Indians right-hander Chad Durbin remembers when his Sept. 11, 2001 start against the Indians didn't happen. He started against the Indians on Sept. 18, when baseball returned following the terrorist attacks.

View full sizeJohn Smerciak, Associated PressTen years after a planned start against the Indians was scrubbed by the 9/11 attacks, Chad Durbin (right, with catcher Lou Marson) finished off the Indians' 7-3 victory over the White Sox.

CHICAGO -- On Sept. 11, 2001, the Indians were in Kansas City to open a three-game series against the Royals. A 23-year-old right-hander named Chad Durbin was scheduled to start against the Tribe.

"I woke up at 10 that morning," said Durbin, who has been in the 2011 Indians' bullpen all season. "I checked caller ID on my phone and I had about 26 missed calls. I thought someone in my family must have died."

The last person to call Durbin was Kris Wilson, one of his teammates with the Royals.

"I called him back and he said, 'Do you have your TV on?' I said I'd just got up. He said 'turn on your TV' and that was it."

Durbin walked into the living room where his roommate/teammate Chris George was watching the smoldering Twin Towers on TV.

"I sat down and didn't move the rest of the day," said Durbin.

When MLB went dark after the attacks, the Indians worked out the next day at Kauffman Stadium and bused back to Cleveland that night. All planes in the country were grounded. The caravan included two buses and a van for slugger Juan Gonzalez and his entourage.

MLB didn't re-start the season until Sept. 18. The Indians faced the Royals at Progressive Field. Durbin started against the Tribe's Chuck Finley.

"I didn't even warm up normally," said Durbin. "I think I threw about 10 pitches. Then I went out on the field to be part of the pre-game ceremony. I went into the first inning almost cold.

"I forget who won. I don't know the results. I just remember that playing was important. The game was important. I remember Robbie Alomar hit me in the butt with a ground ball. I don't remember much else."

The Indians won, 11-2. Durbin lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits. When the game started, the concourses at Progressive Field were almost empty. There was no crowd noise even through there were close to 35,000 people present. All you could hear was the radio play-by-play of the game as it bounced along the concrete walls inside the ballpark.

"It didn't feel like a big-league baseball game," said Durbin. "It felt like something less and something more. For a 23-year-old, who was processing everything, it was unique."

On Sunday's 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, Durbin pitched the ninth inning in a 7-3 win over Chicago.

Pronk is back: On Saturday, Travis Hafner ran the bases. On Sunday he was activated by the Indians and hitting fourth. Hafner has been on the disabled list since Aug. 22 with a strained right foot. If the foot does not respond well in this test, he will need surgery in the off-season.

He rejoined the lineup hitting .281 (79-for-281) with 14 doubles, 11 homers and 49 RBI. Sunday was just his 83rd game. He went 1-for-4 with a walk in the third and a single in the fifth.

The Indians acquired Jim Thome on a waiver deal from the Twins on Aug. 25 when Hafner was on the disabled list. Now they have two left-handed hitters who can't play in the field. Manager Manny Acta said he can make it work because Hafner and Thome are not able to play more than three or four consecutive games -- Hafner because of his foot and Thome because of chronic back problems.

"It gives us the luxury of having one of those guys in the lineup almost every day," said Acta.

Hafner is signed for one more year at $13 million.

"We have to go into next year thinking he is our DH," said Acta. "You can't control the injuries. He's done a fine job for us this year when he's been on the field. Hopefully, this is behind him and he can finish this season knowing all he has to do is get ready for spring training next year."

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Williams lost a second-game set for yelling and arguing with an umpire, but it probably didn't matter, as she was thoroughly outplayed by Austraila's Stosur.

Associated PressSam Stosur after clinching her 6-2, 6-3 U.S. Open championship win over Serena Williams.

NEW YORK, New York -- Already being outplayed by Sam Stosur in the U.S. Open final, the last thing Serena Williams needed was to lose a game for yelling during a point.

That's exactly what happened early in the second set, leading to an argument between Williams and the chair umpire, a scene less ugly than — but reminiscent of — the American's tirade two years ago at the same tournament. In the end, Stosur beat Williams, pulling off a 6-2, 6-3 upset Sunday for her first Grand Slam title.

Stosur became the first Australian woman to win a major championship since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.

But the highlight of Stosur's career is likely to be remembered for 13-time major champion Williams' latest dispute with an official at Flushing Meadows.

Indians made trade deadline deal of four players including Pomeranz for pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, who also got a win today.

Associated PressDrew Pomeranz during his big league pitching debut on Sunday in Colorado. He pitched five scoreless innings to get credit for the Rockies' 4-1 win over Cincinnati.

DENVER, Colorado -- Prized prospect Drew Pomeranz threw five shutout innings in his major league debut and Ty Wigginton homered, helping the Colorado Rockies to a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Pomeranz (1-0) was a key piece in the deal that sent ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline. He showed why the Rockies coveted him, allowing just two singles.

(Jimenez is 3-2 with a 4.98 ERA in eight starts for the Indians, including getting the win in Cleveland's 7-3 decision over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Right-hander Alex White, the other key player sent by the Indians to Colorado in the trade, is 2-1 with an 8.18 ERA in four starts for the Rockies, allowing nine home runs in 22 innings)

Pomeranz, a 21-year-old lefty, threw only 63 pitches before leaving in the fifth. Pomeranz is three weeks removed from an emergency appendectomy.

Edinson Volquez (5-5) was effective in his first start since July 5, not allowing a hit until Wigginton's homer to left in the fourth. He later gave up an RBI single to Jordan Pacheco.

Wigginton wasn't in the original starting lineup. But when Carlos Gonzalez was scratched with lower back stiffness, Wigginton went in to play left field.

Jason Hammel, a starter turned reliever, pitched four innings to earn his first save of the season. He allowed a solo homer to Joey Votto in the ninth.

Pomeranz hasn't pitched all that much since he was acquired in the five-player deal with the Indians in late July. Because a drafted player can't be traded within a year of his signing, Pomeranz wasn't allowed to join the Rockies organization until Aug. 17. He made a start for Double-A Tulsa that night, throwing seven scoreless innings.

A few days later, he underwent an appendectomy that slowed his promotion to the big leagues.

Upon his return, Pomeranz threw three scoreless innings for Tulsa last week before having his contract selected by the Rockies on Sunday.

Although Pomeranz wasn't overpowering, he kept the Reds off balance with an effective changeup and a 91 mph fastball.

