Is it wise for Pat Shurmur to forego having an offensive coordinator? How will the Indians starting rotation shake out? We talk about that with Terry Pluto, award-winning sports columnist for The Plain Dealer.

Terry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Note: Terry will be speaking Wednesday night at the Fairlawn Library (get directions) at 6:30 p.m.

Is it wise for Pat Shurmur to forego having an offensive coordinator? How will the Indians starting rotation shake out?

We talk about that with Terry Pluto, award-winning sports columnist for The Plain Dealer.

In his weekly chat on cleveland.com, Terry Pluto tackled these questions:

- How much of a hand will Pat Shurmur have in the defense?

- Do the Indians have the arms in the bullpen to get to Chris Perez?

- How much stock do you put in some of the decent numbers lately being put up by players like Manny Harris?

- Do the Cavaliers have an interest in Jared Sullinger?

plus a whole lot more!

Click on play to listen to the chat or download the MP3 version to listen on-the-go!

You can't be a Packers fan without the latest Packers news. Read about the Pack's Super Bowl past (and a common enemy), a possible repairing of the relationship with Brett Favre and the plummeting price of cheeseheads.

View full sizeAP Photo | Ed ReinkeDon't worry Packers fans, we can't stand the guy either.

Here's the latest news on your new "favorite NFL team."

First off today: If you're going to be a Packers fan, you should probably know a little bit about your new team's history. Yahoo! helps us out by taking a look at the team's Super Bowl past. Can't help but notice a familiar Browns foe ruining their dreams back in Super Bowl XXXII:

"Fresh off of their third ever Super Bowl win in XXXI, the Packers set their sights on another. Undefeated in Super Bowl appearances, they now looked to the Denver Broncos, led by another phenomenal quarterback in John Elway. The Broncos had lost every single time they had been to the Super Bowl, and, as the Broncos had snuck in via Wild Card, this one didn't look too promising against the heavily favored Packers. 38-year old quarterback, John Elway, threw for 123 yards, but it was Terrell Davis' 152 yards and three touchdowns that pushed the underdog Broncos over the fourteen-point favorite Packers, handing the Packers their first ever Super Bowl loss, 31-24."

Moving on, we're fairly certain that, in your quest to become a real Packers fan, you rushed out and bought a Brett Favre jersey to burn. Not so fast, says Sean Leahy of USA Today:

"With the Packers in their first Super Bowl since Favre led the team to one 14 years ago, [team president Mark] Murphy said the team wants to restore relations with the quarterback who became iconic with the franchise from 1992-2007."

See? All better!

Here's a feel-good story about Packers wide receiver Donald Driver finally getting to the big game.

But that's not all it's going to take to become a Packers fan. Check out this couple in Wisconsin who named their children after former Packers players. If there's a fourth child on the way, he'll obviously be named Chmura.

"You either trust Holmgren and Heckert - who did a great job in their first year - or you don't. No one knows how this coaching staff will turn out, but from what I've seen of the decisions the top guys have made so far, I am confident that things are in better hands than at any time since the Browns were reborn." - thomdarden

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerNo one knows what type of coach Pat Shurmur will be, but Mike Holmgren is hoping fans trust him to get things right.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns confirm hiring of four assistant coaches, cleveland.com reader thomdarden thinks Browns fans will just have to trust the people in charge. This reader writes,

"You either trust Holmgren and Heckert - who did a great job in their first year - or you don't. No one knows how this coaching staff will turn out, but from what I've seen of the decisions the top guys have made so far, I am confident that things are in better hands than at any time since the Browns were reborn."

"I give the Cavs a lot of credit for not going in to panic mode and moving players in and out. Probably the best thing they can do at the moment is nothing. If a good deal comes along and an opportunity to add draft choices or a promising young player, then great. Otherwise, just keep working with the team that's there and see what you have. Not fun, but it is what it is." - SDClevefan

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerCavaliers GM Chris Grant.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers A.M. Links: Columnist lifts LeBron and piles on Cleveland; Game stories, cleveland.com reader SDClevefan thinks the Cavaliers are going about it the right way. This reader writes,

"I give the Cavs a lot of credit for not going in to panic mode and moving players in and out. Probably the best thing they can do at the moment is nothing. If a good deal comes along and an opportunity to add draft choices or a promising young player, then great. Otherwise, just keep working with the team that's there and see what you have. Not fun, but it is what it is."

The NFL's labor situation could have even more of an impact on the Browns' shift to a 4-3 defense than on the team's move to a West Coast offense.

View full sizeAP FileConverting the Browns to a West Coast offense is going to be tough, but the NFL labor situation may make new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron's job even more difficult.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Only one good thing has ever come out of labor strife in the NFL. But enough about "The Replacements," starring Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. Let's talk about the one that's looming now.

If the NFL and the players association can't reach a new collective bargaining agreement this spring -- and rhetoric from both sides at least seems to imply that is the case -- more than just dollars could be lost. We're talking the most valuable commodity of all: time.

Seven teams changed head coaches this year (we're kinda going to assume that neither Super Bowl participant, the Steelers nor the Packers, is contemplating a change). The offseason is going to be monstrously important. But to no team will the organized team activities, minicamps and the like be more important than the Browns. That's what Cory Felegy of clevelandexaminer.com says, and frankly, we agree with him.

As Felegy points out, the shift from whatever it is you'd want to call the offense the Browns have run (the "We're Toast Offense" comes to mind) to new coach  Pat Shurmur's version the West Coast Offense is going to take a lot of time and practice to institute.

Routes will change. Timing will change. Nomenclature will change. Personnel will change. It's all part of a whole philosophy change. And, again as Felegy notes, early and often practices will help determine if Colt McCoy is indeed the quarterback the Browns can ride into the playoffs (for the record, we think he is, but we're not the ones drawing up the X's and O's).

But the often overlooked aspect is the anticipated switch from the 3-4 defense the browns have been running (three down linemen and four linebackers) to a 4-3 defense (four down linemen and three 'backers). And this is where Felegy makes his best points:

(The Browns) are painfully thin on the defensive line and its unclear who the four linemen would be in (new defensive coordinator Dick) Jauron’s 4-3 defense.  Ahtyba Rubin figures into the equation but does an injury-prone Shaun Rogers or an aging Kenyon Coleman?  There’s talk that Matt Roth and/or Marcus Benard could make the switch to from linebacker to defensive end.  But that’s the kind of change that would require time and practice, two things the Browns won’t have if a lockout continues into the summer.

