Check back all day for breaking news, recruit profiles on more than 70 local signees and more.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerOhio State recruits De'Van Bogard of Glenville, left, and Blake Thomas of St. Ignatius are among more than 70 local high school football players who will sign with Division I colleges today on National Signing Day.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - National Signing Day is finally here and The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com have high school and college football fans covered all day long.

This webpage is your quick, one-stop place to visit. Check back all day for links to all of our stories and recruit profiles.   

Check out our running series of recruit snapshots on more than 70 Northeast Ohio football standouts headed to Division I college programs. The profiles will be posted all day and look for highlight videos at the bottom of entries.

Also get the latest news, including which college Cleveland Heights lineman Kyle Dodson chooses Wednesday afternoon during a news conference at his school.

See a video interview with local Ohio State recruits De'Van Bogard of Glenville, Tyvis Powell of Bedford and Blake Thomas of St. Ignatius.

Terry Pluto introduces us to 3 local high school football players who know grades matter when it comes to scholarships.

Can't wait until next year? Get a jump on the Class of 2013 with The Plain Dealer's early recruiting rankings of current juniors.

And follow the high school sports staff all day on Twitter with reporters Tim Warsinskey, Tim Rogers, Bob Fortuna and Joe Maxse as well as high school sports editor Kristen Davis.

Colleges can now offer students four-year athletic scholarships. Is this a good thing?

Lynn Ischay | The Plain DealerUrban Meyer

Until October, athletic scholarships were for one year at a time. Reporter Doug Lesmerises writes on Cleveland.com how most of those scholarships were renewed, but players were in danger of having their scholarships pulled if they did not play well.

In October, the NCAA made them possible, but not required. However, enough schools protested that a final vote on the matter will be held in February. For now, though, the rule is in place.

Cleveland Heights' offensive tackle Kyle Dodson will announce his college decision live today at 12:15 p.m. Watch live streaming video courtesy of FoxSportsOhio.com. Dodson is supposedly deciding between Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and University of Southern California.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerCleveland Heights' Kyle Dodson has yet to decide between Ohio State, USC, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Analysts rank the Buckeyes' recruiting class among the top three or four in the nation. Also, former coach Jim Tressel sells his Columbus-area home.

The Plain DealerAnalysts believe Ohio State's 2012 recruiting class will give Buckeyes fans plenty to cheer about.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Today is college football's national signing day for the high school class of 2012.

It's the first true indication of what kind of impact new coach Urban Meyer can make on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Observers believe OSU and Meyer have done quite well, enhancing the team roster with a deep and talented group of high school seniors who will be Buckeyes next fall.

MaxPreps.com ranks the Buckeyes' recruiting class the third-best in the nation. Scout.com also ranks the Buckeyes No. 3. Ohio State's recruits are the fourth-best group in college football, according to Rivals.com. 

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' story that two more recruits upped the Buckeyes' class to 25 players; videos and profiles of all 25 Ohio State recruits; Tim Warsinskey's story that Cleveland Heights High School offensive tackle Kyle Dodson will play for the Buckeyes; Bob Fortuna's report on Cleveland Glenville High School safety De'Van Bogard going to Ohio State; and much more. 

Included in PD/cleveland.com Buckeyes coverage, of course, is Ohio State's basketball team. The Buckeyes, ranked third in the nation, are 19-3 and in first place in the Big Ten with a 7-2 league record. Their next game is on Saturday, a visit to the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers (18-5, 7-3), who are second in the Big Ten standings. Lesmerises will cover the game.

Urban Meyer, who led Florida to national championships in the 2006 and 2008 seasons, was hired to coach the Buckeyes following the 2011 regular season, and prior to OSU's Gator Bowl loss to Florida. Luke Fickell, who had been Ohio State's interim coach, also filled the role for the bowl game.

Braden Gall writes for AthlonSports.com that the circumstances contributed to the Buckeyes' recruiting success:

It helps to have two coaching staffs.

While Luke Fickell's Ohio State staff prepared for the bowl match-up with Florida, new head coach Urban Meyer and his staff plowed through the recruiting trail in true General Sherman fashion.

This story began on November 27 rather than National Signing Day. In reality, Meyer had a rather quiet Signing Day, landing only the one big name (Kyle Dodson). But he had a monstrous two months leading up to Wednesday for the Buckeyes.

Meyer stepped onto campus in Columbus and wreaked havoc almost instantly by pilfering powerful Midwestern classes for elite level talent. Meyer landed 11 of his 25 total signees after taking over late in November including a number of former Penn State commitments, one Michigan State verbal, a former Wisconsin commitment and a Notre Dame pledge.

 .....................

Buckeyes banter

Coach Urban Meyer and his staff turned what had been a so-so Buckeyes recruiting class into one of the nation's best, Tim May writes for the Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio State and Michigan have the Big Ten's best recruiting classes, Mike Clark writes for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Five recruits you need to know about for Ohio State and each of the other Big Ten Leaders Division teams. On CollegeFootballNews.com.

The new Buckeyes recruits, by Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch.

The good and the bad for Ohio State on national signing day. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

A national signing day live blog on Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

ESPN.com's top 150 players from the 2012 high school class.

Former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel has sold his Columbus-area home, Jim Welker writes for the Columbus Dispatch.

Varejao is fourth in the NBA in rebounding, but numbers have never told the total story of his value to the Cavaliers. Links to more Cavs stories.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAnderson Varejao continues to make an impact for the Cleveland Cavaliers that can't be measured by mere statistics.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao may be the perfect example that statistics don't tell the whole story.

Not that the numbers are bad at all, especially considering that many observers believe Varejao's game is more suited to playing power forward. Varejao, in his eighth Cavaliers season, played mostly forward but also backed up at center during his first six seasons.

The 6-11 Brazilian is fourth in the NBA with 11.5 rebounds per game. He is averaging 10.4 points while shooting 49 percent from the field.

During the Cavaliers' 93-90 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, as reported by The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed, Varejao scored 20 points and collected 20 rebounds.

For Varejao, though, a 20-20 game is, in one regard, no different from his games with less flashy numbers. Varejao, as he constantly did during five straight Cavs playoff seasons, contributes to his team in ways that don't necessarily show up in his stat-line. 

Following Varejao's performance in Tuesday night's game, on the blog "WaitingForNextYear:"

Varejao’s hustle and tenacity is becoming such commonplace that it is leaving his head coach speechless.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” said Byron Scott following the loss. “I already said it last week: he’s playing like an All-Star. I don’t know what else to say.”

And if you want to know how the opposition feels…

“Varejao is just a pain in the butt with his offensive rebounding, the way he knocks down shots and keeps [loose] balls alive,” said Boston’s Paul Pierce.  ”He’s probably one of the more underrated players in the NBA with how much energy he gives this ball club. He has a knack of somehow coming up with the ball all the time. He’s a major factor out there.”

Doc Rivers went on to co-sign on Scott’s All-Star proclamation. The floppy-haired Varejao may only average 10 and 10 per game in a league where highlights and ratings reign supreme, but that pain-in-the-butt factor is what helps teams win.

The Cavaliers (8-12) visit the Orlando Magic (12-9) on Friday night.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes, besides Tom Reed's Cavs-Celtics game story, Reed's report that Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving has earned the NBA's Rookie of the Month award for January; Reed's "Days of Wine-n-Gold," highlighting Varejao; Reed's Cavaliers Insider; and much more.

Post-ups

The Cavs are fine playing small forwards Omri Casspi and Alonzo Gee just as they are, Michael Keefe writes for the Bleacher Report.

The Cavaliers have quite a point guard in Kyrie Irving, Jim Ingraham writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

"Varejao's always an all-star as far as I'm concerned," Celtics coach Doc Rivers says. In Bob Finnan's Cavs-Celtics game story for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Kyrie Irving ranks No. 1 among the NBA's rookies, writes Sebastian Pruiti for Grantland.com. Video included of some of the premier rookies.

Cavaliers notes, highlighting rookie guard Mychel Thompson, by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

The Cavaliers recall forward Luke Harangody from their NBA Developmental League team, the Canton Charge. On NBA.com/cavaliers.

Some of the details as to why Kyrie Irving was January's Rookie of the Month in the NBA. On NBA.com/cavaliers.

For the Cavs, the only loss was on the scoreboard. By Sam Amico for FoxSportsOhio.com.

Cavs comeback falls short. By Rick Noland for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

Cavaliers notebook by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

It's better than last season. FoxSports.com's new power rankings for the 30 NBA teams.

Dodson deliberated for weeks whether to choose Ohio State, Michigan State or USC, or the school he made a non-binding oral commitment to last summer, Wisconsin. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- She sat a few feet behind her grandson, as grandmothers often do, quietly observing. Her legs crossed and hands in her lap, a small, proud smile creased her face.

Barbara Allen allowed herself to chuckle when the big moment came and the boy she raised for seven years, nationally-ranked lineman Kyle Dodson, broke the tension Wednesday and finally announced, in a rap with teammates, he will play college football at Ohio State.

"Life is about sorrow and great heights you can reach," Allen said in a quiet corner of Cleveland Heights High's auditorium while, nearby, reporters and cameramen surrounded Dodson.

"The main thing is getting a good education, and we hope he achieves the dreams he has in life. We're very proud of Kyle. We're very excited for the opportunity he has. It's just proves dreams do come true."

Dodson deliberated for weeks whether to choose Ohio State, Michigan State or USC, or the school he made a non-binding oral commitment to last summer, Wisconsin. Having already visited Wisconsin, he took official visits to Columbus, Los Angeles and East Lansing in December and January. Head coaches and staff from all four schools made final pitches in person last week to Dodson, Allen, her husband George, and Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky.

One of the reasons Dodson committed to Wisconsin early was Ohio State was late to recruit him under previous coach Jim Tressel. Dodson made an immediate bond with new coach Urban Meyer during a visit Dec. 10.

"He's so real," Dodson said. "You can just tell. The realness is falling off him. He's dripping realness."

Dodson was among the last of the undecided top recruits. Rated as a four-star lineman by multiple national services, Dodson (6-61/2, 295 pounds) is Rivals.com's 16th-ranked tackle and is No. 178 overall.

Meyer said Dodson is an athletic guy who can pass block and get to second-level defenders in the run game, "perfect for our fit."

