A meeting has been scheduled for December in Dallas, and several owners expressed their optimism on Tuesday that labor peace, not discord, is ahead.

Associated PressNew England's Robert Kraft is among those owners optimistic that the NFL and the NFLPA can soon settle on a new contract bargaining agreement.

Chicago, Ill. – The next time NFL owners meet about the labor situation, some of them believe a new deal with the players might be reached.

A meeting has been scheduled for December in Dallas, and several owners expressed their optimism on Tuesday that labor peace, not discord, is ahead.

At the conclusion of the league's fall meetings, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said "we're moving ahead. I'd like to see this get done before the season ends." Asked if that was a realistic objective, he added "to me it is."

Chimed in Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, like Kraft one of the league's power brokers, "I wouldn't want to speculate on the degree of realism one way or the other as far as a timetable of getting it done. We as owners will continue to strive to have an agreement as soon as possible. I get the message that the union feels the same way."

Indeed, Kevin Mawae, president of the NFL Players Association, said just that in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

"We should recognize the business we are both in and for our fans and workers, let's wrap this up by the holidays," Mawae said. "Since 2006, the players contributed almost $3 billion to stadium construction and improvements, so our investment is at risk, too. The players are the ones losing their health care, and yet it was the owners who opted out of this deal and are threatening a lockout."

There were no threats at these meetings. Of course, there's also no imminent deadline to reach a new contract; in 2008, the owners opted out of the deal reached in 2006, saying it's too costly to them, and the CBA expires in March.

"It's a big responsibility to find a way and a solution," Indianapolis Colts owner Jimmy Irsay said. "It's never easy, and I'm optimistic that we will get it done."

The owners were expressing such confidence even as they were discussing strategies for negotiations and the possibility of a work stoppage.

"Our issue is to get there sooner rather than later, bargaining in good faith and get an agreement with the players that is fair," added Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Expanding the regular season to 18 games was not discussed, except when Irsay joked about it. Colts President Bill Polian said recently that it was a "fait accompli," and Polian was admonished by Goodell.

"There's nothing else to report," Irsay said with a laugh. "My president said some things and then the commissioner said some things to him and I said some things."

Goodell reiterated Tuesday that the league wants all of its partners involved in such a decision.

"We're trying to do it the right way, in a comprehensive fashion and understanding all perspectives of this," Goodell said. "We recognize the player health safety issues and what we do to prepare our players in the offseason. I think we've been both thoughtful and intelligent. We made a proposal to the players on this.

"Every day you go by without implementing it, that's probably another day it is into the future. We're not as focused on when as much as doing it properly."

Goodell and the NFL Alumni announced a partnership to benefit retired players that will include the Gay Culverhouse Players' Outreach Program.

Efforts will include hiring case workers, establishment of a toll-free hot line and personal contact with retired players and their families through events sponsored by NFL Alumni and the Culverhouse program.

"There are very comprehensive benefits and services available," Goodell said. "But too often former players and their families don't know what they are or how to gain access to the programs."

Hall of Famer Mike Ditka spoke to the owners about treatment of retired players. Ditka is an active critic of how the league has handled taking care of retired players.

"Ain't no one going broke in football," Ditka said. "Greed is a great sin."

Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, co-chairman of the NFL's competition committee, said he expects the league to review the rule that cost Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson a potential winning touchdown in a season-opening loss to Chicago. After Johnson went to the turf with possession, he placed the ball on the ground as he ran to celebrate. It's been one of the season's most discussed — and dissed — calls.

"The going-to-the-ground rule definitely will be discussed," McKay said. "It's been discussed the last couple of years. It's a difficult rule. It was made for on-field officials, not as much for people watching on TV."

"There's a definite conflict," he added. "We have to go back and look if we extended it too far."

The competition committee will meet after the Super Bowl and then suggest any rules changes to team owners at the league's spring meetings in March.

"Get used to stories and sentiments like this, Antonetti. Your boss created a losing environment, and it's a wonder anyone would want to play here. This thing better get turned around in a hurry." - Common Sense

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerDoes Shin-Soo Choo want out of Cleveland?

In response to the story Korean newspaper claims Shin-Soo Choo wants 'transfer' from Cleveland Indians; GM Antonetti rejects story, cleveland.com reader Common Sense wouldn't be surprised if Choo did want out of Cleveland. This reader writes,

"Get used to stories and sentiments like this, Antonetti. Your boss created a losing environment, and it's a wonder anyone would want to play here. This thing better get turned around in a hurry."

"The only chance for the Browns to win Sunday is to start Josh Cribbs at QB and stick with him. How ready do you think the Steelers would be for this? Josh has never started an NFL game at QB, either. What do you have to lose at this point?" - orangeaide

View full sizeTracy Boulian | The Plain DealerSome Browns fans think Josh Cribbs should start at quarterback Sunday for the Browns.

In response to the story Ben Roethlisberger's return a boost for Pittsburgh Steelers against Browns: Tony Grossi's Scouting Report, cleveland.com reader orangeaide thinks Josh Cribbs should start at quarterback. This reader writes,

"The only chance for the Browns to win Sunday is to start Josh Cribbs at QB and stick with him. How ready do you think the Steelers would be for this? Josh has never started an NFL game at QB, either. What do you have to lose at this point?"

"Ohio State and every other university should be doing all they can to keep these sleazy agents away from their athletes. If the universities do their part, that is about all they can do. Unfortunately the agents are still going to be able to get to the athletes because of the financial situation that many of them are in." - Running_On_Empty

View full sizeSantonio Holmes.

In response to the story OSU investigating Sports Illustrated claims that Santonio Holmes took money from agent while in college, cleveland.com reader Running_On_Empty thinks this problem isn't going away any time soon. This reader writes,

"Ohio State and every other university should be doing all they can to keep these sleazy agents away from their athletes. If the universities do their part, that is about all they can do. Unfortunately the agents are still going to be able to get to the athletes because of the financial situation that many of them are in."

While James discussed leaving Tuesday night's game with what he called a leg cramp, his receding hairline was more obvious than ever. James might be facing a "Decision, II" on ESPN about what to do about it.

Associated PressLeBron James (left) has one less ring and a lot less hair than teammate Dwyane Wade (right).

Cleveland, Ohio -- LeBron James' hair is doing what his pressure free throws often don't: getting drained.

Cleveland.com Cavaliers forum posters have debated the status of James' hairline for years. That argument seems to have been decided. The James "brand," his marketability, will soon have to adjust to a new dimension: baldness.

Never has it been more apparent that the man who has said he strives to be the first athlete to become a billionaire will have to get there while follicularly-challenged. In fact, Tiger Woods' golf-related earnings, including endorsements, are in that thousand million range for his career. Depending on the terms of Woods' divorce settlement with Elin Nordegren, though, his finances might be receding as fast as James' hairline.

But, maybe not.

Video: From ESPN, LeBron James speaking with the media after the Miami Heat's preseason game on Tuesday night. At the end of the Brian Windhorst interview, click on to "LeBron on Leg Cramp."

James spoke with the media following the Heat's 96-85 win over CSKA Moscow in Miami on Tuesday night. He talked about having to limp off the court in the third quarter with what he said was a cramp in his right leg. It may have been yet another sign of aging.

