There are three winning teams in the AFC North and...the Browns. Info about Evan Moore, Joe Haden, Matt Roth, Colt McCoy, the depth chart, etc.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer Browns linebacker Kaluka Maiava brings down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during the Browns' 13-6 home win over the Steelers last Dec. 10.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Two problems for the Cleveland Browns are quite apparent.

One, the other teams in the AFC North are winning teams: the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Two, compounding the caliber of the opposition, the Browns themselves have largely been one of the NFL's doormats since returning as a franchise in 1999, and are striving for respectability with a revamped front office, second-year coaching staff and a roster stocked with young players and ordinary veterans.

James Walker covers the division for ESPN.com, and the Browns' outlook is the latest subject for his Camp Confidential.

Among Walker's points and observations:

• Another sleeper on this team could be second-year tight end Evan Moore. Although his run blocking needs work, Moore is probably the best receiving tight end on the roster. With starting tight end Ben Watson and Robert Royal able to do the dirty work, Moore could be a nice change of pace to give the tight-end position some big-play ability.

A weakness in Cleveland's defense could be its outside linebackers dropping in pass coverage. Matt Roth and Marcus Benard, in particular, do not look comfortable shadowing running backs. (Peyton) Hillis and (Jerome) Harrison beat Cleveland's outside linebackers repeatedly on passing routes in camp this week.

Browns beat

Plain Dealer Browns coverage includes beat writer Mary Kay Cabot's update on linebacker D'Qwell Jackson's injury, which might sideline him for four to eight weeks; Cabot's Browns Insider; beat writer Tony Grossi's story on rookie quarterback Colt McCoy; earlier Browns links.

Plain Dealer daily coverage of the Browns is on cleveland.com/browns. An interesting coverage feature is the Browns History Database, which includes the Plain Dealer game stories for every Browns regular season and playoff game since 1946, the team's first season.

Cleveland plays its first preseason game on Saturday night in Green Bay against the Packers.

Delhomme to Cribbs?

The Browns have released their first depth chart. Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository writes what he thinks about it, including at wide receiver (* designates rookie):

1, Mohamed Massaquoi; 2, Chansi Stuckey; 3, Jake Allen; 4, Bobby Engram; 5, Syndric Steptoe

1, Brian Robiskie; 2, Joshua Cribbs; 3, Carlton Mitchell*; 4, Johnathan Haggerty*

Projection  Cribbs and Seneca Wallace are clicking as a dynamic second-string duo, but Cribbs is getting antsy about working with Delhomme and the “ones.”

Delhomme admits that most of his work has come with Robiskie, Massaquoi and Stuckey. While he says it would be “stupid” not to get the ball to Cribbs, there’s only one football. At this point, Delhomme seems most comfortable with Robiskie as his favorite all-purpose target, and with Stuckey and Watson as possession receivers.

Joe Haden's studies

The Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com features rookie cornerback Joe Haden, followed by some Browns notes. About Haden:

Haden looked sharper during the first week of training camp while working with the second team defense.

"When we were off I was studying the playbook and trying to figure out what exactly was going on," Haden said. "As long as I know what to do, I can play to full speed. If you're a step behind you're going to be beaten. If you know what to do you can start anticipating and studying the offense instead of just studying what you're doing. I feel I did a whole lot better than when we were on the field in minicamp. I feel a lot faster."

Matt Roth in spotlight

The game, of course, won't count in the standings, but will count a lot, especially, for players trying to win starting and/or roster spots. Matt Florjancic of ClevelandBrowns.com writes about some of the things to look for in Saturday night's Browns-Packers game, including:

Linebacker Matt Roth. He is in the midst of his first Training Camp with Coach Eric Mangini, but was an impact player for the Browns at the end of the 2009 season. After being awarded to the Browns from waivers late last November, Roth totaled 4.0 quarterback sacks for 29 lost yards in 6 games. It was the second-best single-season sack total of his career.

Any quarterback drafted in the third round has been a college standout. There's quite a lot, though, to learn in the player's transition to the NFL. Jeff Schudel writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal about the first training camp for a Browns third-round pick, quarterback Colt McCoy from Texas.

Schudel writes:

At this point, it isn't how hard or how far he throws a football. It's about getting his players lined up correctly and sniffing out what the defense is plotting.

"What I like about Colt is he really understands the importance of getting with Jake (Delhomme) and Seneca (Wallace)," Mangini said. "He'll get one element of understanding from the coaching staff, but a guy like Jake with so much game experience can really help a young guy like that. They have a great relationship. (McCoy) has been like a sponge, which is what he should be at this point."
 

  

  

Oscar Robertson, whose lawsuit won limited free agency in the NBA in the mid-1970s, defends LeBron James' jump as a free agent to a "stacked" Miami team.

Mark Duncan / Associated PressWhile Oscar Robertson said he was sympathetic to Cleveland fans, his years of working to help NBA players earn some career freedom keeps him from offering any criticism of LeBron James' move to Miami.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The basketball emancipator doesn't see anything wrong with players stacking teams, so don't complain to him about the Miami Heat's "Three Megos."

The way Oscar Robertson sees it, teams were stacked and so was the deck for much of his career.

"The Big O" played alongside Jerry Lucas and other luminaries from the 1960 U.S. Olympic team he co-captained, players like Bob Boozer and Adrian Smith, but the Cincinnati Royals still never got to size the championship rings.

Boston hung the banners and had the mystique, the latter word, in this case, being spelled "R-u-s-s-e-l-l."

"Red Auerbach got Bill Russell in a trade because St. Louis didn't want any black players," said Robertson, 71 .