And when Pomeranz found himself in trouble early, he found a way to wiggle free by getting the Reds to ground into double plays in the second and third innings.

This was precisely the type of performance Rockies manager Jim Tracy envisioned from Pomeranz. Tracy caught a glimpse of him during spring training and was instantly intrigued, even asking around about the pitcher who was hitting around 95 mph with his fastball.

"That's how much he jumped out at me," Tracy said.

Volquez, Cincinnati's opening-day starter, has bounced around between the Reds and Triple-A Louisville this season in an effort to find his command.

The right-hander walked four and struck out three against Colorado.

Chris Valaika had both hits off Pomeranz before leaving in the fifth with an undisclosed injury. Votto and Chris Heisey had the only other hits for the Reds as the team wrapped up a 4-5 road trip.

The banged-up Rockies went with a patchwork lineup, with All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (sore hip), first baseman Todd Helton (stiff back) and second baseman Mark Ellis (neck) all sitting out.

With an off day Monday, Tracy said he's hopeful Tulowitzki will be back in the lineup Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Starting in place of Tulowitzki was Thomas Field, who made his major league debut after having his contract selected from Tulsa. He drew a walk his first time up but finished without a hit.

Helton has played sparingly over the last 10 days because of a bothersome back. Ellis sat out as a precaution after being hit in the neck by a pitch Saturday.

Game notes
Players and coaches for the Rockies and Reds held a giant American flag in the infield during a tribute to honor the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. ... To make room for Pomeranz and Field on the roster, the Rockies placed OF Ryan Spilborghs (plantar fasciitis in his right foot) on the 60-day disabled list and designated C Matt Pagnozzi for assignment. ... The Reds will start LHP Dontrelle Willis on Monday against the Chicago Cubs. ... Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips was given the day off. ... Rockies 2B Eric Young Jr. had three stolen bases.

A sensational finish wiped out all the questions that were raised over the first three quarters against Notre Dame.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- So the night game thing went pretty well.

After the first night contest in Michigan Stadium history, the students didn't want to leave and Denard Robinson didn't want to stop smiling. This week, Michigan fans won't want to stop talking about that 35-31 win over Notre Dame. It moved the Wolverines to 2-0 for the third straight year, pushed them to within one spot of making the top 25 in both the AP and coaches poll and reminded anyone who was wondering how great a college football game can be.

It also wiped out everything that wasn't working for basically the first three quarters.

These were Robinson's stats through almost the end of the third quarter Saturday: 3 of 13 passing for 59 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and 10 carries for 77 yards. Michigan trailed, 24-7, and the question at hand was whether Robinson and the Wolverines' brand of offense under first-year coach Brady Hoke could work.

Then Robinson hit Junior Hemingway on a 77-yard pass, Notre Dame's defense fell apart and the Wolverines were rolling. Michigan finished with 452 yards on offense, but 65 percent of that production (294 yards) came on six plays. Michigan gave up even more yards, as Notre Dame picked up 513.

So Saturday's win could be the kind of game that starts a turnaround under Hoke. Or it could be the kind of game that momentarily covers up some problems but doesn't do much else. Hoke was already talking about what needs to change in what was supposed to be celebratory postgame TV interview. Robinson's big-play ability is, as was already known, extraordinary. Winning is much, much better than losing.

With their next three games against Eastern Michigan, San Diego State and Minnesota, the Wolverines definitely have a shot at 5-0. But your quarterback opening 3 of 13 in the passing game isn't going to work most weeks.

Cedric Benson was patient in getting to the season opener, and patient in waiting for his big break in Cincinnati's victory over the Browns.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerCedric Benson kept grinding out short gains against the Browns (here against T.J. Ward, left, and Jabaal Sheard) until he broke loose in the fourth quarter Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- All game long, Cedric Benson waited. He waited for small seams to open, for tiny cracks to sprout in the line. He waited for the little gains to turn into something big Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

All off-season, Benson waited, too.

He waited for resolution to two misdemeanor assault charges, waited to make a deal that would result in a 20-day sentence in jail, a quarter of which he would serve after credit for time served and volunteering to mop floors and help paint crews.

With Game 1 out of the way, just a week after he was released from a Texas jail, Benson's waiting was over. He rushed for 121 yards in the Bengals' 27-17 victory, capping his game-long grind with a 39-yard touchdown blast in which he said field opened up "like the Red Sea" as he put the final stamp on Cincinnati's triumph.

At long last, the waiting was over for Benson, who was eager to put his tumultuous off-season behind him and finally focus on the game he loves.

"It's funny. You get all these things that happen in the off-season and it's all people talk about," Benson said, still wearing his dirt- and grass-stained uniform in the locker room long after the game ended. "So I was eager to get a game under my belt to put these things behind me. That way, the only thing to talk about is this 120-plus [yards] and a touchdown. Plus the win."

The 121 yards came in spurts, with a 34-yard first quarter, a second quarter spent mostly watching counterpart Bernard Scott, and a fourth quarter where the Bengals needed him most and he delivered with 66 yards and his touchdown.

Benson's 39-yard TD dash came after he'd pounded the left side of the Browns' defensive line consistently, hammering at rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard. With 1:56 remaining, he went right.

"He just popped it," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "Nothing abnormal there other than we didn't defend it."

With the Bengals starting a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton (who ended up sitting the second half with a right wrist injury) and featuring a rookie receiver in A.J. Green, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis was relying on seven-year veteran Benson to provide some stability. When a steady rain began in the fourth quarter, Lewis knew it was truly time to rely on Benson.

"This kind of game is a Ced Benson kind of game," Lewis said. "You get in that situation at the end, and with his ability to make yards behind his pads, you keep hammering, hammering, hammering until you break one free."

That's what Benson had been waiting for -- a chance to break one, a chance to finally get back to football.

"It's just a big relief," Benson said. "The entire game you've been trying to get into the end zone, trying to create some big plays for your team, trying to get the momentum switched back over. So, when you see it open up it's hard to describe how relieving it is."

It's hard to tell if Benson's relief came from the touchdown, the game, or the opportunity to finally put his off-season behind him.

Pat Shurmur's debut was as bad as anything that's gone before in the recent history of Browns season openers, sports columnist Bud Shaw writes.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerIf quarterback Colt McCoy (rear) appeared pained by what was taking place on the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday, rookie head coach Pat Shurmur seemed nearly stunned by the events that led to Cincinnati's 27-17 victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The next Browns coach to win on his first try should be greeted like Neil Armstrong back from the moon landing.

