General Manager Tom Heckert is considering a dominant defensive lineman with the Browns' No. 6 overall pick, and the 2011 draft is chock full of them.

View full sizeMark J. Terrill / Associated PressNick Fairley brings a reputation of a player who may play a little past the whistle, but that didn't seem to bother Browns General Manager Tom Heckert in the slightest.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tom Heckert picked the right year to be searching for the next Julius Peppers or Ndamukong Suh to power the Browns' new 4-3 defense.

The 2011 draft is stocked with dominant defensive linemen, and the Browns have an excellent chance of landing one with the sixth pick in the first round.

"It's a good group all the way around," said the Browns general manager. "There's tackles and ends. Obviously the underclassmen coming out helped. There's a lot of guys who are going to go really early."

Heckert had high praise for premier pass-rushing ends Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson and Robert Quinn of North Carolina. But he's also enamored with havoc-wreaking tackles such as Alabama's Marcell Dareus and Auburn's Nick Fairley. And he couldn't say enough about Purdue pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan, who had 32.5 sacks over the past five seasons and could be had later in the draft.

"I think everybody's looking for pass rushers," Heckert said. "Normally, you'd take the pass-rushing end over the tackle. But defensive linemen are so in demand. If you really like a guy who's special as a tackle, he's still going to get pressure on the quarterback. Pat Shurmur talked to our scouts and said, "quarterbacks don't like pressure in their face."

A glance at some of the top defensive linemen and Heckert's take:

Marcell Dareus: He's the kind of explosive inside player that Shurmur alerted the scouts to. NFL Network's Mike Mayock ranks him as the No. 1 tackle in the draft ahead of Fairley, and ESPN's Todd McShay has the Browns picking him in his mock draft.

The MVP of the 2009 BCS title game, Dareus knocked then-Texas quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game with a shoulder injury. He can rush as well as play the run, with 4.5 sacks last year and 11 for losses despite being double-teamed every play.

"He's relentless, he plays hard," said Heckert. "I think he spent a lot of time this year with a high ankle sprain and he played through it. He's a high, high-motor guy and he doesn't stop and he makes a ton of plays for a defensive tackle."

Dareus (6-3, 309) patterns himself after former Pro Bowl tackle Warren Sapp, who considers Dareus the best tackle in this draft.

Da'Quan Bowers: The Clemson end (6-4, 275) led the nation with 15.5 sacks in 2010 and 25 tackles for a loss. He's so explosive off the edge that he could go No. 1, but some teams might view him as a one-year wonder. He's not working out at the combine while still recovering from postseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but says he's 100 percent. He also boldly compared himself to Peppers during his interview.

"He's obviously a super-productive guy," said Heckert. "He's legit. He's a bigger guy. This is a big guy that can rush the passer. Anytime you can get a guy like that, you'd have to be interested."

Heckert can see the Peppers comparison, even though it's lofty. But Bowers put it in perspective.

"[Peppers] is one of the premier defensive ends in the NFL, and I'm just a scrawny little defensive end coming out of college attempting to play like him and be half as good as him," he said.

Robert Quinn: An enigma, the North Carolina end was suspended for all of 2010 after accepting agent-related benefits worth about $5,600. Some experts, such as Mayock, think he can go No. 1 with a great workout Monday. Others have him rated the ninth-best end and not a first-rounder. In his last season on the field in 2009, Quinn led the ACC with 19 tackles for a loss and was second with 11 sacks.

At the combine on Saturday, he declared himself the best pass-rusher in this draft.

"He's a heck of a football player," said Heckert, who downplayed the year off. "There's no question why people are talking about him. He plays hard and he can rush the passer."

Mayock called him a "physical freak" and a "special, special athlete."

Nick Fairley: The Auburn tackle (6-4, 298) won the Lombardi Trophy as the nation's best lineman. He led the SEC with 24 tackles for a loss and had 11.5 sacks. MVP of the 2010 BCS Title Game, he had five tackles, 3.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Mayock has him ranked behind Dareus, and several mocks, including Pro Football Weekly's, have the Browns taking him. But Fairley has a reputation as a dirty player, with late-hit penalties and some spearing.

Heckert disputed the reputation.

"No, not at all," he said. "He's a tough player. I guess there's a fine line. It's not after the whistle stuff. I think it's more toughness than being a dirty player."

Ryan Kerrigan: Heckert praised the Purdue end, who had 13 sacks in '09 and 12.5 in '10. "He's another high-motor guy, a excellent pass-rusher and supreme playmaker."

"I think Brian's got a great future for us, I really do," said Tom Heckert of the third-year receiver from Ohio State.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerThe future looks bright for Brian Robiskie in the West Coast offense.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Browns General Manager Tom Heckert thinks receiver Brian Robiskie, who came on strong at the end of last season, is a great fit for the new West Coast offense.

"I think Brian's got a great future for us, I really do,'' said Heckert. "He can catch the football, he's a bigger guy, I think he fits very, very well in what we're doing offensively. We run a lot of slants and shallow crossing routes and I think he's very, very good at that. I think he's going to be good for us.''

Heckert acknowledged the team saw progress with Robiskie, a second-round pick in 2009, as the season wore on. Of course, the receivers weren't involved in the offense as much as they will be in the new scheme.

"He didn't catch a ton of balls (29 for 310 yards and three TDs), but we saw improvement and I think he's got a chance to be a good player, I really do,'' said Heckert.

Heckert took exception to NFL Network's Mike Lombardi saying the Browns and Ravens are two of the slowest teams in the NFL receiver-wise.

"I don't think we have one blazing guy, but I don't think our receivers are slow by any stretch, I really don't," he said. "Both of those guys came out and ran pretty well. I don't know if we have a complete burner, but I don't see us as a slow wide receiver group.''

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A football-themed night at a hockey game is made for the likes of Patrick Bordeleau, left winger for the Monsters.  Bordeleau has the size (6-6, 220), sweater number (58) and unofficial title (enforcer) that a linebacker can appreciate. Physicality, much more than elegance, is his game.  So it comes as no surprise that Bordeleau excelled on...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A football-themed night at a hockey game is made for the likes of Patrick Bordeleau, left winger for the Monsters.

 Bordeleau has the size (6-6, 220), sweater number (58) and unofficial title (enforcer) that a linebacker can appreciate. Physicality, much more than elegance, is his game.

 So it comes as no surprise that Bordeleau excelled on "Browns Night'' at The Q. Bordeleau scored a rare goal and imposed his will all over the ice in helping the Monsters defeat the Grand Rapids Griffins, 3-2.

 Lake Erie goalie Jason Bacashihua continued to perform splendidly. He had an assortment of spectacular saves in the third period as part of 36 total.

 A crowd of 13,022 -- largest for any of Lake Erie's 33 home dates this season -- watched an entertaining game from two clubs that were travel-weary. Friday night in Grand Rapids, Mich., the Griffins beat the Monsters, 5-3.

 Lake Erie (31-24-3-5) remain tied for first place in the North Division. It improved to 20-8-2-3 at home.

 Among those in attendance were Browns players Josh Cribbs, Joe Haden and T.J. Ward. The trio took part in an hour-long pregame autograph session. Former Browns, including Doug Dieken and Kevin Mack, were recognized before faceoff.

 Hours before doors opened, dozens of fans clad in Browns gear tailgated.

 The Monsters wore special Browns-themed uniforms that were auctioned for charity. The way Bordeleau played, he no doubt was sad to take his off.

 With Lake Erie leading, 2-1, midway through the second period, Bordeleau crunched an opponent in the left corner. Bordeleau turned, located the puck and created a play from the left circle. His shot trickled past goalie Jordan Pearce and inside the right post.

 Bordeleau, who had positioned himself for the tip-in if necessary, authored an enthusiastic celebration along the boards.

 The goal was Bordeleau's second in 55 games.

 Grand Rapids took a 1-0 lead at 1:19 of the first when Derek Meech scored. The Monsters' bench argued interference.

 Lake Erie tied it at 9:33, Greg Mauldin getting the better of Pearce. David van der Gulik, who earned one of the assists on Mauldin's tally, won the battle for the loose puck and gave Lake Erie a 2-1 lead at 11:11 of the first.

 Late in the third period, the Monsters appeared to catch a break. Griffins left winger Chris Minard jammed the puck past Bacashihua but the potential goal was waved off.

 The Griffins did, in fact, pull within 3-2 with less than two minutes remaining. Right winger Francis Pare's goal came in a 6-on-5 set.

 Grand Rapids fell to 26-25-1-8.

The Indians will begin their Cactus League season with a moment to remember Hall of Famer Bob Feller. Then they will continue the business of forging the 2011 Indians.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain Dealer"I want to play twice as well as I did last year, without a doubt, said Indians outfielder Michael Brantley on the eve of the spring opener against the Reds. "I just want to go out and be more consistent."

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians begin the Cactus League season Sunday against Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark. For players guaranteed a trip to the big leagues at the end of March, it's just another day. For others it will be another opportunity to show that they are better than the guy in front of them.

And for all who wear a Cleveland uniform, it will be the first spring-training opener in many years in which Bob Feller doesn't throw out the first pitch. Feller, the Hall of Famer and best pitcher in franchise history, died on Dec. 15 at 92. Feller's No.19 will be displayed on the back of the mound and in front of the Indians dugout.

"It's been very different this spring," said manager Manny Acta, when asked about Feller. "Bob was always down here for fantasy camp. He stayed through for spring training and was here every day. He was a fixture."

