Mejia went 0-for-3 with a walk on Sunday, a day after a scoring change breathed new life into his impressive feat.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There won't be any late-night revisions this time. Francisco Mejia's hitting streak, the longest in the minor leagues in more than a half-century, has been halted at 50 games.

Mejia went 0-for-3 with a walk on Sunday, a day after a scoring change breathed new life into his impressive feat. The Indians' catching prospect, playing for High-A Lynchburg, hadn't gone hitless in a game with at least one official at-bat since May 25.

Initially, Mejia submitted an 0-for-4 showing on Saturday. A little more than an hour after Lynchburg's 10-inning loss, however, the official scorer reversed a decision on Mejia's third-inning chopper toward third base. The play was originally ruled a two-base error. That was switched to a double, which extended Mejia's streak to 50 games, tied for the fourth-longest in minor-league history.

During his streak, Mejia posted a .386/.414/.599 slash line, with eight homers and 42 RBI.

Baseball America ranked Mejia as the No. 70 prospect in baseball on its midseason top 100 list. MLB.com ranks Mejia as the Indians' No. 4 prospect.

Francisco Mejia's hit streak is tied for the fourth-longest hit streak in minor-league history.Zack Meisel, cleveland.com 

After the decision, the Hillcats released the following statement:

"After reviewing additional data and watching video of the play, the official scorer decided to rule Mejia's batted ball in the third inning a double. The video review showed that the ball was struck far enough away from the backhand of the third baseman [Gerson Montilla] and hit with enough force and topspin to prevent Montilla from making the play with ordinary effort. Based on this, the official scorer changed the error to a hit."

Mejia's hit streak reaches 50 games

Mejia, 20, pieced together the longest hitting streak in the minors since 1954. During the streak, Mejia was included in an agree-upon trade that would have sent him to Milwaukee as part of a package for All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Instead, Lucroy nixed the deal and Mejia remained in the Indians' organization.

Receiver Terrelle Pryor aggravated the hand injury Sunday that he suffered in Green Bay. He was also upset with his performance in that game and hopes to play better against the Falcons. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Receiver Terrelle Pryor was upset with his performance against the Packers despite a diving 49-yard catch and another 8-yarder to convert a third down.

Now, he has to hope that a left hand injury suffered during that 17-11 loss doesn't prevent him from building on that game Thursday night at home against the Falcons.

Pryor, the starting Z receiver, suffered the injury on the first drive in Green Bay, presumably when he banged it on a helmet while blocking downfield. X-rays after the game were negative, but he had a bruise between the thumb and index finger.

During Sunday's practice, Pryor caught a long pass from Josh McCown on a deep cross in 11-on-11s, and on the next play, he lined up with his hand in the dirt. After that rep, he came up wincing in pain and peeled the wrap off his hand.

He stood on the sidelines rubbing the hand and opening and closing it, and was done for the day.

"It's just a little sore, just like everybody else,'' said Pryor. "Guys' hamstrings are sore, whatever it may be. I've just got to get through it. I catch a lot of balls off the JUGS. Sometimes I guess, muscles, tendons, whatever, can get sore. I've just got to get through it, keep doing my treatment the right way and I should be fine."

Hue Jackson encouraged by RG3 in debut 'for a guy that hadn't played

Pryor said the hand felt a lot better Sunday -- before practice.

"These two days, I felt it a little bit, but not as much,'' he said. "Then I got hit on my last play, so then it kind of came back. Everything checked out in terms of the X-ray and (an exam), so I guess it's just a contusion or something like that."
 
He said doctors did a manual exam on the hand and determined that the ligament was fine. They haven't done an MRI yet, but might after the events of Sunday.

"The guys that we have, they're pretty sharp,'' said Pryor. "So it definitely isn't that. It doesn't hurt in any areas like that. So I don't know."
 
Pryor acknowledged that he'll have to wear a wrap on the hand in practice and in Thursday night's game against the Falcons -- if he doesn't have rest it for a few days.

"He'll be fine,'' said coach Hue Jackson. "We're all sore. I'm sore. Everybody is a little sore right now. He'll be alright."
The Browns can ill-afford to lose Jackson what with all the nagging injuries at receivers right now. Rookie Rashard Higgins (leg) and Marlon Moore got banged up during the game and sat out Sunday.
Rookie Ricardo Louis pulled up with a hamstring injury at the end of practice Sunday and might miss some practice time. Andrew Hawkins and Corey Coleman are still idle with their hamstrings, and Josh Gordon is still working his way back from a quad injury.
Basically, the bulk of the receiving corp stood on the sidelines during Sunday's light practice in shorts and helmets.

Besides, Pryor is eager to get back on the field and correct his mistakes from the Packers game -- despite the sensational 49-yard diving catch.

"It's kind of one of those things where nobody's looking at yesterday,'' he said. "It's what are you going to do? I can't really live in the past like that because how am I going to get better? It was a play. It was a decent play. I'm more upset by the way I played on the other plays. I didn't play too well and I just want to try to be better for my team, for the teammates that I have.

"I've got to play better. Those plays I can make any day. I just want to do my one-eleventh, and I need to do better on the other plays that I messed up."

Pryor said the No. 1 thing he can improve on is blocking.

"(It's) blocking the right person, always being on,'' he said. "It's not just me. It's everybody. We all have to, every single day, just try to accomplish and be the best we can be every single play. It has to matter. I've just got to be better at some of those things. It's our first game, so I'm glad I made some mistakes that I can clear up for the next one, just like any other person, and I'm looking forward to doing better on Thursday."

Pryor, who's added a Sr. to the end Pryor on his jersey because his two-year-old son is a junior, said he's not driven by the critics who said he couldn't play, or the 31 teams who wouldn't give him a chance.

"What really drives me is the process of trying to do my part as a team member or as a teammate,'' he said. "Also, just every single day, you're trying to find that itch for competitiveness, for competing. That itch to me is ongoing. It's like having a cast on. It's just like on going. I'm in search of it. I love that feeling of competing and that's what really drives me, not letting another guy get the best of me.''

Pryor, 6-4, 223, plans to be more assertive both as a blocker and a receiver.

"This is what I think about Corey Coleman as well,'' he said. "What makes a great player is like that focus in your eyes, that lion. That heart of a lion. It's got to mean something to you. It's got to mean something to you to compete and that's what I like about Corey Coleman. That guy got some dog in him. And you play against some corners that are going to have the same thing. I went against (Joe Haden) today, I mean, we were battling out there. It's just trying to sharpen your skills and trying to be the best you can be and sharpen your tools and see where it goes.''

