Travis Hafner's double ties the game before Kipnis' game-winner.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerJason Kipnis' first big-league base hit was a walk-off winner Monday night against the Angels, to the delight of the fans at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Kipnis' RBI single with two out in the ninth capped a two-run rally for the Indians, who got a much-needed 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Monday night at Progressive Field.

Fausto Carmona and the bullpen nursed a 1-0 lead against Dan Haren into the eighth inning, when Bobby Abreu's two-run homer off Vinnie Pestano reversed the lead and seemed likely to extend the Indians' losing streak to five for just the second time this season.

But in the ninth, Angels closer Jordan Walden gave up a leadoff single to Michael Brantley, who stole second. After Asdrubal Cabrera struck out, Travis Hafner drove a Walden pitch off the scoreboard in left-center for a game-tying double.

Hafner was replaced by pinch-runner Orlando Cabrera, who watched Carlos Santana work a walk and then Walden hit Jack Hannahan to load the bases.

Hisanori Takahashi relieved Walden and Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia brought right fielder Torii Hunter to be a fifth infielder against Travis Buck. The ploy worked when Buck's high bouncer off the plate was fielded by Hunter, who threw home to nail Cabrera on a good stretch by catcher Jeff Mathis.

Kipnis, who was 0-for-5 in his big-league career to that point, took a ball high and then lined the next pitch cleanly to right for the game-winner.

Brantley doubled to the right field wall with one out in the first inning and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's single off Haren for the early lead. It was just the third run the Indians have scored against Haren in three starts this year.

The RBI gave Cabrera a team-high 61. That's 32 more than he had all last season. Cabrera missed two months in 2010 with a broken left forearm.

Carmona and Haren spent the first six innings locked in a pitchers duel.

The Angels reached Carmona for four hits, but he was supported by excellent defense. Ezequiel Carrera stole a hit from Torii Hunter in the first when he made a diving catch of a line drive to center. Vernon Wells started the second with a single that one-hopped the wall in left field. Wells tried to stretch it into a double, but a strong throw from Brantley a good tag by second baseman Jason Kipnis erased him. It proved to be a big play because Alberto Callapso followed with a double.

In the fifth, with runners on the corners and two out, Bobby Abreu sent a drive to right that Travis Buck caught with his back plastered against the wall.

Haren held the Indians to Carlos Santana's bunt single in the fourth after surrendering a run in the first.

NFL wheeling and dealing can begin Tuesday, but the Browns have cautioned that they won't be relying heavily on trades and free agency.

View full sizeAP photoEagles safety Quintin Mikell might be one of the available free agents to draw interest from the Browns when negotiations can begin this week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Beginning 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Browns will finally have a chance to improve their roster through trades and free agency, but they've been cautioning fans for months not to expect an overhaul in what promises to be a frenzied week.

"We won't go gung-ho in free agency," General Manager Tom Heckert said recently. "Our philosophy is to build this team through the draft and that's what we intend to do."

On Tuesday, teams can make trades, sign drafted and undrafted rookies, and begin negotiating with free agents. They can start signing free agents -- their own and others' -- Friday at 6 p.m.

As of Monday afternoon, the Browns weren't expecting to make any trades, and were hoping to land two or three key free agents.

"We've been talking about our plan, the players [we want to pursue], for a long, long time," Browns President Mike Holmgren said on the team's radio show on WKNR. He said the team hopes to add "certain free agents that can come in and make an impact with us right away."

He identified receiver, defensive line and cornerback as positions the Browns have identified, "but we will not go wholesale in free agency."

Of the Browns' 15 unrestricted free agents, there are several they'd like to re-sign and others they'll let walk. Heckert traded for defensive end Jayme Mitchell last season and has already made it clear he wants him back. Mitchell, who was overlooked last season by coach Eric Mangini, is penciled in as the starting left end and is a better fit in the new 4-3.

The Browns will also try to re-sign cornerback Eric Wright, who was tendered in off-season, but is now an unrestricted free agent under the new collective bargaining agreement because of his four accrued seasons.

Wright, who's coming off a tumultuous 2010 season in which he received death threats, has said he'd like to return. It's not known if the Browns intend to pursue starting safety Abe Elam. If not, there are a number of good safeties available, including the Eagles' Quintin Mikell, who was signed by Heckert as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State in 2003. Mikell, a great special teams player, went on to start for the Eagles at strong safety the past four seasons. In 2009, he made the Pro Bowl.

Some Browns not expected back include linebacker Matt Roth and fullback Lawrence Vickers. Roth has said he wants to play in a 3-4 and Vickers became expendable when the Browns drafted fullback Owen Marecic out of Stanford.

Defensive end Robaire Smith, another unrestricted free agent, said earlier this month that he'd like to re-sign with the Browns and is recovered from the spine bruise that landed him on injured reserve last season. Smith said reports of the injury being career-threatening were overblown and he feels as good as ever. Whether or not the Browns re-sign the 12th-year pro depends on their medical evaluation.

The Browns restricted third-year tight end Evan Moore in the off-season and would like to keep him. They would receive a second-round pick in 2012 if he signs elsewhere. They have yet to hear from kicker Phil Dawson, whom they franchised in March. If Dawson leaves, the Browns would receive two first-round picks in return.

