It was supposed to be a beautiful day. Long, late November shadows carried not a hint of chill Friday afternoon. But the unseasonable warmth brought little comfort to the Aurora football team and the saddened community it represents.

It was supposed to be a beautiful day. Long, late November shadows carried not a hint of chill Friday afternoon. But the unseasonable warmth brought little comfort to the Aurora football team and the saddened community it represents.

The day called for the Greenmen to play the game of their lives on one of the worst days of their lives. It was too much.

Just 30 hours after Aurora lost a beloved young player, it also lost a state semifinal playoff game to Avon, 43-20, in front of nearly 6,000 fans at Parma's Byers Field.

Aurora sophomore defensive end Paul McGhee, affectionately known as "Paulie," died Thanksgiving afternoon in a one-car accident when he lost control of the sport-utility vehicle he was driving and hit a tree on Winchell Road, less than a quarter-mile from his home. Friends said the 16-year-old was returning home from a friend's house.

The Portage County town that mixes upscale suburbia with rural, old-town style immediately responded to the tragedy.

"In a few hours, we had the whole town in my house," said Paulie's older sister, Allison, who attended the playoff game wearing her brother's black No. 57 jersey. "It was Thanksgiving, and within an hour, we had four turkeys. That's a lot of turkey and fixing.

"The whole team was at my house within a matter of hours. We were in awe. The whole town is a family, and it was incredible how much was given to us."

Allison, a freshman pharmacy student at the University of Toledo, stood and cheered from the front row of the student section. Her elementary school-age siblings, Will and Lulu, stayed home with their parents, Paul and Christine.

"I thought one of us should come," she said. "Paulie would want one of us here, to let them know we're not down. We love the boys and we support them.

"I didn't just lose a brother. A lot of people lost a brother -- the whole town. It was amazing they were so touched enough to come over and to show how much they loved him."

She said the community turned into a "57" cottage industry overnight. On the busiest shopping day of the year, local stores opened their doors and silk-screened the No. 57 for anyone who brought in a T-shirt for no charge, and there was more than an hour wait. "Forever 57" bandannas were made, many by hand, and someone manufactured hundreds of buttons with Paulie's smiling football head shot. Every Aurora helmet bore a No. 57 sticker. Seemingly every Aurora student had 57 painted on his or her face. #Forever57 became a common Twitter search for people to post fond memories and condolences.

The school's gym will be the site of calling hours from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, followed by a memorial service.

In a light moment, Allison said the overwhelming community response felt like an extended version of the movie she often uses to illustrate Paulie's effect on people.

"Did you ever see 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'?" she said. "He was Ferris Bueller. He could make anyone smile, and everyone loved him. At times it drove me nuts because people would come up to me and say, 'Oh, I met your brother. He's amazing. He's hilarious. I love him to death.' "

Fans at a send-off at the high school Friday afternoon cheered the somber team as it piled onto three yellow school buses, wondering how they would summon the energy and emotion to play in such a big game.

Coach Bob Mihalik did his best before the game to focus his team in a brief, emotional locker-room speech.

"Here we are, boys. The next stage of our journey," Mihalik said. "Tonight, we try to get some normalcy back, if that's possible.

"We are not going out tonight to win the game for Paulie. Our job tonight is to go out and play the game the way he played the game, the way he would want us to play -- with confidence, with no fear, with reckless abandon, and above all, with a smile on our face. With a smile on our face and have fun, because that's what he was all about."

The Greenmen gathered around Mihalik and chanted "Paulie," before rushing out onto the field.

But the return to normalcy would have to wait. A moment of silence was observed before the game, with both teams on the field. The silence was punctuated by sobbing in the Aurora stands.

"It's been a great outpouring of love from the community," Mihalik said. "Just playing the game was a victory, the next step of healing."

Join our live in-game blog for updates, analysis and to talk about the Division I state semifinal tonight.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerWill St. Ignatius have something to celebrate after Saturday's game against Whitmer?

Join The Plain Dealer's Kristen Davis live from Lakewood Stadium for a live chat during the Division I semifinal between St. Ignatius and Toleo Whitmer.

Follow this weekend's action on cleveland.com with the following links below:

• Live in-game chat: St. Ignatius vs. Toledo Whitmer, Sat. 7:00 p.m. 

• Full statewide scoreboard

• Complete statewide brackets

Kristen Davis: @CleveHSsports
Joe Maxse: @JoeMaxse
Tim Warsinskey: @TimsTakePD
Tim Rogers: @TimRogersPD
Bob Fortuna: @BobFortuna

The 2011-2012 NBA is scheduled to begin on Christmas Day with a tripleheader feature marquee teams.

AP fileNBA commissioner David Stern fields questions during a news conference earlier this month in New York. NBA owners and players reached a tentative agreement early Saturday to end the 149-day lockout. The league plans a 66-game season and aims to open camps Dec. 9.

The NBA players and owners reached a tentative agreement Saturday to end the 149-day lockout. The 2011-2012 NBA is scheduled to begin on Christmas Day with the Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, followed by Miami at Dallas in an NBA finals rematch with final game of the night featuring MVP Derrick Rose and Chicago against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Here is what is being reported by various media outlets concerning the proposed end of the NBA lockout.

The Sporting News noted that watiing a month for games to be played beats reading about consolidating lawsuits and BRI.

In the end, “zero” was really the only operative number in play. The revenue split and everything else is irrelevant if there is no revenue to split. Twelve paychecks are better than 10—but 10 are better than none. Players play. Basketball owners put on basketball games. Neither exists to barter the terms of their co-existence. They spend enough time doing that, and the customers find other places to commit their time, money and emotion.

Forbes ponted out that the NBA small-market teams are putting their faith in the luxury tax system.

From the beginning, this has basically been a three pronged fight among players, large market owners and small market owners. Unlike the NFL, where the mothers milk (national TV money) is shared equally, the NBA is a land of haves and have-nots. What small markets like Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Memphis wanted out of a new agreement was competitive balance – the ability to sign and keep players to the extent they can stay competitive with big market clubs.

CNN reported:

Stern said he expects the labor relations committee and board of governors to endorse the tentative pact and that a collective bargaining agreement would arise from it. Training camps would open December 9.

 CNN got President Obama's thoughts about the tenative NBA labor agreement.

After playing basketball at Fort McNair on Saturday, President Barack Obama seemed to approve the tentative deal reached earlier in the day to end the NBA lockout.

NBCSports.com declared victory for the owners, but noted is was a victory player could live with.

The owners will tell you they didn’t get everything they wanted, some will vote against this deal. Those guys are fools — they got more than enough to balance their books. Combined with more robust revenue sharing — soon to be triple what it was — small market owners should be able to break even or turn a profit. They should be able to compete (they could before, ask San Antonio and Oklahoma City). If they can’t, well, it’s on them now. It’s not the system

The New York Times reported:

Officials on both sides must still negotiate myriad so-called B-list issues, including drug testing, the minimum age and the use of the Development League, and the entire collective bargaining agreement must be formally constructed.

ESPN takes a looks at the winners and losers after the deal was announced

As the dust settles after one of the NBA’s more cantankerous episodes, here’s an early peek at who wins and who loses in the upcoming new collective bargaining agreement.

The NBA released a transcript of the press conference announcing that a tentative deal had been reached.

David Stern: Well, we've reached a tentative understanding that is subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations but we are optimistic that will all come to pass and the NBA season will begin December 25th, Christmas Day, with a triple-header. I won't give you the details to tune in yet. We are very pleased that we have come this far.

Denard Robinson throws three TD passes, runs for two more to outshine Braxton Miller's best game of the year.

View full sizeCarlos Osorio, Associated PressMichigan quarterback Denard Robinson scores one of his two running touchdowns Saturday afternoon against Ohio State. Robinson threw for two scores as well as the Wolverines ended their seven-year losing streak to the Buckeyes with a 40-34 victory.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Michigan Wolverines stopped their losing ways against their bitter rival on a day nobody in scarlet and gray stopped Denard Robinson.

The junior quarterback accounted for five touchdowns and 337 yards of total offense as the Wolverines outlasted Ohio State, 40-34, before 114,132 fans in Michigan Stadium.

Robinson's sublime effort enabled Michigan to end six-game losing streak against the Buckeyes, not counting OSU’s vacated win a season ago. Michigan's previous win came in 2003 when Buckeyes' Braxton Miller was 11.

The pair of dual-threat quarterbacks took turns mesmerizing opposing defenses. Miller accounted for two touchdowns, passing for a career-high 235 yards and rushing for an additional 100 yards. The true freshman had a chance to win it for the Buckeyes on the final drive, but he overthrew a wide-open DeVier Posey down the left sideline. His last pass was deflected and intercepted by Michigan's Courtney Avery, OSU's only turnover of the day.

