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Brecksville running back Matt Galland headlines local football award winners

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WESTLAKE, Ohio - Brecksville-Broadview Heights running back Matt Galland headlines a group of local football players and coaches who will be honored Monday during the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation's awards banquet. Galland will be honored with the inspiration award for his Rush for a Cause campaign, a non-profit fundraising effort to help injured athletes. Galland...

Brecksville's Matt Galland will receive the inspiration award for his Rush for a Cause campaign, a non-profit fundraising effort to help injured athletes. - (Allison Carey / The Plain Dealer)

WESTLAKE, Ohio - Brecksville-Broadview Heights running back Matt Galland headlines a group of local football players and coaches who will be honored Monday during the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation's awards banquet.

Galland will be honored with the inspiration award for his Rush for a Cause campaign, a non-profit fundraising effort to help injured athletes. Galland raised more than $25,000 last season, and got other area running backs to participate.

Receiving the Paul Brown high school coaches of the year award are Rick Finotti of Division I state champion St. Edward, Todd Filtz of Division II state champ Maple Heights and Dan Reardon of Division V winner Youngstown Ursuline. Brecksville-Broadview Heights' Ed Herrick is receiving the Ron Stoops assistant high school coach of the year award.

The group will also honor 20 area players as scholar athletes. Among the other honorees are Browns president Mike Holmgren and former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar.

The banquet is Monday night at LaCentre in Westlake. For more information call 440-892-4000.

 


NFL Draft 2011: Browns need another cornerback

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There's an updated saying in the NFL that a defense is only as good as its fourth cornerback. Teams need a solid fourth corner in these pass-happy times because more offenses are lining up three- and four-receiver sets on a regular basis. Further, the possibility of the top three not missing any games is slim.

There's an updated saying in the NFL that a defense is only as good as its fourth cornerback.

Teams need a solid fourth corner in these pass-happy times because more offenses are lining up three- and four-receiver sets on a regular basis. Further, the possibility of the top three not missing any games is slim.

The Browns played the whole 2010 season essentially with three natural cornerbacks. The defense wound up yielding 26 touchdown passes -- second-most in their expansion era. Not all were the fault of cornerbacks, but nonexistent depth exacerbated the problem.

Veteran starter Eric Wright began the season poorly and then hurt a knee in the 10th game. The other veteran starter, Sheldon Brown, played with a bum shoulder for seven games. The third cornerback was a rookie, Joe Haden, who emerged as one of the team's best defensive players.

The Browns had nobody to plug in after Wright and Brown got hurt.

"Once the draft was over, there was just a limited amount of guys," said General Manager Tom Heckert. "We tried to sign some guys. Realistically, it was going to be tough to get a legit guy. It was a little bit disconcerting, but we didn't think we could find a better guy than [reserve safety] Mike Adams, so . . ."

They don't want to be in that situation again.

Even though Wright, a restricted free agent, Brown, 32, and Haden all will return, the Browns are scouring the draft for one or two cornerbacks. They have scouted high and low.

The Browns have had visits with the top five-rated cornerbacks in the draft -- LSU's Patrick Peterson, Nebraska's Prince Amukamara, Colorado's Jimmy Smith, Texas' Aaron Williams, Miami's Brandon Harris and Johnny Patrick of Louisville.

They also have visited with or worked out latter-round prospects DeMarcus Van Dyke of Miami, Marcus Gilchrist of Clemson, Brandon Burton of Utah, Devon Torrence of Ohio State, Buster Skrine of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Chris Culliver of South Carolina and Curtis Brown of Texas.

Some of the cornerbacks are viewed as potential safeties, where the Browns also have a need because of the uncertain status of former starter Abram Elam, an unrestricted free agent. The possible safeties in this bunch include Williams, Gilchrist and Culliver.

Peterson, who many think is the best player in the draft, may also wind up as a safety in the NFL.

But Heckert said, "Any time you have a guy that can play corner, you have to try him there first."

Such is the premium on the cornerback position.

•Next: Offensive line.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670


Browns Hillis is a finalist for Madden game cover

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JOHN KUNTZ/THE PLAIN DEALERBrowns running back Peyton Hillis breaks away from Miami Dolphins defenders in a game last December. Over the past month, the world (the video game-playing, sports-loving world, at least) has learned a very important lesson: Never underestimate the passion of Cleveland Browns fans. Even though the team hasn't won a title in 47 years, even though...

peyton.jpgBrowns running back Peyton Hillis breaks away from Miami Dolphins defenders in a game last December.

Over the past month, the world (the video game-playing, sports-loving world, at least) has learned a very important lesson: Never underestimate the passion of Cleveland Browns fans.

Even though the team hasn't won a title in 47 years, even though it seems the Browns might be cursed into losing seasons and injured players and general prolonged misery, Browns fans have not wavered in their love for their NFL team.

So much so that they have propelled their relatively unknown running back, Peyton Hillis, to the finals of EA Sports' competition to appear on the cover of Madden NFL 12, the latest edition of one of the most popular video games. Hillis is squared off against Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick, a villainous adversary, in a surprising finale to the online fan voting campaign EA Sports launched this season for the first time.

The winner will be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN2's SportsNation show.

According to Carrie Hillis, the mother of the Browns player, her son is "thrilled," and not one bit worried about the supposed Madden Cover Curse.

"We are all so thrilled about it," she said from their home in Conway, Ark. "He's so grateful to the Cleveland fans. He's a hometown hero, and everybody is so excited. And everybody's been voting."

According to Anthony Stevenson, an EA Sports senior product manager, more than 12 million people have voted in the bracketed online tournament. Hillis was a No. 10 seed who knocked off No. 7 Ray Rice (62 to 38 percent), No. 2 Matt Ryan (51 to 49 percent), No. 6 Jamaal Charles (60 to 40 percent) and most surprisingly, Super Bowl MVP and No. 1 Aaron Rodgers (61 to 39 percent).

While the seeding is completely arbitrary, Stevenson said, there was sound reasoning behind each player selected to represent each of the 32 NFL teams. Rodgers, for instance, was a natural as the quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. Tim Tebow was a surprise choice from Denver, but the back-up quarterback has legions of vocal fans.

Vick is a story of redemption, the Eagles quarterback who served nearly two years in prison for his part in an illegal dog-fighting ring.

And Hillis is a humble Arkansas kid, a bruising 6-foot-2, 240-pound back who surprised everyone in leading the Browns in rushing with 1,177 yards last season.

And it's an unbelievable opportunity for whichever player ends up on the cover. Not only will he receive about $125,000, according to a source, but he will receive valuable publicity for about a week's worth of promotional work for the game.

That would be a first for the 25-year-old Hillis, who hasn't been a team's steady starting tailback since high school. Even at Arkansas, Hillis played behind two other standout backs.

"If he does win the cover, people are going to walk into their GameStops and stare at the cover," said Darren Rovell, a sports business reporter for CNBC. "You can't be a casual football fan and know who he is. In fact, what's his number? I don't even know his number."

It's 40 for anyone outside of Cleveland who is still confused.

While EA Sports won't release numbers for how many of Hillis' votes come from the Cleveland area, most credit passionate Browns fans and their knowledge of social media for propelling their running back to the finals.

"We're in a different era," Rovell said. "We're in a social media era where people with cult followings have a chance."

Said Stevenson: "It's very obvious when you look on Facebook and Twitter where the majority of this is coming from."

And he doesn't believe the votes come with racial bias, as many critics have suggested. Hillis was the first white NFL running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 25 years last season, but other more well-known white players such as Rodgers, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning didn't advance as far as Hillis in the cover competition.

"I certainly know it's something people want to talk about," Stevenson said. "But it's more about the city of Cleveland. The bottom line is it doesn't matter, everyone loves a redemption story in Michael Vick or an underdog story in Peyton Hillis."

In fact, there is only one problem with all of this: the Madden Cover Curse. According to legend -- and plenty of statistical backup -- the player who appears on the cover usually suffers a decline in performance that same season, typically coupled with injury.

