Browns running back and quarterback get ready to face the Indianapolis Colts.

BEREA, Ohio -- Wednesday quotes from Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden

Trent Richardson

On what he has seen from the tape on the Colts defense:

Richardson: “They have a good defense and the (New York) Jets had a lot of success. We’ve got to make sure we do not the exact same thing as them, but we have to do something much better than what the Jets did to win this game. We’re still a work in progress and they are working for everything too. They are out there just like we are and they are making sure that they are doing everything they can to stop us. For us, we have to make sure we get a lot of penetration when we run through each gap we can get. We have to get what they give us.’”

On what kind of affect the new owner (Jimmy Haslam) and CEO (Joe Banner) will have on the players:

Richardson: “For some guys, I think it’s a big relief and from other guys, like myself, I’m glad we got this stuff over with. It’s just football for me and it’s just work for us. Once everyone knows that everything is calmed down and we have to stay on the right track, keep going and keep fighting. This season can be one of those turnaround seasons. (These are) not the same Cleveland Browns that you saw in the first quarter or half of the season. This is a whole other team and they are out there having fun and winning.’”

On why he says this is not the same team from a few weeks ago:

Richardson: “I think from the last game we learned how to finish the game. We started off kind of shaky in the beginning, but we finished strong. That’s one thing. If we put a whole game together, start off fast and finish strong, I think we’ll be a much better team than the first few weeks of football.”

Brandon Weeden

On how important this week is:

Weeden: “I think it’s just important that we keep going forward and don’t take a step back. I think we did so many good things for four quarters. We didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t do things to harm ourselves. We just have to build on that, find a way to build on that and use that positive momentum, the good stuff we did in the game going forward. This is a big week for us. We need to try to put two back-to-back and see where it takes us.”

On having all his wide receiver’s back:

Weeden: “It’s nice to have some familiar faces. All of the guys, they are all back and that feels good. For them, I just wanted them to get back on the field because I know it’s not fun being in that training room. They want to be out here playing. It’s good to have those guys back.”

On whether he knows Andrew Luck personally:

Weeden: “Yes, I know Andrew pretty well, great guy. Obviously, he’s the first pick overall. I think he has the chance to be a very special guy, an elite quarterback in this league. More importantly, he’s a better guy, great guy.”

SHARON TWP., Ohio - They have been competing against one another for more than 10 years. The rivalry resumes this weekend.

Longtime friends Chase Johnson of Walsh Jesuit, left, and Stow's Ian Holt are among the top challengers for the individual state championship at this week's Division I golf tournament in Columbus. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

SHARON TWP., Ohio - They have been competing against one another for more than 10 years.

The rivalry resumes this weekend.

For Stow's Ian Holt and Walsh Jesuit's Chase Johnson the game never changes. Neither do the stakes. Make no mistake. The goal is winning.

That probably will not stop them from rooting for one another Friday and Saturday when the Division I state golf tournament is played -- or survived, depending on the conditions -- on the Scarlet Course of the Ohio State University Golf Club.

Holt and Johnson, both juniors, enter as legitimate challengers for the individual state championship. They also enter as friends.

Holt is a favorite because he's already done it, becoming one of the rare players to share medalist honors as a sophomore with a 36-hole score of 8-over 150. Holt was the only one in the field of 132 not to have a double bogey dirty his card.

"I'm kind of proud of that," Holt said.

Johnson is a favorite because his performance this season says so and because he has one year of competing in the pressure-packed tournament tucked in his golf bag.

Cases can be made for both players.

In this summer's statewide Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings of players in the class of 2014, Johnson was ranked first; Holt was second.

In last week's district at Pine Hills, Johnson was the medalist, shooting 71 to Holt's 76.

Yes, they are competitors. They have been since they were just out of kindergarten. But, their friendship, developed through years of walking fairways and fooling around on practice greens in junior events and playing high school tournaments from Akron to Zanesville, runs deeper than a Scarlet Course bunker.

"We've been playing against one another since we were 6-years old, since we were playing U.S. Kids events," said Johnson. "Our rivalry ends there. We've become good friends off the golf course."

There, Johnson pauses, winks and says, "But on the golf course, we want to rip each other's throats out."

Holt said the reason the two get along so well is because they have similar personalities.

"We have the same sense of humor," Holt said. "Chase is a good competitor and I think we bring out the best in one another. We're competitors and we want to win. We always have a good match, but, yes, I want to beat him every time we play. Once off the course we're just good friends. We talk. We text. We have a good relationship."

The two shared a practice session at Sharon Golf Club on Tuesday and it was easy to see they enjoy being around one another.

Laughing and joking as only high school kids can while working through the drudgery of practice, they alternately ripped shots down the practice range. Rockets, bullets, bombs, draws and fades, the shots flew off their clubs with a sound not produced by every high school player. Once a shot was in the air, the revelry stopped and their attention was focused on the flight of the ball. All that mattered was that little white sphere blistering through the sky like some kind of sputnik, seemingly hanging forever before falling to the ground.

"He analyzes every shot," Stow coach Ken Miller said of Holt. "He learns from every shot. Every swing, on the course or the range, has a purpose. He learns from them and uses them to correct mistakes."

Johnson and Holt are big, strong players with the picturesque golfers' body shape, long arms, trunks and legs. Both have spent countless time at practice, frequently spending hours alone on the range. Both pay critical attention to their short games. Neither is a great putter, but how many high school players are? And, they will only get better.

Beyond the golf swings both show the maturity you would expect from college, rather than high school juniors. Both are comfortable around adults and have the firm hand shake of a business tycoon. They have that quality of confidence, that aura of assuredness frequently found in successful people. They are polite beyond normal. They smile and look you in the eye when talking.

"I've known Ian since he was 6- or 7-years-old and he's always been that way," said Miller, who has spent 37 years in public education. "He was the most mature ninth-grader I've ever seen and things haven't changed. He is very personable and very respectful of everyone. The other day we were walking down the fairway and out of the blue he asked me if I'd thought about the future, if I had decided to come back and coach next year or not. You don't hear of that too often from high school juniors."

Walsh coach Joe Denton has not known Johnson that long but he has similar impressions.

"Chase is special," said Denton. "He has that extraordinary athletic talent that he has earned through hard work. He is a very thoughtful person, sensitive to all those around him. He takes the young kids in our program and works with them, advises them, helps them out. He is a great captain. Every one of our young kids wants to be like Chase. He has that kind of influence on people."

The Holt-Johnson friendship grew deeper during a 7-day span in July. Despite having two full seasons of high school eligibility both made oral commitments to Kent State, agreeing to join the Flashes' nationally-ranked program in the fall of 2014. Neither of them can wait.

"I think about it all the time, every day," said Holt, who relishes being the reigning state champion. "I just got an email from [assistant] coach [Rob] Wakeling and that always gets you to thinking about it. I follow them on Twitter so I get all their updates. Just to be a part of that program, with all the tradition, is something. And, with Chase being there I think we'll have a chance."

Said Johnson, "I am really excited. It's hard not to think about it. I think we'll have a chance to do some great things together on a program that's already established and has great tradition."

So, what part of Holt's game does Johnson admire?

"His short game," Johnson said without hesitation. "I've loved his short game ever since we were playing junior golf and still do. He'll be in a spot where I'm saying to myself, 'He has no chance of getting up and down from there.' And, of course he gets up and down. I've played with him enough to know you never count him out."

And, Holt on Johnson?

"His tempo, his swing," Holt said with the same lack of hesitation. "I love his swing. It's great. His ball-striking is so pure. If I could have one aspect of his game it would be his swing and his tempo. It is so crisp."

On Friday, the kid with the great swing and tempo and the kid with the ability to make par from the snack bar begin their simultaneous chase. And cheering the other guy on.

Haslam won official approval on Tuesday from NFL owners to take over the Browns' ownership. Soon after, he named Banner the team's CEO. Watch video

BEREA. Ohio -- Transcript of joint press conference held by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner

Jimmy Haslam

“Good morning. I feel sure that a lot of you were in Chicago yesterday and if you weren’t I know you’re very aware of all the events that transpired so we won’t waste anybody’s time by rehashing any of that. I do want to talk a little bit about Joe Banner though. Since it became obvious that we had a really good chance of becoming the owner of the Cleveland Browns we started talking to a lot of different people in sports, not just football, but pro sports. One name kept coming up that if you could get this guy it would be a tremendous asset to your franchise and that name was Joe Banner. It came up early and often, candidly, it came up from people we know and people we don’t know. Joe and I have spent a lot of time together really over the last two or three months and have come to know each other very well. As you all know, I come from the business world and have hired a lot of senior executives. I can look everybody in the room in the eye and say I’ve spent more time with this senior executive making sure he was the right fit for the Cleveland Browns than any we’ve ever interviewed for Pilot Flying J because I do think it’s so important. Joe brings, first of all, a wealth of experience, he helped transform the Philadelphia Eagles from one of the, I’ll just say, weaker franchises in the league to, you can argue from the period of 2000-2010 maybe the strongest, certainly one of the strongest. He’s very bright, he works very hard, he’s very focused, very intense and he has extreme passion for bringing a winning team to Cleveland. You all heard me say this yesterday, several people say are you excited and I say, ‘Yes, we are excited, but we won’t really be excited until we start winning consistently,’ then you’ll see a lot of excitement from us. I believe adding Joe Banner to our team as the CEO in charge of all day-to-day operations puts us in a position to have a great winning team and its my pleasure to introduce to you the new CEO of the Cleveland Browns, Joe Banner.”

Joe Banner

“Thanks very much. First of all just quickly, it would be impossible to exaggerate how happy I am to be here. This is a spectacular day for me personally and I’m honored and tremendously pleased that Jimmy and his family have the faith in me to give me this opportunity. It’s also important to me that I brought my whole family in here from Philadelphia although my daughter who is at a real job in New York couldn’t be here with us, but my wife Helaine, my son Jon and my son Jason. We’re all thrilled to be here. I went to school in Ohio, I know the area well, I spent some time in Cleveland, I loved it when I was here and I’m really excited to be back and have a chance to make it my home. I started on a mission in June when I stayed in an advisory role with the Eagles, but was really moving on to the next thing at that point and had the pleasure to start to meet a few people that were interested in possibly being owners in NFL teams. I was trying to maybe sort through maybe what would be the right next mission for me and then I had an opportunity through an introduction to meet Jimmy and his dad in my first meeting. I’m just telling you at that point and I think you’ve all started to see this, I didn’t have another meeting with anybody else to discuss any other interests or opportunities. My goal was to find somebody who was committed to doing great and was focused about winning on the field and that wanted to come to a community with the incredible passion the fans here have for this team and frankly reward them for all that the energy and passion they’ve got about the team. Our goal is to put together an organization that will be the best at everything we do whether it’s our work in the community, whether it’s the business that we do and most importantly and this will be the clear focus of the organization, what we do on the field and our goal to try to win championships. We’re going to do that by putting together great people, having a common mission, working hard and doing everything in a way that everybody will be very proud of this organization and what we represent so that’s my focus. On a day-to-day basis, our hope is that someday not far down the road our fans feel like this is the most fan-friendly organization in professional sports, that the thrill that they had the other day and the joy you could see from the win was something they we’re experiencing on a regular basis and we all feel that there’s a good foundation laid here to move that forward and elevate this organization to that standard here with a lot of good hard work and a lot of good people here.”

Joe Banner

(On his relationship with Tom Heckert and other members of the staff from his time in Philadelphia)- “I was with Tom, I believe it was for seven years. I think Pat (Shurmur) was with us for 10 as well as some of the people, the Jon Sandusky’s, (John) Spytek’s, Brad Childress and Dick Jauron so there’s a lot of familiar faces here. There isn’t a single one that I don’t like personally, have a lot of respect for and I’ve seen them do their jobs extremely well in an environment in which I worked right with them. I come in with a very positive attitude and impression about all those people and have a good personal relationships with them. I think as Jimmy has indicated and I think every team in the league does this, at the end of the year we’ll sit down and evaluate if we’ve got everything in place to reach the goals we’ve set for down the road and do that kind of analysis like everybody does, but I come into this with a lot of respect and good feelings towards all those people.”

Joe Banner

(On if there will be for sure changes after this season)- “No, I don’t think so necessarily. I think there will be a thorough evaluation of everything that we do, but whether there will be changes or not, I think time answers that for us.”

