Watch the Ohio State quarterbacks, and most of the rest of the Buckeyes, hang out at Ohio Stadium. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- So it wasn't a competition. It was throwing.

At Ohio State's Friday Night Lights recruiting event at Ohio Stadium, nearly every current Buckeye was hanging around to watch the high school prospects in action.

That included quarterbacks Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett and one-time quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller. All of them tossed a football around, as you can see in the videos. Miller also spent a lot of time talking to former NFL star Keyshaun Johnson, whose son, Keyshaun Jr., attended the event as a recruit. Johnson is also the uncle of of current Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas. Former Buckeyes like Troy Smith, Christian Bryant and Jake Ballard were there, too.

And they just ... hung out.

They wrestled. They took freshman quarterback Joe Burrow's shoe. And they served as a reminder to the potential future Buckeyes on hand what the 2015 Buckeyes will be like.

Check out a collection of images, videos and reaction from Friday at cleveland.com's high school football media days.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Day 3 of cleveland.com's High School Football Media Days featured players and coaches from 22 schools including St. Ignatius, Midview and North Royalton. Representatives from the teams participated in photo sessions, interviews and interactive games hosted by cleveland.com's high school sports staff. 

The day started with Coventry's Bryce Hargrove verbally committing to Pittsburgh live from cleveland.com's studios.

The final three days of media days will resume on Tuesday. Check back for more coverage of Tuesday's media days session and follow along with our live coverage.

The Indians have been outscored, 14-1, in losing the first two of a four-game series to the White Sox.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lefty Jose Quintana allowed seven hits in a complete game and Jose Abreu homered as the Chicago White defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-0, Friday night at Progressive Field. Quintana notched his first career complete game and shutout.

Here is a capsule look at the game. No DVR review was necessary.

#zombiebaseball: The Indians have been outscored, 14-1, in losing the first two of the four-game series. And they face fantastic lefty Chris Sale next.

No comfort: The Tribe slipped to 19-28 at home.

Harsh reality: The Indians have the same number of losses, 50, as the White Sox. The Indians lead in victories, 45-44.

Hard to believe, but true: The Tribe fell to 6-15 in games started by Kluber. 

The Q Route: Quintana walked none and struck out eight. He threw 120 pitches. He improved to 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA in six career games (five starts) at Progressive Field.

Quintana (5-9, 3.56 ERA) benefitted from terrific defense by shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

Kluber dinged: Tribe righty Corey Kluber allowed six runs on eight hits in seven-plus innings. He walked two and struck out seven.

Kluber (5-11, 3.59) pitched much better than his line, which included two runners scoring after he exited. And the Tribe bats once again failed to support him. But he still gave up the six runs in seven-plus innings one night after teammate Trevor Bauer allowed six in six-plus innings against the American League's lowest-scoring team.

Here is the final pitch of each at-bat against Kluber:   

FIRST INNING

(L) Adam Eaton -- fastball, fly to right (0-0 fastball).

(R) Tyler Saladino -- swinging strikeout (2-2 cutter outside corner).

(L) Melky Cabrera -- grounder to second (0-0 fastball). Kluber with seven-pitch inning.

SECOND INNING

(R) Jose Abreu -- fly to right-center (2-1 cutter off outside corner). Sequence:

fastball up, fastball foul, fastball inside, cutter.

(L) Adam LaRoche -- swinging strikeout (1-2 changeup).

(R) Avisail Garcia -- called strikeout (2-2 cutter outside corner). Eight-pitch AB.

THIRD INNING

(R) Alexei Ramirez -- single to left (0-0 cutter).

(R) Tyler Flowers -- Alexeeeeeei steals second when second baseman Jason Kipnis fails to catch low throw from catcher Yan Gomes.

grounder to short (1-2 curve; Alexeeeeei to third.)

(L) Carlos Sanchez -- Alexeeeei scores on wild pitch down and in.

walk (3-1 fastball outside).

(L) Alex Eaton -- called strikeout (0-2 curve outside corner). Eaton, who took previous two pitches for strikes, disagreed.

(R) Tyler Saladino -- called strikeout (1-2 cutter). Saladino disagreed. Kluber with 41 pitches through three.

FOURTH INNING

(L) Melky Cabrera -- double to left (2-2 cutter outside corner).

(R) Jose Abreu -- grounder to third (1-0 fastball).

(L) Adam LaRoche -- single to shallow right (1-0 fastball). Kipnis knocked it down.

(R) Avisail Garcia -- liner to second (0-0 fastball).

(R) Alexei Ramirez -- pop to second (1-2 curve inside).

FIFTH INNING

(R) Tyler Flowers -- grounder to third (1-1 fastball).

(L) Carlos Sanchez -- pop to left (0-2 curve).

(L) Adam Eaton -- pop to second (1-0 changeup). Kluber with nine-pitch inning.

SIXTH INNING

(R) Tyler Saladino -- pop to second (1-2 curve).

(L) Melky Cabrera -- fly to left (2-2 curve).

(R) Jose Abreu -- homer to left-center (0-0 fastball). Abreu's third career homer off Kluber.

(L) Adam LaRoche -- fly to center (1-1 fastball).

SEVENTH INNING

(R) Avisail Garcia -- called strikeout (1-2 curve).

(R) Alexeeeeei Ramirez -- bloop single to right (1-0 fastball).

(R) Tyler Flowers -- pop to short (0-0 cutter).

(L) Carlos Sanchez -- Alexeeeei steals second.

called strikeout (1-2 comeback fastball).

EIGHTH INNING

(L) Adam Eaton -- single to left (3-2 fastball).

Eaton steals second.

(R) Tyler Saladino -- single to left (1-2 breaking pitch). Eaton to third.

(L) Melky Cabrera -- two-run double (0-2 curve off inside corner).

(R) Jose Abreu -- intentional walk (3-0 pitch).

(Marc Rzepczynski relieves Kluber.)

Delaware driver Montell Teague scored on Friday night in Ohio Sires Stakes action with two-year-old pacer Trayvon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Driver Montell Teague of Harrington, Delaware scored on Friday night in Ohio Sires Stakes action with two-year-old pacer Trayvon. The young reinsman's biggest challenge here will come Aug. 14 when he returns with Wiggle It Jiggleit, one of the powerhouse pacers in the track's premier $400,000 Milstein Pace.

Wiggle it Jiggleit has 14 wins in 15 starts this season, and tops the U.S. Trotting Association nationwide poll of top horses this week.

Trayvon is a bay colt owned by Teague's aunt, Brenda Teague of Houston, Delaware. Trayvon was sired by I'm Gorgeous, who finished second to Rock N Roll Heaven in the Little Brown Jug in 2010 in record time for Teague's father, George Teague Jr., who owns Wiggle It Jiggle It.

The strong favorite in Friday's third race, the first of five $40,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacers, Trayvon ($2.80) won the first race of his career by a three-length margin with a torrid 1:56 mile. Standing Proud was second, and Rocknroll Wildcats third.

