The Browns will soon announce plans to create a Ring of Honor to commemorate their franchise greats inside Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Scott Heckel / Canton RepositoryIn 2007, Browns Hall of Famers (standing, from left) Leroy Kelly, Bobby Mitchell and Jim Brown escorted an ailing Gene Hickerson to the stage at Fawcett Stadium when Hickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Next month, all of the Browns' 16 Hall of Famers are expected to be included when the team unveils a Ring of Honor at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Browns have made a decision that some think was long overdue. The organization, now headed by President Mike Holmgren, is creating a Ring of Honor to commemorate the great names of the franchise's storied past. An announcement could come as early as this week.

Tradition has kept the Browns relevant as they and their fans suffer through the expansion era. Tradition is what Cleveland politicians, diehard fans and Browns alumni fought to keep when Art Modell moved his Browns to Baltimore in 1996. But there has never been any permanent reminder of that tradition inside the seating bowl of Cleveland Browns Stadium.

That will change when the first class of franchise greats is inducted into the Browns Ring of Honor.

Plans are for the 16 Browns enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be the natural first inductees. Their names will be inscribed on the upper ring of Browns Stadium, clearly visible at least to spectators on the opposite side of the seating bowl. The unveiling of the Ring of Honor will be done at the home opener on Sept. 19.

All seven living honorees and family members of the deceased ones have been invited to attend various events planned for the opening weekend.

At least two members of the class are not expected to attend the unveiling on Sept. 19. The Paul Brown family, operators of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Ozzie Newsome, GM of the Baltimore Ravens, will be in Cincinnati for the Bengals-Ravens game. The Browns are hoping to have both at a gala dinner the night before.

About one-half the 32 NFL teams have a ring of honor displayed in their stadiums, though they all aren't named as such. Dino Lucarelli, the long-time Cleveland sports PR aficionado and former Browns alumni director, always felt it was a void in Browns Stadium.

Holmgren agreed. He developed an appreciation of team tradition while coaching the Green Bay Packers. Every day he went to work, Holmgren saw the hallowed names of Packers greats emblazoned on the facade of Lambeau Field. The display of the names of 21 Packers in the Hall of Fame helped stamp Lambeau Field as a football shrine.

The Browns intend to add members to its Ring of Honor on a regular basis. A committee within the organization will outline criteria for consideration and be the sole authority to decide future members. Exclusivity is what will make the Ring special and it's unlikely that future classes will number more than a few.

And that's not all: Holmgren's dedication to Browns tradition also will result in the re-institution of the Browns Legends program.

The Legends, which was started in 2001 to honor Browns greats, was suspended last year. There are currently 31 Browns players, plus the 16 Hall of Famers, in the Legends.

The program will be modified so that voters will not be restricted to choosing honorees based on the decade in which they played.

The Ryan Express: Leftovers from a recent sitdown with outspoken Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan ...

• On whether he was concerned about not returning for 2010 as Holmgren mulled the future of coach Eric Mangini in January:

"I wasn't concerned about it. Mike had the big decision, not me. I love these guys. The bottom line is, [expletive], I can coach. [Expletive], I'd be hired in one second. I ain't worried about that [expletive]. Honest to God, I wasn't."

• On whether he would watch HBO's "Hard Knocks," which is featuring the New York Jets' training camp coached by his twin brother, Rex:

"I'm going to watch it. Hell, I wanna see my brother. I know one thing, he's a great [expletive] coach. I think he took [the Jets] somewhere last year. The only guy not surprised was him. Great coach, finally got his chance."

• On when he thinks he'll get his chance to be an NFL head coach:

"I don't know. Should've happened a long time ago in Oakland. But, hell, if that happens, so be it. I'm happy where I'm at."

Rookie wage scale: Is St. Louis rookie quarterback Sam Bradford worth more than Peyton Manning or Tom Brady? Of course not. But Bradford's deal with the Rams guarantees him $50 million -- more than Manning and Brady currently have in their contracts.

Is Browns rookie cornerback Joe Haden better right now than any cornerback in the team's history? Of course not. But Haden is guaranteed a franchise-record $25 million in his deal.

"I think our rookie compensation system is broken," Commissioner Roger Goodell said during his visit to Browns camp on Aug. 5. "I think our compensation system should reward the players for their performance on an NFL field [and not on potential]. It's something I've heard from our players about it. It's something we have to address in the collective bargaining agreement."

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, who sits on the executive committee of the players union, has an interesting take on this conference room debate.

"Teams can pay players whatever they want," Fujita said. "Is it [the players union's] issue to clean it up? Not necessarily. For whatever reasons, they keep looking at us to fix this thing."

In other words, nobody's forcing owners to pay untested rookies outlandish sums.

Browns cornerback Eric Wright, who tweaked a hamstring in practice on Tuesday, stayed home from the Green Bay trip.

UPDATED: 6:40 p.m.

Eric Wright intercepted two passes in practice Thursday night, but will rest his sore hamstring in Green Bay.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Browns starting cornerback Eric Wright, who tweaked a leg muscle on Tuesday, returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis, but did not make the trip here for the first exhibition game.

Top pick Joe Haden will get the start in his place.

Wright, who left the field on Tuesday morning with an apparent sore hamstring, worked primarily in the nickel and on the scout team Thursday, and picked off two passes in eight plays, one off Seneca Wallace and one off Brett Ratliff.

But the Browns apparently felt it was better to rest him tonight rather than risk further aggravating the muscle. Brandon McDonald, who tweaked an ankle during the week, might see action.

Haden, who's been starting in the nickel defense, will replace Wright opposite Sheldon Brown. Haden said during the week he was looking forward to the start if it happened that way. "That's the only way you can make plays, if you're on the field,'' he said.

That means two rookies will be in the starting lineup on defense. Safety T.J. Ward will start opposite Abe Elam.

Rookie guard Shawn Lauvao will also start in place of Floyd Womack at right guard. The other lineup change is Eric Barton for D'Qwell Jackson (pectoral) muscle at inside linebacker.

Buck Showalter led the Yankees out of the playoff desert, helped create the Arizona Diamondbacks and did some good work with Rangers. Now he faces his greatest test -- reviving the Baltimore Orioles.

Nick Wass / Associated PressBuck Showalter is looking to rebuild the Baltimore Orioles beyond their current mid-season revival. "All competitive people like the idea sometimes that people say it can't be done," he said. "I love the town, the tradition, the people, the feeling. It's a challenge. It's our challenge."

HOT CORNER
Loose lips sink Reds: It’s one thing to run your mouth and back it up on the field. It’s quite another when you talk a better game than you play. Step right up, Brandon Phillips.
Phillips, the former Indian and current Cincinnati second baseman, set the tone for an important three-game series last week with St. Louis by saying he hated the Cardinals, calling them complainers. It touched off one of the ugliest fights of the year and a three-game sweep by St. Louis that may have turned the tide in the NL Central.
The Reds went into the three-game series with a two-game lead. After the Cardinals outscored them, 21-8 in the sweep, while holding Phillips to two hits in 14 at-bats, they left Cincinnati with a one-game lead.
The Cards are 10-5 against the Reds this season.

The other Central: The Twins left U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday in first place by one game after taking two out of three from Chicago. The two teams entered the series tied.
“This is the way it’s supposed to be with these two teams,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Associated Press.
While the Reds and Cardinals meet only three more times, the White Sox and Twins play six more times, including a three-game set starting Tuesday at Target Field. The Twins lead the series, 8-4.

Who’s next? The Indians did a great job, as usual, with the induction of Kenny Lofton and the late Cy Slapnika into their Hall of Fame on July 7 at Progressive Field. Lofton, who played 17 seasons in the big leagues, but never found another home like Cleveland, was moved by the honor.
In the years to come, here are five more former Indians who should be voted in: Albert Belle (even if he doesn’t show up), Gaylord Perry, Dennis Martinez, Orel Hershiser and Jose Mesa (even if he doesn’t show up as well).
Add Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel to the list if they ever retire.

THE RANT
Bo Wyble is taking a lot of grief, but I know how he feels.
Wyble jumped out of the way of a foul ball Monday night at Houston’s Minute Maid Park and let it hit his date, Sara Saco Vertiz, on the right arm. The giggling couple was interviewed on TV right after the incident, while the announcers, during repeated replays, ripped Wyble for his lack of chivalry.
By Thursday, the couple was on the CBS Early Show and the video had reached more than 350,000 views on YouTube. Saco Vertiz told co-host Harry Smith that she and Bo had broken up, adding that it had nothing to do with his act of self preservation.
I know how Wyble feels because, I basically did the same thing. Instead of foul ball, I jumped out of the way of a fleeing rat, pushing my wife, Jackie, into the path of the rodent.
It was winter and we’d just moved into our first house. We were not alone. At first we thought we had squirrels, then mice. Then the exterminator told us we had rats.
Traps were set and the crisis apparently averted. One morning, Jackie said she heard something under a couch in the spare bedroom. I knelt down and looked under the couch, playfully calling, “Here, rat, rat, rat.” When I moved the couch, the biggest rat I’ve ever seen broke cover and headed for the door. I screamed and jumped on the couch, leaving Jackie as the only obstacle between the rat and freedom.
Jackie moved into her parents’ house the same day until the rats were beaten once and for all. She reminds me about it now and then, but she didn’t dump me, and you can’t see the replay on YouTube.
— Paul Hoynes

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Buck Showalter says some people don't get it.