Plus, the 4-3 defense puts added pressure on the one middle linebacker and it’s unclear if the Browns even have a player that fits the mold of a 4-3 MLB.  The only player on the current roster fitting this role is D’Qwell Jackson, who didn’t see a single snap in 2010.

In a lot of ways I can understand. They already have a young QB in Colt McCoy, who while not particularly impressive, probably did enough that no one is going to call him a bust just yet. Plus, given that they just invested a 2nd rounder in McCoy and spent a first rounder on Brady Quinn recently, it's understandable that the fanbase would be gunshy about spending yet another high pick on a QB. Frankly, I can't blame them.

Of course, let's also not discount the nature of just being a fan. For a lot of people, the mere suggestion that some other teams' player is better than yours is blasphemy and clearly Kolb is a no talent loser that the Eagles are trying to pawn off on some unsuspecting team desperate for a QB. Of course, when your team actually does trade for him... he becomes a nearly can't miss prospect destined for a career that's maybe not quite Joe Montana, but probably better than Dan Marino.

Superbowl Myth #5: The West Coast Offense Originated On The West Coast. Any time a team attempts a pass shorter than forty yards, you will hear a TV announcer indicate that this is due to the team in question employing a "West Coast Offense." This is an offense where quarterbacks throw to guys five yards downfield, and was invented by Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers in the 80s. San Francisco is an iconic American city located on the West Coast of the continent of North America, which is something even most NFL television announcers can be made to understand.

The Problem With That: According to Bill Walsh himself, the name is a misnomer, and should be called the Cincinnati Offense. Walsh didn't even technically invent it, as the Cleveland Browns --you know, the winners of eight NFL championships... You knew that, right?-- used it to perfection in the 1950s. When former Browns coach Paul Brown moved on to the Bengals in the 1970s, he worked with then-offensive coordinator Bill Walsh on the system, to take advantage of their QB who had a weak arm.

Twinsburg, Ohio - Joe Schiavone is expected to be hired as Twinsburg's new football coach during the regular meeting of the school board on Wednesday. Schiavone will replace Mark Solis, whose supplemental coaching contract was not renewed following last season. Schiavone served as the defensive coordinator under Solis after initially being hired by former coach Al Hodakievic.

Tigers defensive coordinator Joe Schiavone is expected to be named as Twinsburg's new football coach Wednesday during a school board meeting. - (Helmet image courtesy of OhioHelmetProject.com.)

Twinsburg, Ohio - Joe Schiavone is expected to be hired as Twinsburg's new football coach during the regular meeting of the school board on Wednesday.

Schiavone will replace Mark Solis, whose supplemental coaching contract was not renewed following last season. Schiavone served as the defensive coordinator under Solis after initially being hired by former coach Al Hodakievic.

A graduate of Mount Union, Schiavone formerly coached at Benedictine. He teaches mathematics.

Twinsburg officials were unavailable for comment.

The GCSC will announce the winners at its annual awards banquet Feb. 10 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

View full sizePD file photoBrowns tackle Joe Thomas is one of three finalists for pro athlete of the year.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, who in 2010 earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection in four seasons, is again a finalist for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission's professional athlete of the year.

Thomas's competition has been narrowed to Browns all-purpose player Josh Cribbs and Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. The GCSC will announce the winner at its annual awards banquet Feb. 10 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

Other categories include athletes of the year in high school and college and at the amateur level. Those finalists are:

High school: Stetson Allie, baseball, St. Edward; Nick Sulzer, wrestling, St. Edward; Cardale Jones, football, Glenville.

College: Men's soccer team, Akron; Ricky Stanzi, football, Iowa; Jantel Lavender, basketball, Ohio State.

Amateur: Katie Spotz, rowing, Mentor; Jessica Beard, USA Track and Field, Euclid; Kelli Stack, USA Women's Hockey, Brooklyn Heights.

Nominees were selected by local media outlets.

Last year, Thomas and Cavaliers guard Mo Williams lost out to NBA MVP LeBron James for GCSC pro athlete of the year. James, a Cavalier for seven seasons until leaving for Miami last summer, won the GCSC's pro award four times, including 2004-06.

Beard and the Akron men's soccer team won awards last year. The Zips are a virtual lock to repeat in their category because they won the Division I men's national title in 2010.

Dr. John A. Bergfeld, senior surgeon and director of operating rooms at Cleveland Clinic, will receive the GCSC's annual Lifetime Achievement Award. The award traditionally honors an individual who has advanced sports in Cleveland through personal or career dedication and achievements. Former recipients include Jim Brown, Mark McCormack, Bob Feller, Richard E. Jacobs, Herbert J. Score, Joe Tait, Chuck Kyle and Bob Kain.

Olivia Warhop, soccer player and swimmer at Hathaway Brown School, will be awarded the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Courage Award. The award honors student athletes who have faced a medical challenge in their lives and approached the situation with courage and determination. Warhop was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, myofibrosarcoma, at age 13.

The 1995 and 1997 Indians World Series teams will be recognized at the banquet. Several former Indians are set to attend.

The Greater Cleveland Sports Awards honor the best of the area's amateur and professional sports. The event includes dinner, sports celebrities and silent auctions that help benefit the GCSC. ESPN broadcaster Mike Tirico is scheduled to be the emcee.

Tables to the benefit are $7,500 for platinum; $5,500 for gold; $2,500 for silver or $250 per individual ticket. The Golden Ticket raffle, which will award one sports fan two season tickets to each of the 2011 Cleveland Cavaliers, Indians and Browns home games, is also on sale. A total 300 tickets will be sold at $100 each, with the winner to be announced Feb. 10.

Log on to cleveland.com/sportsawards or call the GCSC at 216-621-0600.

The struggling Cavaliers will play 12 of their next 15 games at The Q, starting Wednesday night against Indiana.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer"I'm a glass-half-full guy," Anthony Parker said in hopeful anticipation of breaking the Cavaliers' 21-game losing streak Wednesday against Indiana. "We have some opportunities coming up."

