Some draft experts, including Mel Kiper Jr., predict the Browns will draft Griffin, even if they have to trade up from No. 4 to No. 2 get him.

View full sizeMarcio Jose Sanchez, Associated PressGiants long snapper Zak DeOssie celebrates after his team's 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, who was in Indianapolis all week participating in Super Bowl events, told two national media outlets he would like to be selected No. 1 by the Colts.

Some draft experts, including Mel Kiper Jr., predict the Browns will draft Griffin, even if they have to trade up from No. 4 to No. 2 get him.

"Hopefully I'll end up [in Indianapolis] via the draft, but I have no control over that," Griffin told Sports Illustrated on Friday. "All I can control is what I say and what I do, and I plan on saying the right things and just being myself, and doing everything I possibly can to show everyone I am the best."

Colts owner Jim Irsay has said he will draft either Griffin or Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Agent Tom Condon told NFL Network last week that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will play next season despite coming off his third neck surgery, but hinted it won't be for the Colts.

"I've met Peyton, and I told him if I get the honor to play with him, I'd love it," Griffin told NFL Network. "I hope he gets to play as long as he wants to, wherever he wants to."

Griffin was also happy to hear that Irsay hasn't ruled him out as the No. 1 pick.

"That's huge," Griffin said. "It's every kid's dream. Every kid wants to be the first pick in the draft. I wouldn't say no to it. I'm glad he at least put me in that conversation and hasn't already made it a foregone conclusion that he's going with Andrew, like a lot of people have."

Goodbye and good luck: Receiver Tiquan Underwood took the high road after he was cut by the Patriots on Saturday night, wishing the team good luck in the Super Bowl.

Underwood Tweeted, "Im Fine, This Will Only Make Me Stronger ... Tough Times Never Last But Tough Ppl Do."

Despite being released, Underwood still was eligible for a Super Bowl ring.

The move cleared the way for receiver Chad Ochocinco to be active for the game.

New England replaced Underwood on the roster with defensive end Alex Silvestro.

Giant prediction: Giants defensive end Chris Canty wasn't satisfied telling fans to get ready for a Super Bowl parade.

Canty took it a step further before kickoff. He predicted on his Twitter account the score by which the Giants would win. "Giants 28, New England 17" appeared on "ChrisCanty99" about five hours before game time.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did his own chirping a week ago. The three-time Super Bowl champion told some 25,000 fans at a send-off in Foxborough, Mass., that he hoped there would be more fans for the rally when the team returned.

Dollars for doughnuts: A Canfield, Ohio, farm market said its doughnut business doubled this week after word spread that some of the Giants would be chowing down on its blueberry doughnuts ahead of their Super Bowl appearance.

White House Fruit Farm owner Debbie Pifer said the mother-in-law of Giants center Jim Cordle had ordered the treats, but the shop decided to donate 10 dozen. The blueberry doughnuts are a favorite of visitors to the small farm. Pifer said it was lucky the blue icing coordinated with the team's colors.

The doughnuts were picked up Friday for the trip to Indianapolis. Pifer said she received photos of team members enjoying the doughnuts Saturday. She said the experience has turned her family into avid Giants fans.

Goodell blasts Pro Bowl: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he is disappointed in the quality of last week's Pro Bowl, and changes must be considered -- perhaps even dropping the game altogether.

Speaking on ESPN Radio, Goodell said this year's Pro Bowl wasn't "the kind of football we want to be demonstrating to our fans, and you heard it from the fans, the fans were actively booing in the stands."

The AFC won the game, 59-41.

New York loses tight ends: Giants tight ends Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard each suffered knee injuries in the Super Bowl. Beckum tore his right anterior cruciate ligament with 12:55 left in the first half. Ballard sprained his left knee in the fourth quarter.

Just watching: New England running back Kevin Faulk, who played in the Patriots' four previous Super Bowls under coach Bill Belichick, was inactive. Others not in uniform for the Patriots were third-string quarterback Ryan Mallett, defensive tackle Ron Brace, running back Shane Vereen, guard Donald Thomas, linebacker Gary Guyton and center Nick McDonald.

Inactive for the Giants were linebacker Mark Herzlich (who overcame cancer while in college), receiver Ramses Barden, running back Da'Rel Scott, center and former Ohio State standout Jim Cordle, defensive end Justin Trattou, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy and offensive tackle James Brewer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Belichick, who coached the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95, has now won three Super Bowls and lost two.

Associated PressPatriots coach Bill Belichick leaves the field after New England's 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The New York Giants rallied to win the 46th Super Bowl, 21-17, over the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Indianapolis.

Like four years ago against New England, quarterback Eli Manning led New York on a fourth quarter touchdown drive to win the NFL championship. On Feb. 3, 2008, the Giants defeated the Patriots, 17-14, in that Super Bowl 42.

It would have seemed improbable for the Giants to win the two games in similar fashion, not just because of how they occurred, but because of the teams' respective records in both seasons.

The Giants went 9-7 during this regular season, winning the mediocre NFC East. New York then won three playoff games -- the last two on the road -- to advance to the title game. Meanwhile, the Patriots took the AFC East with a 13-3 record, earned a first-round bye and then won two playoff games to get to the Super Bowl.

The 2007 Patriots were on the verge of becoming the first 19-0 team in NFL history when they went 16-0 and then won two playoff games.

