Plain Dealer OSU reporter says Wolverines' defense is much improved over the last few seasons. Watch video

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

The Ohio State Buckeyes are in the midst of a down season but are still fired up to play rival Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Which team is going to win, and by how many points? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises, who has a story today about the OSU defense and what it has to do to contain Wolverines QB Denard Robinson.

Doug also talks about Adolphus Washington, a four-star defensive end recruit from Cincinnati who today orally committed to be part of the Buckeyes' 2012 recruiting class; and discusses what kind of game OSU quarterback Braxton Miller needs to have for the Buckeyes to beat Michigan.

SBTV will return Wednesday with Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff talking Browns and looking ahead to Sunday's road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Are the Indians making the right move if they bring Grady Sizemore back? Can Colt McCoy and the Browns build off Sunday's win? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore is reportedly on the verge of re-signing with the Indians.

Are the Indians making the right move if they bring Grady Sizemore back? Can Colt McCoy and the Browns build off Sunday's win?

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

Among other topics discussed:

• Have the Browns found something in Chris Ogbonnaya?

• Does Jordan Norwood have a future with this team?

• Is the 2011 Draft turning out to be better than the 2010 Draft for the Browns?

• Is the Ohio State football coaching job Urban Meyer's if he wants it?

• Can local basketball teams like Cleveland State, Kent State and Akron benefit from the NBA lockout?

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

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

Now that the Broncos released Kyle Orton, where will he end up?

Ed Andrieski/Associated PressFormer Denver quarterback Kyle Orton makes an attempt against the Browns.

Well it looks like the Denver Broncos are down to Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn as they make their run for a playoff spot.

Reporter Mike Klis of The Denver Post writes how the Broncos on Tuesday waived quarterback Kyle Orton, team executive vice president John Elway announced, ending his controversy-filled run with the team.

Orton was the Broncos' starter from 2009 until he was benched in favor of Tim Tebow at halftime of the fifth game this season against San Diego. With Orton and his wife having a newborn baby girl in August, the quarterback was willing to stay in Denver despite a difficult professional situation.

However, Orton let it be known that Chicago would be one place he'd like to play for. The waiver process can be tricky as other NFL teams ranked ahead of the Bears _ such as the Kansas City Chiefs — could place a claim on Orton.

Orton went from Jay Cutler's replacement in Denver to Tebow's backup. Now he's looking for a team.

Indians Snow Days will open this Friday, Nov. 25 at Progressive Field. Watch video and see photos from the Media Preview earlier today. Watch video

Indians Snow Days will open this Friday, Nov. 25 at Progressive Field.

The winter festival, which has become an annual event at the Indians ballpark, will once again feature a 200-feet tubing hill, dubbed "The Batterhorn," as well as a skating track, called "The Frozen Mile."

New this year is a regulation-size hockey rink, which will host youth and high school hockey tournaments, as well as an NCAA game between Ohio State and Michigan on January 15.

For tickets and a schedule of events, go to indians.com

Click for video and photos from today's media preview.

All the judges in Penn State's home county removed themselves from potentially presiding over the child sex-abuse case against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and will be replaced by outside jurists, the Pennsylvania court system announced Thursday.

View full sizeAssociated Press, FileIn this Nov. 5, 2011, photo, former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky sits in a car as he leaves the office of Centre County Magisterial District Judge Leslie A. Dutchcot in State College, Pa. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight boys in a scandal that has rocked the university.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- All the judges in Penn State's home county removed themselves from potentially presiding over the child sex-abuse case against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and will be replaced by outside jurists, the Pennsylvania court system announced Thursday.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts said in a news release that the four Centre County Common Pleas Court judges bowed out "to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest due to real or perceived connections" to Sandusky, the university or the charity for at-risk children Sandusky founded.

John M. Cleland, a senior judge from McKean County, was appointed to take over the case, although another judge, Kathy A. Morrow, was named to handle matters until he can assume jurisdiction.

The court system said neither Cleland nor Morrow, who sits in Perry and Juniata counties, have any known connections to Sandusky, the university or the charity.

Cleland chaired the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, established in the wake of the "kids-for-cash" courthouse scandal in which Luzerne County judges were accused of sending children to private detention centers for kickbacks.

Sandusky has maintained he is innocent of the 40 criminal counts against him, which accuse him of sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period.

On Tuesday, a preliminary hearing was rescheduled for Dec. 13 at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. It also will be handled by an out-of-county jurist, Westmoreland County Senior District Judge Robert E. Scott.

Scott replaced the district judge who set bail when Sandusky was arrested Nov. 5, Leslie Dutchcot of State College, who had ties to The Second Mile, Sandusky's charity. The court order said the change was designed to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Sandusky was released on $100,000 unsecured bail, meaning he didn't have to post any collateral to be freed, but his status could change if additional accusers surface and police file new charges, as his lawyer fears.

Criminal defense lawyers said Sandusky could then be hit with a bail so high he would not be able to afford to pay it.

Prosecutors "don't have to start all over," said Lemoyne defense attorney Bill Costopoulos. "The additional counts would result in another arrest, another bail piece, another preliminary hearing date being set."

Sandusky's lawyer, Joe Amendola, told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday he was worried there may soon be new criminal allegations against his client.

"My concern is, if they bring new charges based upon new people coming forward, that bail's going to be set and he's going to wind up in jail," said Amendola, who has not returned multiple phone messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Scott would be making new decisions about bail in the context of public outrage over the allegations, which include charges that Sandusky found victims among boys being helped by The Second Mile.

