the field distracting him, he didn't let on. He also refused to blame it on not getting backside help or the lack of a pass rush.

"We'll look at the tape, but for the most part, it's just me not doing what I'm supposed to do," he said.

On Boldin's final TD, a 27-yarder on a post route in the fourth quarter, the Browns sent the house and Wright was left alone in coverage.

"You know you're not going to see any help," said Wright. "When they send a lot of people, you expect them to get pressure, but on the opposite end of that you have to guard your man as tight as possible to give them the opportunity to get to the quarterback. Anytime you turn somebody loose as open as I let him get -- I mean basically wide open -- you can't really expect the pressure to get there."

Said Boldin: "They put [Wright] in some positions where it was single coverage. That's one of the matchups we felt we could take advantage of."

The carnage began in the first quarter, when Joe Flacco lobbed an eight-yard pass to Boldin over Wright's head on a post. On the next drive, Wright gave up a 14-yarder to Boldin and then Boldin was left wide open vs. zone coverage for a 27-yarder. He capped the drive with a 14-yard TD catch on the right side of the end zone, where Ward and Wright blew their assignments.

"I hold a lot of responsibility for the defense and for this team and guys expect me to play at a certain level," said Wright, who said he was given encouragement on the sideline. "Everybody was behind me and everybody had my back and was trying to continue to motivate me."

Browns coach Eric Mangini blamed Wright's performance, in part, on no pressure on Flacco, "but that being said, we have to hold up on the back end as well. We tried multiple things, we tried man, we tried zone, we tried blitzing, we tried doubling, none of them really worked that well."

Boldin could've had a fourth TD with 5:38 remaining, but Ward broke up the pass in the end zone. Late in the fourth quarter, when they needed a third-down conversion, Flacco saw Wright on T.J. Houshmanzadeh and flipped him a short pass for a first down.

"I know how it feels," said cornerback Sheldon Brown. "I've given up a walk-off overtime touchdown -- the game ended on your behalf. But it's how you respond to it. If you don't recover from it, you're not a good player. The sign of a champion is to come back, work your butt off and play better the next game."

Brown said Wright never had a horrible game before "and that's probably why it seems so overwhelming. Once you're in a funk, it's hard to get out of it. You have to run into a wall or something to get the cobwebs out. But I've seen Eric play really well against great receivers before and he will again."

With rookie cornerback Joe Haden waiting in the wings for a starting job, Wright didn't do anything to help himself.

"It's just one game," Wright said. "But you can't have games like that."

Furyk nearly holed a bunker shot on No. 18, then knocked in a 2 1/2-foot par putt to earn a one-shot win over Luke Donald and capture the biggest payoff in golf.

Associated PressA happy Jim Furyk seconds after he clinched the FedEx Cup by winning the Tour Championship tournament.

Atlanta, Georgia –- Jim Furyk capped off a wild day in the rain with a bunker shot worth $10 million.

In a FedEx Cup that came down to the final hole Sunday in the Tour Championship, Furyk nearly holed a bunker shot and knocked in the 2 1/2-foot par putt to close with an even-par 70 and a one-shot victory over Luke Donald to capture the biggest payoff in golf.

Donald, who chipped in from 100 feet for birdie on the 17th hole to stay in the game, was waiting in the scoring trailer when Furyk stood in a bunker. A bogey would mean a sudden-death playoff for the FedEx Cup.

When he tapped in his par with cap turned backward, Furyk plucked the ball out of the hole and fired it over the grandstands behind the 18th green at East Lake.

He earned $1.35 million for winning the tournament, and $10 million from the FedEx Cup.

Although the Ravens claimed victory Sunday, the defense felt as if the effort was a failure.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerThe Browns' Peyton Hillis fights his way past Baltimore's Tom Zbikowski for a 48-yard gain in the third quarter Sunday. Zbikowski was also penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play, which set up the Browns' second touchdown in a 24-17 loss.

BALTIMORE, Md. -- For so long, the Ravens had become accustomed to their defense setting the tone in every game.

They hit hard. They stifle and stall offenses. They are defined by a linebacker in Ray Lewis who dances like a rapper when he is announced at M&T Stadium, who wears black war paint streaked down his face and who sometimes hits players so hard they crumble to the ground as if they've run into a semi-trailer.

Then the Baltimore defense faced the Browns on Sunday.

Although the Ravens held on for a 24-17 victory, the defense surrendered its first touchdowns of the season, gave up more rushing yards than they've allowed in years and felt as if the effort was a failure.

"We just kind of felt like when they scored those two touchdowns ... it just sucked," Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said. "We just feel like we're better than that."

So long, unscored-upon streak. The Ravens' 11 quarters without allowing a touchdown -- starting with the last two quarters of 2009 -- matched the franchise-long streak set in 2000. They were 13 seconds from making it 12 quarters before the Browns' Peyton Hillis powered in a 1-yard run just before halftime.

In all, the Browns tallied 304 yards total offense, including 173 rushing. Generating 144 of those yards was Hillis, the burly 6-foot-2, 250-pound, third-year running back from Arkansas.

Hillis not only set a career high Sunday, but his total was the first 100-yard game against the Ravens by a Browns running back. His total was the sixth-most allowed by Baltimore since 2005.

It wasn't that the Ravens didn't know Hillis was capable of such punishing yards. But seeing Hillis cut through the line over and over, finding small creases and exploiting them for big yards, made the Ravens take notice.

"I guess he's a guy you have to see in person to appreciate him," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "He is physical. I mean, this guy is hard to bring down. He's a north-south runner. And he's a guy we're going to have to contend with for a long time in this division."