Pat Shurmur's attempt in yet another aborted takeoff was as embarrassing as anything that's gone before in this franchise's inglorious recent past (1-12 in season openers since 1999, 11 of them at the lakefront).

The Browns have been overmatched at times and even outcoached before, but never have they looked as disorganized against such a beatable opponent on the day of their unveiling. Worse than just losing one they could've won despite so much self-sabotage, they were duped on a touchdown pass to A.J. Green with the game leaning in their favor. What made it less forgivable than Dwayne Rudd's helmet toss was only one guy lost his head in that one.

The Browns had seven penalties in the first quarter alone in a 27-17 loss. When they switched ends, that wasn't Bengals fans calling for backup quarterback "Bruuuuuuuuce" Gradkowski. That was the familiar sound of Browns' fans booing, perhaps in the earliest "here we go again" in team history.

Shurmur's own disgust flared in the postgame interview, where he vowed to make no excuses but couldn't help mention the possibility that his team might've wrongly been prevented from matching Cincinnati substitutions on the play in question.

The trickery that caught the Browns defense by surprise and led to Green loping 41 yards into the end zone with 4:28 remaining for a 20-17 lead could've been avoided by somebody, anybody, calling a timeout.

"I wish I had eyes in the back of my head," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who, like his teammates, didn't see the Bengals line up before it was too late.

What made this tougher to swallow than the other season opening pratfalls and other coaching debuts were the number of penalties (11), the modest quality of the opposition, the hope that the West Coast under Shurmur might at least resemble the sport the Green Bay Packers showcased Thursday (it doesn't) and some other curiosities.

Colt McCoy completed his first pass. To himself. After rallying the Browns for two first-half scores, he was part of the kind of offensive unraveling that many hoped left town with Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll. The only side benefit is we can stop the talk of McCoy, who was 19-of-40, having mastered Shurmur's West Coast offense just because he looked good running it in August.

Not only did it fail to look like Camp Colt got the Browns prepared for the regular season, but it appeared Camp Pat didn't either.

"It starts with me," Shurmur said more than once. He took the blame for knocking down an official and earning the penalty announced as unsportsmanlike conduct on the Cleveland bench. That was a new one, even by Browns' standards.

So you take Dwayne Rudd. I'll take a game in which a Browns head coach gets penalized for leveling an official, a game in which the hardest Josh Cribbs gets hit all day is by teammate Greg Little.

"I was seeing double," Cribbs said of Little ricocheting off a Bengals tackler and interrupting a crucial and promising Cribbs kickoff return with the game on the line late.

From there the offense bogged when the Browns failed to convert on fourth-and-8 with 2:12 remaining. McCoy's final incompletion of the series was thrown under pressure and landed closest to center Alex Mack.

There's not enough evidence to say Shurmur is taking on too much in his dual role as head coach/offensive coordinator. Going for it on fourth down was justifiable. He didn't suffer from clock management issues. What we can say is Sunday was an embarrassing, undisciplined debut.

"I've been around here long enough that I've seen a lot of bad stuff happen," D'Qwell Jackson said.

All newcomers, get in line. It forms to the left and it is a long one.

Seattle Seahawks cut San Francisco lead to 19-17 with 3:56 left, but Ginn -- from Glenville High School and Ohio State -- scored twice in the next 1:10.

Associated PressTed Ginn Jr. after his 55-yard punt return for a touchdown capped the scoring in the 49ers' 33-17 win over the Seahawks.

San Francisco 49ers 33, Seattle Seahawks 17

Ted Ginn Jr. helps home team win Jim Harbaugh's NFL coaching debut

Ted Ginn Jr., of Cleveland Glenville High School and Ohio State, returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in a minute's span late in the fourth quarter, and the San Francisco 49ers gave Jim Harbaugh a 33-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in his much-hyped NFL debut and renewed coaching rivalry with Pete Carroll.

Ginn ran a kickoff back 102 yards moments after the defending NFC West champion Seahawks had closed within 19-17 with 3:56 left. It was the second-longest kick return at home and fourth-longest in team history.

After Ginn's kickoff return, Seattle couldn't move the football and despite trailing by more than a touchdown, chose to punt. Ginn returned the punt 55 yards for the touchdown that closed the scoring with 2:46 to go.

Alex Smith exhibited the poise and polish Harbaugh believed the 2005 No. 1 overall pick still had in him despite recent history, going 15 for 20 for 124 yards and running for a 1-yard TD. David Akers kicked four field goals in his first game with San Francisco.

New Seattle QB Tarvaris Jackson threw a late 55-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin, who played for Harbaugh at Stanford.

Washington Redskins 28, New York Giants 14

Game at New York followed ceremonies that recalled 9-11 terrorist attacks

Rex Grossman completed 21 of 34 passes for 305 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and one lost fumble -- mostly avoiding the type of negative play that has so often defined his career -- as the Washington Redskins opened the season with a 28-14 win over the New York Giants.

Grossman's performance, at least for a week, justifies coach Mike Shanahan's decision in a quarterback competition against John Beck that lasted the entire preseason. After an 0 for 4 start, Grossman started spreading the ball around against a short-handed Giants defense. Anthony Armstrong had one touchdown reception and set up another with a diving catch at the 1-yard line. Fred Davis had a career-high 105 yards on five catches.

A stadium of burgundy and gold became red, white and blue -- in color and in spirit -- during pregame ceremonies for the game featuring the cities hit by the terrorists attacks 10 years ago. Chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" greeted former Secretary of State Colin Powell as he walked onto the field to perform the coin toss, and the fans -- most holding miniature American flags -- chanted again after a national anthem during which players from both teams helped hold an enormous version of the Stars and Stripes that covered the entire field.

The Redskins fans kept cheering as their team ended a six-game losing streak against the Giants, beating their NFC East nemesis at home for the first time since 2005. The score was tied at 14 at halftime, but Washington first-round pick Ryan Kerrigan swung the momentum early in the third quarter when he batted Eli Manning's pass into the air, caught it, returned it 9 yards and found himself jumping up and down over a go-ahead touchdown in his NFL debut.

Arizona Cardinals 28, Carolina Panthers 21

Patrick Peterson's punt return helps offset Cam Newton's strong game in Arizona

Rookie Patrick Peterson made amends for a long afternoon at cornerback with an 89-yard punt return for the go-ahead touchdown and Arizona overcame a magnificent NFL debut by Cam Newton as the Cardinals escaped with a 28-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Newton, the No. 1 draft pick playing on the same field where he led Auburn to the BCS championship in January, completed 24 of 37 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, the first rookie to throw for more than 400 yards in his NFL opener.