Some big-name free agents who might fit their needs in addition to Mikell include Vikings receiver Sidney Rice, Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson, Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph, Chargers safety Eric Weddle, Ravens safety Dawan Landry and Colts safety Melvin Bullitt.

Rice underwent hip surgery last season and didn't play until November, but had a sensational 2009, with 83 catches for 1,12 yards and eight TDs en route to the Pro Bowl. Edwards had eight sacks for the Vikings and Johnson had 11.5 for the Panthers.

Weddle, Landry and Bullitt are all starting-caliber safeties in their prime.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Now that New York Jets and former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards has resolved his drunken driving case, he will have to head for court in Cleveland to find out whether he has violated his probation in a nightclub dust-up there, with jail a possibility if a judge finds he did break probation.

AP fileBraylon Edwards has a hearing in Cleveland Municipal Court Aug. 8.

Now that New York Jets and former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards has resolved his drunken driving case, he will have to head for court in Cleveland to find out whether he has violated his probation in a nightclub dust-up there, with jail a possibility if a judge finds he did break probation. Cleveland Municipal Court officials have set an Aug. 8 hearing, though it could be just a first step to a determination, court spokesman Ed Ferenc said. Peter M. Frankel, Edwards’ lawyer, declined to comment.

Steelers’ status: Pittsburgh has 14 unrestricted free agents and two restricted free agents, but only one of those players — cornerback Ike Taylor — started on offense or defense last season.

Favre’s agent speaks: Brett Favre’s agent said talk of his client attempting another NFL comeback is just “speculation.” Bus Cook said the 41-year-old quarterback hasn’t talked to him about any sort of comeback, and to his knowledge, Favre “hasn’t talked to anybody else about a comeback” either.

Former Raider dies: Former Oakland Raiders cornerback Alonzo “Skip” Thomas, one of the more colorful members of the club’s first Super Bowl championship team, died in Kansas on Sunday. He apparently had a heart attack. Thomas, a member of the “Soul Patrol” who nicknamed himself “Dr. Death,” was 61.

Money matters: The Kansas City Chiefs decided to restore employee pay that was reduced because of the NFL labor dispute, plus a 3 percent raise. . . . The Jets paid all lost wages to business-side employees who took unpaid furloughs during the NFL lockout and coaches who took pay cuts. . . . The Dolphins restored employee pay that was reduced because of the NFL labor dispute. . . . The Buffalo Bills have reinstated full salaries to employees.

The Tribe will face Angels' ace Weaver tonight.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerCleveland Indians' starter Josh Tomlin.

The Cleveland Indians were able to get by the Angels on Monday, thanks to Jason Kipnis' game-winning hit, but things will get a little tougher tonight when Angels' starter Jered Weaver takes the mound.

Weaver has gone six or more innings in 29 straight starts, including 12 straight quality starts, writes MLB.com's Quinn Roberts. Weaver has also won seven consecutive decisions, and over his last nine starts has a minuscule 1.45 ERA.

Though Indians starter Josh Tomlin hasn't been as sharp as he would like in his recent outings, he'll try to match Weaver's effectiveness on Tuesday.

Tomlin went six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits in a no decision against the Twins in his last outing.

"I just kind of had to battle," Tomlin said after Wednesday's game. "I felt like I had good stuff sometimes. You try to make a pitch to a certain guy in a certain situation, and you just leave the ball up a little bit. That's what happened to me today. I left the ball up a couple times, and they made me pay." 

 

Game stories

Cleveland.com: Tribe top Angeles.

Ohio.com: Kipnis' first hit a real winner.

News-Herald: Tribe get on track.

Los Angeles Times: Angeles let one get away.

Orange County Register: Indians rally to victory.

MLB.com: Tribe snap skid.

Trade talk

Jason Lloyd of Ohio.com writes how the Indians should make every player available in a possible trade to improve the team.

That includes guys like Drew Pomeranz, Jason Kipnis, Alex White and anyone else who could be enough to lure a big bat and October baseball back to Cleveland.

The Indians can’t afford to hoard their chips and wait for a day three years from now that might never come. The opportunity has presented itself this year to make an unlikely run to the postseason, much like the team in 1997 that surprised everyone once the playoffs began.

Lloyd hopes General Manager Chris Antonetti told the truth when he said no one is untouchable in the Tribe’s farm system.

Carlos Beltran and B.J. Upton are available.

Both are powerful outfielders with the type of bat the Indians desperately lack. Both will cost a heavy price in prospects.

Either could prove worth it.

"The way to win was stated by Heckert and modeled by the Pittsburgh Steelers: you build through the draft. Then you have the depth to let free agents walk. When was the last time the Steelers made a huge splash in free agency? I am a Browns fan through and through, but the Pittsburgh model is the gold standard." - billnye97

View full sizeAPBrowns fans love to hate the Steelers, but some believe the Browns should mimic their rival.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns pondering their options as free-agent frenzy looms for NFL, cleveland.com reader billnye97 wants the Browns to model themselves after the Steelers. This reader writes,

"The way to win was stated by Heckert and modeled by the Pittsburgh Steelers: you build through the draft. Then you have the depth to let free agents walk. When was the last time the Steelers made a huge splash in free agency? I am a Browns fan through and through, but the Pittsburgh model is the gold standard."

