BEREA, Ohio — Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown, who’s seen a lot in his 10 years in the NFL, held court on a getaway day Monday and said he’s not waiting for a college star such as Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III to come in and be the savior of this 4-12 team.

“I’m definitely not, and if you are, you’re crazy,” he said.

Brown stressed that one or two rookies — the Browns will have the fourth overall pick in the April draft and the Falcons’ first-round pick in the 20s, aren’t going to change the fortunes of this rebuilding team, at least not overnight.

“My thing is, if you’re dependent on a draft pick to come in here and change your life, then you’re kidding yourself,” he said. “This game is too hard. There’s too big of a jump to come from college and think that he’s going to come in … who does it? Maybe Randy Moss did it. So you already know the pattern. It’s not that.”

So what will it take for the Browns to compete in the AFC North, where their three foes are skipping off to the playoffs?

“The guys here have to step their game up to another level because they’re experienced,” said Brown. “When you lose close games, you can go back and maybe point to one or two drops, or one or two miscues. When things like that happen, I bet you go back and you say ‘ah, [it was] a young player [who] hadn’t been in that situation. Hadn’t experienced it.’ Well now he’s experienced it and he won’t do it again.

“Most rookies, anyway, they get hurt because they get tired and they don’t understand the speed and the strength of this game at the professional level. So I’m never sold on high draft picks.”

Brown said he’s not spewing lip service when he says the Browns are close to being a good team. They lost six games by seven points or less, and went down to the wire most games with their division rivals, although they finished 0-6 in the division for only the second time since 1999.

“We’re very close,” said Brown, who went to the playoffs with the Eagles six times, including one Super Bowl. “It’s one or two plays each game. You just have to find the playmakers and they just have to understand the sense of urgency and make the play.”

But don’t Browns fans hear the same thing every year?

“I didn’t tell you this last year,” he said. “I thought we were way off last year, from a lot of other things we were having to deal with. You can say whatever you want to say, but I do believe that and I came from an organization where we’d start 0-4 — sometimes 0-3 — and we were one or two plays out, and we found a way to start making those plays. Then we’d run off eight in a row, and then the people that were laughing, they don’t seem to laugh any more.”

Brown is convinced coach Pat Shurmur — who took a critical beating by some fans and media this season — is the right man for the job.

“I think he did a tremendous job, dealing with being a head coach for the first time,” said Brown. “Everybody thinks it’s an easy job, everybody wants to sit in a room and say, ‘I can do this better, I can do that better.’ He dealt with the situations the best he could, and he kept this football team fighting. For me, that’s how I judge a head coach.

“If a football team goes out there and competes week in and week out, through thick and through thin — and it was very thick this year — but we didn’t quit. So that tells me that the leader is in place and the guys believe in him and they will fight. If you put a football team out there that’s giving up 40 points, scoring nothing and they’re quitting, that tells me that the leader in place is not the guy.”

Can he make the jump in year two?

“He can definitely make a jump,” said Brown. “But the most important thing is that the players have to make the jump. And the players have to make the plays.

“I think this coaching staff is in place for a while. The worst thing that I’ve known of the history of the Browns is, one or two years and they want to blow it up. People want to think that it changes in one or two years. There’s a process that you have to go through in this league and you have to be patient to do it.

“The coaching staff did the best [they could] with their knowledge of the players, not having an off-season to really get to know the guys. They put them in the best positions that they knew how to make plays on the field, and I think it’s heading in the right direction.”

As for the defense, which finished 10th overall, Brown is certain it’s on solid footing.

“Anytime you have a [middle] linebacker like D’Qwell Jackson, your foundation is in place,” said Brown. “Anytime you have a starting defensive tackle — and I’ve played with some good ones — like Ahtyba Rubin, motor doesn’t stop, intense guy, angry player, studies, and he brings the young guys like Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor along with him, it’s in place. You’ve got Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, young players in the secondary, the foundation is in place.

“We had to go through the growing pains of being young, but the foundation is in place and I think it’s going in the right direction.”

While losing teams such as the Rams and Bucs fired their coaches Monday, other Browns agreed that this is a 4-12 team on the rise.

