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Preseason Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

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The Cavaliers get Kevin Love back as they try for their first win of the preseason against the Toronto Raptors.

TORONTO - Kevin Love finally makes his return as he tries to help the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-5) get their first win of the preseason when they take the court this evening with the Toronto Raptors (3-2).

Tip off: 6:00 p.m. at Air Canada Centre

TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM 1100, 87.7 La Mega.

Last game: Cleveland routed 107-85 by the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Cavaliers' probable starting lineup: Mo Williams, J.R. Smith, James Jones, Anderson Varejao and Timofey Mozgov.

Raptors' probable starting lineup: Cory Joseph, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Anthony Bennett and Jonas Valanciunas.

Last year's record: 49-33.

Key additions: DeMarre Carroll, Anthony Bennett, Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo and Delon Wright.

Key Loses: Amir Johnson, Louis Williams, Greivis Vasquez and Chuck Hayes.

2014-15 season-series record: Cleveland won 3-1.

Injuries for Cleveland: Kyrie Irving (knee), Iman Shumpert (wrist) and LeBron James (rest) are out. Richard Jefferson (no health issue) is questionable.

Injuries For Toronto: None to report.

Cavaliers' next opponent: The Cavaliers finish up the exhibition schedule hosting the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.


Brownstown 2015: Week 6 vs. Denver Broncos

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Every Sunday during the Cleveland Browns 2015 NFL season, Plain Dealer illustrator Chris Morris sets up each game, finding storylines worth illustrating, fans with opinions to share, statistics to compare and match ups to watch. The links below will take you to the previous games this season, and this post will be updated every week with new pages as they are drawn....

Every Sunday during the Cleveland Browns 2015 NFL season, Plain Dealer illustrator Chris Morris sets up each game, finding storylines worth illustrating, fans with opinions to share, statistics to compare and match ups to watch. The links below will take you to the previous games this season, and this post will be updated every week with new pages as they are drawn. The printed version will be in the Plain Dealer's Browns Extra every Sunday.

Previous weeks' Brownstowns

Brownstown15.6_Broncos.png 

Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos: Four burning questions heading into Week 6

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The Browns have plenty of questions heading into a Week 6 showdown against the Denver Broncos.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns snapped a road losing streak in Baltimore last weekend, beating Joe Flacco's Ravens for just the second time. 

Wins against the Ravens are always hard to come by. But things won't get any easier on Sunday when the undefeated Denver Broncos come to FirstEnergy Stadium.

At 5-0, the Broncos used a stifling defense to escape with a road win, 16-10, against the Oakland Raiders last Sunday. A lethal offense since Peyton Manning's arrival, the win against Oakland highlighted a transformation this season for the Broncos.

It's been about defense in Denver as the fast, aggressive and opportunistic defense is allowing 15.8 points per game. In the most recent win, Manning struggled, tossing two interceptions while failing to throw a TD pass for the second time this season. 

As per usual, even after an impressive win last week, there are a number of questions heading into Week 6 and they will determine whether the Browns can make it two straight wins. 

Here are four burning questions for today's game: 

Can the Browns protect Josh McCown?

Very little this year has followed the expected script for the Browns. They were expected to be a run-first, ball-control offense. The defensive unit, which has seen numerous players added over the last few years, was supposed to be the team's backbone. 

But the Browns' success against Denver, and for the rest of the season, hinges on McCown, the reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Behind the 36-year-old quarterback, who was supposed to serve as a game manager, the Browns have essentially abandoned the rushing attack, putting the offense in the quarterback's hands. Only five teams have more passing attempts and passing yards per game than the Browns.

The running game, ranked 28th, hasn't been effective and that unlikely to change even with Robert Turbin expected to make his debut. The defense, which yapped all off-season about its greatness, is allowing 400 yards per game and has held one opponent, Tennessee, under 27 points. 

McCown, playing as well as any quarterback, will be tested in a way he hasn't since Week 1 against the New York Jets.

In order to build off last week's record-setting performance, he will need plenty of help from his offensive line.

Denver boasts the league's best defense and it all starts with an unrelenting pass rush. Behind the duo of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, who is out Sunday, the Broncos have recorded an NFL-high 22 sacks.

Since returning from a concussion, the best defense McCown has faced statistically is San Diego, but the Chargers were decimated with injuries. Tossing for more than 400 yards is impressive, it can't be taken away, but the Broncos aren't the Ravens.

Can the Browns prevent Denver from winning one-on-one matchups?

Members of the defense pointed out that they made stops when necessary last week against Baltimore. Who knew giving up three points, which tied the game and ultimately led to overtime, was considered a "stop?"

Then in overtime, as the Ravens went three-and-out, their two best playmakers were on the sidelines watching. Without Steve Smith and Justin Forsett, there wasn't a player capable of winning in a one-on-one situation against the Browns' press coverage. It killed any chance of Flacco completing a pass, which led to great field position and the game winning field goal. 

A similar thing happened earlier this year against the Tennessee Titans, the only other game when the Browns defense actually looked respectable at times. With little talent at wideout, rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota was forced to hold the ball, hoping for his receivers to break free, something that didn't happen. 

Because of their talented wideouts, the Jets didn't have the same problem as Tennessee or Baltimore. Neither did the depleted San Diego Chargers or Raiders.

It doesn't appear the Broncos will either.

Not only does the offense use its share of pick plays and screens, but Demaryius Thomas is one of the most gifted receivers in the league and Emmanuel Sanders' quickness and shiftiness make him a difficult cover. The Browns' secondary will receive a real test Sunday. It won't be Kamar Aiken, Marlon Brown and Nick Boyle.

Can the defensive backs back up the big talk and win one-on-one matchups once again?

Will former Browns safety T.J. Ward help slow down Gary Barnidge?

