Nagbe, the first pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer draft, scored a wondrous goal for the Portland Timber that became an ESPN mainstay and a YouTube sensation.

Lynn Ischay, The Plain DealerDarlington Nagbe (6) playing for the University of Akron, which he helped to the 2010 national championship. He won the Hermann Trophy as the nation's top player that season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Darlington Nagbe helped Akron's Zips win the men's soccer national championship last season.

In the process, Nagbe won the Hermann Trophy. That goes to the player voted as the nation's best, the equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy.

Then, the Portland Timber made Nagbe -- a 2008 Lakewood St. Edward graduate -- the first pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Then, Nagbe's career really took off. That means major notice on ESPN and YouTube.com.

It happened on one play for the 21-year-old Nagbe, who finished fourth in the MLS Rookie of the Year race.

The Portland Timbers website features the news that a spectacular goal scored by Nagbe last summer has earned him yet another award, this one from fans' voting.

From the Timbers' website:

Major League Soccer today named Portland Timbers midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe the winner of the 2011 AT&T Goal of the Year for his juggle and volley into the top corner of the goal on July 2 against Sporting Kansas City at JELD-WEN Field.

With the Timbers trailing Sporting Kansas City late in the first half, Nagbe scored his first professional goal in spectacular fashion. Controlling a clearance by juggling the ball twice in the air, the rookie then unleashed a volley from outside the penalty area that knifed into the upper left corner of the goal.

The goal was named one of the Top Plays on ESPN's SportsCenter that evening and won ESPN SportsCenter's Best of the Best poll every day for a full week, earning more votes each day than another top play from around the sports world. Within days, the highlight surpassed one million views on YouTube and has been reviewed more than 1.5 million times. In addition to being named MLSsoccer.com's Goal of the Week in Week 16, Nagbe's incredible goal was also named the Timbers' 2011 Play of the Year.

Nagbe's goal earned 42 percent of the votes, cast online by fans. A goal by Eric Hassli of the Vancouver Whitecaps came in second with 31 percent.

Video: From YouTube.com, Darlington Nagbe scoring the goal that earned him the MLS "Goal of the Year' award:

Reporter who covers the Jaguars warns that if they take the lead, then they can play conservative. Both teams are 3-6. Many more Browns links.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns tackle Ahtyba Rubin (left) and former linebacker David Bowens (right) work to bring down Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew during the Jaguars' 24-20 win over Cleveland last Nov. 21. Sunday's Browns-Jaguars game should feature much more of the same, from a play standpoint.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Browns Stadium.

Both teams are 3-6. Win-loss records don't necessarily assure a certain level of entertainment value, good or bad, one way or the other.

Given, though, the nature of both teams' struggling offenses, only the improbable would find the game with featured billing on post-game NFL highlight shows.

Nate Ulrich covers the Browns for the Akron Beacon Journal and Vito Stellino tracks the Jaguars for the Florida Times-Union.

Ulrich previews the Browns-Jaguars game by asking Stellino some questions about the Jaguars, including: 

Q: What should the Browns be worried about most when they face the Jaguars?

A: “That they can’t score. The Browns have scored nine points [and allowed 58] in the first quarter this year. If the Jaguars take the lead, then they can play conservative. The Browns’ best chance is if Gabbert throws interceptions. But if [the Jaguars] get ahead, play conservative, play good defense and run the ball, that would favor them. What [the Browns] have to worry about is they have to certainly go out and score early and then force the Jaguars not to be quite as conservative as they can be. Jones-Drew had 25 carries and backup [Deji Karim] had nine, so those two ran the ball 34 times [Sunday in the Jaguars’ 17-3 victory] against the Indianapolis Colts. I would think that’s their best formula, and they would probably do the same thing against the Browns.”

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi's story that the Browns got away with an illegal play in their 13-12 loss to the St. Louis Rams last Sunday; Grossi's scouting report on the Jaguars; videos by David I. Andersen of Browns quarterback Colt McCoy being interviewed on Wednesday and of Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot previewing the Browns-Jaguars game; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns-Jaguars game; and much more.

Sideline to sideline

It's difficult to evaluate Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, says Jamison Hensley, via ESPN.com video.

It's premature for fans to call for the firing of Browns coach Pat Shurmur, Mike McLain writes for the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

A transcript of Pat Shurmur's Wednesday press conference, on clevelandbrowns.com.

The Jaguars passing game vs. the Browns pass defense, by Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Weekly.

Some Browns players quotes from Wednesday, on clevelandbrowns.com.

The Browns are trying to identify their offensive problems. By Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Browns notes, including updates on wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and running back Montario Hardesty, by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

All of the Browns' 2011 draft picks are contributing, Fred Greetham writes for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Cleveland Browns Team Report on USAToday.com.

Montario Hardesty hopes to find his place in the Browns offense, Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository.

Eight reasons the Browns' offense is among the NFL's worst. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

The Jaguars are hoping to get their offense going against the Browns, writes Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

The Vikings held Fordham to 23 percent shooting in the second half but couldn't close the gap.

Fordham shot 52 percent from the field -- including 7-of-15 from 3-point range -- in the first half and took a 35-23 lead into the break.

The Vikings held Fordham to 23 percent shooting in the second half but could not get closer than the final margin.

Takima Keane led CSU with 10 points and three assists.

Former Browns linebacker Matt Roth returns Sunday playing a new position in a new uniform.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, Plain Dealer file photoMatt Roth, who played linebacker for the Browns last season, has helped Jacksonville improve its run defense as a defensive end for the Jaguars.

BEREA, Ohio — When the Browns left Matt Roth unsigned and he pondered a new team, he said he wanted to stay in a 3-4 defense and play for a winner.

