Porter is accused of attacking a doorman at a bar in Pittsburgh after the Steelers' playoff win on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter was arrested Sunday night and is facing multiple charges after an incident Sunday night at a bar in the city, just hours after Pittsburgh's playoff victory over Miami.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, police said in a statement that an officer was called to The Flats on Carson at about 9:30 p.m. because a doorman was being assaulted.

The officer stopped the assault and arrested Porter, 39, the statement said. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, public drunkenness and terroristic threats.

Porter had been asked to leave the restaurant several times but refused, witnesses tell the Post-Gazette.

The Steelers tell NFL.com they are aware of the incident.

"We are still gathering information as it pertains to the situation, and we will have no further comment until we get more details," Steelers director of communications Burt Lauten tells NFL.com.

According to ESPN.com, Porter played linebacker in the NFL for 13 seasons, eight with the Steelers. He has been an outside linebackers coach in Pittsburgh for two seasons and was on the sideline during the Steelers' 30-12 victory over the Dolphins on Sunday.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. 

NFL Wild Card Weekend 2017 seemed to be a rough one for the officials.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When I am unable to watch a major sporting event, I turn first to Twitter. I find it entertaining, informative and, of course, opinionated.

This past weekend, Twitter largely carried me through the four playoff games of NFL Wild Card Weekend. This is some of what was hammered home:

• The Oakland Raiders are lost without quarterback Derek Carr.
• The Houston Texans won a division and beat the Raiders in the WC round, but they stink.
• NFL officiating is problematic.
• The Seahawks beat the Lions in part because they continue to get favorable calls at home.
• The Steelers are scary when their main offensive pieces are healthy.
• The Dolphins, as expected, did not appear comfortable in the cold.
• NFL officiating is problematic.
• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a gunslinger who is dialed in.
• Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was off his game.
• The officiating is problematic.

In certain stretches, Twitter was as hot about the officiating as about the game action. I get that officiating always is a topic to varying degrees, but it seems to be now more than ever. Interestingly, even though replay is more prevalent than ever and can erase mistakes, NFL officiating does not appear to be getting any better.

In fairness to the NFL, it isn't the only major pro league whose officiating/umpiring has been called into question and become controversial at various times. Which leads me to this:

Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class is probably only going to reach 22 players -- at most -- which means roughly half of the class is already in school.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State already has a new team. 

Yes, Urban Meyer has seen a handful of his players leave early to the NFL and there may be more who go. But the Buckeyes invited nine early-enrollees to their roster in time for Ohio State's first classes, which begin on Monday. Times have changed. 

Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class is probably only going to reach 22 players -- at most -- which means roughly half of the class is already in school. And given all the prospects who reported to school are highly-rated prospects, that means there probably won't be as much National Signing Day drama as usual. 

Who enrolled early? Let's look: 

* Four-star RB JK Dobbins of La Grange, Texas: Though there was some worry that Ohio State could potentially lose Dobbins to Texas after Tom Herman was hired, the 5-foot-10, 199-pound running back remained loyal to the Buckeyes since his commitment in March. 

Rated the No. 2 all-purpose back in the 2017 class, Dobbins could figure into Ohio State's running back rotation early given it's only Mike Weber and Antonio Williams ahead of him on the depth chart. 

Better late than never! Our man @Jkdobbins22 is a Buckeye and home sweet home in the O-H! Welcome! [?] [?] [?] pic.twitter.com/dSZ09RlM8k

-- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 9, 2017

* Five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah of Grand Prairie (Texas) South: Rated the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 7 overall player in the 2017 class, Okudah committed to the Buckeyes on Saturday during the U.S. Army All-American Game. He's the top-rated player in Ohio State's class, so getting him on campus early for spring is huge considering Meyer lost Gareon Conley and Malik Hooker to the NFL Draft and Marshon Lattimore could be next. 

Go Bucks! [?] [?] pic.twitter.com/HbclEIxVAP

-- Jeffrey Okudah III (@TheJeffOkudah) January 9, 2017

* Four-star QB Tate Martell of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman: Rated the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the class, Martell has been committed to Ohio State since the middle of June. He was one of the main leaders in the class and helped push players like Okudah to become Buckeyes. Now he'll face the biggest challenge of his life, which is trying to be the starting quarterback at Ohio State. Enrolling early helps.

Thank you for the great memories.. it's time for me to finally move onto the next level. It's been a great journey, wouldn't change a thing. pic.twitter.com/cm2KGzVkej

-- Tate Martell (@TheTateMartell) January 8, 2017

* Five-star CB Shaun Wade of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity: Wade was Ohio State's first commitment in the 2017 class. He committed on Jan. 9, 2015 during halftime of Ohio State's win over Oregon to win a national title. Wade's commitment wavered on the surface as he took official visits to Virginia Tech and Alabama late, but he stuck with the Buckeyes and is in Columbus now. No more drama. 

The @USATODAYhss Defensive Player of the Year has arrived! Welcome to Buckeye Nation @shaunwade2017! [?] pic.twitter.com/EPbdlUYjuf

-- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 8, 2017

* Five-star LB Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas: The No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 9 overall player in the class has enrolled, which is great news for Ohio State because prospects like Browning -- you know, the really highly-rated ones -- usually tend to waver late in the process. No worries with Browning, though. He's on campus early and is good enough to potentially push for playing time as a freshman the way Raekwon McMillan did as a true freshman in 2014. 

* Five-star OT Josh Myers of Miamisburg, Ohio: Rated the No. 3 offensive tackle and the No. 10 overall prospect in 2017, Myers has easy to forget with all of the recruiting fireworks surrounding Ohio State's class. But it's important to remember that he was a top-rated prospect who made it very easy on Ohio State and was one of the heartbeats of this class behind the scenes. He's the perfect type of in-state prospect for Ohio State. 

Why Josh Myers' commitment is so valuable to OSU

* Four-star S Isaiah Pryor of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG: Rated the No. 5 safety in the class, Pryor had been committed to Ohio State since July of 2015. In the time since, his recruitment was very quiet. No other visits, no second-thoughts, no drama. Pryor, who was originally from Georgia, had almost 50 scholarship offers, and may be one of the hidden gems of the class. 

Welcome to The Bus @D1Zay13! pic.twitter.com/bj12P5tn6K

-- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 8, 2017

* Four-star Brendon White of Powell (Ohio) Olentangy: Of all the early-enrollees, White is the veteran. Though he was permitted to travel with Ohio State to the Fiesta Bowl, he had his first practice with the Buckeyes during the team's bowl prep. He's a versatile athlete who played defensive back, wide receiver and quarterback in high school. He's drawn a lot of comparisons to Darron Lee. 

The next Darron Lee? Similarities uncanny

* Four-star CB Marcus Williamson of IMG: Williamson may have flown under the radar during the last year, but he became a top Ohio State target early in his career when he was at Westerville (Ohio) South. Williamson is a Columbus kid with major talent and his enrollment at Ohio State is a homecoming of sorts. 

