Bar » arey clinched a playoff spot in the afternoon with a 9-8 win

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns quarterback derby is heading down the homestretch. Coach Mike Pettine said Sunday he plans to name his starting quarterback shortly after the teams Aug. 18 preseason game in Washington. The winner of the competition between Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel will start Clevelands third preseason contest -- Aug. 23 at home against the Rams -- and sit out its final game Aug. 28 against Chicago. "I wouldnt say its 1,000 per cent etched in stone, but I would like it decided before the third preseason game," Pettine said. "If we have a starter that gets a lot of time in that game, then has all the practice time after that, we feel like hell be ready to go for the opener (Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh)." Hoyer tops the Browns official depth chart, but he will split first-team snaps with 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Manziel at training camp this week. Pettine declined to say which player would start Clevelands next preseason game, a nationally televised matchup with the Redskins, calling the battle "too close to call." "If there was a clear-cut favourite at this point, it would probably mean one of them was not playing well," the first-year coach said. "Thats not the case here. I think weve got two guys that could be full-time NFL starters. It will all come down to who gives us the best chance to win. Thats the bottom line." Hoyer, who is recovering from reconstructive right knee surgery, started the Browns preseason opener Saturday in Detroit. The Northeast Ohio native completed 6 of 14 passes for 92 yards, leading the first-team offence to two field goals in three drives in a 13-12 loss. Manziel was 7 of 11 for 63 yards while playing most of the second quarter and all of the third. The No. 22 overall draft pick out of Texas A&M drove Clevelands second- and third-teamers to one field goal in four possessions. "Brian got 24 snaps, Johnny got 25, and I thought they both settled in quickly and were solid," Pettine said. "They had different supporting casts, but it was good tape for both of them. Both operated the offence efficiently, but I also thought there were plays they would like back." Neither quarterback was sacked or committed a turnover, while displaying their unique skill sets against the Lions aggressive defensive line. Manziel, who is listed at 6-foot and 210 pounds, was eager to roll out and improvise as he did in college. He scrambled five times for 26 yards, including a 16-yard gain on third-and-8, and avoided most contact. "Johnny does have a certain skill set that we hope to take advantage of," Pettine said. "If he is out there, were going to look at everything involved." The 6-2, 215-pound Hoyer stayed strong in the pocket despite pressure from Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, taking several hits in his first action since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last Oct. 3 against Buffalo. He went 3-0 as the Browns starter before the injury. All things being equal, general manager Ray Farmer and Pettine have said they would prefer starting the season with a veteran -- like sixth-year pro Hoyer -- under centre. It remains to be seen if it is a close call when they have to make a decision on the starter. "Johnny has made some improvement, a lot of improvement since minicamp," Pettine said. "As weve said before, it was him against the playbook, and hes got a pretty firm grasp of it. Hes really gone from one extreme to another. "Brian, on the other hand, has been solid all the way through. Its not going to be an easy choice, but were confident that well make the right one." NOTES: Pro Bowl TE Jordan Cameron (shoulder) and rookie CB Justin Gilbert (groin) sat out the Lions game, but Pettine said both could have played if it was the regular season. "We just didnt feel it was worth the risk," he said. . Pro Bowl WR Josh Gordon made two receptions before exiting with an undisclosed injury. The NFL receiving yards leader, who is expected to practice Monday, is awaiting a decision on his appeal of a one-year suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. LaDainian Tomlinson Youth Jersey . The 24-year-old right winger has one assist in nine games this season with the Sabres. In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games. Mike Williams Womens Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Melvin-Gordon-Elite-Jersey/ . With the team he supported as a child on the verge of reaching