Joe Banner

(On if he plans on having the final say with football decisions and the 53-man roster)- “First lets elaborate a little about what Jimmy said, as it relates to football decisions like decisions for example, you’re asking about these kind of people that we have here, these aren’t going to be my decisions. I’ll be involved with that. Jimmy owns the team. We’ll work together closely on that. As the owner of the team obviously he’ll have final say over those matters, but we’ll work together on those kinds of decisions. I think the detail of the rest of your question will really evolve. I think we’re going to try to put together, we going to try to get some really strong people that are not only really good at what they do, but they fit together well and as we see what the various strengths and weaknesses are of the people we put together, we’ll figure out better exactly what detail of who’s going to have what exact responsibilities. The key for us is to get a group of really strong people that are good at what they do, but also fit well together to maximize what they can collectively do.”

Joe Banner

(On his impressions of Pat Shurmur)- “My answer is what I said. I think all of you know, you’ve met Pat. He’s an extremely good guy, he’s just a really good person, he’s a very hard working guy, he’s a very principled man, he’s got a wonderful family and I don’t think you’ll find anybody as more passionate at trying to do the best they can and succeed as well as they can. Those are all very important ingredients, it’s what he represented when I knew him in Philadelphia, it’s what I feel like I’ve seen him do here.”

Jimmy Haslam

“I’ll just reiterate what we’ve said. He’s a great guy, he’s working hard, he’s making progress and we’re going to do everything we can to help him be successful.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On how the business side of the Browns is different now than before Mike Holmgren came to the organization three years ago)- “I don’t know if I can comment on that because I was not aware of what it was like back before Mike and his team came in. I’m probably not qualified to comment on that.”

Joe Banner

(On what he would say he learned from his experience in Philadelphia and if he would he change anything about how he will do this job based on what he did in Philadelphia)- “I think there was a lot that I learned in Philadelphia. It started with my answer about Jimmy. The key differentiator in the teams in the NFL start with the ownership and the ownership having the right goals and right agenda and both doing and supporting hiring the right people to implement their vision and their goals, creating the right priorities. That’s why it was very important to me when I was talking to Jimmy, my priority is winning games and having a chance to win a championship and have the joy of that and reward the fans so that was the first thing I learned. As you look around the league, you can separate the franchises that are successful from those that aren’t as successful and there are certain points of differentiation. As far as myself personally, it’s just the extension of that. You need to fill the organization with the best people in the business if you want to talk about being the best in the business. You have to have people that are hardworking, honest and doing things the right way. I learned through the years in Philadelphia, and I justifiably developed a reputation early in the years I was in Philadelphia of being a particularly tough negotiator. I think if you talk to people who negotiated with me later, I learned that there was some value sometimes in finding common ground as opposed to trying to win the negotiations. If you’re objective about yourself and you’re trying to be successful, you learn from your experience. There’s a lot of little iterations of that kind of an example that you learn if you’ve been in something like this as long as I’ve been in it now.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if he can give any kind of assurance that Heckert’s and Shurmur’s futures will be determined strictly on job performance and merit)- “Absolutely, I think we’ve made it very clear that every year we’re going to evaluate everybody in the organization. We’re going to do it during the course of the season and at the end of the year we’ll sit down and have those conversations with that individual. Although we’re coming in in the middle of the year and it’s a little awkward and a little different, that’s exactly how it’s going to work. Tom knows that and Pat knows that.”

Joe Banner

(On what the challenges were like as he tried to build a new stadium and practice facility while running a franchise and what he learned from that)- “It’s a team effort. We spoke to the organization earlier today and talked in terms of everybody pulling their weight and then nobody has too much to pull. Everybody can kind of make it work so I think you’ve got everybody pulling in the same direction towards a common goal, you’ve got all good people that are very dedicated and my impression is there are a lot of great people that are very passionate and doing great jobs. You just get a clear focus and everybody is pulling in the same direction and then all of a sudden it isn’t really that hard to move forward. You want to do it with kind of a clear vision and clear priorities, which we have from Jimmy and then everybody is able to know where we’re headed and get there easily.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if he has looked back and studied the successes and failures of the different groups that have tried to turn this franchise around)- “I really haven’t and maybe we should have, but I really haven’t. I think I said this yesterday, we’re a little more look forward than look back type of people and when it became obvious that we needed to have somebody like Joe brought in we looked all over the place as I said in my introductory remarks and one name kept popping up and it was Joe Banner. We spent an exhaustive amount of time. I’m sure he and Helaine probably thought I was crazy as many places I’ve asked him to meet, as many times I came to Philadelphia, but we thought it was important to get it right. I’ve checked out Joe as thoroughly as anybody I’ve ever checked out and feel really comfortable he’s the right guy to run the Cleveland Browns.”

Joe Banner

“I feel like I’ve just looked at the league as well as having my own experience and have a vision as to what it takes to be successful in the league. It really sounds trite and sounds almost too simplistic, but it really is just about really making sure you’ve got the best people working for you and you’ve got a common vision, everybody pulling in the same direction so that’s going to be our focus. The other thing, I just want to be careful. I know these fans have been through a lot of hopeful starts and I don’t want to sit up here and be the next promiser in their eyes. We’re just going to have to deliver. I know this, nobody will work harder, nobody will have a clearer direction, I don’t imagine anybody could have more, maybe somebody else could tie, of a sense of the appreciation of the history of the fans and the city. Its remarkable when you look at the last 18-20 years, the passion, the intensity and they’re still filling the stadium so we’re going to just work as hard as we possibly can to reward that and put the best team on the field we can and just make it fun for everybody.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On how good of a feeling he has for this organization)- “I think that’s why you’ve heard us say we’ve asked a lot of questions. We’ve been around a lot and we’ll be around more now asking questions and listening and learning. We’ll continue to do so and I would remind everybody we’re six games into a 16-game season, we have 11 weeks left with the bye week and 10 games left to go so there’s still lots of time to learn, listen, evaluate, etcetera.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if there are any changes to the business side of the organization that he will start implementing)- “No, I think in fairness to the business people and everybody naturally focuses on football, and rightly so, is we’re going to evaluate. We’ve told everybody in the organization. We’ve had one-on-ones with the top executives and this morning we met with the team, we met with everybody that works in the building and we’ve said, ‘Listen, everybody will be evaluated at the end of the year. Between now and then go do your job, work hard, focus, do what your bosses tell you to do and at the end of the year everybody will be evaluated, but don’t worry about anything because it doesn’t do any good to do so.’ Joe and I are here to support everybody in the building and help them do their job better. We’re not working against anybody, we’re here to support them and help them do their job better.”

Joe Banner

(On where the Browns are now relative to where the Eagles were when he took over there)- “There are a lot of analogies. You’re in a market with a fan base that’s just tremendously passionate and frankly, in running a franchise there’s nothing more valuable than being in a place where they care that much and there’s that much passion and interest. That’s very analogous to what I had in Philadelphia. The challenge is how do we take advantage of that and how do we reward that quite frankly, whether it’s a gameday experience, getting from your car to the stadium or buying a hot dog at the concession stand or how you feel when you walk out of the building based on how the team performed. We’re going to evaluate every single aspect of that and that’s again similar to Philadelphia. There will be some places where a little incremental improvement can be made and there will some places, frankly, where you’ll see dramatic changes, but it will take time. If we went and evaluated the gameday experience and felt there was an opportunity to enhance that experience dramatically, you’ll probably see some of that next year and a lot of it the year after that. This is not something that gets transformed in a couple of minutes. Jimmy’s leading a very long term vision of what he wants the franchise to be so we’re not going to do a number of things either with the team or on the business side or on the experience to just kind of fill in the moment. We’re going to lay the foundation for things that are going to get put in place, done right and then last a long time.”

Joe Banner

(On how the Eagles fans treated him)- “They were up and down (joking).”

Joe Banner

(On how confident he would be if they have to rebuild football operations because he didn’t have to do that in Philadelphia for long time due to the continuity with Andy Reid)- “Again, I don’t want to spend too much time on Philadelphia because we’re really trying to look forward here so I’ll really speak more generically. I don’t think you see any operations, I don’t care if they’re businesses, sports teams, whatever they are, that are successful that don’t have continuity. I view continuity as an important element. I think continuity is important as much because of the loyalty that continuity says that you have for the people that are coming in and doing a good job. You have to pick the right time to kind of begin the clock on continuity. When you feel like you’ve got the organization set up with the right people then you have continuity. That doesn’t mean you’re already at success. It means you feel like, you know what, we’re set up with the right people and the right vision that as I look down the road, I can see us getting where it is we want to get to. Then you want to put a very large emphasis on continuity. I’ve talked to Jimmy, and he asked me what some of my priorities were. I said to him, I want to be able to attract really good people and then create an environment where they’re going to want to stay. I think at the right time, you want to have that kind of an environment. We may have now or we may have to go through a process getting to the point where we feel like we have that in place. Now let’s just get the vision, get everybody working on the same page and move forward.”

Joe Banner

(On what is in place here that gives him hope that there is something to build on)- “Again, we’re going to look for people that are very hard working, high character. Some people are intimidated by big goals. If somebody’s worried that our goal is to win Super Bowls, not just improve our record. I’m not talking tomorrow, we’re going to build towards that. That’s not going to be the right person. They’re not going to fit in. If their vision is the same as ours, we’re talking about the importance of hiring good people. We want to have a head coach that understands the importance of putting together a great staff. You have a general manager, you want him to have a staff of great scouts. That’s just going to be kind of the mantra of the organization.”

Joe Banner

(On how well positioned he is now to make a step forward)- “I think that in terms of those basic qualities, and the people we’re describing, they have them. We’re going to have to evaluate through the rest of the season whether they fit together and whether they’re all the right parts to get us where we want to go.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On the ideas he has to enhance the fan experience in Cleveland)- “Joe’s probably better at this than I am, but I’ll take a stab at it. I think it’s everything from how you’re treated when you walk in the stadium, candidly, to how long you have to wait in line, to are the bathrooms clean, to do we have a great product on the field, which is by far the most important, to scoreboard, ribbons, etcetera. As Joe said, we’re going to sit back and evaluate all of that. We want our fans to have the best experience in the league. Let’s be realistic, 80-90 percent of that is whether you win the game. There are some things that other teams are doing that we probably ought to be doing, and we’ll look at it. Joe and I are looking at this as a complete white board. We’re going to do it, and as he said, we’re going to do it right, over an extended period of time.”

Joe Banner

(On other owners saying the Browns are gem in terms of history, tradition and marketing)- “I don’t mean to speak for Jimmy, but that’s why we’re here. We talked about this, and frankly we met before there was a franchise necessarily identified as to where we would be. Looking at this city and this marketplace, and the passion that these fans have, and the opportunity there is in every aspect of this organization, I don’t care whether you’re talking charitable. I don’t care if you’re talking gameday experience, on the field. Every aspect of what an NFL team can bring to a community is not only a tremendous opportunity, it’s just waiting to happen. Some places, and I said this to Jimmy when we were talking, I didn’t really want to go to some city where you’re going to sit around and most of the organization’s spent a lot of their time figuring out how to sell the tickets. I really wanted to be someplace where that passion exists then we can try to figure out how to take it to the next level. I was not going to go to a franchise, and I don’t think Jimmy was going to buy a team that he didn’t feel the ingredients that exist in the city and the kind of passion that exists for this team were in place. Then we can get to do the really fun and exciting stuff and hopefully reciprocate to what they’ve been giving to the team for all these years for even a better experience than they’ve had.”

Joe Banner

(On if pushing globally would be something he would explore)- “I think our priorities are going to be local first in terms of building the organization and the team on the field. At some point if we feel like we’ve made a lot of progress there, that may or may not be an issue that we get into, but we’ve got a lot of work to do on this first set of priorities, which I think will be our focus.”