The Buckeyes (6-6, 3-5) finished the regular season on a three-game losing streak after they controlled their Big-Ten destiny with an out-of-nowhere 33-29 win over Wisconsin in Oct. 29.

It was almost assuredly the last regular-season game for Luke Fickell as Buckeyes head coach. Urban Meyer is expected to be named new OSU coach in the coming days.

Fans frequently serenaded the Buckeyes with chants of "Beat Ohio," a reference to what new Michigan coach Brady Hoke calls them rather than "Ohio State."

Robinson passed for three scores and ran for two others. He completed 14 of 17 passes for 167 yards.

Michigan improved to 10-2, 6-2. The Wolverines will hope to earn a BSC at-large bid.

Colt McCoy's bid to be the Browns' QB for the future could be wrapped up in this brutal AFC North stretch.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain Dealer"Everyone is becoming a little bit more comfortable," says Colt McCoy of the Browns' offense. "We're doing some things better, we're getting lined up better, we're running routes better, we're running the football a little better and when you put all those together it allows you to feel more comfortable out there."

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Browns coach Pat Shurmur has challenged quarterback Colt McCoy to carry his team through the AFC North gantlet that begins Sunday against the 6-4 Bengals.

"I'm looking for him to lead the charge in terms of 'show improvement and win the game' and I think that's what we're looking for as we go forward," said Shurmur. "The way I look at it, we're 4-6 and we're trying to win this game as we push into the second half of this season. Hopefully we get on a roll here and then we can do something beyond January 1. We're putting all our efforts into beating the Bengals and Colt is no different."

The Browns have given McCoy this season to prove that he can be the quarterback of the future -- and what a better way to do that than against five AFC North foes in the next six games, including three in 12 days.

"We're going to find out how good we are because we know how competitive our division is," said Shurmur. "In the next few weeks, we're going to find out where we're at."

Fortunately for McCoy, the running game missing most of the season is showing signs of rebounding. Montario Hardesty will return after missing three games with a torn calf muscle and Peyton Hillis expects to play after missing five games with a pulled hamstring. In addition, Chris Ogbonnaya is coming off back-to-back games of 90 and 115 rushing yards.

The trio will try to rock the Bengals' third-ranked run defense.

"It helps when you can run the football," said McCoy, who's probable with a sore right shoulder. "The defense has to respect that. Then all of a sudden you get some gimme throws here and there and you get in a rhythm."

The Browns have gotten better in recent weeks at protecting McCoy and picking up the blitz. Rookie left guard Jason Pinkston is improving each game and Ogbonnaya, who will serve as the third-down back vs. the Bengals, is strong in blitz pickup. They'll need to be on point against an aggressive Cincinnati defense, one that's 10th in the NFL with 26 sacks. The Bengals are on pace for 42, which would be the most in coach Marvin Lewis' nine seasons.

"Cincinnati has a really good defense," said McCoy. "They do a lot of different things. They come after you, they play a lot of different coverages behind their pressures. I really have to do a good job myself of having my eyes right, knowing where the traps are, knowing where the coverages are going to be because it's never the same. They're very well-coached and they're always in the right spot and they've gotten home a lot."

Thanks in no small part to the running game, McCoy has played much better the past two weeks, completing 72.5 percent of his passes.

"Things are coming together for us a little bit," said McCoy. "Everyone is becoming a little bit more comfortable. We're doing some things better, we're getting lined up better, we're running routes better, we're running the football a little better and when you put all those together it allows you to feel more comfortable out there. The last two games I felt like the receivers have especially done a good job. They're starting to not think about things and play fast."

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has received high praise for the Bengals' 6-4 record this season, as McCoy has taken heat for the Browns' 4-6 mark. But their stats are very similar:

• McCoy is completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 21st in the NFL and Dalton is completing 59.3 percent for 23rd.

• McCoy has passed for 2,181 yards for 20th in the NFL and Dalton has passed for 2,239 for 18th.

• McCoy's rating is 79.2 for 22nd in the NFL and Dalton's is 79.6 for 21st.

• McCoy has thrown 11 TDs and seven INTs and Dalton has thrown 15 TDs and 12 interceptions.

The major difference is that Dalton's No. 1 receiver, rookie A.J. Green, has caught six TD passes and McCoy's, Greg Little, has yet to catch one.

"[Dalton's] probably about where they thought he'd be," said Shurmur. "He's doing a very good job. They're doing what fits for their team. They're very good at running the football, they're very physical up front, they've got some outstanding playmakers and they've got a young quarterback they're developing. They keep him out of harm's way in some ways because they can run the football and they don't ask him to do a lot of very heroic things. But you can see his playmaking abilities show up in the stuff they're asking him to do and I think that's a credit to them."

The Browns contend their record could just as easily be 6-4 as well.

"Yeah, I mean, you think of two plays," said left tackle Joe Thomas. "The first game of the season against Cincinnati, if they don't throw that touchdown pass before we line up, we may win that game. Take one from them, give it to us. If we get the field goal two weeks ago, we're 6-4 and they're 5-5. I'm sure every team in the NFL can say that. We're right there and we feel like we're making the right progress."

In addition to a full complement of running backs, McCoy also has receiver Mohamed Massaquoi back and is developing timing with his other receivers. Cribbs has caught three TD passes in four games and leads the team with four.

"Colt is coming into his own," said Cribbs. "They've opened up the playbook for him a little bit and allowed him to spread the ball around to different receivers and Colt loves it. He's fitting well in the system, he knows what the coaches want and who they want to catch the ball. All of these division games are a great chance for him to prove what he can do."

Sitting out: Defensive end Jayme Mitchell has been ruled out with his ankle injury.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

The new contract between the players association and MLB owners covered a lot of ground. The Indians, and other small- to mid-market teams, will be affected most by changes in the draft and international free agent market.

View full sizeBebeto Matthews, Associated PressBaseball Commissioner Bud Selig and players union executive director Michael Weiner professed their pleasure with baseball's new labor agreement this week. But teams will be trying to figure out the details large and small over the off-season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The new basic agreement that will determine how MLB conducts business for the next five years isn't a week old. Teams are still trying to wrap their arms around it.

"It's complicated," said one GM. "Much more complicated than the last one."

From big-picture realignment with Houston joining the American League in 2013 to miniscule rulings such as preventing new players from using low-density maple bats during the length of the contract, a lot of ground was covered. Some of it was expected: Two 15-team leagues in 2013, an extra wild-card team in each league by 2013 at the latest, the probability of an interleague game being played every day of the season, changes to the amateur draft and free-agent compensation.

The unexpected was well represented as well: Testing for Human Growth Hormone, expanded use of instant replay, severe restrictions on spending for drafted players and some international free agents, a new system for determining compensation for free agents, more players being made eligible for salary arbitration and the trading of draft picks.

For the Indians and other small-to-mid-market teams, the biggest changes will deal with the draft and international free agents. Let's start there.

Amateur Draft, International Free Agents

The restrictions will curtail two of the Indians' main avenues of player acquisition. During the last basic agreement, the Indians spent over $33 million on the amateur draft, the 12th highest amount in the big leagues. They spent $8.2 million this year, 12th among MLB's 30 teams. In 2010 they spent $9.4 million, the fifth highest total.

The Indians, limited in their ability to sign quality players in the normal free-agent market, felt they were getting more value by signing younger players in the amateur draft.

In the new agreement, each pick in the first 10 rounds has been assigned a dollar amount. Each team has been assigned a salary cap or signing bonus pool for those 10 picks. It's been estimated that the pools will range from $11.5 million to $4.5 million. If a team goes over the cap, it will be penalized by an escalating scale of taxes on the overage and loss of draft picks.

The draft has been cut from 50 to 40 rounds. After the 10th round, any player signed for $100,000 or less will not count against a team's cap. Any player signed for more than that will be added to the pool.

Each team's cap can change annually depending on the game's revenues.

Internationally, each team's cap will be $2.9 million through the 2012 and 2013 signing season. After that, the caps will change based on winning percentage from the previous season, with the team with the lowest winning percentage receiving the biggest bonus pool.

The Indians spent $3 million this year on international free agents. They paid 16-year-old shortstop Dorssys Paulino, from the Dominican Republic, $1.1 million.

Big-market teams will feel the pinch as well. Texas spent $17.6 million on international free agents this year.

Teams going over their bonus pools will be hit with penalties, taxing the overage and limiting the size of bonuses that can be offered to players.

This is a prelude to a possible world-wide draft. A committee will be formed in December to discuss it. It is a concept that has failed to get off the ground in years past.

