The current Browns don't have a proven wide receiver they can count on. Browns' history does include an impressive group of big-time wideouts.

Plain DealerReggie Langhorne (photo) was among a group of wide receivers who, with quarterback Berne Kosar, gave the Browns a superb passing game that helped the team to three AFC championship game appearances from 1986-89.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's a consensus: The Cleveland Browns do not have a proven, go-to wide receiver, a player who can be counted on to get open often, and to sometimes make the clutch, game-turning catch.

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, himself trying to develop into an established player in his second season, does not enjoy the benefit of a big-time wideout as did Browns' QBs such as Otto Graham, Milt Plum, Frank Ryan, Bill Nelsen, Brian Sipe and Bernie Kosar.

Cleveland, though, has had its share of sterling wide receivers. That, despite the fact that during much of Browns' history, they were regarded as a run-oriented team, featuring backs such as Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Greg Pruitt, Mike Pruitt, Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack.

Still, those guys benefited, to various degrees, from Browns' passing games that could stretch opposing defenses.

Here, we ask you to pick the Browns' all-time best wide receiver. The choices represent every era in Browns' history.

Two points: (1) We do not include tight ends, which eliminates greats such as Ozzie Newsome and Milt Morin; (2) When considering your pick, remember that statistics are affected by the era during which a wide receiver played. As NFL history has proceeded, teams have passed more and more -- though they threw deep with a greater frequency in the early years than they do now.

Here, with the help of Pro-Football-Reference.com, are links to the careers of each of our candidates, in alphabetical order: Brian Brennan; Gary Collins; Braylon Edwards; Kevin Johnson; Reggie Langhorne; Dante Lavelli; Dave Logan; Ray Renfro; Reggie Rucker; Webster Slaughter; Mac Speedie; Paul Warfield.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - When Kenton football coach Mike Mauk discusses his son Maty's record-setting career, he mentions the trip to the Division IV state championship game this week, four straight league titles as well as the program mark of 21 consecutive home wins. Left unsaid were the national records that helped make senior quarterback Maty Mauk a unanimous winner...

Kenton quarterback Maty Mauk joins 2002 recipient Ben Mauk as the only brothers to win the state's Mr. Football award. - (Courtesy of Lima News)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - When Kenton football coach Mike Mauk discusses his son Maty's record-setting career, he mentions the trip to the Division IV state championship game this week, four straight league titles as well as the program mark of 21 consecutive home wins.

Left unsaid were the national records that helped make senior quarterback Maty Mauk a unanimous winner of the 25th annual Associated Press Ohio Mr. Football award.

Mauk joins 2002 recipient Ben Mauk, a former quarterback at Wake Forest and Cincinnati, as the only brothers to win the award.

The Wildcats (14-0) play in the Division IV state final Saturday against Creston Norwayne (13-1) in Massillon as Mauk caps a career that includes national prep standards for passing yards (18,006), attempts (2,001), completions (1,287) and touchdowns (209).

Browns coach talks about such issues as waiving Ryan Pontbriand, about Colt McCoy and the Browns receivers, about injuries and the Browns' next opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerCoach Pat Shurmur is trying to prepare his 4-7 Browns to play the 8-3 Ravens.

BEREA, Ohio

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur's Wednesday press conference

Pat Shurmur, opening statement:

"Let me just talk about the guys that will miss practice today. Mike Adams, as I've mentioned, has a shoulder sprain so he'll miss practice today. He's making good progress, nothing final on this weekend yet.  Montario (Hardesty), we're going to give him a little rest today just to see if we can jump start his healing back as we go forward.  Quinton Spears won't practice. T.J. Ward he continues to improve, he's been running but he won't practice.  The rest of the guys will be limited in some fashion aside from, of course, the guys that won't be here with the roster moves we made with putting Scott Fujita and Emmanuel Stephens on IR. We moved up a couple guys from the practice squad and, obviously, we made a change at long snapper. I'm looking forward to getting the preparation going, we had a good morning of meetings, walk-through was good and get out there and get prepared for the Ravens."

Question: Whether long snapper Ryan Pontbriand's problems this year were beyond the two bad snaps over the last three weeks (Pontbriand was waived on Tuesday):

Shurmur: "I mentioned this to the team.  We made a personnel move, he's not the reason we lost or won games. We did it as a team. It's an unfortunate part of this business and I don't like doing it.  I have a strong feeling for the players that play here and when it happens it happens.  I would say you look at everything, you look everybody's work in total and we just felt like we needed to make a move."

Question: Whether Pontbriand saying that he was in a slump had anything to do with his departure:

Shurmur: "There really were no comments or anything specific. We just felt like it was time to make a switch."

Question: Whether this is a case, like others, when a really good long snapper just loses his ability:

Shurmur: "I don't know. We tried numerous things to try to get it consistent and I think that's a question for him. There are examples in all sports really where guys that have been so good for so long don't find a way to be consistent.  Again, we just needed to make a change and that's what we did."

Question: Were the Browns trying to send a message to the team by waiving Pontbriand?

Shurmur: "No, I don't want to send messages to the players through the media or basically through actions just to send a message. We're trying to win football games and do the very best we can.  I did talk to the players about how everything that happens in life there's a lesson in it or there's something we can learn from everything.  I mentioned this morning, I made a note, our first significant snowfall was November 30 and next year I'll be aware of that in terms of weather we practice inside or out.  I think anything that happens in life you can take things from and I'm sure this is just another event."

Question: On defensive end Jayme Mitchell's status:

Shurmur: "He'll be out there today. He'll practice in a limited fashion, but he'll be out there."

Question: If Mitchell can't play, who would start at right end?

Shurmur: "We're going to have a right end by committee this week so we'll see. As you go through practice, typically guys are limited this time of year. In the portion that you'll see, you'll see a number of guys playing right end."

Question: Is Peyton Hillis limited in any way today?

Shurmur: "He'll practice fully today. He's a full-go so he's on my full go list."

Question: Will Montario Hardesty practice this week?

Shurmur: "We're hoping to get him back out there soon, but we just feel like we'll give him a day here to see if we can help settle it down. We don't feel like he re-injured himself, we just feel like we want to help speed up the healing process and we feel like at least a day here might do that."

Question: Will Owen Marecic practice?

Shurmur: "He's ready to go."

Question: Are you worried about the depth at linebacker after losing Fujita?

Shurmur: "Scott, obviously, added a lot to this team. He meant a lot from an experience, leadership and just quality of play. We've done that at other positions and we feel confident that the guys that step up will do a good job.  I think every team in the league is dealing with this right now. This is the time of year when guys that have been playing primarily backup roles or were role players now are sometimes thrust into starting roles."

Question: Will linebacker Kaluka Maiava practice today?

Shurmur: "He'll be out there today. He'll be limited, but he'll be out there."

Question: Did the uncertainty at running back last week affect the game plan?

Shurmur: "As you know early in the week we had Obi (Chris Ogbonnaya) and Thomas Clayton, then in the middle of the week Montario, then middle of the week we get Peyton back so then we think we're going in with three and then we really play with two. Head up knees bent, I think that's the way you handle it. The running game is such where they all can go in and execute the runs we call.  Obviously, some guys are better at certain runs than others and we're fortunate that Peyton was able to handle 40-plus snaps and really not be any worse for wear so we were fortunate from that standpoint.  Had Montario been healthy, I think they all would have played a little bit less. That was the plan.  Then when he was only available in an emergency situation then obviously it's just sheer numbers, their reps go up."

Question: How about the Ravens' pass rush?

Shurmur: "Nine sacks their last game, that's pretty good. When you think of the Ravens you think of a team that's been a very fine defensive team for a lot of years regardless of who the coach has been. There's no mystery, they've got talent at every level, the d-line, the linebackers and the secondary. They've got leadership at every level from the top down from Ed Reed to Ray Lewis and then upfront with (Terrell) Suggs so they've got talent, they've got leadership and they've got an aggressive scheme.  It's the makings of a good defense."

Question: Can you use the next two games as a barometer for how far the team needs to go?

Shurmur: "That's probably a better question, unfortunately for after we play these games. Our focus and concentration is on the Ravens and we'll see as we go. We've made progress and I think the part for me is we need to make progress and win games and that's where we're at."

Question: Have you faced the Ravens an offensive coordinator?

