Records through Sunday. Previous week’s ranking in parentheses. 1. Twinsburg, 5-2 (1): At Detroit Country Day on Thursday.

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

1. Twinsburg, 5-2 (1): At Detroit Country Day on Thursday.

2. Midpark, 5-0 (2): At Canton McKinley on Wednesday.

3. Wadsworth, 5-1 (3): At Revere on Wednesday.

4. Archbishop Hoban, 6-0, (5): Hosts Cleveland Central Catholic on Wednesday.

5. Solon, 4-1 (4): At Warren Howland today.

6. Hudson, 4-1 (7): At Kenston on Wednesday.

7. Magnificat, 3-2 (11): Hosts No. 19 Walsh Jesuit today.

8. Kenmore, 6-1 (8): Hosted Lutheran East on Monday.

9. Firestone, 6-1 (9): Hosts Lorain on Dec. 27.

10. Lake Catholic, 5-2 (6): Hosts Youngstown Ursuline on Wednesday.

11. Stow, 4-2 (10): At Canton GlenOak on Thursday.

12. Cleveland Heights, 4-1 (21): Tigers roared with a rout over St. Joseph Academy before handing Lorain its first loss, both on the road. Hosts No. 25 Shaw on Wednesday.

13. Gilmour Academy, 5-1 (14): Hosts St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday.

14. Hathaway Brown, 4-2 (15): Plays Malcolm X Shabazz (N.J.) at Twinsburg on Dec. 27.

15. Ravenna, 6-0 (17): At Coventry on Wednesday.

16. Lake Ridge Academy, 1-2 (16): At North Royalton today.

17. Shaker Heights, 4-2 (18): Hosts Beachwood on Thursday. 18. Westlake, 7-0 (19): Hosted St. Joseph Academy on Monday.

19. Walsh Jesuit, 3-2 (23): At No. 7Magnificat today. 20. Manchester, 6-0 (20): At Fairless on Wednesday.

21. Woodridge, 7-0 (—): Woodridge is having a banner season and still leads Portage Trail Conference County Division. At Rootstown on Wednesday.

22. Medina, 5-1 (—): Battling Bees stung Elyria to take over first place in Northeast Ohio Conference River Division. Hosts Amherst on Wednesday.

23. John Hay, 6-0 (—): Hornets make first-ever Top 25 appearance after topping defending Senate Athletic League champion Glenville, then taking care of league runnerup John F. Kennedy. At John Marshall today.

24. Keystone, 5-0 (—): Unbeaten Wildcats continue to dominate Patriot Athletic Conference. Hosts Black River on Wednesday.

25. Shaw, 5-0 (—): At No. 12 Cleveland Heights on Wednesday. Dropped out: Holy Name, St. Joseph Academy, Brunswick, Lorain, John F. Kennedy.

10 Browns wins in 10 days: Suffering Browns fans deserve a holiday treat so we present 10 Browns wins in 10 days. The sixth installment recounts how the Browns ended their West Coast jinx with a 1987 win over the Lose Angeles Raiders.

Nancy Stone, PD fileCleveland Browns head coach Marty Schottenheimer, is shown a month earlier in November 1987, with quarterbacks Gary Danielson and Bernie Kosar.

But other than the confidence it built, Cleveland's 24-17 victory over the feared Los Angeles Raiders leaves it without too much gained.

The Browns (9-5) still need to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) in Three Rivers Stadium on Saturday to claim their third straight AFC Central Division title.

"That's what I'm in this business for - to be involved in big games," said coach Marty Schottenheimer "That's the thing that makes your blood run hot."

If the Browns lose Saturday, the Houston Oilers (8-6) can capture the championship by beating the Cincinnati Bengals the following day. Pittsburgh is out of the title picture. Wild card possibilities abound for all three rivals. It's not over till it's over.

The short week leaves the Browns little time to savor their sweetest victory of the season.

They exorcised 14 years of losing to Al Davis' team with a sensational third-quarter touchdown drive that must be considered Bernie Kosar's best as a pro. It gave them a 24-3 lead.

The Raiders, who were without the injured Bo Jackson, rallied for two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a Stacey Toran 48-yard interception return and a 28-yard TD pass from Marc Wilson to James Lofton with 1:51 remaining.

The late score made it difficult for the Browns, which was not unusual. They had not won on the West Coast in two previous tries this year and in six of their last seven appearances.

But a 21-yard run by Earnest Byner on third down with 1:24 left preserved the victory. Lindy Infante called the final, clock-killing series, which started at the 19 with 1:46 to go, "the greatest drive we had all day."

It restored the luster to career performances by Kosar and wide receiver Webster Slaughter.

In his first career victory over the Raiders in three games, Kosar riddled the league's No. 1 defense for 21 completions in 32 attempts, 294 yards and two touchdowns. The defense that felled him 13 times a year ago, including six times for sacks, did not trap him once.

"It's the best game he's played since I've been here," observed backup quarterback Gary Danielson.

"We had a nice game plan, mixed it up well and the offensive line had a good day," said Kosar. "The main thing is we played great as a team."

The epochal TD march in the third quarter was set up when Chris Rockins recovered a Marcus Allen fumble at the Cleveland seven. The drive covered 93 yards in 14 plays. The third play and the 14th should be preserved as Kosar classics.

AP fileRaiders running back Marcus Allen fumbled at the Browns 7-yard-line in the 1987 game. Here, he is shown being tackled in 1982 by second-year Browns defender Hanford Dixon.

