The bye week will help the Browns recover from injuries and regroup from a horrible loss.

Plain DealerCleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur greets Jayme Mitchell.

Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com writes about Browns bye week and their grades from last week's game against the Titans.

The best thing about the bye is that several players will get a chance to heal from injuries. And it's a plus to sit back and regroup after a blowout loss.

The bye week will also give the Browns a chance to improve on their grades.

Here’s Ulrich's review of the team’s downfall in Week 4:

OFFENSE: D

Running backs: D. Peyton Hillis had 10 carries for 46 yards (4.6 average) and Montario Hardesty had seven carries for 22 yards (3.1 average). They had five catches apiece, but Hardesty also dropped four passes.

DEFENSE: D

Line: D. This unit helped the team compile 11 sacks in the first three games, but it didn’t record a single sack against the Titans. It also bears responsibility in allowing Johnson to rush 23 times for 101 yards (4.4 average). Right end Jayme Mitchell had two tackles for loss.

More Browns

Coach Pat Shurmur denies Hillis' contract issue impacted role against Titans.

Terry Pluto writes on Cleveland.com about Pat Shurmur and Peyton Hillis.

ESPN has this blog about Joe Haden missing time due to injury.

Peyton Hillis issue need to be addressed, put to rest before Browns can move on, contends PD reporter. Watch video

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

The Browns' loss Sunday to the Tennessee Titans has the team trying to regroup as it heads into a bye week. The next game is Oct. 16 at the Oakland Raiders , and Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Monday he wants to get running back Peyton Hillis more involved in the offense. So, how many carries do you think Hillis will get against the Raiders? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who says the Hillis issue is one that must be addressed and put in the past for the Browns to succeed the rest of the way.

Dman also has thoughts on the injuries to center Alex Mack and cornerback Joe Haden; and talks about how the Browns offense can make more big plays in the passing game

SBTV will return Wednesday with Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises talking Ohio State football..

Don't miss Dman on this week's edition of the Browns Insider webcast, which streams each Thursday at 10 a.m. at cleveland.com/browns.

What's going on with Peyton Hillis? Just how important is this offseason for the Indians? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerPat Shurmur is being questioned by some Browns fans for his use of Peyton Hillis on Sunday.

What's going on with Peyton Hillis? Just how important is this offseason for the Indians?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Is Colt McCoy missing open receivers or are the receivers just not getting open downfield?

• Did we underrate Tennessee and overrate the Browns going in to Sunday's game?

• Is the bye week coming at just the right moment for this team?

• Can the Indians afford to have $29 million invested in Grady Sizemore, Fausto Carmona and Travis Hafner?

• Assuming a first four of Masterson, Jimenez, Tomlin and Carmona, who is your frontrunner right now for the fifth spot in the rotation?

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

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers is out due to injury.

APJames Harrison

While the Cleveland Browns deal with their issues, things are not rosy with other teams in the AFC North, including the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Linebacker James Harrison has an orbital fracture around his right eye, will undergo surgery on Wednesday and will be out "a number of weeks," according to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

He's not the only one.

Tomlin said at his weekly newsconference today that Aaron Smith has a mid-foot sprain and is extremely questionable for Sunday's game against Tennessee at Heinz Field. Jason Worilds, who backs up Harrison, has a quad strain that makes him doubtful for the game as well.

The Steelers are also dealing with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's sprained left foot. He is expected to play on Sunday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mentor took over the top spot in the Division I, Region 1 football computer rankings, which were released this afternoon by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The computer poll is used to determine which teams qualify for the playoffs. In the initial poll two weeks ago, Cleveland Heights was first. Last week St. Edward garnered...

Mentor and quarterback Mitch Trubisky, pictured during a Sept. 23 win over Parma, is the new No. 1 in the computer poll used to determine the playoff field. - (John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mentor took over the top spot in the Division I, Region 1 football computer rankings, which were released this afternoon by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

The computer poll is used to determine which teams qualify for the playoffs. In the initial poll two weeks ago, Cleveland Heights was first. Last week St. Edward garnered the top position.

This week Mentor passed the Eagles following last week's win over Brunswick. St. Edward is fourth and Cleveland Heights is fifth.

The weekly computer ratings are released every Tuesday leading up to the final report, which will be unveiled Sunday, Oct. 31.

Ratings are listed by division and region with record and average points. The top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs, which begin Nov. 4. Listed below are the top 12 teams in each region. See the complete report at OHSAA.org.

OHSAA football computer ratings

Division I

Region 1 - 1. Mentor (6-0) 16.2167, 2. Cle. St. Ignatius (5-1) 13.149, 3.Solon (6-0) 13.1167, 4. Lakewood St. Edward (6-0) 12.0625, 5. ClevelandHeights (6-0) 12.0455, 6. Cle. John F. Kennedy (6-0) 11.0732, 7. WilloughbySouth (4-2) 10.0167, 8. Eastlake North (5-1) 9.4667, 9. Parma (3-3) 8.35,10. Brecksville-Broadview Hts. (3-3) 7.4167, 11. Boardman (4-2) 7.1338, 12.Lakewood (4-2) 6.85

Region 2 - 1. Canton GlenOak (6-0) 16.5667, 2. Findlay (6-0) 13.3667, 3.Massillon Jackson (4-2) 12.8667, 4. Wadsworth (6-0) 12.7167, 5. Tol. Whitmer(6-0) 11.9298, 6. Sylvania Southview (5-1) 11.65, 7. Whitehouse AnthonyWayne (5-1) 11.4, 8. Brunswick (5-1) 11.1833, 9. Canton McKinley (4-2)10.9369, 10. Massillon Washington (5-1) 10.4773, 11. Hudson (5-1) 10.3833,12. North Ridgeville (5-1) 10.2667

Region 3 - 1. Troy (5-1) 14.5167, 2. Westerville Central (5-1) 12.6833, 3.Upper Arlington (5-1) 12.4667, 4. Pickerington North (5-1) 11.4849, 5.Pickerington Central (3-2) 11.2111, 6. Dublin Coffman (6-0) 11.05, 7.Hilliard Davidson (5-0) 9.3444, tie-8. Westerville South (3-3) 8.85, tie-8.Marysville (4-2) 8.85, 10. Gahanna Lincoln (4-2) 7.9748, 11. Lewis CenterOlentangy Orange (4-2) 7.7333, 12. Lewis Center Olentangy (3-3) 7.65

Region 4 - 1. Cin. Archbishop Moeller (6-0) 17.8687, 2. Cin. Sycamore (6-0)14.55, 3. Cin. Colerain (5-1) 14.4116, 4. Cin. Walnut Hills (6-0) 12.8333,5. Cin. LaSalle (5-1) 12.5667, 6. Middletown (5-1) 12.3667, 7. Cin.Princeton (5-1) 11.6667, 8. Cin. St. Xavier (4-2) 10.6837, 9. Mason (4-2)9.1, 10. Cin. Glen Este (4-2) 8.4, 11. Beavercreek (4-2) 8.0333, 12.Loveland (3-3) 8.0

