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Cleveland Browns quarterbacks feeling the dog days of camp, too

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Tired legs and tired arms are no surprise in the final days of training camp. Also tidbits on Jarrett Brown, offensive guards Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, and more.

Browns Camp 2011 Day 3Free safety Usama Young was among a group of 10 players unable to practice this morning because of assorted injuries.

BEREA -- Observations from Browns practice Monday morning ...

 * Even though the weather has been cool, these final days of camp truly are the dog days. Coach Pat Shurmur alluded to tired legs and players not doing much talking out there, just trying to get practice over with. The same may apply to the quarterbacks. Looked like some dead arms out there today. Colt McCoy was a little late on a long sideline out -- the one pass that challenges his arm strength. Then receiver Rod Windsor had to wait for a long ball down the sideline. Windsor caught it over Ramzee Robinson. In the same period, McCoy flung a wobbler to the far sideline to Jordan Norwood. Seneca Wallace had some bad throws, too. Sheldon Brown intercepted him twice, once on a deep ball down the left sideline and another time jumping in front of Johnathan Haggerty in the middle of the field.

 * Speaking of QBs, it's not set in stone that the Browns will keep three quarterbacks on the active roster. If they stock up on receivers and keep four tight ends, the third quarterback may pay the price. Contributing to the decision might be Jarrett Brown's 1-for-6 performance with one INT in sporadic preseason play. This is not to say the Browns have soured on Brown as a developmental prospect. In fact, Shurmur said he feels good about "some of the progress" Brown has shown and believes he has a lot of ability. But everyone knows Brown needs a lot of growth before he can perform at an acceptable level in an NFL game. Could be practice squad-bound.

 * Ten Browns were out: Mohamed Massaquoi, Chris Gocong, Josh Cribbs, Steve Octavien, Evan Moore, Usama Young, T.J. Ward, Buster Skrine, Eric Steinbach and Brandon Jackson. Also, safety Brett Johnson limped off with a thigh bruise.

 * Rookie Jason Pinkston has gotten a lot more reps with the No. 1 unit in Steinbach's left guard spot. He probably will make his first start Thursday in Philadelphia. John Greco got the call against Detroit, probably because he's an experienced swingman and Pinkston wasn't ready. It was interesting to see Branndon Braxton also getting work at right guard with the No. 2 unit. Braxton looks to be a keeper as a tackle who can play both sides. Expanding his experience to guard would improve the chances of him being on the 46-player active list for game days.

 * Middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is flourishing in the new 4-3 defense, impressing teammates and coaches. But he's understandably reserved about declaring himself back after two successive pectoral muscle injuries.

 * Good to see former right tackle Ryan Tucker visiting camp with his family. Tucker said he's taking classes at Baldwin-Wallace College and has no pangs about not playing. He dabbled in coaching in the United Football League and got that taste out of his mouth. Tucker retired prior to the 2009 season.

 * By the way, Shurmur lauded the play of right guard Shawn Lauvao against Ndamukong Suh Friday in the Detroit game.

 * I have no inside information but I would assume the Browns would have more interest in North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo than Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. We'll know by the end of the day.

 * About 200 kids from Cleveland youth organizations were on hand as part of the club's Play 60 program, which promotes health in youth groups. A lot of Browns players converged after practice to sign autographs and mingle. Receiver Brian Robiskie went a step further, gathering some of the kids on the field for some impromptu touch football instruction. 


Cleveland Browns P.M. Links: Holmgren wants McCoy to relax; Bengals on Browns when it comes to Pryor? Hey Joe

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Holmgren tries to keep Colt McCoy calm.

Browns camp 2011 Day 2A young fan gets a lift to catch the attention of Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren's' message to quarterback Colt McCoy at the end of last season is the same message he has for him now, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald.

Holmgren wants McCoy to relax.

"In the beginning, I thought he was a little too much feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders," Holmgren said after practice Sunday afternoon. "It's just a game. Have fun.

"He's in a different world, now. As your quarterback goes, your team goes. I think that's safe to say. He feels that. He wants to do well. He has a lot of pride. I thought the walls were closing in on him a little bit, so I tried to loosen him up."


McCoy has to learn that he can't win games by himself, Holmgren tells Schudel. And it looks like McCoy especially paid attention to Holmgren's words.

Whatever Holmgren said is helping, because McCoy has grabbed the role of leader without imploding. He organized four offensive practices that came to be known as "Camp Colt" during the lockout and took it upon himself to be tutored by former Packers quarterback Brett Favre in the West Coast offense.

  

Case for Pryor

Blogger James Walker of ESPN writes how either the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland Browns chould draft Terrelle Pryor today.

Browns president Mike Holmgren loves taking developmental quarterbacks. Pryor is a raw prospect who could use the tutelage of quarterback gurus Holmgren and head coach Pat Shurmur. If it doesn't work out, the Browns need help at receiver, too. Pryor ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds.

 

Joe Thomas

Joe Thomas is in his fifth season with the Browns, and he's already talking about spending his entire career here. It's a good chance that will happen, because the Browns are about $24 million under the 2011 $120 million salary cap, writes Nate Ulrich of The Akron Beacon Journal.

“That’s something that I’m sure we’ll look at down the line, but we’re not really too worried about that as of right now,” said Thomas, who’s set to make a base salary of $8 million this year. “I think my focus is just trying to learn the [West Coast] offense first and trying to help this team win some games. I think along with those [goals], the contract stuff takes care of itself. I’m sure at the end of the season or toward the end, there may be discussions. But right now, first things first. We’ll try to hit the ground running here in the first game.”

 

Oakland Raiders take former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor in 3rd round of NFL's supplemental draft

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The draft was held this afternoon after being delayed last week while the NFL considered Pryor's eligibility.

apr.jpgTerrelle Pryor

Updated 2:30 p.m.


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was taken in the third round of the NFL's supplemental draft today by the Oakland Raiders.


The former Buckeye left Ohio State in June in the wake of Jim Tressel's resignation and continued questioning from the NCAA. After declaring his intention to enter the supplemental draft, the NFL finally declared him eligible last week, but only after suspending him for the first five games of his NFL career.


The first game Pryor will be eligible to play is in week six, on Oct. 16, against the Browns in Oakland.


After working out for scouts from 17 teams near Pittsburgh on Saturday, Pryor said he would be open to playing other positions beyond quarterback. His 40 time, in the 4.36 range, caused a lot of talk, though two years ago Pryor was timed at 4.33 at Ohio State.


No one should have been surprised that Terrelle Pryor is fast. Now the Raiders have to watch Pryor put everything else together.


