Records through Sunday. Previous week's ranking in parentheses. 1. Twinsburg, 1-2 (1): At No. 24 Walsh Jesuit on Wednesday.

Records through Sunday. Previous week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Twinsburg, 1-2 (1): At No. 24 Walsh Jesuit on Wednesday.

2. Hathaway Brown, 3-0 (2): At No. 15 Gilmour Academy on Wednesday.

3. Midpark, 1-0 (3): At Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Wednesday.

4. Wadsworth, 1-1 (4): At Nordonia on Wednesday.

5. Solon, 3-0 (5): Hosts Strongsville on Saturday.

6. Stow, 2-0 (8): Hosts Garfield Heights on Wednesday.

7. Archbishop Hoban, 2-0 (-): At Canal Fulton on Wednesday.

8. Kenmore, 1-1 (19): Played at Buchtel on Monday.

9. Firestone, 2-1 (6): Hosted Ellet on Monday.

10. Cleveland Heights, 2-0 (-): Hosts Eastlake North on Wednesday.

11. Magnificat, 2-2 (7): Hosts Beaumont on Wednesday.

12. Hudson, 1-1 (10): Hosts No. 16 Shaker Heights on Wednesday.

13. Lake Catholic, 2-1 (11): Hosts St. Vincent-St. Mary on Wednesday.

14. Lake Ridge Academy, 0-1 (13): Plays Pine-Richland (Pa.) on Friday at the New Castle Tournament.

15. Gilmour Academy, 2-0 (15): Hosts No. 2 Hathaway Brown on Wednesday.

16. Shaker Heights, 1-1 (9): At No. 12 Hudson on Wednesday.

17. Ravenna, 2-0 (17): Hosts Norton on Wednesday.

18. St. Joseph Academy, 3-0 (18): At Holy Name on Wednesday.

19. Westlake, 3-0 (-): Hosts Amherst on Wednesday.

20. Highland, 3-0 (-): At Green on Wednesday.

21. Manchester, 2-0 (20): At Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on Wednesday.

22. Brunswick, 3-1 (23): At Mentor on Wednesday.

23. Glenville, 2-0 (22): At John Marshall Tuesday.

24. Walsh Jesuit, 1-1 (24): Hosts No. 1 Twinsburg on Wednesday.

25. John F. Kennedy, 1-0 (25): Hosts John Adams Tuesday.

Dropped out: Holy Name, Rocky River, Aurora, Nordonia

Jim Brown, Frank Ryan, Jim Houston, Gene Hickerson, Paul Warfield, Gary Collins, Leroy Kelly, Erich Barnes, Bill Nelsen, Jerry Sherk, Walter Johnson, Greg Pruitt, Bernie Kosar, Webster Slaughter, Eric Metcalf, many more key Browns' wins.

Plain DealerJim Brown (32), running behind the blocking of Gene Hickerson (66), about to break free for a 46-yard gain during the Browns' 24-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 9, 1965 in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

The rivalry between the Browns and Steelers has, in reality, seldom amounted to much because the teams have rarely been good at the same time. Just like now....the Browns are 4-8 and last in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is 9-3 and tied for the North Division lead with the Baltimore Ravens.

Here, we feature some video highlights of Browns' wins over the Steelers. Due to NFL video rules, not much viewing is available of recent Cleveland wins. Of course, there haven't been many.

To review how the series between the teams has gone:

The Browns have won 56 games and the Steelers have won 62 in the series that began when Cleveland joined the NFL in 1950. That includes Pittsburgh wins in both playoff games between the teams.

The Browns won their first eight games against Pittsburgh and, following a later streak of seven straight wins, the Browns had won 32 games total against the Steelers and lost nine.

Pittsburgh then won 20 of its next 26 games against Cleveland, including winning streaks of five and six games.

Then, the teams split their next eight meetings. The Browns then lost their last six games to the Steelers before owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore following the 1995 season. Included in the six-game skid was a 29-9 Browns' loss to the Steelers in a second-round AFC playoff game on Jan. 7, 1995 at Pittsburgh.

The Browns' first game after returning to the NFL as an expansion team was against the Steelers on Sept. 12, 1999, in the new Browns Stadium. Pittsburgh won, 43-0.

Remarkably, the Browns then won their next two games against Pittsburgh. The Steelers then won six in a row -- including a 36-33 come-from-behind win over the Browns in a wild card playoff game at Pittsburgh on Jan. 5, 2003. The Browns then won one game against the Steelers, before Pittsburgh ran off a 12-game winning streak against Cleveland.

The Browns ended that tailspin vs. Pittsburgh with a 13-6 upset of the Steelers on Dec. 10, 2009 in Cleveland, virtually ending Pittsburgh's hopes of successfully defending its Super Bowl championship. Pittsburgh then beat Cleveland in both games last season.

Cleveland.com's Browns history database includes Plain Dealer stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history, through the end of the 2010 season. Click here for the first of five cleveland.com pages that include links to Plain Dealer stories on all 118 games that have been played between the Browns and Steelers.

