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Former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett trying to find way back to a normal life

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Maurice Clarett says his past is behind him, and now his focus is on moving forward. He's starting by playing football with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

maurice clarett.JPGView full sizeMaurice Clarett, now with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League, says it has taken him time to get back into playing shape.

Rusty Miller / Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After 3 1/2 years in a prison cell, the sound of people cheering and rooting for him has helped Maurice Clarett make the transition back to a routine life.

"I'm doing something that I love," the former Ohio State tailback said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. "I think that goes for anybody in the world anywhere: If you're doing something you love and you're having fun doing it, I don't think a person can ask for too much more."

Clarett, a month into a stint with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League, said it has taken him time to get back into playing shape after not playing competitively since he led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship. He was suspended by the NCAA for taking improper inducements, failed to make it in the NFL, then spent 3 1/2 years in prison for having a hidden gun and holding up two people outside a Columbus bar in 2006.

In the Nighhawks' two games -- both wins -- Clarett has seen only limited action.

The 26-year-old Clarett declined to address questions about his past. He said he had learned to deal with only what is in front of him.

"I take things day by day. I don't get too far ahead of myself; I don't look behind myself," he said when asked if he hopes to someday make it to the NFL.

"I understand my responsibility and where I'm at right now. I'm sort of living in the moment," he said. "Some personal goals, I keep them private and I keep them to myself. I put in all the work I need to be putting in, to contribute to the team and become a better player. I try every day. It's a day-by-day process. I focus on the moment."

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel wrote a letter to the presiding judge asking for Clarett to be permitted to leave Ohio to try out with the Nighthawks.

"I think it's probably something that he thought about and that he missed and that he knows it's short-lived," Tressel said earlier this season. "The older you get, it's even shorter-lived."

Clarett worked out at Ohio State while attending classes there this summer.

"He wanted to be in a positive environment and all that," Tressel said. "All of a sudden people started calling us and I would take him his phone messages. And I think he kind of felt good that there was some interest."

Clarett was granted permission to travel to Omaha for the tryout, and made the team.

The 6-foot, 220-pounder said he was fortunate that he was able to stay in shape while he was in prison and this summer while attending classes and living in a lockdown dormitory in Columbus. But even though he felt he was in good condition, it took a while to come around to being physically able to play professional football.

"It's been like any other transition," he said. "It's had its points of difficulties, but right now I'm good. I've been away from the game for a while, so starting off things were moving kind of fast. I had to get everything under control. But I've been here now five or six weeks, so I kind of understand what's going on with the playbook, what the coaches expect out of us: getting back in football shape, sprinting and stopping, taking care of my body, taking care of my mind, just doing the things we need to do to win."

He has carried only five times for 12 yards, and has one catch for 6 yards. He is listed on the Nighthawks' depth chart as the third-team tailback behind NFL veteran Ahman Green and Shaud Williams.

"That's definitely enough to keep me busy," he said of the light workload so far. "The coach, he tells us pretty much before each game, how many carries he expects us to have. And we go from there."

Clarett said he continues to follow college football. He was a sensation at Ohio State, starting at the glamour position of tailback before he had attended his first college class.

He rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Buckeyes in his only season, capped by a glittering performance in the Fiesta Bowl where the Buckeyes beat top-ranked Miami 31-24 in two overtimes. In that game, Clarett rushed for two touchdowns including the game-winner. He also made one of the biggest plays of the game when he ran down the Hurricanes" Sean Taylor, who had just intercepted a pass, and stole the ball away to help set up a field goal.

"I pay attention. The big games that they have on TV, they have a lot of Nebraska games out here or regional games out here," he said. "I talk to a couple of players back at Ohio State. I pay attention to Ohio State."

The Omaha fans have been good to Clarett, cheering for him and rabidly supporting his team.

"It feels good," he said.


Cleveland Browns quarterback conundrum: How best to use Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace? / Poll

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Jake Delhomme's likely return to the starting lineup raises a question: How do you use the veteran quarterback, and what does the return mean to backup Seneca Wallace.

jake-delhomme-tim-crowder-john-kuntz.JPGView full sizeJake Delhomme is expected to start his first game for the Browns since being injured against Tampa Bay in the season opener.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Jake Delhomme was cruising in the season-opening Tampa Bay game. Oh, he wasn't pillaging the Bucs' booty, but he was playing confidently and having success.


Then, right before halftime, , it happened: an errant throw, an interception, a Tampa Bay  touchdown later, and a preseason of optimism was over quicker than a Lindsay Lohan stay in jail.

One thought rushed through the collective consciousness of Browns fans like an untouched safety on a full-out blitz: "Uh-oh. We didn't get the NEW IMPROVED Jake Delhomme; we have the one who threw 18 touchdowns with the Panthers before being benched in the 11th game of 2009."

It turns out it was a high ankle sprain, which some experts say is a tougher recover  than a broken ankle. Louisiana native Delhomme, at 35, is no spring poulet in athletic terms. How soon he'd be able to come back was an issue.

Seneca Wallace, a career backup in Seattle, filled in for three games. The Browns have led in the fourth quarter of all four games this year. Wallace seems to be developing a chemistry with tight end Ben Watson, and last week did something REALLY unusual: He connected 10 times with a wideout. With the considerable help of running back Peyton Hillis, he managed to win last Sunday's game against the Bengals.

But Delhomme was anointed the starter in the preseason, and he'll most likely be back under center Sunday when the Browns play host to the confident 3-1 Falcons, assuming he suffers no setbacks in a full week of practice this week. So you have two quarterbacks, one a former Pro Bowler who took his team to the Super Bowl, the other who's got more yards on a clipboard than on a football field, but whose nimble feet give the Browns an added dimension.

How do you use them?





A.M. Cleveland Browns links: Falcons come to town playing well and flying high

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Will Cleveland pull a Sherman and burn Atlanta, will it be the other way around?

harry-douglas-roddy-white-ap.JPGView full sizeAtlanta receivers Harry Douglas (83) and Roddy White (84) celebrate a first-half touchdown in the Falcons' win over San Francisco last week.
Cleveland, Ohio -- Starting Blocks remembers back in the day, covering high school football games and interviewing coaches for game previews. "So, coach, how about those Hutto Hippos (real name, a school in Texas)?" "Lemme tell you, son, they're the BEST 1-3 team in we'll face all year ..."

Now just imagine the hyperbole if those same Hutto Hippos were 3-1 and playing pretty well overall. The ol' coach's praise might be downright effusive.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us introduce you to Browns coach Eric Mangini's conference call to the opposition media, as reported by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Falcons, who visit Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday, are indeed 3-1 and playing pretty well overall. They have a hot young quarterback in Matt Ryan and a running back who can carry the load in Michael Turner. But it's receiver Roddy White who drew the most praise from the Browns coach.

