The ‘Madden’ curse is still haunting Peyton Hillis’ career

RB finds himself jobless just two years removed from gracing the video game cover.

By SIMON SAMANO

Peyton Hillis … SMH.

Ever since Hillis graced the cover of “Madden 12″ just two years ago, his career has been an unmitigated disaster, reaching a low point Saturday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Hillis without him even playing a down this season.

You’ll recall that Hillis burst onto the scene in 2010 with the Cleveland Browns, when he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was a fan favorite thanks to his throwback running style and the fact that he was an instant fantasy star.

It was good times all around for Hillis, who was voted as the cover boy for “Madden 12″ in the ensuing offseason.

Since then, though, it’s been a brutal downward spiral. Here’s what has transpired:

– In 2011, the last year of his rookie contract, Hillis played in just 10 games because of a strained hamstring. He rushed for just 587 yards and three touchdowns after his breakout 2010. Despite his letdown season, Hillis still expected a new, bigger contract with the Browns, which didn’t sit well with management. To boot, he lost favor with his teammates because of the way he acted throughout the ordeal. Not surprisingly, the Browns allowed Hillis to become a free agent.

– In 2012, Hillis joined the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal. The idea was to have Hillis join Jamaal Charles to form a dynamic power-and-speed combo backfield, but Hillis never fit in. He finished the year with just 309 yards on 85 carries. With the hire of new coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs had no desire to keep Hillis.

– This season, Hillis joined the Buccaneers just hoping to keep his NFL career afloat. He suffered a thigh injury in the first preseason game and never played a regular-season snap before being released Saturday.

To sum up: Hillis went from “Madden” cover boy to playing for three teams and now being unemployed — all in a span of two short years.

At this point, even Hillis himself has to wish he’d never been voted to grace the cover.

Brian Hoyer will start for Cleveland Browns on Sunday against Minnesota Vikings

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, a North Olmsted native and St. Ignatius grad, will start Sunday in Minnesota in place of Brandon Weeden, who is out with a sprained thumb.

Hoyer was chosen by coach Rob Chudzinski ahead of Jason Campbell, who had been listed as the team's No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart since the beginning of camp.

“I feel like based on our current situation where we’re at offensively as well as getting into the game planning for Minnesota that Brian’s strengths are the best fit for this week, and that he gives us our best chance to win,” Chudzinski said. “The things that he does well fit what we need.”

Chudzinski said Campbell, who has been the No. 2 quarterback since the start of training camp, handled it well.

“He’s a real pro,'' said Chudzinski. "He’s a team player. He said he’ll be ready if we need him.”

Hoyer, a fifth-year pro, has started one career game, a loss to San Francisco in the season finale last year less than three weeks after he joined the Cardinals.

Overall, Hoyer completed 19 of 34 attempts for 225 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a 73.8 rating that game. That performance included a 53-yard strike to receiver Michael Floyd. The Cardinals lost, 27-13.

"This is what I came here for, is to play,'' said Hoyer. "You don't come here to be just a guy, and I think anybody who plays this position in this league, they want to be on the field.

"But unfortunately, there can only be one. It's not like there's four receivers or two tight ends or five linemen. There can only be one quarterback out there, and you want to be that guy and if you don't have that drive, then you really don't belong.''

Chudzinski said early indications are that Weeden's thumb, which he smacked off John Greco's helmet in Sunday's 14-6 loss to the Ravens, is not a long-term issue.

"Everything has been positive up to this point,'' he said. "He’ll follow up with a hand specialist tomorrow, and we’ll see, get a better indication later on this week on his status going forward.”

Chudzinski said he doesn't know if Weeden will require surgery.

“We’ll see tomorrow with the specialist, what he says,'' said Chudzinski. "But everything’s been good. He’s been making progress and improving in the last few days.”

Chudzinski didn't guarantee that Weeden will get his job back when he's healthy.

“I’m going to leave all the options open,” Chudzinski said. “Really, it’s a matter of where he’s at from a health standpoint and all that plays into it, and where we’re at and how guys are playing as well.”

Chudzinski added, "Change can be good. It remains to be seen how Brian plays.''

Weeden was asked if he's concerned about keeping the starting job: "I don’t worry about that stuff.''

He added, "You never want to get hurt. I don’t care when it is, it could be the 16th game or the first game. as a player you want to be out there. it’s frustrating. I want to be out there with my guys.''

As for the status of his thumb, he said, "I don’t even know anything. I’ll know more tomorrow.''

He said he expects good things from Hoyer, originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State.

"Brian will do great," Weeden said. "He's a good player, knows this system, has been around (Tom) Brady. I’m excited for him.''

Chudzinski stressed that the decision to start Hoyer was absolutely his and that, “Brian does a number of things well. Certainly playing in Chicago, he gave us a spark there, and that’s what we’re looking for is a spark. He can make every throw that you need. There’s no limitations from that standpoint.

"He's a smart guy, efficient, can operate and has a way of making plays. He gives us the best chance to win.''

Browns general manager Mike Lombardi has long been an admirer of Hoyer, in part because of the coaching and mentoring he received in New England under Lombardi's close friend, Bill Belichick.

In December of 2011 when Lombardi was an analyst for the NFL Network, he said of the Patriots' backups: "I think Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are starters. I've said this many times: If I would have taken the GM job of the 49ers, I would have gone after Brian Hoyer, because I think he has all the traits and characteristics.

"If I were the Cleveland Browns, I'd rather have Brian Hoyer behind center than Colt McCoy. I think he's got all the traits you need, in terms of leadership, toughness, the arm strength, the ability to move the team."

Hoyer will have the benefit of deep threat Josh Gordon's return to the field after his two-game suspension for a failed drug test. In Gordon's absence, the Browns have scored a total of 16 points -- and one touchdown -- in their two losses.

Hoyer said serving as Brady's backup in New England for three seasons helped prepare him for this moment, especially the attention to detail.

He also said it was tough to be let go in the final cuts in New England last season and be without a team until November, when the Steelers signed him. He went on to get cut by the Steelers and then the Cardinals before the Browns signed him in May.

He feels he's a starting quarterback in the NFL, and now is his chance to prove it.

Lombardi and Banner's first draft with the Browns already a huge failure

Most Cleveland Browns' observers felt that Tom Heckert did a good job drafting for the Browns the last few seasons. They seem to have a good deal of young talent. His first draft in 2010 brought starters Joe Haden, TJ Ward, and Shaun Lauvao. In 2011, he did especially well, with six starters in Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard, Greg Little, Jordan Cameron, Buster Skrine, and Jason Pinkston. Last season, they added Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Mitchell Schwartz, John Hughes, Travis Benjamin, and Billy Winn, as well as Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft. That's sixteen players, thirteen starters in three drafts. 

When new regimes take over teams, they usually like to put their own stamp on the team. Mike Lombardi and Joe Banner seemed especially anxious to make this "their team." They clearly have little faith in Brandon Weeden, and if he doesn't put up big numbers he will be gone. They also obviously planted a story with Lombardi's friend Jason LaCanfora of CBS sports, making it clear that Heckert left them nothing to work with.

If the Browns are going to have any success this year, and probably the next few years, Lombardi and Banner are going to have to rely on Heckert's players. The first draft of this regime can only be described as a failure. Top draft pick Barkevious Mingo has shown some promise. He has the speed and athleticism that they had hoped for. He is sidelined by a bruised lung, but he was not going to start anyhow. He may never be an every down player. He is very undersized for a linebacker. He is a converted defensive end who has never been asked to play in pass coverage. He is a pure pass rusher and maybe not much more. You would like to see more from the #6 overall pick. 

They had no second round pick due to taking Gordon in 2012. In the third round, they took cornerback Leon McFadden from San Diego State. They hoped McFadden would be the starting corner opposite Haden, a position at which the Browns are very thin. There were already questions about McFadden's height coming into the draft. At 5'9", it is questionable that he can cover some of the larger receivers in the NFL. McFadden has not looked good in the preseason, and not only will he not start, he enters the season as no better than the 4th cornerback.

Lombardi and Banner mysteriously traded the 4th and 5th round picks for a 3rd and 4th next season. For a team as devoid of talent as they want you to believe, passing on the chance to add young talent was an odd move to say the least. Presumably, they are stockpiling assets in order to move up and take a quarterback next year. That's an excellent way to show faith in your QB. 

Their next pick was 6th rounder Jamoris Slaughter, a safety from Notre Dame, who was cut yesterday. Seventh-round pick Armonty Bryant was arrested for DUI shortly after the draft, and barely squeaked onto the roster as their 4th string right defensive end. They had a second 7th rounder that they used on guard Garrett Gilkey, who has shown some promise, but is listed as the third team left guard.