The whole Eastern Conference was stacked then. Wilt Chamberlain was in Philadelphia, Russell in Boston, and, while the Royals had eviscerated their championship chances by trading Boozer, New York was a coming power.

"Cincinnati didn't want that many black players either," Robertson said. "That absolutely killed us, trading Boozer."

Already a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame for his playing career, Robertson will be inducted again Friday as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, considered the greatest amateur team ever assembled. The 1992 "Dream Team," composed almost entirely of NBA players, will also be inducted.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerCavaliers broadcaster Joe Tait kicks off a Basketball Hall of Fame weekend with an Ohio flair when he receives the Curt Gowdy Media Award Thursday night in Springfield, Mass.

OHIO AT BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
The state of Ohio will be well represented at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies this week.
On Thursday night, Cavs legendary radio broadcaster Joe Tait will receive the Curt Gowdy Media Award.
“When it comes to telling it over the radio, there is no one who has ever done it better than Joe Tait,” Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said in a prepared statement. “Rarely has a broadcaster been able to entertain, call the game and connect with fans in the great way that Joe has and does with all of the fans who listen to him.
“On behalf of the entire Cleveland Cavaliers franchise, as well as the millions who have had the thrill of listening to Joe Tait on the radio, congratulations on this tremendous and well-deserved honor.”
On Friday night, Akron legend Gus Johnson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Also Ohio State star Jerry Lucas and former University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Royals star Oscar Robertson will be honored as the 1960 U.S. Olympic team is inducted.
Joining Johnson, Lucas, Robertson and the 1960 team in the Class of 2010 are Lakers owner Jerry Buss, WNBA star Cynthia Cooper, high school coaching legend Bob Hurley Sr., former Utah star Karl Malone and former Bulls star Scottie Pippen, and the 1992 USA Basketball “Dream Team.”
Like Johnson, two other players also will be honored posthumously: former Boston star Dennis Johnson and international star Maciel “Ubiratan” Pereira.
NBA.com will stream coverage of Tait’s ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday. NBA TV will televise the induction ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.
— Mary Schmitt Boyer

Great as the 1960 team was, winning every Olympic game by an average of 42.4 points, it could have been greater. A bureaucratic compromise between the NCAA and the powerful AAU created a hybrid roster composed of four AAU players, seven collegians, and Adrian Smith, representing the Armed Forces. Left off were future Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens and John Havlicek. Robertson said deadly shooter Jimmy Darrow of Bowling Green should have been on the team, too.

The players always knew who could play, but they didn't have any say in choosing sides. Bigotry had its ugly say. Management bungling intruded.

"The pendulum swung one way for a long time, to management," said Robertson, who stopped that clock, but only after a long legal fight.

The Oscar Robertson suit, filed when he was president of the NBA Players Association, challenged the right of NBA teams to own players in perpetuity. It blocked the NBA-ABA merger from the time of its filing in 1970 for six years. As part of the eventual merger, players were granted limited free agency, with their old teams holding a "right of first refusal," allowing them to match contract offers from competitors.

The players' freedom increased by degrees until the epochal developments in early July, when LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, free agents all, changed the face of the league by all signing with Miami. Their move to "stack" the Heat has been criticized by, among others, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan.

"Stacked teams have been around for a long time," said Robertson. "Who was there when Magic went to the Lakers? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. How many championships did Shaquille O'Neal win without the guards he had in Los Angeles?"

But Magic came to the Lakers by the draft. Jordan's Chicago sidekick, Scottie Pippen, arrived by trade. The stacked team in Boston today, when Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett joined Paul Pierce, was created by trades.

"Good management wins championships. This the first time ever players were able to cut a deal like that for themselves, said Robertson of the Three Megos.

"I feel sorry for Cleveland," Robertson added, "but LeBron felt he was not going to win a championship in Cleveland. Shaq said he would bring a ring. Didn't work out. They signed Antawn Olden [Jamison]. Didn't work out. They had that guard who barely played [presumably, Boobie Gibson] when they needed more field goals. Cleveland needed to get rid of that baggage they had to win."

Whether "Antawn Olden" was a critical shot or a simple misstatement, there are serious objections to Robertson's view. Foremost among them are James' desultory play in the elimination round against Boston and the "win now" imperative of the three-year contract extension he signed with the Cavs.

But no clock is ever going to toll the hour when Oscar Robertson criticizes player empowerment.

Robertson won his only championship in 1970-71 after being traded to Milwaukee. He was 31, the same age which James, upon signing with the Heat, said he feared he would reach without a ring had he signed a five-year extension here.

"The NBA championship and the Olympic gold medal were different time zones in my life," Robertson said. "I wasn't tainted in 1960 by all that would happen. We were young, and we came together, black and white, playing for our country, and we got to stand on that podium for the national anthem."

The Big O made sure the NBA honored the part about the "land of the free."

Many may quarrel with the effects of what Robertson wrought, but not with the character of their creator.

The Mid-American Conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments will remain at Quicken Loans Arena through 2017.

MAC photoMid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments will remain at Quicken Loans Arena through 2017 after the conference announced a six-year contract extension on Wednesday.

While it was anticipated any new deal would include a return of all 12 men's teams for the tournament at The Q, with the women's tournament going to their own neutral site, the combined two eight-team formula will remain.

"Given the factors involved, it makes too much sense to continue this format," MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said. "It works very well. It's financially a very good format. That's what makes it attractive."

The 2011 tournament will be March 9-12, the 12th consecutive year for the event in downtown Cleveland. After an opening round of on-campus games for teams seeded fifth through 12th, eight men's and women's teams will advance to the quarterfinals (women on March 9; men on March 10) in Cleveland. The semifinals for both tournaments are March 11, with the championship games a day later.