The Panthers had first down at the Arizona 11 late in the game, and even got an extra down on an offside call, but failed to score.

Steve Smith had eight catches for 178 yards for Carolina, including touchdown plays of 77 and 26 yards.

Kevin Kolb was 18 of 27 for 309 yards and two touchdowns in his first game for Arizona.

San Diego Chargers 24, Minnesota Vikings 17

Philip Rivers and host Chargers spoil Donovan McNabb's Vikings debut

Fullback Mike Tolbert's third touchdown, a 19-yard pass from Philip Rivers with 5:01 to play, lifted the San Diego Chargers to a 24-17 victory over Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings.

Rivers rolled left and waited for Tolbert to get open inside the 5-yard line, then lobbed the winning pass. Rivers completed 33 of 48 passes for 335 yards and was intercepted twice. Tolbert also scored on a 7-yard run and had a 1-yard TD catch.

Peterson, who set the NFL single-game record with 296 yards against San Diego as a rookie in 2007, had 98 yards on 16 carries one day after signing a contract extension potentially worth $100 million.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb, playing his first game for Minnesota, completed 7 of 15 passes for just 39 yards. He threw a touchdown pass and an interception.

(Thursday night) Green Bay Packers 42, New Orleans Saints 34

Defending champions win at home to open NFL season

Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers came out on top in a memorable opening-night quarterbacks duel with New Orleans' Drew Brees, and the Packers made a goal-line stand on the final play of the game as Green Bay topped the New Orleans Saints 42-34, in the NFL season-opener on Thursday night.

The Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions. New Orleans won the NFL championship the previous season.

With the Saints on the 1-yard line, Clay Matthews and safety Morgan Burnett led a swarm of Packers defenders who stopped Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram short of the goal line.

"It's not what you envision," Matthews said. "Obviously, you'd love to have a blowout, but I think it represents everything that we preach, which is finishing games. And it comes down to the very last play -- we win, or they have an opportunity to tie it up. I think it's fantastic to overcome that adversity, get the stop that we needed and get off the field with the victory."

Rodgers and Brees had big games, but Packers rookie Randall Cobb stole the show.

Cobb, a second-round draft pick out of Kentucky, caught a touchdown from Rodgers and ran a kickoff back 108 yards for a score in the third quarter -- tying an NFL record for the longest kickoff return in history.

In the wake of a rules change designed to promote touchbacks, Cobb just decided to run one back from deep in the end zone.

"It was amazing," Cobb said. "The feeling of being in Lambeau Field and just having all of the guys around me coming off of the Super Bowl and just trying to do anything I can to contribute, and I certainly tried to make the most of my opportunities tonight."

Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. "It's a good night for us," Rodgers said. "I felt good about the way that I was throwing the ball. Missed a couple I probably could have hit."

Brees threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns, including a late touchdown to Jimmy Graham that cut the lead to 8 with 2:15 left.

After a Green Bay punt, Brees marched the Saints to the Packers 9-yard line and spiked the ball with 3 seconds left. Green Bay's A.J. Hawk was called for pass interference and the ball was placed at the 1. Led by Matthews and Burnett, the Packers defense swarmed Ingram short of the goal line and the game was over.

"You've got to get a yard," Ingram said. "It's goal line to win the game, got to get a yard."

Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot deliver the news from the Browns 27 - 17 season opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Watch video

The weekend gave us a reminder about how great college football can be when we're actually focusing on the games.

View full sizeMike Kittrell, Mobile Press RegisterWhen Mississippi State QB Chris Relf finished two inches short of the goal line on what would have been the game-tying TD against Auburn, it was just one of a series of thrilling finishes in big-time college football Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- "My stomach was up in my throat because it shouldn't have been that close."

"It feels amazing. I am kind of at a loss for words right now for how good we feel getting this win."

"Winning college football games, that's hard to do. Your margin of error on offense, defense and special team is so slim. We made some errors today and we're still getting out of here with a win."

Does it matter who said those quotes Saturday, or which team they represented?

Sixty-five games were played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday involving major-college, FBS football teams. Fully 23 were decided by a touchdown or less, when, in the second week of the season, there were still plenty of top 25 teams beating up on no-chance opponents. That doesn't include USC's 23-14 win over Utah, when the Trojans ended the game by blocking a game-tying field goal try and returning it for a touchdown.

(That would have been the 24th game under seven points, because officials wiped out the touchdown, saying USC came off the sideline and celebrated the touchdown too early. Two hours after the end of the game, the Pac-10 overruled the officials and awarded the score.)

Michigan's 35-31 win over Notre Dame, when the teams combined for 21 points while trading the lead back-and-forth in the final 72 seconds Saturday night, was the rule, not the exception. To paraphrase what Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg wrote on Twitter after that game, college football may be sleazy and corrupt, but we can't quit it.

The NFL came back from its lockout more popular than ever. Imagine what might happen if college football could figure out a way to enforce the rules that matter, get schools into sensible conferences that revolve around more than TV revenue, and create an equitable playoff structure more concerned with determining a true champion than lining pockets of bowl CEOs.

How sad is it that a weekend like the one we just had, packed with competitive, enthralling games, almost feels like a brief respite between figuring out the home of next NCAA investigation and chatting about conference lawsuits?

South Carolina and Georgia swapped the lead four times in the final 21:09 in the Gamecocks' 45-42 win. Mississippi State was stopped on the goal line on the final play of a 41-34 loss to defending national champ Auburn. Virginia tied Indiana with 1:36 to play, then forced a fumble with 1:13 left and kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. Colt McCoy's younger brother, Case, came off the bench to quarterback Texas to a 17-16 comeback win over BYU. San Diego State forced an Army incompletion with 1:06 left to hold on 23-20.

Five games went to overtime, including Iowa State topping Iowa in triple overtime in their rivalry, and Louisiana Tech beating Central Arkansas behind freshman quarterback Nick Isham.

"It's what you live for and why you play the game," Isham told reporters after leading a 72-yard game-tying drive in the final two minutes to force the overtime. "You never know what's going to happen."

What we do know is that college football can give us weekends like this whenever it can get out of its own way. Just ask Rice, which blocked a last-second 31-yard field goal try from maybe the best kicker in college, Purdue's Carson Wiggs, to beat the Boilermakers, 24-22. Those quotes at the start were from Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue, defensive end Scott Solomon and coach David Bailiff. They were excited.