There you have it. They traded two picks and drafted five players. Of those five, one was cut. The other four include a second team LB (Mingo), a fourth cornerback (McFadden), a fourth-string DE with substance abuse issues (Bryant), and a third team guard (Gilkey). None of them look like future starters, and only Mingo, and potentially Gilkey, appear to be guys that can contribute.

There is no way to categorize this other than a disaster. For a team still in need of depth and young talent, they added virtually none. Instead of planting stories about the poor job Heckert did, Lombardi and Banner should be grateful for the young talent he left them.

NFL News: Brandon Weeden named Cleveland’s starting quarterback

The official announcement from head coach Rob Chudzinski came today: Brandon Weeden will be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns heading into 2013. Chudzinski said of Weeden, “He’s gone out and earned it. He’s responded very well.”

Weeden has thrown for 229 yards and three touchdowns in two preseason games. He has completed 72% of his passes and has not had an interception.

Weeden started 15 games last season as a rookie. He completed 297 of 517 passes for 3,385 yards with 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He was the first Browns rookie QB to ever start on opening day.

Coach Chudzinski confirmed that Jason Campbell will be the second string quarterback and Brian Hoyer will be the third. All three quarterbacks have performed well in the preseason.

Weeden was informed of the decision on Monday.

Cleveland Browns: Sleeper Team To Watch in 2013?

The color brown is not the most attractive color in the crayon box. Although the color brown can be used beautifully, there’s a shade of brown that usually presents something that is not so pleasant in the minds of many. Since the return of the Cleveland Browns in 1999, that unpleasant brown has been reflected on the field of play.

For the last two seasons, the Browns have quietly made solid changes with quarterback Brandon Weeden at the helm and appear to be transforming, through their performance, their shade of brown into the beautiful color no one expected to be pleasant.

“I’m excited about what Brandon’s been able to do,” said Browns’ offensive coordinator Norv Turner. “The thing that we’ve spent a lot of time working on is trying to find out the things that he does best, and combine them with the things our players do best. And a lot of the things that we do on the practice field, it’s not experimental, but there’s a process you go through to get everyone on the same page.

“Hopefully when we get everyone in the games, we feature all the things that our guys do best,” he continued. “Through the preseason action that Brandon’s had, we’ve been able to do that. And we’ve had a lot of guys playing well. He’s taken advantage of the way they’ve been playing.”

It is important for a team to build according to its division, with the right talent, in order to compete for an opportunity to win. The AFC North is a physical, tough-minded division, and each team’s quarterback must be equipped to handle the grouping of squads that are blitz-happy.

After failed projects with quarterbacks in Tim Couch, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Ken Dorsey, Brady Quinn and Colt McCoy, to name a few, who were not equipped to handle the AFC North, the Browns went the way of drafting a 29-year old rookie quarterback last season.

Apparently, with his poises, maturity and physical present, Weeden was the right choice to bring everything together.

“There have been some really talented quarterbacks that have been put in a position where they didn’t have very good players around them, and they’ve struggled,” said Turner. “And then there have been some guys not as talented that have played at a real high level because they were surrounded by a great supporting cast.

“But the thing Brandon has done is make good decisions,” he continued. “He’s extremely accurate with the ball and he’s made some big throws up the field already, so those are the things you look and say those are positives we can build on.”

After the 2008 preseason, the Detroit Lions were believed to be a decent team, not necessarily a playoff squad, that year because of a solid, undefeated exhibition. When quarterback Jon Kitna went down to a season-ending injury, after throwing for over 4,000 yards each of the previous two seasons, Dan Orlovsky took over and the Lions finished winless, 0-16.

The Lions’ 2008 preseason is one of the perfect examples as to why the preseason provides false hope.

With that being said, it’s highly unlikely that the Browns will finish their 2013 campaign at 0-16, due to the great potential talent on both sides of the ball.

Clearly, following two impressive outings this preseason against the St. Louis Rams (27-19) and the Lions (24-6), who defeated the Browns 26-6 in their 2008 preseason matchup, Cleveland is keeping things in perspective, but remains confident.

“The past two games, obviously, we have a lot of work to do and improvements to make but it will be good to get a chance and watch tape with our guys,” said Browns’ head coach Rob Chudzinski. “It doesn’t count in the standings in the preseason as I mentioned last night. We want to keep this in perspective. But we are working to develop winning habits and hopefully these things will help us during the course of the season.

“We are finding some guys that exemplify our identity and that’s what we want to do, establish our identity on the football field,” he continued. “Getting a chance to evaluate our players and our team, and put our team together in the best manner we can…We were efficient, ball security was good, and the guys came to play. I like the effort that I’m seeing. Some things that we needed to work on and improve are fundamentals and we will be focusing on those the next two days in practice.”

What has been the Browns’ thorn for the last two seasons were the fourth quarters. Cleveland played well enough to win the majority of their games. Nevertheless, when entering the fourth quarters, the Browns surrendered the points and left scores off the board, which were costly and caused them contests.

But they are close, nearly a touchdown away.

Since Dec. 15, 2011 when they were defeated by the Arizona Cardinals by 11 points, the Browns averaged 8.8 per loss.

A stop here, a score there, the Browns and their color would have been viewed differently.  With coordinators in Turner and Ray Horton (defensive), the Browns are looking to make their color brown more attractive each day.

“It is a good starting point,” said Horton. “All we have been trying to instill in the players is to get better today, get better today, get better today. Not tomorrow; just get better today. It is a good start. That is all it is. It’s preseason…We are trying to get better and get ready for Miami coming up.

“The bottom line is our offense is doing a fantastic job keeping us off the field,” he continued. “As long as we keep rolling like we are on offense, they will help us on defense. Most of the credit that we have been getting is really a reflection of the offense scoring, keeping us off the field, and we are fresh. That is a big part of our success is the offense’s success.”

Injuries Cloud 24-6 Win over Lions

By The Associated Press

Tim Withers (AP)
Posted Aug 16, 2013

CLEVELAND (AP) -- A meaningless exhibition win for the Browns turned troubling, and then deeply serious.

From good to bad to worse.

Rookie linebacker Barkevious Mingo sustained a bruised lung, running back Dion Lewis broke his left leg and the Browns came away battered in a 24-6 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.

Mingo, the No. 6 overall pick in April's NFL draft, will be hospitalized in the Cleveland Clinic overnight with his injury. Browns coach Rob Chudzinski did not know how Mingo got hurt and didn't provide any other details of the young linebacker's condition.

A team spokesman said Mingo was taken to the Clinic's main campus before the game ended.

Mingo left in the first half with what the team initially reported as a rib injury. However, Chudzinski reported the bruised lung following the game and said Lewis, the team's valuable backup to starter Trent Richardson, had fractured his fibula.

"They're unfortunate," quarterback Brandon Weeden said of the injuries. "It's a preseason game, guys are flying around, a lot of adrenaline and all that stuff. We just got to get those guys back as soon as we can and the guys that are right behind them have to step up."

The Browns also lost starting right guard Jason Pinkston (sprained ankle), tight end Gary Barnidge (sprained shoulder) and rookie kicker Brandon Bogotay (groin). Pinkston left FirstEnergy Stadium wearing a walking boot and on crutches.

Lewis' injury could be especially costly for the Browns, who will be without running back Montario Hardesty for at least a month following knee surgery.

The injuries cast a pall over another solid performance by Weeden and both Cleveland's offense and defense.

"It was a tough night from an injury perspective," Chudzinski said. "But we made some strides from a performance standpoint. That's the game, guys get injured and other guys get opportunities and have to step up -- and that's what good teams are able to do. And that's what we'll have to do."

Weeden threw two touchdown passes to Jordan Cameron and perhaps ended any more discussion about a quarterback competition in Cleveland. He connected on TD passes of 10 and 5 yards to Cameron in the first half as the Browns (2-0) opened a 17-0 lead.

Weeden finished 8 of 12 for 117 yards. In two weeks, he's 18 of 25 for 229 yards and three TDs.

On Tuesday, Chudzinski would not commit to a starter for Week 1, saying the competition between Weeden and backup Jason Campbell was "still close."

If it was, it's not anymore.

"Competition sells newspapers, I understand that," Weeden said. "Really all I can control is going out and playing well. Try to play mistake-free football, do the things that I can control and that's being accurate, managing this offense. And for the most part, I think I've done that through the first two games."

Richardson made his NFL exhibition debut and gained 33 yards on six carries, showing some elusiveness and power.

Matt Stafford completed 11 of 16 for 74 yards for the Lions (1-1), but was without superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who sat out with a bruised knee.

Detroit rookie kicker Havard Rugland, the Norwegian YouTube sensation, made a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter. He has converted all three tries during the preseason.