Competitive balance lottery

To appease the small to mid-market teams stung by the new rules in the amateur draft and international free agent market, the 10 clubs with the lowest revenues and the 10 clubs from the smallest markets will have a chance to obtain six draft picks after the first round.

The chances of winning the lottery will be based on each team's winning percentage from last season. Houston, with a .346 winning percentage, will have a much better chance of winning than the Indians (.494).

Eligible teams that do not win one of the six lottery draft picks, along with other teams receiving revenue sharing, will enter into a lottery at the end of the second round for six additional picks. Picks acquired in the lottery can be traded.

Draft pick compensation

There will be no more Type A or Type B free agents starting in 2012. A free agent will be subject to compensation only if he is with one team the whole season. Such a player must be offered a one-year deal through arbitration worth the average of the 125 highest-paid players from the previous season. Such a deal, based on 2011 salaries, would be worth about $12 million.

If a team signs that player, it will forfeit its first-round pick unless that pick is one of the top 10. Then the team would forfeit its second-round pick. The team that lost a player will be compensated with a pick at the end of the first round.

Assuming the Indians continue to troll the outer edges of free agency next year, this should be good for them. It should limit the number of compensation draft picks placed in front of them on the draft board.

Other things to consider

• Players will be tested for Human Growth Hormone starting next spring training and for reasonable cause during the regular season.

• Instant replay will now cover fair or foul and trapped ball plays, depending on a meeting between Commissioner Bud Selig and the umpires association.

• Drafted players can no longer be signed to major-league contracts. In other words, the Indians can't repeat the Jeremy Guthrie soap opera.

• Active rosters can be expanded to 26 players for certain traditional or split doubleheaders.

• Players with fewer than three, but more than two, years in the big leagues are eligible for arbitration if they're in the upper 22 percent of that service group. It's an increase from 17 percent.

• The minimum salary increases to $480,000 in 2012, $490,000 in 2013 and $500,000 in 2014 followed by a cost of living adjustment.

• Rawlings will develop a new batting helmet to protect players against pitches thrown at 100 mph. Players will wear the helmet in 2013.

• Players, managers and coaches will be prohibited from using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews and team appearances. They must keep it out of sight when fans are permitted in the ballpark and are not allowed to carry it in their uniforms or bodies.

• International players 23 or older, who have played three years professionally, will be considered free agents and not count against a team's signing bonus pool.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Former Notre Dame assistant was 2-22 during his two-year tenure, including a 1-15 mark in the Mid-American Conference.

View full sizePhil Masturzo, Akron Beacon-JournalFormer Akron coach Rob Ianello was fired Saturday after the Zips completed a winless MAC schedule in 2011, their only victory coming against Virginia Military Institute.

AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron football program will have a new leader in 2012, as athletic director Tom Wistrcill announced Saturday that Rob Ianello will not return as head coach.

"Earlier today, I informed Coach Ianello that he has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately," Wistrcill said. "In some areas, the program has made considerable progress under his leadership.

"Unfortunately, the results on the field fell far short of our expectations. After a comprehensive evaluation, I have determined that our football program needs to move in a new direction."

Ianello was 2-22 during his two-year tenure, including a 1-15 mark in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips were 0-8 this season in conference play, outscored 189-35 over their last four games.

The school announced that a search for Ianello's replacement will be conducted immediately.

See a Marvin Fong photo gallery as the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to the Michigan Wolverines, 40-34, in the yearly college football rivalry Saturday.

Breaking down Sunday's games to complete your holiday football feast.

View full sizeAP fileDoes Caleb Hanie inspire confidence in the Bears this week against Oakland? For Tony Grossi, not so much.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Tony Grossi's take on Sunday's games:

Chicago at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

TV: WJW Channel 8.

Early line: Bears by 11/2.

Tony Grossi's take: Caleb Hanie gets first QB start for Bears. OK, fine. Raiders, 23-10.

New England at Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m.

TV: WOIO Channel 19.

Early line: Off.

Tony's take: Eagles get it together, too little too late. Eagles, 24-20.

Pittsburgh at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m.

TV: WKYC Channel 3.

Early line: Steelers by 101/2.

Tony's take: Steelers grind up Chiefs and spit them out. Steelers, 27-10.

Arizona at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Early line: Off.

Tony's take: Cards' Patrick Peterson scores fourth punt return TD. Cardinals, 20-16.

Minnesota at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Early line: Falcons by 9.

Tony's take: Vikings have been quiet contenders for NFL's worst record. Falcons, 24-14.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Early line: Jets by 81/2.

Tony's take: Bills appear done. Jets barely breathing. Jets, 23-17.

Houston at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Early line: Texans by 31/2.

Tony's take: Matt Leinart gets first win at QB for Texans. Texans, 20-6.

Carolina at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Early line: Panthers by 4.

Tony's take: Cam Newton runs it up on Manning-less Colts. Panthers, 30-10.

Tampa Bay at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Early line: Titans by 31/2.

Tony's take: Whatever happened to Kellen Winslow? Titans, 31-21.

Denver at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Early line: Chargers by 7.

Tony's take: Tebow time one more time? Broncos, 24-21.

Washington at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Early line: Seahawks by 41/2.

Tony's take: If this game were canceled, would anybody care? Seahawks, 16-13.

GROSSI UPDATE:

Last week overall: 10-4 (.714)

Season overall: 106-54 (.663)

Last week vs. spread: 7-6-1 (.536)

Season vs. spread: 85-71-4 (.544)

Saturday, Luke Fickell needed to let his players play for the big inning. Frequently they did, but not always.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The lessons are harder in defeat, but those are the dark ones Luke Fickell has always embraced with a bear hug.

Whether the compliments came after he left the wrestling mat as a great high-school wrestler, or the field as a defensive lineman at Ohio State, or the sideline for the last time as Ohio State's head coach, he has always distrusted praise. He feared that it softened him.

Criticism is different. That, he embraces, as more coal for his furnace.

"I'm hurt. Just like those seniors in [the locker room] who gave it all they had," Fickell said after a 40-34 loss to Michigan broke Ohio State's seven-year winning streak on the field against its arch rival. The Buckeyes finished 6-6 on the season with a three-game losing streak at its end.

The white smoke will puff out of the chimney very soon, and Urban Meyer will be announced as the new football pontiff at Ohio State. Fickell, refusing to concede the obvious, said only that he will go back to Columbus, watch film Sunday and try to figure out a way to get better.

Perhaps what he will see is that he should have exercised a head coach's veto power over play-calling more often. That might have prevented the deposed Jim Tressel's aides from stifling creativity and imagination in the offense for so long.

Perhaps the hardest lesson was the need to renounce his coaching philosophy, as the former tutor for OSU's linebackers, and to acknowledge that his best defense this year was his offense.

"Next man up" has been Fickell's mantra, for he refused to look back at all the players suspended or injured and at the ballyhooed quarterback who fled to the NFL under a cloud of wrong-doing. It's baseball terminology. Saturday, he needed to let his players play for the big inning.

Tressel always said Michigan-Ohio State was inherently a big game because of the traditions and, usually, the stakes. But he also said that, as the last regular-season game, it was a tape measure. Progress or regression was easy to see in "The Game."

This year's Michigan game plan was a significant jump in offensive approach for the Buckeyes. All season, risk aversion had grown into predictability, and predictability had stultified into stagnation.

Saturday, Ohio State started the game with three straight series that began with a first-down pass by freshman quarterback Braxton Miller. "I had fun doing it. I just have to keep working and working," Miller said.

Rather than trailing by its standard 10-0 deficit in the opening minutes, OSU took a 7-0 lead on Miller's 54-yard touchdown pass to Corey "Philly" Brown. Brown had to twist and turn to catch it, but that only shows how poor is the Michigan secondary, as well as how iffy is Miller's aim.

Miller was 14-of-25 with a tipped-ball interception on his last play in the last minute. His 235 yards passing were easily the most of his season. He ran for 100 more. Her accounted for three touchdowns. But he was only 2-for-5 on touchdown passes, twice missing DeVier Posey and once Brown.

The most costly miss came in the last two minutes, OSU down by the final margin, when Posey made an inside break that froze cornerback J.T. Floyd like the quarry of a cobra after a little reptile shake-and-bake. After racing past Floyd down the sideline, Posey was all alone. He said he kept "grinding," kept pumping his arms, tried to close the gap enough to dive, flexed to jump ... and then slowed to an off-stride stumble because he had no chance.

In Sunday's film room, Fickell might see a couple of instances of playing it too safe blocked the path to getting better.

