Justin Greene has 18 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Flashes.

Justin Greene had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Flashes (11- 6, 2-1 Mid-American Conference), who picked up their first road win of the season. Sherman added 13 points.

After missing the past five games due to a school suspension, Guyton finished with nine points in 28 minute s.

The Bobcats (8-9, 1-2) led, 66- 63, with two minutes remaining, but an offensive putback by Eric Gaines pulled KSU to within one with 1:35 to go.

Ohio's Asown Sayles then missed two free throws, and the teams traded missed shots before Guyton's free throws.

The Nuggets are trying to avoid being victimized by a Carmelo Anthony "decision".

View full sizeBarry Gutierrez / Associated PressCarmelo Anthony had little reason not to smile as his Nuggets played Jamario Moon and the undermanned Cavaliers Saturday night.

DENVER, Colo. -- All of the turmoil surrounding the Denver Nuggets these days, all of the trade rumors about Carmelo Anthony, are because the Nuggets are trying to avoid what the Cavaliers are going through now.

Faced with the possibility of The Decision by Anthony this summer, when he could leave as a free agent and the team would get nothing in return, the Nuggets are trying to obtain as much value as possible if he doesn't want to stay in Denver.

"I don't really think about that stuff, but I don't think there's any question that discussion has been had with the people above me, and justifiably so," Denver coach George Karl said before Saturday night's game against the Cavaliers. "I think everybody's trying to figure out this new philosophy among the players and agents.

"For me, I don't want to rebuild. I want to reinvent our team rather than go into a rebuilding program."

What's the difference?

"Hopefully you don't drop below 35 or 40 wins," Karl explained. "You keep the record at a level where you can sustain confidence and positive energy."

As a former Cavs coach, Karl admitted he felt sorry for the Cleveland organization.

"I don't like to see teams or organizations or coaches go through misery," he said. "Losing is an incredible stress and pressure. ... It doesn't teach good habits. We hope they get back on track very quickly, except for the two games in January against us."

No Hollins: The Cavs were down to the NBA-minimum of eight bodies on Saturday after Ryan Hollins left the team in the wake of a death in the family.

"Obviously, we all wish him and his whole family well," coach Byron Scott said. "We send our condolences to everybody in the Hollins household and hope he gets back to us soon and everything's OK."

Scott said he'd never coached a game with just eight players before. "This will be a first," he said. "I've never had to look down the bench and see just three guys in uniform. It'll be interesting."

Pittsburgh rooters: Scott and Karl are Steelers fans, so both were happy with the Pittsburgh victory on Saturday. In fact, both were late to their pre-game press briefings because they were watching the end of the game.

Karl, who grew up outside Pittsburgh, arrived in a Steeler sweatshirt. Scott knew he didn't dare.

"I can't wear mine a lot," he told Denver reporters. "I can't wear it around. I've got to be respectful of our fans in Cleveland, the Browns fans."

Familiar faces: The Cavs and Nuggets essentially traded assistant coaches with Melvin Hunt going to Denver and Jamahl Mosley coming to the Cavs. Before the game, Hunt stopped in the Cavs locker room to say hello, getting a round of hugs.

"It's very different, but good," Hunt said of his time in Denver. "We've had a lot of fun. We're trying to get better -- amongst all the speculation. But I've been through other things. I've been through worse. So it's not bad."

He said he was suprised to see the Cavs struggle so badly, put pointed to injuries to Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker.

"Injuries are the big thing," Hunt said. "It's hard enough to win when you're healthy. Losing Andy, losing Daniel, Anthony -- all those guys are important parts to this team. But I give coach Scott a lot of credit. It gets ugly, but they're still playing hard."

Ben Walter scored off a rebound to earn his 12th goal of the season and tie the game in the final minute for the Monsters.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Lake Erie rallied from two goals down Saturday to defeat the Bears in a shootout, 3-2, in American Hockey League action.

Hershey led, 1-0, after a 5-on-3 power-play goal from Keith Aucoin at 4:50 of the first period. The Bears padded their lead at 3:17 in the second when Ashton Rome scored his sixth goal of the year.

But Lake Erie started its comeback with a goal from Mark Olver at 18:03 in the second to pull within one, and evened the score late.

With the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, Ben Walter scored off a rebound to earn his 12th goal of the season. The goal at 19:19 of the third period forced overtime, where neither team scored.

The Monsters slipped two pucks past Braden Holtby in the shootout, with Olver and Patrick Rissmiller converting. Lake Erie goaltender John Grahame held Hershey to one score in five attempts.

Mauldin returns: Left winger Greg Mauldin returned to Monsters after clearing waivers Friday. He played 29 games with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, Lake Erie's parent club, since being recalled on Nov. 11. He was Lake Erie's leading scorer with 12 points (5 goals/7 assists) in 14 games at the time of his recall.

They lost every game on this five-city trip and have now lost 13 straight, 23 of 24 and 19 straight on the road to fall to 8-32 overall.

View full sizeBarry Gutierrez / Associated PressRamon Sessions struggles to keep the ball away from Denver's J.R. Smith (top) and Melvin Ely during the first quarter of Saturday's 127-99 loss to the Nuggets.

DENVER, Colo. -- Byron Scott had a few words of advice before his team took the floor against the Nuggets on Saturday night at Pepsi Center.

"Don't think about the flight home yet," he said. "Don't think about the day off. We still have a game to play, and I still expect us to come out and compete. If we do that, then the trip back home will be a little bit more pleasurable no matter what the results are. I expect us to come out and play hard."

Good luck with that. The plane could have left at halftime. The Cavs tied a franchise record by giving up 80 points in the first half en route to a 127-99 defeat. They lost every game on this five-game trip and have now lost 13 straight, 23 of 24 and 19 straight on the road to fall to 8-32 overall.

"Too much Denver Nuggets and not enough Cavs," Scott said with a wry smile.

Does it even matter that Ramon Sessions led the Cavs with 21 points, Antawn Jamison added 17 or J.J. Hickson had 13 points and nine rebounds? Or that Nene had 22 points and Chauncey Billups and Arron Afflalo each had 21 as the Nuggets improved to 23-16?

Didn't think so.

The Cavs, down to eight players after Ryan Hollins left to attend a family funeral, lost Mo Williams five minutes in with a strained left left hip flexor. Perhaps Scott's best option would have been to suit up himself.

"Mo went down and that just ate us up for the rest of the night," Scott said. "The young guys played hard. They really put out a great effort. I thought JJ put out a great effort as well. Playing last night against Utah and then coming in here back-to-back kind of got to him finally. I think the minutes he's been playing finally caught up to him.

"The effort was great. We just played a team with too much fire-power against us, as short-handed as we are right now."

Of course, the fact that the Cavs once again declined to play any defense contributed to that. Denver shot 58 percent overall and 62 percent from 3-point range (13-of-21) and had 24 fast-break points. But the Cavs did hold their own in the middle. They were outscored in the paint, 60-54, but only out-rebounded 49-47, and actually outscored the Nuggets on second-chance points, 17-15.

"We fought," Sessions said. "Ain't much more you can ask for with seven guys out there and some guys playing out of position. We're not here to complain or anything. We played hard, Denver was a better team tonight."

The Cavs never seem to respond until they're down by 10. So, naturally, they fell behind, 24-14, with about four minutes left in the first quarter. Then Jamison, who missed his first five shots, hit a pair of the leaning, off-balance baskets he has become known for to start the Cavs on a 7-0 run that brought them back within 24-21.

But more lax defense allowed Denver to close the quarter on a 10-1 run. In numbers that have become all too familiar, the Cavs shot 27 percent in the first quarter, the Nuggets shot 62 percent, 80 percent from 3-point range (4-of-5) and held an 18-10 edge on the boards.

But the Cavs keep topping themselves. Or is that bottoming? The 80 points in the first half was a season high, beating the 73 they gave up at Minnesota on Dec. 4. The Nuggets shot 71 percent from the field, including 85 percent from 3-point range (6-of-7) in the second quarter as the Cavs continue to treat the 3-point line as if it's radioactive.

Baldwin-Wallace's women's team squeaks past Ohio Northern, while Lake Erie College's men's basketball team gets narrow victory over Tiffin.

Jamilah Humes had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Flashes (13-3, 4-0 Mid-American Conference). Lauren Prochaska had 13 points for the Falcons (15-2, 3-1).

"I'm proud of our team's effort today," Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. "Especially on the defensive end of the floor. We gave ourselves a chance to win by doing what we did on the defensive end."

Miami (Ohio) 68, Akron 63 Rachel Tecca (Archbishop Hoban) had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the host Zips (8-8, 1-3 MAC), but Kirsten Olowinski made 11 of 14 shots, piling up 27 points and 12 rebounds for the RedHawks (10-7, 2-2).

Taylor Ruper (Trinity) added 14 points for Akron.

Baldwin-Wallace 56, Ohio Northern 54 Catherine Spisak scored 15 points, and Amanda Schroeder added 12 points to move into fourth place on B-W's all-time scoring list as the Yellow Jackets (11-3, 6-1 Ohio Athletic Conference) held off the Polar Bears (13-3, 7-2) to move into first place in the OAC.

John Carroll 99, Marietta 66 Emilee Ritchie (Stow) scored 25, Lee Jennings (Stow) 20 and Missy Spahar (Lake Catholic) 19 as the Blue Streaks (8-7, 3-5 OAC) crushed the host Pioneers (7-8, 3-5).

Ohio Wesleyan 79, Hiram 68 Chelsea Kovach had 21 points, but the host Terriers (8-7, 1-4 North Coast Athletic Conference) lost to the Battling Bishops (8-8, 4-1).

Allegheny (Pa.) 71, Oberlin 45 Malisa Hoak had 12 points, but the host Yeowomen (6-10, 1-4) lost to the Gators (9-6, 3-2).