Weeden led the Browns on three scoring drives in the first half before turning things in the second quarter to Campbell, who went 12 of 14 for 106 yards and one TD.

Richardson missed all four preseason games as a rookie last year, when he was coming off knee surgery. The Browns sat their young star last week as a precaution because of a shin injury, but Chudzinski gave Richardson clearance to play and he made the most of his two series.

Richardson broke two tackles, made a spin move and got loose on a 17-yard run in the first quarter.

"It was good to get him out here," Chudzinski said. "He took a couple hits and delivered a couple as well."

While Cleveland's offense hummed, Detroit's sputtered -- again.

The Lions' starters didn't cross the 50 until midway through the second quarter and settled for a 48-yard field goal by David Akers.

Detroit's first-team offense hasn't scored a TD in the preseason.

"We didn't have Calvin, but that's no excuse," Stafford said. "We can't use that as a crutch. We didn't take too many shots downfield. We didn't stay on the field long enough to get a chance to."

Without Johnson, Stafford didn't have his primary target and Lions coach Jim Schwartz kept the play calling conservative, perhaps not to reveal much to the Browns, who will host the Lions on Oct. 13.

Reggie Bush showed signs of being the breakaway threat Detroit has coveted sinceBarry Sanders retired. The Lions signed him to a four-year, $16 million deal in March. He rushed for 15 yards on eight carries and caught five passes for 44.

Detroit was called for three personal fouls in the first half, including a roughing-the-passer call on surly defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on Cleveland's first TD drive.

Schwartz couldn't find anything to be happy with.

"There's plenty to go around, that's for sure. We played poorly in all three phases," said Schwartz, who was most displeased with the penalties. "That's another thing we've got to do a better job at. It doesn't matter what happens out there. It gets called. We pay the price for it. Last week we did a better job of controlling our emotions."

NOTES: Johnson didn't practice Tuesday and his injury is not believed to be serious. Last season, he led the league with 122 catches and set the NFL single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards. ... Browns RB Brandon Jackson had a 14-yard TD catch in the fourth. ... Lions RB Joique Bell twice shoved down a streaker, who ran onto the field in the third quarter. Undaunted, the nearly naked man ran the length of the field before he was tackled near the end zone by security. "My technique was awesome," Bell joked. "I didn't really tackle him. I had a couple of knockdowns that might get me some more points in the special team's room."

The Fan Experience Is Different For Every Fan

Written by Thomas Moore

We have to say we were a bit surprised by the push back from some fans over the announcement that the Cleveland Browns are working to try and improve the game day experience at home games.

We know (hope?) some of it was general snark, but we read and head enough that it makes us wonder, with the biggest complaint being, of course, that the Browns should "just win more games."

We're fairly certain that the people on the business side of the franchise can effectively do their jobs without interfering in the more-important football side of the operation. As fans, shouldn't that be what we want? Let team president Alec Scheiner and the marketing people handle things like game day DJs, music (we like AC/DC; we don't near to hear Thunderstruckbefore a kickoff ever again), and hot dog races. That frees up CEO Joe Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi to focus on more important things, like acquiring good players, extending Alex Mack's contract, you know, the type of things that will make the enhancements everyone is currently talking about superfluous.

Like any right-minded Cleveland fan, we have fond memories of going to Browns games in the late-1970s through the early 1990s at Municipal Stadium, even though we knew it was a dump. We also enjoy seeing highlights from games during that time period even though we still know the stadium was a dump.

But those memories are embedded in us because we were watching a winning football team (for the most part), not because the experience at the stadium was wonderful. So, on a basic level, we can understand the "just win more games" argument. But that is taking too simplistic of an approach.

The current mess the Browns find themselves in - one playoff appearance since 1999, five consecutive years of five wins or less, two winning seasons, you know the drill - is 14 years in the making. No one is going to be able to turn this thing around in one season, so why not have part of the organization focus on the things that they can actually change now?

It's hard to see how improving cell phone service and making it easier for fans to get into the stadium and actually watch the game can be a bad thing.

We also understand that times are changing and, ultimately, there's probably no harm in what the Browns are trying to do. The one complaint we do have is that they are really just copying what other NFL teams are doing rather than coming up with something different; something that the fans could truly take ownership of.

To do that, the Browns should look to European soccer for ideas.

On the list of things that former owner Randy Lerner did wrong with the Browns, the fact that he never tried to replicate the fan experience of a European soccer match during a Browns game has to be on there somewhere. Especially as Lerner witnessed it himself in person at Aston Villa.

Near the end of the Premier League season in May, Sarah Lyall of The New York Times traveled to England to try and capture some of the atmosphere that surrounds game day in the Premier League. Read this paragraph from the article and tell us it doesn't sound like a typical Browns game:

"It will be noisier than you are used to. Emotions will be higher than they are at home. The food will be awful. People will be drunk. The weather will be bad. Many of the supporters, even the ones cheering the loudest, will not appear to be having fun as we know it, and will be expressing their feelings in novel combinations of swear words. The discomfort, the din, the rudeness, the cleverness, the chanting, the verbal abuse, the unalloyed ecstasy, the abject despair, the love, the hatred — all these are part of the ritual, essential to even to the most meaningless, late-season, non-standings-affecting match."

While we can do without stadiums segregated by fans with police officers forming a protective ring around the fans of opposing teams (at least for non-division games), everything else from the singing, to the banners and the scarves would translate so well to a Browns game at the stadium.

Forget fireworks; how cool would it look if a Tifo like this - featuring the Brownie Elf - rose out of the Dawg Pound during player introductions?

Sure, most of the songs and traditions seen at European matches have been developed and nurtured over decades and if the Browns did anything it would, at first, be manufactured by a marketing department. But is that any more contrived than trying to create artificial enthusiasm by employing a DJ to play music during a game? Or run a hot dog race with actual dogs?

Plus, once they get rolling, these things would take on a life of their own with Cleveland fans and grow organically. We're fairly confident that Browns fans could come up with some pretty clever chants and/or songs about players like Ben Roethlisberger or Ray Lewis.

While we have nothing against drum lines, those types of things don't appeal to us as a fan - that's not why we follow the game.

At best, all the extra noise and hoopla is an unnecessary distraction (like when the Cavs were winning 60-plus games and going deep into the playoffs); at worst, it's irritating (like when the Cavs are losing 60-plus games a year).

The circus-like atmosphere that the NBA rolls out on a nightly basis may play differently in the NFL, which has more stoppages in play and downtime than an NBA game, so the Browns have that going for them.

So let the marketing people do their job.

Because if Banner, Lombardi and the coaching staff do theirs correctly, the game day experience will take care of itself just fine.

Browns release their first depth chart of 2013

The Browns released their first depth chart of the year today. Here it is:

OFFENSE

WR: Josh Gordon, Travis Benjamin, David Nelson, Cordell Roberson, Naaman Roosevelt, Tori Gurley

LT: Joe Thomas, Rashad Butler, Martin Wallace, Chris Faulk

LG: John Greco/Jason Pinkston, Garrett Gilkey

C: Alex Mack, Jarrod Shaw, Braxston Cave

RG: Shawn Lauvao/Jason Pinkston, Aaron Adams, Caylin Hauptmann

RT: Mitchell Schwartz, Oniel Cousins, Ryan Miller, Dominic Alford

TE: Jordan Cameron, Gary Barnidge, Kellen Davis, Dan Gronkowski, Travis Tannahill

WR: Greg Little, Davone Bess, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper, Mike Edwards, Dominique Croom

QB: Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer

RB: Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis, Brandon Jackson, Miguel Maysonet

FB:Chris Ogbonnaya, Owen Marecic, Brad Smelley, Brock Bolen

DEFENSE

RE: Desmond Bryant, Billy Winn, Hall Davis, Armonty Bryant

NT: Phil Taylor, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste

LE: Ahtyba Rubin, John Hughes/Brian Sanford, Dave Kruger

OLB: Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo, Kendrick Adams

ILB: Craig Robertson, Tank Carder/James-Michael Johnson, Justin Cole

ILB: D’Qwell Jackson, L.J. Fort, Tommy Smith

OLB: Paul Kruger, Quentin Groves, Justin Staples

RCB: Buster Skrine/Chris Owens, Akeem Auguste, Vernon Kearney

LCB: Joe Haden, Leon McFadden, Trevin Wade, Abdul Kanneh

FS: Tashaun Gipson, Jamoris Slaughter, Kent Richardson

SS: T.J. Ward, Johnson Bademosi, Josh Aubrey, Kenronte Walker

SPECIAL TEAMS

P: T.J. Conley/Spencer Lanning

K: Shayne Graham/Brandon Bogotay

H: T.J. Conley/Spencer Lanning

KR: Johnson Bademosi /Dion Lewis, Travis Benjamin/Buster Skrine, Naaman Roosevelt, Mike Edwards

PR: Travis Benjamin, Davone Bess, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper, Mike Edwards, Naaman Roosevelt

LS: Christian Yount, Billy Winn

Cleveland Browns: Changing a losing culture

It’s no secret that, since returning to the league in 1999, the Cleveland Browns haven’t exactly been the NFL’s model franchise in terms of on-field success. The team has had only two winning seasons and one playoff appearance since its restoration, a true testament to just how dismal the on-field performance of the team has been. Players, coaches, and entire front office staffs have come and gone, but the results on the field have remained consistently underwhelming year after year.

