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Cleveland Cavaliers displayed focus, poise in Round 1 sweep

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Cleveland demonstrated restraint after a 100-98 victory on Sunday at The Palace of Auburn Hills ended their opening-round series.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - If somebody told you the Cleveland Cavaliers' first-round playoff match-up with the Detroit Pistons would have its share of verbal jabs and borderline physical assaults, you would have assumed J.R. Smith had a starring role.

But that wasn't the case.

The extent of Smith's trash talking was when he knocked down a contested turnaround 27-foot three-pointer to beat the shot clock late in Game 4. That improbable shot put the Cavaliers back up nine and would be a deficit the Pistons couldn't fully overcome.

As he retreated back on defense, he turned to the hostile fans and gestured, "shh." That was it. When asked how he kept his cool throughout a physical, emotional series, Smith had a very Smith-like response.

"I just let them talk, honestly," Smith told cleveland.com. "Nobody started anything with me, so I just let them go ahead and do what they do. We're winning."

Cleveland demonstrated emotional and mental restraint in sweeping Detroit with a 100-98 victory on Sunday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. All four games tested the Cavaliers in a way that a No. 8 seed seldom does.

"Our main objective was to come here and get two," LeBron James said. "We wanted to focus on Game 3, which we did. We knocked that out and then our focus was on Game 4 and let's leave out of here with a sweep."

There were cheap shots, illegal picks and Marcus Morris did a close imitation of Kelly Olynyk -- almost tearing off Kevin Love's arm in the fourth quarter. Love fell to the floor and favored his right elbow, but he was helped up and continued to play on. 

And of course that dangerous Andre Drummond elbow to the neck of LeBron James in Game 3 that went unpunished by the league was the pinnacle of how this series was played by Detroit.

"If it was me, I would have been suspended for the rest of the playoffs," Smith said to cleveland.com regarding that elbow play. "But it's not me, so it is what it is."

The Cavaliers persevered, showed resolve and executed. There were no injuries, no suspensions.

"We just learned from the [expletive] that happened last year," Tristan Thompson told cleveland.com. "We weren't going down that road again. We have a bigger goal in mind."

The inexperienced Pistons possessed a killer uppercut -- if it landed. But they lacked the 12-round endurance needed to play four effective quarters of high-level basketball. The second half of all four games was their Achilles heel.

In Game 3, as they slowly pulled away for a 101-91 victory, the Cavaliers noticed something new from the Pistons' side of the court. Doubt and reality were setting in with the home team.

"You could sense it late in that quarter. You saw it in their eyes. They were done. They knew the series was over. We all saw it," Thompson told cleveland.com.

Cleveland performed the rope-a-dope. They absorbed every body blow, every insult and knocked the Pistons out late in games. It worked every time. If Muhammad Ali were watching, he would have recognized the technique.

No matter how much Detroit barked during the series, Cleveland was the team that made every winning play when it meant the most. And that's really all that matters. After Reggie Jackson tossed up a wild shot that missed badly to end the game on Sunday, Kyrie Irving was seen yelling, "bye, bye" to the disappointed fans.

When you win the game, that's when talking means something.

"We just stayed the course, really," Smith said. "We're in the driver's seat so anything they do is more or less trying to frustrate us. So just keep our composure, play, make sure we win and stay out of trouble."


Johnny Manziel indicted in alleged attack on ex-girlfriend

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Texas grand jury has indicted ex-Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel on an assault charge after his ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence.

DALLAS (AP) -- Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge stemming from a domestic violence complaint by his ex-girlfriend.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M star was accused by ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley of hitting her and threatening to kill her during a night out on Jan. 30. Crowley said in court documents that Manziel struck her so hard that she temporarily lost hearing in one ear.

The indictment accuses Manziel of striking Crowley and "forcing (her) into a vehicle and against a vehicle dashboard."

Manziel faces a charge of misdemeanor assault related to family violence, which carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Dallas police referred the case to a grand jury in February, asking the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to present the misdemeanor assault case.

Manziel was cut by the Browns in March after two tumultuous seasons marked by inconsistent play and off-the-field headlines about his partying and drinking, including one stint in rehab. His future in the NFL is uncertain at best, and might be nonexistent without a second stint in treatment that two agents have demanded. The league also has tougher standards regarding domestic violence cases after revising its policy in August 2014 following the Ray Rice case, which could complicate any attempt by Manziel to return.

The first agent, Erik Burkhardt, cut ties with Manziel after last season. Burkhardt's replacement, Drew Rosenhaus, dropped Manziel last week. His marketing agency dropped him before the charges were filed, and Nike confirmed last week that it no longer has an endorsement deal with Manziel.

Crowley alleged that the 23-year-old quarterback accosted her at a Dallas hotel and later struck her when they drove back to her apartment in Fort Worth. She was granted a protective order that requires Manziel to not see her for two years, stay at least 500 feet from her home and place of work, and pay $12,000 in legal fees.

Crowley alleged she and Manziel had a confrontation in the hotel room that eventually continued downstairs to the valet station. She said he forced her into a car and a valet disregarded her pleas for help.

The two eventually drove to where her car was parked in front of a Dallas bar, she said in an affidavit. She said Manziel got into the driver's seat and began to drive. Crowley said Manziel stopped when she tried to jump out of the car, but then he dragged her back inside and hit her.

