Justin Masterson allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. Oakland right-hander Tyson Ross shuts down Tribe's offense.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Justin Masterson continued to struggle as the Indians finished their best trip in almost five years Sunday with a 5-1 loss to Oakland at o.CO Coliseum.

The Indians went 7-2 on the trip, but Masterson (0-2, 6.65 ERA) didn't pitch well in either one of his starts. He lasted five innings Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits in 111 pitches. He walked six and struck out two.

On Tuesday in Seattle, Masterson lasted 3 2/3 innings and allowed eight run on seven hits. He's walked 10 in his last two outings.

The Indians rallied to beat Seattle, but they couldn't do much against right-hander Tyson Ross (1-0, 2.13).

The Tribe, which opened its road schedule by winning three straight series for the first time since 1988, took a 1-0 lead on consecutive two-out doubles by Travis Hafner and Shin-Soo Choo in the first. It was the only run Ross allowed in 6 2/3 innings.

The A's, the lowest scoring team in the American League, made it 1-1 in the third on a double by Cliff Pennington. Masterson retired the first two batters in the inning before walking leadoff man Jemile Weeks.

Pennington and Weeks, both switch-hitters, faced Masterson from the left side. Left-handers are hitting .346 (18-for-52) against Masterson this year. The A's lefties went 4-for-15 (.267) against him Sunday.

Masterson walked Kila Ka'aihue to start the fourth. Seth Smith followed with a two-run homer just inside the right field foul pole for a 3-1 lead. It ended Smith's 45-game homerless streak going back to last season with the Rockies. Ka'aihue and Smith are left-handed hitters.

The A's made it 4-1 in the fifth on Kurt Suzuki's two-out single. Masterson retired the first two batters and should have been out of the inning. The Indians shifted their defense to the right side against Ka'aihue. The strategy worked as Ka'aihue sent a grounder to shallow right field where second baseman Jason Kipnis was waiting. Kipnis, however, didn't get off a clean throw and Ka'aihue was credited with a hit.

Masterson walked Smith and Suzuki singled.

The A's stole a run in the eighth to make it 5-1. Eric Sogard, who singled with one out, stole second with two out. On Pennington's infield single to the hole at short, he took advantage of a weak throw by Jason Donald to score from third.

The Indians put the leadoff runner on base five times, but couldn't score after the first. The leadoff runner reached base in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning, but each time the Indians hit into a double play.

Michael Brantley lined into a double play in the fifth. Jack Hannahan grounded into one in the sixth and Hafner grounded into another in the eighth.

The Indians were held to four hits.

Ross, 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA against the Indians, walked five and allowed four hits in 101 pitches.

Masterson is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA lifetime against Oakland.

The Timbers held on for the 1-0 victory Saturday night, snapping Sporting's seven-match winning streak.

AP PhotoPortland Timbers fans yell during the first half of their MLS soccer game against Sporting Kansas City in Portland, Ore., Saturday, April 21, 2012.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins said he couldn't help thinking about Portland's late lapses this season going into the final minutes against undefeated Sporting Kansas City.

But the Timbers held on for the 1-0 victory Saturday night, snapping Sporting's seven-match winning streak.

"It definitely gets one off our backs," said Perkins, who earned his 50th career win with the shutout.

In the end, it was an own goal that spoiled Sporting Kansas City's perfect season. Chance Myers headed the ball past goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen in the 41st minute to give the Timbers the victory.

Sporting KC had won seven straight and was Major League Soccer's only undefeated team heading into the match against the struggling Timbers. The record for most victories to start a season is 12, set by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996, the league's inaugural year.

"Look, I hate losing, but I have to put into context. If we came in here and didn't play well I think the guys would be feeling a bit different," Sporting coach Peter Vermes said. "Overall, I think our guys are happy with the way they played."

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Portland, who hadn't won since a 3-1 victory at home over Philadelphia in the season opener.

The Timbers (2-4-1) were coming off a 3-1 loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy the previous Saturday. It was the third straight match in which they had surrendered an early lead. Two of those losses came at Jeld-Wen in the final minutes to Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA.

"At the end of the day, everyone fought from minute 1 to minute 90," Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury said.

Sporting (7-1-0) was coming off a 3-1 victory at Vancouver on Wednesday. The match against the Timbers wrapped up a stretch of three games in eight days for the team, which now gets two weeks off.

"I did like the way we came in here and still got the output we did tonight. It's not easy when you play away from home in this game," Vermes said. "We will take these two weeks off which will be good for us to prepare for our next game."

It was a physical match on both sides from the start. Portland goalkeeper Troy Perkins, wearing neon orange, fell on the ball for a save after being challenged by Kei Kamara, Sporting's top scorer with four goals, in the ninth minute.

There was a flurry of activity midway through the first half when Steve Purdy was handed a yellow card for a tackle on Roger Espinoza in the 23rd minute. Perkins tipped away a free kick by Graham Zusi in the 25th, and Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen stopped Eric Brunner's free kick on the other end a short time later.

But the match was scoreless until Portland went up on Myers' own goal off a cross from Kris Boyd. Myers lay prone on the turf in frustration for several moments after the error.

The two teams got chippy in the second half after Sporting defender Aurelien Collin leveled Portland's Purdy with a kick. Collin was yellow carded.

Perkins almost got beat by Collin in stoppage time, but again the neon-clad goalkeeper laid down on the ball to stop the attack. Perkins faced 16 shots and had two saves.

"I think everyone in this locker room who took part in this game can walk out of here with their head held high," said Boyd.

Timbers fans lingered in the stadium cheering long after the match ended.

Portland Police handed out flyers to fans entering the game seeking information on the hit-and-run death of Nancy Schoeffler, who was stuck on March 31 at about 11:20 p.m. on a street near Jeld-Wen Field. It was the same night the Timbers lost 3-2 at home to Real Salt Lake.

Police say Schoeffler was hit by a black sedan and shortly thereafter two women, possibly wearing Timbers hats, were reported arguing in a grocery store parking lot about two miles away.

The Timbers put information about the case on the video scoreboard during breaks in the match.