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Anthony Parker describes himself as an optimist, which makes him a valuable commodity for the Cavaliers right now.

With the team riding a club-record 21-game losing streak, having just extended their club-record losing streak on the road to 24 games, Parker actually can see a silver lining.

"I'm a glass-half-full guy," he said after Monday's loss at Miami. "I think the way to look at it is the schedule is about to turn. We have some opportunities coming up."

With 28 road games behind them -- the most in the league -- the Cavs now enter a stretch where 12 of their next 15 games are at home, starting with Wednesday night's date against the Indiana Pacers and their new coach, Frank Vogel.

After playing the top four teams in the East on the road this past week -- Chicago, Boston, Orlando and Miami -- the level of the competition changes as well as the venues, with more down-to-earth foes like Indiana, Detroit, the Clippers and Washington on tap.

"We've come through a very tough time schedule-wise, then you add injuries on top of that," Parker said. "We have a homestand coming up and from here on out we need to focus on game to game trying to focus on wins and trying to get better."

Of course, the Cavs are just 5-15 at home, and they've lost eight straight in The Q. But their lone win in the past 32 games was a 109-102 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Dec. 18 in The Q, so they've got that going for them.

"Home will definitely help -- with the crowd behind us," said Ramon Sessions, who has taken over the starting point guard spot while Mo Williams recovers from his strained left hip flextor. "But those teams are NBA teams, and their records don't matter. You've got to come out and play hard each and every game. But we've got a lot of home games coming up. We've just got to make the best of them."

Rookie Manny Harris, who became the starting shooting guard when Daniel Gibson bruised his left quad, offered a word of caution.

"It's all up to us and how we approach it," Harris said. "We've got a lot of games at home coming up and if we approach it the right way we can get wins. I believe our team will be focused for it."

Back in action: Parker could be close to returning to the starting lineup after missing nine games with a sore back.

"Our plan coming on this trip was to stick to the 20-minute plan," coach Byron Scott said. "We upped it from 15 just to see how he would react in back-to-back games. We'll re-evaluate it [Tuesday] and then assess it on Wednesday night, see where we are and if we can extend his minutes. If we can get close to the 25-minute mark, there's a good possibility I could put him back in the starting lineup."

Scott said he'd likely start Parker at shooting guard and keep rookie Christian Eyenga at small forward.

Black Pioneers honored: Former Ohio State star Clark Kellogg will host a special halftime ceremony on Black Pioneers' Night on Tuesday as part of the team's seventh-annual Black Heritage Celebration.

Honored will be the Cleveland Pipers on the 50th anniversary of their American Basketball League championship, the late John McLendon, a Hall of Famer who coached that team and was the first African-American to become a head basketball coach at a predominantly white institution when he was hired in 1966 by Cleveland State, and former U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes, who served his hometown for three decades.

Who needs winners? These not-so lovable losers should never be lonely.

View full sizeJeffrey M. Boan / AssociatedSure, the Cavaliers are wretched this season, but the Pittsburgh Pirates have made an art form out of being terrible over the last 18 seasons.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NBA season is barely half over and it's already been one for the record books.

The Cavaliers have set a club record with 21 consecutive losses -- including an 0-for-January -- a club-record 24th consecutive road defeats and have dropped 31 of their last 32.

Weary Cleveland sports fans have witnessed train wrecks before. Well, if misery loves company, then they have plenty of that...

Lost in euphoric Terrible Towel-waving Pittsburgh is an ugly step-sister they don't like to talk about called the Pirates, a baseball team riding 18 straight losing seasons. Sing with me: "We are (a dysfunctional) fam-a-lee. Hide my loser sister from me..."

Indians' fans complain about back-to-back 90-loss seasons. The nerve. What the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League wouldn't have given for 90 losses. The Spiders, who played at old League Park, finished 20-134, losing 40 of their last 41. Their "ace" was a pitcher named Jim Hughey, who was 4-30.

You think dealing Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez was bad? The Spiders were awful because their owners had bought another team in St. Louis and shipped their best players there.

Their orange sherbet-colored uniforms should have been a portent of the worst pro football ever played. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in 1976, their NFL debut, and started the next year 0-12. When the Bucs finally beat New Orleans to snap the 26-game streak, 8,000 screaming fans greeted them at the airport.

During all the losing, coach John McKay delivered one of his many famous one-liners that helped keep him sane. "Well," he said, "we've determined that we can't win at home and we can't win on the road. What we need is a neutral site."

The Browns own the second-worst record in the NFL since football returned to Cleveland in '99. Got that? Second worst, which means there are fans more frustrated than you.

Look north, to Detroit. When the toothless Lions dropped their final game of '07, it launched a sickening stench of 19 straight regular-season losses that stretched into three seasons. Included was an 0-16 mark in 2008, the NFL's worst ever.

Detroit finally snapped a league-record 26-game road losing streak this season, beating, you guessed it, Tampa Bay. It was the first time the Lions won back-to-back games since '07. There, feel better?

Long before former Tribe skipper Charlie Manuel, with his platinum pitching staff, molded Philadelphia into a perennial World Series contender, the Phillies lost. A lot.

Relive, if you will, 1961. The Phillies finished 47-107, including a 23-game losing streak from July 29 to Aug. 20 that left fans with heat stroke. The Phils were shut out no less than 15 times, the last one coming on the final day when Bob Gibson of St. Louis put the season to a merciful end.

Ruben Amaro was the Phillies shortstop that year. His namesake son is now the team's GM.

View full sizeMorry Gash / Associated PressThere's no truth in the rumor that the NFL is going to an 18-game season simply to give someone a chance to beat out the Detroit Lions' 0-16 season in 2008.

Extended losing is all about celebrating achievement -- of any kind. Northwestern's football team, once the doormat of the Big 10, dropped 34 straight from 1979-82. After setting the record for big-school losses in a one-sided defeat to Michigan State, students rushed the field, tore down the goal posts and chanted, "We're the worst!"

Sorry, Wildcats, that was nuthin'. For the Oberlin College football team, one streak wasn't enough. So, from 1990 through mid-2001, the 5-113 Yeomen strung together consecutive losing streaks of 26, 40 and 44, finally thumping Kenyon, 53-22, to snap the last one. Yeomen's work, for sure.

