Toledo will host Miami Hurricanes in '15 season

TOLEDO, Ohio -- The Miami Hurricanes will play at Toledo in 2015 in what's sure to be the highest-profile home football game in the Ohio school's history.

The Hurricanes will travel to the Mid-American Conference school on Sept. 5, 2015, and then host the Rockets the following season.

Toledo announced Monday that it had finalized the agreement.

The Rockets play at the Glass Bowl, which has a capacity of 26,000 but can hold another 10,000 with extra temporary seating.

Toledo has brought in a number of big opponents in recent seasons, including Colorado, Purdue, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

This year the Rockets open at home against Arizona.

Browns sign RB Hardesty to multiyear contract

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns have signed rookie running back Montario Hardesty to a multiyear contract.

The Browns announced the signing Monday. Hardesty was a second-round draft pick acquired from Philadelphia for a third-rounder and two fifth-round selections.

Hardesty started 19 of 49 games at Tennessee, and ran for 2,391 yards with 26 touchdowns.

First-round draft pick Joe Haden remains unsigned.

Ex-football star Clarett back in class at Ohio St.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University says former football star Maurice Clarett has been granted re-entry to pursue his degree after he spent more than three years in prison.

Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch says in a statement that Clarett started classes on Monday after he was readmitted by the College of Education and Human Ecology, where he was originally enrolled.

Clarett says in a statement that it is a "surreal feeling to be back at Ohio State" and that he doesn't want to be a "distraction or nuisance" to the football team or other students.

Clarett led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship in his only college season. He pleaded guilty in 2006 to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon, and served 31/2 years in a Toledo prison, where he took college-credit courses.

Steelers unsure if QB's suspension will be cut

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers expect to go through most or all of training camp without knowing the exact date when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can play again.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell plans to visit the Steelers' camp on Aug. 5, but the stop is not specifically related to Roethlisberger's six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Goodell is visiting seven training camps during the first week of August.

Goodell said the suspension could be reduced by two games if Roethlisberger has no more behavioral issues and does all that is asked by the league. Roethlisberger was suspended April 21 after being accused of, but not charged with, sexually assaulting a Georgia college student in March.

"Toward the end of training camp is the timetable to find out," Steelers president Art Rooney II said Tuesday.

The Steelers' final preseason game is Sept. 2. They open the season at home Sept. 12 at Atlanta, but the earliest that the two-time, Super Bowl-winning quarterback can return is Oct. 17 against Cleveland. Should Goodell decide not to reduce the suspension, Roethlisberger couldn't play until Oct. 31 in New Orleans.

"All we're concerned about is Ben and, at this point, it's six games," director of football operations Kevin Colbert said. "Whether it gets reduced or not, it's up to the commissioner."

The uncertainty over when Roethlisberger can play could make an already challenging Steelers training camp even more difficult.

Coach Mike Tomlin must find enough snaps in camp and during the exhibition games for Roethlisberger and the starter at the beginning of the season -- almost certainly, Byron Leftwich. Leftwich took nearly all the snaps with the starters when Roethlisberger was barred from practicing during the offseason.

The Steelers also want to prepare third-year quarterback Dennis Dixon, who started one game last season. Longtime backup Charlie Batch is also on the roster.

"I don't think they have a set rotation, I don't think they have an exact 1-2-3 order," Colbert said of the coaches. "I think over the course of the preseason they'll get that. They also have to factor in how much work Ben will get knowing that he won't be available for the minimum of four games."

While teams always work with multiple quarterbacks during camp, this is the first time an NFL team has known it must prepare two starting quarterbacks because of a suspension.

"No question it's an unusual situation and it's a challenge for our coaching staff and our players, but I think we can have the guys who can do it," Rooney said. "I know they're determined to get it right. I think by the time the season opens we'll be ready."

The Steelers open camp Friday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, with their first practice the following day. Roethlisberger can practice through the end of camp, but is barred from all team activities while suspended.

Whenever Roethlisberger returns, Colbert has no worries about him being ready to play despite the lack of practicing. Roethlisberger threw for a career-high 4,328 yards last season, with 26 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, although the Steelers missed the playoffs a season after winning their second Super Bowl in four seasons.

"No, none whatsoever," Colbert said. "Ben will be prepared. Ben is a super competitor that I think will come back with a real strong desire to prove that he's still a great quarterback."

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