The Indians will honor Feller with a scoreboard video. A banner will be unfurled in left center field with the words "USS Alabama" on it. Feller served on the battleship during World War II.

After Feller has received his due, the business of putting together the 2011 Indians will proceed.

"This is an exciting day for everybody," said Acta. "Playing against a different uniform does the trick. You spend that first week doing all those fundamentals. Then you want to see guys put them into practice when the games start."

Michael Brantley will start in center and bat leadoff. He's guaranteed a spot in the lineup, but doesn't know where that will be. If Grady Sizemore opens the season on time, Brantley will play left and could be hitting at the bottom of the order. If Sizemore isn't fully recovered from microfracture surgery on his left knee by April 1, Brantley will be hitting leadoff and playing center field.

The position uncertainty doesn't concern him. "I'll do whatever they want," he said.

What does concern him is doing better than last year, when he bounced between Columbus and Cleveland three times.

"I want to play twice as well as I did last year, without a doubt," said Brantley. "I have my own goals that I've written down for myself. But I just want to go out and be more consistent. I want to start out on a more consistent basis. It's easier said than done."

Brantley opened last season with the Indians and batted .156 (5-for-32) before getting sent down on April 19. He returned on July 4 and hit .157 (11-for-70) before getting sent down again on July 27.

He returned for a third and final time on Aug. 8. He batted .292 (57-for-195) with 26 runs, seven doubles, three triples, two homers and 15 RBI. He raised his average to .246 (73-for-297).

"This is a guy who can do some things," said hitting coach Jon Nunnally. "If you're looking for a leadoff hitter, he could be that guy.

"As far as pressure last year, I think it was a matter of him saying, 'Am I going to be here or am I not going to be there?' Now it's just go play, kid."

Chris Perez, scheduled to pitch Sunday, says his attitude toward spring training games has changed since he became the closer.

"A couple of years ago I was a little more amped up for these games," said Perez. "It was a little more important. I was in a spot where I was trying to impress guys and show them what I can do. Now that they know what I can do, now that I've been through some wars, I can just get ready. It's nice."

Catcher Carlos Santana will start and play only a couple of innings, but he's come a long way since the violent collision at home plate on Aug. 2 at Fenway Park that ended his season and wrecked his left knee. Santana, like Brantley and Perez, will open the regular season with the Indians. But the fact that he's back playing games means a lot to him.

"I'm excited," said Santana. "I've been waiting to play for a long time. I'm confident I can play on my knee."

Acta and GM Chris Antonetti try to be as realistic as possible when they meet with each player before camp starts to tell them what their chances are of making the big league club. But Acta always provides a sliver of hope -- don't be afraid to shock the world.

So why shouldn't Jason Donald, who starts at third Sunday, do everything possible to make the Indians change their minds on third baseman-in-waiting Lonnie Chisenhall or consider a position change for him.

"We don't discourage anyone from proving someone wrong," said Acta.

That's the best part of spring training games.

It's likely of little consolation to Kent State's Golden Flashes that they turned what looked to be a certain blowout loss into a compelling one-point defeat.

KENT, Ohio -- It's likely of little consolation to Kent State's Golden Flashes that they turned what looked to be a certain blowout loss into a compelling one-point defeat.

That, though, is what Kent State was left with after its 88-87 overtime loss to Ohio University before 5,125 fans who wound up getting their money's worth at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday night.

Kent State fell to 19-10, 10-4 in the Mid-American Conference, and tied with Miami for the East Division lead. The Golden Flashes, with league games left at Bowling Green (12-16, 7-7) on Tuesday and at home to Akron (18-10, 9-5) on Friday night, missed an opportunity to clinch a MAC Tournament first-round bye.

Forward Justin Greene scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Kent, and guards Rodriguez Sherman and Carlton Guyton netted 21 and 18 points, respectively, as the Golden Flashes roared back from a 21-point deficit early in the second half.

"Slow starts. We've been preaching to ourselves how we can't let that happen, or it would bite us, and it bit us," Sherman said of Kent's habit of digging an early hole. "It was embarrassing.

"I think we did a good job of fighting back. We had those 5,000 fans cheering for us and we wanted to do it for them, and for us. But that slow start really hurt us."

Forward Devaughn Washington scored 20 points for Ohio (16-13, 8-6), including the game-winning basket. After guard Eric Gaines (nine points) split two free throws to put Kent ahead, 87-86, with 42 seconds left in overtime, Ohio coach John Groce called a timeout with 21 seconds left.

The Bobcats got the ball to Washington near the top left of the key, and he drove the lane for a layup and the one-point Ohio lead with 14.7 seconds to go. After Kent coach Geno Ford's timeout, guard Michael Porrini (eight points, nine assists) fired a 16-footer from the left side, but it bounced off the rim and caromed out of bounds to Ohio in the final second.

Ohio point guard D.J. Cooper, who led the Bobcats (16-13, 8-6) to the MAC tourney title and an upset win over Georgetown in a first-round NCAA tournament game last March, delivered his 13th of 14 assists with 15:25 left, feeding Nick Kellogg for a baseline 3-point shot that gave the Bobcats a 56-35 lead.

Sherman had hit a jumper prior to Kellogg's trey and, remarkably, it started a Golden Flashes' binge during which they scored 33 points over 16 possessions. Sherman capped the rally on a 3-pointer with 6:30 to go that put Kent ahead, 68-67.

Ohio went back on top, 74-70, but Kent came back to tie, 77-77, with a minute to go on Greene's layup off a Porrini feed. The Golden Flashes didn't get the basketball back in regulation, as Cooper missed a 3-pointer, and then another just before the buzzer after Kellogg had rebounded the first miss.

"We played soft, tentative and disinterested for 25 minutes," Ford said. "At that point, it was the first performance I've been a part of as an assistant coach or head coach. ... All of a sudden, we get down 20 and we decided to play. You can't have that mentality."

Ohio State is winning like no other elite college basketball team in the country -- with its best players entirely hailing from its home state.

View full size

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On the AAU team known as All-Ohio Red they made their mark, winning national championships and spreading the word on Ohio basketball, led by four future Ohio State Buckeyes in Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, Jordan Sibert and J.D. Weatherspoon.

"People thought we were pretty good," Sullinger said. "Everyone still considers Ohio a football state, but at the same time, we were trying to elevate and it and let everyone know it's not only football. We can do both."

When the No. 2 Buckeyes take the court now, as they will against Indiana Sunday afternoon, they do it as their own version of All-Ohio.

The top six players are Ohio natives, something OSU coach and Illinois native Thad Matta has mentioned repeatedly this year. Despite Matta's deserved reputation as a recruiter, his formula for success this season wasn't much more complicated than taking advantage of what has been a run of elite in-state talent.

For the first time since 1993, all of the Buckeyes' starters are from Ohio. Among the teams currently ranked in the Associated Press top 25, only the Buckeyes have their top six players in minutes all coming from their home state. Only nine of the top 25 teams have at least three players among their top six from their home state; 10 have one or none.

St. Edward coach Eric Flannery, who has worked with USA Basketball for more than a decade, said in that time only California and Texas have produced upper-tier talent more consistently than Ohio. And he's glad to see it stick around.

"The ACC has always been a big pull for a lot of kids, and sometimes I think being close to home doesn't seem like as big of a deal," Flannery said, "but now that Ohio State has been up there as a national championship-caliber program, you have to think that's started to win over the kids in Ohio, and I hope that continues to be true. And I think you're seeing that with some other Division I colleges in Ohio, like Xavier and Cleveland State and Kent State."

Going All-Ohio will continue to be more than exception than the rule at Ohio State, though. None of the five recruits in the Class of 2011 are from Ohio, with two coming from Michigan, one from Mississippi, one from Georgia and one from Chicago.

"The next couple years in Ohio looks fairly average in terms of talent," ESPN national recruiting analyst Dave Telep said, "and certainly a year like this really expands Ohio State's national profile and allows them to step out. But depending on the regional talent, you'll see them start with Ohio and work their way out."

So winning with Ohio players may actually help the Buckeyes get more out-of-state talent. That make might understanding what has happened this season even more urgent -- a happy confluence of a coach and program willing and wanting to work the local scene and a state able to provide enough to talent for a national title run almost without any outside help.

Now in his seventh year at Ohio State, Matta has recruited 20 high school players to be Buckeyes (and several others out of junior college) and 11 have been from Ohio, including his top six from this season: freshmen Sullinger (from Northland High School in Columbus, eight miles from campus) and Craft (Findlay, 94 miles), junior William Buford (Toledo, 135 miles) and seniors David Lighty (Cleveland, 142 miles), Dallas Lauderdale (Solon, 145 miles) and Jon Diebler (Upper Sandusky, 80 miles).

"For the most part, he's locked up the state of Ohio, and that's big," Diebler said. "There's a lot of good basketball here, and that's what make Coach Matta so good, he protects the state."

Football coach Jim Tressel gets a lot of credit for doing the same thing, but Matta, after growing up, playing and coaching virtually his entire career in the Midwest, has applied a similar formula after previous coach Jim O'Brien worked into the Ohio scene a little more slowly, relying more on his connections on the East Coast.

"Ohio State is on a national recruiting base now, so he's going to supplement his Ohio players with extraordinary out-of-state guys," said Satch Sullinger, the coach at Columbus Northland and Jared's father. "But there's a difference between supplementing with out-of-state guys and building with them."