Videos are from YouTube.com. We wish we could glimpse so many other Browns' wins over the Steelers....45-12 in Pittsburgh in 1958 and 51-0 there in 1989....26-24 in 1972, 18-16 in 1976, 27-26 in 1980, all in Cleveland. but we'll settle for:

Video: At the beginning of this video, highlights of the Browns' 30-28 win at Pittsburgh on Oct. 22, 1961. Bobby Mitchell (119) and Jim Brown (114) combine for 233 rushing yards. Part of the Browns' 1961 highlights film. Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: About five minutes, 45 seconds into the video, highlights of the Browns' 30-17 win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, 1964, during the Browns' drive to their last championship. Jim Brown runs for 149 yards and Ernie Green for 86 yards and two touchdowns. From the 1964 Browns highlights film. Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: About 2:35 into a segment of the 1965 Browns highlight film. Yes, Jim Brown was in the game, but it's Leroy Kelly that keys a late 78-yard drive -- capped by Frank Ryan's touchdown pass to Gary Collins on the duo's famed post pattern -- that gives the Browns a 24-19 win over Pittsburgh. The Oct. 9, 1965 game was played on a Saturday night in the mud at Cleveland Stadium. Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: A full edition of the "NFL Game of the Week," nearly 25 minutes of superb video highlights of the Browns' 41-10 rout of the Steelers on Saturday night, Oct. 8, 1966 at Cleveland Stadium. The vaunted Ryan-to-Collins connection starts the Browns rolling; Kelly (113 yards) and Green (103) have big games running the ball; all four starters in Cleveland's secondary intercept at least one pass. Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: About 7:20 into a segment of the 1968 Browns highlight film, plays from Cleveland's 45-24 win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 17, 1968. Browns quarterback Bill Nelsen riddles his former Steelers' teammates for 18 completions in 27 attempts, with 257 yards and three touchdowns before Ryan -- now Nelsen's backup -- comes on to toss two more TD passes. Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: About 4:45 into this segment of the 1969 Browns highlight film, Browns DBs Walt Sumner and Erich Barnes return interceptions for touchdowns in Cleveland's 42-31 win at home over Pittsburgh on Oct. 18, 1969. Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: A nearly-22 minute "NFL Game of the Week" edition, as the Steelers -- on the verge of becoming a dynasty -- visit Cleveland on Nov. 25, 1973. The Browns win, 21-16, thanks to a stout defense and big plays by rookie running back Greg Pruitt and quarterback Mike Phipps (despite three INTs). Plain Dealer game story by Chuck Heaton.

Video: Part 1 of an "NFL Game of the Week" edition, this one featuring the Browns' 27-24 win over the Steelers on Oct. 5, 1986, snapping Cleveland's 16-game losing streak in Pittsburgh. Plain Dealer game story by Tony Grossi. Key plays included Gerald "Ice Cube" McNeil's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Video: Part 2 of the "NFL Game of the Week" edition featuring the Browns' 27-24 win over the Steelers on Oct. 5, 1986, as Cleveland forced four Pittsburgh turnovers.

Video: Part 1 of the "NFL Game of the Week" featuring the Browns' 37-31 overtime win over the Steelers on Nov. 23, 1986 in Cleveland. Bernie Kosar completed 28 of 46 passes for 414 yards and two Browns touchdowns. Part 2, to follow, includes the game-winner. Plain Dealer game story by Tony Grossi.

Video: Part 2 of an "NFL Game of the Week" edition that features Cleveland's 37-31 overtime win at home over Pittsburgh on Nov. 23, 1986. Bernie Kosar finds Webster Slaughter open on the left sideline and hits the Browns' wide receiver in stride for the game-winning 36-yard touchdown.

Video: About 2:55 into a segment of Eric Metcalf highlights, live network game action (and numerous replays) of Metcalf returning punts for touchdowns of 91 and 75 yards -- the second one the game-winner -- during the Browns' 28-23 win over the Steelers before a frenzied Cleveland Stadium packed house. Plain Dealer game story by Mary Kay Cabot.

Video: The Browns had been routed by Pittsburgh, 43-0, in Cleveland's first regular season game as an expansion team on Sept. 12, 1999, at Cleveland. Here, though, just nine weeks later, on Nov. 14, Phil Dawson kicks a last-play, 40-yard field goal to give the Browns a stunning 16-15 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. From the CBS telecast. Plain Dealer game story by Tony Grossi.

Monday's win puts the Monsters back at .500 (11-11-1-1).

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Trailing, 1-0, entering the third period, the Monsters scored three unanswered goals and won at Charlotte, N.C., 3-1, on Monday night.

Ryan Stoa, Greg Mauldin and Tyson Barrie scored for Lake Erie, while Barrie also had two assists. Trevor Cann recorded 32 saves on 33 shots.

Monday's win puts the Monsters back at .500 (11-11-1-1).

