Also, free agent rookie OL Jarrod Shaw gets his chance in Cleveland.

APCleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

Is Colt McCoy a franchise quarterback? Or is he just filling in until the Cleveland Browns get the right quarterback?

This question was asked by The Bleacher Report, and based on last year's performance, that question is still up in the air.

Last year's results were a mixed bag—McCoy held his own despite how green he was, but didn't turn out to be the miracle worker we all had hoped he would be right out of the gate. McCoy showed he had the potential to lead the franchise, but he also showed he still had a lot of work to do.

Free agent

Patience paid off for Tennessee's Jarrod Shaw when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Browns, writes Kevin Foote of theadvertiser.com.

After all, in his four years of college eligibility, the 6-4, 325-pound offensive guard wasn't a full-time starter until his senior season and he played for three different head coaches.

"It was extremely difficult playing for three different coaches," Shaw said. "They all have different personalities, different organizational skills, different philosophies and different concepts. But once you warm up to it, it's becomes easier."

Ward and Haden

T.J. Ward and Joe Haden will take bigger roles as leaders this season. Here are stories from Ohio.com, Cleveland.com and The News-Herald on Ward and Haden.

Will the Indians make a significant deal before the trading deadline? How seriously did the team actually pursue Carlos Beltran? Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerChris Antonetti has a busy few days in front of him trying to improve the Indians.

Will the Indians make a significant deal before the trading deadline? How seriously did the team actually pursue Carlos Beltran?

Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• What players in this organization are completely untouchable?

• If this team doesn't make a trade, is there anyone on the farm who could come up and make a significant impact?

• What would a healthy Alex White do to help the bullpen?

• Based off his last two starts, is there hope that Fausto Carmona is turning his season around?

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

ChiSox, 2 1/2 games behind Indians and 4 1/2 behind Tigers, trade Jackson and utilityman Mark Teahen to Blue Jays for reliever Jason Frasor and pitching prospect Zach Stewart. A Jays-Cardinals trade could follow.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerDoes the Chicago White Sox' trade of pitcher Edwin Jackson (photo) indicate they don't think they're a serious contender this season?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The American League Central Division pennant chase is up for grabs, but it looks as though the Chicago White Sox may be throwing in the towel.

Chicago trails the first-place Detroit Tigers by 4 1/2 games and the second-place Cleveland Indians by 2 1/2 games going into today's action.

Now, with four days left before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline, the White Sox have traded a solid starting pitcher, Edwin Jackson, and and veteran first baseman-outfielder Mark Teahen to the Toronto Blue Jays in for reliever Jason Frasor and a pitching prospect, starter Zach Stewart.

Jackson has won both of his starts against the Indians this season, posting a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings. Teahen is now a utility man who on Tuesday had gone on Chicago's disabled list with a strained oblique.

Bob Nightengale reports on the White Sox-Blue Jays trade for USA Today. He writes that the trade could lead to another deal, with Jackson going to the St. Louis Cardinals for starting center fielder Colby Rasmus.

Nightengale writes:  

Jackson is making $8.35 million this season, after which he is eligible for free agency. Teahen is making $4.75 million this year and will make $5.25 million in 2012.

White Sox GM Kenny Williams said the club "needed to make a dent in our payroll and still try to win. How do we accomplish both of our goals? Well, we have five starters and we wanted to shorten the game."

Frasor figures to inherit a late-inning role ahead of current White Sox closer Sergio Santos.

Stewart, a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2008, was 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA in three starts for Toronto this season. He was traded to Toronto as part of a deal involving Scott Rolen in 2009. The 24-year-old entered this season among Toronto's top five pitching prospects.

Former Ohio State assistants are now leading teams in the MAC.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerKent State coach Darrell Hazell.

Toledo football coach Tim Beckman and Kent State coach Darrell Hazell learned so much from their experiences as assistant coaches at Ohio State, writes Mark Znidar of The Columbus Dispatch.

In 2005, Tressel gave Beckman his first shot as a major-college assistant as the Ohio State cornerback coach. Beckman was on the staff for one more season before moving to Oklahoma State for another dream job, defensive coordinator.

It was Tressel, Beckman has said, who taught him how to run a program from the ground up.

Under Hazell, writes Znidar, Kent State will look a lot like Ohio State.

"I've brought a lot of things from Ohio State, but I make it a point not to talk Ohio State," Hazell said. "What we do is Kent State. The players don't want to hear about what we did at Ohio State."

Free agents sign

Seven former Ohio State players agreed to terms with NFL teams as free agents, writes Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch.

Dane Sanzenbacher was among the most coveted of unsigned rookies. His agent, Joe Flanagan, said about 25 teams pursued the wide receiver. Sanzenbacher narrowed the list to the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns before picking the Bears.

Boren, an offensive lineman, signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Fellow lineman Bryant Browning will join the St. Louis Rams, as will long-snapper Jake McQuaide. Defensive back Devon Torrence signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Running back Brandon Saine joined the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. Defensive tackle Dexter Larimore signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Terrelle Pryor is free

Columbus Dispatch: OSU clears the path for Pryor.

Cleveland.com: Ohio State bans Terrelle Pryor.

Delhomme became too expensive as a third quarterback in Cleveland and could surface elsewhere as a backup.

PD FileThe Browns released QB Jake Delhomme after one injury-plagued season.

BEREA -- The Browns have told quarterback Jake Delhomme he will be released, a league source confirms. The transaction is not official until Thursday, so the Browns may withhold confirming it.

 Delhomme was scheduled to make $5.4 million in base salary in 2011 after getting about $7 million guaranteed in an injury-plagued 2010.

