LeBron James gave a halftime speech to Kevin Love, which is apparently a thing now for the free-talking Cavs. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cavaliers are a communication major's dream.

They say what's on their mind, to whomever is on their mind, when it's on their mind. And apparently, halftime is when they do their deep thinking.

In the middle of Sunday's 101-97 win over the Indiana Pacers, it was LeBron James telling Kevin Love to shape up. Love deserved it and responded, scoring 19 of his 22 points in the second half and recovering from a lethargic, difficult-to-watch 1-of-6 shooting performance in the first two quarters.

For those keeping track of the Cavs' Knute Rockne moments during this six-game winning streak, it was James Jones who told, well, everyone Friday night at halftime of their win over the Sixers to play better.

James responded the best, scoring 18 of his 31 points in the third quarter.

On Sunday, James fought through the bruised thigh he suffered against Philadelphia to deliver 29 points, six rebounds, and four assists against the Pacers, which including a sterling fourth quarter showdown with Indiana's Paul George.

But the Cavs probably don't beat the Pacers without Love, who scored 11 in the fourth quarter and finished with a season-high 19 rebounds. And Love said he owed his performance to James.

"LeBron talked to me at halftime, just got me going," Love said. "That's all it was. I mentioned to him I kind of wanted to free flow and get myself near the basket. That's what I did. Got myself into a good rhythm rebounding the ball. I credit my teammates for that. It started with him and trickled down to everybody else."

James said he thought Love's problem was "his energy was really low offensively."

"So I told him if he would just getting his motor going offensively the ball would start to go in for him," James said.

Even the most casual observer of the Cavs knows now that when James and Love have virtually any interaction in public, or word of it spreads outside the locker room, it becomes news.

As Love mentioned Sunday, "you guys know, it's no secret, we've had a lot of conversations over the past not only year, but leading up into this season."

Be it by a pool, or when James says the Cavs are riding Love's coattails, or when, for whatever reason, James decides not to help Love off the court, when they talk it's interesting because of how openly frustrated they were with one another at times last season.

But the free flowing lines of communication are not limited to James and Love. It's a team thing, and it's a measure of how far the Cavs have come as an organization from when James, Love, and Kyrie Irving first got together in the fall of 2014.

"I think at the end of the day we're here for one common goal," James said. "Egos need to be checked at the door and you've got to be able to handle constructive criticism."

As was mentioned previously, James and George were locked in a classic battle over the game's final 5:35. That's when James returned from the bench, and Cleveland led 88-87.

LeBron James shot 10-of-23 from the field against the Pacers.NBA.com 

James notched seven points -- all from the foul line, including two with 5.3 seconds left that iced it - and limited George to a just three-pointer (out of his game-high 32) points with 18.7 seconds left.

George's three was an answer to perhaps the play of the game. Out of a timeout, James ran off a screen to catch the ball near the circle, while Love ran toward the block on James' side of the court. Lavoy Allen followed Love, then lost him when the Cavs' forward spun back toward the hoop.

James fed Love for a layup and the Cavs were up by five with about 27 seconds left. Afterwards, coach David Blatt said it was a play that James suggested and "we executed it beautifully."

When it was mentioned to James that Blatt credited him for the suggestion, James first retorted: "Nope. It was his."

And then....

"I suggested that we should run it and coach allowed me to, allowed us to put it in the works and you know Kev did the best part of it, he finished it, so yeah," James admitted.

Try to imagine that same scenario last season: James deflecting credit onto Blatt in a way that suggests James isn't wielding power over his coach in the huddles.

You can't.

That's growth.

Michael Brantley, who led the AL with 45 doubles in 2015, underwent surgery on his right shoulder Monday to repair a torn labrum. He will be sidelined five to six months and could miss the first month of the regular season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A poor showing in April hurt the Indians in their late-season drive for a wild card spot this year. Opening day for 2016 is still almost five months away, but the Indians could already be in for another tough April

Left fielder Michael Brantley, one of the team's best run producers, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder Monday to repair a torn labrum. James Quinlan, the team's head trainer, said the Indians have to be prepared for Brantley missing part of the first month of the 2016 season.

The Indians open at Progressive Field on April 4 against Boston.

Brantley suffered the injury diving for a ball Sept. 22 against the Twins at Target Field. He made just seven more plate appearance before the Indians shut him down for the rest of the year.

"Our goal is to have Michael ready for the start of the season," said Quinlan. "But we need to be prepared for this to carry on a little bit into April. That will depend on how his body responds. We don't know how each individual feels and responds and how they feel along the way.

"So we need to be prepared for him missing a part of April."

The Indians, in a press release, said Brantley could be 'game ready' in five to six months. Quinlan added that the five-month projection is for rehab or spring training games. The six-month projection is for how long it would take Brantley to be ready to return to the big leagues.

When the season ended, it appeared surgery would not be needed even though, according to Quinlan, an MRI shortly after the injury revealed the tear in the labrum.

"We knew that surgery was on the table," said Quinlan. "Michael was confident, and we were confident in his work ethic to do everything possible to avoid surgery. As time went on, and he went through his program and hitting, he realized he wasn't where he needed to be. That's what led us to today."

Brantley received a cortisone shot after the injury. He stayed in Cleveland following the season and in mid-October started a rehab program to test the shoulder. The program involved batting practice and when the pain persisted Brantley sought a second opinion from Dr. Craig Morgan.

Dr. Morgan recommended surgery and performed the operation Monday in Wilmington, Del. The labrum is a circular ring of cartilage around the shoulder socket that helps stabilize the shoulder.

Quinlan said the fact the surgery was on Brantley's non-throwing shoulder could make the rehab go faster, but not by much.

"The rehab would probably be a little longer if it was his throwing shoulder," said Quinlan, "but it's his lead shoulder for hitting. So from a rehab standpoint it's almost just as stressful because he has to follow through with his swing. So he really has to be strong."

Quinlan said Brantley probably won't be able to swing a bat until sometime in early March.

"Some of it will depend on how his strength measures out when we get into January," said Quinlan. "The doctor estimates he'll be able to start swinging the bat around the 16-week mark, about four months or so. Hopefully, that's around the beginning of March."

Brantley struggled with back problems and injuries to both shoulders this past season. He still hit .310 with 15 homers and 84 RBI in 137 games. Brantley's .310 batting average was fourth in the AL and he led the league with 45 doubles. He also hit .324 with runners in scoring position and .303 after the sixth inning.

Taking those numbers into consideration, things do not bode well for the Indians next April. Manager Terry Francona has led the Tribe to three straight winning seasons since taking over the club. In April, however, he's 28-44.

Now he has to go through April without Brantley.

Chris Antonetti, when asked how Brantley's injury might affect the team's offseason plans, said, "A lot of our focus has been on trying to find position player alternatives. We are developing a very good understanding of the corner outfield market both on the trade and free agent front.

"I expect we'll continue to explore options to help us get better."

Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations, said the Indians were looking to upgrade the outfield even before Brantley's surgery.

"I think we're going to be in a position to do that," said Antonetti, attending the GM-owners meetings in Boc Raton, Fla., this week.

Antonetti said Abraham Almonte could fill in for Brantley in left field if he wasn't ready to open the season. Almonte was the Indians primary center fielder in the second half last season following the trade of Michael Bourn.

The Indians have been linked to Florida center fielder Marcell Ozuna in trade talks since the middle of last season. They have three center field prospects in the minors in Tyler Naquin, Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier who could fill in as well.i

Right now, however, the outfield is short on talent and experience following Brantley's injury. That puts the burden on Antonetti and his team to find some help.

"There are alternatives out there," said Antonetti. "We've started the dialogue on free agents and trades and we'll continue that dialogue while we're here (at the GM meetings). The likelihood (of making a deal) is difficult to assess, but I know it's an area where we'll spend quite a bit of time on to try and improve the group we have in place."

Regarding Brantley's injury, Antonetti said, "I'm just thankful that we learned of the injury now. To Michael's credit and out training staff's credit they had him ramp up his activity at the end of the season despite his shoulder feeling pretty good. They wanted to make sure it was in a good spot in the offseason. 