James said when he left the Cavaliers as a free agent that his chances of winning a championship were enhanced by taking his "talents to South Beach."

Can James win a title before he loses his hair? Will he look like Z? Will he and his team announce a hair-restoration plan during an hour-long special on ESPN? Will Marv Albert emcee?

Scott Shaw/The Plain DealerLeBron James goes after a loose ball against Kobe Bryant.  All of the favorites won in the second round of the Starting Blocks fantasy one-on-one tournament. The Final Four is now set with Michael Jordan against Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant against Julius Erving. Can Jordan deal with the length of Durant? Will Bryant be too...

Scott Shaw/The Plain DealerLeBron James goes after a loose ball against Kobe Bryant.

All of the favorites won in the second round of the Starting Blocks fantasy one-on-one tournament.

The Final Four is now set with Michael Jordan against Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant against Julius Erving.

Can Jordan deal with the length of Durant? Will Bryant be too quick for Dr. J?

In the Elite Eight, Jordan defeated Larry Bird. Durant was too much for George Gervin; Bryant handled LeBron James, and Allen Iverson didn't have an answer for Dr. J.

Remember, voting is based on who would win in one-on-one (game to 21), not who is the best basketball player in relation to a game.

A good one-on-one player must be quick, have the ability to finish at the basket, possess good ball-handling skills and have a good outside shot. And who can play some defense.

As more is learned about long-term damage of head trauma and NFL emphasizes concussion prevention, broadcasters have to walk a fine line between savoring good, tough play and glorifying hits that can cause serious harm.

Associated PressBrowns safety T.J. Ward (right) making his controversial hit on Bengals receiver Jordan Shipley (center).

The violent hit that left Cincinnati Bengals receiver Jordan Shipley with a concussion was an illegal one, earning Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward a $15,000 fine.

To NFL Network analysts Deion Sanders and Steve Mariucci, it wasn't so clear-cut.

The end-zone collision two weeks ago prompted an impassioned debate on "GameDay Highlights" that spilled over into later shows, with Sanders insisting it was a clean hit and Mariucci just as adamant that Ward deserved every cent of the punishment he eventually got.

"His shoulder hit his face," Mariucci said. "A defenseless receiver."

"Where do you want him to hit him? In the stomach?" Sanders shot back.

Football's violent nature is part of its wide appeal. But as more is learned about the long-term damage of head trauma and the NFL puts increased emphasis on preventing concussions, broadcasters have to walk a fine line between savoring good, tough play and glorifying hits that can cause serious harm.

"The truth is, the announcers set the tone for what's good sportsmanship and what's bad sportsmanship," said Chris Nowinski, a former pro wrestling star and football player at Harvard who is now president of the Sports Legacy Institute, which promotes the study, treatment and prevention of brain trauma in athletes.

"It's not a requirement for their job to understand the concussion problem," Nowinski said. "But the responsibility the announcers have, the reach they have to shape the future of the game, is so big."

Time was, a hit that knocked a player out would get rave reviews and few cared whether it was legal or not. Guys who stayed in the game when they couldn't even tell you their names were hailed as warriors.

Yet as evidence has emerged about the catastrophic damage that comes with concussions and other head trauma, prevention and care is becoming a focal point for the NFL. There are new return-to-play guidelines this year, and teams must consult with an independent neurologist whenever there is a head injury. Rules also were changed to prevent "defenseless" players from taking shots above their shoulders.

Cutting big hits out of broadcasts isn't an option. They're part of the game and, unless the league wants to be little more than a flag-football game in the park, always will be, said Joe Theismann, an analyst with the NFL Network, the league's broadcasting arm.

"You have guys running 20 yards at full speed, running into a guy that's either bigger or smaller," Theismann said. "It's the old theory about mass. In this case, when two massive units collide, something's going to give."

Still, while it's hard to quantify, how the big hits are addressed seems to be changing, at least on the pro level.

When Bears backup Todd Collins left a recent game against the New York Giants after being sacked, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth didn't crack a joke or make light of Chicago losing another quarterback (Jay Cutler had already been knocked out with a concussion). Instead, Collinsworth explained that the way Collins was hit and the fact his arms were pinned had made him vulnerable to an injury because he had no chance to break his fall.

Collins was diagnosed with a stinger, and played Sunday.

"As long as a hit is clean and fair and within the techniques and fundamentals of how the game is to be played, I've got no problem highlighting that or making it a point of emphasis," said ESPN analyst Merril Hoge, whose career was cut short by concussions. "I will never credit or applaud or highlight or emphasize improper techniques or deliberate acts of brutality. And there are some of those that take place."

Even that debate between Sanders and Mariucci was enlightening. While Sanders said he saw nothing wrong with the hit, Mariucci not only said it was illegal, but told viewers why — when he referred to Shipley as "defenseless."

"One of our big challenges, it's like we have to reintroduce how to play the game. We have to teach it right," Hoge said. "We almost have to reintroduce that to our youth levels. And then, obviously, over time it's going to change. But we're not going to change it overnight."

Case in point: When Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb went down with a concussion in the first week of the season, someone could be heard making cuckoo noises when the highlight was first shown on the NFL Network's website. That same week, an analyst described a linebacker who was staggering off the field as being "on queer street." Neither comment was part of later highlight packages.

"We have always been sensitive and will continue to be sensitive to injuries and player safety," Eric Weinberger, executive producer for NFL Network, said through the league. "We cover all aspects of the games in our news shows, but we do not use illegal hits to promote our sport."

Weinberger declined to answer further questions, including whether the NFL Network edits out comments that could be seen as glorifying hits that could cause a head injury.

Part of the reason networks hire analysts like Sanders, Michael Irvin and Terry Bradshaw is because their colorful personalities ratchet up the entertainment value of a show. Even Colts fans had to laugh when Sanders yelled, "Scobee-Dobee-Doo!" as Jacksonville's Josh Scobee kicked a 59-yard field goal on the final play to beat Indianapolis.

Sometimes, though, comments that might once have been funny can be seen as insensitive.

As the line between a great hit and one that's illegal gets clearer, Nowinski said he hopes comments like that will fade.

"From the health perspective, we need the country to buy in on this," he said. "And the people on the front line are the announcers."

Harrison had become a backup to Peyton Hillis and Bell was playing even less for the Eagles.

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer Jerome Harrison (35) running with the football against Gerald McCoy (right) and the Buccaneers during the Browns' 17-14 season-opening loss at Tampa Bay.

Game story from Plain Dealer Browns history database. Browns' only loss in first seven 1964 games was at home to the Steelers, 23-7. Pittsburgh wasn't a contender, but this was a key win for a Cleveland team on its way to the NFL title.

Plain Dealer historical photo collection(Left to right) Defensive backs Bobby Franklin, Ross Fichtner, Larry Benz and Bernie Parrish helped the Browns top the Steelers in a key 1964 game. Another important Browns DB was Walter Beach.

