The three teams getting the most votes in the MAC basketball preseason poll are Central Michigan, Akron and Kent State.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Central Michigan, Akron and Kent State are expected to be the power basketball teams in the Mid-American Conference this season with CMU tabbed as the overwhelming West Division winners and ultimate MAC Tournament champion.

Akron (21-14, 9-9) is the favorite to win the MAC East, challenged by KSU (23-12, 12-6). Central Michigan (23-9, 12-6), one of the highest scoring teams in the nation averaging 78.2 points a game last season, received all 23 media votes to win the MAC West, while the Zips were picked on 17 ballots to win the East with Kent State getting five votes and defending MAC Tournament champion Buffalo getting one.

"We're pleased to be one of the favorites, but there is a whole lot of basketball to be played,'' said Akron coach Keith Dambrot, who is now an influential voice in college basketball. "There are a lot of teams I believe will be capable of winning the league and we look to be one of them."

CMU, Kent and Buffalo ended the 2015 regular season in a three-way tie for first, all at 12-6 in league play. Central returns its top nine scorers from last season. Akron returns its entire starting unit, including 6-11 center Pat Forsythe (10 points, 4.9 rebounds a game) and a deep bench as only one player on the team averaged better than 23 minutes a game last season.

And while Kent has some retooling to do in the backcourt, first team All-MAC forward Jimmy Hall (15.9 points, 7.7 rebounds) does return to anchor the baseline.

Buffalo took a big hit after last season, losing coach Bobby Hurley to Arizona State, along with guard Shannon Evans and several prime recruits, also to ASU, followed by the school dismissal of returning MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss for theft.

Hall and Forsythe are preseason All-MAC East Division picks, along with guard Lamonte Bearden at Buffalo, guard Eric Washington at Miami, and center Antonio Campbell at Ohio University. The All-MAC East Division team is led by a pair of CMU players in guard Chris Fowler (16.0 points, 6.1 assists a game) and forward John Simons (12.5 points).

College basketball teams have been practicing since the first of October, and this week begin private scrimmages with other Division I teams where no media or fans are allowed. Kent will play St. Bonaventure on Saturday and coach Rob Senderoff has a clear agenda for what he hopes to accomplish.

"I need to see Kellen (Thomas, point guard), who has not really played much in two years (fractured orbital bone),'' Senderoff said. "I need to see if Rasean (Davis) and Khaliq (Spicer) have improved going against other players as much as they have against each other. I need to see how well we rebound and defend."

Akron will not scrimmage until next week, against Youngstown State.

2015-16 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

East Division Preseason Predictions (1st place votes)
    1.    Akron - 132 points (17)
    2.    Kent State - 116 (5)
    3.    Ohio -- 69
    4.    Buffalo - 64 (1)
    5.    Miami -- 60
    6.    Bowling Green -- 42

West Division Preseason Predictions (1st place votes)
    1.    Central Michigan -- 138 ponts (23)
    2.    Toledo -- 110
    3.    Western Michigan -- 94
    4.    Eastern Michigan -- 71
    5.    Northern Illinois  -- 37
    6.    Ball State -- 33

Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (15), Akron (7), Buffalo (1)

Preseason All-MAC Teams

MAC East

Pat Forsythe, Akron
Lamonte Bearden, Buffalo
Jimmy Hall, Kent State
Eric Washington, Miami
Antonio Campbell, Ohio

MAC West

Chris Fowler, Central Michigan
John Simons, Central Michigan
Raven Lee, Eastern Michigan
Nathan Boothe, Toledo
Connar Tava, Western Michigan

Josh McCown has expected to start vs. the Cardinals ever since he had the MRI Monday on his sore right shoulder.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Josh McCown's right shoulder is feeling better and he expects to start Sunday against the Cardinals over Johnny Manziel, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

As early as Monday, after he underwent an MRI on the shoulder, McCown felt he'd be ready to go by Sunday with some rest during the week, the source said.

On Monday, McCown said he'd do everything possible to get back on the field following Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Rams. He might sit out Wednesday's practice and be limited through the week, but he anticipates playing.

"Absolutely I want to get back out there and get going,'' said McCown, who seemed in much better shape Monday. "It's not just me. Every guy in this locker room puts his time in you want to be rewarded for your work and your effort. I'd absolutely love to be back out there.''

He said his shoulder was "getting better. Sore, but getting better. I think disappointment probably outweighs all of that. I'm just disappointed in how we played.''

Coach Mike Pettine made it clear on Monday that McCown is his man as long as the shoulder cooperates. Of course, McCown also felt he could face the Titans in week two, but wasn't cleared from his concussion. In this case, even the team is optimistic he'll play.

 "If our starting quarterback is physically able to play will we play him?'' Pettine said, with a heavy emphasis on the words starting quarterback. "Yes."

Pettine applauded McCown for his ability to withstand the Rams' beating, but stressed that the team needs to protect him better.

"That's a credit to his toughness, his resolve, but we have to know -- and our guys knew it watching the film  -- that we have to protect this guy,'' Pettine said Monday. "You can't have your quarterback go through a game like that. I don't care if he's Josh's age (36) or if he's 23. That's not good business. You have to protect your quarterback and a big part of that is what I've said it in here 1,000 times - you have to get ahead of the sticks."

Manziel will likely take all the first-team reps Wednesday, but if all goes as planned, he'll be the backup on Sunday. Manziel is also under review by the NFL for possibly violating its personal conduct policy. The league has already been in to talk to Avon police and will meet with Manziel soon, if it hasn't already.

Meanwhile, the Browns were happy with McCown's gutsy performance Sunday despite the fact he was sacked four times -- stripped twice -- and hit hard at least another half-doze after the throw.

 "He was accurate with the ball, made good decisions,'' said Pettine. "I thought he was patient. Once we got up, they played a lot of Cover 2 and gave us a lot of throws underneath and he didn't try to get greedy. Sometimes you have a tendency to press and force the ball and I thought he did a really good job of understanding what they were playing, figuring out coverages, if not pre-snap very quickly post-snap and he knew where to go with the football. I thought he made some good plays when he had to get out of the pocket. A couple of nice scrambles and a couple of nice throws, throws on the run.''

If McCown starts, and all signs are pointing that way, he'll go against the Cardinals No. 4 defense, his third top 10 unit in a row.

