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Sporting News NFL mock draft: The bidding for Robert Griffin III could get crazy

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Get a national perspective on who the Browns may draft and which teams may be willing to trade up for the No. 1 pick. Story includes video.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

By Russ Lande, Sporting News

There’s no doubt who’s going to be the No. 1 pick of April’s NFL draft: Stanford QB Andrew Luck. After that first pick, however, things could get a little crazy. Many teams will try to trade up to get their hands on Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III (if he decides to turn pro). The Vikings or Rams, for instance, could acquire plenty in return from a team desperate for an elite quarterback.

Here’s a look at our latest mock draft, the order of which is based on records through Week 16.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck*, QB, Stanford. The real question if the Colts wind up with Luck: Will he get to learn under Peyton Manning for a season or two, or will he take over the team as a rookie because Manning is no longer there?

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil*, OT, USC. The Rams will most likely trade this pick to a team that wants Griffin. If they keep the pick, they will grab Kalil to shore up their offensive line and give blindside protection to Sam Bradford.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin*, OT, Stanford. Martin is not an aggressive blocker, but he is a top athlete with the feet and technique to protect Christian Ponder’s blind side for the next decade.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick*, CB, Alabama. The team’s top corner, Rashean Mathis, is 31, missed the final seven games with a torn ACL and is about to become a free agent. Although it would be tempting for the Jags to try to add Griffin, cornerbacks with Kirkpatrick’s size (6-3), elite athleticism and ball skills are hard to find.

RG3.jpgThe Browns will likely have to trade up to get Robert Griffin III, but there is little doubt they want to find their quarterback of the future, writes Russ Lande.

5. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III*, QB, Baylor. The Browns will likely have to trade up to get Griffin, but there is little doubt they want to find their quarterback of the future. Griffin will be the most athletically gifted quarterback to enter the NFL since Michael Vick—and he also has great touch on his deep throws.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Riley Reiff*, OT, Iowa. Josh Freeman struggled with inconsistency throughout 2011, and if he is going to improve, the Buccaneers’ offensive line needs to do a better job. Reiff flashes greatness, though he doesn’t play at a high level consistently.

7. Washington Redskins: Devon Still, DT, Penn State. The Redskins have many holes and would love to get a quarterback, but they’re not drafting high enough to have a shot at Luck or Griffin. Still can be productive playing end in the Redskins’ 3-4 scheme.

8. Miami Dolphins: Justin Blackmon*, WR, Oklahoma State. No matter who’s starting at quarterback for the Dolphins in 2012, the team needs more offensive weapons for him to throw to. Blackmon gives them an elite talent who can pull coverage away from Brandon Marshall.

9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Cam Newton was incredible as a rookie and made the Panthers’ offense dangerous. However, their defense was terrible. Coples could start opposite Charles Johnson and give the Panthers two high-end pass rushers.

10. Kansas City Chiefs: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina. Brown can get after the quarterback and would draw attention from Tamba Hali, the Chiefs’ only consistent pass rusher. Brown would fit ideally at outside linebacker opposite Hali in Kansas City’s 3-4 scheme.

11. Buffalo Bills: Donte Paige-Moss*, DE/OLB, North Carolina. The Bills would love to get an offensive tackle, but at this spot, the elite ones will be gone. Paige-Moss can play the rush linebacker position in the Bills’ 3-4 defense and would give them an explosive young edge pass rusher.

12. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. After Early Doucet’s struggles, it is becoming clear that Arizona needs to find another weapon opposite Larry Fitzgerald if Kevin Kolb or John Skelton is going to be a productive passer in 2012.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: David DeCastro*, G, Stanford. Even after taking a guard in the first round in 2011, the Eagles’ offensive line had significant issues. DeCastro has the ability to start at guard or center as a rookie and upgrade Philadelphia’s offensive line.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Morris Claiborne*, CB, LSU. The Seahawks have received solid corner play from rookie Richard Sherman and former CFL player Brandon Browner, but they can't pass up a player like Claiborne. He is a good athlete with playmaking ability who would be the final piece in Seattle’s excellent young secondary.

15. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry*, DE, USC. San Diego’s defense has not made impact plays and created turnovers consistently since Shawne Merriman’s decline. Perry can provide the edge pass rush that the Chargers’ defense so desperately needs.

16. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz*, C, Wisconsin. Jay Cutler took a beating behind the Bears’ line in 2011. Konz is smart and versatile and should be able to start at either center or guard as a rookie.

UNC's Quinton Coples would continue to play in the Tar Heel State if the Panthers draft him. (AP Photo)

17. Tennessee Titans: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. The Titans have a lot of young talent in their front seven, but they need to upgrade their secondary. Dennard is a sound, instinctive cornerback with excellent ball skills, which should enable him to quickly become a starter.

18. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Thompson, DL, Clemson. The Cowboys’ defense struggled with consistency throughout 2011. A big reason: the defensive line could not get off blocks and make plays. Thompson has the strength to anchor as well as the ability to free himself and make tackles, and he fits Dallas’ 3-4 scheme well.

19. New York Jets: Trent Richardson*, RB, Alabama. Shonn Greene has not proved he can carry the load, and the Jets need to establish a strong rushing attack if Mark Sanchez is ever going to develop. Richardson has a chance to slide to this spot because so many teams have more pressing needs than running back.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Mark Barron, S, Alabama. The Bengals have been trying to find an impact safety for the past few years, and Barron is the aggressive, hard hitter they have been searching for.

21. Denver Broncos: Lamar Miller*, RB, Miami. Tim Tebow is going to be Denver’s quarterback in 2012, so the Broncos need to make sure they have an elite rushing attack. Willis McGahee had a good 2011, but he will turn 31 during the 2012 season, and the team needs to find a long-term solution at running back.

22. New York Giants: Luke Kuechly*, MLB, Boston College. Since Antonio Pierce was let go, the Giants have been trying to find a middle linebacker who can be a force against the run and productive in coverage. Kuechly is both and would fit their defensive scheme.

23. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Alshon Jeffery*, WR, South Carolina. If the Browns select their quarterback of the future at the top of the first round, they’ll need to get him some weapons. Jeffery has the great size (6-4, 233), strength and hands to be an impact receiver as a rookie.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State. Cedric Benson is a free agent this offseason, and the Bengals likely will go the route of finding a younger replacement than spending big money to keep him.

25. Houston Texans: Dontari Poe*, NT, Memphis. The Texans’ defense played well in 2011 despite many injuries and not having a true nose tackle. Poe (6-5, 350) would provide the anchor necessary for their 3-4 defense to take the next step.

26. Detroit Lions: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia. Despite their success in 2011, the Lions’ secondary still has issues, and Minnifield is a tall (6-0) cornerback with good ball skills and the speed to stay with receivers on deep routes.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State. The Ravens need a left tackle—Michael Oher struggled there in 2010 and Bryant McKinnie was a stopgap player in 2011. Sanders has the combination of solid footwork, strength and toughness to fill this need.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina. The Steelers have downfield threats in Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, but they need to find a big receiver because Hines Ward is nearing the end of his career. Jones (6-4, 225) could fill that role in time.

29. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Jerel Worthy*, DT, Michigan State. Worthy’s combination of initial quickness, rare playing strength and ability to control blockers makes him an excellent fit in Bill Belichick’s defense. He would also bring youth to the Patriots’ aging line.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Juron Criner, WR, Arizona. Coach Jim Harbaugh has done an amazing job of winning with Alex Smith in 2011. But for the 49ers’ offense to improve, it needs more playmakers. Criner is a tall (6-4) receiver with rare hands and good run-after-the-catch ability.

31. New England Patriots: Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, West Virginia. Andre Carter was the Patriots’ best pass rusher in 2011, but he is 32 and his season ended recently because of a torn quadriceps. They have no other established players who can provide sacks. Irvin would be a bit of a gamble, but he is an electric pass rusher despite only weighing 245 pounds.

32. Green Bay Packers: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska. After struggling early in 2011 and then getting hurt, Crick has watched his stock fall. The hope is that he returns to his 2010 form, when he led Nebraska with 9½ sacks and played like a top-15 pick.

* Junior

Russ Lande, a former NFL scout, is a draft analyst for Sporting News.




Bill Doraty Kia to offer free cars if the Cleveland Browns shut out the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday (Poll)

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Bill Doraty Kia in Medina plans to give away cars sold this week if the Browns shut out the Steelers in Sunday's game. The odds of that happening are extremely low, but hey, anything's possible.

doraty 099.JPGBill Doraty's Kia dealership in Medina will give away cars if the Browns keep the Steelers scoreless in Sunday's game. Bookies called it a longshot, but there are some scenarios under which Cleveland could shut out its rival.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You're a real Browns fan. You know that they're not only going to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday, they're going to destroy them. They're going to shut out the Steelers, leaving them without so much as a field goal.

Well, for people was confident as you, Medina car dealer Bill Doraty has an offer - buy a car this week, and you'll get it for free if the Browns keep their rivals scoreless on New Year's Day.

"Lightning can strike. You never know," Doraty said. The Steelers haven't been held scoreless in a game since 2006 - it happened twice that season.

Actually, getting hit by lightning is about as likely as the Browns getting that shutout. The National Weather Service estimates that the odds of getting hit by lightning are about 10,000 to one. Las Vegas odds makers put the risk of the Browns holding the Steelers scoreless at about 5,000 to one.