Hillis' biggest moment came at the end of the third quarter as he found a huge hole on the left side of the line -- helped by strong blocking from left tackle Joe Thomas and left guard Eric Steinbach -- and powered his way for 48 yards. It wasn't particularly graceful running. He wasn't slippery or sly in the way he eluded tackles. But it was a run that brought the Browns deep into Ravens territory, and set up a touchdown that gave Cleveland a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

"With a big back like that, once he gets a full head of steam going, it's hard for anyone to stop him," Ngata said.

After Hillis' big run -- and a 15-yard roughing penalty against the Ravens -- Joshua Cribbs ran the wildcat to a 19-yard gain. Suddenly the Ravens defense that was second in the league in total offense allowed was stumbling.

"They kind of gashed us a little bit and kind of got us out of place," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "But it's going to happen. We've got to respond and make the proper adjustments so teams don't get off on us."

Said Browns tackle Thomas: "We felt it with their body language. They weren't jumping around and screaming. We were running the ball directly at them."

They were rattled, no question. But it's the defense that defines the Ravens, and it reappeared in the fourth quarter. The Browns accumulated only eight yards in the final quarter, not a single one by rushing. Both of Cleveland's possessions in the final quarter were three-and-out.

Still, with the Browns' second touchdown coming six seconds into the fourth quarter, the Ravens can't claim any streaks until next week.

"As a defensive unit, we always want to continue that," Ngata said. "Hopefully, we can start another one and keep it moving."

Roman Pena goes to LA in a trade of minor league outfielders. Preston Mattingly, the Dodgers' No. 1 draft pick in 2006, batted .218 with two homers in 165 at bats at Class-A level this season.

Associated PressDon Mattingly at a press conference on Sept. 17, when it was announced he would be the Dodgers' manager in 2011, with Joe Torre deciding to step down from the job.

Cleveland -- A little more than a week after promoting Don Mattingly to be their next manager, the Los Angeles Dodgers have traded his son.

Los Angeles sent Preston Mattingly to the Cleveland Indians for Roman Pena in a swap of minor league outfielders Sunday.

Don Mattingly, the Dodgers' current hitting coach, will replace Joe Torre as manager next year in a move announced Sept. 17.

Preston Mattingly, the Dodgers' No. 1 draft pick in 2006, batted .218 with two homers and 17 RBIs at the Class-A level this season. He struck out 51 times in 165 at-bats.

The 23-year-old Mattingly bats and throws right-handed. His best season as a pro came in 2006, when he hit .290 with a home run and 29 RBIs for the Dodgers' rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League.

Don Mattingly was a star first baseman for the New York Yankees during his playing career, winning the AL MVP award in 1985.

Pena, 23, was a ninth-round pick of the Indians in the 2005 draft. During five seasons in Cleveland's farm system, he hit .244 with 34 homers in 1,514 at bats, never playing above Advanced Class A Kinston. Pena bats and throws left-handed. 

Just like every team, even that one in Miami, the Cavs have a series of questions they'll begin to explore starting with the first practice.

Scott Shaw / The Plain DealerCan J.J. Hickson become the offensive force that has been the Cavaliers' conviction over the last two seasons?

• Cavaliers October schedule

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Complete with a new coach, general manager and new uniforms, the Cavaliers start a new era Monday when they start training camp. But it won't have the enthusiasm that such re-branding often comes with because, whether most players choose to speak his name or not, it really is the uncertain beginning of the post-LeBron James period.

Nonetheless, everyone is compelled to get on with their NBA lives. Just like every team, even that one in Miami, the Cavs have a series of questions they'll begin to explore starting with the first practice.

Here's at look at the top five issues as they head into camp:

1. Whose team is it?

Since 2004-05, the captain and leader was James. With former coach Mike Brown endorsing it, James expanded that into an all-encompassing position as of last season. Two years ago Ben Wallace played a significant role as part of Brown's veteran "committee." By last season, however, those in the locker room would tell you there was James alone running the show. Even Shaquille O'Neal, the four-time champ, saw the landscape and took a backseat.

In retrospect, that was one of the reasons why when James seemed to develop a still-bizarre malaise in the playoffs, there wasn't much of a recourse behind closed doors.

Now that is all gone and there's a void. Without a doubt, much of it will be filled by Byron Scott, who operates with a completely different approach than Brown. Until further notice, he will be the voice of the Cavs.

But, of course, players need to grasp leadership roles. It would make the most sense that veterans and former All-Stars Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams take charge. Both may intend to, but it remains to be seen whether that can effectively happen.

Jamison does not have a strong personality. During his career, he has always been on teams with bigger stars and bigger personalities such as Dirk Nowitzki, Gilbert Arenas and James. It would be a different challenge calling for him to take control in the locker room.

Then there's Williams, who does have a leadership personality. The question is whether he has the right mindset. He admitted in an interview last week that he was badly shaken by James' departure and it didn't sound as if he'd moved on yet. Then he said on his Twitter feed that he was experiencing some of the worst times of his life heading into camp.

Beyond standard X-and-O issues, this is one of the biggest topics for the Cavs to handle.

2. Will running work?

Marvin Fong / PDNew Cavaliers coach Byron Scott has made clear his belief in an uptempo offense. Will a lineup lacking a superstar be able to make it work?

When coaches say in the off-season that they're going to run more, it sometimes falls into the same trap as New Year's resolutions. It is common not to follow up on those plans when the first turbulence arrives.

Scott has said he intends to have his team push the tempo and that he's going to want two quick ball handlers in the game at the same time to facilitate it. That is one of the reasons the Cavs traded for Ramon Sessions.

To his credit, Scott was a member of the Showtime Lakers and knows what it means to run. Also he's made it clear that the players will run from the first day, a sign he's serious. Scott has a history of sticking to his preseason game plan through thick and thin, something he's actually been criticized for at times.

It isn't that the Cavs are going to fast break every possession, but they will attempt to play at a higher pace and increase the number of possessions per game. Last season, even when they were one of the best offensive teams in the league, the Cavs ranked in the bottom five in pace for much of the season.