Jimmy Haslam

“Let me say just one thing about the fans here. I think I said this yesterday, I can’t remember if it was with the big group or the smaller group. The feeling outside the stadium on Sunday after we won for the first time in 11 months and first time this year, reminded me of when I was in Pittsburgh when we won the AFC championship. I’m not kidding, it was the exactly the same. The electricity, the excitement, how happy the fans were. I called Joe when I landed back in Knoxville to tell him about it. I think that fired us up even more, not that we need that, about just how important, and just the significant opportunity there is here with the fan base. It’s incredible.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if he addressed the team this morning and what he said to them)- “Pretty much what we’re telling you. First of all, I congratulated them on a win, and that’s the biggest thing. Then I said, second of all, a lot of things I said yesterday. We were greatly appreciative of the Lerner family. If Al Lerner hadn’t brought Cleveland back here, we wouldn’t be here. Randy and Mrs. Lerner have been superb people to work with in this transition. We talked about Mike (Holmgren), and talked about Joe. Then basically talked about, listen, the timing of this is not good, coming in the day before training camp, and here in the middle of the year. We’re here to support you. Focus on your job, work hard, win games and everything will take care of itself. We were probably in there, Joe and I together, probably 10 minutes, because they’ve got a big game this week against Indianapolis, and we need to get our second win.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if they think they have their quarterback in place)- “I think Brandon (Weeden) is no different than everybody else. He’ll be evaluated at the end of the year.”

Joe Banner

(On what a realistic time frame is for building the team)- “He’s (Haslam) laughing because he keeps asking me this question and I won’t even answer him. I think fairly quickly people are going to see progress. If you ask me to really put a time frame on how quickly I think we’re going to win how many games. I really can’t do that. There are too many unknowns. I don’t think it should take very long before you’re all sitting here, and the fans watching the team are sitting there going, ‘You know what? These guys know what they’re doing. We’re on the right track. We can start to enjoy this. We’re going to end up in a really good place.’ I think you’ll start to feel that reasonably quickly. I think you’ll feel like there’s a plan, this is well run, these guys know what they’re doing, their priorities are exactly what they said they were. Obviously, this season we’re observers. I don’t think it’ll take long before you start to feel like I’m starting to see some smart things happen, some decisions that make me feel like this team is on the right track and I think we’re going to end up in a good place.”

Jimmy Haslam

“I think I would add two things I think are important. I don’t think you’re looking at two more impatient people in the world, the two guys up here. At the same time though, we want to do it the right way. There’s a shortcut to get to a 10-6, but there’s a better way to do it where you don’t just have one good year. I think how we want to be judged is are they consistently good. We’re not going to shortcut it to get there. We’re going to go as fast as we can, but we’re not going to take shortcuts.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if there are restrictions before the sale is complete on October 25)- “That’s a good question. We were approved yesterday. We still have to write a rather large check and then it all becomes official. Those funds are in place, and we’re excited for that to officially happen on the 25.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On if he’ll be in Berea the whole time between now and then)- “No, Joe’s going to go back with his family tonight. Then his first day will be the 25 and he’ll continue here full time. We’ll continue to move back and forth. Dee (Haslam) is coming up Tuesday to move us into our new home, so we’ll obviously be here more with that. We’ll be very present. Joe will be running things on a day-to-day basis, and we’re excited to get going.”

Joe Banner

(On if he’s able to hit the ground running with the people he’s familiar with from Philadelphia or if he has to set those feelings aside)- “I think as Jimmy’s mentioned, it isn’t an ideal time. But, in a way it gives us chance to kind of step back and learn what we need to to maximize the chance that we make the right decisions. In terms of getting going quickly, I’m not coming in here next Thursday with a list of changes we’re going to make, even just internal subtle changes. My primary goal is getting to know the people here. There’re a lot of things that we do that don’t happen, you asked about the gameday experience, I need to understand really quickly what it is about the gameday experience that our fans like and don’t. That will then impact next year. If I don’t have a good feel for what the experience is and what parts of it are good or bad, in the next probably four weeks, it starts to get late to put in a lot of those changes for next season. Some of those focuses are going to be kind of invisible to the outside world, at least for the time being. It’s good in that we get a chance to kind of step back, and really make sure we’re thorough about our thought process and the decisions we make about the long term.”

Joe Banner

(On how he will get that input from the fans)- “I was just talking to some of those people this morning. There’s a fair amount of research that we’ve actually done that I’m anxious to read. There’s a group of people here that work with our fans whether they be suite holders, club seat holders or season ticket holders. I’m anxious to do that. I suspect we’ll do some additional research. I don’t even know to be honest, in Philadelphia we had a board made up of season ticket holders that we would meet with on a regular basis and get their feedback and experiences, and frankly throw some ideas off of them. That may or may not exist here, I don’t even know, but that was very helpful in really understanding what experience people were having. The first game I’m here for, we’re going to have a bunch of people that work here that are basically going to pretend they’re fans, and have different aspects of the experience. Someone’s going to stand out in the parking lot. They’re going to come in Monday and tell me, ‘Okay what was your experience like getting from the car to the building?’ Somebody else is going to get in the concession line at half time and they’re going to give me a report on Monday about what that was like. Somebody else is going to observe the score board experience, and I’ll have my own experiences of that, but we’ll probably have 20 people who work here who I’ll send out to have various experiences acting to what are the fans experience actually here and then give me a report on that. Hopefully with all of that together, we’ll get a pretty good picture quickly.”

Jimmy Haslam

(On why he thinks this franchise has struggled since its return to Cleveland)- “I think it would be unfair to comment, candidly. Like I said, we’re not look back people, we’re look forward. I’ve said this a thousand times and I’ll probably keep saying it, the fan base and the support here is tremendous. I think I’ve said this to you all on August 3 in this very room. If five years from now, this franchise is not more successful than it is now, a lot more, and you judge that in wins and losses then the two of us will accept all the blame because there are no excuses for this not being one of the top franchises in the NFL.”

Joe Banner

(On his philosophy on using free agents to build this team)- “You’ve heard this from Jimmy, I think the core of the most successful franchises in the league, are players that they drafted and re-signed. There are opportunities in free agency - sometimes in very conspicuous ways, sometimes in more subtle ways - that I think the best and smartest franchises take advantage of those opportunities. Timing matters too. If you’re in an early stage of a developmental process, just generically, it doesn’t make sense to me to be running out and investing heavily in free agents who may not still be a key part of your core by the time you get really good. We will be engaged in free agency, but the fundamental foundation of the team will be drafting and re-signing our own players.”

Joe Banner

(On if he will use Donovan McNabb as a benchmark for what you need in a quarterback)- “It’s just not going to focus on any given individual. We’re going to be looking for championship caliber performance at every level of the organization, whether it’s a player, whether it’s a coach, whether it’s somebody working in the marketing or guest services department. We’re going to strive for championship caliber performance from everybody.”

Joe Banner

(On if he will be the chief negotiator in Cleveland since he had that role in Philadelphia)- “I think the team has people in place that are doing these things, and we’ll evaluate whether that’s the best way to do it. I’ll obviously be involved in negotiations. Hopefully bring my cap strategies and expertise’s to the table. That will be just part of the evaluation we are going to do going forward is utilizing the skills that everybody brings to the table, putting them together, hopefully collectively building success.”

Joe Banner

(On if this is a perfect time because the other AFC North teams are on the decline)- “The way I think of it is, our goal is to win the Super Bowl. I never think in terms of competing with three teams. It’s not to deny the obvious, you don’t go anywhere without winning your division. I think we shoot to build the best team in the NFL. I always say, if you’re doing that, it will follow that, you’ll win your division. I don’t underestimate the other teams in the division either. They’re all run by good, smart people. They’ve all got young quarterbacks. They’ve got smart general managers and player personnel people. We’ll have to build a very good team to be strong in this division.”

Newly approved owner Jimmy Haslam brings his Republican friends to visit -- and it brings laughs over a new quarterback controversy.

Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets Cleveland Browns players Joshua Cribbs (L) and Trent Richardson on a visit with Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan to the Browns training facility in Berea after a campaign stop at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea October 17, 2012. John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan greets one of his favorite Cleveland Browns players Joe Thomas during a visit to the Browns training facility in Berea October 17, 2012 after a rally at Baldwin Wallace University. John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- Unwittingly, Jimmy Haslam sparked a Cleveland quarterback controversy -- yes, another one -- in his first full day as newly approved owner of the Browns. But he also helped orchestrate a potential off-season fishing date, caused the entire team to chuckle and introduced one of the Browns' most high-profile fans to the team.

Because it's not every day that the owner brings his high-power political friends to practice. Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- a lifelong Browns fan -- visited practice just hours after Haslam and new CEO Joe Banner addressed the team in the midst of management changes.

Ryan mistakenly told Browns backup quarterback Colt McCoy that he enjoyed watching him play at Oklahoma State. McCoy, a Texas product, glanced at starter Brandon Weeden – the OSU Cowboy to whom Ryan thought he was speaking.

"You always had your helmet on," Ryan told the red-haired Weeden, according to a pool reporter.

Players still were chuckling about the mix-up long after practice was over, but running back Trent Richardson agreed with Ryan's plea for leniency. "He's got a lot more to worry about than just knowing who Brandon Weeden is," Richardson said.

Ryan and Rice stopped by after speaking at nearby Baldwin Wallace University. Ryan also made friends with left tackle Joe Thomas, who is from the Congressman's home state of Wisconsin after coach Pat Shurmur suggested that they "ought to go fishing together." Both are avid outdoorsmen.

"Like I said, we've been following you all through college and we're big fans," Ryan said to Thomas.

According to the pool reporter, Ryan asked Haslam a question sure to make fans cringe -- if the Browns were "an expansion team." Ryan was legitimately asking for the history of the Browns -- how they left in 1995 and returned in 1999, though the current 1-5 record might have led to the question from the Republican politician.

To make up for Ryan's lack of knowledge, Rice spoke to the team about her lifelong fandom that began when she was a child growing up in Alabama listening to Cleveland games on the radio.

The whole experience was overwhelming for Browns cornerback Joe Haden.

"There was so much going on outside, I was legit scared," Haden said. "I didn't want to get too close to people with earpieces [Secret Service] looking at me. I didn't want to get too close to the presidential candidates. This is over my head. [Rice] has a (Josh) Cribbs jersey, so I let Cribbs go over there and tell her I said, 'Hi.'"

Ready to smash: Richardson said he'll play Sunday, despite sore rib cartilage suffered after he took a helmet to his midsection last week against Cincinnati. He said he'll wear protective padding, but will play the same style.

"I'm still going to play physical, play hard-nosed football, smash-mouth football," Richardson said. "That's what I do, and that's how I know how to play football."

Richardson declined to address a question about whether his ribs actually were broken. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

Good Luck memories: Colts rookie QB Andrew Luck grew up in a Browns family even if he didn't grow up in Cleveland. His father, Oliver Luck, attended St. Ignatius and much of his family still lives in the area. Andrew Luck said his uncle, Tim, was a longtime Dawg Pound ticket holder.

"I always wanted to be in the Dawg Pound growing up," Luck said. "I thought it was the coolest thing."

Instead, Andrew and his three younger siblings had to settle for wearing a hand-me-down Browns sweatshirt from the late 1970s.

"Every one of our siblings and I wore it at some point in our lives," he said. "We all thought it was a real cool, vintage sweatshirt."

Injury update: Defensive tackle Phil Taylor, eligible to return to action after six weeks on the physically unable to perform list, did not practice. He said he feels healthy, however, and has begun lifting weights to regain strength. Linebacker Scott Fujita (neck/shoulder) and safety Dimitri Patterson (ankle) did not practice.

Those limited in practice included: receivers Travis Benjamin (hamstring) and Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring), Richardson (chest/rib), defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin (calf), defensive back Tashaun Gipson (knee), defensive back Ray Ventrone (hand), safety T.J. Ward (hand), long snapper Christian Yount (shoulder) and offensive lineman Jason Pinkston (illness). Weeden (foot) and defensive lineman Frostee Rucker (shoulder, foot) participated fully.

The binding isn't quite as tight as it was a few weeks ago, but St. Vincent-St. Mary cannot afford to put itself in position to be the victim of a weird finish. So, the Irish are taking nothing for granted when they travel to Massillon on Friday for a game against the 7-1 Tigers and Youngstown Ursuline waiting in...

St. Vincent-St. Mary has gotten help from rivals Walsh Jesuit and Archbishop Hoban in its climb to sixth in the Division III, Region 9 computer poll. Pictured is Fransohn Bickley, right, in a Week 2 win over the Warriors. - (Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer)

The binding isn't quite as tight as it was a few weeks ago, but St. Vincent-St. Mary cannot afford to put itself in position to be the victim of a weird finish.

So, the Irish are taking nothing for granted when they travel to Massillon on Friday for a game against the 7-1 Tigers and Youngstown Ursuline waiting in Week 10.

Two weeks ago the Irish (7-1) were in a position where reaching the playoffs was an if-come. Coach Dan Boarman expressed fears that his team's schedule, combined with the uncharacteristic seasons experienced by several of its opponents -- most notably Walsh Jesuit, Archbishop Hoban and Canal Fulton Northwest -- would conspire to keep it out of the playoffs.

