Before he announces his decision on ESPN at 8:30 tonight, inside are things you need to know about him.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech is ending his high-profile recruitment on Thursday evening, which means it's a big day for Ohio State.

It wasn't supposed to be.

Though Peoples-Jones has always maintained Ohio State is one of his top schools, the 6-foot-2, 193-pound prospect has long been considered a heavy Michigan lean. 

But rumors hit the Internet early this week that Peoples-Jones was down to Ohio State and Florida State despite having a top five that also consists of Michigan, Michigan State and Florida. 

So this is interesting now. 

Ohio State already has two commitments from five-star receivers in Trevon Grimes of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) and Tyjon Lindsey of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. But Peoples-Jones is a can't-miss prospect, a player Ohio State would love to have in its dominant 2017 recruiting class. 

So before he announces his decision on ESPN at 8:30 tonight, here are things you need to know about him: 

* Peoples-Jones goes to the Detroit powerhouse that used to be a Michigan pipeline. However, Meyer and cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs have done a ton of work there and turned it into one of the most intense battle grounds in the country. You can read the latest about Cass Tech below. 

Jim Harbaugh vs. Urban Meyer at Cass Tech

* Four-star safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell of Cass Tech pledged to Michigan already. 

* Though Peoples-Jones has been considered a virtual lock to Michigan, he and his coach, Thomas Wilcher, insisted a month ago that he has no idea where he's going to school. And the two had proof. 

Peoples-Jones' proof he hadn't made up his mind

* Peoples-Jones is an incredibly important prospect to Michigan, not only because he's the No. 1-rated receiver in the 2017 class. He's a Detroit kid, the type of prospect Michigan cannot afford to leave the state, let alone go to its rival. If Ohio State somehow gets a commitment from Peoples-Jones, that is a huge hit to the Wolverines. 

* Peoples-Jones officially visited Ohio State on Oct. 8 for Ohio State's 38-17 win over Indiana. He was originally supposed to be at Florida that weekend, but poor weather altered his plans. He got the red carpet during that trip. 

A peek inside Peoples-Jones' official to OSU

* Meyer and Coombs traveled to Detroit this past weekend for an in-home visit despite a winter storm. The Buckeyes didn't go there for no reason. 

* Michigan has to be considered the favorite. 

Stay tuned with cleveland.com this evening for everything regarding Peoples-Jones' decision. 

The only reason the Cavs not playing their Big 3 against Memphis was a big deal was because LeBron James was among those absent.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Two of the NBA's brighter stars took the court Nov. 16 in Indianapolis, and fans there were not satisfied.

Sure, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were on the court hooping for the Cavs that night against the Pacers, but LeBron James didn't play.

Patrons were upset. Reporters wanted a piece of Tyronn Lue and James was ripped for it the next morning.

What, Irving, a three-time All-Star scoring 24 points, and Love, also a three-time All-Star pouring in 27, all in a Pacers win, no less, wasn't good enough?

Of course it wasn't. James wasn't out there.

So let's get real about the apparent national controversy sparked by Cavs coach Tyronn Lue's decision to leave at home James, Irving, and Love from the team's 93-85 loss in Memphis Wednesday night.

The wringing of hands, the gnashing of teeth was sparked by James' absence. And it's ridiculous.

"You know it's LeBron," Lue agreed. "I mean, guys sit their guys out every night, but when the Cavs do it or LeBron does it, it's something different."

Cavs lose without Big 3

There is almost no realistic, viable argument to support this notion that James needs to play every game, in every arena.

A plausible moment of sympathy, perhaps, for the NBA fans in Memphis who paid money to see James and the Cavs play in person for the only time this season, fine.

The Cavs' responsibility, James' responsibility, is to their organization and to their paying customers in Cleveland, to do what's needed to win a championship.

And James has gone way, way above the norm, to historic levels, to make sure he's in uniform and on the court almost every night, each season, so the Memphises and the Utahs and the Milwaukees of the world have gotten to see him play over the years.

In entertainment, customers don't always get what they pay for. But they usually do with James.

"I understand too because these people are waiting to see LeBron play," Lue said. "They wait for this moment, this opportunity, and when he doesn't play, the best player in the world doesn't play, it's tough on the fans."

Well, sure, but that "moment" when fans are gypped out of seeing James doesn't come often (save for the poor folks in Indiana, who have missed out on James in three of the Cavs' last five games there. Sorry, folks).

In this his 14th season, the four-time MVP and 12-time All-Star missed an average of 4.8 games per year over his first 13 campaigns -- including his injury-played 2014-15 when he missed a career-worst 13 games.

People let roll off their backs the incredible, once-in-a-generation statistic of James carrying teams to six consecutive Finals, with a seventh predicted for this season.

He has played 8,383 minutes in the postseason over his career, when the stakes are the highest and the toll on his body is the most severe.

No one, of course, has played more basketball than James over the past six seasons. The 39,286 regular-season minutes he's played over his career are the seventh most among active players and 36th all time. If he plays 2,700 minutes this season (like he did last), he'll end the year 25th on the all-time list.

No one currently in the NBA has averaged more minutes per game over their careers than James' 38.9.

"They (fans) gotta understand this is not the 1900s any more, not the early style of basketball," said J.R. Smith, James' friend and teammate. "He's played the most minutes of everybody in history of the game, and significant minutes as well. It's not like he's out there with 10 seconds to go in a meaningless game. He plays meaningful minutes in a lot of games. Not everybody's done that and can't do that."

Added James Jones, another confidant and teammate who also played with LeBron in Miami: "We all know that LeBron is the face of this game so anything LeBron does, it gets overexposed."

Yes, this is true.

Cavs fans weren't exactly kicking trash cans or hurling hot-dog wrappers at Memphis coach David Fizdale for leaving home Marc Gasol -- THE GRIZZLIES' BEST PLAYER, for goodness sakes -- Tuesday night when Mike Conley Jr. (a Buckeye, for heaven's sake) and Chandler Parsons were already out with injuries.

The angst from fans and media toward James for not playing might even be flattering -- a sign of just how big a ticket he is that it's a national tragedy on nights he doesn't play.

But James, who turns 32 this month, is sensitive to the criticize and more than aware of his resume, which is why he said Tuesday that "I've paid my dues and more than a lot of guys in this league."