By Mike Peticca

Plain Dealer Reporter

Cleveland, Ohio -- Beginning in 1950, when the All-America Football Conference folded -- partly due to the Browns' championship monopoly -- and Cleveland joined the National Football League, the Browns dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cleveland won 21 of 27 games between the teams until Nov. 10, 1963, when the Steelers edged the Browns, 9-7, in Pittsburgh, as then reported by The Plain Dealer Browns beat writer, the late Chuck Heaton. The loss was quite costly, as the Browns finished one-half game behind the New York Giants in the Eastern Conference.

The next time the teams met, in Cleveland on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 1964, Pittsburgh routed the Browns, 23-7, as reported by Heaton. The loss was the first of the season for the Browns, after three wins and a tie.

The Steelers controlled those games with the running of Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson, who gained a combined 331 yards in 57 carries. By contrast, Browns Hall of Famer Jim Brown averaged 5.8 yards a run in the contests, but had just 27 carries.

So although the Browns were 5-1-1 and the Steelers 3-4 going into their meeting on Nov. 1, 1964, the Browns went into Pittsburgh knowing they had to play well to maintain control of the Eastern Conference title chase.

The Plain Dealer's Browns history database features PD stories on every Browns regular season and playoff game in the team's history. Click on to the highlighted game result for The Plain Dealer game stories. Click on to highlighted dates for the game box score and names for player's career histories, both via Pro-Football-Reference.com.

The Browns won the Eastern Conference championship and the NFL title in 1964. Chuck Heaton's Plain Dealer game story on the Browns' 30-17 win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, 1964 includes his comments on the Browns' offensive production, highlighted by Jim Brown becoming the first player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards, and:

The Browns' defense and Larry Benz in particular, probably deserved equal billing.

Ripped apart by the Steelers in Cleveland, the defenders certainly are able to hold their heads high after this one. Pittsburgh was permitted only 251 yards, 165 on the ground and a net total of 86 passing.

ED BROWN found the target with only eight of his 23 passes. The Steelers' quarterback was thrown five times for losses totaling 42 yards. On numerous other occasions, he was forced to get rid of the football in a hurry.

This pressure helped the defensive backs and Benz took advantage of it. The former Cleveland Heights High School star, recovered from a hip injury which had him on the bench when the Giants visited Cleveland a week ago, intercepted two passes.

Don Cockroft's field goal at Cleveland Stadium with 13 seconds left paves the way for the Browns' final playoff appearance until 1980. Steelers, about to begin their dynasty, went on to postseason for first time in 27 years.

Plain Dealer historical photo collectionDon Cockroft was the Browns placekicker from 1968 to 1980.

By Mike Peticca, Plain Dealer Reporter

Game story by Chuck Heaton, The Plain Dealer

Cleveland, Ohio -- Little did anyone know the mediocrity the Cleveland Browns would soon fade to when the team prepared for a key 1972 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

And though it was apparent the Steelers were becoming an elite team, little did anyone suspect they were about to become a dynasty.

The Browns were 6-3, one game behind the Steelers in the American Football Conference Central Division, when Pittsburgh visited Cleveland on Nov. 19, 1972. The Browns won, 26-24, in the final seconds, as The Plain Dealer's Browns beat writer, the late Chuck Heaton, described in his game story (to follow).

The Browns went on to a 10-4 record, including a 30-0 loss at Pittsburgh on Dec. 3. They made the playoffs as the AFC wild card, then lost a tense divisional playoff game to the Dolphins, 20-14, on Christmas Eve. It was Cleveland's last postseason game until 1980.

The Steelers finished 11-3 to win the division title. Pittsburgh, which had played one postseason game in its previous 39 NFL seasons, topped the Oakland Raiders, 13-7, in a divisional playoff contest decided on the famous fourth-and-long, 60-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris in the final seconds; the so-called "Immaculate Reception." The flukey play on which Bradshaw scrambled, fired a desperation heave that bounced off Pittsburgh's John "Frenchy" Fuqua when he was hit by Oakland's Jack Tatum, and the football plucked from the air by the trailing Harris just as it was about to hit the ground.

Pittsburgh lost the AFC championship game to Miami, 21-17. Miami defeated the Washington Redskins, 14-7, to win the Super Bowl and complete its 17-0 season.

The Plain Dealer's Browns history database features PD stories on every Browns regular season and playoff game in the team's history. Click on to the highlighted game result for The Plain Dealer game stories. Click on to highlighted dates for the game box score via Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Chuck Heaton's Plain Dealer game story follows.

By Chuck Heaton

Plain Dealer Reporter

Nov. 19, 1972

     The Browns have rallied to win many last-second games during their more-than-bright quarter-century in football. They won one Sunday afternoon in the mud and gloom of the Stadium that ranks with the most dramatic ever.

The 26-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had been favored by eight points, was a team triumph. It also was a most satisfying moment for coach Nick Skorich and his staff.

They had supplied the blueprint which made the upset possible. Also, they convinced their players that the Steelers, despite successive victories over Cincinnati and Kansas City, were not supermen who could not be beaten.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, it all came down to Don Cockroft in one of the most testing moments of his career. Only moments earlier, the blond booter had been wide to the right with a 27-yard field-goal attempt which would have put the Browns ahead.

That came with under two minutes left. The Browns regained the football, thanks to a tremendous defensive effort. They moved into field-goal position on pinpoint passes by Mike Phipps, who certainly has come of age as the club's quarterback.

There were 13 seconds remaining as Skorich gave the sign to Cockroft. The ball was on the Pittsburgh 18-yard line. A steady drizzle was falling, and the field had been churned up in that section where the football must be set down.

COCKROFT EARLIER HAD KICKED field goals of 26, 38 and 12 yards, without which this final trial wouldn't have been meaningful. He undoubtedly had some mental assists from Cleveland followers in the standing-room-throng of 83,009, who, after an afternoon of crazy shouting, suddenly went quiet as the field-goal team took the field.

There was a good snap from Fred Hoaglin. Phipps set the ball down perfectly in the mud, and Cockroft kicked it in a beautiful arc through the uprights from the 26-yard line.

The signal from the officials that it was a field goal and three points brought a great roar of approval. Some of the lower-deck fans couldn't resist swarming on the field, and suddenly it almost seemed that the sun was shining.

There was time for the kickoff and one incomplete pass by Terry Bradshaw. Then the final gun sounded, and the Browns found themselves tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the Central Division of the American Football Conference.

BOTH TEAMS HAVE RECORDS of seven victories and three defeats after this fifth straight Cleveland victory, which ended a string of five consecutive Steelers triumphs. Now the title is up for grabs between the two clubs, with a meeting in Pittsburgh a week from Sunday looming very important in the aspirations of both teams.

There are formidable assignments for both next Sunday, with the Steelers probably having the more difficult task. They'll be playing host to the Minnesota Vikings, as the Browns entertain O.J. Simpson and the Buffalo Bills on the lakefront.

It really would have been a shame for the Browns to lose this game, because they outplayed a squad that was supposed to be more physical and have more talent. Pride is important in a football team, and the 1972 Browns showed that they are similar to Cleveland clubs of old in the regard.

Except for one major lapse when Franco Harris, the Steelers' flashy rookie running back shook loose for 75 yards from scrimmage for a touchdown, the defense was very tough. It gave up yardage reluctantly with Nick Roman, starting at defensive end, being a major contributor.

