Join hosts Dennis Manoloff and Bud Shaw along with special guest Mary Kay Cabot on 'PD Sports Insider' live at noon as they talk about the NFL Playoffs, the Browns offseason and tackle your chat room questions and comments.

Watch live every Monday and Thursday at noon.

Join hosts Dennis Manoloff and Bud Shaw along with special guest Mary Kay Cabot on 'PD Sports Insider' as they talk about the NFL Playoffs, the Browns offseason and tackle your chat room questions and comments live at noon.

Can't make the live show? An archive will be posted later this afternoon. 'PD Sports Insider' airs every Monday and Thursday at noon.

Note: To turn off audio alerts in the chatroom, click on the round button on bottom left of the chat room, then preferences. Uncheck all audio options and save.

Can't make the live show? Come back to watch the archive this afternoon.

Silas met Muhammad Ali and Dr. Martin Luther King on one memorable trip to Florida in 1964.

Associated PressCharlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas, pictured during a Jan. 13 game against Detroit, reflected on meeting Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali during a 1964 trip to Florida before Monday's game against the Cavaliers.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- At one time, Paul Silas had an autograph from Dr. Martin Luther King. Though Silas lost it in his many moves, it was on a placard from the Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight on Feb. 20, 1964 in Miami Beach, before Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

The former Cavaliers coach, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats, has no idea where the autograph is, but he remembers every detail from an unbelievable trip to Florida for a game against Miami when he was a senior at Creighton and met the two legends.

"We had been in Miami and that’s when Muhammad Ali had his first fight against Sonny Liston,'' Silas said before Monday's matinee on Martin Luther King Day. "We were working out downtown and he came down and came into the gym. He and I had a little layup session together where he laid the ball in and I didn’t block the shot. He invited us to his house after the game. So I got a chance to be with him and meet him. He came out and looked at me and said, 'You should be a boxer, you can do it!' and he put his fists up. I turned around and said 'Leave me alone.'"

Silas said he remembered a photographer taking pictures of him playing Ali.

"I’ve been trying to get those,'' Silas said of the photos. "He did take a lot of pictures of us at that time. He was shooting a layup and I was supposed to be guarding him. He made the layup on me, so he was the winner and I was the loser. I’d have beat his butt if we were boxing.''

On the way back to Creighton, the team flew through O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, and Silas spotted King.

"I saw him over there, went over there and started talking to him,'' Silas said. "He said, 'You boys in college? That’s the way to go. You have to graduate from college.' I said, 'OK, we will,' and 'Can I have your autograph?' We had these big placards that said 'The Greatest' and all that stuff. He signed it for me.''

It was hard to believe that a scant four years later, King was assassinated in Memphis. Silas was in the NBA by that time, with the St. Louis Hawks.

"We were going to play that night and we all decided not to because it was just a terrible thing that had happened and we just couldn’t do it,'' Silas said. "I can’t remember how many teams played, but I was in St. Louis and I said to those guys -- I was just a young player-- but I said I wasn’t going to play. So we canceled the game.''

It has been 50 years since Silas met King, but the memories flooded back on Monday.

"That was back when there was a lot of racism,'' Silas said. "You couldn’t go to movies and [there were] restaurants you couldn’t go in. Times have really changed for the better, and he’s the one who sparked all of that. He’s in all of our hearts, not only black people but white people.''

Young defensive line provided one of the team's few reasons for optimism. Links to more Browns stories.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns defensive end Jabaal Sheard (right) forces a fumble by Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's a virtual consensus in various postseason analyses of the 2011 Cleveland Browns.

Observers generally believe the Browns' defense improved, though the team win-loss record slipped from a lousy 5-11 in 2010 to an even-worse 4-12 in 2011.

(It's all but unanimous that the offense was awful).

Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal writes an analysis of Cleveland's defense and special teams.

He cites the statistical improvements from a year ago for the defense. Some of those numbers can be somewhat deceiving, because Browns' opponents often became conservative on offense rather early in games. Instead of being forced to build statistics in back-and-forth scoring contests, teams felt that once they got a lead on Cleveland, they could nurture it with first downs, a field goal here and there and, hey, great, a touchdown if it happened along the way.

Schudel writes about the defense, including:

Much of the credit for the improvement goes to Dick Jauron and his staff, but rookie end Jabaal Sheard, rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor and fourth-year defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin, just 25, gave Jauron something to work with.

At times, Sheard's quickness caused him to make mistakes, but experience will teach him when to throttle down. Still, he led the Browns with 8 1/2 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Rubin got a new contract through 2014 and instead of acting like a fat cat because of it, he played hungrier than ever. He led all NFL defensive linemen with 82 tackles in 2010. He made 83 stops in 2011, second-best to Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants (86).

Taylor had an up and down year. He made a bad mistake when he jumped offsides against Baltimore when Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco tricked him with a hard count, but he has learned from that and likely won't make the same mistake when the Browns are playing n a meaningful game.

Scott Paxson and Brian Schaefering provide depth on the line.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes "PD Sports Insider," the weekly half-hour video feature, this week highlighting the Browns with Plain Dealer reporters Dennis Manoloff, Mary Kay Cabot and Bud Shaw; a Starting Blocks poll asking readers which "low-profile" pick in the last two Browns' drafts is most likely to emerge as a key player; and more.

Goal to goal

Analysis of the Browns at the quarterback position, by Fred Greetham for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Matt Flynn, Robert Griffin III or Colt McCoy? By Samantha Bunten for the Bleacher Report.

Observations, notes, quotes and analysis of the Browns, by the Sports Exchange on the Orange and Brown Report.

A report on Browns special teams tackles, by Chris Pokorny for the blog "Dawgs By Nature." 