The Giants spoiled the would-be perfection, however, with one of the greatest upsets in league history. New York had snuck into the postseason as a wild card, going 10-6, then made the Super Bowl by winning three playoff games on the road.

The Giants served notice earlier this season that they could indeed get the best of the Patriots. New York won at New England, 24-20, on Nov. 6. The Patriots then rode a 10-game winning streak to the Super Bowl.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick now has a 3-2 record in the Super Bowl, helping New England to championships in the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons. Belichick, of course, coached the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95, going 36-44 in the regular season and 1-1 in the 1994 playoffs. Tom Brady has been the Patriots and Belichick's quarterback in all five championship games. Meanwhile, Tom Coughlin has coached the Giants to both Super Bowl wins over New England.

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

Associated PressGuard Samantha Prahalis (21) and Ohio State's women's basketball team host Wisconsin tonight at 7:30 in a game to be televised by the Big Ten Network.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

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

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Missouri at Oklahoma, ESPNU

7 p.m. Connecticut at Louisville, ESPN

9 p.m. Marquette at DePaul, ESPNU (preview)

9 p.m. Texas at Texas A&M, ESPN

NBA

7:30 p.m. Utah at New York, NBATV

10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Portland, NBATV (preview)

NHL

8 p.m. Detroit at Phoenix, NBC Sports Network

SOCCER

2:55 p.m. Tottenham at Liverpool, ESPN2

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. North Carolina at Duke, ESPN2

7:30 p.m. Wisconsin at OHIO STATE, Big Ten Network

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage)

9 p.m. Oklahoma at Baylor, ESPN2

For all the pomp and excess of Madonna's Super Bowl halftime extravaganza a single extended middle finger by guest singer M.I.A. is likely to be the most remembered piece of the show. Watch video and vote in our poll.

For all the pomp and excess of Madonna's Super Bowl halftime extravaganza a single extended middle finger by guest singer M.I.A. is likely to be the most remembered piece of the show.

The gesture, accompanied by a barely disguised expletive, came during a performance of Madonna's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin.'" At the end of her lines, M.I.A. appeared to sing "I don't give a (expletive)," although it was hard to hear clearly.

The incident was reminiscent of Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" eight years ago -- a surprise risque moment in front of tens of millions of unsuspecting viewers. The brief exposure of Jackson's nipple during the 2004 halftime show raised a storm of controversy and put CBS in hot water with the Federal Communications Commission.

The Super Bowl, shown on NBC this year, is routinely viewed by more than 100 million people, the biggest TV event of the year. The screen briefly went blurred after M.I.A.'s gesture in what was a late attempt -- by less than a second -- to cut out the camera shot.

"The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show," NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey said. "Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers,"

The NFL blamed a failure in NBC's delay system for allowing the gesture to be seen. Spokesman Brian McCarthy said M.I.A. did not do anything similar during rehearsals and the league had no reason to believe she would pull something like that during the actual show.

View full sizeAPThis image taken from video broadcast on NBC shows M.I.A. giving an obscene gesture during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in Indianapolis on Sunday.

"The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans," McCarthy said.

The British singer M.I.A. is best known for her 2007 hit "Paper Planes," a Grammy nominee for record of the year that memorably features a sample of the Clash song, "Straight to Hell." It was featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Slumdog Millionaire."

Madonna had admittedly been nervous about her performance, hoping to position herself as the queen of a new generation of pop stars with an opulent show and a sharp performance that mixed her new release with more familiar songs. She seemed like Roman royalty when muscle-bound men carried her extravagant throne across the football field to the stage for her opening song, "Vogue."

Guests Cee Lo, Nicki Minaj and dance rockers LMFAO also appeared with Madonna. The singing and dancing on "Vogue" was smartly choreographed, as Madonna moved more deliberately -- she is 53 -- but still adroitly. She briefly appeared to stumble at one point while trying to make a step on the stage set, but recovered in time.

She let a tightrope walker make the more acrobatic moves during a performance of "Music."

Madonna carried gold pompons for a performance of her new single. Twitter was alight with questions about the vocals being lip synched or augmented by tapes, particularly during this song.

The best guest was clearly Cee Lo, who joined Madonna for the final song, "Like a Prayer." They were joined by a robed chorus in the show's most soaring performance. With a puff of white smoke, Madonna disappeared down a trap door in the stage, and lights on the field spelled out "World Peace."

The performance was also carried live on SiriusXM Radio, giving Madonna the biggest single audience of her career. For all the elaborate choreography and flashy effects, the finger incident is the more likely headline from the event.

Earlier, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert offered some pregame patriotism. Shelton and Lambert did a twangy duet on "America the Beautiful" and Clarkson, in a simple black dress, sang "The Star Spangled Banner" without a hitch after last year's performer, Christina Aguilera, flubbed a line.

Babies and dogs were also a big theme of this year's Super Bowl ads. Vote for your favorites in our poll.

 
NEW YORK (AP) -- The pressure was on. The tension was thick. And then, there were yawns in between.

The Super Bowl may have been a nail biter, but the ads were a snooze.

Actor Clint Eastwood waxed for two minutes about Detroit and Chrysler. An M&M candy stripped "naked" at a party. And stars from the 90s were everywhere, as were dogs and babies, of course.

Companies paid an average of $3.5 million for a 30-second spot for the right to duke it out Sunday in front of the expected 111 million-plus fans. But it was all so ordinary with fewer surprises.