So he wound up playing defensive end on a team that is 3-6. Not the Browns, of course. The Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I can play any front. I was just lying," Roth said with a laugh during a conference call Wednesday.

Roth is a football soldier of fortune. He offers his services to any team willing to pay him and he goes out and does his thing rather well. He lasted 4 1/2 years in Miami, two years in Cleveland and now is in Jacksonville.

He signed a one-year deal for $3 million and could be back on the free-agent market in March.

Roth is second on the Jaguars with three sacks and has 10 pressures. He's one of five new free-agent starters on a defense that has improved from 28th in yards allowed last season to fourth this season. Roth's renowned stoutness against the run has helped the Jaguars move up eight notches to 14th in run defense.

"I think the Jaguars got real lucky picking up him. He's a professional. You put your hand down [on the line of scrimmage] and do the same thing [wherever you play]," said Tony Pashos, the right tackle who will go up against Roth on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Which raises the obvious question: Why didn't the Browns re-sign Roth and plug him in at defensive end in Dick Jauron's new 4-3 system?

"We'll keep those discussions behind the scenes," coach Pat Shurmur said.

Some reasons are apparent. He's 29 -- too old for the Browns' youth movement. They didn't want to invest long-term in him. Eric Mangini brought him to Cleveland. And he wasn't keen on staying.

"No, I liked it there. I just wanted to keep my options open," he said initially.

Pressed on the subject, Roth said he decided to move on when he felt the Browns were "playing games" with him when his agent asked about a new contract during the 2010 season.

"At the time, they said they were doing no contracts, then I was finding out other guys were getting contracts underneath the table," Roth said. "I was like, 'Well, the heck with it. I'm not gonna have people lying [to me].' So I wanted to go to another place where they'd tell the truth.

"I had no problem if they said they weren't going to do a contract, but don't tell me you're not doing contracts when you were. That's what I meant by games. But I couldn't say that at the time because you have to be a team player."

Take Roth's words for what they're worth. He is, ahem, a free spirit, and Bill Parcells didn't suffer him in Miami. The Tuna waived Roth in 2009 and that's when Mangini scooped him up.

"We miss him out here on our defense," said left tackle Joe Thomas. "I'm sure he's gonna enjoy coming up here and playing again. Everyone loved him because you never knew what you'd get with him. Every day was fun and new with him."

Roth and former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan were a perfect match. It's apparent Roth would still be here if Mangini and Ryan had lasted a third season with the Browns.

Asked if he felt the Browns were moving in the right direction under Mangini, Roth said: "I liked the way we were going as a defense. I can't speak for the offense. I thought Rob was a great coordinator. I thought we had a great offensive front. I thought Colt [McCoy] was a good competitor.

"We were somewhat on the right page. But, you know, it was weird. You had Mangini doing what he was doing and then you had the front office kind of going another way. That's just the nature of the beast. They had different plans."

So what does he think of the Browns when he watches them on film?

"I see guys competing," Roth said. "I just see some bad breaks. One real big blow was [left guard] Eric Steinbach. Some of the stuff he could do with the run game, get out there and pave the way for [rushing] on the edges. I think that's definitely one of the big keys they're missing. It's hard to replace a guy like that. And then, also, [Peyton] Hillis not being healthy. He's a heck of a back when he's healthy and running hard."

Roth said he believes the Browns will win some day and thinks McCoy will be the quarterback when they get it done.

"I think McCoy's got it, definitely," he said. "When we were there last year, we were like, 'Let's see what this kid has.' The kid's very calm, collected, cool, great competitor. He's gonna work hard.

"But that [division] isn't easy. You've got Pittsburgh. You've got Cincinnati. It's a tough [division] with those defenses. He's got his work cut out for him."

Pashos does, too, on Sunday, keeping Roth out of the backfield.

Massaquoi has missed two games because of post-concussion symptoms, but doesn't know yet if he'll play Sunday against the Jaguars. Watch video

"We're going to progress," he said. "Each day I'm going to do a little bit more. And whenever I feel great to get back out there, I'll get back out there."

Massaquoi, who because of the concussion has missed two games and left another early, said he's not too worried about another concussion because the Browns have been so careful with him.

"I feel confident the symptoms won't come back," he said. "I feel confident that concussions aren't going to happen in the future, so I feel real good. Whenever you talk about concussions and the head, yeah, [it's a little scary] because you only have one brain, but we have great doctors and I feel great right now."

Massaquoi suffered the concussion Oct. 23 against Seattle and sat out the following week in San Francisco. He returned Nov. 6 in Houston, but came out after feeling ill in the first half. He spent most of last week at home resting and sat out the Rams game.

"People say their head's ringing or something like that, but it wasn't that," he said. "You just feel off. And until you feel like yourself, you put yourself at risk for another concussion or great danger just for future injury, so whenever you feel something, you've just got to shut it down."

He said coming out of the Houston game was a combination of him not feeling right and those around him noticing he was off.

"When you're in the moment, sometimes your adrenaline takes over so you really don't know when something's really triggering it," he said. "But I think we have the best medical staff, training staff in the league and we handled it great."

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi has missed the past two games because of post-concussion symptoms.

Massaquoi said he's not sure why it's taking him longer to recover from this concussion than it did for him to recover from James Harrison's knockout shot last season in Pittsburgh.

"Each case is different," he said. "You address each one individually."

Hardesty jogging: Running back Montario Hardesty (calf) sat out Wednesday's practice but jogged outside and worked with a trainer. He ran at a good speed, but might sit out Sunday.

"I want to play, but I'm not gonna come back till I'm good and ready to play," he said. "The steps that we're taking right now, the progress has been good, so we're gonna keep doing the same things."

