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Egan's Outdoor Calendar: Plenty of trout dinners to catch

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Egan's Outdoor Calendar features lots of rainbow trout stockings around the area, and the start of the spring turkey hunting seasons for both youth and adult hunters.

Hunting and trapping seasons listed at end of Outdoor Calendar

April 20: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Forest Hill Pond, East Cleveland; Shadow Lake, South Chagrin Reservation, Solon; Silver Creek Lake, Silver Creek Metro Park, Norton.

April 21: The 34th annual banquet of The Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 6 p.m., 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland. Tickets $80, $150 couple. Dinner at 7:30 p.m., live auction at 8:30 p.m. Call Karen Menn, 216-231-4600, Ext. 3278. For list of auction and raffle items, visit Trout Club page at cmnhtc.org.

April 21: 3rd annual Northcoast Limbhangers Patterning Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. McKenzie 3-D turkey targets, various shotgun shell loads available for $1.50 to $3 per round. Choke tubes for various makes of shotguns also available to try and buy. Call 330-220-7185 or email: northcoastlimbhangers@aol.com.

April 21: Grand River Canoe & Kayak Race, 8 a.m., Harpersfield Dam, Harpersfield, Ashtabula County. A 8½-mile canoe and kayak race from the Harpersfield Dam to Hidden Valley Park (in Madison) on the wild and scenic Grand River. Annual tradition features a “maddest hat” contest. Visit lakemetroparks.com, call 440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226. Pre-registration required, fee applies.High water date is April 28.

April 21: Fairport Harbor Yacht Club Marine Flea Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Fairport Harbor Yacht Club, 1177 High St., Fairport Harbor. Boating and supplies, antique and modern fishing gear. Free. Visit fhyc.com, call 440-339-4518.

April 21: Northern Open Anglers Association bass tournament, Mosquito Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

April 21-22, 2012: Youth spring wild turkey hunting season for kids 17 and under. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit www.wildohio.com.

April 22: Spring Fling Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

April 23: Opening day of the spring wild turkey hunting season through May 20. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit www.wildohio.com.

April 27: Hunters Night Out with the Tinkers Creek Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, Catered Elegance, 1160 Broadway Ave., Bedford. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Raffles, exhibits and games. Tickets $50, $25 spouse, kids $25. Call Matt McCann (330-467-1729) or Dennis Malloy (1-866-WTU-DEER) or visit whitetailsunlimited.com.

April 28: Waldo Pepper's Lakevue Tournament, Lake Erie Walleye Trail, Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com.

April 28: FLW Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Indian Lake. Visit flwoutdoors.com.

May 4: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation waters, Cuyahoga Heights.

May 4-6: Lake and Trails Organizaiton Youth Fishing Camp, FFA Camp Muskingum, Leesville Lake, Carroll County. For kids 9 years old, an up with adult supervisor. Reservations mandatory. Visit lakeandtrails.org.

May 4-6: Progressive Insurance Catawba Island Boat Show, Catawba Island Club, Catawba Island. Visit catawbaislandboatshow.com or call Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, 440-899-5009. Show hours: Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

May 4-6: Junior Anglers of Ohio youth outdoor education program, 4-H Camp Ohio, St. Louisville, Ohio. For information visit ohwf.org.

May 5-6: $10,000 Mosquito Madness VII bass tournament, Mosquito Reservoir, Mecca. Tournament full. Weigh-ins at 3 p.m. each day, Mosquito Reservoir State Park. Visit dobass.com.

May 6: Lone Eagle Bowmen 3-D Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

May 6-7: Medina Open Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association and Hill 'n Dale Club. Registered shooters only, $20,000 in cash and prizes. Shooters compete at both South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp., and Hill 'n Dale Club, 3605 Poe Rd., Medina. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

May 10-12: National Guard FLW Walleye Tour, Lake Erie at Port Clinton, Ohio. Visit flwoutdoors.com/walleyefishing/walleyetour/.

May 12: KSU La "DO Bass" Series, LaDue Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

May 12: Women in the Outdoors Workshop, National Wild Turkey Federation at the Crooked Creek Conservation Club, Ohio 534, Hartsgrove, Ohio. Contact Leesa Laffere-Thomas (440-968-0150, leesa@gotoadventure.com.

May 18-20: Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit tournament, Lake Erie at Huron, Ohio. For information visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or call 1-877-893-7947.

May 19: Kids Fishing at the Firestone Metro Park, Little Turtle Pond, 2400 Harrington Rd., Akron. Fishing from 10 a.m.-noon. Kids 15 and under learn the basics of fishing. A few rods and reels will be available. Bait is provided. Adults are not permitted to fish. For information, call 330-865-8065 or visit summitmetroparks.org.

May 19: Electric Elite Invitational bass tournaments, Nimisilla Lake. Visit dobass.com.

May 20: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

May 25: 5th annual Western Reserve Friend of the NRA reverse raffle to benefit the local shooting sports, 6 p.m., LaMalfa Party Center, 5783 Heisley Rd., Mentor. Tickets $120. Call 1-888-752-9119 or westernreserveFNRA@gmail.com.

May 26-27: Medina County Iron Man 150 Registered Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973. Event benefits the Medina County Sharpshooters 4-H Club.

May 27: Catch of the Day casting lessons with a naturalist, 1-3 p.m., Gorge Metro Park, 1160 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. A limited number of fishign rods available for use. Bait will be provided. For information, call 330-865-8065 or visit summitmetroparks.org.

June 1: Deadline for lottery applications for free Youth Fly-Fishing Clinic at Castalia State Fish Hatchery for kids 15, or younger. Visit wildohio.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE for details.

June 2: Muransky Companies Bass Classic for Mahoning Valley United Way, pro-am format, Pine Lake and Evans Lake in Youngstown area. For information contact Jack Wollitz, 330-492-5500.

June 2: City of Painesville Youth Fishing Derby, 9 a.m.-noon, Kiwanis Recreation Park, Painesville. Kids 15 and under can fish for bluegill, bass and catfish. Visit painesville.com or call 440-392-5912.

June 2: KSU La "DO Bass" Series, LaDue Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

June 2: Hi-Way Bait Lake Erie Walleye Trail, Lake Erie at Sandusky City Ramp, Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com.

June 2: Lone Eagle Bowmen Senior Olympics Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Shoot for archers 50 and over starting at 9 a.m. Pre-registration needed at hofseniorolympics.org/2012 registration. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

June 3: Electric Elite Invitational bass tournaments, Mogadore Lake. Visit dobass.com.

June 3: Lone Eagle Bowmen 3-D Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

June 9:  Northern Open Anglers Association bass tournament, Berlin Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

June 9-10: North Coast Harbor Boating & Fishing Fest, Voinovich Park, Cleveland Harbor, Cleveland. Free. Visit boatingfest.com. Boating displays, boat rides, exhibits and kids boating and fishing events.

June 10: South Cuyahoga Bowmen 3-D Archery Shoot, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Township. Open to the public. Registration 8-10:30 a.m. Entry $10, kids $5. Call Grant Brown, 440-371-4701 or Fred Eckhardt, 216-287-4547.

June 16: FLW Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Mosquito Reservoir. Visit flwoutdoors.com.

June 17: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

June 23-24: Erie Outfitters Open, Lake Erie Walleye Trail,  Lake Erie at Huron City Ramp, Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com.

June 28-30: AIM Pro Walleye Series, Black River Landing and Black River Wharf, Lorain. Pro and co-angler event. For information or entry visit aimfishing.com.

June 30: KSU La "DO Bass" Series, LaDue Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

July 1: South Cuyahoga Bowmen 3-D Archery Shoot, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Township. Open to the public. Registration 8-10:30 a.m. Entry $10, kids $5. Call Grant Brown, 440-371-4701 or Fred Eckhardt, 216-287-4547.

July 1: Lone Eagle Bowmen Four Man Team Event/Marengo Warmup Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

July 3: 3rd annual Charity Sporting Clays Shoot, South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

July 14: Women on the River/Women in the Outdoors Event, National Wild Turkey Federation, NTR Canoe Livery, Interstate 77 at Bolivar, Ohio. Contact Donna Hutmacher, 330-821-6136.

