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Gary Kubiak wants Brock Osweiler 'to be a part of our football team'

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Osweiler, a possible target for the Browns in free agency, started seven games for the Broncos in 2015.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Brock Osweiler picked a doozy of a time to hit free agency. With Peyton Manning considering retirement and a number of quarterback hungry teams, Osweiler could find himself significantly richer this offseason.

"I think he has a bright future, obviously," Broncos head coach Gary Kubiack said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. "He did a heck of a job for us, started seven games for us, played against some really good people in some tough situations, played very well, but I think he has a bright future."

Osweiler, who could be a target for the Browns if they choose to go the free agency route at quarterback, went 5-2 in his seven starts in place of Peyton Manning, throwing for 1,967 yards, ten touchdowns and six interceptions. He completed just under 62 percent of his passes.

Osweiler's future in Denver, of course, is greatly impacted by the decision of Peyton Manning. Manning is contemplating retirement following a win over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

"There's no hurry here," Kubiak said of Manning's decision. "Nothing has changed...We're going to let him take his time."

"Obviously we think the world of him and want him to be a part of our football team," Kubiak said. "We've got a lot of guys that are free (agents) like that. He's been really special with the job he's done this year and I think he's grown a great deal."


NFL Scouting Combine 2016: Former GM Charley Casserly answers 3 questions about the 15-minute interviews

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Former NFL GM Charley Casserly answers 3 questions about those 15-minute interviews at NFL Scouting Combine

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine to determine the next class of pro football players began Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

As part of evaluations for more 300 prospects, team general managers and executives will conduct their assessments during 15-minute interviews.

"Every exposure you get with a player is good, but don't overrate 12 minutes with them," said former NFL general manager Charley Casserly. "If you're going to interview somebody for a job, would you spend more time with them? Well, that's the way I look at it."

On the opening day of the NFL combine, Casserly -- a general manager for six years and front-office executive for the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins for 10 years -- explained what goes on behind the scenes during the 15-minute interviews from the manager's perspective.

cleveland.com: What exactly is the 15-minute interview with potential players?

Casserly: There can be different ways teams approach it. First of all, 15 minutes isn't very long. It's not really 15 because by the time the player comes in, shaking of hands and you sit down, you probably have 12 minutes. Anyone that thinks in 12 minutes you can decide whether you can decide a person's character is kidding themselves.

What we try to do is have objectives asking certain character questions to get answered, like what resulted in a player being suspended, failing drug tests, something along those lines. So let's get the character questions nailed down right away.

Other teams will have players go to the board, draw some plays, look at some tape with them and try to see why players did something on tape. If you do too many things you get nothing done, so come in with one clear objective of what you want to do and make sure you get that.

cleveland.com: What are some examples of questions asked?

Casserly: On general concepts to me, what I like to do is start with the player's family situation, like how he grew up and talk about his youth. What you are trying to ascertain his values and where he got them from.

What did you do in high school and what were you doing when you weren't playing?

In college, who did you room with, what did you do in your spare time?

Who were their friends?

What did you do when it wasn't required?

What are your goals and objectives when you were in high school, going through in college and what did you do to attain them?

You're trying to find out if they are a self-starter and what motivates them. Go in with a plan, whether its looking at tape, put him on the board, evaluate questions on character that might be in his background. If you're not doing any of that, then to me you are tracing his life, family history and get a feel on how this guy ticked and how he made every decision in his life to get to where he is today.

cleveland.com: Is 15 minutes enough time to make an evaluation?

Casserly: You've got to spend more time than that, but obviously what you've done is research on the player. So you should have an opinion of him before you go into the interview.

The best interview situation that I ever had was work with a player one-on-one and you spend an hour to an hour-and-a-half with him going through drills. When you get a guy sweating, tired and talking, that's when I learn something about the player. I learn about their competitiveness, their drive because you ask them questions as you go. That was always the best interview.

But there is no one single thing that is the magic bullet. You've got your history on him, your interview, your workout, your psychological testing. You are putting this all together to draw a picture of him.

Cleveland Browns trying to re-sign Mitchell Schwartz, but he's poised to hit the market

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The Browns are negotiating with Mitchell Schwartz' agent, but he's expected to draw interest from about eight to 10 teams in free agency.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Browns are trying to extend Mitchell Schwartz' contract before he hits the market March 9th, but he appears headed for free agency at this point.

Schwartz, one of the best right tackles in the game, is looking to make the kind of money usually reserved for left tackles.

The Browns have been negotiating with Schwartz' agent, Deryk Gilmore, and they're believed to have made an offer, but the two sides aren't close to reaching a deal.

The Browns' second-round pick out of Cal in 2012, Mitchell is expected to attract interest from about eight to 10 teams if he hits the market March 9th. Other teams can begin negotiating with his agent March 7th.

And with visions of Broncos' edge-rusher Von Miller stripping Cam Newton in the Super Bowl still fresh in everyone's minds, Schwartz' stock will be high if he becomes available.

All anyone would have to do is flip on the tape of Schwartz against Miller this season to witness his value. Contending with the ferocious pass-rusher most of the afternoon, Schwartz allowed no sacks and only one quarterback pressure.

Schwartz also played well against Oakland's Khalil Mack, who rushed on his side much of the day, and finished as the NFL's sixth-best offensive tackle, according to profootballfocus.com.

NFL Network's Mike Mayock summed up what NFL teams have come to believe over the last few years: the right tackle is no longer the poor man's left tackle.

 "It's a matchup league and if you've got a great left tackle and a poor right tackle, why would I waste my best pass rusher on your left tackle?'' Mayock said on a conference call Monday. "It's just common sense. I think more and more defensive coordinators are looking to take advantage of any weak link. ... Your right tackle, in the old days, was kind of like he'd better be a solid run blocker. But today, if he can't block Von Miller, if he can't block any of the premier edge rushers in the NFL, you've got a problem. So I don't think there's any doubt that more and more teams are looking for more athletic right tackles."

The top right tackles in the NFL average $6 million to $6.5 million a year, but Philadelphia's Lane Johnson recently turned the market on its ear. The Eagles' future left tackle, he's now earning left tackle money. He signed a five-year deal last month worth $56.25 million, including $35.5 million guaranteed. The deal averages $11.25 million year, which would make him the second-highest paid player on the Browns behind nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas ($11.5 million average).   

If Schwartz is looking for Johnson money -- and he a least wants to come close -- he's sure to hit the market.

Report: Talks have broken off with Travis Benjamin

The Browns are believed to be thinking more along the lines of the other top right tackles, at least with their initial offer.

Schwartz is one of two top linemen the Browns could lose over the next several weeks. Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is expected to opt out of his contract by March 4 -- unless the Browns make him an offer he can't refuse by then. The offer would have to be in the $10 million-a-year range, which would make Mack the highest paid center in the NFL.

The Browns also stand to lose Pro Bowl safety Tashaun Gipson, who hasn't heard much from the Browns, and receiver Travis Benjamin, whose agent broke off talks with the Browns on Monday, according to NFL Network.

Tashaun Gipson hasn't heard much from the Browns is preparing to move on

As for Schwartz, he said in December, he'd like to be back.

"In a perfect world, yeah," he said. "But that's stuff where the business side kind of takes control over the emotional side, so you've just got to see.

"I've had a really awesome time here, so if it is [my last game with the Browns], it'll be a little bit sad. I'd be leaving a lot of guys that I've played a lot of ball with."
Thomas recently dubbed Schwartz and Mack the best in the NFL at their respective positions and made a pitch to keep them.

"I understand from their perspective, from a business standpoint they need to move on if they get a better offer somewhere else,'' Thomas said. "I certainly would understand it but I definitely hope that they're back. I feel like we have a lot of salary cap space to spend on it. I don't know that for sure. I'm not in the salary cap meetings but I'd certainly like to keep them.

"I think we have the best right tackle and the best center in the NFL and I'd certainly like to keep those guys. You're not going to make your team better by getting a worse player at those positions.''