On Friday, Timbers forward Eddie Johnson retired after a 10-year professional career in England and the United States. The 27-year-old Johnson joined the Timbers before their inaugural season last year but has been hampered by injuries, including a third concussion in six months in February.

Johnson's career started at 17 with Manchester United and he appeared with the first team during the 2003-04 season.

The Timbers also acquired forward Mike Fucito from the Montreal Impact in a trade Friday, but Fucito was not yet with the team on Saturday.

Fifth in a series of scouting reports on the top NFL prospects at various positions. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fifth in a series of scouting reports on the top NFL prospects at various positions. Previously: Running backs, defensive backs, wide receivers and tight ends, linebackers.

Scouting Report / Offensive linemen

Best of the best

Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal

6-6 5/8, 306, 4.99

Comment: Top-10 talent. Projected by many to go No. 3 overall to Minnesota, but Vikings could be open to trade. Protected Matt Barkley's blind side in USC's high-powered offense. Has length and drop-back posture of left-tackle prototype. Exceptional body control and balance. Finishes blocks. Can fit in zone-based scheme. Core strength still needs work. As good as he is, Kalil considered a cut below the likes of Joe Thomas. Comes from pro-football family: father, Frank, was drafted by Buffalo Bills and played in USFL; brother Ryan is a multiple-Pro Bowl center for the Carolina Panthers.

Best of the rest

David DeCastro, G, Stanford

6-4 7/8, 316, 5.43

Comment: First-round talent. Potential foundation piece of an offensive line. "Plug-and-play" guard; does not matter which side. Big, strong, agile, smart. Can bang or pull. High character. Excelled in on-field drills at combine.

Cordy Glenn, G/T, Georgia

6-5, 345, 5.15

Comment: First-round talent. Ran better than expected at combine. Versatility enhances his value. Likely will end up at right tackle.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

6-5 3/4, 313, 5.23

Comment: First-round talent. First-team All-Big Ten. Many evaluators consider him to be better in run game than more-celebrated Jonathan Martin of Stanford. Reiff might struggle with speed rushers at left tackle, so he is probably better suited for RT sooner than later. If enough teams think that, Reiff might fall in first round because of value difference between positions. Off-the-charts toughness. Still needs work on technique. Rallied from so-so combine to have excellent pro day in hot conditions. Multiple state champion as prep wrestler in South Dakota.

Others to watch

Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin

6-4, 314, 5.39

Comment: So-so in Senior Bowl practices but played well in game.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

6-5, 312, 5.29

Comment: Second-team AP All-American. More athletic than Reiff. Experience in pro-style offense. Light on feet, agile. Scouts have questions about his overall strength.

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

6-5, 314, 5.16

Comment: First-round talent. Ability to switch to guard makes him attractive to team that might already have a center but wants someone of his skill set.

Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss

6-6, 316, 5.23

Comment: Played his last 29 games at right tackle. Athletic and strong. Quick off the ball. Good upper-body power helps him periodically overpower his man against run. Held his own in quality SEC.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

6-7 1/4, 323, 5.40

Comment: Adams is a giant man with a giant cloud over his head: He reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the combine. Failing a test is one thing; failing a test you know is coming is another. Had other character/off-field issues at Ohio State, including tattoo scandal. If true, the positive test at the combine almost certainly knocked him out of first round. If Adams walks a straight line, the payoff could be big. Plays hard and imposes his will. Flexible. Long arms (34 inches) and huge hands (11 inches) enable him to control rushers. Strength was called into question after 19 reps of 225 pounds at combine.

Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State

6-4, 311, 5.43

Comment: Excelled at left tackle at Midwestern State. Invited to Senior Bowl, but was unable to participate (hamstring). So-so performance at combine.

Kelechi Osemele, OT, Iowa State

6-6, 333, 5.36

Comment: Stronger than strong. Better run blocker than pass protector. Tough. Smart.

Mitchell Schwartz, OT, California

6-5, 318, 5.45

Comment: Left tackle in college better suited for right tackle or guard in NFL. Has had back issues.

Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

6-6, 320, 5.41

Comment: Long-limbed. Dedicated to getting better. Struggled with power rushers one-on-one at Senior Bowl. Scouts think his game has a lot of room for growth.

On the Browns

Starters: Joe Thomas (LT), Jason Pinkston (LG), Alex Mack (C), Shawn Lauvao (RG), Oniel Cousins (RT).

Backups: Artis Hicks (G/T), Steve Vallos (C), John Greco (G), Jarrod Shaw, Dominic Alford.

Level of need (1-10): Nine.

Comment: Left side of line, plus Mack, is fine. Pinkston made strides as a rookie last season. The right side needs work. Questions remain about Lauvao's viability for the long haul, and right tackle screams for a high draft pick. Cousins is listed as the starter because Browns parted ways with Tony Pashos, who was injured and played poorly last season. If Vikings go against prognostications and pass on Kalil at No. 3, Browns would have a crack at him. Sliding Kalil to right tackle, though, means he would not play the position that is tied to his best value. Right tackles simply should not be going in the top five. At 37, Browns possibly could have two of these three in front of them: Martin, Adams and Massie. If the Browns stay at 4, 22 and 37 and pass on RT each time, Schwartz and/or Sanders might still be on the board when they pick early in the third round.

Cavaliers give good effort in loss to Spurs and get good news on the ping-pong ball front.

Darren Abate, Associated PressTristan Thompson shoots over Boris Diaw during the Cavaliers' loss in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO – In the Bizarro world that is late April out-of-contention basketball the Cavaliers had a perfect night Sunday.

They played competitively against one of the NBA's elite, lost the game and watched teams surrounding them at the bottom of the standings post wins. Nice hustle against the San Antonio Spurs, more ping-pong balls for the hopper and a virtual tie with the victorious Sacramento Kings for the fourth-worst record in the league.

(NBA standings)

Let the good times roll.

The Cavaliers kept it close for three-plus quarters before falling, 114-98, to the Spurs in front of a sellout crowd of 18,581 fans in AT&T Center

Adding to the surreal nature of evening, Cavs coach Byron Scott "congratulated" his team after a 16-point loss. The comment obviously needs some context.