Oakland is no surprise as a landing spot for Pryor. The Raiders love speed. And even before Pryor left Ohio State, the Raiders had called Pryor's high school quarterbacks coach to ask about him, as reported by the Plain Dealer in June.


In Oakland, Pryor will be joining former OSU teammate Chimdi Chekwa, a cornerback drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round in April. Chekwa is a smart, mature player who has already welcomed Pryor with a Twitter message. At the very least, he should be a friendly face in the locker room.


 



Terrelle Pryor taken by Oakland Raiders in 3rd round of supplemental draft: Smart move? Poll

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Pryor, Ohio State's starting quarterback the last three years, left school a year early after being a central figure in the trading of memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal.

terrelle-pryor4.jpgTerrelle Pryor's workouts have paid off for him, as the Oakland Raiders took him in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Terrelle Pryor, the controversial, former Ohio State quarterback, has been selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of Monday's NFL supplemental draft.



The Plain Dealer's Ohio State beat writer, Doug Lesmerises, writes about Pryor's selection by Oakland, which gives up a third-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft to acquire Pryor -- strong-armed and swift, but considered by most experts to be a long-term project as an NFL quarterback.



The Raiders have a decades-long reputation for welcoming high-profile but troubled players. Pryor started for powerful Ohio State teams the last three seasons, but left school a year early as a central figure in the memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal that eventually led to the forced resignation of Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel.



Had Pryor stayed at Ohio State, he would have been suspended for the first five games of the season. Now, he will serve a five-game suspension -- levied by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell -- at the start of the Raiders' campaign.



There has been much speculation about which team would forfeit a draft pick to acquire Pryor, and what round that pick would be in.




Indians look to turn things around against Mariners tonight

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Struggling Seattle is in town as Fausto Carmona pitches at Progressive Field.

fausto-carmona-blue.JPGView full sizeFausto Carmona is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 6 starts since the All-Star break.
(AP) -- The AL Central leaders for most of 2011, the Cleveland Indians are a season-high 4 1/2 games out of first after a weekend sweep against the current front-runners.

An 11-game homestand against three clubs with losing records couldn't come at a better time.

The Indians look to avoid a fourth straight loss Monday night when they open a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners, losers of five straight.

Cleveland (62-61) was swept in three games at Detroit over the weekend. The Indians stormed back from a seven-run deficit in Sunday's finale, but came up short and fell 8-7 when Kosuke Fukudome was thrown out at home to complete a game-ending double play.

Now, in addition to being 4 1/2 games back of the Tigers, the Indians are only one-half game in front of the third-place White Sox.

"This isn't what we were looking for when we came here," said designated hitter Travis Hafner, who left in the sixth inning with a foot strain and is day-to-day. "There's still a lot of baseball to be played, but this was obviously a big game, and we didn't win it."

Cleveland will try to regroup during an 11-game homestand which includes three against Central cellar dweller Kansas City and four versus Oakland.

With Hafner hurting, Shin-Soo Choo will try to stay hot after going 10 for 22 over the last five games of the Indians' 2-4 road trip.

Choo is 6 for 15 with a home run in Cleveland's first four meetings with the Mariners (53-72) this season - all wins. The Indians outscored Seattle 25-12 in those contests.

The Mariners have dropped 20 of their last 23 road games, including a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay over the weekend culminating in an 8-7 loss Sunday.

Seattle rallied to tie the contest with two runs in the eighth, but Johnny Damon's homer off Dan Cortes ended it in the bottom of the ninth.

"We were in position to win two out of the three games here and ended up losing both late," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge, who managed the Indians from 2003-09 but has yet to defeat his former club. "We just have to keep plugging."

A bright spot for slumping Seattle continues to be first baseman Mike Carp, extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a third-inning double. He is hitting .363 during his run.

Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona (6-12, 4.89 ERA) will try to end a five-game home losing streak when he takes the mound Monday.

Carmona came within two outs of a complete game in a 4-1 win at Chicago on Wednesday, giving up one run and four hits while striking out six.

The right-hander allowed four runs and two homers in 7 2-3 innings of a 5-4 win over Seattle on May 13, although he didn't factor in the decision.

He'll be opposed by Jason Vargas (7-11, 4.37), who is 1-6 in his last eight starts and has a 7.39 ERA over his last seven.

The left-hander gave up eight runs - six in the first inning - and four walks in four innings of a 13-7 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

Vargas also struggled against Cleveland on April 8, surrendering seven runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-3 defeat.

Indians aren't out of it, but it's going to be tough - Comment of the Day

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"They're not out of it by any stretch, but getting swept in August by the team you're chasing certainly hurts bad. You also have the White Sox to think about if Detroit were to fall apart down the stretch. Jimenez certainly hasn't helped matters." - hdawg

rob-drake-manny-acta-chuck-crow.JPGView full sizeManny Acta has a tough road ahead if the Indians are going to win the division.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians are in trouble, but they're not out of the AL Central race, says Dennis Manoloff (SBTV), cleveland.com reader hdawg thinks the Indians still have a chance, but it's going to be tough. This reader writes,

"They're not out of it by any stretch, but getting swept in August by the team you're chasing certainly hurts bad. You also have the White Sox to think about if Detroit were to fall apart down the stretch. Jimenez certainly hasn't helped matters."

To respond to hdawg's comment, go here.

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

Pryor could have had a place on Browns - Comment of the Day

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"I'd rather throw to him than Robiske or Massaquoi. I don't get the tunnel vision of those that only see him as a QB. He's not a top-shelf QB, but he is a great athlete with lots of God-given advantages. The Browns (and Colt) could have used a tall, fast, physical receiver." - jaberdeen99

Terrelle Pryor, Blake GideonView full sizeTerrelle Pryor hauls in a touchdown pass in front of Texas' Blake Gideon during the fourth quarter of the Fiesta Bowl in 2009.

In response to the story Oakland Raiders take former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor in 3rd round of NFL's supplemental draft, cleveland.com reader jaberdeen99 thinks Pryor might have been a good fit in Cleveland. This reader writes,

"I'd rather throw to him than Robiske or Massaquoi. I don't get the tunnel vision of those that only see him as a QB. He's not a top-shelf QB, but he is a great athlete with lots of God-given advantages. The Browns (and Colt) could have used a tall, fast, physical receiver."

To respond to jaberdeen99's comment, go here.

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

Unimpressed with Eyenga's first year - Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"All Eyenga showed me is that he can jump and defend a little. Whenever he got the ball, all he did was jack up threes and he made only 27% of them. And for a guy that can jump, he can't rebound either - 2.8 per game. He could be a good defensive player, so maybe I'll cut him some slack. That was just a brutal season and those guys bring back bad memories." - Scott Player

christian-eyenga-amy-sancetta-ap.JPGView full sizeChristian Eyenga impressed some Cavs fans last season, but not all of them.