But, in the irony of all ironies, Walsh Jesuit and Hoban -- unquestionably SVSM's two biggest rivals -- have helped the Irish get to the point where they "control their destiny" according to computer points guru Joe Eitel. SVSM is sixth in the Ohio High School Athletic Association's Division III, Region 9 poll.

Walsh, winless through its first four games, has won two of its last three games and Hoban picked up a win two weeks ago. Adding to the largesse, Cincinnati Purcell Marian, which the Irish defeated in the season opener, has managed to win twice.

"We are breathing a little easier," Boarman said earlier this week. "But, we'd still like to get Massillon. I think that would clinch it."

Can't hold that Tiger: Cuyahoga Falls quarterback Joe Repasky has broken three school records that had stood for years.

His latest mark came last week when he completed 32 of 48 passes for 377 yards while the Black Tigers gave Northeast Ohio Conference River Division leader North Royalton a scare before falling, 24-23. He broke the completions (22) and yardage (296) records set by Scott Gindlesberger in a 1982 game against Nordonia.

Repasky has thrown for 1,729 yards for the season, erasing the old record of 1,497 set by Jim Ballard in 1989.

Century man: Ray Carroscia, who founded the football program at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 15 years ago, can reach the 100-win milestone Friday when the Royals host Canton Timken. The Royals are one game behind Manchester in the Principals Athletic Conference race at 3-2 and 4-4 overall. Carroscia's teams have compiled a 99-63 record and have reached the playoffs six times in the past nine years.

Take care of business: Manchester did itself a huge favor last week when it came from behind to defeat Triway, 34-31, behind quarterback Nick Peyakov.

The victory gave the Panthers (4-1) a one-game lead and knocked Triway into a tie for second with three other teams at 3-2, with two games to play. It also kept it alive in the race for the playoffs. Manchester can clinch a title tie Friday by beating Fairless (2-3).

Peyakov, the reigning MVP of the league, sparked a strong second half in which Manchester (5-3 overall) outscored the Titans, 25-14. The 6-3, 210-pound senior completed 20 of 33 passes for 269 yards and touchdown strikes of 34, 16 and 21 yards to senior Jamar Dukes, who finished with 12 receptions for 148 yards.

Manchester has reached the playoffs 18 times and stands seventh in the Division IV, Region 13 standings.

-- Tim Rogers

Biggest win: Riverside (6-2) has clinched its first winning season since 2007, and did so with an upset of rival Chardon last week. It was the biggest win at Riverside since Dave Bors took over as coach in 2010. The Beavers were 4-6 that year and 3-7 last season.

Riverside is 4-1 in the Premier Athletic Conference, including a 24-20 stumble at University School two weeks ago.

The Beavers' toughest test is Friday at Willoughby South (8-0, 5-0), and they close against Madison (5-3, 3-2).

While there's much attention devoted to South tailback Kareem Hunt, Bors points to the other side of the ball for South.

"This is the best [South] defense I've ever seen," Bors said. "How do you beat them? I don't know. We have to have the game of our lives and hope they don't."

Who's No. 1? St. Ignatius maintained the No. 1 spot in the Division I state poll and The Plain Dealer Top 25 this week, but St. Edward moved ahead of its rival in the Region 1 computer rankings. The No. 1-ranked Eagles picked up more computer points by beating 5-2 Cincinnati St. Xavier than No. 2 St. Ignatius did from its win over 0-7 St. Francis (N.Y.).

This week, both teams head to Cincinnati. St. Edward plays at Moeller (6-2) on Saturday while St. Ignatius plays at St. Xavier (5-3).

Next week, the Eagles and Wildcats clash Oct. 27 at Byers Field.

Sound familiar? Twinsburg is back in the Region 2 playoff picture at No. 12 after wins against Strongsville, Brunswick and Solon. The Tigers (5-3) play Medina on Friday. They will need to duplicate last year's Week 10 upset of Mentor to make the playoffs. However, as was the case last year, they could beat Mentor and still not advance to the postseason.

--Tim Warsinskey

Title game plots: John Adams (4-4 overall and 4-1 in the Senate Athletic League) squares off today against John F. Kennedy (4-4, 4-2) in the game that will likely settle a berth in the league's title game.

With John Hay putting together a fine season at 6-2 overall and 5-0 in league play, the Hornets look to be in line for their first appearance in the playoffs. They stand fourth in the Division III, Region 9 computer rankings and would bypass the league title game.

Even though Glenville (6-2, 5-0) has an outside shot of still making the Division I playoffs -- 12th in Division I, Region 1 -- the winner of Adams-JFK has the best shot of getting into the Senate title game on Nov. 2 and facing the Tarblooders. John Adams has to play Glenville in the final game of the regular season, so it could have back-to-back games against the Tarblooders.

JFK plays a nonleague game against Ashtabula Edgewood and would likely get the second-place finish and berth in the title game with a win today.

Senate points: Glenville, No. 20 in The Plain Dealer Top 25, has so far outscored its five Senate opponents, 271-0, with winless Lincoln-West (0-7, 0-5) up next Friday.

The Tarblooders' losses were to St. Edward, 42-14, in Week 1 and to St. Ignatius, 35-7, in Week 6. They defeated Solon, 40-17, in the second week of the season. Obviously, Glenville needed one more quality win to assure itself a return to the playoffs after missing last fall.

Record setter: Senior quarterback Robbie Nash passed for a school-record five touchdowns in Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin's 35-17 victory against Archbishop Hoban. Nash threw two scores each to senior wide receiver Tim Helton and senior tight end A.J. Branisel, the other going to senior wide receiver Anthony Varcelli.

Nash has thrown for 1,629 yards and 16 scores for the Lions, who are closing in on their first trip to the playoffs since 2008. The Lions, No. 23 in The Plain Dealer top 25, stand 6-2 overall, 3-0 in the North Coast League Blue Division.

If the playoffs were to start today, NDCL would play John Hay in a Division III opener.

Winners of six straight, the Lions have to get past Padua (2-6, 0-3) on Friday in a game that has been moved to North Royalton High because of poor field conditions at the Bruins' home turf. That could set up a division title showdown in the regular season final against resurgent Lake Catholic (5-3, 3-0), which travels to Walsh Jesuit (2-5, 2-1) on Friday.

End streak: Olmsted Falls got its first win of the season last week, 28-14 against Amherst in a Southwestern Conference contest. However, at 1-7 and with two games to go, the Bulldogs will have to suffer through their first losing season since 1990.

Coach Jim Ryan is completing his 24th season and stands 174-85. He has taken 10 teams to the playoffs, including the 2000 Division II state champs at 14-1. Last year's club went 7-4 in reaching the first round of the postseason.

-- Joe Maxse

Browns' fans have seen many sequels to The Promisers in Berea. Joe Banner's entrance as CEO makes this one different and more credible, Bud Shaw says in his Spin column. Watch video

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"The focus is going to be on winning games, winning championships," said Joe Banner (left), the Browns' new CEO hired by new owner Jimmy Haslam (right).

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hope and Prayer: A Cleveland Tradition since 1999.

Joe Banner understands we have seen this unholy Procession of the New Regime before. He understands the flower petals are wilted by now and that the choir has lost its voice.

That given the amount of faith required to believe in each successive procession since 1999, the occasion has almost reached religious holiday status where Browns fans pray for deliverance and blanche at how much season ticket money they've dropped into the collection basket.

Over the years, after each sermon offering a new path to the Promised Land, many add a hopeful "Amen" while others go home and lay money in Vegas on another plague of locusts to descend on Berea.

This time it's different (where have you heard that before?). And not just because the anti-Randy Lerner has hired the anti-Mike Holmgren. Banner isn't saying as much, though that's what he clearly believes.

So do I. We'll know sooner than later, certainly sooner than the five-year timetable of the outgoing regime.

"If it takes that long," Banner said, "I'll be in a straitjacket."

If it comes to that, he could borrow one from almost anybody he meets.

Banner doesn't come off as if he's saying what he knows people want to hear. He comes off as if he'd willingly be sized for that jacket. What strikes you about Banner -- aside from his passion and intensity for all things organizational -- is that he's the product of the kind of talent search unseen since '99.

That's a big part of the hope. That an ultra-successful businessman asked a thousand questions, kept hearing Banner's name, then asked Banner a thousand more. This isn't falling for Carmen Policy and letting him sell Dwight Clark as an up-and-comer when few in the league agreed with that assessment.

This isn't ownership falling head over heels for Eric Mangini to the point of letting him pick his GM. Or swooning over Holmgren to the point of letting him pick his role.

"We met many, many times," Banner said of a vetting that began in late June. "It was good. Both of us were interested in getting it right instead of just getting it done. ... [Sometimes in the NFL] you have one or two interviews for three or four hours and then you're with each other for years."

Actually, we've seen it happen here, where the parties don't last much longer than Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra.

While Jimmy Haslam and Banner mention the awkward timing of their takeover, it's really not so bad. In-season is awkward for Pat Shurmur, Tom Heckert and the coaching staff. But it gives Haslam and Banner a great opportunity to assess the situation and the people working for them over several weeks.

The team is young and developing. Going in another direction in the front office or the sideline won't require a dismantling of an aging roster, as was the case after wasting a year with Mangini. Do I think Banner and Haslam already know where they'd go looking for a head coach if it comes to that? Sure. Or they will as the season goes on.

Banner did the prep work when Philly hired Andy Reid. That football operation didn't require much heavy maintenance or remodeling. Depending on the extent of the tear-down, this one will in the front office and the sideline.

"For me it's like a chess match," Banner said of putting things together.

For people here, it's been a losing game of checkers where the Steelers, Ravens (and sometimes the Bengals) keep double-jumping their team and wiping the board with them.

Banner says he doesn't want to sound like just another "promiser."

"We have to deliver," he said.

Amen.

SPINOFFS

View full sizeDenis Poroy, Associated PressFor all of those experts who keep mentioning San Diego's Philip Rivers as a top-flight quarterback, shouldn't he actually ... like ... not blow 24-0 leads?

The popular description of Haslam as a "truck stop magnate" is the funniest contradiction of terms this side of "sportswriter royalty." ...

The St. Louis Cardinals went back to the NLCS after losing Albert Pujols and manager Tony LaRussa. Note to Indians fans who email me: I think you can safely stop mentioning the loss of Luis Isaac. ...

Lerner didn't appear at the stadium on the final Sunday of his ownership but did send a congratulatory text message to Shurmur for the win over Cincinnati.

Aside from Skype or appearing in the locker room as a hologram, is there's a more fitting end to his ownership? ...

Reason #763 why it's such a waste to rate opponents and predict a season record when a team's schedule is released: San Diego once looked like a sure loss for the Browns. No longer. After Monday's historic collapse at home against Denver, there's more insecurity in Philip Rivers' huddle than you'd find in the self-help aisle of a bookstore. ...

Steelers rookie lineman Alameda Ta'amu was suspended for two weeks without pay for a alcohol-related incident. According to the police report, all he did was speed through a pedestrian-heavy zone at 2:30 a.m., refuse police orders to stop his car, drive directly at some officers forcing them to dive to safety, hit several parked vehicles, get out of the car, take off his shirt and run from police.

Taking off his shirt obviously cost him any chance of unseating Gerard Warren as the most polite guy the Pittsburgh police ever arrested. ...

Jerry Jones says the Cowboys are capable of winning the title this year. I think so, too, if he can only convince the owner to stop making outlandish predictions. ...

Kansas City has Romeo Crennel as head coach, Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator, Brady Quinn in the QB mix and Peyton Hillis as backup running back.

And to think Chiefs GM Scott Pioli could've brought that kind of continuity to the Browns as GM. ...

The Jets' Rex Ryan says New England's Bill Belichick is the superior coach. Ending all plans for that hotly contested debate?

HE SAID IT

View full sizeAP fileHe's got a beard, he records saves, he earns post-season jewelry.

"I've had double-digit concussions." -- Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

How nice of him to want to share the feeling with so many of his opponents.

HE SAID IT, II

"If opponents know they only have to defend a 10-yard area, the game is real small for the offense." -- Shurmur on Brandon Weeden throwing deep.

Ten-yard area? Last year you could've fit the operating space for the offense in a snow globe.

