Plain Dealer reporter asks: Since when did the draft become more important than the games? Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Bill Lubinger.

After the Browns lost Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals, which quarterback do you think should start for Cleveland in Saturday's game against Baltimore? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who says that Wallace should start to keep McCoy healthy and away from the possibility of another concussion.

Dman also talks about how Browns fans shouldn't like seeing their team lose, even if it does improve their position for the 2012 NFL Draft. He has thoughts on which position is the Browns' greatest need right now; and compares how the Browns' offense ran Sunday under Wallace vs. how it looked when McCoy was under center.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot talking about Saturday's upcoming game against the Ravens.

New quarterback, same old problems for the Browns.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns coach Pat Shurmur.

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how the results are the same no matter who starts at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

The biggest problem with the Browns is they have been losing so long they don't know how to win games. They don't know how to close out opponents in the fourth quarter. As players in the Browns' locker room lament too often, they don't know how to finish.

The Browns are in their fourth straight season of double-digit losses and their eighth in the last nine years with at least 10 losses.

Heckert's plan to close small leaks in free agency and plug bigger leaks in the draft makes sense from a salary-cap standpoint because normally a team overspends for those free agents, but somewhere the Browns have to find a leader who refuses to let the team wilt.

More Cleveland Browns

Browns give up 10-point lead and lose (Ohio.com).

The Browns need to draft blockers, not runners (CantonRep).

Greg Little has big game (Cleveland.com).

O'Brien Schofield makes big plays for the Cardinals (The Arizona Republic).

The Browns are in a position to draft a QB again (ESPN).

Building the Browns through the draft (dawgsbynature.com).

The silver lining in the latest loss (WFNY.com).

Should Seneca Wallace finish out the season as the starter? Will we ever see the Josh Cribbs of old returning kicks? Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeAP Photo | Paul ConnorsPatrick Peterson and the Cardinals beat the Browns in overtime on Sunday.

Should Seneca Wallace finish out the season as the starter? Will we ever see the Josh Cribbs of old returning kicks?

Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Is it fair to judge Colt McCoy based off what we saw from Seneca Wallace on Sunday?

• Can Greg Little be consistently good like he was on Sunday?

• If Peyton Hillis finishes the season strong, can he play his way in to a new contract?

• Is this team showing any signs of progress or do they need to start winning games before you're willing to say that?

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

The new Ohio State coach spoke with OSU reporters this morning on several topics, including going like a "torpedo" at what looks like a potential problem.

Plain Dealer fileUrban Meyer, shown during his introductory press conference, met with the media this morning in Columbus.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Urban Meyer met with Ohio State reporters for about 30 minutes this morning. I'll hit you with a few of the highlights, in several different posts.  

In regards to news, Meyer confirmed that current OSU coach Stan Drayton and Taver Johnson will remain on his staff. He also said Mike Vrabel is still being considered.

So the known staff, on offense, is Iowa State's Tom Herman as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and Drayton moving back to the running backs coach, which is what he was under Meyer at Florida, after serving as the receivers coach with the Buckeyes last season.
    
On defense, there will be Fickell and Johnson. Fickell, though, has interviewed for the head job at Pitt, and Meyer said the Buckeyes should hear news on that soon.
    
Now, Meyer's take on avoiding NCAA problems at Ohio State.
    
During his year as an ESPN commentator, Meyer had talked several times about the off-field problems in college football. Considering Meyer is now at Ohio State because a well-liked and successful former head coach made mistakes with NCAA violations, I asked Meyer what he will do to keep Ohio State from suffering those problems again.
   
At Florida, Meyer said that he'd hear stories from his assistant coaches about what other schools were doing to get recruits.

"I'd say, 'You have to be kidding me,' " Meyer said.

But he said he believes now maybe some of that was coaches trying to explain why they didn't get a certain player. Still, "I went on a mission of, 'I'm going to go fix that,'" Meyer said. "I can't fix that."
 
"I love to teach. I love to coach. I love to recruit. I love to build teams. I'm not a big fan of trying to fix someone else's issues. ... I can't worry about anything else other than Ohio State."
 
And then Meyer addressed what happened at Ohio State with Jim Tressel.

"I trust what happened here was a series of legitimate mistakes," Meyer said. "I don't want to get into that, but they were mistakes. Were they willful, intentful violations? I don't believe that. I know the people that were here. I know them very well. I know what this places stands for. Absolutely not. I'll fight that, even though I wasn't there.

"But your question, I think you worry about your own house. And at times, I went worrying about other people's houses and about the general state. There's enough really quality people in the NCAA and conferences, that my focus is not going to be on that. It's going to be on this house."

I asked how proactive Meyer would be in addressing potential problems.

"Extremely. Errors are 90 percent anticipation," he said, attributing that quote to his mentor, former OSU coach Earle Bruce. "If you see something doesn't look right, you go like a torpedo and go blow the whole thing up and then go put it back together.

"We had that approach in Florida. We had some issues show up that didn't seem right. And just go implode the whole thing, as opposed to sitting back. And I think that's going on right now in college sports."

Ramon Sessions will make his second consecutive start for the Cavaliers in their only preseason game at The Q on Tuesday night as coach Byron Scott continues to bring rookie Kyrie Irving along slowly.

Lynn Ischay, The Plain DealerRamon Sessions, left, will get the start over rookie Kyrie Irving, right, in the Cavaliers' second and final preseason game Tuesday at The Q.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Ramon Sessions will make his second consecutive start for the Cavaliers in their only preseason game at The Q on Tuesday night as coach Byron Scott continues to bring rookie Kyrie Irving along slowly.

