Kenny Washington broke the the modern-day NFL color barrier.

View full sizeAP fileKenny Washington

LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke visits the high school where Kenny Washington began his football career in Los Angeles.

Washington became the first African-American to play in the modern era of the NFL when he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946.

The former UCLA star, who signed when he was 28 years old and coming off five knee surgeries, lasted just three pro seasons. He retired young, and when he died at age 51 of heart and lung problems, the memories of his achievements seemingly vanished with him.

Washington broke his sport's color barrier a year before his former UCLA football teammate Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, yet pro football never retired Washington's No. 13, and his Los Angeles hometown has yet to put his name on any parks or fields.

"You would think there should be some sort of shrine to him somewhere," said his granddaughter Kysa Washington. "But there's barely a mention of him anywhere."

Washington was the first of four blacks to play pro football in 1946 -- former UCLA teammate Woody Strode joined him on the Rams, and Marion Motley and Bill Willis joined the Cleveland Browns of the fledgling All-America Football Conference, writes Plaschke.

Washington is not officially in Canton, and he is not officially at Lincoln High School, where community organizers have formed the Kenny Washington Stadium Foundation in hopes of raising money to fix up the joint and put his name on the shingle.

 Scott Caldwell has been named girls basketball coach Lutheran East.

 Caldwell, also an assistant football coach for the Falcons, has served as an assistant girls basketball coach at Trinity and Villa Angela-St. Joseph.

What went wrong for the Browns in Oakland on Sunday? How important is it for this team to beat the Seahawks at home this week? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis left Sunday's game in Oakland with a hamstring injury.

What went wrong for the Browns in Oakland on Sunday? How important is it for this team to beat the Seahawks at home this week?

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

Among other topics discussed:

• What did you think of Josh Cribbs' postgame comments?

• Is Luke Fickell getting a fair shot this season as Ohio State's head coach?

• What direction will the Buckeyes ultimately go with their coaching hire?

• Will the NBA get a deal done in time to save the season?

• Considering all the other basketball options out there, will people actually miss the NBA?

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

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

The final weekly Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association poll for 2011 by OHSAA divisions with records, through Oct. 17, and total points (first-place votes in parentheses): DIVISION I

COLUMBUS. Ohio (AP) -- How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school football teams in the sixth weekly Associated Press poll of 2011. by OHSAA divisions. with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses): DIVISION I

Mitch Trubisky and the Mentor Cardinals are ranked No. 1 in Division I. - (John Kuntz | The Plain Dealer)

First two weeks of the season have been canceled as lockout is in its 110th day.

Associated PressDallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (right) arrives for labor talks between the NBA and the players union today in New York.

NEW YORK, New York -- NBA players and owners are meeting with a federal mediator, and commissioner David Stern believes more games could be canceled if there isn't movement toward a new labor deal.

Mediator George Cohen tried to resolve the NFL's labor dispute. Now he's overseeing basketball's negotiations for the first time. Stern wants immediate results, saying during interviews last week that proposals could get worse and more games could be lost without a deal Tuesday.

"If there's a breakthrough, it's going to come on Tuesday," he told NBA TV. "And if not, I think that the season is really going to potentially escape from us because we aren't making any progress."

Tuesday was the 110th day of the lockout. In another interview, Stern told WFAN radio in New York that his "gut" was that there wouldn't be NBA games on Christmas if it ended without a deal.

But large gaps remain between the sides, with both seeking 53 percent of basketball revenues and players opposing owners' attempts to significantly change the salary-cap system.

Cohen met with the sides individually at their offices Monday before both brought their full bargaining committees to a hotel Tuesday. The union said it wanted to have the whole week set aside for negotiations, but owners have two days of board meetings beginning Wednesday.

Stern wants to be able to bring them a deal. If not, they may have to discuss further cancellations; the first two weeks of the season already are wiped out.

Cohen was appointed director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service by President Barack Obama in 2009. He was present for talks between NFL owners and players for 16 days in February and March before that mediation broke off.

He previously helped broker a deal between Major League Soccer and its players and was the lead lawyer for the baseball players' union when it won an injunction against its owners in 1995, ending the 7½-month strike.

Quarterback sent west for a first-round draft pick and a second-rounder that could become a first-rounder.