On third and nine from the Cleveland eight, Kosar dropped back. His line gave him time, but things got crowded around him. Standing tall at the goal line, Kosar stepped up and lofted a perfect strike to Brian Brennan for a 30 yard gain.

"That's what we tried to do, keep the center of the pocket clean," said tackle Paul Farren. "The two guards and center were really the key."

The drive later stalled at the Los Angeles 23, but an offside penalty on Raider linebacker Matt Millen on a Matt Bahr field goal try extended it one play. Given new life, Kosar dropped a beautiful pass over the helmet of cornerback Sam Seale and into the arms of the sneaky Slaughter for an 18-yard touchdown.

The crowd of 40,275 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum included about 1,200 Cleveland supporters. It sounded like 10 times that many when Slaughter caught that ball and coolly dropped into his "Cabbage Patch" TD dance.

What a sweet day it was for Slaughter. Stung by disparaging comments made by Raider has-been Lester Hayes earlier in the week, Slaughter had a career-high seven catches for 115 yards and one TD. He also drew a pass interference penalty of 39 yards to set up the first touchdown.

"With the West Coast jinx, the stuff that was said [by Hayes] and the way I played, yeah, it was my best day," said Slaughter, who restrained from lashing out at Hayes after the game.

"The way I played, I don't feel I have to say a thing," he said.

The Raiders, who used to brag about pride and poise, exhibited neither in the first half.

Seven penalties by the Silver and Black - six on its defense - helped the Browns build a 17-3 halftime lead.

The worst offenders were defensive backs Lionel Washington and Seale, terrible impersonators for the former great Raider DBs, Mike Haynes and Hayes, who were inactive.

Seale ignited the Browns on their first offensive play, Kosar underthrew Slaughter deep, but Seale interfered for a 39-yard penalty. Four plays later, Byner snared a two-yard touchdown pass from Kosar for a 7-3 Cleveland lead.

Washington did more than his share on the next Cleveland possession.

First, he and Slaughter were whistled for offsetting personal fouls by tugging on each other's facemasks. Washington could have walked away after Slaughter's initial indiscretion, but he didn't.

Then on a third down incompletion, Washington's holding foul kept the Browns' drive alive.

On the very next play, the undaunted Washington was caught slugging Reggie Langhorne to the head, and the 15-yard penalty pushed the Browns into Los Angeles territory. In a way, the Browns tough receivers had intimidated the Raiders DBs.

The drive eventually stalled at the Raiders' two, safety Eddie Anderson breaking up a pass in the end zone for Derek Tennell on third down. Matt Bahr's 20-yard chip-shot increased the lead to 10-3.

Seale was a factor on the next Browns' touchdown. This time he was shaken off by the slippery Slaughter after a short pass. The 24-yard gain set up an inspirational juking, lunging touchdown run of 15 yards by Byner.

The Raiders only points of the first half came on a 39-yard Chris Bahr field goal on their opening possession. It was a disheartening conclusion to a drive that consumed 8 minutes, 36 seconds and 15 plays.

Los Angeles converted its first four third-down plays, provoking serious concern in the Cleveland camp, then was stopped as Wilson underthrew Dokie Williams.

Wilson would proceed to blow three of his next four third-down opportunities as Kosar and his offense constructed their impressive lead.

Wilson, sacked four times by an aggressive Dawg defense, finished the day 23 of 36 for 270 yards and one TD. He was booed lustily until the wild finish, when he almost made the Christmas week a depressing one for the Browns.

"I thought it was do-or-die for us," said defensive end Sam Clancy, author of a huge 14-yard sack in the first half. "We had to prove to everybody we could win out here. You get a rep [reputation] for beating the Raiders."

They'll get another championship for beating the Steelers. Those are better than reps.

Terry Pluto's weekly chat and podcast will return on cleveland.com beginning January 3, 2012. We'll have plenty to talk about as the Cavaliers season will be underway, the Browns will be looking ahead to another draft, and spring training will be inching closer and closer.

View full sizeTerry Pluto's chat and podcast will return in 2012.

The NCAA will announce its ruling today on the violations involving the school and former coach Jim Tressel.

APOhio State Athletic Director Gene Smith.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State will find out its NCAA fate later today.

Athletic director Gene Smith confirmed to The Associated Press early Tuesday that the NCAA's committee on infractions would hand down its final sanctions of the Ohio State athletic program at 3 p.m. EST.

The decision comes almost a year to the day since problems were first revealed in the football program. Five players were suspended last Dec. 23 for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting cash and tattoos from the owner of a local tattoo parlor. Coach Jim Tressel was subsequently forced to resign.

Ohio State offered to vacate the 2010 season, return its share of bowl money and be on probation and have minor recruiting restrictions. The NCAA could add to those penalties.

What type of punishment will the NCAA handout to OSU today?

Associated PressOhio State president E. Gordon Gee.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will find out its fate today.

Athletic director Gene Smith confirmed to The Associated Press early Tuesday that the NCAA's committee on infractions would hand down its final sanctions of the Ohio State athletic program at 3 p.m. EST.

What type of punishment will OSU receive?

"Wallace looked about the same as McCoy who looked like Quinn who looked like Frye who looked like Couch. They have all looked like guys playing quarterback for a lousy football team." - jktank12

View full sizeDavid I. Andersen | The Plain DealerMost Browns' quarterbacks - including Charlie Frye - have looked about the same since the team returned in 1999.