Sizing up the college football playoff picture. For eight teams - Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State, Clemson, LSU, TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma State - the path seems clear. Win out and they're likely in.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The race for the four berths in this season's college football playoffs became clearer with the loss of Utah, the last of the Pac-12's undefeated teams.

Now only four of the power five conferences can have unbeaten champions. So undefeated champions of those leagues -- the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC -- would be heavy favorites to make the playoffs.

This means Clemson in the ACC, LSU in the SEC, Ohio State, Michigan State or Iowa in the Big Ten, and Baylor, TCU or Oklahoma State of the Big 12 have the clearest roads to the playoffs. Win out, and they're likely in.

But history says there typically are only one or two major undefeated teams left at bowl selection time. So what about the resumes of the one-loss teams? Or what will the resumes look like for the current unbeatens if they lose?

In our weekly look at the schedules and results as they impact the playoff picture, here's what we know so far. Remember that last year the selection committee emphasized what a team had done, not what it was projected to do, in its weekly rankings.

Continue reading the story below chart:

Records

As shown above, only eight power five conference teams remain unbeaten. Another 10 schools from these conferences have just one loss.

Nearly all 18 of these schools could become strong contenders if they win out.

Additionally, Houston, Memphis, Temple and Toledo are undefeated. Memphis, in particular, could end up making a case, since an undefeated Memphis team would have wins against Mississippi, Houston and Temple.

Wins over ranked teams

The resumes are short in this regard. Just seven of the power conference undefeated or one-loss teams have victories over teams that remain ranked in the AP top 25.

LSU has the lead in this category. The Tigers have beaten No. 11 Florida and No. 25 Mississppi State.

The only others that have beaten ranked teams are Clemson (No. 9 Notre Dame), Michigan State and Utah (No. 15 Michigan), Florida (No. 19 Mississippi), Iowa (No. 23 Pitt), and Stanford (No. 24 UCLA).

Others have wins over previously ranked teams, but that shouldn't matter. The earlier rankings were only a prediction of a team's quality. The latest rankings offer the best evaluation.

Strength of schedule

LSU, Iowa and Clemson have played the toughest overall schedules to date, based on the NCAA's "toughest schedule" rankings. These are calculated using opponent records against other FBS teams. Games against teams from the FCS, formerly known as Division I-AA, are excluded.

LSU is ranked 24th nationally for "toughest schedule," Iowa 29th and Clemson 65th.

The easiest schedules so far are for Duke (114th), Oklahoma State (112th) and North Carolina (111th).

These rankings, of course, will change as the season moves along. For example, Ohio State ranks 75th for games already played. But including future regular season games moves Ohio State up to 38th. The Buckeyes would move even higher, if they play in the Big Ten title game.

Trainer Kenny Porter finally accepts Hall of Fame honor. Manny Pacquiao will retire in 2016, according to promoter. Rumors persist that the Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman bout on December 12 is off.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Summit County Boxing Hall of Fame Association inducted trainer Kenny Porter in 2013, but it took Porter two years to actually accept the recognition.

This time he did not have a choice.

"Before, I didn't feel like it because I did not need anyone to tell me that I did something good for kids," Porter said. "If a kid did something successful in life, that's good enough for me. But one of my guys was inducted posthumously, so I accepted this time because Jason Duffy made it in."

Porter, Duffy and several other boxers and trainers were honored at Akron's Tangier Restaurant last Sunday. Porter, who trains his son Shawn, has been a professional and amateur trainer for 25 years.

Prior to developing his son into an IBF welterweight champ, Porter reached the highest level of trainer for USA Boxing. He trained dozens of Olympic hopefuls. Porter continues to train other fighters along with his son.

Duffy, who died last year, was one of Porter's pupils back in the amateur days. Duffy fought at 132 pounds. He once won in his weight class at the Ohio State Fair Tournament. His most memorable bout was in a close decision to then No. 3 ranked amateur Freddy Neal.

"Jason didn't get the decision, but we were very happy with what he did to Freddy that day," Porter said.

Sunday's event included a roast of the honorees, karaoke and a touching moment where Duffy's family joined Porter on stage.

"Duffy not being there really got to me," Porter said. "He was a good man. He worked with GreenPeace... The event was a celebration of Jason's life. The best thing about it all is that I'm going into [the hall] with Jason."

Quick jabs

It looks like the Shawn Porter-Keith Thurman bout will be moved from Dec. 12 to another date. ... You can also watch the bout between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez on Nov. 21 (HBO PPV) at a movie theater. ... Terence Crawford's camp calls out Manny Pacquiao. ... Promoter Bob Arum says April 9 will be Manny Pacquiao's last fight. ... Here are the top five fighters, not named Floyd Mayweather, who Pacquaio should fight in his final bout. ... Check out this highlight video of Miguel Cotto presented by HBO. ... Rumors continue about Mayweather-Pacquaio II. ... Can you believe who Ring Magazine put on its current cover?

This week in boxing history

On Oct. 26, 1970: Muhammad Ali returned to the ring after 43 months in exile. Ali fought Jerry Quarry in Atlanta. Ali won the bout via knockout in the third round.

Fight schedule

Friday

(Bounce TV): Tony Thompson vs. Malik Scott, heavyweights; Haskell Lydell Rhodes vs. Sergey Lipinets, junior welterweights; Javontae Starks vs. Samuel Figueroa, welterweights; Antonio Russell vs. Sam Rodriguez, bantamweights; Antonio Tarver Jr. vs. Thomas Allen, junior middleweights.

(Telemundo): Ganigan Lopez vs. Miguel Herrera, flyweights.

Saturday

(NBC Sports Net): Jermell Charlo vs. Joachim Alcine, junior middleweights; Tony Harrison vs. Cecil McCalla, junior middleweights.
 

See the top 15 St. Ignatius football players since 2000

See the top 15 St. Edward football players since 2000

The Cleveland Cavaliers will play the second game of a back-to-back on the road to open the 2015-16 season. This time, they travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will play the second game of a back-to-back on the road to open the 2015-16 season. This time, they travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio. On radio, it will be simulcast on WTAM-AM 1100, 100.7 WMMS-FM and 87.7 FM (ESP).

The Cavaliers are coming off an opening night loss to the Chicago Bulls, 97-95. LeBron James led the way with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. But his potential game-tying runner was blocked out of bounds by Chicago's Pau Gasol. The Cavs turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds attempt, sealing the win for the Bulls.