Associated PressCarson Palmer completed 62.9 percent of his passes while throwing for 22,694 yards and 154 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Bengals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly agreed to trade quarterback Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders, acquiring a 2012 first-round draft pick and a 2013 second-round pick that would become a first-round pick if Oakland wins a playoff game this season.

Both teams are in contention in their respective divisions -- the Bengals in the AFC North and Raiders in the AFC West -- with 4-2 records.

Carson had grown unhappy with the losing environment in Cincinnati in previous seasons, and did not report to the Bengals for the 2011 season. He will replace Jason Campbell as the Raiders' quarterback. Campbell suffered a broken collarbone during Oakland's 24-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Andy Dalton is in the midst of a solid rookie season as the Bengals' starting quarterback.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on Cincinnati's trade of Palmer to Oakland:

Palmer, 31, has to pass a physical and restructure his contract to make the trade official before the 1 p.m league deadline, but neither side is concerned. Palmer has been working out with former NFL quarterback Ken O'Brien and is said to be in excellent shape.

Oakland coach Hue Jackson believes the team can win now, and Hue Jackson the head personnel guy in the wake of owner Al Davis' death on Oct. 8 just couldn't say no to his bold, excitable first-year coach.

The Raiders lost starter Jason Campbell on Sunday to a broken collarbone and decided they couldn't go forward with backup Kyle Boller as the No. 1 quarterback.

They are taking a chance on Palmer, who was so unhappy in Cincinnati that he asked to be traded and sat out rather than collect his $11.5 million salary.

Palmer, in Dec., 2005, signed an extension of his contract through 2014, reportedly valued at $118.75 million.

Earlier today, Joe Kay of The Associated Press reported that the Bengals and Raiders were considering the trade.

Kay's report, which was carried on cleveland.com, included:

The message board by the entrance to the Bengals' locker room Tuesday had an anonymous scrawled message: "Let My People Goooooo!" Otherwise, there wasn't much reaction from a team that had moved on from Palmer a long time ago.

"I don't think even one player in this locker room's even thought about that," left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. "We haven't worried about it. We've gone forward with the guys we have and tried to play as good as we can and that's all we can do."

"I think guys respect him," he added. "You realize that he didn't want to be here and he didn't believe in this place, and you go forward. You still respect him as a friend and the years we put in together, but you realize that he just made a choice he felt was best for him and his family."

 ROCKY RIVER - Liking the warm weather and having two sisters living in Miami, Magnificat senior guard Stephanie Haas couldn't pass up giving the Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball team her oral commitment.    "I wanted to go there ever since I visited there in the summer,'' said Haas, an Avon Lake resident who averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds,...

 ROCKY RIVER - Liking the warm weather and having two sisters living in Miami, Magnificat senior guard Stephanie Haas couldn't pass up giving the Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball team her oral commitment.
 

 "I wanted to go there ever since I visited there in the summer,'' said Haas, an Avon Lake resident who averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals as a junior. "They offered me a scholarship a month ago and I accepted last week.''
 

 Haas, who will play the 2-guard at the next level but is undecided on a major, is the second area player to commit to FGCU. Solon senior guard Jaime Gluesing gave the Eagles her commitment late last month.

Tristan Thompson goes back to school while he waits for the lockout to end.

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerThe Cleveland Cavaliers picked Tristan Thompson with the fourth pick.

All eyes are on Tristan Thompson, writes reporter Michael Grange for Sportsnet Magazine.

While the NBA has locked out its players, Thompson, the fourth-overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, is back in Texas going to class.

Grange writes how everything is on hold, so Thompson, who left school for the pros after wrapping up his freshman year last spring, is back as a full-time student. One of the reasons he opted to return to Austin for the duration of the lockout is money.

Training to be an NBA player is expensive. There are elite facilities in cities like Las Vegas and Chicago if you want to drop the cash. But Thompson, who has yet to draw his first pro paycheque, does not. At Texas, he can work out in facilities that rival those belonging to any NBA franchise and work toward his degree (UT has honoured his original scholarship, so his course work is covered) for the low, low price of nothing. "Other places charge between six and 10 grand a month," says Thompson. "Why put myself in debt?"

His main expense?

The furnished, off-campus apartment he shares with his girlfriend, Whitney, who graduated from UT in the spring and works for a recruitment company in Austin. Thompson loves fashion but only has two suits. He's aching to buy his first car. "It's the first sign of having money," he says. "Going into the dealership and putting my money down and my name on something." But that, too, can wait until he signs his first contract. For now, he's borrowing a friend's ride and gets by on a loan advanced to him through his agent, Rich Paul.