Of the top 11 scorers in the NBA right now (we're counting 11, because that's where James sits with 25.0 ppg), only Boston's Isaiah Thomas has missed more games this season than James (three for Thomas, two for the Cavs' star). New Orleans' Anthony Davis missed two games so far, and DeMarcus Cousins didn't play for the first time this season last night.

Everyone else, including Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, had played in every game.

But none has the minutes and Finals appearances stockpiled like James.

And that -- getting to the Finals again -- is all this should be about.

Cleveland has determined, rightfully, that it cannot reach the Finals without James, and to win it he needs to be in optimal condition. The organization has decided for James to be in tip-top shape, he needs to rest every now and again.

Lue mentioned Wednesday that the Cavs look to sit him about every 12 or 13 games, especially if a back-to-back situation arises like the home-and-home with Memphis from this week.

Lue doesn't expect James to miss either of the home-and-home games against Milwaukee on consecutive nights, though that could change.

"I know coach Lue has said plenty of times and we said the same, at the end of the day we're here to win," Jones said. "And we're going to do everything we can to put ourselves in position to be as good as we can be in the postseason."

And Smith?

"We're not playing for now, we're playing for the long haul and if they can't understand that, we don't expect them to because they are not a part of this organization," he said.

It's just...

The Cavs were without LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love Wednesday night in Memphis and it showed.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Cavs left 70.6 points and about $70 million in salary from this season on warm, comfy couches in suburban Cleveland while the rest of the team headed to the east bank of the Mississippi.

The result was about what you'd expect.

Playing without LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love Wednesday night in Memphis, the Cavs were beaten 93-85 by the Grizzlies in the second game between the two teams in as many nights.

Some hustle points in garbage time made this one appear closer on the scoreboard. Then again, streamers fell from the rafters at FedEx Forum in celebration, so perhaps the Grizzlies were worried?

Cleveland's winning streak stopped at four, and the franchise fell to 4-17 since October of 2014 on nights when James doesn't play.

This time, at least, there was an excuse or two.

Marc Gasol, who did not play Tuesday night in the Cavs' 103-86 win (where was the outrage then!?!?), scored 17 points. Troy Daniels led all scorers with 20 off the bench and Toney Douglas, who was in training camp with the Cavs, contributed 14 points.

Cleveland was paced by James Jones, the 14th-year vet, with 15 points. Jones was 3-of-5 from 3-point land and is now 14-of-19 from deep this season.

Mike Dunleavy (yes, the Dunleavy who coach Tyronn Lue didn't play the past two games and who'd scored eight points in Cleveland's previous five games) scored 11 points. It was a season high for the 36 year old.

DeAndre Liggins scored 10 points and Kay Felder scored 13 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach.

J.R. Smith, coming off a season-best 23 points Tuesday night, scuffled. He was 4-of-15 shooting for eight points. Channing Frye, starting for Love, was shut out in 23 minutes.

The Cavs shot 28-of-75 from the field (37.3 percent) overall, and 28 percent (11-of-39) in the first half.

One could argue that Cleveland's supporting cast would've had much more room to shoot, and more shots would've gone in, had the Big 3 been out there. But in this make-or-miss league, the Cavs who boarded the plane for Memphis missed, big time.

Everyone was a little off kilter Wednesday. Lue said multiple times before the game he would restrict Tristan Thompson's minutes to rest him without violating his streak of now 394 consecutive games. Thompson, in turn, played 28 minutes and contributed 11 rebounds and seven points.

The Cavs were heckled all night by angry Memphis fans who only get to see them once a season. At one point, a dad and his young daughter seated at the scorer's table next to the Cavs' bench was giving Lue grief. Lue told them he was sorry.

"Of course you want to see LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love play," Lue said before the game. "But we have 11 other professionals in the locker room (who) will also give you everything they got. So hopefully they will give you a good game. Those guys in there are NBA champions also."

Lue was asked before the game if he could reasonably expect to win, given his lineup plans, and he said "yes, like Memphis did last year."

Lue was referring to a game last March, when the Grizzlies came to Cleveland without Gasol and Mike Conley Jr. (who also didn't play last night) and several other rotation players, and found a way to beat the healthy Cavs by three.

"They came in with nobody, and they came in and kicked our butt," Lue said.

That was then. This one, now, will soon be forgotten. A 9-0 run for the Cavs to open the third quarter cut their deficit to 47-45. A 14-0 spurt by Memphis to end the third and start the fourth essentially put the game away.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the right to rest players when they want, but the Cavs and the NBA owe the fans something, too.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers stiffed the fans in Memphis on Wednesday night. They left the Big Three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love at home and the result was a drab loss for the Cavs and a little more diminishing credibility for a league that lacks parity and should at least encourage the headliners to show up as the marquee promised.

Obviously, the Cavs have the right to rest anyone whenever they want to as the rules are now. San Antonio's Gregg Popovich has made a practice of fielding back-ups and pretending it doesn't hurt the appreciation of the league by fans victimized by such a bait-and-switch. James will be 32 at the turn of the year and pep in his step is a requirement if the Cavs are to repeat their championship.

Still, NBA tickets are anything but cheap. This was asking Memphians to pay for tickets to "Hamilton" and then sending out the understudies. It was a concert with the three tenors saying "non piu" ("no more" in Italian), spraying their throats and staying home. It was the three musketeers with rusty swords and the saucy little Cavs-type feather on their caps sliced off.

It would be unthinkable to do this to home fans and not all that great to do it to Eastern Conference rivals, whose fans at least get more than Memphis' one chance to see the Cavs play live.

How would Cavs fans like it had the Clippers sat Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick in their lone visit to The Q? Sure, the Cavs probably would have won, but you want to see the other team at its best.

Rest might not have been necessary had coach Tyronn Lue not played James 44 minutes and 40 seconds in a loss at Chicago and 42:27 in a double-digits win here against Charlotte.

Big minutes are necessary for the starters at this time because without Matthew Dellavedova, the Cavs have no back-up for James as a playmaker. They also miss Delly's defense.

Given a chance to step up in Memphis, both J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert had bad games. The only  bench reliables are Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson.

It's up to general manager David Griffin to find players who can help. It's up to Lue to field a representative team.