2012 marked the start of the Jimmy Haslam era and the end of the Lerner family era. The change in ownership signaled a somewhat new beginning for Browns fans, as many felt that it was time for change to come at the very top of the organization. Haslam wasted no time in making changes, hiring former Philadelphia Eagles executive Joe Banner as the Browns’ new CEO. Haslam was also instrumental in ending the Mike Holmgren experiment, which officially ended in November.

Following an up-and-down 2012 season in which the Browns finished with yet another losing record (5-11), Haslam and Banner fired head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert. Shortly thereafter, Haslam made a questionable move in the eyes of many Browns fans by hiring Mike Lombardi as Heckert’s replacement.

Despite the negative reaction of the Lombardi signing, Haslam had already made it clear that he had purchased the Browns with the full intention of being actively involved with the organization on a day-to-day basis – something that Randy Lerner had been routinely criticized for not doing enough of while serving as owner of the Browns from 2002-2012.

The ongoing fiasco with the Jimmy Haslam-owned Pilot Flying J company has taken a heavy toll on Browns fans’ confidence in Haslam, prompting some to believe that he may soon be on his way out of Cleveland, despite the words of reassurance from Haslam himself that he has no intention of selling the team. Regardless of his issues with Pilot Flying J, it is hard to deny the fact that Haslam has been working diligently to transform the negative atmosphere that has surrounded the Cleveland Browns organization since 1999 into a winning atmosphere by focusing on improvement in three key areas: management, player personnel, and the game day experience.

The overhaul of the front office has produced mixed reactions from fans, but the changes made within the coaching staff have been received relatively well. The hiring of former Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as the team’s head coach came as a bit of a surprise, given his lack of head coaching experience. Chudzinksi’s solid reputation as an offensive coordinator, as well as his Ohio roots, contributed to an overall sense of approval from most Browns fans, though. Chudzinski will be accomadated by the well-traveled Norv Turner on offense and the highly-regarded Ray Horton on defense. The Browns missed out on hiring any of the big name coaches on the market (ala Chip Kelly), but being able to land both Horton and Turner as coordinatorsshould prove to be two of the more underrated coaching moves of the offseason.

Some shakeups also took place within the roster itself, as the Browns spent big money during free agency to improve the defense and ease the transition from a 4-3 defense to the 3-4 defense that has been implemented by Ray Horton. The Browns brought in linebacker Paul Kruger, who was a key contributor for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, as well as defensive tackle Desmond Bryant, to shore up the defensive front seven. These two alone will account for nearly $75 million over the next five years, proving to fans that this new regime is more than willing to open its checkbook to improve the team.

The culture of game day in Cleveland will also be quite different this season, as the team has been working to improve upon the game day experience at the newly-named FirstEnergy Stadium. Cheerleaders still will not be a part of that experience, but some more unique components of fanfare will be, such as wiener dog races and an all-female drum line.

The stadium itself will be undergoing major renovations in two phases, with the first phase coming after the 2013 season and the second coming in 2014. Continuing with the organization’s modernization efforts, Haslam has already come out and said that plans for uniform changes are in the works, as well, although the changes would not be coming until 2015.

As evidenced by the Cleveland Browns’ lack of success since 1999, the hiring and firing of coaching staffs can only go so far in the NFL. Granted, expensive linebackers and wiener dog races can only go so far, also; but the Browns appear to be on the right path of reversing the losing culture into something positive. Expectations for the team’s 2013 season are much higher than they have been in previous seasons, and rightfully so. Jimmy Haslam, even with all his recent issues, appears to be doing something right.

Four foul balls in one game for Cleveland Indians fan

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Greg Van Niel beat the odds Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. The Indians season-ticket holder caught four -- that's no typo -- foul balls by the fifth inning of the Tribe's 6-4 win over Kansas City, according to a story on tribevibe on mlblogs.com.

The odds of that happening? One in a trillion, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

Sitting in section 160 (row FF, seat 3), Van Niel's fourth foul ball of the afternoon came off the bat of Michael Brantley in the fifth inning. While he kept the first three balls, he flipped the fourth ball to other fans nearby. Sunday's attendance: 15,432.

"Three of them were catches and one was a ball I picked up off the ground," said Van Niel in a story on the site. "The third one I think was the hardest one -- I think I ended up sprawled across a few rows, and I got some cheese on myself. But the other ones were just a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

Coming to the game, Van Niel had never caught a foul ball at Progressive Field. He exchanged tickets to book seats in section 160.

"Michael Bourn hit one that was off the facade [of the suites overhead], and that's where I was in the cheese fries. . . . [That] one was crazy acrobatics. I was strewn across three rows, and I needed some assistance getting back. The others were just being in the right place at the right time," said Van Niel on the tribevibe site.

His advice to fans hoping to get just one foul ball? "We had the exchange tickets, so yeah, I'm going to try to get these seats for next year. Row FF, Section 160, Seat 3 if you're looking for tickets – it's the magic seat," he said.

And, in case you were wondering, yes, he did bring a glove to the game.

Fan asks Browns to be his pallbearers so team can “let him down one last time”

JULY 8, 2013 BY WILL GUERRA

The Cleveland Browns haven’t won a playoff game since 1994. I’m sure that is not a fact that Browns’ fans need repeated to them. But just to drive the point home, in 1994 Forrest Gump and Lion Kingwere the top performing movies and I was deciding whether I should take a nap or stay up and have apple sauce in pre-school.

LarryBrownSports.com passes along a comical, but ultimately sad story about Scott E. Entsminger. Entsminger was a season ticket holder who passed away this 4th of July at the age of 55. What Entsminger wrote in his obituary is what makes this story funny.

Entsminger requested that his pallbearers all be Browns’ players so the team could “let him down one last time.”

Entsminger is described as a “fun-loving” person which is obvious from his request. These last requests from historically bad teams are becoming more frequent and this latest one is the funniest one so far. With the Browns (among others) not near striking distance from the playoffs, I would expect these comical request to continue.

Browns might go with two kickers this season

After letting kicker Phil Dawson walk, the Cleveland Browns find themselves with two kickers with different strengths, making it a hard choice to decide who they'll likely use this season.

The answer might be both, reports ESPN's Jamison Hensley. The team has Shayne Graham, the fifth-most accurate kicker in NFL history, as your kicker inside the 40, and former Vikings kicker Brandon Bogotay strengths lie in kickoff duties.

"It’s been close. It’s been back and forth," head coach Rob Chudzinski said of the competition.

"Obviously, you get into the preseason and those games and that will be a very important part of the process of the evaluation. But it’s ongoing all the way through."

Hensley writes: ' It's possible the Browns could use Graham to handle most of the field goals and keep Bogotay for kickoffs and long-range kicks. Keeping two kickers is a rarity these days in the NFL, especially since the league moved kickoffs to the 35-yard line in 2011. Last year, only the Buffalo Bills had a kickoff specialist for an extended period and they cut John Potter after six weeks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts didn't have their kickers handle kickoffs and instead let their punters kick off. '

Jim Brown hints that some Cleveland Browns may be partying too much

Jim Brown may be 77 years old and getting up there in age, but he is still arguably the greatest running back to ever play in the NFL. Now that he is back with the Cleveland Browns, some of the players on the team would be wise to listen closely when he speaks — especially those who may be partying to much.

On Sunday while attending the Sprint Cup race at Pocono, Brown talked about how he plans to help the Browns and expressed concern over some of the players’ behavior.

“They have a little running back there [Trent Richardson] I might be able to help,” he said, via ESPN.com. “And some of those players are staying out a little too late at night. I have a little advice for them, as well.”

For what it’s worth, the NFL announced last week that wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. We don’t know if that’s what Brown is referring to, but he is obviously concerned over the way some of the players have been spending their free time

Mandatory minicamp began this week, so it is officially time for players to get out of offseason mode and into work mode. If some of the Browns have trouble doing that, it sounds like one of the greatest players in franchise history will be right there to help keep their focus.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/jim_brown_hints_that_some_cleveland_browns_may_be_partying_too_much/13810532

Josh Gordon says people will be shocked with the Browns offense

Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon told the Akron Beacon-Journal that people are going to be shocked when they see their offense this season.