NOT ENOUGH CAN BE said for the offensive line and particularly John Demarie. They answered the challenge of Mean Joe Greene and friends by opening holes which were used to the fullest advantage by Leroy Kelly and Bo Scott.

Phipps also gained new stature before a press box audience which included some writers on hand to watch Pittsburgh move closer to its first division title. Mike, who certainly has answered any critics who doubted his ability to perform under pressure, clicked on 14 of 25 passes for 194 yards.

The former Purdue University star was thrown three times for losses of 22 yards and has two interceptions, but he averaged 8 yards on three carries. He also made the two big plays when the chips were down.

After the defense forced a punt in the closing seconds, Kelly returned 9 yards to the Browns' 42-yard line. There were 52 seconds left when Phipps went to work.

HE STARTED WITH A pass to Fair Hooker over the middle for 17 yards. That used up 12 seconds. Then came another down the middle to Frank Pitts for 18 yards.

The Cleveland timeouts had been used up, and the clock had to be stopped. Phipps again passed toward Pitts. It was a dangerous throw that might have been an interception for a touchdown for the Browns.

Neither Pitts nor safety Mike Wagner could get the football. The Steelers were offside on the play, so Cockroft had his reprieve with the ball on the 18-yard line.

Harris, thanks primarily to that 75-yard touchdown jaunt, led both teams on the ground with 136 yards. Kelly was superb, however, with amazing second effort for 107 yards on 21 carries. Scott, playing despite a very sore foot, gained 84 yards on 14 tries for a 6-yard average. And this came against a team that completely shut off the Kansas City running game last Sunday.

BRADSHAW CLICKED ON 10 of 21 passes for 136 yards. He was thrown four times for 33 yards and a touchdown. The latter came on a pass to Gerry Mullins, a guard who shifted out to end for the play. It was a toss of 3 yards just before the half which saw the Browns with a 21-10 bulge.

The Steelers had gone to the front at the start on a 39-yard field goal by Ray Gerela. The Browns tied it in that first period with Cockroft's 26-yard boot and went ahead on Phipps' sneak for 1 yard and a touchdown.

Cockroft hiked the lead with a 38-yard field goal, and Pitts added to the margin by taking a 17-yard toss from Phipps. Then came Mullins' score for the visitors just before the half.

Cleveland got on the board first in the third quarter with Cockroft's 12-yard field goal. John Fuqua, held to 46 yards, hit the line for 1 yard to reduce the bulge to six points.

THEN CAME THE 75-YARD dash by Harris in the fourth quarter. He pounded his left end in a short-yardage situation, eluded Walt Sumner at midfield and romped into the end zome. Gerela's kick put the Steelers on top, 24-23.

There was time enough for three Cleveland tries. John Rowser killed off the first with a pass interception. Then Cockroft missed on his 27-yard field goal try.

This is an unusual Browns team, however. It refused to accept defeat. So the opportunity was provided for Cockroft's game-winning three points.

Cleveland has Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and the New York Jets in that order. The last three games are on the road.

Colt McCoy says he's confident and excited about making his NFL debut Sunday in Pittsburgh and will rely on his teammates to carry him through the day.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain Dealer"On the road at Pittsburgh, yeah, all the odds are stacked against us," likely starting QB Colt McCoy said Wednesday about leading the Browns offense against the Steelers. "But if we do what we can do, we have a chance. We're fired up. Let's go play ball."

QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL
These are the players who have started at least one game for the Browns at quarterback since they returned as an expansion team in 1999, listed in chronological order, with total starts and record:

1. Ty Detmer (2): 0-2 .000
2. Tim Couch (59): 22-37 .373
3. Doug Pederson (8): 1-7 .125
4. Spergon Wynn (1): 0-1 .000
5. Kelly Holcomb (13): 4-9 .308
6. Jeff Garcia (10): 3-7 .300
7. Luke McCown (4): 0-4 .000
8. Trent Dilfer (11): 4-7 .364
9. Charlie Frye (18): 5-13 .278
10. Derek Anderson (34): 16-18 .471
11. Brady Quinn (13): 4-9 .308
12. Ken Dorsey (3): 0-3 .000
13. Bruce Gradkowski (1): 0-1 .000
14. Jake Delhomme (1): 0-1 .000
15. Seneca Wallace (4): 1-3 .250
Total: 60-122 .330

THREE’S A CROWD
This will be the fourth year since 1999 the Browns have needed to start a third quarterback in a season. It’s also the earliest they’ve burned through their first two quarterbacks. In 2008, the Browns wound up starting a fourth quarterback, too:

2000: Tim Couch (started season), Doug Pederson (Game 8), Spergon Wynn (Game 14)
2004: Jeff Garcia (started season), Kelly Holcomb (Game 11), Luke McCown (Game 12)
2008: Derek Anderson (started season), Brady Quinn (Game 8), Ken Dorsey (Game 13), Bruce Gradkowski (Game 16)
2010: Jake Delhomme (started season), Seneca Wallace (Game 2), Colt McCoy/Brett Ratliff (Game 6)
— Tony Grossi

BEREA, Ohio -- To get a jump on preparations for his presumed first NFL start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy jokingly asked Jake Delhomme to sit with him and watch film of the Steelers to share some wisdom from his 12 years in the league.

"He said, 'I haven't played them,'" McCoy recounted, laughing. "Nobody in our locker room has, of the quarterbacks."

Sad, but mostly true.

Seneca Wallace did appear in the fourth quarter of a 2007 game in Heinz Field won by the Steelers, 21-0.

And so Delhomme and Wallace, expatriates of the NFC in regions unfamiliar to the rough-and-tumble AFC North, will be of little help to McCoy as he prepares for the cauldron aside the confluence of the three rivers.

At least Brett Ratliff, who rejoined the team to serve initially as McCoy's backup, has experienced a Browns-Steelers game from the sidelines. He was the Browns' inactive third quarterback in Pittsburgh last season.

But, like McCoy, Ratliff has never played in a regular-season NFL game -- much less a Browns-Steelers game.

Sometimes what you don't know won't hurt you.

"In '99, we went into Three Rivers Stadium and won, and I kicked the game-winner and I had no clue about the rivalry, or the history, or the intensity of the game itself," said kicker Phil Dawson. "I just went out there and kicked the ball around."

The chances of McCoy going out there and throwing the ball around would appear to be slim. The Browns undoubtedly will carve an offensive game plan around running back Peyton Hillis -- who is expected to play despite sitting out practice Wednesday -- their offensive line and their tight ends.

"We know who we are and what we can do," McCoy said, referring to the team's smash-mouth identity on offense.

"I think our guys have full confidence in the coaches and it's our job to go out and execute. I've watched their defense the last two days, a lot. They're really fast, fly around the ball, they're physical. One of their big things, they move around, walk around, and try to get a rusher free that's not accounted for.

"As a team, we have to execute together. It's not me having to play an outstanding game. It's all of us."

Who'd have thought, after the regime change to Mike Holmgren and the rapid-fire flushing out of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, that this 2010 season would be tainted by more quarterback drama?

Despite the best efforts of Holmgren and General Manager Tom Heckert, this will be the fourth time since 1999 that the Browns have the need to start a third quarterback. But this is by far the earliest they've had to go to that well.

