Zimmer, 22, split his season between High-A Lynchburg and Double-A Akron. In all, he batted .273 with a .368 on-base percentage and an .814 OPS, with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and 44 stolen bases in 127 games. He posted a .308/.403/.493 slash line at Lynchburg and a .219/.313/.374 clip at Akron.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bradley Zimmer fouled a ball off of his right foot earlier in the year.

Now, he's in a walking boot.

The Indians' prized outfield prospect, selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 2014 amateur draft, has a hairline fracture in his right foot. Zimmer started wearing the boot on Monday.

"I'm getting used to it," he said Tuesday at Progressive Field, where the organization's top prospects have gathered this week for the fall development program. "It's a little heavy, but I'm making it work."

Zimmer's status for the Arizona Fall League, which begins in mid-October, is in doubt. He is the team's No. 1 prospect, according to MLB.com.

"We'll see how I progress the next couple weeks," Zimmer said.

Zimmer, 22, split his season between High-A Lynchburg and Double-A Akron. In all, he batted .273 with a .368 on-base percentage and an .814 OPS, with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and 44 stolen bases in 127 games. He posted a .308/.403/.493 slash line at Lynchburg and a .219/.313/.374 clip at Akron.

"He had been playing with it for a couple months, so he's a pretty tough kid to be working through that," said Carter Hawkins, the Indians' director of player development. "We'll see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks."

Mother Tamika Robinson sat next to Willie Jackson on Wednesday in a small auditorium at Garfield Heights High School, where Jackson announced he will attend the University of Missouri.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Willie Jackson received his first college basketball offer before his mother ever saw him play.

As an eight-grader, he came home to Tamika Robinson with the news.

She sat next to him Wednesday in a small auditorium at Garfield Heights High School, where Jackson announced he will attend the University of Missouri.

Robinson has seen her son play plenty since he returned four years ago from a Wisconsin basketball camp. She intends to see much more and move with her other son, 13-year-old Tyler, to Columbia, Mo., next year when Jackson can enroll.

A 6-foot-6 wing who led Garfield Heights to a 24-4 record and Division I state semifinal appearance last spring, Jackson wants to major in criminal justice. The Tigers play in the vaunted Southeastern Conference, but are coming off a 9-23 season under coach Kim Anderson.

That played a part in why Jackson is headed there. He had a hunch Missouri would be the pick en route to his visit. The experience and what he saw began to clinch the decision.

“Mizzou is not known for having big guards,” Jackson said. “When I went down there, I saw it, so I could come down and play right away.”

Other schools on Jackson’s radar included: Boston College, Wichita State, Temple and locals Cleveland State and Akron. His decision came Wednesday because he didn’t want to wait.

“Everybody was committing,” Jackson said. “I got tired of the phone calls and messages.”

Missouri first showed interest this spring when Jackson played in the AAU Peach Jam tournament in Georgia.

Four years ago, Jackson considered himself more of a baseball player. First base and catcher were his positions on the diamond, not so much guard or forward on the basketball court.

One offer changed that.

“I really was going to take it,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I didn’t really like basketball. It was something I did.”

Robinson kidded him back then about going to a gym or recreation center to play basketball. She asked if he even knew what to do with a basketball.

“I never really watched him play,” she said. “Then I started getting all of these phone calls. I’m grateful to say today that these millions of phone calls will stop.”

Both considered Wednesday’s announcement the end of a long journey.

Robinson has raised her two sons without a husband, relying on the help of family and friends. Many were in attendance Wednesday and recipients of hugs from Jackson.

The smile never left Garfield Heights’ leading scorer.

“A free education is a blessing,” his mother said.

Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson knows what it can mean.

He used basketball as a path to Ohio University. He coached players, such as Trey Lewis, who earned Division I college basketball scholarships. Lewis, who transferred this spring to Louisville, talked to Jackson on Tuesday.

Lewis was among the people Jackson thanked.

There were many others.

“His whole press conference has been about everybody else,” Johnson said. “I’m happy for him and his mother because it’s not about him. It’s not every day you find kids like that.”

Jackson let out a sigh and stepped out of his chair before making his announcement. Wearing a jacket and tie, Jackson walked over to pull off a cloth that revealed a picture of him in a black Missouri practice jersey, taken during his weekend visit. He pointed to teammates and asked them to join him around the portrait. Before they did, Jackson reinforced his sentiment from last season’s 60-57 state semifinal loss to Westerville South.

“I’m going to get us back down to states,” the high school senior said, “and we’re going to win.”

The Bulldogs return a few others with Division I college interest. Senior guard Frankie Hughes is mulling schools, and junior point guard Marreon Jackson received an offer this week from Buffalo. With that in mind, their coach took note of the proclamation.

“Sounds good to me,” Johnson said.

For more high school sports news, like NEOvarsity on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul), by email (mgoul@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Cardale Jones will start on Saturday against Western Michigan. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer was asked after another poor offensive performance against Northern Illinois last Saturday if he knew who Ohio State's starting quarterback was.

He said he didn't know then. He knows now.

Meyer announced on Wednesday that Cardale Jones, who started the first three games of the season, will remain the Buckeyes' starter and take the first snap on Saturday against Western Michigan.

"He was the quarterback of the team when we finished last year. He was the quarterback in spring practice, the only healthy one. He finished training camp as the starting quarterback," Meyer said. "At times he's played very good, at other times he has not. To replace him, the other guy has to pass him up, either out there (in practice) or in games. That hasn't happened."

* Vote: Did Meyer make the right decision?

Jones was pulled in the second quarter of the game against Northern Illinois in favor of J.T. Barrett, who played the rest of the game, but apparently did not do enough to beat Jones out for the starting job.

Jones has completed 26 of 46 passes this season for 334 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Barrett is 20-of-35 for 193 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

* Inside the numbers on Ohio State's quarterbacks

The last two games, Jones has been pulled in the first half in favor of Barrett. Against Hawaii, Jones came back in and played the second half. Against Northern Illinois, Jones remained on the sidelines for the rest of the game.