Coming into this season, it was hard to envision any pass catcher emerging as an offensive force. But "Big Play Barnidge" has earned that nickname. 

In the midst of a breakout season, Barnidge has hauled in a team-high 24 catches for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Of his 24 catches, 16 have led to a first down.

In the last three games, coinciding with McCown's return from a concussion, Barnidge has 20 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns, including two highlight-reel grabs at critical moments.

This weekend, Barnidge will be a marked man, appearing near the top of the Denver scouting report. When he goes over the middle, former Browns safety T.J. Ward will be lurking, likely looking to send a message to the team that didn't want him. 

Known more for his hard hits than coverage ability, Ward has helped the Denver defense since his return from suspension. It's not just him when it comes to slowing down opposing tight ends. It's been a team effort, with the help of speedy linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. 

Through five games, opposing tight ends have hauled in 19 catches for 284 yards against the Broncos. As a unit, the Broncos have yet to allow a touchdown to the tight end position. 

Will the Browns be able to pressure Manning?

Despite the glowing praise for Manning coming out of Berea, it's clear the future Hall-of-Famer isn't the same quarterback. His arm strength continues to dwindle, he doesn't look as comfortable without former offensive coordinator Adam Gase and his rushing attack is ranked 30th, making Manning responsible for the offensive success. 

In 2014, Manning was one of the least pressured QB's, but his accuracy dipped well below league average when pressured, according to Pro Football Focus. The same thing is happening this year. Ryan Clady's injury before the regular season caused the line to shuffle and Manning has already been sacked 12 times as a result, including twice last week against Oakland, a defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks.

If given time, Manning can still use his intelligence, accuracy and timing to move the offense through the air. But the key to disrupting the Broncos' aerial assault is pressuring Manning or disrupting the timing by being physical with the receivers on the outside.

The Browns' pass rush has been maddeningly inconsistent. The numbers don't look bad. Cleveland has 10 sacks on the season. Seven of those, however, came against Mariota and the Titans in one game.

Even last week, as Flacco was forced to hold the ball longer than usual, he was only brought down behind the line once. Using Paul Kruger in pass coverage has been part of the problem. The struggles in the secondary has also had an impact. 

Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neill needs to change something this weekend otherwise Manning could do what so many other QB's have done against the Browns defense. 

Cleveland Browns Pregame Scribbles: Can Mike Pettine's defense finally play well this season? -- Terry Pluto

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The Cleveland Browns are averaging more points than Denver this season. Can the Browns 30th ranked defense actually make an impact?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook as the Browns prepare to face the Denver Broncos:

1. The Browns (23.6) are averaging more points than the Denver Broncos (22.6) with Peyton Manning at quarterback. Did anyone think that would be the case when the season opened? That's why this game may tell us as much about Mike Pettine's defense as it does about John DeFilippo's offense.

2. DeFilippo is the rookie offensive coordinator who has taken journeyman quarterback Josh McCown and a band of no-name receivers and transformed them into the No. 6 passing attack in the NFL. I wrote about how DeFilippo did this in my weekend notes. And much has been made about how the Browns are set to face the No. 1 defense in the NFL. As I wrote earlier in the week, it is a challenge for DeFilippo, McCown & Co.

3. But how about the defense? How about the defense actually stopping someone? How about the defense playing a decent game against a Denver team that scored only 16 points against the Oakland Raiders. Yes, the Broncos won, 16-10. But last week, they needed an interception return for a touchdown and three field goals to beat Oakland. This is the same Raiders team that's ranked No. 25 in defense. The Browns lost, 27-20, to Oakland, a game where the orange helmets did pile up 355 yards on offense. McCown threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns against the Raiders.

4. Maybe he will have a great game today, but right now, Manning is struggling. Maybe it's the new offense installed by Coach Gary Kubiak. Maybe it's Manning being 39. But the bottom line is that Manning is the 30th-ranked quarterback. He has thrown only six touchdown passes compared to seven interceptions. The Broncos have only two healthy running backs and rank No. 30 in rushing.

5. Here's the point: Manning is a future Hall of Famer, but age has robbed him of some of his Hall of Fame skills. This is a chance for the Browns to act ... well ... like a good defense. Yes, they are without three starters -- Joe Haden, Tashaun Gipson and Craig Robertson. Jordan Poyer filled in at safety for Gipson last week and was awarded a game ball for his play in the 33-30 victory over Baltimore. Pierre Desir has played reasonably well at cornerback in place of Haden.

6. The Browns linebackers are a mess. I blame Pettine and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil for some of that. They can't seem to figure out how to play Paul Kruger, who had 11 sacks last season in what is supposed to be the same defense. Kruger is dropping back into pass coverage more often this year. He also is being used to defend the run from the strong linebacker spot.

7. Part of the problem is that the coaches have very little confidence in Barkevious Mingo, regardless of what they say. They believe he is weak against the run. He has not shown enough quickness and strength to pressure the quarterback. So the team's 2013 first-round pick is a backup, a guy who plays a lot on special teams. He had only four snaps with the regular defense in last week's overtime victory in Baltimore. That's four snaps in a game where the Browns lost starting outside linebacker Scott Solomon to a season-ending injury.

8. The Browns are expected to start rookie Nate Orchard and Kruger at the outside linebacker spots. Manning has been sacked 12 times in five games. Not a lot, but he's not very mobile and he certainly can be pressured. Armonty Bryant has filled in at the "rush linebacker" spot and does have 3.5 sacks this season.

9. After five games, the Browns have 10 sacks. But seven were in the 28-14 home opening victory over Tennessee. The coaching staff has not been able to put the pieces together to come up with a consistent pass rush. That's part of the reason the Browns have only one interception after five games. They were second in the NFL with 21 interceptions last season. Remember, this is the second year for the Pettine/O'Neil defense and they have nearly all of their key players returning from a year ago. So the early season decline is alarming.