Trainer Scott Cox sent out two winners in the first pair of $40,000 trotting divisions for the two-year-olds, notching victories with War College ($8.20) in the first race and Were Gone ($5.40) in the second race on the 16-race card.

War College trotted a 2:00.4 mile with Sam Schillaci in the sulky, a length victory over favored Lionback Kidd for his first career victory. Caviar Cruiser was third. Were Gone needed a hot stretch drive for his first win for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. by a 3/4-length margin over Lone Valley Sam and D Count.

Trotter MJB Got Faith ($6.40) and driver Peter Wrenn took advantage of favored Chips So Fast going off stride early in the fifth race for his second win of the season in 2:01.3. Mainstreet Party was four lengths behind in second, followed by Mickey Moose.

The pacers returned in the eighth race, with 2-1 favorite Friskie Cruiser ($6) notching his second Ohio Sires Stakes win for driver Chris Page and trainer Brian Brown. It was a 11/4-length victory over Winna Winna and Rockys World. In the ninth race, a OSS freshman trot, Overdress ($5) was a half-length winner for driver Kurt Sugg and trainer Marty Wollam in 2:00.0, with Triumphant 's Chip second and Hello Pilgrim third.

The freshman pacers returned for the 11^th and 12^th races on the card, won by Docdor Friskie ($7.40) and Primo Giovanni ($3). Peter Wrenn drove Docdor Friskie to his first win ever by three lengths in 1:54.3 over Smoke Up Johnny and Feeling Lucky. Primo Giovanni posted his second straight win in 1:55.2 with Chris Page at the reins. Gotmoneyinmypocket was second and Onefinejimmerjohn third.

The Indians dropped their second straight to the White Sox, 6-0, on Friday. Jose Quintana stymied the Tribe lineup and Corey Kluber shouldered another loss. Here is what Kluber and manager Terry Francona had to say after the defeat.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians dropped their second straight to the White Sox, 6-0, on Friday. Jose Quintana stymied the Tribe lineup and Corey Kluber shouldered another loss. Here is what Kluber and manager Terry Francona had to say after the defeat.

Kluber, on how he assessed his performance:

"It was pretty good for the first seven and then in the eighth Eaton got on and I kind of let the situation of the game probably get the best of me. I started pitching around, let them score another run instead of just going pitch-to-pitch and sticking with what works. I guess I kind of got ahead of myself, would be the right way to put it."

Francona, on whether Kluber's effort matched what the box score indicates (seven innings, six runs, eight hits):

"Yeah, that's a shame. He goes into the eighth giving up two (runs) and gives up two more and we get him and we're trying to hold it there and it's a shame because he sure pitched a heck of a lot better than that."

Kluber, on how it feels to have numbers that don't necessarily match up to how he has pitched:

"I don't know, I haven't really thought about it that way. Honestly I don't even know what my statistics are. I honestly just try to go from start-to-start, whether it's a good or bad result I just try to move on to the next one so, obviously this one wasn't good so I'll just try to get ready for the next one."

Francona, on what Quintana did to quell the Tribe offense:

"Early on we had some hits and we had a couple opportunities and we didn't do anything with them and it looked like once he got comfortable then he threw strike one with his fastball very well and then he kind of angled or cut it in on righties and getting past our barrels and throwing his off-speed for strikes. he just got real comfortable out there."

Francona, on the crowd's ovation as Kluber walked off the field in the eighth:

"I'm glad. He gives you everything he has and he deserved better than that line."

Kluber, on the crowd's ovation:

"I didn't notice that. I was frustrated more than anything at that point, I wasn't really paying attention to how the fans reacted to it."

Francona, on whether he has to talk to Kluber to reinforce that his record (5-11) isn't in his control, given the lack of run support he has received:

"I hope he knows that. I think he does. I talk to the guys every day, but I think he knows."

Kluber, on whether the players think how they play over the next week might influence the front office's decisions as the trade deadline approaches:

"I think those are things that are probably out of our control. I think all we can really do is go out there and try to win every night and do the best we can. Trades or that type of thing, if you worry about that or play because of that it probably becomes a distraction. The best thing we can do is treat each day as its own day and try to go out there and win that game. As soon as one is over, move on to the next one whether it's good or bat."

Kluber, on whether he believes the team can salvage the season:

"Nobody's been eliminated from anything yet. We've got everything to play for as we did at the beginning of the season still."

Though it seemed as if LeCounte committed to Ohio State, he said on Twitter that he didn't. But what does that actually mean for the Buckeyes and the four-star talent who used to be high school teammates with Buckeyes linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Standing outside the east side of Ohio Stadium following Ohio State's Friday Night Lights camp, four-star Pennsylvania cornerback Lamont Wade told reporters an interesting tidbit. 

Wade said that four-star athlete Richard LeCounte of Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County, a former high school teammate of Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan, committed to the Buckeyes. 

Then Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott tweeted to LeCounte welcoming him to the family. It was all adding up -- the Buckeyes had secured one of the most explosive athletes in the country. 

Then LeCounte hit the internet to refute all of it, claiming that he was simply enjoying his time at Ohio State and hadn't made any official decision regarding his recruitment. 

Great Time At FNL No Commitment though , just enjoying everything

-- Richard LeCounte (@LilEasy_35) July 25, 2015

You can probably read between the lines. There's a good chance that the 5-foot-11, 174-pound athlete actually did commit to Ohio State, but plans to keep it under wraps as he carries out the remainder of his recruiting process. 

That kind of thing happens all the time. Take four-star tight end Luke Farrell of Perry, Ohio for example. He committed to the Buckeyes publicly before Friday Night Lights, but he said after the camp that he'd been pledged to Urban Meyer for about a month. 

Ohio State, regardless, has to be happy with its positioning in LeCount's recruitment. Because it's a competitive one. He's really good.

@LilEasy_35 (Richard Lecounte) with a catch then acrobatics: pic.twitter.com/gm0hNqwkZX

-- Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) July 25, 2015

Rated the No. 3 athlete in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, LeCounte is also heavily considering Clemson, Florida State, Georgia and Miami (Fla.). 

According to 247Sports' "Crystal Ball" -- a tool that polls recruiting experts to project a prospect's potential college destination -- Georgia is the favorite. The Bulldogs got 53 percent of the 17 predictions. Ohio State is second with 47 percent. 

But the Buckeyes have been hot on his trail since his freshman year. Ohio State fell in love with McMillan a few years ago, stumbled on LeCounte and have been recruiting him heavily ever since. 

So don't count LeCounte as a Buckeye yet. 

But after Friday, Ohio State is definitely the favorite. 

Olympic champion gymnast Shawn Johnson threw out a ceremonial first ball at Wrigley Field — and wound up with quite a catch.

CHICAGO -- Olympic champion gymnast Shawn Johnson threw out a ceremonial first ball at Wrigley Field -- and wound up with quite a catch.