Best decision for the Browns in the draft could be trading down from the No. 4 overall pick. By Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

A Browns 2011 position review: wide receiver. By Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

Opinion about the Browns on "One Fan's View." From Yahoo! Sports.

Four possibilities for the Browns' draft pick at No. 4 overall. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

Buckeyes, 16-3, are off until Saturday, when they visit Nebraska in a Big Ten game.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerAll-American forward Jared Sullinger (0) and the Ohio State Buckeyes rank sixth in both national Top 25 polls.

(AP) Syracuse is a runaway No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll for the sixth straight week.

Ohio State's Buckeyes (16-3, 4-2) are sixth. OSU doesn't play again until Saturday, when it visits Nebraska's Cornhuskers (9-8, 1-5) in a Big Ten game.

(The AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, along with the RPI Rankings)

The Orange, one of three unbeatens entering play Monday, received 60 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel.

Kentucky was second with four first-place votes, followed by undefeated Baylor, which got its first No. 1 vote this season.

Duke and Missouri moved up four places to fourth and fifth, while Ohio State, Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan State and Georgetown round out the top 10.

Unbeaten Murray State moved from No. 15 to No. 12.

Illinois moved in at No. 22. Saint Mary's, Calif. is No. 24, its first appearance this season.

Gonzaga and Seton Hall dropped out of the poll.

Kyrie Irving scores 25, Antawn Jamison adds 20 and Daniel Gibson slows Bobcats' D.J. Augustin as Cavaliers storm back from 11-point halftime deficit.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Daniel Gibson and D.J. Augustin never played together at Texas. In fact, it was Augustin who succeeded Gibson as the Longhorns' point guard after Gibson left for the NBA.

But as longtime pals and friendly rivals, Gibson has studied Augustin extensively, and he knew the Cavaliers were in trouble when Augustin put up 19 points for the Charlotte Bobcats in the first half on Monday afternoon, 13 in the second quarter.

"I definitely felt if we were going to win, he would have to get slowed down," Gibson said after watching Augustin hit seven of his first nine shots and dish out six assists. "If he kept playing the way he was playing, we had no chance of winning the game."

With starting guard Anthony Parker out with a sore lower back after the first quarter, coach Byron Scott turned to Gibson to start the second half and assigned him to defend Augustin. The Bobcats point guard made just two of eight shots for 5 points in the second half and had only two more assists as the Cavs rallied to beat the Bobcats, 102-94, in a Martin Luther King Day matinee.

The Cavs went 3-4 on their season-long seven-game trip and evened their record at 6-6.

Rookie Kyrie Irving led the Cavs with 25 points on 9-of-16 field goals and seven assists. Back in his hometown playing before his parents and children, Antawn Jamison had 20 points and seven rebounds, while Anderson Varejao had his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. It's the seventh straight game in which he has had 10 or more rebounds, the longest streak of his career.

But for a time in the second quarter, the Cavs looked like a team that had crossed the country to play their third game in five days. Behind Augustin, the Bobcats shot 66.7 percent in the second quarter (14-of-21) and outscored the Cavs, 34-16, to take a 57-46 halftime lead.

"The beginning of the game was fine, then we had a letdown from close to the end of first throughout the second where we let down our guard defensively," Scott said. "At halftime we went back to the things we talked about before the game -- if we're going to win this game, the one thing we have to do is guard."

Gibson took those words to heart while replacing Parker, whose status for Tuesday's game against Golden State has not been announced.

"I did want to take that challenge on," said Gibson of Augustin. "When coach told me I had the opportunity to finish the game ... I knew that he was the catalyst. He was the one that had them rolling. I knew if we wanted to win the game I had to make things tougher on him and I just tried to guard him as best I could.

"I know his game, being that I watched him play at Texas. I watched him play in the league. I know what he likes to do, what he's comfortable doing, so when I guard him I do have somewhat of an advantage. He's a great player. He's going to figure some things out. But I have a pretty good chance of stopping some of his moves."

After Augustin hit a jumper to give Charlotte a 94-93 lead, the Cavs scored the final nine points. Varejao scored on an offensive rebound and got a big defensive rebound that led to Irving's driving layup.

But Augustin missed his last two shots, while Gibson closed out the scoring with two free throws with 18.6 seconds left. They were his only points, but Scott had no problem with that.

"I know it probably hurt his offensive game, but defensively he was terrific," he said. "He made D.J. work for everything he got. That was big because the first half he killed us. The second half he was pretty much under control."

Tebow took over a 1-4 team and led it to first playoff berth since 2005, then an upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers in a playoff game. Team's football boss John Elway has pledged to work with Tebow this offseason.

Associated PressTim Tebow was criticized for his low completion percentage, but he led the NFL in yards per completion and threw just six interceptions in 319 pass attempts counting the playoffs.

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado -- Tim Tebow will enter training camp as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback for 2012.

The team sought to curb the circus that's sure to surround Tebow this offseason by declaring him the incumbent at a season-ending news conference Monday.

John Elway, a Hall of Famer who rejoined the team a year ago as chief of football operations, has pledged to work with Tebow this offseason to polish his passing game.

Tebow took over a 1-4 team in October and guided the Broncos to their first playoff berth since 2005. His 80-yard TD toss on the first play of overtime beat Pittsburgh in the wild-card round before the Broncos lost at New England Saturday.

Tebow is the Broncos' only quarterback under contract for 2012.

PAINESVILLE - Devlin Culliver, who never left Harvey as an art teacher, will return to the Painesville school this fall as its head football coach, the school announced. Culliver was Harvey's coach from 2006 to 2008, compiling a 15-15 record and winning two Northeastern Conference championships.

