Cleveland Browns' coach Hue Jackson's quest for a quarterback will leave no stone unturned in free agency or the 2017 NFL Draft

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Coach Hue Jackson of the Cleveland Browns has made no bones about the importance of finding the right quarterback to lead the team going forward.

The right quarterback could arrive via the 2017 NFL Draft in the form of Clemson's Deshaun Watson, North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky or possibly Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer.

Or maybe the next Bernie Kosar could show up in a trade for New England's Jimmy Garoppolo, or in free agency in the form Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor or even Dallas's Tony Romo.

It's also a pretty good bet the right guy won't come from in the building. Robert Griffin III, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan don't appear to have what it takes.

One thing is certain come opening day, someone will start at quarterback for the Browns. Maybe this year, that person will be the right guy for the job.

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

Cleveland.com Cavs writer Joe Vardon returns with his weekly mailbag column. Watch video

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

Hey, Joe: Do you think Derrick Williams would have a big impact against the Warriors? -- Doug, Alameda

Hey, Doug: The Cavs think Williams will be their seventh or eighth man against the Warriors in the Finals. He's 6-8, 240 pounds, but quick enough to guard multiple positions. Regardless of what I think, the Cavs think Williams can have an unsung but major impact in a seven-game series against Golden State.

@joevardon could the Cavaliers sign Williams to a minimum contract for the remainder of the season with a team option for next year

-- Richard Lowes (@ralowes) February 15, 2017

Hey, @ralowes: They are going to sign him to a minimum contract in approximately 11 more days. But there won't be a team option. Williams signed a $4.6 million deal with the Heat last summer. He's earned at least $26 million over his six seasons. So he doesn't "need" the security of a veteran's minimum contract. He will sign with the Cavs for the rest of the season and then seek a bigger payday as a free agent in the off-season.

Because of salary cap restrictions, the Cavs would only be able to offer him the mid-level taxpayer's exception, which this season is about $3.5 million. By the way, the Cavs will sign Williams to a second 10-day contract instead of inking him for the rest of the season Saturday so they can maintain ultimate roster flexibility through Thursday's trade deadline. But he's definitely in their plans. I mean, they think he'll help against Golden State, after all.

Hey, Joe: What was that 'Hey, Joe!' postgame experiment all about, anyway? And what happened to it? -- Joe, Bay Village

Hey, Joe: This is so strange, writing to myself in my own mailbag column. Anyway, as you may have noticed, the weekly iteration of this Q-and-A between us was missing from cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer for the last month. I had the idea to start a nightly, video version of this column following every game. I'd ask for questions and answer the best three after I was done reporting from the locker room.

The idea had its moments, the audience was fairly strong over the first couple weeks, especially for a new column hatched entirely out of thin air with no promotion ahead of time. And then, everyone stopped watching. Why? One, I'm not much to look at. But secondly, I'm wondering if in 90 seconds or 120 seconds I was really capable of reading the questions and giving proper, thorough answers. (Arguably, you don't get proper, thorough answers here either, but at least I have the column inches to try).

So, we're back together doing this once a week. I reserve the right to punt on occasion -- sometimes your questions stink, sometimes I have some "This is Us" watching to catch up on if I'm off Thursday nights. But, generally, as long as the Cavs are on the court I'll be here taking your best questions of the week and doing my best to report out the answers you deserve. Thanks as always for your feedback.

Hey, Joe: I know there is an issue of being too critical to the Cavs, but frankly it isn't objective reporting when LeBron and Irving's multiple turnovers aren't reported. I am not just mentioning the (Plain Dealer) and cleveland.com, but also the Cavs' announcers on TV. No mention when LeBron has (six or seven turnovers) or Irving has 4 assists vs (six turnovers). They have to improve on ball security. -- Larry, Fairview Park

Hey, Larry: I have covered 52 of the Cavs' 55 games this season (58 of 61 if you count the preseason). I did a quick search of each of my reports immediately following those games, and found the word "turnover" mentioned roughly 40 times (can't give a precise number, and the reason is complicated, but go with me on this). Speaking directly to your point, LeBron posted a triple-double on Jan. 23 in New Orleans. And yet there was room in the story to mention his six turnovers. As for the Cavs' turnover problem -- they're averaging 13.9 per game; which is 15th out of 30 teams. So, it's not really a glaring issue.

@joevardon Why isn't LeBron garnering more MVP attention? Do you think think he still has a chance to win it?

-- Ra Mendez (@Prodigy061916) February 15, 2017

Since the presidential elections, athletes have become more open about their views on politics. Should they continue to do so?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Trevor Bauer and LeBron James have not been shy about their political views, by a long shot.

With memorable remarks and posts on social media, the two join a growing trend of athletes speaking out. So should they continue?

On Valentine's Day, Cavs beat reporter Joe Vardon addressed the subject with "Why LeBron James, Trevor Bauer shouldn't 'stick to sports' in Trump era." This comes after the Cleveland-based athletes made headlines with their remarks during the presidential elections.

Share your comments and please vote in the poll.