View full sizeChuck Crow, PDHe's bearded, he gets saves, and ... well, he doesn't pitch for the Cardinals.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Jim Nance of CBS Sports and Baylor basketball coach Scott Drew -- Harry Hewitt, Rocky River

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn and Chris Perez -- Randy Verner, Chagrin Falls.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

"Bud:

"Was that Pat Shurmur's resume that blew across Browns Stadium last Sunday?" -- Ryan N

With any luck it was all pass plays to Owen Marecic.

"Bud:

"Is it true that the new chicken sandwiches being sold at Cavs' games this year are being called Fragrant Fowls?" -- Jim Corrigan

I'll check. In the meantime, just make sure the chicken is well cooked and not just flopping.

"Bud:

"I've been feeling blue lately and need a pick-me-up. What's new at ShawNation?" -- Tom Hoffner

Unlike Haden Nation, which numbers many people, mine consists of a woman and two dogs in West Park. And when I enter the house, all three growl.

"Hey Bud:

"Who do you think cries more? ESPN and Yankee Nation when the Yankees get one bad call out of 100, or long-suffering Cleveland sports fans?" -- Amy, University Heights

Most any sportswriter at last call.

"Bud:

"Given the nature of Cleveland fans, how long before Haslam becomes Hasbeen?" -- Jeffrey Hersh

I don't see it happening a minute before he admits to a "guut" feeling about hiring Butch Davis as head coach and Pete Garcia as GM.

"Hey Tolstoy:

"Whose love is stronger? The love Romeo had for Juliet or the love Jon Gruden has for Peyton Manning?" -- Devin, Concord

From the look of things in Kansas City, it's the love Romeo has for flipping coins and quarterback controversies.

"Hi Bud:

"Do you think when the President made his 'You Didn't Build That' speech in July, it caused a collective sigh of relief from Holmgren, Heckert, and Shurmur in Berea or [Mark] Shapiro and [Chris] Antonetti at Progressive Field. Or all of the above?" -- Len B, Chesterland

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

"Bud:

"I've been listening to local sports talk radio this week. Now that we are a lock for the playoffs, does that mean we lose the first overall pick in the draft we had secured last week?" -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike

Repeat winners ride an emotional rollercoaster.

"Bud:

"Is it true that after Felix Baumgartner did that freefall dive from the edge of space onto the New Mexico desert, Manny Acta just shrugged?" -- Tom Jezeski

Repeat winners reach a new low.

On Twitter: @budshaw

The Philadelphia 76ers looked like the class of the Eastern Conference in a preseason victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night in Wells Fargo Center.

View full sizeH Rumph Jr., Associated PressCavaliers guard Kyrie Irving scuffles with Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday for a loose ball in the first half of Wednesday's exhibition game in Philadelphia. The 76ers won, 113-99.

PHILADELPHIA -- Are the Philadelphia 76ers that good? Or are the Cavaliers that bad?On Wednesday night in the Wells Fargo Center, the answer to both questions was yes.

The Sixers completely dominated the Cavs in a 113-99 victory that pushed their preseason record to 3-1. All-Star center Andrew Bynum, obtained in the three-team trade that sent Dwight Howard from Orlando to the Lakers, is out with a knee injury and didn't even play.

"They beat us in every facet of the game," a quiet Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "They outplayed us, outworked us. They did a lot of good things and we didn't. It's as simple as that. I've got to do a better job of making sure our guys are prepared and ready to play. I guess I didn't do that tonight because we just didn't come ready to play."

Nick Young and Maalik Wayns each had 19 points for the Sixers. Dorell Wright added 17 points, and Lavoy Allen had 11 rebounds. Philadelphia shot 50 percent overall, 48 percent from 3-point range (12 of 25) and outrebounded Cleveland, 50-39.

Kyrie Irving had 23 points, and Daniel Gibson added 18 as the Cavs slipped to 3-3 in the preseason. Dion Waiters, in his first return to his hometown as a pro, had five points, three rebounds and three assists. He made two of nine shots in 26:47.

If it's any consolation -- and it probably isn't -- the Sixers beat the Boston Celtics here on Monday, 107-75. At this early stage, they clearly look like one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference -- with or without Bynum.

Scott figured all along Philadelphia would be tough.

"I thought from the start, when they made the trade and some of the other acquisitions, that they were going to be pretty good," he said. "Their thoughts coming into this season were probably to get into that home-court advantage [for the playoffs], which means you've got to be in the top four. Their aspirations are high. There's no doubt about that. If Andrew's healthy, they're going to be tough."

Gibson agreed.

"They're going to be extremely tough," he said. "They've got a lot of guys who are very versatile, a lot of guys who can do a lot of things on the floor. They're really deep and talented."

But Gibson noted that Bynum's return will alter things for the Sixers, who had 27 fast-break points on Wednesday, compared to 20 for the Cavs.

"He changes things, because he takes away the up-and-down factor that makes them so tough," the veteran guard said. "We'll see. They'll be pretty good, tough."

They certainly were on Wednesday, as the Cavs jumped out to a 24-17 lead and then completely fell apart. The Sixers outscored them, 49-17, the rest of the first half for an insurmountable 66-41 lead at halftime.

In the second quarter alone, the Cavs were outscored, 38-14. They made six of 21 shots (28.6 percent) and two of eight free throws (25 percent). The Sixers, running at will, hit 14 of 23 shots (60.9 percent) but it felt much, much worse. They also had a 19-7 rebounding edge.

The Cavs reserves cut a 32-point third quarter deficit to 13 in the fourth quarter, but the game was never as close as the score indicated.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Dion Waiters wanted his professional debut in his hometown to be a good one.

View full sizeH Rumph Jr., Associated PressCavaliers guard Dion Waiters scored five points in Wednesday's preseason loss to Philadelphia, his first game in his hometown since becoming a pro.

PHILADELPHIA -- An hour before Wednesday's preseason game between the Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia native Dion Waiters stood near halfcourt. His blue T-shirt was soaked with sweat. He was not smiling.

He would fake right on assistant coach Jamahl Mosley, then drive left and pull up for a jump shot at the top of the key. Most went in. After 10 minutes, he went to the right corner and put up jump shot after jump shot. Then he moved to the left corner. More jumpers. Finally, with about 40 minutes left before tipoff, he headed to the locker room.

It was his first game as a professional in his hometown -- a dream come true, he'd said -- and he wanted to be ready. As it turned out, he scored five points on 2-for-6 shooting in the Cavaliers' 113-99 loss to the 76ers.

There is something unique about basketball players who grow up here. Sixers coach Doug Collins realized it during his playing career.

"You think of all the great players who have played here -- Wilt [Chamberlain] and Guy Rodgers -- and all these great, great players," he said before Wednesday's game. "The Big Five. The rivalries. The Sonny Hill Baker League. All the pros would play in the summer league -- Earl Monroe.

"You've got to be tough. You've got to have an element of toughness to your game. You can't back down. You've got a little swagger. All those things. I think that represents what Philadelphia basketball is all about. It has a long, rich heritage, going back a long, long time. That's what the neat thing about it is. It has a great fan base.

"These young guys, when they grow up in Philly, they've got a lot of basketball in front of them."

It also was a homecoming for Cavs center Micheal Eric, who played at Temple.

"It felt a little weird yesterday driving into Philly, where I lived for six years," he admitted. "But it was a great feeling. Philly is like a home away from home."

Eric had a lot of ticket requests, though he didn't want to say how many he actually bought. He did say Waiters bought more.

"This is Dion's town," he said. "I'm just part of it."

Sixers roster: Former Lakers center Andrew Bynum, rumored to be heading to the Cavs for a good deal of the summer, has yet to take part in practice with the Sixers because of right knee troubles. In addition, Collins decided to rest Jason Richardson on Wednesday, starting Dorell Wright instead.

"He's a very good all-around player," Collins said of Wright. "I love what he did the other night [seven points and seven rebounds in a 107-75 victory over Boston on Monday]."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Embick, the Zips associate head coach, will replace Caleb Porter at season's end. Porter is leaving to coach Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers.

View full sizeAkron photoIncoming Akron soccer coach Jared Embick.

AKRON, Ohio -- Jared Embick will be the next head coach of Akron's men's soccer program, the school announced Wednesday.

Embick, the Zips associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, will take over the top spot at the end of the season when Caleb Porter leaves to coach Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers. Porter announced in August that he was leaving.

Embick, 34, has agreed in principle to a three-year contract, pending approval by Akron's board of trustees.

"I am honored to be the next head coach of the University of Akron men's soccer program and look forward to continuing the tradition and success of Akron soccer," Embick said in a statement. "For the last six years, I have been fortunate to work with and learn from Caleb Porter, one of the best coaches in the history of college soccer. I will continue to use those experiences to keep Akron at the pinnacle of college soccer.

"That being said, right now I am only focused on this season and helping the team reach our goal of winning a second national championship."

Embick, who joined the Zips staff in 2007, was named the 2010 national assistant coach of the year when the team won the national championship.

He helped the school snare top-five recruiting classes in each of the past five seasons, highlighted by the No. 1 class in 2009 and No. 2 classes in 2010 and 2011.

During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 111-14-17 (.842). That includes a 36-0-1 (.986) mark in Mid-American Conference play, with four conference tournament titles, five trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.

Embick has also served as a staff coach with the Under-16 and Under-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy's Cleveland Internationals club team for the past three years.

A 2000 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Embick was named an All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association in 1998 and 1999. He was also an NAIA honorable mention All-America honoree in 1999 and was twice named to the All-Mid-Central Conference squad.

Breaking down this week's home game against the fast-falling Boilermakers.

(Editor's note: Latest in a series of opponent previews that looks at more than just what occurs on the field.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hail, Hail To Old Purdue!

Our Friendship May She Never Lack.

Is it possible that football programs are only as good as their fight song? The Buckeyes proudly announce their plan to "fight that team across the field." Michigan is the "victors valiant; champions and the best." Wisconsin vows to "plunge right through that line" (an offensive philosophy first espoused in 1909 which hasn't much changed in a century) and Michigan State "is bound to win, they're fighting with a vim."

Yes, a vim. Look it up.

But in West Lafayette, Hail Purdue is about ... friendship. Noble. Fraternal. Long-lasting ... friendship. And an occasional trip to the Sun or (sigh) the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl would be nice, too.

Oh, but 2012 was supposed to be so much more in central Indiana. Ohio State and Penn State were banned from official glory, Wisconsin started slowly, Indiana and Illinois are -- well, something other than fearsome. So this would be the Boilermakers' chance to build on the third year of Danny's hope, nip the Badgers for the B1G's Leaders crown and then maybe shock someone to reach the Rose Bowl for just the third time in school history.

That was the plan, right through easy wins over the Easterns (Kentucky and Michigan), a narrow loss to Notre Dame and a goofy victory over Marshall where if somebody wasn't returning an interception to the house, they just weren't trying hard enough. At 3-1, with home games against Michigan and Wisconsin to start the B1G season -- it was, as announcers like to say, right there for the Boilers.

And then they played the games.

Oct. 6: Michigan 409 offensive yards, Purdue 213

Oct. 13: Wisconsin 645 yards, Purdue 252

"Two lopsided losses" doesn't go far enough in describing the utter beatdown. The Wolverines held Purdue to 56 rushing yards and forced four turnovers. Against Wisconsin, Purdue had a 52-yard completion from Caleb TerBush to Antavian Edison on the first drive of the game and an 81-yard TD run by Akeem Hunt in the final minutes -- and mustered just 133 yards in between.

Yikes.

Danny Hope and the Boilers were floating after the first four games of the season. But now? Not so much. Michael Conroy, Associated Press

As one of the nation's best engineering schools, a devotion to fact and provable science anchor Purdue's tradition of aviators and astronauts -- and the engineers who build those flying machines. The 2012 team wears a decal on its helmet to honor alum and First Man on the Moon Neil Armstrong -- with the silhouetted moon walker planting a Purdue flag. Feel free to offer the appropriate punchline on the team not reaching the same heights.

Still, verifiable truth is what matters in such surroundings. Leave it to the clearest-eyed of the Purdue faithful -- the student newspaper, the Exponent -- to break down the disappointment on campus.

A Purdue student said he will keep going to games because he loves Purdue football, but has been upset with the last two games in Ross-Ade Stadium.

“The most aggravating part about it is that I commit to go the game,” Tyler Zook, a sophomore in the School of Management, said. “Then I get more and more frustrated as things get worse and I end up leaving.”

