Rivals as NBA coaches, Byron Scott and Larry renewed their friendship Tuesday night.

View full sizeLisa DeJong / The Plain DealerRyan Hollins, one of the newest Cavaliers, delivers a first-quarter dunk during Tuesday's exhibition season opener against Charlotte at Quicken Loans Arena.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Byron Scott went missing before Tuesday night's preseason opener against the Charlotte Bobcats at The Q.

Team officials couldn't find their coach for his pre-game media session. Turned out, he was sitting out on the floor visiting with Bobcats coach Larry Brown. Scott calls Brown his best friend, and Brown feels the same way. Brown coached Scott in Indiana.

"Byron's special," Brown said. "When I got the Indiana job, we traded for him and he was a phenomenal teammate and a great player, but we got him toward the end of his career.

"He really helped me. I had him and Sam Mitchell. The way he carried himself and the input he had and the example he set for our team was phenomenal. We've been friends ever since."

Brown always had the sense Scott would make a good coach after watching his relationship with Pacers star Reggie Miller.

"He really helped and mentored Reggie in a lot of ways," Brown said. "Reggie had been in the league for a while, but I felt he had a real influence on our whole team. He played for some great coaches and shared some ideas with me and the players.

"I got the feeling he would someday accept a role like that. You never know how successful these guys will be, but he's obviously done a great job everywhere and he'll do a great job here."

Ready to go: Mo Williams, who has been sidelined with a groin injury, is getting antsy to play. Scott said Williams did a little running in Tuesday's shootaround, got some shots up and took part in some drills.

"Mo wants to do more," the coach said. "We want him to slow down and stick to the schedule. We want to make sure this thing is gone."

Dribbles: NBA officials briefed the Cavs on Tuesday on the points of emphasis this season, including respect for the game. Players who voice their objections too overtly or strenuously to the referees will receive technical fouls. ... Before the game, the team unveiled its renovated two-story, 5,700 square-foot team shop. Not surprisingly, it is devoid of LeBron James merchandise. ... NBA sources have confirmed various reports on Tuesday that the Cavs spoke to Indiana Pacers president and former coach Larry Bird in the course of their coaching search before hiring Scott. That the team cast a wide net, as evidenced by its discussions with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, is no surprise. No one but Scott was offered a contract. ... Cavs assistant equipment manager Mike Templin completed his first marathon in 3:06:44 last weekend in Akron. It was good enough to qualify him for the Boston Marathon, although it may be a couple of years before he tries that.

It's only been four games, but what's not to like after watching Peyton Hillis? And last Sunday, one carry tells fans all they need to know about the player, his abilities and, most importantly, his priorities.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerThe Browns are coming out way ahead in the deal for Peyton Hillis, above, for Brady Quinn.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns fans need to pinch themselves.

Their team needed to give up whom, exactly, to acquire 24-year-old running back Peyton Hillis from the Denver Broncos in the offseason?

Oh, that's right: Brady Quinn.

I don't want to overreact to four games, 416 total yards and four touchdowns -- especially where the Browns are concerned -- but this trade at least has the potential to be as lopsided as Mike Tyson vs. Marvis Frazier.

In Week 4, alone, Hillis made you go wow more than Quinn ever did in his brief time in Cleveland. Hillis rushed for 102 yards on 27 carries and scored once in the Browns' 23-20 victory over the Bengals. One week earlier, he ran over the Ravens for 144 yards and one score.

When I watched the Browns-Bengals game from the stadium pressbox as part of my job at The Plain Dealer, I thought I knew how hard Hillis was running. Then I watched the CBS telecast on DVR. He was killing fools.

The guy is 6-2, 250 pounds of pure beast -- a-gile, hos-tile and mo-bile.

I enjoyed the performance so much, I went back and watched each of the 27 carries again at high volume, so as to get the full effect of the helmets and shoulder pads crunching.

One carry stood out. It told me all I needed to know about the player, his abilities and, most importantly, his priorities.

With 2:46 left in the fourth quarter, the Browns had a second-and-7 from their 30. They were protecting a 23-20 lead. Hillis received the handoff from Seneca Wallace and took a couple of steps up the middle before bouncing to the right behind fullback Lawrence Vickers and pulling left guard Eric Steinbach. Vickers, as usual, got his man. Steinbach, putting the finishing touches on a dominant afternoon, got his man and slowed another.

Hillis turned upfield at the 30. He kept moving right as he moved forward to avoid safety Chris Crocker, who had the angle. They finally met at the 45. Crocker wanted to ride Hillis out of the bounds to stop the clock, and appeared to be in prime position to do so. At the Cincinnati 49, it was a done deal. Hillis was going to get the first down, and more, but the clock was going to stop.

View full sizePDPeyton Hillis is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

Then came a move I needed to replay five times to believe actually happened. A tumbling, off-balance Hillis, refusing to allow Crocker to make him stop the clock, quickly turned his right side and buried it into the turf inches inside the white paint. Hillis's head hit the ground awkwardly at 2:40. He rolled out of bounds at the Cincinnati 46 as Crocker bounced off him and fell.

After the game, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said he thought Hillis had been tackled out of bounds. In real time, it certainly looked that way. But a remarkable freeze frame showed Hillis upside down, his entire body barely tucked inbounds. It is difficult to imagine how a player that big could stop his momentum enough to accomplish the objective in such a small amount of space.