"Pittsburgh's not going to lay down," said Jay Rood, vice president of racing and sports operations for the MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas. Rood said his 5,000-to-one odds on a Browns shutout is probably being a bit generous.

Still, there's a shot.

Doraty said he faces a lot of competition from other car dealers in Northeast Ohio, and he thought a promotion like this one could make him stand out a bit.

"Anytime that you can do something that's different, that separates you from the crowd, that's what any retailer's looking for," Doraty said.

He expects the promotion to cost him about $30,000. That money will go to the insurance company that's underwriting the event. Doraty said the insurance company is effectively getting a small percentage of each car sold this week. If his sales jump because of the promotion, he'll come out ahead. If Cleveland gets the shutout, Doraty will rebate the purchase prices of the cars sold this week, not including taxes, to his customers.

John Avello, director of race and sports operations for Wynn Casinos in Las Vegas, said buying a $20,000 car in hopes of getting it for free is a risky bet, but it's not a ridiculous one.

"He's effectively offering 20,000-to-one odds. I wouldn't offer that kind of payout" on a shutout bet, he said. Avello was more optimistic than Rood, putting the odds of a Browns shutout at about 1,000-to-one.

Tying sales promotions to longshot bets is nothing new. Doraty's insurer is American Hole in One, a company that specializes in insuring car dealers who want to invite buyers to win cars at driving ranges and golf tournaments.

An even longer-shot promotion came in 2001 when Taco Bell offered to give everyone in America a free taco if Russia's MIR space station fell on a floating target it place off of the coast of Australia. The space station fell closer to New Zealand, so no free tacos.

Robert Ferringo, a sports handicapper for Doc's Sports Services near Madison, Wis., said a Chicago car dealer last week offered to give away vehicles if the Bears shut out the Green Bay Packers. The Packers scored 35 points.

"I think the odds of Cleveland pulling a shutout on Pittsburgh is better than Chicago blanking Green Bay, but it is still a major long shot," Ferringo said in an email. He even noted that in the past 41 meetings between the two teams, there have been four shutouts. OK, so it was Cleveland that was scoreless, but still, that's a lot of shutouts.

Ferringo and Avello both spelled out one scenario that could lead to a Browns shutout. If Baltimore loses Sunday and Pittsburgh wins, the Steelers would win their division and would not have a game during the first week of the playoffs. But if Baltimore wins, it gets the bye week no matter what happens at Browns Stadium.

So if Baltimore scores early and looks like it's going to win, the Steelers could pull all of their key players from the Cleveland game to protect them against injury.

"Let's say that Cleveland gets out to a 14-0 lead and Baltimore gets off to a 14-0 lead, Pittsburgh may say to itself, 'let's concede the division,'" Avello said. That could lead to a Browns shutout and make for a lot of happy car buyers.

Doraty says he doubts anyone bought a car this week expecting to get it for free, but he said it did draw in customers.

"It's definitely making a difference with people who come in. People are talking about it. They're laughing and joking about it," Doraty said. "I hope on Monday I'm talking to you about 100 people getting free cars."

Weary of the 'beatings,' Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions works to improve his perimeter game -- Days of Wine-n-Gold

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Sessions entered the season having made 13 3-pointers in four seasons. He's already hit four in two games

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Pistons, 90-89View full sizeCleveland Cavaliers point guard Ramon Sessions is making a concerted effort to take more jump shots this season
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The evolution of Ramon Sessions' 3-point shot was born out of career self-preservation.

In his first four NBA seasons, the Cavaliers guard followed a familiar path -- getting to the rim, the foul line and  the trainer's room.

“I didn’t want to take the beatings as much as I did,” Sessions said. “. . . Getting banged around, falling on the floor. It will take a toll on your body after awhile.”

After recovering from off-season hernia surgery, Sessions focused on improving his jump shot, particularly from behind the 3-point arc. He took advantage of the extended lockout to shoot lots balls almost daily with his cousin in Atlanta. The slashing guard wanted to add another facet to his game much the way Jason Kidd did several years ago. 

“The older you get the more you want to make your game mature,” said Sessions, 25. “It was something I knew I was lacking.”

He arguably has been the club's best player through two games, averaging 17 points and six assists, while quarterbacking a surprisingly effective second unit. The Cavaliers, as of Wednesday, led the league in bench scoring with 53.5 points per game.

Sessions has converted 4-of-8 3-point attempts after entering the season having made just 13-of-71 shots from behind the arc. While it's a small sample size, Sessions says he already notices a difference in how teams are defensing him on pick-n-rolls. Defenders normally go under screens to stop Sessions' dribble penetration. Now, he has the confidence to set his feet and hoist jumpers if they don't respect his shot.

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott doesn't mind him shooting a few from long distance, especially if he hits his first attempt. Sessions just appears more comfortable and self-assured in his second season with the club. The guard played for Milwaukee and Minnesota in his first three seasons.

“I think he knows this is a great place for him, this is a great role for him,” Scott said. “He’s more vocal because he'’s more comfortable. I think he’s in a very good place right now.”

Sessions, who's backing up rookie Kyrie Irving, envisions himself as a starter, but will do what it takes to stay in the league.

“It’s also a dream to be playing in this league for however many years you get to play in it,” Sessions said. “As long as my name is on the back of jersey that’s alright by me.”

PACE SETTERS

The Cavaliers (1-1) get their first taste of a serious playoff contender as they meet the Pacers (2-0). Indiana has a big team and an excellent forward in David West, who joins the Pacers from New Orleans.

“This is going to be our first real, real test, going against a team that’s going to be a playoff-bound team,” Scott said.  “They are a very physical, tough, basketball team. They’ve got some big dudes down there.”

DRIBBLES

Injured center Semih Erden (broken thumb) is expected to be cleared for contact next week, Scott said . . . Both power forward Antawn Jamison and center Anderson Varejao played just 23-plus minutes in Wednesday's 105-89 win in Detroit. In a lockout-shortened season they said they welcome any additional rest . . . The Cavs practiced for about two hours Thursday at an Indianapolis-based college.   

      




Cleveland Browns Colt McCoy talks for first time since concussion (video)

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy talked with the media for the first time since receiving a concussion from the helmet to face mask hit by the Steelers James Harrison. Watch video


Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy talked with the media for the first time since receiving a concussion from the helmet to face mask hit by the Steelers James Harrison.

McCoy has not been cleared to practice, but has been attending meeting and working out.

To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur's Thursday press conference: A transcript

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Shurmur updates injuries and talks about Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Greg Little and other Browns rookies, the Pittsburgh Steelers and a little about Robert Griffin III.

pat-shurmur6.jpgCoach Pat Shurmur and the Browns are 4-11 going into Sunday's season finale against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.

Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur press conference 12-29-11

Shurmur's opening statement

“As we get ready to practice three guys won’t compete today.  Colt (McCoy) is still not clear to participate, Jordan Norwood and then Tony Pashos is battling a stomach illness so he won’t be able to practice today.  All three of those guys, their availability for Sunday I just can’t tell you right now.  That’s what I’ve got.  As we get ready for the Steelers, practice has been good, meetings have been good and we just continue to build on the game plan and get ready to go.”

(Questions are paraphrased and are in bold. Shurmur's replies follow)

Will Artis Hicks play at right tackle if Pashos can’t go? “Yeah, Artis and then Oniel Cousins.  It will be like how we started the season and then you have John Greco in there as well.  One of those three guys would do it.”

Is McCoy’s concussion something he’s going to have to worry about going ahead? “He’s getting better every day and again, every injury is different, every rehab is different. I’m assuming no, but we’ll see when he comes back.”

Have you ruled McCoy out for Sunday? “No, I have not yet.  Nope.”

When is the cutoff for ruling McCoy out? “Typically, you wait and see if they can come back and practice and you evaluate how they looked in practice, we’ll see.  Somewhere before Saturday I would imagine.”

What are McCoy’s spirits like when you talk with him? “He’s been good.  He’s anxious to get back out there and play, but he realizes there’s a process he has to go through. He’s really like any player that wants to compete.”

Is McCoy still having headaches? “He looks fine.  I don’t ask him every moment how he’s feeling so I don’t know if that’s the case or not.”

Are you assuming Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play Sunday? “I would assume so.  I watched him get hurt in our game, go to the locker room then come out and continue to play.  Then, I watched him against the 49ers go out and play and he’s a tough soul so I imagine he’s going to want to be out there with his team.”

Was there anything unique about the play when Roethlisberger got sacked by Scott Paxson and Brian Schaefering? “He got sacked by a couple of guys and that happens a lot.  You get hit at different levels, you get hit high, you get hit low and you get wrapped up and I think that’s what happened.  Anybody can do it to you and guys are really at risk for injury anytime they’re out there playing, especially quarterbacks in the pocket.”

What do you have to do differently to get over the hump and beat Pittsburgh? “Offensively, we need to not turn the ball over and we need to get points and that’s touchdowns when we get down there close then I think the score would have been different.  I think our defense found a way to minimize their scoring and that’s what you want to do on defense so we need to keep fighting to get points on the board.”

Did you think you were going to be facing this type of challenge offensively when trying implement your new system? “I don’t know what I expected.  I expect that when we’re doing things right we’ll score points so we’ve got to do things right more often.  I don’t know if I expected this, I expect that we score enough points to win games however many that means.”

