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Ohio earns its dancing shoes with OT triumph, 81-75, over Akron in MAC men’s final

The Bobcats (21-14) will find out Sunday evening who they will play in next week's NCAA tournament.

UPDATED: 10:24 p.m.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerDeVaughn Washington dunks against Akron in the first half Saturday. But it was Armon Bassett's short jumper in overtime that gave the Bobcats the lead for good in the MAC title game victory at The Q.

• Bowling Green wins women's title

FOUR THINGS I THINK
1. Three one-time flagship programs have paid on the court for their coaching missteps, all involving men who once played at Ohio University, Ball State and Toledo.
In 2000 Ball State was the MAC’s elite program with Ray McCallum coaching his alma mater. Internal administrative conflicts nudged McCallum out the door following a 22-9 season and MAC tournament title. In 2001, OU thought it could do better and fired hometown hero Larry Hunter after a 19-win season. Toledo, a consistent contender under Stan Joplin, fired him one season after winning the 2007 title and earning Coach of the Year honors. A gambling investigation — still ongoing — within the football and basketball programs helped lead to Joplin's ouster.
All three programs have struggled since. BSU and UT still fail to climb above .500 while Ohio has had sporadic success. Three iconic MAC hoops programs made rash coaching decisions and the whole league has suffered since.
2. The tournament is stuck one more year with the women also at The Q before MAC presidents decide to move to a site potentially more cost-effective (Toledo/Fort Wayne, Ind). That hopefully brings all the men's teams back to Cleveland for the entire event in 2012, instead of holding first-round games on campus sites.
3. If, as Keith Dambrot and Akron have proven, regular-season titles mean little, perhaps dramatic changes should be considered by the MAC. Play just one round of conference games and the rest non-conference. Then roll the dice for three or four games at the MAC Tournament. Playing four tourney games, with three days rest between the first and second, is no hardship. Teams that want to play for 20 wins can do so while teams that want to schedule aggressively for NCAA at-large chances can do so as well. Then seed the tournament based on RPI.
4. Ohio is the fifth straight champion from the East Division (OU in 2005, followed by Kent, Miami, Kent, Akron and the Bobcats). Only once in those five seasons (2006, Toledo) did a West team make the finals.
— Elton Alexander
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the second time in six seasons, Ohio University went into overtime and pulled out a Mid-American Conference Tournament men's basketball title.

This time, the Bobcats grabbed an 81-75 victory over the Akron Zips on Saturday night at The Q. With that, Ohio earned a dance ticket to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats (21-14) will find out Sunday night whom they will play. The NCAA selection show is on WOIO Ch. 19 at 6 p.m.

In 2005, the Bobcats went into overtime before defeating Buffalo for a MAC title on a Leon Williams tip-in. This time, it was some clutch free-throw shooting and a big 3-pointer from MAC Freshman of the Year D.J. Cooper that lifted Ohio over Akron, after a 3-pointer from the Zips' Steve McNees sent the game into overtime.

A Cooper 3 dropped through the net with 3:44 to go in the extra session, giving OU a 73-70 lead. Moments later, McNees would hit another 3-pointer to tie it, 75-75, but Armon Bassett, who obliterated the old tournament scoring record (89) with 116 points, knocked in 25 on the night, including a driving pull-up just off the baseline to give OU the lead for good.

Akron's hopes began to unravel when Brett McKnight's 3-pointer was off the mark and the Bobcats rebounded. Cooper's two free throws with 24.9 seconds left made it a two-possession game, with the following Akron miss effectively ending the Zips' season at 24-10.

For OU, the tournament road was a long and rough one as the No. 9 Bobcats began with a first-round overtime road win at eighth-seeded Ball State, then a quarterfinal upset over top-seeded Kent State, a knockout of fourth-seeded Miami of Ohio in the semifinals then the win over third-seeded and defending MAC Tournament champion Akron.

"I knew it would take a bazooka to knock them out," OU coach John Groce said.

"We earned the right to be [in the NCAA Tournament]," said Bassett, a transfer from UAB by way of Indiana who has played in two previous NCAA Tournaments with the Hoosiers.

"I couldn't ask for nothing better than this," the 6-0 guard said. "This one might be more special for everything we've been through, for everything I've been through."