Credit head linesman Steve Stelljes, who raced up and signaled to keep the clock moving. Browns reserve offensive lineman Steve Vallos stared at Stelljes and cranked his arm, just in case Stelljes had any doubt.

Hillis popped up with the ball, but he was dinged. Starting right tackle Tony Pashos, understandably excited, grabbed Hillis by the shoulder pads and head-butted him. Browns linebacker Matt Roth slapped him on the helmet. A third teammate slapped at the helmet before Hillis motioned to his head, as if to say, ''Please don't do that again.''

On the sideline with 2:07 left, Hillis had the helmet off and seemed to be in some degree of discomfort above the shoulders. At the two-minute warning, Hillis motioned that he wanted to return to the field.

The Browns didn't need him, though, in the victory formation. Wallace knelt on the final three plays.

Bottom line: When the easy (and safe) way out was out of bounds, Hillis opted to put himself in potential harm's way, and might have given himself a stinger, to ensure tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. What's more, he wanted to get back on the field as soon as possible.

That mindset, combined with his skill set, makes Hillis fun to watch and a natural fan favorite.

Other observations from watching the Browns-Bengals game on replay:

• Steinbach continues to play at an extremely high level. When he pulls, he squashes people. If there is a guard playing better through four weeks, I'd like to know who he is.

• Right guard Floyd Womack won the vast majority of his confrontations. "Porkchop'' delivered one pancake and almost had a second. Womack might not be the most technically sound lineman ever to walk the earth, but he is a load when the motor's running, and it was running hard against the Bengals. Womack drew the critical holding call against Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims late in the fourth quarter. Easily forgotten was Womack hustling to recover Chansi Stuckey's fumble in the second quarter.

• Tight end Ben Watson had a terrific afternoon. He caught a team-high six passes for 60 yards and made crisp block after crisp block. I'll give Watson a pass on the unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for joining Evan Moore in the stands for a TD celebration.

• Helmets off, as well, to end Kenyon Coleman, linebackers Roth and Scott Fujita and Wallace. Wallace engineered two drives, in particular, that were impressive from start to finish.

• It's amazing to me that the Browns won a game by three points without completing a pass after 12 minutes remained in the third quarter. The Browns had 24 plays from scrimmage in that span.

Ohio State defensive back Tyler Moeller will have surgery Wednesday for an injury that he knew was coming.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerTyler Moeller (26) expects to rehabilitate his surgically repaired pectoral muscle in time to play in the 2011 season for the Buckeyes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Tyler Moeller tore his left pectoral muscle against Illinois on Saturday, he knew it immediately because the Ohio State defensive back estimates he'd torn it about a dozen times before. This one was a full tear, though, which is why he'll undergo surgery at 11 a.m. Wednesday that will end his 2010 football season.

Everyone knows Moeller missed last season because of an off-field head injury. What most did not know was that Moeller had been basically tackling one-handed since the 2008 season.

"I kind of thought this was something that would happen eventually," Moeller said. "I've been using my right arm to hit and get off blocks."

Moeller said he first suffered a partial tear in the summer of 2008, but didn't want to slow down while fighting for playing time, so he wore a strap on his chest and played with the injury that entire season. He sat out last season after he was assaulted in a restaurant last summer, but his chest still wasn't healed all the way this year.

Moeller said he even tweaked it while putting his pants on before the game and suffered many partial tears in the past while playing. But he said he needed to suffer a full tear to have surgery, which is where he is now.

"I'm keeping my head up," Moeller said. "I've been through worse. I want to bounce back next year and get better. Things happen and you have to look at the bright side and get through it."

Moeller said he'll be sidelined for three months after surgery, and he's looking forward to getting back to full strength. He said his bench press of around 400 pounds was among the top five on the team before his injury, but for the last two years he's been able to press only 100 pounds.

Fully healed, he hopes to get a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA to play his final season at Ohio State in 2011, then take a shot at the NFL.

"I can finally get it to 100 percent," Moeller said. "Now I can get my chest back."

But his teammates will miss him.

"It's real sad for a guy to put so much work into something and have it taken away twice in a row," OSU senior defensive lineman Dexter Larimore said. "It's just sad to see."

Agents on notice: Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray on Tuesday announced that his office had put sports agents "on notice" by reminding them of penalties they could suffer if they violate NCAA rules regarding athletes.

Cordray said letters were sent to more than 90 agents and agencies registered with the Ohio Athletic Commission.

Cordray said the laws or enforcement were not changing, but the idea of reminding agents that under existing state law they could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine for improper contact with athletes could serve as a further deterrent.

Rick Chryst, the former commissioner of the Mid-American Conference and now counsel with Walter and Haverfield in its Sports Law group, said colleges could use any help they can get in monitoring agent contact.

"There's real support for government involvement on this issue," Chryst said. "I think it's helpful."

Stoneburner's return: Ohio State starting tight end Jake Stoneburner suffered an ankle injury against Eastern Michigan that forced him to miss the Illinois game. Teammates said Stoneburner returned to practice on Tuesday in a limited capacity, and OSU coach Jim Tressel said the Buckeyes should know more by Thursday.

Tressel called it an eight- to 21-day injury, so Stoneburner could sit out Saturday against Indiana as well.

An injured Terrelle Pryor would put more pressure on the Ohio State running game, and it's reasonable to question if the Buckeyes could handle that.