The top four seeds in both tournaments automatically advance to Cleveland.

"The Mid-American Conference is extremely pleased to extend our partnership with Quicken Loans Arena and the Cleveland Cavaliers for our First Energy Men's and Women's Basketball Conference Tournament," Steinbrecher said in a release. "This partnership provides our student-athletes and our fans the finest basketball facility in the country for our conference basketball tournament."

Brad Bergesen doesn't allow a hit until Luis Valbuena's RBI single for the Indians in the fifth inning.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerDavid Huff was sent back down to Columbus on Tuesday after being unable to consistently get out big-league hitters in 2010.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe hosts the Orioles tonight in the second of a three-game series at Progressive Field.

Pitching matchup: RHP Josh Tomlin (1-1, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Brad Bergesen (3-9, 6.26).

In-game updates: The Orioles led the Indians, 3-1, through six innings.

Baltimore scored an unearned run in the first. Brian Roberts led off with a single and was forced at second by Nick Markakis. Ty Wigginton singled. Both runners advanced on catcher Chris Gimenez's passed ball. With the infield back, Luke Scott delivered an RBI grounder to the right side.

With two outs in the fourth, Cesar Izturis singled to drive in Felix Pie for a 2-0 advantage.

Brian Roberts led off the fifth with a homer. It came on the 12th pitch of the at-bat.

Valby rules: Luis Valbuena had the Tribe's only hit -- an RBI single in the fifth.

Nice glove: Tomlin snared a Markakis liner in the third and doubled off Roberts at first.

Tomlin was replaced by Justin Germano to begin the sixth. Tomlin gave up 10 hits.

Pregame notes:

The Indians have optioned lefty David Huff to Class AAA Columbus and recalled reliever Jess Todd from Columbus.

Huff has gone 2-11 with a 6.21 ERA in 15 starts for Cleveland (79.2 IP, 101 H, 61 R / 55 ER, 37K). He was roughed up by the Twins on Sunday.

Huff's next scheduled start with the Tribe would have been Saturday. Right-hander Mitch Talbot is expected to be activated from the disabled list to face the Mariners that night.

Huff led the Indians with 11 victories last year as a rookie. He broke camp this season with the major-league club, struggled and was sent down in June. He returned Aug. 3 after going 6-0 with the Clippers.

The Tribe's bullpen was taxed Tuesday night in a 14-8 loss to Baltimore.

Todd, 24, will begin his second stint with the Indians, for whom he made five appearances from July 19-29 and allowed five runs in six innings. He pitched one inning and allowed one hit with one walk for the Clippers on Tuesday night. He has spent most of the season with the Clippers, going 4-2 with four saves and a 3.48ERA in 40 games.

The 25-man roster now stands at 25 and the 40-man is at 39.  Right-hander Anthony Reyes is beginning a rehab assignment tonight with a start for Class AA Akron.

Cab ride: Until Tuesday night, White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle had made the undisputed best defensive play of the season. His between-the-legs flip to first base to get Tribe catcher Lou Marson on Opening Day set a standard seemingly impossible to match.

Buehrle no longer stands alone because of Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, whose multifaceted play against the Orioles had jaws dropping.

With one out in the fourth inning and Baltimore's Luke Scott on third, Felix Pie grounded sharply up the middle.

"Off the bat, I thought it was going to be a hit, for sure,'' Tribe second baseman Jason Donald said.

The ball struck pitcher Justin Masterson in the foot and caromed toward the hole at short.

"When the ball ricocheted off Masterson's leg, I thought it was going to be a hit, for sure,'' Donald said.

Cabrera, forced to stop his forward momentum, slipped to the ground. From the seat of his pants, he reached out and grabbed the ball. That, alone, would have qualified as a great play.

Cabrera made it a five-star special by looking back Scott and, while still seated, throwing to first to retire Pie.

"That's one of the best plays I've ever seen,'' Donald said. "I'm glad I got an up-close look. I went over to him and said, 'Man, that was unbelievable.'''

Among the Orioles personnel dazzled was bench coach Jeff Datz, who spent the previous eight seasons on the Indians' major-league staff in different capacities.

"The whole play was obviously very impressive,'' Datz said. "But to check the runner and throw from the seated position ... I mean ... wow. It was a great play from a special player. Cabby can do that.''

The Orioles won, 14-8.

Lineups: Orioles (39-74) -- 1. Brian Roberts 2b; 2. Nick Markakis rf; 3. Ty Wigginton 1b; 4. Luke Scott dh; 5. Adam Jones cf; 6. Felix Pie lf; 7. Matt Wieters c; 8. Cesar Izturis ss; 9. Josh Bell 3b; and Bergesen.

Indians (47-66) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Shelley Duncan dh; 5. Jordan Brown lf; 6. Matt LaPorta 1b; 7. Luis Valbuena 3b; 8. Jayson Nix 2b; 9. Chris Gimenez c; and Tomlin.

Going into Wednesday night, Akron had lost eight of its last 10 games. Some of the Aeros' relief pitchers, though, have been superb.

Akron Aeros

FARM REPORT

AAA Columbus Clippers

Tonight: Clippers (68-50) at Syracuse (N.Y.) Chiefs (60-57), 7:00.