"The NFL's deal is a good deal for the players and owners. Plus as fans we get at least 10 years of labor peace. A deal was always going to get done. The NBA on the hand may not. Too many teams are losing money. The owners want a lot of giveback and the players have an option that NFL players didn't have: going overseas." - buckblog

View full sizeAPNBA commissioner David Stern.

In response to the story NFL lockout 2011: Some behind-the-scenes details that ended stalemate begin to emerge, cleveland.com reader buckblog thinks the NBA lockout will play out very differently from the NFL's. This reader writes,

"The NFL's deal is a good deal for the players and owners. Plus as fans we get at least 10 years of labor peace. A deal was always going to get done. The NBA on the hand may not. Too many teams are losing money. The owners want a lot of giveback and the players have an option that NFL players didn't have: going overseas."

Toledo is the pick to win the MAC football title this fall.

APToledo coach Tim Beckman.

Detroit -- The Toledo Rockets were picked to win the MAC Football title this year in a vote of selected MAC Media from around the league in a vote announced Tuesday morning at MAC Football Media Day held at Ford Field.

The Rockets were the pick to win the MAC West getting eight of 16 votes. The MAC East title is projected to go to the defending MAC Champion Miami RedHawks, but not without a fight from the rival Ohio University Bobcats.

Miami garnered 97 points including four first-place votes while the Bobcats picked up 96 points, but eight first-place votes. A close third in the voting sits Temple with 88 points and another four first-place votes.

Locally, Kent State is picked to finish fourth and Akron last in the MAC East. Toledo is expected to have a tight battle with defending MAC West Champion Northern Illinois. The vote was close between them with UT getting 83 points to 81 for the Huskies, but NIU only had five first-place votes to eight for the Rockets.

New to the game: There will be five new head coaches in the MAC this season including Steve Addazio at Temple. Dave Doeren at Northern Illinois, Darrell Hazel at Kent State, Pete Lembo at Ball State and Don Treadwell at Miami. Three of those coaches, Addazio, Doereen and Treadwell, replace MAC coaches who jumped to Miami (Al Golden), Minnesota (Jerry Kill) and Pitt (Mike Haywood) although (Haywood) was soon fired at Pitt following his arrest for suspected domestic violence.

Job interview: Considering several MAC coaches moved up to top tier football jobs last season, if, as some believe, Luke Fickell is a short timer at Ohio State this season, does that make Toledo's Sept. 10 game at Ohio State a public interview for the Rocket head coach Tim Beckman? The former Ohio State assistant could put his name on the Buckeyes potential short list if his Rockets can pull the upset in the second game of the season.

In the last five years six MAC coaches have been hired out of the league into one of the Big Six (ACC, SEC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12) conferences in the country including Brian Kelley (2006, CMU to Cincinnati), Turner Gill (2009, Buffalo to Kansas) and Butch Jones (2009, CMU to Cincinnati). Former MAC head coaches are now at Notre Dame, Michigan, Missouri and Nick Saban at Alabama.

Game of the Week I: Actually, it's going to be the Game of 'some' Weeks, per the MAC's new ESPN Regional TV deal. There will be six games sporadically scheduled through the season with the first coming Sept. 17 (Central Michigan at Western Michigan) and the last Nov. 5 (Ball State at Eastern Michigan). The six-game ESPN package will not have one game featuring the MAC's Defending Champion, Miami RedHawks and only one with the defending MAC West Champion Northern Illinois. (Oct. 22, at Buffalo). Locally, the Akron Zips will get their closeup, Oct. 29 on ESPN, when they host Central Michigan.

Game of the Week II: Again, it's going to be the Game of 'some' Weeks per the MAC's new Sports Time Ohio TV deal. This is a five-game package that begins Oct. 8 (Bowling Green at Western Michigan) and has one game featuring the defending MAC Champion Miami RedHawks (Oct. 29, Buffalo at Miami), one game featuring Kent State (Nov. 12 at Akron) and two games featuring the Zips (OU at Akron, Oct. 22). Counting Akron's season-opening trip to Ohio State, the Zips will get plenty of air time in the second year of the Rob Ianello regime.

 　

Plain Dealer Browns reporter says team will try to take advantage of a deep pool of free-agent safeties. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright.

With the NFL lockout over, it's time to ask a question that was touched on by Bill Livingston and Terry Pluto in their columns today: Did the lockout's resolution help the Browns or work against them? That's the topic of today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, who says she thinks the early resolution was a bonus, and that the Browns could have been worse off if training camp days had been lost.

Mary Kay also discusses whether Jake Delhomme will be back; how the Browns will attack free agency and spend the millions of dollars to get them up to the new salary-cap floor; and predicts which players the Browns will keep or cut as Chuck and Branson play a game called "Keep or Cut?"

SBTV will return Wednesday with Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises talking Buckeye football.

The Browns will not go wild during free agency.

Joshua Gunter | The Plain DealerCleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren.

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how the Cleveland Browns will remain calm despite the expected hectic week that will involve free agents.

