Now that Gordon's absence seems more realistic, it shines a spotlight on the Browns' struggles at receiver. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Counting on Josh Gordon to return and help the Cleveland Browns was always a mistake.

Whether it's the constant inability to get past the NFL's substance abuse policies or the underwhelming effort over the final four games of his 2014 season, any hope that Gordon could be counted on to not only play like he did in 2013 but stay on the field long enough to do it for any significant length of time was akin to the hope of pushing the button on a slot machine at the Horseshoe Casino.  

Gordon made it look so effortless in 2013. During the following training camp, even the most novice football fan could tell that he was simply better than everyone else. That's part one of the frustration: Gordon's not better than everyone else in the NFL, but he sure had the physical gifts to have a chance to be among the best. He doesn't run; he glides. He doesn't catch the ball; he absorbs it without missing a step.  

Gordon may yet get reinstated (his most recent request for reinstatement was denied), but he shouldn't play another game for the Browns. I'll let Tom Reed make the full argument for that in the story linked below. Part two of the frustration in all of this, though, is that if the Browns do, in fact, move on, they'll find their current situation at wide receiver is as shaky as it's been in recent memory. 

Reed: Gordon's latest misstep must spell his end with Browns

The only sure thing the Browns have on the roster is a free agent signee from a year ago, Brian Hartline. He started slowly in 2015 and registered just 16 catches in the first eight games. After missing the first Cincinnati game with a concussion, he returned to make 30 catches for 341 yards over a four-game stretch that ended in a broken collarbone. Hartline has reliable hands and you can pencil him in for 40 or so catches and 500-600 yards. 

Andrew Hawkins and Brian Hartline are suddenly the two best receivers on the Browns roster.John Kuntz, cleveland.com 

Behind Hartline is Andrew Hawkins, a free agent signee from two years ago. Hawkins is the type of player who deserves a role -- he makes up for his lack of size with good speed and elusiveness -- but the concern is he is coming off a season in which he played in just eight games, including missing the last six after suffering multiple concussions, one that landed him an overnight stay in a hospital.

Hartline and Hawkins are NFL receivers. They shouldn't be the two best receivers on an NFL roster. 

Behind them are huge question marks. Taylor Gabriel took a step back after a strong season as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Marlon Moore had some opportunities last season, catching a touchdown pass on Monday Night Football against Baltimore, but he is still valued mostly as a special teams player. Darius Jennings is another undrafted free agent, a speedster who waited 12 games for his opportunity and played well in spots but is just another on a long list of undervalued players trying to make the roster. 

Related: Moore's Monday night TD a testament to his hard work

Then there is, of course, Terrelle Pryor, the great unknown. Pryor didn't catch a pass last season until Game No. 16. The Browns cut him earlier in the year, brought in multiple replacements and left him inactive a number of times after re-signing him. He wasn't even targeted for the first time until Dec. 20 in Seattle. Pryor looks like a wide receiver -- in reality, he looks like a tight end -- but looking like one and being one are two different things. 

That's not an inspiring situation. It underscores that, despite the new era and change in direction, wide receiver is still a need near the top of the list. 

Ohio State's Michael Thomas has been linked to the Browns at No. 32 in some mock drafts.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

How do they fix it? The draft, obviously. No. 32 has been a popular position in mock drafts for the Browns to target receivers. Whether they pick at No. 32 or trade down, there will be players there who will help, even if they won't be a top-of-the-depth-chart ready Year One. There's no reason they can't find a real downfield threat and, perhaps later, a reliable set of hands to slide in and compete with the current group. 

There's not much left in free agency. There were some options back in March, including retaining Travis Benjamin or going after former Bengals Marvin Jones (signed with Detroit) or Mohamed Sanu (signed with Atlanta). The best options left are aging or underachieving guys who would have little impact. 

Former general manager Ray Farmer rightly got killed for his inability to upgrade his receivers. Now that Farmer is gone and Gordon is essentially out of the plans -- or, at least, should be -- the new regime is faced with fixing a problem that has only gotten worse.

When Ohio State wanted to send our a social media message Tuesday evening, 10 staffers sent it out within 13 minutes. That meant something.

The push to find the best candidate for the Browns to select in the 2016 NFL Draft has been civil so far. No more. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are small hands and small schools, knee injuries and position changes ... and why does that one guy shrug?

So far, the campaigns for the six candidates in #BrownsDecision2016 have evolved in fairly pleasant fashion, the virtues of QB Party members Carson Wentz and Jared Goff and Not-QB Party members Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack and Joey Bosa extolled in individual campaign videos.

We hope you watched them and enjoyed them, and if you missed any of them, they're all right here and easy to find.

But it's time to get real. This isn't a football spa treatment. It's a football election.

We're still in the early going of #BrownsDecision2016, our project to treat the Browns draft selection as an election, with you the readers serving as the voters. Negative ads are an important part of that vetting process.

Imagine what could have been changed by a few negative ads directed at Johnny Manziel or Justin Gilbert or Brandon Weeden or Trent Richardson before the draft.

You think you know a draft candidate - but do you really?

So time to play politics. Time to get dirty. Time to after Goff and those small hands.

Would you elect a man with smaller hands than you?

Time to wonder what Wentz really proved playing football in North Dakota, a state with three electoral votes.

Time to question Jack's knee injury and Tunsil's run blocking and whether Ramsey is a corner or a safety and why he dropped some interceptions.

And do you want a shrugger? Can Cleveland afford a shrugger? We've seen shrugs, Joey Bosa, and your shrug is no Jordan shrug.

Our campaign began Monday and after two days of voting, Carson Wentz and Jalen Ramsey hold leads.

See current voting, cast your vote in #BrownsDecision2016

But six days of early voting remain, then we'll finish things with Super Tuesday next week, our final day for fans to cast primary ballots.

That's when we'll find our two candidates for the general election leading into our live general election debate on April 21. Between now and then a lot can happen.

So watch the videos that tell you why you should vote for each of these candidates. Then later Wednesday get ready for the first round of campaign commercials telling you why you shouldn't vote for them.

Sure, football is tough. But remember, this is politics. And that can just get nasty.

NOT-QB PARTY

Why you should vote for Myles Jack: Campaign commercial

Why you should vote for Joey Bosa: Campaign commercial

Why you should vote for Laremy Tunsil: Campaign commercial

Why you should vote for Jalen Ramsey: Campaign commercial

QB PARTY

Why you should vote for Jared Goff: Campaign commercial

Why you should vote for Carson Wentz: Campaign commercial

Bri'onte Dunn is currently "neck and neck" with Mike Weber for Ohio State's starting running back spot. Does he have a real chance to win? Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If you're waiting for an answer on who is going to be Ohio State's starting running back, open your calendar, flip past the summer months and pick a random day in August. Or September. 