Getting great in-state players is not new. The Buckeyes won their only national title in 1960 with five Ohio starters, and the first 12 All-Americans in school history -- from Jerry Lucas to Gary Bradds to Jim Jackson -- were all in-state guys. Matta's only two All-Americans were the first two out-of-staters to join the ranks -- Indianapolis' Greg Oden and Chicago's Evan Turner.

"I'm not going to shortchange the guys from my time," said former OSU All-American Dennis Hopson, a Toledo native and current Bowling Green assistant who was part of an All-Ohio starting five in 1985 and 1986. "But I think Ohio is more noticed for basketball now."

When Matta took this job in July of 2004, although he'd started recruiting players such as Lighty and Lauderdale at Xavier, "it wasn't like I thought if I could get the Ohio State job, [the state] is loaded. That wasn't on my mind," he said.

Once he got here, Matta did try to take advantage of what was available, and Satch Sullinger said the impression he got from Matta about the best Ohio players was that "you need his permission to leave, and the only way you're getting his permission is if they don't want you."

The record hasn't been perfect. For instance, Michigan State has snagged three Ohioians in Canton McKinley's Raymar Morgan in 2006, St. Ed's Delvon Roe in 2008 and Dayton's Adreian Payne in 2010 that the Buckeyes offered. But getting the in-state players that the Buckeyes have, especially Sullinger, can't be taken for granted.

"You have to get those kids," said Benji Burke, who coached Sullinger on All-Ohio Red and whose son, Trey, will play at Michigan next season. "What if Ohio State didn't get Diebler or Buford or Lighty? Then Jared Sullinger could have gone to Louisville or Kentucky or North Carolina. The whole reputation could have changed. So you've got to start in-state."

CANTON, Ohio -- Michael Meldon turned a year's worth of work into a load of confidence. The Strongsville senior made his presence felt Saturday night as he won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events during the Division I swimming championships at C. T. Branin Natatorium. After suffering the embarrassment of being disqualified in the 50 a year ago for...

Firestone sophomore Katie Miller swims the backstroke leg of the girls 200-yard individual medley, winning the event at the Division I state swimming championships in Canton. - (Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer)

CANTON, Ohio -- Michael Meldon turned a year's worth of work into a load of confidence.

The Strongsville senior made his presence felt Saturday night as he won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events during the Division I swimming championships at C. T. Branin Natatorium. After suffering the embarrassment of being disqualified in the 50 a year ago for jumping the gun, Meldon never wavered in coming through as the favorite in both events.

He is the first Mustangs swimmer to win a championship; diver Kyle Prandi won in 1996.

"I've worked pretty hard for this and it paid off," said Meldon, who intends to go to Ohio State. "It was mine to lose. I was not too worried about it."

Maybe not. But after winning the 50 in 20.51 seconds, Meldon had to put away a serious challenge in the 100 from senior Michael DiSalle of Toledo St. Francis de Sales. He had to rally on the turn after 50 yards and put his challenger away in the final 25 to win in 45.09. DiSalle, who won the 200 free, clocked a 45.62.

"I saw him and really pushed it out at 75," said Meldon, who admitted being more concerned with two upcoming relays. "The meet is going like I wanted."

It was appropriate that Strongsville coach Tom Stacy put the championship medal around his swimmer's neck during the awards ceremony.

"I'm relieved because he was expected to win," said Stacy, whose Mustangs finished sixth in the team standings with 100 points. "He was confident and knew what his goals and expectations were. That changed from last year."

While Meldon carried the contentment of a champion, Westlake senior Joe Craven did his best to keep his emotions in check after winning the 100 butterfly to become the school's first boy to win a state swimming title.

"I was the favorite for a day," said Craven, who came in with the top qualifying time. "I was never the one at the top and I figured this was the time to be there. I was up at 5 a.m. and had about 2 percent sleep. I felt awful in the warmup."

But Craven put all that behind him, including a slight cold, to clock the only sub-50 time of 49.74, holding off two swimmers from team champion Cincinnati St. Xavier. Lisa Schuette is Westlake's lone girl champion, winning the 200 free in 1992.

The emotion was evident from Mayfield senior Alana Arnold after winning the 100 breaststroke. Arnold won the 100 butterfly for Division II champion Hawken School in 2009, but sat out last year after transferring.

She said her swimming career was at an end as she prepares to enter Miami (Ohio) in the fall.

"I wasn't planning on anything big this year," said Arnold, who also swam on three relays. "I knew it was my last individual race and I was thinking about all those years. I did not want to let it psych me out.

"I was thinking three laps to go, two laps to go. I was going all out to the end. I was pretty surprised to see I won."

Firestone sophomore Katie Miller had to settle for a split in her events as she won the 200 individual medley in 2:00.62, but was edged in the 500 free by senior Abby Chin of Upper Arlington. Chin, who also won the 200 free, clocked a 4:48.93 to best Miller's runner-up 4:49.02. Firestone senior Andrew Bartley came through as he defended his 100 breaststroke with a swift 55.91. St. Ignatius sophomore Derek Hren was second at 57.16.

"You're the reigning champ and you've definitely got to defend that title and hold onto it," said Bartley, whose college plans are undecided.

In the morning, Solon senior Michael Kreft won his second straight diving championship, putting up 506.25 points to rival North Royalton senior Troy Richert's 474.20.

In the team races, the Upper Arlington girls and Cincinnati St. Xavier boys retained championships. Mayfield finished eighth in the girls race, with Firestone 10th. St. Ignatius was seventh, Solon eighth and Hudson ninth on the boys side.

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

The league's busy trading week and the bench-bound Manny Harris lead this week's mailbag for beat writer Mary Schmitt Boyer

View full sizePlain Dealer file photoManny Harris hasn't seen much action in recent games, but that doesn't mean the Cavaliers have cooled in their interest in the former Michigan star.

Hey, Mary: What we learned in the whole "taking my talents to South Beach" soap opera LeBron James created last off-season causes me to ask this question. Many people were complaining about the Miami Heat tampering with a non-free agent. With Carmelo Anthony agreeing to meet with the owners of the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets, doesn't this fall into the tampering category, since he was not a free agent and was still on an NBA roster? -- Steve Todd, Olmsted Falls

Hey, Steve: The Denver Nuggets granted Anthony permission to meet with those teams in order to facilitate a trade so they could make the best possible deal. Apparently this is the new reality of the NBA.

Hey, Mary: Can you please tell me why Byron Scott stopped playing Manny Harris? I don't understand how a player has two 20-point games back-to-back (at Orlando and Miami) then doesn't even get off the bench. It's like Byron doesn't care about the young player or the future. I may be wrong, but it seems that way to us fans. -- George Cole, Cleveland

Hey, George: I can assure you Byron Scott and the Cavs like Manny Harris, but I agree with you that it's often hard to understand Scott's rotations. Guys will start and then not play at all. It has happened a lot this season, not just to Harris. Here's what I do know. In general, Scott prefers not to play rookies unless he has to. Because of all the injuries, Harris has played much more than expected. He also has been forced to play point guard, although that will change when Baron Davis arrives. Harris needs to work on his ball handling and defense, but by and large, the Cavs are pleased with him and think he has a future in the league.

Hey, Mary: The trades this week of Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams gave a good example of the return the Cavs lost out on by not being able to do a sign-and-trade last July with LeBron. I know they got some draft picks and a trade exception. Can you compare for Cavs fans the discrepancy between the actual return versus the potential return to illustrate how much the way LeBron left hurt the Cavs' chances of rebuilding? -- Rich Smith, Columbus

Hey, Rich: Here's what the Nuggets got from New York for Anthony, Chauncey Billups and three other players: Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari, who were starters and former first-round draft picks; two more players, Ohio State's Kosta Koufos, a first-round pick with eight career starts in Utah and Minnesota, and Timofey Mozgov; $3 million, one first-round pick and two second-round picks. As for last year, I can't possibly begin to guess who would have been interested in such a deal -- or who wouldn't have been with a chance to land James -- but there's the potential of five players, three draft picks and cash. The Cavs' actual return? A trade exception and a chance to draft more potential.

Hey, Mary: What's behind the difference in the approach taken by Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams (force trades before the contract is up) vs. LeBron (say nothing until the last minute)? Is this a smart reaction to the negative PR generated from "the decision" by giving their team a chance to get something in return or further evidence LeBron, Bosh and Miami had a plan all along? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake

Hey, Steve: I like your theory, but the problem is none of the players involved actually worries for one minute about the negative PR. They want what they want when they want it. People still tune in to their games on TV. People go to their games in person, even if it's to boo them on the road. People buy their shoes and sports drinks. So the negative PR isn't really hurting them in the place they care the most about -- their wallets.

-- Mary

It's hard to make any major judgments on McCoy, other than he deserves a chance to be the starting quarterback from the opening of minicamp.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerThe confidence expressed by Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur in second-year quarterback Colt McCoy is exactly what the franchise needs right now, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A month of madness is about to begin, but as always, Terry is talkin' ...

About the Browns ...

1. It's good news to hear Mike Holmgren tell The PD's Tony Grossi: "I believe in the young guy [Colt McCoy] we have. ... It works best if you can identify 'the guy,' let him know he's 'the guy,' and train him appropriately to be 'the guy.' It's nice to have all this competition and all this stuff, but it doesn't work very well.

So if you believe in a young man, believe he's 'the guy,' then you have to go with it."

2. Later in the week, coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert expressed their confidence in McCoy, letting fans know the organization is together on the quarterback question. Realistically, it's hard to know if McCoy will be "the guy" in three years. McCoy will be the team's 10th opening day starting quarterback since 1999. That is a big reason the Browns have had only two winning seasons in that time.

