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

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

Joshua Gunter/ The Plain DealerIs Pat Shurmur the right man for the job?

"Get the Right Head Coach:

Pat Shurmur has made a number of bizarre game management decisions in his first two seasons as a head coach. The Cleveland Browns have lost several close games in those two seasons, which could ultimately cost him his job.

If Shurmur can identify and implement fixes for the game management problems during the bye week, he could be the right guy for Jimmy Haslam. The lower the win total, the better the performance the quarterback will need to have to save Shurmur. The wins will show Shurmur can make decisions that lead to victory and the quarterback performance will show he is the right guy to coach the franchise quarterback."

"Even though the offense has taken some steps forward in 2012, statistically, they still have a long ways to go in order to catch up with the rest of the league. The pass protection has improved, as the Browns rank fourth in the league in terms of sacks allowed per pass attempt, compared to 17th a year ago. Points per game has also improved by more than five points, but is still below the league average.

The outstanding issues are on third downs and in the red zone. Cleveland has regressed from the 2011 season in both regards, and perhaps no game showed that better than the loss to the Ravens a week ago when they had to settle for five field goals."

"Half-full: Weeden has thrown for 2,088 yards and nine touchdowns so far, putting him on pace to 3,712 yards and 16 touchdowns. That would easily be the best year for a Browns quarterback since Derek Anderson in 2007 (what, you thought it was going to be Brady Quinn’s 1,339 yards in 2009?). Weeden has had his rookie moments, like his four interception game in the opener against Philadelphia and last week’s game vs. Baltimore, but for the most part he hasn’t looked too overwhelmed.

Half-empty: Weeden is last in completion percentage (55.1), average yards per attempt (6.2), interceptions (12) and quarterback rating (67.9) among the five rookie quarterbacks playing this season. Weeden throws a nice long ball but in recent weeks he has been struggling to see the whole field and seems to willing to check down for painfully short gains. He’s only been sacked 14 times so the problem is not a lack of protection. Browns fans have to hope it is either the play calling or just the bumps of being a rookie, because every time that Anderson’s name is used in the same sentence as Weeden’s, we get severe agita."

Ohio State senior linebacker Zach Boren wants to go out with a conference divisional championship. As an Indians fan, he knows any title is one to cherish.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerZach Boren has been a full-time linebacker for only the second half of the season, but has 29 tackles in helping stabilize a decimated unit on an undefeated team.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- This is Zach Boren's last hurrah at Ohio State. The senior fullback-turned-linebacker knows that.

One of five OSU captains, Boren is an Indians fan, too. So, you know, better late than never.

If the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin in Madison Saturday, they will be undisputed Big Ten Leaders Division champions. NCAA probation, however, will keep them from playing in the conference championship game. Wisconsin, tied for second with ineligible Penn State, will drag an asterisk the size of a cannonball into the title game in Indianapolis.

"It would mean a lot. We've put in so much work off-season and during this season, with the circumstances we've been in, it would mean a lot to come out with a title," Boren said.

The effort any sport requires validates players on both sides of the ball. Respect for one's opponent is not some optional part of the package. It is integral to the game.

Boren even respects The Team Up North. Urban Meyer this season revived Woody Hayes' tradition of never saying the word "Michigan." Boren's father, Mike, is the sixth-leading tackler in the northern school's history. His mother, Holly, was a track and field athlete not so way up north. His brother, Justin, played there before transferring to Ohio State at the beginning of the ill-fated Rich Rodriguez era.

Zach, who grew up in the Columbus suburb of Pickerington, was leaning to OSU all along, even before Justin's transfer. Another Boren, Jacoby, is a freshman center for the Buckeyes.

Zach Boren is a man for more seasons than most. He was rated the second-best high school baseball player in Ohio as a first baseman at Pickerington, but he passed on the chance to play baseball at OSU last spring to immerse himself fully in Meyer's football program.

View full sizeOSU photo"With the circumstances we've been in, it would mean a lot to come out with a (Leaders Division) title," says OSU senior Zach Boren.

Boren knows all the stories about his family's ties to baseball. His maternal great-grandfather, Lefty Weisman, was the Indians' trainer from the 1920s until 1948, the last year the Tribe won the World Series. His grandfather, Jed Weisman, got his first name from the first letters of the names of Indians outfielders Joe Vosmik, Earl Averill and Dick Porter in the 1930s.

Beyond the football-baseball, Team Up North-Ohio State conflict, a third part of the Borens' identity might have been an issue in the past. The Borens are practicing Jews. Among the courses Zach has taken at Ohio State was one in Yiddish.

"I wanted to learn more about the culture," he said. "I know when my older brother was playing for The Team Up North, there were some Jewish All-Americans at the games. My dad was a Jewish All-American too, so he introduced me to them."

Boren's faith only came up as a topic after I received a few admiring emails about him from OSU alumni. The current edition of Sports Illustrated also praised a new book, "Jewish Jocks," and makes the point that the old joke is wrong: It is really not the shortest book ever written. It contains 49 essays, proving how rich is the Jewish sports tradition.

Still, cultural pressures in a Christian world created a stereotype of Jews as anything but athletic. Derogatory terms greeted such Jewish baseball icons as Detroit slugger Hank Greenberg -- later an Indians general manager -- and the Tribe's last AL MVP, Al Rosen.

Said Boren, "I think people are trying to be above prejudice now, especially on the football field. You have so much respect for your opponent, knowing how much work each team has put in. There's going to be trash talk, but it's more of the fun of the game, not downgrading people or talking bad about somebody's religion or family or race."

The violent sport of football is, in a way, one of the last refuges of civility in a coarsened culture. It is a surprising revelation.

Meyer switched Boren to defense after the debacle of the Buckeyes' 52-49 victory over Indiana. "I like playing offense and defense, but I guess I like defense better because I played offense for three and a half years," Boren said. "Defense is a change, a big jolt, and I'm still riding that wave."

If it crests at a division championship, no matter how spoiled it is by probation, it will be Boren's third on the field at Ohio State. He, more than most, knows no championship comes easily.

"I never met my great-grandfather, but he was there for the Indians' (1948) championship," Boren said. "My uncle, Scott, was born in 1964, the last time the Browns won the championship. He's been a Cleveland fan his whole life and has never experienced a championship."

Zach Boren was barely beginning school when the Indians' 1995 and 1997 teams lost in the World Series. "Jose Mesa, two outs away, couldn't finish it off. Oh, my goodness. It's terrible," said Boren.

When a questioner asked how old Boren was then, he said, "Old enough to remember."

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Greg Little received some words of wisdom during the bye week from seven-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning, and shared them with the team. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- The theme of Greg Little's bye week was: Mourning has spoken.

So powerful was the message Little received from former Heat center Alonzo Mourning during a two-hour lunch in Miami that he brought it back and shared it with the Browns before practice Monday morning.

"The message he gave to me is 'what are you willing to give up to win?'" said the Browns receiver. "That's kind of the message I relayed to our team -- 'what are you willing to sacrifice to finish this season out like we really want to?'"

Mourning, the Heat's Vice President of Player Programs, heard about Little from a mutual friend of theirs and thought he could help. He knew that Little engaged in a Twitter war with fans and that it knocked him off his game. He knew about the dropped passes. He saw a young man who needed to be set straight on a few things, including true dedication to the game.

"I didn't know he was following me as close as he was," said Little. "I had the thing on Twitter and that whole debacle and he just explained to me that [the fans] were right. Winning is more important than any other thing in sports and that's just something that I enjoyed hearing from him."

Mourning cited the example of a former Cleveland superstar to drive home his point.

"He said that the biggest thing that helped LeBron [James] in his playoff run was the sacrifice he made to stay off Twitter, don't text people, don't instagram, things like that," said Little. "He said that was the best performance that he's seen other than Michael Jordan."

A seven-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Mourning also stressed the hallmarks of a champion.

"He explained a story that Tiger Woods would putt five-foot putts 500 times and he'd have to hit 500 in a row," said Little. "If he missed at 299, he started all the way back to one. That was the way he was explaining to me about when I have drops -- doing something so many times where it's just muscle memory."

Mourning's words packed such a punch that the loquacious Little was virtually speechless throughout. "I was lost in what he was saying and really trying to soak in 100 percent," he said.

Even an hour later, Little was still dumbstruck.

"I was riding home with my friend and I didn't even say anything," said Little. "I was still thinking about what he was saying."

Little, whose receptions are down from last season, couldn't help but stand up in front of the team Monday morning and share his epiphany, the perfect jumpstart after the bye week.

"Usually I'm more the joker on the team, so anytime I get up and say something serious, I think the guys were shocked," he said. "[But] they took it well."

The speech reached even longtime veterans such as Josh Cribbs.

"He encouraged a us to do a little extra," said Cribbs. "If everybody does extra, we'll be a complete football team. Everybody took it to heart coming from him. For a young guy to speak up, we were surprised and we back him 100 percent and I'm proud of him."

Cornerback Joe Haden agreed. "Everybody has to come in and just do a little bit more, because what we've been doing in the past obviously isn't working," he said. "If it's another hour of film study, if it's another workout, if it's a little more conditioning, if it's meeting with your coaches, if it's anything like that, take that next step because obviously what we've been doing for the first nine weeks hasn't been working."

Little admitted that it's been tough at times especially for the young receivers not to have a veteran to show them the way.

"I wouldn't shy away from having a guy of that magnitude [for] when you're going through adverse situations, to say, 'you know, I've been there. I know what you're going through and this is the way that you should go about handling it,'" he said.

For his part, Little won't change everything, including his latest first-down signal of holding his hand out straight, dropping the ball and pointing. But he will stay off Twitter for the time being -- he hasn't tweeted since Sept. 22 -- and do more before and after practice -- including extended time on the JUGS pass-catching machine.