The Buckeyes, trailing, 30-24, punted on fourth-and-4 at the Michigan 36, six minutes into the third quarter. Ohio State was playing only for pride. The Buckeyes long ago lost any shot at the BCS bowl that Michigan will probably claim. This was four-down territory, particularly on a day when the game resembled violent tennis. Fickell's team needed to hold serve then and play for a touchdown. His injury-riddled defense had let him down all day.

Even though a Ben Buchanan punt backed up Michigan to its own 9, the Wolverines flipped the field position with a drive to midfield. But the drive ended in a gift turnover for the Buckeyes off a fumbled punt snap and 17-yard loss. OSU had cashed a short-field situation for a touchdown after recovering Robinson's fumble in the first half, and it needed to do the same here.

On third-and-goal from the 2 in the fourth quarter, however, Miller rolled right, didn't trust himself to try to squeeze the ball through through a tight opening to tight end Jake Stoneburner in the corner, and absorbed a 2-yard sack. That throw would have taken touch and confidence because strong safety Jordan Kovacs was in front of Stoneburner. Next year, Miller might try it, and he might make it. But not Saturday.

The Buckeyes got only a field goal, a sensible call on fourth-and-4, and still trailed, 30-27. But this was a game played by sixes, not threes.

Soon, Meyer will be the next man up. His reputation is that he isn't a big "take" sign guy. His teams swing away.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Some may say Fickell just needs to decide if he wants to be a head coach, but that's not really the question. It's more about what sets him up best to move up the head-coaching ladder.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerAfter a season guiding the Buckeyes, will Luke Fickell want his own team to lead -- perhaps Akron -- or will he want to return to his assistant role in Columbus?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Luke Fickell may have a decision to make.

Sources have said Fickell would have an opportunity to remain on the Ohio State staff after Urban Meyer is named the next head coach, as expected. But with the news that Akron fired coach Rob Ianello on Saturday, Fickell, a former Akron assistant, would seemingly jump into that mix.

Some may say Fickell just needs to decide if he wants to be a head coach, but that's not really the question. It's more about what sets him up best to move up the head-coaching ladder. Would that be leading the Akron program? Or, after nine years under Jim Tressel, would it be serving under another successful head coach like Meyer?

Fickell wants to lead a program, will lead a program and should have a bright future in the profession. He also has family considerations, with four children and his family and his wife's family both in central Ohio. Fickell has always considered his family when thinking about his career, and that won't end now.

Either option, or maybe taking a run at other head-coaching jobs that could come open, are all reasonable choices. Certainly, Akron isn't a sure thing, but he would be a strong candidate. Fickell deserves a minute to decompress, and then he may have a big call to make. This year was taxing, but there's a lot still ahead of him.

MANSFIELD, Ohio -- There aren't many high school football teams in Ohio that make halftime adjustments as well as St. Ignatius. The latest example is Saturday's 17-6 Division I state semifinal victory over No. 2-ranked and previously-unbeaten Toledo Whitmer in front of 9,427 fans at Mansfield High's Arlin Field. The victory earned the No. 6-ranked Wildcats (12-2) a chance...

St. Ignatius' Tim McCoy clutches this TD reception in the third quarter as Toledo Whitmer's Nicholas Holley defends in Saturday night's Division I state semifinal. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

MANSFIELD, Ohio -- There aren't many high school football teams in Ohio that make halftime adjustments as well as St. Ignatius.

The latest example is Saturday's 17-6 Division I state semifinal victory over No. 2-ranked and previously-unbeaten Toledo Whitmer in front of 9,427 fans at Mansfield High's Arlin Field. The victory earned the No. 6-ranked Wildcats (12-2) a chance to win their 11th state championship. They'll play unranked Pickerington Central (11-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Canton's Fawcett Stadium.

After capitalizing on two Whitmer turnovers to take a 10-0 lead at intermission, St. Ignatius rebounded from Jody Webb's 90-yard touchdown run on the third play of the second half to extend its advantage to 17-6.

"At halftime we just said, 'let's just flow it, throw everybody out and see if [Whitmer] can handle that," said offensive coordinator Nick Restifo, referring to the Wildcats' choice to go through the air on their second third-quarter possession.

Consecutive passes to Conor Hennessey, Tim McVey and Blake Thomas for 12, 11 and nine yards, respectively, set up quarterback Eric Williams' 12-yard touchdown aerial to Tim McCoy.

"We went with sending five guys out and they didn't know what to do with that," added Restifo.

Hennessey, who caught two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown, stressed the purpose of going to the pass was to catch Whitmer off-guard.

• Check out The Plain Dealer's photo gallery on this game.

"They were blitzing a lot and we were motioning Blake Thomas back and forth," Hennessey said. "He was hitting some seams and making some great blocks and although we didn't complete as many passes as we wanted, we got it done.

"Then the fourth quarter, it was Timmy [McVey] doing his job and just pounding it down their throats."

Williams completed seven of 16 passes for 76 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His counterpart, Tyler Palka, made good on six of 18 attempts for 80 yards but was picked off three times.

McVey finished with 62 yards on the ground to lead the Wildcats, while Webb got the bulk of his 128 yards on his touchdown scamper.

Whitmer (13-1) committed five turnovers and Ignatius turned the ball over twice.

"The truth of the matter is you can't make mistakes and we made too many mistakes, too many turnovers," said Panthers coach Joe Palka (Tyler's dad). "It's something we hadn't done all year, and it's tough to overcome that."

Whitmer's highly-touted offense, which was scoring a little over 44 points a game, accounted for 234 yards.

"Give St. Ignatius credit," added Joe Palka. "They did a good job stopping our run and keeping us off-balance, offensively.

"They took the counter game away and I'm not sure that we stayed on blocks as long as we needed to. They didn't blitz a lot, they just had good, physical kids."

The first half featured six turnovers, four of which benefited St. Ignatius -- which scored on two. An 18-yard TD pass Williams to Hennessey and Tim Shenk's PAT put St. Ignatius ahead, 7-0, with 9:34 left in the first quarter. The pass came two plays after the first of Chad Aerni's two interceptions.

Shenk then kicked a 51-yard field goal with 2:52 remaining in the half to cap a six-play drive that started when Rustom Khouri recovered a Webb fumble on Whitmer's 45.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665

On Twitter: @BobFortuna

All is quiet on the D'Qwell Jackson contract front, but that doesn't mean the Browns don't have plans to re-sign the comeback player-of-the-year candidate.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerD'Qwell Jackson (52, chasing the 49ers' Ted Ginn) is likely to be a target for a long-term from the Browns after the season, insiders say.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- There are no talks currently going on for a new contract for Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who can be a free agent after this season.

But a league source said the inactivity is no reason to believe the Browns won't make a concerted pitch to tie up Jackson long-term before free agency rolls around in March.

"I'm sure they're going to wait to see how they finish the season," the source said.

Jackson may be the Browns' most valuable player this season. By the end of the year, he will be a strong candidate for NFL comeback player of the year. After missing 22 games because of torn pectoral muscle injuries in 2009 and '10, Jackson has been an anchor in the middle of coordinator Dick Jauron's 4-3 defense. He leads the Browns with 91 tackles -- almost doubling runner-up Ahtyba Rubin's 47. Jackson is fourth on the team with 2 1/2 sacks, has an interception and forced fumble and leads with two fumble recoveries.

In March, Jackson signed a one-year contract for a base salary of $1.6 million with the opportunity to earn about $3 million in incentives. He is on target to max out on the incentives.

The Browns have given new deals this year to left tackle Joe Thomas, tight end Evan Moore, Rubin and linebacker Chris Gocong. So what's the holdup with Jackson?

The source does not believe the Browns are waiting out the season to make sure Jackson does not reinjure the pectorals. "They're past that point," the source said.

It may have had something to do with finalizing decisions on what to do with two other potential free agents -- running back Peyton Hillis and kicker Phil Dawson -- and determining their potential shopping list in free agency.

The Browns started out negotiating with Hillis, but stopped when it became clear that they were far apart in the amount of guaranteed money each side thought Hillis was worth. Numerous episodes in his soap-opera season have led to reports that the Browns are content to let Hillis leave in free agency.

As for Dawson, who is playing under the team's franchise tag and guarantee of $3.175 million, there have been no talks for a multi-year deal. The Browns have the option of re-using the franchise tag on Dawson. That would result in a 20 percent raise for Dawson, which would bring his 2012 salary to $3.8 million as their franchise player.

If the Browns turn the page on Dawson, the tag could be saved as insurance to keep Jackson from leaving in free agency. The expected value of the franchise tag for linebackers will be about $9 million. That's a pretty high cap number. The Browns more likely will want to save ample cap room for free agent spending on their beleaguered offense and reduce Jackson's cap number by negotiating a multi-year contract.