Top eight teams in each region make the playoffs. Division I

Conner Krizancic and the Mentor Cardinals are on top of yet another poll, this time the one used to determine the state playoffs.

Lester was one of Boston's starting pitchers who sometimes drank in the clubhouse when they weren't pitching. Red Sox went 7-20 in September to miss playoffs by one game.

Associated PressRed Sox pitcher Jon Lester after giving up a home run to Baltimore's J.J. Hardy (rounding the bases) during the Orioles' 4-3 win over Boston on Sept. 28, the teams' final game of the season. The loss was costly for Boston, which finished one game out of the playoffs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Boston Red Sox finished August with an 83-52 record and were considered a virtual lock to win at least the American League wild card if not beat out the New York Yankees for the AL East championship.

Then, stunningly, Boston went 7-20 in September to finish six games behind the Yankees in the East and one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild card standings.

The collapse led to the firing of manager Terry Francona, who in 2004 led the Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 86 years and in 2007 managed them to another Series title.

(Francona, by the way, played for the Cleveland Indians in 1988 and is the son of Tito Francona, a popular outfielder-first baseman for the Indians from 1959-64)

Now, over the last several days, the Red Sox have been portrayed as a team somewhat out of control, with reports that starting pitchers Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and John Lackey drank beer in the clubhouse during some games when they weren't pitching.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe talked with Lester on Monday. Abraham writes about the Red Sox' drinking in the clubhouse:

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester admitted today that he drank beer in the clubhouse during some games this season and that, "it was the wrong thing to do." But he was adamant that such behavior was not to blame for the team's September collapse.

"There's a perception out there that we were up there getting hammered and that wasn't the case," Lester told The Globe via telephone from his home in Georgia. "Was it a bad habit? Yes. I should have been on the bench more than I was. But we just played bad baseball as a team in September. We stunk. To be honest, we were doing the same things all season when we had the best record in baseball."

Lester said the drinking was confined to starting pitchers who weren't in the game that day.

"It was a ninth-inning rally beer," he said. "We probably ordered chicken from Popeye's like once a month. That happened. But that's not the reason we lost.

"Most of the times it was one beer, a beer. It was like having a Coke in terms of how it affected you mentally or physically. I know how it looks to people and it probably looks bad. But we weren't up there just drinking and eating and nobody played video games. We watched the game."

Talbot went 10-13 for the Indians in 2010. Head made his major league debut during the late stages of the 2011 season.

 

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerMitch Talbot made some solid starts for the Indians in 2010, but struggled in 2011, in part due to a sore elbow.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians announced today that they have outrighted starting pitcher Mitch Talbot and outfielder Jerad Head off of their 40-man roster.

The moves make Talbot and Head free agents.

The Indians' 40-man roster now includes 38 players, with four other players on the 60-day disabled list and not counted among the 38.

The right-handed Talbot, who turned 28 on Monday, dealt with elbow problems during his two seasons with the Indians.

Still, Talbot enjoyed a degree of success with the Indians in 2010, going 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA in 28 starts.

Talbot, though, spent much of the 2011 season with the Class AAA Columbus Clippers, after beginning the season with Cleveland but soon being placed on the disabled list with a sore elbow. He was 2-6 with a 6.64 ERA in 12 starts for the Indians.

The Indians acquired Talbot on Dec. 21, 2009 from Tampa Bay as the player-to-be-named-later in the trade that had sent catcher Kelly Shoppach to the Rays that Dec. 1.

Head, 28, made his major league debut late this season, playing in 10 games with the Indians and going 3-for-24 (.125) with one double and one RBI.

Head, a right-handed hitter, was called up to the Indians from Class AAA Columbus after hitting .284 with 28 doubles, one triple, 24 home runs and 70 RBI in 422 at bats for the Clippers.

Head was signed by the Cleveland organization as an undrafted free agent in 2005. During six minor league seasons, he hit .270 with 74 homers.   

 

"The more that is written about Ubaldo Jimenez, the more in complete disbelief I am about that trade. You are talking about a 5-year Major League veteran (28 years old) who is not healthy or not properly conditioned, and his pitching mechanics are a mess. There is no excuse. We trade our two best pitching prospects for this guy. Most teams that trade that kind of talent get a Sabathia, Lee or Verlander in return." - stormin24

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerUbaldo Jimenez struggled after coming to the Indians at the trade deadline.