So far, the arrow is going up for Pryor.

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas sat out Sunday's practice with back pain, but he's expected to be fine.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns left tackle Joe Thomas stayed inside during practice Sunday with a 'little flare-up' of his back, coach Hue Jackson said.

But his ironman streak of 8,959 consecutive snaps -- longest active in the NFL -- is  not in jeopardy.

"He's not going to (break it),'' Jackson said. "Things happen sometimes. As I've said, I'm always going to be protective of our guys. He'll be fine. I'm not worried about Joe."

Thomas started Friday night's game against the Packers and played the first two series.

Terrelle Pryor aggravates hand; upset with Packers performance

It's not the first time Thomas has experienced back pain. He missed some practice time a few years ago with a sore back, but was never in jeopardy of missing a game.
In fact, the nine-time Pro Bowler revealed last season that he's played with three torn MCLs and two high ankle sprains for the Browns, so the back injury is not a big concern for the Browns right now.

The larger issue is that the line hasn't had time to jell, because so many players have been in and out of the lineup. Center Cam Erving missed more than a week with an elbow injury, John Greco missed time with a hamstring and the Browns have used three different player at right tackle, including Austin Pasztor, who seems to have nailed down the job.

"We need to get those five guys playing together,'' Jackson said Saturday after the 17-11 loss to the Packers. "Joel Bitonio and Joe Thomas did an outstanding job, but it's a unit. It's a whole unit, and obviously when pieces of it doesn't play as good, the other pieces suffer. So we'll continue to go back to the drawing board and work at it."

Jackson acknowledged that "the protection wasn't as good as I like it to be (in Green Bay). "There's some things that we need to clean up and shore up a little bit. It could be better. But I also think the rhythm and timing of getting the ball out can be better, too. So it's going to be an ongoing working process and again we're going to get that fixed. I feel good about that."

Thomas has already been receiving some veteran days off in camp, and might miss a little more time now.

But 8,960 is expected to happen at 1 p.m. Sept. 11 in Philadelphia.

The unassuming Pasztor draws from his experience with Jacksonville and his time with Mitchell Schwartz and Alex Mack as he moves into an unexpected spot. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio - Think you're surprised that Austin Pasztor is the frontrunner for the Browns starting right tackle job? There's a chance that no one expected it back in the spring. 

"I think in the spring, the coaches had me focusing on guard, so that's where my main focus was, working right or left," Pasztor said after practice on Sunday. 

Even a few days ago, it didn't sound like his head coach, Hue Jackson, was all that sold on the way the right side of the line was shaking out with Pasztor and right guard John Greco. 

"I don't know if you can say they've taken a lead (in those battles)," Jackson said last Tuesday. "I'm just kind of mixing and matching the best that we can to find the five best guys. We'll settle on somebody for this week. It could change next week." 

That's a very different tone than what he said on Saturday during his conference call with reporters about sticking with Pasztor at right tackle: "Yes, I will. Yes sir." 

"I thought he battled hard," Jackson said. "Really for his first time under the gun against an opponent's defense, I thought he competed extremely hard. I think he's only going to get better." 

His rise all seems pretty unlikely considering that Pasztor wasn't even much in the plans dating back to last season. The Browns claimed him off waivers from Jacksonville on September 5, eight days before the start of the season. He didn't take an offensive snap until November 15 against Pittsburgh (he was on the field for two snaps) and then didn't take anymore until December 6, when he replaced the struggling Cameron Erving at left guard. He started the remainder of the team's games in that spot and played every remaining snap. 

The Browns are Pasztor's third team. He signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and latched onto Jacksonville's practice squad. He was activated at the end of the 2012 season and started 12 games in 2013 at right tackle. 

That experience is part of why he shrugs off whether he's ready to start at what is becoming one of the league's most important positions. 

"In the NFL you only keep between seven and nine guys on the O-line, so the backups have to be able to play multiple positions," he said. "So I've always had it in my mind to be able to play different positions." 

Pasztor certainly has had the opportunity during his short time in Cleveland to learn from some of the best. 

Austin Pasztor was picked up by the Browns last September.John Kuntz, cleveland.com 

"Between (former Browns right tackle Mitchell Schwartz) and (left tackle) Joe (Thomas), I had some of the best tackles to watch last year and talk to and learn the game from their eyes and see what they're doing that's helping them play so well," he said.  

He also credits his work with the team's former center, Alex Mack, for his progress. 

"Alex and I would watch film together after meetings on Wednesdays," Pasztor said. "We'd always watch a game together and discuss what we saw, what we needed to do, any combination blocks that we had together, what we were going to need to do to make it successful." 

On top of that, Pasztor earned high praise from no less than Thomas last week. The veteran left tackle said that Pasztor has done a good job. 

"He's just a tough, hard-nosed guy," Thomas said. "He's got a couple years of starting experience under his belt. I think that's huge in the NFL to be able to have some game time experience. It's invaluable because things happen really fast. There is a lot to learn in a rookie season so having a guy with some experience out there will be really important." 

In 11 months, Pasztor has gone from a waiver claim who barely played to starting at perhaps the second-most important position on the line. He's doing it for a new coach under a new regime than the one that picked him up a year ago. You wouldn't know all this had happened though when you talk to the unassuming native of Ontario, Canada. 

"It feels good to be liked, I guess," he said when asked about how this new staff views him. 

Guess not much surprises him. 

----- 

Follow me: on Twitter | on Facebook | Snapchat username: djlobster 

Almonte is batting .297 in 27 games this season. Over his last 13 games, he is hitting .378 with an OPS north of .900.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A handful of players have their own home-run celebrations, crafted throughout this power-packed Indians season.

Jason Kipnis' celebration involves teammates lifting him by his legs and carrying him through the dugout as if he's sitting atop a chair.

"The Bar Mitzvah chair, basically," Kipnis said Sunday, after he belted his career-high 20th homer of the year.

Here are five thoughts about the 67-48 Tribe.

1. Getting close: Danny Salazar threw a side session on the Progressive Field mound following the Indians' win on Sunday. Pitching coach Mickey Callaway stood behind the mound and watched. Bullpen catcher Ricky Pacione did the catching. The club's other bullpen catcher, Armando Camacaro, stood in as a hitter.

Salazar, who said his pesky right elbow has been pain-free of late, is eligible to return from the disabled list on Wednesday. He could slot into the rotation on Thursday, when Mike Clevinger would otherwise be scheduled to start. Salazar will not require a minor-league rehab assignment.

Clevinger has 'storybook' first win

2. Back on track: Tyler Naquin snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a double during Saturday's affair. He collected three more hits on Sunday, including a pair of two-baggers.