Irving stole the show in Friday's 91-87 preseason victory at Detroit, with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, but he will have to wait his turn behind Sessions as the Cavs wrap up the preseason.

The Cavs will open the regular season on Dec. 26 against Toronto at The Q.

Joining Sessions in the starting lineup will be center Anderson Varejao, power forward Antawn Jamison and shooting guard Anthony Parker. Scott said he had not decided whether Omri Casspi or Alonzo Gee would start at small forward. Gee started in Detroit. Casspi did not play in the game because of a sprained right knee.

Daniel Gibson, who missed that game after having a tooth pulled, is expected to play against the Pistons. But Manny Harris (ulcer on his right foot) and Semih Erden (broken right thumb) remain out.

Meyer said he wants to hire coaches with power run game experience to combine with the spread offense experience on staff to create an offense.

APUrban Meyer

Division II school in Detroit will rework Winters' five-year deal to retain former Zips player.

Mark Hicks/WestSide Photographic, courtesy of WSUPaul Winters has turned down Akron to stay at Division II Wayne State, The Plain Dealer has learned.

Akron, Ohio - Former Akron Zips football player Paul Winters will not be the new head coach at his alma mater, and instead will sign a reworked contract to stay at Division II Wayne State in Detroit, sources have told The Plain Dealer.

Winters has been at Wayne State since 2004. His team went 12-4 this season and lost the NCAA Division II championship Saturday to Pittsburg State of Kansas. His reworked five-year deal will run through the 2016 season.

Rob Fournier, WSU's athletic director, had previously granted Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill permission to speak with Winters about the UA post.

Wistrcill has shut down media communication since firing Rob Ianello after two seasons with a 2-22 record.

Other candidates believed to be on Wistrcill's short list include UCLA interim head coach Mike Johnson, another former Zip; and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi.

Winters led his team to four straight road wins in the D-II playoffs, defeating the defending national champions, Minnesota-Duluth, and then undefeated Winston-Salem to advance to the title game.

Winters is 48-43 in his career at Wayne State, including 36-14 over the past four winning seasons.

His first season as a player at Akron was 1977. He returned to Akron as its offensive coordinator from 1994 to 2003, in the early years of the Zips' move up from Division I-AA to Division I-A. He took the WSU post when Akron dismissed head coach Lee Owens and his staff after a 7-5 season in 2003.

Colt McCoy's concussion symptoms are getting better, but his status for Baltimore Saturday is still uncertain.

Gus Chan, The Plain DealerColt McCoy is getting better, but his status for Saturday in Baltimore is uncertain.

BEREA -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy's concussion symptoms are improving, but his status for Saturday's game in Baltimore is still uncertain.

Coach Pat Shurmur said he'll decide whether to start McCoy or Seneca Wallace when McCoy is healthy.

"When Colt's okay, we'll talk about that,'' he said.

With the game on Saturday, the Browns have a compressed practice week. They'll practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday instead of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Shurmur did not say if McCoy will be able to practice and that he'll know more tomorrow. He said McCoy is day-to-day.

When asked if he'll err on the side of caution and sit McCoy out this game in a short week, he said he'll decide how the roster looks for Saturday when he knows who's healthy and who's not.

He again praised Wallace for how he moved the offense in the first three quarters, saying "that's what it's supposed to look like -- the whole game.''

He stressed that McCoy has also run the offense efficiently at times this season.

Shurmur pointed out that there was only one drop in the game, and cited the fine play of Greg Little, who caught five passes for 131 yards, including his 76-yard touchdown.

In other Browns injury news:

* Linebacker Titus Brown suffered a significant knee injury and will most likely miss the final two games. Linebacker Ben Jacobs also suffered a concussion during the game, meaning the Browns might have to add a linebacker.

* Receiver Jordan Norwood is also day-to-day with the concussion he suffered in Arizona.

* Tight end Alex Smith suffered a significant shoulder sprain and could miss the final two games. With fellow tight end Ben Watson on injured reserve with a concussion, the Browns are down to two tight ends: Evan Moore and rookie Jordan Cameron.

"The Indians finally make a big signing noteworthy of getting some attention. Glad Hammy is staying. I couldn't imagine listening to an Indians game on the radio without hearing the passion this man displays when calling the games. One of the best in the game, no doubt! A LONG DRIVE, WAAAAAAAAAY BACK, GONE!" - guster2310

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerTom Hamilton.

"The Indians finally make a big signing noteworthy of getting some attention. Glad Hammy is staying. I couldn't imagine listening to an Indians game on the radio without hearing the passion this man displays when calling the games. One of the best in the game, no doubt! A LONG DRIVE, WAAAAAAAAAY BACK, GONE!"

"This team has a lot of average to above average role players with a promising young PG. Hopefully this team doesn't overachieve and we get a top five draft pick next year. If we are able to land a future superstar in that draft and team him up with Irving, our role players and all of our cap space since Jamison will be off the books, we should be ready to challenge." - benny1699

View full sizeGerry Broome | Associated PressHarrison Barnes could be one of the prize prospects in the 2012 NBA Draft.

"This team has a lot of average to above average role players with a promising young PG. Hopefully this team doesn't overachieve and we get a top five draft pick next year. If we are able to land a future superstar in that draft and team him up with Irving, our role players and all of our cap space since Jamison will be off the books, we should be ready to challenge."