Division II

Region 5 - 1. Canfield (5-1) 12.3167, 2. Aurora (5-1) 11.55, 3. CuyahogaFalls Walsh Jesuit (4-1) 11.5472, 4. Kent Roosevelt (5-1) 11.25, 5. Madison(5-1) 11.2167, 6. Chesterland West Geauga (5-1) 11.0333, 7. Copley (5-1)10.8, 8. Warren Howland (6-0) 10.5025, 9. New Philadelphia (4-2) 9.5606, 10.Louisville (3-3) 8.2551, 11. Akron Kenmore (4-2) 6.75, 12. Tallmadge (4-2)6.45

Region 6 - 1. Avon (6-0) 15.6833, 2. Tol. Central Cath. (4-2) 11.25, 3.Tiffin Columbian (5-1) 10.5667, 4. Olmsted Falls (4-2) 10.2667, 5. MapleHts. (5-0) 9.7697, 6. Fremont Ross (4-2) 9.35, 7. Medina Highland (4-2)9.2167, 8. Perrysburg (4-2) 9.1833, 9. Grafton Midview (5-1) 8.4, 10.Bedford (4-2) 8.35, 11. Sandusky (5-1) 8.15, 12. Mansfield Madison Comp.(5-1) 7.7333

Region 7 - 1. Cols. Marion-Franklin (6-0) 14.75, 2. Sunbury Big Walnut (5-1)13.3833, 3. New Albany (4-2) 10.7333, 4. New Carlisle Tecumseh (5-1)10.7167, 5. Dresden Tri-Valley (5-1) 10.0833, 6. Zanesville (5-1) 9.05, 7.Cols. Mifflin (6-0) 8.65, 8. Cols. Beechcroft (5-1) 7.4975, 9. Bellbrook(3-3) 7.0167, 10. Wooster (3-3) 6.3833, 11. Vincent Warren (3-3) 5.9343, 12.Cols. West (5-1) 5.9167

Region 8 - 1. Kings Mills Kings (6-0) 14.7333, 2. Trotwood-Madison (5-1)13.4167, 3. Wapakoneta (6-0) 13.3667, 4. Tipp City Tippecanoe (6-0) 12.05,5. Vandalia Butler (5-1) 12.0167, 6. Franklin (5-1) 9.9167, 7. Piqua (4-2)9.4333, 8. Hamilton Ross (5-1) 8.9667, 9. Cin. Northwest (4-2) 8.15, 10.Cin. Turpin (4-2) 7.7333, 11. Cin. Mount Healthy (4-2) 6.8833, 12.Wilmington (5-1) 6.8333

Division III

Region 9 - 1. Chagrin Falls (6-0) 14.4667, 2. Mentor Lake Cath. (5-1)12.381, 3. Cle. Benedictine (5-1) 12.0833, 4. Ravenna (5-1) 11.45, 5. AkronSt. Vincent-St Mary (6-0) 11.1174, 6. Hunting Valley University School (5-1)10.4667, 7. Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (5-1) 8.9333, 8. CuyahogaFalls Cuyahoga Valley Christian Acad. (4-2) 7.85, 9. Oberlin Firelands (6-0)7.8167, 10. Ravenna Southeast (6-0) 7.4333, 11. Niles McKinley (4-2) 7.1833,12. Pepper Pike Orange (3-3) 6.9833

Region 10 - 1. Cols. Eastmoor Acad. (5-1) 11.452, 2. Clyde (4-2) 9.2833, 3.Elida (4-2) 8.7667, 4. Bellevue (4-2) 8.35, 5. Cols. St. Francis DeSales(3-3) 8.1187, 6. Bryan (6-0) 8.0667, 7. Caledonia River Valley (4-2) 7.0833,8. Port Clinton (4-2) 6.9333, 9. Cols. Independence (3-3) 5.8, 10. Bexley(4-2) 5.75, 11. Defiance (3-3) 5.6333, 12. Urbana (4-2) 5.2167

Region 11 - 1. Steubenville (6-0) 11.0521, 2. Minerva (6-0) 10.9333, 3.Poland Seminary (4-2) 10.4, 4. Dover (5-1) 10.3667, 5. Alliance Marlington(5-1) 10.2833, 6. Thornville Sheridan (6-0) 9.45, 7. Granville (5-1) 9.4333,8. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (3-2) 9.2674, 9. Cambridge (5-1) 8.6, 10.Canal Fulton Northwest (4-2) 7.9167, 11. Millersburg West Holmes (4-2)7.7167, 12. New Lexington (5-1) 7.3157

Region 12 - 1. Plain City Jonathan Alder (6-0) 13.2167, 2. SpringfieldShawnee (6-0) 12.2667, 3. Circleville Logan Elm (6-0) 11.95, 4. The PlainsAthens (6-0) 11.5505, 5. Day. Thurgood Marshall (5-1) 11.4722, 6. KetteringArchbishop Alter (6-0) 10.8333, 7. Cin. Indian Hill (5-1) 10.2475, 8.Jackson (6-0) 9.7167, 9. Cin. Taft (4-1) 8.6876, 10. New Richmond (4-2)8.1167, 11. Eaton (5-1) 7.4667, 12. Springfield Kenton Ridge (5-1) 7.3167

Division IV

Region 13 - 1. Girard (6-0) 12.75, 2. Creston Norwayne (6-0) 11.4333, 3.Leavittsburg LaBrae (5-1) 11.2667, 4. Sullivan Black River (6-0) 9.65, 5.Orrville (4-2) 8.4833, 6. Canton Central Cath. (5-1) 8.4091, 7. Brookfield(5-1) 8.0278, 8. Cle. Central Cath. (4-2) 7.3611, 9. Akron Manchester (3-3)6.75, 10. Beachwood (5-1) 6.2833, 11. Garrettsville Garfield (4-2) 6.0, 12.Streetsboro (3-3) 5.5167

Region 14 - 1. Kenton (6-0) 13.0167, 2. Genoa Area (6-0) 12.7667, 3.Pemberville Eastwood (6-0) 12.15, 4. Cols. Bishop Hartley (5-0) 10.7, 5.Richwood North Union (5-1) 8.2833, 6. Oak Harbor (4-2) 7.9167, 7. Huron(5-1) 7.8667, 8. Ottawa-Glandorf (4-2) 6.9833, 9. Bellville Clear Fork (3-3)6.1, 10. Ontario (5-1) 5.5667, 11. Lima Bath (4-2) 5.4333, 12. Galion (5-1)5.3

Region 15 - 1. St. Clairsville (6-0) 11.7167, 2. Johnstown-Monroe (6-0)11.6667, 3. Amanda-Clearcreek (5-1) 11.4571, 4. Coshocton (5-1) 10.9167, 5.Ironton (4-2) 9.1667, 6. Martins Ferry (5-1) 9.1, 7. Chesapeake (4-2)6.9924, 8. Pomeroy Meigs (4-2) 6.2677, 9. Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (3-3)6.2167, 10. Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley (3-3) 5.15, 11. Wellston (3-3)5.1167, 12. Minford (4-2) 4.8742