With the chance to definitively say Jones was the starting quarterback no matter what, Meyer still left the door open for a similar scenario to play out this week if he feels Jones isn't playing well.

"He is the guy, unless he doesn't perform well," Meyer said."

The Buckeyes enter this week ranked 75th in the country in total offense. That's far below where anyone expected this team to be after winning the national championship behind a powerful running attack and Jones' big arm.

The big hits that happened with Jones last year haven't happened this year. Meyer said that's not all on Jones.

"It's not him. It's the offense right now that's in a funk," Meyer said. "When you're not getting protected, when you're not balanced, when you're not controlling the line of scrimmage, when you're not perimeter blocking, the quarterback struggles. Last year we were much better in all those phases."

Urban Meyer announced on Wednesday that Jones will remain Ohio State's quarterback. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer has named a starting quarterback for Ohio State for the third time already this season. All three times, Cardale Jones has been the guy.

Jones will start for the Buckeyes on Saturday against Western Michigan. Meyer said J.T. Barrett has not done enough, in practice or in games, to take the starting job from Jones.

Barrett has had opportunities. Jones was pulled in the first half of Ohio State's last two games, both sluggish offensive performances against Hawaii and Northern Illinois. Last week, Jones was pulled early in the second quarter, and Barrett played the rest of the way.

Statistically, there hasn't been much separation between the two. Jones has completed 26 of 46 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Barrett is 20-of-35 for 193 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

But what do you think, did Meyer make the right decision in naming Jones the starting quarterback?

Vote in the poll below and give us your thoughts in the comments section.

Browns Johnny Manziel admitted he's disappointed to be going back to the bench, but vowed to stayed ready for duty. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel  admitted Wednesday that the only No. 2 he really loves is the one on the back of his jersey.

The one on the Browns depth chart? Not so much.

"Obviously I'm not going to sit here and say that I love the decision,'' Manziel said of being passed over Wednesday in favor Josh McCown. "But I respect coach Pett (Mike Pettine), and that's the guy that makes the calls for this team.''

He vowed to be prepare as hard as ever.

"I'm going to be a team player and do what I need to do from here on out and be ready if my number's called,'' he said. "I felt like I went out and did some good things. I bridged the gap and that's what we needed. Our team needed a win, and I was the next guy up. We got the win."

Manziel, who was told Wednesday morning before meetings that the Browns were starting McCown Sunday against the Raiders, admitted it's not easy going back to the bench after experiencing the thrill of victory.

"I think I took it all right, but it's obviously disappointing,'' he said. "I'm all right going through the day. I just got done lifting, went to practice and everything. It's a little bit different obviously not getting all the reps and everything, but it's part of it.''

Pettine said he's not worried about ''losing'' Manziel now he's the backup again. The second-year pro spent 10 weeks in an addiction treatment center in the offseason and has had to learn to handle the ups and downs of life while staying on track.  

"He'll be fine,'' said Pettine. "He was good this morning with it. He understood. Just given how hard those guys are coached and how much interaction we have with them, I think it would be difficult to slide away and let things slip just because of being upset about not being 'the guy.' He's competitive. I know all of our guys that aren't starters they all want to be out there. If they weren't competitive that way, they wouldn't be here.''

Despite having to wait his turn, Manziel still feels the Browns view him as their quarterback of the future. Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said as much last week when he cited Manziel's "tremendous physical attributes'' and unequivocally stated he can be a quality starter.

"From everything that I've heard, I've been told by, whether our GM, our owner, from everything that I've heard, that's still the case,'' he said. "That would probably be better suited for those guys. But as far as I know, yes."

Manziel's performance during his 28-14 victory over the Titans fueled the organization's hopes that he can be the man. He completed touchdown passes of 50 and 60 yards to Travis Benjamin and demonstrated a newfound grasp of the pro game.

"I think I put myself in a lot better position than I was last year,'' he said. "I obviously went out and showed people that I have the ability to play at this level. (It was) progress from where I was in the two times I got to go out on the field last year, which was huge."

Manziel wasn't surprised that Pettine went back to McCown, who was cleared from his concussion Sunday by an independent neurologist.
 
"You can also look at it in the way that Josh was our starter, Josh got hurt and it's the job of the backup to come in and fill that bridge till the starter gets back,'' he said. "That's the way that I'm kind of looking at it right now. I did my job as far as bridging the gap in between while Josh was out."

Manziel vowed to stay as ready as he was for the opener against the Jets when he was pressed into service in the second quarter after McCown suffered his concussion on the opening drive.
 
"That needs to be the bottom line,'' he said. "There can be no, 'I have to have a full week of practice, have to have this.'  You never know what can happen. It's a crazy season. It's a crazy league. So I'll be ready when that time comes if it does."

Manziel (8-of-15 for 172 yards, two TDs, no INTs, 133.9 rating) acknowledged that he has to clean some things up, including his four fumbles on the sacks in the two games. But overall, he was please with how far he's come.

"I think it showed that I can make some of those throws, and I'm still continuing to grow as a player,'' he said. "I think that definitely showed on Sunday."

 Pettine noted that the whole organization is breathing a little easier, knowing Manziel can step in and get the job done.

"I'm very proud of him, personally and professionally, with the progress he's made,'' he said. "We now feel that we have a backup that can come in, and he's already proven that he can move the team and make plays and win games for us.

"Johnny has made a lot of strides and we have no problem with him playing football for us. We have a plan for him, and we feel that he is headed in the right direction. If he continues to make strides, ultimately, he can get where we all want him to be.''

But Pettine -- who said he won't install a package of plays for Manziel 'right now' but will consider it down the road -- made it clear that the club currently views Manziel as a backup, and wasn't about to use this season to develop him.

"We're not going to try to manipulate it - 'OK, are we preparing for the future with a guy that we see right now as our backup?''' he said. "That's not the way we do our business and that's what I said before. We've gotten seven quarters worth of football from him and the results have been encouraging.

