Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who is 20-3 in November, is especially dangerous when he gets out of the pocket and makes throws on the run.

Dallas QB Tony Romo, seen above getting sandwiched against the Browns in 2008, doesn't have great speed but can still be elusive when forced out of the pocket. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

DALLAS -- The Browns are catching Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the wrong month, when he's at his gunslinging, slippery best.

When the trees are almost bare, turkeys are running for their lives and the air is brisk, Romo is just getting warmed up. He's the NFL's Mr. November, going 20-3 in this month of Thanksgiving.

But the 2-7 Browns -- who might be without No. 1 cornerback Joe Haden -- don't plan to give him much to be grateful for today in Dallas, where the 4-5 Cowboys have lost two straight but are 6-1 in November in their new digs.

"We've got to play a mistake-free ball game, but I think, defensively, we can match up," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "I feel we can get some pressure on him with our front four and move him off his spot. He's proven he can make plays outside the pocket, [but] his strength can be his weakness, at times -- him getting outside the pocket and throwing the ball across the field. That's where we can gain an advantage if he makes a crucial error."

Plenty of teams have taken advantage this season, with Romo leading the league with 13 interceptions -- one more than Brandon Weeden. But he's been pick free his past two games, and there's been plenty more good than bad since he became a starter in 2006. Romo is 51-35 overall, with 158 TDs and 82 interceptions.

"A lot of people say he'll take a chance, kind of like Brett [Favre] used to do," said cornerback Sheldon Brown. "He'll throw some passes maybe you shouldn't throw. So, say he's rolling right, and he'll throw back across his body left and things of that nature. That's a give and take. Sometimes, it works for a positive, and sometimes, it's negative. He's that type of player."

Last week, during a 38-23 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, Romo made one of those plays that dazzles even his own teammates and coaches. On a third-and-5 in the third quarter, he bobbed and weaved past four defenders, including top pass rushers Trent Cole and Jason Babin, to complete a 25-yard pass to Miles Austin en route to a game-tying score.

"I thought he was sacked about three times," said Cowboys new offensive line coach Bill Callahan, the former Raiders coach and Eagles assistant, to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "But he came out of it spectacularly. It was phenomenal. One of the best I've ever seen. I used to think Rich Gannon was pretty good at it. But this was absolutely incredible."

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett attributes some of Romo's moves to his years in soccer and basketball.

"He does things with his eyes on the move to move defenders, and then knows, 'I'm going to throw it back here,' more than I've ever seen any quarterback," Garrett said. "These guys that are chasing him are big-time, world-class athletes, and he's moving them around. Not many quarterbacks do that kind of stuff."

Browns left end Jabaal Sheard, who has been held to 1.5 sacks this season, is gearing up to try to hit a moving target.

"He's quick, he's pretty fast and he's shifty," said Sheard, who will have tackles Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor plugging up the middle together for the first time this season. "But if we keep him contained in the pocket, we should be all right."

Romo, whose team is averaging just 18.6 points per game -- 21st in the league -- makes no apologies for his wild-child playing style.

"The best quarterbacks, you have to cut it loose and let it go and you have to trust that everyone is going to do the right thing," he said. "If you're not going to do that consistently, you're only going to be average anyway. That's not going to help the team get where you're trying to go."

Of course, it helps that Romo has three sensational targets in receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin and tight end Jason Witten, who leads the team with 66 receptions for 585 yards and a TD. Witten has 33 catches in the past three games, including 18 against the New York Giants.

"[Witten's] been doing it for a long time," said Browns safety Usama Young. "He's a savvy vet, not the fastest, but he runs good routes. He knows how to get open. He's smart. He can push off a little bit. He's got great hands, even if you've got one arm, he might bring up the next arm and catch it one-handed. He gives safeties, linebackers and corners trouble just because of his big body. He'll wall you off and catch the ball in front of you. You'll be frustrated as ever, and then you've gotta tackle him. He's strong, so he'll drag you. He's just one of those guys you've gotta be all over."

As for Bryant and Austin, it could be a long afternoon if Haden (oblique) can't play. In that scenario, Brown and Buster Skrine would start on the outside, with rookie Trevin Wade playing the nickel.

"Both [Bryant and Austin] have good size and speed," Young said. "So you can't really sit on their routes, and then once they catch the ball, they're looking to get some extra yards. And then, they've got a guy that can throw them the ball. He can throw every route. They're a talented group, but we're ready to go out and match up with them."

If only it wasn't November.

Three coaching staffs could not have all been wrong about Cribbs' ability to contribute on offense.

Josh Cribbs is a fan favorite, but even Browns fans might have a limit to how much whining they want to hear from their kick returner. Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns fans know why the caged bird sings because they've heard it all before.

Josh Cribbs has built up significant goodwill in this town for good reason.

Some of it slipped through his fingers last week like a pass to Owen Marecic.

The problem with dismissing Cribbs as a me-first guy after he makes his semi-annual case for why he could be contributing more to the offense is that he could be contributing more to the offense.

If you can't at least occasionally utilize Cribbs in a third-down package -- and you insist on other less dependable options -- you're not trying everything at your disposal to win.

What Cribbs says is often ill-timed and poorly executed. No more so than this past week. Just a few days before a fresh post-bye start, he chose to remind us he feels "caged" by the lack of opportunity.

Pretty sure most people already knew that.

"Me going from being able to run the wildcat to playing receiver last season and catching 41 passes and four touchdowns to nothing -- I can't believe it," Cribbs told The PD's Mary Kay Cabot.

What he says is not way-out-there wrong. Putting the ball in Cribbs' hands would be a better third-down option than many of the choices we've seen this season.

Then again, the unspoken truth about this season is it's about developing players, not winning games. Remember, it was supposed to be just another step in Mike Holmgren's convenient five-year plan.

Don't mistake this for stumping to install Cribbs as a starting wide receiver. It's not. He believes he's a full-time wideout. Not me.

Three Berea regimes have felt he wasn't, either. We haven't exactly had the cream of the coaching crop come through this town but they must've had a reason.

Still, Cribbs is not only a fearless special teamer. He's a fearless player. Truth is he's right when he says the Browns haven't exactly been creative in how they use him.

"There's something wrong when one of your best athletes doesn't get the ball," Cribbs said.

Why talk about it now? You can't dismiss that he's in a contract year and that's he's seen another possible showcase season fall into the abyss. That makes it more unsavory.

Cribbs hinted at all this early in the season. He said you wouldn't hear from him about his diminished role unless the team was losing. So here we are 2-7 and he's speaking up. Not as needed but as promised.

He's at least true to his word.

Cribbs authored a dead-on assessment not too long ago when -- frustrated by another Sunday collapse -- he said, "We almost always almost win."

Would he be quiet about his role if the Browns were rolling over opponents on their way to the playoffs? He says he would.

Who knows? Unless a remarkable turnaround occurs, we'll never know how Cribbs would handle a special-teams-only role on a team stringing together victories.

Cribbs is guilty on a few counts in this latest rant. Pandering to fans. Not keeping his issues with his head coach private. Speaking up at precisely the wrong time.

He stands innocent on the most egregious charge that he's a me-me-me guy. There's a difference between not being very smart about things and being selfish between the lines.

Peyton Hillis sitting out with strep throat on the advice of his agent without even trying to see if he could be effective is selfish.

Cribbs deserves some benefit of the doubt because nobody who volunteers for kick coverage duty has ever been considered selfish in the history of football.

But he's running out of time in Cleveland. And some of his admirers are running out of arguments for why the caged bird feels the need to keep singing the same old tune.

Spinoffs

Some NFL fun facts and miscellaneous odds from RJBell of Pregame.com (for amusement only):

Tony Romo has thrown two TDs and 10 interceptions at home.

Romo has won 20 of 23 games in November.

There's a 29 percent chance Mike Holmgren will be coaching in the NFL Week 1 next season.

Make that two fun facts and the possibility of one ticked off city.

Don't know about you but I can't wait until the regular NFL refs get back.

Ask a simple question, get an indecipherable answer.

Dallas reporters asked former Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan how much of an issue he made of being let go in Cleveland in meetings with his Dallas defense last week.

"Honestly, I'm going to say none. Honestly. Honestly. Honestly, I'm going to say no. Honestly, I haven't talked about it. Honestly, I don't know how that got out there. Honestly, I don't know."

None. Got it?

Except for telling his players he'd love to stick it to the Browns.

"I've addressed a few things," he admitted in the same interview.

It goes without saying he addressed those things honestly.

If Rob Ryan is bitter over being let go by team President Mike Holmgren when Eric Mangini was fired, just think how he'll feel being replaced by the staff of new Dallas head coach Mike Holmgren.

The Miguel Cabrera-Mike Trout AL MVP argument came down to old school voters vs. new schoolers who believe RBI and batting average are not the best measurement of a player's value. Both make valid points.

I didn't vote. But if I had, I'd have slept well enough erring on the side of Cabrera's Triple Crown, the first in almost a half-century.

The Sabermetrics case for Trout is a strong one. I mean it's not as if they devised a measurement where "You said it" is considered the literary equal of Hamlet.

The Browns' chance of winning the division decreased during the bye week, from 0.15 to 0.04 according to MakeNFLPlayoffs.com.

But their postseason chances only decreased to 1.1 percent.

So check your mailboxes for playoff ticket information.

Former Oakland punter Ray Guy is not happy with Hall of Fame voters he calls "stupid people." Why? There are no punters in Canton and only one kicker -- Jan Stenerud.

