"I would not draft a quarterback who has not set his rear end under center during his college career. The NFL graveyard for quarterbacks is full of those type high draft choices. Besides playing under center, I would look at (1) does he have a quick release, (2) arm strength, (3) physical toughness and strength, (4) quick feet, and (5) mental acuity for the game. College statistics can be very deceiving. Remember the add-age "in college football all the receivers are open all of the time, while in the pros none of the receivers are every wide open" - rruss1's

Darren Abate, Associated PressOne cleveland.com reader states the Browns should stay away from shot-gun formation quarterbacks in the upcoming draft.

"I would not draft a quarterback who has not set his rear end under center during his college career. The NFL graveyard for quarterbacks is full of those type high draft choices. Besides playing under center, I would look at (1) does he have a quick release, (2) arm strength, (3) physical toughness and strength, (4) quick feet, and (5) mental acuity for the game. College statistics can be very deceiving. Remember the add-age "in college football all the receivers are open all of the time, while in the pros none of the receivers are every wide open" This is because college football coaches tend to put their speediest and most athletic players at a receiver position. Whatever remains competes for a defensive secondary position."

Buckeyes are 21-3 in part due to Matta's even style of coaching, with little self-promotion. Links to more Ohio State stories.

Associated Press Coach Thad Matta and Ohio State's Buckeyes have a 21-3 record and are the nation's third-ranked team.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sometimes, solid coaching is overshadowed, and thus somewhat under-appreciated, because of a team's wealth of playing talent.

Ohio State's Buckeyes, the nation's third-ranked team, overcame some adversity on Wednesday night to defeat Purdue's Boilermakers, 87-84.

Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch writes about the job done by Buckeyes coach Thad Matta during the Big Ten contest, and sums up his story thus:

That is another thing to like about Matta: His self-deprecating humor (to go along with his indulgence in windy non-speak) tends to belie a facile basketball brain. He does not chest thump when OSU wins, nor does he rip his players when things go awry.

If you like watching basketball, this team is a treat. It plays nasty man-to-man defense led by a ball hawk in Craft. Offensively, it is the most beautiful thing Matta has orchestrated in his time here. The ball moves, in, out and around the big fella, Sullinger.

Last night, Matta’s team showed a special brand of resilience. Coming off a stirring victory and coming in against a Purdue team that was amply motivated, on a night when their grit and their bench were tested as never before, the Buckeyes dug down and showed the country the stuff of which they are made.

Ohio State, 21-3 and in first place in the Big Ten with a 9-2 league record, is off until Saturday, when it hosts Michigan State, which is 18-5, 7-3 going into its home game tonight against Penn State. 

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' game story on the Buckeyes' win over Purdue. And, much more, including Buckeyes football.

About the Buckeyes

All-American forward Jared Sullinger said he was feeling OK after a hard fall to the court during the Purdue game. by Brandon Castel for the-Ozone.net.

Ohio State 87, Purdue 84 game story by John Kampf for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Guard William Buford bounces back in the win over Purdue, Ben Axelrod writes for the-Ozone.net.

Observations after the Buckeyes' win over Purdue, by Tony Gerdeman for the-Ozone.net.

Tickets for all 81 regular season home games, including April 5 Opening Day, will go on sale at Progressive Field on Monday, February 20 at 10 a.m.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson is the leading candidate to be the Indians Opening Day starting pitcher on April 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians announced on Wednesday that single-game tickets for all 81 regular season home games, including Opening Day, will go on sale at Progressive Field on Monday, February 20 at 10 a.m. 

The Tribe begins its 112th season on Opening Day against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field at 3:05 p.m. on April 5.

(The Indians' exhibition game and regular season schedule)

From the Cleveland Indians press release:

NEW IN 2012: DIGITAL DELIVERY METHOD- In effort to provide fans less hassle on game days in 2012, the Indians offer fans the opportunity to select a digital delivery method at online checkout. Online purchasers who select this "Paperless Fan Pass" delivery method can arrive at Progressive Field, go directly to the gate, present the credit card used to purchase their ticket and gain fast entry into the ballpark. Digital Delivery allows fans to avoid delivery charges, eliminates the need for any paper ticket, and enables easy transfer of tickets to family, friends or clients. Fans using this method will receive a half-price ticket to a select game and will automatically be entered to win a suite with complimentary food for a future game.

RETURN OF $10 BLEACHERS- Tickets in Time Warner Cable Bleachers will once again be ONLY $10 EVERY GAME in 2012.

PERFECT 10 FLEX PACK - Tribe fans can purchase the Indians "Perfect 10" Flex Pack, presented by Discount Drug Mart. Voucher packs give you the flexibility to choose any of the 81 games, including the Home Opener. "Perfect 10" Flex Packs begin at $99 for Bleachers/Upper Box up to Club Seats at $649. Use the packs to attend 10 games individually, with your spouse or a friend for 5 games or a group of 10 for one game - it's your choice! This special pack can be purchased at www.indians.com/perfect10, all Cleveland Indians Team Shops and all Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Mart stores.

KEYBANK GRAND SLAM FOUR PACK- The popular all-inclusive package targeted towards groups of four now available for ALL GAMES in 2012. For only $96, receive 4 tickets (Mezzanine or Upper Box, plus Lower Box on Super Value dates), 4 hot dogs or slices of pizza, 4 Pepsi products, 4 Indians Caps and 1 parking pass. Good for all 81 games excluding Opening Day.

INDIANS DIAMOND DEALS - The return of "Indians Diamond Deals" each Monday during the season provides tremendous ticket affordability, as well as discounted opportunities on concessions, special events, promotions and select all-inclusive packages.