"The carelessness with the ball is well documented, but he knows that ...Just the overall quarterback play, I think he's risen to a much higher level than he was a year ago."

Manager Terry Francona says Michael Brantley will get treatment from the trainers and could take a few swings in the batting cage on Wednesday night. Francona added that there was no need for an MRI on Brantley's shoulder at this time.

MINNEAPOLIS - Left fielder Michael Brantley came to Target Field on Wednesday and his sore right shoulder felt the same as it did when he injured it Tuesday night diving for a triple by Aaron Hicks in the third inning.

Manager Terry Francona took that as a good sign. If Brantley reported to the park and the shoulder was worse than it was Tuesday, a trip to Cleveland and an MRI was probably the next step. So far that's not the case.

"The plan is to let him work with the trainers during the afternoon and see where that leads him," said Francona before Wednesday night's game against the Twins. "If he's able to go down to the cages and take a few swings, we'll see how that goes.

"I think the good news was that he didn't show up and he was really stiff."

Brantley just missed catching Hicks' drive in the Tribe's 3-1 loss. In fact, he had the ball, but when he landed near the warning track it came loose. Brantley batted in the top of the fourth inning and then left the game.

Mike Aviles started in left field Wednesday night and Francisco Lindor filled Brantley's No.3 spot in the lineup.

Brantley needed a cortisone shot and some rest in mid-August because of soreness in his left (throwing) shoulder. He's also dealt with an ongoing back injury since spring training. For the season, he's hitting .314 (164-for-523) with 15 homers and 84 RBI.

He's third in the AL in batting average and leads the league with 45 doubles. Last year when Brantley finished third in the AL MVP voting, he hit 45 doubles in 156 games.

The Cavaliers have agreed to a camp deal with small forward Austin Daye, league sources confirmed to Northeast Ohio Media Group.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers will be giving a former first-round draft pick another shot to prove he's NBA material.

The team has agreed to a camp deal with small forward Austin Daye, a league source confirmed to Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Yahoo Sports first reported the deal.

Daye, 27, is a unique player who has had an underachieving career to this point. At 6-11, he was considered to be a promising, versatile prospect coming out of Gonzaga in 2009. The potential has always been there, but he has never put it together consistently enough to stick with a team.

His brief professional tenure includes playing on five NBA teams and a couple of D-League stints.

The chances of Daye making the regular-season roster are slim. However, what this camp invite illustrates is that teams are still intrigued with his size and potential at the wing position.

He has a career average of 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds and shoots the three-ball at a 35 percent clip.

Quinn Cook, Jared Cunningham, DJ Stephens and Nick Minnerath are the other participants vying for the team's 15^th and final roster spot. As of now, the total of players set to go to camp are 19. The Cavaliers are expected to bring in the league maximum of 20.

Carr remembers the defense he played last season in Cleveland and expects to see something similar to what the Browns did against Marcus Mariota.

BEREA, Ohio -- Derek Carr, the second-year quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, has seen a defense like the Browns' defense before. Last year, to be exact.

"They're very good. They're very well-coached," Carr said in a conference call on Wednesday. "They're going to be an aggressive-type defense, like all the defenses are in that division."

Carr and the Raiders lost to the Browns last season, 23-13. Carr threw for 328 yards and one touchdown but was also sacked three times by linebacker Paul Kruger and intercepted by safety Tashaun Gipson.

"They're aggressive, physical," Carr said. "They try to pride themselves on that. I think the world of them. I think they're very talented. I think they're very good. I can't say enough good things about them, but again, looking forward to, just like every week, going out and competing against those types of defenses."

"He has made some big strides heading into year two," Browns head coach Mike Pettine said on Wednesday. "He has done a real nice job. He can make all the throws, very accurate. He is good on his feet. They are doing a lot of things with him to get him on the move, very accurate throwing on the run. We have to have a plan to affect him just like we affected (Titans QB Marcus) Mariota a week ago."

Carr expects to see that similar approach from the Browns on Sunday.

"I thought they did a good job of executing their game plan (against the Titans)," Carr said. "We're going to work hard this week in practice with the plan that we have and go out just like the Titans did -- do our best execute our game plan, just like they were trying to execute theirs. You try and find things that you can do maybe different or a little better and just go from there."

Carr's new targets: The Browns will see a different group of receivers this time around with the Raiders. They added rookie Amari Cooper in the draft and signed free agent Michael Crabtree away from the 49ers.

"Obviously, we've added a couple of new targets," Carr said. "(Cooper), he's been doing a great job of learning this game at this level. He doesn't play like a rookie. He's been doing a great job. Crabtree is amazing. Obviously, we spent a lot of time together, put in a lot of work together getting the timing down and all of those things back home and doing that. I think the world of those guys."

Injuries: Quarterbacks Josh McCown (concussion) and Johnny Manziel (right elbow) were limited at practice on Wednesday. Defensive linemen Desmond Bryant (shoulder) and Randy Starks (rest) and offensive lineman Joe Thomas (rest) did not practice. Linebacker Barkevious Mingo (knee) and offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz (thumb) participated fully in practice. Running back Robert Turbin and linebacker Scott Solomon remain out.

Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed report on what happened in Berea Wednesday as the Browns prepare for the Raiders. Also, videos with Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed take a look what happened in Berea on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 as the team begins preparations to play the Oakland Raiders with Josh McCown back as the starting quarterback at FirstEnergy Stadium. 

Topics include:

• Head coach Mike Pettine names Josh McCown starting quarterback for Raiders after returning from a concussion.
• Johnny Manziel said he was disappointed in the decision but is ready to backup McCown and be ready if needed. 
• Manziel made big progress in the seven quarters he played in this year, but both he and McCown need to work on ball security.
• No package of play for Manziel in the near future.
• Travis Benjamin wins the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for his punt return.