the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 19 years, Ba instead scored the goal that knocked them out. Kellen Winslow Jersey . HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league. Melvin Gordon III Chargers Jersey .Lets go back to the Avs, who have become one of the funnest teams to watch in this years playoffs.MONTREAL -- There was at least one tight battle in Rachel Homans 10 straight victories at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Homan and her Canada rink from Ottawa had to fight back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Saskatchewans Stefanie Lawton 7-6 on Thursday afternoon at the Maurice Richard Arena. Then the Homan rink posted an 8-5 victory over Newfoundlands Heather Strong (4-7) in an evening match to secure first place in the round robin portion of the tournament. "Its good to have a game like that," Homan said of her win over Saskatchewan (8-2). "All the time, every day, all week long would be tough, but it was a great battle by both teams." Homan mused this week about her chances to go undefeated in the Scotties, which hasnt been done since Linda Moore in 1985. Jennifer Jones, now competing for Canada at the Winter Olympics, went undefeated in the round robin last year in Kingston, Ont., but then was beaten by Homan in the final. She has one round robin game left Friday against New Brunswicks Andrea Crawford (6-4), who saw her playoff hopes dashed when Albertas Val Sweeting (8-3) scored three in the ninth and then stole one in the 10th to defeat Manitobas Chelsea Carey (8-2) 7-4. Sweeting clinched a playoff spot and ensured no tiebreaker games would be needed. Carey had a chance at a big score in the 10th, but her angle raise just failed to dislodge Sweetings shot stone. Carey needs a win over P.E.I.s Kim Dolan (3-7) on Friday to finish second and play Homan in the first versus second playoff game on Friday night. The loser of that game plays the winner of the third-versus-fourth game in the semifinal on Saturday. The bronze medal game and the final are on Sunday. Lawton, who lost to Manitoba in the round robin, is in third place. She has a game left against Yukons Sarah Koltun (1-9). Roars went up from the 2,415 spectators at the evening draw as Quebecs Allison Ross (2-9) ended her tournament with a 5-3 win over Ontarios Allison Flaxey (3-7). Flaxey plays Nova Scotias Heather Smith (3-7) on Friday. Going into the Saskatchewan game, Homans rink had outscored eight opponents by a combined 71-30 and had not had to play a full 10 ends. Some wondered if the one-sided wins would leave her vulnerable in the playoffs because she had yet to make any shots under pressure.dddddddddddd She answered that with solid play in a close match, although one in which Saskatchewans shot making faltered in the second half. "That wasnt our strongest game as a team," said Lawton. "We can pick it up. "Rachels team played great and put pressure on us. We can finetune a few of those shots and make them better." Lawton said the fact that her squad didnt have its A-game gives her hope if she ends up meeting Homan again in the playoffs. "I know we can play better and well come out and push them even more," she said. "We had the lead and played a strong first half, but in the second half we werent as strong and that showed on the scoreboard." Homan wrecked on a guard to let Lawton score three in the second end. Canada got two back in the third and another two in the seventh to make it 5-5. It was Lawtons turn to miss in the eighth with a draw that went a little long to give Homan her first lead with a steal of one. Lawton tied it in the ninth, but Homan had the hammer in the final end. She still hasnt had to throw a 10th-end last rock because Lawtons final steal attempt fell just short. Carey clinched a playoff spot in the afternoon with a 9-8 win over Flaxey on a point in an extra end. "Thats step one -- making the playoffs," said Carey. "If Im in the playoffs, Im a happy camper." Crawford downed Koltun 5-4 and Dolan beat Smith 7-5. Flaxey started the Scotties 1-5, but emerged as a spoiler Wednesday with victories over Alberta and the Yukon. She gave Carey a scare with a three in the sixth and another two in the eighth for a 7-5 lead. But Carey rallied with three in the ninth and held Flaxey to one in the 10th to force an extra end. In the morning draw, Sweeting earned a 10-3 win over Ross. Ross opened with the hammer but Sweeting had steals of two, three and two points over the first three ends for a commanding 7-0 lead before Quebec scored one in the fourth. The other early game saw B.C.s Kesa Van Osch claim a 7-3 victory over Strong. ' ' '