VALUE-BASED PRICING RETURNS- Three pricing categories have returned for 2012 season. 2012 Breakdown: Super Value (13 Games- Best Seats); Value (46 Games); Prime (22 Games). Visit indians.com/valuepricing for game breakdown by category.  Pricing is highlighted by single game club seats, including all-inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages, being reduced to as low as $65 for ALL games in certain sections ($80 last season).

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
* Online at www.indians.com
* Cleveland Indians Team Shops (Progressive Field, SouthPark, Great Northern, Summit, The Strip)
                        * Charge-by-phone at 1-866-48-TRIBE
                        * Ticketmaster Ticket Center locations

There is an 8 ticket limit per game

2012 PROMOTIONS AND EVENT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

BOBBLE HEAD SERIES FEATURING CARTER/BAERGA/CABRERA/ALOMAR/PERRY
REPLICA JERSEY SERIES FEATURING C. PEREZ/MASTERSON/SANTANA/NAGY
14 KIDS-THEMED EVENTS, 14 RALLY ALLEY DAYS
14 FIREWORKS SHOW- FEATURING 2 ROCK N' BLAST SHOWS

The Cleveland Indians today announced the release of the 2012 promotions and events schedule, which begins with the popular magnet schedule (courtesy of Progressive Insurance) on Opening Day versus the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, April 5 at 3:05PM. The schedule introduces great new giveaways such a Bobble Head series featuring former Tribe players Joe Carter, Carlos Baerga, Sandy Alomar, Jr., 2012 Indians Hall of Fame inductee Gaylord Perry and current Indians All-Star SS Asdrubal Cabrera. Tribe fans also have the opportunity to get replica jerseys from current players such as RHP Chris Perez, RHP Justin Masterson, CA Carlos Santana and Indians Hall of Famer Charles Nagy.

Fans can visit www.indians.com/promotions to view the complete 2012 promotions and events calendar in anticipation of single game tickets to all 81 games, including the home opener, going on sale Monday, February 20 at 10AM.

The 2012 promotional calendar features 71 giveaway or promotional dates throughout the season focusing on weekends, families, wearables/giveaways, and fun!

Highlights to the Indians 2012 Promotions and Events Schedule Include:

* BOBBLE HEAD AND REPLICA JERSEY SERIES'
* ENJOY FIREWORKS EVERY WEEKEND FROM MAY 4 - SEPTEMBER 14
* EXPANDED DATES FOR INDIANS RALLY ALLEY, STUDENT ID AND DOLLAR DOG NIGHTS
* PUPPYPALOOZA RETURNS FOR TWO EVENT DATES

New to 2012 is that 10 of the 17 stakes will be held on Fridays, including the Best of Ohio series on Oct. 12.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerThe 2012 Ohio Derby will take place July 7 at Thistledown. In 2011, Caleb's Posse (in front, at left) passed Marco's Fling late to claim the Derby trophy.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thistledown will again have a 17-race stakes schedule in 2012, the North Randall thoroughbred track announced Wednesday.

The $100,000 Ohio Derby, the state's only graded stakes, will be July 7. The stakes schedule will offer $907,000 in purses, unchanged from last year. Also as in 2011, all stakes except the Ohio Derby are restricted to registered Ohio foals or accredited Ohio foals.

New to 2012 is that 10 of the 17 stakes will be held on Fridays, including the Best of Ohio series on Oct. 12.

"Moving these stakes to Friday will give the state program a simulcast boost by taking them off New York and Kentucky Breeders' Cup preview Saturdays," Thistledown racing secretary Bill Couch said in a statement.

Another race switched to Friday is the $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup for 3-year-old registered Ohio foals. The 11/8-mile race will run July 6, kicking off a three-stakes weekend that includes the Ohio Derby and the Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes which will both be held the following day.

The $50,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes has been shortened this year from six furlongs to 51/2.

The complete stakes schedule:

• May 4: $50,000 Dr. T. F. Classen Memorial;

• May 26: $50,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial;

• May 28: $50,000 Angenora;

• June 16: $50,000 J. Wm. Petro Memorial;

• July 6: $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup;

• July 7: $50,000 Cleveland Kindergarten; $100,000 Ohio Derby (G3).

• July 13: $50,000 George Lewis Memorial;

• Aug. 18: $50,000 Honey Jay;

• Aug. 31: $50,000 Miss Ohio;

• Sept. 1: $50,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial;

• Sept. 7: $50,000 Governor's Buckeye Cup;

• Oct. 12: $75,000 Best of Ohio Distaff; $75,000 Best of Ohio Endurance; $50,000 Best of Ohio Sprint; $75,000 John W. Galbreath; $75,000 Juvenile.

The 2012 Thistledown meet begins May 4 and runs through Nov. 17 with live racing Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from opening day. The track will add Thursdays to the schedule beginning Sept. 6.

Post times are still under discussion, according to the track.

The Cavaliers look to get back on the winning track against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at The Q. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.

The Cavaliers look to get back on the winning track against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at The Q. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider in the box below. Check out the in-game box score here. Read on for a game preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

View full sizeAP Photo/John RaouxChris Paul and the new look Los Angeles Clippers make their only visit to Cleveland tonight to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With D'Aundray Brown day-to-day with a groin injury, Kamczyc is expected to make his second straight start at small forward in Thursday's 7 p.m. game against Valparaiso.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain Dealer"I do what the team needs," Cleveland State forward Tim Kamczyc (33) says of playing either the small or power forward positions. "Just filling in, trying to make the team successful wherever I can."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The transition was to begin next season, with Cleveland State power forward Tim Kamczyc moving to small forward. But injuries have shifted that timetable to right now.