Tiffin 69, Lake Erie 57 Stephanie Rogers (Mentor) had 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, but the visiting Storm (2-11, 1-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) lost to the Dragons (10-5, 5-4).

Daemen (N.Y.) 53, Notre Dame College 49 Yvette Hunter had 10 points and 11 rebounds, but the Falcons (14-5, 5-1 American Mideast Conference) lost to the host Wildcats (17-3, 7-0), the No. 12 team in NAIA.

Houghton (N.Y.) 74, Ursuline 51 Jaylene Taylor had 19 points and 14 rebounds, but the Arrows (5-14, 2-4 AMC) lost on the road.

Men

Marietta 101, John Carroll 90 Trevor Halter scored 29 as the host Pioneers lit up the scoreboard a bit more than the Blue Streaks. Joe Meyer (Mentor) had 18 points, Maurice Haynes II (Villa Angela-St. Joseph) 17 and Conor Tilow (St. Edward) 14 for JCU.

Ohio Wesleyan 71, Hiram 58 Tim Brady scored 22 points as the Battling Bishops (8-8, 4-3 NCAC) downed the host Terriers (8-8, 2-5). Andrew Wiegand (Firelands) led Hiram with 10 points.

Kenyon 71, Oberlin 56 Geoff Simpson scored 13 points, but the host Yeomen (1-15, 0-7 NCAC) lost to the Lords (7-9, 3-4).

Lake Erie 68, Tiffin 66 Antonio Kidd (Lakewood) came off the bench to score 19 points, including two key free throws, and Matt Grendel (Independence) made four free throws in the final minute as the visiting Storm (5-9, 1-6 GLIAC) edged the Dragons (3-13, 1-8).

Notre Dame College 77, Daemen (N.Y.) 56 Eric Dummermuth had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the visiting Falcons defeated the Wildcats.

Sure, there are plenty of "does Colt McCoy have an NFL arm" questions, but many readers are interested in other changes to the depth chart.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerMatt Roth could be a candidate for a pass-rushing defensive end if the Browns convert to a 4-3 defense.

Hey, Tony: If the new coaching regime decides to switch the defense to the 4-3, do you see Matt Roth and/or Marcus Benard converting to defensive end? Could it possibly improve their game or are they players best suited as tweeners? -- Peter D, EC, Wis

Hey, Peter: I could see Roth converting. He may be too slow at linebacker as it is and has the size for a 4-3 end. Benard does not, but he could still be utilized as a situational edge rusher, as he is now.

Hey, Tony: I think once again this year the Browns proved that they are one of the slowest teams in the league. We also have a severe weakness on the right side of our offensive line and in our front seven on defense. If you had to put one as your No. 1 priority to fix this off-season, would you chose to add team speed or build up in the trenches? -- Chris Mangosh, Willoughby

Hey, Chris: Probably defensive line. Speed is lacking everywhere, too. Eric Mangini preferred size over speed. We'll see if the coaching change results in a change of size-speed preference.

Hey, Tony: There's a lot of talk here and everywhere about Colt McCoy's arm strength and how it might be a concern during our wonderful winter months. Is it possible that he can increase arm strength through working out/conditioning? -- Chris McGurr, Garfield Heights

Hey, Chris: Possible? I suppose. Mike Holmgren has said he believes McCoy's arm strength will improve as his body matures.

Hey, Tony: Do you foresee the Browns signing any of their free agents -- Abe Elam, Lawrence Vickers, Matt Roth, etc., -- before a collective bargaining is reached? -- Paul Thiel, Crescent Springs, Ky.

Hey, Paul: No. If there is no CBA settlement, it's possible there would be no free agency in 2011 and players whose contracts expired would have them roll over another year, with modest salary increases. That would be chaotic, but I've heard it as a possibility.

Hey, Tony: You're flat out wrong about Colt McCoy's arm strength being an issue, citing his poor play in bad weather. What bad weather? Yes, it was cold the final two games, but there wasn't rain or snow and it wasn't that windy. His throws weren't getting caught in the wind either. The first INT against Baltimore was Mohamed Massaquoi failing to beat 1-on-1 coverage, the weather had nothing to do with it. The next two throws were forced but again had nothing to do with the weather.

Against Pittsburgh, the first INT bounced off Ben Watson's hands, that's not on Colt and again zero to do with the weather. The second one was a miscommunication between him and Massaquoi and the third Colt got blasted from behind by James Harrison. Once again, absolutely nothing to do with the weather. Arm strength is flat out a non-issue with him.

Does he have a cannon? No, we all know that. However, the top quarterbacks in Browns history have a common denominator (among others such as intelligence and resourcefulness, two things Colt has a ton of): Less than ideal arm strength -- Otto Graham, Bernie Kosar, Brian Sipe, Frank Ryan. Your assessment of Colt struggling due to arm strength issues is lazy and inaccurate. -- Kevin S, Arlington, Va.

Hey, Kevin: Even McCoy agreed that the ball is "heavier" in cold weather -- regardless of wind, snow, locust plagues, whatever -- and requires more experience to maintain accuracy under those conditions. The examples you cite above are only the interceptions. I saw a lot of his passes over the past month that did not have enough zip on them, whether they were completed or not. I've also talked to a number of NFL insiders -- GMs, coaches, scouts, and others -- who say that McCoy lasted until the third round, despite having the most wins of any QB in college football history, because of his arm strength.

Finally, you can not name a single quarterback with a northern, outdoor-based NFL team that won anything of note in the past 30 years. Not one. And that includes Kosar and Sipe. Don't take it personally. McCoy's arm strength is a question mark in this location. It wouldn't be if he played in a dome or in the South or West. Even Mike Holmgren admits that.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs had a 65-yard TD reception against Kansas City, but does that mean he's a strong candidate for full-time receiver work in 2011?

Hey, Tony: I've just heard you saying we need two legitimate receivers: a No. 1 and a slot. I couldn't agree more. But what about Josh Cribbs? Can he be the slot guy? I believe he's got the physical skills. I can imagine him tearing up defenses with long runs after short passes. Can you, too, or is it just another Browns fan's wishful thinking? -- Miroslav Stefanovic, Serbia

Hey, Miroslav: I'm interested in seeing Cribbs in a well-coordinated, West Coast offense. I'm thinking he'd be more productive.

Hey, Tony: I respectfully have to disagree with your SBTV comment that only strong-armed QBs can be successful in northern cities. I don't think anyone will put Bernie Kosar in the (cannon-arm QB club) and he should have played in two Browns Super Bowls. -- Howard Boles, Peyton, Colo.

Hey, Howard: Another myth. Kosar's arm strength was above average when he entered the NFL and had his best years in 1986 and 1987. I recall him winning a Quarterback Challenge in the off-season because of his accuracy over all depths on the field. He could make any throw. Heck, he invented new throws. But after his elbow injury in the 1988 season opener, Kosar's arm was never the same. All of his other superb traits helped get the Browns to the AFC Championship Game in 1989, but his decline was swift thereafter. Brian Sipe, the Browns' poster boy of below-average arm strength, never won a playoff game. Look it up.

Hey, Tony: Obviously, Troy Polamalu is a very good player. Just curious how his per season stats for eight seasons translates into possible Hall of Fame career -- 3.5 INT, 63 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 force fumble, 10 passes defensed -- your thoughts? -- Robert Burke, Austintown, Ohio

Hey, Robert: Barring unforeseen circumstances, Polamalu is on the fast track to the Hall of Fame. He and Ed Reed easily are two of the best safeties in the history of the NFL. Not even debatable.

Hey, Tony: How was it determined that the Cardinals would pick before the Browns even though they had the same record? -- Jerry J., North Olmsted

Hey, Jerry: The only tiebreaker for draft order is strength of schedule. Arizona's opponents were 119-137 (.465). The Browns' opponents were 146-110 (.570). The team with the weaker schedule gets the higher draft pick because it is judged to have been the worse team.

Hey, Tony: What do you see in your crystal ball for off-season moves? Someone like Shaun Rogers, who seems to have given up on the Browns and is still young enough to make an impact on a contender's defense, could realistically return a third-round pick. Let's be honest, the Browns need all the picks they can get for the upcoming draft. Or, do you think nothing will happen personnel-wise (besides the draft) until a new CBA is hammered out? -- Tim, Winter Haven, Fla.

Hey, Tim: As I understand it, trades involving players are prohibited until a new CBA is resolved. Teams may trade draft picks.

Hey, Tony: Since we have the sixth pick in this year's draft, if there were a lockout throughout the entire 2011 NFL season and there was no record to determine the draft order, would the order be determined by the record of the previous year? Thus, if we pick sixth this year and don't play a single game all of the 2011 season, will we be awarded the sixth pick in the 2012 NFL Draft or will they come up with a new system to determine the order? -- Levi Mendenhall, Springfield, Ohio

Hey, Levi: To my knowledge, the scenario has not been fully analyzed by the NFL because nobody -- nobody -- expects a work stoppage to wipe out the entire 2011 season. Nobody.

Hey, Tony: How come you make excuses for the shortcomings of the coaches you like, for example you used the laughable excuse that "Jon Gruden fell into the veteran trap." Kinda makes you sound like a shill for some coaches. -- Michael B, Dover, Ohio

Hey, Michael: Call it what you will. I think there are two types of coaches -- winners and losers. Winners are the coaches with winning records. Losers are coaches with losing records. It is not complicated. I believe there are underlying reasons why certain coaches win and others don't. I'm talking about career records, not just one or two seasons affected by injuries. Jon Gruden: winner. John Fox: winner. Bill Parcells: winner. I frown at excuses like, "Well, he played a tough schedule." Or, "He didn't have the players." Over the course of a coach's career, those excuses don't wash. Gruden was fired after consecutive seasons of 9-7. Winner.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerGeneral Manager Tom Heckert should be more accessible to Browns fans in explaining personnel decisions, says Tony Grossi.