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Tipoff time, channel and radio information

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to bounce back after their most recent loss when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to bounce back after their most recent loss when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio. On radio, it will be simulcast on WTAM-AM 1100, 100.7 WMMS-FM and 87.7 FM (ESP).

The Cavaliers (40-15) lost to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, 96-88.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points while Kevin Love added 24. However, LeBron James, playing on the second game of a back-to-back, struggled. James scored 12 points on 5-of-18 from the field.

Charlotte (29-27) is riding a five-game winning streak, most recently beating the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, 104-96. The recent surge has helped the Hornets rise up the Eastern Conference standings, currently in the seventh spot. 

The Hornets are led by Kemba Walker, who is averaging 20.7 points. The team has also gotten a boost after the return of big man Al Jefferson, who scored 18 points in Sunday's win against the Nets. 

Wednesday marks the third of four meetings between the Cavs and Hornets this season. Charlotte won the most recent meeting on Feb. 3, 106-97.

In the win, Jeremy Lin, filling in for an injured Kemba Walker, scored 24 points. 

Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs

Take a look at the Cleveland Indians spring-training locker room

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Every wonder the inside of the a big-league locker room looks like. Step inside the Indians clubhouse at their spring-training site in Goodyear, Ariz. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians spent a lot of time on the field in spring training, but they spend even more time in the locker room

The team's training facility in Goodyear includes a big-league clubhouse that can hold over 60 players. There are several other locker rooms in the facility for minor league players and staff.

The Indians currently have 59 players in camp, while awaiting the arrival of Juan Uribe. They've reached a one-year deal with Uribe, but he has to pass his physical.

Tony Amato, Indians clubhouse manager, and his staff roll in extra lockers for spring training. The players housed in those lockers know their chances of making the club are slim. So do the players stationed near the clubhouse doors.

Early in camp the locker room is packed with players. As camp winds down and the roster is trimmed to the final 25, empty lockers start appearing like gaps in a mouthful of beautiful teeth.

By the end of spring training, the surviving players have more than enough elbow room to move around. 

LeBron James: No chemistry issues on Cavaliers despite Anderson Varejao's comments about the Warriors

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LeBron James said it should be obvious that the Golden State Warriors love each other because of a 50-5 record, an observation Anderson Varejao made over and over after joining the team this week.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - Anderson Varejao made it clear that his new Golden State Warriors teammates "love each other," to the point where he was maybe hinting that the situation he left on the Cavaliers was the opposite.

LeBron James rejected the idea on Wednesday.

"I would hope if you're 50-5 that everyone loves each other, I mean, s---," James said, following the Cavs' shootaround ahead of this evening's game against Charlotte. "What else do you want at that point? Duh. Anybody could say that. Stevie Wonder could say that."

James said "no" when asked if the Cavs had team chemistry issues this season. After a 34-point loss to the Warriors last month, and at various times throughout the season, James has suggested some teammates were taking for granted the regular season and listening too much to pundits who guarantee Cleveland will return to the Finals.

Varejao, who signed with the Warriors this week as a free agent after he was traded by the Cavs last week (and waived by the Blazers), he told CSN Bay Area: "I'm glad I came here, because I can tell they love each other.

"That's what it's about," Varejao said. "When you want to win, you have to be like they are. Friends that have fun out there, have fun in the locker room. I've been here for a couple hours, but I can tell. I can tell this group, they love each other."

You be the judge.

Anyway, the Cavs enter play Wednesday leading the East at 40-15, but they're a full 10 games behind the Warriors for the best record in the NBA. San Antonio is actually between them at 47-9.

There's been a strange vibe around Cleveland all season, especially for a front-running team, because the Cavs fired their coach, have dealt with injuries, and lost twice to Golden State.

But beyond the awkwardness, it's hard to argue with the relative success Cleveland and the Spurs have enjoyed this season. But that success has been skewed by the Warriors, who are the fastest team to reach 50 wins in NBA history.

"There's so much great basketball being played, and I understand that those guys are the cream of the crop," James said. "They're the defending champions and they've continued to get better as they were from last year. But they're not going to be the only team that enters the playoff pool. You can be 82-0, man, once the playoffs start, everyone's 0-0. Let's get back to the beginning. It's messed up, but that's what happens.

"And hopefully you've built enough chemistry, which it seems like they have, and enough out on the court where you can take that on to the next phase, but regular-season record-wise is great for the record books but it means nothing for the postseason."

MLB's top 10 outfields: Where does the Cleveland Indians' motley crew rank?

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The Indians, on the other hand, are flushed with uncertainty in the outfield. Part of the problem is the health of Michael Brantley, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The Indians have 12 outfielders in camp.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For some teams, a backup outfielder is simply a formality, nothing more than an insurance policy.

Those clubs know who their three starters are and they expect the trio to start every day. The Indians, on the other hand, are flushed with uncertainty in the outfield. Part of the problem is the health of Michael Brantley, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The Indians have 12 outfielders in camp.

So, where does Cleveland's group rank among the league's outfield units? Let's examine, working our way up toward the top 10.

Strangers in the outfield

The Reds were the only team to have a negative WAR total from their outfield last season. It'll be a problem area with or without Jay Bruce. Defensive specialist Peter Bourjos and a collection of Rule 5 Draft choices figure to make up the Phillies' group. The Braves smartly snagged Ender Inciarte over the winter, but they still have Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and Luke Markakis on the payroll. Matt Kemp heads a lackluster Padres outfield. Ryan Braun does the same for a rebuilding Brewers team.

The White Sox outfield rated average offensively last year, but far from it on the defensive end, thanks to Melky Cabrera and Avisail Garcia. The Mariners acquired Leonys Martin and Nori Aoki and intend on stowing Nelson Cruz at designated hitter.

With the Indians, much depends on Brantley's well-being. Even he can't vault this group closer to the top, however. Question marks surround the likes of Abraham Almonte, Lonnie Chisenhall, Collin Cowgill and Joey Butler.

Middle of the pack

The Orioles lured Dexter Fowler and Hyun-soo Kim to Baltimore to play beside center fielder Adam Jones. Shin-Soo Choo rebounded in 2015, but the Rangers have some uncertainty in left field. Can Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty adequately replace Jason Heyward for the Cardinals? Probably.

The Giants signed Denard Span, though both he and Hunter Pence are coming off of a season marred by injury. Speaking of injuries, the Yankees hope Jacoby Ellsbury can play in more than 111 games this year. They traded for Aaron Hicks just in case. The Angels have wunderkinds Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun, but left field is a black hole.

On the rise

Billy Burns' rookie campaign was overshadowed by a pair of sterling shortstops. If he can repeat his performance, the A's are in good hands, with Khris Davis and Josh Reddick in the corners. With a full season of Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets' outfield has plenty of potential. The Red Sox have a young, athletic group led by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts.

The Twins are experimenting with Miguel Sano in right field. Sano, Byron Buxton and Eddie Rosario are short on experience, but they aren't lacking in ability. If Jayson Werth can rebound, the Nationals could have a strong group, with Ben Revere and MVP Bryce Harper also in the fold. Kevin Kiermaier earned a Gold Glove Award in center for the Rays last season. If Tampa can squeeze some offense out of Steven Souza, the Rays could have an effective outfield.

10. Colorado Rockies

Carlos Gonzalez brings the power (40 home runs last year). Charlie Blackmon provides the speed (43 stolen bases and 17 homers). Now, the Rockies need Gerardo Parra to offer up some defense to complement Colorado's potent offensive attack.

9. Toronto Blue Jays

This could be Jose Bautista's swan song in Toronto. Last year, he belted 40 home runs and walked more than he struck out. Kevin Pillar has developed into one of the game's better defensive center fielders, and he batted .278 with 12 home runs to boot. If Michael Saunders isn't traded, he and speedster Dalton Pompey could share time in the outfield as well.