Neal C. Lauron / Columbus DispatchOSU's Dan Herron had an excuse for not gaining extra yards on this fourth-quarter play against Illinois' Nate Bussey. But while Herron helped the Buckeyes seal their victory in Champaign, coach Jim Tressel plans to explore all options to boost a flagging running game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Terrelle Pryor's strained left quadriceps should improve every day, and so by Saturday, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel expects his quarterback to be fine. OSU receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said Pryor took all the snaps with the first-team offense on Tuesday and looked to be the same as always.

The Buckeyes got a taste of life without Pryor on Saturday, though, and Sanzenbacher knows that if Pryor isn't himself against Indiana in three days, the Hoosiers' defense will adjust to defend an offense where the quarterback is less of a threat.

"It'd be dumb not to if you thought you could exploit something like that," Sanzenbacher said.

That would put more pressure on the rest of Ohio State's running game, and after Saturday, it's reasonable to question if the Buckeyes could handle that. The Ohio State running backs gained 109 yards on 31 carries, a 3.5-yard average.

"I don't know what happened, it just wasn't us," OSU senior left guard Justin Boren said. "I don't think one game should define who we are as a unit. If you look at the previous four games, as an offensive line we played well. Granted on Saturday we did not put together a good performance. We know after watching the film, we have to get after it this week."

On several plays Saturday, no running back would have done much, particularly when Illinois defensive lineman Corey Liuget took turns beating Boren, center Mike Brewster and right guard Bryant Browning. Liuget blew up several running plays before they got started.

But on others, holes were there and lanes weren't taken. The Buckeyes are set on the offensive line, barring injury, so all those linemen can do is get better. But at tailback, there are options other than the status quo.

For the season, top tailbacks Dan Herron and Brandon Saine have combined for 470 yards on 109 carries, a 4.3 average. But since the opener against Marshall, their average has been the same at it was against Illinois -- 3.5 over the last four weeks.

The first half against Illinois was a low point, as Herron and Saine combined for just 15 yards on seven carries.

"Had that occurred the entire game, I'm sure that concern would be deeper," Tressel said. "Yeah, we couldn't have won that ball game had we not started running the ball better, especially the nature of that game. That was an old-fashioned Big Ten slugfest."

The Buckeyes didn't win it by running it the way they'd done it most of the year, sharing the load. They won it by leaning on Herron, who had 19 carries and 89 yards in the second half compared to five carries for nine yards for Saine.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerBrandon Saine remains the Buckeyes' best receiving threat coming out of the backfield, but will he get enough carries for defenses to take him seriously?

So what might happen Saturday?

1. The Buckeyes could go back to Saine and Herron sharing the carries. Saine remains a threat in the passing game, and to maximize that, the Buckeyes need to continue giving him carries at tailback. If he becomes only a receiving threat, he may not create the same mismatches in coverage.

On some runs, Saine has had no chance, with defenders hitting him immediately. On others, he has been indecisive in making cuts and finding the right hole.

"I think his performance has been solid," Tressel said of Saine. "He hasn't had the running yards. I'm not sure who would have in the situations he just happened to be in, but Brandon Saine adds a dimension of speed and versatility that we have to absolutely use. So have we figured out exactly how to maximize that? Probably not. But that's what you do during the course of a season."

2. The Buckeyes lean on Herron as a No. 1 back, giving him more of Saine's carries. It would look a lot more like the second half.

"You could feel that Boom was getting a little momentum going," Tressel said, "and a little energy and electricity and the whole group."

But in general, Tressel said he doesn't really subscribe to the idea that one back needs more carries to find his way and increase his production.

3. The Buckeyes could add No. 3 tailback Jordan Hall into the mix. Tressel has been praising him all season, and he's done well as a kick and punt returner. He has 72 yards on 13 carries this season, but he hasn't yet been used in a meaningful spot in a game that was in doubt.

"I have one million percent faith in Jordan Hall," Tressel said, echoing similar sentiments he expressed previously. "He's going to make a difference this season, he already has. Gosh, his punt and kickoff returns. He is a good runner. ... I wish we had more carries available, but you're going to see Jordan Hall."

The carries are limited, but the running game can't be.

Terrelle Pryor is part of the running game as well, so, for instance, right tackle J.B. Shugarts deserves credit for blocking two Illinois players on the edge to spring Pryor's 66-yard sprint on a called running play.

But there's more to a running game than a fast quarterback. So the Buckeyes have to make sure they're creating and hitting the right holes, and handing the ball to the right guys.

Rather than talking about how baseball's economic system is unfair, it's time for the Indians to stress what they can do.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerIt's time for the Indians' braintrust (left to right, president Mark Shapiro, manager Manny Acta and new GM Chris Antonetti) to publicly embrace the challenge of winning without being a major-market team instead of playing the victim's role in baseball's unbalanced financial landscape, writes Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What's the message from the Indians having baseball's lowest attendance?

Of course, it's about the need to win. It's about the Indians losing more than 90 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1914-1915. It's about the fans hearing all the franchise talk about baseball's economic system with no salary cap. It's about hearing how Cleveland is a shrinking city -- no longer a major market.

All of which is accurate.

But something more dangerous is being delivered. Without directly saying it, the customers are hearing: "We can't win!"

The Indians need to change that opinion – immediately.