And they weren't worried about Texas A&M and the SEC.

Looking forward to Week 3 in the college season.

View full sizePhil Sears, Associated PressWill quarterback E.J. Manuel and the Florida State Seminoles be up to the task of taking on Oklahoma in this week's top national matchup?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Looking forward to Week 3 in the college season.

This week's best national games

1. No. 1 Oklahoma (1-0) at No. 5 Florida State (2-0), Saturday, 8, ABC: Seminoles' potential path to the national title game starts here. There's only one other currently ranked team on their regular-season schedule -- Florida to end the year.

2. No. 4 Boise State (1-0) at Toledo (1-1), Friday, 8, ESPN: We all saw how well Toledo played at Ohio State. More than just trying to beat the Broncos, the Rockets should be trying to be like Boise long-term.

3. No. 3 LSU (2-0) at No. 25 Mississippi State (1-1), Thursday, 8, ESPN: Mississippi State should be angry after getting stopped at the goal line in a last-second loss to Auburn. Watch out LSU, especially in a short week.

This week's best Big Ten games

1. No. 17 Ohio State (2-0) at Miami (0-1), Saturday, 7:30, ESPN: Hurricanes' QB Jacory Harris is back from a one-game suspension. He threw four interceptions against the Buckeyes last season, and three picks in his last game -- a Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame.

2. Washington (2-0) at No. 10 Nebraska (2-0), Saturday, 3:30, ABC: The teams met twice last season, Nebraska winning, 56-21, in the regular season, Washington winning, 19-7, in the Holiday Bowl. No more Jake Locker, but the Huskies aren't bad.

3. No. 15 Michigan State (2-0) at Notre Dame (0-2), Saturday, 3:30, NBC: After its wild loss to Michigan, Notre Dame bounces back against the team that beat the Fighting Irish in overtime last season with its Little Giants fake field goal. The Leprechaun could use a break.

Heisman Watch

1. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina RB, Soph.: Such a dominant back, he'll be carrying the Gamecocks and gain steam with every win. Averaging 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns per game.

2. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State WR, Jr.: Has at least 100 receiving yards in 14 straight games, including 12 catches for 128 yards and two TDs in Friday's win over Arizona.

3. Andrew Luck, Stanford QB, Sr.: Oklahoma QB Landry Jones dropped out of the top three with his week off, while this QB threw for 290 yards and four TDs while dominating Duke.

The tornado that hit Joplin, Mo., on May 22 killed 160 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, but on Saturday night, residents tried to return a bit of normalcy. They converged on Junge Stadium for the first home football game.

JOPLIN, Mo. -- There's a scar through the middle of Joplin, a mile wide and six miles long. All that's left are a few twisted tree stumps, chunks of chewed-up pavement and the tattered remains of homes and businesses.

The football stadium still stands. So much of the town is gone.

The tornado that churned through southwest Missouri on May 22 forever altered its landscape. More than 2,000 buildings were reduced to rubble, 160 lives were lost, an estimated $3 billion in damage left in its wake.

About the only thing the storm didn't destroy was the spirit of the people who call Joplin home.

On Saturday night, they converged on Junge Stadium for the first home football game. More than 10,000 fans jammed into a facility built for 4,500 to watch their Eagles face Springfield Hillcrest, the biggest crowd anybody could remember.

There were 22 seconds of silence, a bald eagle soared overhead and a National Guard helicopter that assisted in the storm relief swooped over the field. Then the game kicked off.

And for a few hours, there was a sense of normalcy.

Under the twinkling lights of a warm autumn evening, teenagers forced to grow up too quickly played football. Coaches cried out instructions, cheerleaders clapped, band members marched in perfect order. A flash mob at halftime danced to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin' " as the setting sun turned the clouds brilliant shades of purple and red.

Although the Eagles ultimately lost 21-9, in many ways they won just by taking the field.

"They're going to be able to talk about this for the rest of their lives," said Dan Hueller, Joplin High's assistant principal. "These are the kinds of things we want our kids to remember, not the disaster that's taken place. These are the kinds of memories you want to have for your kids."

Determination The fact that there's football this fall is a testament to Jeff Starkweather's determination.

The longtime athletic director thought school officials were crazy when, just after the storm, they vowed to start classes on time. The high school had been gutted, practice fields were ruined, jerseys and equipment simply gone. But Starkweather knew the best way to get over the trauma was to get to work, so that's what he did.

"It was a lot of logistics, things you take for granted, when you walk right out of school to your practice facility and there you are," he said. "There was no practice field. There wasn't even a school."

There are plans to rebuild the 50-year-old high school, but it'll take time. For now, freshmen and sophomores have class at the old Memorial High School, which escaped significant damage. Juniors and seniors attend a makeshift school built inside an empty department store at the mall.

The temporary facility is tricked out with flat-screen televisions and plush lounges, and every student has a laptop thanks to a donation from the embassy of the United Arab Emirates. But all the technology in the world doesn't make up for what's missing: walls that block out noise from neighboring classrooms, a kitchen attached to the cafeteria, trophy cases full of achievements and all those memories of students past and present.

"It's not ideal," Starkweather said, "but really, what is about this? We're proud that we got that together. And we're competing on time, and athletics are moving forward."

Josh Banwart wasn't sure that would be the case.

The senior linebacker was home with his two younger sisters and a family friend when the tornado sirens went off. He didn't think much of it at first -- happens all the time in the Midwest -- but as the rumble kept getting louder, he headed for the basement. When an eerie silence finally settled over town, he emerged to find almost everything in his neighborhood gone. His own home had the roof and siding ripped off.

"We were hearing the windows breaking," he recalled, "and you could smell the grass and the dirt."

Banwart's parents were celebrating their anniversary in Jamaica and learned about the storm on television. They got a text message through, but with cell towers down, Banwart didn't speak to them for six or seven hours.

"We walked up to the high school that night," Banwart said. "You couldn't drive anywhere, so we kept walking into town, and as you got further it got worse."

Banwart knew Will Norton, the teen who was driving home from his high school graduation when the tornado sucked him through the window of his truck. Norton's body was found in a nearby pond. He was one of seven students and a school administrator killed by the storm.

"The first day of school, it was interesting to hear the stories," said Dayton Whitehead, a senior wide receiver who scored the Eagles' lone touchdown Saturday. "At practice, you see construction trucks driving by all the time, and it helps to know that you'll have a football season, just like last year, before anything happened."