3. McCoy played eight games, completed 61 percent of his passes, threw six touchdowns and nine interceptions. His rating was 74.4. Six of his eight starts came against playoff teams. Five of his nine interceptions came in two games against the Steelers. Baltimore (15-of-29 passing, 3 INTs) also made him look bad.

4. Former coach Eric Mangini said more than once that he couldn't remember any rookie quarterback facing such a demanding schedule so early in his career. McCoy played against Pittsburgh (12-4), Baltimore (12-4), New England (14-2), the Jets (11-5), New Orleans (11-5), Jacksonville (8-8) and Cincinnati (4-12). Mangini often praised McCoy's poise, which he displayed despite the onslaught he endured each week. Four of his eight games were against defenses ranked in the top five.

5. For a rookie quarterback coming from a top-ranked college program and going to a losing NFL team, there is an element of shock as he watches video each week of the next opponent. At Texas, McCoy knew his team often had the most talent on the field. It helps a quarterback's confidence. But that's not the case here, and certainly not in the games McCoy started. Yet Mangini and the other coaches said McCoy didn't seem overwhelmed.

6. My point is it's hard to make any major judgments on McCoy, other than he deserves a chance to be the starting quarterback from the opening of minicamp. Holmgren's comments about the need to "identify the guy" and work with him as the starter is correct. You can always switch to a different "guy" later.

7. Perhaps no other position in team sports undergoes more scrutiny and requires being a team spokesman more than the quarterback. It's why having the coaches' confidence is critical. Derek Anderson never seemed comfortable in the spotlight. Jeff Garcia often looked for reasons to place blame elsewhere -- a real negative. McCoy sounds like a veteran when he handles questions from the media.

8. In 2009, Mangini tried to have a competition between Anderson and Brady Quinn -- because he really didn't believe in either. Quinn ended up as Denver's No. 3 quarterback in 2010 and Anderson started for Arizona in what ESPN.com called "the worst quarterback situation in the NFL." But spending training camp with no one knowing who is the starting quarterback doesn't help a bad situation.

9. Did you notice Oakland nailed former Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley with its franchise tag? That means he will be paid about $10 million. Wimbley had nine sacks in 2010, his most since 11 with the Browns as a rookie in 2006. When the Browns traded Wimbley for a third-round pick, it seemed as if they gave away a solid player for an iffy draft pick. Not having to pay Wimbley's salary, the Browns were able to sign free agent linebacker Scott Fujita. But just as important, they used that third-rounder to draft McCoy.

10. I sense there will be a lot of rumors, hints and reports that the Browns will go for a receiver in the first round, but in the end, they will probably take a defensive player. This draft is supposed to be strong where the Browns are so weak -- the defensive line. Checking a list of Heckert's first-rounders with the Eagles, you find two wide receivers, one offensive tackle, two defensive tackles, one defensive end and one cornerback. His first two picks with the Browns were defensive backs.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerIs it possible that the Cavaliers may have more reason to enjoy the rest of the season than anyone had anticipated?

About the Cavaliers ...

1. Here's something I never thought I'd write even a few days ago, what if the Cavs actually win some games? Most of us have assumed they'd finish with the NBA's worst record; a 26-game losing streak will lead to that thinking. But they have won three of five, beating the Knicks, Lakers and Clippers. On nights when they don't play hard, Byron Scott calls them out in public and pushes them in private practices. Having the NBA's worst record is no longer a given. Yes, that could hurt the Cavs' draft position.

2. It's hard to know if Baron Davis is sincere when he posted on his Facebook page about being excited to join his new team. Give the L.A. native credit for being smart and accepting the fact he's been traded, rather than immediately causing problems -- as some players in his position would.

3. Less than 24 hours after the deal with the Clippers was announced, Davis spoke to Cavs General Manager Chris Grant and coach Byron Scott, saying all the right things. All that can change, but it seems Davis, 31, has learned a few things along the way -- as the younger Davis would have screamed publicly or pouted about leaving his hometown.

4. The Cavs will probably start Davis, once he settles in. Scott knows it's important for the veteran to be in the lineup. But Davis can split time with point guard Ramon Sessions. Davis has a grumpy knee that has been acting up, and he made noise with the Clippers about playing too many minutes. In his past 10 games, he has been averaging 35 minutes, scoring 16.3 points on 42 percent shooting with 7.6 assists.

5. Here's what Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters about rookie Luke Harangody after he was traded to the Cavs: "I love Luke because every day he did the same thing -- he played hard like a kamikaze. I was most afraid of him in practice with our guys ... But I love him, the way he played, and he never complained. He just did his job everyday."

6. Rivers on Semih Erden, also traded to the Cavs: "He's going to be good player. I don't think people realize how injured Semih was, not only with the groin, but his shoulder. He's probably going to need surgery on both. But he knew we were down and he played. That was pretty cool."

7. Yes, Erden has been playing with injuries, and the Cavs are aware the shoulder could be a problem. But they expect him to make it through the season, and not to have any long-term problems if he has shoulder surgery. The 7-footer from Turkey should see a lot of time as a backup center this season.

8. The Cavs also think Harangody can help as a bench player. He's 6-7, 240 pounds. His height is best for small forward, his weight and strength better suited for power forward. That's why he dropped to the No. 52 pick despite being a 22-point scorer and averaging 10.2 rebounds over his last three years at Notre Dame.

9. Talking dollars: Harangody and Erden are both under contract next season for about $500,000. When the Cavs acquired them, they had to cut Leon Powe -- and they paid him the remaining $200,000 on his contract. Finally, Davis has $12 million of his $14 million salary in 2012-13 guaranteed.

10. Just 48 hours after being out-rebounded by 20 by Houston, the Cavs turned around and outrebounded the Knicks by the same margin -- which is staggering in the NBA. The key is J.J. Hickson, who can be an elite rebounder when motivated. He had 15 against the Knicks and Lakers, 14 against the Clippers. He's had at least 14 rebounds in 11 of his last 22 games.

About the Indians ...

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerMatt LaPorta has been receiving some defensive instruction from Mike Hargrove in Indians training camp, but it's LaPorta's bat that is going to determine his true value to the Tribe in 2011.

1. I know this is the kind of hopeful (perhaps wildly so) note you read early in spring training, but Matt LaPorta has impressed the Tribe by losing weight, adding muscle and swinging with more power. Much of last season, LaPorta failed to use his hips and legs in his swing, waving at pitches with his arms. Part of the problem might have been that he hadn't fully recovered from hip and toe surgery after the 2009 season. So maybe he will begin to resemble the guy who was leading the minors in homers when the Indians traded for him in 2008.

2. Even more upbeat spring stuff: Lefty Drew Pomeranz impressed coaches with his scoreless inning during the intrasquad game. He was the team's top pick in 2010, but signed late and didn't pitch in the minors last summer. At 6-4 with a fastball averaging 93 mph and an impressive curve, the Indians want fans to know he's not the typical soft-tossing lefty starter that has recently passed through Progressive Field. He is expected to open the season at Class A Kinston, then move to Class AA Akron -- the same path 2009 top pick Alex White followed in 2010.

3. Guest instructor Kenny Lofton has been working with Shin-Soo Choo and Michael Brantley on base running, and bunting for hits. Lofton was never effective when trying a sacrifice bunt, but he'd drop down five to 10 bunts a season for singles.

4. In my arcane campaign for the Indians to get off to a decent start so I can at least pretend this could be a fun season, I offer this: ESPN's Buster Olney looked at the schedules of American League teams for the first six weeks of the season and it's good news for the Tribe. Only 12 of 34 games are against teams that had winning records last season. It's the second easiest schedule in the AL. Olney wrote, "On paper, Cleveland has a chance to get off to a good start."

5. Not much has been made of Trevor Crowe barely being able to throw after having elbow surgery. Even healthy, Crowe is a long shot to make the team. But he does give them depth in center field, where Grady Sizemore (microfracture knee surgery) is not certain to be ready for the opener. Brantley will start in center. But after him, the Indians have no one. Choo played a little center early in his career with the Mariners, and struggled.

6. While the Indians are making some optimistic noise about Anthony Reyes making a real bid to be the fifth starter, he must be a tremendous long shot. His arm surgery was a major elbow reconstruction. He has battled arm problems for years. Mitch Talbot might also be a concern. He says he is healthy, but he missed two months in 2009 with elbow problems. After June 10, he was 2-9 with a 5.65 ERA as he battled some back and other minor injuries. The Indians point out Talbot was 2-2 (2.89) in four September starts.

7. Josh Judy, who has impressed manager Manny Acta, could be a surprise addition to the bullpen. The right-hander looked good in Arizona last spring, then had minor arm problems. But after June 1, he was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA between Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus. He was drafted in the 34th round in 2007. Judy, 25, has 244 strikeouts in 216 minor-league innings with a 2.74 ERA.

Baron Davis and the Cavaliers go together like the red carpet at the Oscars and road salt, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

View full sizeBill Haber / Associated PressOK, so while in New Orleans Baron Davis and Byron Scott didn't win any Oscars as an odd couple -- they at least had some quality spats. Bud Shaw isn't exactly sure a better outcome will develop in Cleveland between the player and coach.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With any luck, Baron Davis won't have asked Tawny Kitaen how she liked Cleveland...

Baron Davis and the Cavaliers go together like the red carpet at the Oscars and road salt.

He was last seen in L.A. poking his head out of a Kia sunroof to toss an alley oop pass to Clippers teammate Blake Griffin under the bright lights at the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest.