Region 16 - 1. Waynesville (6-0) 13.2, 2. Cin. Madeira (6-0) 10.1167, 3.West Milton Milton-Union (5-1) 9.2167, 4. Middletown Bishop Fenwick (6-0)8.1, 5. Brookville (5-1) 7.6333, 6. Day. Chaminade-Julienne (4-2) 7.3586, 7.Williamsport Westfall (4-2) 6.9, 8. Cin. Hills Christian Acad. (4-2) 6.6237,9. Clarksville Clinton-Massie (4-2) 6.4, 10. Cin. North College Hill (4-2)5.7833, 11. Cin. Finneytown (3-3) 5.4167, 12. Hamilton Badin (3-3) 5.0404

Division V

Region 17 - 1. Kirtland (6-0) 11.8167, 2. Woodsfield Monroe Central (5-1)8.4874, 3. Columbiana (6-0) 8.45, 4. Salineville Southern (6-0) 8.3667, 5.Barnesville (6-0) 7.5328, 6. Columbiana Crestview (5-1) 7.4833, 7. NewMiddletown Springfield (5-1) 7.1333, 8. Rootstown (5-1) 6.5, 9. CuyahogaHts. (5-1) 5.2667, 10. Campbell Memorial (4-2) 5.1, 11. Atwater Waterloo(4-2) 4.654, 12. Sugarcreek Garaway (4-2) 4.5167

Region 18 - 1. Lima Central Cath. (6-0) 11.1167, 2. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon(6-0) 10.5, 3. Findlay Liberty-Benton (6-0) 9.8, 4. Liberty Center (6-0)9.4167, 5. Northwood (5-1) 7.8, 6. Carey (5-1) 7.2374, 7. Archbold (5-1)6.3333, 8. Bluffton (4-2) 6.2333, 9. Hicksville (4-2) 6.2, 10. Attica SenecaEast (5-1) 5.8965, 11. Columbus Grove (4-2) 5.6, 12. Spencerville (4-2)5.2667

Region 19 - 1. Bucyrus Wynford (6-0) 12.35, 2. West Lafayette Ridgewood(6-0) 10.95, 3. Nelsonville-York (6-0) 10.1591, 4. Portsmouth West (6-0)9.9667, 5. Grandview Hts. (6-0) 9.6, 6. Lucasville Valley (6-0) 8.0884, 7.Ashland Crestview (6-0) 7.2167, 8. Centerburg (4-2) 7.1333, 9. JeromesvilleHillsdale (6-0) 7.0667, 10. Wheelersburg (5-1) 6.9333, 11. Gahanna Cols.Acad. (4-2) 6.702, 12. Albany Alexander (6-0) 6.6667

Region 20 - 1. Frankfort Adena (6-0) 10.6, 2. Marion Pleasant (6-0) 9.9667,3. West Liberty-Salem (6-0) 9.5333, 4. Coldwater (5-1) 8.75, 5. Covington(6-0) 8.5167, 6. Miamisburg Day. Christian (5-1) 6.3667, 7. West Jefferson(5-1) 6.2833, 8. Casstown Miami East (4-2) 6.2667, 9. Versailles (4-2) 6.25,10. North Lewisburg Triad (4-2) 5.6167, 11. Mechanicsburg (3-3) 4.0333, 12.Rockford Parkway (2-4) 3.8167

Division VI

Region 21 - 1. Berlin Center Western Reserve (6-0) 7.7167, 2. YoungstownChristian (5-1) 7.2667, 3. Shadyside (4-2) 7.2652, 4. Thompson Ledgemont(6-0) 6.8167, 5. Warren John F. Kennedy (4-2) 6.4015, 6. Malvern (5-1)6.2167, 7. Mogadore (4-2) 5.6833, 8. Strasburg-Franklin (4-2) 5.4, 9. Cle.Villa Angela-St. Joseph (3-3) 5.3359, 10. Toronto (4-2) 4.5272, 11. MineralRidge (3-3) 4.1667, 12. Bridgeport (3-2) 4.1663

Region 22 - 1. Tiffin Calvert (5-1) 8.0833, 2. Delphos St. John's (4-2) 7.2,3. Edgerton (5-1) 6.95, 4. Arcadia (5-1) 6.3333, 5. Convoy Crestview (4-2)6.2167, 6. Leipsic (5-1) 5.9, 7. Tol. Ottawa Hills (4-2) 4.9167, 8. Edon(3-3) 4.45, 9. McComb (4-2) 4.1667, 10. Sandusky St. Mary Central Cath.(3-3) 4.05, 11. Arlington (3-3) 4.0167, 12. Norwalk St. Paul (3-3) 3.75

Region 23 - 1. Danville (4-2) 7.05, 2. New Washington Buckeye Central (5-1)6.9, 3. Crown City South Gallia (5-1) 6.5354, 4. Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans(4-2) 6.3776, 5. Willow Wood Symmes Valley (5-1) 6.25, 6. Portsmouth NotreDame (5-1) 5.8283, 7. Beallsville (4-2) 5.4833, 8. Portsmouth Sciotoville(4-2) 5.3667, 9. Glouster Trimble (3-2) 5.3584, 10. Canal Winchester HarvestPrep. (4-2) 5.2333, 11. Newark Cath. (3-3) 5.1667, 12. Plymouth (4-2) 4.8167

Region 24 - 1. Fort Loramie (5-1) 8.0833, 2. Maria Stein Marion Local (5-1)7.0249, 3. Ada (5-1) 6.9, -. Lockland (6-0) 6.9, 5. Minster (4-2) 6.2833, 6.Springfield Cath. Central (4-2) 6.05, 7. Cin. Country Day (4-2) 5.8435, 8.Lewisburg Tri-County North (4-2) 5.5167, 9. Ansonia (4-2) 4.7, 10. Arcanum(3-3) 4.5167, 11. Waynesfield Waynesfield-Goshen (4-2) 4.2167, 12. S.Charleston Southeastern Local (3-3) 4.0333

It's a huge day in Major League Baseball with four postseason games on tap.

It's a huge day in Major League Baseball with four postseason games on tap. Get Dennis Manoloff's keen observations as he watches all four games back-to-back-to-back-to-back, blogging and tweeting @dmansworldpd along the way.

Rangers vs. Rays kicks off today's quadruple-header.

Today's games:

Texas at Tampa Bay, Game 4, 2:07 p.m.

Philadelphia at St. Louis, Game 3, 5:07 p.m.

New York Yankees at Detroit, Game 4, 8:37 p.m.

Milwaukee at Arizona, Game 3, 9:35 p.m.

Some have the Man Cave.

Major League Baseball has the Fan Cave.

This is a combination -- pardon the third-person reference -- known as the DMan Cave, set up specifically for Oct. 4, when four straight playoff games will take place. (Yes, there also was a quadrupleheader last Saturday, but I was tied up all day.) 

For baseball fanatics such as I, it doesn't get much better -- unless, of course, the Indians are involved. Then again, nobody can be in two places at once, let alone four.

The plan is to watch all the games on television and blog/tweet about the experience. Beyond that, it's open to interpretation. I do know this: The vast majority of the blogs/posts will pertain to baseball; only occasionally will I mention whether my eyes are bleeding.

In addition to commenting on the games and the eight teams involved, I want to talk Indians. As backup to the great Paul Hoynes on the Indians beat, I watched every game in-person or on TV, and the Tribe's 80-82 season remains fresh. I will periodically fire off nuggets pertaining to Tribe 2011 and answer questions posed by tweeps.