In response to the story Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' task in Oakland, winter work for Tribe pitchers and Jason Donald's role with the 2012 Indians, cleveland.com reader stormin24 still doesn't get the Jimenez deal. This reader writes,

"The more that is written about Ubaldo Jimenez, the more in complete disbelief I am about that trade. You are talking about a 5-year Major League veteran (28 years old) who is not healthy or not properly conditioned, and his pitching mechanics are a mess. There is no excuse. We trade our two best pitching prospects for this guy. Most teams that trade that kind of talent get a Sabathia, Lee or Verlander in return."

"All this talk about starting their own league - I've heard it for months. The question is: Who's going to set everything up for them? Most of these players have been handed everything their whole lives because of their athletic ability. Few, if any, have the skills necessary to set up a successful business, let alone an entire sports league. And those who do have those skills are smart enough not to spout off about starting their own league because they actually realize it's a fruitless endeavor and they've probably banked enough money that this lock out doesn't affect them." - tballer9

View full sizeAP Photo | Bob LeveroneLeBron James (6) looks to dunk during the Chris Paul All Star Pick-Up basketball game between NBA players in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Oct., 1, 2011.

In response to the story No tears for either side in NBA divide: Book of Norman, cleveland.com reader tballer9 doesn't see NBA players starting their own league. This reader writes,

"All this talk about starting their own league - I've heard it for months. The question is: Who's going to set everything up for them? Most of these players have been handed everything their whole lives because of their athletic ability. Few, if any, have the skills necessary to set up a successful business, let alone an entire sports league. And those who do have those skills are smart enough not to spout off about starting their own league because they actually realize it's a fruitless endeavor and they've probably banked enough money that this lock out doesn't affect them."

Roster includes 38 players and four others who are currently on the 60-day disabled list.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerShortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (left) and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (right) figure to be among the Indians' key players in 2012.

CLEVELAND, OHIO -- The Cleveland Indians 40-man major league roster, after outrighting pitcher Mitch Talbot and outfielder Jerad Head off the roster, now includes 38 players. Not included in that number, because they are currently on the 60-day disabled list, are four other players.

(Information key: Bats right or left/throws right or left; date of birth; contract status; major league service [years and days] last team played with)

(arb: arbitration; 60-DL: 60-day disabled list)

(Note: Six years of major league service qualifies a player for free agency if not under contract)

PITCHERS (21)

Carmona, Fausto R/R 12/07/1983 Signed thru 2011 (club options ’12, ’13, ‘14) 5.125 Cleveland

Carrasco, Carlos R/R 03/21/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.067 Cleveland(60-DL)

De La Cruz, Kelvin L/L 08/01/1988 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.000 Akron

Durbin, Chad R/R 12/03/1977 Signed thru 2011 (free agent eligible) 7.102 Cleveland

Gomez, Jeanmar R/R 02/10/1988 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.117 Cleveland

Hagadone, Nick L/L 01/01/1986 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.030 Cleveland

Herrmann, Frank L/R 05/30/1984 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.099 Cleveland

Huff, David S/L 08/22/1984 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.117 Cleveland

Jimenez, Ubaldo R/R 01/22/1984 Signed thru 2012 (cl option 2013) 4.087 Cleveland

Judy, Josh R/R 02/09/1986 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.037 Cleveland

Kluber, Corey R/R 04/10/1986 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.011 Cleveland

Masterson, Justin R/R 03/22/1985 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 3.108 Cleveland

McAllister, Zach R/R 12/08/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.011 Cleveland

Perez, Chris R/R 07/01/1985 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 3.136 Cleveland

Perez, Rafael L/L 05/15/1982 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 4.157 Cleveland

Pestano, Vinnie R/R 02/20/1985 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.011 Cleveland

Putnam, Zach R/R 07/03/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.016 Cleveland

Rondon, Hector R/R 02/26/1988 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.000 Mahoning Valley

Sipp, Tony L/L 07/12/1983 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 2.138 Cleveland

Smith, Joe R/R 03/22/1984 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 4.091 Cleveland

Tomlin, Josh R/R 10/19/1984 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.069 Cleveland (60-DL)

CATCHERS (2)

Marson, Lou R/R 06/26/1986 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 2.036 Cleveland