We have Kias here, of course. We have sunroofs, too, and one or two days every July we get to use them.

In L.A., his hometown, Davis hung out with Hollywood types. Here he joins a 11-47 "B" movie in progress.

Cavaliers' GM Chris Grant is saying all the right things -- that the trade was as much about acquiring Davis to play point guard as it was securing a second NBA Lottery pick. And if you believe that, I have two playoff tickets for sale.

During the Cavs' win over New York Friday, Davis tweeted, "Love the energy I'm seeing."

He is trying to sound positive. But as they say about the weather around here, check back on their energy and his optimism in 20 minutes and it could all change.

Trading the ocean for the rustbelt isn't the biggest issue for Davis. He can go home again when the season ends. That will be April, not June, for the next few years.

The issue isn't how he'll like it here or even his fluctuating motivation. He'll be 32 in April, playing for a team that probably won't contend before his contract expires in 2013. Why exactly would he welcome that?

A player who sees himself as a mentor might. But that's not a word consistent with Davis' NBA career. The bigger issue is he's not a good fit for the Cavaliers at this stage of their makeover. Ramon Sessions could use all the minutes available to him as the Cavaliers rebuild. So head coach Byron Scott is caught between speeding that development and keeping an often discontented Davis happy.

Davis plays hard when the spirit moves him. He is here because owner Dan Gilbert was willing to swallow $12 million more in salary to secure the Clippers' unprotected first-round pick.

Not that the Cavs don't like Davis. They showed interest in trading for him when LeBron James was here and Cavaliers' seasons were all about chasing titles. He made more sense then.The Cavs' situation now couldn't be more different. Maybe Davis will show up motivated and bring some excitement to town.

"The Beard is on its way," he told Cavs' fans in a Facebook post.

That could play well within the Amish demographic, I suppose, providing they hear about it.

For the rest, the draft is the next big thing.

Still, why does Davis take some of the shots he takes?

The question ever since July 8 when Gilbert sent out his infamous message to Cavs fans: Will his tirade against James prevent other top NBA players from wanting to play here?

Trades can't answer that. Cleveland wasn't a destination city for NBA free agents before Gilbert, so it's not as if Gilbert's comments threaten to stem the flow.

What we can say for sure in the Davis deal is leaving the Clippers for the Cavs is a serious ownership upgrade for him.

There are a hundred reasons why Donald Sterling is the worst owner in the NBA. I lived in San Diego when the Clippers played there. In an effort to save money, Sterling asked the head coach if he could do double duty and also tape ankles.

The head coach was Paul Silas. How do you think that went over?

According to a Yahoo Sports report, Davis heard a heckler at home games in early December.

"Why are you in the game?" the voice bellowed.

"Why did you take that shot?"

"You're out of shape."

Yep. Sterling.

Gilbert, and every other NBA owner, never looked so good.

HE SAID IT (on Facebook)

"First of all I want to say thank you to the fans in L.A. and all of Clipper Nation." -- Davis.

There's a Clipper Nation?

SOMEBODY SAID IT

"That just shows you how much we hate this draft." -- an unnamed Clippers' official after the Davis deal.

He might be right, but history begs the question: Is being smarter than a Clippers official the same as or harder than being smarter than a fifth grader?

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Mel Kiper Jr. and Eddie Munster. -- Steve V.

Andre Miller and Richard Pryor. -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike

View full sizeBarry Gutierrez / Associated PressNo, this is not George Karl's reaction to Carmelo Anthony's vocabulary. But if it was, it would look something like this.

Carpe diem and also the dictionary while you're at it...

Nuggets coach George Karl called Carmelo Anthony the best offensive player he's ever coached but said Anthony's lack of defensive commitment was a source of "frustration" for the Denver organization.

Informed of Karl's remarks, Anthony tweeted the following: "Damn, are u serious? Some people never seize to amaze me. Unbelievable."

Seize? The reaction of all Syracuse alums, not just English majors, is disbelief as well.

YOU SAID IT

(The Greatly Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud:

"Any truth to the rumor that Charlie Sheen is to star in the movie, 'My First 12 Steps Out of the Box, The Miguel Cabrera Story?'" -- Joe

No, Charlie is too busy writing a self-help book titled: "I'm OK, You're Ugly and So's Your Wife."

"Bud:

"Did Carmelo Anthony turn down an offer from the Wine and Gold out of fear he would be known as ''Melo yellow?'" -- Michael Sarro

You mean the Cavs' colors or the way they rebound?

"Bud:

"Where would LeBron say that Melo's karma resides after the Knicks loss to the Cavs? I mean, Carmelo did everything right and above board as he slithered, er, hijacked, his way out of Denver. How could this be happening to them?" -- Jim, Shaker Heights

Since you seem so seriously concerned for their well-being, I can only direct you to the book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People."

"Bud:

"I was working on my taxes the other night and need a clarification. Does purchasing Indians or Cavaliers season tickets qualify as a charitable contribution?" -- Edward Aube

Yes. And buying Browns tickets qualifies as a cry for help according to the American Psychiatric Association.

"Bud:

"Given the collective talent level on the Cavs, Browns, and Indians rosters, would it not be appropriate to ask our newly-acquired point guard to change the spelling of his first name to 'Barren?'" -- Jim D

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

"Bud:

"Are the rumors true the computer geeks at Progressive Field are in negotiations to procure 'Watson' from IBM?" -- Bill, Cleveland

Repeat winners receive a lifetime supply of spam.

"Bud:

"Now that the Cavs have Baron Davis to draw the fans back to The Q, what are the chances at halftime we'll see Baron throwing a ball out the roof of a Yugo to Moondog?" -- Doug, Westlake

Repeat winners also receive a flagrant foul.

Cleveland-area society benefit parties.

Greater Cleveland Sports Commission -- Awards Banquet

Cleveland's pro teams might be having their problems, but the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission's annual awards banquet on Feb. 10 proved there are still plenty of winners in Northeast Ohio. More than 1,200 guests attended the event at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. The silent auction was a treasure trove for memorabilia hunters, highlighted by such items as an autographed Joe DiMaggio bat. Live auction items included trips to the Super Bowl, college football's National Championship Game and the NCAA Men's Final Four.

-- Bob Migra, Special to The Plain Dealer

Pecha Kucha Night

The international sensation known as Pecha Kucha (Japanese for "the sound of conversation") grew a little more in Cleveland on Feb. 4 at House of Blues. More than 300 people packed the swanky Cambridge Room to hear a dozen speakers give rapid-fire presentations about art, architecture, animation and fashion. Founded in Tokyo in 2003 as an event for young designers to showcase their work and network, Pecha Kucha has spread to hundreds of cities around the world. Cleveland's 11th Pecha Kucha night was hosted again by local organizers Mike Christoff and Raseem Parker, who applied to the Japanese organization in 2008 to begin hosting the free events in Cleveland. They had to guarantee that they would never make a dollar from the events, so they've resorted to regular sponsorships and donations to keep the conversations flowing. For details about the next Pecha Kucha night go to pecha-kucha.org/night/cleveland. -- Kathleen Murphy Colan, Special to The Plain Dealer

Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter -- Cadillacs, Cowboys and Cocktails

Country and Western themes filled the Cadillac Ranch downtown on Feb. 10 for the Alzheimer's Association's first Cadillacs, Cowboys and Cocktails "friend-raiser" to spread the word that Alzheimer's is a family disease. A multigenerational volunteer committee worked hard to include grandparents, parents and children for the soiree that included 240 guests. A country band helped get everyone in the mood leading to a surprise flash mob by event planners to a cover of Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin' Boogie." Cleveland-area chapter executive director Nancy Udelson said the party wasn't a traditional fundraiser. "With such a low ticket price of $50 per person, we didn't expect to make any money," she said. The organization serves five counties in Northern Ohio and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2010. -- Kathleen Murphy Colan, Special to The Plain Dealer

Reds score late off Putnam and White to complete comeback from 6-1 deficit.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerTribe third baseman Jason Donald is upended by Cincinnati's Jay Bruce as Bruce stole third in the fifth inning of Sunday's spring-training opener at Goodyear, Ariz.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- A tough ninth inning for Alex White resulted in the Cincinnati Reds scoring twice for a 7-6 comeback victory over the Indians in the Cactus League opener for both teams today.

Zack Cozart and Corky Miller had RBI singles for Cincinnati in the ninth, after the Reds had scored four runs in the eighth to rally from a 6-1 deficit. The Indians threatened in the ninth, but after Lonnie Chisenhall led off with a double, he was caught off second when Ezequiel Carrera lined hard to first baseman Yonder Alonso.

The Indians had built their lead in a five-run seventh, sparked by Chisenhall's two-run double and Carrera's two-run homer off Donnie Joseph. Jared Head started the rally with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 2-1 lead.

The Reds' rally in the eighth came off Zach Putnam. Dave Sappelt and Chris Valaika hit consecutive homers with two out. Sappelt hit a two-run homer and Valaika a solo shot.

Adam Everett, trying to make the Indians as a utility infielder, pulled them into a 1-1 tie in the sixth.

Everett blooped a single into center field to score Jason Donald from third. Donald opened with a double past third. Carrera bunted him to third and Everett delivered him.

The Indians missed a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the same inning. Jared Goedert hit what appeared to be a sacrifice fly to left field.  Everett, who reached third on Luke Carlin's error, scored.  The Reds, however, appealed that Everett left early and plate umpire Corey Blazer called him out.     

The Reds led the Indians, 1-0, in the fifth. Travis Buck's error in left field led to the run.