"Wallace looked about the same as McCoy who looked like Quinn who looked like Frye who looked like Couch. They have all looked like guys playing quarterback for a lousy football team."

Who should start at quarterback against the Ravens? What should the Browns do in the draft? Are you OK with Pat Shurmur getting at least another year? Skype us until 11 a.m. and be on our weekly "Browns Insider" show!

We'll be taking your Skype calls live until 11 a.m. today. Add clevelanddotcom to your Skype contacts.

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

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

Who should start at quarterback against the Ravens? What should the Browns do in the draft? Are you OK with Pat Shurmur getting at least another year?

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

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

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

Once again, lines will be open today until 11 a.m.

Here's what to do:

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

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

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

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

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

"I'm sure Irving will play as many minutes as he earns. I'm guessing that will be quite a few more than Sessions. It's not really important who starts - especially in preseason. Let me know which five are on the floor with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter on opening night. That's what matters." - lambbone

View full sizeMost Cavs fans want to see as much as Kyrie Irving as they can.

"I'm sure Irving will play as many minutes as he earns. I'm guessing that will be quite a few more than Sessions. It's not really important who starts - especially in preseason. Let me know which five are on the floor with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter on opening night. That's what matters."

Plain Dealer reporter says it wouldn't surprise her if last two games help Browns decide on RB for 2012. Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by the ailing Branson "Float Like a Butterfly" Wright and Bill Lubinger.

The Browns will try to bounce back from Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals when they play against Baltimore on Saturday. Which team do you think will win, and by how many points? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, who has thoughts on that and other topics. She says she thinks the Browns will make some adjustments to help contain Ravens running back Ray Rice. She also talks about whether Peyton Hillis needs to play well these last two games to convince the Browns to sign him for 2012; and she picks the player she believes is the Browns' defensive MVP this season.

SBTV will return Wednesday with Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises talking Buckeyes.

Colt McCoy's availability for season finale against Pittsburgh also uncertain.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerSeneca Wallace will "more than likely" be the starting quarterback again for Browns in Baltimore.

BEREA, Ohio -- Colt McCoy still is not over his concussion, will not practice today and will miss his second game in a row.

 That leaves Seneca Wallace to make his second straight start Saturday in Baltimore.

 "At this point, more than likely he'll be the starter, for sure," said coach Pat Shurmur.

 Shurmur said that McCoy is "making progress," but hasn't been cleared by team doctors to return to full work.

 "He was here today, had treatment, went to meetings. After meetings, he'll be going home," Shurmur said.

 Shurmur said he didn't know if McCoy had seen a specialist and wouldn't elaborate on what symptoms are keeping him out.

 "I talked to him a long time. His spirits are good. Like anybody who wants to play, he's anxious to get out there. But he understands there's a process he has to go through before he can play again," he said.

 The coach was not ready to rule out McCoy for the season finale against Pittsburgh on Jan. 1.

 "We'll have to see," he said.

 Comings and goings: Linebacker Titus Brown (knee) and tight end Alex Smith (shoulder) were placed on injured reserve by the Browns. They replaced them by promoting linebacker Brian Smith from the practice squad and signing tight end Dan Gronkowski.

 Gronkowski, drafted in the seventh round by Detroit in 2009, is the brother of Rob Gronkowski, the New England tight end who is second in the AFC with 75 catches and first with 15 TD receptions. Another brother, Chris, is a fullback with the Colts.

 The Browns replenished their practice squad by signing wide receiver Torrey Grissett and linebacker Craig Robertson. 

Scott will make a game-time decision on whether to start Omri Casspi

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott will see his team play its second and final preseason game Tuesday

The union wants the Browns to do more explaining.

John Kuntz | The Plain DealerBrowns coach Pat Shurmur and quarterback Colt McCoy.

The NFL and the players' union are still concerned writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. 

Colt McCoy was rushed onto the field too quickly on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh, so there is no way the Browns are going to make that mistake again.

During his Monday news conference, Coach Pat Shurmur said McCoy is improving from the concussion that resulted from the helmet-to-facemask hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

Normally, players are off on Tuesday, but the Browns are practicing because the game in Baltimore is on Saturday, writes Schudel.

In other news, Steve Doerschuk writes on CantonRep.com about the possibility of Seneca Wallace replacing Colt McCoy as the starting quarterback in 2012.

Do you believe him?

Here’s how it conceivably could work, writes Doerschuk:

President Mike Holmgren and his top men would conclude Colt McCoy is an NFL-quality quarterback, but not a preferred starter. The brass would further conclude that Wallace has done intriguing work when thrust into the starter’s job and might be a winning quarterback if more preparation time was invested in him.

The top draft pick, which figures to be in the No. 5 overall range, would be spent on a quarterback to be groomed as the long-term starter. The initial plan would be to let him watch and learn, and to win with Wallace.

 

More Browns

Cleveland Browns report card (Ohio.com).

The Baltimore Ravens need to work out flaws before the playoffs (Baltimore Sun).

Is Jordan Cameron the key for the Browns (dawgpounddaily)?

If healthy, Colt McCoy should play (WFNY).

Browns waiting to name quarterback (ESPN).

Peyton Hillis could play his way back into the Browns' good graces (SBTV).

Bowl ban will take place in the 2012 season, which means Buckeyes will be ineligible for next year's Big Ten Championship game.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerAfter not telling his athletic director or NCAA officials what he knew about the violations committed by his players, Jim Tressel speaks at a press conference about the NCAA violations earlier this year, with OSU athletic director Gene Smith in the background. OSU was hit with NCAA penalties today, including a one-year bowl ban next season.

