"The current BCS system stinks. There needs to be a national playoff system established that ends in the BCS championship game." - KeepEyeOnTheBall
Marvin Fong/PDIs another BCS Championship in Jim Tressel's near future?
With Ohio State rising to No. 1 over the weekend, the speculation has begun on who they might face in the BCS Championship Game, should they go undefeated the rest of the way. OSU beat reporter Doug Lesmerises says an Ohio State-Michigan State matchup for all the marbles is not outside the realm of possibility.
The thought has sparked a debate among cleveland.com reader about the BCS system.
"The current BCS system stinks. There needs to be a national playoff system established that ends in the BCS championship game. Boise State is probably the best unbeaten team that has no chance at the BCS championship - the fix is in because only BCS conferences ever play for it."
What do you think? Is it time once and for all for a playoff system? Would an OSU-MSU matchup really be a bad thing? Get in on the debate below.
Ohio State, projected to be No. 5 in initial BCS standings next week, is hurt by its strength of schedule to date. ESPN notes Boise has played toughest part of its schedule and OSU hasn't. Top two teams in final BCS standings play in national title game.
Associated PressBoise State, led by quarterback Kellen Moore (photo), is expected to be first in next week's initial BCS standings for this season.
Cleveland, Ohio -- Ohio State, on the strength of its 6-0 record, history and Alabama's loss to South Carolina on Saturday, is the nation's new No. 1 ranked football team.
Next week, the first Bowl Championship Series standings will be released. The top two teams in the final regular-season BCS standings will play in the BCS National Championship Game.
Boise State, of the Western Athletic Conference, and Texas Christian, of the Mountain West Conference, are in non-automatic qualifying conferences. Those leagues don't own an automatic bid to one of the five BCS bowl games.
From the ESPN.com report:
Edwards explained that although the Buckeyes are No. 1 in the two polls the BCS uses -- the Harris and the USA Today coaches' poll -- they're deemed 10th-best by the BCS computer rankings, due in part to the Buckeyes' strength of schedule to date compared to the other unbeaten teams. The computers do not take margin of victory into consideration.
Boise State rated higher because the Broncos are third in the Harris and USA Today polls and second in the BCS computer ranking, Edwards said. But he also noted Boise State has already played the toughest part of its schedule, while Ohio State and the other top 10 teams from automatic qualifying conferences face tougher competition in the weeks ahead.
"Though this is exactly what the BCS standings would look like if they came out today, this is not an indication of what they will look like several weeks from now if all these teams keep winning," Edwards said.
Oregon is ranked No. 2 and Boise State No. 3 in the AP, USA Today/coaches and Harris polls.
"So they are going to play a guy with a high ankle sprain. Are you kidding me? I don't care if Mr. Miyagi is part of Wallace's rehab, you can't play a QB who has a high ankle sprain. Man they must think McCoy stinks." - cbusdawg27
Do the Browns have a Mr. Miyagi-type that can help Seneca Wallace get on the field on Sunday?
"So they are going to play a guy with a high ankle sprain. Are you kidding me? I don't care if Mr. Miyagi is part of Wallace's rehab, you can't play a QB who has a high ankle sprain. Man they must think McCoy stinks."
"If Seneca rehabs and plays this Sunday from the same injury its taken a month for Delhomme to heal, then it will be obvious Delhomme is done. I would hate to be McCoy right now. The Browns are trying everything they humanly can to keep him off the field."
"It's pretty obvious that McCoy won't be used unless half the team is disabled. He should be made inactive too if he isn't going to play. Free up that roster spot. We could use help in a lot of places on this team."
"I'd like to see McCoy get a shot at starting, but against the Steelers? Half the fans will jump on him for not winning, the other half because he looked out of sync. The kid will never get a serious shot at QB here if he starts a game he could get killed in with no passing game and no running game either."
"MAX HALL.... A UN-DRAFTED Rookie, Free Agent From BYU started for ARZ against the World Champs N.O. Yesterday and WON 30-20...... Colt McCoy Was a College Superstar QB...With all kinds of NCAA passing records....DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GIVE HIM A TRY IN A PINCH?.....His chief College Rival Sam Bradford (who he beat in College) is starting for his team and doing OK... This talk about playing anyone other then Colt is just plain idiotic...."
What do you think? Is it worth Wallace playing on a bum ankle or should the Browns just start Colt McCoy or someone else? Get in on the debate below.
Editor's note: Strongsville tight end Ray Hamilton is taking readers inside his team's huddle by writing a blog for cleveland.com throughout the 2010 football season. We took care of business Friday night at Mayfield.
Ray Hamilton and his Mustangs teammate go for win No. 6
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(Lonnie Timmons III/The Plain Dealer)
Editor's note: Strongsville tight end Ray Hamilton is taking readers inside his team's huddle by writing a blog for cleveland.com throughout the 2010 football season.
We took care of business Friday night at Mayfield.
Our defense came out, set the tone and the offense came around to seal the deal in a 28-0 win and we embraced a tough task by answering the challenge.
But it got even better a few days later when my best friend since grade school, Aaron White, committed to Iowa for basketball.
"Whitey" and I have been teammates in basketball since third grade through high school when we attended St. Joseph and John's (in Strongsville) School.
I congratulate him on his commitment because it shows his hard work is paying off.
I've been asked a number of questions since Whitey's decision.
A lot of people want to know if we're planning on being roommates since I'll going to Iowa on a football scholarship. My immediate reply is no because it's better for me to choose a football player to room with and better for him to choose a basketball player since both our schedules will be different.
It could be a different story when we're sophomores because there's a possibility we could get a house to live in if we both maintain a certain GPA.
The other most popular question I've been asked is did I help recruit Aaron and that reply is yes and no.
Aaron and I talked about it when we both started being recruited as high school freshmen but can to the conclusion we both needed to do what is best for ourselves. We did talk about how cool it would be if we ended up at the same place, but at the same time, I didn't even think there was a chance.
I was over Aaron's house this summer when he got the text from his AAU coach saying that Iowa had a scholarship offer for him, just a few weeks after I made my commitment.
I was excited and encouraged him to take a visit, but at the same time I told him to do what is best for him and his family. The rest is history.
This is Brunswick Week and if you're from Strongsville, you know there's always a little extra buzz in school leading up to this game and everyone will be bumped.
We have a short week of school but will go about our preparation as a normally as possible. We'll have the opportunity to use the extra time we have off to watch game film and take advantage of every little thing we can to get ready.
This rivalry is one of the best in Northeastern Ohio. It's about a 10-minute drive between the two schools and both have very good athletic programs which have been battling since the days of the old Pioneer Conference.
Coach (Russ) Jacques said it best after Friday's game: "If you can't get ready for Brunswick, then there is something wrong with you."
We need to keep the ball rolling, but need to keep in mind that Brunswick is a very dangerous and good football team. We must turn the swag up even more, be more physical and continue to focus more and more as game day approaches.
Steelers won the 2008 season Super Bowl but were already struggling when they visited Cleveland to face the 1-11 Browns last season. Pittsburgh's repeat hopes all but ended when Browns' defense keyed a stunning upset win.
Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer Linebacker Marcus Benard getting one of the Browns' eight sacks of Ben Roethlisberger during Cleveland's 13-6 win over Pittsburgh last season.
Cleveland, Ohio -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are not going to feel sorry for the Cleveland Browns and their injury problems when the teams meet on Sunday.
The big story going into the game at Pittsburgh has to do with quarterbacks: Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger will play for the first time this season, his four-game suspension for violating NFL conduct policy finished.
On the other side of the football, the Browns' quarterback situation is a mess. Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme will almost certainly miss the game with badly sprained ankles, and as The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reports, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy might start, playing in a regular season game for the first time.
Despite all of that, the underlying factor to how the game might be approached by Pittsburgh goes back to last December, when an awful Browns team all but ended the Steelers' chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions with a stunning defensive performance.
Under normal circumstances, the Browns would be a dress rehearsal for Roethlisberger in preparation for the next three grueling games on the road at Miami, New Orleans and Cincinnati.
Except for one thing. That one loss to the Browns in their past 13 meetings occurred in their most recent one, Dec. 10, on a bitter, cold, windy night in Cleveland. The Browns, 1-11 at the time, upset the Steelers, 13-6, to provide the final blow to their playoff hopes that had hemorrhaged during a five-game losing streak.
Thanks to that game (and other losses to some of the worst teams in the league such as Oakland and Kansas City in that five-game skid), the Steelers missed the playoffs. And, thanks to that game, they will look at their contest against the Browns a whole lot differently Sunday at Heinz Field.
"That was the fifth straight game we lost. That was like really the bottom of the barrel there," linebacker James Harrison said. "That was a big letdown. We hit the bottom. We didn't think we could get any lower, but we could have. That was like the lowest of the lowest point. All we could do was go up from there."
The Steelers go into Sunday's game with a 3-1 record and coming off their bye week. The Browns are 1-4.
Roeth's return
Although the Steelers played well in Roethlisberger's absence, they clearly move the football better with him behind center. Pittsburgh ranks 31st among the NFL's 32 teams in passing.
Clearly, the stage is set for Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians to open up his entire playbook again.
"Big Ben creates plays," said the pro scout. "He is a little bit of a bonehead and he hangs on to (the ball) too much, but he can wing it now. The guy has won two Super Bowls. Having him back will be a huge boost to their offense.
"He'll beat you with his arm. He is tough. He gets the (crap) knocked out of him behind that line. It is not very good. But he still finds a way. Remember the TD he threw last year to beat Green Bay? He is clutch. It was a perfect back-shoulder throw, just like the one he threw to Santonio Holmes in the Super Bowl."
Rashard's running
Running back Rashard Mendenhall helped carrry the Pittsburgh offense with Roethlisberger out. With the QB back, Mendenhall might be just as productive, or even moreso, with fewer carries.
The question of whether Ben Roethlisberger’s return to the Steelers benefits Rashard Mendenhall elicited a chuckle from Hines Ward.
“I don’t know if it helps Rashard,” Ward said Tuesday, following Roethlisberger's first practice with the Steelers since Sept. 1. “He’s still running the ball like crazy.”
Indeed, Mendenhall is second in the NFL in rushing (411 yards), and he is averaging a robust 4.6 yards a carry -- this despite the fact that the Steelers’ passing game ranks 31st out of 32 teams.
But there is no disputing that running room for the third-year back should be more plentiful assuming Roethlisberger quickly shakes off the rust from his four-week layoff and again plays like one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
Tait is expected to remain at the hospital for an additional day or so before returning to Ohio.
John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJoe Tait was hospitalized in Houston following Sunday night's Cavaliers preseason game and has been diagnosed with pneumonia.
DALLAS, Texas -- The Cavaliers were without a key figure Monday night in Dallas as Hall of Fame radio announcer Joe Tait was hospitalized in Houston and diagnosed with pneumonia.
Tait experienced discomfort and chest pains during and after the Cavs game against the Rockets and told reporters he had been diagnosed with pleurisy. The team said Monday that after spending the night at the The Methodist Hospital that he is stable and resting more comfortably. Tait is expected to remain at the hospital for an additional day or so before returning to Ohio.
Cavs TV play by play announcer Fred McLeod was flown in to handle the radio broadcast from Dallas."I just want Joe to get well as soon as possible," coach Byron Scott said. "I haven't gotten a chance to really know Joe. But I know what type of person he is. He's big-time old school, so we get along pretty well. I just want him to get back in the saddle as soon as possible and wish him all the best."
Chandler fan: Scott is a big fan of the Mavericks Tyson Chandler, whom he coached in New Orleans.
"I enjoyed Tyson," Scott said. "He was one of my favorite guys to coach. He was over to my house a lot. We talked a lot about basketball. I felt like a father figure more than anything, as well as a coach.
"He's the best center I've ever had in terms of his basketball IQ, how we could run the offense through him, how hard he played, the energy he played with, how he understood his role, the type of leadership he had. I've told our guys -- when you're a center or a front-line player, you have to be the best communicator out there on the floor. Tyson was by far the best communicator I've had.
"Obviously, I have a fondness for Tyson Chandler."
Baby talk: Jawad Williams has a lot on his plate. The former St. Edward star is learning to play two positions in the new offense while keeping an eye on his phone.
His wife, Angel, is due with the couple's first child, a girl, any day.
Carlisle back: Dallas coach Rick Carlisle returned to the sidelines last night after a fainting spell at practice on Friday kept him away from the team over the weekend.
"I was dehydrated and light-headed and I fainted," he explained before the game, though it clearly wasn't his favorite topic. "People I've talked to say fainting happens more times than you think.
"It's time to move on."
Open house: The Cavs will host an open house at The Q from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday for fans interested in purchasing season tickets, partial plans, group tickets or mini-game packages. Open house visitors will get to tour the team's locker room. The first 50 guests will receive a free T-shirt.
For more information or to set up an appointment for a personal VIP tour before the open house, call 1-800-820-2287.
Quarterback apologizes to his team for the distraction caused by an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent racy messages and lewd photos to a Jets game hostess in 2008. Vikings and Jets meet tonight in Monday Night Football.
Associated PressBrett Favre is being investigated by the NFL over allegations that he sent lewd messages and photos to a New York Jets female employee in 2008.
New York, N.Y. – Brett Favre has apologized to the Minnesota Vikings for the distraction caused by an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent racy messages and lewd photos to a Jets game hostess in 2008.
A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Favre spoke to his teammates Monday while they were preparing to play the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the conversation.
ESPN first reported on Favre's apology.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the league is looking to "find out all the facts" regarding the Favre allegations and that once the investigation is finished "then we'll determine what the next step is from there, if any."
Goodell spoke in Chicago, where he is attending league meetings. There was no indication from the NFL when the investigation would be complete or when the league would talk to Favre.
The NFL is trying to determine if Favre, a three-time MVP, violated its personal conduct policy. Should the league find he did, Favre could be fined or suspended.
"The first thing you want to do is find out the facts, and that's what we're trying to do," Goodell said. "We're trying to find out all the facts around it and then once we determine those facts, then we'll determine what the next step is from there, if any."