Jay Bruce sent a fly ball to left with one out in the fifth with Jensen Lewis pitching.
Buck, battling the sun, tracked the ball, but had it hit his glove and fall to the ground for a two-base error. Bruce stole third and scored on Jonny Gomes' ground out to third.

Josh Tomlin started for the Indians and pitched two scoreless innings. He gave up a leadoff single to Scott Rolen in the second when a ball bounced past sliding Orlando Cabrera at second. Bruce followed by bouncing into a double play with Tomlin hustling over to first to take Asdrubal Cabrera's relay from second.

Matt Maloney, pitching in place of Edinson Volquez, countered with two scoreless innings of his own for the Reds. Volquez was in Goodyear, but didn't have a work visa from the Dominican Republic and could not pitch.

Maloney, a left-hander, struck out two.

Each team had two hits each through the first four innings. Buck and Asdrubal Cabrera had the Indians' hits. Edgar Renteria had the Reds' second hit.

Mohamed Massaquoi is certain that his former Georgia teammate A.J. Green is the best receiver available in the draft and would love to play with him again.

View full sizeDarron Cummings / Associated PressGeorgia's A.J. Green was impressive as expected in his NFL combine workout Sunday, and said he would enjoy a reunion with former teammate Mohamed Massaquoi in Cleveland.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Mohamed Massaquoi thinks his good friend and former Georgia teammate A.J. Green is the top receiver in the draft, despite a sizzling combine workout on Sunday by Alabama's Julio Jones.

"I'm not up on all the combine numbers yet, but I think A.J. is the best receiver in this draft," said the Browns' third-year receiver. "He's got phenomenal hands, he runs well and he's physical. He's got a tremendous body of work at Georgia. If you put all of that up against anybody, I think A.J. would come out on top."

Green, one of the players the Browns are considering with the sixth pick of the first round, got some competition Sunday from Jones, who produced the combine's workout of the day.

Widely regarded as the second-best wideout, Jones (6-4, 220) recorded a 4.39 in the 40, 11'3" in the broad jump and 38.5 inches in the vertical jump. His broad jump was two inches away from the combine record.

For comparison's sake, Green (6-4, 211) ran 4.48 in the 40, an above-average 10 feet, 6 inches in the broad jump and had a 34.5-inch vertical jump. Teams were hoping to see Green get his 40 time below 4.5 seconds, and his broad jump exceeded last year's average at the combine by more than six inches.

"I feel I had a pretty good day," Green told NFL Network after the workout. "I'm happy with my performance. I feel like I did my best."

During his media interview on Friday, Green credited Massaquoi, his friend and mentor, with helping him get to this point. The two spent one year together at Georgia, when Green was a freshman in 2008.

View full sizeMichael Conroy / Associated PressAlabama's Julio Jones put on a dazzling show for the NFL talent evaluators on Sunday, perhaps raising his stock from the middle of the first round.

"My freshman year he took me under his wing and showed me the ropes," said Green, who caught 56 passes for 963 yards and eight TDs in his first year with the Bulldogs. "He's been my mentor since I stepped foot onto Georgia's campus, and I turn to him for advice. When I'm talking to Mo, we don't really talk football. He doesn't like to talk football unless I ask him a question or something."

But they've talked enough shop to know they'd love to be playing in Cleveland. The Browns have made it clear that Green is on their radar, along with the top defensive linemen and cornerback Patrick Peterson.

"It would be nice to play with him," said Green, whose 23 TDs are second in Georgia history.

Massaquoi describes their friendship as a "big brother, little brother relationship. We clicked so well right from the start and we've remained close."

Green was suspended four games at the start of the 2010 season for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl jersey to an agent for $1,000, but Massaquoi said teams should not be concerned.

"Anyone who gets a chance to sit down and talk to A.J. will find out that his character is off the charts," said Massaquoi. "It was an unfortunate mistake, he learned from it, put it behind him and moved on. A.J. will never give a team anything it has to worry about."

Massaquoi said Green's stellar hands are what sets him apart.

"He was on a juggling team when he was younger and I'm sure that's one of the reasons by he's got such good hand-eye coordination," said Massaquoi.

New coach Pat Shurmur, who will also serve as offensive coordinator, said Green could fit the bill for the Browns. Some mock drafts have him going higher. Pro Football Weekly had him being selected fourth by the Bengals.

"Explosive players on offense I think are what you're looking for," Shurmur said Friday here. "Obviously, he fits in that explosive-player category."

While some teams might hesitate to take a receiver that high in the draft, Shurmur said he wouldn't hesitate to pick Green.

"As far as picking guys high at certain positions, I don't think that's an issue at receiver," Shurmur said. "I think if you can find a great player, and he's at the spot where you're willing to pick him, let's do it."

The NFL Network's Mike Mayock said Green would make sense for the Browns despite the fact he doesn't usually favor picking receivers in the top 10.

"You've got a young quarterback [in Colt McCoy] and you don't have a lot of playmaking wide receivers," he said on a conference call. I think A.J. Green becomes very, very legitimate in that slot. But it depends on which one of these defensive players slips through to number six."

New Cleveland Cavaliers guard Baron Davis speaks to the media before the Cavs took on the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday evening. He talks about the status of his knee, coming over from Los Angeles, the fans here in Cleveland, what he brings to the Cavs, and why he chose Number 85. Watch video

Thomas scored all the points during a 14-3 first-half run that turned the game into a rout.

View full sizeTerry Gilliam / Associated PressDeshaun Thomas drives to the basket against Indiana's Derek Elston (32) in the first half of Sunday's game in Columbus. Thomas broke out of a slump to score 22 points in the Buckeyes' win.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Deshaun Thomas, last year's Indiana Mr. Basketball, came out of a slump with 22 points to lead No. 2 Ohio State past Indiana, 82-61, on Sunday.

Thomas scored all the points during a 14-3 first-half run that spanned 3:36 and turned the game into a rout. He had managed just 13 points in his last seven games.

William Buford added 15 points and Jon Diebler and David Lighty each had 11 for the Buckeyes (27-2, 14-2 Big Ten), likely to ascend to No. 1 next week after top-ranked Duke lost at Virginia Tech on Saturday night. The defeat was Indiana's sixth in a row to Ohio State.

Verdell Jones III had 14 points for the Hoosiers (12-17, 3-13), who have lost six in a row and remain the only Big Ten team without a road win this season (0-10).

Jared Sullinger, leading Ohio State in scoring (17.8) and rebounding (9.9), picked up two fouls early and was limited to five points and seven rebounds in just 13 minutes.

The victory helped Ohio State maintain a one-game lead in the Big Ten with two games remaining -- at Penn State on Tuesday night and home against Wisconsin on Sunday. It was Wisconsin that hung the first loss on the Buckeyes on Feb. 12 in Madison.

Ahead by 15 at the break, the Buckeyes scored 13 of the first 17 points against the Hoosiers in the second half and rested many of their top players the rest of the way.

Thomas, who Indiana coach Tom Crean had tried to recruit after he had verbally committed to Ohio State, was the story for the Buckeyes in the first half. He gave them a lift after starters Sullinger, Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale each picked up two fouls.

Indiana, which hasn't beaten a Top 25 team on the road in more than nine years, led, 8-7, after Derek Elston scissored through the lane for a layup at the 16:35 mark, but didn't score again for almost eight minutes, until Elston scored again on a short jumper.

Then Thomas took over, hitting two foul shots, then swishing back-to-back 3-pointers. He took an assist pass from Lauderdale for another bucket inside, then spun in a reverse layup and ended the run with another reverse move off glass.

The Buckeyes led, 38-23, at the half, with Thomas totaling 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, his only miss coming on a shot behind the arc.

Indiana never seriously threatened in the second half.

The Hoosiers' Victor Oladipo and Ohio State's Aaron Craft collided while going for a loose ball with 12:33 left. Oladipo went to the Indiana bench but later returned.

The victory gave Ohio State 19 home victories this season, a record in the program's 112 seasons. The Buckeyes are 36-1 in Columbus over the last two seasons.

Sullinger hit two free throws early to become only the fourth Ohio State freshman to score 500 or more points in a season, joining current NBA players Michael Redd (658), Kosta Koufos (534) and Greg Oden (501).

Indiana was playing consecutive games against top-10 teams for the first time since 2004. The Hoosiers lost on Wednesday night to No. 8 Purdue, 72-61.

Antawn Jamison suffers a broken finger against the 76ers in Sunday's game.

View full sizeTony Dejak / Associated PressRamon Sessions is fouled by Lou Williams in the second quarter of Sunday's game at The Q.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notes and observations from the Cavs game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday evening at The Q:

Final: Sixers 95, Cavs 91. It wasn't as if the Cavaliers didn't look bad enough for most of Sunday's 95-91 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at The Q.

But late in the third quarter, they also lost leading scorer Antawn Jamison with a fractured left little finger. It is unclear how much time -- if any -- he will be out.

A 3-pointer by Daniel Gibson, celebrating his 25th birthday, got the Cavs within 93-91 with about seven seconds left, but Jodie Meeks hit two free throws with 6.9 seconds left to account for the final score.

J.J. Hickson had 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Ramon Sessions added 20 points and 10 assists for the Cavs, who fell to 11-48.

Elton Brand and Lou Williams each had 16 points to lead the Sixers, who improved to 30-29.

With newcomers Baron Davis and Semih Erden in street clothes on the bench next to new teammate Luke Harangody, who was in uniform, the Cavs rolled out to a 20-8 lead that evaporated faster than Friday's snowfall.