Reporter thinks about 11,000 fans showed up for Sunday's scrimmage. Links to numerous Cavaliers stories.

Lynn Ischay, The Plain DealerCavaliers coach Byron Scott (left), perched on the scorer's table during the Wine and Gold scrimmage at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers finished 19-63 last season, after losing LeBron James to free agency and then, with an already talent-challenged team, being hit with a wave of injuries.

Then came the NBA lockout, which has shortened the season from the customary 82-game regular-season schedule to a 66-game slate.

Such a combination of factors might diminish the enthusiasm of a fan base.

That didn't seem to be the case on Sunday, when the Cavaliers held their annual Wine and Gold scrimmage at Quicken Loans Arena. Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Tom Reed's scrimmage on Cavs small forward Omri Casspi and how, during the scrimmage, he displayed an intensity needed by the Cavaliers; Reed's scrimmage story, highlighting rookie guard Kyrie Irving and rookie power forward Tristan Thompson; a Plain Dealer photo gallery from the scrimmage, by Lynn Ischay. 

Diane Suchetka writes for The Plain Dealer that the price was right to attend the scrimmage and the atmosphere was fun.

Still, the Wine and Gold scrimmage hasn't always attracted such interest, and it was going against NFL telecasts.

Sam Amico writes for FoxSportsOhio.com that he thinks the scrimmage drew even more fans than the Cavaliers announced:

This is the first time in NBA history a crowd seemed larger to me than what was announced. Usually, it works the other way. According to the Cavs, there were 7,834 fans in attendance. It felt more like 11,000. Either way, Scott brought up a good point beforehand, when he told the crowd there were more people in the stands for this scrimmage than there were for the Cavs’ preseason opener in Detroit. The Cavs and Pistons meet again Tuesday at The Q in the preseason finale.

Budding interest in the Cavs would be due in much part to fans' curiosity about Irving, Thompson and Casspi. Kyrie Irving was the first overall pick in the draft and Tristan Thompson was the fourth. Omri Casspi, from Israel, is about to begin his third season. The Cavaliers traded power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings to acquire Casspi, who reportedly drew the interest of NBA contenders before last February's trade deadline.

Also from cleveland.com, a Starting Blocks poll on what the Cavaliers win-loss record will be this season.

Cleveland defeated the Pistons, 91-87, in Detroit on Friday night in the first of the shortened two-game preseason "schedule." Game 2 is Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavs host the Pistons. Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer writes that Ramon Sessions, as he did on Friday, will start at point guard for the Cavs, though Irving will certainly play big minutes.

The Cavaliers open their 42nd NBA season on Dec. 26, when they play at home against the Toronto Raptors.

Swishes

Central Division preview, by Paul Forrester for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

Kyrie Irving is giving glimpses of, maybe, the Cavs' future. On the blog, "Waiting For Next Year."

Wine and Gold scrimmage wrap-up, on NBA.com/cavaliers.

Cavaliers notes by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Omri Casspi's intensity on display, by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Cavs need guys like Omri Casspi, coach Byron Scott says. By Rick Noland for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

A preview of the Cavaliers' playing rotation. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

The new Ohio State coach said he wants his players to practice so hard, the games will be easy.

Urban Meyer says he wants his staff to hit like "a hurricane" when it begins work with the Ohio State players.

St. Edward senior Kyle Kalis is one of five offensive linemen named to Sports Illustrated's high school football All-America first team. Kalis, a tackle, had a 90 percent blocking efficiency with 32 pancake blocks for a team that averaged 184 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry. He has orally committed to Michigan.

Joshua Gunter/ The Plain Dealer - (St. Edward's Kyle Kalis is one of five offensive linemen named to Sports Illustrated's high school football All-America first team. )

St. Edward senior Kyle Kalis is one of five offensive linemen named to Sports Illustrated's high school football All-America first team.

Kalis, a tackle, had a 90 percent blocking efficiency with 32 pancake blocks for a team that averaged 184 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry. He has orally committed to Michigan.

Glenville safety De'Van Bogard, an Ohio State recruit, was named to the second team. Local honorable mention selections were tight ends Pharaoh Brown of Brush and Blake Thomas of St. Ignatius.

Chagrin Falls coach honored: Former Chagrin Falls cross country and track coach David Kirk will be inducted into the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.

During 21 seasons at Chagrin Falls the Tigers reached the state cross country meet five times, winning the girls title in 1991. They were runner-up in 1992 (girls) and 1993 (boys). In cross country and track and field combined, 69 athletes earned All-Ohio recognition, including three individual state runners-up.

Kirk teaches English and presently coaches the Tigers' boys track team. The induction ceremony is Jan. 27 in Columbus.

Ban on boys basketball events at colleges upheld: NCAA schools have fallen just short of scrapping a ban on universities hosting high school basketball events on campus.

Of the 355 schools voting electronically last week, 58.59 percent wanted to rescind the legislation that was approved in April. Rescinding the rule requires a 5/8th majority, meaning the override measure fell roughly 13 votes short. A similar proposal has been made for women's basketball.

Opponents of the original legislation believe schools used the events to help with recruiting and run the events at a discounted cost. Many schools that supported the override said they were losing money because of the change. The legislation has led to cancellations of many prep basketball events. Locally, the Jan. 7-8 Villa Classic and Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic have been moved to Garfield Heights from Cleveland State, with some schools considering withdrawing.

Akron beats Youngstown State, 88-62.

The Akron Zips continue to heal themselves against men's college basketball teams that appear destined to finish the season .500 or below, knocking off Youngstown State on Monday night with ease, 88-62.