After a long stretch with Green Bay, where he won a Super Bowl, Favre played for New York in 2008 and then signed with the Vikings last year.
Last week, the website Deadspin posted a story which included several voicemails allegedly sent by Favre to Jenn Sterger, who worked for the Jets while Favre was with the team. The voicemails include a man asking to meet with Sterger, who now is a TV personality for the Versus network. The website posted a video that contained the voicemails and several graphic photos — said to be of Favre — that were allegedly sent to Sterger's cell phone.
Sterger's manager, Phil Reese, has declined to say if his client is cooperating with the NFL or has retained a lawyer, but issued a statement Monday saying that "we're looking at all our options right now and our only concern is what's in Jenn's best interest."
Deadspin also reported that Favre pursued two female massage therapists who worked part time for the team, according to one of the women. Deadspin did not identify the women, but a Jets spokesman said the team was giving contact information for the two women to the league.
Favre's only public comment on the reports came last Thursday: "I'm not getting into that. I've got my hands full with the Jets and am trying to get some timing down with our guys, so that's all I'm going to discuss."
Even before last week's reports about Favre, the game had generated buzz because of his return to New York. The Vikings' trade for star receiver Randy Moss and the return of Jets All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis made the plot even thicker.
The Vikings-Jets matchup is sure to draw a boisterous crowd to the New Meadowlands Stadium. According to the Jets, signs and banners are not permitted in the stadium. Violators will have the sign confiscated and are subject to ejection.
Vikings coach Brad Childress said on Saturday that the reports have not been a distraction, and receiver Percy Harvin said the team was in full support of its quarterback.
HB field hockey star Sydney Kirby takes a swing at golf, leads her team to state.
John Kuntz / The Plain DealerThat Hathaway Brown's field hockey standout Sydney Kirby is an exceptional athlete is already a matter of record. But her ability to excel on the golf course with little advance preparation is leading the Blazers to the state girls golf tournament on Friday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A friend called Sydney Kirby this summer and asked if she wanted to go golfing. Sure, she said, it's been a while. Playing field hockey on an international level and working her way to a 3.9 GPA at Hathaway Brown School had sucked away most of her free time.
Kirby borrowed her brother's clubs -- it had been so long since she golfed, she had outgrown her own -- and shot a 79.
Hmm, she thought. This all feels so familiar, so perfect.
Golfers all know that feeling. One good round and you think you've solved the ridiculously unsolvable game.
So inspired, Kirby arranged with Hathaway to try out for the golf team while playing for the Blazers' highly regarded field hockey squad. Two months later, she's leading HB to the state golf tournament Friday in Columbus. She shot Hathaway Brown's low round, another 79, at last week's district tournament, which HB won.
Kirby is one of the area's most gifted, if lesser known, athletes. Those close to her say she thrives in stressful and challenging situations, which might explain why she has taken on so much.
"At a school that is as academically tough as any in the nation, to be able to not only play two sports, but be very successful in two sports, she has done an exceptional job," said Paul Barlow, HB's golf coach and assistant athletic director.
Kirby led Hathaway Brown to a state field hockey championship in 2008 and is a two-time Plain Dealer Player of the Year. She made USA Field Hockey's U16 team as a 14-year-old and the U19 team as a 17-year-old. She's played extensively in Europe and South America, where field hockey is a much bigger deal. Now a Hathaway Brown senior, she'll play field hockey at Princeton next fall.
Only 11 Northeast Ohio schools play field hockey, so the level of competition obviously is much lower than what Kirby sees the rest of the year, and she's had to adjust. She's the school's all-time leader in goals and assists, but she received a red card early in the season, causing her to sit out two games, after questioning a referee, which is more permissible in international play.
"It's a lot different," said Kirby, a midfielder with the rare ability to play as fast with the ball as without. "[Team USA] games are all on [artificial] turf. I don't even consider it the same game when you play it on grass, especially the grass we play on in high school. The pace of play is slower to begin with and I can't do the moves I'm used to doing, and the refs aren't used to some of the techniques. I get called a lot, which can be frustrating."
Golf has become her outlet, and her play this fall is not a huge surprise. She had a successful youth career in the works in Richmond, Va., until her family moved here three years ago and she decided to concentrate on field hockey.
Dropping the clubs will be more difficult this time.
"Now it's a problem," Kirby said, laughing. "I want to golf more. I'm excited. I want our team to win."
The Browns should rest Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme for the next three weeks and return to caveman, run-the-ball football for their games at Pittsburgh and New Orleans.
Thomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerThere will be little excuse for the Browns not to utilize Josh Cribbs and the wildcat offense while the team is without a healthy Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace, says Terry Pluto.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talking to myself about the Browns...
Question: What does Mike Holmgren think after the two veteran quarterbacks who he brought to the Browns couldn't stay healthy for five games?
Answer: Not sure if the new team president has recovered from watching Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme suffer severely sprained ankles, but I bet I know what most Browns fans are thinking.
Q:What's that?
A: As my wife said, "Welcome to Cleveland, Mike. You ain't seen nothing yet."
Q:Did your wife really say that?
A: She did say the "Welcome to Cleveland" part. She also said, "Poor Eric Mangini."
Q:Do you blame the coaches for this?
A: For both quarterbacks being hurt? For Wallace never having a severe injury in his seven-year pro career before Sunday? For Delhomme looking all of 35 and shaky, as he did at Carolina last season? As Holmgren said, the quarterback decisions are purely his call.
Q:So you blame him?
A: I don't blame anyone. OK, Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach had a miserable day in the 20-10 loss to Atlanta. The left side of the line was mauled. On one play, Thomas was thrown into Delhomme by the Falcons defense.
Q:So what should the Browns do next?
A: They play at Pittsburgh and then at New Orleans. Then comes the bye week. For the next three weeks, no Wallace, no Delhomme. Don't even think about it. Delhomme was not ready to relieve Sunday.
Q:Should the Browns have played Colt McCoy after Delhomme looked so bad in the second half?
A: The pure second-guess answer is yes. Obviously, the coaches don't think McCoy was ready to be thrown into the middle of a game. But it's the rookie's time this week at Pittsburgh. Or maybe they'll start Brett Ratliff, who is back again with the team after being the No. 3 quarterback a year ago.
Q:Who should start?
A: McCoy or Ratliff? Neither appeals to me right now. Neither has ever taken a regular-season snap. But the Browns had better spend a lot of time preparing Joshua Cribbs and the wildcat. They have only one choice -- it's back to caveman, power-run football.
Q:Do you think it will work?
A: At Pittsburgh or New Orleans? Probably not. But I doubt Air McCoy or Ratliff will work against the two Super Bowl contenders. The Steelers will blitz either quarterback. Throwing won't work.
Q:But aren't the Steelers ranked No. 1 in rushing defense?
A: Why are you using facts to wreck my plan? The Browns still have to play the game. As Tribe manager Manny Acta said when his team was banged up, "No one sends you a sorry card in this league."
Q:So now what?