“My rookie year I played for Green Bay and we were 6-10 and there wasn’t a whole lot of turnover on that roster,” said tight end Evan Moore. “They had a lot of young guys that they let grow up in that system and look at them now. Granted, that team has a lot of talent and I believe we do, too. We have a lot of young guys I think are only going to get better.

“I think it goes without saying that a foundation needs time. Guys need time to mature and I think we have the makings here of something that could be pretty impressive if guys are given time to mature.”

Said kicker Phil Dawson: “We were in a lot of games. It’s death by inches, though. How are you going to look at that? Are we that close, or is that just the nature of the league? It depends on your personality, how you’re going to view that.

“In my little world, if my plant foot misses the spot by a quarter-inch, I miss the kick. That will probably tell you how I look at it. Everybody looks at themselves critically and figures out how they can improve. If we do that, now these close games are coming out in our favor. Hopefully that’s the way guys respond to it.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter …

• On super-important first possession, Browns complete 3-and-out with a third-down swing pass to Peyton Hillis. Groans. Minus-3 yards. Punt.

• Ben Roethlisberger’s shovel pass to Hines Ward results in 3-yard loss on alert hit by D’Qwell Jackson. Nonetheless, Steelers celebrate Ward’s 1,000th career catch.

• Isaac Redman loses the ball on a hit by Chris Gocong. Eric Hagg recovers and refs tack on 15 yards on a facemask penalty. Browns have it at Steelers’ 43.

• Mohamed Massaquoi gets a first down with a catch at the 32. Peyton Hillis out with a knee injury.

• Wallace’s pass over middle a little behind Massaquoi, but catchable. Dropped at the Steelers’ 19.

• After a Wallace throw two yards out of bounds, Browns punt from the Steelers’ 34 with 10:11 to go.

• Buster Skrine’s pass interference against Jerricho Cotchery bails out Steelers. First down at 26.

• Redman coughs up another after a 22-yard gain, and it’s recovered by the Browns at their 39.

• After one first down, Wallace’s passes on second and third down are off mark and almost intercepted. One fourth-and-10 with 4:59 to go, Browns elect to punt.

• Ben Roethlisberger makes a big throw to Heath Miller for 11 yards and a first down at the Steelers’ 29. Browns use their last timeout with 2:44 to go.

• Steelers can’t close the game out on offense, as Roethlisberger’s third-down pass is knocked away by Joe Haden. Browns, with no timeouts, get one last chance after Cribbs fumbles the punt out of bounds at their 24.

• Evan Moore catches one for eight yards at the 32, clock runs. Cribbs drops a short dump pass, but that at least stops the clock. Is there any play that’s more than 15 yards downfield?

• On third down, Cribbs catches another dumpoff for a first down. But can’t succeed doing this.

• Sideline pass to Massaquoi … just four yards downfield … is dropped.

• Snow coming down heavily on second down. Moore catches it over the middle and runs out of bounds to the Browns 45.

• Just 41 seconds left … have to go downfield. Carlton Mitchell grabs his first reception for 18 yards, and Wallace spikes the ball with 22 seconds left at the Steelers 37. Pittsburgh calls their second timeout.

• Snowglobe conditions. Moore catches a pattern near the sidelines, but can’t get out of bounds. Ball is clocked with five seconds remaining at the Steelers 25.

• Last play is … delayed by the Steelers’ last timeout. Will Browns have some final trick play to end the season?

• Hail Mary sees Greg Little get his hands on the ball in the end zone, but the ball is knocked harmlessly to the ground. End of game. End of season.

Gotta run!.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• Steelers convert fourth-and-1 and get to Browns’ 14. But Jabaal Sheard’s 13-yard sack and Shaun Suisham’s 45-yard field goal miss keeps game scoreless.

• Seneca Wallace hits Jordan Cameron for 15 yards. First Browns first down. Peyton Hillis gets another on runs of 9 and 2 yards.

• From the 31, Wallace accelerates on a keeper and is tripped up at the Steelers’ 4. His fumble disallowed when ruled down by contact. Browns go backwards, but Phil Dawson’s 26-yard field goal makes it 3-0.

• Jayme Mitchell buries Ben Roethlisberger just after a 1-yard throw. Browns finally on to his dunkathon.

