The Miami Heat forward popped the question to his high school sweetheart on Saturday night, doing so at a party to celebrate both New Year's Eve and his 27th birthday, which was Friday.

AP FileMiami Heat basketball player LeBron James, right, sits with his girlfriend Savannah Brinson during a charity event in March 2011.

MIAMI - LeBron James and longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson are engaged.

A representative for James confirmed the news to The Associated Press on Sunday morning, a few hours after close friend Chris Paul and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison were among those tweeting their congratulations.

The Miami Heat forward popped the question to his high school sweetheart on Saturday night, doing so at a party to celebrate both New Year's Eve and his 27th birthday, which was Friday.

James and Brinson are the parents of two sons.

No wedding date was announced. James and the Heat were playing host to the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

Both teams are 6-6. Much of the interest in this game centers on Ohio State's recent coaching hire of Urban Meyer, who was Florida's coach from 2005-10.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerSenior center Mike Brewster (50) will complete his standout Ohio State career and quarterback Braxton Miller (5) will finish his freshman season when the Buckeyes play Florida in Monday's Gator Bowl.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State's Buckeyes and Florida's Gators will play in a bowl game on Monday.

In most seasons, that would be a high-stakes matchup.

Not this time, when the teams play the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. One thing we know for sure is that one of the perennial powerhouse college football teams will finish the 2011 season with a losing record.

Both Ohio State and Florida are 6-6. The Buckeyes went 3-5 in the Big Ten and the Gators were 3-5 in the SEC.

Much of the attention paid to this game centers around Urban Meyer. Ohio State has hired former Florida coach Meyer as its next coach, though he won't be on the sidelines for the Gator Bowl. Leading the Buckeyes will be Luke Fickell, who served as the team's interim coach this season and will stay at OSU as a member of Meyer's staff.

Fickell replaced Jim Tressel as the Buckeyes coach prior to the season. Tressel was forced to resign in the wake of the infamous memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal, which led to the premature departure from OSU of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and multiple-game suspensions for several other key players.

Meyer stepped down as Florida's coach, citing health concerns and the desire to spend more time with his family, after the 2010 season. He had five years remaining on his Gators' contract, but gave that up and joined ESPN as an analyst. Meyer coached Florida to national titles in the 2006 and 2008 seasons. The Gators routed Ohio State, 41-14, in the 2006 season national championship game.

Ohio State's 2011 game results, in order: 42-0 win over Akron; 27-22 win over Toledo; 24-6 loss at Miami (Fla.); 37-17 win over Colorado; 10-7 loss to Michigan State; 34-27 loss at Nebraska; 17-7 win at Illinois; 33-29 win over Wisconsin; 34-20 win over Indiana; 26-23 loss (overtime) at Purdue; 20-14 loss to Penn State; 40-34 loss at Michigan.

Florida's results, in order: 41-3 win over Florida Atlantic; 39-0 win over UAB; 33-23 win over Tennessee; 48-10 win at Kentucky; 38-10 loss to Alabama; 41-11 loss at LSU; 17-6 loss at Auburn; 24-20 loss to Georgia; 26-21 win over Vanderbilt; 17-12 loss at South Carolina; 54-32 win over Furman; 21-7 loss to Florida State.

ESPN reports that Griffin's father, Robert Griffin II, said Saturday night it's a matter of when, not if, his son declares for the draft.

Associated PressESPN reports that Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will enter the NFL draft, according to his father.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Robert Griffin III, the Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, will enter the NFL draft, according to an ESPN report.

Most analysts say Griffin would be the second quarterback selected -- behind Stanford's Andrew Luck -- and among the first several overall picks, if he enters the draft. Griffin just finished his junior season of athletic eligibility. Jan. 15 is the underclassman deadline to declare for the draft.

The Cleveland Browns, 4-11 going into today's season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, are considered a team that would be interested in Griffin. The Browns have not made clear whether they feel Colt McCoy -- currently sidelined with a concussion -- is their long-term answer at quarterback.

Chris Mortensen writes for ESPN.com that indications are Griffin will enter the draft:

Griffin responded to a text from ESPN.com's David Ubben on Sunday and said he has not decided, but Griffin's father, Robert Griffin II, said Saturday night it's a matter of when, not if.

"I met with my son (Friday) and his schedule is pretty much he will attend the Sugar Bowl here in New Orleans (where the Griffins live), then next weekend he will meet with five agents and select the right agent to represent him and plan a good pre-draft process," Griffin II said. "After that he will sit down with three of his coaches at Baylor on Wednesday or Thursday (Jan. 11 or 12) and make it official."

Griffin III already has his bachelor's degree -- he graduated in December 2010 with a degree in political science -- and his father said he has considered staying at Baylor to complete his master's.

"He actually has made a strong case to return because he's only 12 hours short of his master's, but he believes he can still accomplish that goal," Griffin II said. "He's still waiting for his official evaluation from the league, but the decision (to turn pro) is not a hard decision."

Artis Hicks will start at right tackle for inactive Tony Pashos.