The free agency market officially opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Heckert says the Browns are not going to “go wild” in free agency, but with $33 million in salary cap room, Heckert does have money to spend.

However this uncharted free agency shakes out, writes Schudel, there is no doubt players are thrilled to be going back to work. The fact is all players missed were the tedious days of OTAs and minicamps. For the most part, training camps are starting on time.

“Football never sounded so sweet,” Browns special teams star Josh Cribbs tweeted. “Mmmmm football. Let’s go.”

More links

Cleveland.com: The Browns will weigh their options in free agency.

Ohio.com: Nate Ulrich writes how the labor situation is over and now it's back to work for the Cleveland Browns.   

Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot guests on today's Starting Blocks TV.

An infographic with details on the new NFL labor agreement.

Browns stories you might have missed since the NFL draft in April.

Tony Grossi's breakdown of the Cleveland Browns roster.

Video thanks

Several NFL players say thanks to the fans who waited for the millionaire players and the billionaire owners to come to an agreement.
 

On the first day of NFL business after the lockout, the Browns were busy signing undrafted rookies.

The Plain DealerThe Browns have reportedly added to the bottom of their roster with a handful of undrafted free agents.

Updated 4:25 p.m.

 CLEVELAND -- Kentucky rookie wide receiver Chris Matthews tweeted this morning that he's on his way to the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agents.

Matthews is among a handfulof undrafted rookies the Browns have either signed or agreed to terms with today, according to several reports.

The unofficial list includes UTEP running back Donald Buckram, Georgetown College defensive lineman Kyle Anderson, Missouri cornerback Carl Gettis, Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith, Tennessee State linebacker Sidney Tarver and Hillsdale quarterback Troy Weatherhead.

Others are Oregon State cornerback James Dockery, Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak, Western Michigan receiver Juan Nunez, Appalacian State defensive lineman Jabari Fletcher, Minnesota offensive lineman Dominic Alford, Delaware State defensive lineman Andre Carroll and Delta State receiver L.J. Castille.

Mathews (6-5, 219) was ranked as the draft's 45th-best receiver by Mel Kiper Jr. As a senior, he caught 61 passes for 925 yards and nine touchdowns. Kiper wrote in his draft preview book "Mathews is one of the more physically imposing wide receivers in this draft. He can go up and get the football with the best of them...outside of Julio Jones, he might be the best blocking wide receiver in this draft class.''

The Browns have not yet confirmed any of the signings. 

How aggressive will the Browns be in free agency? Are there any names that are particularly intriguing being linked to the Indians in trade rumors? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeThe Plain DealerChris Antonetti, right, may need to find help for Manny Acta if the Indians are going to win the A.L. Central.

How aggressive will the Browns be in free agency? Are there any names that are particularly intriguing being linked to the Indians in trade rumors? 

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• With a full training camp, how much will the offseason time missed actually hurt the Browns?

• What parts of the new CBA do you think benefit the Browns the most?

• Is Fausto Carmona beginning to turn around his season based off his last two starts?

• What are your thoughts on seeing players like Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall come up from Columbus and make an impact?

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

Most analysts were surprised when Sanzenbacher, OSU's MVP last season, wasn't picked in April's NFL draft. Now, with the lockout over, he and other undrafted players can agree to terms with NFL teams.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerOhio State 2010 MVP Dane Sanzenbacher (12) will reportedly get his chance to play in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that the lockout is over, players who weren't selected in April's draft can agree to terms with NFL teams.

It's a process that normally would have begun even as the draft was winding down on its third and final day, which this year was on April 30.

Some former Ohio State Buckeyes stars are on the move, including wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, who has reportedly agreed to a contract to try to make the Chicago Bears roster.

Sanzenbacher must be regarded as a strong candidate to stay with the Bears. Most observers were surprised when he went undrafted.

Daniel Wolf writes about Sanzenbacher going to the Bears for the National Football Authority:

The Buckeyes' 2010 MVP was projected to be taken in the later rounds of April's draft but when he was not many, including ESPN's own Jon Gruden, were confused as to why.

Sanzenbacher comes into an offensive system ran by Mike Martz, which thrives on the passing game. Gunslinger and starting quarterback Jay Cutler needs weapons and Sanzenbacher can easily be a target over the middle or even down the sideline, for Cutler.

In fact, Sanzenbacher was more of a deep threat at OSU last year, than fellow starter DeVier Posey was, so the assumption that Sanzenbacher is a slot receiver is misleading.

Wolf's report links to an earlier National Football Authority report on how Gruden is a fan of Sanzenbacher's, and another NFA report on how Sanzenbacher can be more than just the prototype slot receiver. 

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' reports on three different 2011 Big Ten football polls conducted by The Plain Dealer: predicting the Big Ten standings; picking the conference's best coach; picking the Big Ten's preseason offensive and defensive Players of the Year. 

Buckeyes banter

Other former Buckeyes who weren't drafted have reached agreements with NFL teams, too, reports Bil Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.

Big Ten media polls, by Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com.

Ohio State's "great escape," by Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News.

ESPN.com video: Ohio State's "X-factor," wide receiver Corey Brown.

Baron Davis throwing himself into schoolwork to keep busy during the NBA lockout.