She said Manziel threatened to kill himself as he drove her back to Fort Worth, about 30 miles west of Dallas, where police were called.

Dallas police said Feb. 5 that they were investigating the case, a day after they issued a statement saying they considered the case to be closed.

In the wake of the allegations, Manziel's father said the family had made two recent, unsuccessful attempts to get him into a rehab clinic. Manziel -- who entered the NFL with a reputation for partying and drinking -- spent 73 days last winter in a Pennsylvania treatment center specializing in care for alcohol and drug dependency.

Manziel was cleared of any wrongdoing last year after he and Crowley got into a heated roadside argument near his home. Witnesses to that incident saw Manziel arguing on the side of a highway with his girlfriend and pulling her back into his car as she tried to leave the vehicle. He was not arrested, and Crowley told police she didn't want to press charges.

Terry Pluto talks Browns, Cavaliers and Indians: Podcast

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Plain Dealer columnist talks all things Cleveland sports in his weekly podcast.

Terry Pluto Podcast: April 26, 2016

We're on iTunes. Subscribe to the cleveland.com Sports podcasts channel here (or search cleveland.com Sports podcasts).

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who will the Browns pick at No. 8? Is there anyone in the East who can challenge the Cavaliers?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast. Among other topics discussed:

The Indians sweeping Detroit.

What the Browns will do in the second round.

Injuries shaking up the Western Conference.

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

St. Edward names Kevin Hickman as new athletic director, replacing Paul Michalko

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Hickman has held similar positions at a pair of high-profile schools.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – St. Edward announced Tuesday that Kevin Hickman will be the school’s new athletic director, replacing Paul Michalko at the end of the school year.

Hickman has held similar positions at high-profile schools such as Mater Dei in California and Bishop Gorman in Nevada.


Michalko announced in January that he was leaving St. Edward after 15 years.


Prior to his career as a school administrator, Hickman played professional football as a tight end for the Detroit Lions (1995-98).


At Bishop Gorman from 2001-07, Hickman built the Las Vegas school into a national power. It’s football team finished fourth in MaxPreps’ 2015 rankings. St. Edward was eighth.


In 2007 he became assistant principal of athletics and student services at Mater Dei. The school was named the top athletic program in the nation twice by USA Today during his tenure.


“We are looking forward to Mr. Hickman building on the great success we’ve enjoyed at St. Ed’s,” St. Edward President Jim Kubacki said in a statement. “What impressed us most was his commitment to servant leadership and the approach he takes to helping every coach, colleague and student with whom he works become the best they can be.”


Hickman played football at Navy and was drafted by the Lions in 1995.


“It’s an honor to be part of the St. Edward Community, and the long and rich tradition of success they have had,” said Hickman in a statement released by the school. “I look forward to serving the young men of St. Ed’s with the Administration, Faculty & Staff, and Coaches as the next Athletic Director. I can’t wait to get started.”


For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter


Contact sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter (@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Playoffs 2016: Full second-round schedule

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The NBA released the conference semifinals schedule, with Game 1 set for Monday, May 2 at Quicken Loans Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST and the game will be seen nationally on TNT.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers won't know their opponent in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for a few more days, but they know when they will be playing. 

The NBA released the schedule for the conference semifinals, with Game 1 set for Monday, May 2 at Quicken Loans Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST and the game will be nationally televised on TNT.

Their opponent will either be the Atlanta Hawks or Boston Celtics. That series, which is tied 2-2, will continue tonight in Atlanta. The Hawks won the first two games, but the Celtics won a pair in Boston to even the series. 

Here is a look at the Cavs' full second-round schedule:

Game 1: Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m. on TNT (The Q)

Game 2: Wednesday, May 4 at 8 p.m. on TNT (The Q)

Game 3: Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. on ESPN (in Atlanta or Boston)

Game 4: Sunday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC (in Atlanta or Boston)

Game 5: Tuesday, May 10 - TBD (The Q)

Game 6: Thursday, May 12 - TBD (in Atlanta or Boston)

Game 7: Sunday, May 15 - TBD (The Q)

(Note: Games 5-7 will only be if necessary)

Last year, the Cavs swept the Celtics in the first round before steamrolling the Hawks in the conference finals, 4-0. 

The other two series in the East -- Toronto vs. Indiana and Miami vs. Charlotte -- are also tied at two games apiece. 

History says Cleveland Browns can find a quarterback after the first round, but it's not easy -- Terry Pluto

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In the last six years, there have been six quarterbacks drafted after the first round who are expected to start in 2016. Two others have a chance. Can the Browns find one in 2016?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I went looking for a quarterback the hard way -- below the first round of the NFL Draft.

Before starting my search, I wanted to center on recent history.

NFL fans know future Hall of Famer Tom Brady was picked in the sixth round. But that was in 2000. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo wasn't drafted, but that was in 2003.

What about lately? How many quarterbacks drafted after the first round between 2010-15 are expected to start this season?

Here's the list:

2015 -- None.

2014 -- Derek Carr: Drafted in the second round (No. 36) by Oakland. Had a 7-9 record in 2015, his second season as a starter.

2013 -- None.

2012 -- Brock Osweiler: Drafted in the second round (No. 57) by Denver. Just signed a huge contract with Houston after seven career starts with the Broncos.

2012 -- Russell Wilson: Drafted in the third round (No. 75) by Seattle. Has taken his team to two Super Bowls.