"Unfortuntely, when he ramped it up, he felt some soreness. But the good news is we're talking about this in November and not March 6. I'm thankful we caught it at this point and Michael will have most of the offseason to recover."

Finally: The Twins won the bidding for South Korean first baseman Byung-Ho Park. Now they must negotiate a contract. The Indians and several other teams bid on Park, but came up short.

A rare window of opportunity opened after the 2012 season as the perennial division powers began to retool. The Browns have not taken advantage of it.

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns travel to Heinz Field on Sunday with a shot at history 16 years in the making.

Since their 1999 return, they have never beaten the Steelers and Ravens in the same season. They upset the defanged Ravens in Week 5, and will meet the Steelers minus two of their top three offensive weapons in Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell.

Browns fans might muster more enthusiasm for the feat if they could find anything positive to say about a 2-7 team whose best players are the placekicker and punter. There's plenty of anger and blame swirling around a franchise destined for another major off-season overhaul.

Lost in the dismal state of affairs is the massive opportunity squandered to narrow the gap with the AFC North's perennial powers.

In the past four seasons the Steelers are a combined seven games over .500 with one playoff appearance. Since winning their last Super Bowl, the Ravens are literally a .500 franchise (20 wins, 20 losses). Both teams are reeling from key injuries. Each is likely to return to its winning ways because of the quality people running the organizations.

But even as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed celebrated their Super Bowl XLVII title - a playoff run dubbed "The Last Ride" - it was obvious a window of opportunity would open for the Browns and Bengals in 2013.

After years of penciling in four losses before a season began, the Browns saw two divisional nemeses in decline. The AFC's version of Ali and Frazier were in their post "Thrilla in Manilla" twilight. The Steelers' defense was aging and in need of retooling. The Ravens were picked apart by free agency and retirement. Both had a few uncharacteristic misses in the draft, preventing them from sufficiently restocking the depth chart.

In 2013, the Steelers and Ravens missed the playoffs in the same year for the first time since 1999.

"I think our division is pretty open right now," Browns linebacker Paul Kruger told cleveland.com the year after helping the Ravens win the Super Bowl. "Next year, we have to capitalize on that. It's a matter of coming together and figuring things out and making the right adjustments to be successful. We've got to get over that hump."

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas made a similar observation:

"Pittsburgh and Baltimore have traditionally dominated this division. ... They are losing a lot of their star players because they are getting older and they are having to replace them with younger players and that takes some time to get back to where they were. So I think the AFC North is going to be a toss up for a while."

The Browns were in prime position to make up ground - young, flush with salary-cap room and a bevy of first-round draft picks.

Meanwhile, the Steelers were a team in transition, no longer menacing opponents' quarterbacks or creating big plays on defense.

How bad have things gotten in Baltimore? The receiving corps without Steve Smith ranks among the worst in the NFL. The once-vaunted defense has gone 57 full possessions, dating to Week 3, without forcing a turnover.

If the Browns had been anybody but the Browns they could have taken advantage. While they have beaten the Ravens and Steelers twice since the start of the 2012 season, the Browns remain at the bottom of the AFC North standings. Five first-round picks over the past three years have produced only one starter (Danny Shelton).

Last season was a mirage for a division that feasted on AFC and NFC South opponents. Remember all those stories about how AFC North was dominant again? Fools gold.

The Steelers are 5-4 and must survive without Bell, arguably the league's best running back. Maybe they earn a wild card, maybe not. The Ravens are 2-6 with their only salvation coming in the form of a high draft pick in the spring.

While Cleveland failed to make the leap, the Bengals have emerged as a model of consistency - undefeated and on the verge of a fifth straight playoff berth. They are 6-4 against the Ravens and Steelers in the past two-plus seasons. Although Cincinnati remains dogged by its string of playoff failures and uneven postseason performances from quarterback Andy Dalton, Browns fans would kill to have such problems.

The club finds itself in middle of a four-game run against AFC North opponents. Still time to make some history.

There's no denying, however, a huge chance has gone begging. The Browns seem no closer to locating its franchise quarterback or a coach/general manager tandem to supply stability enjoyed in other AFC North precincts. They are no closer to contending than when the window opened at the end of the 2012 season.

The Steelers and Ravens will figure it out. They always do. Can anyone say the same about the Browns?   

Dellavedova's relentless play has always appealed to coaches. Cavs head coach David Blatt can't always find the words to articulate his admiration.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before he became a luminary during the Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff run -- the feisty point guard fueled by coffee who stepped in for an injured Kyrie Irving and irritated opponents and fan bases alike -- Matthew Dellavedova was an undersized teenager playing for the Australian national team.

The coach of that team was Brett Brown -- former assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, current head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and Dellavedova's confidant.

Brown, who always believed Dellavedova had the goods to make it in the NBA, twice last week got an up-close look at his pupil, who has grown into the anchor of the Cavs' improved second unit.

"He's more comfortable in his own skin," Brown said recently. "The experience that he went through apart from his performance in the Finals, just the embracement that this city gave him, he became in some ways a cult hero type of guy."

Throughout the postseason, a sellout home crowd chanted Dellavedova's name, showing admiration for his non-stop hustle, pesky defense and winning plays.

It was that same spirited style that made him the youngest Australian on Brown's roster at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship and eventually sewed up his spot with the Cavs as an undrafted and under-appreciated free agent in 2013. It also led to Brown once referring to Delly as a Neanderthal, a term of affection.

"He's always sort of had that villain type of role, even with Australia," Brown said. "He'd come in and he'd create some level of a fight at some point during a game and I loved him for that. You could book it. He'd come out of the pack and there will be some type of scuffle.

"He's so Australian; he's very Australian. I say that with tremendous fondness. I think it's true that he's getting older and he feels like he belongs and he plays like he belongs. I think that experience in the Finals pushed him to a much higher level from a confidence perspective."

Brown would know. The two talked throughout the off-season as Dellavedova was recovering from an exhausting series against Golden State. His Game 3 performance, which included 20 points and suffocating defense on Stephen Curry, led to new prominence, as Dellavedova became a fixture at the postgame podium and one of the most talked about members of the star-studded roster.

Dealing with that newfound fame was part of his hectic summer. So were contract negotiations, training with the Boomers and working to improve his game. Through it at all, he leaned on his old coach Brown, the guy who first taught the requirements of being an NBA player.

"Everything," Dellavedova told cleveland.com about the conversations he had with Brown following the Finals loss against the Warriors. "He's always generous to respond with advice and he's got a lot of stuff to deal with as a head coach, but it's nice to know that I can always call him and he's not going to sugarcoat or blow smoke. He's someone I trust, he's done a lot for me and I appreciate his help."

Dellavedova's relentless play has always appealed to coaches. Brown beams when Dellavedova's name is mentioned. Cavs head coach David Blatt can't always find the words to articulate his admiration.

That's not always the sentiment on the other side of the court. A bother to his foes, Dellavedova's style has led to a few on-court scuffles -- turning him into public enemy number one.

It happened against Chicago during the Eastern Conference semifinals and then again during the conference finals against Atlanta when he was tagged as a "dirty" player.

"It is not true," Brown said when asked if he understood the reputation. "He just plays physical and when there is 'me and you situations' it's going to be me. It's going to be him. Any 50-50 ball, he's throwing his body in there. Sometimes it doesn't look pretty. He competes, he plays physical, he's not looking to hurt anybody. We all know that LeBron really likes having him as a teammate, just like I love coaching him and his teammates love having him."

In his third season, Dellavedova has blossomed into more than just a defensive headache. He's second on the team in assists, averaging 6.1 per game. He's also third on the team and seventh in the NBA in plus/minus, a statistic Blatt holds in high regard. 

"I feel confident," Dellavedova told me recently about his strong start. "I think you should always be more confident in your game and that comes through putting in the work. I think it was a great experience for me playing in the playoffs last year and working hard in the off-season by playing with the national team. In a different role than I usually play here with the Cavs and have just tried to build on that. I think if you work hard that's what helps with your confidence."