Don't forget it's the same opponent that walloped them by 35 points at The Q on April 2, an embarrassing outcome that prompted Antawn Jamison to speak openly about some teammates laughing in the locker room following such defeats.

Yes, the Spurs on Sunday were without Tim Duncan – given the night off by coach Gregg Popovich – but the Cavs were more industrious and focused. They committed just 13 turnovers and were close in most of the statistical categories.

The Spurs won their seventh straight game, and could clinch the top seed in the Western Conference with a victory on Monday.

"Again, I congratulated our guys," Scott said. "Obviously, we want to win games, but just showing how hard they have been playing and not taking anything for granted. . . .

"You're playing against a team that has aspirations of winning a championship. They are one of the best teams in the league. We competed for 48 minutes and that's all you can ask."

The Cavs (21-42) spent much of the game trailing by 10 to 12 points. They never appeared poised to make a run at the lead, but kept chipping away at the deficit. The Spurs showcased their depth in a game in which their two leading scorers -- Manu Ginobili (20 points) and Stephen Jackson (17 points) -- came off bench.

Ginobili was surgically efficient in 22 minutes, converting 9-of-12 shots from the field.

"Yeah, he's pretty good," Scott said. "We're making a run and then he hits some incredible shots."

Scott received a nice effort from Kyrie Irving in his third game back from a right shoulder sprain. The rookie point guard scored 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Jamison led the way with 21 points and Manny Harris added 14 points.

"Health-wise, and especially with how my legs feel, I feel pretty good," Irving said. "I feel like I'm back at the beginning of the season."

Irving guarded Tony Parker, who will receive some Most Valuable Player consideration, and limited him to six points to go along with nine assists.

The 20-year-old guard spoke about wanting to finish the season with three more competitive efforts and get ready for Summer League. The team has two first-round draft picks and its odds of getting a top-five pick improved with Sunday wins by Sacramento and Golden State.

The Kings (21-43) have played one more game.

This is what passes for excitement in the closing week of a lost season. The Cavs played hard against an excellent opponent and the losers around them won on Sunday.

It was a good day.

Who will the Browns pick at No. 4? Will they pull the trigger on a trade? Will they go defense? The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff, along with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore weighed in their opinions on what the Browns might do in the NFL Draft.

View full sizeAP Photo/David GoldmanCould the Browns draft Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill at No. 22?

Among other topics discussed:

• Kendall Wright or Stephen Hill?

• Is it right to compare Brandon Weeden to Derek Anderson?

• Could the Browns trade down?

• Dennis, Mary Kay and Glenn gave their projections for picks No. 4, 22 and 37 for the Browns.

From now until the draft, read what Mary Kay (@marykaycabot), D-Man (@dmansworldpd) and G-Mo (@GlennMooreCLE) have to say on Twitter.

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Follow our coverage on Twitter

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Since, for various reasons, Mike Holmgren has not been what Browns fan expected, there is even more hope riding on the work of GM Tom Heckert.

Mark Duncan, Associated PressDon't worry Tom Heckert. It's just the future of the franchise riding on this week's NFL draft, especially those five picks in the first 100 selections.

The rally cry around town has morphed from "In Holmgren We Trust" to "In Heckert We Hope."

For a tortured fan base to jump happily into Browns General Manager Tom Heckert's arms the way many did with team President Mike Holmgren when they thought he might coach again or at least attract a proven winner to replace coach Eric Mangini, Heckert needs to turn this weekend's draft into a bouquet of roses.

He has earned some admirers based on his previous work as Browns GM (but also because of how he compares to previous GMs). Solid "B" or "B-plus" grades, though, won't do this time.

The Browns own the front row position at No. 4 and four more spots in the top 100. For an organization that passed up a touchdown maker in the top 10 last year, then scored one more point than the expansion Browns of 1999 . . . an organization that's all in on the draft and numb to the wiles of free agency, this weekend is the one people will be celebrating or decrying for the next 10 years.

Holmgren is not expected to do much steering on draft day unless a desirable quarterback presents himself to the Browns at an opportune time, which is fine.

Holmgren's two stabs at quarterback during his time here -- Jake Delhomme in free agency and Colt McCoy in the 2010 draft -- don't exactly ratchet the anticipation for a third foray by him. But as team president charged with turning the fortunes of this franchise, he absolutely should exercise his authority on the most important position on the field.

In every other way, the Browns are Heckert's team. So far, he has done well enough in the draft. Just so long as we agree that well enough won't do when you've traded down in 2011 to load up for 2012, gone 4-12 in between, lost your best running back and spent the off-season casting for a bigger fish at quarterback.

Heckert joked about the No. 4 pick last January, saying, "It's going to be tough to screw that one up."

Sure enough, there are only two ways he can do it. Take Southern Cal's Matt Kalil at No. 4, then ask him to move from left tackle to right tackle. That's not a value pick or an impact pick for a touchdown-starved team.

The only other way Heckert can do it is trade down out of the top 10 and miss either the best running back in the draft or the top two wide receivers.

"Offensively, everyone knows it -- it's not a secret -- we need guys that can score points," Heckert said at last week's predraft news conference.

This is Heckert's chance to score big with quality and quantity. Five in the top 100. Thirteen overall.

By passing up Julio Jones last year for a second No. 1 this year, what makes the most sense now is for Heckert to use all three picks in the first 37 selections. This is a bottom-heavy draft for the Browns, with seven picks after the fourth round.

Heckert is going to have to do more than sweep up visible gold nuggets. For this draft to be the one that finally sets up the organization for a competitive five-year run, he's going to have to strike some oil down deep, too.

Heckert's two drafts have turned up nine starters, five on offense.

If the Browns' first three picks in this draft don't become starters and at least two of them aren't players who can find the end zone on a clear day, this will have been a wasted opportunity.

Bad teams should find players who can start for them. It's a lot harder for the New England Patriots to draft starters.

Whether the Browns are drafting players who could start for anyone or just a team with their deficiencies will only become clear if the team actually begins winning sometime soon.