In the process, Akron continues to groom a maturing collection of baseline players, as well as its bench, with Mid-American Conference play looming in two weeks.

"We're big, and strong," Akron head coach Keith Dambrot said. "That's worked well for us."

Off the bench, Akron (6-5) received a dominating performance from newcomer Demetrius Treadwell. The 6-7 power forward from Euclid posted 15 points and seven rebounds, playing above the rim against the smaller Penguins (6-5), who have now lost four of their past five games. He was joined by 6-8 forward Nik Cvetinovic, with 14 points and seven rebounds, while 7-0 Zeke Marshall contributed nine points and 11 boards.

"For this particular game, we tried to exploit mismatches as much as we can," Cvetinovic said.

The Penguins had no answer for such inside dominance. Spindly 6-7 Damian Eargle (eight points, nine rebounds) was about all YSU had with which to answer in the paint. Akron's 39-29 advantage on the boards spoke loudly as well, even as YSU coach Jerry Slocum was pleased with his inside play.

"I thought our bigs battled them well," he said. "Our guard play [10 of 17 turnovers] was horrific."

Turnovers led to a lot of bust-outs for the Zips, but when they did have to play in the halfcourt, there was little YSU could do to stop them, particularly Treadwell, who is fitting into the rotation more and more as the season wears on.

"I'm feeling more comfortable," said Treadwell, who missed last season to get his academic house in order. "It's getting easier for me. The game is slowing down for me."

Bench work has been key to Akron's recent winning ways, and it showed early against the Penguins. A 41-30 halftime lead was courtesy of a collective 18 points from Treadwell, Brett McClanahan and Quincy Diggs off the bench. Treadwell, in particular, was active as he hit a baseline jumper and two stick-backs, one off a missed free throw, and a jumper in the lane to account for his four field goals.

McClanahan provided the outside work, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers as the Zips turned a 12-7 YSU lead into a 17-12 Akron advantage. By the time most of the starters rotated back onto the court, a 19-19 tie became a 36-22 lead for the Zips, anchored by a sideline steal and fast-break dunk from Chauncey Gilliam.

The Penguins used 16 first-half points from forward DuShawn Brooks to stay close as he knocked down four of YSU's six 3-pointers before the break. He finished with 20, the only double-figure YSU scorer.

Speaking with Ohio State reporters Monday for the first time since his introductory news conference three weeks earlier, Meyer, over the course of 35 minutes, delved more into the philosophy he’ll bring to the Buckeyes.

AP Photo"I want to do it right. I want a hurricane to hit when we hit," Urban Meyer said. "And a hurricane can't hit by itself. I want nine [assistant coaches], I want the strength staff in place, then when we stand in front of that team, it's a very clear message. And I couldn't do that right now."

Columbus — Urban Meyer isn’t coaching Ohio State right now as the Buckeyes prepare for the Gator Bowl, and he likes it that way.

When he takes over the team, he wants his players to know it.

“I want to do it right. I want a hurricane to hit when we hit,” Meyer said. “And a hurricane can’t hit by itself. I want nine [assistant coaches], I want the strength staff in place, then when we stand in front of that team, it’s a very clear message. And I couldn’t do that right now.”

Speaking with Ohio State reporters Monday for the first time since his introductory news conference three weeks earlier, Meyer, over the course of 35 minutes, delved more into the philosophy he’ll bring to the Buckeyes.

He also confirmed that assistants Taver Johnson and Stan Drayton will be retained on staff, while Mike Vrabel remains under consideration for a spot.

Drayton and Johnson join Luke Fickell, who is waiting to hear if he might be the new head coach at Pitt, and Iowa offensive coordinator Tom Herman as Meyer hires. Meyer plans to announce the rest of his coaching staff on Jan. 3, the day after the Gator Bowl. But he talked about other plans in detail.

- On pushing his players: Meyer said his goals are for players to know that coaches care, and to then push the players so hard, the games seem easy. He said he’ll plaster a quote from basketball legend Michael Jordan espousing that philosophy in the OSU weight room.

“The harder it is, the harder it is to let go,” Meyer said. “It’s that whole tug of war theory about there’s no way I’m going to let go if I know I gave everything I had. If I’ve not put much into it, I’m going to let it go.

“So those are the two, that’s what we’re going to try to accomplish. Genuinely care about the kids, and also make it so hard they can’t let go.”

- On integrating his offense into the Big Ten: Meyer said again that quarterback Braxton Miller is “ideal for what we do.”

But he will tweak his spread attack to fit the Buckeyes, not just bring it wholesale from Florida.

“I think the one point that’s lost in this whole conversation is Ohio State’s still Ohio State,” Meyer said. “We’re going to turn around and smack [people]. . . . I think you have to be aware of where you’re at, the weather, environment, and so we have to be able to turn around and hand that ball off. That will be a part of who we are, probably more than we’ve done, because of who we have.”

What he has are bigger running backs than he has had in the past. At Florida, he said quarterback Tim Tebow was used as that big back. While he has hired Herman, an expert in the spread offense, Meyer said he’ll hire other offensive staffers with experience with the I-formation, and they’ll craft an offense together.

But one way or another, he wants speed on the field to stretch defenses on the edge.

“If you threaten the perimeter of a defense, that opens up everything else. If you can’t threaten the perimeter of a defense, in my opinion, and it’s a very strong opinion, and you’ll see us threaten the perimeter, you have no offense,” Meyer said.