Scott's strategy can be dangerous. There may be some nights when that style gets you blown out, especially on the road. But playing this way has plenty of advantages if it is done properly.

3. Is there enough size?

This is Scott's biggest concern as he looks at his roster. With O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas leaving in free agency, the Cavs lost their top two centers from last season. When you subtract James from the mix, it means there's 19 rebounds per game to replace.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerCan Anderson Varejao survive as the Cavaliers' most experienced big man?

Anderson Varejao has shown in the past that he can effectively play the center position. But he's undersized against some of the league's top big men and there's a question as to how much support he's going to have.

The Cavs traded for 7-footer Ryan Hollins, who has shown toughness during his five-year career, but he's not a good rebounder. The team's power forwards -- J.J. Hickson, Leon Powe and Jamison -- could all be considered somewhat undersized.

4. Can J.J. Hickson be a star?

For two years, the Cavs have made Hickson nearly untouchable in trades because of their belief in his potential. That will now be put to the test.

The highly athletic Hickson has developed nicely and is less than a month past his 22nd birthday. He's going to get a lot of minutes, a lot of shots and a lot of attention. The Cavs lost the best scorer in team history and must make that up somewhere and Hickson is the main candidate.

He's worked on a mid-range jumper in the off-season and if he can hit it with consistency, he could average 20 points a game. But consistency has always been an issue, especially when it comes to mental mistakes. Now, he'll have less margin for error.

5. Who plays small forward?

The Cavs are only attempting to replace one of the best in the history of the game and the two-time Most Valuable Player, so no big deal. The pickings, at least right now, are frankly slim.

It's a three-man race between Jamario Moon, Joey Graham and Jawad Williams. None of them are expected to be impact scorers, so it will come down to what else they can do. Moon and Graham have a history as good defenders and Williams has the most offensive skill. Much of the preseason may be devoted to picking a starter here. Between the three, though, they have 219 career starts.

There's also a chance Scott will consider playing Jamison at small forward in certain situations.

A college football website, and a combined four voters in the two polls, say the Buckeyes, not Alabama, are first in the country.

Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer Ohio State's Jordan Hall scores on a 17-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Joe Bauserman during the Buckeyes' 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan.

Cleveland -- Ohio State's Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls.

Both polls have defending national champion Alabama ranked first. Just two of 60 voters in the AP poll listed Ohio State at No. 1. The Buckeyes are first on just two of 59 coaches' ballots.

CollegeFootballNews.com, with Scout.com, departs from the conventional wisdom. It ranks Ohio State No. 1 in the nation, explaining:

Why Ohio State Is No. 1: Regardless of the opponent, it’s hard not to be a little impressed by the one over par that Ohio State slapped on Eastern Michigan. The Buckeyes punted once, racking up six touchdown passes and well over 600 yards. Right now, it’s a coin flip between the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide, and while the special teams are still a bit of a question mark, everything else is working at the highest of levels for OSU.

Plain Dealer Ohio State coverage includes beat writer Doug Lesmerises' National College Football Insider; his game story on the Buckeyes' 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday; his On The Clock; his Ohio State Report Card; Bill Lubinger's report on star Buckeyes receiver Dane Sanzenbacher; Lubinger's account of the "Highs and Lows" of the OSU-EMU game; Bill Livingston's column on the game.

Ohio State plays its Big Ten opener and its first road game of the season on Saturday against Illinois.

Second season

Just one of Ohio State's first foes, Miami (Fla.), posed a realistic threat. OSU topped the Hurricanes, 36-24, in Game 2. With Illinois and Indiana its next two opponents, Ohio State would have no reason to be anything but 6-0 going into Oct. 16 home game against No. 11 Wisconsin.

John Kampf writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal that regardless of who its opponents are, Ohio State intends to be prepared:

The Buckeyes were dominant in their four nonconference games, outscoring Marshall, Miami (Fla.), Ohio and Eastern Michigan by a combined score of 197-58. They've scored 133 points in the first half, an average of 33.2 points per game, and really haven't been tested either by an opposing offense or defense.

The next two weeks' opponents — Illinois and Indiana — might not test the Buckeyes, either. But don't tell that to the players, who are taking a no-nonsense approach to the league opponents as much as they have the nonconference foes.

"Now it's time to start our conference play," senior tackle Bryant Browning said, noting his team's five straight Big Ten titles. "We have a target on us, so all our focus is on it to make a run at it."

73 enough?

Eastern Michigan, one of the lesser teams in the Mid-American Conference, had some success passing against Ohio State. The Eagles had scored more points than anyone had anticipated when they trailed, 45-20, midway through the third quarter.

Bob Hunter writes for the Columbus Dispatch that at that point, even though the Buckeyes were in no danger of losing the game, the national rankings were a factor in how the game would play out:

The Buckeyes were still up by more than three touchdowns. But how would this look in the eyes of poll voters? The Eagles are winless. Even if the score remained right where it was, would voters punish the Buckeyes for letting these woeful visitors get into the end zone three times?

Make no mistake about it, the whole consideration there would have been "style." And in a world where only two teams make the national championship game, it's something that has to be considered, as distasteful as that it for many of us.

The Buckeyes rolled off 28 unanswered points from that point presumably enough "style" to satisfy even the most shallow-minded poll-voter but it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if the Buckeyes had won by that 25-point margin, the Crimson Tide had lost (they rallied to beat Arkansas) and No. 3 Boise State had enjoyed a little more impressive victory over Oregon State than the 37-24 one they had.

Big-time player

Since wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has made numerous big plays for the Buckeyes during his four seasons, most anything he accomplishes is no surprise to his teammates. Sanzenbacher caught four touchdown passes from Terrelle Pryor on Saturday, tying Terry Glenn for the most TD catches by a Buckeye in one game.