By halftime, the Cavs trailed, 49-43, but by midway through the third quarter, they were down, 65-50, and it seemed as if they could not have cared less.

Losing Jamison woke them up, and behind Gibson and rookie Samardo Samuels, the Cavs opened the fourth quarter on a 17-9 run to climb back within 84-81. The key play in the stretch was Hickson's tip-in of a missed free throw by Samuels.

But the Cavs allowed Jrue Holiday to drive untouched to the hole and, after Sessions lost the ball to Holiday, Jodie Meeks hit a 3-pointer to restore the Sixers' lead to 89-81.

The Cavs did get back 91-88 with 48.6 seconds left on a 10-footer by Sessions, and the Cavs had a chance after Andre Iguodala committed an offensive foul with 29.3 seconds left. But Hickson turned the ball over with 12.5 seconds left, and Holiday made two free throws with 11.1 seconds left.

Third quarter update: Sixers 75, Cavs 64. Antawn Jamison fractured the little finger on his left hand and left the game with 1:26 left.

That's the worst thing to happen to the Cavs since losing Anderson Varejao with a torn tendon in his right foot in mid-January. Jamison has been averaging 18.1 points this season and many nights is the only guy they can count on.

It's a terrible blow for the Cavs and for a guy who has never failed to be available to the media no matter how bad things got. There is no word yet on how long -- or if -- he'll be sidelined.

Halftime update: Sixers 49, Cavs 43. Cavs basically have three guys playing -- J.J. Hickson (14 points and nine rebounds), Antawn Jamison (12 points and four rebounds) and Ramon Sessions (eight points, five assists and four rebounds).

Byron Scott at one time was using a lineup of Daniel Gibson with rookies Manny Harris, Christian Eyenga, Alonzo Gee and Samardo Samuels. Is it any wonder the Sixers, led by Thaddeus Young's 12 points, outscored the Cavs in the second period, 27-20? Sixers shot 52.4 percent in the second, while Cavs managed 33.3 percent.

First quarter update: Cavs 23, Sixers 22. Cavs blasted out to 20-8 lead but Lou Williams had eight points as Sixers stormed back with 14-3 run. J.J. Hickson had 10 points and four rebounds, while Antawn Jamison has eight points and three rebounds. Newcomer Luke Harangody is activated but won't play, while Baron Davis and Semih Erden are inactive but on the bench.

Cavs starters: F Christian Eyenga, F Antawn Jamison, C J.J. Hickson, G Anthony Parker, G Ramon Sessions.

Sixers starters: F Andre Iguodala, F Elton Brand, C Specner Hawes, G Jodie Meeks, G Jrue Holiday.

Injuries: Anderson Varejao (torn tendon, right foot) is out for Cavs.

Inactives: Baron Davis, Semih Erden, Varejao for Cavs. Craig Brackins, Jason Kapono for Sixers.

Officials: Eric Lewis, John Goble, Scott Wall.

Three things to watch:

1. Even though the newcomers won't play, it will be interesting to see (and hear) the crowd reaction when they're introduced.

2. Can J.J. Hickson put together two good games in a row?

3. How will the Cavs reserves fare against the Sixers reserves, who lead the NBA with 40.1 points per game?

Mike Hargrove in uniform and sunshine for the spring training opener. What more could Indians fans want, except a time capsule, sports columnist Bud Shaw writes.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain Dealer"I've only been here a few days," former Indians manager Mike Hargrove said of the 2011 Tribe. "So in certain respects it's hard to get a read on everything. But I know one thing. There are a lot of good young arms here. And from everything I see, they're doing it the right way."

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Mike Hargrove, Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar and sunshine for the spring training opener.

What more could one ask for except -- you know -- the time capsule so many so desperately want.

"Some of the [critical] things I've read from fans in letters to the newspaper and some of the things I've heard on talk radio, the intensity has surprised me," said Hargrove, who threw out the first pitch prior to the Indians playing their spring training roommates, the Cincinnati Reds, at Goodyear Ballpark.

Hargrove's pitch was as much symbolic as ceremonial. As the Indians launch one of the diciest seasons in their history, the dual initiative is to compete in the AL Central as well as win the support of an alienated fan base after consecutive 90-loss seasons.

Of the two missions, conquering the Twins, Tigers and White Sox might be the easier challenge.

The opportunity is there to rekindle interest, which is why 2011 is so important and not just in player development for a team with the second lowest payroll in the division. With the Cavaliers sitting out the playoffs, the Indians will have April, May and June pretty much to themselves. And maybe longer, if the NFL and its players don't conspire to tag team the golden goose.

Hargrove's Indians enjoyed a fairly barren sports landscape in the '90s as the Cavs faded and the Browns left town. What can't be replicated is the new ballpark honeymoon that began in 1994.

"The success in the '90s is not a bad standard to have, but people have to realize it didn't happen overnight then either," Hargrove said. "I think when we launched our five-year plan it was the 10th five-year plan we'd had in the previous three years.

"Things had been so bad for so long and we were so numb from the beating we'd been taking [PR wise] that I'm not sure the [fan unhappiness] really stood out."

Hardly anyone remembers now that Dick Jacobs pared the payroll to $8-9 million before all the success. What's remembered is the talent that grew and flourished all around after the organizational re-seeding: Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Jim Thome, Charlie Nagy.

They didn't arrive in a single crash of cymbals. But you could see it coming. Lofton's speed electrified immediately. Ramirez hit two home runs in the second game he ever played. At Yankee Stadium.

The crop of developing position player talent in 2011 isn't bare, but it's nowhere near as full. Except for Carlos Santana, the drum roll is not so loud.

Lonnie Chisenhall, who doubled in two runs Sunday, is the organization's top prospect but hasn't had a single at-bat at Class AAA. He's not the only prospect. But excitement over farm systems is never especially palpable. Here it's blunted by the more pressing concern over the talent acquired in the trades for C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee reaching fruition.

If Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley don't give manager Manny Acta reason to make them lineup mainstays, it's going to be a tough slog on the field and probably at the gate, too.

"I've only been here a few days," Hargrove said. "So in certain respects it's hard to get a read on everything. But I know one thing. There are a lot of good young arms here.

"And from everything I see, they're doing it the right way. They're being patient. They know they're going to take their lumps but they're not babying guys either."

Starting pitching takes longer to show itself. The Indians have better and more young pitching prospects than when former GM John Hart ran the organization. Hart signed veteran starters (though never a No. 1) and put them around his "All-Stars at every position."

If it comes together at all for new GM Chris Antonetti, pitching will be the reason. But in the meantime, there are tickets to sell and anger to diffuse.

And more lumps to take.

Shin-Soo Choo's left elbow is sore, but the Indians don't think it's serious. He'll DH Monday against the Reds and could be back in right field by the end of the week.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerSkydivers added some pregame color to the opening of the spring exhibition season for the Indians and Reds Sunday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Shin-Soo Choo, the Indians' top position player, is expected to return to right field by the end of the week after receiving treatment for a hyper-extended left elbow.

Choo did not play in Sunday's 7-6 loss to Cincinnati to open the Cactus League season. He will DH Monday against the Reds.

Sunday morning Choo played catch at 90 feet. He threw at 80 percent and said the elbow felt good. If he feels good Monday, Choo will play catch at 120 feet and extend it to 150 on Tuesday. After a probable day off, he could possibly return to right field Thursday.

Choo, who led the AL in assists last year, said he overworked his arm by throwing too far, too fast in off-season conditioning.

"[Trainer] Lonnie Soloff said I probably got too much extension on the elbow," said Choo. "Then I got some inflammation. The good news is it's not inside the joint."

Choo had an MRI on the elbow because he had Tommy John surgery in 2007. "The Tommy John surgery is on the side of the elbow and that looked fine," said Choo. "This is in the back of his elbow."

The only time Choo feels pain is when he throws. "Everything else is good," he said. "The hitting is OK. There's no problem when I stretch. The movement in the elbow is normal."

Said manager Manny Acta, "We just want to keep Choo off the field for a couple of days. He's had the elbow checked out. He's played catch at 90 feet. But we do have to be careful.

"We pretty much won more games than anybody last spring and they didn't mean anything at the end. I need this guy when the season starts."

The Indians were 19-9-3 last spring only to go 69-93 during the regular season.

Durbin update: Chad Durbin is expected to take his physical Monday. If all goes well, the Indians will officially announce that he's signed a one-year, $800,000 contract. The deal includes $1 million in incentives.

Gametime: What happened in the Tribe's 7-6 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday?

• Alex White, the 2009 No.1 pick, entered the ninth with a 6-5 lead, but turned it into a 7-6 loss by allowing RBI singles to Zack Cozart and Corky Miller. He was charged with the loss and blown save.

• Second baseman Orlando Cabrera looked awkward making the turn on a double play in the third. Cabrera, primarily a shortstop for his big-league career but the second baseman for the Tribe, also had a ground ball single bounce past him in the second when he tried to make a sliding stop.

"Orlando's arm is not in shape just yet," said Acta. "He's a veteran guy. He knows what to do to get himself in shape. He'll be fine."

• Edison Volquez was scheduled to start for the Reds, but he has not received a work visa. He's in Goodyear, but can't pitch in exhibition games until he has one. He may have to return to his native Dominican Republic to get it.

• Tribe reliever Zach Putnam, handed a 6-1 lead to start the eighth, allowed four runs to make it 6-5. He gave up a two-run homer to Dave Sappelt and a solo homer to Chris Valaika.