“I think Roddy White is a really good player. There is not much that he can’t do. I’ve seen him catch a short one and run it for 90 (yards). I’ve seen him beat corners one-on-one and catch the fades. I’ve seen him catch under thrown fades. What I love, is that it’s two years in a row now, that after interceptions he stripped the ball out. To me that shows his character. You talk about huge plays, those are huge, huge plays. And the other place that you see his character is the way that he blocks in the run game. Some  receivers, especially as talented as he, the running game is an afterthought. But he’s thinking it out. That tells me from a head coaching perspective that he’s a team guy.”
Mangini also likes the tenacity of the Falcons' defense.

“They play with tremendous effort defensively. Most of the time at the end of the play you’ll see four, five or six hats on the ball. That’s effort. That’s intensity. That has nothing to do with athletic ability. That’s want to. I really like the style of football that the Falcons play.”
Or as an ol' coach in Texas might drawl, "Lemme tell you, son, they're the best 3-1 team we'll face all year."

The hits just keep coming
T.J. Ward's hit on Bengals receiver Jordan Shipley, and the $15,000 fine it generated, was the talk of the NFL this week, at least until former Browns coach Bill Belichick dealt Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings (more on that later). Maria Ridenour of the Akron Beacon-Journal weighs in on the hit and its repercussions:

Bengals receiver Terrell Owens did not back down (from calling Ward's hit a cheap shot), reiterating that accusation during The T.Ocho Show on Versus.

''I do think it was a cheap shot considering where the defensive back was and the time between him missing the ball, him visually seeing that he didn't catch the ball, then he hit him,'' Owens said. ''He definitely had time enough to pull off. In certain situations you can kind of gauge if the guy is already in the act or he's already launched himself or left his feet, then it's a little ticky tacky.''

When teammate Chad Ochocinco mentioned to Owens that Browns coach Eric Mangini said Ward wasn't a dirty player, Owens said: ''Look who it's coming from. Probably 90 percent of his players don't even like him, anyway, speaking of Eric Mangini. I don't like him. We've got to see him again. We'll see if we're going to do some cheap shots the next game. Hit me like that. Hit him [Ochocinco] like that. Stay off me.''

T.O. caught 10 balls for 220 yards, including a 78-yarder that went for a score. The Browns might hit him like that ... but first they'd have to catch him.

A bit of realism
Linebacker Scott Fujita, whose block of a field goal was the difference, at least scorewise, in the Browns win over the Bengals, put things in perspective in a preview of this weekend's game for cbssports.com.

"This does nothing but guarantee that we are not going 0-16," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "It feels great to get the first win. We put a lot of time to get that win, but you can't blow it out of proportion.

"We should've won the first three games. That's the bottom line. Now we have to find a way to build on this and get things moving in the right direction."

'Nuff said.

From The Plain Dealer
Browns beat writer Tony Grossi also covered the Ward hit and subsequent fine, and in doing so, recounted some of the bigger hits in Browns history.

In a 2006 game, Brian Russell rammed his helmet into the facemask of Chad Johnson (now Ochocinco) while defending a pass, drawing plenty of blood from the receiver's chin. Russell wasn't penalized. His own teammate, Braylon Edwards, later criticized Russell for the hit.

In his first Browns game as a rookie in 1991, Eric Turner's first tackle dented the facemask of Cincinnati running back James Brooks.

In a 1989 playoff game, Felix Wright upended Buffalo receiver Don Beebe soaring for a pass, sending Beebe head over heels. Beebe landed perpendicular to the ground. His head bounced off the semi-frozen ground with his legs straight up in the air.

The most vicious hit by a Browns safety might have been delivered by Thom Darden in a 1980 game against -- naturally -- the Bengals. Darden speared Pat McInally helmet-to-helmet, leaving the receiver unconscious briefly. McInally was taken off the field on a stretcher.
At least Shipley was able to walk off the field, although whether he remembers the trip is up for debate.

Brett Favre wanted Randy Moss back when he was still quarterbacking the Green Bay Packers. Now that he's with the Minnesota Vikings, he's got him. Patriots coach Bill Belichick dealt the disgruntled receiver to the Vikes in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2011 and a seventh round in 2012.

By NFL standards, it's a pretty cheap rental for a Hall of Fame receiver if he only stays for the final year remaining on the three-year deal for about $27 million he signed with the Pats. He's looking for $10 million a year for an extension, and just might get it if he can put Favre and the Vikings where they want to be: in Dallas in February for the Super Bowl.

There are rumors that the Browns, whose "top two receivers on their depth chart have six receptions in four games,'' according to an account by  Grossi, were after Moss.

"Not that I'm aware of" is how coach Eric Mangini answered a question about whether the Browns did, in fact, pursue Moss. Which isn't exactly no ... and it isn't exactly yes.


 

Ohio Sires Stakes leads full slate of simulcasts at Northfield Park: Horse Racing Insider

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A big afternoon of harness racing is coming up Saturday, with the Ohio Sires Stakes Championships at Ohio's Lebanon Raceway and $6 million in Breeders Crown races at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.

northfield park.jpgIn addition to harness racing, you can watch simulcast racing at Northfield Park.
A big afternoon of harness racing is coming up Saturday, with the Ohio Sires Stakes Championships at Ohio's Lebanon Raceway and a dozen Breeders Crown races at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.

All of the races are being simulcast at Northfield Park. The Ohio Sires Stakes action kicks off at 3:30 p.m. The first race on the Breeders Crown card goes to post at 5:05 p.m.

With $6 million in purses attracting the country's top young trotters and pacers, getting most of the Breeders Crown attention will be the $500,000 miles for the 3-year-olds. Lucky Chucky is the early favorite in the sophomore trot, with Muscle Massive rated the second choice. In the pace, Rock N Roll Heaven and One More Laugh will meet after winning elimination heats last Saturday.

Rock N Roll Heaven, driven by Daniel Dube, won the 65th edition of the $604,100 Little Brown Jug in straight heats on Sept. 23. The horse paced a world record to take the Triple Crown race at the Delaware County Fair.

With purses estimated at $75,000 for each of the eight Ohio Sires Stakes Championships, it will be a rich afternoon of racing at Lebanon. The 3-year-old pace will draw attention, with Doc's Yankee leading the point standings going into the championship. A winner at Northfield Park recently, trainer Ron Potter tested Doc's Yankee in the Little Brown Jug. Dan Noble reined Doc's Yankee to a third-place elimination-race finish behind Classic Rock Nroll to make the finals, but couldn't match red-hot winner Rock N Roll Heaven.

To liven up the day, Northfield will have drawings from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday for $50 betting vouchers and Breeders Crown caps.

Cam's kid is racing: Cam's Valentine was a top-notch pacer for owners Ken Kohut of Independence and Mike Drury and Chris Arold of Strongsville, winning more than $300,000 in her career.