View full sizeGene J. Puskar, Associated PressThe absence of LaMarr Woodley will take away one of the Steelers' most effective pass rushers this afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The only big name on the inactive lists of the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers is LaMarr Woodley.

Woodley has battled hamstring problems of late. He didn't play in the first meeting Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh. Jason Worilds will start for Woodley. Headhunter James Harrison mans the other starting linebacker spot.

The Browns inactives are: Receiver Jordan Norwood, quarterback Colt McCoy, receiver Rod Windsor, defensive back James Dockery, center Steve Vallos, defensive tackle Kiante Tripp and right tackle Tony Pashos.

Artis Hicks will start for Pashos. Oniel Cousins may also play.

Other Steelers inactives: Running back Mewelde Moore, linebacker Chris Carter, center Doug Legursky, defensive end Al Woods, offensive tackle Jamon Meredith and receiver Arnaz Battle.

Coordinator news: ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the Browns indeed will hire an offensive coordinator in 2012. It's a story Cleveland-area media reported months ago when Browns President Mike Hollmgren first said a coordinator was in the offing for next season.

Mortensen speculated on ex-Andy Reid assistant coach and Minnesota head coach Brad Childress as a leading candidate. Childress' name has been circulated in previous local reports, along with that of Mike Sherman, former Holmgren aide in Green Bay.

Childress and Sherman are represented by Bob LaMonte, who controls the Browns' executive front. LaMonte is a long-time friend and business associate of Holmgren, and also represents General Manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur.

One longshot candidate who is outside the LaMonte inner circle is Karl Dorrell, who is part of the lame-duck coaching staff of the Miami Dolphins.

Join cleveland.com's live chat during the Browns vs. Steelers season finale game today at 4:15 p.m. with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff. Then stick around to listen to the post-game show.

cleveland.comJoin cleveland.com's live chat from Browns Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Join cleveland.com's live chat during the Browns vs. Steelers season finale game today at 4:15 p.m.  Interact with cleveland.com producer Joey Morona and The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff live in the press box at Cleveland Browns Stadium as they describe the action on the field and post scoring updates.

You can also get updates from The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter and in their in-game blog.

After the game, stay tuned to listen to Manoloff and Morona break down the game and take your chat room comments and questions.

Enter your name and log onto the chat room below. Java is required to participate in the chat. Download it here

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

Live audio: Click on play about 15 minutes after the end of the game to listen to our live post-game show with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff.

The final game of Ohio State's season takes place in a city that has not been kind to football legends, both at OSU and elsewhere.

View full sizeBob Mack, Florida Times-UnionBraxton Miller will be the first OSU freshman QB to start a bowl game since Art Schlichter in 1978 -- the last game of Woody Hayes.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- East Coast, West Coast, North Coast, First Coast.

At the Gator Bowl against the Florida Gators Monday afternoon, Ohio State is on the First Coast, so called because 30 miles south in St. Augustine is where the great adventure of New World colonization by European powers really began.

It was not such an all-fired great adventure for Native Americans or African Americans, however. The Spanish quickly appropriated the lands of the indigenous tribes. The first slaves arrived in St. Augustine on the day it was founded, Sept. 8, 1566. The first European child, a Spaniard of course, was born there 21 years before Virginia Dare in the English colony up the coast.

Jacksonville itself was first called "Cowford," for a narrow point in the tidal St. Johns River that runs through the downtown area. It was renamed in 1832 in honor of President Andrew Jackson. More than cows eventually trekked to the city, although LeBron James, during the USA Olympic basketball team's camp here in 2004, complained "there's nothing to do here." His opinion aside, others found the shackles of boredom were easily shed on the city's beaches and at the TPC Sawgrass golf course at nearby Ponte Vedra Beach, site of the PGA Tour's prestigious Players Championship.

Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida in both population and area. It has no Megos, much less three of them. Its only mainstream pro team is the NFL's Jaguars, founded in 1995 and AFC title game losers after the 1999 season. That's 10 years more recently than the Browns last reached a conference championship game.

More people live in Jacksonville proper than in the suburbs, so the city, as the 50th-largest television market in the United States, was a long-shot for an NFL franchise. Still, it has been host to a Super Bowl, which Cleveland hasn't.

The New England Patriots of former Browns coach Bill Belichick won Super Bowl XXXIX here in 2005, 24-21, over Philadelphia, which gave fans on the North Coast another "Doh!" moment.

The city is usually tougher on football legends. The Jags' 62-7 victory over the Dolphins in the 1999 playoffs sent both Dan Marino and Miami coach Jimmy Johnson into retirement. Woody Hayes threw the punch that ended his career and damaged Ohio State's reputation in the Gator Bowl in 1978. The old Gator Bowl stadium has been demolished, but the Marino-Johnson exit came at the game's current site at what is now called EverBank Field.

Both Hayes' team and Luke Fickell's had freshman quarterbacks to be watched -- Art Schlichter then, Braxton Miller now.