See related:

LeBron James says Donald Trump elected president by 'goofy votes'

In Prepare for List Off, Bud Shaw and Doug Lesmerises advise Robert Griffin on what he should be thinking about at the moment. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mary Kay Cabot believes the Browns will release Robert Griffin III sometime before he's scheduled to be paid a roster bonus on March 11. That $750,000 bonus would lead into a $6 million salary in 2017 for a guy who started five games last season, throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions and completing 59.2 percent of his passes.

With all the Jimmy Garoppolo talk and Tyrod Taylor talk, and with Josh McCown already gone, what should RG3 be thinking about right now?

That's what Bud Shaw and I talked about in this Prepare for List Off. Before you watch the video, if you don't know anything about Griffin's appearance on the HGTV show Fixer Upper, you may want to read up on it.

Here are some of the offensive linemen available this year in free agency.

Even in these polarizing times, sports can bring us together. They have always been about inclusiveness and acceptance.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - It's inconvenient to many people when athletes and Hollywood celebrities can't be satisfied with their enormous salaries and great acclaim, but insist on being active citizens of this country by speaking their minds.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, who campaigned for Hillary Clinton, recently criticized President Donald Trump from the left side of the political spectrum.

The Cleveland Indians' Trevor Bauer, who supported Trump, spoke out from the right side on Twitter.

Anger and acclaim greeted both.

Tolerance for difference

As my friend Art Thiel, formerly a sports columnist at the old Seattle Post-Intelligencer, argued at SportspressNW.com, sports -- where the battles for diversity and inclusiveness  have been fought in the national and international arenas since the days of Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson -- is an unavoidable vehicle for political discourse.

On the wall of The Plain Dealer's offices in Tower City, the First Amendment proclaims Constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion, speech, the press and assembly. The uncomfortable part of the magnificent promise is that it protects speech that can challenge assumptions, rile orthodoxy and provoke the powerful. Contention is part of the process.

We are supposed to respectfully disagree with either James or Bauer. Too often, however, the respect part is lost in the noise.

Rainbow coalition

My three favorite athletes to cover were the Philadelphia 76ers' Dr. J, Julius Erving, Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel and the late, outspoken, admirable Tribe legend, Bob Feller.

Those three check off several of the boxes in a rainbow coalition.

At his 90^th birthday party just before the 2008 presidential election, Feller posed for photos with every attendee. To those he knew to be conservative, he said, "Monday, I turn 90. Tuesday, (Barack) Obama will be elected. Wednesday. I move to Canada."

He didn't say that to me.

Yet I've also been called a racist because I'm a Caucasian and a Texan, and some people judge others by skin color and birth place.

A joke to some, an insult to others

When the results of player voting for starters in this weekend's NBA All-Star Game were announced, of the 324 players who voted, 126 omitted James and 154 passed on Kevin Durant.

"There were some goofy votes cast," I said to James.

I could have said "jealous" votes. But the word "goofy" was out there.

"There's always goofy votes. Trump was elected president," James replied.

Sometimes, I think my role in life is to be the straight man for James.

Our teams can make us better

Through it all, I've found that sports can unify like little else except an act of war.

In Cleveland, a city with a proud history of racial progressiveness, sports united us as long ago as when Indians pitcher Steve Gromek, who was white, hugged racial pioneer Larry Doby, who was black, after Game 4 of the 1948 World Series. Doby's home run was the difference in a 2-1 victory in the last World Series the Indians won.

"The chief message of the Gromek-Doby picture is acceptance," wrote a columnist for an African-American newspaper, the Pittsburgh Courier.

The lesson was just as profound last year when the Cavs' Caucasian star, Kevin Love, a past target of critical Tweets by James, sprinted off the bench to embrace James the moment Game 7 ended in the NBA Finals. For the first time in 52 years, a major professional team from Cleveland was a champion.

It used to be a point of pride that this country was a melting pot. Strength through diversity. From many, one. E pluribus unum. The motto is on our money.

We can only get there by knowing what's in each other's hearts and minds.

Johnson is the latest Browns player to be held up to building block scrutiny.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Whatever Browns fans want in a running back, Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell don't seem to fit the mold.

Nearly a month after telling us that Isaiah Crowell shouldn't be considered a building block, readers gave Johnson a better nod of approval, but still fell short of the 67 percent needed to reach block status. Johnson got 63.5 percent of the yes vote (Crowell got 57.9).

Johnson is a flashy runner who averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a part-time back. He led all rookies in receptions in 2015, and last season became the first Browns running back with at least 500 receiving yards in his first two seasons in the NFL.

But that wasn't enough to make him our fifth building block, joining Jamie Collins, Christian Kirksey, Terrelle Pryor and Danny Shelton.

Here's what you had to say:

Will: If a reliable every-down back like Crow is not voted a building block (which baffles me), then how can a diminutive 3rd-down back be considered one? I like Duke's game overall, but to me, he is replaceable. When Hue Jackson lauds players who get in the end zone, Crow is a much nicer fit than Duke.

Warpath18: Duke is a very good third down back, but it's almost like you know what's coming.  Crowell 1st and 2nd down, Johnson on third...here comes the punter.  I want to see him split out more on 1st and 2nd down, with Crowell in the backfield.

kerrchris65: Remember that game when Duke dominated the second half and carried the browns to a win?  Or that other game, where he caught a screen pass and took it the distance.  Or when he made 3 guys miss behind the line of scrimmage and rolled off a 40 yard gainer?  Neither do I, because it never happened.  No one gets more undeserved hype and publicity than Duke. For some reason, he's been on the bench in the second half by two different coaching staffs. I've never seen him outrun anything.  He's not a building block; he's a novelty.