Has Montario Hardesty not gotten any carries the last two weeks because of the resurgence of Peyton Hillis? “As we’ve always talked about, when Peyton Hillis is healthy he’s our starting running back. I think at this point Montario’s coming back from an injury that he had where it limited him for quite a while.  There’s no real reason.”

How much have you and Tom Heckert discussed next year’s roster? “We talk about our players all the time.  We talk about our players daily.”

Do you expect Hillis to be back next year? “I think as we look at our roster and we look at building our team I think we need to consider everything.  One thing you’ve seen about Peyton is in the last month or so he’s gotten himself back healthy and he’s performed well.  That’s the Peyton I think that everybody here is used to seeing from a year ago and that’s what I’m starting to see now.”

Has anything happened this season that would make you not want Hillis back? “I think those are all conversations for the offseason.  I’ve said it all the way back to the first part of the season, he’s a very fine player that was dealing with injury this year, a couple of them.  It was an illness early and then a hamstring in the middle so I’m sure that was frustrating for him and as he works himself back into a healthy player. Now that he’s healthy, we’re seeing production.”

Do you and Hillis have a better understanding of each other recently? “I think as you work with a player, the longer you work with a player the more you get to know him. I mean that in a way that as you go through a season players deal with issues, coaches deal with issues and you just learn how to work together. I think every game that we work together you get to know each other better.”

What would you say if Heckert asks you if you want Hillis back? “Again, I think it’s important that we investigate everything and again, it’s like our players, Tom’s comments and my comments we’ll keep those private.  We’ve got to have a couple things that everybody doesn’t know about (joking).  Although, you folks do a good job of finding out the answers.”

Do you want Phil Dawson back? “He’s another player that I feel like I’ve gained a strong appreciation for.  What a pro so we’ll see how that plays out.  I’m a Phil Dawson fan.”

Will you watch Robert Griffin III play tonight? “Oh yeah, once our day is over and we have the plan in.  I’ll find a way to watch some of that game, I’m sure.”

Have you seen Griffin play this year? “I’ve watched him.”

What do you think of Griffin? “He’s a tremendous talent, good player.”

Does Griffin fit the West Coast offense? “Good players at all positions fit every offense.  That’s just the way it works.”

Can Hardesty get back to the burst he had when he was at Tennessee? “I think it’s important that he gets himself back into a healthy state and I think then that’s when we’ll see the things that we think he is as a player.  It’s very important for backs to be able to run with vision, secure the football, catch it when you throw it to them and then there’s also a component of durability that running backs have to possess.  I’ve seen some things this year with Montario, much like a lot of the players that we’ve talked about that I like and as we go forward you’d like to see more of that and see it on a more consistent basis.”

Can you give an update on Quinton Spears? “He’ll practice today, he’s cleared, he’s practicing.”

When did Spears suffer his concussion? “In the game, I guess, I don’t know.  He’s cleared, he’s practicing.  I don’t know where you’re going with that, but he’s out there practicing, he’s cleared.”

What was Spears’ injury? “He had a concussion and he’s fine.  He’s good to go.”

What has Greg Little proven this year and has he proven he will be on an NFL field for years to come? “I’d like to think he will be.  He’s done some good things this year.  He’s had to deal with what pros have to deal with, learning how this game works, having a good game, dealing with a couple bad games and then coming back.  As he goes through the process, I think next time he goes through the length of the season he’ll even be better. I anticipate he’ll be a fine player in this league for a long time.”

What about Little’s drops early in the season and what's your take on that? “I think the more you get comfortable with what you’re doing the actual skills that you need to perform become smoother, the game slows down and then again, it’s in college and in high school, with all due respect, there’s not a lot of defenses that get up in your face and challenge every move you make as a receiver. You see a lot of zone coverage, you see alto of free access.  In pro football, they’re right up on you and I think that takes a little bit of getting use to for a receiver and that may be what you’re talking about.  As you get more and more use to what we’re doing, where you’re supposed to be then I think catching the football then becomes a little bit more natural.”

How would you characterize the two rookie defensive linemen and the types of years that they’ve had? “I think they’ve both been steady.  They’ve played first game to last so far, they’ve both improved, I think that’s very similar. They obviously both play different positions, it’s a little bit easier for a defensive end to flash when he’s doing the right things.  I think Phil’s (Taylor) played a more consistent defensive tackle in the last month and I think that’s what you’re looking for.  I think there are a lot of similarities to their performance, I think there are a lot of similarities to their improvement and I think they both will be well aware of what they need to improve as they move forward.”

How do you think the young guys have come through this last month with the proverbial ‘rookie wall?' “I think they’re all different, but I think the two guys you just mentioned, I think Jabaal (Sheard) and Phil pushed through it pretty well.  I think Greg Little has pushed through it pretty well.  Jason Pinkston has pushed through it pretty well. Those are four that come to mind and those are four guys that have played steadily throughout the year without dealing with any injuries that have kept them out.  Again, that’s a credit to some of our veterans that have educated them on how to take care of their bodies and how to be pros.  I think that’s what you get sometimes from a veteran locker room and it’s a credit to them for listening because a lot of young guys don’t want to listen as we all know.”

How about how the improvement of Taylor and the improvement of the run defense have gone hand-in-hand recently? “I think it’s important you’re sturdy inside in order to stop the run.  When the linemen come barreling down on the linebackers it makes it difficult.  I think that has something to do with it, sure.”

Have you been encouraged by the run defense the last couple of weeks? “I’ve seen an improvement and I think that’s what you’re looking for.  A couple games early in the year they took it to us pretty well.  One that still comes to mind is the Houston game.  I think we’ve solidified some things in there and you see some individual performance that’s better and then that contributes to the team effort and I think that’s what you’re looking for because you have to play good team defense to control the run. I think our coaches have done a good job of emphasizing it and our players, the guys that are in there, have done a better job of executing it.  We still can get a lot better, for sure.”

How about Steelers' running back Rashard Mendenhall? “I think he’s a physical style runner.  In their run scheme, they get a lot of double teams and he finds little creases and I think that’s what he does well.  If you over collapse or over commit he does a good job of bouncing it, which now forces your corners to make tackles.  I think he executes their scheme well and he’s a very consistent runner that can pop a big play when given the opportunity.”

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers QB, on if he will play against Cleveland Browns: 'As long as I can deal with pain'

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Roethlisberger said Thursday that his left ankle, sprained on Dec. 8 against the Browns, was "a little sore."

roethlisberger-paxson-schaefering.jpgSteelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by the Browns' Scott Paxson (bottom) and Brian Schaefering (91) during Pittsburgh's 14-3 win on Dec. 8. Roethlisberger sprained his left ankle on the play, but returned to the game. He missed Pittsburgh's win over St. Louis last Saturday.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn't want his sprained left ankle to keep him out of Pittsburgh's regular-season finale Sunday in Cleveland against the Browns.

"As long as I can deal with pain, I'll be out there," Roethlisberger said Thursday. "I don't want to let the guys down, so I'll do what I can to be out there."

Roethlisberger, who sat out the Steelers' 27-0 win last Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, fully participated in practice again Thursday. He said the ankle, sprained on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh's last meeting with the Browns, was "a little sore."

Roethlisberger was injured against Cleveland when he was sacked in the second quarter by Browns defensive linemen Scott Paxson and Brian Schaefering. He returned to the game and then played all of Pittsburgh's next game, a 20-3 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco on Dec. 19.

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said he was "much more" confident in Roethlisberger's ability to play this Sunday against the Browns after watching the quarterback's mobility improve in Thursday's practice.

Roethlisberger will play if he's healthy, Arians said.

"I want him out there but not at the risk of injuring himself," Arians said. "If he can't move around and get out of the way, there's no sense in getting him out there."

There's plenty at stake against the Browns as the Steelers (11-4) remain in the hunt for the AFC North championship. To win it, they need a win vs. Cleveland and hope the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

If Roethlisberger can't play, 37-year-old Charlie Batch, who threw for 208 yards in the Steelers' win over the Rams, is available.

Guard Doug Legursky (shoulder) and safety Troy Polamalu (knee) sat out for the second straight practice Thursday. Linebacker James Harrison, who sat out Wednesday's practice with a neck injury, and receiver Mike Wallace (ankle), who was limited in practice Wednesday, participated fully Thursday.

Cleveland Cavaliers P.M. links: Running the offense without a hitch, or dribble, pays off

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Cavs' offense during Wednesday night's win at Detroit looked more like what coach Byron Scott wants. Links to more Cavaliers stories.

tristan-thompson.jpgCavaliers forward Tristan Thompson dunks during Cleveland's season-opening loss to Toronto on Monday night. It's the kind of easy basket the Cavs will get more of, if they run their offense as they did during Wednesday night's win in Detroit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have a young nucleus of players who, due to the lockout, weren't afforded the benefits of a lengthy training camp.

The Cavs, with Antawn Jamison now age 35, don't have an established big-time scorer in his prime.

And yet, there can be moments when the team is able to execute coach Byron Scott's relatively sophisticated Princeton Offense.

Cleveland shot 57 percent from the field during its 105-89 win over the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Michigan on Wednesday night.

The offense obviously had its moments.