North nuggets

The Ravens matched a franchise high with nine sacks against the 49ers with linebacker Ray Lewis inactive with a toe injury. ... After the victory over his coaching brother, John Harbaugh received two Gatorade showers from his players. ... Because they played on Thanksgiving, the Ravens get 10 days to unwind from the emotional win over the 49ers and play the Browns. That extra time might be enough also to get Lewis back on the field. ...

Sunday's game against the Browns is the eighth local TV blackout (non-sellout) in the last nine home games for the Bengals ... Backup QB Bruce Gradkowski, who quick-snapped and threw the 41-yard TD to A.J. Green in the opening game victory over the Browns, has not played a single down since that game. ...

The Steelers' Antonio Brown was the 22nd wide receiver taken in the 2010 draft. His 18 receptions on third down rank third in the NFL this year. ... Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will play with a splint on his broken right thumb Sunday against the Chiefs. He did the same for a few games in 2005.

Stat of the week: Counting injury lists, the Bengals have 11 players drafted in the first round and eight in the second. The Browns have five in first round and eight in second.

Brad Malone's goal with 21 seconds left in regulation carries Monsters to another win.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Lake Erie fought back from a 3-1 first-period deficit to claim a 5-4 victory over the Bears at Hershey, Pa., Saturday night.

The Monsters scored three times in the third, with Brad Malone potting the game-winner with just 21 seconds left.

Luke Walker, Evan Brophy, Hugh Jessiman and Justin Mercier also scored for Lake Erie. Jessiman and Mercier scored on power plays.

With just 52.3 seconds remaining, Graham Mink scored for Hershey to tie the game at 4-4, and Hershey fans were settling in for overtime before Malone sent everyone home early.

Playing his first game since Nov. 3, Lake Erie's Trevor Cann had 29 saves on 33 shots.

The Monsters, after a slow start to the season, improved to 9-9-1-1. The Bears fell to 9-5-3-2.

  LOME, Togo -- At least six topflight Togolese soccer players were killed and another 28 people critically injured on Saturday after a bus carrying their team plunged into a ravine and caught fire. In a statement read on national television, the Togo government said President Faure Gnassingbe had ordered that those injured from the Etoile Filante club be...

LOME, Togo -- At least six topflight Togolese soccer players were killed and another 28 people critically injured on Saturday after a bus carrying their team plunged into a ravine and caught fire.

In a statement read on national television, the Togo government said President Faure Gnassingbe had ordered that those injured from the Etoile Filante club be taken to the military wing of the Lome Central Hospital to receive urgent medical attention.

A delegation, led by sports minister Christophe Tchao, traveled to the accident site with an ambulance to evacuate the injured.

The accident happened near the city of Atakpame, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of Lome, as Etoile Filante was on its way to Togo's second largest city of Sokode for Sunday's league game against Semassi.

A tire is believed to have burst, causing the bus to topple over and plunge down a ravine. Some of the victims reportedly burnt to death. Eyewitness accounts said the bus flipped over several times as it crashed into the ravine.

"We do not know how we managed to get out of the accident," said one of the survivors, goalkeeper Mama Souleyman.

Images on Togo national television showed the smoldering wreckage of the bus, which was almost completely burnt to ashes.

Lome-based Etoile Filante is a seven-time Togo national league champion and was runner-up in Africa's continental club competition in 1968.

Last year, two Togo national team officials were killed and several players hurt after a gun attack on the team's bus as it traveled to the African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola.

In 2007, Togo sports minister Richard Attipoe was among 22 people who died when a helicopter carrying Togolese soccer fans and officials crashed in Sierra Leone after an African Cup qualifying match.

Who will emerge as the team's top running back entering the 2012 season?

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerMontario Hardesty is expected to start Sunday against the Bengals, with a chance through the rest of the season to solidify his role as the Browns' featured back in 2012.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With a long holiday weekend, there's plenty to be talkin' about:

About the Browns ...

1. The starting running back in 2012 will be ... who? It was always a possibility that Peyton Hillis could leave via free agency, but the Browns seemed to have plenty of depth with Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson. With all that in mind, the team's best running back this season has been -- Chris Ogbonnaya? Yep!

2. The surprise is Hillis began to practice near the end of the week. His status changed from definitely out to a definite maybe for Sunday, where the Bengals rank No. 3 in the NFL defending the run. Who knows well or even if Hillis will play?

3. Hillis has real incentive to play and produce because each week that he sits out, his value on the free-agent market declines as he's viewed as injury-prone. Those who think he is sitting out because he's mad about his contract or some other issue fail to realize that he needs to play to be paid.

4. Hillis has played a grand total of 3 1/2 games this season (211 yards rushing, 3.6 per carry). The Hillis of 2011 who was bullish on the ground (1,177 yards, 4.4 average) and athletic enough to catch 61 passes is exactly what this team needs. Is he still capable of that production? Was that just a good year, or an indication of what he can do at the age of 25 if healthy and motivated? The last six games could begin to answer those questions.

5. It's possible the Browns have already written off Hillis for 2012. There are no contract talks scheduled. That can change after the season. It also makes no sense to pay big for Hillis, given this is the second time he's had a significant hamstring injury. He tore his other hamstring in 2008.

6. But Hardesty can't stay healthy. He's been with the Browns for two years, and has 75 carries for 244 yards. There was knee surgery last season, a torn calf muscle this season. He is supposed to be healthy for Sunday's game. Durability is huge issue.

7. If Hardesty can stay on the field for the final six games and be productive, perhaps the Browns will decide they can come back with Hardesty, Jackson (whose foot injury should be healed) and Ogbonnaya in 2012. What this season has demonstrated once again is that running backs get hurt.

8. Think about how Colt McCoy has played with three different backs -- and none starting for even a month. Is it a coincidence that McCoy has been at his best in the last two games -- when Ogbonnaya has run for 90 and 115 yards, averaging 5.2 per carry? Probably not. He played with Ogbonnaya at Texas and you can sense a comfort level between them. He also had that with Hillis in 2011, when they played together each week. Hardesty hasn't been on the field long enough to know how he'll fit.

9. Maybe the progress in the last two games is the result of playing St. Louis and Jacksonville, two teams with a combined 5-15 record. It certainly helps that the pass blocking has been better in these games. But a real factor is the Browns finally have had a running attack -- and they still rank 29th in rushing.

10. Coach Pat Shurmur said Shawn Lauvao had his "best game of the season" in the victory over Jacksonville. Profootballfocus.com agreed: "Lauvao gave up a sack and a penalty but had his best game as a pro by some distance as he got the best of Tyson Alualu."

11. With five of the final six games against three teams in the AFC North ranked in the top six against the run, it will be time to see how much progress has been made by the two young guards -- Jason Pinkston and Lauvao. Their blocking has been a key to the improved running game the last two weeks.

12. I will be speaking about the Browns and other topics at the Solon Library at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Call 440-248-8777 to register for this free program. Joe Tait will be signing copies of his book at Barnes & Noble Woodmere at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerWhile there's no questioning Grady Sizemore's work ethic or his determination to recover from his latest surgeries, Terry Pluto just isn't convinced re-signing the outfielder is really in the best interest of the Indians.

About Grady Sizemore ...

I'm still very lukewarm about the signing of Grady Sizemore. I fear that this season will be more of what we've seen the last three years -- injuries and frustration. I realize there are not a lot of alternatives at $5 million (What a country!), but my reservations linger. Anyway, here is the Tribe's thinking:

1. They believe in Sizemore the person. They know he will put in the work to recover. They know he desperately wants to rebuild his career. They know he really likes being with the Indians. They know that on a one-year contract, he has every reason to excel. He's only 29, not 35.

2. To become a contender in the Central, something special has to happen. They not only need to be good, but a little lucky. Over and over, the Indians will tell you that Sizemore has "more upside" than anyone available for anything close to $5 million for a year.

3. Sizemore gave two hints of his talent last season. When he came off the disabled list on April 17, he batted .378 with four homers and nine RBI (17-of-45) in April. Then injuries came. He was somewhat healthy at the start of July, and batted .283 (13-of-46) with three homers before hurting his right knee again.

4. The Indians also know that from 2005-08, he averaged 28 homers and 80 RBI with an .850 OPS as a leadoff man. If can even come close to that, they have hit the jackpot.

5. But they also know he has averaged only 70 games in the last three years, batting .234 (.727 OPS) averaging nine homers and 40 RBI. He batted .189 vs. lefties, .254 vs. righties. He battled through micro fracture surgery on his left knee, arthroscopic on his right knee, two hernia surgeries and a wrist surgery.