 The move could open up about $2.3 million in salary cap space for the Browns.

 Delhomme started at quarterback in Game 1 and suffered a high ankle sprain in the first half against Tampa Bay. He was rushed back in Game 5 after backup Seneca Wallace suffered the same injury.

 During his injury, Delhomme transitioned as an active mentor to Colt McCoy. The two often drove to work together. But that role is less important in McCoy's second season. And Wallace, who was re-signed to a three-year contract, has more experience in the Mike Holmgren offense now being implemented.

 Delhomme came back a second time during 2010 and started three games after McCoy suffered a high ankle sprain, winning two. Delhomme's 2-2 record as a starter was the best of the three QBs who made starts last season.

 He finished with a 63.4 passer rating, completing 93 of 149 for 872 yards, with two touchdowns and seven interceptions.

 Delhomme could wind up as a backup in New Orleans, his home-state team. The Saints offered him the backup job last year but he chose the opportunity to start in Cleveland.

The Indians committed a season-high five errors in the game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What goes around, comes around.

The Indians pounded right-hander Ervin Santana in his big-league debut on May 17, 2005. He hasn't beaten them since until Wednesday, when the right-hander threw the first no-hitter of his career in the Angels' 3-1 victory at Progressive Field.

Santana, 28, is the first Angels pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Mike Witt beat Texas, 1-0, on Sept. 10, 1984. Witt threw a perfect game that day.

The 6-2, 185-pound Santana struck out 10 and walked one. He threw 105 pitches, 76 for strikes.

Santana entered the ninth with 94 pitches. He struck out pinch-hitter Travis Buck, retired Ezequiel Carrera on a grounder to second and ended it by getting Michael Brantley on a fly ball to center.

The only blemishes on Santana's performance was an error by shortstop Erick
Aybar on Carrera's leadoff one-hopper in the first inning and a eighth-inning walk by Lonnie Chisenhall.

Santana's no-hitter was the third in the big leagues this year. It's was the first time the Indians have been no-hit since Yankees right-hander Jim Abbott beat them, 4-0, on Sept. 4, 1993.

View full sizeMark Duncan, Associated PressThe zeroes told the story as Ervin Santana breezed through the Indians' lineup for the ninth no-hitter in Angels history Wednesday at Progressive Field. Santana struck out 10 in the 3-1 triumph, the first of his career against the Indians.

Torii Hunter scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball by catcher Carlos Santana in the sixth for a 2-1 lead. The Indians made a season-high five errors in the game.

Peter Bourjos added an RBI single in the ninth after Howie Kendrick walked, stole second and went to third on Santana's throwing error.

Carrera started the game by reaching on Aybar's error. He stole second and took third on Asdrubal Cabrera's grounder to second. Carrera scored on Santana's wild pitch with Travis Hafner at the plate.

David Huff didn't allow a hit through three innings. In the third, Huff pitched around errors by third baseman Chisenhall and Cabrera at short. In the fourth, he pitched around an error by right fielder Austin Kearns to retain the 1-0 lead.

The Angels made it 1-1 in the fifth. Bourjos opened with a triple off the left-field wall and scored on Mike Trout's sacrifice fly to right.

Hunter started the sixth with a double. Huff retired Vernon Wells on a fly ball to left, but Kendrick singled Hunter to third. Huff struck out Mark Trumbo and manager Manny Acta called for reliever Joe Smith to face Bourjos.

A 1-1 pitch got away from Santana as Bourjos broke for second. The ball rolled up the first-base line and Hunter scored from third on a head-first slide just ahead of Smith's tag attempt.

Huff, in his second start for the Indians, allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He threw 92 pitches, 66 for strikes.

It was Santana's first victory over the Indians in 12 starts. They beat him, 13-5, in his big-league debut. In that game, the Indians scored six runs on eight hits in four innings.

Despite throwing five quality starts the last five times he's faced the Indians, Santana never beat them. Until Wednesday.

Fan video of Ervin Santana's final out against Indians

Santana is the first pitcher to no-hit the Indians since the Yankees' Jim Abbott in 1993.

APThe Angels' Ervin Santana celebrates the final out of his no-hitter.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Los Angeles Angels' Ervin Santana is the 12th player to pitch a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians, and the first in 18 years.

Santana and the Angels defeated the Indians, 3-1, today at Progressive Field.

The no-hitter is the first against the Indians in 18 years and just the fourth thrown against them in Cleveland.

Santana struck out 10 and walked one. The run he allowed in the first inning scored on an error, stolen base, groundout and wild pitch.

(6-8, 3.47) pitched once previously against the Indians this season, getting no-decision in the Angels 4-3, 12-inning win in Los Angeles on April 13. The right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.

Santana, 28, has an 82-63 career record. Ironically, the no-hitter is his first win against the Indians, making him 1-6 with a 4.29 career ERA against the Tribe.