Although others have tried to tell him his improved production over the last three games -- 17 catches for 132 yards and a TD -- can be attributed to eliminating the distractions, it didn't really hit home until his Mourning luncheon.

"I was like 'Yeah, whatever. That's not it. I'm just playing well,'" he said. "[But] when you hear it from somebody like that, you take it [to heart]."

And spread the word.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Here is the 2012 Associated Press Northeast Lakes All-District football teams based on the recommendations of a media panel: DIVISION I

Mentor quarterback Mitch Trubisky was named the Division I offensive player of the year on the Associated Press Northeast Lakes All-District team. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

Here is the 2012 Associated Press Northeast Lakes All-District football teams based on the recommendations of a media panel:

DIVISION I

First Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Mitch Trubisky, Mentor, sr., 6-3, 200; Travis Tarnowski, North Royalton, sr., 6-0, 190. Backs -- Kareem Hunt, Willoughby South, sr., 5-11, 210; Tim McVey, Cleve. St. Ignatius, sr., 5-10, 185; Herbert Walker jr., Cleve. Glenville, sr., 5-7, 188. Ends -- Brandon Fritts, Mentor, 6-4, 210, jr.; Conner Krizancic, Mentor, 6-2, 190, sr.; Timmy Tupa, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 6-1, 185, jr.; Anthony Young, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-1, 170, sr.; Nick Krempasky, North Royalton, 6-3, 190, sr. Tight End -- Dan Ratliff, Elyria, 5-10, 185, sr. Linemen -- Dominic Giunta, Willoughby South, 6-3, 245, sr.; Mike Cray, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-1, 245, sr.; Jim Byrne, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-5, 275, jr.; Donovan Munger, Shaker Heights, 6-4, 285, sr.; Matt Blaha, Euclid, 6-3, 365, sr. Athlete -- Drazen Markovic, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 6-1, 180, sr. Kicker -- Matt Colella, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 5-8, 155, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Kevin Kavalec, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-3, 240, sr.; Ryan Davis, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 205, sr.; Tracy Sprinkle, Elyria, 6-5, 260, sr.; Kyle Kuhar, Avon Lake, 6-4, 245, jr.; Mike Tyler, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 6-5, 235, sr.; Kent Berger, Mentor, 6-5, 220, jr. Linebackers -- Conner Kamczyc, Elyria, 6-1, 215, jr.; Christopher Worley, Cleve. Glenville, 6-3, 195, sr.; Tyler Rus, Willoughby South, sr.; Kyle Berger, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-3, 210, jr.; Guy Schuler, Amherst, 6-3, 185, sr.; LaVonte Robinson, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 225, sr.; Myles Alexander, Euclid, 6-1, 210, sr. Backs -- Jimmy Hessel, Avon Lake, 6-2, 175, sr.; Dominic Abounader, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 195, sr.; Solomon Warfield, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 185; Andrew Venclauskas, Willoughby South, 6-1, 190, sr.; Nick Iapaolo, Painesville Riverside, 5-11, 175, sr. Athlete -- George Berry, Solon, 5-10, 175, sr.; Aaron Neal, Lorain, 5-11, 195, soph. Punter -- Anton Vrebac, Eastlake North, 6-5, 200, jr.

Offensive player of the year: Mitch Trubisky, Mentor.

Defensive player of the year: Tracy Sprinkle, Elyria.

Coach of the year: Nick Ciulli, North Royalton.

Second Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Tommy Tupa, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 6-4, 225, sr.; Ryan Fallon, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-1, 175, sr. Backs -- Anthony Canganelli, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 5-9, 185, sr.; Sherman Saunders, Lorain, 5-10, 205, So.; Dwayne Aaron, Lakewood St. Edward, 5-8, 175, sr.; Juwan Ford, Euclid, 5-9, 225, sr. Ends -- Ben Josipovic, Eastlake North, 6-2, 190, sr.; Darian Hicks, Solon, 5-10, 172, sr.; Chris Overton, Cleve. Glenville, 5-10, 165, sr. Linemen -- Brandon Short, Mentor, 6-3, 250, sr.; Cody Schneider, Elyria, 6-4, 260, sr.; Henry Hinkle, Euclid, 6-3, 315, sr.; David Khanin, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 6-2, 280, jr.; John Fijalkovich, North Royalton, 6-1, 230, sr.; Kyle Ritz, Willoughby South, 6-5, 280, jr. Tight End -- Anthony Federico, Willoughby South, 6-2, 225. Athlete -- Carl Lint, North Royalton, 5-10, 165, sr. Kicker -- Aiden Simenc, Willoughby South, 5-11, 185, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- August Runyon, Painesville Riverside, 6-0, 215, sr.; Delvon Maddox, Mentor, 6-3, 215. jr.; Zach Zaminska, Avon Lake, 6-4, 255, sr.; Dave Katusha, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-2, 265, sr. Linebackers -- Collin Lucas, Avon Lake, 6-1, 225, jr.; Alex Brooks, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 6-0, 195, sr., John Sensibaugh, Solon, 5-11, 175, soph.; Chaolo Lopez, Painesville Riverside, 6-0, 235, sr.; Malcolm Thomas, Lorain, 5-11, 225, sr. Backs -- Chris Penny, Lorain, 6-1, 170, sr.; Reese Armstrong, Mentor, 5-9, 180, sr.; Tom Fanning, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-0, 165, sr.; Anthony Kinney, Shaker Heights, 5-11, 175, sr. Athlete -- Harry Durrah, Lyndhurst Brush, 5-8, 170, sr. Punter -- Brian Young, Amherst, 5-11, 145, sr.

Third Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Jimmie Pope, Shaker Heights, 6-3, 185, sr.; Casey Klicman, Willoughby South, 6-0, 205, sr. Backs -- Nick Delisa, Mentor, 5-7, 150, sr.; Jordan Connell, Elyria, 5-9, 185, jr.; Ramses Owens, Shaker Heights, 6-1, 180, jr. Ends -- Chris Reimer, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 5-11, 170, sr.; Mitch Longo, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 6-0, 180, sr.; Rocky Zingale, Cleve. Ignatius, 6-0, 175, sr.; Tyler Tarnowski, North Royalton, 5-9, 165, sr. Linemen -- Brandon Ray, Mentor, 6-0, 210, jr.; Stephan Moody, Amherst, 6-1, 225, sr.; Zack Sorhan, Garfield Heights, 6-3, 260, sr.; Ian McDonald, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-1, 220, sr.; Ryan Pastor, Solon, 6-3, 215, sr.; Steven Franko, St. Ignatius, 6-1, 240, sr. Athlete -- Eddie Williamson, Lorain, 5-9, 165, So.; Stephen Shorts, Lyndhurst Brush, 5-11, 190, jr. Kicker -- Paul Karthan, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 5-9, 155, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Thomas Venclauskas, Willoughby South, 6-2, 215, jr.; Andy Schultz, North Royalton, 6-1, 225, sr.; Dylan Loew, Mayfield Village Mayfield, 5-9, 220, sr.; Darryl Howard, Cleve. Glenville, 6-0, 205, sr. Linebackers -- Joe Iafelice, Mentor, 6-0, 210, sr.; Ransford Bailey, Lyndhurst Brush, 6-2, 185, sr.; Singleton Grant jr., Cleve. Glenville, 6-1, 185, sr.; Aaron Jones, Garfield Heights, 5-10, 175, sr.; C.J. Taddeo, Mayfield Village Mayfield 5-10, 200, sr.; C.J. Haag, Cleve. St. Ignatius, 6-1, 192, sr. Backs -- Marshon Lattimore, Cleve. Glenville, 6-0, 180, jr.; Jaylen Dowdy, Mentor; 6-3, 185, sr.; A.J. Strnad, Eastlake North, 5-9, 160, sr.; Erick Smith, Cleve. Glenville, 6-0, 180, jr.; Khoury Crenshaw, Solon, 5-10, 155, sr.

Honorable Mention

Brecksville-Broadview Heights: Grant Cunningham; Euclid: Rakeesh Nolden, Terrence Roscoe jr., Linden Stephens; Garfield Heights: Demertius Collier, David Wright, Glenville: Carl Dowdell, Antwon Harris, Raijon Long, Quan Robinson, Darrell Benjamin, Sharref Shabazz; Shaker Heights: Derrick Burgess, Nicholas Chmielewski, Greg Claytor jr., Joe Henderson, Melran Leach jr., Odell Spencer, Jalen Stackhouse, Javon Walker; St. Ignatius: Scott Arthrell, Mike Bigach, Ryan Chapek, Bryan Fisher, Matt Gawlik, Mike Gibbons, Conor Hennessey, Jack Hyland, Mike LaManna, Dameon Willis jr.; Mike Siragusa; Lorain: Jowahn Charlton; Mentor: Terrence Walton; Lyndhurst Brush: Alfonso Onunwar, Tony Andrews, Devin Person; Willoughby South: T.J. Lett, Steve Korzunowski; Mayfield Village Mayfield: Tylor Gaydos, Jonathon Mangelluzzi, Cory Blessing, Kai Pritchard, Luke Fikaris; Eastlake North: Ron Bolden, John Piller, Conner Fish.