A: Cribbs lives to play the Steelers. In their 27-14 loss at Heinz Field early last season, he had a 98-yard touchdown return. Out of the wildcat, he carried the ball six times for 45 yards. In the 13-6 victory in a blizzard late last season, Cribbs ran the ball eight times for 87 yards. Chris Jennings carried it 20 times for 73 yards, Jerome Harrison seven times for nine yards.
Q:What's with Harrison this season?
A: No clue. I just know that 19 of 31 carries have been for two or fewer yards. I wouldn't be surprised if Jennings shows up this week, or perhaps another running back -- especially if Peyton Hillis is still hurting.
Q:Do you think Hillis will be out?
A: If he's not fairly close to 100 percent, he should sit. At this point, one of the goals should be to get the team reasonably healthy for after the bye week.
Q:Wait a minute, they play New England after the bye week. And in the next three games, they face quarterbacks who have won six of the last nine Super Bowls.
A: Is there a question in all that gloom and doom?
Q:Not really, so let's try this -- the Browns are 1-4, just like last year, right?
A: Frustrated fans understandably don't want to hear this, but the Browns are better. Their four losses last season were by an average of 17 points. Their next four losses were by an average of 20 points. They were getting drilled.
This team plays hard. It's four losses are by a combined 22 points.
Q:Are you auditioning to be Mr. Sunshine?
A: I'm just saying they are improved. But they also need to face facts. The quarterbacks are hurt. The schedule is a nightmare. About all they can do for a few weeks is rest injured players and try to regroup for the second half -- or there will be nothing at all worth watching this season.
Instead of searching for a No. 1 behind center, the Bobcats have settled on playing two.
AP file photoBoo Jackson has shared the quarterback duties with Phil Bates as the Ohio Bobcats have won two of their first three conference games.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At the start of the season, Ohio University football coach Frank Solich said he would use a two-quarterback system until either Boo Jackson or Phil Bates emerged as the No. 1 guy.
It's now midseason, the Bobcats are 3-3 overall, 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference, and instead of searching for a No. 1 behind center the Bobcats have settled on playing two.
This decision comes on the heels of OU's 49-25 victory over Bowling Green. The win keeps the Bobcats within reach of successfully defending its MAC East Division title. They are one game behind Miami, with a game against the RedHawks (3-3, 2-0) coming after Ohio hosts winless Akron (0-6, 0-2) this week.
"We used two QBs throughout the course of the game, and that seemed to work out well for us," Solich said Monday on the MAC's weekly teleconference. "I think we know what we want to be about in terms of those two quarterbacks.
"They both have a lot they bring to the table. Phil is an excellent runner, and he can throw the ball. Boo is a guy who can run our complete offense. But there are ways to have Phil's strong arm and ability to run the ball come into play also. He's able to make the truly big play, the 50-, 60- 70-yard run."
While the Miami game looms, the first challenge will be the Zips, and Solich does not discount Akron's ability to pull an upset.
"As you watch them on tape, they do good things," he said. "I like the effort they give, in terms of their toughness. I think they're getting better week by week."
He's the man: Find the quarterback currently playing the best in the MAC, and you will find the team playing the best.
Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish continued his stellar play in a 31-17 win over Temple. Harnish was 20-of-25 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 71 yards, helping the Huskies move to 4-2, 2-0.
NIU coach Jerry Kill told the media after the Temple victory: "It's unbelievable what the kid is doing."
On the season, Harnish is 80-of-112 passing for 927 yards and eight TDs. He has also rushed for 382 yards and two TDs. Northern is tied with Toledo (3-3, 2-0) atop the West standings and is one of only two conference teams (Temple, 4-2, 1-1) with a winning record.
Safety switch: The latest ray of hope for Akron to get a victory shines on receiver/wildcat Jalil Carter. The 6-0, 200-pound senior and former All-MAC safety was converted to a wide receiver this season in a move that raised the eyebrows of many Akron fans.
His production through six games -- 10 receptions for 90 yards -- has been minimal, but Carter was used in the wildcat formation against Kent State, which led to a 34-yard run. Watch for him to have his hands on the ball more.
Power outage? Temple was predicted to be the MAC powerhouse this season. Yet they seem to go as tailback Bernard Pierce goes.
Evidence? In the Owls' loss to NIU, the sophomore ran three times for six yards. He has gained just 349 yards this season, far off his 1,361-yard pace set as a freshman.
The Browns are prepared to start rookie Colt McCoy in Pittsburgh with their two veteran QBs hobbled.
Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerColt McCoy has gotten increased work with the first team in the weeks since Jake Delhomme was originally injured Sept. 12 against Tampa Bay. "Everybody has to start their first game," said head coach Eric Mangini on Monday. "I'm sure [McCoy's] champing at the bit to get his first chance."
BEREA, Ohio -- With Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace "really hurting" from their high ankle sprains, a league source says the team is prepared to start rookie Colt McCoy in Pittsburgh.
The Browns are also bringing back quarterback Brett Ratliff, who was on the Patriots' practice squad, his agent Joe Palumbo said. Ratliff was on his way to Ohio Monday night to sign his contract, which guarantees him a minimum of three game checks. Ratliff was waived by the Browns in the final cuts Sept. 4 and caught on briefly with the Jaguars before landing in New England.
He's expected to be the No. 2 behind McCoy in Pittsburgh if one of the top two can't go. McCoy, the Browns' third-round pick out of Texas, is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history with a 45 wins in 53 starts.
"Sometimes opportunity knocks and if you get that opportunity, you've got to be ready to seize it," Browns coach Eric Mangini said Monday. "[McCoy's] played a lot of games -- not at this level -- but in college and he's been in the system for quite some time. I'd expect him to seize it and to capitalize on it and to play really well."
Mangini declined to specify the injuries to Delhomme and Wallace, but sources said Delhomme re-injured his right ankle during the 20-10 loss to the Falcons, suffering both a high and low sprain, and that Wallace suffered a high right ankle sprain.
Delhomme could be out a while pending results of an MRI, and the Browns were working hard Monday to try to get Wallace back on the field as soon as possible. Still, most high ankle sprains require at least several weeks off.
Guard Shawn Lauvao, who suffered his high ankle sprain the week before the opener, has already missed five games, and Delhomme was expected to sit out at least four.
Mangini did acknowledge that Delhomme, who missed three games after being injured in the opener in Tampa, was "really sore" -- and the source said even more so than Sunday. Before the game, Delhomme had the ankle injected with painkillers. Replacing Wallace at the end of the first half, Delhomme may have re-injured it on a 10-yard sack late in the third quarter.
M. Spencer Green / Associated Brett Ratliff has not thrown a pass in a regular-season NFL game, but he returns to the Browns this week with more than a year of familiarity with the Brian Daboll offense.
Mangini said the Browns have no regrets about putting Delhomme in. "There's always that chance [of injury]," he said.
Wallace suffered his sprain on a sack just before the end of the first half. He hopped off the field and into the locker room. After the game, he didn't put weight on it, and looked far worse than Delhomme did after the Tampa game.
Wallace's injury came after completing 11 of 15 attempts for 139 yards, one TD and a 124 rating against the Falcons. Overall, he's earned a 88.5 mark.