They have to stop the talk of how the baseball deck is stacked against them. It's time for the Indians to tell their fans that seven of baseball's 10 highest-paid teams failed to make the playoffs.

The exceptions are the Yankees (No. 1), Phillies (4) and Twins (10).

Hardcore Tribe fans know the Twins are new members of the Top-10 payroll club. For most of the decade, Minnesota has been in the same economic ballpark (while playing in their dreadful Metrodome) as the Tribe.

Yet, the Twins have won six of nine Central Division titles. Their rise started in 2002 long before moving into glitzy Target Field this season. It began with payrolls in the bottom third of the majors. In 2009, they were No. 23 when the Indians were No. 25.

Who won the American League East?

It was not the Yankees with their top-ranked payroll of $203 million, which is $40 million richer than No. 2 Boston.

The Eastern champions are the Tampa Bay Rays and their $72 million payroll, ranking No. 21. The Indians were at $61 million this season, No. 26.

Tampa's home is an awful dome in an apathetic sports region where they averaged only 23,025 fans. Keep in mind, the Rays also went to the 2008 World Series. That season, they had the 29th-ranked payroll – while the Indians were 16th.

How have Tampa and Minnesota done it?

The same way that the Tribe must do it: Smart drafting, excellent player development and shrewd trades. Neither Tampa or the Twins play the high-stakes, free agent sweepstakes. They produce their own stars, even if they can't keep them for 10 years due to free agency.

In 2005, the Indians won 93 games and blew a playoff appearance with a final weekend collapse. In 2007, they won 96 and were one game away from the World Series before losing three in a row to Boston in the playoffs.

The Tribe had those two winning seasons despite nearly a decade of dismal drafting. They have relied on trading for other teams' prospects because they have failed to grow their own.

As the Indians rearrange their front office with Mark Shapiro becoming president and Chris Antonetti taking over as general manager, both need to continually accent what they can do to win.

And accept the blame for some failures.

The Indians changed their scouting department in 2008 as Brad Grant took over the draft. Early returns are promising with significant prospects such as Jason Kipnis, Cord Phelps, Alex White, Lonnie Chisenhall and Bryce Stowell.

But consider the key Tribe players for 2011: Shin-Soo Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera, Fausto Carmona, Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley, Matt LaPorta, Grady Sizemore, Justin Masterson, Travis Hafner, Mitch Talbot and Chris Perez. Of that dozen, not one was drafted by the Indians. All but Carmona (signed out of the Dominican Republic) came from another organization.

Rather than become defensive when Tampa or the Twins are mentioned, the Indians should use those two teams as examples of what can happen here.

Their message should be, "If we do it right, we can contend -- especially in the Central Division."

Minnesota and Tampa did it without blockbuster budgets, and the same can be true for the Tribe.

The Big 3 were together for merely three minutes. LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack after Dwyane Wade's preseason debut came to a quick end. Wade could miss two weeks with a strained hamstring.

Miami Heat's LeBron James , right, brings the ball up as Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (6) defends in the third quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in Miami, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

MIAMI - The Big 3 were together for merely three minutes. LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack after Dwyane Wade's preseason debut came to a quick end.

And with that, this era for the Miami Heat got off to a promising, but not perfect, start.

James and Bosh combined for 38 points in their exhibition debuts, and the Heat easily beat the Detroit Pistons 105-89 in the preseason opener for both teams Tuesday night.

"It was something I've waited for all summer," James said. "To be able to be back on the court, it was great. The reception from the fans was awesome and it was great we were able to give them the same energy that they gave us."

The outcome was meaningless, but the game wasn't for Miami — not after Wade limped off just 3:17 into the game with a strained right hamstring. He went into the locker room shortly afterward, did not return, and could miss up to two weeks. Wade expects to be back long before the Oct. 26 regular-season opener in Boston.

"I think Miami's seen me play for a long time," Wade said. "And they'll get a lot of time to see the 'Big 3,' as they say, our team play together."

Bosh had 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting. James, the NBA's two-time reigning MVP who took his championship pursuit from Cleveland to Miami this summer, added 18, and the Heat weren't challenged after running out to a 20-point lead by halftime.

Udonis Haslem added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat. Ben Gordon led Detroit with 17 points.

"I don't really think they played that great," Gordon said. "Obviously, we didn't play that well either."

By the final buzzer, most of the crowd was long gone. Most came to see the opening moments of this trio's time together, and the fanfare was the sort simply not seen at most preseason games.

James walked from the bench moments before tip-off with the traditional stoic look. He filled his hands with rosin powder, threw it into the air to create a white cloud, then clapped his hands three times.

Same as always. Just totally different.

"The season," James said, "is back."

And when Wade left, James just took over.

He put much of his repertoire on display in the early going: no-look passes, drives to the rim, 3-pointers, even playing some point guard in the first quarter. It always wasn't perfect — he airballed one try from beyond the arc, never saw a wide-open Bosh under the basket on another possession.

At times, it was downright scintillating.

One play after missing Bosh, he set up his new teammate for a dunk that left the former Toronto forward screaming with delight. And with 4.7 seconds left in the first quarter, James ran off a Haslem pick, then spun before going down the lane for a two-handed dunk — waving his arms with a flourish after giving Miami a 24-15 lead.