Like many on the roster, Dellavedova used the playoff experience as his primary summer teacher.

"What works and doesn't work and what I have to work on," Dellavedova said when asked what he learned. "That I can play and make an impact in meaningful games when they're most competitive."

Just like last year, Irving's injury has given Dellavedova a larger role and more minutes. Off-season acquisition Mo Williams has become the starting point guard, leaving Dellavedova as the bench leader.

The backup role suits Dellevadova well. One of the first off the bench, he provides energy, aggression and stability. He's built incredible chemistry with Tristan Thompson, as evidenced by their nightly alley-oops. Dellavedova is also usually part of the five-man unit used to close games. 

Once labeled not talented enough to be in the NBA or reliable enough to be a key component on a title-contending team, Dellavedova has developed into Blatt's trusted second unit director, something that isn't surprising when talking to Dellavedova's former coach.

"I am not," Brown said recently. "Because I think the ripple effects that you sort of can't quantify are the reason he is where he's at. He just brings people together, there is a selflessness to how he plays and there is a complete focus with the team. That's the Australian thing that you hear me talking about. Your teammates matter and there is a toughness. For him to get out there and get the ball and play amongst his team and show that level of toughness it doesn't surprise me at all that people are following that."

So we've reached a crossroads in the saga of Braxton Miller's conversion from H-Back where we've decided not to write about the potential of him throwing it anymore. If he throws it, fine, but taking quotes and making a bigger deal of something that to this point hasn't happened is going to stop. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When J.T. Barrett was suspended for last week's win over Minnesota, Urban Meyer said that Braxton Miller was getting work at quarterback because he was the new backup behind Cardale Jones. 

But then offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said that Miller does a lot of things in practice behind the scenes and there was some chatter that the former quarterback was back to throwing. 

We believed there was a chance Miller could potentially be Oho State's red zone quarterback against Minnesota. We believed he could throw a pass. 

Neither of those things happened. 

So we've reached a crossroads in the saga of Braxton Miller's conversion from H-Back where we've decided not to write about the potential of him throwing it anymore. If he throws it, fine, but taking quotes and making a bigger deal of something that to this point hasn't happened is going to stop. 

However, that doesn't mean that we don't think Miller will have a role in Ohio State's offense down the stretch of the season. What are reasonable expectations for him? Check out the video above. 

"My time is coming," Bell said with a smile. "That's what I say. I'm not worried. My time is coming. Just stay patient and be humble." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State receivers coach Zach Smith said he gave safety Vonn Bell a Zone 6 sticker after Bell returned an interception against Minnesota on Saturday.

Zone 6 is Smith's name for the receiver group. Bell can earn a decal, but not an invitation. Bell may want a seat in the receivers room, but Smith is ready to lock the door.

The playmakingest playmaker on Ohio State's defense, the uber-confident Bell is ready to stretch his boundaries as a player.

"Yeah, I tell Coach Smith all the time, 'Put me in there, I'll run a route for you,'" Bell said with a smile Monday.

The Buckeyes are missing five receivers due to injury. And Bell's knack for the ball -- "I'm blessed to have those natural abilities" -- includes envisioning things that will happen.

"I pray about it all the time and talk to God about it and he said, 'You'll get one,' and I said, 'Oh, really?'" Bell explained about his touchdown Saturday.

So what about it? Bell on offense, maybe just for a play? He's volunteering.

"I'm volunteering my position as receiver coach if Vonn Bell comes and sits in my room," Smith said. "Just dealing with him for 20 minutes a day when we go against the defense is plenty. I'm not dealing with him for a whole day, no chance."

It was pointed out to Smith that Bell is, in fact, a playmaker.

"When O linemen are tackling him, he can really get something done," Smith said in mock disgust.

Bell didn't hear Smith's retort, but he is unlikely to be bothered by the lack of acceptance from the offense.

"My time is coming," Bell said with a smile. "That's what I say. I'm not worried. My time is coming. Just stay patient and be humble."

Kent State looks to counter the loss of three perimeter veterans with a strong baseline presence for the 2015-2016 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Closed scrimmages against St. Bonaventure and Robert Morris brought mixed results, according to Kent State men's basketball coach Rob Senderoff.

"We've got nine new players trying to fit in, and right now it is tough,'' Senderoff said.

Yet time is ticking as the season opens Saturday with the Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader hosted by KSU at the M.A.C. Center. Kent will play Youngstown State in the opener at 7. Akron takes on Cleveland State in the second game.

This doubleheader has been in the works for many years, but finally came together recently following the death of former Akron assistant Dan Peters last year to cancer. Peters was a graduate of Kent State, a former head coach at Youngstown State and a Zips assistant.

"This is a perfect chance for Northeast Ohio to get an early look at all four teams, together, and see how we all progress during the season,'' said Senderoff, who signed a new contract after the end of last season. "Both games should be very competitive."

Kent State coach Rob Senderoff talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas last season. AP Photo 

The Flashes, who finished 23-12, 12-6 and tied for first last year in the Mid-American Conference, have been getting solid play from senior Khaliq Spicer throughout the preseason.

The big challenge for Senderoff is somewhat typical of the early season. Players who were at the front of the pack early in preseason practice have receded, while others show signs of emerging.

The perfect example is junior transfer Deon Edwin, from Southern Miss/Laramie JC. He was a standout early on, but has not been as productive recently. Meanwhile, senior transfer guard Galal Cancer from Cornell continues to rise in the backcourt.

"He hasn't been a scorer, but in terms of everything else, defense, running the team, knowing where he is supposed to be and when, 'G' has been our kind of player,'' Senderoff said.

Senior transfer Xavier Pollard from Maine has shown the ability to score and defend, but also has many rough edges to smooth out to earn consistent minutes.

That said, there are enough players with proven equity to help Kent through whatever early struggles await. In the most recent scrimmage, against Robert Morris, the baseline players shined. Senior center Khaliq Spicer had 11 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Chris Ortiz had 10 points and five rebounds.

With top returning scorer Jimmy Hall just getting back from injury, JC transfer Marvin Jones started with Spicer and Ortiz. The 6-10 Jones delivered eight points, seven rebounds two assists and a blocked shot.

Hall came off the bench and played less minutes than the others, but statistically, looked like the best player on the floor with 10 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots.

"The frontcourt will be the anchor for our team,'' Senderoff said.

Still, as a team, Kent's percentages showed plenty of room to grow, shooting 38.8 percent from the field, 21.1 percent on 3-pointers and 66.7 percent from the line. That points to the loss of three senior guards from last season who were all solid shooters. That will be a work in progress all season for the Flashes.

"We have a lot of areas to improve,'' Senderoff said.

Stay up to date with the OHSAA girls soccer state tournament with brackets that are printable and interactive.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Keep up with the OHSAA girls soccer state tournament with brackets, which are printable and interactive.

See below for new tournament brackets, as well as all the brackets from the recently completed sectional/district and regional play. 

All state semifinals are Tuesday, with those winners advancing to the state final four on Friday at MAPFRE Stadium (formerly Crew Stadium) in Columbus.

Follow along all postseason with our interactive, printable brackets. The brackets will be updated daily throughout the postseason. Click on a school name for more on the team.

