Lake Erie remains winless in young American Hockey League season.

TORONTO, Canada -- The Lake Erie Monsters ended a disappointing weekend Sunday with a 4-0 loss in Toronto. The Monsters (0-5) went 0-for-3 during the weekend, losing to Rochester Friday (3-1) and to Toronto Saturday (5-3).

Rookie goaltender James Reid made his professional debut for the Monsters and had a rough start, allowing three first-period goals. Joey Crabb scored at 4:39, followed by Jeff Finger at 5:25 and Jerry D'Amigo at 19:17.

Lake Erie kept Toronto scoreless on the power play, holding the Marlies to 0-4 on the man advantage. The Monsters were 0-2 on the power play for the game and are now 0-19 so far this season. They have been shut out twice in five games.

Reid finished with 23 saves on 27 shots and Toronto netminder Jussi Rynnas stopped all 21 Monsters shots.

News, notes and leftover tidbits about the Buckeyes and the rest of the Big Ten.

View full sizeNeal C. Lauron, Columbus DispatchCarlos Hyde (34) tweeted his displeasure at spotty action against Illinois on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- News, notes and leftover tidbits about the Buckeyes:

Running back Carlos Hyde wrote on Twitter after the Buckeyes' win Saturday, "Guess I'm not good enough. Take myself elsewhere." Hyde later deleted the tweet and wrote that he wasn't going anywhere.

On Sunday, Hyde posted some Twitter messages from fans who understood his frustration and thought people shouldn't make a big deal out of it.

It shouldn't be a big deal. Hyde has played well when given a chance. He led the Buckeyes with 75 carries for 400 yards and five touchdowns in the first six games, including a 104-yard game against Nebraska. He took a backseat Saturday with the return of Dan Herron, carrying just three times for eight yards. Players are often frustrated when they don't play, but now Twitter allows them to express it to everyone.

Herron carried 23 times Saturday and Jordan Hall ran 12 times. The Buckeyes probably would be served by getting Hyde at least a bit more involved in the game plan.

Herron has scored in 13 consecutive games. The Buckeyes are 19-1 when Herron runs for at least 55 yards and 21-3 when he scores a touchdown. He is second among active Big Ten players in career rushing yards, with 2,308, trailing only Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. He's also second in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players, his 30 trailing only Wisconsin running back Montee Ball. ...

Tight end Jake Stoneburner is tied for second in the Big Ten with six TD catches. Only A.J. Jenkins of Illinois, with seven, has more. Stoneburner had the only catch of the day on Saturday, a 17-yard touchdown. "If we complete one pass, I'll take that catch," Stoneburner said with a smile. "I'm all right with that." ...

Kicker Drew Basil has made eight straight field goals after his 43-yarder Saturday. ... Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock on whether he gave his defenders a kick in the rear or a pat on the back in preparation for Illinois after blowing the lead at Nebraska: "We just talked sensible and told them what we needed to do." ... Defensive linemen Johnathan Hankins (nine) and John Simon (eight) both had career-highs in tackles. ... Cornerback Bradley Roby is tied for first in the Big Ten with three interceptions. ...

Big Ten Bits

It turns out that the Big Ten's game of the year maybe wasn't Nebraska at Wisconsin. It might be Wisconsin's visit to Michigan State on Saturday. The Spartans' defense is second in the nation in yards allowed and Wisconsin's offense is eighth in the nation in yards gained. Still, the Spartans are out of the national title picture because of their loss to Notre Dame. But with Wisconsin away from home, it's likely this will be much more competitive than the Badgers' 31-point win over the Cornhuskers. ...

The Badgers lead the nation by averaging 50 points per game. Nebraska is second in the conference at 37. ... Wisconsin's Ball has at least two rushing touchdowns in 10 straight games, six this year and four last year. ... In its last two games, the Michigan State defense has 16 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. ... Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson has thrown 14 touchdowns against just one interception and is averaging 260 passing yards per game. He also caught a touchdown pass from Ball on Saturday. But he'll become a true Heisman Trophy candidate only with a great performance in a Badgers' win at MSU. ...

Penn State running back Silas Redd is fourth in the conference in rushing after posting 129, 142 and 131 yards in his last three games. ... Indiana ranks 117th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 227 yards per game. ... Iowa snapped a three-game losing streak against Northwestern to move to 1-1 in the Big Ten and has a chance to get some momentum with games against Indiana and Minnesota the next two weeks.

With the McGladrey Classic trophy in hand, Ben Crane headed home to Dallas for the birth of his third child. Webb Simpson, with his second playoff loss of the year, headed to Disney for what could be his first PGA Tour money title.

Ben Crane holds the McGladrey Classic trophy after winning the final round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011. Crane won on the second hole of a playoff. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — With the McGladrey Classic trophy in hand, Ben Crane headed home to Dallas for the birth of his third child.

Webb Simpson, with his second playoff loss of the year, headed to Disney for what could be his first PGA Tour money title.