That's mostly because nearly half of the 70 Super Bowl advertisers put their spots out online in the days leading up to the game. That's a big difference from last year when only a few spots were released ahead of time. And the companies that did wait until game day for the "big reveal" didn't take many risks. In fact, most settled on cliché plots with kids, celebs, sex and humor.

"Advertisers this year are playing it very safe," said Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. "They're running spots that are clearly designed to appeal to a broad audience and not to offend."

Here's a look at the game's ads, play by play:

Sex sells, or at least advertisers hope it will

Advertisers showed a little skin in their Super Bowl.

An ad for domain name-hosting site GoDaddy shows racecar driver Danica Patrick and fitness expert Jillian Michaels body painting a nude woman. A spot for clothing retailer H&M features soccer star David Beckham in black-and-white in his undies. And online florist Teleflora and automaker Kia both use Victoria Secret's model Adriana Lima in their Super Bowl ads.

But perhaps the two most blatant examples of "letting it all hang out" came from car companies.

Toyota's spot for its "reinvented" Camry features a "reinvented" couch made up of women wearing bikinis. "It also comes in male," a voiceover in the ad says while showing a couch of shirtless men.

And among the few standouts for the night was a Fiat ad that equated seeing the car for the first time with making out with a sexy Italian super model. The tagline: "You'll never forget the first time you see one."

"They did a good job of showing that some decisions are made with the heart, some decisions are made with the head and the Italian car decision resides in the groin," said Greg Dinoto, chief creative officer of advertising agency Deutsch in New York. "It was sexy and surprising and fun."

Babies and dogs

Who doesn't love cute animals and babies? Advertisers are banking there aren't many among us.

That's why Doritos used both. One Doritos spot shows a man being bribed by a dog with the chips to keep the animal's dirty secret about a cat's disappearance. In another spot, a grandmother uses a slingshot to hoist a baby up to grab a bag of Doritos that belongs to a boy in a tree who had been taunting the baby with the chips.

Those two ads were crowd favorites, said Peter Dabol, who analyzes advertising effectiveness at research firm Ace Metrix. The firm polled 500 viewers about the ads to find the most popular.

"It's a typical Super Bowl, funny carries the day," he said. "Advertisers are driving for attention and likeability."

Likewise, Skechers shoe company introduced its new running sneaker with an ad showing a French bulldog winning a greyhound race by wearing the shoes, of course. The dog then moon walks across the finish line.

And software company 2nd Story Software's ad used toilet humor, literally. The ad to promote its free TaxAct software shows a boy who looks everywhere to find a respectable place to relieve himself. He winds up going in a pool.

The tagline: "Totally free. Feels good."

A galaxy of stars

Celebrities always draw attention. And advertisers took a gamble that using stars would be enough to grab attention.

Chrysler, one of nine automakers advertising during the game, aired a Super Bowl ad starring Clint Eastwood. The aging actor talks about the rebirth of Chrysler and Detroit. The two-minute "Imported from Detroit" ad, one of the few spots that weren't released before the game, follows the company's ad last year that starred rapper Eminem.

"How do we come from behind, how do we come together and how do we win?" he asks. "Detroit is showing us it can be done. What's true about them is true about all of us."

Chrysler's ad was among the few standouts on Sunday.  "Those very few ads that weren't overexposed up front ended up with a real advantage," said Raymond Taylor, a professor of marketing at the Villanova School of Business in Villanova, Penn.

Meanwhile, real-estate company Century 21's ad shows that a real estate agent is able to outdo speed skater Apolo Ohno on the ice, business mogul Donald Trump in business and former football player Deion Sanders at an open house.

And in an ad for Pepsi, "The X Factor" winner Melanie Amaro belts out "Respect" for music icon Elton John, who plays a king in the spot. "Pepsi for all," she says. At the end of the ad, John finds himself in the dungeon with rapper and reality TV star Flavor Flav.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off tugs at memory

Some advertisers attempted to tug at viewers' heart strings by stirring up old, fond memories.

Honda's ad for its compact sports-utility vehicle CR-V shows actor Matthew Broderick living a grown-up version of his 1986 hit movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The ad includes two dozen references to the movie.

An Acura NSX ad features 1990s comedic titan Jerry Seinfeld battling with late-night talk show host Jay Leno over the sportscar. The ad includes Seinfeld references like a cameo by the "Soup Nazi" character.

And during Downy's pre-game ad, the company remakes one of the most classic commercials of all time, Coke's 1980 spot "Mean Joe Greene." In the original, a little boy gives a gruff football player Joe Greene a Coke as he comes off the field. The Downy remake stars Greene and actress Amy Sedaris (in the little boy role) giving Greene a can of Downy fabric softener.

Mae Anderson AP Business Writer

Norman Chad takes you minute-by-minute of the Super Bowl XLVI broadcast from his couch, while his stepdaughter would rather watch Puppy Bowl VIII.

Discovery / File PhotoA pup named Fumbles, not pictured here, was named MVP of Puppy Bowl VIII.

I’m happy for the Giants’ Tom Coughlin, who, in any given season, goes from coaching for his job to coaching in the Super Bowl. I’m happy for America, which, for one day, shows the world it still is the No. 1 superpower for spectacle and sport. And, of course, I’m happy that the somewhat evil Patriots lost.