With D'Aundray Brown day-to-day with a groin injury, the product of Strongsville High is expected to make his second straight start at small forward in Thursday's 7 p.m. game against Valparaiso in the Wolstein Center.

Kamczyc at first says the move is not big deal, and is not completely new.

"I do what the team needs," he said. "Just filling in, trying to make the team successful wherever I can. Even throughout practice, coach tries to give me a little time for D'Aundray as a sub, so I'm used to it."

Kamczyc has one personal rule he focuses on when switching positions; "remember your role."

The move from one baseline position to another may appear to be a subtle one, but not for the defensive-minded Vikings. That the Vikings played so well defensively on the dominating Chicago swing through Loyola and Illinois-Chicago points to how smoothly Kamczyc made the transition. Waters called his defense "poetry," and that was even with losing Brown in the midst of the Loyola game, and Kamczyc making the switch.

"There is a different role in our defense that you have to play," the 6-6 junior said.

"The four-man is responsible for covering the inside if the five man has to go out and take a screen. There are certain things you have to do, defensively, rotation-wise that are different. In our defense the four probably helps the most, but learning different rotations is key.

"A four man comes from inside the paint to help. A three man may have to come from outside on the wing and drop down. I pride myself on knowing how the defense works from every position, so you just have to change your mindset. The ability of the people you are guarding is a little bit different; quickness over strength. It's a mental adjustment you have to make before you play that role."

"Playing his role" includes offense. Kamczyc has quietly been a very efficient points producer. He is averaging 9.0 points a game, shooting 58.7 percent from the field and 45.1 percent on 3-pointers. In Horizon League play he has been even better, averaging 10.9 points on 63.8 percent shooting and knocking down half of his 3-pointers.

Still, Kamczyc's primary role is as a defender. The move from one position to another is a balancing act between thinking and preparing for the challenge ahead and letting his basketball instincts just take over.

"It really is a little of both," Kamczyc said. "Especially when there is penetration coming from a certain area, there is a way the defense has to react that is far different being a four man and a three man. That's when you hope the repetition in practice becomes instinct.

"It's funny. During the [Illinois-Chicago] game I started out as a three man, and I was sitting there, then Anton gets two fouls. We bring in Marlin [Mason] and I have to go back to the four in the middle of the game. I had to check myself, 'you're the four-man now. Remember your role.'"

Irving was kneed in the head during the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game against the Miami Heat and complained of a headache after the game.

View full sizeAP fileThe prognosis for when Kyrie Irving might return from his concussion was not available Wednesday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving looked forward to his first showdown with Chris Paul on Wednesday. Instead, the rookie spent the night in the Cavaliers' training room uncertain when he will play again.

The point guard missed Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a concussion. There is no timetable for his return. Irving was kneed in the head during the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game against the Miami Heat and complained of a headache after the game, according a team release. It's the first NBA game Irving has missed.

The club gave Irving the new NBA concussion test prior to Wednesday's game, after which team physician A.J. Cianflocco made the diagnosis. Irving, who was on the court shooting prior to the game, did not join the team on the bench.

Ramon Sessions started at point guard in Irving's absence.

The 19-year-old leads all rookies in scoring, averaging 18 points, and is second in assists with 5.1 per game.

The team did not have a morning shoot-around and coach Byron Scott did not mention Irving's possible absence when he met with the media 75 minutes prior to Wednesday's game.

Team officials had planned to make Irving available before the game to discuss his inclusion in the Young Stars Challenge as part of NBA All-Star weekend. It's unclear how much time Irving will miss, but you can be certain the Cavaliers will not rush back their budding star.

The serious nature of concussions and their potential long-term consequences have gained notoriety in recent years. The Browns came under fire this season for returning quarterback Colt McCoy to a Dec. 8 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after he suffered a head shot from linebacker James Harrison. McCoy missed the remainder of a season with a concussion.

The biggest star in hockey, Sidney Crosby, has played just eight games for the Pittsburgh Penguins since January 2011 because of concussion symptoms.

Irving had been making a late push to be named an All-Star Game reserve. The league will reveal its substitutes on Thursday night.

The injury is believed to have occurred in the final six minutes of Tuesday's 107-91 loss to the Heat. Irving was in good spirits following the game, joking with teammates.

All-Star weekend: Irving is officially part of NBA All-Star Weekend. He and fellow Cavaliers rookie Tristan Thompson were named Wednesday to the Young Stars Challenge, featuring some of the league's top first- and second-year players. The exhibition is set for Feb. 24 in Orlando and will be aired on TNT at 9 p.m.

The inclusion of Irving in the rookie-sophomore game was assumed. Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick, was not a sure thing, but a decent bet. He ranks fifth in rebounding (4.7) and field-goal percentage (.458) and second in blocked shots (1.06) among rookies. He recently has been sidelined with an ankle injury.

"It's definitely an honor," Thompson said. "I wouldn't be able to do it without my teammates and having [Anderson Varejao] and Antawn [Jamison] helping me get adjusted to the league."

Among the notable rookie omissions were New York's Iman Shumpert and Miami's Norris Cole (Cleveland State), who ranks eighth in rookie scoring. In years past, the rookies played against the sophomores, but this season the format has changed. The 18 players will be placed in a pool and drafted by TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal. The players, however, were selected from the ballots of NBA assistant coaches.

CP3 on Kyrie: If winning NBA Rookie of the Year honors ranks among his goals, Irving is in the right situation. So says Paul, a former rookie of the year.

"There couldn't be a better situation for him than starting off his NBA career playing for Coach Scott," Paul said. "He is really going to let him go and give him an opportunity to learn on the go.

"Coach Scott led me to Rookie of the Year and it looks like he's about to do it again."