Both players had reason to take victories, large and small, away from Sea Island.

Crane's win was a surprise in so many ways. For starters, he wasn't even sure he should be at this Fall Series event. His wife, Heather, is due next week, but they decided to have a Caesarean section at noon on Monday. Crane felt relatively certain from doctors' reports that she would not go into labor. That turned out to be the least of his worries.

On the Wednesday before his pro-am time, he thought about pulling out because of a sore left hip. Then, he was five shots behind going into the final round Sunday, and seven shots behind with 11 holes remaining.

"We kind of figured something like an 8 under or 7 under might have an outside chance," said Crane, who closed with a 7-under 63. "But we talk like that, as golfers, all the time. And it's ridiculous! Because it doesn't happen, you know?"

It happened.

He ran off four straight birdies around the turn. Then, starting with a 7-iron that he nearly holed from the 14th fairway, Crane ran off four more birdies. Only when he got to the 16th green did he see a leaderboard that showed him two shots behind, allowing him to dream. Two more birdies and he might have a chance.

He made 20-foot birdie putts on the next two holes.

In the playoff, Crane hit a 6-iron to 6 feet on the 18th only to miss the putt. On the second extra hole, the par-3 17th, he was so aggressive with his 20-foot birdie putt that he left himself 5 feet coming back for par. And with Simpson a little more than 3 feet away, Crane looked as though he might throw all that hard work away.

And then came another surprise.

Crane made his putt, and Simpson shockingly missed his putt of just over 3 feet for a three-putt bogey. It was a wild day, an unpredictable finish, yet Crane managed to capture it all when he walked into the media center and saw the trophy on a table.

"What the heck am I doing here?" he said.

Simpson has come to expect great things the way his season has gone since August — his first PGA Tour win in Greensboro, a playoff win at the Deutsche Bank Championship that gave him a shot at the FedEx Cup.

He certainly didn't expect to miss such a short putt.

"As soon as I hit it, I looked up expecting it to be going in, and saw it catching the right lip," said Simpson, who didn't make a birdie over the last nine holes he played, including the playoffs. He closed with a 66. "It was unfortunate to end that way."

But it didn't take much to brighten his hopes, especially with a $432,000 check as the runner-up.

The main reason Simpson came to Sea Island was a chance at the money title. He trailed Luke Donald by $68,971 after the Tour Championship, and decided to give it his best shot.

He wound up taking a lead of $363,029 to the final tournament of the season this week at Disney. Donald, who is trying to become the first player to win the money titles on the European and PGA Tours, suddenly has a tough task.

Donald would have to finish at least in a two-way tie for second at Disney — and that's assuming Simpson doesn't make a dime. Even if Donald wins Disney, Simpson could still win the money title by finishing second.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

"Finishing second is going to make it a lot harder for Luke," Simpson said. "But I'm sure he's going to play well. He's played well most every week this year. I still wouldn't be surprised if I have a little work to do next week."

There was still a small measure of disappointment. Simpson, who takes such pride in his putting, missed a short birdie putt on the back nine and failed to take advantage of the par-5 15th.

He had a chance to become the first three-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, which likely would have made him a favorite in an otherwise wide-open race for player of the year. Perhaps winning the money title could help, although Simpson had bigger plans when he left Sunday night.

"Winning would take care of a lot," he said.

They finished at 15-under 265, one shot ahead of Michael Thompson, the 25-year-old rookie who built a three-shot lead on the front nine. Thompson didn't make another birdie, and fell out of the playoff with a tee shot into the hazard on the 18th hole that led to bogey.

The small consolation was a third-place finish that assures him of keeping his card for next year.

Also locking up his card was Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who left Alabama after his junior season to turn pro. Cauley shot 67 and tied for 15th to earn $64,000, and now is the equivalent of No. 112 on the money list.

He is only the sixth player to go from college and earn his tour card without having to go through Q-school, and Cauley joins Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as the only players to accomplish that feat in eight starts or fewer.

''It's very exciting for me," Cauley said. "I can't wait to come out here and play all year out here."

CineSport's Josh Thomson catches up with The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises on the Buckeyes' strange win against Ilinois and their upcoming schedule.

CineSport's Josh Thomson catches up with The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises on the Buckeyes' strange win against Ilinois and their upcoming schedule.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Thirty-four cars crammed together early in the race on a 1.5-mile track with no way to get around each other turned into a recipe for disaster.

View full sizeIsaac Brekken, Associated PressDario Franchitti embraces members of his pit crew after he participated in the tribute laps in honor of Dan Wheldon, who was killed earlier Sunday in a crash during the IndyCar Series' Las Vegas Indy 300. "Right now it's just sad," he said. "It's just really, really sad. It's the ugly side of our sport."

Tim Dahlberg

AP Sports Columnist

LAS VEGAS -- The sound of bagpipes came out of Turn 1, playing a mournful refrain of "Amazing Grace" for the driver who would not return.