Johnson was walking off the field Friday before the Chicago Cubs hosted Philadelphia when she was surprised by longtime boyfriend Andrew East, a rookie long snapper for the Kansas City Chiefs.

East dropped to one knee near home plate and presented the 2008 gold medalist with a diamond engagement ring. A stunned Johnson put her hands over her mouth, bobbed her head up and down, then jumped into his arms.

Later, she put her feelings onto her Twitter feed.

"Today the love of my life asked me to be his forever.AND I SAID YES!" she posted.

Today the love of my life asked me to be his forever... AND I SAID YES!! #isaidyes #weregettingmarried #wrigleyfield pic.twitter.com/20zRXD1WWB

-- Shawn Johnson (@ShawnJohnson) July 24, 2015

The 23-year-old Johnson won the balance beam title at the Beijing Olympics. The next year, she won the title on ABC-TV's "Dancing with the Stars."

Urban Meyer locked up his kicker of the future on Friday. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Blake Haubeil stood at the 45-yard line looking into the north end zone of Ohio Stadium.

He was surrounded by a gang of Buckeyes, a group that included Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner, and just behind them was the entire collection of campers at Ohio State's Friday Night Lights camp.

While the campers got a speech from Luke Fickell, Haubeil was trying to bang 55-yard field goals with Meyer in his ear. Haubeil missed a couple, getting a smattering of applause from the few hundred fans in attendance just for the effort. Then he nailed one, and Meyer threw his hands in the air.

Meyer likes kickers. Special teams are kind of his thing. He locked up his kicker of the future on Friday.

Haubeil, a 2017 prospect from Buffalo, N.Y., committed to Ohio State after Friday's camp. Haubeil is the third-ranked kicker in the Class of 2017 according to kohlskicking.com, a site that keeps track of kickers, punters and long snappers. He made the announcement on Twitter.

Honored, blessed, and proud to announce that I have committed to play football for The Ohio State Buckeyes!!! pic.twitter.com/zFwHsH8oxm

-- Blake Haubeil (@BlakeHaubeil) July 25, 2015

He was the second commitment of the night for Ohio State. Perry tight end Luke Farrell announced his commitment to the 2016 class just before Friday Night Lights started.

With Haubeil's commitment, Ohio State has its specialist situation set up for the next few years. Three-star punter Drue Chrisman, who was also at Friday Night Lights, is committed for the 2016 class as the successor to Cameron Johnston. Long snapper Liam McCullough came in as part of the 2015 class.

The Buckeyes have sophomore kicker Sean Nuernberger for the next three years, which means Haubeil would be a sophomore when he takes over the kicking duties.

Haubeil is the ninth commit in Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class, which is ranked No. 1 in the country by 247Sports.

Would the Indians trade Carlos Santana? Perhaps, but the asking price would be high.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie.

Hey, Hoynsie: Will Carlos Santana be one of the players the Indians try to trade at the deadline? What do you think his trade value is? - John Eckhardt, Rochester, N.Y.

Hey, John: Indians GM Chris Antonetti has been asked about several of his players by other teams. I'm sure Santana has been one of them and that they'd consider trading him in the right deal.

Santana isn't having a good year. He's started to hit lately, but in the first half he was a disappointment.

Still, in a game screaming for offense, he's a 29-year-old switch hitter with a track record of power so his trade value is high. He's also signed through 2016 with a club option for 2017.

That makes him attractive as well.

@hoynsie Hey Hoynsie, we need a bat bad, how about Chris Davis from the Orioles? Mitch in Avon, OH

-- Mitch Mann (@mitchdamann) July 24, 2015

Hey, Mitch: The last time I checked Baltimore was closer to the postseason than the Indians. I don't know why they'd make that trade.

Hey, Hoynsie: Creative tension between John Hart and Mike Hargrove was one of the reasons for the great run in the 1990s and it was lost when then GM Mark Shapiro fired manager Charlie Manuel. Is there anyone in the current front office/coaching staff that presents an alternative perspective? - Steve Cornelius, Rocky River.

Hey, Steve: Let's not rewrite history. The main reason for the success of the 1990s had to do with guys named Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Sandy Alomar, Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel, Carlos Baerga, Jose Mesa, Orel Hershiser, Dennis Martinez etc. Hart and Hargrove didn't always agree, but they certainly were able to put a lot of talent on the field at the same time.

As for Shapiro firing Manuel, you've got it wrong. Manuel fired himself. Creative differences had nothing to do with it. He wanted to know if he'd be back after the 2002 season and Shapiro wasn't ready to tell him. Manuel forced the issue at the All-Star break and lost his job.

Manuel bounced back and won a World Series with the Phillies. He did more than OK.

The current administration does not invite me to their staff meetings. Admittedly, the environment is cozy with manager Terry Francona's contract tied to the employment of GM Chris Antonetti and Shapiro, but I can't believe you can put 10 to 20 baseball people in the same room and not have a difference of opinion over something.

@hoynsie is there any chance of Moss playing some 3rd to increase Murphy over Urshela at-bats against righties? -Sean, Columbus

-- Sean Michael (@DaSean517) July 24, 2015

Hey, Sean: Brandon Moss hasn't played third all year. In his career, he's played third twice in the big leagues. I think we have our answer.

Hey, Hoynsie: What is the correlation between the Indians home record and attendance at home games? Obviously, winning will draw more fans, but the Indians have played much better o the road.  Is home field advantage only an advantage if you have a crowd to make some noise? -- Dan Glaser, North Royalton.

Hey, Dan: I've always felt it's easier for team to play at home than it is on the road regardless of how many people are in the stands. A player's routine is more stable, you're not living out of a suitcase shuttling back and forth between the ballpark and hotel.

The home and road record of certain teams is always quirky, but there's one thing that isn't. If a team is going to reach the postseason, it has to have a winning record at home.

The Indians went into the weekend with the second worst home record in the AL at 19-26 and second lowest attendance in the big leagues.

@hoynsie Any reason to think that the new ballpark configuration (RF) is having an effect on the offense? - Carl, Hudson, OH

-- BangerMasher (@BangerMasher) July 24, 2015

Hey, Carl: I've heard at least one Tribe player say the 19-foot wall in left field is one of the problems. But no one has said anything about the revamped right field corner.

It's funny, I never heard Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez or Jim Thome say anything about 19-foot wall. 

Hey, Hoynsie: As the Indians reach epic levels of offensive futility is it time to move Jason Kipnis down in the order? He seems to be unfazed by hitting in different spots in the order. The Indians could bring up Tyler Holt, a decent contact guy, to bat second and play center field. - Carl Mizda, Stow.

Hey, Carl: You didn't say who would replace Kipnis in the leadoff spot. I'm guessing you'd probably go with Francisco Lindor. I think there is enough pressure on Lindor already with him hitting No.2.