Hey, Tony: Of the Ten Great Browns Mysteries you mentioned regarding last year's dismal season, I think half of them (only three cornerbacks, trading Jerome Harrison, only two running backs, John St Clair, and trading for Jayme Mitchell) came under the responsibility of Tom Heckert since they were personnel decisions. Do you agree and are these questions that Browns fans deserve an answer to, especially since almost all of the blame went to Eric Mangini? -- Bob Ruple, Newbury

Hey, Bob: Technically, you are correct. Heckert was the authority over all personnel decisions. My hunch is that Heckert deferred to Mangini on many in-season personnel decisions. (I don't think Mangini had anything to do with the trade for Mitchell.) But, yes, fans and media deserve answers to these questions. I believe Heckert should be more accessible to answer such questions.

Hey, Tony: If the Browns are going to go with the West Coast offense, don't you think that Brady Quinn would have been a better fit than Colt McCoy? Quinn is bigger and has a better arm for Cleveland weather. He can throw long, proven in the Detroit game. Who made the decision to trade Quinn? Holmgren or Mangini? -- Ernie, Columbus, Ohio

Hey, Ernie: I don't agree at all. McCoy is a better fit than Quinn in the West Coast offense -- or any system. To me, Quinn was too obsessed with body building and appeared too tight to make all the throws. It was strictly Holmgren's call to trade Quinn.

Hey, Tony: If the Browns do switch to the 4-3 defense, wouldn't Shaun Rogers be an absolute beast as a 4-3 defensive end? -- Mark Cesarik, Chicago

Hey, Mark: Rogers has the most ability of any player on the Browns' roster. But he does not dedicate himself completely to being the best possible player he can be. His best position probably is as a penetrating, one-gap tackle in a 4-3 -- not as an end.

Hey, Tony: Everyone is talking about Colt McCoy's arm strength as if it is a unchangeable handicap. Is it possible for a QB, like Colt McCoy, to hit the weights and suddenly have that condition reversed? -- Andy Frecka, Moscow, Russia

Hey, Andy: Improved? Possibly. Reversed? Not likely.

Hey, Tony: You've said that neither Mohamed Massaquoi nor Brian Robiskie is a good fit as a slot receiver. Is Josh Cribbs good in this role? It seems that it's always a positive for the Browns to get the ball to Cribbs when he has running room. -- David Skeen, Cedar Park, Texas

Hey, David: I would think that Cribbs would benefit greatly from a switch to a well-coordinated, West Coast offense.

Hey, Tony: Do you think that it would be worth it to take a flier on Matt Flynn, Green Bay's backup? He runs the West Coast offense and seems to have the arm strength to play in the cold/wind. -- Mike T, Eastlake

Hey, Mike: Many in the NFL feel Flynn could be a very tradeable commodity for Green Bay. His name has been mentioned to me as a possibility that might interest the Browns, but that was before the team fell in love with Colt McCoy. I don't see it happening now.

Hey, Tony: I know our offense has been bad for a long time. With that said the local media and many fans have been obsessed with ... the West Coast offense coming to town, and lots of throwing for Colt McCoy, and we need an offensive head coach ... and finally the oddest one to me "you can't win in the modern NFL without a prolific passsing attack." Then I watch the Ravens and Jets play with killer defense, run-first offense with an OK passing game dominate other teams. The Steelers, too, have made defense their primary strength for the past four decades.

We finally are getting a tough-nosed defense in Cleveland and with another good draft we could have a good to great defense. My fear is all the focus on a pass-first offense in this town will not go well against the rough and tumble AFC North. Defense never goes out of style! -- Michael Spitale, Galena, Ohio

Hey, Michael: That said, the Browns' offense must come out of the dark ages for the team to be considered a playoff contender. The Ravens won a Super Bowl in 2000 with defense and running, but they realize that 10 years later, the game has changed to the point they must upgrade their passing offense. Same with Pittsburgh. The Steelers won the Super Bowl two years ago with the most prolific passing attack in their history. Defense never goes out of style, but it alone does not win championships anymore.

Hey, Tony: How many draft picks do the Browns have in the 2011 draft? -- George Grace, Austintown, Ohio

Hey, George: I believe they have their picks in every round but the seventh (for Seneca Wallace) and also own Denver's pick in the sixth round (for Brady Quinn).

Hey, Tony: Has there been any report on the rehabilitation progress of Montario Hardesty? -- Dave, St. Simons Island, Ga.

Hey, Dave: He is rehabbing well, looks good and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Hey, Tony: In your end of season player rankings, how could you put Mike Bell -- who did nothing for the Browns -- ahead of Blake Costanzo, who was one of our best special teamers. -- Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland

Hey, Angelo: I must have had bad pizza the night before and had a brain cramp. Or was it too much red wine?

Hey, Tony: I know the Browns have many needs. No. 1 need being wide receiver. Do you think Chris Chambers could be a help and a possible mentor to our wide receivers? The guy has always been a class act. -- Tim Brehm, Strongsville

Hey, Tim: I would bring in as many receivers as possible and have them compete. Guys like Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie need competition to get better. No more entitlements.

Hey, Tony: If Mike Tomlin or John Harbaugh were hypothetically hired a few years ago as the Browns' head coach, do you think they would have taken the team to the playoffs or suffered the same fate as Eric Mangini? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake

Hey, Steve: What you're asking is if I think Tomlin and Harbaugh are better coaches than Mangini. My answer is yes and yes. Truthfully, I don't think it's close.

Hey, Tony: Any word on the leading candidates for head coach of the 2013 Cleveland Browns, after the 2011-2012 head coach is fired? -- Andrew Steckler, Beachwood

Hey, Andrew: Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden.

Hey, Tony: I have noticed that you and other reporters have commented a lot on the fact that all of the high-level guys in the Browns' organization are represented by Bob LaMonte. The coaching search also seemed somewhat limited to his clients. Is this strange to you? Have you heard of any other organizations partially basing their most important positions on representation? I can't imagine top-level teams doing this. -- Ananth Thyagarajan, Richmond, Va.

Hey, Ananth: Well, I was the first media member in the Cleveland market to point out the immense influence LaMonte has on the current Browns organization. Is it strange? No. LaMonte is controlling the front office in Denver in similar fashion. This is the way business is done in the NFL, in many cases. It doesn't mean it's the right way to do business, but it's not particularly uncommon. I think it's up to the owner to avoid these situations.

-- Tony

Somehow, it figures that readers interested in next summer's draft are considering an injured star.

View full sizeDuane Burleson / Associated PressDajuan Wagner and the 2002-03 Cavaliers had just eight wins through the first half of the season, and finished with 17. Can this year's Cavaliers match that performance?

Hey, Mary: What have been the worst records Cavs teams have recorded after 41 games? What were those teams' final records? -- Richard Grebenc, McKees Rocks, Pa.

Hey, Richard: Here are Cavs' four worst starts and where they finished:

1970-71: 4-37, finished 15-67;

1982-83: 7-34, finished 23-59;

1981-82: 8-33, finished 15-67; and

2002-03, 8-33 finished 17-65.

Hey, Mary: I am a huge Andy V fan and am so sorry about his injury. What is the team's policy about players who will be out a long time? Do they stay with the team and travel as soon as they are able? Might we see Andy sitting with the team as he gets better? Lots of fans would like to see him there. Can we send cards to him? -- Carol Thompson, Smithville

Hey, Carol: The Cavs don't have a set policy about injuries, but I know that whenever Varejao decides to have surgery on the torn tendon in his right foot, he will have the surgery in Cleveland and do his rehab here. So it's likely he would sit behind the bench when he's recovered enough to do so. It would be unusual for him to travel with the team if he can't play.

You can send cards to him c/o Cleveland Cavaliers, Quicken Loans Arena, One Center Court, Cleveland, OH, 44115. I'm sure he'll appreciate the support.

Hey, Mary: With the Cavs' great difficulty in guarding the interior and scoring in general, I'm wondering what the actual deal was with Zydrunas Ilgauskas opting to leave. Was the move strictly his decision, or was it more the team ignoring his value as a free agent? -- Mike Yanczysin, Eastlake

Hey, Mike: I think the Cavs were interested in having Ilgauskas return. They offered him a contract. But they -- and he -- knew he wouldn't be a great fit in coach Byron Scott's up-tempo offense. He knows the window is closing on his career and he jumped at a chance to try and win a championship. I would not be surprised to see him return to the Cavs in some capacity when his playing days are over.

Hey, Mary: What are the conditions for getting the most Ping Pong balls for the NBA Draft Lottery? I've people say regardless of the Cavs' record at the end of the season, they can get only as high as the fourth pick. -- Howard Boles, Peyton, Colo.

Hey, Howard: I know we're kind of out of practice with this, but if the Cavs finish with the worst record in the league, they will get the most chances in the lottery and the worst they can draft in the fourth pick.

View full sizeSara D. Davis / Associated PressKyrie Irving wowed many observers before his freshman season was upended by a foot injury that will require surgery -- and likely keep him out of next spring's NBA draft.

Hey, Mary: Who fits the Cavaliers' needs better right now: Perry Jones of Baylor, Kyrie Irving of Duke, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, or maybe Kemba Walker of UConn? The Cavs need to inject youth, talent, excitement and hope ASAP! -- Rick Borelli, Lakewood

Hey, Rick: Can I have all four?

My first thought was that I'd pass on the two point guards and pick between the two freshmen power forwards -- the 6-11 Jones and the 6-8 Sullinger -- should they decide to enter the draft. Jones probably has more upside, but questions linger about his focus and how he finished his high school career, which raises some flags. Sullinger is a beast inside and has a polished offensive game, but he's not a great athlete and could be undersized playing power forward in the NBA.

I don't think either would be the top pick in the upcoming draft. If it wasn't for a foot injury, Irving seems to be the most complete player. Byron Scott has had his best seasons with point guards like Jason Kidd and Chris Paul, so I'll say Irving.