For now, you would side with Heckert on acquisitions such as Joe Haden, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard in the context of drafting quality starters more than you would on, say, Colt McCoy.

Not long ago, Holmgren told season-ticket holders that winning will happen sooner than later and that even 6-10 wouldn't cut it this season.

Because Holmgren made a similar comment when he fired Mangini, saying five wins wasn't good enough -- only to see Pat Shurmur win four -- some people don't know what to make of his latest attempt to establish a benchmark for success in 2012.

But don't dismiss it. Another dismal season would shake the Holmgren-Heckert regime to its foundation.

The ante is raised for Heckert to find not just starters but difference makers, to score big after using last year's draft to set up this one, to change the face and fortune of the franchise.

Other than that, not much riding on his long weekend of work.

Boise State's Doug Martin is a back from a small school drawing big-time comparisons.

Colin E. Braley, Associated PressThe hard work put in by Boise State running back Doug Martin is paying off with his stock rising as the NFL Draft approaches.

Playing on a team that is not part of the BCS conglomeration, playing alongside a Heisman Trophy candidate, sometimes it's possible to be overlooked.

And sometimes, despite all that, it's possible to be compared to a Hall of Famer.

Meet Doug Martin. He is the Boise State running back overshadowed by teammate Kellen Moore, as the Broncos quarterback won more college games than any other in NCAA history.

And meet Martin, the next Emmitt Smith.

"Trust me, he's a world away at this point," Boise State running backs coach Keith Bhonapha said of the comparison to Smith. "But he can run inside the tackles, he can take a pounding, he can make a guy miss tackles."

Bhonapha spent four years watching Martin play for Boise State, watched the 5-9, 223-pound player develop from a kid who only picked up football in high school to a running back who ran for 1,200 yards each of his past two seasons for the Broncos.

More often than Smith, draft pundits have compared Martin to Baltimore's Ray Rice -- a steady, straight-ahead runner who can consistently pile up yards. Martin is projected to go late in the first round or early in the second round of the NFL Draft, and has moved up in the estimation of some to become the second-best running back in the draft.

And the Browns, eager for depth at tailback, are looking hard.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Martin bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times, tops among running backs, though his time of 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash was less spectacular.

"He's a lot faster than what a 40-yard [time] will show you," Bhonapha said. "I think Doug has more of a game speed. He's a guy who will be running the same speed in the fourth quarter as he was in the first quarter."

Martin's durability and endurance come from hard work in the weight room and on the practice field. Boise State teammates began calling him "Muscle Hamster" because of his remarkable strength -- paired with his chubby cheeks.

"He is hands-down probably one of the hardest working guys in practice, in the weight room and on the field, and I think that's the reason he's the way he is," Bhonapha said. "There's no such thing as half-speed with him. It's a genuine thing, it's not like he's trying to prove anything to the weight coach or anyone on the field. That's just the way he is. He's a full-throttle, full-go, as-hard-as-I-can-go guy."

At Boise State, he had 3,430 yards rushing in his career -- in an offense that focused more on Moore's passing abilities.

Martin's versatility was evident his sophomore season when he agreed to switch to the secondary as a nickel back when there was a logjam at tailback. He never actually played the position, returning to running back before games began, but his sacrifice was noticed.

"I didn't really want to do it, but I did it for the team," Martin told CBS Sports in an interview last season. "Deep down, though, I still wanted to be a running back. I thought it was never going to come."

Martin's time at tailback finally came, and he showed how durable he could be for Boise State.

Now, he's just trying to show the rest of the world.

"Coming from a small school like Boise, not really recognized as big as the Alabamas and LSUs, I just want to show I can play with these guys," Martin said in an interview last season. "I feel like I can. I know I can."

Manager Manny Acta rested some regulars and started some bench players in the last game of a nine-game, 10-day trip through Kansas City, Seattle and Oakland.

Elaine Thompson, Associated PressJason Donald will be headed back to the bench with the return on Tuesday of Asdrubal Cabrera, but manager Manny Acta says Donald filled in well at shortstop while Cabrera was on bereavement leave.

Oakland, Calif. -- Tribe manager Manny Acta rested regulars Carlos Santana, Shelley Duncan and Casey Kotchman for Sunday's series finale against the A's.

In their place, Jose Lopez started at first, Aaron Cunningham started in left field and Lou Marson caught. It was Lopez's fourth start, Cunningham's third and Marson's third.

The result?

The Indians were held to four hits and lost, 5-1. Lopez, Cunningham and Marson went a combined 0-for-8, with two walks by Marson.

Kotchman is in an 0-for-16 slump, so his bat wasn't missed, but the same couldn't be said for his glove. Duncan hit only .250 (6-for-24) on the trip, but he's one of the Tribe's few right-handed hitters with pop. Santana is hitting .239 (11-for-46) but has an OPS of .885, ranks second on the team with three homers and is third with nine RBI.

Why pick Sunday to give Santana, Duncan and Kotchman a day off?

Take your pick: It was the end of a nine-game, 10-day, three-city trip; a day game after a night game; or a chance to give three regulars a two-day break before opening a six-game homestand Tuesday night.

Then of course, there's another reason.

"Everybody needs to play, guys," said Acta. "Everybody needs to play. Just like when we were kids."

Kotchman is hitting .157 (8-for-51) with one double, two homers and four RBI. He's 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

"I'm not going to judge guys here on their batting average," said Acta. "There are a lot of low ones still out there. He was key in that Kansas City series. There's a long way to go."

Back to the bench: Jason Donald did a solid job filling in for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera over the past six games, but Cabrera will be back in the lineup Tuesday.

Cabrera has been on the bereavement list following the death of his grandfather in Venezuela. He left the team a week ago.

"I think it's safe to say Asdrubal will be back at shortstop Tuesday," said Acta. "But Jason has done a nice job. He's contributed at both ends."

Donald hit .217 (5-for-23) with three runs and two RBI in the past six games. Overall, he's hitting .212 (7-for-33) with three RBI.

"Jason was responsible for driving in the winning run in the big comeback in Seattle [Tuesday]," said Acta. "He's made some nice plays on defense. I think it's good that he's got some extended playing time and at-bats."