The previous pitchers to no-hit the Indians (who were named the Naps after Hall of Fame second baseman-manager Napoleon Lajoie in the first three games they were no-hit):

Pitcher                                   Date                  Team                 Score  Played at  

Charles "Chief" Bender        May 12, 1910      Phil. Athletics        4-0    Philadelphia

Thomas Hughes                     Aug. 30, 1910     N.Y. Highlanders   0-5   New York

(Hughes pitched nine hitless innings, then gave up one hit in the 10th inning and lost the game in the 11th to Cleveland, then called the Naps)

Joe Benz                                May 31, 1914       Chi. White Sox     6-1   Chicago

Bullet Joe Bush                      Aug. 26, 1916      Phil. Athletics       5-0   Philadelphia

Vern Kennedy                        Aug. 31, 1935    Chi. White Sox     5-0   Chicago

Monte Pearson                      Aug. 27, 1938     N.Y. Yankees       13-0  New York

Allie Reynolds                       July 12, 1951      N.Y. Yankees        1-0  Cleveland

Dave Morehead                     Sept. 16, 1965    Bos. Red Sox       2-0  Boston

Dean Chance                         Aug. 25, 1967     Minn. Twins         2-1  Cleveland

Dave Stieb                            Sept. 2, 1990      Tor. Blue Jays      3-0  Cleveland

Jim Abbott                             Sept. 4, 1993      N.Y. Yankees       4-0  New York  

Click on to the pitcher's name to link to his baseball-reference.com page. Click on to the date to link to the box score and, when available, the play-by-play.

A Cleveland team has never had a perfect game pitched against it.

Ex-Michigan and NBA star Jalen Rose will serve 20 days in jail.

APJalen Rose

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- ESPN analyst and former NBA player Jalen Rose was sentenced to 20 days in jail Wednesday for a drunken-driving crash along a snowy suburban Detroit road.

Rose, a college star at the University of Michigan, actually was sentenced to 92 days in custody, but District Court Judge Kimberly Small suspended all but 20. He also was given a year of probation.

 "You're not here because you drank. I have no problem with that; have at it," the judge said. "I do mind when you get behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle and use it as a weapon against the rest of us."

Rose pleaded guilty in May. At that time, he said he veered off a West Bloomfield Township road in March after drinking six martinis. His blood-alcohol content was 0.12 percent, above Michigan's legal driving limit of 0.08. No one was injured.

"I have no one to blame but myself for endangering the community," Rose said in court Wednesday.

Rose's attorney, James Burdick, noted that the probation department did not recommend jail.

"The people have hired me, not my probation department," the judge replied.

Prominent people sent letters to the court supporting Rose, including Detroit mayor Dave Bing. Rose, a Detroit native, is opening a school in the city that will bear his name.

"Judge Small, for what it's worth, I fully believe Jalen was being truthful to me when he stated, 'I will never drink and drive again or ever be in any other court for any violation of the law,' " Bing wrote.

Delhomme played one season for Cleveland and had 7 INTs, 2 TD passes.

AP Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme.

The Cleveland Browns have released quarterback Jake Delhomme.

In one season with the Browns, Delhomme threw seven interceptions and had only two touchdowns.

Delhomme suffered a high ankle sprain during the second quarter of the Browns' first game of the season. He was never 100 percent for the rest of the season.

So was this release a good move?

"Make Cribbs the 3rd RB. Enough of the receiver stuff. It's been years and he hasn't developed there." - Scott Player

View full sizeTracy Boulian | The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs has struggled to adapt to the wide receiver position.

In response to the story Terry Pluto talks Browns, Indians - Podcast, cleveland.com reader Scott Player thinks it's time to try Cribbs elsewhere in the offense. This reader writes,

"Make Cribbs the 3rd RB. Enough of the receiver stuff. It's been years and he hasn't developed there."

A judge in Cleveland has spared New York Jets star Braylon Edwards jail time, extending his Ohio probation by a year for violating terms by driving drunk in New York City. He was on probation for punching a friend of LeBron James outside a Cleveland night club in 2010.

Former Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards waits for his session to begin in Cleveland Municipal Court, Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Edwards was ruled that he violated his probation, after pleading guilty to drunken driving in New York. He received an additional year of probation and 100 hours of community service. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND - A judge spared New York Jets star Braylon Edwards jail time, extending his Ohio probation by one year on Wednesday for violating terms by driving drunk in New York City.

Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Michelle Denise Earley, who could have sentenced the 28-year-old free-agent wide receiver to up to six months in jail, cautioned him to avoid situations that could land him back in court.

"Do I get it? I do," Edwards said as family members watched from the public gallery.

Edwards, who formerly played for the Browns, didn't comment before leaving the courtroom through a side door but let off steam in a tweet: "Not the best of days so far ... but I'm trying to stay positive!"

Edwards was serving 18 months of probation after he pleaded no contest in January 2010 to a misdemeanor charge. He was accused of punching a friend of LeBron James outside a Cleveland night club.

It was during that probation that he was charged with driving while intoxicated in Manhattan.

Edwards pleaded guilty Friday in New York to a misdemeanor DWI charge in a deal that calls for no jail time or probation if certain conditions are met.

His attorney in Cleveland, Patrick D'Angelo, raised the issue in court of whether Edwards' probation had expired in early July and said later that might be a basis for an appeal. The judge said the violation was already pending during the probation period.

D'Angelo mentioned a litany of charitable activities involving Edwards and said people should say, "Thank you, brother, for a job well done."

But the judge expressed concern that Edwards had gotten into trouble during his probation and said there should be a penalty or probation wouldn't mean anything.

She said Edwards should deal with his high profile by walking away from situations that can escalate and understand that "everybody can't love you and you can't have a problem with that."

Edwards said the drunken driving arrest taught him to hire a driver if he would be out drinking. "I have a lot to lose," he said.

D'Angelo said Edwards could face a National Football League suspension but said he hadn't contacted the league.

The judge also ordered Edwards to do 100 hours of community service.

Unlike his earlier inactive probation without regular reporting, the judge imposed active probation but said Edwards could contact the probation office by phone instead of going in person.

NFL teams can start signing free agents Friday. They were allowed to start negotiating Tuesday, a day after players and owners cemented a contract that ended a 4½-month lockout.