Hey Mary: Given that the NBA is bleeding cash and has a shocking lack of competitive balance, can you explain why contraction isn't a bad thing? It seems to me that there are too many teams and far too many below-average players in the NBA. It has become unwatchable. -- Andrew Steckler, Beachwood

Hey, Andrew: Well, the NBA players association would disagree with you, as would fans in the cities likely to be contracted.

Hey, Mary: Is it safe to say that the Cavaliers players are already tuning out Byron Scott? I really don't know the value Scott is providing at this point and Hickson has been regressing on his watch. -- Chris Hocevar, Broadview Heights

Hey, Chris: Having watched a lot of a long practice in San Francisco last weekend, I can tell you the players have not tuned out Scott. Granted, that came before the debacle at Los Angeles, but I was, frankly, surprised to see the camaraderie exhibited during that practice. I disagree that Hickson has regressed, but he had a much stronger supporting cast last season that was able to make up for his inconsistency and also keep him motivated.

Hey, Mary: Enough of this Cavs team. It is clear this bunch cannot shake off the loss of LeBron and Dan Gilbert needs to break it up and start over. To me, J.J. Hickson is one of the first to go. While I keep hearing he is only 22, think of a talented guy on any pro sports team who lacked intensity and then suddenly turned into a fire-eater on a consistent basis. I see Mel Turpin all over -- good intentions of being more consistent and it never happens. What do you think we can get for Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams and J.J.? We can start this thing all over. -- Russell Gantos, Houston, Texas

Hey, Russell: I know a lot of fans share your opinion, but the Cavs do not. They're still high on Hickson and are willing to be patient. I just can't buy the comparison to Turpin. As I have stated before, because of their contract situations and the money they're still owed, Jamison and Williams are less attractive trade options than fans believe. Right now the Cavs are playing their young players in an effort to see exactly what they have and, then, what they need in the future. I'm not sure whether Jamison and Williams will be part of that future or not. At this point in their careers, I know neither wants to be part of a rebuilding situation.

Hey, Mary: Before the season started I'm sure everyone expected the Cavs to use the trade exception to bring in a big-name guy to make that playoff push. Since that is not going to happen, what can the Cavs do with it now? The only thing I can think of is some type of deal where the Cavs take a guy who is under-performing with a big short-term contract (think Rashard Lewis before Orlando traded him). The other team can free up some cap space to make another deal or two. The Cavs could get draft picks to make the trade worthwhile but for the most part the good teams are not going to have good draft picks. Can they do something like what I've described? If so, any thoughts on players and teams that might work?-- Chris Stevens, Concord

Hey, Chris: Technically, they could make the sort of deal you describe, but I'm not sure they're interested in doing so, because acquiring that sort of player is not going to help them in the long term. But depending on the length of that player's contract, and the number of draft choices involved, I guess right now they'd look at anything.

-- Mary

After so many years of mystifying offense for the Browns, the West Coast philosophy offers an identifiable and welcome brand name, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerFor a dozen seasons, the Cleveland Browns have appeared incapable of deciding exactly what kind of quarterback (Tim Couch on this play, other QBs in other games) and what kind of offense is the best fit. Those days, for better or worse, are over, says Bud Shaw.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After 12 years of buying generic, the West Coast offense Mike Holmgren is selling offers an identifiable brand name and more...

The West Coast offense stands on its resume.

With references from Bill Walsh, Holmgren and Andy Reid, it looks even better when compared to what was on display here in various forms from 1999-2010:

The Seinfeld Offensive System -- an offense about nothing.

The S.O.S., as it deserved to be called, was marked by a little of this and even less of that, immediately followed by urgent calls for help every couple years.

An abridged chronology: Tim Couch's dinks, Charlie Frye's dunks, Jeff Garcia's GPS-gone-haywire scrambling, the do-not-adjust-your-TV-set vertical lines of the passing game under Derek Anderson one minute, the horizontal hold of Brady Quinn the next.

And then a 2010 season in which the most remarkable statistic offensively was three -- count 'em, three -- high ankle sprains.

"Quarterback in this league is so important," new head coach Pat Shurmur said. "I anticipate the vision of this football team being seen through the eyes of the quarterback."

The hiring of Shurmur is nothing sexy. The allure is in the men flanking him at Friday's press conference -- GM Tom Heckert and team president Holmgren -- and in the West Coast offense as their shared model for how to win in the NFL in 2011.

Don't get too hung up on Pittsburgh and Baltimore going all MMA on each other once again Saturday. The West Coast isn't hammer-and-tongs football, but it doesn't preclude a strong defense and running game.

Holmgren operated it in Green Bay and in better climes in Seattle where running back Shaun Alexander led the league in rushing yards, TDs and Pro Bowl votes in 2005. West Coast backs Roger Craig and Ricky Watters weren't exactly afterthoughts either.

In Philly, LeSean McCoy rushed for 1,080 yards and 5.2 per carry in the West Coast this season. Even if you subtract Michael Vick from the rushing yards gained by the Eagles, Reid's team still ran for more yards than the Browns did.

The West Coast uses the pass to set up the run. Colt McCoy is suited for it. But even if he weren't, they had me at "uses the pass."

"It's very important to run the ball," said Shurmur, "but you have to be able to efficiently and explosively throw the ball in the NFL."

After the last 11 years, either would be welcome.

To the dismay of some, Shurmur showed up with the love of his life and it wasn't McCoy...

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerColt McCoy is clearly the quarterback for 2011, even if new coach Pat Shurmur didn't swear undying devotion at his press conference.

Someone asked if I agreed Shurmur and Heckert fell short of a rousing endorsement of McCoy as next year's starter. I don't agree.

First of all, it's not Heckert's place to declare McCoy the starter. Shurmur, on the job for less than a day, wasn't about to pledge his allegiance to anyone except his wife, kids and maybe Holmgren.

(And God, too, though God was said to be otherwise occupied this week revenging everyone who ever did LeBron James wrong)

Short of synching his words about McCoy to a well-timed press conference balloon drop, Shurmur had enough good things to say to project the job being McCoy's to lose going into camp.

If Shurmur announces in July a training camp competition between McCoy and Jake Delhomme, you have my permission to ride a bus 10 hours to Hartford to Eric Mangini's football camp and bring him back as head coach.

SPINOFFS

Asked about his plans for the defense, Shurmur showed a Holmgren-like sense of humor when he joked, "There's a defense?" At least I think that came from Shurmur, who was sitting on Holmgren's knee at the time...

Of 55-year-old John Fox replacing Josh McDaniels as Broncos head coach, Denver Post columnist Dave Krieger wrote, "It may not be quite Mr. Wilson replacing Dennis the Menace, but it's close..."

Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson says certain New York Jets should tone down the rhetoric. For the record, Rex Ryan had considered declaring himself "the straw that stirs the drink" but was told Jackson already did that when he played for the Yankees...

One night after sending out his "Karma's a B****" tweet and saying "God sees everything," James turned his ankle in a loss. Next game, with James sidelined, Denver beat the Heat 130-102...

That proves nothing about karma. It just felt good writing it...

New Broncos' football chief John Elway, following an organizational mandate to be "transparent," kept the fan base in the loop with tweets and Web site updates on Denver's coaching search. Nice try, Elway. But Bill Belichick still plans on spying on you...

Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez turned over 12 bags of UM apparel to a Detroit-area Salvation Army for auction. There was no need to wash Gatorade out of anything Rodriguez donated...

SHE SAID IT

"The only way to test them is to let them do what they were intended to do." -- Diane Dietz, Big Ten chief communications officer, on the decision to keep "Legends" and "Leaders" as new division names through 2011.

If by that she means letting "Legends" and "Leaders" establish a pomposity unmatched since Kanye West declared himself "the voice of a generation," they already did that.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Desmond Howard and Michigan QB Denard Robinson. -- Angelo, Cleveland.

Juli Inkster and Mick Jagger. -- Jim Heide

Kelsey Grammer and Phil Dawson. -- Jack Chase

YOU SAID IT

(The Biannual Browns Coaching Hire Edition)

"Bud:

"Where would you be today with a sports agent like Bob LaMonte?" -- Tom Hoffner, Broadview Heights

I'd be part of the tree. The sap, no doubt.

"Bud:

"Pat Shurmur? Phyllis Diller would have been a sexier pick." -- JJ, Twinsburg

Kids, YouTube it.

"Hey Bud:

"Did God see Game 5?" -- Vince G., Cincinnati

Yes. And He duly noted that, while He didn't quit his work until the seventh day, LeBron did so on the fifth.

"Whoa Bud:

"Aside from being attention-getting device Number 329, what is the purpose of all the (fake) hair extensions hanging out of football players helmets?" -- Christine Louise, Warren

With players facing a lockout and loss of wages, what you're seeing is a concerted effort to get noticed by the producers of "Jersey Shore."

"Bud:

"How about making Cavalier tickets out of wood so we can use them in winter?" -- Emma Schmidt

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"Twenty years ago I made a wager. What would happen first? A Cleveland sports championship or 5,000 birds falling out of the sky for no reason. I bet on Cleveland." -- The Albatross

Repeat winners receive a box of yellowed confetti.

"Hey Bud:

"Ran into a weary Mark Shapiro at the airport, and when I pressed him on possible pitching prospects, he blurted out 'Craig Slist.' Is he in our farm system?" -- Steve Miller, Cleveland

Repeat winners also receive an invasive airport security pat-down.

Because so many first-time, recently-hired head coaches have been successful, teams want to find the next young coach.

View full sizeTodd Bennett / Associated PressFor all the late-season talk about veteran out-of-work NFL coaches such as Brian Billick, the teams in need of a new boss on the field have focused on young coaches such as Cleveland's Pat Shurmur.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The new year is just two weeks old, and yet there's plenty of fodder for the weekend Talkin' ...