8. Houston Astros

With Colby Rasmus, Carlos Gomez and George Springer, the Astros' outfield could be responsible for a lot of run production. Springer and Gomez can steal bases and fly in the field as well.

7. Miami Marlins

Is this the year the Marlins' heralded outfield blossoms? Giancarlo Stanton might be the league's most fearsome power hitter. Christian Yelich batted .300 with 30 doubles and 16 stolen bases last season. Marcell Ozuna bounced between the big leagues and Triple-A, though he tallied 23 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2014. All three are 26 or younger.

6. Detroit Tigers

Detroit added Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin to the mix over the offseason. Upton and J.D. Martinez have combined to sock 116 home runs over the last two years.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona's outfielders led the league in WAR last year. As a unit, the group posted a .298/.344/.462 slash line. The average and slugging percentage marks ranked first in the league. Center fielder A.J. Pollock produced 6.6 WAR, David Peralta logged an .893 OPS (and 138 wRC+) and Yasmany Tomas is expected to replace Inciarte.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

There is some uncertainty with this group, since Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig had their ups and downs last year. Both players have high ceilings, however, and Andre Ethier, Enrique Hernandez and Scott Van Slyke offer some insurance.

3. Kansas City Royals

It's where fly balls go to die. Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and now Jarrod Dyson, who figures to assume much of the playing time in right field, cover ground like no other outfield trio does. It doesn't hurt that Gordon, who remained with Kansas City on a four-year deal this winter, and Cain can contribute with the bat, too.

2. Chicago Cubs

The offensive potential of Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Jorge Soler is scary. The defensive potential of the three is downright frightening. Schwarber's defensive limitations were on full display last October. Soler is far from a defensive wizard, and Heyward, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, is probably best suited for a corner outfield spot. Still, the three should produce plenty at the plate.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

Andrew McCutchen has been the centerpiece in the Steel City for seven years, but he is now flanked by a pair of productive outfielders in Starling Marte (27) and Gregory Polanco (24). The trio combined for 51 home runs, 91 doubles, 68 stolen bases and 258 runs scored last year.

Previous: MLB's top 10 bullpens

Coming Thursday: double-play tandems

Iman Shumpert out against Hornets Wednesday night; Mo Williams available to play

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Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Iman Shumpert will not play in Wednesday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets. However, Mo Williams will be available if needed.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Iman Shumpert will not play in Wednesday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets. However, Mo Williams will be available if needed.

Shumpert remains sidelined with a sprained left shoulder, forcing him to miss a third straight contest.

The injury occurred during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 18, and he's been considered day-to-day. Shumpert is expected to return to practice on Thursday, before the Cavaliers leave for their Eastern Conference clash with second-seeded Toronto.

Meanwhile, Williams visited renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Florida on Tuesday, hoping to get some clarity on his sore left knee. He was diagnosed with chondromalacia patellae, which is better known as inflammation of the cartilage under the kneecap.

Williams' left knee has been bothering him for much of the season and received an injection in December, which didn't help. 

The one-time starting point guard is averaging 4.8 points in 11.8 minutes in February.


Anderson Varejao was gift to Cleveland, Cavs: Letter to the Editor

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A Letter to the Editor disagrees with trading Anderson Varejao away from the Cleveland Cavs.

Dear Cleveland Cavaliers,

I respectfully disagree with your, very wrong, decision to trade Anderson Varejao.  I think you were putting "columns and rows" above "heart and soul". Anyone who has lived in Cleveland and loves our city and teams, know that a player like Anderson is a gift to the city and our team.  

Anderson gave it all, every game, to help us get where we are. Let's not forget the years where he was our team leader, stepping up to carry our team even when a playoff was far out of sight. He is a scrappy player who sacrificed his body to advance his team and teammates. You never heard of controversy or craziness tied in with Anderson, a class act for sure. I think you took the easy way out in this decision, and I also think it will cost a lot more than you realize. Cleveland needs Anderson, he simply never gave up. There will be a great big hole in this teams appearance and psyche.

If you did not realize this before, you must have when you read his goodbye letter to Cleveland. Humble, respectful, and classy, that is what you traded. If there is any way to get him back, I hope you find it. Thank you Anderson, I will forever be a fan of the player and the person you are. 

Bonnie Simonelli,

North Royalton

Indoor rowing experience leads to solid showing at 2016 Hammer Ergatta: Stretching Out

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Thanks to recent practice on my own rowing machine, I rowed the exact same time at the 2016 Hammer Ergatta as a I did at the 2010 event, when I was six years younger.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Rowing machine ownership just got a little sweeter. In addition to enormous health and fitness benefits, I learned last week that owning an ergometer also provides the ability to survive rowing competitions.

In the six years before last weekend, when I took part in my second indoor rowing race, I've grown markedly slower on my feet, on my bike, and in the pool. On a rower, however, I've stayed the same. Exactly the same. And for that I can only credit my recent acquisition of a Concept 2 Model D ergometer.

Stretching Out

zachary-lewis-sig2.jpgZachary Lewis

WHAT NEXT?
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Previously
9Round kickboxing club packs complete workout into open, 30-minute circuit

How's this for defying the effects of aging? In 2010, my time at the Hammer Ergatta, a 2,000-meter race on rowing machines, was 7:16.3. My time last Sunday? 7:16.7. In six years, I've lost just four hundredths of a second. And I've only had my erg since Christmas.

I had hoped for better, of course. Going into the race, held at Cleveland State University in benefit of that school's rowing team, I'd aspired to break seven minutes, as many actually did. Still, the goal I achieved, of staying in the game, is not one I can discount.

The race is dubbed "Hammer" with good reason. Comparable to the mile event in track and field, the 2,000-meter row is just short enough to permit intense effort but just long enough to require pacing. Afterwards, I definitely felt as if I'd been struck by Thor.

The scene was daunting enough. I knew what to expect, after my debut in 2010, but still I found myself Sunday marveling at my competition: men and women built either like tanks or long and lean like me, but with broader shoulders and bulging quads. Indeed, many went on to give stunning performances, smashing my elusive goal by 30 seconds or more.

I wouldn't have fared half as well as I did without my coxswain, Jim Ridge. My longtime rowing and fitness buddy (sharetheriver.com), he sat behind me during the "Hammer" and kept me from sinking my little boat.

My temptation over the first 500 meters, when the rowing was easy, was to give everything, but he kept me in check, reminding me how far I had still to go. Once I'd found a manageable pace, he then helped me keep it, all the while reminding me to drive with my legs, sit up straight, and breathe evenly.

In this manner, time flew. Two competitors fell out of my reach immediately while, almost without feeling any fatigue, I proceeded to cross the 800-, 1,000-, and 1,200-meter marks, content in third place. My only task, I realized, was to hang on.

Holding on, though, soon grew exponentially more difficult. The 750 meters that felt like nothing in the beginning felt on the second half like the Sahara desert, an interminable, exhausting expanse I was far from guaranteed to cross.

That I finished, and hung onto third place in my (albeit tiny) age group, is a testament to the power of regular rowing. No way at 39 would I still equal my 33-year-old self if I weren't now spending hours in my basement, pulling the oars of an imaginary ship.

The future's looking bright, too. Some of the best scores at Sunday's race were by men in the age group above me. That gives me hope. If I follow in their wake, I'll be under seven minutes in no time.

(Video courtesy of Jim Ridge/Share the River)

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and long odds on the long ball: Bill Livingston (photos)

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LeBron James has to shoot the 3-pointer in the Cavs' offensive concept. He just isn't making that many of them.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - Doug Collins did his nails while he played. It was easy for the current NBA analyst for ESPN to monitor his shot because he put so much spin on the ball in releasing it that it abraded his fingernails.

After a series of big games, the former All-Star's fingernails probably looked like those of the young LeBron James after he had finished biting them.

Is James' shooting slump reason enough for fans to fret and nibble, too? He says no, but the Cavaliers' leader made only five of 18 shots in the glum loss at home to struggling Detroit on the heels of rocking powerful Oklahoma City on the road.