Edwards had 53 catches for 904 yards and seven touchdowns this past season, and he made a clutch catch to set up the Jets' game-winning field goal over the Indianapolis Colts in the final minute of an AFC wild card playoff game. He has said he'd like to stay with the Jets.

Beating the field might not be as tough as beating the fatigue for new Senior British Open champ Russ Cochran this week.

View full sizeCarlos Osorio, Associated PressNew Senior British Open champion Russ Cochran wasn't about to accept the favorite's role at the U.S. Senior Open at Toledo's Inverness Club, which begins Thursday.

TOLEDO -- Imagine winning a grueling major golf tournament and then winning another equally as demanding on another continent more than 4,500 miles away seven days later.

Beating the field might not be as tough as beating the fatigue. Especially if you're old enough to carry an AARP card.

Bernard Langer did it one year ago and that's what Russ Cochran faces Thursday during the first round of the U.S. Senior Open at The Inverness Club.

"The flight alone back is enough to knock you off your feet," said Cochran, who won the first major of his career on Sunday at the Senior British Open at Walton Heath in England.

Langer, who turns 54 next month, won the 2010 Senior British Open at Carnoustie and pulled off the rare double the following week at Sahalee in Sammamish, Wash. Cochran, 52, didn't sound like a guy who is expecting to duplicate Langer's accomplishment.

"That's what people said: 'Hey, you gonna do two in a row?' That's a tribute to the kind of guy Bernhard is, the discipline that he has, the kind of game he has and determination," Cochran said. "I can't imagine coming in here and just getting right back on track and having enough in the tank to win this week. That's a great tribute to him."

Langer, who has dominated the Champions Tour with 12 victories over the last three seasons and is a two-time Masters champ, credited his physical condition for last year's feat.

"The fatigue factor is obviously always there," said Langer, 5-9 and still 160 pounds. "It probably helped me to be reasonably fit and to get over the jet lag quicker than most other people. But, the eight-hour time change and back-to-back majors is very difficult on anybody."

Majors mean difficult golf courses. Inverness and its 7,143 yards, small but undulating greens and extremely difficult finishing holes, fits that mold.

Cochran is well aware. "I've played pro-ams and the [1993] PGA Championship here," he said, "and this golf course beat me up pretty badly."

Five minus one: There are four players in the field of 156 who have won championships at Inverness -- Craig Stadler (1973 U.S. Amateur), Hale Irwin (1979 U.S. Open), Bob Tway (1986 PGA) and Bruce Lietzke (2003 Senior Open). Paul Azinger (1993 PGA) withdrew on Tuesday citing fatigue.

Honest assessment: "It's a thrill. I think the older we get, the more we like to be tested. We all still want to believe that we have our best golf ahead of us, when sometimes, clearly, our best golf is behind us. But, you can't convince any of us of that." -- Former Senior Open winner Peter Jacobsen, when asked about returning to Inverness after a long absence.

New ground: There are 55 players making their U.S. Senior Open debuts, including 28 amateurs.

Helping out: USGA officials said approximately 2,300 volunteers will be on duty at various times this week.

Columbus manages just one hit in loss to Syracuse; Trenton's early runs top Akron; Holt has three hits in Kinston defeat; Wetmore's six hitless innings lead Lake County, Lavisky's fourth homer helps fuel Scrappers win.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Slammers 10, Crushers 1: Joliet's Andrew Moss (3-3, 3.67) no-hit Lake Erie in the Frontier League game in Avon.

The 24-year-old Moss walked six, struck out seven and has a 4-3 record in nine starts for the Slammers.

“That might have been the ugliest no-hitter of all time,” a happy Moss said. “I walked six guys, hit one, but we were able to get the job done and get the win. My defense was amazing and its always easier to pitch when your offense scores 10 runs.”

Moss walked the bases loaded in the seventh and gave up a run on a sacrifice fly by Jason Taylor. He retired the first 11 batters he faced, getting some help from center fielder Bobby Leeper when he made a diving catch in the first inning to take a hit away. In the sixth, shortstop Brad Netzel made a leaping catch of a line drive.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Chiefs 2, Clippers 0: On the day its major-league affiliate was held hitless and one day after Justin Germano pitched a perfect game for the Clippers, Columbus was held to one hit and lost an International League game Wednesday in Syracuse, N.Y.

DH Beau Mills (.188) had the Clippers' hit. RH Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 2.34) pitched seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits. He walked none and struck out six.

AA Akron Aeros

Thunder 5, Aeros 1: Trenton (N.J.) roughed up Akron starter Joe Gardner (7-8, 4.99) and won the Eastern League game at Canal Park.

Gardner, a righty, gave up five earned runs on 10 hits in 51/3 innings. 3B Kyle Bellows (.227) hit his second homer of the season for Akron.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Dash 7, Indians 3: LF Tyler Holt (.264) had three hits and stole his 24th base of the season, but the K-Tribe lost the Carolina League game in Winston-Salem, N.C.

RH Marty Popham (4-1, 3.88) started and allowed six earned runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out six.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 9, Hot Rods 4: LH Kirk Wetmore (2-0, 6.38) threw six hitless innings, SS Ronny Rodriguez (.241) hit his eighth homer of the season and 2B Nick Bartolone (.219) had three hits and scored three times as Lake County beat Bowling Green (Ky.) in a Midwest League game in Eastlake.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Scrappers 5, Spinners 3: Catcher and St. Ed grad Alex Lavisky (.204) hit his fourth homer of the season and scored two runs and RH Rob Nixon (3-3, 4.19) threw five innings of one-run ball to lead Mahoning Valley to the New York-Penn League win over Lowell (Mass.) in Niles, Ohio.

