Singing certainly isn't in the future of these Buckeyes.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are No. 1 and are 20-0 so far this season. Things are so good that several of the players tried their hand at singing.

Good thing they are basketball players. Take a look at this video with players Jon Diebler, Aaron Craft and Jared Sullinger singing Miley Cyrus.

Don't laugh too loud.

Today's guests include Ian Eagle from CBS Sports and Plain Dealer college basketball beat reporter Elton Alexander.

AP PhotoGo Packers, right?

Did Jake Cutler pull a LeBron James?

Associated PressQuarterback Jay Cutler.

Here's a few responses on Twitter:

“Im telling u in the playoffs u must drag me off the field. All the medicine in pro lockerooms this dude comes out! I apologize bear fans! . . . Folks i never question a players injury but i do question a players heart."   Deion Sanders, former NFL great.

 “If I’m on chicago team jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room!”  Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett

“Hey I think the urban meyer rule is in effect right now. When the going gets tough……..QUIT.” Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

Jones tweeted later: “All I’m saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee … I played the whole season on one.”

PD reporter says QB would have played if he could; and had nothing to gain by sitting out. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's happening in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Branson Wright, as Chuck Yarborough is on vacation in lovely Belize.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who says that he doesn't think it's fair to compare the knee injury to Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler on Sunday with LeBron James' mysterious elbow ailment during last season's NBA playoffs. What do you think? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Dman also talks about whether the Jets should have talked more trash heading into Sunday's AFC Championship loss to the Steelers; and where Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger ranks among NFL quarterbacks right now.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot.

WFNY reaches out to Cavs fans to see who and what they'll be watching for during the second half of the season.

(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)Will these seats be filled for the second half of the season?

Tonight, the eight-win Cleveland Cavaliers head to New Jersey to take on the 12-win Nets.

Regardless of the outcome of this game, there will be at least 15 teams in the NBA with more wins than the Cavaliers and Nets combined.  As considerable underdogs, Las Vegas expects the Wine and Gold to take their current losing steak to 17 games, furthering the gap between the two teams that could potentially be vying for the first-overall draft pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Nets fans are hoping that their young core will take the next step.  They are also keeping a close eye on owner Mikhail Prokorov and his chess pieces in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes before the team moves to Brooklyn, New York.

That said, Cavs fans, are you still watching?  If so, why? 

Were you watching as the Cavaliers made a late-game comeback on the road against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, or did you opt for the two top-20 Big Ten teams duking it out in Purdue University's Mackey Arena?  Do you find yourself watching NCAA teams like Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke and Baylor as the Cavaliers could very well be looking at select players from these very teams come summer?

Or are you choosing to watch the (hopeful?) development of the conglomerate of 20-somethings that are currently earning playing time for Byron Scott?

Manny Harris and JJ Hickson are currently in the midst of a rough stretch of play, but both have faed very well since the calendar hit 2011. 

Christian Eyenga returned from an ankle injury and continues to fly up and down the court, throwing down dunks, blocking opposing field goal attempts and even banking in the occasional jumper. 

With a front court that could be described as dire straights, Samardo Samuels - all of six-feet-nine-inches - is attempting to fend off big men like Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut and Phoenix's Marcin Gortat.

Or are you casting the games aside and scouring message boards and rumor mills, hoping to find some additional information on any would-be transactions between the Cavaliers and another team?  Anthony Parker for a second-rounder?  Maybe.  Use of the Traded Player Exception for Gerald Wallace and a first-round draft pick?  Not happening.

Team owner Dan Gilbert attempted to instill a bit of confidence into his fan base this past weekend, stating that the team would not "panic when things get tough."  Instead, they opt to "think, examine, and calculate."  At the right time, they will "strike."

Gilbert also mentioned the pending decrease in ticket prices for next season in attempt to keep his ticket base intrigued, showing that he is understanding of what his top customers have paid to watch (endure) this season. 