He's right. Punters should go into the Hall of Fame.

Just ahead of long snappers.

Roger Goodell continues to favor the idea of an 18-game schedule even as injuries mount and quarterbacks are concussed weekly.

The commissioner believes the NFL should reduce preseason games from four to two because they aren't of an acceptable quality. And that by doing so 18 games wouldn't represent a bigger workload.

But many veterans play sparingly in the preseason so 18 games at full speed would still add more wear and tear.

Just an idea. Since the preseason isn't of high quality, charge less and leave the regular season alone.

Radical, I know.

Outfielder Melky Cabrera, suspended for 50 games in San Francisco last season after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels, signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

For $16 million.

That'll teach him.

He said it

"My mind-set is just to concentrate on what I can control." -- Josh Cribbs

Obviously.

You said it

(The Greatly Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud: My wife wants me on hiatus from Sports Spin. So what am I supposed to do now?" -- Tom Hoffner, Broadview Heights

The world will suffer an imbalance unless you replace your contribution to Spin with something of equal social value. Good luck with your new hacky sack hobby.

"Bud: Shouldn't all professional athletes test positive for testosterone?" -- Sumozilla, Cleveland Heights

That was always the argument made on behalf of the old East German women's swimmers.

"Hey, Bud: Is Mrs. Shaw aware of your female biographer yet?" -- Devin, Concord

No. But she suggested a book title reflecting my prodigious weight gain of late: "All Chin."

"Hi, Bud: Since the generals in Washington are falling left and right, who will the Harlem Globetrotters have left to play?" -- Steve Myers, Streetsboro

By my count, about 24 NBA teams.

"Bud: I was concerned to hear initial reports that Big Ben's shoulder injury was to his non-groping arm only." -- Bryan

Don't think for a minute that just any Steelers slam will make "You said it."

"Bud: I just read that MLS will announce the MVP on Nov. 29. First of all, how can we wait that long? Secondly, are there Sabermetric soccer nerds who debate one finalist over another?" -- J Kiska, Lorain

Yes, there are soccer Sabermetricians. But they only fake outrage at old schoolers.

"Bud: With the Blue Jays' latest free agent signing, could you say they 'Got Melk?' " -- Jim Corrigan

You could. I'd say they just got put on the 2013 itinerary of MLB drug testers.

"Bud: Which surprised you more, the Holmgren-to-Dallas rumors or that he was in Berea to deny them?" -- Joe S

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection.

"Bud: Should Haslam keep Shurmur and go for the first pick of the draft, or should he fire Shurmur and go for the first pick of the draft?" -- Michael Sarro

Repeat winners get what they deserve.

John Simon's record-tying four sacks, along with his season-long example of personal commitment to the team, help lift Ohio State to an 11-0 record after an overtime victory at Wisconsin.

John Simon (54) is a motivating force for the Ohio State Buckeyes and an unstoppable force on the defensive line. Kyle Robertson, Columbus Dispatch

Madison, Wis. -- Six a.m., and the alarm bell in the head of John Simon, the captain of the Dawn Patrol at Ohio State, was the heavy weights clanging on the bars he lifted in the weight room.

The senior defensive end was always the most motivated, most driven player on the team -- the one least likely to yield to pain, the one never to be denied anything that effort could gain, the one by whom everyone else measured himself.

But Simon wasn't helping anyone but himself if he didn't bring a couple of sluggards along with him, and so that became a rule under coach Urban Meyer. No solitary pain inthose workouts. Let others feel the burn, too. All season, John Simon has been the symbol of the Buckeyes' dedication.

Otherwise, however, Simon always has to be evaluated on the field because he gives so little of himself to anyone outside the Ohio State team.

No one in an Ohio State uniform ever had a bigger pass-rushing game than Simon did in the Buckeyes' 21-14 victory in overtime over their nemesis, Wisconsin.

Simon had four sacks -- tying the school record shared by Vernon Gholston and Bobby Carpenter of the Jim Tressel years and Jason Simmons of the John Cooper era -- for 36 yards in losses. He didn't get credit for any quarterback hurries, but he was Badgers quarterback Curt Phillips' shadow on several other passes.

He would erupt off the edge, 263 pounds of muscle and quickness, and Wisconsin's tackles, 312-pound Rick Wagner and 342-pound Rob Havenstein, were either wrestling with air or clutching him as he went by. "He told us we're not going to lose this game," said Johnathan Hankins, OSU's own 322-pound rumble of thunder at defensive tackle.

"He was flying around. We saw that in locker room, that what he was going to do was fly around and throw his body around," said linebacker Zach Boren. "He's so quick off the edge that it's so hard for those 330-pound offensive linemen. He knows what his game is and he strives at it."

Many Buckeyes made great plays on defense, from Bradley Roby's coverage on the corner and blitzes to rattle Phillips; to Ryan Shazier's hit on a leaping Montee Ball somewhere near the red line of Simon's controlled fury, forcing a fumble on fourth-and-a foot at the 1-yard line in the final minutes; to Christian Bryant's diving breakup of the last pass by Phillips to tight end tight end Jacob Pedersen in overtime.

"We knew how physical it would be. The tougher team always wins this game," said Simon.

When you talk about a quarterback getting Simonized, though, there is only one man applying the elbow grease. Naturally, when probed about the sacks, Simon started sharing the credit. "Great coverage," said Simon. "That quarterback was holding the ball a pretty long time. They had max protection most of the time. One time, he just kind of ran into me. Another time, (defensive end) Nathan Williams and I ran a great stunt, where Nathan forced him right to me. Great team effort."

Simon's biggest moments have private roots. Even now, no one outside the locker room knows exactly what Simon said to his teammates in September after a tense 35-28 victory over California, except that the team's strongest player -- so weakened that he could not lift his left arm above his head -- spoke from the strength of his conviction that more needed to be done, that commitment makes you stronger than you think. After he was done, everyone else, including the intense Meyer, was moved to introspection and self-examination of his own effort.

Outsiders wonder why Simon stayed for his final year. The probation-bound Buckeyes are Big Ten Leaders Division champions, but they are barred from the conference championship game. "I stayed because it's a team sport," he said. "We (the seniors) would never consider leaving those guys. When I committed to being a Buckeye, I was a Buckeye through and through. I wanted to be here for four years, as long as I can."

He enters the final act of his career next Saturday, against Michigan, at the Horseshoe. Maybe he was thinking about all the solitary mornings that became a shared ordeal on the team. Maybe he was teaching again the lesson that Saturday starts on Sunday.

When Simon says, as he did after silent Camp Randall Stadium had emptied: "Got to get back to work Sunday. We have to make sure every day of the week is a success," everyone listens.

Shazier's 12 tackles, including his fumble-causing hit on Montee Ball at the goal line, could have put him in the lead to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Ryan Shazier (10) causes this fumble at the goal line with a hit on Wisconsin running back Montee Ball. Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, MCT

MADISON, Wis. -- As Ryan Shazier and Montee Ball jumped, let's consider what was at stake.

With just under three minutes to play Saturday, Wisconsin was trying to tie the game against the Buckeyes, having moved from the OSU 46-yard line to nearly the goal line. Coming in, Ohio State and Iowa were the only two Big Ten teams against which Ball, a Heisman finalist a year ago, had never gained 100 yards. But he'd taken care of that already, topping 100 in the first half on the way to a 39-carry, 191-yard performance.

So on fourth down from just outside the 1-yard line, with the Badgers still able to get a first down inside the 1, Ball was obviously getting the ball.

Beyond the game, there was the record.

Entering the game, Ball trailed former Miami (Ohio) running back Travis Prentice by one touchdown on the list of all-time major college football touchdown-makers. Prentice had 78 and Ball 77. Ball tied the mark with a 7-yard run in the second quarter, a run right over Shazier.

"We were aware that he tied it. I was aware when he jumped over me and scored," Shazier said. "We knew he needed two to break the record and we were not going to allow him to break it on us. We gave him the tie, but we were not allowing him to break it."

So this was for the tie in the game, and for the record. And it was also exactly what Shazier expected.

"I didn't think, I knew," Shazier said. "I knew for a fact they were giving him the ball, trying to let him break the record, and on fourth-and-1, you put it in your best player's hands. I watched plenty of film on him and when he gets around the 1- or 2-yard line, he likes to jump. I knew that he was jumping, and I was going to jump also."

Ball jumped. Shazier jumped. Fellow linebacker Etienne Sabino also jumped.

"He put the ball out, and whatever was in my face, I hit it," Shazier said.

And before it got to the goal line, the ball popped loose and was propelled backward and recovered by Christian Bryant. The hit was delivered clearly before the ball crossed the goal line, but if Ball had only been stopped where the two jumps met, the Badgers would have had a first down and four more shots at the end zone.

The Buckeyes needed the turnover.

It could have been a play that fans will never forget. In the end, it kind of didn't matter, because Ohio State punted it right back after the Buckeyes couldn't make a first down, and then the Badgers marched right down and scored to tie the game, forcing Ohio State to go to overtime to pull out a 21-14 win.

But Ball didn't score. And in the moment, it was something. By the time Shazier landed, he may have been the leading candidate for Big Ten defensive player of the year.

Shazier led the Buckeyes with 12 tackles Saturday and now has 110 for the season. He had three tackles for loss. He might be the Big Ten defensive player of the week for his third straight game. Urban Meyer thinks he should be.