When teams lose, like the Cavs, at least they have each other. Individual failure is living on a deserted island.

Hard-luck pitcher Anthony Young lost 27 straight decisions over two seasons with the New York Mets before the streak finally ended in July 1993. The most frustrating part? Through it all, Young's ERA was a reasonable 3.77 -- identical to that of Indians' No. 1 starter Fausto Carmona last season.

Speaking of the Mets, the '62 version was legendary and lovable in its futility, finishing 40-120 and 60 1/2 games out in the team's inaugural season. Their starting rotation? They had a pair of 20-game losers and two near 20-game losers. It was the most losses in one season by a major-league team since 1899. Right, since the Cleveland Spiders.

Losing streak, welcome home.

"The Browns will always be the closest Cleveland sports team to win a championship based on two realities: 1.) In the NFL, you can turn things around quickly. Parity actually exists in professional football unlike baseball and the NBA. 2.) In the NFL, you don't have to run a lengthy playoff gauntlet of best-of-7 series. Win two games and you're in the Super Bowl. Then it's anything goes." - John in Columbus

View full sizeGetty ImagesColt McCoy's development would help the Browns get back in contention in a hurry.

In response to the story Closest to contention, Part I: The Cleveland Indians, cleveland.com reader John in Columbus thinks the NFL's system means the Browns are always closest to contention. This reader writes,

"The Browns will always be the closest Cleveland sports team to win a championship based on two realities: 1.) In the NFL, you can turn things around quickly. Parity actually exists in professional football unlike baseball and the NBA. 2.) In the NFL, you don't have to run a lengthy playoff gauntlet of best-of-7 series. Win two games and you're in the Super Bowl. Then it's anything goes."

It's too early to cast final judgment on the Indians' trades of CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez, but this season will offer the most compelling evidence to date.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerA couple of big-league scouts agree that Matt LaPorta has the ability to produce plenty of runs for the Indians -- and he'll get the chance to do so in 2011.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' front office was right about one thing when it started to remake the team in 2008. There was no way they could afford to keep CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.

It took 2 1/2 seasons for the money to be counted, but the calculators have finally been put to rest. Sabathia (seven years, $161 million), Lee (five years, $120 million) and Martinez (four years, $50 million) signed for a combined 16 years and $331 million of free-agent contracts.

The Yankees (Sabathia), Phillies (Lee) and Tigers (Martinez) picked up the tab, which tells you one thing -- the Indians certainly know talent when they're sending it out of town. The question yet to be answered is, what did they get in return?

In trading Sabathia to Milwaukee, Lee and Ben Francisco to Philadelphia, and Martinez to Boston, the Indians received 11 players. Ten are still in the organization and six should be on the Opening Day roster on April 1 at Progressive Field.

There's a good chance that first baseman Matt LaPorta, outfielder Michael Brantley and infielder Jason Donald will be in the starting lineup. Justin Masterson and Carlos Carrasco are expected to be in the starting rotation and Lou Marson should be the backup catcher.

"This is a big year for a number of those players to take a step forward in a significant way," said GM Chris Antonetti.

The idea behind these trades was to remake the Indians with talented young players who had as little big-league service time as possible. That way the team could develop and, theoretically, win together before the approach of free agency repeated the Sabathia, Lee and Martinez trifecta.

The Indians did all right with part of that equation. Brantley, Carrasco and Donald will enter this season with less than a year of service time. LaPorta and Marson have fewer than two years. Masterson has two years and 108 days.

The four other players acquired -- pitchers Rob Bryson, Jason Knapp, Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price -- are still in the minors. So this group could be together a while.

But what about the talent the Indians received for their three elite players? Here's what two major league scouts and Antonetti have to say about the six players who are expected to form 24 percent of the regular-season roster.

Matt LaPorta

Scout 1: "Good effort guy, but defensive liability so he has to play a corner position. Has to impact the game with his bat. The power is there, but there are some holes in it. I wouldn't give up on him.

"He had some injuries to his lower half [hip and toe] and that may have caused him to commit [start his swing] early. That will open some holes. Maybe he couldn't stay strong through his swing because of his lower half."

Scout 2: "He hasn't developed quite as quickly as people thought. But a healthy LaPorta would be worth seeing."

Antonetti: "We just need Matt to be consistent. We saw signs of it last year, but not on a consistent basis."

Michael Brantley

Scout 1: "He's a keeper. He has the stuff to play on both sides of the ball. It's questionable how much he'll impact the game with his power, but that could develop."

Scout 2: "He's turning out to be the kind of player people envisioned. He's a ballplayer. He could start for some clubs and be a bench player on others. He should develop into a solid major-league player."

Antonetti: "He's still a young major-league player. He was better in the second half last season and we're hoping he can build on that."

Carlos Carrasco

Scout 1: "Haven't seen him that much, but the stuff is there. When that's the case, ride the stuff."

Scout 2: "There are some questions about his toughness, but that can happen to a young pitcher. He competed pretty well at the major-league level in September. All players go through a maturation process."

Antonetti: "He has all the weapons. At times he has a three above-average pitches -- fastball, change up and curveball. It's important to remember he's only 23."

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerCarlos Carrasco showed considerable promise in last September's call-up with the Tribe, while catcher Lou Marson has defensive skills but scouts remain skeptical of his bat.

Justin Masterson

Scout 1: "With his stuff and arm slot, he looks like a back end guy. Not surprised they're starting him. That's where the value is. That's a good acquisition. There's value there."

Scout 2: "When they made Masterson the centerpiece of that trade, someone with the Indians said he's a starter. You see the results."

Antonetti: "We like the way he pitched in the second half (3-5, 3.84 ERA in 75 innings). Consistency is a key for Justin. He'll be in our rotation."

Lou Marson

Scout 1: "He threw it OK, caught it OK, but he lacked bat speed. Fine for a backup."

Scout 2: "He's a nice athletic defensive catcher with a good arm. I don't know if he's going to hit. Good backup for Carlos Santana."

Antonetti: "I have no doubt he's a better hitter than he showed last year. He was exceptional behind the plate."