Shurmur: "I played them last year in the preseason in St. Louis so I've got an understanding of what they do on defense. The guys that are here from last year, obviously, have a very good feel having played them a bunch of times.  I've got a decent idea of what they are."

Question: Is the Ravens' defense as good as there is?

Shurmur: "I think they're a good defense. I think in our division we've got four outstanding defenses and I think that's going to be the case here in the AFC North for a long time. We've got to go out there and battle and go after them because that's the way you get things done."

Question: What about the depth of the Browns' defense now?

Shurmur: "I think every team is depleted depth wise now this time of year and it's just the guys that are in there have got to play a bigger role. I think that's the message as you move forward and we've just got to get that done."

Question: Where was Titus Brown lined up when he recorded his sack?

Shurmur: "He's helped us in pass rush situations. When you're a backup linebacker, you really have to back up inside and outside. He's got some skills at pass rusher so there's time when we put him in there."

Question: Does Brown have a chance to go into the starting lineup because of Fujita's injury?

Shurmur: "In terms of at the linebacker spot right now we're going to move Kaluka and (Chris) Gocong. He'll be ready to go in case something comes up."

Question: Does Colt McCoy struggle in the pocket with feel and timing?

Shurmur: "I wouldn't say that. I think he's working through everything. I think he's got a better feel."

Question: Has McCoy improved with his feel in the pocket?

Shurmur: "I think so. There were times last week when he stepped up and he had some scrabble yardage as well. That shows that he's stepping up through the pocket and if guys aren't open or the coverage is tight enough where they're playing man and they're running with their backs turned, now he's putting them in positions to get scrambles and extend drives and I think that's good.  That shows me that there's pocket presence."

Question: Did McCoy throw some balls last week that the receivers could have done a better job fighting for?

Shurmur: "I think it's been documented, I think we had some drops."

Question: Was there a problem beyond the drops?

Shurmur: "I think he made some good throws, he made some throws that were a little bit of the mark and we dropped a couple. It was a combination. I don't think it's one thing."

Question: About Bengals coach Marvin Lewis saying McCoy would run after his first read; and, whether McCoy is running too much.

Shurmur: "No, I don't think so. I would say Colt goes through his progression. I wouldn't characterize it as his first read. He understands how important it is.  Typically if you're going to have a long drive and you guys all watch a lot of football, typically if there is a long drive somewhere in there the quarterback does something with his feet to extend the drive. Whether it's scramble for yardage and get down or break the pocket, maybe make a throw or maybe break the pocket and throw the ball away. I think that's all part of what you want to see. I think he's done a good job with some of that stuff of late. I think that's good."

Question: How is McCoy's shoulder?

Shurmur: "He's fine. He was out there throwing today. My conversations with him the last couple of days have been great, upbeat. He's ready to get going, but he'll do everything today for sure."

Question: Is the team, offensively and defensively, not making enough plays in the fourth quarter of games, and does youth have anything to do with that?

Shurmur: "I think each game is a different story. We found a way to get ahead this week and didn't finish it. There have been other games when we've been behind and we've raced back. I think when you have players that are youthful as they go through things and learn more, it helps them the next time they go through it. I don't think that's significant one way or the other. We've just got to do it."

Question: Has Greg Little been thrown more passes than anybody else because he gets open more than anybody else?

Shurmur: "There were four or five occasions where Colt went through his progression like what Marvin (Lewis) was talking about and got back to Greg as a number three or a number four. That's what happened. I wouldn't say it's significant him compared to other receivers. There were throws in there where Mo (Mohamed) was first in the progression that didn't get there for whatever reason and there was a couple where Jordan Norwood was first in the progression. The first scramble of the game, we were trying to throw the ball to Jordan. They took Jordan away. He stepped up in the pocket. Greg was coming open, but they doubled Greg and then he scrambled. In my mind he went from one to two and then three was covered on his side view mirror, so he ran with it. That happens quite frequently. At the end of the game hopefully all the receivers get some production. How the game dictates it, sometimes things come in little bigger bunches. The guys on the team, when they are on the field we want them to be able to produce. Sometimes the game dictates a little bit where the ball goes and that's why you don't run just one receiver routes."

Question: Why is Little is the top targeted receiver this year statistically?

Shurmur: "I think he's improved. We already talked about how he dropped some balls last week, but I expect to see him continue to improve. I think the ball is getting spread around. I think at this point, Josh (Cribbs) has got more receptions and more yards than any year he's played. Tight ends as a whole are getting their production.  You'll see as we get our backs back healthier, you'll see them catch more check downs. You've got Mo who is in and out of the lineup, we need to get him throws and Jordan Norwood. We're talking about why the ball gets spread around."

Question: About Tom Heckert saying in camp that Norwood was a player, and did you see Norwood's potential?

Shurmur: "I think he's a playmaker. It's important that he touches the ball and he's done a good job. He's been a steady performer with what we've asked him to do."

Question: What does Rvens' quarterback Joe Flacco do well?

Shurmur: "I think when you have a quarterback that's won as many games as he's won, I think he executes well within their system, what they ask him to do. He's obviously led that team to a lot of victories. I think he's an excellent thrower. I think like anything there are games where he is still getting used to some of his new personnel. Guys that he's playing with, he's got relatively new tight ends. He's got a new receiver. Anquan Boldin he has just been there a couple years. There's some of that, but I think he's a top-flight quarterback in this league. It's no mystery to me that he's had great success."

Question: How about Ravens receiver Torrey Smith?

Shurmur: "He's an extremely fast, explosive guy. He's got some explosive plays for them. I think earlier in the year against St. Louis, he caught two deep balls right away, which stretched the score out, which changes the game. When teams know that a guy can do that, it has an effect on defense."

Question: How important is it to have a speed guy who can stretch the field, and can Norwood be that guy?

Shurmur: "Obviously, you want the biggest fastest people you can get that are good football players at all positions. If you've got a guy that can really run and get down the field, you want that. It's like asking about signing a bill for clean water, of course you want clean water. That's what you're looking for. I think what Jordan gives us is not so much the speed, but he finds a way to get open and uncover. I think that's as equally an important attribute for a receiver. There are times when you just can't run by a defense, they're going to just not let you. Now what do you do? You've got to get open and I think he's displayed an ability to do that."

Question: Has McCoy played more consistently in the last three games, and do you still think of him as a rookie?

Shurmur: "I think I've called him almost a rookie. I think he's made progress in the last three weeks, no question. I think we all have and I think it's important that we keep that going."

Question: Were the Browns honed in on Little so much that they would have taken him even if Torrey Smith was still available?

Shurmur: "No, I wouldn't say that."

Question: Did the Browns look at Torrey Smith during the draft process?

Shurmur: "Oh absolutely, we liked him a great deal. There's no question that we thought he'd be a great receiver."

Question: Were you disappointed when Smith was taken ahead of your pick?

Shurmur: "Any time good players go to teams in the division, you don't like to see that. He's a good player and he's playing well for them for sure."

For Akron football, Paul Winters makes far more sense than Jim Tressel right now.

View full sizeWayne State Univ.If Akron officials consider the best man to elevate the lowly Zips football program, they'll come up with current Wayne State coach Paul Winters, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If the year were 2013 and Jim Tressel was clear of all his NCAA infractions, then he'd be the perfect guy to revive the University of Akron football program.

But it's still 2011, and the former Ohio State coach -- along with new Buckeye coach Urban Meyer -- are still waiting for the NCAA to make its final ruling on the future of the Buckeyes. Is there a bowl ban? How many scholarships will be lost? Are there any other penalties?

Also, how will the NCAA view Tressel?

He resigned/was terminated after admitting that he held back information of the infractions and then lied to the NCAA. It's not the players trading memorabilia for tattoos that caused Tressel's fall, it's misleading the NCAA more than once that is considered a mortal sin.

It also may lead to Tressel being labeled "show cause," meaning another school will have to show good reasons for hiring him. He also could be slapped with restrictions on recruiting, or be banned from coaching for a few years.

So the NCAA indeed holds Tressel's college future in its hands. You can be sure they will squeeze him tightly for a while before letting go. That won't happen in 2012. In fact, Akron officials and Tressel have both said so.