As usual, I took it all in and took copious notes:

1:01 p.m. Eastern time: We go into locker rooms 5½ hours before kickoff. It’s like being on Wall Street at 4 a.m.

1:04: Alex Flanagan and Randy Moss at team hotels. Do you think the teams have to pay for late checkout?

1:46: Sports Illustrated’s Peter King reports a couple of things that probably aren’t true.

1:48: Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports a couple of things that probably aren’t true.

2:48: Brian Williams tells us “Rock Center” moves to Wednesday nights. I was hoping it was moving to the Cayman Islands.

2:55: We are reminded that the London Olympics are less than six months away. Check your local listings.

3:10: Bill Belichick opens up to Rodney Harrison, even admits working for the Sandinistas in the late 1970s.

4:32: President Obama, sitting with Matt Lauer, appears to be wearing the same shirt he had on when Lauer interviewed him three years ago on Super Bowl Sunday. Boy, it’s a tough economy.

4:33: Why does the president need to wear the American flag on his lapel? Isn’t that redundant?

5:10: Belichick wears a suit en route to the game, then switches to a hoodie for the game (in a dome). Now, that’s genius.

6:31: The game starts. It will intermittently interrupt the flow of commercials.

6:37: Giants punter Steve Weatherford wears a wedding ring on the field. That’s a level of commitment — to punting — I’d be unwilling to make.

6:41: Tom Brady — not used to getting touched by anyone other than his wife — gets flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone on the Patriots’ first play for a safety.

6:41:30: I believe a single Vegas tourist visiting off a bus from Boise bet on a safety to be the first Super Bowl score.

6:50: Patriots’ defense has 12 men on the field; Le Génie, Belichick, usually doesn’t cheat that openly.

7:17: Giants’ offense has 12 men in the huddle; that’s just because offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride can’t count.

7:20: In an ad, we see David Beckham virtually naked. Maybe I’ve been too hard on MLS.

7:29: It’s all about directional punting, my friends.

7:53: Half-price burritos today from Chipotle when you order six or more. Couch Slouch can’t resist a bargain: Who wouldn’t want 100 burritos for the price of 50?

8:00: Madonna headlines Super Bowl 46 halftime show. In related news, Justin Bieber just signed to headline Super Bowl 76 halftime show.

8:05: Madonna almost falls off step on stage; I’m sure her AARP health plan covers that stuff.

8:18: It’s halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin. But first this word from Chrysler.

8:22: My stepdaughter Mia comes into the room and asks if we can TiVo the rest of the game so that she can watch “Puppy Bowl VIII” on Animal Planet.

8:48: I just realized — I should’ve live-tweeted this game; a newspaper diary is so 20th century.

8:54: Brady’s left (non-check-cashing) shoulder might be banged up.

9:03: Brady throws a fourth-quarter interception, accurately predicted by the Mayans more than 2,300 years ago.

9:24: I could swear Danny Woodhead was working the register at Best Buy last week when I bought a big-screen TV.

9:33: Oh, a replay delay. Let me go do my taxes. (What a catch!)

9:44: Ahmad Bradshaw is lured into end zone for the potential game-winning score, much like an unsuspecting Dennis Rodman was lured by Madonna many eons ago.

9:52: If Rob Gronkowski catches that Hail Mary deflection, I move to the Galapagos Islands.

9:53: Patriots lose, 21-17. Even Einstein didn’t win every science fair.

Ask The Slouch

Q. My son just turned 11 and has started asking me a lot of questions. Which do you think I should try to explain first — the facts of life, the vastness of the universe or Stephen A. Smith? (Jeff Dent, South Charleston, W. Va.)

A. I’d start with the easiest one — the vastness of the universe — and proceed from there.

Q. On Groundhog Day, if Toni grabs you by the scruff of your neck, yanks you off the couch and you see your shadow, does that mean six more weeks of marriage? (Bob Lynch; Albany, N.Y.)

A. It usually means she just wants my lazy butt off the sofa so she doesn’t have to vacuum around my feet.

Q. Did Indianapolis send Mayflower vans in the middle of the night to move Coach Chuck Pagano? (Steve Leonard; Greenfield, Ind.)

A. Pay the man, Shirley.

Join The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff, Bud Shaw and Paul Hoynes to talk about the best & worst from Super Bowl XLVI, plus the Indians' latest moves live at noon.

Watch today live at noon.

Where does their victory in Super Bowl XLVI put the Giants' Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin on the list of all-time greats? Did Bill Belichick make the right call, letting the Giants score that last TD? How will Casey Kotchman help the Indians?

Today live at noon on "PD Sports Insider," join Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff along with special guest Paul Hoynes talk about last night's game as well as the Indians as they get ready for spring training. They'll also field your chat room comments and questions.

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.

About the show: "PD Sports Insider" airs live every Monday and Thursday at noon. Co-hosted by Bud Shaw and Dennis Manoloff, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also Skype in or email their video questions during the week.

Were the New York Giants the best team or the hottest team?

APTom Brady

The New York Giants defeated the New England Patroits in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but the Patriots are the odds on favorite to win it all next year.

So does that mean the Patriots were the better team in the Super Bowl but they just lost to a hot Giants' team?

Was it just a case of New England's receivers letting quarterback Tom Brady down during the final drive that should could have led to a New England victory?

