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Joe Bauserman, Braxton Miller take lead in Ohio State QB battle: Video

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The fifth-year senior and true freshman took the majority of the snaps for the Buckeyes at Tuesday's practice. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State couldn't divide the quarterback practice reps four ways for all of preseason camp. It appeared Tuesday that the field has been narrowed.

In the media's first look at practice since full pads were added over the weekend, senior Joe Bauserman and freshman Braxton Miller seemed to have taken the lead over sophomore Kenny Guiton and redshirt freshman Taylor Graham.

During live scrimmage reps Tuesday, Bauserman ran with the first team, Miller led the second team and took some first-team snaps, Guiton had the third team and Graham took the fewest reps, mixing in with the third team a bit.

Both head coach Luke Fickell and quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano have mentioned confidence and leadership when it comes to finding a new starting quarterback for Ohio State. And Bauserman, who misfired on a few deep throws, looked to have more snap on his midrange passes, squeezing some tight throws into windows and generally looking like a quarterback more comfortable with himself.

"His confidence level is up," Fickell said. "His confidence shows in the huddle, and I think emotionally he's been pretty solid."

Miller is also clearly moving up the depth chart. Earlier in camp, the quarterbacks split the reps, and as the youngest player, Miller was often fourth line. Tuesday, he was a clear No. 2, and there was much less difference between No. 1 Bauserman and Miller than there was between Miller and No. 3 Guiton.

Fickell hedged on the battle, saying only that was the way the reps were split on Tuesday. Saturday's jersey scrimmage in Ohio Stadium will go a long way toward deciding the quarterback battle, as well as the other position fights.

But what we saw Tuesday mattered. Miller is making his push, and Bauserman is holding his ground. The Buckeyes need to find a quarterback, and they're closer to doing that than they were at the start of camp.


Jim Tressel settles for an interested fan's role while visiting Cleveland Browns practice: Bill Livingston

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Jim Tressel visits the Browns' training camp Tuesday and discusses his future, the Browns new coach Pat Shurmur, and a long-time Tressel favorite, quarterback Colt McCoy.

Gallery previewBEREA, Ohio -- For a quarter-century, Jim Tressel ran the practice he had just watched.

But before the former Ohio State coach ran a football practice, he had to grow up in Berea, then he had to play quarterback for his father, Lee, at Baldwin-Wallace, located only a punt, pass and kick away from the Browns' practice field, and then he had to pay his dues as an assistant coach, including a stint at OSU on Earle Bruce's staff. In 1986, he became head coach at Youngstown State.

For the past 25 years, this had been Tressel's time of year. It was when he blew the whistle and when he scripted the plays.

Tuesday, almost as if to tease Tressel, former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr also visited the practice through Carr's friendship with Aaron Shea, the Browns' former tight end and now team liaison to the players. Although Carr and Tressel kept their distance for much of the morning, they chatted amiably at the end of the 21/2-hour practice.

"We talked about back in the day," said Tressel, who was 6-1 against Carr and 3-0 against Rich Rodriguez, Carr's since dismissed successor.

The 2006 Michigan-Ohio State game, a 42-39 victory in the Horseshoe for the top-ranked Buckeyes over the second-ranked Wolverines, played a day after legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler's death, is one of the Big Ten's classic games.

Tressel won four national championships with the YSU Penguins in what was then known as NCAA Division I-AA, then a national championship and seven Big Ten titles in a decade of dominance at Ohio State, where he was 106-22.

While signing autographs for fans as he left the Browns headquarters, Tressel made his first wide-ranging public comments since he was forced out as Ohio State's coach on Memorial Day, as a result of the memorabilia sale scandal involving his players and his cover-up of it.

Tressel was behind the wheel of a ruby-red (but close to scarlet) Mustang convertible with license plates that had a Block O logo and read 42Nutt. The Buckeyes, with Paul Brown, the founder of the Cleveland Browns, as coach won the national championship in 1942. In the passenger seat was former Browns defensive coach Dave Adolph, an academic counselor to the OSU football team.

Occasionally, Tressel had to warn the dozen or so autograph-seeking fans clustered around the car when another vehicle was entering the Browns' headquarters on Lou Groza Boulevard. As a boy, Tressel was the holder in a Berea park when Lou "The Toe" practiced field goals.

"Go Bucks, Jim Tressel," the coach wrote again and again on whatever was thrust toward him.

Asked if he would coach again, Tressel said, "I hope so. I'm taking it one day at a time."

The NCAA Committee on Infractions is expected to rule on the OSU case in the next eight-to-12 weeks. Last Thursday, Tressel testified as part of the OSU delegation that appeared before the committee in a closed hearing in Indianapolis. As a result of the scandal, Tressel might receive a "show cause" ruling of from two to five years, which would force any school attempting to sign him as coach to "show cause" why he should be a coach again.

Tressel has said many times that he considers himself a college coach, so it was no surprise when he said he had no interest in becoming a pro consultant, either with the Browns or another team. "Not right now," Tressel said. "I'm a fan. I was a Brownie years ago. I'm taking it one day at a time."

He often attended Browns practice as a boy, went to games with his father on the complimentary tickets the Browns gave area coaches decades ago, and still takes the team's losses as hard as other fans with less of a football pedigree.

Tressel knew of new Browns head coach Pat Shurmur through his former aides Mark Dantonio, now head coach at Michigan State, and Jim Bollman, who remains the offensive coordinator at OSU under new coach Luke Fickell. "He's an impressive guy," Tressel said of Shurmur.

The former OSU coach said "You can feel the energy building" at the Browns' practices. He praised the "amount of teaching" at the practice. "I've been to a lot of pro camps, where there's a lot of lollygagging going on," Tressel said.

Long a fan of starting quarterback Colt McCoy, Tressel went 1-1 against Texas when McCoy led the Longhorns. OSU won in Austin in 2006 when McCoy was in his second game and playing in the shadow of Vince Young. The Buckeyes lost in the final seconds of the 2009 Fiesta Bowl on a long, McCoy-led two-minute drive.

"I grew up a couple of blocks from here," Tressel told McCoy on Tuesday. "C'mon, We need you."