Move-in day is on! Welcome to campus @therealestbw0 & @WW_Marcus! [?] pic.twitter.com/fFvwp4HSuB

-- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 8, 2017

Medina senior running back Jimmy Daw rushed for 41 touchdowns to becoming the cleveland.com Offensive Player of the Year.

MEDINA, Ohio – Senior running back Jimmy Daw is cleveland.com’s offensive player the year after leading Medina to the Division I regional semifinals and finishing 9-3 this past season.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound running back rushed for 2,203 total yards with 1,385 rushing and another 818 receiving and scored a 41 touchdowns to set a Medina County record.

The Ball State commit was named to the AP All-Northeast Inland District and All-Ohio Division I First Team Offenses. Daw joined Jackson’s Dillon Dingler as the district’s co-offensive players of the year.

Daw said it was important for his teammates especially the senior class to do well this past season. The team erased a six-year playoff slump by earning its third since 2006 and 2010.

“We played our hearts out every single game and laid it out all on the line,” said Daw. “It got us to the second round of the playoffs. It was a great season for us.”

Watch the video above to see he and his teammates react to the award.

Player of the Year Jimmy Daw from Medina, Division I college recruit Jaylen Harris and Penn State-bound Mike Miranda are among the 2016 cleveland.com football all-stars on offense.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Presenting the 2016 cleveland.com all-star football team.

Here is the offense, led by Player of the Year Jimmy Daw from Medina. This team was selected by cleveland.com reporters and includes players from around Northeast Ohio regardless of division.

Seventy-five of Northeast Ohio’s best players are recognized on offense and at kicker.

QUARTERBACK

Dustin Crum, Midview

Height: 6-3

Weight: 205

Year: Senior

About Crum: A Kent State commit, Crum rewrote much of the Lorain County and Midview record book. His 8,590 yards passing and 101 touchdown tosses rank No. 1 all-time in the county. This year, he threw for 2,396 yards, 30 TDs and rushed for another 1,378 yards and 13 scores. Midview reached the playoffs in Division II and finished 9-2.

Honorable mention: Tommy Benenati, Chardon, Sr.; Trey Bialowas, Westlake, Sr.; Kolston Brewster, Perry, Jr.; Jayden Cunningham, University School, Jr.; Noah Mitchell, Euclid, Sr.; Mark Pappas, Avon Lake, Sr.; Luke Strnad, Brecksville, Sr.; Kyle Vantrease, Stow, Sr.; Arshaun Wilson-Boone, Bedford, Sr.

RUNNING BACKS

Jimmy Daw, Medina

Height: 6-3

Weight: 215

Year: Senior

About Daw: Speaking of record-breakers, Daw did that this season in Medina. He scored for a Medina County-record 41 touchdowns in the regular season, then helped the Bees reach the regional semifinals in Division I. Daw compiled 2,203 total yards with 1,385 rushing and another 818 receiving. He is committed to Ball State and the cleveland.com Offensive Player of the Year.

Todd Sibley, Archbishop Hoban

Height: 5-11

Weight: 210

Year: Senior

About Sibley: Sibley’s workhorse load didn’t begin until the playoffs, and the Pitt commit — once an Ohio State pledge — put up three straight big games to close his high school career. He finished with 2,296 yards and 22 touchdowns on 315 carries to help Hoban (14-1) win its second straight Division III state championship. Sibley’s workload in a four-year career included 50 games played, including 49 starts at running back. A 7,433-yard-rushing career vaults Sibley into the top 10 for the state with this year’s Ohio Mr. Football winner, Michael Warren of Toledo Central Catholic.

Honorable mention: Weston Bridges, Copley, Sr.; Carlos Chavis, Lorain, Sr.; Dameon Crawford, Rocky River, Jr.; Spencer Linville, Olmsted Falls, Sr.; King Alfred Sanders, Woodridge, Sr.; Jemarulin Suggs, Akron East, Sr.; Logan Thut, Crestwood, Sr.; Christian Wright, Brush, Sr.

RECEIVERS

Jaylen Harris, Cleveland Heights

Height: 6-5

Weight: 210

Year: Senior

About Harris: His high school career concluded with 53 receptions for 820 yards, eight touchdowns and a 98 percent blocking grade. No receiver drew attention like Harris, who will play next year at a Division I college. His top five included Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan State, Tennessee and Penn State.

Greg Mailey, Hudson

Height: 6-2

Weight: 180

Year: Junior

About Mailey: The Explorers used three quarterbacks, but Mailey remained the favorite target of all. He had 59 receptions for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns. His fourth-quarter performances set him apart. Mailey caught the go-ahead score in four Hudson wins, including all three regional playoff games that sent the Explorers to their third straight Division II semifinal.

Honorable mention: Joe Andrassy, Stow, Sr.; Trenton Cloud, Bedford; Devanaire Conliffe, Willoughby South, Sr.; Dylan Fultz, Medina, Jr.; Micah Hills, Shaker Heights, Jr.; Kordell Hoover, St. Edward, Sr.; Carson Toy, Avon Lake, Sr.; Sam Wiglusz, Brecksville, Jr.

TIGHT END

James Leyden, St. Ignatius

Height: 6-2

Weight: 225

Year: Senior

About Leyden: A two-way starter, Leyden was instrumental in the Wildcats ascension from playoff miss to Division I state finalist. He led St. Ignatius in receiving during the regular season with 18 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He added a critical TD catch in the regional championship overtime thriller vs. St. Edward. Leyden also excelled as a blocker with a tenacious style that also could have landed him on this team as a linebacker.

Honorable mention: Trevor Bielozer, Westlake, Sr.; Maxton Edgerly, Bay, Sr.; Adam Mehelic, Hudson; Vlasi Pappas, Avon, Jr.

TACKLES

Chris Glaser, Solon

Height: 6-4

Weight: 270

Year: Senior

About Glaser: A Virginia commit, Glaser’s play at left tackle helped a first-quarter quarterback and running back excel as the Comets earned the No. 1 seed in Division I, Region 1. Glaser received a first-team All-Greater Cleveland Conference nod from its coaches and helped the Comets accumulate 4,132 yards in 12 games. QB Joe Bubonics threw for 1,959 yards, while junior running back Thomas Wilks rushed for 1,320.

Mike Miranda, Stow

Height: 6-4

Weight: 292

Year: Senior

About Miranda: A Penn State commit, Miranda started three years on a Stow front that reached the 2015 state semifinals and a regional semifinal in 2016. Miranda also served as the longsnapper. He is ranked among the top 25 senior prospects in Ohio by 247Sports.com.