July 14:  Northern Open Anglers Association bass tournament, Mosquito Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

July 14: FLW Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Ohio River at Maysville. Visit flwoutdoors.com.

July 15: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

July 21: Electric Elite Invitational bass tournaments, LaDue Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

July 21: Women in the Outdoors Event, National Wild Turkey Foundation at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, Chatham, Ohio. Contact Bill Suliks (330-635-0878, bsuliks@aol.com.

July 27: Kids Fishing Day and Picnic at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Registration needed.

July 28: Ohio State Canoe & Kayak Marathon Championships, 9:30 a.m., Grand River Landing, 800 North St. Clair St., Fairport Harbor. Six-mile and a 12-mile race. Both begin and end at Grand River Landing. Registration 8 a.m.; first race 9:30 a.m,; 12-mile race begins at noon. Visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-256-3821.

July 28: KSU La "DO Bass" Series, LaDue Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

Aug. 4-5: Lone Eagle Bowmen 100 McKenzie Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

Aug. 4: FLW Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Ohio River at Tanners Creek. Visit flwoutdoors.com.

Aug. 5: South Cuyahoga Bowmen 3-D Archery Shoot, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Township. Open to the public. Registration 8-10:30 a.m. Entry $10, kids $5. Call Grant Brown, 440-371-4701 or Fred Eckhardt, 216-287-4547.

Aug. 11:  Northern Open Anglers Association bass tournament, Berlin Reservoir. Visit dobass.com.

Aug. 12: KSU La "DO Bass" Series, LaDue Reservoir. Visit dobass.com. ]

Aug. 18: Steak and Sporting Clays Shoot at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

Aug. 19: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association Archery Flea Market and 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

Aug. 26:  Northern Open Anglers Association Super NOAA bass tournament, Chautauqua Lake, N.Y. Visit dobass.com.

Sept. 2: Lone Eagle Bowmen Whitetails Unlimited Fall Classic 3-D Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

Sept. 12-16: Progressive Insurance North American In-Water Boat Show, Cedar Point Marina, Sandusky. Visit cedarpointboatshow.com or call Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, 440-899-5009.

Sept. 14-16: Ohio State Women in the Outdoors Event, National Wild Turkey Federation at FFA Cam p Muskingum, Carrollton, Ohio. Contact Cheryl Clevenger (740-877-9059, clevengerc@windstream.net.

Sept. 16: Class Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

Sept. 16: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association Dan Whitney Memorial 3-D Deer Target Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

Sept. 16: Lone Eagle Bowmen Bowhunter Warmup Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Test and Tune session for tuning bows for nominal fee. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

Oct. 4-7: May 4-6: Lake and Trails Organizaiton Youth Outdoor Camp, FFA Camp Muskingum, Leesville Lake, Carroll County. For kids 9 years old, an up with adult supervisor. Reservations mandatory. Visit lakeandtrails.org.

Oct. 7: Electric Elite Invitational bass tournaments, Mogadore Lake. Visit dobass.com.

Oct. 13: Three-Bird Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

Nov. 17-18: Dryland Sled Dog Races, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland. Held by the Trailbreakers Sled Dog Club. Teams of one to six dogs of various breeds pulling wheeled carts, bicycles, scooters or using the Canicross technique where the handler runs behind his dog(s).
Visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-256-2122 or 800-366-3276.

2012 HUNTING SEASONS
Coyote, Woodchuck - No closed season
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Season - April 21-22
Spring Wild Turkey Season - April 23-May 20
END OUTDOOR CALENDAR

 


Castalia Hatchery now a state of the art facility for Ohio's successful steelhead trout program

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The foundation for Ohio's popular steelhead trout program made its debut this week as state officials unveiled a $7 million renovation of the Castalia State Fish Hatchery.

 

Castalia Dedication.jpgThe supervisor of the Castalia Fish Hatchery, Andy Jarrett checks 6- to 8-inch steelhead trout to be released in a couple of weeks in one of five Lake Erie tributaries around Northeast Ohio. Quality trout production has been guaranteed by a $7 million renovation of the hatchery, including covering 900 feet of raceways and constructing a new hatchery building where steelhead and rainbow trout are being raised.

  CASTALIA, OHIO
 The phenomena of steelhead trout fishing in Ohio was guaranteed a bright future this week as state officials dedicated $7 million in improvements at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery, the premier cold-water facility in the Buckeye State.

When it comes to raising trout, chilly water is a requirement. While Pennsylvania has a treasure trove of cool, free-flowing spring-fed streams, Cold Creek is the best Ohio has to offer.

Ohio purchased the private hatchery in 1997, primarily to benefit from the cold waters of Cold Creek flowing from the 90-acre property. Then-Gov. George Voinovich of Cleveland had to push the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to make the $1.35 million deal, now recognized as the fishing steal of the century.

As a result, steelhead trout fishing in Ohio has exploded over the last decade, luring anglers from around Ohio, the country and even the world. Steelhead fishing is so popular now few are questioning hatchery renovations costing more than five times the purchase price of the property - and more than the Division of Wildlife has spent on any facility in Ohio.

 The Castalia Hatchery is fueled by a Blue Hole, one of a series of deep springs in the Castalia area. The Blue Hole looks like a small, clear water pond, but it spits out about 2,500 gallons of frigid water every minute. While the temperature is perfect, oxygen must be infused to make it fish friendly.

Ohio presently grows 400,000 steelhead trout here every year. The hatchery is designed to annually incubate as many as 1 million steelhead trout eggs. 

 "We're at 400,000 steelhead because the Great Lakes Fishery Commission says that's our limit," said hatchery supervisor Andy Jarrett. "The GLFC decides the appropriate  number of steelhead for Ohio to release. We also raise 90,000 rainbow trout for spring stockings around Ohio. The Kincaid Hatchery raises another 25,000 rainbow trout."

 The new state of the art, 11,368-square foot hatchery building at Castalia can easily handle both types of trout. It has a wealth of sensors and alarms, as well as generators, to ensure the trout thrive.

Jim Zehringer, who made the switch from head of the Ohio Department of Agriculture to director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources earlier this year, was one of the most knowledgable at the deciation ceremony in praising the Castalia Hatchery improvements. Zehringer was a long-time fish farmer in Mercer County before becoming a state official.

"I can tell you that we don't have 900-foot raceways for our fish in Mercer County," said Zehringer. "Heck, we don't have farm fields that are 900 feet long.

"The Blue Hole that makes this all possible is a rare and reliable source of cold water," he said. "Because of it, Castalia is the only Ohio hatchery with the correct ingredients for raising trout."

 

 

 

Hatchery Steelhead .jpgTruck loads of 400,000 lively steelhead trout in the 6- to 8-inch range will be released in the Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers and Conneaut Creek.

Castalia production has room to grow

 The goal in enhancing the Castalia State Fish Hatchery is to make Ohio self-sufficient in producing top-notch steelhead trout for the tens of thousands of anglers who fish for them in Lake Erie and wade Northeast Ohio's rivers and streams during cold-weather months.

Self-sufficiency, though, won't happen soon.

Ohio presently gets its steelhead trout eggs from Michigan, trading channel catfish for a pure strain of Little Manistee River trout that have proven their worth in Ohio. The trout are much wilder than the home-grown rainbow trout Ohio once raised at its London Fish Hatchery and converted into steelhead trout. As a result, the Little Manistee River trout are far more likely to race to Lake Erie after being released, grow big and strong, and return to the waters where they were released.

That wildness and wariness is why the raceways are now covered at the Castalia Hatchery. The wild trout don't like being exposed to sunlight, or fish-eating birds. The rainbow trout raised here are, well, not quite as smart.

But for Ohio to be self-sufficient, it must first be able to capture spawning steelhead trout, both males and females. Fisheries biologists must mix milt and eggs, help the eggs to hatch and raise the young fish for almost a year before releasing them in spring.

