Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

How does Tyronn Lue grade out in his first full month as Cleveland Cavaliers head coach? (video)

0
0

Chris Fedor, Bud Shaw and Dan Labbe grade Tyronn Lue's first full month as a head coach. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue completed his first full month as NBA head coach on Monday night, beating the Indiana Pacers, 100-96.

He took over for David Blatt, who was fired at the end of January, and Lue's run as lead man on the bench has been uneven. The Cavs have beaten top teams, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, but stumbled against some potential Eastern Conference playoff foes. 

How does Lue grade out thus far? Bud Shaw, Dan Labbe and I discussed that. 

Watch the video above.

(Note: At the time the video was taped, Lue was 11-6. The Cavs beating Indiana boosted his record to 12-6)


NFL free agency 2016: Which players received franchise, transition tags

0
0

Follow along with the latest on the tag front in the NFL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tuesday is the deadline for teams to use their franchise or transition tag on players headed for free agency. Follow along today with our roundup of who gets tagged, who gets cut and more.


Browns appear likely to not use either tag.

Adam Vinatieri is 43 years old.

One of the great stories of the 2015 season.

Kirk Cousins gets the franchise tag.

And is set to make a lot of money.

Alshon Jeffery was the first domino.

Josh Norman gets the franchise tag from Carolina.

The Broncos tag Von Miller, which creates a ripple effect for their free agents.

Keep an eye on what the Redskins do with Kirk Cousins.

The Bills release Mario Williams. The 31-year-old Williams followed up three straight years of double digit sacks in Buffalo with just five last season.

The Bills also placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on offensive tackle Cordy Glenn.

Meanwhile, here's one defensive end who did get tagged.

Mo Wilkerson gets tagged, as well.

The Ravens put the franchise tag on their kicker.

Here's an update on the prices:

Bills say goodbye to a couple more players.

And another Bill goes down...

How Urban Meyer stole Antjuan Simmons, 'a kid from across the street,' from Michigan

0
0

It makes you think: How could Ohio State -- the team that never lets any coveted prospect leave Columbus -- snatch a prospect with a Michigan offer who basically already goes to school on the Wolverines' campus?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There's a chance you've been to Antjuan Simmons' high school and don't even realize it.

Have you been to a Michigan football game? The odds jut skyrocketed if you have. 

That's because Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer is so close to the Big House that it's used for fan parking and tailgating for home Michigan football games. You can see the big 'Block M' from Pioneer's front doors. 

Which made it that much more incredible when Ohio State picked up a commitment from Simmons, a three-star linebacker, on Tuesday, a time during which Michigan was down in Florida holding spring practices. 

It makes you think: How could Ohio State -- the team that never lets any coveted prospect leave Columbus -- snatch a prospect with a Michigan offer who basically already goes to school on the Wolverines' campus? 

Pioneer coach Jari Brown has some insight: 

"I don't think it's a knock on Michigan, but they were kind of doing their own thing and recruiting whoever they wanted to recruit," Brown told cleveland.com during a phone interview shortly after Simmons' commitment. "It just seems to me that there isn't a lot of attention paid to the state of Michigan. You have a kid right across the street, but for whatever reason, they were in contact with him but didn't really recruit him and didn't build the relationship that he felt comfortable with going to the university.

"I think a lot of people thought that because Michigan offer, that he was automatically going to go to Michigan. I told everyone and I knew the whole time that he wanted to go to a place where he felt he built the best relationship with the coaching staff. He just felt really comfortable with Ohio State.

"He kind of said on Twitter the other day that he had an epiphany, and that was it. He just realized that Ohio State was the place he needed to be, where he wanted to be, and where he felt mot comfortable." 

That's not Brown criticizing Michigan, he's just stating reality. Since Jim Harbaugh took over as Michigan's coach, the Wolverines have had a very broad recruiting focus that has taken them out of Michigan and into places like California, Texas and Florida. 

Michigan's focus hasn't necessarily been on Michigan, which was evident in the fact the Wolverines had only three Michigan signees in a 29-member 2016 recruiting class. One was a kicker. 

"When you have a guy in your backyard, you may take it for granted sometimes," Brown said. "You think, 'Well, we offered this kid, he's in our backyard, we got him.' But Antjuan is different. He's a relationship kid, and Michigan just never built that. I can't speak for Coach Harbaugh's recruiting tactics or what he does, but this was about Antjuan and I think Ohio State was the best place for him. 

"People will say, 'Why are you going to Ohio State when you were right across the street from Michigan?' To him, that doesn't matter now. Everyone is making a big deal out of it.

"If Michigan would have came into the school, maybe gave him a little more time and made him feel comfortable, I they would have had a good shot. But it just wasn't done that way. So Ohio State is the place for him, and I think he made the right choice."

Should Cleveland Cavaliers be concerned about recent play? (video)

0
0

Chris Haynes, Joe Vardon and Chris Fedor discuss whether the Cleveland Cavaliers should be concerned with their recent struggles. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading into the stretch run of the season, clinging to a two and a half game lead in the Eastern Conference. 

The month of February brought a signature win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but also numerous stumbles, finishing the 13-game stretch with a record of 8-5.

Recently, J.R. Smith said the concern over the team's recent play was "highly concerning." Head coach Tyronn Lue has been disappointed with the team's effort level and the slippage on the defensive end of the floor. LeBron James has spoken about the team not being where it wants on the mental side of things. 

Following Monday's win against Indiana, Chris Haynes, Joe Vardon and I discussed whether Cleveland should be concerned with the recent struggles. 

Watch the video above. 

Live updates and chat: Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds at 3:05 p.m.

0
0

Get scoring updates and analysis from the Indians' Cactus League opener and join Indians reporters Zack Meisel and Paul Hoynes for a live chat in the comments section.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to the 2016 season. 

Tuesday marks the first day of a month full of spring exhibition games for the Indians. Then, the club will embark on the 162-game regular-season slate. 

Get scoring updates and analysis from the Indians' Cactus League opener and join Indians reporters Zack Meisel and Paul Hoynes for a live chat in the comments section.

Today's pitching matchup: Josh Tomlin vs. Jon Moscot. Also pitching for the Indians today: TJ House, Jarrett Grube, Felipe Paulino, Austin Adams, Shawn Morimando, Ross Detwiler and Adam Plutko.