In response to the story Is there a trade market for Cleveland Cavaliers' Ramon Sessions? Hey, Mary!, cleveland.com reader Scott Player was unimpressed with Christian Eyenga. This reader writes,

"All Eyenga showed me is that he can jump and defend a little. Whenever he got the ball, all he did was jack up threes and he made only 27% of them. And for a guy that can jump, he can't rebound either - 2.8 per game. He could be a good defensive player, so maybe I'll cut him some slack. That was just a brutal season and those guys bring back bad memories."

To respond to Scott Player's comment, go here.

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


John F. Minco teamed with Modell and Steinbrenner

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John F. Minco was an influential marketer for the Browns, arts groups and more.

John F. Minco helped to lead a famous Table 14 of Cleveland sports executives at the Pewter Mug.

Minco, an influential marketer, died at home Thursday, Aug. 18.. in Winton Place. He was 89.

"He made a lot of things happen for Cleveland," said Bill Devers, Minco's ex-brother-in-law. "He put people and deals together."

Plain Dealer columnist Brent Larkin once called him "one of Cleveland's most endearing and legendary bon vivants."

Daniel McCarthy, minority owner of the New York Yankees, said Monday, "He was a brilliant conversationalist."

Working mostly as a solo contractor, Minco promoted the Browns, Playhouse Square and many other local organizations. He helped Art Modell buy the Browns and install loges at Municipal Stadium. He helped George Steinbrenner try to buy the Indians before settling for the Yankees. He was also a talented horseplayer and left-handed golfer.

Minco left behind no known relatives or resume. Developer Dominic Visconsi, his executor and long-time friend, could not be reached for comment on Monday. So some biographical details are sketchy.

According to a 1999 article in Cleveland Magazine, Minco was born in Washington, D.C., to a Frenchwoman and a U.S. veteran of World War I. He was raised partly in France and mostly on Cleveland's West Side. He delivered The Plain Dealer, bagged groceries at Kroger, caddied at Ridgewood Country Club and more.

After 35 missions in Europe as a gunner during World War II, he telegrammed his mother that he was heading home. She got the message a few minutes after one saying that John's kid brother, Henry, had died during a mission in the Pacific.

According to The Plain Dealer, Minco went to Western Reserve University and starred on its golf team. Then he opened a marketing office downtown. He sold advertising for WJW radio and attended its seminal Moon Dog Coronation Ball. He sold ads for programs for the Browns, Playhouse Square, the Cleveland Orchestra and others. He was inducted into the Cleveland Advertising Association Hall of Fame.

For decades, he was a regular at the Theatrical and the Pewter Mug with Modell, Steinbrenner and other leaders. Loyal to Cleveland, he turned down Steinbrenner's offers to work for the Yankees. But he helped "The Boss" bring the broadcast of the 1971 Ali-Frazier championship fight to Ohio theaters. He also threw out the first pitch at a Yankees exhibition game in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1981 on his birthday, April Fool's Day.

Minco joined the Browns' staff for awhile. In 1982, during a National Football League strike, Modell threatened to cut his pay. Minco quit, and the Pewter Mug's Table 14 thinned out. Then he formed an advertising agency, Modell became its first client and the table revived.

Divorced and childless, Minco often took his widowed mother to stores and racetracks. He reached the finals one year in the World Series of Horse Handicapping in Harrisburg, Pa. He also golfed at Ridgewood and teamed with a local pro, Joe Novick, to win the Cleveland Professional Golf Association's Pro-Am tournament.

Cleveland Browns afternoon links: Ready to emerge like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did in 2010?

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Tampa went from 3-13 in 2009 to 10-6 last season. There are similarities, one year apart, between the teams. And, numerous other links to Browns stories.

peyton-hills.jpgThe Browns' Peyton Hillis (40) turns the corner for a 10-yard gain during Cleveland's 17-14 loss at Tampa Bay last season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Every NFL team has room for improvement.

The Cleveland Browns, year-in and year-out, have room for lots of improvement. Since returning to the NFL as a franchise in 1999, Cleveland has lost exactly two-thirds of its games, with a 64-128 record.

Browns fans would love to see their team emulate the upgrade shown by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, when they improved to 10-6 after going 3-13 in 2009. The Browns were 5-11 last year.

(Cleveland.com's Browns History Database includes Plain Dealer game stories on every Browns regular season and playoff game in team history. The PD's Tony Grossi wrote last Sept. 12 about the Browns' 17-14 season-opening loss to the Buccanners in Tampa)

Kris Knox writes for the National Football Authority that there are numerous similarities between the 2010 Bucs and this year's Browns, including: 

Last year was Year 2 of the Raheem Morris era in Tampa Bay and the Buccaneers featured a roster of young players, built primarily through the draft. This is Cleveland's second year with the team of Holmgren and Heckert at the helm, and most of the players at key positions for the Browns have been developed internally.

The average age of players on the Buccaneers 2010 roster was 25.1. Expect the Browns' average age to be close to that number once final roster cuts have been made (Cleveland released several veterans age 30 and older, even before the lockout).

The 2010 Buccaneers also started a second-year quarterback who sometimes struggled, but flashed potential as a rookie. A year earlier, Josh Freeman started nine games, completing 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,855 yards, but also having a 5-to-9 touchdown/interception ratio.

Sound vaguely familiar? In 2010, McCoy started eight games, completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,576 yards and a 6-to-9 touchdowns/interception ratio.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi's observations from today's practice; PD Twitter updates from today's practice; Mary Kay Cabot's Browns Insider, highlighting running back Montario Hardesty; Mary Schmitt Boyer's story that the NFL supplemental draft is somewhat confusing, even to former quarterback Bernie Kosar, who was taken by the Browns in the 1985 supplemental draft.

The Browns play their third of four preseason games on Thursday night, when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles.

Browns links

Notes and observations from the Browns' Monday practice, by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

A Browns team report by Steve Doerschuk for SportingNews.com.

Video of quarterbacks, including Colt McCoy, who had solid Week 2 preseason games. On Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

The Browns are looking forward to the 2011 debut of running back Montario Hardesty, writes Nate Ulrich for the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Browns' injury situation, by Brian Dulik for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

Browns kick returner-wide receiver Josh Cribbs and team president Mike Holmgren remain opposed to the NFL's new kickoff rules, Mike McLain writes for the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

The Eagles will face a Browns' team on Thursday night that has a strong Philadelphia influence, writes Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

A Browns notebook, featuring fullback Owen Marecic, on foxsportsohio.com.