That, apparently, is why Green Bay fans took to flooding message boards with pleas to NOT vote for Rodgers.

It might not be an issue for Hillis and his perpetually embattled Browns, though.

"I believe more in the 'Reverse the Curse' logic,'" Stevenson said. "I'm no mathematician, but I know two negatives make a positive."

Fans can vote once per day at: espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654.

Spring football game at Ohio State showcases reach of program and romance of college football: Bill Livingston

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Columbus -- From the south, at night, is the best way to approach the behemoth. Out of the tangle of interstates and four-lane roads, the sign suddenly glows in the distance, like a huge promise. "Ohio State," proclaims the massive scoreboard in the gigantic stadium.  This is where the big time becomes the big-as-it-gets time.  A handful of schools...

Columbus -- From the south, at night, is the best way to approach the behemoth. Out of the tangle of interstates and four-lane roads, the sign suddenly glows in the distance, like a huge promise. "Ohio State," proclaims the massive scoreboard in the gigantic stadium. 

This is where the big time becomes the big-as-it-gets time. 

A handful of schools have even bigger stadiums -- Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee. But few command the same attention in a populous state as Ohio State. 

Penn State comes close. But the University of Pittsburgh is three hours away by mountain roads. The Big East is hardly as potent as its BCS brethren, but Pitt still claims a share of the fans' loyalty in Pennsylvania. Cincinnati, a Big East program only two hours from Columbus, cannot rival Pitt in the game's lore or records. 

Michigan has Michigan State, and even Tennessee has Vanderbilt as in-state major conference rivals. Nebraska, the Big Ten's shiny new member, is its state's lone major power. But it is Lord of the Corn Stubble in a rural state. 

The fish bowl lifestyle of Buckeyes players is daunting to some would-be recruits. The enormous pressure players and coaches face to win every game isn't for everybody. Neither are the NASCAR-sized crowds, which require fans and reporters to get to the game two hours before kickoff, or else get there, their shirt-tails flapping, 10 minutes before it. 

But it is my idea of a perfect Saturday afternoon. 

I grew up with the vast scale of University of Texas football. I can vouch for the reach of such teams. When Texas played Arkansas in tense, bitterly fought Saturday night games in the early 1960s, a boy might listen on a cheap transistor radio to Kern Tipps doing the play-by-play -- "Texas comes up to the line, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, looking to glue the bits and pieces of its power jigsaw together" -- while willing himself to stay awake as the drama crackled out of the tiny speakers. When the Longhorns won, angels (and probably wingless ones, given Darrell Royal's conservatism) sang that boy to his rest. 

I grew up to cover Penn State for three seasons a generation ago. The enormous scope of the program there was similar to that of Texas. I had simply traded Royal's drawl for the swift rhythms of Joe Paterno's native Brooklyn. "Joe Pa" is now a monument as enduring as the stadium that was expanded many times around his team as his success grew. 

When Penn State joined the Big Ten, I interviewed the veteran coach at length. The core of the story was Paterno's avowed fondness for the classics. I knew the Latin epic poem the "Aeneid" was a Paterno favorite, so I cast Penn State's turn from the East Coast to the Midwest in terms of the invasion of Italy by Aeneas and the other Trojans, who had escaped from their burning, doomed city. 

It was as romantic a view of college football as NFL Films gives to the pro game with its sound tracks of military marches and bugles blowing. But I stand by the treatment because the most important readers are the small (and not-so-small) boys and girls who see the game through the same prism. 

On a crisp autumn morning, there is no better walk in Ohio than the one over the Olentangy bridges, with Ohio State's crew teams skimming down the river amid swirling mist, as fans pour into the mammoth stadium on the east bank. 

I do not think such a feeling makes me a Pollyanna. Over the years, in the Maurice Clarett, Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor et al. scandals, I have pounded more nails than most into the Ohio State football program. 

The current memorabilia sale scandal is big in possible NCAA punitive measures, especially for coach Jim Tressel. But it is grubby and small in spirit. It devalues the tokens of football success and distances the players from the fans' passion. It stands apart from the colossal triumphs and the seven Heisman trophies. It commands headlines, but it cannot erode the red cliffs of the packed stands in the scarlet-fevered stadium. It is a stain, and a serious one, but it cannot leave the "i" undotted or the alma mater unsung. 

Saturday afternoon, Ohio State concludes spring football practice with the intrasquad game. A crowd of 95,000 attended a few years ago in beautiful weather. The predicted wet conditions will hold the crowd down Saturday. Still, as a University of Texas publicist named Jones Ramsey once said, "There are two sports in Texas. Football and spring football." 

True there. True enough here.  
 

The Tribe never saw this out coming: Cleveland Indians daily briefing

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The Indians are still marveling at Melky Cabrera's throw through the rain and win on Thursday night in the eighth inning.


santana-bat-spring-vert-cc.jpgCatcher Carlos Santana was victimized by a strong throw from Royals center fielder Melky Cabrera.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Game 19, Friday, April 22: The throw was still on the Indians mind Friday as they prepared to open a three-game series against the Twins at Target Field.

Kansas City center fielder Melky Cabrera erased Carlos Santana at the plate in the eighth inning Thursday night with a strong throw through the rain and wind from deep center field. The Indians were looking to take a 2-0 lead to 3-0, instead they lost an insurance run and the game in the ninth as the Royals rallied for a 3-2 victory.

"Remarkable throw," said third base coach Steve Smith. "I thought it was an easy run. Cabrera is playing deep because Hafner is at the plate. It's raining, the ball is wet.

"I felt bad. There was only one out, but everybody on the bench said they would have shot me if I didn't send him."

Santana didn't get a great jump, but he runs pretty well for a catcher. Cabrera's throw to the catcher Matt Treanor easily beat Santana to the plate. Santana tried to knock the ball loose, but without success.

"I was thinking of stopping Carlos after he didn't get that great of a jump, but I thought he'd score easy because Cabrera was playing so deep," said Smith.

Michael Brantley knows just how tough a throw Cabrera made. In the ninth inning, with the bases loaded and the Tribe clinging to a 2-1 lead, Cabrera, yes, the same guy who threw out Santana, singled to left.

Brantley grabbed the ball, double clutched because it was so slippery, and got off a weak throw as the tying and winning run scored.

"If I had just grabbed that ball and chucked it, there's not telling where it would have went," said Brantley. "We were talking about how remarkable Cabrera's throw was under those conditions."

Delivering the goods: The Indians are hitting .325 (50-for-154) with runners in scoring position. They hit .248 in that category last year.

Him vs. me: Minnesota's Jason Kubel is hitting .361 (13-for-36) with three homers and nine RBI against tonight's starter Fausto Carmona. The Tribe's Matt LaPorta is 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI against Brian Duensing. Asdrubal Cabrera is the only other Indians pitcher with more than one hit against Duensing.

Quote of the day: "You don't save pitchers for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain," former manager Leo "The Lip' Durocher.

Tonight's lineups:

Indians (13-6): CF Grady Sizemore (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), LF Michael Brantley (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L) and RHP Fausto Carmona (1-2, 4.74).

Twins (7-12): CF Denard Span (L), LF Jason Repko (R), RF Jason Kubel (L), 1B Michael Cuddyer (R), DH Jim Thome (L), 3B Danny Valencia (R), 2B Luke Hughes (R), C Drew Butera (R), SS Alexi Casilla (S) and LHP Brian Duensing (1-0, 3.60).

Lineup notes: Lefties are hitting .227 (5-for-22) with no homers against Duensing. The Indians have five left-handed hitters in the lineup. Right-handers are hitting .291 (16-for-55) with two homers against Duensing. The Indians have two right-handers and two switch hitters in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .184 (9-for-49) with one homer against Carmona. Righties are hitting .295 (13-for-44) with three homers against Carmona. The Twins have five right-handed hitters and one switch hitter in their lineup.

Umpires: H James Hoye, 1B Tom Hallion, 2B Bill Miller, 3B Alan Porter.