10. If the defense plays a good game, the Browns win. But I don't think the defense will do that: Denver 20, Browns 16.

4 key Cleveland Browns players against the Denver Broncos

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These are the players the Browns need to step up on Sunday if they hope to secure their first win against Denver since 1990.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns will try to beat the Denver Broncos for the first time since 1990. Here are the players they're counting on to do it.

1. Isaiah Crowell

Isaiah Crowell 

The Browns run game has struggled this season, ranking 28th in the league at 88.4 yards per game. The Broncos have the fifth-stingiest run defense, allowing 85.2 yards per game. If the Browns have designs of keeping Josh McCown upright, a strong run game will help and pass protection from the running backs will be vital.

2. Pierre Desir

Pierre Desir 

The Browns could be without the services of Joe Haden on Sunday due to a concussion. That will likely leave the second-year cornerback out of Lindenwood to help cover one of the Broncos top two receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.

3. Gary Barnidge

Gary Barnidge 

Barnidge's performance this season isn't a secret anymore. Part of his value to Josh McCown and the Browns offense, along with being reliable, has been as a safety valve, and McCown will need one on Sunday when the pocket starts collapsing. It's not so much the acrobatic big plays the Browns will need -- though they'll take them. It's going to be the small plays that keep drives alive and turn potential losses into gains.

4. Alex Mack

Alex Mack 

The offensive line overall will need to be strong to keep the Broncos' pass rush at bay, but Mack will have to make sure the pocket stays strong. If Broncos defenders are able to attack up the middle, the Browns passing attack will be in trouble.

Life without Joshua Perry looked difficult for Ohio State: 5 Bill Landis observations

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Penn State attacked the hole in Ohio State's defense after Perry left the game in the first quarter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If there was one position group Ohio State fans probably felt good about when it came to depth in case of an injury, it might have been linebacker.

OK, it's probably quarterback. Duh.

But outside of that, is there a position besides linebacker you feel comfortable about? That's what made the loss of Joshua Perry so interesting in Saturday's win over Penn State. Not that it hurt Ohio State, Perry is an important player, but that it was so glaring.

Perry left in the first quarter after suffering what looked like a right ankle injury on a 45-yard pass from Christian Hackenberg to Chris Godwin. Dante Booker came in to replace Perry, and Penn State immediately started attacking that side of the field with running back Saquon Barkley.

A couple of things go into that. Penn State wanted to test the young linebacker, and going that way means going away from Darron Lee and usually Vonn Bell and Joey Bosa. So it made sense.

But it looked like Barkley (who on an unrelated note looks like a future Big Ten star) made a lot of his 194 yards running right to Booker's side, and Booker didn't always play it the right way. Slight hesitations from Booker, or Booker missing his assignment allowed Barkley to bounce outside on a few runs.

"Josh Perry is a great player, he definitely would've made up for some of the plays that they had," defensive tackle Adolphus Washington said. "Dante Booker did a good job when he was in there, but he doesn't get those reps all the time."

That's not some sort of salacious comment from Washington. Of course a senior captain would be a better option than a true sophomore whose most meaningful playing time before Saturday came on special teams.

And what happened Saturday doesn't have any bearing on how Booker's career will play out in Columbus. It was just a bit surprising because Ohio State seemed to feel very secure with Booker, Cam Williams and Chris Worley as its backup linebackers. Williams ended up replacing Booker in the second half.

Maybe chalk it up to some jitters for Booker, but also as a reminder of the kind of player Perry is. He's always the third guy talked about when anyone mentions Ohio State's linebackers. It's always Lee, then Raekwon McMillan and then Perry.

That third guy is pretty important too.

"He's the leader of our defense," defensive tackle Tommy Schutt said. "He's the kind of guy that holds us together out there."

Pat ElfleinPat Elflein blocks Garrett Sickels during Braxton Miller's run on Saturday against Penn State. (Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer) 

2. Against a defensive line with some real NFL talent, Ohio State's offensive line might have played its best game of the season. Ezekiel Elliott averaged better than 5 yards per carry, and Ohio State averaged better than 6 yards per carry as a team.

3. I've felt for a few weeks that the combination of competent quarterback and competent receivers (which is hard to come by on Ohio State's schedule) would give the Buckeyes some problems.

Saturday night was not the best night for cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley. Apple missed a tackle that led to Godwin's 45-yard gain in the first quarter, then got beat by Godwin again on a 56-yard pass in the third quarter.

Penn State scored its only touchdown when Conley missed a tackle on DaeSean Hamilton, and Conley got flagged later in the game for a late hit on Hackenberg.

Ohio State's corner play overall has been pretty good this year, but has found some trouble against high-quality receivers. Penn State didn't take advantage of that enough on Saturday, because it didn't have the competent quarterback play to hold up the other end of the bargain.

4. Cam Johnston is really good, but won't get enough punts to be seriously considered for the Ray Guy Award -- even though he should.

5. I think Urban Meyer will stick with the Cardale Jones starting, J.T. Barrett in the red zone quarterback plan against Rutgers next week. The thinking being that he'll give it one more week to see how it works before sitting down and really assessing the quarterback situation during the bye week.

Cleveland Browns pregame chat with Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed at 10:30 a.m.

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Get ready for Browns-Broncos with our pregame chat.

The Browns take on the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Get ready for the game with our pregame chat featuring beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed. Leave your questions in the comments below and, starting at 10:30 a.m., Mary Kay and Tom will drop in and answer your questions for about an hour. I'll also be in the comments.

When the game starts, join in our live game chat beginning at kickoff. All of it will be at cleveland.com/browns.