Honorable mention: Dustin Clute, Chardon, Sr.; Hunter Gray, Buckeye, Sr.; Ryan Jacoby, Mentor, So.; Zafeer Muhammad, Copley, Sr.; Nolan Rumler, Archbishop Hoban, So.; Holden Semancik, Aurora, Sr.; Solomon Villarreal, Lorain, Sr.; Nick Zakelj, Brecksville, Sr.

GUARDS

Matt Esterle, Stow

Height: 6-2

Weight: 240

Year: Senior

About Esterle: He played alongside Miranda for three years and doubled as a starting defensive tackle. Ivy League and Division II schools were interested in Esterle’s talent. Esterle said he has a few visits planned in January before making a decision. As a pulling guard, he helped Stow rack up 4,443 yards with 2,513 on the ground. They did this after graduating All-Ohio Player of the Year (and cleveland.com Player of the Year) Jayson Gobble at running back.

John Jamieson, St. Ignatius

Height: 6-2

Weight: 285

Year: Junior

About Jamieson: A two-year starter on St. Ignatius’ massive line, Jamieson received an all-district nod along with center John Spellacy. Jamieson moved over in place of his teammate during a crucial late drive in the state championship game. The Wildcats rushed for 3,304 yards with four ball carriers (junior Mark Bobinski, seniors James Andrews, Dean Stowers andQB Patrick Ryan) all gaining at least 540 yards.

Honorable mention: Dillon Brauser, Medina, Sr.; Chase Johnson, Midview, Sr.; Terrel Lee, Euclid, Sr.; Zachary Opperman, Elyria, Sr.; John Reid, Bay, Sr.; Justin Stanko, Chardon, Sr.; Sam Vas, Olmsted Falls, Sr.; Sly Worthy, Lorain.

CENTER

Sam Gerak, Avon

Height: 6-3

Weight: 280

Year: Senior

About Gerak: A Northwestern commit, Gerak is as versatile as linemen come in Northeast Ohio. Avon ascended to the top of the Division II state rankings by The Associated Press and finished 10-0 before a first-round upset against Avon Lake. Gerak leads a talented group of centers that includes East Carolina-bound John Spellacy of St. Ignatius. Gerak also routinely snapped to different quarterbacks, as Avon rotated senior Matt Kelly and sophomore Ryan Maloy.

Honorable mention: Albert Becker, Rocky River, Sr.; R.J. Kelly, Archbishop Hoban, Jr.; James Kendall, Willoughby South, Sr.; Chad McDaniel, Cuyahoga Heights, Sr.; Kyle Payne, St. Edward, Sr.; Jake Penko, Padua, Sr.; John Spellacy, St. Ignatius; Teeshaun Turpin, Glenville, Sr.; Nate Westrich, Solon, Sr.;

KICKER

Grant Kersh, Archbishop Hoban

Height: 5-11

Weight: 180

Year: Senior

About Kersh: Also a baseball standout, Kersh’s leg lifted Hoban back to the Division II state championship with three booming kicks in a 23-14 semifinal comeback vs. Columbus St. Francis St. DeSales.

Honorable mention: Gabe Brkic, NDCL, Jr.; Dominic Buttazzoni, Jr., Padua; Mitch Cooper, Avon, Sr.; Trey Crockett, Nordonia, Sr.; John Dosen, Benedictine, Jr.; Grant Gonya, Hudson, Sr.; Mark Shafer, Cuyahoga Heights, Sr.; Matthew Trickett, St. Ignatius, Jr.; Ethan Ziegenfuss, Chardon, Sr.

No. 1 Alabama (14-0) faces No. 2 Clemson (13-1) in the CFP National Championship on Monday night in Tampa, Fla.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Where College Football Playoff National Championship 2017 is concerned, perhaps I've been looking in the wrong places or misinterpreting various comments from analysts.

I've heard and read a lot of the following in the run-up to No. 1 Alabama (14-0) facing No. 2 Clemson (13-1) on Monday in Tampa, Fla. (ESPN, 8 p.m.):

*Clemson is terrific.

*Clemson is on a roll, having improved dramatically since earlier in the season.

*Clemson gained even more confidence by shredding Ohio State, 31-0, in a CFP semifinal.

*Clemson features a dynamic offense led by quarterback Deshaun Watson.

*Clemson's defense is nasty.

*Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, a former receiver for Alabama, wants to beat the Crimson Tide in the worst way.

*Clemson is itching for payback after losing to Alabama in last year's title game, 45-40. Clemson was top-ranked; Alabama, No. 2.

All of the above = accurate. But none of it is going to prevent Alabama from winning again, this time by double digits. The spread I'm using is -7, from MGM Mirage via vegasinsider.com, so I'm picking the Crimson Tide to win and cover. The pick, of course, is for entertainment purposes only.

Don't get me wrong: I like Clemson. I really like Watson, and I'm guessing plenty of NFL teams do. I enjoy watching and listening to Dabo do what Dabo does.

Clemson's problem is, Alabama simply is better. No shame there.

This edition of the Crimson Tide ranks with the best college teams I've seen in a long time, primarily because of its defense. Alabama allows 244 yards per game and 3.9 yards per play and owns not one, not two, but ... 11 defensive touchdowns.

Watson will make some plays, but he won't make enough. And Watson will be intercepted at least once in his territory, resulting in Alabama points.

Alabama's offense doesn't scare opponents like its defense, but it's plenty good. It can move the ball, control the clock and score touchdowns -- no matter who is calling the plays.

I expect Monday night's game to unfold like this: Clemson starts well and startles Alabama with several long gains. The game is competitive into the second quarter and perhaps by halftime. Then Alabama's defensive front wears down the Tigers, and the Crimson Tide pulls away late in the third quarter.

Final: Alabama 35, Clemson 21. Make it 27 straight victories for coach Nick Saban's crew, and five national titles in eight years.

Cleveland Browns have seen Ray Horton run their defense twice -- in 2013 and 2016. It didn't end well either time.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here's basic fact that is seldom mentioned when the Cleveland Browns change head coaches in the off-season -- they have a very hard time putting together a coaching staff.

The Browns hired Hue Jackson on January 13, 2016.

He was their fourth head coach in six years. Here's the list: Pat Shurmur (2011-12), Rob Chudzinski (2013), Mike Pettine (2014-15) and Jackson (2016).

If you are a big-time coordinator, you probably were already off the market by the time Jackson was hired a year ago. Or else, you probably would decide Cleveland is a risky place to work.

So when Jackson was looking for a defensive coordinator, he had two choices:

• Someone who had not been a defensive coordinator before.
• Someone who recently had been fired and had a spotty record as a defensive coordinator.

Because Jackson was going to spend so much time with the offense, he correctly realized he needed an experienced coordinator. That guy would be a like a head coach for the defense.

Ray Horton already had been fired by the Browns in 2013. That was part of the fallout when Chudzinski was fired after one year.

I was told one option was keeping Chudzinski, but the Browns were going to fire Horton. They went for the nuclear option, and started over.