Next: RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.85) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (1-3, 7.40) Saturday at 1:10 p.m. ET. STO and WTAM/1100 will carry the game.
 

Cleveland Indians-Twins game postponed by rain; makeup date has yet to be set

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Fausto Carmona will face the Twins on Saturday afternoon after having his start tonight rained out.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Indians game against the Twins on Friday night was postponed because of rain at Target Field.  It will be made up when the Indians return to Minneapolis later in the season.

Tonight's scheduled starter, Fausto Carmona, will pitch Saturday's game at 1:10 p.m. Carlos Carrasco will start Sunday.

The rainout gave the Twins a chance to change their rotation. They'll go with lefty Brian Duensing today against Carmona and Carl Pavano on Sunday against Carrasco. Lefty Francisco Liriano, originally scheduled to start Saturday, will be skipped.

Liriano is off to a 1-3 start. Last season he was 3-0 against the Indians.

The Indians return to Minneapolis for a three-game series on July 18 and for another three-game series on Sept. 16.  

Akron recruit leads South team to victory in North-South All-Star Classic football game

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COLUMBUS -- Tyler Williams was told the same thing from the big schools during his recruiting process. "They told me I was too short and too small and I can't take the hits," Williams said. "All the big schools, they said the same thing to me. They all told me that I wasn't big enough."

Michigan State quarterback commit Connor Cook of Walsh Jesuit threw a 26-yard touchdown for the North's only points Friday in the North-South All-Star Classic. - (Allison Carey / The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS -- Tyler Williams was told the same thing from the big schools during his recruiting process.

"They told me I was too short and too small and I can't take the hits," Williams said. "All the big schools, they said the same thing to me. They all told me that I wasn't big enough."

If Friday evening's North-South All-Star Classic football game was any indication, the 5-foot-7, 155-pound speedster is everything but too small. Williams, an Akron recruit from Cincinnati Colerain, rushed for two touchdowns for the South squad, leading his team to a 25-7 win over the North in Ohio Stadium before being named as the game's MVP.

"We had to beat them with speed," said Williams, who had to look over at two Ohio State defensive end commits on the North squad's defensive line the entire game. "They had a lot of size. We got to the outside and used our speed."

Williams got the South on the board early, scoring on an 8-yard run out of the Wildcat formation on a drive that was extended by a roughing the passer penalty on Ohio State defensive end commit Chase Farris of Elyria.

However, the North promptly responded less than two minutes later when Michigan State quarterback commit Connor Cook of Walsh Jesuit hit Massillon's Devin Smith on a 26-yard post route in the end zone just seconds before the end of the first quarter.

"I got a little taste of what it's like in this stadium," said Smith, an Ohio State wide receiver commit who hopes to contribute to the Buckeyes offense early in his freshman season. "I just went up and got the ball. That's something I did a lot in high school and I wanted to come out and start off strong by doing it here."

Unfortunately for the North, that's where its scoring concluded for the evening. Williams, conversely, was just getting started.

After the South recovered a fumble near midfield midway through the second quarter, Williams and running back Jayshon Jackson of Westerville South -- the South's offensive player of the game who comparatively stands 5-foot-9 -- went back to work.

Relying heavily on the zone-read plays that take advantage of the offense's great quickness, the South marched down the field before setting up inside the 10-yard line.

Then it was back to the Wildcat formation, where Williams took the snap, evaded Ohio State defensive end commit Steve Miller of Canton McKinley before squeaking inside and finding the end zone for the second time from six yards out.

"I just was running my fastest," said Williams, who garnered scholarship offers from every school in the Mid-American Conference. "They had two big defensive ends and we beat them with speed again."

The South hit the ground running in the third quarter.

Both Williams and Jackson lined up in the Wildcat, Jackson took a handoff from Williams on a zone read play and burst up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown.

After a false start on the extra point attempt, the South ran a fake field goal and Williams threw a pass to Ohio State tight end commit Nick Vannett of Westerville Central for the conversion to extend the lead to 22-7. The South would eventually tack on a 42-yard field goal from J.D. Detmer, a Kent State commit from Hilliard Davidson.

"Tyler is my best friend and he had a great game, but with me and him in the backfield I don't think anyone can stop that," said Jackson, a Grand Rapids commit who finished with a game-high 115 yards on the ground.

The game was played in April for the second consecutive year due to scheduling conflicts with the Big 33 game held each June in Pennsylvania.

Ari Wasserman is a staff writer with buckeyegrove.com

Ohio State spring football game may offer clues to next NFL star

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Sophomore defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins tops the list of Ohio State players to watch at Saturday's spring game

Columbus -- Watch Johnathan Hankins in Ohio State's spring game today because he looks like the kind of defensive tackle you often see on Sundays. 

"He's that D tackle you see in the league," OSU center Michael Brewster said. "He's big but he can move. He's quick, and I think he's one of the best guys I'll go against all year." 

A sophomore who was sixth in minutes among Ohio State's defensive linemen as a freshman, Hankins has made a case as the standout player of the spring. He now looks like a starter and the kind of disruptive force inside that hasn't been a regular part of the OSU defense. In Jim Tressel's 10-year tenure with the Buckeyes, two defensive tackles have been drafted -- Tim Anderson in the third round in 2004 and Quinn Pitcock in the third round in 2007. 

Hankins is a long way from the NFL Draft, but listed at 6-3 and 335 pounds -- though he may be slimmed down from that -- he's a different animal. 

"He's lost a bunch of weight, but he's still known as Big Hank," junior defensive lineman John Simon said. "He obviously has the size and the power, but he has amazing speed for how big he is. He's the complete package." 

Perceived as more of a space eater when he arrived, Hankins has proven this spring that he can get into the backfield and disrupt plays. On a defensive line that is replacing two starters -- Cameron Heyward and Dexter Larimore -- Hankins is in better shape and certainly seems prepared for a big jump from the seven minutes per game he averaged last year in the defensive line rotation. Larimore, for instance, averaged 16 minutes per game. 

"He's a special player. I'm really looking for him to have a big year," Brewster said. "He's a big wide guy, but he can make moves, and that's what you want from an inside guy." 

Hankins, No. 52, should be matching up with Brewster and guards Jack Mewhort and Corey Linsley much of today when the first-team defense faces the first-team offense. Here are a few other players to watch during the Buckeyes' scrimmage, which should provide a more competitive alternative to the traditional spring game.  

No. 7 Travis Howard: The redshirt junior has stepped into the role of the No. 1 cornerback. When he's matched up on top receiver DeVier Posey today, they should create one of the best battles on the field. A switch from jersey No. 18 to No. 7, a number worn by former OSU cornerback Chris Gamble, among others, is an indication of the confidence Howard brought into the spring. 

"I had to kind of take on a little more swag and a little bit more playmaking ability," Howard said. "The guys who wore No. 7 the previous years were guys who were playmakers and All-Americans."  

No. 7 Jordan Hall: Check how often the junior running back is on the field with another one of the tailbacks, such as Jaamal Berry, Dan Herron or Rod Smith. When Posey is suspended for the first five games of the season, Hall and tight end Jake Stoneburner may be the best pass-catchers available, so watch where Hall lines up today -- in the backfield, in the slot, split out as a receiver, and next to the quarterback in the shotgun. 

"We always have that stuff, but we're running it a lot more this spring," Hall said of the running backs moving around the field. "I think it creates mismatches for us against linebackers. I think the coaches can take advantage of that and we can run that a lot more. 

"As long as I can get on the field, I like that."  

No. 78 Andrew Norwell: The sophomore is the most likely candidate to be the starter at left tackle while Mike Adams is suspended for the first five games. Teammates have said Norwell, who played a fair amount as a true freshman, has a nasty edge to him. See if he shows it today. 

No. 24 Rod Smith: This is the first chance for the public to get a look at the redshirt freshman, last season's star of bowl practice. At 6-3 and 220 pounds, Smith looks like the perfect big back complement to the smaller Hall and Berry. But watch his cutbacks as well, and pay more attention if he gets reps against the first-team defense. 