But the Zips desperately need an impact hire to revive their football program. They have perhaps the Mid-American Conference's premier facilities, and the league's worst team. It's not just the 2-22 record in the last two seasons, or the 5-31 mark since moving into beautiful InfoCiscion Stadium in 2009. The Zips have been awful since 2005, the year they were the surprise winners of the MAC and had a 7-6 overall record.

In the six years since, they are 12-36 in the MAC under coaches J.D. Brookhart and Rob Ianello. Neither had been a head coach before being hired by Akron. Both were assistants at larger programs, and neither had ever worked at a MAC school. None had direct ties to Ohio.

Which is why the Zips must look in a different direction and make Paul Winters a serious candidate.

Winters was a star running back for the Zips in the late 1970s. He was their offensive coordinator under Lee Owens from 1994-2003, when they had some high-powered offenses with Charlie Frye and Butch Washington. He also has been an assistant at Wisconsin.

The real story is what Winters has done as a head coach at Wayne State in Detroit, which is in the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs. Winters took the job in 2005, knowing the school had not had a winning season since 1994. In the previous five years, Wayne State was 13-40. It's an inner-city school with little glitz and zero football tradition.

But in his last four seasons, Winters is 31-13. It's remarkable and a testimony to his ability to find players who others have missed and to do more with less.

He obviously knows Akron and knows the MAC, but was never there when the campus looks as it does today with the new stadium and other buildings. He is exactly the type of coach the Zips need to energize the fan base, and he's a guy with recruiting roots in the area. He also is a man with head-coaching experience, something the Zips have ignored with their last few coaches.

As soon as Winters' season at Wayne State is over, he deserves more than an interview -- he should be the top candidate for the job.

Ryan Pontbriand's release seemed sudden, but that's how fast a long snapper can develop the yips. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- The talk about long snapper Ryan Pontbriand's release by the Browns on Wednesday was glum and in hushed tones. It had the feel of a career-ending injury. Which, in a sad way, could be the case.

It wasn't the release that was sudden. Everybody saw it coming. The two bad snaps that cost the Browns chances at victory against St. Louis and Cincinnati were just the most visible signs of a player struggling with confidence.

"There were a couple more that we were able to get down and Phil [Dawson] put them through," holder and punter Brad Maynard said. "Coach [Chris Tabor] was always saying, 'Go get some [practice snaps], get some more.' Even during games on the sideline. We'd do like 12 of them at a time and every one would be just perfect."

Like every one at the top of his profession, Pontbriand was a perfectionist. The bad snaps preceding the two disastrous ones bothered him a lot.

"It was one of those hard things to know whether to talk about it or not talk about it," Dawson said. "You could tell he was aware of the issues. He did everything he could to fix it. Snapping hundreds of balls. Snapping at home. Watching film. For whatever reason, it didn't work itself out."

View full sizeAP file"You could tell he was aware of the issues," Browns kicker said of former snapper Ryan Pontbriand. "He did everything he could to fix it."

The suddenness of Pontbriand's demise is what is so baffling. For eight years, Pontbriand was the best long snapper in the NFL. He had one bad snap -- in a home game against Seattle in 2007, which resulted in a missed extra point. He made the Pro Bowl two times through invitation by AFC coaches.

"You look at the number of holders we've had," Dawson said. "It's never been that big of a deal because of who was snapping."

And then, this year, Pontbriand lost the one thing he did better than anyone.

Kevin Gold has built a players agent business representing long snappers. He tracks college and NFL long snappers and blogs about them on his Web site Longsnap.com. Gold has followed Pontbriand since he came out of Rice and was drafted in the fifth round by former Browns coach Butch Davis in 2003.

"It's hard to explain," Gold said. "I ask my guys about this all the time. If you rebound from one bad snap, then it's not an issue. Some guys rebound and some let it get to them. It becomes a mental issue. Then you're double-clutching and triple-clutching. Once that happens, you're done."

Coach Pat Shurmur answered questions about Pontbriand dejectedly, as if he had no other choice but to make a change. Shurmur doubled as a long snapper at Michigan State.

"We tried numerous things to try to get it consistent," he said. "There's examples in all sports of guys who've been so good for so long and then find a way to not be consistent [anymore]."

It's Ben Hogan contracting the yips on the putting green, Steve Blass failing to throw a baseball for a strike, Steve Sax and Chuck Knoblauch unable to toss a ball from second base to first. Long snappers are not immune to this unexplainable loss of motor skills.

"Yeah, I've seen it before. It happens," said Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who was the special teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for nine years.

Perhaps the most famous case involves Trey Junkin, who was coaxed out of retirement by the New York Giants for one playoff game in 2002. The Giants were desperate for a dependable temporary snapper. Alas, Junkin had two botched snaps in the game, including one on a game-winning field goal attempt.

"He was flawless for 19 years before that game," Gold said.

Career long-snapper Brian Kinchen, with the Browns from 1991-95, described the funk as "a mental hiccup you just can't get rid of." At the end of his career with New England, Kinchen was so shaken by a sudden inability to snap the ball consistently that he dreaded the possibility the 2004 Super Bowl might come down to a field goal. It did.

"It basically fried every nerve in my body to get through it," he said by phone Tuesday from Louisiana, where he's a high school teacher and football coach. "I didn't want to be the Bill Buckner of the Super Bowl."

In golf, they say of the yips, "Once you have them, you have them." Meaning, you don't normally correct the affliction.

"There have been a few who've made it back, not many," Gold said.

Dawson said Pontbriand, 32, intends to keep playing. He thinks a change of scenery will help his friend. When Dawson broke Lou Groza's franchise record for field goals last year, Dawson presented Pontbriand with a game ball, which Dawson had prepared with a painted inscription. Dawson researched the fact that no long snapper had been a part of more field goals in Browns' history.

"When stuff like this happens, it reminds you how fragile and privileged we are to have this job," Dawson said.

A request to contact Pontbriand through his agent was denied.

"Not at this time," agent Leonard Roth responded via email. "Sorry, I cannot make him available to you."

Plain Dealer reporter Bill Lubinger contributed to this story.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

The MAC's top player was Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish.

View full sizeEd Suba Jr., Akron Beacon-JournalAkron linebacker Brian Wagner's 140 tackles for the Zips this season (with this one against Central Michigan's Zurlon Tipton in October) earned him first-team recognition on the MAC's honors team

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Akron junior linebacker Brian Wagner and Kent State sophomore defensive lineman Roosevelt Nix were first-team All-Mid-American Conference selections for the 2011 football season, the league announced Wednesday.

It was a reward for Wagner, who finished with 140 tackles on the season (12.7 per game) before missing the last game with a knee injury.

Nix's selection as KSU's only first-team pick was surprising, considering that the Golden Flashes were second in the conference in total defense, interceptions, first downs allowed, turnover margin and led in pass-efficiency defense.

Nix, the MAC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, lost out on that award this season to Western Michigan defensive lineman Drew Nowak.

The Vern Smith Award, the coaches' award for the MAC's top player, was given to Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, who led the Huskies to a 7-1 conference record, 9-3 overall. He rushed for 1,351 yards and passed for 2,692. Harnish ranks 15th in the country in rushing yards per game and in passing efficiency. Harnish has 2,955 rushing yards and 8,420 passing yards in his career. He needs 45 yards to become only the third quarterback in Football Bowl Subdivision history to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 8,000 yards in a career.

All other individual awards were a composite vote by the coaches and news media. Eastern Michigan's Ron English was named coach of the year, while Harnish was top offensive player. Ohio kicker Matt Weller, a product of Twinsburg, was named special teams player of the year; and Bowling Green running back Anthon Samuel was top freshman.

All-MAC Football

First-team offense

QB -- Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois; C -- Scott Wedige, NIU; OL -- Mike VanDerMeulen, Toledo; Trevor Olson, NIU; Joe Flading, Ohio; Pat Boyle, Temple. TE --Evan Rodriquez, Temple. WR --Jordan White, Western Michigan; Eric Page, Toledo; Nick Harwell, Miami; Kamar Jorden, Bowling Green. RB:-- Bernard Pierce, Temple; Branden Oliver, Buffalo; K -- Mathew Sims, NIU.

First-team defense

OLB -- Aaron Morris, Ball State; Khalil Mack, Buffalo. ILB --Brian Wagner, Akron; Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green. DL --Roosevelt Nix, Kent State; Adrian Robinson, Temple; Chris Jones, Bowling Green; Drew Nowak, WMU; DB -- Jahleel Addae, Central Michigan; Dayonne Nunley, Miami; Desmond Marrow, Toledo; Sean Baker, Ball State. P --Brian Schmeidebusch, Bowling Green

First-team specialists

KR --Eric Page, Toledo; PR --Eric Page, Toledo.