It's not fatigue

James was 0-for-4 at the 3-point line in the Detroit game, continuing a long ball tailspin that has reached new depths of 27.2 percent on the season.

James kept coming up short on the shot against Detroit, wearing out the front of the rim, which Cavs television analyst Austin Carr said resulted from James not getting his legs into the shot. It is understandable. James is climbing the charts in all-time scoring leaders (15th)  and all-time minutes played 46th).

The Cavs lost the NBA Finals because of injuries, but also because James carried an incredible load of minutes, given the brutal schedule of two round-trip flights to the West Coast in the first five games.

"I've played so much basketball now that feeling great, those days are pretty much over. I don't know anybody that's played 13 years and they wake up and say, 'Oh I feel great.' I feel great as far as life," James said at the team's shootaround before Wednesday night's game against Charlotte at The Q.

Last season, James took eight straight games off, then came back rejuvenated. That doesn't seem to be in the cards now because of the demands of the Eastern Conference race, even though the Cavs swept top-seeded Atlanta last year without the home-court advantage.

Searching for his shot

When NBA-TV analyst Fred Carter played a generation ago, he once said his shot must have gone on vacation without him, reporting with a straight face that it was sunning itself in Barbados.

Later, his shot was said to be working its way back from the Bahamas. The hope was that it would arrive before TV weather radar indicated that Santa Claus had come to town.

Ever since James lost his touch on the 3-pointer in the playoffs last season, his shot has been a bad fit with the Cavs' offensive philosophy. It is dependent on stretching the defense with 3-point shooters, creating maneuvering room for James and Kyrie Irving.

Sins committed and absolved

With his shooting percentage of 27.2, James is making about one in four on a shot that pays off on one in three. But he has the ball so much that he has to shoot it (almost four a game this season, down one from last year) to keep defenders honest. Otherwise, they will simply sag off him to stop penetration.

"It's make or miss," James said. "You go out there and you put in the work on the court, and you live with the results. I don't think it's a mental or a mechanical thing. I've been shooting the same way for quite some years now."

The alternative is to let the offense be initiated by the shorter, less physical Irving, known as "He Who Dribbles" to my friend, former Cleveland Press writer Doug Clarke. But Irving is not big enough to see over double teams and find open shooters.

The old saying is that shooting can cover up a lot of sins. It can also commit a few.

LeBron James has never heard of bed bugs forcing an NBA player from a game, either

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LeBron James had never heard of bed bugs keeping a teammate out of a game the way they apparently limited Kyrie Irving to just nine minutes on Sunday.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - Yes, LeBron James found strange Kyrie Irving's ordeal with bed bugs Saturday night in an Oklahoma City Hilton hotel that knocked him out of the game against the Thunder.

"I don't know. I don't know that I've ever heard it before either," James said Wednesday, after the Cavs' morning shootaround in preparation to play the Hornets. "Not from a teammate of mine. I think I've heard it before happening, not from a teammate of mine."

After Monday's 8-point loss to Detroit, and, for what it's worth, after James had already spoken with the media that night, Irving said the real reason he played just nine minutes the day before in a 23-point win over the Thunder was "the bed bugs from the frickin Hilton that we stayed at.

"As you can see I got it at the top of my head, it's just like bed bugs and I didn't get any sleep," Irving said. "We came into the game, then I was freaked out, then I started feeling nauseous so it was just a whole bunch of BS honestly."

James said on Wednesday he was aware Sunday morning that Irving had a bad night's sleep because of the critters.

On Tuesday, Hilton apologized to Irving, according to the Associated Press, and the pest-control company Terminix offered to send an employee on Cleveland's next road trip to inspect every player's room.

The Skirvin Hilton hotel is approximately 105-years old, and there are numerous stories of the property being haunted. Multiple NBA players have, in the past several years, reported hearing strange sounds, witnessing doors slamming inexplicably, and awaking to a bath tub filled with water, according to this 2014 story by the New York Times.

James?

"Nah, I got no problems. I got no problems," he said.

Hue Jackson says Johnny Manziel's behavior 'will not be tolerated; we're going to move on'

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Hue Jackson said Johnny Manziel's behavior will not be tolerated. The Browns are going to take a stand. "We're going to move on' Watch video

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Browns coach Hue Jackson used his huge national platform at the NFL Combine here to confirm that the Browns are done with Johnny Manziel as soon as they can cut ties.

"Well let me say this about that,'' Jackson said. "I knew that question was coming. But I think we all know and understand that we made a statement two weeks ago about Johnny Manziel and I'm going to stand by that and I think his future on our team will be addressed here pretty soon. But let me say this: I think it's really important, that obviously there were some people involved in this situation that happened, and I feel very bad about those things as they do happen.

"But I want to make sure we all understand that that behavior will not be tolerated. That's all I want to say about it. I want to leave it at that. Our organization is going to take a stand, and we're going to move on from those kind of situations as we move forward.''

Manziel is facing domestic violence charges by the Dallas police and could be charged by the end of this week. His ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, has secured a protective order against Manziel for two years and has said Manziel struck her so hard she lost hearing in one ear. Her lawyer, Kathy Kinser, told NBC5 in Dallas that Manziel punctured her eardrum.

She also said Manziel threatened to kill himself and her during their argument on Jan. 30. In a statement on Feb. 2, Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown made it clear that Manziel will gone as soon as possible, which is March 9 when the new league year opens. A source also told cleveland.com that the club will waive him that day.

It can't come soon enough for them.

At the Super Bowl, Jackson told cleveland.com that his first concern was for Crowley and that he hoped she was OK.

In a follow-up question about Manziel in the hallway after his podium interview, Jackson seemed exasperated.

"I think you guys have all seen it said that we've tried to reach out to Johnny,'' he said. "Again, we've talked about Johnny enough, haven't we? I'm being honest, we made a statement and I want to stand by that, because it's the best way to be and that's where we're going to leave that.''

Hue Jackson to Johnny Manziel: "You're not alone''

Jackson stressed that he wants high-character guys on the team and that shenanigans will not be tolerated. The Browns will have to make a decision on suspended receiver Josh Gordon if he's reinstated; and their edge-rusher, Armonty Bryant, pleaded not guilty to felony drug charges on Wednesday.

"Every situation's different,'' Jackson said. "I think they all will be weighted and thought through. But I do, I stand on that, I want guys that have high character and guys that have high football character. And I think those two are a little different. Oviously there's been some things well-documented about some players here and again I take them on a case-by-case basis and see if they fit exactly what it is that I'm talking about when I'm saying that.

"But I'm not going to bend them, I don't think you can. I don't think this day and age in pro football that you can. I think it's too important, and I think it's too important to the football team and too important to the organization.''

As for Gordon, he said, "It's like any other player. I think I will go through the process of spending time with him and see if it's the right fit for us. Obviously he's a very talented individual, but at the same time, it's got to fit right for us as we move forward in this situation."

He said he's spoken to Bryant about his drug charges.

"You'd better believe I have. We're good,'' he said. "We'll be fine. I think he has talent, but again, it's not just about talent."

Why Johnny Manziel investigation delayed; Bruce Springsteen history made: Today's front pages (video)

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The latest Johnny Manziel investigation is further delayed. The guy who danced with Bruce Springsteen at The Q made concert history. Sparks could fly over immigration with Donald Trump in tonight's debate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -The Dallas detective investigating Johnny Manziel is on patrol duty instead. Bruce Springsteen had never danced with a guy on stage until pulling up a Youngstown State student during his concert at The Q.

The Spanish language network Telemundo is co-sponsoring tonight's GOP debate in Houston, and it's a near certainty sparks will fly with Donald Trump.

Also in the news:

  • Trump and Paul Ryan could be headed toward an unusual political collision.
  • Former Browns player Reggie Rucker pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance and other nonprofits.
  • A lawsuit alleges Tennessee football coach Butch Jones called player a "traitor" for helping a rape victim.
  • Erin Andrews' father testified she became afraid for her life because a stalker filmed her nude.
  • The Montreal Canadiens apologized after their Twitter celebration was taken over by racist trolls.