Jerome Samson gave the home team the lead when he converted a back-door pass from former Monster Chris Durno 15:57 into the first period.

Stoa tied the game at the 2:17 mark of the third period, when Brad Malone carried the puck on the left wing and slid a pass to the front of the net. Stoa redirected the puck past Checkers goalie Justin Peters for his fifth goal. Barrie also assisted.

Mauldin's one-timer from the top of the left circle came on the power play with 3:51 remaining. Barrie dished the pass to help Mauldin score his sixth goal of the year.

Barrie's empty-net goal completed the scoring.

The Monsters next play Friday and Saturday in British Columbia against Abbotsford.

What is Josh Cribbs talking about?

PD FileJosh Cribbs

Josh Cribbs talked about a gap when it comes to the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, following Sunday's loss.

On Cleveland.com:

"There's a big gap ... a big gap," said Josh Cribbs, whose personal record against the Ravens dropped to 3-10 after this seventh consecutive defeat.

What big gap was Cribbs talking about?

Got a Browns question for Tony Grossi, Mary Kay Cabot or Dennis Manoloff? Want to be part of The Plain Dealer / cleveland.com Browns Insider show? Skype us at clevelanddotcom from 10-11 a.m. or email your video to sports@cleveland.com

We'll be taking your Skype calls live from 10-11 a.m.  Tuesday. Add clevelanddotcom to your Skype contacts.

Got a Browns question for Tony Grossi, Mary Kay Cabot or Dennis Manoloff? Want to be part of The Plain Dealer / cleveland.com Browns Insider show?

If you're answered 'yes' and 'yes,' then we want to hear from you!

How far behind are the Browns in the AFC North? Do you have faith in Pat Shurmur or Colt McCoy going forward? What do you want to hear from Mike Holmgren?

Get your question ready, fire up your webcam, make sure you have Skype on your computer and then give us call today from 10-11 a.m.

We'll ask you for your name, your hometown and, in under 30 seconds, to pose your question to our panel of Browns experts.

The call will be recorded and played during Wednesday's live show.

Once again, lines will be open today from 10-11 a.m.

Here's what to do:

1. Log into your Skype account. Don't have one? Create one and download the software here.

2. Add Skype name "clevelanddotcom" to your contacts list and place a video call to us.

3. A cleveland.com producer will answer your call and record it. Selected videos will be played during Thursday's live show, when Grossi, Cabot and Manoloff will answer the questions.

4. Once again, we'll be taking calls from 10-11 a.m. today. If the line keeps ringing or your call is rejected, that means it's busy. Try again in a few minutes.

5. You can also email your videos to sports@cleveland.com or upload them to YouTube or cleveland.com and send us the link.

The Cleveland Browns didn't not make the grade last Sunday.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerCoach Pat Shurmur

The Cleveland Browns had a pitiful performance against the Baltimore Ravens last week, so the grades are easy for Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich.

Ulrich gave the Browns' offense an overall grade of D (minus). Neither quarterback Colt McCoy, nor the wide receivers were on top of their games. The running backs received the best grade (C -) out of the offensive unit.

Peyton Hillis had 12 carries for 45 yards (3.8 average). He was slowed by an injured hip in the second half and had only two carries after halftime. Hillis’ most significant contribution was his 52-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter, which set up Phil Dawson’s 21-yard field goal with 5:55 left in the third quarter.

Grading the defense is easy (F).

Linebackers: F. This group, along with the entire defense, was humiliated by the Ravens’ ground attack. The Ravens set a franchise record with 55 rushing attempts, and they finished with 290 rushing yards, the third most in franchise history. Middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson had a team-high 12 tackles, but he wasn’t proud about his performance.

And of course, coach Pat Shurmur received an F grade. That's because the Browns couldn’t stop the Ravens’ rushing attack, even though they knew exactly what to expect.

More Browns 

Pain and the running game (The News-Herald).

Too many questions for the Browns' offense (Cleveland.com).

Browns in contention for top five pick, again (CantonRep.com).

Plain Dealer reporter also says Browns' special teams are not where they were a season ago. Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright, who are going old school as they do today's show in front of a photo featuring Jerry Sherk and Terry Bradshaw from a 1972 Browns-Steelers game.

The Browns are trying to regroup from Sunday's home loss to the Baltimore Ravens and prepare for Thursday night's game at Pittsburgh in what is a short week. After the game, the Browns' Josh Cribbs said there was an apparent gap between where the Browns and Ravens are at. In which area do you think the biggest gap lies? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who says there are plenty of areas of gap. Dman also discusses if there are any positives the Browns can build on going forward; what happened to the Browns' special teams, which used to be a strong point; and how he thinks Thursday's game will go down.

SBTV will return Wednesday.

Jackson has had a big season at middle linebacker after two years of injuries.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAfter two years of injuries, D'Qwell Jackson has been a mainstay in the middle of the Browns' defense.

Updated at 12:30 p.m.