Second-team offense

QB -- Alex Carder, WMU. C --Zac Kerin, Toledo. OL --Brandon Brooks, Miami; Jordan Hansel, Ball State; Brian Winters, Kent State; Eric Herman, Ohio. TE --David Blackburn, CMU; WR --LaVon Brazill, Ohio; Briggs Orsbon, Ball State; Perez Ashford, NIU; Marcus Rivers, Buffalo. RB --Adonis Thomas, Toledo; Jasmin Hopkins, NIU. K --Matt Weller, Ohio.

Second-team defense

OLB -- C.J. Malauulu, KSU; Tahir Whitehead, Temple. ILB --Travis Freeman, Ball State; Noah Keller, Ohio. DL --Sean Progar, NIU; Tremayne Scott, Ohio; Nate Ollie, Ball State; Brad Ohrman, EMU. DB -- Johnnie Simon, WMU; Josh Pleasant, Kent State; Jimmie Ward, NIU; Travis Carrie, Ohio. P --Brandon McManus, Temple.

Second-team specialists

KR -- BooBoo Gates, Bowling Green. PR --Jamill Smith, Ball State

Third-team offense

QB -- Tyler Tettleton, Ohio. C --Ben Bojicic, Bowling Green. OL --Dann O'Neill, WMU; Wayne Tribue, Temple; Eric Fisher, CMU; A.J. Strum, Ohio. TE --Garrett Hoskins, EMU. WR -- Nate Palmer, NIU; Titus Davis, CMU; Cody Wilson, CMU; Chleb Ravenell, WMU. RB --Donte' Harden, Ohio; Matt Brown, Temple, K --John Potter, WMU.

Third-team defense

OLB --Justin Cudworth, EMU; Jerrell Wedge, Miami. ILB --Luke Batton, Kent State; Ryan Kennedy, Miami. DL --Austin Brown, Miami; Morkeith Brown, Temple; Freddie Bishop, WMU; T.J. Fatinikun, Toledo. DB --Latarrius Thomas, EMU; Kevin Kroboth, Temple; Luke Wollet, Kent State; Marlon Pollard, EMU. P -- Scott Kovanda, Ball State.

Third-team specialists

KR -- Donte' Harden, Ohio. PR --Terrell Jackson, Buffalo

Contest was set up after the NBA stars challenged each other on Twitter.

Phil Long, Ohio Press Photo SystemLeBron James during football practice as a sophomore at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

AKRON, Ohio -- Playing out a challenge forged earlier this month via some Twitter exchanges, LeBron James and Kevin Durant led opposing teams in a game of flag football on Wednesday night at the University of Akron.

The game, called LeBron's Flag Football Classic, is streaming live on the internet, on Ustream.

James, the Miami Heat forward, former Cleveland Cavalier and Akron native, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Durant are looking forward to resuming their NBA careers before packed houses in late December.

Wednesday night, they played in a closed event before about 100 people at Akron's indoor athletic facility on the university's downtown campus -- not at the football Zips InfoCision Stadium.

James' team got the better of Durant's for much of the first half, but the visitors from Texas trailed by just 28-21 at halftime.

ESPN cameras were on hand for the action. James' team, made up of local friends, wore the green and gold colors of his Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School alma mater. Durant's team, featuring friends from Texas, wore the white and orange colors of the University of Texas, where Durant played basketball for one year.

Onlookers cheered when James, playing free safety, intercepted a pass thrown by Durant's brother, Tony, early in the game. James then lined up on offense at wide receiver, the position he played when he made all-Ohio as a junior at SVSM.

Shortly after his interception, James caught a touchdown pass of about 15 yards from former high school basketball teammate Willie McGee. Moments after that, James returned an intercepted pass 95 yards for a touchdown.

James' play overshadowed Durant, who played wide receiver on offense but often watched when his team was on defense.

Cribbs says he doesn't want to say anything that could be construed as selfish, "because all I care about winning." Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- If Josh Cribbs were given a little truth serum or maybe some holiday eggnog, he'd probably let loose about how he thinks he can be doing more to help the Browns win.

He started to go there after the Bengals game, but stopped before he went too far. Wednesday, he was asked if he cared to elaborate beyond Sunday's statement that "I'm trying to take advantage of the opportunities, the little ones that I get."

Specifically, he was asked if he's happy with the way he's being used.

"Uh ... I just won't answer that," he said.

Cribbs said he doesn't want to say anything that could be construed as selfish, "because all I care about winning."

Is it possible he's in the team's doghouse for speaking out a few times this season?

"I would hope not," said Cribbs, who caught flak before the Rams game for hinting the Browns might use the Wildcat. "Because every time I step on the field I'm giving it all I've got."

But for some reason, Cribbs was targeted by Colt McCoy only four times against the Bengals, while Greg Little had 13 passes thrown his way. Cribbs had one catch for eight yards in the 23-20 loss and Little caught five for 57 yards and a TD. In the previous four games, three of Cribbs' 13 catches were for touchdowns, and he leads the team with four -- one TD for about every seventh catch.

"We all know [Cribbs] is a playmaker," said McCoy. "I think he has the things that he does really well and we need to take advantage of those things.

"But when he's on the field, just like I have confidence in Greg, I have confidence in him. I've got confidence in all those guys and we continue to work, we continue to grow and I think week to week we all feel a little more comfortable."

Cribbs reiterated that he's grown weary of the losing.

"I am fed up," he said. "I want to win this year. Everybody says 'we're building, we look good.' I don't really care about the building process, because I want to win now. I'm not worried about next year, next year. I want to win now. So, that's how I feel."

Cribbs, in his seventh season, said the losing gets harder each year. He's never been to the playoffs and has had only one winning season.

"I feel like I want to see a playoff, you know, as bad as our fans do. I feel like a fan sometimes when I speak because I hear them talk everyday, I run into them on the street.

"It hurts me not to win for them. That's my ultimate motivation. ... You got a lot of fans that their whole joy in life is watching the Browns play, hoping that they win, bringing their kids to the game. ... When we don't win, you know, the city feels down. So we need to win, plain and simple."

Back at work: McCoy was fully participating on Wednesday, despite the right elbow injury he suffered in Cincinnati. He wore a sleeve on the elbow, but said it's fine. He also said his shoulder didn't bother him at all on Sunday.

Sitting out: Montario Hardesty, who's missed the past four games with his calf injury, sat out practice on Wednesday. So did T.J. Ward, who's missed the past three games with his foot injury.

"We're going to give [Hardesty] a little rest today just to see if we can jump-start his healing as we go forward," said coach Pat Shurmur of his running back. "We don't feel like he re-injured himself, we just feel like we want to help speed up the healing process and we feel like at least a day here might do that." Ward, a second-year safety, is running, but hasn't attempted drills yet.

Meanwhile, safety Mike Adams sat out Wednesday with a shoulder injury suffered in the Bengals game. If he can't play, rookie Eric Hagg will replace him.

Stepping in for Fujita: Kaluka Maiava is set to step in as the starting weakside linebacker and Chris Gocong will move to the strong side with Scott Fujita (hand) out for the season.

"You can't replace Scott Fujita," said Maiava. "He's a great leader, a great teammate and player, but he got hurt unfortunately and it's the next guy up. I've been ready. Whenever they need me to fill in, I'm in there."

Maiava hurt his knee in Cincinnati and was limited on Wednesday, but said he should be fine to play Sunday. Brian Schaefering replaced Emmanuel Stephens at right end in practice, but Shurmur said the Browns plan to fill the spot by committee. Former starting right end Jayme Mitchell was also limited with his ankle injury. Fullback Owen Marecic (concussion) participated fully.

A missed opportunity? Shurmur admitted that the Browns really liked Ravens rookie receiver Torrey Smith in last spring's draft. He was picked one ahead of Little in the second round, 58th overall, out of Maryland.

Were they so honed in on Little that they would have taken him even if Smith had been available?

"No, I wouldn't say that," said Shurmur.

"We liked him a great deal," he continued. "There's no question that we thought he'd be a great receiver. Any time good players go to teams in the division, you don't like to see that. He's a good player and he's playing well for them for sure."

