Eastern Michigan looks to cap special season in Bahamas Bowl 2016 against Old Dominion.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Eastern Michigan is one of the feel-good stories of college football as the Eagles go into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl on Friday (1 p.m., ESPN) with a winning record for the first time since 1995. Here's a capsule preview of the game:

POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL

Who: Eastern Michigan (7-5, 4-4) vs. Old Dominion (9-3, 7-1, Conference USA)
When: Today, 1 p.m.
Where: Nassau, Bahamas
TV: ESPN
Skinny: The ODU Monarchs are playing their first bowl game ever, while EMU is playing in its first bowl games since 1987.

ODU quarterback David Washington has had a special season, throwing 25 touchdown passes for 2,468 yards against just four interceptions. EMU quarterback Brogan Roback has passed for 2,394 yards with 16 touchdowns and just six interceptions, despite missing the first three games of the season.

Eastern Michigan finished the season with a winning record for the first time since 1995. Led by coach Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan was tied for the biggest turnaround in FBS in 2016, improving from one win in 2015 to seven wins this season. This is Eastern Michigan's second bowl appearance ever.

Ohio University takes on Troy in the 2016 Dollar General Bowl on Friday in Mobile, Ala.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio University, coming off a loss to Western Michigan in the MAC Championship, might still be one of the hottest teams in the country going into its Dollar General Bowl game Friday (8 p.m., ESPN) against Troy.

The Bobcats advanced to the MAC title game on the back of its defense winning 9-3 over Akron for the MAC East title. OU then took Western Michigan to the brink with its offense before losing, 29-23, in the title game. Put it all together against Troy and coach Frank Solich can deliver another winner.

Here's a capsule preview of the matchup:

DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL

Who: Ohio University (8-5, 6-2) vs. Troy (9-3, 6-2, Sun Belt Conference)
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Mobile, Alabama
TV: ESPN
Skinny: Ohio quarterback Greg Windham showed he was back to health with a 214-yard, three-touchdown effort off the bench in the MAC Championship game, and the Bobcats should be near full strength offensively for the first time since midseason.

The Bobcats' solid bend-don't-break defense is led by DE Tarell Bashem and his 10 sacks. Windham still passed for 1,580 yards with 12 TD despite missing all or part of the last seven games.

Troy has not handled the spotlight well this season, losing to a mundane Arkansas State team, 35-3, one week after becoming the first team from the Sun Belt conference to become nationally ranked. Clearly, that did not last long.

Ohio ended the regular season as MAC East Division Champions. Coach Frank Solich is in his 12th year and is the third-winningest head coach in MAC history at 88-66. Last season Ohio suffered a 31-29 loss to Appalachian State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The Bobcats have been bowl eligible in 10 of the 12 years under Solich and will be making their eighth bowl appearance during his tenure. Overall, Ohio will be making its 10th bowl appearance in school history.

In his first full season, Marshon Lattimore had four interceptions and became a first-round caliber NFL draft talent. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marshon Lattimore is messing up the rotation.

Ohio State had a good thing going with its cornerbacks. Lattimore had to go and ruin it.

The Buckeyes had a three-year stretch where their No. 1 corner would get drafted, then the No. 2 corner would slide up and get drafted the following year. It's a corner assembly line: From Bradley Roby to Doran Grant to Eli Apple.

Apple was supposed to lead to Gareon Conley, and then Conley to Lattimore. Now it looks like both Conley and Lattimore could leave for the NFL after this year. Lattimore was too good, too quick.

Heading into the College Football Playoff, Lattimore also has to decide whether or not he's coming back next year or going to the NFL Draft, where's he widely projected as a first-round pick.

"It's not hard at all, because I don't know if I'm going or not," Lattimore said.

That he has a decision to make is slightly remarkable, because there was a time when you wondered if Lattimore would ever see the field at Ohio State.

If you were told two years ago that Lattimore would go from Glenville to the NFL in three years, that would have made sense. He was one of the best players in the country. Of all the Cleveland players Ohio State signed in 2014 -- there were six -- Lattimore was the safe bet to have the fastest rise to stardom.

Only he was hamstrung by hamstring injuries that took away his first two seasons. That story's been told. Now it's about how Lattimore has become one of five Cleveland starters on Ohio State's defense -- alongside a close friend from Glenville -- and positioned himself as one of the best corners in the country.

How good? ESPN's Todd McShay had him pegged as the No. 5 overall pick in this spring's NFL Draft.

Crazy.

"From top to bottom I improved anything," Lattimore said. "Just getting faster, stronger, I improved everything."

The Marshon Lattimore Profile

Year, height, weight: Redshirt sophomore, 6-foot, 192 pounds

How he got here: Lattimore was a top-50 national prospect according to some recruiting services when he signed with Ohio State in the 2014 recruiting class. He was one of three Glenville players to sign with the Buckeyes that year, and he's the first one to earn a starting job. Marcelys Jones left the program, and Erick Smith has a key role on special teams.

What he's done: Earned a starting spot in the cornerback rotation with Gareon Conley and Denzel Ward. Lattimore had been held back by hamstring injuries during his first two seasons in Columbus. Now healthy, he's thriving with four interceptions and talk of being a first-round NFL Draft pick.

2016 stats: Lattimore leads all Ohio State cornerbacks with 38 tackles, and is tied for the team lead with nine pass break-ups. He's second on the team with four interceptions.

Defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones, linebackers Chris Worley and Jerome Baker, and cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward are the five Cleveland starters on Ohio State's defense.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Our Cleveland Tough series

How Ohio State built a D on Northeast Ohio talent

Jerome Baker took an uexpected role, became a star

Denzel Ward too good to be left out of CB rotation

Which Northeast Ohio Buckeyes are next up at OSU?

Dre'Mont Jones embraced his role at defensive tackle

Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko preview Saturday's matchup between the Browns and Chargers. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns (0-14) face the Chargers (5-9) on Saturday at FirstEnergy Stadium in their last chance to get a win at home this season. Kick off is at 1 p.m.

Dan Labbe and I went over the matchups in the video at the top of this post. We talked about the Chargers' talented pass rushers, experienced quarterback and an old friend at wide receiver. And how the Browns will have to deal with all that if they are to avoid falling to 0-15.

The Cleveland Indians made Edwin Encarnacion their prime free agent target. It took patience and a three-year offer, but they finally signed the power hitter.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The signing of Edwin Encarnacion is an example of the Cleveland Indians front office playing it smart.

I'd heard the Indians were willing to offer the power hitter a three-year contract.

I had no idea if it would be enough. Encarnacion had turned down a four-year, $80 million offer to stay with the Toronto Blue Jays in November.

That sounded as if Encarnacion and his agent expected to find $100 million on the free-agent market.

Meanwhile, Toronto quickly signed designated hitter Kendrys Morales to a three-year, $33 million deal. That was the end of Encarnacion returning to Toronto.

So he went shopping for a new team. He was the best free agent power hitter available, a guy who hit .263 (.886 OPS) with 42 HR and 127 RBI for the Blue Jays last season.

But suddenly, the huge spending for big bats just stopped.

Meanwhile, the Indians had targeted Encarnacion as the kind of acquisition that could help them return to the World Series.

But they were not going to spring for a four-year deal.

So they kept talking to his agent, and also kept waiting before settling on a three-year, $60 million deal with a fourth-year option for $25 million.

The Indians probably could have signed Mike Napoli to some type of two-year deal. Or they could have settled for someone such as Chris Carter or Adam Lind on a one-year contract.

But they wanted more.

They wanted an impact hitter for the next few seasons. The front office also was armed with extra cash from the Dolan family.

That also can't be underestimated.

No green light from the Dolans, no deal for Encarnacion.

It would have been easy for the Dolans to back off.

They were burned by their last major journey into free agency. Before the 2013 season, they signed Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher to four-year deals. The combined value was $104 million.

The two veterans had only one decent year, then injuries hit. It was disaster for the budget.