"It's a long season," Kipnis said. "Everybody is going to go through [slumps]. With the younger guys, you just want to pick them up when they're down, tell them not to worry about it too much. He's going about it the right way, working on his swing, watching video, so it wasn't going to last too long."

Naquin, one of the top contenders for the American League Rookie of the Year honors, boasts a .314/.378/.594 slash line, with 13 home runs this season.

Examining Naquin's ROY candidacy

3. Helping hand: Why do the Indians insist on playing Abraham Almonte, who is ineligible for postseason play because of his PED suspension? The question has routinely popped up of late.

Well, Almonte is batting .297 in 27 games this season. Over his last 13 games, he is hitting .378 with an OPS north of .900. No, Almonte will not be able to provide a lift if the Indians qualify for the postseason. But they have to get there first.

"When he first got back here," said manager Terry Francona, "it didn't seem like he had the same personality going yet. He was joining us late and was coming from a little bit of a weird place. But, the last two, three weeks, he's been a lot more like the Abe we remember from last year. He's helped us a bunch."

4. Thanksgiving: Almonte has repeatedly voiced his appreciation for the opportunity the Indians have given him, despite his 80-game ban for testing positive for an illegal substance. Of course, part of the equation is that the Indians don't have ideal depth at outfielder, with Michael Brantley on the shelf. Almonte has started 12 of the Indians' last 14 games.

"This year, when I came back," Almonte said, "they treated me like, 'OK, here you are. We're waiting for you and we're still counting on you.' I appreciated that and it made me feel really comfortable."

Q&A with Abraham Almonte

5. Bottoms up: Naquin, Almonte and Roberto Perez formed the bottom-third of Francona's batting order on Sunday. The three combined for five hits in 10 at-bats, to go along with two walks. Perez accounted for both free passes. Tribe catchers have struggled at the plate all season -- one of the understatements of the year -- but Perez at least boasts a walk rate of 18.3 percent. The league average walk rate is 8.1 percent. Of course, Perez is still searching for production from his bat. He is batting .089 with a .125 slugging percentage in 71 plate appearances.

Browns receiver Josh Gordon could start practicing Monday or Tuesday, and Ricardo Louis joined the growing list of injured receivers when he pulled up lame with a hamstring Sunday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Josh Gordon participated in the Browns' walk-through Sunday and his return to practice from a quad injury can't come fast enough.

"Getting close. Very close,'' Jackson said after practice. "Hope to see him soon, and I think we will.''

The Browns have had a rash of injuries on the receiving corps, and the sidelines were filled with ailing wideouts Sunday -- seven in all. Another, Rannell Hall, was waived/injured Sunday after suffering a broken fibula in Green Bay.

Rookie receiver Ricardo Louis, the fourth-round pick out of Auburn, joined the ranks of injured receivers Sunday when he pulled up lame at the end of practice with a hamstring.

He's the third receiver with a hamstring injury this season, including No. 1 pick Corey Coleman and slot receiver Andrew Hawkins.

Terrelle Pryor aggravates hand; upset with his play in Green Bay

Others limited or currently hurting include Terrelle Pryor (hand), Marlon Moore and rookie receiver Rashard Higgins, who all got banged up during the 17-11 loss to the Packers. Moore and Higgins both sat out 11-on-11s Sunday.

The wideouts don't have much time to heal if they hope to face the Falcons on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns have only two more practices before the game.

But the sight of both Gordon and Coleman in the walk-through with helmets on Sunday was a good sign. Gordon could practice for the first time as early as Monday.

"They're closer to being out there than they are further away,'' said Jackson. "Obviously, Josh has been out for quite a while, Corey has been out for quite a while and those guys are closer to being back out with their teammates."

Jackson didn't rule out Gordon for the Falcons, but it seems like a longshot.

"That is to be determined,'' he said. "I don't think it will be about conditioning. Our process has gotten him where he needs to be. He's been doing more things, more and more and more each week. ''

Jackson said Gordon has shed some of his extra weight.

"I can't give you the number but it has come off,'' Jackson said. "He's working hard. He's a big man, and we'll get him to where he needs to be.''

Jackson still up for joint practices

The injuries have not cause Jackson to rethink two joint practices with the Bucs in Tampa next week.

"Everybody has a number of guys that are banged up,'' he said. "That's just training camp. No one is going to feel sorry for us because we have a few guys down. You hate it, but we need to fight through it because it could be the way the season goes. We're going to do what we do this week. We're going to get ready, and then after that, we'll get ready for Tampa Bay."

Playing like a Brown

Jackson was impressed with Emmanuel Ogbah's hustle in Green Bay.

"He played hard,'' Jackson said. "Our young players, him and (DL) Carl Nassib, both played extremely hard. They got after it the way you like to see young guys perform in the first preseason game. The fun part about watching him is he got tired at one time. I could tell he was very tired, and the next thing he is chasing the quarterback towards the sideline and getting him down.

"That's impressive to me. That's the way you have to play. That's going to be Cleveland Browns football here in the near future. We all have to play that way. It's going to be rough, tough, tired, hot, whatever all that is. He has got a find a way to go make a play and that's what he did."

Joe Haden not ready for Falcons

Haden (ankle) will take more starting snaps this week, but Jackson plans to hold him out Thursday night

 "I'm going to go a really slow with him and just make sure he's ready,'' said Jackson. "Hopefully, at some time, we'll play him before we get to the regular season. We have three more [games] left so we'll find one that I think is suitable, along with our medical staff, that we think is best for him."

Barkevious Mingo at ILB

"He did OK,'' Jackson said of Mingo's position switch to the inside. "He did some good things, but again, he has to keep improving. He's done it some - but the game is a little different in there than being on the edge and just rushing.''

Still out for personal reasons

Nickelback K'Waun Williams missed the Packers game and Sunday's practice for a personal reason. John Hughes has missed eight practices for a personal reason, but could be back by Monday or Tuesday.

 

We've come a long way from Drake dissing LeBron James on Instagram following the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 3 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We've come a long way from Drake dissing LeBron James on Instagram following the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 3 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

But that was all in good fun, just playoff trash talk between "brothers."

And any questions about that were were squashed Saturday night, as James joined the Toronto rapper on stage during his Summer Sixteen Tour stop in Columbus.

"Ohio, if you don't make some noise for The King right now you're out of your mind," Drake screamed to the crowd. "Now we gotta do it for old time's sake."

That's when James, celebrating his new three-year contract, danced to "Pop Style," one of Drake's hits from his latest album, Views. It was a special version of the hit as well, altering the lyrics for his special guest.