Jason Donald

Scout 1: "He's a nice player. He looked very comfortable at shortstop, but I'm not sure that where's he's best suited. He's a gamer, a baseball player. I think he'd make a great utility player, but he could start for the right club."

Scout 2: "An athletic kid. Should be able to impact the game in a couple of different ways. It's questionable if there's enough there to be a starter."

Antonetti: "He'll have the opportunity to get significant playing time this year. He's been working out at short, second and third base over the winter with our infield coach Steve Smith."

The two scouts who offered opinions felt the Indians received value in each of the trades involving Sabathia, Lee and Martinez, but that value, as of yet, has not produced the kind of talent that was traded away.

"Like Forrest Gump said, trading for prospects is like a box of chocolates," said one scout. "You don't know what you've got until you take a bite."

Antonetti, more than anyone, knows that.

"When you trade for young players, some will exceed your expectations," said Antonetti. "Some will meet you expectations and some will fall short."

This is the course the Indians have chosen. LaPorta, Brantley, Carrasco, Masterson, Donald and Marson, mixed with Carlos Santana, Chris Perez, Shin-Soo Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera and others, must take it together.

There's one player who's a near certainty to start for the Buckeyes as a true freshman next fall. Watch video

View full sizePhil Masturzo l Akron Beacon-JournalFormer St. Vincent-St. Mary defensive back Doran Grant expects to compete for playing time as a true freshman at Ohio State in 2011.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Among one of the nation's top-10 recruiting classes, there may be one player who will officially become a Buckeye on National Signing Day on Wednesday that is virtually guaranteed to get on the field as a true freshman in 2011.

Not quarterback Braxton Miller.

Long snapper Bryce Haynes, who became the 22nd oral commitment in Ohio State's class last week, is stepping right into a job with the graduation of fifth-year senior and three-year snapper Jake McQuaide. With the scholarship numbers tight in this class, some may question giving a spot to such a specialized special teamer, but after walking on and proving himself, McQuaide was on scholarship for the last three seasons. So what's the difference now?

Long snapping deserves a free ride, and Haynes, a Georgia native, was offered by Notre Dame and Arkansas, among other schools.

"I think it's something that has become more common," McQuaide said. "I think for long snappers in general, it's a step in the right direction. Maybe people will start to realize how important it is to have a good long snapper."

Haynes could be joined by a lot of other players from 2011 class, Miller included, when it comes to contributing in the fall.

Typically, Ohio State plays about half its freshmen and redshirts, but last season, with a strong senior class and recruiting group filled with fewer highly-ranked prospects, only six of the 18 members of the 2010 class saw the field: defensive back Christian Bryant, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, receiver Corey Brown, offensive tackle Andrew Norwell, kicker Drew Basil and running back/special teamer Carlos Hyde.

Looking at the strength of the 2011 class, and the need created by the loss of 10 senior starters and the early-season suspensions of four other starters, more signees should contribute immediately. Here are the players to watch, beyond Haynes.

• Quarterback Braxton Miller: The Huber Heights Wayne star is one of five Buckeyes who already enrolled for winter quarter. Given starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor's suspension for the start of the season, Miller should be in the thick of the mix with Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton to fill that void. He was originally the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country according to Scout.com, but then was moved to No. 2 behind Florida recruit Jeff Driskel.

"We're still expecting him to be a superstar," Scout.com national analyst Scott Kennedy said. "If he doesn't end up being All-Big Ten and All-American, we'll be disappointed. I was never big on Terrelle Pryor as a throwing quarterback, so I think [Miller] already throws the ball much better and has a better arm than Terrelle did, and he'll fit right into the offense."

Coming from a better high school system, Miller is far more polished than Pryor was. If Pryor could move aside Todd Boeckman and play as a freshman, Miller should be able to get past Bauserman on the depth chart.

• Receivers Devin Smith and Evan Spencer: With Dane Sanzenbacher graduating and DeVier Posey facing a suspension, the Buckeyes know they must rely on young receivers. Both Smith and Spencer are three-star recruits, not seen as top-100 players, but they have the backgrounds to compete for early playing time. Smith played at Massillon Washington, while Spencer is the son of former Buckeye and NFL assistant Tim Spencer.

They'll be fighting redshirt freshmen James Louis and T.Y. Williams for an early shot at the No. 3 receiver spot, but remember the Buckeyes have a new receivers coach in Stan Drayton, so all the wideouts have a blank slate with their coach. The chance is there.

• Defensive tackle Michael Bennett and defensive end Steve Miller: Ranked as the No. 3 defensive tackle recruit in the country by Rivals.com, Centerville's Bennett broke his left forearm at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl but should be ready for summer workouts and preseason practice.

At 275 pounds, he's not a space-eater like Hankins, but he's seen as a very good athlete with great feet and sharp mind -- he's planning on majoring in pre-med.

Miller, from Canton McKinley, is ranked as the No. 7 weakside defensive end by Rivals and seems mentally and physically ready for early work. The three other members of the very good defensive line group in this class -- Elyria tackle Chase Farris, Indiana tackle Joel Hale and Toledo end Ken Hayes -- can't be forgotten, either.

With the loss of starting defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and Dexter Larimore, the Buckeyes are looking for Hankins, Garrett Goebel, Adam Bellamy and Melvin Fellows to step up, Bennett, and others, certainly have the ability to work into the defensive line rotation.

• Cornerback Doran Grant: "I think I can be a lockdown corner," the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary cornerback said this week. "I'm sure there'll be competition and I'll come in and fight and play hard and learn the playbook and compete to start or be in the rotation."

Travis Howard seems like a sure thing to fill one of the starting spots vacated by Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence, but Grant could certainly join an open battle for the No. 2 and No. 3 corner spots.

In a young but deep secondary, Jeremy Cash, who missed much of his senior high school season in Florida with injury but is already enrolled at Ohio State, has the speed and the smarts to impress during spring football.

The Indians are looking for an experienced starter for the rotation.

View full sizeDuane Burleson / Associated PressThe Indians are looking into the possibility of signing former Detroit pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, who has 67 big-league victories.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' quest for a veteran starting pitcher continues.

They are talking to right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, who spent the last eight seasons with Detroit. The Tigers had been trying to re-sign Bonderman, but announced Tuesday that negotiations were over.