In 2000, Chris Palmer didn't have to call on his third quarterback until Game 14. In 2004, interim coach Terry Robiskie tabbed rookie Luke McCown in Game 12. In 2008, Romeo Crennel tried to win with Ken Dorsey in Game 13, and then started a fourth QB, Bruce Gradkowski off the street, in Game 16.

"I know this is not where we wanted to go at this point in the season," McCoy said, surrounded by reporters while his teammates razzed him for taking center stage. "Coach Holmgren said at the very beginning ... that I was going to watch and learn.

"But you know what? I've prepared like I was the starter since the first game. I worked hard in the meetings, in the film room, studied with Jake and Seneca. I've been doing that the last five weeks. I understand what we're doing offensively. I understand our game plans. Now it's just go out and do it."

Coach Eric Mangini said McCoy will get the bulk of the first-team reps in practice, but he has not ruled out starting Ratliff in Pittsburgh. Ratliff, who spent four preseasons in Mangini's offensive system -- two in New York and two here -- was signed off the New England practice squad. Ratliff said he was offered the same deal by the Patriots to stay on their regular roster, but he elected to return to the Browns because he felt it presented a greater opportunity for him to play.

Mangini said, "Brett does have those built-up reps, but Colt has been with us throughout the whole season and he's gotten quite a few reps with the ones and with the offense in general. I think both are facing some challenges of lack of game experience and both have some advantages."

Mangini said he and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll won't necessarily "scale back" the offense as much as "cater" it to McCoy, or Ratliff.

McCoy's reps in his first training camp were squeezed by the need of the coaches to acclimate newcomers Delhomme and Wallace to a new system. McCoy struggled in his first three preseason games, sometimes having to run plays for the first time without practicing them. In the final preseason game against Chicago, he fumbled his first snap, but regrouped and completed all 13 of his passes for 131 yards.

"The preseason games were my practices," he said, "so I went in and made my mistakes then I went in the last couple games and did some real good things. That obviously helped. It helped around the locker room. It helped around my coaches. So I've got a lot of confidence."

He said he doesn't feel he has something to prove and is not daunted by the thought of making his debut in Pittsburgh.

"On the road at Pittsburgh, yeah, all the odds are stacked against us. But if we do what we can do, we have a chance. We're fired up. Let's go play ball," McCoy said.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The game marks the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after serving his four game suspension. It also looks like Browns quarterback Colt McCoy will make his first NFL start.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The game marks the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after serving his four game suspension. It also looks like Browns quarterback Colt McCoy will make his first NFL start.

I like Colt," said OSU coach Jim Tressel. "He has a quick release, he's tough and he's smart. But he's in a different world now."

View full sizeNeal C. Lauron / Columbus DispatchOhio State's last memory of playing Colt McCoy was seeing the Texas quarterback lead a game-winning drive in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. So Jim Tressel and players from that game expressed respect for the Browns' rookie as he prepared for what could be his NFL debut on Sunday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State Buckeyes have felt the wrath of Colt McCoy, the rookie starter presumptive at quarterback for the Browns this Sunday at Pittsburgh.

The Buckeyes beat McCoy when he was a University of Texas redshirt freshman, in Austin in 2006. The 24-7 victory over a young Longhorn team that was ranked No. 1 early in the season as the defending national champions propelled the Buckeyes to a season-long stay at the nation's top-ranked team -- until it all came crashing down in the BCS Championship Game against Florida.

After the 2008 season, McCoy, a junior, completed 31 of 59 passes for 414 yards against OSU in the Fiesta Bowl. He ran for one touchdown and threw for two, the last from 26 yards out with 16 seconds to play. It ended a 78-yard drive in a 24-21 Texas victory. McCoy also threw an interception. He was overwhelmingly named the game's Most Valuable Player.

"I like Colt," said OSU coach Jim Tressel, a native of the Cleveland area and a lifelong Browns fan. "He has a quick release, he's tough and he's smart. But he's in a different world now. I'm sure [the Browns coaching staff] will do things to limit what he has to do."

Tressel said Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will obviously try to rattle the rookie quarterback. "You know, they say the only place coach LeBeau won't blitz from is the bus," said Tressel of LeBeau, who played on Ohio State's 1957 national championship team.

Defensive back Jermale Hines from Glenville said, "I thought Colt McCoy was a very good quarterback. He was smart and athletic. He's one of the best we've played against. Whenever we showed coverage, he got the ball out to the right man. He managed their team very well."

Defensive tackle Dexter Larimore, a fifth-year senior, had the highest praise for McCoy. "He was the best college football player we faced that year," said Larimore, and those Buckeyes faced USC's Mark Sanchez, now a two-year starter for the New York Jets. "McCoy was very accurate -- short and long. He could move outside the pocket and throw accurately. And he was hard to tackle. It's not like he was Vince Young [Texas' legendarily athletic national championship-winning QB, who preceded McCoy]. But if he got outside, he could make you miss and regret letting him get out there."

Said OSU senior defensive end Cameron Heyward. "[McCoy] is a gunslinger. He was getting it out so quick the last time we played."

Told McCoy would start against the Steelers, Heyward said, "Well, best of luck to him. Those Steelers are nothing to play with."

New book on college basketball recruiting says former OSU star violated an NCAA rule by lobbying "on behalf of his alma mater."

Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer"I've never tried to sway anyone to go to Ohio State," said Clark Kellogg on Wednesday. "For one, it's against the rules; and, two, it's not my nature to ever tell anyone where to go to school."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former NBA and Ohio State basketball star Clark Kellogg refutes an allegation in a new book that he violated NCAA rules by recruiting a promising high school player to play for the Buckeyes.

In "Play Their Hearts Out: A Coach, His Star Recruit, and the Youth Basketball Machine," Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist George Dohrmann chronicles the rise and recruitment of several top young basketball players in Southern California.

Among them was Roberto Nelson, now a 6-3, 188-pound "redshirt" freshman at Oregon State.

Dohrmann wrote that Ohio State coach Thad Matta had offered Nelson a scholarship when the recruit visited Columbus for the Ohio State-Michigan football game; and that Kellogg violated an NCAA rule when he called Bruce Nelson, the player's father, and "lobbied on behalf of his alma mater." Former players are not allowed to contact recruits or their families.

Kellogg, now lead college basketball color analyst for CBS, said the conversation was mischaracterized.

"I do recall talking to Bruce in regards to his son, but it was more along the lines of fact-finding for him," Kellogg said Wednesday by phone. "I'm not quite sure how we got in contact with one another. I think there was a third-party person who reached out to me on his behalf."

Kellogg said the conversation wasn't unusual, that he's had parents seek his input about the recruiting process in general.

"But I've never tried to sway anyone to go to Ohio State," he said. "For one, it's against the rules; and, two, it's not my nature to ever tell anyone where to go to school."

Dohrmann also wrote that Kellogg told Bruce Nelson, "I heard that the missing piece to the puzzle was a kid in California."

Kellogg said he didn't recall the alleged quote and that it made no sense because he never saw Nelson play.

"It was a more a dad-to-dad conversation as opposed to how it's been framed in this book," said Kellogg, adding that he's never spoken to the author.