“Defenses will be shocked to say the least with how much we’re running down field,” Gordon said. “I’ve never ran this much as a wide receiver ever in my life, and that’s a good thing. And not just me, everyone from the slot guys to running backs, everyone’s got passing plays in the system.”

Gordon had a pretty impressive rookie season as he hauled in 50 receptions for 805 yards and 5 touchdowns.

If quarterback Brandon Weeden can continue to get better, the Browns offense has the ability to be pretty scary in 2013.

The Browns can’t possibly be sold on Brandon Weeden. That’s why they Signed Brian Hoyer to a two year deal.

The Cleveland Browns can’t possibly be sold on Brandon Weeden as the teams starting quarterback in 2013. They continued their search and now they signed Brian Hoyer to a 2 year deal. They now have 4 quarterbacks coming into camp this season.

Hoyer was cut earlier this week by the Arizona Cardinals. The Browns wasted little time rushing out to grab him. Weeden was already set to compete with Jason Campbell for the Browns starting job. A job that new head coach Rob Chudzinski refused to name Weeden for.

The team has to be less than satisfied with Weeden as their starting quarterback, he should have never been drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft. Then people’s expectations wouldn’t have been so high.

Weeden was one of the worse rookie quarterbacks taken in the 2012 draft. 3 of the quarterbacks taken in the draft last season took their teams into the play offs. Weeden and the Browns only won 5 games. In a game against Pittsburgh that was loaded with turnovers, Weeden could only lead his Browns to 20 points.

Brandon Weeden was one of the worse quarterbacks in the red zone in the history of the NFL, he had no touch pass to find the corner of the end-zone and the Browns suffered because of it. It will be interesting to see what the Browns do with Weeden once camp officially starts.

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/the-browns-cant-possibly-be-sold-on-brandon-weeden-thats-why-they-signed-brian-hoyer-to-a-two-year-deal/

'Draft Day' shoot starts Wednesday in Greater Cleveland

Few events are packed with as much front-loaded anxiety as the NFL Draft.

Pro football's annual ritual of legalized servitude crackles with absurd levels of breathless predictions about questionable 22-year-olds who are expected to solidify the reputations of middle-aged men and somehow redeem an entire city, region and billion-dollar franchise. It would make for a great movie.

Kevin Costner and company certainly hope so.

"Draft Day," the new film directed by Ivan Reitman, starts shooting Wednesday in Greater Cleveland. It will be joined on Monday, May 20 by the crew of Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," completing the 2013 version of Hollywood on the Cuyahoga.

Costner stars in "Draft Day" as fictional Browns general manager Sonny Weaver Jr., a man charged with resurrecting the once proud franchise, or at least scoring a primo player in the draft. Co-written by noted playwright and Cleveland Heights native (and lifelong Browns fan) Rajiv Joseph with Scott Rothman, the film also stars Jennifer Garner, Ellen Burstyn and Sean Combs. Denis Leary plays head coach Vince Penn, with Frank Langella as the testy team owner. Chadwick Boseman, currently in theaters as Jackie Robinson in "42," takes on the role of flashy prospective pick Vontae Mack.

"What we all really responded to in the script was the magical notion of draft day being the culmination of your life events, leading up to that one big moment," said Ali Bell, one of the film's producers. "It's about those decisions you make and how they impact you and all the people around you."

Bell and about 150 cast and crew members will be shooting in Berea, Shaker Heights and other locales through the end of June. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" will also film through the end of June. Unlike the "Captain America" sequel, which is shutting down a big chunk of the West Shoreway from Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, June 14, "Draft Day" will not require the closing of major roads.

http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2013/05/draft_day_shoot_starts_wednesd.html#incart_river_default

Browns Stick With Plan

Do the Cleveland Browns actually have a plan of attack?

Well, it sure looks like it.

So many new faces have arrived in Berea since the end of last season, but it seems like new defensive coordinator Ray Horton is the one getting all the new toys.

Horton’s stockpile continued Thursday night when the Browns selected LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo with the sixth overall pick.

Strange name, indeed. But can this guy play football?

First and foremost he’s fast and athletic. When was the last time the Browns defense had a lot of fast and athletic players, especially at linebacker. For years, the Browns’ 3-4 defense wallowed with slow, un-athletic players.

The switch to 4-3 the last few years wasn’t much better. Who can forget the image of Tennessee Titans tight end Jared Cook simply out running the Browns linebackers for an 80-yard touchdown pass in 2011?

Mingo is an athletic freak and NFL Network’s Mike Mayock was quick to compare him to last year’s first-round pick Bruce Irvin of the Seattle Seahawks.

“Exact same height, weight and speed,” Mayock said. “He’s an explosive presence off the edge.”

Irvin had eight sacks for Seattle last season. Hopefully the similarities continue.

Mingo joins a growing corps of Browns front seven players who are considered pass rushers. Free agent Paul Kruger was the most notable acquisition while Jabaal Sheard is moving from a 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker.

“You can’t have enough pass rushers,” Browns new head coach Rob Chudzinski said.

Which brings us back to the Browns top offseason plan - get guys who can get the quarterback. This new regime knows what it’s up against within the AFC North.

Three quarterbacks, two of which have four Super Bowl appearances and three rings and a third who is showing the signs of being a good young player.

The last two front offices have a combined zero playoff victories and only a handful of AFC North victories. CEO Joe Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi know if they are to turn things around in Cleveland, it begins with victories against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Two regimes ago, Phil Savage took over as general manager. In 2011, Tom Heckert replaced Savage. Combined, the Browns went 9-39 against the AFC North during those two regimes, or from 2005-12.

First, the Browns hired a defensive coordinator that is from the Dick LeBeau school of defense - run a 3-4 and get after the quarterback. From there, the Browns have seemed to continuously stockpile pass rushers, which brings us to Mingo.

Why take Mingo? Alabama cornerback Dee Millner was still available. So, too, was West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Unlike a cornerback or quarterback, Mingo adds more depth, talent and speed to the Browns’ front seven.

Horton, whose mentor is LeBeau, is getting the players to run the system the way he wants to. The way LeBeau runs it in Pittsburgh. That said, the idea of having two stud cornerbacks isn’t necessary. The plan, at least it seems this offseason, is for the Browns aggressive front seven is to get fast and get after quarterback.

On the way to sacking Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger or Andy Dalton, tackle any and all ball carries to shut down the opponents’ running games.

There is downside with Mingo. He’s a bit undersized, his pass rushing skills need to be improved and you wonder why he only managed 4.5 sacks last season at LSU.

You can’t teach speed. You can’t teach athleticism. The more players the Browns can add with those traits, the better.

The Browns added one Thursday night.

http://www.chatsports.com/cleveland-browns/a/Browns-Stick-With-Plan-2-7772906

Do you Browns fans remember a Cleveland quarterback with the number 17 on his back? He was a winner and Campbell could be the next winner.

The Cleveland Browns started having their mini camps. It was good to see a Cleveland quarterback with a number 17 on his back on the practice field yesterday. Fans have to go way back to recall a guy by the name of Sipe who wore the number 17. The Browns won some football games back then, the team thought they could win each time they took to the field.

The team has a new guy in town, he looked hungry during yesterdays workouts. His name is Jason Campbell and he looked right at home taking snaps and throwing the ball down field. This season the Browns are going to let Campbell and Weeden battle it out to see who gets to be the starting quarterback. Campbell has a lot more NFL experience than Weeden. He should have the advantage coming into camp.

Weeden is just cocky enough to think he can beat Campbell out for the starting job. What Weeden might not understand yet, is the Browns aren’t promising any players anything at this point in time. The Browns head coach said he was using these mini camps as a tool to determine who knows what.

If that is the case, it will become clear real fast that Weeden lacks in the football common sense department. It is no fault of his own. Weeden doesn’t have the years of football experience of a guy like Campbell. Browns fans should know by now that Weeden’s main sport was baseball. He tried to make it in the Major Leagues but never really was able to break through.

A guy like Campbell has a lot more time playing football. He has the high school and college experience and he has been in the NFL for 8 years. Weeden has a lot of home work to do before the real training camp takes place.

Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski did not want to anoint a starter just yet. He said this is a long process and there are plenty of things to do between now and the season opener. Chud, would not comment on what Weeden did last season. He went on to say after yesterday’s mini camp that it is clear that Weeden has the arm to get the ball down field. Chud didn’t seem that confident in all the other qualities a quarterback in the NFL such as Weeden does or doesn’t have.