Mo Williams scored 19 points in his Cavs debut to go along with a team-high seven assists. Kevin Love showed no ill effects of a shoulder injury suffered during the playoffs last year, adding 18 points, with eight coming in the final minutes.   

Wednesday's contest marks the regular season opener for the Grizzlies. Known for their physical play, the Grizz finished with 55 wins last season and advanced to the second round of the postseason before being wiped out by NBA champion Golden State.

Two-time All-Star Marc Gasol led Memphis in scoring last year, averaging 17.4 points. Zach Randolph, Gasol's frontcourt mate, averaged 16.1 points.  

It's the first of two meetings between the Cavs and Grizzlies. The second matchup will be March 7 at Quicken Loans Arena. 

Chris Haynes has the latest on the Cavs' recent team meeting. Later, catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs. 

Check out dozens of football player stat leaders for offense and defense entering Week 10 of the 2015 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Get caught up on which football players in Northeast Ohio are leading the way in several offensive and defensive stat categories below based on information reported by teams. 

The deadline for team reps to enter their stats to be eligible for these posts is Tuesday at 7 p.m. The stats below reflect what has been entered in the database at the present time, as the charts are updated in real time when the post is opened. 

Don't see your team included? Please ask your coach or athletic director to participate in cleveland.com's stats program. If they need instructions or access to the database, ask the coach, athletic director or statistician to email high school sports manager Kristen Davis at kdavis@cleveland.com.

To see more than the Top 5 in any category below, click the stat category link (for instance, passes completed) then click the "load more" link.

PASSING LEADERS

RUSHING LEADERS

RECEIVING LEADERS

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag.

Tell us who you think the top 15 players from St. Ignatius and St. Edward are since 2000.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Players and coaches from St. Ignatius and St. Edward are preparing for the 53rd renewal of the area's top high school football rivalry slated for 2 p.m. Saturday at First Federal Lakewood Stadium.

In the meantime, cleveland.com is taking a look back at the best players from the last 15 seasons at both schools. Reporters Joe Noga and Scott Patsko consulted the record books and chatted with experts from both sides of the rivalry to compile lists of the best 15 Wildcats and the top 15 Eagles since the 2000 season.

Here is the St. Ignatius top 15 players since 2000 gallery

And the St. Edward top 15 players since 2000 gallery

Special thanks to Eddie Dwyer and Carmen Tedesco for their advice.

Don't forget to vote in the polls at the end of each slideshow for your favorite player.

What do you think of the lists? Were any standouts snubbed? Who should be No. 1 for each school? Leave a comment below to let us know.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

It's hard to say why someone would expose themselves to this torture, but someone did.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns fans are gluttons for punishment. They attend games, watch games and talk about games all week no matter how often the team loses.

One fan is apparently a bigger glutton for punishment than others. That fan's name is Matthew Ahn and he's one of the writers at a blog called SupraStructure. He took on the task of ranking every single Browns loss since 1999. There have been a lot of them, obviously -- 178, to be exact.

Ahn categorizes his rankings from 'Eh, these aren't bad' (Tennessee in Week 17 of the 2000 season) to 'Nothing is real anymore. All hail the Matrix' (the Wild Card game in Pittsburgh).

For the record, I'd have gone with that Wild Card loss at No. 1. Or the Dwayne Rudd helmet throw. That's up there. No. 1 is a doozy, though, and I won't spoil it. Give Matt a click to find out. He's earned it. Here's one, though, that hopefully you've forgotten:

3. @Pittsburgh, 2002 Week 4, 16-13 (OT). The Browns get an interception deep in Steelers territory in overtime, but Phil Dawson misses a 45-yard field goal. On the next drive, the Steelers attempt to kick a field goal on second down. The attempt is blocked, but the Steelers recover. The refs rule that since the ball did not cross the line of scrimmage, the Steelers are entitled to kick another field goal on third down, and that attempt is good.

That's No. 3. My God. That loss that happened as a result of a crazy, unlikely you may not see it again scenario is No. 3. You're in my thoughts, Matt, and all Browns fans in general.

See conference standings and league race implications for every football league in Northeast Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here is a breakdown of high school football conference standings and league championship races entering Week 10 across Northeast Ohio.

Also check out links to every conference in the area.

The charts below also list overall records, as well as links to every team’s homepage, where you can find all the latest news, stats, schedule and more. The records are updated in real time.

AKRON CITY SERIES

Clinched title: Buchtel.

Key Week 10 games (with City Series records)

Garfield (3-2) at Ellet (3-2)

Scenarios: Buchtel has locked up its second consecutive City Series title and will play in the Week 11 championship game at InfoCision Stadium, unless the Griffins advance to the Division III, Region 7 playoffs. Akron East (4-2) has already clinched a spot in the championship game and holds tiebreakers against Garfield and Ellet. The winner of the Garfield vs. Ellet game will qualify for the City Series championship game if Buchtel reaches the playoffs.

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAGRIN DIVISION

Clinched title: West Geauga.

Key Week 10 games (with CVC records)

Chagrin Falls (4-2) at West Geauga (6-0)

Perry (4-1) at Harvey (4-2)

Scenarios: West Geauga’s win last week vs. Perry sewed up the Chagrin Division. Perry’s no-contest a few weeks ago with Geneva prevents the Pirates from even hoping for a share as the top four teams square off.

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE VALLEY DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Kirtland.

Key Week 10 games (with CVC records)

Hawken (5-1) at Kirtland (6-0)

Scenarios: Kirtland’s win last week against Cuyahoga Heights, which trailed by a game, was the first step. Now Hawken can earn a share with a win or the Hornets can take the outright title.

FEDERAL LEAGUE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Canton GlenOak.

Key Week 10 game (with Federal League records)

GlenOak (5-0) at Massillon Perry (4-1)

Scenario: Canton GlenOak, has captured a share of the Federal League title and has an opportunity to win outright when the team travels Massillon Perry on Friday. If they Eagles fail to do so, they will share the title with Perry.

GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Rocky River

Key Week 10 games (with GLC records)

Rocky River (5-0) at Holy Name (4-1)

Parma (2-3) at Bay (4-1)

Scenarios: Rocky River is the only GLC team without a conference loss. It wins the title outright with a win. Holy Name, which lost to Elyria Catholic, shares the title with Rocky River with a win. Bay, which lost to Rocky River, creates a three-way tie for the title with a win and a Holy Name win.