Time change: Kickoff for Sunday's game at the Stadium has been moved to 4:05 p.m. as part of the NFL's flex scheduling.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Cleveland State, Akron and Kent State all trying to make adjustments during the first few weeks of the 2011-12 season.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerAn energy-saving day before a game at Rhode Island made a difference for Cleveland State big man Aaron Pogue, says coach Gary Waters. "Aaron was a man among boys," Waters said after a 20-point effort in Sunday's victory over the Rams.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The early days of the college basketball season are a learning process, and Cleveland State coach Gary Waters said he has learned some things about his 6-1 team as it heads into a road swing at Wright State Thursday night and at Detroit on Saturday to begin Horizon League play.

"We have played better than I anticipated," Waters said.

And he said there is still a lot of room for improvement.

"I don't think we've matured offensively yet," he said. "We're still in the learning phase on the offensive end."

One of the early lessons was to not push the team so hard when it has so many games close together. Last week the Vikings played four road games, the last three on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Waters said the middle game of the three, which CSU lost, was due in part to fatigue.

Part of that was due to on-court preparation the day of the game. On Sunday, that prep work was limited to film study, and the payoff was a much livelier team. In particular, the rest seemed to help 6-9 center Aaron Pogue, who scored 20 points in the win over Rhode Island.

"Aaron was a man among boys," Waters said of the performance.

The right mix: Blending the old with the new has been a bit of a struggle this season for the Akron Zips, as veteran starters, transfers and young players have not found themselves on or off the court.

Two players, forward Demetrius Treadwell and guard Alex Abreu, are coming off one- and two-game suspensions, respectively. Treadwell was arrested in a bar fight, and Abreu violated team rules. Both losses affected the team, which stands at 3-3.

"We're a little immature, and a little undisciplined," coach Keith Dambrot said. "Guys have to understand the situation they are in, and a lot of these guys don't yet. But we'll get through it."

The two players missed Akron's latest game, a 21-point setback to West Virginia. The Mountaineers took advantage of the Zips' lack of depth at point guard without Abreu, and its lack of baseline muscle without the 6-7 Treadwell.

"Abreu practiced [Wednesday] and you could tell a big difference," Dambrot said. "The process still has to play out with Treadwell. So it's been hard."

Treadwell has been reinstated, pending investigation and outcome of his court proceedings.

Still searching: Kent State coach Rob Senderoff is trying to find a way to get his team off to better offensive starts, and to find a comfortable rotation. The first-year coach has five players averaging in double figures, all veterans, led by center Justin Greene at 12.8 ppg. Yet Kent is only averaging 69 points.

Prized 6-4 freshman guard Kris Brewer has seen sporadic action, dealing with a knee injury. "I have to find some minutes for Brewer," Senderoff has said.

The counter to KSU's offensive potential is 6-6 Rutgers transfer Patrick Jackson. The former regular and part-time starter for the Scarlet Knights is a defender, period. He has scored in double figures only once in his career and has never shot better than 29.4 percent from the field or 20 percent on 3-pointers. Jackson is not much of a rebounder (2.5 rpg), either. However, he can defend four positions at a high level.

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a boy more than 100 times and threatened to harm his family to keep him quiet, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by a new accuser who is not part of the criminal case.

View full sizeAssociated PressAttorney Jeff Anderson addresses the media during a news conference, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, in Philadelphia. Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a boy more than 100 times, then threatened his family to keep him quiet about the encounters, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday that details new accusations not included in criminal charges against Sandusky. Anderson, who is representing the plaintiff, said he believes Sandusky could not control his sexual impulses toward children and harshly criticized officials who failed to report their suspicions.

PHILADELPHIA -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a boy more than 100 times and threatened to harm his family to keep him quiet, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by a new accuser who is not part of the criminal case.

The 29-year-old, identified only as John Doe, had never told anyone about the abuse he claims he suffered until Sandusky was charged this month with abusing other boys. His lawyer said he filed a complaint with law enforcement on Tuesday. He became the first plaintiff to file suit in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal a day later.

Sandusky has acknowledged that he showered with boys but denied molesting them. His lawyer did not immediately return a message about the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims Sandusky abused the boy from 1992, when the boy was 10, until 1996 in encounters at the coach's State College home, in a Penn State locker room and on trips, including to a bowl game. The account echoes a grand jury's description of trips, gifts and attention lavished on other boys.

"I am hurting and have been for a long time because of what happened, but feel now even more tormented that I have learned of so many other kids were abused after me," the plaintiff said in a handwritten statement his lawyer read aloud at a news conference.

The lawsuit seeks tens of thousands of dollars and names Sandusky, the university and Sandusky's The Second Mile charity as defendants. The man says he knew the coach through the charity, which Sandusky founded in 1977, ostensibly to help disadvantaged children in central Pennsylvania.

The man was not referenced in the grand jury report that charges Sandusky with abusing eight boys over a 15-year period.

His lawyer, Jeff Anderson, said he believes Sandusky was a predator who could not control his sexual impulses toward children. He harshly criticized officials at Penn State and The Second Mile who failed to report their suspicions and put a stop to any abuse.

"We need to address the institutional recklessness and failures," said Anderson, who specializes in clergy sex abuse lawsuits. "Was it because of power, money, fear, loyalty, lack of education?"

The university said it had not seen the complaint.

The charity said it would respond after reviewing the lawsuit but added: "The Second Mile will adhere to its legal responsibilities throughout this process. As always, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

Anderson suggested that it ended four years later because Sandusky was not sexually interested in older teens.

The lawsuit was filed hours before students and high-ranking administrators participated in a town hall forum organized by students at Penn State's main campus in State College.

Penn State president Rod Erickson promised the university would raise the visibility of ethics "to a new level" following the scandal, which has rocked the campus.

"So hopefully everyone in the university understands ... we learn to do the right thing the first time, every time," Erickson said in opening remarks before an audience of about 450 students and employees at an auditorium in the student union.

Students said the forum, which was broadcast on the school's public television station, will help in the healing process.

Sandusky was charged on Nov. 5 with abusing eight boys, some on campus. A grand jury said the allegations were not immediately brought to the attention of authorities even though high-level people at Penn State apparently knew about at least one of them.

The scandal has resulted in the departures of school President Graham Spanier and longtime coach Joe Paterno. Athletic Director Tim Curley has been placed on administrative leave, and Vice President Gary Schultz, who was in charge of the university's police department, has stepped down.

Schultz and Curley are charged with lying to the grand jury and failure to report to police, and Sandusky is charged with child sex abuse. All maintain their innocence.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiff said Sandusky gave him gifts, travel and privileges after meeting him through his charity in 1992. The abuse began shortly afterward, the suit said.

Anderson described Penn State and the charity as entwined institutions, and he charged that both failed to ensure that children were safe when they took part in trips and activities. He declined to say which bowl game the boy attended.

Sandusky took one boy he molested to the Alamo Bowl in Texas in 1999 and threatened to send him home when he resisted his advances, the grand jury said.

The bowl proved to be Sandusky's last game as Penn State's defensive coordinator. Once Paterno's heir apparent, Sandusky left after Paterno told him he would not get the head coaching job.

John Doe's lawsuit seeks a minimum of $400,000 in damages for sexual abuse, negligence, emotional distress and other claims. The accuser long thought he was the only victim and was mired in guilt and self-loathing, the lawyer said.

"Now that I have done something about it, I am feeling better and going to get help and work with the police," the accuser wrote in his statement.

Anderson declined to specify what sexual acts his client says took place, but he called them "severe." Nor would he say which police agency his client contacted Tuesday.

Police in Philadelphia and State College said they were not aware of such a complaint. The attorney general's office, which led the grand jury investigation, and state police said they could not disclose if a report was filed.

A university spokeswoman said police have received two complaints since Sandusky's arrest, the most recent from a prison inmate in Oklahoma, and both have been turned over to the attorney general's office. Anderson said his client John Doe is not that Oklahoma inmate.

By Anderson's count, the grand jury report lists 17 adults made aware of complaints or suspicions about the coach over the years, including those who knew of a 1998 complaint that Sandusky had showered with a Second Mile boy. Police pursued that mother's complaint and compiled more than 100 pages of investigatory notes, but no charges were filed.