State tournament brackets

Division I tournament (Medina and Walsh Jesuit)

Division II tournament (Archbishop Hoban) 

Division III tournament (Kirtland) 

Regional brackets

Division I, Region 1 (Mayfield, Strongsville and Walsh Jesuit)

Division I, Region 2 (Magnificat, Medina)

Division II, Region 5 (Archbishop Hoban, Hathaway Brown, Lake Catholic)

Division II, Region 6 (Holy Name)

Division III, Region 9 (Kirtland)

Sectional/district brackets

Division I Tournament – Brunswick District (Brunswick, Copley, Medina and Wadsworth advanced to district) 

Division I Tournament – Kent District (Hudson, Kenston, Twinsburg and Walsh Jesuit)

Division I Tournament – Mentor District (Cleveland Heights, Madison, Mayfield and Mentor)

Division I Tournament – Rocky River District (Amherst, Magnificat, North Olmsted and Westlake)

Division I Tournament – University Heights District (Brecksville, Lakewood, North Royalton and Strongsville)

Division II Tournament – Brunswick District (Archbishop Hoban and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy)

Division II Tournament – Kent District (Hathaway Brown and Revere)

Division II Tournament – Rocky River District (Holy Name and Rocky River) 

Division II Tournament – University Heights District (Chagrin Falls and Lake Catholic)

Division III Tournament – Brunswick District (Manchester) 

Division III Tournament – Kent District 

Division III Tournament – Rocky River District (Cuyahoga Heights)

Division III Tournament – University Heights District (Hawken and Kirtland)

Follow along throughout the postseason to monitor how your favorite team is progressing. 

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

Bud Shaw, Michael Reghi and Chris Fedor discuss whether Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar should have a role with the organization. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jimmy Haslam became the Browns' owner on Oct. 22, 2012. Since then, the franchise is 17-33, building a home in the AFC North basement. 

There have been coaching changes and front office makeovers. But the results have yet to follow. The frustration with the fan base is building, as the Browns have started 2-7, with little reason for optimism during a a four-game losing streak. 

On Sunday, Bernie Kosar offered his assistance, promising to fix the organization within a few years of taking over. 

Bud Shaw, Michael Reghi and I discussed what role Kosar would best be suited for and whether he could help turn the franchise around. 

Watch the video above, vote on our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Updating the status of injured receivers Noah Brown, Corey Smith, Dontre Wilson, Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five out of the top nine - that's how many of Ohio State's receivers are missing.

Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, Braxton Miller and Curtis Samuel are healthy.

Noah Brown, Corey Smith, Dontre Wilson, Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell are not.

"It's been devastating," receivers coach Zach Smith said Monday. "But at the same time, we're in a position that we lost five of our top nine wideouts and at most schools, probably every school in the country, that would be disabling. For us, we have such depth and so much confidence in the guys that are healthy right now that we haven't missed a beat."

One receiver who should be ready Saturday is Miller, who went down hard while hitting his head on the turf on a catch against Minnesota. Urban Meyer said Miller had a neck injury, but the coaches expect that he can play against Illinois.

* Safety Vonn Bell volunteers for receiver 

If not, Miller would just be added to the list. Maybe the deepest position on the roster has needed all that depth, and the Buckeyes have even played walk-on Jeff Greene at receiver after he spent his first two seasons after his transfer from Georgia Tech on special teams.

Asked about the effect of those injuries, Meyer said it has done "a lot" to the offense. 

The Buckeyes play three wide receivers almost all the time, and that reality now is Thomas and Marshall on the outside on virtually every snap, while Miller and Samuel split the H-back role.

Thomas leads the way with 39 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns, while Marshall has 23 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns and Miller and Samuel have combined for 37 catches and 570 yards and five scores.

Brown, who broke his leg just before the season, figured to have played a major role. Smith, who broke his leg against Indiana, was playing as a second-teamer behind Thomas and Marshall and had five catches this year. Wilson was working at H-back with Miller and Samuel, while the injuries to Dixon and Campbell have been about keeping young players with potential from showing what they can do.

Brown, a sophomore, and Smith, a fifth-year senior, are done for the year. But the others could be back.

Campbell, a redshirt freshman, has been battling a knee injury for weeks after starting the first three games of the year. Meyer said Monday that Campbell could be back Saturday.

Dixon, who flashed as a true freshman last season, saw his 2014 season ended by surgery required for knee tendinitis. Meyer said in September of 2014 that Dixon had in reality been hurt since his junior year of high school. Those knee issues continue to sideline him this season, when he has one catch.

"He had stuff in there and he had that procedure a while back to get it cleaned out," Smith said. "We just want to make sure it doesn't come back. We're just being cautious with it."

Wilson, a junior, is in a similar spot. A year ago, he suffered a foot injury in the ninth game of the season against Michigan State. He vowed to be back for the National Championship in his hometown of Dallas but made it onto the field for just a couple snaps.

This year, that issue returned. He has seven catches but hasn't played in the last two weeks and was in a walking boot on the sideline against Minnesota.

"It's nothing new," Smith said. "But once it's healed, we want it healed forever. We don't want to re-injure it with it not being at full strength. He wants to play, we want him to play, but we also want him to be able to play every week and not have a re-injury. So it's just being cautious." 

Smith said the hope is Wilson can play this week, and his status should be determined Tuesday.

"We'd like to get him back, but you're starting to get really thin on numbers," Meyer said. "But week 10 or whatever it is, if you look across the country, that's what happens."

At Ohio State this season, it has happened mostly at receiver.

"I want all those kids out there," Smith said. "We could use them. But we'll be all right."

The Buckeyes will have to win by a lot at Illinois on Saturday to get back on the winning side against the spread. That's because the Buckeyes are favored over the Fighting Illini by 16.5 points, according to VegasInsider.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's two-game winning streak against the spread was snapped last weekend at home vs. Minnesota. 

The Buckeyes will have to win by a lot at Illinois on Saturday if it wants to get back on the winning side against the spread. That's because the Buckeyes are favored over the Fighting Illini by 16.5 points, according to VegasInsider.com. 

The spread opened at 17, the site said, but it has since moved down a half point. 

Ohio State is 3-6 against the spread this season. The Buckeyes covered the 14-point spread in its season-opening win over Virginia Tech, but Ohio State's failed to cover in their next five wins over Hawaii, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Indiana and Maryland. 

Then the Buckeyes went on a two-game winning streak against the spread in wins over Rutgers and Penn State. But behind Cardale Jones, who was making the start in place of J.T. Barrett, the Buckeyes' 28-14 win over Minnesota wasn't enough to cover the 32.5-point spread against the Gophers. 

According to OddsShark.com, Ohio State was 10-5 against the spread last season, and 5-0 against the spread in its final five games. That makes sense considering the Buckeyes' improbable postseason run to the national title last year. 

Ohio State is having a bad season against the spread this season, but it could be on the verge of turning things around? Will Ohio State cover the spread vs. Illinois? 

Must-read coverage from Monday: 

* Ohio State football: What all those 'devastating' WR injuries have done to the Buckeyes

* Ohio State football: Why do we keep falling for the idea that Braxton Miller will throw? (video)

* Ohio State playmaker Vonn Bell ready for offense, if the receivers want him

* Raekwon McMillan texted Clemson QB Deshaun Watson during playoff rankings reveal: "We'll meet you at the top"

* Ohio State football: Back to J.T. Barrett, Buckeyes hope offense gets rolling again

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

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Football fans are invited to play in a contest predicting winners for OHSAA high school playoff games. The contest is free, and there's a chance to win weekly $100 prizes and a $500 grand prize.

• Click here to join cleveland.com's High School Football Playoff Picks contest, which is presented by the University of Akron. Picks for this week's second round games must be made by Friday at 7 p.m.

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 Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Congratulations to the Round 1 $100 winner, Edward of Bedford. He was among seven people who correctly picked 27 of the 30 games involving local teams in last week's first round and was selected to win the prize via a random drawing among tied players. One participant, riffraff, had 28 correct picks and is atop the leaderboard but is not eligible for the prize because the player does not reside in Ohio.

See the full leaderboard after Round 1, as well as how the cleveland.com high school staff measures up. Don't worry, staff members are not eligible to win the $100 and $500 prizes.

Here's more on how the contest works:

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.

Again, click here to register (simply click the “registration” tab). It’s free and takes just a few minutes to get started.

You can also see contest rules and eligibility requirements for possible prizes at the link above. Visit the leaderboard to compare your picks/point total with predictions made by cleveland.com's staff.

Check out division-by-division previews in the links at top right to help you make decisions. The previews include links to all the regional brackets throughout the state.

Good luck with your predictions.

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

There are 163 big-league free agents on the open market. Opening bidding started Saturday morning. Here are the top 25 according to beat writer Paul Hoynes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - There are officially 163 MLB free agents on the open market. Here are the top 25 in the opinion of beat writer Paul Hoynes, but first a few ground rules.