The Indians went 4-2 with Donald at short in place of Cabrera.

"I just think it's good we've won without one of our best players," said Acta. "We knew our depth would be better this year . . . especially with guys like Donald. This is his third year here. It's about that time where guys like him can feel more settled up here and feel more comfortable going out there."

Donald went 0-for-4 Sunday and was tested in the eighth inning on a single by Cliff Pennington in the hole with two out. Donald made an off-balance throw to first, but it was late as Eric Sogard scored from second for the A's final run.

"Pennington can get down the line, and I was just thinking, 'Get rid of it as soon as I can,' " said Donald. "I just didn't get the job done."

Donald said he had no problem coming off the bench and making six straight starts.

"I've been an everyday player my whole life," he said.

It's official: Tribe right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, who beat Oakland on Saturday night, dropped his appeal after the game and began serving his five-game suspension Sunday. He will make his next start this coming Saturday against the Angels.

Gomez was suspended and fined for hitting Kansas City's Mike Moustakas with a pitch on April 14 at Kauffman Stadium.

Finally: Indians DH Travis Hafner has reached base by walk, hit or hit by pitch in 14 of his past 18 plate appearances.

Cavs players step up to defend coach Byron Scott, who landed on a Sports Illustrated list of coaches players do not want to play for.

Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerDoes this look like a coach hated by his players? Byron Scott got some votes in a survey by Sports Illustrated as a coach players would not want to play for, but his players on the Cavaliers say they love playing for him. Boston's Paul Pierce obviously is familiar with Scott's warm and fuzzy side, too.

San Antonio -- Several Cavaliers came to the defense of Byron Scott who, according to a recent Sports Illustrated poll, is one of the coaches for which NBA players would least like to play.

In an anonymous survey of 134 players, Scott finished third on a list behind Orlando's Stan Van Gundy and Milwaukee's Scott Skiles. Scott received 9 percent of the vote, while Van Gundy led the field with 22 percent.

Scott can be blunt and demanding, and he has clashed with high-profiles players such as Jason Kidd and Baron Davis during his stops in New Jersey and New Orleans. But Anthony Parker and Kyrie Irving were surprised to see their coach in the unfavorable category. Each assumed the ranking is attributed to Scott's grueling training camps.

"They must have heard stories," Parker said. "Otherwise, that doesn't make sense."

Irving has built a strong relationship with Scott in his first season.

"Besides that [running], he's one of the best coaches in this league," Irving said, "Just based on the fact he listens to you, but also he gives you an opinion that's in your best interest all the time. He was a player, so he understands how we're feeling.

"That's basically what it's about. Having a coach to go out there and play, he understands you're going to make mistakes and he doesn't take you out right away. He hopes you learn from it."

According to the poll, Boston's Doc Rivers (22 percent) Mike D'Antoni (21 percent) and San Antonio's Gregg Popovich (16 percent) were the coaches for which players most wanted to play. D'Antoni was fired by the New York Knicks this season, in part because he lost a power struggle with All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.

Scott said he saw the poll on Sunday.

"I started laughing," he said. "I knew it would be hard to beat Scott and Stan. . . . I wouldn't lose sleep over it. I think Stan is a real good coach and I think the same about Scott Skiles. The thing I know about both of those guys is they are pretty demanding. If that's the case, and I'm put in that category as a very demanding coach, I don't mind that.

"A lot of guys, you know, want you to kiss their butts, and I'm not going to do that. That ain't happening, and I'm not going to tell them what they want to hear."

Gee returns: A sprained ankle is never a good thing, but Scott said the injury had a benefit for Alonzo Gee: The hard-working small forward finally got some rest.

He returned to the lineup against San Antonio on Sunday after missing the previous three games. Gee is averaging 29.4 minutes while guarding some of the league's most athletic players. He played 19.6 minutes per game in his rookie season.

"This is the most he has ever played and, in this [compressed] season, as short as this has been, I think it obviously has affected him."

In his past 16 games, Gee's shooting percentage has dipped to 35.4 percent as he gets accustomed to life as a starter. He also has averaged 15.1 points in that span. Gee is a competitor, Scott said, and the coach believes the small forward will grow from the experience.

"It's probably good that he hurt his ankle a bit and we gave him a week off, so to speak," Scott said.

Another summer-leaguer: D.J. Kennedy, recalled from the Development League on Saturday, dressed for his first NBA game on Sunday.

He signed a similar deal to the ones given Manny Harris and Donald Sloan. He will play for the Cavs' Summer League team and likely attend training camp on a non-guaranteed contract.

The last word: Scott believes the veteran Spurs, who could finish with the best record in the Western Conference, are equipped for a long playoff run. "They have everything you need to win a championship," he said. "Their only weakness might be free throws. Other than that, they are probably one of the best teams I have seen in a while."

With the 26th pick in the first round, the Houston Texans select....Who do you say? This is another pick -- by voting in a poll -- made by you in Cleveland.com's fans' mock draft.

Associated PressWisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler (70) is a superb run blocker.

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 Thursday?

So far, going into this poll for the Houston Texans' selection, you have made 25 picks. Six more polls will go up on Cleveland.com on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 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

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OT-G, Georgia

22. Cleveland Browns: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

23. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, Louisiana State

The 26th pick in the first round of the draft belongs to the Houston Texans. The Texans finished the 2011 season with a 10-6 record.

The Texans' primary needs include an offensive tackle, guard, wide receiver, inside linebacker and cornerback.

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

Despite Brian Ching pouring cold water on what was a much-needed solid performance on Saturday by Columbus, the news of the week was definitely the retirement and the Crew's hiring of former U.S. international Frankie Hejduk.

Associated Press fileEddie Gaven could be a Goal of the Week nominee.

The Columbus Crew are winless in the month of April, but fans could find reasons for optimism in Saturday's breakout performance of Eddie Gaven. The 10-year MLS veteran scored both goals -- one that could be a Goal of the Week candidate (video below) -- in Columbus' 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo.