Is this enough to get you to Quicken Loans Arena next season, or does it depend on the off-season acquisitions?

All that said, what will you be watching, Cavalier fans, as the months tick closer toward season's end?  Tonight's game between the Eastern Conference's worst may only be for the thick-skinned.  Winner adds another tally mark to a column that is already incredibly low.  Loser gets another shot at an additional ping-pong ball. 

Think you can stomach it?

--

Follow Scott on Twitter 

WTAM-1100 will carry the Indians full 162-game schedule for the regular season in 2011. SportsTime Ohio and WKYC-TV3 will air 155 games.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerSTO will broadcast the Indians-Reds game live from Goodyear Ballpark on Feb. 27.

Updated at 2:55 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians will televise 155 of their 162 regular season games in 2011. All 155 will be shown on SportsTime Ohio and 20 of those can also be seen on WKYC-TV3. The games on Channel 3 will be simulcast on STO.

All games will be HD broadcasts.

Rick Manning, Matt Underwood and Al Pawlowski will call the games on STO and Channel. 3.

WTAM-1100AM will carry the full 162-game schedule. Tom Hamilton, Mike Hegan and Jim Rosenhaus will call the games on WTAM.

Indians pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 15 in Goodyear, Ariz.. WTAM and WMMS 100.7 FM will carry 20 Cactus League games. WTAM and WMMS will do 11 games live and nine on a delayed basis. Indians.com, featuring only live streaming audio, will carry 10 more games. Rosenhaus will do the play-by-play on those games.

STO will televise six Cactus League games on March 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15. STO will also broadcast the Tribe's exhibition game against Class AAAA Columbus from Huntington Park on March 30. Indians.com will do a live streaming audio broadcast of the game as well.

STO's Spring Training Daily will feature reports from at 9:30 p.m. from Feb. 21 through Feb. 25. All Bets Are Off, featuring Bruce Drennan, will be in Goodyear, Ariz., from Feb. 27 through March 4.

2011 INDIANS
SPRING EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

DATE       OPP                            LOC.
Feb. 27   CINCINNATI REDS    ? GOODYEAR
Feb. 28   Cincinnati Reds + Goodyear 
March 1   LOS ANGELES DODGERS @ GOODYEAR
March 2   Oakland Athletics @ Phoenix
March 3   Texas Rangers (SS) + Surprise
March 4   COLORADO ROCKIES @ GOODYEAR
March 5   CHICAGO WHITE SOX (SS) ??GOODYEAR
March 5   Seattle Mariners (SS)   Peoria
March 6   Colorado Rockies ??Scottsdale
March 7   Chicago White Sox + Glendale
March 8   ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS @ ? GOODYEAR 
March 9   SAN DIEGO PADRES (SS) @ ? GOODYEAR 
March 10 Chicago Cubs  @ Mesa
March 11 MARINERS  +GOODYEAR
March 12 LA ANGELS  ? ??GOODYEAR (2:05PM MST) 
March 13 San Diego Padres  ? ? Peoria
March 14 OAKLAND ATHLETICS  ?  + GOODYEAR
March 15 MILWAUKEE BREWERS  ?  + GOODYEAR
March 16 OFF DAY 
March 17 Cincinnati Reds   @ Goodyear
March 18 Kansas City Royals  (SS) Surprise
March 18 TEXAS RANGERS (SS) ??GOODYEAR (7:05PM MST)
March 19 Los Angeles Angels ? Tempe
March 20 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS  (SS) ??GOODYEAR
March 21 Kansas City Royals @ Surprise
March 22 Arizona Diamondbacks + Scottsdale
March 23 KANSAS CITY ROYALS @ GOODYEAR
March 24 San Francisco Giants ??Scottsdale (7:05PM MST)
March 25 Milwaukee Brewers @ Maryvale
March 26 SF GIANTS (SS)  ??GOODYEAR (7:05PM MST)
March 27 Los Angeles Dodgers ? Glendale
March 28 CHICAGO CUBS  + GOODYEAR
March 29 REDS   #GOODYEAR (12:05PM MST)
March 30 Columbus Clippers  @? Huntington Park