Santana, Carlos S/R 04/08/1986 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.115 Cleveland

INFIELDERS (10)

Cabrera, Asdrubal S/R 11/13/1985 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 4.027 Cleveland

Chisenhall, Lonnie L/R 10/04/1988 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.094 Cleveland

Donald, Jason R/R 09/04/1984 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.057 Cleveland

Hannahan, Jack L/R 03/04/1980 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 3.065 Cleveland

Hafner, Travis L/R 06/03/1977 Signed thru 2012 (club option ’13) 9.009 Cleveland

Kipnis, Jason L/R 04/03/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.069 Cleveland

LaPorta, Matt R/R 01/08/1985 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 2.063 Cleveland

Phelps, Cord S/R 01/23/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.065 Cleveland

Valbuena, Luis L/R 11/30/1985 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 2.032 Cleveland

Thome, Jim L/R 08/27/1970 Signed thru 2011 (free agent eligible) 19.042 Cleveland

OUTFIELDERS (9)

Brantley, Michael L/L 05/15/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 1.131 Cleveland (60-DL)

Carrera, Ezequiel L/L 06/11/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.082 Cleveland

Choo, Shin-Soo L/L 07/13/1982 Signed thru 2011 (arb eligible) 4.119 Cleveland (60-DL)

Crowe, Trevor S/R 11/17/1983 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 2.091 Cleveland

Duncan, Shelley R/R 09/29/1979 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 2.099 Cleveland

Fukudome, Kosuke L/R 04/26/1977 Signed thru 2011 (free agent eligible) 4.000 Cleveland

Neal, Thomas R/R 08/17/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.000 Columbus

Sizemore, Grady L/L 08/02/1982 Signed thru 2011 (club option ’12) 7.056 Cleveland

Weglarz, Nick L/L 12/16/1987 Signed thru 2011 (non-arb eligible) 0.000 Akron

Players on 40-man major league roster: 38; other players on 60-day disabled list: 4

Hillis underwent an MRI on a left hamstring injury suffered early in the loss to Oakland on Sunday. His status for Sunday's game against Seattle will be clarified on Wednesday.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerThe NFL trade deadline comes and goes with Peyton Hillis remaining on the Browns.

BEREA, Ohio -- The NFL trading deadline came and went without the Browns trading running back Peyton Hillis. Just as they said would happen.

But the hours leading up to the deadline extended the drama that has become Hillis' second season with the Browns. Early in the afternoon, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the Browns "could be persuaded" to deal Hillis. Later Fox Sports' Jay Glazer tweeted that the Browns have received "some inquiries" about Hillis, but told teams they weren't interested.

Ultimately, a source told The Plain Dealer that the Browns received no calls about Hillis and would not trade him.

Hillis underwent an MRI on a left hamstring injury suffered early in the 24-17 loss to Oakland on Sunday. His status for the practice week and Sunday's game against Seattle will be clarified on Wednesday by coach Pat Shurmur.

With Hillis' status uncertain, the Browns signed running back Chris Ogbonnaya off the Houston Texans' practice squad. To make room for Ogbonnaya, they waived Armond Smith.

Draft pick update: No draft picks were swapped by the Browns before Tuesday's trade deadline. They currently have eight picks in the 2012 draft.

They own each of their selections in rounds 1 through 5. They also own Atlanta's picks in Round 1 and Round 4 (the 2010 draft-day trade) and Denver's pick in Round 6 (final installment of the Brady Quinn trade in 2009).

The Browns do not have a pick in Round 6 (traded to Minnesota in 2009 for defensive end Jayme Mitchell) and Round 7 (traded this year to St. Louis for offensive lineman John Greco).

Staff writer Mary Kay Cabot contributed to this article.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

"The timing of it was unfortunate," Jensen says of leaving the Billikens' shortly before practice began, "but it was a job I could not pass up."

View full sizeSaint Louis Univ.The arrival of Alex Jensen as the new head coach of the Cavs' D-League team in Akron rankled Jensen's prior boss, Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- Rick Majerus isn't thrilled with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the timing of their hiring of his lead assistant coach at Saint Louis University. To emphasize his disgust, Majerus turned the name of the franchise's departed superstar into a verb.

"I was Lebron-ed by the Cavs," Majerus told ESPN in reference to LeBron James' decision to leave Cleveland for Miami last season.