Mario Manningham made one of the best catches in Super Bowl history. Now that he's a free agent, will he bring his talents to Cleveland?

APNew England Patriots defensive back Sterling Moore, left, breaks up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham.

Warren native Mario Manningham didn't win the MVP in Sunday's Super Bowl, but Manningham and quarterback Eli Manning teamed up to complete the biggest pass and catch of the game.

Manningham’s 38-yard sideline catch turned a 17-15 Patriots lead into a 21-17 Giants win, writes CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk.

He had barely enough room to haul it in and get his feet down.

“Good thing I wear size 11,” Manningham said. “I don’t think I’d have been in with an 11 1/2.”

 

 

 

More Cleveland sports

Bob Finnan of The News-Herald writes how Anderson Varejao is worthy of making the All-Star team.

Tom Reed writes on Cleveland.com how the Cavaliers are pushing Anderson Varejao's case.

Kyrie Irving a starter in the All-Star Game?

The Cleveland Browns are 75-1 to win the Super Bowl.

Warren native's Super Bowl performance shows how important dynamic receivers are in today's NFL. Watch video

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

Today's guest is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, who covered Sunday's Super Bowl in Indianapolis. She has thoughts on today's Starting Blocks poll, which is: Do you think the better team won Sunday's game? Cast your vote now.

Mary Kay also talks about the Patriots' decision to let the Giants score a touchdown late in the game; whether Mario Manningham, who is a free agent this offseason, would be a good fit for the Cleveland Browns; and what Sunday's win did for Eli Manning's legacy.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson practiced for the first time in 10 days and provided there are no setbacks with his neck infection, he will play against the Heat in Miami on Tuesday

APCavs guard Daniel 'Boobie' Gibson could be back in the lineup Tuesday night against the Heat.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson practiced for the first time in 10 days and provided there are no setbacks with his neck infection, he will play against the Heat in Miami on Tuesday.

That would be helpful for the Cavs, who will be without starting shooting guard Anthony Parker for the fourth straight game because of a lower back strain. Also rookie power forward Tristan Thompson will miss his third straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Cavs coach Byron Scott said he did not know if Gibson would start, but Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving said he'd be happy to have Gibson back because the team's guard corps had been putting in a lot of minutes with Gibson and Parker out.

Gibson still isn't quite sure what happened to his neck. He might have hurt it against New Jersey on Jan. 27, and then his glands began to swell when he was preparing for the game at Boston on Jan. 29.

"It's kind of hard to explain,'' he said on Monday. "They did a lot of tests. It was a combination of a lot of different things. A lot of it they were speaking 'doctor' so a lot of it I didn't know.

"But at the end of the day, maybe from me being sick, in combination with a neck injury may have caused a lot of the swelling. It got kind of serious because of all the complications with your neck. There's breathing. There's so much that goes on around that area. That's why it was so serious.''

Gibson said he did not have breathing problems, but as the glands on the left side of his neck began to swell he did have trouble chewing.

He said his neck felt good during practice on Monday.

"That's what today was about _ trying to get back to the basketball movements, getting hit, turning quick...and it felt pretty good,'' he said. "As with any injury there's still things I have to work out, but I'm definitely getting back there.

"I feel great. Today was a good day just getting out there. My legs felt good. My body felt so. I didn't have any problems, so we'll see how it progresses.''

Separate incidents. Brown gets one-game penalty for making contact with an official and failure to leave the court in timely manner. Love gets two games for stomping on Rockets forward Luis Scola’s face.

Associated PressLos Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown, right, is restrained by Lakers security after being ejected from Saturday night's game against the Jazz in Salt Lake City.

PHILADELPHIA -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for making contact with a game official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection in Saturday's game.

The NBA announced the suspension today. Brown will miss tonight's game in Philadelphia against the 76ers.

The incident occurred with 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 96-87 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Brown received two quick technicals for arguing Pau Gasol was fouled by Utah's Earl Watson.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota -- Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been suspended two games for stomping on Rockets forward Luis Scola’s face in their game on Saturday.

The NBA announced the suspension on Monday. The incident occurred when Scola fell to the court during the third quarter. As Love headed back to the other end, he stepped on Scola’s face and upper body.

Love said after the game that the stomp was not intentional and he went to the Rockets’ locker room to apologize to Scola.

The NBA also upgraded it to a Flagrant-Two foul on Love.

The suspension means the Timberwolves will be without their leading scorer and rebounder for a home game against Sacramento on Tuesday night and a game at Memphis on Wednesday night.

Daniel Gibson's expected return prompts move. Thompson is the son of former NBA great Mychal Thompson and brother of Golden State rookie Klay Thompson.

PD fileMychel Thompson

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- With Daniel Gibson about to return from his neck injury, rookie free agent guard Mychel Thompson has been waived, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced Monday.

The Cavs are seeking roster flexibility moving forward. Also, contracts had to be guaranteed for the rest of the season on Friday.

Thompson, who started the last three games with Gibson and Anthony Parker (back) out, averaged 3.6 points on .292 shooting, 1.0 rebound and 1.4 assists in five games. He is the son of former NBA great Mychal Thompson and brother of Golden State rookie Klay Thompson.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 14.

To be playoff-worthy, teams need a depth of talent. Even the Browns' strength -- their defense -- lacks that. Plus Betty White loves the Browns chances in 2012, and links to more Browns stories.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (52) is a a playoff team-caliber player if he can stay healthy, as he did in 2011.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns had a reasonable chance to win a few games among their 12 losses in the 2011 season.