Whitehead said there are still cliques like those found at every high school, but the feeling in the hallways has changed. Athletes, artists and everyone in between have been through something they'll never forget.

"You still hang out with the same people you hanged out with," Whitehead said, "but when you see people you didn't know, you kind of try to take into consideration that maybe you should say 'Hi' to them once in a while, because you never know what could happen."

Getting ready The first home football game Saturday was a triumph for Joplin, said Chris Shields, their 35-year-old coach. He was hired a couple of months before the storm hit and hadn't moved to town yet. In fact, he had only met with his players twice to organize summer workouts and fundraisers.

All of those plans went out the window when he heard the news.

"The first few days, football takes a backseat," Shields said. "It's about finding loved ones, making sure everyone is accounted for, seeing what you can do. Then you look around and figure out what to do next."

The goal was to get back on the field as soon as possible.

Everyone knew it wouldn't take long.

"High school football is a way to get back to normal," said booster club president Dan McCreary, whose three children all graduated from Joplin. He lost his home and vehicles in the storm and could be spending his time rebuilding. Instead, he spent Friday at Junge Stadium stocking the vending stands with soda and chips.

"It's time to rejoice over something a little less significant," McCreary said. "I mean, it seems really important when you're a kid out there and you drop a pass or miss a tackle -- it seems pretty big sometimes -- but I think it helps to get back to normal. It helps all of us."

Everyone affected by the storm has a story, even if it hurts to tell. They'd rather talk about the outpouring of support they received, the volunteers who helped clean up, the rebuilding effort already under way.

Country music singer Kenny Foster grew up in Joplin. His parents still lived in the same house near the high school that the tornado turned to splinters. After the storm, he penned a song entitled "Hometown" that can be purchased from his website, with all the proceeds from its sale going to the relief effort.

Foster performed it for the crowded grandstand prior to the game, in part because he believes something as simple as high school football can help heal the scars the tornado left behind.

"Who from high school didn't go to football games on Friday night? It's a pastime, a pastime anywhere in Middle America," he said with a smile. "There's going to be a gap to fill here in the spirit of the people. It's nice to bring that back into focus. If it takes football to do that, so be it."

"This football team has a lot of room for improvement," says second-year QB. "I've got a lot of room for improvement." Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Colt McCoy showed moxie in scoring 17 consecutive points to rebound from a horrible start and put the Browns up, 17-13, in the third quarter Sunday. But the lack of timing and chemistry in the new West Coast offense proved costly in the 27-17 loss to the Bengals.

The Browns failed to put a point on the board in their final six drives.

"I felt like we were doing good things, we were on top of it, I knew what to do and we were playing fast," said McCoy. "Then, for whatever reason, we kind of slowed down and lost it there. You can't do that.

"The defense kept us in the game in the first quarter. We fought back, we clawed back and got into it and we lost it there at the end. This football team has a lot of room for improvement. I've got a lot of room for improvement."

McCoy, who overcame seven first-quarter penalties and a 13-0 deficit, came alive in the second quarter. He hit Ben Watson with a 34-yard TD pass on a scramble to the right after a play-fake to Montario Hardesty and then fired a career-long 56-yard pass to Mohamed Massaquoi while being chased. That set up a two-yard TD pass to Evan Moore for a 14-13 lead.

But after a third-quarter field goal, McCoy struggled. One deep ball went off Moore's hand and another to Massaquoi was overthrown. McCoy completed only 19 of 40 attempts for 213 yards, with two TDs -- tying a career-high -- and one interception after a rain-slickened ball slipped out of his hand. The Browns converted just four of 15 third-down attempts.

"It was a little out of sync, that's probably a good word," he said. "You have to give their defense some credit, they were doing a great job of mixing up their pressures, mixing up their coverages. We've got a lot of learning to do. I certainly had my bad plays. When you've got the lead at halftime at your house, you've got to win that."

Haden's game: The loss marred a strong game by Joe Haden, who broke up a career-high five passes, including back-to-back swats on the Bengals' opening drive that led to a field goal. Two others forced punts. He also had his second career sack.

"I was just prepared," he said. "I studied film, I studied A.J. Green. I studied their quarterback. I studied all of their receivers, so I felt like I had a really good understanding of what the offense wanted to do against us. Coach [Jerome] Henderson just told me to go out there and dominate the game and that's what I tried to do. This year for sure, I just want to be a lockdown corner on the left side."

Absorbing quite a hit: Josh Cribbs thought he was taking a punt return to the house in the fourth quarter, until Greg Little blocked the punter into him.

"I thought, 'wow.' I saw the TD," said Cribbs. "I really don't look at the punter. I just try to look past him. It was a great block by Greg, he just knocked him and me out. I was seeing double. I was like 'oh my God, he hit me!' ... It was a great effort on his part. Just unfortunate."

On his 51-yard kickoff return in the second quarter -- fielded eight yards deep in the end zone -- he said, "We have a pretty decent kickoff return unit and I was able to get a couple off and we knew it was going to be kicked deep -- but enough was enough."

Punter woes: Richmond McGee had a rough afternoon, starting with a 20-yard shank and mixing in punts of 28 and 30 yards.

"We're going to look at everything, including the punter and the punting situation, absolutely," said coach Pat Shurmur.

Said McGee, who went for X-rays after the game for an unspecified reason: "I'll just get back to work and have a better game next week. [The first one] I just tried to kick it too hard. Backed up in our own end zone, I tried to make something big happen for the team. If you swing for the fences sometimes you miss and that's what happened."

Wait for the snap: Starting right guard Shaun Lauvao was a little overzealous, being whistled for two false start penalties in the seven-penalty first quarter.

"I was just kind of excited to play is what it is," he said. "Nothing crazy. Of course you're going to be upset with yourself, but at the end of they day, I'm human. I just have to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Counting the whistles: Sheldon Brown wasn't thrilled with the officiating. The Browns had 11 penalties to Cinci's three.

"To me I thought we were playing at home today, but obviously other people didn't feel that way," he said. "I thought the penalties were a little one-sided. We'll see."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

The two teams went a combined 9-23 last season, after all. Links to various stories.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerCleveland quarterback Colt McCoy (left) was often under pressure from the Cincinnati Bengals' defense during the Browns' 27-17 season-opening loss.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Given that the Cleveland Browns went 5-11 last season and the Cincinnati Bengals were 4-12, it would have been irrational to assume that one team or the other would emulate the 1972 Miami Dolphins during Sunday's season-opener at Browns Stadium.