“So threatening the perimeter is a big part. Now how you do it is dictated by your personnel. If you don’t have a quarterback who can run, it has to be this. If you don’t have a tailback that can run from the jet sweep, then it has to be some bubble screentype thing. So that’s all going to dictate it. So I have some core beliefs, but we’re going to adapt to our personnel.”

- On keeping Ohio State out of NCAA trouble: Meyer said he got caught up in trying to fix the offfield ills of the entire NCAA late in his career at Florida. Now, his focus will be only on keeping the Buckeyes clean.

“I love to teach. I love to coach. I love to recruit. I love to build teams. I’m not a big fan of trying to fix someone else’s issues,” Meyer said. “I can’t worry about anything else other than Ohio State.”

And then Meyer addressed what happened at Ohio State with Jim Tressel, who lost his job over NCAA violations.

“I trust what happened here was a series of legitimate mistakes,” Meyer said. “I don’t want to get into that, but they were mistakes. Were they willful, [intentional] violations? I don’t believe that. I know the people that were here. I know them very well. I know what this place stands for. Absolutely not. I’ll fight that, even though I wasn’t there.”

“But your question, I think you worry about your own house.” And he said he’ll be proactive in attacking off-field problems before they get worse.

“Errors are 90 percent anticipation,” Meyer said, attributing that quote to his mentor, former OSU coach Earle Bruce. “If you see something doesn’t look right, you go like a torpedo and go blow the whole thing up and then go put it back together.

“We had that approach in Florida. We had some issues show up that didn’t seem right. And just go implode the whole thing, as opposed to sitting back. And I think that’s going on right now in college sports.”

The Browns are 4-10; the Ravens, 10-4. Baltimore has won the last seven games between the teams.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe Browns' Peyton Hillis (40) about to be tackled by the Ravens' Bernard Pollard at the end of a 52-yard pass completion from Colt McCoy to Hillis. The play was one of the few offensive highlights in the Browns' 24-10 loss to Baltimore on Dec. 4.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns play the Ravens in Baltimore on Saturday.

The teams' respective seasons, as is customary, have played out quite differently.

Cleveland is 4-10, and will finish last in the AFC North. Baltimore is 10-4 and has clinched a playoff spot, but would like to overcome the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North championship. The Ravens would also like to earn a first-round playoff bye.

Baltimore defeated the Browns, 24-10, in Cleveland on Dec. 4, as The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi reported in his game story.

The Browns vs. Ravens rivalry began in 1999, the first year in Cleveland's return to the NFL as a franchise. The city, of course, had been without a team for three years. Former owner Art Modell moved the Browns from Cleveland to Baltimore following the 1995 season.

Cleveland.com's Browns history database includes Plain Dealer game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history, through the 2010 season. This page links to the stories on all 24 games played between the Browns and Ravens from 1999-2010.

Including Baltimore's win at Cleveland on Dec. 4, the Ravens have won 18 games between the teams and the Browns have won seven.

Cleveland has lost seven straight games to Baltimore. The last Browns' win was on Nov. 18, 2007, in Baltimore. Tony Grossi wrote the story about the Browns' 33-30 win, which was capped by Phil Dawson's 51-yard "pinball" field goal in overtime.

Baltimore is 7-0 at home this season. The Ravens' game results, in order: 35-7 win over Pittsburgh; 26-13 loss at Tennessee; 37-7 win at St. Louis; 34-17 win over New York Jets; 29-14 win over Houston; 12-7 loss at Jacksonville; 30-27 win over Arizona; 23-20 win at Pittsburgh; 22-17 loss at Seattle; 31-24 win over Cincinnati; 16-6 win over San Francisco; 24-10 win at Cleveland; 24-10 win over Indianapolis; 34-14 loss at San Diego.

The Browns' game results: 27-17 loss to Cincinnati; 27-19 win at Indianapolis; 17-16 win over Miami; 31-13 loss to Tennessee; 24-17 loss at Oakland; 6-3 win over Seattle; 20-10 loss at San Francisco; 30-12 loss at Houston; 13-12 loss to St. Louis; 14-10 win over Jacksonville; 23-20 loss at Cincinnati; 24-10 loss to Baltimore; 14-3 loss at Pittsburgh; 20-17 loss (overtime) at Arizona.

Andre Ward claimed the championship of the two-year tournament with a convincing unanimous decision against Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) in Atlantic City, N.J. The World Boxing Association super middleweight champ added Froch's World Boxing Council 168-pound title to his resume and stands ready to claim Fighter of the Year honors.

The Showtime Network's "Super Six World Boxing Classic" produced its super fighter on Saturday night.

Andre Ward claimed the championship of the two-year tournament with a convincing unanimous decision against Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) in Atlantic City, N.J. The World Boxing Association super middleweight champ added Froch's World Boxing Council 168-pound title to his resume and stands ready to claim Fighter of the Year honors.

"We were just able to beat him to the punch, and that's what won us the fight," said Ward (25-0, 13 KOs), who won four bouts in the tournament.

The 2004 Olympic gold medalist was in front on all the scorecards, 118-110, 115-113 and 115-113. There were no knockdowns.

The tournament was a marginal success as far as interest. Ward can become the big winner if he can parlay it into a huge payday, with International Boxing Federation champ Lucian Bute the route to big money.

Around the ring: Jermain Taylor is making a comeback. Taylor (28-4-1, 17 KOs) will meet middle weight Jessie Nicklow (22-2-3, 8 KOs) as part of a Showtime Network doubleheader on Dec. 30 at 11 p.m. Taylor, 33, who lost his 160-pound title to Youngstown's Kelly Pavlik in September 2007, has not fought since being stopped by Arthur Abraham in the Super Six tournament in October 2009. . . .