"Seneca did a nice job of spreading the ball around," said Mangini. "That was important. He was able to get the receivers, tight ends and backs involved and that forced the defense to defend the width and length of the field."
If McCoy starts, he'll be the first Browns rookie quarterback to start against the Steelers since Charlie Frye in a 41-0 loss on Christmas Eve, 2005. Frye completed 20 of 39 attempts for 183 yards and was sacked eight times.
"It's only the Steelers, right?" said Mangini, maintaining a sense of humor. "Coming off a bye week? They don't blitz much."
Mangini noted that the Cardinals started an undrafted rookie, Max Hall, at quarterback on Sunday against the Super Bowl champion Saints -- and Arizona won, 30-20.
"They set the tone," said Mangini.
Fortunately for McCoy, he has received some work with the first-team offense during the three weeks Delhomme has been idle. "He got quite a few reps during that time," said Mangini.
McCoy, who was supposed to be "red-shirted" this season, didn't get much quality time in preseason, but did start the preseason finale against the Bears and fared well. He went 13-for-13 for 131 yards and a 108.7 rating. Ratliff, who's never taken a snap in a real NFL game, earned a 40.6 rating in preseason, McCoy was at 65.3.
Ratliff was originally part of the trade with the Jets in 2009 that enabled New York to pick quarterback Mark Sanchez.
"Everybody has to start their first game," said Mangini. "That's what all these guys are looking for, that moment to show what they can do. I'm sure [McCoy's] champing at the bit to get his first chance.
"If you didn't have that guy, then you drafted the wrong guy. If he's sitting at home at night curled up in a blanket hoping he doesn't get the start, you've got the wrong guy. You look for that competitiveness, you want the young guys to always be pushing the guy in front of them, saying, 'come on, move out of the way, give me my chance to do it.'"
McCoy probably won't have a healthy Peyton Hillis to rely on. Hillis aggravated his thigh vs. the Falcons and his status is uncertain.
"If we can just get everybody healthy around [McCoy], that'll show a lot of support," said linebacker David Bowens. "I have total confidence if that's the choice. I think the guy will come in and do a great job. He's been in the system for a while now, he understands what we're trying to get done."
The integration of baseball -- and Cleveland's role in it -- is a familiar slice of history. The average fan is less aware of the struggles of Jewish ballplayers, although that, too, carries a thick Cleveland vein.
AP file photo"I have broad shoulders," former Indians first baseman Al Rosen said about dealing with anti-Semitism during his baseball career in the 1940s and 50s. "I took it upon myself. There were times I had to assert myself and other times I just let it roll, but I've always managed to handle it and I thought I handled it well throughout my career."
ON THE BIG SCREEN “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story” will be shown Oct. 17, at 4 p.m., at the Cedar Lee Theatre, 2163 Lee Rd., in Cleveland Heights. For more information about the Cleveland Jewish Film Festival: mandeljcc.org/filmfest/filmfest/ or (216) 831-0700, extension 1378.
(Editor's note: This is one of an ongoing series of stories catching up with some of Cleveland's best-known sports figures.)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- About a month into Jackie Robinson's rookie season in 1947, Major League Baseball's first black player beat out a bunt as the throw pulled the hulking first baseman off the bag.
They collided, dusted themselves off and played on.
Had the fielder been someone other than Hank Greenberg, there may have been a dust-up, not a dust-off. But that day, the 6-4 Greenberg encouraged Robinson to not let the bigots beat him down. Baseball's first Jewish superstar certainly understood what it was like to play under a cloud of hate.
The integration of baseball -- and Cleveland's role in it -- is a familiar slice of history. Two months after Robinson's historic debut, the Indians' Larry Doby became the American League's first black player. In 1975, the Indians' Frank Robinson turned in his lineup card as baseball's first black manager.
The average fan is less aware of the struggles of Jewish ballplayers, although that, too, carries a thick Cleveland vein. Greenberg later became the Indians' general manager under owner Bill Veeck.
And Al Rosen, a Jewish kid from Florida who idolized Greenberg and came within an eyelash of an American League Triple Crown, was one of the Indians' all-time greats.
The audience will learn about players who changed their last names to appear "less Jewish" to escape the insults. How Greenberg, Rosen and others fielded taunts from fans and the opposing dugout. And how New York Giants manager John McGraw sought Jewish players to boost attendance -- and it worked.
"It's not a story about baseball," said producer/director Peter Miller, an '84 Oberlin College grad who grew up a Red Sox fan in Boston. "It's a story about how a people found their way into the mainstream. And there's nothing more mainstream than baseball."
It was through baseball that Rosen assimilated as well.
Rosen recalled that his family didn't have enough money to send him to college. He eventually did earn a degree from the University of Miami, but it was on the sandlots of Miami where he countered the stereotype that Jews weren't good athletes.
"Sports were always my addiction," he said. "I fell in love with the game."
By the time he was through in 1956 at age 32 after 10 seasons, Rosen had driven in at least 100 runs five years in a row and was an American League All-Star four straight times.
His breakout year was 1953, when he stroked 43 homers, drove in 145 runs and missed winning the batting title -- and a Triple Crown -- by one percentage point. He was the league's unanimous MVP.
The following season, Indians manager Al Lopez asked Rosen to move from third to first base for a few weeks until he could trade for another first baseman. Rosen agreed, but broke his right index finger, an injury that ultimately ended his career.
Marvin Fong / PD"A lot of people are going to see this movie and not recognize the exploits of people like Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax," Al Rosen said of "Jews and Baseball. "It's going to be something new for them, and they're going to take it with great pride, because both of those men were so exemplary in everything they did."
While with the Indians, Rosen lived in Shaker Heights, first on Van Aken Boulevard and later near Canterbury Golf Club, and learned the investment business with the firm formerly known as Bache & Co.
Rosen, now 86, is married and has three sons (all Cleveland-born), a stepdaughter and stepson, and enjoys playing golf and bridge. In a recent phone interview from his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., he reflected on his time in Cleveland, being Jewish in the big leagues and on his relationship with the late George Steinbrenner.
On being a Jewish ballplayer:
"I can only tell you this, there was anti-Semitism throughout my playing days, and it came from the stands, it came from the managers, the coaches and players. But as time went on, and particularly after the birth of Israel as a nation, I think that a new aura took over and people had more respect for Jewish athletes or Jews generally, because it showed once again that Jews were not to be taken lightly and that they could fight as well as be bookkeepers and accountants and that sort of thing. The kind of taunting and things like that that I heard personally from the benches softened a great deal after 1946."
On whom he turned to for support:
"I have broad shoulders. I took it upon myself. There were times I had to assert myself and other times I just let it roll, but I've always managed to handle it and I thought I handled it well throughout my career."
On how he was treated in Cleveland:
"Cleveland was great for me. I loved every minute of it. During my baseball career I was received warmly and with only laudatory manners. It was just great ... I was just very happy there. My family was happy. We still have relatives there, and my boys still keep in touch with some of their old friends."