Representatives from both sides have met several times since July 1, but this will be first meeting to include owners, commissioner David Stern, union chief Billy Hunter and president Derek Fisher, AP sources say.

Associated PressNBAPA chief Billy Hunter (left) and NBA commissioner David Stern (right) hope to soon repeat the scenario from this June 21, 2005 photo, when they announced the sides had agreed in principle to a new 6-year labor deal -- the one that expired this June 30.

NEW YORK, New York -- NBA owners and players will resume talks toward a new collective bargaining agreement Monday, a month after the lockout started, people with knowledge of the plans said Wednesday.

Though representatives from the sides have been talking and met on multiple occasions since July 1, this will be the first meeting to include Commissioner David Stern, union executive director Billy Hunter and president Derek Fisher of the Lakers, and owners, the people told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are supposed to be confidential.

The sides were still far apart on numerous economic issues when owners voted to lock out the players when the old collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of the day June 30.

The first full meeting after the lockout in the summer of 1998 also came in early August, and the NBA went on to lose games to a work stoppage for the only time.

That possibility looms again, with owners seeking significant changes to the division of revenues, salary cap and other financial areas. The league says it lost about $300 million last season and has no chance to make a profit under the old system, which guaranteed the players 57 percent of basketball-related income.

Players offered to reduce that to 54.3 percent, but say the owners' last proposal for a new CBA would cut their guarantee to around 40 percent.

The NBA has released its 2011-12 schedule, which would begin on Nov. 1, but that would be jeopardized if the sides can't start chipping away at their differences soon. Hunter indicated after the last talks that perhaps they could start with something besides the finances when talks resumed, since they could never get past that hurdle and onto other things previously.

With the free agency shopping season heating up, the Browns are cooling their heels for a good reason, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

View full sizeGus Chan, The Plain DealerBrowns GM Tom Heckert is not letting the hype (or anxious fans' fondest desires) sway his belief that free agency is only a small part in building a solid NFL team.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What, him hurry?

The Browns have millions heaped upon millions in salary cap money to spend, but apparently no plans to make it rain like Pacman Jones in a strip club.

Free Agency Fever is a contagion around the league, but not here. Why?

First of all, GM Tom Heckert is the buttoned-down type. He didn't exactly swing all out in the draft -- his wheelhouse -- unless your idea of going deep is defensive tackle Phil Taylor late in the first round. With a first-year head coach, new defensive coordinator, new defense, new offense and relatively new quarterback, Heckert can further justify a conservative approach in 2011.

See what pieces of the jigsaw fit for Pat Shurmur on offense and Dick Jauron on defense. Don't get locked into big money free agents when you're not close to winning.

Many top free agents want to go where they can win. Or at least where they know what to expect. The Browns don't qualify in either category. They may someday. They don't now, not while their biggest attraction for free agents is Mike Holmgren as club president. They are somewhere in the early stages of yet another Dreaded Rebuilding Plan. The calendar suggests this is Year 2. But waiting a season to make an inevitable change at head coach is a mitigating factor.

The Browns aren't starting from scratch. They are starting anew, though, having wasted a year with a coach they knew wasn't in their long-range plans.

Heckert's had two drafts. And now this is his second free agent shopping season. So we'll split the difference and call it Year 1A. The GM has a great situation. A boss with Super Bowl credentials supporting him and publicly commending his work. A patient and dog-loyal fan base thrilled -- at least for now -- to see a front office with a plan, any plan.

Best-case scenario after what people have been through since 1999: having a GM who is both bold and competent. At this stage of the Browns' development, Heckert qualifies in the most important category.

But the time will soon come to hit the accelerator.

It will.

Won't it?

View full sizeAl Behrman, Associated PressWhen it comes to savvy NFL leadership, Bengals owner Mike Brown makes the Browns look like world beaters.

What, him worry?

Bengals owner Mike Brown is either ingeniously driving up the price for Carson Palmer or demonstrating again why his franchise is a laughingstock two decades in the making.

The safe bet? Let's just say ingenuity and Mike Brown have never been romantically linked.

Palmer, who has toiled long and painfully in the Cincinnati Cuckoo's Nest, told the Bengals in January he'd retire if he's not traded. Seven months later, Brown says he still won't trade the 31-year old quarterback. If Brown were simply cutting off his nose to spite his face, his stance would only be counter-productive to his team's chances in 2011. But it's worse than that.

"Carson signed a contract," Brown told reporters Tuesday. "He made a commitment. He gave his word."

That might be a laudable position if NFL players didn't get cut with years remaining on their contract all the time. Brown says it's the "principle," as if there's really such a thing in the business world. Palmer either retires or comes back miserable in Brown's best-case scenario. In either case, he gets nothing for him for a team that needs a lot.

Why again has Cincinnati only had two winning seasons in the last 20 years?

SPINOFFS

Approaching Sunday's trade deadline, the Indians asked about Mets' outfielder Carlos Beltran but they weren't on the list of teams he'd waive his no-trade clause to play for. Beltran, who wants to stay in the NL, is rumored to go to San Francisco...

After getting no-hit Wednesday afternoon and struggling to score in three games against the Angels, the Indians could improve their lineup by acquiring just about anybody, including Carlos Baerga...

We've learned something since the NFL lockout ended, mainly that Jake Delhomme was still on the Browns...

The Ohio State story can't get any stranger. The Buckeyes do Terrelle Pryor a favor to ensure he's eligible for the supplementary draft. How? By painting him as an even bigger pariah...