And he did it all after leaving the game following an earlier collision with Ball. The sophomore was down on the field for a while, but when a reporter asked about Shazier being knocked out, Meyer said, "He wasn't knocked out."

Shazier said the injury that sent him to the sideline was a neck sprain. In the moment, it looked like it might be more. It looked like Shazier might not be back. But he returned. And, as usual, the Buckeyes really needed him.

"During the season, I noticed the defense plays a lot better when I play better," Shazier said.

That's not much of a leap.

Throw the ball: Despite Wisconsin's focus on the ground, the Buckeyes figured that the Badgers needed to throw to win. And it almost happened. Fifth-year senior Curt Phillips, who started the season as the No. 3 quarterback, completed 14 of 25 passes for 154 yards and the game-tying touchdown. He had completed just four of seven passes in his first start against Indiana last week. He was 5-for-5 on Wisconsin's game-tying drive, including a 14-yarder to Jared Abbrederis on fourth-and-3 to keep the drive alive.

If the Badgers had won in overtime, that last drive would have been talked about for a week.

"Man, it was just a bummer for me, because they caught a pass on me," corner Bradley Roby said. "I thought I knocked it out, but Abbrederis made a great catch. It kind of worried us, but it gave us more fuel to stop them in overtime."

And giving up 191 yards to Ball wasn't what the OSU defensive line and linebackers had in mind.

"I'm happy we won the game, but I feel like we could have played a lot better stopping the run," defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins said. "We didn't want that to happen, but we won the game and we're 11-0, so we can't be sad about anything."

Wisconsin is a big game. But for the Ohio State Buckeyes, there is only one rivalry game.

After watching his team pull out an overtime win at Wisconsin, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer can focus exclusively on the Michigan Wolverines. Andy Manis, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. --It's finally here. It's Michigan week for Urban Meyer.

"This is all I've ever known growing up," Meyer said after Saturday's 21-14 win over Wisconsin. "And we have a group of coaches, eight of our nine coaches are from the state of Ohio, and there are a lot of players in there already excited, already talking."

This one mattered, though. It doesn't have to take away from the Michigan rivalry to acknowledge what Ohio State-Wisconsin has become. Badger coach Bret Bielema was near tears and found it hard to talk in his postgame news conference when discussing how tough this loss was.

"Tough. Tough. Seniors, those guys . . . I know Montee is hurting," Bielema said. "Just sucks to go through it. . . . For whatever reason we're having to learn some lessons that are really, really difficult to swallow. But it will make us better."

Meyer wanted to make it clear, though, that Wisconsin is one thing, and Michigan is something entirely different.

He didn't need to send that message. But he did.

"You talk about a rivalry, this is a great game against a very good team that's been to Rose Bowls," Meyer said. "But this is not our rival. When you talk, you talk about that R word, you talk about this week."

And now it's here.

While the Cowboys have just one playoff win in the past 16 years, the team has been a money-making machine for owner Jerry Jones.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner got a tour of the pinnacle of NFL stadiums, Cowboys Stadium in Irving, Texas. Sharon Ellman, Associated Press

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner were invited behind the curtain in the NFL's Land of Oz this weekend to witness how a franchise with one playoff win in the past 16 years is virtually without peer when it comes to making money.

The Browns' new owner and chief executive officer traveled to Dallas, home of Corporate America's Team, and toured the league's most glamorous venue, Cowboys Stadium, a $1.2 billion theme park with goal posts at either end.

With open notebooks and minds, Haslam and Banner welcomed the opportunity to meet with Cowboys executives Saturday in advance of the Cleveland-Dallas game.

The Cowboys aren't collecting championships as they did in the early 1990s, but in the realm of marketing and brand building, their trophy case needs to be expanded. A year ago, a season which saw the Cowboys finish 8-8, they generated $550 million in total revenue, according to Forbes, thanks to their futuristic stadium and sponsorships from Ford, Bank of America, Pepsi, Dr Pepper and Miller Brewing.

Regardless what their on-field records suggest, there are no losing seasons for owner Jerry Jones and his club. One can only imagine the thoughts racing through Haslam's brain as he walked through the 80,000-seat stadium that has seen every game overcapacity since it opened three years ago. Among the highlights:

One of the world's largest high-definition video screens hangs above the field. Platforms ring the bowl, allowing go-go dancers to groove on game days. A pair of 292-foot arches support the retractable roof; an 86-foot-high, canted-glass exterior wall enables natural light to bathe the field; and the Sideline Club offers patrons a chance to watch the Cowboys up close as they walk from the locker room to the field.

Tourists are willing to pay $27.50 just to walk through the place.

"You can't explain it, you just have to experience it," said Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown. "It's kind of like going to a Ringling Brothers circus. There is so much stuff going on."

Call it "Jerry's World," or the "Death Star," or the "Legion of Doom" or any of the various nicknames given to Cowboys Stadium. But sometime this weekend, Jones will probably remind Haslam that it's virtually paid off.

"One of the things they do probably better than anyone else is they aren't afraid to think big," said Banner on Friday. "From building a new stadium to putting on a halftime show, they always think big.

"We want to maximize our understanding of what a lot of people who are doing really well around the league are doing, and we don't want to be shy about stealing some ideas."

Banner is quick to say what works in Dallas might not fly on the shores of Lake Erie, and one assumes that includes $75 stadium parking. As the club ponders renovations to Cleveland Browns Stadium, he hinted of improvements to the scoreboards, the quality of concessions and the need for better pedestrian flow through the building.

All that is superceded, Banner said, by putting a winning team on the field. No offense to the Cowboys' cheerleaders, but their organization's five Super Bowl trophies are much easier on the eye.

"Winning creates a lot of momentum for your organization," said Browns kicker Phil Dawson, a Dallas native who grew up a Cowboys fan. "While the last decade or so has been a little off, there is still recent memory of them being on top."

Brand names

University School graduate Jason Garrett has spent much of his adult life either playing or working for the Cowboys. He understands the club's immense popularity, but there are moments that still make him marvel at the empire Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith and Jones have helped build.

In July, the Cowboys' coach picked up an edition of the New York Times outside his Chicago hotel room and read a story about elections in Mexico City. In the accompanying photo, a woman was casting her ballot while wearing a Cowboys shirt.

"There is no question the Cowboys are known in the United States and really beyond these borders all over the world," Garrett said. "It has become one of the internationally known organizations, not unlike the New York Yankees and a few others."

In fact, only soccer colossus Manchester United is a more valuable sports entity than the Cowboys, according to a Forbes report in September. A team purchased by Jones, a brash Arkansas oilman, for $150 million in 1989 is now worth an estimated $2.1 billion. The Browns were 30th on the list, valued at $977 million.

With Cowboys Stadium hosting Super Bowls, NBA All-Star Games and major-college football attractions, it's only a matter of time before everyone is chasing the team with the silver helmet with the blue star.

The Cowboys enter today's game with a 4-5 record but rank second in NFL merchandise sales from the period of April 1 to Oct. 28. Three of the top-25 selling jerseys are Dallas players. The Browns haven't had a player crack the top 25 since Peyton Hillis early in the 2011 season.

While the league only releases the top-10 performing teams, an industry insider revealed the Browns are 20th and have remained entrenched in that neighborhood for the past few seasons -- despite their epic futility. That figure has to be encouraging to Haslam, who Jones advised to be personally involved in marketing his team.

Banner knows there is much work to be done in expanding the Browns' brand. On Eastland Avenue, less than a mile from the team's training facility, hangs a "You're in Steelers Country" sign affixed to a front porch.

"We do have a tremendous following of Browns fans all around the world," Banner said. "But I think we need to get more identified in the Ohio region than we are currently."

That comes with beating your rivals more than once or twice a decade. Beyond winning, a franchise can develop its brand through marquee players and an owner deemed credible within the community who can communicate his plan, said David Carter, executive director of the University of Southern California Sports Business Institute. It's why many Browns fans were pleased to see Haslam buy the team from Randy Lerner, who seemed to grow more reclusive by the season.

Cleveland also remembers what a superstar can mean to generating exposure for a franchise and city. LeBron James did it for the Cavaliers before bolting to Miami.

As Cavs owner Dan Gilbert can attest, James is a human barcode. He's also a Cowboys fan.

Jonesing for a winner

Some Browns observers are wary of Haslam morphing into another Jones. They don't want to see their owner undercutting his football-operations staff, dominating the spotlight or making rap videos for Papa John's Pizza.

Haslam and Jones do possess similar business savvy. Haslam grabbed the Pilot Flying J reins from his father and transformed the corporation into the nation's largest truck-stop chain. Jones bought a two-time Super Bowl champion, added three Lombardi trophies and made the franchise the envy of the sports-business world.

The Cowboys operating income of $227 million last year was more than either the NBA or the NHL, according to Forbes.

"Jerry is one of the best, if not the best, at marketing his brand," Haslam said.

Marketing strategist Peter Shankman said history will remember the 70-year-old as one of the greatest sports owners. Carter said just hearing Jones' name makes many think of the relentless entrepreneurial spirit that has driven the NFL during the past two-plus decades.

"The Cowboys have brought an aggressive, in-your-face mentality to the league," Carter said. "While the team doesn't always win, his fans appreciate that he's always looking for that competitive edge."

Haslam and Banner don't intend to turn Cleveland into Dallas North, but as they strolled through Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, their eyes were probably as wide as the high-def Jumbotron that stretches between the 20-yard lines.