There isn't going to be an answer this spring. 

As recently as Monday, Urban Meyer said Ohio State's running back battle is unresolved. Meyer had no update from the previous week when he said senior Bri'onte Dunn and redshirt freshman Mike Weber were "neck and neck."  

"We're pass-heavy right now, on purpose," Meyer said Monday during his final in-person media availability before Ohio State's spring game this weekend. "It's Bri'onte and Mike fighting it out. ... Nobody is separating themselves yet." 

Ohio State's coaching staff has insisted Dunn is a real contender to be the Buckeyes starter, that he's wait patiently for his opportunity and he's trying to seize the moment. You've probably seen a ton of "this is his last go-around" stories. Spring practice is when you typically see those the most. 

But let's maneuver through all the things Ohio State's coaches are saying and actually try and figure out what is going to happen. Is Dunn going to start? 

Though Meyer said he'd like to see Dunn get the first crack at starting because he's a senior, does the Buckeyes coach really want that?

Bri'onte Dunn is currently "neck and neck" with Mike Weber for Ohio State's starting running back spot. Does he have a real chance to win? Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

Is seniority still a thing at Ohio State? 

If the Buckeyes are recruiting the right way, it probably shouldn't be. 

Having a senior starting for the first time isn't Ohio State's plan at any position. That's not a slight on Dunn -- he has spent the time in this program and deserves to be on the field if he's truly the best player -- but even he'd tell you that his career hasn't gone to plan. 

At Ohio State, if a player makes it to his senior year without playing much, something has gone wrong. There's too much talent coming through the doors each year for seniority to play a major factor in position battles, even if that's what the coaches are saying this spring. 

So in the real running back position battle between senior with 48 career carries and the hotshot freshman, who are you going to go with? 

"Listen, they're on scholarship, too," Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford said of Dunn and Weber when asked if he missed Ezekiel Elliott. "It's their turn to play, and they better step up and play. It's my job to get them ready as the unit leader. Those guys are hungry to play ball, too." 

It'll come down to explosive playmaking ability, not who is next in line. If that's Dunn, he'll get the job. If Weber isn't ready to be the main back, maybe the Buckeyes will go running back by committee. Let's not forget about Curtis Samuel, either. 

But Elliott's path to the field was the best-case scenario. He came to Ohio State as a five-star prospect, played sparingly as a freshman -- there was someone better in front of him -- then starred as a sophomore before changing the program forever. 

"Will we get to that point (where we have one starter)? I don't know," Alford said. "I guess the question being asked is if we're going to do it by committee, and I don't have that answer right now. If we need to do that, absolutely, we're going to do whatever it takes to win football games. If it's by committee, it's by committee. If it's not, it's not.

"The one thing we have to make sure that we're doing is that everyone is preparing themselves to be complete football players. They can run, they can catch, they can block, they can run routes, they can cut block, they can run block, they can pass block, they can do it all." 

Will it be Dunn? He has a shot. 

But when should you really start believing he's going to be the starter? 

When Meyer is saying what he said Monday during game week. 

Jackson, a junior college point guard, committed to Ohio State on Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- C.J. Jackson likes Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta. The two hit it off last week during an in-person visit in Florida.

Jackson likes Buckeyes assistant Dave Dickerson, who was the point man on his recruitment.

So Jackson, a junior college point guard from Eastern Florida State College, committed to the Buckeyes on Tuesday. Makes sense. You like a place, lock down your spot. Only with Jackson it's a little different. He's an Ohio State basketball commit who's never been in the state of Ohio.

He's never seen the Buckeyes practice facility, never seen the campus. None of it.

That's a little weird, even in recruiting where the strange seems to happen often. So why did Jackson commit to Ohio State before ever visiting?

"It's more about feeling than anything," he told cleveland.com on Tuesday night.

But he's not fully diving in blindly just yet. Jackson said he fully expects to sign with Ohio State, but he's not doing that until after he visits Columbus this weekend. He'll be on campus on Friday.

So on Wednesday, when the remaining uncommitted 2016 prospects across the country can start signing National Letters of Intent in the regular signing period, Ohio State won't be getting a fax from Jackson. It's nothing really to be worried about, but it is interesting. That sort of falls in line with how Jackson got to this point in the first place.

When you read the news of his commitment on Tuesday, maybe you were turned off by a kid who played a year of prep school and a year of junior college basketball. It wasn't about grades.

Jackson was the age of a high school junior when he graduated from Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C., in 2014. So he opted for a year of prep school at Montverde Academy in Florida, the same program that's produced players like D'Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons, in an effort to mature physically before going to college.

He had a commitment to George Mason lined up for 2015, but that fell apart when former Patriots coach Paul Hewitt was fired that March. Rather than scramble late to find another college program, Jackson went the junior college route instead.

"He felt like he wanted to do it all over again to get an opportunity to play at a little better level and the opportunity to hone his skills a little more," his father, Cleveland Jackson told cleveland.com.

The gamble paid off. Jackson averaged 16.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in his freshman season at Eastern Florida State College. He was named a second-team junior college All-American on Tuesday.

He's eligible to play immediately, and has three years of eligibility remaining.

"C.J. has done things for us that we've had no one do before," Eastern Florida coach Jeremy Shulman told cleveland.com. "I forget often that he's just a freshman. No freshman that we've ever had has done anything close to what he's done."

Watch this full Eastern Florida State College vs. Broward College game in which Jackson scored 24 points:

Eastern Florida has sent 21 players to the Division I ranks in the last five years, and Shulman said Jackson is one of the best. Of course he has to say that. But the interest he was drawing supports it.

After scoring 26 points against a Billy Gillispie-coached Ranger College team in the second round of the national junior college tournament, things heated up. Jackson visited UConn in March, and actually took a visit to Missouri last weekend. He was trying to schedule visits with Ohio State and Virginia Tech before informing the Buckeyes of his commitment on Monday night.

"It was just the coaching staff," Jackson said. "I felt like I'll get better there more than anywhere else."

Shulman said Matta was at Eastern Florida last Thursday, the first day after the recruiting dead period ended, and offered Jackson a scholarship. So the interest was mutual.

Roster changes can help Ohio State recruiting

Ohio State needed to add another ball-handling guard to its roster, and Jackson is a fit. JaQuan Lyle won't be the only point guard on the roster anymore.

"I think that he's a very effective point guard," Cleveland Jackson said. "I think he's a point guard through and through, the definition of what people would call a true point guard. But because of his ability to make shots, he can be moved to the two position. In terms of labels, I don't know how to define him. He's just a really good guard."