But coming within one win of a World Series title convinced the Dolans to make a bold financial move this winter.

RISK AND PROTECTION

Encarnacion has been one of baseball's most consistent hitters.

Over the last three years, he's batted .269 (.905 OPS), averaging 38 HR and 112 RBI.

Over the last five years, he hit at least 34 HR every season. He's averaged 145 games per season in that span.

But he will be 34 on January 7. So there are always issues with age and injuries, although he has been remarkably durable for most of his career.

The age probably did scare away some teams. Others might not have wanted to part with a first-round draft pick as compensation.

The Indians were not going to let that stop them. They will primarily use Encarnacion as a designated hitter, who can also play some first base.

This signing allows the Tribe to keep Carlos Santana out of the cleanup spot. That's important. Santana hit a career-high 34 HR last season partly because he wasn't batting fourth.

Santana tends to hit for more power when he's not trying to hit for power. His normal swing creates enough power on its own.

Napoli took some of the pressure off Santana last season. It was Napoli who batted fourth. Santana even led off in some games.

Now, Encarnacion takes over the middle of the lineup.

The Indians don't talk about this, but the 30-year-old Santana is in the final season of his contract. He'll be paid $12 million in 2017.

It's possible they could lose Santana to free agency after 2017. Encarnacion gives them some protection if that happens.

THE OWNERSHIP STATEMENT

Most of all, this signing screams the Indians are very serious about winning a championship.

They already were the favorites to win the AL Central Division, and now they are in an even stronger position.

It also should silence those who insisted the Dolans would simply pocket the postseason cash and not make any real moves to improve the team.

Encarnacion's deal is the largest in franchise history. It comes after the Indians not only reached the World Series, but have had four consecutive winning seasons.

But it also isn't an outrageous deal.

Team president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff were not about to fall into the same trap that led to the signings of Swisher and Bourn.

They placed a careful, patient bet of a three-year contract on Encarnacion. So far, it has paid off in a wonderful way for the Tribe.

"We all have the same sort of realities," Worley said of his Cleveland teammates. "It's not really everything because, everyone is different. But we have seen a lot of the same stuff and have a lot of the same friends." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The wait was really hard. 

Though Chris Worley knew in his heart that he was a really good football player capable of leading Ohio State's defense, he had to sit behind Darron Lee for two years and watch him shine. Lee was an eventual first-round NFL Draft pick, so that's just how the chips fall at a place like Ohio State. 

But Worley's wait wasn't the hardest part. 

"It was tough (sitting behind Lee), but in that situation you have to do what's best for your team and find a role in other ways," Worley told cleveland.com. "I knew my time would come. I had faith that this would happen." 

This was harder. 

In his first year as a starter, Worley had a 60-tackle regular season, which ranks No. 4 among Buckeyes. And though his stats don't necessarily jump off the page, he has been one of the team's most quiet, yet consistent playmakers. That's kind of how Worley's personality is. He's quiet, but you can tell he's reliable. 

So it doesn't matter to him that even as an upperclassman starter on an Ohio State defense that has a strong Cleveland fingerprint, he's still kind of overshadowed by the guys who came from the same city, the same background. 

Look at the other Cleveland guys on this defense. You have Marshon Lattimore -- who grew up with Worley -- storming onto the scene as a projected first-round NFL draft pick in his first year as a starter. And you have Jerome Baker, a redshirt freshman who has the looks of an early Lee.

Stuck behind Darron Lee: Worley as he waited

Oh, and Worley beat Baker out in the preseason. Baker got his time to shine by filling in for an injured Dante Booker -- another Clevelander -- early in the season. Booker is now redshirting. 

Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley has 60 tackles and has been one of the Buckeyes' most consistent defensive playmakers.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

What matters to Worley? This. 

Worley revels in this world where he's a main contributor on an Ohio State team that's gearing up for a College Football Playoff semifinal game against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve. 

And he loves that he's doing it with his Cleveland brothers, like he's been doing his whole life. This is his comfort zone. 

"We all have the same sort of realities," Worley said of his Cleveland teammates. "It's not really everything because, everyone is different. But we have seen a lot of the same stuff and have a lot of the same friends.

"It makes it easier to relate to a guy, easier to open up to a guy on your team. A lot of people don't want to open up just meeting someone, but it's a lot easier when you feel like you already know somebody because they are from the same place." 

Muny League to OSU: The Worley/Lattimore story

The Chris Worley Profile

Year, height, weight: Junior, 6-foot-2, 228 pounds 

How he got here: A former three-star recruit from Glenville, Worley signed with the Buckeyes as part of the deep 2013 recruiting class. He chose Ohio State over a strong push from Florida State. 

2016 stats: Worley started all 12 regular-season games and had 60 tackles and an interception. 

Our Cleveland Tough series:

How Ohio State built a D on Northeast Ohio talent

Jerome Baker took an uexpected role, became a star

Denzel Ward too good to be left out of CB rotation

Which Northeast Ohio Buckeyes are next up at OSU?

Tyreke Smith is a Cleveland stud who could be a Buckeye

Is Dre'Mont Jones the most important OSU D-Lineman?

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has decided to suspend star guard Grayson Allen indefinitely after Allen tripped an opponent, his third tripping incident this year.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has decided to suspend star guard Grayson Allen indefinitely after Allen tripped an opponent, his third tripping incident this year. Most are applauding Duke's decision, and some say he should be banned from the NCAA permanently for his dangerous behavior. Others argue Allen's actions were wrong, but not worth ending his career over -- he's made mistakes, but others have made worse. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

CBS Sports reported that "Kicking Elon's Steven Santa Ana is the latest in a growing line of kicks, trips and controversial plays by the Duke star. Allen went from being known as a talented, high-energy emerging star to one of the most hated Blue Devils ever."

thetylt.com 

Clay Travis thinks the coverage of Grayson's sins is way out of proportion with the severity of his misdeeds, especially compared with those of other players: "ESPN has covered the Grayson Allen trip more aggressively than the Joe Mixon breaking a girl's face on video."

thetylt.com 

Critics say Grayson's behavior is chronic, and not just unsportsmanlike -- but dangerous to his fellow players. The tantrum Allen threw on the bench after his technical foul indicates serious anger management problems, and he shouldn't be allowed back.

.@theACC MUST act in the #GraysonAllen case. His behavior has no place in sports--talent wins but CHARACTER matters more! #PetulantChild pic.twitter.com/tVsg6GYehY

-- Dr. Kevin Campbell (@DrKevinCampbell) December 22, 2016

Others argue that if Allen reforms, he should be allowed to continue playing.

Keep you head up high and learn from this #GraysonAllen. Your a hell of a basketball player. Stay strong and you'll be back on the court!#BD

-- Cameron Raynor (@CAM23RAY) December 22, 2016

Seriously, the fit Allen pitched after receiving a completely deserved technical foul for tripping another player is scary. In any other profession, you would lose your job for endangering other people and going berserk like this in public.

When you don't get what you wanted for Christmas #GraysonAllen https://t.co/7PQLSdSMGj

-- That Indian Kid [?] (@benvarghese15) December 22, 2016

Others say the victims Grayson tripped were not seriously injured, and it's not that big of a deal.

Sports are so soft now! The kid that got tripped is ok. Eject him from game if it's that serious. No need to suspend the kid! #GraysonAllen

-- Jake Collinsworth (@jcollinsworth27) December 22, 2016

Grayson's defenders say it was just the heat of the moment.

I suport 1 gm susp, but don't ruin a man's life for inconsequential judgment lapse in heat of battle. Hella weak @dukeMBB #GraysonAllen

-- Ken DeCelle (@KenDeCelle) December 22, 2016

Others say someone needs to act before Grayson really hurts somebody.

@DickieV If Coach K or @theACC doesn't discipline him, @NCAA needs to step in. Grayson Allen is out of control and will injure someone.