The Horse of the Year at Northfield in 2002, she was matched with sire Real Artist by her owners four years ago. The partners kept her offspring, Cams Van Go, and she is making her Northfield debut in Saturday's first race.

Coaches' choice: Kent State men's basketball coach Geno Ford and longtime Akron high school basketball coach Jerry Laria will be cheering for their pacer, Rosie Caribia, racing in Friday's 10th race at Northfield. Also a co-owner is Elliot Deaton, who will be in the sulky for trainer Rachel Kaneoka.

Senior citizen: No one is willing to do the research, but Ohio racing experts generally agree Catlaunch, who won last Saturday's $75,000 Best of Ohio Endurance on a rain-soaked track, is the oldest winner ever in the Best of Ohio series. Catlaunch is 9 years old, but still as frisky as a colt.

Owned and bred by Ron Fields of Scioto Farms in Chillicothe, Catlaunch has $883,554 in career earnings. Fields thinks his old-timer can defend his crown in 2011.

"It's hard to tell that he's nine," said Fields. "Catlaunch is built like a rock, has never been injured and doesn't like to lose."

Wagering slips: The total pari-mutuel wagering at race tracks around the United States slipped in 2010 by 10.2 percent.

The track handles for the first nine months totaled $8.96 billion, down from $9.66 billion. One cause for the decline was a 7.4 percent drop in racing dates at tracks around the country to 4,315.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Talk Indians with Paul Hoynes Thursday at noon

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Get your questions ready and talk about the 2010 Cleveland Indians season with The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes. We'll review the season and talk about where the Indians go from here

hoynes-headshot.jpgTalk Tribe with Hoynsie today at noon.
Get your questions ready and talk about the 2010 Cleveland Indians season with The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes in a live chat today at noon.

We'll review the season and talk about where the Indians go from here in this audio chat and take your questions from our chat room.


Jump in the chat room below and ask your Indians questions or just listen. Can't make the chat? An archive will be made available in mp3 format shortly after the chat's completion.

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Carolina, Minnesota open NHL season today in Finland

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The Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild are looking on the bright side at starting the NHL season more than 4,000 miles from home in the capital of Finland.

nhl.jpgView full sizeToday's NHL scoreboard

HELSINKI - The Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild are looking on the bright side at starting the NHL season more than 4,000 miles from home in the capital of Finland.

Scandinavia has been good for NHL teams.

The Pittsburgh Penguins opened their season in Stockholm in 2008 and won the Stanley Cup last year. The Chicago Blackhawks visited Hartwall Arena — the same venue hosting the Hurricanes and Wild on Thursday and Friday — a year ago and ended up winning their first cup in 49 years.

The Wild could do with a positive sign after a winless preseason against NHL teams. They finally won a warmup game — their last — on Monday against lowly Finnish league team Ilves.

Being the home team in Helsinki first up might also boost the Wild. They made a disastrous start last year with a heavily road-weighted schedule (0-8 on the road, 3-9 overall). This time, eight of their first 12 games are at home, where they have sold out Xcel Energy Center for an NHL-record 409 consecutive games.

Carolina lost its last preseason game in St. Petersburg, Russia, 5-3 in a game that was more like the NHL, with a few scuffles. A little fighting wouldn't displease Finnish fans, for whose support is yet to be determined.

"People sit quite silent here when they don't have a team to cheer for," said Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu, a center from Finland and the kid brother of former Montreal captain Saku Koivu. He's joined by Antti Miettinen and goalie Nicklas Backstrom.

Hartwall Arena is also familiar to Marek Zidlicky, the Wild defenseman from the Czech Republic who played for Helsinki club IFK in 1999.

"I really like to be in Helsinki again. I like the town," he said. "The time here was a big steppingstone for me and the hockey played here sent me to the NHL. I have but good memories."

The Hurricanes feature forward Jussi Jokinen, the tough Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen, who logged the most ice time among NHL defensemen last season.

Ruutu and Jokinen could be joined on their line by 18-year-old Jeff Skinner, the Hurricanes' first-round pick in the NHL draft.

"Skinner is a skilled player," Ruutu said. "Amazing that those kind of guys come straight out from the juniors."

Carolina coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday his team was ready to open the season.

"I'm comfortable with where we're at," he said. "The focus and the communication on the ice and all of the things that we had set out at the start of camp to be good at, we're still good at."


Seeking perfection: football blog with Twinsburg High's Aaron Macer

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Editor's note: Twinsburg quarterback Aaron Macer is taking readers inside his team's huddle by writing a blog for cleveland.com throughout the football season. It was great to get our first Northeast Ohio Conference win this past week over Lakewood High, 56-7. The regular season is more than halfway done and you can see all the hard work our team...













Twinsburg quarterback Aaron Macer



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(PD file photo)









Editor's note: Twinsburg quarterback Aaron Macer is taking readers inside his team's huddle by writing a blog for cleveland.com throughout the football season.


It was great to get our first Northeast Ohio Conference win this past week over Lakewood High, 56-7. The regular season is more than halfway done and you can see all the hard work our team has put in. I'm not talking about the practices everyone goes through. I'm talking about the stuff that people don't see, such as the commitment to the weight room and the off-season conditioning. We've bonded and become a better team. Because we graduated so many starters from last season not many people gave us a chance this year. We graduated "that class" -- the one that many folks in town felt would be the most successful in school history.  Last year 19 of our 22 starters were seniors. We've been asked "How are you going to win this year graduating so many seniors?" We've been told things like, "You'll be lucky to be .500 this year." But despite all the doubters we are pushing to do something "that class" couldn't: BE PERFECT. The classes before us were very good and I'm honored to have played with them. But, now it's our turn and we are taking advantage of every opportunity we get. This week we are at Cuyahoga Falls and focused on getting another win in conference play. They are a team that can beat us if we let them so we have to come out and give them everything we've got.

Keith Smart, former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant, ready to run his own ship

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 Former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Keith Smart is now the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Marcus Thompson II of the Contra Costa Times writes how former Cavaliers coach John Lucas was impressed with Smart. When Lucas took over,  he could have brought in a whole new staff of assistants.  But Lucas wanted to see which incumbents were worth keeping,...

keithsmart.jpgGolden State Warriors coach Keith Smart


Former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Keith Smart is now the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Marcus Thompson II of the Contra Costa Times writes how former Cavaliers coach John Lucas was impressed with Smart. When Lucas took over,  he could have brought in a whole new staff of assistants.

 But Lucas wanted to see which incumbents were worth keeping, so one of those interviewed was Keith Smart.

"I asked one question," Lucas recalled. "'Why should I keep you?' He said because he was willing to learn. That really impressed me about Keith."