He had a cushy job at ESPN. All he had to do was watch baseball games and talk about them. There were those 2 a.m. runs to Taco Bell with sidekick John Kruk, but no job is perfect.

Why would Showalter give all that up, the right to second guess, the right to pontificate, the right to educate the public on the grand old game, to go back to managing?

It wasn't like he came back to run the Yankees, a team he guided to the postseason in 1995 after a 14-year dry spell. It wasn't the Dodgers either, where the weather is good and the beach close. No, Showalter said goodbye to an ulcer-free existence, where no one ever missed the cut-off man, to manage the Orioles.

Some people think the Indians are stuck in the past. No matter what the current team does -- and that hasn't been a lot lately -- they suffer in comparison to the great teams from 1995 through 2001. In their defense, the Indians have had a couple of winning seasons, including a postseason appearance in 2007, since Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Omar Vizquel and all the other heroes left town.

The Orioles are not only locked in an Earl Weaver time warp, but they're headed for their 12th straight losing season. Not to mention, they play in the toughest and richest division in baseball -- the AL East. This is a division where good teams finish third or fourth. Only great teams need apply for a division title or a wild-card berth.

Showalter is the Orioles' third manager this year. That's never a good sign. Dave Trembley (15-39) was fired June 4. Juan Samuel replaced him on an interim basis. Showalter replaced Samuel (16-31) Aug. 3 with the Orioles owning baseball's worst record at 32-73.

So what don't people get about taking this job?

At his press conference Showalter said, "All competitive people like the idea sometimes that people say it can't be done. I love the town, the tradition, the people, the feeling.

"It's a challenge. It's our challenge."

Most people accept challenges when they have no other choice. Showalter charged into his with open arms and a three-year contract.

"It's not the first time," he said, last week when the Orioles played a three-game series in Cleveland. "You always reach back to situations you've been in."

Showalter managed the Yankees from 1992-95. They made the postseason in his final year for the first time since 1981 before he was fired by late owner George Steinbrenner. Joe Torre took over and four World Series titles rolled into the Bronx in the next five years.

Meanwhile, Showalter was helping in the birth of the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. He managed them from 1998-2000. After being fired, the D-Backs beat the Yankees to win the World Series in 2001.

"It's kind of like raising your daughter and then letting somebody else walk her down the aisle. I hope to get to walk down the aisle here," Showalter told Baltimore reporters when he was hired.

He managed Texas from 2003-06. The Rangers improved by 18 victories from 2003 through 2004 and Showalter was named AL Manager of the Year for the second time. The Rangers fired him in 2006 and he's been cooling his heels for almost four years until now.

The Orioles have responded to whatever Showalter does when he takes over a new team. They're 9-2 through Friday's 5-0 victory over Tampa Bay. They won series from the Angels, White Sox and Indians.

"The thing I like about Buck is the consistency he's shown," said DH Luke Scott. "For the most part you know exactly where you're going to be hitting in the lineup. You have a good idea what position you're going to be playing."

Showalter knows he's benefited from the return to health of Scott, catcher Matt Wieters, outfielder Felix Pie, second baseman Brian Roberts and others.

"I know I've got some bullets that other situations didn't have," he said.

But the challenge, no matter how much ammunition Showalter has at hand, remains the same.

Right tackle Tony Pashos and right guard Floyd Womack are among tonight's inactives for the Green Bay game.

CHARLES KRUPA / ASSOCIATED PRESSNew Browns right tackle Tony Pashos is among the inactives in Green Bay.

CLEVELAND -- In addition to Eric Wright, the following players are inactive in Green Bay tonight:

Punter Dave Zastudil, cornerback Coye Francies, running back Montario Hardesty; linebackers David Veikune, David Bowens,  and D'Qwell Jackson; offensive lineman Joel Reinders, Tony Pashos, Paul Fanaika and Floyd Womack; and nosetackle Shaun Rogers.

Browns wearing white on white, a former trusted aide of Phil Savage resurfaces and Clay Mathews III is idle.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Pre-game notes and observations from hallowed Lambeau Field ...

• The Browns ditched their brown pants and are wearing white-on-white, as the Packers chose to wear their dark green jerseys. Last year the Browns debuted their brown pants look here and kept it for all road games. No word yet on whether this means the Browns will return the brown pants to cold, cold storage in 2010.

• Bill Rees, who was Browns player personnel director for a while under former GM Phil Savage, is scouting the game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rees has worked for the Bears, the Chiefs and Northwestern University since he left the Browns. Tampa Bay opens the regular season against the Browns on Sept. 12, but Rees is not the club's "advance" scout. He said he's doing reports on Browns players on the roster bubble who may be available at the two preseason roster cutdowns.

• Rees said that Savage expects to continue as a player personnel consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles during the season. Savage consulted for the Eagles prior to the 2010 draft. Savage, who is still getting a handsome severance package from the Browns, will return a second season as radio analyst for his beloved University of Alabama.

• The Packers scratched two starters because of injuries. One is linebacker Clay Matthews, the son of the former Browns great. Matthews is out with a hamstring injury -- same thing that caused him to miss a couple preseason games as a rookie. The other Green Bay starter out is linebacker Brandon Chillar.

Saturday, at the team's special teams scrimmage, it all came together for the Buckeyes kickers, easing some preseason uncertainties.

OSU photoRedshirt sophomore Ben Buchanan had a good day punting at OSU's special teams scrimmage on Saturday, and was pleased that the rest of the kickers also put on a good show.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There's something to be said for being not just a major college punter, but Jim Tressel's punter.

It's one thing to be on the menu, another to be the house specialty. So when the Buckeyes came out of spring practice after some rough showings from their special teams -- kickers and punters alike -- redshirt sophomore Ben Buchanan didn't like how it felt.

In April, Buchanan was both kicking and punting, continuing the dual path he'd followed since high school. At the start of this preseason, with veteran Devin Barclay and freshman Drew Basil in the kicking mix, Tressel told Buchanan to focus on punting.

Saturday, at the team's special teams scrimmage, it all came together, for everyone involved.

"It's night and day," Buchanan said afterward. "We all knew that wasn't acceptable, how we performed in the spring."

The only negative for the Buckeyes was starting defensive end Nathan Williams going down with a left leg injury during the portion of practice that preceded the special teams scrimmage. He had his leg elevated much of practice and by the end of the day, his leg was wrapped from thigh to ankle. No update was available on his condition.

Buchanan averaged about 46 yards on his punts, kicked several over 50 yards, showed confidence punting from the back of the end zone and even tackled freshman Corey Brown at the end of a 45-yard return. Basil and Barclay were close to perfect, combining to make 21 of 24 field goals, Basil hitting a 45-yarder high off the right upright, while Barclay was short from 58 yards and missed from 37 to close the scrimmage.

Coming into camp, Tressel said Barclay was the short field goal kicker, 42 yards and in, while Basil would handle the longer field goals and the kickoffs. Saturday, both seemed to show they could handle all the facets.

"I don't know anything else we can ask for," Basil said, praising every aspect of the special teams performance. "It was definitely my best day of camp so far."

Basil said the longest field goal he's ever made in practice, at any level, is 631/2 yards, and he showed off his leg. But Barclay seemed just as comfortable from long distance.

On the list of true freshmen who can help this team this season, Basil has to be near the top, saying he's even more confident than in high school, despite the bigger stage, because he knows the snap and hold can be relied upon.

Defensive backs coach Taver Johnson, who handles parts of the special teams, said how much it helped Basil to be one of the few freshmen involved in spring ball, but that this was even another step.

"I think he grew up today," Johnson said.

Buchanan, in his third year in the program, may have grown into his role.

"That's why I came to a school like this, because he does value special teams," Buchanan said of Tressel, mentioning the signs in the meeting room that say the punt is the most important play in football. "When you see that it, encourages you to do your best to live up to the great punters and kickers we've had here already."

After Saturday, the Buckeyes should feel better about those jobs being in capable hands again.

Return game: Receiver DeVier Posey appeared to remain the No. 1 punt returner, though the Buckeyes were putting two returners back together more often than in recent years. Others back for punts included running back Jordan Hall, who seems to have a natural shiftiness in the return game, receiver Chris Fields, freshman cornerback Bradley Roby and freshman receiver Corey Brown, who ripped off a 45-yard return.

Fielding kickoffs were running backs Brandon Saine and Dan Herron, Hall, Brown, Fields, running back Jaamal Berry, receiver Taurian Washington and freshman cornerback Christian Bryant, who showed a nice upfield burst.

From the sidelines: Beyond Williams, several other regulars sat out Saturday. Starting right tackle J.B. Shugarts was on the sidelines, as Andrew Miller worked at left tackle with the first team and Mike Adams, fighting Miller for the left tackle job, was at right tackle with the first team. Starting cornerback Devon Torrence missed another practice with a hamstring injury. ... Quarterback Terrelle Pryor completed two well-thrown deep balls, one for nearly 60 yards, before the scrimmage. ... Fullback Zach Boren ran more than 40 yards on a fake punt, breaking the play open with a devastating stiff arm. ... The Daily Camera in Colorado reported that Ohio State and Colorado are discussing playing in 2011, with the Buffaloes making a one-time visit for as much as $2 million. An Ohio State spokesperson said she could not confirm the report.

Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace lead Browns to 14-0 lead, but Aaron Rodgers brings the Pack back.

UPDATED: 8:43 p.m.

Jim Prisching / Associated PressIf there's a cheesehead, there must be football going on in Green Bay.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Observations, opinions and some facts on the first quarter ...

• I'm not sure we've seen an opening drive in preseason like the one Jake Delhomme led with his first possession of the game. Zip, zip, zip. Eighty yards in 11 plays. Delhomme connected with Evan Moore twice, Mohamed Massaquoi three times and Brian Robiskie once. Delhomme was 6 of 7 for 66 yards. Jerome Harrison blasted in from four yards for the touchdown, running off a patented block by fullback Lawrence Vickers. So much for concerns about Delhomme.

• Rookie safety T.J. Ward was credited with a tackle on his first appearance on the field. He helped Nick Sorensen bring down Brandon Jackson after an 18-yard kick return. By the way, Eric Berry, Kansas City's rookie safety of note, also made a special teams tackle on his very first play for the Chiefs on Friday night. Ward then got the solo tackle on the Browns' next kickoff.

• You've got to like Ahtyba Rubin. On the Browns' first defensive play, Rubin knocked the ball loose from running back Ryan Grant. Sheldon Brown picked it up and ran it 11 yards to the Packers' 13.

• Eric Mangini inserted Seneca Wallace on the second series. After two incompletions to Robiskie, Wallace scrambled to his left to escape pressure. Robiskie sauntered to the left corner of the end zone and Wallace fired it to him for a touchdown of 13 yards. Two offensive series, two touchdowns, by two quarterbacks. Interesting.

• What an active and eventful quarter for Ward. Besides the two special teams tackles, he was credited three tackles on Green Bay's first extended offensive drive. Alas, he was beaten by Greg Jennings for a 25-yard touchdown catch as Joe Haden came up short on a cornerback blitz. Ward had decent coverage but didn't look for the ball. Very good throw by Aaron Rodgers.

• The Browns' offensive juggernaut finally was stalled on its third possession. Wallace, still with the No. 1 unit, threw behind Peyton Hillis on third down and the Browns had to punt.

• Haden was beat on a quick inside slant by Jennings. The encouraging thing is Haden brought Jennings down a yard shy of the first down.

The offense, T.J. Ward, and special teams stand out in 21-14 halftime lead.

Jim Prisching / Associated PressJerome Harrison's touchdown capped a brilliant opening drive by new Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme in the first quarter Saturday against Green Bay.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Observations, opinions and some facts on the second quarter ...

• In Aaron Rodgers' first two extended series, he was 10 of 10 for 146 yards, one TD for Green Bay. In the two scoring drives, his QB rating was 152.1.

• The Packers scored their second TD on a two-yard run by backup fullback John Kuhn. The 250-pound Kuhn bounced off Scott Fujita at the 2, and then bounced off T.J. Ward at the 1. Ward couldn't get leverage on the bullish Kuhn.

• Wallace came out for a third consecutive series with the No. 1 unit and led a touchdown drive of seven plays, 63 yards. He got a nice run after a dumpoff throw to Peyton Hillis for a 26-yard gain. But Wallace made a good play on the touchdown pass -- pump-faking to his right, then putting it in to Benjamin Watson, who killed backup safety Charlie Peprah. Green Bay pulled its defensive starters at the start of the drive.

• Ward continues to be a factor. He tripped up Brandon Jackson after a 3-yard gain. And then on third down, Rodgers threw quickly on the outside to Donald Drive. Ward got there immediately, picked Driver off his feet and planted him down for no gain.

• Colt McCoy took over the offense with 8:38 to play in the first half. An illegal formation penalty on second down led to a punt after three plays. McCoy's third-down pass went off the hands of Syndric Steptoe.

• Matt Flynn replaced Rodgers with 7:04 left. Rodgers: 12 of 13 for 159 yards and a TD.

• Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi has been out with an ice bag on his left knee. Browns had no update. He hurt it on the first series.

• A fumble recovery by Nick Sorensen after a Browns punt gave McCoy the ball at Packers' 30 after the two-minute warning. He wasted the opportunity on a ill-advised pass for Johnathan Haggerty, who was double-covered in the end zone. Cornerback Brandon Underwood intercepted the pass and returned it 35 yards.

Former Indian Josh Bard went 4-for-5 with a grand slam to lead Seattle to a second straight win over the Tribe.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerFormer Indians catcher Josh Bard gets congratulations from Seattle's Casey Kotchman, Franklin Gutierrez and Jose Lopez after Bard's fifth-inning grand slam gave the Mariners a 7-2 lead Saturday night at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mariners are supposed to have the worst offense in the American League.

A lot of people were fooled Saturday night.

Then again, Seattle was playing the Indians in mid-August, so the number probably wasn't all that high.

The Mariners, led by former Indian Josh Bard, rolled to a 9-3 victory at Progressive Field. Bard went 4-for-5 with a grand slam. 

Last-place Seattle (46-71) goes for the three-game sweep Sunday afternoon behind their ace, Felix Hernandez.

Last-place Cleveland (48-69) has lost six of seven. The latest defeat could have been worse if not for reliever Frank Herrmann, who retired all nine batters faced from the seventh inning through the ninth.

Bard played for the Tribe from 2002 to 2005. He joined the long line of former Indians to have punished Cleveland this season.

Russell Branyan -- remember him? -- also homered for the Mariners, who finished with 13 hits.

Bard's first career slam, off reliever Hector Ambriz, was part of a five-run fifth that gave the Mariners a 7-2 lead. The only downer for Seattle? Bard failed to hit for the cycle. His two opportunities for a triple ended in a single and lineout to left.

Bard has three homers and 10 RBI this season.

Tribe righty Mitch Talbot, activated earlier in the day, gave up six runs (four earned) on eight hits in four-plus innings. Lapses by his defense hurt; third baseman Andy Marte booted two balls in the decisive fifth.

Tribe designated hitter Jayson Nix had a solo homer and RBI double.

The Indians still haven't signed their top four picks in the June draft. They have until midnight Monday to get it done. Here is a look at some of the high picks that they have signed.

Mark Almond / Birmingham (Ala.) NewsMississippi's Drew Pomeranz remains unsigned by the Indians with Monday's deadline approaching. The Indians have signed 20 of their 50 draft picks so far, but none of their first four selections.

INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Manager Manny Acta can’t believe people in Cleveland are complaining about the heat and humidity this summer.
Acta lives in Florida and spent the last 2½ summers managing the Nationals in Washington, D.C. Before that he coached the Mets in New York.
“This is probably the nicest summertime I’ve had in my baseball career,” said Acta, “and all I do is hear people complain about how hot and humid it is. I go, ‘This is nice. This is like Christmas time in Florida.’ You get a little breeze at night from the lake. I guess I’ve got to be here a little while to understand it.”

Shut it down: Former Indian Milton Bradley will have surgery on his right knee Tuesday in Cincinnati. Bradley, on the disabled list, is in town with the Mariners.
Other former Indians on the Mariners include: Russell Branyan, Franklin Gutierrez, Jamey Wright and Josh Bard. Cliff Lee started the years in Seattle, but was traded to Texas.

Stat of the day: Indians’ record by the month: April 9-13, May 9-18, June 12-16, July 13-14 and August 5-8.
— Paul Hoynes

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tyler Holt asked and the Indians gave. The question is will they do the same to sign their top four picks in the June draft by Monday's midnight deadline.

Holt, drafted in the 10th round out of Florida State, told the Indians he wanted $500,000. He put it this way in a July 29th article in the Tallahassee Democrat, "The Indians know what I want. ... They'll decide if they want to give it to me. If not, I'm coming back to school as fast as you can say 'Seminole.'"

The Indians announced Saturday that they'd signed Holt. Yes, he got his $500,000, which according to Baseball America, is the highest bonus given this year in the 10th round and three times above MLB's unofficial slotting for a 10th-round pick.

"We wanted him," said Brad Grant, the Indians' director of amateur scouting. "We feel he's an offensive center fielder and leadoff hitter. He was one of the elite college bats in the country."

Holt, who hit .355 with 87 runs, 26 doubles, three triples, 13 homers and 48 RBI at Florida State this year, will report to Class A.

The Indians have signed 20 of their 50 selections, including seven of their first 15. Unsigned are No.1 pick left-hander Drew Pomeranz, No.2 pick outfielder LeVon Washington, No.3 pick Tony Wolters and No.4 pick Kyle Blair. Grant would not talk about any unsigned players.

The Indians have signed their fifth and sixth picks. Right-hander Cole Cook, the No. 5 pick from Pepperdine, signed last week for $299,000. It was another above-slot signing.

"He's a 6-6 right-hander who has a 90 to 94 mph fastball," said Grant. "He has a four-pitch mix. He had some leverage [in bargaining] because he was a sophomore who was eligible for the draft."

Cook is at Class A Mahoning Valley.