Columbus, Ohio - The NCAA's Committee on Infractions today gave Ohio State's football program a one-year bowl ban and a total loss of nine football scholarships. (Read full NCAA report (.pdf))

The severe penalties have surprised OSU, which had hoped something close to its self-imposed sanctions would be enough to satisfy the committee.

The bowl ban will take place in the 2012 season, which means the Buckeyes will play in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 as planned.

The school had chosen to not self-impose a bowl ban this year while believing that case precedent would prevent a bowl ban in the future. According to conference rules, the bowl ban will also keep the Buckeyes from playing in the Big Ten Championship game in 2012.

The last postseason ban handed down to a major-college football team was the two-year ban given to USC in June of 2010 over the benefits provided to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush by an agent.

In addition, Ohio State will lose nine scholarships - four above what it had self-imposed - over the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons. Those losses are enough to affect the recruiting of new coach Urban Meyer.

Ohio State had hoped its previously self-imposed sanctions might be enough to satisfy the committee. Those included a loss of a total of five scholarships over three years; vacating the 2010 season; returning $338,811, which was the school's payout from the Big Ten for its Sugar Bowl appearance last season; and two years of probation.

The ruling drew some precedent from the two-year bowl ban received by Alabama in 2002. In that case, Alabama was cited for major recruiting violations that included the coach of recruit Albert Means allegedly receiving more than $100,000 from an Alabama booster. That ruling shocked the Crimson Tide at the time, with the school president saying the penalties were inappropriate.

The school appealed the sanctions, but the appeal was denied. Alabama also was a repeat violator in that case, which also came into play in this Ohio State ruling because it came within the five-year time period the school also dealt with penalties for violations in its football and basketball program.

The Committee on Infractions also penalized former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel for his unethical conduct violations while running the OSU program. He was given a five-year show-cause penalty, which would cause any school that hires Tressel over the next five years to deal with NCAA issues that would follow him as a result of his actions with the Buckeyes. The result of the penalty is that coaches are typically viewed as almost unhireable.

Ohio State's hope was that was by forcing Tressel to resign, it would be able to place much of the blame for the school's NCAA troubles on the former coach and have him absorb the brunt of the penalties. In its response to the NCAA, Ohio State had cited Tressel's forced resignation on May 30 as one of the sanctions felt by the school. Ohio State has bounced back from that move by hiring two-time national championship coach Urban Meyer, after going 6-6 this season under replacement Luke Fickell.

With the coaching situation resolved, Meyer hit the recruiting trail hard and recently pulled in three new highly ranked recruits, bringing the 2012 class to 19 oral commitments, as it moved into the top 10 nationally according to most recruiting services. While meeting with reporters on Monday, Meyer explained again that he didn't receive any assurances about NCAA sanctions before taking the job, but he had the impression they wouldn't be too harsh.

"I wouldn't use the word 'assurance,' because who knows?" Meyer said. "But when you start talking about the overall integrity of the institution, it's a positive. There were some mistakes made that were serious. I haven't had any assurance about what's going to happen."

Meyer's hiring had Ohio State fans feeling good after a tough year on and off the field, but this should bring them back to earth a bit.

The problems for the program first started almost as a year ago, with a news conference on Dec. 23 that announced the five-game suspensions for five players involved in trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos.

Then came a March news conference when it was revealed that Tressel had been aware of potential violations involving those players. On May 30, Tressel was forced to resign. And in July, Ohio State self-imposed several penalties and mentioned Tressel's ouster as one step the school had already taken.

The school's hearing in Indianapolis before the Committee on Infractions on Aug. 12 lasted just four hours, which was generally taken as a good sign. But then came news of more violations regarding benefits received by players from booster Bobby DiGeronimo, discoveries announced after the season started. That delayed the final ruling from the Committee on Infractions, as it folded those charges into the overall case.

Ohio State was hit with a more serious "failure to monitor" charge from the NCAA over those actions, and that is when the school added the loss of five scholarships in its self-imposed penalties.

On Dec. 10, the Committee on Infractions discussed Ohio State again at its scheduled meeting in Florida, though the school did not send representatives to appear before the committee since there was agreement on the facts of the case.

Ohio State expected a final ruling 10 to 14 days after that, which brought us to today.

And though Ohio State is done dealing with NCAA, the penalties will remind the Buckeyes of what happened in the past.

A look at Ohio State's football program and recent transgresssions with the NCAA, from former coach Jim Tressel's hiring to news today that the Buckeyes will be ineligible for a bowl game in 2012.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerFormer Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, left, and athletic director Gene Smith answer questions during a March 8 news conference, where school officials announce they discovered major NCAA violations committed by Tressel. Tressel is fined $250,000 and suspended for two games by Ohio State.

Here is a look at Ohio State's football program and recent transgressions with the NCAA, from former coach Jim Tressel's hiring to news today that the Buckeyes will be ineligible for a bowl game in 2012.

2001 – Tressel is hired at OSU.

2003 – OSU finishes its 14-0 national championship season with a 31-24 double overtime victory against No. 1 Miami. It is Ohio State's first national title since 1968.

2003 -- Ohio State suspends Maurice Clarett, the star tailback who as a freshman keyed the Buckeyes' national title run, for the 2003 athletic year after he was charged with filing a false police report. Clarett, who had been involved in several controversies, never returned to the team and eventually served 3 1/2 years in prison for gun law violations.