"I would almost have traded him for any other player that we signed," Meyer said. "We had to have him."  

Dodson and the Allens had a long dinner with Rotsky on Monday night, and Dodson reached his final decision. He shared the decision only with Rotsky, the Allens, and his 19-year-old brother, Cory Dodson, who lives at home. Two older brothers, Gregory Dodson and Jeremy Moore, were kept in the dark like everyone else, including his teammates.

Five minutes before Wednesday's ceremony, Dodson called Meyer with the news.

In the end, it came down to Ohio State and USC, and it made perfect sense Dodson wanted to play closer to his family.

"I'm an Ohio boy. It's that simple," said Dodson, who plans to study criminal justice. "The [schools] were all pretty similar. It was very hard. I had to base it on other things. I want to be close to my grandma in case she were ever to get sick or anything. My family and my brothers are close.

"It gives me more motivation to play for my grandma. My mom can't be here to watch me now, and I love for my grandma to be there."

The Allens, who live a few doors down from Heights High, have raised Dodson and his brothers since Barbara's daughter, Catherine Moore, was killed by driver high on crack in a 2005 automobile accident. Kyle was a shy 11-year-old, self-conscious about his weight, which ballooned to 365 pounds as a middle-school student.

He said with the support of his family and Rotsky, he grew out of his shell and into a leader on the football team.

"Fighting through all these things has made me tough, mentally and physically," he said.

In a well-staged signing ceremony, Dodson was one of nine seniors seated at a long table. All signed their letters of intent simultaneously, then each took a turn at a podium and announced their college, starting with lacrosse player Meg Lentz (Stanford). Seven of Dodson's teammates followed. Phillip Moreland chose Seton Hill, Marcus Hawkins picked Ohio Dominican and four signed with Marian University -- Dionte Saffo, Denzel Pillars, Terrence Bailey and Rick Wilcox. Bryce Jones signed with Boston College.

Jones invited several mentors up on stage to stand behind him and said, "So many have given me so much, and that is why it is not I, but we, will be attending Boston College in the fall."

That got a crowd of about 200 enthused, especially knowing Dodson was next, and last.

Dressed in a black sweater vest, long-sleeve white shirt with a black and red tie, Dodson stood up, his right arm in a black sling. He had surgery last week to repair a torn shoulder labrum, an injury he played with during the last four games of Cleveland Heights' 9-1 season, including a playoff loss to St. Edward.

Dodson thanked his family, Rotsky and others, then he walked off the stage down four steps to the area in front of the stage, still not making the announcement.

He invited his teammates down and about 50 gathered around the big guy as they always did after games, and he led them in a rap similar to the one the Tigers always chanted after games.

"I wanted to do something with my team.

"I got that feeling," he yelled.

"Oh, yeah," his teammates responded.

"I sealed my fate."

"Oh, yeah."

"I got that feeling."

"Oh, yeah."

"It's on the plate."

"Oh, yeah."

"I got that feeling."

"Oh, yeah."

Dodson yelled, "Ohio State!" as he donned an OSU cap he had tucked inside his sling.

The crowd roared, and Barbara Allen chuckled.

"I asked Kyle, 'Are you happy?'" she said later. "If you're happy, we're happy."

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Next season's bowl ban and ineligibility for the Big Ten championship at Ohio State don't seem so damaging after Urban Meyer's excellent recruiting class was announced Wednesday. Watch video

View full sizeJay LaPrete, Associated PressAsked if he loved recruiting, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer said, "You have no chance if you don't."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The crystal ball at the front of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center is as inscrutable as ever, despite Wednesday's promise.

The ball is emblematic of the national championship. It represents what was glorious, yet past, as do the seven Heisman trophies won by Ohio State players that stand near it.

Recruiting success can be as fragile as that glittering football-shaped bauble, which former coach Jim Tressel hoisted in the Arizona desert on Jan. 3, 2003. But with Urban Meyer running the show, the future now looks much brighter than expected after all the troubles of last year.

"It depends on what happens two or three years from now," said Meyer.

The shadows cast by the bowl ban and conference championship ineligibility next season have not been banished in the glow of Meyer's two-month recruiting whirlwind. But they certainly aren't as deep or as forbidding as they were before National Signing Day.

Meyer admitted he had heard the class he recruited was in the "top five, three, or two" nationally. The Buckeyes were wallowing around in the low 20s in the not-always accurate rankings after their losing season. But then Meyer hit the ground running. Hard.

On a day that seemed stolen from recent Novembers, with the trees bare and hazy light filling the sky and making for shirt-sleeve weather, the penalties seemed more like annoyances. After all, if Tressel could not win it all a second time with Terrelle Pryor, his most ballyhooed recruit ever -- and he couldn't after the scandal in which Pryor figured prominently forced Tressel out -- then when would he?

When the Buckeyes resume full competition for the Big Ten and national championships in 2013, they will probably have a better chance than before because of Meyer's drive, his singularity of purpose and his ability to see what's broken and fix it swiftly.

Meyer already has two national championships won at Florida. He has never forgotten the lessons he learned as a young assistant on Earle Bruce's staff here in the 1980s, when he had an assigned list of players to recruit. Failure to rattle off, when asked, the names of the player's mother, father, siblings, girlfriend and prospective college major led to unhappy consequences.

Asked if he loved recruiting, Meyer said, "You have no chance if you don't." All the red-eye flights, all the phone calls, all the prep coaches' names recalled and classroom successes or failures memorized paid off in the end.

At the end of the airport carousel, Meyer had landed, along with 23 others Wednesday, the 6-8, 315-pound and 6-6, 308-pound offensive tackles he had coveted. They were, respectively, Vandalia's Taylor Decker and Cleveland Heights' Kyle Dodson, of whom Meyer said, "I would almost trade him for any other player we signed. We have to have him."

Both players originally gave non-binding commitments to other schools, Decker to Notre Dame and Dodson to Wisconsin. Meyer denied setting out to "flip" players, as this is called. But it is a legal, although controversial part of recruiting. The OSU coach sweetly said he simply inquires if a player has an interest in Ohio State. If not, as St. Edward's Kyle Kalis, a Michigan recruit, told him, he moves on.

Tressel, a life-long Ohioan, soothed the feelings of neglect Ohio high school coaches felt during outsider John Cooper's years. Meyer, an Ashtabula native who has a picture of Woody Hayes on his office wall, is ideally positioned to connect with them, too.

"The high school coach is strong in Ohio," Meyer said.

The desired connection occurs at a distance approximately six inches from the coach's face, with their eyes locked, as Meyer asks, "What kind of a kid is he?"

Football recruiting is not as cynical as that in basketball, where AAU coaches, not high school mentors, run the show, where some top players are interested only in slumming around in college for a year before they can jump to the NBA. But it still is not the most savory enterprise.

When Dodson announced his decision, it was streamed online from Cleveland Heights High School. It seemed to be a mix of a NASCAR winner's circle, as he donned an Ohio State ball cap and a ceremony that rivaled, if not potentially dwarfed, Graduation Day as a school event.

Meyer got Dodson by being relentless. Time will tell how this affects a coach who burned out at Florida after great success. For his part, Meyer balked at even mentioning the word "relax" after signing day was over.

Said assistant coach Tim Hinton, "You know how wrestlers have [misshapen] ears? So do football coaches, from their cell phones."

Meyer's ears looked fine Wednesday. But he still has work to do. If he lands Stefon Diggs, a Percy Harvin play-alike from Maryland who would be perfect for Meyer's spread offense, an excellent recruiting class becomes one that has a chance to be extraordinary.

One crystal ball also gets closer to a mate.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

The University of Akron is in discussions with Tressel about taking an administrative position at the university. An announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerFormer Ohio State football head coach Jim Tressel.

AKRON, Ohio -- Former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel soon may be headed to Akron.

The University of Akron is in discussions with Tressel about taking an administrative position at the university. An announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

In response to an inquiry, the UA sent this response, "When Jim Tressel and other alumni assisted us in our search for a football coach last December, we began to engage in dynamic conversations about Jim's professional goals outside of athletics. We share a common interest in innovative programs for student success. Our discussions continue."

Tressel met with the Indianapolis Colts last month about the head coaching job, and also was being considered for administrative leadership posts at Baldwin Wallace College and Wittenberg University.

Tressel, 59, is scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon at a fundraiser at Berea High School, his alma mater.

National college football signing day saw the Akron Zips focus on getting bigger, and the Kent State Golden Flashes look for speed.

View full sizeAP file"We needed some horses to help us on both sides of the ball," new Akron coach Terry Bowden said of the Zips' recruiting needs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- National college football signing day saw the Akron Zips focus on getting bigger, and the Kent State Golden Flashes look for speed.

Akron

For new head coach Terry Bowden, finding size for the front lines clearly mattered. Of the 26 players signed, five were listed at 275 pounds or more. Two are Curtis Black, a 6-4, 330-pound offensive lineman from Kent Roosevelt; and Quaison Osborne, a 6-4, 300-pound offensive lineman from Hudson. Those were also two of the 11 Ohio players the Zips landed.

"We needed some horses to help us on both sides of the ball," Bowden said. "They have all got the physical bodies, and it starts right there."

While Bowden got a late start recruiting, he was able to get five players enrolled for the second semester, making them available for spring football. The five count toward the 2011 class. Among the five are 6-2, 180-pound safety Benny Cunningham from Medina, defensive back Malachi Freeman from Nassau Community College, defensive tackle Rodney Carroll from Hargrave Military Academy and defensive end Albert Presley from Dean College.

Ohio players: Of the 11 players in Akron's class, six are from the greater Cleveland area, with Green High wide receiver Andrew Pratt, a 6-5, 205-pound speedster, one of the plums of the group.

Early impact: The unexpected transfer of senior linebacker Brian Wagner to Arizona focused attention on one key recruiting area. Bowden said all three inside linebackers signed from Florida -- Keionne Baines, Jatavis Brown and John Rachel -- could see immediate action, particularly the 5-11, 220-pound Baines.

"He might even be 5-10, but like they say, if a duck can pull a truck, hitch him up, and he's a duck that can pull a truck," Bowden said.