• Jason Donald, who has a chance to win the third-base job, hit a leadoff double in the sixth and came around to score on Ezequiel Carrera's sacrifice bunt and Adam Everett's bloop single to make it 1-1.

• Lonnie Chisenhall, the third baseman in waiting, replaced Donald and hit a two-run double in the Tribe's five-run seventh inning and a leadoff double in the ninth to represent the tying run. The rally ended when Carrera lined into a double play at first.

• Carrera, low in the pecking order as far as center fielders are concerned, is making an impression. He played well the two intrasquad games and hit a two-run homer in the Tribe's seventh-inning rally.

• The Reds took a 1-0 lead in fifth when left fielder Travis Buck, battling the sun, dropped Jay Bruce's fly ball after it hit the glove. Bruce stole third and scored on a ground out.

"That ball was in the sun the whole way," said Acta. "He did a fantastic job, he just couldn't come up with it."

• The Indians had a run disallowed when the Reds appealed that Everett left third base early on a potential sacrifice fly by Jared Goedert in the sixth. Everett was called out.

"I don't think he left early," said Acta, "but does it matter? It's what they call. Plus I'm biased."

Finally: The numbers of Hall of Famers Bob Feller (19) and Sparky Anderson (10) will appear in front of the Indians and Reds dugout at Goodyear Ballpark this spring. Feller, the winningest pitcher in Indians history, died on Dec. 15 at 92. Anderson, who managed the Reds to World Series titles in 1975 and 1976, died on Nov. 4 at 76.

"When I was with Houston and we went to Winter Haven for spring training, he was always there, always playing catch," said Acta. "I always felt there has never been a Hall of Fame caliber guy that identified so much with his franchise. Bob meant a lot to us."

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, whom the Browns are considering with their first-round pick, hopes to steal the combine show with a 40-time in the 4.2s or low 4.3s.

View full sizeMichael Conroy / Associated PressOK, now just hold that pose: Auburn's Cam Newton gets some close-up and personal camera time with videographer Mike Bracken before taking part in one of Sunday's drills at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson hopes to dazzle scouts and coaches with his speed at the NFL Scouting Combine Tuesday.

"I'm really looking forward to the 40," said Peterson, who met with the Browns at the combine. "I definitely want to run a 4.2, if not in the low 4.3s. A week ago I ran a 4.29."

In addition to his shutdown corner skills, Peterson (6-0, 219) is a dynamic returner. At LSU, he finished fourth in the nation in punt return average (16.1) and scored two TDs. He was ninth in kickoff return average (29.1).

"It's hard to tackle me," he said. "I won't come down on one shot. But these guys are definitely bigger and faster in the NFL. That's the main reason I put on a little bit more weight."

Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said on Friday that the Browns wouldn't hesitate to pick Peterson at No. 6 despite taking Florida corner Joe Haden last year. Haden was an NFL Rookie of the Year finalist and finished tied for the fifth in the NFL with six interceptions.

View full sizeAP photo"I'm an all-around cornerback and that's what I wanted to do coming out of college," says LSU's Patrick Peterson.

"If there's a really good one, you're not gonna pass on him," said Heckert. "So I think corner is just as good a possibility as anything. You need three good corners. I wouldn't have any problem with that."

Most experts have Peterson going in the top 5, and there's some thought he could go first overall, especially if he clocks a time in the 4.2s.

"I hope I can be in play for the first pick," he said. "It is what it is. The Panthers have the final say-so. It doesn't matter what I think, what I have to say about it. It's truly an honor and a blessing to be in this position, anyway. I'm just going to continue taking one thing at a time and waiting for April 28 and see what that day brings me."

Asked about playing with Haden, who said last week he'd love to play with Peterson, he said, "I've love to play with anybody."

He offered reasons why he is considered the consensus No. 1 cornerback in the draft. "I'd probably say my ball skills, toughness, I can support the run," he said. "I'm an all-around cornerback and that's what I wanted to do coming out of college. I definitely want to continue that trend going into the NFL."

He is willing to move to safety -- a common speculation in the league -- but prefers cornerback.

"I feel my best game is at cornerback, but if an NFL team needs me to play the safety position, I'm definitely more than willing to transition my game to the safety position," he said. "They haven't come to me with changing to the safety position, but if it so happens, it happens. I'll have to live with it."

Green or Jones? Peterson was diplomatic when asked who is the better receiver, Georgia's A.J. Green or Alabama's Julio Jones, who had a spectacular workout Sunday. Peterson faced Green for three seasons and Jones for two. The only TD pass he allowed in 2010 was to Jones.

"Both of those guys are good. That's a tough position to put me in. I don't want those guys coming after me. Both of those guys are good-caliber athletes. They've got different styles of play. It's tough for me to pick one."

He said Jones is more physical. It's no wonder. Jones said at the combine that the player he emulates most is Ray Lewis. "I like to hit defenders," he said.

Liking the new boss: Mohamed Massaquoi said he's excited about the new West Coast offense and incoming receivers coach Mike Wilson, who played for the 49ers and coached a pair of Pro Bowlers in Arizona.

"Coach Wilson played with Jerry Rice and he coached Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald," said Massaquoi. "I think the fact that he's played the game will really help me improve my game."

In his own defense: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, projected as a possible Browns pick, defended the charge Sunday that he's a dirty player and takes plays off.

"A lot of folks out there say I play the game the way it should be played," he said. "I hit a light switch when I hit the field and don't turn it off 'til I leave. I don't think I took plays off. I play with a high motor. I've been playing football since I was 8 years old, and every time I hit the field, my motor was always running."

He also disagreed with the rap that he's a one-hit wonder.

"I really need to come out tomorrow at the combine and just show them in the drills that I'm a great athlete and, with the interviews that we have, that I'm a great person off the field too," he said. "I have to show them that one-hit wonder is not in me. I think I can play anywhere, 3-4 or 4-3. It doesn't matter to me."

Fairley said he was measured at 6-4. There have been reports that he would measure shorter.

The Indians lost their Cactus League opener to the Reds on Sunday, but manager Manny Acta liked what he saw from Josh Tomlin and Carlos Santana.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Manager Manny Acta likes to watch Josh Tomlin pitch because he knows what to expect. It's not a whodunit with 10 suspects. It's Joe Friday on Dragnet: "Just the facts, ma'am."

Tomlin is a strike thrower. That means he's going to get people out or give up hits. The wasteland between those two statistics -- walks, hit by pitches, etc. -- doesn't usually apply to the right-hander from Texas.

Another thing about Tomlin, he does other things to help himself. He holds base runners and fields his position well. It makes pitching easier and gives the manager's ulcers a day off.

"I'm sitting in the dugout either waiting for him to get a guy out or to give up a hit," said Acta. "I'm not on the edge of my seat. I'm not wondering 'will he throw the ball over the plate?'

"You either get him out or you're not going to get him out. It makes it easier for me."

It's not good for a pitcher to give up too many hits. Acta won't argue that. What he likes about Tomlin is he doesn't walk people first and then allow hits.

Tomlin started Sunday's Cactus League opener against Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark. The Indians lost, 7-6, in the 55-degree weather, but Tomlin was his usual self. In two scoreless innings, he faced six batters, struck out one, gave up a hit and hustled over to first base to complete a 3-6-1 double play. He threw 17 pitches and didn't walk a batter.

"He has the ability to throw strikes with three or more pitches and that helps," said Acta.

He had everything on display Sunday -- two and four-seam fastball, cutter and curveball. His pitches were over or near the plate and the Reds were swinging.

Tomlin is competing with Aaron Laffey, David Huff, Anthony Reyes and Jeanmar Gomez for the last spot in the rotation. Of the five candidates, Tomlin probably had the best overall showing last year. He was 8-4 with a 2.69 ERA in 20 appearances, including 17 starts, at Class AAA Columbus. In Cleveland he went 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA in 12 starts.

He averaged 5.3 strikeouts and 2.3 walks and per nine innings with the Indians. At Columbus he averaged 6.7 strikeouts and 2.8 walks. Tomlin threw 65 (726-for-1,112) percent of his pitches for strikes in 12 big-league starts. In his final start, he hit 73 percent (59-for-81).

"No, I don't think I'm the favorite," said Tomlin. "We have great arms in this organization. You have to prove yourself every day. ... You have to earn everything every day."

He says he's not thinking about the competition. There are 35 Cactus League games yet to be played. Tomlin told pitching coach Tim Belcher as he walked off the field Sunday, "I'm not trying to make the team today. I'm just trying to focus on each pitch and throw strikes. I felt like I controlled my emotions, threw my first pitch for strikes and was around the plate."

Carlos Santana caught Tomlin's two innings. Then he left with his starting pitcher. Santana won't play Monday against the Reds.

"He's being built up as if nothing had happened to him," said Acta. "That's how it goes with catchers. He'll be out there on Tuesday."

Does this mean the left knee Santana injured Aug. 2 in a train-wreck of a collision at the plate in Boston is no longer a concern? "I was wondering if my knee was going to hurt because I haven't played in a long time," said Santana. "But my knee felt great today."

Santana, with Shin-Soo Choo out of the lineup with a hyper-extended left elbow, hit third. In his only at-bat, he grounded out to short.

"I had no problem running down the line," said Santana. "Everything is OK. I'm excited."

Santana needed surgery to correct the knee he damaged in his collision with Boston's Ryan Kalish. He said there were times he thought he might miss the next year or two because of the injury.

"But I spent all winter here working hard and I'm excited to be playing again," he said.