No.6 pick Nick Bartolone, a junior college shortstop, signed early for $125,000. He hit .303 (40-for-132) with 25 runs, three doubles and nine RBI in 32 games for the Tribe's Arizona Rookie League team before being promoted to Mahoning Valley.

"He's an elite defensive shortstop," said Grant, "who has performed well offensively."

The Indians took a gamble on No.7 pick Robbie Aviles. They paid the high school right-hander $150,000 even though he needed Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. They are still negotiating with No. 8 pick Alex Lavisky, the catcher from St. Edward High School, who has a scholarship to Georgia Tech.

The two other high picks that have signed are college right-handers Jordan Cooper and Michael Goodnight. Cooper, a ninth-round pick from Wichita State, received $125,000. Goodnight was drafted in the 15th round out of the University of Houston. The Indians went above the slot and signed him for $315,000.

The Indians drafted Goodnight out of high school, but didn't sign him. He pitched two years at Houston and the Indians selected him again in June. After a good summer season in Cape Cod, the Indians signed him.

"He's another big physical right-hander who throws between 90 mph to 94 mph," said Grant.""

Cooper and Goodnight are at Mahoning Valley.

Teams that don't sign their first- or second-round picks will be compensated the following year with an extra pick in almost the same spot in that round. If they don't sign their third-round pick, they will receive a compensation pick between the third and fourth rounds.

In the pen: Manager Manny Acta said Aaron Laffey will finish the year in the bullpen. He'll make a rehab appearance at Class A Lake County Monday.

Acta said he hasn't seen enough of Laffey to make a decision on his future as a starter.

"But I really liked what I saw out of the pen," said Acta. "He can pitch multiple innings and face lefties and righties with that sinker that he has."

On the verge: Travis Hafner is close to being activated after another good batting practice session Saturday.

It is hard to find anybody who thinks the Akron Zips' soccer program won't challenge for the NCAA championship again this season.

Gerry Broome / Associated PressAkron's soccer team is expecting to make another long run in the NCAA championship tournament this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On the national stage, it is hard to find anybody who thinks the Akron Zips' soccer program won't challenge for the NCAA championship again this season.

The Zips, who lost the 2009 title match to Virginia on penalty kicks, were ranked preseason No. 1 in the nation by College Soccer News. This week, the team also was voted into the top spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

The four national semifinalists from 2009 earned the top four spots in the rankings, as Virginia, Wake Forest and North Carolina were listed second through fourth, respectively.

Akron will face five teams that made the preseason poll: No. 3 Wake Forest, No. 4 UNC, No. 7 Tulsa, No. 18 Ohio State and No. 24 Michigan State.

Individually, Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Darlington Nagbe and Kofi Sarkodie were named to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Team. Akron's three representatives were the most from any school. Ampaipitakwong, Nagbe and Sarkodie each achieved All-America status a year ago.

Ampaipitakwong, Nagbe and Sarkodie are on the watch list for the Hermann Trophy, college soccer's version of football's Heisman Trophy.

The Sept. 24 game against Tulsa at Akron's Lee Jackson Field is to be televised on Fox Soccer Channel as its game of the week.

Peek-a-boo: Those wanting a first look at the Akron or Kent State football teams should circle a pair of dates.

KSU is holding its Fan Appreciation Day on Thursday. The free event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a preview of the new tailgate area inside Kent's fieldhouse. That will be followed by a 7 p.m. scrimmage, after which fans will be able to meet the coaches and players and take pictures.

The Zips are holding their event Saturday at 10 a.m. Akron's free open scrimmage will be followed by an autograph session.

In the booth: Akron has lost the services of radio football color analyst Frank Stams, who has moved on to SportsTime Ohio. The school is looking for a replacement.

Akron's regular radio voices, play-by-play man Steve French and sideline reporter Joe Dunn, will remain.

Hoops schedules: Akron has significantly upgraded its nonconference men's basketball schedule, with a four-game stretch against Illinois-Chicago, Temple, Minnesota and Miami (Fla.), all of which are on the road.

While a marked improvement in toughness, that schedule still can't match Miami University's. Duke, Kansas, Xavier, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Ohio State are just some of the teams on the RedHawks' schedule, which boasts two of the past three national champions (Duke and Kansas) and the 2010 NIT champion (Dayton).

"I hope our fans will be as excited about this schedule as I am, because it has a little bit of everything," coach Charlie Coles said in a news release.

New faces: Along with the incoming basketball recruits for this season -- Josh Egner, Dakotah Euton, Alex Abreu, Michael Green and Quincy Diggs -- Akron coach Keith Dambrot already has his eye on the future. Transfers Chauncey Gilliam (Maryland-Baltimore County) and Brian Walsh (Xavier) will practice this season and be eligible for 2011-12.

Also expected to join the Zips are a pair of Cleveland-area walk-ons in 6-7 Nick Harney (Benedictine) and 6-8 Demetrius Treadwell (Euclid).

The Columbus Clippers and Lake Erie Crushers also get wins on Saturday night.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 1, Bats 0 Columbus scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, and held on to beat Louisville, Ky. Drew Sutton hit his 18th double, Wes Hodges sacrificed him to third, and Sutton then scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt McBride. Paolo Espino (1-1), the first of three Columbus pitchers, struck out eight in seven innings. Bryce Stowell pitched the eighth and Vinnie Pestano struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the ninth and picked up his 11th save.

Notes: In the past 19 days the Clippers have seen their 10 1/2 game lead in the Western Division of the International League evaporate. They were 1 1/2 games ahead of Louisville after Saturday's win.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 12, Rock Cats 2 Akron had a season-high 20 hits in its victory over visiting New Britain, Conn. Every Aeros batter recorded at least one hit in the game for the second straight game against the Rock Cats.

Notes: Jason Kipnis leads the Aeros in hitting. He is batting .333 in 219 at-bats. Other team leaders are Lonnie Chisenhall with 14 home runs and Beau Mills with 58 RBI. Alex White (6-6) and Scott Barnes (6-8) are tied for the most wins.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Hillcats 3, Indians 1 A double by Donnie Webb and single by Bo Greenwell in the top of the fifth was the only scoring Kinston, N.C., could muster in a loss to Lynchburg, Va. Hillcats starting pitcher Justin Walker (2-1) struck out eight in six innings.

A Lake County Captains

Dragons 4, Captains 2 Dayton scored three runs in the top of the third and made them hold up for a victory over Lake County at Classic Park in Eastlake. Brett Brach (4-7) was the starting and losing pitcher. He lasted seven innings and gave up three runs, two earned, and eight hits. Lake County was just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Notes: Shortstop Casey Frawley, hitting .263, had the highest batting average in the Captains' starting lineup. Frawley went 0-for-4 for Lake County, which fell to 22-26.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Spinners 4, Scrappers 3 Lowell, Mass., put together a pinch-hit single, two walks, and a single to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning of a New York-Penn League game. James Reichenbach (1-2) came on in relief for Mahoning Valley in the eighth and absorbed the loss.

Notes: First baseman Jonathan Burnette, hitting .288, had the highest average in the Scrappers starting lineup. The averages of the other eight, updated through the end of Saturday's game: .240, .233, .250, .190, .230, .189, .208 and .260. The Scrappers fell to 23-33.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 6, Miners 4 Lake Erie held Southern Illinois to just three hits and won its game in Marion, Ill.

Terry had managed to stay cool through a difficult sporting summer in Cleveland, but Braylon Edwards has set him off.

Plain Dealer photoShould we really be all that surprised that up is down and down is up when it comes to Braylon Edwards' unique NFL reality?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's been a stormy sports summer around here, but that's just material to give Terry more to talk about:

About Braylon Edwards ...

I know I shouldn't be lured into the delusional world of Braylon Edwards, but I've had it.

I've had it with a No.3 overall draft choice blaming the Browns and Cleveland fans for his being an underachiever.

I've had it with a guy who consistently has been near the league lead in passes dropped, but his mother said that stat was "created because of him," according to a story by Greg Bishop in the New York Times.

I've had it with Edwards, who was handed $17 million before he caught a pass as a Brown, saying: "There's nothing going on in Cleveland. There's no real estate. There's no social life, no social networking. All the people who have something going on leave Cleveland. So Cleveland has nothing, and I came in there with a New York-type of essence. So what? That was the attitude I came in with. Like, this is who I am. They didn't like the flash."

Can you imagine Paul Warfield, Reggie Langhorne or even Keenan McCardell saying something like that? Hey, Braylon, that $17 million bonus was paid so you can go to work! Catch some passes!

As for the New York Essence, Edwards is from Detroit! No one was complaining about Edwards in 2007 when he caught 16 touchdown passes and the Browns were 10-6. Instead, he was cheered.

The New York Times story almost sounds like a parody of a spoiled athlete. My goodness, his mother said, "No one would understand what he's been through unless you've been drowning." His mother also said that Edwards told her that his "career was over" after the Browns lost to Cincinnati last season and he didn't catch a pass.

I've had it Edwards claiming the fans here didn't like him because he played for Michigan. I've had it with people such as Edwards who play here and say, "I felt like I'd be stuck in a less than mediocre team, organization, system, forever ..."

Here's what Edwards did after he was traded to the Jets: He caught 35 passes in 12 games, four for touchdowns and four drops.