"I think everyone's been waiting to see us, to see what we've been doing in practice and bringing it into a game setting," James said.

James had 12 points in the first 12 minutes, either scoring or assisting on eight of Miami's first 11 field goals. He returned to the game with 5:03 left in the half to a raucous ovation, set up a 3-pointer by Mario Chalmers with a wraparound behind-the-back pass, and went into intermission with 14 points on 7-of-15 shooting.

Miami led 58-38 at the break, holding Detroit to 39 percent shooting. James and Bosh both played late into the third quarter, before Heat coach Erik Spoelstra declared their nights complete.

"There's some encouraging things to come from this game," Spoelstra said. "The No. 1 thing was our guys wanted to play in front of the home fans. You could tell with their energy. It's been a long week of hitting each other and not seeing any other competition."

James took the floor for pregame at 7:18 p.m., one of the last three Heat players to emerge into view, sandwiched between Bosh and Wade, Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blaring through the arena as usual. The Heat, clad in black warmups, huddled in a hallway just behind the court, as dozens of people leaned to take photos with their cell phones for the first arrival.

James' longtime girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, was in the much-larger-than-usual preseason crowd, but his children weren't — school obligations, James said.

"As a basketball player, as a guy who loves the game of basketball, I'm excited about that, for the season to be back around," James said. "I'm very happy about that."

Bosh knew Tuesday was a big deal when his father insisted on coming to the game.

"He was that excited about it," Bosh said. "He was ready to see us take the court for the first time. Just this fact that he was super-excited about it, that let me know kind of how everybody else is going to be. And if that's how everybody is, it makes it a lot more fun to play."

The Pistons took this game seriously, making it a measure of where they are three weeks before the games start counting, center Ben Wallace said.

"They know everybody's going to be gunning at them," Wallace said. "I heard them say that they know they put the bulls-eye on their back. That helps you to focus, helps you stay on your toes, stay on top of your game knowing that everyone is coming at you night-in and night-out."

Outside, parking lots that used to charge $10 were asking $40 per space. Long lines of fans waited to get in, some wearing James, Wade and Bosh Heat jerseys — and a few wearing James' old No. 23 from Cleveland as well. A notoriously late-arriving Miami crowd showed up to see the pregame introductions, and roared when James' name was called first.

"You can tell it's an exciting time for this city," James said. "And hopefully we can come through and do things that we need to do on the court to keep the fans excited."

This seemed like a good first impression.

Notes: Flo Rida and Gloria Estefan were in the crowd, and most seats were filled by tip-off — a far cry from preseason games in recent years, when the Heat typically played before a half-empty house. ... The Heat next play on Friday in Kansas City, Mo. against Oklahoma City — a Miami home game, technically — then head to San Antonio the next night.

Former Indians manager Eric Wedge was the first managerial candidate to interview with the Pittsburgh Pirates as they seek John Russell’s successor. Plus, get more baseball news in today's MLB Newswatch.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerEric Wedge is a candidate for the Pirates.

Former Indians manager Eric Wedge was the first managerial candidate to interview with the Pittsburgh Pirates as they seek John Russell’s successor.

The Indians twice won more than 90 under Wedge from 2003 to 2009. Pittsburgh has had 18 consecutive losing seasons. Bucs GM Neal Huntington worked in the Tribe front office for most of Wedge’s first five years.

Liriano, Hudson honored: Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62 ERA) and Atlanta Braves righthander Tim Hudson (17-9, 2.83) were named American League and National League comeback players of the year, respectively.

Roberts hurt himself? Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts thinks headaches that forced him to miss the final six days of the season might have come from a self-inflicted blow to the head with his bat, which happened after striking out Sept. 27.

A league source said the Patriots and Vikings are discussing a trade that would bring star receiver Randy Moss back to Minnesota. Plus, get news on the Steelers, Colts and Seahawks in today's NFL Newswatch.

New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, left, celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.( AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A league source said the Patriots and Vikings are discussing a trade that would bring star receiver Randy Moss back to Minnesota.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.

The seven-time Pro Bowler was a first-round draft pick of the Vikings in 1998 and spent his first seven seasons in the NFL with Minnesota. He was traded to Oakland in 2005 and languished for two years before being revitalized in New England.

Moss set an NFL record with 23 TD receptions in 2007. He has said several times this year that he expected 2010 to be his last season with the Patriots.

Foxsports.com first reported the discussions.

Ready for no football? NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith sees new signs that owners are preparing for a football-free 2011.

Speaking on Tuesday in Green Bay, Wis., Smith referred to a recent Sports Business Journal report that said the NFL is requiring banks that lend money to its teams to extend grace periods for loan defaults through the end of the 2011 season in the event of a lockout. “That to me is a step where the owners are protecting themselves in the event that there is no season,” Smith said.

Seahawks trade for Lynch: Buffalo gave up on Marshawn Lynch as their featured ball carrier, trading him to Seattle for a pair of undisclosed draft picks. That clears the way to give more playing time for Fred Jackson and first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller in the Bills’ backfield.

Seattle released running back Julius Jones, its leading rusher the past two seasons, to clear a roster spot for Lynch.

Around the league

Colts: Safety Melvin Bullitt, Bob Sanders’ replacement, will miss the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury.

Panthers: Carolina released receiver Dwayne Jarrett, hours after his second arrest on a charge of driving while impaired in less than three years.