2006 – Ohio State beats Michigan, 42-39, in Ohio Stadium in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown to finish the regular season 12-0.

2007 – The favored Buckeyes are blown out by No. 2 Florida, 41-14, in the national championship game in the Fiesta Bowl.

2008 – Tressel leads OSU to their second straight national championship game, where the Buckeyes lose to No. 2 LSU, 38-24, in New Orleans.

2010 – In his first Rose Bowl as a head coach, the Buckeyes defeat Oregon, 26-17, to finish the season at 11-2 and ranked No. 5 in the country.

March 7, 2011 – Yahoo! Sports reports Tressel knew of potential violations involving his players in April 2010 – when he received information in an email that they may have sold memorabilia – and did not report that to his bosses or to Ohio State's compliance office.

March 8 – Ohio State announces at a news conference that it discovered Tressel's major NCAA violations while checking his emails in January on another matter and is self-reporting them to the NCAA. The news conference with Tressel, Smith and OSU President Gordon Gee is generally viewed as poorly handled, with Gee's joke about Tressel's job status – "I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me" – serving to hover over the rest of this situation. Tressel is fined $250,000 and suspended for two games by Ohio State.

March 11 – Columbus attorney Chris Cicero, who informed Tressel in emails about his players" memorabilia sales and association with a suspected drug trafficker, tells ESPN the first players he told Tressel about were Terrelle Pryor and DeVier Posey.

March 14 – At his first public appearance since the announcement of sanctions, Tressel, at a banquet in Canton, says, "I sincerely apologize for what we've been through." Part of his punishment includes a public apology, which he was supposed to deliver at the initial news conference but did not.

March 17 – After the NCAA denies Ohio State's appeal to reduce the five-game suspensions for five players, Tressel's suspension is increased from two games to five at his request, according to Ohio State.

March 25 – Though previously known to Ohio State, the fact that Tressel emailed Pryor mentor Ted Sarniak about the potential violations committed by Pryor, while not informing anyone at Ohio State, is revealed through a release of emails following a public records request.

March 30 – On the HBO show "Real Sports," former OSU recruiting target and Auburn player Stanley McClover says he was given money by OSU boosters on a recruiting visit eight years earlier.

March 31 – At a news conference on the day before spring practice, Ohio State announces that assistant Luke Fickell will serve as the interim coach in Tressel's absence. Asked if he considered resigning, Tressel says, "Never had that thought," adding he'd only do it if he thought it best for his players. Meanwhile, at a news conference at the Final Four, new NCAA President Mark Emmert calls a lack of integrity the greatest threat to college athletics, which some view as an ominous sign for Tressel.

April 2 – Oregon State President Ed Ray, a former OSU provost involved with Tressel's hiring, tells The Plain Dealer – confirming previous quotes – how serious the Tressel matter is, "Everyone makes mistakes, but if people aren't forthright, then the system isn't going to work." NCAA expert, lawyer and former Committee on Infractions chairman Gene Marsh says Tressel could survive the situation because of his previously good reputation. Marsh is later hired as Tressel's lawyer.

April 4 – Two pairs of Ohio State gold pants, the trinket awarded for beating Michigan, are sold on the popular History Channel TV series "Pawn Stars."

April 18 – Golfing legend and former OSU student Jack Nicklaus expresses a belief held by a segment of the Ohio State fan base that Tressel "took the hit" for others with his five-game suspension and fine, though Nicklaus admits that's just his opinion.

April 25 – The NCAA's Notice of Allegations to Ohio State is released, setting July 5 as Ohio State's deadline to respond to the notice and Aug. 12 as the date for Ohio State's hearing in Indianapolis before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

April 28 – Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany tells reporters in New Orleans that if it had been known in December that Tressel had previous knowledge of his players' violations, neither Delany nor OSU AD Smith would have asked the NCAA to allow the suspended Buckeyes to play in the Sugar Bowl. Ohio State also releases the original letter it received from the Department of Justice.

May 7 – A Columbus Dispatch story reveals that players and their families may have received discounted cars from a Columbus dealership, charges which Ohio State says it will investigate.

May 13 – Tressel's hiring of Marsh as his lawyer becomes known.

May 18 – To illustrate a story on the scandalous year in college sports, ESPN The Magazine puts a red sweater-vest, Tressel's trademark, on its cover, with the word "Busted" in place of the Ohio State logo.

May 26 – Former OSU receiver Ray Small tells The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper, that he committed NCAA violations by selling Big Ten championship rings while an OSU player, and that when it came to receiving extra benefits such as cash for memorabilia or discounted cars, "Everybody was doing it."

May 27 – After strong reaction from current and former OSU players that there was not a culture of violations at Ohio State, Small says his words were mischaracterized and that while he sold rings, he didn't know of other players who did. The Lantern stands by its story. Also, Edward Rife, the tattoo parlor owner at the center of the OSU scandal, has his drug and money laundering charges revealed in U.S. District Court, with a court date set for June 28. He could face five years in prison.

May 30 – Tressel resigns as Ohio State's football coach.

June 7 --ESPN, citing an anonymous source, reports that Columbus photographer Dennis Talbott gave Pryor between $20,000 and $40,000 for memorabilia.

June 7 -- As first reported by The Plain Dealer, Pryor announces he is leaving the team.