That's been Smart's modus operandi for at least the past decade, writes Thompson III. Smart soaks up all he can. Smart has worked under Lucas, played for coach Bobby Knight and was an assistant under Don Nelson, who he replaced.

Now, his time has come. The former Indiana University star said he couldn't be more ready to be head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

"You never knew when it would possibly be," Smart said, "so I've always conducted myself as a head coach."

 


Cleveland Cavaliers A.M. Links: Byron Scott is impressed with Gibson; Jawad Williams is ready; Wizards and Cavaliers

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 Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott didn't know what he had in guard Daniel Gibson. Scott, writes reporter Bob Finnan of The News Herald, heard what Gibson couldn't do. That's not what Scott found out. "He's much better than I expected," Scott said. "I saw that the first day he was here. I kept hearing about the things he couldn't do....

Daniel GibsonGuard Daniel Gibson.


Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott didn't know what he had in guard Daniel Gibson. Scott, writes reporter Bob Finnan of The News Herald, heard what Gibson couldn't do.

That's not what Scott found out.

"He's much better than I expected," Scott said. "I saw that the first day he was here. I kept hearing about the things he couldn't do.

"When I saw him up close, I didn't see those things he couldn't do. I saw things he could do."

Gibson is known as a 3-point shooter, but Scott has found out that Gibson has improved his all-around game.

 "The thing I love about him is his competitive nature," Scott said. "He gets after people. He's tough-minded. He's a tough, little, physical player.

"He makes shots. He has a very good understanding of what we're doing on the offensive end. He has a good basketball IQ."

Apparently, his defense has improved. Scott says  Gibson is the team's best perimeter defender. 

"Man, you missed that memo, too?" Gibson joked. "I've always tried to pride myself on being able to guard the ball. That has to do with having great teammates. I know they have my back. I take pride in making things tough on the guy I'm guarding.

"It's a confidence booster."

 

Prepared for anything

Jawad Williams went from not playing at all, to playing a little, to playing even more, and then not playing at all last season.

That will change, at least for tonight, when Williams will get extended minutes in the Cavaliers' exhibition game against the Washington Wizards.

Williams tells Ohio.com's Jason Lloyd:

''Last year prepared me for any situation, as far as not playing, then playing all of a sudden,'' Williams said. ''So this is nothing new to me.''

Williams, Leon Powe, Samardo Samuels and Christian Eyenga should get extended minutes tonight. Coach Byron Scott would rather divide the roster up and give a few players quality minutes rather than try to cram 15 players on the floor in a given night.

 

 

Gilbert clears the air

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas clarified his post-game comments after the Wizards' 97-94 win against Dallas in the preseason opener.

The Cavaliers host the Wizards tonight in preseason action.

Arenas says this to Washington Post reporter Michael Lee:

Arenas created a bit of stir after John Wall's thrilling preseason debut when he said that his new role with the Wizards is to "teach John the ins and outs of the game, and eventually go on and move on." When asked what he meant when he said, "move on," Arenas replied, "This is the NBA. There's few players that stay in the same city, so right now the city is John's. I'm not here to fight anybody. I'm here to play alongside of him. He's Batman, I'm Robin. When I came in, Larry [Hughes] moved aside for me to become a star and I'm moving aside for him to become a star."

Lee writes how to some Arenas's comments appeared to be a message that he was looking to be moved before his contract expires after the 2013-14 season. Arenas said he isn't looking to go anywhere, or seeking a trade; he is content serving as a mentor to rookie John Wall and the other young Wizards.

 

P.M. Ohio State links: Indiana's top-ranked aerial game will test Buckeye secondary

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Next up for the Buckeyes: Indiana and the Big Ten's top-ranked passing attack.

ben-chappell.JPGView full sizeIndiana's Ben Chappell will bring the Big Ten's top-ranked passing attack into the Horseshoe to face the Buckeyes on Saturday.
Right now, the Buckeyes are almost 24-point favorites to beat Indiana at the Horseshoe on Saturday. Weren't Gene Hackman's boys from "Hoosiers" also big underdogs? And they didn't have the top 10 offense in the Big 10, as the guys from Bloomington who'll visit the Buckeye state do. Here's how espn.com tells it in Adam Rittenberg's "What to Watch in the Big Ten" blog:

Pass the Buck(eyes): Excuse the bad pun, but Indiana brings the Big Ten's top pass offense (348.2 ypg) to Columbus, where it faces an Ohio State Buckeyes team that leads the Big Ten in defending the pass (161.8 ypg allowed). Something's got to give as Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell  and his talented wide receivers and tight ends go up against Chimdi Chekwa, Jermale Hines and a speedy Ohio State secondary. Chappell (480 pass yards) and receiver Tandon Doss (15 rec., 221 yards) come off of huge games, while Ohio State plays its first full contest without Tyler Moeller.

Say what you want about the cakewalk that was the opening salvo of the 2010 season for the Buckeyes, what with Marshall, Ohio University and Eastern Michigan. If they make it to the end of this season unscathed -- and by end of this season, we mean through the Big Ten -- they'll have EARNED a shot at the BCS title.

Pryor conviction
Karl Von Clausewitz was a 19th century Prussian military strategist who developed what's basically become the thought process for modern warfare (and here you thought you were just going to get stuff about the Buckeyes). One of his most oft-quoted principles advises combatants to know their enemies. If that's true -- and it is -- the folks at hoosiernation.com have certainly studied their Clausewitz. They know the Buckeyes. One Buckeye in particular.

The Buckeyes got a shocking dose of reality during the second half of their recent win at Illinois -- a painful snapshot of just how miserable life without Terrelle Pryor might be like.

Pryor, who had ripped off a brilliant 66-yard run early in the game and was directing Ohio State to another methodical victory on a gusty day in Champaign, took off in the third quarter on a called running play. He had gained about 10 yards before stumbling awkwardly, without contact, and then crashing to the turf.

When Pryor did not get up, and lay wincing in pain on the Illinois sideline, everything changed for the Buckeyes. A sixth straight Big Ten title, an undefeated regular season, a trip to the national title game -- it all seemed to be so tenuous. He missed only seven plays and returned to finish the game, but the Pryor-less Buckeyes struggled without him in the huddle.

This is not a one-dimensional, one-man team, but there are few places in the country where the quarterback and his role carry more importance. The ultra-athletic Pryor is a much-improved passer, and his skills as an open-field runner cannot be exaggerated. In multiple plays this season, Pryor has simply run away from people, once he gets some available pasture in front of him.

As the Buckeyes move on in the Big Ten, they remain the favorites, but their vulnerability if Pryor is out of the picture is significant. The backups are barely capable, a product of the difficulty in recruiting quality quarterbacks when they know the resident signal-caller is a Heisman Trophy candidate.

That being said, maybe the Buckeyes would do well to heed another Clausewitz aphorism: "If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere." In other words, O-Line, make sure Pryor doesn't get hit!