Shaun Bennett writes about Sanzenbacher for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette:

With Ohio State’s history of big-name receivers such as Glenn, Michael Jenkins, Ginn and now Posey, many Buckeyes fans don’t believe Sanzenbacher gets the respect and recognition he deserves.

“Sometimes I feel he’s underappreciated,” junior center Mike Brewster said. “But he’s so good and our team knows it. It was so good to see him play well today.”

Sanzenbacher apparently flies so far under the radar, that his big day took Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel by surprise.

“Dane caught four (touchdowns)?” Tressel said. “Huh. Dane’s good, I don’t know what to tell you.”

Around end

CBSSports.com projects all of the bowl game matchups, including the national championship game.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor is a major factor in Ohio State's running game, writes Rob Olloer for the Columbus Dispatch.

Bob Finnan writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal about receiver Dane Sanzenbacher's memorable game.

Instead of usually playing Game 4 against an inferior opponent, Ohio State and other Big Ten teams may -- beginning in 2015 -- play against each other that week, Jon Spencer writes for the Chillicothe Gazette.

Ohio State gets mentions in Adam Rittenberg's Big Ten Blog on ESPN.com.

Game story on the Buckeyes' win over the Eagles, by John Kampf for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Josh Cribbs overcame pain and fluid in his ankle to play against the Ravens, finishing with a career-high five catches.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs ran out of the wildcat formation just once on Sunday, gaining 20 yards and setting up a touchdown with this scamper against the Ravens. Baltimore was "scared of our attack," Cribbs said. "We've just got to win it in the long run."

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Josh Cribbs had to rally from a sprained left ankle to play against the Ravens and was in a walking boot after the game. It's a good thing he played.

Cribbs was the only Browns receiver to catch a pass, finishing with a career-high five receptions for 58 yards, including a long of 20.

"I was really questionable for this game," said Cribbs, who felt pain in the ankle Friday in practice and had fluid on it. "I had to work out before the game started and everything. My fans were like 'don't do it if you can't go.' But it's the Ravens. That why I went. It's the Ravens and it's the division."

Cribbs also rushed once out of the Wildcat for 20 and once from the tailback spot for a yard, when Ray Lewis drilled him. But he didn't have many chances on returns for the second straight week, fielding one punt for zero yards and two kickoffs for 27.

"Once we started and my adrenaline started pumping, I didn't even feel [the ankle]," he said. "They're making me wear this boot right now. I'm like 'look, I don't even feel it right now.'"

Cribbs made a sensational 17-yard catch over the middle on a second-quarter touchdown drive. He also had a chance to make a big play with 4:05 remaining, but Seneca Wallace missed him on a deep throw to the right on third and 2. The Browns had to punt and never got the ball back.

"They came after me with an all-out blitz and I wanted to get the ball to Josh Cribbs," said Wallace. "I didn't make a good throw. I've got to put that ball where my receiver can catch it."

Cribbs then lined up as the upback on an apparent fake punt, but the Ravens called a timeout and the Browns ended up punting.

"I was ready," said Cribbs. "We needed [two yards]. We had our offensive line against their punt thing. They didn't stand a chance."

Cribbs loved the way the offense attacked the Ravens' vaunted defense, rushing for 173 yards, including 144 by Peyton Hillis.

"I looked in their eyes and saw fear as [Lawrence] Vickers hit them," he said. "He was knocking them around. They were scared, they were holding us, I was getting a couple penalties [drawn on the Ravens]," said Cribbs. "They [were] scared of our attack. We've just got to win it in the long run."

As for teams kicking away from him?

"They're going to slip up one of these times, and that's what I want."

Where's Mo? Mohamed Massaquoi had one chance at a reception, but the Wallace pass soared too high. He had one catch last week and just three on the season. Chansi Stuckey didn't have any thrown his way. Brian Robiskie was inactive with a pulled hamstring and Carlton Mitchell was inactive with a head injury.

"I'm fine," said Mitchell. He said he had some contact in practice but that it wasn't a concussion.

Hillis not awed: Hillis came into the game saying "we can move the ball on anybody" and backed it up.

His 144 yards rushing was the sixth-most ever against the Ravens and most since 2005. He broke a Ravens streak of 11 straight quarters without a TD surrendered and became the first Browns back to reach the 100-yard rushing plateau against them.

He also became just the fourth back to rush for more than 100 yards against the Ravens in their last 54 games and the sixth in their last 71.

"They put their pants on one leg at a time just like we do," said Hillis, who didn't gloat over his career day. "I'd trade a 20-yard game and a victory for a 150-yard game and a loss," he said.

Last season, he was overlooked by Denver coach Josh McDaniels, carrying only 20 times for 77 yards.

"I always have to believe in myself, that I can have a big game," he said. "Throughout my past, no one ever gave me much of a shot to do anything individually. But, with my faith in the Lord and what I have, I know that I can achieve anything."

A dropped opportunity: T.J. Ward could've had a pick-six on Joe Flacco's first pass, but it flicked off his hands and into Derrick Mason's for a one-yard loss.

"I just took my eyes off it, and it bounced off my fingertips and there was basically no one in front of me, so I definitely thought that was going to be a touchdown," Ward said. "I didn't focus, I took my eyes off of it, and it bounced off my hands. It was just a case of getting overexcited about the situation and not focusing on doing things one at a time."

Harrison hopeful: Jerome Harrison was inactive with his thigh injury, but hopes to be back in practice this week.

"The most frustrating thing was not being to help," he said. "All I could do was try to help the guys that were out there."

Hit by flags: Robaire Smith left the game holding his back, but said afterward he's fine. Smith drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike call against Baltimore's Michael Oher, who punched Smith after Smith shoved Todd Heap, who false-started on the play.

"That's football. It is what it is," said Smith.