C.J. Jackson is the son of a coach. His father was a junior college All-American, a two-year starter at Georgia and played professionally in Venezuela. Cleveland Jackson was an assistant coach at Mercer University and is now the head coach at Olympic High School.

Both Cleveland Jackson and Shulman praised C.J. for his mental approach to the game.

"He's a really good passer," Shulman said. "Right away he will be another guy who's an extension of the coach on the floor."

And he can shoot.

"A player who can bring unbelievable shooting from unbelievable range," Shulman said. "He made over 100 3-pointers at a 45 percent clip. My nine years at the college level, I've never had anyone shoot the ball with that consistency on that many attempts."

Jackson has the skills Ohio State is looking for, but there's nothing automatic about jumping from junior college to Division I. There's going to be an adjustment.

Matta has tried the junior college route before and it hasn't exactly worked out.

But this wouldn't be happening if both sides didn't think Jackson could do it.

"Nothing is gonna shock him when he gets to the Division I level," Shulman said.

So the only thing left for Jackson is to actually visit Ohio State.

Some say Wentz. Some say Goff. Some say Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Some have wondered if a trade down would be the wise decision. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The debate will rage on for two more weeks.

Should the Browns grab a quarterback with the No. 2 pick? Is Carson Wentz, the man who will grace the cover of ESPN the Magazine's NFL Draft issue later this month, a worthy choice? Is California product Jared Goff the safer selection? Is a defensive player or an offensive tackle more critical at this juncture in the Browns' rebuilding process?

At cleveland.com, we're asking readers to choose sides: quarterback or non-quarterback. It isn't that simple, though, as each party has multiple candidates who could come into play. Most prognosticators have penciled in Mississippi tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Titans with the top pick. After that, it's a crapshoot.

Some say Wentz. Some say Goff. Some say Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Some have wondered if a trade down would be the wise decision.

All will have to wait until April 28. So for now, let's take a look at this week's sampling of mock drafts.

ESPN.com (Mel Kiper Jr.)

Browns' pick: Wentz

Explanation: "He's not the top QB on my board, but this isn't a prospect ranking, it's a projection. The addition of Robert Griffin III does provide some added developmental insurance here so they don't have to start a rookie, and it also gives them a chance to wait on a QB pick if they really like one of the guys who could be around in Round 2."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Wentz

3. Chargers: Ramsey

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Myles Jack, linebacker, UCLA

6. Ravens: Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Ohio State

7. 49ers: Goff

8. Eagles: DeForest Buckner, defensive end, Oregon

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

10. Giants: Jack Conklin, offensive tackle, Michigan State

USA Today

Browns' pick: Ramsey

Explanation: "They've been widely linked to Wentz throughout the pre-draft process, even after signing Robert Griffin III. And Hue Jackson and Co. would surely still strongly consider Cal QB Jared Goff in this scenario. But the Browns seem to be years away from contending and will probably have several more prime opportunities to draft a quarterback early in the coming years. So maybe the new, analytics-driven regime opts for Ramsey, arguably the No. 1 prospect in this draft and someone who'd address a primary need in a pass-heavy division for a roster with needs at both corner and safety."

Top 10:

1. 49ers (via trade): Wentz

2. Browns: Ramsey

3. Chargers: Tunsil

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Jack

6. Rams (via trade): Goff

7. Titans: Stanley

8. Eagles: Elliott

9. Bears (via trade): Buckner

10. Giants: Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback, Florida

SI.com

Browns' pick: Goff

Explanation: "Goff is better with his overall accuracy and ability under pressure than Carson Wentz, but can be wildly erratic when he's not consistent with his mechanics. New coach Hue Jackson brings a well-deserved reputation as a quarterback redeemer to a franchise that desperately needs it, and I'm not convinced that the signing of Robert Griffin III really informs the Browns' long-term plan at quarterback. Griffin might be a placeholder while Goff gets the little things together, or a backup if Goff accelerates that process."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Goff

3. Chargers: Ramsey

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Jack

6. Ravens: Stanley

7. 49ers: Paxton Lynch, quarterback, Memphis

8. Eagles: Wentz

9. Buccaneers: Hargreaves

10. Giants: Conklin

NFL.com (Charley Casserly)

Browns' pick: Wentz

Explanation: "RGIII gives them time to groom Wentz."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Wentz

3. Chargers: Buckner

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Ramsey

6. Ravens: Stanley

7. 49ers: Goff

8. Dolphins (via trade): Elliott

9. Buccaneers: Hargreaves

10. Giants: Jack

NFL.com (Bucky Brooks)

Browns' pick: Wentz

Explanation: "The small-school standout is a prototypical dual-threat quarterback with the A-plus arm talent and athleticism to thrive in Hue Jackson's offense."

Top 10:

1. Titans: Tunsil

2. Browns: Wentz

3. Chargers: Ramsey

4. Cowboys: Bosa

5. Jaguars: Jack

6. Ravens: Buckner

7. 49ers: Shaq Lawson, defensive end, Clemson

8. Eagles: Goff

9. Buccaneers: Kevin Dodd, defensive end, Clemson

10. Giants: Stanley

LeBron James has played in almost 95 percent of possible regular season games, but this season rest was a priority, A rested James leads the Cleveland Cavaliers into the playoffs.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Asked why he played so hard in comparatively meaningless games after the pennant race had been decided, Joe DiMaggio said, "Because someone might be seeing me play for the first time."

Said LeBron James, who didn't play at all in some important games before the Cavaliers clinched home-court advantage through the NBA Eastern Conference finals, "I hate to miss games that people, maybe its their first time to watch me play. In that regard, I apologize. I hate for someone to be the first time to watch me play, and I'm not playing. But our coaching staff and front office have a lot bigger picture."

The issue is the rest prescribed for James, who had missed five games of the first 81 games vs. an all-out drive to clinch the top seed in the East earlier and then rest.

David Blatt, the successful coach who wasn't successful enough for his bosses, chose to play his best players until everything that could be clinched last season was clinched on the Cavs' way to the NBA Finals. That was the second seed then, although it did not matter in a sweep of top-seeded Atlanta in the conference finals.

James and Joltin' Joe

For the record, James has actually played a higher percentage of games, preventive rest and all, than Joltin' Joe. Before the final game of his 13^th regular season ended, James had played in 987 of 1,049 games, or 94.1 percent. Remember that the 2010-11 season was shortened to 55 games, of which James played 62 for the Miami Heat.

The Yankee Clipper set sail 1,736 times in 2,002 games over his 13-year career in major league baseball, or 86.7 percent. Many of DiMaggio's missed games were for injury.

The Cavs' approach was controversial, particularly because two of the games for which James was inactive were at The Q against Dallas and Houston during the Cavs' -- well, not drive, more like cruise -- to the playoffs.