It will be an interesting time in Cleveland this summer. Right now Weeden took the majority of the snaps with the ones, but Chud said he intends to give Campbell time with the ones as well.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/do_you_browns_fans_remember_a_cleveland_quarterback_with_the_number_17_on_his_back_he_was_a_winner_and_campbell_could_be_the_next_winner/13420300

Colt McCoy might not be a good quarterback, but he never got a real chance with the Cleveland Browns: Bill Livingston

By Bill Livingston, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The most popular man in a losing  football town is always the backup quarterback. Still, Colt McCoy was more popular than most.

Several factors were at work, including a glittering college career at a big-time program, the University of Texas. McCoy did more at the previous level than anyone who took snaps for the Browns since Ken Dorsey -- whose powderpuff arm revealed him to be a product of the talent around him at Miami -- and Vinny Testaverde -- who lost, like McCoy, in the collegiate championship game, but because of five interceptions and a poor performance, not an injury early in the game that made so many of us ask, "What if ...?"

Life is not fair. McCoy was proof of that, both in the early shoulder injury that forced him from the Alabama-Texas BCS championship game after the 2009 season, and in the way he was treated by a Browns regime that first didn't want him and then did little to help him.

Shunned by coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, McCoy finally was called on to substitute for Seneca Wallace, the backup to over-the-hill, injured starter Jake Delhomme in 2010. McCoy showed promise, despite the fact that his promotion sent Wallace into a petulant pout. Wallace often stood as far as possible from McCoy on the sidelines when the Browns' defense was on the field. This happened a lot, it being the Browns' defense.

Considerable time could be spent, therefore, examining the frostiest relationship between teammates this side of quarterback Brady Quinn and defensive lineman Shaun Smith. That was a contentious relationship in which the former was punched in the face by the latter.

Mike Holmgren, the vague, ineffectual football supremo who fired Mangini, spent a third-round draft choice on McCoy. But Holmgren also liked Wallace after their years together in Seattle, so he never stepped in to demand professionalism. By the way, Trent Dilfer never tutored Charlie Frye after Dilfer, another bright idea that winked out like a cheap light bulb, was benched. The Browns have tolerated such divas for years.

McCoy's 2011 season as a starter ended with a concussion inflicted by Pittsburgh's James Harrison, a situation which the Browns handled so poorly, because of a multitude of injury problems, that the NFL soon changed its medical protocols for dealing with head injuries.

More than the concussion, McCoy was sacrificed to the "philosopher's stone" theory of offense Holmgren and his hand-picked coach Pat Shurmur seemed to embrace. In the Dark Ages, alchemists searched for a substance which could turn lead into gold. They called it the philosopher's stone, but, unfortunately, it didn't exist.

For their part, the Browns sent McCoy out to play with an offense in which turnstiles could have replaced the offensive line, in order to better slow down the pass rush, always excepting left tackle Joe Thomas; in which drafted receivers could not get open; and in which the focus of the attack, Peyton Hillis, turned out to be a muscle-bound malingerer.

When the Browns drafted Brandon Weeden, who was 28 years old at the time and had played minor league baseball before playing collegiately at Oklahoma State, the McCoy era, such as it was, was over before it began. Big-armed quarterbacks tease coaches and get more chances than soft-tossers like McCoy. Weeden was handed the job before last season. The competitive McCoy had no chance, because there was no real competition.

The fact that Weeden had a mediocre year in every way did little to enhance McCoy's stature, nor did Holmgren's departure during the season for a land of umbrella drinks and a life of comfort and ease -- although, minus the beach drinks, he had pretty much reached the comfort and ease level here.

During my interview before last season with Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, who served in the Navy before joining the Dallas Cowboys as an aging rookie in the 1960s, Staubach abruptly asked me how McCoy was doing with the Browns. "I've thrown with Colt McCoy. He has a strong arm. He's pretty fast. I think he's going to be a good NFL quarterback," Staubach said.

I never forgot that comment. Who's to say Staubach doesn't know this quarterback better than the Browns did? I'll be surprised if McCoy becomes more than a backup with the 49ers, but he has a better chance with a new start and a smart organization than he ever had here.

To reach Bill Livingston:

blivingston@plaind.com, 216-999-4672

Cleveland Browns: Put Up or Shut Up for QB Brandon Weeden

by Ryan Ruiz

In an interesting but necessary move this week, the Cleveland Browns signed veteran quarterback Jason Campbell to a two year contract. Campbell was strictly brought in to “push” Brandon Weeden to the next level. For Weeden and his strong arm, it’s put up or shut up. End of story.

If all goes the way most Browns supporters hope, Weeden is the starting quarterback for the Browns in 2013. Campbell, who has 71 NFL starts under his belt, will be Weeden’s competition when training camp starts. By default, Colt McCoy is most likely not wearing an orange helmet anymore once the regular season begins. Still, I could see the Browns taking a quarterback later in the draft. That would be the final nail in the former third round pick’s coffin.

Now, it’s all about Weeden. The 29 year old controls his own destiny and has nobody to blame but himself if Campbell beats him out in camp. Weeden has displayed a strong arm and the ability to make all of the NFL throws, but it’s what is going on in his head that will determine his success in 2013. That and having better pocket presence, command of the huddle, and leadership. Will Weeden be up to the task at hand?

Can Weeden grasp Norv Turner ‘s vertical passing strategy? Campbell has the slight advantage in that aspect. Will Weeden appear more comfortable in the huddle and pocket once the pads go on? Will Weeden be able to find a favorite new comfortable target with the departure of Ben Watson? Let’s hope so. Only Weeden can answer these questions.

For once, it would be nice to know that the Browns have stability at quarterback for years to come. I truly want it to be Weeden, and if he gets to play to his strengths, I am confident it will be. But unfortunately the QB curse continues in Cleveland, and there may just be a new signal caller on the field at First Energy Stadium in six months. Let’s hope not; go win the job Brandon!

Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/03/31/cleveland-browns-put-up-or-shut-up-for-qb-brandon-weeden/?qyBEy3agvJpEJRc7.99

Browns Workout Trick-shot Kicker Havard Rugland

 

Per source, Browns worked out trick shot artist Havard Rugland of Norway to replace Phil Dawson. Rugland is 6-2, 245. Can he transfer these skills to the NFL?

 

After 13 years of playing on a losing team, Phil Dawson says goodbye to the Cleveland Browns fans,he joins the 49ers

The only man who played on every Browns team since they returned to the NFL has landed the kicking role on the San Francisco 49ers. Phil Dawson says goodbye Cleveland, it was a lot of fun. Now the Browns let a guy go who average around 95% accuracy. Dawson was money for the team when inside or near the 50 yard line.

Phil Dawson was the guy the Browns used a franchise tag on one year, and they simply let him walk away from the Cleveland Browns this off-season. After playing for the Browns for 13 years, Dawson has landed on a team that gives him a real shot  at play-off football but a return trip to the Super Bowl.

Dawson could walk away from the 2013 season wearing a super bowl ring. The 49ers have a real chance at repeating a super bowl appearance in 2014.

The 49ers have built up their team with some good free agents and they have a boat load of draft picks they can use in the 2013 NFL draft. Nobody deserves it more than Phil Dawson, he is a real class act and he should get a shot at post season play. Every kicker has to dream about making a kick that can get your team a super bowl win.

Dawson now has a chance at making that dream a reality.

The Browns are going to miss the guy they were used to sending out on the field to make those 3 points at a time. Most of his career in Cleveland he was the leading scorer on the Browns. Many times the Cleveland offense sputtered and it was Dawson who put points on the board.

Many fans have to be wondering what this new ownership in Cleveland is thinking. Phil Dawson could have been a been a valuable asset to the Cleveland Browns in the 2013 season.

I sure hope who ever they get doesn’t miss a field goal that cost the team a win. If he does the fans will let him hear about it.

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/after-13-years-of-playing-on-a-losing-team-phil-dawson-says-goodbye-to-the-cleveland-browns-fanshe-joins-the-49ers/

Georgia LB Jarvis Jones, possible target for Cleveland Browns at No. 6, apparently has no stenosis afterall, report says

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, a possible target for the Browns at No. 6 in the NFL Draft, has been cleared to practice without restrictions and apparently doesn't have stenosis after all, according to a medical report sent to NFL teams.

In a memo obtained by Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune and the National Football Post, leading orthopedist Dr. Craig Brigham, who examined Jones at the NFL Combine on behalf of the league, concluded that Jones doesn't have a career-threatening narrowing of the spinal column. Doctors at USC diagnosed that condition on Jones in 2009.

Jarvis, who led the nation with 14.5 sacks in 2012, suffered a neck injury his freshman year at USC and was told by doctors he'd never play for them because of the stenosis they discovered during exams. Jones transferred to Georgia, where he worked his way up to becoming arguably the best pass-rusher in the country last season. In addition to the sack title, he led the NCAA with 24.5 tackles for a loss and seven forced fumbles.