Predictions as of 1:35 p.m.:

Rays beat Rangers to force Game 5 @ Texas. The pitching matchup (Hellickson, Rays, vs. Harrison, Rangers) tilts to the Rays. I like Hellickson a lot. Tribe fans know all too well how relentless Texas's lineup is, but Tampa Bay did not run down the Red Sox in September just to get bounced in four games of the opening round.

Cardinals beat Phillies to take 2-1 lead. Today is where my upset special, St. Louis, takes command of the series. The Cardinals are loose, coming off having knocked around Cliff Lee, and are playing at home. Albert Pujols is 4-for-23 against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels, but Pujols will be the difference.

Tigers beat Yankees to win series. The Tigers send out Rick Porcello, who certainly is capable of getting lit up; all the Yankees need to do is watch tape of Tribe hitters against him.  But Porcello can relax because the Tigers won Monday, and because he knows he is a different pitcher at home. Most importantly, the Yankees are countering with the erratic Burnett on the road. This will mean the Yankees and their monster payroll go home without a World Series ring for the 10th time in the last 11 years.

Diamondbacks beat Brewers to pull within 2-1. My Brewers will win the series, but not before encountering a speed bump on the road against Arizona pitching coach Charlie Nagy and Co.

Brown, 40, died from diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment caused by high blood sugar and lack of insulin. Link to PD game story in which Brown was injured, accidentally hit in the eye by a referee's thrown penalty flag.

APCleveland Browns offensive tackle Orlando Brown leaves the field after he was ejected for shoving referee Jeff Triplette in a game on Dec. 19, 1999. Triplette had accidentally hit Brown in the eye with a weighted penalty flag, leading to Brown's response. Brown died of diabetes complications this Sept. 23.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Orlando Brown, the former Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle, died from diabetic ketoacidosis, according to a ruling by Maryland's state medical examiner.

The ailment is common among diabetics and is caused by high blood sugar and a lack of insulin.

Brown began his NFL career with the Browns, signing with them as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina State and playing in 30 games -- including 24 starts -- in the 1994-95 seasons. After Browns owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore following the 1995 campaign, Brown played three years with the Ravens.

The Browns returned to the NFL as an expansion franchise for the 1999 season, and signed Brown, an unrestricted free agent, to one of the league's richest contracts for an offensive lineman. He started the first 15 games for Cleveland that season, then didn't play the next three years after he suffered an eye injury when hit by a referee's penalty flag.

Brown resumed his career with Baltimore in 2003, then retired after the 2005 season.

Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun writes about the medical ruling and Brown:

Brown was found dead Sept. 23 at his South Baltimore apartment. He was 40 years old and is survived by three sons between the ages of 9 and 15, according to the Ravens. According to court documents, he also had a younger daughter and was fighting for custody.

Brown, a Washington native whose size and fiery temperament earned him the nickname “Zeus,” played for the Ravens from 1996 to 1998 and from 2003 to 2005. He started 80 games for them over parts of six seasons.

He also sued the NFL -- and eventually agreed to a settlement -- after a much-publicized incident in which he was temporary blinded by a referee's penalty flag while playing for the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland.com's Browns History Database features Plain Dealer game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history.

Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi wrote about the Browns' 24-14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cleveland on Dec. 19, 1999.

It was the game during which Brown suffered his eye injury. The extent of the injury was not yet known that day.

Grossi wrote, referring to Browns quarterback Tim Couch, center Dave Wohlabaugh and offensive tackle Brown:

They lost their franchise quarterback to a foot injury.

They lost their center to a knee injury.

Their $27million offensive tackle went off the deep end and was ejected for shoving the referee to the ground.

They lost their 13th game, matching a franchise record.

And, Grossi wrote:

...Brown was ejected with 12:37 left in the first half. Brown shoved referee Jeff Triplette to the ground after Triplette's weighted penalty flag accidentally was thrown into Brown's right eye.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur considers Colt McCoy more of a rookie than a player with a season under his belt.

Cleveland Plain DealerColt McCoy is viewed by this new coaching staff as a rookie.

BEREA -- Browns coach Pat Shurmur views quarterback Colt McCoy much the same way he did Rams No. 1 pick Sam Bradford in St. Louis last season.

 "(McCoy's) a young player and in my mind almost a rookie,'' said Shurmur. "And so his improvement can be great from practice to practice and game to game.''

 McCoy isn't looking at this season as an extension of 2010 -- when he went 2-6 -- because he had to start all over in a new scheme, with no coaches to teach it to him.

 "I don't think that much about last year because we’re in such a new offense, new system, new coaches, I’m taught different things, I’m taught how to do things differently scheme-wise,'' said McCoy. "I’m just focusing on this year and the four starts I’ve had. I think that’s the way my coaches coach me. I think that’s the way they see me.''

 McCoy was aware that Shurmur thinks of him as a rookie.

 "Right, exactly, and that’s how it is,'' he said. "You look across the receiver room, nobody has been in the West Coast in that room. You look at the tight ends, nobody’s been in the West Coast except Alex Smith in Tampa Bay. In a sense, we're all learning with a rookie quarterback. We’ve got a lot of room for improvement.

 "We’ve got to figure things out, what works best, what receivers run the best routes at what spot, running backs, what’s our best run schemes. I think our bye has come at a good time where we can look at some things. We focused a lot on it this morning. I think the ceiling is tremendously high. I believe that. We’ve just all got to continue to play together, continue to get to know each other and just move on.''
 
In other Browns news:

* Cornerback Joe Haden and receiver Josh Cribbs both sat out practice today, with sprained knees, but Shurmur didn't rule either of them out for Oakland Oct. 16. "I'm hopeful,'' he said.

* Shurmur said the first thing center Alex Smith did after his appendectomy Monday was ask to see his grading sheet from Sunday's game. Joe Thomas said he thinks Mack would've tried to suit up if there were no bye this weekend.

* Practice squad running back Xavier Omon missed practice today because his girlfriend was having a baby.

* Linebacker Titus Brown (ankle) sat out practice today.

* Players will not be available now until Monday. They'll lift and do some individual things on Wednesday and then have off from Thursday through Sunday.

Of his offensive coordinator, Fickell said, "He understands what we need to do."

AP OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman

Sizemore is expected to be ready for spring training, but will it be with the Indians?

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore underwent his fifth operation in the last three years Monday when he had surgery on his right knee.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's shouldn't be a surprise that Grady Sizemore had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday in Vail, Colo. When the Indians announced last week that he was going to see Dr. Richard Steadman for a consultation, fire alarms sounded between the ears of every Indians fan who has watched Sizemore's three-year decline.

The good news: it wasn't microfracture surgery. The bad news: it was Sizemore's fifth surgery in the last three years.

Now for the big question. The Indians hold a $9 million club option on Sizemore for 2012. He's played 104 games in the last two years and is returning from yet another operation. So what will ownership do?

"Not going to speculate on that," said GM Chris Antonetti in a text. "We'll let you know when we have a decision on the option."

If the Indians don't exercise the option, Sizemore is eligible for free agency.

Regarding Monday's surgery, Antonetti said, "We are hopeful that the surgery will alleviate Grady's symptoms in his knee and expedite his recovery."