Behind-the-scenes at Browns vs. Broncos game and the Muni Lot

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Behind-the-scenes at FirstEnergy Stadium, Muni Lot before the Browns vs. Broncos game

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns take on the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. 

Our photographers and Browns beat reporters are snapping shots of players as they come into the stadium and as they warm up before the game starts at 1 p.m. 

Who to follow on Instagram:

Reporter Nate Cline (@NathanielCline) is hanging out with the tailgaters and showing us the sights and sounds from the Muni Lot. Follow him on Twitter to see view his videos on Periscope. 


NASCAR Chase 2015: TV schedule, lineup, live scoring and updates from Kansas Speedway (photos)

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NASCAR's Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship 2015 hits Kansas Speedway today with Brad Keselowski on the pole. Get your TV info, starting lineup, live scoring and updates here.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NASCAR's Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship continues today with the Hollywood Casino 400 at the Kansas Speedway and you can follow it live at NASCAR's Race Center.

The race is scheduled for 2:15 on NBC, with pre-race coverage on NBCSN scheduled to begin at 1:30.

Brad Keselowski will start on the pole after running his final qualifying lap on the 1.5-mile track in 27.621 seconds (195.503 mph) Friday, beating Carl Edwards (195.454 mph), who starts second. View the entire starting grid here.

Joey Logano, who won last week at Charlotte, leads the Chase standings and is the only driver who has qualified for Eliminator 8 field. The Chase field will be cut to eight following next week's race at Talladega. Logano starts 14th today.

Jeff Gordon will start sixth today. He is seventh on the Chase grid as he heads toward the final races of his storied career. Still seeking his first win of the season, Gordon can hope Kansas is his good-luck charm. He's got the most wins there (3), the best driver rating (100.5) and the best average finish (9.9).

NASCAR SPRINT CUP HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

Site: Kansas City, Kansas.

Schedule: 2 p.m. (NBC, 1:30-6 p.m.).

Track: Kansas Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles).

Race distance: 400.5 miles, 267 laps.

Last year: Joey Logano raced to the last of his five 2014 victories.

Last week: Logano won at Charlotte to secure a spot in the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He has four victories this year.

Fast facts: The playoff field was cut from 16 to 12 after the third race. It will be reduced to eight after the sixth race and to four after the ninth. Drivers get a spot in the next round with a victory. Points are reset after each round and the title will be decided by finishing order in the Nov. 22 finale at Homestead. Logano tops the standings. Defending series champion Kevin Harvick is second, six points back. Martin Truex Jr. is seven points behind, followed by Denny Hamlin (-8), Kurt Busch (-9), Carl Edwards (-9), Jeff Gordon (-11), Brad Keselowski (-13), Ryan Newman (-19), Kyle Busch (-23), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-32) and Matt Kenseth (-45). ... Gordon, retiring after the season, has a track-record three victories. He won the first two Kansas races in 2001 and 2002 and took the 2014 spring event. ... Jimmie Johnson won in May at the track. He dropped out of the Chase in the first round.

Next race: CampingWorld.com 500, Oct. 25, Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos: Live updates and chat

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Get live updates and chat as the Browns take on the Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns return home after a win in Baltimore to take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Browns are 2-3 and the Broncos are undefeated.

Join in the discussion in the comments during the game with live updates and chat with other fans. I'll be in the comments throughout the game, plus you'll see Tweets from Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed and others. The game will be broadcast live on CBS beginning at 1 p.m.

App users, click here to join in the chat.

By the way, you should like my page on Facebook.

Listen to our live postgame show right after the game in the player below.

Antonio Williams, a four-star RB coming off his Ohio State visit, commits to Buckeyes: Ohio State football recruiting

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First, Ohio State invited four-star running back Antonio Williams for an official visit, then he decommitted from Wisconsin later in the week. Then Sunday morning, Williams announced his intentions to commit to the Buckeyes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It was all adding up to this. 

First, Ohio State invited four-star running back Antonio Williams of New London (N.C.) North Stanly for an official visit, then he decommitted from Wisconsin later in the week. Then Sunday, the morning after Ohio State's 38-10 win over Penn State, Williams announced his intentions to commit to the Buckeyes. 

Rated the No. 7 running back in the 2016 class in 247Sports' composite rankings, Williams came into focus when five-star running back Kareem Walker of Wayne (N.J.) DePaul, an Ohio State commit, announced his intentions to official visit Michigan last weekend. 

After Walker visited Michigan, Ohio State also parted ways with fours-star running back George Hill of Hubbard, Ohio. So there was a need. 

That need was filled with the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Williams. 

Now Ohio State will continue to recruit Walker, the top-rated running back in the 2016 class, because, well, Urban Meyer isn't going to give up one someone so physically talented. 

Williams is commitment No. 19 in Ohio State's 2016 class, one that temporarily fell out of the No. 1 spot in 247Sports' team rankings. But with the Williams commit, Ohio State climbed back into the top spot, passing LSU. 

 

Tim Tebow jump pass and two QBs: There's some Florida in Urban Meyer's Ohio State right now

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Urban Meyer dusted off the Tebow jump pass in Ohio State's win over Penn State on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Has Urban Meyer gone full-Florida?

That's Florida 2006, not Florida 2009.

Comparisons to that 2009 season might be easy with Ohio State trying to defend a national title just as Meyer's Gators were back then, and people will point to the toll that season took on Meyer physically.

This isn't that, Meyer's closest friends will tell you.

But 2006 Florida? Maybe a little. Just look at J.T. Barrett's 5-yard jump pass touchdown to Braxton Miller in the Buckeyes win over Penn State on Saturday night.

It was vintage Meyer, a favorite play call of his when he had Tim Tebow and Chris Leak working in tandem at quarterback. We saw Barrett and Cardale Jones working in tandem last week, and more of that on Saturday before Barrett took over completely in the second half.