Dohrmann could not be immediately reached to comment.

Kellogg, a standout at Cleveland's St. Joseph High School, attended Ohio State, where he was voted MVP of the Big Ten in 1982. He earned a degree from Ohio State in 1996 and was appointed to Ohio State's board of trustees by Gov. Ted Strickland in June.

He was a first-round draft choice -- eighth overall -- of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, where he now serves as vice president of player relations.

An Ohio State athletic compliance representative said the university looked into the allegations, concluding that Kellogg did nothing wrong.

"We've spoken with Clark and we've attempted to reach out to the [Nelson] family," said Doug Archie, associate athletic director for compliance at Ohio State. "On the facts that we have collected, we don't believe a violation occurred. Clark talked to [Nelson's] dad about the recruiting experience that his sons had."

Horsemen, fans and even his doctors are surprised Aaron Merriman is back in a sulky on Friday night at Northfield Park.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Horsemen, race fans and even his doctors are surprised Aaron Merriman will be back in a sulky on Friday night at Northfield Park.

The people who reviewed a tape of his devastating June 11 accident at The Meadows, near Pittsburgh, and know the extent of his injuries, find it impossible to imagine.

Merriman was so seriously injured it was hard to predict whether he could return to harness racing in 2011, or if the crash would bring an end to his promising career.

"The doctors told me I was healing surprisingly fast," said Merriman. "At first, they told me it would take a year to get back. Then six months. It's been five months, and I figure the sooner I get back in a sulky, the better.

"I don't feel normal, but I won't for quite a while," Merriman said. "I'm used to competing every day on the racetrack, and I want to be doing it again. I'm really excited about getting back on the track. The wrists and elbow have healed, though I know my arms will never be the same. It's pretty doubtful I'll ever have the range of motion I once did."

PD photo"I don't feel normal, but I won't for quite a while," Northfield Park sulky driver Aaron Merriman said before his return to racing on Friday. "I'm used to competing every day on the racetrack, and I want to be doing it again."

With other horses piling over top of Merriman in the life-threatening crash, North America's leading driver broke both wrists and shattered an elbow. One hand was almost completely ripped from his arm. Merriman said laying on the track and looking at his arm, the wrist broken so badly his hand was pinned against his forearm, was the most traumatic memory of that afternoon.

When Merriman, 32, was sidelined, he held a commanding lead in the North American driving standings. The lead was so impressive, he's still ranked in the national top 20 despite not racing for four months.

"After the success I had earlier in the year, I want to go make a run for the title again [in 2011]," he said. "I had a pretty good jump on everyone."

Merriman isn't planning to jump right into a full schedule of racing. He has been lifting weights and working out to ease the transition.

On Friday night at Northfield, Merriman will step out in the seventh race with Holdzmfromfloppin, trained by his father, Lanny Merriman. He'll return with Gifted Attack in the eighth; Longlegacy in the ninth; and French Worker in the 14th.

For Merriman, that's a light night.

"I'm already getting calls to drive horses," he said. "I'm glad I'm still on people's minds."

Pleasant Prince chases Cup: Ohio Derby winner Pleasant Prince is being asked to do what no other thoroughbred has managed over the last four years: Beat Zenyatta, the Queen of North American racing.

The tough mare is looking to repeat in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6, and extend her career unbeaten streak to an amazing 21 races.

Pleasant Prince won the Ohio Derby by a nose on July 31 for Kentucky owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The 3-year-old convinced everyone he's tough enough to challenge Zenyatta next month by winning last Sunday's $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

Thistle and Cup: Breeders' Cup Day will close Thistledown's racing season with a bang Nov. 6.

Thistledown will simulcast the Breeders' Cup Day card, and toss in a handicapping tournament and customer appreciation specials for its 2010 closer. A special buffet is planned in the Silks dining room from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To make it a colorful day, green and pink carnations -- the racing colors of Zenyatta's owner, Jerry Moss -- will be given to fans. The gates open at 11 a.m.

Big Ten travel might not be as glamorous as on the West Coast, but it has its satisfactions to the observant football fan.

Andy Manis / Associated PressPopulated with energetic fans and surrounded by crisp fall foliage, Camp Randall Stadium is Bill Livingston's favorite Big Ten football setting.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Pac-10 is a sightseer's dream, filled with alluring places like Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the desert oases of Tucson and Phoenix and the foggy gray and evergreen of the Pacific Northwest.

The Big Ten, the traditional sparring partner of the Pac-10 in the game played in the greatest setting God invented for any sport, the Rose Bowl, doesn't have the glitz.

That doesn't mean it's the Big 12, which plays in places Rand McNally is working on.

Big Ten travelers sample such delights as the cheeses at the farmers' market in Madison, Wisc., fresh ice cream in State College, Pa., and the glorification of the humble swine at a pork chop palace in Minneapolis. A historic rota of stadiums awaits -- the Big House, the Horseshoe, Kinnick Stadium, the Galloping Ghost's Memorial Stadium.

But it can be about the journey, as well as the destination. Getting there in style is dependent on fans' good eye. Much of the travel is by car. A lot of the towns are hard to get to. It helps to be a leaf peeper.

Autumn in the Midwest rivals any place on earth when the air is crisp and the cider mills are pressing the fruit. Clevelanders brag about sunsets on Lake Erie. Every hillside in northeast and central Ohio has sunset in its foliage now. Throw some pennies in the Wabash on your way out of West Lafayette, Ind., and you've got moonlight in Vermont without the Ben and Jerry's.

"Little boys will run through leaves in the back yard with a football, pretending to be Troy Smith," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel after the quarterback from Glenville High School brought the Buckeyes back from the grave in Ann Arbor in 2005.

Darrell Hoemann / Champaign News-GazetteMemorial Stadium is as full of classic football history as the surrounding farmlands are as devoid of any deviation from crops as far as the eye can see.

The buttoned-down coach let us see the boy he had been in his Rex Kern No. 10 jersey and foreshadowed the boys who were to come in their Troy Smith No. 10s, all of them finding soft, leafy landing places after their back yard touchdowns.

Northwestern and Minnesota don't count as trips that are true to the spirit of the Big Ten. Those schools either border or are inside big cities with all their attractions.

The heart of the Big Ten experience lies elsewhere. You have no feeling for Americana if you can't imagine yourself, as you drive to Indiana or Purdue, on the bus with Coach Norman Dale and the Hickory Huskers of "Hoosiers," as it rolls through the cornfields to the showdown with Terhune.

Whipping past cornstalks shivering in whitened fields in the steely light of dawn, heading for Purdue, makes you think of frost on the pumpkin and fodder in the shock. If you are not singing the "Wabash Cannonball" on the bridge, please exit the car on the other side of the river.

Getting to the University of Illinois makes for a bone-weary day, but the prairie around it provided pleasures for Buckeye fans driving home earlier this month. The gusts of morning rain were gone, but the sky to the east still frowned with clouds. In the west, it was clear. The sun was going down, and stubbled pastures gleamed like gold all the way to the horizon. In the east, a rainbow flamed briefly in a stray flare of light and faded.