The game was close from the outset, played inside and out early on before 9,533 fans in a comfortably packed lower bowl in the arena. But if there was a sign the Zips might not have all their magic for this one, it showed at the end of the opening half.

The Bobcats' last four points came pretty easily as forward Ivo Baltic got a backside rebound and layup. Then after a pair of Chris McKnight free throws with 5.1 seconds left, Cooper drove down the sidelines against Akron's 6-8 Nik Cvetinovic, then turned to the hoop toward 7-0 Zeke Marshall, who made no effort to block the freshman guard's shot at the buzzer for a 36-34 OU lead.

That gave Cooper his 14th of 23 points on the night. He offset Bassett, who came into the game averaging 30 points in three previous MAC Tournament games but only had five at the break.

Cooper kept his hand warm early into the second half with a floater off the baseline and a pair of free throws for a quick 44-41 OU lead. But the Bobcats cost themselves a few possessions after that with a bit too much fruitless one-on-one. Yet that was only momentary.

Suddenly both teams started to freelance, and the pace picked up. Akron would hold a one-possession lead for several minutes, but an 8-2 run gave the lead back to OU, 46-43, and it was a nail-biter from then on.

The margin stayed close with the Bobcats still holding a slim advantage, 63-59, at the last media timeout with 3:59 to play. Then the game became downright sloppy leading to a tension-filled final 90 seconds with no less than a combined five turnovers and culminating with a 3-pointer from McNees (12 points) with 6.8 seconds to go to tie it, 68-68, sending it into overtime.

"I woke up last night and said if we're up three late, we're going to foul," OU coach John Groce said. "And I didn't do it."

It didn't matter.

"We dodged some bullets the whole tournament," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. "But not this one."

Akron survived 42 points from Eastern Michigan's Carlos Medlock in the quarterfinals, then 39 points from Western Michigan's David Kool in the semifinals. But the combined 48 points from Cooper and Bassett were too much for the Zips to overcome.

After years of closed doors, there’s a lot to admire about Mike Holmgren’s fresh air with Browns: Bud Shaw’s Sunday Sports Spin

Mike Holmgren's approach in Berea is refreshing as long as you're not Brady Quinn. But now he has to be right, Bud Shaw says in his Sunday Spin.

Peggy Turbett / The Plain DealerAfter years of couched responses, hidden meanings and general obfuscation, Mike Holmgren's willingness to openly share his thoughts about the Browns isn't simply fresh air to fans -- it's almost too good to believe, says Bud Shaw.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Time for another trip through the sports world's spin cycle.

Hearing Mike Holmgren share his plans for the Browns, this must be what the Soviets felt like when Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the concept of "glasnost" after decades of secrecy.

If Holmgren insists on being forthcoming, if he keeps communicating with fans through the media in such respectful ways, he's going to have a hard time matching the management styles of the top men who've gone before him.

What gives with this guy?

Where's the camouflage?

Simple personnel matters and the reasons behind them were communicated by past regimes with all the detail found in the plume of white smoke signifying a new Pope in the Vatican.

Where's the absolute silence for weeks at a time?

Here's Holmgren on quarterback Brady Quinn's future:

"It all depends on what else we can do," Holmgren told the PD's Tony Grossi Friday. "We are continuing to look for and evaluate quarterbacks."

Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerBrady Quinn may be disheartened by his fading status with the Browns, but he can never complain that he was blindsided by Mike Holmgren's interest in a new face behind center.Even before the Browns signed Jake Delhomme on Saturday, Quinn had to read that and know it's time to move on. The boss, who is especially versed in quarterbacks, hasn't seemed the least bit intrigued by you.

If you're Quinn, you finish your 150th bench press of the morning, give your Shaun Smith voodoo doll one last wiggle with a well-placed needle, and turn the page on your Cleveland career.

Here's what Holmgren said on Friday about Delhomme:

"Delhomme is an ongoing discussion ... he still is on radar," Holmgren said. "But I did tell this to Jake: 'While you're debating what you want to do, I've got to keep going.' We're not just sitting on our hands waiting for something to happen.

"I don't want to be left standing at the altar."

Delhomme apparently got the message.

Hey, people here know the feeling. They've been at the altar for decades now, waiting for the Browns to live up to promises, waiting for a forever relationship built on sharing and caring.