On the track, the cars that could still run moved slowly in a five-lap tribute that was as heartfelt as it was inadequate.

One of their own was dead, something even those who risk death in every race found hard to comprehend. What was supposed to be a day of celebration for Dan Wheldon instead turned out to be his last day alive.

They exited their cars quickly, some fighting to hold back tears. Around them on pit row, workers somberly went about the task of tearing down equipment and packing it up for the long trip home.

That it all happened so quickly made it seem even more surreal.

"One minute you're joking around during driver's intros," Dario Franchitti said, "and the next Dan's gone."

Franchitti won the season title by default, but this was a win that could never be celebrated. Not after losing a friend in a race that he and other drivers were nervous about even before the green flag dropped.

Thirty-four cars crammed together early in the race on a 1.5-mile track with no way to get around each other turned into a recipe for disaster.

"I said before we tested here, having driven a stock car here, this is not a suitable track," Franchitti said. "You're just stuck there and people get frustrated and go four wide and you saw what happened. One small mistake from everybody and it's a massive thing."

The drivers knew the danger, just as they know it every time they strap themselves into an open-air cockpit and go 220 mph around an oval track. Sam Schmidt, the owner of Wheldon's car, was left a quadriplegic himself after crashing during IndyCar testing in 2000.

But it's what they do, and it had been five years since Paul Dana was killed during a crash at Homestead that a driver had lost his life. Though wary of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, they came on a warm Sunday afternoon to finish off what seemed to be a comeback season for the IndyCar Series.

It ended just 11 laps into the race in a string of fireballs and flying cars that littered the track with debris on Turn 2. Fifteen cars were smashed up, but Wheldon's took the worse, flying over another car and landing in a catch fence.

He was airlifted to a hospital and, two hours later, his fellow drivers were told he died there.

"This is incredibly sad," fellow driver Oriol Servia said. "We all know this is part of the sport. Cars are getting safer, tracks are getting safer, so fortunately it hasn't happened in a long time. We all had a bad feeling about this place in particular just because of the high banking and how easy it was to go flat. We knew it could happen, but it's just really sad."

Wheldon had started in last place for his last race, as part of a promotion in which he and a fan would split $5 million if he could pass the rest of the field and win. The two-time Indy 500 winner had raced only twice since his surprise win at Indy in May. Earlier in the week he said he was desperate to be in one again after spending the intervening months as a television color commentator and a test driver for the 2012 Indy car prototype.

The $5 million bonus was part of a marketing plan by IndyCar officials to boost interest in the final race of the year, but only about 25,000 people bothered to show up at a track that holds five times that to watch what would also be Danica Patrick's last race as an IndyCar Series regular.

Patrick was among those who viewed the race with trepidation because the speeds were so high and the track so short that it made it almost impossible to get around other cars.

"I was really nervous coming into today," Patrick said, "because I knew that you as a driver were going to be put into positions where you were either going to decide to be flat-out and possibly be a part of something like that or look like a wimp and lift [off the accelerator]. But you know what? I lifted a little."

As Patrick and the others finished their tribute laps, the bagpipes had stopped and most of the fans were gone. People walked somberly along the row of garages as cars were lifted into trailers.

There were embraces, and remembrances of a driver lost too soon.

"I was thinking about old Dan stories and things that we did," Franchitti said. "I was thinking about some of the fun times we had. But really, right now it's just sad. It's just really, really sad.

"It's the ugly side of our sport."

Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg (at) ap.org or http://twitter.com/timdahlberg

Left behind in the postseason race, the St. Louis Cardinals decided that they'd focus on small goals in September. Now, the ultimate one is within reach.

Associated PressThe St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after Game 6 of baseball's National League championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, in Milwaukee. The Cardinals won 12-6 to win the series and advance to the World Series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Left behind in the postseason race, the St. Louis Cardinals decided that they'd focus on small goals in September. Now, the ultimate one is within reach.

The Cardinals' wild ride is headed to the World Series.

"It's kind of surreal that we're here," said third baseman David Freese, who took MVP honors in the series. "But this team deserves what we've been rewarded."

Freese hit a three-run homer in the first inning and manager Tony La Russa again turned to his brilliant bullpen for seven sturdy innings as St. Louis captured its 18th pennant with a 12-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday night.

"For two weeks in August we started mugging games left and right and we had to say, hey, look, unless we go about this better, we're going to ruin everything we accomplished as far as respect," La Russa said. "And we started winning a little bit. And literally played every game like it was the last game of our life."

Trailing by 10½ games in the wild-card race on Aug. 25, the Cardinals surged down the stretch and took advantage of a monumental collapse by Atlanta to win a playoff spot on the final night of the regular season.

In a twist of fate, it was Philadelphia that helped them get in by completing a three-game sweep of the Braves.

Once in the postseason, Albert Pujols and the Cardinals took out the heavily favored Phillies in the first round, then dispatched the division-rival Brewers on their own turf in Game 6 of the NL championship series.