Is Gaven a sign of things to come for a club that has struggled to score in 2012? Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch examines the offense, which featured some new faces on Saturday. 

In fact, Arace's colleague, Adam Jardy points out that only six players who started last weekend against Philadelphia, were back in the lineup on Saturday, including two players making their debut (Nemanja Vukovic, Josh Williams) for Robert Warzycha's club.

Crew vs. Dynamo highlights

Craig Merz, who has been covering the team for a long time, takes a closer look at Gaven and his Man of the Match performance and how important he is to the Black and Gold.

But despite Brian Ching pouring cold water on what was a much-needed solid performance on Saturday, the news of the week was definitely the retirement followed by the Crew's hiring of former U.S. international Frankie Hejduk. The veteran of two World Cups (1998, 2002) toasted his career and his fans, as only Frankie could, with a beer at the press conference (Watch the announcement below). 

Hejduk will transition from the playing field to the Crew front office, and the announcement received a lot of attention in the soccer world, especially on Twitter where many friends, teammates, fans and media members paid tribute. One of the former teammates giving Hejduk a shout-out, was former Crew star Robbie Rogers, who recently broke his ankle while playing for his new club, Leeds United in England.   

Out of all the tributes, one of the highlights was former Crew manager Sigi Schmid, who not only coached Hejduk when he was in Columbus, but watched him grow as his college coach at UCLA. Joshua Mayers of the Seattle Times asked Sigi about some of his memories about coaching a 'free spirit' like Frankie.

Frankie Hejduk announces his retirement and his new job

And finally, on a side note, The Lantern took time to highlight Crew Stadium's 'Buck-a-Brat' (a bratwurst, not a discount on tickets for kids) and 'Buck-a-Beer' promotions, and how they target college students (who knew?). In this day and age where concession prices get more and more outrageous, it has been a successful promotion for the club for a number of years.  

Columbus is sitting in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference table, but as is usually the case in Major League Soccer, they are just a few good results away from rocketing up the standings and joining the top three. They have a home game against the Vancouver Whitecaps this weekend, followed by a trip to Portland, a team that currently sits at the bottom of the Western Conference, but is always tough to play at home.  

What do you think of Robert Warzycha's more offensive approach for the Houston game? Is this a sign of things to come for Eddie Gaven? And what do you think about Frankie Hejduk joining the Crew front office? Share your comments below.

And check out Frankie's greatest moment from his time in Columbus, his nail-in-the-coffin goal in the 2008 MLS Cup Final, to help the Crew win their first-ever league title.

Highlights include Cavaliers at Memphis.

Thomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerKyrie Irving (with the basketball) and the Cavaliers visit the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at 8. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

1 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at Kane County, WELW/1330-AM

7 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Texas, ESPN

7:05 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Bowie, WARF/1350-AM

NBA

8 p.m. CAVALIERS at Memphis, Fox Sports Ohio, NBATV; WTAM/1100-AM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage)

NHL PLAYOFFS

7 p.m. Rangers at Ottawa, NBC Sports Network

9 p.m. Phoenix at Chicago, CNBC

WOMENS COLLEGE LACROSSE

7 p.m. ACC Championship, Maryland vs. North Carolina, ESPNU

Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff of The Plain Dealer break down the top defensive linemen 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

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

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

"The Browns have wasted many years by not drafting enough offensive linemen--the foundation of any good football team. They could have the best receivers, the best QB and the best running back but it wouldn't even matter without a good line. They MUST figure this out and fast." - epbrown

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerOne cleveland.com reader states the Browns need to address the needs on the offensive line to help protect the future franchise quarterback.

"The Browns have wasted many years by not drafting enough offensive linemen--the foundation of any good football team. They could have the best receivers, the best QB and the best running back but it wouldn't even matter without a good line. They MUST figure this out and fast. The entire Hillis debacle and thus letting Hillis go in the off season tells me they are lacking the understanding of what kind of team is needed to win in our division. Had they kept Hillis, they would have had a nice 1-2 punch of Hillis and Richardson. Some how I get the feeling the Browns will screw things up either by trading down or drafting too many receivers or defensive players. Hopefully, I'm wrong."

He was cited for driving 103 mph on Interstate 71 near the Fulton exit in March.

PD fileJosh Cribbs at a recent Cavaliers game.

Cleveland Browns player Josh Cribbs will have to ride the bench at Cleveland Municipal Court next month with the other accused scofflaws after a sheriff's deputy cited him for driving 103 mph on Interstate 71 near the Fulton exit last month.

Cribbs, who was driving his 2010 Bentley towards downtown Cleveland, was pulled over in the 60 mph zone around 8:45 on March 9.

The standout special-teams player and wide receiver tweeted Monday about his brush with the law from his @JoshCribbs16 handle: "Yes I was pulled over for speeding, going too fast, luckily the police were on the job. Wasn't going that fast the entire time obviously but wrong is wrong, gotta face the music just like anyone else:(."

Some congratulated Cribbs for taking responsibility for his actions.

Cribbs also gave props to officers who pulled him over. "Much Respect to the police officers who pulled me over! I will lead better on the road now as well as on & off the field!!!"

He is scheduled to appear in court May 4.

Recently, the Browns have found a few gems in the draft.

APJoe Haden on draft day 2010.

Chad Conant writes on MansfieldNewsJournal.com how the Cleveland Browns have made some great choices in the later rounds when it comes to the draft.

Hence, each draft is important, writes Conant. That's good, because Heckert and Holmgren have been nailing them in their time running the Browns.

In 2010, conventional wisdom had the Browns taking a cornerback with their first pick. The talk was they were deciding between Florida's Joe Haden and Boise State's Kyle Wilson, writes Conant.

There was some hesitation about taking Haden because he ran a slow 40-yard dash at the combine. Wilson was getting rave reviews. Then, the Browns took Haden and Wilson fell to the Jets at the 29th pick. When that happened, the New York Hype Machine turned Wilson into the next Darrelle Revis and Haden into a wasted pick.

Whoops. Haden is now considered one of the best corners in the NFL. Wilson is so amazing, the Jets keep bringing back Antonio Cromartie.