In the memo, Brigham wrote that Jones apparently sustained in 2009 "either a very mild incident of spinal cord concussion or merely a stinger that has long since resolved." More importantly, he informed teams that even if Jones suffers another similar injury, it wouldn't necessarily be career-ending. He concluded, "Jarvis is cleared to play without restriction."

The good news for Jones could mean he'll be gone by the time the Browns pick at No. 6.

Teams will have a chance to look at him further at his Pro Day March 21, and clubs also can invite him to town for further medical exams. Jones, who skipped the Combine workouts to focus on his Pro Day, recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that teams have given him good feedback following Brigham's positive report.

"People are still talking to me," he said. "Nobody has taken me off the board. The doctor said I was fine and cleared me and the [scouting] Combine went fine for me. I was cleared medically. Teams know my situation. Everything went great. I did everything they asked me to do. I'll have my pro day, and then I'm going to meet with a whole lot of teams."

Jones said he felt the rumors that he had dropped out of the top 10 were all part of the pre-draft lying game.

"People were telling me teams do that because they want me to drop to them because they don't have high picks," he said. "I can't control none of that. I know what teams were telling and I know what doctors told me. So I just focus on what I can control, which is trying to be the best football player in America."

The Browns are targeting top pass-rushers in free agency such as Baltimore linebacker Paul Kruger and Detroit defensive end Cliff Avril. But if they don't land one of them, they'll likely take a hard look at Jones on draft day.

Bidding war for Kruger? The Browns and Colts will engage in a bidding war for the Ravens outside linebacker, the Baltimore Sun reported today, citing league sources.

The Plain Dealer reported Sunday that the Browns have called agents about Kruger and fellow Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.

Kruger played for Colts coach Chuck Pagano when Pagano was defensive coordinator of the Ravens, and the Colts are seeking a replacement for Dwight Freeney. One source told the Sun that Kruger could command $10 million to $12 million a year.

The Browns probably have a better shot at Kruger than Ellerbe, who's expected to receive a significant offer from the Ravens, according to the Sun. Kruger had nine sacks during the season and 4.5 during the playoffs, including two in the Super Bowl. Jean-Francois on radar: The Browns are believed to be one of several teams interested in 49ers backup defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois. The Eagles and Titans are also expected to pursue him, according to reports in the Sacramento Bee and the Tennesseean.

Jean-Francois, 26, was a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in a 2009 out of LSU. A solid run defender, he's been part of the tackle rotation in San Francisco.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/03/georgia_lb_jarvis_jones_possib.html

Colt McCoy’s rising salary places doubt in return to Browns in 2013

The Cleveland Browns may have told Colt McCoy that he was in the teams plans for 2013 but that is no guarantee. McCoy’s salary is scheduled to rise thanks to playing time escalators.

McCoy’s base salary for 2013 was to be $575,000 but will now rise to $2.325 million.

Since the Browns do not consider McCoy an option at the quarterback position, and he falls short of the teams ideal vertical passer, his time in Cleveland may be over.

If the Browns do release McCoy there are options. Cleveland area beat writers consider Matt Moore, former Dolphins backup, and Derek Anderson as viable options.

The 26-year old McCoy has appeared in 24 games over his three year span in Cleveland. He has thrown 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

http://tireball.com/nfl/2013/03/03/colt-mccoys-rising-salary-places-doubt-in-return-to-browns-in-2013/

Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden faces a serious learning curve in 2013: D-Man's World analysis

By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Anyone who watched Brandon Weeden closely last season should not be surprised that a teammate would claim he struggled to read defenses.

NFL Network's Steve Wyche -- as detailed by Mary Kay Cabot today -- has reported that Browns running back Trent Richardson told him Weeden "really had trouble reading defenses from time to time and they had to skew their offense a little bit, sometimes somewhat predictable."

Richardson, the third pick in the 2012 draft, spoke the truth about his quarterback, the 22nd pick. Weeden did, indeed, have trouble diagnosing coverages during a rocky rookie season.

As author of the Browns QB Report Card for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, I watched every Weeden dropback at least three times from a DVR of the game telecast. I did not see a quarterback who seemed to grasp what the defense was trying to do -- especially in the second half of the year, when even incremental improvement could be expected.

But I didn't play quarterback in the NFL, and recognize it is arguably the most demanding position in pro team sports. So I made sure to listen intently to the analysts, former NFL players and coaches who know the game inside and out, to find out if my eyes were lying.

They weren't.

The most telling of all the assessments of Weeden's mental game came from Rich Gannon, who threw for 28,743 yards in his NFL career and was MVP in 2002. Gannon was none too pleased with Weeden during a Week 9 loss to the Ravens in Cleveland. Weeden finished 20-of-37 for 176 yards and two interceptions in a 25-15 loss.

arly in the contest, Gannon said: "He's late moving through his progressions, which makes him late to his outlet, which is the back. He's got to play faster, he's got to see things. The game has not slowed down. He talks about it being slow, but, you see him right now. He's missed some open receivers. ... You've got to be able to throw [receivers] open sometimes. Weeden's got to play better."

Early in the third quarter, the Browns had a second-and-3 at the Baltimore 44. Weeden threw over the middle intended for tight end Jordan Cameron at the 20. Ravens safety Ed Reed nearly intercepted. Gannon fumed as CBS went to a sky view that showed receiver Josh Gordon open in the middle at the 40, with room to run.

Gannon said: "I'm not going to pick on the quarterback, but look, this is just getting to be ridiculous. [Gordon] is wide open. And you can't throw the ball down here, where they've got extra defenders. Ed Reed should have picked that one off."

There was more, but you get the idea: Gannon didn't like what he was seeing. This wasn't Week 1 against the Eagles, when a chunk of Weeden's awful performance could be attributed to debut jitters. This was Week 9, against a team he already had seen. (As it turned out, Weeden played much better against a healthier Ravens defense in Week 4.)

Another glaring example was Week 15 against Washington. Weeden was thoroughly outplayed by Redskins backup Kirk Cousins, in part because he failed to solve the riddles of coordinator Jim Haslett's defense.

So the question is not whether Weeden had problems reading defenses, but why?

Part of it had to do with being a rookie, no question. Rookie QBs are supposed to be overwhelmed by the amount of data flowing through their heads and helmets. Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson all periodically fell victim last year.

Part of it had to do with the system, and the coaching that does or does not come with it. Weeden and his skill set clearly were not comfortable in this particular version of the West Coast offense. To believe T-Rich, former head coach Pat Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Childress were forced to scale back what they wanted to do because Weeden wasn't getting it, and because he was vulnerable to interceptions.

Part had to do with defenses making an adjustment. In most of his first eight games, Weeden faced a steady flow of blitzes and handled them reasonably well, all things considered. Among the reasons: quick release and good offensive line.

Beginning in Week 9, however, defenses dropped more linebackers into coverage and faked more blitzes from the safeties and corners. They did not have as many rushers, on average, at the time the pass was made. Ravens coordinator Dean Pees established the blueprint after Week 4, when Weeden threw for 320 yards even with multiple dropped passes.

Once coordinators challenged Weeden to throw into tighter windows, he never really responded. He kept hesitating and double-pumping, then checking down.

And part of it had to do with the player. Only Weeden and a handful of others truly know if it was the biggest part. He consistently was late getting his team to the line -- coaches were culpable, too -- thereby severely reducing Weeden's ability to gauge what defenses were doing.

When he did get to the line in plenty of time, he rarely seemed to recognize where pressure was coming from, as pointed out by Gannon and other analysts. Weeden rarely, if ever, audibled. Upon taking the snaps, he did not trust himself enough to throw into tight windows or throw receivers open, especially in the middle of the field.

Will Weeden's mental game improve? Will he be able to silence the critics who say he is a baseball player playing football, thereby lacking the necessary instinct and feel for the latter?

I now have my doubts. But at least Weeden has a new coach (Rob Chudzinski), offensive coordinator (Norv Turner) and system (vertical/power) that figure to better suit him; combined with the natural growth of a player from year one to year two; combined with an offensive line that knows how to pass block.

If it doesn't happen quickly under Chudzinski and Turner, it probably is not going to happen at all.

http://www.cleveland.com/dman/index.ssf/2013/02/brandon_weeden_faces_a_serious.html

Cleveland Browns choose local firm to renovate Berea complex

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns’ roster redesign is underway. Renovating the franchise’s training and administrative facility begins next month.

The Browns have selected Cleveland-based Westlake Reed Leskosky to design renovations for the Berea headquarters. Team CEO Joe Banner said last month he wanted almost all the team’s personnel working under one roof. The Browns currently have some employees stationed at FirstEnergy Stadium.