If Holmgren isn't careful, he's going to make lasting connections with the people who've been buying tickets and living and dying with this team since 1964. Of course, to do so will require more than being up front and meaning what he says. He'll have to be right about Seneca Wallace and Delhomme. He'll have to be right far more than he's wrong.

So far, Wallace isn't moving the PR needle. Delhomme was so bad last year he won't either. But quarterbacks are what Holmgren knows.

He has to get that right, or the team and fans will be in immediate need of more counseling. But at least they might feel like they're in this together for the first time in a while.

Baseball is no longer on steroids, but now it's suspected of mind-altering ideas.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerIndians fans have long said they want to see the Yankees and Red Sox more often in Cleveland. Would "floating realignment" be a good idea for the Tribe and baseball?For so long, baseball was America's dinosaur sport. Passed up by the NFL. Out-glitzed by the NBA.

Now Commissioner Bud Selig has ordered a brainstorming committee to address anything and everything as far as the on-field product goes. The most radical idea getting kicked around is floating realignment, which would allow teams to switch divisions annually -- maybe even leagues.

The Indians were used as an example. In rebuilding with a smaller payroll, the Indians of 2010 could for instance opt to play in the AL East, take their lumps competitively as they build toward legitimate contention and cash in on 18 home dates with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Maybe Baltimore, Toronto or Tampa would trade places with them in hopes of having a clearer path to the postseason from the AL Central instead of continually getting whacked over the head by the payrolls of the Yankees and Red Sox every year.

It's just an idea for now.

Look, the best thing competitively speaking that ever happened to the Indians was moving to the AL Central. Extra dates with the Yankees and Boston aren't going to transform the payroll as much as a pennant race would.

Meanwhile, there's no truth to the rumor that ESPN has proposed a radically unbalanced schedule:

Boston vs. New York 162 times a year.

What, Baghdad Bob was unavailable?

AP file photoIf you can spin from the White House, taking care of a reclusive golfer should be a breeze. Right, Ari Fleischer?Whenever Tiger Woods returns, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer will instruct him on how to handle the crush of media he'll face.

Fresh off a public appearance in Florida not long ago in which he rigged the audience, read from a prepared statement and refused to take questions, Tiger might just manage the impossible.

With Fleischer's help, his next appearance -- whether it's at Bay Hill or The Masters -- might actually be even more orchestrated.

That didn't seem possible.

Fleischer recently managed the coming-out of Mark McGwire, who knew he had to address the steroids issue in returning to the St. Louis Cardinals lest he become an untenable distraction.

McGwire stood up and apologized for his steroid use. Good so far. Then he said he couldn't remember the names of the steroids he took.

Ah, well, people do forget. You know, he'd probably recognize 'em if he saw 'em but he's just not good with names.

Then he said taking steroids didn't help him hit home runs.

Ho ... ha ... seriously, what? Say that again.

It's easy to blame Fleischer for that travesty. But my guess is there were just some things McGwire refused to talk about and still others he can't even admit to himself.

Fleischer will be similarly restricted in advising the control freak Woods, who in his only two public addresses since the incident has been unable to stop himself from lecturing the media on its behavior.

Rich, that.

The surest way for Woods to get back in the good graces of golf fans is to stay off the tabloid front pages and be more genuine with people over time.

In basketball, they say you can't coach height. In life, the same goes for sincerity.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud:

"Derek Anderson said Browns fans are ruthless. Based on the way the team has played since returning, do you blame us?" -- Angelo.

Not at all. Based on that, anything short of murderous was a tremendous show of restraint.

"Bud:

"Graham, Ryan, Sipe, Kosar ... and Wallace. Even Joe from the Three Stooges thinks something is amiss with that lineage." -- Steve

How 'bout Wynn, Pederson, Dorsey, McCown ... Wallace. Feel better?

"Bud:

"With all the rich endorsement deals in sports today, could there be an opportunity in your future with Lay-Z-Boy recliners?" -- Tom H.

Not if I have to get up to make it happen.

"Voice of Reason:

"I missed the games [last] weekend. Is it true LeBron hurt his ankle tripping over the ref who was kissing his feet at the time?" -- Dan

No. That was Knicks president Donnie Walsh.