Legendary NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager was beloved by athletes, coaches and fans alike.

The picture James used in his post came from Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals, as Sager, a reporter for TNT, got a special assignment working his first ever Finals game on the sidelines for ESPN.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers and many other members of the NBA family are paying tribute to longtime NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager, who passed away Thursday after a battle with leukemia.

"RIP friend!!! Great to have work with you, known you and watch you for all these years. My blessing to your family and many prayers sent to the heavens above! #SagerStrong" LeBron James wrote on Instagram.

RIP friend!!! Great to have work with you, known you and watch you for all these years. My blessing to your family and many prayers sent to the heavens above! #SagerStrong[?]

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Dec 15, 2016 at 1:16pm PST

The picture James used in his post came from Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals, as Sager -- a reporter for TNT -- received a special assignment for ESPN that allowed him to work his first ever Finals game on the sidelines.

Rest In Peace Craig Sager... Thank you for all your kind words and for showing the true meaning of the word strength.

-- Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) December 15, 2016

Sager, who was 65, first announced in April 2014 that he had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, causing him to miss the playoffs and much of the following season. He went into remission after a bone marrow transplant, but the disease returned in March 2015.

The sports community lost a great one today. Rest In Peace Craig Sager. #RIPSager

-- Kevin Love (@kevinlove) December 15, 2016

Rest in Paradise Mr. Sager

A photo posted by Kyrie Irving (@kyrieirving) on Dec 15, 2016 at 1:37pm PST

Known for his colorful suits, sense of humor and positive attitude, Sager was beloved around the NBA, leaving his mark on many, as evidenced by the countless tributes and outpouring of support on social media.

RIP Craig Sager. Very sad day. Craig had class, integrity & of course, 'flair'. He knew basketball as well as anyone.Craig will be missed...

-- Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) December 15, 2016

Those three guys are all five-star prospects, linebacker Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas, defensive end Chase Young of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic and defensive back Shaun Wade of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- You get it by now: Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class is stacked. 

But there's a new illustration of just how deep the group is. 

Of the six finalists for the U.S. Army All-American Game's defensive player of the year, three are committed to Ohio State.

Those three guys are all five-star prospects, linebacker Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas, defensive end Chase Young of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic and defensive back Shaun Wade of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity. 

Rated the No. 4 cornerback in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Wade has been committed to Ohio State since Jan. 12, 2015, the day the Buckeyes beat Oregon to win the national title. Wade was considering Alabama and others recently, but reaffirmed his commitment to Ohio State last week. 

Young, the No. 3 weakside defensive end in the country, pledged to Ohio State while at the Friday Night Lights camp in Ohio Stadium in July. 

Browning committed to Ohio State earlier this month. He chose the Buckeyes over offers from Alabama and others. Browning is the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country. 

JUST RELEASED: Finalists for Army All-American Defensive Player of the Year award.

This list of six includes THREE #OhioState commits... pic.twitter.com/IJ6qlxXTbN

-- Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) December 15, 2016

The other finalists: 

* Five-star DE Jaelan Phillips of Redlands (Calif.) East Valley: Committed to UCLA 

* Five-star LB Tadarian Moultry of Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin: Committed to Auburn

* Five-star DT Aubrey Solomon Leesburg (Ga.) Lee Country: Considering Alabama, Florida, Michigan, USC and Georgia 

Terrelle Pryor's contract extension is not likely to take place before the end of the season, Isaiah Crowell is still aiming for 1,000 yards and new running back Darius Jackson just wants to play.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns are unlikely to reach an agreement with Terrelle Pryor on a contract extension before the end of the season, a league source told cleveland.com.

They've had talks with Pryor's agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, and some have even taken place here in Cleveland. But with only three games left, it's unlikely to happen until after the season.

If they can't reach an agreement by the start of the new league year on March 9, the Browns can always franchise Pryor and buy themselves more time. The franchise number for receivers in 2016 was almost $15 million, and that number will climb to almost $16 million by March.

The Browns are also looking to extend linebacker Jamie Collins, acquired in a trade with the Patriots for a third-round compensatory pick.

Pryor has three games left to reach the coveted 1,000-yard milestone and needs 142 yards to get there, about 43 a game. During Sunday's 23-10 loss to the Bengals, he was limited to one catch for three yards, which dropped him from No. 11 in the NFL in receiving yards to No. 22 with 858.

With Robert Griffin III back under center, Pryor was targeted only three times, including an ill-advised flea-flicker out of the end zone that Griffin fired into triple coverage and had intercepted. Meanwhile, first-rounder Corey Coleman was targeted 11 times, and caught only three for 26 yards.

It was Pryor's lowest output of the season by far, and came on games of 97 and 131 yards.

Afterward, Jackson lamented not getting the ball more to Pryor.

"We want to get him involved,'' said Jackson. "You have to remember the other team is trying to take him away. We have to find more ways."

Pryor, who was upset after the game by his lack of production, admitted it was frustrating.

"There were a lot of times the Bengals had three or four guys on me and Rob goes through his progressions," he said. "Some plays weren't really plays for me. ... We missed some key blocks to break open (Isaiah Crowell), myself not staying on a couple of blocks. He could've broke through on a touchdown and I was punching myself in the head over that.''

Pryor: It's rubbish he fought with RG3

He acknowledged "not every game's going to be geared towards me having a great game, and I understand that and I know I can't control where the ball goes. ... After watching the game all's I could come up with is I've got to be better. When I don't have the ball in my hand, I've got to play better. It's simple.''

With Griffin and Coleman unable to connect, the Bengals doubled and tripled Pryor.

"When Coach Hue saw they had a lot of people coming over toward me and stuff like that, he switched play calls to other guys,'' said Pryor. "And it makes sense. He's one hell of a coach and he knows what he's doing.

"Maybe we can be better this week. Maybe we won't. You never know. For me, I have to keep fighting that thing on my shoulder that every time I'm not going to touch the ball. I have to keep on playing without the ball to help my teammates be better.''

It won't be easier this week. The Bills are fifth in the NFL with 33 sacks and seventh with only 229.6 passing yards allowed per game.

2. Isaiah Crowell still aiming for 1,000

Crowell is coming off a 113-yard game against the Bengals and needs 282 to reach 1,000 yards. After the first four weeks he was on pace for far more than that, but then the running game stalled. In the past nine games, he's rushed for 29 yards or fewer on six occasions. In four games, he didn't reach double digits in carries.