"I mean, you could have never known," Pujols said.

Freese, often overlooked in a lineup anchored by All-Stars, batted .545 with three homers and nine RBIs in the series.

Looking for its second title in six seasons, St. Louis opens the World Series at home Wednesday night with ace Chris Carpenter on the mound against the AL champion Texas Rangers.

It's been such a frenetic run, it seems fitting that a squirrel has become the team's unofficial mascot.

The rally squirrel started in the division series against Philadelphia when the furry rodent scampered across home plate during Game 4. Another squirrel was on the field before Game 5 when Carpenter shut out the Phillies.

Reliever Octavio Dotel carries a small, stuffed squirrel with him after a Philadelphia fan tossed it to him in jest, a tangible sign of where the Cardinals have come from.

"I lay in my bed thinking, 'Wow, we are in this position.' I cannot believe it personally. I can't believe where we are after the way we played the last month, and the way Atlanta played," Dotel said. "It's crazy to be where we are right now. I don't know how to explain that to you. The only thing I know is we're here and we're looking forward to keep winning games."

Bolstered by a group of no-name relievers who keep answering La Russa's call, the Cardinals are back in the World Series for the first time since beating Detroit in 2006.

"We had a lot of adversity, but we found a way," Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday said.

It was a disappointing end to a scintillating season for Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and the NL Central champion Brewers, who finished with a franchise-record 96 wins, six games ahead of St. Louis in the division.

Baseball's best home team collapsed in the NLCS, though, losing twice at Miller Park in an error-filled flop. It was likely Fielder's final game with the Brewers, too. He can become a free agent after the season.

"I had to clear the throat once, but it was all right. I love these guys," said Fielder, a first-round draft pick in 2002. "I've been playing with most of them since I was 18. So this organization has been great to me."

Rafael Furcal and Pujols hit solo homers off Chris Narveson and St. Louis built a 9-4 lead by the time the bullpen took over for Edwin Jackson in the third inning.

The group of Fernando Salas, Marc Rzepczynski, Dotel, Lance Lynn and Jason Motte allowed two runs the rest of the way. For the series, St. Louis relievers finished 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA over 28 2-3 innings.

The most lasting image of this NLCS has been La Russa on the bullpen phone.

"He's a genius, isn't he?" said Motte, the fifth closer this year for the Cardinals.

St. Louis built an 11-5 lead before the biggest scare came when Pujols was shaken up after tagging out Braun in the fifth inning. The three-time MVP fell hard on his right forearm on a close play at first base.

"I got spiked. I didn't feel too good but as long as I can walk I'm playing in that game," Pujols said. "It's the postseason. Nothing hurts. You don't think about it. You think about making a play. If you got hurt, hey at least you got hurt trying something hard."

The Cardinals took control of this series beginning in Game 2 by jumping out to early leads and letting the bullpen lead the way.

La Russa called on his relievers 28 times in the NLCS and Jackson's start was the shortest of the postseason for the rotation, which finished the NLCS with a 7.66 ERA. St. Louis became the first team to win a postseason series without a starter reaching the sixth inning, according to STATS LLC.

Freese gave his teammates credit while accepting the MVP award.

"I wish we could make eight or nine of these and give them to our bullpen. They're the reason why we won this series," he said.

Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks and Jonathan Lucroy all homered for the Brewers, who won a major league-best 57 home games at Miller Park this season and four straight in the postseason before losing Game 2 to the Cardinals.

The Brewers' biggest hitters — Braun, Fielder and Weeks — finished 1 for 12 in Game 6. Fielder, the All-Star game MVP and the reason St. Louis will start at home on Wednesday, received a standing ovation in his final at-bat in the eighth. He grounded out and slowly walked back to the dugout with his head down.

"Obviously I envisioned us winning the World Series, but that didn't happen," Fielder said. "We had a great year as a team. Unfortunately we didn't get to where we wanted to go. But still some great moments and great memories in there. Like I said, this year has been awesome."

It was the two ugly defensive performances that will likely linger for Milwaukee, which committed four errors in a 7-1 loss in Game 5 and added three more in Game 6.

"You can't get away with mistakes to them and we made way too many mistakes," manager Ron Roenicke said.

Struggling starter Shaun Marcum never really gave Milwaukee a chance and was hurt by defensive plays that weren't ruled errors.

In the first, Jon Jay singled with one out and stole second when Weeks couldn't hold onto Lucroy's low throw. Marcum believed he had strike three on Pujols, who ended up walking.

Lance Berkman singled for the second hit in 18 career at-bats against Marcum to drive in the first run, and center fielder Nyjer Morgan made an ill-advised throw to third that let Berkman reach second.

Marcum saved a run by grabbing Holliday's dribbler and flipping it out of his glove to Lucroy to get Pujols at the plate, but Freese homered on the next pitch to make it 4-0 and extend his postseason hitting streak to 10 games.