• At the 2-minute warning, Wallace’s 23-yard pass to Josh Cribbs takes Browns to Steelers’ 41.

• Cribbs again for 14 yards to the 27. A jump ball in end zone for Evan Moore against Ryan Clark falls incomplete.

• Dawson’s 45-yard field goal makes it 6-0.

• Roethliserger throws over Joe Haden and Antonio Brown makes over-shoulder catch for 40 yards down to Browns’ 14.

• After Brown makes another catch at Browns’ 1, Steelers use their last timeout at :11.

• Roethlisberger throws too far on lobs for Brown and Hines Ward. After Pat Shurmur ices Suisham, chip shot field goal of 19 yards is good, killing shutout bid, 6-3.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

BALTIMORE — Notes, observations and some facts on the first quarter …

• Browns use tight end Dan Gronkowski in first short-yardage situation. Peyton Hillis converts third-and-1 — just barely.

• Evan Moore makes nice grab for 11 yards with Wallace being chased to the right. Hillis follows with an 11-yard blast up the middle to the Ravens’ 39.

• On third-and-1, Mohamed Massaquoi lines up in a deep slot to the right. Wallace throws weakly for him while backpedaling. Lardarius Webb intercepts at the Ravens’ 32. Even if he catches it, it’s 2 yards short of first down.

• Joe Flacco rears back and throws long for Torrey Smith, who beats Joe Haden. Underthrown ball. Mike Adams interferes. Sixty-yard penalty to Browns’ 4.

• On third-and-goal from the 5, Flacco beats a blitz and connects with Ed Dickson, who beat D’Qwell Jackson in the end zone.

• Greg Little with a nice high grab for a first down. Then Wallace goes deep for Massaquoi and it’s not even close to far enough. No air.

• Massaquoi runs 8-yard out route on third-and-10. Punt.

• After one first down by Ray Rice, Ravens get 29 yards on Flacco dumpoff to Smith crossing. Moved from own 8 to Browns’ 47 in five plays.

• Ricky Williams with a 14-yard run.

• Ahtyba Rubin follows with a 10-yard sack.

• Shayne Graham 48-yard field goal is good.

There is the quick update of the day.

The Browns will not be disciplined by the NFL for their handling of the Colt McCoy concussion injury in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, according to league spokesman Greg Aiello.

The Browns put McCoy back in the game without testing for a concussion.

The NFLPA has not decided whether to file a grievance against the club, said union spokesman Carl Francis in an email reply.

The incident spurred two changes in league protocol. Teams were notified on Wednesday that starting with this weekend’s games:

* A certified athletic trainer paid by the NFL will monitor the game from an upstairs booth and will notify both teams’ medical staffs if it feels an injured player needs special attention. The trainer will not have the authority to remove a player from a game, but will provide information to a medical staff that might not have seen the hit or injury absorbed by a player.

The Browns contended McCoy was not given the sideline concussion test because he displayed no symptoms and their overtaxed medical staff did not see the hit by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison.

* Team medical staffs will be able to use cell phones during games to obtain information relating to the care of an injured player. This will not be limited to concussion injuries.

McCoy has not been cleared to practice 13 days after suffering the concussion on the hit.

Harrison returned to practice on Wednesday and delivered another shot on the Browns. He believes they should be disciplined for their handling of McCoy. 

“If he was hurt so bad I don’t know why they let him back in . . . two plays later,” Harrison told the Associated Press. “Something should be done to them I would think. I got a game, what should they get?

Another sit-down: Quarterback Seneca Wallace had a sit-down with running back Peyton Hillis last week.

“We had a long talk,” said Wallace. “I just told him don’t get discouraged and don’t ever lose the happiness you got from playing football. Don’t let the media, whatever else, take away from what you love to do. Just make sure you come out and have fun with it.”

Hillis went on to have the highest-yardage rushing game of his star-crossed season. Hillis ran 26 times for 99 yards and one touchdown in Arizona.

He said he felt healthier than at any point since Week 2, in which, coincidentally, he produced similar numbers — 27 rushes for 94 yards and two touchdowns — against the Colts.

Wallace and Hillis have bonded because if the Browns are going to make anything of the remaining games at Baltimore and home against Pittsburgh, they are going to have to be the main cogs on offense.