"I have been there three or four times," Banner said. "When they built that stadium, they built something that was dramatic, conspicuous and iconic."

The New York Knicks are off to an impressive start, and are playing a style not seen around Madison Square Garden for years.

Coach Mike Woodson has the New York Knicks off to a 6-1 start. Danny Johnston, Associated Press

The tipoff

I have to admit, I have not been a believer in the New York Knicks, but their victory at San Antonio certainly caught my attention.

The Spurs are perennial championship contenders, and San Antonio is traditionally one of the toughest places to play in the NBA. In fact, the Knicks hadn't won there since 2003, and Mike Woodson had never won there as a head coach, even with his good Atlanta teams.

But despite the fact that Carmelo Anthony was struggling offensively, the Knicks rallied from 12 down in the fourth quarter for a 104-100 victory to improve to 6-0. The league's last undefeated team this season, New York would have matched its best start in franchise history with a victory Friday night against Memphis, but the Grizzlies prevailed at home, 105-95. The most recent time the Knicks started a season 7-0 was in 1993-94, when they ended up in the NBA Finals.

They started this season with an eye-opening victory over Miami, then beat Philadelphia in back-to-back games, though the Sixers have not looked nearly as strong as they did in the preseason.

Generally speaking, the path to getting better in the NBA does not begin by getting older, but that's the route the Knicks took, adding 39-year-old free agent Jason Kidd and talking 38-year-old Rasheed Wallace out of retirement while letting go of youngsters Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields.

Even more impressive/surprising, is that the heretofore offense-first Knicks are doing it on the defensive end. Wrote Al Iannazzone in Newsday: "The Knicks were down, 89-77, but they then began executing better than a team that's known for its execution. The Knicks locked in defensively, holding the Spurs to 3-for-13 shooting."

The most recent time a Knicks beat writer wrote something like that, Jeff Van Gundy was still the coach.

Archer blazed through the normally stout Bowling Green defense for 241 yards rushing on just 17 carries.

Bowling Green's Ted Oullett (93) and the rest of the Falcons had a hard time tracking down No. 1 for the Kent State Golden Flashes, speedy Dri Archer. J.D. Pooley, Associated Press

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- For all the Bowling Green Falcons did -- going practically toe-to-toe statistically with No. 25 Kent State throughout the game -- the Falcons just came up a few playmakers short, particularly on defense, which was their strength.

The Falcons posted 438 yards of total offense to Kent's 425 and had the ball for 29:56 to Kent's 30:04. BG had an interception, forced three fumbles, had three sacks and answered big play for big play, particularly with quarterback Matt Schilz passing for 355 yards and receiver Chris Gallon catching 10 passes for 213 yards and two TDs.

But trying to stop Kent tailback Dri Archer, who rushed for 241 yards and two TDs on 17 carries, seemed to have the Falcons' heads collectively on a swivel, making quarterback Spencer Keith's 39 yards rushing for a TD equally as big.

Archer's 79-yard run for a 10-0 Kent lead came behind the right side of KSU's line -- tackle Kent Cleveland and guard Pat McShane. His second run for a 24-17 lead came behind the right side with guard Josh Kline and tackle Brian Winters.

On the defensive side, KSU defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix was credited with seven tackles, a half-tackle for loss and two critical pass breakups, while BG defensive tackle Chris Jones, third in the nation with 11.5 sacks on the season, had just one tackle.

Kent locked down its 31-24 victory with a stellar final 10:02 of the fourth quarter behind two of its three interceptions, a critical pass breakup and Keith's game-deciding touchdown run. This was all fueled by the fear of Archer, who has run a 4.21 in the 40-yard-dash, and shows it. Of his 126 touches, including returns to date, 36 of them have gone for 20 yards or more and 64 -- over half -- have gone for 10 yards or more.

"If you keep chasing Archer and chasing Archer, you could bleed to death giving up six or seven yards to Keith," BG head coach Dave Clawson said. "If you're going to put two guys on Archer, that's going to happen."

And it did. Archer was that dynamic.

"The 'X' factor in this game," Clawson said. "We made big plays through design, but they got big plays just through the normal course of their offense. That's what having a weapon like that will do. He's the real deal.

"Almost every challenge we've given to our defense this year, they have responded to; whether it's playing [Miami's] Zac Dysert or [Eastern Michigan's] Bronson Hill or [Ohio's'] Tyler Tettleton. But we certainly didn't bottle [Archer] up the way we needed to."

The victory secures a MAC East Division title for Kent, and locks down a spot in the Nov. 30 MAC title game in Detroit's Ford Field against Northern Illinois, even with one game to play. The Flashes play at 11 a.m. Friday in Dix Stadium, against OU.

Dennis Manoloff picks all of Sunday's games.

SUNDAY'S NFL MATCHUPS

New Orleans (4-5)

at Oakland (3-6)

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. at O.co Coliseum.

Early line: Saints by 61/2.

TV: WJW Ch. 8.

D-Man's pick: Saints periodically struggle but get hot late. Saints, 28-24.

Indianapolis (6-3) at

New England (6-3)

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.

Early line: Patriots by 91/2.

TV: WOIO Ch. 19.

D-Man's pick: Patriots win but Andrew Luck plays well enough that Colts cover. Patriots, 30-27.

Baltimore (7-2) at

Pittsburgh (6-3)

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. at Heinz Field.

Early line: Ravens by 4.

TV: WKYC Ch. 3.

D-Man's pick: Steelers' defense, not Byron Leftwich, is responsible for win. Steelers, 20-10.

Arizona (4-5) at

Atlanta (8-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Georgia Dome.

Early line: Falcons by 101/2.

D-Man's pick: Falcons win but Cardinals cover. Falcons, 27-20.

Cincinnati (4-5) at

Kansas City (1-8)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium.

Early line: Bengals by 31/2.

D-Man's pick: Chiefs ride momentum of close loss at Pittsburgh. Chiefs, 24-17.

Green Bay (6-3)

at Detroit (4-5)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Ford Field.

Early line: Packers by 3.

D-Man's pick: Lions are at home and potent offensively. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't care. Packers, 34-31.

Jacksonville (1-8)

at Houston (8-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Reliant Stadium.

Early line: Texans by 16.

D-Man's pick: Jaguars have no shot, but they fluke their way into a cover. Texans, 27-16.

N.Y. Jets (3-6) at

St. Louis (3-5-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Edward Jones Dome.

Early line: Rams by 3.

D-Man's pick: Somehow, some way, Jets pull it together. Jets, 24-21.

Philadelphia (3-6) at

Washington (3-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at FedEx Field.

Early line: Redskins by 31/2.

D-Man's pick: Redskins are far from perfect, but they are less imperfect than the Eagles. Redskins, 24-14.

Tampa Bay (5-4)

at Carolina (2-7)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium.

Early line: Bucs by 2.

D-Man's pick: Cam Newton plays superbly. Panthers, 30-10.

San Diego (4-5)

at Denver (6-3)

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Early line: Broncos by 7.

D-Man's pick: Chargers squandered huge lead in first meeting. They squander small one in rematch. Broncos, 31-17.

Last week ATS: 5-9.

Season ATS: 68-78-2.

--From staff, wire reports

Since drafting Roethlisberger, the Steelers are 0-4 against the Ravens when Big Ben is not in the lineup.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich has had a full week of practice in preparation for Sunday night's game against Baltimore. Keith Srakocic, Associated Press

Around the
AFC North

If the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to grab a share of the AFC North lead on Sunday they must do they something they've never done since 2004 – beat the Baltimore Ravens without Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers are 0-4 against their blood rival minus Roethlisberger since the quarterback entered the NFL and 9-5 with him in the lineup.

In the weekend's marquee matchup the Steelers (6-3) must rely on backup Byron Leftwich at Heinz Field. Roethlisberger suffered rib and shoulder injuries Monday night in the Steelers' uninspiring 16-13 overtime win over Kansas City. Pittsburgh and Baltimore (7-2) meet twice in the next three weeks, a pair of games likely to decide the division title and potential first-round, home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Despite his high threshold for pain, Roethlisberger could miss both meetings.

"I can move [the arm] around, that's not the issue," he told reporters in Pittsburgh this week. "Sometimes when I do move it the rib will kind of pop out of place again, which is pretty painful. I just try to keep it as still as I can for the most part."

The absence of Roethlisberger, enjoying an MVP-caliber season, figures to give the Ravens a distinct edge. Leftwich hasn't started a game in three years and hasn't won one since 2006 as a member of the Jacksonsville Jaguars. He has lost his past six starts, but did win in relief against the Chiefs.

The perennial conference powers have looked vulnerable at times due mostly to injuries and age on defense. But the Steelers have won four straight and the Ravens enter off a 55-20 home win over Oakland. Baltimore has linebacker Terrell Suggs back at full strength and he set the tone for the hard-hitting rivalry while talking to ESPN this week.

"It's when you can taste the blood in your mouth that you know it's on," Suggs said. " . . . This game sends a shock wave through the NFL."

Playoff Bengals? Nearly left for dead a week ago, the Bengals look to get back into the playoff race Sunday in Kansas City. Cincinnati ended a four-game losing streak with a stunning 31-13 win over the New York Giants.

Now, the Bengals (4-5) have a chance to build momentum against the hapless Chiefs (1-8). Andy Dalton, called out by coach Marvin Lewis in recent weeks, is coming off a career-high, four-touchdown performance.