Shortly after 1 p.m., Tressel signed his last autograph, turned on to Lou Groza Boulevard, and, with the top down and the sun shining in his face, drove away. In his rear-view mirror was a football practice field, his once and perhaps future realm to command.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Delonte West, former Cleveland Cavalier, tweets he's applied for a job at Home Depot

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Could the NBA lockout make a poor man of West, whose playing contracts over the last six years have totaled about $14 million?

delonte-west.jpgDelonte West, going to the basket as a Cavalier, could be going to the bank as a Home Depot employee.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Guard Delonte West has played six seasons in the NBA, with his contracts adding up to about $14 million.

The Cleveland Cavaliers paid West about $9 million of that bonanza from Feb. 21, 2008 -- when he was acquired from the then-Seattle SuperSonics as part of a three-team trade -- through the end of the 2009-10 season.

Cleveland traded West to the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 26, 2010. Though they regarded him as a gifted player, the Cavaliers understandably felt they could no longer depend on him due to his personal problems.

West played last season with the Boston Celtics, and is scheduled to become a free agent. Now, though, with the NBA and the NBA Players Association unable to settle on a new labor deal, the league has locked out the players. If the lockout continues into the season's scheduled start in late October, players won't get paid.

He's not yet missed any paychecks, but West is preparing for such an event.

With the national unemployment rate at 9.1 percent -- and much, much higher than that when including the people who have stopped looking for work -- and with West's savings from his modest income maybe running dry, he's taking action.

On his @CharleeRedz13 Twitter account, West tweets:   

It's official.. Pride 2 the side.. just filled out a application at Home Depot.. Lockout aint a game..

Jim Thome's better than a good story, he's a good man: Terry Pluto

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Whether he was an Indian, Phillie, Dodger, White Sox or Twin, Jim Thome is a slugger with a grateful heart.

thome-twins-2011-prog-vert-cc.jpgView full sizeOnly Babe Ruth needed fewer at-bats to reach 600 homers than Jim Thome. After Monday night's accomplishment in Detroit, Thome received a note from Willie Mays: "Welcome to the club."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When his 600th career homer cleared the left-field wall and Jim Thome said he thought about his mother -- do you doubt him?

After spending a dozen years with the Tribe, fans here know that Thome is one of the strongest men ever to swing a baseball bat -- and one of the most sincere. As he jogged around the bases, head down, almost as if he wanted not to be noticed and to get it over with -- Thome insisted he felt the presence of his mother, who died of cancer in 2005.

Then he embraced his father, wife and other family members.

Thome made baseball history the same way he played the game – in a way that would make his family proud. It was pure Peoria. Don't brag. Respect the game. Have a grateful heart.

This doesn't make a "good story," unless your idea of a good story is about good people doing good things.

"It's a dog-gone shame more people don't appreciate what Jimmy has done," said Mike Hargrove, his former Tribe manager. "He never had one ounce of bitterness toward the fans here, despite how some fans and some talk show treated him after he left. He doesn't hold grudges."

He just holds records.

Thome is only the eighth man in baseball history to hit 600 homers. He is in the same club with Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr., Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Their names have never appeared in the Mitchell Report or the various books on the steroid era. The others in the club are Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds. All have been implicated as steroid users.

Sports Illustrated compiled a list of players who hit the most homers from 1995-2003, considered the peak of the steroid era: Sosa (449), Bonds (389), Rafael Palmeiro (373), Thome (351), Rodriguez (345), Mark McGwire (345) and Manny Ramirez (322). Thome is the only one not tainted by steroids.

"It irritates the hell out of me that they bring [steroids] up with Jimmy," said Hargrove. "He has never been mentioned as using it. I was around him every day [from 1993-99] during the season, and he never had the mood swings, the change of complexion or other signs."

But he did fill out to 6-foot-3, 250 pounds.

"For heaven's sake, look at his father," said Hargrove. "He's a got a brother who is even bigger. There are big men in that family -- like lumberjacks."

Big Chuck Thome was one of several family members in Detroit to see Thome hit Nos. 599 and 600. He helped his Twins beat Detroit, 9-6. Tribe fans can be thankful for that.

When Thome hit his 500th homer, he made a father-son trip to Cooperstown to give the ball to the Hall of Fame. In a Sports Illustrated story, Thome said that trip to the museum "was one of the greatest days of my dad's life. Other than the birth of my children, it was the greatest day of my life."

Thome also won a Sports Illustrated players poll as the "nicest" player in the majors. In a separate Facebook poll for fans, he won the same honor.

Thome has made a point to thank those who helped him, starting with his family. Then there was Charlie Manuel, who taught him to pull the ball and hit home runs. He credited Buddy Bell with helping him to play third base, as well as Minnesota manager Rod Gardenhire for dealing with him and his balky back near the end of his career.

Approaching his 41st birthday on Aug. 27, Thome still acts like the Tribe's 13th-round draft choice in 1989 -- the 333rd player selected that year. The only other player in that 13th round to make the majors was pitcher Mike Oquist, who had a 25-31 record.

To think that only Babe Ruth (6,921) needed fewer at bats to reach 600 homers than Thome (8,167). Willie Mays sent him a note saying "Welcome to the club."

Hargrove endorsed the attention given the Yankees' Derek Jeter quest for 3,000 hits early in the season, but wonders why Thome didn't received anything close to that notoriety. The answer is obvious. Thome played nearly all of his career in the Midwest -- Cleveland, Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox. He was with the Dodgers for 17 at-bats, and spent three years in Philadelphia. He hit 334 homers in Cleveland, a franchise record.

Thome is eighth all-time in homers, eighth in walks, 17th with a .960 OPS, 21st in slugging percentage. Then there is the character issue, where those in the game rate him as a Hall of Famer -- which should be his destiny on the first ballot.

"If he played most of his career in Boston or New York, they'd build a statue of him," said Hargrove. "He has been that good."

Off The Green ... with amateur golfer Pete Skirpstas

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Nine questions with Pete Skirpstas, an amateur golfer with a dream of becoming a pro.

skirpstas-photo-trphy-vert.jpgView full sizePete Skirpstas won this summer's Cleveland Amateur title, but he's looking for bigger and better things for his golf career.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nine questions with Pete Skirpstas, an amateur golfer with a dream of becoming a pro.