If either team were to draw a historical comparison based on the contest, it would be closer to the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bengals bounced the Browns, 27-17, as Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi details in his game story. Also from The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, Terry Pluto writes about how bad the Browns were; Grossi details the Browns' lousy fourth quarter; Dennis Manoloff and Joey Morona break down the loss.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com features much more Browns coverage.

The Browns' performance is not exactly earning accolades.

The Canton Repository's Todd Porter, leading into his description of the Bengals' controversial, go-ahead touchdown, writes of the Browns:

They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and added to the franchise’s miserable mass of legend and lore. Cincinnati, what we thought was the worst team in the NFL before Sunday, laughed its way out of Cleveland with a 27-17 win that essentially left new Browns coach Pat Shurmur using the liar-liar, pants-on-fire defense.

James Walker of ESPN.com writes about the the Browns-Bengals game:

It means the Bengals aren't the worst team in the NFL. The Bengals came in last twice in ESPN.com's Power Rankings, and I keep voting against it. Perhaps the Browns should be considered for the No. 32 spot. Cleveland lost at home to a rebuilding Bengals team playing its second-string quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski) for significant playing time.

The Bengals' recent history is comparable to the Browns' usual ineptitude. The Cincinnati Enquirier's Paul Daugherty writes about the Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis:

This game validated all of Marvin Lewis' urgings about persevering. His Shovel Metaphor is alive and well.

"Our guys have done a nice job hanging in there," Lewis said.

The trusty and time-authenticated Us-Against-The-Universe role also served the Bengals Sunday. "When everyone else is against you, you have to stick together," reasoned Domata Peko, the center of a defense that was very good.

Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal writes about various Browns' problems, including the 41-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Bruce Gradkowski to A.J. Green that put the Bengals ahead to stay. The Browns think they were wrongly quick-snapped, but Ridenour writes:

CBS replays showed the Browns had 12 men on the field on defense. Presumably that means the Browns were substituting, which means Shurmur should have kept his rule-musings to himself until he saw more.

It also means that someone should have called timeout, whether it was Shurmur or defensive coordinator Dick Jauron or a player. Former safety Earl Little — who took credit for summoning kicker Phil Dawson for the game-winning field goal at Pittsburgh in 1999 — would have gotten the clock stopped somehow.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown backed Shurmur, whom he has known since 2002 in Philadelphia, saying, “I thought the penalties were a little one-sided,” and later adding, “I thought we were playing at home today, but obviously other people didn’t feel that way.”

Among the points that Steve DiMatteo makes in his report on the Browns-Bengals game for the Dawg Pound Daily blog:

It was an ugly day for Colt McCoy, as he went 19 of 40 for 213 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, but he wasn’t getting a lot of help from his offensive line, particularly on the right side. With right tackle Tony Pashos out, new acquisitions Oniel Cousins and Artis Hicks were given the job of protecting that side, and there wasn’t much success. The Bengals were able to consistently get pressure on McCoy, often forcing him out of the pocket.

Craig Lyndall writes for the WaitingForNextYear blog that the Browns weren't ready, but need to get ready for next Sunday's game at Indianapolis against the Colts, who are without future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. The quarterback has had two neck surgeries in the last four months. Writes Lyndall:

The Browns just weren’t ready on Sunday. They weren’t ready as they committed seven penalties for 48 yards in the first quarter.

They weren’t ready to capitalize and put the Bengals away after the momentum they built in the second quarter and in scoring 17 unanswered points.

The Browns certainly weren’t ready as the defense got embarrassed by a Bruce Gradkowski quick snap that led to the Bengals’ go-ahead score. It isn’t a time for excuses.

Nobody cares how long training camp was anymore. It isn’t a time to hang their heads either. The Browns have a chance to play Indianapolis next Sunday, who got crushed 34-7 by the Houston Texans. The Browns responded to adversity in the game, now they need to respond to it between games. Despite the one completely unacceptable play, the Browns’ defense did have some film to hang their hats on.

Tom Withers of the Associated Press writes about an opportunity lost for the Browns:

Considered by some to be the NFL's worst team, and with veteran quarterback Carson Palmer sitting out in a standoff with ownership, the Bengals somehow won their first opener since 2007. And they had to do it with Gradkowski, their third-string QB.

We are being told that college football is broken and needs to be fixed. It’s not broken; Social Security is broken and the tax code is broken and Washington is broken, and all need to be fixed. College football needs to be rocketed into outer space, shattered into a billion unrecognizable pieces.

AP PhotoFormer Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen is getting a hefty check from Maryland -- for not coaching.

It all started on Nov. 6, 1869: On an inglorious Saturday afternoon in New Brunswick, N.J., Rutgers defeated Princeton, 6-4, in America’s first college football game. On the following Monday, the NCAA placed both schools on probation.

(OK, you know I’m kidding — sure, Rutgers is capable of ANYTHING, but Princeton doesn’t cheat.)

Now, 142 years later, we are told that college football is broken and needs to be fixed. It’s not broken; Social Security is broken and the tax code is broken and Washington is broken, and all need to be fixed. College football needs to be rocketed into outer space, shattered into a billion unrecognizable pieces.

In 2011, here is what we’re finding out:

Reggie Bush did some bad stuff, stripping him of his Heisman Trophy and USC of its 2004 national title.

Jim Tressel and his players did some bad stuff, forcing him to resign at Ohio State.

Cam Newton’s father did some bad stuff, and someone somewhere likely will pay a price.

In addition, Alabama, Auburn, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee — among others — all have done some bad stuff.

Leaders and legends, my butt.

(If you took all the schools being punished or investigated by the NCAA, you could form a new super-league that would land the biggest TV contract in history. Speaking of which, what was originally the Pacific Coast Conference morphed into the Pac-8, then the Pac-10, now the Pac-12, soon-to-be the Pac-16 en route, I believe, to eventually becoming Pac-NATO, with member schools in 28 nations.)

Things got so bad, NCAA President Mark Emmert last month got together 50 or so NCAA leaders in Indianapolis for a summit meeting, aka “Mardi Gras for Escort Services.”

Heck, the University of Miami alone reminds me of a drug-and-arms dealer running a storefront operation on the middle of Main Street from 9 to 5 while local law enforcement cruises the block looking for parking-meter violators.

(This year’s “Captain Renault I’m-Shocked-Shocked-to-Find-Out-that-Gambling-is-Going-on-in-Here Award” goes to Miami President Donna Shalala, who crawled out from under a pylon of cash to state, “The allegations alone raise serious concerns . . . we will do everything possible to find out the truth, learn from any mistakes and take measures to prevent any such behavior from happening again.”)