Browns fan 4ever: How can Duke be a building block when he gets the ball less than ten times a game? As for Crowell they don't use him enough either. But I do think for a guy that big he goes down very easily, arm tackles and tackles for a loss plague him. He is functional but not a big time back by any means

floppy1: He's a fine backup RB -- someone who warrants 5-10 touches a game. He's not explosive. He shouldn't be taking touches away from Crowell and in an ideal world they have a 3rd down back with game breaking speed. He's steady. More James Jackson than Darren Sproles.

ap1987: Definitely a building block. One of the best RBs in the passing game. I also don't think they run the ball to him enough as well.

TomBinsc: Duke is a Great runner and pass catcher. He would be a star on any team.

Ward Burns: Definitely think that he isn't used enough.

GermanDawgPound: Prime example of a player who is not used in Cleveland but will become a star once he is shipped off to a team like the Patriots.

Accepted Browns Building Blocks

* Terrelle Pryor

* Jamie Collins

* Danny Shelton

* Christian Kirksey

Rejected Browns Building Blocks

* Cameron Erving

* Joe Haden

* Isaiah Crowell

* Cody Kessler

* John Greco

* Corey Coleman

Several head-to-head Top 25 matchups and a few dangerous trap games on the Top 25 schedule for Saturday and Sunday.

CLEVELAND,Ohio -- Several head-to-head clashes with Top 25 teams this weekend are highlighted by No. 3 Kansas at No. 4 Baylor and No. 14 Virginia at No. 10 North Carolina. But there are a couple of dangerous trap games as well, all on Saturday, which could derail some Top 25 teams. You can watch scores and updates, here.

No. 2 Villanova has to be careful on the road at Seton Hall. Ditto for No. 8 Louisville vs. Virginia Tech and No. 16 Purdue vs. Michigan State.

Seton Hall in the Big East, Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Michigan State in the Big Ten are all bubble teams for the NCAA Tournament that can help their chances greatly by getting a Top 25 victory this late in the season.

On Sunday, No. 20 Creighton hosts Georgetown. The Hoyas are not in the NCAA Tournament hunt, but a loss to Georgetown could be a red flag loss for the suddenly struggling Blue Jays.

Locally, Cleveland State hosts Wright State in Horizon League play. In the Mid-American Conference Ohio University hosts Bowling Green and surging Buffalo hosts Miami in key games.

Saturday games

No. 18 Cincinnati vs. Tulsa, noon, ESPNU
No. 25 Notre Dame at North Carolina State, noon, ESPN
No. 2 Villanova at Seton Hall, 12:30 p.m. Fox
No. 3 Kansas at No. 4 Baylor, 1 p.m. CBS
No.13 Duke vs. Wake Forest, 1 p.m. ESPN
No. 8 Louisville vs. Virginia Tech, 1 p.m. ESPNU
No. 15 Florida at Mississippi State, 2 p.m. ESPN
No. 9 West Virginia vs. Texas Tech, 2 p.m. ESPN2
No. 7 Oregon vs. Colorado, 3 p.m. Fox
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. Pacific, 4 p.m.
No. 17 Florida State at Pitt, 4 p.m. ESPN2
No. 16 Purdue vs. Michigan State, 4 p.m. ESPN
No. 13 Kentucky at Georgia, 6 p.m. ESPN
No. 19 SMU at Houston, 6 p.m. ESPN2
No. 5 Arizona at Washington, 8 p.m. ESPN2
No. 14 Virginia at No. 10 North Carolina, 8 p.m. ESPN
No. 21 South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 8:30 p.m. SECNet
No. 22 St. Mary's at BYU, 10 p.m. ESPN2
No. 6 UCLA vs. USC, 10 p.m. PACNet

Sunday Games

No. 11 Wisconsin vs. No. 23 Maryland, 1 p.m. CBS  
No. 24 Butler vs. DePaul, 1:30 p.m. FS1
No. 20 Creighton vs. Georgetown, 3:30 p.m. FS1

The Cleveland Indians are defending AL champs for the first time since 1998. A look back shows they're better armed and positioned for this title defense. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - We haven't seen an Indians team go to spring training as defending American League champs since 1998.

That was the year they lost to the New York Yankees, 4-2, in the ALCS. No shame in that. Those were the only two losses of the postseason for a Yankees team that went 114-48 during the regular season. The Yankees swept Texas in the division round, then swept the Padres in the World Series.

The Indians finished 89-73 that year, beat Boston, 3-1, in the first round and held a 2-1 lead on the Yankees until New York won the final three games.

While that part may sound familiar, that was an Indians team without a shutdown starter. Five Indians pitchers made starts in the series - Jaret Wright, Charles Nagy, Bartolo Colon, Dwight Gooden and Chad Ogea.

This Indians team obviously is better armed and better positioned, provided they don't end up on the cover of SI as a World Series lock.

* A Patriots fan decided a tattoo would help commemorate New England's victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI. Nothing unusual there. Until he specified his choice of tattoos and the location.