Bonderman, 28, made 30 appearances with the Tigers last year, including 29 starts. He went 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA. Bonderman missed most of the 2008 and '09 seasons after undergoing surgery for a blood clot in his right shoulder. He threw 171 innings last year.

The Indians would like to add a veteran arm to the rotation. After No. 1 starter Fausto Carmona, they don't have a lot of experienced starters capable of pitching 200 or more innings. Bonderman pitched 214 innings in 2006.

The Indians have been talking to several starters as the free agent market has thinned. They kicked the tires on Kevin Millwood and Bruce Chen. They also talked to Dave Bush and Rodrigo Lopez before both pitchers signed minor-league deals with Texas and Atlanta, respectively.  

Coach says his team is the cure for a region's sports fans looking for a winner.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerCleveland State coach Gary Waters has kept a close eye on Norris Cole (driving around Detroit's Nick Minnerath last month) and likes what he has seen from his 20-3 Vikings. He's hoping Cleveland fans desperate for a winner will check out his team this week against Valparaiso and Butler.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "We can be the cure for cabin fever, especially this week," said coach Gary Waters. "The Cavs have been struggling. No one else is playing. How about giving us a look?"

That's the message the Cleveland State basketball coach has for area sports fans. Obviously, Waters is marketing his program, but he has a good product to sell.

His Vikings are 20-3, ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Major Top 25. They also picked up a few votes in different Top 25 polls and are 9-2 in the Horizon League, a half-game ahead of second place Valparaiso.

But more to the point, CSU has two big home games this week -- Thursday at 7 p.m. against Valpo, and Saturday at noon vs. Butler.

The advance sale for the Valparasio game is about 2,500. The Wolstein Center lower bowl is sold out for Butler, with more than 4,800 tickets sold, according to interim athletic director John Parry.

"The interest is starting to build," said Parry. "We had 300 students at our last home game. Doesn't sound like much, but we have only 1,200 students staying on campus. At most places, the goal is 10 percent of the students at games."

CSU is averaging 3,806 for its last five games, up about 1,500 from earlier in the season.

The Vikings should be embraced by serious basketball fans. They are not a fluke, a team of junior-college transfers imported for a quick fix. Norris Cole is the only starter left from the 2009 team that went to the NCAA tournament. He also is the only senior, so it's easy to imagine the Vikings winning at least 20 games next season.

This is Waters' fifth season, and it's already his third time with at least 20 victories.

Consider that CSU had only five 20-game winning seasons in its history before. Kevin Mackey won at least 20 four years in a row in the middle 1980s. Mike Boyd was 22-6 in 1992-93.

But the winning tradition was long gone as the Vikings had only two winning records (1999-2000, 2000-01) from 1993 until Waters arrived in 2006. In the four years before Waters, CSU was 43-98.

View full sizeLynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer"These guys are truly unselfish," says an appreciative Gary Waters of his CSU team. "We demand so much from them on the defensive end, that you have to be selfless to play for us."

So this is one of the best turnarounds in recent Division I basketball. We'll see if the season matches the 2009 CSU team that won 26 games and upset Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

This is Waters' 15th season as a head coach. Seven times, he has won at least 20 games. He did it three times at Kent State and once at Rutgers in 2003-04, the last time that Big East school has won 20.

"But this is the first time that I've had 20 wins before February," said Waters. "I expected this team to play well, but not like this. These guys are truly unselfish. Norris Cole leads the league in scoring, but never worries about his points. We demand so much from them on the defensive end, that you have to be selfless to play for us."

Waters talks about building CSU into a "a mid-major power like Gonzaga, Butler and St. Mary's -- a team that consistently gets into the [NCAA] tournament." He said many friends told him not to accept the CSU job in 2006, that he couldn't win there.

He heard the same thing about Kent State, when he was hired in 1996. By 1999, the Golden Flashes were in their first NCAA tournament in school history.

Assistant Jayson Gee knew very little about CSU when he left St. Bonaventure to join Waters with the Vikings.

"But Gary Waters had been a mentor to me for years," said Gee. "I believed in him. Some thought it was a mistake to leave a job in the Atlantic-10 for Cleveland State, but I wanted to be part of his vision."

Gee has since turned down jobs to be an assistant at Dayton and Xavier to remain with Waters at CSU. "That's how much I believe in him and what we are doing here," said Gee.

In a winter where the Cavs have the NBA's worst record and a 21-game losing streak, Waters offered this to the fans:

"Come watch us play attack basketball. We press you on defense, we attack the rim on offense. We play hard on every possessions, and I think that's something fans can relate to."

Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold was overlooked at high school in Bedford and at college in Indiana, but now everyone's paying attention at him with the St. Louis Rams.

View full sizeAP photoRodger Saffold didn't get a lot of attention as he was excelling at Bedford High School and Indiana University, but he earned considerable praise in 2010, and was named to The Sporting News' All-Rookie Team.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe no one noticed Rodger Saffold because he likes to lurk in the shadows. That's tough to do when you're 6-4 and 323 pounds. But somehow, Saffold manages to do it. Even now. He has his whole life.

He doesn't have a single tattoo that forces people to stare at him. He isn't blinged out in gold jewelry that draws the attention of onlookers, even after his first season with the St. Louis Rams and mountains of accolades as the starting left tackle. There has been so much praise that whispers about a Pro Bowl appearance coming soon have begun.

He wasn't all-state at Bedford High School, and he didn't get much recognition from scouts who projected where the Indiana University product would be selected in the NFL draft.

In a recent appearance at his alma mater in Bedford, Saffold wore a plain, unadorned, gray sweatsuit. A St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap. Nothing flashy. That's it. If he hadn't towered over the high school students who came to listen to him speak and to see what an NFL player looks like, he would have never drawn anyone's attention.

That's the way it's always been for Saffold -- no one's ever really noticed how good the offensive tackle is. Until now.

"I'm not mad," Saffold said. "I mean, it's obvious everything worked out for me. Still, it's always nice [to get attention]."

He was All-Lake Erie League, and an honorable mention all-state selection. It's not much, but it was something. But he wasn't highly rated by the high school scouting services that are supposed to know.