"Bud:

"After watching Cleveland football for 57 years, I've learned one thing: What's the difference between a Browns' Draft and a Miller Draft? One's less fulfilling, the other tastes great." -- Jack

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

"Hey Bud:

"Is the PGA's recent ban of Ping's deep-groove wedge a cautionary message to Tiger that he might be banned unless he stops using his groove thing?" -- Tiny Tim

Repeat You Said It winners get serious street cred.

Masterson striking in start vs. Rangers

Justin Masterson was masterful on the mound against Texas, giving up one unearned run on three hits while striking out six in 3 2/3 innings.

Wood held out of action due to soreness

Indians pitcher Kerry Wood was scheduled to pitch Saturday but was held out as a precautionary measure because of arm soreness, manager Manny Acta said following the club's 5-0 loss to the Rangers.

Cabrera sits with mild groin strain

Asdrubal Cabrera has strained left groin that will keep him out of action for a few days. The shortstop said he does not know when he is going to play in a game again but is optimistic about a quick return.

Mistake-prone Cleveland Cavaliers beat losing-prone Philadelphia 76ers

The Cavs survive a bevy of their own mistakes to edge the 76ers, 100-95, at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, where they have now won seven times in a row.

View full sizeMatt Slocum / Associated PressThe Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao goes up for a shot as the 76ers' Thaddeus Young (21), Willie Green (33) and Samuel Dalembert (1) close in during the first half Friday at Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA -- Back on Monday when the Cavaliers cobbled together an impressive victory down three of their best players against a quality team -- the San Antonio Spurs -- it almost seemed like the effort should've been worth two wins.

On Friday against a poor team like the Philadelphia 76ers, the effort they gave seemed like it should've earned only a half win.

View full sizeMatt Slocum / APLeBron James goes up for a reverse dunk during the first half at Philadelphia.
But they all count the same and the Cavs stuck another one on the left side of the standings by surviving a bevy of their own mistakes to edge the 76ers, 100-95, at Wachovia Center, where they have now won seven times in a row.

There are a couple of ways to look at it.

On one hand the Cavs (51-15) illustrated why they are the NBA's best team, out-executing the struggling 76ers (23-42) in the final minutes of a close game. They made a couple effort-filled defensive plays in the stretch run that are a trademark of a poised and confident team.

This is the kind of victory that will keep the Cavs on top of the standings as the battle for top playoff seeding enters the final month.

On the other hand, it was the 76ers' bumbling and stumbling that helped the Cavs get what could be termed as their worst victory of the season. There were a couple gaffes that virtually handed the Cavs the game.

"Good teams win on ugly nights," said LeBron James, who had 23 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in his comeback game after taking a week off to let some injuries heal.

"We're not always going to play our A-plus game."

Lucky for the Cavs, NBA games are graded as pass/fail and this one was awfully tight.

For starters, the 76ers are one of the worst jump shooting teams in the league. The only real chance they have to win is by scoring inside and in transition, which often leads to close shot attempts. This held true, Philadelphia was a horrible 9-of-38 on shots attempted outside the paint.

This usually would mean a blowout win for the Cavs, who allow the league's fewest points in the paint at 35.8 a game. But without Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas or Antawn Jamison, who skipped the game to rest an ailing knee, the Cavs' interior was obviously weak.

Philadelphia got 30 points from Andre Iguodala and 24 from Elton Brand but nearly all of them game on short shots around the rim without much interference. The 76ers made an astounding 33-of-50 shots in the paint and put up 66 points in there, easily smashing the Cavs' season-high for points allowed in the paint.

"We had some blown defensive assignments where we just didn't find a body," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "We got beat in the middle a couple times. A lot of breakdowns happened in the first half. We were better in the second half but we know we have to play better."

Brown is right about the second half. The Cavs did get better and held Philadelphia to just 41 percent shooting and 38 points. In the fourth quarter it was just 16 points as the Cavs finally closed the paint and allowed just eight points.

That is where the Cavs get some credit. They were able squeeze the 76ers until they popped by turning up the intensity in the tight game.

Philadelphia scored just four points in the last four and a half minutes.

James was a reason, he was flying around the court to challenge shots and grab rebounds. He had a key block of an Iguodala shot and came up with several critical loose balls.