The waiting game will end soon. The Indians must make a decision on Sizemore's option three days after the final game of the World Series. Joe Urbon, Sizemore's agent, could not be reached for comment on the extension.

Steadman performed microfracture surgery on Sizemore's left knee on June 4, 2010. The one-time Gold Glove center fielder missed the rest of the season and opened this year on the disabled list.

In a statement, the Indians said Sizemore, 29, should miss six to eight weeks and will be ready for spring training. Sizemore was quoted as saying, "We could not be happier with the results of Monday's arthroscopy. Dr. Steadman told me this minor procedure should allow the bone bruise in my right knee to fully heal."

In the last three years, Sizemore has had five operations: one on his left elbow, two on his left groin, one on his right knee and one on his left knee. The one-time iron man has broken down spectacularly.

After playing 33 games in 2010, Sizemore played 71 this year and made three trips to the disabled list. He opened on the disabled list, was activated in April, only to return twice to the DL after bruising his right knee sliding into second base on May 10 against Tampa Bay.

When Sizemore re-injured the knee July 17 in Baltimore while rounding first base, he made his third trip to the disabled list. While sidelined, he underwent surgery for a hernia. Sizemore was activated Sept. 5, but it was clearly still bothered by the knee.

He did not play in the final five games of the season because of pain before visiting Dr. Steadman on Monday.

Sizemore hit .224 (60-for-268) with 21 doubles, 10 homers, 32 RBI and 34 runs this year. The one-time 30-30 man was 0-for-2 in steal attempts.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Five Browns have thrown for at least 3,000 yards in at least one season.

Plain DealerA freebie. Brian Sipe, a Cleveland Browns quarterback who passed for at least 3,000 yards in at least one NFL season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A little bye week fun for Cleveland Browns fans.

Sporcle, a website featuring "mentally stimulating diversions" in a variety of subjects, asks viewers to name the NFL quarterbacks who have passed for 3,000 or more yards in a season.

Participants get clues on each QB, as the number of times the player accomplished the feat; the teams he did it for; and the final season in which he did it are designated.

The test includes a 13-minute timer. That's how long a participant gets to complete the exercise.

The seasons from 1920 through 2010 are covered, although rest assured that the "flying wedge" was long gone and the classic version of the "statue of liberty" had fled most playbooks before quarterbacks were putting up the big-season numbers.

Let alone the jump pass.

The All-America Football Conference, which lasted from 1946-49 and featured the Cleveland Browns as its champion all four years, is not included. Neither is the pre-merger American Football League, so famed slingers such as Joe Namath -- who passed for more than 3,000 yards in three straight campaigns -- and rather obscure QBs such as one-time 3,000-man Frank Tripucka are not eligible. You must be aware whether Namath had such a season from 1970 on, though -- when the merger became complete, after the AFL and NFL had met in four Super Bowls.

Five Browns quarterbacks have combined for 11 different 3,000-yard seasons. That's seven fewer times than one individual posted the number.

"Shurmur is a new head coach. He has a lot on his plate following a lockout that denied a new coaching staff time to implement a new system to a large crop of new players. The Browns took a drubbing on Sunday. There's enough blame to pass around without pointing to any one or two individuals. Shurmur himself took some of it during his press conference following the game. Shurmur is learning and I believe that he will become an excellent head coach. I wish Browns fans would have a little patience with this coaching staff and new crop of players." - YTown Joe

View full sizePat Shurmur still has plenty to learn about being a head coach.

In response to the story Inexperience and impatience mix in Pat Shurmur-Peyton Hillis 'misunderstanding': Terry Pluto, cleveland.com reader YTown Joe wants to see some patience from Browns fans. This reader writes,

"Shurmur is a new head coach. He has a lot on his plate following a lockout that denied a new coaching staff time to implement a new system to a large crop of new players. The Browns took a drubbing on Sunday. There's enough blame to pass around without pointing to any one or two individuals. Shurmur himself took some of it during his press conference following the game. Shurmur is learning and I believe that he will become an excellent head coach. I wish Browns fans would have a little patience with this coaching staff and new crop of players."

Five different Browns QBs have passed for at least 3,000 yards in at least one season.

Plain DealerA freebie. Brian Sipe, a Cleveland Browns quarterback who passed for at least 3,000 yards in at least one NFL season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A little bye week fun for Cleveland Browns fans.

Sporcle, a website featuring "mentally stimulating diversions" in a variety of subjects, asks viewers to name the NFL quarterbacks who have passed for 3,000 or more yards in a season.

Participants get clues on each QB, as the number of times the player accomplished the feat; the teams he did it for; and the final season in which he did it are designated.

The test includes a 13-minute timer. That's how long a participant gets to complete the exercise.

The seasons from 1920 through 2010 are covered, although rest assured that the "flying wedge" was long gone and the classic version of the "statue of liberty" had fled most playbooks before quarterbacks were putting up the big-season numbers.

Let alone the jump pass.

The All-America Football Conference, which lasted from 1946-49 and featured the Cleveland Browns as its champion all four years, is not included. Neither is the pre-merger American Football League, so famed slingers such as Joe Namath -- who passed for more than 3,000 yards in three straight campaigns -- and rather obscure QBs such as one-time 3,000-man Frank Tripucka are not eligible. You must be aware whether Namath had such a season from 1970 on, though -- when the merger became complete, after the AFL and NFL had met in four Super Bowls.

Five Browns quarterbacks have combined for 11 different 3,000-yard seasons. That's seven fewer times than one individual posted the number.

Defending AL champions clinch series, three games to one. Beltre is the seventh player to homer three times in a postseason game.

Associated PressRangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is congratulated as he reaches the Texas dugout after the second of his three homers on Tuesday. The Rangers' 4-3 win at Tampa Bay clinched the American League Division Series, three games to one.

Updated at 6:03 p.m.

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida -- The Texas Rangers are headed back to the AL championship series, thanks to a power surge by Adrian Beltre that few players in major league history have matched.

Beltre hit three straight home runs and the defending AL champions advanced again, beating the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, in Game 4 Tuesday to win their playoff matchup.

Texas took this best-of-five series and ended the Rays' remarkable run to the AL wild-card spot. The Rangers will play for the pennant against the winner of the Detroit Tigers-New York Yankees series.

Beltre became just the seventh player to homer three times in a postseason game, and the first since Adam Kennedy of the Angels in 2002. Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and George Brett also are on the list.

The Texas slugger connected in his first three at-bats. Given a chance to tie the big league record of four homers in a game, Beltre hit a routine flyout in the eighth against Wade Davis.

Neftali Feliz gave up a run in the ninth inning before closing for his third save of the series, preserving the victory for Matt Harrison.

Texas won for the fifth straight time on the road overall -- all at Tropicana Field -- in the opening round. The Rangers eliminated Tampa Bay in five games last year.

Ian Kinsler led off the game for Texas by homering on the second pitch from rookie Jeremy Hellickson.

Then it was Beltre's turn. He came into the game in an 1-for-11 slump in this series before breaking loose.

"The first couple games their pitching was really good," Beltre said. "Today something changed, I felt more comfortable at the plate, and I did something to help my team win."