Where to watch/listen: SportsTime Ohio and WTAM 1100

Starting lineup: 

1. LF Rajai Davis

2. C Yan Gomes

3. RF Lonnie Chisenhall

4. 1B Carlos Santana

5. DH Joey Butler

6. CF Tyler Naquin

7. 3B Giovanny Urshela

8. SS Erik Gonzalez

9. 2B Michael Martinez

Donte Whitner wants Justin Gilbert to man-up on his own: 'I haven't taken him under my wing'

0
0

Browns safety Donte Whitner made it clear that it's now up to Justin Gilbert to prove that he wants to be a starting NFL cornerback. No one can help him but himself now.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns safety Donte Whitner made it clear Monday night that cornerback Justin Gilbert needs to find it within himself to become a professional.

Asked about mentoring the troubled 2014 No. 8 overall pick, Whitner set the record straight.

"Let's backtrack on that,'' he said at the Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center. "I haven't taken him under my wing. There are things that he's going to have to do in his personal life and his professional career to get it on track also and there's no hiding that.

"So hopefully he's doing what he's supposed to do right now so he can come in and contribute to this football team this year. I haven't had any contact with him, I haven't spoken to him, so I really don't know what's going on.''

Last offseason, cornerback Joe Haden worked out with Gilbert and tried to help him, but he didn't make much progress on or off the field in 2015. He started only one of the nine games he played, and was a healthy scratch three times.

He was also involved in a road-rage incident in September which resulted in him crashing his car into a ditch.  Veterans have tried to reach out to him, but he hasn't always been receptive. Whitner indicated that Gilbert didn't change his behavior in 2015 as much as he told reporters he did.

"I don't know anything about his priorities or his personal life really,'' said Whitner. "I just know what we see when we get inside the facility and what we see when he gets on the field and if those things aren't matching up it will quickly come out.  So hopefully he comes in with a new attitude -- it's a new regime right now -- and is willing to learn and do the small things it takes to be successful. If not, I don't know what will happen.

Donte Whitner says Josh Gordon can be an All-Pro again after hitting bottom

Whitner acknowledged that Gilbert showed some signs of trying to be a professional last season, but that it wasn't enough. His on-field struggles came to a head during two horrendous practices against the Bills during camp at St. John Fisher College in New York.

"There were other guys playing better,'' he said. "Pierre (Desir) was playing better in training camp. Other guys came in and performed. That was between him and the coaching staff. He didn't get much playing time. He always had that athletic ability, but the slate can be wiped clean for him if he comes in with the right mindset, in the right shape that he's supposed to be in. It can all change for him."

Browns coach Hue Jackson has indeed said all players will come in with a clean slate, but Gilbert will likely have to show him and defensive coordinator Ray Horton a lot if he's to stick around.

Horton acknowledged during his introductory press conference that he'll need plenty more from Gilbert than what he's seen on tape.

"I remember he picked a pass off of (Colts QB) Andrew Luck and returned it for a touchdown,'' he said. "That's what I want from him. I want him to use his God-given ability to play football at a high level. That's what I want from Justin Gilbert."

Last season, the coaches said they wanted Gilbert to prove that he really wants to do this.

"I think they're still basing stuff off last year when I was missing like tons of meetings,'' he said the day after the season. "I wasn't saying that last year, but that's exactly what it was.''

Why did he miss so many meeting in 2014?

"Hard sleeper,'' he said. "I wasn't used to waking up consistently like that early in the morning. That's all it was.''

Nothing deeper?

"No,'' he said.

He vowed he's changed from the train wreck he was in 2014.

"Oh yea, most definitely,'' he said. "I've been there, been down that road and definitely not going back.''

He also guaranteed he'll live up to his No. 8 overall draft status -- a tall order for a player who's started three games over the past two years.

"As long as I continue to take care of my body the way I've been doing, they're going to get what they drafted me to do,'' he said.

Whitner, for one, hopes he can back that up.

Mobility is great, but Cleveland Browns must know it's no substitute for what a QB does from the pocket: Tom Reed

0
0

Four years after the dual-threat QB took football by storm, the need to operate from the pocket has never been more valuablle

BEREA, Ohio - In the year of the upwardly mobile quarterback, Johnny Manziel scrambled his way to a Heisman Trophy, Robert Griffin dazzled in the read-option and Colin Kaepernick ran past the Packers and into the Super Bowl.

It was 2012 and the NFL appeared on the verge of a sea change at the game's most important position. The dual-threat signal caller was becoming the rage. The fleet feet of Cam Newton and Russell Wilson just added to the headaches for defensive coordinators.

Four years later, Griffin is on his way out of Washington, trade talks swirl around Kaepernick and the Browns plan to jettison the troubled Manziel next week. Each has their issues and in the case of Manziel they run deep, but the common thread is none of them developed into reliable pocket passers.

Mobility is great, but it must serve as a complementary quality the way it does for Aaron Rodgers and Wilson, a pair of Super Bowl champions, and Newton, the league's reigning MVP. The one can't substitute for the other or you wind up with performances like Manziel's final game as a Brown rushing for 104 yards and completing just 13-of-32 passes for 136 yards in windswept conditions.

The Browns latest search for a franchise quarterback is well under way as they return from the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. There's no clear-cut choice for a club holding the No. 2 overall pick. The good news is if the Browns use the selection on a quarterback they are going to get a pocket passer in either North Dakota State's Carson Wentz or Cal's Jared Goff.

Related: Browns not interested in Colin Kaepernick

While the league continues to evolve on many levels, the need to process the game and make plays from the pocket will remain a prerequisite for sustainable success.

Griffin and Kaepernick caught the NFL by surprise in 2012 - the Niners quarterback wasn't even an opening-day starter - and they led their teams to division titles. Within a year, however, the league began to adjust how it defended running quarterbacks. We saw it last season as the Bengals kept Manziel corralled, unable to break containment in the second half of a 31-10 loss.

Injuries, particularly to Griffin, also started to take their toll.

Each had some off-field problems, strained relations with teammates or coaches, but the overarching theme was an inability to function consistently enough from the pocket. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, reported Sunday the Browns aren't interested in trading for Kaepernick despite NFL Network dispatches to the contrary.