The blog "Waiting For Next Year" details how the Cavs' offense excelled with ball and player movement and by properly spreading the court. WFNY describes how Cleveland, beginning with a pass by rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, scored consecutive baskets without a dribble: 

.....a set of passes and screens. A look to the wing resulted in Antwan Jamison faking a ball screen before rotating to the corner. Anderon Varejao would follow suit, streaming to the top of the key where he would pull his defender, allowing Jamison to cut, undefended, to the rim for a bounce pass and easy conversion. It was Princeton offense in it’s finest moment, drawing a “text book!” scream of joy from the uber-unfiltered Austin Carr who was able to witness the beauty from his courtside perch.

Following yet another stop on the defensive end, the Cavaliers would hold their opponent to 44 percent shooting while amassing nine steals, Irving led a fast-break attempt, driving to the key before kicking the ball out to the wing where Anthony Parker was ready and waiting.  Irving would roll to the far side of the floor as key-based defenders would flash toward Parker in attempt to nullify any three-point attempt. Again, a streaming Jamison would catch a pass, resulting in a successful lay-up attempt and a foul.

The Cavaliers (1-1) play at Indiana against the Pacers (2-0) on Friday night. Indiana could be one of the NBA's most improved teams and contend for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Tom Reed's story on how point guard Ramon Sessions has added a dimension to his game; his report on how the Cavs bench has played well in both games; his game story on the Cavaliers' win at Detroit; and much more.  

Jump balls

The Pistons' defense failed against the Cavs. Cavs-Pistons game story by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

Cavs small forward Omri Casspi could have a breakout season. From the Bleacher Report.

An analysis of what Kyrie Irving's competition might be for the Rookie of the Year award. On the blog "Fear the Sword."

Cavs 105, Pistons 89 game story by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

It's early, but so far, Cavs rookie forward Tristan Thompson exceeds expectations. Plus, Cavs notes. By the Sports Xchange on FoxSportsOhio.com.

Forward-center Samardo Samuels and Kyrie Irving lead the Cavaliers to victory. By Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

A fan's reaction to the Cavs' win over the Pistons. On Yahoo! Sports.

The Pacers, whom the Cavaliers visit on Friday night, expect to be a deep team this season. However, two of their big men have been injured. By Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.

Cleveland Browns' Colt McCoy talks publicly for first time since concussion diagnosis: 'I want to be here'

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Concussed Browns quarterback Colt McCoy hopes that when the fog clears, he'll still be the Browns' quarterback of the future.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy hopes the crushing helmet-to-face-mask smash from Steelers' linebacker James Harrison on Dec. 8 wasn't the last big impact he'll have in a Browns uniform.

McCoy suffered a concussion on the hit and because of lingering concussion symptoms, he is expected to miss his third straight start Sunday when the Browns host the Steelers. McCoy on Thursday spoke to the media for the first time since being diagnosed with the concussion on Dec. 9.

coltmccoy.JPGView full sizeTrainers help up Browns QB Colt McCoy after James Harrison's helmet-to-face-mask hit Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh.


McCoy is hoping that when the fogs clears and the dust settles, he'll still be the Browns' quarterback of the future.

"It's unfortunate that I wasn't able to play these last two games, but I think that's a question you can ask [coach] Pat [Shurmur] or [General Manager] Tom [Heckert] or [President] Mike [Holmgren]," McCoy said. "Anytime you go through a season like this, every person is going to get evaluated, including me, the quarterback. I think that's the right way to go about things.

"There are two things I can control: One, I can control how hard I work, how hard I prepare. And the second one is I can control how I feel. I want to be here. I love this city. I love my teammates. I'll do anything. I want to be here, so after that, speculation has never gotten me anywhere. I'm a factual guy. That's all I've got."

Pressed later in the interview if he has a sense of how things will go, he said: "I want to be part of the resurrection of the Browns. That's what I'm here for. Aside from that, I don't know anything else."

The Browns have publicly said they'll wait until after the season to make a decision about McCoy's future with the team, but McCoy said he's received good feedback behind the scenes.

"Well, I think right now, throughout the year, you talk and you go over things, and it has been really positive and really good," he said. "But I think, at this point, our team's focus is on finishing strong. Our team's focus is on beating Pittsburgh, and my focus is getting healthy and doing everything I can to be able to contribute this weekend, and then I think those talks will come at the end of the season."

McCoy said he's not afraid his dad's comments to The Plain Dealer damaged his relationship with the Browns. Brad McCoy, a longtime high school football coach, said his son shouldn't have gone back into the game Dec. 8 just two plays after Harrison's hit. Brad McCoy said his son wasn't examined thoroughly enough after the hit and that after the game Colt McCoy didn't remember what happened.

"I have talked to my dad and I have addressed some things with my dad, and what we talk about I'm going to keep private and keep that between us," he said.

Shurmur wasn't shy about saying Thursday that he planned to watch Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor play in Thursday night's Alamo Bowl.

"Oh, yeah, once our day is over and we have the plan in, I'll find a way to watch some of that game, I'm sure," Shurmur said.

Shurmur said he's seen Griffin play this year and that the junior is a tremendous talent.

McCoy declined to answer specific questions about the concussion, including what he does and doesn't remember and what occurred on the sideline. He also declined to specify the nature of the lingering symptoms -- the ones that have prevented him from passing a baseline concussion test and practicing with the team.

"I just don't want to go there, guys," he said. "I really don't want to recreate anything. I don't even want to think about it. I can tell you that I'm feeling a lot better, especially of late. I really feel like I'm coming out of this, and I hope to at least be able to be out there this weekend and help my team."

McCoy also did not want to talk about Harrison, who was suspended for one game for the illegal hit and lost about $73,000 as a result. Asked if the hit was a cheap shot or if he has any animosity toward Harrison, he said: "No, I really have no opinion. I think the league has handled that, and I'm doing the best that I can to move forward and do the best I can to get healthy and get back and help our team."

Sporting a three-week old beard -- a new look for the typically clean-shaven QB -- McCoy looked as if he had emerged from an extended stay in a man cave.

"Well, I really haven't done much, so [the beard] just kind of happens," he said.

He repeatedly said the Browns' medical staff shouldn't be maligned for how it handled things on the sidelines in Pittsburgh.

"Their first priority is safety of the players. I think if you asked anybody in this locker room, they're pro health for the players," McCoy said. "What I can tell you is our medical staff does an outstanding job, and that should never be in question."

McCoy's concussion is one of the worst -- if not the worst -- of the 12 suffered by nine Browns players this season.

Tight end Ben Watson will have missed the final three games of the season because of a concussion suffered against the Steelers, but he said his symptoms were gone a few days after the game and that going on injured reserve was to prevent a fourth concussion this season.

The other players with concussions have missed two games or fewer, including receiver Jordan Norwood, who will miss his second Sunday.

"I can tell you that I'm feeling a lot better and I've made a ton of progress, especially of late, and I feel really good," McCoy said. "I'm really close."

Because of how things were handled in Pittsburgh -- from the time of Harrison's hit until the end of the game -- the NFL ordered a certified athletic trainer to be in the press box at all games. Doctors can also now carry cellphones on the sidelines. The league did not fine the Browns, but the NFL Players Association will decide as early as next week whether to file a grievance against the team.

McCoy might be cleared in time to at least be on the sideline for the Steelers game.

"I'd do anything to be out there and play," he said. "I'd love to. I feel better and [I'm] really trying to be out there this weekend."


Ohio State Buckeyes' Johnathan Hankins a massive defensive lineman with speed, agility

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Playing an SEC team in a bowl for the fourth time in six years, with the Buckeyes facing Florida in the Gator Bowl on Monday, means another round of SEC speed questions for Ohio State. Where that examination truly matters as much as anywhere is on the defensive side of the ball.

hankins.JPGView full sizeOhio State defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins (52) is big. And fast.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Johnathan Hankins knows his adjective. To the Buckeyes, he is "Big Hank." Could he ever be "Fast Hank"?

"Fast Hank would be a beauty," Hankins said Thursday. "But I think Big Hank is natural."

Playing an SEC team in a bowl for the fourth time in six years, with the Buckeyes facing Florida in the Gator Bowl on Monday, means another round of SEC speed questions for Ohio State. Where that examination truly matters as much as anywhere is on the defensive side of the ball -- and among the big guys, not the little ones. When new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer spoke on "The Dan Patrick Show" on the radio recently, he said that, to him, the SEC style means fast defenses. And when he remembered Florida's win against Ohio State in the 2006 national title game, he thought of the Gators' speed on the defensive line and at linebacker.

So watch Big Hank against the Gators, and see if he isn't, at the very least, "Pretty Quick for His Size Hank." As a sophomore and first-year starter, Hankins is third on the Buckeyes in tackles (behind safety C.J. Barnett and linebacker Andrew Sweat) and third among all Big Ten defensive linemen in the same statistic. That's due to his ability to slide down the line of scrimmage and chase down ballcarriers, not just because of his skill at the point of attack.

"I've always loved running down the line," Hankins said after the Buckeyes' second practice in Florida on Thursday morning. "The running back has a choice to cut back, and he'll run into me, and if not, I did my job of running him out of bounds. I live for plays like that.

"I like those tackles right there, because they don't really see you coming, and when they do see you coming, they're surprised."

Hankins' athleticism at his size has led him to be called an SEC-type defensive lineman, at times, the kind of player the Gators see often, but not exactly the skill set the Buckeyes' have on the line every season.