Fullback Owen Marecic is getting ready to block for the Browns' running backs, writes Mike McLain for the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

On clevelandbrowns.com, Matt Florjancic writes about former Browns defensive end Al "Bubba" Baker, who recalls a 1989 Browns game against another team he played for -- the Detroit Lions -- and their great running back, Barry Sanders.

James Walker's AFC North Stock Watch on ESPN.com includes a Browns player.

"Upon further review" of the Browns' 30-28 exhibition game loss to the Detroit Lions on Friday night. By Dave Kolonich for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Travis Hafner on DL, could Jim Thome be on his way? Cleveland Indians daily briefing

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Travis Hafner goes on the disabled list with strained right foot. Right-hander Josh Judy recalled from Class AAA Columbus.

Travis HafnerTravis Hafner has been placed on the disabled list with a strained right foot.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Travis Hafner is the latest Indians player to go on the disabled list. Could Jim Thome take his place?

GM Chris Antonetti said before Monday's game against Seattle that Hafner, the Tribe's veteran DH, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right foot. Right-hander Josh Judy was recalled from Class AAA Columbus with the Indians scheduled to play a day-night doubleheader against the Mariners on Tuesday.

Hafner's right foot has been bothering him since the end of April. He re-injured it in the sixth inning of Sunday's 8-7 loss to Detroit. He singled home the Indians' final run, but when he made the turn at first in an attempt to reach second, he pulled up and was tagged out as he limped back to the bag.

"Travis is going to be out for a little while," said Antonetti. "This foot injury is related to what he had before."

Antonetti said Hafner will be out a minimum of two weeks.

"We're in the process of getting it evaluated and getting some other opinions to determine the extent of the injury," he said. "And we're looking at other treatment alternatives."

Head trainer Lonnie Soloff will give an update on Hafner on Tuesday.

Hafner is hitting .281 (79-for-281) with 14 doubles, 11 homers and 49 RBI. He had a terrible trip through Chicago and Detroit. The single in which Hafner aggravated his foot injury broke an 0-for-16 slump.

This will be his second trip to the disabled list. He missed over a month with a strained right oblique muscle and has not been the same hitter since his return.

The Twins have reportedly put Thome, who just hit the 600th homer of his career, on waivers. Antonetti was asked if the Indians had interest in Thome, in light of Hafner's injury and the Indians' shaky standing in the AL Central race. Antonetti said, "I'm not getting into specific guys. To the extent that we can help the team, we will continue to try."

Thome, of course, is the Indians' all-time home run leader.

ESPN reported that the Indians claimed Oakland right-hander Rich Harden on waivers and tried to make a deal for him. When an agreement couldn't be reached, the A's pulled Harden off waivers.

"We've been aggressive with the number of claims we've put in on players," said Antonetti. "Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find the right fit to improve the team.

"A lot of teams have just withdrawn the waiver claim and not even engaged in the process of trying to find a fit (trade). They've said they prefer to keep them. In a couple of cases, we've actually engaged to try and find that fit, but were unable to agree on value."

For a player to be eligible for the postseason, teams have until Aug. 31 to make trades. But any player acquired must pass through waivers.

Hafner joins center fielder Grady Sizemore and second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Mariners (53-72): RF Ichiro Suzuki (L), CF Franklin Gutierrez (R), 2B Dustin Ackley (L), LF Mike Carp (L), DH Casper Wells (R), 3B Adam Kennedy (L), C Miguel Olivo (R), 2B Brendan Ryan (R), LF Trayvon Robinson (S), LHP Jason Vargas (7-11, 4.37).

Indians (62-61): LF Michael Brantley (L), 2B Jason Donald (R), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Carlos Santana (S), RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), DH Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), C  Lou Marson (R), CF Ezequiel Carrera (L), RHP Fausto Carmona (6-12, 4.89).

Umpires: H Phil Cuzzi, 1B Tom Hallion, 2B Bill Miller, 3B James Hoye.

Lefty-righty: Lefties are hitting .276 (83-for-301) with nine homers and righties are hitting .244 (65-for-266) with five homers against Carmona. The Mariners have five lefties in the lineup, including one switch-hitter.

Lefties are hitting .268 (41-for-153) with four homers and righties are hitting .260 (120-for-462) with 15 homers against Vargas. The Indians have five right-handers in the lineup, including two switch-hitters.

Lineup note: Shin-Soo Choo was scratched from the Tribe's lineup to be with his wife, who just gave birth to their third child.

Him vs. me: Cabrera is hitting .571 (4-for-7) with one homer and one RBI against Vargas. Kennedy is hitting .364 (4-for-11) with a homer and three RBI against Carmona. 

Quote of the day: "Well, my dad (Ken Griffey) taught me that there's three parts. There's hitting, there's defense, and there's baserunning. And as long as you keep those three separated, you're going to be a good player. I mean, you can't take your defense on the bases, you can't take your hitting to the field, and you can't take your baserunning at the plate. But defense, is number one," former Seattle great Ken Griffey Jr.

Next: The Indians will play a day-night doubleheader against Seattle on Tuesday. Justin Masterson will start the first game at 1:05 p.m. Zach McAllister will be recalled from Columbus to pitch the second game at 7:05 p.m.


 

Ohio State's Luke Fickell defies the doubters, urges Buckeyes to be 'men of action': Bill Livingston

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In a season expected to be about containing losses, new Ohio State coach Luke Fickell vows to never sound retreat.

fickell-horiz-mediaday-2011-ap.jpgView full size"You can say it's us against the world, or however you look at it," OSU head coach Luke Fickell says of a 2011 Buckeyes season following the tumult of the last seven months. "To me, it's us as a group. ... If they fear anything, we want them to fear letting their buddy down."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Taller and darker than Jim Tressel, his hugely successful and thunderously fallen predecessor, Ohio State football coach Luke Fickell seems made for the imposing hurdles and black mood the Buckeyes face this fall. He probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Fickell doesn't react well to praise. Thinks it breeds complacency. Probably thinks a happy warrior is a guy who hasn't looked at the scoreboard in a while. The anger from being snubbed and the need to disprove doubters are more Fickell's meat and potatoes.

Some players might react better to praise, but Fickell is on a one-year contract. He takes over with a depleted team, with a staff he inherited from Tressel and with Sports Illustrated screaming that Ohio State is going to endure its worst season in 10 years. Fickell loves that kind of talk.

"It goes back to the days of Woody Hayes. He said if anybody gives you a compliment, kick him in the shin," Fickell said. "Unless it's a old lady or something."