All games, times and broadcast dates are subject to change.
All games 1:05PM local Goodyear, AZ time (MST unless otherwise noted)
? Indicates Games Broadcast LIVE on NewsRadio WTAM 1100AM, Cleveland Indians Radio Network and indians.com
+ Indicates WTAM 1100AM digitally delayed broadcast at night (Live on Indians Radio Network and indians.com)
? Indicates Games Broadcast LIVE on WMMS 100.7 FM, Cleveland Indians Radio Network and indians.com
# Indicates WMMS 100.7 FM digitally delayed broadcast at night (Live on Indians Radio Network and indians.com)
? Indicates SportsTime Ohio Broadcast
@ Indicates Games Broadcast live on indians.com
(SS)- Indicates Split Squad
ALL CAPS HOME GAMES.

2011 TRIBE TV SCHEDULE 
APRIL
April 1 vCWS 3:05
April 2 vCWS 1:05
April 3 vCWS 1:05
April 5 vBOS 7:05
April 6 vBOS 7:05
April 7 vBOS 12:05
April 8 @SEA 10:10
April 9 @SEA 9:10
April 10 @SEA 4:10
April 11 @LAA 10:05
April 12 @LAA 10:05
April 13 @LAA 7:05
April 15 vBAL 7:05
April 16 vBAL 1:05
April 17 vBAL 1:05
April 18 @KC 8:10
April 19 @KC 8:10
April 20 @KC 8:10
April 21 @KC 8:10
April 22 @MIN 8:10
April 23 @MIN 1:10
April 24 @MIN 2:10
April 26 vKC 7:05
April 27 vKC 7:05
April 28 vKC 7:05
April 29 vDET 7:05
April 30 vDET 6:05

MAY
May 1 vDET 1:05
May 3 @OAK 10:07
May 4 @OAK 10:07
May 5 @OAK 3:37
May 6 @LAA 10:05
May 7 @LAA 9:05
May 8 @LAA 3:35
May 10 vTB  7:05
May 11 vTB  7:05
May 12 vTB 12:05
May 13 vSEA 7:05
May 14 vSEA 1:05
May 15 vSEA 1:05
May 16 @KC 8:10
May 17 @KC 8:10
May 18 @CWS 8:10
May 19 @CWS 8:10
May 20 vCIN 7:05
May 21 vCIN 4:05
May 22 vCIN 1:05
May 23 vBOS 7:05
May 24 vBOS 7:05
May 25 vBOS 12:05
May 27 @TB 7:10
May 28 @TB 4:05
May 29 @TB 1:40
May 30 @TOR 7:07
May 31 @TOR 7:07

JUNE
June 1 @TOR 7:07
June 2 vTEX 7:05
June 3 vTEX 7:05
June 4 vTEX 7:05
June 5 vTEX 1:05
June 6 vMIN 7:05
June 7 vMIN 7:05
June 8 vMIN 7:05
June 10 @NYY 7:05
June 11 @NYY 1:05
June 12 @NYY 1:05
June 13 @NYY 7:05
June 14 @DET 7:05
June 15 @DET 7:05
June 16 @DET 1:05
June 17 vPIT 7:05
June 18 vPIT 7:05
June 19 vPIT 1:05
June 20 vCOL 7:05
June 21 vCOL 7:05
June 22 vCOL 7:05
June 24 @SF 10:15
June 25 @SF 9:05
June 26 @SF 4:05
June 27 @ARZ 9:40
June 28 @ARZ 9:40
June 29 @ARZ 3:40