James at his best

At any rate it has worked. James is playing his best basketball of the season now. Relaxed and rested, he is playing better than at any time since he returned, even taking into account the unprecedented near-triple double he had in points, rebounds and assists in the playoffs.

That is because his 3-point shooting, a glaring weakness in the playoffs and especially in the NBA Finals against Golden State, has suddenly improved dramatically.

The Warriors 

His dominance as the best player by far in one half of the league has been overlooked in the glare of the defending champion Warriors' drive to win a record 73 games.

In a discussion of the 3-point shot and how it has revolutionized basketball, Indiana Pacers president and retired marksman of note Larry Bird said, "Have you ever seen a champion come out of the gate the way the Warriors have ?"

Their start was 24-0. No one ever came particularly close to it. The danger is that the Warriors, in chasing history and the Chicago Bulls' record of 72 wins in 1995-96, might jeopardize their chase for a championship.

History

"I got to witness some history," said James. "I don't think they've pushed too hard. They've just played their game. You can't fault anyone for winning. You don't get the opportunity to play for a championship if you don't win. I don't think they're too worried about being tired at this point.

That was not the case with the 1954 Indians, who drove themselves hard to finish with 111 victories in a 154-game season, breaking the New York Yankees' American League record by one game. The tired Indians then were shockingly swept by the New York Giants in the World Series.

"1954?" James said.

"Way before your time," the reporter said.

"And my mom's," said James.

It's his time now, though. Witnessing history is one thing. Making it is quite another.

Midview's school board will vote May 1 on junior varsity coach Jim Brabenec to replace retired coach Troy DiFranco.

Jim BrabenecMidview athletic department 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Jim Brabenec will be named the next Midview boys basketball coach, pending May 1 school board approval.

A junior varsity coach the past two seasons, Brabenec succeeds 19-year coach Troy DiFranco. The Middies finished 17-6 and shared the Southwestern Conference championship with North Olmsted in DiFranco's final season. DiFranco announced his retirement in early February and cited a desire to increase involvement with his three children.

DiFranco finished with a 231-187 career record, all at his alma mater of Midview.

Brabenec steps in as a Bowling Green graduate who played in high school at Olmsted Falls. There, he helped the Bulldogs to a 2007 regional final run and SWC titles in '07 and '08. Midview hired Brabenec as an assistant after two years at Olmsted Falls with similar responsibilities.

"He is a relentless worker with a great passion for the game," DiFranco said in a release. "He also relates well to the players."

Brabenec is an intervention specialist at Midview.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

With Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall underway with their minor league rehab assignments, and the Tribe's big-league outfielders off to slow starts, change is in the wind.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians aren't saying how many at bats Michael Brantley will need before he's ready to join the big league club for his 2016 debut. As they've said so many times since Brantley's November surgery on his right shoulder, they'll let him set the pace.

This much is clear -- change is on the horizon for the Indians' outfield. Most players need between 50 and 75 at-bats in spring training. Brantley had five before he was shutdown following his start against the White Sox on March 21. He began his rehab assignment Tuesday night with Class AAA Columbus and if his shoulder cooperates, it's likely he'll join the Indians before reaching the usual spring-training threshold for at-bats for a starting position player.

"With Michael it's about him building enough volume and feeling comfortable at the plate," said Chris Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations. "It's a combination of those two things."

When Brantley reaches that point - even if he's not conditioned to play every day - look for the Indians to add him to the 25-man roster. Tuesday night he played five innings in left field, doubling in his first at-bat and popping out in his second.

Lonnie Chisenhall is also rehabbing at Columbus. The Indians wanted to open the season with Brantley in left field and Chisenhall in a platoon in right field. That didn't happen as Chisenhall (left wrist) and Brantley started the year on the disabled list.

Chisenhall's main problem in spring training was that he didn't hit. The Indians, checking the first week of the schedule and seeing that they were going to face at least four left-handed starters - bad weather reduced that to three - decided to put Chisenhall on the DL with a sore left wrist and give him time to rediscover his swing. He got about 20 at-bats in minor league games before breaking camp and then started his rehab in Columbus only to have the first three games of the season postponed because of weather.

One scenario called for Chisenhall to come off the DL in time to face the Rays in the three-game series at Tropicana Field that began Tuesday night. That's not going to happen now because Chisenhall needs more at bats. So far he's 0-for-5 with a sacrifice fly at Columbus.

Brantley, in first at-bat for AAA Columbus, doubles and scores on sac-fly by Chisenhall in first inning. Brantley, Chiz on rehab.

-- paul hoynes (@hoynsie) April 12, 2016

"It's hard to say," said Antonetti, when asked how much Chisenhall needs to play before joining the big league club. "He's there to get his timing back."

The Indians are currently carrying four outfielders - Rajai Davis, Tyler Naquin, Marlon Byrd and Collin Cowgill. Utility man Jose Ramirez, who has started four of the Tribe's first five games in left field, is also in the mix. Naquin, the star of spring training, is the only pure outfielder with options and he's made just one start because the Indians have faced so many left-handed starters.

While changes are coming, they're not going to happen immediately.

"We need those guys (Brantley and Chisenhall) to play and get healthy. We're not there yet," said Antonetti.

Byrd knows all about making a team on a shortened-work schedule. Unlike Brantley or Chisenhall, injury had nothing to do Byrd's crash course. Until the Indians signed him to a minor league deal on March 18, not one team showed interest in Byrd, despite him hitting 23 homers with 73 RBI last season for the Reds and Giants.

Told that he was going to revolutionize the art of making a roster while avoiding the grind of spring training, Byrd said recently, "Nooooooo, that is not fun and it is very stressful. I had 13 days to make a team. It's a lot better feeling to be able ease into the games. You join a new team, you have time to meet the guys and figure out the flow.

"It gives the organization a chance to see what you can do. What kind of player you are. Thank goodness, I've been around long enough so they kind of knew what I brought to the table."

Byrd lands at right time for Indians

Byrd played his first Cactus League game one day after signing his contract. He finished the spring hitting .290 (9-for-31). Six of his hits were doubles.

"It was hard to hit the ground running like that," said Byrd. "I probably wouldn't have faced as much live pitching as I did if I would have signed early. But I knew I had to. Everybody was a month ahead of me as far as game speed.

"I faced guys in Pierce College right outside of Los Angeles and hit off the slider machine every day to make sure I saw speeds that weren't just batting practice flips."

As for being ignored before the Indians called, Byrd said, "There was no interest . . .zero. I would have to ask the 29 other teams what the reason was. All I know is that Chris (Antonetti) and Terry (Francona) were interested in me in mid-March. I had to be relieved that I did have a job and a chance to play another year."