And the official value of an Oscar is exactly $10.

These are some of the stories making headlines on front pages around the country and across Ohio.

Dallas Morning News

Manziel investigation delayed: The Dallas detective investigating whether Johnny Manziel hit, kidnapped and threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend is currently working a two-week rotation in patrol, delaying filing possible criminal charges in the case.

Police officials said last week that investigators expected to determine whether they will charge Manziel with a crime by Friday. But the investigation has been delayed because the lead detective on the case is patrolling the streets as part of a community policing program recently revived by Dallas police Chief David Brown.

The detective investigating Manziel is juggling working in patrol and continue to work on the alleged domestic violence case, Dallas Police Association president Ron Pinkston Pinkston said.

Brown revived the two-week patrol program in an effort to reduce slow response times.

Youngstown Vindicator

Bruce Springsteen history made by YSU student: Scott Williams of Austintown, Ohio, was chosen by Bruce Springsteen to join him on stage during the song "Dancing in the Dark" during his concert Tuesday night at The Q in Cleveland. It's something that happens at just about every Springsteen concert, except the lucky fan is usually a girl.

Williams was likely the first male to get the honor, and the Springsteen universe quickly took notice. He did a phone interview live on E Street Radio -- an all-Bruce channel on Sirius -- Wednesday morning, and the consensus was that he made history.

Atlanta Journal Constitution

GOP debate preview: The Spanish language network Telemundo is co-sponsoring tonight's GOP debate in Houston, and it's a near certainty sparks will fly with Donald Trump, who has made illegal immigration and building a wall along the border with Mexico cornerstones of his campaign.

Remember when Trump ejected Univision anchor Jorge Ramos from an event last year? Trump also scolded a Telemundo reporter on a trip to the Texas border town of Laredo last year.

New York Times

Republican race puts Trump and Ryan on collision course:

Speaker Paul D. Ryan, chairman of the Republican National Convention, recent vice-presidential candidate and the highest elected Republican in the country, has one goal for this year: to form a conservative policy agenda for the Republican presidential nominee to embrace.

If that nominee is Donald J. Trump, that may be a waste of time.

Panicked Republicans question whether Mr. Trump will be able to unite a Republican-controlled Congress that would normally be expected to promote and promulgate his agenda, an internal crisis nearly unheard-of in a generation of American politics. On nearly every significant issue, Mr. Trump stands in opposition to Republican orthodoxy and his party's policy prescriptions -- the very ideas that Mr. Ryan has done more than anyone else to form, refine or promote over the last decade.

The Tennessean

Lawsuit: Tennessee coach Butch Jones called player a 'traitor:' University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones told one of his players he "betrayed the team" after the wide receiver helped a woman who said she was raped by two other football players, according to a new legal filing in a sweeping lawsuit filed by six women against Tennessee.

Sophomore Drae Bowles "broke down and cried" after speaking with his coach, the lawsuit said. Jones later called Bowles back to apologize for calling him "a traitor to the team," according to the suit.

Father: Erin Andrews 'not the girl that we used to know:' Erin Andrews called her father one Thursday night in July 2009, sobbing and screaming, "I'm naked on the Internet," Steve Andrews told a jury Wednesday during the third day of his daughter's civil trial in Nashville.

Steve Andrews testified for about an hour on the emotional impact a nude video, taken of Erin Andrews by a stalker at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University in 2008, had on his daughter. He described Erin Andrews as a woman at the height of her career and popularity who became a woman afraid for her life, who hung blankets over her windows and grew fearful of crowds.

"She's mad," he said. "She's scared. She's terrified. She's depressed. She cries. She's full of anxiety. She's a very, very changed person. She's not the girl that we used to know at all."

Erin Andrews cried quietly during the testimony, and her father at times choked on his words.

Boston Herald

Mitt Romney: Donald Trump's taxes will blow up in his face: Former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney blasted Donald Trump for not releasing his tax records, saying he believes a "bombshell" might be hidden there.

Romney said he won't endorse a GOP candidate until they release their tax returns, and singled out Trump. "Frankly, I think we have good reason to believe that there's a bombshell in Donald Trump's taxes," Romney said on Fox News. "Either he's not anywhere near as wealthy as he says he is, or he hasn't been paying the kind of taxes we would expect him to pay or perhaps he hasn't been giving money to the vets or the disabled, like he's been telling us he's been doing."

Trump, who claims to be worth more than $10 billion, has acknowledged he pays as little in taxes as he can. He tweeted back: "Mitt Romney, who totally blew an election that should have been won and whose tax returns made him look like a fool, is now playing tough guy."

Los Angeles Times

Winning an Oscar is priceless, but selling it gets you exactly $10: For those who win an Academy Award, that gleaming, iconic Oscar represents a validation of filmmaking excellence that money can't buy.

Or can it?

If Oscar winners or their heirs ever try to sell the gold-plated statuette bearing their name -- be it Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lawrence or Meryl Streep -- they will hear from the academy's lawyers.

And the attorneys will make them an offer they can't refuse: Sell it back to the academy for $10.

Montreal Gazette

Montreal Canadiens apologize after Twitter celebration taken over by racist trolls: When the team reached 1 million Twitter followers Tuesday night, it decided to throw an avatar party, but it very quickly got out of hand.

Custom avatars were designed to feature Twitter handles on a jersey featuring 1M instead of the jersey number. Fans who tweeted the hashtag #CanadiensMTL1M were autotweeted a jersey with their name on it, but without a strong enough filter, the Twitter bot spewed out racist and offensive handles along with legitimate ones (and a couple from Leafs fans who liked the look of Go Leafs Go on a Habs jersey).

"What this shows is in social media, you can't automate," said Sebastien Provencher, the vice-president of product at the Brossard-based digital marketing company Acquisio Canada. "I know it's difficult for large companies, because it doesn't scale nicely. So many people are thinking about automating social media, but it's really a one-to-one experience."

The team apologized Wednesday morning and removed the offensive tweets from their feed. Very few of the racist tweets were retweeted.

New York Post

Jason Pierre-Paul suing Adam Schefter and ESPN over release of hospital records: Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is flagging ESPN and its reporter Adam Schefter for posting his private medical records online to millions of readers.

Pierre-Paul, 27, sued ESPN and Schefter in a Florida court Wednesday citing a violation of his privacy.

The NFL player blew off a finger in a July 4 fireworks mishap and was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, according to his lawyers Mitchell Schuster and Kevin Fritz.

Schefter "improperly obtained" Pierre-Paul's medical chart showing the defensive end had his right index finger amputated and posting the record on Twitter to nearly 4 million followers, the suit says.

OHIO

The Pain Dealer

Rucker pleads guilty: Former Cleveland Browns player Reggie Rucker pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling money from the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance and other nonprofits, striking a deal with federal prosecutors that will likely send him to prison. 

Rucker, under an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, has agreed to ask for a prison sentence of between 21 and 27 months. He was charged earlier this month with wire fraud and making false statements to the FBI.

Dayton Daily News

Robber laughs, removes mask when clerk refuses demands: The suspect in an armed robbery at Sammy's Food Mart Wednesday night told the clerk "I'm just messing with you" after the clerk told him to get out of the store.

The suspect, armed with a knife, was wearing a black mask over his face when he walked up to the clerk. The clerk can be heard on surveillance asking the robber several times if he is kidding, and the robber responds, "no." A moment later, the robber starts laughing, pulls off his face mask and says "I'm just messing with you."

The clerk yells at the robber to get out, and he can be seen walking out.

Tweet of the Day

Today is George Harrison's birthday. The late Beatle would have been 73. He died in 2001.

Eric Snow grateful to watch LeBron James blossom before his very eyes: The Thursday Conversation

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Eric Snow grew up in Canton, Ohio, played in the NBA Finals with the Cavaliers and now coaches at the collegiate level. He'd like to see LeBron James lead the Cavaliers to a championship.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It wasn't long ago when Eric Snow was playing in the NBA Finals, handling the ball for the Philadelphia 76ers and defending fellow point guard Tyronn Lue.