About the Browns ...

1. What do Leslie Frazier, Ron Rivera, Jason Garrett, Jim Harbaugh and Pat Shurmur all have in common besides being named head coaches? None have been permanent head coaches in the NFL before. Yes, Garrett and Frazier were interim coaches. But only John Fox (Denver) of the six coaches hired since the end of the regular season has been a full-time NFL boss before.

2. Much has been made of the Browns hiring clients of agent Bob LaMonte. Of the new coaches hired, LaMonte represents Fox, Frazier and Shurmur. He also represents recently fired head coaches Brad Childress, Mike Singletary and Josh McDaniels.

3. It's amazing someone such as Brian Billick has not received a serious interview with any team seeking a coach. He wasn't perfect, but he did win a Super Bowl in Baltimore. His career record is 80-64. You'd think a team would want to at least pick his brain. It's not just Billick. The Browns interviewed Mike Mularkey, but they didn't seem especially intrigued. He was the most recent coach to have a winning season in Buffalo and is Atlanta's offensive coordinator, where he has been a big help to QB Matt Ryan.

4. Because so many first-time, recently-hired head coaches have been successful -- John Harbaugh (Ravens), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Mike Smith (Falcons), Rex Ryan (Jets), Sean Payton (Saints) are some examples -- teams want to find the next young coach. They don't seem to worry much about a lack of head coaching experience. The Browns also fit that pattern with Shurmur.

5. Not sure this applies to the Browns, who seem to pay big money to almost everyone -- but some teams are turning to first-time head coaches because they are cheaper. Meanwhile, the Browns in 2011 will pay Phil Savage not to be the general manager along with Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini not to be head coaches. Butch Davis quit as coach in 2004, and he was paid $12 million over the next three years -- ending after the 2007 season.

6. Crennel signed an extension after the 10-6 record in 2007. He was fired after 2008, but still is paid more than $3 million annually through the end of 2011. Part of his salary is offset by what he's paid to be the defensive coordinator in Kansas City. As the Browns' offensive coordinator, Rob Chudzinski received an extension after the 2007 season that ran through 2011. Following the 2007 season, Savage's contract was extended -- and it's worth more than $2 million annually.

7. Mangini will be paid more than $3.5 million annually over the next two years not to coach the Browns. If you are trying to keep score, that means the Browns are paying one general manager (Savage), two head coaches (Mangini and Crennel) and one coordinator (Chudzinski) not to work for the team in 2011. George Kokinis also received some type of financial settlement when he was fired at midseason in 2009 as general manager.

8. When Mike Holmgren said "This has to stop," he meant bringing in a new coach every few seasons. But he also means the Browns being known in NFL circles as a place where you probably won't win, but you will get paid very well. He also said "this is the first head coach that I've hired, and I trust it will be my last." That would be a startling change, given the Browns' recent history. Since the Browns returned in 1999, what coach has lasted the longest? It's Crennel, at four years. The shortest were Chris Palmer and Mangini, two years each. Terry Robiskie was an interim.

About LeBron James ...

View full sizeRick Bowmer / Associated PressLeBron James' strange Twitter experience of the past week has prompted almost as much ridicule as the Cavaliers' inept performance against the Lakers.

Most Cavs fans have heard about LeBron James tweeting: "Crazy. Karma is a b****. Gets you every time. It's not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!"

He did it during the Cavs' embarrassing 112-57 loss at Los Angeles on Tuesday, their 11th in a row. Obviously, James is still angry at owner Dan Gilbert, the Cavs and who knows what else.

If he's so happy in Miami, why does he care that the Cavs are only in contention for the NBA's worst record? It also seems that he believes God has somehow cursed the Cavs for not treating James royally ... or whatever.

Making it worse, James tried to explain that it really wasn't his Tweet, that it came from someone else, and he decided to send it along, blah, blah, blah. Those who are into tweeting say it originated with James.

If James thinks God is making the Cavs lose, does he also think God sprained his ankle not long after? God may indeed see everything, but it's hard to believe the Almighty is engrossed with every dribble of this NBA season.

But most annoying was James tweeting: "OK, Coach [Mike] Brown. Looking good on NBA Fast Break. U look much better on the sidelines though. Great coach. Great man. He'll be back."

Hey, LeBron, if you had played hard in those final games of the Boston series, there is a good chance Mike Brown would still be coaching. Danny Ferry would still be the general manager. When this "Great coach. Great man" as you called him needed you (as did your teammates), you went soft and timid in the Boston series.

Furthermore, before the start of the 2009-10 season, your "people" let the Cavs know that you preferred Brown be fired and would rather play for a coach who was a former player. So please, save the sweet tweets about Mike -- who is a good man that lost his job because of what happened in the playoffs.

About the Tribe ...

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerJason Donald may become the Indians' third baseman for 2011 by default, as the team seems unable or unwilling to find a veteran to hold the position until Lonnie Chisenhall arrives.

1. If the baseball season were to open today, the Indians' starting third baseman would be ... Jason Donald? Yes, the Indians are seriously considering moving Donald to third base, unless they can find someone at the last moment to handle the position. Donald played only three games at third in the minors -- compared to 31 at second and 356 at short. The Indians never said so, but they were disappointed with his defense at short. They think he has the arm and quick reactions to play third, so he will see a lot of action in spring training.

2. Why Donald at third? It's because veteran Jayson Nix was a disaster there, and he ranks above average at second base, according to the Tribe's internal stats. They also don't have the money to sign a veteran. While not saying it, they seem to view Donald as a long-term utility infielder. Donald batted .253 (.690 OPS) with four HRs and 24 RBI in 296 at-bats, so he won't deliver much offense.

3. The Indians believe Lonnie Chisenhall (.278, 17 HR, 84 RBI, .801 OPS at Class AA Akron last season) will be the starting third baseman by 2012, or perhaps late this summer. But they want the 22-year-old to have some experience at Class AAA Columbus. So Donald is the leading candidate to be the stopgap.

4. They also project the same rate of progress for Jason Kipnis, who is the second baseman of the future. They figure they can live with Donald and Nix until those two prospects are ready. Kipnis batted .307 with 16 HR and 74 RBI between Class A Kinston and Class AA Akron. He also batted .391 with runners in scoring position and was 10-of-22 for Columbus in the Class AAA playoffs. The Indians have projected Kipnis and Chisenhall as prime prospects, so Nix and Donald are buying time until their arrival.

5. I wondered about Cord Phelps, who has been a second baseman and saw some time at third in the Fall League. The Indians rate him mostly as a second baseman -- and possibly as a utility infielder. While he was not terrible at third, it also was clear this was a new position for him. He batted .308 between Akron and Columbus, and .367 in the Arizona Fall League. He had only eight HRs, but was selected as the Tribe minor-leaguer who consistently hit the ball the hardest. He will be 24 when spring training opens.

6. Phelps is expected to open the season at Columbus, where he will move between second, third and left field. The Indians want Chisenhall (at third) and Kipnis (at second) to receive regular work. That makes Phelps a swingman between different positions, although he is expected to play every day -- somewhere. I suggested Phelps as the Opening Day utility infielder rather than Luis Valbuena, but the Indians prefer him to play more at Class AAA rather than sit on a big-league bench.

7. Yes, that means Valbuena and veteran Adam Everett are the prime candidates to be the utility men. Everett will be 34 when spring training opens. He's a career .243 hitter (.642 OPS) in 10 big-league seasons, but is considered an above-average shortstop. He might make the team because Nix, Phelps, Kipnis and Valbuena either can't play short, or do it poorly.

8. Jared Goedert has an outside shot to make the team as a third baseman. He had 27 HR and 83 RBI while batting .283 between Akron and Columbus. At 25 and being a right-handed hitter, it seems he should have been promoted in September and be given a serious chance to play third -- at least from those stats. But the problem is 18 errors in 68 games at Columbus.

The best game of freshman Aaron Craft's career helped Ohio State escape Penn State, with the No. 1 ranking in sight.

View full sizeTerry Gilliam / Associated PressAaron Craft fires over Penn State's Tim Frazier for two of his 19 points as the freshman guard helped the Buckeyes remain undefeated in a 69-66 victory over Penn State Saturday evening in Columbus.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Point guard Aaron Craft was two things Saturday -- the shooter that Penn State was going to leave open while double-teaming Jared Sullinger, and the defender Ohio State was tasking with slowing down Talor Battle, one of the most dynamic guards in the country and the Big Ten's leading scorer.

Only because Craft stymied Penn State's plans and followed Ohio State's almost perfectly did the No. 2 Buckeyes emerge with a 69-66 win over the Nittany Lions that kept them undefeated. It will almost certainly push them to No. 1 in the polls on Monday.

Battle shot just 5-of-17 from the floor and missed a 3-point attempt to tie on the final possession with Craft all over him. Meanwhile, Craft scored a career-high 19 points, making four of six 3-pointers and slowing down the Penn State double-teams, thereby helping create space for Sullinger to convert two huge 3-point plays in the final minute.

"Aaron today was really, really special, effective on both sides of the basketball," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "He and Jared obviously didn't play like freshmen today, that's for sure."

Combined, the big and little of Ohio State's 2010 recruiting class combined for 38 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and just two turnovers. The way they played off each other, with Sullinger getting most of his five assists on kickouts to Craft, caused Matta to compare them to Utah Jazz legends Karl Malone and John Stockton.

"I kicked it out because they doubled off Craft, and they stopped doubling because he was hot tonight," Sullinger said. "That gave me a chance to go to the middle. ... I can take my time on the moves."

Those moves were needed after the Buckeyes (18-0, 5-0 Big Ten) lost the 10-point edge they held early in the second half, continuing their trend of letting teams rally after stretching leads.