 


 


NFL Draft 2011: Peterson or Amukamara could help Browns

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SEAN GARDNER/ASSOCIATED PRESSLSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is not only considered the top cornerback available in the NFL Draft. Some experts say he is the best available player, period. Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson is widely-regarded as the king of the 2010 cornerback class, but Nebraska's Prince Amukamara is certainly no pauper. The Browns had both of the top cornerbacks...

peterson.jpgLSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is not only considered the top cornerback available in the NFL Draft. Some experts say he is the best available player, period.

Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson is widely-regarded as the king of the 2010 cornerback class, but Nebraska's Prince Amukamara is certainly no pauper.

The Browns had both of the top cornerbacks in for a visit last week and are considering both with their No. 6 pick in the draft. Surely, the Browns would take Peterson ahead of Amukamara, but not everyone has Peterson in the lead.

"If you polled 10 teams, it wouldn't surprise me if Amukamara was considered the top corner by five of them," Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki said on a conference call. "He may be the best pure cover corner in the draft."

Of course, the likelihood of the Browns taking Amukamara increases if Peterson is off the board at No. 6. Some experts, including nfldraftscout.com's Rob Rang, have Peterson ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the draft.

"But I do think he'll still be there at No. 6," said Rang. "If he's there, I think the Browns will take him. But if he's gone, I do think there's a possibility they could take Prince.

"In my mind, there is a significant difference between Patrick and Prince, but if Peterson is off the board, I strongly believe that Prince is worth a top 10 grade and I think he'd be a consideration for them. He has the physicality, the size, he has virtually everything you're looking for in a top 10 cornerback. He just doesn't have the ball skills, the return ability that Patrick Peterson has."

One thing is certain: Heckert has made it clear since February that he wouldn't hesitate to take a premier cornerback at No. 6 despite drafting Joe Haden No. 7 last year.

"If there's a really good one, you're not going to pass on him," Heckert said at the Combine. "Corner is just as good a possibility as anything. You're going to play close to 60 per cent nickel so you are going to have three corners on the field 60 per cent of the time. If you don't have three of them they're going to find the one."

Heckert had nothing but praise for Peterson, who could possibly go in the top five.

"He's a rare guy just because of his size alone, his size and speed," said Heckert. "I know Nnamdi [Asomugha] was a big guy but I don't think he ran like Patrick did. He's a rare guy, a rare athlete and he's a very good football player."

Peterson, who ran a sizzling 4.31 at the Combine, was impressed with the Browns new coaching staff and would love to be drafted by Cleveland.

"It was a great atmosphere during my visit and I can definitely see myself playing there," said Peterson in a phone interview. "It would be wonderful to play with Joe Haden. I had an opportunity to go play with Joe at Florida, but I turned down that offer and went to LSU. Joe Haden is definitely one of the top corners as well. He's very intelligent, smart, he plays with a lot of panache. He plays with a lot of anger and an aggressive style. He got all of those interceptions in the back half of the season.

"To me, he's definitely going to be one of the best players at his position. If I were paired with Joe Haden, I think we'd be the best cornerback tandem in the NFL sooner or later."

Peterson, an accomplished returner, also relishes the thought of learning from one of the best in the game in Josh Cribbs.

"I'd be honored to learn some new stuff from Josh," said Peterson. "If I end up at the Browns and Josh Cribbs is still doing his thing in the return game, I'd just respect that and cause turnovers and get the ball back for my offense. If I get the chance to have the ball in my hands, just take it the opposite way and try to get in the end zone. I'd just have to be patient just like I was at LSU, wait my turn and make the best of my opportunity when it's presented to me."

Peterson said he hasn't let news of a low Wonderlic test score bother him. Nawrocki reported that Peterson was one of four players to score in single digits -- nine out of 50.

"It just adds more fuel to the fire," said Peterson. "I'm not able to stop what people say about me. I just have to keep pushing because people try to bring me down each and every day when they see you at the pinnacle. I just have to be a mature young man and let it go in one ear and out the other."

Peterson, whom some teams project as a safety because of his size (6-01/2, 219), said it's his dream to go down as one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game.

"I definitely believe I have the tools to do that," he said.

Akumara, who surprised scouts with a 4.38 in the 40 at the Combine, declined to say if he's better than his good friend Peterson.

"That's a good question," he said. "I guess we'll find out. Patrick Peterson is an amazing player. Whatever attention or notoriety he's getting, he deserves it."

To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Kent State's Dustin Kilgore advances at the USA Wrestling Freestyle Nationals

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Kent State’s NCAA champion Dustin Kilgore advances to the quarterfinals at the USA Wrestling Freestyle Nationals at the University of Akron.

Akron, Ohio -- You can't wipe the smile off Dustin Kilgore's face. You can't stop him from wrestling, either. 

After becoming Kent State's first NCAA national champion last month in Philadelphia, the red-shirt junior could have basked in the glory of it all. Instead, he got back in the wrestling room to be better prepared for the spring and summer freestyle season. 

It paid off Friday with three wins at USA Wrestling's University Division Freestyle Nationals at the University of Akron's Stile Athletic Fieldhouse. 

"Right after it happened, you get this awesome feeling," said Kilgore, who has one more year of eligibility with the Golden Flashes. "Then you wake up the next morning and you think about all who have won titles. You don't think of yourself as one of those." 

Kilgore, 21, became "one of those" in dramatic fashion as he pinned Clayton Foster from Oklahoma State in the final seconds of the second round to win the 197-pound title. He had been trailing in the championship match, 5-1. 

A state champion from Berea High as a junior and runner-up as a senior at 171 pounds, Kilgore entered the tournament here in the 211.5 division. He did not want to cut weight to drop to the 185-pound ranks. 

"Some guys are dropping from 220 or 230," said Kilgore, a criminal justice major. "This is high-caliber field [ages 18-24]. But I'm pretty comfortable with it." 

He was at ease to take care of Beau Wenger (5-2, 6-0) and Cleveland's Nick Anthony on a second-period pin. He finished his day with a 2-0, 2-0, victory against Scott Schiller, a freshman at Minnesota. 

Kilgore will face Brent Haynes from Missouri today in a quarterfinal. The top two in the University Division advance to the World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, June 10-11. 

Besides getting more victories on the mat, Kilgore said he had one more thing to do. He has been inundated with congratulations via phone calls, emails, texts and handshakes. 

"People recognized all the hard work I did," said Kilgore. "It's been hard to thank everybody." 

Consider it done. 

In the FILA Cadet Nationals for ages 15-17, Division I state champion St. Edward brought eight wrestlers and advanced six to today's round. 

None of them were more pleased than sophomore Dean Heil. Going freestyle for the first time, Heil lost his opening match at 127.5 pounds. He came back to win his next four, knocking off unbeaten Mike Repko, 3-0, 1-0. 

"Honestly, it's just like folkstyle [high school rules," said Heil, a two-time state champion at 119. "The first time was kind of weird and I got that loss in the first match. It's something new for me to try." 

The Eagles also advanced Edgar Bright, with five wins, and Colin Heffernan (3-1) at 127.5 to set up possible in-school showdowns today. 

Junior Jacob Davis went 5-0 and sophomore Domenic Abounder went 4-0 at 167.5 pounds. Senior Ty Walz won his four matches in the 187-220 division. 

Defending champion Nathan Tomasello from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won his first four matches before his run was stopped by Dalton Brady of Arizona, 0-3, 2-0, 0-4, at 110.5 pounds. 

Twinsburg junior Michael Labry went the same route at 127.5 pounds, before losing to three-time Missouri champion Austin Roper in three periods, 2-1, 3-5, 4-6. 

Cadet champions earn a trip to the world championships in Hungary, Aug. 25-28.  

Numbers game: There were 480 wrestlers in the University Division. The Cadet drew 357 entrants. Today's session begins at 9 a.m. through the finals.  
 