Had John Doe known about that, he might have come forward to a parent or counselor years ago, Anderson said.

"Why were so many people, for so long, making choices that protected the institutions and not the children?" Anderson asked. "It's not just about Penn State, it's about all of us."

-- MaryClaire Dale, Associated Press

Long-snapping is a special skill with technical, finely-tuned requirements, from stance to grip to the number of rotations the ball takes from his hands to the holder's.

View full size

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The long snap -- like the long-snapper -- is invisible until it's botched.

Deposed long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand, after a nearly flawless Pro Bowl career with the Browns, got noticed and lost his job Monday.

"A lot of people think long-snapping is just bending over and throwing the ball between your legs," said NFL free agent Kevin Houser, a career long-snapper. It's not, which is why most centers don't double as long-snappers anymore (although Browns' coach Pat Shurmur handled both duties at Michigan State).

"It's a totally different animal," said Houser, a Westlake High School and Ohio State grad who long-snapped for New Orleans for nine years and briefly with Seattle and Baltimore.

Long-snapping is a special skill with technical, finely-tuned requirements, from stance to grip to the number of rotations the ball takes from his hands to the holder's. The long-snapper must send the ball back 12 to 15 yards on punts in no more than .7 to .75 seconds. For field goals and extra points, the target for the snap, hold and kick is 1.3 seconds.

Don Cockroft, who punted and kicked for the Browns from 1968-80, said he worked with five or six long-snappers during his career and had to adjust to each. Long-snappers must adjust to the kickers' idiosyncrasies as well. For instance, some punters prefer to receive the inflation nozzle a certain way.

When the combination works, long-snappers aren't noticed and kickers achieve.

The three years Bob DeMarco snapped the ball for the Browns, Cockroft was among the NFL leaders in field-goal percentage. DeMarco, he said, was nearly perfect every time -- on target, with laces facing front, and he got the ball to the holder quickly but not too hard.

"They're your success," Cockroft said. "It's vital."

So the snap is practiced a lot. Houser said he'd snap the ball 100 to 150 times a day during training camp, and almost 400 times per week during the season.

Pontbriand's sudden inconsistency cost him his job, and it's not easy to recover, said former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano.

"They lose the naturalness of the whole process," he said, "where you don't even think about it."

The Monsters played their second consecutive game without goalie Cedrick Desjardins, who is day-to-day because of a lower-body injury.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the Monsters, attaining an above-.500 record remains elusive.

Lake Erie squandered its second opportunity to do so Wednesday night, falling to the Houston Aeros, 2-1, at The Q. The Monsters (9-10-1-1) had a three-game winning streak snapped. They had not played a game that could have resulted in an above-.500 record since opening night Oct. 7, when they lost to Abbotsford, 2-1, at The Q.

The Aeros (12-3-2-4) are 8-1-0-1 on the road, including 2-0 at The Q.

"It wasn't our 'A' game, but I thought we did a lot of good things," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "They got great goal tending and a couple of greasy goals. I don't think we were as efficient in the offensive zone as we needed to be. That being said, there's a reason Houston has the fewest losses in the American Hockey League."

The Monsters played their second consecutive game without goalie Cedrick Desjardins, who is day-to-day because of a lower-body injury. Desjardins is 4-2-1 with a 1.70 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.

Backup Trevor Cann stopped 25 shots. When Cann is at his best, though, he likely stops one, if not both, of the shots that eluded him.

The Aeros took a 1-0 lead at 7:42 of the first. Cody Almond escaped an attempted hit by Patrick Bordeleau and tracked the rolling puck. Almond eventually slipped it through the body of Cann for his second; the assist went to former Cleveland Baron Jon DiSalvatore.

At 16:00, Monsters winger Greg Mauldin's shot hit the crossbar for the second time in two periods. The Aeros out-shot the Monsters, 15-7, in the second.

Houston made it 2-0 at 0:59 of the third, when Chad Rau beat Cann. The Monsters pressured goalie Matt Hackett in spurts until Mauldin broke through at 14:45. Mauldin's second effort did the job.

Hackett held firm in the final minutes. He made a four-star save with the Monsters on a 6-on-5 inside the final 40 seconds. Hackett finished with 22 saves and improved to 9-3-3.

"A couple of bounces here or there, and maybe we have it," Mauldin said. "I liked our effort, though."

Neither club scored on the power play; Houston was 0-for-2; the Monsters, 0-for-1.

"For the life of me, I can't understand how there were only three power-play chances," Quinn said, "but it happens."

The first period began with anger in the gloves. At 1:18, Monsters defenseman David Liffiton fought Aeros defenseman Nate Prosser. Hackett made six saves, including denials of Hugh Jessiman several times. Jessiman entered with a four-game goal streak.

The Monsters begin a six-game trip Friday in Rockford, Ill., and do not return to The Q until Dec. 16.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Forward Brigid Leahy and guard Kristen Janda keyed a third-quarter rally, and Strongsville held on for a 51-49 win against Rocky River in a nonleague girls basketball game Wednesday night. Leahy, who scored 14 points, and Janda, who netted 13, each tallied seven points in a 23-point third quarter that put host Strongsville ahead, 40-35. The Mustangs' pressure defense...

Forward Brigid Leahy and guard Kristen Janda keyed a third-quarter rally, and Strongsville held on for a 51-49 win against Rocky River in a nonleague girls basketball game Wednesday night.

Leahy, who scored 14 points, and Janda, who netted 13, each tallied seven points in a 23-point third quarter that put host Strongsville ahead, 40-35. The Mustangs' pressure defense created many of their scoring opportunities.

Post player Ciara Kessler's 15 points led Rocky River.

Twinsburg 48, Wadsworth 47: The Tigers, ranked first in The Plain Dealer Top 25 and 21st in the USA Today national poll, earned their first win in three games this season, edging The PD's fourth-ranked Grizzlies.

Host Twinsburg, the defending Division I state champion, was led by guard Leah Fechko's 12 points and point guard Ashley Morrissette's 11 -- including three 3-point shots. Wadsworth, playing its season opener, got 10 points from forward Jessie Gearhart.

Lake Catholic 50, Holy Name 38: Katlyn Spahar totaled 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Kelsey Lancon tallied 13 points, three assists and three steals, as the No. 11 Cougars (2-0, 1-0) won a North Coast League home game. Taylor Krusinski scored 18 points for No. 12 Holy Name (0-1, 0-1).

North Ridgeville 64, Wellington 38: Senior guard Ashley Montgomery scored 30 points in the host Rangers' nonleague home win. Montgomery, who averaged 22.6 points a game last season, made 15-of-16 free throws and canned three 3-pointers.

Field 56, Waterloo 48: Emily Mortimer and Tiffany Spaller scored 14 points each for the Falcons (2-0) in their Portage Trail Conference crossover game. Mortimer also had eight rebounds, five blocked shots, four steals and three assists, and she put Field ahead to stay with two fourth-quarter baskets. Jamie Willis scored 24 points for Waterloo, including four 3-pointers.

Padua 63, Valley Forge 54: Tamira Ford scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Bruins in their nonleague win. Hannah Long's 18 points led host Valley Forge.

Solon 70, Hudson 65: Jaime Gluesing scored 14 points and collected 16 rebounds, and Kristen Confroy scored 16 points for the host Comets (2-0, 1-0) in a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game. Solon's Amanda Bevington and Kristen Low scored 14 and 12 points, respectively. Hannah Boesinger's 16 points and 12 rebounds paced Hudson.

Boys bowling

Brush 2,357, Wickliffe 2,298: Anthony Miozzi helped the Arcs pull out the tight win, rolling a 470, with games of 213 and 257. Adam Kendzrowski's 228, 204-432 paced Wickliffe.

Browns' second-year quarterback isn't getting much time to go through his progressions. More links to Browns stories.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns quarterback Colt McCoy often takes off running when his pass protection breaks down.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is in his second NFL season.

That, alone, is quite a challenge.

McCoy's dilemma, though, is more complicated than simply trying to develop his own game.

Mike McLain of the Warren Tribune Chronicle writes that McCoy isn't getting the best of help from his teammates (reference to Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis):

After a 23-20 win over the Browns, Lewis said that he knew McCoy would run after giving up on his first read. That means that McCoy isn't looking at second, third and sometimes fourth reads before bailing out of the pocket.

