'Browns Notes'
Commentary: Belichick, Brady continue to build legacy together
The storylines are seemingly endless. Eli Manning, his place among the NFL elite established, looking for a second Super Bowl in his brother’s hometown. And the ridiculous notion that he could pass Peyton on the list of great quarterbacks by beating the Patriots today. Tom Brady going for his fourth Super Bowl title, which would [...]
Ex-Browns star Dixon sees Pro Bowl in future for Joe Haden
CLEVELAND — Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield were the last great cornerbacks to play for the Browns. The founders of the Dawg Pound combined to go to seven Pro Bowls from 1987-90 as they formed one of the NFL’s best cornerback tandems of all time. Dixon believes, after two decades, the Browns have found their [...]
Browns add ‘Chilly’ to spice up offense: Former head coach Brad Childress named offensive coordinator, but Pat Shurmur to keep calling plays
BEREA — “Chilly” is coming to the North Coast, and the Browns hope he’ll bring some heat to the offense. Coach Pat Shurmur hired Brad Childress as offensive coordinator Friday, adding a veteran coach who spent almost five years as a head coach and is an expert in the West Coast Offense. Childress was hired [...]
Browns: Brad Childress hired as offensive coordinator
BEREA – Browns coach Pat Shurmur added another former head coach to his staff today, hiring Brad Childress as offensive coordinator. Shurmur will continue to call the plays, according to a league source, but Childress could take over at some point. Childress was Vikings coach from 2006-10, when he was fired after starting 3-7. He [...]
Browns: Randy Lerner says he wants to win
BEREA — Randy Lerner has been a Browns fan since he was a kid. And like much of the Northeast Ohio population, he’s never celebrated a championship. “People are exhausted from losing in this town,” Lerner said Wednesday on WTAM 1100-AM in a rare interview. “I’m exhausted, too. It’s on me. “I’d like to think [...]
Browns: Season in review and lookahead to offseason
TOP 5 players Joe Thomas, left tackle Voted to fifth Pro Bowl in five seasons, and fourth straight All-Pro team. Didn’t lose a bit of focus after signing a seven-year, $84 million contract in the preseason and improved from inconsistent 2010 season. Hasn’t missed a snap in his career. D’Qwell Jackson, middle linebacker Deserves the [...]
Browns season wrapup: Coach Pat Shurmur already looking forward to next season
Coach Pat Shurmur is genuinely excited for the offseason. And not just because that means his 4-12 first season is over. He knows what he missed last year when the lockout deprived him of the entire offseason: team meetings, an introduction to the playbook, a conditioning program, minicamps. And he’s eager for a return to [...]
Scott Petrak: Mike Holmgren’s doing the right thing
We’re in a wonderful time on the NFL calendar. The intensity is raised. Every play counts. Loser goes home. Of course, the Browns were already home when the playoffs started Saturday. That’s nothing new. They went 4-12 and lost six straight to end the season. The skid ensured the franchise’s 10th season of double-digit losses [...]
Mike Holmgren says Browns will stick with the plan that’s in place
BEREA — President Mike Holmgren was frustrated, disappointed and ticked off by the Browns’ 4-12 season that ended Sunday. But he wasn’t discouraged. “We have a lot of questions moving forward as an organization that we are trying to fix,” Holmgren said Thursday. “We’re all disappointed in the record of the team this year. But [...]
Browns president Mike Holmgren not discouraged, sticking to plan
BEREA – Browns president Mike Holmgren expressed disappointment and frustration with the team’s 4-12 record this season but said he isn’t discouraged. He vowed to stick to his plan as he tries to reverse the fortunes of a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1994 season. “We’re going to stay the course,” [...]
Shurmur says he’ll add O-coordinator, but won’t commit to a QB just yet
BEREA — The way coach Pat Shurmur views it, the 2012 season started Monday. His 4-12 first season ended Sunday and he’s eager to move forward, start an offseason without a lockout and get busy improving his team. When the 2012 season officially arrives in September, Shurmur will have an offensive coordinator. He confirmed Tuesday [...]
Browns coach Pat Shurmur doesn’t commit to QB Colt McCoy for 2012, will hire offensive coordinator
BEREA – Browns coach Pat Shurmur didn’t commit to Colt McCoy as his starting quarterback for 2012 today during his season-ending news conference. “The best quarterback will play when we start the season,” Shurmur said. McCoy started the first 13 games this season – the Browns went 4-9 – before missing the last three with [...]