"Quite simply, they're hard to block and hard to keep blocked," Florida offensive coordinator Brian White said of linemen such as Hankins. "It sounds very simple, but really athletic guys that are big, it's hard to contain them over the length of a game."

Hankins dropped weight to play about 335 pounds this season, saying Thursday he was 332 pounds at a recent weigh-in. In the off-season, his plan is to drop more weight to get to about 320 pounds. Maybe Meyer wants his linemen even quicker.

"Whatever he wants. He's from Florida and he likes speed, so I'll give him what I've got," Hankins said. "I want to get fast and be able to chase people down, and have speed and power."

The speed debate is less about 40-yard dash times and more about getting to the football and beating guys to a spot on the field. OSU head coach Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock both talked about pursuit angles, which Heacock hasn't been happy with this year.

"What the angles do is prevent long runs," Heacock said Thursday, "and that's what we have given up a little bit too much of this year. . . . You've got to be a smart football player and maybe realize I'm not as fast as that guy, so I've got to go that way instead of right at him."

Heacock also talked about instincts and compared Hankins, a Detroit native, to former Buckeye defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, whom Heacock recruited out of Florida. At more than 300 pounds, Pickett was a three-year starter at Ohio State from 1998 to 2000 before the St. Louis Rams made him a first-round pick in 2001. He now starts for the Green Bay Packers.

"Hank really moves around very well, and he's very instinctual," Heacock said before mentioning Pickett. "Ryan had great instincts, and that helped him because he felt the blocks and felt the pressure, and then he didn't have to think about things."

The result, according to Heacock, is that players that size can look even quicker than they are. And that's how Hankins has managed to make more than five tackles per game, 64 in 12 starts, from sideline to sideline.

In the last month of the regular season, Hankins was hobbled after hurting his knee, which has forced him to wear a brace.

"It doesn't bother me too much," Hankins said. "But I don't think I look too sweet with it on."

But he'll still be sliding down the line Monday in pursuit of running backs half his size, knowing it's nice to be big but that he still has to be fast enough to get to where he needs to go.

"It's just an adrenaline rush," Hankins said. "It's not too often you see big guys running around like that, but I die for it."

Katy Perry, Russell Brand spotted without wedding rings; Michael Jordan engaged; and more

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The tabloids see trouble for married celebs Katy Perry and Russell Brand. Plus, basketball icon Michael Jordan gets engaged, Anne Hathaway spills the beans on "The Dark Knight Rises" and more in The Morning After.

katy-perry-russell-brand.jpgSinger Katy Perry and actor Russell Brand attend a Grammys party in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, 2010.

Singer Katy Perry and British comedian Russell Brand ("Arthur"), who married in October 2010, are the subject of breakup rumors after both have been spotted recently without their wedding bands.

Also fueling the tabloid talk is an Us magazine story that claimed the two spent Christmas continents apart after a bad argument.

Neither star had commented on the most recent rumors, though Perry took to Twitter just last month to complain about the constant speculation.

"First I'm pregnant & then I'm divorced. What am I All My Children?!" she Tweeted then.

Funnyman Brand dismissed rumors of relationship trouble during a recent appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

"There are always rumors, aren't there? In the end, you have to just not engage with Internet technology, which is difficult because a lot of the nude women websites I quite enjoy," he quipped.

"I am really happily married," he added. "I'm married to Katy. Perpetually, until death do us part was the pledge. I'm still alive."

Engaged

michael-jordan-yvette-prieto.jpgMichael Jordan and Yvette Prieto watch the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats compete in the NBA playoffs in Orlando, Fla., in April 2010.

Former basketball superstar Michael Jordan is engaged, according to the Associated Press and other reports.

Jordan, 48, proposed to his girlfriend, Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto, 32, over the Christmas weekend. The two have been dating for three years.

Jordan was previously married to Juanita Vanoy for 17 years; they divorced in 2006. They have three children: Jeffrey Michael, 23; Marcus James, 21; and Jasmine, 19.

No wedding date was announced.

More around the Web

anne-hathaway.jpgAnne Hathaway

• "The Dark Knight Rises" co-star Anne Hathaway discusses her take on Catwoman in a SPOILER-filled interview in the Los Angeles Times -- which also reveals new details about a key scene in the movie. [Third warning: It's got major spoilers!]

Ashton Kutcher's rep refuted speculation he's dating writer-director Lorene Scafaria ("Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist") after Kutcher Tweeted a picture of the two and his business partner on the streets of Italy this week.

The rep told People that Kutcher and Scafaria are just friends and "are working on a potential project together about an Italian soccer team."

Kutcher and wife Demi Moore announced their split just over a month ago.

• Singer Kelly Clarkson drew angry responses this week after Tweeting her support for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul.

• Entertainment Weekly has a gallery of "Saturday Night Live's" best and worst moments in 2011.

Lake Erie Monsters' Hugh Jessiman, Trevor Cann excel in win

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The Monsters have been resilient this season, rebounding with authority after particularly bad losses.

lake erie monsters logo

The Monsters have been resilient this season, rebounding with authority after particularly bad losses.

The Monsters were at it again Thursday night. Only this time, the resilience came with an interesting twist: They rebounded from a problematic victory.

Hugh Jessiman – Hugh else? – scored in the second period to fuel a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies at The Q. Backup goalie Trevor Cann, in his first start since Dec. 16, made 25 saves in a scintillating performance.

The weeknight crowd of 9,286 provided serious energy from opening faceoff. Among those in attendance was Browns running back Peyton Hillis. The Madden cover boy didn't merely show his beard and split – he sat among the masses and stayed deep into the third period.

Hillis and the faithful watched as the Monsters improved to 15-15-1-1. Lake Erie, in third place in the Western Conference North Division, hasn't been above .500.

The Marlies (16-12-3-1) are in first place in the North, one point ahead of Rochester and four clear of Lake Erie.

“At this time of year, you start looking at the standings,” Monsters coach David Quinn said. “We've had plenty of adversity, but we're right there. We're in the hunt.”

Wednesday night at The Q, the Monsters defeated Grand Rapids, 6-5, in overtime. For Quinn and his players, though, it felt like a loss. Grand Rapids had rallied from a 4-0 deficit to force OT and made the hosts look bad doing it.

Quinn was disgusted with his club's lack of effort for the vast majority of the contest. He had no such concerns Thursday because the Monsters played as if the Marlies stole their last can of Who Hash.

“A lot of guys had much better nights than they did Wednesday,” Quinn said. “Other than the power play, I'm happy with the way we played. I'm proud of the way we competed.”

Despite a strong work ethic and high level of physicality, the Monsters were outshot, 26-11. One night earlier, the Griffins held a 44-25 advantage. Yet the Monsters secured all four points available.

When a team has Jessiman, it can overcome all sorts of obstacles. Jessiman is among the hottest players in the American Hockey League, having scored 15 goals in his past 20 games after beginning the season with one in eight.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

Brock Lesnar-Alistair Overeem victor gets title fight: MMA Insider

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Lesnar, a former WWE wrestling star and NFL football player, was the designated heavyweight golden child for the UFC. He won the title in only his fourth UFC fight, beating Randy Couture at UFC 91 in November 2008. Two things — a second bout with diverticulitis and a stunning upset loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010 — put a block in that plan.

brock_lesnar2.jpgBrock Lesnar, a former WWE wrestling star and NFL football player, was the designated heavyweight golden child for the UFC.

A wall-sized photo of Muhammad Ali dominates UFC President Dana White’s Las Vegas office, evidence of the former boxing promoter’s affection for the big guys in the sport.

It’s also a hint as to why so much is riding on former UFC heavyweight titleholder Brock Lesnar’s five-round match against Dutch fighting machine Alistair Overeem tonight in Las Vegas.

How important is it? Well, the UFC 141 main event is five rounds. Generally, the UFC reserves five-rounders for title fights, which this is not. It’s also been moved to a Friday night — rather than the usual Saturday — ostensibly in deference to New Year’s Eve, but primarily for the added cachet.

Lesnar, a former WWE wrestling star and NFL football player, was the designated heavyweight golden child for the UFC. He won the title in only his fourth UFC fight, beating Randy Couture at UFC 91 in November 2008. Two things — a second bout with diverticulitis and a stunning upset loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010 — put a block in that plan.

But Velasquez was demolished by Junior dos Santos in November in the first UFC broadcast on free TV. Tonight’s UFC 141 is to set up a title fight featuring either Lesnar or Overeem vs. dos Santos.

Lesnar, has only seven professional fights, and has lost two of them. He fights like the defensive tackle he was for the Minnesota Vikings, relying on brute strength. But Overeem, who is making his UFC debut, has 47 mixed martial arts fights worldwide . . . and 14 kickboxing fights. The British-born, Dutch-raised Overeem is a master of kickboxing, muy thay and jiu-jitsu. He’s lost only four kickboxing bouts, and 11 of his MMA fights.

Key to that is that few of his losses have come since he decided move up from 205 pounds to heavyweight, carrying a chiseled, evenly distributed 265 pounds on his 6-5 frame supported by tree trunks masquerading as legs.

Lesnar is the same sculpted weight, but he is at least two inches shorter. And he has a bodybuilder physique, all chest, shoulders, arms and neck, with sharply tapered legs. Big as he is, he looks like a martini glass.