The reason is simple he's running for his life. The offensive line continues to be a sieve on pass protection, and McCoy's knee-jerk reaction when he takes a seven-step drop is to run for the hills the moment he sees right tackle Tony Pashos or left guard Jason Pinkston losing their one-on-one battles.

Things likely won't get any easier for McCoy and the Browns (4-7) on Sunday, when they meet the Baltimore Ravens' (8-3) aggressive defense at Browns Stadium.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi's story that sympathy was the prevailing sentiment among the Browns over Ryan Pontbriand being waived; Bill Lubinger's report on the job of a long snapper; Mary Kay Cabot's Browns Insider; a video by David I. Andersen, featuring placekicker Phil Dawson talking about his longtime long snapper, Ryan Pontbriand; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns-Ravens game; a Starting Blocks poll asking who the best wide receiver is in Browns history; and much more.

Post patterns

Browns special teams haven't been very special, by Fred Greetham for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Browns' pass rush vs. Ravens' pass protection. A key matchup, by Mike Wilkening for Pro Football Weekly.

The Browns need to play a complete game. By Mike Wilkening for Pro Football Weekly.

A Browns coaching report card. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

A Browns-Ravens game preview on CBSSports.com.

The Ravens' defense faces Browns' running back Peyton Hillis. By Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun.

A Ravens' opponent preview: the Cleveland Browns. On pressboxonline.com.

It will be about how the Browns stand up to the Ravens' defense. By Vic Carucci for clevelandbrowns.com.

Browns-Ravens series history, by Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.

Browns practice notes, by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson and Samardo Samuels have been working out in Cleveland, and tweeting about it.

View full sizePhoto courtesy Cleveland CavaliersAs early as Thursday, Cavaliers players are expected to start putting in some pre-camp workouts at the team's Independence practice facility.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Although the new collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players has yet to be ratified, things are slowly beginning to get back to normal prior to the scheduled opening of training camps on Dec. 9.

Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson and Samardo Samuels have been working out in Cleveland, and tweeting about it. Manny Harris and Ramon Sessions are likely to join them as soon as Thursday, when team facilities will open to the players for the first time since the lockout began on July 1. Top draft choice Kyrie Irving is still in school at Duke and is not expected to be joining the early workouts.

Team executives were able to start talking to agents on Wednesday, although no deals could be offered and no contracts signed before Dec. 9. A number of NBA team executives spoke to the media on Wednesday, with several more announcing their intentions to do so on Thursday. But there was no word from the Cavaliers on when, or if, General Manager Chris Grant would be available.

It is believed that the Cavs did receive an extension on the trade exception they received from Miami in the deal for LeBron James, but it appears unlikely the team actually will use it.

Story hour: After watching Ohio State's big victory over visiting Duke on Tuesday night in Columbus, James showed up Wednesday morning at the Mason Community Learning Center in Akron, where he read the Dr. Seuss classic, "Oh, The Places You'll Go," to a couple hundred students.

The event originally was scheduled as part of the Google+ Homecoming Tour featuring four charity basketball games. Although the games, including Thursday's at the University of Akron, were canceled, James still checked in with the students taking part in his Wheels for Education program, dedicated to seeing 342 third-graders through to their high-school graduations in 2021.

"This is my passion," James told the crowd. "These kids are my love."

Later Wednesday, he took part in a flag-football game against Oklahoma Thunder star Kevin Durant at Akron.

Merry Christmas: The New York Times reported that the league would hold five games on Christmas, instead of the regularly scheduled three. One of those games is expected to be a Finals rematch between Dallas and Miami. The rest of the games likely will be announced later this week, although there is still no word on when the entire schedule will be released.

Season ticket special: The Cavs have invited season-ticket holders to shoot around on The Q court from 3-7 p.m. Thursday. Tours of the locker room also will be conducted.

Tait signing: Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Tait will be signing copies of his new book, written with Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto, "Joe Tait: It's Been a Real Ball" from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday at The Q. Michael Symon's B-Spot at The Q will be open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pay raise: Bloomberg News reports that the average NBA player's salary will be near $8 million by the end of the pending 10-year labor agreement, according to a letter sent to the players by union head Billy Hunter. NBA salaries averaged $5.2 million last season, compared to $3.3 million in Major League Baseball, $2.4 million in the National Hockey League and $2.2 million in the NFL.

The Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports contributed to this report.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

If the comparisons to the Penn State scandal strike Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim as wayward and unfair, he has himself to blame, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

View full sizeKevin Rivoli, Associated PressSyracuse head coach Jim Boeheim may well want to say the right things in the wake of the Bernie Fine accusations, but Bud Shaw wonders why the veteran coach just can't get the words right.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In places of "higher learning," why do higher-ups keep doing the wrong thing?

Jim Boeheim can tell you all the reasons why Syracuse should not be confused with Penn State. No indictments. No grand jury. No charges at the school (yet).

He's correct as far as that goes with an investigation underway. Not shockingly, though, Syracuse's iconic basketball coach fails to recognize the large part he's played in fueling wayward comparisons.

Boeheim's first and presumably most honest reaction when informed that ESPN was going with allegations from two stepbrothers that Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine molested them was to call it all a "bunch of a thousand lies" motivated by money.

At Penn State, so many people apparently failed to act accordingly, letting themselves off the hook by "following protocol" in some cases instead of taking decisive -- and morally proper -- action to protect kids from an alleged pedophile. At Syracuse, Boeheim rolled up the drawbridge to another big-time college sports fiefdom and tossed the alleged victims into an alligator-filled moat.

People who deal with sexual abuse cases say victims sometimes keep quiet for years. The shame is only part of it. Another is the kind of vilification Boeheim meted out in the name of a powerful big-time basketball program. That doesn't mean these allegations are necessarily true. But in the meantime, Boeheim basically chose to say, Who you gonna believe? Those money-grubbers?"

After ESPN produced a damning recording in which Fine's wife, Laurie, suggests she knew things were amiss regarding her husband's behavior with one of the alleged victims, Boheim said he "deeply" regretted any statement he made that "might have" been insensitive to victims of abuse.

Might have?

After Boeheim addressed the issue before a Syracuse game Tuesday night, it's fair to wonder if someone told him he needed to express regret he didn't genuinely feel after the university fired Fine. Why? Because he started off joking about how many media were in attendance, saying, "Is there something special going on tonight?"

It was the exact wrong tone, like watching Joe Paterno rally with a crowd of unthinking student supporters. Who couldn't see that? When asked directly how much he regretted his words in defense of Fine, Boeheim had a chance to speak from the heart. Say he couldn't overstate how sorry he was. Say he acted stupidly. Own his previous insensitivity.

Instead, Boeheim said he came to the defense of a long-time friend based on what he knew and that he was "proud I did." He went way beyond defending a friend. Not seeing that is more than a blind spot. It's runaway hubris. Given time to consider how far beyond defending a friend he really went, Boeheim found reason to defend his lack of proper response and thus preserve his own self image.

Sounds familiar.

At least Rudy Giuliani knows he'd get one vote for President ...

Buffalo receiver Steve Johnson apologized for a touchdown celebration against the Jets in which he pretended to shoot himself in the leg, a la Jets receiver Plaxico Burress in a New York nightclub a few years back. Johnson also mimicked Santonio Holmes' "airplane" TD celebration in which he glides around the end zone with arms outstretched like airplane wings. In Johnson's rendition, the plane crashed.

You might think that nothing could be more silly than Johnson's antics. The NFL agreed by fining him $10,000. But it wouldn't be true. Here's the reaction of Jets' defensive tackle Sione Pouha:

"... That airplane thing, in my opinion, was kind of a dagger considering the circumstances of remembrance of what we just had on Sept. 11. That's a sacred moment for a lot of people and it's a very sobering moment."

Huh?

Yes. A sacred moment that immediately came to one mind and one mind only.

SPINOFFS

The Browns cut former Pro Bowl long snapper Ryan Pontbriand. Whew. About time. Let the scoring begin. As for improving themselves at wide receiver, they'll get back to you, hopefully in 2012...

Sources claim that instead of crying when the doctor smacked his rear end at birth, Jim Boeheim smirked ...

Jake Delhomme and Jeff Garcia worked out for the Houston Texans, with Delhomme getting signed as a backup. Apparently Bernie Kosar did not return phone messages left for him ...

