Teams try to get their seasons going in right direction after opening-game disappointments.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns tight end Ben Watson catches a 34-yard touchdown pass from Colt McCoy during Cleveland's 27-17 loss to Cincinnati last Sunday. The Browns hope to produce enough similar plays to defeat the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, both teams coming off of disappointing season openers.

The Browns, despite going 5-11 last season, were picked by most analysts to win at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, regarded by some as the NFL's worst team. Instead, the Browns bumbled and stumbled in Pat Shurmur's coaching debut, losing, 27-17.

The Colts faced a more difficult task, traveling to Houston to play the Texans. That challenge was complicated by the absence of quarterback Peyton Manning. The future Hall of Famer missed the game after having his second neck surgery in the last four months. It was no surprise that the Colts lost. The magnitude of their defeat, by 34-7, was.

Manning, the four-time NFL MVP who is among the all-time leaders in most passing categories, won't play against the Browns, and it's not yet known if he will be able to suit up at all this season. In his place is Kerry Collins, whose 40,638 career passing yards rank 10th on the all-time list. Collins, though, is 39 and was signed out of retirement by the Colts.

The Colts have won at least 10 games and made the playoffs in each of the last nine seasons, but Manning's absence and other issues promise to make this a challenging season for coach Jim Caldwell and his staff.

Meanwhile, the Browns and quarterback Colt McCoy try to improve their efficiency in the West Coast offense, while the new 4-3 defense looks to solve its problems.

Varejao, 28, has spent the past week training in Tampa with Cavaliers free agent Anthony Parker.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerThe owners' lockout may keep Anderson Varejao off the court for the Cavaliers this season, but his agent says the forward's ailing ankle is ready for action.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After months of dealing with doctors and physical therapists, it sounds as though the only ones keeping Anderson Varejao off an NBA court are league owners and union officials.

An agent for the Cavaliers center said Varejao's torn ankle tendon has healed, allowing him to participate in drills and pick-up games. He appeared in just 31 Cavaliers' games last season before requiring ankle surgery in February.

"Anderson feels great, he's pain free," agent Aylton Tesch said.

Varejao, 28, has spent the past week training in Tampa with Cavaliers free agent Anthony Parker. This weekend, he plans to return to Brazil and prepare for an NBA season jeopardized by a lockout.

Tesch said overseas teams have made inquiries about Varejao, due to make $7.7 million this season with the Cavaliers. But the club's most tenured player wants to be healthy for the upcoming NBA season, assuming there is one, the agent said.

Varejao spent the summer rehabbing the ankle at the Brazilian Olympic facility in Rio de Janeiro and his hometown of Vitoria.

 Defending Division I state champion St. Edward, a 34-17 winner last week over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, moved up from ninth to eighth in the ESPN national high school football poll, but remained No. 4 in USA Today and No. 9 in MaxPreps.  Cincinnati St. Xavier, by virtue of its victory over Colerain, jumped from 25th to 18th in ESPN,...

 Defending Division I state champion St. Edward, a 34-17 winner last week over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, moved up from ninth to eighth in the ESPN national high school football poll, but remained No. 4 in USA Today and No. 9 in MaxPreps.

 Cincinnati St. Xavier, by virtue of its victory over Colerain, jumped from 25th to 18th in ESPN, went from 17th to 16th in MaxPreps but stayed put at No. 24 in USA Today while Colerain slipped from 39th to 44th in ESPN.

With Peyton Manning probably out for the year after neck surgery, fans of the Indianapolis Colts are learning again how the other half lives in the NFL.

View full sizeTony Tribble, Associated PressThe sight of Peyton Manning in street clothes -- and grizzled veteran Kerry Collins as the Colts' starting quarterback -- is a sobering experience for Indianapolis fans used to dynamic Super Bowl contenders.

BEREA, Ohio -- Life without Peyton Manning began last week with a cold towel to the faces of the Indianapolis Colts and their fans.

Without their franchise quarterback for the first time in 14 NFL seasons and 208 regular-season games, the Colts stumbled out of the gate in a 34-7 loss to the Houston Texans. It was the fifth-worst loss in the Manning era that started in 1998.

The debacle served as fodder for comedian Jay Leno's monologue on Monday night.

"Yesterday, Peyton Manning sat out his first game in 14 years and in tribute -- I thought this was nice -- the rest of the Colts sat out the game too. I think that shows the unity."

Another loss to the Browns in the team's home opener Sunday could throw the entire state of Indiana into a full-blown panic. The Colts haven't begun a season 0-2 since Manning's rookie season. They finished 3-13.

And the Browns have been installed as 2 1/2-point favorites by the oddsmakers.

After a record nine consecutive playoff appearances and seven division titles, the Colts had visions of becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium. But it's swiftly becoming a season of nightmares instead of a season of dreams.

First, the city had to sweat out the league's labor dispute, which could have threatened the staging of Super Bowl XLVI Feb. 5 in Lucas Oil Stadium. Then came some nervous time about securing Manning to a long-term deal. He eventually signed a five-year deal for $90 million. The contract contains a $28 million option bonus due in February.

View full sizeKelly Wilkinson, Indianapolis StarColts owner Jim Irsay tries to boost spirits via Twitter: "Peyton's gonna heal n have 3 or 4 years of a final period of greatness, we're gonna host an amazing Sup Bow, we're gonna improve n play better."

Finally, Manning sat out all of preseason before undergoing the third surgery on his neck in the past 19 months. The team replaced Manning with 38-year-old Kerry Collins, who signed a $4 million deal on Aug. 25. Collins lost two fumbles early in his first start, leading to two Houston touchdowns in the first quarter.