JULY
July 1 @CIN 7:10
July 2 @CIN 7:10
July 3 @CIN 1:10
July 4 vNYY 6:35
July 5 vNYY 7:05
July 6 vNYY 7:05
July 7 vTOR 7:05
July 8 vTOR 7:05
July 9 vTOR 7:05
July 10 vTOR 1:05
July 11-13 All-Star Break
July 14 @BAL 7:05
July 15 @BAL 7:05
July 16 @BAL 7:05
July 17 @BAL 1:35
July 18 @MIN 8:10
July 19 @MIN 8:10
July 20 @MIN 1:10
July 22 vCWS 7:05
July 23 vCWS 7:05
July 24 vCWS 1:05
July 25 vLAA 7:05
July 26 vLAA 7:05
July 27 vLAA 12:05
July 29 vKC 7:05
July 30 vKC 7:05
July 31 vKC 1:05

AUGUST
August 1 @BOS 7:10
August 2 @BOS 7:10
August 3 @BOS 7:10
August 4 @BOS 7:10
August 5 @TEX 8:05
August 6 @TEX 8:05
August 7 @TEX 8:05
August 9 vDET 7:05
August 10 vDET 7:05
August 11 vDET 7:05
August 12 vMIN 7:05
August 13 vMIN 7:05
August 14 vMIN 1:05
August 16 @CWS 8:10
August 17 @CWS 8:10
August 18 @CWS 8:10
August 19 @DET 7:05
August 20 @DET 7:05
August 21 @DET 1:05
August 22 vSEA 7:05
August 23 vSEA 7:05
August 24 vSEA 12:05
August 26 vKC 7:05
August 27 vKC 7:05
August 28 vKC 1:05
August 29 vOAK 7:05
August 30 vOAK 7:05
August 31 vOAK 7:05

SEPT.

September 1 vOAK 12:05
September 2 @KC 8:10
September 3 @KC 7:10
September 4 @KC 2:10
September 5 vDET 1:05
September 6 vDET 7:05
September 7 vDET 12:05
September 8 @CWS 8:10
September 9 @CWS 8:10
September 10 @CWS 7:10
September 11 @CWS 2:10
September 13 @TEX 8:05
September 14 @TEX 8:05
September 15 @TEX 8:05
September 16 @MIN 8:10
September 17 @MIN 1:10
September 18 @MIN 2:10
September 20 vCWS 7:05
September 21 vCWS 7:05
September 22 vCWS 7:05
September 23 vMIN 7:05
September 24 vMIN 7:05
September 25 vMIN 1:05
September 26 @DET 7:05
September 27 @DET 7:05
September 28 @DET 7:05

ALL GAMES
SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Fitness guru Jack LaLanne dies at age 96.

Associated Press, FileIn this March 5, 2005 file photo, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, jokes around with fitness expert Jack LaLanne after presenting LaLanne with the Schwarzenegger lifetime achievement award the finals of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

Jack LaLanne, the father of fitness, died Sunday at his home in Calif. He was 96.

The cause of death was respiratory failure due to pneumonia. LaLanne spent most of his life preaching about fitness.  His TV show, The Jack LaLanne Show, ran from 1951 to 1985.  

LaLanne had some incredible physical skills, including completing 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 chin-ups in 86 minutes in 1959, and in 1984, when aged 70, towing 70 boats 1.5 miles in Long Beach harbour, while he was shackled and handcuffed.

Sessions, who has been starting in place of the injured Mo Williams, suffered a strained right abdominal muscle in the first half of Saturday's loss at Chicago.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerCavaliers guard Ramon Sessions is questionable tonight vs. the Nets.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Point guard Ramon Sessions is questionable for tonight's game against the Nets, coach Byron Scott said before this morning's shootaround.

Sessions, who has been starting in place of the injured Mo Williams, suffered a strained right abdominal muscle in the first half of Saturday's loss at Chicago.

"Ramon is trying to go through shootaround this morning,'' Scott said. "We'll see how he feels after that. Basically, he's questionable for tonight. It's going to be a game-time decision.''

Anthony Parker remained in Cleveland for treatment of his sore back. He is expected to join the team in Boston on Tuesday and is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Celtics.

Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack makes the Pro Bowl.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerCenter Alex Mack

Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack was added to the AFC Pro Bowl team. Mack replaces New York Jets center Nick Mangold, who was injured in the AFC Championship Game.

"I'm very excited to be able to go to Hawaii,” Mack said in a statement released by the team. “It's unfortunate that Nick had to get injured for me to go, but I'm looking forward to representing the Browns. It has been a lifelong dream for me and from here on, it's working to make many more. I'm excited to be going and I can't wait to play in this game."

Mack has played every snap at center for the Browns since being selected in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Two other players of interest will play in the Pro Bowl. Cleveland native and Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher made the NFC squad, along with former Antoine Winfield, a native of Akron and now cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings.

"As I see it, there are four major things that, if they go right, could really help turnaround the Cavs. The development of Hickson, how we end up using that big trade exemption, the draft - we have to get this pick right - and the development of our young guys, mainly Harris and Eyenga. Are these guys stars? No. The question is, can they be important role players?" - dcarrol3

View full sizeAP Photo | Steve CampbellWhat the Cavaliers have in Christian Eyenga, left, and Manny Harris, center, is a huge question that needs answered this season.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Manny Harris may face a pointed challenge -- leading the offense, cleveland.com reader dcarrol3 is watching four things in this Cavaliers rebuild. This reader writes,

"As I see it, there are four major things that, if they go right, could really help turnaround the Cavs. The development of Hickson, how we end up using that big trade exemption, the draft - we have to get this pick right - and the development of our young guys, mainly Harris and Eyenga. Are these guys stars? No. The question is, can they be important role players?"

Mack replaces injured Jets center Nick Mangold.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns second-year center Alex Mack has been named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --  Browns center Alex Mack has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster, the league announced today.

Mack replaces New York Jets center Nick Mangold, who was injured during Sunday's AFC Championship Game loss to the Steelers.

"I'm very excited to be able to go to Hawaii," Mack said in a statement from the Browns. "It's unfortunate that Nick had to get injured for me to go, but I'm looking forward to representing the Browns.

"It has been a lifelong dream for me and from here on, it's working to make many more. I'm excited to be going and I can't wait to play in this game."

Mack, the 21st pick in the 2009 draft,  hasn't missed a snap in his two seasons.  He'll be joined in Hawaii by teammate Joe Thomas, who was voted a starter at tackle.

The game is Sunday at 7 p.m. 

For the first time since the 1981 Pro Bowl, the Browns will have at least two offensive linemen at the annual all-star game. That year, guard Joe DeLamielleure, Tom DeLeone and tackle Doug Dieken all represented the Browns.

In 2010, Mack was part of an offensive line that paved the way for five individual 100-yard rushing performances and a running game that averaged 4.0 yards per rush attempt.

He is one of six Browns centers to earn Pro Bowl honors and the first since DeLeone in 1981.

Mack expressed his disappointment when he wasn't originally named to the Pro Bowl roster this season.

"The only knock I have on this Buckeye team is that they need one more guy in the rotation. They're going to need at least an eight man rotation and now they're using seven. I would love for them to start getting Jordan Sibert some minutes. i know this is nitpicking, but I'm afraid they will have dead legs come March." - Breezyncolumbus

View full sizeFred Squillante | Columbus DispatchJon Diebler is one of of three Buckeyes averaging over 30 minutes per game.

In response to the story Ohio State, Cleveland State, Akron and Kent State basketball links, cleveland.com reader Breezyncolumbus would like one more player in the Buckeyes' rotation. This reader writes,

"The only knock I have on this Buckeye team is that they need one more guy in the rotation. They're going to need at least an eight man rotation and now they're using seven. I would love for them to start getting Jordan Sibert some minutes. i know this is nitpicking, but I'm afraid they will have dead legs come March."