And then the jump pass.

"Been wanting to do that for so long," Meyer said with a smile.

Comparisons between Barrett and Tebow are easy, too, especially in this new world where Barrett is the red zone quarterback who comes in to offer more of a running threat than Jones.

Meyer loves both players as leaders, and Barrett's skill set allowed Meyer to dust off an old reliable Tebow staple in a game where Barrett might have separated himself enough to once again be Ohio State's starting quarterback.

Meyer was happy to see the jump pass make a comeback, because he clearly has fond memories of that play -- maybe Tebow's jump pass touchdown against Oklahoma in the 2008 National Championship?

Heck, Tebow did it in the NFL, too.

It's a good weapon when you have the right guy. Barrett had been running the ball well for two weeks when he took the snap in an empty backfield, took one long step forward to draw in the defense, and lofted the ball to a wide open Miller for a 31-10 lead in the fourth quarter.

"I knew they were gonna bite on that pretty hard," Barrett said. "Just raise up throw the ball, Braxton did a good job of getting open vs. man coverage."

Now it's out of the bag, and anyone who forgot about the Tebow jump pass now remembers how useful it was to Meyer when he was at Florida.

So the element of surprise might be gone, but for one night at least, Meyer got to take a walk down memory lane with his new quarterback that reminds him a little bit of his old one.

How could Meyer not try it?

"Who do you think?" co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said when asked who called the play. "That's Coach Meyer's play."

Johnny Manziel active for Broncos game despite incident, will serve as backup with Austin Davis inactive

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Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is active today for the Broncos despite the fact he was involved in a police matter on Monday. He was questioned and let go after a quarrel with his girlfriend that began on the highway.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is active for the Broncos today despite the fact  he was questioned by police Monday for an argument with his girlfriend that began on Interstate 90 and ended on the side of the road.

Manziel will serve as the backup to Josh McCown and be pressed into service if McCown can't finish the game or needs to be replaced.

Manziel and his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, were not charged with anything, but Manziel admitted to drinking two alcoholic beverages in the afternoon before eyewitnesses saw him driving 90 mph down the berm and crossing lanes erratically before exiting on Nagel Road in Avon.

The Browns issued the following statement Friday from general manager Ray Farmer: "We were aware of the situation. It is a matter that we take seriously and have expressed our concerns to Johnny directly. Those conversations will remain private and we will refrain from further comment at this time.''

With backup quarterback Austin Davis on the roster, the Browns could've made Manziel inactive for this game and used Davis as the No. 2. Instead, Davis is inactive today, meaning Manziel is the only option as the backup.

Manziel, who spent 10 weeks in an addiction treatment center in the offseason,  passed off the incident as just a spat with his live-in girlfriend and stressed that he wasn't drunk.

"Colleen and I got into a dumb public argument on the way home Monday afternoon," Manziel tweeted. "It probably looked more interesting than it was and I know I would stop and check if I saw a couple arguing on the side of the road. It was embarrassing but not serious and when we talked to the police and they realized everything was alright and I was sober, we went home together and everything is fine."

In other roster news:

* Running back Isaiah Crowell is active despite a toe injury that had him limited all week.

* Running back Robert Turbin is active for the first time this season. He told Northeast Ohio Media Group he's aiming for 1,000 yards this season.

* Receiver Dwayne Bowe is inactive for the fourth time this season and the second straight week as a healthy scratch.

* Other inactives: receiver Marlon Moore (hamstring), cornerback Joe Haden, safety Tashaun Gipson (ankle), linebacker Craig Robertson (ankle) and tight end E.J. Bibbs.

LeBron James -- The only thing missing from Ohio State's perfect recruiting showcase vs. Penn State? 5 Ari Wasserman observations

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Of all the games Meyer has designed as a recruiting showcase, last night's win over the Nittany Lions may have been the most successful.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There's always one big night game against an influential opponent that Urban Meyer utilizes as a recruiting showcase. 

Hey, did you know Ohio State wore black uniforms Saturday night? No, really, black uniforms. 

And those uniforms were only one thing on the list of many that went right for Ohio State when it hosted a ton of top prospects for its 38-10 win over Penn State. Of all the games Meyer has designed as a recruiting showcase, last night's win over the Nittany Lions may have been the most successful. 

Think about everything that happened: 

* Ohio State wore black uniforms for the first time in program history. Prospects love alternate uniforms, yes, but it was also combined with Ohio Stadium's black out. The majority of the stadium was black, which created an intimidating atmosphere for recruits to enjoy. 

* The way Michigan lost dramatically to Michigan State on the final play of the game made for some pregame fun in the South Stands. As recruits were on the sideline - literally 10 yards away from the stands -- the video operator showed the final play of that game on the big board and the fans erupted. 

* Ohio State won the game against a program that many feel is a rival in convincing fashion. The Buckeyes remained No. 1 in the country and their hopes of defending their national championship remained alive. Nothing sells a program like winning.  

* Just the overall turnout of prospects that came. Here are a few: Four-star RB Antonio Williams of New London (N.C.) New Stanly; Five-star DT Rashard Lawrence of Monroe (La.) Neville; Four-star WR Binjimen Victor of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Coconut Creek; Three-star CB Malek Young of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Coconut Creek; Four-star WR Sam Bruce of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas; Four-star CB Lamont Wade of Clairton, Pa.; and many others. 

The only thing that was missing was LeBron James, who still hasn't come to an Ohio State game for what was turning into an annual tradition. 

But even without James' presence, Ohio State pulled a verbal commitment from Williams on Sunday morning

It may have been the best recruiting atmosphere Ohio State's ever had at a game. 

2. J.T. Barrett should be the starting quarterback: Keeping it simple -- Ohio State's offense is more in sync when Barrett is the quarterback. And because I think the Buckeyes should stick with one quarterback, Barrett gives them the best chance to win long term because of the element of running he brings to the offense. 