The Clippers' point guard played his first four-plus seasons under Scott in New Orleans before the coach was fired early in the 2009-10 campaign. He averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 assists in the 2005-06 season en route to earning top rookie honors.

"[Irving] is lucky ... to play for coach Scott," Paul said. "That's my guy there. If anyone can grow and become a really good player you will do it under BScott."

Irving is a great admirer of the five-time All-Star and played in his charity basketball game during the lockout. Scott often likens the Cavaliers rookie -- who's averaging 18 points and 5.1 assists -- to a young Paul. The Clippers guard said he sees the similarities.

"No doubt, no doubt," Paul said. "He's really good with the ball and his decision-making and stuff like that. He can really play."

Mo is rolling: Mo Williams returned to The Q for the first time since the Cavaliers traded him to the Clippers last season in a deal that included the first-round draft pick which turned into Irving.

The guard played two-plus seasons with the Cavaliers and represented the franchise in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. Williams has good memories of his first two years in Cleveland when the Cavaliers were contenders, but acknowledged last season was tough because "of all the losing."

He's enjoying a strong season off the bench for the Clippers, averaging 14.5 points and 3.8 assists. His prominence figures to increase with the season-ending injury suffered by Chauncey Billups.

"I just want to continue to do what I've been doing so far this season," he said. "Whatever is asked of me, that's what I'll be ready to do."

Dribbles: Cavaliers Anthony Parker (back) and Thompson (back) remained outof the lineup. ... Kenyon Martin played his first game in the NBA since 2010 as he joined the Clippers. He spent most of this season playing in China. ... Houston was awarded the 2013 NBA All-Star Game.

Ramon Sessions shines as a starter, Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao excel and Daniel Gibson scores 17 points after missing five games with a neck infection.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers won despite having their teen phenom, Kyrie Irving, sit in the trainer's room all night after being diagnosed with a concussion.

They beat Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers, 99-92, despite seeing their relentless rebounder, Anderson Varejao, land twice on his tailbone, the first time needing the assistance of the training staff to walk to the locker room.

They regained their balance after blowing a 15-point, third-quarter lead thanks to 35-year-old power forward Antawn Jamison, playing on a gimpy ankle, and backup point guard Ramon Sessions, who supplied a remarkable performance in his first start of the season.

These Cavaliers, considered by many a draft lottery lock before season's start, are proving to be a tough out for many opponents. Even their public address announcer, Olivier Sedra, removed from The Q on a stretcher Saturday with an apparent back injury, was behind the mic again on Wednesday calling Daniel Gibson's critical 3-point basket with 1:20 remaining.

"You can respond one of two ways," coach Byron Scott said. "You can feel sorry for yourself and say one of our best players is out and go in the tank or you can respond like we did."

The Cavaliers (10-14) toppled one of the Western Conference elite on a night they learned Irving would miss the game about 40 minutes before tipoff. They stood up to the physical Clippers and Blake Griffin, showing a brand of resilience that endeared them to 17,100 fans in attendance.

Jamison scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds while playing 38 minutes a night after tweaking an ankle and hurting an Achilles tendon in a loss at Miami.

Sessions provided season highs in points (24) and assists (13) in replacing Irving. On a night before the All-Star reserves are announced, Varejao demonstrated his tenacity by recovering from two hard falls to post 15 points and 11 rebounds.

It was some way for the Cavaliers to open a season-long, nine-game homestand and for Scott to celebrate his 26th wedding anniversary.

"The toughness of this team; Coach Scott has been preaching this all training camp, and it showed tonight," Sessions said. "We are deeper than people think and it showed."

Irving sustained the concussion on Tuesday night in the loss in Miami. While he complained of headaches after the game, he participated in the club's walk-through on Wednesday around 5 p.m., with the intention of playing.

He was administered a new NBA concussion test by the medical staff before walking out to the court and taking a few shots. It was there Irving must have realized how badly he felt.

"He went out and warmed up and said his head felt like it was on fire," Scott said.

A team physician diagnosed him minutes later with a concussion. There is no timetable for his return. Irving, a leading candidate for rookie of the year, did not meet with reporters after the game.

"He said he's doing fine, he feels good," Scott said. "Our policy is to never put a player at risk or put him out there when anything is going on with him."

The players learned of their teammates’ absence about 40 minutes before the game. Sessions said he was calm when finding out about his first start this season. "It's not my first rodeo, and I was ready to go when they called my name," he said.

Turns out, they were all ready. The short-handed Cavaliers played one of their best games of the season, shooting 50.7 percent and building a 15-point lead early in the third quarter.

But the Clippers (18-8) rallied behind Griffin (25 points), Caron Butler (21 points) and Paul (16 points, 12 rebounds). It was a physical game throughout the second half as bodies crashed to the hardwood and the Cavs’ Samardo Samuels exchanged shoves with Kenyon Martin, making his season debut with the Clippers.

Varejao landed heavily on his tailbone with 9:32 left in the third quarter while fighting for an offensive rebound and left the court with a back bruise. He returned to start the fourth quarter and endured another hard fall.

“Our guys planted their feet, stood firm and didn’t back down,” Scott said. “We met fire with fire.”

The Clippers tied it at 87 with 2:10 remaining on two Paul free throws. But Gibson, who missed the last five games with a neck infection, delivered the biggest shot of the night with a 3-pointer from the left wing.

"I just stepped into it with confidence," he said. "That's a shot I practice day in and day out."

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Cleveland Browns president praises 'a great hire,' and also says Colt McCoy is 'feeling fine.'

Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer"Pat (Shurmur) and Brad (Childress) worked together in Philadelphia for a long time, so they know each other, they trust one another," said Browns President Mike Holmgren of his head coach and new offensive coordinator.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Holmgren is confident that former Vikings head coach Brad Childress is the right man for the Browns' offensive coordinator position.