Horton went to Tennessee as defensive coordinator in 2014. In 2015, he remained with the Titans, but was demoted as veteran Dick LeBeau was put in charge of the defense. Horton is a LeBeau disciple, so they were able to work together.

But the fact remains, Horton had problems with his defense with the Browns in 2013 and with Tennessee in 2014.

Jackson knew that when hiring Horton, who was still being paid by the Browns from his 2013 contract.

It didn't work out again.

I'm not going to blame Horton for everything. But if he had a better track record, then it would be easier to make a case for more patience.

By midseason, I was ready for a new defensive coordinator because many of the same problems Horton had with the Browns in 2013 reappeared in 2016.

I'm not going bury you with all the defensive stats. They are bad.

Virtually everyone who closely follows the NFL will say Gregg Williams should make the Browns better.

I'm glad they made the move.

THERE IS BAGGAGE

Williams comes to town as the defensive coordinator who was suspended for the 2012 season for his role in "Bountygate," where New Orleans Saints players were reportedly paid to knock opposing players out of the game.

It was ugly and it's easy to find plenty of stories about it.

I admit to not being surprised when I heard it. I had no clue about Williams. But I had heard players rewarded each other for knocking out quarterbacks, etc.

Williams became the face of this deplorable practice that had been a part of some football teams for decades.

I don't like it. But I also know the league could have found other coaches if it chose to really look hard. Instead, suspending Williams became a warning sign for everyone in the NFL to cut out that practice.

This goes back to original premise of this story: Most coordinators coming to the Browns have something about them...

Inexperience...

Iffy track record...

Or something else, as with Williams.

In fact, the one coach least likely to have a bounty system is Williams, because he is under the most scrutiny.

A NEW APPROACH

Williams is a 4-3 defensive coach, and I greet that with a standing ovation.

Other than the Eric Mangini version of the 3-4 defense, I have seen it mostly fail here.

One of the better defenses the Browns had was the 4-3 run by Dick Jauron in 2011-12. It was basic. Players had clear assignments. It's wasn't great, but it looked organized.

Williams has a history of improving defenses.

One executive told me that Williams is "an upgrade" over Horton, "and he will make a difference if they get him some players."

He also said Williams can be difficult at times on a personal level. We'll see how that works out. But his history is that players tend to relate to him.

Also, the Browns drafted some linemen who are best in a 4-3, such as defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib.

I can imagine Jamie Meeder and Danny Shelton in the middle of the line, with Ogbah and Nassib at the ends. They also will have more options to draft linemen. It's easier to find guys to play in the 4-3 system.

I'm open to what Williams brings to the Browns.

This is not just change for the sake of change. This is a change that needed to be made.

Teams know what they're getting with Gregg Williams, but do you? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns hired Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator on Sunday, replacing Ray Horton after just one season.

Williams is a 26-season NFL coaching veteran, and has been a defensive coordinator for 15 seasons. So teams know what they're getting when they hire Williams.

Mary Kay Cabot wrote about Williams' background on Saturday. In the video at the top of this post you can see what those around the NFL have had to say about Williams in recent years.

To go along with that, here are five things Browns fans should know about a Gregg Williams defense:

1. A slice of Buddy Ryan

You will hear Ryan mentioned a lot now that Williams is with the Browns. He has described his defense as taking what Ryan built with the 46 defense, and built off it.

When Williams became Jeff Fisher's defensive coordinator, Fisher wanted him to create a hybrid.

"I took George Allen, I took Buddy Ryan, I took Dick LeBeau. I took Bud Carson. I put them all together and now it's kind of a Gregg Williams way that we do things," Williams told NFL Network in 2016. "But there's more Buddy Ryan in everything I do defensively, schematically, than anything."

Here's Williams talking with NFL Network about how he has been influenced by Ryan.

2. Linebackers and safeties must adapt

A key to Williams' defense is having linebackers and safeties that can audible the defensive call to the offensive formation.

Perhaps the hiring of Williams makes extending the contract of linebacker Jamie Collins even more of a priority. Browns coaches raved this season about Collins' football IQ. It might also mean the Browns look for an experienced safety in free agency to lead the largely inexperienced group it had in 2016.

In St. Louis, Williams had linebacker James Laurinaitis handling audibles on the field.

"I tell everyone all the time when they ask what defense we're playing, we're playing the defense James calls, not what I call," Williams told therams.com in 2015.

That quote is from the video below. It's six minutes well spent if you want to learn the basics of the 4-3 defense and gain some insight into how Williams runs it.

3. Players need a notebook

Matt Bowen was a safety for Williams in Washington. In 2013, as an NFL writer for Bleacher Report, Bowen provided an insider's guide to Williams' defense.

According to Bowen, Browns defensive players had better be ready to take notes, because Williams' defense is complex.

"His meetings reminded me of college-level courses that combined chalkboard sessions with film work. I still have the notebooks from my time in Washington, and they are filled with concepts, blitzes, coverages and so on," Bowen wrote. "The meetings were no joke, and we were tested every day when the film started rolling. Williams had no problem putting you on the spot to answer questions, identify concepts or offensive schemes."

4. Always in attack mode

The signature of a Williams defense is that it's always attacking. Expect the Browns to blitz a lot. After the Rams hired Williams in 2014, NFLcom writer Bucky Brooks wrote that former players raved about his aggressive nature.

"On passing downs, Williams certainly isn't afraid to mix in a variety of blitzes from exotic looks - including some Okie fronts (3-4 or nickel 3-3 packages) - as well as the standard 4-2-5 nickel front," Brooks wrote. "He will order up Cover 0 all-out blitzes in any area of the field, which makes him the ultimate gambler as a play-caller."

However, as Bowen pointed out on Bleacher Report, this can be Williams' downfall. "Blitz too much and you can hang your defensive backs out to dry with no help anywhere on the field," Bowen wrote.

Player development a key for Browns

5. Scheme to his players' strengths

Browns head coach Hue Jackson mentioned on Sunday that Williams always gets the most out of his players. In some ways, he is similar to Jackson when it comes to versatility and creativity. When the Rams hired Williams, ESPN's Jeff Triplett wrote about his creative use of safety Roman Harper.

"One example that stands out most was the way he made safety Roman Harper into a two-time Pro Bowler by using him as a frequent blitzer and pseudo-linebacker," Triplett wrote. "Williams would also mix and match between a 4-3 and 3-4. His most famous example (of creativity) was the Super Bowl win over Indianapolis and Peyton Manning when he had different plans for the first half, the third quarter and the fourth quarter."

Browns defenders will probably enjoy running Williams' defense, complex scheme or not. Bowen did.

"It can be exotic with the disguise, or he will have his guys line up in a blitz look and dare the offense to stop it," Bowen wrote. "If he could, Williams would blitz fans out of the stands. A great scheme. And one that is fun as hell to play."