"We believe, Freese said. "I think that's what you've got to do in this game. We got a group of guys with some talent, desire, and just a ton of heart."

For more Cinesport video, go here.

NBA czar/emperor David Stern has canceled the first two weeks of the regular season – with perhaps the entire season in jeopardy – which means two things: 1. LeBron James will wake up tomorrow and have the same life he had before he woke up today – a few personal problems, no NBA titles. 2. This fall, if he wants to play basketball, LeBron might have to take his talents to the south of France.

Associated PressNBA Commissioner David Stern speaks after leaving NBA labor talks. Once again, fans are faced with an insane divide in an industry that pays out salaries with more zeroes than a Justin Verlander box score.

NBA czar/emperor David Stern has canceled the first two weeks of the regular season – with perhaps the entire season in jeopardy – which means two things:

1. LeBron James will wake up tomorrow and have the same life he had before he woke up today – a few personal problems, no NBA titles.

2. This fall, if he wants to play basketball, LeBron might have to take his talents to the south of France.

Once again, we are faced with a preposterous labor-management divide in an industry that pays out weekly employee salaries with more zeroes than a Justin Verlander box score. Or, as comedian Chris Rock used to say, “Shaq is rich, the white man that signs his check is wealthy.”

The NBA produces $4 billion annually in revenue, but the owners say they're losing several hundred million a year. That's some BAD ownership. How many businesses in America generate $114,155 every 15 minutes of every day and lose money? Heck, a Geico caveman could operate an NBA franchise in the black.

Of course, in regard to the NBA bleeding red, we must trust Stern on this one, though, to be honest with you, the commissioner has never found a fact he will not twist.

Here's a fact for you:

This is the second work stoppage/truncated season in the past 14 years on Stern's watch. So I guess he's not exactly Oliver Wendell Holmes-meets-Samuel Gompers.

(As a rule, Stern loves to control the message, and he will muzzle the messenger if he doesn't care for him. In 1996, TNT wanted to bring me on for regular spots on its NBA studio show. The NBA had announcer approval, but Stern's office vetoed my hire. Apparently, the league didn't believe I thought the NBA was fan-tastic enough. It's interesting: Latrell Sprewell could choke his coach, the Pacers and Pistons could spark a massive brawl between players and fans, Gilbert Arenas and Jarvis Crittenton could draw guns in the Wizards' locker room and referee Tim Donaghy could bet on games he officiated, but if I made jokes on-air about Shaquille O'Neal's shoe size, THE WHOLE DARN ENTERPRISE COULD BE BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES.)

Now, I don't know how this labor dispute is going to play out – and I won't bore you with luxury-tax issues and the like – but I understand the players supposedly are getting restless.

Just the other day, Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire said, “We can't just sit around and not do anything.”

Sure they can.

Actually, best I can tell, NBA types spend most of their down time getting tatted up, playing “Call of Duty: Black Ops” and courting Kardashians.

(I hate to interrupt myself again, but what I'm about to tell you is amazing. As a poker player, I often use online poker calculators that allow you to run simulated hands and figure out the odds of different outcomes. So I went to one of those sites to check on NBA player/Kardashian nuptial chances. There are three Kardashian sisters and 360 NBA players, and as it turns out, the chances of two Kardashian sisters being married to two different NBA players at the same time are one in 6½. Unbelievable!)

OK, this is what Stoudemire also said: “We've got to start our own league.” That's right – a players league.

You know, before I plopped down professionally on the couch, I used to toil away in food-service jobs – busboy, dishwasher, counterman, waiter. What if everyone working at Burger King decided to rip off the paper hats, screw the Whopper and open up their own restaurant? How would that work?

So Amar'e, let me ask you this in regard to a players league:

Who pays the players?

Where are the games?

Do you have a lucrative TV deal?

(Don't forget health insurance!)

Anyway, I assume the NBA will be open for business again soon. I know I'm saving up $272 for two Lakers nosebleed seats at Staples Center.

Ask The Slouch!

Q.When the NFL moved kickoffs 5 yards closer to the goal line, did your wife, Toni, complain when you moved your La-Z-Boy 5 feet closer to the TV? — Tom Wroblewski, Milwaukee

A.No, because it put me 5 feet closer to the sidewalk.

Q.As a Yankees fan, I was just wondering whether any baseball games were still being broadcast. — Bill Pollack, Niskayuna, N.Y.

A.Ten bits, no waiting for this wry soul.

Q.When Ohio State faced Miami last month, any truth to the rumor that, at one time, they were discussing playing the game with absolutely no rules being enforced? — Scott Wittliff, Mukwonago, Wis.

A.Pay the man, Shirley.

Q.Redskins owner Daniel Snyder finally managed to scrape together enough dough for a $70 million yacht. Do you think he should name it the SS Albert Haynesworth? — Marty Chase, Chevy Chase, Md.

A.Pay this young fella,, too.