Fickell was a coaching generation removed from Hayes, whose ouster led to Earle Bruce. Then Bruce's ouster led to John Cooper (Fickell's coach), whose ouster led to Tressel, whose ouster led to Fickell. The demise of coaches at OSU is like one of those lists of "begats" in Genesis.

Still, the Buckeyes are Fickell's team now, and he will expect them to come out fighting. Not literally, although Hayes' war metaphors are the language of football at Ohio State again.

Fickell has made "Men of Action" the motto for the season. The slogan is taken from the inspirational book "The Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews, which Tressel, at Fickell's urging, assigned as a "team" book in the spring.

One chapter in particular resonates with Fickell. Dedicated to "The Man of Action," it is based on Union Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain's defense of a hill called Little Round Top in the Battle of Gettysburg. In the decisive action of the pivotal battle of the Civil War, Chamberlain, a former Maine schoolteacher, led a bayonet charge down the hill, repulsing a Confederate advance and keeping the Union forces from being flanked. "Many people move out of the way for a person on the run," Andrews argues. "Others are caught up in his wake."

"You can say it's us against the world, or however you look at it. To me, it's us as a group," Fickell said. "We want [a player] to be motivated -- not that we're in the military by any means -- by knowing the buddy next to him can count on him. If they fear anything, we want them to fear letting their buddy down."

If it seems a bit overwrought for a mere football game, it probably doesn't matter, if the players buy into it. No Ohio State coach in modern times has been up against it as much as Fickell. The memorabilia sale scandal robbed him permanently of former starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, and for the first five games of the top returning receiver (DeVier Posey), the top rusher last year (Dan Herron), the best offensive linemen (Mike Adams), as well as the backup defensive lineman (Solomon Thomas) whose interception won the Sugar Bowl.

"We expect to win every football game. That's why you come to Ohio State. Expectations don't change. That's what makes Ohio State great," said Fickell.

If it sounds haughty, that's how things are at Ohio State. Tressel never set goals with what seems to be such naked arrogance. The kindest view is that Fickell is fixing brashness to his public posture, like he would a bayonet to his rifle, hoping the Buckeye players follow his charge.

"There is such scrutiny and with all the pressures that come with this place, that this group has such a tighter knit. Then when more adversity hits, that's just the making of greatness," said Fickell. "This team has come together. But it's staying together that's the thing."

It is impossible to doubt Fickell's sincerity or loyalty. But what Ohio State doesn't want is probably what it will get from Fickell -- a 9-3 record or thereabouts.

A boom or bust record makes it easier either to retain him or to woo Urban Meyer. Still, it probably would have been better for Ohio State to give Fickell a multi-year deal. Today's contract is tomorrow's fodder for the paper shredder at Ohio State anyway. Fickell's one-year deal hurts recruiting.

Whatever happens, the emotional Fickell will be shouting and stalking the sideline, trying to skewer doubts with a frontal assault. "We'll be judged by our actions. One thing that stuck with me is what Joshua Chamberlain said. 'No matter what happens, you'll never find a bullet in my back. Because I'll never retreat,'" Fickell said.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

San Francisco 49ers vs. Oakland Raiders annual preseason meeting to end as result of fan violence at Saturday's game

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The violence included shootings that wounded two men.

fans-fight.jpgFights in the stands were part of the violence at Saturday's preseason game between the Oakland Raiders and 49ers in San Francisco.

The San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders will no longer meet in preseason games after fan violence at Saturday's game between the teams, the San Jose Mercury News is reporting.

A source told the newspaper that the NFL and police support ending the annual game between the rival teams.

Saturday's game was played at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Fan violence included shootings that wounded two men. 

San Francisco mayor Ed Lee attended the game with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan.

An ESPN.com report on the violence and subsequent ending of the preseason rivalry includes:

Lee said he was working with police and the 49ers to review footage of the fights and help identify people involved. He commented on the melee while campaigning for mayor in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Meanwhile, two men who were initially listed as seriously injured in the violence have been upgraded to fair condition by a hospital.

One of the victims, a 24-year-old man who reportedly was wearing a T-shirt reading "F--- the Niners," was shot several times in the stomach. Police said he managed to make it to stadium security for help despite the injuries.

The other victim whose condition was upgraded is a 26-year-old man who was beaten unconscious in an upper-level stadium restroom during the fourth quarter.

Another shooting victim was treated after receiving superficial facial wounds after the game.

Police did not release the names of any victims. No arrests have been made.

Investigators were searching for suspects and interviewing witnesses, said Officer Albie Esparza, a San Francisco police spokesman.

Police also were seeking motives in the shootings, including whether the attacks were influenced by emotions involving the annual Battle of the Bay exhibition game or possibly gang connections.

The report refers to the attack on San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow, who suffered severe brain injuries when he was beaten by two men wearing Los Angeles Dodgers gear after the Giants-Dodgers season opener at Dodgers Stadium.

Stow, 42, remains hospitalized in serious condition.

 

Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. Links: Comparing Miller and Pryor; Buckeyes are motivated; Starting role; Pryor's in

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For starters, there are a few difference between Braxton Miller and Terrelle Pryor.

miller.jpgQuarterbacks Joe Bauserman (14) and Braxton Miller (5).

Columbus Dispatch columnist Bob Hunter writes this article comparing quarterback Braxton Miller to former OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Hunter's column is how Miller is a breath of fresh air compared to Pryor's nose-in-the-air attitude at times during his tenure at Ohio State.


Pryor handled his first media day like a guy who was preparing for his third Super Bowl, and later admitted that he may have been “a little arrogant.” Miller was, uh, how could you describe it exactly?

“He presents himself in such a manner that his demeanor is kind of humble,” OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.

Humble. Think about that. Humble. Humble isn’t an easy condition for a high-profile recruit who plays quarterback.

Part of Pryor's attitude issues had to do with how the media treated him, Hunter writes.


Buckeyes motivated

It's been awhile, but the Buckeyes are definitely underdogs this coming season. Not only are they being overlooked by many of the experts, but the rest of the county is looking at the Buckeyes as cheaters.

From The Lorain Morning Journal:

All it has done is motivate and galvanize the team.

“Oh we appreciate it,” said receiver DeVier Posey with a smile. “We definitely appreciate it.”

Coach Luke Fickell, who took over when former coach Jim Tressel stepped down, has been preaching a “Men of Action” mantra all summer. No words, he said, are needed. Only action on the field.

Starting role

Left guard Jack Mewhort is two weeks away from getting his first start for the Buckeyes.

From The Toledo Blade:

"It just feels good to finally get in there and do my thing," he said yesterday at Ohio Stadium during the team's media day festivities. "I'm happy for the opportunity and I'm going to capitalize on it the best I can."