View full sizePaul Tople, Akron Beacon JournalKent State's Darrell Hazell was pleased by the number of high school captains that are among his 2012 recruits.

Kent State

The second class for KSU coach Darrell Hazell featured 25 players, with 13 projected on offense. Included are four receivers/tight ends, two quarterbacks and three tailbacks.

Shaw High's 5-9, 170-pound Will Woods was indicative of the players recruited who are under six feet. "Phenomenal quickness," Hazell said of Woods, one of 14 Ohio players on KSU's list. "He will be an offensive weapon for us, somewhere."

Hazell also said all but two of Kent's recruits are already qualified and eligible for their freshman seasons.

Also, Hazell said he was particularly pleased to have 20 of the 25 players signed who were team captains in high school. "I think that speaks to the kind of dedication and passion these kids have for football," he said.

Ohio players: Of the 14 players signed by the Flashes, one of the most interesting is Anthony Melchiori, a 5-11, 185-pound receiver/kicker/punter out of Aurora High.

"A really good athlete," Hazell said. "He's in the Big 33 [Ohio vs. Pennsylvania] game as a receiver. We're going to utilize him as a kicker and punter."

Early impact: The one area a newcomer could see some early playing time is at tight end, and Hazell is eager to see recruit Brice Fackler, 6-4, 215 pounds from Kenton, in action.

"I love Brice Fackler," Hazell said. "He caught five touchdown passes in the state championship game. He is really special. He will be thrown right into the mix."

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SIGNINGS

AKRON

Christian Allen, fb/dl, 6-2, 247, Morgantown (W.Va.) HS

Keionne Baines, lb, 5-11, 220, Armwood HS, Seffner, Fla.

Curtis Black, ol, 6-4, 330, Roosevelt HS, Kent, Ohio

Jatavis Brown, lb, 6-1, 190, Glades Central HS, Belle Glade, Fla.

Rodney Carroll, dt, 6-6, 280, Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)

Michael Casimos, ol, 6-4, 280, Don Bosco Prep, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Benny Cunningham, s, 6-2, 180, Medina (Ohio) HS

Imani Davis, cb, 5-10, 1707, Belen Jesuit Prep, Miami, Fla.

Wade Edwards, rb, 5-10, 170, Armwood HS, Seffner, Fla.

Dylan Evans, lb, 6-2, 190, Pen Argyl Area HS, Nazareth, Pa.

Steve Franco, qb, 6-2, 185, Tyrone (Pa.) Senior HS

Malachi Freeman, cb, 5-9, 175, Nassau (N.Y.) CC

Bryan Green, rb, 5-10, 195, Farmington (Mich.) HS

Alfonso Horner, de, 6-3, 215, Belen Jesuit Prep, Miami, Fla.

Conor Hundley, rb, 5-11, 210, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati

Daryan Martin, de, 6-4, 215, Princeton HS, Cincinnati

Arlington McClinton, de, 6-6, 230, Midview HS, Grafton, Ohio

Kevin Mills, ol, 6-5, 275, McKinley HS, Canton, Ohio

Quaison Osborne, ol, 6-4, 300, Hudson (Ohio) HS

Andrew Pratt, wr, 6-5, 205, Green HS, Greensburg, Ohio

Albert Presley, de, 6-2, 220, Dean College

John Rachal, lb, 6-2, 210, Dillard HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

DeAndre Scott, cb, 6-0, 170, Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)

Josh Smith, cb, 6-2, 185, Western Hills HS, Cincinnati

Jason Stargel, de, 6-4, 225, Walnut Hills HS, Cincinnati

James Turner, s, 5-11, 200, Fairfield (Ohio) HS

BOWLING GREEN

Michael Allen, wr, 5-10, 175, East L.A. College

J.J. Beggan, ol, 6-4, 290, Seton LaSalle HS, Pittsburgh

Jacob Bennett, ol, 6-6, 290, Lebanon HS, Lebanon, Ohio

Coy Brown, lb, 5-11, 215, Northwood HS, Wakarusa, Ind.

Dalton Chapman, ol., 6-7, 285, Grove City HS, Grove City, Ohio

Jhalil-Nashid Croley, lb, 6-3, 245, Princeton HS, Cincinnati

Scott Davis, te, 6-5, 240, Mills E. Godwin HS Richmond, Va.

Logan Dietz, ol, 6-5, 280, Central Catholic HS, Pittsburgh

Anthony Farinella, k, 6-3, 180, Downers Grove South HS, Woodridge, Ill.

Erick Hallmon, lb, 6-0, 195, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Greg Hohenstein, ls, 6-3, 195, Wheaton-Warrenville South HS, Warrenville, Ill.

Kelii Kekuewa, ol, 6-3, 300, Arizona Western

James Knapke, qb, 6-3, 185, Bishop Luers HS, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Izaah Lunsford, dt, 6-3, 265, Shroder Paideia HS, Cincinnati

Mike Minns II, dt, 6-0, 300, Dwyer HS, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Josh Pettus, s, 5-10, 200, College of DuPage

James Sanford, s, 6-2, 190, Xenia HS, Xenia, Ohio

Ben Steward, ol, 6-7, 300, Holt HS, Holt, Mich.

Will Watson, cb, 6-1, 185, Jefferson HS, Tampa, Fla.

James White, wr, 6-1, 180, Crockett Technical HS, Southfield, Mich.

KENT STATE

C.J. Brathwaite, rb, 5-7, 185, West Bloomfield HS, West Bloomfield, Mich.

James Brooks, wr, 5-10, 200, South Lake HS, Groveland, Fla.

Denzell Burton, lb, 6-1, 205, Glenville HS, Cleveland.

Charles Chandler, wr, 6-3, 185, Francis DeSales HS, Columbus.

Kyle Crum, te, 6-5, 210, Minerva HS, Minerva, Ohio

Matthew Dellinger, lb, 6-2, Clarkston HS, Clarkston, Mich.

Julian Durden, rb, 5-8, 170, Montour HS, McKees Rocks, Pa.

Brice Fackler, te, 6-4, 215, Kenton HS, Kenton, Ohio

Chris Fairchild, 6-2, 300, Oak Hill HS, Oak Hill, Ohio

David Fisher, qb, 6-1, 215, Palomar CC, Oceanside, Calif.

Tad France, ol, 6-4, 265, Elyria HS, Elyria, Ohio

Jordan Italiano, s, 5-10, 195, Canfield HS, Canfield, Ohio

Jake Kincaid, de, 6-2, 245, Central HS, Pickerington, Ohio

Colton Kmetz, olb, 6-5, 220, Urbana HS, Ijamsville, Md.

Adam Maxie, db, 6-2, 175, Christian Academy, Westlake, Texas

Anthony Melchiori, p/k, 5-11, 185,Aurora HS, Aurora, Ohio

Alex Nielsen, ol, 6-4, 260, Elyria Catholic HS, Amherst, Ohio

Jason O'Bryan, db, 6-3, 195, Madison HS, Madison, Ohio

Colin Reardon, qb, 6-1, 195, Poland Seminary HS, Poland, Ohio

Reno Reda, de, 6-5, 255, Watkins Memorial HS, Pataskala, Ohio

Kerrick Rhone, db, 5-11, 175, Hendrickson HS, Pflugerville, Texas

Jamal Roberts, db, 5-10, 170, Zephyrhlls HS, Dale City, Fla.

Keenan Stalls, db, 6-0, 175, Plant HS, Tampa, Fla.

Jake Witucki, ol, 6-5, 283, Highlands HS, Natrona Heights, Pa.

William Woods, ath, 5-9, 175, Shaw HS, Cleveland

MIAMI

Bryson Albright, de, 6-5, 210, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati

J'Terius Brown, de, 6-3, 225, Miller Grove HS, Milledgeville, Ga.

Ryan Callen, ot, 6-3, 270, Central HS, Hinsdale, Ill.

Brandyn Cook, ol, 6-2, 295, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati

Nick Custer, ol, 6-4, 275, Elder HS, Cincinnati

Orlando David, te, 6-3, 240, Chaminade-Madonna HS, Miami, Fla.

Terry Davis, ol, 6-4, 305, Wyoming HS, Cincinnati

David DeLeon, dt, 6-1, 278, Bamberg-Ehrhardt HS, Bamberg, S.C.

Josh Dooley, lb, 5-11, 200, Mason (Ohio) HS

Austin Gearing, qb, 6-5, 205, Bishop Fenwick HS, Middletown, Ohio

Nate Gerbus, lb, 6-1, 220, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati

Kent Kern, lb, 6-2, 220, St. John's Jesuit HS, Toledo, Ohio

DaQuan Lucas, db, 5-10, 185, Timberland HS, St. Stephens, S.C.

Jay Mastin, s, 6-1, 200, Centerville (Ohio) HS

Spencer McInnis, rb, 5-9, 175, Orchard Lake St. Mary HS, Commerce Twp., Mich.

Fred McRae, wr, 5-9, 160, Chaminade-Madonna HS, Miami, Fla.

Kaleb Patterson, k, 5-9, 160, Byrnes HS, Duncan, S.C.

Jimmy Rousher, te, 6-3, 254, Canfield (Ohio) HS

Wesley Scott, dl, 6-3, 245, Ridgeland (S.C.) HS

Sam Shisso, wr, 6-5, 205, East Mecklenburg HS, Charlotte, N.C.

Jack Snowball, rb, 6-0, 211, Wadsworth (Ohio) HS

Marshall Taylor, db, 6-4, 185, Crisp County HS, Cordele, Ga.

Jamire Westbrook, rb, 5-9, 195, Kings HS, Kings Mills, Ohio

Rokeem Williams, wr, 6-1, 185, Williston-Elko HS, Williston, S.C.

Mitchell Winters, de, 6-5, 245, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel HS, Mississauga, Ont.

OHIO

Ty Branz, de, 6-2, 250, Iowa Western CC

Trae Clark, dl, 6-3, 350, Colerain HS, Cincinnati

Toran Davis, s, 5-11, 200, Southwest DeKalb HS, Lithonia, Ga.

Tim Edmond, lb, 6-0, 245, Hutchinson CC

Nick Gibbons, ol, 6-4, 308, Stephenson HS, Stone Mountain, Ga.