"Grady was usually good for a .375 OBP if I recall correctly. His strikeouts might be frustrating in the middle of the order. However, If the Grady that gets 75-85 extra base hits shows up, having him hit behind Brantley, Choo and Santana seems like a solid move." - ItsCCsFAULT

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore's spot in the lineup has been a topic of discussion ever since he broke in to the league.

In response to the story What's the early info on the Cleveland Indians' 2011 lineup? Hey, Hoynsie!, cleveland.com reader ItsCCsFAULT thinks Grady Sizemore may fit lower in the order. This reader writes,

"Grady was usually good for a .375 OBP if I recall correctly. His strikeouts might be frustrating in the middle of the order. However, If the Grady that gets 75-85 extra base hits shows up, having him hit behind Brantley, Choo and Santana seems like a solid move."

Team says he would have been questionable for Super Bowl.

Associated PressBears QB Jay Cutler stands on the sideline after injuring his knee during Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has a sprained knee ligament and would have been questionable had Chicago made it to the Super Bowl.

That assessment came Monday from coach Lovie Smith. He says Cutler sprained one of his medial collateral ligaments in Sunday's 21-14 loss to Green Bay in the NFC Championship game.

Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa said he feels sympathy for Cutler, who missed most of the second half when Chicago rallied for two touchdowns behind backup Caleb Hanie.

Asked about Cutler on Monday, Hanie said: "He's limping around and feels bad that we lost."

Third selection in three years for Thomas. Others receiving votes were Vickers, Haden and Mack.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJoe Thomas, left, was named AP All-Pro First Team. Teammate Alex Mack, right, was added to the Pro Bowl.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns left tackle Joe Thomas was the leading vote-getter among offensive tackles on the Associated Press All-Pro team.

Thomas garnered 22 votes of a possible 50 from a national panel of media members. Miami's Jake Long was second with 21 votes.

It's the second year in a row Thomas won first team AP All-Pro honors and the third time in four years he made the team.

Thomas is in Honolulu, Hawaii, this week participating in his fourth Pro Bowl in four years.

Other Browns who received votes for the All-Pro team included fullback Lawrence Vickers (four votes), center Alex Mack (one), and rookie cornerback Joe Haden (one).

Vote in this week's You Pick the Game contest to decide where we send one of our reporters on Friday. Voting is open until noon Thursday. The winner is announced in Friday's Sports section.

Vote in this week's You Pick the Game contest to decide where we send one of our reporters on Friday. Voting is open until noon Thursday. The winner is announced in Friday's Sports section.

Buckeyes are 20-0. Pittsburgh, Duke, San Diego State and Connecticut are 2-3-4-5 in both polls.

Associated PressDavid Lighty (23), Dallas Lauderdale (52), Aaron Craft (4) and their Ohio State teammates have a strong hold on the nation's No. 1 ranking this week.

(Associated Press) -- Ohio State is again the runaway No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll, receiving all but two first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel.

Pittsburgh jumps from fifth to second and Duke moves up one place to third. Both received one first-place vote Monday.

San Diego State moves from sixth to fourth and Connecticut jumps three spots to fifth.

Kansas, which lost for the first time on Saturday, fell from second to sixth followed by Texas, which beat the Jayhawks, Villanova, and BYU and Syracuse, which tied for ninth.

The Big East, which matched its own record with nine ranked teams last week, is down to seven with West Virginia and Cincinnati falling out. Saint Mary's also dropped out.

Vanderbilt, Florida State and Florida are the newcomers.

                                                  --------------------------

And, Tim Gardner writes about the Buckeyes' ranking in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll:

In the latest Top 25 poll released Monday, the Buckeyes solidified their hold on No. 1 after Kansas and Syracuse -- the No. 2 and 3 teams, respectively, last week -- suffered losses over the weekend. Ohio State was a unanimous choice for No. 1 from all 31 voters.

Pittsburgh moved up to No. 2 behind the Buckeyes, followed by Duke.