Jim Tressel, the greatest Ohio State coach since Hayes, exited trapdoor -- er, stage -- right on Memorial Day. But, in keeping with the Gator Bowl/Buckeye tradition, this will be the last game as head coach for Fickell, whose caretaker season resulted in a 6-6 record.

The Gator Bowl isn't only restricted to hardship for football legends. The Beatles played at the old Gator Bowl in 1964, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dora. Winds were so high that Ringo's drum set had to be nailed to the stage.

The Buckeyes have been troubled recently with slow starts in their games, ending the season on a three-game losing streak. But the Jacksonville air smells like the best part of waking up -- wait, wait, wrong coffee! -- make it, smells good to the last sniff. The huge Maxwell House coffee plant is located near EverBank Stadium. The very atmosphere in town seems to be caffeinated. If the Buckeyes are not ready to play here, then one must ask where will they be?

A little-known part of Jacksonville's cultural history is that it was once known as "The Winter Film Capital of the World." From 1910-20, more than 30 companies established studios here, including the precursor of MGM. The first Technicolor movie was made here. Oliver Hardy began his movie career here, although he was not teamed with Stan Laurel until 1925 in Hollywood.

Jacksonville's political conservatism eventually drove the studios to the West Coast, where Southern California with directors like D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille became the center of early movie-making.

The Buckeyes themselves had hoped to be in California for next New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl. All bowls are off for next season, however, as part of the NCAA ruling on the scandals in Columbus. But the 2013 BCS Championship Game will be played in Pasadena, Calif., in early 2014.

By then, the Buckeyes of Fickell's successor, Urban Meyer, might be ready for their close-up. For now, perhaps their second visit to the First Coast will be their last.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Get live Twitter updates from Tom Reed @PDCavsInsider as the Cavaliers look for their second win of the season tonight against the Nets.

The Cavaliers look for their second win of the season tonight at home against the new-look Nets. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed @PDCavsInsider in the box below. Check out the in-game box score here. Read on for a game preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

APDeron Williams and the Nets face off against the Cavaliers this evening.

Cleveland, Ohio (AP) -- While they've dropped three straight, Deron Williams thinks he and the New Jersey Nets are heading in the right direction.

The star guard and the Nets visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

After opening the season with an 90-84 win over Washington on Monday, New Jersey (1-3) has dropped three in a row, including a 105-98 defeat at Atlanta on Friday. The Nets have averaged 84.0 points and shot 38.9 percent this season, including 29.9 percent from 3-point range.

Those struggles aren't totally unexpected. New Jersey is playing without center Brook Lopez, last season's leading scorer with 20.4 points per game. He's expected to miss a month with a stress fracture in his foot.

That puts more pressure on Williams to lead a young Nets squad. After shooting 28.9 percent and averaging 14.3 points in New Jersey's first three games, Williams finished with 23 points against the Hawks, including 19 in the second half, while shooting 9 for 18.

"I'm not getting much out of pick-and-rolls because teams are just sitting on me," said Williams, who averaged 20.1 points playing for Utah and the Nets last season. "I think `I-sos' are going to be more effective until we figure out the pick-and-roll game. I was able to get something going and turn it around and hopefully get my confidence going."

He wasn't the only one to gain confidence in the loss. Rookie MarShon Brooks scored a season-high 21 points Friday and is averaging 15.3, while Mehmet Okur had a season-high 15 in New Jersey's second loss to Atlanta in the young season.

Cleveland (1-2) is also trying to build off a good performance following its 98-91 overtime loss at Indiana. Rookie Kyrie Irving had his best game, finishing with 20 points, but the 19-year-old missed a layup that would have won the game at the end of regulation.

Irving was 8 of 19 from the field, but the rest of the Cavaliers shot 37.7 percent. Irving had 20 points in the first two games combined.

"Irving is a heck of a player," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Not `going to be,' but right now."

Irving played just 11 games in his only season at Duke, missing more than three months due to a foot injury that sidelined him until the NCAA tournament. Despite the limited playing time, Cleveland saw enough to envision him as a franchise player and worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and he's averaged 13.3 points and 6.0 assists thus far.

Like New Jersey, Cleveland has shown signs of rust. Its top three scorers in Irving, Antawn Jamison and Ramon Sessions are shooting a combined 38.2 percent. Meanwhile, the team's most consistent player, Anderson Varejao, is dealing with a sore back and questionable for Sunday. He's averaging 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds.

The Cavs play their next two at home before embarking on a seven-game road trip. They are looking to gain some confidence before the challenging stretch.

"It would be big (to come away with two wins)," said coach Byron Scott, who guided the Nets to back-to-back NBA finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. "We've played two solid games, but this is going to be a tough game for us. Hopefully our guys come hungry and mad."

The Nets won three of four against the Cavaliers last season. All four games were decided by eight or fewer points.

With the spoiler role the only one remaining, the Browns at least deserve credit for embracing it in the first half Sunday.

View full sizeAmy Sancetta, Associated PressIn a first-half battle of field goals, the Browns and Phil Dawson had a 2-1 lead over the Steelers Sunday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One of these days, the crowning achievement of a Browns season has to be about more than making life difficult for a hated rival. But with the spoiler role the only one remaining, they at least deserve credit for embracing it.