"Bronny, Bronny had to handle that one his way." 

When the performance ended, James grabbed the mic to address the crowd while being showered with "MVP" chants. 

(Note: video contains explicit language)

James shared a few photos from the concert on his Instagram this weekend. 

All Summer Sixteen. @champagnepapi @future showed my people in Columbus so much love and they returned the favor. #WhataTimeToBeAlive #StriveForGreatness #RWTW #WeGotAReallyBigTeam

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Aug 14, 2016 at 5:13pm PDT

Good seeing my G last night. Great times and many more to come family! #OneofTheGoatToEverDoIt #Legend #WhatDidThe5FingersSaytoTheFace

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Aug 14, 2016 at 1:00pm PDT

How much of a concern is Robert Griffin III's performance in Green Bay? How has Emmanuel Ogbah looked in camp? These and other questions answered in Hey Mary Kay!

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hey Mary Kay!

Hey Mary Kay: How concerned should the Browns be about Robert Griffin III's performance in the preseason opener? -- Ben Jones, Macon, Ga.

Hey, Ben: Griffin did some good things, including delivering the ball on the money while getting hit, which is a sign of growth for him. He's a work in progress, but should improve as the season goes along. One of the big concerns is whether or not he'll be able to get the ball out quickly enough for this overhauled line to protect him. With a new center in Cam Erving and a new right tackle in Austin Pasztor, the line can't afford for Griffin to hold onto the ball even a split-second too long. If he's getting hit too much, Hue Jackson might have to turn to Josh McCown to settle things down. Fans will have to be patient. Jackson is still learning this team and vice versa.    

Hey, Mary Kay: It seems that the offense is really dependent on Cam Erving coming through. If he gets run over the way he did at guard it will be tough on both the passing and running games. Question is, who is Garth Gerhart, and does he look capable of stepping up? -- Bill DeShurko, Centerville, Ohio

Hey, Bill: Erving worked hard in the offseason to fill Alex Mack's shoes and should be given every chance to be successful. Suffering an elbow injury early in camp that kept him out for more than a week hasn't helped matters. The line needs to jell and it's been a revolving door since the start of camp. Once things settle down around him and Erving gets back into the flow of practice, he should be fine. The Browns need him to be good -- and healthy -- because they have no one else behind him. He will have some growing pains, but it won't be for lack of effort. He started only half a season at center in college, so he's work in progress. Gerhart is a second-year pro out of Arizona State, but at 6-1, he's small for a starting NFL center.

Hue Jackson encouraged by RG3's debut 'for a guy who hasn't played in awhile'

Hey, Mary Kay: Seriously? Desmond Bryant thinks he should be paid? Isn't that another example of some of today's professional athletes entitlement
belief? I'd like to hear your thoughts. Will they actually pay him? -- Tom Goodsite, Gulfport, Miss.

Hey, Tom:  Bryant wants to be paid, just like any athlete in this situation would. The Browns are under no obligation to pay him, but some teams make the goodwill gesture. I can see the Browns settling for a fraction of his $6 million salary. But this could spell the end for him here. He'll be 31 next year and coming off torn pec surgery. The Browns have drafted a lot of linemen over the past two seasons, including Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib this year.  

Hey, Mary Kay: We heard so much about Emmanuel Ogbah during minicamp and he seemed to be showing so much promise, but very little about him in camp. Is this guy going to pan out? -- Brian Joyce, Youngtown, Ohio

Hey, Brian: Ogbah had a sack in Green Bay, which is a good sign despite the fact it came late in the game against backup talent. Ogbah is working on the defensive line because of some attrition up front. He hasn't stood out much in training camp practices, because the quarterbacks aren't allowed to get hit. He'll have plenty of chances in the next three preseason games to make his mark.

Hey, Mary Kay: Another soft tissue injury? We had a lot of those last year. What's up? -- Tom Goodsite, Gulfport, Miss.

Hey, Tom: The Browns have worked hard to overcome such injuries through proper conditioning and nutrition, but some of them are inevitable, especially in such a physical camp. The number is still way down from last year but still too high for the Browns' liking. The one they have to be most concerned with is Corey Coleman, who has a history of soft tissue injuries. The Browns will have to proceed with caution to keep him healthy for the season.

LeBron James will host the Cavs' annual pre-camp workouts in Los Angeles, and Kyrie Irving will probably be there.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - LeBron James will host his annual pre-training camp workouts for his Cavaliers teammates in Los Angeles in September, multiple sources told cleveland.com.

Since James returned to Cleveland in 2014, he's gathered the Cavs to prepare for the upcoming season with a series of informal workouts that typically start around Labor Day. Last year the workouts were in Miami, where James filmed a documentary chronicling his personal preparations for what ended up being a championship season.

In 2014, the workouts were in Independence, where the Cavs practice near James' home in Bath Township. Hosting the sessions in Los Angeles this summer makes sense - that's where James has spent most of his break, living in his new, $21 million Brentwood mansion.

Many Cavs players and coaches - including Kevin Love and coach Tyronn Lue - has spent the summer in southern California. Most if not all Cleveland players are expected to attend James' workouts, including Kyrie Irving, who will likely attend despite playing this summer for Team USA in the Rio Olympics, according to a source.

Cavs support staff can also attend the workouts and are making plans to be in Los Angeles in September, another source said. Lue is bringing back all but one of his assistants from last year's team. Many, if not all, could be hanging around in L.A. next month.

The Cavs' first practice of actual training camp is Sept. 27.

Right now, James is back in northeast Ohio attending to a few off-court matters. On Tuesday he will host his annual LeBron James Family Foundation summer event at Cedar Point. Last week he attended the opening of friends Romeo Travis and Frankie Walker's new clothing store in Akron.

Congrats to my brother @fwalker03 on the opening of your boutique store "FHC" in the home town! Beautiful store and great feeling! Proud of u!

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Aug 12, 2016 at 6:29pm PDT

And, of course, on Saturday night he hung out with several buddies, and was pulled up on stage, at the Drake concert in Columbus.

LeBron joins Drake in Columbus

The pre-camp workouts James hosts are not uncommon in NBA circles, but Cavs players have nevertheless pointed to them as tone setters for the season to come - both of which ended in the Finals.

The question now is whether J.R. Smith will be there. Smith, like James and Cavs center Tristan Thompson, is represented by agent Rich Paul. James, in fact, just signed a three-year, $100 million deal to return to the Cavs last week (though his return was guaranteed). Unlike his last two contracts with the Cavs, this one has a no-trade clause, a source said.