Offensive line a lesser concern for Cleveland Browns: 2011 NFL Draft

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The Browns don't appear to consider offensive line the high draft priority that some contend.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Some people won't be happy until the Browns have a first-round draft choice at every position on the offensive line.

General Manager Tom Heckert is not one of them. Asked at the NFL Scouting Combine if the Browns needed a new right tackle, Heckert responded quickly.

"Right now, I don't think so. We like Tony [Pashos]. I thought he played really, really well until he got hurt," Heckert said.

Pashos was one of Heckert's top free agent acquisitions in 2010. The eight-year veteran was given a $4 million signing bonus and $10.3 million overall in a three-year contract.

Pashos, who missed most of the 2009 season with San Francisco after he broke his left shoulder blade, wound up missing 10 games with the Browns after a season-ending ankle injury. The line looked stable in Pashos' three starts.

Heckert expects Pashos to be back at right tackle in 2011.

"Now, do we want a young guy? Yeah, sure," Heckert said. "We want young guys all the way through."

The Browns have visited with two of the top-rated tackles in this draft, Tyron Smith of Southern California and Gabe Carimi of Wisconsin. They have also worked out at least three latter-round prospects.

All of the visits or workouts were with tackle prospects, which figures because they don't have a bonafide developmental tackle on the roster. They took guard Shawn Lauvao in the third round last year.

Lauvao was expected to challenge for a starting spot as a rookie, but fell behind early after suffering a high ankle sprain in training camp and wound up making one start.

Best of the best

Players listed by name, school, height, weight and 40 time.

1. Tyron Smith (T), USC, 6-5, 307, 4.91

Comment: Two-year starter at right tackle who can play left tackle because of athleticism.

2. Anthony Castonzo (T), Boston College, 6-7, 311, 5.21

Comment: Rhodes scholar nominee who worked himself into dependable four-year starter at left tackle.

3. Gabe Carimi (T), Wisconsin, 6-7, 314, 5.18

Comment: Took over for Joe Thomas and started on left side for four years.

Three more to watch

4. Mike Pouncey (G-T), Florida, 6-5, 303, 5.12

Comment: Snap problems might put his home at guard, not like twin brother Maurkice, center for Steelers.

5. Derek Sherrod (T), Miss. St., 6-53/8, 321, 5.18

Comment: Thirty-five starts at left tackle in the pass rush-heavy SEC.

6. Nate Solder (OT), Colorado, 6-81/4, 319, 4.96

Comment: A converted tight end still growing into the tackle position.

On the Browns

Starters: Joe Thomas (LT), Eric Steinbach (LG), Alex Mack (C), Floyd Womack (RG), Tony Pashos (RT).

Backups: Billy Yates (G-C), Shawn Lauvao (G), Steve Vallos (G-C), Pat Murray (G).

Unsigned: Womack, Yates.

Comment: GM Tom Heckert sees Pashos as the undisputed starter at right tackle, if healthy, which has been a problem his last two years. The uncertain contract status of Womack and Yates kills what had been good depth. A young tackle to groom as a potential starter is a must.

Level of need (1 to 10): Seven.

Best fit for Browns: Lee Ziemba, Auburn (fourth round).

Next: Running backs.


OSU's Joe Bauserman hopes spring work will set up a chance to start this fall

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Senior Joe Bauserman fights to avoid being squeezed out of the quarterback race after taking some hits in Saturday's spring scrimmage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Squeezed between two elite quarterback recruits, one the starter who will be back (Terrelle Pryor) and one the starter who some day will be (Braxton Miller), Joe Bauserman understands he's not anybody's star of the spring.

He was the first quarterback to take the field for Saturday's Ohio State scrimmage, the last of 15 spring practices for the Buckeyes, but most fans probably wouldn't be disappointed if the 25-year-old former minor-league pitcher isn't the first quarterback out there against Akron on Sept. 3.

"People want excitement and the guy that they've never seen before is going to get them thinking about it," Bauserman said Saturday, speaking to reporters for the first time this spring. "It doesn't bother me. I feel like I can play at this level just as well as anybody else."

With the Buckeyes playing a scrimmage instead of a game for the first time in years, Saturday was dominated by the offense, which won, 59-27, in Jim Tressel's modified scoring system. All four quarterbacks -- Bauserman, Miller, Taylor Graham and Kenny Guiton -- threw touchdown passes, and combined they were 20-of-43 for 249 yards and four touchdowns, the highlight a 68-yard deep ball down the right sideline from Graham to redshirt freshman T.Y. Williams.

But like much of what has transpired lately with OSU football, what you saw didn't necessarily tell the whole story.

Gallery previewFor instance, 10 defensive backs were out with various injuries: cornerbacks Dionte Allen, Donnie Evege, Adam Griffin and safeties Tyler Moeller, C.J. Barnett, Christian Bryant, Zach Domicone, Jamie Wood, Corey Brown and Nate Ebner. So the touchdown catches by Williams and by Verlon Reed, from Guiton, came against a walk-on corner.

With starting right tackle J.B. Shugarts out again Saturday -- center Mike Brewster said Shugarts was resting an injured shoulder that should be fine -- the Buckeyes were down to 10 healthy offensive linemen, three of them walk-ons.

Miller, for instance, never played behind the second-team offensive line in his four series. Smart move with the quarterbacks open to taking hits. Protect the future, especially when he might be the present. Bauserman, meanwhile, watched his pocket disintegrate and was left to absorb a few hits from quarterback mangler John Simon because the walk-ons on the No. 2 line couldn't block him.

"When you're in these controlled scrimmages," Tressel said, wearing camouflage pants and a cap to continue the OSU spring theme of honoring the military, "so much of it has to do with what the other 10 people around you are doing."

Miller led a 92-yard drive that ended in a 5-yard Jordan Hall touchdown run with the first-team offense going against the second-team defense. With both first-string units on the field, Miller did throw his touchdown pass, rifling a 15-yarder to Corey Brown in the corner of the end zone. He finished the day 7-of-12 for 73 yards, his longest completion a 20-yarder to No. 1 receiver DeVier Posey against a five-man secondary that didn't have a single player that had ever played a down in a real game.

Bauserman was 4-of-11, playing with the first-team offensive line for his first series -- when he was sacked twice, took a delay of game penalty and was flushed again by Simon pressure -- and for his last series, when he threw his only touchdown.

"You can't think about it, because if you do that, you'll just worry yourself," Bauserman said of his place in the QB derby. "You go out and do what you can do and the coach will make the right decision."

Next are summer workouts, when the quarterbacks typically take the lead in organizing 7-on-7 sessions. Who will take the lead there, Bauserman or Pryor, the senior three-year starter coming off foot surgery who should start running around in another week?

"I don't know. Good question. I haven't thought about that one yet," Bauserman said.


He has thought about what he accomplished this spring, when he came in as the No. 1 candidate to replace Pryor during his five-game suspension and left the spring without nailing that position down.

"I definitely felt I had a good spring. I felt good about what I did. I thought I made some strides, and I thought I got better as a football player," Bauserman said.

Ohio State now needs to figure out what it needs as a team. There are 29 practices in the preseason, with Tressel saying this week Pryor will head to the scout team after about 10 so the quarterback picture can be finalized.

After this month, the Buckeyes should know they have several good options at running back and that their first-team offensive line is solid. The defensive line looks promising and quick, and the secondary can expect to get better as it gets healthier. At quarterback, there's still much to learn, like the fact that Bauserman said he can be exciting, too.

"I throw the ball down the field, make plays, what all quarterbacks want to be," Bauserman said. "We don't want to turn around and hand the ball off 70 times a game."

Cinesport video



 

Questions (and some answers) from the Ohio State spring practice

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Receiver Verlon Reed and defensive end J.T. Moore made positive impressions on Saturday.

osu-reed-catch-springgame-mf.jpgView full sizeRedshirt freshman Verlon Reed impressed on Saturday, most notably with this touchdown grab in front of defender Vincent Petrella in the Buckeyes' final spring scrimmage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here are two Ohio State players who answered some questions this spring, and two others that still have questions remaining going into the preseason.