It's not hard to quantify what Manning has meant to the Colts. Before he came aboard, Indiana was a basketball-first state. Manning has made football king in Hoosierland, giving Colts owner Jim Irsay the necessary clout to hammer through the construction of the $720 million Lucas Oil Stadium that replaced the RCA Dome as the centerpiece of Indianapolis' bustling convention industry.

The value of the Colts' franchise went through the stadium's state-of-the-art retractable roof. Irsay, whose family has owned the Colts since 1972, is now on the Forbes list of American billionaires. He is also one of the quirkiest NFL owners, an inveterate Tweeter who offers cash prizes and Colts tickets to his 64,000-plus followers for answering trivia. He also breaks team news on his Twitter account, to the chagrin of team officials who have striven to keep injury and roster information well-guarded secrets.

Last year, Irsay Tweeted news of some injured players who would miss the following game. He did it on a Wednesday, giving the team's opponent ample time to make appropriate adjustments. Irsay also broke the news of his team's release of safety Bob Sanders a year ago and of the team's decision to place the franchise tag on Manning before he was re-signed.

On Tuesday, Irsay sought to calm the frazzled nerves of Colts fans after the dreadful opener. He wrote: "Peyton's gonna heal n have 3 or 4 years of a final period of greatness, we're gonna host an amazing Sup Bow, we're gonna improve n play better."

Irsay also can tweak his followers. Prior to the signing of Collins, he playfully wrote that he was in Hattiesburg, Miss., looking for directions to a particular high school, fanning speculation that Brett Favre might be in the Colts' future.

Irsay's philosophy might be summed up in this Tweet from Tuesday: "Tweets aren't 2b understood ... there 2b felt ... logic interferes with the eternal universe of endless possibilities. Don't think n boxes!"

Colts fans are worried that the possibility of a winning season is indeed ending without their No. 18 behind center.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Tony Grossi's Scouting Report: Browns vs. Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, 1 p.m. in Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.

Record: 0-1.

Last game: Lost, 34-7, to Texans in Houston on Sept. 11.

Coach: Jim Caldwell, 26-11, third year.

Series record: Browns lead, 16-14 (including postseason).

Last meeting: Colts won, 10-6, Nov. 30, 2008, in Cleveland.

League rankings: Offense is 28th overall (26th rushing, 24th passing), defense is 20th (29th rushing, 14th passing) and turnover differential is plus-1.

View full sizeAP fileColts defensive linemen Dwight Freeney (93) and Robert Mathis (rear) can torment opposing QBs desperately trying to mount a comeback, but the Colts' defense isn't very stout without a Manning-led offense setting the pace.

Offensive overview: With three new starters on the offensive line and a fourth playing a new position, there figured to be problems in the early going even with Peyton Manning at quarterback. Without him, it's a must that the Colts reassess their philosophy on offense. Kerry Collins still has the arm strength to deliver the ball to the team's myriad weapons, but he is a strip sack waiting to happen. Indeed, Collins lost fumbles inside the Colts' 20 on consecutive snaps in Houston last week. As the game wore on, the Colts showed more two-tight end formations than ever used with Manning, and the feeling is that will be their first course of action henceforth. Collins won't try to impersonate Manning's endless gyrations at the line of scrimmage. The unit now will go with a conventional huddle and try to keep Collins on his feet -- and the ball in his hand.

Defensive overview: This is a unit built to play with a lead. It's all about ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis teeing off on quarterbacks desperate to close a deficit created by Manning. When not in the lead, the unit is prone to giving up tons of yards on the ground. They've ranked 25th, 24th and 24th against the run the last three years. Prior to that stretch, the Colts became the first NFL team in history to win a Super Bowl after ranking 32nd -- or last -- against the run in the regular season. Houston's Ben Tate hit them up for 116 yards last week in his first NFL regular-season game.

Special teams overview: They have two weapons -- Adam Vinatieri, perhaps the NFL's all-time clutch kicker, and a kickoff specialist, Pat McAfee, who doubles as the punter. If McAfee fails to kick the ball out of the end zone or line-drives a punt, the coverage teams are a serious detriment. They gave up a long kickoff return to Danieal Manning and a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown to Jacoby Jones last week. The return game is pedestrian.

Players to watch:

• Receiver Reggie Wayne: The go-to receiver got off to a fast start last week with his 36th 100-yard receiving game and scored his 70th career touchdown.

• Defensive end Dwight Freeney: The franchise's all-time sack leader with 94. The Colts are 56-14 when Freeney records a sack. He also has 41 career forced fumbles.

• Defensive end Robert Mathis: With one less season, he is second on the team sack list with 76, including one last week.

Injury report: QB Peyton Manning (neck) is out. LB Gary Brackett (shoulder) and LB Ernie Sims (knee) had to leave the last game.

Small world: Receiver Anthony Gonzalez is a Cleveland native and played at St. Ignatius and Ohio State. ... Receiver Pierre Garcon played at Mount Union. ... Assistant coach Rod Perry played for the Browns 1983-84. ... Defensive line coach John Teerlinck had the same position with the Browns 1989-90. ... Scout Kevin Kelly was with the Browns scouting department 2001-08 and also coached at Case Western and John Carroll. ... VP and General Manager Chris Polian attended John Carroll. ... Director of player personnel Tom Telesco played at John Carroll.

Your handy scandal primer for Saturday night's IneligiBowl.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerWhen newly reinstated Jordan Hall (7) and the rest of the Buckeyes take on Miami Saturday night in South Florida, the race could be on ... can either team get to halftime without more sanctions or scandal?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The reductionist apocalypse is upon us.