Davon Henry, ath, 6-2, 232, Hyde Park Baptist HS, Round Rock, Texas

Kurt Laseak, de, 6-4, 225, Mentor (Ohio) HS

Chris Murray, wr, 5-10, 185, King HS, Tampa, Fla.

Daz'mond Patterson, rb, 5-7, 180, Plant City (Fla.) HS

Jordan Reid, wr, 6-2, 190, Parkview HS, Stone Mountain, Ga.

Mike Roberts, ath, 6-4, 245, Benedictine HS, Cleveland

Malik Rodriguez, wr, 6-2, 200, Poly Prep Country Day HS, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jake Schany, lb, 6-2, 210, Blair (Neb.) HS

Sebastian Smith, ath, 6-2, 180, Central HS, Pickerington, Ohio

John Tanner, te, 6-4, 240, Moeller HS, Cincinnati

Troy Watson, ol, 6-6, 280, Aurora (Ohio) HS

Matt Waters, wr, 6-0, 205, Iowa Western CC

Wade Wells, de, 6-3, 235, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

Greg Windham, qb, 6-1, 217, King HS, Tampa, Fla.

TOLEDO

Brian Blackburn, qb, 6-6, 225, Crockett HS, Detroit

Cameron Cole, cb, 6-0, 190, Fort Scott (Kan.) CC

Jaylen Coleman, lb, 6-0, 225, University Prep, Pittsburgh

Chris Collins, de, 6-4, 270, John Hay HS, Cleveland

Allen Covington, dt, 6-2, 272, Armwood HS, Tampa, Fla.

Marcus Davis, wr, 5-10, 175, Coffman HS, Dublin, Ohio

Brad Dunavant, p, 6-0, 195, Trinity Valley (Texas) CC

Mike Ebert, te, 6-6, 240, Perkins HS, Sandusky, Ohio

Juwan Haynes, cb, 6-0, 185, Central Catholic HS, Pittsburgh

James Henry, ol, 6-8, 255, Upper Arlington (Ohio) HS

Treyvon Hester, dt, 6-3, 290, Penn Hills HS, Pittsburgh

Corey Jones, wr, 5-8, 165, Penn Hills HS, Pittsburgh

Orion Jones, dl, 6-2, 270, Jenks HS, Tulsa, Okla.

Damion Jones-Moore, rb, 5-7, 180, Central Catholic HS, Pittsburgh

Danny Larkins, wr, 5-11, 190, Madison HS, Madison Heights, Mich.

Raymond Marlow, ol, 6-7, 323, Carroll HS, Dayton, Ohio

Phillip Martin, dl, 6-4, 275, Kenwood Academy, Chicago

Armani Miller, wr, 6-0, 185, Wayne HS, Huber Heights, Ohio

Chase Murdock, lb, 6-0, 215, Barrington (Ill.) HS

Travis Nees, s, 5-11, 195, Piqua (Ohio) HS

Storm Norton, ol, 6-8, 310, Whitmer HS, Toledo, Ohio

Paul Perschon, ol, 6-6, 310, Conant HS, Schaumburg, Ill.

Marc Remy, rb, 6-0, 186, North Olmsted (Ohio) HS

Craig Runyan, te, 6-4, 230, Marysville (Ohio) HS

Jody Webb, rb, 5-9, 170, Whitmer HS, Toledo, Ohio

Chaz Whitaker, s, 6-2, 180, Penn Hills HS, Pittsburgh

Alex Zmolik, te, 6-5, 230, Port Huron (Mich.) HS

Division II signings

NOTRE DAME COLLEGE

Players are from Ohio unless noted

Patrick Barrett 6-0 185 S Niles;

Azarie Battle 6-6 260 DL North Royalton;

Kyle Bobo 6-2 270 OL Groveport;

Mario Carson, Jr. 5-10 295 C Detroit;

Zach Chatlain 6-3 220 QB Bucyrus;

P.J. Cleary 6-2 195 SS Pickerington;

Matthew Cox 6-2 225 OL Lorain;

Nicholas Davidson 5-8 190 LB Solon;

Richard Ellis III 6-2 215 TE Toledo;

Clayton Evans 6-1 250 DE Venetia, Pa.;

C.J. Germany 5-10 170 WR Villa Angela-St. Joseph;

David Gilchrist 6-3 245 OL Midview;

Jeremy Glass 6-1 270 OL Louisville, Ky.;

Marco Gresham 5-10 165 DB Dayton;

Michael Hageman 6-5 210 TE Chagrin Falls;

Akyee Henderson 6-0 185 DB Glenville;

Cedric Hill 6-1 190 WR Detroit;

Darius James 6-2 230 DE Springfield;

Johnnie Korban 6-3 220 LB Parma;

Brennan Laird 6-3 210 QB Olmsted Falls;

Brendan Large 6-2 225 LB Midview;

Christian Lee 5-10 175 DB Reynoldsburg;

Nicholas Marchetti 6-0 185 LB Middletown;

Frank Marshall 5-10 210 LB Waldorf, Md.;

Tyler McKenzie 6-1 255 OL Sunbury;

Malik Merriweather 6-3 210 LB Elyria;

Patrick Moran 6-5 240 DE North Olmsted;

Caleb Morris 5-11 170 WR Columbus;

Nicholas Myers 6-5 305 OL Decatur, Ind.;

Joseph Nawalaniec 6-0 250 DL Benedictine;

Haakim Oliver 5-11 200 LB Monroeville, Pa.;

William Parker 6-2 215 S Wyndotte, Mich.;

Skyler Parks 6-0 267 OL Canton McKinley;

Kyle Perkins 6-1 180 WR Westlake;

Kortez Prather 5-10 175 DB Waldorf, Md.;

Ryan Predovic 6-0 230 LB Nordonia;

Bill Pullman 6-0 170 FS Parma;

Seth Rall 6-4 220 TE Bucyrus;

Brian Richards 6-2 250 OL Springfield;

K.J. Rieder 6-5 270 OL Dayton;

Ron Turner 5-11 175 S Cincinnati;

Troy Vasquez-Atkins 6-3 305 OL Niles;

Ty Vasquez-Atkins 6-5 320 OL Niles;

Andrew Villolovos 6-4 270 OL Sylvania;

Zenan Wample 6-8 360 OL Upper Sandusky;

Brandon Watkins 5-10 190 RB Detroit;

Onslow Williams 5-9 170 DB Springfield;

Trevor Winston 6-3 260 DL North Olmsted;

Garrett Wiska 6-0 265 DT Northville, Mich.

As unmatched as Anderson Varejao's nightly efforts are for the Cavaliers, he is hardly untouchable, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAs consistent and valuable as Anderson Varejao has become this season for the Cavaliers, Bud Shaw believes he could be even more valuable moving to another team's roster.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Confessions Of A Former Anderson Varejao Detractor...

I've called him a flopper, an overgrown soccer player. A figment of LeBron James' imagination because of the baskets James created for him. An undersized overachiever playing out of position at center.

Sideshow Andy, just a high energy bench guy on a good team.

Varejao is no longer any of those. He's more stout as a defender. He's improved his shot. Brad Childress would kill for a player with his hands.

So what comes next may surprise you.

I'd trade him. It would take more than a first-round draft pick, mind you. But somebody offers a young promising big man on top of a first-rounder (or more), I wait two days, hold a Varejao Wig Night and say, "Sold."

The deal would be for much different reasons than back when I wrongly doubted The Anderson Varejao Experience. His value, his friendly contract and the Cavs' stage of rebuilding are the ingredients for a Black Friday-style run on him as the trade deadline nears. The Cavs have to swallow hard and listen harder.

He has never played better. He's money under the basket and at the turnstile but Kyrie Irving can carry the offense and the marquee. Not that keeping him doesn't make sense. It's just that maximizing assets now could have a trampoline effect when this team is good enough to challenge for a championship.

The Cavs spent the No. 4 pick on Tristan Thompson. Granted, his skills aren't identical and he's raw. But there's enough overlap. They made the commitment. They need to follow through on it.

Thompson, Irving, more high draft picks to fill other needs and a legitimate center is what's required to chase a title. Oh, and about three more years.

Varejao will be 32 in three seasons. For reasons that have nothing to do with the Dominican Republic and falsified visas, you can add two or three years of wear and tear. The way Varejao plays the game, when he goes he's going out like a demolition derby car. A big puff of smoke, then kaput.

The Cavs are in a great position because they don't have to move him and teams know it. His terrific season has driven up the price to the point where it'd be bad business to declare him off limits.

I know I've been wrong about him before. But the lights of The Q were in my eyes then. And the dog ate my scouting report.

SPINOFFS

Don't get me wrong about Varejao. Right now, he and Irving are the most watchable Cleveland athletes (not in that order). I'd put Carlos Santana on that list, too. Ubaldo Jimenez? He's must-see, too, if only because with his stuff and his delivery, he seems equally likely to throw a no-hitter or his back out...

EA Sports played the Super Bowl via Madden NFL 12 and the Giants won, 27-24, on a last-second field goal by Lawrence Tynes. Which means now even Tynes has a better chance of being a Madden cover than Peyton Hillis again...

Eric Mangini does a nice job as a ESPN analyst. He's relaxed, insightful. He appears to enjoy it.

But when he found himself on ESPN's "First Take" sandwiched between hyperventilating Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless this week, you can't tell me he didn't flash back to his coaching days and suddenly get the urge to sentence them both to a 10-hour bus ride to his next camp...

A day after Mangini offered an inside look at coaching decisions, his ESPN seat was occupied by singer/songwriter John Legend. Finally, an opinion we can trust on Tim Tebow...

Might want to put a little more 'oomph' in this one

Former Cavaliers' big man DeSagana Diop shot a woefully short free throw for the Charlotte Bobcats this week. Let's just say Jose Mesa's 57-foot fastballs in Game 7 looked spot-on by comparison...

If it's possible to offer a more startling mathematical equation than a nine-foot free throw aimed at a basket 15 feet away and 10 feet high, try this: the 7-0 Diop has averaged 2.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in his career while making $32.7 million...

Phil Jackson has a new book coming out with Penguin Press, humbly titled "Eleven Rings." No word on whether the Gollum of the NBA will add a subtitle: "How I Dominated the NBA Finals despite Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal"...