DIVISION II

First Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Cody Callaway, Grafton Midview, 6-2, 185, jr.; David Zeh, Avon, 6-1, 170, sr. Backs -- Ross Douglas, Avon, 5-10, 180, sr.; Mark Murray, Madison, 5-11, 205, sr.; Aaron Rossi, Geneva, 5-9, 190, soph. Ends -- Eric Lauer, Grafton Midview, 6-4, 185, sr.; Da'Vonte Price, East Cleve. Shaw, 5-10, 175, sr.; Cliff Garner, Maple Heights, 6-4, 180, Jr; Ralph Smith, Avon, 5-9, 160, sr. Linemen -- Sam Coverdale, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-7, 270, sr.; Antonio Weatherspoon, Maple Heights, 6-2, 265, Jr; Marvin Simmons, East Cleve. Shaw, 6-2, 210, sr.; Tim Von Salter, Avon, 6-2, 270, sr.; Joe Bashore, Madison, 6-0, 220, sr. Tight End -- Alex Kelly, Avon, 6-0, 260, sr. Athlete -- Darryl Richards, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-3, 180, sr.; T.J. Benenati, Chardon, 6-0, 170, sr. Kicker -- Brandon Matchum, Grafton Midview, 5-10, 160, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Jared Urcheck, Chardon, 6-3, 215, sr.; Darionne Lawson, East Cleve. Shaw, 6-1, 200, sr.; Andrew Carlson, Grafton Midview, 6-3, 215, sr.; Domonic Bodnar, Avon, 5-11, 220, jr. Linebackers -- Jack LeMasters, Chardon, 6-1, 190, sr.; Logan Paul, Westlake, 6-1, 190, sr.; Kevin Skotko, Avon, 5-9, 175, sr.; Jackie Curry, East Cleve. Shaw, 6-1, 185, sr.; Adam Gray, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-0, 215, sr.; Brandon Friedrich, Olmsted Falls, 6-1, 209, sr. Backs -- Bo Ransom, Madison, 5-9, 175, jr.; Shawn Gilbert, Ashtabula Lakeside, 6-0, 181, sr.; Shawn Turk, Westlake, 6-0, 175, sr.; Robert Hardin, Maple Heights, 5-10, 160, sr.;Anthony Cantanzariti, Chardon, 5-8, 145, jr.; Mike Gib, Olmsted Falls, 5-11, 185, sr. Athlete -- Keon Jacobs, East Cleve. Shaw, 5-11, 165, sr. Punter -- Andrew Soltay, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-0, 190, sr.

Offensive player of the year: Cody Callaway, Grafton Midview.

Defensive player of the year: Bo Ransom, Madison.

Coaches of the year: Mitch Hewitt, Chardon; Bill Albright, Grafton Midview.

Second Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Kaleb Coffee, Maple Heights, 5-11, 193, sr. Backs -- Nick Lombardy, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 5-7, 160, sr.; Matt Bolden, Chardon, 6-1, 195, jr.; Domenick Varga, West Geauga, sr. Ends -- Joe Tomcufcik, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 5-10, 165, sr.; Jack Quigley, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-1, 180, jr. Linemen -- Ronald Smith, Maple Heights, 6-0, 215, jr.; Nate Lewis, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-3, 240, sr.; Travis Ritt, Chardon, 6-2, 230, sr.; Matt Manolio, West Geauga, 6-0, 225, jr.; Nick Lewis Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-0, 210. Tight End -- Andrew Gray, Chardon, 6-4, 215, jr. Athlete -- Bruce Tyus, Maple Heights, 5-10, 165, Sr; Paul Sonego, North Ridgeville, 6-2, 185, sr. Kicker -- Eric Sumislawski, Avon, 6-2, 165, soph.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Jeremiah Burris, Avon, 6-4, 260, sr.; Joey Fodor, Chardon, 6-6, 200, jr.; Ryan Snedeker, Chagrin Falls Kenston, sr.; Dan November, West Geauga, 6-1, 200, jr. Linebackers -- Kevin Maloney, Avon, 6-2, 185, jr.; Jake Lavelle, North Ridgeville, 6-5, 185, sr.; Michael Cline, West Geauga, 5-10, 175, jr.; Ryan Malik, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 6-2, 205, sr. Backs -- Dante Redwood, Grafton Midview, 5-9, 155, soph.; Joe Connick, Chardon, 5-7, 160, jr.; Sean O'Connor, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 5-11, 175, sr.; Dakota Brininger, Geneva, 5-5, 145, sr. Punter -- Jason Lucas, North Ridgeville, 6-1, 185, jr.

Honorable Mention

Chardon: Alex Muir, Reilly Hawkins; Chesterland West Geauga: Jeff Campell, Conner Krouse, Curt Williams; Chagrin Falls Kenston: Pedro Velasco, Jesse Phan, Guy Leagraaf; Geneva: Joey Joy; Painesville Harvey: Alonzo Turner, Lavell Morgan; Ashtabula Lakeside: Nick Meola.

DIVISION III

First Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Tommy Iammarino, Chagrin Falls, 6-0, 208, sr.; Robbie Nash, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 6-0, 190, sr. Backs -- Scott Davidson, Jefferson Area, 5-8, 175, sr.; Jack Campbell, Chagrin Falls, 5-10, 210; Nick Evans, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 5-9, 170. Ends -- Matt Iammarino, Chagrin Falls, 5-7, 145, jr.; Luke Vadas, Hunting Valley University School, 6-1, 180, sr.; Will Carter, Pepper Pike Orange, 6-1, 170, sr. Linemen -- Evan Grosel Mentor Lake Cath., 6-4, 300, sr.; Grant Lingafelter, Chagrin Falls, 6-5, 270, sr.; Travis Corlew, Pepper Pike Orange, 6-2, 255, sr.; Frank Estep, Vermillion, 6-3, 310, sr.; Peter Cvijanovich, Cleve. Benedictine, 6-6, 275, sr. Tight End -- A.J. Branisel, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 6-4, 225, sr. Athlete -- Chad Sonkin, Pepper Pike Orange, 5-8, 165, sr.; Tim Helton, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 6-2, 190, sr. Kicker -- Ed Shelley, Chagrin Falls, 6-0, 182, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- John Stepec, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-3, 230, sr.; Matt Markley, Chagrin Falls, 6-5, 235; Tashawn Chavis, Pepper Pike Orange, 6-0, 230, sr.; Justin Kravchuck, Mentor Lake Cath., sr., 6-0, 210; Richard Johnson, Cleve. John Hay, 6-2, 240, sr. Linebackers -- Desmond Filey, Hunting Valley University School, 5-10, 205, jr.; Steve Burns, Bay Village Bay, 5-10, 185, sr.; Jerome Baker, Cleve. Benedictine, 6-2, 210, soph.; Michael Dickey, Rocky River, 6-0, 190, sr. ; Dan Kuenzig, Chagrin Falls, 6-0, 210, sr. Backs -- Mark Malone, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 5-8, 150, sr.; Andy Barbaur, Bay Village Bay, 5-9, 180, sr.; Carlin Ray, Cleve. John Hay, 5-10, 165, sr.; Joey Casarona, Chagrin Falls, 5-5, 150, jr. Athlete -- Zack Hofecker, Oberlin Firelands, 6-0, 220, sr. Punter -- Jake Morgan, Sheffield Brookside, 5-9, 158, jr.

Offensive player of the year: Tommy Iammarino, Chagrin Falls.

Coach of the year: Rodney Decipeda, Cleve. John Hay.

Defensive player of the year: John Stepec, Mentor Lake Cath.

Second Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Tony Chiacchiero, Jefferson Area, 6-2, 180; Mylik Mitchell, Cleve. John Hay, 6-1, 170, soph. Backs -- Bradley Munday, Chagrin Falls, 5-8, 165, sr.; Latif Hughes, Cleve. John Hay, 5-8, 182, jr.; Martin Finnegan, Rocky River, 5-9, 165, sr. Ends -- Deon Colvin, Cleve. John Hay, 6-2, 179, jr.; Ben Vandertill, Chagrin Falls, 5-11, 180, sr.; Kyle Ashburn, Jefferson Area, 6-1, 185, sr. Linemen -- Wes Bomback, Chagrin Falls, 6-3, 285, sr.; Klaudio Merizaj, Rocky River, 6-0, 220, sr.; Sam Zalar, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 6-2, 230, sr.; Joe Sosinski, Oberlin Firelands, 6-3, 315, jr.; Dominic DiTorro, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-3, 260, sr. Tight End -- Bobby Osborn, Rocky River, 6-1, 205, sr. Athlete -- Mark Baniewicz, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-3, 205, sr.; Ryan Voiers, Bay Village Bay, 5-9, 175, sr. Kicker -- Brandon Balascio, Jefferson Area, 5-11, 160, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Billy Post, Conneaut, 6-2, 220, sr.; Tommy Murtaugh, Chagrin Falls, 6-1, 232, sr.; Scott Rapps, Bay Village Bay, 6-6, 235, sr.; Malcolm Reho, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-3, 210, jr.; Stephen Peterson, Oberlin Firelands, 6-6, 205. Linebackers -- Carl Blatnik, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 6-0, 180; Antonio Robinson, Cleve. Benedictine, 6-0, 220, jr.; Shayne Crumrine, Jefferson Area, 5-7, 200, Sr; Tom Camp, Sheffield Brookside, 6-2, 235, sr. Backs -- Jacob Hamilton, Jefferson Area, 5-8, 150, sr.; Anthony Varcelli, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 5-6, 150, sr.; Marshall Howell, Cleve. Benedictine, 6-1, 175, sr.; Anthony Christopher, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-0, 185, jr. Athlete -- Chad Metcalf, Sheffield Brookside, 6-0, 220, sr. Punter -- Dylan Bell, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-0, 175, jr.

Honorable Mention

Bay: Jake Best; Benedictine: Daniel Piascik, Jovon Dawson, Jaylen Funches; Chagrin Falls: Lukas Sontich; Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin: Chris Cimperman, Jake Voyles, Gary LaBanc; Lake Cath.: Luke Turk; Orange: Stephen Borgman; University: Kevin Smith, Kostash Parrish, Curtis Black, Hunter Wasser; Vermillion: Aaron Rice, Kyle Shreves, Forrest Boyd, Tyler See, Mike Repko and Austin Kazmer; Jefferson Area: Tyler Gancos.