BEREA: Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was named the team's recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

 Jackson leads the team and is second in the NFL with 112 tackles -- almost twice the number of runner-up Ahtyba Rubin -- and has 2.5 sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He was named AFC defensive player of the month for September.

 Jackson has not missed a game, and hardly a snap, after missing 26 games the previous two seasons with separate torn pectoral muscle injuries in 2009 and 2010.

 The Ed Block Courage Award is given to one member of each team who exemplifies the qualities of the former Baltimore Colts trainer. All 32 winners are honored at a big event in Baltimore in March.

 Up and at'em: Coach Pat Shurmur said that quarterback Colt McCoy (knee) and running back Peyton Hillis (hip) were sore from the game, but will do everything at practice today and are "ready to roll."

 Sign him up: Shurmur praised Jackson as "the total package" as a player, team leader and person. Asked if he wanted the Browns to sign the potential free agent to a long-term contract, the coach said, "Absolutely. Tremendous player. We'd love to have him here."

 About No. 12: Shurmur said McCoy's specific performances against division rivals Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati are important, but he said the team's evaluation of the quarterback encompasses the total season. Asked if the club is undecided about McCoy, Shurmur said, "I wouldn't say that. I'm going to hold all evaluation until the end of the year. Right now, he's our quarterback. And he's standing there next to me (on game days) and he's battling.

"Browns lead the league in drops and Holmgren and Heckert have no one to blame but themselves. Knowing the receiving corps was among the NFL's worst over the last two years, their upgrade plan consisted of a second round pick who has played more RB than WR in his life, and a fourth round pick on a fourth string TE. So now we find ourselves in the same position we've been in for the last decade - not knowing if we have a true starting quarterback or not, in part because he has no one to throw to." - grover13

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerGreg Little has struggled to catch the ball this season.

"Browns lead the league in drops and Holmgren and Heckert have no one to blame but themselves. Knowing the receiving corps was among the NFL's worst over the last two years, their upgrade plan consisted of a second round pick who has played more RB than WR in his life, and a fourth round pick on a fourth string TE. So now we find ourselves in the same position we've been in for the last decade - not knowing if we have a true starting quarterback or not, in part because he has no one to throw to."

Josh Cribbs concerns Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Gail Burton / Associated PressSteelers coach Mike Tomlin.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns will finish in last place in the division.

Despite the current state of each team, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin remains concerned. He even made some not-quite-PC comments about the series between the two teams, writes Ed Bouchette, of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"We cannot let Josh Cribbs do what he's done to us time and time again in the past. We've been dead Indians in his cowboy movie enough," Tomlin said in a not-quite-PC comment because the coach apparently wasn't talking about the Cleveland Indians.

The problem for the Cleveland Browns is that has not been enough, writes Bouchette. The Steelers have beaten the Browns 14 of the past 15 times they've played, 20 of the past 22.

More Pittsburgh Steelers

Chris Hoke is out for the rest of the season (Pittsburgh Post-Tribune).

It's down to two teams in the AFC North (ESPN.com).

Chicago trades closer Sergio Santos after signing him to a three-year deal in September.

DALLAS, Texas -- For the last few years White Sox GM Kenny Williams has weighed the pros and cons of contending vs. rebuilding. This time around it looks like Williams is serious about rebuilding.

Williams traded closer Sergio Santos to Toronto on Tuesday for prospect Nestor Molina. Santos was 4-5 with a 3.56 ERA with 30 saves in 36 situations last season. He struck out 92 batters in 63 1/3 innings.

"It is the start of rebuilding," Williams told reporters.

Molina, 22, went 12-3 with a 2.21 ERA at Class-A Dunedin and Class AA New Haven.

Toronto was in need of a closer and Santos fills the need. The move came as a surprise because Santos signed a three-year $8.25 million deal with Chicago in late September. The deal contains three club options.

"Molina is the guy they've been looking at for a long time," said Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos. "We hated to give him up, but Santos has a chance to be an elite closer and he's under control for six years -- three guaranteed years and three club options.

"For where we are right now as a team, and for where our payroll is, it made sense."

The White Sox staggered to a third place finish in the AL Central this year. Part of the problem has been of Williams' own doing. He signed Adam Dunn to a four-year $56 million deal before last season. In August of 2009 he claimed Alex Rios and his seven-year $68.84 million contract on waivers from Toronto.

Dunn hit .159 (66-for-415) with 11 homers, 42 RBI and 177 strikeouts this year. Rios, meanwhile, hit .227 (122-for-537) and 13 homers.

Marlins Mania: The Marlins, after signing closer Heath Bell and reaching a tentative deal six-year $106 million deal with shortstop Jose Reyes, have reportedly offered Albert Pujols a 10-year deal.

Pujols, the big name on the free agent market, is reportedly looking for a deal in excess of $200 million.

If the Cardinals can't keep Pujols, Lance Berkman could move from the outfield to first base. 