2012 -- Kirk Cousins: Drafted in the fourth round (No. 102) by Washington. Took Washington to the playoffs last season after a record of 9-7 in the regular season.

2011 -- Andy Dalton: Drafted in the second round (No. 35) by Cincinnati. He has a 50-26-1 career record.

2011 -- Colin Kaepernick: Drafted in the second round (No. 36) by San Francisco. Has a 27-20 career record, not sure if he'll start for the 49ers. Been a subject of trade rumors.

2011 -- Tyrod Taylor: Drafted in the sixth round (No. 180) by Baltimore. He is expected to start this season with Buffalo. He was 7-6 last year.

2010 -- None.

WHAT RESEARCH SHOWS

I went through six years of drafts and found six players expected to start in 2016.

If Kaepernick starts, that will make it seven. Nick Foles (No. 88 pick in 2012) has a 19-16 record as a starter, but he is expected to be a backup with the Rams this year.

Even if you add in Kaepernick and Foles (who have had some success), it's still only eight in six years.

Here's a breakdown:

  • One star quarterback: Wilson.
  • One consistent playoff quarterback: Dalton.
  • One solid quarterback: Cousins.
  • One very rich quarterback: Osweiler, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract ($37 million guaranteed) with Houston after making just seven starts.
  • Two promising quarterbacks: Carr and Taylor.
  • Two former starting quarterbacks looking for another chance: Kaepernick and Foles.

Another breakdown:

  • Four were picked in the second round: Dalton, Kaepernick, Carr and Osweiler.
  • Two were picked in the third round: Foles and Wilson.
  • One in the fourth round: Cousins.
  • One in the sixth round: Taylor.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE BROWNS

Assuming they don't draft a quarterback in the first round, the Browns are still expected to draft one at some point. New coach Hue Jackson definitely wants another quarterback, even if it appears Robert Griffin III has the inside position to be the starter.

In his two years as the Bengals offensive coordinator, Jackson was able to help Dalton take several steps in the direction of becoming a top 10 quarterback.

The best place to find a starter after the first round is the second round -- at least in the last six years. But the best quarterback taken between 2010-15 not picked in the first round is Wilson, a third-rounder.

So maybe, just maybe, there is good one somewhere below the first round in 2016.

SOME CANDIDATES

Most draft experts have at least four quarterbacks being picked in the first round: Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Connor Cook and Paxton Lynch.

So let's eliminate them. I write this knowing the Browns have the No. 8 pick, and could grab a quarterback there or trade down in the first round for another quarterback.

But let's assume no quarterback in the first round.

Let's not bring Cardale Jones into the conversation. The Glenville product has only 11 career starts at Ohio State. Cleveland would be a very tough place for him because the pressure to play too soon would be enormous. He has so much to learn, partly because he played so little at OSU.

Some people like Christian Hackenberg ... I don't. The Penn State product had a horrible college completion percentage (53 percent in 2015). That is a screaming neon warning sign.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Brandon Allen became a prospect in his senior season at Arkansas. He's 6-foot-3, 217 pounds and played in a pro-style offense. In the last three years, his completion percentage has improved from 49 percent to 56 percent to 66 percent in 2015. His arm strength has been questioned, but he really seems to know what he's doing in the pocket. He also keeps improving. But he has small hands (8 1/2 inches), and scouts hate that.

2. Kevin Hogan started 46 games at Stanford. Like Allen, he played in a pro-style offense. That really helps because the quarterback doesn't have to learn to take snaps under center at the pro level. He has learned to call out pass protections. Also like Allen, some have questioned his arm strength. Allen and Hogan are both smart, tough guys who played big-time football in pressurized environments.

3. I know that Dak Prescott was arrested for a DUI in March, but that seems to be an anomaly. He was on the SEC honor roll at Mississippi State and earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, and then his Master's degree. He's athletic and took Mississippi State to a higher level. He's 6-foot-2, 226 pounds. He threw 29 TD passes last year compared to five interceptions, completing 66 percent of his passes. He also ran for 10 TDs. He did not play in pro-style offense, so there will be a lot of patience required by the team that drafts him.

4. Vad Lee from James Madison could be a quarterback who will be ignored in the draft. He suffered a major foot injury requiring surgery with three games left in the season. He's 6-foot-1, 225 pounds with good arm strength and is an accurate passer. He started his career at Georgia Tech. He rushed for more than 800 yards in each of his last two seasons. He could be available very late in the draft.

Chris Haynes' 5 takeaways from Cleveland Cavaliers' first-round series with Detroit Pistons

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Here are five impressions from that scrappy first-round series between the Cavaliers and Pistons.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers did what they were supposed to do by eliminating a No. 8 seed Detroit Pistons squad in four games. But it sure didn't feel like your typical sweep.

Detroit presented a plethora of challenges.

They were rugged, cocky, confident and boisterous. There were so many high and low emotions sprinkled in with a couple of mini-incidents and one-sided trash talk that it tested the Cavs' mental strength and resolve. They passed, earning a week off until meeting their next-round opponent.

Here are five takeaways I came away impressed with or concerned by during that scrappy first-round series.

1. Kevin Love's aggressiveness, especially in the interior, was impressive. Although he didn't shoot well in Game 4, he stayed in attack mode. The knock on him throughout his career is that you can get physical with him and he'd back off. Marcus Morris even said that was their plan.