Pryor can't have anything to do with the Ohio State football program for five years. That won't change the plans of benevolent OSU fans, who previously announced they would forgive Pryor somewhere around the year 2111...

View full sizeAP fileFor the love of the game, this former big leaguer remains close to the game as a broadcaster.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL has work to do to win back its fans? If he really means it and isn't just pandering, he'd announce teams were discounting exhibition game tickets. For how long? Since the new agreement with players goes for 10 years, that sounds about right...

Opposing hitters have been issued three-ball walks more than once this season without anyone on Seattle's team, including manager Eric Wedge, noticing. So in Seattle, it's probably safe to say that 17 straight losses (as of Tuesday) felt more like 19 or 20...

By the way, judging by what happened in those Seattle games, and the call at home plate in the 19th inning of the Pirates-Braves game Tuesday night, honk if you'd like to wake up an umpire...

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Kevin Costner and former Cub/Diamondback Mark Grace -- Jim Marinin

HE SAID IT

View full sizeAPThis actor's love of the game isn't recommended, but he remains pretty dreamy to soft-hearted baseball fans.

"Could you have turned that down?" -- Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson on the 6-year, $72 million deal he signed to stay with the Panthers.

I'd have taken $6 million for 72 years.

HE SAID WHAT?

"He's retired. Period." -- Agent Bus Cook on Brett Favre.

Which leads to the question: When is he coming back?

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded-By-Lukewarm-Demand Midweek Edition)

"Bud:

"With all the trouble the Tribe is having in the outfield, I can't help but feel nostalgic for the David Dellucci/Jason Michaels platoon. -- Bryan M.

Good point. Like the push mower and the rotary dial phone, they are truly missed.

"Bud:

"Can Roger Goodell stop shopping at the dollar store?" -- Claudia

The commissioner is back to taking his full salary. And, soon enough, James Harrison's, too.

"Bud:

"Given Stevie Wonder's busy schedule, how does he ever find the time to select the winning 'Separated at Birth' photos? -- Bob Veydt, Westlake

So I'm the only one who thinks I look like Tom Brady?

"Bud:

"Who made a worse deal: Native Americans trading Manhattan Island for beads and trinkets or Christian Lopez trading Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit baseball for Yankee memorabilia and tickets?" -- Joe Percio

Tiger Woods, when he picked a pancake house waitress over Elin.

"Bud:

"Why is Chris Berman yelling? Does he think we're all deaf?" -- Tom Hoffner

Once he ran out of clever nicknames, about 10 years ago, they started paying him by the decibel.

"Bud:

"Based on the PD photo, Roberto Alomar's Cooperstown plaque looks like the spitting image of him." -- Chas K

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

"Bud:

"I ate meat on Monday, the day the NFL strike was settled. Did I sin?" -- Joe S

Repeat winners receive absolution.

High school players are heroes to participants in inaugural Browns Adapted Football League, where smiles and touchdowns are plentiful.

View full sizeBrowns Adaptive Football LeagueErik Knotts makes his way to the end zone with encouragement from volunteer John Gannon at the Achievement Centers for Children in Highland Hills.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nine-year-old Joey Sorace's smile and gear told a story before he became one at his own football game.

He proudly wore his blue "Independence Blue Devils" shorts and a "Cleveland Browns Adapted Football League" jersey on a recent Saturday morning as he approached one of his heroes.

Joey wanted to high-five the big guy. No, it wasn't a Cleveland Brown. Because the NFL lockout was still in place, the team couldn't ask players to attend the league it sponsors.

The hero in Sorace's eyes was Jon Wygonski, a junior wide receiver for Independence High.

"Hey, buddy, you ready to score another touchdown today?" Wygonski asked.

"Yeah!" Joey responded, and they slapped raised hands.

"It really means a lot to Joey to have his Blue Devils here," said his mother, Francie Sorace. "Football is his thing. We've been to a couple of [Independence] games and he knows some of the players. Football players are his heroes."

Wygonski is among a half-dozen Independence players, plus others from North Royalton, Rocky River and Valley Forge, who have volunteered for the Saturday morning games in Strongsville since May. The flag-football league is for kids and adults who are developmentally and cognitively delayed, or have physical disabilities. Its inaugural season concludes Saturday with all-star games at 9:30 a.m. at Independence High and 12:30 p.m. at Grace Church in Middleburg Heights.

Throughout the summer, it has been difficult to measure who's having more fun, the 80 players or the 60 high school and adult volunteers.

"It's really inspiring -- their outlook," Wygonski said. "They're so happy to be playing, smiling and telling us they're having a great time."

The AFL has three divisions based on ability and mobility. Players come from all over Northeast Ohio to play at several sites, including an indoor field and a parking lot for wheelchair teams. Teams are named after Browns greats such as the Paul Warfield Warriors and Gene Hickerson Crush.

The games are fast-paced, with volunteers acting as quarterbacks and sometimes guiding receivers, and there's cheering after every play no matter what happens. Scores, time and standings are kept, though the score seems to be the last thing on anyone's mind.

Just a few minutes into a recent game between the Jim Brown Express and Ozzie Newsome Wizards at the Strongsville youth football complex, Sorace was racing down the right sideline, the football tucked under his right arm, after catching a pass.

View full sizeBrowns Adaptive Football LeagueMike Urban, left, manager of Sports Services for the Achievement Centers for Children in Highland Hills, throws a pass to Robert Buckley, with his hand up, while Jack Wolf tries to defend between them.

Joey scored a touchdown and threw both fists into the air, shaking them. He scanned the sideline looking for his mother. They made eye contact and, though it didn't seem possible, his smile stretched wider.