Ward to be back: Browns coach Pat Shurmur said the news was good on safety T.J. Ward when he had his sprained foot examined Monday.

"What we found when we took the cast off is he'll be back," Shurmur said. Ward had another cast put on will soon progress to a walking boot.

Got away with one: The Browns' double-reverse that resulted in a 21-yard pass to Seneca Wallace should have been ruled illegal because there were two forward passes. The first exchange was supposed to be a handoff but Josh Cribbs took the snap and flipped the ball forward to Wallace, who then pitched it to Colt McCoy. McCoy then threw the pass to Wallace.

"We knew it when we watched it," said Shurmur. "We practiced the play. The first exchange between Josh and Seneca was practiced as a handoff. Three times last week we handed it off and in the game it got flipped. That's a rule, we know the rule."

On Robiskie: Former Browns receiver Brian Robiskie was limited in practice for the Jaguars on Wednesday with a pulled hamstring. He was inactive for the one game the Jaguars have played since they acquired him Nov. 2.

Extra points: Rams defensive end James Hall told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Wednesday that got a piece of Phil Dawson's missed field goal. The Rams said they haven't yet heard from Elias Sports Bureau on whether it will be changed to a blocked kick in the official stats.

After a long and complicated 10-game suspension, senior receiver DeVier Posey will return for the Buckeyes on Saturday, hoping to give the Penn State defense a reason to respect the Ohio State passing game.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, Plain Dealer file photoThe Buckeyes are hoping the return of receiver DeVier Posey can ignite the team's passing game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three DeVier Poseys return to the field Saturday for Ohio State.

One is the player suspended for five games last December, the receiver who joined Terrelle Pryor as the two players that former coach Jim Tressel was first warned about in the tattoo scandal that eventually unraveled the program. In a survey by Public Policy Polling last month, only 19 percent of Ohio State fans had a favorable opinion of Pryor.

Viewed in that light, Posey might be unwanted.

One is the player suspended for another five games in October when the NCAA judged he was overpaid by a booster, a charge Posey's lawyer, Larry James, and Bobby DiGeronimo, who employed Posey, vehemently dispute. Without any way to fight the NCAA, Posey's mother, Julie, felt her son was the "fall guy" in Ohio State's NCAA violations, telling The Plain Dealer in an interview after the second suspension that "it has been the most egregious witch hunt that I think I've ever witnessed."

Viewed in that light, Posey might be misunderstood.

One is the player that is the last chance to save the Ohio State passing game, the senior who has been serving as a leader and de facto assistant coach for months in practice and could go a long way toward changing how teams defend the Buckeyes.

Viewed in that light, Posey might never have been more needed.

"It's really nice to have him back," Ohio State center Mike Brewster said. "We've been waiting for him all season."

Posey's return for the last 23 percent of his senior season begins against Penn State on what is Senior Day and the last home game of the season for the Buckeyes. Julie Posey said she'll be thinking "how proud I am of my son," while saying, "I don't want people to think that I'm just a mom that's blindsided because my kid does no wrong. That's not true."

She just can't believe it all came down this way, feeling her son's character has been tarnished when he didn't break any laws.

"I don't get it, and it's heartbreaking, because he doesn't deserve it," Julie Posey said. "He's a great young man. I know he's my son, but he's a great young man. He has toed the line. He has kept his mouth shut. He has not weighed the football program down with this."

And now that program hopes to be lifted by his presence. So far this season, Posey has served as probably the best scout team receiver in the country, working to prepare the OSU defense each week in a role usually reserved for young players not on the depth chart. Now he'll become the best receiver on the field, and it's not even close. He runs sharper runs, adjusts to defenses more effectively and understands how to get open far more than the rest of the receiving group, made up of freshmen and sophomores that have struggled all year.

In fact, Posey could lead the Buckeyes in catches this season while playing in just two regular-season games and a bowl game. With 53 catches last season, he averaged four per game. If he can average a bit more than that, say five per game, 15 catches could lead the team. Ohio State's leading receiver so far is tight end Jake Stoneburner with 12 catches.

"DeVier is going to be emotionally on fire," OSU receivers coach Stan Drayton said. "That's something that a young group [of receivers] is going to benefit from. The way DeVier prepares, before the actual game, he absolutely loves it. Our young men are going to learn from that. So I'm excited about that."

OSU coach Luke Fickell is hoping for a spark, what he said he saw when starting running back Dan Herron returned from his six-game suspension.

"You look around and you're in a huddle and you've got a guy that's got some confidence and has been there and done it, hopefully they can feed off of that," Fickell said. "That's what we're looking for."

What Posey won't do is single-handedly turn Ohio State, third-to-last in the nation in passing yards per game, into a passing team. But even without five catches, Posey should change the game. Last week, Purdue, more than any opponent this season, sold out to stop the Ohio State running game, with both safeties cheating toward the line of scrimmage on many plays. Brewster said there were times when there just weren't enough bodies to block all the Boilermakers. Posey's presence on its own should prevent Penn State from being as aggressive against the run.

"I'm making the blocking calls realizing [a defender] is going to be free, and there's nothing you can really do about it," Brewster said. "Getting DeVier back will bump one of those guys out of there and give us a little more room."

"He's a playmaker, so it's something a defense has to account for," OSU co-defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said. "You've got to know where he is."

At the very least, any of the three ways you look at, the Buckeyes know Posey will be on the field. At last.

For the first time this season, Penn State plans to rely on one quarterback Saturday, one who threw two touchdowns and two interceptions for touchdowns against Ohio State last season.