In a stadium where Steelers fans wore their colors and waved their Terrible Towels with impunity, the Browns quieted the intrusion with a solid half defensively and two Phil Dawson field goals to lead 6-3 at the intermission.

Pittsburgh's best-case scenario was to play hobbled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger long enough to get a lead, keep an eye on the Baltimore-Cincinnati game and maybe run in backup Charlie Batch. The Browns didn't let it happen, at least not in the first half.

I wouldn't jump to too many conclusions about what playing hard all the way to the end means for a losing team. It doesn't always mean they're playing for the coach. In fact, Mike Holmgren has made it clear Pat Shurmur's job isn't in jeopardy.

Players play hard in these situations for a lot of different reasons, including their own job security.

A year ago, the Steelers blew the Browns out in a similar situation, 41-9. The Browns knew Eric Mangini was gone, as were many of the players Mangini brought in.

A win over the Steelers hardly puts a bow on this season, not with the Browns finishing 5-11 for the third consecutive year. Two years ago, they helped ruin the Steelers' season. That one had more riding on it.

If they can win this one, they can only inconvenience the Steelers. But if you get the chance, why not?

Dawson connects from 26 and 45 yards and Shaun Suisham misses from 45.Ben Roethlisberger moves 71 yards in final 1:06 to thwart Browns' shutout bid.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAhtyba Rubin (left) and Sheldon Brown help on this gang tackle of Rashard Mendenhall in the first half of Sunday's game. Mendenhall left the game with an injury and was not expected to return.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter ...

• Steelers convert fourth-and-1 and get to Browns' 14. But Jabaal Sheard's 13-yard sack and Shaun Suisham's 45-yard field goal miss keeps game scoreless.

• Seneca Wallace hits Jordan Cameron for 15 yards. First Browns first down. Peyton Hillis gets another on runs of 9 and 2 yards.

• From the 31, Wallace accelerates on a keeper and is tripped up at the Steelers' 4. His fumble disallowed when ruled down by contact. Browns go backwards, but Phil Dawson's 26-yard field goal makes it 3-0.

• Jayme Mitchell buries Ben Roethlisberger just after a 1-yard throw. Browns finally on to his dunkathon.

• At the 2-minute warning, Wallace's 23-yard pass to Josh Cribbs takes Browns to Steelers' 41.

• Cribbs again for 14 yards to the 27. A jump ball in end zone for Evan Moore against Ryan Clark falls incomplete.

• Dawson's 45-yard field goal makes it 6-0.

• Roethliserger throws over Joe Haden and Antonio Brown makes over-shoulder catch for 40 yards down to Browns' 14.

• After Brown makes another catch at Browns' 1, Steelers use their last timeout at :11.

• Roethlisberger throws too far on lobs for Brown and Hines Ward. After Pat Shurmur ices Suisham, chip shot field goal of 19 yards is good, killing shutout bid, 6-3.

Breaking down the emotional, physical, mental and the fun of Monday's Gator Bowl game.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerIn February 2010, St. Ignatius teammates Scott McVey (right) and Jake Ryan announced their college choices and believed they would be battling in the Big Ten for the next four seasons. Ryan has emerged as an impact player for the Wolverines, but McVey's football career is over after a series of shoulder injuries. "It's bad luck," OSU coach Luke Fickell said of McVey and Garfield Heights' Melvin Fellows, who also has prematurely ended his college career with injuries. "It's not like they didn't give everything they've got." Both players will continue to receive their scholarships, even though they won't be on the field.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Breaking down the four components of Monday's Gator Bowl: the emotional, physical, mental and -- a part of the game that's too easy to forget these days -- the fun.

The Emotional

Many Buckeyes know Monday is their final bowl game. At least two players have already come to grips with a more difficult reality, that their Ohio State careers are over before they ever really started.

Defensive end Melvin Fellows from Garfield Heights and linebacker Scott McVey from St. Ignatius have taken medical hardships because of career-ending injuries, meaning they'll continue to have their schooling paid by Ohio State through graduation, but they'll no longer count against the Buckeyes' limit of 85 scholarships.

A third-year player and four-star recruit from the Class of 2009, Fellows redshirted his first season and played in five games last season for a total of 11 minutes. A second-year player and three-star recruit from the Class of 2010, McVey redshirted last season and never got on the field.

"It's bad luck," OSU coach Luke Fickell said of the two. "I don't know that you can put a finger on it. It's not like they didn't give everything they've got."

View full sizeAP photoMelvin Fellows had knee surgery in April of 2009 and never was able to fully recover.

Fellows had knee surgery in April of 2009 and never was able to get past the problems, Fickell saying that the Buckeyes knew coming in there might be a limit to how much his knees could take. McVey hurt his shoulder his senior season at St. Ignatius, played through it, but is now done after his third shoulder surgery. He re-injured it just before the jersey scrimmage in preseason camp in both 2010 and 2011.