From The Plain Dealer
Ben Chappell is completing passes right now for Indiana, but if the ball had bounced a little differently, Ohio State safety Orhian Johnson might have been studying Buckeye defensive game film as Chappell's backup. Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises talked to the Florida native who was recruited as a quarterback by both Indiana and South Florida.

"He can jump out of the gym and run fast and do everything," OSU senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa said. "So we have high expectations for him."

"He's a crazy athlete," senior Jermale Hines said. "He's probably the most athletic on the team besides Terrelle."

At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Johnson isn't as big as 6-6, 235-pound Terrelle Pryor, but he might be the closest thing to Pryor the Buckeyes have on the roster. Indiana saw Johnson as a dual-threat quarterback, and Johnson said he could do it all under center, though he was a sucker for the big play.

"Every down I was trying to score. I went too much for the big play," Johnson said. "That's why I never criticize the quarterback because no else knows how that really feels until you've got 300 pounds in front of you and you're trying to look downfield. That's a tough job."

Almost as tough as covering a receiving corps of the Big Ten's top-ranked passing team.



 







Browns Comment of the Day: Ward's hit worth the price

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"$15,000 is nothing compared to what it does for the image of the team and defense. Watching the Browns in the last few years has been hard. They were bad and lacked an identity and attitude. This is football. Play hard, play fast and if you get fined, oh well. Rest assured, he sent a message he is bringing it on every play." - LABrown

shipley-groggy-ap.jpgView full sizeJordan Shipley will remember T.J. Ward's hit on him this past Sunday.

In response to the story Big hit will cost Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward $15,000, but will he profit by a reputation for intimidation?, cleveland.com reader LABrown thinks Ward's hit was worth every penny. This reader writes,

"$15,000 is nothing compared to what it does for the image of the team and defense. Watching the Browns in the last few years has been hard. They were bad and lacked an identity and attitude. This is football. Play hard, play fast and if you get fined, oh well. Rest assured, he sent a message he is bringing it on every play."

To respond to LABrown's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

T.J. Ward's hard-hitting play has caught attention of Cleveland Browns' opponents, says Terry Pluto (SBTV)

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PD columnist says the rookie safety has set a physical tone in the Browns' defensive backfield.

tj-ward-bucs.jpgThe Browns' T.J. Ward - shown taking down Tampa Bay tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. in the season opener - is quickly building a reputation as a hard hitter in the secondary, says Terry Pluto.

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 Branson Wright.



Let's go to the highlights:



• The Browns take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and Jake Delhomme is back at practice after suffering a high ankle sprain. How should the Browns use Delhomme and backup Seneca Wallace on Sunday? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

• Today's guest, Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto, says the Browns like the way Delhomme runs the no-huddle offense. He also talks about why a trade for Randy Moss didn't make any sense for the Browns; and about how T.J. Ward's hit against Cincinnati last weekend - and more importantly his overall physical play - has certainly gotten the attention of opposing teams who are watching the game film.


SBTV will return Friday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi as the guest. Tony will answers questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.


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.



Starting Blocks TV for Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010


St. Ignatius football player, Brush volleyball player make college commitments

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St. Ignatius senior tailback Bobby Grebenc will follow in his uncle's footsteps after giving his oral commitment to Brown. "My uncle, Bill, played at Brown but that's not the primary reason I committed there," said Grebenc, a Highland Heights resident. "I visited Harvard, Fordham, Penn, Princeton and Brown during the summer and just really like the town of Providence,...













St. Ignatius tailback Bobby Grebenc has gained over 1,500 yards the past two seasons.



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(Allison Carey / The Plain Dealer)









St. Ignatius senior tailback Bobby Grebenc will follow in his uncle's footsteps after giving his oral commitment to Brown.


"My uncle, Bill, played at Brown but that's not the primary reason I committed there," said Grebenc, a Highland Heights resident. "I visited Harvard, Fordham, Penn, Princeton and Brown during the summer and just really like the town of Providence, (R.I.) and the Brown campus."


Grebenc has gained over 1,500 yards the past two seasons.


"I don't know how quickly I'll contribute but I do know I'll major in business, probably something in the lines of economics," said the 5-10, 205-pounder. "Either way, I'm going to get a quality education."


-- Bob Fortuna


CSU gets Toth: Brush senior middle hitter Christina Toth has decided to play for Cleveland State's volleyball team, and gave the Vikings an oral commitment.


"CSU is really growing," said Toth, a three-year starter who is averaging 3.42 kills and 2.02 blocks per game. "The dorms are nice and I just like the entire campus overall. I'm going to play outside hitter and major in biology because I want to be veterinarian."


-- Bob Fortuna

Cleveland Cavaliers welcome Anderson Varejao back to practice

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Anderson Varejao rejoined the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday following the death of his grandfather.

 

Anderson VarejaoCleveland Cavaliers center/forward Anderson Varejao, pictured on media day, rejoined the team on Thursday following the death of his grandfather.

INDEPENDENCE -- Anderson Varejao was back with the Cavaliers for Thursday's shootaround.

Varejao has been in Brazil since early last week to attend the funeral of his grandfather.

Varejao was at the shootout and worked out, but is not expected to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Washington Wizards at Quicken Loans Arena.

Hang on, Doc! I gotta see this game before you operate / Poll

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I gotta see this game!

yarborough-surgeon-tracy-boulian.JPGView full sizeYour friendly Starting Blocks contributor is ready to operate. But are you ready for him?
Cleveland, Ohio -- Lots of basement rec rooms in this neck of the woods have scarlet and gray color schemes. Not too awfully long ago, Chief Wahoo was a popular tattoo. When LBJ was still an acceptable name to drop in mixed company, lots of Friday movie nights were rescheduled.

But Starting Blocks has to wonder: How many folks have gone as far as Major Hester? The 69-year-old retired office supply clerk from Detroit was supposed to have a pacemaker installed today. He had 'em put off the surgery so he could watch Saturday's showdown between No. 18 Michigan and No. 17 Michigan State, according to the Detroit News.

He postponed the surgery because he was worried something might happen during the operation that would prevent him from seeing the game.

“You never know,” he said, pacing back and forth in his living room. “It’s like going into combat. You may come home alive or you may come home dead.”

Of course, something might happen, sans pacemaker, during Saturday’s game against the University of Michigan.

Hester was willing to take the chance.

“Whatever happens, I want to see the game,” he said.

Now we acknowledge that sounds a little crazy, but Hester's not totally nuts: He's a Spartans man, not a Wolverines fan.

Starting Blocks wondered, though, what game would be enough for YOU to put off potential lifesaving surgery?







Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme "very encouraged'' about his progress for Falcons game

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Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme is "very encouraged'' about his progress for the Falcons game Sunday.

 

delhomme-pack-vert-ap.jpgJake Delhomme is encouraged about his chances of playing Sunday against the Falcons.

CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme was limited in practice again today, but said his ankle felt good after practicing on it Wednesday and that he feels "very encouraged'' about being able to play Sunday against the Falcons.

 "I did a lot more than I did last week and it didn’t blow up on me,'' he said. "(But) the coaches will make that decision. The film doesn't lie. They'll be able to see through the course of the week whether I can be effective or help or hurt our team. I’m going to go out and do what I can do.

 "Still, it’s about the team and giving us the best chance to win. That's what it's all about. There's nothing greater than last Sunday, those 10 minutes in the locker room after the game, a job well done, mission accomplished. That's what you play for.''

 He said he feels more confident this week in his ability to avoid the rush.

 "Last week, I don’t know how swift I would’ve been,'' he said.

 Browns coach Eric Mangini said Delhomme will do a little more each day and "then we’ll just keep playing it by ear through the end of the week.  Seneca (Wallace) got a substantial amount of reps too so both guys will be prepared to play on Sunday, and make sure that Jake if he can is right to take advantage of that opportunity.''

In other Browns news:

* Running back Peyton Hillis was added to the Browns injury report today with a thigh injury and was limited in practice.

 * The following players were idle today: right tackle John St. Clair (knee), center Alex Mack (shoulder), defensive end Robaire Smith (back), defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee) and safety Nick Sorensen.

*  The following players besides Delhomme and Hillis were limited: Josh Cribbs (ankle), Shawn Lauvao (ankle), Brian Robiskie (hamstring), and Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip).

* Running back Montario Hardesty, who's out for the season with a torn ACL, made his first appearance in the locker room today, carrying his brace and walking with a crutch. He declined to be interviewed, but offered, "I feel good.''


 
 

Browns Comment of the Day: Angry about parking fees? Don't go there

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"It's a private lot and they have the right to charge whatever someone will pay. Simply go elsewhere. They will get the message if their lot is empty. Vote with your pocket books." - intheknow014

tailgate browns fans.jpgView full sizeMany tailgaters were outraged when the parking lot known as The Pit started charging them $5 just to walk through the lot.

In response to the story Downtown Cleveland parking lot ceases to charge for walk-through, cleveland.com reader intheknow014 thinks if fans are outraged over a parking lot's price, they shouldn't go there. This reader writes,

"It's a private lot and they have the right to charge whatever someone will pay. Simply go elsewhere. They will get the message if their lot is empty. Vote with your pocket books."

To respond to intheknow014's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini: Transcript of Thursday news conference

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Transcript of Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini's Thursday news conference.

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini news conference from Thursday

turner.jpgAtlanta's Michael Turner leads the Falcons with 281 yards rushing and teams with Jason Snelling in the team's solid running game.

(Opening statement)- "Good morning everybody. We thought yesterday overall was good. I think there are some things that we really need clean up in the running game on both sides. They're outstanding running the ball, they're averaging 37 carries per game, close to 150 yards rushing per game. There are a lot of runs that aren't just your traditional runs. There's some scheme runs that force you to fit differently than what you typically see week in and week out and I think they do a really good job of that. That's going to be a challenge defensively. Offensively, the movement, the things that they do with their defensive line to create negative plays, we've seen movement up to this point it's just it's a different approach to it. That's something we are getting used to as well. I think both sides, us being able to being able to handle the running game and us being able to run the ball effectively is going to be very important on Sunday. Today, we move into third down. They are a really good third down team. They're in quite a few third and shorts which is probably carry over from the way that they effectively run the ball. That's going to be our focus today and we will touch on a few other things from yesterday."

(On how Jake Delhomme did in practice yesterday)- "Pretty good, he did more than he did last Wednesday. He felt pretty good this morning which is positive. He'll do a little bit more here today and then we'll just keep playing it by ear through the end of the week. Seneca (Wallace) got a substantial amount of reps too so both guys will be prepared to play on Sunday, and make sure that Jake if he can is right to take advantage of that opportunity."

(On if Delhomme is looking better than last week)- "Yes, and I think that's going to be the case each week that we go. He's going to look a little bit better, he's going to feel a little bit better so I wasn't surprised by that. The real issue is how it is the next day as you keep adding volume. He said he felt good this morning, we'll see how it goes this afternoon. We've got to keep doing a few different things we need him to do and test those through the course of the week, so I'm optimistic."

(On what is supporting Delhomme's ankle)- "I think it's just taped, I think that's the procedure. I'm not totally up with what they put on."

(On if Brian Robiskie's inactive status was strictly health based)- "It was completely health based last week. He was able to practice some but it just wasn't really running at full speed so that's what it came down to last week. He looks better like all these guys that are kind of progressing, he looks better. The guys that are out today, I didn't really cover that. They are, (John) St. Clair, Alex Mack offensively, defensively it would be Robaire (Smith), Kenyon (Coleman) and Nick Sorensen. Baby (Shaun Rogers) should do something here today. I think that's all the guys that were on the list."

(On if the defensive line were healthy enough to practice every day would they be in more on passing downs)- "We did quite a bit of this last year and typically in a 3-4 defense what happens is the defensive ends on first and second downs become defensive tackles and then the outside linebackers become the defensive ends because our ends are about the same size as most typical 4-3 defensive ends. You're always going to see more linebacker types on third down or in substituted defenses in this philosophy. How you want to mix and match the rest of the group you have flexibility. Sometimes we'll go with all linebackers, sometimes it will be one d-lineman, there's sometimes when you can keep the whole base front in if it's early down substituted defense and play like a variation of 3-4 from the Nickel. I don't think it's purely a function of them not being able to practice the same amount of reps, it's a little bit more of philosophy and opponent."

(On if they played defense like that in New England)- "Usually all three of them (defensive linemen) didn't play on third down. (Richard) Seymour was usually in there, Vince (Wilfork) typically was not in there, Ty Warren would be in there a little bit here and there, he and Seymour could switch up. Willie McGinest would go down, Rosevelt Colvin would go down, he would be a down lineman. Mike Vrabel would go down, he'd be a down lineman and mix them up. You could play odd fronts, move two or three of them around. Ideally, what you do is you force them to identify one of them as a down and then you drop him and rush the other guy. It's pretty common."

(On why he likes the 3-4 defense)- "There is the first and second down component where I think the main reason I like it is because it is balanced and you have flexibility with which rushes you bring and how you want to cover. Then to take those outside linebackers and be able to bring them into sub downs I think that adds flexibility because you can switch roles easier. This time I'm rushing, you're covering, and they're all guys that are used to covering and rushing as opposed to trying to drop defensive linemen or switch with them it gets a little harder."