One other oddity: He called one night and scheduled a time for the next day.

So he actually gave some thought to getting a Tom Brady tattoo on his left butt cheek.

* A tattoo shop employee told Boston.com that the guy was calm and sober.

"It wasn't spur of the moment," she said, citing "quite a few obnoxious people" who showed up at the shop intoxicated following the victory parade.

Obnoxious Boston fans? Hard to imagine.

* No doubt Brady is flattered. At least as much as he was when he learned the Atlanta Zoo, paying off a Super Bowl bet, named a zoo denizen after him.

A Madagascar Hissing Cockroach.

* There's no sense yet that a full length "Uncle Drew" movie will challenge Citizen Kane for the top spot of the American Film Institute's Top 100 Movies of All-Time.

But it's early.

* Darrelle Revis was charged in Pittsburgh with four felonies and a misdemeanor after an incident on the city's South Side.

Revis' attorney says his client defended himself against two men who harassed him. He said Revis was looking at some property he is considering as a development project.

Revis, he said,  "didn't want a lot of people around" and wanted to look at the property "on his own terms."

Obviously the only time to do that was 2:43 a.m., which is when police were called.

* Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred did his annual Grapefruit League press conference and addressed his plans to speed up the game. Manfred said baseball doesn't need "fixing" but thinks steps can be taken to make it more attractive for the next generation.

He's talking about streamlining replay reviews, making the intentional walk automatic instead of requiring four soft-toss pitches outside the strike zone and perhaps raising the strike zone to bring more action to the game.

We've only been talking about ways to speed up baseball for oh, about 20 years or so.

But, like baseball games, it seems longer.

* Supposedly doctors have advised Tiger Woods to just "stay horizontal" during this stage of his recovery from back spasms that caused him to withdraw from Dubai.

That advice wasn't offered in advance of Woods' plans to play at Riviera. Woods is the unofficial host of the Genesis Open at Riveria this weekend.

The advice was offered in advance of Woods' plans to sit for 20 minutes at a press conference.

So, about that comeback...

* Pete Rose continues to gamble legally and doesn't understand why it's an issue for anybody.

"Who am I hurting?" Rose told Joe Buck as part of an Audience Sport's Undeniable interview. Rose has said he wants reinstatement from his ban for betting on baseball in part because he still thinks he can work in Major League Baseball and help an organization.

So the better question about his legal gambling: Who is he helping?

* Vince Young's agent says the former Texas star is making a comeback.

To which we say, don't get any ideas, Hue Jackson.

* Young turns 34 in May but that doesn't discourage agent Leigh Steinberg from finding a place for Young to start over. The Canadian Football League could be a landing spot.

"On his chronological age, because he hasn't played football the past few years, he doesn't have the wear and tear on his body," Steinberg said, "I've seen Warren Moon throw the football at 50. He can still throw very well."

Any interest the Saskatchewan Roughriders may have in Young is now competing with their interest in Warren Moon.

* Terrell Owens has lost all respect for the Hall of Fame voting.

Until he gets in. Then it will have worked out its kinks.

* Bill Parcells and Owens spent a year together in Dallas, a season in which Owens had 13 TDs and 1,180 receiving yards. There were also some "distractions," including Owens publicly complaining about his role.

So would Parcells vote him into Canton?

"I think I would, I think I would," Parcells told ESPN Los Angeles. "I had my issues with him a little bit, that's not unlike some other players, and you just have to deal with those things and make the best of it."

So ... that rock-solid endorsement settles it.

* Charles Oakley compared Knicks owner James Dolan to former Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

That make-it-all-good meeting they had with commissioner Adam Silver might not have taken.

* Oakley was responding to Golden State forward Draymond Green's take that Dolan's treatment of Oakley at Madison Square Garden recently was indicative of a "slave master mentality."

When has such a description not brought much-needed reason and a sense of calm to a discussion?

* A few days later Green clarified his thoughts:

"I think that was a mistake by Dolan and a mistake by the Knicks, then I followed up and made the same mistake," Green told ESPN radio.

"Like I said, I don't know (Dolan). I could never say he's a racist or he has a slave owner's mentality. I don't know if he has that. "

So we're all good here, at least until Dolan or Green or Oakley opens their mouths again.

Mary Kay Cabot and Dan Labbe discuss another quarterback option, plus Myles Garrett, Bill Belichick and more.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are reports coming out that the Patriots might not trade backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He, of course, is one of the Browns options at the position. If the Patriots do, in fact, decide to hang onto Garoppolo, could the Browns look to another option if he becomes available -- Tyrod Taylor?

Mary Kay Cabot and I discussed the possibility of Taylor in a Browns uniform, what it would mean for their offense and what it would mean for their draft options in a podcast we recorded on Thursday.

Some other topics we discussed:

The Myles Garrett video in which he pleaded for the Cowboys to trade up to No. 1.

The development of rookies.

Working to get a deal done with Terrelle Pryor

Stop saying the Browns fired Bill Belichick.

Listen via SoundCloud below or Subscribe to the cleveland.com Sports podcasts channel on iTunes (click the link or search cleveland.com Sports podcasts).