Beltre hit solo shots off Hellickson in the second and fourth innings, and added another solo drive against Game 1 winner Matt Moore in the seventh. The Rays weren't the only ones who had trouble keeping up with Beltre -- a television cameraman trying to run alongside Beltre to capture the image as the star jogged home did a face-first pratfall.

Beltre signed with Texas in the offseason after playing last year in Boston. He and Kinsler tied for the team lead with 32 homers, and Beltre had been on a late-season tear going into the playoffs.

"That's one of the main reasons I came to this team. We're looking good right now, but we still have a long way to go," he said.

Texas reached the World Series for the first time last year, but lost to San Francisco.

Down 2-0 early, the Rays literally rammed their way back into the game.

Sean Rodriguez drew a one-out walk in the second and took off when Matt Joyce lined a two-out double to the gap in right-center field. Rodriguez barreled around third base and plowed into catcher Mike Napoli, jarring the ball loose. Rodriguez knocked Napoli backward, scrambled to his feet and touched the plate with his hand.

It was the second plate collision in the playoffs this year. St. Louis' Jon Jay ran over Philadelphia's Carlos Ruiz in an unsuccessful attempt to score during Game 2 of the Cardinals' matchup against the Phillies.

Manager Rob Washington and the Rangers trainer left the dugout to check on the woozy Napoli, who remained in the game. Napoli got more attention in-between innings and stayed in the lineup.

The play energized the crowd of 28,299, about 4,000 less than Monday night, which was announced as a sellout. But several innings later, the Rays' season was over.

Rodriguez scored all three runs for the Rays. He drew a one-out walk and scored on Casey Kotchman's single, but Feliz retired the next two batters.

Tampa Bay certainly gave its faithful, and fans everywhere, quite a ride in the final month. Manager Joe Maddon's team overcame a nine-game deficit against Boston in the wild-card standings, then rallied from seven runs to beat the Yankees on the last day of the regular season to reach the playoffs for the third time in four years despite a small payroll.

Harrison, who made a relief appearance in the Rangers loss in the series opener, pitched five innings and won in his first postseason start. The Texas bullpen took over after that.

Texas' five consecutive division series road wins matches the second-longest streak in big league history. The Atlanta Braves won a record eight straight from 1995-99 and the Yankees won five in a row from 2003-05.

Moore stymied the powerful Texas lineup by working seven scoreless inning in the opener at Arlington. The Rays brought him on again in hopes of holding the Rangers to a 3-2 lead, and it looked like the move might work. The 22-year-old lefty retired the first six batters he faced before Beltre led off the seventh with an opposite-field shot into the stands in right.

Hellickson, who yielded as many as two homers in a game just twice in 29 starts this season, allowed three runs and four hits in four innings.

Notes

Before Tuesday, the Rays had sold out every previous postseason game ever played at Tropicana Field -- eight in 2008, three in 2010 and Game 3 on Monday night... With Hellickson taking the ball, it marked only the 10th time since 1900 that a team used two rookie starters in the postseason. The 2007 Colorado Rockies had been the most recent club do it, using Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales.

Fickell refuses to dismiss repeat offenders DeVier Posey and Dan Herron, as the embattled Buckeyes prepare for Nebraska.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerLuke Fickell has demonstrated considerable loyalty to players who have helped bring public scorn on Ohio State, and says Dan Herron and Devier Posey will eventually be welcomed back when their suspensions end. That's not exactly taking the high moral ground, says Bill Livingston.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Had enough?

Luke Fickell hasn't.

The man at the helm of the Good Ship Buckeye as it clipped another iceberg this week, Fickell had his chance Tuesday to take a stand. He did nothing.

The way to get on top of the latest embarrassment was for Fickell simply to say, "As the head coach at Ohio State, I have dismissed DeVier Posey and Dan Herron from the team."

Maybe if Fickell had done that, it would led to more dirt coming out, though. The biggest perpetrator in the memorabilia sale scandal, Terrelle Pryor, now a suspended member of the Oakland Raiders, threatened to set the whole program on fire if he were not allowed into the NFL in the supplemental draft. But a vigorous response to the latest bad news by Fickell would have given fans and many players a moral principle around which to rally.

It would have been the verbal equivalent of the silent treatment Fickell gave Pryor.

On June 7, while Fickell was at a Taylor Swift concert here, he received a text message from Pryor, which he ignored. Presumably, Pryor was attempting to see where he stood. Either that, or he was trying to tell Fickell he was quitting school.

The non-reply indicated Fickell's unwillingness to deal with a prima donna who, despite his big victories, was a bigger problem.

But Fickell said of Posey and Herron, his best returning receiver and running back, respectively, "I haven't seen anything where we wouldn't want a guy around right now. Those guys are a part of who we are right now; they're a part of what we do. We need each and every one of them, in whatever role they have."

Everyone deserves a second chance. But Posey and Herron used theirs up as repeat offenders. While already under suspension for their part in the memorabilia sale scandal in December 2010, they took money for work they did not do from Cleveland booster Bobby DiGeronimo last March. For this, they have been suspended for the Nebraska game this Saturday.

With OSU's name already soiled by the heirloom yard sale, a pair of spin-off scandals with DiGeronimo and charges of an autographs-for-sale scandal involving Pryor, players who fall victim to the entitlement culture and who fail to learn from their mistakes should be met with a zero tolerance policy. Buckeye legend and former linebacker Chris Spielman has called for the dismissal of Posey and Herron.

When Ohio State officials reported the violations of Posey and Herron, they used gobbledygook to defend the indefensible. Minimizing, denying, and making an appalling joke have amounted to Ohio State's coping mechanisms.

The Posey-Herron statement read, "It was not obvious to the student-athletes that they were being overpaid. The student-athletes were not told their hourly wage. According to the controller, no timecards were completed, as a supervisor verbally reported the hours worked to the controller, who wrote the check. The check provided to the student-athletes did not include the number of hours worked nor the hourly wage.

"As a result, while the student-athletes generally understood the number of hours they worked due to their presence at the job site, they did not know their hourly rate and would not have known if they were overpaid."

Well, doesn't everybody conduct business that way?

Gene Smith, director of slapstick, says this is not a systemic problem, but the actions of individuals going rogue. The current toll on Smith's watch as athletic director is 12 players, either still out, in the NFL or reinstated; one deposed and unsanctified head coach; and lots of laughs nationwide at Ohio State's expense.

The perception of a completely lawless program is out of proportion to the sums of money involved in the Reggie Bush scandal at Southern California or to the decadence of the lifestyle elite players allegedly enjoyed at Miami, as portrayed by The U's Nevin Shapiro. He is a big-money Miami booster now resentfully tattling from prison, where he is serving time as the architect of a Ponzi scheme.

Fickell now must try to hold together a team betrayed by some of its senior leaders, who chose selfishness over self-sacrifice. He must heal a defense that could fracture at any time under the weight of an inept offense.

He said one of the ways of dealing with the turmoil is to emphasize former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's three points of wisdom: Don't whine, don't complain and don't make excuses.

Fickell has shown a grasp of all three points in this tumultuous season. Not so wise is his welcoming back players who twice have broken NCAA rules and their bond with their teammates.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Samardo Samuels is trying to make the best of the extra time he has on his hands by working out in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and now Columbus.