That was after Saffold worked to mold himself into a football player, writing down a list of steps he'd have to take to achieve his goal of one day becoming an NFL player. He culled information from his father, Rodger Sr., who played at the University of Iowa until a knee injury forced him to his everyday job in construction.

When Saffold's dad didn't have the answers for how he would achieve his dream, he found someone who did.

"I've always taught him if you don't know, somebody else knows," Rodger Sr. said. "Ask questions."

Asking questions and demanding more is what led to a new weightlifting facility being built at Bedford High School, just in time for the offensive tackle to begin to bulk up. It also led to selecting Indiana -- the first school that offered him a scholarship -- after realizing that school would be the perfect mix of athletic opportunity and academics he desired.

He followed the list he made in 10th grade, the one that told him what he'd need to do to achieve his dream.

"I wrote it in bullet form," Saffold said, smiling. "I'd write, '1. Academics.' Then put everything down. I went all the way from high school to college to pros. That's what I followed, and I worked really hard for it."

He kept working, even if he wasn't always noticed by outsiders. He began starting at left tackle midway through his true freshman season at Indiana, and never left. He started 41 games, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He earned his business degree in four years.

He was starting to be noticed.

"To me he's a great success story," former Indiana coach Bill Lynch said. "So many of these kids coming out of high school all think they're going to play in the NFL. But he stayed focused, and after having the year he had, he's a great example. I think he can be a great role model."

He was noticed enough to be selected 33rd in the draft by St. Louis -- the same team where his childhood hero, Orlando Pace, made his name in the same left tackle position.

He has been noticed enough that he was a starter protecting fellow rookie quarterback Sam Bradford from the beginning. He gave up just two sacks in his first year, helped the Rams improve to 7-9, and earned All-Rookie honors from The Sporting News.

"It's kinda crazy how everything has panned out," Saffold admitted.

The kid from Bedford likes to hide in plain sight, and he never has been noticed much.

"Because he's a good kid," Rodger Sr. said. "You play a violent game, but you have to be respectful. Off the field, he's a gentleman. On the field, he's an animal."

People are starting to notice.

The 83rd edition of the Golden Gloves begins its two-week, four-night run April 1 at the Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Road, in Brook Park. The quarterfinals April 2 and semifinals April 9 will also take place there at 7 p.m.

AP PhotoTimothy Bradley, left, throws a punch at Devon Alexander during their WBC light-welterweight unification title match Saturday in Pontiac, Mich. Bradley was ahead on all three judges’ cards and declared the winner when the fight was stopped during the 10th round after an accidental head butt gashed Alexander’s head.

The 83rd edition begins its two-week, four-night run April 1 at the Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Road, in Brook Park. The quarterfinals April 2 and semifinals April 9 will also take place there at 7 p.m.

The move to Brook Park is a change from recent years when the opening rounds were held at the West Side Masonic Auditorium and the Euclid SportsPlex. The finals will once again take place in the North Hall at Cleveland Browns Stadium on April 16 at 6 p.m.

The entry deadline for boxers in the open (experienced), novice (less than 10 bouts) and sub-novice (no bouts) divisions is March 25. The nonprofit is seeking tournament and program sponsors.

Contact the Cleveland Amateur Golden Gloves, 4500 Lee Road, Suite 222, Cleveland, Ohio, 44128, or call 216-662-7445.

Too bad: The so-called “Super Fight” between 140-pound champions Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley on Saturday turned out to be anything but that.

Bradley (27-0, 12 KOs) added the WBC title to his WBO crown when the match was stopped one minute into the 10th round. Alexander (21-1, 13 KOs), already cut above his right eye, was gashed by what was ruled an accidental head butt.

The ringside doctor said the fight should be stopped and referee Frank Garza did. Going to the scorecards, Bradley was in front on all three in a bout lacking in classic give and take. Attendance in the 80,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome outside Detroit was announced as 6,247.

No rematch, please: The return of Evander Holyfield against Sherman Williams on Jan. 22 turned out to be a bloody no-contest.

The 48-year-old Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) was cut above the left eye in the second round when Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) went in headfirst. The fighters made it through the third round, but it was stopped before the fourth.

Since four rounds had not been completed, the rules called for a no-contest.

Holyfield said all the stitches won’t stop him from coming back for more. He might even give Williams a rematch.

“I’ll shake it off and I’ll be back,” he told reporters afterward. On the undercard, Cleveland lightweight Miguel Gonzalez (13-2, 1 2 K O s ) stopped Ramon Guevara (9-21-2, 6 KOs) at 2:23 of the third round.

Watchdog: The Association of Boxing Commissions, of which Ohio is a member, reported 28 boxers had been allowed to fight while on suspension since July. California had the most offenders with nine.

Ohio had none.

ABC members are supposed to honor the suspensions, medical and otherwise, imposed by each state and tribal commission.

Tough task: Youngstown middleweight Billy Lyell (22-9, 4 KOs) knew he was going to be up against it when he traveled to Mexico on Saturday to take on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (43-0-1, 30 KOs).

The overwhelming underdog wound up on the losing end of a unanimous decision. Give him credit for going ahead with the bout, even after Chavez could not make the 160-pound limit.

Lyell took extra money to let the undefeated fighter come in overweight to satisfy the promoter and Mexican fans.

Lyell side tracked then-undefeated John Duddy two years ago in a bout not many thought he could win.

This date: Salvador Sanchez stopped Danny “Little Red” Lopez in the 13th round to win the WBC featherweight title in Phoenix in 1980.

Friday: The ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” will have a Super Bowl flavor in Fort Worth, Texas, as former WBC 154-pound champ Sergio Mora (22-1-2, 6 KOs) takes on hometown favorite Brian Vera (17-5, 2 KOs) at 9 p.m.

The Showtime Network will begin a busy stretch of four shows in six weeks with a “Sho- Box: The New Generation” card from Santa Ynez, Calif., at 11 p.m. Cuban Olympian Luis Franco (8-0, 5 KOs) and featherweight Leonilo Miranda (26-2, 25 KOs) square off before cruiserweights Lateef Kayode (15-0, 14 KOs) and Nicholas Iannuzzi (16-1, 9 KOs) meet.

Showtime has boxing Feb. 11, Feb. 26 and March 19.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

Today is the day for some of the biggest names in high school football.