In that night's co-feature, Andre Dirrell will return after a 21-month absence when he takes on Darryl Cunningham (24-2, 10 KOs) of Detroit at 168 pounds. Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) has not fought since winning on a disqualification against Abraham in March 2010 in the Super Six. Dirrell, 28, suffered neurological problems after Abraham slugged him while down on a knee after a slip. . . . Cunningham has won 17 straight bouts and was supposed to meet Pavlik in Youngstown in August, but Pavlik pulled out days before the bout as he cited money concerns with his $50,000 purse. . . .

The California State Athletic Commission changed Bernard Hopkins' technical knockout loss to Chad Dawson on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles to a no-contest. Hopkins injured his shoulder when thrown to the canvas in the second round and could not continue. . . .

The Versus Network will become the NBC Sports Network next month and will begin a fight series. The initial offering will be in Philadelphia on Jan. 21, when hometown Eddie Chambers (36-2, 18 KOs) will meet former World Boxing Organization heavyweight champ Sergei Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KOs) at 9 p.m. Liakhovich won the title at Cleveland State's Wolstein Center on April 1, 2006, on a unanimous decision against Lamon Brewster. He lost his first defense to Shannon Briggs seven months later. . . .

There will be no televised boxing on New Year's Eve. Showtime had to cancel its telecast after a hand injury sidelined Zsolt Erdei's challenge of IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud. No makeup date has been set.

Amateur show: The Cory Fight Club/Police Athletic League gym is sponsoring a card at the Euclid Sports Plant, 20001 Euclid Ave., on Friday at 7 p.m. Contact Dave Brown at 216-322-4503.

This date: Jack Johnson stopped Tommy Burns in the 14th round in Australia to win the heavyweight title in 1908.

HBO Christmas: HBO will replay seven of the year's top bouts. The schedule begins Monday with Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins II at 11 p.m.; Amir Khan-Lamont Peterson at midnight and Andre Berto-Victor Ortiz at 1 a.m.

Next Tuesday, HBO will show Floyd Mayweather vs. Ortiz at 11 p.m. and Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III at midnight. On Dec. 28, it will be Alfredo Angulo vs. James Kirkland at midnight, and on Dec. 29, Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito II will be shown at 11 p.m.

San Francisco's lights-out return to prime time in a 20-3 victory over the Steelers helped salvage what could have been an embarrassing evening for everyone involved on the NFL's biggest stage after a pair of power outages delayed the game for close to 35 minutes in all.

Fans and officials wait at Candlestick Park during a power outage before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

SAN FRANCISCO -- From the swirling winds off the bay that can play fits with the football to the 1989 earthquake that rocked the World Series, Candlestick Park has long been an unpredictable venue known for its challenges.

Monday Night Football nearly became a Monday Night Fiasco when everything went dark - twice.

San Francisco's lights-out return to prime time in a 20-3 victory over the Steelers helped salvage what could have been an embarrassing evening for everyone involved on the NFL's biggest stage after a pair of power outages delayed the game for close to 35 minutes in all.

"I just feel like San Francisco took a big step to show the NFL and to show the state of California that they need a new stadium," Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. "I think it was a very strategic move, and Candlestick may be no more."

Good thing there's a state-of-the-art $1 billion stadium in the works.

The 49ers rode their top-ranked run defense once again to keep ailing Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger off balance and maintain a hold on the NFC's No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye.

"Electric atmosphere tonight," tweeted team president Jed York - unclear if his pun was intended.

Vernon Davis caught a 1-yard touchdown pass for the 49ers (11-3) one play after setting himself up with a 21-yard reception from Alex Smith, Frank Gore ran for a 5-yard score and David Akers kicked field goals of 22 and 38 yards to overtake Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for San Francisco's single-season scoring record.

"I think we showed the world we can play the game of football on a national stage," Davis said. "At the end of the day that's what it's all about: respect."

The Steelers (10-4) missed a key chance to take sole possession of first place in the AFC North and gain the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.

Roethlisberger, playing on a sprained left ankle that had Big Ben in a walking boot during the week, threw two early interceptions and another in the waning minutes - and a couple of light structures flickered as the final ticks elapsed.

Even all those Terrible Towel-waving Steelers supporters in the sellout crowd of 69,732 couldn't will their team when San Francisco's unique home-field advantage became two blackout delays.

"It's very frustrating to feel like you let down your team and your fans and your coaches. It's tough," Roethlisberger said. "I'm not going to make excuses. I played a bad football game, I turned the ball over and that one's on me."

San Francisco became the first team in NFL history to hold an opponent without a rushing touchdown through each of the first 14 games.

"I also want to recognize our defense," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. "NFL record for not allowing a rushing touchdown in 14 games. I think that is huge."

Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson and Tarell Brown made interceptions, while Rookie of the Year candidate Aldon Smith had 2 1/2 sacks for San Francisco's stingy defense.

The 49ers also have gone 36 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Rashard Mendenhall had 15 carries for 64 yards.

"This team has really become a team," Harbaugh said. I'm really proud of them for that."

Roethlisberger still finished 25 for 44 for 330 yards, but was sacked three times. After his second pick, he fumed as he limped off the field and could be seen yelling into his chin strap.

The 49ers made a big statement in their most meaningful home game since their last trip to the playoffs in January 2003, when San Francisco came from behind to stun the New York Giants 39-38 in one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.