The greatest place in the conference on a mellow October afternoon is Madison. The city glimmers with lakes, the leaves fall in bright, little boy-centric heaps, and the road from the airport to Camp Randall Stadium winds around a state capitol flanked by shedding trees.

Gene J. Puskar / Associated PressThe view of majestic Mount Nittany is no longer part of the setting of mammoth Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., and Penn State's football atmosphere is the lesser for it, says Bill Livingston.

The best place used to be State College, Pa. In the summer of 1993, as Penn State entered the Big Ten, coach Joe Paterno fretted that planned Beaver Stadium expansion would cut off the view of Mount Nittany and the barns and silos in its valley. "I'd hate to lose that," Paterno said.

He lost that. By 2001, an upper deck blocked the view, as the stadium capacity increased to over 107,000.

Penn State is hardly alone in maximizing revenue and increasing stadium size. The Horseshoe at Ohio State really isn't horseshoe-shaped after a huge expansion of the south bleachers pushed capacity beyond 105,000, But Ohio State is an urban school, located near downtown Columbus.

When the Nittany Lions, so named for the eponymous mountain, sacrificed a view of Eden to profit, they lost their soul.

Browns running back is traded to the Eagles Wednesday for running back Mike Bell.

UPDATED: 9 p.m.

Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerJerome Harrison had 561 yards on 106 carries in the final three games of the 2009 season but was traded to Philly today.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns running back Jerome Harrison, who was traded to the Eagles Wednesday for running back Mike Bell, was baffled about being overlooked this season after breaking records and saving jobs at the end of 2009.

"I couldn't understand how that happened and that really had me spent," said Harrison in a phone interview. "I didn't understand one part of how it happened. I didn't get into any fights with anybody and I didn't think there were any bad feelings toward me by any of the coaches or anything."

Harrison, who was frustrated all season, rushed for 561 yards and five touchdowns over the final three games of last season and was a prime reason for the four-game winning streak that saved Eric Mangini's job. His 286 yards against Kansas City broke Jim Brown's single-game team mark and ranked third in the NFL.

Yet, this season, he was replaced by rookie Montario Hardesty right from the start and then Peyton Hillis after Hardesty suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. All told, Harrison had 91 yards on 31 carries in three games after being inactive in Baltimore. He also caught four passes for 42 yards.

"It was mind-boggling," said Harrison. "But it's the nature of the business. I didn't understand it. I'm not an angry person, so I'm not upset. But I was a little frustrated."

Harrison (5-9, 205) was surprised to be on the sidelines for the opener in Tampa while Hillis started. Harrison was limited to nine carries for 52 yards.

"I don't think I was what they wanted," he said. "People have different likes and dislikes. I don't think I was in their current plans or their future plans."

Harrison, in the last year of his contract, did get 16 carries the following week against Kansas City, but lost a fumble. The Browns thought he was down, but Mangini stressed that it shouldn't have been on the ground in the first place. The next week, Harrison was inactive with a thigh injury in Baltimore while Hillis rushed for 144 yards.

A few days later, when Harrison was asked if his role might change, he said, "I didn't know what my role was in the first place." Asked about his carries, he said, "What carries?"

The comments didn't sit well with the Browns, but Harrison said he never heard directly of any displeasure. Instead, Mangini said publicly that if Harrison had a problem, his door was always open. Harrison never took him up on it.

The following game against Cincinnati, the Browns got their point across: Harrison stood on the sidelines the whole game, trotting out only for the final three plays in the victory formation.

"[Mangini] and I never had words with each other," said Harrison. "There was never any 'I can't stand you, I hate your guts' or anything. The little I did talk to him, we laughed and joked."

Harrison said his 2.9-yard average this season was a function of not getting many chances. In four games, he ran nine, 16, zero and six times. Sunday against Atlanta, he gained only six yards on his six carries.

"If you watch those last few games of last season, all my yards came in the second half," he said. "That's just how it's always been my whole career. It always helps to get in a rhythm."

Harrison said he's overjoyed to have been traded to the Eagles, who are 3-2 and expected to contend for the NFC East title.

"All I can say is thank you," he said. "I don't feel like they were using me there, so thank you for letting me get the opportunity somewhere else. Excitement might be an understatement. I just want to go somewhere and win."

Harrison said the most disappointing part is that he dedicated himself to turning the Browns around in the off-season.

"I thought I could rush for more than 1,500 yards and take this team to the playoffs," he said. "I really wanted to be part of the turnaround. I liked where [team president] Mike Holmgren was taking this team. I love all my teammates and the fans in Cleveland. My time here has been amazing. I really did plan on being here."

Bell (6-0, 225) is said to be a better fit for the Browns' power-running game. Originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona in 2006, he also spent time with the Texans and Saints, leading New Orleans with 172 carries in 2009 and finishing second with 654 yards. Bell rushed two times for four yards in the Super Bowl victory over the Colts.

Signed as a restricted free agent by the Eagles, Bell struggled with injuries during training camp and was limited to 28 yards on 16 carries this season.

Running back Peyton Hillis was one of 11 Browns who sat out Wednesday, but he expects to play Sunday.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis will be able to play on Sunday, says Browns coach Eric Mangini.

BEREA, Ohio -- Peyton Hillis was among 11 Browns who were idle Wednesday, but coach Eric Mangini said the running back is expected to play Sunday against the Steelers.

"I expect him to practice [Thursday] or one of those days but he'll play," said Mangini.

Hillis aggravated his pulled quad muscle against the Falcons and was limping after the game, but told WKNR AM/850 Tuesday that he will be ready for the game.

Hillis was limited to 28 yards on 10 carries against the Falcons because of the injury, but caught four passes for 49 yards, including a spectacular one-handed 19-yard TD grab.

Said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin of Hillis: "Initially I thought about Jamal Lewis, maybe because they're running similar plays in a similar offense. That's really the only player who's kind of come to mind as I've watched him this week. I'm not one to categorize guys and put guys in a box and say they're like so and so. He's his own unique animal, he's a talented guy and he's doing good business for 'em."

With the trade of Jerome Harrison to the Eagles for running back Mike Bell, it could mean some playing time for James Davis, who was inactive (coaches' decision) against the Falcons. Davis has been slowed by a thigh injury, but wasn't on the injury report last week.

"I was ready to play last week," he said. "I'll approach it the same way this week. I'm always disappointed when I'm not playing, but it's up to the coaches if they feel they want to activate me or not."

The other 10 players who sat out were Kenyon Coleman (knee), Jake Delhomme (ankle), Alex Mack (shoulder), Shaun Rogers (elbow), Robert Royal (shoulder), Robaire Smith (back), Nick Sorensen (calf), John St. Clair (ankle), Seneca Wallace (ankle) and Floyd Womack (knee). Three others were limited: Josh Cribbs (ankle), Abe Elam (knee) and Joe Thomas (shin).

"There are a lot of guys on that list," said Mangini. "I'd say most of the guys I'm optimistic on. With Jake and Seneca, we'll have to see at the end of the week."

Asked if the quarterbacks are walking any better, Mangini joked, "They're moon-walking in the meeting, electric slide, we got it all."

Rust? What rust? Mangini rejected the suggestion that Ben Roethlisberger might not be sharp after his four-game suspension.