In his career, Kipnis has spent the most time in the No.3 spot. Does that mean you'd drop Michael Brantley to No.4? You see where I'm going with this? You'd take you're two most productive spots in the lineup and change the players who were hitting there.

I think Kipnis can hit anywhere in the lineup. Brantley has already shown he can. I just don't know if you've got a replacement for Kipnis in the leadoff spot.

@hoynsie some argue that the 90s Tribe was successful b/c we gave the farm a chance, while today we're not doing so. Thoughts? Aj N.canton

-- A.J. Rojek (@DJAJwrmu) July 24, 2015

Hey, A.J. -- This farm system hasn't produced hitters such as Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Brian Giles and Richie Sexson to be sure. But those teams were also loaded with high-quality free agents.

A team needs to acquire players from all available avenues to win.

Hey, Hoynsie: There is no answer to how the Indians can avoid paying Nick Swisher Swisher $15 million and Michael Bourn $14 million next year, right? Please put into context how bad these free agent signings were in 2013 - Douglas Simek, Concord.

Hey, Douglas: I thought they were good deals when they happened just before the 2013 season. Every big league club was getting a big influx of national TV money in 2014. This was the Indians way of getting a jump on the competition because they knew that with everything being equal in 2014, based on where their payroll started, they weren't going to be able to sign top-shelf free agents.

They were also coming off a 68-94 season in 2012 and had to do something to stir interest.

Swisher and Bourn had been consistent and productive players before they signed with the Indians. Unfortunately, the deals couldn't have turned out worse.

@hoynsie What is the story on Jerry Sands at Columbus. Bruce Hoffman, Stow Ohio

-- Bruce Hoffman (@bruceumpire) July 24, 2015

Hey, Bruce: He's hitting .271 (55-for-203) with 14 homers and 43 RBI at Class AAA Columbus. He's had two tours with the Tribe, hitting .375 (9-for-24) with one homer and six RBI.

Sands isn't on the 40-man roster and the Indians would have to maneuver players to bring him back to the big leagues. They could also wait until September when the rosters expand.

Hey, Hoynsie: How much blame does Paul Dolan put on Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti for the signing of Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher? I know fans clamored for a big free agent deal, but they couldn't have missed anymore than they did with these two. Even if it means manager Terry Francona leaves with them, isn't it time for a new front office? - Bruce Hrvatin, Richfield.

Hey, Bruce: I'm not sure how much Dolan holds Shapiro and Antonetti accountable. I do know he had to approve both deals. Dolan could certainly make changes in the front office if he wants to, but no matter who is running the baseball operations, the outcome is going to be the same.

A general manager, under this ownership, can turn only so much water into wine before he runs out of miracles. An under-financed team cannot win consistently in the big leagues. Ownership has to have enough money, and enough confidence in the people making the baseball decisions, to move past signings such as Swisher and Bourn and continue to try and improve.

@hoynsie When are we going to stop living in the glory of the 90's and start living in the now? - FB Pizza Chagrin Falls

-- F.B. Pizza (@Cle_JunkYardDog) July 24, 2015

Hey, F.B.: I'm all for it. In fact I'm living in the now right now. Unfortunately, so are the Indians.

Hey, Hoynsie: It is nice to see the starting pitching doing its job to consistently give the Indians a chance to win. Unfortunately, the Indians cannot come from behind with pitching. Do you see them dealing one of their five starters in order to get a big bat in return? - Shawn Marshall, Garfield Heights.

Hey, Shawn: There's a demand for starting pitching as the July 31^st deadline approaches. The Indians have good starting pitching that is under control so they've been talking to a lot of teams.

That being said, I don't see them trading any of their top five starters.

@hoynsie After passing on Nelson Cruz two years in a row, will management actively pursue a bat via trade or next offseason? Will, Twinsburg

-- Woodrow Anderson (@StickerWoods) July 24, 2015

Hey, Woodrow: I think improving the offense will be a priority at the July and August deadlines and the offseason.

Hey, Hoynsie: Please explain international player signing slots and why players are traded to obtain these positions? - Ford Behm, Geneva.

Hey, Ford: This is MLB's way of trying to regulate spending on the international market because there is no international draft. The signing season for international free agents began on July 2.

Each team receives a signing bonus pool based on the reverse order of their winning percentage from the past season. This year Arizona received the largest signing bonus pool at $5,393,900.

The pool size is based on $700,000 for each team and four slot values. The Indians bonus pool, according to Baseball America, is $2,204,900 with slot values of $641, 300, $409,500, $276,400 and $177,700.

A team can trade for up to 50 percent of their signing bonus pool. The Indians, however, just couldn't trade for 50 percent of their $2,204,900 bonus pool. They'd have to do it at the specific slot values listed for other teams.

Last month the Blue Jays acquired slot values from the Dodgers to help pay for international free agent Vladimir Guerrro Jr. The Blue Jays sent the Dodgers two players in exchange.

Calhoun is projected a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and was a first-team All-Big Ten player the last two seasons.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The running countdown of the Northeast Ohio Media Group's top 50 Big Ten football players for the 2015 season.

No. 9, Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State

Senior defensive end, 6-foot-5, 250 pounds

* On Twitter: @Shilique89

* See players No. 50 through No. 31

* See players No. 30 through No. 11

* See players No. 10 through No. 1 

* What he's done: Calhoun was our Cleveland.com poll preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for 2014, which tells you what kind of player people think he is. And he nearly played to that level. 

Joey Bosa was the Big Ten's Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year after the season, but Calhoun was a first-team All-Big Ten pick and second-team All-American. 

Calhoun tied for third in the Big Ten with eight sacks and ranked 12th with 12.5 tackles for loss. He has made 27 straight starts and ranks among Michigan State's career top 10 in sacks.

He could have turned pro but chose to return to Michigan State as a senior captain, and said around NFL Draft time, "I'm happy I'm still here, I'm not mad about it."

* How he got here: Another MSU three-star recruit, he was the No. 24 player in New Jersey in the Class of 2011 according to 247sports.com. He picked the Spartans over offers from Rutgers, Pitt, West Virginia, Boston College, Cincinnati, UConn, Louisville, N.C. State and others.

But the bigger competition for Michigan State, which won a final battle over Rutgers, may have been basketball. He loved that game first and had some mid-level Division I offers, but his football offer list was stronger. 

Michigan State defensive lineman Shilique Calhoun has been a first-team All-Big Ten pick the last two season.sAndrew Nelles, Associated Press 

* What's ahead: Calhoun projects as an NFL first-rounder, with CBSSports.com putting him at No. 21 in the 2016 draft during a look in May. His size, speed and skill aren't going anywhere. But he came back to Michigan State looking for a Big Ten title, and that run, which would have to go through Ohio State, would start with the defensive line.

The secondary has carried the Spartans for a few years, but it's the front four who should be the best part of this defense. Michigan State was No. 1 in the nation against the run last season, but with top-end talent and depth there, the Spartans could get after quarterbacks even more. They had 42 sacks a year ago, behind only Ohio State in the Big Ten, but Calhoun should reach double digits and that overall number could go up.