"The more charges, the more serious it becomes, and of course I've heard public outcry that his bail is unsecured and it's too low," said Tunkhannock defense attorney Gerald Grimaud. "Any new judge or district magistrate is not tone deaf. I'm sure they're reading things in the news media and watching things on TV like everybody else."

Until the preliminary hearing, prosecutors can seek to have bail modified by the district judge, said Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin. After that hearing, bail changes would have to be pursued by a county court petition, he said.

Martin said criminal complaints can also be amended prior to a preliminary hearing, but afterward the defendant would have to be re-arrested, and then the prosecution and defense would argue over whether to consolidate the two sets of charges for trial.

An attorney general's office spokesman declined to comment on the Centre County judges' recusal or about potential new charges against Sandusky.

-- Mark Scolforo, Associated Press

The reality of the Browns' season begins right now, this Sunday in Cincinnati.

Tony Dejak, Associated PressPat Shurmur and Colt McCoy have their work cut out for them in the Browns' final six games of the season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The reality of the Browns' season begins right now, this Sunday in Cincinnati.

It's the final six games, five of them against teams in the AFC North. Only two are at home.

We can learn much about this team.

Two games with Pittsburgh, two with Baltimore. One with the Bengals.

Combined, the three teams have a 20-10 record.

Cincinnati is an especially sore subject. The Browns began the season with a 27-17 loss to Cincinnati, the home opener for new coach Pat Shurmur. That was a game in which they were flagged for 11 penalties.

It also was a game in which the defensive unit looked like a bunch of guys standing in a circle at a bus stop, staring at some clouds when quarterback Bruce Gradkowski called a quick snap and lobbed a 40-yard touchdown pass to a wide open A.J. Green.

That was a demoralizing debut because the Browns looked ill-prepared.

Their record is 4-6, and the season has been rocky. The question is not if the Browns can finish with a winning record -- or even .500. That would be a shock.

So what can we expect in the final six games?

"How about 2-4 with no blowouts, competitive entertaining games would be nice," Austin Zeizing posted on my Facebook page.

The most recent time the Browns made the playoffs was 2002. Counting that season, they are 4-16 vs. teams in the AFC North during the final six games of seasons.

Overall, the Browns are 19-35 in the "Sad Six" dating back to 2002.

The sad six

"I'm sick of the 'Oh we need to win for progress the next year,' " emailed Justin Heinzmann. "How did Eric Mangini win four straight to end the year?"

That was in 2009, when the Browns beat Pittsburgh and three teams with losing records. But at least it was a 4-2 mark in those final six games.

The only other seasons in which the Browns were better than 2-4 in the final six games were 2007 and 2002.

In the last six games of the season, the injuries pile up. The weather is usually awful. The team often is out of contention. The Browns players might not admit it, but too often they just wanted the year to be over and they played like it.

The Browns ended last season with four losses, three to the teams in their division.

This year, the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers are three of the NFL's top six defenses.

For the Browns' Colt McCoy, the final two losses to Baltimore and Pittsburgh were disturbing. Both were on cold, windy days on the shores of Lake Erie, and the rookie quarterback threw six interceptions compared to one touchdown.

Those two games started the real doubts about McCoy's long-term future with the Browns.

Those also were his No. 7 and No. 8 pro starts, and he was playing for a perpetually losing team that sensed its coach was about to be fired.

Joe Maylish emailed: "I'm not concerned about who they beat as much as McCoy's ability to play in bad weather and Greg Little emerging as the [team's] No. 1 receiver . . . and improvement in the running game as we saw last week. We all want to see progress, but these three areas will [affect] how they approach the draft in April."

Yes, this also is the time of year when the hearts of Browns fans turn to spring -- and the NFL Draft.

A list of five

But there are six games still left, and here are five things I would like to see from the Browns:

•1. McCoy performing well in the cold weather and under the onslaught of these defenses. The offensive line must keep McCoy from ending up in the hospital, but the quarterback also has to not rush into contact or hang on to the ball too long.

•2. Phil Taylor to play hard as he did in the last two games against some rugged offensive lines in this division. The rookie can be a big-time defensive tackle if he makes an Ahtyba Rubin-type commitment.

•3. Shurmur to show some creativity on offense and for his team to stay disciplined, organized and motivated in games with the Steelers and Ravens, where it could get ugly.

•4. Little to show he can make plays against these defenses. How about someone else giving hope as a receiver?

•5. Someone to show he can consistently run the ball. Do we see Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty again for more than two games? Is Chris Ogbonnaya for real?

Notice that I didn't pick a record.

Jerry Lee Boatner emailed: "Would love to get one against the Steelers, but would not be shocked if they lose all six. Hillis could win the fans back with big games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh."

If the Browns actually finish 6-10 . . . that means they end 2-4 . . . it will be only the second time since 2005 that they have won at least six games.

Yes, it has been that bad . . . and the Browns do have a chance in these last six games to show things are indeed getting at least a little better.

Embroiled in the division playoff race with Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Bengals have no reason to take the Browns lightly on Sunday.

 If there is a good time for the Browns to sneak into Cincinnati -- where they have won once in the past seven years -- one might think it would be this weekend.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerThe Bengals won this season's first meeting, 27-17, on Sept. 11.

The Bengals, 6-4 and surprise playoff contenders, are coming off tough, seven-point losses to division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and they have their second meeting against the Steelers at Heinz Field next week.

So this is a sandwich game for them and sometimes that makes it easier for the opponent in the middle to score an upset.

Except that the consecutive division losses left the Bengals angry, not worried about their season slipping away.

"Guys are angry and upset and want to go out and prove the team we are," left tackle Andrew Whitworth told Cincinnati media this week.