The Cavaliers introduced Majerus' former assistant, Alex Jensen, on Tuesday as Development League coach of the Canton Charge. The 33-year-old Jensen was named to the job on Oct. 11, four days before Billikens' practice began.

"I told them I'll drive Alex to Cleveland in March and pay his salary, but I couldn't lose him now, not when he was in with three recruits and four days before the season," Majerus said.

Jensen learned of Majerus' remarks late Monday and addressed them at his introductory news conference. He lauded his former SLU boss and coach at Utah. They were part of the Utes team that reached the 1998 NCAA title game.

"[Majerus] thanked me and he wished me well," Jensen said. "The timing of it was unfortunate, but it was a job I could not pass up."

The Cavaliers purchased the D-League team in July and relocated it from New Mexico. Charge General Manager Wes Wilcox said the Cavs dedicated a "couple months" to the coaching search. Jensen said he kept his mentor posted from the time he learned of his candidacy. Majerus was the first person he called after taking two or three days to weigh the offer.

Majerus hired former Army and Evansville coach Jim Crews to replace Jensen.

"It caught [Majerus] off guard," Jensen said. "The first thing we talked about is the season starts real soon."

Majerus also has a history of unexpectedly leaving programs. In 2004, he resigned as interim coach at USC after just five days, citing health reasons. 

The Cavaliers' emphasis on defense jibes with what Majerus imparted upon Jensen.  Jensen has spoken with Cavaliers coach Byron Scott and the Charge will follow the same philosophies being taught by the parent club.

He admits being "skeptical" at first about taking the job because of his experience playing in the Continental Basketball Association. But Jensen soon realized, he said, the Charge would not be lacking in funding or facilities. The Charge opens its season Nov. 25 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

"It was a gut feeling," Jensen said of his final decision. "The more I talked to Wes and others it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. You are an extension of the Cavaliers."

These are not Mike Holmgren's Seattle Seahawks visiting Cleveland on Sunday. Pete Carroll has put his imprint on the team Holmgren last coached.

View full sizeJulio Cortez, Associated PressIn just his second season at the helm of the Seahawks, head coach Pete Carroll has led a massive revamping of the roster to try to build a contender in the NFC West.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Seattle Seahawks might be the former club coached by Browns President Mike Holmgren. But the team opposing the Browns on Sunday are way beyond being Holmgren's Seahawks.

In the second year of new coach Pete Carroll, the Seahawks have undergone a thorough transformation. Only eight players remain from the roster Carroll inherited when he left scandal-scarred Southern Cal in 2010. Carroll and General Manager John Schneider have overseen 472 transactions in less than two years.

The most controversial involved -- what else? -- the quarterback position. First, the Seahawks traded a second-round pick in 2010 for Charlie Whitehurst, an untested backup in San Diego who played in parts of two games in four seasons. Whitehurst got in two starts in relief of injured Matt Hasselbeck last year, and the reviews were not good.

After Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to an improbable win in the playoffs over New Orleans, he left in free agency to Tennessee. But instead of handing the job to Whitehurst, the Seahawks signed ex-Viking passer Tavaris Jackson and named him the starter before he took a snap in training camp. The logic in that move was that Jackson had played in new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell's system in Minnesota. Carroll wanted to reduce the transition to Bevell's offense because of the owners' lockout that wiped out off-season minicamps.

But Jackson suffered a pectoral injury in the team's last game before its bye. Whitehurst came in and orchestrated a surprise win on the road against the Giants. Now it appears that Whitehurst will be the starter Sunday against the Browns.

The Seahawks had sputtered in Bevell's version of the West Coast, scoring just 30 points in their first three games. Out of necessity to score quickly, they went to a no-huddle attack. It was so effective in parts of two games that Carroll and Bevell have now embraced it as the offense's identity. They ran it from start-to-finish against the Giants and produced 27 points on offense and 424 yards.

Now they've had a bye week to refine how to operate it.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

View full sizeBill Kostroun, Associated PressNow operating the Seahawks' no-huddle offense, Charlie Whitehurst was 11-for-19 for 149 yards in an upset victory of the New York Giants on Oct. 9.

Tony Grossi's Scouting Report

Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks

Sunday, 1 p.m. in Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Record: 2-3.

Last game: Defeated Giants, 36-25, Oct. 9, in East Meadowlands, N.J.

Coach: Pete Carroll, 10-13, second year; 43-44 overall.