Last week, he carried the ball only 10 times despite big chunk plays of 30 and 42 yards that led to both scores.

"I wish I had more opportunities just because when the running game finally started to pick up I feel like I didn't have enough opportunities to help my team as much as I could have,'' he said. "The lanes were there so I feel like we should take advantage of them but we didn't, so we gotta live with what the coaches want to do."

But Crowell still feels he can get to 1,000 if the Browns commit to the run, something Jackson intended to do this season.

"I feel like if it was how it was last week, I feel like it's capable [of happening],'' he said. "I still think it's in reach."

Crowell hasn't reached 20 carries in a game this season, and eclipsed 15 only twice. Both times, he surpassed 100 yards.

If the Browns stick with it Sunday in Buffalo, the Crow just might fly. The Bills are 28th against the run with 125.8 per game.

3. Twin Lisfrancs

Joel Bitonio still can't believe fellow guard John Greco underwent Lisfranc surgery on his right foot. Bitonio had his right foot operation in October, and Greco's was this week -- both with Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina.

Both starting guards with the almost identical Lisfranc midfoot injury.

"I saw them working on his foot and I thought 'gosh, this is deja vu all over again,''' Bitonio said. "I feel like that's pretty unlucky the way it happened, two starting guards with the same foot injury.''

He talked to Greco and everything went well.

"He's in good spirits right now,'' said Bitonio. "It's kind of a wait and see recovery. I've heard it could be up to a year, but it's kind of like an ACL. It just depends on the severity and how you go about it. The longer you stay off of it in the beginning, the quicker you can come back.''

If the linemen heal quickly, the Browns could be in good shape next year. In addition to the two guards, center Austin Reiter will be back from his torn ACL.

4. From Super Bowl contender to winless in Cleveland

Rookie running back Darius Jackson, claimed off waivers Wednesday from the 11-2 Cowboys, will take playing over a shot at the Super Bowl any old day. In Dallas, he was inactive all 13 games while Zeke Elliott was tearing it up.

"I came here for a reason, to help build the team and we're all in it together,'' he said. "We're all going to try and get a win this season."

A sixth-round pick of the Cowboys out of Eastern Michigan, Jackson was told about a dozen teams put a claim in for him.

"It means a lot,'' he said. "It shows that a lot of teams were interested in me and believed in me and that's all I needed."

Jackson, who can help on special teams, rushed for 16 touchdowns last year at EMU.

"Sitting for 13 straight games, I was a part of something special but obviously I was geeked to get on the field so if I get that opportunity I'm going to be beyond excited,'' he said.

Rated the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Peoples-Jones announced his pledge to the Wolverines live on ESPN.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Even though five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech has been considered a Michigan lean for months, Ohio State seemingly gained some traction in his recruitment late. 

It made for an exciting Thursday night. But in the end, Peoples-Jones ended up committing to the school everyone thought he would: Michigan. 

Rated the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Peoples-Jones announced his pledge to the Wolverines live on ESPN. 

Ohio State has two five-star wide receivers committed in its 2017 recruiting class in Trevon Grimes of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas and Tyjon Lindsey of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. 

Though the Buckeyes missed on out Peoples-Jones, they can still pursue four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris of Cleveland Heights, who is rated the No. 28 wide receiver in the 2017 class. 

Jim Harbaugh vs. Urban Meyer at Cass Tech

Blessed to announce that I Am Officially Committed to The University Of Michigan ! [?][?] #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/7bSoZHfWdQ

-- Donovan P. Jones (@dpeoplesjones) December 16, 2016

A look at seven key changes to the Golden State Warriors since losing Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Cleveland.com sports columnists Doug Lesmerises and Bud Shaw revisit the Carson Wentz trade as part of the video debate series, Prepare for List Off. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles started out 3-0, then 4-2. Since then, they've won one more game than the Cleveland Browns.

As Browns losses pile up, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft looks like a pretty good bet. As Eagles losses pile up, the No. 1 choice Philly traded to the Browns so it could draft Wentz keeps looking better.

The Wentz trade could deliver a second Top 10 pick in the 2017 draft. Wentz, meanwhile, has looked like a rookie quarterback who had limited experience at North Dakota State.

Does that change how you feel about the Browns passing up Wentz in the draft? Does it increase your confidence in the Browns' front office?

Did your belief in Sashi Brown dip when Wentz became the first rookie quarterback to start 3-0 without throwing a single interception?

Remember, Browns strategy chief Paul DePodesta said the Browns didn't project Wentz as a Top 20 quarterback. He also allowed that the Browns could be wrong about that.

Did you expect Wentz to come back to earth, and still wish the Browns had him?

We kicked that topic around as part of our video debate series, Prepare For List Off.

Hear us out, then come back and vote on which of us got it right. When in doubt, vote "Bud."

"We weren't very good on defense for a couple years and that stressed things out just a touch around here. But one of the greatest things I've ever done was keep Luke Fickell." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe this weird transitional period will be easier for Luke Fickell because he saw Tom Herman go through it two years ago. 

Nevermind, it's going to be hard.

And exhausting.

Life as a college football coach with two jobs. 

Despite the fact Luke Fickell was officially introduced as Cincinnati's new head coach this past weekend, he's sticking by Ohio State as a co-defensive coordinator through the College Football Playoff because he wants to finish what he started. 

So during the day Fickell is focused solely on Ohio State and preparation for Ohio State's upcoming playoff game against Clemson on New Year's Eve in Phoenix. At night, he becomes Cincinnati's head coach. 

"I talked to Tom and I picked Tom's brain about it," Fickell said of Herman, who coached Ohio State through its national title run in 2014 while also serving as Houston's head coach. "You try to put on paper like, 'This is the time I am going to do this, this is the time I'm going to do this,' and that's kind of what I have done.

"The only way to do it is to have a plan. So, the majority of that is right here. From 8:00 p.m. to midnight is the plan to do the other things, which means recruiting, sending messages and making phone calls, but not to short change either one of them. The thing that gets short changed is my family.

"Sometimes we take advantage of the ones we love the most." 