Elsewhere

* Calhoun happy with choice to put off NFL 

* How Calhoun's upbringing brought him this far

The Indians dropped to 45-50. They sit just one-half game in front of the White Sox in the American League Central cellar.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Corey Kluber stands on the desert island, all alone, surrounded by a sea of green.

He mostly does what he's supposed to do. Occasionally, he slips up. It doesn't matter. He has no backup. He doesn't bother calling out for help. No one can hear him.

Last week, he thought he spotted salvation. The nine-run outpouring in Cincinnati, though, was merely a mirage. On Friday, everything was back to normal, with Kluber wasting away in a 6-0 loss to the White Sox.

For the fourth time this season, Kluber exited a game with zero run support. In 18 of Kluber's 21 starts this season, the Indians have scored three runs or fewer with the right-hander in the game.

Prior to the Tribe's nine-run explosion with Kluber on the mound at Great American Ball Park last weekend, the reigning Cy Young Award winner had received the lowest run support average of any starting pitcher in baseball. He entered Friday's outing with the sixth-lowest mark. The Indians did their best to return him to the top slot.

Kluber, for the most part, breezed by the White Sox until the eighth. Alexei Ramirez scored the game's first run in the third. He dashed home when Kluber uncorked a wild pitch. Jose Abreu launched a 397-foot home run to the left-field bleachers with two outs in the sixth.

Of course, that proved to be more damage than the Indians' lackluster offense could endure. Quintana tossed the first complete game of his career.

The Indians mustered only one hit after the fifth. Francisco Lindor singled in the ninth and was erased on a ground-ball double play off the bat of Michael Brantley. The Indians went hitless in only two at-bats with runners in scoring position. In Thursday's 8-1 defeat, the club managed only one base knock in three at-bats in such situations.

Chicago removed any doubt in the eighth. Ramirez and Melky Cabrera each slapped a two-run double to right field. With two outs, Ramirez poked a Bryan Shaw offering past first baseman Jesus Aguilar. The baseball trickled down the right-field line and permitted Cabrera and Abreu to score.

Kluber had departed three batters earlier. Fans honored him with a standing ovation as he sauntered back to the dugout.

What it means

The Indians dropped to 45-50. They sit just one-half game in front of the White Sox in the American League Central cellar. The Indians have been shut out on nine occasions. They own a 19-28 record at Progressive Field this season.

Running wild

The White Sox swiped three bases. In the third, Ramirez singled and stole second when Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis dropped the throw from catcher Yan Gomes. Ramirez advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on Kluber's wild pitch. Ramirez snagged another base in the seventh, but he was stranded at second. In the eighth, Adam Eaton stole second and scored.

Welcome back

In his first at-bat with the Tribe this season, Aguilar singled to left. He struck out in his next two trips to the plate.

At a loss

Kluber dropped to 5-11. His ERA rose to 3.59. He yielded six runs on eight hits over seven-plus innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Through seven frames, he had allowed only two runs on five hits.

They came, they saw

An announced crowd of 26,553 watched the affair at the ballpark.

What's next

The Indians and White Sox will reconvene at Progressive Field for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Chicago ace Chris Sale (8-5, 2.86 ERA) will oppose Tribe right-hander Carlos Carrasco (10-7, 3.94). In Sale's only outing against Cleveland this season, he limited the Indians to one run on four hits across eight frames. Sale has tallied 10 or more strikeouts in 10 of his last 13 starts.

"What I understand reading and getting information from the Ohio media, it's not certain he's going to play strictly wide receiver. I think it's going to be a part of what they do, which makes sense to me because he's such a dynamic athlete. He's probably the best athlete in all college football if I was betting my money on it." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Braxton Miller threw a few tight spirals in Ohio Stadium in front of the fans at Friday Night Lights, almost as a reminder to everyone that he still has an arm. 

What he did next could be more influential. 

When he put the football down, Miller walked over to former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and spent some time chatting. Who knows what they talked about, but maybe Miller was getting some pointers. 

Because Miller just recently announced his intention to give H-Back a try, which takes him out of the three-person quarterback competition with Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett that has been the talk of the summer. 

But is one fall camp enough for Miller to learn a new position, master the offense, learn how to block, figure out how to get off jams, catch the ball naturally and whatever else a receiver has to do? Johnson has an opinion. 

"I dont think it's as difficult as most people will try to make it out to be," Johnson said of the switch. "He's doing it early enough in his next phase in his potential pro career where hes not all of a sudden trying to play quarterback then moving to the receiver spot four years into the NFL. He's trying to learn the nuances of it now. 

"What I understand reading and getting information from the Ohio media, it's not certain he's going to play strictly wide receiver. I think it's going to be a part of what they do, which makes sense to me because he's such a dynamic athlete. He's probably the best athlete in all college football if I was betting my money on it." 

Johnson thinks being an athlete is enough. 

One of the most gifted runners Ohio State has ever seen, Miller will spend the fall trying to stay the weapon he once was for the Buckeyes, just in a different way. He'll even give returning punts a try. 

But he's not ready to give up throwing the ball just yet. 

Since reports came out that he is making the switch to H-Back, there was been some pushback to the idea that he's leaving the quarterback position completely behind. A fan told Miller Saturday that he hopes to still see him throw the ball, and Miller said he wasn't going to stop. 

I am. https://t.co/dhzfMPeNOT

-- BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) July 25, 2015

It's hard to imagine that quarterback isn't completely in Miller's past, though. Because in order to win the job over Barrett and Jones, it has to be a full time thing. And Miller's arm, which is recovering from its second surgery to repair a torn labrum, just isn't ready for that challenge yet. 

The next challenge, though?

Johnson thinks Miller has a shot to change the game for Ohio State. 

"He can play multiple positions," Johnson said. "If that's the case, as a weapon, you can do all sort of tricky things with that weapon and the fact that he's on the field will give you a second or third option and makes the defensive coordinators stay up all night thinking about what they could possibly do." 

Toledo: An explainer on the cost of intercollegiate sports at the University of Toledo, and the source of the money that pays the bills.

TOLEDO, Ohio - The University of Toledo depends less on student fees and other general university resources to pay for its sports program than any other Mid-American Conference school in Ohio.

One reason is successful athletic fund-raising - tops among the Ohio MAC schools with $2.6 million in 2013-14. A second factor is a relatively low budget. Toledo fields the NCAA-minimum of 16 teams for football-playing schools at the FBS level.

Yet the program couldn't exist as is on its own.

The total subsidy in 2013-14 was $12.9 million - $10.5 million from student fees and $2.4 million in other university help, according to the school's report filed with the NCAA.