Wallace will make his second start on Christmas Eve in place of McCoy.

“I don’t want to overstep my boundaries,” he said. “I understand if somebody has to step up and speak their mind and say what they have to say, if it’s for the best of the team, you’ve got to do it.”

Hillis said the Wallace talk hit home. It was: “Just go out and enjoy football, enjoy the game, the guys you’re around, because any game can be your last. Every game’s precious.”

Hillis might have only two games left in a Browns uniform. His contract expires after the season. General Manager Tom Heckert recently said of re-signing Hillis, “That’s another one we’ll have to decide once the season’s over.”

Injury roundup: Besides McCoy, six other Browns did not practice on Wednesday — linebacker Ben Jacobs (concussion), receiver Jordan Norwood (concussion), safety T.J. Ward (foot), receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), defensive lineman Scott Paxson (hand, foot) and cornerback Joe Haden (thigh). . . . Coach Pat Shurmur said the team has discussed shutting down Ward, who will miss his seventh consecutive game.

Now batting: Josh Cribbs’ recurrent groin injury will result in possibly more kickoff return opportunities for Buster Skrine, Shurmur said. Skrine had a 32-yard return in Arizona after Cribbs’ injury acted up.

Skrine was the lone returner when Arizona kicked off in overtime, but Jay Feely’s kickoff sailed into the end zone and went as a touchback.

Skrine is hoping to have some returns in Baltimore. The Ravens signed veteran Shayne Graham as a temp for Billy Cundiff, who has a calf injury and hasn’t practiced for the third week in a row. Cundiff is second in the AFC with 42 touchbacks.

Cribbs, who still may get some returns in Baltimore, has not had a return over 37 yards in six games. He hasn’t had a kickoff return for touchdown in 32 games.

“We’re doing what we can to get him blocked up so that we can get those,” Shurmur said.

Precinct report: Fan voting for the Pro Bowl ended on Monday. Joe Thomas finished fifth among AFC tackles, D’Qwell Jackson placed third among inside linebackers, and Cribbs was third among kick returners. Voting among coaches and players — which comprises the other two-thirds of the vote total — is completed today. Pro Bowl teams will be announced on Tuesday.

Thanks for reading! .

BEREA, Ohio – Colt McCoy still hasn’t been cleared to practice since suffering a concussion on Dec. 8.

“He was here this morning,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “Did a little physical activity.”

Still, Shurmur would not official name Seneca Wallace the Browns starting quarterback in Baltimore on Saturday.

“Not yet, but it’s going to come soon, I’m sure,” he said.

Shurmur has been reluctant to say whether McCoy has seen a head trauma specialist, as tight end Benjamin Watson did after his third concussion of the season.

“You can’t say he hasn’t seen one,” the coach replied. “He’s been evaluated just like Ben, by all the proper people. They’re all doctors. No real difference.”

In other pre-practice news:

* Receiver Jordan Norwood (concussion), linebacker Ben Jacobs (concussion) and safety T.J. Ward (foot) won’t practice, Shurmur said. The following players will be limited: cornerback Joe Haden (thigh), receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), and defensive tackle Scott Paxson (hand, foot).

* Rookie Buster Skrine will continue to get reps at kickoff return in Baltimore, Shurmur said. Skrine had a 32-yard return in Arizona after Josh Cribbs’ groin injury acted up. Browns kickoff returners got an early Christmas present this week when the Ravens signed Shayne Graham to possibly replace Billy Cundiff on Saturday. Cundiff, second in the AFC with 43 touchbacks, has a calf injury and has missed three of his last five field goal attempts.

* Shurmur said he expected newly signed tight end Dan Gronkowski to be force-fed as a run-blocker in Baltimore because of the loss of Watson and Alex Smith to season-ending injuries.

“We’re getting him ready to play,” Shurmur said. “We feel we’ll teach him the gameplan, not the system.”

That’s all for today.

Browns running back Montario Hardesty still hopes to salvage what’s left of his lost season.

“I definitely want to finish out these two games strong,” said Hardesty, who’s carried the ball in one of the past seven games because of his torn calf muscle. “I’ve been really frustrated with this calf injury. It really hindered me a lot this year, but I have two more chances to go out and play.”