Said Oher: "That's my teammate. You've got have your teammate's back."

Ben Watson was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter when he knocked down Haloti Ngata. It was one of eight Browns penalties for 60 yards.

"You can't do that," said coach Eric Mangini. "I'm tired of talking about the same things."

A key error, explained: Wallace discussed the fumbled pitch to Hillis in the fourth quarter. "That was completely my fault," he said. "That was supposed to be a handoff and I pitched the ball back. It was my mistake."

Extra points: Right tackle John St. Clair left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury and was replaced by Tony Pashos. ... The Browns did not commit a turnover for the first time since Dec. 10, 2009, a 13-6 win over Pittsburgh at home.

Experienced Indiana QB Ben Chappell will help determine if UM's maligned defense can be at least adequate against Big Ten opponents.

Carlos Osorio / Associated PressAlthough his leg injury caused some Michigan concern, Denard Robinson was walking the sidelines throughout the second half of Saturday's victory over Bowling Green while the Wolverines found a few more weapons in their offense.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Last year, Michigan's 36-33 victory over Indiana in the fourth week of the season was all that kept the Wolverines from an 0-8 record in the Big Ten.

It took a Tate Forcier touchdown pass with 2:29 to play and a Donovan Warren interception of Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell to save the win.

A year later, the Wolverines are again undefeated, as they were entering that game, and Chappell is back as Indiana's QB. After throwing 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last year, Chappell has nine touchdowns and no interceptions against three lesser opponents, with a passer rating that ranks him sixth in the nation.

Now he's getting ready to face a Michigan pass defense that ranks 105th in the country, giving up 265 yards per game. It seems like every week is a referendum on the Michigan defense, but this is certainly another one. Michigan has a 16-game winning streak against the Hoosiers dating back to 1987.

At least the Wolverines should have superhero Denard Robinson back at quarterback, with the left knee injury that knocked him out in the first quarter against Bowling Green -- the Wolverines scored 51 of their 65 points without Robinson on the field against the Falcons -- not that serious, according to coach Rich Rodriguez.

Training camp practices begin on Tuesday, with questions looming about the Cavaliers' quest to regain contender status.

Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer General manager Chris Grant and coach Byron Scott are keys in Cavaliers' attempts to regain contender status.

Cleveland -- The Cleveland Cavaliers host their media day on Monday, and on Tuesday, official practices begin for the 2010-11 season.

The Cavaliers continue to be covered by The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com/cavs. Plain Dealer Cavaliers beat writer Brian Windhorst details five key issues facing the Cavs as they begin training camp. Also, he answers readers' questions in "Hey, Brian."

Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer writes a feature story about new Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, and the Cavs (with the Browns and Indians) are featured in columnist "Terry Pluto's Talkin.' "

Building back

The offseason departure of free agent LeBron James to the Miami Heat makes the Cavaliers a team in transition mode. The team that was considered a championship contender might still battle for a playoff spot, but the focus will likely be on trying to build a legitimate title contender for the future.

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal writes that the Cavaliers have work to do in their quest to be a team that matters in the NBA (references to owner Dan Gilbert, general manager Chris Grant, guard Mo Williams, forward Antawn Jamison and former GM Danny Ferry):

How Gilbert allows Grant to approach this season could go a long way in determining how quickly the Cavaliers can rebuild. If Gilbert will just swallow hard and sacrifice this season, Grant could get what he can for players with value like Williams and Jamison, and the Cavaliers can wind up in the draft lottery. They already have the $14.5 million trade exception, acquired in the James trade with the Heat, along with the Heat's first-round pick in 2013.

That large of a trade exception, a lottery pick and perhaps another first-round pick (in a deal for Jamison) is an awfully fast way to become relevant again in the East.

Of course, Ferry was a master at spinning expiring contracts into valuable pieces the Cavaliers needed. If Grant elects to keep Jamison for the season, the Cavaliers will have his $15 million expiring contract as trade bait in 2011-12.

Nuggets like Andy?

Since Denver forward Carmelo Anthony is the latest all-star refusing to commit to his team, the Nuggets are reportedly exploring trade options. Anthony could become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

If Anthony is to be traded, it would most likely be as part of a multi-team deal. Ken Berger writes for CBSSports.com:

Some signs Sunday pointed to the revival of talks between Denver and Philadelphia with Andre Iguodala going to the Nuggets, but there was no signal from Anthony’s camp that he’d softened in his opposition to bringing his talents to South Philly.

Another player the Nuggets have targeted as a viable asset to recover in an Anthony trade, Anderson Varejao, remains a long shot for the same reason; Anthony isn’t going to Cleveland, the city that superstar LeBron James fled in July as though the Cuyahoga River were on fire.

So on the second front, the Nuggets are trying to determine whether another player within the current framework of the deal or even a fifth team would be able to further sweeten the reward for parting with the organization’s best player in two decades.

Time will heal

With training camps set to open, ESPN.com has released its power rankings. The Cavaliers are ranked near the bottom of the 30 NBA teams. The comment about the Cavs:

You know how people say that it takes half as long as the relationship itself for the heartbroken to get over that relationship? Probably not in this case. Who dares to think Clevelanders will be healed 3 1/2 years from now?

 

 

Incoming Big Ten member Nebraska can't be left out of the national championship race in the Cornhuskers' last season in the Big 12.

Dave Weaver / Associated PressNebraska's Lavonte David (4) might have enjoyed his first-half sack of South Dakota State's Tyrel Kool on Saturday, but by the end of the 17-3 victory over a Football Championship Subdivision team, the Cornhuskers were more embarrassed than exultant.