Steelers: On the first pass he threw in his first post-suspension practice, Ben Roethlisberger found fast receiver Mike Wallace far downfield for an over-the-shoulder catch of a perfectly thrown football.

Ben is back.

“We have our whole team here, and we have our leader — our quarterback — back with us,” Wallace said. “He makes everybody better. The offense is definitely going to go in another direction.”

Roethlisberger showed no rustiness or lack of rhythm in his first practice since training camp, zipping passes throughout a 30-minute passing drill that was incorporated into the practice to quickly get him and his receivers back in sync.

“It was a good step, and I don’t think it’ll take as long as I thought,” Roethlisberger said.

Titans: Tennessee placed first-round draft pick Derrick Morgan (torn left anterior cruciate ligament) on injured reserve and replaced the defensive end with defensive tackle Amon Gordon.

How will the Buckeyes fill Terrelle Pryor's running shoes if injury relegates the fleet-footed quarterback merely to throwing the ball?

View full sizeNeal Lauron,
Columbus DispatchTerrelle Pryor apparently is showing no effects of the quadriceps injury he suffered in the Buckeyes' win over Illinois last week, but Ohio State still needs to consider how to fill in the gap if the team's most dangerous running threat is slowed by injury.

Are the Browns ready to take the next step in "The Process" and beat the Falcons?

View full sizeJoshua Gunter,
The Plain DealerEric Mangini takes the next step in "The Process" and does something new: watches a Browns win from the sidelines.

The 2008 Browns needed an enema in the worst way come 2009. The 2009 season revolved around “stripping the team down to its very core” year and establishing a mentality of toughness. Of course, despite Alex Mack being an exceptional 1st round pick, the rest of the draft is sketchy at best, and not much pure talent was acquired.
But, it was only step one of what Mangini calls “The Process” which he stated is a 5-year plan in an ESPN The Magazine article before the season.

So what is the 2010 season about? It’s Step 2 of “The Process.”
It’s not about contending for a Super Bowl, it’s about building the team back up using the concrete foundation of toughness established in 2009 (the concrete which hardened in December).

If 2009 was about pouring concrete, 2010 is about laying bricks. While the record hasn’t shown it, the results on the field speak for itself.

Through four games, the Browns have physically punished every team they’ve played. If it weren’t for critical, maddening mistakes where the team shot themselves in the foot, one can make a truly logical case that the Browns could be 3-1, maybe 4-0.

It will not be a surprise if the Browns pull the upset. They have held fourth-quarter leads in all four games. They found ways to lose the first three, including what amounted to a statement game at Baltimore, but gained confidence by holding on against Cincinnati. The records-Cleveland's 1-3 vs. Atlanta's 3-1-might be much less revealing than the teams' most recent games. The Falcons were lucky to beat a San Francisco team that is 0-4. They likely would have been toast if 49ers CB Nate Clements hadn't fumbled away a late interception return. The Browns, on the other hand, controlled most of their game against defending AFC North champ Cincinnati, ending the Bengals' eight-game division winning streak. Matt Ryan has run hot and cold. He is coming off a two-interception, three-sack game against the 49ers -- and that was at home.

In the end, it is hard to imagine that a team whose last road game was a win against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints will be at a loss for how to cope at Cleveland. Falcons 24, Browns 17.

The Vikings paid a bargain basement price for Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss -- a third round pick. Should the Browns have offered that much -- or more -- to the Pats for him in a bid to aid their anemic receiving corps?

View full sizeAP FileRandy Moss drew the wrath of the NFL for pretending to moon the Green Bay crowd during a playoff game in 2005. Now, he'll be mooning -- figuratively speaking, of course -- the rest of the league when he's united with Brett Favre in Minnesota.

Jayme Mitchell gives Browns a healthy body at defensive end.

View full sizeAP fileJayme Mitchell

BEREA -- The Browns confirmed they acquired defensive end Jayme Mitchell from Minnesota for an undisclosed draft choice in 2012.

Mitchell, 6-6 and 285 pounds, was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi in 2006.

In 29 NFL games, he had five sacks and one forced fumble. One of the sacks came in the Vikings' 2010 season-opener at New Orleans.

The Browns have been shorthanded on the defensive line all season because of injuries. They seldom have fielded more than two defensive linemen on passing downs.

To make room for Mitchell, the Browns waived defensive back Derrick Roberson.

Sabathia and Lee won Cy Young Awards with the Indians. Another Cy Young winner is Roy Halladay, who won it as a Blue Jay but starts today for the Phillies. It's Rangers-Rays; Reds-Phillies; Yankees-Twins; with Braves-Giants beginning Thursday.

Associated PressCC Sabathia during a Yankees' workout on Tuesday in Minnesota.

Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins need no added motivation to beat the New York Yankees. They found some anyway.

Prepping for their first-round playoff series, the AL Central champions hung a picture in their clubhouse of the back page of a recent (New York) Daily News that read "Bad news: Yanks must go on road for playoffs. Good news: They play the Twins. E-Z Pass."

"Yes, we've had our issues with them," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday. "They find a way and that's what we have to do. We have to find a way. We are pretty good at that this year and I expect us to do it."

The time for talking is over and the pressure is on. Everyone knows what's at stake in October.

Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies are swinging for their third straight pennant. The Texas Rangers are trying to win a playoff series for the first time. The wild-card Yankees hope to repeat as World Series champs.