The primary reason the Browns stuck around in some contests before another L went on the record was their defense.

The 4-3 defense, with Dick Jauron in his first season as its coordinator, made solid improvements over the 3-4 defense the Browns had employed in previous years.

Bill Smith, writing for the Bleacher Report with a BR slideshow on the Browns defense, acknowledges the unit's improvement and writes that a:

team needs at least eight playoff quality players on D to be competitive for a spot in the post season. A team needs three on the D line, two at LB and three in the D backfield.

But the team must also have at least 14 starting quality players on the defense. That includes six on the D line including rotational guys, three LBs and five in the D backfield including a nickel back.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com continues to cover the Browns and the NFL. Mary Kay Cabot says in an interview on Starting Blocks TV that the New York Giants' Mario Manningham, who can be a free agent this offseason, is a wide receiver who could help the Browns; Cabot wrote a Giants-Patriots Super Bowl game story from Indianapolis on Sunday, and the Super Bowl Insider.  

Goal to goal

A 2011 Browns position review -- the linebackers -- by Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com. 

Another 2011 Browns position review -- the defensive line -- by Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy and Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn -- whom some observers want the Browns to pursue -- were almost teammates at Louisiana State. By Don Delco for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Wide receivers who could be available in free agency. On the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Five Browns who may be candidates to be traded. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III tells ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning that he wants to be the first player picked in the April 26-28 NFL draft. The Indianapolis Colts hold that pick, but it's generally thought that they will draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Some pundits believe that the Browns, who own the fourth overall pick, have a strong interest in Griffin.

A mock draft of the first 25 overall picks, on NFL Draft Net.

Betty White's bold prediction

Gleisner starred at Elyria High and Vanderbilt, led a football equipment company, helped boost nationwide safety standards and served on Lorain City Council.

Kyrie Irving is the best Cavs' rookie since LeBron James. Stats one-third of the way through the shortened season show a near wire-to-wire advantage for Irving.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerKyrie Irving's first attempt at late-game NBA heroics did not end well, but that has not discouraged the Cavaliers' rookie point guard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the Cavaliers drew the Golden Ping Pong Ball in the NBA lottery, 18-year-old LeBron James promised to turn the city into Las Vegas by the Lake. It didn't happen.

Neither did the long basketball Dark Ages his desertion seemed to portend.

This time, no one is calling Kyrie Irving, 19, also delivered via a draft lottery ping pong ball, a savior. Few are checking off "youngest to this or that" milestones for him. The Cavs this season are not on ESPN, TNT or ABC, an alphabet of network disinterest.

Mostly, Irving has been nationally noticed only when he has been spectacular. He made a last-gasp, weaving, left-handed layup that finished the recent comeback at Boston and then a jack-knifing righty slash for the final basket Saturday against NBA champion Dallas.

Irving is ambidextrous around the rim, but so was James. In the latter's case, having his choice of weapons was a big advantage, albeit one increasingly negated in the biggest games by his fear of failure. This was evident both in the end of the Boston series with the Cavs in 2010 and in the closing moments of the NBA Finals games vs. Dallas in 2011.

For his part, Irving did not let a miss on a potential game-winning drive in his third game, at Indiana, leave him discouraged when it came to taking more such shots.

"You can't be afraid down the stretch of games. The only time I'm nervous is if I'm unprepared. I practice those shots every day," said Irving. "If you miss, it's just basketball. It's just a game."

"It shows how good Kyrie is," says coach Byron Scott. "A lot of point guards in this league, because of the [hectic] schedule, are just now finding their rhythm. This kid came in here and, after struggling his first week [2-for-12 in his first game vs. Toronto, 8-for-19 in the Indiana contest], has just shown such a great feel and talent for the game."

View full sizePD fileIrving's assists aren't as high as James' were eight years ago. But he does not monopolize the ball as much, either, says Bill Livingston.

Rookie teen-aged point guards generously listed at 6-3, like Irving, don't shoot 50 percent one-third of the way through this year's frantic NBA schedule. Going into Tuesday's game at Miami against James and the Dancing BTUs, Irving's body of work so far has been startling.

In the categories relevant to scoring and shooting efficiency, Irving has it all over James in his 2003-04 rookie season. Irving has played 22 games, double the amount he played after being hobbled by a toe injury in his lone season at Duke.

What really jumps out at the same point in each player's rookie season is that, in 52 fewer shots, Irving is scoring more than James. Irving is more efficient at ambidextrously "finishing" drives with a lethal crossover dribble, explosive quickness and mid-air body control. But he can also put the ball in the basket at mid-range, at the line, and at long range.

It is tough to decide whether Irving or James was drafted by the weaker team. James joined a team that had been 17-65. Irving joined one that went 19-63, with a record 26-game losing streak. That's a virtual push.

Irving's assists aren't as high as James' were eight years ago. But he does not monopolize the ball as much, either.

It's unlikely Irving will wind up scoring 41 points and taking 29 shots to do so, as did James in one game when he was Rookie of the Year. But Irving will not be reticent when the big shot comes along, either.

"He's not afraid to take the big shot and not afraid to be the goat," said Scott.