June 9 -- Talbott denies the ESPN report, telling The Plain Dealer that while he has a friendly relationship with Pryor, he has never given Pryor money.

June 13 -- OSU introduces Luke Fickell as the program's new head football coach. Fickell has spent 14 years at OSU as a player and assistant coach. At 37, he is the third-youngest coach in major college football, older than only USC's Lane Kiffin and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald. OSU gives him a raise to $775,000.

June 21 --St. Edward offensive tackle Kyle Kalis rescinds his oral commitment to the Buckeyes and opens up his recruitment, adding that he will keep OSU in the mix. Kalis is one of the top-rated offensive linemen in the country for the Class of 2012. He eventually pledges to Michigan.

June 21 -- An investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles finds no laws were broken among the 25 car sales to Ohio State football players and their families surveyed by the state. The report appears to be a help to OSU as it prepares its response to the NCAA.

June 28 -- Edward Rife, the Columbus tattoo parlor owner at the center of the OSU football scandal, pleads guilty to federal charges involving the drug raid where authorities seized the memorabilia that the OSU players sold for cash or exchanged for tattoos. The raid set off the chain of events that led to the unraveling of the OSU football program.

Aug. 12 -- Ohio State has its hearing in Indianapolis before the Committee on Infractions. It lasts four hours.

Sept. 14 -- Longtime Ohio State athletic booster Bobby DiGeronimo, an executive with Cleveland-based Independence Excavating, accepts blame for three Buckeyes football players receiving $200 each at a local charity event. He says he expects the university to ban him from the program, and that his 30-year association with OSU has involved providing summer jobs to football and basketball players.

Sept. 20 -- Booster Bobby DiGeronimo is banned from Ohio State's athletic program.

Oct. 3 -- Three Ohio State football players -- receiver DeVier Posey, running back Dan Herron and offensive lineman Marcus Hall -- are suspended for being overpaid while working summer jobs for booster Bobby DiGeronimo's company.

Oct. 20 -- In response to a records request from The Plain Dealer, Ohio State releases donations to the athletic department from former booster Bobby DiGeronimo. From 1984 through April 2011, DiGeronimo donated $72,090.50, about $2,575 per year. His largest single gift was $5,000 to the Younkin Academic Success Center, where athletes receive academic assistance, in 1999.

Nov. 10 -- Ohio State hit with more serious "failure to monitor" charge from the NCAA for its inaction regarding former booster Bobby DiGeronimo. School self-imposes a loss of five football scholarships total over the next three years.

Nov. 28 -- Ohio State announces that former Florida coach Urban Meyer has been hired as the Buckeyes' new head coach.

Dec. 10 -- The Committee in Infractions discusses Ohio State again at its scheduled meeting in Florida. OSU does not send representatives as there is agreement on the facts of the case.

Dec. 20 -- The Committee on Infractions hits Ohio State with penalties, including a bowl ban for the 2012 season. The sanctions mean the Buckeyes also will be ineligible for the Big Ten Championship game.

Jan. 2, 2012 -- Ohio State will play Florida in the Gator Bowl with Luke Fickell coaching.

The bowl ban surprised me, but it's not an outrageous penalty.

Terry Gilliam / Associated PressOn Dec. 23, 2010, Jim Tressel sat with Ohio State AD Gene Smith and said the school became aware of improper sales of player memorabilia earlier that month.

My take on the NCAA sanctions handed down today against the Ohio State football program:

* I am surprised by the one-year bowl ban. It's not what I expected after looking at past cases, and talking to people inside and outside Ohio State.

Bowl bans, in the past, were typically tied to findings of a lack of institutional control or severe recruiting violations. That wasn't the case with Ohio State.

But this is also a different era in the NCAA, with scandals hitting many major schools, and the NCAA saying it's going to take more steps to curtail violations.

* We don't know for sure that self-imposing a bowl ban this year would have prevented the NCAA from putting on this bowl ban for 2012. But you have to think doing so would have helped Ohio State's case with committee.

* The Ohio State players are very upset on Twitter right now. And some are suggesting that they wish they had missed out on the Gator Bowl this year instead.

* Missing a bowl game after the 2012 season isn't great, but unless you think the Buckeyes are going to be national title contenders in Urban Meyer's first season, this doesn't cripple the program. The total of nine scholarships over three years also doesn't cripple the program, but it should be enough to have some effect on Meyer's recruiting efforts.

* Meyer indicated on Monday that he was under the impression, before he took the job, that the penalties wouldn't be much greater than what had been self-imposed. But certainly, in my mind, knowing about a one-year bowl ban would not have kept Meyer from taking the job.

* Sitting out a bowl in 2012 isn't the worst thing in the world. But I do think missing out on bowl practice after the 2012 season is more of a punishment for Meyer. Bowl practice is always the first step toward the next season, and many coaches in recent times have won national titles in their second seasons at schools. Now Meyer will be getting a late start on his second season.

* This general view among Ohio State fans is that these penalties are too harsh. From fans outside the program, there is some feeling that they should have been even worse.

* I'm not sure, but I doubt Ohio State will appeal. The school has wanted to put out a the feeling of cooperating with the NCAA throughout this, and I don't think it would now want to fight a ruling that it doesn't agree with.


 

Buckeyes' new coach can overcome the poor handling of the NCAA case by Gene Smith.

AP file photoOSU athletic director Gene Smith

If you are an Ohio State fan, you should be angry today -- not at the NCAA, but at athletic director Gene Smith and the school's athletic administration.