Luke Fickell is going to have a hectic few weeks balancing his duties at Ohio State and Cincinnati, but he's sticking with the Buckeyes throughout the College Football Playoff.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

Fickell meant his family. Though he'll lean on his wife, Amy, and his children, he knows he's going to be distant the next few weeks as he tries to help one team win a national title while assembling another. 

A lot of time is going to be spent driving up and down I-71 in the next week. 

That Fickell is willing to dedicate himself to both responsibilities is admirable. And that's part of the reason Urban Meyer can look back at the last five spent with Fickell with admiration. 

Meyer even reflected honestly about the tough times.  

"I did not want to keep him when I got here," Meyer said. "I met him a few times and he was a good gentleman, a very nice guy. Our meeting went over the top and I had a lot of respect for him and his beautiful family.

"We weren't very good on defense for a couple years and that stressed things out just a touch around here. But one of the greatest things I've ever done was keep Luke Fickell." 

Meyer was referring to Ohio State's defense in 2013, a year when the Buckeyes had a chance at playing for a national title, but defensive breakdowns cost them a Big Ten Championship. And an Orange bowl. 

Fickell was the fall guy for those times. That couldn't have been comfortable. 

"You don't have to be on the best terms at all times," Fickell said. "Sometimes, discomfort breeds growth. To be able to push somebody, deep down inside you have to know that it's for a reason.

"I think that is the greatest thing I can say. What you really do it step back and realize how much you respect (Meyer) because of it. I wouldn't be in this situation right now if it weren't for him." 

Fickell's legacy at Ohio State won't be about the hard times. 

They'll be about the players he brought in and developed and the two national titles he helped bring to the Buckeyes in 2002 and 2014. And maybe 2016. 

His players will miss him. 

Raekwon McMillan: "It's bittersweet. My guy's leaving. I'm just proud of him and everything he has done so far. He's been able to guide me through all the blessings I've been given here at Ohio State and put me in the position I'm in today. Through the ups and downs, he stayed on my side and even the guys beside me nurtured us and have us become men."

Chris Worley: "It was bittersweet. You don't want to see your coach leave who you truly love. But at the same time, you're happy for him." 

Jerome Baker: "I think he's going to do amazing (at Cincinnati). That's a great coach, honestly. One of my favorite coaches of all time. Most importantly, he's a great person. I wish him the best of luck, honestly. ... I wish him all the best of luck, and I'm excited for him."

While the Cleveland Cavaliers unveiled plans for an upgrade to Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland Browns fans still await an upgrade to the team's losing record.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- While Cleveland Cavaliers and government officials unveiled plans for an upgrade to Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland Browns fans still await an upgrade to the team's losing record.

The $140 million renovation of Quicken Loans Arena will include a dramatic new glass-enclosed facade stretching along the arena's north end.  The cost of the addition and other upgrades with be split between the team, Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland.   Renovations are expected to be completed by 2019.

Team and government officials have made a solid case that the makeover is warranted to improve the fan experience, and keep the 22-year-old arena competitive for hosting other events.  It's hard to believe, but the arena is one of the oldest arenas in the NBA that hasn't had a major upgrade.    

If the Roman Coliseum had been built in America, it would have been renovated 20 years after it was built, and then  torn down 20 years after that.   A cookie cutter soccer palace would be sitting in its place now, or a strip mall with a Mr. Hero's selling Roman burgers .

The Q's makeover plan follows the two-year, $125 million renovation of FirstEnergy Stadium.  The Cleveland Browns financed $95 million of the project, which came in on time and on budget.   So far, it's been the lone positive achievement of the Browns' ownership and front office.

Given the team's losing streak, it would have been more fitting and cost effective for the Browns to just cover the stadium, and their performance in it, with a brown paper bag. 

The Cavs' championship and the Browns' losing streak, are proof that the biggest impact on the fan experience is the team's performance on the field of play, not the field's facade.

Readers vote to decide the winners for the most amazing, interesting and deserving Cleveland athletes, teams and moments of 2016 in the cleveland.com Sports Awards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, the Indians and the Browns trading the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft are among the nominees for the year-end cleveland.com Sports Awards.

Two weeks ago, readers voted to decide the winners of the most amazing, interesting and deserving Cleveland athletes, teams and moments of 2016.

But while those polls are closed, there is still time to vote from this week's categories: Quote of the Year, "The Decision" Impact Decision of the Year, LeBron James Player of the Year and The Unbelievable Team of the Year.

Check back to cleveland.com as the award winners will be announced from all eight categories on Dec. 19.

Keep voting. There's still time.

Who provided the quote of 2016?

Who was the Cleveland sports player of the year?

Who was the unbelievable Cleveland sports team?

What was the biggest Impact Decision?

Missed the first four categories, here is another look:

What was the best Cleveland sports moment of 2016?

Who was the greatest Cleveland sports villain in 2016?

What is Cleveland's top sports trolling moment of 2016?

Cleveland Browns trudge to Buffalo looking for first win of season

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After digging out from a snow storm yesterday and still looking for their first win of 2016, the Browns (0-13) will head to Orchard Park to play the Buffalo Bills (6-7) on Sunday.

The Bills have lost two straight games and have all but been eliminated from wild card consideration. Still, a win by the Browns could go a long way towards rekindling a spark of confidence in both the players and the organization. A Browns' win might also mean the beginning of the end for Bills coach Rex Ryan.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

Ohio State has been using freshman quarterback Dwayne Haskins on scout team to mimic Clemson's Deshaun Watson. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe Urban Meyer did find his Deshaun Watson.

Well, sort of. OK not really.

But Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State's true freshman quarterback, is drawing rave reviews as he plays Watson on the Buckeyes' scout team in the lead up to the College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson on Dec. 31.

"We have Dwayne playing him a little bit," linebacker Jerome Baker said. "There are a number of guys that have been playing him, but Dwayne has been slinging it lately. So it's definitely a good look."

A weird thing about bowl preparation, particularly a playoff bowl, is that these kind of tidbits are often just as interesting as the guys who will actually play in the game. That's because it's a peek into the future, and what's next is always intriguing.

That Haskins is flashing his arm talent while mimicking arguably the best quarterback in college football -- one Meyer desperately wanted in Columbus -- should be exciting to Ohio State fans who are a little curious even now about what the future holds for the Buckeyes' quarterback position. The next high-profile quarterback competition, whether it's in 2017 or 2018, will involve Haskins in a big way.