Hardesty made the trip to Arizona and was active for the game, but stood on the sidelines and didn’t play. Meanwhile, Peyton Hillis rushed for 99 yards.

“The calf was sore last week,” said Hardesty. “I was ready if they needed me, but they didn’t.”

On Tuesday, Hardesty practiced full-go, and is hoping to see the field in Baltimore — against the Ravens’ second-ranked run defense.

“It feels a lot better” Hardesty said of the calf. “I got a lot of reps [Tuesday] and it felt good. Hopefully it will continue to improve throughout the week.”

Hardesty said he never dreamt the calf would cost him most of his season when he felt a twinge on Oct. 30 in San Francisco. He carried the ball 11 times for 24 yards at Pittsburgh on Dec. 8. But he emerged sore from that game and had to rest again.

“I’d love to have a chance to play against Baltimore and Pittsburgh,” he said. “Both are great defenses. We have to find a way to win these games.”

Two new players: As expected, the Browns placed linebacker Titus Brown on injured reserve with his right knee injury and tight end Alex Smith on IR with his shoulder injury.

To replace them, the Browns signed linebacker Brian Smith off their practice squad and signed tight end Dan Gronkowski as a free agent.

Gronkowski is the brother of Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has set the NFL record for TD receptions by a tight end with 15 this season. Their other brother, Chris, is a fullback for the Colts. Dan Gronkowski spent five games with the Patriots this season, with one start. He was waived Nov. 8.

“I stayed in Foxborough,” said Gronkowski. “I had an apartment with my brother and was training. It paid off I guess, I felt pretty good out there. I didn’t feel like I’d been out that long.”

Gronkowski (6-5, 255 pounds) a seventh-round pick of the Lions in 2009 out of Maryland, said he used his time off to get bigger, which should help his blocking.

“I definitely can help in that area,” he said. “I’m definitely built to be a blocker, a little heavier. In the next two games I’ll do what I can.”

Gronkowski said he’s happy for Rob, who’s having blockbuster season.

“My brothers and I, we’re all best friends and we root for each other,” he said. “When he does good, it makes us all feel good and I mean, he’s a great player and I say that he’s learned everything from me. He set records this year and stuff and he’s an amazing player and he’s just going to get better.”

Brian Smith was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, but waived at the end of camp. In Week 12, he was signed to the practice squad.

“It’s a blessing to be back and I’m just the kind of guy that stays resilient, keeps working at it, and when I get my shot I’m going to take full advantage of it,” said Smith.

Concussion update: Browns fullback Owen Marecic practiced Tuesday and is expecting to play in Baltimore despite suffering his second concussion in four weeks on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh. He said no one has discussed shutting him down for the season.

“It never really came to my mind,” he said. “I can’t speak for anybody else, but it never came up in conversation.”

Marecic said he changed helmets in hopes of preventing another concussion. Eight Browns players have suffered 11 concussions this season.

In other concussion news, receiver Jordan Norwood and linebacker Ben Jacobs both sat out Tuesday with theirs. With Norwood likely to sit, Carlton Mitchell figures to get some playing time.

“I think there’s definitely a chance,” said Mitchell.

Other injuries: Cornerback Joe Haden sat out practice with a thigh bruise, but said he’ll play in Baltimore. . . . Safety T.J. Ward (foot) also sat out, but is still hopeful he can play Saturday.

Leave your comments on the news below.

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Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• Ravens do something stupid from the Browns 8. Bring in No. 2 QB Tyrod Taylor for goofy QB option run. Stopped for 2-yard gain. Why? Next play, Ray Rice completes drive with a 6-yard run to the end zone. Rice ran for 48 yards on the 61-yard drive.

• Colt McCoy returns on Browns’ first play of second quarter.

• McCoy gets the ball away quickly and completes pass to Jordan Norwood for first down yardage. Norwood is stripped of the ball by Danny Gorrer and Ed Reed recovers at the Browns 42. Browns challenge the reception. Looked like a wasted challenge, but they win. Have to punt, anyway. Gain 36 yards on the exchange.

• Now it’s Ricky Williams carving up Browns defense. Eight yards, 9, and then 15. Williams is 34.