In the playoffs, he caught six passes in three games, one for a touchdown.

Those Jet numbers were no better than what he did with the Browns in 2008, when he had 55 catches (and 16 drops) in 16 games. In the past two seasons, he's averaged about three catches a game, and has a total of seven touchdowns in 2008-09.

You can argue the Jets were a run-first team (true), but is there any reason to consider Edwards a star other than his insistence that that's how he should be treated? Remember that Edwards ripped the play-calling after the Jets lost to Indianapolis in the AFC Championship Game: "I don't call the plays, I just run them."

Just glad he's doing it in New York, where they will soon learn that nothing is ever the fault of Braylon Edwards.

About the Browns ...

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerMatt Roth has come to training camp in a positive mood despite his off-season contract issues.

1. The Browns wondered how Matt Roth's attitude would be after he was frustrated first by being made a restricted free agent and then by not receiving a long-term deal. At one point, his agent asked for a trade. The Browns ignored the noise, telling Roth to have a good year -- and the money will come. Well, he's had a solid camp and been in a good frame of mind. That's key, because the outside linebacker can be an impact pass rusher in coach Rob Ryan's system.

2. Brandon McDonald tweeting a foul message about Terrell Owens had the Browns shaking their heads. Here's a guy talking about shutting down Owens now that he's signed with the Bengals when the reality is McDonald is fighting for a spot on the roster. Brandon, the Browns didn't trade for veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown and make another cornerback -- Joe Haden -- their first-round draft choice because they think you've been doing a great job.

3. Don't expect to see much of veteran linebacker David Bowens in the preseason. He battles knee problems and the Browns want to make sure that he doesn't wear out over the 16-game schedule. He was a key to the defense at the end of last season. The same is true for Pork Chop Womack. The veteran offensive lineman is battling some minor injuries and is not expected to play much before the regular season.

4. Rookie safety Larry Asante was strong in the minicamps, but struggled in the regular training camp. The Browns hoped the fifth-rounder from Nebraska could push T.J. Ward at safety, or perhaps find a role as an extra defensive back. But based on his performance so far, he'll be battling for a spot as a special teams player unless he picks it up quickly.

About the Indians ...

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerJayson Nix has had a few nice moments for the Indians this season, but Terry Pluto doesn't believe he's a real answer to the team's infield needs.

1. Every day that I see Luis Valbuena or Jayson Nix starting at third base for the Indians, I wonder why. Is either player going to be there next season? But they need someone for third, and why not bring up Jared Goedert from Class AAA Columbus? Yes, his defense is suspect. Yes, heading into the weekend, he was batting only .268 with one homer in his past 10 games. But he's hitting .286 (.972 OPS) with 18 HRs in 241 at-bats for the Clippers. Toss in his time at Akron, and he's at .302 (.952 OPS) with 25 HRs and 75 RBI. He's 25, why not look at him?

2. Nix may be a valuable player coming off the bench. He also did a decent job at second base, but he does not look like a regular third baseman. Between Jason Donald in Cleveland along with Cord Phelps and Jason Kipnis in the minors (and Nix), the Indians can find a second baseman for next season.

3. But third is a problem. At Akron, Lonnie Chisenhall is batting .264 (.764 OPS) with 14 HRs and 59 RBI, solid numbers for a 21-year-old at Class AA. But it would be a shock if he's ready for Cleveland in 2011. Paul Cousineau takes a very in-depth look at this subject at his DiaTribe blog (clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com). He favors another look at Andy Marte, but I prefer Goedert.

4. At the end of spring training, who'd have guessed that other than Mitch Talbot, the Indians' most intriguing rookie starters would be Josh Tomlin and Jeanmar Gomez? They have combined for a 4-2 record and a 2.27 ERA in eight starts. The key? Only 10 walks in 47 innings. The Indians told David Huff that they want him to pitch like these guys -- get ahead in the count with a well-placed fastball, trust your stuff.

5. In his past 10 starts, Carlos Carrasco is 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA. On the season, he's 9-5 with a 3.92 ERA. It appears he's in line to be the next starter promoted.

6. Some fans wonder what happened to Nick Weglarz, hitting a combined .285 (.893 OPS) with 13 HRs in 312 at-bats between Class AA and Class AAA. He was hitting .412 in his past 10 games at the end of July when he injured his thumb diving for a ball. He probably won't play the rest of the season. He is expected to be healthy for winter ball and spring training. At 22, he is a legitimate outfield prospect for sometime in 2011.

7. The Indians aren't saying much about Travis Hafner's latest trip to the disabled list, but there is real concern. He's having the same problems -- weakness and inflammation in his surgically repaired shoulder. He is working to come back again.

8. When Carlos Santana was first injured in that home plate collision, there was a real concern that his knee had sustained so much damage that he'd never be able to catch again. After the surgery to repair the lateral collateral ligament, it appears he will be set for spring training with no real problems. This is not like the micro-fracture surgery that Grady Sizemore had ... and so far, so good for Sizemore. But his surgery was far more serious.

About the Cavaliers ...

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerIf the Cavaliers are going to develop an offense without a certain guard/forward, Antawn Jamison will need to be productive in Byron Scott's offense.

1. The Cavs will probably go into the season with Joey Graham, Jawad Williams (a restricted free agent who has yet to sign) or Jamario Moon starting at LeBron James' small forward spot. The hope is these players can bring some defense to the spot. They certainly aren't scorers. The problem is one way to put pressure on a high scorer is to come back at him on the offensive end -- and make him move and play defense.

2. The newcomer is Graham, who started 18 games for Denver last season, averaging 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and shooting 47 percent in 22 minutes. In five years, the most he's averaged is 7.7 points with Toronto in 2008-09.

3. That's why Byron Scott is talking about an offense with points coming from power forward Antawn Jamison, and the backcourt beginning with Mo Williams. The coach talks about a "two-guard front," meaning he can have either guard handle the ball -- or shoot. He really likes Ramon Sessions for his speed, and believes Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker will have a lot of open shots in his motion offense.

4. This could be a huge season for J.J. Hickson, who will split time between power forward and center. The Cavs think he can put up some big numbers, especially if the Cavs are able to run as Scott plans. Hickson is very quick for a big man and a strong finisher at the rim.

5. The Cavs are about to add 6-8 Samardo Samuels, who was a power forward at Louisville. He was ranked as one of the top five players in the country coming out of high school. While he was a good player (15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore) for the Cardinals, their coaches were surprised when he declared for the draft. They warned him that he might not be picked -- and he wasn't. The Cavs think he has second-round talent and can eventually help them as a low-post scorer. But this is not a major move.

6. In that four-team trade, the player the Cavs wanted most was not Darren Collison or Trevor Ariza. It was guard Courtney Lee of New Jersey. But the Cavs would have had to take James Posey as part of the deal, and they didn't want to add the Twinsburg product's $13.5 million over the next two seasons to their payroll. Posey is 33 and averaged 5.2 points, shooting 37 percent last season.

7. After fighting off the Cavs to sign Ariza to a five-year, $35 million contract last summer, Houston traded him to New Orleans. In 36 minutes, Ariza averaged 14.9 points but shot only 39 percent (64 percent at the foul line). He and the Rockets hoped he'd be a significant scorer, but they now see him more as a good role player.

8. Glad to see the Cavs kept assistant Chris Jent, who needed to get away from LeBron James so that he would be viewed as a real coach -- not as LeBron's personal coach. Scott's staff now has three former NBA players. Scott was a starter for the Lakers, top assistant Paul Pressey was a very good player for the Bucks and Jent also played in the league. Jent was the only former player on coach Mike Brown's staff.

About Lou and Jackie Groza ...

This email came from Tim Pembridge: "I attended the funeral of Jackie Groza, wife of Lou. I grew up in western New York. In 1964, Lou Groza came to my high school and gave a speech at a sports banquet. Jackie came with him. My parents, Don and Ro Pembridge, were asked to serve as the welcoming committee and hosts for the Grozas during their short visit to Lake Chautauqua.

"So began an amazing friendship between my family and the Groza family which has lasted to this day – getting together at least once or twice a year (at least one of which would be for a Browns game). Jackie showed the world how to be supportive, dignified and loyal to a husband who had way too many demands put on his time (and who hated to say no to anyone).

Lou was all smiles and strength and grace.

"When Mike Phipps was scheduled to challenge for the starting QB position, I asked Lou how Phipps was doing in camp that August. He answered, 'Oh he's fine, but the kid you really need to watch won't be playing for a couple years. His name is Brian Sipe, and I really think he has that magic to lead a team.'

"The passing of Jackie Groza seems to signal the end of an era for me. She was my last direct link to the storied Browns teams of the 1950-60s. I will miss her as much as I miss the successes of those years."

Rookie T.J. Ward showcased some of his hitting ability against the Packers.

UPDATED: 12:12 a.m.

Mike Roemer / Associated PressRookie safety T.J. Ward delivered some big hits on Saturday night, but he was also victimized by this touchdown catch by Green Bay's Greg Jennings in the first half at Lambeau Field.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- T.J. Ward received a baptism by fire in his first NFL game, starting against one of the premier quarterbacks in the game in Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.