3. Curtis Samuel is explosive: Every time he touches the ball I can feel his dynamic ability from the press box. Of all the people who need to touch it more, Samuel is on top of that list. 

4. Braxton Miller is settling in: If that's the average game for Miller, I think Ohio State has to take it. He had a few nice runs, he blocked well and he caught a touchdown pass. Miller could be getting into a groove of productivity. 

5. Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten: There was some doubt -- somehow -- about whether that was true before the weekend. But after Ohio State's big win over Penn State and what happened in Ann Arbor, it's safe to say the Buckeyes are still the best team in the conference. 

Ohio State football: Does it matter to Urban Meyer if he plays one quarterback or two?

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"Of course I care. But the job is to go win a game. And we won. We beat a very good team by, what was it, 28 points. Very good win. Of course I care." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The coaches are tired of talking about it, but they sure aren't tired of changing it. Every week the quarterback context at Ohio State switches (maybe evolves would make it sound more like a plan) and every week we ask for an explanation that may not be valid by the time Monday hits.

Cardale Jones has started all seven games, yet what has happened after that each game been all over the quarterback map. 

J.T. Barrett has relieved in basically mopup duty (Virginia Tech, Western Michigan).

He's come in during the second quarter and seen Jones go back out to start the second half. (Hawaii).

He's come in during the second quarter and then stayed in and played the whole second half. (Northern Illinois).

He's played not at all (Indiana), as the redzone quarterback (Maryland) and now as the redzone quarterback and more, finishing the game Saturday after taking full control in the third and fourth quarter against Penn State.

Ohio State wins, we ask what this latest incarnation of the QB dance means there's some vibe from the people making the decisions wondering why everyone cares so much. Then the Buckeyes go on to their next week, still the No. 1 team in the nation, still with no final answer at the most important position on the field.

Do the coaches care? Do they want this thing settled once and for all? Or could a new quarterback twist work each week?

The Buckeyes haven't dominated every game, but the offense has looked better the last two weeks, so does Urban Meyer care if he starts the game with one quarterback and finishes with another?

"Of course I care. But the job is to go win a game. And we won. We beat a very good team by, what was it, 28 points. Very good win. Of course I care," Meyer said after Saturday's 38-10 win over Penn State, seizing on my use of the word "care" to make a clear case that the best interests of his individual players matter to him greatly.

That's one point. The other is the "whatever it takes to win" point and the idea that "whatever" is 7-0.

"Absolutely. Whatever it takes to win. I don't know - someone else should be standing here if there's some other purpose of our job," Meyer said. "First of all, I care about these players. And you try to win a game at whatever cost. However you can do it. And the offensive job is to secure the ball, limit the turnovers. That's two games that (we) are six for six in the redzone. So I'm very extremely pleased with this.

"And I want to make sure that this idea, (we) care big time about these guys because, like I said, there's a lot of people in that locker room that are the very invested and have done a lot of things. And I do care, but our job is to go win."

Th real question is whether settling the quarterback position is a top priority in the QB evaluation this week. Would Meyer start Barrett for the first time against Rutgers next week because in game eight, he now thinks a change may lead him toward a final solution?

Or is the Saturday plan fine? Maybe even good? Maybe even better than one quarterback?

If Jones is playing well, then great, Barrett does the redzone plays to keep the quarterback run game alive and otherwise it's the Cardale show. If Jones isn't sharp, then the redzone gradually expands to all 100 yards, but it's not a big deal because Barrett already knew he was going to play and had been playing. So it's not a shock, just an expansion.

It feels like the people on the outside want a final answer. Maybe the people on the inside are fine with the answer being that the answer will always be open to change.

"We've very aware of it," offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said, asked whether playing one or two quarterbacks matters. "The number one job we have is to win football games. Whoever can help us to do that at the time - at the time - is what we'll do. And that could be if our tight end isn't hot we'll go to all wide receivers. We'll go in any direction we need to go in during a game to win a game.

"Obviously, we like Cardale a lot, so we'd like for him to play at a high level every second he's in there. Sometimes that doesn't always happen."

And when it doesn't, the Buckeyes the last two weeks have changed the plan.

Unless changing the plan was actually the plan.

Maybe settling the quarterback situation for this team won't be settling on one quarterback.

"I don't think it matters as much to us as maybe it does to you guys," Warinner said.

Maybe it's just settling in with whatever works that day.


Ohio State's best player - punter Cameron Johnston - might lead the Buckeyes to another national championship

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"I just try to do what I go do. I just do my job and, yeah, that's the main thing," Johnston said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Instinct suggested Penn State recruit an Australian punter. 

The Nittany Lions appeared to punt it sideways at times Saturday night while trying two punters who were never able to flip the field on Ohio State. Whenever the OSU defense stopped Penn State, the Buckeyes could anticipate a chance at a big play. If one of the seven punts the Nittany Lions tried wasn't shanked out of bounds, the Buckeyes could line up and tee off on a big return.

Instinct suggested Michigan recruit an Australian punter.

Those Aussies are athletes first, after years of running and kicking and kicking on the run in the games they play in their native country. In a pinch, with a game and a season and history on the line and a ball on the ground, those Australian Rules Football skills would kick in. The end result would definitely NOT have been one of the most crushing losses in Michigan history and a miracle win for Michigan State on Saturday on a last-play punt implosion.

Australia is the answer.

What's that?

Penn State punter Daniel Pasquariello, the one who averaged 35.3 yards on three punts Saturday, not the one who averaged 36.2 yards on four punts, is Australian?

What's that?

Michigan punter Blake O'Neill, whose drop of a snap and ensuing special teams snafus are now part of Michigan lore, is also Australian?