Like Thompson last summer, Smith is a free agent and remains unsigned.

Thompson was not signed by the time of James' workouts last September and did not attend. 

The Columbus Sports Commission announced on Monday that it has submitted bids for 47 NCAA Championship events through 2022.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Imagine Ohio State basketball playing Sweet 16 and Elite Eight NCAA Tournament games just a few miles from its own campus.

That would be a pretty sweet setup, right?

It could happen. But not for awhile.

The Columbus Sports Commission announced on Monday that it has partnered with Ohio State, Ohio University, Ohio Dominican University, Capital University and Thomas More College (Ky.) to bid on 47 NCAA Championships through the 2021-2022 academic year.

One of those bids would be to host an NCAA men's basketball regional sometime between 2020-2022. The regional games would be played at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, and hosted by Ohio University. The location and host would allow the Buckeyes to play regional games in Columbus if they earned a high enough seed.

It would be no guarantee, but the selection committee tries to keep higher-seeded teams closer to home when possible.

Columbus also bid to host first and second round games of the men's basketball tournament in the years 2019-2022. Those games would also be at Nationwide Arena, and hosted by Ohio State.

A new rule announced this year allows the top overall seed in the tournament to select where it plays its first and second round games from a predetermined listed of eight host cities. If Columbus hosted the first and second rounds, and the Buckeyes found themselves as the No. 1 overall seed, then Ohio State could begin NCAA Tournament play in Columbus.

Start dreaming big, Buckeye fans.

You can see the full list of bids from the Columbus Sports Commission here.

Here's something that's definitely happening, and perhaps more realistic:

Columbus is already slotted to host the Division I NCAA women's basketball tournament Final Four and National Championship in April 2018.

The Buckeyes women's basketball team, which finished No. 9 in the AP postseason top 25 last year, seems to building toward making a run at a  championship that year.

Ohio State could be playing for a national title at Nationwide Arena in two seasons.

Josh Gordon was activated off the non-football injury list with his quad injury Monday, and returned to the practice field for the first time since Dec. 26, 2014. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Josh Gordon has an extra spring in his step and an extra-wide grin on his face these days.

The receiver was activated off the non-football injury list Monday where he's been since the start of camp with a quad injury, and practiced with the team for the first time since the last week of 2014. It was one small step for Gordon, but potentially one big leap for the Browns.

"It's big,'' Gordon said about his first practice field appearance since Dec. 26, 2014. "Every day I'm back, it means a lot to me, and I'm glad to be out there with my brothers putting my helmet back on and getting back in the swing of things."

Despite 20 months away, Gordon is confident he's still the Pro Bowl player who took the league by storm in 2013 with a league-high 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. He won't be able to prove it until week five against the Patriots, but he has no doubts.

In fact, he believes he can be even better.

"I'm definitely the same guy,'' he said. "I'm confident in my abilities. I know what I can do. Just given the opportunity and the right timing, right position and the relying on the rest of the team as much as they rely on me, it's a great boost of motivation and anything is possible for anybody. But I definitely am aware of what I can do and I think I can build upon that and do even better."

Gordon, who was conditionally reinstated on July 25 but suspended for the first four games of the season for his most recent violation of the NFL's substance abuse program, will be eased into practice gradually and Jackson said he probably won't play Thursday night against the Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium.

On Monday, he participated in individuals drills and was held out of team periods, but coach Hue Jackson approached him afterwards, shook his hand and welcomed him back to the field.

"It was great,'' said Jackson. "It was good to watch him move around, catch the ball and be involved with his teammates. He's done a great job, and we're just working our plan.''

After practice, the last one open to the public, Gordon stuck around longer than any other player signing autographs and posing for photos with fans. In fact, he looks happier than at any point since the Browns drafted him in 2012. In Green Bay Friday night, Gordon joked around with his teammates before the preseason opener and spent some time talking to owner Jimmy Haslam, who's been one of this biggest supporters.

"Yeah, it's something I haven't really felt in a long time and once you get that type of feeling, that type of vibe and environment, being around happy people, it kind of just rubs off on you and I missed it,'' he said. "Being back here, I love it and I try to take full advantage of it and I'm glad to be back and that's probably what you saw out there.''

Even the little things, like donning a helmet for the walk-through on Sunday, mean a lot to Gordon these days. Being out of football for an entire year -- and being suspended for 27 of his last 32 games -- tends to have that effect.

"Definitely, definitely, especially even in the preseason,'' he said. "A lot of guys don't take that seriously, but every opportunity you to get out there to show what you can do, hurt or not, it means a lot and guys should take it seriously, and I definitely do take it seriously and I'd like to have fun while I'm here."

Gordon, who played five games in 2014 after returning from a 10-game ban, is particularly pumped to be reunited with Robert Griffin III, with whom he produced 714 receiving yards and seven TDs in 2010 at Baylor.

"Coach (Art) Briles really just let us have fun,'' he said. "He helped accentuate Robert's gifts and his talent and that was the deep ball and that's what he really perfected. He helped me with my game, and I know how to run a deep route and we really just have fun out there because that's just something we know how to do.
"Coming here they're letting Robert come into his own the same way and it's good for him. He feels no restrictions I believe and they're working with him and he's doing a great job and I can't wait to be a part of it.''

Likewise, Gordon has felt the love from fellow former Baylor Bear Corey Coleman along with Terrelle Pryor, Joe Haden and others.

"It's great, honestly,'' he said. "The year I was suspended I got to train with TP, last year, his first year at receiver, in North Carolina we were working out,'' said Griffin. "So we built that bond a long time ago. A lot of people didn't know that we grew very close. Robert, we go back a long time and I think that'll be one of my best friends for the rest of my life. I can't say enough about that guy. Since we both came into the league together, he's treated me like you would treat anybody, just as good.

"And Corey is a young guy, I watched him growing up going back to Baylor, looking at some guys, just being helpful where I can be helpful towards him. But I really think even more so outside of the Baylor guys and the guys that I know just personally, everybody's really like family here. It's a different atmosphere than what I was used to here and what it felt like. Guys are really close for some reason and it's great and I think we could definitely benefit from that."

Gordon acknowledged he wasn't really sure if he'd worn out his welcome with his former teammates, who came to count on him every year only for him to be suspended again.

"It feels great - they welcomed me back,'' he said. "It feels like home and we're not looking back. Negative energy is just not what we're trying to put out there. They're not looking at my past and I'm not trying to look back toward that and we're just ready to move forward and I'm grateful to them.''

Likewise, he wasn't sure he'd ever set foot on a Browns practice field again. For the longest time, it seemed like the Browns have moved on.