Notes: 3B Jared Goedert (.291) went 4-for-7 with a double, triple and home run in Tuesday's twi-night doubleheader, snapping a 4-for-28 skid. Going into Wednesday night's game, Goedert had 19 doubles, one triple, 18 homers and 41 RBI in 227 at bats with Columbus. Combined with his time at Akron, Goedert was batting .305 with 33 doubles, one triple, 25 homers and 73 RBI in 390 at bats....OF Jerad Head (.304) was 8-for-14 (.571) with four doubles, one homer, five runs and four RBI in his last four games. Playing this season for Akron and Columbus, Head was batting .300 with 22 doubles, 12 homers and 40 RBI in 233 at bats....OF Matt McBride was batting .356 (16-for-45) with two doubles and a homer since being promoted from Akron, where he hit .364 (36-for-99) with 13 homers, 11 doubles and 32 RBI in his last 26 games.

AA Akron Aeros

Tonight: Reading (Pa.) Phillies (56-58) at Aeros (58-56), 7:05.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, RH reliever Chen-Chang Lee (5-3, 3.83) had not allowed an earned run in his last 11 games, striking out 22 while allowing six hits and five walks in 16 1/3 innings. Lee, who had struck out 62 and walked 20 in 56 1/3 innings this season, was activated from the disabled list. He hadn't pitched since Aug. 1 because of an oblique strain....RH reliever Omar Aguilar (2-4, five saves, 3.42) had struck out 64 and not given up a home run in 52 2/3 innings this season....RH reliever Rob Bryson had a combined 6-1 record with one save and a 2.97 ERA at Akron, Kinston and Lake County, striking out 67 in 39 1/3 innings and holding opponents to a .179 batting average....LHP Scott Barnes (6-8, 4.83) was 5-3 with a 3.34 ERA in his last 11 starts, after going 1-5 with a 7.17 ERA in his first 10 starts. In the 11-start stretch, Barnes had pitched 67 1/3 innings, striking out 54 while allowing 19 walks and 56 hits....The Aeros had lost eight of their last 10 games.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Tonight: Indians (55-58) at Salem (Va.) Red Sox (65-48), 7:05.

Notes: RHP Joseph Gardner (9-5, 2.91) is 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts, fanning 12, walking five and giving up 13 hits in 19 innings. In 18 starts with Kinston and six with Akron, Gardner is 10-5 with a 2.98 ERA. He has struck out 127 and walked 49 in 127 innings, holding opponents to a .198 batting average and six homers....Going into Wednesday night's game, 3B Kyle Bellows (.257) was 7-for-18 (.389) with a double, three RBI and three runs in his last four games....LHP T.J. McFarland is back with the Indians after making one start at Akron, where he got a no-decision, giving up six runs (five earned) in four innings. Going into Wednesday night's Carolina League games, McFarland (10-3, 2.81) was the only pitcher in the league with 10 wins. Joseph Gardner was in a four-way tie for second with his nine victories. McFarland ranked third in the league in ERA; Gardner, fourth.

A Lake County Captains

Tonight: Captains (65-48) at Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps (63-51), 7:05.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, 2B Argenis Martinez (.216) was on a 10-game hitting streak, going 13-for-36 (.361) with one double, one triple, eight walks, six runs, five RBI and six stolen bases....LHP Giovanni Soto is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts, striking out 20, walking six and allowing six hits in 18 innings since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers organization in the Jhonny Peralta trade. Including his time this season with Class A West Michigan, Soto is 8-6 with a 2.50 ERA in 18 starts, including two complete game shutouts. In 100 2/3 innings, he has allowed just 81 hits -- including three homers -- while fanning 96 and walking 31....RH reliever Preston Guilmet (3-1, nine saves, 2.15) had struck out 53 and walked six in 37 2/3 innings, giving up just 26 hits, including two homers....RH reliever Jose Flores (0-1, two saves, 2.20) had struck out 37 and walked five in 28 2/3 innings, giving up 23 hits, just one of them a home run.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Scrappers 2, Yankees 1 RHP Alex Kaminsky (5-3, 1.95) and four Scrappers relievers combined on a one-hitter in a New York-Penn League game in Staten Island, N.Y. Kaminsky, the winner, gave up an infield single in five innings, striking out four and walking one. LH James Reichenbach (3.96) earned his second save, pitching 1 1/3 perfect innings with one strikeout. RF Kevin Rucker (.247) slugged a solo homer in the eighth inning, and singled and scored on LF Brian Heere's (.224) double in the second.

Notes: Kaminsky's 1.95 ERA is sixth in the league. He has allowed just two homers and a .210 batting average in 55 1/3 innings....SS Nicholas Bartolone is 6-for-19 (.316) with the Scrappers after batting .303 (40-for-132) with no homers for the Indians' Arizona League rookie team.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Tonight: Crushers (36-37) at Normal (Ill.) CornBelters (32-41), 8:05.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, RH reliever Cristobal Mata (0-0) had a 1.37 ERA in 19 2/3 innings over 12 games....RH reliever J.J. Pacella (2-2, six saves, 4.50) was 1-0 with one save in his last six games, striking out 10 in 6 2/3 scoreless innings....Catcher Joel Collins (.238) was 10-for-26 (.385) with two doubles in his last seven games.

Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan looks forward to his second season in Cleveland. He assesses his defense at the halfway point of training camp.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRob Ryan looks at a deep roster of linebackers -- including veteran David Bowens -- and feels confident the Browns' defense will be improved this fall. "We've got a lot of playmakers there," the defensive coordinator says. "That's the exciting thing."

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Eric Mangini jokingly calls defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's in-season press conferences "the most stressful 15 minutes of my week."

Public speaking is in Ryan's DNA. His father, Buddy, was one of the NFL's great, ahem, orators. His twin brother, Rex, now holds the title as head coach of the New York Jets. Rex keeps the Jets in the headlines and ownership likes that.