Now, Lue is the head coach in Cleveland -- where Snow spent the final five years of his professional career -- and Snow is coaching at Florida Atlantic University. Of course, it doesn't seem like yesterday to Snow, who isn't quite as agile or athletic as he was during his 13-year NBA career.

Not to mention, Snow has six children now, including a 17-year-old. Snow falls back upon the old "time flies when you're having fun" adage, and he insists he heartily enjoyed his playing career. After all, he had the opportunity to play alongside Allen Iverson. The two reached the NBA Finals with Philadelphia in 2001, when the 76ers fell short against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Later in his career, Snow watched LeBron James blossom into one of the league's premier players. He returned to the Finals with the Cavaliers in 2007. That trip was special, since Snow grew up in Canton, Ohio.

Snow still follows the Cavs and the 76ers. He hopes James can deliver a championship to Cleveland. He still keeps in touch with former Cavs teammates Donyell Marshall and Kevin Ollie.

All three are coaching at the collegiate level now. Time flies.

Here is the Thursday Conversation with former Cavs point guard Eric Snow.

ZM: Did you always think you'd end up coaching when you were done playing? How has the transition been?

ES: I've always wanted to coach when my career was over. That was something that I always thought about. People say it's an easy transition. It's only as easy as you make it. The first thing you need to realize is you're no longer playing. Your approach has to be from a coaching standpoint, the preparation, the time spent. It's different. You have to put in the time and preparation to prepare the guys to play, knowing that you're not playing. The control you had on the floor is no longer there.

ZM: Are you able to keep up with what's happening in the NBA? Do you follow the Cavs?

ES: I pay attention to what's going on, most of it by reading. I still have NBA League Pass, so I watch games, but not as many as I used to. I do watch the 76ers and the Cavs as much as I can. I'm very aware of what's going on in the NBA as far as the major items, and definitely everything that's going on with the Cavs and 76ers.

ZM: Anderson Varejao, your former teammate, was traded last week, after he spent 12 years in Cleveland. You were in Philadelphia for six years before you were traded. When you get that news, do you think, 'That's part of the business,' or is it tough to swallow?

Snow, VarejaoEric Snow was traded multiple times during his career, so he kind of knows how Anderson Varejao, his former teammate, feels.

ES: It's tough. The fortunate thing for me, the two times I was traded, I knew I was going to be traded. I just didn't know to where I was going to be traded. But I was aware of it. So that helps, from the main standpoint of you preparing yourself for the change. When it's not expected or it just happens and you don't really have a say or a word in it, it's tough. But you do understand that it's a part of the business.

Anderson, to be in one place for as long as he was, it's hard. You can't find many guys who have done that. You can look at it from the standpoint of, 'Hey I got traded,' or from the standpoint of, 'Hey, I was here for 12 years.' Things happen. You move on. It's the latter part of his career. He's been great for the city of Cleveland. That's not going anywhere. It's just a different part of his career right now.

We used to always tell guys, 'Eventually, it's going to come to a point where they're going to feel like they need to move on. It happens to the best of 'em.' It eventually will happen to LeBron James. Obviously, not anytime soon, but eventually it'll happen. It happens to everyone. It's a matter of making the most of the time you have at the place you're at.

ZM: Well, it's not a bad consolation prize to land with the Warriors, I suppose.

ES: No. Not at all. He landed on his feet, you could say.

ZM: How was he as a teammate?

ES: Andy was great. He was young when I played with him. Bubbly. A lot of energy. His motor on the court really helped him out a lot. The one thing that was kind of lost about what he brought to the table was he has a high basketball IQ. He could play the game. He could pass. He could handle the basketball. He had a great nose for the ball, rebounding the ball. I think if he was coming into the league right now, the way his play was, he would have an even bigger impact, with the way the game has opened up. What he brought to the game, you see a lot of people playing that way right now and a lot of teams that wished they had players that played that way.

ZM: What's it like for you to have watched LeBron the last few years, since you got to see him early on and watch him grow up?

Snow, LeBronEric Snow and LeBron James played together on the 2007 Cavaliers team that reached the NBA Finals.

ES: I've seen his career go from high school to where it's at now. You see a guy with all of the hype and then you actually see it before your own eyes. Everyone said, 'Will there be another guy like Michael Jordan?' He's proven he's one of the top players to ever play the game. That's not even arguable. He's proven that. It's fun to see that. It's fun to see someone who's from your area do it, from your area team do it. It's exciting to see.

He's not getting younger, so his career is going to end up winding down. I can't say soon, but eventually it will. [Father Time], as we can see with Kobe Bryant, is undefeated. It'd be great to see him finish up his career with more championships, especially with more championships in Cleveland.

ZM: You played in Cleveland. You grew up in Canton. What would a championship mean to this city?

ES: Obviously, the impact to that area -- and LeBron has had a huge part in that -- financially, it would be tremendous, how much it would help people in that area. It's crucial and, at times, understated. There are so many fans that care about the teams and the players there. For their continued support through all the years, it'd be a great feeling to finally say you're a champion.

ZM: What's your favorite memory from your playing days in Cleveland?

ES: Just going to the Finals. Getting to the Finals and the excitement around that time, the excitement around the change. I grew up and saw the good and the bad. I saw the years with Mark [Price] and all those guys, when they couldn't get to the Finals because of Chicago and 'The Shot' and all of that. I grew up seeing all of that stuff.

Unfortunately, we didn't win it, but to be able to get there and to see the whole transformation of how the Cavaliers are viewed in the NBA, compared to how they were viewed when I was growing up and when I came into the NBA and to travel around the country and around the world and see that they're a recognized brand, it's great to see that.

Cleveland Cavaliers v Charlotte HornetsTyronn Lue has served as the head coach of the Cavs for the last month, his first NBA head coaching gig.

ZM: Does it surprise you that Tyronn Lue is an NBA head coach already?

ES: No. He put in his time with Doc Rivers and was around all of those other good coaches with the Celtics, [such as Tom Thibodeau]. And around [Kevin Garnett] and Ray [Allen] and Paul [Pierce] and all of those players. You get a lot of on-the-job training. His experience and knowledge and work ethic gave him an opportunity that he's prepared for. Most people don't get the opportunity that he got with the Cavaliers, but he put his time in.

ZM: Does it seem like yesterday when you and Lue were matched up in the NBA Finals?

ES: It doesn't feel like it, with all of the different things your body goes through [laughs]. When you're younger, you have all of your parents and older people tell you, 'Time goes fast when you're having fun.' That's the way I see it. We had fun. I enjoyed every minute of college basketball and NBA basketball. It was a blessing to be able to do it. It was fun. Anytime you have something you have that much fun with, it's going to seem like it goes fast.

I look at it, and it doesn't seem like it was 15 years ago when we played against the Lakers in the NBA Finals, but then I look to my left and I look to my right and I have a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old, so it kind of has gone by.


Hue Jackson's promise of accountability and high character will be tested soon enough with Cleveland Browns: Tom Reed

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Jackson isn't the Browns' first new coach intent on curbing the knucklehead behavior, but in a league where teams take calculated risks on talented players with character issues can he succeed? Watch video

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Browns coach Hue Jackson told reporters at the NFL scouting combine he wanted his roster stocked with accountable, high-character players on the same day one of his best edge rushers was pleading not guilty to felony drug charges.

Armonty Bryant's legal problems were not the impetus for his new coach's comments, but the timing served as a reminder of the off-field-issues plaguing the Browns in recent seasons.

The charges against the outside linebacker - possessing Oxycodone and Adderall in connection with a Christmas Day traffic stop - are serious enough. They represent a blip, however, on the list of crimes committed against the sensibilities of Browns' fans weary of the bad behavior and negative headlines.