OK. It turns out those teams don't just need an Australian punter. They need Ohio State's Australian punter.

Cameron Johnston. The best player on the No. 1 team in the country.

Best player.

"No, no, definitely not, not at all," Johnston said to that suggestion after Saturday's 38-10 win over Penn State.

OK, how about the guy who is currently doing his job better than anyone on the team is doing his job?

"Nooo," Johnston said as the question was still being rolled out. "I just try to do what I go do. I just do my job and, yeah, that's the main thing."

There's that famous Australian sheepishness. (Is that a quality associated with that country? No idea.)

Consider a situation, Ohio State fans. When the Buckeyes have third-and-6 this season and drop back to pass, how do you feel? Are you awash in confidence?

Now let's say that pass falls incomplete and it's fourth-and-6. How do you feel now? Worried Johnston is going to shank one or drop the snap or nail a line drive right at the returner who's going house it?

No. Fourth down breeds more confidence than third down. The Buckeyes are punting from a position of strength. In a season when they are punting more often, that's a great advantage to hold. 

Somehow, Johnston makes it feel as if the Buckeyes are on the attack even while giving up the ball.

Every time something somewhere goes wrong on a punt, someone watching the Buckeyes makes a joke about Jim Tressel calling the punt the most important play in football. Yet Urban Meyer values special teams just as much. People just think it's funny because Tressel seemed to punt more.

But after punting just 45 times in 15 games last season, an average of 3 per game, Ohio State has punted 33 times this season, or 4.7 times per game. There's a stat to tell you something about the offensive comparisons of last year and this year.

In 2014, the Buckeyes' favorite stat to mention was their field-position edge. They ranked No. 1 in the nation in the difference between where they started drives and where opponents started drives. That's special teams. 

That's what is in play here, except with an offense that is going three-and-out more often. When it gets to fourth down, it's not time to panic. That's Johnston and the coverage unit, featuring players like Vonn Bell, Jeff Greene, longsnapper Bryce Haynes and gunners Gareon Conley and Terry McLaurin.

First series Saturday, the Buckeyes started at their 22, lost a yard in three plays, and Johnston unloaded a 56-yard punt that forced Penn State into a fair catch. If he drops in something like a 36-yarder instead, Penn State's 61-yard drive could have led to a touchdown instead of a 33-yard field goal.

Next Ohio State drive, 18 yards in five plays, Johnston drops in a 45-yarder caught at the 8-yardline. Penn State responds with a four-yard drive and a 39-yard punt that Jalin Marshall returns 16 yards. 

Ohio State winds up gaining 23 yards in field position just by winning the punt game. And when the offense did nothing with that, Johnston pinned Penn State at the 2-yardline on his next punt.

That kind of thing happened all game.

Ohio State offense stalls, Johnston fixes it. Pinned at the 8. Pinned at the 4. 

After three quarters, Ohio State led Penn State just 261 to 256 in yards, but was ahead 21-10 on the scoreboard. Why? Part of it was because the Penn State offense had so much farther to go to score. 

For the game, Penn State's average drive started on its 16. Ohio State's started on its 36. That's a 20-yard edge before whatever quarterback the Buckeyes are playing even takes the field.

That's Johnston. That's doing your job. That's covering up for offensive sluggishness and allowing the defense to let loose. That's putting your team in position to win. That's the kind of thing that wins championships.

Your best player tends to help you that way.

Meanwhile, a theory emerged after Michigan's loss that O'Neill's lack of American football experience and his tendencies left over from Australian Rules Football may have led him to try to get a punt off from an odd angle in the face of a rush after he dropped the snap.

"If you watch Australian Rules Football, those guys are used to kicking with people draped over them in traffic," the coach who first signed O'Neill, Weber State's Jay Hill, told CBSSports.com. O'Neill transferred to Michigan for this season.

Anyone who has watched Johnston in Columbus for three seasons should know this - he wouldn't have done that. An athlete in the midst of a crisis, Johnston would have found a better solution.

He's very good at his job.

"He's unbelievable," Ohio State senior left tackle Taylor Decker said. "He's probably one of the most talented guys on our team. Coach will say, 'Kick it on the 8-yardline,' and he'll hit it right on the 8-yardline. He's unbelievably talented and he's huge for us. He can flip the field and get the defense in a great position and in turn that will get the offense in a great position."

Think back to when Ohio State lost punter recruit Johnny Townsend in a numbers crunch on National Signing Day 2013. Desperation led them to Johnston.

Now he's fifth in the nation in net punting at 42.2 yards per punt, and that's without being able to really boom it most of the time. He has dropped 14 of 33 punts inside the 20 and the Buckeyes have given up a total of 35 punt return yards all year.

Among potential playoff opponents, only Utah with Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hackett and Alabama with JK Scott, who had a slow start to the season, could match Johnston. (Townsend, though, is ninth in the nation in net punting with the Florida Gators.)

Johnston, of course, said he has a lot to work on. He's been happy with the way he has pooched punts inside the 10, but he thinks he could angle his kicks better. But that's not really what he's worried about. His greatest concern is what Meyer thinks.

"I just want to make him happy," Johnston said.

Is he?

"I hope he is."

He should be. His punter might win him another national title.

Avon police release 911 calls from domestic incident involving Johnny Manziel

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A woman who called 911 Oct. 12 to report a domestic incident involving Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel and his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, said Crowley was trying to get out of the car as it was driving on Interstate 90.

AVON, Ohio -- A woman who called 911 to report a domestic incident involving Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel and his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, said Crowley tried to get out of the car as Manziel was driving on Interstate 90 through Avon.

Avon police, who questioned Manziel and Crowley but did not arrest either, released two 911 calls from the Oct. 12 incident Monday morning.

The first woman to call 911 said she saw a white Nissan speed past her car on Interstate 90 and exit at Nagel Road.