Devlin Culliver will return as Harvey's football coach. From 2006-08 he compiled a 15-15 record, including two Northeastern Conference titles. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

PAINESVILLE - Devlin Culliver, who never left Harvey as an art teacher, will return to the Painesville school this fall as its head football coach, the school announced.

Culliver was Harvey's coach from 2006 to 2008, compiling a 15-15 record and winning two Northeastern Conference championships.

He stepped down after the 2008 season, and he was an assistant coach at Shaw the past three seasons while continuing to teach at Harvey.

"The former head coach [Marwin Walling] decided to take the head varsity basketball job and it was just a little too much," Culliver said. "They asked me if I wanted to take over the football job and I did. I'm fired up. I didn't realize I would miss being a head coach as much as I did."

Harvey joined the Chagrin Valley Conference two years ago and struggled to compete, winning one Chagrin Division game in two seasons. Harvey was 7-23 overall under Walling.

"From what I've seen on tape, we were playing a varsity schedule with a majority of freshmen and sophomores [last season]," Culliver said.

Crosby, the 2009 NHL MVP, hasn't played since Dec. 5 following a recurrence of the symptoms that sidelined him for more than 10 months last year.

Associated PressPittsburgh's Sidney Crosby during a practice last Friday, the first time he skated with the Penguins in more than a month.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will meet with a specialist this week because of lingering concussion-like symptoms.

Crosby hasn't played since Dec. 5 following a recurrence of the symptoms that sidelined him for more than 10 months last year. The team says Crosby will work with chiropractic neurologist Dr. Ted Carrick, who treated Crosby for similar symptoms last summer.

The 24-year-old star skated with his teammates for the first time in more than a month last Friday, a first step in what could be another long comeback. He continues to deal with dizziness and headaches and doctors have not cleared him to exert himself at a high level.

"The motion stuff is still a little bit iffy," Crosby said last Friday. "I want to make sure I give it a fair shot, but at the same time I know it's something I can improve."

Carrick worked closely with Crosby last summer after Crosby's progress slowed. Carrick said in September that Crosby would have a "very good outcome" following his rehab.

Crosby vowed to return this season, and he was spectacular in his season debut on Nov. 21, scoring two goals against the New York Islanders and had 12 points in eight games.

Yet all the good feeling faded after getting jostled around in a loss to Boston on Dec. 5.

There is no timetable for Crosby's return and though he called the chance to join his teammates on the ice a "positive step" it was also largely symbolic.

The 2009 NHL MVP is still uncertain when he'll be able to practice, let alone suit up for a game.

"Sidney has made a lot of progress but he is still having some symptoms, so this is the next step in his recovery," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said. "Obviously he won't be back in the lineup until he is symptom-free."

Unlike last January, when Crosby took an obvious shot to the head in successive games, there was no single play that led to the issues reappearing.

"It's a tough injury," Crosby said. "It's not always clear-cut all of the time. Now I feel like I know a lot more about what I'm feeling and how to improve it. I think being more familiar helps a bit."

The Penguins have struggled without their captain. A Stanley Cup contender with Crosby in the lineup, Pittsburgh has slipped to eighth in the Eastern Conference, though the team did sweep games in Florida and Tampa Bay over the weekend.

The victories came after Crosby's teammates made a very public display of support, taping a "C'' on their jerseys as he joined them for a relatively informal game day skate.

Crosby's silence during his current rehab — he hadn't spoken publicly in more than a month since being injured — led some to question coach Dan Byslma about the mystery surrounding Crosby's status.

"I've been doing this long enough to know that if there's information to give, it's part of my role and responsibility that comes with what I do to provide that and I've always been willing to do that," Crosby said. "But if there's no information to be given, then I'm not going to give any or make something up."

AKRON, Ohio - Curtis Black has defied the odds. The Kent Roosevelt senior played one year of high school football yet has earned a Division I scholarship.

Kent Roosevelt offensive guard Curtis Black has played one season yet he earned a football scholarship to Akron.

AKRON, Ohio - Curtis Black has defied the odds.

The Kent Roosevelt senior played one year of high school football yet has earned a Division I scholarship.

Black, the son of Roosevelt boys basketball coach Cameron Black, has made an oral commitment to Akron and will sign a national letter of intent on Feb. 1, football coach John Nemec said.

Black, a 6-4, 325-pound offensive guard, did not play high school football until last fall when he decided to go out for the team as a tribute to his best friend, Ryan Anderson. Prior to that he had played basketball, averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds in each of the past two seasons. His older brother, also named Cameron, starts on Bowling Green's basketball team.

Anderson was a Division I football prospect until he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma last summer and was forced to have part of his right leg amputated.

"Curtis decided he would play to honor Ryan," Cameron Black said of his youngest son, "Curtis and Ryan are best of friends and when Ryan got sick Curtis wanted to know what he could [do] to help. Ryan told him, 'If you want to do something for me get out there and play football.' So, that's what Curtis did."

Nemec said Black showed great improvement over the summer and during the season.

"He worked hard and he learned fast," said Nemec. "I'd say that by five or six games he was the best offensive lineman in the Portage Trail Conference."

SVSM's Perry to Harvard: St. Vincent-St. Mary two-way tackle Matt Perry decided several years ago that he would let football take him as far as it could.

It has taken him all the way to Cambridge, Mass., and the Ivy League.

The 6-3, 255-pound senior said he has made an oral commitment to Harvard. He had offers from the Air Force and Dartmouth and was interested in the University of Pennsylvania but reached his decision following his official visit to Harvard last month.

"I love playing football and I always felt I would play it and take it as far as I could and if that meant a college education, that would be great," said Perry, a member of the National Honor Society. "Once I got on campus and met the players and coaches I fell in love with the atmosphere. The academic reputation was obviously a big factor."