The NCAA finally issued its penalties for eight players taking thousands of dollars worth of tattoos and cash along with former coach Jim Tressel misleading the NCAA about using ineligible players.

The mortal sin belonged to Tressel, who failed to report the NCAA violations to his boss. The NCAA hammered Tressel, putting a five-year "show cause" scarlet coaching letter next to his name. That makes it very difficult for Tressel to receive another coaching job in the near future.

The penalties handed to OSU are the loss of nine scholarships over the next three seasons -- or three per year. And no bowl appearance next season.

So what did Smith do wrong?

He consistently underestimated the severity of OSU's NCAA problems. Certainly OSU president Gordon Gee comes in for some blame, as he had to approve the self-imposed penalties that Smith offered the NCAA. But Smith is connected to the NCAA and supposedly knew what type of deal would work.

He was wrong.

From the moment OSU had that horrible press conference admitting that Tressel knew of the violations but failed to report them -- followed up by three times offering weak penalties -- the school was asking for the NCAA come down harder.

Remember how Tressel was first offered a two-game suspension, when the players received five games for the tattoo mess? Then it was a five-game suspension for Tressel. Then Tressel resigned, as most coaches eventually do when they are guilty of misleading the NCAA.

Then there was the story about players being paid for attending a charity event, along with work not done on summer jobs.

The Buckeyes offered a total of losing five scholarships over three years.

No bowl ban.

Why not add a bowl ban for the 2011 season, which everyone knew would be a mess after Tressel was forced out? But Smith acted as if he knew what the NCAA wanted and that OSU had the situation handled.

Well, OSU did not.

Maybe there would have been a bowl ban for the 2012 season in the penalties, even if OSU had elected to sit out this bowl season.

But I doubt the NCAA would have deemed the OSU situation serious enough to take away two years of bowls, especially once Tressel was gone.

Smith and OSU tried to blame everything on Tressel. His poor judgment was damaging, but the administration flunked damage control, one of the main jobs of any athletic director. When the NCAA shows up, it's up to the administration to find out what is needed so that the ultimate power in college sports goes away happy.

You can say the NCAA is sometimes a bully -- and that's true. And you can say that what the Buckeyes did is not as outrageous as some other schools, which is true.

But the Buckeyes took a sticky situation and added a gallon of Super Glue with their poor handling of the case -- so that it seemed the NCAA would never say goodbye to Columbus.

The blessing for OSU is that Meyer is a powerhouse coaching at a football power. He already is making an impact on the recruiting scene, as players formerly not interested in OSU are committing to the Buckeyes.

While it would be nice for Meyer to have a bowl game to play for in his first season, odds are that it will take Meyer two or three years to assemble talent capable of competing for a national title. The state of Ohio and its high school football coaches already have rallied around Meyer, much as they did for Tressel when he was hired.

Because of Meyer's presence, the NCAA sanctions are not a major setback for the Buckeyes.

But the decisions made by Smith and others have made the job harder than it should be for the Buckeyes' new coach.

Smith told the Plain Dealer he never considered self-imposing a bowl ban, in part because he wanted this team to get to play in a bowl after a tough year.

PD fileOhio State University Athletic Director Gene Smith.

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Browns running back Montario Hardesty hopes to salvage something of his lost season over the final two games: Cleveland Browns Insider.

Chuck Crown, The Plain DealerMontario Hardesty believes he is healthy enough to carry the ball in the Browns' final two games of the season after struggling to recover from a calf injury.

Browns running back Montario Hardesty still hopes to salvage what's left of his lost season.

"I definitely want to finish out these two games strong," said Hardesty, who's carried the ball in one of the past seven games because of his torn calf muscle. "I've been really frustrated with this calf injury. It really hindered me a lot this year, but I have two more chances to go out and play."

Hardesty made the trip to Arizona and was active for the game, but stood on the sidelines and didn't play. Meanwhile, Peyton Hillis rushed for 99 yards.

"The calf was sore last week," said Hardesty. "I was ready if they needed me, but they didn't."

On Tuesday, Hardesty practiced full-go, and is hoping to see the field in Baltimore -- against the Ravens' second-ranked run defense.

"It feels a lot better" Hardesty said of the calf. "I got a lot of reps [Tuesday] and it felt good. Hopefully it will continue to improve throughout the week."

Hardesty said he never dreamt the calf would cost him most of his season when he felt a twinge on Oct. 30 in San Francisco. He carried the ball 11 times for 24 yards at Pittsburgh on Dec. 8. But he emerged sore from that game and had to rest again.

"I'd love to have a chance to play against Baltimore and Pittsburgh," he said. "Both are great defenses. We have to find a way to win these games."

Two new players: As expected, the Browns placed linebacker Titus Brown on injured reserve with his right knee injury and tight end Alex Smith on IR with his shoulder injury.

To replace them, the Browns signed linebacker Brian Smith off their practice squad and signed tight end Dan Gronkowski as a free agent.

Gronkowski is the brother of Patriots' tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has set the NFL record for TD receptions by a tight end with 15 this season. Their other brother, Chris, is a fullback for the Colts. Dan Gronkowski spent five games with the Patriots this season, with one start. He was waived Nov. 8.

"I stayed in Foxborough," said Gronkowski. "I had an apartment with my brother and was training. It paid off I guess, I felt pretty good out there. I didn't feel like I'd been out that long."