The Bengals shouldn't need a large offensive output to subdue the Chiefs, who have scored 16 or fewer points in each of their past five games.

The Cowboys wanted to take Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft, but were only willing to give up a fourth-round pick in next year's draft.

The Browns grabbed Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft, giving up a second-round pick in 2013. The Cowboys also were interested in the former Baylor player. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

The Browns already beat the Cowboys once this season.

They beat Dallas to the punch on wide receiver Josh Gordon, who started his college football career right in their backyard at Baylor.

The Cowboys scouted Gordon thoroughly and put a fourth-round claim on him in this year's supplemental draft. But the Browns, who knew they had to go big to land him, won the sweepstakes with a second-round pick, plucked out of their 2013 lot.

"Cleveland stepped up and was aggressive picking him, and he's certainly done a lot of good things for them," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said.

The Cowboys got the same glowing report on Gordon from Baylor coach Art Briles that the Browns did, but it wasn't enough to make them pounce.

"[Briles] talked about Josh a lot and the kind of young man he is," Garrett said. "He said he can do a couple of different things, but he really vouched for him as a person."

Gordon, a Houston native, has been compared to the Cowboys' own big wideout, Dez Bryant, who like Gordon, also came with baggage. Gordon (6-3, 225) has only 19 catches to 6-2, 220-pound Bryant's 45 this season but has one more touchdown catch -- four to Bryant's three.

"Physically, [Gordon is] just really an outstanding talent," Garrett said. "He's big. He's long. He's fast. He can catch. He's very natural."

Gordon shrugged off the comparison to "a guy from the opposite team we're about to play. But I feel like I could be one of those go-to guys that you might know as a household name."

As for landing with the Browns instead of the Cowboys, Gordon is fine. After all, being from Houston, he never cared for the Cowboys much anyway.

"Glad to be out here in Cleveland," he said.

The Browns are glad, too.

The Purple Raiders set a record for points in a playoff game in their 72-14 victory.

By Matt Pawlikowski

Alliance, Ohio -- Mount Union's quest for an 11th Division III national football championship continued Saturday with a 72-14 victory over Christopher Newport (Va.) in a first-round playoff game.

The No. 1 Purple Raiders (11-0) led the Captains (6-5) at halftime, 49-7. Mount's offense had 389 yards and 17 first downs in the first two quarters, while its top-ranked defense held CNU to four first downs.

The Purple Raiders finished with 641 yards of offense and set a school record for points in a playoff game, surpassing the 70 they scored against Widener in 2000.

Mount Union wasted no time Saturday in showing why they are the nation's top-ranked DIII team. After forcing CNU into a three-and-out on its opening series, T.J. Lattimore (Maple Heights) capped a five-play, 67-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.

After another CNU three-and-out, Chris Denton returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and Mount was ahead, 14-0, less than six minutes into the game.

"It was the second score and, when you end up doing it in a matter of seconds, it was a big play for us," Mount Union coach Larry Kehres said.

Jasper Collins made it 21-0 when Kevin Burke (St. Edward) found him from 11 yards out on the Raiders' next series.

Burke, Division III's top-rated passer, completed 11 of 16 attempts for 264 yards and three touchdowns in one half of play.

"I think the fact that we all have such a good bond with each other this year is what makes us hard to stop," Burke said. "We feed off the defense, they feed off us and we all get along. We are like brothers out there, and we do a lot for each other not only on the field but also in the classroom."

Mount Union's backups took over in the second half and put 23 points on the scoreboard while holding CNU to two first downs.

"Mount Union is a fine football team; what you see is what you get," CNU coach Matt Kelchner said. "When I look at films, I look at three things, and they are all of them. They are very efficient, they are well coached, they have good technique and I could not find a weakness. I think our kids played hard and they fought well."

Mount Union meets Johns Hopkins next Saturday at noon. The NCAA will announce the game's site today.

Plain Dealer reporters and columnists pick the Browns-Cowboys game, and they all agree on the outcome.

STAFF PREDICTIONS

THE LINE: Cowboys by 7 1/2

Mary Kay Cabot

Record: 4-5

Cowboys 27

Browns 23

It wasn't going to be easy even with a healthy Haden.

Bill Livingston

Record: 6-3

Cowboys 31

Browns 21

Shurmur deathwatch starts counting down the games remaining.

Dennis Manoloff

Record: 7-2

Cowboys 37

Browns 10

Motivated Cowboys keep coach Jason Garrett safe from Mike Holmgren for at least another week.

Terry Pluto

Record: 4-5

Cowboys 27

Browns 16

The Browns can't get into the end zone enough to win; three more Dawson field goals.

Tom Reed

Record: 6-3

Cowboys 24

Browns 22

Five field goals from hometown boy Phil Dawson and a Brandon Weeden touchdown pass are not enough.

Bud Shaw

Record: 6-3

Cowboys 24

Browns 23

Mike Holmgren happy with the performance of his team(s).

Branson Wright

Record: 6-3

Cowboys 27

Browns 16

Everything is bigger in Texas, except the Browns offense.

YOUR PICK How you voted on cleveland.com/browns

• Cowboys win by 11 points or more: 19.56% (420 votes)

The Browns already know what they have in Massaquoi: A decent receiver who gets hurt a lot. Josh Gordon, Josh Cooper and Travis Benjamin should get more playing time down the stretch to see how they develop alongside Greg Little.

Rookie Travis Benjamin is a player Browns fans want to see more of in the second half of the season. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .

1. Not sure what the Browns are thinking about their receivers, but I agree with the many readers who want to see more of Josh Cooper and less of Mohamed Massaquoi. The same goes for Travis Benjamin. Play the two rookies -- Benjamin and Cooper -- rather than Massaquoi and his cranky hamstring.

2. This is Massaquoi's fourth season with the Browns. He's never caught more than 36 passes in a season, despite starting 41 games. He was a second-round pick by Eric Mangini in 2009. The new regime of Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur saw enough in Massaquoi to keep him and start him. They continually spoke in positive terms about Massaquoi. But last season, he battled concussions. This year, it's the hamstring.

3. My point is four other receivers have more potential than Massaquoi. Rookie Josh Gordon is averaging 21.9 yards per catch. He's caught four touchdown passes. No Browns receiver has had more than four touchdown catches since Braylon Edwards had 16 in 2007. By comparison, Massaquoi has only seven touchdown passes in his career.

4. Gordon ranks fourth in the NFL in YAC (yards after catch), and that's a big stat to those who love the West Coast offense. He also has only three drops. Gordon started only 12 college games (at Baylor in 2009 and 2010) and sat out all of last season after flunking two drug tests for marijuana and transferring to Utah. Given all that, he has made a fast adjustment to the NFL game. The coaches have been very pleased with his work ethic.

5. While Greg Little makes fans scream with his dropped passes, the 2011 second-rounder is making progress. In the past four games, he has 16 catches and one drop. He consistently receives high grades for his blocking. He hasn't missed any games and rarely misses a practice because of injuries. The former running back from North Carolina may never be the big-time receiver that the Browns hoped, but he clearly has more promise right now than Massaquoi.

6. A fourth-round pick this year, Benjamin has only nine receptions. He missed two games because of a hamstring injury. Will he be more than a slight, fast receiver who is a specialist? Let's find out.

7. Cooper made the team as an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State, where he caught 71 passes from Brandon Weeden last season. He has been active for only three games this season, with no starts. Cooper has played a mere 64 snaps, but Weeden has thrown to him 12 times. Cooper has six catches -- all for first downs -- and one drop.

8. Weeden connects with Cooper, so why not play him every week as a third or fourth receiver? The Browns only want to dress four receivers, so someone has to be inactive. When Massaquoi has played, it was Cooper. I'd switch that this week.

9. The Browns also have Joshua Cribbs, who can be a receiver. But they have wisely kept him on special teams, where he's been very productive. Cribbs ranks third in the NFL in kickoff returns (30.8 yards) and fourth in punt returns (12.6) this season. A year ago, it was 12th in kickoff returns (25.0) and sixth in punt returns (11.4).

10. With all the Browns' new receivers, it makes sense to keep Cribbs on special teams rather than have him take snaps away from the young receivers. It also gives him more energy for the return game and on coverage teams. His kick return average is the best of his career.

11. I understand Cribbs' frustration about wanting to play more, especially with this being the final year on his contract. But the fact is the Browns added three receivers -- Gordon, Benjamin and Cooper. Along with Little, they need to see action. Sure, they can use Cribbs on some reverses, but it makes more sense to play the younger guys.

12. The coaches believe Weeden will have a strong game in Dallas, and it is a key game for Weeden after he was so poor against Baltimore (20-of-37 passing, 175 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions). The Cowboys will probably blitz him from different angles. It's almost a must-win for Dallas, if the Cowboys want to keep any playoff hopes alive.

ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .

1. The Indians are in the strange position of needing an outfielder, yet having every reason to trade their best one. Most fans know Shin-Soo Choo is represented by Scott Boras and will be a free agent at the end of 2013. Boras almost always takes his clients to the open market and signs with the highest bidder. So Choo will be gone at the end of 2013 -- assuming the Indians keep him.

2. That's why it's likely they'll trade Choo. The good news is Boston, the Yankees and Texas are all looking for outfield help. They have cash to spend, and are likely to sign free agents. They also may be interested in Choo. Or other teams that can't compete for free agents with the big spenders may then turn to Choo for a deal. But everyone knowing Choo won't sign an extension means two things: A) The Tribe won't receive a lot in return. B) They certainly won't receive a starting outfielder in return.