THIS WEEK'S BEST NATIONAL GAMES
1. No. 7 Florida at No. 1 Alabama, Saturday, 8, CBS: When these teams met 10 months ago, No. 2 Alabama beat No. 1 Florida. The Crimson Tide is still at that level. The Gators aren't.
2. No. 9 Stanford at No. 4 Oregon, Saturday, 8, ABC: Originally scheduled for an 11:15 p.m. Eastern start, the game was shifted because it deserves a bigger audience. Want a tossup game that could affect the national title picture? This is it.
3. No. 21 Texas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma, Saturday, 3:30, ABC/ESPN: Neither team is quite as good as people expected. The Longhorns are coming off a 22-point loss to UCLA while three of the Sooners' wins are by seven, three and two points.

THIS WEEK'S BEST BIG TEN GAMES
1. No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 24 Michigan State, Saturday, 3:30, ABC/ESPN: Through four games, we still don't know much about the Badgers, who escaped Arizona State by one point, didn't look great against UNLV and San Jose State and destroyed a lower-level FCS team.
2. No. 22 Penn State at No. 17 Iowa, Saturday, 8, ABC/ESPN: Nittany Lions running back Evan Royster rushed for 110 yards in first three games of the season, then for 187 against Temple on Saturday. Penn State needs him.
3. No. 20 Michigan at Indiana, Saturday, 3:30, ESPNU: Along with Wisconsin-Michigan State, this is one of two Big Ten games matching undefeated teams.

HEISMAN WATCH
1. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan, Soph., Odds: 5-1, at Indiana: Left Bowling Green win early with knee injury, still ran for 129 yards on five carries, still leads nation in rushing, second in total offense.
2. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State, Jr., Odds: 11-2, at Illinois: Ranks 13th in passer rating, 13th in total offensive yards and is one of 10 quarterbacks in the country with at least 10 touchdown passes.
3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, Jr., Odds: 8-1, at New Mexico State: Threw for 288 yards and accounted for four touchdowns while leading the win over Oregon State.
4. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama, Jr., Odds: 10-1, vs. Florida: Truly thought he was done after missing first two games, but it's now like he never left after punishing Arkansas for 157 yards and two TDs.
5. Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU, Jr., Odds: 25-1, vs. Tennessee: In win over West Virginia, blocked a field goal and returned his second punt of the season for a TD, then dropped a Heisman pose as Baton Rouge hyperventilated.
6. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn, Jr., Odds: 35-1, vs. Louisiana-Monroe: The Terrelle Pryor of the South is leading a 4-0 team while throwing nine touchdowns, running for five and averaging 292 yards in total offense.
7. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas, Jr., Odds: 50-1, Off: Put up big numbers, throwing for 357 yards, but made bigger mistakes, three killer interceptions, while missing the chance to knock off Alabama.
Dropped out: Stanford QB Andrew Luck (4); Washington QB Jake Locker (7)

DOUG’S TOP 25
1. Ohio State; 2. Alabama; 3. Boise State; 4. Stanford; 5. TCU; 6. Oregon; 7. Arizona; 8. Nebraska; 9. Auburn; 10. Florida; 11. LSU; 12. Miami; 13. Oklahoma; 14. Utah; 15. Arkansas; 16. Wisconsin; 17. South Carolina; 18. Iowa; 19. Michigan; 20. Michigan State; 21. North Carolina State; 22. Penn State; 23. Nevada; 24. USC; 25. Kansas State
Explaining my ballot
• Ohio State received just four first-place votes in the two polls, two in the coaches poll and two in the AP poll. I'm one of those voters, because the Buckeyes' easier win over Miami remains a more impressive win to me than Alabama's comeback win over Arkansas. And as we saw with Penn State's struggles with Temple, beating the Nittany Lions shouldn't carry too much weight for the Crimson Tide. But Alabama gets No. 7 Florida this week while Ohio State visits Illinois, so another quality win on the resume for Alabama and Ohio State's win over Miami probably won't be enough anymore.
• To me, there's a big gap between Ohio State and Alabama, who both own a very impressive win and have dominated their other games. No other teams have such complete resumes.
• Boise State moved up from seventh to third because Oregon State was a quality win. The Broncos had a little easier time with Oregon State than TCU did in beating the Beavers earlier in the year.
• I have Stanford ranked No. 4, higher than anyone in the country. Stanford hasn't played great teams, but they have controlled every game against BCS schools UCLA, Wake Forest and Notre Dame and haven't thrown in a clunker game, which some other undefeated teams like Arizona and Nebraska did this week.
-- Doug Lesmerises

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After Nebraska slipped past the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 17-3, on Saturday, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini told reporters "tonight we were a bad football team."

That might make this an odd time to talk about Nebraska as a national championship contender. But when Ohio State visits Nebraska on Oct. 8, 2011, as part of the Cornhuskers' first season in the Big Ten, there's a chance it won't be the teams' first meeting since 1956. It could be their second meeting in a year.

Any of the 25 teams currently without a loss are still in the national championship race, though only Alabama and Ohio State control their own destinies. If the No. 1 Crimson Tide and No. 2 Buckeyes win out, no team will pass them.

Alabama earned 57 of 59 first-place votes in the latest coaches' poll and 57 of 60 in the AP poll. Ohio State was almost as locked in at No. 2 as Alabama was at No. 1.

The coaches' poll doesn't reveal individual ballots, but we can tell by the points that Ohio State, along with two first-place votes, got something like 51 second-place votes and six third-places votes. In the AP poll, where ballots are revealed, Ohio State had two firsts and was ranked ahead of Boise State on 52 of 60 ballots.

The No. 3 Broncos, despite a solid win over Oregon State that moved them up a bit, are a long way back. With the schedule they have remaining, and knowing the voting patterns -- whether you agree with them or not -- Boise State won't be making up that distance.

But as Alabama's close call in the Crimson Tide's 4-point comeback win over Arkansas proved, what really matters is which team is ready to step in if either the Buckeyes or Crimson Tide stumble.

Enter Nebraska.