 

Pryor's in

The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises has this story on how the Oakland Raiders nabbed Terrelle Pryor in today's NFL supplemental draft.


 

Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is healthy and happy in the 4-3 defense

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Through two exhibition games, Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is proving not only is he back from two years of injuries, but he is reveling in the new 4-3 defensive system.

jackson-2011camp-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeD'Qwell Jackson has shaken off the rust of nearly two years missed from chest muscle injuries while embracing the Browns' new 4-3 defense as the middle linebacker. "To feel like I'm part of a team and go through the trials and tribulations of my guys ... it's been a long time," he said Monday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford pitched the ball to tailback Aaron Brown.

Splat!

D'Qwell Jackson met Brown with a form tackle to the ground for a 1-yard loss. This is the way the Browns' new run defense is supposed to work, Jackson running free to the ballcarrier with no lineman in his grill.

For a middle linebacker, it is a mundane play, one expected of him to make dozens of times in a season. For Jackson, it is a beautiful play, one he was never guaranteed to make ever again.

To be able to meet a back with all of his force, wrap him and throw him down, is proof that Jackson's chest muscle injuries are behind him. He tore one on Oct. 18, 2009. Coming back from that surgery, he tore the other on Aug. 10, 2010. The chest muscles to a linebacker are what the arm is to a quarterback.

"That was the main concern coming in [to this year's camp]," Jackson said. "When you go through a game and deal with guys trying to block you, being overextended. There's no way to simulate those arm movements without playing a game."

Jackson has three quarters of work in the first two exhibition games and has made eight solo tackles, tied for first on the defense.

"I'm definitely pleased," he said. "Now I don't think about it. The first couple days, you get the jitters. The last test was actually going into a game and tackling. My body feels good. Right now I'm in control of it. I don't have anything nagging. In the course of a season, you're going to get some bumps and bruises. I'm looking forward to it."

The bumps and bruises of normal work, the camaraderie in the locker room, the game-planning for the next stern challenge ... these are the things Jackson missed terribly for almost 22 months.

"To feel like I'm part of a team and go through the trials and tribulations of my guys ... it's been a long time," Jackson said.

Now here's the best part about Jackson's remarkable comeback story. He's not only playing again, he's flourishing in a new defensive system that everyone involved says is perfect for him.

jackson-ward-starks-2011-squ-jg.jpgView full size"(The Browns' new 4-3 defense) allows you to play with your safety (T.J. Ward, left, helping Jackson tackle Green Bay's James Starks earlier this month) more," says D'Qwell Jackson. "Using that to our advantage where we can play a lot of eight-man fronts, a lot of man coverage, and still count that safety in our run fits, is big for us linebackers. It allows us to flow faster."

Linebacker Scott Fujita predicted during the owners lockout that Jackson would revel in the 4-3 system installed by coordinator Dick Jauron. Last week, Fujita named Jackson the team's MVP on defense at the mid-point of training camp. In three seasons before his injuries, Jackson was first or second in tackles on the club in the Browns' old 3-4 defensive alignment. But Fujita, and others, envisioned Jackson being not just a tackler but a force in the 4-3.

"No doubt about it, he's everything that I thought," Fujita said Monday. "Not to say that he was trapped in that system, but it wasn't best suited for his skill set. So this system will be great for him.

"Just watching the plays he can make. He's got such a body type and a wiggle to him, where to avoid blocks and skip around blocks and skate over the top and make plays in the open field. And he's one of the better open-field tacklers I've seen, so this system is just perfect for him."

The 4-3 alignment, featuring behemoth tackle Phil Taylor and non-stop accomplice Ahtyba Rubin battling the offensive guards and center, enables Jackson to roam free without having to grapple a 300-pound blocker.

"You can notice [the difference] from not having that big guard staring at you before every play," Jackson said. "And it allows you to play with your safety [T.J. Ward] more.

"Using that to our advantage where we can play a lot of eight-man fronts, a lot of man coverage, and still count that safety in our run fits, is big for us linebackers. It allows us to flow faster."

Jackson doesn't want to be simply known as a tackling machine, however.

"The way my mind works, any linebacker in the league, you wouldn't have a job if you couldn't tackle," he said. "I have to improve my game in sacks, tackles for loss, PBUs [passes broken up]. I can't just be a one-dimensional player. I have to be able to do it all. This defense allows you to show your personality and show what you're capable of doing."

Even in Jackson's healthy years, the Browns' defense ranked lowly -- 27th overall, 30th and 26th. He believes that will change as the new offense kicks in, too.

"We have to come out and be able to dictate a game, be able to open up our pressures, open up our playbook, and we can only do that if we're ahead [on the scoreboard]," he said. "The offense has to be able to move the ball, keep us off the field a bit. But when we're up, we have to take care of business."

Jackson is understandably hesitant to look ahead. He knows more than anyone on the team that tomorrow is not guaranteed. He's been let down before.

Now he feels blessed just to be tackling and hitting and sweating on the field with teammates again. If that keeps up, everything will take care of itself.

"He deserves a season like this," Fujita said.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi


Vote in Week 1 You Pick the Game football contest

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The first You Pick the Game contest of the 2011 high school football season is under way. Vote to decide where we send one of our reporters on Friday night. Voting is open until noon Thursday. The winner is announced in Friday's Sports section. Which Week 1 game do you want The Plain Dealer to cover for its You...

The first You Pick the Game contest of the 2011 high school football season is under way. Vote to decide where we send one of our reporters on Friday night. Voting is open until noon Thursday. The winner is announced in Friday's Sports section.

Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas signs 7-year extension, says team is 'building something special'

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The Browns left tackle hopes his extension will allow him to fulfill his goal of helping to bring a championship to Cleveland.

thomas-browns-vert-cc.jpgView full sizeJoe Thomas will be paid $84 million over seven years after signing a contract extension with the Browns on Monday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Joe Thomas sees a Super Bowl victory in the Cleveland Browns' future and he was determined to be around for it.

That's why the Pro Bowl left tackle signed a seven-year contract extension Monday worth $84 million, including $44 million guaranteed.

"I know a championship is coming to Cleveland and I have to be a part of it," he told The Plain Dealer by phone. "That's everything. That's why I wanted to do a long-term deal. Five years ago when I started this thing, that was my top goal on my list was to bring a championship here and I see the huge strides we've made.

"Sometimes we've had to take one step back to take steps forward, but I see the direction this thing is headed and I want to be part of the championship."

Thomas, who's made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons, also wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, which now he'll most likely be able to do.