"I was hoping for the best and I was blessed to get an opportunity to come back out here and I'm grateful for it,'' he said.

Terrelle Pryor realizing his dream of playing with Josh Gordon

Not only did he return with renewed vigor, he came Back to the Future -- to a more positive environment and a refurbished facility, complete with an aquatics center and a cryotherapy machine.

"This opportunity we have here is like nothing I've felt before or seen before,'' he said. "I really want to be a part of it. You feel more enthusiastic about coming to work when guys are ready to commit themselves to win. It rubs off on everybody that's just what the culture needs to be here and I really bought into it and I think the rest of the guys have.''

His commitment hasn't been lost on Griffin, who's known him longer than anyone here.

"It's a beautiful game you get to come out and play and he wants to play,'' said Griffin. "He's excited to be back and he's had the injury and that's slowed him down a little bit, but he's constantly getting in extra work, whether it's boxing, running, catching the ball. I know he'll be ready when he steps out there. He knows what he has to do to get ready to play ball."

Gordon won't be permitted by league rule to practice with the team once the season starts, so he has to make the most of these next three weeks. He's already begun to shed of the weight he gained while out with the quad.

"Being back out there will definitely help that,'' he said. "You sweat a lot, get everything out and it'll help increase the metabolism."

Andrew Hawkins, for one, is thrilled to have Gordon back and has seen the change in the former All-Pro.

"Incredible (how he's fitting in),'' said Hawkins. "Josh does everything asked of him and then he goes above and beyond. He's in his playbook. He's there early for treatment. He's locked in and I can't speak enough about how well he's been so far. I'm excited for him to continue on that track and get on the field and be the Josh Gordon that we're all looking for."

Does he agree with Gordon that he can be better than ever?

"I'll be tuned in just like you guys will,'' said Hawkins. "Josh is an incredible talent. He has incredible ability. I don't know if I'd be able to sit out two years and come back at a high level. I'm not going to count that out of Josh because I don't think I'm the freakish athlete Josh is. We're excited to see like everybody else."

Come Oct. 9 against the Patriots, if all goes as planned, he'll begin to get his answer.

Here's #Browns Josh Gordon signing autographs on last day of camp open to the public pic.twitter.com/jPNEJlggLa

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 15, 2016

The Browns released their second unofficial depth chart in advance of Thursday's game against the Falcons.

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns released their second unofficial depth chart to the media on Monday, and it looks a lot like last week's.

The one notable change is at right tackle, where Austin Pasztor, who started against the Packers, has replaced Spencer Drango at the No. 1 spot. Also, John Greco's backup at right guard is now Cory Tucker, instead of Pasztor.

With Corey Coleman participating in practice on Monday, it's possible he could take his starting spot at wide receiver Thursday against the Falcons. On defense, John Hughes remains listed as a starting defensive end, but is still out due to personal reasons. 

Check out the entire depth chart below.

The unofficial Browns depth chart heading into Thursday's game against the Falcons.Courtesy Cleveland Browns 

Ohio State football released a new practice video highlighting Buckeyes linebackers coach Luke Fickell.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State linebackers coach Luke Fickell is coaching a position group looking to replace a pair of starters who moved on to the NFL.

The Buckeyes have a good starting spot with Raekwon McMillan back in the middle, but Dante Booker, Chris Worley and Jerome Baker are looking to replace Joshua Perry and Darron Lee on the outside.

Get a look at how Fickell is handling those position battles in the video below, released by Ohio State football on Monday. Fickell was mic'd up at some recent training camp practices:

Defensive coordinator/LB coach @CoachFick is next to go mic'd up!#GoBucks #TheEdge https://t.co/S2tbTYdLpv

-- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 15, 2016

See Buckeyes assistant Kerry Coombs mic'd up

-- Subscribe to the Buckeye Talk podcast channel on iTunes

-- Follow cleveland.com's Ohio State coverage on Facebook and Instagram

-- Follow cleveland.com writers Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis on Twitter

-- Download the cleveland.com Ohio State app for iPhone and Android

The former Browns and Texas A&M quarterback beat Jim Brown in our bracket in March. This time he knocked off Bo Jackson in an SEC contest, and won it all.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Will bracket creators never learn?

Don't invite Johnny Manziel into your competition, unless you are ready for him to win it.

Months after the former Browns quarterback knocked off Jim Brown in our cleveland.com bracket contest in a first-round upset (and Internet trolling example) of epic proportions, Manziel has now been named the greatest football hero in the last 50 years of SEC football.

Manziel springs the No. 16 seed upset

In the 64-man bracket created by The Tennessean, Manziel defeated Auburn legend Bo Jackson in the final 95.3 percent to 4.7 percent.

That's 2,489 votes to 124.

Over Bo Jackson.

On his path to the title, Manziel also beat former Alabama running back Derrick Henry, former Florida and South Carolina coach and Florida quarterback Steve Spurrier, former Florida linebacker Jack Youngblood, former Tennessee defensive lineman Reggie White, and former Georgia running back Herschel Walker.

The result led the Tennessean's Dave Ammenheuser to declare Manziel's win "embarrassing."

If you had asked, we could have warned you.

In March, I made Manziel a No. 16 seed in the Browns region of our Cleveland Sports March Matchups bracket that also included players from the Indians, Cavs and Ohio State.

The result? Manziel 68 percent, Brown 32 percent.

We noted the online efforts of the Johnny backers and adjusted the voting for round two and beyond. No more ballot stuffing -- we limited voters to one ballot a day.

Manziel then went down in round two to Brian Sipe.

Obviously inspired by that defeat, Manziel rolled through the SEC.

The Tennessean's idea was a good one, and we may steal it here later for the Big Ten. Jackson, Walker, Spurrier and Tim Tebow were the No. 1 seeds. Manziel was a No. 9 seed in the Phillip Fulmer region.

But once Johnny was an option at all, we could have guessed who was going to win.

See the full Tenneseason Heroes of the SEC bracket

The Cleveland Browns need to give quarterback Robert Griffin III extended playing time on Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons and in the remainder of the preseason if they want him to be ready for the regular season. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have a problem. Their quarterback is Robert Griffin III, who did not play in a single regular season game last season for the Washington Redskins.

The Browns first preseason game last week at the Green Bay Packers delivered only one definitive message -- Griffin needs to play. He played only two series against the Packers.

Yes, there's always a risk of injury. But Griffin should play most of the first half on Thursday night when the Browns host the Atlanta Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium.

If he doesn't play a fair amount in the preseason, he certainly won't be ready for the regular season.