"To do that, we'll have to construct weirs on our rivers to capture the trout," said Tim Parrott, head of Ohio's fish hatcheries. "It's going to take us quite a while to be able to do that. Whether it's going to take a decade, or more, we just don't know right now."

Morris Claiborne getting some love from fans: Browns Comment of the Day

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"The Browns need to take Claiborne at 4. The drop-off at corner is considerable while positions like WR and RB have depth in this draft." -- Kellen Boyle

Les Miles, Morris ClaiborneWould you be OK with Morris Claiborne at No. 4 to the Browns?

While the Browns are in dire need of offensive playmakers, could they pass up on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne if he's at the top of their board and still there for the taking at No. 4?

In his scouting report of the top defensive backs in the draft, Dennis Manoloff writes "Beyond Claiborne, cornerbacks with exceptional cover skills are few."

Less than one week until the draft, Claiborne's stock is rising among some Browns fans, as evidenced in today's Comments of the Day. 

Kellen Boyle writes,

The Browns need to take Claiborne at 4. The drop-off at corner is considerable while positions like WR and RB have depth in this draft. Getting Wright or Stephen Hill at 22 and Doug Martin at 37 will give us 3 playmakers and give us one of the best secondaries in football.

Meanwhile, Zongo says,

Claiborne & Haden would virtually neutralize every WR the Browns haven't gotten in the draft. That's a lot more bang for your buck. How many backfields could Blackmon dominate? Claiborne would shut Blackmon down. Say we took Blackmon and then Cincinnati or Baltimore somehow got its hands on Claiborne - would you feel good about that match-up? No, you'd be wishing you either had Claiborne or had a bowling ball running back to aim right at Claiborne and render him ineffective. Between Claiborne & Richardson, wow that's a tough decision. I'd go with the CB and not be unhappy with Richardson.

What would your reaction be if the Browns took Clairborne with their first pick in the draft?

Cincinnati Bengals on the clock: Cleveland.com fans' NFL mock draft 2012 - You vote

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With the 21st pick in the first round, the Cincinnati Bengals select....Who do you say? This is another pick -- by voting in a poll -- made by you in Cleveland.com's fans' mock draft.

cordy-glenn2.jpgMany draft analysts are confident that Georgia's Cordy Glenn, here running a drill at the scouting combine in February, can excel in the NFL at either offensive tackle or guard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns and NFL fans, who do you say the league's teams should pick in the first round of the draft on April 26?


Through Sunday, by poll votes, we're asking you every day to make first-round picks for each of two teams. The polls go up on cleveland.com around 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. We list 10 prospects for you to pick from in each poll.


The poll for the Browns' second first-round pick, at No. 22 overall, will go up around 10:00 tonight and, since it's the Browns, will run for a couple extra hours, until around noon on Saturday.


On April 23-24, you'll be asked to make the picks for each of three teams both days, completing the 32-pick first round.


Here's who the fans have selected so far:


1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford


2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor


3: Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal


4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama


5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State


6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State


7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame


8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M


9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina


10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa


11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G, Stanford


12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College


13. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina


14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama


15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State


16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, LB-DE, Alabama


17: Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama


18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE-LB, Illinois


19. Chicago Bears: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor


20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina


The 21st pick in the first round of the draft belongs to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals finished the 2011 season with a 9-7 record.


The Bengals' primary needs include guard, wide receiver, defensive end, linebacker and the secondary. Cincinnati also has the 17th pick in the first round -- obtained in a trade with the Oakland Raiders -- and our fans' draft has the Bengals selecting Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. So here, we consider the Bengals as having addressed their CB situation.


Continue to check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns and NFL coverage.





Optimism is brewing: Indians Comment of the Day

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"Way to go and win the series Tribe!! Josh Tomlin once again showed that he has real poise and confidence, which then spreads to the rest of the team." -- sonofcleve82

Gallery preview

The Indians improved to 5-1 on their road trip, after Josh Tomlin led the Indians over the Mariners and Felix Hernandez last night, 2-1, in Seattle. After a 1-4 start, the Indians have moved up to second place in the AL Central. Optimism is certainly brewing among Tribe faithful, as seen in today's Comments of the Day.

Airethor writes,

Tomlin ( love this kid) faced 29 batters...one less than Hernandez without a walk. Donald looked like Omar (I am in Maryland, didn't watch, read the results)...Perez Nailed it down. I love this team. Hannahan is proving his strong finish last year was no illusion. Add Carlos with a double and his obligatory walk. These guys are real. Pronk is back.

rruss1 posts,

Watched the Mariners telecast; their opinion that was Hernandez' best pitched game going back to last year. Yes and the tribe still won. Even though he got 12 strikeouts, he had to throw a lot of pitches, and therefore was not able to pitch the ninth. Tomlin made a statement last night. Great win making it a successful road trip. Now let's win a couple in Oakland.

sonofcleve82 says,

Way to go and win the series Tribe!! Josh Tomlin once again showed that he has real poise and confidence, which then spreads to the rest of the team. The Indians have started off 5-1 on the road...that is tremendous and shows that our guys have come out ready to play. Now let's take 2 or 3 from Oakland and keep this early momentum going.

Can the Indians keep it up this weekend in Oakland? Post your comments below.


Cleveland Cavaliers A.M. Links: Samardo Samuels is finishing strong; Paul Silas doesn't take any mess; mock draft; Amare Stoudemire returns tonight

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Samardo Samuels is trying to make the best out of a lost season.

samardo.JPGCavs big man Samardo Samuels.

Samardo Samuels made significant strides last season as an undrafted rookie, but that hasn't been the case this season, writes Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich.

He showed up to camp overweight and out of shape and took most of the season to catch up, forcing coach Byron Scott to consider Samuels one of the casualties of the lockout.

“We talked after the season about things he needed to do to improve and I think he was on course to do a lot of those things,” Scott said. “Then the lockout went a little longer than expected. Not only him, but a lot of players just shut it down. They stopped working out because they didn’t see any real reason why they should. That hurt him more than anything.”

By the time Samuels reported to training camp, he had put on about 13 pounds, Ulrich writes. He still bristles at the notion he was out of shape, but that’s exactly what Scott said he was when the season began.

 

More Cleveland Cavaliers

Former Cavaliers coach Paul Silas pushes one of his players (Yahoo.com).

Amare Stoudemire will return tonight against the Cavaliers (New York Times).

Charles Barkley says the Knicks are one-and-done in the postseason (New York Daily News).

Here's an NBA Mock Draft. Surprise pick for the Cavaliers (Fox Sports).

The Cavaliers say thanks but no thanks to Lester Hudson (The News-Herald).

Lester Hudson can't get another deal with the Cavaliers (Cleveland.com).

 

Lester Hudson, we hardly knew you: Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"Cavs management has probably made a statement about their future plans with the non-signing of Hudson. I'm thinking that Hudson and his agent were demanding a longer term commitment than the Cavs were willing to offer." -- rwbbowg

lester hudson.JPGLester Hudson is taking his talents to Memphis.

When news broke Thursday the Cavaliers would not sign Lester Hudson for the rest of the season, it came as a bit of surprise to fans. "Why not?" was the reaction many had. After all, here's a guy who provided instant scoring and even inspired a Jeremy Lin-like "Lesanity" for a brief time. However, as Cavaliers beat writer Tom Reed Tweeted, "Remember, it takes 2 sides to negotiate. Hudson's reps might have wanted guarantees for next season #Cavs were unwilling to meet."

Hudson, meanwhile, has reportedly signed with the Grizzlies.