Rob does all right for himself, too.

"He doesn't live in the box," Mangini said. "I think he and I complement each other well. It's a good balance for me. He's funny. It's like comic relief sometimes. I know it's hard to believe last season, but there were times I needed a little comic relief."

Ryan was on good behavior during a recent sit-down at Browns training camp. Perhaps he was saving his best stuff for the real season. The interview was done before linebacker D'Qwell Jackson went down with a pectoral injury. Excerpts of the interview follow.

Question: Lots of former starters at linebacker. How is that position group going to shake out?

Ryan: We're going to keep the best. The great thing is they've all played. That competition is definitely heated. But we've got a lot of playmakers there. That's the exciting thing. With our linebackers, it's important to us to have playmakers at that spot.

Q: Most of the linebackers have the versatility to play inside and outside. What does that mean for D'Qwell Jackson and Marcus Benard, who don't seem to have that versatility?

Ryan: I mean, versatility's great. To be able to do that, that defense is going to look a helluva lot different to offensive players and we can make it look a lot of different ways. But D'Qwell's a player. We had him play inside and outside last year. He can do that. He's just a super-talented guy. We're so happy he's back full speed and looking great. Marcus is ready for his second season, when you make your most improvement.

Q: The defense tied for eighth last year with 40 sacks, but no player had more than 61/2. Is that the way you like it?

Ryan: We'd like to have one that led the league. I think everybody wants that. I had that in Oakland with [Derrick] Burgess. We don't mind having two guys in double digits like we had in New England. It's just how it goes. There's no reason one of our guys can't lead the league.

Q: The run defense appeared to improve when Ahtyba Rubin took over for injured Shaun Rogers at nose tackle. What exactly does that mean?

Ryan: Rubin's a real fine player ... a guy who really grew in his second season last year. He really came alive and did a great job, but there's only so many Shaun Rogers in this league. To put him in the middle of your defense is something special.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRob Ryan made it clear that Shaun Rogers remains an essential part of the defense. "A guy like Shaun, just have him on the field whether at nose, tackle, a shade, a three-technique, an end -- doesn't matter. Just get him out there and let him play hard."

Q: Could he be just as effective at end?

Ryan: Sure, he can be effective anywhere. You have a Reggie White lined up at tackle and end and nose tackle. A guy like Shaun, just have him on the field whether at nose, tackle, a shade, a three-technique, an end -- doesn't matter. Just get him out there and let him play hard. Linebacker, who cares? Get his (butt) out there.

Q: Kwaku Danso and Clifton Geathers look like two giant linemen begging to be molded and developed. How are they doing?

Ryan: They're great big-bodied kids. In Danso's case, there's no experience. Probably has more experience kicking soccer balls. He's brand new, and to stick him on the nose is really hard. He's got guys coming at him from every angle. The Geathers kid ... one thing with Clifton, he's not getting any bigger. I don't think it's possible, but if he does, look out. He's so young. They're both so raw. They're good kids and hopefully they'll learn their lessons.

Q: Do they have to grow up fast to help the team as rookies?

Ryan: I would think so. This is a grown man's league and right now they're kids. It doesn't mean those kids won't make strides and do some things. We've got a lot of football in front of us. Get to see them against competition, hit people back and fight. Do the things linemen have to do.

Q: The quick impression of rookies Joe Haden and T.J. Ward are that they're very short. How do they compensate for that?

Ryan: First, they're two damn good football players. Excellent football players. If you honestly look at it, I know [Eric] Berry's a great player, but those two are two of the top defensive backs in the whole country and we've got 'em both. I'll be perfectly honest, I never thought about their height. Their height doesn't [matter]. The confusing thing was Haden changing his jersey number. They're two damn good players and they're going to help us.

Q: Ward is the only rookie starting on defense.

Ryan: Haden had the holdout, so he couldn't be. But he's doing outstanding, Joe. [Ward] is more than hanging in there, he's going to be one of our better players. He'll be just fine.

Q: Ward's coverage ability was questioned in college.

Ryan: Bring it on. He's done a great job. He gets his hand on passes a lot in practice. Always competing. Will knock your block off. He's going to be an exciting guy. There's not many rookies who come in as safeties and play in our system. Very complicated system. But this man can do it.

Q: How much better does the defense have to be for this team to close the gap on playoff contenders?

Ryan: All the stats ... we were [expletive] terrible and everything [last year], but 22nd in league in points, which is not great, but understand we were getting to learn them and they were getting to learn us. We're looking forward to Year Two. We had a lot of painful steps that first year. But wherever you go it's going to be like that, unless you inherit [something good]. You go to a new place, usually you have to start over and that takes a little while. But Year Two? We're ready to roll.

Bergesen allows singles to Luis Valbuena and Asdrubal Cabrera, but little else in a dominating performance.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerIndians' catcher Chris Gimenez tags out Baltimore's Luke Scott in the fifth inning Wednesday night at Progressive Field. Scott was trying to score on a double by Adam Jones, but the relay of left fielder Jordan Brown's throw by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was in time to stop Scott.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are crashing and burning again, their hot start to the second half a distant memory.

The Tribe lost its fourth in a row Wednesday night, succumbing to a pitcher who entered with a 3-9 record and 6.26 ERA.

Right-hander Brad Bergesen did not merely beat the Indians, he dominated them. Bergesen threw a two-hitter for a 3-1 victory -- his first since May 12.

Bergesen walked two and struck out four. He gave up an RBI single to Luis Valbuena in the fifth inning and a two-out single to Asdrubal Cabrera in the ninth.

Give Bergesen his due, but Tribe batters swung most of the night as if they had 101 other things on their minds.