You can listen to previous podcasts using the playlist below:

According to the city's Facebook page, the restaurant will open at the Commons at SouthPark, next to CoreLife Eatery in the plaza that used to house a Giant Eagle. Watch video

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- LeBron James soon won't have to drive that far to enjoy his favorite pizza.

Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza, the fast-casual chained co-owned by the NBA superstar, is planning its first Cuyahoga County location in Strongsville.

According to the city's Facebook page, the restaurant will open at the Commons at SouthPark, next to CoreLife Eatery in the plaza that used to house a Giant Eagle.

No word on when Blaze Pizza will open, but when it does, it could be the third make-your-own quick pizza spot in town. Pizza Fire opened late last year on Pearl Road. 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is planning to open at the Plaza at South Park, next to Rosewood Grill, according to the Facebook post.

Blaze Pizza is one of the fastest growing chains in the country, but the Strongsville location will be just the third in the area. The first location, on Dressler Road near Belden Village Mall in Canton, is scheduled to open on Feb. 27. The second, at Creekside Commons in Mentor, will open at a later date.

Blaze Pizza features the familiar assembly-line setup, similar to Chipotle, where diners go down the line, choose the crust, sauce and toppings for their pizza, which is then shoved into a huge stone-hearth oven for three minutes.

James was one of Blaze's original investors in 2012. According to ESPN, he owns about 10 percent of the company along with franchise rights in Chicago and Miami.

Elected leaders should rise to this challenge to identify the investments we can make to ensure that prosperity reaches deeper. But that does not undo the worth of the deal now on the table to upgrade the Q and extend its economic development value, with all the clear tangibles and gains for this region that entails, writes the editorial board.

Do you remember when the Cavs played in what seemed like the middle of nowhere -- out in a field in Richfield?

Or when Cleveland won the venue trifecta of major league sports -- football, basketball and baseball -- by wooing the Cavs back downtown with a publicly owned arena approved by taxpayers and built next to the ballpark?

Remember this? The Richfield Coliseum, off Interstate 271 in Summit County, opened in 1974 and was demolished in 1999 following the Cleveland Cavaliers' move to downtown Cleveland five years earlier. Photo courtesy of Dennis Yurchek Collection and author Gene Kiczek, File 

Or the payoff when LeBron James electrified the city and team by coming back and helping to deliver an NBA championship in a never-to-be-forgotten, come-from-behind series? A series that turned downtown Cleveland into a sea of ecstatic fans and led to a victory parade that attracted Cavs fans the world over for a glorious day of downtown pedestrian gridlock that banished our comeback doubts.

Remember this? A fan standing on the street sign at Lakeside Avenue and East 6th Street is covered in ticker tape in front of Cleveland City Hall during the Cavs victory parade June 22, 2016.Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer, File, 2016 

How much is all that worth?

And how much would it be worth to get even more economic development value from the money the public already has invested in Quicken Loans Arena -- the jobs, the energy, the draw -- by extending the life of the Q another dozen years or more?

It's certainly worth the deal on the table now in which the Cavs pay half and make other commitments to the county, city and region.

Quicken Loans Arena, home of LeBron and the Cavs, to get $140 million makeover

And beyond doubt, for Cuyahoga County, it's worth reshuffling some tourism dollars and uncommitted county funds and extra revenue from ticket sales to help secure such a deal. The Cavs then get to spruce up the Q with a fresh layout and added space that also helps them boost ticket revenue (helping the community).

But that's not all: As part of the deal, the Cavs pony up $122 million of their own dollars (for an arena the public owns) and underwrite risk in the financing deal for the county and agree to stay in Cleveland until at least 2034. 

We understand the resistance by some to putting more public dollars into what's perceived as a playground for highly paid players and the fans who can afford to watch them.

But that's not all that Quicken Loans Arena is or can be. The Q drives other jobs, other revenue, other opportunities and those all-important intangibles of what it means to be from Cleveland. The Q is a city treasure that goes far beyond its use by the basketball team.

How many of the region's children have been wowed there by Mickey Mouse on ice skates, circuses and monster truck shows? How many people have danced in the aisles to the performances of Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Jay Z, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce? We want those acts to keep coming. 

It's important to the region -- and to the residents who own the Q -- that the arena be kept in tiptop shape. The deal to do this seems both fair and reasonable.

The 22-year-old Q is undeniably old in comparison with similar facilities in other cities. And unlike the football and baseball stadiums, which are used almost exclusively for seasonal sports, the Q provides the community with year-round entertainment.

To let the facility age into oblivion would be a shame, and would hurt Cleveland. And the fact the Cavs will pay half the cost makes this deal hard to pass up.

That the Q is an economic generator cannot be denied. Investing some additional public dollars to modernize and upgrade the facility so it can keep yielding dollars makes sense.

There's a related reality: If the city and county want to extend the life of this publicly owned building, it will take some public investment. This deal provides an attractive vehicle to do so with no extra taxes from residents.

Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers, a former NBA basketball player, knows firsthand what it's meant to bring the team and its jobs and draw downtown. He knows 70 of them: "Seventy good people from Warrensville Heights working at Quicken Loans Arena" - where "each one of those people need that money."

Opponents, some supporters, of Q renovation plan pack Cuyahoga County Council meeting

Destination Cleveland, the city's key tourism promotion agency, recognized how important the Q is as a tourism draw in taking the unusual move of agreeing to divert its own resources to make the renovation deal happen. 