-- Bettie (@RVAREGal) December 22, 2016

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Why hasn't J.T. Barrett gotten better after his dynamic freshman year? It's complicated, but he's only following orders

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The statistics put J.T. Barrett high on the list of all kinds of football holy of holies.

How can this be when the "eyeball test," so beloved of the committee that chooses college football's "Final Four" of playoff teams, suggests he has not improved much since his freshman year?

Freshman year folklore

In 2014 in popular imagination, Barrett, after a slow start, came out of Wichita Falls, Texas like a football-playing Pecos Bill, lassoing twisters and riding horses that hadn't been broken before and immediately claiming a place in the lore of Ohio State football.

Actually, it was not that way at all.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is not into tall tales. He is into percentages.

"The one thing you're never going to hear about our quarterbacks is that they are gunslingers, kind of risk takers," said Meyer. "We just don't do that. That's not the plan to win."

In 2014, Barrett scored two touchdowns while playing the entire second half and extra time with a knee sprain in the double-overtime victory in the heart of the thunder in a "White Out" at Penn State.

He put on a spectacular passing display - third-and-23 for 43 yards, touch perfect to Devin Smith! - in the shocker at Michigan State.

He had an 86-yard touchdown run, a record for Ohio State quarterbacks, as the snow flew at Minnesota.

"Not bad for a guy who runs a 5.5 40 with a broad tail," Meyer joked.

Sophomore slump

Barrett's first season ended prematurely with a broken ankle suffered against Michigan.

Then came Cardale Jones' bravura postseason for a national championship team; and the duel of a rusty Barrett with the stronger-armed Jones for the starting job in 2015; and, even after Barrett regained the job, a drunk driving suspension and the dismal loss to Michigan State and the deflated finish as the best No. 4 team the Associated Press ever put in its Top 10.

This year

The Buckeyes are back in the CFP, but it will mark Barrett's debut on that stage when they face Clemson in the second national semifinal on New Year's Eve.

Asked if Barrett felt fate owed him a championship, as some sort of karmic payback for his injury, the junior quarterback said, "I don't think life works out that way. I believe if you put the time in, the work in, you're on the better half of things. But is fate owing me anything? Nah. It doesn't work out that way."

About those percentages

Meyer once said "the quarterback at Ohio State has to be capable of going to New York," meaning for the Heisman Trophy presentation. Barrett's hasn't been yet and peaked with a fifth-place finish in 2014. He was not in the top 10 this year.

"I look at completion percentage, touchdowns to interceptions, and wins most of all," Meyer said. "By those standards, he''s one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game."

Barrett has a winning percentage as a starter (26-3, 89.7 percent) to rival Rex Kern's (27-2, 93.1 percent), plus a completion percentage (63.2) and touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio (69-19) of distinction.

Yet all this feels more than a little like a career achievement award.

Another Miller?

Barrett lacks his 2014 supporting cast, especially fast, athletic wide receiver Devin Smith. The offensive line, despite the presence of All-Americans Pat Elflein and Billy Price, isn't as good. Barrett also misses new Texas coach Tom Herman as his quarterback coach and offensive coordinator.

Barrett is actually another Miller, bigger, but not as explosive, inconsistent when passing, able to take punishment. His "go-to" play is the quarterback draw, as was Miller's.

"I've always been that guy who gives the ball to his best player," Meyer said. "Sometimes Braxton Miller was the guy, Tim Tebow (at Florida) was the guy, Zeke Elliott was the guy. It's not just that it's J.T., it's because quarterback runs are hard to defend. But I know one thing. If there's a chance, J.T. will get it."

It's what Meyer wants

Barrett holds the ball and holds the ball, waiting for a receiver to break wide open. Thus, his accumulating sack totals.

"I think I'm really good at making decisions, making sure we're not hurting the team in field position," said Barrett. "There's a fine line. Third down, tight coverage, you've got to give a guy a chance to get the ball. That's trusting your receivers."

"Or," he said, "there might be a spy on me, and a receiver may break open late, and I can't get the ball to him. I haven't had a lot of interceptions, so I've gotten better at it."

"It's a blessing and a curse," said Meyer. "He's one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football. His touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio will go down in history as one of the greatest ever."

"Does that mean occasionally, once in a while, he will be late with the ball?" Meyer added. "I see it too. You just try to coach through it."

The first thing in Jim Tressel's manual for quarterbacks was the same thing: no turnovers, because that compromises the defense on which victory is built.

Despite the higher scoring, the quicker pace and the greater appetite for fourth-down gambles, the lack of pronounced affinity for punting, Meyer's quarterback is just a more dynamic version of Tressel's 2002 national championship quarterback, Craig Krenzel.

Barrett's failure to improve dramatically is the result of neither fate, nor injury (at least, not that much) nor bad luck. It is the residue of design.

Here are players to watch in today's bowl games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are building for the future by stockpiling draft picks. They get five picks in the first three rounds in the 2017 NFL Draft, and possibly 11 picks overall.

With that in mind, Browns fans might want to take a closer look at the draft prospects in upcoming college bowl games.

Here's who to watch during Friday's game:

(Draft projections are from CBSSports.com)

Friday Dec. 23

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl

Teams: Eastern Michigan vs. Old Dominion.

When: 1 p.m.

TV: ESPN.

Who to watch: Old Dominion's top prospect is wide receiver Zach Pascal, who is a late-round pick at best. Eastern Michigan's Pat O'Connor (DE) has eight sacks, but might be an undrafted free agent.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Teams: Louisiana Tech vs. No. 25 Navy.

When: 4:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN.

Who to watch: Louisiana Tech's Carlos Henderson is expected to be a third- or fourth-round pick, and teammates Xavier Woods (SS) and Trent Taylor (WR) could be late-round picks. Woods was ninth in the country with five interceptions. Navy's top NFL prospect is wide receiver Jamir Tillman, who might not be drafted.

Dollar General Bowl

Teams: Ohio vs. Troy.

When: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN.

Who to watch: Ohio defensive end Tarell Basham should be a mid-round pick, and Troy offensive tackle Antonio Garcia could be a late-round pick. Ohio LB Blair Brown was named a Pro Football Focus All-American, and Troy DE Rashad Dillard was Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year.

James holds a 17-4 edge in head-to-head matchups, but could the Golden State version of Durant change that? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is the time of year when we all force things. Yes, you're desperate, but are you sure your sister wants earmuffs as a gift?

So what do you get the basketball player who has everything?

LeBron James brought Cleveland a championship, which was the greatest gift he ever could have given himself. He has teammates and a coach he loves and fans that adore him. He's a businessman, a family man and a cultural icon. 

Anyone have ideas for him? We were thinking of giving him Kevin Durant, whether he wants him or not.

Not as a teammate. Again, he's set there. As a rival.

Yes, we're a little late on this. This is Durant's 10th year in the league and the 14th for James. James has a 17-4 edge on Durant, dating back to their first matchup on Jan. 8, 2008, when James scored 22 and Durant 24 in a 95-79 Cavs win over the Seattle SuperSonics in their final season before moving to Oklahoma City.

Since then, in Cleveland-Oklahoma City and Miami-Oklahoma City matchups, James has owned Durant. But now Durant plays for Golden State, and Christmas Day will bring the first matchup between James and Durant in this setting.

We didn't want to get James earmuffs. So consider the possibilities of a rivalry.

1. James has been Michael Jordan is his career to this point, a singular, defining superstar, but a rivalry with another great would bring more Magic Johnson into James' career. Much of Johnson's legacy was defined by his '80s connection to Boston star Larry Bird. Johnson was always the better James comparison on the court, but James has been more Jordanesque in his impact. 

2. Another star to drive him could give James something to think about other than flipping water bottles. Jackie MacMullan wrote a book on the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry, and consider what each of them wrote in the foreword.

"He was the one I had to beat," wrote Bird. "I never let on how much he dominated my thoughts during my playing days."

"He became my measuring stick," wrote Johnson. "I had my own bouts of jealousy when it came to Larry. ... I knew while we were playing I was doggedly scrutinizing Larry's every move."