Neither man expects tonight’s main event to go the distance.

“I’m well prepared for five rounds,” Overeem told reporters in a conference call last week, “but looking at myself, the type of fighter that I am, looking at Brock, the type of fighter he is . . . we’re not the type of guys who back up.

“We’re fighters. We want to finish fights,” Overeem said. “I don’t see really going past the first or second round. Second round, maximum.”

“I feel the same,” Lesnar agreed. “This is a heavyweight fight that we’re both going in to finish. I don’t foresee it going five rounds.”

That’s probably accurate, because of the intensity of the two fighters and because each is facing some outside-the-ring demons.

Overeem was training with Couture’s Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, but flew back to Holland earlier this month to be with his mother, who is going through cancer treatment. Overeem told reporters she is doing well, but picking up and moving his training just days before the match has to play on his mind.

Lesnar lost about two feet of colon to surgery after a second round with diverticulitis. And earlier this month, he was charged with hunting violations — leaving a deer carcass behind — in Canada, where he has a ranch. That case will be heard next month, and, though it’s unlikely, he could face as much as 15 months behind bars.

He did not address that case with reporters, but the day he was charged he missed a scheduled one-on-one interview with The Plain Dealer.

Going into the fight, Lesnar has been ruled the underdog, which he told reporters he doesn’t mind, even if he doesn’t understand it. He wants a shot at dos Santos, and realizes he has to go through Overeem to get it. Likewise, Overeem is focused on Lesnar but has thoughts about a title fight against dos Santos.

“If I do dwell on it, I think stylewise, dos Santos and me is going to be an excellent fight, striker versus striker,” Overeem told reporters.

Note: He did not say, “might be.” He said. “Is.”

Heavy, man.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: cyarborough@plaind.com, 216-999-4534


Turnovers, rebounding cost Zips a win vs. VCU

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What had the makings of a comfortable victory against the VCU Rams ended with a 76-75 overtime loss as the Zips ultimately paid for their many turnovers, paid for not pounding the ball inside, and paid for failure to consistently rebound the final 15 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime.

akron zips logo

It was a painful lesson. Only time will tell if the Akron Zips learn from it. What had the makings of a comfortable victory against the VCU Rams ended with a 76-75 overtime loss as the Zips ultimately paid for their many turnovers, paid for not pounding the ball inside, and paid for failure to consistently rebound the final 15 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime.

“I can’t remember being this disappointed in an outcome since Miami banked it in on us,” Akron head coach Keith Dambrot said in reference to the Zips’ 2007 MAC Tournament loss.

A clean layup with 2.7 seconds left in the game by VCU’s Darius Theus sealed the win.

“I tried to get it off as quick as I can,” Theus said, recognizing it was one of the very few clean looks Akron’s defense allowed all night with the Zips’ 7-0 Zeke Marshall getting six blocked shots and altering numerous others.

With 15:53 to play, Akron (7-6) was in the midst of a second-half run that saw it extend a 36-32 halftime lead with a commanding 24-14 advantage on the boards, combined with 6-of-13 3-point shooting, even as they already had 15 of their game-high 20 turnovers. A 10-point Akron lead would grow to 54-42 with 12:01 to play. But the negative signs were already starting to show before 3,993 fans at Rhodes Arena.

VCU (10-3) was suddenly hitting the boards harder. Because of that, the Rams were going to the line, shooting one-and-one with 11:04 to play. Slowly, VCU chipped away at the lead. By the end of the game, VCU had won the rebounding battle, 36-35, doubling up the Zips, 22-11, in the critical late minutes.

And even as the Zips shot 10-of-20 on 3-pointers, two long-distance Akron misses — one at the end of regulation and another in overtime, plus missing the front ends of two critical one-and-ones down the stretch — allowed VCU to keep the game close.

With 1:31 to play, VCU center Juvonte Reddic picked up his fourth foul of the game, yet Marshall (10 points, three rebounds) never put up a shot those final 91 seconds as the scored was tied, 70-70, at the end of regulation.

Neither team had more than a two-point lead in overtime, with the Zips going up, 75-74, on a pair of Marshall free throws with 19 seconds left. Following a timeout, the Rams went for the last shot. And with 2.7 seconds left, they made the play they had to make. Akron’s defense let Theus slide unguarded along the baseline, as teammate Bradford Burgess drove down the lane. His pass to Theus was in stride, and Theus put it off the glass and in for the winner before the Zips could react.

“I can’t say we ran it to perfection,” VCU coach Shaka Smart said. “But they [Akron] lost Darius. He got it off, and we won the game.”

It was one of the few shots Marshall didn’t go after as the play was behind him after he stepped up into the lane to stop Burgess.

“I thought the last play they fumbled and bumbled it around, then they threw it to their best player,” Dambrot said. “We just turned our head. They made the play and we didn’t.”

Overall, Akron’s defense was stellar throughout, holding the Rams to 39.7 percent shooting from the field, including 5-of-19 on 3-pointers. And as a learning opportunity, it bodes well for the rest of Akron’s season.

“VCU confirmed we’re a scary team,” Dambrot said. “Nobody is going to want to play us in March.”

But right now, the Zips still have a ways to go to get there.

Akron’s Nik Cvetinovic led all scorers with 20 points. Akron’s Brian Walsh and Alex Abreu had 11. VCU also had four players in double figures, led by Burgess with 19. Theus finished with 10.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexand@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH (10-3) — Theus 5-14 0-0 10, Reddic 3-8 1-2 7, Burgess 4-13 10-10 19, Daniels 0-4 0-0 0, Haley 2-2 3-6 7, Weber 4-8 2-2 11, Okereafor 1-3 0-0 2, Brandenberg 4-6 1-2 11, Graham 2-5 4-9 9, Hinton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-63 21-31 76.

AKRON (7-6) — Walsh 3-5 2-2 11, Abreu 4-12 0-2 11, Cvetinovic 8-12 4-6 21, Gilliam 1-2 0-0 3, Marshall 2-6 6-7 10, Treadwell 1-3 0-0 2, McClanahan 2-5 1-1 6, Harney 2-5 0-0 4, Diggs 3-6 0-1 7. Totals 26-56 13-19 75.

Halftime—Akron 36-32. End Of Regulation—Tied 70. 3-Point Goals—VCU 5-19 (Brandenberg 2-2, Weber 1-2, Graham 1-2, Burgess 1-5, Reddic 0-1, Okereafor 0-1, Theus 0-2, Daniels 0-4), Akron 10-20 (Walsh 3-4, Abreu 3-7, Diggs 1-1, Gilliam 1-2, Cvetinovic 1-2, McClanahan 1-3, Harney 0-1). Fouled Out—Reddic. Rebounds—VCU 36 (Burgess 7), Akron 35 (Cvetinovic 7). Assists—VCU 13 (Theus 5), Akron 15 (Abreu, Cvetinovic 4). Total Fouls—VCU 21, Akron 20. A—3,993.


Robert Griffin III mum about draft plans as Baylor wins Alamo Bowl

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The Heisman Trophy winner wasn't dazzling Thursday night, but he didn't need to be as No. 15 Baylor still pulled out an incredible 67-56 victory over Washington. If it was RG3's final showcase before jumping to the NFL, it was a gripping goodbye to watch.

Robert Griffin III, Josh ShirleyBaylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, left, is brought down by Washington's Josh Shirley during the first half of the Alamo Bowl college football game, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

SAN ANTONIO — If that really was Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III's final college game, what an incredible way to go out.

Just ask him.

"We went out in style!" Griffin shouted to his teammates.

It was amazing the Baylor quarterback had any breath left at all. Not after a record-shattering Alamo Bowl that might not only be remembered as the highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history, but also possibly as Griffin's last addition to his legacy in Waco.

The AP Player of the Year wasn't dazzling Thursday night, but he didn't need to be as No. 15 Baylor still pulled out an incredible 67-56 victory over Washington.

If it was RG3's final showcase before jumping to the NFL, it was a gripping goodbye to watch. One of the nation's most electrifying players was upstaged by an even more exciting nail-biter that shattered the previous record for points in regulation set in the 2001 GMAC Bowl.

Fans showered Griffin with chants of "One more year! One more year!" as he paraded the Alamo Bowl trophy around the field. He stopped at the front-row stands and showed off his prize to his mother, who has already been looking at her son's NFL draft prospects.

Griffin said he'll start looking, too, soon enough.

For now, there was still the craziness of this game to sort through.

"I want Baylor nation to enjoy this," Griffin said. "It's not about me. I've got about two weeks. I'll enjoy this the next day, and then the next day, and then I'll make it."

The previous bowl record for a regulation game was 102 points in the 2001 GMAC Bowl between Marshall and East Carolina. That game went to double overtime and ended with a combined 125 points, which still stands as the overall bowl record.

Baylor, which a bowl game for the first time since 1992, and Washington (7-6) also set a bowl record for total offense with 1,397 yards.

"We just knew we needed to score," Washington quarterback Keith Price said. "We needed to score fast, just to give our defense a boost."

Griffin had an unremarkable night, throwing just one touchdown pass and running for another score. But Terrance Ganaway starred ably in his place, rushing for 200 yards and five touchdowns. His last was a 43-yard run with 2:28 left to seal Baylor's first 10-win season since 1980.