In his two seasons as a starter, Perry was in on 115 tackles, with 10 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. He was named SVSM's best defensive player last season.

Perry plans on studying economics.

Byron Scott pleased with the effort of undersized rookie as a backup for Anderson Varejao.

View full sizeChuck Burton, Associated PressBoris Diaw split the defense of Tristan Thompson (left) and Semih Erden for this first-half shot Monday afternoon in Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Before Monday's game, Byron Scott was joking about trying to find a backup center who could get more rebounds than fouls. Semih Erden and Samardo Samuels have both struggled in that regard.

Scott said he was thinking about giving rookie power forward Tristan Thompson a shot, in spite of his youth (20) and slight frame (6-9, 227 pounds). Turned out he wasn't joking. Thompson played briefly at center in both halves.

"I wanted to get Andy some rest because I knew I was going to need him big in the fourth quarter," Scott said. "I thought, 'Let me put in Tristan and see what happens.' I thought he did a pretty good job. It's just a matter of him really learning plays at that position. But for the most part his teammates really helped him out there. When I called plays, they told him where to go and where to be. I kind of liked it."

Thompson said he'd played some center in college and didn't want to be limited by being labeled just a power forward. Of course, that was before he tried to move 6-8, 245-pound Boris Diaw.

"He is a big guy," Thompson said, smiling. "Guys like that, I've got to use my quickness and find ways to get around them instead of bully-ball because he probably outweighs me by 20 or 30 pounds.

"I did well. It's still a process. Every day you have to take the good with the bad. The key is to try to get better every day."

Goal setting: Last season, the Cavaliers gave up 14.2 fast-break points per game, tying them with the Los Angeles Clippers for 20th in the league. They came into Monday giving up only 9.2 points, which is the best in the NBA. The Bobcats had five.

"It was one of our points of emphasis when we came into the season," Scott said. "We had to do a much better job in transition defense. I didn't know if we were going to be able to go from 18th or 19th to No. 1, but the goal was to be in the top 10.

"I think from that standpoint we've done a real good job of limiting teams from getting fast-break points because we haven't done a great job of taking care of the ball. So, obviously teams are getting opportunities but our guys are doing a heck of a job of making sure they utilize that effort and the energy that we've had almost every single game as far as getting back and making teams set up."

Welcome back: The last game Kyrie Irving played in Charlotte was in the third round of the NCAA tournament last season, when he helped Duke beat Michigan to advance to the Sweet 16.

Swarmed by reporters after Monday's game, Irving nodded toward the training room and said, "Last time I was here, I was getting my toe taped in there for the NCAA tournament. It's great to be back, but finally putting on an NBA uniform. I miss Duke, but this is even better."

A surrogate team to carry Cleveland's hopes is not the happiest choice for passionate Browns fans. But it is one most of them would make in an instant.

View full sizeElise Amendola, Associated PressHe may have attended Michigan (and beaten Ohio State) and plays for Bill Belichick, but is there any doubt that Tom Brady is Cleveland's choice in a matchup against the Ravens? Bill Livingston thinks so.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland fans are keeping score. They are also settling scores, although it usually requires the help of an intermediary to do so.

Another team, a surrogate, to carry the fans' hopes, if not their colors, is not the happiest choice for devoted followers of the Cleveland teams to make. But their own teams haven't been up to the job. So recently, Cleveland fans have had the company of some of the strangest bedfellows outside the political arena. This is what happens when it has been 48 years since the Browns won the city's last major championship in 1964.

Anyone who was in Cleveland Municipal Stadium a quarter-century ago, throwing dog bones at John Elway during "The Drive," would have trouble believing how popular was the Denver Broncos' playoff victory over Pittsburgh. Elway, now the team's president, raised his arms in triumph after Tim Tebow's long pass secured victory on the first play of overtime.

Many Browns fans probably mimicked his gesture.

Surely, some newly minted fans, possibly a sizable minority, were motivated by Tebow's story with its religious overtones. But most simply detest the "Stillers" and are tired and envious of the glory reaped two hours down the state turnpikes.

Fans here do what they gotta do. "My enemy's enemy is my friend" is the motto.

Negative cheering, though, is not entirely satisfying. It is sort of like meeting a distant relative, say, a second cousin, once removed. You really don't know these people very well, but they're welcome to share the fruitcake if they return next Christmas. Pulling for Denver if you lived here in the 1980s is several degrees of separation from the city's endemic passion for the Browns.

But, as Art Modell used to say, "Apathy is the worst thing." I believe he said that shortly before promising never to move the Browns.

Certainly, Cleveland fans are not apathetic. In a recent Cleveland.com poll that drew over 5,000 responses, the Steelers were the most hated team in 49 percent of the vote but, in a remarkable testament to the personal dislike many fans feel for LeBron James, the Miami Heat finished second at 41 percent. The University of Michigan and New York Yankees finished up the track.

The poll, however, did not include the Baltimore Ravens. Browns fans wistfully think of the Ravens as the "real" Browns. No bone stuck quite as securely in the civic throat as the Ravens' Super Bowl victory in only the second season of the restored and reject-laden Browns. The Ravens would pull big polling numbers here in any "most hated" poll.

No one else would seriously challenge the Terrible Triad of Steelers, Heat and Ravens. It has been a long time since Bill Belichick was a controversial Browns coach. If he doesn't receive outright absolution from most fans, he certainly benefits from the expediency of surrogacy. His New England Patriots face the Ravens in the AFC championship game on Sunday.