Open bidding on free agents started Saturday. Free agents who received one-year $15.8 million qualifying offers for 2016 from their old teams have until Friday to accept or reject them.

By making a player a qualifying offer, teams guarantee themselves draft pick compensation if they can't sign that player. Should such a free agent sign with a team that didn't make him the qualifying offer, the signing team will lose its highest available draft pick.

Should a team lose a free agent after making a qualifying offer to that player, that team will receive an extra draft pick at the end of the first round in June draft as compensation.

The teams with the top 10 picks in the draft - meaning the team that finished with the 10 worst records last season - have those picks protected. If they sign a player who received a qualifying offer, they would lose their next available draft pick.

One more thing, 20 players received qualifying offers this year.

No. 1. RHP Zack Greinke, 6-0, 195, 32, Los Angeles Dodgers.

2015 stats: 19-3, 1.66 ERA, 222.2 innings, 200 strikeouts, 40 walks, .187 batting average against.

Why? He's the best pitcher on the market, but he will not come cheaply. Greinke opted out of his Dodger contract that would have paid him over $70 million for the next three years. Interested parties should be advised to bring their checkbooks, 401ks and passwords to their Swiss bank accounts.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination? The Dodgers can't afford to lose him. If they do, the Giants and several other teams are interested.

No. 2. LHP David Price, 6-6, 210, 30, Toronto Blue Jays.

2015 stats: 18-5, 2.45 ERA, 220.1 innings, .230 batting average against.

Why? He's the left-handed version of Greinke only two years younger. He might have some issues in the postseason, but he's going to haul the freight that gets a team to the doorstep of the promised land. Price went 9-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch for the Blue Jays after they acquired him from Detroit on July 31.

Qualifying offer? No, because he was traded during the 2015 season.

Destination: Joe Maddon is waiting at Wrigley Field.

No. 3. LF Alex Gordon, 6-1, 220, 31, BL, Kansas City Royals.

2015 stats: .271 (96-for-354) with 13 HRs, 48 RBI, .808 OPS.

Why? If I were Paul Dolan for a day, I'd tell Chris Antonetti, "I want Gordon," and give him all the resources necessary to land him. I know it won't happen, but a run producing, Gold Glove left fielder, who can hit leadoff or in the middle of the lineup would fill one of the holes in the Indians' offense. Especially given the news about Michael Brantley's shoulder surgery.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: If the Royals don't keep him, the Angles, Dodgers, Braves, Rangers and Orioles would be interested.

No. 4. RF Jason Heyward, 26, 6-5, 245, BL, St. Louis Cardinals.

2015 stats: .293 (160-for-47), 13 HRs, 60 RBI, .797 OPS.

Why? This is a guy the Braves didn't like all that much because he didn't hit all that much. Heyward, however, has age on his side and he's a Gold Glove-caliber right fielder. He didn't have a monster year at the plate for the Cardinals, but he's young enough where he's going to get better, while offering a safer investment compared to an older outfielder.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: If St. Louis doesn't keep him, the Dodgers, White Sox, Cubs or Giants should be interested.

No. 5. 1B-RF Chris Davis, 6-3, 230, 29, BL, Baltimore Orioles.

2015 stats: .262 (150-for-573), 47 HRs, 117 RBI, .923 OPS.

Why? If there's a big risk, big reward player on the market this offseason, Davis is it. In 2014, he hit .196 with 26 homers, 72 RBI and 173 strikeouts. In 2013, he hit .286 with 53 homers, 138 RBI and 199 strikeouts. This past season, powered by a strong second half, Davis led the big leagues in homers and finished third in RBI. He set career highs in walks and strikeouts - 86, 208 - as well.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: The Cardinals usually don't go in for big free-agent signings, but their offense needs help.

No 6. OF Yoenis Cespedes, 30, 5-10, 210, BR, New York Mets.

2015 stats: .291 (184-for-633), 35 HRs, 105 RBI, .870 OPS.

Why? Cespedes was one of the main reasons the Mets reached the postseason. After they acquired him in a deadline deal with the Tigers, he hit .287 with 17 homers and 44 RBI in 230 at-bats as the Mets rolled to the World Series. Cespedes just completed a four-year $36 million deal that he originally signed with Oakland.

Qualifying offer: No, because he was traded during the 2015 season.

Destination: Reports say Cespedes is unlikely to return to the Mets and he's looking for a six-year deal. Are the Angels, Rangers and Giants, all in need of thump, listening?

No. 7. LF Justin Upton, 28, 6-2, 205, BR, San Diego Padres.

2015 stats: .251 (136-for-542), 26 HRs, 81 RBI, .790 OPS.

Why? Upton is a cleanup hitter coming off an average season. What's more, he hit just .191 against lefties. What Upton has going for him is a track record of solid production over the last seven seasons and the fact that he's only 28. He just finished a six-year $51.25 million contract that paid him $14.5 million last year.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: Like Alex Gordon, Upton would be a perfect fit for the Indians, but he'll cost too much money and their No.1 draft pick. The Angels, Nationals, Rangers and Orioles should be interested in Upton.

No.8. RHP Jordan Zimmerman, 29, 6-2, 225, Washington Nationals.

2015 stats: 13-10, 3.66 ERA, 201.2 innings, 164 strikeouts, 39 walks, .264 batting average against.

Why? He's a solid middle of the rotation starter, who didn't have the greatest season in 2015. Then again a lot of his teammates could say the same thing. He's won 12 or more games over the last four years, topping 195 innings four times as well. This year lefties hit .284 against him and he allowed 24 homers. Zimmerman is coming off a two-year $24 million deal that paid him $16.5 million last season.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: The Diamondbacks, Royals, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and Rangers are among the teams that need starting pitching.

No. 9. RHP Johnny Cueto, 29, 5-11, 220, Kansas City Royals.

2015 stats: 11-13, 3.44 ERA, 212 innings, 176 strikeouts, 46 walks, .242 batting average against.

Why? If the team that signs Cueto this offseason gets the Good Johnny, they're going to be happy. If they get the Bad Johnny, they won't be smiling. Cueto was far too inconsistent in 2015, leading to speculation about the health of his right arm. When the Reds traded him at the deadline, he was 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA. He staggered to a 4-7 record with the Royals, but pitched well when he needed to in the postseason. Cueto clinched the ALDS with a Game 5 victory over Houston before stumbling in the ALCS. In the World Series, he pitched a complete game victory over the Mets in Game 2. Cueto is coming off a five-year $37 million deal that paid him $10 million in 2015.

Qualifying offer: No, because he was traded during the season.

Destination: No team needs a starting pitcher more than the Royals, but Cueto was so inconsistent that they probably won't pursue him. Whatever team signs him should remember the old saying -- "buyer beware.' Then they should have a team of doctors go over him from head to toe just to make sure he's 100 percent.

No. 10. Utility man Ben Zobrist, 34, 6-3, 210, SH, Kansas City Royals.

2015 stats: .276 (129-for-467), 13 HRs, 56 RBI, .809 OPS.

Why? Zobrist's age will hurt him when it comes to getting a three or four-year deal, but he'll be a great addition to any contender because he's dangerous offensively and can play a variety of positions. Zobrist hit .284 for the Royals after being acquired from Oakland and .303 in the postseason. He's coming off a six-year $30 million deal.

Qualifying offer: No, because he was traded during the season.

Destination: The Royals would like to keep Zobrist, but this is a guy who can fit on a lot of teams including the Yankees, Orioles and Braves.

No. 11. C Matt Wieters, 29, 6-5, 240, SH, Baltimore Orioles.

2015 stats: .267 (69-for-258), 8 HRs, 25 RBI, .742 OPS.