The Indians have played only five games because of poor weather at the start of the season. Byrd (.154, 2-for-13), Davis (.118, 2-for-17) and Cowgill (0-for-5) have started the year slowly. Naquin has one hit in three at-bats and Ramirez is hitting .313 (5-for-16).

Byrd answered one challenge by making the 25-man roster. He and his teammates in the outfield are facing another one right now.

Our fake general managers decide where Cardale Jones should go in the 2016 NFL Draft. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Picking Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2016 NFL Draft with general managers Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis.

Tight ends are kind of tricky to gauge at Ohio State because we tend to go by how many passes they catch. 

But if Jeff Heuerman taught us anything the previous year, the NFL general managers see way past only that. And there's a lot of value for a guy like Vannett in an offense like Ohio State's. 

Though Vannett only caught 19 passes for 162 yards in his final season, he could potentially be a solid pass-catching option in the NFL. 

As NFL GMs, Doug, Bill and I tried to take what we know about Vannett and combine it with the limited knowledge we have about professional teams. But I think we made some good points in the video. 

Where mock drafts have Vannett: It's tough to find real draft projections for Vannett in mock drafts because most only do one or two rounds. Here's a mock draft from SB Nation that has Vannett going in the third round, No. 66 overall, to the San Diego Chargers. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller also had Vannett in the third round of his seven-round mock draft back in February. The third round seems like a safe place to put Vannett. 

Where did we pick Vannett? Watch the video to see when we rang the bell on him, which one of us drafted him and why.

Then be sure to vote on how you think we did as general managers. Did we take Jones too high in the draft, or did we wait on him too long? Or did we get this one right?

Ohio State Buckeyes in mock drafts

Nick Vannett draft capsule

Next up Friday: Adolphus Washington 

Previous picks in our draft

Ringing the bell on: Joey Bosa, No. 5

Ringing the bell on: Darron Lee, No. 10

Ringing the bell on: Ezekiel Elliott, No. 12

Ringing the bell on: Michael Thomas, No. 14

Ringing the bell on: Eli Apple, No. 16

Ringing the bell on: Taylor Decker, No. 22

Ringing the bell on: Vonn Bell, No. 31

Ringing the bell on: Cardale Jones, Second round, No. 45

Ringing the bell on: Joshua Perry, Second round, No. 60

Ringing the bell on: Braxton Miller, Third round, No. 79

Neither Carson Wentz nor Jared Goff will stop the likes of Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco. Don't count on Joey Bosa, Laremy Tunsil or Myles Jack, either. Florida State's Jalen Ramsey is the only reliable candidate. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns fans and decision makers must ask this question:

Do they really want to gamble on another quarterback?

Sure, the AFC North is filled with franchise quarterbacks. No, the Browns don't have one. Neither Carson Wentz nor Jared Goff will stop the likes of Ben Roethlisberger or Joe Flacco.

However, Jalen Ramsey can do just that. The defensive back from Florida State is a hybrid who can play cornerback or safety for the next decade. He will likely last longer than any of those quarterbacks in Pittsburgh or Baltimore.

As for the other candidates in the Not-QB Party, they also are far from the perfect fit of Ramsey.

Laremy Tunsil? Scratch him. He won't be there.

Joey Bosa? Yes, the sentimental pick from Ohio State is nice. He just won't be the right scheme fit for defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

Myles Jack? Yes, great athleticism but an injury concern.

Ramsey didn't miss a game in three years, an important statistic considering the health concerns last year with Browns cornerback Joe Haden.

Jalen Ramsey draft profileNone of these candidates in the Not-QB or QB parties can help the Browns like Ramsey. Vote for him on Super Tuesday, April 19.

Cast your vote in the Not-QB Party primary below:

More on #BrownsDecision2016

Music in this video courtesy of Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

From Matthew Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson to Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka here is a breakdown of the best pick-and-roll tandems entering the NBA Playoffs.

Ohio State's spring football game is on Saturday. Here's what the ideal rosters could look like. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We really just like to pretend that we're general managers.

This draft has nothing to do with the Ohio State football players heading to the NFL, though. No, we're drafting current Buckeyes.

Ohio State's spring game is on Saturday, and while it's important this time, it's still not going to give an accurate depiction of Ohio State's complete talent. There are players who won't play due to injury (Curtis Samuel, Tyquan Lewis, Corey Smith), and others who likely won't see much time because of their high amount of career reps (Pat Elflein, Billy Price, Gareon Conley).

So we're changing that, drafting from a pool of every player on Ohio State's roster this spring. That includes hurt guys and old guys. The goal is to give you a look at what the ideal spring game could look like, and also a more accurate depiction of the talent depth on the roster.

Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis played general manager, each selecting their own teams to meet in our fictional spring game. Look at the rosters below and vote for which team you think is best.

A couple of notes on the draft structure:

* Every player on the spring roster was eligible.

* You can slide players into different positions within the realm of what could actually happen in real life. So Billy Price could play center if you wanted, but Sam Hubbard can't play quarterback.

* We flipped a coin at the beginning of each round to see who would select first.

OK, here are our teams. Don't forget to vote for which one you think is best in the poll below.

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

Now vote for which team you think is best:

****

If you want to know how the draft broke down, and why we picked players were we picked them, you can look below:

Round 1: Bill selects quarterback J.T. Barrett, Ari selects linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

Analysis: Barrett was the obvious first overall choice, but Ari took McMillan because he felt he's the second-best player on the roster.

Round 2: Ari selects defensive end Sam Hubbard, Bill selects H-back Curtis Samuel.

Analysis: Ari took Hubbard because Bill was going offense, and took the second-best defensive player to bolster his defense. Once Ari was going defense, Bill took the second-best player on the offense.

Round 3: Ari selects cornerback Gareon Conley, Bill selects defensive end Tyquan Lewis.

Analysis: Ari was clearly loading up on defensive starters, so instead of going offense again, Bill grabbed Lewis to keep this from becoming a boring first-team offense vs. first-team defense game.

Round 4: Bill selects receiver Noah Brown, Ari selects center Pat Elflein.

Analysis: Bill wanted to limit Ari's skill position options, so Ari countered by taking the best offensive lineman.

Round 5: Ari selects guard Billy Price, Bill selects offensive tackle Jamarco Jones.

Analysis: Price can also play center, so Ari took him to really limit Bill's options at that position. That forced Bill to grab Jones, the best tackle on the roster and best available offensive lineman.

Round 6: Ari selects Tracy Sprinkle, Bill selects Jalyn Holmes.