GREATER CLEVELAND CONFERENCE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: None.

Key Week 10 games (with GCC records)

Medina (2-4) at Solon (5-1)

Mentor (5-1) at Elyria (2-4)

Shaker Heights (0-6) at Euclid (5-1)

Scenarios: Euclid, Mentor and Solon are alive for the title. Mentor defeated Euclid, Euclid defeated Solon and Solon defeated Mentor. A win by one and losses by the other two creates an outright champion. Any other scenario leads to a shared title.

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Cleveland Heights.

Key Week 10 games (with LEL records)

Cleveland Heights (3-0) at Lorain (2-1)

Scenarios: Only the Tigers and Titans can emerge with a league title in this five-team league. Lorain’s loss last week at Bedford gave Cleveland Heights a share.

NORTH COAST LEAGUE BLUE DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Key Week 10 games (with NCL Blue records)

Archbishop Hoban (4-0) at Benedictine (4-0)

Scenarios: Saturday's showdown in Bedford is for all the marbles. The winner between Hoban and Benedictine gets the NCL Blue Division crown and an undefeated regular season. The loser is still likely to remain atop its respective playoff region (Hoban in Region 7, Benedictine in Region 8).

NORTH COAST LEAGUE WHITE DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Key Week 10 games (with NCL White records)

Warren John F. Kennedy (4-0) at St. Thomas Aquinas (4-0)

Scenarios: Another all-or-nothing NCL title game. For JFK, a conference title would cap an impressive turnaround season after a 2-8 campaign last year. Aquinas is playing for more than a league title, as a win could put the Knights in the playoff picture in Division VI, Region 19.

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Clinched title: Grand Valley.

Key Week 10 games (with NEC records)

Mathews (2-1) at Windham (3-1)

Scenarios: Grand Valley clinched the conference title with a 4-0 conference record. The Mustangs were scheduled to host Newbury but the game was cancelled because the Black Knights did not have enough healthy players. Friday's game between Mathews and Windham will determine second place.

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STARS DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Buckeye.

Key Week 10 games (with PAC Stars records)

Brookside (3-1) at Buckeye (4-0)

Keystone (2-2) at Firelands (3-1)

Scenarios: Buckeye will clinch the Stars Division title outright if it beats Brookside. If the Cardinals win at Buckeye, then they will share the division title with Buckeye. Firelands can claim a three-team split of the title with a win and a Buckeye loss.

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STRIPES DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Columbia.

Key Week 10 games (with PAC Stripes records)

Columbia (4-0) at Oberlin (1-3)

Lutheran West (2-2) at Fairview (3-1)

Scenarios: Columbia has already clinched at least a share of the division title for the sixth year in a row. The Raiders will win the division title outright if they beat Oberlin. Fairview needs a win and a Columbia loss to get a share of the division title.

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE COUNTY DIVISION 

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Mogadore.

Key Week 10 games (with PTC County records)

Crestwood (3-1) vs. Waterloo (0-4)

Mogadore (4-0) at Rootstown (1-3)

Scenarios: Should Rootstown pull off a tremendous upset against Mogadore, Crestwood will have a shot at a share of the conference title with the Wildcats. If Mogadore beats the Rovers, the team own sole possession of the championship, regardless whether the Red Devils win or lose against Waterloo. 

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE METRO DIVISION 

Clinched title: Woodridge.

Clinched share: None.

Key Week 10 games (with PTC Metro records)

Ravenna (4-2) at Field (3-3) 

Streetsboro (4-2) vs. Cloverleaf (0-6)

Coventry (4-2) vs. Norton (1-5)

Woodridge (6-0) at Springfield (2-4)

Scenarios: No team can catch Woodridge for a conference title as the Bulldogs try to complete an undefeated regular season. As many as three teams could share second place. If Ravenna, Streetsboro and Coventry all win, they will share the No. 2 spot. Field could end up in a three-way tie for second if it beats Ravenna and Streetsboro and Coventry lose. 

PRINCIPALS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Indian Valley.

Key Week 10 games (with PAC records)

CVCA (0-5) at Manchester (4-1)

Indian Valley (5-0) at Tuscarawas Valley (3-2)

Scenarios: Indian Valley has been the best team in the PAC all season and just needs a win or a Manchester loss to win the outright conference title. Manchester can earn a split if it wins at home against CVCA and Tuscarawas Valley wins.

SENATE ATHLETIC LEAGUE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: None.

Key Week 10 game (with SAL records)

John Hay (6-0) at Glenville (6-0)

Scenario: John Hay and Glenville, ranked No. 9 in the cleveland.com Top 25 and No. 6 in Division II state poll, are both tied at 6-0 for the Senate Athletic League lead. Glenville (8-1 overall) has not lost a league game since 1997 and on Friday John Hay (8-1) looks to snap that streak. John Hay is also in a battle to earn a spot in the Division III playoffs ranked No. 9 in Region 8, but only the top eight teams qualify. Glenville is also playing to solidify home field advantage after clinching a spot in the Division II, Region 4 playoffs. If John Hay misses the playoffs, expect the Hornets to play projected opponent John Marshall in the City League Championship on Nov. 6 at 5:45 p.m. at the Collinwood Athletic Complex. The game is played between the top teams from the Senate that do not qualify for the playoffs. Last year, John Adams won, defeating John Marshall. Should John Hay qualify for the playoffs, Rhodes would replace the Hornets in the city league championship. John Hay has appeared twice in the OHSAA playoffs, the last being in 2013.

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Midview.

Key Week 10 games (with SWC records)

Avon (7-1) at Olmsted Falls (5-3)

North Ridgeville (6-2) at Midview (8-0)

Scenarios: Midview is one win from back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and can win the first title of the revamped SWC if it beats North Ridgeville. If the Middies lose and Avon wins at Olmsted Falls, the two former West Shore Conference rivals will share the SWC title.

SUBURBAN LEAGUE AMERICAN DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Copley.

Key Week 10 games (with SL American records)

Aurora (4-1) at Tallmadge (1-4)

Highland (4-1) at Kent Roosevelt (1-4)

Scenarios: Copley (5-1) has a half-game lead on Aurora and Highland for the conference title, having played one more league game than both. If the Greenmen and Hornets win, they will share a three-way tie for the top spot with the Indians. If both lose, Copley claims the title by itself. If one team wins and the other loses, their will be a two-way tie for first. Any way you slice it, the Indians will be conference champions in some respect. They play a nonconference game this week against Bedford. 