• After seven straight handoffs, Joe Flacco completes 26-yard pass to Dennis Pitta. Flacco’s arm was hit by Jabaal Sheard, but he still completed the pass.

• On third down, Flacco’s pass in the corner of the end zone for Torrey Smith is dropped. Smith had Joe Haden beat and Haden didn’t turn for the ball.

• Billy Cundiff’s 34-yard field goal try drifts through the ribbon blowing from the right goalpost.

• With a chance to control end of half, Browns go three-and-out. In two-minute drill, Flacco completes passes of 25 yards, 16 and 11 to get to Browns’ 25 in less than 60 seconds.

• But Browns defense forces three incompletions and 41-yard field goal try. Cundiff misses again to the right.

• With 59 seconds left, McCoy is throwing and almost intercepted on two straight plays. He tries it a third time and this time Jimmy Smith intercepts it and runs it Browns’ 15.

• Dimitri Patterson is called for interference on Anquan Boldin in the end zone. Spot of foul is called Browns’ 3. Haden breaks up pass for Lee Evans in end zone. Cundiff’s 21-yard field goal is good.

That’s all for today.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — There is a slight thaw in the rock-solid freeze between the Browns and Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown.

Relations between the Browns and their greatest player have been non-existent for almost two years since President Mike Holmgren sought to reduce Brown’s role as executive adviser to owner Randy Lerner. Brown took offense, turned his back on a lesser role, and walked away from the franchise. Then he very publicly snubbed the Browns’ invitation in August of 2010 to participate in the club’s inaugural Ring of Honor ceremonies.

Attempts by Lerner and others to reconcile relations have since been met with a frosty rejection by Brown. But that could be changing. Brown has agreed to return on Dec. 9 as the keynote speaker at the Peacemakers Alliance Recognition Luncheon. The event, featuring several community leaders, will be held in the Legends Club in Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Former Brown Reggie Rucker — one of Brown’s best friends — is president of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance. He invited Brown to speak.

The Peacemakers Alliance is a coalition of organizations that seeks to curb youth violence. Brown’s Amer-I-Can organization is a partner. The Browns were an enthusiastic financial contributor to Amer-I-Can before the messy split with Brown. Contributions abruptly ceased. Rucker is hoping to be a peacemaker between his friend and the franchise for mutually beneficial reasons.

“I don’t see any sense in the Browns and Jim being apart like they’ve been,” he said. “I do believe without Jim here [in Cleveland], we’ve missed the community involvement he made. Plus, let’s face it, we need [the Browns'] help.”

Rucker said the Browns “have been very fair with me in respect to this event,” and intend to be represented at the luncheon.

It’s NFL election time: Another losing season for the Browns is having the predictable effect on fan voting for the AFC Pro Bowl team. No Browns player is close to winning the fan vote at his position. With three weeks of voting to go, three are in the top five.

Joe Thomas is running fifth at offensive tackle behind Baltimore’s Michael Oher, New England’s Matt Light, Miami’s Jake Long and the Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson. Thomas has earned a Pro Bowl berth in each of his previous four NFL seasons.

Ahtyba Rubin is fifth at defensive tackle behind Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata, Oakland’s Richard Seymour, New England Vince Wilfork and Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins. This showing is a testament to the respect Rubin has earned because he didn’t have a Pro Bowl reputation entering this season.

D’Qwell Jackson is fifth at inside linebacker behind Baltimore’s Ray Lewis, Indianapolis’ Pat Angerer, Buffalo’s Nick Barnett and Houston’s Brian Cushing. This is another triumph for Jackson, who missed 24 of the previous 32 games because of pectoral muscle injuries.

It’s interesting to note that Joe Haden has not cracked the top five at cornerback. His zero interceptions no doubt have cost him in the fan vote. The leading cornerbacks are the Jets’ Darrelle Revis, New England’s Kyle Arrington, Kansas City’s Brandon Flowers, Denver’s Champ Bailey and Houston’s Johnathan Joseph.

Online balloting at nfl.com concludes Dec. 19. The fan vote counts one-third toward the selection of the team. Players and coaches comprise the other portions. They vote on Dec. 21-22. Teams are announced on Dec. 27.