Skirpstas has had a productive summer, with victories in the Ohio Amateur qualifier at the Mayfield Sand Ridge Club in May -- where his 65 was the lowest qualifying score in the state -- and in the Greater Cleveland Amateur at Sleepy Hollow in Brecksville last week. He's also had several top-10 finishes in other higher-end amateur events. He plans on moving to Florida in November to continue chasing his dream.

Age: 23.

Residence: Medina.

Q: It seems like you've been in contention all summer. How would you rate your season so far?

A: You might think it's been pretty good, but I really haven't won the events I wanted. I shot a smooth 76 at Weymouth in the first round of the U.S. Am qualifier so my 68 at Fox Meadow the next day only got me to fourth and I didn't qualify. I shot a 67 in the final round at the Summit County Am but opened with a 77 and finished sixth. Missed the U.S. Open qualifier by one shot for the second year in a row and missed the cut at the Ohio Open.

Q: So, what makes you think you're ready to become a professional?

A: I truly believe that the more golf I play the better I will become. I have improved every year since college and I really believe my best golf is in front of me. I just can't afford to take another three to four months off, so I'm going to Florida and try to Monday qualify in some Nationwide events and play some mini-tour events.

Q: Speaking of college, you attended and had some success at Mount Olive College, a Division II school in North Carolina. What was that like?

A: Mount Olive was the pickle capital of the world. Every morning you woke up to the smell of pickles. I stopped taking classes in the morning so I wouldn't have to wake up to that smell. But, we did OK as a team. We were ranked in the top-20 in the country during my junior year and I was ranked as an individual my senior year.

Q: How did you get started?

A: I used to go to the Silver Tee Driving Range in North Olmsted with my dad [Ron] when I was about 4. But, I really didn't start playing until I was 12 or 13. So, I was kind of a late bloomer.

Q: You played under some of the worst weather conditions in state tournament history in 2005 at Foxfire when Ohio State's Scarlet Course was being renovated, right?

A: It was the worst conditions I ever played in. It was snowing and sleeting and raining and it was just crazy. I took an 11 on one of the par-3s.

Q: An 11 on a par-3?

A: The club kept slipping out of my hands. Two or three times I never hit the ball. The divot knocked the ball off the tee and it only went three or four feet. The hole was 180 yards into the wind. I ended up hitting a driver off the deck.

Q: You mentioned your dad. Does he still play?

A: Oh, yeah. We won the Father-Son Tournament at Manakiki for the third year in a row. We shot 63.

Q: What's the best part of your game?

A: I tell people that I am the best misser of the golf ball but the best putter in the world. I don't have any stats to back that up, but I just believe I am the best putter in the world. I have a Zebra TW41 Memorial which I got online for $24.99. It's the second one I've had. I broke the first one. I used to be able to throw a golf ball up and hit it about 250 yards with my putter. One time I hit it off the shaft and broke it. Took me five months to find another.

Q: What are your favorite courses -- public and private -- in the area?

A: Private, I'd have to say Rosemont. Public, I love Ironwood.

Kathleen Ekey clinches LPGA Tour privileges for 2012: NE Ohio Golf Insider

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With two victories and seven top-10 finishes this season in the LPGA's Duramed Futures Tour, Ekey has secured a spot on the LPGA Tour for 2012.

kathleen-ekey-portrait-lpga-2011-ap.jpgView full sizeFormer Walsh Jesuit star Kathleen Ekey has already assured her LPGA Tour card for 2012 after a dominating season on the women's Futures Tour.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sharon Township's Kathleen Ekey has turned a longtime dream into reality.

With two victories and seven top-10 finishes this season in the LPGA's Duramed Futures Tour, Ekey has secured a spot on the LPGA Tour for 2012. With two events remaining, Ekey is the Future Tour's leading money winner with $65,685. The top 10 earn automatic promotion to the LPGA Tour.

Ekey's latest victory came at the end of July at the Alliance Bank Golf Classic in Syracuse, N.Y., where she shot 8 under and won by three shots. The Walsh Jesuit and Alabama graduate leads the tour in birdies with 144 and eagles with five.

Former Walsh Jesuit teammate Brittany Johnston stands 19th on the money list. The daughter of Portage Country Club professional Rod Johnston is only $5,300 out of reaching the top 10.

Family affair: It's been a busy and bountiful summer for the Misheff family of Silver Lake. Don Misheff, a longtime high-level amateur in the area, advanced to the U.S. Senior Amateur by finishing second in the recent qualifier conducted by the Northern Ohio Golf Association (NOGA) at the Country Club of Hudson with a round of 1-over 73.

Earlier this summer, Misheff's daughter, Erin, won the Women's State Amateur. Dad caddied for daughter and daughter caddied for dad during their competitive rounds.

"Erin won't be able to be on the bag at the Senior Am because she'll be back at school [Ashland] for her senior year," said Misheff. "I'm really going to miss her. She was invaluable at the qualifier. I don't know who I'll get to replace her."

Misheff, who finished second to Youngtown's Richard Marlowe, will be joined by Chagrin Falls' Brian Sparrow and Hudson's Doug Stroup at the U.S. Senior Am, which will be played Sept. 10-15 at Kinloch Golf Club, in Manakin-Sabot, Va.

Misheff's involvement with golf has not been restricted to playing. He and his wife, Cindy, have purchased SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz. Misheff said he will retire as managing partner of Ernst & Young in December, ending a 32-year career with the accounting firm. He also is the president of Firestone Country Club and has been involved with many community organizations.

More on Senior: Marlowe, who qualified for the Senior Amateur for the second time, is the father of Tim Marlowe, a wide receiver and kick returner at Nebraska. ... Sparrow, a member at Canterbury, is a former NOGA player of the year. ... Stroup, whose son, Jackson, is one of the top players at Hudson High, played at Penn State and once qualified for the U.S. Amateur.