You can't tell the scamps from the scoundrels when Ohio State, missing four suspended players, with three others reinstated only Tuesday afternoon, faces Miami, missing four suspended players, in Saturday night's IneligiBowl. If you need a cheat sheet -- and what could be more appropriate for this game? -- then never let it be said that you cannot count on me.

• Swag/Miami

"They went into every game and they had that swag," said Tyler Moeller, OSU's "star," which is a position term here, not a celebrity with entitlement issues.

Moeller meant swagger. In the wonderful world of slang, swag can be an acronym to mean "stuff we all got" or even "stolen without a gun." When it came to getting stuff, no wonder players take their talents to South Beach.

Ponzi scheme felon and Miami sugar daddy Nevin Shapiro has alleged eight years of rules-trashing, during which he gave illegal benefits to football and basketball players with the knowledge of seven different coaches. YahooSports, which broke the coverup of the OSU scandal, claims it has corroborated many of the charges. Four Miami players, including quarterback Jacory Harris, were reinstated after a one-game suspension this year.

View full sizeNevin Shapiro is a prime example of what happens when donors get too close to a big-time football program.

Shapiro paints the most disgusting picture of life in Miami since either the Three Megos' fog dance with the Heat or Tony Montana in "Scarface." The last glimpse of Al Pacino's character in the movie came just after a gunshot in the back sent him plummeting into the pool of a fountain that was inscribed, "The World is Yours."

Miami players, claims Shapiro, received jewelry, the services of prostitutes, a yacht for sex parties, admission to expensive clubs, use of Shapiro's homes for other revels, and bounties for injuring opposing players. If the world wasn't wholly theirs, they certainly received the most amusing substitutes.

• Swag/Ohio State

The Olentangy River is barely deep enough to float a rowing scull. No yachts here.

Ohio State's claim to infamy comes not from the value of the memorabilia its players illegally sold, but from the lack of value they placed on tokens of success that many Buckeye players considered priceless.

Included were former quarterback Terrelle Pryor's 2008 Big Ten championship ring along with that season's gold pants trinket for beating Michigan and, the show stopper, his 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award. (I know. Who knew he qualified?) In return, the five players got discounted tattoos and cash that ranged to around $3,000. (Pryor is alleged to have gotten between $30,000-$40,000 for separate autograph selling.)

The coverup of this scandal brought down Jim Tressel, Ohio State's most successful coach since Woody Hayes.

The reinstated trio were cornerback Travis Howard, safety Corey Brown and running back Jordan Hall, who were suspended for the first two games. At the Cornerstone of Hope charity function in Independence on Feb. 19, they took $200 each in cash.

• Potential program destroyer/Miami

Clearly, Shapiro, who feels spurned in prison (Du-uh!) by the players he tainted and the school he says he disgraced.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerTerrelle Pryor blew the whistle -- on himself -- when he decided he wanted the NFL more than a senior season with the Buckeyes. That's never a good sign for an embattled football program.

• Potential program destroyer/Ohio State

Clearly, Pryor. He squealed like a rusty hinge when he thought it would help him get into the NFL by the supplemental draft.

• Leadership/Miami

Donna Shalala, a a native Clevelander and West Tech High School graduate, has been Miami's president since 2001. She posed for a photograph with Shapiro and Miami basketball coach Frank Haith receiving a $50,000 check from the rogue booster in 2008. After the scandal broke and the yachts were out of the marina, she told Time magazine the wrongdoing "would not have lasted two minutes under me" and that the school would have "no tolerance for breaking rules."

Yo, Donna. You were in charge.

• Leadership/Ohio State

Where to begin? How about when OSU president E. Gordon Gee's tongue was on training wheels? In his first tour of duty (1990-98) Gee hailed a 13-13 tie with Michigan, John Cooper's first non-losing effort in the rivalry, "One of our greatest victories ever." He returned in 2007, and in 2010 called the schedules of non-BCS schools TCU and Boise State "the Little Sisters of the Poor."

During OSU's fiasco of a news conference about the memorabilia sale coverup on March 8, Gee said of Jim Tressel, "Let me be clear. I just hope he doesn't dismiss me."

Gee will be here all week, folks.

• Recidivism, or, Old Habits are Hard to Break/Miami

The Miami sugar daddy in the 1980s was rapper/booster Luther Campbell, aka "Uncle Luke." When the NCAA decided to downsize Campbell, Shapiro, aka "Little Luke," stepped into the depravity void.

• Recidivism, Ohio State

Until Tuesday, there was at least a chance the NCAA would think the Independence scandal, on the heels of the memorabilia sale mess, was like the plagues of ancient Egypt, following one after the other. Instead, it looks like another trivial infraction, at least compared to the sultan's harem of delights alleged at Miami.

"It’s two completely different situations and both things are wrong," said Moeller. "Rules are rules and no matter if one’s worse than the other, you’re still breaking the rules."

Ohio State has had more players suspended than bungee jumpers.

No school has received the "death penalty" since SMU's whoopee-ti-yi-oh days with the Pony Express. But if the riper parts of the Miami allegations hold up, the football program there should be suspended by the neck until dead.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Losing to Bengals is not the way to gain respect. Links to reports on Mike Adams, Peyton Hillis, Joe Thomas, Seneca Wallace, Vince costello, Tom DeLeone, the Indianapolis Colts and more.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns quarterback Colt McCoy (left) chased out of the pocket by the Bengals' Thomas Howard during Cincinnati's 27-17 win over Cleveland on Sunday.

The young Bengals showed moxie in a comeback win over Cleveland with their backup QB.

If the Browns can't beat the Manning-less Colts next week, it's going to be a long season.

The Browns showed their true colors in Week 1. They are a good, solid, developing young team, but they still have far to go. They were able to surprise some people last year with their running game, but now they need to put together a complete offensive package.