The good news for Indians players and coaching staff was that few people witnessed it. Paid attendance: 11,155.

The Tribe (47-67) won its first six after the All-Star break. It is 7-13 since, including a 14-8 loss to Baltimore in the series opener Tuesday.

The Orioles (40-74) are 8-1 under manager Buck Showalter. They amassed 13 hits for the second straight game.

Baltimore scored an unearned run in the first.

Amy Sancetta / Associated PressBrad Bergesen has struggled all season with the Orioles after a successful 2009 season, but he was dominant Wednesday against the Tribe.

Brian Roberts led off with a single against righty Josh Tomlin and was forced at second by Nick Markakis. Ty Wigginton singled. Both runners advanced on catcher Chris Gimenez's passed ball. With the infield back, Luke Scott delivered an RBI grounder to the right side.

With two outs in the fourth, Cesar Izturis singled to drive in Felix Pie for a 2-0 advantage.

Brian Roberts led off the fifth with a homer. It came on the 12th pitch of the at-bat.

In the bottom of the fifth, Valbuena pulled the Indians within 3-1 when he drove in Shelley Duncan from third with two outs. Duncan had led off with a walk. Valbuena's single shot through the hole at second.

Tomlin was replaced by Justin Germano to begin the sixth. Tomlin gave up 10 hits.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal did not do so well against fighter "Sugar" Shane Mosley in the latest episode of "Shaq Vs." Shaq, now with the Boston Celtics, got into the boxing ring with Mosley. After five rounds, the 5-foot-8 Mosley defeated the 7-foot-1 center in a unanimous decision. Shaq lost in a decision to Oscar De La...

Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal did not do so well against fighter "Sugar" Shane Mosley in the latest episode of "Shaq Vs."

Shaq, now with the Boston Celtics, got into the boxing ring with Mosley. After five rounds, the 5-foot-8 Mosley defeated the 7-foot-1 center in a unanimous decision. Shaq lost in a decision to Oscar De La Hoya last year.

Before the bout, Shaq promised to walk around Caesars Palace in a pink bikini if he lost. He kept his word. Check out the video.

Get your questions ready and talk Indians baseball with The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes in a live chat.

Hoynsie answers your Indians questions today at noon.

Jump in the chat room below and ask your Indians questions or just listen. Can't make the chat? An archive will be made available in mp3 format shortly after the chat's completion.

ESPN.com's James Walker writes how the Cleveland Browns have three hot issues coming into the season.   Walker agrees, like most of us, that the heat is on coach Eric Mangini heading into his second season in Cleveland. Mangini begins the season on the hot seat. He doesn't seem to feel the pressure, though. "I feel really good about the progress...

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer Coach Eric Mangini

ESPN.com's James Walker writes how the Cleveland Browns have three hot issues coming into the season.  

Walker agrees, like most of us, that the heat is on coach Eric Mangini heading into his second season in Cleveland. Mangini begins the season on the hot seat. He doesn't seem to feel the pressure, though.

"I feel really good about the progress we've made, the strides we've made," Mangini said. "The second year is different. Guys understand expectations. There are so many things that you don't have to cover because they get it and they become teachers to people who are new, and that helps a lot."

Another issue involves quarterback Jake Delhomme. Is Delhomme the answer for the Browns? Fans are not exactly jumping for joy with the signing.

Delhomme is coming off the worst year of his career (eight TD passes, 18 interceptions) and was benched and eventually released by the Carolina Panthers.

But if Delhomme isn't the answer, the team will turn to backup Seneca Wallace, who is a longtime Holmgren protege. Rookie third-round draft pick Colt McCoy is regarded as the quarterback of the future but isn't expected to start this season.

Confident Joe

Joe Thomas, a three-time Pro Bowl left tackle for the Cleveland Browns, is confident going into this season although the Browns had the league's worst offense last season.

Ohio.com columnist Marla Ridenour writes how the Browns led the league in rushing offense with 900 yards during that four game winning streak to end last season, and that convinced Thomas that something special was going on.

''I'm very comfortable with where we are,'' he said. ''I think we know the offense better in our second year. We've got a couple new running backs. We've definitely got some good talent at quarterback and receiver and the tight ends. We feel like we can really do some damage on offense. I think things are looking very good for us.''

The Browns also did not give up a sack in two of their final three games and finished with 30 allowed, which tied for 10th in the league. Nine of the 30 came in the first two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos, including four by the Broncos' Elvis Dumervil, who abused right tackle John St. Clair en route to an NFL-high 17.

Derek Anderson

Derek Anderson was the quarterback Cleveland didn't want, writes AP reporter John Marshall.

Almost from the day the Browns drafted Brady Quinn in the first round of the 2007 draft, Cleveland's yell-til-it-hurts fans called for him to be their starter and savior.

Quinn, not Anderson, was the one who got the national TV ad campaign — long before he became a starter.

Even the Browns' coaches didn't seem to know what to do with the two quarterbacks, rotating them in and out like a whack-a-mole game.

By the time Anderson's five-year career in Cleveland came to an end, he felt like there was a mantra playing in his head: Brady, Brady, Brady.

The Browns released Anderson and he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals. Life in Arizona has given Anderson a new start. He's still the No. 2 quarterback, but the Cardinals want Anderson because of his experience. He's also a player who can push starter Matt Leinart and replace him if Leinart falls short.

"I think the most telling thing [Rob Ryan] said were his comments about Shaun Rogers. That's why the club did not move him even though they were looking to acquire additional draft picks. He is a special player and his attitude must be something they like or feel is not much of a problem." - waltsumner

View full sizeTracy Boulian | The Plain DealerShaun Rogers, right, is one of the few Browns defenders that has consistently made big plays.