Price outplayed his Heisman counterpart, going 23 for 27 with 438 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for another three scores.

"I think we'll have a hard time this bowl season to see a quarterback play as well as he did," Washington coach Steve Sarkisian.

Griffin was 24 of 33 for 295 yards — and his only touchdown throw came on the game's opening drive.

Blown out in four other games against ranked opponents this season, the Huskies finally made one interesting. Not that it started that way after Baylor ran up 245 yards of offense alone in the first quarter — awful even by the standards of Washington's defense, which is among the nation's worst.

Price, a sophomore who threw a school-record 29 touchdown passes in his first year as the starter, began cutting into a 21-7 deficit with a 12-yard scoring strike to James Johnson. Seven minutes later, Washington tied it when Devin Aguilar somersaulted over the goal line after catching a 1-yard lob.

The overwhelming crowd of Baylor fans — decked in green-and-gold Heisman shirts and armed with signs such as "Superman wears RG3 socks" — stood in stunned silenced. That gave way to disbelieving gasps on the next series, when the typically sure-handed Griffin fumbled after getting popped by Andrew Hudson.

After that, it was practically a free-for-all of big plays.

A 56-yard touchdown dash by Chris Polk. An 80-yard touchdown catch by Washington's Jermaine Kearse two plays into the second half. An 89-yard scoring rumble Ganaway. Kearse again, catching and darting for 60 yards before getting dragged down, setting up Price's fourth touchdown toss the next play.

Back and forth, back and forth. One after another. In all, five plays covered 50 or more yards, three of them for scores.

"That was crazy," Baylor coach Art Briles said.

For an Alamo Bowl short on drama and light on matchups in recent years, it was a thrilling scoring spree that overshadowed the mere novelty of featuring the Heisman winner. And that in itself was a rarity for a bowl of this stature. Not since Ty Detmer took BYU to the Holiday Bowl in 1990, had a Heisman winner played in a bowl before New Year's Day.

Plenty came to see this one.

Anticipating a surge of Heisman gawkers, Alamo Bowl officials added 800 temporary seats and opened up others with obstructed views that required ticket-buyers to sign a form acknowledging the poor sightlines. Those seats sold, anyway, and the announced attendance of 65,256 was the fifth-largest in the bowl's history.

Others had better seats.

That includes Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, who kicked for Baylor in the late 1980s but was here on business scouting Griffin in case the fourth-year junior enters the draft. Griffin's parents, two sisters and fiancee watched from front-row seats.

Griffin acknowledged this week his parents are looking at his draft prospects but denies having any substantial talks with them.

Win or lose, it was an impressive finale for Washington after stumbling into the postseason losing four of its last six. Particularly against a ranked team after then-Top 25 opponents Nebraska, Stanford, Oregon and USC all crushed the Huskies by an average of 24 points.


Medina's Matt Hammer wins in home tournament

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Wrestlers are incredible history buffs. While they might not be able to recite what they ate for dinner last night, they can tell you of past losses that help turned present matches into victories.

Medina's Matt Hammer rides atop West Holmes' Max Rohskopf en route to winning the 138 lb. class at the Medina Invitational Tournament on Thurs. Dec. 29, 2011. - (Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer)

Wrestlers are incredible history buffs.

While they might not be able to recite what they ate for dinner last night, they can tell you of past losses that help turned present matches into victories.

They also know the lineage of their sport.

Medina's Matt Hammer (138 pounds) came into Thursday's final with West Holmes state placer Max Rohskopf cognizant of the history he could make in his own gymnasium.

The two-time state placer knew the Bees hadn't had many individual champions at the Medina Invitational Tournament, so when he hit the mat with Rohskopf, he was all business.

"It's always been a goal of mine," said Hammer after his 6-1 win in the final. "It's my favorite tournament. The atmosphere and being at home drives me. It's unexplainable."

What isn't unexplainable is that Hammer became the third Medina wrestler to win a MIT championship in the past 16 years (Mike Griffith, 2009, Mark Balog, 1995).

A lot of that, however, had to do with his 2010 showing.

A second seed as a junior, Hammer lost his first match and had to battle back just to finish sixth.

"I felt almost embarrassed," Hammer said. "I was the second-seeded kid and lost right off the bat. It was crazy."

That embarrassment turned into complete elation this year when Hammer beat 2010 state runner-up Mitch Newhouse of Massillon Perry and Michigan state champion Logan Marcicki of Detroit Catholic Central en route to his match with Rohskopf.

"I'm very proud of him not just because of the fact he won it, but because he had a very hard road against Newhouse in the quarters and came back to beat a Michigan state champ soundly," Bees coach Chad Gilmore said. "He's finally where he needs to be and is doing a good job."

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy's Nathan Tomasello (113) had a similar situation, but it happened two years ago.

With two-time World bronze medalist and four-time CVCA state champion Harry Lester in the chair Thursday, Tomasello never forgot the past in an 8-3 win over Lancaster's Jacob Spearman.

The win marked the second time Tomasello has won at Medina.

The one loss at the MIT? That came in a 3-0 defeat to St. Edward's Dean Heil as a freshman.

It's a match Tomasello hasn't forgotten and one the two-time state champion has used as motivation some 700 days later.

"I try to never look back, to always look forward," tournament MVP Tomasello said. "But that loss helped me throughout the season.

"I work on everything and try to improve. You can't take a match for granted. This is a tough tournament. It means a lot to have won two of these."

Tomasello wasn't the only wrestler making sure the MIT had a Royal blue feel to it as Matt Meadows (220) won a title for CVCA as well.

The two-time state placer drew Greg Sebastian of Richmond (Mich.) in the final and pinned the Michigan state placer in 3:12.

"We had a great weekend," said Meadows, who was one of seven placers for CVCA. "We had a couple of guys picking up some big upsets.

"We've prepared for this since the beginning of the season. We wanted to prove we could hang with the Division II schools [the Royals are up a division] and I think we did that."

Brad Bournival is a freelance writer in North Royalton.


132-pounders must grapple with thought of rematch at Brecksville Holiday Invitational

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Rematches are in the eye of the beholder. Go figure who has an advantage, the winner or the loser of the first get-together.

Rematches are in the eye of the beholder.

Go figure who has an advantage, the winner or the loser of the first get-together.

Seniors Kagan Squire of Wadsworth and Brent Fickel of Padua will find out today how that rematch theory works out. Both 132-pound wrestlers did their thing by winning three matches at the 51st Brecksville Holiday Invitational on Thursday at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School.

That sets up today's semifinal, a rematch of the bout Fickel won, 3-1, in the consolations at the Walsh Ironman held three weeks ago. It will also match 2010 Brecksville champions, Fickel at 130 and Squire at 125.

"Yeah, I knew he was here," said Squire, a state runner-up the past two years. "But you have to stay away from getting there first. You can't look past any opponent."

After getting past Twinsburg senior Mitch Mickovic, 3-2, in the second round, Squire handled Brecksville sophomore Austin Strnad in his quarterfinal. The Ohio University recruit had to wait a few minutes to see if Fickel would be his next opponent.

That turned out to be the case, when Fickel won, 7-0, against senior Thomas McLaughlin from Nelsonville-York.

"He took me down in the last 10 seconds," Squire said of the Fickel match. "I lost my head a little bit. I've got to wrestle more of my match. I tend to get tight and hold back. I've lost twice this year. Those are the ones you remember."

Fickel, who will attend Ashland University, wasn't holding back as he won his first two matches by a combined score of 34-5. He has lost three matches this season, all at the Ironman.

"No, not really," said Fickel, when asked if he was looking ahead to meeting Squire. "I had a bunch of matches before that. During the holiday, I was training, but I kept my mind off wrestling and was recovering.

"That was a strong, tough opponent [in McLaughlin]. I like whoever is in front of me. [Squire] has an arm and a leg, he's the same as [everyone]."

In the other semifinal at 132, junior Nick Montgomery from Madison will face junior Drew McDougle from Gahanna Lincoln.

At 182, defending state champion Mike Baker from Twinsburg and Brooks Climmons, the state champ from Pope, Ga., remained on a collision course in the finals. Baker faces sophomore Gunner Lay from Loveland and Climmons meets senior Brocky Leidecker from Teays Valley in the semifinals.

With four wrestlers in the semifinals and six in the consolations, the visitors from Georgia lead the team standings with 99.5 points. Oregon Clay has 98 points, with three semifinalists and nine in consolations, followed by Wadsworth at 88.5 (three/eight), Milan Edison at 79.5 (three/six) and host Brecksville at 75 (two/seven).

St. Ignatius senior George DiCamillo won three matches to extend his winning streak to 51 and continued his quest to become the fourth wrestler to win this prestigious event four times. The state champion at 112 last year, DiCamillo defeated Lake Catholic sophomore Anthony Tutolo on a major decision, 11-1, at 120 in the quarterfinals. He will face Amherst senior Mark Matos, a state qualifier, in the semifinals.

Today's consolations begin at 10 a.m., with semifinals at approximately 1 p.m. The finals begin at 6:30 p.m.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

Blue Streaks muscle Lancers, win tournament

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The Magnificat basketball team that routed the Indian Rocks (Fla.) girls by 38 points on Wednesday was an imposter because hitting 13 treys just isn't its style. The Blue Streaks who defeated host Gilmour Academy, 68-46, in Thursday's championship game of the Lancers Holiday Tournament were vintage. They rotated the ball, played pesky defense, were solid under the glass...