Tested early and often in the first half, Ward made some sensational tackles and a few rookie mistakes. Nine minutes into the game, Ward already had two special teams tackles and a team-high three stops.

But with about four minutes left in the first quarter of the Browns' 27-24 victory, Ward found himself one-on-one in the back right corner of the end zone with Packers receiver Greg Jennings, who beat him on a 25-yard touchdown catch.

Ward was left on an island because fellow rookie Joe Haden, who also started the game, blitzed from the right side on the play.

"I think T.J. slipped, but it was just a great throw and catch," coach Eric Mangini said.

Ward was victimized again on the Packers' next touchdown, a 2-yard run by John Kuhn. Linebacker Scott Fujita made the first hit on Kuhn at the goal line, but he spun out of the grasp of Ward and into the end zone for a 14-14 tie.

"I think those are plays he'll make over time," said Mangini.

Ward missed another tackle on the ensuing drive, but came back and stopped Donald Driver short of the markers on third down. Later in the quarter, he took down tight end Havner Spencer after a 1-yard gain.

"I feel good about it," said Ward, who finished second on the team with seven tackles. "I made a lot of plays. I could've made some more that I let kind of slip by, but it was a learning experience, first game, just trying to get my feet wet and trying to adapt to the speed of the game. Overall I guess I'm pretty happy with my performance."

Ward got plenty of work in his debut and will know where he stands against one of the best in the game. Rodgers, who left midway through the second quarter, completed his first 10 passes and went 12-of-13 for 159 yards and the TD to Jennings for a sky-high 143.3 rating.

Ward proved to be an immediate force on special teams, making the stop on each of Green Bay's first two kickoff returns, including limiting Sam Shields to a 13-yard return to start Green Bay at their 16.

McCoy hand injury: Quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw two interceptions while playing in the second and third quarters, left late in the third quarter with a right hand injury after an interception by Green Bay's Derrick Martin. McCoy's hand struck the helmet of offensive lineman Casey Bender. McCoy went to the locker room holding the hand. X-rays were negative and the injury was described as a sprained right thumb.

Massaquoi limited: Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who caught three passes on the Browns' opening drive for 36 yards, spent time on the bench with strained left hamstring. He did not come back out of the locker room in the second half. "It doesn't look like anything too serious,'' said Mangini. ... Rookie receiver Jon Haggerty suffered a foot injury at the end of the first half on McCoy's first interception and did not return.

Haden starts: Haden started at cornerback in place of Eric Wright, who stayed home with a sore hamstring originally hurt on Tuesday. Wright eased back into practice Thursday night, playing primarily in the nickel and as a starter simulating Green Bay's defense.

Like Ward, Haden had some rookie ups and downs. He got beat on a 12-yard out to receiver James Jones, and then showed blitz a little early on the next play -- the one that resulted in the 25-yard TD catch by Jennings.

Haden gave up another 9-yard pass to Jennings late in the first quarter and 13-yarder to Driver in the second. It was valuable experience for Haden, who's expected to work his way into the starting lineup sometime during the season.

"I had some butterflies in the beginning but as the game wore on, I felt more comfortable and just started playing my game," said Haden. "I was playing against great receivers like Donald Driver and Greg Jennings and I felt like I held my own. Aaron Rodgers was amazing. It was a confidence booster for me. It's something to build on."

Haden returned a kickoff 34 yards in the third quarter.

Lauvao starts: Guard Shawn Lauvao was the third rookie pressed into a starting role when guard Floyd Womack sat out the game. The right side of the line is in a state of flux, with right tackle Tony Pashos sidelined with a shoulder injury. John St. Clair started in his place.

Take that: Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin forced running back Ryan Grant to fumble on the Packers' first play, and Sheldon Brown recovered. The Browns converted it into a 13-yard TD pass from Seneca Wallace to Brian Robiskie three plays later.

Robiskie improved: Robiskie's fine camp carried into the game. He caught three of six passes thrown his way in the first half for 36 yards, including the superb 13-yard TD. On that play, he flashed in the back left corner of the end zone, beating back-to-back Pro Bowler Nick Collins.

Inactives: In addition to Wright, these players were inactive: punter Dave Zastudil, cornerback Coye Francies, running back Montario Hardesty; linebackers David Veikune, David Bowens and D'Qwell Jackson; offensive lineman Joel Reinders, Pashos, Paul Fanaika and Womack; and nose tackle Rogers. Fanaika missed the game because of a death in the family.

Charles Barkley going to bat for Cleveland is final proof of an alternate sports universe, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

Stephen Savoia / Associated PressWhether or not Cleveland is a "dreary place," Charles Barkley has decided to have Northeast Ohio's back when it comes to discussing LeBron James and his "punk moves."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You could've made any number of sports bets a year ago and been able to retire on your winnings.

You could've bet that Tiger Woods would become a punch line. That a heckler at Firestone, would holler, "Give it up, Tiger. You're washed up."

You could've bet that LeBron James would hold a one-hour special to callously announce he was breaking up with the city of Cleveland, then act as if he did nothing wrong.

You might've bet the toughest talking confrontation in sports in the summer of 2010 would be between reporter Jim Gray and Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin over what was said about Woods' candidacy.

Jim Gray and Corey Pavin? The vintage TV equivalent would be a Texas Death Match between Screech and Webster.

Any of those bets would've paid off the house and put a down payment on some beachfront property. But there was one bet you could've made that would've provided the nest egg necessary to buy a yacht and hire a butler.

If you'd have bet Charles Barkley would become the spokesman for the city of Cleveland, you'd have assured your family's financial security for decades.

Bill Gates would be looking to borrow money from you.

In calling James' departure from the Cavaliers a "punk move," in using the same basic term to describe the gyrating of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at their introduction in Miami, Barkley has endeared himself to Cavaliers fans in ways no one ever thought possible.

Not long ago, Barkley was the bane of Cleveland for reasons real and imagined. Some thought he held a grudge against the city after getting dragged back to town as part of a civil trial in 1997 stemming from a fight in the Flats when Barkley was a member of the Phoenix Suns.

Especially after the night in 2009 when he shared the set with Ernie Johnson and basketball analyst Chris Webber and managed to take a shot at two cities at once."If you were to swap the people in Cleveland and Milwaukee," Barkley said, "it'd be the same dreary ass city. They are both dreary places. ... There is no reason to live in Cleveland, that's why they call it the mistake by the lake. They didn't come up with that for no reason, Ernie."

I wouldn't want to get in the way of anybody rallying around Barkley at present. He's saying what James needs to hear from an objective third party.

But it does feel a little like the Joker protecting Gotham City against the forces of evil.

He promised to change his life and now he has.

Keith Srakocic / Associated PressBen Roethlisberger has taken an unusual tack when it comes to putting his critics in their place. Or putting himself in a different place. Or ... whatever.

Ben Roethlisberger, the former pride of Findlay, reportedly has changed his biographical information in the Steelers' media guide and now claims to be from a fictitious place.

Not Celibacy, Ohio, though commissioner Roger Goodell might be duped by that and reduce Roethlisberger's six-game suspension.

Another non-existent place.

According to the Associated Press, because Roethlisberger is supposedly upset with some unflattering things people in his hometown said after he was accused but not charged with sexual assault in the off-season, he now lists Corey Rawson, Ohio as his hometown.

There is no Corey Rawson, Ohio. He went to Cory-Rawson School before his junior high days, where he apparently did not win any spelling bees.

SPINOFFS

I sympathize with Houston Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing testing positive for steroid use and claiming Overtrained Athlete Syndrome. ... I once suffered from Overtrained Sports Writer's Syndrome, didn't know it, and felt public shame when I subsequently tested positive for brewer's yeast...

Who would've thought a guy as unassuming and humble as Brandon Phillips could touch off a brawl with St. Louis just by opening his mouth? For one day, Eric Wedge stopped wishing he could manage in the big leagues again and instead dreamed of catching for the Cardinals when Phillips came to bat...

Celtics' backup Shaquille O'Neal says, "I've done everything individually that I've set out to do. Now, toward the latter part of my career, it's all about winning..." The latter part of his career? Shaq has been openly chasing rings for so many years now he's made mail order brides look like hopeless romantics...

So Jeff Van Gundy believes the Heat will break Chicago's record of 72 wins in a season. Because I believe in God, I have Dwyane Wade and his two valets suffering synchronized hamstring pulls with a month to go in the season...

HE SAID IT

"I thought that his little one-hour special was a punk move. I thought them dancing around on the stage was a punk move, and I thought he should've stayed in Cleveland. Him joining Dwyane Wade's team was very disappointing to me." -- Barkley on James during a radio interview in Dallas.

James isn't sure where you stand, Charles. Would you say that again?

And again.

And again.

And again.

YOU SAID IT

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerOK, so this wasn't exactly the Indians' play of the year. Then again, Trevor Crowe has plenty of competition from his teammates for less-than-stellar moments this summer.

(The Slightly Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud:

"Do the Indians players haze Travis Hafner and make him carry their gloves?" -- Fay R.

Ha. The Indians use gloves. Good one.