Scott Shaw | The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers guard Baron Davis looks for an opening.

Baron Davis left UCLA for the NBA 12 years ago as a sophomore. He previously made an attempt to finish school, but the time wasn't right.

That time has finally arrived as Davis, guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has returned to school. It's especially a good time to hit the books since the NBA is involved in a lockout, which may go on for months.

But this has more to do with the recent death of his grandmother than spending his extra time in a classroom.

ESPN's J.A. Adande writes:

"With all I've been through this year, losing my grandmother, I felt like I need to start taking paths to better myself at this point in my life," Davis said. "Get back in a college atmosphere. Even if there is a lockout, I look at what opportunity do I have to get something accomplished that I want to accomplish in my life, you know?"

He'll register for the fall quarter as well if the NBA and the players' union don't have a collective bargaining agreement in place by then.

"As long as the lockout is going on, I'm going to keep myself in school," Davis said. "Keep me from spending money and doing other stuff. This is like a full-time thing for me right now."

Richard T. Watson helped the Cavs negotiate with players, rival teams, Gateway and more.

View full size

Cleveland Heights --Gordon Gund says Dick Watson's deft deals brought the Cavaliers deft players.

The eclectic Watson also served as chancellor of the Episcopal diocese of Ohio and owned the popular Button bar in Fort Lauderdale.

Watson suffered from heart disease for several years but was still working at age 77. He had a heart attack July 15 during a business trip to New York City and died there July 20.

"He was a genius in finding ways to structure deals," Gund, who owned the Cavs with his brother, George, said of Watson, the team's vice president, counsel and part-owner. "He was an extraordinary mathematician and a brilliant negotiator."

Cavs' fans may remember Watson for representing the team on TV in 2002 during one of many unlucky lotteries before the Lebron James' draft. But Gund said he helped invigorate the team in the 1980s and lead it until 2005, when Dan Gilbert bought it.

Since 1987, Watson was the diocese's chancellor, or lawyer, its highest lay position. He had also been a governor of the National Basketball Association and of National Hockey League, president of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs and chairman of the Cleveland Tax Institute.

In law and life, he believed in solving conflicts by finding common ground. When critics complained that Cavaliers had gotten too sweet a deal to leave Richfield for Gateway, he helped work out some concessions.

Watson was raised in Lakewood and Maple Heights. He entered Harvard College three weeks after turning 16 and graduated with honors. He worked for Army Intelligence in Germany and graduated from Harvard Law School.

He spent his whole career with Spieth, Bell, McCurdy and Newell in Cleveland and became its managing partner. He specialized in business and estate planning.

In the 1970s, Watson started representing the Gunds in sports. He helped them buy the Cleveland Barons hockey team and later merge it with the Minneapolis North Stars. He also helped them buy the Richfield Coliseum, hockey's San Jose Sharks and, in 1983, the Cavaliers.

Back then, the basketball team was losing lots of games and money. Watson negotiated the right to buy extra first-round draft picks. In 1986, he calculated that the 76ers could not afford to sign their pending first-round pick and persuaded them to trade it. The Cavs picked Brad Daugherty, who led them to the playoffs in several seasons.

Watson undertook many business deals of his own. From 1969 until the mid-1980s, he owned Fort Lauderdale's Holiday Inn Oceanside, best known for its bar, the Button.

He lived in Shaker Heights for about 10 years, then in Cleveland Heights. He outlived one of his three children. With his family, he endowed the Richard T. Watson Chair of Science and Religion at the Harvard Divinity School and the Susan E. Watson Chair in Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University.

Watson traveled on every continent. His many interests ranged from historic maps to game theory, which includes his favorite topic of cooperation.

Richard Thomas Watson

1933-2011

Survivors: wife, the former Judith Briggs; children, David D. of Cleveland Heights and Andrew C. of Windsor, Conn.; a granddaughter and a brother.

Memorial service: 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights.

Contributions: Cleveland Food Bank, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44110, cleve landfoodbank.org, and Citizens Academy, 1827 Ansel Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, citizen sacademy.org.

Arrangements: Brown-Forward.

No official announcement on Woods' status has been made, but reports are circulating that he plans to return before the final major of the season.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerWord is circulating that Tiger Woods could return to competitive golf next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron. Woods has won more than $8 million at Firestone, never finishing over par or below fourth place for 72 holes until last year when he struggled to 18-over and in a tie for 78th.

AKRON, Ohio - With word spreading that Tiger Woods is planning to return to competitive golf sooner than the PGA Championship next month in Atlanta, officials at Firestone Country Club are hoping his return will begin at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational next week.

While no official announcement on his status has been made, reports are circulating that Woods is planning to return before the final major of the season, which runs Aug. 11-14. A phone call to one of Woods' spokesmen was not returned.

Still, the talk of a possible return had WGC-Bridgestone officials excited and holding onto hopes that Woods will appear at Firestone.

"We have not been told that he won't be playing," said one WGC-Bridgestone official who asked for anonymity. "We have heard the same things as everyone. Obviously, we'd love to have him. He has produced some great memories at Firestone."