On the '54 World Series, in which the Indians were swept by the New York Giants after setting a regular-season win record:
"The Giants had an awfully good ball club. We knew that because we played them in spring training every year. The catch by [Willie] Mays, and Dusty Rhodes getting hot at the right time, that sort of thing, who knows how things may have turned around if Mays hadn't made that catch? It may have been different. But as it was, it was a very disappointing ending to a great year."
On almost buying the Indians with Steinbrenner ... and how the Yankees fell into Steinbrenner's lap:
"We thought we had an agreement with [Indians owner] Vern Stouffer. We were all set to make the announcement from George's office on the 14th floor of the East Ohio Building. The lobby was filled with writers. ... And we thought we had a deal when Vernon called at 5 o'clock Cleveland time and said there'd be no deal. So George had an appetite for baseball now and said to Gabe Paul, who was the [Indians'] president and general manager and myself, 'If you ever hear of a club for sale, let me know.'"
Rosen was flying back to Cleveland from New York with Paul on a Friday after working on Wall Street for a few days, when Paul turned to him.
"Coming home we talked about it. Gabe said there was a club for sale, and I asked him who and he whispered in my ear: 'The Yankees.' I almost fell off my chair, but the Yankees at that time weren't doing well. ... George Steinbrenner, true to the spirit of George, walked in, put together a group and bought the club."
On what he hopes the audience takes away from the documentary:
"Pride, and some additional knowledge. A lot of people are going to see this movie and not recognize the exploits of people like Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax. It's going to be something new for them, and they're going to take it with great pride, because both of those men were so exemplary in everything they did."
Peyton Hillis' availability for Pittsburgh is uncertain after he aggravated a pulled quad against Atlanta.
Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerA thigh injury is threatening Peyton Hillis' availability for Sunday's game against the Steelers. "There were a lot of guys that were either dinged up prior to the game or things happened during the game," Eric Mangini said about his injured Browns, "they really fought through those situations and contributed in a lot of different ways."
BEREA, Ohio -- The status of Browns running back Peyton Hillis for the Steelers game is unknown after he aggravated his pulled quad muscle against the Falcons.
Hillis limped off the field after his spectacular one-handed 19-yard touchdown catch and spent time down on the sidelines grimacing after chasing down a third-quarter interception that was nullified by a penalty.
A number of players underwent MRIs, including Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, but it was not announced whether Hillis did.
"There were a lot of guys that either came into the game with things that limited them or had it during the game," said Eric Mangini. "We'll see where they are on Wednesday; I'm not going to get into the specifics of any of their injuries. We'll see how it goes throughout the course of the week."
Mangini did praise the efforts of players who played through pain.
"I appreciated some of the real gutsy efforts that were out there yesterday," he said. "There were a lot of guys that were either dinged up prior to the game or things happened during the game -- they really fought through those situations and contributed in a lot of different ways."
With Hillis ailing and James Davis limited with a thigh injury, the Browns might also have to look for help at running back. One possibility might be Chris Jennings, who's available after being waived in the final cuts.
Way to go: Mangini congratulated Phil Dawson for tying Lou Groza's team career field goal record.
"That's not easy to do," he said. "He's been a good kicker here for a long time and I'd much rather be congratulating him after a win but we still need to recognize the incredible accomplishment that it is."
Harrison's struggles: Mangini didn't put all the blame on Jerome Harrison for Sunday's output of six yards on six carries.
"There were runs that he could have run better, but believe me, he wasn't alone," said Mangini. "We didn't block it very well, and that was across the board. Whether it was the O-line, whether it was the backs, whether it was the receivers, they did a better job than we did defending the run than we did running the ball.
"It was a group effort. He could have hit the hole better, but sometime there was no hole to be hit."
Thomas' long day: Mangini said the difficulties suffered by tackle Joe Thomas -- two sacks and one costly pressure that led to a interception – should be credited to his opponent.
"Well, one, he was going against John Abraham, who's had 100 sacks the last 10 years," he said. "There's some things he could've done better in terms of his technique, could've been more consistent with it, so I think it was a combination of those two things: a really good player and being more consistent with your technique play in and play out.
"When you face a guy like Abraham or any of those real elite pass rushers, one false step, one slow hand and it's not like some of the guys we've faced where you can recover. A small, small difference in technique equals a big play for them."
No challenge: Mangini said not challenging the Kroy Biermann interception was the right move.
"In looking at even on the coaches copy, it's hard to think that there'd be irrefutable evidence to overturn it," he said. "He kind of catches it and spins by, so it looks like he lands on his shoulder and I have a lot of faith in Dick McKenzie, who's with us each game, and his experience as a replay official and head of the replay officials. He doesn't miss that often."
Too fast a return? Mangini said Sheldon Brown didn't put himself back in the game too quickly after suffering a shoulder injury in tackling Tony Gonzalez.
Brown was down on the field for a few minutes and then came off for one play. When he went back in, the Falcons went after him and hit a 45-yard TD pass to Roddy White.
"No, I don't think it was a function of [the shoulder]," Mangini said. "[White] made a move to the outside that made [Brown] hesitate and then he looked back for the ball a little bit. That slowed him down. He missed the play by half a foot.
"Roddy White, Matt Ryan -- half a foot, it might as well be five yards."
No team in the Big Ten gets a bigger bump from its home stadium, and it's not really that close.
Morry Gash / Associated PressJohn Clay and the Badgers enjoy the biggest home-field edge in the Big Ten. At Camp Randall, Wisconsin goes from middling to magnificent vs. conference opponents.
THE MADISON MAD HOUSE At Camp Randall, Wisconsin owns a home-field edge like no other team in the Big Ten. From 2006, the first season under Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers in Big Ten play are 14-3 at home, 7-10 on the road, by far the biggest difference in the conference. Here are the home and road Big Ten records of each team since 2006, ranked by the difference between them. • Wisconsin: 14-3/7-10 (+7) • Indiana: 6-11/2-15 (+4) • Iowa: 11-6/7-9 (+3.5) • Penn State: 12-5/10-7 (+2) • Purdue: 8-8/7-10 (+1.5) • Michigan: 9-8/8-9 (+1) • Minnesota: 5-12/4-13 (+1) • Michigan State: 8-9/8-9 (0) • Ohio State: 15-2/16-1 (-1) • Illinois: 6-11/7-10 (-1) • Northwestern: 7-10/9-8 (-2) • Overall: Big Ten teams are 101-85 at home in conference play, winning 54 percent of the time since 2006. — Doug Lesmerises
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's first test with its new No. 1 ranking will come against the second-best team in the Big Ten over the last five years. Not No. 18 Wisconsin. Wisconsin, at home.
No team in the Big Ten gets a bigger bump from its home stadium, and it's not really that close. In Bret Bielema's five seasons at Wisconsin, the Badgers have been an elite team at home and below average on the road.
The Buckeyes are the only conference team Bielema hasn't beaten yet, and talking before the season, he knew exactly when and where he had them this season, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16.
"Camp Randall is pretty good, especially in the evening," Bielema said. "I think that's a good environment."
Good? Try magical. Not every team gets a lift from sleeping in their own beds like Bielema's boys.
A lot of good teams are good no matter where they play -- Ohio State is 15-2 at home and 16-1 on the road in Big Ten play since 2006.