The county also recognizes these longer-term economic benefits and so found money to put toward the project. But County Executive Armond Budish also drove a hard bargain that includes some critical failsafes that will allow the county to issue the bonds with monetary protection from the Cavs if ticket tax revenues fall short. Budish also correctly understood that there was no appetite for additional taxes. 

The creative deal the county designed "found" money that could be repurposed -- but that does raise a question repeatedly posed by Greater Cleveland Congregations: Can there be more creative financing also found for human needs?

Cuyahoga County residents already invest heavily in human services; it's one of the admirable attributes of this community. But the vocal objections to this deal make clear that many in this region are blocked from partaking in Cleveland's renaissance, and they are frustrated.

Elected leaders -- and all of us -- should rise to this challenge to identify the investments we can make to ensure that prosperity reaches deeper. Perhaps Budish and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson could schedule a summit to come up with the kinds of solutions that opponents to this deal have so clearly articulated.   

We hope that happens. But that does not undo the worth of the deal now on the table to upgrade the Q and extend its economic development value, with all the clear tangibles and gains for this region that entails.

Cuyahoga County Council is now considering the matter. A "yes" from all its members would keep our community and county moving forward. 

Editor's note: This editorial was updated at 3:03 pm to correct information on Brad Sellers' NBA career.

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Former Golden Gloves boxing champion and current UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic offers his thoughts on a Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather superfight. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are few people more qualified to talk about a potential superfight between boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and MMA superstar Conor McGregor than Stipe Miocic.

A former Cleveland Golden Gloves boxing champion, Division I wrestler and current UFC Heavyweight Champion, Miocic can analyze what an MMA versus boxing showdown might play out as well as anyone.

So far, McGregor vs. Mayweather is just a rumor. But talk about the fight actually happening has been heating up. Miocic offered us his thoughts on a potential fight between the two and who might win.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James missed All-Star Friday festivities and media day for a family obligation.

NEW ORLEANS -- LeBron James missed all his scheduled All-Star activities to attend a family obligation, two sources told cleveland.com, and is expected to arrive in time for Saturday's practice.

Among the things James missed: the NBA's Super Bowl-style Friday press conference that kicks off All-Star weekend. This is James' 13th All-Star Game.

A spokesman for James said "everything is fine" with the 32-year-old Cavs superstar, that there was just a family obligation scheduled he chose to attend. James was also slated to do an NBA Cares event Friday. He flew 23 Akron high school students here to rebuild homes in neighborhoods ravaged by blight and last week's tornado.

Carmelo Anthony, James' close friend who replaced injured Cavs' forward Kevin Love on the East All-Star team, also did not attend the media session Friday.

The Daytona 500 is Feb. 26 and a full schedule of practice and events begins Feb. 17. NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to go after his third victory at the Daytona 500.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NASCAR gets back to the track this week with the preludes to the Feb. 26 Daytona 500. Cars are on the track beginning today for practice sessions, then it is on with the show.

Eyes will be on Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he returns behind the wheel after missing the final months of the 2016 season with concussion syndrome. With the recent retirements of Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon, the sport is in desperate need of young stars to take the place of those drivers leaving the sport.

Even those familiar names remaining -- Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick among them - are closer to the ends of their career than the beginning. So, don't be surprised to see NASACR put a greater emphasis on the younger drivers in the series this season, beginning with the 2017 Daytona 500.

Also, with the start of a new season NASCAR has some new rules to follow this season designed to make the series more interesting. Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will be televising selected practices and races, with Fox showing Sundays Daytona 500.

DAYTONA 500 SCHEDULE

Friday, February 17

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Motorsports Hall of Fame open in Daytona Ticket and Tours building
11:00 AM
UNOH Fanzone opens
2:00 PM
Stadium gates open
3:30 PM
ARCA qualifying
5:00 PM - 5:55 PM
MENCS The Clash At DAYTONA practice, FoxSportsI
6:30 PM - 7:25 PM
MENCS The Clash At DAYTONA practice, FSI

Saturday, February 18

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Motorsports Hall of Fame open in Daytona Ticket and Tours building
10:00 AM
UNOH Fanzone opens
10:30 AM - 12:25 PM
MENCS practice, FS1
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Stadium gates open
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
ARCA Racing Series All Access & Autograph Session
1:30 PM - 3:25 PM
MENCS practice, FS1
3:40 PM
ARCA driver introductions
4:15 PM
7:35 PM
Advance Auto Parts Clash driver introductions
8:00 PM
Advance Auto Parts Clash, FS1

Sunday, February 19

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Motorsports Hall of Fame open in Daytona Ticket and Tours building
11:00 AM
UNOH Fanzone opens
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Inspection station activity in UNOH Fanzone
2:00 PM
Stadium gates open
3:10 PM
DAYTONA 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger, FS1

Monday, February 20

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Richard Petty Ride-Along Program at DAYTONA
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Daytona Tours available in Daytona Ticket and Tours Building

Tuesday, February 21

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Richard Petty Ride-Along Program at DAYTONA
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Daytona Tours available in Daytona Ticket and Tours Building