It would be surprising to see Cleveland go that route even though coach Hue Jackson liked Kaepernick coming out of Nevada in 2011 and the quarterback probably would benefit from playing elsewhere. Contradictory reports have surfaced about his leadership and diminishing study habits. In fairness, Kaepernick's decline occurred as the Niners' organization collapsed around him. He lost coach Jim Harbaugh and many top players.

Still, common sense and history tell us the Browns should stick to the draft. The last time they passed on a first-round quarterback to acquire one from San Francisco the Browns opted for Jeff Garcia over Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.

If Big Ben were a Brown, fans here never come to know Manziel - or maybe Jimmy Haslam. The last two seasons should serve as a painful reminder of what drafting a quarterback with deficiencies in his game offers you.

Lets put aside the off-field transgressions for the sake of this argument. We're all aware of them and hopefully Manziel can get the help he requires. His lack of size and willingness to work from the pocket on a regular basis, however, made it hard on him and his team. While he definitely improved last season, and his backyard football plays were fun to watch, Manziel's high-risk game is a difficult way to make a living.

Maybe that gets corrected at his next stop. Same for Griffin and Kaepernick. The Browns, though, need a fresh start. The quarterback-savvy Jackson, who helped groom the Ravens' Joe Flacco, seems like an invaluable resource for a rookie quarterback.

In watching Wentz participate in the Senior Bowl and seeing career highlights, there appears to be ample mobility to extend plays and occasionally run the ball. Goff isn't as nimble but he makes plenty of nice throws.

If the Browns take a quarterback at No. 2 - I'm growing more convinced of the wisdom in this approach - they wind up with a pocket-first quarterback.

That would be a good first step - one that's not looking to run at the first sign of trouble.

Defense: Erin Andrews' career helped by nude videos -- Today's front pages (photos)

0
0

Erin Andrews' was cross-examined in her $75 million civil case. Donald Trump's and Hillary Clinton's Super Tuesday wins paint different pictures for their parties. The Supreme Court takes up abortion. Scott Kelly returned to Earth.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Defense attorneys in Erin Andrews' civil case took a risky strategy of suggesting her career was helped by nude videos that were shot and uploaded to the Internet by a stalker who filmed her in Nashville and Columbus hotels.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear the most far-reaching abortion case in 20 years today, with the fate of abortion restrictions in many states on the line.

Super Tuesday triumphs by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump paint contrasting pictures of their parties.

Also in the news:

  • NASA astronaut Scott Kelly landed on Earth safely after an unprecedented year in space.
  • Vice President Joe Biden said Trump will unintentionally help Americans deal with racism.
  • A U.S. general said ISIS is "spreading like cancer" within the refugee flow to Europe.
  • The University of Buffalo mourns the death of a highly regarded player who collapsed at practice.
  • Cleveland's West Side Market will add Sunday hours in April.
  • Wright State is gearing up to host the first general-election presidential debate this fall.
  • And in a year of presidential politics, two Ohio State football players have formed their own ticket.

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

The Tennessean

Defense suggests Erin Andrews videos helped career: Lawyers defending a Nashville hotel operator made the case Tuesday that sports television reporter Erin Andrews thrived in her career even after secretly recorded videos of her went viral in 2009.

Marc Dedman, an attorney with Spicer Rudstrom in Nashville, led the cross-examination of Andrews. A legal analyst said a defense focus on Andrews' career success was a dangerous strategy to try and convince jurors she deserved no -- or less -- money in her $75 million lawsuit.

Dedman's cross-examination and the first defense witnesses made clear a key defense strategy: that Andrews thrived in her career and even made more money after what has become known as the "peephole" incident.

In a series of questions, Dedman listed off Andrews' endorsements -- for Reebok, for Degree deodorant, for Diet Mountain Dew and others -- and her commercial for Victoria's Secret as proof she has been successful since the video scandal. She agreed she has thrived in her career since the videos went viral.

Barrett secretly recorded Andrews at three hotels. Jurors last week saw the video from Nashville and one from a hotel in Columbus. The Ohio video is 6 seconds.

"I look at the Marriott as more damaging because it's 41/2 minutes of my personal private time" that she was naked, Andrews said.

New York Times

As Trump wins, GOP split widens: Democrats are falling in line. Republicans are falling apart.

The most consequential night of voting so far in the presidential campaign crystallized, in jarring and powerful fashion, the remarkably divergent fortunes of the two major parties vying for the White House.

The steady and seemingly inexorable unification of the Democratic Party behind Hillary Clinton stands in striking contrast with the rancorous and widening schisms within the Republican Party over the dominance of Donald J. Trump, who swept contests from the Northeast to the Deep South on Tuesday.

Now, as the parties gaze ahead to the fall, they are awakening to the advantages of consensus and the perils of chaos.

Washington Times

Biden says Trump will unintentionally help Americans deal with racism: Vice President Joseph R. Biden said Tuesday night that Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump and his rivals will help Americans address racism by inundating voters with their divisive rhetoric.

"I want to thank Donald Trump," Mr. Biden said to laughter at a Black History Month reception he hosted at his official residence. "The stuff he's doing, and others, the stuff [Texas Sen. Ted] Cruz is doing. He's making the American people look in the mirror."

USA Today

Major abortion case arrives at Supreme Court: The Supreme Court takes up its most far-reaching case on abortion rights in nearly a quarter century Wednesday, with the fate of abortion restrictions in many states on the line.

Depleted by the death last month of Justice Antonin Scalia, the eight-member court will consider a challenge mounted by Texas abortion clinics against a law that threatens to leave only 10 clinics operating in a state with 5.4 million women of reproductive age.

Lawyers for the state and clinics seek to sway a single justice -- Anthony Kennedy, who holds the deciding vote between four liberal justices and three other conservatives.

The most immediate impact of the case will be felt in Texas, where more than 40 abortion facilities have dwindled to 18 under restrictions that set tougher operating standards for clinics and require doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at area hospitals. If the restrictions are upheld, additional clinics will close.

Houston Chronicle

Scott Kelly returns safely after 340 days in space: Astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth on Wednesday after an unprecedented year in space for NASA, landing in barren Kazakhstan with a Russian cosmonaut who shared his whole space station journey.