But it's also easy to get caught up in something like this, and lose track of the reality of the situation.

There's a reason Haskins is playing Watson: Joe Burrow is still the No. 2 quarterback and Haskins is No. 3. And it's not like Haskins is out there doing everything Watson does.

Can he run like Watson?

"He can give his best effort, but it's hard to duplicate that," Baker said. "They have a lot of different guys who come in and do different things."

Running ability is a key component of what Meyer looks for in a quarterback, and it will be crucial in deciding whether Burrow or Haskins will be the next starter. That's not to say Haskins can't run. Watch his tape. The guys is an athlete, but so is Burrow -- which is to say that it's great Haskins is making a move in bowl practice but it's not indicative of a shift in the quarterback pecking order.

"Joe had a final the other day and had to miss last part of practice. Dwayne had a chance to go with the twos and looked really good," quarterbacks coach Tim Beck said. "The future is definitely bright at that position with Dwayne, Joe and J.T. (Barrett) next year."

Maybe what this does tell us is that Haskins has narrowed things some with Burrow, even if Burrow is still ahead and the guy Ohio State would turn to if something happened to Barrett.

We knew Haskins was a plus-level passer when he came to Ohio State. Urban Meyer raved about it on National Signing Day. We also know that Burrow has been working to improve his arm strength. So it's possible -- without ever seeing Haskins throw a ball in an Ohio State uniform -- that he's even got an advantage over Burrow in the throwing department.

It's about more than raw arm talent, though.

The QB flaw OSU is willing to live with

Burrow has made the most of his time on the field this season, completing nearly 80 percent of his passes (22-of-28), throwing two touchdowns, rushing for another and averaging nearly five yards per carry.

Burrow has looked every bit ready to compete for the starting job whenever the time comes. It just might be the Haskins is more ready to push him than we thought.

"This is the good part of having these extra weeks of practice, you get to see these guys play a little bit," Beck said. "Dwayne is a very talented young man, and he has been. We knew that. But a lot of times as a third-string quarterback during the season they don't get very many reps. Sometimes it's hard to send him to scout team because he's a play away from being the backup. Some weeks he doesn't do a lot. This week we're using him there."

And Haskins is making the most of it.

Fans are mad about the Cavs holding out LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love Wednesday, Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon finds.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do you have a Cavs question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Joe? Submit it here or tweet him @joevardon.

Hey, Joe: I believe the Cavs should be fined $1 million and that the GM and head coach should be suspended for 10 games. This just shows that the NBA doesn't respect the fans who work very hard to purchase these outrageous ticket prices. -- Richard, Macedonia

Hey, Richard: In case anyone needs caught up to speed, Richard here is talking about the Cavs' choice to rest LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving Wednesday night. I know this because he emailed me personally and sent the above statement to the Hey, Joe! Hotline (that's not really what it's called). I essentially offered my response earlier this week when I presented (in my view, overwhelming) evidence supporting James occasionally sitting out during the regular season. Basically, James only misses about five games a year, has played more meaningful minutes than anyone in the NBA, and the Cavs need him in prime shape to repeat as champions. To Richard's point, the Spurs were once fined $250,000 for sending home their star players early from a road trip. I've got to say, I'm struggling to share in the vitriol. I understand where it comes from -- there are broader themes of populism and resentment running through our country now. (After 13-plus seasons, James doesn't owe anyone, anything.) Secondly, I realize I have the privilege to watch all of James' games live and in person. I'm desensitized to the disappointment of ticket-buying fans who miss out on that chance, and the tickets aren't cheap. Nearing 32, he has earned the (rare) rest and the Cavs want to win the Finals. Wouldn't a second-consecutive championship be the ultimate sign of respect for Cleveland fans?

LeBron controversy is ridiculous

@joevardon Do you think the NBA can realistically address the whole "resting" thing with players? Resting all 3 starters is ridiculous!

-- Stephen Dubich (@sdubich) December 15, 2016

Hey, @sdubich: Well, you're right in that the only ones who can solve this issue is the league. It is the commissioner's office that makes the schedule, and back-to-back games have proven to be ruinous for players and essentially scheduled losses for teams. The season is going to start a week earlier next year to further reduce back-to-back games. But a song as they're on the schedule, teams are wise to navigate them how they see fit in terms of who plays, when.

Hey, Joe: What do you think of the Cavs picking up Willie Cauley-Stein or Kosta Koufos from the always struggling Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline? I feel we need an effective backup big man going into the playoffs. -- BP, Pepper Pike

Hey, BP: The Cavs wanted Koufus in the past, yes. He's the Kings' starting center now and is averaging 5.6 points and 5.7 rebounds entering play Thursday. He's also making $8 million. I'd be surprised if Cleveland used its limited trade assets on him, given the frontcourt is not the primary need and there wouldn't be much of a role for him. Tristan Thompson is enjoying a career year at center, and the Cavs love using Channing Frye off the bench, especially because he shoots 3s (.458 3-point-shooting percentage, fifth best in the NBA). Cauley-Stein is in his second season and is playing as Koufus' backup. He'd be a good guy to have stashed on the bench, but not for what it would cost to acquire him. Where would you find time for either of these Kings in the Cavs' playoff rotation?

@joevardon anything you have noticed that would explain Shumpert's vast improvement this year?

-- Brandon Hickey (@hickeybuns33) December 15, 2016

Hey, @hckeybuns33: He's. healthy, in much better shape, and the ball is coming out of his hand much better as a shooter. As my colleague Chris Fedor wrote during training camp, Shumpert dropped roughly 15 pounds over the summer by changing his diet and working harder. He had a groin issue at the end of the 2015 Finals, broke his wrist right before training camp last season, and then battled nagging injuries as the year progressed. He also worked tirelessly on his shot mechanics following the 2016 Finals. The results -- he's shooting a career-best .453 from 3-point range. He's averaging five shots a game, and three of them are 3s. His usage rate is also up from last season because he's had to handle the ball more as a backup point guard. A counterpoint that I didn't realize until just now...at 0.9 steals per game, Shumpert is averaging the fewest takeaways of his career.