Analysis: Ari took sprinkle to solidify his front seven, and felt he was the best defensive lineman on the board. Bill took Holmes, the best remaining pass rusher, to pair with Lewis on the other side.

Round 7: Ari selects linebacker Dante Booker, Bill selects defensive tackle Michael Hill.

Analysis: Bill was going to take Booker here, but Ari ended up with the first pick. So Bill took Hill, who he thought was the best overall defensive tackle.

Round 8: Ari selects offensive tackle Isaiah Prince, Bill selects defensive back Damon Webb.

Analysis: Ari took the best available tackle, with the intention of playing Prince on the left side. Bill took Webb on the back end, who provided some versatility to shape the secondary in later rounds.

Round 9: Ari selects running back Mike Weber, Bill selects cornerback Denzel Ward.

Analysis: Ari took Weber first because he wanted to add offensive skill, and thought receivers were deep while running backs weren't. Bill added more depth and speed to the secondary.

Round 10: Ari selects defensive back Marshon Lattimore, Bill selects linebacker Jerome Baker.

Analysis: Ari took Lattimore because we were getting to the point where true starters were dwindling, and he wanted another potential starter on defense. One starter remaining was linebacker Chris Worley, but Bill went with Baker ahead of him.

Round 11: Ari selects tight end Marcus Baugh, Bill selects safety Malik Hooker.

Analysis: Ari took Baugh, the last available starter on offense and a good security blanket for his young quarterback. Bill took Hooker, who looks like he'll be a starting safety, to make the secondary a strong point of his team.

Round 12: Bill selects offensive lineman Michael Jordan, Ari selects safety Erick Smith.

Analysis: Bill wanted the best available lineman, one who gave some flexibility because he can play guard or tackle. Ari took Smith to unite him with fellow Glenville product Lattimore in the secondary.

Round 13: Bill selects linebacker Justin Hilliard, Ari selects defensive tackle Donovan Munger.

Analysis: Bill took the former five-star linebacker to play opposite Baker. Ari took Munger as the best available defensive lineman.

Round 14: Bill selects guard Matthew Burrell, Ari selects guard Demetrius Knox.

Analysis: Bill took one player in the battle for a starting guard spot, and Ari took the other.

Round 15: Ari selects offensive tackle Branden Bowen, Bill selects guard Evan Lisle.

Analysis: Ari took the best available tackle, while Bill took the best available interior lineman.

Round 16: Ari selects defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones, Bill selects defensive back Eric Glover-Williams.

Analysis: Ari took Jones because all the starters were gone, and Urban Meyer has raved about a player who can play inside or out. Bill took EGW to add more athleticism to the defense and finish out the secondary.

Round 17: Ari selects linebacker Chris Worley, Bill selects receiver Parris Campbell.

Analysis: Ari took the last player who's currently in a starting role. Bill took Campbell, who he viewed as the No. 2 receiver, because he saw enough of a drop after Campbell to take him now.

Round 18: Ari selects defensive back Cam Burrows, Bill selects defensive lineman Jashon Cornell.

Analysis: Ari took a player he viewed as a potential starter late in the draft. Bill needed another defensive tackle and took a intriguing prospect in Cornell.

Round 19: Ari selects H-back Dontre Wilson, Bill selects linebacker Nick Conner.

Analysis: Ari took Wilson, the last pure H-back on the roster, and someone with significant experience. Bill needed a middle linebacker to play between Baker and Hilliard.

Round 20: Ari selects receiver Austin Mack, Bill selects running back Antonio Williams.

Analysis: Ari opted for younger, highly-rated receivers late rather than guys who have been on the roster longer. Bill took the freshman Williams, who he thought would be a little more dynamic in the run game than Bri'onte Dunn.

Round 21: Ari selects receiver Torrance Gibson, Bill selects tight end A.J. Alexander.

Analysis: Ari selected Gibson in an attempt to get his name in the headline. Bill took the only other tight end on the roster since Ari took Baugh.

Round 22: Ari selects quarterback Joe Burrow, Bill selects Brady Taylor.

Analysis: Ari took the No. 2 quarterback after Bill took Barrett No. 1 overall. Bill took the No. 3 center on the roster after Ari took Elflein and Price early.

Complete NBA playoff stats for LeBron James and his 64 playoff teammates over the years with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat help produce an All-LeBron playoff team of James, Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Chris Bosh and Shaquille O'Neal. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - LeBron James has more than carried the load for his teams during 178 playoff games, including six trips to the NBA Finals for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

James has scored 30 percent of his teams' playoff points, handed out 36 percent of the assists and grabbed 22 percent of the rebounds.

But what about his cast of 64 playoff teammates over his NBA career? Cleveland.com calculated the stats (a complete list is at the bottom of this story) to come up with the All-LeBron playoff team.

Feel free to offer your opinions in the comment section if you think other players should have been chosen.

Here's who we believe are the top combinations, based on the stats each player compiled in the playoffs while playing with LeBron James.

First team

The obvious choice here is James, himself. James ranks sixth in NBA playoff history for both points (5,020) and points per game (28.2). Michael Jordan is the leader in both categories, scoring his 5,987 points at a clip of 33.4 per game.

Kevin Love, who was limited to just four games before injury ended his first playoff season a year ago, could move onto the first team ahead of Chris Bosh with a strong playoff performance in 2016.

Wesson was the fourth player to commit to Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State basketball program signed Ohio forward Andre Wesson on Wednesday, the first day of the regular signing period for the 2016 recruiting class. Here's an in-depth look at this member of the Buckeyes recruiting class.

Andre Wesson

School: Westerville South (Ohio)

Position: Small forward

Height, weight: 6-foot-7, 175 pounds

247Sports rating: A three-star prospect rated the No. 58 small forward, the No. 17 player in Ohio and the No. 299 overall player in the 2016 recruiting class.

Other schools: Richmond, Butler, Xavier, George Mason, Akron, Bowling Green, Toledo and others.

What's up? Wesson signed with Ohio State on April 13, the first day of the regular signing period, ending a recruiting process that really heated up toward the end of his senior season. The Buckeyes didn't offer Wesson a scholarship until after he helped lead Westerville South to a state title this season.

Wesson took a visit to Butler after getting the Ohio State offer, but still ended up choosing the Buckeyes from a final three that also included Richmond and Butler. In the end, that wasn't all that surprising considering he's the son of a former Buckeye, Keith Wesson, and the older brother of Kaleb Wesson, a center committed to the Buckeyes in 2017.

He became the third official member of Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class, joining Derek Funderburk and Micah Potter.

Derek Funderburk National Signing Day profile

Micah Potter National Signing Day profile

How Wesson fits into Ohio State's plans: Just when it looked like Ohio State was going to add nothing but bigs over the next two years, the Buckeyes landed Wesson.