6. For the $9 million they could have paid Sizemore by picking up his option, they added Sizemore and Derek Lowe (in a separate deal with Atlanta, where they picked up $5 million in salary). Yes, it's a $10 million total, and more if Sizemore produces. But they'd love to pay all those bonuses because it means he had more than 400 at-bats and stayed healthy because that's where the incentives kick in.

7. They say Sizemore is their center fielder. Last season, he was very poor in center as his speed was gone due to the knee surgery. My guess is this isn't written in ink. If Sizemore can hit, but has lost his speed, they will move him to left. That assumes Michael Brantley continues to improve and can play center, which is very possible as he can be adequate at that spot.

8. The real question is "Are the Indians done spending?" It's hard to get a direct answer, but here is what I am hearing -- they may have an extra $3 million or so in the budget to spend. They also can create some more money with trades.

9. They know they need a right-handed hitter. They would love that hitter to be an outfielder, who can also play some first base. They doubt that player is available in free agency ... they don't have the $30 million over three years that they expect Michael Cuddyer to receive. So they are working on trades.

10. The Tribe has four relievers coming off good years and eligible for arbitration, meaning significant raises in 2012. Here's the list and their 2011 salaries: Chris Perez ($2.25 million), Raffy Perez ($1.33 million), Joe Smith ($870,000) and Tony Sipp ($436,000).

11. The Indians believe lefty Nick Hagadone is ready to take a bullpen spot, meaning Sipp or Raffy Perez could be available for a trade.

12. If it's a big deal, Chris Perez could be available because they believe Vinnie Pestano can close. Or else, they can trade Joe Smith. They like Zach Putnam (3-3, 3.65 ERA at Class AAA) and Chen Lee (4-0, 2.27 ERA) as righties for the 2012 bullpen. Lee's fastball averages 93 mph and he has hit 97 mph on the radar gun. Between Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus, Lee fanned 99 in 71 1/3 innings, walking only 23 and allowing three homers. He signed for $400,000 off the Taiwanese national team.

13. So yes, they could trade Chris Perez, who will receive at least $3 million in his new deal. The depth of the bullpen does help create trades, because many teams need relief.

14. Some fans asked about Jack Hannahan. He is not a free agent, but is eligible for arbitration. The team values his glove at third base, especially with four sinker-ball pitchers in the projected rotation. He also provides depth behind Lonnie Chisenhall, as the Tribe has no other third-base prospects in the upper levels of the minors.

15. There will be two keys to evaluating the Sizemore signing: A) Can he stay at least somewhat healthy and produce? B) Can they add another hitter? Neither question can be answered now.

About the Tribe's uniforms ...

1. The Indians announced some small changes to their uniforms for next season. The script INDIANS is much like the 1948 model. They took some of the piping off. They want to keep a "nostalgic look."

2. I hate the red caps with the blue C. Team president Mark Shapiro said that cap was the team's best seller "by far" last season. So yes, it will be back in weekends. The Indians are adding red socks and sleeves to the white weekend uniforms to match those dreaded red caps.

3. The top jersey seller was the road gray with CLEVELAND on the front.

View full sizePaul Tople, Akron Beacon JournalNike Cvetinovic's 16 points led Akron over Detroit on Saturday night, providing the kind of senior leadership that Zips coach Keith Dambrot wants for his team.

About Akron men's basketball ...

1. The Zips are 3-2 after Saturday's victory over Detroit. Coach Keith Dambrot said "realty returned" after the team pulled a 68-58 upset at Mississippi State. The Zips lost the next two games to Valparaiso (62-59) and Duquesne (81-76). They had leads in both games, but Dambrot talked about a lack of leadership and iffy point guard play in the losses.

2. Sophomore point guard Alex Abreu has had some injury issues, and was suspended for "a violation of team rules." That has Quincy Diggs -- a natural small forward -- handling the point. Diggs leads the team with a 12-point scoring average and is shooting 51 percent, but running an offense is new to him.

3. The backup point guard is Brian Walsh, but the transfer from Xavier is battling hip injuries. "Right now, he's not moving well enough to play point," said Dambrot. "We are headed into a rough 3-4 week stretch as we figure some things out. It may look like we are taking a step back, but I think it will help in the long run."

4. Dambrot praised the talent of Benedictine product Nick Harney (9.5 points, 53 percent shooting) and Euclid's Demetrius Treadwell (8.3 points), but said both first year players "just need to learn to practice harder." Treadwell is 18-of-25 from the field, but 3-of-12 at the foul line. "It's not just them," said Dambrot. "Overall, our entire team doesn't practice at a championship level."

5. The Zips have two seniors -- Nikola Cvetinovic and Brett McClanahan -- have "been inconsistent" according Dambrot. He talked about the need for his seniors to "step up." He also said the Zips history has sometimes been rocky starts and strong finishes, "so we've been through this before."

The new system puts an emphasis on winning the division, which in itself brings integrity to the 162-game season.

View full sizeAP fileWith wild-card teams guaranteed nothing more than a one-game playoff, big-money teams such as the Red Sox and Yankees won't want to coast through September when a divisional title has so much meaning.

Hey, Hoynsie: Of all the changes to the CBA, I have to say that the addition of a second wild-card team in each league makes the least sense. Pinning the potential No. 2 team in the league vs. the potential No. 5 team for the right to advance to the "real" playoffs dilutes the importance of what teams have accomplished over a 162-game season. Could you imagine a scenario similar to 2001 where a 102-win Oakland Athletics team plays an 85-win Minnesota Twins team for the right to advance to the division series? And the proposed one-game format makes less sense. -- David Bruno, Chicago

Hey, David: Commissioner Bud Selig raised many of the same concerns that you have before finally agreeing to the new format. But this way, you won't have the Yankees and Boston jogging through September because they know they have a spot in the postseason guaranteed either by winning the division or the wild card. The new system puts an emphasis on winning the division, which in itself brings integrity to the 162-game season.

Hey, Hoynsie: I read that the Indians exposed Rob Bryson and Bryce Stowell to the Rule 5 draft. Are you surprised? They put up good numbers and moved up the system. Do you think the Indians will lose them? -- Steven Alex, Gainesville, Fla.

Hey, Steven: Each organization can protect only 40 of its eligible players from getting selected in the Rule 5 draft. Bryson and Stowell have good arms, but they've had trouble staying healthy. Can't say I'm surprised they weren't protected.

Hey, Hoynsie: How does a five-year labor agreement equal 21 years of labor peace? -- Barry Elliott, Jackson Center

Hey, Barry: It's simple math. The last season interrupted by a work stoppage was 1995. Since then labor peace has reigned in baseball. The new five-year deal makes its 21 consecutive years.

-- Hoynsie

It's another trip through Tony Grossi's mailbag.

View full sizeAP photoAnother year of denying Art Modell a chance at the Pro Football Hall of Fame has once again riled up some Baltimore loyalists.

Hey, Tony: I hope you are proud of yourself.

Once again Art Modell has no chance of getting in the Hall Of Fame.

You are a little man who has nothing else to do then to keep this man out of the hall, because writing about how bad your teams are is all you have. Are you the only city to lose a team? Hardly. You will suffer decades of misery. You will suffer the next great curse like the Cubs and Red Sox. 86 years. Only 70 good luck. At least you won't be around to see it. -- Mike Cook, Baltimore

Hey, Mike: Forty-four Hall of Fame selectors failed to advance Modell to the semifinalist round of 25. The fine people of Baltimore simply don't understand the process.

Hey, Tony: What were the Browns doing when Brandon Lloyd became available? -- Andy Britton, Venice, Fla.

Hey, Andy: They probably were discouraged from giving up a late draft pick for him because he can be a free agent after the season and they didn't view him as a long-term fit.

Hey, Tony: It's obvious that the Browns are abysmal offensively, for a variety of reasons (injuries, lack of depth and talent and no coordinator). Don't the Browns have a qualified West Coast coordinator on staff, namely Gil Haskell, Holmgren's previous "assistant guru"? To my knowledge he didn't call the plays for him all those years either, so it wouldn't have been that different. It just seems to me like he could've been a significant help to this coach if he'd stepped in and took that position from the beginning, which I'd actually expected him to do. Why didn't he? -- Richard Summers, Shaker Heights

Hey, Richard: Haskell is 68. Who wants to be a full-time NFL assistant coach at that age? Haskell is on the sideline during games. He also is involved during the week. Whoever makes the play calls still has to deal with the lack of playmakers on the Browns.