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

On Facebook: CLEvideos

Manziel goes back to the bench after a decent stretch, but he's likely to be back on the field before too long. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mike Pettine isn't paid to make popular decisions, but ones he believes give the Browns the best chance at winning each week.

We won't know whether the coach's choice to restore Josh McCown as starting quarterback ahead of Johnny Manziel was right until after the club hosts the Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday. It was, however, rooted in logic and consistent with the message he's delivered since the start of training camp.

Pettine values McCown's experience, understanding of John DeFilippo's offense and the ability to execute it. He's told everyone the 36-year-old journeyman is their quarterback and he's not about to waffle in the face of Manziel's two terrific touchdown passes to Travis Benjamin, helping lead the Browns to a 28-14 win over the Titans.

The easy call would be sticking with Manziel, who's played the past seven quarters after McCown suffered a concussion on the first drive of a 31-10 opening-day loss to the Jets. The 22-year-old continues to progress even as ball security remains a serious concern. He's thrown three touchdown passes and offered glimpses of the form that made him the most hyped player in the 2014 draft.

You can dislike and dispute Pettine's decision - that's fair game - and his early-season stance to roll with McCown is controversial. Who benches a winning quarterback? Let me rephrase that: Who benches a winning quarterback in Cleveland, where victories are as common as cloudless days?

If we're talking strictly about building for the future, and seeing whether Manziel is a part of it, then the Browns should stay with No. 2. But the club didn't sign cornerback Tramon Williams and defensive lineman Randy Starks and trade for punter Andy Lee to improve their chances for the top pick next year. They didn't assemble one of the NFL's priciest defenses to finish 3-13.

Pettine expects to win now and whether it's feasible or not - I picked them 6-10 - he owes veterans Joe Thomas, Joe Haden, Alex Mack, etc., to stay true to his convictions. Players want consistency from their coaches. They want to know there's a plan in place and that it takes more than a few big plays against an opponent that went 2-14 a year ago to alter it.

McCown was the better quarterback throughout the preseason and led a 17-play drive to the goal line against the Jets before getting knocked out of the opener and, yes, fumbling. While Manziel's improvement is real - I've been writing about it for weeks - so are the four fumbles and interception.

Bottom line: the coaching staff trusts a quarterback with a 17-33 career record more than it does a youngster playing catch-up because he squandered his rookie season living up to the "Johnny Football" persona.

McCown has a better command of the offense and can make more use of the entire playbook. Manziel is working hard to reach that point, but he's not there yet. The first-round pick made Pettine's decision to name Brian Hoyer the starter a year ago an easy one with his lack of preparation and maturity. That's not the case three weeks into a new season.

"We've gotten seven quarters worth of football from (Manziel) and the results have been encouraging," Pettine said Wednesday. "The carelessness with the ball is well documented, but he knows that. ... I think he's risen to a much higher level than he was a year ago."

The biggest risk Pettine runs by benching Manziel - and let's call it what it is - comes in terms of momentum and reps lost. That's the best argument for parking McCown in favor of the Texas A&M product.

But take a look at the four-week schedule after the Raiders' game: at San Diego, at Baltimore, Denver, at St. Louis. That's a demanding stretch for a quality quarterback, let alone one learning on the fly. What the Browns don't want is to be going back and forth with the most important position on the field.

Give the veteran a chance to prove his worth and if he stumbles, as many predict, then turn over the offense to Manziel with nine games remaining and a bye week (Nov. 16-23) to mentally recharge. It's more than enough time to get an accurate gauge on him.

What if the Browns go 3-2 over the next five games and remain in the hunt? It will justify why they chose McCown. More than likely, however, it will become obvious that it's time to give Manziel an extended run. It also could happen earlier if McCown is injured again.

Manziel's challenge from the moment he stepped out of rehab in the spring was to show he's a relevant pro quarterback. He's done that and won a game in the process. Now, he steps aside as all the pressure shifts to his coach and McCown.

"Obviously I'm not going to sit here and say that I love the decision,'' Manziel said. "But I respect coach Pett, and that's the guy that makes the calls for this team."

Pettine made an unpopular, albeit logical, choice Wednesday to push the pause button. That it's even up for debate shows how far Manziel has progressed in the past year.

Josh McCown knows that fans will probably be chanting for Johnny Manziel when McCown returns to the field Sunday. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio --  Browns quarterback Josh McCown is prepared for the Johnny Manziel Mania that will undoubtedly greet him Sunday during his first start at FirstEnergy Stadium against the Raiders.

"You've got a young guy that comes in and plays well, I get it, I understand it,'' McCown said. "For me, you don't want it to be a distraction for everybody else. But at the same time, I understand where (the fans are) coming from. There's so much to be excited about with the way Johnny played Sunday and where he's headed. I understand it, that's part of it, I've gone through that before.''

McCown, who suffered a concussion on his opening drive against the Jets when he dove toward the end zone, was named the starter for Sunday's game after being cleared by an independent neurologist on Wednesday morning. And even though Manziel won over some of his critics after throwing TD pass of 50 and 60 yards in Sunday's 28-14 victory over the Titans, McCown knows how to quiet the boos.

"We have all these different slogans and things about the Browns, we all bark together and all those things,'' he said. "At the end of the day, if we go out and play winning football, everybody will be happy with that. That's the key for us is to go out and focus on beating the Oakland Raiders.''

McCown also knows exactly what Manziel's feeling right now, because he's been in shoes, including in 2013 in Chicago when the Bears went back to Jay Cutler after McCown went 3-2 with 13 touchdowns and only one interception. In his 13th NFL season, he's just about seen it all.

"Absolutely, I've been there,'' he said. "I've been on both sides of this thing. I've been the guy in front with a first-rounder waiting in the wings and people waiting on that guy to play and wanting that guy to play, and then, I've been in situations where I've been the guy everybody wants to play. As a competitor, we wouldn't be in our situations if he didn't want to play. I appreciate that fact. We both do, but again, it's about him continuing to grow and all of us together, doing our job in our room to play good football.''