Tim Fedroff, shown here at Class AA Akron in 2011, might be part of a left-field platoon for the Indians in 2013. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

3. Furthermore, the Indians are not going to spend big money for an outfielder. So they have to trade for one -- after trading Choo. Taking Choo off the roster means the Tribe has only one viable big-league outfielder -- Michael Brantley.

4. Which brings us to Tim Fedroff. At the moment, he is not on the 40-man roster, but he's expected to be added before the Rule 5 draft next month. Talking to the Indians, this much is clear -- Fedroff could make the team next season. He's mostly a left fielder, and batted .316 (.879 OPS) between Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus.

5. The left-handed hitting Fedroff will be 26 next season. In the past two years, he has 566 plate appearances in Class AAA, hitting .301 (.828 OPS) with 10 homers and 60 RBI. He doesn't hit for much power, but reaches base and doesn't strike out much. At 5-11, 220 pounds, he appears fast but stole only nine bases -- in nine attempts -- at Columbus last season.

6. Obviously, Fedroff (or a platoon with Fedroff and Russ Canzler) is not ideal for left field. But left field has been an embarrassment for years. Last season, left fielders such as Shelley Duncan and Johnny Damon combined to hit .218 with 19 homers and 65 RBI. Other than Ezequiel Carrera, all were below-average defensively. Canzler batted .269 (.697 OPS) with three homers and 11 RBI in 93 at-bats for the Tribe last season.

7. The Indians have done a lot of research on Jason Bay, who once upon a time was a 30-homer, 100-RBI guy. In 2009, he hit .267 (921 OPS) with 36 homers, 119 RBI for Boston and a manager named Terry Francona. Bay then signed a $66 million deal with the Mets, and either forgot how to hit -- or his injuries (concussions, broken rib) were very severe.

8. From 2010 to '12, Bay batted .234 (.687 OPS), averaging eight homers and 41 RBI. Last season, it was .165 (.536) with eight homers and 20 RBI. He's 34 and, yes, he's a left fielder. And, yes, Francona loved the Jason Bay who played for him in Boston. So there is some interest in Bay, but it would be on a very cheap contract with lots of incentives for performance.

9. What the Tribe isn't saying . . . but must be thinking . . . is they don't want to fall into the Grady Sizemore trap with Bay. They invested $5 million in Sizemore, hoping he could come back from microfracture knee surgery. He never appeared in a game. So if the do bid for Bay, it will be a very low-risk contract -- offering him a wide-open shot at left field and a chance to play for Francona to rebuild his career.

10. Fans want me to talk about the Tribe signing a free agent starting outfielder. I refuse to do so, because I'd be stunned if they do so. Yes, they contact free agents, but Tribe fans know the deal. These guys aren't coming. The market is rich as Melky Cabrera and Torii Hunter both signed lucrative two-year deals.

11. That's why trading shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera makes sense. I wrote this as being a real possibility even before the Tribe acquired veteran shortstop Mike Aviles. Cabrera has two years left on his contract. He made the All-Star team the past two seasons. He will have more appeal to teams than Choo or closer Chris Perez.

12. So how can the Tribe find a real outfielder? By trading Cabrera. Why talk about Fedroff? Because it's time the Indians looked at him and gave him a shot to make the team. He has earned the chance. As for Bay, only try it if the price is cheap.

13. So, yes, I am open to trading Cabrera, Perez (because Vinnie Pestano can close) and Choo. But I want to keep Justin Masterson. He had a bad season (11-15, 4.93), but he's only 27 and he's not a free agent until after the 2014 season.

14. The radar-gun readings for Carlos Carrasco (recovering from elbow surgery) were encouraging as his fastball averaged 93 to 95 mph and was clocked up to 98 mph when he pitched in Arizona Fall League. The Indians are counting on the 25-year-old to make a strong comeback,

15. The Wahoo Club will meet Sunday, Dec. 2, at 10:30 a.m. at the Solon Community Center party room. Guests are former Tribe pitcher Len Barker, Tribe broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus, former Cavalier Barry Clemens and former Browns lineman Dave Wohlabaugh. Call Bob Rosen at 440-724-8350 or go to www.wahooclub.com for more information.

ABOUT THE CAVS . . .

1. After LeBron James left for Miami, one of the Cavs' goals was to assemble a team that was strong on defense. It hasn't happened. A major factor is James' departure. While it's easy to focus on his 30 points per game and superb passing, he also could defend anyone -- from a point guard to a power forward. At times, he even defended centers.

2. The Cavs have no one close to James when it comes to athleticism. Yet, it seemed their defense would be better than allowing opponents to shoot 51 percent from the field -- which ranks last in the NBA (through Friday). That's especially true when they start a front line of Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson and Alonzo Gee.

3. Part of defense is continuity. Well, Gee, Thompson and Varejao were all on the team last season. None are big-time scorers. Coach Byron Scott has insisted that Gee is one of the league's better defenders. Varejao has been praised for his defense, and he's a world-class rebounder. Thompson is a leaper who should be a factor on the boards and blocking shots.

So far, it's been a frustrating season for the Cleveland Cavaliers' C.J. Miles. Gus Ruelas, Associated Press

4. Yet, the Cavs have been horrible on defense. A significant factor is the play of guards Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, who have problems stopping opposing guards from driving to the basket. At times, they can be revolving doors. That leaves the big men trying to help out and defend the rim. But it also seems the rotations under the basket have been poor, which is odd given that Gee, Thompson and Varejao should know what they are doing at this point.

5. Rebounding is not an issue. The Cavs are in the middle of the pack with a 0 rebounding differential. So they are not getting beat on second shots at the rim. They are giving up points on too many easy and open shots. The guards should receive most of the blame -- but not all of it. The players off the bench not only have struggled to score, but they have problems on defense.

6. One of the most frustrating players is veteran C.J. Miles, who entered Saturday night's game shooting 23 percent (11-of-47). Even more disturbing, is that 23 of the 47 field-goal attempts were 3s. He's made only five. And in 95 minutes, he's yet to attempt a free throw. So here's an eight-year veteran in a shooting slump who keeps firing up long jumpers.

7. Waiters has been far more productive that I expected, based on what he showed in the preseason. He has been sizzling from 3-point range (18-of-37). The odds of him continuing anything close to that rate (he shot 36 percent on 3-pointers at Syracuse last season) are slim. He can drive to the basket and draw fouls, but he's only 10-of-17 from the foul line in the first eight games.

8. It's very easy for players to fall in love with their jumpers. Miles and Waiters need to put pressure on the defense by driving. Irving is the best outside shooter on the team, yet he's going to the foul line nearly seven times per game. Even when you drive to the basket and miss a shot, it often creates a rebound that your team can grab and put into the basket.

9. If the Cavs are going to receive production from the bench, it begins with these four players: Daniel Gibson, Tyler Zeller, Omri Casspi and Miles. Zeller was playing well before he suffered a concussion. Gibson has been solid. Casspi and Miles have experience and no excuse for such poor play.

10. Former Cavalier J.J. Hickson is starting at center for Portland, averaging 11.3 points and 11.9 rebounds.

The Cavaliers defense is better, but still not good enough to win on Sunday.

PHILADELPHIA -- To a man, the Cavaliers thought they got better against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night at Wells Fargo Center. Yet they still walked away with an 86-79 loss, their sixth straight.

"One thing we talked about coming into this game was improving on the defensive end, and I thought we did that," Cavs coach Byron Scott said as his team dropped to 2-8 overall, 1-6 on the road. "That's a small accomplishment, and we've just got to look to try to continue to build on that."

That is not to say Scott wants any of his players to feel the least bit satisified.

"We should get discouraged," he said. "We don't like losing. You would hope that now [losing] six straight, you would hope that guys get a little upset about it, a little [ticked] off, a little angry -- all those things. If you don't then you really don't care about winning. If you are in that locker room and are a little ticked off about the way we lost or about losing, then it shows that you care. That's the most important thing."

Players quietly went about their business in the locker room after the game. On one hand, they could take some solace in the fact that they held the Sixers to 42.5 percent shooting for the game, a vast improvement from Saturday night, when the Mavericks shot 51 percent. Though the third quarter, Philadephia made just 39.7 percent of its shots. But the Sixers hit 11 of 22 shots in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Cavs and improve to 7-4.

Former Ohio State star Evan Turner led the Sixers with 19 points and Spencer Hawes, always a problem for the Cavs, had 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

"I think we got better on defense tonight," said the Cavs' defensive leader, Anderson Varejao, who finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds. "We played good defense against Dallas, but in the fourth quarter we let them shoot 59 percent, which was bad. Tonight I believe we got better on defense. We have to keep playing that way. At the end of the game they made shots. That's why they won the game."

Alonzo Gee led the Cavs with 17 points, in spite of a nasty fall on his back near the end of the second quarter.

"I'm all right," he said after the game. "When I've got momentum going, I don't feel it until the next day. I don't want my mom to see it. That's why I hop up so fast or she'll freak out."

Tristan Thompson added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and for the first time this season, the Cavs' frontcourt carried the scoring load. Kyrie Irving made just 4 of 14 shots for a season-low nine points, while Philadelphia native Dion Waiters made 2 of 13 shots for five points as the Cavs shot a season-low 35.7 percent (30 of 84.)