"Brad's an outstanding coach," the Browns' president said on the team's radio show Wednesday night on ESPN850.

"I've known him a long time. When I first met him, I had just arrived in Green Bay and Brad was on the staff at the University of Wisconsin with Barry Alvarez and he had been friends with [Eagles coach] Andy Reid and so we knew some people and became pretty close. So that's about 20 years ago. [We had a] connection over the years because he worked for Andy in Philadelphia and Andy and I are very close.

"I thought he did a really great job in Minnesota in an unusual set of circumstances at the end. He came close to going to the Super Bowl. He's an excellent football coach, a very bright guy, knows how to coach quarterbacks. He's a tough guy, he demands a lot and I think it was a great hire for Pat [Shurmur]."

Holmgren likened having Childress to when he had a former head coach, Fritz Shurmur -- Pat's uncle -- as his defensive coordinator in Green Bay.

"When I had a question ... I knew I could get an honest, good answer and it really helped me," said Holmgren. "And Pat and Brad worked together in Philadelphia for a long time, so they know each other, they trust one another."

He acknowledged that it can be tough for a former head coach to take a lesser role.

"The one thing I ask guys is, 'you've been a head coach. Are you okay with coming back and doing something else for another head coach?'" Holmgren said. "When Brad was [Eagles] offensive coordinator, Pat was a position coach, so they've kind of flopped positions. He's excited about that. It's going to be a good thing for Pat."

Holmgren addressed a number of other topics:

• New secondary coach Tim Hauck: "Timmy was a player for me when I was in Green Bay and [defensive coordinator] Dick Jauron was his position coach. I've probably never seen a player get more out of his ability on the field than Tim. He was the ultimate overachiever. He was a good football player and a tough guy. He was able to make the football team because he worked hard at it and he was smart. He's been there and he knows how to teach and he's a good communicator."

• On 2012: "My hope is that we have a take a pretty big step this next year."

• On quarterback Colt McCoy's recovery from a concussion: "He passed all of his tests, he's feeling fine and he has no residual effects from the play."

• On Patriots coach Bill Belichick allowing New York to score a TD, like Holmgren did with Denver in 1998, Green Bay's 34-21 loss in Super Bowl XXXII: "It goes against every fiber of your being as a coach and a defensive player to do that, but really that's probably your only chance to win the football game. But it's a gutsy call and he did it and it gave them a chance to come back and maybe win the game at the end."

Zeke Marshall's two free throws with 37 seconds left in the extra session gave the Zips the victory over the Broncos.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Quincy Diggs scored six of his 10 points in overtime, but it was Zeke Marshall's two free throws with 37 seconds left in the extra session that gave Akron a 69-66 victory over Western Michigan on Wednesday night.

Marshall, who scored 14 points, also made a jumper with 23 seconds left in regulation, giving the Zips (17-7, 9-1 Mid-American) a 59-58 lead and capping a 6-0 run. With six seconds left, Flenard Whitfield made one of two foul shots for the Broncos (10-14, 4-6) to force overtime.

After Marshall's free throws in overtime, the Broncos' Mike Douglas, who had 15 points, missed a game-tying jumper with 2 seconds left. Diggs grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit a free throw to seal the win.

Alex Abreu led Akron with 15 points. With the win, the Zips held onto sole possession of first place in the MAC's East Division.

Justin Greene scored 17 points and Carlton Guyton 10 to lead Kent State.

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Justin Greene scored 17 points and Carlton Guyton 10 to lead Kent State to a 62-58 victory against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night.

Randal Holt's 3-pointer put the Golden Flashes (17-6, 7-3 Mid-American) up, 59-58, with 23 seconds remaining, and Patrick Jackson preserved the lead with a block of Darrell Lampley's short shot attempt with six seconds left. Chris Evans made three free throws in the final four seconds for Kent State, which won its fifth straight.

Lampley had 18 points and seven assists for the Eagles (10-14, 5-5), and Antonio Green added 12 points.

Evans had 10 points.

Jamell Harris scored 10 points for Eastern Michigan, which remained in first place in the MAC's Western Division despite its .500 record. Ball State and Western Michigan both dropped to 4-6 after losing on Wednesday.

The great point-guard matchup of Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving had everything but Irving. But for one night, the Cavs proved that the sum of this team's parts is greater than its young star.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A reporter suggested to Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Marc Iavaroni an hour before tipoff that, as good as Kyrie Irving is, he would in all likelihood not be the best point guard on the floor Wednesday at The Q. The unspoken reference was to the Clippers' Chris Paul, whom Iavaroni sees on nearly a nightly basis.

"We hope not," said Iavaroni, pausing over his pregame steak and potatoes. "Irving's fantastic."

There is a mystique about point guards in the NBA these days. They are, the Magic Johnson precedent aside, usually not 6-feet-8, but closer to average tall-ish guy size. They pass the ball, embodying a spirit of community and self-sacrifice in a league whose players have been tainted by avarice, egotism and the pathologies of the young and witless. They are leaders in an often rudderless game.

Irving was enjoying a better rookie season than even the presumed Cavs' mega-rookie of all time, LeBron James until he was a late scratch Wednesday after the concussion-like symptoms he was suffering worsened during warmups.

The spectacular Irving banged his head against Dwyane Wade's knee in Tuesday's loss at Miami. Injuries, foul trouble and other considerations can change the script of a season, especially with the games coming as fast as they do in this year's compressed schedule. Given the awareness of head injuries today, Irving will not be rushed back.

