Kyrie Irving, Eric Metcalf, Josh Gordon, Brian Hoyer, Raekwon McMillan, Urban Meyer, Nick Swisher

Kyrie Irving was spotted in a walking boot as the Cleveland Cavaliers arrived in Brazil for an exhibition against the Miami Heat.

The news temporarily crippled Cavs Twitter, but thankfully Irving took to the social-media site to calm everyone’s nerves.

Normally, this would be a welcomed relief, but Irving’s already fibbed about injury when he was playing with Team USA just a little more than a month ago.

Remember that “hard fall” Irving took? Irving shrugged it off, but it turns out the fall was worse than initially believed. Here’s the Tweet he sent out shortly after, in an attempt to chill everyone out.

• Don’t look for LeBron James and company to flash three-googled taunts when the Cavs and Heat take the floor in Brazil. The expression is seen as an obscenity in the South American country, via Cleveland.com.

• When tipoff comes in Rio this Saturday, don’t worry about whether Tristan Thompson or Andy Varejao is starting at center. Instead, focus on Dion Waiters‘ status. The former No. 4 overall pick started against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the preseason opener.

Waiters wants to start, but considering how valuable he can be off the bench, it will be fascinating to see how rookie head coach David Blatt handles his young star.

• LeBron and Chris Bosh haven’t spoken since LBJ decided to return to the Cavs, via Hot Hoops.

Browns

• Could Josh Gordon really struggle upon his return when the Browns play the Falcons Nov. 23? This post from Dawg Pound Daily lays out the reasons it could happen, but count me in as skeptical.

Perhaps it’s the orange and brown glasses i’m waring as this is typed, but when Gordon is eligible, I would be stunned if he didn’t have at least one big play in his first game back.

With his talent, it’s as easy as putting him at the top of the depth chart and getting him onto the field.

• Remember when Eric Metcalf took two punts to the house against the Steelers? Inspired by Dawg Pound Nation.

• If Joe Haden doesn’t play Sunday, and it doesn’t look good–the Browns will again turn to undrafted rookie K’Waun Williams.

ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi featured Williams, painting a  picture of the rookie as a hungry player with a chip on his shoulder, who started ahead of the first-round pick Justin Gilbert last Sunday in Tennessee.

• As a kid who grew up in Cleveland, I”ll never tire of hearing the “When Brian Hoyer was a boy…” stories. Hoyer, already starting for team of his youth, had another dream come true when his jersey was unveiled at the Pro Football Hall of Fame–a place the North Olmsted, Ohio grew up visiting.

Ohio State

Don’t count the Buckeyes out of the inaugural College Football Playoff just yet, because as last week’s upsets indicated, there’s still a lot of ball to play, and there doesn’t appear to be a dominant team in the polls.

Even Urban Meyer acknowledged college football is wide open:

“College football is a pretty open year. So we had a five-minute discussion because I know I can hear it: you walk around campus or you watch TV, so why not address it? So we address it and move on,” he said Wednesday after practice via Eleven Warriors.

• Raekwon McMillian is seeing increased playing time, and Bleacher Report’s Ben Axelrod believes the true freshman linebacker has been the catalyst for the Bucks’ midseason resurgence.

Indians

Nick Swisher‘s forgettable 2014 season in the field can end on a positive note with news he was the recipient of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.

The honor recognizes three recipients: one member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, one current pro, and a U.S. Navy chief petty officer for having “the values integrity and dedication” to service that Feller displayed when he signed up for the Navy days after Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941.

Swisher has been active in supporting the Wounded Warriors Project, as well as Operation Homefront.