Typical of golfers: Upon the completion of the Summit County Amateur at Barberton Brookside and J. Edward Good Park recently, champion Dave Oates, runner-up Aaron Crewse and third-place finisher Nick Lambos donated their gift certificate winnings -- totaling $1,875 -- to the 2012 Good Park Junior Tournament in memory of Dave Barnes, the former Good Park employee who passed away last year. Barnes was an instrumental figure in both the Summit County Am and the Good Park Junior for years.

Oates, a teacher and golf coach at Canton Central Catholic, won the tournament for a record fifth time with rounds of 72 at Brookside and 69 at Good Park. Crewse finished at 142 and Lambos at 143.

LB Titus Brown ready to put seasons waiting on the sidelines to good use for Cleveland Browns

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Titus Brown is stepping up his game just as the Browns have a need for backup linebackers.

titus-brown-td-pack-2011pre-jg.jpgView full size"Being behind David Bowens, Eric Barton ... Matt Roth, there wasn't enough room for a guy to come in and play," reserve linebacker Titus Brown says of his last couple of years with the Browns. "Right now, those guys have done their time ... and it looks like it's time for me to go in and step up to the plate."

BEREA, Ohio -- Is Titus Brown benefiting from the Browns coaching change or is it the other way around?

Brown has been an under-the-radar player, exclusively on special teams, first under Romeo Crennel and then under Eric Mangini. Now in his fourth year, Brown's game is expanding to defense, just as new coach Pat Shurmur is looking for linebackers.

"It's like it's meant for me to be here," Brown said of surviving two coaching changes. "I just have to take advantage of it."

He's doing that. On Saturday night, Brown scooped up a fumble of Green Bay quarterback Graham Harrell forced by rookie linebacker Brian Smith and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. He also co-led the Browns with four tackles, including a tackle for a loss after he read a screen pass and played off a block.

The score in the third quarter secured Shurmur's first exhibition win as an NFL coach. That's a good way for a player to gain notice of his new head coach.

"He goes in that category with guys like Joe Haden, where they're out there practicing and no matter how gritty the day is, no matter how tough the drill, he's got a smile on his face," Shurmur said Tuesday. "He's got a little something to say. He's just got one of those fun personalities. You hate to see just total drudgery, even if that's what they're feeling. He finds a way not to express it."

titus-brown-mug-ap.jpgView full size"No matter how gritty the day is, no matter how tough the drill, he's got a smile on his face," head coach Pat Shurmur says of Brown.

Brown has also been noticed because of his physique. At 6-3 and a rock-hard 250 pounds, he's the most imposing of the backup linebackers. "Kind of that run-stuffer body type," Shurmur said.

Which is good for a middle linebacker in the 4-3 base defense. Brown currently is backing up D'Qwell Jackson. In the old 3-4 system, Brown played outside and inside, but not much of either.

"Being behind David Bowens, Eric Barton ... Matt Roth, there wasn't enough room for a guy to come in and play," Brown said. "Right now, those guys have done their time and retired and gone on and it looks like it's time for me to go in and step up to the plate."

Brown and 2009 fourth-round draft pick Kaluka Maiava are the only linebackers on the roster behind the starters with NFL game experience. There are five undrafted free agents, too, raising concerns about the need for veteran help. So far, the Browns are resisting bringing in an older hand. Shurmur seems content to patiently wait to see Brown and some of the others develop.

"We've got a great [position] coach in coach Bill Davis," Brown said. "If we just apply what he's teaching us, we won't need anybody. The guys getting reps are doing real well. Brian Smith made the play for me to scoop it up and score. We've got Ben Jacobs making strides, Archie (Donald), a lot of guys making plays."

In the 4-3, the middle linebacker is the quarterback of the defense, the one who wears the helmet with the headset to hear the coach's calls. As Brown's responsibilities in the defense expand, he paid tribute to Mangini for making him a better player in their two years together.

"Coach Mangini's one of the smartest coaches I've ever been around, as far as recall, as far as remembering anything, far as just being a student of the game," Brown said. "He instilled that in all the players. I took the skill set from him and try to apply it to this defense.

"He taught me watching film, learning defenses, learning where you're supposed to be, learning keys. I did [grow under him]."

Another thing Brown is trying to grow is his Twitter account. He's an active Tweeter, under the name GoHam59.

"That's just a slang terminology to go hard every play, do everything to the max," he said of his Twitter name. "I'm not trying to make [Twitter] more than it's supposed to be. Josh [Cribbs] has about 75,000 [followers]. Joe [Haden] about 60,000. I've got about 3,000. It's getting better."

He picked up a couple hundred followers after his touchdown. A few more plays like that and he'll be over 10,000 in no time.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Cleveland Browns training camp log: Day 17

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A quick look at Tuesday's camp developments in Berea.

Gallery preview

BEREA, Ohio -- What happened: A star-studded guest list at practice included former Big Ten coaching rivals Jim Tressel and Lloyd Carr and Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. Also in attendance were former Browns assistant coach Dave Adolph and former Packers General Manager Ron Wolf.

Still standing: In his second practice since a two-week layoff, RB Montario Hardesty wore a wrap on his left calf and took fewer reps in team drills, though he participated in everything.

Put up your dukes: Player scuffles are so rare anymore, it's news when two guys mix it up. LB Titus Brown and TE Alex Smith had a bit of a disagreement. Punches were thrown. None landed.

Nudging ahead: The Browns are still sorting out their top three wide receivers. One change Tuesday had Jordan Norwood working in the slot when the No. 1 unit lines up three. In the past, Greg Little had taken most of those reps. Little came in on four-receiver sets Tuesday.

Injury report: Players who didn't practice: DE Jabari Fletcher (knee), LB Scott Fujita (thigh), TE Benjamin Watson (hamstring), LB Chris Gocong (neck), WR Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), FS Usama Young (hamstring), SS Eric Hagg (knee), WR Carlton Mitchell (finger).

Wednesday's schedule: Practice is closed to the public.


Tony and Mary Kay report on Cleveland Browns Training Camp (video)

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Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot deliver the news of the day at Training Camp in Berea. Watch video


Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot deliver the news of the day at Training Camp in Berea.