The past two seasons have been dominated by news of Johnny Manziel's transgressions, troubling enough even before his story turned dark with allegations of domestic violence in recent months. The organization also has dealt with the ongoing sagas of ineligible receiver Josh Gordon and underachieving cornerback Justin Gilbert, who's redefined the meaning of sleeper pick.

Jackson put players on notice Wednesday he won't tolerate the conduct that's embarrassed and distracted the franchise.

"I want guys that have high character and guys that have high football character, and I think those two are a little different," he said. "Obviously, there's been some things well-documented about some players here. I take them on a case-by-case basis and see if they fit exactly what it is that I'm talking about. But I'm not going to bend them. I don't think this day and age in pro football that you can. I think it's too important to the football team and too important to the organization."

These are admirable words and appreciated sentiments. Jackson, however, isn't the first new sheriff to ride into Berea promising accountability as a means to changing the dysfunctional culture. Cynical Browns fans have heard the tough talk before only to see the latest coach overwhelmed by the task of turning around a perennial loser.

Jackson can continue to condemn the actions of Manziel, a player he didn't draft, because he's already decided to release the troubled quarterback on March 9. The former Heisman Trophy winner has zero trade value and the long arms of the law and Roger Goodell might sideline him anyway.

Related: Browns won't tolerate Manziel's behavior

The true tests for Jackson's policies and approach will come soon enough in the form of Gordon. Assuming the oft-suspended receiver earns league reinstatement, he's expected to return to a team that needs his skills, but not his baggage. The former All-Pro last played for Browns late in the 2014 season when he quit on routes and appeared disinterested.  

Jackson was non-committal about Gordon's future Wednesday.

"Obviously he's a very talented individual, but at the same time, it's got to fit right for us as we move forward in this situation, the coach said.

Jackson's history of forging strong relationships with players gives fans hope the coach can back up his pledges. He also joins the team after two stints with the Bengals, a club that began to win after prioritizing character and shedding some players who lacked it.

"I think people had a lot of confidence that I can change people," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told Cleveland.com last year. "Well, we've learned I screwed that up. I can't change them."

Lewis and Jackson remain close friends. The Browns coach saw how a shift in draft philosophy helped the Bengals curb their off-field lawlessness and fuel a run of five-straight playoff appearances.

The pressure to win in the NFL is enormous, though. You can't field a roster of Ivy Leaguers even if your front office is loaded with Harvard graduates.

Many teams take calculated risks on good players with sketchy pasts. The Bengals drafted running back Jeremy Hill in the second round two years ago despite off-field issues in high school and college. They also melted down against the Steelers in a memorable playoff loss thanks to the undisciplined play of the notorious Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones.

Jackson accepted the Browns' job just days after that stunning defeat. He's made it clear to players what is expected.

"We're all going to start at zero, and we're going to earn the right to respect each other and be accountable to each other," Jackson said.

The coach confirmed he's spoken to Bryant about his latest brush with law and pronounced, "we're good, we'll be fine."

If Jackson is serious about sending a message to the likes of Gordon and Gilbert, who attributed his tardiness to being a "hard sleeper," he needs the full support of management and ownership. You can criticize former coach Mike Pettine for his lax handling of Manziel at times, but he rarely had the backing of other decision makers.

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former Browns defensive back and NFL team executive, said Jackson's success hinges on everyone pulling in the same direction.

"How he brings it all together - meaning the front office working in conjunction with the coaches - will be one of his biggest challenges," said Riddick, who was with the Redskins when Jackson served as an assistant coach. "They can't have anyone running to the owner and exercising their agendas, all the (stuff) that tears down organizations like it's torn down Cleveland before. If you can't keep things cohesive it doesn't matter what you're doing on the field."

For now, Jackson is setting the right tone. He's putting distance between the team and Manziel even as the quarterback remains on the roster.

When asked another Manziel question on Wednesday, the coach replied: " . . . Again, we've talked about Johnny enough, haven't we?"

Amen to that.

Terry Francona wants better AL Central record: Cleveland Indians morning briefing

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The Indians did not have a winning record against one AL Central opponent last year. If they are going to be a factor in the division this year that must change. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The American League, in manager Terry Francona's mind, is going to be a hard road to travel this year. His prediction holds particularly true for the AL Central where the Indians reside.

Last year Kansas City won the division by 12 games over Minnesota and went on to win the World Series. The Indians finished third at 81-80, 13 1/2 games back.

More concerning was their record within the division. They did not have a winning record against any division foe. In going 32-43, the Indians lost 10 or more games to each of their four division rivals.

"We're going to have to do better in our divsion," said Francona. "The schedule is so lopsided, and you play your division so much, we're going to have to do a little bit better."

Francona is not a fan of playing each division foe 19 times a year, but that's life with an unbalanced schedule.

"I think the whole American League is good," said Francona. "All the teams that seem to be rebuilding or retooling, whatever you want to call it, seem to be in the National League which is not good.

"There's not a place to take a deep breath. If you do, you're going to pay for it."

In the AL Central each team is expected to be on the upswing this year.

The Royals, trying to get back to the World Series for the third straight year, re-signed oufielder Alex Gordon to keep the best two-way lineup in the league intact. They added Ian Kennedy to the rotation and Joakim Soria to the bullpen.

Tribe hurt by Royals re-signing of Gordon

Detroit redid big parts of its club with the additions of right-hander Jordan Zimmerman and outfielder Justin Upton for over $200 million. They traded for closer Francisco Rodriguez and added set-up men Justin Wilson and Mark Lowe.

Sometimes when a team gets a big transfusion of talent it takes it a long time to bond. That could be the case with the Tigers, but they have a strong veteran presence with Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Justin Verlander which could make the transition faster.

Upton signing impacts Indians

Chicago traded for third baseman Todd Frazier and second baseman Brett Lawrie to add power to the lineup. They've been adding to the roster for two straight years and this could be the season it pays off.

Indians choose to keep pitching, prospects

The Twins signed South Korean first baseman Byung Ho Park, but more importantly they have some impressive young players in Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler and Tyler Duffey who shoulmd continue to improve this year.

"Kansas City has obviously set the standard the last couple of years," said Francona. "Detroit is Detroit. They're veteran, they're good and they made some good additions.

"Minnesota really played well and they're young and they're going to get better. I thought Chicago continues to have good signs. It maybe hasn't played itself out on the field yet, but anytime you're running Chris Sale out there with the guys they've signed it's going to be a good division."

Talking Tribe: What people are writing and saying about the Indians.

Beat writer Zack Meisel ranks MLB's top 10 outfields. Where do the Indians stand? cleveland.com

What the Indians must do to avoid another disastrous April: cleveland.com

On Austin Jackson and six other things we learned about the Indians on Wednesday: cleveland.com

Take a 360-degree look at one of the Tribe's practice fields in spring training. cleveland.com

Third baseman Giovanny Urshela remains in a holding pattern as veteran Juan Uribe works out his visa problems in the Dominican Republic. mlb.com

After a breakout season in 2015, Carlos Carrasco just wants to stay in the moment for 2016. mlb.com

Right-hander Mike Clevinger, armed with a dreamcatcher, is in big-league camp with the Indians ready to make a good impression. ohio.com

Joey Butler talks about breaking up Carlos Carrasco's no-hitter last season. indians inside baseball.

Lonnie Chisenhall rolls with the punches and ends up in right field. Chronicle-Telegram

NFL Combine 2016: Is your hand bigger than QB prospect Jared Goff's hand?

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Measure your hand and see if you could play quarterback for the Browns.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Could you play quarterback for the Browns?

Don't answer that.

The actual question is whether your hand is larger than the hand of one of the college football prospects who could wind up playing quarterback for the Browns.

Cal's Jared Goff measured in with a 9-inch throwing hand Thursday at the combine as quarterbacks went through the process.

How does that compare to the average person reading this?

We tried this ourselves in Indy.

Mary Kay Cabot checked in with a left hand measurement (she's a lefty) of about 8 1/4 inches. She's 5-foot-2.