World Wrestling Entertainment will induct Mike Tyson into its Hall of Fame in ceremonies March 31. He will be enshrined in the "celebrity wing" of the WWE Hall of Fame, along with other guest stars like Drew Carey, Bob Uecker, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Pete Rose...

That's heady Hall of Fame company, Pete. Be proud...

Reporters are asking New England players at the Super Bowl if they agree Bill Belichick seems to be in a looser frame of mind these days. Said guard Brian Waters: "Even when he's in a lighter mood, it's pretty close to the same as he is any other time. So it's a very thin line between unhappy and happy with him."

It's the arrow-through-head prop under the hoodie that usually gives him away...

HE SAID IT

View full sizeAP fileThis face has gone through a few rebounding wars.

"I'll be honest with you. I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves." -- Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers to ESPN 540 radio in Milwaukee on the lack of effort in last weekend's Pro Bowl.

The obvious follow-up question:

Some?

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

NBA big man Chris Kaman and actor/comedian Chris Elliot -- Randy Verner, Chagrin Falls

Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie -- Paul, Marquette, Mich.

YOU SAID IT

View full sizeAP fileHe's frequently the target of laughs -- but that's the plan on television or movies.

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

"Bud:

"If a sports writer is listed at 5-11, what's his real height?" -- Joe S

Whatever his real height, I just know he's exactly the same size when he's standing on his wallet.

"Bud:

"Do you think the Indians' Roberto Hernandez -- the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona -- will pitch with more maturity now that he is older?" -- Jim Vittek

As long as "You Said It" readers never mature, I'm OK with anything else that happens.

"Bud:

"You just kinda materialized on the Cleveland sports landscape a couple of decades ago. We're not going to find out you're really D.B. Cooper, are we?" -- Dale, Medina

No. I'm afraid of heights. That's why I came here to write about teams that don't climb much in the standings.

"Bud:

"Why are reporters or anyone else concerned with who someone's agent is? Unless their contract is up and the guy is a jerk or hard to deal with, who cares?" -- Anthony J. Marotta

I was just saying the same thing to my agent-to-be-named-later, Bob LaMonte.

"Bud:

"I realize it would embarrass the program. But if they would just admit that they paid money to these players, maybe we'd get to vacate the Browns' 2011 wins and we could have that #1 draft pick for Andrew Luck." -- Daniel Main

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"Will the Indians be having fake ID night this year? Or will all 18 year olds become 21 when attending Tribe games?" -- Rob Walker, Medina

Repeat winners receive a breathalyzer.

On Twitter: @budshaw

News, insight and tidbits on the recruiting scene following Wednesday's National Signing Day.

View full sizePD fileWhen coach Tim Beckman moved from Toledo to lead Illinois, St. Ignatius' Mike Svetina followed along.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- News, insight and tidbits on the recruiting scene following Wednesday's National Signing Day.

New school, familiar face: It's not like Illinois came out of nowhere in its pursuit of St. Ignatius senior Mike Svetina. He was being recruited by Toledo coach Tim Beckman, who's now the Fighting Illini's head coach.

"Illinois [is] a Big Ten school, and when they offered me, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," said Svetina, who gave Miami (Ohio) his non-binding oral commitment in June. "I'm excited."

Hilliard switches schools: Bedford defensive end Myles Hilliard signed with Syracuse on Wednesday after de-committing from Big East rival Pittsburgh.

Bedford coach Sean Williams said Hilliard backed off his nonbinding oral commitment after Pittsburgh changed coaches and hired Paul Chryst in December. Hilliard visited Syracuse two weeks ago, Williams said.

Hilliard (6-6, 245), who doesn't turn 18 until July, is rated as a three star by both scout.com and rivals.com.

Unexpected bonus: Glenville wide receiver and Iowa recruit Sean Draper likes that a hospital is close to the Iowa City campus.

"I'm going to major in either pre-med or sports medicine, so I won't have that long of a walk," he said.

Passing on Hawaii? Glenville defensive end/tackle Willie Henry admitted it was hard turning down Hawaii's scholarship offer. But he decided to sign with Michigan.

"[Hawaii is] a beautiful location and I liked the campus, but it would be too far for my family to come and see me play," he said.

New coach forces change: Glenville cornerback V'Angelo Bentley was all set to give Pitt his oral commitment. Then coach Todd Graham decided to take the Arizona State position.

"When new coach [Paul Chryst] came at Pitt, he didn't offer me, and it really opened my eyes to the recruiting process. It's definitely a business," he said.

Bentley opted to sign with Illinois.

Coach pushes hard: Rhodes senior tailback LaKeith Walls threw a curveball when he opted for Illinois instead of North Carolina State.

"Illinois pursued me more because of coach Tim Beckman," Walls said. "Coach Beckman was recruiting me when he was at Toledo, and when he went to Illinois, he kept recruiting me and that showed me a lot."

Staff writers Bob Fortuna and Tim Warsinskey contributed to this report.

Browns tight end Dan Gronkowski forms a rare trio of NFL brothers with Patriots' sensation Rob and Colts reserve fullback/tight end Chris.

View full sizeMark Humphrey, Associated PressNew England's Rob Gronkowski arrived at the Super Bowl with injury questions and the best season by a tight end in NFL history. "Rob is obviously big, strong, fast and just dominant," says his brother, Browns tight end Dan Gronkowski. "Being older, I still watch him on film and say 'wow' and learn from him."

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Patriots go-to tight end Rob Gronkowski pulled up lame with what proved to be a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship Game, his brother Dan, a tight end for the Browns, wasn't overly concerned.

"That was nothing compared to the charley horses we used to give him as a kid," said Dan, who signed a two-year contract with the Browns with two games left in the season when tight end Alex Smith was placed on injured reserve.

When Rob trotted back out onto the field a short time later, his big brother wasn't surprised.

"That's totally him," said Dan. "He's a tough guy and if he can play [Sunday], he'll play."

Dan and his younger brother, Chris, a fullback/tight end for the Colts, are in Indiana soaking up the Super Bowl hoopla with Rob, who has quickly become a cult hero with rappers such as Timbaland writing songs about him.

The Gronkowskis are the first trio of brothers playing in the NFL together since Brian, Gary and Rich Baldinger played between 1986 and 1992.

"They did some statistics and it's like one in 91 million," said Dan, who is one class short of his M.B.A. "You have a better chance of winning the lottery than having three brothers in the NFL at the same time."

The only other threesome on record is the Olsen brothers in 1976 -- Merlin, Phil and Orrin.

"We're waiting for our little brother, Glenn, to join us so we can set the record," said Dan. "He's a freshman at Kansas State. Good athlete."

Who's not a good athlete in the Gronkowski clan? There were five boys in all growing up in Williamsville, N.Y., all involved in multiple sports.

"Actually, it was like having six boys because my dad [Gordy] acted just like us," said Dan, whose dad played football at Syracuse and was once a hopeful in the USFL.

View full sizeDetroit Lions/NFLOriginally a Detroit Lion in 2009, Dan Gronkowski has played for Denver and New England before joining the Browns at the end of the 2011 season.

A typical day in the Gronkowski household might include a game of zoom-zoom.

"Everyone had a pillow and we'd start at different sides of the room and run full speed into each other and try to knock each other over," said Dan. "We made up all kinds of games, American Gladiator stuff. It was out of control and everyone was always at our house doing everything."

Rob -- who sat out the Patriots' Wednesday workout -- was always the one stirring up trouble. More often than not, he was the one on the bottom of the pile.

"It didn't even hurt him anymore after a while, which you can see out there now," said Dan. "Normal hits don't hurt him because he's had that his whole life."

Dan, 27, came very close to sharing this magical Super Bowl experience. He was signed twice by the Patriots this season, but cut twice when a nagging hamstring injury wouldn't cooperate. He played in five games, but was let go for the second time on Nov. 8.

"I suffered some injuries and it was just one of those things," said Dan, who played in the last two games with the Browns but had no stats. "I wish I was out there, but I'm with the Browns now and I have another chance and that's all you can really ask for."

Dan, a seventh-round pick of the Lions in 2009, was with the Patriots long enough to understand why they're on the brink of their fourth Super Bowl victory under Bill Belichick.

"The organization is set up very well," said Dan. "They bring in players [who] want to win, [who] are going to put in the extra time, [who] are going to know their stuff. They ask a lot of their players and that's why they're so good."

He also learned first-hand why quarterback Tom Brady is one of the league's best quarterbacks.

"He's on top of the game, he knows what he's doing, and he runs the team out there in practice," said Dan. "If something's wrong, he'll get it going, he'll turn it around. He's a total team leader."

Dan is the first to admit that he never expected his not-so-little brother (6-6, 265) to be this good. Rob, a second-round pick out of Arizona in 2010, produced the best numbers of any tight end in NFL history, shattering records right up until the final play of the regular season.

Gronkowski's ankle a big story at media day

His 17 receiving touchdowns are the most ever by any tight end, eclipsing the 13 of Vernon Davis (2009) and Antonio Gates (2004). His 1,327 yards surpassed the 1,290 of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow in 1980, and his 18 touchdowns overall are second-most in team history behind Randy Moss' 23 in 2007.

He's one of seven tight ends in NFL history to reach 1,200 yards in a season.

"I don't even think Rob thought he'd be this good because he's having the best year of any tight end ever," said Dan. "Everyone sets goals, but that's kind of ridiculous. I knew he was a great player, but the success he's having is unbelievable and I don't think anyone could've predicted that."

It's not just all of those TDs -- punctuated by all of those turf-rattling spikes known as "Gronking" -- that have made Rob a superstar.

"It's his blocking that's tops in the league also," said Dan. "He knows how to control his body, and his coordination for his size is way beyond anyone else's."

Although Chris fancies himself the best athlete of the Gronk bunch (and the smartest and the best-looking), Dan knows the issue is settled.

"I think we have the answer," he said. "Rob is obviously big, strong, fast and just dominant. Being older, I still watch him on film and say 'wow' and learn from him, so it's impressive."

Dan and Chris have managed to whisk Rob away from the Super Bowl frenzy and hang out some at Chris' place nearby.

"We have this story with the three of us in the NFL, but the way Rob has taken it to the next level is awesome," said Dan. "We're a close family and we all support each other. This whole Super Bowl experience is a lot of fun and we're just going with it."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Five Zips scored in double figures, led by Quincy Diggs off the bench with 16.