Then, the Browns used their first second-round pick on T.J. Ward, a safety from Oregon. No one really seemed to like the pick, Conant writes, but Ward has been solid.

More Cleveland Browns

Here are five reasons why the Cleveland Browns should draft Morris Claiborne (The Bleacher Report).

Boise State RB is working his way up the draft board (Cleveland.com).

Stanford OT is confident he can excel in the NFL (Ohio.com).

Justin Blackmon's stock is taking a hit (The News-Herald).

Browns' math equals Trent Richardson at No. 4 (CantonRep.com).

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

AP photoCould Stephen Hill be the pick for the Browns at No. 22?

"Hill would impress scouts with his route-running and blazing speed, and despite being in a pre-dominantly run-option offense down in Georgia Tech, Hill would solidify his status as a late first-round pick.

What may make Hill such an appealing target for the Browns at No.22—or at No. 37 in the second round—is his athletic upside and ability to get downfield."

"QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State: He has an outstanding arm and works hard off the field. The biggest knock is his age. He turns 29 during the season. "

The Plain DealerJustin Masterson hasn't been himself so far this year.

"Admittedly, bullpen performance is certainly something that is difficult to quantify on a player-by-player basis in such a short amount of time and because of the short outings for these, but bullpen usage is much easier to see in terms of the stress and workload being placed on a bullpen. That’s not to say that the “player-by-player” analysis should be ignored (even this early), as many of us will remember Joe Borowski almost single-handedly botched away the start of the 2008 season (he had a 7.56 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP in only 16 2/3 IP that year before the Indians designated him for assignment on July 4th of that year, 4 days before they would trade CC Sabathia), in a year that was…um, kind of important to the Indians."

"Masterson's mechanics seem to be off kilter, and the weird thing is that recently they've started out decent and regressed as the game has gone on. Today he walked 6 batters, and had to be pulled after five innings because of his pitch count. Hopefully this is something that can be worked out over a couple bullpen session, because the Indians are going to be needing Good Masterson as the schedule gets tougher."

John Sleezer/Kansas City StarCould the Cavs be in the mix to draft Anthony Davis?

"Byron Scott said that losing Anderson Varejao and Kyrie Irving for the games that he did may have cost his team 10 wins. That sounds like a lot initially, but I can totally get behind that idea. How many games did they get positively nothing from the center position? How many times did Byron reluctantly trot Ryan Hollins or Semih Erden out there? Until Tristan was shoehorned into the center position, the Cavaliers rarely got anything of note from the five spot. Add in the tough offensive displays without Irving, and I think you get shockingly close to a 30-35 win team."

"Davis dominated the NCAA in a rarely exhibited way. The scary thing is, he can get a lot better. His shooting range is still unreliable, his back-to-the-basket game is raw, he’s too skinny…if he never improves on any of this; he’ll still be a low-usage, high-efficiency center that dominates one end of the court. With strides in his offensive game and a little more muscle on his frame; could he win an MVP?"

"A class guy. It's kind of nice to read about this rather than a jerk like Ron Artest taking out a player with an elbow or a guy like D. Wade whining because he isn't getting paid to serve his country on the Olympic team, or watching The Decision. Yea, he may not be the greatest player but he is doing something to help others and because he is on the Cavs, it should make Cavs' fans feel good." - mojowoo

View full sizePD fileOmri Casspi gives some guidance to young players during a shooting drill. The Cavs forward from Israel visited the Jewish Community Center in Beachwood for a kid's basketball camp.

"A class guy. It's kind of nice to read about this rather than a jerk like Ron Artest taking out a player with an elbow or a guy like D. Wade whining because he isn't getting paid to serve his country on the Olympic team, or watching The Decision. Yea, he may not be the greatest player but he is doing something to help others and because he is on the Cavs, it should make Cavs' fans feel good. I don't understand all of the negative comments on this board. The guy is doing something good just like when LBJ give out his bikes in Akron. That is a good thing regardless of how you feel about his skills."

Browns' first pick is No. 4 overall in the NFL draft that begins on Thursday. Several candidates are linked to the Browns' other first-rounder, at No. 22.

Associated PressMost of the mock drafts continue to forecast that the Browns will select Alabama running back Trent Richardson (3) with the fourth pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL draft is three days away, so not only is it crunch time for the 32 general managers, and for their personnel directors, scouts and other deep thinkers. . .

It also is credibility-check time for the flourishing mock-draft industry.

The three-day draft kicks off Thursday night. The Cleveland Browns own 13 picks in the seven-round draft. Barring a trade, or two or three, Cleveland is scheduled to make two first-round selections, with the fourth and 22nd overall picks, and a prime second-rounder at No. 37.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns, NFL and draft coverage.

The mock draft trend in recent weeks has had the Browns picking Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 4.

WalterFootball.com predicts the Browns will tab Richardson with their first first-rounder, and use their other first-round pick, at No. 22 overall, to select Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin.

WalterFootball.com, about Richardson:

WalterFootball.com caught up with his former teammate, Mark Ingram. He explained that Richardson has become a better student of the game, which yielded serious dividends for him in 2011. With better study habits, Richardson now is a complete back with the ability to run through defenders, run away from them, and beat them with intelligence. He can run in short yardage as well as block on third down or run routes out of the backfield.

Richardson ran for 700 yards and six touchdowns in 2010 after rushing for 751 yards and eight scores as a freshman. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry in his first two seasons.

Mock draft links

Browns select Trent Richardson and a wide receiver with their first-round picks. (NFL.com) 

Looking for homes in the Cleveland area will be first-round Browns pick Trent Richardson and the Browns' second first-rounder, a wide receiver. (newnfldraft.com)

Browns spend their first-round picks on Trent Richardson and on a former minor league pitcher still utilizing his strong right arm. (CBSSports.com)

Trent Richardson again for the Browns at No. 4, and at No. 22, an offensive tackle. (SportingNews.com)

At Nos. 4 and 22, respectively, the Browns pick Trent Richardson and a defensive end-linebacker. (FootballDraftAnalysis.webs.com)

Something different: In order, a quarterback and a running back not named Trent are the Browns' two first-round picks. (NFL Draft Room) 

Browns select Trent Richardson with overall pick No. 4, and a different (from above picks) wide receiver at No. 22. (drafttek.com)

Going to the Cleveland Browns in the first round are Trent Richardson and a wide receiver. (National Football Authority)

North Carolina's Quinton Coples has impressed every team that has looked at him, but questions remain about his drive. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sixth in a series assessing the draft talent at various NFL positions. Previously: Running back, defensive back, wide receivers and tight ends, linebacker, offensive line.