DIVISION IV

First Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Jeremy Holley, Elyria Cath., 6-5, 205, jr.; Roger Engle, Lorain Clearview, 6-0, 185, soph. Backs -- Dylan McCaleb, Ashtabula Edgewood, 5-10, 190, sr.; Chad Anderson, Lorain Clearview, 5-11, 190, sr.; Nate Hamilton, Beachwood, 5-11, 185, soph. Ends -- C.J. Conrad, LeGrange Keystone, 6-4, 210, soph.; Tim Cross, Andover Pymatuning Valley, 5-11, 165, sr.; Gerell Williams, Lorain Clearview, 6-4, 170, jr.; Mark Murgiano, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-3, 180, sr.; Alex Sommers, Brooklyn, 6-2, 170, sr. Linemen -- Joe Marabito, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-0, 200, sr.; Dakota Tallman, Elyria Cath., 6-4, 285, jr.; Rob Goldberg, Beachwood, 6-0, 235, sr.; Caleb Fry, Middlefield Cardinal, 6-1, 238, sr.; Quentin Horton, Lorain Clearview, 6-0, 220, sr. Tight End -- Corey Schmidt, Fairview Park Fairview, 6-2, 183, sr. Athlete -- Corey Jones, Beachwood, 5-10, 185, sr.; Jason Kish, Fairview Park Fairview, 5-11, 148, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Matt Fitchet, Ashtabula Edgewood, 6-5, 230 jr.; Billy Miller, Perry, 6-1, 245, sr.; David Smith, Elyria Cath., 6-4, 275, sr.; Noah Mitchell, Beachwood, 6-0, 215, sr.; Armani Smith, Beachwood, 5-10, 225, sr. Linebackers -- Evan Nichols, Perry, 6-1, 205, sr.; Anthonie Magda, Anthonie Magda, Ashtabula Edgewood, 5-9, 180, jr.; John Elenniss, Fairview Park Fairview, 5-9, 172, sr.; Mike Fields, Beachwood, 5-10, 185, sr.; Shane Sheredy, Wickliffe, 6-1, 185, sr. Backs -- Riis Smith, Ashtabula Edgewood, 6-0, 165, jr.; Justin Taylor, Elyria Cath., 5-10, 165, soph.; Ian Bell, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-2, 175, jr.; Lou Wisnyai, Ashtabula Edgewood, 6-2, 170, jr. Athlete -- Conner Riddell, Elyria Cath., 6-0, 145, jr. Punter -- Ian Kovacs, Elyria Cath., 6-1, 200, sr.

Offensive player of the year: Chad Anderson, Lorain Clearview.

Defensive player of the year: Evan Nichols, Perry.

Coach of the year: Cliff Walton, Gates Mills Hawken.

Second Team

OFFENSE: Quarterback -- Marcus Gunter, LaGrange Keystone, 6-0, 170, jr. Backs -- Tiontay Phillips, Wickliffe, 5-8, 180, soph.; Nick Mares, Middlefield Cardinal, 6-0, 186, sr.; Seth King, Gates Mills Hawken, 5-9, 170, jr.; Khari Anderson, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-1, 185, jr. Linemen -- Jon Arnold, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-0, 200; Glenn Zaller, Orwell Grand Valley, 6-0 200, jr.; Connor Lowe, Perry, 6-0, 260, jr.; Josh Goode, Beachwood, 6-2, 350, jr.; Cortez Harris, Fairview Park Fairview, 6-2, 279, jr. Athlete -- Jordan Lane, Beachwood, 5-9, 175, jr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Andrew Wakefield, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-0, 175, sr. Linebackers -- Tom Shirkey, Middlefield Cardinal, 5-10, 157, sr.; Josh Walters, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-0, 205, jr.; Sean Szitas, Orwell Grand Valley, 6-1, 160, sr.; Luke Michalski, Elyria Cath., 6-0, 170, jr.; Pierce Young, LaGrange Keystone, 5-10, 165, jr.; Richard Davis, Fairview Park Fairview, 5-11, 170, jr. Backs -- Jason Farmwald, Middlefield Cardinal, 5-8, 152, sr.; Lucas Ball, Elyria Cath., 6-0, 185, jr.; Ryan Stilson, Gates Mills Hawken, 6-1, 180, sr. Athlete -- William Washington, Elyria Cath., 6-0, 195, jr.

Honorable Mention

Perry: Zak Hurd; Wellington: Dylan Weidrick, Trey Brown and Quin Dendinger; Wickliffe: Joe Vuraich; Ashtabula Edgewood: Jarrod Harrah; Orwell Grand Valley: Alex Oscar, Jake Vormelker, Stanley Sirrine; Andover Pymatuning Valley: Austin O'Baker, Austin Nowakowski, Grant Nowakowski, Quintin Ratliff.

DIVISION V

First Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Jordan Martin, Cuyahoga Heights, 6-0, 171, jr.; Jay Banyasz, Columbia Station Columbia, 6-2, 185, jr. Backs -- Damon Washington, Kirtland, 5-10, 178, sr.; Rodell Golphin, Bedford St. Peter Chanel, 5-8, 170, jr.; Casey Artrip, Independence, 5-11, 190, sr. Ends -- A.J. Wright, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 6-3, 220, jr.; Tyler Gallo, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 5-7, 151, jr.; Jack Alpert, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 6-0, 155, jr. Linemen -- Bobby Matthews, Kirtland, 6-2, 240, sr.; Mike Cymbal, Kirtland, 6-1, 220, jr.; Foster Tucker, Columbia Station Columbia, 6-3, 230, sr.; Jimmy Wotowiec, Independence, 6-0, 238, jr.; Brian Arnold, Burton Berkshire, 6-0, 195, sr.; Ross Torgerson, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 5-5, 190, sr.; Nate Bryk, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 5-11, 198, sr. Tight End -- Matthew Finkler, Kirtland, 6-3, 215, soph. Athlete -- Jason Moore, Oberlin, 6-3, 185, sr.; Scott Eilerman, Kirtland, 6-2, 175, sr. Kicker -- Joe Menkhaus, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 5-8, 160, sr.; Matt Zelinsky, Columbia Station Columbia, 6-0, 165, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Cannon Schroeder, Kirtland, 6-0, 200, jr.; Dan Lowb, Columbia Station Columbia, 5-10, 200, jr.; Evan Brettrager, Kirtland, 6-1, 210, sr.; Jack Konopa, Independence, 6-2, 248, jr.; Matt Wilson, Independence, 6-1, 220, sr.; Shane McNeilly, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 5-10, 184, sr. Linebackers -- Kalif Townsel, Oberlin, 5-10, 205, sr.; Parker Berzin, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 6-2, 225, jr.; Jason Kleppel, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 6-1, 170, jr.; Mattayo Wyman, Oberlin, 5-8, 165, sr.; Josh Iammarino, Kirtland, 5-10, 170, sr.; Sammy Kukura, Kirtland, 5-10, 185, jr.; Tyler Skoczen, Independence, 6-1, 215, jr. Backs -- Ryan Loncar, Kirtland, 5-11, 185; Justin Reznik, Columbia Station Columbia, 6-3, 180, jr.; P.J. Volpe, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 5-10, 160, jr.; Trent Gallo, Cleve. Cuyahoga Heights, 5-7, 146, jr.; A.J. Iula, Independence, 6-1, 165, sr. Athlete -- Jacob Kleinhenz, Columbia Station Columbia, 5-11, 195, jr.; Jason Kaser, Burton Berkshire, 5-10, 165, sr. Punter -- Ian Patterson, Burton Berkshire, 5-10, 155, sr.

Offensive player of the year: Damon Washington, Kirtland.

Defensive player of the year: Cannon Schroeder, Kirtland.

Coach of the year: Tiger LaVerde, Kirtland.

Honorable Mention

Burton Berkshire: Brad Simon, David Mayer, Kyle Hall; Gates Mills Gilmour Academy: Matt Botek; Independence: Marcus Contipelli, Alex Scotton; Oberlin: Tyler Thomas, Nicholas Pfeifer; Kirtland: Ben Nye, Kyle Adams.

DIVISION VI

First Team

OFFENSE: Quarterbacks -- Nic Paolo, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-2, 205, sr.; Arthur Christian, Richmond Heights, 6-3, 184, sr. Backs -- Demetrius Hooks, Richmond Heights, 5-6, 150, sr.; Alex Kania, Newbury, 5-10, 170. Ends -- Tyson Lautanen, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-3, 185, sr.; Ryan Greenwood, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-2, 180, sr. Linemen -- Jacob Morenz, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-3, 195, sr.; Logan Dennison, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-0, 195, sr.; Justin Young, 5-11, 215, jr.; Fred DiBacco, 6-2, 240, sr. Athlete -- Rico Jones, Richmond Heights, 6-0, 165, sr.

DEFENSE: Linemen -- Sylvester Bailey, Richmond Heights, 5-10, 276, sr.; Brian Griffith, Fairport Harbor Harding, 5-10, 210, sr.; Sedele James, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-2, 200, sr. Linebackers -- Kyle Burchett, Fairport Harbor Harding, 6-1, 195, sr.; Nate Prodonovich, Newbury, 5-9, 180, jr.; Griffin Degener, Thompson Ledgemont, 6-6, 170, sr.; Kyle LaRosa, Thompson Ledgemont, 5-10, 155, sr. Backs -- Greg Clark, Newbury, 5-7, 150, sr.; Cameron Miller, Newbury, 5-8, 150, sr.; Anthony Jennings, Thompson Ledgemont, 6-2, 160, sr. Punter -- Cody Miller, Fairport Harbor Harding, 5-9, 165, sr.

Offensive player of the year: Nic Paolo, Fairport Harbor Harding.

Defensive player of the year: Kyle Burchett, Fairport Harbor Harding.

Coach of the year: Brandon Lauer, Fairport Harbor Harding.

Honorable Mention

Richmond Heights: Javonte Keck.