McCown, who was also diagnosed with a concussion in 2004, admitted that he was symptom-free last week and felt ready to play against the Titans, but that he's come to understand and trust the NFL's strongest concussion protocol.

"I think long-term, we'll be glad that we have those things,'' he said. "We won't know for a while, but I feel like as our game continues to grow and get better, I think that's one of the major reasons why it will continue to grow because we'll feel better about that area of our sport.''

Even early this week, when the Browns were contemplating starting Manziel, McCown was confident he'd be re-instated.

"That was my expectation going into this week,'' he said.

Pettine said he chose McCown because he was uncontested starter all through preseason and the opener and "he had earned the right to be our starting quarterback. We feel that he gives us the best opportunity to win on Sunday. There was just no reason to alter our original plan.''

The vote of confidence was music to  McCown's ears.

 "It means a lot, just that Coach Pett believes in me enough to put me back out there,'' he said. "I appreciate that. For all those reasons you want to go out and play good football. I just appreciate just where we are, too, with the whole situation and how well the group has worked together. And I think his decision is reflective of what we're trying to get accomplished. It just gives me that much more incentive for him to put his confidence in me."

McCown is certain he can pick up where he left off in the Jets game, when he led the Browns on a 17-play, 90-yard March before diving toward the end zone at the end of a 13-yard scramble and getting helicoptered to the ground. Manziel came in and threw a 54-yard TD pass to Travis Benjamin before turning the ball over three times in the second half.

"Very confident,'' he said. "I'm confident in what I saw us do Sunday as an offense. There were certainly some good things - obviously the big plays were there, but we started getting the running game together a little more. So I feel very confident in our ability to do that and myself to go there and do it as well because that's what we're going to have to have. That's my mindset for sure."

But McCown, who plays with reckless abandon and willingly sacrifices his body, made no promises that he won't spring toward the end zone again.

"I'm second-guessing that, yeah. But would I do it again?'' he said. "I can't guarantee you (I won't). You guys understand kind of where my career's been the last few years and I think part of why I'm still around is because I don't give up easily. For me, it was a hard one to open the way we did and come down the field the way we did to finish that drive, and I just felt we were right there to punch it in.

"So I gave it my best effort to get in. That being said, understanding that situation and third-and-goal from the 14, maybe I'd handle it a little different, big picture-wise. But it's hard for me to ever apologize for that side of me because I feel like it's such a big part of what makes me me.''

McCown also hopes to pick up where Manziel left off with speedster Travis Benjamin's who's caught TD passes of 54, 50 and 60 yards from Manziel over the past two weeks.

"I would love to keep that streak going,'' he said. "That was awesome to see him make those plays. It just adds so much, another dimension to your offense when you have somebody they know can take the top off. They're going to have to respect that. It opens up so many more things to have Trav and some of the other guys that hopefully take their turn, too. I've said all along it's kind of an under-rated group for us.''

Despite the three big plays with Manziel, Benjamin and the other Browns embrace the return of McCown.

"The ball is the ball,'' said Benjamin, who earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. "The play is the play no matter who's at quarterback.  As long as the ball is getting distributed to the receivers and going down field like it has been, I don't find a problem in it.''

Pettine was asked if McCown might handle the large shadow cast by Manziel better than Brian Hoyer did last year.

"I think its two very different situations,'' said Pettine. "I know Josh has been around for a long time, and he's been through a lot. Knowing what I know about Josh, I would be surprised if he didn't handle it well."

Pitching coach Mickey Callaway met with Danny Salazar on Wednesday after Salazar ripped plate umpire Tom Hallion after he lost to the Twins, 3-1, on Tuesday night.

MINNEAPOLIS - Pitching coach Mickey Callaway and Danny Salazar chatted on Wednesday. The message from Callaway went something like this - don't let one pitch ruin your game and whenever possible don't rip an umpire because they have long memories.

After he lost control of his emotions and the game in the third inning Tuesday, Salazar uncharacteristically criticized plate umpire Tom Hallion, who called a 3-2 pitch on No.9 hitter Eduardo Escobar a ball. From all angles it looked like strike three, which would have ended the inning.

A visibly upset Salazar then allowed three runs on three straight extra-base hits as the Twins beat the Indians, 3-1, in the first of seven games between the two teams that will go a long way in determining whether either team makes the wild card.

"You have to overcome whatever happens in a game," said Callaway. "Whether it's an error or you walk a guy. You have to focus on the next thing. Obviously, he didn't do a very good job of that last night."

Salazar said he let the ball four call upset him.

"Right now we're fighting for a spot in the wild card," said Salazar. "I just think they need to make a better adjustment. Me, as a pitcher, I can't let that get into my mind as well."

Asked if he thought Hallion would hold a grudge, Salazar said, "Not really. I know he's a good umpire. Sometimes they make bad calls. No one is going to be perfect. I know it's tough to be back there, but it's tough to be a pitcher too and throw the ball where you want to."

Callaway understands Salazar's frustration, but added "you shouldn't speak out of frustration, you should keep that to yourself. You have to diagnose what really happened. You didn't make your pitches after that happened. Whatever the circumstances are, you have to continue to make pitches."

As for calling out an umpire, that's an action that can never favor a player.

"It's not a good thing," said Callaway. "They're human beings. They're going to miss calls; we're going to make bad pitches and errors. It's not like Danny was out there making every pitch he wanted to make. He made a lot of errors."

Manager Terry Francona said he went back and looked at the pitch to Escobar and felt it was a good pitch.

"But, that happens," said Francona. "We have guys who are learning on the job. I think that's another lesson. He needs to let me voice that because that's not the way we want to handle that.

"If one pitch derails the whole game, we probably need to work on what we do. Tom Hallion is a good umpire. If he has a bad night or he had a bad call, those things happen. Normally, the team that is supposed to win, wins."

Remembering Yogi Berra: Following the death of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra on Tuesday, Francona was asked about the Yankee catcher.