View full sizeGene J. Puskar, Associated PressPenn State plans to stick with quarterback Matt McGloin against the Buckeyes on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — One thing that was settled at Penn State this week was the quarterback question. After a season spent using both Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden, listing them as co-starters on the depth chart, Nittany Lions interim coach Tom Bradley this week made it clear McGloin is his guy.

Not necessarily for later. But for right now, for Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium, Penn State will have a clear quarterback for the first time.

McGloin, a junior, has started the three games after sophomore Bolden started the first seven. Many Penn State observers felt McGloin should have been given the full-time job weeks ago, but former coach Joe Paterno never made that call. Bradley said the decision on McGloin was his decision, though as the former defensive coordinator, he said he's there to only help the offensive staff.

McGloin is there to help the running game.

"I think their ability to run the football has been what's been really good for them," OSU coach Luke Fickell said. "You look back last week, and I know they lost, but I think they ran the ball 48 times. They made a couple big long passes to get back in the game, but at the end of that game they were running the football to give themselves a chance."

Last year, though, McGloin became the first Penn State quarterback in nine games to throw a touchdown pass in Ohio Stadium. He threw two touchdowns in the first half as the Nittany Lions took a 14-3 halftime lead. But the Buckeyes figured him out after halftime, as Devon Torrence and Travis Howard both returned interceptions for touchdowns.

As Ohio State will do with Braxton Miller, Penn State won't ask McGloin to win the game by throwing regularly. He's completing 54 percent of his passes, with seven touchdowns and three interceptions while averaging 139 passing yards per game.

"They try to lull you to sleep with that run game and then they've got speed and the receivers out there on the edge to throw it over your head," OSU co-defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said. "Penn State has always in the past thrown the ball deep a little bit more than some of the teams we face. The run it and run it and then try to get something over your head off of play-action."

Hankins' status: After Fickell on Tuesday said the prognosis for starting defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins probably didn't look good in regards to the sophomore recovering from a knee injury to play Saturday, Haynes provided a more encouraging outlook for OSU fans on Wednesday.

The assistant coaches never like to talk about injuries, and asked about Hankins three times Haynes said only, "He'll be ready."

The Tribe assign a strength coach to the Dominican to make sure players like pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez put in their work during the off-season.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerApparently Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez "needs to work this winter."

Getting stronger: It's not an accident that the Indians assigned a strength coach to spend the winter in the Dominican Republic with Ubaldo Jimenez, Carlos Santana, Fausto Carmona and other players in the organization.

Jimenez, acquired in the big July deadline deal with the Rockies for pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, took a vacation to Spain last off-season in the middle of his throwing program. After reporting to spring training, he suffered a hip injury that turned his season upside down.

A baseball person from outside the Indians organization put it bluntly when he said, "He needs to work this winter."

It's still undecided if Jimenez will pitch winter ball.

"I'm in favor of whatever Ubaldo feels will put himself in a better position for next year," said General Manager Chris Antonetti. "Unlike a lot of our other players who we have a longer history with, we don't have that history with him. We'll have to defer to him to what he feels he has to do to prepare for the season."

One down? It looks like Tribe bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. is out of the running to be the manager in Boston. The Red Sox are leaning heavily toward naming Milwaukee hitting coach Dale Sveum their new manager.

Alomar is still in the running for the Cubs job.

Recognition: Indians manager Manny Acta finished fourth in the American League Manager of the Year voting Wednesday by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon won the award, followed by Detroit's Jim Leyland and Ron Washington of Texas.

Acta received three second-place votes and seven third-place votes. Two members of the BBWAA from each AL city voted on the award. Acta led the Indians to a second-place finish and an 11-game improvement in the AL Central this year.

The Indians improved from 69 victories in 2010 to 80 in 2011.

On the prowl: The Indians have interest in free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel. Bothered by a foot injury last year with the Twins, Kubel, 29, hit .273 (100-for-366) with 21 doubles, 12 homers and 58 RBI.

Kubel isn't the right-handed hitter the Indians need to balance the lineup, but he has power and can play left and right field. Kubel won't be as expensive as his former Twins teammate Michael Cuddyer, but he is looking for a two- or three-year contract at probably between $7 million and $8 million a year.

Besides finding a starting outfielder, the Indians need depth at Class AAA and Class AA. Nick Weglarz and Travis Neal, both coming off injuries, are their only options. Neal was acquired from the Giants for Orlando Cabrera.

Rock star: Singer John Cougar Mellencamp and actress Meg Ryan were spotted in the lobby of the Pfister Hotel.

Plan B: If the Brewers can't retain Prince Fielder, they will consider Mat Gamel at first base.

Merry Marlins: The Miami Marlins, headed into a new ballpark, have been active this winter. They have held negotiations with prime free agents Mark Buehrle, Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.

It's clear their $57 million payroll from last season is on the rise.

"With the payroll increasing, I think it's our job to open up all the doors that make sense and try to do whatever we can to make the team better," said GM Larry Beinfest. "We're looking for good players, period."

The Marlins have a new manager in Ozzie Guillen. They will be playing in a new ballpark with new uniforms and what could be a revamped roster.

Patience: Matt LaPorta, whose inconsistency with the bat has put his future in doubt with the Indians, is represented by agent Scott Boras.

"Power in the big leagues is the last tool to come," said Boras. "That's Matt's forte. If you look at a lot of young power hitters, you have to give them a significant number of at-bats to know what direction that's going to go. I think that's the plan the Indians have for him."

LaPorta hit .247 (87-for-352) with 23 doubles, one triple and 11 homers in 107 games last season. The Indians told LaPorta that he will have to come to spring training and win the first base job.

Open door policy: The Phillies declined the options on starter Roy Oswalt and reliever Brad Lidge for 2012. GM Ruben Amaro says the door is still open on them returning, but he isn't going to make any guarantees.