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

"This game did not seal McCoy's fate, but it does continue to raise questions about whether he can be the QB to lead the Browns out of the mess we have been in for over a decade. I was under the impression that McCoy was accurate. Not yet. He needs more time, but a couple more games like this one and Brown fans will turn on him bigtime. I have mentioned several times that the Browns could be shopping for a new QB next draft." - bsvr

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerColt McCoy and the Browns are still searching for answers offensively.

"This game did not seal McCoy's fate, but it does continue to raise questions about whether he can be the QB to lead the Browns out of the mess we have been in for over a decade. I was under the impression that McCoy was accurate. Not yet. He needs more time, but a couple more games like this one and Brown fans will turn on him bigtime. I have mentioned several times that the Browns could be shopping for a new QB next draft."

Should Josh Cribbs play more special teams and less wide receiver?

Tracy Boulian | The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer writes how Josh Cribbs wants a bigger role on special teams and less time at wide receiver.

Why?

Cribbs had five passes thrown his way and caught two for 30 yards, including a 23-yarder on a TD drive in which he used a nifty spin move for extra yards.

"I'm very insignificant on offense, so I need to be out there heavily on all special teams," said Cribbs.

Cribbs is one of the best return men in the game. But unlike many others, Cribbs also makes the big play as a tackler on special teams. Cribbs was not in when Jacoby Ford scored on a 101-yard return.

"I led the team every year when I was on coverage and I'm a dynamic special teams player. I don't remember a touchdown being scored on us being out there. I feel like we have enough receivers on offense to get things done. My touches this game are insignificant to the value I can bring to special teams."  

So does Cribbs have a point?

"Makes you wonder how many other are disappointed in their roles and the overall coaching. Personally, I'd rather hold onto all the good players we have like Hillis and Cribbs and get rid of only one guy - Shurmur!" - socaclevefan

View full sizeAP Photo | Ben MargotPat Shurmur and the Browns lost in Oakland on Sunday afternoon.

"Makes you wonder how many other are disappointed in their roles and the overall coaching. Personally, I'd rather hold onto all the good players we have like Hillis and Cribbs and get rid of only one guy - Shurmur!"

Join us for a live Browns chat today at noon with The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi. The Browns lost in Oakland on Sunday. What is wrong with the offense right now? Should we be concerned that significant players are questioning their roles? We'll answer those questions and more.

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

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

The Browns lost in Oakland on Sunday. What is wrong with the offense right now? Should we be concerned that significant players are questioning their roles?

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

Note: To turn off audio alerts, click on round button on bottom left of chat room and click on preferences.

Now do you believe in the Madden Curse when it comes to Peyton Hillis?

PDPeyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis had a breakout season last year behind 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. He made the cover of Madden and despite the game's history of jinxing players who make the cover, many dismissed the curse.

What about now?

Hillis has already missed a game with strep throat. He tweaked his hamstring on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, and Hillis has not rushed for 100 yards in a game this season.

And of course, their has been some controversy with Hillis this season.

The Cleveland Browns need to jump out earlier on offense.

John Kuntz | The Plain DealerColt McCoy and the Cleveland Browns.

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how the Browns have been slow out of the gate in each of their games this season.

On Sunday, Schudel writes, how it took the offense 55 minutes to wake up.

When it finally did, it was too late to pull out a victory, as the Browns did against the Dolphins three weeks ago.

Late in the game, the Browns rallied to make the game close. But Schudel wants to know where was the urgency on the first nine possessions?

That is one question Coach Pat Shurmur and his staff have to answer before this season gets out of hand. It is not the only question that needs answers.

More Browns

The Browns have one of the worst offenses in the NFL.

Josh Cribbs is talking and coach Pat Shurmur should listen.

The Peyton Hillis drama continues.

The issues continue with the Cleveland Browns.

Oakland Raiders stuff the Browns' running game.

Player celebrates big hit on Josh Cribbs.

Plain Dealer reporter believes Cribbs is too valuable to allow himself to just be a special teamer. Watch video

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

The Browns lost Sunday to the Oakland Raiders, 24-17, and didn't look good in the process. Josh Cribbs came after the game said that if he is going to be a "very insignificant" part of the offense, he would rather focus on special teams. What do you think of his statement? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who says that Cribbs needs to change his thinking and find a way to help the Browns win as a wide receiver as well as a kick returner.

Dman also says he places a majority of the blame for the Browns' offensive woes on quarterback Colt McCoy. And he also talks about running back Peyton Hillis and his hamstring injury suffered during Sunday's defeat. And Dman also makes his World Series prediction.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot giving her take on the Browns-Raiders game and looking ahead to Sunday's 1 p.m. home contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

And remember to catch this week's Browns Insider show that streams live Thursday at 10 a.m.

Why did the Browns seem so unprepared yesterday? What did Tony think of Josh Cribbs' comments? Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerIt was another long afternoon for Colt McCoy and the Browns on Sunday.

Why did the Browns seem so unprepared yesterday? What did Tony think of Josh Cribbs' comments?