James has never had that.

3. Kobe Bryant wasn't his rival. James and Bryant had a cool relationship most of their careers before a thawing, but they were never part of the same generation. Before his last game in Cleveland in February, Bryant said of James, "I wouldn't say he was a rival," and the fact that Bryant is more than six years older and they never faced each other in the NBA Finals would back that up.

4. Steph Curry is too short to be his rival. There's something there, obviously. Joe Vardon detailed the tension before the NBA Finals last year, when the Cavs-Warriors II gave us Steph-LeBron II.

But it's not all Curry-James.

"I don't think me and Steph -- when you talk about rivalries, you talk about Carolina-Duke, you talk about Ohio State-Michigan, it's hard to say LeBron and Steph," James said then. "If there's a smaller scale or another word for a rival ..."

5. Vardon also ran through the list of teams and players that have served as James antagonists in his career.

James has had several foils, from Tim Duncan and the Spurs, who've beaten him in two of three Finals dating back to 2007, to the Pistons, whom James had to beat to get to his first Finals in 2007, to those Celtics with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett that ruined the Cavs' chances through 2010 and served as the hurdle James' Miami Heat had to clear in 2012.

James mentioned all of them Wednesday when asked about rivalries and then said "now Steph, the great Steph and the Warriors team."

A rotating rival isn't a rival at all.

6. So who's the best option? Durant. This won't be like Johnson and Bird, who met in the NCAA Championship in 1979 and then entered the NBA together in 1979-80. But Durant and Jame share enough traits, especially now, that this could work. And they're close enough in age, with James at 31 and Durant at 28.

7. They've played together in the Olympics, as Johnson and Bird did. They're close to the same size, so they could match up with each other even if they don't constantly guard each other. 

Who should guard Durant for the Cavs?

8. With Durant in Golden State, they're now on the dominant teams in each conference, just as Johnson with the Lakers and Bird with the Celtics were in the '80s. James and Durant have played once in the Finals, in Miami's 4-1 win over Oklahoma City in 2012, but this is when it could get serious. 

That rivalry can grow from opposite sides of the country. Bird and Johnson only met in the Finals three times -- the Celtics winning in 1984 and the Lakers in 1985 and 1987. But those series were so epic, the matchups linger in the minds of fans.

Could we see James and Durant meet in the Finals three times as this Cleveland-Golden State thing continues? Why not?

9. There's one thing that should bring Durant and James together in a unique way. Both left their first teams in search of their first title. 

James found two in Miami, then returned to Cleveland for a third. Durant is seeking his first ring in season one in Golden State.

They understand each other on that level like few other superstars could.

10. So James has that 17-4 edge. Durant averages 29.3 points in those matchups, James averages 29.1 They've each outscored the other 10 times and tied in the points battle once.

Maybe James is too great and Durant is too far behind, trailing 3-0 in titles and 4-1 in MVP awards, to step up to this rivalry. Or maybe Sunday is the start of something new.

Maybe Durant will give James one of the few things lacking in his legendary career.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue joked that Cleveland's Big 3-less loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last week was a 'forfeit.' Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavs coach Tyronn Lue joked that the infamous, Big 3-less game last week in Memphis was a "forfeit," which drew chuckles from reporters at The Q but may furrow the brows of Tennesseans who had tickets to that game and maybe the commissioner's office.

Lue was speaking after the Cavs dumped the Brooklyn Nets 119-99 Friday night for their fourth consecutive win and ninth out of 10. The lone loss during that stretch was on Dec. 14 in Memphis, when on the second night of consecutive games Lue chose to rest LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love.

"We're playing good basketball," Lue said as he was addressing the Cavs' upcoming game against Golden State on Christmas. "I think we're, what, 22-6? Won our last nine out of 10, and well, nine and one forfeit, I guess you want to call it."

There was an uproar on national sports talk shows, social media, and among fans for the Cavs' best players skipping that game.

Lue contended then, and still does, that the sitting out all members of the Big 3, while unfortunate for fans in Memphis, was done out of necessity because of various nagging injuries and workloads for the Cavs' superstars.

Cavs rip Nets, ready for Warriors

Cleveland lost the game 93-85. Regular starters Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith played their normal minutes that night.

Lue apologized to Memphis fans, but Cleveland's primary objective is to have James, Irving, and Love in peek physical condition for another run at the Finals. If resting them all in the same game helps achieve that goal, Lue has said, the three of them will sit.

Actually, Lue intended to do the same thing Wednesday night at The Q on the second night of a back to back with Milwaukee. Love was already out with a left knee bruise, and James (47 minutes) and Irving (45) carried the load in a 114-108 overtime win against Milwaukee on Tuesday. But, luckily for Cleveland fans, both James and Irving convinced him to let them play.

Resting star players on occasion has become a common theme in the NBA. The league office said nothing (at least not publicly) about Lue's keeping the Big 3 at home for that game in Memphis. However, In 2012 the Spurs were fined $250,000 when coach Gregg Popovich sent several starters home early from a road trip when San Antonio still had a game in Miami.

Check out Friday's boys basketball scores from around the OHSAA, courtesy of The Associated Press.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Check out Friday's boys basketball scores from around the OHSAA, courtesy of The Associated Press.