Their Soyuz capsule parachuted onto the central Asian steppes and ended a science-rich mission at the International Space Station that began last March and was deemed a steppingstone to Mars.

It was a triumphant homecoming for Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko after 340 days in space. Kelly pumped his fist as he emerged from the capsule, then gave a thumbs-up. He smiled and chatted with his doctors and others, as photographers crushed around him in the freezing cold.

"The air feels great out here," NASA spokesman at the scene Rob Navias quoted Kelly as saying. "I have no idea why you guys are all bundled up."

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

General says refugees spreading terrorists "like cancer:" Violent extremists, criminals and foreign fighters are part of the daily refugee flow into Europe, the top NATO commander in Europe told lawmakers, "masking the movement" of these dangerous elements and heightening the potential for an attack.

In testimony Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove said the Islamic State is "spreading like a cancer" within this mix, "taking advantage of paths of least resistance, threatening European nations" and the United States.

Buffalo News

Buffalo football player mourned: University of Buffalo football players remembered Solomon Jackson Tuesday as one of their most enthusiastic, hard-working, unselfish, teammates.

"Me and him had a conversation where we were talking about how sometimes he felt like he was going to die on the field, like I love you all that much that I'd die on the field before I quit," UB running back Anthone Taylor said.

Jackson died Monday night one week after he was hospitalized as a result of a medical emergency he suffered during an off-season conditioning workout the team held. Jackson, from Stone Mountain, Ga., was admitted to Buffalo General Medical Center. He was in his third year at UB, pursuing a major in sociology. He was 20.

OHIO

Dayton Daily News

Tickets will be scarce for presidential debate: Wright State officials said the school won't have enough tickets for every student to attend the first general-election presidential debate on September 26 at the Nutter Center -- the first of three featuring candidates for president. In January the university told its trustees that the debate may cost up to $8 million.

Columbus Dispatch

OSU election has write-ins and walk-ons: The ballot for Ohio State University's March 7-9 Undergraduate Student Government election has only one pair of candidates, for president and vice president, but students won't be without choice. At least two other tickets have arisen as write-in candidates. The ticket getting the most attention is made up of Cin'Quan Haney, a third-year physics major running for president, and Curtis Henry, a third-year sports-industry major running for vice president.

The two also are walk-on football players, and they're not above using that to generate interest: A campaign announcement reads that the two "have enjoyed their time with the Buckeyes, but are ready to take their leadership skills they've learned from coach Urban Meyer off the field."

The Plain Dealer

West Side Market to open Sundays: Attention, West Side Market shoppers!

The historic food hall will undergo a controversial schedule change next month, adding Sundays to the mix after years of debate and more than a century of consistent hours.

Cleveland officials confirmed that the city-owned facility will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays starting April 3. The city also is preparing to combine and reconfigure two parking lots behind the market, in a project that will contribute to congestion over the next 10 months but, upon completion, will add more than 100 sorely-needed spaces to the district.


Four takeaways from the girls basketball Division I Canton regional semifinals (videos)

0
0

The girls basketball Division I regional semifinals concluded on Tuesday. Here are four takeaways.

CANTON, Ohio – Solon and Canton McKinley will meet in the Division I Canton regional final on Friday at Canton Memorial Civic Center.

This will be the first meeting of the two teams after their last matchup in the 2014 regional semifinals.


Here four takeaways from the regional semifinals on Tuesday:


Euclid can only get better: No seniors on the squad, so the Panthers are expected to everyone next season after a dramatic run in the postseason. Junior Rayjon Harris and freshman Connie Chaplin led the team this season with 17.5 points and 10.5, respectively. Junior Calasia Cunningham chipped in averaging 9.5 points and 2.5 steals. Tuesday marked the third regional appearance for Euclid since 1988.

Stow fell behind early: Stow’s offense was challenged to keep pace with McKinley, ranked No. 8 in the AP poll, in the regional semifinal. Full-court pressure and hands in the passing lanes made a difference in one group of Bulldogs advancing to the regional finals while the other went home for the season. Stow had trouble getting across court at times with McKinley’s pressure on defense. The team also watched a good portion of their shots bounce off the glass or circle around the rim. Stow averaged scoring five points in the first three quarters while McKinley finished the game with a double-digit win.

McKinley is 7-1 against area teams in Northeast Ohio: The Bulldogs have had the edge against a handful of the area teams in cleveland.com’s seven-county coverage area this season. Nordonia district champion and Barberton regional finalist Hathaway Brown is the only area team team to top the Bulldogs. With the Bulldogs a bit undersized, rebounding will be key against Solon.

Solon’s defense key in playoffs: If the Comets look to make their second straight state tournament, appearance then it looks like they are on track with their defense. After allowing up to 53 points during the regular season, Solon has cut the average back to 34 points per game in the playoffs. The next test for the Comets will be to minimize the impact of Canton McKinley in the regional final led by 6-foot-1 freshman standout Kierstan Bell.

Contact Nathaniel Cline via email (ncline@cleveland.com) and Twitter (@nathanielcline)

 

 

Ohio State football: Two seconds that explained every Buckeye at the NFL Combine

0
0

We've already given you a lot on every Ohio State player. Now here's a two-second video on each.

How did the NFL Combine influence NFL Draft projections for Cleveland Browns? Mock draft roundup

0
0

How much do the NFL Combine measurements matter? Not enough to drastically alter mock drafts, it seems. Let's take a look at the latest prognostications. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Well, we now know that Carson Wentz's hands are larger than Jared Goff's hands.

Is that enough to sway the Browns to select the North Dakota State product with the No. 2 draft choice?

Certainly, the team will take much more into account than hand size or any other measurable information charted at last week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Even after the annual showcase, those scripting mock drafts are split between Wentz and Goff when it comes to the No. 2 pick.

Browns head coach Hue Jackson cares about hand size, as he said those with bigger hands "can grip the ball better in those environmental situations" that the team will encounter late in the season.

Not only does Wentz have 10-inch hands -- Goff's measured nine inches -- but the quarterback prospect checked in at a tick taller than 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds. Goff measured 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. Wentz also ran a slightly faster 40-yard dash.