Why? Wieters, after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2014, had only 258 at-bats this year. He didn't start the season until June 5 because of elbow tendinitis and then dealt with wrist and hamstring injuries. Large-framed catchers have trouble staying healthy - just ask Sandy Alomar Jr. - but Wieters is an intriguing subject because he's a switch-hitter with power and is the best backstop on the market. The question is can he return to catching 130 to 140 games a year? Wieters is coming off a one-year $8.3 million deal.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: Wieters is one of three Orioles free agents to receive qualifying offers. The Nationals and Braves could be interested in him. The fact that their first round picks are protected - teams with the top 10 picks cannot lose them as compensation if they sign a free agent who has received a qualifying offer -- works in their favor.

No. 12. SS Ian Desmond, 29, 6-3, 215, BR, Washington Nationals.

2015 stats: .233 (136-for-583), 19 HRs, 62 RBI .674 OPS.

Why? Desmond is the top shortstop on the market, but he struggled this year. Despite his 19 homers, he posted a .290 on base percentage, while committing 27 errors. In April, he turned down a seven-year $104 million contraction extension.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: It does not appear the Nationals want Desmond back. Yunel Escobar is still there and they've been grooming prospect Trea Turner. The White Sox, with Alexei Ramirez filing for free agency, could give Desmond a look.

No. 13. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 29, 6-2, 205, Texas Rangers.

2015 stats: 13-11, 3.42 ERA, 184 1/3 innings, 121 strikeouts, 68 walks, .268 batting average against.

Why? Texas acquired Gallardo from Milwaukee in January and it turned out to be a good dea. Gallardo went 6-2 in his last 11 starts of the regular season as Texas came out of nowhere to win the AL West. He's a middle of the rotation starter who made $14 million last year.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: Gallardo could twist in the wind because of the qualifying offer issued by Texas. The Rockies, Tigers, Orioles and Royals could take a look. The first round picks of the Tigers and Rockies are protected.

No. 14. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, 30, 6-0, 195, Baltimore Orioles.

2015 stats: 7-3, 4.09 ERA, 191.1 innings, 153 strikeouts, .262 batting average against.

Why? Chen finished the season strong, going 7-3 with a 4.09 ERA after the All-Star break. He is prone to the long ball, allowing 28 homers this year. Chen is coming off a four-year $16.1 million deal with the Orioles.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: Chen is in line for a nice pay day. He probably won't be returning to Baltimore.

No. 15. RHP Jeff Samardzija, 30, 6-5, 225, Chicago White Sox.

2015 stats: 11-13, 4.96, 214 innings, 163 strikeouts, 49 walks, .273 batting average against.

Why? The Shark can do everything a big league starter has to do except win. Even with Sabermetrics running wild in the big leagues, that has to mean something, right? In parts of seven seasons, Samardzija has had one winning year. This past season he led MLB with 228 hits and 118 earned runs allowed. He hasn't pitched on a juggernaut yet, but at some point you have to find a way to win. Samardzija made $9.8 million last year on a one-year deal.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: A lot of teams need big strong right-handers who can pitch 200 innings and Samardzija can do that. The Tigers, Blue Jays, Yankees and Houston could give him a look. Those teams have more than enough offense to get him some wins as well.

No. 16. LHP Scott Kazmir, 31, 6-0, 185, Houston Astros.

2015 starts: 7-11, 3.10, 183 innings, 155 strikeouts, 55 walks and a .250 batting average against.

Why? Kazmir was 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA in 18 starts for a bad Oakland team before being traded to his hometown Houston Astros. The Astros qualified for the postseason as a wild card, but Kazmir went 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA, going 0-3 in his last seven starts. Still, Kazmir has revived his career over the last three seasons and will be a solid addition to some team's rotation.

Qualifying offer: No, because he was traded during the season.

Destination: A team such as the Royals or Giants might be a good landing spot for Kazmir.

No. 17. 2B Daniel Murphy, 30, 6-1, 215, BL, New York Mets.

2015 stats: .281 (140-for-499), 14 HRs, 73 RBI, .770 OPS.

Why? Daniel Murphy was tiptoeing into his free agent year when the Mets and he just sort of happened. The Mets won the NL East and Murphy hit .328 (19-for-58) with seven homers and 11 RBI in the postseason. He hit six of those homers in consecutive games before Kansas City's pitchers ended his magic carpet ride by throwing a 3-for-20 at him in the World Series. Overall, Murphy's timing couldn't have been better as he plunged into the free agent swimming pool.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: The Mets, reportedly, will not pursue Murphy this winter. The White Sox, Yankees and Angels could use a second baseman.

No. 18. RHP John Lackey, 37, 6-6, 235, St. Louis Cardinals.

2015 stats: 13-10, 2.88, 218 innings, 175 strikeouts, 53 walks, .256 batting average against.

Why: Yes, Lackey is 37, but he posted a career-best 2.77 ERA for the Cardinals this year, topping 200 innings for the first time since 2010. What's more, because of a clause in his contract, he pitched the 2015 season for the minimum salary plus $2 million in incentives. He opened the postseason with a win in Game 1 of the NLDS before the Cubs rolled the Cardinals out of the playoffs.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: All Lackey has to do is say yes to the Cardinals' qualifying offer and he'll be back with them in 2016. But he could turn that down in search of a two or three-year deal. Would a team like the Cubs take a chance and sign a 37-year-old right-hander to a two or three-year deal?

No. 19. OF Colby Rasmus, 29, 6-3, 195, BL, Houston Astros.

2015 stats: .238 (103-for-432), 25 HRs, 61 RBI, .789 OPS.

Why? Yes, Rasmus strikes out a lot, but he has power. He hit a career-high 25 homers for the Astros this year. He added four more in the postseason where hit .412 (7-for17) with six RBI. Not bad for a guy who signed a one-year $8 million deal. Rasmus played all three outfield positions this year and his power has always showed well against right-handers.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: It's unclear if the Astros will bring Rasmus back. The Giants, Angels and White Sox could use some pop in the outfield.

No. 20. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, 34, 6-3, 210, Seattle Mariners.

2015 season: 9-5, 3.54, 129.2 innings 111 strikeouts, 21 walks, .240 batting average against.

Why? Iwakuma, who threw a no-hitter for the Mariners this year, is 47-25 in his four years in Seattle. He's coming off a three-year $21 million deal. He threw only 129 2/3 innings this year after missing two months with a strained late muscle.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: Seattle's new GM Jerry Dipoto says re-signing Iwakuma is a priority.

No. 21. 2B Howie Kendrick, 32, 5-11, 200, BR, Los Angeles Dodgers.

2015 stats: .295 (137-for-464), 9 HRs, 54 RBI, .746 OPS.

Why? After spending nine years with the Angels, Kendrick was traded to the Dodgers and spent 2015 in the NL. He played only 117 games because of hamstring and knee problems. Kendrick just completed a four-year $33.5 million deal.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: Kendrick said he'd like to return to the Dodgers, but there are other clubs looking for a second baseman as well.

No. 22. CF Dexter Fowler, 29, 6-5, 195, SH, Chicago Cubs.

2015 stats: .250 (149-for-596), 17 HRs, 46 RBI, .757 OPS.

Why? Fowler set a career high with 17 homers and 102 runs while batting leadoff this year. He stole 20 bases in 27 attempts after being acquired from Houston before the start of the season. He was on a one-year $9.5 million deal and is one of eight Cubs to file for free agency.

Qualifying offer? Yes.

Destination: The Cubs have said that their quest for starting pitching might not leave them enough money to re-sign Fowler.

No. 23. RHP Mike Leake, 27, 5-10, 190, San Francisco Giants.

2015 stats: 11-10, 3.70, 192 innings, 119 strikeouts, 49 walks, .243 batting average against.

Why? Leake is a former No.1 pick by the Reds. They traded him to San Francisco on July 30 when it was clear their season was going nowhere. He didn't pitch well for the Giants, going 2-5 with a 4.07 ERA, but a strained left hamstring didn't help matters. Leake has age on his side and he's proven that he can be a solid No.3 or No.4 starter when healthy.

Qualifying offer: Yes.

Destination: The Giants will try to re-sign Leake.

No. 24. RHP Darren O'Day, 33, 6-4, 220, Baltimore Orioles.