"That's priceless," observed Vince Ketterer, whose son, Myles, was in the game. "Where else can that happen -- the achievement part of it, the ability to score a touchdown and feel good about yourself?"

Myles Ketterer, who was using a wheelchair, also caught a touchdown pass with the help of volunteer Christie Pargas, who then wheeled him quickly, and backward, into the end zone before a defender could grab the strap on Myles' hip, which in flag football is a play-ending "tackle." Myles, 9, bounced in his chair and accepted a high-five with his right arm, which was in a cast.

"He's not supposed to use that arm, but he's excited," Vince Ketterer said.

Nine-year-old Scott Saksa dived across the goal line just before halftime and raced to the sideline, exclaiming: "Dad, I could be the player of the game. I scored two touchdowns!"

Later, in the second half, Scott scored again and held up three fingers to his dad, just in case he lost track.

A volunteer gave Scott a high-five.

"He thrives on that," said Scott's father, Jason. "He loves the coaches and the interplay he gets."

The players weren't the only ones thriving.

"I have a lot more respect for the game now, when you get to see other people have fun playing it," Independence senior lineman Thom Fritz said. "We take it for granted, getting to play it every day."

When the league was looking for volunteers last spring, Independence coach James Jackson said he jumped at the chance to get his players involved. Jackson, who also volunteered, thought it would be good for team building and leadership.

The Blue Devils who stepped forward said they did so willingly and have no regrets, and now are looking forward to volunteering again.

"They're not as different as people think they are," senior Brian Gutermuth said of the players. "You realize they want to have fun, too. They watch the same TV shows and play the same video games."

Senior Aaron Dedo, a burly lineman, appeared to be humbled by the AFL players.

"I've been playing football for six years, and sharing the experience with somebody who doesn't usually get a chance to play it, it just means a lot," he said. "When I'm playing, I'll always think of them, and I'll always try my hardest because there are people who are less fortunate than us. I'll always remember these guys."

Was Ervin Santana's no-hitter about his skills or about the Tribe's lack of hitting skills?

APThe Angels' Ervin Santana celebrates the final out of his no-hitter.

Give Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ervin Santana some credit for throwing the first no-hitter in 27 years for his franchise.

But it was Santana's first victory over the Cleveland Indians in 11 career starts. He had been 0-6 with a 4.98 ERA versus Cleveland.

So was this about Santana's skills or was this about the Tribe's slumping bats? Over their last five games, the Indians are averaging 1.4 runs and 4.6 hits.

The Cleveland Indians hope pitcher Carlos Carrasco can snap the team's slump.

APCleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco.

The Tribe will attempt to get back on track this weekend against the Kansas City Royals when Carlos Carrasco takes the mound.

Carrasco has not won since June 29. He's lost in his last four starts.

On MLB.com:

In his last outing against the White Sox, it was a three-run homer from Carlos Quentin that did the damage against Carrasco in a 3-0 defeat.

"I tried to throw a two-seam [fastball]," Carrasco said afterward. "It wasn't moving too much, so it was kind of right down the middle right there, and they got three runs."

"Carlos gave us a chance," said skipper Manny Acta. "There's not much you can do when you don't score any runs."

Carrasco will face KC pitcher Jeff Francis, who is 3-11 with a 4.65 ERA. Francis has not won since June 10.

Down on the farm

The same day the Tribe was no-hit, one of their own threw a perfect game for Class AAA Columbus.

News-Herald reporter Jim Ingraham writes how pitcher Justin Germano who started the season in the Indians' bullpen before being sent to Class AAA Columbus, pitched a perfect game for the Clippers in a 3-0 win at Syracuse on Tuesday night.

It's only the fifth perfect game in the 127-year history of the International League. Germano struck out seven, got 11 groundouts and nine fly ball outs. It's the first perfect game in the IL since Bronson Arroyo pitched one for Pawtucket vs. Buffalo in 2003.

Game stories

Cleveland.com: Angels pitcher throws a gem.

Ohio.com: No hit and plenty of errors.

MLB.com: Indians no hit.

News-Herald: Angels 3, Tribe 1.

Los Angeles Times: Ervin Santana's no hitter.

Carlos Beltran accepted a trade to the San Francisco Giants and left the New York Mets to join his new team after saying goodbye.

AP PhotoCarlos Beltran apparently preferred to stay in the National League.

Carlos Beltran accepted a trade to the San Francisco Giants and left the New York Mets to join his new team after saying goodbye.

The Mets had received a 24-hour window to negotiate with the All-Star outfielder about waiving his no-trade clause. Shortly before an 8-2 win over the Reds on Wednesday night, Beltran arrived in the clubhouse and told his teammates he was on his way to join the Giants in Philadelphia.

The deal is expected to be announced this morning.

New York’s big prize in the potential deal is pitching prospect Zachary Wheeler, who is 7-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 16 starts for San Francisco’s high Class A affiliate in San Jose, Calif. The Giants selected Wheeler with the No. 6 pick in the 2009 draft.

Mets manager Terry Collins was told not to play Beltran at Cincinnati on Wednesday night. The switch-hitting right fielder, who can become a free agent after this season, wasn’t at Great American Ball Park before batting practice.

Beltran, 34, is in the final year of a $119 million deal he signed with the Mets before the 2005 season. He has been plagued by knee injuries the past two seasons, but has been healthy this year.

It was reported earlier Beltan used the no-trade clause to nix a deal to the Indians.

Cards, Jays, White Sox make 3-team deal: The St. Louis Cardinals, who have faced pitching questions all the way back to spring training, pulled off a three-team trade to beef up their rotation with right-hander Edwin Jackson.