Euclid's Jessica Beard will race 400 at world track championships

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Beard, 22, already was headed to South Korea as a member of the 4x400 relay pool, and teammate's injury increases the likelihood that she will run in the final.

beard-mug-jg.jpgView full sizeA teammate's injury has given a golden opportunity to Jessica Beard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Euclid's Jessica Beard will run the 400 meters at the World Championships this month following a foot injury to U.S. teammate Debbie Dunn. The meet begins Aug. 27 in Deagu, South Korea.

"I'm excited," Beard said in a phone interview from College Station, Texas. "Debbie called me a few days ago to tell me, and I wasn't allowed to say anything. I really respect her for that. This is a dream. I'm getting an opportunity to do what I love to do."

U.S. Track and Field announced Monday that Dunn, 33, suffered a stress fracture in her foot and named Beard to replace her. Dunn placed third at the U.S. Championships in June, and Beard was fourth. Beard, 22, already was headed to South Korea as a member of the 4x400 relay pool, and the injury increases the likelihood that she will run in the final. Beard earned a World gold medal as part of the 2009 relay, but did not run in the final.

Beard said her goal is to establish a new personal 400 record. She ran her current best, 50.56, in 2009.

"If I do that, I can make the finals," she said.

Also, Beard led fan voting for the Bowerman Award by 2,000 votes Tuesday, the final day of voting. The Bowerman is given to the top female and male college track athlete.

Cleveland Browns P.M. links: Maybe Josh Cribbs can be the play-making wide receiver

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The star kick returner hasn't yet done much as a receiver, but the connection with Colt McCoy in a new offense might work. Links to lots of Browns stories.

josh-cribbs.jpgJosh Cribbs catches a 27-yard touchdown pass from Colt McCoy during the Browns' 27-17 exhibition game win over the Packers on Saturday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Much has been made, rightfully so, of the Cleveland Browns' lacking a big-time playmaker at wide receiver.

Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi have done little to justify being second-round picks, as they both were, in the 2009 draft.

A second-rounder last April, Greg Little, apparently owns some of the qualities necessary for an impact wideout. Bottom line is, he's a rookie.

Several young wide receivers are trying to earn roster spots, and though maybe one or two could emerge as contributors, it's unlikely that any will be a game-changer.

And, there's Josh Cribbs, the ace kickoff/punt returner who has not flourished in his opportunities as a wide receiver.

Craig Lyndall writes that Cribbs might still become a key to the Browns' passing game. Cribbs and quarterback Colt McCoy connected twice for 37 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown, in Cleveland's 27-17 exhibition game win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

Lyndall writes:

Josh Cribbs continues to get better and better as a receiver. This is really only Josh Cribbs’ third year playing wide receiver, and much of last year he was plagued by injuries. So far this season Josh has been healthy and he is really starting to put some polish on his game. He has shown some really great hands and is running his routes more crisply than ever before. In addition to that, there is nobody on the field who is more friendly to the QB on broken plays. Cribbs is always wary when McCoy has been flushed out of the pocket and he seemingly always gets himself into a decent position to bail his QB out in space. We don’t expect NFL players to continue to improve into their late 20′s, but it seems that Cribbs might be an exception to the rule.

The Browns play their second preseason game on Friday night, meeting the Detroit Lions at Browns Stadium.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi's story on linebacker Titus Brown; Twitter updates from Tuesday's practice; a training camp video report by Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot; Grossi's training camp log; Cabot's Browns Insider, featuring video of Colt McCoy talking about his offseason work with Brett Favre; Cabot interviewed on Starting Blocks TV, talking about McCoy and Favre; and, about former coaches Jim Tressel of Ohio State and Lloyd Carr of Michigan visitng the Browns' practice -- Tony Grossi's story; Bill Livingston's column; photos of the visit.   

Extra points

Jason Lisk writes about the Browns for The Big Lead blog, calling them "My 2011 Sleeper Team."

AFC North training camp reports on ProFootballWeekly.com.

CBSSports.com's new power rankings, by Pete Prisco.

Colt McCoy among the preseason Week 1 winners. By Don Banks for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

Running back Brandon Jackson wants to make the most of his opportunities, writes Daniel Wolf for the National Football Authority.

Linebacker Aaron Maybin has been released by the Buffalo Bills, but the Browns should pursue him, writes James Walker of ESPN.com.

Trying to figure the best way to use the Browns' running backs. By Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Colt McCoy taking control of the Browns' offense, by Gary Graves for USAToday.com.

Running back Montario Hardesty's return to practice, by Mike McLain of the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

Browns notes by Brian Dulik, more Browns notes by Rona Proudfoot, and more Browns notes by Scott Petrak. All for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette. 

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr visit the Browns' training camp. An Associated Press story on ESPN.com.

Browns notes by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Browns training camp news and observations by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

A story about linebacker Titus Brown, by Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

NFL postpones supplemental draft, new date not yet set; no word on Terrelle Pryor's eligibility

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Was scheduled for Wednesday. Former Ohio State quarterback Pryor wants to get into the supplemental draft but as of Tuesday afternoon had not yet been declared eligible for it.

terrelle-pryor.jpgFormer Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor hopes to soon join an NFL team via the supplemental draft.

NEW YORK, New York -- The NFL supplemental draft originally scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed.

NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed Tuesday that the draft will not be held as planned and that teams have been told a new date has not yet been set.

At least five players are known to be eligible for the supplemental draft, including former Georgia running back Caleb King.

Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor gave up his final season with the Buckeyes following an NCAA investigation at OSU. He wants to get into the draft but as of Tuesday afternoon had not yet been declared eligible for it.

Top two draft picks Lindor, Howard receive nearly $5 million in signing bonuses: Indians Insider

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The Indians spent $8.2 million signing players taken in this year's June draft.

Grady SizemoreGrady Sizemore worked out Tuesday at the Cavaliers' training facility in Independence as part of his rehab from a bruised left knee and a hernia operation.

CHICAGO -- For the second straight year, the Indians spent a lot of money signing their picks from the June draft.

They spent an estimated $8.2 million in signing 29 of their 50 draft picks by Monday's midnight deadline. They gave No.1 pick, high school shortstop Francisco Lindor, a $2.9 million signing bonus. Their second-round selection, high school right-hander Dillon Howard, received a $1.85 million bonus.