Mary Kay Cabot and Dan Labbe discuss what to expect from Josh Gordon. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Josh Gordon returned to the practice field for the Browns on Monday. It's the first time he's practiced with the team since getting suspended for the final game of 2014 against Baltimore.

We all remember what 2013 Josh Gordon looked like. We also remember what 2014 Josh Gordon looked like. So what's a reasonable expectation for the talented but troubled wide receiver? Mary Kay Cabot and I discussed that very topic following practice on Monday. Check out the video above to hear what we had to say.

Danny Salazar tested his right elbow Sunday evening and is ready to come off the disabled list and start against the White Sox on Thursday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Danny Salazar, if everything goes according to schedule, should come off the disabled list and start Thursday night against the White Sox and Carlos Rodon at Progressive Field.

Salazar tested his right elbow Sunday evening after the Indians completed their 5-4 win over the Angels at Progressive Field. He threw off the ballpark's main mound so the Indians could check his results on their TrackMan system.

"It was like a simulated game," said Salazar. "I was throwing to a batter (Armando Camacaro, bullpen catcher) even though I knew he wasn't swinging. I threw about 15 pitches."

Salazar threw between 15 to 18 pitches after warming in the bullpen. It's the first time Carrasco has really pushed his elbow since going on the disabled list on Aug. 2 following a two-inning start against the Twins on Aug. 1.

"I tried to go full intensity," said Salazar. "I feel like I'm ready for Thursday."

Pitching coach Mickey Callaway liked what he saw.

"We saw a pretty good Danny Salazar," said Callaway. "He probably threw 25 to 30 pitches like he would warming up for a game. Then we took him out on the main field. We put him on TrackMan so we could see all the numbers.

Danny Salazar close to helping Tribe

"His extension was good. He was using his legs well. All the numbers lined up. He looked real good."

TrackMan, using Doppler Radar, measures things like velocity and spin rate for a pitcher and his pitches.

"We wanted to get him out on the main field ... not so much to check his velo, but to make sure that everything was good," said Callaway. "We wanted to check his release point and all that. It's tough to take 15 to 16 days off and come back and pitch in the big leagues.

"We wanted to make sure we did everything we could, besides a rehab assignment, to make sure he's in a good spot."

Manager Terry Francona said Salazar will be held under 100 pitches.

"We just wanted him to get (on the game mound) so the transition to pitching isn't as drastic," said Francona.

Rookie right-hander Mike Clevinger, who won his first big league game Saturday, was in line to start Thursday. Francona said Clevinger will move to the bullpen.

"We're not worried about (Clevinger) bouncing back, but we want to check on that blister," said Francona.

Tribe's Clevinger on a night he'll never forget

Clevinger tore a callous on his pitching hand Saturday against the Angels. Clevinger could backup Salazar on Thursday.

Suspension: Left-hander Skylar Arias, currently pitching for the Arizona Rookie League Indians, has been suspended for 56 games for testing positive for using a performance-enhancing drug.

Arias, 19, was a 24^th round pick by the Indians in the June draft out of Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College. He was 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 11 games for Arizona. Arias struck out 20 and walked three in 19 1/3 innings.

He tested positive for the anabolic steroid, Nandrolone.

Rainy days: The Indians and Angels waited through 4 hours and 49 minutes of rain delays during their just completed four-game series.

Francona felt the delays can drain a team of its energy, but he added, "The best elixir - use that will you? - is that we have a good record. When you're sitting around all day in August and you're 20 games out, it seems longer.

"I don't see anybody complaining. What are you going to do? If you're like me, you lose money playing cards, or you do other stuff."

No news: The Indians are not expected to have an update on Michael Brantley's shoulder surgery until Tuesday. Brantley underwent surgery on Monday in Dallas, but the operation started later than expected.

Tribe's Brantley will have season-ending surgery

Roster move: Right-hander Joe Colon was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday and optioned to Class AAA Columbus. Colon, who made three relief appearances for the Indians, was on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

Finally: Cleveland will face the Dominican Republic in the RBI World Series softball championship Tuesday. Cleveland, the defending champion from the Cleveland Baseball Federation, and the Dominican will play at 10 a.m. at Cincinnati's MLB Youth Academy. The game will be streamed live on mlb.com. ... Mike Napoli (29) Carlos Santana (26) and Jason Kipnis (20) are the fastest trio of Indians to reach 20 homers in the same season since Jim Thome, Ellis Burks and Juan Gonzalez in 2001.

The Cleveland Indians lost to David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox, 3-2, Monday afternoon in a makeup game of an early April postponement.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- David Ortiz hit his 530th career homer, a two-run shot as part of a three-run sixth inning, as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 3-2, Monday afternoon at Progressive Field. The game was a makeup from an April 7 postponement because of weather.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by MLB Network and NESN:

Cooled: The first-place Indians (67-49) had won four in a row. They were coming off a four-game sweep of the bad Angels at Progressive Field, a series in which they scored 37.

Staying hot: The contending Red Sox (65-52) have won four straight. They were coming off a three-game sweep of the bad Diamondbacks at Fenway Park, a series in which they scored 31.

Difficult matchups: The Indians went 2-4 in the series series, including 1-2 in Cleveland.

The Indians are a combined 7-16 against the four AL East teams that are above .500. They are 2-2 against the Blue Jays (one series remaining, this weekend in Cleveland) and went 1-5 against the Orioles and 2-5 against the Yankees.

Give them their due: Sometimes, the other team is just better on a given day. This outcome was much more about what the Red Sox did well than what the Indians did poorly. Specifically -- what Ortiz and lefty Drew Pomeranz did well.

Big Papi mashes: Ortiz, in case you haven't heard, is retiring at the end of the season. Ortiz gave Tribe Nation one more roundhouse on his way out the door, at least in the regular season.

With Boston trailing, 1-0, gritty and gutty Dustin Pedroia led off the sixth with a single to left off righty Josh Tomlin. Pedroia capitalized on a 2-0 count.

Tomlin did terrific work against ultra-dangerous Xander Bogaerts, striking him out swinging.

Tomlin threw a first-pitch cutter (85 mph) that did not get in deep enough and stayed at the knees. Lefty Ortiz crushed it high and deep to right to give Boston the lead. Ortiz has hit 27 homers and driven in 92 runs this season. His career RBI total in the regular season is 1,733.

In the season-opening series against the Tribe, Ortiz homered on April 5 and April 6. He might as well have homered on April 7.

Bradley, too: Sizzling Mookie Betts followed Ortiz's blast with a fly to center.