Cavs coach Byron Scott, while chiding reporters that the game was really about the Clippers and Cavs, not the point guards' game within the game, brings an impressive set of credentials to any discussion of playmakers. He coached the Nets with point guard Jason Kidd to the NBA Finals in New Jersey. He coached Paul to a Rookie of the Year award in New Orleans.

"It looks like he's about to do it again," said Paul, who is, like Iavaroni, an Irving admirer.

Irving is in a hot race with Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio for the top rookie award. Rubio also gets nearly automatic assist validation from All-Star forward Kevin Love. Irving has no one to cash his chips so regularly.

"With point guards, it can come down to the supporting cast," said Scott. "The biggest thing in the NBA now, though, is to have a great point guard. They are leaders. Look where Kidd led us."

Kidd once did an American Express commercial that revealed he had eyes in the back of his head.

"CP sees the whole floor, in front and behind him," Scott said.

That's an exaggeration. Barely.

Essayist John McPhee wrote a famous article years ago about Princeton forward Bill Bradley, who was a future Basketball Hall of Famer and always a willing passer. It was called "A Sense of Where You Are." In it, Bradley's peripheral vision was measured. The discovery was that Bradley had what amounted to Hubble telescope eyes, able to see things no one else did.

Rarely, however, are such intangibles as court vision quantified. The great point guards -- Magic (with whom Scott played) Kidd, Paul, Isiah Thomas and James (a playmaker if not precisely a point guard) -- could anticipate teammates' cuts, read their adjustments and intuitively understand spacing and passing angles.

As for the Paul of today, he is stockier than he was as a Wake Forest sophomore, when he carried his team in the late stages of a double-overtime 111-106 loss to West Virginia at Cleveland State in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. "He would throw one fake at me, and I'd still be reacting to it when he would throw another one," said Mountaineers' center Kevin Pittsnogle.

"CP is not as quick as people think he is. Or maybe I should say, not as fast," said Scott.

Still, it would have been interesting to see how many new Pittsnogles Paul could have confused in Cleveland and how many spinning, groping opponents Irving could have baffled when the two had the incentive of going head-to-head.

Against an aroused Cavs' defense, though, Paul needed 16 shots from the field to score his 16 points as the home team won, 99-92. Cavaliers backup Ramon Sessions played as if he were the featured point guard with 24 points and 13 assists. At the end, Daniel Gibson rattled in a critical 3-pointer. Former Cav Mo Williams, rounding into playoff form early, missed a crucial open layup for the Clippers in the last minute.

Scott was right. It was about the Cavs and the Clippers all along. The sense of where they are is, frankly, in trouble as long as Irving is out. But there was also a sense that, for one night anyway, the sum of this team's parts was greater than its young star.

It was a nice change.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Whatever hope there is for the Browns to someday soo win a Super Bowl can't be found in the story of the New York Giants, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

View full sizeBill Kostroun, Associated PressThe confetti and cheers that Eli Manning (left), Zac DeOssie and the rest of the New York Giants experience on Tuesday was a deserved benefit of their Super Bowl championship. But Bud Shaw isn't a buyer when it comes to 9-7 teams having consistent playoff success.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New York, New York, a team so unimpressive in 2011 they lost seven times...

The New York Giants aren't the greatest Super Bowl champ we've seen. Not close. They are, however, the most appropriate.

Thanks to labor strife, the 2011 season was a rush job. Who better to prevail than the first 9-7 Super Bowl winner in history, a team that spent most of the season looking like strangers stuck in an elevator together, a team that won it all in part because it overcame even more fumbling against the surprisingly skittish Patriots.

What helped the Giants in their own division is that the Philadelphia Eagles' "Dream Team" appeared to leave meetings at the team hotel and take 53 separate elevators to their rooms. I haven't seen that kind of chemistry since Britney married Jason Alexander.

Other firsts for a Super Bowl champ included being the first team to get outscored during the regular season, the first to suffer a four-game losing streak and the first to allow 400 points or more.

While the impulse might be for a Browns fan to think that just getting into the playoffs some year soon could bring the same kind of magic carpet ride, the 2011 season and the team that authored the turnaround are hardly a dependable barometer. In fact, instead of qualifying as an overachiever this season -- the theme of most underdog stories -- the Giants were blatant underachievers.

Can any team do what they did? Sure thing. Just so long as it has an elite quarterback, a Super Bowl-winning coach, a dominant four-man pass rush and the most underrated receiving corps in the league.

Oh, and recent Super Bowl experience.

The quarterback should also be able to direct seven game-winning drives as Eli Manning did. And it doesn't hurt if the Super Bowl opponent didn't beat a team with a .500 record until the AFC Championship game, as New England did in a narrow and fortunate defeat of Baltimore.

This was not a good NFL season by any stretch. An ESPN graphic noted last week that 34 games had a margin of 27 points or more. Players who gripe about mini-camps and offseason workouts should be made to watch the 2011 season in its entirety. The Browns weren't the only ones to suffer from a truncated off-season.

Looking toward next year, the Browns have more organizational cohesiveness than anytime since their rebirth. While that's not the highest praise, it's the reason for optimism in the absence of a franchise quarterback, big-play wide receivers and proven head coach.

It's not that there isn't hope. It's just not found in what the Giants did.

Anything except dancing to "Stayin' Alive" is permissible ...

Some Patriots fans are upset that tight end Rob Gronkowski was dancing like a shirtless maniac at the Patriots' post-Super Bowl team party. Others are angry with Tom Brady's wife for complaining publicly that his receivers let him down by dropping passes.

Just in case similar fan backlash toward reaching a Super Bowl but coming up short is what's holding the Browns back from embracing their destiny, let's make this perfectly clear in a memorandum of agreement between Browns fans and their team:

"Let it be stated that We The People don't care if the Browns lose a Super Bowl. In fact, players have expressed written consent to do nude chicken dances at the team party. As for the quarterback's wife, she can not only trash every last one of her husband's teammates, she can even scout the next combine for receiver help if she wants."