“Our goal is to create a vibrant, high energy space that maximizes the ability of every one of our employees to perform at the highest level,” Banner said in a release Tuesday.  “We want to establish an environment that supports the excellence of the people in our organization and our business partners.  We look forward to working with Westlake Reed Leskosky during the course of this project.”

The majority of improvements will be made on the facility's second floor, team spokesman Neal Gulkis said. The upgrades will create more offices. 

Westlake Reed Leskosky recently served as architect, engineer, and technology designer for major expansion and renovation of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

The Berea complex, built in 1991, is located on 13 acres of land. It was previously renovated in 1999 and 2009. The latest renovation will start in March with hopes of being completed by mid-July.

Breaking down the Cleveland Browns as off-season decisions loom: Mary Kay Cabot analysis

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rob Chudzinski inherited some good, young talent with the Cleveland Browns, but also a roster with plenty of holes to fill.

As one veteran Brown observed on his way out last season, "I'm tired of talking about progress. This team has a long way to go to reach a championship level."

The Browns head into free agency March 12 and the April 25-27 draft with questions at quarterback, receiver, cornerback and pass-rusher. What's more, they're re-purposing their defensive linemen and linebackers to fit a 3-4 scheme.

Draft-wise, they have the sixth pick in the first round, but no second-rounder after taking Josh Gordon in last season's supplemental draft. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Browns try to pick up a second-round selection either by trading a player or trading down in the first round.

Fortunately, they head into free agency with a fistful of cash, ranking second in the NFL with $45.6 million to spend, behind only the Bengals ($50.6 million), according to NFL.com.

A look at what Chudzinski and player personnel chief Mike Lombardi have heading into the acquisition season:

Quarterback

What they have: Brandon Weeden, Colt McCoy, Thad Lewis, Josh Johnson.

The outlook: Lombardi has been critical of Weeden and the Browns will try to upgrade. Weeden, who turns 30 in October, has the big arm to run coordinator Norv Turner's downfield attack, but needs better accuracy and field vision. He finished 29th with a 72.6 rating and 35th out of 36 in the ESPN total QBR rankings with a 26.6.

Can Turner get the best out of Weeden, as he has with many other QBs? McCoy doesn't fit the vertical scheme, and would need to bulk up to get the Browns' attention.

What they need: The Browns will seek another QB through trade, free agency or the draft. Some big-name passers expected to be available are the 49ers Alex Smith, the Seahawks' Matt Flynn and the Eagles' Michael Vick. Smith will have plenty of suitors and Vick is unlikely to end up here despite the fact CEO Joe Banner likes him.

The Browns aren't expected to pursue New England backup Ryan Mallett, and the Ravens won't let potential free agent Joe Flacco get away. Second-tier free agents include Arizona's Brian Hoyer and New Orleans' Chase Daniel.

Running back

What they have: Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Owen Marecic.

The outlook: The staff is in good shape here. In Richardson, they have the bruising back to run Turner's power scheme. He rushed for 950 yards and 11 TDs in 2012 and caught 51 passes for 367 yards -- despite playing with broken ribs for much of the season. Hardesty showed good burst in the backup role, and Ogbonnaya is a good third-down back. Marecic lost his job at fullback and will be hard-pressed to get it back.

What they need: The Browns could use a change-of-pace back, possibly in the third or fourth round of the draft. Brandon Jackson is a free agent and most likely won't be back. The Browns will look for a fullback in free agency or a middle round. They also have hybrid tight end/fullback Brad Smelley.

Wide receiver

What they have: Greg Little, Josh Gordon, Travis Benjamin, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper.

The outlook: No one in this young corps cracked the top 50 in receptions or had more than five TD catches. Little led with 53 catches for 647 yards and four TDs, and rookie Gordon was second with 50 catches for a team-high 805 yards and five TDs. Benjamin has excellent speed but is small and raw. The Browns will likely add a veteran to mentor the youngsters. Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs will most likely walk in free agency.

What they need: The Browns need two more starting-caliber wideouts and should be able to add at least one in free agency. Some who might hit the market include Green Bay's Greg Jennings, Miami's Brian Hartline, Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace, Kansas City's Dwayne Bowe, New England's Wes Welker and St. Louis' Danny Amendola. The Browns should emerge from the free agent frenzy with an experienced go-to guy.

Tight end

What they have: Jordan Cameron, Smelley, Dan Gronkowski.

The outlook: The Browns have one viable TE in third-year pro Cameron. Starter Ben Watson and Alex Smith are both free agents and unlikely to return. Cameron is a big, athletic target who showed promise, but is still developing. Chudzinski and Turner worked with Antonio Gates and have an appreciation for converted college basketball players. The tight end will be important, especially considering the head coach used to be one.

What they need: The club will scour the free agent market for a starter. Some expected to come free are the Giants' Martellus Bennett and the Jets' Dustin Keller.

Offensive line

What they have: Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston, Shawn Lauvao, Mitchell Schwartz, John Greco, Oniel Cousins, Dominic Alford, Ryan Miller.

The outlook: Set at tackle and center, they'll continue to evaluate the guard spots. Pinkston is coming off a pulmonary embolism, but should be back as the starting left guard. Lauvao made progress in 2012, and should be able to hang onto his right guard job. Schwartz had a solid rookie year. The line is strong, especially with six-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas at left tackle.

What they need: The Browns will add some depth, but can line up and excel if the season started tomorrow.

Defensive line

What they have: Jabaal Sheard, Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, Billy Winn, Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, John Hughes, Brian Sanford, Emmanuel Stephens, Auston English, Hall Davis.

The outlook: Defensive coordinator Ray Horton has talent, but will have to shift some bodies to fit his 3-4 scheme. Sheard is the only bona fide pass-rusher, and will most likely play a hybrid end/OLB spot. Taylor will start at nose tackle and Winn and Rubin contend for the end spots. Hughes and Kitchen are better inside, but can rotate at both positions. Sanford, Stephens and English are all coming off injured reserve and Davis is a young prospect. Frostee Rucker has been released and Juqua Parker (second with six sacks) most likely won't return.

What they need: The Browns could use a rusher at end. Free agent options include Detroit's Cliff Avril (9.5 sacks in 2012) and Tampa Bay's Michael Bennett (9.0 sacks), although they're both currently 4-3 ends. Top 3-4 end prospects in the draft include Utah's Star Lotulelei, Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins and Missouri's Sheldon Richardson.

Linebackers

What they have: Chris Gocong, D'Qwell Jackson, James-Michael Johnson, Craig Robertson, Tank Carder, L.J. Fort, Adrian Moten and Emmanuel Acho.

The outlook: Jackson is the only proven commodity and he's more effective in a 4-3, where a tackle holds off the guard. But Horton will look to showcase his strengths. Gocong, who can rush, is coming off a torn Achilles and might not be 100 percent at the start. If he stays, he'll most likely be asked to slash his $4.45 million base, which isn't guaranteed. Johnson, who sat out six games with injuries in 2012, will be a top bet to start inside along with Jackson, and Robertson can play inside or out. Scott Fujita will most likely retire and Kaluka Maiava is an unrestricted free agent.

What they need: A pass-rushing outside linebacker will be key to powering the attack-minded scheme. Sheard will be used in that role, but the Browns will also look outside for help. Some edge-rushers who might be free in March include the Cowboys' Anthony Spencer and the Chargers' Shaun Phillips. Top draft prospects include Texas A&M's Damontre Moore (12.5 sacks in 2012), Florida State's Bjoern Werner (13) and Georgia's Jarvis Jones (14.5).

Defensive backs

What they have: Joe Haden, Buster Skrine, Trevin Wade, Johnson Bademosi, Prince Miller, T.J. Ward, Usama Young, Tashaun Gipson, Eric Hagg.

The outlook: The team has one shutdown corner in Haden and a good safety in Ward. Beyond that, the other spots are up for grabs. Young and Gipson will challenge for free safety and young corners Skrine, Wade and Bademosi will vie for Sheldon Brown's job, as he'll most likely not be re-signed.

What they need: Look for the Browns to add another corner and a nickel back. Top potential free agents include Atlanta's Brent Grimes, New England's Aqib Talib and Philly's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The No. 1 cornerback in the draft, worthy of the Browns' No. 6 pick if he lasts that long, is Alabama's Dee Milliner, who's 6-1, 182 and runs a 4.45.

Specialists

What they have: Phil Dawson, Reggie Hodges, Josh Cribbs, Travis Benjamin

The outlook: Dawson, Hodges and Cribbs will all be free agents and could be replaced. Dawson might fetch more on the open market than the Browns are willing to pay. Same for Cribbs.

What they need: They could be looking at new kicker, punter and kick returner. Benjamin will hold down the punt return duties.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/02/breaking_down_the_cleveland_br.html