"I expect him to be really good," Mangini said. "He's had some time off and he's had a bye week to come back and he's a good player. He was a good player as a rookie, he's a good player now and I'm sure he's champing at the bit."

Roethlisberger said on a conference call that he has no idea if he'll be emotional on Sunday.

"A lot of these questions you guys are asking are probably better suited for after because right now it's just the preparation," he said. "Any time you get on the field on Sundays your emotions are completely different than they are during the week. We'll have to see. I'm not really sure."

He said some people will think that playing the Browns will add even more drama, but "for me, it's just getting back on the field and playing football."

More wildcat? Cribbs wore a play sheet on his wrist Wednesday and anticipates playing more out of the wildcat in Pittsburgh to help take the pressure off Colt McCoy.

"Definitely, I believe that," he said. "It's very possible and whenever the opportunity presents itself, I will take full advantage of it."

Two years ago, Ohio State was run over by Wisconsin's offensive line in the fourth quarter. This time in Madison, the Buckeyes know they have to hold their ground.

Morry Gash / Associated PressAs good as running back John Clay (32) is for the Wisconsin Badgers, the offense's hallmark for years has been a meaty -- and talented -- offensive line. This year's unit is led by Gabe Carimi (68) and John Moffitt.

A BIG-TIME TEST
Wisconsin’s offensive line, the biggest Ohio State has faced this season:
LT: Gabe Carimi, Sr, 6-7, 327 pounds, 24 career starts
LG: John Moffitt, Sr, 6-5, 323 pounds, 34 career starts
C: Peter Konz, So, 6-5, 313 pounds, 15 career starts
RG: Kevin Zeitler, Jr, 6-4, 315 pounds, 2 career starts
RT: Ricky Wagner, So, 6-6, 322 pounds, 3 career starts

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cameron Heyward lived it two years ago and he watched it again this week. He didn't like it either time.

With 10:46 left in the fourth quarter at Wisconsin in 2008, and the Buckeyes holding a 3-point lead, the Badgers lined up behind their brutish offensive line and ran over Ohio State with running back John Clay on the way to a go-ahead touchdown. The drive started with a 14-yard run by Clay through a huge hole on the left side of the line created in part by burying Heyward on the defensive line.

"They kicked our butts on the defensive line, but you know, it's a very physical game," Heyward said. "I think tackling and getting a good push as the defensive line [was the problem]. I think if we controlled that a little better, it would have helped our linebackers out a little bit more."

If the offense hadn't answered with a game-winning drive of its own, pulling out a 20-17 win on Terrelle Pryor's touchdown run, the memories would be a lot more haunting.

The Badgers are such a different team at home that last season's 31-13 OSU win in Columbus doesn't work well as a reference point. In that game, the Badgers tried to come out throwing, calling for passes on seven of their first 10 plays. That 10th play was an interception by Kurt Coleman returned for a touchdown. By the time the Badgers turned to Clay, it was too late.

But in 2008 what the Badgers did almost worked, and that's what the Buckeyes should expect again in Madison on Saturday.

"They're some trees and they get so much push, it's going to be critical for us to keep up the line of scrimmage on our side," Heyward said. "They pride themselves on running the ball and we have to do a great job of stopping the run and then reacting to the play action."

Clay was a freshman two years ago, bursting on the scene with 69 yards on 10 carries against the Buckeyes, including four carries for 36 yards on that late drive. Now he's a star, the Big Ten's reigning Offensive Player of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Week, an award he shared with Pryor. He has gained 100 yards in 13 of his last 16 games, and the Badgers are 12-1 when he hits 100 and 0-3 when he doesn't.

The low point in that stretch for Clay was last season in Columbus, when he gained 59 yards on 20 carries. The Buckeyes haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 29 games and linebacker Brian Rolle said they expect to stop the run every game.

With an offensive line that averages 6-5 and 320 pounds (OSU's line averages 305) the Badgers can't come out and trick the Buckeyes. They have to try to run.

"The problem is especially when you start talking about double teams," said senior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore, who along with Heyward was on the field to give up that touchdown drive two years ago. "That's 640-plus coming you. And the problem is they are also very good. It's not that they're these huge mammoth tree guys and they're not good. They're very good at what they do, and if you add pounds to anybody when they're already good, they'll be even that much better."

The equalizer for the Buckeyes might be their smallest defensive lineman, 6-3, 260-pound defensive end Nathan Williams. He plays the Leo spot, Ohio State's rush end position that also sometimes drops into coverage.

Two years ago, Williams had a shoulder injury and didn't make the trip to Wisconsin, and starting Leo end Thaddeus Gibson wasn't then a full-time player. On that last drive, the Buckeyes didn't have one of those quicker ends on the field, and they got overpowered anyway.

Last season, Ohio State attacked Wisconsin with quickness, playing Williams and Gibson together on nearly half the snaps and speeding past the Badger tackles on passing downs. That worked much better. But the Ohio State personnel this season doesn't allow them to play two Leo ends together as easily. So Williams will have to go it alone.

"It's not really a size thing, it's execution," Williams said. "You look at the guy across from you before the play starts and you challenge yourself to beat him every single play. ... It's like a game of chess. You have to be patient, and the things you do and the things you see and the things you feel on the field, a if you can play off and react to what you're trying to do, then good things will happen."

Two years ago, when it mattered most for the OSU defensive line, it wasn't so good.

Terrelle Pryor said his quad isn't 100 percent healthy, but the OSU QB doesn't expect the injury to limit him at all against Wisconsin.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerTerrelle Pryor promised on Wednesday that he'll be more than ready to break away from pressure and demonstrate his running ability Saturday against the Badgers. "I'm going to push myself to do whatever I possibly have to do until we’re up."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four days after his running consisted of taking three sacks against Indiana, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said Wednesday that his previously strained left quad will allow him to do whatever needs to be done at Wisconsin on Saturday.

"It's gotten a lot better," Pryor said. "Last week it was still a little tender, and we had a passing plan during the game and we didn't have to run the ball with me. This week it's full go.

"Any time you get injured you're never 100 percent. I'd be lying to you if I told you that. But it's enough to carry as much as I have to carry the ball and do what I have to do to try to help the team win."

Ohio State didn't call a single running play for Pryor against the Hoosiers, so he stood in the pocket and competed 24 of 30 passes for a career-high 334 yards. Led by defensive end J.J. Watt, the Wisconsin defense is expected to force Pryor into more difficult situations, where he'll need the option to do more than one thing.

"You throw your body around and do what you have to do," Pryor said. "At the end of the day, I don't want to lose, and for sure I'm not going to let us lose. I'm going to push myself to do whatever I possibly have to do until we're up. It's going to be a hard-fought game, and I hope [Wisconsin quarterback Scott] Tolzien thinks the same way.

"I know some of the offense revolves around me. Any time I touch the ball, it's great to have the ball, so I'm trying to make some type of play or make a first down or lead the guys any way I can."

Status report: Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said starting right tackle J.B. Shugarts practiced Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday with a recurrent foot problem that sidelined him for the second half on Saturday. He is expected to start in Madison. Tight end Jake Stoneburner seems to be nearly all the way back from a high ankle sprain and should be on track to return to the starting lineup against Wisconsin after sitting out two games.