Hue: Williams gets most out of his players

Seven games, featuring numerous Northeast Ohio boys basketball standouts, took place Sunday at Baldwin Wallace. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights.

BEREA, Ohio – Seven games, featuring numerous Northeast Ohio boys basketball standouts, took place Sunday at Baldwin Wallace.

If you missed it, here are some of the highlights.

Game of the day

Two stood out, but the opener wound up being a quick fix to dazzle the crowd.

Lutheran East became a late addition to Sunday’s showcase when Mentor pulled out last week from its matchup against Canton McKinley. The Cardinals were originally slated to play Gilmour, and McKinley — its replacement — also had to make a late adjustment to face Lutheran East.

The Division IV private school from Cleveland Heights jumped out to a first-half advantage, gave up the lead and then rallied before falling, 68-66.

Check out Kwuasy Toles' first-half buzzer beater to cut Lutheran East's lead to 31-29. pic.twitter.com/Oe74GbiJyt

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) January 8, 2017

The midday matchup between Cleveland Heights and Warren Harding supplied a similar back-and-forth pace, ultimately won by the Tigers, 69-64. The win could move up Cleveland Heights, ranked third in last week’s cleveland.com Top 25, when that is released Monday afternoon.

Statement of the day

Again, two fit the build.

Holy Name scored a 79-57 win against Brush in a matchup of two ranked teams.

The finale of the seven-game showcase ended with Shaker Heights scoring a 75-68 upset of Central Catholic. What made the victory important for the Raiders (5-6) is their ability to snap Central Catholic’s five-game win streak despite an undermanned squad.

Shaker Heights is playing without injured center George Evans, who coach Danny Young said is expected back this month, and sophomore forward Kevin Bishop. His prognosis from a toe injury is less promising, and the 6-foot-4 Bishop said he might not return this season.

Add that Shaker already adjusted to the loss of two players — Jordan Burge and Maurico Tate — as transfers to Lutheran East, and this team has known nothing but adjustments.

The Raiders also are playing without 6-5 junior Christian Guess, a transfer from Glenville who could help ease the losses of Burge and Tate.

On Sunday, guards J’Van Beasley and Dale Bonner took care of it.

“When you’re going through adversity, you have to respond,” Young said.

His Raiders played a five-guard lineup and won for a fourth time in their last six games.

All-Play By Play team

• J’Van Beasley, Shaker Heights: A 6-1 senior guard, Beasley’s 20 points spearheaded the Raiders upset of Central Catholic. Young made a plea for college coaches to start calling him about Beasley.

• Yahel Hill, Cleveland Heights: No shortage of big games this season from Hill, who scored a career-high 37 points during the opening weekend of the season against Cornerstone Christian. He added another 30 points Sunday. Coach Jeremy Holmes joked his junior guard performs on the big stage and saves his quiet games for when no one is watching.

• Marreon Jackson, Garfield Heights: The senior point guard, who is committed to Toledo, put up 28 points with eight rebounds and eight assists.

• Dwayne Cohill, Holy Name: A junior guard, Cohill missed this showcase last season and a showdown with East Tech’s Markell Johnson. Coach Jeff Huber said his star guard’s maturity has evolved, and it helped Holy Name cruise behind his 30-point performance.

• Pete Nance, Revere: Nance fell just one point shy of also registering 30 points. His 29-point effort gave Garfield Heights a challenge and a workout for young forwards Brison Waller and Donovan Forte. The son of former Cleveland Cavalier Larry Nance left his opposition impressed.

Emerging players to watch

Euclid has not won a game this season, but coach Jonathan Harris has two young guards to keep an eye on. Junior Emari Baddour and freshman Garvin Clarke. Baddour scored 13, while Clarke added eight and helped the Panthers (0-10) take a surprising seven-point halftime lead against St. Vincent-St. Mary.

The Irish prevailed, 84-58, but not before Harris’ young team gained a valuable lesson.

Perhaps their most impressive performance of the season came in late December with an 88-85 loss to Garfield Heights.

One of the few highlights for St. Vincent-St. Mary at the half. Euclid up, 35-28. pic.twitter.com/znR67l3TuZ

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) January 8, 2017

Substitutes for the sprint

St. Edward played for the third straight day and seventh time in two weeks. That prompted Eagles coach Eric Flannery to insert a starting lineup of five new players for a 52-41 win against Brunswick.

Ten players scored, including the regular starters who entered the game.

Brunswick sophomore Kyle Goessler provided 27 points to keep the Blue Devils within contention.

St. Ed's playing its third game in three days, rolling out a different starting 5. Kyle Goessler and Brunswick trying to take advantage. pic.twitter.com/uKaqAaYzmG

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) January 8, 2017

What’s next?

Showcases are in full swing.

STVM played host to the third LeBron James Classic last month, and the annual Flyin’ To The Hoop invitational is next weekend in Kettering.

One scratch to the slate is the Dunk 4 Diabetes at Walsh University. The event typically falls in late January, but will not be held this season.

That leaves this weekend’s Flyin’ To The Hoop and the Mercy Medical Center Classic at North Canton Hoover.

The Canton event will include these local matchups.

• Brunswick vs. Youngstown Ursuline, 12:45 p.m., Saturday


• Buckeye vs. Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, 6 p.m. Saturday


• St. Ignatius vs. Hoover, 7:45 p.m. Saturday


• Avon vs. Canton GlenOak, 1:30 p.m. Sunday


• Mars (Pa.) vs. Holy Name, 3:15 p.m. Sunday


• Olmsted Falls vs. Huntington Prep (W.Va.) Blue, 6:45 p.m. Sunday


• Solon vs. Canton McKinley, 8:30 p.m. Sunday

Tickets for that showcase are $10 per game for adults and $5 for students. Daylong passes are available for $20 and weekend passes are $35.

Three Northeast Ohio teams will play Sunday at Kettering Fairmont’s Trent Arena.

• Cleveland Heights vs. Centerville, 1:15 p.m.


• St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Pickerington North, 3 p.m.


• Garfield Heights vs. Upper Arlington, 4:45 p.m.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

How the 3-point shooter became predominant in basketball and why baseball sluggers speak the same language. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians are proof of that.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 3-point shot in basketball began in the American Basketball League with the Space Age in 1961. The Cleveland Pipers won the only full-season championship conferred by that rival of the NBA.

It was the last basketball championship in Cleveland until The Swat, The Shot and the Stop in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Swinging and shooting for the fences

The Chicago White Sox, owned by the promotional genius (and former Cleveland Indians' owner) Bill Veeck, had an "exploding scoreboard." Fireworks erupted from it when a White Sox player hit a home run.

The ABL, founded by Harlem Globetrotters impresario Abe Saperstein, a master showman himself, saluted 3-pointers, basketball's "home runs," with red lights flashing at each end of the court and a prize fight bell clanging every time one was made.