A year ago in Cincinnati, one bad play led to a meltdown, and one bad game led to a 10-game losing streak. That character flaw was purged through the banishment of receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens and quarterback Carson Palmer.

This new Bengals team is young and talented. The roster is studded with 11 former first-round draft picks, counting cornerback Leon Hall, who is out for the year with an Achilles injury.

Coach Marvin Lewis never doubted his team could contend, even though it was breaking in a new offense with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie playmaking receiver A.J. Green without the benefit of the usual off-season NFL camps because of the owners lockout.

But it took a five-game winning streak for most others to take the Bengals seriously.

The consecutive losses to Pittsburgh (7-3) and Baltimore (7-3) hurt the Bengals in division tiebreakers. Baltimore is 3-0 in division games and still has two against the Browns; Cincinnati is 1-2.

The possibility of both AFC wild cards emerging from the AFC North is real, though. As of today, Pittsburgh is the No. 5 seed and Cincinnati No. 6.

If you consider 10 wins as the ticket to the playoffs, the Bengals need four in their last six games. They have one left against each of their three division rivals, starting Sunday, and home games against Houston and Arizona, and a road game at St. Louis.

They are not willing to concede the division title just yet, either.

The Bengals have not yet had a game against a division foe with their dynamic duo of Dalton and Green playing a full four quarters together.

They beat the Browns by 10 in the season opener with Dalton missing the second half, lost to the Steelers by seven with Green missing the second half, and lost to the Ravens by seven with Green missing the whole game. Green's hyperextended knee injury probably will keep his playing status in doubt the whole week. The Bengals want him healthy for the final month.

And if you think their present is bright, consider their future. They have two No. 1 picks in the 2012 draft and possibly two more in 2013 -- thanks to the trade of Palmer to Oakland.

TONY GROSSI SCOUTS THE BENGALS

Kickoff: Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati.

Bengals' record: 6-4.

Most recent game: Lost to Ravens, 31-24, on Sunday in Baltimore.

Coach: Marvin Lewis, 66-73-1, ninth season.

Series record: Bengals lead, 40-36.

Most recent meeting: Bengals won, 27-17, Sept. 11, in Cleveland.

League rankings: Offense is 18th overall (19th rushing, 17th passing), defense is sixth (third rushing, 11th passing) and turnover differential is plus-1.

Offensive overview

Coordinator Jay Gruden's West Coast offense has operated relatively efficiently considering rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are holding down two of the most important positions. Green is so good at going up for jump balls that it may have spoiled Dalton. Without Green (knee) last week, Dalton put one up for Andre Caldwell and it was intercepted. Overall, Dalton has made good decisions and has gotten the ball out quickly. The Bengals are No. 3 in fewest sacks per pass play – a credit to Dalton and the offensive line. Of late, Cedric Benson has lost some carries to Bernard Scott. Cincinnati's pass-run ratio (55-to-45) is slightly more balanced than Browns' (57-to-43).

Defensive overview

How's this for depth? Each of their eight defensive linemen has at least one-half sack. And when first-round cornerback Leon Hall was lost with an Achilles tear, they were able to choose among two other first-round picks as his replacement, Adam Jones and Kelly Jennings. And the other starting cornerback, Nate Clements, is also a former first-round pick, who replaced free-agent defector Johnathan Joseph, yet another first-round pick. So the depth up front and quality in the secondary help coordinator Mike Zimmer avoid reckless blitzing. Most impressive part of the unit is its clampdown against the run. It's No. 2 in allowing only 3.4 yards per rush. That figure drops to 3.2 when you subtract a 59-yard run by Ray Rice.

Special teams overview

What a year for kicker Mike Nugent. He's 18-of-19 in field goals and has 28 touchbacks on kickoffs – besting his previous season high of nine. He had three touchbacks in the first meeting. Punter Kevin Huber is 22nd in gross average (44.0) and 15th in net (39.3). Brandon Tate is 13th with a kickoff-return average of 24.3. Adam Jones went 63 yards with a punt return first time he touched the ball this season, but hamstring and groin injuries since have kept him out of that role. Bengals have had a better drive-start average in nine of their 10 games.

Players to watch

• Receiver A.J. Green: Second to Greg Little among rookies with 41 catches and first with 635 yards and six touchdowns.

• Quarterback Andy Dalton: Only rookie QB with a winning record, his 79.6 passer rating edges Colt McCoy for 20th. His problem has been six interceptions thrown in the fourth quarter.

• Running back Cedric Benson: Always a tough foe for the Browns, his 39-yard TD run clinched the first meeting and gave him 121 yards for the game. He's down this year, averaging only 3.8 yards per run with 634 yards rushing.

Injury report

WR Green (knee) missed Sunday's game at Baltimore and is day to day. DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) will be limited.

Small world

Former Browns include safety Chris Crocker, quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and running back Cedric Peerman. . . . Cornerback Nate Clements is a native of Shaker Heights and played at Ohio State. . . . Kicker Mike Nugent played at Ohio State. . . . Offensive lineman Mike McGlynn attended Austintown Fitch High School. . . . Team President Mike Brown is the son of Browns Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown.

An Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 90,674 saw an offensive display uncharacteristic of a typical OSU-Michigan game. The Wolverines gained 529 yards, the Buckeyes 358.

AP FileEarle Bruce was the coach of the Buckeyes 25 years ago in 1986.

An Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 90,674 saw an offensive display uncharacteristic of a typical OSU-Michigan game. The Wolverines gained 529 yards, the Buckeyes 358.