When you're young, you don't mind offering a challenging question to authority, in this case, third-year coach Danny Hope.

After the loss, a reporter asked this question: “What do you say to a Purdue fan ... (now) that the team has lost 82-30 the last two weeks at home, given up over 1,000 yards of total defense and now you are going to Ohio State?"

“Big Ten football is no place for the squeamish and Purdue football is no place for the weak-hearted,” Hope said (that's right, only the weak-hearted would take affront to 82-30). “We have to rally up and bounce back and prove our worth, to one another and also to our fan base as well.”

Post-game interviews are typically unsatisfying in situations like this, especially in college, where athletes are still committed to the basic cliches.

“We didn’t come out and play like men,” safety Landon Feichter said. “Wisconsin ran all over us, and that’s not acceptable.”

After two losses, a search for "brotherhood" and "playing harder"

Not all the natives believed in the rosy prospects that 2012 offered -- although Kirk Herbstreit has been a relentless supporter before each of the last two weeks. But the folks who actually have to watch these games are getting tired of waiting for the payoff.

While a few of Hope's players are whining and bellyaching via Twitter about ridding themselves of all negativity, their head coach finally has his eyes open to reality...after five-straight halves of simply awful football. Like we've said over and over and over -- this isn't an offensive issue, a defensive issue, a special teams issue, a coaching issue or a personnel issue...it's a Purdue football issue and the failure has been rampant and across the board.

I still think the last two weeks were Purdue's best chances to make a statement about the program in the last few seasons. They made their statement...it just wasn't what I thought or had hoped it'd be.

To be fair, the same football demon that cripples Iowa's running backs every year has been working overtime in taking out the knees of the Purdue attack -- three ACL surgeries each for (sixth-year!!) QB Robert Marve and RB Ralph Bolden and one each for QB Rob Henry and RB Brandon Cottom. As a result, the offense doesn't do anything particularly well.

Marve is probably the better QB, but his legs carry enough protective bracing to transform him into shoulder pad-wearing statuary against the pass rush. TerBush generally starts until the first really bad mistake, and then it's musical chairs until Hope finds something he likes or -- more likely -- the outcome is decided.

No running back averages more than 55 yards per game and only Edison averages more than 10 yards per reception.

Defensive tackle Kawaan Short is Purdue's "watch list" candidate, but while he has nine tackles for loss, his four sacks all came in the first four games of the season -- not when it mattered. The fact that 17 players have at least 10 tackles is an indictment, not a strength -- just confirmation that somebody was tackling Montee Ball and Denard Robinson 15 yards downfield.

Prediction that means nothing: Purdue hasn't won consecutive games against the Buckeyes since 1967, and with OSU stinging from the finish in Bloomington last Saturday, there's little chance of a surprise. Ohio State 52, Purdue 16

If Saturday goes as expected, can Purdue find the three wins in the final five games to garner another trip to the Detroit riverfront? Road games at Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa aren't impossible in the meager B1G, although Penn State -- even on probation -- seems to have more motivation when the Lions come calling in early November.

Quite likely, the season may come down to the final Saturday of the season, with Indiana perhaps also at five wins and counting. The Hoosiers would be very excited to find themselves in a bowl, any bowl.

By then, will the Boilers just be looking for more friends?

Ohio State hasn't lost in consecutive years to a Big Ten team since 2004, and the Buckeyes must beat Purdue on Saturday to keep that streak alive.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State Revenge Tour is back at Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon with two down, three to go.

After losing five Big Ten games last season, the Buckeyes had a lot to make up for this year. So far, Michigan State and Nebraska have gone down in defeat after knocking off Ohio State in 2011. Now comes a Purdue team that handed Ohio Sate its most difficult loss a year ago, with the Boilermakers blocking what would have been the game-winning extra point with less than a minute to play, and then beating Ohio State in overtime.

"When you go into a game, you're like, 'We lost to these guys last year, so we can't lose to them this year,'" cornerback Bradley Roby said. "Especially last year we felt like we should have won the game, so it gives you even more of an incentive to go out and make plays and win the game more dominantly."

At Ohio State, that extra incentive is usually enough to get it done.

The Buckeyes have not lost in back-to-back years to a Big Ten team since Wisconsin in 2003-04. Since a 24-13 home loss to the Badgers on Oct. 9, 2004, the Buckeyes have only lost 12 Big Ten games, so there haven't been a lot of losses to go around.

But repeating a loss matters. Someone has been in the Buckeyes' ears -- Roby knew the stat about not losing consecutively since 2004.

In nonconference play, Ohio State did lose consecutive years to USC in 2008-09. But with the teams they know best, the Buckeyes haven't fallen into many recent ruts. The next most recent Big Ten team to beat the Buckeyes in consecutive years was Michigan in 1999-2000, and before that there were some long stretches of losing to the Wolverines in consecutive seasons of which OSU fans are well aware.

When was the last time Purdue beat Ohio State in back-to-back years? Never. But the Boilers have been a recent nemesis, upsetting the Buckeyes in West Lafayette in both 2009 and 2011. That 2010 win at home by the Buckeyes, 49-0, was officially vacated as part of the NCAA sanctions for that season.

"I know I've lost two to them since I've been here, and they always plays us well," senior defensive lineman John Simon said. "So we know we have to be fully prepared walking into this game because they always give us a great challenge."

If the No. 8 Buckeyes (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) are worried after giving up 38 and 49 points in wins over Nebraska and Indiana the last two games, the Boilermakers are even more concerned. Purdue (3-3, 0-2) lost its first two conference games to Michigan and Wisconsin 44-13 and 38-14, giving up a combined 1,054 yards.

"There were a lot of disappointed players and certainly embarrassed to lose like that at home," Purdue coach Danny Hope said at his news conference after the homecoming loss to Wisconsin. "We can't spend a whole lot of time wallowing in why we lost and the effects of not playing well.

"It hurt, and it was a tough situation for our football team, and it hurt us greatly and hurt all the Boilermaker nation and we want to bounce back and do well. I think that our team will rally up. I don't have any question about that."

That's what the Buckeyes hope to do after last year.

"I wouldn't say it's the driving force, but they've beaten me twice. We blew that last year with the extra point, we've lost twice at their place, so you never like losing to a team, especially twice," senior tight end/receiver Jake Stoneburner said. "I don't feel like we should have lost those games, so we definitely want to beat them. It's not really revenge, but we don't want to lose."

The Buckeyes have had success at home, not losing to Purdue in Columbus since 1988. Roby's glad the tour is back on this stage.

"The whole atmosphere at Purdue is not that many fans, the field's not all that nice, it's kind of a gloomy type of atmosphere," Roby said. "Playing at Ohio State, you're used to big games, big crowds."

This should count as a big one then. Ohio State isn't used to delaying its revenge.

If Big Ten football is struggling, Big Ten basketball is ready to take over with three teams in the preseason top five of the coaches poll, including Ohio State at No. 4.

Led by Aaron Craft (front) and Deshaun Thomas, the OSU basketball team earned a No. 4 ranking in the coaches preseason poll released on Wednesday, joining No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Michigan in the top five. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS -- So what is it like to for an Ohio State football player to be overshadowed by playing in a basketball conference?

Three Big Ten teams were in the top five of the preseason basketball coaches poll unveiled Wednesday, with Indiana No. 1, Ohio State No. 4 and Michigan No. 5.

"What are we, the SEC of basketball now?" tight end Jake Stoneburner asked. "I never thought the Big Ten would have three in the top five."

Think about how far away the Big Ten is from having three top five teams in football. The last time Big Ten football had even two teams in the top five of a preseason poll was in 2003, with Ohio State and Michigan. In the last decade, a total of seven teams have been ranked in the top five of one of the preseason polls -- Ohio State four times and Michigan three times.

So it must be tough for your sport to play second fiddle now that the Big Ten is a basketball conference.

"Nahh," cornerback Bradley Roby said. "It's a good look and things like that, but it's not a basketball conference. Football for sure. It's a down year, but we're always going to come back."

The basketball-football disparity is heightened by the lack of a Big Ten football team in the first BCS top 25 standings unveiled on Sunday. Ohio State would be No. 7 if the Buckeyes weren't ineligible.

"We'd be up there in the BCS if we didn't screw up a couple years ago," fifth-year senior Stoneburner said. "The rest of Big Ten football, we need to step it up. I feel like when I first got here, we'd lost the two national championships in a row and everyone was saying the Big Ten doesn't win the big game, and I was like, 'Yeah, right.' But I feel like recently we haven't been as great. I don't know.

"We're fine -- Ohio State is fine. So I'm OK with that. But the Big Ten as a whole, we're not playing as well as we should be. It's still great competition, great games each week, but from top to bottom, we're not as good as we should be."

Basketball is ready to lift the conference's reputation, though. No. 14 Michigan State and No. 21 Wisconsin gave the Big Ten five ranked teams. That means the Buckeyes have 10 games on the schedule against preseason top 25 teams, with two games against those conference foes along with a home game against No. 7 Kansas and trip to No. 8 Duke.

Top to bottom, that's very good. And something for football to aspire to.

"Every conference has a down year, other than the SEC," Roby said. "We'll come back."

Punt block breakdown: Ohio State had its second punt of the season blocked against Indiana. The problem the first time was a freshman missing an assignment. This time, the snap came early, as punt protector Zach Boren was still counting to make sure all the Hoosiers were accounted for.

"I'm concerned a lot," head coach Urban Meyer said. "We were checking the protection and the ball was snapped. Right in the middle, if you watch it, Zach was standing up, he as counting, and they snapped the ball."

Also: QB Braxton Miller has left each of the last three games for short amounts of time after getting hurt. On Wednesday, he said he felt good physically, and he was only worried about a serious injury one of those times.

"I was just worried the Michigan State game when my leg locked up," Miller said. "I was pretty nervous about that. Last game I knew it was just a little hop pointer." ...

Meyer said he recruited Purdue quarterback Robert Marve when he was coaching Florida. Marve originally went to Miami and then transferred to Purdue. Meyer called Marve a "tough cat" for playing just a month after tearing his ACL.

New Browns CEO Joe Banner bristles at the notion of another five-year plan. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- If it takes Joe Banner five years to turn the Browns into a perennial contender, the Browns' new CEO is confident he'll no longer be dressed for success.

"I'll be in a straitjacket if it takes that long," Banner said shortly after his introductory news conference in Berea on Wednesday.

Banner, 59, comes to town with a sense of urgency and list of credentials from the Eagles that begins and ends with one word -- winning.

In his 19 seasons in Philadelphia -- including the final 12 as team president -- the Eagles went 162-124-2, made the playoffs 11 times, won six NFC East titles, played in five NFC championship games and made one Super Bowl appearance.

The Eagles have had just two head coaches since 1995, a year after owner Jeff Lurie hired Banner -- his childhood friend -- to help him run the team. In Cleveland, there's been six head coaches in that span -- and that's with the Browns in cold storage for three of those years.

But Banner, a salary-gap guru and relentless go-getter who helped bring the Eagles a new stadium and training facility, knows he can't fool long-suffering Browns fans with rhetoric.

"I know these fans have been through a lot of hopeful starts and I don't want to sit up here and be the next promiser in their lives," he said. "We're just going to have to deliver. I know this: Nobody will work harder, nobody will have a clearer direction, I don't imagine anybody could have more, maybe somebody else could tie, of a sense of the appreciation of the history of the fans and the city.

"It's remarkable when you look at the last 18 to 20 years, the passion, the intensity and they're still filling the stadium. So we're just going to work as hard as we possibly can to reward that and put the best team on the field we can and just make it fun for everybody."

Banner was careful not to specify the exact date and time success will arrive; he won't even go there with his new boss, Jimmy Haslam.

"[But] I don't think it should take very long before you're all sitting here, and the fans watching the team are sitting there going, 'You know what? These guys know what they're doing. We're on the right track. We can start to enjoy this. We're going to end up in a really good place," he said. "I think you'll start to feel that reasonably quickly."

Haslam, who sat next to Banner during the 30-minute news conference, said there might not be two more impatient people in the world.

"There's no shortcut to get to 10-6, but there's a better way to do it where you don't just have one good year," the Browns' new owner said. "We're going to go as fast as we can, but we're not going to take shortcuts."

Banner, who will work closely with team president Mike Holmgren until Holmgren's retirement at the end of the season, was also careful not to give false hope to the staff about its future. With the Browns at 1-5, everyone in the building is on red alert, from head coach Pat Shurmur to the janitor.