SUBURBAN LEAGUE NATIONAL DIVISION

Clinched title: None.

Clinched share: Stow.

Key Week 10 games (with SL National records)

Hudson (5-1) vs. Brecksville (4-2)

Stow (6-0) vs. North Royalton (2-4)

Nordonia (4-2) vs. Wadsworth (3-3)

Scenarios: Hudson will need a remarkable upset by North Royalton in order to claim a share of the conference title with unbeaten Stow. But, even that will not be enough if the Explorers can't pull off a victory against Brecksville. Should the Bees win, they will finish tied with Hudson for second place. If Nordonia also wins, the Knights will be the third team tied for second in that scenario. Should Hudson, Nordonia and Stow win, the Explorers will take second place and Brecksville will fall to fourth. If Nordonia and Brecksville lose, the Knights and Bees will share third place with Wadsworth. 

WESTERN RESERVE CONFERENCE

Clinched share: Madison

Key Week 10 games (with WRC records)

Eastlake North (1-5) at Madison (6-0)

Riverside (3-3) at Mayfield (5-1)

Scenarios: Madison clinched a share of the conference title by virtue of its win against Mayfield in Week 8. The Blue Streaks can claim the crown outright by knocking off North at home. Mayfield can share the title if Madison falters and the Wildcats take care of Riverside at home.

INDEPENDENTS (overall records for teams that don't belong to a league)

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Browns Josh McCown looked like a new man on Wednesday after getting beat up by the Rams. "He's as tough as nails,'' said Pettine. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio --- Browns quarterback Josh McCown sat out practice Wednesday with his shoulder and rib injuries, but looked like a man who knows he's going to be okay to start against the Cardinals on Sunday.

McCown stood on the sidelines during a special teams period laughing and joking with teammates such as Brian Hartline, Karlos Dansby and Joe Thomas.

He looked like a completely different player than the one who walked slowly off the field in St. Louis holding his arm close to this side and then labored to speak at the podium after the game.

"He looked how we all felt,'' said coach Mike Pettine. "It's amazing what a couple days off will do for you to kind of get you back going. Afterwards didn't look good and when you watch the tape, he took some unnecessary hits. But as we all know, he's tough as nails. We'll just see how the week goes.''

Pettine acknowledged that McCown "is improving. He's truly day-to-day, we'll see where he is tomorrow.''

He also noted that McCown doesn't need a ton of reps to play Sunday.

"I think a big part of what we're doing now is the walkthrough stuff,'' said Pettine. "The good thing about it is we're carrying over a lot of concept stuff that he's practiced, stuff that he's thrown in games. So as far as getting those actual reps in practice, at this point, it's important but I wouldn't put a ton of stock into it. We'll see where he is at the end of the week.''

Pettine said he doesn't know if McCown has tried to throw yet.

"I just know there's some soreness there and he's working through it,'' he said.

In the meantime, Johnny Manziel is taking the first team reps and preparing to start if McCown can't go.

His meeting with the NFL regarding his domestic incident is also "imminent,'' according to Pettine. "There's a sense of urgency to it.''

The Browns need to know as soon as possible if Manziel will be available for Sunday's game. If not, Austin Davis would be pressed into service as the backup -- or the starter if McCown can't go.

But at this point, it looks like McCown is a go.

Participate in free playoff picks contest during the high school football postseason and you could win $100 and $500 Visa gift cards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – High school football fans are invited to participate in a free picks contest starting next week for the OHSAA playoffs, with the chance to win $100 and $500 prizes.

The cleveland.com High School Football Playoff Picks contest, presented by the University of Akron, will debut Monday, the day after pairings are announced by the OHSAA. It will run through the five weeks of the playoffs.

There will be a weekly prize – a $100 Visa gift card – for the person who picks the most correct winners in a given round, as well as a grand prize – a $500 Visa gift card – for the person who has the most overall correct picks throughout the five weeks of the playoffs.

Contestants will be asked to predict the winning team for all playoff games involving a local school during the first three rounds. Local schools are ones from Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. Then, for state semifinals and state championship games, contestants will make picks on all games in all seven divisions, regardless of which teams are in the game.

Click here to register (simply click the “registration” tab). Again, it’s free and takes just a few minutes to get started. Then come back starting Monday, when the matchups will be available to start making your predictions.

You can also see contest rules and eligibility requirements for possible prizes at the link above.

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The redshirt freshman talks special teams and the greedy defense losing Saturday's shutout.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- That guy is too big to cover kicks. Except it's Sam Hubbard.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound redshirt freshman defensive end was part of Ohio State's kickoff unit at Rutgers on Saturday, which looked a little bit like putting Greg Oden on a 400-meter relay team. Sure, he's athletic, but he doesn't look the right size to do that.

Here are the heights and weights of the nine other Buckeyes that joined kicker Jack Willoughby and Hubbard on the field for the opening kickoff Saturday night:

5-11, 200

5-11, 180

6-2, 225

5-9, 175

6-1, 215

6-0, 215

6-1, 225

6-2, 205 

6-1, 200

So Hubbard was at least 40 pounds heavier than any of them and 90 pounds heavier than freshman corner Eric Glover-Williams, and he was at least three inches taller than any of them and a full eight inches taller than EGW.

"That was kind of interesting," Hubbard said after that 49-7 win for the Buckeyes sent them into this bye week. "We were down some bodies and Coach Meyer needed somebody to step in and he said I could do the job and I did a pretty good job, I think."

This is one of those things that will stick out in Hubbard's bio when people talk and write about him down the road. It happened with Ohio State quarterback and Heisman winner Troy Smith, who was a special teamer early in his career.

We know Hubbard's path from lacrosse player to Ohio State football recruit to tight end to linebacker to defensive end, with maybe some safety talk thrown in. That's not your typical defensive end background. 

Hubbard has been playing more and more this season, and when Joey Bosa departs for the NFL Draft after this season, Hubbard will have a much bigger role on the defense in 2016. There's lots of potential there.

Now there's a story about his athleticism that includes a 265-pound defensive end covering kicks.