View full sizeLynn Ischay, The Plain DealerSamardo Samuels is anxiously awaiting the end of the NBA lockout, eager to see the 2011-12 version of the Cavaliers. "I want the season to start," he said. "I think we're going to do real well as a young team."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Samardo Samuels is trying to make the best of the extra time he has on his hands.

The Cavaliers' 6-9, 260-pound forward from Jamaica, who thought he'd be in training camp by now, spent most of his summer working on his game in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and is currently working out with former Cavs assistant coach Chris Jent, now an assistant at Ohio State.

While Samuels may be working on his shot with Jent, the most important things he said he learned this summer were how to prepare and how to win. He spent time with Baron Davis, Mo Williams and Elton Brand, and then played in the Impact Basketball summer league with former NBA champion Chauncey Billups, whose approach and attitude really impressed him.

"Even in the little games we played in the Impact League, to see the approach he takes and the seriousness he has for the game was fun to be a part of," Samuels said of Billups. "He's one of the best at doing it right now."

Samuels picked up a lot just watching the veterans getting ready to play.

"Those guys know how to win," he said. "I just try to be around them and learn what they know. Everybody can dunk these days, but you remember wins. People remember when people win. It was fun to learn from guys who did it."

Samuels went from an undrafted rookie out of Louisville to the starting lineup last season and earned a reputation as a hard worker and tough defender. In a memorable game against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, he took a charge from Carmelo Anthony in the closing seconds that sealed a victory. Anthony later said he didn't know Samuels' name.

Samuels' season was cut short by a torn ligament in his right wrist that required surgery, but he said he is 100 percent healthy now -- and eager to get back to work.

"This lockout is annoying," he said, laughing, during a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. "It's boring. The days are going by so slow. Everybody I talk to is at work or in school and I'm just kicking back."

Although he has joked on Twitter about being broke in spite of making almost $800,000 last season, Samuels said that really was not the case. In fact, he recently donated sporting goods and school supplies to schools in Jamaica.

"I don't spend any money," he said, adding that returning to college -- instead of playing overseas -- would be a likely option should the lockout continue. "I don't go out. All I do is be in the gym all day."

He also created quite a sensation with tweets saying he was a fan of former Cav LeBron James. Lots of his 6,574 followers didn't appreciate that.

"I don't get it," Samuels said. "It's just basketball. I don't get why people get so mad. He's an NBA player. Why wouldn't I be a fan of his?

"I'm 22. LeBron is much older than me. My mom told me to respect people older than you. I respect his game. I used to be a fan of his at Louisville. It's my Twitter and I put that on there."

Clearly getting off the computer and back on the court would be good for Samuels. He'd like nothing better than to starting training with new teammates Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, a former high-school teammate.

"I'm very excited," Samuels said. "I want the season to start. I think we're going to do real well as a young team. I would hope we figure this stuff out and are able to go back to work. I don't know how Cleveland would be without basketball. I like football, but I want to see basketball."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Commissioner David Stern makes the announcement after a four-hour meeting. There are reports that the two sides are closer on a deal.

Associated PressNBA players association president and Lakers guard Derek Fisher (left) and Celtics forward Paul Pierce (center) listen as players association executive director Billy Hunter (right) speaks at a news conference following Tuesday's labor talks between players and owners in New York.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavaliers' fans in Cincinnati, Canton and Columbus will not see the team play games in their hometowns this month.

The ones in Cleveland might be waiting a while, too.

Unable to reach a labor agreement Tuesday in New York, the NBA canceled the remainder of its preseason schedule. Commissioner David Stern warned the first two weeks of the regular season, set to begin on Nov. 1, will be scrubbed if no deal is reached by Monday.

But sources told CBSSports.com last night the league and players union are closer to a pact than they are publicly disclosing. In regards to the split of basketball-related revenue, the two sides are just $80 million-a-year apart on a 10-year deal. The gap between league and players, according to the report, was at one time $8 billion over 10 years.

While no meetings are scheduled, it seems unlikely the sides will allow the Monday deadline to pass without another round of talks.

Cavaliers forward Samardo Samuels -- interviewed by phone Tuesday before the labor meetings had ended -- remained optimistic. The lockout began on July 1.

"Derek Fisher is doing a good job of keeping us updated," Samuels said in reference to the players association president. "It's a constant battle. Derek Fisher and them seem like they have everything under control.

"I think they should get a good deal done and we should be back playing soon hopefully."

The cancellation of the remainder of the preseason cost the Cavaliers four "home" games. They had planned to play in Cincinnati on Oct. 19 (Washington), in Canton on Oct. 21 (Houston) and in Columbus on Oct. 24 (Philadelphia). One game at The Q will be lost on Oct. 27 versus Indiana.

The Cavs offered no comment on the league's decision. They are supposed to play just two home games in the regular season's first two weeks.

Stern told reporters in New York that the league will take a $200 million hit from the loss of the preseason schedule. Players do not start missing checks until about Nov. 1.

"We were not able to make the progress that we hoped we could make and we were not able to continue the negotiations," Stern said.

"There's an extraordinary hit coming to the owners and the players."

The sides met for four hours. The players said they made a new proposal to accept 53 percent of the basketball-related revenue (BRI). The last collective bargaining agreement entitled them to 57 percent. The union said the concession amounted to more than $1 billion over six years.

Meanwhile, the owners were willing to offer the players 47 percent of the BRI -- a one percent increase from their last bargaining session. The league's proposal "pretty much ended [the meeting]," union executive director Billy Hunter told reporters.

Stern said the sides discussed a 50-50 split -- "a concept, not an offer," that players didn't accept. The league has backed off demands for a hard cap and a rollback on existing contracts, the commissioner said.

Hunter said it would be unwise of owners to think players' solidarity will collapse once they start missing checks.

"Our guys have indicated a willingness to lose games," Hunter said.

Staff writer Mary Schmitt Boyer contributed to this report.

Miocic, 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, makes his UFC debut in Houston on Saturday against veteran Joey Beltran in UFC 136.

View full sizeLonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerStipe Miocic gets in some kick work with trainer Marcus Marinelli prior to this Saturday's UFC contest in Houston against Joey Beltran. He's undefeated in 11 fights --- five as an amateur and six as a pro.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Despite the 4-inch protective pads, Marcus Marinelli's forearms bear the telltale signs of the bazooka shots from Stipe Miocic's fists, feet and elbows.

Such is the life of the manager/trainer/guru for the newest heavyweight in the UFC.

Miocic, 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, makes his UFC debut in Houston on Saturday against veteran Joey Beltran in UFC 136. It's a tough draw, Miocic admitted during his workout over the weekend at the Marinelli-owned StrongStyle Martial Arts and Fitness gym in Independence.

"He's got heavy hands," Miocic acknowledged.

Really heavy hands. En route to his 13-5-0 record, the California-born Beltran has won 11 fights by knockout or TKO. But Miocic is no slouch in that department. He's undefeated in 11 fights -- five as an amateur and six as a pro -- and every one has come via knockout or TKO.

Miocic chose UFC over Bellator when he was offered a four-fight deal by the No. 1 mixed martial organization after a June 4 fight in the Flats. He relies on his speed, he said, and Marinelli agreed. But there's another weapon in his arsenal besides that and his strength: his day job.