(On if there is a difference between which receivers Delhomme and Wallace feel comfortable with)- "Seneca and Josh (Cribbs) have real good chemistry and that has been the case since Seneca started working. Now that being said, he's thrown quite a few balls to the tight ends. I think his distribution hasn't been overwhelmingly bias towards one guy I just know that they've had that chemistry over time. With Jake, he's pretty consistent with just going to the read, going to the open guy. I can't really think of one guy that really pops out with him."

(On how close Delhomme has to be to 100 percent for him to start)- "I don't think Jeff (Schudel), it's going to be 100 percent. I don't think very many people at this point, I know we are only through a quarter of the season, but very few guys are operating at 100 percent now. I think what's going to be important is, can he do all the things we're going to ask him to do? Can he move well enough to protect himself if he has to? How well is he throwing the ball? The mental side I'm completely comfortable with. Now it's just can he do what he needs to do to operate effectively? If we don't feel that's the case that would be the reason we would keep him down, as opposed to him being 100 percent physically. He probably feels great from a lot of other perspectives."

(On if his ankle is affecting the way Delhomme is throwing the ball)- "I thought overall he threw the ball well. There's going to be some things that you adjust to just because of getting used to throwing it with the ankle. I thought overall it's been pretty good"

(On if the Cincinnati defensive backs got hurt tackling Peyton Hillis)- "Yes, Peyton's a load, he's a load. I didn't see him after those plays so maybe I'm making too big of an assumption but there seemed to be a correlation between hitting him and being subbed for."

(On Peyton Hillis" physicality)- "I avoid him in the hallways. I don't want to dislocate my shoulder (joking). Now these two guys that Atlanta has coming in you better buckle up your chin strap for both of them. (Jason) Snelling and (Michael) Turner they're both physical, good balance, low center gravity and they're going to challenge us play in and play out. It doesn't matter which one is in you better be ready to strike because they are going to hit which I appreciate that."

(On if anyone has gotten the best of Peyton Hillis)- "There's going to be a collision and some it will depend on just the physics, who's lower but it will be noisy."

(On if they go through extra trouble to scout a guy like Michael Jenkins who hasn't played yet this year)- "We do that pretty consistently especially in the early part of the season, we have games that we have broke down from the offseason and you put that information into the computer during the offseason so that you can access it when you play a team and that's any new opponent. You're always getting a jump on that so you have files whether its video or thoughts for when you go into that week and then you look at the games that they've played. I don't think it's us having to scramble to get that, we've had that stuff in place."

(On Michael Jenkins)- "I think the size is a big issue, he's a big target. I think he moves well, I think he runs good routes and I think he's got good hands. They're pretty healthy in terms of their injury report and they should have pretty much everybody playing this week. When you add another really good player to a mix of players that I think are playing well it just adds to the challenge."

(On what the factors are for Cribbs bringing the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs)- "It's how deep it is in the end zone, hang time, both those things play a factor. If you get a deep high ball you know that the coverage is one, they've a long time to run and you've got to run an extra seven, eight yards just to get to the end line. Then you talk about returning it 28 yards just to get back to the 20 and they've had that extra time to come down if it's got a lot of hang time. Sometime it works when you bring them out. Back in New York we hit one back back in the end zone, guy brought it out went 108. Sometimes it works, you just hope it works for you."

(On if Michael Koenen's touchbacks are mostly in the dome)- "I wouldn't say that. He's got a good leg and when he hits it, he places it pretty deep. I don't think it's just dome related and going back thinking about the tape we've watched it's been both situations."

(On if he's been pleased with the run defense)- "I have been pleased in a lot of ways. I think there are some plays that we've given up in the games to this point that we shouldn't have given up. Whether it was a missed tackle on the edge or we didn't fit quite right. That number to me should be better than what it is. What I do like a lot is the group recognizes the blocking schemes well, they've been playing the technique well, the safeties I think have been sound in terms of getting the guys down when they need to get them down, I think the corners have been very productive. That secondary component is huge because one or two missed tackles and an eight yard run goes for 60 and we had a few of those last year."

(On if the biggest improvement has been on the back end)- "I think that's part of the improvement the corners and the safeties have done a better job, but I think up front too. Another year in the system and the type of guys that we have, they are recognizing schemes better. I think that they've done a good job understanding the type of back they're facing because Cedric Benson is very different then Bernard Scott and the types of runs you're going to get are different. There are the plays and there is the player and the guys have that awareness on the field which I think has helped us."

roddy.jpgReceiver Roddy White, here running away from Philadelphia's Asante Samuel on a 55-yard touchdown reception, leads the Falcons with 32 catches for 362 yards.

(On if they will be double-teaming Roddy White)- "I think that one thing that we try to do each week is have enough coverage variation to where you can't count on what it is. Ideally, if we do decide to do that some plays, when we do that it looks like another defense that we have where we are not doing that. That's always the challenge from a secondary perspective is to have enough answers for the plays and the playmakers, but make them all look the same to the quarterback so he doesn't get pre-snap reads. It's hard to do. Ted Marchibroda always taught me to look for the tell and that was a big thing for him where it wouldn't necessarily be the whole framework of the defense. You just find one guy that based on where he is, he is going to tell you what the defense is. It's really a good approach. We talk about that defensively, don't be the tell. In poker they wear the sunglasses so they don't know if you're bluffing or not. You don't want to be the one that's giving up the answer to the defense. The real good quarterbacks, they get ways whether it's cadence, hard count or quick count. It could be different things to try to keep getting pre-snap information. That's what we are always trying to do offensively too is who can we identify, how can we identify it and once you do, then go attack it."

(On what makes White a difficult receiver to cover)- "I've seen enough of him catching it short and breaking tackles and going for a long way. He does a nice job at the line of scrimmage of getting the defensive back to move, which creates some opportunities on deep balls like fades. There have been some balls, that really were going to be contested balls down the field, that he goes up and gets. Another thing that I like about him is that he blocks. He's talented and he blocks. Him forcing that fumble last week, to me, that's a sign of character. He did the same thing last year. You talk to guys about the game is never over. He's done it twice and there's some depth there. Without knowing the guy, just watching him play, there's some of, to me, what looks like real football character in addition to his ability."

(On teams potentially passing more against them because they have a strong run defense)- "I think it usually goes both ways Tony (Grossi). If you are good against the run, you tend to get more passes. If you're not very good against the run, your pass defense tends to look better because everybody is running the ball and you're not giving up those yards. What I'd like to do is be consistent in both areas. How exactly that plays in, I'm not sure what the plus or minus would be yard-wise."

(On how Eric Barton has played so far this season coming off of an injury last year)- "I have had a lot of faith in Eric and he has played or me for a long time, I have a ton of respect for him. He is playing a different spot than he played last year, but it's exactly the same spot that he's played in the past. I think he's done well. With Eric and Chris (Gocong) and Scott (Fujita), those three guys are really, really bright guys. The three of them combined see a lot of things and they communicate real well and that's huge. Outside of their ability, that's huge for a successful defense to have guys like that that can get things right. It allows you to do some more things defensively in terms of formation adjustments, play recognition. It's really important. Eric is really bright, really bright. The other two guys are really bright, so that's fun to coach that."