Many on the Browns' staff worked for Banner in Philadelphia, including Shurmur, General Manager Tom Heckert, offensive coordinator Brad Childress and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.

"There's a lot of familiar faces here," Banner said. "There isn't a single one that I don't like personally, have a lot of respect for and I've seen them do their jobs extremely well in an environment in which I worked right with them. I come in with a very positive attitude and impression about all those people and have good personal relationships with them. I think as Jimmy has indicated, at the end of the year we'll sit down and evaluate if we've got everything."

With Banner's goal of "championship-caliber performances" from the top down, the faint of heart need not apply.

"Some people are intimidated by big goals," he said. "If somebody's worried that our goal is to win Super Bowls, not just improve our record -- I'm not talking tomorrow, we're going to build toward that -- that's not going to be the right person. They're not going to fit in. That's going to be the mantra of the organization."

If Banner hires people like himself, they'll work until after dark and obsess over every detail.

"I'm competitive to a fault," he said. "There's a saying, 'Strength taken too far can become a weakness.' I'm on the extreme end of being competitive. Sometimes you wish you could roll it back a little bit."

Banner said that early in his career as a team executive he fought hard over contracts and alienated some of his top players.

"I justifiably developed a reputation early in the years of being a particularly tough negotiator," he said. "If you talk to people who negotiated with me later, I learned that there was some value sometimes in finding common ground as opposed to trying to win the negotiations. If you're objective about yourself and you're trying to be successful, you learn from your experience."

At times, he played bad cop to Eagles coach Andy Reid's good cop to preserve Reid's relationship with players.

"My goal is for the organization to be successful," he said. "Hopefully you'll get to know me well enough to know that I'm not the bad guy. [But] if I need to play that role I'm happy to do so."

Banner and Haslam already agree on at least one thing -- the Browns need a great quarterback to be successful. Like everyone else in Berea, the jury is still out on Brandon Weeden.

"Brandon is no different than everybody else," Haslam said. "He'll be evaluated at the end of the year."

Banner and Haslam addressed the team Wednesday morning and the players got the message loud and clear.

"When you have new people, new management coming in, and you're not really secure with what's going on, that's another reason for you to step it up," cornerback Joe Haden said. "There's no impression like a first impression. [They're] basically saying that they want Class A everything. Coaches are going to try to step it up, players are going to step up and everybody's really working for a job."

Banner certainly seems well-suited for this one.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

No. 11 Avon at Rocky River What, when, where: West Shore Conference game, 7 p.m., Rocky River High, 20951 Detroit Road, Rocky River. Call 440-356-6803.

Look for a lot of footballs in the air Friday between Midpark and Brecksville, which features Tommy Tupa, left, with 2,666 yards passing and 29 touchdowns. Midpark counters with Doug Verbofsky, who has throwns for over 2,600 yards and 29 TDs. - (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

No. 11 Avon at Rocky River

What, when, where: West Shore Conference game, 7 p.m., Rocky River High, 20951 Detroit Road, Rocky River. Call 440-356-6803.

Records: Avon 7-1, 5-0; Rocky River 5-3, 4-1.

What to watch: The Eagles are going for a third straight league title and another big run in the Division II playoffs. They have shown balance all season with more than 3,200 yards of offense equally divided. Senior QB David Zeh has thrown for 1,517 yards and 19 scores. He has thrown only two picks since the opening game loss to Avon Lake. Senior RB/CB Ross Douglas has 645 yards and 13 scores. Senior WR/CB Ralph Smith has gained 514 yards and scored six times. The Pirates have won four straight. They don't score a lot of points (147), but they don't give up that many (128). Senior QB Keelan Boettcher has passed for 680 yards and five scores, with seven interceptions. Senior RB Martin Finnegan has put up 770 yards and four TDs, with three more scores on receptions. Rocky River has its work cut out against a club that is hitting on all cylinders.

PD pick: Avon.

Berea at No. 18 Westlake

What, when, where: Southwestern Conference game, 7 p.m., Westlake High, 27830 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake. Call 440-835-6354.

Records: Berea 3-5, 1-4; Westlake 7-1, 4-1.

What to watch: The Braves have a shot at playing spoiler. However, they have lost four of their past five, giving up 169 points in the those losses. With a win, the Demons stay in contention for at least a league co-championship. Senior RB/LB Logan Paul continues his standout two-way play, gaining 1,045 yards on the ground and 14 TDs. The Demons have not been to the playoffs since 1989 and stand third in Division II, Region 6. Now is not the time for a letdown.

PD pick: Westlake.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights vs. Midpark

What, when, where: Southwestern Conference game, 7 p.m., Baldwin Wallace, Finnie Stadium, 141 E. Bagley Road, Berea. Call 216-676-8400.

Records: Brecksville 4-4, 4-1; Midpark 5-3, 2-3.

What to watch: This one could get a little crazy. Senior QB Tommy Tupa has passed for 2,666 yards and 29 touchdowns. Junior WR Tim Tupa has 56 catches for 898 yards and 13 TDs. Senior WR Tyler Tarnowski has 54 receptions for 875 yards and eight scores. After suffering a disappointing loss, 31-21, to Avon Lake, the Bees need this one to stay in the hunt for a co-championship. Midpark has dropped three of its past four, allowing 136 points in those losses. Senior QB Doug Verbofsky is the hub of the offense for the Meteors, passing for 29 touchdowns and more than 2,600 yards. Getting any kind of running game could make a big difference. Give the edge to Brecksville with just a bit more defense.

PD pick: Brecksville.

No. 14 Elyria at No. 8 Hudson

What, when, where: Northeast Ohio Conference River Division game, 7 p.m., Hudson High, 2500 Hudson Aurora Road, Hudson. Call 330-653-1438.

Records: Elyria 6-2, 2-1; Hudson 7-1, 3-0.

What to watch: Playoff hopes are on the line for both clubs. The Pioneers can move the ball on the ground and through the air, averaging 175 yards rushing and 166 passing. Sophomore QB Hunter Parsh has thrown for 1,600 yards and 16 scores, but has been picked off nine times. Junior running back Jordan Connell has gained 772 yards and 14 scores. Elyria has scored 395 points, allowed 195. Hudson sophomore QB Mitch Guadagni has passed for 1,333 yards and 22 TDs, with three picks. Senior RB/LB Ben Gedeon, a Michigan recruit, has put up 678 yards and seven scores. The Explorers are balanced at 175 yards on the ground per game and 166 passing. They have scored 289 points and allowed 147. What should be a high-scoring affair could come down to which team can make some defensive stops. Hudson has high-powered North Royalton next week.

PD pick: Elyria.

Elyria Catholic at No. 12 Midview

What, when, where: West Shore Conference game, 7 p.m., Midview High, 38199 Capel Road, Grafton. Call 440-748-5231.

Records: Elyria Catholic 5-3, 3-2; Midview 7-1, 4-1.

What to watch: The Panthers have been hanging tough since losing quarterback Jeremy Holley to a broken leg in Week 4. Junior Conner Riddell has stepped in and led them to two straight wins, knocking off North Ridgeville, 23-13, last week. Upsetting Midview would highlight the season. The Middies took care of Lakewood, 24-7, and can't afford to coast the rest of the way. Junior QB Cody Callaway has been nursing an ankle injury, but has put up 1,699 yards and 19 TDs. Five players have rushed for at least 100 yards, with Callaway at 165 and four scores. Controlling the ball is EC's best defense.

PD pick: Midview.

Lake Catholic at Walsh Jesuit

What, when, where: North Coast League Blue Division game, 7 p.m., Walsh Jesuit High, 4550 Wyoga Lake Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Call 330-929-4205.

Records: Lake Catholic 5-3, 3-0; Walsh 2-5, 2-1.

What to watch: It's not often these teams have a combined eight losses on their records. However, it is still huge when it comes to league bragging rights. The Cougars have put together four straight wins and have senior QB Mark Baniewicz back from injury. Baniewicz leads the ground attack with 625 yards and six scores. Running backs Bret Zimmerman (485 yards, three TDs) and John Stepec (358 yards, five TDs) add the depth. The Warriors have relied on their ground game as well with RB Zach Kordich at 421 yards and four scores. QB Pat Ford has thrown for 809 yards and six TDs. Both defenses have been coming on in what should be a low scoring affair. Lake Catholic cannot be looking ahead to next week's showdown against Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

PD pick: Lake Catholic.

No. 25 Mogadore at Southeast

What, when, where: Portage Trail Conference County Division game, 7 p.m., Southeast High, 8423 Tallmadge Road, Ravenna. Call 330-654-5841.

Records: Mogadore 8-0, 5-0; Southeast 6-2, 5-0.

What to watch: Mogadore is leading the Division VI, Region 21 computer standings and can clinch a first-round home game with a victory. The Wildcats are led by running backs Gary Strain (1,081 yards, 18 TDs), Kasey Beard (384 yards, 7 TDs), Brandon Berry (706 yards) and quarterback Anthony Ricci (55 completions, 96 attempts, 14 TDs). Southeast also has an effective running game as Brandon Olson, Cody Kollar and Brandon James have combined to rush for 1,699 yards. Junior QB Jordan Krych has thrown for 900 yards. Southeast won last year's game, 35-28, so the Wildcats will be out for revenge.

PD pick: Mogadore.

Riverside at No. 5 Willoughby South

What, when, where: Premier Athletic Conference game, 7 p.m., Willoughby South High, Harry E. Winters Stadium, 5000 Shankland Blvd., Willoughby. Call 440-975-3648.

Records: Riverside 6-2, 4-1; South 8-0, 5-0.

What to watch: The Beavers upset Chardon last week, but the Beavers gave up 298 yards rushing. That does not bode well against South tailback Kareem Hunt, whose 211 yards and five touchdowns against Madison last week gave him 1,790 yards and 28 TDs this season. Riverside features tailback Marcus Jones, who had 268 yards on 24 carries against Chardon.

PD pick: Willoughby South.

No. 4 St. Vincent-St. Mary at Massillon

What, when, where: Nonleague game, 7:30 p.m., Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, One Paul Brown Drive, S.E., Massillon. Call 330-830-3901.

Records: Both teams are 7-1.

What to watch: Massillon appears to have a spot in the playoffs locked up, sitting comfortably in second place in Division I, Region 2. The Irish can probably make the Division III playoffs even with a loss. Tigers QB Kyle Kempt, a Cincinnati recruit, has thrown for 1,884 yards and 19 TDs by completing 72 percent of his passes. Michigan recruit Gareon Conley has 32 receptions for 655 yards and nine touchdowns. Irish QB Clayton Uecker has thrown for 1,614 yards and 18 touchdowns, with most passes going to Jordan Hargrove (47 receptions, 747 yards, 10 TDs) and Fransohn Bickley (25 receptions, 584 yards, 56 TDs). Parris Campbell and Mike Pruiett have combined to rush for 1,088 yards and 19 TDs.

PD pick: Massillon.

SATURDAY

No. 2 St. Edward vs. Cincinnati Moeller

What, when, where: Nonleague game, 2 p.m., Lockland Stadium-Roettger Field, Cincinnati. Call 513-792-3340.

Records: St. Edward 8-0; Moeller 6-2.

What to watch: Moeller's losses were to Cincinnati St. Xavier and Cincinnati Elder, and the Crusaders are No. 2 in the Division I, Region 4 computer standings. Moeller is coming off a 48-13 victory over Indianapolis Cathedral in which it rushed for more than 300 yards. Quarterback Spencer Iacavone has passed for more than 1,200 yards with 10 TDs and six interceptions. St. Edward is No. 2 in the state poll and No. 1 in Region 1. The Eagles' defense had a late goal-line stand to preserve a 27-16 win over St. Xavier last week. St. Edward's defense has collected 19 turnovers and produced 25 quarterback sacks.

PD pick: St. Edward.

No. 1 St. Ignatius at Cincinnati St. Xavier

What, when, where: Nonleague game, 2 p.m., St. Xavier's Ballaban Field, 600 West North Bend Road, Cincinnati. Call 513-761-7600.

Records: St. Ignatius 8-0; St. Xavier 5-3.