"It was probably the biggest home game since I've been here," Alex Smith said.

They had to wait 20 minutes to get started after the power went out the first time. It didn't seem to faze San Francisco.

"It wasn't too bad. It was unusual," said Alex Smith, who went 18 for 31 for 187 yards. "You don't expect to have to deal with it, and it happened twice. But it was the same for both teams."

Smith wasn't sacked after being taken down 18 times in the previous three games, including nine in the Niners' prime time flop at Baltimore on Thanksgiving night against Jim Harbaugh's big brother, John.

Jim Harbaugh prepared for the Steelers by comparing notes with his brother after the Ravens won both meetings this season with Pittsburgh in one of the AFC's fiercest rivalries.

The Steelers are 0-for-Harbaugh this season.

"I think we need to acknowledge that was 49er football tonight," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We played the game on their terms."

The 37-year-old Akers, who long admired Rice from afar growing up in Kentucky, topped Rice's 138 points scored in 1987.

Yet Akers has said he doesn't feel deserving of the points mark over a great such as Rice - who clowned around on the field before the game catching passes from fellow Hall of Famer and former QB Steve Young, including one in the end zone.

It was after Akers' second field goal when everything went dark for a second time. Thousands of flashbulbs went off in the midst of the black, with thousands of fans sitting in darkness - including all those Steelers fans who travel the country with their team.

NFL security chief Jeff Miller said he witnessed a transformer blow up while he was monitoring a gate outside the stadium, where a shooting during the preseason already put a negative light on this venue.

The second delay came early in the second quarter and halted the game again between the playoff-bound teams for about 15 minutes. Miller and other NFL officials gathered in the press box to assess the situation, remaining in constant contact with the commissioner's office.

This was the 49ers' only Monday Night game this season and their final regular-season home game at Candlestick Park. The NFL certainly will want to make sure there are no problems when San Francisco hosts a home playoff game next month as NFC West champions - and Miller said he remains confident Candlestick can capably host a playoff game.

"Never in my life have I been a part of a blackout in a stadium," Davis said.

The Steelers missed linebacker James Harrison, who served his one-game suspension for a helmet to facemask hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy on Dec. 8.

"We better lick our wounds pretty quickly because we have a quick turnaround here," Tomlin said.

This marked the fourth time in Monday Night Football history that two teams faced off with 10 victories and a winning percentage of at least .750 - and San Francisco has played in all of them, the last on Dec. 15, 1997, with the 12-2 49ers vs. 11-3 Broncos.

Notes: The 49ers lost left tackle Joe Staley to a second-half leg injury. WR Ted Ginn Jr. injured his right ankle on the second-half kickoff. ... Pittsburgh managed just 84 yards rushing.

GYMNASTS TO WATCH Alex Aiello, Sr., Mentor: Had a team-best 9.025 on the bars in the team competition during the state meet and has a chance to score well in the all-around this year.

Avon's Whitney Stoops competes on the uneven parallel bars at the 2010 state gymnastics championship last March. She is the defending state champion on the vault. - (Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

GYMNASTS TO WATCH

Alex Aiello, Sr., Mentor: Had a team-best 9.025 on the bars in the team competition during the state meet and has a chance to score well in the all-around this year.

Allie Arthur, Sr., Mentor: She led the Cardinals in the vault and floor exercise during the team competition in last year’s state meet and figures to be an allaround contender this year.

Haley Austria, Jr., Magnificat: One of two key returnees, she competed on the beam and floor exercise in last year’s state team competition. Will be counted on heavily.

Maddie Brandt, Soph., Cloverleaf: Has gotten off to a great start this year and will be significant contributor on what could be the school’s best team in years.

Paige Cugini, Jr., North Royalton: She was a state qualifier on the balance beam and the all-around last year. Should make the Bears a Northeast Ohio Conference contender.

Morgan Estes, Jr., Green: She missed placing in the bars in the state meet, finishing in a tie for seventh by .025.

Rachel Gurley, Jr., Lake Catholic: Looking to improve on her 10th-place finish on the beam in last year’s state meet.

Rachel Holter, Jr., North Royalton: Strong on the vault last year, she will be a key performer in that event — as well as others — this year.

Cailyn Klarich, Sr., Chagrin Falls: Reached the state meet on the vault where she had a top-15 finish.

Amanda Klosowski, Sr., Strongsville: Was on her way to a great season when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during sectionals. Had two thirds and a fourth in the individual competition and was fourth all-around at state in 2009.

Kayla Kosmerl, Soph., Mentor: Will be an all-around threat, with her best event being floor exercise, where she finished in a tie for sixth at last year’s state meet. Also fared well on the vault.

Melissa Loy, Jr., Strongsville: Helped her team finish fifth in the state with a team-best 8.7 on the bars.

Allison Marino, Sr., Stow: Was the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division gymnast of the year after making it to the state meet for the second year in a row on the vault. Strong on the vault, bars and floor.

Jessie Matia, Jr., Brecksville- Broadview Heights: One of a handful of team members capable of scoring in the 35- to 36-point range in the all-around. She was fourth in the state on the vault and the bars.

Sarah Miller, Jr., Brecksville- Broadview Heights: Broke the school’s vault record in the Bees’ first match this season. Will be an all-around performer capable of scoring in the mid-30s.

Shannon Romano, Sr., Perry: Was the all-around champion in the Chagrin Valley Conference and went on to qualify for the state meet in that event.