Amaro is concentrating on trying to sign Jimmy Rollins, his free-agent shortstop.

What gives? New Minnesota GM Terry Ryan told Twins reporters that his team will enter the 2012 season with an estimated $100 million payroll. What's unknown is whether that will include free-agent Cuddyer and Kubel.

New role: GM Kenny Williams said reliever Chris Sale is scheduled to join the White Sox's starting rotation in 2012.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Hall of Fame offensive lineman and former Browns coach Forrest Gregg, a man celebrated for his durability on the football field, is facing a difficult challenge away from the gridiron.

AP PhotoForrest Gregg had an 18-23 record as the Browns’ coach (1975-77).

Hall of Fame offensive lineman and former Browns coach Forrest Gregg, a man celebrated for his durability on the football field, is facing a difficult challenge away from the gridiron.

Nicknamed “Iron Man” for playing in a then-record 188 consecutive NFL games during his career, Gregg told the Associated Press on Wednesday he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Although the cause of the debilitating neurological disorder is unknown, Gregg, his family and his neurologist say his disease may be related to numerous concussions he suffered during his playing career in the 1950s at SMU and from 1956 to ’71 with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

Gregg, 78, was diagnosed last month. Gregg’s symptoms include hand tremors, a stooped posture, shortened stride and softened voice.

“I’d like to stop it there if I could,” he told the AP in an interview.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but a combination of drugs, exercise and physical therapy can delay the devastating effects of the disease that strikes more than 50,000 Americans every year.

The former offensive lineman, who was a six-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, said he wanted to go public with his diagnosis to promote understanding of the disease and push for more research.

Gregg had an 18-23 record as the Browns’ coach (1975-77). The Browns were 6-7 in 1977 when he decided to resign before the season’s final game.

Around the league

Cardinals: Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb practiced on a limited basis, testing his injured right foot with some football moves for the first time since he was hurt three games ago.

Backup John Skelton has helped the team to two victories in Kolb’s absence.

Chargers: San Diego placed Pro Bowl left guard Kris Dielman on injured reserve due to the lingering effects of a concussion suffered Oct. 23 against the Jets in New York.

He was originally slated to miss two games following the concussion and a grand mal seizure suffered on the plane ride home.

The team’s reaction to Dielman’s concussion came under scrutiny by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. He did not come out of the game even though he was visibly staggered by the injury, and wasn’t diagnosed until afterward.

Chiefs: Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel had surgery on his injured throwing hand and coach Todd Haley still hopes that he will be back this season.

Cassel hurt his right hand in Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Denver. The former Pro Bowl quarterback had surgery Monday evening to repair what Haley called a “significant” injury.

The Chiefs play Monday night at New England, giving backup Tyler Palko a little more time to prepare. Rookie Ricky Stanzi, a Lake Catholic grad, will be the backup.

Jets: New York running back LaDainian Tomlinson won’t play in tonight’s game at Denver because of a left knee injury.

Tomlinson has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee. The 11-year veteran was hurt in Sunday night’s loss to New England.

Also out for New York will be safety Brodney Pool (sprained left knee), a former Brown who did not play against the Patriots, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (left knee), and tight end Shawn Nelson (illness).

Giants: New York receiver Victor Cruz said he quickly got under a table and stayed down after hearing gunshots at a New York City supper club while celebrating his birthday with teammate Chris Canty and friends.

Cruz and Canty were scared but not hurt in the early Tuesday morning incident inside the Juliet Supper Club. The shooting was not related to the party.

Ravens: Bedford grad Lee Evans took part in the portion of practice open to the media, and the Baltimore wide receiver sounded hopeful beforehand that he might be able to return for Sunday’s game against visiting Cincinnati.

Evans, who has sat out seven consecutive games because of a left ankle injury, had practiced last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but was deactivated for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis missed Wednesday’s practice. The team’s injury report described Lewis, who was not reported to have suffered an injury Sunday, as dealing with a foot injury.

Vikings: Minnesota signed veteran cornerback Benny Sapp to try to help plug the holes in a depleted secondary.

The eighth-year pro played for the Vikings in 2008 and ’09 before being traded to the Miami Dolphins. Sapp was cut after a Week 1 loss to New England this year and has been waiting for a call since.

The Vikings need bodies in the secondary right now and chose Sapp because of his familiarity with their system. Antoine Winfield (Akron Garfield, Ohio State) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a broken clavicle and Chris Cook is not with the team while he deals with domestic battery charges.

Eastern Michigan and Kent State finally are playing for something other than trying to get out of last place.

View full sizeEd Suba Jr., Akron Beacon JournalKent State's Trayion Durham (34), Sam Kirkland and the rest of the Golden Flashes have a chance to finish above .500 in the MAC.

The dregs have risen. Perhaps no two Mid-American Conference football teams have consistently ranked among the worst in the nation over the past 25 years than Kent State and Eastern Michigan.

But in 2011, as the season winds down, both the Golden Flashes (4-6, 3-3 MAC) and the Eagles (6-4, 4-2), are playing for something more than getting out of the basement of the conference standings.

The Eagles need one more victory this season to become bowl-eligible, with games left at KSU's Dix Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday, and at Northern Illinois on Nov. 25.

The last time EMU was bowl-eligible was 1995.

As for Kent, the Flashes can become bowl-eligible by winning out. But their chances at winning the MAC's East Division are unlikely.

For that to happen, Kent first has to defeat EMU.

Then, KSU must beat Temple (6-4, 4-3) on the road to finish at 6-6, 5-3.