"Bud:

"The worst part about being on a Dullsville team is when a guy wearing an expensive Italian suit and driving a Bentley is actually expected to pay for a bottle of water. How simply gauche, darling." -- Joe

One of the perks of playing for the Jets is Braylon Edwards will never have to worry about paying $1,701 for a bottle of water again. Perrier in New York only costs $1,699.

"Bud:

"Is it true Braylon Edwards is taking night classes at the City College of New York (Go Beavers!) so that the fans won't boo him when he drops a pass?" -- Pat

New Yorkers can sense when a player has the same shared high-falutin' essence they do. Instead of booing when he drops a pass, they will simply give him a cold hard stare through their monocles.

"Bud:

"Now that Shaq has gone to play in Boston, do they realistically have two 'Big Babies' now?" -- Mike

It won't be the most mature tandem. But expect hilarity to ensue when Shaq asks Glen Davis to "pull my thumb."

"Bud:

"Did you see that Webster's dictionary included the new word 'brayling,' meaning "the constant whining about real or imagined slights in order to deflect responsibility for one's own shortcomings?" -- Pat

No, but I saw where an acceptable alternative for a receiver letting a ball clang off his hands is now "bropping."

"Bud:

"With Tami Longaberger helping Bernie Kosar rebuild his life, could Bernie now be considered a 'basket case?'" -- Coleman

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

"Bud:

"I thought I saw Scottie Pippen shooting hoops at Cedar Point the other day, but when he bricked the shots I figured it must be some other guy." -- Ray Kovacs

Repeat winners receive a fake elbow injury.

There are no shortage of topics from readers as they get into midseason form with their questions for beat writer Tony Grossi.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerAs far as Tony Grossi is concerned, the new quarterback duo of Jake Delhomme (left) and Seneca Wallace have already proven to be a significant improvement from last year's pair of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

Hey, Tony: I'm all for Roger Goodell's plans to change the contracts of unproven rookies. But a thought occurred to me about the subject that sets the NFL apart from any other pro sports league. Don't these ludicrous contracts have some merit because they keep drafted players with their teams longer? With a huge contract, these players have a long time before they have to renegotiate a new deal, and there isn't as much of a risk losing a player in his second or third year to a better-paying team or contract disputes. -- Dan Kubacki, Parma

Hey, Dan: In the NFL, it's become standard for first-round players to get five-year contracts and everyone after that gets four-year deals. Sometimes the top 3 or 4 picks ink six-year deals. That doesn't stop players from seeking new deals, or enhancements, if they outperform or exceed expectations. Tennessee back Chris Johnson is the perfect example. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson also falls into that category.

Hey, Tony: I've read about the Wildcat package and how the versatility of Josh Cribbs and Seneca Wallace will make it tough for defenses to adjust to the various formations. But how has Seneca Wallace performed in training camp so far aside from his Wildcat duties? It sounded like he had a fairly good inter-squad scrimmage although I don't think his offense scored. -- Greg Dineen, Middletown

Hey, Greg: I think Wallace has looked good, for the most part. He's got the strongest arm of the four quarterbacks. He is accurate from the pocket and on the move. He has to move a lot because he's short and needs to create throwing lanes.

Hey, Tony: When are we going to see more reps for Colt McCoy? -- Ken Owen, Texarkana, Texas

Hey, Ken: Sorry, Longhorn, the plan is for McCoy to sit and learn in 2010.

Hey, Tony: With the Hall of Fame inductions this past week, I can't comprehend why Clay Matthews Jr. is still on the outside looking in. He played 19 years; 278 games (16th place), 4 Pro Bowls. He played at such a high level at a very demanding position. What is it going to take to get him inducted? -- Mike Gron, Tallmadge

Hey, Mike: I've answered this before. Matthews has a tough road to get to Canton. I'm not saying he's not deserving. He is, but the lack of a signature moment/game/championship season hurts him. Even one Super Bowl appearance doesn't guarantee it. Look at Randy Gradishar. I've voted for him in the past, but he has fallen short. The key is for Matthews to make it to the finalist round where his career can be debated in the selection meeting. The good news is Matthews has about 13 more years of eligibility. The bad news is he may need that long for a backlog of other deserving candidates to be inducted.

Hey, Tony: Is there anything different about this training camp vs. all the others since the Browns came back in 1999? Or, is it the "same ol', same ol'?" -- Steve Bohnenkamp, Geneva, Ill.

Hey, Steve: It's pretty organized. Less and less hitting over the years, and this one falls into line there. Through two weeks, I must admit I've seen few plays that elicited a "wow." Then again, Ben Gay isn't here anymore.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerKicker Phil Dawson leads the Browns' special teams, one of the best in the NFL.

Hey, Tony: We always hear what the Browns weaknesses are and what we need to improve on. What are our strengths compared to the rest of the league? Is there a single position that you would rank us in the top of the NFL? We have no identity as a team (running team, passing team, run stopping, pass stopping). Can you give me one reason to believe we're even a .500 team? -- Scott Baum, Chicago, Ill.

Hey, Scott: I'd put the Browns' special teams on a par with the league's best. I don't buy the cliche that it's one-third of the game, but we saw special teams win games last year (Buffalo, Kansas City). One reason to believe the Browns are a .500 team? Take these for what they're worth: They're building off the 4-0 finish. They proved to themselves they can run the ball when the opponent knows they're going to run. The defense added new key players at linebacker and in the secondary. They finally beat Pittsburgh and should have gained a little mental edge through that. There's optimism about a new running back and the second year of two starting receivers. There's a new, dependable tight end. P.S. If you come to Cleveland, don't drive over the I-480 bridge. I'm afraid you'll be tempted to jump.

Hey, Tony: On a good defensive team, which position would usually lead the team in tackles? I just read that Abram Elam led the Browns in tackles last year and this is no knock on Abram but I don't think you want your safety to be the position making the most tackles. -- Glenn Studevant, Tucson, Ariz.

Hey, Glenn: It depends on the defensive system used. In this one, the inside linebackers should lead in tackles. That would have happened if D'Qwell Jackson had not missed seven games with an injury.

Hey, Tony: In your opinion, what percentage of the time will we see Josh Cribbs lined up outside compared to the percent we'll see him start out of the backfield? Also, could we see him, at all, in the defensive backfield? -- Joe Cepec, Dublin

Hey, Joe: It may depend on how well Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie play in their second season. If they progress as planned, Cribbs may line up only in four-receiver packages (with Chansi Stuckey) or in the special gimmick package with Seneca Wallace at QB. I'm curious how they will incorporate Cribbs in the games. I suspect his use is being overhyped, but we'll see. I see him lining up as an emergency safety only if the position is decimated by injury. That's when Mike Furrey played there last year.

Hey, Tony: Evan Moore was a wide receiver at Stanford. Every report questions his physical size for the tight end position, along with blocking skills. Because the jury really is still out on Josh Cribbs, any chance that Moore can concentrate on the slot receiver position and allow Cribbs to concentrate on running back? -- Richard Markovich, Schaumburg, Ill.

Hey, Richard: No, the team has committed to developing Moore as the No. 2 tight end. He is 6-6 and 250 pounds. While he will motion from a two-tight end set to a wideout position, Moore's days as a pure wide receiver ended when he left Stanford.

Hey, Tony: Why don't the Browns try an all-brown uniform? You have said the brown pants have grown on you but with the white jersey it looks bad. I say they try the brown pants but add white and orange leg stripes and pair it up at home with the traditional brown jersey. I think it would give us a tough look at home without sacrificing tradition too much. The Bengals and Ravens have at least 3 uniform combos, why not us? I would love to hear your take on this! -- Jasin Crauthamel, Brunswick

Hey, Jasin: Thank you for reminding me why I stopped answering uniform questions. The moratorium is back on.

Lynn Ischay / The Plain DealerHow quickly rookie Shawn Lauvao adjusts to the NFL will determine how the right side of the offensive line shapes up by opening day, says Tony Grossi.

Hey, Tony: For the love of God please tell us that John "free pass to the QB" St. Clair is not going to be our starting RT. -- Justin Z, Mariemont

Hey, Justin: With Tony Pashos having shoulder problems, the right tackle competition could come down to St. Clair and Floyd Womack. Ultimately, it may come down to whether rookie Shawn Lauvao is a better player at guard right now than St. Clair is at right tackle. If the answer is yes, Womack could move to tackle.

Hey, Tony: I'm a local comedian trying to get into the Iowa Comedy Festival, where industry people can see me. They're only taking 14 comedians and they're having an Internet vote for the final slot. Tony, could you please ask your readers to help a fellow Clevelander (Mayfield Village)? Tell them to go to iacomedyfest.wordpress.com, look for "Best of the Midwest Poll" and vote for "Bill Russ." -- Bill Russ, Cleveland

Hey, Bill: Next time pass along a one-liner on the Browns, so I can steal it.

Hey, Tony: My gut is telling me we may have had a better draft (and more prudent in some ways) under the first year of the short-lived Mangini/Kokinis era. Yes, Holmgren brought some sorely needed personality to the organization and more respected football expertise at the GM role in plucking Tom Heckert from the Eagles. But, are the Browns really doing better in the draft room? I think it's debatable. Lastly, if the offense continues to struggle, when do you identify that the problem might be Brian Daboll and the system? If I recall, this is the same system Brett Favre used when he went to the Jets. System vs. player mismatches are not a good thing. -- Mike G, Japan

Hey, Mike: I would have liked to have seen what Holmgren and Heckert would have done at No. 5 in 2009 with Mark Sanchez there. Mangini has said he didn't know what he had in Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, and that's fair. If the offense continues to struggle, the pressure on Daboll will grow. Holmgren has former coordinator Gil Haskell observing everything on offense.