Here's what you're saying about Hudson's departure in today's Comments of the Day.

rwbbowg writes,

"Cavs management has probably made a statement about their future plans with the non-signing of Hudson. I'm thinking that Hudson and his agent were demanding a longer term commitment than the Cavs were willing to offer. Grant doesn't want to tie up any money that doesn't involve a core piece of the future. He has only a handful of players under guaranteed contracts going into next year. He is not willing to lose any CAP space until he acquires the players he needs to have a core group."

rome posts,

"I liked Hudson, but lets be real having him is not going to make or break us next year. The Cavs will be bringing in 4 draft picks and maybe even picking up one or two free agent. They have to keep thing as flexible as possible."

krywyjz says,

"Lester was fun to watch these last 20 days, and it was a nice story to help get through another rebuilding year. However, I 100% agree with management in the offer they made and sticking to it. As has been mentioned before, 39% from the field and 25% from 3, for a 28 year old undersized shooting guard. Lester had the opportunity to become a gunner on a team that had no scoring option outside of Jamison while Kyrie was out. Who else was going to take those shots? It's the same situation that Jamison has been in all year...we have nobody else, so fire at will. He is not in the Cavs future."

Decision on Varejao could come for Cavs tonight

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Cavs could decide Friday whether to shut down Anderson Varejao for the rest of the season. He has been out since Feb. 10 with a fractured right wrist.

Anderson VarejaoAnderson Varejao hasn't played since Feb. 10.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Anderson Varejao stood shooting at the Cavaliers practice facility Friday morning, but there was no decision on whether the popular Cavs forward/center would return for the rest of the season or be shut down for good.

His fractured right wrist was heavily taped, and at least once, Varejao was forced to stop after apparently hurting himself catching the ball. He shook out his hand and paused for a few moments before resuming.

Cavs coach Byron Scott was not watching at the time and said he likely would be conversing with Cavs general manager Chris Grant and the team's medical personnel Friday afternoon before Friday night's game against the New York Knicks at The Q. He expects there could be a decision on Varejao's future before the game.

"I would love to shut him down but like we know Andy, he wants to play,'' Scott said. "We'll see what the doctors say.''

Scott and the Cavs faced a similar situation with rookie Kyrie Irving, who returned to action on Wednesday after missing 10 of 11 games with a sprained right shoulder.

"Watching Kyrie the other day get hit, my heart dropped all the way to the floor,'' Scott said. "I don't want the same situation with Andy, and I think Andy's injury is a lot easier right now for it to happen again than Kyrie's is. I would like to shut down Kyrie's as well, but both those guys want to play. That's their competitive nature. Who am I as a coach to say, 'I don't want you to play.' The one thing I do love about the guys we have is they want to compete, and I never want to take that away from them.''

As for Varejao's ability to play for Brazil in the Olympics this summer, Scott said Grant and Varejao would have to have that conversation.

In other injury news, Irving will start tonight and see his minutes increased from Wednesday, while Alonzo Gee (sprained left ankle) is 50-50 for tonight.

Correction: Lester Hudson, who opted to sign with Memphis for the rest of the season instead of re-sign with Cleveland, will be eligible for the playoffs.


Cleveland Browns should get four starters out of this draft, says Mary Kay Cabot (SBTV)

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The Cleveland Browns may need plenty of help from their incoming rookie class. Watch video

For the second year in a row, it looks like the Cleveland Browns will rely heavily on their recent draft picks to contribute as starters.


Last year, five players from the 2011 NFL Draft started for the Browns (Phil Taylor, Owen Marecic, Jason Pinkston, Greg Little and Jabaal Sheard).


Mary Kay Cabot says on SBTV how at least four players selected by the Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft will start.


The Browns have plenty holes to fill, so they'll try to fill those holes with rookies.


Mary Kay also answers other questions about the draft why Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur have not been as visible with the local media.


SBTV returns on Monday.


 

Position of need wins out over need for Lesanity, as Lester Hudson is not re-signed by Cavs

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Despite Lesanity capturing the hearts and minds of Cavs fans everywhere for one week, the Cavaliers need for a back-up PG. The release of Hudson could be a vote for Donald Sloan to fill that role heading into next season.

lester hudson pacers.JPGView full sizeLester Hudson was released by the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending Lesanity.

The New York Knicks are in town to most likely pummel the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, and neither Jeremy Lin nor Lester Hudson will be in uniform.

Linsanity is over now, but it did sweep the nation earlier this season in fairy tale like fashion all the way up until Carmelo Anthony returned Jeremy Lin was injured. Meanwhile in Cleveland, for the tanking Cavaliers, Lesanity swept the Cavs Twittersphere all the same for about one week

It was an epic week in Cleveland to be sure though, and a moment etched eternally in the minds of the Cavs fans still paying attention to this season. But now Lester Hudson's 10-day deal has expired, and he's likely gone forever.

He may remain the answer to a Cavaliers trivia question for decades to come, however, because nobody in Wine and Gold played better than Lester Hudson from April 6th, 2012 to April 11th of that same year.

In that time, Hudson played 32 minutes per game during a four-game stretch where he averaged 23.2 points against Toronto, New Jersey, Charlotte, and Indiana respectively. If he ends up latching on with an NBA team from here next season, it will probably be that week he'll point too as a big reason why.

Hudson did just about everything he could to capitalize on the opportunity he had here in Cleveland with the Cavaliers. Seemingly unprovoked though, and out of Lester's control with respect to his play on the court, Byron Scott eventually benched him because he said he, "just wanted to get a longer look at Manny [Harris]".  

So despite all that went into Lesanity, Lester probably never had a chance of making this team long-term in the first place anyways. For as well as he played, he's not a Point Guard, and that's what the Cavaliers need right now heading into next season. 

As awesome as he was to watch, and I may never forget those two shots he hit in New Jersey and then again at home against Indiana to send each game to overtime, Hudson is a bit of a chucker to be fair. He averaged 18.5 shot attempt per game in that four game run, and he also turned it over 3.5 times per night during that stretch too.

With a healthy Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Alonzo Gee, Bradley Beal and Anderson Varejao at full strength next season, there aren't 18 extra shots laying around for somebody to take coming off the bench. There isn't a spot for a back-up PG who turns it over 3.5 times per game either.

But while Lester reminds me of a Flip Murray in his prime, which is a compliment because Flip could come off the bench and score on anybody, Donald Sloan reminds me more of a guy who could be a pretty solid back-up PG in this League. He may even be the back-up PG of the future here in Cleveland too, or in the very least a guy who fills that role next season.  

While he didn't move the proverbial needle like Hudson did, Sloan has been proving that he is both solid and dependable with the ball in his hands. During the month of April he only averaged 7.9 points per game, but he did also dish out 5.5 assists per night as compared to only 1.7 TO's during these last 11 games. That's pretty solid enough right there, but it's especially so when searching for a back-up PG on a team that definitely won't be drafting one, or signing a veteran NBA version of one, prior to opening night next season. 

Daniel Gibson most likely coming back next season didn't hurt Sloan's chances either. Hudson may be able to walk onto an NBA floor next season and score more points than a healthy Daniel Gibson, but he didn't do enough to show that he's that much better than an NBA veteran like Gibson is at the same time. He didn't demonstrate that he was good enough to take a roster spot from somebody like that, is what I'm saying essentially. 

You can argue that Hudson is younger, and is maybe just as clutch, but don't forget who went for 30+ that magical night against Detroit way back when either. That still did happen. 

Additionally, Gibson is a pro, and you know what you're going to get from him when he's healthy. He's going to come in off the bench as a specialist, play a role, not need 18.5 shots per game to be effective, and he won't turn it over too much either.

If Gibson had been able to be traded this season instead of Ramon Sessions, however, than Lester Hudson makes this team next year and Donald Sloan gets cut I think. 

I've always been of the opinion that there was only one roster spot up for grabs between those two guys. As far as Sloan is concerned, the position technically open happens to be the one that he plays. In some ways, he was fortunate enough to be competing for that spot with a guy who didn't really play that position at all in the first place. As opposed to how Alonzo Gee made this team initially, by competing with guys like Jamario Moon and Joey Graham who simply played his same position in a terribly awful manner.

Watching this Hudson story come to its Cavaliers conclusion yesterday though, it did also remind me of how much luck does play into things like launching an NBA career in the first place. If Mike D'Antoni never goes to Lin, we never know his name. If Lester Hudson never goes legend in the four game window he was afforded the chance to do so, we never even realize he ever left. If the Lakers don't trade for Ramon Sessions, Donald Sloan probably doesn't make the Cavaliers opening day roster next season.