However, Love was impactful and inspiring. LeBron James was so proud of his frontcourt mate after those games. You saw the look on his face as he praised Love for his contributions. That's the Love we were expecting to see when he joined this team.

2. This team truly feeds off of the demeanor and personality of Tyronn Lue. He doesn't get too low or get too high. That allows the Cavaliers to play at an even-keel no matter the score or the hostile environment.

In his huddle, he speaks with confidence and doesn't hesitate to draw up a play, James Jones told me.

"He never comes off as second-guessing himself, which makes it easier for us to go out and execute," Jones said. "If the coach feels confident about it, we feel confident about it."

It hasn't taken Lue long at all to win over this locker room.

3. Kyrie Irving's confidence is back. He'll never admit it, but the reason he wanted to play in the final regular season game against Detroit was to establish a rhythm so that he would enter postseason play on a high note.

For shooters, sometimes all it takes is seeing that ball go through the net and suddenly everything is all right. That's what Irving was going for, but as it turns out, he didn't need that final game. He was the best player on the court during the series.

To get Irving to understand the importance of sitting that final game, the organization assured him that he would be ready. They told him they had confidence he would turn the corner once Game 1 rolled around. Irving then agreed to sit it out and the rest is history. Who knows what might have happened if Irving played? An injury would have been devastating and an abysmal shooting performance certainly wouldn't have helped matters.

In the end, the right move was made and Irving comes out shining bright.

4. Do the Cavaliers need a better-shooting Iman Shumpert in the later rounds? We'll find out.

The defensive specialist is coming off his worst professional season shooting the ball and was only 4-of-13 in the Detroit series. It got so bad that Detroit placed centers Andre Drummond and Aron Baynes on him, daring him to shoot or drive. And when he did, the results weren't pretty.

Shumpert is in a funk, but the primary reason he plays is his defense. Cleveland needs him out on the court, but if he continues to be a liability on offense, his minutes could diminish.

5. The way J.R. Smith kept his cool was a sight to behold. Through all the roughhousing, the cheap shots, the trash-talking, Smith had no part in either. He was the equivalent of a saint.

This wasn't the same Smith who backhanded Jae Crowder a year ago, putting his team in further distress with his two-game suspension. He fought through the emotions and anger of the series and just played basketball.

There isn't a player on the team who can do what Smith does. He's an invaluable component and he now realizes that. You can't control if injuries occur, but you can control your temper and emotions. It looks like Smith has figured that out.

"I just let them talk, honestly," Smith told cleveland.com about the Pistons' chatter. "Nobody started anything with me, so I just let them go ahead and do what they do. We're winning."

Drake reveals 'Views from the 6' album cover, so of course Jim Harbaugh makes a Michigan version

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When Drake released a mixtape in September with fellow artist Future entitled, "What A Time To Be Alive," Ohio State graphics designer Sammy Silverman borrowed the diamond-filled mixtape artwork and replaced it with national championship trophy crystals.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- One of the most highly-anticipated new hip-hop albums of the past year is Drake's "View from the 6," and he released the album art for the record early this week on Twitter. 

Here it is: 

Why is that important? 

Because Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh saw the album cover and had his graphics team draw up a similar one for the Wolverines. Here it is: 

What's interesting is that recruiting has turned into an online graphics game, and nobody has been better at it than Ohio State and Michigan. 

Ohio State isn't a stranger to borrowing Drake's album covers for its own personal gain, either.

When Drake released a mixtape in September with fellow artist Future entitled, "What A Time To Be Alive," Ohio State graphics designer Sammy Silverman borrowed the diamond-filled mixtape artwork and replaced it with national championship trophy crystals.

Harbaugh has entrenched himself in the hip-hop world, mainly because that's a main interest in most of the prospects he's recruiting. It's smart. It's branding. It's a way for Michigan to become one with some of the biggest names in pop culture, and prospects respond to that. 

Michigan, hip-hop and recruiting


Did a new-look LeBron James emerge in Cavaliers' series sweep of Pistons?

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LeBron James took the fewest free throws of his career during the Cavaliers' first-round series against the Detroit Pistons.

Thoughts on Tyronn Lue's first playoff series win

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Coach Lue won his first playoff series. How did he do overall? Watch video

CLEVLEAND, Ohio -- One of the key questions facing the Cleveland Cavaliers as they entered the playoffs was how head coach Tyronn Lue would fare in his first experience coaching in the postseason. So far, so good for Lue as his Cavaliers swept Stan Van Gundy's Detroit Pistons and Lue had, to borrow from the NCAA Tournament, some shining moments.

How did Lue do? I asked that question to Michael Reghi and Bud Shaw as part of our weekly series of videos this week. Check out their answers in the video above.

ESPN reportedly losing both Skip Bayless, Mike Tirico

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News of Bayless' departure came 24 hours after reports surfaced that "Monday Night Football" play-by-play man Mike Tirico is leaving ESPN for NBC.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- ESPN is losing two of its most prominent voices to rivals this fall.

"First Take" host Skip Bayless is leaving the Worldwide Leader when his contract is up at the end of August, the network announced in a statement. According to Deadspin, the outspoken Bayless is expected to end up at Fox Sports, where he would be reunited with former ESPN executive producer Jamie Horowitz.