Dan Labbe, kind of a scrawny 5-10 (he claims), measured around 8 3/4 inches.

Then there's me - 10 inches.

The Browns on Goff's hand size

The draft guys here (mostly we ask Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com these things) said you measure this by stretching your hand out on a flat surface and taking the length from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your pinky.

As it turns out, it's only my lack of athleticism, weak arm, creaky knees, laziness, more lack of athleticism and fear that is keeping me out of the NFL. Hand size? Good to go.

Would I be willing to allow the Cleveland Clinic to cut off my hand and attach it to Goff if the Browns draft him? Wouldn't rule it out.

In the meantime, measure your throwing hand and we'll line up other potential hand donors in case Goff is the Browns' choice. Post your hand length in the comments. You never know - you could be worth a flyer in the late rounds. 

How Channing Frye became the 3-point shooter who is here to help the Cleveland Cavaliers

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There was a time Channing Frye wasn't allowed to shoot threes. Cleveland.com looks back at who gave him that opportunity.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As Channing Frye tantalized the Cleveland Cavalier fans with his long-distance aim on Wednesday night in splashing four 3-pointers to help his new team take down the Charlotte Hornets, it was a night and a career that almost didn't happen.

Initially, shooting threes was just a dream of his.

At 25 years old during the 2008-09 campaign, the 6-11 forward/center wasn't allowed to take threes. He was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. It was his second stop after being taken by the New York Knicks at No. 8 in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Nate McMillian was the coach of the Trail Blazers at the time. Frye's role was to stay down on the block, set solid screens and on occasion the ball would get dumped down to him for scoring opportunities. That's the typical workload for a power forward, especially during those times.

Except those responsibilities didn't fit Frye's skill set, and it showed in the limited minutes he received.

He tried to make his case respectfully and professionally that he be allowed to roam beyond the 3-point arc and add another dimension to his game and for his team, but he was vetoed. He was in his mid-20s and hadn't yet carved out a niche in the league. The Trail Blazers were a young, exciting team trending upward. He played 63 games that year and only hoisted 33 3-pointers. They won 54 games that year and he couldn't sit there and pout about his game being held back.

"I just felt like it wasn't the right situation for me at the time," he told cleveland.com. "There were other guys. They had just paid Travis Outlaw, they had Joel Przybilla, Greg Oden, they had LaMarcus [Aldridge] and so there just weren't any minutes for me. I wanted to go somewhere after four years, where I could really establish myself."

Frye was a free agent at season's end, and his career was at a crossroads.

"Yes and no I was frustrated," Frye said. "I think any time that you are playing on a team as talented as that, you just want to try to fit in and you feel like you have to trust the coach. But for me, it was trying to figure out what he's trying to accomplish and how I'm going to be successful and earn minutes.

"At times, it was just figuring things out. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but I just stayed true and worked on my game. The assistant coaches were very supportive of me working on other parts of my game. I just got the chance to do that when I went to Phoenix."

During the free-agent process that following summer, Frye said it wasn't about finding a team that would allow him to expand his game. At that point, he wasn't a proven commodity. It was merely about finding a team that saw some value in him.

The Suns would end up seeing far more than what they were expecting, and Alvin Gentry, the head coach and now head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, is responsible for recognizing and discovering Frye's true lethal weapon.

In a practice session earlier in the season, Frye was participating in a 3-on-3 game when Gentry came over to observe and he eventually abruptly stopped the game.

"He said, 'Why are you shooting that bad two? Just take a step back,' " Frye remembered him shouting. "And he goes, 'Keep shooting them until you can't shoot anymore.' And he was like, 'If you keep missing, they'll blame me. Just keep shooting that ball.' "

Those were the words of encouragement and support Frye waited five years to hear. And he took heed, launching 392 3-pointers and splashing them in at a blistering 43 percent rate. In his previous four seasons, he shot a combined 70 from behind the arc.

When I covered the Portland Trail Blazers, Frye was always a player fans brought up as, "The one they let get away too soon." He was a beloved player even though he only played two seasons there, and the feeling was mutual. Frye loved Portland so much that he purchased a home there and made it his offseason residence, which really made it a tough situation to deal with for Trail Blazer fans.

That 3-point extension he added to his game turned him into a rare, valuable talent, and that was before the evolution of the stretch-power forward. He's now 10 years in and still letting them fly from deep and hitting them with regularity at 39 percent for his career.

Had it not been for Gentry, would Frye have experienced such longevity?

"I don't really know, to be honest," Frye said while further pondering the question. "With the way the NBA is going, I was luckily ahead of the curve. Right now, being able to guard most fives and space the floor is a unique ability, especially when you have such big three- and four-men now. It's a skill that I honed and here we are."

Frye is here in Cleveland, creating more havoc for the opposition to deal with when they step to the wine and gold. Playing free with the coach's support is a player's dream. Frye has been living that dream out for the second half of his career and now he's hoping his talent aids in bringing a title to Northeast Ohio.

Frye and the Cavaliers can thank one individual.

"Gentry, without a doubt saw something nobody else did. 100 percent," Frye said.

Browns' Sashi Brown doesn't think Jared Goff's 9 inch hands a problem; Hue Jackson says size matters

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Cal quarterback Jared Goff's hands measured a smallish 9 inches, but experts say it's not a dealbreaker. However, Hue Jackson notes that

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --  Browns quarterback candidate Jared Goff's hand measured 9 inches here at the NFL Combine Thursday, less then ideal threshold of 9 1/8, and Hue Jackson stressed Wednesday that hand size does matter.

But CBS Sports draft analyst Dan Brugler says Goff's underwhelming hand size shouldn't preclude the Browns from drafting him No. 2 overall.

"It's not ideal, but it's not a dealbreaker,'' Brugler told cleveland.com.

For comparison's sake, the other quarterback they're considering at No. 2, Carson Wentz of North Dakota State, has 10 inch hands.

Goff also measured 6-4, 215, while Wentz came in at 6-5 1/4, 237.

Brugler pointed out that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr's hands are  9 1/8, Ryan Tannehill's are 9 and Colin Kaepernick's are 9 1/8. Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, who's a shade under six feet, has 9 7/8 inch hands.

He wrote earlier in the week that Goff's hands might be an issue be an issue because of ball security concerns.

"While he possesses desired height for the position, Goff has a leaner-than-ideal build and although it appears he has the frame to add bulk, his measurements will give scouts a better idea of his growth potential,'' Brugler wrote on cbssports.com. "Goff also fumbled the ball 23 times in college so his official hand size will be interesting - teams will be hoping he hits the 9 1/8-inch threshold."

Jackson, a quarterback expert who's coached Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton in the AFC North and Carson Palmer in Oakland, said hand size matters.

"Oh yes it does,'' Jackson said at his podium appearance here. "It does. It matters because we play in a division where all of a sudden there's rain, there's snow and it's different. I think guys that have big hands can grip the ball better in those environmental situations and so we'll look for a guy that fits what we're looking for in a quarterback and is hand size important? Yes it is. ''

Hue Jackson says Carson Wentz has a lot of sought-after characteristics

Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown said of Goff's hands: "I don't think it will be a problem for Jared, but it's something you look at.''

On Tuesday, NFL Network's Mike Mayock said Goff is more ready to play now than Wentz, but that Wentz has more upside potential.

Is your hand bigger than Jared Goff's? (Mine almost is!)

"Regarding Goff, polished, great in the pocket, finds lanes to throw,'' said Mayock. "Really good arm, not elite but a really good arm. Very accurate with a quick release, the most ready to play quarterback in the draft today. If you're Cleveland, I think you've got to make some decisions about how you want to go about it.

"I don't know Goff yet, I haven't met him yet. I've been told he's very lean, he could put some weight on, nowhere near as big as Carson Wentz, but 6-3, 6-4, 210 pounds, and I just think you have to make a decision if you're the Browns as to which direction you want to go in. Which kid do you believe in more?''

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