As it all stands right now however, I'd say Sloan probably does. Best of luck to Lester though wherever he goes from here. He'll always have some fans in Cleveland who will remember what he did in the beginning, even if he didn't fit in the end.


Follow Brendan Bowers on Twitter: @StepienRules


Cleveland Browns P.M. Links: The Browns need some help; is Trent Richardson the best player in the draft? Tom Heckert has made a decision

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The Browns have needs at so many positions, but they can fix them in the draft.

shurmur-ref-ravens-2011-horiz-jg.jpgBrowns coach Pat Shurmur.

Clark Judge, senior NFL columnist for CBSSports.com, writes on the needs of the Cleveland Browns.

Judge doesn't think highly of the Browns. He says they were awful and lifeless at times last season.

RB: Let's get this one out of the way up top: The running game stinks and has stunk for most of the time since the Browns returned to the NFL. Last year was no exception, with Cleveland ranked 28th in rushing and 21st in yards per attempt. Peyton Hillis is gone, which leaves Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya as the top two backs -- and, yes, that's a problem. It's the primary reason most mock drafts have Trent Richardson penciled in as the Browns' first choice at the fourth overall spot. Richardson is one of the most gifted players in this draft, and the Browns need gifted running backs like Levi needs Strauss.

Judge also wonders why people say Colt McCoy isn't the answer, especially when he hasn't had much talent to throw to.

There's not a franchise wide receiver in there. But there could be with the Browns' second pick, 22nd overall. If there's one thing Cleveland needs as much as someone to carry the ball, it's someone to catch it. It had its chance a year ago but passed on Julio Jones when Atlanta made it an offer it couldn't refuse. Now it needs to find that talented wideout -- and fast.

    

More Cleveland Browns

Tom Heckert has made his decision on who the Browns will select with the No. 4 pick, but he won't tell us (The News-Herald).

Bill Polian says Trent Richardson is the best player in the draft (Ohio.com).

Trading down is not the right move this time around (Cleveland.com).

A look back at the NFL Draft (CantonRep.com).

Here is a list of the top defensive backs in the draft (Cleveland.com).

 

 

 

 

NFL Draft 2012: Cleveland Browns and wide receivers (video)

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Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff of The Plain Dealer break down the top wide receivers available in this year's draft. Watch video

Plain Dealer reporters Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff break down the Browns and how they figure into the 2012 NFL Draft in this seven-day series of videos that will run through Tuesday.

This year's draft will begin with the first round on Thursday. The second and third rounds are on Friday; with the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday. The Browns own the fourth pick and the 22nd pick in the first round. The top three picks, in order, are held by the Indianapolis Colts, the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings.

See how Mary Kay breaks down the top picks in her latest mock draft.

The series:

Wednesday: Running backs

Thursday: Defensive backs

Friday: Wide receivers

Saturday: Linebackers

Sunday: Offensive line

Monday: Defensive line

Tuesday: Quarterbacks

To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com

On Twitter: @CLEvideos


Heckert playing coy; Justin Masterson's stats; and Luke Harangody's versatility - Blog Roundup

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Cleveland sports bloggers talk about a GM's secrecy, a starting pitchers up-and-down start, and a forward's well-worn path between Canton and Cleveland.

heckert-presser.JPGView full sizeTom Heckert didn't reveal much in his pre-draft press conference on Thursday.
Browns

Dawg Pound Daily: "Essentially, this pre-draft press conference was just another exercise in avoiding anything substantial. It’s no surprise that the Browns would know who they’re targeting, or that they’d probably like to stay at the No. 4 pick. The only thing that should be surprising is that that anyone would think to believe much of what Heckert said on Thursday. The Browns have done a masterful job of masking their draft intentions and that’s going to last all the way up to next week, which can’t come soon enough." » Read more

Indians

WaitingForNextYear: "Why do I find Masterson so interesting? I’m not sure, actually. It’s certainly not because I’m convinced he’s the best player we have. I mean, he might be the best player we have, but I’m not sure of it. Santana might be the best player we have. Choo might be the best player we have. Heck, even Dunkers ... well ... no ... probably not Dunkers. Sorry Shelley." » Read more

Cavaliers

Stepien Rules: "'Gody didn't just play in those four games. He helped multiple teams win in the process. After leading the Cavs to that victory over the Wizards, he then did the same for the Canton Charge in their first round playoff series, too. What more do you want from the guy?" » Read more

Cleveland Browns 100 best draft picks of all-time -- No. 20 to No. 1

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(Re-posted from last April) Last of a five-part series, with links to game stories, videos, etc. Not a ranking of the 100 best players drafted by Cleveland, but an estimation of the 100 best Browns' picks weighing contribution versus pick investment.

john-wooten-jim-brown.jpgJim Brown follows the blocking of John Wooten during a Browns game against the New York Giants at Cleveland Stadium.


(Re-post from last April, as the 2011 NFL draft approached)


Today we finish our countdown of the Cleveland Browns' 100 best draft picks of all time.


Previously, we have posted the Browns best all-time picks Nos. 100-81, followed by Nos. 80-61 and Nos. 60-41 and Nos. 40-21.


This is not a ranking of the 100 best players drafted by Cleveland. Instead, it's an estimation of the 100 best Browns' picks in terms of value. Simply, a Player A taken by the Browns with, say, the 120th overall pick, turned out to be a better pick for value than did a Player B who might have contributed a little more but was a 55th overall pick.

Only players who played at least three seasons with the Browns after being picked by the team in the annual draft were considered. Players acquired through a rare supplemental draft, such as Bernie Kosar, Kevin Mack and Mike Johnson, aren't included because the mechanics of the supplemental draft are not comparable to the regular draft.

Browns greats such as Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, etc., aren't included, as they began their Browns' careers in the All-America Football Conference.

Performance with the Browns only is considered. For instance, future Hall of Famers Doug Atkins, Willie Davis, Henry Jordan and Dick LeBeau were Browns' draft picks from 1953-59. LeBeau was cut by the Browns before playing for them. The other three were traded by the Browns after just two seasons each as part-time players.

Playoff game performances were considered. Statistics are only for what a player did with the Browns. Statistical considerations in the rankings recognize that the game has become more pass-oriented in the last 30 years or so. Also, some players' values are enhanced by what the Browns eventually got for them in trades.

Only occasionally is it considered whom the Browns didn't take. The value of 1976 picks Mike Pruitt (seventh) and Dave Logan (65th) shouldn't be diminished because they and no other team selected future Hall of Fame tackle Jackie Slater until the Los Angeles Rams took him 86th.

Positions: Offense -- QB, quarterback; RB, running back; FB, fullback; WR, wide receiver; TE, tight end; C, center; G, guard; T, tackle; PK, placekicker; P, punter; Rtn, kickoff and/or punt returner; LS, long snapper.

Defense -- E, end; T, tackle; NT, nose tackle; LB, linebacker; CB, cornerback; S, safety; DB, cornerback and safety.

Key: ranking number, player, position, year drafted, round/overall pick number, college, years with Browns.



20. Ray Renfro, WR-RB, 1952, 4/48, North Texas, 1952-63. Earned Pro Bowl or second-team all-league recognition in five different seasons. Sprinter's speed helped him average 19.6 yards on his 281 pass receptions, the 15th best career yards-per-catch in NFL history.. Caught 50 touchdown passes and ran for four more TDs. Caught seven passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the Browns' 1954 and 1955 championship game wins.



19. Joe Thomas, T, 2007, 1/3, Wisconsin, 2007-10. Assuming he stays healthy, Thomas is on track to move up on any list like this in the future. Made the Pro Bowl team each of his four seasons and named to all-pro first-teams each of the last two seasons. Has started all 64 games at left tackle. (Ranking was made prior to the 2011 season)



18. Gary Collins, WR-P, 1962, 1/4, Maryland, 1962-71. Three-time first-team all-pro. Averaged 16 yards on his 331 career receptions, and caught 70 touchdown passes. After playing as a backup his rookie season, caught 61 TD passes in his six full seasons -- many on the famed "(Frank) Ryan to Collins post pattern" -- the 61 TDs a remarkable number in a running game-oriented era of 14-game seasons. Scored five touchdowns in postseason play. Three of them (18, 42 and 51 yards) were the game's only TDs in the Browns' 27-0 upset win over the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 championship game. Was the Browns' punter his first six seasons. Led the NFL with a 46.7-yard punting average in 1965.