Browns’ Sheldon Brown says draft won’t fix things
BEREA — Cornerback Sheldon Brown acknowledged the Browns fell short of their goals this season but quickly insisted the turnaround is underway and they’re “close” to becoming a playoff-caliber team. Then he sent a jolt through Browns fans who’ve been scouring mock drafts for the last two months. “If you’re depending on a draft pick [...]
Browns notes: Montario Hardesty hopes for better in ’12
Scott Petrak and Brian Dulik, The Chronicle-Telegram BEREA — Running back Montario Hardesty rushed twice for minus-2 yards Sunday in the season finale. They were his only carries in the last three weeks. For the season, he rushed 88 times for 266 yards, a 3.0 average and no touchdowns. Add a 2010 rookie season lost [...]
Phil Dawson has been through all the bad times
Six of the seven biggest names on the Browns avoided the media after their season-ending team meeting Monday. Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, Joe Haden, Joshua Cribbs, Joe Thomas and D’Qwell Jackson all were no-shows one day after Cleveland completed another dismal year. As always, though, kicker Phil Dawson came through in the clutch. “Going 4-12, [...]
Browns clean out lockers following 4-12 season
BEREA – The Browns had their final meetings this morning and cleaned out their lockers. The Browns concluded their 4-12 season Sunday with a 13-9 loss to the Steelers. It was coach Pat Shurmur’s first season on the job. Shurmur will meet with the media for a final time Tuesday afternoon. President Mike Holmgren and [...]
New year, same daze: Browns end season with familiar loss to Steelers
CLEVELAND — The Browns’ season came to a close Sunday night with snow swirling and arms failing in the end zone. A final chance to finish the season with a victory went through rookie receiver Greg Little’s arms on a Hail Mary attempt from the 24-yard line of the final play. The throw was deeper [...]
Chris Assenheimer: Final game was close, but Browns sill have a long, long way to go
CLEVELAND — To a man, the word coming out of the Cleveland locker room following a 13-9 loss to the Steelers on Sunday was that the Browns are close. So why does it seem like they’re so far away? Another Browns season ended the way most of them do — in disappointment — Cleveland dropping [...]
Browns notes: Seneca Wallace wants chance at starting QB job next season
Scott Petrak and Chris Assenheimer The Chronicle-Telegram CLEVELAND — Seneca Wallace began his campaign Sunday night to be the starting quarterback of the Browns in 2012. “You guys saw the last three games. All I want is to get a legit opportunity,” he said following the 13-9 loss to the Steelers in the season finale. [...]
Browns lose finale 13-9 to Steelers
CLEVELAND – The end to the Browns’ season was fitting. They played the rival Pittsburgh Steelers close, but came up short yet again at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Pittsburgh 13, Cleveland 9. The Browns (4-12) lost their sixth straight to end the season – all but one a tight game — and locked up the fourth [...]
Steelers 13, Browns 9: Pittsburgh takes lead in third quarter
The Steelers erased a three-point deficit at halftime, leading the Browns 13-9 through three quarters Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. A 29-yard field goal from Shaun Suisham tied the game at six before Pittsburgh scored the game’s first touchdown on a 7-yard run from Isaac Redman with 5:27 left in the quarter. Phil Dawson kicked [...]
Browns 6, Steelers 3: Pair of Dawson field goals enough for first-half lead
The Browns led the Steelers 6-3 after an offensively-challenged first half Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. All of the scoring came on field goals, two from Cleveland’s Phil Dawson (26 yards and 45 yards) and one from Pittsburgh’s Shaun Suisham (19 yards). Suisham’s field goal came as time expired in the second quarter. Steelers quarterback [...]
Browns, Steelers scoreless after 1st quarter
CLEVELAND – The rain subsided, the temperature stayed warm and the wind continued to howl in a scoreless first quarter today at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The temperature was 49 degrees at the 4:15 p.m. kickoff with 24 mph winds. The Browns (4-11) had three drives without a first down in the quarter. The Steelers (11-4) [...]
Browns pregame update: Wind howling on lakefront
CLEVELAND – The wind was howling and the rain swirling at Cleveland Browns Stadium this afternoon as the Browns (4-11) prepared to play the Steelers (11-4). The Steelers have a playoff spot locked up, but could win the AFC North title with a win over the Browns and a Baltimore loss at Cincinnati. Both games [...]
Browns vs. Steelers not likely to be a bland finale
CLEVELAND — When the Browns and Steelers met 24 days ago in Pittsburgh, both starting quarterbacks were knocked from the game but returned to finish the night. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger on a severely sprained ankle, Cleveland’s Colt McCoy with a bruised brain. Neither has fully recovered, but Roethlisberger practiced all week and will be under [...]