James and Jamario Moon successfully defended Iguodala in the stretch run, holding him to 1-of-5 shooting in the fourth. Moon also came up with a big steal when he picked Iguodala's pocket on a drive with 54 seconds left.

Delonte West, who had 17 points off the bench, made the last big defensive stop when he intercepted an outrageously ill-conceived pass by 76ers' rookie guard Jrue Holiday that sealed his team's fate.

"Everybody's body and mind for us is in tune in crunch time," Mo Williams said. "The mental lapses aren't there and that comes with being well coached and knowing what we have to do."

Williams was in tune late, he scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half. His efforts plus strong overall bench play from West, Anderson Varejao (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Moon (nine points) helped the Cavs overcome some poor offensive execution. They shot 51 percent but kept the 76ers in the game by hoisting 31 3-pointers, 21 of which missed.

"That was pretty from all aspects," Brown joked dryly. "I'm glad we got the win."

Ohio State’s Thaddeus Gibson gives solid performance at pro day workouts

Gibson says he "felt the jitters," but his performance helps his cause for the NFL Draft, says one scout.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerOhio State defensive end Thaddeus Gibson, shown working out last month, was impressive on Friday during this workout for NFL scouts.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Thaddeus Gibson was the Buckeyes player most of the 29 NFL teams on hand came to see at Ohio State's pro day workouts Friday. He did not disappoint.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were the most visibly interested. They were in full force, with Kevin Colbert, VP of football operations, leading a contingent that included defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and two other coaches.

As if sensing their presence, Gibson, of Euclid, entered the Woody Hayes Athletic Center wearing black sweat pants, a gold hoodie sweat shirt and black-and-gold shoes. He was determined to improve his draft stock by showing he can handle the demanding outside linebacker position in a 3-4 defense, and he did.

"He did good. Definitely helped himself," said one scout.

Gibson said he believed his two 40-yard dashes were in the 4.5s, but the scout later said a more accurate clocking was in the low 4.6s. That was impressive enough. He also was very good in the linebacker drills with everyone watching closely, including OSU coach Jim Tressel.

"I felt the jitters. But I think I had a pretty good day," Gibson said. "That was the biggest thing, could I play outside linebacker? There's no doubt in my mind. I'm sure there's no doubt in [NFL coaches'] minds that I can do it."

Gibson is projected to go in the second or third round by most draft scout services.

Coleman happy, too: Safety Kurt Coleman felt the pressure to run good times because he couldn't run at the NFL Scouting Combine because of an abdominal strain. He said his times were in the range of 4.48 and 4.51. Coleman is projected to be drafted as a safety in the fifth round.

Small, Rose take part: Receiver Ray Small and defensive tackle Rob Rose, both of Cleveland Glenville High, participated. They were suspended from playing in the Rose Bowl because of team violations. Unofficially, Small was timed in one 40 in 4.42. Rose, 6-5 and 290, ran in the 4.8s.

Ouch: Tight end Jake Ballard pulled up holding his hamstring muscle and couldn't complete his 40.

Cleveland Indians allow three in the ninth in 7-7 tie against Angels

Asdrubal Cabrera leaves game in fifth inning with sore left leg.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Joe Smith gave up three runs in the ninth inning Friday as the Angels rallied to tie the Indians, 7-7, in a Cactus League game. The Angels brought a split-squad to Goodyear Ballpark and ran out of pitchers.

Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall reached second base with one out in the ninth, but the they couldn't get the winning run home as Luis Rodriguez lined out to center and Damaso Espino grounded out.

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera tripled in the fifth, but had to leave with pain in his left leg. He suffered the injury diving back into third on a pick off attempt. The Indians will update Cabrera's injury Saturday.

The Indians, playing to their second tie in as many days, remain unbeaten at 5-0-2.

Smith, a right-handed sidearmer, entered the ninth with a 7-4 lead. He gave up a two-run homer to Michael Ryan and a game-tying single to Ryan Mount. They were both swinging left-handed. Left-handers hit .355 against Smith last year.

"The left-handers gave him a little bit of a problem," said manager Manny Acta. "This is spring training. Part of spring training is to see if these guys can handle certain situations. In the regular season, in the ninth inning, that probably wouldn't be happening."