Sashi Brown, Hue Jackson talk about hands

Of course, there's also arm strength, makeup and college performance to consider. Really, how much do the NFL Combine measurements matter?

Not enough to drastically alter mock drafts, it seems. Let's take a look at the latest prognostications.

Sports Illustrated MMQB

Browns' pick: Goff

Explanation: "Carson Wentz has built a lot of momentum, but no quarterback in this draft can sling it like Jared Goff. He's capable of throws that look like actual wizardry. Hue Jackson's new offense is a blank slate, and Goff wouldn't be a bad place to start."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Laremy Tunsil, offensive tackle, Ole Miss

2. Browns: Goff

3. Chargers: DeForest Buckner, defensive end, Oregon

4. Cowboys: Myles Jack, linebacker, UCLA

5. Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, defensive back, Florida State

6. Ravens: Joey Bosa, defensive end, Ohio State

7. 49ers: Wentz

8. Dolphins: Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback, Florida

9. Buccaneers: Mackensie Alexander, cornerback, Clemson

10. Giants: Noah Spence, defensive end, Eastern Kentucky

USA Today

Browns' pick: Wentz

Explanation: "Imagine the hype if he'd played at a bigger school. Wentz is big (6-5, 237 pounds), athletic, accurate, has a strong arm and is comfortable under center. The fact he has larger hands --- nice when trying to hang on to the ball in the oft treacherous weather in AFC North cities --- than Cal's Jared Goff could be a tiebreaker in Wentz's favor. And with Josh McCown at the ready, new coach Hue Jackson need not rush Cleveland's latest franchise quarterback into the lineup if he needs extra time to adjust."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Wentz

3. Chargers: Ramsey

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Jack

6. Ravens: Hargreaves

7. 49ers: Paxton Lynch, quarterback, Memphis

8. Dolphins: Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Ohio State

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle, Notre Dame

10. Giants: Darron Lee, linebacker, Ohio State

NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)

Browns' pick: Wentz

Explanation: "Wentz has aced the Senior Bowl and the combine."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Wentz

3. Chargers: Ramsey

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Jack

6. Ravens: Buckner

7. 49ers: Goff

8. Dolphins: Kevin Dodd, defensive end, Clemson

9. Buccaneers: Hargreaves

10. Giants: Shaq Lawson, defensive end, Clemson

SB Nation

Browns' pick: Goff

Explanation: "Carson Wentz of North Dakota State might have the momentum in his favor, but Goff is simply the better player. Throw out hand sizes, opponent level, the all-star circuit and anything else but on-field play. When that's done it's easy to see Goff as the better player. He reads and manipulates defenses better, has superior pocket presence and is close enough to Wentz in regard to arm strength and pure athleticism."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Goff

3. Chargers: Stanley

4. Cowboys: Jack

5. Jaguars: Ramsey

6. Ravens: Bosa

7. 49ers: Wentz

8. Dolphins: Alexander

9. Buccaneers: Buckner

10. Giants: Spence

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

Browns' pick: Goff

Explanation: "I still think the Browns will go with the Pac-12 quarterback, even if Carson Wentz was impressive at the combine. Hue Jackson is a Pac-12 guy, so there is some familiarity there and he is more NFL-ready."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Goff

3. Chargers: Ramsey

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Jack

6. Ravens: Stanley

7. 49ers: Wentz

8. Dolphins: Hargreaves

9. Buccaneers: Buckner

10. Giants: Lee

Another contender for the rotation's fifth spot to make his spring debut: Cleveland Indians morning briefing

0
0

Fans might not recognize the svelte Cody Anderson when he takes the mound on Wednesday afternoon. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first game of the spring schedule provided Indians manager Terry Francona with some extra energy on Tuesday.

"A little more pep in my step is one step above comatose," Francona quipped.

The Indians fell short against the Reds, 6-5, at Goodyear Ballpark. The two teams will reconvene for games at the shared facility on Wednesday and Thursday. Francona said he expects every player in big league camp to have received playing time by the end of Wednesday's affair. Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis and Mike Napoli will comprise the top of Francona's batting order on Wednesday.

Josh Tomlin started the Tribe's Cactus League opener on Tuesday. He surrendered one run on three hits and a walk. He dodged more harm by inducing a ground-ball double play and by the Reds running into an out at the plate.

Tomlin, TJ House and Cody Anderson are the prime contenders for the fifth spot in the Indians' starting rotation. House relieved Tomlin on Tuesday and logged two innings. He mowed down the Reds in the first frame, but ran into trouble in the second. House allowed two runs on three hits and a walk.

Fans might not recognize the svelte Anderson when he takes the mound on Wednesday afternoon. He spent most of his offseason in Goodyear, where he worked out at the team's complex and had three meals per day prepared by the team chef. He also had an emergency appendectomy in December.

"I've been on a really strict diet, especially since the surgery," Anderson said. "I feel like I'm in a better spot than I've ever been in."

In 15 starts with Cleveland last year, Anderson posted a 7-3 record and 3.05 ERA. He limited the opposition to a .282 on-base percentage.

On Wednesday, Anderson will oppose Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati's No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com.

Cody Anderson never thought he'd be a big leaguer

What we've written

Some good, some bad in Indians' spring-opening loss

Gomes finally healthy... and then has play at the plate and gets plunked

Indians' analytics say Santana in leadoff spot might be unwise

Is Kluber or Carrasco primed for the better year?

Take a 360-degree look at Goodyear Ballpark

Akron on a roll as MAC Tournament approaches, but challenge is to keep it going

0
0

The Akron Zips are shooting 3-pointers at a torrid pace, going 39-of-84 behind the arc in the last two games.

AKRON, Ohio -- It is a deceivingly fine line the Akron Zips are traveling this late in the college basketball season. They captured a Mid-American Conference regular season title Tuesday with a 91-76 victory over Ohio University.

It marked the second straight game where the Zips made 19 or more 3-pointers and blew the opposition off the court. First was Bowling Green, then Ohio, right at the dawn of March Madness starting around the country.

"Not many teams in the country can make 20 threes in back-to-back games,'' Akron coach Keith Dambrot noted.