Akr. Hoban 88, Warrensville Hts. 56

Akr. Manchester 54, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley 40

Anna 56, Minster 49, OT

Ansonia 69, Bradford 30

Apple Creek Waynedale 70, Smithville 59

Archbold 57, Pettisville 34

Arlington 41, Cory-Rawson 38

Ashland 62, Mt. Vernon 48

Ashtabula Edgewood 63, Ashtabula Lakeside 62

Ashtabula Edgewood 54, Hamilton Ross 41

Attica Seneca E. 56, Upper Sandusky 8

Avon Lake 70, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 39

Bellefontaine 62, Spring. Kenton Ridge 54

Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan 43, Spring. Greenon 28

Bellevue 49, Norwalk 43

Bellville Clear Fork 60, Mansfield Sr. 53

Belmont Union Local 71, Barnesville 39

Berlin Hiland 53, Malvern 43

Bethel-Tate 48, Cin. Gamble Montessori 44

Beverly Ft. Frye 73, Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 52

Bishop Donahue, W.Va. 74, Steubenville Cath. Cent. 53

Bloomdale Elmwood 72, Elmore Woodmore 48

Bowling Green 67, Holland Springfield 58

Bristol 58, Brookfield 47

Bucyrus Wynford 47, Sycamore Mohawk 38

Byesville Meadowbrook 65, Coshocton 54

Cadiz Harrison Cent. 68, St. Clairsville 50

Cameron, W.Va. 67, Bridgeport 44

Can. Cent. Cath. 59, Can. South 48

Can. McKinley 75, Cle. St. Ignatius 72

Canal Winchester 71, Pataskala Licking Hts. 63

Canfield S. Range 75, Columbiana Crestview 29

Carrollton 51, Beloit W. Branch 42

Casstown Miami E. 58, Lewisburg Tri-County N. 48

Cin. Clark Montessori 89, Batavia Clermont NE 47

Cin. Hills Christian Academy 61, Ludlow, Ky. 36

Cin. Moeller 52, Cin. Oak Hills 43

Cin. Mt. Healthy 55, Hamilton 50

Cin. NW 61, Morrow Little Miami 43

Cin. Taft 55, Tol. Rogers 53

Cin. Woodward 98, Cin. Dohn High School 48

Circleville Logan Elm 75, Washington C.H. Miami Trace 46

Cle. Benedictine 83, Youngs. Mooney 35

Coldwater 61, St. Marys Memorial 54

Cols. DeSales 53, Cols. Watterson 39

Cols. Ready 41, Cols. Hartley 31

Columbus Grove 45, Hamler Patrick Henry 42

Cortland Maplewood 72, Warren Champion 61

Covington 45, W. Alexandria Twin Valley S. 43

Creston Norwayne 67, Rittman 63

Cuyahoga Hts. 68, Middlefield Cardinal 42

Day. Chaminade Julienne 67, Lima Cent. Cath. 55

Delaware Hayes 54, Ashville Teays Valley 28

Dover 39, New Philadelphia 34

Dublin Scioto 62, Cols. Centennial 52

E. Can. 48, Newcomerstown 42

Elyria 75, Shaker Hts. 67

Elyria Cath. 75, Cle. Cent. Cath. 67

Fairborn 67, Xenia 51

Fairfield 52, Cin. Elder 34

Fairfield Christian 41, Newark Cath. 26

Findlay 60, Defiance 28

Findlay Liberty-Benton 72, Arcadia 34

Fostoria 69, Millbury Lake 59

Ft. Loramie 32, Houston 9

Gallipolis Gallia 65, Crown City S. Gallia 43

Garfield Hts. 111, Cle. John Adams 46

Genoa Area 59, Pemberville Eastwood 32

Girard 51, Niles McKinley 48

Girard, Pa. 51, Conneaut 48

Hamilton Badin 57, Bellbrook 38

Hannibal River 66, Shadyside 58

Hanoverton United 63, E. Palestine 58

Hilliard Bradley 81, Hilliard Darby 41

Hubbard 47, Ravenna SE 44

Hudson 52, Austintown Fitch 46

Kenton 60, Delphos Jefferson 51

Kidron Cent. Christian 47, Mansfield Christian 30

Kings Mills Kings 67, Cin. Sycamore 56

Kirtland 46, Gates Mills Hawken 41

LaGrange Keystone 63, Sullivan Black River 51

Leipsic 57, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 22

Lewistown Indian Lake 70, St. Paris Graham 67, 2OT

Lexington 57, Millersburg W. Holmes 47

Lima Shawnee 66, Maria Stein Marion Local 57

Logan 51, Lancaster Fairfield Union 44

London Madison Plains 44, Fredericktown 40

Lorain Clearview 62, Columbia Station Columbia 50

Louisville 65, Alliance 55

Lyndhurst Brush 86, Cle. Collinwood 71

Macedonia Nordonia 77, Mayfield 66

Maple Hts. 67, Medina Highland 62

Marietta 59, Zanesville Rosecrans 53

Martins Ferry 52, Bellaire 47

Massillon Tuslaw 63, Wooster Triway 60, OT

McArthur Vinton County 79, Chillicothe Zane Trace 49

McComb 36, N. Baltimore 34

McDonald 111, Mineral Ridge 60

McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley 60, Kalida 55

Medina 86, Euclid 60

Medina Buckeye 82, Sheffield Brookside 42

Mentor 91, Strongsville 49

Metamora Evergreen 63, Delta 43

Miamisburg 59, Lebanon 35

Miller City 62, Convoy Crestview 60

Minerva 52, Alliance Marlington 51

Monroe 53, Day. Northridge 39

N. Robinson Col. Crawford 68, Bucyrus 40

Nelsonville-York 52, Glouster Trimble 46

New Albany 58, Cols. Mifflin 56

New Middletown Spring. 58, Lisbon David Anderson 30

New Paris National Trail 41, Randolph Southern, Ind. 18

New Riegel 58, Carey 51

New Washington Buckeye Cent. 67, Morral Ridgedale 44

Oak Hill 66, Franklin Furnace Green 30

Ontario 52, Shelby 46

Orange 66, Chesterland W. Geauga 46

Orrville 52, Navarre Fairless 40

Oxford Talawanda 62, Harrison 53

Painesville Harvey 60, Wickliffe 54

Parma Padua 71, Parma 58

Pataskala Watkins Memorial 76, Galloway Westland 71

Perrysburg 65, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 45

Pitsburg Franklin-Monroe 69, New Madison Tri-Village 54

Point Pleasant, W.Va. 62, Bidwell River Valley 47

Poland Seminary 66, Canfield 56

Portsmouth 72, Portsmouth W. 60

Portsmouth Notre Dame 49, Ironton St. Joseph 32

Ravenswood, W.Va. 87, Racine Southern 38

Rayland Buckeye 49, E. Liverpool 44

Reynoldsburg 68, Dublin Coffman 54

Richmond Edison 72, Weir, W.Va. 71

Richmond Hts. 62, Fairport Harbor Harding 43

Rockford Parkway 59, Ridgeway Ridgemont 44

Rossford 65, Tontogany Otsego 57

Russia 55, Botkins 38

Sarahsville Shenandoah 67, New Matamoras Frontier 50

Sardinia Eastern Brown 69, Felicity-Franklin 57

Seaman N. Adams 42, Lucasville Valley 41

Sidney 85, Greenville 76

Sidney Fairlawn 54, Jackson Center 49

Sidney Lehman 41, Marion Elgin 39

Solon 69, Brunswick 65

Southeastern 52, Jackson 45

Spencerville 54, New Knoxville 42

Spring. NW 64, New Carlisle Tecumseh 49

Springboro 58, Beavercreek 38

Springfield 55, Clayton Northmont 52

St. Bernard Roger Bacon 69, Cin. St. Xavier 60

Strasburg-Franklin 69, W. Lafayette Ridgewood 48

Struthers 62, Campbell Memorial 42

Sugarcreek Garaway 58, Magnolia Sandy Valley 47

Sylvania Northview 77, Napoleon 72

Sylvania Southview 79, Maumee 56

Thornville Sheridan 58, Baltimore Liberty Union 46

Tiffin Columbian 53, Willard 18

Tipp City Bethel 80, Arcanum 43

Tipp City Tippecanoe 42, Vandalia Butler 40, OT

Tol. St. John's 82, Tol. Scott 34

Toronto 56, Oak Glen, W.Va. 53

Trotwood-Madison 85, Kettering Fairmont 63

Troy 82, Piqua 74

Union City Mississinawa Valley 63, Newton Local 46

Uniontown Lake 73, Massillon Washington 46

Urbana 63, Spring. Shawnee 44

Van Buren 63, Vanlue 34

Van Wert 62, Lima Perry 55

Van Wert Lincolnview 68, Ft. Jennings 60

Vincent Warren 52, Albany Alexander 33

W. Salem NW 66, Doylestown Chippewa 39

Wadsworth 81, Akr. Ellet 76

Wellsville 89, Leetonia 46

Williamsburg 81, Fayetteville-Perry 57

Wooster 87, Mansfield Madison 49

Worthington Christian 50, Cols. St. Charles 16

Youngs. Boardman 55, Warren Howland 52

Zanesville 61, Cambridge 47

Ironton 60, Wesley Christian, Ky. 54

Proctorville Fairland 89, Huntington Prep, W.Va. 75

Pickerington N. 72, Tol. Bowsher 71

Westerville N. 68, Cols. Africentric 63

Lloyd Memorial, Ky. 69, Cin. Aiken 63

Cin. Western Hills 41, Bishop Brossart, Ky. 37

Pandora-Gilboa vs. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon, ccd.

I expect the Indianapolis Colts to keep it close enough to cover against the host Oakland Raiders as part of NFL Week 16.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- OneUp Sports attempted to call about my best "bets'' for NFL Week 16 against the spread, but I was Christmas shopping.

I feel good enough about not one, not two, but....six games. So I decided to write instead of talk about them. I know, I know: I probably am extending myself far too far with six.

I went 2-2 BB in Week 15 and am 6-2 in my past eight. I am four above .500 for the season. Always in this space: entertainment purposes only.

Complete Week 16 picks

(For the Week 16 opener, I called the Eagles' upset of the Giants in Philadelphia. I was confident in the pick and told some people about it, but I am not going to put it in the BB column.) 

Here are Week 16 BB. Lines are from MGM Mirage via vegasinsider.com on Wednesday afternoon.

@ Chicago (+3) over Washington

Skinny: Bears are 3-11 but continue to grind. Since Nov. 20, they are 1-4; the losses have been by six (@ Giants), six (vs. Tennessee), three (@ Detroit) and three (vs. Green Bay). Bears QB Matt Barkley has been fun to watch. Redskins are coming off terribly disappointing home loss Monday night against Carolina.