The college sports bill

This is one in a series of summaries detailing the finances of Division I sports at Ohio's 11 public universities, based on a Northeast Ohio Media Group analysis of the most recent five years of NCAA reports for each school. Private schools Dayton and Xavier declined to share their reports. Read also:

• Spending across Ohio up faster than overall college costs; trends and issues examined.
• School-by-school summaries.

In each of the last five years, Toledo ranked lowest of the MAC Ohio schools for subsidies from student fees and general university contributions. For 2013-14, the subsidy averaged out to $687 a year for every student on campus.

From athletic sources, the most recent report showed, Toledo received the $2.6 million in donations; $1.4 million from tickets; $1.3 million to play away games; $1.3 million in tournament, NCAA and conference distributions; $1.2 million from royalties, advertisements and sponsorships; and lesser amounts from other sources.

"UT is No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference in self-generated dollars," spokesman Paul Helgren said in an email response to questions about the athletic budget.

The University of Toledo leads Ohio's MAC schools in using donations to help pay for sports.Mid-American Conference 

Toledo spent $26.3 million on intercollegiate sports in 2013-14, up from $20 million in 2009-10.

How was the money used?

Full or partial scholarships for 356 athletes on the 16 sports teams cost $7.6 million.

This included a new commitment fully pay for the cost of summer tuition.

"In part this was a recruiting issue as other competing institutions are fully funded, but more importantly for student-athletes that were enrolled in summer school and on campus for summer workouts to help meet housing and nutritional needs," Helgren said.

Pay and benefits for coaches, administrators and staff totaled $8.3 million, including $5 million for the coaches.

Head coaching salary and benefits totaled $647,741 for men's basketball, $635,701 for football and $429,413 for women's basketball. The nine assistant football coaching positions accounted for another $1.2 million.

Toledo's athletic teams

Men's sports: Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and tennis.

Women's sports: Basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track, outdoor track and volleyball.

 

Live coverage of the final heats and races at the 78th annual All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron.

AKRON, Ohio -- The final races are approaching in the 78th annual All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron. 

Final heats will take place this afternoon in the following order: 

Rally Stock; Rally Super Stock; Rally Masters; Local Stock; Local Super Stock; Local Masters.

For a guide to watching the races and the Derby Downs course, click here. 

Local racers still in contention include Cailey Bozic and Dylan Theisen, of Tallmadge, Christian Vierling, of Fairlawn, Nicole Mendise, of Strongsville and Rachel Bockelman, of Youngstown, Trinity Kubic of Cuyahoga Falls and Madalyn Hogan of Conneaut.

Update, 3:39 p.m.: Dylan Theisen finished seventh overall in the Rally Stock Division. Trinity Kubic finished seventh overall in Rally Super Stock Division. 

Christian Vierling will compete for fourth place in the Rally Super Stock Division. Cailey Bozic will compete for a first place prize place later this afternoon in the Rally Masters Division.

Update, 3:54 p.m.: Christian Vierling, of Fairlawn, took fifth place overall in the Rally Super Stock Division.

Update, 4:14 p.m.: Cailey Bozic, of Tallmadge, took third place overall in the Rally Super Stock Division.

Madalyn Hogan, of Conneaut, took fifth place overall in the Local Super Stock Division

Check out the official live feed below, and visit the Soap Box Derby website for results.

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

Browns new receiver Terrelle Pryor caught about 100 balls from Josh McCown last week at the Randy Moss Academy and none ended up on the ground. Josh Gordon was there working out with Pryor too.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor got a headstart on training camp last week by catching footballs from quarterback Josh McCown at the Randy Moss Academy in Charlotte, N.C. last week.

Also working out there last week with Pryor and getting to know McCown was suspended Browns receiver Josh Gordon, who's been back and forth at the Academy this summer working out with Pryor and Moss, a seven-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer.

A photo posted on Pryor's twitter account (see below) provides a glimpse of the Browns' trio of the future if McCown hangs onto the starting job, Pryor makes it as a receiver and Gordon returns in 2016 from his minimum year-long suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

"First time. Catching this week from a NFL quarterback on actual routes and we cleaned it up good. No balls on the (ground)!!'' Pryor wrote in the tweet.

The two receivers are in excellent physical shape and would make a formidable size-speed duo if they can pull this off.

In fact, in an interview Friday on BuckeyeXtra971 with Tim Hall and Pryor's former Ohio State teammate Beanie Wells, Pryor revealed that he and McCown made some magic on the football field last week.

"I just got done throwing for the past few days with Josh McCown and he's kind of saying 'hey on this play, we have inside routes and outside we have this route,''' Pryor told BuckeyeXtra on 97.1 FM The Fan. "I was pretty sharp and stuff from just looking at the playbook for the last month. I knew a lot of the stuff he was talking about and we were pretty much on the same page and I don't think there was one ball on the ground after a 100 or something balls.

"It was a great workout and it was great to be around a veteran like that and I look forward to being with Johnny (Manziel) and the other quarterbacks as well.''

First time. Catching this week from a NFL quarterback on actual routes and we cleaned it u... https://t.co/PUkF0TOL0K pic.twitter.com/kAF6skN9jG

— Terrelle Pryor (@TerrellePryor) July 24, 2015

Pryor, awarded to the Browns via waivers from the Bengals on June 22nd, will report to Browns training camp on Wednesday and take the field for the first time as an NFL wide receiver on Thursday. Ohio State's starting quarterback from 2008-10 and former Rose Bowl MVP, Pryor (6-4, 233) is trying to make the quantum leap from college quarterback to NFL wide receiver in the span of just over a month.

"I could actually be a little physical (as a receiver),'' he told BuckeyeXtra971. "I'm hearing it from guys like Randy saying 'the sky's the limit' or Josh Gordon saying 'you'll be good.' You have little butterflies and I just can't wait because they kind of see where I'm at and how good I can be and it's time to go out there and show the coaches exactly what I showed those guys.

"For them to keep on wanting to work with me and continuing to work with me every single day, three, four times a week, that's my main thing, just go in and have fun and show my athletic ability and that's all I can really do.''

Can't wait to get back to Work with @JOSH_GORDONXII and RM! Boys working hard ! What I lik... https://t.co/Lgo9zbJ2KN pic.twitter.com/ftOPhjLULz

— Terrelle Pryor (@TerrellePryor) July 21, 2015

McCown and Pryor already have something in common, which might be why they connected so easily at the Academy. Both played quarterback for -- and are close to -- Browns new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who coached them both in Oakland. McCown played for DeFilippo there in 2007 and Pryor in 2013, when he started nine games because of injuries and went 3-6.

The fact that Pryor played for DeFilippo and knows his offense will be a big plus for him in his bid to catch up to the other receivers. McCown also knows the some of the terminology and concepts of the West-Coast based scheme from his time with the "Flip.''

And although Pryor will be a nightmare matchup for smaller defensive backs if he has good hands, he shrugged off the notion that he'll come in and handily beat out the Browns current receivers for a starting job.