This seemingly AAU or rec league brand of basketball is by necessity for Akron as the Zips are without starting center Pat Forsythe, who will have shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Now, instead of being one of the biggest teams in the conference, Akron is pretty much like everybody else in size. The difference is, the Zips can shoot it, and from all over the court with a lot of different weapons.

Akron made 20 on a night when one of its best shooters, Josh Williams, did not make any. Meanwhile, teammate Reggie McAdams is 14-for-24 behind the arc in the last two games.

Right now, the Zips can flip it with the best in college basketball. Combined with the fact Akron does not play defense at a high level, Dambrot has opted to try and outscore everybody.

"We have turned them loose,'' Dambrot said. "When you're open, let it rip."

The challenge is maintaining this philosophy and high level of shooting percentage. That's easy to do in the comfort level of the home court, with a capacity crowd ready to cheer every flick of the wrist.

It might be a bit tougher on the road, or on a neutral court when the MAC Tournament is played next week at The Q.

Like full court, pressure defense that can look like chaos but isn't, the easy 'rec league' offense has its principles for success as well.

"There's a fine line between flinging them up and taking pretty good shots," said Dambrot, who noted his team is still a work in progress with this new offensive philosophy.

Akron now must maintain this torrid pace for its last game of the regular season on Friday against Kent State, then for three more games in the MAC Tournament. Perhaps easier said than done.

Kent State will be playing for a coveted top-four MAC Tournament seed Friday. And coach Rob Senderoff's Golden Flashes probably executed the most flawless game plan in defeating the sharp-shooting Zips earlier this season.

Akron is 0-3 in its last three road games, despite going 15-of-34, 10-of-33, and 9-of-21 on 3-pointers in those games. The opposition won without matching Akron's 3-point shooting, going 9-of-23, 3-of-11 and 7-of-16, respectively, behind the arc.

The Zips are a combined 39-of-84 on 3-pointers in their last two home games, with the interesting caveat being massive 6-10, 290-pound Isaiah Johnson -- who opens so much on the perimeter with his play inside. Johnson has only scored seven and nine points in the last two games. He averages 13 points a game.

The hot perimeter shooting is all falling into place right now for the Zips and a very pleased Dambrot, who was gleefully up on the ladder cutting down the championship nets, less than a year after hip surgery.

At the same time, he holds no false illusions about the game his team is now playing.

"This one was big,'' he said of the win over the Bobcats, "because I didn't want it to come down to the next one."

That's because, Friday's game goes beyond the rivalry, which may be the most intense in the league on its own merit.

The game will be a true test for the Zips to see if they can counter what the Golden Flashes did in that 85-76 setback two weeks ago. And it will be a test for Kent -- and the rest of the MAC -- to see if that game plan travels.

That game should show what kind of road the Zips will have to travel in Cleveland to win a MAC Tournament title.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Big 3 -- Not even a little 'd' in Irving: Bill Livingston (photos)

0
0

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving do not always run an integrated offense. Instead. it's a your turn/my turn policy of sequential ball monopolization.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cavaliers are probably the worst team of those likely to make up the NBA's "Final Four."

That doesn't mean they have the least talent. Because of LeBron James, the alpha entity in the East, the Cavs probably have more talent than their closest conference pursuers, the Toronto Raptors.

But the Raptors' guard-driven team of DeMar DeRozan and Cavs kiler Kyle Lowry seem to have better chemistry.

What about the Cavs' "Big Three," you say? Little about the interaction of James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love is a mystery at this stage of their second season together.

Today begins a look at each of the three, starting with Irving.

Does he stay or does he go?

Irving was more respected nationally as a commercial hit with his "Uncle Drew" character and as a SportsCenter highlights staple than locally as a winner during the long LeBron interregnum.

He is averaging 19 points per game this season on 45.9 percent shooting and a struggling 30.9 percent at the 3-point line. He collects 4.4 assists per game on a better than 2-to-1 assists/turnovers margin.

Rumors that he is unhappy here have made him a hot topic in the court of public opinion lately. In which case, some would say the defense rests.

Injuries "bug" him

The restless night Irving spent in Oklahoma City before the Cavs' big victory over the Thunder was attributed to the effects of attacks by blood-suckers during the night. It was not done by a count with a Transylvanian accent and a vampire's taste for Type O. It only sounds crazier than a bed bug to say it was caused by the bites of the nasty little, uh, buggers.

It serves no purpose to question Irving's nine minutes played, particularly because the Cavs' 23-point victory was their most impressive of the season. If he says he became nauseous after the bites, I believe him.

Irving came back from last season's string of injuries earlier than expected. He played in Golden State on Dec. 25 as sort of a last-minute Christmas present after only a two-game warm-up.

Defenseless?

The criticism of Irving's defense is odd only because it was against the same Warriors in the first game of the NBA Finals that he blocked Steph Curry's layup from behind in the final seconds on a magnificent play. This set up the Cavs' chance to win on the last play of regulation.

But James missed a tightly contested step-back jumper against eventual Finals Most Valuable Player Andre Iguodala, then Irving was lost for the rest of the Finals with a broken kneecap suffered in the overtime.

That the block came from behind was no surprise. Irving has trouble keeping players in front of him.

Any coach will tell you defense, within certain physical limits, is primarily a matter of attitude and work. Irving certainly has the requisite athleticism, which makes criticism of his defense even more damning.

When things go wrong, his body language does not evoke the Churchillian saying, "In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance."

Offensive dis-integration?

Of course Irving gets more than a few points back on his own at the other end of the court with his crossovers and mesmerizing ball-handling. Irving can be a great finisher, putting not only deft "English" on the ball, but also applying several dialects of everything but pig Latin on it.

Such drives are solo plays, though. For all his talent and that of James, the primary ball handler on the team, the Cavs do not have an integrated offense, as do Golden State and San Antonio. Both rivals could win 70 games.

Irving and James often seem to work on the your turn/my turn theory of sequential ball monopolization, except James is bigger, stronger and a more willing passer. To be fair, Irving can also dazzle with some spectacular assist. Both Irving and James can stall the offense like a car with a flooded carburetor.

Bad shots and good baskets

At times, Irving seems to get frustrated with being a bystander in the offense and simply decides to take a shot, often a bad shot. He is good at making bad shots, but the percentages are still stacked against him then. When he does miss, the whole possession is sometimes wrecked because teammates become spectators.