Not to mention ticket sales and success. Woods, who has not played since withdrawing with a balky knee in the first round of The Players Championship in early May, has had incredible success at Firestone.

Golf's all-time leading money winner has won seven times in 12 appearances on the famed South Course and has repeatedly said it is one of his favorite places to play. His appearance would be a boost for ticket sales and television ratings.

Woods has won more than $8 million at Firestone, never finishing over par or below fourth place for 72 holes until last year when he stumbled in at 18-over and in a tie for 78th. In 48 career rounds on the South Course, Woods has had 30 rounds in the 60s, 36 at par-70 or better and his 72-hole score of 21-under 259 in 2000, sparked by a second-round 61, is the tournament record.

The Associated Press has reported Woods is expected to make "a big announcement" sometime this week. A similar situation took place when the Golf Channel reported July 11 that Woods was going to make a big announcement. That announcement turned out to be more about Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, joining Excel Sports Management after a long career at IMG, than it did about Woods.

WGC-Bridgestone executive director Don Padgett III said Woods has not yet entered the tournament, set for Aug. 4-7. Woods has until Friday at 5 p.m. to enter. The fact that he has not entered a couple of days before the deadline is not uncommon, Padgett said.

"Traditionally, Tiger has not entered our event until basically the last minute," he said. "So, we have until Friday at 5 p.m. We would be thrilled to have him."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

Pryor's former lawyer explains why he may have been ineligible for the entire 2011 season, but in a way that isn't a problem for Ohio State.

AP Terrelle Pryor

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Terrelle Pryor has to be in the NFL supplemental draft. No matter the letter of the NFL law, it just doesn't make sense to keep him out, and we'll explain more about that in a minute.

But first, an answer to what should have become the most burning question around Pryor and Ohio State in the last day or two.

How could Pryor have been ready to be declared ineligible for the entire season by the NCAA, as reported in this ESPN.com story, yet the NCAA's Case Summary on Ohio State's pending hearing didn't include any further violations committed by Pryor?

Did the NCAA prove that he broke any more rules or not? It's a strange case, because at this point the more Pryor did to break NCAA rules and affect his eligibility, the better it is for him in regards to his supplemental draft eligibility, but the worse it is for Ohio State.
 
Talking today with Larry James, the Columbus lawyer who represented Pryor during his NCAA issues, helped clear that up. And again, I just can't imagine that the NFL will deny Pryor's application for the supplemental draft.

According to James, the issue that would have made Pryor ineligible for the entire 2011 season was his decision not to talk with the NCAA about the OSU investigation. Basically, Pryor decided not to talk to the NCAA because it wasn't in his best interest. But if you're a current college player, you don't have a choice. If the NCAA wants to talk to you, you talk.

So it's that decision, as James explains it, that would have ended Pryor's eligibility at the college level. And that change in status should help his cause with the supplemental draft.

Here's the NCAA Bylaw that would seem to cover Pryor's lack of cooperation.

32.3.7.2 Responsibility to Cooperate. At the beginning of an interview arranged or initiated by the enforcement staff, a current or former student-athlete or institutional employee shall be advised that refusing to furnish information or providing false or misleading information to the NCAA, conference or institution may result in an allegation that the individual has violated NCAA ethical conduct legislation (see Bylaw 10.1).

That 10.1 bylaw should be memorable - it's the unethical conduct bylaw that caused so much trouble for Jim Tressel. So not cooperating for current players is serious business, and it seemingly could have deemed Pryor ineligible.

Publicly, all the NFL has done so far is recite its rules for supplemental draft eligibility. To be accepted into the supplemental draft, a player needs to have been either ruled ineligible or kicked off a team or out of school after the January deadline to declare for the regular NFL draft.

Did that happen with Pryor? Not exactly. Officially, he was deemed ineligible for the first five games of the 2011 season in December, and he was still in that boat when he left Ohio State in June.

What did happen after January? Tressel's role in Ohio State's NCAA scandal was revealed. Stories alleged more serious violations by Pryor. Tressel was forced to resign. New OSU coach Luke Fickell didn't return Pryor's call after he took over the team.

Did Pryor's situation change after January? Ya think?
 
This is the NFL's decision alone. It treats every player on a case-by-case basis. It can let Pryor in without worrying that every player whose coach is fired after January will now be trying to get in the supplemental draft.

After the lockout, does the league really want to get into a screeching match with Drew Rosenhaus, Pryor's agent? Does it want to risk legal action? If denied, Pryor would then have to sit out a year, because what he can't do is just enter the league as a free agent, not unless he goes undrafted in some setting first.

At this point, we don't know that the NFL really is that fired up about this. When I asked the NFL months ago, all they did was quote the rules to me. At that point, Pryor did sound like he would be ineligible. But that was before the heat turned up at Ohio State, before Tressel was forced out, before the state of the OSU program and Pryor's future in it had completely changed. Even then, another agent told me that a good agent should be able to get Pryor into the supplemental draft.

The NFL doesn't want a player to game the system. It won't allow a player to skip the draft and enter the supplemental draft for his own gain or to get to a team he really wants to play for.

That's not what Terrelle Pryor is doing. James said this wasn't a scheme on Pryor's part to skip the regular draft, and James is shocked that the entire situation has become an issue.