Tony Dejak / Associated PressBraxton Miller was impressive in leading Huber Heights Wayne to the state championship game.

Today is signing day for many top high school prospects, and Ohio State hopes to pluck some of the top prepsters in the country.

Columbus Dispatch reporter Tim May writes some of the top players are right here in Cleveland, and how the Buckeyes are keeping their fingers crossed they will continue their football careers in Columbus.

The Buckeyes have their eyes on Glenville's Aundrey Walker and Cardale Jones.

Walker recently said his choice wasn't going to be easy, especially after he took an official visit to Southern California.

"I have to sit down with parents and my family and see what's up," Walker said.

He had been expected to announce his choice by last night, but he opted to put it off until Glenville stages its signing ceremony today, unless Mother Nature interrupts. Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones also might announce whether he plans to go to Toledo or Ohio State during the ceremony. If he picks the Buckeyes, he would likely not join the team until after next season.

But the Buckeyes don't have to wait for at least five of their recruits, since they graduated high school early and enrolled for winter quarter.

Those players are quarterback Braxton Miller, Florida linebacker Ryan Shazier, tight end Jeff Heuerman, safety Jeremy Cash, and defensive lineman Joel Hale.

Future is now

Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises writes how several players in this incoming class will see plenty of playing time this fall. One player who will start at his position may even surprise you.

Head of the class

The early spotlight could be on Huber Heights Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller this fall due to the five-game suspension of QB Terrelle Pryor.

That means the Buckeyes could start Miller, or at least he could see plenty of action as a freshman.

Toledo Blade reporter Matt Markey interviews Adam Jardy of the Buckeye Sports Bulletin about Miller.

Jardy said Miller comes to Ohio State in a better position to play right away than OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor was in when he came here three years ago as the most sought-after high school player in the country.

"Braxton Miller enters Ohio State with a number of advantages," Jardy said. "In addition to being a four-year starter at quarterback, which Pryor was not, Miller played at Ohio's top level of competition in one of the toughest conferences in the state.

 
 Who knows?

Linebacker Curtis Grant is rated as the number two prospect in the country. His choice of schools is down to Ohio State, Florida, Virginia and North Carolina.

Where he will go, nobody knows, but there's plenty of guess work and predictions. It all adds to the suspense of signing day.

Not even Grant's mother knows where her son will attend school next year (yeah right) until he makes his announcement today, writes Eric Kolenich of The Richmond Times.

Gloria said she's not sure if Curtis will tell her before he announces his decision to the world Wednesday. Throughout the entire process, Grant hasn't spoken much publically about recruiting. He's kept the information as hidden as a state secret.

"He's been trying to keep it hush-hush," Gloria said.

While Gloria said she wants Curtis to make the decision based on what he wants, she did offer her two favorites: U.Va. and UNC.

"I love Mike London and I truly believe they're going to turn it around and get back on top," she said. She added that UNC had a great feeling of southern hospitality. Gloria also liked that the two schools were close to home, so she and the family could go visit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Glenville senior tight end/linebacker Frank Clark committed to Michigan early this morning, becoming the first Tarblooder to commit to the Wolverines since Pierre Woods. He is expected to send Michigan his letter of intent later today, which is National Signing Day. "Pierre and I were texting each other and he had a lot to do with...

Glenville senior tight end/linebacker Frank Clark picked Michigan over North Carolina, Cal and Michigan State. - (Helmet image courtesy of OhioHelmetProject.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Glenville senior tight end/linebacker Frank Clark committed to Michigan early this morning, becoming the first Tarblooder to commit to the Wolverines since Pierre Woods. He is expected to send Michigan his letter of intent later today, which is National Signing Day.

"Pierre and I were texting each other and he had a lot to do with my decision to go to Michigan," said Clark, who will play safety or linebacker at the next level. "It's a great school which will provide me with a good education and it's a football program that's determined to get back to where it used to be."

Clark picked Michigan over North Carolina, Cal and Michigan State.

He is the first of a handful of Glenville players expected to announce their decisions today, including lineman Aundrey Walker, quarterback Cardale Jones, linebacker Andre Sturdivant and all-purpose standout Shane Wynn.

Which member of the Ohio State recruiting Class of 2011 will be the biggest contributor to the Buckeyes this season?

View full sizeJim Noelker,
Dayton Daily NewsWill Braxton Miller, the quarterback from Huber Heights, be the recruit who steps into the void created by Terrelle Pryor's pending suspension?

For a brief, shining moment last year, the Ohio State Buckeyes sat atop the football world, ranked No. 1. There was talk of a Heisman for junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor. There was the feel-good story of defensive back Tyler Moeller's return from an off-the-field injury.

Then came Wisconsin and the season unraveled. Though the Buckeyes capped the year with a Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas, it came with the cloud of five-game suspensions darkening the skies over the future of several stars, including Pryor, and the team itself.

Graduation is one thing; this just exacerbates the problem. Which means, of course, that the recruiting class is going to have to step it up and produce early and often. But who will be the biggest contributor? Quarterback Braxton Miller? Wide receiver Devin Smith?

Twenty-two high school players have committed to the Buckeyes already. Beat writer Doug Lesmerises profiles one, long snapper Bryce Haynes, and delves into some of the players he thinks will be put to an early test. Those are the names on our poll, but we've left a spot for you to suggest someone else.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones said moments ago that he has picked Ohio State over Toledo. Jones said he will be a grayshirt, enrolling at a prep school for six months before arriving in Columbus. The Buckeyes also have a commitment from highly touted quarterback Braxton Miller of Huber Heights Wayne.

Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones said today that he will sign with Ohio State. - (Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones said moments ago that he has picked Ohio State over Toledo.

Jones said he will be a grayshirt, enrolling at a prep school for six months before arriving in Columbus. The Buckeyes also have a commitment from highly touted quarterback Braxton Miller of Huber Heights Wayne.

Grayshirting is applied to a prospect who signs a letter of intent in February but doesn’t report in the fall. He delays college entry until midyear, and the NCAA five-year clock doesn’t start ticking until the player enrolls as a full-time student.

Last season, Jones was 102-of-159 for 1,689 yards, 22 TDs and four picks. He also rushed 51 times for 226 yards and seven TDs.