So much for the big step forward. You can't lose at home to the Bengals -- with a backup quarterback -- and expect to be considered a team taking strides.

The Browns-Colts game looks like a good matchup, to look at the NFL.com power rankings.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes a scouting report on the Colts by PD Browns beat writer Tony Grossi; his story that the Browns have signed punter Brad Maynard while placing punter Richmond McGee on injured reserve with a herniated disc; video interviews by Glenn Moore with safety Mike Adams, with quarterback Seneca Wallace and with offensive tackle Joe Thomas; columnist Terry Pluto's podcast, and reporter Dennis Manoloff's interview on Starting Blocks TV.

Post patterns

AFC North ups and downs, by James Walker of ESPN.com.

The Browns must not forget to give the football to tailback Peyton Hillis, writes Bob Evans for the National Football Authority.

The Colts are looking to bounce back, Mike Chappell writes for the Indianapolis Star.

The Browns were hurt by bizarre plays against the Bengals, Chris Pokorny writes for the Dawgs By Nature blog.

Back to NFL team power rankings, this one from the National Football Post. 

Former linebacker Vince Costello and center Tom DeLeone will be added to the Cleveland Browns Legends during haltime of the Browns home game against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 25. From the Canton Repository.

After just one game, it seems like more of the same from the Browns, writes Dave Kolonich for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

The Browns' reaction to the controversial go-ahead touchdown by the Bengals on Sunday was wrong, Scott Petrak writes for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

Get updates on the Indians as they play the Rangers tonight.

View full sizeJustin Masterson allowed 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings in his lone start against Texas this season.

The Indians open a series in Texas tonight.

Justin Masterson seeks win No. 12 of the season. The Ranger send Matt Harrison to the mounc. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

Get updates on Twitter from @hoynsie in the box below.

• MLB scoreboard

Zach Putnam was 6-3 with nine saves and a 3.65 ERA in the pen at Class AAA Columbus; Shin-Soo Choo could be activated on Thursday, but Tomlin isn't that close.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerAfter another successful workout on Tuesday, Shin-Soo Choo could be back in the Indians' lineup on Thursday, says Manny Acta.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Indians promoted right-hander Zach Putnam on Tuesday from Class AAA Columbus to help the bullpen and could be getting Shin-Soo Choo back on Thursday to help the outfield.

As the Indians near elimination in the AL Central, they're looking for ways to ease the workload on workhorse relievers Tony Sipp, Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Vinnie Pestano and closer Chris Perez.

The Indians picked Putnam in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Michigan. He's spent this year at Columbus, going 6-3 with nine saves and a 3.65 ERA. He's allowed 28 earned runs in 69 innings. In 44 games, he walked 23 and struck out 68.

Putnam was in big-league camp with the Indians this spring.

"He's an option for us next year and we want to take a look at him," said manager Manny Acta. "He's got a couple of out pitches."

Putnam throws a fastball, split and slider.

"This is awesome," said Putnam. "I'm still kind of numb."

The Indians are concerned about overusing Pestano, who has made 61 appearances and thrown 56 1/3 innings. He's 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings. The opposition is hitting .195 against him. Pestano, with a history of arm trouble, made 62 appearances last year at Class AA Akron, Columbus and Cleveland. He threw 64 2/3 combined innings.

"Monitoring Vinnie's innings is one of the reasons Putnam is here, but Vinnie still hasn't reached his appearances and innings from last year," said Acta. "You'd like to see him exceed those from last year to get ready for next season."

Acta has noticed little, if any, drop in Pestano's stuff. "His last 15 outings have been very good," said Acta.

Choo (left oblique) and right-hander Josh Tomlin (right elbow) worked out with the team Tuesday, but were not activated. Choo was placed on the disabled list Sept. 1 with the move retroactive to Aug. 28. Tomlin's move to the DL is retroactive to Aug. 25.

Acta said Choo could be activated Thursday, the last game of this three-game series. Choo's return, along with Grady Sizemore, activated on Sept. 7, would give Acta two-thirds of his starting outfield. Michael Brantley (right hand) is done for the season. Acta said when Choo and Sizemore are in the lineup, Kosuke Fukudome would probably play left field.

"We've asked Kosuke to start taking fly balls in left field," said Acta. Fukudome, who has played well for the Tribe in right and center, has never played left in the big leagues.

Tomlin has been playing catch at 120 feet. It's not clear if Tomlin will start or relieve if he's cleared to pitch. He's won 12 games in 26 starts this year.

"He'll throw a couple of bullpen, then a simulated game and then we'll see where he is," said Acta.

Speculation: Jayson Stark of ESPN is reporting that friends of Indians President Mark Shapiro say he would be "intrigued" if the Cubs approached him about filling their vacant general manager's job. Jim Hendry was fired on Aug. 19.

There was no comment from Shapiro.

Finally: Right-hander Jason Rice, claimed on waivers from Oakland, was designated for assignment to make room for Putnam on the 40-man roster. ... Monday was the Indians' last off day. The Indians, Phillies and Rockies are the only teams scheduled to play every day for the rest of the season. The Tribe has 18 games scheduled in the final 16 days.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Colts don't have Peyton Manning and they were blanked until late in their opener, but they still have some playmakers.

Associated PressThe Colts' Dallas Clark is one of the NFL's best pass-catching tight ends.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, both teams trying to bounce back from discouraging defeats in their season openers.

The Browns' 4-3 defense will face a Colts offense that doesn't have Peyton Manning at quarterback for the first time since 1997. The four-time MVP had started all 227 Indianapolis regular season and playoff games the last 13 seasons before missing the Colts' 34-7 loss at Houston against the Texans last Sunday.