News of Bayless' departure came 24 hours after reports surfaced that "Monday Night Football" play-by-play man Mike Tirico is leaving ESPN for NBC.

While neither ESPN or NBC has confirmed Tirico's move, he's expected to join the Peacock Network when his contract expires this summer, SportsBusiness Journal and Associated Press reported Monday.

Tirico is widely presumed to become the lead announcer on NBC's five "Thursday Night Football" games this season as well as work on the network's golf coverage. NBC broadcasts the U.S. Open in June.

"Sunday Night Football" appears to be still be the domain of Al Michaels, who has two years remaining on his deal at NBC. However, as Sporting News speculates, Tirico's move could put him in line for that job as well as Bob Costas' Olympics hosting gig when they both eventually become available.

Browns draft 2016: The call goes out to fill in the blanks -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

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The Cleveland Browns have a dozen picks in the 2016 draft. Quantity hasn't been the issue in recent years. Quality has. Can they finally buck that trend?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -  The Browns will have a good draft if (fill in the blank).

We're looking for serious answers only here.

Not:

* If Jimmy Haslam doesn't consult a man on the street.

* If Sashi Brown doesn't pick all Ivy Leaguers or Wonderlic Warriors.

The Browns are sitting in prime position at No. 8. Maybe not as prime as they sat at No. 2 but still tactically strong. A Top 10 pick followed by No. 32 should be enough to blunt some concern about the inexperience of the new front office, at least early in the draft.

Picking No. 8 affords the Browns two options, both of which could work out well. They take a Top 10 talent (Ezekiel Elliott?) or they trade with a desperate suitor and position themselves in the middle of the first round. Beyond that, trading down has diminishing returns.

From there, they could take a top wide receiver (TCU's Josh Doctson, Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell), which could make up for passing on or missing out on Elliott.

You may not have noticed this, but this team has been competing with a slingshot offense while its opponents are lobbing long-range missiles. If the hope at quarterback is Robert Griffin III, he will need weapons. If the quarterback isn't RG3 beyond this year, the next one will need the same weapons.

So first, the Browns will have a good draft if they significantly increase the wide receiver talent. The problem is the draft isn't brimming with it.

The 32nd pick is the first in the second round, the one some GMs will go to sleep dreaming about. That could lend itself to a trade down, or it could give the Browns an opportunity to take a player that fell unexpectedly for a position of crying need.

If the Browns pick up yet another choice here without falling too far down in the second round, fine. Or if they could get their receiver at No. 32 (Ohio State's Michael Thomas), that also works.

The Browns say they like their position inside the Top 10

They own prime real estate at the top of the second round. Top 10 and top of Round 2. Altogether now, they can't possibly mess this up, right?

The Browns should by now know what they want to do at quarterback after moving on from the No. 2 pick. Wait until next year and see what develops is an answer, I guess, but it's hardly a strategy.

They have said they're not counting on RG3 solving the problem for them. I say the Browns will have a good draft if they identify a quarterback with the ability to become a NFL starter, pick him and develop him.

Hue Jackson is the head coach for many reasons. I just named two: identifying and developing a productive, division-contending quarterback as the Bengals did in Andy Dalton.

The Browns will have a good draft if they do that, add dynamic game-changers who can help the quarterback or cause issues for the opposing quarterback.

They don't have to walk away with Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson as the Seahawks did in the first three rounds of the 2012 draft. By the way, the Browns answered that year with Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden at the top of theirs.

They had 11 picks in 2012. After the departures of Mitchell Schwartz and Travis Benjamin in free agency, John Hughes is all they have to show for it.

The Browns will have a good draft if they keep in mind that quality trumps quantity and that the league keeps looking for ways to encourage offense.

They're in a perfect position to make this a draft that gets talked about for years.

And, finally, for good reason.

Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins' lineups for Tuesday night's game

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The Indians and Twins will play the middle game of their three-game series on Tuesday night at Target Field.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Here are the lineups for Tuesday night's game between the Indians and Twins at Target Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m.

INDIANS

DH Carlos Santana.

2B Jason Kipnis.

SS Francisco Lindor.

LF Michael Brantley.

1B Mike Napoli.

C Yan Gomes

RF Lonnie Chisenhall.

3B Juan Uribe.

CF Tyler Naquin.

RHP Cody Andersons, 0-1, 7.53 ERA.

TWINS

CF Danny Santana.

2B Brian Dozier.

1B Joe Mauer.

3B Miguel Sano.

RF Oswaldo Arcia.

DH Byung Ho Park.

SS Eduardo Escobar.

C Kurt Suzuki.

LF Eddie Rosario.

P Ricky Nolasco, 1-0, 2.66.

UMPIRES

H Doug Eddings.

1B Laz Diaz.

2B Ben May.

3B Jeff Nelson, crew chief.

NFL Draft 2016: MAC players listed as potential picks (slideshow)

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Several Mid-American Conference football players are projected to be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Live chat, updates: Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins, Game 18

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Cody Anderson, who has struggled in the early part of the season, will try to get back on the right path Tuesday night against the Twins. He went 2-0 against Minnesota last year.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians and Twins play the middle game of a three-game series Tuesday night at Target Field. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat in the comments section.

Game 18: Indians (9-8) vs. Twins (6-14)

First pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, WMMS/FM 100.7, Indians Radio Network

Pitching matchup: RHP Cody Anderson (0-1, 7.53) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (0-1, 2.66).