Hey, Joe: If LeBron and Kyrie are "developing chemistry," should I worry about Love feeling like an outsider? Are we completely over that? -- Jim, Boston

Rhodes will pay tribute to the late Phillip Gary during the boys home basketball game against Collinwood on Friday. Gary was a football coach at both schools dating back to 1994.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A four-year battle with colon cancer took the life of Rhodes baseball and football coach Phillip Gary on Wednesday.

Gary, who was an accomplished math intervention specialist, died at the age of 57.

A couple of days before his final football game on Nov. 5, Gary informed his school athletic director that he would need to take some time off for health reasons. Gary recovered from Stage 4 colon cancer in 2012, but the symptoms returned for the longtime head coach and teacher.

Rhodes athletic director Cheri Dzuro shared that story nearly a month and half later.

“He knew when he left school his days were numbered,” said Rhodes athletic director Cheri Dzuro. “He was humorous, passionate and very dedicated. Even to the end he came in every day.”

Gary started coaching football at Rhodes in 2003 and became an assistant baseball coach two years later. Eventually, he took over the baseball team in 2009 left after by current John Hay head coach Tim Hogan.

The baseball continued to flourish since the program started in 1989. Last year, Gary led the baseball team to a second consecutive Senate Athletic League championships -- once against Lincoln West and the other against John Hay.

“He was a great guy and I recommended he take the program because I thought he could keep it at a high level,” Hogan said.

The Rams appeared in every championship game since Gary started as an assistant in 2006. Since 2009, Gary has won four league championships while the four titles went to Lincoln West.

“You could see those guys [at Rhodes] loved him and he loved them,” former Lincoln West coach Tim Casselberry said. “With baseball, it’s kind of a funny thing because it’s laid back, but that wasn’t Phil’s way. He was intense and it carried over to his players.”

Crestwood baseball coach John Bakalar added, “He had a really good team. He was a really good guy, really personal and it’s an unfortunate loss.”

Gary, who is a native of Cleveland, started with the area’s school system in 1994 and coached football at Collinwood as an assistant. Gary left to become the head football coach at Sandusky in 2001 after four seasons as the head coach. He would return to Cleveland to head up the Rhodes program two years later.

Gary was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2012. A year later he returned as head coach. Glenville football coach Ted Ginn Sr. sympathized with Gary after battling pancreatic cancer during the same time. The two shared their thoughts between their football games.

“I was as sick as he was,” Ginn said. “We were both at the sick at the same time and we always talked about how we were blessed to be back coaching football. That was a tough road and I don’t know how we made it through.”

Ginn added, “Gary was very disciplined, stern and strong minded guy. He loved football, loved the discipline of it and loved the kids.”

“He used football to build to children,” Ginn said. “To lose a legend like that in the city that is major.”

Lincoln West football coach and Rhodes teacher Brooks Baird added, “I’ve known Phil for years and it’s very sad. He was a tremendous role model for our students and adults. He’s going to be missed and he’ll be in our thoughts.”

In what would be Gary’s final year, he led the Rams (6-5) to the Senate Athletic League championship in November, but fell to John Hay in overtime, 19-16.

“It was a bittersweet game because we won, but I also know that it was his last game coaching,” John Hay football coach Rodney Decipeda said. He added that before the season finale, he spoke with Gary about his coaching future and noticed his weight loss.

“I think the best way to honor him is to continue his emphasis to make sure we put the players, kids, their benefit first like he always did,” Decipeda said. “With the way we structure things, the policies, advocating and championing for the boys, I think that’s the way to honor him or anyone else.”

Dzuro said Rhodes will pay tribute to Gary during the boys basketball game against Collinwood on Friday. There will also be an opportunity for students and teachers to leave notes.

Check back later as this story is updated.

The NBA needs to change its schedule to cut down on back-to-back games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Let's get right to the point -- it's the NBA's problem.

I'm talking about all the uproar over the Cleveland Cavaliers sitting out their Big Three for Wednesday's night loss in Memphis.

I would have preferred that either Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving play that game in Memphis -- with LeBron James and Irving or Love resting.

But that's not the point.

The point is the NBA schedule has to change.

What computer program spits out a schedule where Memphis and Cleveland play back-to-back games...

Tuesday in Cleveland, Wednesday in Memphis...

And this is the only time the two teams play all season...

Come on, that kind of schedule is just begging coaches to sit out top players. Memphis rested Marc Gasol in its Tuesday loss at Quicken Loans. The Cavs sat James, Love and Irving in Memphis the next night.

The days of top players on the court for all 82 regular season games are over.

That's because the NBA has made the regular season an afterthought to its top teams.

The last gasp of attaching huge meaning to the regular season for a contender died last June. That was when the Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State in the NBA Finals.

The Warriors set an NBA record with a 73-9 mark in the regular season. They wanted the record. They got it. They didn't win the title.

And the Cavs looked far fresher in those final three crucial games than Golden State.

A TRIP BACK

Here's a look at the schedule:

• The Cavaliers are playing 17 back-to-back games this season.
• Atlanta has the most with 19.
• Playing 18 are Milwaukee, Sacramento and the L.A. Clippers.
• The Cavs are one of 10 teams playing 17 back-to-backs.
• Playing the fewest back-to-back games is Oklahoma City with 13.

I covered the Cavaliers full-time from 1985-93 for the Akron Beacon Journal. When I began on the beat, most teams took commercial flights. There were a lot of 7 a.m. departures after playing the night before.

Often, the players felt like zombies as they barely got any sleep. I still remember Mel Turpin and Dirk Minniefield buying airport hot dogs for breakfast, the kind that you knew were on those old rollers all night.

Other guys picked up donuts, bagels or muffins.

Not exactly the breakfast of champions.

Playing four games in five nights happened at least a few times each season. No team plays more than one set of 4-in-5 nights this season.

So that's an improvement.

By the late 1980s, the Cavs were on chartered flights, and that did help their road record.

It was common sense. Players basically work an afternoon shift with prime time being between 7-10 p.m. Arriving at a hotel at 3 a.m. after a long flight and sleeping in had players in better shape for the game that night.

EYES ON THE PRIZE

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was the first to realize the value of resting key veterans during the regular season.

In 2012, he was fined $250,000 for sending Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green home to San Antonio rather than playing in Miami. That game was the sixth stop on a long trip for the Spurs.