What’s the solution here? The same one that has been staring us in the face forever: We stop this stargazing, myth-making ruse. We admit that they are not student-athletes; they are athletes who pretend to be students for the sake of appearance, which allows these institutions of higher earning to continue to roll in TV dough.

So we either make them real student-athletes — ain’t gonna happen — or we just hire and pay athletes to wear school colors. I mean, if a university were to open, say, a comedy club on campus, it would hire standup comics to come in and perform while charging customers and making money. Colleges wouldn’t recruit “student-comedians” and give them scholarships to do a nightly 60-minute routine while paying them nothing.

(“Can you believe Texas A&M just signed Jeff Foxworthy? What a TV deal they’re going to get!”)

But schools have no intention to ever pay their athletes a fair wage, so the usual under-the-table payments and rampant cheating will continue. What will happen is this: They will slap a wrist here and there, then all put a hand out in some backroom to divvy up the loot.

The money is staggering. How else does Alabama pay Nick Saban $7 million a year, Texas pay Mack Brown $5 million or Oklahoma pay Bob Stoops $4.3 million? Heck, my forever-misguided alma mater, Maryland, is paying Ralph Friedgen $2 million this year not to coach.

Why would anyone upset this apple cart? Besides, most college football fans don’t care about the impropriety as long as Tennessee-Florida is on TV on Saturday.

(By the way, I like Stanford this week as a touchdown favorite against Arizona; as student-athletes go, Andrew Luck is unstoppable.)

Ask The Slouch!

Q. I paid $29 for four beers at the ballpark; my buddy noted that I don't spend that for a 30-pack at home. Is stadium money similar to casino money? – John Swope, Irwin, Pa.

A. You have peeled away another layer of that part of the U.S. economy that flourishes.

Q. Glad to see you back as we're adrift and rudderless without your wisdom. Just one question – how do you know when you're on vacation? – Glen Popple, Waterford, Wis.

A. I sit on the other end of the couch.

Q. It is well-known you have your finger on the pulse of

Las Vegas. Who should I see about a refund on my 2004 BCS championship game bet? – Jim Ondrey, Chardon

A. Send me your losing ticket and I'll handle it.

Q. Now that Peyton Manning's consecutive-games streak is over, is your consecutive-days married streak the next to go? –Barry Josowitz, Pittsburgh

A. Pay the man, Shirley.

You, too, can enter the $1.25 Ask The Slouch Cash Giveaway. Just email asktheslouch@aol.com and, if your question is used, you win $1.25 in cash!

Norman Chad is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.

The Browns lost to Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon. Is it time for fans to brace themselves for more of the same in 2011? Can this team bounce back Sunday in Indianapolis? Join us for a live Browns chat today at noon with The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi.

View full sizeChat live with Tony Grossi every Monday at noon.

Join us for a live Browns chat today at noon with The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi.

The Browns lost to Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon. Is it time for fans to brace themselves for more of the same in 2011? Can this team bounce back Sunday in Indianapolis?

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Tony's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff talked with former Browns cornerbacks Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon about the current team, their playing days in the '80s and '90s and the origin of the Dawg Pound. Minnifield played for the Browns from 1984-92 and was four-time Pro Bowl selection. His son, Chase, plays cornerback at the University of Virginia and is...

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff talked with former Browns cornerbacks Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon about the current team, their playing days in the '80s and '90s and the origin of the Dawg Pound.

Minnifield played for the Browns from 1984-92 and was four-time Pro Bowl selection. His son, Chase, plays cornerback at the University of Virginia and is expected to be a top draft selection next year.

Dixon played for the Browns from 1984-89 and made the Pro Bowl 3 times. He is a familiar voice on local sports talk radio and television. He is also head coach of the Cleveland Crush lingerie football team.

Are you frustrated by Cleveland's loss Sunday to Cincinnati? Do you think people are overreacting? Either way, jump in the chat room below and talk Browns football with other fans.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerIt was another frustrating opening day for Browns players and fans.

Are you frustrated by Cleveland's loss Sunday to Cincinnati? Do you think people are overreacting? Either way, jump in the chat room below and talk Browns football with other fans.

Then at noon, you can fire away with your questions for Tony Grossi as he'll join us for an audio chat and you can stick around after Tony's chat until 1 p.m. for cleveland.com's new fan show where we'll feature your chat room comments and questions.

The coaches? The defense? Or someone else?

The Browns' Peyton Hillis tries to grind out extra yardage during Sunday's loss to the Bengals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns lost their season opener to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, 27-17.

After overcoming a 13-0 deficit, the Browns were protecting a 17-13 lead in the fourth quarter when Bengals QB Bruce Gradkowski, who came in for injured rookie Andy Dalton, outfoxed them. Facing a third-and-11, Gradkowski and the Bengals lined up quickly and snapped the ball before the Browns, some of whom had their back to the Bengals, could react. Gradkowski then lobbed the ball to a wide-open A.J. Green.

That was the key play that sent the Browns to a 1-12 record in season openers since 1999.

Colt McCoy threw two TD passes for the Browns, but Cleveland's second-year QB went just 19-of-40 and never got into a rhythm. His first pass was batted back to him for one of his completions, he tried to dump a pass off to center Alex Mack and McCoy's final throw was intercepted.

As you look at the loss, where do you place most of the blame? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll. You can vote more than once.

Plain Dealer Browns reporter says the lineup lacked continuity against Bengals, and it showed. Watch video

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

The Browns lost their 2011 season at home Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals. A lot went wrong. Where do you place the most blame? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns writer Mary Kay Cabot, who says the team lacked continuity up and down the lineup, and it showed.

Mary Kay talked about whether fans have a right to be upset today; whether things will get better; what are the things at the top of the list that the Browns need to be fixed; and whether the Browns can win next week's game agains the 0-1 Indianapolis Colts.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff weighing in after his postgame video breakdown of Sunday's contest.

Does Pat Shurmur have too much on his plate? How big does the game in Indianapolis in Week 2 become? Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerColt McCoy and Pat Shurmur had a rough start to the 2011 season.

Does Pat Shurmur have too much on his plate? How big does the game in Indianapolis in Week 2 become?

Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Who's to blame for all of the mental mistakes?

• Colt McCoy was under pressure all day. Is that an issue with the new-look O-line, the receivers or McCoy?

• What will the Browns do to address their punting situation?

• Can this team get their running game going?

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