2015 stats: 6-2, 1.52 ERA, 68 games, 65.1 innings, 82 strikeouts, 14 walks, 6 saves, and .093 batting average against.

Why? O'Day is one of the best set-up men on the market. This past season he was named to the AL All-Star team. There is always a danger that veteran relievers can loose it quickly, but the submarining O'Day has been the picture of consistency over the last four years with the Orioles. Righties hit .192 and lefties .210 against O'Day in 2015.

Qualifying offer? No.

Destination: The Orioles have expressed an interest in retaining him, but set-up men with O'Day's numbers can get pricey.

No. 25. 3B David Freese, 32, 6-2, 225, BR, Los Angeles Angels.

2015 stats: .257 (109-for-424), 14 HRs, 56 RBI, .743 OPS.

Why? If a team is looking for a third baseman, Freese is probably the best option in an underwhelming class. He had his best season in 2012 with St. Louis, but has slipped in production and power since. Freese, who has had injury problems the last two seasons, made $6.425 million in 2015

Qualifying offer: No.

Destination: The Angels still have some interest. The Indians, Brewers, Tigers and Pirates could kick the tires on Freese.

"There's really not much of a drop off if I were to go down and Chris Worley were to come in. Really, not any type of drop off," Lee said. "Chris Worley is really good. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were to go into a game he's going to make as many plays." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Christian Hackenberg saw some daylight and thought he had more room, but Chris Worley charged from 12 yards away, met him in the backfield and dropped him for a sack. 

The recognition of the situation, the instincts, the speed, the playmaking ability, everything Worley did on that play was so reminiscent of what Darron Lee may have done in that same exact situation. 

It wasn't only a huge moment for Worley because he made a sack in Ohio Stadium during a night game, but it forced a turnover on downs and stifled a promising drive late in the first half of the Buckeyes' 38-10 win over Penn State last month. When Worley went to the sidelines, he was first greeted by Lee, who had a message: "I'm proud of you." 

The messages may have been simple, but it was meaningful. Because more than anyone, Lee knows how tough it must be to be Worley, his backup. Worley is a really good football player who is trapped behind a potential first-round NFL Draft pick on Ohio State's roster. 

In the spring of 2013, Worley and Lee had an intense battle to replace Ryan Shazier as the walkout linebacker and Lee won the starting job. Then Lee became a star last year. He made dramatic defensive plays and helped Ohio State capture a national championship while transforming into one of the most interesting NFL prospects in college football. 

Worley played special teams and sparingly on defense, all while knowing that he didn't get steamrolled in the battle with Lee in spring football 2013. 

"It could have went either way," Worley told cleveland.com 

Which may make it more painful. Or maybe more promising. It depends on how you look at it. 

But here's the thing that keeps Worley, a redshirt sophomore, going: That he, along with many other players on Ohio State's roster, will have their time eventually. Ohio State could be on the verge of major roster turnover after this season -- Lee being included in potential departures -- and the Buckeyes have some talented youth on the bench who could help Urban Meyer's team make that transition. 

"There's really not much of a drop off if I were to go down and Chris Worley were to come in. Really, not any type of drop off," Lee said. "Chris Worley is really good. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were to go into a game he's going to make as many plays." 

That may seem like simply something nice to say about a teammate, but what we've seen from Worley in his limited time -- think Penn State -- there has seemingly been some truth to that. 

Saying there wouldn't be any dropoff from a player like Lee may be a stretch, but that's just because of experience. Both players are virtually the same size and came to Ohio State having played other positions in high school that require a ton of speed and athleticism, Lee a quarterback and Worley a safety. 

They were both pegged by defensive coordinator Luke Fickell as the perfect attacking linebacker. Size to hit, speed to chase down and athleticism to fly around the field and make plays. 

We see it every week from Lee. Worley is on the bench waiting his turn. 

"It sucks that you don't really get to see him a lot," Lee said of Worley. "I think about that every now and then. I wish he was out there on the field with me because it's a lot of fun. You want to see a guy with a lot of energy? Man, you have to see Chris Worley." 

Chris Worley is waiting for his opportunity to start in Ohio State's defense. Waiting behind Darron Lee hasn't been easy, but it may pay off one day.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Though it seems as if Worley has been at Ohio State for quite some time, he still has two more years of eligibility left after this year. And as quickly as things happened with Lee, Worley knows they can happen to him, too. 

"He's a projected first-rounder," Worley said. "I want that, too." 

There's a voice in the back of Worley's head, though: Former high school coach Ted Ginn Sr. at Glenville. He's telling Worley to stay patient, be poised and make the most of every opportunity. 

Worley is also a former high school teammate of Cardale Jones, who rotted on Ohio State's bench for a few years before he unexpectedly helping the Buckeyes win a national championship. Patience. It's key.

"There are examples everywhere of guys who made it once they got their chance," Worley said. "I just go to practice every day, work as hard as I can and stat prepared for my opportunity. I know what I can do. And when I get my chance to show it, I will." 

Find out which local teams are competing in the 2015 OHSAA girls soccer regional semifinals as well as which non-locals they may be facing.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Get to know the local teams competing in the 2015 OHSAA girls soccer regional semifinals as well as the non-locals they may be facing. 

All regional semifinal games will play on Tuesday night. Winners will advance to the regional finals on Friday.

DIVISION I

Medina vs. Walsh Jesuit, 7 p.m.

Where: Brecksville-Broadview Heights High, 6380 Mill Road, Broadview Heights. 

Powell Olentangy Liberty vs. Loveland, 7 p.m.

Where: Centerville Alumni Stadium, 99 Virginia Ave., Centerville. 

Final: Friday, TBA.

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, One Black & Gold Blvd., Columbus. 

Scouting Medina: The Bees (16-0-3) got a goal from Maria Nelson with 11 seconds left to beat Perrysburg, 2-1, and earn a trip to the final four. Janiece Joyner scored the first goal for Medina. The Bees are led by the likes of top scorers Loren Sefcik and Tara Roller. Sefcik has 19 goals while Roller has 14 goals and 11. Both have double-digit figures in the assist column. Medina finished the regular season ranked second in the OSSCA state poll for Division I. 

Scouting Walsh Jesuit: The Warriors (19-0-1) are three-time defending state champions who finished the regular season ranked first in the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association state poll for Division I. They defeated Mayfield, 1-0, in the regional finals thanks to a goal by Caitlin Giascott. The team allowed five goals during the regular season while scoring three or more 11 times in that time. Katie Quinn and Sofia Rossi scored twice in the Warriors' 4-1 win against Hudson in the Kent District final. 

Scouting Powell Olentangy Liberty: The Patriots (15-5-1) beat Lewis Center Olentangy., 1-0, to claim a regional title and earn the right to face Loveland in the state semifinals. Sarina Dirrig scored her 20th goal and goalie Emma Campbell made five saves. This is the team's first time in the state final four. 

Scouting Loveland: The Tigers (17-3-1) are ranked eighth in the OSSCA state poll for Division I and earned wins against Centerville and Springboro, both on shutouts, to reach the final four. Goaltender Lauren Parker recorded six saves in the win against Centerville and Taylor Nuncio netted the only goal. 

DIVISION II

Archbishop Hoban vs. Celina, 7 p.m.

Where: Columbian High, 300 S. Monroe St., Tiffin. 

Granville vs. Indian Hill, 7 p.m.

Where: Xenia High, 303 Kinsey Road, Xenia. 

Final: Friday, TBA.

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, One Black & Gold Blvd., Columbus. 

Scouting Hoban: The Knights (17-2-1) earned their second consecutive trip to the state semifinals with a 2-1 win against Lake Catholic. Olivia Petit scored the game-winning goal off an assist by Ashley Dobbins. Dobbins scored the first goal for Hoban in the 14th minute off a feed from Liz Gilbert. She earned All-American and All-Ohio honors a year ago and hopes to repeat. Hoban finished the regular season ranked first in the OSSCA state poll for Division II. 