What happened at the end of that 2012-13 season? The Spurs lost to James and the Miami Heat in seven games of the NBA Finals.

Popovich reached The Finals and nearly won a title. I'm sure he thinks the $250,000 was money well spent.

We can talk about the old days when pitchers threw nine innings, and 140 pitches a game. And we can talk about the old days when football players didn't wear facemasks, or when no one cared about concussions.

And we can talk about how stars such as Michael Jordan never rested during the regular season.

Those days are over. Research shows the connection between injuries and all the back-to-back games, etc.

If you're the Cavs and other title hopefuls, your eyes have to be on the prize -- playing your best basketball in May and June as you dive deep into the playoffs.

Notice how the league doesn't have anyone playing back-to-back games in the playoffs. The NBA knows that doesn't lead to great basketball.

As for James, I recently wrote how he has played the sixth-most minutes in NBA history -- when you count the regular season and playoff games. It's destructive to insist he play close to 82 regular season games.

WHAT NEXT?

Change the schedule!

That's right, change the schedule!

I'd cut down the number of regular season games, but that's not about to happen. Too much money involved.

• The problem: Too many back-to-back games.
• The solution: Cut back on the preseason games. They don't need six. And start the season a few weeks earlier.

You can argue the NBA season seems to last forever.

It does.

But training camp doesn't need to be nearly a month. And six preseason games are ridiculous because the main players rarely are on the floor for long -- if at all.

The goal is to cut down the number of back-to-back games, or we'll see far more of what has happened this week with James and others resting.

Browns rookie pass rusher Carl Nassib has stalled in the past nine games, with only half a sack in that span and 1.5 overall. With three other Browns takeaways.

BEREA, Ohio -- Rookie pass-rusher Carl Nassib seems to have hit the rookie wall. The problem is he hit it about nine games ago.

The nation's leading collegiate sacker last season with 15.5 at Penn State, Nassib has only 1.5 this season -- and only half of one since returning from his broken hand nine games ago.

Defensive coordinator Ray Horton suggested Friday that the third-round pick must expand his array of pass-rush moves, and increase his strength to get past NFL blockers.

"His thing is a young man growing and trying to figure out how to play in this league, and at that position, it's a lot of really speed, quickness and strength,'' said Horton. "We're not hiding from the fact we have to get better. We have to affect the quarterback more.''

Like Barkevious Mingo before him, Nassib isn't fooling anyone with his limited moves. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Emmanuel Ogbah, a second-round pick, is getting better each week and leads the Browns with 4.5 sacks. The Bills are second in the NFL with 40 sacks allowed, so Sunday is a good time to add to that total.

"We have to get more pieces to the foundation, but Carl is one of them,'' said Horton. "It is really a career learning curve of who you are playing, how you play and getting better and watching yourself, saying 'Well, I make the same move all the time. They are going to see me making this move. Guess what? They have me figured out, too.'

"We are counting on guys to continue to grow, and I challenged them today in our meeting about how can they get better."

Despite that, Horton believes Nassib can still be a double-digit sacker in the NFL.

"For Carl, yes because he's so smart,'' said Horton. "He really is. When you watch him, he studies and he understands. His brother has played in the league so he gets what the NFL is about. Then it's just having your body mature and grow up and get bigger and stronger to go with it so you can compete for 16 weeks against the best of the best."

As for Ogbah, who had 1.5 sacks against the Bengals, Horton has urged him "to play faster, and he's going to get better with experience.

"We need just more guys around him to help him. Is he growing and maturing and getting better? Yes. Is he going to be better next year than he was this year? He better be, and I think he will be."

RG3 'without a doubt can be what he was as a rookie'

2. Pep Hamilton on Terrelle Pryor

Browns associate head coach/offense Pep Hamilton appreciates Pryor's passion and wants more guys to play with his intensity.

"Our team and our offensive unit, we need guys to get fired up and be more excited about having an opportunity to play a kid's game for a living," he said, "having a chance to go out and compete every Sunday for four quarters and to want to win their matchup and/or want the ball on every play.

"We see that as a good thing as long as it doesn't take away from our guys being able to make good, sound decisions and continue to use their fundamentals and technique."

3. Chris Tabor on horrible field position

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor lamented the lack of a return game and poor field position. In the first half of last week's 23-10 loss to the Bengals, the Browns started drives at their 8, 12, 2 and 6. Penalties contributed on two of them.

"No question, it's very frustrating,'' said Tabor. "We have to eliminate penalties. We're putting our offense behind the eight ball, and that's not fair to them and then it snowballs.''

It also wasn't exactly a warm welcome for Robert Griffin III after his 11-game layoff.

"I don't judge quarterbacks, but I can tell you [poor starting position is] disappointing,'' said Tabor. "We have to do a better job there."

The Browns are 29th in punt return average and 30th in kick return average. Kick returner Ricardo Louis is averaging 18.2 yards and his long is 24. Punt returner Duke Johnson is averaging 6.6 yards with a long of 18.

"(Louis) is a guy right now who is going through the process of trying to find out if he's a returner,'' said Tabor. "He's a guy that didn't have a lot of experience at it. We're trying to develop that in him. ... That just comes with reps. 'Do I bring it out? Do I not bring it out?' Those are things that we are working on and we'll keep coaching him up."

4. Bills' No. 1 rushing attack vs. Browns No. 31 run D

The Bills not only have a top 10 rusher in LeSean McCoy, they've got a running QB in Tyrod Taylor. They're first in the NFL with 154.6 yards rushing per game and the Browns are 31st with 146.2 allowed.

"Anybody that touches the ball is exceptionally gifted,'' said Horton. "Boy, watching all their games, it's scary because they made a lot of long runs on a lot of teams. It is going to take all 11 guys, especially the secondary, to contain it.

"We've shown them all their big plays from the quarterback to the third running back and the wide receivers. Every time we step on the practice field, I say, 'We are facing the No. 1 rush offense.' I do not want them to forget who they are facing."

As for McCoy, he's one of the best they'll face this season.

"If I could use a quote from Coach Hue, he said, 'He could step in mud and not get dirty,''' said Horton. "He has light feet and he has an unbelievable change in direction. He has rare vision, feet, change of direction and vision to see what is coming. He's always been that way.''