Michaela Romito, Soph., Brecksville-Broadview Heights: Was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease last spring but has battled back to near full strength. She was the state champ in the floor exercise, while finishing second on the beam, fifth on the vault and seventh on the bars. Added up to third-place in the all-around.

Ashley Rose, Sr., Cloverleaf: A two-time state qualifier, she finished ninth in the all-around and had two other top-15 finishes last year. Owns most of the Medina County scoring records. Will be a big point producer.

Whitney Stoops, Jr., Avon: Is the reigning state champion on the vault, which led to a second-place finish in the all-around. Should be one of the top contenders this year.

Alysha Thompson, Jr., Magnificat: Will team with Haley Austria to form the backbone of a team in a rebuilding year. Madison Weisbarth, Jr.,

Brecksville-Broadview Heights: Was sixth in the state all-around, with a fifth on the beam and an eighth on the vault. Another in the Bees’ stable who is capable of scoring 36 or higher in the allaround.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Brecksville-Broadview Heights: A ninth consecutive state championship— and 12th overall— is a strong possibility. The team has its usual depth and has four athletes — Jessie Matia, Sarah Miller, Michaela Romito and Madison Weisbarth—capable of scoring 36 or better in the all-around. The Bees have not lost since 2004.

Cloverleaf: Senior Ashley Rose, sophomores Maddie Brandt and Robyn Tresch and freshmen Hanna Kotlarek and Cassie Grabowski have an opportunity to become the best team in school history.

Mentor: Veteran coach Joe Corrigan has a roster of experienced athletes in Kayla Kosmerl, Alexandra Aiello, Allie Arthur, Brittany Alexander and Sarah Butterfield. The Cardinals will be heard from come March.

Stow: The Northeast Ohio Conference co-champs lost just one senior and have added several promising freshmen. Allison Marino, Meg Merlene, Catherine Suchy, Brooke Smith, Cecilia Keen, Sara Silvey and Alicia Waino all return.

Strongsville: The loss of talented sophomore Hayley Klosowski to a knee injury last week will hurt, but her older sister, Amanda, returns from a similar injury suffered last year. Amanda will join Melissa Loy, Erin Chips, Danielle Stewart, Nicole Pratt, Lauren Richnavsky, Sabrina Gloeckler and Lindey Fechtel to form a solid lineup.

KEY DATES

Jan. 14: Head Over Heels meet, Strongsville.

Jan. 21: Rock ’n Roll Classic, Brecksville.

Jan. 27: Beauty and The Beast, combined gymnastics and wrestling event, Brecksville.

Jan. 29: Sectional/district draw.

Feb. 11: Sectional meet at Medina.

Feb. 18: Sectional meets at West Geauga and Brecksville.

Feb. 25: District meet at various sites.

March 2-3: State meet, Hilliard- Bradley High School.

1. Shaker Heights, 3-0 (1): At Euclid tonight. 2. Mentor, 3-0 (2): At Medina tonight.

1. Shaker Heights, 3-0 (1): At Euclid tonight.

2. Mentor, 3-0 (2): At Medina tonight.

3. Cleveland Heights, 4-0 (9): Tigers make biggest jump of the week by beating St. Edward. At No. 15 Lorain tonight.

4. St. Edward, 3-2 (3): vs. St. Augustine (La.) at Beach Ball Classic, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Dec. 27.

5. Brush, 3-0 (4): At Twinsburg tonight.

6. Garfield Heights, 3-1 (5): Hosts Brunswick tonight.

7. Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 2-1 (6): Hosts Berkshire tonight.

8. Benedictine, 3-1 (7): At No. 13 Lake Catholic on Friday.

9. St. Vincent-St. Mary, 2-2 (8): At Archbishop Hoban on Friday. 10. Stow, 3-0 (10): Hosts Solon tonight.

11. St. Peter Chanel, 4-0 (11): At Central Catholic on Friday.

12. Nordonia, 5-0 (13): At Tallmadge on Friday.

13. Lake Catholic, 2-1 (12): Hosts Perry tonight.

14. St. Ignatius, 1-0 (14): At Warren Harding on Thursday.

15. Lorain, 2-1 (16): Titans can make an impression tonight by beating visiting Cleveland Heights. Hosts No. 3 Cleveland Heights tonight.

16. Richmond Heights, 4-0 (17): Spartans received scare from unranked Beachwood, get real test this week in games at Shaker Heights’ Wonson Classic. vs. Akron East in Shaker Heights’ Wonson Classic on Wednesday.

17. Kenston, 3-0 (18): Hosts Solon on Thursday.

18. Mayfield, 5-0 (—): Hosts Normandy tonight.

19. John F. Kennedy, 5-0 (—): Fighting Eagles soar into Top 25 with impressive win at highly regarded Dublin Coffman. At Lincoln-West tonight.

20. Orange, 4-0 (23): vs. No. 1 Shaker Heights in Shaker Heights’ Wonson Classic on Wednesday.

21. Bedford, 2-1 (21): Hosts Warrensville Heights tonight.

22. Westlake, 4-0 (—): Victories over Avon Lake and Berea have Demons in Top 25 under new coach Shawn Hood. At Bay tonight.

23. Avon Lake, 3-1 (19): At Elyria Holiday tournament, Dec. 27.

24. Barberton, 3-0 (24): Hosts No. 25 Brecksville-Broadview Heights tonight.

25. Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 3-0 (—): At No. 24 Barberton tonight.

Dropped out: John Hay, University School, Central Catholic, North Royalton.