(On having a balanced defense against the Falcons)- "It's a challenge because they can do all of the things that they can do in the running game. I said the other day that this is a really sound team. They have all of those things, they can move the quarterback in the pocket and create some plays there. They can throw it deep, whether it's wear you down with the run, then run a play action and get everybody to suck up, create separation with the defense and hit you that way. Some of it is holding up in base, some of it is trying to get the run blitzes on your terms or get the pressures on your terms. They make it tough and Matt Ryan makes it tough. There are times too where they have got the run called and the corner is off and he raises up and throws a slant to the wide receiver. It's like, "Okay, we've got this stopped. It looks like it's going to be a good play for us." Then he throws it out for 15, which I appreciate. It's smart football. If it doesn't look good, he's off then throw it to him. That's the type of guy Matt is. Having dinner with him and spending that time with him, he's going to keep getting better."

(On if Jerome Harrison is in his doghouse)- "No, not at all. He'll probably have some opportunities this week and every week is different. No, that's not the case at all."

(On if Harrison has voiced any displeasure or if he has talked to him)- "No, we haven't had any talks or anything, but I'm always open to that. To me, Peyton played really well last week and he got more opportunities, but it's not a function of Jerome being looked at any differently."

(On why Harrison was in at the end of the game for only the three kneel down plays)- "I can tell you Tony (Grossi), I wasn't thinking about very much at that point besides, "Can we eat up all of this time right now and get in the right formation?" I wasn't thinking about who was in, I just wanted to make sure that we had the 11 and they were in the right spot. There was nothing more than that besides, "We can eat this up, right? Okay, great.""

(On if he feels good about Alex Mack playing Sunday)- "Yes, and Shawn (Lauvao) did a nice job yesterday with his chances."

Transcript courtesy of the Cleveland Browns

Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons - video

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Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns Stadium.










Cleveland Browns offense focuses on running back Peyton Hillis, no matter who plays QB

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UPDATED with video: It took the Browns so long to establish their offensive identity, don't expect it to change if Jake Delhomme returns at quarterback. It's Peyton Hillis' team now.

peyton.jpgPeyton Hillis has been very effective the past two games, rushing for at least 100 yards against Baltimore and Cincinnati.
BEREA, Ohio — If Jake Delhomme returns to his starting quarterback job Sunday against Atlanta, he will take over an offense unlike the one he left behind in Game 1.

"We are who we are," the cagey Cajun said Thursday. "We're a football team that's physical and runs the football well. When you are who you are, you need to be that."

That statement was a clear nod to running back Peyton Hillis as the new face of the Browns -- a role that Delhomme had expected to fill.

It took the Browns a while to figure out who they are. They opened the season against Tampa Bay with a 38 to 23 pass-run ratio despite never trailing until less than seven minutes left in the game. Even when Seneca Wallace replaced the injured Delhomme in Game 2 against Kansas City, the Browns still passed more (31 times) than they ran (26). And they led again until the middle of the fourth quarter.

Those were against defenses ranked 32nd and 31st against the run the year before.

The tide turned in Baltimore and continued last week against Cincinnati. In those two closely fought games, the Browns ran 54 percent of the time. Hillis accounted for approximately 50 percent of the plays with 49 carries and nine receptions.

Against the Bengals, Hillis was on the field for 63 of the team's 66 offensive snaps. He knocked two players who tried to tackle him out of the game -- safety Roy Williams and cornerback Johnathan Joseph -- and brought the rest of the defense to submission with a 24-yard run on his 27th and last carry.

"Peyton's physical. I mean, you don't see Roy Williams . . . Roy Williams can bring it and Peyton brought it a good bit last week," Delhomme said, shaking his head.

Lead blocker Lawrence Vickers loves Hillis' punishing running style. "If you don't want to run into that truck, move out the way. Mama says if you play in the streets, you will get hit by a car, or a truck," Vickers said.

"He's just a beast," said linebacker Scott Fujita. "He's the equivalent of Matt Roth on the offense."

"Peyton's a load," said coach Eric Mangini. "I mean, I avoid him in the hallway."

wallace.jpgWhether it's Seneca Wallace, above, or Jake Delhomme, below, playing quarterback, the focus of the Browns' offense is going to be Peyton Hillis.

In Cincinnati, Williams is out three to four weeks with a knee sprain after Hillis ran him over. Joseph is day-to-day with a deep forearm bruise -- the result of a tackle attempt Hillis busted through like a bull at a rodeo.

On Thursday, Hillis sounded apologetic talking about the destruction left in his wake.

"I try to make it hard for people to tackle me," he said. "Sometimes people get hurt, but it's not intentional. I don't like hurting people. It hurts their job status, their families, everybody else. But it's the game we play. I just try to play my game."

In four games with the Browns, Hillis has produced almost as much offense as he had in 26 games over two seasons in Denver. He has had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and a touchdown in all four games. He has been the Browns' leading receiver in two games.

"I want it to be a routine thing," Hillis said. "I want to be known as being consistent and going the whole year through, being the man,

jakebucs.jpg

 getting to tote the rock and doing good things for his team."

The question is whether the Browns can win consistently selling out to Hillis and the running game.

"Most definitely," Hillis said. "I believe all things are possible, especially when the guys on the team have faith in each other. This team has a bunch of great guys that can do amazing things. We've shown we can move the ball on any team. We just have to be consistent."

Delhomme agreed.

"Oh, I think so. I go back to when we made the Super Bowl in '03 in Carolina. Ask anyone. We were a run first, run second, run third football team, up until Week 8 or 9 when we didn't have [big back] Stephen Davis for a couple weeks due to an injury. So we had to throw it a little bit and guys made plays and guys kind of evolved and developed from there."

Delhomme's expected return to the lineup offers the hope that the team might eventually rediscover wideouts Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie in the passing game.

A more complete offense was the plan originally. Starting with off-season workouts, the Browns threw and threw and threw. By training camp, Massaquoi and Robiskie were so impressive and noticeably improved, the idea of pursuing an established receiver was summarily dismissed.

Meantime, the running game was thought to be the province of rookie Montario Hardesty, until his knee injury, and then of Jerome Harrison -- last season's revelation. Hillis missed some time in minicamp and early training camp with various ailments.

"We were working on many things in camp, be it the pass game, where guys fit, different things," Delhomme said. "Certainly, I think you learn as you go. Let's be honest. We split carries a ton in training camp between [Harrison] and Peyton. Then came the [thigh] injury to Jerome, and Peyton's had a lot more carries now.

"That's how things work out. Once you find it, you ride that horse."

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