The decisive play came when OSU walk-on kicker Matt Frantz missed left on a potential game-winning field goal with just over a minute left.

The Buckeyes entered the game 9-2, 7-0 in the Big Ten and had locked up at least a share of the title. Michigan was 9-1 and coming off a loss at Minnesota that left them 6-1 in the Big Ten.

OSU linebacker Chris Spielman was a star of the game, making 29 tackles and tying the school record for a single game set by Tom Cousineau against Penn State in 1978. Other OSU players of note from this season were receiver Cris Carter, QBs Jim Karsatos and Tom Tupa, and defensive standouts Darryl Lee, Eric Kumerow, Michael Kee, William White, Sonny Gordon and Greg Rogan. Notable players for coach Bo Schembechler's Michigan squad included RB Jamie Morris and QB Jim Harbaugh.

With Michigan ahead, 26-24, late in the game, the Wolverines went from their own 39 to OSU's 41-yard line. It was there that OSU's William White forced a fumble, and the Buckeyes recovered. From there, OSU went to the Michigan 28-yard line and faced fourth-and-2 with 1:06 on the clock, setting the stage for Frantz's miss.

The shared title was the fourth outright or co-championship in eight years for OSU coach Earle Bruce. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 11 at the end of the regular season, played in the Cotton Bowl and handled No. 8 Texas A&M by a 28-12 score.

The win sent the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Arizona State, 22-15.

Cincinnati Taft defensive end Adolphus Washington, ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state by Rivals.com, gave an oral commitment to Ohio State at a news conference at his high school. That edged the Buckeyes past Michigan on one scoreboard -- Ohio State is back ahead of the Wolverines, 4-3, in getting oral commitments from recruits in the state's top 10.

Cincinnati Enquirer via APCincinnati's Robert E. Taft High School football player Adolphus Washington speaks during a ceremony last week. His oral commitment to Ohio State gives the Buckeyes an edge against Michigan in recruiting.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The game isn't until Saturday, yet in some ways, Michigan already has been beating Ohio State. That's what made Tuesday's news for the Buckeyes so important.

Cincinnati Taft defensive end Adolphus Washington, ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state by Rivals.com, gave an oral commitment to Ohio State at a news conference at his high school. That edged the Buckeyes past Michigan on one scoreboard -- Ohio State is back ahead of the Wolverines, 4-3, in getting oral commitments from recruits in the state's top 10.

In the previous six years, among players in Ohio's top 10 in the Rivals rankings, the Buckeyes had snagged 32 recruits. The Wolverines, five.

But while Ohio State has struggled with uncertainty -- the great enemy of recruiting -- Michigan has jumped back into Ohio with both feet under first-year coach Brady Hoke, an Ohio native.

"It's a perfect storm that has happened," Scout.com national recruiting analyst Scott Kennedy said. "They've been in trouble, and Michigan gets a new, exciting coach."

"That's a two-way shot right there, where Michigan is up and Ohio State was looking like it's on the way down. Michigan has been having a lot of success recruiting Ohio, a state where they haven't had much in the past five years."

Hoke, from the Dayton area, has long Ohio roots, and he recruited the state previously while an assistant at Michigan and the head coach at Ball State. Much of his staff has similar experience. As he named off past Wolverines from Ohio such as Elvis Grbac, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, he noted that Michigan grabbing great Ohio players isn't new.

"There's always been a connection between those kids in Ohio and going to the University of Michigan," Hoke said earlier this year. "It's just a population base. Ohio has good football, there's a lot of numbers, so I think [focusing recruiting there] is something that's worthwhile."

Meanwhile, with recruits not knowing what the coaching staff will look like next season and what NCAA penalties might be ahead, Ohio State's staff has focused on in-state players loyal to the university. Washington, speaking at his announcement, praised the honesty of the current coaching staff in selling Ohio State, even though they might not be there to coach him.

The Buckeyes have 15 oral commitments, and 14 of them are from in-state players -- all but receiver Mike Thomas, a California native now at Fork Union Academy in Virginia. The recruiting rankings of those players just hasn't been as high as usual. Looking at a larger picture, Ohio State has grabbed eight of the top 30 Ohio players.

"It's still Ohio State, and there are kids out there that want to be here because it is Ohio State," said OSU first-year receivers coach Stan Drayton. "We're targeting those kids. We aren't going to target the kid who is going to complain about what is going on because he isn't going to survive here.

"You walk into this facility, and you embrace tradition and what this place is all about. This place has seen flux before, and I don't remember it falling off in recruiting ever before."

There are certainly high points and not-so-high points, though. One former OSU player, a bit concerned about the recruiting situation, said Tuesday he thought the delay in hiring John Cooper after Earle Bruce's firing in 1987 helped Michigan gain a recruiting foothold in Ohio that the Wolverines used to help control the OSU-Michigan rivalry during Cooper's years.

At the moment, Michigan has 23 oral commitments, nine of them from Ohio, and is ranked as the No. 3 overall class in the Rivals rating and 11th by the average recruit rating. Ohio State has 15 oral commitments, 14 from Ohio, and is ranked as the No. 23 overall class and 18th by average recruit rating.

It's more than reasonable to expect that any permanent new OSU coach, with the talk still focusing on Urban Meyer, will get right back in the game. Kennedy said a coach such as Meyer, if hired sometime relatively soon, could have a chance -- before National Signing Day in February -- to woo some recruits currently committed elsewhere, though he also could lose a recruit or two. Currently pledged to Ohio State, running back Bri'onte Dunn, who visited Michigan last week, might be a candidate to change his mind.

But don't expect Michigan to completely go away.