"I think I'm one of the first," Hubbard said with a smile Saturday. "Breaking ground."

2. Other kick cover guys: True freshmen on special teams are always worth watching. It doesn't tell you the whole story, but Urban Meyer values special teams so much, it provides a peek at the first-year guys who are making quick adjustments to the college level.

Those true freshmen on kick coverage Saturday included cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Eric Glover-Williams and linebacker Jerome Baker.

It's worth noting that Baker, from Benedictine, is standing out among the first-year linebackers and Ward, out of Nordonia High, has really caught Meyer's eye with his special teams speed and effort.

3. Perry's limp: It was no small deal that linebacker Joshua Perry managed to play Saturday after suffering a high ankle sprain against Penn State the week before. High ankle sprains are much tougher to deal with than ankle sprains, and that was easy to see with the way Perry was limping with an ice pack on his leg on the way to the bus after the win.

Perry, a three-year starter, is one of the most underappreciated players in my 11 years of covering the Buckeyes, and as has been pointed out, this defense needs him.

So he was out there Saturday when it wasn't that easy to be. This week off will help him as much as any player on the roster.

4. That last Rutgers score: The Scarlet Knights called two timeouts in the last 30 seconds to punch in a touchdown in a battle of second-teamers with 13 seconds left Saturday.

It wasn't a huge deal, but standing on the sidelines as it happened, the look on the faces of the OSU coaches conveyed that they weren't happy. Most of that frustration was probably with their own players for allowing that last 10-play, 90-yard drive to occur. 

But you wonder if Meyer might keep his foot on the pedal a little longer when Rutgers visits Columbus for the first game of Ohio State's Big Ten season on Oct. 1, 2016.

5. Shutouts matter: Big Ten shutouts aren't easy to come by. In the last 10 years, the Buckeyes have 12 overall shutouts, but just five of them came in conference play.

They were Minnesota in 2006, Illinois in 2009, Purdue in 2010, Purdue in 2013 and Wisconsin in last season's Big Ten Championship. 

So you don't want to lose one in the final ticks of the clock.

"That hurt, that hurt," Hubbard said of the last Rutgers score.

He ran onto the field to join the second team as the Scarlet Knights got inside the 10 with a 58-yard pass.

"I was in there, too, and we've got to hold it for the defense. Having a goose egg on the scoreboard is a big plus for the defense," Hubbard said. 

"We're greedy. We're greedy as a program and we're greedy as a defense. We don't want to give them anything."

Johnny Manziel could be meeting with the NFL today about his domestic incident, Mike Pettine said.

BEREA, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel's meeting with the NFL could be as early as today, coach Mike Pettine indicated.

"Yes, there's a sense of urgency to it, and that meeting is imminent,'' Pettine said.

The NFL is reviewing Manziel's domestic incident on Oct. 12th as a possible violation of the personal conduct policy.

Pettine said he's not sure yet if Manziel will be available for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Currently, he's still expected to be the backup behind Josh McCown as long as McCown's shoulder injury continues to improve.

"We're just 'wait and see,''' said Pettine. "The league has its protocol on how they handle these situations and we've been ultra cooperative to date and will continue to be."

NFL Network reported that the league hopes to have the investigation wrapped up the end of the week.

Manziel will take the first-team reps in practice today while McCown rests with his shoulder and rib injuries from the beating he took Sunday in St. Louis. But sources have told cleveland.com that McCown fully expects to play Sunday against the Cardinals and has felt that way since he underwent an MRI on Monday.

League investigators came to Avon, Ohio last week to talk to police there about the Oct. 12 incident, in which Manziel was speeding down the berm at 90 mph according to a witness, and had the slight odor of alcohol on his breath.

His girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, told police that Manziel hit her a couple of times and shoved her head against the car window.

The NFL takes such allegations very seriously, especially in light of the Ray Rice domestic incident, and is thoroughly investigating the matter.

A drunken Crowley later told police that Manziel didn't physically harm her, and they let the couple go home together in Manziel's Nissan.

The race to make the OHSAA playoffs ends this week as local high school football teams in the Suburban League and Portage Trail Conference make bids to finish unbeaten, gain home field advantage or simply claim a postseason spot.

COPLEY, Ohio -- The Copley football team will hope to earn the right to play on their own turf in the postseason when facing Bedford in a nonconference game on Friday. 

Copley (8-1 overall, 5-1 Suburban League American Division) is unbeaten at home and has already clinched at least a piece of the Suburban League American Division title, the program's first conference title since 2004.

The Indians are fourth in the Division II, Region 3 computer points standings, according to JoeEitel.com, while the Bearcats (5-4) are 12th and desperately need a win and some help from other teams in order to have a shot at a postseason berth. 

Brecksville (7-2, 4-2 SL) also needs a win and some losses by teams ahead of it in order to make the playoffs in Region 3. Hudson (7-2, 5-1 SL) is the sixth seed in Region 3, needing only a win against Brecksville on Friday to clinch a postseason spot. 

Highland (6-3, 4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Kent Roosevelt (3-6, 1-4) this week. The Hornets are sixth in Division II, Region 4. 

Nordonia (6-3, 4-2 SL) needs a win against Wadsworth (3-6, 3-3 SL) along with some help in order to qualify for postseason play. The Knights are eighth in the Region 3. Nordonia

Knights RB Anthony Perrine rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns against Twinsburg (0-9, 0-6 SL) on Friday. He has 1,519 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns heading into Week 10. He holds three school, single-game rushing records yards (343), carries (41) and touchdowns (6), which he set during Week 6 against Brecksville. 

Field, Streetsboro make final bids for postseason

With a 21-9 win against Ravenna (6-3, 4-2 Portage Trail Conference Metro Division) in Week 9, Streetsboro's odds of qualifying for a Division IV, Region 11 playoff spot improved dramatically. The Rockets (6-3, 4-2 PTC) are sixth in the point standings heading into Friday's game against Cloverleaf (1-8, 0-6 PTC). 

Field has a more uncertain road to the playoffs. The Falcons are 12th in computer points and will need to get past Ravenna, which Streetsboro eliminated from Division III playoff contention last week. 

The Ravens and Rockets are tied for second place in the Portage Trail Metro Division standings behind Woodridge. 