The appeal of surrogate teams involves more than the system of resentments in Cleveland against cities with wiser owners, or more loyal players, or bigger payrolls or simply better luck. Time and again, such teams have broken Cleveland fans' hearts.

Time is, however, our ally. Over the years, the aches dull, the wounds heal, and the scars become less visible. Cheering for Denver is close to amnesty for Elway. Cheering for the Dallas Mavericks is close to amnesia about them.

Three decades ago, the Mavs rose to contention on the backs of the Ted Stepien Cavs, who made trades with them that were so benighted the NBA embargoed them until league approval could be given. Of course, Stepien was the real culprit. The Mavs were merely the beneficiaries.

Years ago, a reporter was waiting to interview Pat Summerall, the CBS sports commentator, after he came down from the broadcast tower at the old World Series of Golf in Akron. Summerall clambered down, and then a fan shouted, "You were lucky on that field goal, Summerall!"

"That was in 1958! People in Cleveland have long memories," Summerall said, referring to a field goal he kicked in the snow, which eventually denied the Browns a berth against Johnny Unitas' Colts in the first-ever sudden-death overtime game.

Surrogacy means resentment has an expiration date. Most Cleveland fans certainly will root for the Giants in the Super Bowl if they play Baltimore.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

The Indians have seven players eligible for arbitration. They are scheduled to exchange salary figures for 2012 with the team at noon Tuesday. If a deal cannot be reached, they will go to an arbitration hearing starting Feb. 1.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerAsdrubal Cabrera could more than double his $2.025 million salary if he goes through the arbitration process with the Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Chernoff is starting his second year as assistant general manager to Indians GM Chris Antonetti, and his plate is full. The team has seven players eligible for arbitration and it's his job to get them signed.

Players and teams must exchange salary figures by noon Tuesday. If a deal can't be reached, the two parties will go to binding arbitration. This year the hearings will be held in St. Petersburg, Fla., from Feb. 1-21.

It's been 21 years since the Indians had a player go the distance in arbitration. Greg Swindell and Jerry Browne went in 1991, Swindell won and Browne lost.

On Friday, 142 players filed for arbitration. The Padres led the way with 11 players followed by Boston with eight. The Indians are in a five-way tie for third with the Cubs, Royals, Giants and Rangers with seven each.

The seven eligible Indians are: closer Chris Perez, left-hander Rafael Perez, right-hander Joe Smith, right-hander Justin Masterson, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, right fielder Shin-Soo Choo and third baseman Jack Hannahan. Several teams have already reached agreement with arbitration eligible players. There have been no announcements by the Indians, who usually like to announce such signings in bulk.

To be eligible for arbitration, a player must be unsigned and have at least three, but fewer than six, full seasons in the big leagues. A player is also eligible if he is in the upper 17 percent of service time for players who have more than two, but fewer than three years in the big leagues. That classification is called Super Two. Under the new basic agreement, the Super Two classification expands to 22 percent next year.

The Web site MajorLeagueTradeRumors.com has created a formula to determine what each player eligible for arbitration will earn this year. It projects the total cost for the Indians at $21.7 million, if all seven players sign one-year deals.

Here's the player by player breakdown: Their 2011 salary is in parenthesis:

1. Cabrera $4.8 million, ($2.025 m), 2. Choo $4.3 million, ($3.975 m). 3. Chris Perez $4.2 million, ($2.225 m), 4. Masterson $3.6 million, ($468,400). 5. Rafael Perez $1.9 million, ($1.33 m). 6. Smith $1.6 million, ($850,000). 7. Hannahan $1.3 million ($500,000).

Antonetti on Friday said the Indians are willing to discuss multiyear deals with some players. The last arbitration-eligible Indian to sign a multiyear deal was Fausto Carmona in July of 2008. He signed a four-year deal with club options in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Indians exercised Carmona's $7 million option for 2012 after last season.

They have attempted to extend Choo's contract in the past with no luck. Choo, Cabrera and Rafael Perez are entering their fifth big-league season. A player can be a free agent after six seasons, so the team would probably have to overwhelm them at this point to get them to bite on a multiyear deal.

Masterson or Chris Perez are probably more favorable targets. Masterson is entering his fourth season and eligible for arbitration for the first time. Chris Perez, who qualified as a Super Two player last year, is also entering his fourth season.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Lenzelle Smith Jr., least known of OSU's five starters, scored 28 points in Sunday's win over Indiana, maybe making the Buckeyes even tougher to defend for future opponents. Links to more Buckeyes stories.

Associated PressOhio State's Lenzelle Smith Jr. (32) shoots between Indiana's Tom Pritchard (left) and Kory Barnett (1) during the Buckeyes' 80-63 win over the Hoosiers on Sunday. Pritchard is a Lakewood St. Edward High School graduate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State's Buckeyes defeated Indiana's Hoosiers, 80-63, on Sunday in Columbus, atoning for a 74-70 loss at Indiana on Dec. 31.

A development of more long-term importance, maybe, than the win for the Buckeyes was the emergence of another scoring option -- sophomore guard Lenzelle Smith Jr.

Paul Daugherty of Sports Illustrated's SI.com writes about the Buckeyes' win over the Hoosiers:

Drawing up a game plan for Ohio State doesn't seem so hard. The Buckeyes have four starters who can score, and one who can't, or at least hasn't. You take your five and play their four. You double-team Jared Sullinger close to the basket, you stay in the faces of William Buford, Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas. You hope it works out.

What happens when the fifth guy starts scoring?

Indiana found out Sunday. "Lenzelle was averaging four shots a game," Indiana coach Tom Crean said. "You could look it up.''

That's a fact. That Lenzelle Smith Jr. picked Sunday afternoon to take 12 shots, make 10 of them, score 28 points and absolutely wreck the Hoosiers said less about the shortcomings of Indiana than it did about the potential of Ohio State.