Just go.

Deal?

SPINOFFS

A Yahoo! Sports headline asks, "Should the Monday after the Super Bowl be a holiday?"

An obvious follow-up question: "Is it any wonder we'll never match the Chinese in work ethic? ..."

Denver running back Knowshon Moreno was charged with a DUI and for not carrying insurance. According to KDVR-31 TV in Denver, the vanity plate on the Bentley Moreno was driving read, "SAUCED."

What would Knowshon Moreno be doing if he didn't play football, you ask? Look, there's no guarantee he'd be the Tennessee man I read about recently who was arrested on drunk driving and child endangerment charges when his 10-year old son wrecked his car. Cops found the sloshed father in the passenger seat wearing a T-shirt that read, "Buy this dad a beer..."

And there's no guarantee he wouldn't be...

After Blake Griffin's recent monster dunk on Oklahoma City big man Kendrick Perkins, LeBron James called it the "Dunk of the Year!" in a tweet, adding, "Wow! I guess I'm No. 2 now. Move over #6."

Because, you know, it was all about him...

Said a riled up Perkins about James' tweet, "You don't see Kobe [Bryant] tweeting. ... If you're an elite player, plays like that don't excite you. At the end of the day, the guys who are playing for the right reasons who are trying to win championships are not worrying about one play.

"They also are not tweeting about themselves talking about going down to No. 2. I just feel [James] is always looking for attention and he wants the world to like him..."

Best take ever on James from a rival player. I don't know how Kendrick Perkins would look in a Cavs' uniform, but he'd sound good in one.

Reason No. 2 to appreciate Perkins: He said he wouldn't think twice about trying to block Griffin again in the same situation: "A lot of people are afraid of humiliation or don't know how to handle embarrassment ... I don't care," he said.

A high tolerance for humiliation and embarrassment is something I've always admired in Cleveland sports fans.

View full sizeAP fileHe may not have triumphed Down Under, but at least he doesn't need reality TV girlfriends.

HE SAID IT

"Two nights ago over 111 million people saw the New York Giants cancel the Brady Bunch." -- Giants' co-owner Steve Tisch at the victory parade, no doubt on his way to a killer set at Hilarities.

HE SAID IT, TOO

"I cannot believe how bad the NBA is right now." -- Charles Barkley, who might want to think about coming up with a different message when he pretends to be excited about picking players for one of the "Rising Stars" rosters for the NBA All-Star weekend.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Rafael Nadal and Ben Flajnik (The Bachelor) -- Jackie Rangel

YOU SAID IT

View full sizeAP file"Love" isn't just a tennis term for failure for this guy.

(The Expanded Mid-week Edition)

"Bud:

"How did Pat Shurmur talk Bill Belichick into letting him coach the first quarter of the Super Bowl for the Patriots?" -- Michael Sarro

Clearly, he must've agreed to return the favor next February.

"Hey Bud:

"Did your wife ever publicly complain that you can't be expected to write your column and read it too?" -- Bob H., Medina

Only on Thursdays when I'm heckled by family and Sundays when I'm heckled by friends.

"Bud:

"I guess a NFL team practice needs to include how not to score." -- Richard Ellers

I think that seed was planted during Camp Colt.

"Bud:

"Did you pull a muscle reaching for your squares sheet after the Super Bowl began with a safety?" -- Joe S

I've made a long and dedicated commitment to having no muscles to pull.

"Bud:

"What do you think Belichick's reaction will be when Brady comes to training camp and suggests the Patriots run the Wildcat so he can throw and catch?" -- Edward Aube, Broadview Heights

Having seen Brady outside the pocket over the years, I think if he insists Belichick will call 9-1-1.

"Bud:

"If 'Shaw's Spin' ever needs a Vice President of Strategic Engagement, I'm your man. I bet I'd be really good at whatever that is." -- Ignatowski

Thank you for not assuming the only strategy involved in the writing of Spin is whiskey before beer.

"Hey Bud:

"NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that given the poor play on the field and the active booing in the stands they may consider doing away with the Pro Bowl. As a Browns fan, should we be worried they're next?" -- Nate Johnson, Brunswick

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

On Twitter: @budshaw

B-W sophomore forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) led all scorers with 24 points, and also had six rebounds in 25 minutes.

Matt Florjancic

Special to The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- Baldwin-Wallace defeated cross-county rival John Carroll on Wednesday night, a men's basketball victory that has been a long time coming.

Before the Ohio Athletic Conference matchup at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium, the Blue Streaks had run off seven straight wins. The Yellow Jackets (14-8, 9-6) reversed their fortunes with a 78-62 victory.

It was Baldwin-Wallace's first victory over John Carroll (15-6, 10-5) under the direction of fourth-year coach Duane Sheldon.

"A lot of it came down to the team that made more plays in the second half and today, that was us," Sheldon said. "Anytime you can beat a team as talented as they are and with as many seniors as they have, I think you're doing something."

B-W sophomore forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) led all scorers with 24 points, and also had six rebounds in 25 minutes. Payne came into the game averaging 14 points, but raised his level of play after B-W's most experienced player, starting point guard and only senior Promis Cabbil (Elyria), was lost for the year with an injury last Saturday.

"It hurts out there on the court, but we really want to finish out the season for him," Payne said. "I know he wants to be out there as bad as anyone, and we really want to win these for him."

Said freshman guard Jaron Crowe: "After Promis went down, we just played this one for P, gave it everything we had every possession. There's no better feeling right now."

Crowe replaced Cabbil in the starting lineup and made two 3-pointers and had eight assists.