"Michigan needs to be a factor in Ohio," Kennedy said. "I don't expect Michigan to be as successful in Ohio when Ohio State is as strong as it's been. This is more of an aberration for Michigan, but what's good for Michigan is they have a national brand, and they could get players in other areas, partly based on winning in the future because of the guys they got from Ohio this year."

Ohio State, once it has settled down after its coaching search and after getting its NCAA ruling finalized, hopes to get back to winning with players such as Washington. At 6-4 and 230 pounds, rated as the No. 15 player in the nation in the Class of 2012 by Scout and No. 74 overall player by Rivals, this was a good way for the Buckeyes to get a win.

On a night when a packed house in Kent State’s M.A.C. Center expected to see the Golden Flashes and Cleveland State Vikings at their best, they arguably got both teams at their worst, with CSU surviving with a 57-53 road win as it led the entire game.

Karen Schiely, Akron Beacon JournalCleveland State's Anton Grady, left, and teammate Aaron Pougue fight for the rebound with Kent State's Justin Greene, center, during the first half of their game at the MAC Center on the Kent State University campus Tuesday.

KENT, Ohio – On a night when a packed house in Kent State’s M.A.C. Center expected to see the Golden Flashes and Cleveland State Vikings at their best, they arguably got both teams at their worst, with CSU surviving with a 57-53 road win as it led the entire game.

The teams combined for 42 turnovers, which were more from of a lack of offensive discipline — particularly by Kent — than by either team employing 40 minutes of lockdown defense.

“Anytime you win and don’t play to your whole potential, it’s good,” said CSU’s D’Aundray Brown, who scored 11 points for the Vikings, including a key 3-pointer with 4:03 to play. Kent had closed to 44-40 when Brown nailed the 3 with one second on the shot clock.

Brown also drew a foul on Kent’s Mike Porrini, but missed the free throw.

Brown was one of only two double-figure scorers for undefeated CSU (4-0) as Jeremy Montgomery led the Vikings with 13 points. The Vikings shot 35.1 percent from the field with 20 turnovers, but were 12-of-16 from the free-throw line.

Kent (2-1) also had two double-figure scorers, led by Chris Evans with 14 and Justin Greene with 13. But the Flashes led the turnover parade with 22, and added to their problems by making just 14-of-24 free throws, despite being in the one-and-one bonus inside the nine-minute mark of each half.

Add in a slew of missed fast-break opportunities and Kent never gave a crowd that was clearly waiting to explode a chance to get behind the Flashes.

“I was disappointed with our execution,” CSU coach Gary Waters said. “But I don’t think they were on their best day, offensively, either.”

The Vikings were the better of the two teams in the first half as Kent State was horrifically bad. The Golden Flashes missed numerous bust-out layup attempts seemingly every time they got close to making it a game. It was a trend that lasted the entire game.

“We tried to address that [at halftime],” Kent coach Rob Senderoff said. “But we didn’t do a good enough job of it. I thought we would play better, but we didn’t.”

The Vikings were hot early as they built early leads of 14-2 and 28-15 as Kent was either throwing the ball away, or working hard on 29.2 percent (7-of-24) shooting in the opening 20 minutes. Add in a whopping 13 first-half turnovers and the Flashes were lucky to be down only 30-21 at the break.

CSU’s woes centered on a lot of fouls, poor rebounding — 15 to Kent’s 22 — and poor shooting (38.7 percent). It was clear both teams’ coaches were searching for the right substitution patterns and the right rotations for their players as the Vikings and Flashes looked out of sync.

It lasted the entire game, but the Vikings were able to overcome themselves and the Golden Flashes, while Kent State could not.

“I believe Urban Meyer is a good coach,” Cincinnati Taft defensive end Adolphus Washington told reporters at the news conference at his high school Tuesday to announce his pledge to the Buckeyes.

Talk of Urban Meyer agreeing to coach Ohio State is heating up. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

Columbus — Ohio State’s newest recruit believes Urban Meyer will be the next head coach of the Buckeyes.

“I believe Urban Meyer is a good coach,” Cincinnati Taft defensive end Adolphus Washington told reporters at the news conference at his high school Tuesday to announce his pledge to the Buckeyes.

Asked if he believed Meyer would be his coach, Washington said: “Yeah. I hope so.”

Meyer’s name continues to be attached to the Ohio State job, though one source said Tuesday he believed the school and the former Florida coach had to iron out issues regarding the school’s admissions standards for athletes. Coaches often want players accepted who might not otherwise get into a school. Scout.com analyst Bill Greene, who covers recruiting in both Ohio State and Florida, reported Tuesday that a deal between Meyer and Ohio State is done and will be announced in the days following Saturday’s game at Michigan.

Current OSU head coach Luke Fickell helped reel in Washington, however, knowing that his personal future isn’t assured. Fickell said this week he has kept away from any coaching rumors.

“Do what you do,” Fickell said. “And you live in a bubble, so to speak, in some ways. If I get a chance to go home, if my kids are up, then I play with them. I spend time with my wife. I don’t turn the TV on. If it is, it’s probably Animal Planet or something that the kids are watching, and you just try to get yourself away for a few minutes.

“I focus on what we’ve got to do and give all my energy to that, and everything else, God willing, will take care of itself.”

Plan to bowl: Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said the Buckeyes have no plans to self-impose a bowl ban this season in some attempt to appease the NCAA. That reaffirmed what previously had been reported by The Plain Dealer as the school’s position.