Also, Miami (6-4, 3-3) must lose to Western Michigan (5-5, 3-3); and then defeat division-leading Ohio (7-3, 4-2). And OU must lose to Bowling Green (4-6, 2-4).

Move-ins: The first week of MAC basketball was interesting in that several transfers made solid-to-impressive debuts. The latest was Bill Edwards Jr., a 6-6, 245-pound forward from Penn State, now at Miami, who helped the RedHawks pull off an overtime win over Dayton, 72-67. Edwards finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In Akron's season-opening victory over Mississippi State, transfers Brian Walsh (Xavier) and Chauncey Gilliam (Maryland-Baltimore County) were solid contributors, Walsh as the backup point guard and Gilliam on the wing.

In OU's 85-78 overtime win over Lamar, Ohio State transfer guard Walter Offutt delivered 13 points and nine rebounds.

And in Kent State's 70-60 upset of West Virginia on Tuesday, transfer Chris Evans (Coastal Carolina/Wabash JC) delivered a highlight dunk that helped halt a potential Mountaineers' comeback.

Man, oh, Manns: While the focus was on Kent State's double-figure scorers in the upset of the Mountaineers, first-year head coach Rob Senderoff said to not discount the presence of 6-11 senior Justin Manns.

He did not play in KSU's closed scrimmage with St. Bonaventure, or the exhibition against Rochester (Mich.), so the relative basketball neophyte had his first action of the season against West Virginia's baseline of brutes.

Manns, who never played AAU basketball and played just one year of high school, finished with five points, six rebounds and three turnovers in 20 minutes against the Mountaineers, which Senderoff said is progress.

"I'm not saying Justin played great, but last year a bad game from Justin would have been no points, two rebounds, missed defensive assignments and several fouls in 11 minutes," Senderoff said. "If this is a bad game for Justin, I'll take it to start. These numbers are better than his averages last season [4.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg].

"Justin Manns is still learning the game. He's going to be fine."

Sign in, please: On the final day of the NCAA's early signing period for basketball, Akron announced three signees: 5-11 point guard Carmelo Betancourt (San Juan, Puerto Rico); 6-7 forward Jake Kretzer (Waverly, Ohio); and 6-6 forward Reggie McAdams (Elida, Ohio).

The plum of the group is McAdams, a first team All-Ohio quarterback as a junior who averaged 19.5 points per game during his junior season on the hardwood.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Baseball is headed for a new look under new rules. It starts with a basic agreement between owners and players association that is expected to be agreed upon next week. Two 15-team leagues are expected to follow in 2013.

View full sizeDavid J. Phillip, Associated PressJim Crane is expected to become the new owner of the Houston Astros, but as a condition of ownership he must move the team to the American League in 2013.

MILWAUKEE — Change is coming to baseball. Within the next two years, MLB's 30 teams are expected to be divided into two 15-team leagues. The Astros are in place to make the difference, moving from the National League to the American League.

Houston's prospective owner, Jim Crane, according to several sources, was told by MLB that he had to make the switch from the NL Central to the AL West to get his ownership bid approved. The approval could come today in a vote by owners.

Crane, according to the Houston Chronicle, received a $70 million discount on the Astros' $680 million price tag to make the move. MLB and outgoing owner Drayton McLane would each pay Crane $35 million. The Astros have been in the National League since they came into the big leagues as an expansion team in 1962.

The Astros won't make the move until 2013. It will give baseball six five-team divisions. In addition, a second wild card playoff team will be added to each league. These changes couldn't be made this year because the schedule has already been released. Houston would join the Texas Rangers in the AL West to create an in-state rivalry.

The foundation of this change is expected to be a new basic agreement between owners and the players association.

It's close to being completed and could be announced next week. Negotiations were put on hold this week during the GM/owners meetings.

With two 15-team leagues, an interleague game will be played every day during the season to balance the schedule. Teams usually play between 15 and 18 interleague games in May and June.

In a Twitter chat on the Colorado Rockies Twitter feed, Commissioner Bud Selig addressed the subject by saying, "For 15/15 realignment, Houston would be the team moving to AL West. Would create more fairness in baseball."

Selig added, "15 teams in each league would necessitate interleague play every day but it will be better schedule overall."

The basic agreement is also expected to bring changes to the draft and compensation that teams receive when they lose a free agent. There has been much speculation about what those changes will be, but nothing confirmed by MLB.

The extra wild-card team will create more opportunities for teams in small and middle markets to reach the postseason, but it doesn't mean they are going to be a land rush to the promised land.

In the AL, the extra wild-card team should all but guarantee that AL East giants New York and Boston make the postseason every year. So what else is new?

Still that leaves an open berth to October for one of the eight teams that doesn't win division titles in the AL Central or AL West.

"We're trying to build the best team we can to win as many games as possible," said Indians GM Chris Antonetti. "If there is an additional wild-card spot that we'd be eligible for, it gives us a better opportunity to make the postseason."

The problem for the Indians is that since the inception of the wild card in 1994, only one AL Central team has won it. The odds will improve in 2013.

Pittsburgh GM Neal Huntington said moving from the NL to the AL will be painful for the Astros in a couple of ways.

"It's going to cost you more money because you have to fill the DH spot," said Huntington. "That's an extra bat you have to have in the lineup. And you'll play Boston and New York a lot more."

An AL team may have to build its roster differently depending on how many interleague games they play in NL parks. It could spawn a new hybrid player -- a utility infielder/outfielder who can also pitch.

It may even, one day, lead baseball to play all its games under the same set of rules. Now that would be a change.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

What if the out-of-touch NBA owners and players staged a "nuclear winter" and nobody noticed?

View full sizeJohn Minchillo, Associated PressNBA Commissioner David Stern says the NBA is entering a season he calls "nuclear winter."