Video: Highlights of the Browns' last two regular season games in 1964, and the 27-0 title game win over the Colts, when Gary Collins caught three touchdown passes (videos from youtube.com):





The Plain Dealer's Browns History Database includes PD stories on every regular season and playoff game the Browns have played in. The late Chuck Heaton, the PD's longtime Browns beat writer, wrote about the Browns' title game win over the Colts on Dec. 27, 1964 at Cleveland Stadium.



17. Greg Pruitt, RB-Rtn, 1973, 2/30, Oklahoma, 1973-81. Made the Pro Bowl his first two seasons due in large part to his return game, and made it in 1976 and 1977 because of his play at halfback. Rushed for 5,496 yards as a Brown, averaging 4.7 yards a carry. Caught 323 passes and totaled 43 touchdowns. Missed much of the 1979 season with a knee injury, and was used primarily as a receiver the next two years.





16. Hanford Dixon, CB, 1981, 1/22, Southern Mississippi, 1981-89. Dixon, and the Browns other cornerback, Frank Minnifield, both played man-to-man pass coverage as well as virtually any DB in the 80's. Named first-team all-pro twice. Missed just three games, not counting the three "replacement player games" during the 24-day players strike in 1987. Intercepted 26 passes.



15. Ken Konz, CB-S, 1951, 1/14, Louisiana State, 1953-59. Served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War before joining the Browns in 1953. A first-team all-pro twice. Intercepted 30 passes (four returned for touchdowns) during regular season games -- and had two INTs in the Browns' 56-10 championship game win over the Lions in 1954, and two more in the 38-14 title win over the Rams in 1955. Led the league with a 14.4-yard punt return average in 1956. Occasionally used as a punter.





14. Jerry Sherk, DT, 1970, 2/47, Oklahoma State, 1970-81. Didn't miss a game in his first seven seasons, and again in 1978, but was slowed by injuries his last three years. One of the quickest tackles in the league, he was a stalwart run-stopper and a fine pass rusher. Played in four Pro Bowls and was first-team all-league twice.



Video: Highlights of a 27-17 Browns' win in 1972 at Philadelphia, including some glimpses of Jerry Sherk (72).





13. Bobby Mitchell, RB-Rtn, 1958, 7/84, Illinois, 1958-61. Played halfbaack with Jim Brown at fullback. Rushed for 2,297 yards, 5.4 per carry, and 16 touchdowns as a Brown. Averaged 11.4 yards on 128 receptions, with 16 touchdowns. Returned 62 kickoffs for a 25-yard average and three TDs, and 54 punts for an 11.2-yard average and three touchdowns. Traded with halfback Leroy Jackson, the Browns' 11th pick in the 1962 draft, to Washington for the first pick in the draft, halfback and 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. Davis was stricken with leukemia that summer, and died on May 18, 1963. Mitchell was used primarily at wide receiver with Washington, where he continued to build on his Hall of Fame career.



12. Clay Matthews, LB, 1978, 1/12, Southern California, 1978-93. The Browns' all-time sacks leader with 76 1/2. Played in four Pro Bowls and was first-team all-pro once. Played in a Browns' record 232 games, including 216 starts. Adept at covering receivers out of the backfield and excellent against the run. Clinched the Browns' 1989 playoff game win over Buffalo, 34-30, with a late interception of a Jim Kelly pass near the Browns' goal line.





11. Cody Risien, G-T, 1979, 7/183, Texas A&M, 1979-89. Became a starter as a rookie. One of his era's taller offensive linemen at 6-7, Risien excelled in both run and pass blocking. Missed the 1984 season with a knee injury. Was first-team all-league twice and played in two Pro Bowls.



10. Walt Michaels, LB, 1951, 7/86, Washington & Lee, 1952-61. We're including Michaels even though the Browns traded him to Green Bay during his rookie season training camp. They re-acquired him via trade the next April. Played in five Pro Bowls and was first-team all-league three times. Helped the Browns to five championship games. Intercepted a pass in each of the two title game wins, 1954 and 1955.





9. Michael Dean Perry, DT-DE, 1988, 2/50, Clemson, 1988-94. Great run-stopper who provided a terrific inside pass rush, with 51 1/2 quarterback sacks. Combination of strength and quickness. Played in five Pro Bowls, and made one or another first-team all-league team in each of his last six seasons with the Browns.





8. Dick Schafrath, T, 1959, 2/23, Ohio State, 1959-71. Replaced Hall of Famer Lou Groza at left tackle in 1960, after Groza retired after starting at the position since the Browns' inception in 1946. Groza ended his one-year retirement to resume his legendary place-kicking career in 1961. Schafrath made first-team all-pro four times and played in six Pro Bowls. Missed just two games. A strong case can be made that he should be in the Hall of Fame.



Video: From the first segment of the 1965 Browns highlight film, see Dick Schafrath (77) pass protect for Frank Ryan and run block for Jim Brown and Ernie Green (one of the very few games Schafrath missed during his career was the 1965 championship game, a 23-12 Browns' loss to Green Bay, which he sat out with an injury):





7. Brian Sipe, QB, 1972, 13/330, San Diego State, 1974-83. Sipe was on the Browns "taxi squad" as an inactive roster player in 1972 and 1973. Had mixed results in the several games he played for the poor 1974-75 Browns teams. Took over in 1976 and was the ringleader of the "Kardiac Kids," known for their late-game heroics. Though the 1980 season ended with the interception of a Sipe pass in the end zone, clinching an Oakland playoff game win, the Browns would have never been there without the season-long brilliance that earned Sipe the NFL MVP Award. Cleveland's all-time leader in several career passing categories.



6. Paul Warfield, WR, 1964, 1/11, Ohio State, 1964-69, 76-77. After playing halfback at Ohio State, the Browns turned Warfield into a wide receiver during his rookie training camp in 1964. He was first-team all-pro and a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie, and also in 1968 and 1969. Despite missing almost all of the 1965 season with a broken collarbone, Warfield caught 215 passes, averaging 20.2 yards a catch, and scored 44 touchdowns before he was traded to Miami after the 1969 campaign. He had also caught 24 passes for 404 yards and a touchdown in seven playoff games.



Warfield was sent to the Dolphins for their first pick, the third overall, in the 1970 draft. The Browns' rationale for the trade was that they had to groom a quarterback to eventually replace their Pro Bowl QB, Bill Nelsen, whose knees were getting worse game by game. Cleveland used the pick to draft Purdue star QB Mike Phipps. Phipps replaced Nelsen one game into the 1972 season and led the Browns to a 10-3 record the rest of the way and a playoff berth. Cleveland was on the verge of the playoffs the next year before losing its last two games, and the Browns were a combined 7-21 in 1974-75.



Phipps separated his right (throwing) shoulder in the 1976 season opener, and Brian Sipe took over at QB. The Browns traded Phipps to the Bears and, as part of the deal, got a 1978 first-round pick in return. They used it to take tight end Ozzie Newsome with the 23rd overall pick.



Warfield, a Hall of Famer, helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowls. He returned to the Browns for his final two seasons, totaling 56 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns.





Video: From the Browns' 1969 highlight film, Paul Warfield helps the Browns to a 38-14 rout of the Cowboys in a playoff game at Dallas.





5. Jim Ray Smith, G-T-DE, 1954, 6/64, Baylor, 1956-62. Spent nearly two years in the U.S. Army before joining the Browns several games into the 1956 season. Played the rest of the campaign at defensive end, before being moved to guard for the 1957 seaon. He proceeded to make one or another first-team all-pro team in each of his remaining six seasons with the Browns, and to play in five Pro Bowl games.