Hey, Tony: In regards to whether McCoy is the QB of the future, most of the talk has centered around whether there would be someone available in the draft. Is there anyone already in the league that might be worth looking at? One unconventional thought: what about Vince Young? He's still young, he's big and athletic. -- Matthew Moriak, Westerville, Ohio

Hey, Matthew: The other West Coast-type quarterback who comes to mind is Matt Flynn, who is Aaron Rodgers' backup in Green Bay and will get plenty of looks in free agency. Young is more accomplished, but Flynn is highly regarded by some and is reminiscent of Matt Schaub as a backup in Atlanta before given his shot in Houston. Given the Browns' allergic reaction to free agency, I would say neither player is a serious option for them.

Hey, Tony: Could it be possible that the Browns are treating this season as a "throw away" year realizing that they are a couple of drafts away from serious contention? Somehow it wouldn't be as painful to watch them right now if I knew that their goal wasn't so much to win as it is to set the stage for the next couple of years. -- Jerry Rand, Alameda, Calif.

Hey, Jerry: I don't understand why so many people dismiss a 4-6 record as a "throwaway" year. Nobody brought that concept up when Eric Mangini was 1-10 in his first season.

Hey, Tony: I am a lifelong Browns fan now living in the Cincinnati area. One of the most frustrating things for me is that the Browns seemingly showed no interest in the following players -- Manny Lawson, Thomas Howard, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Curry, Jericho Cotchery and others. These are all examples of relatively young, highly athletic players at positions of need. Why on earth did we not make a serious play for any of them? -- Steve, Cincinnati

Hey, Steve: It seems to me that no matter the regime, the Browns have been extremely lethargic -- or gun-shy -- in adding veteran players both in free agency and in waiver pickups. It's silly to eliminate these avenues as a means of complementing your team. This is 2011 -- not 1981 -- and free agency, especially, can not be ignored by a team with multiple needs.

Hey, Tony: In the west coast offense is it designed to have the fullback sifting through the line and going down field five yards? Is that part of the play? Since they do not throw to the fullback wouldn't he be better staying in the backfield and blocking? -- Ray Dumont, Foley, Ala.

Hey, Ray: There are a lot of things about the West Coast offense I don't understand. The role of the fullback is one of them.

Hey, Tony: Just saw the highlight of Tim Tebow's 20-yard, game-winning run against the Jets. It's clear the Broncos are letting Tim Tebow play to his strengths in the name of winning. Why doesn't Pat Shurmur let go a little bit of his idea of an offense and let Colt get back in the shotgun and toss it around a bit? At least than the other teams defense may not already know what's coming! -- David Johnson, Lorain

Hey, David: In recent weeks, McCoy's plays out of the shotgun formation have increased. If this is the key for him seeing the middle of the field better, I'm all for it.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerEvan Moore hasn't been as productive as many expected this season ... does Tony have a reason?

Hey, Tony: During the preseason Evan Moore was said by the coaching staff to be an integral part of the offense for the upcoming season. I'm still waiting for that to happen. He seems to catch everything thrown at him. Has he done something that has put him in disfavor with the coaching staff? -- Bob S, Erie, Pa.

Hey, Bob: I'm told Moore is in the coach's doghouse. I'm not sure all the reasons why, but one-handed attempts at pass catching is definitely one of them.

Hey, Tony: Fill in the blank question: the reason it's so painful to watch the Browns on Sunday is: -- Chris R, San Francisco

Hey, Chris: ... because they don't score enough points to be competitive with the best teams in the league.

Hey, Tony: Mark Sanchez for Alex Mack isn't looking too bad right now. The Browns may have to make a similar decision this year with another USC quarterback, Matt Barkley. -- Joe Carter, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Hey, Joe: No disrespect to Mack, but Sanchez has won, what, four playoff games on the road in two years and has appeared in two AFC championship games. Mack has accomplished ... ?

Hey, Tony: Had the Browns selected Mark Sanchez a few years ago, would we be debating the quarterback position today? He wouldn't have Alex Mack blocking for him and Mohammed Massaquoi to throw to. Oh, and David Veikune. -- Spike , Tampa, Fla.

Hey, Spike: Sanchez obviously is one of those players Browns fans love to hate.

Hey, Tony: Heard recently your argument against including "specialists" in the HOF. You compared returners like Devin Hester to "the best long snapper, the best coverage linebacker..." as justification. HOF-worthy returners score points way out of proportion to their touching of the ball. Open your mind, Grossi. -- Gary Lazarski, Chicago

Hey, Gary: I would bet you that the best long snapper in history is responsible for more points in his career than Hester will be. Does that make him Hall of Fame-worthy? Of course not. There is a backlog of deserving full-time players whose candidacy must be argued before we get into specialists.

Hey, Tony: I haven't heard or read about the possibility that Andrew Luck could pull a John Elway or Eli Manning. He has one more year of eligibility left at Stanford. He might not be willing to wait behind Peyton Manning. Could this open the door to the Browns or someone else to make a trade? -- Ted Belak, Sierra Madre, Calif.

Hey, Ted: Don't bet on it.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerHere's a surprise --- it's a Colt McCoy question!

Hey, Tony: Both directly and indirectly, you place the majority of blame for the Browns' problems on offense on the QB. Other analysts point out the consistently poor play of the offensive line, the wide receivers and the running backs. You, however, stated the offensive line is just "inconsistent" and barely mention the poor play of the receivers. How do you explain your lack of critical analysis of these three integral parts of the offense and how it significantly hampers any QB's ability to provide positive offense results? -- Dave M., Lawrenceville

Hey, Dave: I remember the same argument made during the careers of Tim Couch, Charlie Frye, Brady Quinn and others since expansion. Do you really think the receivers Tom Brady is throwing to are Pro Bowl caliber? Same with Drew Brees. Does Aaron Rodgers have a stable of all-star receivers, or do they benefit from his pinpoint accuracy and cannon arm? Can you name Green Bay's running backs? Yes, I agree the Browns' receivers are lacking speed to separate from defenders. True, the running backs are off the street because of injuries to Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. The offensive line is working in two young players, but it also has two Pro Bowl players. At some point, doesn't the quarterback have to make plays to elevate those around him? I agree that the position would be easier to play with all-stars all around the quarterback. But if that were the case, couldn't you insert any average quarterback in that cockpit and expect to light up the scoreboard?

Hey, Tony: I don't remember our O-line or Colt McCoy being nearly this bad last year. How much longer is Eric Steinbach under contract for? Do you think he would significantly upgrade our O-line if/when he returns next year? -- Jason DeLong, Morehead City, N.C.

Hey, Jason: I believe Steinbach is under contract for two more years. I think his loss hurt the outside running game in particular because he was so good at pulling and leading sweeps. Of late, the Browns have been working to incorporate Jason Pinkston that way. But he's only a rookie and he played left tackle in college. I believe Steinbach will reclaim his left guard spot next season and Pinkston might be tried at right tackle.

Hey, Tony: Mike Holmgren has been a total disappointment so far. First year, he sticks to a coach everyone knew he was going to fire and this year, he makes no major moves to upgrade the O-line and receivers. How long will Randy Lerner give him to show some progress? -- Joe Reis, Crescent Springs, Ky.

Hey, Joe: Holmgren is under contract through 2014.

Hey, Tony: If the Browns need to get a QB in the 2012 draft we'll need to give up current and future draft picks to move up to get one of the elite QB prospects. That resets any progress we may have made by limiting draft picks for talent around our new QB and means an even less-experienced QB is on the field. Are the Browns -- or should they be -- looking at Matt Flynn from Green Bay in free agency? I would think Flynn in free agency surrounded by top drafted talent may be less risk than another rookie QB surrounded by what we have now. -- Rick, Arkansas

Hey, Rick: Flynn is an interesting option, but is by no means an automatic improvement over McCoy. It would take thorough research to determine if signing him -- no doubt to a large contract -- would solve the franchise quarterback question for the next, say, 5-7 years. The benefit of finding the franchise quarterback in free agency -- or trade -- is it allows the team to use its draft to support the quarterback with playmakers. Of course the same would hold true if McCoy is determined to be the quarterback moving forward. This huge issue must be resolved by Holmgren, and that is one reason why the owner is paying him the big bucks.

Hey, Tony: If the Browns didn't have Phil Dawson, do you think they would try harder (take more chances) to get into the end zone? Three points are better than none, but based on the plays called while in enemy territory, it seems like the Browns are playing for field goals rather than touchdowns. Shore up the right side of the line, get a healthy running back, and a wide receiver and maybe next year will look much brighter. -- D.A. Pimley, Centreville, Va.

Hey, D.A.: I thought the Browns played for field goals more under the former coach than the present one.

Hey, Tony: Why is it so difficult to find the injury report on the Browns page at Cleveland.com? All I wanted to know was who is inactive for the Browns/Jags game. ... I had to go to a different site to find it! -- Eye Dawg, Denver

Hey, Eye: The Browns' inactives are posted on cleveland.com/browns each Sunday as soon as the club announces them.