@ Green Bay (-6 1/2) over Minnesota

Skinny: When his team dropped its fourth straight to fall to 4-6, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers did not panic. Thanks to Rodgers' terrific play, the Packers are now 8-6, having beaten Philadelphia, Houston, Seattle and Chicago. Vikings were going to struggle to keep up even before RB Adrian Peterson was ruled out (knee/groin).

San Diego (-6) over @ Cleveland

Skinny: Chargers are the best 5-9 team in recent memory. They play hard and reasonably well; they just have not been able to finish. Their motivation comes from professional pride, which in this case is tied to not wanting to become the Browns' first victory. Browns QB Robert Griffin III has not shown much in two starts since returning from a Week 1 injury.

Indianapolis (+3 1/2) over @ Oakland

Skinny: I can't figure out the Colts, who have been wildly inconsistent en route to 7-7. Still, the Colts have been formidable on the road, including a 34-6 trashing of the Vikings in Week 15. AFC West leader Raiders (11-3) will win, but I expect the Colts keep it close enough to win by the hook.

@ Houston (-1 1/2) over Cincinnati

Skinny: This game shouldn't be a BB, because it's 99 44/100 percent gut feeling. And the gut feeling centers on Texans reserve QB Tom Savage. I can't help myself.

@ Dallas (-7) over Detroit

Skinny: Yes, the Cowboys secured homefield throughout the NFC playoffs when the Giants lost in Philadelphia. Cowboys coach and University School product Jason Garrett said he plans to play everybody, but even if he doesn't, the Cowboys should be sharp enough to beat the Lions and banged-up QB Matthew Stafford by at least seven.

The Cavs are hoping that Dunleavy, acquired this off-season because of his basketball IQ, playoff experience and 3-point stroke, will be one to make the most of his potential increase in minutes. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A few days ago, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue was asked a few different questions about the Christmas Day showdown against the Golden State Warriors.

He rebuffed, not wanting to overlook the teams on the schedule before Sunday.

That game, the one that NBA fans have been waiting for since the schedule was released, is finally here. And the look-ahead came earlier than anticipated, as the Cavaliers made quick work of the Brooklyn Nets, building a massive 46-point lead, resting the stars in the fourth quarter and coasting to a 119-99 win.

Here are five observations:

Mulligan - By now it's not a secret. The first play of every game is run for Kevin Love, who returned after a two-game absence because of a bruised knee. That's the plan anyway.

On Friday, the first possession ended with a Tristan Thompson early-clock baseline jumper from 13 feet. What? 

"Great shot," Lue said with a wry smile.

After the rebound caromed out of bounds, staying with the Cavs, the players looked puzzled, wondering how Thompson -- of all guys -- ended up hoisting the first shot.

"It was for Kevin," Lue admitted. "We ran the 44 for Kevin but (Brook) Lopez went all the way across the lane with Kevin to kind of like take it away so Tristan was open and Bron threw it to him. So then it went out of bounds and we came back and ran the play for Kevin the first play."

Love missed. But at least it looked more like the Cavs' typical set.

Mike Dunleavy makes his mark - J.R. Smith's extended absence will lead to vast opportunities. And the Cavs are hoping that Dunleavy, acquired this off-season because of his basketball IQ, playoff experience and 3-point stroke, will be one to make the most of a potential increase in minutes.

He did on Friday, pouring in a season-high 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range.

"He was good," Lue said. "He had a great first half and having 12 points off the bench in the first half is big for us, off the bench. So, him shooting the ball well and getting to the basket, catch-and-go's, it was good for us. That was the best I think he's been as far as being comfortable on the floor, which was big for us tonight."

The timing couldn't be better. It's Dunleavy's third double-digit game since coming to Cleveland. It's just the fifth time he's made multiple triples.

While DeAndre Liggins will be the starting shooting guard, Dunleavy adds more spacing and can get flammable from beyond the arc -- much the way Smith does. 

"We ran a couple sets for him but other than those couple sets out of timeouts, just finding the open man," Lue said of Dunleavy. "I thought we did a great job of moving the basketball. Sometimes overpassed, which is a good thing, but having 28 assists on 48 makes is pretty good. I thought we moved the ball well and he was just a part of getting some of those open shots."

Long distance shooter - Known for his defensive mentality, Liggins has morphed into a reliable outside shooter, something many NBA teams have questioned about him for years.

"Last year he shot 40 percent in the D League from 3," Lue said. "And in practice he's making his shots, just got to be confident and take them. He's going to get those shots and we want him taking those shots because that's part of our offense and when it's swing, swing, swing you get the shot you've got to take it. It's surprised me that he's turning it down because I know he can make it."

The NBA and D-League are different and Liggins' rise has been quite stunning -- even to opposing teams that continue to leave him free, believing the original scouting report hasn't changed. According to NBA stats, all of his triples would be classified as open (defender within 4-6 feet) or wide open (6 or more feet), with a majority getting the wide open distinction.

"I'm going to be open because I haven't played that much for guys to be like, 'Oh Liggins can knock down open shots,'" he said recently. "Guys still think that I'm a mediocre shooter and I have to prove I can make open shots. I have to be ready to make open shots."

To his credit, Liggins works tirelessly on his outside shot, staying late after practice and shootaround, going through shooting sessions with rookie Kay Felder.

On Friday, Liggins buried 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. While it's a small sample size and he has only taken more than two triples in one game this season, Liggins is now 8-of-13 from downtown.

Learning from the best - With about eight minutes remaining in the first half and the Cavaliers leading by 19 points, Kyrie Irving showed off a new move, one that he started practicing long ago.

"The first time I saw it done I think I was maybe in high school," Irving said. "Saw C.P. (Chris Paul) do it and I was like let me try it. Saw C.P. do it a few times and couple guys have done it. If it works, good. If it doesn't then I think coach will be a little mad at me."

Coming off a screen with a live right-handed dribble, Irving spun the ball in front, faking one of his signature crossovers and getting the defender to pause while the ball bounced back to his right hand. To complete the maneuver, he soared to the bucket and finished with an underhanded layup, complete with extra spin.

Kyrie is a blur! #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/SIxTS0GdzO

-- NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2016

Stat of the night - For the second consecutive game, Irving led the Cavs in assists, finishing with 10 of the team's 28.

It's the third time in the last four games Irving has dished out double-digit helpers.

To put the leap in perspective, Irving finished with just one game of double-digit assists in 74 games, including the postseason, last year.

"Just getting in the lane and trying to make plays," Irving said recently. "That's all. Understanding where guys are, specifically what the defense is doing to try to limit me in the paint I know that seeing that weakside, guys are coming over, pulling over early. Teams are tilting on myself and Bron so I got to be able to make that pass to our shooters on the weakside. It's just reading the game a lot better."

Irving is averaging 5.5 assists. 

 

Here's where to watch, listen and stream the Cleveland Cavaliers' Christmas Day game vs. the Golden State Warriors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 29 of the 2016 NBA season on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors. Here's how to watch, listen and stream the action online.

What: Cleveland Cavaliers (22-6) vs. Golden State (27-4).
Where: Quicken Loans Arena.
When: 2:30 p.m.
TV: ABC.
Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM La Mega.
Online: Watch ESPN.com

Golden State notable: The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Cleveland notable: Last Christmas, the Warriors used an 11-4 run late in the fourth quarter to open a 10-point lead and held on to win 89-83. Five Cavs scored in double figures, but Cleveland committed 11 turnovers.

Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs.

Joey Bosa comes to town on Sunday when the Chargers take on the winless Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns fans are used to this. Most of them can probably tick off the names without pause: players the Browns could have drafted who are producing -- and at a high level -- for other teams.

Sunday, they'll get a close look at one of those players: Joey Bosa.