Two answers

Receiver Verlon Reed: Called a dark horse of the spring by Jim Tressel, the redshirt freshman and converted high-school quarterback caught a touchdown pass Saturday and later wrote on Twitter it was the best day of his life. He is certainly in the mix to be the No. 2 or No.3 receiver when DeVier Posey is out.

"Nobody knew much about him, but he's getting noticed now this spring," center Mike Brewster said. "I think he stepped up and made a name for himself."

Defensive end J.T. Moore: Though Cameron Heyward isn't an easy guy to replace, starting defensive end Nathan Williams said this defensive line should have more speed than the line a year ago. He used redshirt freshman Moore as an example of that, and Moore had one sack and assisted on another tackle for loss Saturday. He could be Williams' primary backup in the rotation at the Leo defensive end spot.

Two questions

Right tackle J.B. Shugarts: After saying early in the spring that his previously troublesome feet felt great, the senior missed most of the second half of spring with a shoulder injury and was out Saturday. Brewster said it wasn't anything serious that would need surgery, but it's always a bit worrisome when a veteran like that isn't out here, for any reason, especially without great depth on the line.

Receiver Corey Brown: He grabbed a 15-yard touchdown from Braxton Miller, but it was his only catch of the day, and he dropped two other catchable passes. As the receiver on the roster with the most experience behind Posey, he just doesn't look ready yet to assume that burden as a top guy while Posey is suspended.

Sponseller eases NCAA disappointment with national wrestling title

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The Ohio State senior was able to purge a disappointing finish at last month's NCAA Championships.

sponseller-osu-mug.jpgView full sizeColt Sponseller was the lone Ohioan to win at either the Cadet (15-17) or University (18-24) age levels in this week's national meet at Akron.

AKRON, Ohio -- Ohio State senior Colt Sponseller came to the Cadet and University National Championships this weekend to purge a disappointing fourth-place finish at last month's NCAA Championships.

"You see a lot of really top-notch college kids and this is something that helps you get that big frustration out after the [NCAA] national tournament," Sponseller said. "You can hone your skills and really, really get that frustration out."

Sponseller, from Millersburg in Holmes County, won his second consecutive national title Saturday at the tournament, held at the University of Akron's Stile Field House. He captured the 174-pound title and was the lone Ohioan to win at either the Cadet (15-17) or University (18-24) age levels.

Sponseller defeated Turtogtokh Luvsandorj of The Citadel in the final, 4-0, 1-1. Did he consider himself purged of his NCAA experience?

"For the most part, yeah," he said, smiling. "It was a great time."

Several other Ohioans placed, each experiencing various levels of accomplishment and disappointment.

Brecksville's Jeremy Johnson, an Ohio University sophomore, reached the 264.5-pound final and lost to Missouri All-American Dom Bradley. Johnson was losing, 1-0, 3-0, when he defaulted with a shoulder injury in the second. Bradley threw Johnson hard and he landed on his right shoulder.

A highlight was Johnson's 4-2, 6-2 semifinal win over Kevin Lester, who beat Johnson here last year.

"Dom Bradley is a heck of a wrestler. He's a big guy," Johnson said. "I had a good tournament wrestling up to that point. There was a lot of studs here and I thought I wrestled pretty well. Beating Lester shows how much I've improved."

Kent State NCAA champ Dustin Kilgore of Berea lost in the semifinals, 0-1, 7-3, 3-0, to eventual champ Chad Hanke at 211.5 pounds. Kilgore placed third.

Cleveland's Nick Sulzer, a freshman at the University of Virginia, reached the 163-pound semifinals and gave two-time NCAA champ Kyle Dake a good match, but lost, 3-0, 3-1. Sulzer went on to place sixth.

Dake, a Cornell sophomore, is the son of former Westlake state champion Doug Dake. Kyle Dake lost a highly anticipated final to former NCAA champ Andrew Howe of Wisconsin, 3-1, 1-1, 1-0. The final period was decided by a tie-breaking clinch in which Howe had the advantage.

St. Edward had a good showing in the Cadet tournament. Junior Ty Walz and sophomore Domenic Abounader both were "true second" finishers, and Dean Heil placed fourth. Edgar Bright and Jacob Davis just missed placing, and Davis' final loss was to Abounader.

Defending national champ Nathan Tomasello of Parma placed fourth at 110 pounds.

Walz lost the 220.5-pound final, 1-1, 2-0, to Michigan rival Adam Coon, whom Walz beat in last year's Cadet final at the Fargo National Championships. Walz said he will be at Fargo looking for a rematch against Coon this summer.

"I want that very badly," said Walz, of Cleveland. "He beat me here last year and I beat him at Fargo. He has really good hips and he's strong and taller. I couldn't finish my shots."

Abounader, from Gates Mills, placed third at 167.5 pounds, then won his true-second challenge match.

"I think this year I have a good chance of winning [at Fargo]," Abounader said. "I'm just getting used to freestyle."

Doug Lesmerises talks about Ohio State's spring game - Video

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Plain Dealer Ohio State beat reporter Doug Lesmerises joined Cinesport's Brian Clark today to talk about Ohio State's spring game.

Plain Dealer Ohio State beat reporter Doug Lesmerises joined Cinesport's Brian Clark today to talk about Ohio State's spring game.


Cinesport video




Late picks lead to Gladiators' swoon, 56-42, to Jacksonville

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Cleveland QB Kurt Rocco was intercepted twice in the final eight minutes as the Sharks, who never led during the first three quarters, rallied for their fifth victory in a row.

Ken Hornack

Special to The Plain Dealer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Maybe something in the air here causes Cleveland football teams to wither in the fourth quarter.

Playing in the shadow of where the Browns failed to hold on to a lead in November against the Jaguars, the Gladiators squandered three quarters of near-perfect offensive play Saturday night to suffer a 56-42 loss to the Sharks in a matchup of AFL division leaders.

The Gladiators, coming off their first defeat of the season a week ago against New Orleans, got three rushing and three passing touchdowns from quarterback Kurt Rocco. His first scoring pass came on a Hail Mary-type throw to Robert Redd on fourth-and-15 from Cleveland's 1, the type of play that could have led the crowd to believe the Gladiators (3-2) lead a charmed existence.

But Rocco was intercepted twice in the final eight minutes as the Sharks, who never led during the first three quarters, rallied for their fifth victory in a row.

"It was two bad passes," said Rocco, who completed 25 of 37 passes for 309 yards. "Both got away from me. That's all I can say about that."

"We messed up there on offense a couple of times and didn't get a stop on defense," coach Steve Thonn said. "And you're not going to win an arena game that way."

Rocco's first interception came after the Sharks (5-2) tied the score on a 7-yard pass from Aaron Garcia to Jeron Harvey. An unsuccessful PAT by kicker Marco Capozzoli prevented Jacksonville from taking the lead, although the officiating crew ejected Gladiators defensive end Earl Heyman after a scuffle that followed.

Sharks defensive back LaRoche Jackson made up for getting burned on the 49-yard TD pass to Redd in the second quarter by picking off Rocco's long pass at the goal line. Garcia drove the Sharks down the field, and on third and goal from the 5, the 17-year veteran ran and bowled over defensive back Levy Brown at the goal line for the go-ahead score with 2:54 remaining.

On the Gladiators' next possession, Rocco overthrew his intended receiver and the ball wound up in the hands of defensive back Micheaux Robinson. A penalty at the end of the return set back the Sharks, but they quickly recovered as Garcia's 22-yard TD pass to Jomo Wilson provided the clincher.

Not that it would have affected the outcome, but the capper to a scoreless fourth quarter for the Gladiators came when wide receiver Dominick Goodman was stripped of the ball after reaching the 2 and the Sharks recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

"I was pleased until basically the last five minutes of the game," Thonn said.

Goodman, who spent the first three games of the season on injured reserve, was used extensively after the Gladiators chose to put Victor Williams on the inactive list. Williams had been second on the team in receptions with 23 but failed to get out of bounds in the closing seconds of the one-point loss to New Orleans. Goodman caught 11 of Rocco's passes for 94 yards.