As Byron Scott continues to mix and match the pieces of his unproductive second unit, he has asked his reserves to concentrate on defense.

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressOmri Casspi is one of several Cavalier reserves who has struggled offensively. But he hopes his defensive effort will be enough to maintain his playing time. "It's about defense first and the shots will fall," he said.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- He has played in only three games this season, so Omri Casspi admitted he was nervous playing a season-high 14 minutes at Oklahoma City on Sunday.

"I was a little anxious in the beginning," said Casspi, who made just one of seven shots. "I wasn't comfortable, a little nervous, finally playing in real time when the game is tied and close.

"But it's just the first game. I know I didn't shoot it well, but it's just getting into rhythm and getting back to playing."

Casspi did make all four of his free throws -- another Cavs problem -- and he had four rebounds, three on the defensive end, and two steals. As coach Byron Scott continues to mix and match the pieces of his unproductive second unit, he has asked his reserves to concentrate on defense.

"I think I did a good job defensively," he said. "I just need to keep going. That's what coach wants us to focus on. ... It's about defense first and the shots will fall."

Scott was still not happy with his revamped second unit on Sunday, but he likely will stick with it at least another game or two to see if playing time will help it improve.

On guard: Before the game at Oklahoma City, Scott was asked to explain how he has been surrounded by great point guards. As a shooting guard, he teamed with Fat Lever during his college years at Arizona and Magic Johnson with the Lakers, then coached Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and now Kyrie Irving.

"I have no idea," Scott said, laughing. "The Lord has blessed me being around them, playing with them and coaching them. That's all I can say, it's just kind of the luck of the draw.

"I've been very fortunate to have Jason when I started coaching, then to go to New Orleans and get a guy like Chris Paul and be able to draft this kid. It's been a blessing. ... I don't know a whole lot about big men, but I do know guards. And I know when I've got a good one, and I've got two good ones right now. They're just young. I'm going to continue to stay on their butts until they continue to get better."

He's sympathetic: The hiring of Mike D'Antoni as the new Lakers coach surprised many because Phil Jackson was bypassed in the process. However, the real shock, according to Nets coach Avery Johnson, is still that Mike Brown only was given five games before he was relieved of his duties as head coach this season.

"You know, I just think it was a tough deal for Mike Brown to be fired so prematurely," Johnson said. "Obviously they wanted to go into another direction."

Staff writer Jodie Valade contributed to this report.

The Brooklyn Nets are off to a rocky start -- in no small part thanks to Superstorm Sandy -- but the borough already is embracing the team.

View full sizeBebeto Matthews, Associated PressAfter four games at Brooklyn's new Barclays Center €-- with a fifth coming Tuesday against the Cavaliers €-- it still doesn't quite feel like home to Nets players.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- In New York, there is nothing quite like basketball. Nothing that fills the empty moments of the day for restless playground-goers, nothing that helps give little kids dreams of what they might do and become.

"New York is basketball," Nets forward Reggie Evans said. "Kids can't wait to get out of school to play basketball. Staying up late to watch basketball. Staying out past curfew to play basketball."

In Brooklyn, specifically, there's nothing quite like pro basketball. Nothing quite like pro sports making its return to the borough 55 years after baseball's Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, leaving these proud, hard-working denizens without a team of their own.

Which is why the move of the Brooklyn Nets from East Rutherford, N.J., this season, has been such a momentous occasion. However, after four games at Barclays Center -- with a fifth coming Tuesday against the Cavaliers -- it still doesn't quite feel like home to Nets players.

The $1 billion, 18,200-seat arena still is unfamiliar. The tiny practice court, which wasn't expected to be utilized daily by the team, is cramped. The season opener against the New York Knicks had to be canceled because of Superstorm Sandy, which has led the Nets to feel as if they're still searching for that big-name, confetti-drawing, raucous-crowd opener.

"It's been an adjustment," Brooklyn coach Avery Johnson said. "At one time, you think you just have to deal with moving into a building, but now here comes Hurricane Sandy, and she wasn't invited. That threw off everything."

The team's practice facility in East Rutherford, where the Nets are contractually committed to practicing for two more seasons, suffered substantial water damage from Sandy, and is not expected to be usable until perhaps January, Johnson said. Instead, the Nets have been crammed into a small Barclays practice court -- never intended for full-blown practices, only warm-ups and shoot-arounds. On Monday, the surroundings were even more off-kilter as Justin Beiber's tour descended and took over every square inch for a concert.

All the while, the NBA's behind-the-scenes television program, The Association, has followed the squad's movements in the first Brooklyn season.

"It's unlike anything I've ever seen before," said Nets guard Jerry Stackhouse, a 17-year veteran.

View full sizeSeth Wenig, Associated Press"It's been an adjustment," Brooklyn coach Avery Johnson said about the team's new digs. "At one time, you think you just have to deal with moving into a building, but now here comes Hurricane Sandy, and she wasn’t invited. That threw off everything."

The storm's impact on facilities has had one interesting side-effect -- players and coaches have been forced to get to know Brooklyn even better. Trips to the borough have been more frequent, and practice will continue there for the foreseeable future. Gas shortages have forced to abandon car use or get to know teammates or neighbors.

"Everything is more integrated, so now we find ourselves eating more in restaurants here in Brooklyn, spending time here, running into more of our fans," Johnson said.

It's those fans that have been eagerly anticipating the return of professional sports. Black-and-white Nets logos are the new en vogue fashion, and signs and flags welcoming the Nets adorn shops and street corners throughout the city.

"It's only mere miles [from New Jersey] but the mentality is completely different," forward Brook Lopez said. "We're in the city now and have to deal with a lot more media, but the people in Brooklyn have been so welcoming. The city has a huge sports fan base and is excited to have us."

Said Stackhouse: "Brooklyn's a tough town. That independent, hard-worker, hard-nosed people. I don't think they're going to give us anything. We've got to earn it a little bit. I think we've got a group that the fans will get behind once we really start going. We're trying to find our identity, and once we do that, the fans will come."

The Nets have yet to face a likely playoff-bound team at home.

"It just hasn't felt that electricity that I think there will be," Stackhouse said. "I don't think we've seen our crowd really be what it's capable of being yet."

In a city that is basketball, the potential is high. Already, there have been sustained chants of "Brooklyn!" throughout the arena, hearty bellows in classic New York style.

"Brooklyn is the perfect melting pot of a lot of diverse cultures and personalities," said Dion Cocoros, vice president of original production at NBA Entertainment. "Everyone is so excited about having a professional team again. To me, that separates it from the other shows we've done because of the fact that it has a sports tradition and they've been waiting for a team for so long.

"It's a big part of the culture of New York."

Monday's 97-53 Zips victory over John Carroll served several purposes, including the team's first win of the season.

AKRON, Ohio -- Yes, it was a glorified practice. But the 97-53 victory for the Akron Zips over John Carroll in Rhodes Arena Monday night served several purposes.

One big purpose was erasing the taste of a season-opening road loss at Coastal Carolina for Akron (1-1). The biggest benefactor against the Division III Blue Streaks (0-1) was junior guard Alex Abreu, who is working off some rust and pounds after missing most of the last two weeks with an ankle injury. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including two 3-pointers, with seven assists.

View full sizeAkron photoAlex Abreu had 12 points and seven assists for Akron in Monday's win over John Carroll.

"I'm not 100 percent; not even close," Abreu admitted.

The upcoming Puerto Rico Tournament will be a homecoming for Akron's starting junior guard who is quite familiar with the host arena.

"About five minutes from my house, walking," said Abreu, who will be joined by fellow Puerto Rican Carmelo Betancourt.

"We're definitely excited to go home," Abreu said. "But it's a lot of pressure because we're playing a high-level [Oklahoma State] team."

Monday, 10 Zips saw at least 11 minutes of action against JCU, with senior guard Brian Walsh scoring a game-high 18 points, followed by sophomore swingman Deji Ibitayo's 16. Kenny Janz led JCU with 12 points.

Akron now jumps on a plane to play Oklahoma State at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. It will be the last game without the services of 6-7 junior forwards Demetrius Treadwell and Nick Harney, who were suspended by the NCAA for a clerical snafu.

"When we get those two guys back, and 15 pounds off Abreu, we'll be OK," head coach Keith Dambrot said. "[Abreu] is just playing on savvy right now."

The Zips' 49-27 halftime lead pretty much told the story. No Akron player was in double figures, but three players already had eight and Walsh was in the books for nine. After taking 32 of 56 shots behind the 3-point line in the Coastal Carolina setback, the Zips were 20-of-34 in the opening half, 14 shots coming behind the arc.

That changed after the break. Akron's inside advantage, 7-0 Zeke Marshall and 6-11 Pat Forsythe combined for eight shots and 12 points. By game's end, Akron had taken 29 of its 66 shots behind the arc, including one from Marshall.

"They packed it in and we shot it," Dambrot said. "We shoot 45 percent from the 3-point line; you can shoot a hundred of them."

Abreu said that will change now that Akron goes against better competition.

With Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin likely starters on Sunday, the Browns could move productive rookie Billy Winn to defensive end. Watch video

"We're just chipping away, trying to get back out there 100 percent," Browns defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin says of rejoining Phil Taylor in the starting lineup. "When we do get out there, it's gonna be something nice." John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns are close to making the middle of their defensive line whole again, a development that also could strengthen their ends.

The club returned to practice Monday following its bye week with Ahtyba Rubin (calf) joining the group and hoping to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Rubin and fellow defensive tackle Phil Taylor, who missed the first seven games with a torn pectoral, have yet to play together this season.

The Rubin-Taylor reunion could benefit pass-rush specialist Jabaal Sheard and create enough depth at tackle to use rookie Billy Winn at end. Winn confirmed he has been practicing recently at both positions.