San Diego State, the nation's only other unbeaten Division I team, continued its record-setting season by climbing to No. 4 in this week's coaches poll. The No. 4 ranking is the highest ever for the Aztecs, who are preparing for a big matchup on Wednesday against No. 9 BYU.

Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL great now competes in mixed martial arts.

Associated PressHerschel Walker during training at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California on Nov. 15.

For former college football and NFL great Herschel Walker, age 48, competing in mixed martial arts may not be enough to satisfy his competitive spirit.

Mike Chiappetta writes about Walker for NFL Fan House:

But at 48 years old, Walker is still looking to athletically challenge himself, and his latest thought is a doozy: he's considering an NFL comeback.

"I know I can play," Walker said on a Monday conference call that was intended to promote his Jan. 29 Strikeforce MMA match. "If I continue to stay in the shape I'm in now, I know I can play when I'm 50. Right now, if you asked if I can play today, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind I can play football today, that I can help out a team today.

"I 100 percent guarantee you I can help a football team out," Walker continued.

Walker, who is 1-0 in mixed martial arts and will face Scott Carson in San Jose, Calif., said his MMA training has him in better shape than when he was in his 20s, when he was wowing crowds in the USFL and later, the NFL.

He said that as recently February 2010, he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.38 or 4.39.

Walker won the 1982 Heisman Trophy as a running back at Georgia. His 18,168 career total yards (rushing, receiving, returns) rank eighth on the NFL's all-time list. The Dallas Cowboys traded Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in 1989 for five players and six draft picks, a deal that helped Dallas build its Super Bowl champion teams in the 1992, 1933 and 1995 seasons.

Chiappetta also writes:

The Georgia-born Walker said if he came back, he'd like to do it in Atlanta, to have the chance to play at home.

"I still say I may try out for football again and show people I can do that, because I want to be the George Foreman of football and come back and do it one more time," he said.

LORAIN, Ohio - Mark Solis is returning to Lorain County. The former Elyria High football coach, whose supplemental coaching contract was not renewed at Twinsburg despite outstanding success, will be named as the new head coach at Lorain, pending approval of the school board.

In four seasons at Twinsburg, Mark Solis' teams went 32-14 and made three playoff appearances. - (Lonnie Timmons III / The Plain Dealer)

LORAIN, Ohio - Mark Solis is returning to Lorain County.

The former Elyria High football coach, whose supplemental coaching contract was not renewed at Twinsburg despite outstanding success, will be named as the new head coach at Lorain, pending approval of the school board.

Solis will replace Todd Auvil, whose contract was not renewed after one season following the merger of Admiral King and Southview.

In four seasons at Twinsburg, Solis' teams were 32-14 and made three playoff appearances. Solis, who has also coached at Ashland Crestview, has a 94-37 career record.

"This is a tremendous situation," Solis said. "The administration has a great mindset to what it takes to turn a program around. This has been a three-week ordeal and we have had great dialogue."

Solis will work as a coordinator under the school's Gear Up grant that starts in mid-February.

Memories of the 2005 NBA draft remind Cavs coach Byron Scott how quickly things can change.

View full sizeMark Cornelison / Lexington Herald-LeaderA 6-3 freshman scoring 17 points a game for a Kentucky team flying slightly under the radar has made Brandon Knight someone to watch as the Cavaliers keep accumulating better odds for next summer's NBA draft, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In 2004-05, Byron Scott coached a New Orleans team that won only 18 games. The final record was 18-64, the second worst in the NBA -- Atlanta was 13-69.

But it was Milwaukee (30-52) that ended up with the No. 1 pick when the pingpong balls stopped bouncing. Scott's Hornets were selecting No. 4.

"We worked out several players," said Scott. "But when we had Chris Paul in our gym, I knew he was the best player in the draft. He had everything you wanted in a point guard."

The Cavaliers coach knows something else.

"In the modern NBA, one of the fastest ways to turn around your franchise is to get a great point guard," he said. "It happened in New Jersey, when we went from winning 26 to making the NBA Finals the next season after we traded for Jason Kidd."