"He used to always pop his head into Yankee Stadium and sit on the couch and start talking," said Francona. "Because it was Yogi, we'd fly right past the media time.

"You could tell how fond everybody was of him. He'd walk into a clubhouse and you could tell that's where he belonged."

Francona's father, Tito, played against Berra.

"My dad always says that as good as those Yankee teams were, if Yogi came up in the seventh, eighth or ninth innings, he was the one player that was most feared," said Francona.

Reinforcements: The Indians recalled first baseman Jesus Aguilar and right-hander CC Lee from Class AAA Columbus on Wednesday. They also purchased the contract of catcher Adam Moore from Columbus.

Outfielder Tyler Holt was designated for assignment to make room for Moore.

Francona wasn't sure how much Aguilar and Lee would play. He said that adding a third catcher would give him more flexibility. Wednesday night he DH'd backup catcher Roberto Perez because he was 5-for-9 against Twins starter Phil Hughes.

"We probably wouldn't have done that if Moore wasn't here," said Francona.

Francona believes Lee is a big-league reliever.

"The only hurdle he has left is understanding that he belongs and the confidence factor that he'll let it go with conviction," said Francona.

Lee went 4-3 with five saves and a 3.39 ERA in 48 games for Columbus. He struck out 65 and walked 16 in 58 1/3 innings.

Finally: Third baseman Giovanny Urshela's right shoulder is still barking. He has not played the first two games of this series. "He took a swing the other day and it grabbed him," said Francona.

McCown went 3-2 in relief of the Bears' Jay Cutler only to get benched after a four-TD effort against the Cowboys in 2013. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio - Josh McCown understands the disappointment Johnny Manziel is experiencing.

He can relate to the feeling of enjoying your best stretch in the NFL only to be asked to return to bench before a game in Cleveland.

Two years ago, McCown played well in five-game span for the Bears in place of an injured Jay Cutler. He led the team to a 3-2 record, completing 66.8 percent of his passes to keep Chicago's playoff hopes alive. In his final start, McCown threw four touchdown passes in a 45-28 win over the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, compiling a 141.9 passer rating.

When the Bears traveled to Cleveland the following week, however, the coaching staff inserted Cutler back into the starting lineup.

"You can relate to it where you feel like you got a good rhythm going, got some good things going and as a competitor you want to keep going and keep playing," McCown said Wednesday.

The Browns have opted to start the 36-year-old on Sunday against the Raiders after he cleared concussion protocol. McCown was injured on the first drive of the 31-10 opening-day loss to the Jets. Manziel performed admirably in his absence and helped lead the Browns to a 28-14 win over the Titans last week.

After learning of his demotion, Manziel said Wednesday, "I'm not going to sit here and say I love the decision, but I respect (coach Mike Pettine) and that's the guy who makes the calls for this team."

Manziel and McCown are in different stages of their careers in dealing with a benching. The former Bears quarterback was an established quarterback and a longtime backup when he got a chance to replace Cutler, who suffered an ankle injury.

Both decisions sparked controversy. Former Bears linebacker Brian Urchacher thought the club was making a mistake: "You can't take a guy who's this hot out of the football game. If I was on that team, I would have a hard time with them taking him out."

Cutler beat the Browns 38-31, but lost the final two games of the season as the Bears missed the playoffs. McCown parlayed his nice run into a two-year, $10 million deal with the Buccaneers only to endure a disastrous 2014 season.

"I said it back then, I understand the team aspect of where we were headed with (Cutler) as an organization so I think it made it a little easier, softened it but I still wanted to go out there," McCown said. "You want to play because it's why we're in this thing, it's to play and be out there.

"You never take that lightly but at the same time there's a bigger picture working and (Manziel) will continue ... like I said he's done it all this week and continued to grow and get better and develop and so if anything, (Sunday's win) more than anything, it gets us even more excited about where he's headed."  

Corey Kluber lasted 3 2/3 innings as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, Wednesday night at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Third baseman Trevor Plouffe went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and right-hander Phil Hughes pitched five shutout innings as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Cleveland Indians, 4-2, Wednesday night at misty Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. Tribe righty Corey Kluber gave up four runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Here is a blink-of-an-eye look at the game. No DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast was necessary:

Nothing doing: While it is true that the Indians (74-76) are not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, it is evident that they fail the eye test. And the smell test. This team's season almost certainly will end at the conclusion of Game 161 against the Boston Red Sox on Oct. 4 at Progressive Field. No need to make up the Detroit game.

In mid-afternoon Sept. 13, the Indians were in decent shape. They had won three straight to improve to 70-70. Later in the day, however, they lost the second game of a doubleheader to Detroit, whose starting pitcher was Randy Wolf. It began a stretch that is now 4-6, when they desperately needed to be, at a minimum, 6-4.

Here they come: The legit-wild-card-contender Twins (78-73) have won three straight, including the first two of a three-game series that wraps Thursday night. The winning streak followed a five-game slide.

Operation shutdown: Hughes and three relievers allowed a total of six hits in 114 pitches. They walked none and struck out six.

The Tribe's best hitter, Michael Brantley, did not play because of a right-shoulder injury sustained Tuesday night. The Tribe lineup sans Brantley is paper-thin and, as a result, can be handled by pitchers who simply hit their spots and don't over-think.

The Tribe's runs Wednesday came from a two-out, two-run homer by Carlos Santana off lefty Glen Perkins. Entering that at-bat, Tribe batters were a #zombiebaseball-esque 11-for-61 with four doubles and one walk in the series.   

Yan Gomes popped the next pitch to second.  

Not Klubotic: Kluber breezed through the first three innings in a combined 39 pitches. He threw 32 pitches in the fourth.

The 92-mph fastball did in Kluber.

Right-handed batter Brian Dozier led off by sending a 2-1 fastball (92) over the plate at the thighs deep to right for a homer. Dozier hunts fastballs -- high, low, inside, outside --  especially from the Indians.