The Pac-10 looks to have a couple legitimate teams -- take a step back Lane Kiffin, it's not USC -- in Oregon and Stanford. So their showdown on Saturday night has early national title implications.

Florida doesn't look like Florida so far, so even if the Gators take down Alabama on Saturday, you wonder if they can make it through the rest of the SEC without a loss.

TCU was my preseason pick to play Ohio State for the national title, and with games remaining against Air Force and Utah, it's not impossible for undefeated TCU to finish ahead of undefeated Boise State in the BCS rankings.

But, again, enter Nebraska.

Texas and Oklahoma, the teams that have controlled the Big 12 in recent years, meet each other on Saturday, but that game isn't what it has been. The Longhorns are lacking on offense and stumbling off a 22-point loss to UCLA. Oklahoma, a trendy preseason title contender, has escaped with tight wins against Utah State, Air Force and Cincinnati.

Five of the last seven national championship games have included either the Sooners or the Longhorns, but the best team in the Big 12 this season, with the best chance at making it to Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 10, is Big Ten member-in-waiting Nebraska.

Despite Pelini's frustrations with his team's struggles against an FCS team on Saturday, the Cornhuskers have a quarterback they think they can win with in freshman Taylor Martinez. Despite the loss of graduated defensive line superstar Ndamukong Suh, they have a defense they can trust. And they have a schedule they can manage.

No. 21 Texas, which would become unranked Texas with a loss to the Sooners, is the only current top-25 team among Nebraska's eight remaining regular-season games. Undefeated Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M could offer various degrees of difficulty.

But a 12-0 Nebraska team isn't a stretch. Neither is a Pac-10 or an SEC where no one escapes unscathed. If the Buckeyes win out, that could leave the Cornhuskers battling TCU and Boise State for the right to face Ohio State in the BCS National Championship, but Nebraska would have an ace in the hole: What may be the last Big 12 title game.

A team from the Big 12 North hasn't won the conference's title game since Kansas State upset No. 1 Oklahoma in 2003. The North has had the higher-ranked team just once in the last decade, and in that 2007 game No. 1 Missouri lost to Oklahoma. But when the Big 12 was formed, it belonged to Nebraska, and it may be time for the North to rise again in Nebraska's farewell.

Beating Oklahoma or Texas on that Big 12 title stage, as TCU and Boise State watched from home, could lift even a No. 4 Nebraska up to No. 2. And then Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany would spontaneously combust from pure elation.

Ohio State at Nebraska in a little over a year should be a great one. Meeting in Arizona wouldn't be a bad warmup.

"I'm firmly in the 'Masterson is a starter' camp and no longer even get how this is a debate. In his first year as a starting pitcher, he steadily improved over the year until, in the latter half of the year, he'd have been good enough to start on almost any team in baseball." - sjtribefan

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerAfter a slow start, Justin Masterson showed promise as a starter for the Indians this season.

In response to the story Is Justin Masterson a starter (or even an Indian) in 2011? Hey, Hoynsie!, cleveland.com reader sjtribefan sees Masterson as a starter for sure. This reader writes,

"I'm firmly in the 'Masterson is a starter' camp and no longer even get how this is a debate. In his first year as a starting pitcher, he steadily improved over the year until, in the latter half of the year, he'd be good enough to start on almost any team in baseball."

"I think this team is going to surprise a lot of people. The thing that scares me is that they are probably going to be around that 8th seed, give or take a spot. That is the bad part of it, because when you finish in that area, rebuilding is made very difficult." - clevelandka

View full sizeScott Shaw | The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers may have just enough talent to sneak into the playoffs.

In response to the story Five key issues as the Cleveland Cavaliers open training camp, cleveland.com reader clevelandka thinks the Cavs are going to be just good enough to make rebuilding difficult. This reader writes,

"I think this team is going to surprise a lot of people. The thing that scares me is that they are probably going to be around that 8th seed, give or take a spot. That is the bad part of it, because when you finish in that area, rebuilding is made very difficult."

"Yeah, keep telling yourselves its all right because Eastern Michigan got $850,000 to be the cupcake, but ask yourselves this question: Is this a good system for everyone, or just the top 35 programs in the nation? Who benefits, really, in the long run? Its worse than Major League Baseball. But yeah, go Buckeyes!" - alaker

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerOhio State had plenty of fun in their romp over Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

In response to the story Ohio State goes for the style points -- and gets them -- in dismantling of EMU: Bill Livingston, cleveland.com reader alaker thinks the disparities between the haves and have-nots is troubling. This reader writes,

"Yeah, keep telling yourselves its all right because Eastern Michigan got $850,000 to be the cupcake, but ask yourselves this question: Is this a good system for everyone, or just the top 35 programs in the nation? Who benefits, really, in the long run? Its worse than Major League Baseball. But yeah, go Buckeyes!"

PD's Dennis Manoloff says three other plays - none involving Wright - set the Browns back in a game they could have won.

Peyton Hillis had a big day against the Ravens, but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't win, says The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff.

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 Chuck Yarborough and Bill Lubinger.

Let's go to the highlights:

• The Browns put up a fight in Baltimore on Sunday before losing. While the team is 0-3, they did come away with some positives from the loss. Which part of the game was the best news for the Browns? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

• Today's guest, Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff- who will post his "Upon Further Review" feature later today - broke down the telecast of the game last night and says there are no positives he takes from it. As Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said, a win is a win and a loss is a loss.

Manoloff adds that while Eric Wright blamed himself for having a bad game, the Browns made three plays - none of which involved Wright - that made a difference and are not getting much attention.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot as the guest. And don't forget to play our new You Pick the Winners Contest where you can outpick Chuck and Branson Wright each week and earn an appearance on SBTV and a chance at a $250 gift card.

LeBron James turns frugal and apparently wants to buy a $7.65 million house in Florida, not the $50 million swankienda he first considered.