"It's a shame because I know he would have contributed at Ohio State," St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle said. "He would have been doing anything they wanted, and all programs need guys like that."

Both had the option to attend the Gator Bowl, but they chose to remain in Columbus. McVey recently had that third surgery and had a follow-up appointment. Both had spent much of the season on the sidelines in their jerseys and no pads.

Fickell said he'd like to keep them around the program, if they so choose.

"You've got to keep them involved, to be part of something to push yourself and make sure you finish what you started," Fickell said.

On the playing field, it was over too soon.

The Physical

Florida running backs Chris Rainey, at 5-9 and 174 pounds, and Jeff Demps, 5-7 and 191, are remnants of the Urban Meyer offense, two seniors with speed who exemplify the Meyer focus on stretching a defense sideline-to-sideline. While the Gators moved to a pro-style offense under first-year coach Will Muschamp, attacking the perimeter with that speed remained a goal.

Rainey ran for 790 yards this season, at a 5.1-yard average, while Demps ran for 539, with a 5.9 average. Rainey is also the Gators' leading receiver, with 28 catches for 350 yards, while Demps has 15 for 165.

All told, that's 1,844 yards on 289 touches. The Buckeyes can't afford to be chasing those yards -- they have to get in front of them and not let them get rolling.

"You have to stop them before they get started," OSU linebacker Andrew Sweat said, "because once they get started, I'm not sure there's a person in America who can catch them. They look different when they're in space. On film I haven't seen one guy catch them when they get in the open field."

If the Buckeyes need a guy to catch them, cornerback Bradley Roby is generally acknowledged as the fastest guy on the defense.

The Mental

Monday will go a long way towards determining if the Big Ten can achieve its second winning bowl season in nine years. The conference is 2-2 so far, with wins by Purdue and Illinois and losses by Northwestern and Iowa, but five Jan. 2 games involve Big Ten teams, including the simultaneous Big Ten-SEC tripleheader.

That's the Outback Bowl (No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Georgia), the Capital One Bowl (No. 20 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Carolina) and this Gator Bowl. All kick off at 1 p.m. in a saturation plan aiming at flooding the TV market with Big Ten-ness. Penn State and Houston in the TicketCity Bowl starts at noon.

Last year, the Big Ten lost all three SEC showdowns in the same timeslot, the first time for the arrangement. Overall in the last decade, the SEC holds a 16-11 edge in bowl matchups, a record that does not include the Buckeyes' vacated Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas last season.

"For the Big Ten, it's big for guys to have these matchups because that's what people will spend time talking about in the off-season," Fickell said. "It's a great atmosphere for the Big Ten and SEC to play on the same day at the same time. We'll worry about one of them."

The Fun

It won't quite be cold enough, but EverBank Field's grass surface may feel like an ice rink.

The Indianapolis Colts played the Jacksonville Jaguars on the same field on Sunday. Several players had issues with the footing, especially among the kickers and punters, with one advising players on Ohio State and Florida to bring extra pairs of shoes Monday.

Isaac Redman's 7-yard TD run gives Steelers their first lead of game. Mike Tomlin denies holding call and green lights a 49-yard field goal by Phil Dawson.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerBen Roethlisberger was limping on his sprained left ankle, but he successfully moved the Steelers to 10 points in the third quarter.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notes, observations and some facts on the third quarter ...

• Ben Roethlisberger is determined to take lead on first drive. After three runs, he's throwing almost every down. In no-huddle mode, Ben completes passes of 12 yards to Heath Miller, 11 to Antonio Brown and 11 to Mike Wallace.

• A dropped interception at the goal line by Buster Skrine kept alive the Steelers' drive. Skrine jumped when he didn't have to and dropped the ball.

• Dimitri Patterson breaks up lob pass to Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone.

• Browns defense holds at the 11. Shaun Suisham's 29-yard field goal ties score at 6.

• Troy Polamalu steps in front of Evan Moore for interception at Browns' 43 with 8:22 to go. Seneca Wallace was drifting to the right and throwing off back foot again.

• This Isaac Redman is always spinning, like Montario Hardesty. Tough to lay a lick on him.

• Now Roethlisberger has Steelers back inside Browns 20.

• Jabaal Sheard guessed wrong and jumped offsides. Steelers at the 7. Redman plows in for a 7-yard TD run.

• Needing to up the tempo, Wallace connects twice with Cribbs for 11 and 21 yards, and then keeps it for 20 yards to Steelers' 24.

• Ryan Clark blitz scores a sack of Wallace back to Steelers' 31. Then a holding call on Alex Mack moves it back 10 more.

• Phil Dawson makes 49-yard field goal to cut Steelers' lead to 13-9 after Mike Tomlin declined a 10-yard holding penalty on third down.

After takeaways, the Browns elect to punt at the 10:08 and 4:59 marks of the fourth quarter. Final Hail Mary is batted away as season ends with 4-12 record.

View full sizeAmy Sancetta, Associated PressHines Ward recorded his 1,000th career reception in the second half on Sunday, leaping at Dimitri Patterson on this catch.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter ...