"It was good to come home and play in front of my family and friends, but it didn't turn out how I would have liked it to, especially not getting the win and especially the way I played," Waiters said

Backup guard Daniel Gibson had a sore right elbow and was unable to play.

"We really didn't get anything out of our starting guards tonight, which is something that we need," Scott said. "We need those guys to play well every night, and that's just not going to happen. They're going to have nights where they don't play well. Overall, I thought we played pretty hard. That was something we wanted to do. Obviously, we missed Boobie tonight. Not being able to have him really hurt our bench."

It was the sort of game where one more shot, one more rebound or one more key defensive stand at just the right time might have put the Cavs over the top and stopped the losing streak.

The Cavs can feel it coming.

"It's going to take some time, but I think we're getting better," Gee said. "We've just got to stay together as a team, continue to work and believe that we can get better and eventually it's going to happen."

Bowled over? Philadelphia center Andrew Bynum admitted he suffered an additional setback to his sore knees earlier this month while bowling, confirming a report by ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, a former Plain Dealer reporter. Last week Bynum revealed to reporters here that he had weakened cartilage in his left knee, in addition to the problems with his right knee that have kept him sidelined since the four-team trade that brought him to the Sixers and sent Dwight Howard from Orlando to the Lakers. But Bynum didn't provide details until Sunday.

"I think it happened bowling to be honest," he said before Sunday's game against the Cavs. "I don't think anybody could've told me I couldn't do that. I was doing squatting and low-impact training. It is what it is. The cartilage is in a weakened state.

"I didn't twist it or fall or nothing. It kind of broke off cartilage and it made the bone bruise bigger. . . . It's relatively nothing. It's three steps (and roll). . . . I'm sure some people feel [I shouldn't have bowled] but I'm kind of taking the position if that happened bowling, what happens dunking? I don't see anything wrong with going bowling."

There is no timetable for Bynum's return. Coach Doug Collins did not address the subject on Sunday.

The Cavs, of course, were linked to Bynum this summer in reports that were way more rumor than fact.

Sunday's victory was really survival for a quarterback all too often reduced to running for his life behind a crumbling offensive line.

Dallas QB Tony Romo endured seven sacks by the Browns -- including this second-quarter play by Juqua Parker (95) and still managed to orchestrate the Cowboys' comeback victory Sunday. John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

Andy Friedlander

Special to The Plain Dealer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For Tony Romo, Sunday afternoon turned into a struggle for survival.

In part, survival for a Dallas team trying desperately to hang on in the NFC playoff race. But mostly, survival for a quarterback all too often reduced to running for his life behind a crumbling offensive line.

Both managed to make it out alive. Dallas came back for a 23-20 overtime win over the Browns to get to 5-5 for the season, and Romo walked away with 313 yards passing and nothing broken or torn.

With all three players listed on their roster as centers out with injuries, the Cowboys moved guard Mackenzy Bernadeau to center -- his first NFL game at that position -- and inserted Derrick Dockery at guard. The Browns took advantage of those mismatches to keep pressure on Romo all day, sacking him seven times and forcing him into hurried throws often.

At halftime, the Browns' pass rush unquestionably had the upper hand -- Dallas had 68 passing yards and the Cowboys trailed, 13-0.

"We had some ideas for this week but they did a good job stopping those in the first half," Romo said. "They got great pressure. They did a good job of making the ball come out. I had to throw a few away just to be safe with the pressure coming and the way they played defensively."

So the Cowboys changed the way they played offensively, going to faster-developing pass plays to beat the pressure and going more to a three-wide shotgun set to tire out the Browns' pass rushers.

"I think we just got into a couple packages we liked that kept some of their same D-linemen on the field," Romo said, "and eventually they were going to not get quite the burst they had earlier."

The plan worked brilliantly. Romo began to find wide receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin on quick-hitting plays as the Cowboys scored on their first three possessions of the second half to work their way back into the game.

When the Browns began cheating up to take care of the quick stuff, Romo took the opportunity to go over the top, hitting Bryant for some big gains and drawing penalties from Cleveland's depleted secondary. With 6:46 left in regulation, Romo told Bryant to throw a double move on cornerback Sheldon Brown, resulting in a 28-yard touchdown and Dallas' first lead at 17-13.

"We called the play, and then as [Bryant] was leaving the huddle I gave him a little stutter move [to use]," Romo said. "We'd thrown it underneath to that side a few times on that drive and a couple of others to get him to bite, so it was there, it was time to give him something [deep]."

"When you're throwing at a quick tempo, those corners try to jump on things, so we had to make some plays over their heads," Dallas coach Jason Garrett added. "Tony did a really good job of that."

While still running all too often from the pressure -- he was sacked four times after halftime -- Romo was able to seize the game. After going 10-for-17 for 74 yards for a passer rating of 69.2 in the first half, he completed 25 of 33 after that for 239 yards and a score for a 105.5 rating. His top target was the often-erratic Bryant, who caught nine passes after halftime and finished with 12 catches for a career-high 145 yards.

"He handled all the different looks they gave us smoothly," Romo said of Bryant. "He went up and got the ball in tough situations, he ran good routes, he was at his right depth. You see the kind of player he can be. ... It's exciting for us to see that, that his work ethic is paying off."

Andy Friedlander is a free-lance writer in Dallas.

Brandon Weeden's statistics were better than his performance Sunday.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Scribbles in my Browns notebook from the 23-20 loss to Dallas.

1. Brandon Weeden's stats look good: 20-of-35 for 210 yards. He threw two touchdowns, no interceptions and finished with a 93.8 rating. The Browns QB should take all of his receivers out for dinner, because they helped him with several superb catches. The Browns came into the day among the league leaders in dropped passes, but there were no obvious drops against the Cowboys.

2. Greg Little, Josh Gordon and Ben Watson all made excellent catches. Little made a leaping grab, and also caught a pass that clearly was behind him. Gordon had a reception on a ball thrown behind. He also came up with a pass tipped by a defender. Watching Little and Gordon play like this -- combining for eight catches -- is an indication that the Browns have a chance to really improve at receiver by next season.

3. Weeden made some very good throws, especially to Watson for his two touchdowns. But often, his balls seemed to be high and a bit wide. The receivers' athleticism saved him several times. Dallas dropped at least two interceptions when Weeden seemed rattled and threw into a crowd.

4. When the Browns had a fourth down on the Dallas 1 in the fourth quarter, Weeden made a very poor throw on a fade to Jordan Cameron. The ball was high and out of bounds. The Browns believed the former Division I basketball player could out-jump the Dallas defenders, but Weeden admitted that he "never gave [Cameron] a chance."

5. Weeden also took an unnecessary sack in the third quarter, possibly taking away the Browns having a shot at a field goal. He also fumbled.

6. I'm not piling on because I want another quarterback. But in the past, I have defended him when the receivers dropped balls and the defense gave up early points, forcing him to throw too much. But not this time; he was very inconsistent.

7. According to ESPN, Weeden is 3-of-4 for touchdown passes in the red zone to Watson this season. He's 2-of-9 to everyone else. Also according to ESPN, when the Browns blitzed and rushed five or more defenders in the second half, Tony Romo was 12-of-15 for 104 yards. They did sack him four times after the half.

8. The Browns had a nice mix of 35 passes to 33 runs. Trent Richardson had 95 yards in 28 carries. It was good to see Montario Hardesty (23 yards in four rushes) fill in so the rookie could get a rest. Richardson also caught six passes, meaning he had 34 touches as the Browns tries to see if he could carry them to a win.

9. Yes, that was former Brown Lawrence Vickers who tackled Josh Cribbs returning a punt. Vickers has played 26 percent of the Cowboys' snaps as a fullback. He also caught a fourth-down pass for a first down. Vickers has caught all seven passes thrown to him this season.

10. The Browns have made Owen Marecic inactive for the last three games, and that won't change unless Alex Smith is injured. The Browns prefer Smith, because he can play tight end, fullback and help on special teams.

11. Defensive end Juqua Parker has played only 44 percent of the snaps, but he's tied with D'Qwell Jackson for the team lead with three sacks. Parker had a tackle for a loss in the first half to go with his sack. Parker has 15 QB hurries.

12. Dallas ranked 29th in rushing, so that was part of the reason the Cowboys had only 63 yards on the ground. But having defensive tackles Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor finally healthy also was a factor. The Browns used seven defensive linemen, and did a good job controlling the line of scrimmage. It was the secondary that was torched.

13. Yes, Mike Holmgren has been friends for a long time with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. But with all the rumors about Holmgren possibly coaching Dallas next season, it looked bad when he and Jones talked for quite a while on the field before the game. Holmgren is the outgoing Browns president and said he hasn't talked about the Cowboys coaching job. But the rumors are hot -- and the on-field meeting did little to cool the situation.

14. Holmgren has expressed an interest in coaching next season. He knows Clevelander Jason Garrett is fighting to keep his job. If Holmgren wanted to chat with Jones, it made more sense to do it in private. When Jones approached him, Holmgren could have given a quick handshake and said they'd catch up later. Holmgren could say he didn't intend for his meeting with Jones to fuel the rumors, but it did.

Weeden's inconsistent performance was as crystal clear as the giant high-definition video screens that stretch for 60 yards above Cowboys Stadium.

Brandon Weeden had time for this second-quarter pass against the Cowboys on Sunday, but regretted a series of errors in the second half. "There are definitely things I did today to make this team better," he said after the OT loss. "There are definitely things I missed that I can do better, too." John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- So close to home and so close to victory, Brandon Weeden didn't try to hide the disappointment after another Browns' defeat.