Lefty Jackie Bradley Jr. fell behind, 1-2. After a ball, foul and ball, Bradley hammered a cutter (87) that was supposed to be on the outer third but stayed over the middle and above the knees. The homer was Bradley's 19th.

Solid work: Tomlin rebounded from back-to-back bad outings with a strong performance against a potent offense. He allowed the three runs on seven hits, walked none and struck out three.

It's no secret: Tomlin is susceptible to the long ball. He has given up an MLB-high 29. More than a few in recent weeks have come with runners on. 

Where Monday is concerned, the decisive pitches to Ortiz and Bradley can be filed under "mistakes'' -- especially to Ortiz. At the same time, Ortiz is a future Hall of Famer and Bradley deserves credit for extending the at-bat and for good barrel awareness. Just because a pitcher allows two homers and "loses'' does not mean he should hang his head.

Even better: Pomeranz, a former first-round pick of the Indians, pitched to that status. He allowed two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Pomeranz relied on a fastball/curve/cutter combination. The mixing and matching of the fastball and curve was exceptional. Red Sox catcher Bryan Holaday was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, but his contributions as a game-caller were notable.

Tribe center fielder and leadoff batter Rajai Davis was the only Indian with multiple hits against Pomeranz. He homered leading off the fourth -- Pomeranz had retired the first nine -- and hit a two-out RBI double in the eighth.

Fernando Abad relieved Pomeranz after Davis' double and fell behind sizzling Jose Ramirez, 3-0. Davis stole third on a called strike, but Ramirez flied to left on the next pitch.

One more MVP award will give LeBron James five and elevate him into rare company, joining Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to reach that total.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One more MVP award will give LeBron James five, elevating him into rare company with Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to reach that total. A fifth award will also push him past NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain.

But the odds of James reaching that number aren't as high as they could be, at least according to online sportsbook Bovada.   

In the odds released Monday, a little more than one month before Cleveland's first practice, James is listed as third most likely to take home the prestigious award, at 5/1.

The reigning NBA Finals MVP trails Oklahoma City point guard -- and favorite -- Russell Westbrook (2/1) as well as Golden State's back-to-back recipient Stephen Curry, who is listed at 4/1 despite the arrival of free agent Kevin Durant this off-season, which will likely lead to a decrease in production. 

James, 31, finished third in voting this past season after averaging 25.3 points -- the second lowest of his career -- to go with 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, a touch lower than his career average (6.9). He also led the Cavs to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, racking up 57 wins, three more than the 2014-15 campaign.

But James couldn't stack up against Curry, who became the first ever unanimous MVP following a record-setting regular season. 

A few months ago, James shared his thoughts about possibly redefining MVP. 

"I think there's a lot of valuable guys in our league that adds value to their team," he said. "I think sometimes the word 'valuable' or best player of the year, you can have different results. When you talk about most 'valuable' then you can have a different conversation."

Kawhi Leonard, who finished a few points ahead of James for second place in the MVP race, is listed seventh this year, getting 16/1 odds. Durant, the newest Warrior, is fourth, at 12/1. 

James hasn't won the award since 2012-13 and only nine players in league history have won an MVP after the age of 30, which is one of James' obstacles.

His numbers may not be able to match some of the league's best either, especially given the depth and balance of the reigning NBA champs as well as the Cavs' overall view on the regular season. 

James' best chance at a fifth MVP is having voters remember his message from May, to put more of an emphasis on the term "valuable" as opposed to stats.

2015 was a difficult year for the third-year guard. Now he's healthy and ready to prove Hue Jackson right.

BEREA, Ohio -- Joel Bitonio couldn't help but think of the future Hall-of-Famer playing next to him last season after he first hurt his ankle during a Thursday night game in Cincinnati.  

"The one other thing I took away is how the hell has Joe Thomas not got rolled up on like that or something like that so it was pretty spectacular what he's doing," Bitonio said on Monday. 

Thomas, the future Hall-of-Fame left tackle, hasn't missed a regular-season play in his career. That's a total of 8,959 consecutive snaps. 

Bitonio said that across the line -- from center Alex Mack, who played every game in six of his seven season in Cleveland, to right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who played every game during his four years here -- he couldn't help but look around after getting rolled up on and try to stay in the game. 

"I was like, 'this hurts really bad,'" Bitonio said. "I don't think I can play on it. And then I looked at Joe and I'm like, 'I'm going to have to try and play on it. They're going to have to take me out of this game,' so I played the rest of that game in the most pain in my life." 

Bitonio did end up missing two games. Then, when he returned against the Bengals at home, he suffered another ankle injury. 

"I injured my same ankle twice," he said. "Same injury, pretty much, back-to-back." 

The entire ordeal added up to a year Bitonio called "super frustrating" following a rookie season that saw him emerge as perhaps the best pick from Ray Farmer's first draft in 2014. The 35th pick overall, Bitonio started 38 games at Nevada including his final 12 at left tackle. He immediately started at left guard his first season and was the only offensive rookie selected to the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-AFC team in 2014 and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team. 

"My rookie year we were 7-9 and then last year we went 3-13," Bitonio said. "We were in the hunt pretty much all year my first year and then this last year it was kind of over once I got hurt. It was definitely something that you're like, man, my rookie year went so well that you take it for granted almost." 

So, yeah, a lot has changed for Bitonio. 

We'll start with the man playing to his right. Mack plays for Atlanta now, so it's Cameron Erving at center. Bitonio said that the differences are subtle, but they're there. 

"When you're double teaming and you're working together on blocks, it takes so much body presence and so much knowing the guy next to you," he said. "Cam takes bigger steps than Alex did. Little things like that that people take for granted. Cam's a big center, so you've got to get used to your splits, you've got to get used to things like that -- how he's going to make his calls in the game, how he's going to act when he gets beat on a play." 

Then, of course, there's the regime change. The men who drafted Bitonio are gone. The good news is that head coach Hue Jackson is a fan of the third-year guard. 

"I think he's one of the finest guards in football," Jackson said after practice on Monday. "I think he played extremely well the other night (in Green Bay). I'm very excited about his future and what he potentially could be." 

Jackson said he knew about Bitonio before arriving in Cleveland but has only come to respect him more.  

"Having the opportunity to work with him and see how hard he works and how much passion he has for playing the game and how important it is to him just raised my opinion of him twofold," Jackson said. 

"It's an honor that they respect me and think I'm a good enough player to stay at the starting left guard," Bitonio said. 

Now that he's healthy and playing football again, Bitonio has a simple goal. 

"I'm just trying to prove them right," he said. "Always." 

----- 

Follow me: on Twitter | on Facebook | Snapchat Username: djlobster