4. Ozzie Newsome, TE, 1978, 1/23, Alabama, 1978-90. Hall of Famer, as one of the tight ends who revolutionized the position with their ability to make plays downfield. All-time Browns leader in receptions (662) and receiving yardage (7,980). Didn't fumble in his last three seasons. Missed just three games. First-team all-pro twice and second-team five times.



Video: A segment from a Monday Night Football game on ABC in 1979, when the Browns routed Dallas, 26-7. Two Browns' touchdowns, including an Ozzie Newsome catch of a Brian Sipe pass.





3. Leroy Kelly, RB-Rtn, 1964, 8/110, Morgan State, 1964-73. Hall of Famer. Excelled as a punt-kickoff returner his first two seasons, and as a backup running back. Took over as the Browns' featured runner after Jim Brown's retirement in 1966. Rushed for 7,274 yards, leading the NFL twice. Also led in yards per carry twice and in rushing touchdowns three times. Caught 190 passes. Returned kickoffs and punts for 2,774 yards. Led league in yards per punt return once. Totaled 90 touchdowns. Made one or another first-team all-pro team five times and played in six Pro Bowls.



Chuck Heaton wrote in his Plain Dealer game story about Kelly's great performance running with the football and catching it, too, during the Browns' 35-17 win over the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 10, 1968, in Cleveland.





2. Gene Hickerson, G, 1957, 7/78, Mississippi, 1958-73. Hall of Famer. First-team all-pro five times and second-team another time. Played in six Pro Bowls. Missed the 1961 season with a broken leg. Missed just two other games. One of the fastest pulling guards ever, he led the way on the famed Browns sweep for Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Kelly and Ernie Green.



1. Jim Brown, RB, 1957, 1/6, Syracuse, 1957-65. Hall of Famer regarded by many as the greatest player ever. Won various NFL MVP awards in four seasons, and was consensus first-team all-pro in every season except 1962, when he got some first-and second-team recognition. Held virtually every rushing record when he retired. Rushed for 12,312 yards and 5.2 yards per carry. Caught 262 passes for 2,499 yards. Scored 106 rushing TDs and 20 receiving TDs. Averaged 104 rushing yards a game over the 118 games in his career, as NFL seasons were 12 games his first four seasons and 14 games his last five campaigns. Ran for 114 yards in the Browns' 27-0 win over the Colts in the 1964 championship game.



Video: From the Browns' 1961 highlights film, Jim Brown ties his own record -- then the NFL record -- with 237 rushing yards in a 45-24 Browns' win over the Eagles in Cleveland Stadium:





Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. Links: The teams have been chosen; more on Mike Adams; OSU's receivers have plenty to prove;what to watch for in the spring game

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The Scarlet and Gray teams have been selected.

osu-qb-miller-spring-2012-vert-ap.jpgBraxton Miller

The Scarlet and Gray teams have been selected, and the order of players selected remains classified to outsiders, writes Bill Rabinowitz on BuckeyeExtra.com.

. . . but it’s not hard to surmise the strategies of offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who’s the Scarlet coach, and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, coach of the Gray.

Herman wanted starting quarterback Braxton Miller and as much protection for him as possible. Four of the five offensive linemen who have taken the bulk of the first-team snaps this spring — left tackle Jack Mewhort, center Corey Linsley, right guard Marcus Hall and right tackle Reid Fragel — are on the Scarlet team.

Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith are the Scarlet running backs. Mewhort and fullback Zach Boren are its captains.

Fickell’s aim was to build around defensive lineman John Simon, Rabinowitz writes, about the most dominant player of spring practice. The Gray team also will feature linebackers Curtis Grant and Etienne Sabino and cornerback Bradley Roby. Simon and Sabino are captains.

   

More Ohio State Buckeyes

Marijuana report is the latest pre-draft question when it comes to Mike Adams (Cleveland.com).

A judge has re-scheduled the sentencing for Art Schlichter (Ohio.com).

Toledo native leads OSU's gymnastics squad (Toledo Blade).

Ohio State's wide receivers still have plenty to prove (The Lantern).

What to watch for during the spring game (Fox Sports Ohio).

Still no explanation on why long-time track coach left (The Dispatch).

Zach Boren talks to ESPN about adjusting to the new offense (ESPN).

 

 


Cleveland Indians' Chris Perez gets caught up in Twitter paranoia @MLB: Bill Livingston

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When Major League Baseball fined Chris Perez for his Twitter message in Kansas City last week, it had the legal right to do so. But it was also a lame attempt to decry a policy that has actually balanced the scales of on-field justice for almost one and a half centuries.

chris perez.JPGView full sizeIndians fans now know that Chris Perez has his teammates' back.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — IC Chris Perez's gr8 KC tweet "You hit us, we hit you. Period" proved 2 hot 4 MLB 2 handle. Fined $750 4 it. SMH. #1stamendmentoutrage

I Tweeted that early Thursday. It referred to the most controversial part of Perez's message, under my @LivyPD Twitter name.

For those who do not use Twitter, I will now translate the murkier parts: SMH means "shaking my head."

Next, I created a hashtag (#) 1stamendmentoutrage, so others wishing to comment on the issue can find it with the Twitter search engine.

"It's freedom of speech. I felt I was within my rights as an American," said the Indians closer.

But Perez was wrong about the First Amendment part. So was I.

Last Saturday in Kansas City, three Indians -- pitcher Jeanmar Gomez, later suspended for five games; manager Manny Acta and third baseman Jack Hannahan, later fined $500 -- were ejected after Gomez hit Royals batter Mike Moustakas. An official umpire's warning had been issued after the Tribe's Shin Soo-Choo, who lost part of last season after his thumb was broken by a pitch, was struck by Kansas City's Jonathan Sanchez. The warning made Gomez's ejection automatic.

But the job of all pitchers is to protect their team's batters by retaliating in kind, when possible, after their teammates have been hit. Gomez knew he would be gone after hitting Moustakas, but he fell on his sword for the team. It is the way the game has been played since Wee Willie Keeler was a tyke. Without immediate retaliation, grudges develop that can become poisonous over a long season. Assured retaliation actually keeps the scales of baseball's on-field justice fairly evenly balanced.

Within the context of old-time hardball, with its code of an eye-for-an-eye -- and an HBP (hit by pitch) for an HBP -- Perez merely stated the obvious.

The First Amendment, however, applies only to government action. Private corporations and private individuals can engage in conduct limiting speech that would bring repercussions if it were done by federal, state or local government.

It is the same reason players can be fined for comments deemed detrimental to their team or for comments by players and front-office personnel critical of game officials.

Still, I would hate to see Perez thumbcuffed and unable to Tweet on his Blackberry. When Twitter first came on the scene, I scoffed at the social medium, which can accommodate only 140 characters, including spaces, per message. Abbreviation-laden Tweets were the first step in the demise of the English language, I used to think.

But Twitter allows fans and reporters access to the unfiltered thoughts of players who use it, remarks that are unrestricted by management gag orders and unrestrained by a "cooling off" period. I follow some players, Perez (@ChrisPerez54) among them, to monitor their raw feelings about events or games.

The Indians, like The Plain Dealer and many other organizations, actively encourage their employees to "engage" fans and readers via Twitter.

Major League Baseball's Joe Garagiola Jr., who hands out player fines and suspensions, told Perez in a formal letter that the player had "demonstrated a reckless disregard for the players of both clubs."

Perhaps Joe Jr. should ask Joe Sr. what kind of pitch the elder Garagiola's boyhood friend, Yogi Berra, would have called for if Mickey Mantle had been hit. Hint: It wouldn't have been a slider on the outside corner.

After Perez was fined, he said, noting that that the next day's game between the teams was played without incident, "I don't think it was that bad. Unless you're the Royals. But who cares? We're not the Royals. We're not supposed to be friends with them. I don't have any friends on that team, and I really don't care for them that much."