Second baseman Dozier has hit 28 homers, 11 more than Indians leader Santana.

Lefty Joe Mauer served a 1-2 fastball (92) up and away to left for a double. Kluber made it too easy for Mauer and his natural opposite-field approach; Tribe catcher Gomes's target was down and in. Mauer tied a Twins record by reaching safely in 42 consecutive games.

Miguel Sano walked in six pitches.

Righty Plouffe, in a 2-0 count, showed bunt and took a fastball for a strike. Kluber came back with a fastball (92) on the inner half above the knees, and Plouffe wasn't bunting. He ripped it down the left-field line for an RBI double, Sano stopping at third.

Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway visited the mound.

Kluber plunked Torii Hunter with the first pitch. As expected, Hunter glared at Kluber and said some nasty things. Hunter no doubt wondered why, if he was going to be put on base, it didn't come via the painless walk.

Kurt Suzuki struck out in three pitches.

No. 9 batter and lefty Eduardo Escobar, in a 1-2 count, pounced on a breaking pitch that stayed up and sent it into right for a two-run single.

The Indians can't expect to win when a pitcher the caliber of Kluber allows a two-run single to Escobar in a 1-2 count.

Kluber walked Aaron Hicks in four pitches. Ryan Webb relieved.

The Twins, for the second straight night, use one big inning to beat the Indians. Tuesday night they scored three runs off Danny Salazar in the third. On Wednesday, they scored four runs off Corey Kluber in the fourth for the only runs they'd need.

MINNEAPOLIS - It was supposed to rain all day and night in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Too bad for the Indians it didn't.

Corey Kluber allowed four runs in the fourth inning as the Indians' fading wild-card hopes took another body blow in a 4-2 loss to the Twins at Target Field. The victory pushed the Twins to within one game of Houston and the second wild card spot, while the Indians remain 41/2 games back with 12 to play.

The Indians, however, now trail three teams in their pursuit of Houston. Baltimore slipped in front of them and is four games out. The Angels are 1 1/2 games out right behind the Twins.

Wednesday's loss did eliminate the Indians from the Central Division race.

The field was covered all day in anticipation of a downpour that never came. The game did start in a light rain, but by the middle innings it was gone.

Kluber, in his last two starts against the Twins, threw consecutive complete-game victories. He struck out 17 and allowed two runs in 18 innings.

In the first three innings Wednesday, Kluber looked like that Kluber. He allowed one hit and struck out four. In the fourth, however, he looked like the Kluber who was making his second start after missing 18 days with a strained hamstring.

Brian Dozier opened the fourth with a homer that just snuck into the flowerbed hanging over the right-field wall. Kluber might not have known it at the time, but the curtain was about to come down.

Joe Mauer followed with a double and Miguel Sano walked. Trevor Plouffe, who entered the game with seven career RBI against Kluber, made it eight with a double past Jose Ramirez at third. Kluber struck out Eddie Rosario and then drilled Torii Hunter in the elbow, drawing a hard stare from Hunter as the umpires got between the two players.

Kluber, with the bases loaded, struck out Kurt Suzuki, but No.9 hitter Eduardo Escobar sent a soft single into right to score Sano and Plouffe. It was Escobar's two-out walk - courtesy of plate umpire Tom Hallion - that undid Danny Salazar in the third inning of Tuesday night's 3-1 loss.

After Kluber (8-15, 3.55) walked Aaron Hicks, to reload the bases, Ryan Webb relieved.

In his last two starts, Kluber is 0-2, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings. The win went to Phil Hughes (11-9, 4.43). He threw five scoreless innings and turned it over to the bullpen. Hughes is 6-3 in his career against the Indians.

Hughes, Neal Cotts, Casey Fien and Glen Perkins came within one out of a shutout, but Francisco Lindor doubled and Carlos Santana lined his 17th homer into the left field seats to make it 4-2 in the ninth. Yan Gomes, the next batter, ended the game on a pop-up.

The Indians have scored three runs in the first two games of this series.

What it means

The Indians (74-76) lost for the second straight night to the Twins. It was their second straight missed opportunity to gain in the wild-card race with Houston losing two in a row.

The Twins (78-73) won their third straight game and improved to 9-5 against the Indians. The Twins are 11-10 in September, but have won just five of their last 11 games.

What a turnaround

Kluber, a year after winning the AL Cy Young award with an 18-9 record, is tied for the AL lead in losses. Kluber is 8-15, while Oakland's Jesse Chavez is 7-15. Atlanta's Shelby Miller leads the big leagues with 16 losses.

After going 4-10 in the first half of the season, Kluber is 4-5 since the All-Star break.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Twins drew 17,831 to Target Field.

What's next?

Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson (5-3, 3.48) will face Twins righty Kyle Gibson (10-10, 3.73) on Thursday night at 8:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.

Anderson has won three straight starts and will be facing the Twins for the second time in his career. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings against the Twins on Aug. 7.

Gibson is 1-1 with a 3.21 in four September starts. He has not faced the Tribe this season, but is 1-1 with a 5.61 ERA in five career starts against them. Gomes is hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two homers and four RBI against Gibson.

Enter your football student section in a new cleveland.com contest to crown the best one in Northeast Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Which high school football teams have the most creative and enthusiastic student section?

We understand that is a big question as we announce the start of a big regional contest to crown the best football student section in Northeast Ohio.

With 134 local football teams we need your help to determine which schools should make the cut and be included in the contest.

We are accepting nominations now through Sunday, Oct. 4. That gives students and schools two weeks to send us pictures, videos and a short description on why your student section should be included in the contest. The pictures and videos can be from Weeks 1-6 of this season.

More than 25 nominations arrived on the first day the contest was announced Wednesday so don't miss out on this way to showcase your school pride.

Here’s how to nominate your student section for the contest:

Send an email to neovarsity@cleveland.com and please try to include pictures and videos so we can see the section in action. Or send a link to your section’s Twitter page or links to Tweets or other social media posts we should check out.