Fans of the ABL's Chicago Majors, playing off the nickname of the "Go-Go Sox" for the speedy 1959 American League champions, chanted, "Go, go! Hit that homer!"

The adoption of and adaptation to the 3-pointer, the most influential shot in basketball today, are key parts of my book "George Steinbrenner's Pipe Dream: The ABL Champion Cleveland Pipers."

Korver and Encarnacion

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded over the weekend for former Atlanta Hawks sniper Kyle Korver, one of the NBA's all-time best sharpshooters. He is a critical acquisition in the race to create floor space between the defending NBA champion Cavs and the Warriors. Korver is expected to make his Cavs' debut Tuesday night at the Utah Jazz.

Across Gateway Plaza, the Indians have done their part to whip up crowd fervor with their stunning acquisition of the elite run producer, feared home run threat and prized free agent, Edwin Encarnacion.

Self-made space ball

In basketball, the emphasis on the 3-pointer means the only game with a vertical goal, which once showcased the dunk, now prizes more highly the horizontal value of stretching defenses with the three. Its mere threat can leave the lane as lightly defended as a fort with an under-manned garrison.

The great appeal of the 3-point shot is that, unlike the dunkers' fast-twitch explosiveness and size-plus-strength athleticism, the shooter is largely self-made through hours of solitary practice.

As the great Boston Celtics' missile man, Larry Bird, said of Golden State's 3-ball master, Steph Curry, "You can tell Steph has spent a lot of time in a gym,"

Tethered to the ground

Perhaps the popularity of the 3-pointer is simply a matter of fan identification.

Cast in bronze outside Chicago's United Center, Michael Jordan is eternally airborne, with one hand engulfing a ball soon to be dunked. He is, forever, Jump Man.

Most of us, however, are not like Mike. We will never slip the bonds of gravity as Dr. J did.

No one dunked in our rec league games. Driveway games of H-O-R-S-E were determined by shooting range, not air raids.

In so many ways, the NBA plays a game with which many are not familiar. Kyle Korver, Channing Frye, J.R. Smith and other are kinfolk, by comparison.

The basketball run-and-shoot

Baseball is not merely waiting for a mistake pitch, but working the count until it favors the hitter. Just so, setting up the three in basketball is more than simply standing in the corner and waiting for LeBron James to drive-and-kick.

It just often seemed that way when current Cavs assistant coach Damon Jones was on the receiving end of the passes before he launched the shortest 3-pointer, only 22 feet from the rim.

Extremes of fitness are required to run as tirelessly as the Cavs' Korver and Smith or Golden State's Curry and Klay Thompson to find an opening. But when one presents itself, a flick of the shooter's wrist exploits the weakness as suddenly as a batter's buggy-whip wrists propel a home run in baseball.

Going deep

Surely we can devise a language that works for both the high-speed sport and the slower-paced one, for the one with the big, bouncing ball and the one with the small, hard ball.

"Slam" is too closely tied to "dunk" to suit both sports.

What could meet the requirement for two teams stalking a championship like predators better than meat?

When the Cavs' Iman Shumpert converted a rare 4-point play in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, the grand slam call of the Seattle's Mariners late broadcaster Dave Niehaus would have worked well:

"Grandma, fetch the rye bread and mustard! It's grand salami time!"

Cleveland sports fans wonder about Ray Horton's resume, Edwin Encarnacion's parrot and what Browns head coach Hue Jackson thinks of the team's offensive coordinator.

Cleveland has matured and prospered, slumped and rebounded. It has been a center of innovation, a magnet for immigrants and a poster child for post-industrial decline. It's given the world John D. Rockefeller, Tom Johnson and the Stokes brothers. A burning river and the best band in the land. Bob Feller, Jim Brown and LeBron James. And The Plain Dealer has been there to tell the story of it all.

Now that the awards have been handed out, we can finally place 2016 -- a storied year of Cleveland sports -- in the rearview. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that the awards have been handed out, we can finally place 2016 -- a storied year of Cleveland sports -- in the rearview. 

Well, not before we scour every best- and worst-dressed list. (Did you see Bud Shaw's bow tie?)

Before we review who captured each cleveland.com sports award, we want to thank you for your participation in voting for each category. The Cavaliers might have made voting easy, given their unparalleled level of achievement, but they weren't the only Cleveland entity to reach new heights in 2016. 

The Monsters claimed the Calder Cup. Stipe Miocic emerged victorious. The Indians, missing a small village of players lost to injury, advanced to extra innings of Game 7 of the World Series.

For once, there was plenty of success to consider when reflecting on a year's worth of Cleveland sports. That didn't happen too often in the previous half-century. Maybe we'll look back one day at the inaugural cleveland.com sports awards and marvel at the healthy competition.

The LeBron James Player of the Year Award

Winner: Stipe Miocic

This is Miocic's first cleveland.com sports award.

(See video above)

The Unbelievable Team of the Year Award

Winner: Cavaliers

This is the Cavs' first cleveland.com sports award.

The Cavs capture another piece of hardware

The Art Modell Memorial Villain of the Year Award

Winner: Draymond Green

This is Green's first cleveland.com sports award.

Green outkicks Buck, Manziel for Villain Award

The Impact Decision of the Year Award

Winner: Terry Francona

This is Francona's first cleveland.com sports award.

Francona relies on Miller to lead him to award-show win

The Only In Cleveland Moment of the Year Award

Winner: The Dawg Pound (#GPODAWUND)

This is the Dawg Pound's first cleveland.com sports award.

Spelling is optional for historically putrid football teams

The Quote of the Year

Winner: LeBron James

This is James' first cleveland.com sports award.

LeBron's victory cry won't be forgotten

The Top Trolling Moment of the Year

Winner: LeBron James

This is James' second cleveland.com sports award.

LeBron mocks Warriors with subtle T-shirts

The Believeland Best Moment of the Year

Winner: Kyrie Irving

This is Irving's first cleveland.com sports award.

Irving's shot will live on forever in the form of plastic award

Mentor, Ohio native Mitch Trubisky, who wants to play for his hometown Browns, declared Monday for the NFL draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -  The Browns will have to decide if they want to make hometown boy Mitch Trubisky the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Trubisky, the Mentor, Ohio, native and North Carolina quarterback, declared for the NFL draft Monday in an article on The Players' Tribune.

"After a lot of prayer and thought, I have decided to forgo my senior year and enter the NFL draft,'' he wrote. "This has been the most difficult decision I've ever had to make. But no matter what happens next, I know I'll never experience something as special as being a Tar Heel.''

Trubisky is coming out after starting only season for the Tar Heels and going 8-5. The lack of experience is the biggest knock against him, but he received a first-round grade from the NFL advisory board and is regarded by some as the best quarterback in his class.

He finished his college season by completing 68% of his passes for 3,748 yards with 30 touchdowns and six picks.

"Going to the NFL has been my goal ever since I was a little boy,'' he wrote. "And now that I have that chance, I'm incredibly excited.''