Series record: Seahawks lead, 11-5.

Last meeting: Browns won, 33-30, Nov. 4, 2007, in Cleveland.

League rankings: Offense is 30th overall (29th rushing, 26th passing), defense is 18th (seventh rushing, 23rd passing) and turnover differential is minus-2.

Offensive overview: Under coordinator Darrell Bevell, they try to run a hybrid version of the West Coast offense he learned at Green Bay and took to Minnesota. Tom Cable, former Raiders head coach and assistant head coach/offensive line, has some input and strives for a strong running attack. The end product wasn't working. But they've picked up the tempo by stumbling upon a no-huddle attack and seem to be committing to it. When it runs efficiently, quarterback Charlie Whitehurst will play off the running of Marshawn Lynch and heave some play-action passes to Sidney Rice, Mike Williams and Doug Baldwin. Baldwin is an undrafted rookie from Stanford who has stolen the slot receiver role from 2010 second-round pick Golden Tate.

Defensive overview: Gus Bradley is the second-year coordinator essentially running Pete Carroll's philosophy on defense -- an aggressive 4-3 base with some press coverage in the secondary. The starting unit is the league's youngest and is allowing a league-low 3.13 yards per rush attempt. One reason why is they moved 323-pound Red Bryant to right end to join tackles Brandon Mebane and Alan Branch. The pass rusher in the base front is left end Chris Clemons, who leads with four sacks and has 15 in 21 games with Seattle. With cornerback Marcus Trufant out for the year, the defensive backfield is one of the biggest in the NFL. Cornerback Brandon Browner is 6-4 and 221 pounds and safety Cam Chancellor is 6-3 and 232. Best player on the unit might be second-year free safety Earl Thomas.

View full sizeBill Kostroun, Associated PressWith 32 tackles so far this season and an interception, second-year safety Earl Thomas is a leader on a Seahawks defense that currently ranks 18th in the NFL.

Special teams overview: Kicker Steven Hauschka is five of six on field goals with a long of 51 yards. Punter Jon Ryan is 10th in gross average (46.9 yards) and 15th in net (39.3). The coverage teams allowed a kickoff return and punt return for touchdown to Ted Ginn Jr. in the season opener. Return specialist Leon Washington has not hit big yet this year, but his seven career kickoff TD returns trail only Josh Cribbs' eight on the NFL all-time list.

Players to watch:

• Running back Marshawn Lynch: The hero of team's playoff upset win last year, he needs to be more effective than he's been (239 yards on 58 carries) for their play-action passing game to work.

• Receiver Doug Baldwin: The undrafted free agent from Stanford has displaced Golden Tate as a possession receiver. He ranks third among rookies with 20 receptions for 330 yards and has two touchdowns.

• Safety Earl Thomas: The 14th pick in the first round in 2010 led club with five interceptions as a rookie. He has one this year and is second on the team in tackles.

Injury report: QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral) left the last game. TE Zach Miller (neck), G Robert Gallery (groin) and C Max Unger (foot), WR Mike Williams (ankle) will be limited. WR Deon Butler, DB Roy Lewis and TE Cameron Morrah are expected to come off the physically unable to perform list this week.

Small world: Quarterbacks coach Carl Smith was with the Browns 2001-02 and 2009-10. ... Assistant director of college scouting Eric Stokes was selected by the Browns in the 1999 expansion draft. ... Offensive lineman Paul McQuistan was with the Browns for two weeks in 2010. ... Offensive lineman Paul Fanaika was with the Browns in 2010. ... Assistant strength and conditioning coach Jamie Yanchar is a Cleveland native and was with Browns 1986-88 as a volunteer coach. ... Linebacker Jameson Konz is a native of Uniontown and played at Kent State.

As the NFL trading deadline passes, talking to myself about Peyton Hillis and the Browns.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerPat Shurmur and the Browns don't want Peyton Hillis? While the contract negotiations create long-term uncertainty about Hillis' future with the franchise, Terry Pluto says there's no evidence that Pat Shurmur and the team really ever wanted to cut ties with their power runner.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talking to myself about Peyton Hillis ... again.

Question: Why would ESPN report the Browns would "listen" to trade offers for Peyton Hillis, despite coach Pat Shurmur saying they had no plans to trade Hillis?

Answer: Because it's Tom Heckert's job to listen to trade offers ... for anyone.