North nuggets

Bedford’s Lee Evans is healthy now after missing seven games with an ankle injury. The Ravens acquired Evans in August from Buffalo for a fourth-round pick. Evans, 30, has never been to a playoff game. He’s determined to contribute to that cause down the stretch and now will be integrated into the offense as a sub for Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith and in three-receiver sets. …

Bengals rookie duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green might cancel each other in league rookie-of-the-year voting. If Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a vote, he said he’d cast it for Dalton. “He does [things] that you just don’t see or expect from rookie quarterbacks,” Roethlisberger said on a conference call. “In college you can wait for guys to get open and throw it, [but] he throws it before guys are coming out of their breaks, before guys are getting into their holes, as he’s getting pressured.” … The Bengals need to beat the Steelers Sunday to stay in the race for division title. A key matchup pits Steelers rush linebacker Lamarr Woodley against Bengals right tackle Andre Smith. Browns end Jabaal Sheard destroyed Smith in the first half last week, but the Bengals believe Smith regrouped and held his own in the second half. Teammate Anthony Collins reportedly is being credited with a halftime pep talk in which he told Smith, “This is going to make you a man. Either you are going to go in the hole, or be the player that you can be.” …

Can the Steelers make a Super Bowl run with a stuttering running game? Feature back Rashard Mendenhall is on pace for his first sub-1,000-yard season since his rookie year. The Steelers are throwing 57 percent of the time.

Stat of the week

Since 1990, only one team that was 4-7 went on to make the playoffs. It was San Diego in 2008.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

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I am starting early to mentally prepare myself for the Sunday, December 4 game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. It will perhaps be the most difficult challenge of the season as the “Old Browns” take on the current expansion version of the Cleveland Browns franchise.

It is always difficult for me when the Ravens come to town. I can still remember that dreadful day back on November 6, 1995 when Art Modell announced he was moving the franchise to Baltimore to begin play in 1996. 16 years later, I am still agitated at least twice a year.

I am fearful for quarterback Colt McCoy(notes) this week. McCoy has been sacked 26 times this season largely due to a weak offensive line and will face off against a rabid Baltimore defense led by Ray Lewis(notes), Terrell Suggs(notes), and Ed Reed(notes). In their last game against the San Francisco 49ers, Alex Smith was sacked nine times. I am just hoping McCoy can come out alive, especially facing the Pittsburgh Steelers next week.

McCoy’s best target this week is rookie WR Greg Little(notes) who leads the team with 47 receptions and 495 yards. My concern here is that he may have inherited Braylon Edwards(notes) Syndrome having dropped a total of four passes last week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Known for ego issues during his college years at North Carolina, Little has shown maturity in his time with the Cleveland Browns making no excuses for his performance.

“Obviously, I was definitely upset at my performance,” Little said. “I took the time to cool off. I play with a high passion and high emotion. I got dressed and figured everybody would come up to me at once. Nobody showed up. I kind of left a little earlier than I usually do.”

He will need to be able to catch the quick throw this week as the Ravens’ will be coming at McCoy hard this week.

With Peyton Hillis(notes) back in action and Chris Ogbonnaya(notes) having a great season since joining the Browns, the running game will play a key role in protecting McCoy. One, if not both will need to step up and be able to move the ball.

On the defensive side of the ball LB Titus Brown(notes) will need to step up against Raven’s RB Ray Rice(notes). Scott Fujita’s(notes) injury could not have come at a worse time.

CB Joe Haden(notes) should be able to handle Anquan Boldin(notes).

As optimistic as I try to be regarding my beloved Cleveland Browns, all I am asking for this week is competitive football. Mistakes happen every game, but with the Browns already grossly overmatched in this contest, flawless execution will be the only thing able to keep the game competitive. Perhaps they will even surprise the world and pull off a win. That may be asking too much.

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

Cleveland Browns release Pro Bowl veteran Pontbriand in favor of rookie Yount: A fan’s reaction

Fan’s look: Who is Peyton Hillis anyway?

Cleveland Browns’ fans deserve better: A fan’s take

Browns fall to Rams, hit an all-new low: A fan’s reaction

Browns must win against Rams or face fan exile: A fan’s take

Sources:

All data provided by NFL.com

Yahoo! Sports – Cleveland Browns Team Report