The Independence resident is a firefighter-paramedic in Oakwood Village. He recalled an accident he'd worked earlier in the week. The victim wasn't seriously hurt, but he'd managed to wedge his car in such circumstances that he couldn't get out. Frightened, he panicked and fought with those trying to help him.

"You have to stay calm all the time [on the job] and you've got to be calm in the center of the cage," Miocic said. "A paramedic who loses his cool may lose a patient, and a fighter who does the same can easily lose the bout."

Miocic's name should be familiar to Northeast Ohio sports fans. He was a three-sport star at Eastlake North High School -- wrestling, football and baseball. He was a member of Cleveland State's nationally-ranked wrestling team and drew interest from major-league scouts as the Vikings' third baseman.

He's also competed in -- and won -- Golden Gloves tournaments. Hence, his striking ability.

Marinelli, who will be in Miocic's corner for Saturday's fight, said the 29-year-old has a good chance at success in the world of mixed martial arts.

All Miocic is looking for is a chance, and he's thrilled that Dana White's organization has given it to him. Miocic, who still has the exuberance of youth on his side, knows there is a long trip from the gym on Granger Road to the UFC heavyweight title. But it's a trip is willing to work toward.

"I want to work my way up to [champion Cain] Velasquez," he said.

His journey begins Saturday.

The Buckeyes, with the No. 108 offense in the country, say they're learning from the blitzes that doomed them last Saturday.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerJordan Hall and the Ohio State offense was knocked off-balance throughout Saturday's game against Michigan State, but the Buckeyes say they've learned something that will help in upcoming weeks.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What might allow the Ohio State offense to top, let's say, 200 yards against Nebraska on Saturday after the Buckeyes averaged 194 yards in their losses to Miami and Michigan State this season?

Maybe just the fact of living through those losses. And maybe learning something.

"I've never been blitzed that much since I've been playing here," senior center Mike Brewster said Tuesday. "So now we'll be more ready if we face blitzes a lot more often."

Brewster said the line needs to do a better job of staying calm in the face of those blitz looks. He believes the return of left tackle Mike Adams, the only offensive starter back this week, will improve a line that not only was beaten by Michigan State blitzes in Saturday's 10-7 loss, but also gave up a fair share of its nine sacks by just not making blocks.

Adams is back at tackle, while Andrew Norwell, who started while Adams was suspended for five games, will move to left guard. Jack Mewhort will move from left guard to right, filling the gap created by the Monday suspension of Marcus Hall.

At receiver, the Buckeyes lost starter Verlon Reed, who is gone for the season after tearing his ACL on the last-minute onside kick against the Spartans. But coach Luke Fickell hopes starter Corey "Philly" Brown will be back Saturday after missing three weeks with an ankle sprain.

Personnel is just part of the problem. The Buckeyes' plan of attack against Michigan State was also a bit too easy for the Spartans to identify. Brewster, the only offensive player to meet with reporters Tuesday, had some hope after working in practice on things not in the game plan Saturday.

"We were trying some stuff, not new stuff, but stuff we ran in the past," Brewster said. "I'm kind of excited to run some of these plays and see how they work."

The Buckeyes have to try a little more variety. Certainly, the inexperience of freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, who is holding up fine after the loss, according to Brewster, affects what the offense can do. Michigan State deserves credit, as well.

Fickell offered one specific answer when asked why the Buckeyes didn't try screens, draws, bootlegs, misdirection runs or short passes to combat the MSU defensive plan. He said the Spartans, while attacking the pocket, were also sitting back to spy on Miller and defend him as a runner, and that made screens more difficult. But his answer didn't include why the Buckeyes didn't run more of other types of plays.

"Yes, there's nine sacks; you would say, obviously, throw some screens, throw them down a little bit. And we did. We called a couple. And you guys might think that they were just sacks, but that wasn't just the line letting those guys through at times," Fickell said. "The [running] back was eaten up by the guy rushing because that's what he was looking for.

"Yes, we all have ideas and opinions off it. Those things we do try to do. We just have to do a better job of it. ... I think we have to be able to make adjustments. There are open receivers and guys that we have to find.

"You can definitely see that there are some things that, man, might not be real sound right now. But pressure can do that to you. A lot of times that ball gets rolling and you don't make the plays you need to make. That's ultimately what it comes down to.

"Guys are going to bring that kind of pressure. There's still some things you have to be able to attack, and you have to be able to make a couple of plays. And I promise you, if you make a couple of plays, they stop bringing the pressure. And we just didn't do it. Is it completely a game plan thing? Is it a not executing thing? It's all together. We all take the blame."

That includes offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, under fire from some fans after the Buckeyes were saved from a shutout only by a last-minute touchdown.

"He understands what we need to do," Fickell said. "We just have to do a better job of figuring out what our guys can do and what our guys can handle. And we will."

The Buckeyes have taken another blow with the latest NCAA violations, but the players say they're used to it.

View full sizeOSU photo"It comes down to doing what's right or wrong," linebacker Andrew Sweat said of the suspended Buckeyes on Tuesday. "I think in life you're responsible for everything you do."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith continually said the fault lies with individuals, not the university, when discussing the Buckeyes' latest suspensions this week. Is that fair to the players, including the three whose latest NCAA violations involve being overpaid by a booster?

"It comes down to doing what's right or wrong," linebacker Andrew Sweat said Tuesday, while saying the OSU compliance department does a good job educating players. "I think in life you're responsible for everything you do. Even if we weren't football players, you're responsible for every act you do. You can make a 10-second decision that could ruin your name forever. You try to do everything right and preach to other guys to do everything right and that's all you can ask for."

The Buckeyes suspended for Saturday's game are receiver DeVier Posey, running back Dan Herron and right guard Marcus Hall. This is the third round of suspensions the Buckeyes have dealt with this season. Senior linebacker Tony Jackson admitted it was an emotional punch for the team.

"It is, it is, but we've got to take a punch and keep on ticking," Jackson said. "You're going to have blows. Just because it happened more than once doesn't mean you can get any more down than you would if things were going great. It did come at a time when we wouldn't want it to, but we're going to rally the troops and keep going."

Senior center Mike Brewster said the team has been through so much already, it seems like the issues just keep going and going.

"How many times have we said, 'we are going to focus on what we have, not what we don't have, and focus on moving forward?'" coach Luke Fickell said. "So that's what we have to do. We are not going to make excuses for guys. We are not going to allow them to be down and we are not going to allow them to do that. As coaches we are not going to do that as a team, and we believe everybody will follow suit."

Brewster said his heart hurts for fellow seniors Herron and Posey.

"It's hard to see those guys go through that," Brewster said, "but they're handling it like men."

Williams doubtful: After missing four games following arthroscopic knee surgery, senior defensive end Nathan Williams had hoped he might be ready to return against Nebraska this week. Fickell said he doubts Williams will be ready.

Williams' absence continues to be felt by a defense looking to get more consistent pressure on the quarterback. Freshman defensive lineman Michael Bennett, who has been getting regular playing time, practiced Tuesday, Brewster said. Bennett ended Saturday's loss to Michigan State using crutches and with his right ankle in a small splint.