The best part of this is that Perez proved that the Indians, across the divide of regulars and bench players and of pitchers and hitters, are a team. First, last and foremost.

One of the most sickening things in sports today is the fraternization and collusion of NBA players who are supposedly on competing teams. It's such a love-fest between "opposing" players in the arena hallways after some games that it's no wonder no players hit the deck during the game while sashaying in for layups.

I believe the fine was small by the standards of major-league salaries because the game's disciplinarians knew they had to make at least some gesture. "Attaboy" had been ruled out by today's concerns in all sports for player safety.

My own reaction was to send another Tweet: @ChrisPerez54: Twittastic.

I (heart) N.Y.: Mary Schmitt Boyer's postgame blog

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New York coach Mike Woodson, a former Cavs assistant to Randy Wittman, will have a long night trying to dissect what happened to his team against the Cavs.

Mike Woodson.JPGView full sizeKnicks coach Mike Woodson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Knicks coach Mike Woodson is in for a long night.

Correction: A longer night.

Woodson, a former Cavs assistant to Randy Wittman, is going to look long and hard of the video of New York's 98-90 loss to the Cavs on Friday night at The Q and wonder what the heck is going on.

Here's his team, fresh off clinching a playoff spot and getting Amar'e Stoudemire back, and it looked absolutely horrible against a Cavs team stumbling to the finish line.

For whatever reason, the Cavs have had the Knicks' number the past couple of seasons. They haven't been able to beat many teams but they always beat the Knicks at The Q. Ten straight times.

The Cavs did it Friday night with three D-League call-ups playing significant roles. OK, Kyrie Irving did have 21 points, but every Cav who played on Friday outplayed every Knick.

"There's nothing about tonight's game that I liked at all,'' Woodson said afterward.

That sentence alone has to make the Cavs and their fans smile -- and that hasn't happened too often this season.

Bellator 66 brings professional MMA to the I-X Center Friday night | photo gallery

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See a Joshua Gunter photo gallery from the MMA event Friday night.

See a Joshua Gunter photo gallery from the MMA event Friday night.

Gallery preview

Jack Hannahan finds ball is bouncing his way at plate, but not in field: Cleveland Indians Insider

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Baseball is a funny game. Jack Hannahan won the Indians third base job in spring training because of his defensive skills. Well, Hannahan has been one of the Tribe's hottest hitters through the first two weeks of the season, but has already made four errors.

jack hannahan.JPGView full sizeThe Indians' Jack Hannahan gets congratulations after the Indians beat Seattle Thursday. Hannahan drove in two runs in the ninth inning and Cleveland won, 2-1.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Jack Hannahan was the hero by an inch Thursday night in Seattle.

He watched his game-winning two-run single skip past a diving Kyle Seager at third base and into left field to score Carlos Santana and pinch runner Aaron Cunningham in the ninth inning as the Indians beat Seattle, 2-1.

"I watched it all the way," Hannahan said. "Another inch and it's a double play. It's funny how baseball works sometimes."

Hannahan knows all about how funny baseball can be. He won the third-base job in spring training over Lonnie Chisenhall mostly because of his defensive ability. The Indians liked the idea of their infield being anchored by Hannahan at third and Casey Kotchman at first base.

The Indians played Oakland on Friday night in their 12th game of the season. Hannahan entered the game hitting .313 (10-for-32) with one homer and eight RBI. Against right-handers, Hannahan is hitting .381 (8-for-21), the fourth highest average in the American League behind Josh Hamilton, A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko.

Those are good numbers for a guy who has always made a living with his glove.

Defensively, naturally, Hannahan has already made four errors. He made five all last season and led AL third basemen in fielding percentage.

"I'll still take him out there," said Steve Smith, Indians infield coach. "I think two of the errors have come when he's been shifted over to short. On the error on Tuesday in Seattle, that ball just exploded on him."

Hannahan missed about 10 days in spring training with back spasms, but he said that has had nothing to do with his early-season errors.

"Errors are errors," he said. "I feel fine. I had some errors early last season. I'm not trying to make them. It's just baseball."

The Indians are tied for sixth in the AL in fielding percentage through 11 games.

"You can take a thousand ground balls in the off-season and spring training, but when the season starts you can get a couple of bad hops," said Hannahan. "The big thing is keeping the right mind-set and playing good defense.

"If the ball takes two hops and bounces up and hits you in the chest, there's nothing you can do about it. You just have to stay mentally strong, make the routine plays and continue to help these pitchers."

Walk, don't swing: To combat an offense that has spent the past four years swinging and missing way too much, the Indians are trying to walk their way to victory.

Not that they're against swinging the bat. The Indians haven't become pacifists with flowers in their hair.

"We still go to the plate thinking hit to walk, not walk to hit," manager Manny Acta said.

Indians hitters last year finished second in the AL with 1,269 strikeouts and seventh in walks with 494.

It was a familiar pattern in an organization that for years didn't think twice about striking out. Here are the Tribe's strikeout and walk totals over the past four years.

• 2011: No. 2 in strikeouts at 1,269, No. 7 in walks at 494.

• 2010: No. 2 in strikeouts at 1,184, No. 6 in walks at 545.

• 2009: No. 3 in strikeouts at 1,211, No. 5 in walks at 582.

• 2008: No. 3 in strikeouts at 1,213, No. 6 in walks at 560.

This season the Indians lead the AL in walks with 57 and rank 10th in strikeouts with 89.

"This has been huge for our game," said Acta. "This isn't so much about walks. We wanted to cut down the strikeouts. There are guys like Santana, Travis Hafner and Shin-Soo Choo where walking is part of their game. But we concentrated more on cutting down the strikeouts."

This spring Acta and hitting coach Bruce Fields talked about having better at-bats with two strikes.

"We let the them know how many strikeouts we had over the last four years," said Acta. "We talked about having a good two-strike approach. We're not talking about choking up or spreading out your stance, but you have to have a better mind-set.

"We showed them in a lot of different ways that if you put the bat on the ball you give yourself a chance. When you strike out, you don't give yourself a chance."

Shelley Duncan leads the Tribe with 11 walks followed by Santana (10), Hafner (six) and Michael Brantley and Hannahan with five each.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

David Huff has strong outing in Akron Aeros' loss: Minor League Report

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Also, Alex Monsalve, Alex Lavisky (St. Edward) and Bryson Myles each drive in two runs as Lake County snaps a 10-game losing streak.

david huff.JPGView full sizeDavid Huff
AA Akron Aeros

Phillies 4, Aeros 3 (10) LHP David Huff (0.00 ERA) pitched four scoreless innings, but host Reading (Pa.) scored one in the eighth, two in the ninth and got a walk-off double from Steve Susdorf in the 10th to rally past Akron in Eastern League action. Aeros RHP Preston Guilmet (4.76) blew a save chance, and RHP Kyle Landis (1-1, 0.96) took the loss.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Pelicans 7, Mudcats 5 A throwing error by Carolina SS Ronny Rodriguez (.295) with two out in the ninth inning allowed the tying run to score, and Odubel Herrera hit a go-ahead, two-run double as host Myrtle Beach (S.C.) got past the Mudcats in Carolina League action. 3B Giovanny Urshela (.234) had three hits and two RBI for Carolina. Mudcats LHP T.J. House (0.95) struck out five in six innings, but the Pelicans managed three runs -- two earned -- against him, and he left with a no-decision.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 7, LumberKings 0 C Alex Monsalve, DH Alex Lavisky (St. Edward) and RF Bryson Myles each drove in two runs as Lake County snapped a 10-game losing streak with a Midwest League win in Clinton, Iowa. Monsalve (.273) had four hits, Lavisky (.283) had two and Myles (.226) tripled. RHP Cody Anderson (1-0, 3.00), RHP Rob Nixon (0.00) and RHP Kyle Blair (18.36) combined on the five-hit shutout. Anderson allowed four hits in six innings, Nixon gave up one hit in two innings and Blair pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers at Indians, ppd. Columbus' International League game in Indianapolis on Friday was postponed by rain. The Clippers travel to face Toledo today.

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