I still don't think it will be. 

One report has the Indians among the teams considering a deal for Tampa Bay Rays outfielder B.J. Upton.

Associated PressTampa Bay's B.J. Upton is among the top outfielders being mentioned in trade rumors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians are in the American League Central Division race, one game behind the first-place Detroit Tigers, 2 1/2 ahead of the Chicago White Sox and six in front of the Minnesota Twins going into Tuesday' games.

The promising but largely inexperienced Kansas City Royals, 11 games behind Detroit, are the lone team that can probably be counted out of the Central Division race. 

The division's up-for-grabs status makes the Indians a team seeking to bolster its roster before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline. Unless things dramatically change in the next five days, this is the first time since 2007 that the Indians won't be looking to trade veterans to contending teams for prospects in exchange.

Instead, Cleveland is probably trying to decide what prospects it might be willing to deal for a veteran player (or players) who could help the Tribe in its pennant chase.

Tom Verducci writes for Sports Illustrated's SI.com that this is a key week for teams like the Indians, who unexpectedly find themselves looking to win now:

Only by the grace of the woebegone AL Central could a team that lost 93 games last year, has gone 22-33 in its last 55 games and outscored its opponents this season by exactly two runs consider itself a division title contender. But look over there, shopping the aisles of the trade market as a most unlikely buyer, and you'll find the Cleveland Indians, the accidental contender.

Are they any good? Who knows? "I'm trying to figure that out," joked GM Chris Antonetti. But they start today just one game out of first place, which means Antonetti is obligated to try to add to his team.

"We realize that people have limited expectations for us, but we are in the race," Antonetti said. "I'm appreciative of that opportunity and we will do what we can do. We don't view there to be any untouchables at the major league level or the minor league level. We have to be open-minded."

Check Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage to see what might develop with the Tribe as the trade deadline approaches. For instance, there's some trade discussion on PD Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes' Indians Chatter, and columnist Terry Pluto's podcast. 

MLB trade talk

The Indians are among five teams "in play" to trade for Tampa Bay Rays outfielder B.J. Upton, reports Jon Paul Morosi for FoxSports.com.

MLB.com keeps track of trade deadline 2011.

The four Central Division contenders "have no idea if they're coming or going" in regard to playing good or bad baseball, writes Jerry Crasnick for ESPN.com -- a situation that definitely affects trade considerations.

The problems a team could face if it trades for B.J. Upton. By Antony Witrado for SportingNews.com.

Even though the White Sox are in the division race, general manager Ken Williams is considering whether the team should begin a youth movement now, reports ESPNChicago.com.

Are the Twins now sellers? On SportingNews.com.

Indians trade talks should include everyone, Jason Lloyd writes for the Akron Beacon Journal.

Situations for 10 teams as the trade deadline approaches, by Jeff Passan for Yahoo! Sports. The Indians are not included.

The best players over age 50 will compete at a legendary layout this week in Toledo.

View full sizeTed S. Warren, Associated PressBernhard Langer of Germany is the defending U.S. Senior Open champion for this week's tournament at The Inverness Club.

Where: The Inverness Club, 4601 Dorr St., Toledo. Call 419-535-9756.

When: Thursday through Sunday, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Tickets: Available online at the tournament's Web site or at any Toledo-area Kroger store.

Tournament Details

Format: 72 holes, stroke play. Starting field of 156 cut after 36 holes to low 60 scorers (and ties) and any player within 10 strokes of the leader. In the case of a tie after 72 holes, a three-hole aggregate playoff will be held immediately after the fourth round on Sunday.

The course: Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1903. George and Tom Fazio supervised revisions in 1978 and Arthur Hills did the same in 1999. The course will play to 7,143 yards with a par 71. The fairways will average 28 yards in width. The greens will measure 12 to 121/2 feet on the Stimpmeter.

Hole reversal: As is not uncommon for major events, the USGA has "redesigned" the existing layout. The club's normal third through seventh holes will become 12 through 16, and vice-versa. The change was made to ease spectator traffic.

Inverness history: Regarded as one of the top courses in the country, this marks the second time it has hosted the Senior Open. Bruce Lietzke won in 2003. This is its seventh USGA championship, with Ted Ray (1920), Billy Burke (1931), Dick Mayer (1957) and Hale Irwin (1979) winning U.S. Opens and Craig Stadler winning the 1973 Amateur. The club also has been the site of two PGA Championships, with Bob Tway winning in 1986 when he holed out from a green-side bunker on the final hole and Paul Azinger winning in a playoff in 1993. Greg Norman was the runner-up both years.

More Inverness: The 1979 U.S. Open will be remembered for the planting of a tree on the eighth hole during the tournament. In the first round, Lon Hinkle discovered the 528-yard eighth could be shortened considerably by playing onto the adjoining 17th fairway, thereby eliminating the severe dogleg left. He hit a 1-iron off the tee through the trees, hit a 3-iron approach and two-putted for birdie. It didn't take long for fellow competitors to follow. By 5 a.m. the next day, the USGA had planted a 24-foot black spruce, blocking Hinkle's route.

Defending champion: Germany's Bernard Langer, 52, who shot 8-under 272 to win by three shots at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.