Aurora clinches 11th straight playoff appearance

The Greenmen (8-1, 4-1 SL) are the No. 1 seed in Division II, Region 3 entering Week 10. The last time Aurora was in Division II in 2011 and 2012, the team made the state semifinals both years before losing to Avon and Toledo Central Catholic, respectively. If they beat Tallmadge (2-7, 2-4 SL) on Friday, the Greenmen will have earned a share of their eighth league title in a row. The previous seven came when Aurora was part of the Chagrin Valley Conference. 

Stow looks to set school win record

If the Stow (9-0, 6-0 SL) football team can beat North Royalton (3-6, 2-4 SL) on Friday, the Bulldogs will have gone undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1980 when the program finished 9-0-1 but missed the playoffs. Should Stow earn its 10th win on Friday, the team will own the school's single-season win record. 

Woodridge celebrating record-setting season

The Woodridge (9-0, 6-0 PTC) already the winningest regular season in Woodridge history heading into Friday's matchup against Springfield (4-5, 2-4 PTC). The team has 1,598 yards passing and 1,546 rushing and, defensively, its starting unit has given up 51 total points total with a mere six points coming in the second half. 

Crestwood has impact players on both sides of the ball

Red Devils LB Michael Picone has set a school record for sacks in a season with 14. He also leads the team with 113 total tackles, including 17 for a loss.

Crestwood RB Logan Thut rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns in Crestwood's 47-14 win against Southeast. Thut is averaging 11 yards per carry and has 1,350 total rushing yards has 21 total touchdowns. He's also averaging 18 yards per catch. 

The Red Devils (7-2, 3-1 PTC County Division) will play Waterloo (2-7, 0-4 PTC) in Week 10. 

Coventry players set records, win game balls

Comets WR Dusty Burkhart won the offensive game ball contest after he set a school record with three touchdown receptions and had 159 yards receiving in Coventry's (4-5, 4-2 PTC) 49-27 win against Springfield. 

Quarterback Jarett Skaggs has set multiple school records this year including most touchdown passes in a game (5), most touchdown passes in a season (25), most touchdown passes in a career (56) and best pass completion percentage in a single game (90 percent) against Cloverleaf. 

Conference standings

"The one thing that the new quarterback does is he has a tremendous arm. And they have some very talented receivers. And the two things that were very apparent is those things became very apparent in the last two games because of the quarterback," Saban said after the Sugar Bowl. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Blame Nick Saban. 

The seeds of J.T. Barrett's "weenie arm" rant after practice Wednesday were planted in the moments after Ohio State's 42-35 College Football Playoff semifinal win over Alabama on Jan. 1. 

Barrett saved his greatest public show of emotion for thoughts that had built up about his ability to throw the ball deep compared to Cardale Jones, Ohio State's other quarterback the last two seasons.

Barrett and Jones are friends and both have been highly successful, Barrett 12-1 as the starter the last two years and Jones 10-0. But they are different. Barrett grew tired of how those differences were explained, especially anything that implied Barrett couldn't throw deep while saying that Jones did have that skill.

"I threw deep balls the whole year and then Cardale's in and it's like, 'He's got a strong arm, he's throwing the deep passes downfield,'" Barrett said as part of a three-minute explanation of his feelings. "What?! What are you talking about? I threw the same passes."

Barrett said he lifted weights to build himself up in the offseason because people acted like he had a "weenie arm."

So how did Barrett reach that level of exasperation with how he feels he's perceived?

* J.T. Barrett's full explanation of his deep throw thoughts

The Crimson Tide coach started it. Saban, after losing to the Buckeyes, espoused the idea that Jones' arm strength and deep ball ability was better than Barrett's and provided something new to the Ohio State offense.

"The one thing that the new quarterback does is he has a tremendous arm. And they have some very talented receivers. And the two things that were very apparent is those things became very apparent in the last two games because of the quarterback," Saban said then.

"Now, they were a little different and the quarterback was a great runner, when (Barrett) was playing, and he was a good passer. But it wasn't so obvious when you watched the film all season long that they had these great skill players that could really make plays down the field."

Once Ohio State's quarterback battle began in August, those words helped provide a shorthand for the competition. Jones was the big-armed deep-ball threat, Barrett was the better runner and distributor in the passing game. There was no need to discredit two winning quarterbacks, but it was a way to quickly separate their strengths.

While Urban Meyer said in July that their skillsets weren't that different, all you had to do was stand the 6-foot-5 Jones and the 6-2 Barrett next to each other to know that wasn't exactly true. Or line them up in a throwing competition - like the Buckeyes did at halftime of the spring game.

Former OSU QB Troy Smith threw a ball 68 yards. Barrett, who was still healing from the broken ankle he suffered in November yet still gave it a shot, threw it 60. Jones, who had played the first half of the spring game and looked like he barely got anything into his throw, chucked it 78 yards.

This added to comments during the 2014 season by then offensive coordinator Tom Herman about how Jones could throw the ball through a wall, his arm strength measured at "eleventy billion," while Barrett had worked on building up his arm strength when he arrived at college.

Unwilling to trust his plant leg coming off a high school ACL tear when he arrived in Columbus, Barrett worked with outside QB coach Tom House on weight transfer in the offseason and guessed Wednesday that he has added 30 yards to his longest deep ball since his arrival.

Then there was the idea that developed in some circles that Jones' arm, and the way it made defensive secondaries back off and respect the deep ball, helped fuel Ezekiel Elliott's postseason run game explosion.

I never bought that idea, and when asked Meyer never really did either. But in that discussion, deep-ball ability surfaced.

"I heard the comments that Cardale is a much better down the field thrower," Meyer said at the Big Ten meetings in July. "There might be some truth to that. But the way we call plays isn't our quarterback is pretty good at throwing deep, throw deep all the time.

"It's what the defense dictates. And it just so happened that for example, the Wisconsin game, they were bump-and-run man, they were forcing you to go over the top. If it's a soft zone, you work underneath.

"I think their skillset, other than the way they look, their skillsets aren't that far off."

Yet when the Buckeyes got into this season, it was clear they couldn't use the called quarterback runs or read-option game with Jones the way they did with Barrett. That was a skillset edge to Barrett. So where was Jones' edge then?

Arm strength. 

But there's a difference between arm strength and throwing the deep ball. No one calls plays that require passes to fly 80 yards in the air. When the Buckeyes missed six deep tries against Western Michigan, five by Jones and one by Barrett, no pass went farther than 51 yards in the air.