A.J. Green's college coach adds to the chorus: Receiver is a sure thing in NFL draft

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Georgia coach Mark Richt says A.J. Green could be the best player in this draft, and there's no doubt he'll be a successful pro.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Georgia head coach Mark Richt can't fathom A.J. Green becoming a bust in the NFL like so many of his first-round wide receiver counterparts since 2000.

"It'd be the most shocking thing since I've been coaching [26 years] if that happened," Richt said in promoting the Bulldogs' star in a phone interview. "If he stays healthy, I can't help but think he'll have a tremendous career."

Green, one of the top two receivers in the draft along with Alabama's Julio Jones, is one of the half-dozen players the Browns are considering with the sixth pick in the first round. Green could well be gone by then -- possibly going fourth to the Bengals.

"Is he the best available player in the draft? He just might be," said Richt. "He's in the conversation for sure."

Of all the players Richt has coached in his 26 seasons, including the last 10 at Georgia, Green might be the best.

green-catch-georgia-vert-ap.jpgView full size"The thing that's most impressive to me outside of the hands, are his ability for a big guy to get in and out of breaks," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says of Georgia's A.J. Green. "I'm not a huge proponent of wideouts going (in the first few picks), but I think this kid is the exception."

"I saw highlights everyday in practice," said Richt. "I never quit saying 'wow.' Some people might've gotten used to it, but I never did. I always understood what we had there and I knew to enjoy it as I witnessed it."

Richt admired the way Green, highly touted coming out of high school, allowed current Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi to show him the way as a freshman.

"Everybody knew he was an extremely talented guy and he could've shown up and said 'here I am, look at me,'" Richt said. "Instead, he came in with a humble attitude knowing that he needed to learn. And there's no better way to learn than from Mohamed, who was going to be a senior at the time.

"When A.J. ran a route, he'd go to Mohamed and ask him what he did right and wrong, how he could learn the system and produce as a freshman."

Green did just that, named SEC Freshman of the Year and first-team All-SEC after catching 56 passes for 963 yards (17.2 per catch) and eight touchdowns.

"He was the No. 1 receiver in the SEC as a true freshman and I think it was because of his attitude," said Richt. "He endeared himself to his teammates because of it. He knew he had to earn it and he was very teachable."

Green (6-3 1/2, 210 pounds) finished with 166 receptions for 2,619 yards and 23 TDs over his three seasons. He averaged 15.8 yards per catch and made some of the most spectacular receptions in college football annals.

"A.J.'s got it all," said Richt. "For a guy that's as tall as he is, who can leap like he can, who can catch the ball the way he can, he still has the quickness of a smaller man, which you just don't see. You might see a big guy with speed, but not the agility A.J. has."

Richt said Green has all of the other qualities it takes to be successful.

"He's got nerve," said Richt. "It takes some bravery to catch certain balls. And he can catch the quick fades, the bombs, the slant, the dig. It doesn't matter what the route is, he can do it. And he can do it better than anybody else I've seen."

Richt struggled to draw a comparison with any NFL receiver. "He may be part this guy, part that guy," he said. "But not one guy has the skillset that A.J.'s got."

The only knocks against Green are that he was suspended the first four games of last season for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 and that he reportedly scored a 10 out of 50 on the Wonderlic intelligence test, one of the five lowest scores from the combine.

"A.J. knew in his spirit once he sold the jersey it was wrong," said Richt. "But he admitted what he did and was very remorseful. If you watched him in practice, you never would've dreamed he wasn't going to be playing on Saturday."

It was Green's first game back from the suspension that has NFL Network's Mike Mayock convinced he's a top-five pick. Green caught seven passes for 119 yard and two TDs against Colorado.

"He had seven catches against two NFL-quality corners," said Mayock. "He made it look like he was back in Pee Wee League just catching the football. The thing that's most impressive to me outside of the hands, are his ability for a big guy to get in and out of breaks. I'm not a huge proponent of wideouts going that high, but I think this kid is the exception. I wouldn't bat an eye if he went No. 4."

As for the Wonderlic, ESPN's Todd McShay says it's not an issue.

"He hasn't tested well in anything," said McShay. "For an elite receiver, his 40-yard dash (4.48) is not exceptional. Some of the results at the combine weren't exceptional like the Wonderlic test. But when you study him on film, he's as savvy and football-intelligent as any receiver in this class.

"I still think if it's not No. 4 to Cincinnati, he should be off the board by No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns."

Richt said some of the best things about Green are his intangibles.

"He's a good person and he's got humility," said Richt. "He's loves to compete and he's a good team guy. He was certainly our most talented player and he was one of the lowest maintenance guys we've ever had."

Are we watching Grady Sizemore's last season with the Indians? Hey, Hoynsie!

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The Indians' financial status and the future of their most recognizable player leads this week's mailbag for beat writer Paul Hoynes.

sizemore-running-vert-cc.jpgView full sizeGrady Sizemore's fast start to his 2011 season doesn't change an uncertain future with the organization, says Paul Hoynes.

Hey, Hoynsie: What is the likelihood that Grady Sizemore wears an Indians uniform in 2012? If the Indians once again finish last in the majors in attendance, is there any chance they will pick up his $9 million option for 2012? Regardless of Sizemore's health and productivity, and regardless of the Indians' financial position, there has to be value in keeping the face of a franchise on a team that has traded away three All-Stars and has alienated a significant portion of its fan base. -- David Bruno, Chagrin Falls

Hey, David: At this point of the season, I don't think the Indians have a good handle on what they're going to do.

A lot depends on how well Sizemore and the Indians play this year. Before the Indians make any kind of decision, I would think they'd want to watch him play for a couple of months to make sure he's healthy.

Hey, Hoynsie: I've noticed a strange sound like a bell going off when the Indians score a run at home games while watching on Sportstime Ohio. Is this sound supplied by the channel or an actual sound at the ballpark? -- Edward Radatz, Sandusky

Hey, Edward: That has nothing to do with STO, that's the bell ringing between my ears. I haven't been able to sleep for weeks and my hearing is fading fast.

Hey, Hoynsie: How deep into the season do you think the Tribe has to contend for ownership to back up its promise to spend when we contend? -- Herb Walsh, Cleveland

Hey, Herb: The last date a team can make a deal to influence the postseason is Aug. 31. If the Indians did it any sooner than that, it means they have a significant lead in the AL Central and are convinced they can do damage in October.

I know things change, but at general managers/owners meetings in November, Paul Dolan said, "This is not the year to spend."

Hey, Hoynsie: Why are ballplayers' salaries public, but not ownership and front office employees? -- Lisa Jackson, Cleveland

Hey, Lisa: The owners and front office employees have better agents. Or maybe it's because they don't have agents and do the deals themselves. Or perhaps no one really cares what a general manager makes and can't count that high to calculate what an owner takes in.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

Hey, Hoynsie: How is the Tribe handling the development of Jason Kipnis and Cord Phelps, both being listed at 2B? -- Doug McDougal, Akron

Hey, Doug: The plan coming out of spring training was to play Kipnis at second and move Phelps all around the infield. They also wanted Phelps to play some outfield.

Chris PerezView full sizeChris Perez and the bullpen have won over at least one Indians fan, but that doesn't mean there won't be a few bumpy rides this season.

Hey, Hoynsie: I want to propose a slogan for the Tribe's bullpen this year -- specifically Raffy Perez, Tony Sipp and Chris Perez. "Good Morning ... Good Afternoon ... Good Night!" -- Gary Wilmot, Phoenix

Hey, Gary: After Thursday's meltdown against Kansas City I'd like to add one more line: "Good grief."

Hey, Hoynsie: What do you think about my recommendation from December, 2009: "Although he just turned 30, wouldn't free agent Shelley Duncan be good choice for the Tribe to play first, especially since he hits with power from the right side?" -- Mike Sedonic, Dunmore, Pa.