"Those guys, the receiving corps there right now, they're my teammates and I'll never put myself in front of any of those guys or say I'm better than them or this and that because they're going to have the upper hand on me anyway in terms of experience,'' said Pryor, who has caught only one NFL pass in his career. "I look to learn from those guys if they're willing to teach me.

"If anything else, I'm going to stay glued in and keep asking questions and anytime you think you know something, you really don't. That's how I am. I'm a sponge. I love to ball just like Beanie (Wells) said and I'm very happy and looking forward to doing this.''

Pryor, who also spent time with the Seahawks last summer as a quarterback, is confident he can make the switch -- despite the fact he told reporters in Seattle last year he can't catch the football.

"I believe in my God-given ability,'' he said during the radio interview Friday night. "I also believe that I can play quarterback and I also believe I can play receiver at a high leveI. ...I pray to the Lord every single day and I believe that the blessings he gave me athletically I'm going to use them full-strength and I believe I can do anything if I put my mind to it. The way I work, there's nothing (else) that you can tell me. Are there going to be little things I need to get better at? Yeah. I'm a human just like everybody else. But I work my butt off. That's what gives me my confidence, the way I work. I just believe I can do it.''

Pryor, a Pittsburgh native, explained how he got involved with Moss, who's taken him under his wing. Pryor, 26, has also been tutored by former Steelers first-round pick Plaxico Burress.

"The craziest part man, the first week I announced it, Antonio Brown is my very good friend,'' he said. "Randy Moss was coming to Pittsburgh and he reached out to Antonio and he said 'hey, let's get Terrelle out here and let's try to help him out. Antonio wanted to the same but I can really relate to Randy so I ended up getting with Randy and this guy's a nutcase in terms of his work ethic and what he looks for, man.

"He pretty much just broke me down and said 'alright this is what you need to get better at.' He said it bluntly and just told me straight up what I'm not good at when he saw me run some routes. Eventually I kept spending time with him and spending time with him.''

As Wells observed during the radio interview, Pryor's work ethic compares to that of Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and other great receivers.

"I look at myself and I won't let anyone outwork me,'' he said. "It's the same to this day because I take my craft very very serious. If there's a route that I messed up or I'm tired, I'm going to keep on doing that same route. I ran a circus route, a 20-yard out (last week). I ran it about 30 times until I got the cut right. Doing little stuff like that and just continuing to do it until I get it perfect and having an eye like Randy out there being very particular on what he wants to see --- he's very happy now with what he saw and what he has continued to see through my progress. I've made a lot of progress and I'm proud to say I'm close.

"It's going to be fun, it's going to be different but I'm definitely going to be able to use my playmaking ability to jump over people, run past people and I'm looking forward to it.''

Pryor explained that his conversion to receiver won't be quite the same as that of Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, who's also making the switch.

"For Braxton, it's different,'' said Pryor. "I'm 6-5 and I run a 4.3, low 4.34 or whatever. Braxton probably runs a 4.5. He's shorter than me. He's going to be like a slot guy and for me I'm going to be more of an outside deal, so it's a little different in terms of the way we're going to play. But I know if he gets that ball in his hands, he's going to make some guys miss. That's not what I do. I'm going to make one cut and try to go.''

Pryor is also eager to return to Ohio Stadium on Aug. 7th for the Browns intrasquad scrimmage after being banned from the Ohio State campus for five years after being suspended for selling memorabilia and leaving the school early.

"I've been waiting for this opportunity for five years from the NCAA scandal and that stuff going on,'' he said. "And whether I agree with that scandal, I'm happy. I see you guys (directed to Wells) on Instagram posting pictures and that's probably the only time I got jealous because I really wanted to come back and be around you guys so it's going to be a warm feeling and I'm going to enjoy it and take it all in. But at the end of the day, as you know, it's all about business. I'm going to be in there practicing, working my butt off and that's all I can do.''

Suspended his first five games in the NFL because of the scandal, Pryor indicated that what he did was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"I'll tell you this -- there's plenty of people that did 20,000 times worse than what I did,'' he told BuckeyeXtra971. "I'll just leave it at that -- and people that haven't gotten in trouble. I'm going to leave it at that.''

Is he concerned about a backlash when he practices at the 'Shoe?

"When you're practicing and you're glued in to that play or glued in to that practice, you don't really hear stuff, especially from playing the quarterback position, you don't really hear anything because your focus should be so laser-beam on every single play that you don't hear any noise,'' he said. "That's where expect myself to be at, especially being in a new position, I need to be so laser-beam focused that I don't hear anything, the good or the bad. That's where I try to put the mental game for myself.''

Last week of work w/ @TerrellePryor before the start of camp was a success thanks to @RandyMoss & #theacademy thanks for having me. #goat

— Flash Gordon (@JOSH_GORDONXII) July 24, 2015

The Cleveland Browns haven't exactly thrown their support behind their starting quarterback over the years. That has to change with Josh McCown, at least for one season, if 2015 is going to bring progress -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns long ago gave us reason to stop describing their various quarterback tenures as "eras," except as strained attempts at humor.

The word hasn't fit since Tim Couch, and even then it was stretched thinner than most of the lines that blocked for him.

Come to think of it, "tenures" is almost as inaccurate.

We've seen quarterback commitments that have lasted single seasons. Turns out those were the Browns' equivalent of "till death do us part."

But more times than not, elementary schoolers could've learned their fractions on the trust the organization has placed in its quarterbacks.

 Brian Hoyer got three quarters of a season a year ago but the second-guessing started long before that. Like in the first half of the first game.

If that doesn't stop this season with Josh McCown...if the drum beat for Johnny Manziel begins all over again...the Browns can only make halting progress at best in 2015.

That's not to say the ceiling is especially high with McCown, who is 17-32 in his NFL career and coming off a 1-10 season in Tampa. That's only to say - like with Hoyer a year ago - he's the best they've got. So go with him. Stick with him. At least pretend to believe in him.

So far Mike Pettine and offensive coordinator John DeFillipo are sending signals that they will commit to McCown, that training camp won't be a real or even faux competition.

Two factors should help in pursuit of stability. One, Ray Farmer is invested in McCown the way he never was in Hoyer.

Secondly, Manziel detonated - or should have - his support in the organization.

If he wins it back, good for him. But to bestow it again without him earning it would invite more chaos to a team that needs a boring season of overall improvement.

I realize that's not much of a 2015 slogan: "Improving slowly and unremarkably."

But the Browns' defense, a more versatile running attack and some early-season games in their weight class offer the opportunity to get the season off its moorings without the immediate need to bail water or the urge to bail on the quarterback.

The competition in training camp benefitted no one last season. Hoyer felt like he couldn't miss a practice or even a throw, lest Manziel  be hoisted into the job.

Hoyer didn't begin to play better until after the competition was called off. Did all the reps on a surgically repaired knee take a toll as the season progressed? Did he get stressed knowing Manziel had a strong lobby in the front office or did he just hit his talent ceiling?