Daugherty's story includes this quote:

"They could win the national championship with that," Crean declared. "That's what they had last year. Five guys that could score."

Ohio State is 16-3, 4-2 in the Big Ten after Sunday's win. OSU dropped from fifth to sixth in the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, however, due to its 79-74 road loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini (15-3, 4-1) last Tuesday.

Indiana (15-3, 3-3) has dropped to 11th and 13th, respectively, in the AP and Coaches polls, while Illinois has moved up to 22nd and 25th.

The Buckeyes' next game is on Saturday, when they visit Nebraska's Cornhuskers (9-8, 1-5).

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' game story on the Buckeyes' win over the Hoosiers; his Big Ten Basketball Insider; a column by Bill Livingston on Buckeyes backup point guard Shannon Scott and his father, Charles Scott, the first scholarship African-American player in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a former NBA star; and more.

About the Buckeyes

The first half of the Indiana game is a blueprint for the Buckeyes. By Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch.

Often-overlooked Lenzelle Smith Jr. makes his presence known for the Buckeyes against Indiana. By Jeff Goodman for CBSSports.com.

Observations after Ohio State's win over Indiana. By Tony Gerdeman for the-Ozone.net.

Lenzelle Smith Jr., who had been sick earlier in the week, keys the Buckeyes' win. By Ben Axelrod for the-Ozone.net.

Where Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger and guard William Buford are in a CollegeHoops.net 2012 NBA mock draft.

New Big Ten power rankings, by Myron Medcalf for ESPN.com.

With Mentor's boys basketball coach, there's always a method to his madness.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerDemanding Mentor basketball coach Bob Krizancic oversees his team's workout earlier this month. The 9-1 Cardinals are ranked No. 1 by The Plain Dealer, and No. 6 in Division I by the Associated Press.

MENTOR, Ohio -- Sometimes I wonder if Mentor boys basketball coach Bob Krizancic orders the five-pound grilled monster sandwich at Melt and says, "That's not very much cheese."

Did he spy the nearly two feet of snow in his driveway Saturday and remark, "That's not very deep"?

Does he look a 4.0 student in the eye and scoff, "That's not enough A's"?

Because this is a guy who a couple of weeks ago said of his basketball team, "We're not very good." To which everyone else in the Greater Cleveland basketball universe replied, more or less, "That guy's not very sane."

With Krizancic, there's always a method to his madness. The public sees a sideline screamer, which he unnecessarily is at times. His players learn to turn down the volume in their heads and hear the messages. It somehow works for both sides.

He rather comically always carries a cup of water while pacing the sideline, barking at players and officials. The cup is a crutch to keep him from going off the deep end, and it works. He never spills it.

Krizancic also sends more "messages" than a teen Tweeter. His "We're not very good" comments, which he made several times early this month, were directed to players' collective inboxes, reminding them that even though they averaged nearly 100 points per game in December, the road ahead was steep and slick.

"Absolutely," Krizancic said before practice Monday. "It's very common, especially for young kids, to think you're a little better than you are when you're winning big."

The 9-1 Cardinals are coming off arguably their biggest win, 73-63, Friday against talented Garfield Heights. They upheld their No. 1 ranking in The Plain Dealer Top 25 and senior Justin Fritts scored 44 points, entering him into the Mr. Basketball conversation.

Beyond Fritts, what ultimately will determine Mentor's fate is the development of three football players -- junior Mitch Trubisky and sophomores Brandon Fritts and Krizancic's son, Conner -- as well as the recuperative powers of oft-injured 6-3 guard Jeff Foreman, also a football player who currently is out with a concussion.

"A lot of those football players are averaging six to eight points a game and they can be double-figures guys," Krizancic said. "Brandon can be a double-double guy. He had 11 boards against Garfield. When [Foreman] is playing well, he's one of the better players in the area."

Classic Krizancic. Always pushing buttons.

As much as Krizancic has accomplished at Mentor, the Cardinals have not won a state title, and it drives him still. This team, ranked No. 6 in the state Division I poll, is at least in the discussion.

Perhaps someday soon they will be very good in Krizancic's eyes. He said he believes they will, but they are not there yet. "I'll be able to tell you that in a couple weeks," he said.

So, to the chefs at Melt, if you see Krizancic coming, get more cheese.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

The Gladiators begin training camp in February. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAs the Cleveland Gladiators returned to action in 2011, an increase of empty seats could be found at The Q. The team will get a marketing push now that it has been purchased by Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert's Cavaliers group has purchased ownership stake in the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators. An official announcement will be made at a news conference Tuesday that is scheduled to include Cavaliers President Len Komoroski, Gladiators special adviser Bernie Kosar and the Gladiators' most recent owner, Jim Ferraro.

Pending league approval, the Cavaliers almost certainly will become majority owner of the Gladiators, and possibly sole owner. The presence of Ferraro on Tuesday indicates he might retain a small percentage. 

Two weeks ago, the Cavaliers group  confirmed interest in acquiring the AFL franchise. Last Monday, Ferraro said that he was in "serious" negotiations to sell to Gilbert. Ferraro said that, if an agreement were to be reached, it likely would happen by early this week.

The Gladiators will begin training camp in February; the first practice is Feb. 20. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

Ferraro could not be reached Monday night. Gladiators coach Steve Thonn, contacted by phone early Monday night, said he was unaware of any change in ownership.

"I haven't heard anything yet,'' he said. "Right now, I'm just getting ready for camp. We still need to sign five guys so we can get to the 35 we will open camp with.''