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

Among other topics discussed:

• Should the Browns have had an interest in acquiring Brandon Lloyd?

• Would the Browns consider moving someone to offensive coordinator before the season is over?

• What was going on with Peyton Hillis yesterday? Was it really all about his hamstring?

• What will happen if this team loses to Seattle at home?

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

Jared Sullinger has dropped the weight and the team can't wait to play.

Robin Scholz / Associated PressJared Sullinger

Marla Ridenour of Ohio.com writes how Jared Sullinger returned for his sophomore season after the Buckeyes were upset by Kentucky last March in the NCAA East Regional semifinals.

And surprisingly he did.

“I’m a man of my word,” Sullinger said Thursday.

But the young man who returned wearing Sullinger’s No. 0 seems to have remade himself, both physically and mentally.

Sullinger dropped from 292 pounds to 264 pounds on his 6-foot-9 frame.

His teammates have noticed the changes Sullinger has made.

“Fat boy? Have you seen how skinny he is?” joked senior William Buford.

“Since we’ve been around him all spring and summer, you don’t see the changes much until you look at pictures,” sophomore point guard Aaron Craft said. “It’s been awesome to see the discipline and growth he’s had in a year.”

Around the Horse Shoe

Defensive lineman John Simon is honored.

Give and take between OSU beat writers.

Doug Lesmerises writes on Cleveland.com how Carlos Hyde is not happy.

The lone senior on the basketball team.

Hillis underwent an MRI today on his ailing hamstring, and his availability for the Seahawks on Sunday has not been determined.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAnother frustrating day for Peyton Hillis ended with him on the bench in the closing minutes of Sunday's loss to the Raiders. A hamstring injury threatens his availability for Sunday's home game against Seattle, but head coach Pat Shurmur reaffirmed Hillis' importance to the team on Monday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur emphasized Monday that Peyton Hillis is not on the trading block and that he did, indeed, suffer a pulled left hamstring during Sunday's loss to the Raiders.

"That's an easy one -- you can be assured that he had a hamstring injury," said Shurmur.

The trading deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, and Hillis -- who's still far apart on a contract extension with the Browns -- will still be in Cleveland when the sun goes down.

"I don't want to talk about trades, but no, he's not on the trading block," said Shurmur.

Hillis underwent an MRI Monday. "It's hard to say [how long Hillis might be sidelined]," Shurmur said. "Those injuries can take a couple of days or they can take however long."

Speculation about Hillis began as he stood on the sidelines with helmet in hand from early in the second quarter until early into the fourth. Although he was injured on his second run in the first quarter, nothing was officially announced by the team until late in the third. He ran two more plays in the second quarter, including a 5-yard run and 16-yard catch on which he bowled over defenders that was nullified by a penalty. After both plays, he grabbed the hamstring and limped.

When reporters first asked team officials why Hillis was sidelined, they were told he wasn't hurt. The CBS announcers Marv Albert and Rich Gannon continued to speculate on his status, which helped fuel rumors.

But Shurmur attributed it to miscommunication.

"I was aware in the first quarter that he sustained a hamstring," said Shurmur. "I'll talk about procedure [with the staff]. In the heat of the game, the last thing I'm thinking about is letting the press box know. I don't think there was anything to try to keep it from somebody.

"My trainer told me that Peyton Hillis had a hamstring injury and was only to be used in emergencies."

But after the Browns finally announced Hillis' injury, he ran back onto the field for two plays early in the fourth quarter to help out on pass protection. Montario Hardesty was struggling in that regard.

"Yeah, it probably wasn't the smartest thing to do," Hillis said after the game. "But I wanted to help the team win. I was anxious to get out there and help. It was a critical point, we were just two possessions down and if we got that touchdown -- you saw how things worked out with the onside kick and stuff, we knew it was within reach."

Hillis has come under heavy fire for sitting out the Dolphins game with strep throat and taking his agent's advice not to play. At first, Shurmur said Hillis "just kind of ran back in there" on Sunday, but later clarified that a member of the staff sent him in.

Whatever the case, Hillis wasn't up to playing most of the afternoon, and it profoundly affected the game plan. Heading in, he was set to be the featured back. As it was, he ran only six times for 14 yards. The Browns have tumbled to 30th in the league in rushing, with an average of 81.6 yards per game.

"It was a little tough because we really wanted to feed Peyton early and often," said left tackle Joe Thomas. "When he came down with that injury early, you've kind of got to scramble a little bit. Also a little bit of that was the way Oakland was playing us, they broke tendency. They were trying to pressure us with six-, seven- and eight-man blitzes to stop the run but also to bring one more blitzer than we had a blocker.

"So it was a little bit tough when Peyton went down. I'm hoping that he can get healthy and we can feed him a bunch next week."

One thing is certain: He'll still be here next week, healthy or not.

Lloyd, 30, is in the final year of his contract that pays him about $1.4 million this season.