Twins-Rockies trade: The Twins sent right-hander Kevin Slowey to the Rockies for a player to be named. Slowey dropped from 13-6 in 2010 to 0-8 this year. He was hurt by a strained abdominal muscle for much of the season.

Slowey was 39-29 in five years with the Twins.

C.J. update: Don't look for Texas to fall all over itself to keep lefty C.J. Wilson. They like him and his durability, but it appears they'd rather sign Mark Buehrle.

By the way, the report that the Nationals had offered Wilson a six-year deal was bogus.

Rule 5: The Indians have the 15th pick in Thursday's Rule 5 draft, but aren't expected to be active. Their 40-man roster is full.

They could lose players such as Trevor Crowe, who was left unprotected.

Spink award: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun won the J.G. Spink award by a vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He is the first Canadian to win the award.

Elliott will be honored in at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at Cooperstown in July.

The 62-year-old Elliott received 205 votes from BBWAA members. Paul Hagen from Philadelphia and Russell Schneider, who covered the Indians for The Plain Dealer for 14 years, were the other finalists. Hagen received 169 votes and Schneider 81.

TV time: BBWAA's awards -- the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year -- will be announced next season on a series of shows on MLB Network. It will be the first time the awards will be televised.

The awards will be announced over a two week period in November. The finalists for the awards will be unveiled the week before the formal announcement.

"The need for defense is a problem for the Cavs and this guy seems to want to play 'D' and rebound. Andy and Casspi are good team defenders and the new lighter and quicker Samardo may be also. On the other hand Jamison, BD and Sessions are worthless on 'D' so hopefully TT can clean up some of their mistakes." - rwbbowg

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers surprised some when the took Tristan Thompson with the No. 4 pick.

"The need for defense is a problem for the Cavs and this guy seems to want to play 'D' and rebound. Andy and Casspi are good team defenders and the new lighter and quicker Samardo may be also. On the other hand Jamison, BD and Sessions are worthless on 'D' so hopefully TT can clean up some of their mistakes."

Hector Rondon will miss five to seven months following surgery to repair his fractured right elbow.

PD fileHector Rondon has second elbow surgery.

DALLAS, Texas -- The comeback trail has taken another detour for promising right-hander Hector Rondon.

Rondon, 23, underwent surgery on Nov. 15 to repair a fracture in his right elbow suffered while pitching for Caracas in winter ball. He's expected to miss five to seven months.

He was trying to return from Tommy John surgery on the same elbow in 2010 after injuring it at Class AAA Columbus.

Rondon was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Grady Sizemore. If Rondon clears waivers, he will report to spring training with the Indians minor leaguers.

Dr. James Andrews has done both operations on Rondon's elbow.

Rondon made five relief appearances for Caracas before the injury.

The Indians have lost two promising pitchers for the 2012 season -- Carlos Carrasco and Rondon.

LeBron James says he's no longer the villain

Nam Y. Huh / Associated PressLeBron James

 
Because LeBron James said it, he will no longer cast himself as a villain. I guess villains don't sell as many sneakers.

In an interview with ESPN, James says “to be on the other side, they call it the dark side, or the villain, whatever they call it, it was definitely challenging for myself. It basically turned me into somebody I wasn’t. Me, personally, I’m not that guy.”

But will he remain the villain in Cleveland? Or will fans here agree with LeBron and make nice when the Heat return here this season? 

He also said he regrets 'The Decision' television special that announced he was leaving Cleveland.

"The fact of having the whole TV special and people getting the opportunity to watch me make a decision on where I'm going to play, I would probably change that," James said. "Because I can see now if the shoe was on the other foot and I was a fan and I was very passionate about one player and he decided to leave, you know, I would be upset too by the way that he handled it."

The Browns probably need to look for a quarterback in the next draft. Colt McCoy, for all the drawbacks of the personnel, has not shown much so far.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerIt's clear that the Browns haven't been generous in giving Colt McCoy much to work with in his two seasons with the team. But Bill Livingston also contends that McCoy hasn't shown that he can improve the players he has -- a talent the great quarterbacks possess.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pittsburgh used to be called "Hell with the Lid Off," but then the steel industry declined and, apparently, the infernal torments relocated to the hearts and minds of Browns players and fans.

A year ago, Pittsburgh was the game in which Colt McCoy got his first start, right there by the rivers' confluence. He fared at least as well as Daniel (his real first name) in the lions' den and became another hope/hype for the future.

Thursday night, McCoy returns to Pittsburgh. The lions are big favorites.

McCoy has not looked like he's the answer to the ongoing quarterback crisis. Sports Illustrated's Peter King gave him a "D" grade recently. Reader email is divided, but more and more wonder when McCoy will show something.

It is true what McCoy lacks: a stable of play-making wide receivers, separating from defenders like celebrities from spouses; an All-Pro offensive line, allowing patterns to be timed by sun dial; a running back able to hit 'em where they ain't or in the mouth, as the occasion demands.

The fact is, however, that nobody has it all, although Troy Aikman came pretty close when he was winning three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s.

But when you look around the league, the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger is playing behind a patchwork line.

Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady are playing at near-historic levels because they have to. Their defenses resemble O.J. Simpson after, as Detective Nordberg in "The Naked Gun," he fell from the upper deck of Dodger Stadium, was flattened by a steamroller, and marched upon by the University of Southern California band. You know, sort of the Chris Gocong position, after Ricky Williams ran over him last Sunday.

Brady had a wide receiver in Deion Branch who was only special in Bill Belichick's system. He was a dud in Seattle. The Browns picked up Brady's starting guard, Joe Andruzzi, as a free agent in the Romeo Crennel era, then decided he couldn't play after two seasons.

But Browns fans keep thinking a football utopia is required for judgment to made about a quarterback.

Certainly, McCoy has been the victim of almost criminal neglect in the laughable assertion in the off-season that either Pat Shurmur could coach up the returning wideouts or that the West Coast offense would allow McCoy to run the "Open sesame" play, and defenses would be powerless to stop it.

At least some blame for the failure goes on Peyton Hillis and his ego, injuries and alarming free fall from Madden video trendiness.

And yet ... one remembers that Bernie Kosar's receivers -- Webster Slaughter, Reggie Langhorne and Brian Brennan -- made exactly one Pro Bowl among them with the Browns (Slaughter in 1989, although he also was honored with Houston in 1993). Kosar had better protection than McCoy, but he was also far less mobile. After the trade of Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack's trouble with the law, he did not have a powerful running game at his disposal.

In each of the three seasons in which the Browns reached the AFC title game, tight end Ozzie Newsome never had 500 yards in receptions. Still, Kosar showed enough in short order to become the franchise's building block. Kosar could throw deep, but he was also adept at the intermediate pass, the 15-yard comebacker or the so-called skinny post.

Forget stretching the defenses with the bomb. No one respects even the mid-range pass with the Browns, both because receivers can't get open on such routes and because McCoy seldom throws such balls.

Kosar had a gambler's mentality, always looking for the big play. McCoy has been in a short-pass offense since high school. He was programmed in the Big 12 at Texas to dink and dunk. Even his short throws are too often behind the receiver or he has to wait for the ball.

In the NFL, a passing league despite the aberration that is Tim Tebow, the game is won and lost in the pocket. Running the shotgun, although McCoy has familiarity with it, is counterproductive over the long haul. It makes running the ball difficult. The inside handoff to the running back can fool them only so many times.

Running the hurry-up offense for 60 minutes is worse. Does anyone really want to send this Browns defense out on the field, time after time, after quick three-and-outs?

The Browns need to look for a quarterback in the 2012 draft when they have the picks to get a good one. Stanford's Andrew Luck would cost too much to move up to the first pick, but Baylor's Robert Griffin III or USC's Matt Barkley might be there for a probable 4-and-12 Browns team.

It's too soon to say McCoy can't play, period. He isn't as inaccurate as Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. He doesn't make as many bad decisions as Charlie Frye.

This, however, is known as being damned by faint praise.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Cleveland Browns players Colt McCoy, Josh Cribbs, D'Qwell Jackson and Joe Haden talk about playing the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Watch video

Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard already looks like the best pass rusher the Browns have produced in decades. Thursday night in Pittsburgh he can further that case. Watch video

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerRavens QB Joe Flacco got a close-up example of why Jabaal Sheard has been one of the Browns' best newcomers in 2011. Sheard had six tackles, three assists, a sack and a forced fumble in the 24-10 loss to Baltimore.

BEREA, Ohio -- The list of pass rushers drafted by the Browns in their history is a short one. The list of those who made an impact can fit on one hand.

It's rather incredible to ponder that Jabaal Sheard, whose Browns career consists only of 12 games, already is in the discussion of being the best one produced by the franchise. In their expansion era, it's only a three-horse race. There's Sheard, there's Kamerion Wimbley and there's Courtney Brown.

Heading into Thursday night's encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sheard leads the team with 5.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He has not missed a game and rarely a series.

Wimbley, a first-round pick in 2006, holds the Browns' rookie record with 11 sacks in his first year. He never matched that figure, however, and totaled 26.5 in four seasons and 63 games. He was traded in 2009 for a third-round pick.

Brown was the NFL's No. 1 overall draft pick in 2000. Brown had five sacks and one fumble recovery in his rookie season.

The arrival of defensive-line expert Butch Davis as head coach in 2001 was seen as the best thing to happen to Brown. In fact, Brown produced 4.5 sacks in five games his second season. But injuries sacked Brown that year and led to his rapid demise.

After his first season, Brown missed more games because of injury (51) than he played (45). He was finished after six years, one with Denver, at the age of 29. Brown wound up with 19 sacks in 61 games.

Prior to expansion, the Browns had a similarly dismal record producing pass rushers. The exceptions were Joe (Turkey) Jones, a third-round pick in 1970, and Reggie Camp, a second-round pick in 1983. Camp's 14 sacks in 1984 still rank second on the franchise all-time season list.

The notable busts acquired derisive nicknames.

• Keith Baldwin, a second-rounder in 1982, became known as "Pure," a reference to former personnel chief Bill Davis' contention that he was "the best pure pass rusher" in that draft.

• And, of course, there was 1980 second-round flameout Cleveland Crosby, who actually listed Pittsburgh as his middle name. Crosby once arrived at a team meeting wearing a Steelers T-shirt. It was promptly removed, leaving the bare-chested Crosby shell-shocked as teammates glared through him.

There's always a connection between Browns pass rushers and the Steelers, it seems.

In a 2000 home game, Brown sacked Pittsburgh quarterback Kent Graham three times, the last securing a rare Browns' win. They've won only four of 25 games against their rivals in the expansion era. And Jones will always be known as the man who picked up Terry Bradshaw and slammed him head-first into the turf in a 1976 win.

Sheard's connection to the Steelers stems from his career at the University of Pittsburgh. The Panthers shared their practice complex with the Steelers, making the players and coaches well known to each other.

"I'm pretty familiar with him," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday on a conference call. "He's been very disruptive, very consistent. He's logging a bunch of snaps. All good things for a young player."

On the day Sheard was drafted, he used Steelers pass-rush linebacker James Harrison as an example of the type of player he aspired to be.

"Just in terms of aggressiveness and his motor," Sheard said then. "I'm always thinking of getting to the quarterback. I want to make that hit that makes the crowd go 'Ooooo.' That's the guy I want to be. I want the kind of feedback of guys saying, 'I never want to play against you again.'"

Sheard said Tuesday that while he often ate in the cafeteria with members of the Steelers, he never established a relationship with Harrison.

"I just think he's a great player," Sheard said. "I respect his game. I mean, he plays physical and that's something you want to see as a defensive lineman. I just continue to watch and learn."

Harrison has developed into one of the most-feared players in the NFL, named defensive player of the year in 2008. Harrison, 33, is two sacks from hitting double digits for the fourth time in his career despite missing four games.

Harrison doesn't discriminate on the field. His helmet hits in the first Browns meeting a year ago on receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs ignited the league crackdown on dangerous hits to the head. A case can be made that Massaquoi hasn't been the same since.

"We all know James is a disruptive force," said Browns coach Pat Shurmur. "We'd like [Sheard] to be that disruptive, for sure. I think Jabaal can be a very disruptive defensive end in this league hopefully for a long time."

When it comes to Browns' pass rushers, it all begins and ends with the Steelers. The only time the Browns have defeated Ben Roethlisberger in 13 meetings was in the frigid cold on a Thursday night in 2009, when they sacked him eight times.

Thursday night in Heinz Field, Sheard meets Roethlisberger for the first time in his NFL career. It's a chance to further his claim as the best pass rusher produced by the Browns in decades. Harrison will be watching from the other sideline.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Miami's lone visit to The Q is Feb. 17, while the NBA champion Mavericks appear Feb. 4.

View full sizeAP photoDirk Nowitzki and the NBA champion Mavericks will make their lone visit to play Antawn Jamison and the Cavaliers at The Q on Feb. 4.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavaliers fans hoping to boo LeBron James and the Miami Heat will get only one chance to do so in Cleveland this season -- Feb. 17 -- but they will get to thank the Mavericks for beating the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals when Dallas visits The Q on Feb. 4.

Those were just two of the highlights of the 2011-12 NBA schedule released Tuesday night. Thanks to the lockout, the Cavs will play 66 games in 122 days, with just one set of three games in three nights -- April 13-15 at Indiana, at Washington and home against visiting Orlando.

The Cavs will open the season with a home game against Toronto on Dec. 26, a game that actually appeared on the original schedule before the lockout forced the cancellation of the first 16 games. Actually, 31 games on the original schedule remain -- 20 home and 11 away.

After the home opener, the Cavs will go on the road for the next two games -- at Detroit on Dec. 28 and at Indiana on Dec. 30 before opening the new year with home games against New Jersey on Jan. 1 and Charlotte on Jan. 3. That is followed by a brutal seven-game, 12-day trip starting at Toronto on Jan. 4 followed by stops at Minnesota on Jan. 6, Portland on Jan. 8, Utah on Jan. 10, Phoenix on Jan. 12, the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 13 and Charlotte on Jan. 16.

The Cavaliers are not currently scheduled for any national TV broadcasts on TNT or ESPN, and just one broadcast on NBA TV -- March 25 vs. Phoenix.

The team's longest homestand will be a team-record nine games, from Feb. 8-28, surrounding the All-Star Game on Feb. 26.

The Cavs will face the Lakers just once this season as former Cavs coach Mike Brown will not bring his Lakers team to The Q. Other Western Conference teams that will not visit Cleveland are Denver, Memphis, Portland, Oklahoma City and Minnesota.

World travelers: Forwards Christian Eyenga and Alonzo Gee arrived at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Tuesday after playing overseas during the lockout. They worked out with teammates Anderson Varejao, Omri Casspi, Tristan Thompson, Samardo Samuels, Luke Harangody and Manny Harris.

Eyenga came from Spain, where he returned to DKV Joventut Badalona -- the team he played with before joining the Cavs last season. Since the end of the season, he worked out at Ohio State with former Cavs coach Chris Jent, now an assistant with the Buckeyes, as well as in Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Miami.

"I was just looking for somewhere I could play," he said. "I'd just go where there were a lot of NBA players."

Gee had been playing for Asseco Prokom in Gdynia, Poland, with former Cav Devin Brown. He played about eight games before leaving early in November.

"Playing is good for me," he said. "I just wanted to be in rhythm and be ready when the season started. It was important for me to keep playing and stay in game shape."

He said his team often practiced twice a day and sometimes after games. That should get him ready for coach Byron Scott's famously tough training camp. Gee joined the team in mid-season so he missed training camp here last fall.

"Everybody's been telling me about it," he said, laughing.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview the Browns game Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Watch video

The Indians invented the strategy of signing young players to multiyear deals to avoid arbitration. Now it seemingly has become a thing of the past even though the Indians have seven players eligible for arbitration.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerWith Asdrubal Cabera reaching his fifth year in the big leagues in 2012, will he have any interest in an extension with the Indians before he reaches free agency after the 2013 season?

DALLAS, Texas -- The Indians used to do it all the time. After all, they invented the strategy.

To avoid the pitfalls of salary arbitration, they offered young players multiyear contracts. It started in 1992 with players such as Charles Nagy, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Carlos Baerga. The deals gave the players security while they were establishing their careers. The team benefited by being able to plot its payroll two or three years down the road, while not having to rip their own players in arbitration hearings.

It was still going on as late as April of 2008, when Fausto Carmona signed a four-year, $15 million deal with three club options. Carmona was coming off a 19-win season in 2007 and had pitched fewer than two big-league seasons.

Since then, the multiyear deals to avoid arbitration and, perhaps, buy a year or two of free agency have stopped. The lingering pain from the extensions given to Travis Hafner and Jake Westbrook in 2007 is probably one reason. Hafner signed a four-year, $57 million extension before his power evaporated following surgery on his right shoulder after the 2008 season. Westbrook signed a three-year, $31 million deal and barely pitched because of Tommy John surgery.

While those two deals may have soured ownership, they also received good mileage out of extensions to Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, Jhonny Peralta and CC Sabathia.

This winter the Indians have seven players eligible for arbitration -- Justin Masterson, Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jack Hannahan and Shin-Soo Choo. Cabrera, Choo, Smith and Rafael Perez are all entering their fifth big-league season. To many general managers and agents, that's the point of no return.

"If you don't get a contract worked out before a player's fifth year, it usually means you're not going to get one done," Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin said recently. Melvin was talking about Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. He was able to sign Braun to an extension before his fifth season. He was unable to do that with Fielder, and he's one of the biggest fish in the free-agent pool this winter.

A player needs six big-league seasons to become a free agent. Once he gets to his fifth year, the smell of big money is hard to ignore. In Cabrera's case, the switch-hitting shortstop is coming off a career season in which he hit .273 with 87 runs, 32 doubles, 25 homers and 92 RBI.

What kind of offer would the Indians have to make to convince him to sign a three- to five-year deal to delay his free agency?

"I think in their mind it's probably gotten to the point where it's too expensive to offer him a multiyear deal now," said one agent in reference to Cabrera.

It could be the same story with Choo. Last season was a disaster for the Tribe's right fielder following two excellent years in which he hit a combined .300 with 168 runs, 69 doubles, 42 homers, 176 RBI and 43 steals. The Indians tried to sign Choo to a multiyear deal in the springs of 2010 and 2011. He and his agent Scott Boras turned them down.

Rafael Perez and Smith don't have the bargaining power of Cabrera and Choo, so a multiyear offer probably isn't coming their way. The Indians feel they have bullpen arms in the system to replace any openings. The organization has almost no immediate help available at shortstop or in the outfield.

GM Chris Antonetti says when it comes to extensions for players who are still arbitration eligible, he has no "black or white rules."

"We evaluate each situation independently and see if it makes sense," said Antonetti. "We've considered and done deals, or explored deals, with players after a zero-plus year [a player with less than a year's big-league experience], after a one-plus year [more than one year, but less than two years], after a two-plus year, after a three-plus year and, I think, after a five-plus year.

"Everywhere along that time frame we've considered multiyear extensions for players."

Addressing the absence of any extensions over the last few years, Antonetti said, "You have to have the right fit and the right guy to consider an extension. If you have a player that meets that criteria, you have to find common ground. There have been players we've explored multiyear deals with and we haven't been able to find common ground."

On Twitter: @hoynsie