Ferraro had owned the franchise since 2000, when it was in New Jersey. He moved it to Las Vegas in December 2002. After the 2007 season, Ferraro aligned with Kosar and brought it to Cleveland.

The Gladiators enjoyed a strong inaugural season in 2008, drawing five-digit crowds and reaching the playoffs. But the AFL went dark the following year because of a faulty business model. When the Gladiators returned with the league in 2010, they were a fraction of their previous popularity.

Last season, the Gladiators won the East Division but generated minimal buzz. Many of the home crowds totaled no more than several thousand in actual number, leading many to wonder if the franchise was in financial trouble.

Ferraro said front-office turbulence, not lack of funds, was responsible for off-field problems in 2010 and 2011 -- though he did say he was forced to pay many of the bills out of his own pocket.

Ferraro, a trial lawyer with offices in several cities, has had difficulty finding time to devote to owning the Gladiators -- at least not to the level he did in 2008.

Last Monday, Ferraro said of the possible sale to the Cavaliers: "It's mutual interest, and I think it's a natural fit for them. The Gladiators play in their building, and we sell our tickets at their box office. They have a structure in place, with the Cavaliers and the Monsters. If it happens, it will be better for the Gladiators, better for the fans."

Gladiators players and fans interviewed the past few years have said arena football can work in Cleveland provided sufficient marketing, promotion and game presentation take place. Gilbert and his staff specialize in those areas.

The American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters are in their fifth season, all under Cavaliers ownership. The Monsters have ranked among AHL leaders in attendance each season. They have averaged 6,777 in 18 dates this season, an increase of more than 1,000 from 2010-2011. Their game-operations people won an award from the AHL last summer.    

Ferraro indicated that former Browns quarterback Kosar would be a good fit to oversee a potential Gilbert-owned Gladiators, just as Kosar was for Ferraro in 2008. Kosar and Gilbert are friends. Kosar, part owner and club president in the inaugural season, was more of a figurehead last year.

Masterson, who was the Indians' best starting pitcher in 2011, is one of the team's seven players eligible for salary arbitration. Players and teams must exchange proposed salary figures by noon Tuesday.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson, the Indians' best starting pitcher last season, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians have seven players eligible for salary arbitration, as reported by Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes.

Players and teams must exchange proposed salary figures by noon Tuesday (Jan. 17). If a deal can't be reached, the two parties will go to a binding arbitration hearing some time between Feb. 1-21. If, for instance, a player submits to be paid $2.5 million in 2012 and the club submits an offer of $1.75 million, an arbiter rules that the player will be paid one figure or the other.

It would be intriguing to learn what Justin Masterson proposes he be paid, and what the Indians offer. Masterson, who will be 27 on March 22, emerged as the Indians' best starting pitcher last season.

The right-hander went 12-10, but he pitched much better than that. Masterson's 3.21 ERA was the 12th best among American League starters. He allowed just 11 home runs in 216 innings, the second best ratio among AL starters. The lack of run support Masterson got from the Indians' batters was well-documented. He worked under extreme pressure all season. He pitched a total of just 17 innings when the Indians were leading by three or more runs.

Masterson's salary last season was $468,400. A player needs three years of major league service to be eligible for arbitration. Masterson now has three years and 108 days.

The Indians acquired 38-year-old right-handed starter Derek Lowe in a trade with Atlanta on Oct. 31, sending minor league pitcher Chris Jones to the Braves. Lowe will complete a four-year, $60 million contract this season. The Indians will pay him $5 million, and the other $10 million will be paid him by the Braves. Lowe was 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA in 2011.

The Indians picked up their option on right-handed starter Fausto Carmona, 28, and will pay him $7 million this season. Carmona finished last season 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA.

Right-handed starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who turns 28 on Sunday, will make $4.2 million in base salary this season with the Indians, completing a four-year/$10 million deal he signed with the Colorado Rockies after just one year and 87 days in the big leagues. The Indians hold a club option on Jimenez for 2013. He went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 starts for Cleveland last season after they got him from the Rockies in a July 30 trade for four then-minor leaguers, including top pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White. Jimenez combined 2011 record with the two teams was 10-13, 4.68.

The other pitcher in the presumed Indians starting rotation is Josh Tomlin, 27. Tomlin made $417,200 last season, and finished 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA. He has just one year and 69 days of major league service.

(Salary figures are according to various published reports)

Masterson and the Indians could reach agreement on a multi-year contract, but assuming they don't, what do you think?

Cavaliers coach Bryon Scott admits now that 3-4 was the best he could hope for on team's just completed seven-game trip, the longest of the season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott wouldn't admit it before his team left for its longest trip of the season -- seven games -- but 3-4 was about the best he thought it could finish.

Monday's 102-94 victory over Charlotte at Time Warner Cable Arena earned the Cavs their third victory of the trip prior to Tuesday night's home game against Golden State, evening the season mark at 6-6.

"I’m not surprised of the fact we competed every night,'' Scott said after Monday's game. "I told the guys if we can come off this road trip off seven games and win three, we did a good job. We were able to do that and we were in a couple of other ones.

Indeed, who knows what might have happened had Daniel Gibson not missed a game-tying 3-pointer late in Friday's loss to the Lakers? Certainly Mike Brown didn't expect to have to play his starters as long as he did, which certainly contributed to the Lakers' loss to the Clippers on Saturday night.

Almost overlooked during the trip was the fact that the Cavs are at .500 having played just three home games -- the fewest in the NBA. They will play five of their next eight at home to close out January. February brings 10 home games and just three road games.

It's too soon to tell what kind of impact this extended -- and for the most part, successful -- trip will have on this young team. But Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson already have shown remarkable growth, and the team returns without having to make up tons of ground. That's another victory that won't show up in the standings.