In response to the story A confident Rob Ryan talks about the Cleveland Browns' defense: 'We're ready to roll', cleveland.com reader waltsumner is excited to see how the Browns use Shaun Rogers this season. This reader writes,

"I think the most telling thing [Rob Ryan] said were his comments about Shaun Rogers. That's why the club did not move him even though they were looking to acquire additional draft picks. He is a special player and his attitude must be something they like or feel is not much of a problem."

Diamondbacks' four straight, including Mark Reynolds' 26th of season, keyed 8-2 win over Milwaukee. At Cleveland Stadium in 1963, Woodie Held, Pedro Ramos, Tito Francona and Larry Brown went yard consecutively.

Associated Press/fileWoodie Held, here at spring training in Tucson in 1962, was one of four Indians who hit consecutive home runs in a 1963 game at Cleveland Stadium.

Milwaukee, Wis.

— The Arizona Diamondbacks tied a major league record by hitting four consecutive home runs, with Adam LaRoche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drew connecting in the fourth inning Wednesday night to beat Milwaukee 8-2.

The Diamondbacks became just the seventh team in history to accomplish the feat.

The Cleveland Indians clouted four straight home runs in a 9-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Cleveland Stadium on July 31, 1963. Box score and play-by-play is from Baseball.Reference.com. More on that game at the end of this report.

Arizona nearly made it five home runs in the inning, but Chris Young flied out to deep center field.

Milwaukee starter Dave Bush took a 2-0 lead into the fourth and retired Justin Upton on a fly ball to start the inning.

LaRoche then hit his 19th home run into the Diamondbacks' bullpen and Montero followed with a shot into the second deck in right field.

Reynolds was next with his 26th home run to left and Drew capped the run with his seventh home run to right.

Bush is the first pitcher in the majors to give up four straight home runs since the New York Yankees' Chase Wright did it against Boston on April 22, 2007. Wright now pitches for the Brewers' Triple-A team in Nashville.

Daniel Hudson (3-0) got the win as he continued his strong pitching for Arizona since the Diamondbacks acquired him and pitching prospect David Holmberg from the Chicago White Sox in a deal for starter Edwin Jackson July 30.

Hudson pitched seven innings, giving up two runs and seven hits. He has given up four runs in his three starts for Arizona.

Hudson helped himself in the sixth inning as he ripped a bases-loaded double to increase Arizona's lead to 7-2.

Bush (5-10) took the loss for the Brewers, who lost for the third straight time against Arizona. He gave up seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The Brewers continued to struggle at the plate, despite the return of All-Star outfielder Corey Hart to the lineup. Hart had missed the past two games with a sore back. He went 0 for 3 with a walk. Brewers' All-Star left fielder Ryan Braun did not start his third straight game with a bruised wrist. He pinch-hit in the eighth inning and struck out.

Prince Fielder hit his 25th home run of the season in the second inning. It was Fielder's first home run since July 22 against Pittsburgh. Casey McGehee hit the next pitch for his 15th home run to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

A crowd of 7,288 at Cleveland Stadium on July 31, 1963 watched Indians infielder Woodie Held, pitcher Pedro Ramos, outfielder Tito Francona and shortstop Larry Brown slug four straight solo homers off Angels right-hander Paul Foytack in the bottom of the sixth inning. The homers built the Indians' lead to 9-1.

It was quite a night for Ramos. Not only did he strike out 15 in 8 1/3 innings to get the win, but he hit two homers. Ramos went deep for the game's first run in the third inning. Indians first baseman Fred "Wingy" Whitfield belted a grand slam homer later in the inning.

Ramos hit 15 homers in his career, a significant number for a pitcher. Held hit 179; Francona, the father of Red Sox manager Terry Francona, hit 125; Brown, 47; Whitfield, 108.

 

"Makes me wonder why Chris Grant appears asleep at the switch, always one step behind. I'm really starting to think the Cavs are playing for the 2011 lottery - as a season ticket holder that's gonna be hard to stomach." - randyosu

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerCavaliers GM Chris Grant.

In response to the story Indiana Pacers acquire point guard Darren Collison from New Orleans as part of 4-way deal, cleveland.com reader randyosu is not very excited about what he's seen from the Cavaliers since LeBron left. This reader writes,

"Makes me wonder why Chris Grant appears asleep at the switch, always one step behind. I'm really starting to think the Cavs are playing for the 2011 lottery - as a season ticket holder that's gonna be hard to stomach."

"Most team only play 2-3 games against teams that are any good. This is why I can't get into the hype machine of college football without a playoff. It's all opinion without sorting it out on the field." - dybzinski

View full sizeAP FileThe lack of a playoff leaves many college football fans unsatisfied, even after a team lifts the national championship trophy.

In response to the story Sports Illustrated picks Ohio State to go 12-0 in regular season, cleveland.com reader dybzinski just can't get in to college football under the current system. This reader writes,

"Most team only play 2-3 games against teams that are any good. This is why I can't get into the hype machine of college football without a playoff. It's all opinion without sorting it out on the field."

PD columnist picks an "over or under" on the Browns, Brian Robiskie, the Miami Heat and how many more majors Tiger Woods will win.

The Plain DealerBrian Robiskie: Can he average three catches a game in 2010? Bud Shaw thinks not.

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by bickering co-hosts Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright. On to the highlights:

• How many games will the Browns win in 2010? Today's guest on the show, Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw, says that as he looks at the 2010 schedule, he can't find seven games the Browns can win.