Nobody roots for Goliath(s). . .

With NBA owners and players waiting out a freezing brain delay, let's go to the out-of-touch scoreboard.

• Commissioner David Stern isn't just predicting a long winter.

"We are about to go into the nuclear winter of the NBA," Stern said gravely.

Would someone please hit this guy with Nikita Kruschchev's shoe and knock some post-Cold War perspective into him?

• Fifteen NBA players are ranked on Forbes' list of the Top 50 Richest Athletes in the World.

While there are more race car drivers than NBA players on the list, NBA players who made the ranking are Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter and Michael Redd.

Yes, a salary correction in the NBA does seem like an overdue idea.

• Portland's Paul Allen, believed to be one of the hardline smaller market owners behind Stern's scorched-earth policy, is at least able to look on the bright side despite the threat of a canceled season.

Allen has secured the only "megayacht" mooring available at the 2012 London Olympics, according to a prominent yachting magazine to which I have never subscribed.

Good news for the captain of Allen's 414-foot yacht, "Octopus." He won't have to double-park.

• "Instead of treating the players like partners, they're treating them like plantation workers." -- NBA players association attorney Jeffrey Kessler.

Yes, yes. Just like it.

• Stern termed it a "tragedy" when players rejected the latest proposal and threatened to decertify the union.

A natural disaster is a tragedy. Losing Sacramento-Golden State on a Tuesday night in December is called a "Christmas present."

• LeBron James owns a $12 million mansion in South Florida complete with a water view from every room. He does not have room for "Octopus," but the dock would accommodate two smaller, you know, yachts.

• Like every owner, Dan Gilbert has a right to earn a profit. And like every owner, he isn't going broke.

His franchise value went the way of Joe Paterno's sainthood campaign after James walked out. But owning a NBA team in Cleveland gave him entry into the casino business in Ohio where he will have to get by having the house odds in his favor.

• Amar'e Stoudemire said that if there's a long lockout, the players may have to consider forming their own league.

That's no more out-of-touch than if I said I was going to start my own male modeling agency, using only sportswriters.

• The average NBA salary is $5 million. The minimum NBA salary is $474,000.

• That's big money. Or what the owners know as "vacuuming the couch cushions," not that they have ever vacuumed their own couch cushions.

• "For years owners have treated players as if they are just their property -- fining them over how they dress, act, everything," agent Aaron Goodwin told the Washington Post. "This is the first time the players have the opportunity to say, 'No.' "

Have you seen how some of these guys dress and act?

• No multimillionaire players have said what Patrick Ewing said during the last lockout: "As NBA players, we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money, too."

But we're in close enough proximity to that comment to believe they're thinking it, even if the union has warned them against saying anything like it.

• NBA owners have not yet announced a plan to lower ticket prices if management gets concessions from players.

Probably 'cause it hasn't crossed their minds.

Let's call this whole thing a tie.

Misguided

As long as he's only helping kids decide on the rest of their lives and not how to tackle, no harm, no foul.

In an apparent effort to build his definition of "toughness," a Wyoming high school football coach gave his players a 'Hurt Feelings Report,' a sarcastic questionnaire that offered possible reasons for them getting their feelings hurt. (Hint: The answer is, there are none).

"I have woman-like hormones" was one choice.

Others choices included anti-gay and sexist language.

Pat Lynch's survey also asked for the name of the "little sissy filing report." There was a place for a "girly-man signature."

The Buffalo (Wyo.) school board accepted his resignation as football coach but allowed him to continue in his full-time job at the school.

No, not home economics teacher.

Guidance counselor.

Spinoffs

• How bad has it become for the Browns and their fans when not handing off to Owen Marecic causes a storm of criticism?

• In an understandable move to avoid controversy, the Big Ten removed Joe Paterno's name from the new conference championship trophy. It will be known only as the Stagg Championship Trophy. No other changes were announced.

So in case you lost track, the division where Penn State plays is still called "Leaders."

• Yale QB Patrick Witt will miss competing for a Rhodes Scholarship on Saturday to play against rival Harvard. This is believed to be the first time academics has played second fiddle in Division I college sports.

• Bobby Bowden says old friend Joe Paterno was "a little negligent." If the guy from Free Shoes University thinks you're only "a little negligent," I'm not sure that's a ringing endorsement.

• Stop worrying. The Indians' recognition of National Recycling Day will not include an Austin Kearns signing.

He said it

"Well that doesn't make much sense. It would be like buying a Ferrari and pouring sugar in the gas tank." -- Denver head coach John Fox, on the crazy idea that he's hoping Tim Tebow fails to squelch fan groundswell for the popular QB.

Point well-made, but the analogy could be better. Tebow is more like the snow chains on a Ferrari.

You said it: The Expanded Midweek Edition

Bud: Pat Shurmur said in his Monday press conference: "You can score on a run play just as well as a pass play." By "You" he meant the rest of the NFL, right? -- Paul C., Maple Heights

I would like to think he meant everyone except Alex Smith.

I'm from Philadelphia. So as a kid, I dreamed of pelting Santa Claus with a snowball.

I believe the Browns are on the same accelerated pace as lakefront development.

No. I would just write it with a sense of entitlement instead of the usual sense of despair.

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection.

Repeat winners get no recognition.

Repeat winners also get compared to the 1962 Mets.

To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639

Your first look at the business world today.

Associated Press fileAlabama's football coach Nick Saban, left, makes $4.8 million a year.

Is it time for baseball to have one set of rules? DH in both leagues or no DH in both leagues?

Gus Chan/The Plain DealerDH Jim Thome

Paul Hoynes writes on Cleveland.com from the baseball meetings in Milwaukee. Hoynes writes how more interleague games will be the norm in 2013 when the Houston Astros move from the National League to the American League.