AKRON, Ohio -- The Akron Zips were in a dogfight with Toledo Wednesday night right up to when the Rockets' Rian Pearson rebounded a second-half miss and slammed it home, cutting Akron's lead to one.

But when Pearson added a slap of the backboard, he drew a technical foul.

That triggered a 9-0 run for Akron that sealed an 86-72 victory that kept the Zips in first place in the Mid-American Conference's East Division. The decisive surge included four points from guard Alex Abreu plus a 3-pointer from Brett McClanahan.

The Rockets never got closer than eight points the rest of the game.

"That was tough," Toledo coach Todd Kowalczyk said. "Right call, but tough. Then they went zone and we didn't attack it."

Until that game-changing play, the Rockets (10-12, 2-6) were playing even with the Zips (15-7, 7-1) as the 6-4 Pearson, a sophomore from Kansas City, was working on a 29-point, 12-rebound night. Akron countered with depth and balance even if the Zips appeared generally uninspired.

"We are the MAC champions," senior forward Nik Cvetinovic said. "We are the target."

Five Zips scored in double figures, led by Quincy Diggs off the bench with 16, Zeke Marshall, Abreu and Chauncey Gilliam with 14 each and Cvetinovic with 10 points and 10 boards.

Toledo had more points in the paint, points off turnovers, second-chance points and fast-break points. But Akron's 35-14 bench advantage, along with 60 percent shooting overall, was too much for the Rockets to overcome.

"I think the people that come off the bench can start for us," said Diggs. "I think we've got the best bench in the MAC."

Cvetinovic took it a step further. "They can't just start for us," he said of the bench, "they can start for any MAC team."

Yet the Zips remain a bit of a puzzle. They look to have no conference peer, yet seem to have no interest in making that point emphatically.

"When we get punched, we respond pretty well to it," Cvetinovic said. "But we're still looking for the knockout punch. If we don't clean that up, it's going to catch up to us. We've got to give the knockout punch to other teams. Send them home. Send them to the showers."

Akron's 43-34 halftime lead was whittled down to 51-50 on Pearson's rebound and dunk.

"We looked emotionally dead," Akron head coach Keith Dambrot said. "They need to realize how good they are, and hold themselves to that standard."

Clearly the opposition knows what they are up against.

"That is the best team we have faced all year, in the league or out," Kowalczyk said.

Mychel Thompson's chance finally arrived on Sunday night and he grabbed it with steady hands and a steely gaze.

View full sizeChuck Crow, PD"This is the best job you can have," Mychel Thompson says of the NBA. "This is my dream. I'm honored to be here. I'm just trying to stay ready."

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Many see little correlation between big-time pro sports and the real world. Hardly a surprise, given the disparity in weekly paychecks.

Then again, most don't give consideration to where athletes like Cavaliers guard Mychel Thompson spend so many games, sitting at the ends of benches, their tomorrows -- like their contracts -- not guaranteed.

It's why Thompson's father, Mychal, a former NBA player, dispenses real-world wisdom to a son who had played just two minutes in the Cavs' first 18 games.

"I told him you have to treat every day like another job interview," Mychal Thompson said. "Every day at practice he has to convince his coaches and his teammates he deserves to be there. He has to be a professional and he has to be prepared for when his opportunity comes."

Mychel Thompson's chance finally arrived on Sunday night and he grabbed it with steady hands and a steely gaze. Injuries and illness at the shooting guard position forced the 23-year-old undrafted free agent into action in the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers' comeback win in Boston.

He performed so well that coach Byron Scott gave the rookie his first career start Tuesday in the Cavaliers' 93-90 loss to the Celtics. Thompson contributed eight points and four assists in 31 minutes, helping to hold Boston's Ray Allen to 12 points.

Teammates were thrilled for him. Scott praised his composure and effort in both games, even hinting he might earn a second start Friday as the Cavaliers travel to Orlando.

But this is an uncertain time for Thompson and his ilk as all contracts become guaranteed on Feb.10. While his non-guaranteed deal of $473,604 hardly puts the club in a salary-cap crunch, teams like to have roster flexibility with an eye toward the March 15 trade deadline.

What does it mean to Thompson? Perhaps nothing. Or, maybe another job interview with another team in two weeks' time. Thompson, Alonzo Gee and Samardo Samuels are the only Cavaliers without guaranteed deals.

"This is the best job you can have," said Thompson, who played four seasons at Pepperdine. I'm coming in here with a great attitude and trying to get better.

"This is the NBA, this is my dream. I'm honored to be here. I'm just trying to stay ready."

His father is a former No. 1 overall pick in 1978 who won two NBA titles with Scott as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. His brother Klay, the No. 14 pick of the Golden State Warriors, is averaging 6.7 points and had a nice performance in a Jan. 17 win over the Cavaliers.

"He played well," Mychel Thompson said of his brother's 14-point outing. "I was giving people tips on how to guard him. If he's open he can shoot the ball."

Mychel Thompson talks about his first NBA start

The Thompson siblings are tight -- there's also a third brother, Trayce, who plays baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization. But in some ways the Cavaliers reserve guard has more in common with a teammate like Gee.

A season ago, the versatile swingman was bouncing from franchise to franchise. Now, he's the Cavaliers' super sub, who Scott said Wednesday is a legitimate candidate for the league's most improved player. Gee just kept working at his game, adding to his resume and making him a making him a good example for Thompson.

Scott likes Thompson's basketball acumen, size (6-6) and his defensive bent. The youngster's calm also caught Scott's attention as he put him into Sunday's game and asked him to guard one of the NBA's best long-range shooters in Allen.

"I just kind of stared at him for a second as he took his jacket off," Scott said. "It wasn't one of those 'Oh, my God,' [looks]. I've seen that look before [in players] and after I've seen it I'm saying 'Oh my God.'

"I can't remember the last time I put a player in a situation like that and saw him play so well."

Shooting guards Anthony Parker (back) and Daniel Gibson (neck infection) remain out of the lineup.

The NBA might be best known as the star-driven league of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. But beyond the human bar codes in sneakers are the Mychel Thompsons, players looking for the next summons from the other end of the bench.

Ohio State's new coach may have ruffled some feathers, but he brought in a top five recruiting class for the Buckeyes. Watch video

Jay LaPrete, Associated Press"You ask a question, 'Are you interested?'" OSU coach Urban Meyer said of calling high school players who had orally committed to other schools. "If they say, 'No,' you move on. If they say, 'Yes, very interested,' then you throw that hook out there."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For Urban Meyer, late was good.

Sixty-five days after he was hired as Ohio State's head coach, the Buckeyes' new boss officially announced a highly-rated 25-man recruiting class Wednesday based on players who either waited to make their decisions or who at one point had given oral commitments elsewhere.

Meyer was once on a committee to consider an early signing period for football, which would allow players to sign with schools before February.

"Thank God we didn't have one this year because we'd be a bunch of sullen faces in here right now," Meyer said, "a bunch of angry coaches."

Instead, Meyer and his staff could celebrate two signing day commitments from Cleveland Heights offensive lineman Kyle Dodson and North Carolina linebacker Jamal Marcus that brought the class to 25, 10 of whom came aboard since Meyer's hiring on Nov. 28.

The Buckeyes ranked highly in overall scores posted by Rivals.com (fourth overall) and Scout.com (third). In rankings based on the average star grades of players, the Buckeyes were the No. 5 class on both Web sites. Michigan was also a top-10 school in both overall scores and the star grades, while the rest of the Big Ten lagged behind.

"What was it like?" Meyer asked of assembling this class. "It was a sprint."

Though to many, not a surprise.

"He's the biggest name in college football, with [Alabama's] Nick Saban, as far as recruiting is concerned, and with a brand name like Ohio State, I fully expected him to kill it immediately," Rivals national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell said.

Farrell said what Meyer does better than any coach is get players who were once pledged elsewhere. Among the 10 players brought in since Meyer was hired, eight had given oral commitments elsewhere, though some backed off those pledges even before Meyer came aboard.

Cornerback Armani Reeves, linebacker Camren Williams, offensive lineman Joey O'Connor and defensive lineman Tommy Schutt were headed to Penn State before problems hit that program; offensive lineman Taylor Decker and linebacker David Perkins at one point gave pledges to Notre Dame; defensive end Se'Von Pittman switched from Michigan State after Meyer was hired; and Dodson had been a Wisconsin oral commitment.

"Sometimes they say, 'How can you go recruit a young guy committed to another school?'" Meyer said. "You ask a question, 'Are you interested?' If they say, 'No,' you move on. If they say, 'Yes, very interested,' then you throw that hook out there. If they're interested, absolutely [you recruit them], especially from your home state. Is it gratifying to take a guy from another school? Not at all."

But it is necessary to compete, according to Farrell.

"If you're not trying to do it, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage," Farrell said. "It's up to the NCAA to step in and come up with an early signing period to stop it. Until they do that, everything is fair game."

Clearly though, Meyer ruffled some feathers in his first year in the Big Ten, with his aggressive and successful style. Michigan State assistant coach Pat Narduzzi, speaking at a luncheon in Canton on Monday, indicated that the Spartans weren't happy about Pittman's switch, according to the Canton Repository.

"It sets a tone and starts a recruiting rivalry," Narduzzi said. "I guess it's fair game. You don't want it to be that way, but that's how it is."

At his signing day news conference Wednesday, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said he had some issues with Meyer early in the recruiting process and said he hopes Meyer's arrival doesn't change recruiting in the Big Ten.

"There were a few things that happened early on that I made people be aware of that I didn't want to see in this league that I have seen take place in other leagues," Bielema said. "Other recruiting tactics, other recruiting practices that are illegal."

Bielema said he spoke to Meyer about his concerns.

Speaking generally on his radio show Wednesday evening, Meyer called the topic of speaking to other commitments "nonsense" and said any coach in the country would have done it, especially a new staff.

What the Buckeyes did got results. According to Rivals, Ohio State signed 13 of the top 250 recruits in the nation. Michigan grabbed nine. The rest of the Big Ten combined had eight. And Ohio State may not be done.