The Magnificat basketball team that routed the Indian Rocks (Fla.) girls by 38 points on Wednesday was an imposter because hitting 13 treys just isn't its style.

The Blue Streaks who defeated host Gilmour Academy, 68-46, in Thursday's championship game of the Lancers Holiday Tournament were vintage. They rotated the ball, played pesky defense, were solid under the glass and were just quicker.

"Our transition game is our best offense and we were able to do that," Magnificat coach Meghann Hubach said.

The Blue Streaks (7-2), ranked No. 7 in The Plain Dealer, took a 12-0 lead out of the gate.

The 13th-ranked Lancers (7-2) never knew what hit them, committing seven first-quarter turnovers which resulted in six Blue Streak points and a 19-9 lead. A string of 11 straight points midway through the second quarter propelled Magnificat to a 42-18 halftime advantage.

"They beat us down the floor," said Gilmour coach Bob Beutel, whose team finished with 17 turnovers. "We didn't do a good job at picking people up but we brought a little more intensity in the second half.

"I think we might have tied or even won the second half, not that it means much for a team with a fractured ego."

The Blue Streaks had nine players score, including three in double digits: Stephanie Haas (21 points), Maddy Barry (17) and tournament MVP Paige Wise (14).

"We wanted to come out strong and speed up the tempo of the game," said Wise, who totaled 37 points and six 3-pointers over the two days. "We passed the ball well, boxed out and played help defense."

Haas accounted for eight of Magnificat's 18 assists and Barry had a team-high eight rebounds along with four steals.

"Maddy Barry really hit the boards well and our guards contributed," said Hubach, whose team held a 37-21 edge in rebounds. "We knew No. 41 [6-0 Abbey Deckard] and 42 [6-3 Jess Janota] were their go-to players so we had to neutralize them."

Janota was stellar with a team-high 18 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks while Deckard chipped in five points, three rebounds and three steals before fouling out late in the game. "That's a nice ballclub," Beutel said. "They're quick, fundamental and very, very physical."

In other words, just vintage Magnificat basketball.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665

On Twitter:@BobFortuna

Mark Murray leads St. Edward to win in Myrtle Beach: High School Roundup

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Forward Mark Murray scored 22 points to lead St. Edward to an 88-71 boys basketball win over Myrtle Beach in Thursday's second round of the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Eagles (4-3) shot 59 percent from the field, after barely shooting 30 percent in their 52-46 loss to nationally ranked St. Augustine (New Orleans) on Wednesday.

Forward Mark Murray scored 22 points to lead St. Edward to an 88-71 boys basketball win over Myrtle Beach in Thursday's second round of the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Eagles (4-3) shot 59 percent from the field, after barely shooting 30 percent in their 52-46 loss to nationally ranked St. Augustine (New Orleans) on Wednesday.

Murray was 8-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 on 3-point shots. Forward Tim Stainbrook scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, and forward Myles Hamilton made all eight of his foul shots while netting 14 points.

Willoughby South 79, Euclid 55

Kareem Hunt's 17 points led five double-figure scorers for the Rebels (7-2) in their win at the Brush Tournament. South's Harry Chakirelis and Drew Schaller scored 15 points each.

Brush 74, Berea 61

Forward Curtis Oakley played strong inside with 31 points and guard Jameel Moore provided outside punch with 20 points as the Arcs (6-0) earned a win at their Brush Tournament. The Arcs played without 6-7 Pharaoh Brown, who was playing football at the Offense-Defense High School All-American Bowl in Texas.

Girls basketball

Cuyahoga Heights 42, Brunswick 28

Deana Lewis scored 16 points, and the Redskins (7-1) allowed just nine second-half points in their nonleague home win.

Cleveland Heights 57, Geneva 52

Ashauti Abshaw scored 24 points and collected 10 rebounds as the Tigers (7-1) won the championship game of their Hoopin' in the Heights tournament. Becky Depp's 23 points, including five 3-pointers, led Geneva (7-1).

St. Vincent-St. Mary 51, Youngstown Ursuline 49

Kiley May netted 17 points and SVSM (5-2) held off a late Ursuline rally to earn the nonleague road win.

Wrestling

Vermilion Holiday Tournament

Brookside finished first in the 10-team field with 248 points. Brandon Bellman (120 pounds), Matt Thomas (145) and Josh Amburgey (285) won individual championships for the Cardinals.

Elyria Catholic (234) finished second, with the help of individual titles for Tyler Filiaggi (152), Luther Washington (160), Lucas Ball (170) and Adam Kuchta (220).

Several wrestlers went undefeated, but Clearview's Mike Hollingsworth (132) was the lone individual to go 9-0.

Gymnastics

Solon 129.2, Cuyahoga Falls 129.1

Freshman Olivia Bell keyed the Comets' dramatic win, placing first in the beam (9.05), vault (8.7), floor exercise (9.25) and the all-around (35.0). Nicole Rozsa of Cuyahoga Falls won the bars routine (8.5). Rozsa (34.5) and her sister and teammate, Stephanie (33.1), finished second and third, respectively, in the all-around competition.

Cuyahoga Falls was assessed a costly .2 points penalty when, after the start of a bars routine, it failed to pull the mat away from the action as is instructed in the rules.

Ice hockey

Shaker Heights 7, Rocky River 1

Mike Bartley, the winningest coach in Ohio high school hockey history, got his 600th career win as the Raiders claimed the Cleveland Heights Tournament championship. Tyler Straffon scored two goals for Shaker Heights and Eric Sterin, named the tournament's Most Outstanding Goalie, had 30 saves. Tournament MVP Jacob Shick scored one Raiders goal.

Chagrin Falls 4, North Olmsted 2

Charlie Winovich scored two goals and goalkeeper Don Jackson made 23 saves as the Tigers won the championship game of their Chagrin Falls Tournament.

NCAA ruling continues to influence prep events: High School Boys Basketball Insider

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The NCAA's decision to prohibit Division I schools from hosting high school events promoted or sponsored by a third party continues to have widespread fallout. Tournaments across the country, including three in Northeast Ohio, have been affected. Some events have been moved, while other have been canceled.

The NCAA's decision to prohibit Division I schools from hosting high school events promoted or sponsored by a third party continues to have widespread fallout.

Tournaments across the country, including three in Northeast Ohio, have been affected. Some events have been moved, while other have been canceled.

Thanks to Baldwin-Wallace College, Walsh University and Garfield Heights, the three biggest events in the area will be played with slight changes.

The Villa Holiday Classic, originally scheduled for the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State, has kept its original date (Jan. 7) but will be played at Garfield Heights.

Shaker Heights, the top-ranked team in The Plain Dealer Top 25, will play John Hay at 5:30 p.m., followed by sixth-ranked Garfield Heights facing 19th-ranked John F. Kennedy at approximately 7:30 p.m. Promoter Patrick Walsh said tickets are $12 and are good for both games.

"The whole thing has been a challenge," Walsh said. "It's a shame the kids won't get an opportunity to play on a college floor."

The Scholastic Play-By-Play event, originally set for Jan. 8 at CSU, has been reduced to an eight-team event and will be played at B-W's Ursprung Gymnasium. Padua and 17th-ranked Kenston will play at noon; followed by fourth-ranked St. Edward vs. Warren Harding at 1:45 p.m.; ninth-ranked St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. 14th-ranked St. Ignatius at 3:30 p.m.; and third-ranked Cleveland Heights vs. seventh-ranked Villa Angela-St. Joseph at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are $12 and are good for all four games.

Promoter Jeremy Treatman said Brush, Mentor, St. Peter Chanel and Glenville dropped out.

Down the line: The Dunk 4 Diabetes event, originally scheduled for the University of Akron's Rhodes Arena on Jan. 29, has been moved to Walsh University to comply with the NCAA ruling. The six-game event's marquee game is St. Edward against nationally ranked Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, featuring former Walsh Jesuit standout Evan Payne. Other ranked teams in the event are Benedictine, Stow, VASJ, Brush and St. Ignatius.

Setback in Stow: The Bulldogs, ranked 10th by The Plain Dealer Top 25, suffered a temporary setback when it was discovered 6-6 point guard David Walker, a Northeastern recruit and arguably the best player in Summit County, has a small fracture in his left wrist.

Walker, who averaged 15 points, six assists and four rebounds in winning the Northeast Ohio Conference MVP Award last season, is expected to miss about two weeks. His running mate at guard, Kyle Scelza, more than picked up the slack Tuesday when he tied the school record with 11 3-pointers and scored 38 points in a 65-39 win over visiting Kent Roosevelt.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Eric Steinbach's injury has hurt the Cleveland Browns the most, says Tony Grossi (SBTV)

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The Cleveland Browns have had plenty of injuries this season, but which injury has hurt the Browns the most? Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Branson Wright and Chuck Yarborough.


Today's guest on SBTV is Cleveland Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi. Wright and Yarborough search high and wide for today's "Hey Tony" questions.


Joe Thomas made his fifth straight Pro Bowl and Grossi tells us why Thomas deserved the honor. Grossi explains why the Browns defense has had issues with the run, and did any Brown players, besides Thomas, deserve to start in the Pro Bowl?


This is the last SBTV for 2011, and the SBTV team wishes you all a Happy New Year.


 

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