Fact du jour: The Indians have lost five of their last six games at Target Field and nine of their last 11 overall against the Twins.


Cardale Jones NFL Draft 2016 profile: What will the Ohio State QB be like as a pro?

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Could Jones go off the board in the second round of the NFL Draft? Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As part of our NFL Draft coverage, we'll break down all the Ohio State draft candidates from a Buckeye perspective before the draft kicks off Thursday.

Cardale Jones, Ohio State quarterback

At Ohio State: Anyone not know Jones' story? From third-string quarterback to National Championship hero, Jones took over for the injured J.T. Barrett, who had taken over for the injured Braxton Miller, and helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2014 National Championship. He completed 61 percent of his passes, threw for 247 yards per game and had five touchdowns against two interceptions in three starts vs. Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon.

Then? He stayed at Ohio State rather than leaving for the NFL, was named the starter by Urban Meyer, lost that job to J.T. Barrett, got it back for a game when Barrett was charged with drunken driving and then sat on the bench for the last three games of his career.

In the end, Jones was 11-0 as a starter and threw for 2,323 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions, while completing 167 of 270 passes (61.9 percent).

The change in Jones' throwing

What the NFL Draft experts say: "Jones is like a complicated meal that may or may not have all the ingredients present and will likely take a long time to prepare. Will the payoff be worth the investment of time? Jones has very little starting experience and struggled to adjust once defensive coordinators had time to prepare for him this season. The right quarterback coach and passing scheme could promote rapid improvement and high-end production with his ability to strike downfield, but his issues with consistency and accuracy make the "bust" label a very real concern." - NFL.com 

"I have him as a wild card. I have no idea where he's going to go. He's a big, good looking kid who throws a beautiful football with a lot of bad tape. So where do you take him? I don't think anybody knows right now. Everybody is trying to figure Jones out. He has starter skills. If you believe you can fix the kid with his mechanics and get him to a certain level you take him higher." - Mike Mayock, NFL.com

"I think a lot of people say fourth round, maybe a little later, he got benched this season, I'm going to put him in the second round. It might be the bottom of the second round, but there's going to be a quarterback coach (or) an offensive coordinator who is going to go to the GM and say, 'This guy has such rare physical tools, give me some time to work with him, I will get it out of him.'"Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com


Where he could be drafted: Jones could go off the board in the second round, with CBSSports.com draft analyst Dane Brugler projecting him in the second round at No. 49 overall to Buffalo, while Peter Schrager at FOX Sports has him in the fifth round at No. 168 to Arizona.

That's the range. As high as the second, as low as the fifth. The guess? Some team in intrigued and takes a stab before the fifth.

Jones in mock drafts

Where was Jones projected in our latest mock draft roundup?

We'll give our wild guesses on where Jones gets drafted below, give us your wild guess in the comments section.

We rang the bell on Jones at No. 45 overall in the second round

Doug's wild guess: I took Jones at No. 45 to the Los Angeles Rams before they traded for the No. 1 pick. They won't be taking Jones in the second around at that spot since they swapped that as part of the package to Tennessee, and because they'll have Jared Goff.

So find another QB-needy team who could fall in love with a big arm and 11 college starts. How about a reunion with Jones' deep-ball target at Ohio State, Devin Smith? Send him to the New York Jets at pick No. 51 in the second round.

Bill's wild guess: While I agree that Jones is more of a guy you take with the intention of eventually starting and less of a guy you're just taking a flyer on, the second round just feels very soon to me. I think he's an intriguing prospect with a ton of upside for a team looking to bring a quarterback along for a year or two. The Buffalo Bills fit that mold. So I'm guessing Jones goes in the fourth round, No. 117 overall to Buffalo.

Ari's wild guess: Though I agree with Doug's idea that Jones should be drafted with purpose to a team that could see him as their future, I don't quite agree with how high he sees the big-armed quarterback being selected. I think the San Diego Chargers would be a good spot for him because Philip Rivers is getting a little older but is still the unquestionable starter, thus giving Jones some time to adapt to the NFL game. So I'm saying Jones to the Chargers No. 102 overall in the fourth round. 

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Who is the better second round matchup for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

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The Cavaliers are playing the waiting game as the Hawks and Celtics do battle in the first round. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers get some well-earned rest this week after sweeping the Detroit Pistons in their first round series. They await the winner of the series between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics, currently tied at two games apiece. 

Which team is the better matchup for the Cavaliers? OK, the Cavs will likely beat either team, but is there a reason they'd rather face one than the other? Michael Reghi and Bud Shaw took a look ahead at potential matchups as part of our weekly series of videos.

Ranking nation's top college farm teams for the NFL Draft: Ohio State, Florida State, Miami, USC

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NFL Draft: National college football rankings for schools with the most players chosen in the NFL Draft since 2000 and all-time since the first draft in 1936.

NFL Draft 2016 Big Board: Florida State's Jalen Ramsey tops Chris Fedor's list of the 25 best players

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Who is the best player in the draft? It's a debate that has gone on for a few months and it's not even the player most likely to be the top pick. With the draft Thursday night, this is my ranking of the top-25 draft eligible guys.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who is the best player in the draft? It's a debate that has gone on for a few months and it's not even the player who will be the top pick. With the draft Thursday night, this is my ranking of the top-25 draft eligible guys.