All players want to make the big shot. But if they miss it, the best players will still take the next one, undiscouraged by a disobedient bounce, undiminished by momentary failure.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Contenders could bolster their postseason chances with a trade for Cavs relentless center, but it should take quite a lot to pry from Cleveland a player in the prime of his career. Links to more Cavs stories.

Gus Chan, The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao (left), in the kind of play that typifies his value, controls the basketball against the Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NBA trade deadline is March 15, and it's probably safe to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers have an "untouchable" -- a player they absolutely won't trade -- in rookie point guard Kyrie Irving.

Maybe they have two. Center Anderson Varejao, who had already proven his great impact on the Cavaliers in his first seven seasons, is in the midst of a brilliant season. At 29, he's in the prime of his career, and his style of play doesn't suggest that he'll slip any time soon. Don't forget, too, that over the years, Varejao has proven that he's just as good a player at power forward as at center.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com uses Twitter to say what he's hearing about Varejao and the interest he's drawing from other NBA teams:

Cavs indeed getting calls from teams wanting Varejao, I'm told, but he's played himself to near-untouchable status while all focus on Kyrie

We assume that by writing "while all focus on Kyrie," Stein means that most NBA fans are paying most of their attention -- regarding the Cavaliers -- to Irving's superb play.

By the way, Starting Blocks wonders if Stein became aware of Sunday's Starting Blocks report on the Cavaliers, as -- acccompanying the new ESPN.com power rankings -- he writes:

Egregious mistake by yours truly to not at least include Varejao among East snubs in my latest Weekend Dime. Unavoidably overshadowed by Kyrie Fever, which spreads faster every week, Varejao is the NBA's top offensive board man (4.7 per game) and has played his way to near-untouchable status.

The Cavaliers (9-13) visit the Miami Heat (18-6) on Tuesday night. Then, on Wednesday night, Cleveland begins a nine-game homestand with a visit from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Mary Schmitt Boyer's report that guard Daniel Gibson practiced on Monday and is traveling with the team for Tuesday's game at Miami; her report that the Cavs have released rookie guard Mychel Thompson; and more.

Post-ups

With the schedule toughening, it may not be wins and losses that indicate what the Cavs have already shown: that they are moving in the right direction. On the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Cavs waive Mychel Thompson, by Conrad Kaczmarek for the blog "Fear The Sword."

Cavs Monday practice update, by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Anderson Varejao deserves a spot on the Eastern Conference all-star team, Bob Finnan writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal (with video).

The Cavs could get a good return if they trade guard Ramon Sessions, Michael Keefe writes for the Bleacher Report.

Daniel Gibson should be ready to play against Miami, and other Cavs notes (with video). By Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

A Cavaliers quiz, on NBA.com/cavaliers.

The Big Ten likes the idea of the semifinals being hosted by the top two seeds, which could bring southern teams north for the postseason sometimes.

View full sizeAP photoOnce a fierce opponent of a playoff system, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and other officials are considering a proposal that could force teams from the West and South to potentially play a national semifinal in the Midwest's winter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What if fighting through the regular season and earning a win in the Big Ten championship game meant ... hosting Alabama at the Horseshoe in December? Or bringing Oklahoma to the Big House after Christmas? Or making Les Miles and LSU drop into Madison, Wis., with the snowflakes?

That's the idea the Big Ten is pondering, according to the Chicago Tribune, with one of the greatest roadblocks to an expanded college football playoff now thinking of ways to turn the postseason toward the Big Ten's favor.

The specifics of one percolating Big Ten plan, according to the Tribune, are intriguing: the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the final BCS standings hosting semifinal games on their home campuses. But the general theme -- the Big Ten is open to a playoff -- is the greater consideration.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, one of the most influential people in college sports, has helped quash playoff ideas in the past. Major conference voices, like Ohio State president Gordon Gee, have vociferously backed the bowl system. Any thawing of that opinion is a breakthrough.

NCAA president Mark Emmert has already said he's on board with a four-team playoff idea, and if Emmert and Delany get on the same page, change to the current football postseason has a real chance.

"We have to listen to the fans; we cannot be tone-deaf," Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips, the chair of the Big Ten's Administrators Council, told the Tribune. "The Big Ten is open and curious."

The current BCS agreement expires after two more seasons. A change to the postseason structure could come with the 2014 season, and playoff talk continues to gather momentum.

This particular idea, with the campus semis, seems like a hard sell in the SEC, which may not be enamored with possibly having to wear long underwear on its typical championship game march. But give the plan points for originality.

The idea of home playoff games for the top two seeds gives some edge to the two teams that previously went right to the title game. Great non-BCS teams, like TCU (No. 3 in the final BCS standings in 2009 and 2010) seemingly would have access to the title game in this format. The campus sites add a layer of collegiate feel to the postseason, while much of the rest of the bowl season could remain, which matters to some people. The title game would have an added level of legitimacy by requiring each team to earn its way there with one more win.

Interestingly, and disappointingly, for the Big Ten, this proposal would have had no effect on the conference in the last four years. The Big Ten didn't have a team in the top four of the final BCS standings in 2011, 2010, 2009 or 2008. But in five of the previous six seasons, the Big Ten would have been involved.

Consider these possibilities:

• Instead of No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 LSU for the 2007 national title, it would have been No. 4 Oklahoma at No. 1 Ohio State and No. 3 Virginia Tech at No. 2 LSU in the semis. The Sooners at Ohio Stadium for the first time since 1977? Not bad.