For now, teammates were just happy to get Rubin back on the practice field. He suffered a calf injury on Oct. 7 against the New York Giants and returned for the first quarter of the Oct. 21 loss in Indianapolis only to sit out the last two-plus games. The Browns (2-7) won't know until later in the week whether Rubin will face the Cowboys (4-5).

The stout defensive tackles helped the Browns finish 10th in total defense in 2011. This year, Cleveland ranks 24th, averaging 380 yards -- nearly 50 more per game than a season ago.

"We're both dominant," Rubin said. "If I'm making a play, he's making a play and vice versa. We're just chipping away, trying to get back out there 100 percent. When we do get out there, it's gonna be something nice."

Taylor, who made his season debut Nov. 4, said Rubin's hustle is infectious.

"In practice, Rube's gonna go 100 percent every time," he said. "We try to match that. When we match that as a whole defensive unit, we do real good."

Taylor and Rubin likely will command double teams that could free up Sheard, who has two sacks after recording 8.5 as a rookie in 2011. The return of Taylor and Rubin makes defensive tackle the club's deepest position, with not only Winn and John Hughes, but Ishmaa'ily Kitchen. Winn, a sixth-round draft pick, has been a revelation with his quickness and play-making ability.

Due in part to the injuries to Taylor and Rubin, Winn ranks 11th among all NFL interior defensive linemen with 450 snaps. Coach Pat Shurmur said the 6-4, 295-pound Winn has the body type to make the transition down the line. Nothing seems imminent, but Winn said he would be willing to do it. He played some end at Boise State.

"If they need me to play end, I will play end," Winn said. "Right now, I'm trying to fit in where they want me to play."

Winn likely won't see time at end until the Browns know Rubin is 100 percent. Rubin said he felt "something pop" near the end of the Giants' game and removed himself early from the Colts game because he thought he was hurting the team.

Defensive back Joe Haden is anxious to see the defensive line -- as the Browns envisioned it before Taylor's weight-lifting mishap in May -- play together in a game.

"I was out there for the walk-through today and I saw my boys in front of me, I saw Phil and Rube and Frostee [Rucker] with Jabaal and I said, 'Yes, this looks good. This looks really good.'" Haden said. "Just having that week to get everyone healthy, get that energy back going and when I saw them I was crazy excited because we feel like we're getting all our guys back."

Making the call: Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Childress will continue to collaborate on play calling. Shurmur said before the bye week he planned to streamline the process after the Browns had to burn three timeouts against the Ravens.

Shurmur has come under fire for play calling, particularly for the club's failures in short-yardage situations.

"We needed to generally do a better job and really, it only popped up this last game," Shurmur said. "I had a chance to watch games yesterday, and you see quite frequently where quarterbacks are taking timeouts. It happens in almost every game. For the most part, the communication has been pretty good.

"We had some issues in the last game, and there were specific reasons for it and we correct it. Other than that, you're always looking for better ways to communicate."

Shurmur was asked about his play-calling process.

"All week we decide what plays we're going to run [and] then we have them put down on the cards," he said. "That's what those cards are for. We just don't make it up. We tend to write it down. In fact, we type it on there so we can read it."

Extra points: Browns cornerback Dimitri Patterson (ankle) remains out of practice. ... Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is 20-3 all-time in November.

Top-ranked Zips a surprising No. 5 seed, while Cleveland State opens at Michigan State.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Akron is the No. 1-ranked men's college soccer team in the nation. The Zips have been to the College Cup two of the past three seasons and at 17-1-2 is putting together one of the greatest seasons in program history.

Yet Monday, the Zips were seeded fifth for the NCAA Tournament. As a top-eight seed, Akron earned a first-round bye and a chance to host at least two matches.

The Zips, Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament champions, will face Thursday's winner of Michigan (10-9-1) and Niagara (13-1-4) at FirstEnergy Stadium at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Horizon League Tournament champion Cleveland State (11-5-3), which qualified for the NCAA tourney for the first time since 1980, will play Michigan State (11-9-1) at 1 p.m. Thursday in East Lansing. The winner will face top overall seed Notre Dame (16-3-1) at 7 p.m. Sunday in South Bend, Ind.

This is the seventh time Akron has been seeded and the Zips' sixth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Zips were the third seed in 2010, No. 1 in 2009, No. 5 in 2008, 14th in 2007, No. 9 in 2005 and 15th in 2003.

Akron captured the school's first team national championship in any sport in 2010 and was the NCAA runner-up in 2009.

CSU opens against its third Big Ten opponent of the season. In September, the Vikings knocked off Michigan, 3-0, and lost to Wisconsin, 2-1. Cleveland State has not lost since its Sept. 29 setback against the Badgers.

Tickets for Akron's opening match can be purchased at gozips.com/tickets, by calling 1-888-992-5766 or by visiting the school's ticket office.

For information on purchasing tickets for CSU's opening match, call 216-687-4848.

Cleveland State advances to the second round of the Preseason NIT, against Michigan on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Tim Kamczyc scored 21 points, and Cleveland State outlasted Bowling Green, 79-73, in overtime in an NIT game Monday night.

A'uston Calhoun scored 30 points for Bowling Green (1-1). Marlin Mason had 11 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland State (2-0), including two free throws with 17.1 seconds remaining in overtime that made it 77-73.

Cleveland State will play Michigan in a second-round matchup Tuesday night in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines defeated IUPUI, 91-54, in Monday's nightcap. 

Bowling Green had the ball late in regulation, but Jordon Crawford lost it and Cleveland State was unable to score at the other end. The game went to overtime tied at 66.

Crawford finished with eight points, six assists and nine turnovers.

Cleveland State had five players in double figures. Charlie Lee had 14 points and 10 assists.

A few reflections on "the best football game ... in a long time, college or high school."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tiny Takes from the Big Game:

It's not over: St. Edward was leading Mentor, 56-35, when a few folks decided it was time to move on Saturday night.

Sitting in the Byers Field stands, Garfield Heights coach Chuck Reisland's wife and friends told him, 'let's go, it's over.' Reisland, a member of the St. Edward Hall of Fame as a player, knew better.

"I said, not with that quarterback and those wide receivers Mentor has," Reisland said.

Kenston players were at the game and texting Jeff Grubich, their coach and Mentor's former offensive coordinator, saying Mentor was finished. He said, "No way."

Lorain coach Mark Solis' wife, Julie, wanted him to change the channel. He said, "Watch."

They knew 14 minutes was enough time for Mentor and quarterback Mitch Trubisky to craft a comeback. The Cardinals scored four unanswered touchdowns to win one of the most memorable playoff games, 63-56.

"It was the best football game I've seen in a long time, college or high school," Bedford coach Sean Williams said. "They were lighting up the scoreboard from the time they walked out of the locker room. It was action-packed. I taped it, and we're going to watch it as a team together."

Questions answered

Q: Why didn't St. Edward kick a potential go-ahead field goal when its drive stalled at the Mentor 19 and the score tied at 56?

A: The wind out of the south and into the Eagles' faces was so stiff it filled Byers Field with the smell of fast-food grease from the restaurants on Day Drive. A 36-yard field goal would have been an iffy proposition.

"It was the right move," Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno said.

Q: Why did Mentor kick short on kickoffs, even with the wind at its back in the first half?

A: Cordale Scott.

In the 2007 regional final, Mentor kept kicking to Glenville's Scott and he returned two kickoffs 99 yards for touchdowns in a game Mentor won on a last-second field goal. This time, Mentor wasn't going to let St. Edward's Anthony Young, the two-time defending state 200-meter champion, get the ball until he'd played more than 75 downs and had lost some edge in the fourth quarter.

Mr. Football: Trubisky virtually locked up the award with his performance on statewide TV. His 576 yards and six touchdowns combined rushing and passing against the No. 1-ranked Division I team was the final separation from the other leading candidates, including Willoughby South tailback Kareem Hunt, who I have championed all season.

"Our kids will tell you, unanimously, he's the best quarterback we've played against and will play against, and we've seen some of the best, including the kid from DeLa Salle [Michigan recruit Shane Morris]. Trubisky is better," St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle said.

Even better? Believe it or not, Mentor and St. Edward could be just as potent next year on offense. Both teams started just three seniors and they return all but one lineman.

Mentor's top three receivers return, including 6-4 junior Brandon Fritts, and St. Edward super sophomore Shaun Crawford led his team in yards per catch (18.0).

Both teams have promising quarterbacks in the wings. St. Edward 6-3 sophomore Kyle Shurmur is the son of Browns coach Pat Shurmur and has looked very good in mop-up duty this year. Mentor backup Kade McClure is a 6-6 junior who has made an oral commitment to pitch at Louisville. His father, Brian, was the Sammy Baugh quarterback trophy winner for Bowling Green in 1985. Mentor also has two highly regarded young tailbacks.

Dad impressed: Pat Shurmur attended the game and raved about it to Browns reporters Monday.

"What a game," he said. "That quarterback, Trubisky, he's the real deal. He performed great. And they have some big receivers they took advantage of. That was quite a high school game.

"Both sides really fought that thing out. I didn't know anything about [Trubisky] until I watched him play. He's quite a presence. A good player. Although I think Ed's quarterback [Ryan Fallon] is good, too."

Back off: North of Massillon, there isn't a tougher place to coach than at St. Edward, whose fan base is notoriously impatient. Any heat Eagles coach Rick Finotti is feeling in the wake of the loss should be shut down immediately. Saturday's defensive meltdown notwithstanding, it can be argued this team outperformed expectations this season after graduating the best two-year crop of linemen this area probably has ever seen.

Tweets and emails: Readers reacted en masse to the game. Some of the best lines:

"Joe Montana at 17!" -- NDCL softball coach Jack McParland on Trubisky.

"Best game of the weekend. Of the year?" -- Stephen Spiewak, Chicago, CBS Maxpreps.com national football editor.