"I think the youth's starting to grow up on our team," Sheldon said. "We've got a lot of young guys out there, and they showed a little bit of competitive maturity throughout the game and kept their heads. The fact that we lost Promis, that was really hard for our guys. There's no question that it had something to do with the emotional lift that our guys brought to the game. He's a special person, still a big part of this team."

When John Carroll hosted B-W on Jan. 4, the Yellow Jackets connected on eight of 16 first-half 3-pointers. Wednesday night, the Yellow Jackets focused more on their transition and low-post game in the first half.

Baldwin-Wallace went 11-of-26 in the first half, and just 4-of-11 from long distance.

Payne converted a transition layup with 15:21 left in the first half. He had another layup, this time after he pinned the defender on his hip and had a clear lane to the hoop, just under two minutes later.

"Coach always says we've got to go out there and throw the first punch, and lately, we always come out in the first half firing and have second-half let-ups, but that didn't happen," Payne said. "The last couple of years, we've been up at halftime and we just learned to value each possession. You're going to get a lot of possessions against this team. They run really fast, so value each one and don't let one turnover turn into two."

The Yellow Jackets were up by 10 with 4:56 remaining in the half, but the Blue Streaks closed out on a 10-5 run, keyed by two layups from Corey Shontz and a 3-pointer from Joey Meyer.

The Blue Streaks struggled to carry over that success. They shot just 33.8 percent (22-of-65) from the floor and 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from three-point range for the game.

"At the beginning, we had some good, open looks and just got progressively worse at shooting the ball," said John Carroll coach Mike Moran. "To win these games, you've got to bring everything. Offensively, we didn't do a good job of executing and hitting open shots."

Matt Florjancic is a freelance writer in Broadview Heights.

Lake Erie goalie Gerald Coleman had 40 saves on 43 shots.

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Lake Erie built a 4-1 lead against the Rockford IceHogs at BMO Harris Bank Center on Wednesday night, then held on for a 4-3 victory.

After a scoreless first period, Mark Olver opened the scoring for Lake Erie at 1:31 in the second, then Justin Mercier made it 2-0 at 12:50.

Rockford scored at 15:52 to trim the Monsters' lead before the break on a goal by Ben Smith.

Goals by Evan Brophey and Brad Malone in the third gave Lake Erie a comfortable 4-1 lead, but the IceHogs stormed back with goals by Dylan Olsen and Jimmy Hayes to make it a one-goal contest.

Lake Erie goalie Gerald Coleman had 40 saves on 43 shots.

The duo combined for 41 points and played solid defense on All-Star Chris Paul

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

Associated PressRick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Dallas Stars tonight at 7 in a game that will be televised by Fox Sports Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

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

GOLF

12:30 p.m. Women’s Australian Open (tape), Golf Channel

3 p.m. Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Golf Channel

4:30 a.m. (Friday) Dubai Desert Classic, Golf Channel

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Valparaiso at CLEVELAND STATE, WHKW/1220-AM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cleveland State coverage) 

7 p.m. Lehigh at American, CBS Sports Network

7 p.m. Mississippi at Mississippi State, ESPN2 (preview)

7 p.m. N.C. State at Georgia Tech, ESPNU

7 p.m. Wisconsin at Minnesota, ESPN (preview)

8 p.m. Illinois at Indiana, Big Ten Network (preview)

9 p.m. Colorado at Arizona, ESPN

9 p.m. Iowa at Northwestern, ESPNU

9 p.m. Virginia Tech at Miami (Fla.), ESPN2

11 p.m. Saint Mary’s (Calif.) at Gonzaga, ESPN2 (preview)

11 p.m. Santa Clara at San Francisco, ESPNU

11 p.m. Washington at Oregon, Fox Sports Ohio

NBA

8 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Boston, TNT; WFUN/970-AM (preview)

10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Sacramento, TNT (preview)

NHL

7 p.m. Dallas at COLUMBUS, Fox Sports Ohio (preview)

7 p.m. Toronto at Philadelphia, NHL Network (preview)

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

6 p.m. Northwestern at Michigan State, Big Ten Network

Get your questions ready and join Cleveland Cavaliers' beat writer Tom Reed today at 10:30 A.M. as he talks Cavs basketball.

Tom Reed takes your questions live every Thursday at 10:30 A.M.

Get your questions ready and join Cleveland Cavaliers' beat writer Tom Reed today at 10:30 A.M. as he talks Cavs basketball.

Tom will recap last night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, update us on Kyrie Irving's health, and look ahead to this week's games.

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Tom's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.

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.

Postseason or lottery?

PD FileKyrie Irving has raised the Cavaliers' game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were the worst team in the NBA last season, but that is certainly no longer the case.

The Cavaliers are four games under .500, and they already have some impressive wins this season, including Wednesday night's victory (without Kyrie Irving) over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Right now, the Cavaliers are a 1/2 game out of the final playoff spot. The Cavs are in prime position to make a nice run with eight of their next nine games at home.

But is the playoffs the best thing for the Cavaliers? Or moving forward, is it best for the Cavaliers to get into the lottery one more time?

Join Bud Shaw and Dennis Manoloff with special guest Mary Kay Cabot, live at noon as they talk about Pat Shurmur calling the plays this coming season, keeping Peyton Hillis and players the Browns should target in free agency.

Watch today live at noon.

Today live at noon on "PD Sports Insider: Browns Edition," join Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff along with special guest Mary Kay Cabot to talk Browns, Super Bowl XLVI and answer your chat room questions.

Mike Holmgren stated yesterday in an interview that Pat Shurmur will continue to call the plays next season. Is it the right choice even though the Browns hired Brad Childress? Who are some players the Browns should target in free agency?

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.