• On super-important first possession, Browns complete 3-and-out with a third-down swing pass to Peyton Hillis. Groans. Minus-3 yards. Punt.

• Ben Roethlisberger's shovel pass to Hines Ward results in 3-yard loss on alert hit by D'Qwell Jackson. Nonetheless, Steelers celebrate Ward's 1,000th career catch.

• Isaac Redman loses the ball on a hit by Chris Gocong. Eric Hagg recovers and refs tack on 15 yards on a facemask penalty. Browns have it at Steelers' 43.

• Mohamed Massaquoi gets a first down with a catch at the 32. Peyton Hillis out with a knee injury.

• Wallace's pass over middle a little behind Massaquoi, but catchable. Dropped at the Steelers' 19.

• After a Wallace throw two yards out of bounds, Browns punt from the Steelers' 34 with 10:11 to go.

• Buster Skrine's pass interference against Jerricho Cotchery bails out Steelers. First down at 26.

• Redman coughs up another after a 22-yard gain, and it's recovered by the Browns at their 39.

• After one first down, Wallace's passes on second and third down are off mark and almost intercepted. One fourth-and-10 with 4:59 to go, Browns elect to punt.

• Ben Roethlisberger makes a big throw to Heath Miller for 11 yards and a first down at the Steelers' 29. Browns use their last timeout with 2:44 to go.

• Steelers can't close the game out on offense, as Roethlisberger's third-down pass is knocked away by Joe Haden. Browns, with no timeouts, get one last chance after Cribbs fumbles the punt out of bounds at their 24.

• Evan Moore catches one for eight yards at the 32, clock runs. Cribbs drops a short dump pass, but that at least stops the clock. Is there any play that's more than 15 yards downfield?

• On third down, Cribbs catches another dumpoff for a first down. But can't succeed doing this.

• Sideline pass to Massaquoi ... just four yards downfield ... is dropped.

• Snow coming down heavily on second down. Moore catches it over the middle and runs out of bounds to the Browns 45.

• Just 41 seconds left ... have to go downfield. Carlton Mitchell grabs his first reception for 18 yards, and Wallace spikes the ball with 22 seconds left at the Steelers 37. Pittsburgh calls their second timeout.

• Snowglobe conditions. Moore catches a pattern near the sidelines, but can't get out of bounds. Ball is clocked with five seconds remaining at the Steelers 25.

• Last play is ... delayed by the Steelers' last timeout. Will Browns have some final trick play to end the season?

• Hail Mary sees Greg Little get his hands on the ball in the end zone, but the ball is knocked harmlessly to the ground. End of game. End of season.

Browns come up short, again, against the Steelers in season-ender, finish 4-12.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerGreg Little and Jordan Cameron are swallowed up by the Pittsburgh secondary on the final pass of the Browns' 2011 season Sunday. The Hail Mary pass from Seneca Wallace fell incomplete and Pittsburgh left Cleveland Browns Stadium with a 13-9 victory and the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs which begin next weekend.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If this was the Browns' Super Bowl, Cleveland's championship-less streak continued Sunday. Close, again. But short again, too.

In gusting and swirling winds of rain and snow at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Browns fell to Pittsburgh, 13-9, in their season finale. The Browns finished 4-12 in head coach Pat Shurmur's debut campaign. Pittsburgh improved to 12-4.

With the Browns knocked out of the playoffs weeks ago, Sunday's contest was for pride. They jumped out to an early 6-0 lead based on the strong leg of kicker Phil Dawson, who hit field goals of 26 and 45 yards (and later, 49 yards).

After Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger directed his team to 10 points in the third quarter, the Browns squandered three opportunities to jump ahead in the final quarter -- including a final Hail Mary heave to Greg Little in the end zone that was broken up by a swarm of defenders.

Two other times, the Browns recovered fumbles by Steelers running back Isaac Redman, who was playing for injured starter Rashard Mendenhall. Both times, the Browns failed to score or advance the ball to within scoring distance.

The Steelers managed the victory despite losing Mendenhall, who left at the end of the first quarter with a right knee injury. He had eight carries for 38 yards before leaving the game.

Peyton Hillis, in what might be the soon-to-be free agent's final game for the Browns, suffered a knee injury early in the fourth quarter. At the time, he had 30 yards on 10 carries. He re-entered the game as the Browns were driving late in the game, but didn't register another carry.

Roethlisberger completed 23 of 40 passes for 221 yards. Seneca Wallace completed 16 of 41 passes for 177 yards in his third start for injured Colt McCoy. Josh Cribbs had seven catches for 91 yards.

Steelers receiver Hines Ward recorded his 1,000th career catch in the fourth quarter on a shovel pass from Roethlisberger. Ward became the eighth NFL player to reach that milestone, and immediately trotted off the field with the ball after making the catch.

Join Dennis Manoloff and talk about the big plays, the questionable decisions and the offseason ahead live from Browns Stadium.

AP PhotoListen to cleveland.com's post-game show.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Join The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona after the game as they break down the Browns' 13-9 loss to the Steelers live from the press box at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The show will start at about 7:45 p.m.