Purse: The 2010 purse was $2.6 million with $470,000 going to the winner.

Perks: The winner also receives a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Senior Open or an exemption through the age of 65, whichever yields the highest number of exemptions.

TV: At least 14 hours of live coverage. Live coverage on Thursday and Friday on ESPN2 from 3-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday the coverage switches to NBC (WKYC Ch. 3) from 3-6 p.m.

History: Miller Barber won three U.S. Senior Open championships and Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin and Allen Doyle have won two each.

The USGA in Ohio: This is the 36th USGA event and the fifth Senior Open to be held in Ohio. The last Senior Open here took place at the NCR Club in Dayton in 2005.

Missing notables: Paul Azinger, Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Allen Doyle, Tom Pernice Jr. and Scott Hoch are all nursing injuries.

This week, PGA Professional Michael Kernicki from Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood explains how to hit a flop shot onto the green. Watch video

Local pros solve your swing problems in a weekly instruction video with Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw and videographer David I. Andersen.

This week, PGA Professional Michael Kernicki from Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood explains how to hit a flop shot onto the green.

Need help with your game? Explain your problem in an email and we will select one each week. All videos are archived.

GM Chris Antonetti says a few key deals before Sunday's 4 p.m. trading deadline could shake the market loose and allow him to add a player or two.

Chuck Crow, Plain Dealer fileIndians GM Chris Antonetti is still trying to make a trade to helph is ballclub.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The trading deadline is 4 p.m. Sunday and the Indians still haven't made a deal.

The Indians could use some help. They were 30-15 on May 23 with a seven-game lead in the AL Central. They've gone 22-33 since, but are still in the race. They entered Tuesday night's game against the Angels trailing first-place Detroit by one game.

GM Chris Antonetti talked to reporters before the game about his efforts to improve the Tribe.

Q. Are you confident you'll make a trade before the deadline?

A. I'm confident we'll do everything we can to make a deal. Whether that results in making a trade is difficult to say. As we've said all along, it takes two parties to make a trade. Despite our best efforts at this point, we haven't been able to do anything.

Q. What will it take to get the trade market going?

A. Our preference would have been to do something a few weeks ago. Again, we can't dictate that timetable. Hopefully, over the next day or two some dominoes start to fall and that opens up the market.

Often times when a trade of a certain player is made who might be holding up a market, once that player has been traded, that forces teams to look at other alternatives.

Q. Do you feel any of the talks you've had with other teams are close to producing a trade?

A. It's hard to say anything is imminent. The intensity of the conversation has picked up. The level of specificity has also picked up over the last two days. It's gone from a wide general net to focusing on trying to get something done.

Q. If you are interested in a player with a no-trade clause, how do you deal with that?

A. It depends upon the team. In the end, depending on the specifics of the provision -- if a player has a complete no-trade -- it's his decision where he ends up going.

Q. There is a school of thought that says if a team has a chance to win this year, it should go all out because you never know what the future will bring. Do you feel that way?

A. Our philosophy is to take advantage of every opportunity we have to get to the postseason and advance in the postseason. But you have to be mindful of the cost of doing that.

We are prepared to do what we can, to do what's reasonable, to improve the team. We can't be limited in our focus to the next 2 1/2 months. If you make a foolish decision now, it could be one you regret for multiple years.

Q. Would you be more inclined to give up some of your more talented players for a player or players who you can control for two or three years as opposed to renting a player for the rest of this season?

A. Generally speaking, we'd have larger tolerance for giving up players of more talent if we had multiple years of control.

Tonight's lineups:

Angels (55-48): SS Erick Aybar (S), RF Torii Hunter (R), DH Bobby Abreu (L), LF Vernon Wells (R), 3B Alberto Callaspo (S), 2B Howie Kendrick (R), 1B Mark Trumbo (R), CF Peter Bourjos (R), C Doug Mathis (R), RHP Jered Weaver (13-4, 1.81).

Indians (52-48): CF Ezequiel Carrera (L), LF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), C Carlos Santana (S), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 2B Jason Kipnis (L), RF Travis Buck (L), RHP Josh Tomlin (11-4, 4.12).

Him vs. me: Russell Branyan is 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI against Tomlin. Asdrubal Cabrera is 4-for-21 with two doubles against Weaver.

Lefty-righty: Lefties are hitting .272 (70-for-257) with nine homers and righties are hitting .211 (48-for-227) against Tomlin. The Angels have two lefties and one switch-hitter in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .214 (66-for-308) with two homers and righties are hitting .184 (45-for-245) with three homers against Weaver. The Indians have six lefties and two switch-hitters in the lineup.

Umpires: H Mike Estabrook, 1B Ted Barrett, 2B Brian Runge, 3B Marvin Hudson.

Quote of the day: "I have a hard time believing athletes are overpriced. If an owner is losing money, give it up. It's a business. I have trouble figuring out why owners would stay in if they're losing money," Hall of Famer and former Angels slugger Reggie Jackson. 

Next: Lefty David Huff (1-0) makes his second start of the season with the Tribe when he faces right-hander Ervin Santana (5-8) at 12:05 p.m. Wednesday. WTAM AM/1100 will carry the game. There's no TV.