Hey, Tony: I want to know why some think our D-line is good? We have no depth. The quarterback has all day to throw, leading to easy passes. Then our lineman get thrown around and then every running back has a field day. -- Jay Penn, Cleveland

Hey, Jay: They're young and energetic and they make plays. Are they the 1985 Chicago Bears? No. Are they better than a couple of 30-year-olds who couldn't or wouldn't practice all season last year? Absolutely.

Hey, Tony: Is the coaching staff not really trying to win games? It looks to me like they are actually evaluating the players as if they are playing pre-season. -- Timothy Shinsky, Sheffield Lake

Hey, Timothy: If they are not trying to win, then they are bad at that, too, because they have managed to win four games out of 10. Not great, but better than what we've seen the previous two years. (Oh, yeah, must be the schedule.)

Hey, Tony: Why do you think, even with Ahtyba Rubin, D'Qwell Jackson and the emergence of Phil Taylor, do the Browns still have trouble stopping the run? My guess is that they need better run support from their safeties. -- Chris S, South Euclid

Hey, Chris: I agree. Also, the ends are not good against the run. That might be one reason Jayme Mitchell was demoted.

Hey, Tony: The field at Browns Stadium is terrible. Big chunks of sod go flying on every play and the field is all brown down the middle. What is the scoop on the lousy grass? -- Tom Sudow, Shaker Heights

Hey, Tom: Good question. Seems as if the field always has been underused and still in disrepair.

Hey, Tony: First, I love Joe Haden and hope he remains a Brown forever (representing Cleveland the way he does makes me love him more). Maybe I'm being picky, however, all his "amazing pass breakups" seem to be dropped passes by bad receivers and he throws his hand in there at the last second to make it look like he did something. Am I being too pessimistic? -- Brian W, Erie, Pa.

Hey, Brian: Haden has improved his game over his fine rookie season, except in catching interceptions. I look forward to seeing him compete against A.J. Green, Mike Wallace and whomever Baltimore lines up against him. Yes, I think you're being harsh.

Hey, Tony: Let me get this straight, the NFL police say it is inappropriate for two players to fall to the ground celebrating a touchdown, but it is okay for a visiting player to do a LeBron impersonation? I would call that taunting. -- Gene Lynn, Copley

Hey, Gene: Taunting only is a penalty when it is directed toward the other team, not to a city.

Hey, Tony: The field goal declared no good by Phil Dawson in the Jacksonville game raises a question I have had for many years. Why not raise the uprights another five feet or so? It would seem an easy way to resolve these controversies. P.S. I still say Rich Karlis' kick in the 1986 AFC Championship Game was no good. -- Jonathan Hollingsworth, Independence

Hey, Jonathan: Sounds good to me, as long as it doesn't increase the risk of them snapping in high winds.

Hey, Tony: If Peyton Hillis truly is allowed to walk, do you see the Browns making a run at Michael Bush similar to the Falcons with Michael Turner? I believe he is a free agent after this season and normally I don't agree with spending in free agency, but he's a proven threat and would allow us to focus our draft on WR and OL. Thoughts? -- Vince Ross, Fort Myers, Fla.

Hey, Vince: Bush is a load. He's not in the same class as Turner, however, who had, at the time of his signing, more moves and more speed. Bush also has had some injuries, so I wouldn't invest too heavily in him. Once a running back plays through his rookie contract, you have to be very careful that he hasn't already reached his peak. You want guys like him out of college, not in their second contracts -- for the most part.

-- Tony

Jeremy Montgomery had 12 points for Cleveland State, and D'Aundray Brown scored 10.

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Dwan McMillan and Stephen Nwaukoni had 12 points each to help Hofstra hand Cleveland State its first loss of the season, 63-53, on Saturday.

Nathaniel Lester and Stevie Mejia each scored 10 for the Pride in their second game of the TicketCity Legends Classic.

• Vikings-Pride boxscore

Hofstra (3-3) trailed, 42-37, before Nwaukoni and McMillan made consecutive layups. McMillan was fouled on his attempt and made the subsequent free throw to tie the game, 42-42, with 12:30 to play.

The Pride then used a 15-4 run to take a 57-46 lead with 4:38 remaining. Cleveland State (5-1) pulled within seven, 57-50, but McMillan hit four free throws in the closing minutes to help Hofstra secure the victory.

Jeremy Montgomery had 12 points for Cleveland State, and D'Aundray Brown scored 10. The Vikings shot just 40 percent from the field, missing 15 of its 19 3-point attempts.

Hofstra shot 57.1 percent (12-of-21) from the field in the second half.

LONDON  -  Every time Roger Federer steps onto the court, another milestone seems to be within grasp. He seized another one Saturday, reaching his 100th career final by beating David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals. Federer could add a few more Sunday. He's in position to win his 70th title overall and a...

LONDON  -  Every time Roger Federer steps onto the court, another milestone seems to be within grasp.

He seized another one Saturday, reaching his 100th career final by beating David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals. Federer could add a few more Sunday. He's in position to win his 70th title overall and a record sixth at the season-ending tournament for the world's top eight players.

SANG TAN/ASSOCIATED PRESSRoger Federer returns a shot to David Ferrer in his 7-5, 6-3 victory in the ATP world Finals in London on Saturday.

"It's obviously a special occasion for me," said Federer, who will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.

Tsonga beat Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-5 in the late match, putting the sixth-seeded Frenchman into the final of this event for the first time, in only his second appearance.

"Roger is the best player for the moment indoors," Tsonga said. "It's going to be really special here, for my first final here. It's going to be an amazing atmosphere on court, and I like that. ... I know it's the last match (of the year) so I will give it everything."

The victory over Ferrer sent Federer past Andy Murray to No. 3 in the year-end rankings, trailing No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic and Nadal were eliminated after losing two of their round-robin matches this week, both saying their minds and bodies weren't up for top-level tennis following another grueling season. Murray pulled out injured following his opening loss to Ferrer on Monday.

Federer -- who holds a record 16 Grand Slam titles -- is tied with Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras with five victories at the ATP Finals, formerly known as the Masters Cup. A win Sunday would also tie Lendl's record of 39 match victories in the event.

Federer became the fifth player to reach 100 finals in the open era, joining Jimmy Connors (163), Lendl (146), John McEnroe (108) and Guillermo Vilas (104).

"I'm shocked every time that I've reached so many finals or won against so many players or whatever record it is," Federer said. "It strikes me and makes me obviously very happy and very proud that I've been able to do it for so many years at the highest of levels."

And with his 806th victory Saturday, Federer moved into a share of sixth place on the career list with Stefan Edberg.

"Stefan was my idol," Federer said. "So to achieve something that he achieved is obviously very nice. I don't think it matters much, but it's still very nice to get reminded that you equaled your idol's or hero's achievements."

In a tournament where his biggest rivals complained of fatigue after failing to make it out of the group stage, Federer showed no signs of slowing down. The 30-year-old Swiss star extended his unbeaten streak to 16 matches after winning titles in Basel and Paris before coming to London.

Federer has played some of his best tennis of the year in London, and while he did not look as sharp against Ferrer as he did in his three group-stage victories, he never faced a break point. He broke the fifth-seeded Spaniard twice in the second set and converted his second match point with a forehand winner.

Ferrer came within two points of the first set six times in Federer's service game when the Spaniard led 5-4. But he never earned a break point in a game that went to deuce five times, and Federer finally held when Ferrer sent a backhand passing shot wide. That marked a turning point, with Federer winning the next four games as well to take control.

"Obviously it was a key 5-4 game for me," Federer said. "That was a crucial sort of 15, 20 minutes for me. I'm happy I was able to decide the match right there."

Ferrer dropped to 0-12 against Federer. The Spaniard started the week by beating Murray and Djokovic convincingly, but couldn't keep up that level of play less than 16 hours after losing a three-set match against Berdych on Friday.

"Maybe I didn't have really time to relax, but (that) is not the excuse here," Ferrer said. "He played better than me."

Berdych also struggled against the rested Tsonga, landing just 53 percent of his first serves and double-faulting five times -- including on break point to go down 4-3 in the second set.

The Czech broke back immediately but then lost serve again to let Tsonga take a decisive 6-5 lead, and the Frenchman served out the match with an ace.

Tsonga will play Federer for the third Sunday in a row, after losing to him in the Paris final two weeks ago and their first round-robin match in London last weekend.

In doubles, Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Daniel Nestor of Canada reached the final, beating American twins Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (6), 6-4. They will play Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland, who beat Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes of India 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.