Postseason baseball begins Wednesday, with a trio of Cy Young Award winners on the mound: Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and CC Sabathia.

Lee and the Rangers get it all started against the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:37 p.m. EDT. Next up, Halladay and the Phillies host the Cincinnati Reds at 5:07 p.m. EDT.

With three aces in the rotation and a playoff-tested team, Philadelphia is heavily favored to reach its third consecutive World Series. The last National League club to do that was the St. Louis Cardinals from 1942-44.

But MVP contender Joey Votto and the Reds can slug with just about anybody, and they have an overpowering arm to bring out of the bullpen in rookie Aroldis Chapman.

Cincinnati, winner of the NL Central, is in the postseason for the first time since 1995. The Reds can expect a packed house in Philadelphia, too.

"You've got to start somewhere," said manager Dusty Baker, taking his third NL team to the postseason. "It's sort of like a kid coming out of college. Everybody wants to know what is his job experience? And sooner or later you've got to work to get that experience, and that's where we are right now."

Halladay, obtained from Toronto last December, will be making his playoff debut after 13 stellar seasons. He'll face Edinson Volquez, who returned this year from right elbow surgery and went 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 12 starts.

"It's definitely something I'm looking forward to," Halladay said at a rainy Citizens Bank Park. "It's a great challenge. It's something I've wanted to do my whole career, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity."

The 8:37 p.m. EDT game is a familiar matchup. Sabathia and the Yankees face Minnesota in a first-round series for the fourth time since 2003. New York won all three previous meetings, including last year en route to its 27th World Series title.

"Doesn't mean anything," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter interjected, cutting off a question about past success against the Twins.

He relented: "We haven't played 'em in a while. We understand that they're very hot, especially in the second half. They'll play us tough. Anything that's happened in the past has no bearing on this season."

This time, the Twins have home-field advantage at their spacious new ballpark, Target Field. Wednesday night will mark the first outdoor postseason game in Minnesota since 1970, and the temperature is supposed to be in the 60s.

"We went through a sweep last year. That obviously wasn't a good feeling," Twins center fielder Denard Span said. "I just think we're a year older, a year more ready. We did what we had to do during the regular season. Now I think everybody's goal is a little higher than it was a year ago."

Francisco Liriano pitches the opener against Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and the big-budget Yankees, who staggered to a 9-17 finish that cost them the AL East crown.

"We tried to wrap this thing up and didn't get it done," said Andy Pettitte, who will start Game 2 for New York. "The bottom line is we're the world champs until someone knocks us off."

In the first of Wednesday's three marquee pitching matchups, Lee was set to face Tampa Bay ace David Price under the roof at Tropicana Field. Price has blossomed into the elite starter almost everyone expected, going 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA for the AL East champs.

"Should be a pretty fun matchup to watch," said Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, cleared to play after missing the final 10 games of the regular season with a strained left quadriceps.

Texas' dangerous lineup features playoff newcomers Josh Hamilton and Michael Young, but the AL West champion Rangers are the only current major league franchise that hasn't won a playoff series.

Lee was acquired from Seattle in July to help change that. The left-hander went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts for the Phillies last year.

"I expect as much out of myself as anyone expects out of me. You can call it pressure, call it what you want. But I'm not nervous or worried or any of those kind of words that would go along with pressure," Lee said. "I'm looking forward to it, and it's going to be a challenge and a lot of fun."

All division series are best-of-five. The fourth matchup gets under way Thursday night, when retiring manager Bobby Cox and his wild-card Atlanta Braves play at NL West champion San Francisco Giants.

Delhomme's playing status for Sunday will be determined later in week, as usual.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJake Delhomme, right, is on track to start on Sunday.

BEREA -- Jake Delhomme is on track to return to his starting quarterback spot for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain in the season opener on Sept. 12.

Delhomme practiced on the first day of preparation for Sunday's game against Atlanta. He did not practice last week until Thursday and was inactive against Cincinnati.

Coach Eric Mangini said that Delhomme will split practice time with Seneca Wallace. The Browns will monitor Delhomme's ability to move and then see how he recovers the next day and through the week before deciding his playing status.

 The fact that Delhomme is familiar with Atlanta's defense is a positive, Mangini said. Delhomme played the Falcons twice a year while with Carolina.

Cleveland sports bloggers talk about Eric Mangini's 'process,' Josh Cribbs' role on offense, Peyton Hillis as Mike Alstott and thoughts from The Q as the Cavaliers won their preseason opener.

View full sizeWhile some fans think Eric Mangini is in over his head, others think the Browns' struggles are just part of the rebuilding process.

Browns

Land Loyalty: "So what is the 2010 season about? It's Step 2 of 'The Process.' It's not about contending for a Super Bowl. It's about building the team back up using the concrete foundation of toughness established in 2009 - the concrete which hardened in December. If 2009 was about pouring concrete, 2010 is about laying bricks." » Read more

WaitingForNextYear: "It's obviously not apples-to-apples to say that the Browns can employ a college-style spread into their Wildcat/Flash/Cyclone package and expect it to work; NFL defenses aren't as slow as UMass' and Indiana's defenses. But, Rich Rodriguez and Calvin McGee find ways to use Denard Robinson that exploit defensive tendencies that I think the Browns could explore in an effort to open things up and make Cribbs more of a weapon." » Read more

No Logo Needed: "This Browns team is aggressive - and in T.J. Ward's case, almost to a fault. When Mangini took this job, he had very little to work with other than the fact he has the most loyal fan base in the NFL. He knew that winning football games on the shores of Lake Erie in December wasn't going to work with a team that relied on throwing the ball 40 times a game. This will be a hard-nosed running football team that will break the other team's will. This is turning into a team that the blue collar fans of Cleveland will identify and fall in love with." » Read more

Cleveland Reboot tells us that Peyton Hillis is not Mike Alstott.