There's anticipation and decision-making and touch that go into throwing the deep ball, not just raw arm strength. 

Barrett's third-and-23 throw to Devin Smith against Michigan State last season, a 43-yard gain which traveled about 50 yards in the air with the Buckeyes trailing 14-7, still may be the best single play in the best game of Ohio State's 2014 season.

That's the one Barrett made clear during his rant that he remembers.

So Barrett can throw it. He can throw it short or he can throw it deep. Yet before he started against Rutgers, he'd thrown it just 44 times this season, completing 27 passes, none for longer than 26 yards. So he hadn't done it this season, or hadn't been given the chance to.

But the Buckeyes as a team hadn't done that much this season, which is more about losing Smith and how defenses defend them than it is about either quarterback. Barrett said teams are dropping eight players in coverage and forcing underneath throws. 

"The one-on-one coverage, we aren't getting that like we did last year," Barrett said. "Out of respect to us they're more backing off and rallying to the short routes."

Last season, according to Ohio State's stats, the Buckeyes completed 31 passes of at least 30 yards. Barrett had 22, or 1.8 per game, while Jones had nine, or 3 per game.

Jones beat Barrett six to four in throws between 40 and 49 yards, but all nine passes of at least 50 yards a year ago were by Barrett.

This season, the Buckeyes have completed 12 passes of at least 30 yards, nine by Jones and three by Barrett. It's a little harder to gauge per game since they shared time, but let's say this - Jones had nine in his seven starts, while Barrett had all three of his in his first start Saturday.

The stats, of course, only tell part of the story. Barrett's biggest throw, a 50-yarder to Michael Thomas, was a 12-yard pass that saw Thomas break a tackle and run the final 38 yards.

"If I throw it 6 yards and he takes it 40, I ain't mad," Barrett said with a laugh.

In the end, Barrett said arm strength shows up more on throws like that, or on mid-range throws he needs to put over a linebacker and in front of a safety.

Those throws he can make. The deep ones he can make when needed. But as he moves on his his career, future NFL employers may double check Barrett's arm strength in a way they don't have to with Jones. That's OK.

The fact that Barrett took the chance to be honest and get something off his chest was a great way for fans to get to understand him a little more. Now you know how Barrett reached that point.

See the football Players of the Week from Week 9 performances.

Cleveland sports fans wonder about Johnny Manziel's future, Danny Shelton's production and the contracts of Dwayne Bowe and Tristan Thompson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than a championship is a sense of humor...

YOU SAID IT

Bud: What's the more likely outcome: The Browns go into the bye at 2-8 and start Johnny the rest of the season so he can get more starts on his resume. Or my dad reads my YSI contribution, figures out that I know what a resume is, and makes me create one so I get a job and move out of the basement? - Tommy B, Parma

Assuming you're a long-time YSI contributor, neither offers the likelihood of a promising future.

Bud: Though usually reserved for basketball players, did Danny Shelton's performance against St. Louis earn him membership into Club Trillion - 1 start, 0 tackles, 0 solo, 0 assists, 0 QB hits, 0 hurries, 0 TFLs, 0 fumbles forced, 0 fumbles recovered, 0 INTs, 0 passes defensed and 0 hope? - Wayne

Mind if I let you ask him?

Bud: Tristan Thompson's major contribution has been his offensive rebounds.  Based upon last year's 274 offensive rebounds, his current contract will pay him about $60,000 per offensive rebound. Seems to be a good deal when compared to Dwayne Bowe's Browns contract of $12,500,000 for 2 years. I don't think he has caught a pass yet, has he? - Bob, Shaker

No he hasn't. But if he's proven anything in the last few years it's that he almost always almost reaches for them.

Bud: Is it true that after (Game 1 of the World Series), Harold Reynolds was heard saying, "That was a great five-hour monologue for me. By the way, who won?" - Marc Steindler, Mentor

You mean, other than the listeners?

Bud: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wanted to be president of the Browns. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants to be President of the United States. If they both get their wishes, which one will have the more difficult job?  -- Loren Gordon, Cleveland Heights.

Hard to say. One job is guaranteed to dramatically age you almost overnight while pretty much guaranteeing you a low approval rating. With the other, ISIS presents a huge challenge. 

Bud: When Ray Farmer said that receivers only impact a game three or four times, was he speaking about receptions or fumbles - Ted, Concord

You Said It winners finally catch on.

Only four races remain in the NASCAR season and the original field of 16 drivers is now down to eight in "The Chase" for the 2015 title with Joey Logano out in front and on a roll.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NASCAR's fender benders will be at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday at 1 p.m. on NBCSN as the season is winding down to the finish with just four races remaining for "The Chase" to the 2015 NASCAR Championship.

Martinsville starts the third leg in the 10-race Chase as the original 16-driver field is now down to eight after four were eliminated last week, including popular Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The remaining field of eight drivers on 'The Chase Grid' includes leader Joey Logano, along with Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., defending series champion Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.

Logano has won the last three races, including Talladega in a wild finish last week.

The field will be cut to four after the ninth race. Drivers get a spot in the next round with a victory in races No. 7, this week or No. 8 and No. 9. Points will then be reset after each round and the title will be decided by finishing order in the Nov. 22 finale at Homestead.

Here is the weekend schedule.

GOODY'S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT 500
Site: Martinsville, Virginia.
Schedule: Friday, practice (NBCSN, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.), qualifying (NBCSN, 6-7:30 p.m.); Saturday, practice (CNBC, 9-10 a.m., noon-1 p.m.); Sunday, race, 1:15 p.m. (NBCSN, 12:30-5:30 p.m.).
Track: Martinsville Speedway (oval, 0.526 miles).
Race distance: 263 miles, 500 laps.
Last year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced to the last of his four 2014 victories.
Last week: Joey Logano won at Talladega to sweep the three second-round Chase races. The race ended under caution after a failed attempt at an overtime finish.
Did you know: Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Earnhardt and Matt Kenseth were all eliminated from "The Chase" after the Talladega race .... Hamlin won the March race at Martinsville for his fifth victory at his home-state track. ... Gordon, retiring at the end of the season, and Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson share the track victory lead among active drivers with eight. ... Richard Petty won a record 15 times at Martinsville, the only remaining venue from NASCAR's inaugural 1949 season.
Next race: AAA Texas 500, Nov. 8, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.