Associated PressBrandon Lloyd, who missed one Broncos game with a strained groin this season, has caught 19 passes for 283 yards and no touchdowns.

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado -- Tim Tebow has lost his top target even before he makes his first start of the season.

The Denver Broncos traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd, the league's leading receiver last year, to the St. Louis Rams on Monday for a conditional 2012 draft pick.

The move comes a week after Tebow supplanted Kyle Orton at quarterback and six days before Tebow's first start at Miami.

In St. Louis, Lloyd will reunite with former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, now the Rams' offensive coordinator, and provide Sam Bradford with a much-needed downfield threat.

Lloyd is in the final year of a deal that pays him about $1.4 million, a bargain for a player who led the league with 1,448 yards receiving last year, when he caught 77 passes, 11 of them for touchdowns.

His numbers are down this year, with 19 catches for a team-high 283 yards and no touchdowns.

"We appreciate all the hard work that Brandon did during his three years in Denver and wish him the best with the Rams...," Broncos football chief John Elway tweeted.

"I'm excited about our wide receiver group - This is as healthy as we've been at that position since the start of the year. Our young WRs have really emerged and made some plays, and this is a great opportunity for them to continue to step up," Elway added.

Last month, Lloyd complained about a lack of downfield chances under the new regime in Denver. Coach John Fox blamed Lloyd's dip in productivity largely on a groin injury that kept him out against Cincinnati, Denver's only win; although Lloyd maintained the Broncos' conservative offensive philosophy was the primary culprit.

Lloyd had a breakout season in 2011, his eighth in the NFL. He had 18 catches of 25 yards or more and posted the third-highest receiving average (18.8 yards) since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 after a mostly nondescript career in San Francisco, Washington, Chicago and Denver, where he played in two games in 2009.

Even at 30, Lloyd is one of the most athletic players in the NFL and is widely considered the receiver with the best hands in football.

The departure of their top target follows the Broncos' benching of Orton, who was replaced by Tebow at halftime after an awful performance against San Diego on Oct. 9. The next day, the Broncos handed their offense to Tebow, the popular and polarizing former Florida star who started three games last season.

During that stretch, Lloyd caught 14 passes from Tebow for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

Now that Orton's no longer calling the plays, the Broncos are expected to go to even more of a ball-control offense under Tebow, a scrambler who lacks the precise passing Orton usually displayed.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal also is set to become a free agent after this season and is reportedly available before Tuesday's trade deadline, as well. But there's not as much interest in the injury-prone fourth-year pro who hasn't played since straining a groin against the Bengals on Sept. 18.

Royal returned to practice last week and is expected to play Sunday at Miami if all goes well this week.

Also expected back is Demaryius Thomas, who's been sidelined all year. He missed training camp while rehabbing from a torn right Achilles tendon, and the Broncos made the surprising move of keeping him on their 53-man roster rather than placing him on the PUP list to start the season.

That move backfired when Thomas shattered his left pinkie during his first padded practice last month, sidelining him until this week.

Both Thomas and Royal were practicing in the rain Monday along with rookie tight end Julius Thomas, who sprained his right ankle in Week 2.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - has begun in The Plain Dealer's Week 9 You Pick the Game high school football contest. Cast your vote in the poll on this page to select one game for The Plain Dealer to cover on Friday night.

Euclid's De'Andre Rollins breaks a tackle in a loss to Mentor on Aug. 26. Euclid is one of 10 schools featured in this week's You Pick the Game contest. - (Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - has begun in The Plain Dealer's Week 9 You Pick the Game high school football contest.

Cast your vote in the poll on this page to select one game for The Plain Dealer to cover on Friday night.

Voting is open until noon Thursday.

The winner will be announced in Friday's Sports section.

Should the Oakland Raiders pursue former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith?

Paul Connors / Associated PressTroy Smith

The Oakland Raiders received more bad news today when it was learned that free agent quarterback David Garrard is not available because he is due for surgery.

The Raiders, who lost starter Jason Campbell on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns when he broke his collarbone, aren't likely to acquire Carson Palmer. Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown has said he won't trade Palmer, who is sitting at home.

So what about Troy Smith, who's playing in the UFL?

He's had a few good games in the NFL, but also had some bad ones.  I thought he did fairly well considering the team he had around him last season.  If he can be consistent he might actually be able to help the Raiders out. 

One thing that makes it a good fit is that he and Hue Jackson were together in Baltimore in 2008 and 2009.  Jackson was the Ravens' QB coach during those two years so Smith should be familiar with what coach Jackson expects from his quarterbacks.  Smith is also fairly mobile and can keep the chains moving with his legs if the play breaks down.

Other stories

Josh Weir of CantonRep.com is covering tryouts for the Charge, Canton's new NBA Development League team.

Indy car crash in Las Vegas and the death of Dan Wheldon.

Magic Johnson has a few words about LeBron James.

David Garrard is no longer an option for the Oakland Raiders.