"Good for Mentor and public schools everywhere." -- Tim Snyder, Orrville.

"We can only hope the state final is this competitive and entertaining." – Frank Cvijanovic, Cleveland.

Stat attack: Some of my favorite stats from the game, courtesy St. Edward stat maven Gary Salzinger:

Mentor had 34 plays of 10 yards or more, and 39 first downs. Many teams are lucky to run 39 offensive plays in a game, so 39 first downs is insanity.

St. Edward scored 56 points (eight TDs) and had the ball just 19:21.

In 48 minutes, the teams ran 181 offensive and special-team plays, combined for 1,266 yards offense (.69 miles), and there was one turnover.

What does that mean? Two things. It means these teenage football players were competing at the highest level while playing the game at their best.

It was an even greater night for fans.

"When I walked out of that stadium, I was numb, and I was glad I stayed," Reisland said.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

The new playoff format for college continues to add details and most of them make sense.

When not being used for a national semifinal game, the Rose Bowl will remain the host of the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 on New Year's Day. Tim Long, via AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The new college football playoff format continues to take shape and continues to make sense.

The latest idea kept the elite bowl system that will come into play for the 2014 season at six bowls, not seven, and added a component to distribute some bowl revenue based on academic success.

At a meeting of conference commissioners in Denver on Monday, the decision was made to stay at six games, while guaranteeing a spot for the best team among five lesser conferences: the MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Conference USA and Big East. Notice that the Big East is no longer one of the big boys.

To recap, that means the 12 spots in the future playoff format will be divided this way:

• Two bowls will host semifinals on a rotating basis, with the top four teams picked by a selection committee, and the title game bid out to sites separately;

• When bowls are not hosting semis, the Big Ten and Pac-12 will play in the Rose Bowl; the SEC and Big-12 will send teams to the Sugar Bowl; and the Orange Bowl will host the ACC and is working on a deal to host a second team that is either Notre Dame or from the Big Ten or Pac-12;

• A seventh spot goes to those other conferences, with the last five spots picked by the selection committee based on record, not who will sell the most seats; and

• The other three bowls beyond the Rose, Sugar and Orange to be included haven't been named, but ESPN.com reported they are expected to be the Fiesta, Cotton and Chik-fil-A in Atlanta.

As for the rewarding academics, 10 percent of the bowl funding will be given to conferences and then divided only among those teams that meet a minimum standard on the APR, which measures graduation rates.

The commissioners still must finalize the last three bowls and determine the size and makeup of the selection committee.

Injury update: Urban Meyer said senior linebacker Etienne Sabino should start at Wisconsin on Saturday after missing four games with a broken bone in his leg. That sticks with the return that was originally projected and reiterated last week.

Backup freshman running back Bri'onte Dunn is out this week because of a sprained knee ligament, but Meyer said he could be back for Michigan. Freshman Armani Reeves is expected back after missing several games. He was a key part of the Buckeyes' kickoff coverage and Meyer was excited for his return.

Banquet adds guests: The OSU Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland has added several guests who are scheduled to appear at the club's banquet that is also serving as a 10-year reunion of the 2002 Ohio State national championship team. The banquet is Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. at Windows on the Rivers. Tickets are $100 and available at osuclevelandalumni.com.

Those planning to attend, hosted by 2002 team member Dustin Fox, include Jim Tressel, Maurice Clarett, Craig Krenzel, Cie Grant, Alex Stepanovich, Mike Doss, Matt Wilhelm and Tim Anderson.

In the latest coaches poll, Northern Illinois (9-1), arguably the best team in the league, sits at No. 26. Kent State is 28th.

View full sizeAP fileVoters in the national polls don't seem to have a long memory when it comes to some of the MAC's top wins in 2012, such as Kent State topping then-undefeated Rutgers on Oct. 27.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One head-scratcher this college football season continues to be how little those voting in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 value the performances being delivered by Mid-American Conference football teams.

In the latest poll, Northern Illinois (9-1, 6-0), arguably the best team in the league, sits at No. 26 with 105 points; and Kent State sits 28th with 39 points.

The MAC owns 16 wins over teams from the six big conferences -- Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific-12 and Southeastern Conference. NIU's only loss this season is an 18-17 setback to Iowa in the season opener. On Oct. 27, Kent State went on the road and overpowered Rutgers, 35-23, but the coaches poll has the Knights 20th this week, eight spots ahead of KSU.

Among the 59 coaches who vote, at least 18 (30 percent) have direct ties to the MAC as either current or former coaches in the league. But that does not show itself in their ballots.

"When it comes time to vote, every coach in America faces a difficult challenge of how do you compare a 7-3 Wisconsin team with a 9-1 Northern Illinois team?" said Ball State coach Pete Lembo, who does vote on the coaches poll. "Who do you give that 23rd or 24th vote to?

"I understand that coaches have to have a conscience with those things, have to have a gut with those things. I think most coaches put some thought into it. They can only vote on what they've seen. It's really hard for me to vote for Fresno State if I haven't seen them play. It's a little bit easier to vote for us or a Big Ten team that I have seen on film.

"It is a challenge, but I do think there is a strong amount of respect for our conference."

Just not a lot of votes.

Looking ahead: Kent State has proven to be a high-scoring outfit in conference play. Only one MAC team, Buffalo, has held the Golden Flashes below 35 points.

Saturday's noon game at Bowling Green, though, has all the earmarks of a low-scoring battle.

"I think we're both teams that play more traditional football," BG coach Dave Clawson said Monday. "I think that's a tried-and-true method but just not a common one anymore."

Even though this game has the earmarks of a defensive affair, Clawson isn't completely sold on the idea.

"When you say that, those games always seem to turn out different," he said. "This year, the way our defense has played, we haven't had to score a lot of points to win. Against Kent, if it comes to that, are we going to have the ability to go punch for punch?"

KSU will have to look hard to find an advantage in this one.

First, the game is on the road. Second, BG will have 10 days to prepare. Third, no MAC team this season has won its next game after being ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Golden Flashes landed 25th in this week's AP poll.

Highlights include Temple at Kent State basketball at noon; Cavaliers at Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m..

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

HOCKEY

10 p.m. AHL, LAKE ERIE MONSTERS at Abbotsford, AM/850

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

6 a.m. Stony Brook at Rider, ESPN

8 a.m. Northern Illinois at Valparaiso, ESPN

10 a.m. Harvard at UMass, ESPN

Noon Temple at KENT STATE, ESPN

2 p.m. Detroit at St. John's, ESPN

4 p.m. Butler at Xavier, ESPN

6 p.m. Kentucky at Baylor, ESPN2

7 p.m. Wichita State vs. VCU, ESPNU

7 p.m. Michigan State vs. Kansas, ESPN

8 p.m. Preseason NIT, ESPN2

9 p.m. Preseason NIT, ESPNU

9 p.m. Duke vs. Kentucky, ESPN

9 p.m. Georgia Southern at Charlotte, NBCSN

10 p.m. Preseason NIT, ESPN2

NBA

7:30 p.m. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS at Brooklyn, Fox Sports Ohio; AM/1100

It's not Ohio State-Michigan, but as Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is finding out, Ohio State-Wisconsin is a rivalry with some recent history worth knowing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At least Ohio State refers to Wisconsin by name. There's no calling the Badgers "That Team Up Northwest."

So this isn't Michigan. If you try to ask the Ohio State players to compare their rivalry with Wisconsin with the Wolverines, a lot of them look at you funny.

"It's a different ballpark," center Corey Linsley said Monday.

"It's a completely different world," cornerback Travis Howard said.

No Ohio State player would tarnish the Michigan game by allowing that anything could match it. That's history. That's a bond to the past. That's what is explained to them every year.

But Wisconsin is what they have lived. So when Ohio State plays at Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, the rivalry may not cut as deep, but the Buckeyes still bear the scars.

"We've had a big rivalry with them, almost as big since I've been here as The Team Up North," senior linebacker Zach Boren said.

No wound hurts current Buckeyes as much as their last trip to Madison in 2010, when Ohio State had just achieved the No. 1 ranking and Wisconsin returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown on the way to handing OSU its only loss of the season and wiping out a shot at a national title.

"I don't want to go on record saying I hate Wisconsin more than Michigan," junior receiver Philly Brown said. "I hate Wisconsin just as much as Michigan. Every year since I've been here, they've been a nightmare. They ruined our perfect season, and we had a heck of a game last year. This year hopefully it's not as close."

But it has been that close. The Buckeyes got their revenge in 2011, beating a clearly better Wisconsin team in Ohio Stadium on Braxton Miller's touchdown pass in the final seconds.

"I'm sure they hate us," Boren said. "I'm sure they're sitting there talking the same thing about it's such a big rivalry."

They are. Wisconsin running back Montee Ball said on a conference call Monday that the loss still lingers in the minds of the Badgers, and he called this a "rivalry of respect."

Wisconsin fans hope to repeat the celebration that followed the 2010 victory over Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium. AP file

Wisconsin ensured that respect with its 31-18 win two years ago. It was this rivalry's version of Michigan's 1969 win over undefeated Ohio State. Fans on both sides will never forget that game, which started the Ten-Year War between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler that encapsulated Ohio State and Michigan at its best.

So let's call this the 12-Year Skirmish.

Michigan held a 5-4-1 edge in the war, while in the last 11 meetings Ohio State holds just a 6-5 edge on the Badgers going into No. 12. Like every comparison to Ohio State-Michigan, this is a bit of a stretch.

For instance, this actually will have occurred over 14 seasons, because the teams didn't play in 2005 and 2006. While that was Woody and Bo, this stretch started as John Cooper vs. Barry Alvarez, then moved to Jim Tressel-Alvarez, then Tressel-Bret Bielema, then Luke Fickell-Bielema and now Urban Meyer-Bielema.