In fact, there will be an interleague game played everyday in 2013.

Hoynes wants to know if this means the AL and NL are close to playing under the same rules. Would this mean each league would play with the DH or each league will play without the DH.

What should baseball do?

A posting on the Internet may have provided the critical break in the Jerry Sandusky case.

APJerry Sandusky

 
In this New York Times article, Jo Becker writes how a critical break in the investigation of Jerry Sandusky came via a posting on the Internet.

Working off the brief mention on an Internet forum where people chatted about Penn State athletics, according to the two people with knowledge of the case, investigators narrowed their list of coaches likely to have seen something to Mike McQueary, then an assistant coach and the football program’s recruiting coordinator.

Becker also writes how investigators uncovered other alarming facts.

Officials at the Second Mile, the charity for at-risk children that Sandusky founded and that prosecutors say he used to target victims, reported that several years of the organization’s records were missing and had perhaps been stolen. The missing files, investigators worry, may limit their ability to determine if Sandusky used charity resources — expense accounts, travel, gifts — to recruit new victims, or even buy their silence, according to two people with knowledge of the case.

Most disturbingly, investigators continued to identify possible victims but these young men were not eager to tell their stories, writes Becker.

More on Penn State

Mother of Sandusky's adopted son speaks out.

Penn State should say no to a bowl invitation.

Penn State links on PennLive.com.

Penn State should receive the death penalty.

Alleged victim plans to testify.

This week on "Browns Insider," Mary Kay Cabot, Terry Pluto and Dennis Manoloff talked about the Browns as they get ready for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Click on the video to watch. Watch video

This week on "Browns Insider," Mary Kay Cabot, Terry Pluto and Dennis Manoloff talked about the Browns as they get ready for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They also revisited the Browns' loss to the Rams, dove into the continued problems on offense and tackled your chat room questions and comments. Click on the video to watch.

Among the topics discussed:

- What did Pat Shurmur's play calling late in the Rams game tell you about him and his faith in Colt McCoy?

- Are you seeing improvement from McCoy?

- What really happened on that botched field goal against the Rams?

- Will we see more creative playcalling on offense again Sunday?

- Is this game the best or last chance for the Browns to win this season?

- Who are you picking for this game?

Ohio State looks to rebound from its stunning loss at Purdue last week, while Tom Bradley leads Penn State into Ohio Stadium in just his second game since taking over from Joe Paterno. Watch this video as CineSport's Noah Coslov previews Saturday's game with the The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises and the Philadelphia Inquirer's Joe Juliano.

Ohio State looks to rebound from its stunning loss at Purdue last week, while Tom Bradley leads Penn State into Ohio Stadium in just his second game since taking over from Joe Paterno.

Watch this video as CineSport's Noah Coslov previews Saturday's game with the The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises and the Philadelphia Inquirer's Joe Juliano.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

President Gee praises athletic director Gene Smith.

Terry Gilliam l Associated PressOhio State University President E. Gordon Gee.

Despite issues with the NCAA, Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee gave athletic director Gene Smith a positive job-performance evaluation, writes Randy Ludlow of The Columbus Dispatch.

Gee met with Smith a few months ago to discuss his performance for the year ending June 30, said OSU spokesman Jim Lynch. Gee then followed up with a one-page memo to Smith on Oct. 21. Lynch said that is the only written record of the evaluation.

Gee’s memo refers only vaguely to the scandals that led to player suspensions, ousted former coach Jim Tressel and prompted the NCAA to cite Ohio State for failure to properly monitor its football program. The university has paid more than $1.1?million to consultants and lawyers hired to help the university respond to the allegations.

Smith appreciates Gordon's perspective.

Around the Horseshoe

Wide receiver DeVier Posey's season is about to begin.

Ohio State news in The Toledo Blade.

The best Ohio State Buckeyes jerseys.

Plain Dealer Indians beat reporter also predicts that in 2012 Grady Sizemore will play for . . . Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Branson Wright, as Chuck Yarborough is on assignment.

The Major League Baseball GM/owner meetings are being held this week in Milwaukee, and today's guest on SBTV, Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer, has the latest.

With the Houston Astros poised to make a move to the American League, is it time for the designated hitter to be re-evaluated? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Hoynsie also talks about the addition of two more wild-card teams and why it's a good thing; what the hottest hot-stove topic is for the Indians; and where he thinks Grady Sizemore will end up in 2012.

SBTV will return Friday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi answering fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

And don't miss today's edition of the cleveland.com Browns Insider show, which streamed live at 10 a.m. and is archived now for your viewing pleasure.

What can the Cleveland Browns do about their offensive issues?

Jae C. Hong / Associated PressColt McCoy

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how the Cleveland Browns are finally identifying issues on offense.

The pieces of evidence are there — the starting running back out for more than a month with a hamstring injury. A team learning a new offense without benefit of an offseason, writes Schudel, are just a few of the reasons.

Put it all together and you have the Browns' woeful offense scoring two touchdowns in their last four games and only eight red zone touchdowns all season. Only Jacksonville, coincidentally the Browns' opponent Sunday, has been less productive inside the 20. The Jaguars have seven red zone touchdowns.

And the most startling statistic of all: Nine games in and still no touchdowns in the first or third quarters.

But help is on the way. Mohamed Massaquoi practiced Wednesday after missing two of the last three games with concussion symptoms. And running back Montario Hardesty could see action on Sunday.

More Cleveland Browns

Matt Roth returns to Cleveland in a different uniform.

It's hard to evaluate quarterback Colt McCoy.

Jacksonville's Will Middleton moves to corner