It's a good show. Sometimes a great one, such as when he dropped a franchise record 57 points on San Antonio last season.

But he and it could both be better.

Ohio State football: Cardale Jones to appear on seventh season of Gruden's QB Camp

0
0

Do you like when former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden has a top quarterback prospect in his office and breaks down every little weakness in his game?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Do you like when former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden has a top quarterback prospect in his office and breaks down every little weakness in his game? 

Well now you'll get to see Gruden do it to Cardale Jones. 

That's because the former Ohio State quarterback will appear on the seven season of Gruden's show, "Grudens QB camp." 

Others expected to be on the show, according to ESPNFrontRow.com, are Jared Goff (California) Carson Wentz (North Dakota State), Connor Cook (Michigan State), Christian Hackenberg (Penn State), Paxton Lynch (Memphis) and Dak Prescott (Mississippi State).

Jones will be one of the more interesting prospects to have ever appeared on the show because his time as a starter at Ohio State was limited to only 10 games, all of which he won. 

Unlike most other typical participants who have been multi-year starters and college football stars, Jones' body of work is limited, but he's an intriguing NFL Draft prospect because of his big 6-foot-6 frame and his rocket arm. 

Jones was supposed to show off his raw talent at the NFL Combine last week, but he pulled his hamstring running the 40-yard-dash and that brought his workout to an end before it even got started. 

"Another mystery - perhaps the biggest mystery in college football history," Gruden said of Jones in a release about his quarterback series. "Who is he? He comes out of nowhere, takes the cape off and the Buckeyes win the national title, and I haven't seen him since. He's inexperienced and there's not a lot of film to look at. He'll be one of the most intriguing shows we've ever done."

The show begins on April 12 on 8:30 p.m. and will air across multiple ESPN networks, including ABC, all the way up until the NFL Draft. 

The schedule for when each quarterback's episode will air will be released later this month.


Browns center Alex Mack voids the last 3 years of contract, set to become free agent

0
0

Browns center Alex Mack has voided the final three years of his contract and is set to become a free agent, but he likes the Browns and still might re-sign with them.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns center Alex Mack voided the final three years of his contract Wednesday, but his return to the Browns is still very possible, his agent, Tim Younger, told cleveland.com.

"We view Alex's decision to void as procedural,'' said Younger. "It was built into his contract to afford him maximum flexibility. For the first time in his career, he will be experiencing true free agency. Although we anticipate interest from multiple teams, he was very impressed with Hue Jackson and returning to the Browns certainly remains on the table.''

Mack, a three-time Pro Bowler, had three years remaining on his contract at $8 million a year, including $8 million guaranteed. With at least six to eight teams expected to be interested, Younger and agent Marvin Demoff will likely make Mack the highest paid center in the NFL again at $10 million a year or more.

Other teams can enter into negotiations with Mack on March 7th and complete a deal with him on March 9th. Younger and Demoff will listen to other offers and then the Browns will have a chance to match or exceed those deals. About six to eight teams are expected to be seriously interested.

The Browns are interested in keeping Mack, but only at the right price. They have a replacement for him in 2015 No. 19 overall pick Cam Erving, who's not quite ready for full-time duty, but might have to be pressed into service.

Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown said at the NFL Combine last week "my estimation would be if he's going to be in Cleveland, we'll get to a deal before his opt-out date.''

But even though that didn't happen, it's not over yet. The Browns will just have to come through with about $2 million more a year over the next four or five years to make it happen, with another boatload of guaranteed money.

For comparison's sake, Miami's Mike Pouncey signed a five-year, $44,750,000 contract last season, including a $5,000,000 signing bonus and $22,000,000 guaranteed. His average annual annual salary is $8,950,000 -- making him the highest paid center in the NFL.

In 2014, after placing the rarely-used transition tag on Mack, the Browns matched Jacksonville's lucrative and creative offer sheet. It was a five-year deal worth $42 million, including $18 million guaranteed over the first two years and another $8 million guaranteed in 2016 if he's on the roster April 5th. The deal averaged $8.4 million a year, which made him the highest paid center in the NFL at the time. Now he's fifth.

Essentially, Mack played under a two-contract worth $18 million guaranteed in 2014 and 2015.  And thanks to broken fibula and ligament damage in his ankle that cost him the final 11 games of 2014, that works out to $857,000 per game for his 21 starts over the past two seasons.

The transition tag, which Brown acknowledged he was part of, didn't work in the Browns favor, because it enabled his agents to craft a smart deal that allows Mack to cash in on the open market after only two years.

But Mack, their first-round pick in 2009, has deep roots here and would love to stay. He's close to his fellow offensive linemen, including left tackle Joe Thomas and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, and has become entrenched in the community.

He's also been an ironman for them on the field, playing just days after an appendectomy in 2011 and earning the Ed Block Courage Award in 2015 for his comeback from a broken leg.

Mack flew to Cleveland two weeks ago to meet with the Browns' brass and with Jackson and came away impressed, a source said. The meetings reinforced that he'd like to continue his career in Cleveland.

"We had good discussions, both Hue and I separately with Alex about how we go about winning in Cleveland and also what his role would be in that,'' Brown said. "He also spent some time with (offensive line coach) Hal Hunter to understand what day-to-day will be like in that O-line room and at practice what will be expected of him. Alex obviously is a very talented center, been a stalwart on our offensive line for a long time.''

In addition liking Jackson, Mack might have a chance to block for fellow Cal star Jared Goff, whom the Browns are seriously considering drafting with their No. 2 overall pick.

The addition of Jackson and Goff -- or another top quarterback prospect such as Carson Wentz of North Dakota State -- would likely be as appealing to Mack as it is to Thomas, who said recently "the future is really bright for the Cleveland Browns" as long as they pick the right quarterback.

Browns opt not to tag any of their free agents -- and what it means

The changes would also go a long way toward satisfying one of Mack's late-season criteria for wanting to return.

 "I will say that winning is really important to me,'' he said late in the season.
If Mack leaves, Erving, who started four games last season at guard, will have to get up to speed quickly.