Scouting Report / Defensive linemen

Best of the best

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

6-5 3/4, 284, 4.78

Comment: Top-15 talent. As physically gifted as any 2012 prospect, any position. Tremendous footwork and hands. Excelled at Senior Bowl and in certain combine drills. Has the look of a dominant player. But will he buy in mentally on every snap? By his own admission, he did not play as well as in junior year. Does he wants it badly enough? At least one team in first half of first round will be sure it can maximize his vast potential.

Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

6-4, 298, 4.79

Comment: Top-20 talent. Has steadily moved up boards in off-season. Dontari Poe of Memphis received more publicity for his Herculean combine, but Cox also put on a show. He looked especially good in agility drills. Quickness and length (34 1/2-inch arms) make him difficult to handle at the point of attack. Cox also can play end. Scouts think his frame can add more pounds without sacrificing agility. Intelligence and instincts enable him to play different schemes and techniques at a high level. Former NFL standout Warren Sapp is one of Cox's biggest fans. 2011: 56 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 5 sacks.

Best of the rest

Nick Perry, DE, Southern California

6-2 3/4, 271, 4.64

Comment: First-round talent. One of best pass rushers in draft. Relies on physicality, quick hands and multiple moves to beat his man. Highly motivated, having come from poverty in Detroit. Great work ethic. Had 38-1/2-inch vertical jump and 35 reps at 225 pounds at combine. Got better as 2011 season progressed, finishing with 9 1/2 sacks. Did nice work against Stanford's Jonathan Martin. Needs to improve against the run. Projects as 4-3 left end in NFL.

Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

6-5, 322, 5.36

Comment: First-round talent. Brockers admitted he was a bit nervous at combine, and it showed. His speed and strength numbers in Indianapolis were pedestrian. He was much better in all areas at his pro day, including 5.15 in 40. Brockers, one of the youngest in his draft class, is athletic and long (35-inch arms). Played well against quality competition in his one year as a starter. Strong, with quick hands. Still considered raw.

Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

6-1 5/8, 272, 4.76

Comment: First-round talent. Somewhat of a 'tweener: Will he be 3-4 rush linebacker, which he played at Alabama, or 4-3 end, which he did in sub packages? The more scouts look at tape, the more they see him as a right end in NFL, in part because of his questionable cover skills. Thick lower half. Has boxer's hands and accelerates off block. Played in elite program against good competition. Needs to show more explosion to quarterback.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

6-2, 308, 5.08

Comment: First team AP All-American. Quick off the ball -- clocked 1.64 in 10-yard split at combine -- then relies on brute strength. Can push the pocket. Played superbly in Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin; did as he pleased against Badgers' vaunted line. Evaluators want to see something close to the Wisconsin game on a more consistent basis.

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

6-4 7/8, 303, 5.08

Comment: Often mentioned in same conversation as Worthy, in that both are Big Ten products with immense physical gifts who can impact games but struggle with consistency. Showed good bursts off line at combine. Periodically relies too much on arms. Still and Worthy could argue that their game tapes, even with the glitches, are better than most.

Others to watch

Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

6-4 1/8, 299, 4.95

Comment: Could end up being one of biggest value picks in draft. Playing under the radar at UConn. Scouts think his best football is ahead of him. Excelled at Senior Bowl and performed well at combine (36 reps at 225 pounds). Fierce competitor. High football IQ and character. Coachable. Technically sound.

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

6-3 1/2, 346, 4.98

Comment: Projected first-round pick. Dazzling performance at combine featured 44 reps of 225 pounds. Strength and agility for his position have drawn comparisons to Baltimore's Haloti Ngata. However, game tapes showed an inconsistent player who took plays off and spent too much time on the ground. Stock has fallen from top-10 immediately after combine, presumably as NFL evaluators study more game tapes.

Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

6-5 3/8, 266, 4.87

Comment: Natural edge-rush ability. Tall, with long arms (35-1/2 inches). Can drop into coverage. Leg injury limited 2011 season to seven games and hampered his impact. Has room to fill out the frame. His defensive coordinator at Syracuse was former Northeast Ohio football standout Scott Shafer.

Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall

6-3, 266, 4.98

Comment: Underrated. Amassed 40 tackles for loss last two years. Speed and size are not prototypical, but he is reasonably quick, especially with the inside move. Knows how to get to QB. Uses hands well to control blockers. Decent edge quickness. Low-risk, high-reward pick if he's available in third round.

Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

6-4 1/4, 279, 4.99

Comment: Torn pectoral limited him to five games in 2011. Had 9.5 sacks in each of previous two seasons. Big hands. Smart, competitive, relentless. Durability is an issue.

On the Browns

Starters: Jabaal Sheard (LE), Phil Taylor (DT), Ahtyba Rubin (DT), Frostee Rucker (RE).

Backups: Juqua Parker (DE), Auston English (DE), Scott Paxson (DT), Brian Sanford (DE/DT), Brian Schaefering (DE), Marcus Benard (DE), Kiante Tripp (DT), Emmanuel Stephens (DE).

Level of need (1-10): Two.

Comment: One of the deepest positions in draft also happens to be deepest position on Browns other than kicker/punter. Browns added free agent Rucker to fill spot vacated by Jayme Mitchell. Browns also signed veteran Parker to bolster a line that features young starters in Sheard, Taylor and Rubin.

If Browns choose to draft high for a defensive linemen this year, something must be wrong with their recent talent assessments. Odds are that, by the time they do take a D-lineman, he won't be one of the bigger names. Keep on eye on Michigan DT Mike Martin as a possible value pick.