Matta was angry about the first-half defense that let Penn State shoot 61 percent from the floor and tie the game at 32 at the break. The Buckeyes got that message ("I wouldn't say that I totally lost my mind as I have before," Matta said) and responded, but after taking a 44-34 lead, Ohio State gave ground.

When Battle picked off a Craft pass with 2:52 to play, Craft's only turnover of the game, and turned it into a fast-break layup, Penn State led 61-60, the Nittany Lions' first lead of the half.

"We were excited, but it only lasted a couple seconds," Battle said, upset with allowing Ohio State's William Buford to answer immediately with a 3-pointer. "We believed the whole game."

But Penn State (10-7, 3-3) couldn't stop Sullinger when it mattered, his 3-point play with 14 seconds left providing the final margin. And Battle couldn't shake Craft. Averaging 20.9 points and shooting 43 percent coming in, Battle was held to 15 points while shooting 29 percent.

Asked if he played a part in Battle's rough night, Craft said, "I might have been the reason, I might not have been."

It was more than coincidence.

"He plays his role and he doesn't try to do too much," Battle said. "He's a very good defender. He did a good job on me and we tried to double off him and he made us pay."

Gates Mills native Lauren Davis will play in her first Grand Slam event, the Australian Open, this week, capping a strong year for the 17-year-old.

View full sizeUSTA photoLauren Davis won the Orange Bowl futures tennis tournament in December, and makes her pro debut this week at the Australian Open.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Way before it was hip to do so, Lauren Davis took her talents to South Florida. No one in Cleveland cursed the relocation of the Gates Mills tennis player. No one wished ill will upon the 17-year-old former Gilmour student for abandoning the hard courts of her Midwestern home.

Davis relocated to Boca Raton a year ago to attend the Evert Tennis Academy, work toward her dream of becoming a pro tennis player and improve to the point where she could regularly compete in big-time tournaments.

So far, it's working. Davis won three tournaments in the fall, including the USTA's Australian Open Wild Card playoffs, an eight-player tournament that determined which American would receive a wild-card entry into this year's Australian Open.

When she plays Tuesday in the Australian Open against No. 5 seed Samantha Stosur, it will be her first match as a pro. Davis announced she signed with Creative Artists Agency this week, an agency that will represent her.

Though it's a tough draw for her first-time Grand Slam appearance to face home-country favorite Stosur, Davis is hoping to do more than just make an appearance. She's ranked 443rd in the ATP, and in a short time in Florida has impressed coaches with her tenacity and drive.

"You've never seen a competitor like this," John Evert, one of Davis' coaches, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "She's raw, but she's got heart and has gone from not ranked in the ITF [Juniors] to [No. 4]."

Davis won two ITF Futures events in the fall, the Dunlop Orange Bowl and the Eddie Herr Junior Championships. She has won 26 consecutive matches and 36 of her past 37 in all competitions.

She defeated Coco Vandeweghe, 6-2, 6-2, in the Australian Open Wild Card playoffs, capping a year of surging improvement.

Davis is a two-time champion of the USTA National Hard Court 16s in San Diego, and won three ITF Juniors championships last year in all. She is training at the Evert Tennis Academy on the IC Eugene L. Scott Junior Excellence Scholarship, awarded to the top American juniors player by the International Tennis Club of the United States.

It's been a decade of reduced speed limits and roadblocks for the Browns. Has Mike Holmgren finally stepped on the accelerator, or invited more of the same, asks sports columnist Bud Shaw.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerWhen Mike Holmgren welcomed Pat Shurmur to Berea on Friday, he clearly unified the managing philosophy of the Cleveland Browns, says Bud Shaw. The only question is whether Holmgren waited an unnecessary year before making the move.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a statement that fell short of causing a stampede to the party store to buy confetti in bulk, Mike Holmgren allowed that the Browns are a little closer to Pittsburgh and Baltimore than they were before Eric Mangini.

Well, that beats the alternative.

My sense after the hiring of rookie head coach Pat Shurmur, though, is people are wondering where the "school zone" ends on this long, winding road to becoming playoff-relevant. When do the Browns stop creeping along? When do they stand on the accelerator and make up for all the lost time?

Hiring Jon Gruden would've felt like the street racing scenes from "The Fast and the Furious," but Gruden wasn't ready to return to coaching.

John Fox would've looked like a gunned engine (at least to me). To a lesser extent, keeping Rob Ryan, who coached the 4-3 in Oakland, would've curbed the inherent angst of another re-start.

Holmgren is an impressive guy who has done good work hiring people, at least as a head coach. Certainly, he could have hit more pay dirt with Pat Shurmur. The appeal to having everyone in a position of power schooled in the same West Coast system is obvious.

There's just the nagging thought that the Browns already wasted time in Holmgren's first year on the job, and the Shurmur hire qualifies as a request for even more patience.

With a change in offensive philosophy and head coach mandating more roster turnover, wouldn't the Browns be further along if Holmgren had fired Mangini a year ago? What was 2010 really about if not about the probability that waiting gave Gruden, or Holmgren himself, time to recharge batteries and return to the sideline?

What was it about if not about waiting for a veteran hand like Fox to become available? Surely it wasn't about giving Shurmur another year of grooming as offensive coordinator of an offensively challenged Rams' team.

The other coaching changes since 1999 felt necessary. Replacing Mangini seemed more a matter of preference born of elemental philosophical differences. I agreed with the decision. But Holmgren should've made a clean sweep in Berea when he arrived. That's not a second guess. That was a first-guess at the time. Those philosophical differences with Mangini didn't suddenly crop up this season.

Mangini's four closing wins would've made firing him unpopular. I get that. Holmgren, the coach, no doubt had empathy for Mangini. At least you'd hope that was the reason for keeping him. Because if Holmgren simply decided to give Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll a year to muddle along while the team president got to know everybody's name, it was even a bigger waste of time than it now appears.

A season later, Holmgren's hiring of a rookie coach who plans to start out calling his own plays despite just two years as an offensive coordinator is worrisome. Holmgren and Gil Haskell will be there for support, but the head coach is the head coach and he better not come off like a puppet to his players.

In one obvious sense, Shurmur's hiring falls completely into Holmgren's comfort zone -- shared offensive philosophy, shared agent, same last name as Holmgren's defensive coordinator in Green Bay. In another, it's tremendously bold, the ultimate risk-reward.

Holmgren didn't believe in the Mangini Way. So now we're getting the Holmgren Way but without Holmgren on the sideline or even an experienced hand in his place.

Prior head coaching experience doesn't guarantee success. Holmgren didn't learn that by watching Mangini in 2010. The hiring of Shurmur is proof he already knew it.

Will the transition take time?

I know. That sounds like a trick question. When hasn't it?

One of the original Cavaliers doesn't miss a home game as he works on his recovery.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBingo Smith gives an autograph to longtime fan John Marinin, of Garfield Heights, during a Cavs game Jan. 5 at The Q. Smith is still recovering from a life-threatening stroke suffered in April 2009. He attends all Cavs home games, visiting fans and former teammates in the VIP Lounge.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bobby "Bingo" Smith was 1970s flashy. His looping rainbow jump shot was a fan favorite well before the NBA encouraged gunners with a three-point line.

He was also durable. In nine full seasons with the Cavs, he suited up for all 82 regular-season games four times and 81 games twice.

But as Smith, whose No. 7 is one of six retired jerseys hung at The Q, battles back from a stroke that nearly took his life on April 1, 2009, flashy and durable have been shoved aside by spartan and vulnerable.

Smith, who turns 65 in February, lives in a snug apartment in Bedford. His 22-year-old grandson, Bobby, moved in from Memphis to help take care of him, but Smith wears an emergency alert around his neck in case he falls and no one's around.

His right arm, which once sent basketballs spinning gracefully toward the hoop with a simple flick of the wrist, remains stiff and numb. He forgets names sometimes, and when he speaks, the left side of his mouth does all the work.

Through intense daily rehab, the feeling has slowly returned to the right side of his torso, and he's scrapped the wheelchair for a walker and a cane.

"I'm slower with the cane," he said, "but I'm free."

"A free spirit," is how former teammate Dick Snyder still describes him, and a free shooter. "When Bingo got the ball," he said, "he was going to find a way to get it up."

View full sizePlain Dealer Historical Collection"A free spirit," was Dick Snyder's description of Bingo Smith (playing against Phoenix). "When Bingo got the ball, he was going to find a way to get it up."

The University of Tulsa star was chosen by the San Diego Rockets in the first round -- sixth overall -- in the 1969 NBA draft. After his rookie season, he wound up on Cleveland's new basketball team, one of 11 players coach Bill Fitch's Cavaliers plucked from other rosters in the 1970 expansion draft.

More than 40 years later, Smith still ranks among the top 10 in franchise history in nine categories. He's second all-time in games played and in field goals attempted and made, many of them captured in perpetuity of the mind by Joe Tait's hanging "Bing-ooooo!" calls on the radio.

He was branded with the nickname at Tulsa by a broadcaster to differentiate him from two other Bobby Smiths playing college basketball in Oklahoma at the time.

Early in the 1979-80 season, the Cavs shipped Smith back to San Diego, by then called the Clippers. It was his last season in the NBA, which had adopted a three-point line that year. Had the arc arrived sooner, it could have added hundreds of points to his career total.

The Cavs retired his jersey on Dec. 4, 1979, just over a month after they traded him. It hangs from the arena rafters between Nate Thurmond's No. 42 and the 1975-76 Central Division Championship banner, aka "The Miracle of Richfield" season in which Smith played such an important role.

"Bingy," said former teammate Footsie Walker, "he was an original Cavalier, that's the way to put it."

And a loyal one. Smith hasn't missed a Cavs' home game this season, fist-bumping ushers who remember him, sitting in the arena's VIP lounge with former Cavs and life-long friends Elmore Smith and Harry Davis and reconnecting with fans who still adore him.