Cavaliers

Cavs HQ: "Now [Sessions] will have to prove that he has the game to back [his attitude] up. Sessions finished with 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 22 minutes, but he shot only 3-for-9 from the field and had 3 turnovers. In a game the Cavs won by 15 points, he was only +3 on the night. Make no mistake, I am optimistic about Sessions' positive impact on the Cavs this season, but I will also be looking closely at how well his production lines up with his attitude." » Read more

Cavs: the blog: "Love seeing Hickson get five offensive boards and 10 free throw attempts. Do not love a starting power forward who doesn't shoot threes go 5-13 from the floor. The work on the post moves and the mid-range jumper is all well and good, but J.J. is, was, and always should be a finisher first and foremost." » Read more

"Practically everyone in the front office just got a promotion for back-to-back 90-loss seasons. Dolan appears to be pretty happy with the operation of the team. MLB profit sharing insures that teams can tank decades and still make a profit (see: Pittsburgh Pirates). What is the incentive to change the team's losing ways?" - terje3

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerSince first tearing down the team in 2002, the Indians had two winning seasons under Mark Shapiro as GM.

In response to the story It's time for the Cleveland Indians to embrace the underdog blueprint for success: Terry Pluto, cleveland.com reader terje3 isn't sure what, but assumes ownership likes something about the way the Indians are being run. This reader writes,

"Practically everyone in the front office just got a promotion for back-to-back 90-loss seasons. Dolan appears to be pretty happy with the operation of the team. MLB profit sharing insures that teams can tank decades and still make a profit (see: Pittsburgh Pirates). What is the incentive to change the team's losing ways?"

PD Ohio State writer says Pryor wants to rush for 1,000 yards this season, and he can do it.

Associated PressTerrelle Pryor has his sights set on a 1,000-yard rushing season, says Doug Lesmerises.

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Bill "Sweater Vest" Lubinger.

Let's go to the highlights:

• The Ohio State Buckeyes have had issues with their running game of late. With Terrelle Pryor hobbled by a strained quad muscle, how should OSU use its running backs to get the ground game back on track? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

• Today's guest, Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises, says the OSU offensive line didn't play its best game Saturday in the win over Illinois. But he adds that, like many fans, he might like to see Jordan Hall receive more carries.

Doug also says he thinks the Buckeyes can win the national title if their quarterback, Pryor, is the team's leading rusher.

SBTV will return Thursday with Plain Dealer columnist Terry as the guest. He will talk about Browns and what to watch heading into Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Speaking of football, don't forget to play our You Pick the Winners Contest where you can outpick Chuck and Branson Wright each week and earn an appearance on SBTV, a $25 gas card and a chance at a $250 gift card.

"This story has a lot of insight in regards to the importance of a young quarterback. The No. 1 priority for the Browns in next year's draft is to get a good, young quarterback. Holmgren made an effort to get Bradford, so you can see that the thinking is there." - Kabasi

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerMike Holmgren got Colt McCoy in the 2010 draft, but the Browns may still be in the market for a new quarterback in the 2011 draft.

In response to the story With a solid QB and winning coach, Atlanta Falcons take wing behind a savvy GM: Tony Grossi's Scouting Report, cleveland.com reader Kabasi thinks this team won't win consistently until they find their quarterback of the future. This reader writes,

"This story has a lot of insight in regards to the importance of a young quarterback. The No. 1 priority for the Browns in next year's draft is to get a good, young quarterback. Holmgren made an effort to get Bradford, so you can see that the thinking is there."

"A preseason win means nothing as far as the regular season goes, but if they would have lost this game by 15 you'd have had all the nay sayers, both locally and nationally, saying, ' I told you so,' about how bad the Cavs are going to be this year." - cavsliveon

View full sizeLisa DeJong | The Plain DealerJ.J. Hickson and the Cavaliers opened the preseason with a win on Tuesday night.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers win preseason debut, 87-72 over Bobcats, cleveland.com reader cavsliveon thinks that opening the preseason with a win was important this year. This reader writes,

"A preseason win means nothing as far as the regular season goes, but if they would have lost this game by 15 you'd have had all the nay sayers, both locally and nationally, saying, ' I told you so,' about how bad the Cavs are going to be this year."

"I would love to see Berry get some first team carries. He seems to be as big or bigger physically than most all of the backs and is producing more than all of the backs." - truebloodbuckeye

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerSome Buckeyes fans would like to see Jaamal Berry on the field more.

In response to the story Ohio State looking to energize the non-Pryor portion of the Buckeyes' running game, cleveland.com reader truebloodbuckeye would like to see more of Jaamal Berry. This reader writes,

"I would love to see Berry get some first team carries. He seems to be as big or bigger physically than most all of the backs and is producing more than all of the backs."