Q: So why were the Browns trying to trade Hillis?

A: They weren't. As far as I know, they didn't have a serious discussion about trading him. But any general manager should have been working the phone right up until Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. This is not like baseball; very few trades are made during the NFL season.

Q: But didn't Oakland just trade a first-round pick in 2012 and a first or second rounder in 2013 to the Bengals for Carson Palmer, who has been sitting out all year?

A: It's a dumb deal by Oakland, unless Palmer leads them deep into the playoffs. It's also why a reporter can correctly say the Browns would "listen to offers." If someone offered the Browns a first-round package such as that for Hillis, they would have to listen.

Q: But Hillis is still here, right?

A: Just as Shurmur said. On a practical level, Hillis is going to be a free agent at the end of the season. He has not been able to reach a deal on a new contract. He has a hamstring injury...

Q: Are you sure about that?

A: Yes. Hillis said so. The Browns said so.

Q: But didn't they also say he had strep throat?

A: In the name of Paul Brown, he had strep throat. I'm not talking strep throat, I'm talking hamstrings.

Q: Why are you yelling?

A: Because the real issue about Hillis is not trades. It's not the strep throat. It's not what his agent said. It's hamstrings.

Q: Meaning what?

A: Here is part of an Associated Press story from 2008: "Rookie Peyton Hillis, who had energized the offense during the past month, became the fifth Broncos tailback to go on injured reserve when medical tests showed he had a torn right hamstring behind the knee and might need surgery. He faces a two-month recovery."

Q: So you think he's really hurt?

A: I think he knows when something is wrong with his hamstring. It may be just a pull or a strain. But Hillis has to be careful. He had an MRI on Monday, but the Browns have not announced the results. The good news is the torn hamstring in 2008 was his right leg. This injury is to his left.

Q: So what's the point?

A: The Browns would have been out of their mind to deal Hillis and hand the job to Montario Hardesty and his history of knee injuries. Hardesty missed the 2005 season because of knee surgery when he was with Tennessee. He missed three games in 2007 because of an ankle injury. He had knee surgery in 2010, wiping out his rookie year with the Browns.

Q: So you don't think Hardesty can play?

A: I have no clue. He looks rusty after missing his rookie season. You can see some talent, but it's far too early to know. It's dangerous for the Browns to assume he can be a featured back until he proves to be healthy.

Q: Will that happen?

A: Who knows? Running back is a punishing position in the NFL. These guys get hurt, break down and wear out. Consider Reuben Droughns.

Q: What about him?

A: Take your pick. We can talk about how he gained 1,240 yards for Denver in 2004, and 1,232 yards for the Browns in 2005. Or how he last played in the NFL in 2008, done at 30. Or we can talk about Siberia.

Q: Siberia?

A: Droughns is now 33 and the coach of the Vukovi Beogard football team in Siberia.

Q: Who are you trying to fool?

A: Jim Weber of lostlettermen.com tracked down Droughns and wrote that story. Then there's William Green, who gained 887 yards as a rookie in the Browns' 2002 playoff season. He was out of the NFL by 2006 at the age of 27.

Q: Didn't Jerome Harrison get traded?

A: Harrison gained 862 yards for the Browns in 2009 -- doing a quick Leroy Kelly imitation with 561 in his final three games. He lost his starting job to Hillis in 2010 and was traded to Philadelphia for Mike Bell. Harrison gained 239 yards for the Eagles, then signed with Detroit for this year. He had only 41 yards in 14 carries before the Lions traded him back to the Eagles along with a seventh-round pick for Ronnie Brown on Tuesday.

Q: With all this about running backs burning out, are you are saying Hillis is done?

A: Of course not. But I do think the short football life of most running backs is probably a big issue in the contract talks. It's why he wants a lot of guaranteed money, and it's why the Browns probably are trying to keep those guaranteed dollars down.

Q: So he should sign?

A: I hope he does. I love his rugged running style, and he is a terrific receiver (dropped only one pass last year) in being second on the team with 62 catches. But that has been his only real good NFL season, so I can understand why the Browns don't want to pay him like a franchise player. Nonetheless, the Browns need as much depth as possible at running back, and Hillis really can help this offense if they can get him on the field and healthy.

Cavaliers' new minor-league coach played in Europe and CBA

Saint Louis Univ.The Cavaliers introduced Alex Jensen as their D-League coach on Tuesday.