Smith said he can’t speculate about what the final NCAA rul ing might be, but the school maintains that, based on its research of precedent, it would be surprised if the NCAA’s sanctions include a bowl ban. Also, Ohio State continues to not expect a ruling from the NCAA, on all of its matters regarding OSU violations, before mid-December. Bowl matchups will be announced Dec. 4.

Schedule changes: Ohio State dropped a two-game series with Tennessee off future schedules, added a two-game series with North Carolina and filled another schedule hole with Florida A&M, which features a nationally renowned band that will travel to Columbus.

Florida A&M will play in Columbus in 2013, North Carolina will visit Columbus in 2015, and Ohio State will travel to North Carolina in 2017. The Tennessee schedule change, with planned games in 2018 and 2019 dropped, was made at Ohio State’s request because the Big Ten is going to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2017 that will eliminate one nonconference game each year.

Here are the future nonconference opponents, with some holes still to fill, but adding Tuesday’s announcement to what was previously known:

2012 — Miami (Ohio), Central Florida, Cal, Alabama-Birmingham.

2013 — Vanderbilt, Florida A&M, at Cal.

2014 — at Navy (in Baltimore), Kent State, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati.

2015 — North Carolina, Northern Illinois, at Virginia Tech.

2016 — Bowling Green, at Oklahoma.

2017 — Oklahoma, at North Carolina.

2018 — Cincinnati.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

No sour grapes from Kent State, the victory Tuesday night clearly belonged to Cleveland State. The highly anticipated game lacked much ebb and flow as CSU led from start to finish as Kent never could recover from the 14-2 haymaker the Vikings delivered to start the game.

Karen Schiely, Akron Beacon JournalCleveland State's Tim Kamczyc tries to dribble away from Kent State's Chris Evans during the Vikings' 57-53 win.

No sour grapes from Kent State, the victory Tuesday night clearly belonged to Cleveland State. The highly anticipated game lacked much ebb and flow as CSU led from start to finish as Kent never could recover from the 14-2 haymaker the Vikings delivered to start the game.

“Give them credit,” said KSU senior Justin Greene, the defending Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. “They came in and did what they had to do.”

Kent senior guard Mike Porrini said he could never get going in front of a home crowd of 6,327, the largest crowd for a nonconference game at KSU since 1971.

“I was a little too hyped for the game,” he said. “I just never got into that rhythm. I just didn’t get started.”

Porrini finished the game with two points and three turnovers. Greene has 13 points and seven rebounds, but also four turnovers, all in the first half.

Big reveal: CSU’s game Tuesday at Kent marked the first of a seven-game road stretch for the Vikings. Coach Gary Waters said it could reveal much about his team and how it will perform going forward.

The stretch will include two important Horizon League games at Wright State and at Detroit.

“We can’t judge this team in November and December,” Waters said. “Seven games on the road, this will tell us who we are.”

Big reveal II: Kent State plays four of its next six against top-100 RPI teams from last season, including NCAA Tournament teams Morehead State and UAB. Like CSU, this stretch should help reveal the Golden Flashes’ strengths and weakness.

“For us, there is not a game of these six if we don’t play well, we will not win,” first-year Kent head coach Rob Senderoff said. “That stretch right there is as MAC-like as you will find. It will show us early, either where we need to be, or what it’s going to take to win those games.”

Seen and heard: “This is the kind of game you just want to go see,” said Ricky Stokes, the Mid-American Conference’s director of basketball operations. Joining Stokes was Rick Boyges, who used to hold Stokes’ job and is now the Big Ten’s director of basketball operations.

Boyages was on hand to critique the officiating crew, which included a pair of Final Four veterans in Ed Hightower and Mike Kitts. Also on hand was MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and Cavs basketball operations manager/scout Trent Redden.

By the numbers: Cleveland State made 12-of-16 free throws, with freshmen Charles Lee and Anton Grady combining to make 9-of-10, most of them down the stretch. . . . Neither team shot 3-pointers well as CSU was 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) and Kent State was 1-of-17 (5.9 percent) after missing its first 15. . . . While there were a combined 42 turnovers, there were only a combined 18 steals, indicating many of the miscues were unforced. . . . CSU’s bench outscored Kent’s, 20-16.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Cavaliers center Semih Erden reportedly suffered a broken left thumb Tuesday in Turkey and could be sidelined for two months.

AP PhotoCavaliers center Semih Erden reportedly suffered a broken left thumb Tuesday in Turkey and could be sidelined for two months.

Cavaliers center Semih Erden reportedly suffered a broken left thumb Tuesday in Turkey and could be sidelined for two months.

The organization cannot confirm or deny the news – or for that matter recommend the best treatment for its player. That's because NBA teams are currently forbidden contact with players. Such are the cruel realities of the lockout.

Justin Zanik, Erden's agent, confirmed to The Plain Dealer that his client suffered a “finger injury” but was awaiting word on medical results.

A Turkish news agency reported the 7-footer broke the thumb while playing for Besiktas, a club team, in a European Cup game. Erden is expected to see a hand specialist today, the agency reported.

He's in the final year of an NBA contract that is guaranteed. Erden, 25, returned to his native Istanbul to stay in game shape and make some money during the work stoppage. He played 41 games in his rookie season for the Cavs, averaging four points and 2.9 rebounds.

The potential for injury is part of the risk-reward equation players must factor when deciding whether to play overseas. Cavs swingman Omri Casspi is expected to join Maccabi Tel Aviv in several weeks. Guard Christian Eyenga is playing in Spain.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: treed@plaind.com, 216-999-4370

The agreement makes MLB the first pro major league in North America to conduct blood tests for human growth hormone, allowing it during spring training and future offseasons but for now only studying whether it will be implemented during the regular season.