Furthermore, in his North Carolina bio, it says, "If he could choose an NFL team to play for, it would be the Cleveland Browns.''

He just may get his wish.

The Browns are in search of their quarterback of the future, and have the No. 1 and No, 12 overall picks in the draft. They're heavily recruiting all the top quarterbacks in the draft, including Trubisky, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer.

Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown and Andrew Berry watched Trubisky in person in the Sun Bowl, where he lost 25-23 to No. 16 Stanford.

Trubisky, the former Mr. Football from Mentor High,  almost tied the game at the end, but was sacked on the two-point conversion attempt. He had pulled to within two points on a 2-yard TD pass with 25 seconds left to cap a 97-yard drive.

A redshirt junior, Trubisky completed 23 of 39 attempts for 280 yards, with two touchdown passes and two interceptions, including a pick-six. He also lost a fumble that was forced by an official.

Watching Brown and Berry watch Trubisky

Still, he showed some amazing athleticism, mobility and first-round ability.

The Indians' starting pitching depth crumbled in a hurry last season. Can they ensure that won't happen again in 2017? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You might have heard about the Indians' bold offseason move, the one intended to shore up a spot that needed some help in September and October.

The Indians brought in a reinforcement.

That's right, they added Tim Cooney.

Oh, yeah, they landed that Edwin Encarnacion guy. He'll replace Mike Napoli, of course. But the Indians' starting pitching depth crumbled in a hurry last season. By the final week of September, Terry Francona was patching together the starting rotation with castoffs, relievers and untested minor leaguers.

Mike Clevinger (on a limited pitch count), Zach McAllister and Ryan Merritt all started games for the Tribe. Injuries to Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and even Corey Kluber forced the issue.

When the postseason began, the Indians adopted a desperate -- albeit pretty successful -- approach, with pitchers taking the hill on short rest and Francona leaning heavily on his proficient bullpen.

It required a perfect storm to flood the pitching staff with question marks. After all, Cleveland's rotation was supposed to shoulder the load, not serve as the club's Achilles' heel.

The Indians haven't really addressed their rotation depth via free agency or trade this winter. (No, Cooney is not some marquee signing. The Cardinals cut ties with him after a shoulder injury kept him out of action last year.)

Are the Indians equipped to handle another pitching plague in 2017?

Cleveland's rotation was reliable enough that the team shifted Clevinger into a relief role so he could offer a hand once autumn arrived. Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin each totaled at least 25 starts. Carrasco missed six weeks with a hamstring injury in April and May. Salazar struggled with injuries (or non-injuries) after the All-Star break. But it wasn't until Tomlin needed to catch his breath after a dreadful August that the Indians really altered their rotation.

Bullpen days became a familiar sight, and they wouldn't disappear. That practice came in handy when Bauer exited after four batters in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

The Indians simply ran out of other options. Clevinger and Cody Anderson, who endured a miserable season, had relocated to the bullpen. By the time Carrasco and Salazar went down in September, the team's pitching depth had dissolved.

Clevinger and Anderson appear destined for the rotation at Triple-A Columbus at the start of next season. Merritt, the Indians' ALCS Game 5 hero, could join them. So, too, could Adam Plutko and Shawn Morimando, who both made their major-league debuts in 2016.

Barring any additions or subtractions, that would give the Tribe 10 starting pitchers with at least a minute of big-league service time, and 11 if Cooney is healthy.

Ryan Merritt was the talk of the town

Is that enough?

The Indians could still recruit a veteran starter or a guy returning from injury to spring training on a minor-league contract. Every team does this in some fashion. The Indians have lured Scott Kazmir, Aaron Harang, Bruce Chen and Shaun Marcum to Goodyear, Ariz., in recent years. Some spring auditions unfold better than others.

In the end, it would be an upset if Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar, Bauer and Tomlin didn't break camp as the starting five. That would leave the Indians with plenty of backup.

But as the 2016 season demonstrated, depth can disappear in an instant.

Worley is coming back for a fifth year on Ohio State's defense. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Before the switch officially flips to Ohio State's 2017 season, there's the tiny matter of locking up and signing the Buckeyes' next recruiting class.

It will be Ohio State's best of the modern recruiting era, maybe its best ever. So you're forgiven if your mind is wandering a bit, thinking about what all of these blue-chip prospects are going to be once they get to Columbus.

But here's a reminder to not forget who's already on the roster, ready to return and help the Buckeyes bounce back from an embarrassing loss in the Fiesta Bowl to Clemson. 

Linebacker Chris Worley is back next year for a fifth season. Ohio State's defense belongs to him. 

What does that mean? There are plenty of starters returning to Ohio State's defense: The entire defensive line, two-plus starting linebackers (if you assume Dante Booker will be back in the mix after a season lost to injury) and at least one member of the secondary in safety Damon Webb.

So this isn't to isolate Worley as better than any of those players. There's a lot of talent. 

But if you're looking for a voice for the defense, especially now that Raekwon McMillan is going to the NFL, look to Worley.

"I am that guy," Worley said after the loss to Clemson. "It's not a matter of wanting to be. I'm just a natural leader and there's guys on this team that I love and have to help to get better."

Worley sat at his stall in the University of Phoenix Stadium locker room still in his pads well after the Fiesta Bowl loss. He might have been the last Buckeye to change out of his uniform. Other players had showered and were making their way to the bus, Worley was still wearing his grass-stained white jersey, answering every question about what went wrong that night and how it's going to be fixed next year.

The Buckeyes won't be nearly as young as they were in 2016, but every team needs leaders.

Worley should be a captain with guys like J.T. Barrett, Billy Price and others. He won't be the only strong-minded player on the defense who's not afraid to speak his mind. Jalyn Holmes, Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis (a captain last year) are also back. Just don't be surprised if Worley ends up being the leader among leaders. 

"I can't lose like this and walk outta here like that," Worley said, echoing a little bit of what Barrett said after the Clemson loss.

"We've got a bunch of young guys and they need a leader. I have been one of the leaders on this team this year, but I feel like I can help this team even more." 

Worley did his part on the field this season, finishing fourth on the team with 70 tackles. He had 21 in the final two games, including 10 against Clemson.

When the Buckeyes were in Phoenix, it was Worley who offered the most impassioned defense of Barrett when a Clemson defender said he wasn't impressed with Barrett's play.  

When Ohio State suffered its first shutout in decades, Worley lingered and answered questions about it because he felt some sense of accountability to do so.

"Every single guy on this team that's coming back, every coach, every staff member -- everyone will have to take into account how it can get better," Worley said. 

He'll be back. Ohio State will be better for it. 

Samuel was the only player in the country with 700 yards rushing and receiving.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Curtis Samuel was special in his first season as a featured part of Ohio State's offense. 

And now he's gone. 