"No question, that was a big goal of mine coming in was to be able to start and finish with the Cleveland Browns and it means so much to me," he said. "We're really building something special with [General Manager] Tom Heckert and [President] Mike Holmgren and I think this program is headed in the right direction. It was really important for me to make this a real long-term deal so that I can finish my career here."

Thomas, who has never missed an offensive snap in his 64 games here, said he's grateful to remain with a team he loves so much.

"I'm so excited to continue playing in front of the fans that I love and the organization that I love," said Thomas.

His enthusiasm for the Browns has been renewed by coach Pat Shurmur and the new regime.

"I've been so impressed with coach Shurmur and the staff that he brought in and the way he teaches the players," said Thomas. "Tom Heckert's been drafting guys I really want to be around and I want to be part of this really great thing that's going on now. The way the team has picked up the new offense, plenty of mistakes have been made, but you can just see the potential there. It's so exciting to be part of it."

Thomas is especially optimistic about the future of the offense with Colt McCoy at quarterback.

"I've been really impressed with Colt," said Thomas. "The jump he's made and the way he's really taking to this offense has been very impressive. To be able to block for him has been truly special and I'm very happy I get to continue to do that and hopefully someday I can tell my grandkids that I got to block for Colt McCoy."

Thomas, a two-time first-team All-Pro, also said he has his sights on the Hall of Fame.

"No question, definitely a goal," he said. "Getting there and championships and continuing to play well, that's what it's all about. When I have those goals in mind, I'm thinking of a winning season and letting those things take care of themselves, but that goal is definitely still in my mind."

Shurmur couldn't be happier with his premier left tackle, the No. 3 overall pick in 2007 out of Wisconsin.

"Joe is obviously one of the finer left tackles in the business," he said. "He's a very, very good pass protector. I guess what's impressed me is that he's a fine run-blocker as well. Typically, you find a guy that's good at one and average at the others, but I think Joe is good in both phases, extremely good.

"He's big, has good feet, balance and body control. He has pretty good power for a guy that's a tackle. And he has a feel for the game. Usually what makes a player good is kind of a combination and he's blessed with a lot of those things."

What's more, Shurmur has been impressed with Thomas' character.

"Joe is a steady guy, which you need from an offensive lineman," he said. "He's a guy that comes out here every day and works. Every once in a while he can be vocal, I wouldn't say that's his nature to just be exerting himself verbally.

"There's time within a practice or within a day when something needs to get said and he'll step right to the front and say it. I have a great appreciation for what he is as a player and a man."

Thomas' agent, Peter Schaffer, said it was Thomas' excellence both on and off the field that made the Browns want to wrap him for his career.

"Joe is part of the Browns' family," said Schaffer. "When you walk into the facility and see the Hall of Famers on the wall, hopefully Joe will be thought of in the same way someday."

Thomas is one of 19 Browns to earn Pro Bowl status four or more times and just one of five offensive linemen in club history to make four or more consecutive trips.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Ohio State Buckeyes, Big Ten and Mid-American Conference football previews around the web

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Buckeyes try to overcome scandal-related issues to compete in Big Ten strengthened by Nebraska's addition. Kent State and Akron try to improve on poor 2010 seasons.

andrew-sweat.jpgLinebacker Andrew Sweat (42), here finishing off a tackle during Ohio State's win over Iowa last season, is one of the veterans counted on to lead the Buckeyes through what promises to be a challenging season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State's Buckeyes, Akron's Zips and Kent State's Golden Flashes open their football seasons on Sept. 3 -- a week from Saturday.

OSU will host Akron at Ohio Stadium. Visiting the Buckeyes is a daunting task, of course, for the Zips, but Kent State faces an even more intimidating challenge.

The Golden Flashes open at Alabama, also on Sept. 3. The Crimson Tide begins the season as the nation's second-ranked team. Alabama coach Nick Saban played defensive back at Kent State in 1970-71. He began his coaching career as a Golden Flashes graduate assistant in 1972, when Kent State won its only Mid-American Conference championship.

(The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com covers Ohio State and Akron, Kent State and other Ohio colleges. On Aug. 13, Plain Dealer MAC beat writer Elton Alexander looked at the Mid-American Conference)

The college football preview sections are nearing full-go.

Big Ten and MAC preview links

The 2011 College Football Preview home page on ESPN.com links to several Big Ten stories, including the Big Ten blog, which includes several reports looking ahead to the season.

An Ohio State preview on the National Football Authority, with links to other Big Ten team previews.

A preview for the Big Ten and other "power conferences" on FoxSports.com. Previews for the Mid-American Conference and other leagues on FoxSports.com.

A Big Ten preview on Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

A Big Ten Leaders Division preview, including Ohio State, and a Big Ten Legends Division preview, both on the Scranton Times Tribune, which covers Penn State.

Every day, a Mid-American Conference team is previewed on mac-sports.com.

Links to team previews for MAC teams on the National Football Authority.

Ohio State wants to run this fall, but who will get the ball?

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Ohio State has to run, but first the Buckeyes have to decide which back is going to run it.

osu-hall-koret-ark-mf.jpgView full sizeJunior Jordan Hall (7, returning a kickoff against Arkansas in last January's Sugar Bowl) has the most game experience among the OSU running backs eligible to start the season, but Hall's special teams value make limit his time in the offensive backfield.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State must run. Luke Fickell said as much again over the weekend. A new quarterback, young receivers and talent among the top five offensive linemen means the Buckeyes have to turn and hand it off.

"Right now knowing that we don't have a stable quarterback, they're kind of depending on the running game and all our backs," sophomore Jaamal Berry said. "Hopefully we're going to carry the team and carry the offense."

That's the theory. What's the execution? Even with No. 1 running back Dan Herron suspended for five games, the Buckeyes have four legitimate options in smaller backs Berry and junior Jordan Hall and bigger backs sophomore Carlos Hyde and freshman Rod Smith. In the parlance of former coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes once again should be looking for a pair and a spare. That's why the decisions in the backfield coming into focus this week are so crucial.

"Jaamal and I talk about how every time we get the ball, we want to make a play," Hall said. "You treat every carry like it's your last carry."

Two of the backs should play a major role in the offense during the first five games, a third may get a look and the fourth won't do much more than watch. Over the last 10 seasons of Ohio State football, the Buckeyes' top back averaged 212 carries a season, the No. 2 back had 103 and the third had 45.

"You can use three," running backs coach Dick Tressel said, ruling out four backs getting into a rotation. "There's a role for one in certain situations, and then a pair that works together or takes turns or whatever. That's how we see it playing out."

The most interesting case may belong to the back who currently seems the odd man out. Smith was a star of bowl practice last December while taking a redshirt season, and he came into 2011 looking like the best package of size and speed. While he had some reps with the first-team offense in Saturday's scrimmage, Smith may be last in the pecking order, for now.