APMLB commissioner Bud Selig is hoping to add 2 more wild card teams in each league for 2012.

NEW YORK  — Baseball has labor peace while the NBA is stopped and the NFL nearly came to a standstill.

"We've learned," baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said Tuesday after players and owners signed an agreement for a five-year contract running until December 2016. "Nobody back in the '70s, '80s and the early '90s, 1994, would ever believe that we would have 21 years of labor peace."

The agreement makes MLB the first pro major league in North America to conduct blood tests for human growth hormone, allowing it during spring training and future offseasons but for now only studying whether it will be implemented during the regular season.

"MLB and the players union should be applauded for taking the strong step to implement the HGH test at the major league level to protect clean athletes," said Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. "This is great progress in MLB's effort to protect the integrity of baseball at every level."

The deal, which must be ratified by both sides and drafted into a formal contract, expands the playoffs from eight to 10 teams by 2013, lessens draft-pick compensation to teams for losing free agents, expands salary arbitration by a few players and for the first time allows teams to trade some draft selections.

It also adds unprecedented restraints on signing bonuses for amateur players coming to the major leagues from high school, college and overseas, perhaps hurting MLB as it competes with the NFL and NBA for multisport talent.

"If I've got a great athlete, why am I going to go to baseball? I'm going to focus on the other sports," said agent Scott Boras, who has negotiated baseball's highest signing bonuses.

Following eight work stoppages from 1972-95, baseball reached its third consecutive agreement without an interruption of play. The agreement was signed three weeks before the current deal was to expire Dec. 11, the second straight time the sides reached a deal early.

Baseball seems to have learned the lessons of the 1994-95 strike, which wiped out the World Series for the first time in nine decades.

"I think our history is more important than what's happening in other sports," said Michael Weiner, who took over from Donald Fehr as union head last year. "It took a while for the owners to appreciate that the union is not only here to stay, but that the union and its members can contribute positively to a discussion about the game — about its economics, about the nature of the competition, about how it's marketed in every way."

Other highlights included: requiring players to play in the All-Star game unless injured or excused; expanding instant replay to include decisions on foul lines and traps, subject to an agreement with umpires; banning smokeless tobacco products during televised interviews by players, managers and coaches; requiring players arrested for DWI to undergo mandatory evaluation; and wearing improved batting helmets manufactured by Rawlings by 2013.

An initial positive test for HGH would result in a 50-game suspension, the same as a first positive urine test for a performance-enhancing substance. HGH testing in the minor leagues started late in the 2010 season.

"It meant a great deal to me personally, and a great deal to our sport," Selig said.

Random testing for HGH will take place during spring training and the offseason, but there is no agreement yet on random testing in-season. There can be testing at any time for cause.

Although the NFL has wanted to start HGH blood tests, its players' union has thus far resisted.

"The agreement to begin testing puts baseball ahead of other American professional sports leagues and is a credit to their leadership," Rep. Henry Waxman said. "It will be important that the testing be extended to the regular season to avoid creating a loophole in the new policy."

The sides will explore in-season testing, but the union wants to make sure it's done in a way that doesn't interfere with players' health and safety. In addition, the number of offseason urine tests will increase gradually from 125 currently to 250 before the 2015 season.

As for the playoffs, there will be an additional two teams that will give baseball 10 of 30 clubs in the postseason. In the NFL, 12 of 32 teams make the playoffs. In the NBA and NHL, 16 of 30 advance.

The wild-card teams in each league — the non-first place teams with the best records — will meet in a one-game playoff, with the winners advancing to the division series. Manfred said a decision on whether the expanded playoffs would start next year likely will be made by the January owners' meeting.

"I think having a second wild-card team is great for the game," said NL MVP Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers. "I think it adds intrigue, it adds excitement. If you look at what the wild card, the first wild card, has done for baseball over the last few years, it's made games late in the season relevant for everybody."

This agreement also calls for the Houston Astros to switch from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, leaving each league with three five-team divisions and a new schedule format that's still being determined. It's baseball's first realignment since the Brewers went to the NL after the 1997 season.

___

- Ronald Blum, Associated Press

AP National Writer Eddie Pells, AP Sports Writer Howie Rumberg and Associated Press writer Frederic J. Frommer contributed to this report.

Championship high school football games on Thanksgiving morning were traditional in Cleveland and Akron for nearly half a century. Two groups are trying to restore that tradition by staging benefit All-Star games tonight and Thursday, featuring some of the top seniors from schools in Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

Copley quarterback Lou Gigliotti will play in the Thanks4Giving Game on Thursday.

Championship high school football games on Thanksgiving morning were traditional in Cleveland and Akron for nearly half a century.

Two groups are trying to restore that tradition by staging benefit All-Star games tonight and Thursday, featuring some of the top seniors from schools in Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

The second Thanks4Giving Game is holding closer to tradition by being played on Thanksgiving at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent-St. Mary, with proceeds being donated to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, the Ronald McDonald House and the Akron schools.

A free video game booth of "Madden NFL 12" and "NCAA Football 12" will be available for fans to enjoy. Most Valuable Player awards will be awarded to one player from each team and both will receive a $500 scholarship.

The East team, featuring Akron City Series Player of the Year Aaron Male of Ellet, Tallmadge wide receiver Tucker Linder, Walsh Jesuit defensive end Antoine Smith and Springfield running back Dillon Mathews, will be coached by Ellet's Joe Yost.

The West team, coached by Archbishop Hoban's Ralph Orsini, includes Copley quarterback Lou Gigliotti, Akron North linebacker DeShawn Dowdy and St. Vincent-St. Mary defensive backs Tyler Bischof, Matt Matuska and Sae'Von Fitzgerald, and lineman Brent Meyers.