Scouting Celina: The Bulldogs (17-4) have 13 shutouts under their belts entering regionals, including a 1-0 win against Ontario in the regional finals. Ontario defeated Celina, 2-0, during the regular season, making the postseason victory an especially sweet one for the Bulldogs. Kendall Gilmore scored the game-winning goal off a pass from Emily Keith with 10:30 left to play. It was one of only two shots on goal by Celina. Bulldogs goalkeeper Callie Vogel stopped all 12 shots she faced. 

Scouting Granville: The Blue Aces (15-3-2) have overmatched their opponents in the postseason, outscoring them 40-1 overall and 18-1 in the regional tournament. Granville finished the regular season ranked second in the OSSCA state soccer poll for Division II, behind Hoban. The Blue Aces beat Dresden Tri-Valley, 10-1, with the help of a pair of first-half goals by Katie Cox and Rose Sawyers. Sawyers added one more in the second half for a hat trick. This is the deepest playoff run for Granville in school history.

Scouting Indian Hill: The Braves (17-1-3) are ranked second in the OSSCA state soccer poll for Division II, behind Hoban. Their one loss came to Loveland in the last game of the regular season, during which they surrendered one of their seven goals all year. The Braves are led by the likes ofAnna Podojil who scored twice and had an assist during their 4-1 regional final win against Jonathan Alder. 

DIVISION III

Kirtland vs. Doylestown Chippewa, 7 p.m.

Where: Ravenna High, 6589 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna. 

Grandview Heights vs. Summit Country Day, 7 p.m.

Where: Wright State, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton. 

Final: Friday, TBA.

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, One Black & Gold Blvd., Columbus. 

Scouting Kirtland: The Hornets (17-3-2) have yet to give up a goal in the postseason and posted a 2-0 win against Norwayne to earn a trip to the final four. Katie Straus netted both scores. She has 15 goals and six assists this season. Hannah Vouk and Grace Powers each provided assists. Goaltender Maddie Zuberer recorded her 92nd and 93rd saves. Straus and Powers are the team's leading scorers. Powers has 10 goals entering the state semifinals. Vouk is the Hornets' leading assister with 11 along with seven goals. 

Scouting Chippewa: The Chipps (18-1-1) are ranked 10th in the OSSCA state soccer poll for Division III. Chippewa can take solace knowing the only team they've failed to beat, Creston Norwayne, lost in the regional finals. The team that beat the Bobcats, however, is the one now standing between the Chipps and a trip to the state title game. Chippewa has outscored its five playoff opponents, 16-1, and given up more than one goal once all year. 

Scouting Grandview Heights: The Bobcats (18-2-1) are ranked second in the OSSCA state soccer poll for Division III. They are led by Haley Reese who has 30 goals and 61 points entering the state tournament. Maria Claypool is one of three players with six or more assists. She has seven goals and seven assists while Riley Henningson and Learin McHugh each have six helpers. The team has 12 shutouts, including a 3-0 win against Bishop Rosecrans in the regional finals, and has surrendered one goal throughout the postseason. 

Scouting Summit Country Day: The Silver Knights (22-0) are ranked first in the OSSCA state soccer poll for Division III. They haven't given up more than two goals all season and haven't lost since last year's state semifinals against Hamilton Badin, which they beat, 2-0, in the regional finals this time around. No team has scored on Country Day since St. Bernard-Elmwood Place in the first round of the postseason. 

A breakdown of Cardale Jones' passing and rushing numbers against Minnesota.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The plan from here is to have J.T. Barrett start the rest of the way, which could mean we'll never see Cardale Jones start a game for Ohio State again.

They'll be a time later to discuss legacy, and Jones certainly has a good one. But if this truly was his final start in an Ohio State uniform, how did he do? He got the win, 28-14 over Minnesota.

* Jones and his NFL chances

Is it possible he could've done more to help himself? 

Barrett will start against Illinois on Saturday. If Jones had come in against Minnesota and performed lights out, maybe we'd find ourselves with another quarterback question heading into Ohio State's 10th game of the year.

But Jones wasn't his sharpest. He missed some deep balls, and was again plagued by picking up open receivers late. The final numbers: 12-for-22, 187 yards and a touchdown. The bright spot: He ran for 92 yards on eight designed runs, his best numbers of the year.

The thing that kept this from being a competition again: Jones was 3-for-7 for 60 yards and touchdown on third down against the Gophers. That was well off his normal pace for the season on third down, and that was one of the determining factors when Urban Meyer made the switch to Barrett in the first place.

Here are the complete Ohio State quarterback numbers through Saturday's win:

CARDALE JONES PASSING VS. MINNESOTA

CARDALE JONES RUSHING VS. MINNESOTA

J.T. BARRETT PASSING THROUGH WEEK 9

J.T. BARRETT RUSHING THROUGH WEEK 9

Joe Vardon examines the importance of building a Warriors-style dominance at The Q for the Cavaliers. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With a win Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz, LeBron James and the Cavaliers would sweep a four-game homestand and improve to 5-0 at The Q this season.

Dating back to Jan. 19, the Cavs would improve to 25-1 at home in regular-season play.

That's pretty good, but not quite the 39-2 mark Stephen Curry and the defending champion Golden State Warriors posted at home last season -- one of the best home records of all time.

A key to building a sustainable, basketball superpower is home dominance. The Warriors have it. Do the Cavs?

"Well, I mean, in my career I've always wanted to try to sustain or put together a great home dominance," James said. "It's good to see the start that we've had ... with our home dominance so far, but we've got to continue to get better."

Cavs coach David Blatt said his team is "a tough out here in The Q," but added "we're still a good ways from invincibility."

In an ongoing video series chronicling James and the Cavs this season, I examine the importance of winning at home, how Cleveland compares to Golden State in that category, and what the Cavs can do to achieve "invincibility."

Here is a preview of the Division VI second-round playoff game between No. 6-seeded Cuyahoga Heights and No. 7 Smithville.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here is a preview of the Division VI second-round playoff game between No. 6-seeded Cuyahoga Heights and No. 7 Smithville.

What: Division VI, Region 19 second-round game.

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Highland Stadium, Highland High, 3880 Ridge Road, Medina. Call 330-239-1901.

Records: Cuyahoga Heights, 9-2; Smithville, 8-3.

Our coverage: Freelancer Sam Robinson will be at Saturday’s game. Get updates on Twitter at #NEOvarsity and cleveland.com/hssports. Visit cleveland.com afterward for his recap, and come back Sunday for action highlight videos.

Radio/online: WQKT-FM 104.5, http://wqkt.com.

Cuyahoga Heights last week: Defeated Columbiana, 28-21.

Smithville last week: Defeated Columbia, 31-0.

About Cuyahoga Heights: Both teams got here by controlling possession in the first round to keep a potent offense off the field. The Redskins’ first-round upset of third-seeded Columbiana came with a ground-and-pound game that produced 310 yards. Lucas D’Orazio benefited the most, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 134 yards on about 30 carries. The defense will face a different task this week after stymieing versatile Columbiana quarterback Mitch Davidson.

About Smithville: The Smithies bounced back from a 45-12 defeat at Waynedale in Week 10 to end second-seeded Columbia’s season last week. Against the Raiders, the Patriot Athletic Conference’s top offense, Smithville produced its second shutout of the season. Offensively, it runs a wing-T with fullbacks Jason Newlan and Cody Tipple. A senior, Tipple has amassed about 1,000 yards rushing to lead the way. Approaching that mark is another running back, Michael Lenacher. The winner of this one faces Kirtland or Brookfield next week in a regional final.

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

With Big Ben out for the Steelers, the Browns catch a break: Crowquill

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have been hampered by their fair share of injuries this year, but they head to Pittsburgh on Sunday to face a Steelers team that won't likely have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger or running back Le'Veon Bell.

The Browns, I'm sure, would say they'd rather play the Steelers at full strength. While deep down, they're downplaying their feeling of perfect timing at not having to face Big Ben.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

Francisco Lindor, Houston's Carlos Correa and Minnesota's Miguel Sano are the finalists for the AL Rookie of the Year award. The winner will be announced Monday night.