Some Ohio State players wore "JT" (for Jim Tressel) and "LK" (for Luke Fickell) on their wristbands Saturday after Tressel addressed them the day before the Michigan game. No evidence anyone wore "TDR" as a reminder to "tackle Denard Robinson" ...

Every AD and university president says they hired a new football coach in part because of his commitment to the scholarly half of the "student-athletes" about to become his charges. Turner Gill at Kansas, Larry Porter at Memphis and Rob Ianello at Akron were fired after just a few seasons. Four Pac-12 coaches also got the axe this season -- all, I'm sure, because their players didn't adequately demonstrate adequate knowledge of string theory ...

View full sizeAP fileThis young talent is running the floor for one of the nation's most impressive basketball teams.

HE SAID IT

"Once you have the quarterback, you have to get that [receiver]. You have to have somebody to throw to." -- Ravens' GM Ozzie Newsome on the emergence of deep threat Torrey Smith as another weapon for QB Joe Flacco.

Anybody can do it that way. Let's see them try it the Browns Way.

SHE TWEETED IT

"HE IS NOT -- repeat NOT -- GOING TO OHIO STATE." -- Urban Meyer's daughter, Nicki, in late April.

Case closed.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

View full sizeAP fileThis young talent has tried to be a leading man on a big stage, to varying degrees of success.

Aaron Craft and Shia Labeouf -- Anthony Muni

YOU SAID IT

(The Lightly Acclaimed Mid-Week Edition)

"Bud:

"Will the Lingerie Football League sanction any players found to be involved in the Victoria's Secret riot at SouthPark mall on Black Friday?" -- Joe Percio

No. Special consultant Carmen Policy has assured the league Mango Temptation body spray doesn't pack much of a wallop.

"Bud:

"Were you caught looking ahead to the Ravens when you picked the Browns to beat the Bengals?" -- Russ

Actually I was on vacation and got caught looking into the bottom of a third Christmas Ale.

"Bud:

"Am I the only one who thinks Greg Little is nothing more than the reincarnation of Quincy 'Hands Like Feet' Morgan?" -- Steve V

Not sure. I just know to look any more worried about the footsteps behind him than Little has on more than a few occasions he'd have to be in the streets of Pamplona dressed in red.

"Bud:

"It was sad to see Ryan Pontbriand lose his long-snapper spot on the Browns. I think his decision to enroll in the Chuck Knoblauch School for Wayward Wingers is a good step on the road to recovery." -- Jim, Shaker Heights

So does his sponsor, Mackey Sasser.

"Bud:

"Now that the a tentative labor agreement has been reached, how can the Cavaliers possibly deal with the loss of Semih Erden?" -- Bill T., Lakewood

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"While I'm as patriotic and as traditional as the next guy, don't you think -- given the futility of the Browns since 1999 -- that it's time to replace the national anthem with something more appropriate and beneficial, like the Emergency Alert System (EAS)?" -- Jeff, Westlake

Repeat winners receive a warning.

"Bud:

"After losing to OU, will the Audubon Society demand the Miami Redhawks change back to the Redskins?" -- Joe S

Repeat winners also receive an alias.

Can the Browns pull of an upset against Baltimore? Watch and talk about it live with Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and Tony Grossi at 10 a.m.

Watch Browns Insider Live on cleveland.com Thursdays at 10 a.m.

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Can't make the live show? Come back to watch the archive this afternoon.

The Orlando Magic want to retain center Dwight Howard with a long-term contract, but general manager Otis Smith acknowledged Wednesday that trading Howard may be something the team has to look at.

AP PhotoThe Orlando Magic want to retain center Dwight Howard with a long-term contract, but general manager Otis Smith acknowledged Wednesday that trading Howard may be something the team has to look at.

The Orlando Magic want to retain center Dwight Howard with a long-term contract, but general manager Otis Smith acknowledged Wednesday that trading Howard may be something the team has to look at.

“I think you have to look at everything,” Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. “I don’t think you can take anything out of consideration. I think, one, you have to talk to your player first. I don’t think you can say you will or you won’t [trade] at this point, because you don’t know what you don’t know. I can speculate based on what I read and hear, but that’s really not fair to Dwight and it’s not fair to us. So you have to have a conversation with him about what he wants to do, and then you have to make the best decision that’s in the best interests of the franchise, as always.”

Smith stressed that whatever road is chosen has to be in the best interests of the Orlando Magic.

Howard’s future has been a dominant topic since the lockout has come to a close. The Orlando big man is eligible to be a free agent after the 2011-12 season, and reports have indicated he is looking to move to a bigger market.

The New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams interested in Howard, with the Nets reportedly preparing a trade offer to pair Howard with point guard Deron Williams

AP PhotoHornets point guard Chris Paul has been the subject of heavy trade speculation in recent days and New Orleans has held trade discussions with several teams, according to a report.

Meanwhile, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul has been the subject of heavy trade speculation in recent days and New Orleans has held trade discussions with several teams, according to the Times Picayune.

The Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are among the teams that the Hornets have talked with regarding a possible trade of Paul, according to the report

Rumors made the rounds on Tuesday that the Celtics were shopping their point guard Rajon Rondo in effort to acquire Paul.

The Knicks have long been linked to Paul. New York would love to have its own star trio of Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, similar to the Miami Heat¹s trio of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

The Hornets would like to sign Paul to a long-term extension. Paul is a free agent after the 2011-12 season.

Another former Browns quarterback, Jeff Garcia, was also given a tryout, but Delhomme impressed Houston coach Gary Kubiak with his knowledge of the West Coast system.

The PDWelcome back to the NFL, Jake Delhomme.

HOUSTON—Desperate for a veteran to back up rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, the Texans brought in Jake Delhomme and Jeff Garcia for tryouts.

It was the second time in two weeks Garcia worked out for the coaches, but coach Gary Kubiak chose Delhomme, who retired to raise horses in Louisiana after Cleveland released him in late July.

The Texans were not interested in Brett Favre or Sage Rosenfels.

“It had to be the right fit for what we’re doing with T.J.,” Kubiak said.

The Texans are committed to Yates, the fifth-round pick from North Carolina. With Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart undergoing season-ending surgery this week, they’re hoping Yates can do for them what Pat Haden did for the Los Angeles Rams in 1976.

Haden, a seventh-round pick, replaced the injured James Harris and Ron Jaworski and helped the Rams finish 5-1-1. They beat Dallas in the playoffs before losing to Minnesota.

Kubiak is watching Delhomme and Kellen Clemens, signed last week to be third team and run the scout team, in practice before determining who will be the active backup for Sunday’s game against Atlanta, which is 8-0 against rookie quarterbacks during the last three seasons.

Delhomme, 36, drove his truck to Houston. He threw the ball well and accurately in his workout. He also impressed Kubiak with his knowledge of the West Coast system.

Most important, perhaps, is that Delhomme pledged to support Yates and do everything possible to help the rookie on and off the field

LeBron James and Kevin Durant take it to the football field in Akron. Watch video

Update 9:20 A.M.

AKRON, Ohio -- Playing out a challenge forged earlier this month via some Twitter exchanges, LeBron James and Kevin Durant led opposing teams in a game of flag football on Wednesday night at the University of Akron.

The game, called LeBron's Flag Football Classic, streamed live on the internet, on Ustream.

James, the Miami Heat forward, former Cleveland Cavalier and Akron native, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Durant are looking forward to resuming their NBA careers before packed houses in late December.

Wednesday night, they played in a closed event before about 100 people at the University of Akron's Stile athletics field, an indoor facility.

On the basketball court, James didn't have much luck with a team from Texas in the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. On the football field, James' squad defeated Durant's Texas team, 73-63. Durant's team attempted a late drive for the tie, but James intercepted a pass to seal the game.

ESPN cameras were briefly on hand for some of the action. James' team, made up of local friends, wore the green and gold colors of his Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School alma mater. Durant's team, featuring friends from Texas, wore the white and orange colors of the University of Texas, where Durant played basketball for one year.

Onlookers cheered when James, playing free safety, intercepted a pass thrown by Durant's brother, Tony, early in the game. James then lined up on offense at wide receiver, the position he played when he made all-Ohio as a junior at SVSM.

Shortly after his interception, James caught a touchdown pass of about 15 yards from former high school basketball teammate Willie McGee. Moments after that, James returned an intercepted pass 95 yards for a touchdown.