A lot of average teams are average -- Michigan State is 8-9 both at home and on the road in the same span.
A lot of bad teams are bad -- Minnesota is 5-12 at home, 4-13 on the road.
The Badgers are like two different programs -- 14-3 at home in Big Ten play since 2006 and 7-10 on the road. That home record is second-best among conference members, behind only that 15-2 record from the Buckeyes. The 7-10 road record is tied for seventh.
So Wisconsin is seven games better at home than on the road in conference play in the last five seasons. Indiana is next with a four-game edge at home, but eight conference teams have nothing more than a two-game edge -- including three teams that actually have worse home records.
So home-field advantage in the Big Ten is something of a myth -- everywhere except Wisconsin.
"It was ridiculous," OSU senior linebacker Brian Rolle said, remembering Ohio State's last visit in 2008. "It was at night as well, and the student section I think is one of the best in the nation as far as making noise. They're in the game the whole time. We know how it's going to be."
The Buckeyes are among the three Big Ten teams to survive Bucky's barrage since 2006, winning, 20-17, in that 2008 game. Penn State beat the Badgers, 48-7, the next week in Madison, and Iowa won there by a 20-10 score in 2009.
Student sections don't win games, and good teams prove that. The 2008 Buckeyes and Nittany Lions and 2009 Hawkeyes all went to BCS bowls.
What the Badgers do at home is take down any team that is off its game. That was almost the Buckeyes last time, as they needed a 11-yard touchdown run from freshman Terrelle Pryor on an option keeper with 68 seconds to play to pull out the 3-point win.
"I think it started my confidence of being a quarterback," Pryor said. "Anytime you get that win it's huge, whether it was me or somebody else."
So the Buckeyes have been through this before. That wasn't the case in 2008. Because of some scheduling quirks, Ohio State's previous trip to Madison had been a 17-10 loss in 2003. So two years ago, no one knew what to expect. Now they know everything, including the tradition where the entire crowd shakes the stadium between the third and fourth quarter to the song "Jump Around."
"I don't get scared about that stuff, I think it's kind of fun," said OSU senior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore, who ranks Wisconsin behind Penn State on his list of toughest Big Ten places to play.
In 2008, the Buckeyes joined the crowd, jumping around themselves on the visiting sideline.
"They do the jump, jump," Pryor said. "I guarantee we'll be jumping with them. That's just the type of team we have. We'll be jumping. It that atmosphere, you've got to have a swagger going into stuff like that. It'll be a tough game, but if we don't turn the ball over and give our defense a chance, we should take care of business."
If they do, the Buckeyes will have won a big one. It's one thing to beat Wisconsin. It's another thing to beat the Badgers at home.
Tony Gutierrez / Associated PressCavaliers guard Daniel Gibson (1) challenges the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki in the first half of Monday's preseason game in Dallas. Gibson's 15 points led the Cavaliers in their 85-79 victory.
DALLAS, Texas -- The games don't count, but the impressions players make do, and Manny Harris is making a good one.
For the second straight game, the slender undrafted rookie from Michigan took advantage of the minutes he got from coach Byron Scott and finished with 14 points in the Cavaliers' 85-79 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at American Airlines Center.
It was the second night that Scott turned to Harris down the stretch, who didn't disappoint with five points as the Cavs pulled away from a 62-62 tie after three quarters.
Harris keyed a defensive stand that saw the Mavericks shoot just 33.3 percent (7-of-21) in the fourth quarter, when they were outscored by the Cavs, 23-17.
"From a defensive standpoint, we didn't take a step forward, but we didn't take a step back," Scott said as the Cavs improved to 3-1 in the preseason. "I thought we played pretty good on the defensive end. I thought we played much better in the fourth quarter with big contributions from Manny and some other guys.
"He did a heck of a job, made some plays for us down the stretch, did a really good job defensively of just locking people down and doing some things we talked about doing, getting some big-time steals, very active and aggressive on that end of the floor."
Harris already knows how to get on Scott's good side.
"If you don't play defense, I don't think you're going to play for Coach Scott," he said.
Of course, defense isn't what earned him the Mr. Basketball title in Michigan in 2007 as a senior at Redford High School in Detroit. He also became the third player to score 1,600 career points at Michigan, and he did it in three seasons.
No wonder Scott is becoming a fan of the 6-5, 185-pound guard.
"Manny has a lot of upside," Scott said. "He just turned 21 years old a couple of weeks ago. At 6-4, 6-5 he's very athletic, a very good defender, hounds the ball pretty well, makes pretty good decisions."
The coach admitted he was surprised how Harris responded down the stretch in Houston, when the Cavs broke the game open. That, no doubt, earned him more minutes at crunch time Monday.
"I thought for him having a chance [in Houston] to play and to play the way he did was a little surprising," Scott said. "I thought it would be a little more of the deer-in-the-headlights syndrome. But I thought he was pretty good, made some big free throws at the end, made some big shots at the end. I kept that group in there on purpose to see how they would handle a little adversity when Houston made its run. I thought they responded pretty well."
It was the same thing on Monday, and Harris wasn't sure he'd get another chance so soon.
"I was ready," he said. "I was excited again. I was kind of surprised, but we got the win and that's all that matters. It definitely helped my confidence, even though it was preseason."
Daniel Gibson led the Cavs with 15 points, although he did have four of the Cavs' 19 turnovers. He tweaked his left ankle just before halftime, but he returned for the second half and did not anticipate any problems with it.
In-game updates from Dallas as the Cavaliers take on the Mavericks in a preseason game.
Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerDaniel Gibson has gotten plenty of praise from Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott during training camp and the first week of preseason games.
DALLAS, Texas -- It's not a revelation, but size does matter in the NBA, and the Cavs are heading into the season undersized.
Perhaps it's more obvious after losing Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O'Neal, but trying to match up against a team like Dallas or Boston is going to be problematic. Ryan Hollins is 7-0 and Anderson Varejao is 6-11. But Dallas starts two players over 7-0 (Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood) and can bring two more off the bench (Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca.)
Byron Scott can't really go big, so he'll have to hope that small and aggressive will work on most nights. It did OK in the 85-79 victory over the Mavericks, but neither team was exactly playing its top talents down the stretch.
Cavs 62, Mavericks 62 after third quarter: Neither team could hit a shot in the period. The Cavs making just 3 of their first 15 and the Mavericks 6 of their first 15.
Ugh.
What's becoming obvious is the Cavs are going to be at a disadvantage size-wise most of this season, so they're going to have to make up for that with smart play and lots of help defense.
Mavericks 46, Cavs 45 at halftime: Manny Harris made a big impression with 14 points in the Cavs victory at Houston on Sunday night, playing mostly in the fourth quarter. He moved up in coach Byron Scott's rotation and put up nine points in the second quarter, when he also had two steals.
Cavs 28, Mavericks 25 after first quarter: With both coaches continuing to experiment with their starting lineups, the new young Cavs did well to stay with the star-laden Mavericks.