Bud also answers "over or under?" questions about how many catches the Browns' Brian Robiskie will have this season; how many Pro Bowlers the Browns will have; how many games the Miami Heat will win in 2010; and how many major tournaments Tiger Woods will win for the rest of his career.

You can cast your vote on some of these questions in today's Starting Blocks poll now posted in the blog.

SBTV will return Friday morning with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi as the guest. He will answer fan questions from his weekly "Hey, Tony!" feature. If you have a question about the Browns or the NFL, ask Tony and your question may make it onto next week's SBTV show..

Players with later tee times, such as Phil Mickelson, will have to complete their first rounds on Friday. Lefty now scheduled for a 5:45 p.m. start today; Tiger Woods, 12:30 p.m.

Jeffrey Phelps, Associated PressPlayers on the driving range during this morning's fog delay at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Sheboygan, Wis. - The 92nd PGA Championship is finally getting started at Whistling Straits after a delay of more than three hours because of fog.

The delay means players with later tee times today will have to complete their first rounds on Friday.

Visibility was strictly limited before the fog began to lift. Bo Van Pelt, Scott Hebert and Vaughn Taylor had been scheduled to tee off as the first group at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. They finally began their rounds at 11:10 a.m.

"Once the fog has lifted and it is clear to play, the first starting time will be 30 minutes following that time," officials had said.

Four-time PGA champion Tiger Woods, who has not won a tournament this season, is now slated to tee off at at 12:30 p.m. Woods is grouped with defending champion Y.E. Yang and 2004 champion Vijay Singh.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell and British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen will start play from the first tee at 5:45. Mickelson again has an opportunity this week to pass Woods as the world's top-ranked golfer.

 

The Browns will let D'Qwell Jackson rest his injured right pectoral for a few weeks and then re-evaluate it.

Chuck Crow | The Plain DealerThe Browns will let D'Qwell Jackson's injured pec settle down for a few weeks and then re-evaluate it.

CLEVELAND -- The Browns will let D'Qwell Jackson's right pectoral injury "settle down'' for a few weeks and then the team will re-evaluate him, coach Eric Mangini said.

The early prognosis on Jackson is that he'll be out about 4-8 weeks, but he's getting a second opinion from his New York surgeon, Dr. Frank Cordasco, a source told the Plain Dealer on Wednesday.

In other Browns news:

* Cornerback Eric Wright might return to the practice field tonight, and if so, could play Saturday night in Green Bay. Cornerback Brandon McDonald (ankle) returned this morning and is expected to play.

* Punter Dave Zastudil returned to Berea after having his surgically-repaired right knee re-checked in Colorado, but will also rest it for a few weeks before the Browns re-evaluate it.

* Mangini said he's still hopeful that rookie running back Montario Hardesty (knee) will be back next week, the final week of camp.

* Mangini said he's been pleased with the receivers, citing a fine TD catch by Brian Robiskie earlier in the week and another one-handed grab in the end zone by Chansi Stuckey on Tuesday.

* Rookie Joe Haden broke up a pass over the middle from Jake Delhomme to Mohamed Massaquoi in a two-minute drill.

* Tight end Alex Smith  beat double-coverage on a post-route to catch a fine pass from rookie Colt McCoy.

* Guard Floyd Womack left the practice field a little early and finished up on the bike. Right tackle John St. Clair was carted off, but cramped up and should be fine. Right tackle Tony Pashos is recovering from a shoulder injury and probably won't play in Green Bay.

Jake Delhomme's struggles, D'Qwell Jackson's replacement, and some hope for a Montario Hardesty sighting.

The Browns' offense has sputtered in training camp. (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer)

Updated with correction at 1:12 p.m.

BEREA -- Observations, opinions and some facts on the Browns' first practice this morning ...

 * Another bad outing for the offense. Touchdowns were hard to come by. Coach Eric Mangini was upset with false starts and other "self-inflicted wounds" and had the entire team do some sprints after practice.

 * It sure looks like the QBs are having trouble distributing the ball to the wideouts, but Mangini doesn't agree. Lots of passes to the tight ends and dumpoffs to the backs. "I'm never going to be upset if they throw it to the open guy (underneath)," Mangini said. "I'd rather them do that than to just press it to someone."

 * Brett Ratliff -- not Delhomme, as previously reported -- had a pass batted at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by linebacker Jason Trusnik, who trundled into the end zone for a touchdown.

 * A scant update on D'Qwell Jackson by the club. He'll rehab for a few weeks and then be re-evaluated. No surgery as of now. No timetable for return. Jackson got a second opinion.

 * The Jackson pectoral injury opens the door for Eric Barton to join Chris Gocong inside. Mangini loves Barton's knowledge of the defense and that position requires a lot of signal-calling. Since Gocong is new, Barton is a good security blanket. Second-year linebacker Kaluka Maiava is still learning the defense, but will get reps, too.

 * Mangini said he is hopeful rookie back Montario Hardesty will make his practice debut next week. "Like you guys, I want to see him play against other colors. He's one of those guys that looks better in games because he's a physical guy," Mangini said.

 * Delhomme and Seneca Wallace will play about one quarter each in Green Bay. Colt McCoy and Brett Ratliff will split the second half, the coach said.

 * President Mike Holmgren, who coached the Packers to two Super Bowls and earned a street in his honor -- Holmgren Way -- near Lambeau Field, will not make the trip to Green Bay. He's trying to keep weight off his right foot, which had major surgery, until September.

 * Fans are asking why coaches and players are wearing T-shirts that say, "What's up Bud?" on the back. They are a tribute to strength coach Kent Johnston, who greets friends and strangers with the same expression.