Wednesday, February 22

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Richard Petty Ride-Along Program at DAYTONA
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Daytona Tours available in Daytona Ticket and Tours Building
10:30 AM
Fanatics Superstore Merchandise Tent in Midway opens

Thursday, February 23

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Motorsports Hall of Fame open in Daytona Ticket and Tours building
11:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Inspection station activity in UNOH Fanzone
11:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Kids area open in UNOH Fanzone
11:30 AM - 12:55 PM
MENCS practice
12:00 PM
Stadium gates open
2:00 PM - 2:55 PM
NCWTS practice
4:00 PM - 4:55 PM
NCWTS practice
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM
Live Band on Alert Today Florida Main Stage in UNOH Fanzone
5:10 PM - 6:35 PM
Pre-Race Access Ceremonies: UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race pass required
6:40 PM
Can-Am Duel driver introductions
7:00 PM
Can-Am Duel FS1

Friday, February 24

10:00 AM
Midway display area opens
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Inspection station activity in UNOH Fanzone
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Motorsports Hall of Fame open in Daytona Ticket and Tours building
10:30 AM
Fanatics Superstore Merchandise Tent in Midway opens
12:00 PM
Stadium Gates Open
12:00 PM - 12:55 PM
NXS practice
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Harley J. Earl DAYTONA 500 trophy photos in Gatorade Victory Lane inside UNOH Fanzone
1:00 PM - 1:55 PM
MENCS practice
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Live Band on Alert Today Florida Main Stage in UNOH Fanzone
2:00 PM - 2:55 PM
NXS practice
3:00 PM - 3:55 PM
MENCS practice
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
NCWTS Autograph Session in the FPL Solar Patio in UNOH Fanzone
3:00 PM
Harley J's Fan Hospitality opens in Stadium
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Florida Department of Transportation on the Alert Today Florida Main Stage in UNOH Fanzone
4:30 PM
NCWTS NextEra Energy Resources 250 Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
6:00 PM - 6:55 PM
Pre-Race Access Ceremonies: UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race pass required
7:00 PM
NextEra Energy Resources 250 driver introductions
7:30 PM
NextEra Energy Resources 250

Saturday, February 25

8:00 AM
Midway display area opens
8:00 AM
Fanatics Superstore Merchandise Tent in Midway opens
9:00 AM
UNOH Fanzone opens
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Inspection station activity in UNOH Fanzone
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Kids area open in UNOH Fanzone
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Harley J. Earl DAYTONA 500 trophy photos in Gatorade Victory Lane inside UNOH Fanzone
10:00 AM
Stadium Gates Open
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Motorsports Hall of Fame open in Daytona Ticket and Tours building
10:00 AM
Harley J's Fan Hospitality opens in Stadium
10:30 AM
NXS PowerShares QQQ 300 Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Driver Appearance: Coca-Cola Family Racing Driver Danica Patrick at Coca-Cola RaceDay Ready display in Midway
1:00 PM - 1:55 PM
MENCS final practice for the DAYTONA 500
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Florida Department of Transportation on the Alert Today Florida Main Stage in UNOH Fanzone
2:00 PM - 2:55 PM
Pre-Race Access Ceremonies: UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race pass required
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Florida Department of Transportation on the Alert Today Florida Main Stage in UNOH Fanzone
3:00 PM
PowerShares QQQ 300 driver introductions
3:30 PM
PowerShares QQQ 300

Sunday, February 26

7:00 AM
UNOH Fanzone opens
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Kids area open inside UNOH Fanzone
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Inspection station activity in UNOH Fanzone
7:15 AM
Fanatics Superstore Merchandise Tent in Midway opens
8:00 AM
Midway display area opens
8:00 AM
Stadium gates open
8:00 AM
Harley J's opens Fan Hospitality opens in Stadium
8:00 AM - 1:35 PM
Pre-Race Access Ceremonies: UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race pass required
9:55 AM - 10:10 AM
Driver Appearance: Daytona 500 Champion Ryan Newman in Harley J's Fan Hospitality in Stadium
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
VIP Appearance: USAF Thunderbirds autograph session under FPL Solar Patio in UNOH Fanzone
10:10 AM - 10:25 AM
Driver Appearance: DAYTONA 500 Champion & Coca-Cola Family Racing Driver Denny Hamlin at Coca-Cola RaceDay Ready display in Midway
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Driver Appearance: DAYTONA 500 Champion & Coca-Cola Family Racing Driver Ryan Newman on the Alert Today Florida Main Stage in the UNOH Fanzone
1:15 PM
DAYTONA 500 driver introductions
2:00 PM
DAYTONA 500, Fox TV

Take a look back at Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star rookie game competitors from 1994 through 2015.

Kyrie Irving names his all-time NBA All-Star team on Friday, and LeBron James wasn't on it.

NEW ORLEANS -- Kyrie Irving names his all-time NBA All-Star team on Friday, and LeBron James wasn't on it.

Irving named guards Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to it, said Ray Allen would be his "three," -- that's James' position -- with Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal playing in the front court. All five players are retired.

Irving said he would be the coach.

"Easy money I'm coaching that," Irving said during the NBA's Super Bowl-like All-Star media day, which is always on Friday of All-Star weekend.

Now, back to the news.

