Was Curt Schilling really bleeding in his sock during his outing for the Red Sox on their way to the World Series title, or was it all for PR?

Wednesday night during the Orioles-Red Sox game, announcer Gary Thorne said that former Red Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli told him that it was red paint on the sock.

Of course, this has Red Sox Nation up in arms. Mirabelli is calling Thorne a liar. At it has folks wanting to analyze the sock that is presently in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

My question is, is anything real in baseball? Maybe Mark McGwire can answer that for me.

Terry Pluto and Patrick McManamon of the Beacon Journal have received a number of questions on the thought that this is the last go-around for GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel.

It seems, for certain, that Crennel has to get this team to be competitive every week and probably win, at least, seven games to keep his job. His lack of control over Braylon Edwards has been the biggest signal to me that he doesn't have a firm grasp on keeping his job.

Savage is a different story. His signings of LeCharles Bentley and Eric Steinbach show for the first time that someone with the Browns thinks that protecting the QB is a good idea. The pick of Kamerion Wimbley last season was probably the best pick by the Browns in the draft over the past eight seasons. I think Savage will get the chance to hire the next coach.

What owner Randy Lerner needs to do now, though, is hire a team president. Someone to keep everyone rowing in the same direction. I think the owner can set the philosophy and do the duties of a team president (see the Steelers and Cowboys). But that doesn't fit Lerner. He needs someone to run the show.

Is seven wins possible for this team? Let's see what Saturday brings for the Browns.

Tony Stewart didn't talk to the media after finishing second Saturday night in the Nextel Cup race in Phoenix.

Wednesday on his radio show he said why.

He thinks NASCAR is throwing caution flags for debris on the track just for TV's sake to make the end of races closer. NASCAR balks at this allegation.

All I know is the number of these cautions has increased a ton, and TV never can seem to find the debris.

Tony likens it to pro wrestling. Maybe he is right.

Trent Green controls the NFL Draft!

Sounds strange but a couple of the talking heads said that is the case.

Here is the scenario: If the Chiefs trade Green to the Dolphins then the Dolphins could trade Daunte Culpepper to the Raiders.

Got that?

What does it mean? It means that the Raiders would take wide receiver Calvin Johnson No. 1. If it doesn't happen, the Raiders will stay with QB JaMarcus Russell.

Culpepper, who can't move, would be playing behind a line that gave up 72 sacks last season. I would think that means the Raiders would get the first pick in the draft next season, too.

Other reports have that the Browns could trade for Green and then he would be a mentor for Brady Quinn. But the word is that Green doesn't want to come to the Browns.

By the way, the feeling is the Dolphins would only have to deal a sixth-round pick to the Chiefs to get Green.

Stay tuned for more of AS THE NFL DRAFT TURNS

It seems the hottest rumors have the Raiders re-thinking taking JaMarcus Russell and maybe taking Calvin Johnson, the best player in the draft.

If that happens and Russell slips to No. 3, Phil Savage would have to snap him up. He has known him since Russell was in high school in Alabama. And the guy is just a huge player who would have little trouble throwing in the winds off Lake Erie.

But I get the sense, more fans would be happy if they took Brady Quinn.

And we all know Terry Pluto of the Beacon would be disappointed if the pick is anyone other than Joe Thomas or, possibly, Gaines Adams.

Patrick McManamon, our beat writer, will have his mock draft later this week.

Five days until the NFL Draft. It seems nearly certain that JaMarcus Russell is going to the Raiders with the first pick. So what will the Lions do and how will the Browns react?

I see the Lions taking Joe Thomas, and the Browns trading with the Bucs (who will take Calvin Johnson) and then taking Brady Quinn at No. 4.

The Browns should take defensive lineman Gaines Adams if they move to No. 4, but Lerner seems set to taking another quarterback who grew up a Browns fan. It has worked out so well with Charlie Frye.

Here is a quick rundown of the top sports stories on Ohio.com.

Patrick McManamon rates past drafts and how teams fared in using top five picks.

Marla Ridenour shows just how much Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is pushing Brady Quinn on the Browns.

Terry Pluto wants to discuss other topics, but he says most fans only care about the draft.

Brian Windhorst gives great insight in just how far scouting goes in preparing for the NBA playoffs. Make sure you have a notebook handy when reading this story. Also Brian is going to blog during Game 1 today.

Sheldon Ocker enters the world of geo-politics with his mailbag and his past two Sunday insider columns.

John Branch of the New York Times brings insight to a seldom talked about part of the NFL Draft, insurance against injury before signing a pro contract.

His main example is highly touted quarterback Brian Brohm of Louisville who opted to stay in school, knowing that he would have been a first-round pick this season.

Jeff Gordon won the 76th race of his Cup career Saturday night, tying him with Dale Earnhardt Sr. for sixth place on the all-time victory list for NASCAR.

His tribute to Dale, holding a No. 3 flag out his window on his victory lap, was outstanding. In fact, Junior told Gordon that it was classy.

Maybe some folks will take it the wrong way, but for anyone who follows the sport, they know how much Gordon and Earnhardt respected each other.

As for this season, Gordon looks like he has his sights set on winning his fifth Cup, but as he pointed out last night, winning in the Chase format means the real race doesn't begin until September, when the actual Chase begins.

David Newton on ESPN.com has a nice column on Gordon's new place in history.

Barry Bonds hit his 739th home run Saturday. Are you folks mad, excited or carefree about his pursuit of Hank Aaron's record?

I thought that I would be more interested but, really, I think Bonds will break the record but that Alex Rodriguez will break it, possibly finishing his career with more than 800 home runs.