This exercise doesn't take into account team needs, draft position or order. That's what a mock draft is for, trying to guess what's going to happen in the first round.

This is an attempt to determine the best players, regardless of the position they play while speculating on which ones will be most successful.

Here is last year's Big Board:

NFL Draft 2015 Big Board

Here is the 2014 Big Board:

NFL Draft 2014 Big Board

1. Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback/Safety, Florida State

Ramsey has a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism to succeed at either cornerback or safety. A three-year starter at Florida State, he showed the instincts and ball skills to become an immediate defensive playmaker.

2. Myles Jack, Linebacker, UCLA

I'm not a doctor so I have no clue how scary his knee situation is. He was able to go through his Pro Day and it doesn't appear he will miss his rookie season. Jack's a complete linebacker, an athletic anomaly who is capable of making plays at every level. 

3. Jared Goff, Quarterback, California

He's not the biggest and he doesn't have the strongest arm. But neither of those traits goes at the top of what makes a successful quarterback. Goff has great pocket presence and toughness. He makes tight-window throws with anticipation and accuracy while going through progressions quickly. With nothing around him at Cal, he helped turn the program around and took it to a bowl game.  

4. Laremy Tunsil, Offensive tackle, Ole Miss

Big guys aren't supposed to be able to move the way he does. He has great balance, strength and plays with a nasty demeanor. Tunsil is the ideal blindside protector who has the tools to become an All-Pro.

5. Joey Bosa, Defensive end, Ohio State

Bosa was one of Ohio State's most productive defensive players of all-time. He shows enough strength and understanding of leverage to stop the run. He uses his hands well, displaying the power to get through multiple blockers and get pressure on the quarterback. Bosa doesn't have the flexibility to bend off the edge, but is an all-around defensive lineman, a smooth, productive technician.

6. DeForest Buckner, Defensive end, Oregon

The four-year starter at Oregon has tremendous size and athleticism. He also uses his hands like a pro. Buckner rarely came out of games for the Ducks and his versatility allows him to play all over the defensive line.

7. Ezekiel Elliott, Running back, Ohio State

He's not on the same level as Todd Gurley last year. Gurley was a rare prospect. But Elliott has the ability to become the centerpiece of an NFL offense. A touchdown machine, Elliott is able to pick up more than what is blocked thanks to his combination of speed, balance, vision, quick feet and power. He's the definition of a three-down running back -- with special blocking ability and good hands out of the backfield.

8. Ronnie Stanley, Offensive tackle, Notre Dame

A three-year starter for the Irish, Stanley has the size, footwork and athleticism to stay at left tackle. He doesn't have great power and isn't a plow in the run game, but pass protection will be his best attribute.

9. Vernon Hargreaves, Cornerback, Florida

What Hargreaves lacks in size and speed he makes up for with competitiveness, technique and instincts. He can play all styles and is willing to fight with receivers of all sizes, showing that against Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell.

10. Sheldon Rankins, Defensive tackle, Louisville

He was a dominant player for two straight years and then shined at the Senior Bowl. Rankins has a unique skill set, capable of playing a handful of different positions along the defensive line. He is the kind of impact defensive tackle who takes on and sheds blockers in the run game while also showing the explosiveness to get up field and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

11. Josh Doctson, Wide receiver, TCU

Doctson is a polished receiver who excels at making acrobatic catches. He isn't quick or sudden off the line of scrimmage, but has a great understanding of how to get open.

12. Shaq Lawson, Defensive end, Clemson

Lawson was extremely productive at Clemson, finishing with 12.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss this past season. He plays hard the entire game and even fought through a shoulder injury. Lawson doesn't have elite athleticism, but works his way into the backfield with power and a motor that doesn't stop.

13. Laquon Treadwell, Wide receiver, Ole Miss

Treadwell didn't time well in the 40-yard-dash and he struggles to create consistent separation. However, he makes tough, contested catches in traffic and he has the athleticism and strength to make plays after.

14. Andrew Billings, Defensive tackle, Baylor

Strength is the name of the game for Billings, who has the power to shove blockers backwards while also showing quickness and athleticism to beat the his man off the line.

15. Darron Lee, Linebacker, Ohio State

Lee isn't physical and will miss his share of tackles, but his unique athleticism and speed at the position make him perfect for this era. Lee is explosive, showing the burst to make plays behind the line, at the line and in coverage.

16. Corey Coleman, Wide receiver, Baylor

He might be just 5-foot-11, but Coleman is an all-around receiver, showing the ability to play bigger than his size. Speed. Explosiveness. Athleticism. Quickness in and out of breaks. Ball skills. Coleman has all the tools to be a big-play receiver. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

17. Leonard Floyd, Linebacker, Georgia

Floyd was a three-year starter who lined up all over the field. While he's wiry and needs to get stronger, the former Bulldog is a terror off the edge. His explosive first step makes it hard for offensive tackles to handle him off the snap. He will be at his best when used as a pass rusher.

18. William Jackson III, Cornerback, Houston

Jackson has the ideal size to become a quality press corner at the next level. With good awareness and natural ball skills it's easy to see why he led the nation in pass breakups and hauled in five interceptions.