The rookie quarterback stood in the visitors locker room after a 23-20 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys surrounded by reporters, including at least one from his hometown of Oklahoma City. Weeden's inconsistent performance was as crystal clear as the giant high-definition video screens that stretch for 60 yards above Cowboys Stadium.

But he also was 67 seconds away from his first game-winning touchdown after he found Ben Watson on a 17-yard pass. With Weeden's family and friends poised to celebrate, the Cowboys rallied and the Browns did what they always seem to do with games on the line.

"It sucks," Weeden said. "We battled. We made a play late in the game. We thought we finished and -- it sucks. ... [We] just haven't been able to finish and just kind of step on their throat."

The Browns squandered a 13-0 halftime lead thanks to a parade of defensive penalties, several controversial calls and an offense that went into sleep mode for much of the second half. Weeden finished 20-of-35 for 210 yards and a pair of TDs with a respectable 93.8 passer rating. But in truth his receivers caught the ball better than he threw it.

He was high on a lot of passes. He suffered a fourth-quarter strip sack on a play in which he held the ball too long. He was fortunate to avoid two interceptions deep in Browns' territory. He also never gave tight end Jordan Cameron a chance to catch a fourth-quarter, fourth-down pass in bounds in the back corner of the end zone.

But to his credit Weeden led an impressive fourth-quarter drive and later made a terrific pass to Watson on a skinny post, a play which gave the Browns a 20-17 lead with 1:07 remaining. The quarterback looked better Sunday than he did against the Baltimore Ravens, but it still wasn't good enough to get the Browns home with a win.

"I did a couple nice things, but it's hard to get excited about them when you lose -- nothing can replace winning," he said. "There are definitely things I did today to make this team better. There are definitely things I missed that I can do better, too."

With his parents seated in a suite supplied by a family friend and supporters scattered throughout the crowd, Weeden gave them good reason early to make the 200-mile trek from Oklahoma City. He completed 10 of 17 first-half passes including a 10-yard TD strike to Watson, who made a leaping catch. The tight end -- along with receivers Greg Little and Josh Gordon -- corralled difficult catches throughout the afternoon.

"[Weeden] did a good job of reading the coverage and getting the ball off quick in the first half," Cowboys defensive tackle Jason Hatcher said.

But Dallas produced more pressure in the second half and it appeared to rattle him. Nose tackle Josh Brent and linebacker Anthony Spencer dropped potential interceptions. From early in the third quarter to midway through the fourth quarter, Weeden completed just one of six attempts.

Spencer finally created a turnover on a strip sack with 5:52 left as the quarterback failed to step up in a collapsing pocket. Browns offensive line coach George Warhop had words for Weeden as he came off the field.

"That sack was on me [and] I apologized," Weeden said. "Hop got into me a little bit and he apologized. ... I have to help the tackles out there."

He showed resiliency on the next series, driving the Browns 64 yards to the Cowboys goal line by completing four passes, including a 23-yarder to Gordon with the Browns trailing 17-13. But on fourth-and-goal, he threw a fade to Cameron that sailed out of bounds.

"Speaking for myself, I didn't give us a chance on the fourth down," Weeden said. "I threw it high to Jordan. It was not a very good throw on fourth down."

The Browns ran just three plays in overtime before punting to the Cowboys. Weeden wouldn't get another opportunity.

"Like I said earlier, I don't know why we aren't getting it done late and that's the frustrating part," he said. "We have to find a way to do it and I don't have the answers right now."

Browns' first-round picks in those drafts are among the team's top players, but the second-rounders haven't fared nearly as well.

George Kokinis (left) and Eric Mangini (right) during training camp in 2009, when they were the Browns' general manager and coach, respectively. Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are 2-8 this season, and one loss away from being assured of a fifth straight losing campaign.

NFL observers debate over how many years it takes to determine whether or not a team made wise picks in a particular draft.

That argument will not be resolved with any certainty. We do know this about the Browns: They made a first-round pick in both the 2009 and 2010 drafts, and five second-round selections.

The first-rounders are among Cleveland's best players. Center Alex Mack of California was taken with the 21st overall pick in 2009. The next year, the Browns tabbed Florida cornerback Joe Haden with the seventh overall selection.

The second-round picks, as a group and at least for now, haven't worked out as well. In fact, two of the three second-rounders in 2009, Brian Robiskie and David Veikune, are no longer with Cleveland. Robiskie's Browns' stay ended midway through the 2011 season. Veikune played one year in Cleveland.

Current general manager Tom Heckert ran the last three drafts for the Browns. The jury is still out on the 2010 edition, while the last two drafts have produced several of the team's more promising players.

George Kokinis held the title of general manager for the Browns during the 2009 draft. Coach Eric Mangini, though, was the man in charge of making the picks.

The Big Ten could gain money and a new fan base by adding Maryland and Rutgers. But the conference would be losing part of itself as well.

Coming soon (possibly) to a Big Ten stadium near you: The Maryland Terrapins and their dizzying array of uniforms. But the players wearing the uniforms are less notable. The Terps were 2-10 in 2009 and 2011, and are 4-7 with five straight losses in 2012. Mark Gail, MCT

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What's the Big Ten going to buy? Because if a conference sells its soul, it better have something worth purchasing.

The potential addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the most tradition-driven conference in college sports is the latest cash-grab in the shuffle of conference expansion. ESPN.com is reporting that Maryland could approve the move today, and Rutgers soon could follow, bringing the Big Ten to 14 teams as soon as everyone can break up with their current conferences. The driving force is the expansion of television markets, which translates to more money for each conference team.

But with each Big Ten team already drawing $24.6 million per year from the Big Ten Network, according to the St. Louis Dispatch, it's not as if the very survival of Big Ten sports is at stake.

Do you see sports being slashed? Are hundreds of student-athletes being denied opportunities only because of a lack of funds? Are complimentary country club memberships in coaches' contracts now expected to include tips for the towel guys at the pool, so someone needs to scrounge up some fivers?

The reasoned argument on the other side (and I haven't felt very reasonable about this since news broke at halftime of Saturday's game) is that the move is about a changing population base. As Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune pointed out, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany is likely focused on adding areas such as Washington, D.C., and New York in part because the Midwest is losing people. There are people in those cities, and they have televisions and credit cards.

But what about the people in the Big Ten right now?

For Ohio State fans, players, coaches, alumni and students, what's the cost of playing fewer games against Nebraska, Northwestern or Iowa in football? How much is losing a men's basketball game against Michigan State worth? Against Indiana or Wisconsin or Michigan?

Because that's what's being sold in this deal. However many millions more are being taken in each season, Ohio State could be selling two of its eight conference football games against current Big Ten foes, and two or three or four of its current men's basketball games.

I'll give you Tom Izzo at East Lansing; a trip to Chicago for the Northwestern football game; all those passionate Iowa fans invading Columbus with the football team they live for; one of those times that Bo Ryan brings the Badgers to Columbus for another "Deal With It" hoops game; and a Penn State basketball game we can live without for . . . a football game each with Maryland and Rutgers, three basketball games with the Terrapins and Scarlet Knights and $10 million per year.

No one in the Big Ten cares about Maryland and Rutgers men's basketball or football, though. And no matter how many times you say it, Rutgers isn't in New York.

SI.com reported Saturday night that TV experts think the deal could bring in an extra $100 million to $200 million per year to the Big Ten, depending on how much the Big Ten Network could expand. The $200 million was considered a stretch, though. Divided up, say that's $7 million to $10 million per school. Pretty good.

But something will be lost, too.

This is getting way ahead, but you have to imagine the Scarlet Knights and Terrapins aren't coming in to get plopped into a division with Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. They want Penn State and Ohio State. So say the move adds Rutgers and Maryland to the Leaders Division and shifts Illinois to the Legends Division.

What if Ohio State every year in football played Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue, Penn State and Wisconsin in the division and Michigan as a cross-division rival. The other six Big Ten teams (Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan State) could shuffle through a single opening in Ohio State's schedule. Congrats on adding Nebraska two years ago. Enjoy playing them twice a decade.

At least the addition of the Cornhuskers and earlier, Penn State, brought football programs that people cared about to a conference that cared about football. No one in the Big Ten cares about Rutgers and Maryland football. (Congrats to Kent State, by the way, on that big win over Rutgers this season. Just another victory for the Mid-American Conference over the Big Ten.)

And in basketball, Maryland is nice, but the Big Ten is fine. Teams play 18 conference basketball games. Right now, that's two games against seven teams and one game against four teams. In a 14-team league, you would get two games against five teams and one against eight teams.

So you will expand the Big Ten into major Northeast television markets. And you will subject people in Columbus and Minneapolis and East Lansing to shows such as "Greg Schiano: Big Ten Icon" and a debate over whether Juan Dixon or Magic Johnson was a better Big Ten guard.

What binds these teams, other than lousy division names and shared finances? This is like going from playing with the kids in your neighborhood to playing with the kids whose parents share an online bank with your parents.

Maybe the Big Ten will take the time to reshuffle and rename the football divisions if this happens. Maybe Buckeyes athletes and fans will turn road trips to New Brunswick, N.J., and College Park, Md., into side trips to Broadway and the Lincoln Memorial.

Maybe the Big Ten will sweep across the Northeast -- and the Midwest will wonder what happened to it.