"There's a lady in the passenger's seat trying to jump out," she said. "The guy is poking her, bumping her neck."

A second woman called 911 minutes later and said that she watched the driver of the Nissan park near the Nagel Road exit. She noted that a man and woman inside the SUV -- later identified as Manziel and Crowley -- were arguing.

Manziel can be heard in the background saying he is sober.

"I'm just trying to take her home, baby, please," he says in the background.

"The girl is crying," the caller said. "It appears she might be intoxicated."

When police arrived, Crowley told them that Manziel hit her and shoved her head into the window, but the only evidence of harm was an abrasion on her wrist that police determined was the result of Manziel trying to keep her in the car, according to an arrest report.

Crowley said that she didn't want to press charges.

Manziel admitted to having two drinks earlier in the day but did not appear intoxicated, the report said.

He and Crowley took to social media after the story broke Friday to explain what happened and let everyone know they were fine.

Manziel spent 10 weeks in an addiction treatment center during the offseason.

The Browns released a statement following the incident that said they are aware of the situation and are taking it seriously.

Playoff teams prove a massive payroll not mandatory to make noise in October: Zack Meisel's musings

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Of the four teams remaining in the hunt for a World Series ring, none rank in the top nine in the league in payroll.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are five thoughts on the MLB postseason, money and the Cleveland Indians, past and present.

1. More money, more problems: Of the four teams remaining in the hunt for a World Series ring, none rank in the top nine in the league in payroll. The Blue Jays (10th), Cubs (11th), Royals (14th) and Mets (15th) do, however, all rank in the upper half, according to Spotrac, a site that measures team payrolls in real time.

The Dodgers churned out two playoff wins with their massive payroll, which exceeds $300 million. The Yankees reached the American League Wild Card Game, a three-hour postseason cameo that resulted from an investment of more than $200 million. The Tigers translated their $162 million budget into a last-place finish in the AL Central.

2. All about the Benjamins: A giant payroll guarantees nothing. The Astros reached Game 5 of the AL Division Series, despite the 25th-highest budget in the league. The Pirates, who won 98 games and reached the postseason for the third consecutive year, sit just ahead of Houston. The Indians, who rank 27th in terms of payroll, registered an 81-80 record. While it's typically advantageous to have financial flexibility, it is is not impossible to compete with a tight budget.

3. Loose change: Of course, it can't hurt to have some extra cash in one's pocket. Toronto acquired David Price and Troy Tulowitzki -- a pair of handsomely paid stars -- prior to the trade deadline. Kansas City dealt for pitcher Johnny Cueto, who is in the final year of a contract that earns him $10 million this season. The Mets inherited what was left of Yoenis Cespedes' $10.5 salary in the middle of the summer. The Cubs made the first pricy purchase of their rebuild last winter when they inked Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million pact.

4. Started at the bottom: The Mets and Cubs have been on similar trajectories over the last decade. New York last finished with a winning record in 2008. For the last few years, the Mets have remained patient and waited for their crop of young starting pitchers to reach the majors. It has all come together this season, perhaps a year earlier than many expected. The Cubs last logged a winning record in 2009. They initiated a rebuild their cache of draft picks and international signings have blossomed in 2015 under new manager Joe Maddon. The Astros stripped their organization bare and accumulated talent in a similar fashion. Such a process can bear fruitful results, so long as a franchise doesn't mind a handful of miserable years of waiting around.

COLONCleveland Indians pitcher Bartolo Colon pulls on his waistband as he ponders the run he just walked in during the first inning Thursday, June 29, 2000, against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Colon gave up three runs that inning without allowing a hit. (AP Photo/Cliff Schiappa) 

5. Ex-files: Former Tribe players have popped up all over the postseason. Here's a sampling of those who have appeared in a playoff game.

Blue Jays: Ezequiel Carrera

Mets: Bartolo Colon

Astros: Luis Valbuena, Tony Sipp, Scott Kazmir

Rangers: Shin-Soo Choo, Chris Gimenez, Drew Stubbs

Cardinals: Brandon Moss, Mark Reynolds, Jhonny Peralta

Hector Rondon never pitched in the big leagues for the Tribe, but he was a well-regarded prospect in the organization before he underwent a pair of elbow surgeries and was claimed by the Cubs in the Rule 5 draft. Rondon now serves as Chicago's closer.

Ohio State football: Live updates from Urban Meyer's press conference previewing Rutgers

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Ohio State travels to Rutgers for an 8 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer will preview Saturday's game against Rutgers during his Monday news conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Meyer is set to take the podium around 11:45 a.m. Updates from Meyer will appear in the comments section below.

He'll also recap Saturday's 38-10 win over Penn State, a game in which J.T. Barrett might have asserted himself as the Buckeyes starting quarterback. Meyer said on Saturday that he'll have an update on the quarterback situation today. The Buckeyes also lost linebacker Joshua Perry to an ankle injury against the Nittany Lions, and we'll hope to get an update on that as well.

The Buckeyes (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) will travel to Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday night for a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Kickoff from High Point Solutions Stadium is set for 8 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC.

Rutgers (3-3, 1-3) is coming off a come-from-behind, 55-52 win over Indiana on Saturday.

The Buckeyes beat Rutgers, 56-17, last year in Columbus in a game in which Barrett had five total touchdowns.

What's happened to the Cleveland Browns' pass rush? (video)

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The Browns picked off Denver quarterback Peyton Manning three times Sunday, but did not register a sack. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns took the Denver Broncos to overtime Sunday before suffering a 26-23 overtime loss at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns picked off Denver quarterback Peyton Manning three times, but did not register a sack.

In this video, Northeast Ohio Media Group Browns reporters Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed discuss the Tweet below, and how they Browns are having a hard time getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks:

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