The Angels took a 3-0 lead off Jake Westbrook in the first on Mike Napoli's three-run homer. Westbrook retired the next six batters. He worked into the third before reaching his pitch limit. He allowed three runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings.

"I really liked the way Jake threw the ball," said Acta. "He had good pop on his fastball. He was able to stretch himself to 47 pitches and we're happy about that."

Fausto Carmona started the fourth and pitched three scoreless innings.

The Indians rallied to take a 7-4 lead. They tied the score, 3-3, in the third on Matt LaPorta's two-run single and Grady Sizemore's bases-loaded walk. Sacrifice flies by Shin-Soo Choo and Andy Marte made it 5-4 in the sixth. The Indians scored two more runs in the sixth to make it 7-4.

 

Mike Holmgren says Brady Quinn’s future with the Cleveland Browns depends on other QB moves

Browns President Mike Holmgren indicates Brady Quinn's future with the team hinges on acquiring another quarterback.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrady Quinn's future with the Browns is tied to what other quarterbacks the team might acquire, according to President Mike Holmgren.CLEVELAND -- Browns President Mike Holmgren said that trade talk for Brady Quinn is "a little premature," but he indicated that Quinn's future with the club depends on acquiring another quarterback.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerMike Holmgren"It all depends on what else we can do," Holmgren told The Plain Dealer on Friday. "We are continuing to look for and evaluate quarterbacks."

Holmgren said that he has not closed the door on signing free agent Jake Delhomme, who left the Browns without a contract to visit the New Orleans Saints. Delhomme, 35, is undecided about whether he wants to compete for the Browns' starting job or finish his career as Drew Brees' backup with his hometown team.

"Delhomme is an ongoing discussion ... he still is on radar," Holmgren said. "But I did tell this to Jake: while you're debating what you want to do, I've got to keep going. We're not just sitting on our hands waiting for something to happen.

"I don't want to be left standing at the altar."

Holmgren insisted he did not -- and would not -- promise Delhomme a starting job.

"I told him when I met with him that we'll never say that to a free agent guy, tell him, 'You're the starter,'" Holmgren said. "I think if you promise guys those things, and then something happens (to change that), then you have a disgruntled player. We're not going to do that.

"I think if we're competing with New Orleans, I think it's safe to say he will not be the starter in New Orleans. I think he certainly has the potential to be the starter here."

Although the Browns have signed three free agents -- offensive tackle Tony Pashos, linebacker Scott Fujita and tight end Ben Watson -- reshaping the quarterback roster continues to be the central focus of the club.

So far, the Browns traded a conditional seventh-round pick in 2011 for Seattle backup Seneca Wallace and then parted ways the next day with Derek Anderson.

Holmgren said another trade is possible -- if Delhomme isn't signed -- and "anything we do in free agency does not preclude drafting one. I'm kind of keeping all the avenues open."

All of which puts Quinn's roster status on hold. Quinn has not been heard from since the 2009 season ended. Sources have told The Plain Dealer that he would welcome a trade if he's not going to be given a chance to start after three years with the Browns.

Holmgren does not think Quinn's psyche has been damaged by all the quarterback chatter and the lack of endorsement shown the 2009 opening game starter.

"This is the big boy's league," Holmgren said. "You have to be tough mentally to play in this league period and particularly at quarterback. I suspect Brady's a really tough competitor. I don't think any of this stuff bothers him."

In commenting on Anderson, Holmgren cited his "sizable contract," but indicated he wouldn't be in the team's plans regardless.

"I think a fresh start (was needed) for everybody. No one's at fault here. He had a sizable contract, that was true. I think this just works out better for him," Holmgren said.

Holmgren sounded as if he was aware the trade for Wallace hasn't knocked anybody's socks off when he talked up the seven-year backup to Matt Hasselbeck.

"It's no secret I've always enjoyed Seneca," he said. "He's a better player than people think he is. He really can throw the ball. People had the tendency to put him in a box.

"He's a pretty good player at quarterback and he can do some other things. I think he had a little bit of a bum rap at times in Seattle. We had a lot of guys injured when he had to play. He'd do anything (for me). I told him there will be competition for the position. It's open. He's excited about coming."