They'll talk about the big plays, question some of the decisions, look ahead to the offseason and field your chat room comments and questions. Miss the live show? Come back to this page to listen to the archive later on.

Click on play to listen. Post-game show will begin approximately at 7:45 p.m.  Post your questions in the chat room below.

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Nikola Cvetinovic had 14 points and Chauncey Gilliam 12, leading five Akron players in double figures.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Nikola Cvetinovic had 14 points and Chauncey Gilliam 12, leading five Akron players in double figures, as the Zips beat Marshall, 67-51, Sunday and had no problems finding the basket despite the game being delayed an hour due to a pre-game rim adjustment.

Alex Abreu, Zeke Marshall and Demetrius Treadwell each scored 10 points for the Zips (8-6), who used a second-half run to break a 27-all tie at intermission for the win. It was their fifth win in six games.

Two Akron players found their rim to be quite inviting early in the second half, as Gilliam hit a midrange jumper and a 3 while Marshall had six points, all on layups, in a 14-5 run. The Zips led by nine points with 14:51 left to play and never looked back.

Shaquille Johnson and Damier Pitts scored 11 points apiece to lead the Thundering Herd (9-4).

Two teams finishing frustrating seasons could produce a decent game in the Gator Bowl, better than Florida's 41-14 win over Ohio State five years ago.

View full sizeBob Mack, Florida Times-UnionThe last of the 2011 drills complete, the Ohio State Buckeyes are ready for their final game against Florida in Monday's Gator Bowl. "It's really just for pride," said OSU center Mike Brewster.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This is a long way from 41-14.

Florida's win over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship game on Jan. 8, 2007, seems more like 50 years ago than five the way the 2011 seasons transpired for the 6-6 Buckeyes and 6-6 Gators.

"That just made us want to get to Florida faster," Gators' fifth-year senior Chris Rainey, then a Florida recruit, said of the lopsided final in the Arizona. "I know [Ohio State is] still upset about that game, but I guess we've got to be prepared for that."

There's so much else for fans and players on both sides to have worried about this year, there may not be any energy left to be upset about five years ago. Yet Ohio State coach Luke Fickell, in calling Florida an unbelievable university with a great football tradition, said, "that's something we don't realize when we both have seasons that maybe aren't exactly the way we planned to go. But to play on Jan. 2 in the Gator Bowl, you have to realize what our traditions mean to college football."

So here it is, Ohio State vs. Florida. Same traditions, worse records, maybe a better game.

As the Buckeyes prepared to face the Gators, maybe the players were bored more often compared to that trip to Arizona, when at the height of the Fiesta Bowl the organizers spared no expense, which eventually led to a scandal involving improper expenditures. Maybe the attention Monday won't be close to what it was that night, when Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and his OSU teammates were trying to cap off an undefeated season.

Maybe former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel looked a bit strange in blue on Sunday at Everbank Field, the same stadium in which the Gator Bowl will be played, walking around as a consultant for the Indianapolis Colts before a team staffer told reporters that Tressel wouldn't be available to speak to reporters.

But maybe the product on the field will improve, and that's something. Certainly, there are no worries about entitlement on the OSU side this time. But there should be plenty of frustration both ways, which could create an interesting dynamic.

"It's definitely two programs that aren't used to being in this spot," OSU center Mike Brewster said. "It's really just for pride."

Florida has senior quarterback John Brantley, who had a concussion during the 21-7 loss to Florida State to end the regular season. That came a week after he threw for a career-high 329 yards and four touchdowns against Furman. A lifelong Gator fan, Brantley said he knows the game will be emotional.

Ohio State has back linebacker Andrew Sweat and safety Christian Bryant, both of whom missed the season-ending loss to Michigan with injury. Linebacker Ryan Shazier is much closer to full strength after hobbling through most of that game with a knee injury. While the OSU offense came together against the Wolverines, the OSU defense that couldn't hang on in that 40-34 loss should have a better chance to deal with the Gators.

Fickell has said this season as an interim coach wasn't exactly an indication of how he'd handled his own program. Florida first-year coach Will Muschamp has talked a lot about how few players he has on the roster after a lot of transfers. He said he even had to change his strategy for bowl practice a bit.

But in the end, if Monday's game is closer than a 27-point margin, maybe that should be some kind of victory in general.

In the first five minutes of his opening news conference as head coach in June, Fickell said, "Change is inevitable, growth is optional." He said it again at his last news conference before the Gator Bowl on Saturday.

Monday may show how the growth went. But looking back to five years ago, he sure was right about the change.

CLEVELAND, Ohio: Daniel Gibson and the Cavaliers opened the new year with a near record-breaking shooting effort from behind the 3-point arc. The Cavaliers hit 16 long-range shots, one short of the franchise mark, on the way to a 98-82 win over the New Jersey Nets at The Q. The club finished the night 16-of-26 on 3-point attempts led by...

Another Browns season ends in the cold and snow, with many fans staying home.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerIt wasn't difficult to figure out who these two fans at Cleveland Browns Stadium supported in the dying moments of another lost season for the Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The snow swirled, the Steelers towels twirled and another Browns season ended in a half-empty stadium with most of the remaining fans coming from Pittsburgh.