As they have much of this preseason, Daniel Gibson and J.J. Hickson led the Cavs with 10 and 9 points, respectively. But key stat was holding the Mavericks to 36.4 percent shooting (8 of 22).
Jason Kidd had six points and two assists for Dallas.
At the tipoff: As predicted, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle changed his starters to include rookie guard Dominique Jones and center Tyson Chandler instead of Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood and moved Caron Butler from guard to forward.
Cavs starters: F J.J. Hickson, F Jamario Moon, C Ryan Hollins, G Daniel Gibson, G Anthony Parker
Dallas probable starters: F Shawn Marion, F Dirk Nowitzki, C Brendan Haywood, G Caron Butler, G Jason Kidd. (Coach Rick Carlisle has been tinkering, though, so stay tuned.)
Officials: Tony Brothers, Tony Brown, Kevin Cutler
Three things to watch
1. Post defense. The Cavs didn't face Yao Ming on Sunday in Houston, but they'll get a test with Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood tonight.
2. The small forward rotation continues, with Jamario Moon getting another start.
3. Coach Byron Scott has had more good things to say about Daniel Gibson than any other player during training camp. He gets another chance to show he should be a starter when the regular season rolls around in two weeks. Watch for updates during the game.
What's going on at your high school? Go to cleveland.com/yourspace to send your pictures of varsity teams from your school. We'll publish the best picture each Tuesday in The Plain Dealer, and the entire photo gallery is featured on cleveland.com.
What's going on at your high school? Go to cleveland.com/yourspace to
send your pictures of varsity teams from your school. We'll publish the
best picture each Tuesday in The Plain Dealer, and the entire photo
gallery is featured on cleveland.com.
Brett Favre stepped up to the podium after a discouraging loss to the New York Jets and spent about 20 minutes evading questions the same way he tried to avoid tacklers.
Minnesota Vikings' Brett Favre leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Jets early Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won the game 29-20. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Brett Favre stepped up to the podium after a discouraging loss to the New York Jets and spent about 20 minutes evading questions the same way he tried to avoid tacklers.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was asked several times after Monday night's 29-20 loss to the New York Jets to discuss the NFL's investigation into allegations that he sent racy messages and lewd photos to a Jets game hostess in 2008.
Each time, the three-time MVP did not address the topic. He said he was disappointed his team lost the game and his only focus had been on trying to beat the Jets.
Asked if the allegations against him are true or false, a tight-lipped Favre said: "If you want to talk about what happened in the football game tonight, I'd love to."
Earlier Monday, he reportedly apologized to his teammates for the distraction caused by the allegations and NFL investigation.
Neither coach Brad Childress nor Favre would discuss what the quarterback said to his teammates in that meeting, but both confirmed the 20-year veteran addressed the team.
"That's between me and my teammates, apparently not all of them," Favre said, a reference to a teammate who might have divulged what was said.
A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Favre spoke to his teammates Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the conversation.
ESPN reported on Favre's apology.
Asked to characterize whether the allegations have been an embarrassment, Favre said "I am embarrassed about this football game. I thought we gave a great effort."
Asked to comment on the NFL investigation, he said: "I said what I had to say. I'm disappointed we lost this football game."
Favre praised the addition of Randy Moss and says despite the team's 1-3 record, he's optimistic the Vikings can turn it around.
The Vikings started slow, with Favre losing two fumbles and being sacked early. He came on strong in the second half with three touchdown passes before a late interception ended the comeback attempt.
"You know what, it's just no different than any other time," Favre said of whether the game was tough to get ready for with all that has been going on. "I concentrated on this game, gave it my all, it wasn't good enough."
Childress said he thought Favre was prepared.
"I thought, by and large, he knew what was going on," Childress said. "But I didn't think we were ready to play coming out of the locker room and that starts with me."
Earlier Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is looking to "find out all the facts" before determining "what the next step is from there, if any."
Goodell spoke in Chicago, where he is attending league meetings. There was no indication from the NFL when the investigation would be complete or when the league would talk to the quarterback.
The NFL is trying to determine if Favre violated its personal conduct policy. Should the league find he did, Favre could be fined or suspended.
"The first thing you want to do is find out the facts, and that's what we're trying to do," Goodell said. "We're trying to find out all the facts around it and then once we determine those facts, then we'll determine what the next step is from there, if any."
After a long stretch with Green Bay, where he won a Super Bowl, Favre played for New York in 2008 and then signed with the Vikings last year.
Last week, the website Deadspin posted a story which included several voicemails allegedly sent by Favre to Jenn Sterger, who worked for the Jets while Favre was with the team. The voicemails include a man asking to meet with Sterger, who now is a TV personality for the Versus network. The website posted a video that contained the voicemails and several graphic photos — said to be of Favre — that were allegedly sent to Sterger's cell phone.
Sterger's manager, Phil Reese, has declined to say if his client is cooperating with the NFL or has retained a lawyer, but issued a statement Monday saying that "we're looking at all our options right now and our only concern is what's in Jenn's best interest."
A person familiar with the situation told the AP that Sterger has not yet spoken to the league. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.
Deadspin also reported that Favre pursued two female massage therapists who worked part time for the team, according to one of the women. Deadspin did not identify the women, but a Jets spokesman said the team was giving contact information for the two women to the league.
Favre's only public comment on the reports before Monday, came last week when he said "I'm not getting into that. I've got my hands full with the Jets and am trying to get some timing down with our guys, so that's all I'm going to discuss."
Cleveland, Ohio -- Yeah, it's a teensy bit premature. Also optimistic, fantastic and darn near ludicrous. But stranger things have happened. Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett. William Hung got a record deal. Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson. Brett Favre retired and stayed that way. Oh, well. Three out of four ain't bad. But let's play the what-if game. The...
View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerColt McCoy is likely to draw his first NFL start as quarterback of the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. What if lightning strikes and he wins?
Cleveland, Ohio -- Yeah, it's a teensy bit premature. Also optimistic, fantastic and darn near ludicrous. But stranger things have happened. Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett. William Hung got a record deal. Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson. Brett Favre retired and stayed that way.
Oh, well. Three out of four ain't bad.
But let's play the what-if game. The Browns have 11 games remaining on the regular season schedule. The ankle injuries to starter Jake Delhomme and backup Seneca Wallace are pretty darn severe, and of the ilk that usually means a four- to six-week hiatus. Delhomme, 35, could be hobbled even longer; sadly, Starting Blocks is of the age to know that a few more rings in the tree trunk mean healing takes a bit longer.
McCoy's task isn't made any easier by the strained quad bulldog back Peyton Hillis suffered in practice last week and aggravated in the loss to the Falcons. Or the fact that this is Ben Roethlisberger's first action after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Or that the Steelers are still hacked over the Browns essentially driving the final nail in their playoff hopes last year with a 13-6 win in a blizzard here in Cleveland.
But let's just say the kid pulls it off. After all, he came from a big-time college program, set records for completions and accuracy and pretty much grew up with a football in his hand. Aside from quaffing a few celebratory Lone Star beers (which, SB, being a Texas native can tell you, is only slightly better than the legendary Pride of Cleveland), what does the Browns brass do?
Is another BCS Championship in Jim Tressel's near future?