But what the series does represent is tight competition between two top teams. The 1998 season was the first of back-to-back Rose Bowl trips for Wisconsin, but the Badgers and Buckeyes didn't play that season. Going into 1999, Ohio State had a 7-1-1 edge in the previous nine games.

Wisconsin won in 1999, and since then Ohio State holds just a 6-5 edge, outscoring Wisconsin, 239-231. Over that time, in the 11 seasons in which they played, Ohio State is 114-36 on the field and Wisconsin is 103-49. The Buckeyes had the better record seven times, and the Badgers four times. Each team had just one losing season in the 11, and clearly, they are the two teams that should battle for the Leaders Division for years to come.

"The past few years it's between who is going to be the Big Ten champ," Linsley said. "That Team Up North has kind of been out of the picture for a while, Penn State has come in and out, but for the past couple years it's been Wisconsin and Ohio State. And that's the same thing for this year."

At 10-0 and 6-0 in the conference, Ohio State has already clinched at least a share of the Leaders Division. At 7-3 and 4-2, Wisconsin already has clinched a spot in the Big Ten title game because the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are ineligible.

But Wisconsin doesn't want to back in to Indianapolis.

"We don't want people to say we made it there by default if we lose," Ball said. "But our main goal is to win out."

Ohio State wants to make Wisconsin do exactly that.

"At the end of the season, we want everybody to look at us as the best team in the Big Ten, even though we can't go to the Big Ten championship game," Brown said. "As of right now, we are the best team in the Big Ten, no doubt about it."

So while Urban Meyer, an Ohio native, arrived in Columbus with a full understanding of the Michigan rivalry, he's had to ask for a little help on this one. The players have obliged, reminding him of, among other things, what happened in 2010.

"I'm learning about it. I think they stole a season. They were telling me that story a little bit," Meyer said. "But it's interesting hearing our players talk about it, especially ones that I listen to, guys that have been in some of those big games. So it's real interesting. But this is a rivalry game, and it's a rivalry game because you have to understand who you're playing and what they've done the last few years. So they're a good very good team."

It's not Ohio State-Michigan. Hope no one was offended by even the slight suggestion. But as Meyer is discovering, Ohio State-Wisconsin is something worth understanding.

Bench should be better than last season's. Cavs play tonight in Brooklyn against the Nets, who were previously in New Jersey (and New York before that). More Cavaliers story links.

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerCoach Byron Scott is trying to figure out how to best utilize Cavaliers' players coming off the bench.

It’s a puzzle that only Byron Scott can solve, but all of the pieces are certainly in the box. Will it be a rotation that can contend for an NBA championship? Of course not. But it’s also one that should not be outscored by 24 points — by another team’s reserves, nonetheless — on any given night.

Certainly, the Cavaliers’ bench has been bruised battered and broken. But given time and a few tweaks to minutes played, it is not a problem that should last through the duration of the 2012-13 season.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Dawg Pound Daily, Did The Tribe Win Last Night? and Cavs: The Blog.

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

"No matter who is calling the shots, the Cleveland Browns have a nice talent base in place, but the new lead men must decide whether or not Brandon Weeden is the answer at quarterback. If team leadership believes in Weeden, the team will be free to address other needs in the first round. If Weeden isn't their guy, the team's first pick could easily be spent on a quarterback instead of other needs.

The Pick: OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

Let's assume for the time being that the Browns keep Weeden as the starter. This frees them up to go after my No. 1 player in the draft, outside linebacker Jarvis Jones.

Jones will see many comparisons to Von Miller, and while he isn't as explosive as Miller, Jones can be a similar presence in a 4-3 defense as a strong-side linebacker. He'll be an effective pass rusher on third downs and also a good run defender on the edge.

For a team with so many needs, the Browns can afford to sit back and draft the best player available. That's Jones."

AP Photo/Marcio Jose SanchezWill the Tribe target Justin Upton?

"Upton is on track to make $8.5 million next year, so you can add him to the payroll and still sign a pitcher with the rest of the money freed up from Hafner’s departure. Upton has had some off-field issues and the Diamondbacks soured on Bauer last year, but the Indians have to gamble, and the fact that Upton was fourth in the MVP vote just a year ago shows that the upside is definitely there. Besides, Terry Francona managed Manny Ramirez so Upton won’t scare him, and Bauer will be 22 next year, so he has a good chance to figure it out in the next year or two. Meanwhile, Cabrera and Perez would fill Arizona’s two biggest holes, so they will listen—especially when they think hard about having Heath Bell as their closer."

"But like I said there are ups and downs. Dion Waiters is the perfect example. He started the week on the front page and ended the week benched, stuck behind a hot shooting Boobie Gibson and Donald Sloan, the actual backup point guard. It was maddening to watch live but I’ll trust that Coach Scott knows what buttons to push. He was clearly sending a message he felt was more important than a win in Oklahoma City. Lets hope Dion, who has a history of quickly receiving and acknowledging such messages, responds positively and continues to progress.

It’s pretty clear that these two are not the reason for what ended as a 3 game losing streak that saw us fall to a 2-5 record overall. On the year Kyrie’s boasting some healthy stats and Dion Waiters is filling in Jamison’s inefficient points with efficient ones and adding a touch of a flair for the dramatic. And doing so for millions and millions less all while creating a bond with his young point guard. In time we’ll start to see Waiters’ ups and downs smooth out a bit. His potential appears to be through the ceiling that was created for him during mock draft season. Maybe he can crash through the same low ceiling that was assigned to Kyrie a year and a half ago."

HUNTING VALLEY, Ohio - Two athletes from University School will sign National Letters of Intent with college programs on Wednesday. Tennis player Yale Goldberg will sign with Stanford and lacrosse midfielder Hayes McGinley will sign with Syracuse. 

University School's Yale Goldberg and Hayes McGinley will sign National Letters of Intent with colleges on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period.

HUNTING VALLEY, Ohio - Two athletes from University School will sign National Letters of Intent with college programs on Wednesday.

Tennis player Yale Goldberg will sign with Stanford and lacrosse midfielder Hayes McGinley will sign with Syracuse. 

"Stanford was my number one choice all along," said Goldberg, who was also considering Harvard, Princeton, Northwestern and Ohio State. "I had to see if I was accepted academically and then I got the offer."

Goldberg, 17, is undecided on a major but said he is interested in economics or pre-law studies.

He did not play as an individual for the Preppers the past three seasons as he played on the national junior circuit. He was eligible for team play and helped the Preppers win the 2012 Ohio High School Tennis Coaches Association Division II state tournament.

He was ranked as high as No. 3 in singles and No. 1 in doubles by the USTA. He has won numerous national junior tournaments.

"It was definitely a stressful time going through the college process," said Goldberg, who resides in Hunting Valley with his parents, Greg and Jennifer. His older brother, Mark, plays tennis at Lehigh.

McGinley, the first Prepper to be named as an All-American lacrosse player as a junior, has tallied 108 goals and 43 assists over the past three seasons.

He became the first player from his school to win the Adam Hamilton Memorial Award for earning the most All-American votes of any player in U.S. Lacrosse's Northeast Ohio chapter.

McGinley, a Bentleyville resident, also was a first team all-region and second team all-state selection as a sophomore and junior.

As a junior, McGinley was ranked 48th in the country by Inside Lacrosse and 34th nationally by ESPN Rise.

Ahtyba Rubin says Jabaal Sheard is the fastest player on the defensive line, but there's no question who is the strongest player on the team. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio --- The pain from the injury that has sideline Ahtyba Rubin since week seven, had nothing on the pain of not playing in the games.

Rubin is expected to play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. He's more than excited about his return.

"The worst thing about the injury was not being able to help my teammates," Rubin said. "All I could do was watch. That drove me crazy."

The combination of Rubin and Phil Taylor's return will give the Browns a solid middle, and the first time the two vets will start together since last season.

During this recent interview at the Eldorado Barbershop, Rubin talks about attending the same high school as Trent Richardson, and the closeness of the defensive line.
 

The AFL announced the full schedule for its 26th season Tuesday afternoon.

View full sizeTim Harrison, Special to The Plain DealerArena League fans can cheer the Gladiators at their March 24 season opener vs. Seattle at The Q. The season runs through July.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Gladiators open their Arena Football League season March 24 against the Spokane Shock. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at The Q.

The AFL announced the full schedule for its 26th season Tuesday afternoon. The Gladiators face 12 of the other 13 active teams in the league. They play nine home games, nine road games and have one bye (Week 4). Seven of the nine home games take place on Saturday nights.

Last season, the Gladiators were 8-10 and missed the playoffs.

The Gladiators 2013 schedule:

Sun., March 24, 1:00 PM, Spokane at Cleveland

Sat., March 30, 7:30 PM, Cleveland at Tampa Bay

Sat., April 6, 7:00 PM, Jacksonville at Cleveland

Sat. April 20, 7:05 PM, Cleveland at Philadelphia

Sat. April 27, 7:00 PM, Utah at Cleveland

Sat., May 4, 10:30 PM, Cleveland at San Jose

Sat., May 11, 7:00 PM, Chicago at Cleveland

Sat., May 18, 7:00 PM, San Antonio at Cleveland

Sat., May 25, 7:00 PM, Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Sat., June 1, 8:00 PM, Cleveland at New Orleans

Fri., June 7, 7:30 PM, Iowa at Cleveland

Sat., June 15, 7:30 PM, Cleveland at Orlando

Sat., June 22, 7:00 PM, Cleveland at Jacksonville

Sat., June 29, 7:00 PM, Philadelphia at Cleveland

Sat., July 6, 7:00 PM, Pittsburgh at Cleveland

Sat., July 13, 8:00 PM, Cleveland at Chicago

Sat., July 20, 7:00 PM, Orlando at Cleveland

Sat., July 27, 9:00 PM, Cleveland at Utah