Samuel will declare for the NFL Draft with one more year of eligibility remaining, according to a report from 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong. Samuel is the fifth Buckeye to declare early for the draft, joining Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley, Raekwon McMillan and Noah Brown.

Samuel was the only player in college football to amass more than 700 yards each rushing and receiving this season.

He emerged as Ohio State's best offensive playmaker, and its most productive receiver in a season when the Buckeyes' passing game struggled. It's unclear where exactly Samuel projects at the pro level positionally. His junior season suggests he could be a running back or a receiver at the next level. 

Samuel finished the 2016 season with 97 carries for 771 yards (7.0 avg.) and eight touchdowns, and 74 receptions for 865 yards (11.7 avg.) and seven touchdowns. His 74 receptions are the second-most ever by an Ohio State receiver, trailing only the 85 David Boston had in 1998.

How Samuel became a prolific OSU receiver

As of Monday, Samuel was No. 23 in the country in yards from scrimmage per game. 

He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News and The Associated Press, and a finalist for the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football, given to the Big Ten's best player. 

With Brown and Samuel both declaring for the draft, Ohio State will have some new faces at key offensive positions in 2017. 

K.J Hill and Demario McCall appear to be the top two contenders to replace Samuel at H-back.

Ohio State NFL Draft tracker: Who's staying, who's going?

The Mentor native and North Carolina quarterback declared for the draft on Monday, and yes, it could work in Cleveland. Watch video

EL PASO, Texas -- Mitch Trubisky's fifth-grade teacher drove 1,800 miles in 27 hours to see him play his final college football game.

"In fifth grade, Mitchell told me he was going to play college football," Carole Elwell said outside Sun Bowl Stadium on Dec. 30. "A lot of kids told me that. I knew he would. So I said I'd be there to watch."

The Trubiskys were honored by her friendship and dedication, at that game and others. That morning at breakfast, before North Carolina lost to Stanford in the Sun Bowl as NFL scouts watched that Tar Heel quarterback, Elwell thanked the Trubiskys.

"Thank you for sharing your son with me," Elwell said.

Can you imagine Cleveland, the Browns, Northeast Ohio and generations of frustrated fans someday telling the Trubiskys the same thing?

This is the sixth paragraph of this story and Bernie Kosar hasn't yet been mentioned, so ... Bernie Kosar.

The 2017 NFL Draft, the 1985 supplemental draft. A kid from Mentor who has said he'd like to play for the Browns, a kid from Youngstown who did everything in his power to make sure he would be a Brown.

Thirty-two years apart, the comparisons are too obvious, but also too sensible. Trubisky declared for the draft on Monday, and is viewed by many draft analysts as the top quarterback available. If he does make it to Cleveland, he wouldn't arrive like Akron's Charlie Frye (a third-round pick in 2005), like St. Ignatius' Brian Hoyer (a free agent in 2013), or like Glenville's Cardale Jones may have if the Browns had drafted him last year (he was taken by Buffalo in the fourth round.)

I was against the Browns drafting Jones at the time because they would have brought him in as a maybe, not as the guy. Backup quarterbacks are already the most popular guys in town when anything goes wrong. Making the backup quarterback, or possible future quarterback in waiting, a fan-favorite local only complicates matters.

But if the Browns take a quarterback where they'd have to draft Trubisky in order to get him? Whether that player is from Canada or the moon or Pittsburgh, the pressure will be on and the die will be cast. He's the Browns franchise quarterback.

If he's from down the road and grew up a Browns fans, well, that's a lovely bonus.

The Browns, of course, will not draft Trubisky because he is from Mentor. The discussion around Trubisky will of course be influenced by the fact that he is a local guy, and that's fine. Discussions are discussions. But everyone has a clear head about this, right? You can't build a team based on geography ... though that LeBron James thing worked out pretty well.

Hmm. 

No, you can't build a team based on geography. 

For Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta and Hue Jackson, Trubisky is just a quarterback, like Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes or DeShone Kizer, who is from Toledo. (Really, two Ohio options in one draft to solve the Browns QB problems?)

So there are two stories here for anyone who cares about Cleveland sports, two distinct stories that can't help but get confused.

One is the story of the 2012 Mr. Ohio who left the state for college football, waited his turn for two years and then in one season as a starter turned himself into a potential top-five pick. Pretty amazing.

The other story is that of a passer with a big arm who can make all the throws, who is also nimble in the pocket and though inexperienced, looks to have the potential to be a franchise quarterback. And the Browns could draft him. And he happens to like the Browns. Pretty amazing.

That's two stories. But one quarterback. Could that work in Cleveland?

It could work. It has before.

Trubisky after the Sun Bowl discussing his NFL decision

The Browns have options in the first round.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mitch Trubisky officially declared Monday for the 2017 NFL Draft. He joins Deshaun Watson and DeShone Kizer as quarterbacks expected to be picked early in the first round.

The Browns, as you know, need to upgrade at quarterback. After Watson led Clemson to a Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State, we asked which quarterback was a good fit for the Browns. Trubisky won that poll with 28 percent of the vote, and that was before we knew for sure he would declare for the draft.

Now that all three quarterbacks are definitely entering, let's try this again, but with a bit of a twist. The Browns have the No. 1 overall pick, and No. 12 thanks to last year's trade with the Eagles.

So we're not only asking which quarterback you think the Browns should draft, but also where he should be drafted. Maybe you want one No. 1 overall, or at No. 12? Or maybe you don't want a quarterback at No. 1, but you're concerned your favorite won't be there at No. 12, and you want the Browns to trade up to get him.

Check out the poll below and let us know what you think. You can explain you choice in the comment section.

Mike Dunleavy does not plan to join the Hawks, which is delaying Kyle Korver's joining of the Cavs.

PHOENIX -- Mike Dunleavy's unwillingness to play for the Atlanta Hawks is keeping Kyle Korver from formally joining the Cavs.

Dunleavy, traded by the Cavs to the Hawks Saturday along with Mo Williams, a 2019 first-round pick and some cash, is seeking a buyout from his contract. He has until 5 p.m. today to report to his new team -- and has no plans to do so.

The nuclear option here would be for the Hawks to void the trade, but they do not intend to do that and instead plan to complete the trade somehow, sources told cleveland.com. While Atlanta works through its options with Dunleavy -- the Hawks could waive his physical, which would complete the trade or could extend the 48-hour window Dunleavy had to report to the team -- Korver cannot not practice or play with the Cavs.

Cleveland canceled it's formal practice today, anyway, though a few players may work out before the team flies to Utah. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said Korver would play Tuesday against the Jazz even if he only had the morning's shootaround to familiarize himself with his new team.

Korver joined the Cavs in Phoenix prior to their 120-116 win on Sunday, but was not permitted to sit on the bench during the game. He hung out in the training room before and after the game.

A source said Dunleavy wants to join a contender and was saddened to leave the Cavs, where he was blown away by the atmosphere on the LeBron James-led team.