"Hey, Bingo, we need you to suit up," fan Randy Snow of Canton called out to him before a recent loss to Toronto. "We could use your jumper."

Between bites of pulled pork and beans from the VIP buffet, Smith, snappy in a black-leather cap and black dress shirt under a vest, posed for pictures with fans and scratching out autographs as best he could left-handed because his right one isn't strong enough yet.

"Now that's an original," he said to Jacob Pena of Amherst after signing the young fan's game ticket. "No one could write that bad."

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain Dealer"All three times, for some reason, God said, 'We still need you here,'" Bingo Smith (at his Bedford apartment) says of his repeated health crises. "I'm still here. He's still got some plans for me to do."

Attending games is a hassle. Pam Thomas, a friend since the Cavs played in Richfield, drives him downtown and attends to his needs. Paul Rini, of the Q concierge staff who watched Smith sink one pressure shot after another in the "Miracle of Richfield" run, knows to greet him in the garage with a wheelchair so he doesn't have to fight the crowd.

But Smith loves the attention. Loves that he's remembered all these years later. Going to games gets him out of the house.

"I'm trying to do everything as normal as I can," he said.

Everything turned upside down on April Fool's Day of '09. Smith was relaxing on the couch at a former girlfriend's house. When he got up to answer a knock on the door, he collapsed face down on the living room floor and couldn't get up.

It was a stroke, caused, he said, by neglecting tooth decay that oozed into his bloodstream and the blood-pressure medication he's been on since the year after college. He was rushed to Huron Hospital, then later moved to a rehab center at Akron General.

Smith's heart had stopped for five minutes. He was in a coma for six weeks and had a blood clot in his head that had to be drained. When he awoke, he thought he'd been asleep for one night.

"It was really bad," said Russell, now the Cavs director of alumni relations. "It didn't look good."

It was the third time he almost died. Smith's left hand remains frozen claw-like from a stroke 10 years ago. A heart attack and resulting month-long coma during a routine physical 15 years ago left him with a pacemaker.

"All three times, for some reason, God said, 'We still need you here,'" he said. "I'm still here. He's still got some plans for me to do."

When he can, he speaks to kids about making good decisions. He also leaves memories of his playing days in a tape recorder for a friend who wants to help him write a book.

Russell said Smith embraced him as a rookie, even though he was drafted to replace him. Walker said he was a "big brother" to him and the other young players.

"All you have left is memories," Smith said. "That's something they can never take away."

Once healthy, he'd like to play golf again and help the Cavs in some capacity. Other stroke victims have told him it takes two to three years to rebound.

Smith, who is divorced, has five children, five grandkids and two great-grandchildren, many of whom were in town visiting during the year-end holidays. He said he's happy and having family around has been a blessing. He's taken them to Cavs games, pointing out his retired jersey and feeling as frustrated as the fans this season.

"It's little things each quarter. When they get a lead they can't hold it. It's like their concentration wanders, but they'll be all right," he said. "You don't have to win all the time, you just have to try. They will love you still."

Duke goes down just when talk began of its invincibility, Hofstra continues to rise and Butler is back on a roll in the Horizon League.

View full sizeSteve Cannon / Associated PressAccording to basketball writer Elton Alexander, Kyle Singler and Duke don't have a great margin for error in order to assure a top seed in March Madness.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Oh, what a week. Duke goes down just when talk began of its invincibility, Hofstra continues to rise up, there is a monster growing in the MAC and Butler is back on a roll in the Horizon League.

Like Michael Jackson sang, "Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times. Blame it on the boogie."

Full tilt boogie: It's more a NASCAR phrase than Naptown, but urban is where you find it. In the NASCAR lair of Raliegh-Durham, N.C., Duke basketball was "focused and aggressive" toward an undefeated season until nemesis Florida State knocked the horns off the Blue Devils last week. Now the talk is how vulnerable Duke is, and how weak the Atlantic Coast Conference is.

Well, Duke (16-1, 3-1) is fine and will only get better when freshman guard Kyrie Irving returns from injury. As for the ACC, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech began the weekend with losing records, but the remaining 10 teams already had double-digit wins. However, there aren't many prime time victories to be found.

North Carolina is the poster child for the current ACC perceptions. Carrying a 12-4 record into Sunday's game against Georgia Tech, the unranked Tar Heels were run out of the arena, 78-58. They already have suffered setbacks to Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Illinois and Texas.

Indeed, after Duke, there is no other ACC team in the AP Top 25 poll. Only the Tar Heels (31) and Virginia Tech (2) even got votes last week.

Virginia Tech's (11-5, 2-2) resume isn't much better. The Hokies count Kansas State, UNLV and Purdue among their losses. Which brings us back to Florida State (13-5, 3-1). The Seminoles have lost to Florida, Ohio State, Butler and Auburn. But FSU has one thing nobody else does, and that's a victory over Duke.

The Boogie Down: Hofstra's surprising Pride (11-6, 5-1) are one of the feel-good stories of the season. Head coach Mo Cassara was part of the staff fired at the end of last season at Boston College. He landed at Hofstra as an assistant to Tim Welch, who wasn't on the job long before he was also fired after a DUI arrest.

At the time, Cassara was living in a dorm room with $300 in the bank. But he was named as Hofstra's next head man and the team has not skipped a beat. The Pride did not suffer their first loss in Colonial Athletic Association play until Saturday, and remain tied for first place.

Boogie Man I: The saying goes "let sleeping dogs lie." So the Horizon League can blame Milwaukee for kicking the Butler Bulldogs awake with a 24-point upset victory on Jan. 3. Since that setback, the defending Horizon League champs have taken their biggest threats -- Cleveland State and Detroit -- to the woodshed.

The Vikings ran into the awakened monster on the road and lost by 23 points. The Titans had the home court against Butler, and lost by the same 23 points.

"Butler is back, and their confidence is soaring," CSU head coach Gary Waters said after Saturday's win over Youngstown State. The Vikings get a rematch with the Bulldogs on Feb. 5. "We're going to have to deal with that."

Boogie Man, II: Buffalo's Javon McCrae is putting a big scare into the rest of the league. The 6-7, 245-pound freshman forward has done it all; score, rebound, pass and defend. He's averaging 10.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2 blocks and 1.5 assists off the bench.

McCrae has had three double-doubles, plus three games with nine boards. He's had a game with five blocked shots, and Sunday had a season-high against Akron with five assists. Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said McCrae has a 7-2 wingspan, has yet to lift weights, and was an easy recruit because nobody really thought the product of New York's finger lakes region could play in Division I.

All in all, 11 other Cavs teams, including two coached by Lenny Wilkens, have gone at least 0-5 on the road.

View full sizeJae C. Hong / Associated Press"I think we're going home understanding that we still played hard, we still competed, but we just didn't have enough," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said about the team's 0-5 road trip. "Hopefully, we can get some guys healthy."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Boy, that was bad.

But the Cavs' recent 0-5 West Coast trip was not the worst.

Bill Fitch's Cavaliers actually lost all eight games on a West Coast swing early in 1972. Tom Nissalke's team lost seven straight -- twice -- on trips in the 1983-84 season, and Bill Musselman led a franchise that lost six games on a trip -- twice -- in the 1980-81 season.

All in all, 11 other Cavs teams, including two coached by Lenny Wilkens, have gone at least 0-5 on the road.

Of course, there was the epic 112-57 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles, with franchise records for largest margin of defeat and fewest points in a game. Coming right in the middle of the trip, it overshadowed everything.

If it wasn't the lowest point in on-court team history, it has to be near the top. Or bottom. But the two games before and the two games after weren't all that great either.

In the five games, the Cavs were outscored by an average of 117-91. They never led at Los Angeles and Denver and their only leads at Golden State and Utah came because they scored first. Their biggest lead at any point was eight points in the first half at Phoenix.

They were out-rebounded, 231-220, including 179-143 on the defensive end. They actually had more offensive rebounds than their five opponents, 77-52, but they missed a lot more shots. They were out-shot, 39.7 percent to 52 percent, including 27.6 percent to 51.7 percent from the 3-point line.

The one area they consistently led in was injuries. By the time they lost Mo Williams with a strained left hip flexor on Saturday in Denver, they were down to two healthy subs. Ryan Hollins missed the game after a death in his family.

It was not known on Sunday whether either would be back for Wednesday's home game against Phoenix, but Byron Scott was hopeful he would have Daniel Gibson back from a sprained left ankle and possibly Christian Eyenga from his sprained right ankle.

"At least we'll have two more healthy bodies to join the party," Scott said after the loss in Denver.

He admitted it had been a tough trip.

"We played some really good teams," he said. "Obviously, the last three games we played -- Utah and the Lakers and Denver -- are very good basketball teams, playoff teams. We knew that. We knew we were going to have to play some really good basketball in order to have a chance to beat those teams.

"So 0-5 is not what we wanted to do, but I think we're going home understanding that we still played hard, we still competed, but we just didn't have enough. Hopefully, we can get some guys healthy."

The Denver loss was the 13th straight, 23rd in 24 games, and 19th straight on the road, and the Cavs are closing in on some team records for futility. The single-season record for consecutive losses is 19, from March 19 to April 18, 1982, while the single-season record for consecutive road losses is 21, from Jan. 13-April 14, 2003.

If Penn State is the seventh- or eighth-best team in the Big Ten, the league is pretty good. But the Nittany Lions want to be more than that.

View full sizeTerry Gilliam / Associated PressPenn State's Talor Battle made sure his teammates know that he wasn't satisfied by simply scaring the Buckeyes in OSU's 69-66 victory in Columbus on Saturday. A senior-laden team still has NCAA aspirations despite the Big Ten's depth of talent this season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Penn State was angry, not disappointed, after Saturday's loss to Ohio State, and the Nittany Lions are proving they're good enough to think they should have gone on the road and beaten the No. 2 team in the country.