We also suggest you send a note in the email about why your student section deserves to be in the contest. Tell us about what makes it special, how large it is and how it gives the football team a boost on the field.

Remember, the deadline to email your nomination is Sunday, Oct. 4.

On Oct. 5 we will publish a story and an online poll announcing which student sections were chosen by the Northeast Ohio Media Group's high school sports staff to be in the contest. That first round will consist of an online vote that week, with the top eight vote-getters advancing to a bracketed contest beginning with quarterfinals the week of Oct. 12. Semifinals will be held the week of Oct. 19 and the two finalists will square off during the final week of the regular season beginning Oct. 26.

We can’t wait to see all of the exuberant student sections and what makes them so unique and special to their school and team. 

Promoter Bob Arum says Manny Pacquiao will return early next year.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The fully healed and eager Cleveland native Mickey Bey returns to the ring on Tuesday for the first time in a year.

Bey will fight Oscar Cortes (25-2, 13 KOs) at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas as part of several bouts promoted by Floyd Mayweather's promotional company.

Bey (21-1-1, 10 KOs) returns after not fighting since he defeated lightweight champ Miguel Vazquez for Vazquez's IBF lightweight title in September of 2014. It was Bey's third straight victory after he got caught in the final round of a fight he was winning in the summer of 2013. 

Bey also returns after giving up his belt because he did not make a mandatory defense. And he returns after having surgery to repair a bone spur in his right hand.

"I'm definitely ready to start back fighting," said Bey, a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School. "Having that surgery was the main reason why I was out. After next Tuesday, I'll fight one more time before 2016."

During the layoff, Bey maintained his conditioning under the tutelage of trainer  Floyd Mayweather Sr., and said he maintained his boxing sanity by attending several fights.

And by watching the classics.

"I always stay close to my craft by watching old-school fights," Bey said. "Those old fights helped keep me focused mentally. Sitting out made me more hungry. Watching those old fights and attending fights added to my determination to get back in the ring. I can't wait."

Right out of a comic book

Tyson Furry may have a future in comedy once he retires or if Wladimir Klitschko knocks him silly in their upcoming bout on Oct. 24. Well, I'm not sure how silly Furry can become, especially after his latest antics during a press conference this week when he dressed up like Batman.

Inside the ring

Manny Pacquiao is expected to return to the ring in February or March of 2016. ... Boxing glove sensors will show punching power on TV. ... Paul Malignaggi's Italian debut next Saturday at Principe theater in Milan is sold out. ... Julian Williams wants Austin Trout next. ... Deontay Wilder expects to take Floyd Mayweather's place at the top of boxing.

Fight schedule

Saturday

At Birmingham. Alabama (PBC on NBC/NBC Sports Net): Deontay Wilder vs. Johann Duhaupas, 12 rounds, for Wilder's WBC heavyweight title; Terrell Gausha vs. Eliezer Gonzalez, 8 or 10 rounds, junior middleweights.

Tuesday, Sept. 29

At Las Vegas (PBC on Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes) Javier Fortuna vs. Carlos Velazquez, 12 rounds, for Fortuna's WBA "regular" junior lightweight title; Domonique Dolton vs. Oscar Molina, 8 or 10 rounds, junior middleweights; J'Leon Love vs. TBA, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Andrew Tabiti vs. Tamas Lodi, 8 rounds, cruiserweights; Mickey Bey vs. Oscar Cortes, 10 rounds, lightweights.

Saturday, Oct. 3

At Cincinnati (Showtime): Adrien Broner vs. Khabib Allakhverdiev, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA junior welterweight title; Jose Pedraza vs. Edner Cherry, 12 rounds, for Pedraza's IBF junior lightweight title.

Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes discusses the American League wild card race and the off-season on Thursday's Sports Insider. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After back-to-back losses against the Minnesota Twins, the Indians are beginning to slip in the wild card standings. Now 4.5 games back and trailing four teams -- Houston, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Minnesota -- the Indians' playoff chances look bleak.

No matter what happens in the final games, the Indians will head into the off-season with a number of difficult decisions to make in an attempt to retool an underachieving roster.

One of those tough calls will center on Carlos Santana, a player known most for his plate discipline who has been miscast as the cleanup hitter. The 29-year-old first baseman is batting .234 with 17 home runs and 74 RBI. 

Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes joined Sports Insider earlier today and talked about whether the Indians will consider trading Santana, his value around the league, whether Corey Kluber is still less than 100 percent and which team has the best chance of claiming the American League's second wild card spot.

Watch the video above.  

Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson goes to the mound Wednesday night as the Indians attempt to salvage one game in this three-game series against the Twins. The Indians lost the first two games by scores of 3-1 and 4-2.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Here are the lineups for Wednesday night's game between the Indians and Twins at Target Field.

INDIANS

2B Jason Kipnis.

3B Jose Ramirez.

SS Francisco Lindor.

1B Carlos Santana.

C Yan Gomes

RF Lonnie Chisenhall.

1B Chris Johnson.

CF Abraham Almonte

LF Mike Aviles.

RHP Cody Anderson, 5-3, 3.68.

TWINS

CF Aaron Hicks.

2B Brian Dozier.

1B Joe Mauer.

DH Miguel Sano.

3B Trevor Plouffe.

LF Eddie Rosario.

RF Torii Hunter.

C Kurt Suzuki.

SS Eduardo Escobar.

RHP Kyle Gibson, 10-10, 3.73.

UMPIRES

HP Bruce Dreckman.

1B Alfonso Marquez.

2B Tom Hallion, crew chief.

3B Dan Bellino.

Columnist answers commenters who believe picking McCown was the wrong choice. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Pettine chose Josh McCown to start over Johnny Manziel on Wednesday. Some commenters on cleveland.com weren't thrilled with the choice.

Thursday, during his weekly segment on Sports Insider, columnist Bud Shaw responded to some of those comments and gave his opinion on the quarterback situation.

Make sure to catch Sports Insider live every Thursday at noon.