• Instead of No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Florida for the 2006 national title, it would have been No. 4 LSU at No. 1 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Florida in the semis. Two Big Ten-SEC showdowns -- think that might have been big?

• Instead of No. 1 USC and No. 2 Texas in 2005, it would have been No. 4 Ohio State at No. 1 USC and No. 3 Penn State at No. 2 Texas. The Big Ten would have loved the chance, even if we probably would have ended up with the same great Trojans-Longhorns title matchup.

• Instead of No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 LSU in 2003, it would have been No. 4 Michigan at No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 3 USC at No. 2 LSU. This would have prevented the split national title that season, when LSU won the BCS title but USC finished first in the AP poll.

• Instead of No. 1 Miami and No. 2 Ohio State in 2002, it would have been No. 4 USC at No. 1 Miami and No. 3 Georgia at No. 2 Ohio State.

For now, it's just talk. In the end, the road to the title for the Crimson Tide may never go through Columbus. But it's more possible that the road could look a bit different than it does now.

Daniel Gibson still isn't sure what happened to his neck. After practicing Monday, he suffered a setback and did not travel with the team to Miami.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer"They did a lot of tests," Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson said of his neck ailment. "It was a combination of a lot of different things. A lot of it they were speaking 'doctor,' so a lot of it I didn't know."

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Daniel Gibson experienced discomfort in his neck after practicing on Monday and did not travel with the team to Miami for Tuesday's game against the Heat.

It will be the fifth game that the Cavaliers guard has missed.

Gibson spoke to the media about the injury after practice. 

"It's kind of hard to explain," said Gibson. "They did a lot of tests. It was a combination of a lot of different things.

"A lot of it they were speaking 'doctor,' so a lot of it I didn't know."

According to the Cavs, Gibson was out with a "soft tissue infection in his neck." Gibson said he might have injured his neck against New Jersey on Jan. 27. Then he caught a cold, which apparently settled in the glands in his neck, causing so much swelling that he was hospitalized in Boston on Jan. 29.

"At the end of the day, maybe from me being sick in combination with a neck injury may have caused a lot of the swelling," Gibson said. "It got kind of serious because of all the complications with your neck. There's breathing. There's so much that goes on around that area. That's why it was so serious."

Gibson said he did not have breathing problems, but as the glands on the left side of his neck began to swell, he did have trouble chewing.

After nine days of treatment, he was able to practice on Monday. But early in the evening, the team announced that Gibson did not make the trip to South Florida.

The Cavaliers will continue to be short-handed, still without Anthony Parker (back) and rookie power forward Tristan Thompson (sprained left ankle). Parker and Alonzo Gee played good defense against LeBron James in the first meeting with Miami on Jan. 24, when James made just eight of 21 shots and had five turnovers in the Heat's 92-85 victory.

Thompson waived: The Cavs waived undrafted rookie free agent Mychel Thompson, who started the past three games while Parker and Gibson were out.

Thompson, the son of former NBA great Mychal Thompson and brother of Golden State rookie Klay Thompson, averaged 3.6 points on 29.2 percent shooting, 1.0 rebound and 1.4 assists in five games.

The move was not unexpected. The Cavs are seeking roster flexibility. In addition, contracts have to be guaranteed for the rest of the season on Friday.

Indians and Reds open exhibition game schedule on March 3. Links to more Indians stories.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe Cleveland Indians (right field line) and the Cincinnati Reds (left field) during the playing of the national anthem before their 2011 exhibition game opener at Goodyear BallPark in Goodyear, Arizona. The teams meet in the 2012 spring opener on March 3.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two weeks from today, on Feb. 20 in Goodyear, Arizona, the Cleveland Indians' pitchers and catchers will report for spring training.

Three days later, the rest of the team will report, and on Feb. 25, the first full-team workout will be held.

The Indians and Cincinnati Reds both make Goodyear Ballpark their spring training homes. The teams will open their exhibition game schedules by playing each other on Saturday, March 3.

The Indians, 80-82 last season, open the 2012 campaign at home on Thursday, April 5, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m. against the Toronto Blue Jays (81-81) at Progressive Field.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com cover the Indians. Beat writer Paul Hoynes will again be in Goodyear to report on the team.

Hoynes talked about the Indians today on "PD Sports Insider," the Plain Dealer/cleveland.com weekly video feature that today also includes Dennis Manoloff and Bud Shaw talking about the Super Bowl. Sunday, Indians topics were included in the column, "Terry Pluto's Talkin;' " Hoynes answered readers' questions about the Indians in "Hey, Hoynesie!;" Hoynes wrote that the Indians have tried to build a roster (likely including players with some big league experience who will begin the season at Class AAA Columbus) that could hopefully overcome some injuries.

Talkin' Tribe

Analyzing starting pitching candidates David Huff, Jeanmar Gomez and Zach McAllister. On the blog "Let's Go Tribe."

Tribe happenings, including: Are the Indians going up for sale? By Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

The Indians have strengthened their first base situation, Bernie Pleskoff writes for MLB.com.

Expanding the playoffs -- a proposed scenario that would have helped the 2005 Indians -- to increase parity? From the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

A story on Indians minor league right-handed pitcher Kyle Blair, by Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider. 

The top 100 prospects for the June draft. On BaseballAmerica.com.

On MLB.com, Fantasy League previews for Indians players.