The Northeast Ohio Thanksgiving All-Star Classic will be played tonight at Nordonia High at 7 p.m. The game is being promoted by Next Level Sports Development and will feature players from Cuyahoga County against players from Summit County. Promoter Mike Murphy said proceeds from the game will be donated to Rush for a Cause, the nonprofit started by Brecksville-Broadview Heights senior Matt Galland to provide financial assistance to the families of players that have suffered catastrophic injuries.

Tickets for both games are $7 and will be available at the door.

Glenville linebacker/safety De'Van Bogard, an Ohio State recruit, and Maple Heights wide receiver Jeremy Graves, who is headed to Cincinnati, top the roster of Team Premier, which will play Team Elite in the game at Nordonia.

Maple Heights defensive tackle Aaron Pipkins, St. Edward defensive end Darryl Render (Pitt), Glenville tackle Alex Pace and Eastlake North quarterback George Gresko also are included on the Team Premier roster.

Team Elite's top players are Tallmadge running back Tyrin Williams, Manchester offensive tackle Tony Matteo (West Virginia) and the Kent Roosevelt wide receiving trio of Tony Britt, Rich Graves and Ron Jones.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-6177 

Should Ohio State decline a bowl bid?

APOhio State Athletic Director Gene Smith.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said that if permitted to go to a bowl, Ohio State would make the trip.

But should they, especially with all of the issues the school has had with the NCAA violations? Should Ohio State follow University of Miami's lead and not play in a bowl because violation issues?

Or how about the Buckeyes stay home because the team isn't that good this season?

What should OSU do?

Urban Meyer the next Ohio State coach?

APUrban Meyer

Sources have told at TV station in Orlando that Urban Meyer has agreed in principle to become the next head coach of Ohio State and will be introduced in the coming days, according to WKMG's sources, Meyer has agreed to a seven-year, $40 million deal.

Contacted Wednesday by ESPN, Meyer denied that he had a deal with Ohio State, issuing this statement: "I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place. I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further."

WKMG's sources said Mickey Marotti, strength coach at Florida, would join Meyer and become Ohio State's director of football operations and that Luke Fickell, interim head coach at Ohio State, would stay on as an assistant head coach.

 

In a recent interview Meyer denied that he has accepted a position with Ohio State. 

Urban Meyer denies he has a deal with Ohio State.

PD fileFormer Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer.

Despite a report out of Orlando, Fla., that Urban Meyer has agreed in principle on a seven-year, $40 million deal to become coach at Ohio State, Meyer tells ESPN otherwise.

Contacted Wednesday by ESPN, Meyer, who coached Florida to two national championships, denied that he had a deal with Ohio State.

"I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place," Meyer said in a statement. "I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further."

On Saturday, ESPN.com reported through sources that Ohio State had talked to Meyer about becoming coach and that there was strong interest on both sides.

Grady Sizemore is scheduled to return to center field for the Indians, said agent Joe Urbon. He can earn $4 million in incentive bonuses based on plate appearances.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe Indians and Grady Sizemore have been reunited on a one-year contract.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Grady Sizemore is back with the Indians. Now the question is how many games will he be able to play in 2012?

The Indians came to terms Wednesday with Sizemore on a one-year $5 million deal. Sizemore's new deal includes $4 million in incentives based on plate appearances. He has already passed his physical.

On Oct. 31, the Indians made the three-time All-Star a free agent by declining his $9 million club option for 2012.

"The Indians were aggressive in wanting to keep Grady, and he has said all along he would keep an open mind toward returning," said Joe Urbon, Sizemore's agent. "He appreciates the interest from other clubs, and he just felt that the best place to reassert himself as a great player is in Cleveland.

"He can stay in center field, which is important to him, and he has enjoyed his time there. Now he can focus on his play without the distractions of new surroundings, and he will be a free agent again just after his 30th birthday.”

Sizemore, 29, drew considerable interest on the free agent market, but all along the Indians said they would try keep him. They just didn't want to be on the hook for $9 million because injuries have limited Sizemore to 210 games, an average of 70 per season, over the last three years.

The one-year deal will give Sizemore a chance to re-establish himself next year before hitting the free agent market again. Sizemore hit .224 (60-for-268) with 21 doubles, one triple, 10 homers and 32 RBI in 71 games last season.

Sizemore is currently recovering from surgery on his right knee. The operation was done Oct. 3 to help a bone bruise that put him on the disabled list twice last season.

In his career, Sizemore is a .269 hitter with 216 doubles, 43 triples, 139 homers and 458 RBI. He's stolen 134 bases and scored 601 runs. In his last full season in the big leagues, he hit .268 (170-for-634) with 101 runs, 33 homers and 90 RBI.

Sizemore's contract includes an awards package. Among the award bonuses, he could earn $500,000 if named comeback player of the year. Sizemore's performance bonuses max out at fewer plate appearances than he had in any season from 2005-08.

Plain Dealer reporter also says he thinks Browns will win two of their last six games. Watch video

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

The Browns saw Chris Ogbonnaya have a big game in Sunday's 14-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty are healthy, which running back should be the starter? That's the question in our Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who says that Hillis is still the No. 1 back when he returns from his injured hamstring. Dman also answers questions about this week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and whether he would take the Browns' Colt McCoy or the Bengals' Andy Dalton if he had to choose.

He also discusses how many wins it will take to win the AFC North; and how many victories he thinks the Browns will have in their last six games on their schedule.

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

Have a great Thanksgiving!