Asked about roster numbers, Meyer said the Buckeyes have 81 spots filled with the current class at 25. That means three more departures from the current roster must occur, and Meyer said those will be unveiled later. Because of NCAA sanctions, the Buckeyes are limited to 82 scholarship players. For now, Meyer is holding that spot for what he still feels is missing in this class, which is speed at receiver.

That could mean either Maryland receiver Stefon Diggs (No. 8 overall player according to Rivals) or Arizona receiver Davonte Neal (No. 107) are in line. Both delayed their decisions until after signing day.

Meyer said he has never recruited a player past signing day before. But he's ready to do it. So it's a marathon as well as a sprint. Wednesday, Meyer proved he hit the ground running.

Ohio State's 2012 class

The following players have given oral commitments to play football at Ohio State and are expected to sign binding letters of intent Wednesday. Hometowns and high schools are Ohio unless noted. Star ratings are according to the Internet scouting service Rivals.com:

Five stars: Adolphus Washington, DE, Cincinnati Taft, 6-4, 230; Noah Spence, DE, Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt, 6-4, 245

Four stars: Warren Ball, RB, Columbus DeSales, 6-2, 200; De'van Bogard, DB, Glenville, 5-11, 172: Taylor Decker, OL, Vandalia Butler, 6-8, 313; Kyle Dodson, OL, Cleveland Heights, 6-6, 315; Bri'onte Dunn, RB, Canton GlenOak, 6-2, 215; Najee Murray, DB, Steubenville, 5-11, 172; Joey O'Connor, OL, Windsor, Colo., 6-4, 295; David Perkins, ATH, S. Bend (Ind.), Washington, 6-2, 225; Josh Perry, LB, Galena Olentangy, 6-4, 228; Se'von Pittman, DE, Canton McKinley, 6-5, 245; Armani Reeves, DB, W. Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic, 5-9, 185; Tommy Schutt, DT, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard W., 6-3, 301; Michael Thomas, WR, Fork Union Military (Va.), 6-4, 203; Camren Williams, LB, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic, 6-2, 215

Three stars: Jacoby Boren, OL, Pickerington C., 6-3, 273; Pat Elflein, OL, Pickerington N., 6-3, 285; Frank Epitropoulos, WR, Upper Arlington, 6-3, 195; Cardale Jones, QB, Fork Union Military (Va.)/Glenville, 6-5, 217; Jamal Marcus, LB, Durham (N.C.) Hillside, 6-2, 230; Tyvis Powell, DB, Bedford, 6-4, 185; Luke Roberts, LB, Lancaster, 6-2, 230; Ricquan Southward, WR, Lakeland, Fla., 6-2, 190; Blake Thomas, TE, Westlake/St. Ignatius, 6-4, 240

Edelman, a quarterback at Kent, is important to the Patriots for his versatility. Blackburn is in his seventh season as a Giants linebacker. Many MAC alumni have played, and played well, in the Super Bowl.

Associated PressThe Giants' Chase Blackburn runs back a fumble recovery during New York's 37-20 playoff win over the Packers in Green Bay on Jan. 15.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's nothing unusual for the Mid-American Conference to be represented in the Super Bowl by former MAC players.

And, in numerous Super Bowls, MAC alumni have stood out.

Kent State's Jack Lambert, one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history, would be a strong candidate for an all-time Super Bowl team. He excelled in the Pittsburgh Steelers' four Super Bowl wins (1974, '75, '78 and '79 seasons.

Akron's Dwight Smith, a defensive back, intercepted two passes in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48-21 rout of the Oakland Raiders in the 2002 season Super Bowl, and returned them both (44 and 50 yards) for touchdowns.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, of Miami (Ohio), has been at the helm for two Steelers Super Bowl wins (2005, '08), though he didn't play especially well in the first one, and a Super Bowl loss (2010).

There have been many others to carry the MAC banner in football's biggest game.

On Sunday, when the New England Patriots play the New York Giants in Super Bowl 46, don't be surprised to see a couple MAC men in the middle of the action.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick employs Kent State's Julian Edelman in a number of ways -- as one of the league's premier punt returners, as a backup wide receiver and even as a defensive back. How versatile is Edelman? He was the Golden Flashes' starting quarterback as a dual pass-run threat for three years.

Associated PressThe Patriots' Julian Edelman warms up before New England's 23-20 AFC championship game win over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Giants' Chase Blackburn was a starting linebacker for three years at Akron. Ignored in the 2005 NFL draft, Blackburn is now in his seventh season with New York.

Ball State University belongs to the MAC. Andrew Mishler writes for the Ball State Daily News about MAC players reaching the Super Bowl, and about, specifically, Edelman and Blackburn.

Mishler writes:

Like many MAC players such as those at Ball State, Edelman ran under the radar during his pre-draft workouts and generated little buzz in the media.

That status didn't change on the day of the 2009 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected him in the seventh round with the 232nd pick.

With such little notoriety and expectations, Edelman had to face the same uphill battle most MAC players face at the next level of football — securing a roster spot in the NFL.

For Edelman, it's a challenge that makes the destination all the sweeter.

"We are hungry," Edelman said of MAC players. "Usually the MAC guys have a chip on their shoulder because they feel like they were snubbed their opportunity to play big-time ball in college. I think that is what helps small school guys get into the NFL."

Mishler also writes:

Blackburn joined the Giants in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. In similar fashion to Edelman, he had to earn a spot on the Giants as a special-teamer. He eventually became a starter on defense, but only after years of proving his abilities on kickoff and punt teams.

Looking back on the trials of his NFL career, Blackburn said coming from Akron and playing in the MAC taught him an important rule in the NFL.

"Nothing's easy," he said. "Coming out of Akron, I went there because they won the MAC the year before and I wanted to win championships. When I was there they didn't win, but they won one the year after. The thing that most prepared me for was just the fact that I knew I didn't want to come short again."

Urban Meyer has been decorating at least a bit.

View full sizeDoug Lesmerises, PDA point was being made inside the Buckeyes' team meeting room.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer has been decorating at least a bit.

Wednesday's news conference was in the Buckeyes' team meeting room and it featured the 2012 schedule on the wall. Instead of listing Michigan as the final opponent, it had "That Team Up North" with no logo. In years past, the wall schedules did read Michigan. ...

• ESPN.com followed up on the story about four-year scholarships first reported by The Plain Dealer on Wednesday. Schools were encouraged by the Big Ten this year to offer multi-year deals instead of renewable one-year grants, and nine of the 12 Big Ten teams sent out four-year offers. Only Purdue, Indiana and Minnesota did not.

Meyer said he didn't see a big difference with a four-year scholarship because even with a one-year deal "you can't just take a scholarship from a guy." But by the book, you can. ...

• The priorities in the class, in order according to Meyer, were defensive end, linebacker and offensive line. The Buckeyes signed four defensive linemen, including three ends, four linebackers and five offensive linemen. He called defensive ends Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington and Se'Von Pittman "the prize of the recruiting class." ...

• Meyer said he knew the name of some high-profile players before he was hired by Ohio State, but others he didn't know. He mentioned more than once being wowed by the film of three-star North Carolina linebacker Jamal Marcus, a player he knew nothing about a month ago and who gave his word to Ohio State on Wednesday. "He just blew us away on videotape," Meyer said. "It borders on ridiculous." ...

• Meyer said Kyle Dodson and Taylor Decker were the top two offensive tackles he targeted the day he was hired. A previous Notre Dame oral commitment, Meyer said that Decker "recruited us. He called me and said, 'I want to be a Buckeye.'"

• Meyer clearly, as he has admitted, was more focused on grabbing new recruits than on getting to know the previous recruits. He twice had trouble remembering the name of linebacker Josh Perry, who was the first pledge in this class in June of 2010. ...

• The accelerated timetable was tough, but it also seemed to energize Meyer. He spoke to top 10 defensive end Noah Spence the night he was hired and "within two weeks he is over buying Ohio State gear over at the bookstore, which is cool to be a part of that," Meyer said. ...

• After the December announcement of a 2012 bowl ban "it was damage control for two, three weeks," Meyer said. But he said the staff was proactive with recruits in talking about the ban. And the Buckeyes didn't lose any previous pledges over it. He also said negative recruiting from other schools wasn't a big concern of his.

"We had people tell the truth. We're not going to a bowl game. I had to address that. I'm not sure what negative recruiting is. [That was] factual recruiting." ...

• Meyer said recruiting in the Big Ten with limits on oversigning was no different because, "At Florida we never oversigned. Obviously, I didn't do that here."

Interactive Ohio State recruiting map

Source: The Plain Dealer and rivals.com

Rich Exner, The Plain Dealer

"I think he'll do a good job with Colt McCoy and the rest of the quarterbacks that he has," McNabb said.

View full sizeAP file"Brad is a very good coach," former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said of new Browns offensive coordinator Brad Childress. "He knows defenses, he understands schemes, he understands personnel."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Eagles Super Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb strongly endorsed former Eagles assistant Brad Childress as the Browns' new offensive coordinator on Wednesday.

"I think he'll do a good job with Colt McCoy and the rest of the quarterbacks that he has," McNabb said Wednesday on Radio Row in Indianapolis. "He'll cater to their strengths and put [McCoy] in a great position. They have a lot of young talent. I'm sure they'll build the offense and defensive lines throughout the draft. That's sort of what Brad is all about. It's going to be a fun time for Brad and Pat [Shurmur] both."

McNabb went to four straight NFC championship games and a Super Bowl with Childress as his quarterbacks coach and then his offensive coordinator. He went to three Pro Bowls with Childress as his position coach and three with Shurmur in that capacity.

"They'll do a great job together," McNabb said. "They're offensive-minded guys, so it will work out in Colt McCoy's favor this time, I hope."

Former Eagles Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook agreed that adding Childress was a good move.

"Brad is a very good coach," Westbrook said. "He knows defenses, he understands schemes, he understands personnel. He's a very cerebral type of guy, a guy that can get it done. I'm happy for Brad."

Westbrook, who played in the Eagles' loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl following the 2004 season, said Childress would make a good play-caller if that's what Shurmur decides.

"In Philadelphia, he formulated the offense and he got the offense ready to go and that's what you expect from your offensive coordinator," Westbrook said. "I know he also called plays in Minnesota, so he has experience at it."