"I'm not saying that Cam can't go in, compete and win a job,'' top offensive assistant Pep Hamilton said two weeks ago. "It was good to see that there were times when he was a dominant player. We expect that over time the more that he plays and once he has a chance to work with the offensive line coaches that we have here, he can be an every-down player for us."

He acknowledged that the thought of losing both Mack and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who's also set to become a free agent March 9th, is unnerving.

"I try not to think about it, but at the same time, I'm optimistic that things are going to work out,'' Hamilton said. "Just looking at what they put on film over the course of their careers across the board, those guys up front, it's exciting to see that the core, probably the most important component besides your quarterback of your offense, we have a strong group in place."

Thomas  cast his vote recently to keep the line intact.

"I feel like we have a lot of salary cap space (an estimated $40 million) to spend on it,'' he said. "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.''

The Browns have about a week to make sure that doesn't happen.

LeBron James and his wife Savannah spending time in Miami, maybe with Dwyane Wade

0
0

LeBron James spent at least a day or so in Miami, hanging with friends, including maybe Dwyane Wade.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James and his wife Savannah apparently chose to spend the Cavaliers' off days in Miami, hanging out with her trainer and business partner David Alexander.

Pictures and videos of the James couple, Alexander, and others are all over their various social media accounts.

#MyFriendsAreMyFamily #Repost @kingjames Nothing like being around great people! Great dinner, great times!

A photo posted by David Alexander (@dzandertraining) on

One of the videos posted, apparently to Alexander's Snapchat (as reported by the Big Lead website), is of James and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade working out together at Alexander's gym, though Wade and the Heat played Tuesday.

SEE: LeBron working out with Wade

People are generally interested when James is spotted, well, anywhere. Beyond that, though, this trip is nothing out of the ordinary for him.

The Cavs played Monday and don't have another game until Friday. They didn't even have practice Tuesday or Wednesday.

Yes, James used to play for the Miami Heat, but since he's returned to Cleveland he's made at least three in-season getaways (maybe more) to Miami when the situation presents itself. He also trained there for most of September prior to the start of this season.

James' wife and Alexander, as previously mentioned, are business partners. They opened a juice store in Miami and will likely open one in Cleveland. Also, Alexander trains Mrs. James.

James and Wade, it's well documented, are buddies. And James usually works out at Alexander's gym when he goes to Miami.

Why Wade was there, working out before a game against the Bulls, if indeed he was there, is not James' concern.

What's it like to go through NFL Combine, prepare for NFL Draft? Previewing the Thursday Conversation with Rodney Bailey

0
0

In this week's Thursday Conversation, we'll revisit some of Bailey's memories from the process of preparing for the draft. Which team asked him to fill out a 756-question questionnaire? What ridiculous questions did teams ask during interviews at the combine? Is the entire event and process overblown and unnecessary? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rodney Bailey is spending his Wednesday with his mother at school, where the two will read books to eight different kindergarten classes in Odessa, Florida, for Dr. Seuss Day.

Then, Bailey will return to Clearwater, Florida, where he coaches on the high school football staff. In a few months, he'll trek to Northeast Ohio for an offensive and defensive lineman skills camp that he hosts at his alma mater, St. Edward High School.

Much of what Bailey does during his post-playing career revolves around helping the youth. He was a kid once, and then an all-state high school football player, and then a four-year starter at Ohio State.

He also was an overlooked commodity when coming out of Columbus. Long before he became a Super Bowl champion, he wasn't on the radar of any NFL teams. He played his final game for John Cooper at Ohio State and, for a while, he thought that might be it.

He worked his way onto the roster for the Gridiron Classic. He attended the NFL Combine. He interviewed with a few teams that finally expressed some interest. He worked out at Ohio State's Pro Day. And after a grueling few months, he was selected in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He proceeded to play in the NFL for seven years.

Bailey watched the NFL Combine last week. He laughed at the commentary from his former Steelers teammate, Ike Taylor. He watched players get placed under the league's microscope.

"You are getting dissected," Bailey said.

In this week's Thursday Conversation, we'll revisit some of Bailey's memories from the process of preparing for the draft. Which team asked him to fill out a 756-question questionnaire? What ridiculous questions did teams ask during interviews at the combine?

"They want to push the envelope," he said. "They want to see, 'If I say this to him, how is he going to react?'"

Is the entire event and process overblown and unnecessary?

"The combine is for the fans," he said. "It's an entertainment thing."

What advice would Bailey have for young players who are going through what he endured 15 years ago?

All of that and more in this week's Thursday Conversation.

Live updates and chat: Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds at 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday

0
0

Get scoring updates and analysis on the Indians' Cactus League action and join Indians reporters Zack Meisel and Paul Hoynes for a live chat in the comments section.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get scoring updates and analysis on the Indians' Cactus League action and join Indians reporters Zack Meisel and Paul Hoynes for a live chat in the comments section.

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, Indians Radio Networks, MLB.com

Pitching matchup: RHP Cody Anderson vs. RHP Robert Stephenson. Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Manship, Joba Chamberlain, Dan Otero, Kyle Crockett, Ryan Merritt and Giovanni Soto are also expected to pitch for Cleveland.

Indians lineup:

3B Jose Ramirez

SS Francisco Lindor

2B Jason Kipnis

1B Mike Napoli

DH Jesus Aguilar

RF Collin Cowgill

CF Robbie Grossman

C Roberto Perez

LF James Ramsey

Should high schools and colleges eliminate tackling during practices?

0
0

Ivy League is taking action to eliminate tackling in practice during the regular season. Should high schools and colleges follow?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ivy League collegiate athletic conference will soon eliminate tackling during practice in future football regular seasons.

Executive Director Robin Harris of the Ivy League Presidents Council stated on ESPN's Outside the Lines Wednesday afternoon that a proposal is in the works after football coaches unanimously approved the action. Dartmouth College implemented the idea this past season using a mobile tackling tool during practices.

"We are going to protect our players," Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevans said on Outside the Lines. "I think colleges and high schools can do the same thing."

We want to hear from you? Should high schools and colleges consider eliminating tackling during regular-season practices? Vote in the poll below and leave your comments.

WMUR in New Hampshire reports about the tackling dummy

Here is Teevans on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live


Latest Images