Manning won't play against the Browns, either, as he continues to recover from his second neck surgery in the last four months. He is replaced by Kerry Collins, who ranks 10th on the NFL's all-time passing yards list, but was lured out of retirement at age 39 by the Colts last month.

Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi gives a scouting report on the Colts.

Indianapolis trailed Texas, 34-0, at halftime. The Colts offense was on the field for just 22 plays in the first half, as Collins lost two fumbles and the team gained just 61 yards.

Collins finished with 16 completions in 31 attempts for 197 yards, including a fourth-quarter touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked three times for 25 yards. Indianapolis rushed for 64 yards in 16 carries.

The United States Olympic Committee, which is eyeing Spire as a potential training and competition venue.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As has been the case for more than 21/2 years, cement was being poured into giant holes and sparks flew from screeching pipe cutters Tuesday at Spire's massive, $80 million athletic complex outside Geneva in Ashtabula County.

But through the clouds of dust, another gem will be unveiled Wednesday. Its state-of-the-art aquatics center debuts for a planned gathering of about 300 community leaders, as well as the top two officials from the United States Olympic Committee, which is eyeing Spire as a potential training and competition venue.

The aquatics center is part of a 280,000-square-foot training, performance, research and nutrition building, the rest of which is scheduled to open Oct. 28. That building will bring Spire's total square footage to 750,000 under three roofs, not to mention an outdoor football-track stadium and secondary track and field stadium.

The new building's main feature is a 50-meter, 10-lane competition pool that seats up to 2,300. It is the largest natatorium in Ohio.

"I still get chills when I come in there," said Diana Munz, the Lyndhurst native and Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer who had significant input in the facility's design. "It is the kind of pool I swam in at national and international competitions. The kids will be wide-eyed when they go in there."

Spire co-founder Ron Clutter refers to the 1.2-million gallon pool as "the lake."

Older natatoriums look and smell like musty basements. The Spire pool's interior tile lends the water a deep-sea blue color, which matches the second-level seating, and contrasts with the brightly lit, outdoor feel of the facility.

Its builder, Myrtha Pools, claims it will be among the fastest pools in the world because of its three-meter depth and a nearly flat gutter system, which reduces wave trains by draining off up to 6,000 gallons of water. It also features advanced filtration, lighting, timing and humidity controls.

"[The Spire pool] is the most technologically advanced and state-of-the-art pool that we have built to date," Myrtha CEO Kevin McGrath said in a statement. "The technology incorporated should make it one of the fastest pools in the world, if not the fastest."

Twin bulkheads can divide into two 25-meter or 25-yard pools. Twenty-foot decks can accommodate large meets, as well as additional bleachers and wheelchair-bound swimmers.

A 25-yard recreation/warm-up pool with a long wheelchair ramp is completed in an adjoining, but separate room. Still under construction are four therapy pools. One features an underwater treadmill and another has a floor that elevates for different therapeutic needs.

"We can take care of anybody of whatever body shapes and needs," Clutter said. "I guess what I like about the aquatics center is that it has everything in there for everybody, and I don't think we've left anybody out."

The nutrition court, which will be open to the public, also is nearly completed. A large fitness center is under construction, as is the Michael Johnson Performance Training Center, and area planned for physiological research with as-yet unnamed academic partners.

All of which, Clutter hopes, will capture the imagination of the USOC chairman Larry Probst and CEO Scott Blackmun, who are making a rare visit to Northeast Ohio. Clutter said Spire has been in talks with the USOC and several sports' national governing bodies.

"They wanted to see it for themselves," Clutter said. "Our wishes are that we become a training facility supporting the USOC movement."

What's next for Spire?

Clutter said within a month, Spire will break ground on a 300-bed dorm in a complex he said will grow to between 800 and 1,000 beds. The dorms are to accommodate boarding students for Spire Independent, a school scheduled to open next year, as well as the elite athletes Spire hopes to lure for in-residence training.

Clutter said an on-site hotel complex also could break ground in 2012.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

More than 93 percent of the two rosters aren't dealing with NCAA problems, but Ohio State and Miami have made Saturday's game about off-field troubles.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain Dealer"We also know that we did make mistakes and we have to hold ourselves at a high level and correct our mistakes in the future," OSU safety Tyler Moeller said of the national attention given to this week's game between the scandal-ridden Buckeyes and Hurricanes. "At times it does make me angry, but you just have to get over it.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Of the names listed on the two full rosters, walk-ons and all, 208 aren't dealing with any NCAA suspensions this season. That's 93.3 percent of the players who call themselves Ohio State Buckeyes or Miami Hurricanes.

But 15 players are -- eight returning from suspensions this week and seven more who remain out. That's why the first thing anyone will hear about Ohio State's visit to Miami on Saturday night isn't about another rematch of the national title game from nine seasons ago or the quarterback battle or anything having to do with the game on the field.

This is about violations. And they know it.

"It's kind of part of the deal," Ohio State senior safety Tyler Moeller said. "It makes me angry about how people perceive this program just off a few things that have happened. But we also know that we did make mistakes and we have to hold ourselves at a high level and correct our mistakes in the future. At times it does make me angry, but you just have to get over it."

If anyone can understand these teams right now, it's the players who will share the field at Sun Life Stadium. That's even if one side doesn't quite understand what happened at the other.

"I don't know what really happened, but I wish those guys the best," said Miami defensive lineman Marcus Forston, one of five Hurricanes back this week after one-game suspensions. "You don't wish that on nobody."

There hasn't been much good news around either program, not since Ohio State's tattoo violations were unveiled in December, or a Yahoo! Sports investigation detailing alleged benefits given to 72 Hurricanes between 2002 and 2010 came out in mid-August.

