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BEREA, Ohio - They are barely visible in the back of Brian Hoyers locker, buried under caps, shirts and a knee brace.At first glance, they appear to be ordinary cleats. However, these are symbolic.They are the shoes Hoyer wore last season on Oct. 3, when the Browns quarterback tore knee ligaments while sliding at the end of a run against the Buffalo Bills. The injury ended Hoyers season and threatened his career, but instead of throwing out the grass-stained cleats, Hoyer hung on to them as a reminder of his comeback.And as he prepared to play in his first Thursday night game since that fateful game a year ago, Hoyer joked about the keepsakes.Maybe Ill wear them this Thursday, he said with a smile before practice.Although the cleats may have contributed to Hoyers injury, he wont part with them. To him, they represent the end of one chapter and start of another — his personal halftime.Its just a significant moment in my career, Hoyer said. Everything that led up to that moment — really I blame the cleats because my cleat got stuck in the ground — maybe it was the grass. But I think to keep that and realize that getting to that point in my career, it took everything to get to that point, and then to keep those because thats kind of the second part of my career.Hoyer could be facing another pivotal moment in his football life when Cleveland (5-3) faces AFC North-leading Cincinnati (5-2-1) on Thursday at Paul Brown Stadium. For the Browns, this is a chance to validate a surprising start aided by a favourable schedule the past few weeks. For Hoyer, it could mean much more.Although hes 8-3 as Clevelands starter, its still not clear if Hoyer will be Clevelands quarterback beyond this season. Hes in the final year of his contract, and with first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel backing him up, Hoyers future with the Browns remains cloudy.With every win, Hoyer would seem to strengthen his grip on the job, and a victory on national TV over the Bengals, who are 13-0-1 at home since 2012, would give him another bargaining chip to stake his claim as the Browns future QB.However, Manziels shadow looms over Hoyer.General manager Ray Farmer would not directly discuss Hoyers contract situation, but indicated theres a chance the 29-year-old could land a deal before the end of the season.Well see what happens with Brian between now and then, Farmer said.Farmer said the Browns are comfortable in not rushing Manziel, who has only been on the field for a handful of plays this season. However, Farmer, who offered little clarity on a number of issues, seemed to indicate the team is looking toward Manziel — and not Hoyer — as the quarterback it intends to build around.I want Johnny to play when Johnnys ready to play, he said. Were comfortable with where were at and how we want to play him with what the total organization looks like around him. The result is for him to be successful for a long period of time and not just for a moment or a flash but for an extended period of time.So were going to put together the right group and make sure everything is in place and hes going to be ready and were going to be ready when he does get the opportunity.From the outside, the Browns appear to have a tough decision to make on Hoyer, who could test the free-agent market or wind up being given a franchise or transition tag by Cleveland.Farmer said hell do whats best for the Browns.No challenge at all, he said. I think its pretty simple. At the end of the day we sit down and make decisions that are good for our football team.Farmer said Hoyer has not exceeded expectations this season, and has shown hes a winner — on and off the field.Ive always talked about guys that study it, learn it, love it, breathe it, and hes done that, Farmer said. So to his credit, hes demonstrated not only to those on the outside world, but those interior, his commitment and his drive to be as good as he can be.NOTES: With suspended Pro Bowl WR Josh Gordon due back in two weeks, Farmer said its not a certainty hell be given a major role when he returns. He is a talented young man and he can do a lot of good things, Farmer said. But do you kind of disrupt what you are to just make sure that one person gets the ball? Teams win. Talent doesnt. Its really about building a team and people have to find a way to fit into the team. ... Browns coach Mike Pettine said WR Andrew Hawkins will be a game-time decision with a leg injury. ... Pettine said its possible TE Jordan Cameron (concussion) could return to face the Bengals.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL LeBron James Shoes For Sale .The third-seeded Murray, who won here in 2009, will face seventh-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa next on the indoor hard court. LeBron James Shoes Outlet . Cruz set the tone with a two-run homer in the first inning, and Baltimore scored eight times in the eighth to pull away for a 12-3 victory in Game 1. The major league leader with 40 homers during the regular season, Cruz added an RBI single to his early blast off Max Scherzer. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/.com) - DAngelo Harrison posted 21 points to guide No. LeBron James Shoes Deals . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best. LeBron James Shoes Free Shipping .com) - Will Conant booted a 39-yard field goal as time expired and Air Force played spoiler with a 27-24 win over 21st- ranked Colorado State on Friday.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot.Coach Ron Rivera said Lotulelei injured his foot late in Tuesdays practice. Rivera did not say which foot is injured.Rivera said Lotulelei wouldnt be available for the NFC championship game, but might be ready to play if the Panthers were to reach the Super Bowl. Carolina would need two road wins to get there.We will miss Star, but we have guys that will be able to step in and do a very good job, Rivera said.Rivera said Wednesday he expects veteran Colin Cole will start alongside Kawann Short.The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Lotulelei has been critical to the teams improved run defence down the stretch. He has 25 tackles this season, but is important because he takes up double-teams in the middle of the defensive line, allowing All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly a chance to run and make plays. Kuechly led the NFL in tackles this season with 153.Lotuleleis best game came against Atlanta in the season finale when he had seven tackles and two sacks on Matt Ryan as the Panthers clinched the NFC South with a 34-3 win.He had a very dominating performance that game, winning at the attack, Rivera said.dddddddddddd.Star has really come on the last few weeks for us and has been playing real well, Kuechly said. Its unfortunate that he wont be playing. ... Its kind of been the theme to our season. One dude cant play and the next dude has to jump up and play.Cole has started 10 games this season for the Panthers and had 12 tackles.Colin Cole will assume a bigger role for us, Rivera said. Hes been a solid and steady force for us, such a space-eater inside, holds the double team at the point of attack and helps to allow our linebackers to run.Rivera said Kyle Love could be active against Seattle. He was inactive for Carolinas 27-16 win over Arizona on Saturday night.Panthers starting wide receiver Philly Brown missed his second straight day of practice with a shoulder injury, but did catch passes on the sideline. Rivera said Browns status will depend on if he can demonstrate his shoulder is strong enough to allow him to block.We dont want to put a guy out there that cant protect himself, Rivera said.Brenton Bersin would start if Brown cant play. If Brown is out, Rivera said he would consider elevating wide receiver Stephen Hill from the practice squad to be used as the No. 4 receiver.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '