The Cavs will practice between two and three hours on Sunday, capped off by the scrimmage, which starts at 1 p.m. and will include all of the usual game-day operations.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers first round draft picks Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving. Irving scored 21 points in a preseason game against Detroit on Friday and Thompson scored eight points and blocked two shots.

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott did not mince words when asked what he hopes to get out of Sunday's free Wine & Gold intrasquad crimmage at The Q.

"I want to get out of there healthy and alive," he said.

After taking Saturday off following a 91-87 preseason-opening victory at Detroit on Friday night, the Cavs will practice between two and three hours on Sunday, capped off by the scrimmage, which starts at 1 p.m. and will include all of the usual game-day operations.

The main attractions, of course, will be first-round draft choices Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, who will make their first appearances before the hometown fans.

"We've got to get a lot of work done still," Scott said. "The scrimmage is obviously for the fans. The scrimmage is basically going to be the end of our practice."

Sam I Am: Second-year power forward Samardo Samuels finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in almost 26 minutes against the Pistons. He made 11 of 16 free throws and proved to be a load to handle down low, especially defensively down the stretch.

"Working hard, that's what defines me," Samuels said. "That's how I play basketball. I don't know any other way. I'm aggressive. I was doing what I do. Today was one of those days when I got myself going around the basket."

Said Scott, "He played really hard, did some good things on both ends of the floor. But, again, he has to get better."

Scott said power forward Ryan Hollins, who didn't play at all on Friday, probably will get those minutes when the Pistons come to visit The Q for a preseason rematch on Tuesday.

Another debut: While most of the attention was focused on first-round draft choices Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson on Friday, rookie free agent guard Mychel Thompson also managed to impress Scott. With guard Manny Harris out with an ulcer on the bottom of his right foot, there are minutes _ and perhaps a roster spot _ available.

Thompson, the son of former NBA star Mychal Thompson and brother of Golden State first-round draft choice Klay Thompson who is not related to Tristan Thompson, made just 1 of 7 shots _ a 3-pointer _ and had 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 turnover and 1 blocked shot in 25:52.

"The thing that I liked about him is the fact that he just has a real good understanding of how to play the game of basketball," said Scott, who played five seasons with Mychal Thompson in Los Angeles and has known Mychel since he was born. "He doesn't make mistakes, played 20-something minutes and had one turnover, handled the ball, makes good decisions, plays good solid defense. He's just a very, very good solid basketball player.

"I kept him out there the first half and I wanted to see how he would react. He got off to a shaky start as well, like the rest of the guys. I think they were a little nervous and a little anxious as well. The second half he seemed to calm down and play much better."

All gone: As expected, the Cavs chose not to use the $14.5 million trade exception they received in the LeBron James deal in the summer of 2010. The exception would have allowed the Cavs to acquire a player making up to $14.5 million this season without trading anything back, or it could have been used to make up any difference in salaries between the player(s) they were acquiring and the player(s) they were trading. The NBA had given the team until Friday to use it but general manager Chris Grant had maintained all along that the Cavs would rather let it expire than make a bad deal just to use it.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668 On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Tony Grossi's take on Sunday's NFL games

View full sizeRick Osentoski, Associated PressDetroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril celebrates his sack of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder. Detroit travels to Oakland Sunday for a game that has the potential to produce plenty of penalties from both sides.

CLEVLEAND, Ohio -- Tony Grossi's take on Sunday's NFL games

Cincinnati at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

TV: WOIO Channel 19.

Early line: Bengals by 6 1/2.

Tony Grossi's take: The Rams are just bad. Bengals, 28-13.

Green Bay at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

TV: WJW Channel 8.

Early line: Packers by 14.

Tony's take: Lordy, lordy, Romeo's back wearing the head coach headsets. Packers, 30-9.

Baltimore at San Diego, 8:20 p.m.

TV: WKYC Channel 3.

Early line: Ravens by 1.

Tony's take: Every AFC game a must-win for Ravens now. Ravens, 27-24.

New Orleans at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Early line: Saints by 7.

Tony's take: Four Drew Brees TD strikes. Saints, 34-17.

Seattle at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Early line: Bears by 3 1/2.

Tony's take: Bears must play for pride. Bears, 16-10.

Carolina at Houston, 1 p.m.

Early line: Texans by 6 1/2.

Tony's take: Simply on the belief that the Texans don't go 13-3. Panthers, 27-25.

Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Early line: Titans by 7.

Tony's take: Chris Johnson rushes for more than 200 yards. Titans, 28-10.

Miami at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Early line: Dolphins by 2.

Tony's take: Those aluminum seats in Ralph Wilson Stadium get nasty this time of year. Bills, 13-10.

Washington at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Early line: Giants by 7 1/2.

Tony's take: Eli Manning is having a great year, folks. Giants, 31-21.

Detroit at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Early line: Lions by 1.

Tony's take: This game could set a record for most penalties. Raiders, 28-24.

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

Early line: Patriots by 4 1/2.

Tony's take: Tim Tebow won't be able to keep up with Tom Brady. Patriots, 26-18.

N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m.

Early line: Eagles by 2.

Tony's take: Jets score first-ever victory over Eagles. Jets, 27-20.

GROSSI UPDATE:

Last week overall: 11-5 .688

Season overall: 140-68 .673

Last week vs. spread: 4-12 .250

Season vs. spread: 107-97-4 .524

Cavaliers forward Christian Eyenga was 9-years-old when he learned how disposable life could be in a homeland rich with resources and impoverished by instability.

View full sizeLynn Ischay, The Plain DealerChristian Eyenga drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks. Eyenga was the 30th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and average 6.9 points per game during his rookie season in 2010.

Cavaliers forward Christian Eyenga was 9-years-old when he learned how disposable life could be in a homeland rich with resources and impoverished by instability.

He watched as rebel soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians at a street corner in his native Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Eyenga heard the gunfire and the screams. He ran from the scene, escaping harm but not the gnawing fear that tomorrow would bring more of the same.

"There were a lot of people shot," Eyenga said. "You just saw people dead in the street. It was crazy. You just wanted to go somewhere safe.

"Back then, you didn't plan for a future, you lived life in the present. You grow up thinking, 'In two minutes I could be dead.'"

The Second Congo War (1998-2003), the deadliest conflict since World War II, killed 5.4 million people. More than a decade of tumult has devastated the Central African republic, reducing it to the world's least developed country, according to the United Nations, despite an abundance of minerals and hydrocarbon deposits.

The 22-year-old Eyenga got out thanks to a nurturing mother, middle-class means and enough raw talent to convince the Cavaliers to select him with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. A season ago, the youngster with the thick French accent and easy smile became just the third person from his country to play in the league.

The 6-foot-7 reserve is arguably the Cavaliers' most athletic player, coach Byron Scott said, but his effort and attention to defensive detail sometimes wane. He averaged 6.9 points in 54 games during a rookie season in which his physical gifts enticed fans and his basketball acumen maddened them.

His second season begins with great uncertainty even though the club already has picked up the option for the third year of his contract. Accusations of a sham presidential election threaten to plunge the Congo into deeper chaos. He did not fly home over the summer out of concerns for safety. He worries about his mother, Gisele, and his father, Gaspar, who cannot obtain visas to leave the country.

Eyenga calls them frequently for updates, his plans for the future shaped by the next 24-hour news cycle

"When I'm done here I'm going to go talk to my mother," he said Wednesday after practice. "I talk to her every two hours . . . I just pray (the violence) doesn't touch my family."

View full sizeCourtesy of Pere GallegoAnicet Lavodrama, left, who discovered Eyenga stands with Eyenga's mom Gisele Kapinga, center, and Spanish agent Pere Gallego.

Resources natural, otherwise

Many American NBA players can relate to rising above tough neighborhoods and circumstances, yet rarely did the men scouting them feel the need to hire a security detail.

Spanish agent Pere Gallego rode through the hardscrabble streets of Kinshasa (population 10 million) with a different kind of shooting guard by his side four years ago. He was stunned by what he witnessed.

"It was very sad," Gallego said. "There were just thousands of poor people everywhere. The wars had left the city in ruins."

The UN annually releases a Human Development Index, which ranks 187 nations using health, education and income as composite measures for well being. The Democratic Republic of Congo finished last in its 2011 report.

Life expectancy in Eyenga's homeland is 48.4 years. His brother Khomedy, the one who taught him how to play basketball, died at age 21 in a car accident.

Gallego was struck by how desensitized Eyenga is to death. He recalls his client's reaction to news that a youth coach he had met a day earlier had died in a motorcycle crash.

"He felt bad, but Christian told me, 'People die every day in the Congo,'" Gallego said.

They die despite living in a nation filled with natural resources. Many of the cell phones, video games and laptops Americans will unwrap on Christmas day will include electronic capacitors made from the mineral coltan. The Congo produces the world's second largest supply behind Brazil.

Control over these valubale resources has been at the root of Congo's problems since 1998, said Kambale Musavuli, a spokesperson for The Friends of Congo, a Washington-based non-profit organization. Neighboring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, as well as corrupt politicians within the nation have plundered and oppressed Africa's second largest country, said Musavuli, a Congolese refuge.

Eyenga's parents helped insulate him from trouble, Gallego said. They sent him to a private school and taught him proper values that steered him away from gangs and militia.

His folks were the subject of much curiosity during his rookie season in Cleveland. He told stories of his mom playing basketball for the national team, but a misunderstanding between Eyenga and reporters led to some tall tales. Media members thought the Cavs newcomer said Gisele, a business woman, was 6-foot-9. She is actually 5-9.

She also is one of Gaspar's five wives. Polygamous unions are legal in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

'I guess it would depend on where I live," Eyenga said. "But I don't think I want five wives, no."

He didn't begin playing basketball until he was about 15, Eyenga said, on the streets of Kinshasa. His first love was soccer and he didn't like how the basketball made his hands dirty.

But Eyenga's talent was unmistakable and he quickly joined the junior national team. In 2006, he attended a Basketball Without Borders camp and got to see Dikembe Mutombo, a shot-blocking, finger-wagging, national idol.

Evenga lights up as he recalls the experience of meeting Kyle Korver and Rasual Butler and having his picture taken with Marcus Camby.

"It was crazy, amazing to see real NBA players," Eyenga said.

Within five years, he would be one of them.

View full sizeAP FileNBA commissioner David Stern, left, poses with Christian Eyenga during the 2009 NBA Draft.

Moment of hope

The decision to draft Eyenga on June 25, 2009 elicited contrasting responses.

There was confusion among many Cavs fans who had never heard of this 20-year-old playing for a second-tier Spanish team, CB Prat Juventud. There also was rejoicing among Congolese, some of whom stayed up to watch the draft live in the wee hours of the morning.

"I don't even have the right words to say it," Musavuli said. "It was an historic moment. When Christian put on that Cavaliers' hat I was deeply moved. Moments like that offer hope to Congolese everywhere."

Eschewing a safer pick, the Cavaliers opted to gamble on Eyenga, whose leaping ability and athleticism continue to tantalize. He arrived at camp two inches taller, an astonishing growth spurt for someone his age.

Last season, he benefited from several stints in the NBA Development League, and could see time in the minors again. The 149-day NBA lockout hurt inexperienced players like Eyenga, who need structure and coaching. He committed six turnovers in the Cavs' preseason opener on Friday against Detroit.

"I see him getting better, but it is a slow process," Scott said. "You just hope that light turns on for him. He is such a terrific athlete. If he can get it from a mental standpoint, he will be a very good player."

Eyenga is proud to represent Congo and wants to hold a charity event to raise awareness of his country's plight. The Cavs are aware of the desire and willing to assist him once he provides the details.

Team insiders say there is not a more appreciative player than Eyenga, who often volunteers for community outreach functions. In a sport where its stars are sometimes criticized for their sense of entitlement, Eyenga marvels at how many basketballs and sneakers are supplied at the Cleveland Clinic Courts training facility.

"Life is easier here," he said. "Look, we have a gym where we can come and play any time. You don't have these opportunities back home."

He wants badly for his family to move to America. They have yet to travel here to see him play.

He spends his December days practicing basketball and checking his cell phone -- one made possible with minerals from his homeland. On Nov. 26, police in Kinshasa killed 18 protestors. He is hoping tensions abate before the death toll rises.

Christian Eyenga might have a million-dollar contract and comfortable existence in a new world, yet the 9-year-old inside him still lives day to day.

Cavaliers went 19-63 last season, including a record 26-game losing streak, after the departure of LeBron James. Cavs hope the return of veterans to good health and the addition of promising youngsters will make this season better.

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers hope that veterans Antawn Jamison (4) and Anderson Varejao (17) can stay healthy this season and stabilize the frontcourt.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers begin their 42nd NBA season on Monday, Dec. 26, when they host the Toronto Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs are coming off a dreadful 2010-11 campaign. Going into last season, it was assumed Cleveland would fall from what had become its perennial contender status, after the departure of veterans such as centers Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Oh, yes, LeBron James had also left Cleveland. On July 8, 2010, during ESPN's infamous telecast of "The Decision," free agent James announced, "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat."

After a respectable 7-9 start to last season, though, nobody could have imagined the depths the Cavaliers would plummet to. Cleveland lost 36 of its next 37 games. The historic collapse began with a 10-game losing streak, was interrupted by a solitary win, and was punctuated with an NBA-record 26 losses in a row.

The Cavaliers, riddled by injuries much of the season but indisputably lacking in talent, finished 19-63.

This season, due to the lockout as players and owners wrangled over a new collective bargaining agreement, NBA teams will play 66-game regular season schedules instead of 82.

The Cavaliers hope that veterans such as center-forward Anderson Varejao and forward Antawn Jamison will stay healthy after being sidelined for much of last season.

They're curious to see how soon and how much point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Tristan Thompson can help. Irving was the first overall pick in the June draft and Thompson was No. 4.

They think Omri Casspi can maybe help fill the void at small forward. Casspi, who reportedly drew the interest of some contenders before last season's trade deadline, was acquired from Sacramento during the offseason, with the Cavaliers sending J.J. Hickson to the Kings.

Knowing that both disappointments and pleasant surprises await the Cavs and all teams, how many of their 66 games do you think the Cavaliers will win this season?

Arizona's top playmakers come up big in overtime to set up a game-winning field goal as Browns lose their 10th.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerIt was another head-scratching finish for the Browns, as Peyton Hillis and his teammates watched a third-quarter lead dissolve into a 20-17 overtime loss to the Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The sound of doom stalking the Browns can be like a time bomb tick-tick-ticking away. It's there, messing with your mind, and it doesn't go away.

Through four quarters, the Browns had done a number on the Arizona Cardinals' sterling playmakers -- return specialist Patrick Peterson and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Peterson, the rookie with four punt returns for touchdowns, had handled only three of Brad Maynard's punts, fair-catching one and gaining merely a yard on two others. Fitzgerald, the league's best receiver, had only two catches for 33 yards.

The problem was the Browns let the Cardinals erase a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and send the game into overtime. That is when Peterson and Fitzgerald stamped their marks on the game and won it for the Cardinals, 20-17.

Peterson's 32-yard punt return after the Browns' first possession gave the Cardinals the ball at the Browns' 40. Three plays later, Fitzgerald faked and cut Dimitri Patterson in circles, sped past the Browns' secondary, and delivered a John Skelton pass 32 yards to the 4.

"They both got loose and made plays for them," said safety Mike Adams. "They expect those guys to do that."

Jay Feely's 22-yard field goal ended the game 4:04 into overtime.

Arizona's fourth win in a row kept its NFC wild-card hopes alive at 7-7. Three of its wins have come in overtime. The Browns stumbled to 4-10 -- their 10th season of double-digit losses in 13 years.

This loss was unlike the nine others this year only because Seneca Wallace was at quarterback subbing for the concussed Colt McCoy. Otherwise, the plot was similar.

"Once again, I feel like a broken record in some ways," coach Pat Shurmur said. "Our guys fought extremely hard. We all have to get a little bit better so that we finish this thing with a victory."

In his first start this year -- and only the 19th of his career -- Wallace was good through three quarters. He built a 17-7 lead on a touchdown drive on the opening possession, climaxed by a Peyton Hillis 1-yard run; a Phil Dawson 44-yard field goal; and an improvised throw on the run to Greg Little, who took it 76 yards for the touchdown.

But Wallace blamed himself for the offense netting only 52 yards and two first downs after the third quarter.

After the Cardinals scored their second touchdown on a Beanie Wells five-yard run, the turning point came when Wallace suffered back-to-back sacks by linebacker O'Brien Schofield, beating the right side of the Browns' line. On the second, Wallace lost the ball and the Cardinals recovered.

The ruling on the field was down by contact, but the Cardinals challenged and won a reversal, giving Arizona possession at the Browns' 5. The defense held, however, as Jabaal Sheard's sack on first down limited the damage to a game-tying field goal.

Wallace's next possessions ended in a punt, a punt, and then, in overtime, the punt.

"I take responsibility for that," Wallace said of the offensive clampdown. "I have to make sure that I execute and get guys in the right spots. We did some things down the stretch that shouldn't happen and aren't characteristic of our offense."

Wallace finished the game 18-of-31 for 226 yards, one touchdown and a passer rating of 91.6.

"I think he played awesome," said receiver Josh Cribbs. "Played great. He threw the ball down the field. Threw to a lot of different receivers. He made plays when plays were needed to be made from him."

"Sen is definitely a great leader," said Little, who had a career-high 131 yards on five catches.

The Browns won the coin toss in overtime (and at the start of the game), but had to punt after making one first down on a Wallace scramble of 15 yards. Punting from inside his 20, Maynard said he wanted to kick the ball as close to the sideline as possible. But it went down the middle, 38 yards.

"I kicked to him one too many times," Maynard said. "Believe it or not, I was trying to kick it out. It's hard, easier said than done. You just can't let him touch the ball in that situation."

Buster Skrine, who notched his first career interception earlier in the game, was the first man down and let Peterson lull him into thinking it might be a fair catch. Then Peterson broke to his right and accelerated all the way to the Browns' 40.

"He broke us down," Cribbs said. "He reminds me of myself when I'm healthy. He'll be a great talent in this league."

The Browns have a short week to prepare for a Christmas Eve game in Baltimore. Then the finale on New Year's Day against Pittsburgh. The rivals jockeying for playoff seeding need those wins dearly. The only drama left for the Browns is whether they fall short of last season's win total of five and which quarterback they go with next, Wallace or McCoy.

McCoy did not practice all week after suffering a concussion in the Thursday night Pittsburgh game.

"In the event that [McCoy] can play, then we will cross that bridge when we need to," Shurmur said.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Peterson's only chance at a punt return sets up the Cardinals at midfield, and Fitzgerald breaks free to give Arizona the winning field goal in overtime.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Notes, observations and some facts on the overtime ...

• Browns win coin toss in overtime. Also won at beginning of game.

• Seneca Wallace's pass on first down for Greg Little is almost intercepted on a great deflection by Adrian Wilson.

• Wallace makes a big play with his legs -- scrambles for 15 yards and first down at 30.

• Browns punt again to Patrick Peterson. This time he hits them for 32 yards to the Browns' 40. Cardinals get to field goal range, then fall out as the Browns stop Wells in the backfield.

• Third down ... and Larry Fitzgerald is running free in the secondary? That's probably not the Browns' plan, but that's what develops as Skelton has an easy throw that finds Fitzgerald well behind Joe Haden and gets the ball to the 5 before he's knocked out of bounds.

• The field goal -- from 22 yards -- is just a formality, as Jay Feely bangs it through and the Browns take another last-minute loss.

• Just six days before Baltimore, and then Pittsburgh on New Year's to end the season.

He should start because McCoy is coming off a concussion in the previous game, and because he has been taking a beating all season.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerSeneca Wallace did not embarrass himself or the Browns with his play on Sunday, says Terry Pluto. With Colt McCoy still recovering from his concussion and with a short week before next Saturday's game at Baltimore, Pluto says Wallace is the best choice at starting QB for the team.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Seneca Wallace should start next week's game at Baltimore.

Wallace should not start because he is the Browns' future quarterback, or because Colt McCoy's days with the Browns are over. Nor should anyone become giddy about Wallace because he played reasonably well in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss -- although that makes the decision easier.

He should start because McCoy is coming off a concussion in the previous game, and because he has been taking a beating all season.

Entering the game, the Browns ranked No. 6 in allowing quarterback hits, No. 13 in sacks.

It makes no sense to rush McCoy back. What else will the Browns see from McCoy that they have yet to witness this season? Their record is 4-10 and they have lost their last six on the road. All that remain are games at Baltimore and home to Pittsburgh. A strong case can be made for shutting down McCoy for the remainder of the year, especially since McCoy has had at least one other concussion before turning pro.

Coach Pat Shurmur said if both quarterbacks are healthy, he has to decide who will start -- and he's not made that call yet. He seemed reasonably pleased with the play of Wallace, who obviously is very comfortable in this offense.

To repeat, this is not about turning Wallace into a starter.

Yes, his stats were solid: 18-of-31 passing for 226 yards and one touchdown. That 76-yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Greg Little not only was the Browns' longest pass of the season, it was the best. That's because Wallace was in huge trouble, running for his life and apparently throwing the ball away as he neared the sidelines. Little saw where Wallace was running -- and the rookie receiver changed his route to make himself a better target.

Little even pointed the direction where he wanted the pass. Wallace threw it 35 yards in the air -- and did it while in full gallop. This play was an impressive combination of athleticism, poise and football smarts. It's the kind of big play that the Browns have needed all season. Wallace also delivered a nice 29-yard pass to Mohamed Massaquoi in the first quarter and stayed away from interceptions.

But Wallace faltered in the fourth quarter and overtime. His fumble set up the field goal that tied the game. The Browns had a 17-7 lead entering the fourth quarter. But in their last six possessions, they had five punts, two first downs and a fumble. They never threatened to score as the Cardinals figured out how to contain Wallace and Peyton Hillis.

Hillis had 69 yards on 15 carries before halftime, but only 30 yards on 11 carries in the second half and overtime. Suddenly, he had no room to run, and Wallace was not able to make enough good throws to stop the Arizona defense from stacking big bodies on the line of scrimmage.

This is Wallace's ninth pro season. He has remained in the league despite being considered too short for his position at 5-11. But he has a strong arm, quick feet and rarely throws interceptions. He thrives in the quick-pass, West Coast offense.

You can say it helped that the Cardinals were the opponent -- not Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or Baltimore, the last three opponents. But the Cardinals had allowed only six touchdowns in their previous six games as their defense has improved. So Wallace was facing a legitimate test on the road.

This was the 19th career start for Wallace, who is 6-13. He usually is a "manage the game" type with 30 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, completing 60 percent of his passes. Those numbers are solid, but at this point, that's not a major issue.

Let him finish the season, or at least play at Baltimore. There's no reason to run any more risks with McCoy, who hasn't practiced for nine days because of his concussion.

Byron Scott says Manny Harris might still make team even if he misses entire training camp.

View full sizeLynn Ischay, The Plain DealerKyrie Irving passes around the defense of fellow Cavaliers rookie Kenny Hayes during Sunday's Wine and Gold Scrimmage at The Q. "It was a great feeling being out there with my teammates at The Q, finally," Irving said after the exhibition. The Cavaliers host the Pistons in the final preseason game on Tuesday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving needed about five minutes and a collision to shake the nerves in his first exhibition game Friday night in Detroit.

On Sunday at The Q, the Cavaliers rookie came out of the locker room throwing perfect lobs for teammates to dunk. Last spring's top draft pick appeared comfortable in his new home leading his side to victory, 67-57, in the annual Wine and Gold Scrimmage.

A crowd of 7,836 fans, including former Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his family, witnessed Irving's Q debut. The point guard delivered 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the free event.

"It was a great feeling being out there with my teammates at The Q, finally," said Irving, who played 31-plus minutes and had three alley-oops that led to dunks. "When I pulled into the parking garage there were a lot of nerves going in."

Fellow rookie Tristan Thompson, the fourth overall pick, also had a solid game. The power forward had 12 points and six rebounds. He converted six of 12 shots from the floor.

Coach Byron Scott cut the game to three quarters to reduce the chance of injury. The Cavs arrived at the arena two hours before the scrimmage to watch film and practice. Power forward Samardo Samuels led all scorers with 15 points. Daniel Gibson added 12 points.

Pick up your game: Scott has not been pleased with the play of Christian Eyenga in the first preseason game and scrimmage. Eyenga was 3-of-5 in the scrimmage for six points, but wasn't very noticeable. He committed six turnovers in the preseason game.

"I've seen some improvement but he's got a long way to go," Scott said. "Christian has to do a lot of other things before he plays, to be honest with you. There are a few guys in front of him that he will have to beat out."

Scott said another trip to the D-League is a possibility for the team's first-round draft pick in 2009.

Room for Harris? Scott said injured guard Manny Harris could make the team without practicing in training camp. The second-year pro is expected to be sidelined for two more weeks as he recovers from a "freezer burn" on the side of his right foot. He arrived at camp with the injury, which occurred at the Nike training facility in late November. He and other Creative Artists Agency clients worked out at the facility for several days.

It's believed he suffered the burn while sitting in a cooling chamber, a new-age alternative to ice baths. The machines are supposed to help in speeding the healing process for injuries. Harris said he's not sure how the mishap occurred. It was first reported by the Waiting For Next Year blog.

Harris tried to let it heal naturally before allowing a doctor in Detroit to prescribe a cream or ointment.

Scott said he will base his assessment of Harris on what he contributed last season. He averaged 5.9 points and 17-plus minutes in 54 games.

"I am confident in my ability to play," Harris said. "I just need to be on the floor."

Baron to N.Y.? The New York Knicks are expected to sign guard Baron Davis to a free-agent deal, ESPN.com reported. Davis was waived last week by the Cavaliers.

Davis did not practice with the Cavs due to bulging disc in his back, and is expected to be out of action for several weeks.

Dribbles: The Cavs waived forwards Kyle Goldcamp and Tyrell Biggs. ... Scott said guard Mychel Thompson -- who had five points, three assists and two steals Sunday -- has a chance to make the team out of training camp. ... Ilgauskas received a big ovation and took a bow when he was shown on the arena Jumbotron. The center, who retired in the off-season, said he would like to remain in basketball in some capacity. His kids are attending school in Miami.

Patriots' Tom Brady passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while Broncos' Tim Tebow passed for 194 yards, and ran for 93 and two touchdowns. Lions rally for win over Raiders. Eagles rout Jets.

Associated PressNew England quarterback Tom Brady after he ran one yard for a touchdown during the Patriots' 41-23 win over the Denver Broncos.

NFL late afternoon games roundup

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Patriots 41, Broncos 23

DENVER, Colorado -- Not this time, Tim Tebow.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots shut down Tebow's late-game heroics and clinched a playoff berth with a 41-23 victory over the Denver Broncos.

The Patriots (11-3) won their sixth straight game and another AFC East title by bouncing back from an early 17-6 deficit and an awful first quarter in which they were outgained on the ground 167 yards to 4.

This time, there was no last-minute magic from Tebow, who had guided the Broncos (8-6) to four straight fourth-quarter comebacks and six straight wins.

Instead of another slow start followed by a fantastic finish, the Broncos started out fast and then fizzled. They scored on their first three possessions and then were done in by a trio of second-quarter turnovers.

Champ Bailey had said the Broncos needed a big game against a big QB to prove to themselves and others that they were not just a curiosity but a contender.

They didn't get it on this day.

Denver has faced four quarterbacks currently ranked in the top-10 in yards passing — Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers (twice) and Brady. They're 1-4 in those games.

Brady, who was 23 of 34 for 320 yards with two TD passes and a touchdown run, made up for another bad day by the Patriots' defense to beat the Broncos for the second time in eight career starts — the only team with a winning record against the three-time Super Bowl champion.

With its first loss since Oct. 30, the AFC West-leading Broncos face a tougher path to the playoffs, with a trip to Buffalo next week followed by a season finale against Kansas City, which ended Green Bay's 19-game winning streak Sunday behind Kyle Orton, the player Tebow replaced in Denver.

Tebow fell to 7-2 as Denver's starter.

The Broncos' 167 yards rushing in the first quarter — 11 more than their league-leading per-game average — represented the biggest output in any quarter of the Bill Belichick era in New England. They finished with 252.

Tebow slipped a tackle in the backfield by Rob Ninkovich and darted his way for a 9-yard TD on the game's opening drive. Lonnie Paxton's bad snap prevented Matt Prater from kicking the extra point.

Brady needed five snaps to put the Patriots ahead 7-6 with a 33-yard touchdown toss to Chad Ochocinco, his first score since Nov. 21, 2010, for Cincinnati at Buffalo.

The Broncos responded by going 80 yards in four plays and scoring again. Willis McGahee reeled off a 29-yard run and then retreated to the sideline with what appeared to be a left hamstring injury. Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for 22 yards before tailback Lance Ball took it in from 32 yards out for his first TD run of his career to make it 13-7.

Denver's next drive stalled at the 8, and coach John Fox decided not to go for it and Prater's field goal made it 16-7.

That's when the Patriots went to the no-huddle and Brady capped an impressive drive with a 1-yard touchdown throw to Aaron Hernandez, who set career highs with nine catches for 129 yards. That made it 16-14.

The Broncos' ball-control offense stumbled after that.

Ball fumbled at his own 19 and Ninkovich recovered, leading to Stephen Gostkowski's 21-yard field goal put the Patriots up for good at 17-16.

Then, defensive end Mark Anderson, subbing for Andre Carter, who injured his left knee earlier in the game, forced and recovered a fumble by Tebow at the Broncos 40. Six plays later, Brady took it in himself from a yard out to make it 24-16.

Brady audibled at the line and just inched the nose of the football across the goal line with 1:08 left in the first half, then celebrated his eighth career TD with a masterful spike.

After some questionable play calling by Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, the Broncos punted the ball back to the Patriots with 40 seconds left. They held, but Broncos punt returner Quan Cosby tried to field a punt on the run and muffed it with three seconds left. Dane Fletcher recovered for New England and Gostkowski trotted out for a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-16 at halftime.

After Danny Woodhead's 10-yard TD run made it 34-16, Tebow's 2-yard keeper with 8:41 left pulled the Broncos to 34-23, but Brady responded in a big way, leading the Patriots on another 80-yard scoring drive, this one culminating in BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 1-yard TD run.

Tebow was 11 of 22 for 194 yards and added 93 more on 12 carries. Late in the fourth quarter, he was dropped for a 28-yard sack by Ninkovich, a bad ending to a big week for the second-year pro from Florida.

During the week, Tebow cemented his role as a cultural phenomenon as he was the subject of a skit on "Saturday Night Live," his name was brought up in the GOP debate in Sioux City, Iowa, and two high school students were suspended for organizing several "Tebowing" kneel-downs in tribute to the Broncos QB.

Lions 28, Raiders 27

OAKLAND, Califirnia -- Ndamukong Suh provided the perfect exclamation point to the Detroit Lions' thrilling comeback in his return from a two-game suspension.

threw a 6-yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson with 39 seconds remaining to cap a 98-yard scoring drive and Suh blocked a 65-yard field goal attempt by Sebastian Janikowski to seal the Lions' 28-27 win over the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders (7-7) appeared in control of the game when Aaron Curry returned a fumble 6 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-14 with 7:47 remaining.

But Stafford engineered two long scoring drives in the final minutes to give the Lions (9-5) their first lead of the game and Suh ended it when he got his hand on Janikowski's field goal attempt.

Suh threw his helmet and ran down the field in celebration, providing a loud finish to an otherwise quiet day for the defensive tackle in his first game back since serving a suspension for stepping on the right arm of Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith during a loss on Thanksgiving.

Until that point, the day belonged to Stafford and Johnson, who helped give the Lions a stunning victory and hand the Raiders (7-7) a crushing third straight loss to damage their playoff aspirations.

Stafford completed 29 of 52 passes for four touchdowns. He completed nine for 214 yards to Johnson, including a 21-yarder and a 48-yarder on the winning drive that started at the Detroit 2 with 2:14 to play and the Lions out of timeouts.

They also connected on a 51-yard scoring play in the first quarter but they had to sweat out the closing seconds as Carson Palmer got the Raiders to the Detroit 47 with 4 seconds to play.

Janikowski, who tied the record with a 63-yarder in the season opener at Denver, couldn't get the ball past the line as Suh blocked it to end the game.

Palmer finished 32 for 40 for 367 yards and a touchdown to Darrius Heyward-Bey, who had eight catches for a career-high 155 yards.

But Palmer also slightly overthrew Chaz Schilens on a third-down pass just before the two-minute warning after Stafford's TD pass to Titus Young cut Oakland's lead to 27-21.

That gave Detroit one last chance and Stafford and Johnson delivered. Stafford started the drive with an 8-yard completion to Nate Burleson on third-and-2 and then Johnson made an acrobatic 21-yard catch on the sideline. Johnson then beat the Raiders deep for the 48-yarder and drew a pass interference penalty from Stanford Routt at the 6 to set up the touchdown.

The game was tight for most of the second half until the Raiders scored 10 points in a 25-second span in the fourth quarter to take a 27-14 lead. Janikowski kicked his second field goal of the game, a 51-yarder, for the first points of the second half to make it 20-14.

Three plays later, Stafford dropped back to pass deep in his territory and was stripped by Tommy Kelly on a sack. Curry scooped up the ball at the 6 and rambled his way into the end zone for the score.

But the Raiders couldn't hold it and missed a chance to tie Denver for the AFC West lead and the New York Jets and Cincinnati for the lead for the final AFC wild-card spot.

The Raiders, who came into the game as the most penalized team in the NFL, were the beneficiary of undisciplined play. The Lions committed two horse collar penalties and an illegal contact foul, setting up Louis Murphy's 12-yard reverse for a score.

Then both teams took advantage of big pass plays and poor defense for three long scores in the half, with Johnson beating safeties Tyvon Branch and Mike Mitchell for a 51-yard TD catch for the Lions late in the first quarter.

Heyward-Bey then scored on a 43-yard pass play for Oakland, breaking a tackle by Chris Houston. Nate Burleson answered with his 39-yard catch from Stafford with help from a missed tackle by Lito Sheppard.

The Raiders took a 17-14 lead into the break when Janikowski kicked a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Eagles 45, Jets 19

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- The NFC East is up for grabs and the Philadelphia Eagles are back in the mix.

LeSean McCoy ran for three touchdowns to set two team records, and the Eagles earned a 45-19 win over the New York Jets to stay in the playoff chase.

The Eagles (6-8) have won two straight for just the second time this season and somehow still have a chance to repeat as NFC East champions despite underachieving most of the year. But they have to catch Dallas (8-6) and the New York Giants (7-7).

The loss snapped New York's three-game winning streak, dropping the Jets (8-6) into a tie with Cincinnati for the final wild-card spot in the AFC. The Jets hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Bengals with a better record against common opponents.

Michael Vick threw for 274 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for a score in his second game back after missing three with broken ribs.

McCoy ran for 102 yards and surpassed Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren with his 19th touchdown of the season and 16th rushing TD in the third quarter. Juqua Parker returned a fumble for a score, and Brent Celek had a career-best 156 yards receiving.

The Eagles scored 21 points off three turnovers en route to building a 28-0 lead, and didn't let up after the Jets got within 28-13 at halftime.

When the Eagles last played at the Linc, fans booed them off the field and yelled "Fire Andy!" at coach Andy Reid following a lopsided loss to New England on Nov. 27.

It was far more festive this time around. Reid didn't hear any boos, even with Rex Ryan — son of beloved former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan — standing on the other sideline.

The Washington Redskins kept Philadelphia's division hopes alive with a 23-10 win at the Giants earlier in the day. Then the Eagles did their part by beating the Jets for the ninth time in nine tries.

Now it comes down to this: The Eagles can only get in the playoffs by winning the division. They must win at Dallas and home against Washington, and get some help. The Giants have to lose to the Jets and finish with a win at home over the Cowboys.

None of that would've mattered if the Eagles didn't beat the Jets for just their second home win this season and second in their last 10 home games, including a playoff loss to Green Bay last January.

Mark Sanchez, who was outstanding during the Jets' winning streak, completed 15 of 26 for 150 yards and two TDs. He was sacked four times and threw two interceptions.

Philadelphia went ahead 7-0 when Parker picked up Santonio Holmes' fumble and returned it 47 yards for his second score this season. Holmes caught a pass for a 7-yard gain before the ball was stripped by Kurt Coleman.

The Jets got a break when a punt that returner DeSean Jackson let bounce went backward and hit off teammate Curtis Marsh. Ellis Lankster recovered it at the Eagles 14. But Asante Samuel then intercepted Sanchez's pass at the 4 and returned it to the 23.

Vick connected with Celek for a 26-yard TD pass to put Philadelphia up 14-0. Celek made an outstanding catch on a ball thrown ahead of him. He reached out to tip it with his right hand, corralled it inside the 5 and tumbled into the end zone.

The Eagles extended that lead to 21-0 on Vick's 11-yard TD run early in the second quarter. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Marcus Dixon — the second time the Jets were flagged for hitting Vick late — contributed to 15 of Philadelphia's 57 yards on that drive.

Vick scrambled down the left side and dived headfirst, stretching his hand just over the pylon for his first rushing score of the season. He had 10 last year, including one in the playoffs.

Sanchez fumbled when he was hit by Mike Patterson after running on a busted play on New York's next possession. Joselio Hanson recovered at the Jets 21, and McCoy ran in from the 9 to make it 28-0.

But the Jets wouldn't go down easy.

Nick Folk kicked a 39-yard field goal. Dion Lewis fumbled the kickoff, and the Jets started at Philadelphia's 24 after Lankster made his second recovery. Sanchez fired a 25-yard TD pass to Holmes to cut it to 28-10.

Another turnover gave the Jets the ball back. McCoy fumbled at the end of a 12-yard run, and Brodney Pool raced 33 yards with it to the Eagles 27. It was McCoy's first lost fumble in 490 touches, dating to last season.

Philadelphia's defense stiffened and the Jets settled for Folk's 28-yard field goal to get within 28-13.

McCoy's 1-yard TD run in the third quarter broke Van Buren's team records. Van Buren had 18 total TDs and 15 rushing TDs in 1945.

McCoy padded his total with a 33-yard TD run in the fourth quarter that made it 45-13.

Join The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona after the game as they break down what happened in the Browns' 20-17 overtime loss to the Cardinals in Arizona.

APListen to cleveland.com's post-game show.

Listen as The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona broke down the Browns' 20-17 overtime loss to the Cardinals during the post-game show.

They talked about the big plays, the questionable decisions, the play of Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy's future and took your chat room comments.

Click on play to listen or download the MP3 here.

- What's up with the Browns defense giving up another fourth quarter lead?

- How much is special teams to blame?

- Did Seneca Wallace do any better than Colt McCoy?

- Did this game reveal anything about McCoy or Wallace?

- Do the Browns need to draft a franchise quarterback early in the draft?

- Peyton Hillis ran for 99 yards. Will he be back next year?

- Are the Browns really better off with Mike Holmgren at the helm?

- and a whole lot more!

The Browns fall to the Cardinals, 20-17, in overtime against the Cardinals. Talk about it whatever you like with other fans in our open Browns Fan Chat room. Just remember to play nice with others.

Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis (40) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as teammate Seneca Wallace (6) celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Browns fall to the Cardinals, 20-17, in overtime against the Cardinals.

Who's to blame for the loss? How did Seneca Wallace do? What did we learn, if anything, about Colt McCoy during this game? Are you actually relieved the Browns lost and held on to their draft position?

Talk about these topics and whatever you like with other fans in our open Browns Fan Chat room. Just remember to play nice with others.

Then Monday afternoon, listen and fire away with your questions for Tony Grossi as he'll join us for an audio chat at noon.

Note: To turn off audio alerts, click on round button on bottom left of chat room and click on preferences.

If the intensity of purpose demonstrated Sunday in the annual Wine and Gold scrimmage is any indication, losses won't go down easy with the Cavaliers' new small forward.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"I don't care if we are playing Detroit or the [Los Angeles] Lakers or whoever," says Cavaliers forward Omri Casspi, "we are going to try to win every game."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the losses mounted a season ago, some Cavaliers appeared to become desensitized to defeat.

There was the image of the Cavs' bench players yukking it up with LeBron James as fans at The Q seethed over a 118-90 setback to Miami. There also was the story of players joking in the Staples Center locker room after the Los Angeles Lakers walloped them by 55 points.

Enter new addition Omri Casspi, who coach Byron Scott likens to a pit bull. Whether the 6-foot-9 small forward can supply the offense the club needs from the wing remains unknown. But if the intensity of purpose he demonstrated Sunday in the annual Wine and Gold scrimmage is any indication, losses won't go down as easy.

Casspi crashed into teammates. He slammed the ball to the floor moments after missing a 3-point shot. He played as if he had money on the outcome. He also scored nine points on 4-of-8 shooting as his side won 67-57 before 7,836 fans at The Q in a game shortened to three quarters at Scott's request.

"[Casspi] is an intense competitor and I like that about him," Scott said. "He has his fun after practice ... but when he's in practice he's the same way.

"We need some guys like that. I always put it this way: We don't need Chihuahuas, we don't need poodles, we don't need German Shepherds. We need pit bulls and it's good to have a few of them. I think he is one of them. If you have a bunch of Chihuahuas you are going to be in trouble."

What type of canines did the Cavaliers have last season, one that produced just 19 wins in 82 games?

"In between the German Shepherd and the large poodle," Scott said.

It's worth noting Casspi spent last season with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 8.6 points and winning just 24 games. He was acquired along with a future first-round pick for J.J. Hickson.

The Cavaliers are expected to endure another long season as they rebuild through the draft and trades. But Casspi is not playing for a top-5 draft pick in June.

"We are not going to take it easy," he said. "That's not going to be our mentality. ... I don't care if we are playing Detroit or the [Los Angeles] Lakers or whoever, we are going to try to win every game.

"I am passionate about basketball and I love basketball."

That passion was exhibited even during the lockout, as a frustrated Casspi urged his union to decertify from his Twitter account.

He is eager to play a meaningful game. He injured his left knee this summer while training with the Israeli national team. He strained his right knee a week ago in a collision with Luke Harangody, sidelining him for Friday's exhibition opener in Detroit.

He showed no signs of injury while wading into Sunday's scrimmage. In the second period, Casspi passed up a baseline jumper to drive to the hoop, colliding with Samardo Samuels. The power forward drew a charge, but paid a price for it.

While many are intrigued by Casspi's offensive potential, he is focused on Scott's demand for defensive detail.

"I feel like I need to do extra, especially on the defensive end," Casspi said. "We need to play defense to get on the floor."

Scott likes Casspi's basketball acumen and believes the wing will surprise some with his athleticism. His willingness to compete should catch nobody off guard, however.

Regardless of the score.

Postgame scribbles after the Browns absorb loss No. 10.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis ran hard and picked up 99 yards on the ground for the Browns on Sunday, proving again he's the only running back who currently worries Cleveland opponents.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Postgame scribbles after the Browns absorb loss No. 10:

1. Maybe I'm worn out after watching the Browns for years, but I wasn't especially discouraged by Sunday's overtime loss. I expected worse, just as I expected a disaster rather than the 14-3 loss at Pittsburgh. I was looking for signs that the team quit. That's very possible when playing on the road against an elite team (Pittsburgh) and a hot one (Arizona). The Cardinals have won six of seven games and had allowed only eight touchdowns in that stretch.

2. The players who have been here for even a few years know the recent history of losing, the ever-changing cast of coaches and front-office people. The team entered the season with the NFL's third-youngest roster, a rookie coach and a quarterback who had eight pro starts. The veterans know the team was not set up to contend, and 8-8 would be an outstanding season. They walked on to the field at 4-9, having lost six of their last seven.

3. In the last two games, it's hard to fault their effort. They entered the fourth quarter at Pittsburgh behind, 7-3. They couldn't make a big play to win. They were ahead, 17-7, going into the final quarter at Arizona, but had five punts and a fumble in their final six possessions. The lack of talent showed.

4. I was pleased to see Seneca Wallace look comfortable and reasonably competent at quarterback. I'm not going to dwell on the team's obvious problems -- weaknesses the fans know very well. I will say that Jabaal Sheard had two more sacks, giving him 7.5 this season. Marcus Benard led the Browns with 7.5 last season. Sheard is third in the league with five forced fumbles, and the second-rounder from Pitt is one of the NFL's most productive rookies.

5. Greg Little had a breakout game because he had a 76-yard touchdown reception and a few other catches in which he saw Wallace scrambling and changed his route to make himself available. He can be a big-play receiver if they split him out and give him some room to run --rather than just having him stand in the middle of the field and catch a five-yard pass, as he did so often in other games.

6. Kaluka Maiava had a solid game at linebacker with five tackles, two for a loss. Maiava is playing because Scott Fujita is out for the year with a broken hand. Backup Titus Brown left with what appeared to be a significant knee injury. So the Browns have almost zero depth at linebacker.

7. Meanwhile, D'Qwell Jackson (13 tackles) has played every snap at middle linebacker and has made an amazing comeback from two seasons largely lost to pectoral injuries and serious questions about his future.

8. On the first drive, Peyton Hillis had runs of 18 and 12 yards. On both plays, rookie left guard Jason Pinkston had excellent blocks. So did left tackle Joe Thomas. Hillis also showed a burst unseen the last few weeks. Hillis finished with 99 yards on 26 carries, but the Cardinals shut him down after halftime -- 30 yards on 11 carries. There was no room to run as the blocking broke down.

9. Montario Hardesty didn't play. He had another setback with his calf injury this week, and the Browns wisely used Chris Ogbonnaya as the backup. But Ogbonnaya didn't carry the ball, and caught one pass for three yards. They went with a heavy dose of Hillis, although it would not have hurt to give Ogbonnaya a few carries.

10. It seems that Hillis is working hard again, and the coaches seem pleased with his effort. It would be worth it for the Browns to not write him off just yet as a free agent. Maybe a deal can be worked out once the season is over. The Browns certainly can't count on Hardesty to stay healthy -- nor do they know how much he can produce in the NFL. Ogbonnaya is a useful backup. The same with Brandon Jackson, out for the year with a foot injury. Hillis is the one back here who can be an impact player.

11. Had Patrick Peterson dropped in draft to No. 6, the Browns would have picked him. You can see the pure speed and impact that he makes as his 32-yard punt return set up the winning field goal. Whenever the Browns fall short in a close game, it seems their lack of team speed is part of the problem. You can see it on both sides of the ball. The Browns don't have a single player who would be considered "extremely quick."

12. Wallace did a nice job in his post-game interview, not demanding to start and paying Colt McCoy respect for having been the starter all season. He also took the blame for the critical fourth-quarter fumble that set up the tying field goal. Not sure it was a fumble as he appeared to be down, but the Cardinals won a replay challenge. Wallace said, "At the end of the day, it's my job not to put us in that situation. ... I have to make more plays to help the team out."

"Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments," Peterson explained. "When you do get a chance, you want to make something happen."

View full sizePaul Connors, Associated PressBrowns special teamer Eric Hagg is sprawled in the wake of Patrick Peterson, who set up the Cardinals with great field position in their only overtime possession with this punt return Sunday.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Patrick Peterson was frustrated.

He was trying his best to be patient, but every time Browns punter Brad Maynard kicked the ball toward him, it managed to angle out of bounds or out of reach. When Peterson finally had an opportunity late in the fourth quarter, he fielded the ball at the Arizona 30 -- and promptly was slammed to the ground by the Browns' Buster Skrine.

"I didn't care who was around me," Peterson said afterward. "I told my punt return team I wasn't fair-catching any more."

So by overtime, the declaration had been made. When Maynard's punt descended toward the middle of the field at the Arizona 28, even though that was fairly decent starting position for the Cardinals' offense, Peterson wasn't going to wave his arms and take the punt without contact.

He was going to run. He had to see what he could do.

"Most guys would have probably fair-catched that," Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald confirmed.

Not Peterson. The holder of the NFL record for punts returned for touchdowns (four) in a season caught the ball near the left sideline, sprinted toward the right, past tight end Alex Smith, eluded a diving safety Eric Hagg at the 45, and finally was brought down at the Cleveland 40 by linebacker Quinton Spears.

It was a 32-yard return when the Cardinals needed it most. It set up the a 32-yard pass to Fitzgerald three plays later, which was enough to give Jay Feely the chip-shot field goal for the win.

"Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments," Peterson explained. "When you do get a chance, you want to make something happen."

Peterson, a rookie, tries to make something happen whenever he has a chance. That shows in his punt return average of 15.9 yards, which ranks seventh in the NFL.

"He reminds me a lot of myself when I'm healthy," the Browns' Josh Cribbs said. "He wants to make a play. He reminds me of [Chicago star] Devin [Hester]. A lot of the time he tries to make a play [it doesn't always work]; I've seen it on film. That's why his average is not reflecting [his success]. But the explosive speed is there."

Sunday, Peterson had only three opportunities to return punts, and he totaled one yard on his two other attempts. But when he had his chance in overtime, he said he wasn't feeling pressured to make a big play. He simply knew it was time.

"Staying patient is the key to success," Peterson said. "My parents always told me that. I just want to continue staying patient so when guys do coffin-kick me, get the ball out of bounds, not give me a shot. They're going to miss one at least one time. [Maynard] missed that one and I made something happen."

The Browns made five-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald a non-factor -- until his big catch in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal.

View full sizePaul Connors, Associated PressBy the time Eric Hagg could bump Larry Fitzgerald out of bounds, the Cardinals' star receiver had put Arizona within a chip-shot field goal of victory Sunday.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Joe Haden and Dimitri Patterson shut down five-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald for four quarters -- but he outfoxed them in the overtime on a 32-yard catch that set up the game-winning field goal.

"When we were on him, when we were covering him -- when we did our thing -- he didn't catch any passes over anybody," said Haden. "We feel like if we would've played that technique better, we would've done the same in overtime. We felt bad."

With 11:01 left in sudden death and the Cards in third-and-six from the Browns' 36, Fitzgerald -- lined up outside in a three-man bunch formation -- capitalized on a bit of confusion between Haden and Patterson, and sprinted past Patterson down the right side. Quarterback John Skelton lofted a 32-yard strike to the wide-open Fitzgerald, and safety Eric Hagg dashed over from the middle of the field and knocked him out of bounds at the 4.

Jay Feely's 22-yard field goal on the next snap produced the 20-17 Cardinals win.

"We had been in that bunch three times throughout the day," said Fitzgerald. "Usually we run crossing routes out off that, and the corner [Patterson] settled and allowed me to get behind him. It's pretty similar to what we ran against Philadelphia about a month ago, so John got comfortable and he knew where I would be and he put the ball right where I could catch it. I wish I would've been able to get in the end zone, but I wanted Jay to get a shot."

Skelton gave all the credit to Fitzgerald.

"Larry just made a good fake, a good cut, and we were able to get down there and let Jay do the rest."

Haden explained that the Browns were using a combo technique, and both cornerbacks read the short route, leaving Fitzgerald open on the fly.

"The first receiver that comes out, I take the first low [Early Doucet] because I'm outside," said Haden. "DP takes the first inside. We both took the outside route and left the other one."

The unfortunate thing, Haden said, was that the defensive strategy had been so effective. Through three quarters, Fitzgerald had one catch for 10 yards. Through four, he had two for 33.

"We had him contained," said Haden. "I was playing him when he was outside, and Dimitri was playing him when he was inside. He probably had one catch when we were in Cover 2 and we're just playing our thing."

Patterson attributed it more to a good play by Fitzgerald -- arguably the best receiver in the NFL -- than a bad play by the Browns.

"They schemed it up really well," he said. "They really challenged the technique we were playing. ... They made the right call at the most critical time. I have to go back and look at it on film and see how it looks.

"We just had a situation where we had two back receivers and they took two outside releases and we had the same vision. Larry stayed vertical. It was just a miscommunication. That's about it. We have to see how it looks and see how we can correct it."

In victory, Fitzgerald heaped praise on Haden, with whom he spoke before the game.

"Joe's a tremendous talent,'' said Fitzgerald. "He reminds me a lot of Darrelle Revis when I played against him in 2008. It was (Revis') second year, he was still young. He wasn't like the Revis that we know now, but you could see the talent.

"(Haden) has got those same attributes. He plays hard, he's not afraid to tackle. He does a good job. It was fun to mix it up with him. They played a lot of different coverages. (Browns LB coach) Billy Davis (formerly the defensive coordinator in Arizona) told them all my weaknesses and all my strengths. He was getting guys in good position. It was a good defense.''

Haden was in no mood to focus on Fitzgerald's quiet regulation.

"We're tired of all that," he said. "We lost the game, so there's nothing to take good out of the game. It's getting old, playing good and losing. We've just got to step up."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Spence, a 6-4, 245-pounder, is ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in the nation, according to Scout.com and No. 9 according to Rivals.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two days after Urban Meyer, Luke Fickell and Mike Vrabel watched Noah Spence play in a Pennsylvania high school championship game in Hershey, Pa., the five-star defensive end on Sunday became the highest-rated oral commitment in the Buckeyes' Class of 2012.

Spence, a 6-4, 245-pounder, is ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in the nation, according to Scout.com and No. 9 according to Rivals.com. Along with Adolphus Washington from Cincinnati, another top-50 national recruit in this class, he gives Meyer's first class the kind of speedy, athletic pass rushers at defensive end that Meyer sought while coaching in the SEC at Florida.

Ohio State has 19 oral commitments, which by the average rankings of recruits is now the No. 8 class in the nation according to Rivals. Spence is the third recruit to come aboard since Meyer's hiring was announced on Nov. 29. Spence gave the Buckeyes the word after taking an official recruiting visit to Columbus over the weekend.

Herron among Buckeyes honored: Despite missing half the season due to suspension, senior running back Dan Herron was voted Ohio State' team MVP and named one of four permanent captains at the year-end team banquet Sunday.

In a change from tradition, coach Luke Fickell named game-by-game captains during the season and said the final vote would take place at the end of the year. Joining Herron as captains were senior center Mike Brewster, senior linebacker Andrew Sweat and junior defensive lineman John Simon.

Among other award winners, Simon was named the outstanding defensive player, freshman quarterback Braxton Miller was the outstanding offensive player and Nate Ebner was named both the most outstanding special teams player and the most inspirational player.

Little caught five passes for a career-best 131 yards, including his second TD of the season.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Through the first four quarters, Browns receiver Greg Little looked more like a Pro Bowler and Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald like a rookie.

But Little's sensational performance -- including a 76-yard TD catch from Seneca Wallace -- fizzled when the Browns lost, 20-17, in overtime.

"He's a great receiver, he's young, and we just try to make sure he keeps getting better each day," said Wallace of Little. "Sometimes he might get down on himself because he tries to make every play. I think he presses sometimes. He came out today relaxed and made some big plays. It's good for him. It's going to have a lot of carryover to the next game and next season."

Little caught five passes for a career-best 131 yards, including his second TD of the season. It was the longest offensive play for the Browns since Braylon Edwards' 78-yard TD catch from Derek Anderson against Baltimore on Sept. 30, 2007. Little passed Eric Metcalf (54 in 1989) for the second-most receptions by a Browns rookie, with a team-leading 57.

Little is the first Brown to reach 100 receiving yards since Ben Watson did it at Miami on Dec. 5, 2010. He's the first Browns rookie since Mohamed Massaquoi totaled 115 at Detroit on Nov. 22, 2009.

On the touchdown catch, Wallace scrambled away from a blitz and found Little down the middle, covered by a linebacker.

"The designed play is for me to break across the middle on a 10-yard crossing route," Little said, "but Sen spinned out and headed to what would be the right, and I spinned out and went deep, and he definitely does a great job of keeping his eyes downfield and making plays."

Added Wallace: "I scrambled and he made a great play. He ran out of the tackle and the rest is history."

Praise from his peers: Little and others praised Wallace.

"Sen is definitely a great leader," said Little. "He's an outspoken, verbal leader as well. He's been in this offense for a while, so he understands every in and out of the playbook and his ability to extend the play with his legs and know the situation, know that he's got to get the first down, get out of bounds, that type of thing. Sen is definitely a guy that can step into the game and you won't lose a beat."

He said Wallace and Colt McCoy can do similar things.

"We didn't take anything out or put anything new in," he said. "It was definitely just business as usual. I feel like both quarterbacks can also extend the play with their feet as well."

Josh Cribbs was equally effusive.

"I think [Wallace] played awesome," he said. "He threw the ball down the field. Threw to a lot of different receivers. He made plays when plays were needed to be made from him."

Wallace was respectful of McCoy's status.

"Colt McCoy was the starter at the beginning of the season,'' said Wallace. "If he comes back healthy, he should finish the season. At the end of the day, it's the coach's decision.''

More bells ringing: The Browns' Year of the Concussion continues. Receiver Jordan Norwood and linebacker Ben Jacobs were knocked out of the game. Norwood left in the third quarter after catching three passes for 21 yards. That makes 11 concussions suffered by eight players this season, including three by Watson, who was placed on IR Friday.

Wait and see: McCoy is getting close to being cleared to practice and might be ready to play Saturday in Baltimore, a source said. But Browns coach Pat Shurmur said it's too early to tell if McCoy will be ready.

Sidelined late: Cribbs gave way on kickoff returns late in the game to Buster Skrine because of his strained groin muscle.

"As the game went on, it got sorer and sorer," said Cribbs. "It was going to be more of me hurting the team than helping. So I made a call and the coaches backed me up."

Union ponders next move on concussion issue: The NFLPA remains "baffled" by the McCoy concussion situation, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday.

Schefter said union officials don't understand how no one on the Browns realized that McCoy needed a concussion test when he left the Dec. 8 game against Pittsburgh. He said the union will decide this week whether or not to file a grievance against the Browns, publicly criticize the league, or push for an independent neurologist on the sidelines.

On crutches: Browns linebacker Titus Brown left in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury and hobbled out of the locker room on crutches and wearing a knee brace. From the looks of it, his season is over.

Another good day: Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard had a season-best two sacks, for a team-leading 7.5 this season. He passed defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry (6.0 in 1988) for the second-most sacks by a Browns rookie since they became an official statistic in 1982. The club rookie record is 11.0 set by linebacker Kamerion Wimbley in 2006. Sheard has five sacks over the last five games.

Extra points: Skrine recorded his first career interception. ... Linebacker Chris Gocong notched a season-high nine tackles and his two sacks were his first career multiple-sack game. He has a career-high 3.5 sacks on the season. ... Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson tied a season high with 13 tackles. He leads the team with 138 stops. ... The Browns played their first overtime contest since a 26-20 loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 14, 2010.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

The Cleveland Cavaliers lured Northeast Ohio basketball fans back to The Q on Sunday with their annual scrimmage, a free game of Cavs vs. Cavs designed to show off new players and fire up fans as the season begins.

Lynn Ischay, The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers' rookie point guard Kyrie Irving gives an autographed ball to fan Dustin Baker, 7, of Akron, before the team's Wine and Gold scrimmage at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday, December 18, 2011. Fans got to watch the scrimmage for free

Her mom, Ashley Flores, had taken her to the Browns' training camp a few months back. Hot and boring, is how Mya describes that experience. Why expect anything more from Cleveland's basketball team?

Her mom took her anyway.

A few hours later, Mya beamed as her mom caught a free NBA T-shirt tossed by one of the Cav's dancers, Moondog the mascot autographed her team roster and a member of the Cavs Crew spray-painted her long blonde hair with streaks of red and blue.

By the end of the game, a new Cavs' fan was born.

"It's fun," the smiling second-grader from Parma exclaimed, even without her mom springing for $1 hot dogs and soft drinks for Mya and her 3-year-old brother, Larry.

The Cavs, like every other NBA team, have some making up to do this year after a dispute between owners and players soured more than a few fans and nearly wiped out the season.

An agreement reached in November means teams will play 66 games this year instead of the usual 82. The Cavs play their second (and last) pre-season game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Q against the Detroit Pistons and their home opener Dec. 26 against the Toronto Raptors.

On Sunday they lured Northeast Ohioans basketball fans back to The Q with their annual scrimmage, a free game of Cavs against Cavs designed to show off new players and fire up fans as the season begins.

The 1 p.m. event drew 7,836 fans, many of them families -- parents and children, brothers and sisters and gaggles of cousins, some already in town for the holidays.

The combination of daytime hours and low prices meant lots of children showed up too, many too young to stay up for evening games. They had their faces painted or temporarily tattooed with the Cavs' logo in between grabbing snacks and creating poster-board signs to wave from the stands.

Adults joined in the fun, too.

"Welcome back Cavs. We love ya," Rockie Kiefer wrote on her poster.

"I love my Cavs, man," the middle-aged woman said after the game. "And I love my Wild Thing," she said, referring to Cavs' center and forward Anderson Varejao -- not the guy she came to the game with.

Other fans came to see Kyrie Irving, the Cav's No. 1 draft pick this year, a 19-year-old who left Duke University for the NBA following his freshman year.

Just as many wanted to check out No. 4 pick, 20-year-old Tristan Thompson.

"We know what (Irving) can do," said Corey Schmidt, a Westlake dentist and season ticket holder, mentioning Wednesday's pre-season game against Detroit in which Irving scored 21 points.

"Tristan's a little more of an enigma."

Like most of the adults, Schmidt has his son with him, 9-year-old Cooper, as well as a friend who brought his son, too. Like so many others at the game, they were one generation of basketball fans with a new generation at their sides.

That can only mean one thing. As the announcer said at the end of the game: "Cavs win."

The worse a team's win-loss record, the better its draft positioning. Surrender some of that to upset the Ravens and/or Steelers?

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns linebacker Kaluka Maiava (56) brings down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during Cleveland's 13-6 upset win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 10, 2009 -- a defeat that virtually ended Pittsburgh's hopes of defending its Super Bowl title.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Doesn't every season seem to regress to this point, to where the fan ponders, "What's best, a win or two or a higher draft pick?"

The Cleveland Browns are 4-10, losing four straight games and nine of their last 11 since a 2-1 start.

The Browns play in Baltimore against the Ravens on Saturday, then finish their season on New Year's Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland.

Thus, the Browns can -- barring a rare tie -- finish 4-12 with losses to both the Ravens and Steelers; or 5-11 with an upset win over one of the two AFC North Division rivals; or 6-10 by stunning the football world with two upset wins.

Browns fans are quite famiiar with how the NFL draft works. They know that the worse the team's final win-loss record is, the better that team's draft positioning is. Teams draft in reverse order of their record, with "tie-breakers" determining the draft order for those teams with the same records.

The NFL standings show that just three teams have worse records than the Browns. The Indianapolis Colts are 1-13 and the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams are both 2-12. The Colts are the only team mathematically eliminated from the possibility of at least matching Cleveland's win total.

The Browns' 4-10 record is tied for the fourth worst, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Should the Browns somehow manage to defeat Baltimore and/or Pittsburgh, the teams with 5-9 records could become relevant to the Browns' draft positioning. The Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers are all 5-9.

Since the Browns could win six games (sure!), note that the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are both 6-8.

The San Diego Chargers were 6-7 going into their Sunday night home game against Baltimore.

The Ravens were 10-3, tied for first place in the AFC North with the Steelers, who visit the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

Baltimore's game against the Browns will definitely matter to the Ravens in the playoff chase. It's probable that the game in Cleveland will in some way affect the Steelers' playoff destiny. Thus, the Browns probably won't be facing a team with little to play for.

So, what do you want? Cleveland's rivalry against the Ravens is based primarily on former owner Art Modell moving the Browns from Cleveland to Baltimore following the 1995 season. The rivalry against Pittsburgh is tradition-laden, though the teams have seldom been good at the same time.

Stick it to the Ravens and/or Steelers, or get the best draft pick possible?

"I think Wallace is an above average backup and can win some games in relief. However, to become a contender, especially in this league, you need a franchise QB. No offense to Colt, but he is not even in the same league as Wallace. Draft a No. 1 QB." - osushaman

View full sizeAP Photo | Ross D. FranklinSeneca Wallace started his first game of the season for the Browns on Sunday.

"I think Wallace is an above average backup and can win some games in relief. However, to become a contender, especially in this league, you need a franchise QB. No offense to Colt, but he is not even in the same league as Wallace. Draft a No. 1 QB."