Last season, the Indians spent $9.3 million on the draft.

Lindor's bonus ranked third in team history behind Danys Baez's $4.5 million and Jeremy Guthrie's $3 million. Guthrie, the Indians' No.1 pick in 2002, was given a $4 million deal, but $1 million of that covered a four-year, big-league contract. Baez was a Cuban defector and signed a $14.5 million contract.

Brad Grant, director of amateur scouting, said Lindor, 17, will report to Class A Mahoning Valley on Wednesday. The switch-hitter is expected to play in games before reporting to the Arizona Instructional League.

"Francisco didn't play this summer," said Grant. "He hit and took ground balls every day."

Mahoning Valley's season ends Sept. 4.

The Indians feel Lindor has the talent to reach the big leagues as a starting shortstop. Scouts have praised his defense. Offensively they say the 5-11, 175-pound Lindor has a line-drive swing from both sides of the plate with a chance to develop some power.

"Each player sets their own timetable to progress through the system," said Grant, when asked if there was a precedent for when Lindor might be ready for the big leagues. "It's up to us to give him the opportunity and the tools to do that."

Howard, 18, pitched this summer, helping the Midland Redskins win the Connie Mack World Series. It was unclear if he'd pitch for one of the Tribe's minor-league clubs or wait and report to Instructional League.

"He has an advanced feel to pitch for a high-school pitcher," said Grant. "He throws between 90 and 94 mph with good sink."

Lindor and Howard were signed just before the midnight deadline. Right-hander Shawn Armstrong, an 18th-round pick out of East Carolina University, signed Monday night as well. He received a $325,000 bonus.

The one player the Indians didn't sign among their top 10 picks was left-hander Stephen Tarpley, their eighth-round pick. He will attend USC.

"We made what we felt was a significant offer," said Grant. "Hopefully, we'll get a chance to draft Stephen again in three years."

Oblique alert: Jason Kipnis said Tuesday that his injury is to his right oblique muscle. Travis Hafner missed at least four weeks with a similar injury earlier in the year, but Kipnis said he will attempt to take batting practice on Wednesday.

The rookie second baseman, who has sparked the offense, has missed the last three games. He played catch, hit in the cage and fielded ground balls in the outfield before Tuesday's game.

"I made some progress, but time with tell," said Kipnis. "It's going to take some days. As soon as trainers and I feel I can get back out there and not risk anything, I'll be out there."

He's back: Michael Brantley, who missed four games with a sore right wrist, was back in the lineup Tuesday night.

"He has a little inflammation in the wrist," said trainer Lonnie Soloff.

Here he comes again: For the third time this season, center fielder Grady Sizemore is attempting to come off the disabled list. Sizemore is recovering from a sports hernia and a bruised right knee.

Soloff said Sizemore ran on an "anti-gravity" treadmill Tuesday at the Cavaliers' practice facility in Independence. He's been playing catch and is scheduled to start hitting off a tee later this week.

The Indians have an anti-gravity treadmill, but it's at their training site in Goodyear, Ariz.

"It's like running in a bubble," said Soloff. "You zip yourself into it and you pressurize it. You can control it in terms of body weight.

"Grady weighs 200 pounds. So you can let him run at 80 percent of his body weight. So he ran as if he was 160."

Soloff said there is still no timetable on Sizemore's return.

"He's scheduled to run again on Thursday. By the time we get back from this trip, he should progress to land-based running activities," said Soloff. "We're just pleased he's progressed as well as he has."

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. links: Etienne Sabino hopes his decision proves to be wise

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Sabino red-shirted last season to have a better chance for playing time as a junior and senior. Now, he's a favorite to start at linebacker. Other Buckeyes and Big Ten links.

etienne-sabino.jpgOhio State's Etienne Sabino (left), talking with another linebacker, former Buckeyes star Ross Homan, during a game in the 2009 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Graduations, early entries into the NFL draft, player departures and suspensions due to the memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal -- they all took a toll on the makeup of the Ohio State football roster.

They also created opportunities. Linebacker Etienne Sabino is getting his chance to flourish after contributing on special teams during his freshman and sophomore years and then, last season, deciding to red-shirt because the Buckeyes were stacked at his position.

Now, Sabino goes into the 2011 season with two years of eligibility remaining. Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch writes about Sabino's path toward becoming an integral part of the Ohio State defense.   

Sitting out a season in the middle of his career was as difficult as you’d imagine.

“I was happy for my team because I felt we did great on the field and off the field, for the most part,” Sabino said. “But it was hard to sit there and watch and not be able to help on Saturdays.

“It wasn’t easy, but what I love about this team is the guys on this team helped me get through everything. They never singled me out, and had me right in the mix with them so I felt I was still part of the family.”

Sabino made sure he made the most of his redshirt year.

“I think I learned football better, the game of football better — more than X’s and O’s, but a feel for the game,” he said.

Ohio State is still trying to mix and match the pieces of the defensive puzzle. Sabino knows that even with all the departures at linebacker, nothing is assured. For now, he is flanked by Sweat and Storm Klein. But freshman Curtis Grant, one of the top recruits in the country, will push for playing time.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' report that Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller are leading in the competition for the starting quarterback job.

About the Buckeyes

A slideshow featuring suggestions for Ohio State coach Luke Fickell, on The Bleacher Report.

Adam Rittenberg's Big Ten mailbag on ESPN.com includes readers' questions about the Buckeyes.  

CollegeFootballNews.com, with Scout.com, ranks the offenses and the defenses -- including by position groups -- of college football teams across the country.

Ohio State won't have to face highly-touted Nebraska recruit Bubba Starling. Rustin Dodd writes for the Kansas City Star about Starling signing a rich baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Brandon Castel writes for the-ozone.net about the Buckeyes' quarterback competition, and he writes a separate story on quarterback Kenny Guiton

How the OSU defense is taking shape, by Tony Gerdeman for the-ozone.net.