The Cardinals sent Colby Rasmus and two relievers to Toronto, sacrificing a starting outfielder to get more pitching for the second straight year near the trade deadline. Jackson had been dealt to Toronto a few hours earlier by the White Sox, who also sent utility player Mark Teahen to the Blue Jays in exchange for reliever Jason Frasor and pitching prospect Zach Stewart.

Yep, he blew it: Major League Baseball acknowledged that umpire Jerry Meals made the wrong call in Atlanta’s 4-3, 19th-inning win over Pittsburgh.

Meals ruled Pittsburgh catcher Mike McKenry failed to tag Atlanta’s Julio Lugo in the bottom of the 19th, allowing Lugo to score the winning run. Replays showed McKenry clearly tagging Lugo well before Lugo got to the plate.

The Minnesota Vikings acquired the veteran quarterback from the Redskins on Wednesday night in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. Also, Cardinals are mum about their pursuit of Eagles QB Kevin Kolb.

AP Photo/Tim SharpThe Donovan McNabb era in Washington lasted one tumultuous season.

Donovan McNabb’s time in Washington is over after only a year.

The Minnesota Vikings acquired the veteran quarterback from the Redskins on Wednesday night in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.

The deal gives the Vikings a six-time Pro Bowler who will play until first-round draft choice Christian Ponder is ready to take over. The deal also includes a conditional sixth-round pick in 2013.

McNabb will have to restructure the five-year, $78 million deal he signed with the Redskins because the Vikings don’t have enough room to fit him in their salary cap.

McNabb’s departure closes the book on coach Mike Shanahan’s first major Redskins gaffe. He gave up second- and fourth-round draft picks for McNabb last year but ended up benching him for the final three games of a 6-10 season.

Two days after the lockout ended, NFL teams are making deals at a frantic pace, with some big names changing addresses, and others staying put.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes will stay in New York and continue to be a big benefit to Jets QB Mark Sanchez.

The Jets made the 2009 Super Bowl MVP their top priority among their five key players who are not under contract, and will keep him for the next five years.

Holmes, a former star at Ohio State, has had some off-field issues, which led to the Steelers trading him to New York. He performed very well for the Jets on the field, with 52 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns after missing the first four games while suspended.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday.

In other significant moves Wednesday:

• Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is leaving Seattle for Tennessee. He spent the past 10 seasons with the Seahawks, leading them to the 2005 NFC title. The Titans drafted quarterback Jake Locker eighth overall in April, but needed a veteran presence after Kerry Collins retired; they plan to trade or release Vince Young.

• DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers’ career rushing leader, agreed to remain in Carolina.

• Placekicker Adam Vinatieri agreed to a three-year contract with Indianapolis.

• Cincinnati reached an agreement with Bruce Gradkowski, who knows the team’s new offensive system and will help develop rookie Andy Dalton. The 28-year-old quarterback was in Tampa from 2008-09 with Jay Gruden, the Bengals’ new offensive coordinator.

Incumbent Carson Palmer has told the team he would retire rather than play another season in Cincinnati.

• Minnesota and kicker Ryan Longwell agreed to terms on a four-year deal.

• Guard Robert Gallery agreed to a three-year contract with Seattle.

• Safety Eric Weddle agreed on a five-year, $40 million deal with San Diego.

• Lance Moore, a favorite target of Drew Brees, agreed to terms on a five-year contract with New Orleans.

• Defensive tackle Barry Cofield, a Cleveland Heights grad, agreed to a six-year, $36 million deal with the Redskins.

Cardinals hush-hush in hunt for QB help

Whatever the Arizona Cardinals were doing in their pursuit of Kevin Kolb or any other quarterback, they were keeping it to themselves.

While other quarterbacks in the NFL found new homes, Kolb remained the property of the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, although there were persistent reports that the team eventually would send Michael Vick’s backup to the Cardinals for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a draft pick.

Agents for Kolb and Rodgers-Cromartie did not return calls, and the Cardinals’ brain trust remained ensconced in its upstairs offices trying to put together a team, with quarterback at the top of a list of many issues to be addressed.

Around the league

Giants: Coach Tom Coughlin signed a contract extension with the N.Y. Giants.

Coughlin, hired by the Giants in 2004, is now in the fold through the 2012 season, and he will take a 65-47 record into the season opener Sept. 11 at Washington.

Coughlin has coached the Giants to a Super Bowl victory, two NFC East titles and four playoff berths, and his regular-season win total is third in franchise history behind Steve Owen (153) and Bill Parcells (77).

Ravens: Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco can’t understand why he’s become a lightning rod for critics.

Flacco has taken the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his three seasons, but some people aren’t impressed.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said the Ravens won’t win a Super Bowl with Flacco “in this lifetime.” NFL analyst Jaime Dukes questioned Flacco’s work ethic, and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones said, “If you put a lot of pressure on him, he makes bad decisions.”

Flacco is perplexed by the harsh words. He said he’s “played pretty darn good” and points out that Baltimore keeps winning with him at quarterback.

Flacco will begin practice this week without receivers Todd Heap and Derrick Mason, who have been told they will be cut.

Redskins: Washington added to its quickly growing stockpile of receivers by acquiring receiver Jabar Gaffney from the Denver Broncos in exchange for defensive end Jeremy Jarmon.

Gaffney, 30, has 375 receptions over nine NFL seasons with Houston, New England and Denver. He is coming off the best back-to-back seasons of his career: 54 catches for 732 yards in 2009 and 65 catches for 875 yards last year.

He joins a Redskins receiving corps that will include Santana Moss, Donté Stallworth and Anthony Armstrong.