Hey, Mike: I think you should start reading palms.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is Carlos Santana in any danger of being sent down again for the dreaded "seasoning?" -- Hunter Royce, Denver

Hey, Hunter: As far as I know, Santana isn't going anywhere.

Hey, Hoynsie: Last week you wrote that the Indians may give Jason Kipnis a try in left field. I agree. However, if he becomes the second baseman, wouldn't they want to give Cord Phelps some time also in left field and at first base? He has good size and if something happens to Matt LaPorta, other than Carlos Santana playing first part-time, we have no good-hitting first basemen in the pipeline. -- Joe Eversole, Pelham, Ala.

Hey, Joe: I mentioned Kipnis as a possibility in left based only if the Indians had a need for him there. As of now, I think Phelps is scheduled to play some first and outfield.

Hey, Hoynsie: What happened to Beau Mills? I was looking for him on the minor-league rosters and couldn't find him. Also, what are the Indians thinking about him these days? I know his numbers have dropped off a bit over the last few years. -- Kelly Rocke, Durham, N.C.

Hey, Kelly: Mills is in extended spring training Goodyear, Ariz., with tendinitis in his Achilles heel. He's expected to be back playing soon. As a former No.1 pick, he needs to start being productive. The clock is running.

Hey, Hoynsie: How come writers who vote for players to go in the Hall of Fame think they are God and have to judge players for their behavior instead of their stats? -- Richard Novak, Westlake

Hey, Richard: It's hard to base your voting on stats when there is ample evidence that some of the players who accumulated them cheated to do so. I don't mean cheat by scuffing a baseball or corking a bat, I mean cheat by injecting themselves with substances that changed their bodies and gave them an unfair advantage over their peers.

I don't know a writer who votes for players on baseball's Hall of Fame ballot who volunteered to be judge, jury, executioner and drug tester. They just wanted to vote for the best player, but now that's impossible.

Hey, Hoynsie: The Indians last hosted an All-Star Game in 1997. Have they given any thought to attempting to bid on a future game? -- Brent C, North Ridgeville

Hey, Brent: There is a lot of competition for the All-Star Game among teams. Organizations with new ballparks are anxious to show them off.

The Indians have hosted five All-Star Games: in 1935, 1954, 1963, 1981 and 1997. I would imagine Commissioner Bud Selig feels there are other teams who have not hosted that many All-Star Games who deserve it more.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think the Indians' public relations department could advise GM Chris Antonetti to sprinkle in some enthusiasm and hope when he responds to potential mid-season trade questions? His responses seem so overly pragmatic and calculated that it is probably only serving to dampen interest in the club. -- Leslie Marchak, Sagamore Hills

Hey, Leslie: General managers are pragmatic and calculating by nature. They have to be or they could be painting houses, or digging swimming pools, in a couple of years.

Hey, Hoynsie: The Dolans said they would spend when the time is right, so "if" the Indians keep winning do you see them making a play for a front-line starting pitcher like Felix Hernandez in June or July? -- Jason Siska, Toledo

Hey, Jason: Timeout. I want you to sit down, clear your head, and think about what you just wrote.

Hey, Hoynsie: Help me out if you can. In 1951 my dad took me to a Indians-Yankees doubleheader where I think I saw both Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle play. I also think I saw one or both hit home runs. As I was under 10 perhaps my recollection is vastly exaggerated. Can you find the box scores of those games and let me know what I did see?-- Will Hood, Naples, Fla.

Hey, Will: I'm assuming you went to that doubleheader in Cleveland. In 1951, the Indians and Yankees played one doubleheader at Municipal Stadium and it was on June 3. Mantle and DiMaggio started the first game. Mantle went 0-for-5, DiMaggio 2-for-3. They did not homer. In the second game, DiMaggio went 1-for-3 and Mantle went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter. DiMaggio's one hit was not a homer as the Indians swept the doubleheader.

In the future check out baseball-reference.com for such questions. It has a year by year history of all teams and box scores.

-- Hoynsie

Should the Cleveland Cavaliers try to deal for more 2012 draft picks? Hey, Mary!

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A thin crop of underclassmen in this year's draft has at least one Cavaliers fan wondering about plans for 2012.

williams-dunk-arizona-ap.jpgView full sizeIs there enough talent beyond Arizona's high-flying Derrick Williams to really help the Cavaliers during this draft?

Hey, Mary: Given the fact that the Cavs have four draft picks and this year's crop of college players seems to be very thin, doesn't it make since to possibly look to trade one of the first-round picks for a first-rounder next year? They will be taking a chance of where that other team finishes, but the players coming out next year might be a lot better so it might be worth the gamble. -- Jeff Hall, Fremont

Hey, Jeff: I see where you're coming from, but why would a general manager who knows next year's class of prospects will be better willingly give up a pick in that draft for one in this year's decidedly weaker class? I think the Cavs will get two good players, more than likely in the top 10 picks. That's good enough for me.

Hey, Mary: When a big man runs the floor and scores on a fast break, Austin Carr says "the man was rewarded" for running the floor. Is not the big man just doing his job? -- James Cordiak, Brook Park

Hey, James: Well, technically, yes, of course. But some big men have a harder time running the floor than others. Mel Turpin and Shawn Kemp come to mind. In A.C.'s day, not all the big men were as mobile as they are today, and not all of them were committed to year-round fitness.

Hey, Mary: Is Sasha Kaun a part of the Cavs' future? -- Bill Fiest, Strongsville

Hey, Bill: Right now I don't think he's part of the short-term future, as in next season. He had a lot of injuries that set him back this past year. It all depends on what kind of size the Cavs are able to obtain in the draft and any other deals before training camp next season. Of course, I didn't think we'd see Christian Eyenga this soon either, so who knows?

-- Mary

Carl Edwards holds off Kyle Busch to win Nashville 300

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Gladeville, Tenn. -- Carl Edwards was coming in for his postrace news conference when a race official remarked that he now has enough guitars to start a band.  Edwards certainly hit all the right notes Saturday to capture his fifth career victory at Nashville Superspeedway, holding off Kyle Busch to win the Nashville 300 and receive another of the...

Gladeville, Tenn. -- Carl Edwards was coming in for his postrace news conference when a race official remarked that he now has enough guitars to start a band. 

Edwards certainly hit all the right notes Saturday to capture his fifth career victory at Nashville Superspeedway, holding off Kyle Busch to win the Nashville 300 and receive another of the guitars given to winners at the track. 

"We'll need a drummer," Edwards joked. 

Edwards set the pace for much of the Nationwide race at the track, where he has won four Nationwide events and one Trucks Series race. He led 148 of the 225 laps and passed Busch on lap 191 to take the lead for good. On the final lap, Edwards weaved past a slower car and held Busch at bay as he took the checkered flag. 

Edwards said the finish was more of a struggle than it appeared. 

"Early in the race, our car was really superior," he said. "I could kind of stretch out a lead whenever I wanted to, but at the end of the race, I was really pedaling for all I had. The guys in the 18 (Busch) ... did a good job of adjusting their car. 

"It was kind of exciting at the beginning of the race. I thought we were going to run off with this thing, it's going to be easy, but (at the end) that was white-knuckling, driving as hard as I could drive, racing him and Brad (Keselowski)." 

Keselowski, a two-time winner in Nashville, finished third, edging polesitter Joey Logano in fourth, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in fifth. 

Edwards finished his victory with his trademark back flip and a brief trip to the edge of the grandstands to acknowledge cheering fans. It was Edwards' 31st Nationwide win overall and second of the season, having won two weeks ago at Texas. 

Edwards plans to auction the trophy guitar on eBay with the proceeds going to the family of Roush-Fenway Racing employee Jonathan Bunting, who died earlier this week in North Carolina. 

Edwards' victory kept Busch from pulling off the first back-to-back wins at the track. Busch had dominated in winning the Trucks race Friday night. 

"It was a good race for us. (The car) was fast, just not fast enough. It was off just a little bit in every area, and we could only muster a second today," Busch said.  
 

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