Asked what his reaction was when he heard about the Miami story, OSU center Mike Brewster spoke for many around the sport when he said Tuesday, "With everything that's been going on in college football, I guess the biggest thing is nothing really is surprising when you hear about it these days."

Tuesday was a bit strange. The Buckeyes actually got a pick-me-up with the news that running back Jordan Hall, cornerback Travis Howard and safety Corey Brown were reinstated by the NCAA after missing the last two games.

"This is our first real sign of good news," tight end Reid Fragel said. "Hopefully the good news keeps coming as the season goes and things get better and better."

The three Buckeyes had been suspended for taking $200 from a booster at a Northeast Ohio charity event in February. They'll have to repay the money before they are fully reinstated, but they'll be able to line up on Saturday.

First-year Ohio State coach Luke Fickell said he was told a week ago that the players would be allowed to face Toledo last Saturday. Then he found out the day before the game they were still out. It's the kind of thing of which first-year Miami coach Al Golden, another coach who wasn't the boss when these violations occurred, could probably relate.

"I'm sure if I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with him, we could share some serious ideas," Fickell said of Golden. "Obviously, we have to take care of our own programs. Hopefully here in the off-season maybe we can share some ideas about how you go about handling some of those situations."

The current situation is this: Both programs feel like they're taking on the world. They're frustrated, misunderstood and getting a little closer, but not all the way, to full strength on Saturday. Both programs created their own problems. Both have made this game what it is.

"Of course, everybody is going to make it seem like it's the game of the suspended players, or something like that," Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, also coming back from a one-game suspension, said. "But we're going to go out there and we're going to play our type of game. We're going to play football. And just like Ohio State, we're coming out here to give everybody a show."

Once they got off the field, their reality will remain. This is the IneligiBowl, the Suspension Showdown, the Violation Confrontation. But when the game ends, each team's circumstances won't be resolved.

"Finality would be nice, but I know we're never going to get that," Ohio State's Brewster said. "No one is going to let us off the hook that easy. This team has fought through adversity so much, nothing is going to break us."

Miami is a long way from its infractions hearing. Ohio State had its hearing on Aug. 12, and is expecting a ruling in the next month or two.

But as the NCAA said in the final sentence of its eight-paragraph release Tuesday about the OSU player reinstatement: "The enforcement investigation into the Ohio State University is ongoing."

Justin Masterson couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark and Carlos Santana couldn't stop hitting the ball out of it, as the Indians came up short on a hot night in Arlington.

View full sizeTony Gutierrez, Associated PressJustin Masterson wasn't having too much problems with the Rangers in the early innings Tuesday -- with the exception of two solo homers from David Murphy. Then matters got considerably out of hand.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- On a hot Tuesday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Justin Masterson couldn't do something he's done all season -- keep the ball in the yard. Texas hit three homers, including two by David Murphy, off the big right-hander on the way to a 10-4 victory over the Indians.

Josh Hamilton broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run homer in the fifth. After Elvis Andrus walked with one out, Hamilton pulled a ball into the seats in right center for his 29th homer.

Texas protected its 2 1/2 game lead in the AL West by adding four more runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Craig Gentry and a two-run double by Andrus to turn a close game into a one-side runaway. Singles by Murphy and Mike Napoli started the inning and knocked Masterson out of the game.

Masterson allowed six runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked three. It's the first time since June 19 that he failed to register an out in the sixth inning.

It was 102 degrees at first pitch. Masterson, who has pitched a career-high 205 1/3 innings, may have tired from the heat and the workload of the season. Last year, his first full season in the big leagues as a starter, he pitched 180 innings.

Tuesday night, he was done after 94 pitches. After Masterson left, Acta turned to three rookie relievers in Nick Hagadone, Josh Judy and Zach Putnam, who made his big-league debut. The Rangers left marks on all of them.

Hagadone relieved Masterson and walked Mitch Moreland to load the bases. Then he gave up Gentry's two-run single through the middle. Judy relieved and retired Ian Kinsler on a pop to second, but Andrus doubled to the wall in right center on a 3-2 pitch to clear the bases.

Putnam, promoted from Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday, started the seventh. Adrian Beltre welcomed him to the big leagues with a towering 418-foot homer. Murphy followed with a double and scored on Mike Napoli's single before Putnam was able to restore order and get out of the inning.

Carlos Santana made it 10-4 with a two-out homer in the eighth. It was his second of the game and gave him homers from both sides of the plate -- a solo blast in the fourth from the right side against Matt Harrison, then his lefty blast in the eighth against righty Mark Lowe.

Santana, with 23 homers, is the first Indian to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game since Victor Martinez did it on June 1, 2007 against Detroit. Martinez is Santana's hero, which is why he wears Martinez's No. 41. Only seven players in franchise history have homered from both sides of the plate.

After Hamilton's homer, the Indians made it 4-3 in the sixth against Harrison. Santana, after fouling a ball off his foot and going down as if shot, took several minutes to recover. When he did, he doubled over Hamilton's head in left field to end Harrison's night. He came around to score on Grady Sizemore's groundout and a wild pitch by reliever Mike Gonzalez.

Through four innings, Murphy out-homered Santana for a 2-1 Texas lead. Murphy, a left-handed hitter, hit a leadoff homer in the second for a 1-0 lead. Santana countered with a leadoff homer in the fourth that reached the bleachers in left center field to make it 1-1. It was Santana's 22nd homer, but just his fourth hitting right-handed.

Just as the Indians were getting used to being back in the game, Murphy took them out of it. With one out in the fourth, he drove a 1-2 pitch into the right-field seats for a 2-1 lead. It gave him 11 homers for the season and his third multi-homer game.