Bosa, after missing San Diego's first four games with a hamstring injury that followed a contract dispute, has been a force for the Chargers defense. The rookie out of Ohio State has 7.5 sacks in ten games, the same number of sacks that Browns rookies Carl Nassib and Emmanuel Ogbah have combined over the course of the season. Bosa has nine quarterback hits and 35 pressures.

The reality of the 2016 draft for the Browns is they traded away the ability to pick what appears to be blue chip talent at the top. Taking Carson Wentz out of the equation, the Browns trade down from the No. 2 spot forfeited their opportunity to pick, at least, Bosa, whom appears to be an elite pass rusher, and Ezekiel Elliott, a potential top tier running back.

"I had conversations with (the Browns)," Bosa said in a conference call with reporters earlier this week. "I had met with Cleveland and everybody at the draft and I made a trip out there. I saw some interest. I was not really expecting to end up there, but I definitely saw it as a possibility."

The Browns and their fans have had front row looks at the two other key players that will be a part of this discussion until we can finally close the book on the trades down. The season opened with Carson Wentz throwing for 278 yards and two scores against them. Wentz has tailed off, leaving the proclamations that he is a franchise quarterback to wait, but there is still the potential that Wentz can, at least, develop into a steady presence at the game's most important position.

Elliott casually rushed for 92 yards in a blowout win at FirstEnergy Stadium. The driving force behind 12-2 Dallas' offense, his ability to create yards, his willingness to initiate contact and his penchant for blocking in the passing game are all traits that shouldn't be shrugged off just because he plays behind a great line.

Bosa, well, we've talked about him.

Browns fans, for their part, might always be scarred by what happened in 2014. That's the year that the Browns ended up with cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel with two first round picks. Oakland, meanwhile, selected Khalil Mack fifth overall (the Browns traded out of the fourth spot) and Derek Carr 36th overall. A simple look at the standings shows how that turned out for both teams.

The Browns made the decision in 2016 to kick the can down the road on acquiring elite talent. They chose quantity instead. It hasn't paid off this season, though it still could. Emmanuel Ogbah has shown the potential to be an effective pass rusher. It's nearly impossible to evaluate Corey Coleman with the inconsistency at the quarterback position. The rest of the draft class, while disappointing so far, will have an opportunity to enter their first real NFL offseason in hopes of making a jump.

More importantly, they are armed with two first round picks, both of which are likely to be in the Top 15. The hard reality of the draft, though, is the best laid plans can go awry. Even hitting on half of your picks is a coup. It's all projections until players actually step foot on an NFL field.

Sashi Brown and Co. have bottomed out their roster with an eye to the future. It's a risky move to look at the talent they looked at and say, "No, thanks."

There's nothing they can do about it now, though. They have no choice but to look to the future and hope the past won't haunt them.

-----

There are many, many reasons the Cavs and Warriors are playing on Christmas, including the genuine rivalry between the two that could be the NBA's best since the Lakers-Celtics wars of the 1980s. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- No two teams have ever played each other in the Finals in three consecutive years.

Who among you (put your hands down, Clippers, Spurs, and Raptors) doesn't think the Cavs and the Warriors will become the first?

Ponder that as you place those presents under the tree and mentally prepare for the marquee game of the NBA's all-important Christmas Day slate: Golden State at Cleveland, 2:30 p.m.

"I mean, it's a rivalry already," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said, after his club breezed through its final pre-Warriors tuneup, 119-99 win over Brooklyn on Friday night.

"It's definitely a rivalry," Lue said. "Each team when you go out and play, you're definitely thinking about each other. It's just how it is. We have a long way to go before we get to the end, but when you talk about the championship or the Finals, you always just say Golden State and Cleveland. It's not that easy."

A question being posed to Lue and his players was, could Cavs-Warriors become the modern day Celtics-Lakers rivalry of the 1980s? Those teams met in 1984, '85, and '87.

There was Larry Bird and Kevin McHale and Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. The Celtics won first; the Lakers won the last two.

Bird and Johnson have admitted they were consumed by trying to beat the other during their careers.

The Cavs and Warriors have LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love; Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and Draymond Green...and, now, Kevin Durant.

The Warriors took the 2015 Finals in six games. Love watched the entire thing with his broken shoulder in a sling. Irving missed games 2-6 with his left leg in a cast.

And last season, well, you know. Down 3-1 in the Finals, the Cavs pulled off the largest comeback in Finals history and won the franchise's first championship. There was Irving's version of The Shot; The Block (don't need to say by whom); Love's defense on Curry.

Curry's a two-time, reigning MVP. Last year he won it unanimously. James didn't love that. Curry long ago grew tired of paying lip service to comparisons to James.

Curry wondered if The Q's locker room still smelled like champagne before the Warriors' January trip to Cleveland. The Cavs were furious; and then let Golden State beat them by 34 points.

There was the whole dust up between James and Green in Game 4 of the Finals, which led to a Game 5 suspension for Green. The Warriors never got over it, emotionally. Thompson went so far as to say (in a press conference) to James that this was a "man's league." James responded with games of 41 points, 41 points, and a triple-double in Game 7.

"I know there definitely will be high emotions in both locker rooms," Irving said. "That's a given. If you're not getting up for this game - all the great players that will be on the floor at one time - you shouldn't be in there."

In seven Finals games, the Cavs scored 703 points. The Warriors, 699. The series was the most-watched since ABC began carrying the Finals and the NBA's most watched since 1998, with an averaging of 20.25 million people tuning in for each game.

Of course these two teams are playing on Christmas, for the second straight season, in ABC's prime slot (last year it was 5 o'clock; this year it's 2:30 because of the NFL). It was a Finals for the ages.

The down side is, Finals games are not played in December.

"Everyone gets so crazy with the penmanship and the coverage of a Christmas Day game, and then the next day you've got to play again and it's like it's over," said James, who is playing his 11th game on Christmas. "I get excited for the game, but I don't really care too much about storylines on Christmas. It's not a big thing for me."

And that's just it. Twenty-plus hours after this (potentially) epic Cavs-Warriors tilt, Cleveland will be playing north of Detroit against the Pistons. One of 52 more games before the playoffs start.

Last season, the Warriors edged the Cavs on Christmas in Oakland 89-83 and then blew them out here on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Then Cleveland won the Finals.

"You always look forward to certain games against the best teams," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after Golden State's win at Detroit on Friday. "It doesn't mean anything for later, for whatever happens down the road, but it's always a fun time to play on Christmas and fun to play against a great team. We're all looking forward to the game and then looking forward to getting home afterwards."

All of the Cavs' key players are under contract through next season -- most of them much longer; with James likely to opt out in 2018 and consider a $209 million offer from the Cavs. 

The Warriors' contracts are a little more in flux, but under the new collective bargaining agreement it's reasonable to expect most of it not all four of their best players to stick together for years.

In the meantime, a shove by Green here, a James block of Curry there, on Christmas, might immediately re-stoke the flames. Could be another building block toward making this the Lakers and Celtics, all over again.

Here's who to watch during Saturday's game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are building for the future by stockpiling draft picks. They get five picks in the first three rounds in the 2017 NFL Draft, and possibly 11 picks overall.

With that in mind, Browns fans might want to take a closer look at the draft prospects in upcoming college bowl games.

Here's who to watch during Saturday's game:

(Draft projections are from CBSSports.com)

Dec. 24

Hawaii Bowl
Teams: Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee.
When: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN.

Who to watch: Middle Tennessee's Jeremy Cutrer (CB) and I'Tavius Mathers (RB) are both projected to be late-round draft picks. Mathers had 2,000 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Hawaii's top prospect is kicker Rigoberto Sanchez, who probably won't be drafted.

The former St. Ignatius star still lives with Buckeyes Jamarco Jones and Sam Hubbard. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Another Northeast Ohio native could have been making major contributions to the Ohio State defense this season. But he wasn't even in Ohio Stadium on Saturdays this fall.