HBO will take an extensive look into the trainer when it begins “On Freddie Roach,” a six-episode series on Friday at 9:30 p.m. The 30-minute shows will run in that time slot for six weeks.

AP FileTrainer Freddie Roach with boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

More than 20 years ago, you would never have figured Freddie Roach to be so big. The diminutive guy with the thick-framed glasses just did not have the look of a fight-game legend.

But after establishing his methods as one of the best, the 5-5 Roach stands tall as one of the best trainers in the ring's history. With more than 20 champions to his credit, including current rage Manny Pacquiao, he has attained international status.

HBO will take an extensive look into the trainer when it begins “On Freddie Roach,” a six-episode series on Friday at 9:30 p.m. The 30-minute shows will run in that time slot for six weeks.

It will examine Roach's career, from lightweight boxer under Hall of Fame trainer Eddie Futch to the founding of his first gym, which was financed by actor Mickey Rourke in 1992.

Roach, 51, had a pro record of 40-13 (15 KOs) that included losses to champions Hector Camacho and Greg Haugen in 1985. Retiring the next year, he became Futch's apprentice and gradually established his presence at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif.

With the Olympic Games approaching, he will be working with American boxers. In June, he will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y.

Roach has made his mark while dealing with Parkinson's disease.

This one looks like a keeper.

Saturday show: The West Side Boxing Club has another “Battle in the Ballroom” amateur card set for the Slovenian National Home, 6417 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, on Saturday at 7 p.m. Contact Bill Godhard at 440-785-4900 or Todd Kincaid at 440-223-7409.

Voting: The Boxing Writers Association of America is currently voting for numerous 2011 awards. Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Wladimir Klitschko, Nonito Donaire and Andre Ward are on the ballot for top fighter. Super middleweight champ Ward (25-0, 13 KOs) is worthy of the honor after winning Showtime's “Super Six” tournament.

This date: Muhammad Ali was born in 1942. He was honored in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., this past Saturday.

Around the ring: Ali was not the only fighter feted for his birthday. Light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins turned 47 on Saturday. He will be honored today with the unveiling of his own Ripley's Believe It Or Not wax figure in his hometown Philadelphia. . . . HBO will be in San Antonio on Feb. 4 when Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KOs) defends his WBC middleweight title against Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5-1, 48 KOs). Bantamweight champion Donaire (27-1, 18 KOs) moves up to take on Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-1-1, 18 KOs) at 122 pounds in the opener. . . . On Feb. 25, HBO will be in St. Louis, where two-time champion Devon Alexander (22-1, 13 KOs) will take on WBA 140-pound champion Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28 KOs).

Friday TV: Showtime's “ShoBox” series has WBA junior featherweight champion Rico Ramos (19-0, 10 KOs) of Puerto Rico taking on Cuba's Guillermo Rigondeaux (8-0, 6 KOs) at 11 p.m.

Saturday TV: The NBC Sports Network's initial “Fight Night” offering hit a snag when heavyweight Eddie Chambers fractured two ribs in training last week and had to bow out of his hometown Philadelphia bout against former WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich (25-4, 15 KOs). Promoters are scrambling to find a replacement.

The cable network was previously called Versus. The telecast begins at 9 p.m.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

Tristan Thompson is getting time at center.

APCharlotte Bobcats' Boris Diaw, center, of France, drives between Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson, left, during the first half of Monday's game in Charlotte.

Jason Lloyd writes on Ohio.com how Semih Erden has at least five more games to prove what he can do at center.

While Erden tries to prove himself, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott has started easing Tristan Thompson into the backup role behind Anderson Varejao.

Thompson played a few minutes at center in Monday’s 102-94 win over the Charlotte Bobcats because Scott conceded he isn’t getting what he wants out of his three other backup centers. Erden, Ryan Hollins and Samardo Samuels have all had their chances and all have disappointed in their own ways.

Erden had five points and six rebounds Monday, but most of that production came in the first half. He committed four fouls in 2› minutes in the second half.

Erden’s second half was indicative of his season thus far, writes Lloyd. He began the day with no field goals, eight rebounds and 15 fouls in 52 minutes since returning from a fractured thumb. Now he has 19 fouls in 61 minutes.

More Cleveland Cavaliers

Defense  leads the way in victory over Charlotte (Cleveland.com).

The defense doesn't rest, thanks to Boobie, in victory (Ohio.com).

Surprise! The Cavaliers are progressing earlier than expected (The News-Herald).

Kyrie Irving proving many people wrong (Bleacher Report).

Charlotte Bobcats give it away (Charlotte Observer).

Skype in your questions until 11 a.m. Who should the Browns draft? Will the Cavaliers make a run at the playoffs? Why haven't the Indians done anything in free agency? We want your video questions about Cleveland sports our new 'PD Sports Insider' show, seen live every Monday and Thursday at noon on cleveland.com.

We'll be taking your Skype calls about Cleveland sports until 11 a.m. Tuesday. Add clevelanddotcom to your Skype contacts.

Who should the Browns draft? Will the Cavaliers make a run at the playoffs? Why haven't the Indians done anything in free agency? We want your video questions about Cleveland sports our new 'PD Sports Insider' show, seen live every Monday and Thursday at noon on cleveland.com.

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

We'll ask you for your name, your hometown and, in under 30 seconds, to pose your question to Dennis Manoloff, Bud Shaw and one of their fellow Plain Dealer sportswriters. The call will be recorded and played during an upcoming live show.

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

Here's what to do:

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

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

Watch every Monday and Thursday live at noon.

3. A cleveland.com producer will answer your call and record it. Selected videos will be played during an upcoming live show, when Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and their special guest will answer the questions.

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

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