Hey, Tony: What are the keys that will truly determine how much this team has improved since last year? The obvious answer is win-loss, but you also have to account for the fact that you could make Super Bowl cases for seven of the Browns opponents, totaling 10 games on the schedule. So I guess my question is this: Does it look better for Mangini if they lose those 10 games (say five are by one possession) but win the other six games? Or if they win three of those 10 matchups against elite teams, but go 3-3 in the other six? (For full disclosure, the "elite" team matchups I am looking at are the Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Patriots, Jets, Saints and Falcons.) -- Matthew, Maine

Hey, Matthew: Playing teams close is not the goal. Winning is. No matter which teams the wins are against, a 6-10 record is not going to engender a lot of confidence from the community.

Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerJerome Harrison certainly expects to be the Browns' feature back when the regular season gets underway.

Hey, Tony: With Montario Hardesty out for a bit, does Jerome Harrison have total control of the running back job? Or do guys like James Davis and Peyton Hillis now have a fair shot at it? Because if all the hype about Hillis is correct, I think he should be given his fair shot and we all know what James Davis can do, at least in the preseason. -- Ryan Bonds, Medina

Hey, Ryan: If Harrison loses carries to Hillis and Davis with Hardesty out, I don't think that will go over well with the man known on the team as J.C. (Harrison).

Hey, Tony: It is my understanding that Dick LeBeau was elected to the Hall of Fame solely on his contributions as a player -- not as a coach -- because he is still an active coach. If that is the case, could he be elected again for his contributions as a coach and defensive coordinator? I believe the college football hall allows people to be enshrined as both players and coaches. Who do you think will be the next Cleveland Brown to be enshrined? Clay Matthews? Joe Thomas? Josh Cribbs? -- Dave Masline, Mobile, Ala.

Hey, Dave: On LeBeau, the answer is no. Nobody is important enough to earn two bronze busts and two enshrinement ceremonies. Next Brown to be enshrined? Candidates should include Matthews, Blanton Collier and Gary Collins before Thomas and Cribbs even approach retirement. But I honestly can't say which player has the best shot.

Hey, Tony: I know you are extremely pro Holmgren. However, do you not agree bringing Jake Delhomme to the already worst offense was a horrible idea... and if that had been Mangini doing that and not Holmgren he would have been chased out of town for that insane move. I feel like Holmgren took a tough situation on offense for Mangini and strapped weights to his legs with Delhomme and yelled run! -- Michael Spitale, Galena

Hey, Michael: At this point, I still feel Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are big improvements over Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. I understand your sentiment, though. The next question is what would Mangini have done if Holmgren had not been hired? My guess is the Browns quarterback would be Kellen Clemens.

Hey, Tony: Is it possible to find out if Seneca Wallace is planning to change his number before I order a jersey? -- James Williams, Cleveland

Hey, James: I believe he is staying with No. 6.

Hey, Tony: Two questions: Which drafted rookies have looked the best and worst; and why has John St. Clair been running with the first team at RT? We saw what happened last year -- could he really open this season as a starter? -- Matt Alsip, Towson, Md.

Hey, Matt: Prior to the Packers game, best looking rookie: T.J. Ward. Worst: Clifton Geathers (he's green). St. Clair has been playing first team right tackle because Tony Pashos hasn't been able to stay healthy. It's possible St. Clair or Floyd Womack could be the starter.

Hey, Tony: I know Eric Barton was hurt last year, but I haven't heard much of anything about him this year. What's up with Eric? -- David Roberts, Tyler, Texas

Hey, David: Barton has recovered nicely from his neck injury and is part of a large group competing for four starting spots. He recently moved into the No. 1 unit as a result of the D'Qwell Jackson injury.

Hey, Tony: Why did Miami release Matt Roth? What were they thinking? He seems like a pretty good player with a lot of upside. -- Daniel Gray, Irvington, N.Y.

Hey, Daniel: Reports at the time said the Dolphins (Bill Parcells) were upset that Roth could not stay on the field because of injuries. Some reports cast doubt on whether the Dolphins thought Roth was truly hurt or not. There could be other insider reasons that haven't come to light.

Hey, Tony: I've noticed Rob Ryan and other Browns' personnel with T-shirts that say "What's up, Bud?" on the back. What's up with that? -- John Lash, Delaware, Ohio

Hey, John: Assistant strength coach Rick Lyle had the shirts made up to pay homage to strength coach Kent Johnston, who greets everyone by saying, "What's up, Bud?"

-- Tony

Designated hitter Travis Hafner, activated earlier in the day, hit a grand slam in a seven-run seventh inning.

UPDATED: 8:07 p.m.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerTravis Hafner shows his pleasure after belting a grand slam to break open Sunday's Indians game against Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners. The Indians salvaged one game of the three-game series with a 9-1 victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Travis Hafner decided against easing back into the flow.

Instead of going on a brief rehab assignment, the Indians' DH opted to be activated from the disabled list Sunday in time to face one of baseball's best, Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez.

For three at-bats, it did not seem like a wise choice. Hafner hit a dribbler to third base and struck out twice.

Asked what he was thinking after the second whiff, Hafner chuckled and said: "Maybe I should have gone on the rehab assignment."

One inning later, though, Hafner brought the thunder. With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, Hafner ripped a fat pitch from King Felix into the Tribe bullpen in center field as part of a 9-1 victory at sun-soaked Progressive Field.

The Indians scored seven runs with two outs in the seventh to take a 7-0 lead. Right-hander Justin Masterson and four relievers combined to allow three hits as the Tribe (49-69) avoided a three-game sweep by an awful road team.

Seattle slipped to 46-72 overall, 17-40 on the road.

Hernandez, using an assortment of filthy stuff, gave up two hits through six. He had struck out seven and kept the pitch count relatively low.

"Felix got in a groove and basically was toying with us," Indians manager Manny Acta said.

The first two Indians went quietly. The third, Luis Valbuena, was following suit until Mariners second baseman Chone Figgins fumbled his grounder. Figgins scrambled to pick up the ball and threw a tad high, wide and late to Casey Kotchman. Valbuena applied pressure by busting it out of the box.

The error appeared to unnerve the emotional Hernandez.

Struggling Lou Marson punched a full-count single into the hole at second, Valbuena advancing to third. Michael Brantley fell behind, 0-2, before socking a 2-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single.

Asdrubal Cabrera produced an RBI double to center, Brantley stopping at third. Shin-Soo Choo was intentionally walked ahead of Hafner.

"When they walk Choo to get to you, you kind of take it personal," Hafner said. "You want to do some damage."

Hernandez's 2-1 pitch stayed up and veered into Hafner's swing plane. Seconds later, the Tribe led, 6-0. Hafner has cracked two grand slams this year and 11 in his career, all with Cleveland. He ranks second in club history in slams, trailing Manny Ramirez (13).

Sean White relieved Hernandez and gave up a homer to left by Jayson Nix. It was the second time this season the Tribe has gone back-to-back.

Just like that, the Indians went from having one player with double-digit homers to three. Hafner and Nix are chasing Choo, who has 14.

Nix is getting mileage out of a .238 average. His 10 homers have come in 185 official at-bats.

Hafner had been placed on the disabled list Aug. 3, retroactive to July 29, because of right-shoulder inflammation. His previous game was July 28.

"I felt like Travis showed some leadership just by activating himself without going on rehab," Acta said. "He was very reassuring and affirmative that he was ready. I thought that was a great gesture, because we need him. Even if he's not in the greatest shape swing-wise, his presence, alone, helps."

At age 33, Hafner is the oldest on the Tribe's active roster, which features eight rookies. His 173 career homers are by far most on the club.

"Whenever you miss some time, the subject of a rehab assignment comes up," Hafner said. "It lets you see some pitching and get some at-bats under your belt. But I didn't think I'd been gone that long, the shoulder feels good, and I was eager to get back at it. I don't like being out of the lineup."

The Indians are off Monday before beginning a three-game series in Kansas City. The Royals' starter Tuesday night is right-hander Zack Greinke, who won the 2009 AL Cy Young Award. Hernandez finished second last season.

"I like this scenario," Hafner said. "Those are two good challenges right away. You always want to measure yourself against the best."

Hafner is hitting .266 in 83 games. In his last nine, he is hitting .424 (14-for-33) with two homers and eight RBI.

Right-shoulder trouble has forced Hafner to the DL in each of his last three seasons. He played 57 games in 2008 before undergoing surgery that October to clean out the joint. He played 94 games on a managed scheduled last season.

Hafner said this year's shoulder issue is different from those of the previous two. Therefore, he will not use the words chronic, shoulder and ailment in the same sentence.

"The inflammation started because of a rain delay game, when I had problems getting loose," he said. "It was an isolated situation. Going forward, I expect the shoulder to be in a good spot.

"This year feels better than last year, and last year felt better than 2008. Next year, I think it should be pretty close to normal."