 

 

Juan Pierre's RBI single in 14th lifts White Sox over Cleveland Indians, 8-7

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Indians fall three games back of Detroit, just a half-game ahead of charging Chicago.

choo-donald-catch-wsox-ap.jpgView full sizeShin-Soo Choo (bottom) somehow managed to avoid a major collision with second baseman Jason Donald to make this catch of Tyler Flowers' shallow pop fly down the right-field line Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The grab ended the third inning.

CHICAGO -- The Big U didn't help himself or the Indians on Tuesday night in the start of a big three-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Fortunately for him, his offense was in a more charitable mood, but in the end it didn't matter.

Chicago beat the Indians, 8-7, in 14 innings on Juan Pierre's game-winning single off David Huff. Chad Durbin started the inning with a strikeout of Tyler Flowers, but Gordon Beckham doubled to the gap in right center and Brent Morel sent him to third on an infield single to second.

Huff, the Indians' ninth pitcher, relieved to face Pierre, who won it with a single into left field on a 1-1 pitch.

The Indians tied it in the ninth when Ezequiel Carrera scored on Shin-Soo Choo's fielder's choice. Carrera, pinch-hitting, drew a one-out walk off closer Sergio Santos. Michael Brantley moved him to third with a bloop single and he scored on Choo's grounder to second.

The White Sox missed chances to win it in the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th and 13th.

Tyler Flowers tripled with two out in the ninth, but Vinnie Pestano struck out Beckham.

They had two on and one out in the 10th when Paul Konerko hit into a double play. Left-hander Tony Sipp was ejected in the inning for protesting a call at first base after he'd been replaced by Chris Perez.

The Indians missed a chance in the 10th when Jack Hannahan reached on a one-out double, but never advanced.

Alex Rios started the 11th with Chicago's fifth triple -- the most by the White Sox since Sept. 17, 1920 -- but never scored. Alexei Ramirez grounded out to third. Brent Lillibridge was intentionally walked and Flowers lined to third to start a 5-3 double play.

Morel hit a one-out double in the 12th, but couldn't advance.

The Indians loaded the bases with one out in the 13th, but Jesse Crain struck out Choo and retired Asdrubal Cabrera on a ground out.

Konerko opened the 13th with a single, but Durbin (2-2) escaped the inning. Jeff Frasor (3-2) was the winner. The game lasted 5 hours and 22 minutes.

Ubaldo Jimenez, the Big U, didn't give the Indians the innings they needed and allowed too many hits at the wrong time. Jimenez, acquired from Colorado at the July 31st trading deadline to give the rotation a lead-dog starter, wasn't involved in the decision, but he shared some of the blame.

The White Sox (61-60) pulled to within one-half game of the second-place Indians (60-58). The loss dropped the Indians to three games behind first-place Detroit. Chicago is 3 1/2 back.

Chicago leads the season series against the Tribe, 7-1. The Indians have lost five straight to the White Sox and still have 10 more against them.

The White Sox ended the game with 22 hits. The Indians with 10.

Chicago scored twice in the sixth to break a 5-5 tie. After the Indians rallied for three runs in the sixth to tie the score, Morel started the bottom of the inning with a double off Frank Herrmann. Pierre sacrificed Morel to third and De Aza scored him with his second triple of the game.

De Aza, with the Indians pulled in to cut off the run at the plate, bounced a ball past first base. Joe Smith relieved and gave up a single to Paul Konerko to make it 7-5.

The Indians went into the sixth trailing, 5-2, but scored three times to tie the score. Two-out singles by Travis Hafner and Carlos Santana made it 5-4 and knocked starter Gavin Floyd out of the game.

Will Ohman relieved and walked Kosuke Fukudome and Jason Donald to force home the tying run.

Chicago took advantage of shortstop Cabrera's error in the first to take a 1-0 lead. De Aza sent a routine grounder to Cabrera for what should have been the second out. Cabrera, who makes most of his errors on routine plays, couldn't handle it for his 14th error.

acta-argue-ump-wsox-squ-mct.jpgView full sizeManny Acta couldn't get any satisfaction from John Hirschbeck after Michael Brantley collided with shortstop Alexi Ramirez in the fourth inning on Shin-Soo Choo's drive to right field. Choo was credited with a single as the umpires rejected Acta's claim of interference.

The White Sox jumped on mistakes against Jimenez. Konerko singled to left to move De Aza to third. Carlos Quentin singled through the middle to bring him home.

Jimenez gave up an infield single to Alexi Ramirez to load the bases, but pitched his way out of further trouble.

Chicago made it 2-0 on De Aza's two-out triple in the second. Jimenez was done in by a leadoff walk to Beckman. He retired the next two batters, but De Aza tripled to the fence in right center.

The Indians made it 2-1 on Cabrera's sacrifice fly in the fourth. Gavin Floyd, who opened the game with nine straight outs, seven on strikeouts, hit Brantley to start the fourth. Choo followed with a drive to the fence in right. As Brantley rounded second, he fell. He righted himself and continued to third.

Choo, rounding first, had to retreat to first when he saw Brantley fall. Manager Manny Acta argued that Chicago shortstop Alexi Ramirez obstructed Brantley, causing him to fall, which caused Choo to retreat to first. He wanted Choo to be awarded second base, but the umpires, after huddling to discuss the matter, refused.

Cabrera followed with his sacrifice fly and Hafner bounced into a double play to end the inning. If Choo was on second it wouldn't have happened.

Jimenez didn't help himself in the fourth. After getting two quick outs, he gave up a homer to Pierre to make it 3-1. It was Pierre's second homer in 471 at-bats this year.

Pierre came into the game hitting .304 (7-for-23) against Jimenez.

The Indians came back to make it 3-2 with a run in the fifth on Donald's sacrifice fly. Santana opened the inning with a pretty bunt single that rolled all the way to the bag at third. He took second on Floyd's wild pitch and advanced to third on  Fukudome's ground out to second.

The White Sox continued to hit Jimenez hard. Konerko opened the fifth with a double, took third on Quentin's fly ball to center and scored on Ramirez's triple to the fence in center for a 4-2 lead.

After striking out Adam Dunn for the second out, Jimenez gave up an RBI double to Tyler Flower to make it 5-2. That was it for Jimenez, who allowed five runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Jimenez threw 105 pitches. He struck out five and walked one. 