He played small forward in high school, but could play the two, three or four in Thad Matta's system. That makes him a versatile player who can immediately back up a couple of positions. He's an above-average 3-point shooter and was a lockdown defender in high school.

Wesson also gives the Buckeyes more of an Ohio presence on the roster. That's something that will continue to be a factor with at least two more players from Ohio coming in 2017 and 2018, perhaps more.

Projections for 2016: Expect Ohio State to start a pair of wings in Keita Bates-Diop and Marc Loving this season, and expect Wesson to be a key reserve at that position along with Funderburk.

What we've written about Wesson:

Wesson a different kind of commitment, but exactly what Ohio State needs

One-on-one video interview with Wesson after his commitment

Watch Kaleb and Andre Wesson in state semifinals

Highlights:

Jason Kipnis and the Indians have faced a steady diet of left-handed starters -- five in the first six games of the season -- so when Kipnis faced right-hander Erasmo Ramirez in the eighth inning Wednesday night, it caught him off guard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - For a minute, Jason Kipnis didn't know what to make of Tampa Bay reliever Erasmo Ramirez when he saw him come in from the bullpen Wednesday night to start the eighth inning.

"He looked goofy out there," Kipnis told reporters at Tropicana Field after the Indians' 4-1 victory. "I was asking, "What is this? Is that legal?'"

No, Ramirez didn't enter the game wearing a lampshade on his head instead of a Rays' cap. He didn't have a pet monkey on his shoulder or have a nail file sticking out of his back pocket. What he did was throw right-handed.

Seeing how the Indians have faced left-handed starters in five of their first six games, and that the left-handed hitting Kipnis has struggled against them, it stands to reason that he'd be stunned to finally face a right-hander.

"I've been getting a steady diet of lefties so it was finally good to see someone throw from the other side," said Kipnis.

He celebrated by hitting a towering drive into the right field seats to stretch the Indians lead to 4-0 with two out in the eighth. The homer was Kipnis' first of the season and helped the Indians even their record at 3-3.

Kipnis is hitting .400 (2-for-5) against right-handers to offset his .235 average (4-for-17) against lefties. He went 2-for-4 Wednesday with a bloop single against left-hander Drew Smyly in the three-run fourth inning.

The Indians, because of three postponements and off days, have played just six games, the fewest in the AL. They have scored 24 runs, tied with the winless Twins for the second fewest in the league.

But things seem to be getting better. They'll play their third straight game Thursday afternoon against the Rays at Tropicana Field before returning home for a weekend series against the Mets with a decent forecast as opposed to the snow and cold that greeted them last week against Boston.

"It's tough with the way the season has opened with the cold and off days," said Kipnis. "You see other teams that are 10 and 11 games into it and catching their rhythm. We're still trying to still get off the ground.

"Now that we're getting back to a little more normalcy and some sunshine, it's going to help us get into a better flow and have some better at-bats."

The Indians rank 14^th in the AL with a .196 (11-for-56) average against right-handers. They rank 11^th in the league against lefties with a .213 (29-for-136) average.

Josh Gordon's agent says he's had a temporary setback but it that won't derail his hopes of getting back into the NFL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Drew Rosenhaus said Wednesday night that Josh Gordon has had a 'hiccup' and a 'temporary setback' in his bid to return to the NFL, but that he's ready to do so.

"Josh has been working very hard over the past year to get himself back into the NFL,'' Rosenhaus told SiriusXMNFL radio. "Obviously there's been a hiccup here. He acknowledged that. But he'll have another opportunity before the season to show the NFL that he's got his life in order and that he's ready to resume his NFL career without any setbacks and I'm very hopeful that he will.''

He stressed that Gordon, who had his petition for reinstatement denied by the NFL on Tuesday, has done everything the league has asked for most of the past year. He can reapply for reinstatement on Aug. 1, a source told cleveland.com.

"He's had, as I said, a recent setback here, but it's not of the nature where it's going to derail his hopes,'' Rosenhaus said. "It's a temporary setback. I'm confident he can get right back on track and without getting into the details because that's the very thing we're upset about, I really believe that Josh has done an admirable job up until point. I hope can get back to that and I'm confident that he will.'

Rosenhaus and Gordon are also pursuing a grievance along with the NFLPA over leaks of Gordon's failed drug test. Leaks of such classified come with a heavy price, including a $500,000 fine for clubs, as spelled out in the collective bargaining agreement.

"Josh and I very disappointed in the leak,'' he said. "This is confidential information. this is a test result that would be underneath the limit to be considered a positive test. This is not information that's supposed to be disseminated publicly. This is not information that's supposed to be available. It shouldn't be in the news. It's completely  confidential.''

Even if Gordon is reinstated, there's no guarantee he'll play for the Browns again.
Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown said Wednesday the club was never counting on receiver Josh Gordon to be back with the team in the first place.

"Once Josh was suspended, we organizationally set our mind frame to not counting on him coming back, and I think that's the only healthy way to operate and the way we continue to look at it,'' he told SiriusXMNFL radio. "And if Josh is fortunate enough to be reinstated, obviously we'll have some discussions with him at that time.''

Gordon, the former All-Pro, will have no margin for error between now and Aug. 1 if he hopes to be reinstated.

"In the meantime, the main thing that I think I take away from it is I just hope Josh gets to a place where he's able to be reinstated and I don't want to say his life's not together but whatever might be preventing him from being reinstated he can have addressed and get on a good path moving forward,'' said Brown. "He's got a bright future ahead of him and he's still young as heck. So we're rooting for him and if it comes to pass that he's back in the league great."

Drew Rosenhaus to Johnny Manziel: 'Go to treatment or find a new agent'

Brown acknowledged that Gordon's denied petition is having more of an impact on Gordon than it is on the Browns -- a sign that the club will likely move on once he's reinstated.

"If anything, probably disappointed for Josh,'' he said. "Organizationally, we're focused on the 65 or so players on our roster right now.''

Gordon has been hanging out in Los Angeles lately with former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, and TMZ Sports reported Wednesday that Gordon picked Manziel up late Saturday night off the Sunset Strip, where he was the passenger in an alleged hit-and-run.

Josh Gordon picks up Johnny Manziel after he was passenger in alleged hit-and-run

But Rosenhaus revealed during his radio appearance Wednesday night that Manziel has left Los Angeles and gone back to Texas.

Rosenhaus, who only started representing Manziel about three weeks ago, also gave Manziel an ultimatum that he go to treatment within five days or find another agent.
He described Manziel's situation as "life or death.''

"I have terminated the standard representation with Johnny Manziel in the hopes of helping him get the treatment I believe he needs," Rosenhaus said told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "I have informed him that if he takes the immediate steps I have outlined for him that I will rescind the termination and continue to represent him.