Kyle Berger gave away his tickets for each game, the St. Ignatius grad unable to handle sitting in the stands and watching his friends and former teammates. The idea of leaving Ohio State football behind, his OSU career ended by two ACL tears in his left knee, is still too fresh for that.

So Berger continues his studies in exercise science as part of a pre-med curriculum that he hopes will land him at Ohio State's medical school. He plays Xbox with his roommates. He wonders why one of those roommates, Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard, gets his Chipotle orders delivered, and why another, Ohio State left tackle Jamarco Jones, seldom does the dishes.

Berger no longer plays football. But he's still connected to two of his 2014 recruiting class friends that he's lived with since his freshman year.

"We're just great friends," Hubbard said. "We always got along and we each bring something different to the table."

"Relationships go further than football," said Jones, a Chicago native who goes to Berger's home for Thanksgiving each fall. "I consider him to be one of my brothers. I'd do anything for Kyle, and I love him."

Berger's football career officially ended in February, when Urban Meyer announced on National Signing Day that the knee injuries that had nagged Berger since before his arrival in Columbus had proven too much to overcome. Berger had surgery on his left knee twice after ACL tears, and fearing a third tear, Ohio State told him he couldn't play anymore.

Since then, Berger has dropped 35 pounds, now down to about 205, and his knee no longer hurts when he climbs stairs. He says he's lucky to have a life filled with friends, family and academic pursuits. But he's still not over what he's missing out on.

Kyle Berger tore his ACL for the first time during his senior season at St. Ignatius in 2013.Ari Wasserman, cleveland.com 

In that 2014 class, according to the 247sports.com recruiting ratings, Jones was a four-star recruit and the No. 58 player in the class. Berger was a four-star and the No. 157 player in the class. Hubbard, from Cincinnati, was a four-star and the No. 181 player in the class.

Jones and Hubbard emerged this season as full-time starters and major parts of this College Football Playoff team. Berger watches knowing he could have been doing that as well.

"They're playing on national TV and it started to hit me the first couple weeks, 'Wow, this stinks,'" Berger said of watching from home. "I wish I could be out there. It's difficult for me at times, but I'm happy for my roommates. They're playing so well and the team is playing so well."

Berger also lives with two friends from St. Ignatius, John Thomas and Matt McVey. Their older brothers, Blake Thomas and Scott McVey, were OSU football recruits who were forced to give up the game because of injury as well.

In their five-person duplex, Berger likes having other roommates who weren't part of OSU football, and Hubbard and Jones appreciate that we well. After class and after football, they can get away. Hubbard and Jones go against each other in every practice, but football isn't talked about much among the roommates.

"That helps to keep a level head and to stay grounded," Hubbard said.

In the middle of it all is Berger, who understands what life is like for Jones and Hubbard but who isn't living that life anymore. It's easier for him to schedule his classes now, his daily stress level is reduced and he can tell how much dropping the football weight has helped his knee.

He also remembers what he and Jones and Hubbard talked about as recruits. Hubbard and Berger quickly hit it off and decided to live together, and they got to know Jones on their official visit. Quarterback Stephen Collier lived with them their first two years as well before getting his own apartment this year, but the other three remain roommates and are reminded of those early goals.

They talked about winning titles together. They were all first-year Buckeyes when that happened in 2014, though they mostly watched and didn't play. Now Jones and Hubbard are at the heart of another title chase.

"It was pretty cool to sit and visualize things with guys like that," Berger said. "It's even cooler to see them realize the stuff I remember sitting and talking to them about."

Some things haven't changed.

Jones still asks Berger's mom to make him her special buffalo chicken dip. They still call their apartment room 525, after their dorm number from freshman year.

Berger just has his energy focused elsewhere.

"He's still pretty much my best friend at school," Hubbard said of Berger. "He's a smart kid. I'd love to have him out there with me, but he's going to be successful in whatever he's pursuing, I know that."

Berger said when this season ends for the Buckeyes, he may finally put football behind him. He felt more prepared for this than many 20-year-olds forced to retire may have. But it's never easy when it ends.

"This is the hardest year, because I should be playing right now," Berger said. "Once I see them win the national championship, which I hope they do and I think they will, then I'll realize I've gone through the hardest part."

Berger is happy and healthy and he has great roommates. He just locked down an internship in a cardiovascular lab. He's recently become interested in the heart and thinks now his path will lead him toward becoming an invasive cardiologist. Football at Ohio State brought him friendships he'll keep forever and connections for his medical pursuits.

But remember, he was pretty good at football, too. Jones and Hubbard are invaluable members of this team. Take away those knee injuries, and Berger maybe would be right there with them.

"I think so," he said. "I'd like to think that."

Our Cleveland Tough series

How Ohio State built a D on Northeast Ohio talent

Jerome Baker took an uexpected role, became a star

Denzel Ward too good to be left out of CB rotation

Which Northeast Ohio Buckeyes are next up at OSU?

Dre'Mont Jones embraced his role at defensive tackle

Marshon Lattimore gave Buckeyes second NFL corner

Chris Worley emerged as heart and soul of defense

The Indianapolis Colts are battling to stay in the playoff picture as they visit the Oakland Raiders on Saturday: NFL 2016 Week 16 preview, games to watch.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Andrew Luck are in desperation mode as they play at the Oakland Raiders today, one of 12 games on the NFL's Week 16 holiday schedule.

The Colts are 7-7, but only trail the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans by one game in the AFC South. Indianapolis has won five straight road games, but the Raiders are 5-2 at home. Oakland has a playoff spot locked, but only leads the Kansas City Chiefs by one game in the AFC West.

In a NFC North showdown, the Minnesota Vikings are at the Green Bay Packers, both teams trying to stay in touch with the first-place Detroit Lions. The Lions lead the division at 9-5, but have a road game at the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. Green Bay is 8-6, one game better than the Vikings.

Here's a look at some prime games to watch, along with the complete weekend schedule and TV. You can get live scores along with previews and updates from all the games all weekend on our NFL Scoreboard.

PRIME MATCHUPS

Saturday

Indianapolis Colts (7-7) at Oakland Raiders (11-3) 

• When: 4:05 p.m., CBS
• Why watch: Barely, but the Colts still remain in playoff contention. A loss to the Raiders would knock the Colts out. A victory by the Raiders would set up a potential division clincher at Denver next week.

Sunday

Baltimore Ravens (8-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5)  

• When: 4:30 p.m., NFL Network
• Why watch: A victory by the Steelers will earn them a third consecutive playoff berth. If they lose they'll need help for the second year in a row to make it. A Ravens victory Sunday and next week against the Bengals gives the Ravens the AFC North title.

NFL WEEK 16 SCHEDULE / SCORES

Thursday

Philadelphia 24, New York Giants 19

Saturday

Miami (9-5) at Buffalo (7-7), 1 p.m., CBS
New York Jets (4-10) at New England (12-2), 1 p.m., CBS
Tennessee (8-6) at Jacksonville (2-12), 1 p.m., CBS
Minnesota (7-7) at Green Bay (8-6), 1 p.m., FOX
San Diego (5-9) at Cleveland (0-14), 1 p.m. CBS
Washington (7-6-1) at Chicago (3-11), 1 p.m., FOX
Atlanta (9-5) at Carolina (6-8), 1 p.m., FOX
Indianapolis (7-7) at Oakland (11-3), 4:05 p.m., CBS
Tampa Bay (8-6) at New Orleans (6-8), 4:25 p.m., FOX
Arizona (5-8-1) at Seattle (9-4-1), 4:25 p.m., FOX
San Francisco (1-13) at Los Angeles (4-10), 4:25 p.m., FOX
Cincinnati (5-8-1) at Houston (8-6), 8:25 p.m., NFL Network

Sunday

Baltimore (8-6) at Pittsburgh (9-5), 4:30 p.m., NFL Network
Denver (8-6) at Kansas City (10-4), 8:30 p.m., NBC

Monday

Detroit (9-5) at Dallas (12-2), 8:30 p.m., ESPN