View full sizeAl Diaz,
Miami HeraldLeBron James, right, reportedly is in negotiating for a place to move his stuff now that he's taken his talents to South Beach. As if you didn't know, this is him with new Miami Heat teammates, from left, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Hoops superstar LeBron James, the Miami Heat’s new golden child, has a contract to buy a villa in an ultra-exclusive Coconut Grove enclave named after the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, Page2Live has learned.

“It’s not officially done (the deed transfer) just yet, but he has a definite interest in it,” said Miami realtor Peggy Brin. She had the Hughes Cove listing, but the place has been off-the-market for months.

... It’s a lot more modest than the $50 million pad that James is believed to have looked at a week after his arrival in July, but Lipman’s house is described as 10,000-square-feet of luxury in a private community of just 15 homes.

The crib has three floors and, of course, an elevator, exotic wood and stone finishes, hurricane windows and a gourmet kitchen. When it comes to gadgets, it appears to be tricked out to the max with a touch-screen Creston automation system that remotely adjusts lights, temperature, drapes, televisions and radios throughout the house.

James' decision to sign a six-year contract with the Miami Heat for a rumored $110 million was announced on national television. He could have signed for more with the Cavs, for whom he played for seven years, but chose less money to team with fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for a win-now run attempt to garner multiple NBA titles.

So it's good to see the young man making wise decisions, like choosing the $7.65 million "modest" villa over the $50 million swankienda.

Indians move two up on Royals in race to avoid the AL Central cellar.

View full sizeChuck Crow,
The Plain DealerShelley Duncan watches his three-run homer, which set the stage for Michael Brantley's game-winning double against Kansas City at Progressive Field Sunday.

But let's talk Sunday's game. Or rather, let Bob Dutton, the Royals beat writer from the Kansas City Star, talk the game, won 5-3 by the Tribe courtesy of a three-run Shelley Duncan homer and a two-run Michael Brantley double.

CLEVELAND -- If this is the game that, ultimately, condemns the Royals to another last-place finish, say this much: They earned it.

Fiascos don’t come much bigger than this.

The Royals threw away a three-run lead in the eighth inning Sunday afternoon when the Cleveland Indians rallied against Robinson Tejeda for a 5-3 victory at Progressive Field.

“I really don’t understand what happened,” said Tejeda, who had allowed just seven earned runs in his previous 48 2/3 innings over 40 appearances.

“Everything happened so quickly. I felt like I made the right pitches. I broke three bats. There was a short fly ball to left. It’s not like I was all over the place (with his command).”

No, but the ball was, which is why at least today, the Indians can pump their fingers in the air and holler, "We're No. 4!"

Big hitter
In the past nine games, an Indian is hitting .321, with four doubles, one RBI and scored three times. Who is this guy chronicled in a story by the Akron Beacon-Journal's Sheldon Ocker and why hasn't he been playing all along?

Well, actually he has. And even with these recent "heroics," Luis Valbuena is hitting only .192.

In Sunday's 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals, Valbuena's eighth-inning hit with Andy Marte on first might have snapped a 3-3 tie, but the ball bounced into the crowd and Marte had to stop at third on the ground-rule double.

''Luis can't seem to get anything right,'' Indians manager Manny Acta said. ''His double should have been the game-winner, but it went into the stands.''

Valbuena's backside probably would have been nailed to the bench long ago if not for the release of Mark Grudzielanek early in the season and injuries to Asdrubal Cabrera — which kept Cabrera out of the lineup for a couple of months — and Jason Donald, who hasn't played for two weeks.

But Acta was forced to use Valbuena not only at second but also at third, which is an unfamiliar position for him. Maybe that's a good thing.

Valbuena is only 24 and batted .250 with 10 home runs in 368 at-bats last year. Consequently, the Tribe might be reluctant to give up on him too quickly.

Maybe. He has hit better since he was sent to Class AAA Columbus for a 25-game stretch at the end of June and beginning of July. But even elevating his average to that lofty .250 from a year ago isn't going to make him much more than a utility infielder. Fortunately, as Ocker reports, the Tribe has a couple of prospects -- Jason Kipnis and Cord Phelps -- in the minors who likely will compete for a job in The Show next season.

And so it goes
The Detroit Tigers help the Indians close out their home season with a three-game series that begins tonight. And if there's anything the Tribe didn't need, it's what the Tigers are bringing to Progressive Field, according to an mlive.com preview of the series.

It's big stuff in Venezuela, with native sons Armando Galarraga pitching against Carlos Carrasco of the Indians on Monday night. Galarraga made big headlines with his imperfect game this year. Carrasco, who has fewer career appearances (11) than his age (23), has a 3.03 ERA in five outings this year. The Tigers are finishing this season like they wish they had played it all year. They are on an 8-1 streak, with 67 runs in nine games.

The Royals may have a chance to avoid the basement bedroom after all.

From The Plain Dealer
Writer Dennis Manoloff chronicles the late-inning heroics of Michael Brantley, recuperating from a sore hamstring, coming in for an eighth-inning pinch-hit double to key the win over the Royals.

Dman also used his Indians Insider column to talk to Vinnie Pestano, who recorded his first big-league save with a scoreless ninth in the win over the Royals.

Is this team progressing? Is there a real interest from the Browns in Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb? Tony Grossi tackled those questions and more in his weekly chat

Chat live with Tony Grossi every Monday at noon.

Is this team progressing? Is there a real interest from the Browns in Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb?

Tony Grossi tackled those questions and more in his weekly chat today on cleveland.com.

Among the other topics discussed:

- Will Peyton Hillis' performance earn him more carries going forward?

- What could have or should have been done about Eric Wright on Sunday?

- Would Jake Delhomme have made a difference?

- Looking back, would the Browns have been better off taking Mark Sanchez with last season's No. 5 pick?