The Hoyer-McCown argument - why not stick with the younger game manager you know versus the older game manager you don't know - isn't worth debating. 

The Browns didn't see Hoyer as the long-range answer. Even the coaches who supported him couldn't sell that.

So if McCown is better, end of discussion. If he's a shade worse, at least the quarterback-organization dynamic comes without any acrimony.

Hoyer-McCown is only worth talking about to say hopefully the Browns recognize the mistakes they made in propping up Manziel behind the scenes.

That should be easier to avoid this time, and not because Ray Farmer will be under suspension for the first four games of the season and can't, by rule, text or call any coaches.

It should be easier to avoid because they should get off to a decent start (Jets, Titans, Raiders to open the season) and because their defense has a chance to win some games for them.

The Browns should know after last season, and after the minicamps and OTAs, that there is one bigger reach than calling this the Josh McCown Era.

And that's counting on Manziel to become the franchise quarterback of their dreams.

The Indians will have Carlos Carrasco on the mound Saturday night to try and end their two-game losing streak to the White Sox. Left-hander Chris Sale will pitch for the White Sox.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get scoring updates and join beat writer Paul Hoynes for a live chat as the Indians and White Sox continue their four-game series on Saturday night at Progressive Field.

Game 96: Indians (45-50) vs. White Sox (44-50).

First pitch: 7:10 pm. ET.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM 1100.

Nearly two months after Kyrie Irving left Oracle Arena on crutches, his season coming to a dejecting end because of a fractured left kneecap, Irving was back on a basketball court.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nearly two months after Kyrie Irving left Oracle Arena on crutches, his season coming to a dejecting end because of a fractured left kneecap, Irving was back on a basketball court. 

"Great," Irving said when asked how he is feeling following surgery in early June. "Taking it one day at a time. It's a process getting back to where I want to be. But I'm doing what I can here with the kids and that's all that matters. I started walking about a week ago so whether I was on crutches or not I was still going to be here for the kids."

There was nothing rigorous about this return to the hardwood. Irving spoke Saturday afternoon from Mentor High School, the site of this year's Kyrie Irving Basketball ProCamp where he and a selection of the area's top high school and college basketball coaches were leading a camp of 550 kids in grades 1-12. Irving was walking from station to station to monitor the campers without any issues. He even picked up a basketball a few different times and showed off his dazzling handles while leading the dribbling drill.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving takes kids through drills during the Kyrie Irving Basketball ProCamp at Mentor High School.Chris Fedor, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

Injured during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Irving had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic less than 24 hours after an MRI revealed the fracture, which had bothered him throughout the postseason.

"You don't want any injuries," he said. "It sucks when you're actually injured but it's a test of your will and patience and just continuing to stay involved in the game the best you can. That's what I tried to do. Be there for my teammates as much as possible, see them as much as possible, see our coaching staff as much as possible and stay in tune with everything that's going on."

Following successful surgery, the Cavs put a three to fourth month timetable for his recovery, which should put him on schedule to return for Training Camp at the end of September. Irving, however, isn't thinking that far ahead.

"I'm honestly not putting a date on anything," he said. "People are going to put a date regardless. I'm just continuing to be on the journey I've been on and that's continuing to get better every single day and rehabbing my leg."

Irving has spent much of his summer in Miami, rehabbing at Pinecrest Physical Therapy, a facility less than five miles from agent Jeff Wechsler's office. While there are still more steps Irving needs to take, general manager David Griffin told reporters in Las Vegas about two weeks ago that Irving is progressing well, something that was made clear on Saturday afternoon.

"I only had the cast on for two weeks," Irving said. "Then I was in a brace. Once I got clearance from our doctors that I could actually start working out and put pressure on my leg I relish that."

Unfortunately for Irving, rehab has become a customary practice. During the Cavs' postseason run, he left the all-important closeout game in the Eastern Conference semifinals early, playing just 12 minutes because of the left knee injury, which was originally diagnosed at tendinitis. He attempted to gut through, using ice as his primary form of recovery, but missed two games of the Eastern Conference finals against Atlanta and the final five games of the Finals' loss against Golden State, a result Irving believes would have been different had he not been forced to watch from afar.

"Absolutely," he responded pointedly when asked if there was a part of him that believes the fully healthy Cavs would've beaten Golden State.

"Being a confident basketball player and knowing what we had with our team, it was obviously tough, but I know all of us and the guys that are coming back, we haven't forgotten what happened. A great Warriors team won the Finals and all credit goes to them but our ultimate goal is still a championship, bring it to Cleveland."

While Irving has been recuperating in Miami, Griffin and the Cavs have been busy reloading for another title quest. Along with re-signing Iman Shumpert, LeBron James, Kevin Love and James Jones, they've added veterans Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson in free agency.

"It's awesome," Irving said. "The veterans that we are getting are winners and they obviously wanted to be a part of what we have going here. A lot of it has to do with the team that we have and the team that we had last year and the guys that are coming back.

"I think it will be even better. We all know each other and what to expect from each other. It was our first year and I think we did pretty well regardless of all the limitations we had. I can still take off my hat for the effort we gave throughout the whole season last year."

There's still more work to do. Griffin continues his search for a trade partner involving Brendan Haywood's unique, non-guaranteed contract. There are also decisions that still need to be made when it comes to unrestricted free agent J.R. Smith along with restricted free agents Matthew Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson.

"This is the other side of the business," Irving said after being asked whether he has spoken to any of the three players. "As a respect for all my teammates and what we've done I will let them handle it and they're going to make the best decisions for their families just like I would do. I don't try to get too involved. That's between the organization and the players and that's where I leave it. I don't get involved at all until they actually sign back. If we're grateful to get them back then great, but if not, they are doing what is best for them and you have to respect it as a professional basketball player."

Until then, Irving's focus will be on his camp, which wraps Sunday, and his ongoing recovery.

There's plenty of work ahead. But his motivation is simple: Get back to the level he displayed prior to being dogged by injuries throughout the postseason. Get back to the play that earned him Third Team All-NBA honors for the first time after averaging 21.7 points (9^th in the NBA) in a career-high 75 regular season games.

"Nothing hard about it," Irving said of his rehab. "Just knowing why I get up every single morning. Just my passion for the game and what we have to get ready for going into next season."

Pride in the Soap Box Derby is seen in a variety of signs throughout Derby Downs.

AKRON, Ohio - Racers and families converging on Akron every year for the All-American Soap Box Derby show the race is as much about pride than anything else.

Pride in families, in siblings, in hometowns. Competition takes a back seat - if there were one, in a Derby car - race after race down Derby Downs.

It's on display on the windows of trucks, cars and vans that roll across the nation's highways and county roads to get to Northeast Ohio every summer. It's Akron or bust for hundreds of racers and their families.

We captured a few of those sights Saturday.

If your car is here, post how many miles you drove to get to Akron and how your racer did.