"We're not here for moral victories," senior guard Talor Battle, the Big Ten's leading scorer, said after Saturday's 69-66 loss to the Buckeyes. "We're not happy we lost to Ohio State by three. We're right there. We had a chance to win."

The Nittany Lions built that belief with home wins over Michigan State and Illinois before the trip to Columbus. Now they go to Purdue on Wednesday. Combined with a 15-point home loss to the Boilemakers on Jan. 5, that's five straight games against ranked teams for the Nittany Lions.

If they can play the same way they did Sunday and get a win Wednesday to finish this stretch with a 3-2 record, the Nittany Lions would have to be impressed with themselves. This is their year, with their four best players, led by Battle, all seniors. They played Sunday like an NCAA Tournament team, and they're put together like so many good teams -- with one star (Battle) and three or four other guys on the court who can score when the star draws extra attention and leaves them open.

But they're fighting an uphill battle, which is why a road win over Ohio State would have meant so much. Penn State started 8-6, with non-conference losses to Mississippi, Maryland (by 23 points), Virginia Tech and Maine and Big Ten losses at Michigan and to Purdue.

At the moment, at 10-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference, Penn State is proof that the "no easy games in the Big Ten" cliche might carry more water than usual this year. The worst team in the conference, Iowa, gave Ohio State all it could handle on Jan. 4, and Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern have all nearly beaten one of the six ranked teams in the Big Ten.

If Penn State is the seventh- or eighth-best team in the Big Ten, the league is pretty good. But the Nittany Lions want to be more than that.

"I thought we played well enough to win," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. "There are positive things to build on. We're getting better as a team, and we kept fighting and made some plays, and if you make enough of them, you can steal a game like this. But our kids aren't going to throw in the towel."

Penn State probably shouldn't throw in the towel on DeChellis, either, who's in his eighth year at Penn State and has yet to make the NCAA Tounament. His teams have finished with a winning Big Ten record once, and the Nittany Lions won the NIT when that happened two years ago.

Penn State was last in 2009-10 at 3-15, but it's not a school that can expect to compete in the Big Ten every year. DeChellis is doing as well as anyone would do there -- and anyone who did much better would probably leave quickly. But Penn State can't afford to miss out on a chance when things are coming together.

Three Ohio State seniors are committed to the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 22.

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerLinebacker Ross Homan is the only Ohio State player who will take part in the Senior Bowl, the most prestigious college football all-star game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Linebacker Ross Homan is the only Ohio State player who will take part in the Senior Bowl, the most prestigious college football all-star game, which also features a week of practice and evaluations by NFL scouts and general managers.

The game will be played in Mobile, Ala., on Jan 29. A Senior Bowl spokesman said Sunday that the game also wanted Cameron Heyward and Chimdi Chekwa, but the invites didn't work out, Chekwa's because he's sidelined after wrist surgery. Overall, 11 Big Ten players accepted Senior Bowl invites.

Three other Ohio State seniors were already committed to the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 22: linebacker Brian Rolle, offensive lineman Bryant Browning and safety Jermale Hines.

Rams assistant Nolan Cromwell a possible candidate for offensive coordinator.

View full sizeLynne Sladky / Associated PressDick Jauron will likely get an interview from the Eagles for their vacant defensive coordinator position, either before or after he meets with the Browns this week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New Browns coach Pat Shurmur will focus this week on assembling his staff, especially the all-important coordinator positions.

Eagles senior assistant and secondary coach Dick Jauron, who's a candidate for Philadelphia's defensive coordinator post now that they've fired Sean McDermott, is still set to interview with the Browns this week.

Jauron, 60, is one of three candidates for the Eagles job. The other two are former Falcons and Seahawks coach Jim Mora and recently fired Rams defensive coordinator Billy Davis, sources told the Philadelphia Daily News.

It's unknown if the Browns plan to interview McDermott, Mora or Davis, who all have ties to either Shurmur or Browns President Mike Holmgren. The Eagles also fired defensive line coach Rory Segrest on Sunday, a source told the Daily News.

Shurmur was set to hire Denver's Mike McCoy and Jauron before things changed over the weekend. McCoy opted to stay in Denver under longtime mentor John Fox, and Jauron, the former Bills and Bears head coach, became a candidate in Philadelphia. One name to remember for the offensive post is Nolan Cromwell, St. Louis' receivers coach who worked for years under Holmgren.

There's a chance that Shurmur will retain respected special teams coach/assistant head coach Brad Seely. It's unknown if any of the other current assistants will stay.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been hired by the Cowboys to coordinate their defense under Jason Garrett, the Forth Worth Star-Telegram reported. The Cowboys haven't made a formal announcement yet, but it's believed to be a done deal.

Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed in Miami last week, but there's been no word yet on whether or not he'll be offered a job.

The Monsters' third win in as many nights keyed by Mark Olver's two goals.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The surging Lake Erie Monsters scored two goals in each period, defeated the Americans, 6-4, on Sunday.

Lake Erie improves to 19-19-3-4 and has posted three straight wins in as many nights to cap off a perfect weekend. Rochester fell to 17-21-2-2 and has now lost four in a row, including a loss to the Monsters to start the weekend.

Mark Olver scored two goals -- his 14th and 15th this season -- to pass Ryan Stoa for the team lead. His second goal proved to be the game winner.

The Monsters' Ben Walter, Justin Mercier, Harrison Reed and Patrick Rissmiller also added goals.

Picture this: a pair of No. 6 seeds in the Super Bowl. The New York Jets and Green Bay Packers sure like that scenario, and it's impossible to ignore them after this weekend's divisional playoff games.

New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Darius Butler (28) after a catch during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
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Picture this: a pair of No. 6 seeds in the Super Bowl.

The New York Jets and Green Bay Packers sure like that scenario, and it's impossible to ignore them after this weekend's divisional playoff games.

The Jets (13-5), who have never won more games in their half-century of existence, went into New England and handed the league's top regular-season team a 28-21 defeat Sunday. They now have knocked off Peyton Manning's Colts and Tom Brady's Patriots in successive weeks.

Their reward is a date with the second-seeded Steelers (13-4) in Pittsburgh next Sunday night, New York's second straight trip to the AFC championship game. The Steelers won their blood feud matchup with Baltimore 31-24 on Saturday.

"We're not afraid of anybody," Jets coach Rex Ryan said after Mark Sanchez threw for three touchdowns against New England. "Maybe people take it the wrong way. We don't badmouth an opponent, but we don't fear anybody."

Nor, apparently, do the Packers (12-6). They routed the NFC's top seed, the Atlanta Falcons, 48-21 on Saturday night, and will head to Chicago for the conference title game against their historic rivals. The Bears (12-5) whipped Seattle 35-24 to set up the 182nd meeting in the NFL's longest series, but the first for an NFC championship.

"We're both familiar with each other, so nothing's going to be new," said Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more Sunday in his first postseason appearance. "We have our hands full."

AFC Championship

At Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m. EST

It's a rematch of a wild Dec. 19 game won by the Jets 22-17 at Heinz Field.

Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu missed that and he's a huge playmaker. He might be needed more than ever because the Jets are more balanced that at any time under Ryan. And they have won four of their five playoff road games under the bombastic coach, the latest their stunner at Foxborough, where the Jets fell 45-3 on Dec. 6.

"We knew we'd have to beat those kind of opponents, got to get a team that can beat New England, beat Indianapolis at their places, and beat Pittsburgh, hopefully," Ryan said.

New York has been efficient on the ground, but no one rushes very well against the Steelers. Baltimore managed only 35 yards rushing on Saturday.

So the game could wind up in the hands and on the arms of the quarterbacks. Sanchez, a second-year pro who is 4-1 in the postseason, just might match up well with Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls and showed against the Ravens how clutch he can be.

"Big Ben, he's next on our list," said Jets receiver Braylon Edwards, who caught a TD pass against New England.

Still, the Jets never had won in Pittsburgh before that December game, and the Steelers are well-versed in AFC title matchups, making their fifth trip since 2001.

"You like to play teams that you lose to," Roethlisberger said.

NFC Championship

At Chicago, 3 p.m. EST

Chicago and Green Bay have been going at it for 90 years, but, amazingly enough, this will be only the second time they've faced each other in a playoff.

Back in 1941, just days after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and a quarter-century before there was a Super Bowl, the George Halas-coached Bears beat the Packers 33-14 at Wrigley Field for the Western Division title. The playoff was needed after both went 10-1 during the regular season.

Chicago went on to beat the New York Giants for one of its nine NFL titles. But the Bears haven't won it all since shuffling to the Super Bowl championship after the 1985 season with Mike Singletary, Walter Payton & Co.

Green Bay has won a record 12 NFL titles, most recently after the 1996 season with Brett Favre at quarterback.

The teams each won at home this season, with the Packers clinching a wild-card spot with a 10-3 victory in the regular-season finale.

"With Green Bay, the hype is going be there with the rivalry the way it is, the magnitude," Cutler said. "We're going to have to do the same thing. We can't blow this out of proportion, it's still a football game. They are going to line up 11 guys, we're going to line up 11 guys. Whoever executes the most is going to win.

"It doesn't get any better than this. To be in the NFC championship, the situation we're in being at home and to bring Green Bay into (Soldier Field) on top of that, it just adds to it."

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sensational recently, particularly against Atlanta on Saturday night, when he had only five incomplete passes, threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns, and didn't toss an interception.

"Yeah, this probably was my best performance, I think (given) the stage that we were on, the importance of this game," Rodgers said. "So yeah, it was a good night."

To have another one and get the Packers to their first Super Bowl since the 1997 season, Rodgers must deal with a Chicago defense that was dominant when the outcome was in doubt against Seattle. He also might have to outduel Cutler.

"I texted him after the game (Saturday night). I told him, 'Good game,'" Cutler said Sunday. "Obviously I will probably have a few text messages from him. We will have friendly banter."