Gronkowski (6-5, 255 pounds) a seventh-round pick of the Lions in 2009 out of Maryland, said he used his time off to get bigger, which should help his blocking.

"I definitely can help in that area," he said. "I'm definitely built to be a blocker, a little heavier. In the next two games I'll do what I can."

Gronkowski said he's happy for Rob, who's having blockbuster season.

"My brothers and I, we're all best friends and we root for each other," he said. "When he does good, it makes us all feel good and I mean, he's a great player and I say that he's learned everything from me. He set records this year and stuff and he's an amazing player and he's just going to get better."

Brian Smith was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, but waived at the end of camp. In Week 12, he was signed to the practice squad.

"It's a blessing to be back and I'm just the kind of guy that stays resilient, keeps working at it, and when I get my shot I'm going to take full advantage of it," said Smith.

Concussion update: Browns fullback Owen Marecic practiced Tuesday and is expecting to play in Baltimore despite suffering his second concussion in four weeks on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh. He said no one has discussed shutting him down for the season.

"It never really came to my mind," he said. "I can't speak for anybody else, but it never came up in conversation."

Marecic said he changed helmets in hopes of preventing another concussion. Eight Browns players have suffered 11 concussions this season.

In other concussion news, receiver Jordan Norwood and linebacker Ben Jacobs both sat out Tuesday with theirs. With Norwood likely to sit, Carlton Mitchell figures to get some playing time.

"I think there's definitely a chance," said Mitchell.

Other injuries: Cornerback Joe Haden sat out practice with a thigh bruise, but said he'll play in Baltimore. . . . Safety T.J. Ward (foot) also sat out, but is still hopeful he can play Saturday.

Tony Grossi scouts the Baltimore Ravens.

TONY GROSSI SCOUTS THE BALTIMORE RAVENS

Tony Dejak, Associated PressRay Rice of the Ravens breaks free for 30 of the 204 yards he gained on the ground against the Browns earlier this month, when the Ravens prevailed, 24-10.

Kickoff: Browns at Ravens, Saturday 1 p.m. in M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore.

Record: 10-4.

Most recent game: Lost to Chargers, 34-14, Dec. 18, in San Diego.

Coach: John Harbaugh, 46-23, fourth year.

Series record: Ravens lead, 18-7.

Most recent meeting: Ravens won, 24-10, Dec. 4 in Cleveland.

League rankings: Offense is 15th overall (16th rushing, 16th passing), defense is third (second rushing, fifth passing) and turnover differential is plus-1.

Offensive overview

Despite having all the pieces, they still aren't able to push the pedal to floor and score like the elite offenses. They've gone four games in a row without scoring more than 24 points -- hitting that figure in wins over the Browns and Colts, but scoring only 30 combined against the 49ers and Chargers. This inconsistency might only be a concern to them in the postseason when they get hooked up in a scoring duel with the likes of New England and Houston, or New Orleans or Green Bay in the Big Game. Otherwise, they can win by handing off and throwing to Ray Rice and dumping to tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta and receiver Anquan Boldin. The long game to rookie Torrey Smith and, some day, Lee Evans, is what may put them over the top.

Defensive overview

If they don't get pass pressure, they are as vulnerable as any defense. In their four losses, they have registered only five sacks. The Chargers took command early by hitting them with quick passes and screens. The pressure was lacking even though they finally got linebacker Ray Lewis back after missing several games with turf toe. Their cast of characters is well-known and widely feared -- tackle Haloti Ngata, rush linebackers Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson, safety Ed Reed. Bernard Pollard has been an enforcer at strong safety. The cornerback position suffered when Lardarius Webb was reduced to nickel duty. Rookie Jimmy Smith was picked on in his first NFL start.

Special teams overview

Kicker Billy Cundiff is 27-of-36 in field goals with a long of 51 yards. He has missed three of his past five attempts, and his nine misses match the league's most. Despite Cundiff's 42 touchbacks, the Ravens are only 29th in average drive start after kickoffs -- which means they give up some healthy returns when Cundiff doesn't boot it out of the end zone. Punter Sam Koch is 10th in gross average (46.6 yards) and 12th in net (39.7). David Reed is back on kick returns after losing the job earlier because of fumbles. Webb hit the Browns with a 68-yard punt return but is hobbled.

Players to watch

Running back Ray Rice: His record 204 yards rushing in the first meeting vaulted him up the NFL leaderboard. He's now fifth with 1,086 yards and 10 TDs on the ground, and added two among his team- high 71 receptions.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs: He was kept fairly at bay in the first meeting, netting only one sack. His 13 lead the AFC and tie for fifth in the NFL.

Safety Ed Reed: Three of his eight career interception returns for touchdowns have come against the Browns. He, too, was relatively quiet in the first meeting.

Injury report

PK Cundiff (calf) has played but not practiced the past two weeks. CB Webb (toe) was limited all week but played in nickel.

Small world

Among the many players, coaches and executives who formerly worked or played for the Browns are: General Manager Ozzie Newsome, senior personnel assistant George Kokinis, defensive line coach Clarence Brooks, defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, director of pro personnel Vince Newsome, vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty, assistant special teams coach Marwan Maalouf and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. . . . Receiver Lee Evans attended Bedford High School. . . . Safety Haruki Nakamura is a Cleveland native who attended St. Edward High School. . . . Scout Jack Glowik is a Cleveland native who attended Benedictine High School. . . . Linebackers coach Dean Pees is a former head coach at Kent State.