Something else Scott knew, "We'd never get to Paul at No. 4. I thought we'd end up with Raymond Felton, which would have been good. But I knew Paul was the guy, and he had to go in the top three."

But he fell to New Orleans, and the Hornets immediately became competitive. Players picked before Paul: Andrew Bogut (Bucks), Marvin Williams (Hawks), Deron Williams (Jazz). Felton went No. 5 to Charlotte, current Cavalier Joey Graham went No. 16 to Toronto.

"I've been through [losing] before," said Scott, whose Cavs were 8-35 and had lost 26 of 27 heading into Monday's game at New Jersey. "Maybe not quite this bad with all the injuries, but close. I don't like it, but I can handle the suffering right now."

Scott said he prefers "not really yelling at the guys more than five or six times a year -- and I've already passed that." He added that General Manager Chris Grant "has apologized" for a roster that has been ravaged by injuries along with a front office decision not to make a short-term trade.

"I told CG that he had nothing to apologize for," said Scott. "We are in this together."

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerAs bad as this season has been, Byron Scott knows better days for the Cavaliers are just a few good draft picks away -- especially if the pick is a successful NBA point guard. "In the modern NBA, one of the fastest ways to turn around your franchise is to get a great point guard," he says.

What Scott doesn't say is this: If you are going to be bad in the NBA, be really bad. Be high in the draft lottery bad. Be so bad that you have a chance to draft the player who can make you good enough to dream.

That is what this season is now about -- checking out young players such as Manny Harris, Alonzo Gee, Christian Eyenga and J.J. Hickson while waiting for the draft and a summer of possible trades.

Scott believes a point guard is the fastest way to make it happen. Derrick Rose is demonstrating that in his third season with the Bulls. Paul did it in New Orleans. It happened with Deron Williams in Utah "and everywhere Jason Kidd goes, he makes his team better -- even at his age," said Scott.

Steve Nash didn't win a title in Phoenix, but raised the Suns to an elite Western Conference team for years after he left Dallas. As important as it was for the Cavs of the late 1980s to have Brad Daugherty in the middle, point guard Mark Price was the engine for the best teams of the Lenny Wilkens era.

The Cavs aren't determined to draft a point guard. Ohio State's Jared Sullinger is such a skilled big man -- "An Elton Brand-type," according to one NBA executive -- that it would be hard for any team to pass him in the draft. They also are in desperate need of an athlete to play shooting guard or small forward.

The best point guard is Duke's Kyrie Irving. But the freshman played only eight games before injuring his toe. It's not certain if he'll stay in college for 2011-12. Some scouts like John Selby of Kansas. I'm intrigued by Brandon Knight, the freshman point guard at Kentucky.

Already, the "experts" are whining about there being no "great" players in this draft -- even though they aren't sure which underclassmen will turn pro. GM Grant and his scouts have a list of the top players, and they have been attending practices and games to check them out.

Grant also has wisely stressed to his staff that there are superb players in every draft -- you just need to find them. Very few executives thought Paul would be an instant star, or he would not have dropped to No. 4 in 2005. Utah made a trade to move up and grab Deron Williams, who also is a star.

In that 2005 draft, productive scorer David Lee was the 30th pick by New York. All-Star Monta Ellis went No. 40 to Golden State. The general consensus is that the best rookies are selected in the top three, which is true. But in the last 10 years, some exceptions who became Rookie of the Year are Tyreke Evans (No. 4 in 2010, Kings), Brandon Roy (No. 6 in 2007, Blazers), Paul (No. 4 in 2005, Hornets), Amare Stoudemire (No. 9 in 2003, Suns).

"I don't believe in tanking a season just to get as many pingpong balls as you can," said Scott. "I don't coach that way."

But the reality is the Cavs are so injured and emotionally bruised that they won't win many games this season. But Scott also knows that this could be good in the very near future.