What to watch: The Bombers are likely to be in a bad mood following their 27-16 loss to St. Edward last week, which left them in ninth place and on the verge of playoff elimination in Division I, Region 4. This is the 19th meeting between the two and St. Xavier leads, 10-8. There are few secrets between the coaching staffs as St. Xavier coach Steve Specht served as Chuck Kyle's defensive coordinator for Team USA during the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championships in Canton. The Wildcats have slipped to second place behind rival St. Edward in the Region 1 computer race. St. Xavier is powered by Nick Tensing, who has accounted for 2,136 yards and 16 touchdowns. St. Ignatius has won 14 straight games, dating to last year. Its last loss was to St. Xavier, 14-12, last Oct. 22.

PD pick: St. Ignatius.

A wildlife regulation requiring anglers leave a patch of skin on their fish fillets has been sliced out of the rule book by the Ohio Wildlife Council.

 A controversial fishing regulation requiring anglers to keep a patch of skin on their fillets was pared out of the rule book by the Ohio Wildlife Council at its meeting on Wednesday evening.

 The rule initially required fishermen to leave all of the skin on a fish fillet. When it made its debut last spring, few fishermen, fishing guides or fish cleaning businesses were aware of the regulation. Sportsmen were in an uproar, and a May lawsuit in Ottawa Common Pleas Court prompted wildlife officials to amend the regulation to require just a small patch of skin.

 The reconfigured rule will now require fishermen to keep fish fillets whole - but not always. The rule won't apply if an angler has a dated receipt from a fish cleaning house or licensed fishing guide showing the number and species of fish caught.

 The rule was designed to prevent poaching, said Chief Scott Zody of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Similar to an Ontario regulation, it was designed to prevent people from overbagging fish and cutting the fillets into unidentifiable chunks.

 Good timing: With the hunting seasons on a roll and the fall fishing getting started, the Armstrong Antlers and Anglers show at the Ashland County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday will features experts on bass, walleye and steelhead trout fishing, wild game cookery and kid's fishing. Headlining the stage show is Cincinnati pro bass angler Joe Thomas. The show is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $2 or two cans of food for the Breaking Bread food drive.

 Bowhunting in North Ridgeville: There are some hoops to jump through, but bowhunting for white-tailed deer was approved by the North Ridgeville City Council. The ordinance will require a landowner to first register his property with city police. Bowhunters must have a state-generated permission slip signed by the landowner.

 Skeet expert on tap: Skeet shooting world champion Todd Bender has clinics on Oct. 27 at Urbandale Gun Club, 6347 E. Loveland Rd., Madison, including an all-day session costing $450. For reservations, contact Curt Brown, 216-406-0558. An international instructor and a member of the National Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame, Bender has a series of instructional videos.

 Acorns aplenty: Ohio's white-tailed deer are hungry for protein-rich acorns, and this year is one of plenty around the state. A survey reports a 36 percent increase in white oak acorns, a favorite of deer, wild turkey and more than 90 other species of forest wildlife. Red acorns, which are more bitter and a deer's second choice, are up 9 percent. The surveys were taken on Ohio's 38 public wildlife areas.

 Weekly deer tally: The Ohio Division of Wildlife computers used to issue licenses and permits are working overtime. One of the benefits of the new system is to update the weekly deer harvest each Wednesday on wildohio.com. After three weeks of bowhunting, the county-by-county deer kill has reached 19,796 bucks and does, a 40 percent increase. Wildlife officials say the report should help hunters find success during the popular deer gun season on Nov. 26-Dec. 2 and Dec. 15-16.

 Out and about: The London State Fish Hatchery has a crop of 26,000 yearling brown trout to release in the Mad River, Clear Fork of the Mohican and Clear Creek . . . The boating and fishing season will last a bit longer around the Portage Lakes this year, with the winter draw down put off until mid-November to benefit local businesses . . . Pennsylvania discovered its first case of Chronic Wasting Disease in a captive-born deer on an Adams County farm, and is setting up a disease management area . . . Wild turkeys had a good nesting season last spring, and hunters should top last year's harvest of 1,375 gobblers and hens during the fall Ohio turkey hunting season that is on through Nov. 25,

Lake Erie yellow perch fishing has been very good and the late-season, after-dark walleye fishing is starting to blossom.

 GENERAL FISHING REPORT

 The Lake Erie yellow perch fishing has been very good, with outstanding numbers of jumbo perch being caught from Cleveland to the Bass Islands. The walleye fishing has been slow in daytime, but the near-shore night bite is improving as the big waters cool. The steelhead trout fishing has been fair. With rivers low and clear, most of the success has been from the lower stretches and around the river mouths.

 Inland lakes and reservoirs are giving up good numbers of bluegill and crappie. The bass and walleye fishing has been slow.

 CLEVELAND AREA

 The big schools of yellow perch are in 36 to 42 feet of water, and lots of jumbo perch being caught close to the lake bottom on emerald shiner minnows between East 72d St. and Edgewater Park in Cleveland Harbor. Smallmouth bass have moved to the near-shore Cleveland area, hitting tube jigs and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, minnows or leeches. Some steelhead trout are being caught from the Cleveland area breakwalls on Little Cleo spoons and in-line spinners, with the East 55th St. and East 72d St. piers best. Walleye are starting to bite along the Cleveland breakwalls after dark.

LAKE ERIE

 Lake Erie yellow perch fishing has been very good and the late-season, after-dark walleye fishing is starting to blossom. The yellow perch bite has been best in 40 to 50 feet of water between Lorain and Cleveland, with very good fishing  off the Avon Point stacks. Perch are being caught in 45 to 50 feet of water between Vermilion and Huron, northwest of Fairport Harbor in 52 feet and north of Ashtabula in 57 feet. Perch are being caught 1 to 3 miles off Little Cedar Point, around Green Island, along the east side of Kelleys Island and between Kelleys Island and Marblehead. 

 Walleye fishing has been slow during the day, but picking up after dark. Anglers are casting minnow-style plugs from the piers, with the Cleveland and Huron piers best. Trolling anglers are dragging Husky Jerk lures in 15 to 20 feet of water from Huron to Lorain, and in deeper water around the dumping grounds northwest of Huron.

 RIVERS AND STREAMS

 Low water is making the steelhead trout fishing difficult in area rivers and streams. A few trout are being caught in the lower stretches of the rivers, witht trout especially wary in the low, clear upstream waters. Trolling has produced trout in the lower rivers and around the river mouths with spoons and spinners. Wading anglers are casting spawn bags, jigs tipped with maggots or minnows or casting minnow or egg patterns to the deeper pools.

 INLAND LAKES, RESERVOIRS

 The crappie and bluegill fishing has been good in most ponds and lakes. Bluegill are taking tiny jigs tipped with maggots and suspended under a float in 3 to 6 feet of water, while crappie prefer minnows and 6 to 12 feet of water featuring timber and sunken brush piles. West and East reservoirs in the Portage Lakes chain have been good for panfish.

 The bass fishing is very difficult and only a few catfish are being caught. Shoreline anglers are starting to catch a few walleye after dark at Mosquito and Pymatuning reservoirs casting minnow-style plugs and jigs and twister tails around the points and along the causeway rip-rap. Good-sized yellow perch are also moving to shallow areas at Pymatuning, taking jigs tipped with maggots or a minnow.

 The Ohio & Erie Canal in Cuyahoga Heights has lots of rainbow trout and catfish after major stockings last week for a kid's fishing event. Catfish were also released last week at Wallace Lake in Berea.

Young jockeys have made their mark this month at Thistledown with their first career wins.

 Young jockeys Brittany Vandenberg and Francisco Diaz Lopez will always remember Thistledown's winner circle.

 Vandenberg, 22, and Diaz Lopez, 23, recently notched the first victories of their short careers at the North Randall thoroughbred track, making their debut in front of the post-race winner's circle camera. They'd be delighted to follow in the footsteps of newcomer Walter De La Cruz, a Peruvian jockey who made his debut here in the spring and now has a commanding lead in the jockey standings heading toward the end of the Thistledown racing season.

 Vandenberg, a native of Canada, has been riding thoroughbreds since spring. She guided Lady B, a 16-1 long shot owned and trained by Russell Polichena, to victory on Sept. 13, winding her way between horses for a 2 1/4-length victory. The young woman learned to ride while growing up in Woodslee, Ont. after her mother asked her whether she'd like to have a pony or play baseball.

 "I took the pony, and here we are," Vandenberg told track officials. "I don't think Mom expected I'd be riding race horses."

 Vandenberg was a running back and strong safety while playing football in high school, and competed in barrel racing and bull riding. She won Canada's National Barrel Horse Association finals in 2010 aboard Chico, a quarter horse she broke and trained.

 For the last couple of years she has been racing quarter horses, teaming with veteran Thistledown trainer Richard Rettele, who also rides in quarter horse races. Retelle taught her to race ride, said Vandenberg, and is still her mentor.

 Diaz Lopez had ridden in quarter horse races in his native Mexico before coming to the U.S. in 2007. He worked construction in Tennessee at first, then galloped horses at Tampa Bay Downs. Diaz Lopez earned his jockey's license last month. His first win on Oct. 5 was aboard Lion Heart in a $2,500 claimer, a 10-1 shot that won its first in 11 starts this season for trainer Pablo Cosme and owner L and M Stable.

 De La Cruz still hot: Walter De La Cruz couldn't have been happy with the way that Best of Ohio Day began on Friday at Thistledown. De La Cruz had won the opening race on six straight programs leading up to the big stakes day card. While he finally missed an opening-race win, De La Cruz has posted 64 victories in 245 starts this meeting for an overwhelming lead in the jockey standings. Luis Antonio Gonzalez and Jeffrey Skerrett are second with 34 wins, followed by Alvaro Hernandez-Lopez with 33.

 Jeff Radosevich moved into the top spot in the trainer's race by saddling 37 winners in 147 races. Richard Rettele is second with 32 winners, followed by Ronald Allen Sr. with 19 and Rodney Faulkner and Nabu Morales with 18 wins.

 Lebanon on move: The Warren County commissioners have approved a special taxing district for a new racino to be built by Miami Valley Gaming & Racing of Buffalo, N.Y.  It will allow the move of Lebanon Raceway's harness racing from the Warren County Fairgrounds in Lebanon to a 120-acre site that was once was a state prison farm at the intersection of Ohio 63 and Union Rd. in Turtlecreek Twp., on Interstate 75, a few miles north of Cincinnati. The Lebanon Correctional Institute is across the road from the site.

 The new racino is expected to bring 700 jobs and millions in tax revenue to the area. Construction is to begin in December, with completion by December, 2013.

 Turfway troubles: Turfway Park wrapped up its 16-day fall meeting with a betting shortfall blamed on the cancellation of its entire stakes program. The handle at the Northern Kentucky track was $20.5 million, down 26 percent from 2011 when the Kentucky Cup series was featured.

 Horse race fans are wondering if the track, owned by Rock Ohio Caesar, can survive a bid by Churchill Downs to host competing race cards next September. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has until Nov. 1 to assign 2013 racing dates. Turfway still has a holiday meet in December, and a winter-spring meet from January through March.

"Hiring Brad Mills is a good move. Getting him to commit without promising the bench coach position is good insurance if Alomar leaves and good depth elsewhere on the staff if he stays. Neither Smith nor Fields had much of an impact on the team's play. Smith seemed indecisive at 3rd base, getting one guy thrown out by 30 feet and holding the next one up when he had time to score." - Gainesville_Steve

View full sizeAP PhotoOne cleveland.com reader would be happy with a Brad Mills hire.

"Hiring Brad Mills is a good move. Getting him to commit without promising the bench coach position is good insurance if Alomar leaves and good depth elsewhere on the staff if he stays. Neither Smith nor Fields had much of an impact on the team's play. Smith seemed indecisive at 3rd base, getting one guy thrown out by 30 feet and holding the next one up when he had time to score."

Shurmur talks about several Browns and some about the Colts, the Browns' opponent on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Coach Pat Shurmur and the Browns are preparing to play the Colts on Sunday in Indianapolis. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Mewhort, an offensive tackle, and his fellow linemen have helped the Buckeyes score 40.4 points per game. Quarterback Miller, of course, is the key to the offense with his running and passing. More Ohio State story links.

Jack Mewhort (74) has excelled at offensive tackle for Ohio State this season. Eric Albrecht, Columbus Dispatch

After losing his scholarship this summer because of an offseason arrest, Mewhort has regained new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer's trust and emerged as Ohio State's most consistent lineman. Mewhort, a junior from Toledo, Ohio, leads an OSU offensive line that paved the way for 724 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns the past two games. Undefeated Ohio State is averaging 263.6 rushing yards and has scored 23 rushing touchdowns.