Be that way, fine: A Super Bowl mistake cost Osi Umenyiora roughly the price of a championship ring.

The NFL fined the Giants' defensive end $20,000 on Wednesday, a few hours after he missed a mandatory morning media session.

No time for pain: Ahmad Bradshaw is playing in pain and loving every second of it.

The running back has played the past eight games with a broken bone in his right foot, but has been one the catalysts in helping the Giants get to the Super Bowl.

Bradshaw hasn't put up big numbers, but statistics aren't what he brings to the offense.

The 25-year-old whom coaches refer to as a mean junkyard dog brings a toughness that teammates respect. His foot hurts so much during the week that he practices only one day.

Four for Faulk? Kevin Faulk is going for his fourth Super Bowl ring Sunday. The 35-year-old running back has Super Bowl wins in 2002, '04 and '05. He's got one loss, in 2008 when the Giants beat the Patriots.

Faulk says this trip is as meaningful as his first.

"I don't care what Super Bowl it is, it's just excitement factor. Knowing where you are, knowing what you are about to get into, knowing what's at stake, knowing that's what you wanted to play for," Faulk said.

Plain Dealer wire services contributed to this report.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Dundee was the brilliant motivator who worked the corner for Ali in his greatest fights, willed Sugar Ray Leonard to victory in his biggest bout, and coached hundreds of young men in the art of a left jab and an overhand right.

View full sizeWilfredo Lee, Associated PressAngelo Dundee appeared at the opening of the new Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach -- where he trained Muhammad Ali in the 1960s -- during an appearance on Sept. 23, 2012. Dundee died Wednesday at age 90.

NEW YORK -- There was no way Angelo Dundee was going to miss Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday party. The genial trainer got to see his old friend, and reminisce about good times. It was almost as if they were together in their prime again, and what a time that was.

Dundee died in his apartment in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday night at the age of 90, and with him a part of boxing died, too.

He was surrounded by his family, said his son, Jimmy, who said the visit with Ali in Louisville, Ky., meant everything to his Dad.

"It was the way he wanted to go," the son said. "He did everything he wanted to do."

Dundee was the brilliant motivator who worked the corner for Ali in his greatest fights, willed Sugar Ray Leonard to victory in his biggest bout, and coached hundreds of young men in the art of a left jab and an overhand right.

More than that, he was a figure of integrity in a sport that often lacked it.

"To me, he was the greatest ambassador for boxing, the greatest goodwill ambassador in a sport where there's so much animosity and enemies," said Bruce Trampler, the longtime matchmaker who first went to work for Dundee in 1971. "The guy didn't have an enemy in the world."

How could he, when his favorite line was, "It doesn't cost anything more to be nice."

Dundee was best known for being in Ali's corner for almost his entire career, urging him on in his first fight against Sonny Liston through the legendary fights with Joe Frazier and beyond. He was a cornerman, but he was much more, serving as a motivator for fighters not so great and for The Greatest.

Promoter Bob Arum said he had been planning to bring Dundee to Las Vegas for a Feb. 18 charity gala headlined by Ali.

"He was wonderful. He was the whole package," Arum said. "Angelo was the greatest motivator of all time. No matter how bad things were, Angelo always put a positive spin on them. That's what Ali loved so much about him."

Arum credited Dundee with persuading Ali to continue in his third fight against Joe Frazier when Frazier was coming on strong in the "Thrilla in Manilla." Without Dundee, Arum said, Ali may not have had the strength to come back and stop Frazier after the 14th round in what became an iconic fight.

Dundee also worked the corner for Leonard, famously shouting, "You're blowing it, son. You're blowing it" when Leonard fell behind in his 1981 fight with Tommy Hearns -- a fight he would rally to win by knockout.

A master motivator and clever corner man, Dundee was regarded as one of the sport's great ambassadors. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 after a career that spanned six decades, training 15 world champions, including Leonard, George Foreman, Carmen Basilio and Jose Napoles.

"He had a ball. He lived his life and had a great time," Jimmy Dundee said. "He was still working with an amateur kid, a possible Olympic kid, down here. When he walked into a boxing room he still had the brain for it."

View full sizeAP file"He let me be exactly who I wanted to be, and he was loyal," Muhammad Ali wrote of Angelo Dundee (right). "That is the reason I love Angelo."

Dundee will always be linked to Ali as one of the most successful fighter-trainer relationships in boxing history, helping Ali become the first to win the heavyweight title three times. The pair would travel around the world for fights to such obscure places as Ali's October 1974 bout in Zaire against Foreman dubbed "The Rumble in the Jungle," and Ali's third fight against Frazier in the Philippines.

"I just put the reflexes in the proper direction," Dundee said in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press.

He did much more than that, said Gene Kilroy, who was Ali's business manager for much of his career.

"There were people who tried to push him out, and Ali would never let it happen," Kilroy said. "Ali knew he kept everyone in harmony, kept everything in check. More than that, he found good in everybody. We used to joke that he could find something good in Charles Manson. He was just that way with everyone."

The partnership with Ali began in Louisville, Ali's hometown, in 1959. Dundee was there with light heavyweight Willie Pastrano when the young Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, called their room from a hotel phone to ask if he could have five minutes. Clay, a local Golden Gloves champion, kept asking the men boxing questions in a conversation that lasted 31/2 hours, according to Dundee's autobiography, "My View From the Corner: A Life in Boxing."

After Ali returned from Rome with a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, Dundee ran into him in Louisville and invited him to come to Miami Beach to train. Ali declined. But that December, Dundee got a call from one of Ali's handlers, seeking to hire Dundee. After Ali won his first pro fight, Dundee accepted.

He helped Ali claim the heavyweight title for the first time on Feb. 25, 1964, when Sonny Liston quit on his stool after the sixth round during their fight in Miami Beach.

In an age of boxing when fighter-manager relationships rarely last, Dundee and Ali would never split.

When Cassius Clay angered white America by joining the Black Muslims and become Muhammad Ali, Dundee never wavered. When Ali defied the draft at the height of the Vietnam war, losing 3 1/2 years from the prime of his career, Dundee was there waiting for the heavyweight's return. And when Ali would make bold projections, spewing poetry that made headlines across the world and gave him the nickname "The Louisville Lip," Dundee never asked him to keep quiet.

"Through all those days of controversy, and the many that followed, Angelo never got involved," Ali wrote in the foreword to Dundee's book. "He let me be exactly who I wanted to be, and he was loyal. That is the reason I love Angelo."

Born Angelo Mirena on Aug. 30, 1921, in south Philadelphia, Dundee's boxing career was propelled largely by his older brother, Chris, a promoter. After returning from World War II -- "We won, but not because of anything I did" -- he joined Chris in the boxing game in New York, serving as his "go-fer" and getting the tag "Chris' kid brother." Angelo and Chris followed another brother Joe, who was a fighter, in changing their surname to Dundee so their parents wouldn't know they worked in boxing.

He learned to tape hands and handle cuts as a corner man in the late 1940s, building his knowledge by watching and learning as a "bucket boy" in New York for trainers like Chickie Ferrara, Charlie Goldman and Ray Arcel, among others. Word of Dundee's expertise spread, and seasoned fighters lined up to have him in their corner.

He worked major boxing scenes with Chris, with stops at the famed Stillman's Gym in New York and Miami Beach's 5th Street Gym. Dundee's fun-loving attitude, combined with his powerful Philly accent, made him a joy to be around. His lifelong love and respect for the sport earned him praise from those across the boxing world.

"He is the only man in boxing to whom I would entrust my own son," the late sportscaster Howard Cosell once said of Dundee.

In the late 1970s, with Ali nearing retirement, Dundee quickly jumped into the corner for an emerging star named Sugar Ray Leonard, whom Dundee called "a smaller Ali." Dundee trained Leonard for many of his biggest fights -- including bouts against Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns -- and helped him become one of the most recognized welterweight champions in history.

Dundee later teamed with Foreman in 1994 to help him become the oldest heavyweight champion at age 45 when he beat Michael Moorer. In one last attempt to help a big fighter win a big fight, Dundee helped train Oscar De La Hoya for his Dec. 6, 2008, fight with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Dundee did not work the corner on fight night; perhaps the 35-year-old "Golden Boy" could have used him. De La Hoya declined to answer the bell for the ninth round.

Dundee never held back the one-liners in the corner, either, saying anything he could to get his fighters charged.

Dundee also loved to tell the story of the night he was in the corner for a little-known heavyweight named Johnny Holman. Remembering that Holman's dream was to buy a house, Dundee tried to motivate Holman when he said, "This guy's taking away your house from you. He's taking away those shutters from you. He's taking away that television set from you." Holman would come back to win -- and get that house.

After living in the Miami area for decades, Dundee moved to the Tampa suburb of Oldsmar in 2007 to be closer to his two children after his wife of more than 50 years, Helen, fell ill. She died three years later.

Here's today's sports listings for TV and radio for the Cleveland area.

Associated PressChicago point guard Derrick Rose and the Bulls play tonight at 8 in New York against the Knicks, in a game televised by TNT and broadcast on WFUN/970-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

(Click on to links for more team or event information)

GOLF

9 a.m. Qatar Masters (tape), Golf Channel

4 p.m. Phoenix Open, Golf Channel

MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Duke at Virginia Tech, ESPN (Preview)

7 p.m. Nebraska at Northwestern, ESPN2

8 p.m. Southeast Missouri State at Murray State, ESPNU (preview)

9 p.m. South Carolina at Florida, ESPN2 (preview)

9 p.m. UCLA at Washington, ESPN

10 p.m. Portland at Santa Clara, ESPNU

11 p.m. Arizona at California, Fox Sports Ohio

11 p.m. Gonzaga at BYU, ESPN2 (preview)

NBA

8 p.m. Chicago at New York, TNT; AM/970

10:30 p.m. Denver at L.A. Clippers, TNT

NHL

7 p.m. Carolina at Boston, NHL Network (preview)

WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

6:30 p.m. Northwestern at Michigan, Big Ten Network

7 p.m. Tulane at East Carolina, CBS Sports Network

8:30 p.m. Minnesota at Illinois, Big Ten Network

9 p.m. Stanford at Arizona State, Fox Sports Ohio