Frank Robinson's debut as Tribe skipper impossible to forget: Cleveland Indians memories

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Here is Wednesday's essay by Steve Feinberg of Solon

ESPN's tribute to Frank Robinson (Tribe homer comes at 1:20)

This spring, we asked readers to tell us their best memory at an Indians game. More than 600 of you responded. All season, The Plain Dealer will publish fan memories -- one each day the Indians are scheduled to play. Here is Wednesday's essay by Steve Feinberg of Solon:

My father was a union plumber for over 40 years. As such, his life in those days revolved around one thing -- work.

But between commutes to the Perry nuclear plant and month-long stints at places like Savannah, Ga., he always taught his family to appreciate what it meant to be a Cleveland sports fan. It was with that enthusiasm and passion that he made sure we never missed an Indians Opening Day.

And no Opening Day was ever quite like April 8, 1975 -- the last opener he ever took us to, and my most unforgettable day at an Indians game.

A bus ride to the rapid, a handful of change into the bin (Did the driver count it? Why bother, it was Opening Day!) and it was destination optimism for my father and his twin sons. Because as any Cleveland fan knew, the dank winds of April often lead to a quick fall from contention and the stark reality that 90 or 100 losses might be what the September stretch was cruelly offering.

But that year was different because Cleveland had made history by hiring Frank Robinson to lead the Tribe into the win column. Even at 14, I knew he was headed someday to Cooperstown, and maybe, just maybe, what started with Larry Doby could culminate in a special season for our beloved Tribe. Dad reminded us several times as we walked, hot dogs in hand, from Public Square to the lakefront that he'd been the same age we were when the Indians broke the American League color barrier.

We sat in the upper deck (sigh, as always) -- Dad reminded us to bring binoculars -- and wondered along with 70,000 other frozen diehards.

"What the heck is with those red uniforms? Only in Cleveland."

"Here comes Robinson, Dad."

"Red shirts and pants?"

"See, Dad, he's crowding the plate just like you said he does."

"They look like human blood clots, for gosh sakes."

"Dad, here comes the pitch!"

Crack!

"Wow ... even Doby didn't do that!"

Ohio State Buckeyes: How long will Joe Bauserman start at QB? Poll

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Joe Bauserman is the No. 1 quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but how long will that last?

Joe BausermanOhio State quarterback Joe Bauserman (14) looks to throws a pass during the first day of NCAA college football practice.

It looks like Joe Bauserman will begin the season as Ohio State's starting quarterback. Doug Lesmerises writes how Bauserman, at least during Tuesday's practice, is the No. 1 guy with freshman Braxton Miller at No. 2.


Bauserman has the advantage because, as a senior, he's the most experienced player. But Lesmerises notes how Bauserman is a good athlete but he must make better decisions.


Miller was one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation last year. He has all of the tools but all freshman have areas where they need to improve.


If Bauserman starts the season, will he finish?


 










Jimenez can't afford to fall behind against AL teams - Indians Comment of the Day

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"One out of three of Ubaldo's starts have been quality starts. He had zero command last night of any pitch. He pitches too far behind in the count too often. Maybe you can get away with that in the NL, pitching to only eight hitters. He will get rocked in the AL if Belcher doesn't teach him how to throw strikes on the corners and get ahead. Too many meat fastballs." - lbj4glory

ubaldo-dugout.JPGView full sizeUbaldo Jimenez had a rough night against the White Sox Tuesday night.

In response to the story Juan Pierre's RBI single in 14th lifts White Sox over Cleveland Indians, 8-7, cleveland.com reader lbj4glory thinks Ubaldo Jimenez can't afford to work from behind. This reader writes,

"One out of three of Ubaldo's starts have been quality starts. He had zero command last night of any pitch. He pitches too far behind in the count too often. Maybe you can get away with that in the NL, pitching to only eight hitters. He will get rocked in the AL if Belcher doesn't teach him how to throw strikes on the corners and get ahead. Too many meat fastballs."

To respond to lbj4glory's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Browns could use another veteran or two on defense - Comment of the Day

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"I hope Titus Brown can back up his talk. I have a feeling the Browns will pick up a veteran LB and DT when other teams make their final cuts. Browns need a veteran LB in there to make defensive calls if Fujita has to come out for injury. Last year there was a huge difference in the defense when we lost Fujita." - kenlo77

scott-fujita-ap.JPGView full sizeScott Fujita provided the Browns with strong leadership in 2010 that they missed when he went out with an injury.

In response to the story LB Titus Brown ready to put seasons waiting on the sidelines to good use for Cleveland Browns, cleveland.com reader kenlo77 sees the Browns adding some veterans to the defense once teams start cutting players. This reader writes,

"I hope Titus Brown can back up his talk. I have a feeling the Browns will pick up a veteran LB and DT when other teams make their final cuts. Browns need a veteran LB in there to make defensive calls if Fujita has to come out for injury. Last year there was a huge difference in the defense when we lost Fujita."

To respond to kenlo77's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Browns game to go off without a stench; Flats work postponed

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The excavation of smelly coal tar residue from a buried vault in the Flats is being postponed until Monday so as not to detract from the Browns pre-season game with the Detroit Lions.

fans.jpgBrowns fans are hoping they can celebrate touchdowns and glad they won't have to hold their nose during this Friday's pre-season game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If the Cleveland Browns stink up the joint Friday night, they will have nobody to blame but themselves.

The excavation of smelly coal tar residue from a buried vault in the Flats is being postponed until Monday so as not to detract from the Browns pre-season game with the Detroit Lions.

The developer of the $275 million East Bank project expected to remove the malodorous gunk sometime on Friday. The resulting stench, much likely freshly spread asphalt, would have likely hung in the air for at least 24 hours.

The decision to delay the work was made out of concern for Browns fans and those patronizing area bars and restaurants Friday night, developer spokeswoman Nancy Lesic said.

After all, you wouldn't want denizens of the Dawg Pound to have their delicate nasal passages violated. It's enough to have one sense impaired, let alone two.

The coal tar residue is left over from an old coal-burning plant built in the late 1880s to produce gas to light downtown street lights. It's being removed to make way for the east bank project.

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