Reminded that he previously has stated he was against holding an "open competition" at quarterback, Holmgren said there is a difference in what he is trying to do.

"The difference is you set up the criteria and how you're going to judge, but then you make a decision," he said. "You don't go into the season alternating quarterbacks."

No matter the final field, Holmgren said he hoped that a starter would be named some time before training camp.

"But I'm going to kind of set the table, and then it's really Coach (Eric) Mangini's call," he said.

 

Essay a catharsis for grieving family

The essay submitted by Amy Hendershot -- the one that won her and her family four Pepsi 12-Pack ticket packages for the 2010 Indians season -- was not the one she had planned to write.

Tribe’s Cabrera exits game with leg injury

Asdrubal Cabrera left Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels with an injury in his upper left leg. He injured the leg on a headfirst slide back to the bag on a pickoff attempt.

LeBron and Tyreke; Almost gone; Going going

(PD)

Cavs’ LeBron James ready to get back on the court after week off

(PD)

Glenville’s Latwan Anderson is headed to Miami

  Latwan Anderson looks like the one that got away. He will sign with the University of Miami and the media in Florida gives the Hurricanes kudos for signing Anderson, a graduate of Glenville High School. Anderson, the 15th-ranked player in the country by Rivals.com and No. 2 overall player in the "athlete" category, made a verbal commit to West...

 

Tom Ondrey, The Plain DealerLatwan Anderson Latwan Anderson looks like the one that got away. He will sign with the University of Miami and the media in Florida gives the Hurricanes kudos for signing Anderson, a graduate of Glenville High School.

Anderson, the 15th-ranked player in the country by Rivals.com and No. 2 overall player in the "athlete" category, made a verbal commit to West Virginia, then backed off after USC showed interest. But now he's a Hurricane.

On OrlandoSentinel.com:

Anderson, who figures to play cornerback for the Hurricanes, made his decision after a recent visit to Miami. The U.S. Army All-American had planned a visit to USC but it never happened, so he, instead, visited Miami this past weekend, which solidified his commitment.

"West Virginia was a school I really liked," Anderson told CaneSport.com. "The coaches there recruited me for over a year, I talked to them every other day. But in the end I have to do what is best for me."

 

The Hurricanes oversigned for the 2010 recruiting class with 29 players. The NCAA limit is 25 players. Since Miami doesn't have any scholarships remaining for football, Anderson will sign a track letter of intent, playing football as a walk-on.

Anderson says to The Miami Herald:

``It was a little strange not talking to the football coaches during my visit,'' Anderson said. ``But the track coaches basically talked for them because they're close to them and know the situation. I like the family thing at UM and the way the football and track teams work together.''

 

Cleveland Browns sign free agent tight end Ben Watson

The Browns sign free agent tight end Ben Watson to a three-year, $12 million contract

Associated PressBen Watson caught 29 passes and 5 touchdowns for the Patriots in 2009.
• Jake Delhomme's decision might hinge on whether he can start for Cleveland Browns
• There's little movement in the top 10: Tony Grossi's Draft Board
• Free agent running back Justin Fargas visits Browns
• Former Browns Brodney Pool and Rex Hadnot find teams

CLEVELAND -- The Browns have signed unrestricted free agent tight end Ben Watson, formerly of the Patriots, to a three-year deal worth $12 million, including $6.35 million guaranteed.

 Watson, who spent all six of his previous seasons with the Patriots, knows Browns coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll from their New England days.

 Watson, 29, was originally a first-round pick out of Georgia in 2004. In 2009, he started seven of 16 games, catching 29 passes for 404 yards and five TDs.  Overall, he caught 167 passes for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns.

"We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free agent market," Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said in a statement. "Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets.

"He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team."

Watson (6-3, 255) immediately upgrades the tight end position, which didn't produce much last season until Evan Moore came up off the practice squad and provided a late-season spark. Robert Royal, who was prone to drops, caught only 11 passes for 134 yards and one TD.

Watson is the third free agent signed by the Browns so far. The others are linebacker Scott Fujita and right tackle Tony Pashos. The Browns also hosted quarterback Jake Delhomme and running back Justin Fargas on Thursday.

Browns sign Benjamin Watson

The Browns have signed veteran tight end Benjamin Watson to a multi-year contract.