"Otherwise the termination will become permanent. There is a five-day window for me to rescind the termination. I'm hoping he takes the necessary steps to get his life back on track."

If Gordon wants to get back into the NFL, and back into the good graces of the Browns, he'll have to stay away from Manziel over the next few months, unless Manziel cleans up his act. He's still under investigation in Dallas and by the NFL for misdemeanor domestic violence -- and facing possible suspension by the league under its personal conduct policy.

In the meantime, it's clear that Rosenhaus is trying to separate the two by thousands of miles, and make sure that both are getting back on track.

In the ninth inning Wednesday night, Francisco Lindor pursued a foul pop by Desmond Jennings that landed on one of the catwalks in Tropicana Field. That's when the Tribe shortstop had some fun.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - One of Newton's laws of motion states that what goes up, must come down. Well, there was no Tropicana Field when Sir Isaac Newton reached that conclusion in 1666.

Just ask Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor. In the ninth inning Wednesday night, Desmond Jennings hit a high fly ball in foul territory behind third base. Juan Uribe moved over to make the catch, but couldn't find the ball. Then Lindor darted over near the grandstand as if he saw it.

But suddenly he put his hands over his head, thinking he was going to get hit on the head. When he finally realized that the ball had landed on one of the catwalks high above the field and wasn't coming down, Lindor laughed and playfully made a diving attempt to catch the ball.

"It's very different playing in a dome," Lindor told SportsTime Ohio after Wednesday's 4-1 win over Tama Bay. "Everything is white once it (the ball) goes up. It's tough to find it.

"I had two tonight where going up I had them the entire time. Then I looked down for the warning track and when I looked up again I lost them. I picked one up when it was coming down. The other one I never picked up because it got stuck."

Manager Terry Francona, like Lindor and Uribe, saw the ball go up and then lost it.

"You just wait for it to come down," said Francona. "I was watching Uribe and said, 'Man, where is that thing?' It's annoying. But you never like to see a game decided because of something like that.

"Everytime that ball hits one of the catwalks I pull for them to get a new stadium."

Lindor didn't have a hit in Wednesday's victory, but he was at his energetic best. In the Tribe's three-run fourth, he scored Rajai Davis from third as he ran his way out of a potential double play on a grounder to short. He took third on Mike Napoli's double and scored on Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly to shallow right field.

He forced second baseman Logan Forsythe, who caught the ball, to make a wild throw home. When the ball bounced out of play, Napoli was awarded home for a 3-0 lead.

Lindor's speed came into play again in the sixth. He hit a ground ball to third baseman Evan Longoria, but Longoria made a bad throw to first as Lindor continued to second. With two out, and Santana batting, Lindor converted a risky steal of third, but was stranded when Santana struck out.

Lindor sets the bar, aims to clear it

Then came his adventure with the roof in the ninth inning.

Asked about Lindor's energy, Francona told reporters at Tropicana Field, "He always does that. I'm not sure about stealing third with two out. We'll work on that one. But as long as guys are hustling, it's easy to talk to guys about that."

The Rams pulled off a blockbuster trade Thursday, leapfrogging the Browns into No. 1 in the draft, where they're reportedly targeting Carson Wentz.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Rams pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Titans Thursday, leapfrogging the Browns to move up to No. 1 in NFL Draft 2016 to draft a quarterback.

Question is, which one will they take?

Sam Farmer of Los Angeles Times reports they are targeting North Dakota State's Carson Wentz, but that Cal's Jared Goff is still heavily in the mix and now they have time to decide.

Farmer reports that it will definitely be one of the two quarterbacks and that the Rams will "turn over every stone.''

If the Rams take Wentz, that would leave Goff for the Browns at No. 2, and the Browns may favor him anyway. As of the NFL Combine, Goff had at least a slight edge in the eyes of the Browns, a league source told cleveland.com.

Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown also told Sirius XMNFL radio on Wednesday that interest in the No. 2 pick is heating up and that they'll listen to offers over the next two weeks.

According to the Titans website, they've traded the No. 1 pick to Los Angeles Rams for the 15th overall pick in this year's draft, two second-round picks (43 and 45), and a third-rounder (76) in 2016. The Titans will also receive the Rams' first-round pick in 2017, along with their third-round pick in next year's draft. In addition to Tennessee's No. 1 pick this year, the Rams will also receive a fourth-round pick (113) and sixth-round pick (177) in 2016.

"Being able to acquire six players in the top 76 this year, along with next year when you factor that into it -- I am assuming five in the top three rounds -- that is 11 players that we can add to this football team that should not only increase our depth, but give us good quality players at all those positions,'' Titans general manager Jon Robinson said.

"In the end we thought it was a decision that was best for this football team. It made sense for us to do it, and that's why we moved on it. We talked to several teams about the pick. There was interest in the pick, and in the end we thought this was the option that made the most sense for us...We think we can really bolster this roster with the picks that we now have."
 
More to come on this breaking story soon.

Division I has used a two-region format since 2013, when the OHSAA created a seventh division.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Division I will join the rest of the OHSAA’s football divisions by using a four-region format for the playoffs. 

The move, approved by the OHSAA Board of Directors on Thursday, comes after three years of a two-region format in Division I.

The OHSAA is expected to announce more details Thursday.

#OHSAA BOARD MTG: Board has approved change in Div. I football playoffs to four regions instead of two. Details & map released today

— OHSAA Sports (@OHSAASports) April 14, 2016

Division I moved to a two-region format in 2013 when the OHSAA reduced the number of teams in the division to 72, about 30 less than each of the other six divisions.

In an email to cleveland.com March 22, Tim Stried, the OHSAA’s director of information services, said travel cost and time are two of the biggest factors in the decision, pointing out that, with just two regions, early-round matchups could cause a team to travel three hours for a game. That happened in 2013 when Austintown-Fitch faced Marysville in a Region 1 first-round game.

“The other main reasons are to have more of an emphasis on the regional championships in Division I, which was lost when the regional finals also served as the state semifinals,” said Stried, “and to have Division I be on the same playoff schedule and terminology as Divisions II through VII.”

While a 72-team field divides nicely into four 18-team regions, simply putting teams back in their 2012 regions won’t work. Regions 1 and 2 would have 6-10 fewer teams than Regions 3 and 4.

Stried said in March that it’s likely the seven teams that made the move from Region 3 to Region 1 after the restructuring in 2013 will remain in northern regions.

Those teams were: Lewis Center Olentangy, Lewis Center Olentangy Orange, Marysville, Newark, Powell Olentangy Liberty, Westerville Central and Westerville South.

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