"He still has a little bit of an unknown there that hasn't allowed him to completely open the valve," Tressel said. "I don't think he's completely opened the valve and played recklessly yet, because he wants to do the right thing. But he's pretty close."

For now, the others may be in the lead.

Hall is all over the place, a running back plus more. He'll line up at tailback with the first-team offense in practice, then go work with the receivers during individual drills. People keep saying things like this about Terrelle Pryor's former high school teammate: "Jordan Hall is a really, really, really good football player," said offensive coordinator Jim Bollman. "A really good football player."

osu-herron-berry-hyde-2011-ap.jpgView full sizeWith Dan Herron (1, left) out for the first five games of the season, Jaamal Berry (4) and Carlos Hyde (34) figure to see time on the field for the Buckeyes.

But does that make him the No. 1 tailback? Maybe not. Hall should be used in the passing game as well and is the Buckeyes' top kick and punt returner.

"He'll get four of his carries a game probably returning kicks," Tressel said.

Somehow, Hall may be too valuable to be the No. 1 back, if that makes any sense. So Berry and Hyde should get looks, but Berry has to stay healthy. His explosiveness isn't in doubt. But he battled hamstring injuries while redshirting as a freshman and was out last week, including for the jersey scrimmage, with a hamstring issue.

He's expected back this week, but Berry has to make sure his hamstring issue doesn't linger in order to claim his spot.

"I've battled these injuries," Berry said. "Once I get my time on the field I'll show everybody what I'm about."

Hyde has taken that opportunity, establishing himself as the back most likely to get two yards when most needed. One of the bigger backs has to fit into the plans, and Hyde may have that edge.

Overall, there should be 400 to 450 carries for the taking, maybe even more with Pryor's quarterback runs no longer part of the script. One back hit 200 carries in six of the last seven seasons, but that's unlikely this year. In part, that's because when Herron returns for the Nebraska game, he'll fill some role, maybe even as the No. 1 back.

"He's a guy you can learn from, so you can't just put him on the shelf," Tressel said.

But with this many options, someone's going to get a little dusty.

"We're waiting to see what they're going to do," Smith said.

"Right now I don't see just one guy taking the show over, but that's all up to the coaches," Berry said.

"I think it's going to be a rotation throughout," Hall said. "The talent is too good to be on the sideline."

Chris Perez comes undone in 9th as Seattle beats Cleveland Indians, 3-2

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Indians closer gives up winning run in ninth on two hit batters, an error and a sacrifice fly.

Gallery preview

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' plan to get healthy at the expense of the lesser lights began with a thud Monday night against the Seattle Mariners.

Not that the Indians are heavyweights at the moment, or since late May. But they seemingly are in a division race and are supposed to beat the non-contending Mariners at home, especially when Felix Hernandez does not start.

Instead, Seattle received strong pitching from lefty Jason Vargas and capitalized on wildness by Tribe closer Chris Perez to win, 3-2, at Progressive Field.

Vargas gave up two unearned runs in seven innings as the Mariners (54-72) defeated the Indians for the first time in five games this season. The Tribe (62-62) has lost four straight and fell into a tie for second with the White Sox in the AL Central. Both are 5 1/2 games behind the Tigers, who won at Tampa Bay.

The Tribe has not been in third since April 3.

With the score tied at 2, Perez opened the ninth by plunking right-handed batter Miguel Olivo with his first pitch. Perez hit right-handed Brendan Ryan with a 3-1 pitch, which the Indians thought might have ticked the bat.

"I guess I was flying open to righties, and the ball was taking off," Perez said. "By the time I made the adjustment, it was too late."

No. 9 batter Trayvon Robinson bunted toward the mound, where Perez fumbled the ball attempting to throw to third.

"I tried to do too much, too fast," Perez said.

Ichiro Suzuki whiffed. Former Indian Franklin Gutierrez popped to shallow center, where Ezequiel Carrera caught the ball and threw a strike to the plate with decent velocity. Olivo slid under the tag of catcher Lou Marson in a bang-bang play.

Tribe manager Manny Acta, who has seen more than a few calls go against his club, argued briefly with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.

"I watched it on replay," Acta said. "It was very, very, very close -- but he was right."

Perez walked Dustin Ackley, then struck out Mike Carp swinging.

"It was one of those bad outings, and it's unacceptable," Perez said. "I gave up a run without giving up a hit. That's pretty embarrassing."

Perez has been a superb closer this year, but several non-save situations have ended ugly.

"I think it's more coincidence than anything," he said. "The game is still on the line. I'm mentally in it. I'm still trying to get three outs without a run scoring and get my team back in the dugout."

The Indians threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Brandon League. With two outs, Jack Hannahan singled to left and sprinted to third on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall's single up the middle. Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan should have made the play on Chisenhall's grounder, but the ball went under his glove.

With Carrera at bat, Chisenhall stole second unopposed. Carrera fouled three full-count pitches before grounding to first.

"Our pitching gave us a chance one more time; we just couldn't execute offensively," Acta said. "We had plenty of opportunities but couldn't take advantage."

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead on the game's fourth pitch. Suzuki ripped a 2-1 fastball from Fausto Carmona into the right-field seats for his third homer. Of Suzuki's 93 career long balls, 35 have coming leading off the Mariners' first inning.

Seattle made it 2-0 with an unearned run in the second, the result of a throwing error by Marson.

The Indians tied the score in their half of the second. Both runs were unearned against Vargas thanks to Ryan. Carlos Santana led off with a double to left-center. Santana remained at second as Kosuke Fukudome struck out and Matt LaPorta popped out. Hannahan grounded to Ryan, whose hurried, off-balance throw pulled first baseman Carp off the bag. Santana stopped at third.

Marson punched a full-count, RBI single to center. Carrera, channeling Kenny Lofton, slapped a 1-2 pitch over third baseman Adam Kennedy's glove for an RBI single. Michael Brantley then grounded to Ryan, whose hurried, off-balance throw pulled Carp off the bag to load the bases. The second error did not hurt the Mariners because Jason Donald popped to second.

The Indians again loaded the bases in the fourth. With one out, Hannahan was hit by a pitch and Marson and Carrera singled. Brantley fell behind in the count and eventually grounded into a 1-2-3 double play.

Santana grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the fifth.

Carmona was relieved by lefty Rafael Perez to begin the seventh. Carmona gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits, walked one and struck out six. Carmona owns a 2.62 ERA in nine starts since June 26. In that span, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer six times.

Marson finished 3-for-3, tying a career-high for hits.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

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