The final score was Pittsburgh 13, Browns 9, and the emotional state of Browns fans will feel emptier than this stadium in the middle of February.

What can you say about a team that finished with a 4-12 record, a team that just completed the worst four years in franchise history? Try this: If these Browns were a one-term president, they'd be James Buchanan.

Browns fans spoke with their feet, as they decided to bring in New Year's Day anywhere but here. They sold tickets to brokers, who passed them on to Steelers fans. Or they simply stayed home. There were times when this game felt and sounded as if it were being played in Pittsburgh.

That happens when a team has records of 4-12, 5-11, 5-11 and 4-12 in the last four years -- a sadistic symmetry designed to make even the hardest-core fan wonder if this will ever end. Making it even worse, Cincinnati made the playoffs. Every team in the Browns division but one made the playoffs.

All should send thank you notes to Browns, who were 0-6 in the AFC North.

To the credit of the players in orange helmets, they tried desperately to make a game of it. The defense was determined, the offense was ... well, the usual.

It was Phil Dawson kicking three field goals.

It was backup QB Seneca Wallace proving that just like Colt McCoy, he couldn't lead his team into the end zone against the Steelers -- much less beat them. The terrible towels twirled as the Browns lost for the 16th time in their last 17 games against supposedly their most bitter rivals.

Just how are the fans supposed to embrace this, other than to hope that somehow, General Manager Tom Heckert can turn two first-round picks into players whose jerseys will some day be worthy to be worn by the fans?

It's more than losing. It's a team where as many players (nine) had concussions as scored touchdowns this season. It's an offense that failed to record a touchdown in four games, scoring their fewest points since 2000. This from a franchise in which there are 15 players in the Ring of Honor -- 13 from the offensive side of the ball.

For today's Browns' fans, it's not just bad, it's boring. And discouraging.

Yes, Wallace was throwing into the end zone on the final play, but it was as much a prayer as a pass. If you're a Browns fan, you know how that was answered.

It was another season in which fans felt more beat up than Tim Couch, McCoy or any other Browns quarterback. It began with Peyton Hillis thrilled to be on the cover of the Madden game and ending with him believing in the Madden Curse.

Instead, the season was full of stagger steps, stalls, a case of strep throat and several leg injuries.

A free agent, no one is sure if Hillis will be back. Or who will be the quarterback. Or exactly how the Browns can somehow become worthy of its fans' love and loyalty.

So the New Year comes in with the Browns going out with another loss to the Steelers. Somehow, some day, some way, that has to change.

Team president Holmgren and general manager Heckert have held their jobs with the Browns for two seasons. This season was the first for Shurmur as the Browns' coach.

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer(Left to right) Browns president Mike Holmgren, coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert during a press conference on April 30, the third and final day of the 2011 NFL draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have completed yet another disappointing season, disappointing even though expectations weren't especially high.

When a team goes 4-12, there is plenty of blame to go around, from the owner on down.

Here, in two polls, we ask you about Browns president Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur.

We don't exclude Browns owner Randy Lerner to absolve him of any responsibility for the organization's continued, failed performance. Rather, we recognize that the jobs done by Holmgren, Heckert and Shurmur are a reflection on Lerner's ownership. "The buck stops here," it could be said of Lerner and most owners, for they hire the person in charge of the team's hands-on leadership -- in this case Holmgren -- and that organizational leader makes the other key hires.

Lerner signs off on it all. We want to know, from you, which of the three top men that he is ultimately responsible for has, so far, done the best job and the worst job. We add a fourth option to each poll.

The sample size for judgement is admittedly small, and thus not entirely fair, from a time standpoint. It became clear as the 2009 season neared its finish that Lerner would hire Holmgren, who in turn soon brought Heckert on board.

Holmgren kept coach Eric Mangini after the 2009 campaign -- Mangini's first with the Browns -- when the team went 5-11. Holmgren fired Mangini at the end of the 2010 season, when Cleveland posted another 5-11 record. He then hired Shurmur, who had been the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator.

Holmgren coached the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks to three Super Bowl appearances, including Green Bay's 1996 season championship. Heckert, who has been in charge of two Browns' drafts and other personnel moves, helped build the Philadelphia Eagles into a consistent contender.

POLL NUMBER 1:

POLL NUMBER 2:

Did the Browns show any progress at the end of the season? What direction should they go in the draft? What changes do Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert need to make in the offseason? How will Pat Shurmur do in Year Two? Talk about these topics and whatever you like with other fans in our open Browns Fan Chat room. Just remember to play nice with others.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall (34) rushes on a pass reception against Cleveland Browns linebacker Kaluka Maiava (56) and defensive tackle Scott Paxson (69) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

The Browns fell to the Steelers, 13-9, in the season finale at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Did the Browns show any progress at the end of the season? What direction should they go in the draft? What changes do Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert need to make in the offseason? How will Pat Shurmur do in Year Two?

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

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

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