No James? The leading scorer in NBA All-Star history with 291 points and 24.3 points-per-game average? A two-time All-Star MVP? Washington's John Wall was asked the same question and included James.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah well, I mean, he (James) understands," Irving told cleveland.com, as he walked off the podium.

As Irving announced his team -- he was responding to a question -- he said "I'd put MJ at the 1, Kobe at the 2, Ray Allen at the 3, gotta space it out, got to have a spot up 4, so I'm probably going to go with KG, he's going to rim-run, do the dirty work. I'd put Shaq at the 5."

Allen was a 10-time All-Star and made more regular-season 3-pointers during his career (2,973) than anyone. He's tied for 20th with Karl Malone in All-Star scoring history with 145 points.

Bryant (290 points) is second and Jordan (262 points) is third in All-Star scoring.

Irving, 24, is a four-time All-Star and was the MVP of the game in 2014. He's scored 57 points in All-Star games.

Irving and James have grown much closer since they first became teammates on the Cavs in 2014. Irving's slight most likely isn't the sign of a growing rift (though we'll see what James says about it when he arrives in New Orleans Saturday).

For instance, in 2015 when Kevin Love picked old college teammate Russell Westbrook over James for league MVP, there was already perceived tension between Love and James.

Earlier during his press conference Friday, Irving said James is "awesome."

"You learn so much, just how to be a consummate professional," Irving said. "How to really be engaged every single day."

Meanwhile, Irving made another All-Star's list. Bulls forward Jimmy Butler said if there was one player not already on his team he'd like to play with, he named Irving.

The two were teammates for Team USA at the Olympics last summer.

"I like his game," Butler said. "But more than anything I know (Cavs assistant coach) Phil Handy and that's who trains (Kyrie). I know how hard he works and I think someone like that makes you better. I know a lot of guys work hard, but I've spent a countless amount of days and hours with Kyrie - even before USA Basketball.

"I like him as a player, as a human being, really good friend of mine. That's not knocking anybody else, but the kid can play."

Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor contributed to this report.

In the latest spot titled "All-Star Game," which once again includes Baron Davis as "Louis" and JB Smoove as "Angelo," the trio is hanging out at a neighborhood pizza place while chatting about basketball and voting for All-Star representatives. Watch video

NEW ORLEANS -- The NBA All-Star Game is not necessarily about getting votes, it's about getting buckets -- at least that's what Uncle Drew explains in the latest chapter of Pepsi's wildly popular video series featuring Cleveland Cavaliers star point guard Kyrie Irving. 

In the latest spot titled "All-Star Game," which once again includes Baron Davis as "Louis" and JB Smoove as "Angelo," the trio is hanging out at a neighborhood pizza place while chatting about basketball and voting for All-Star representatives. 

New Uncle Drew shorts will be released throughout the rest of the season, as the Uncle Drew universe continues to expand, including today's launch of the new UncleDrew.com. 

Trent Richardson, 26, remained jailed Friday afternoon in Hoover after a domestic violence arrest at a hotel Thursday night. He was released on $1,000 bond shortly before 3 p.m.

Trent RichardsonHoover Police 

Former Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson was arrested in Hoover, Alabama, on a domestic violence charge.

Hoover police responded at 8:04 p.m. Thursday to a 911 call reporting a possible domestic disturbance at the Hyatt Place Hotel on John Hawkins Parkway.

A second call was received at 8:05 p.m., reporting yelling coming from one of the guest rooms, said Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector. Responding officers arrived on scene at 8:08 p.m. and were escorted to the source of the disturbance by a hotel employee.

Officers were able to make contact with an adult male - later identified as Richardson - and an adult female who were involved in a domestic altercation, Rector said.

After interviewing both of them, officers determined the two had been arguing earlier while at the Walmart on John Hawkins Parkway. The dispute then apparently continued after they arrived back at the hotel.

At some point the situation turned physical, Rector said, and the female sustained injuries - scratches and bruising - to her face.

Hoover Fire Department paramedics were dispatched to check the victim's injuries. She was treated on the scene and required no further medical attention. Her name has not been released.

A hotel guest called 911, as did a hotel employee. 

"He was cooperative,'' Rector said. "He was arrested without incident."

Richardson, 26, is charged with third-degree domestic violence. He remained in the Hoover City Jail Friday afternoon with bond set at $1,000 before being released just before 3 p.m.

Domestic violence suspects are required to stay in jail for a minimum of 12 hours for a cooling off period. Richardson had to appear before a city magistrate this afternoon to learn conditions of his bond.

A court date for Richardson has not yet been set.

Richardson left the Hoover Public Safety Building on Valleydale Road through the jail exit, avoiding media gathered there. He walked to a black Toyota pickup truck that pulled close to the door, got in and left.

Richardson, who played parts of four seasons in the NFL with the Browns and Indianapolis Colts, was released last August after a knee injury prevented him from seeing the field. He remains unsigned by any NFL team.

Richardson was sued for assault by two women in 2013, but was not charged.

Richardson accounted for 3,860 yards of offense and 42 touchdowns in his college career at Alabama. He finished third in Heisman voting in 2011.

 

Cleveland sports fans wonder what it will take for our sports cup to runneth over after a NBA title and a World Series appearance by the Indians.