Jason Kipnis pulled the Indians back into a 2-2 tie in the fifth with an RBI double that bounced against the left-field scoreboard in the fifth. Kosuke Fukudome, who reached on a single, scored from first.

Masterson has done a nice job keeping the ball in the yard this season. He allowed just seven homers in 200 1/3 innings before Tuesday. The three homers he allowed against Rangers were his most in one game. All three were by lefties. Of the 10 homers hit against Masterson this year, lefties have hit eight.

Harrison three runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Here is Wednesday's essay by Joe Kavin of Beachwood.

View full sizeAP fileJoe DiMaggio slammed Bob Feller and the Indians on one bright Sunday afternoon, breaking the heart of many Tribe fans.

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

Since I was in my early teens at the time, I do not remember the exact date that my father took my older brother and I to a Sunday afternoon game between the Indians and the New York Yankees at old Municipal Stadium.

Attending ballgames on Sunday was a ritual in those days. Bob Feller, in his prime, before going to war, pitched that day. Of course, the stadium was a sellout.

It was a classic Feller performance. Bob shut out the Yankees for eight innings, and the Indians were leading, 1-0, to the top of the ninth. Then it happened! The Yankees somehow loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, and who came up to bat? "Joltin Joe" DiMaggio.

DiMaggio cleared the bases with a towering home run and ended my dad's love affair with the Indians. He never attended another Yankees game at the stadium.

Area Ohio State booster accepts responsibility for payments

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerOhio State 's Jordan Hall.

 An area businessman and Ohio State booster accepts responsibility for the payments that three football players received while attending a fundraiser staged by a charity led by his son-in-law, writes Randy Ludlow of The Columbus Dispatch.

Though stopping short of saying he provided the $200 cash payments, Robert “Bobby” DiGeronimo confirmed to The Dispatch that he played a pivotal role in the payments that led to the players’ suspensions for violations of NCAA rules.

Running back Jordan Hall, cornerback Travis Howard and defensive back Corey Brown were suspended for Ohio State’s wins over Akron and Toledo before they were reinstated yesterday by the NCAA for Saturday’s game at the University of Miami.

DiGeronimo is a corporate secretary of Independence Excavating Inc.

DiGeronimo confirmed reports to The Dispatch that former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor gave the cash envelopes to his three teammates. DiGeronimo said the money was intended as reimbursement for travel expenses.

“However Mr. Pryor got the money, I take responsibility. I am responsible for those kids coming up here from Columbus,” he said. “I handled it wrong. I should not have handled it the way I did.”

Around the horse shoe

Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer writes how Miami and Ohio State are getting through the stigma as they prepare for Saturday's game.

Three players return for Ohio State, but that doesn't erase the scandals at Ohio State and Miami, writes Ohio.com's Jason Lloyd.

Miami Herald reporter Susan Miller Degnan writes how the Buckeyes and the Hurricanes are similar in several ways as they prepare for Saturday's game.

Mike Gottfried tells Jon Spencer of The Mansfield News Journal that he understands the quarterback issue at Ohio State.

Is it just a matter of time before quarterback Braxton Miller becomes the starter this season?

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerFreshman Braxton Miller.

Quarterback Joe Bauserman was the toast of the town after his performance against Akron to open Ohio State's college football season.

That all changed last week. Toledo dared Bauserman to beat them. Bauserman overthrew receivers and, as former college football coach Mike Gottfried said in a recent interview, that if he was on defense, Bauserman wouldn't scare him.

Now that coach Luke Fickell says that freshman Braxton Miller will see some action on Saturday against Miami, is it only a matter of time before Miller will become the starter? 

What should we watch for as the Tribe plays out the string? Will this be the offseason that the Dolans open their wallets? Get your Indians questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Indians baseball.

Paul Hoynes answers your Indians questions on Wednesdays at noon.

Get your Indians questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Indians baseball.

What should we watch for as the Tribe plays out the string? Will this be the offseason that the Dolans open their wallets?

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

Ted Ginn Jr. has his day in the San Francisco sun.

APTed Ginn Jr.

 SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Running like mad, Ted Ginn Jr. almost raised the ball in the air before the goal line to start celebrating a touchdown on his 102-yard kickoff return.

He thought twice, then tucked it in safely at his right side. Ginn had looked up at the big screen and saw a chasing defender. No way he was risking something going wrong.

Not after his turbulent week.

Ahead of the season opener, Ginn took a hefty pay cut and lost his starting job in the receiving corps to newcomer Braylon Edwards.

What a tough few days for the fifth-year pro before he returned two kicks for touchdowns in a 59-second span to seal San Francisco's season-opening 33-17 victory over Seattle.

The 49ers got their money's worth and then some from the veteran wideout and special teams star against the defending NFC West champion Seahawks. Ginn gave the 49ers their first game in franchise history with a kickoff return and a punt return for touchdowns.

"I'm a team player. It's not always about money," Ginn said. "You come in, you play the game, and as you play the game, good things should happen for you."

It hasn't always been that way for Ginn, however.

Booed by Dolphins fans from the day he was drafted out of Ohio State, the criticism he received in South Florida was relentless. Even for a guy who scored on kickoff returns of 100 and 101 yards in the same quarter of a game against the New York Jets in November 2009. He became the first player with two kickoff returns of at least 100 yards in the same game.

The 49ers got quite a glimpse — make that two — of Ginn's explosive, game-breaking ability Sunday. Even at age 26, he shows off the speed and first step that made him a national hurdle champion in high school.

"Career day, record-setting day by Ted Ginn," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Phenomenal performance by Teddy."

And to think Harbaugh nearly went with somebody else back deep in the return game. The first-year coach ultimately decided to go with Ginn because of "his experience more than anything else."