19. Jaylon Smith, Linebacker, Notre Dame

Smith was one of the best defensive players in the draft before a scary knee injury during the Fiesta Bowl. That leaves his draft position in question. The talent is undeniable. He has the athleticism, speed and physical style to play any linebacker spot. He's a playmaker and will be a steal if he can return to pre-injury form in the future. It will require lots of patience from the team that takes him.

20. Mackensie Alexander, Cornerback, Clemson

Alexander's size and production don't show a top cornerback. Ignore that. Alexander is competitive, tough, smart and instinctive. He shows a willingness to help in the run game and was rarely challenged at Clemson.

21. Jarran Reed, Defensive tackle, Alabama

Powerful and tough, Reed is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in the draft. He doesn't show much when it comes to rushing the passer, which may limit his value.

22. Jack Conklin, Offensive lineman, Michigan State

He was a three-year starter at Michigan State and got better every season. He has good size and toughness and would be at his best as a road-grading power tackle.

23. Reggie Ragland, Linebacker, Alabama

While the former Alabama leader doesn't excel at anything, he does a lot of different things well. He's an aggressive, hard-hitting linebacker who showed some ability to rush off the edge this past season.

24. Ryan Kelly, Center, Alabama

The three-year starter has the smarts, toughness and size to start from Day One. As the players around him changed, Kelly was the model of consistency for the Alabama offensive line.

25. Carson Wentz, Quarterback, North Dakota State

He has the raw tools -- size, athleticism, arm strength and smarts -- to be successful in the NFL. The key word there is "raw." Wentz is a "see-it-throw-it" QB, who has a tendency to lock onto his receivers. Anyone drafting Wentz, and it looks to be the Eagles, will be doing it based on what they believe he will become, not who he currently is. 

Kyrie Irving empathizes with Warriors, Clippers and other teams dealing with playoff injuries, says 'it absolutely sucks'

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For the second straight year, injuries have shaken up the playoff picture, with Golden State's Stephen Curry and Los Angeles' duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin being the latest stars to be sidelined.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- For the second straight year, injuries have shaken up the playoff picture, with Golden State's Stephen Curry and Los Angeles' duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin being the latest stars to be sidelined.

The Cleveland Cavaliers know that pain, as they tried to navigate the treacherous postseason waters without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving last year.

Ultimately, they ran out of healthy bodies and didn't have enough firepower to keep pace with the balanced and explosive Warriors in the NBA Finals, falling two games short of winning the title.

Irving, who hobbled to the locker room during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and spent the rest of the series watching helplessly with a look of anguish, said following Wednesday's practice that he empathizes with the Warriors, Clippers and other teams hit by injuries at the worst possible time.

"For sure, 100 percent," Irving said. "I'm watching TV and I'm seeing C.P. come out and you could tell he's really frustrated and Steph goes down on a freakish play that could have happened to anyone but he's already coming back from the ankle sprain and he comes out and sprains his MCL. That just sucks, it absolutely sucks."

For Irving, it was hard to get over, announcing on Media Day that his 2015-16 season would be fueled by anger. He had waited so long for his opportunity on the postseason stage, suffering through a handful of losing seasons and being hounded with questions about his ability to be a winning NBA player.

The feelings of frustration and disappointment were hard to shake, just like they will be for others dealing with the same plight this postseason. 

"To be out for the series or out for a number of weeks, especially at the highest level of intensity of basketball that we've played basically in our whole entire lives is what it all boils down to," Irving said. "Definitely you've got to empathize with those guys, but at the end of the day they still have other guys in that locker room that have to pick up the pieces and they have figure it out, it's just part of the playoffs."

The Curry-less Warriors continue their first-round series Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets. With a win, they will move on to the conference semifinals.

Still, their title chances hinge on Curry's right knee and how quickly he can return.

He could be back sometime during the second round, provided they get one more win against Houston, or he may be out longer. Even the Warriors couldn't give a firm timetable. 

The Clippers, who led the Trail Blazers in the series, 2-0, before losing two straight in Portland, will try to advance without their top two players. Paul (hand) and Griffin (quad) are both expected to miss the remainder of the postseason.

Those aren't the only teams dealing with injuries either. Charlotte's Nicolas Batum is expected to return from an ankle injury in Game 5, but missed two games against the Miami Heat. Boston's Avery Bradley was lost indefinitely late in the Game 1 loss against the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks.

The last week has been a reminder of how unpredictable the playoffs can be and how quickly outlooks can change.

"That's what it's about. It's a lot of luck," Irving said. "Guys just doing work in the weight room, staying ready every single game and doing whatever is possible so if something does happen you have a clear conscience, you can look yourself in the mirror and say you did everything possible to be as healthy as you could be for that time and that game and living in that moment. That's the only thing that matters. Now if something happens, it happens. For us it's just continue to maintain our work in the weight room and on the court."

While other teams are fighting to move forward, the Cavaliers have already reserved their spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They completed the sweep against the Detroit Pistons, gained valuable lessons throughout and players were reminded of the playoff intensity.

Perhaps most notably, the Cavs exited the first round fully intact.

J.R. Smith missed Wednesday's practice for precautionary reasons after suffering a minor groin injury in the first half of the series finale, but it is not considered serious. 

"The most important thing in the playoffs is just staying healthy," Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. "The level of intensity picks up and guys are playing harder, you're competing harder, you're playing more minutes now, so, injuries are always very important. Getting through that first series, which was a tough and physical series for us, with no one getting injured was good for us."

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