"I wanted a guy back there who was going to have a cool head and make good decisions," Harbaugh said.

Ginn will be given another chance to shine on special teams this week. While Ginn has always longed to pull double duty on special teams and offense, Harbaugh seems content to stick with what worked.

The 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick Park after Tony Romo and Co. blew a 14-point lead to lose 27-24 to the Jets on Sunday night.

"You sure hate to take him off the field right now in those roles," Harbaugh said of Ginn. "He means a lot to us on the offensive side of the ball as well. We weren't going to have him returning the kicks. That was close to a day-before-game decision to let him roll on the kickoff return. But glad we did it."

Ginn is giving San Francisco — after one week, at least — what he believed he had in him when he arrived in the Bay Area last year.

The 49ers acquired Ginn in a trade with the Dolphins in April 2010, when then-coach Mike Singletary made upgrading the return game one of his top priorities.

"I'm just going to come into the 49ers and show 'em what I got," Ginn said after the trade.

He insists he gauges his field position based on "feel."

"I've been back there for about five years now, so I can kind of get a good feel on how the kickoff team is coming down," he said.

Selected with the ninth overall pick in 2007, Ginn was considered the fastest draft bust in Dolphins history. He managed only five touchdown catches in three seasons while averaging 13.0 yards per reception.

Ginn seems to have moved on from all that. He made 12 catches last season with a TD in his first year with the 49ers.

On Sunday, he left Candlestick with a trio of souvenir balls — the game ball and two more from his TD runs.

Ginn has been telling his teammates all along he would break free.

"He said, 'Man, all I need is a couple more blocks and I will get in the end zone. And you saw it. Kickoff return," special teams mate Delanie Walker said. "He just did that by himself. It was a left return, he just took it all the way to the right. He's got the speed to get around the corner, and that's what he did. The punt return everyone had a great block, he broke a couple tackles, right up the middle for a touchdown.

"He says it all the time. Right when we get in our huddle when we say the play, 'Hey, one block and I'm going to do the rest and y'all can look at me score.' And that's what we did."

Harbaugh declined to address Ginn's pay cut, only praising his team-first attitude.

"Ted's a stud, no doubt a heck of a football player and a great guy," Harbaugh said. "Nobody would be disputing that. ... A real football player, courageous, talented, hardworking, great teammate."

Still, when Harbaugh was sitting at home Sunday night flipping through the sports channels for highlights, he never came across the Niners — despite Ginn's fine day. He knows respect for this franchise will take time. San Francisco has gone eight years without reaching the playoffs or posting a winning record.

"It just kind of documents what you know, what the perception is of our team around the league and around the country," Harbaugh said. "Some people can say that's not fair, it isn't right, but do something about it. And that's our mindset. That's our approach."

Ginn's fine day was a start

Akron's Delone Carter plays a prime role for the Colts.

APDelone Carter

Delone Carter, Akron native, earned the role of short-yardage back for the Indianapolis Colts.

Carter will face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in Indianapolis. Both teams desperatley need a win after each team fell in their season openers.

Marla Ridenour of Ohio.com writes how Carter’s father, Robert White, is a life-long Browns fan who hasn’t been able to change his allegiance despite the chiding of his wife, April Carter-White.

“About three or four weeks ago my wife said, ‘You’d better hurry up and convert,’?” White said. “But it’s in the DNA, there’s not a whole lot you can do about that. I hope Delone does well individually, but if the Browns win I won’t be upset.”

White, Carter-White and Carter’s grandmother, Naomi Carter, have been attending Carter’s games for the past nine years. But the contingent for Colts vs. Browns game will also include White’s grandson and perhaps his brother-in-law and other relatives from Cincinnati and Columbus.

About the Browns

Medina-Gazette reporter Scott Petrak writes not to panic just yet.

After one game, the Cleveland Browns' stock in the division has dropped, writes James Walker of ESPN.

Cleveland.com's Tony Grossi writes how the Colts are dealing with the absence of Peyton Manning.

No Peyton Manning, but the Browns could still have trouble against the Colts on Sunday, writes CantonRep.com's Steve Doerschuk.

Is Tony Romo the LeBron James of the NFL? Or is LeBron James the Tony Romo of the NFL?

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerLeBron James

The Dallas Cowboys are LeBron James' favorite football team. So it's almost fitting that Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo is being compared to LeBron, and not in a good way.

Romo turned the ball over twice in the Cowboys' loss to the New York Jets last week. But this isn't the first time Romo has choked in the fourth quarter of games, just like James has often done in big games.

Romo, like James, has ridiculous career numbers and once wasn’t bad in the clutch, but has emerged in recent years as a disaster waiting to happen in the fourth quarter.
 

The Tribe will welcome Shin-.Soo Choo on Thursday.

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerJustin Masterson

The Cleveland Indians continue to slip out of the Central Division race, but the Tribe may receive a bit of good news if Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo indeed returns on Thursday.

MLB.com reporter Louie Horvath writes:

"Choo has a chance to play in the last game of this series," Acta said. "He's going to take it easy today to take a break from the work yesterday, go for baseball activities tomorrow, and if he's fine after that, he'll probably be activated after that."

The return of Grady Sizemore and Choo, who is batting .260 with eight home runs in 84 games, could displace Kosuke Fukudome, who has played in right and center field in the 42 games he has played for the Indians.

Around the horn

Plain Dealer reporter Paul Hoynes writes this game story about Tuesday night's loss to Texas.

The Texas Rangers explode against the Cleveland Indians, writes Star-Telegram.com reporter Jeff Wilson.

AP reporter Stephen Hawkins writes how pitcher Justin Masterson is wearing down.