CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland sports fans have often been disappointed with the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers over the years.

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage, Indians coverage and Cavaliers coverage)

Sometimes, the trials have been over disappointing finishes to what were otherwise enjoyable seasons. Fans need not be reminded of those.

More testing of the fans’ patience and loyalty, however, have been the long-term stretches of futility for each team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have concluded yet another woeful campaign, and The Associated Press reports on the team’s response:   

The Toronto Maple Leafs are apologizing for yet another disappointing season.

A letter to fans posted on the Leafs’ website Monday asks for forgiveness after the team missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year.

The letter signed by Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum said “the way this year ended was unacceptable.”

The Leafs were in sixth place in the Eastern Conference in February, but won just two of their next 17 games in a collapse they couldn’t recover from.

If the Browns, Indians or Cavaliers were to apologize to the fans for a stretch of failure, which team would it be and in what era?

The candidates:

BROWNS

1974-84: After being a perennial contender and having just one losing season in the 27 years since the franchise was founded, the Browns slipped into an era of mediocrity and, occasionally, an incompetence that had been foreign to the organization.

Cleveland went 73-88 during this 11-year span. The Browns made the playoffs twice, losing their first game each time: 14-12 to the Oakland Raiders in the infamous “Red Right 88″ game that ended the inspired 1980 season; 27-10 to the Los Angeles (formerly Oakland) Raiders in 1982, a season during which Cleveland went 4-5 but was one of 16 teams (out of 32) to make the expanded playoff field in the players’ strike-shortened season.

1999-2011: An ongoing era of futility since the Browns returned to the NFL as a franchise after a three-year hiatus due to owner Art Modell’s move of the original Browns to Baltimore following the 1995 season.

The excuse of being an expansion team lost its credibility years ago. History shows that numerous other expansion teams didn’t take nearly as long to become winners.

The Browns are 68-140 over the last 13 seasons. They have had two winning seasons: 10-6 in 2007 and 9-7 in 2002, when they made their lone playoff appearance – a 36-33 loss at Pittsburgh after leading, 33-21, in the fourth quarter.

In 10 of the 13 seasons, the Browns have lost at least 10 games. Their record has been 5-11 or worse nine times.

INDIANS

1960-93: This era defied probability. Not counting the strike-shortened 1981 season that was divided into two halves of barely 50 games each, the Indians finished at least 11 games out of first place every season. Other than 1981, they finished at least 14 games out every year from 1960 through 1985.

Counting the 1981 season, when they were 52-51, the Indians had six winning seasons out of 34. Their best record was 87-75 in 1965.

Cleveland’s highest finish was third place in 1968, with an 86-75 record.

2002-11: Following one of the two most successful eras in team history, the Indians of the last 10 years have had two winning seasons.

They made the playoffs once, in 2007, when they led the Boston Red Sox, three games to one, in the American League Championship Series, only to lose the final three games.

The Indians, going into this season, were 52 games below .500 over the last 10 seasons. Not horrible, but in an era of parity in Major League Baseball, only twice was the Tribe in legitimate contention in the final weeks of the season: 2005 and 2007.

CAVALIERS

1978-86: In the eight seasons ranging from the 1978-79 campaign through the 1985-86 campaign, the Cavaliers posted a 226-430 record.

They snuck into the playoffs once, in the 1984-85 season when they rallied from a 2-19 start to finish 36-46, their best record of this era. The Cavs lost to the defending champion Boston Celtics, three games to one, in a very competitive first-round series.

This stretch includes the controversial three-year ownership of Ted Stepien (1980-83), when the team compiled a 66-180 record and engineered a series of head-scratching trades that persuaded the NBA to allow Cleveland to make trades only with league approval.

In the first season outside this era, the 1986-87 campaign, the Cavs went 31-51. The team, however, featured the remarkable rookie class of Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper and John “Hot Rod” Williams.

1998-2003: The Cavs went 130-248 during these five seasons that began with a 22-28 record during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 campaign.

The futility did pay off, however. The Cavs matched the Denver Nuggets for the league’s worst record, 17-65, in the 2002-03 season. Cleveland won the draft lottery and selected LeBron James.

Cleveland, Ohio — With the NFL Draft coming up on April 26, the Browns have several options when it comes to making their first pick in the first round, No. 4 overall. 

Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff will have a story in Sunday’s paper on what the Browns might – and might not – do with their No. 4 pick.

Should they trade up? If the Browns truly believe Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a
franchise-caliber QB, they might need to move up to get him.

Should they trade down? The 2012 draft is especially fertile ground for a
trade-down if a team does not own one of the top two picks – QBs Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III.

Should they draft USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, assuming the Minnesota Vikings pass on him at No. 3?

Should they just draft Ryan Tannehill at No. 4 if he’s available? The Browns need a difference-maker at quarterback.

Should they pick Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, the best receiver in the draft?
Or go with Alabama’s Trent Richardson, the best running back in draft — by plenty.

Other choices are LSU defensive back Morris Claiborne; or someone else.

It’s your turn to be Tom Heckert: The Browns are on the clock . . . .

NFL Draft 2012: What should the Cleveland Browns do with the No. 4 overall pick?

Read More: Cleveland Browns

Mike Holmgren, the president of the Cleveland Browns, reported Monday that GM Tom Heckert is recovering from heart surgery he underwent at the Cleveland Clinic.

Heckert missed the Senior Bowl and has missed the majority of the NFL Combine due to the surgery, though he did use Skype to conduct private interviews with the players. The Browns own the No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, but are looking to potentially trade up to acquire Robert Griffin III.

Heckert should resume working on Tuesday, gradually increasing his workload as he recovers from the surgery, according to Holmgren. Via The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

He said Heckert did not have a heart attack, but that he wasn’t feeling well and went in for a checkup, which ultimately revealed the blockage. The surgery is believed to have been a bypass.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL in general, check out the SB Nation NFL hub over at sbnation.com/NFL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Few things went right, obviously, for the 2011 Cleveland Browns during their 4-12 season.

Two rookie defensive linemen, however, did provide some optimism for the team’s future.

First-round draft pick Phil Taylor showed promise, playing alongside solid veteran Ahtyba Rubin.

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard, a second-round pick, was even better, emerging as one of the Browns’ few playmakers on either side of the ball.

Mike Wilkening of ProFootballWeekly.com writes the Browns rookie report, including:

DE Jabaal Sheard — Sheard finished his first NFL season in fine form, recording another sack and six tackles. Sheard led the Browns this season with 8½ sacks, the second-most by a Cleveland rookie since sacks became an official statistics. Like fellow rookie Phil Taylor, Sheard started all 16 games on the Cleveland defensive line.

DT Phil Taylor — The Browns’ first-round pick recorded 59 tackles and four sacks in 2011, showing considerable potential. He made two tackles in Week 17.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi’s story on Browns coach Pat Shurmur beginning his search for an offensive coordinator; video, by David I. Andersen, of Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot discussing the offseason ahead for the Browns; a Starting Blocks poll asking what the most important offseason move for the Browns would be; “Bud Shaw’s Sports Spin;” and much more.

Goal to goal

The Browns’ problems lie with their offense. By Dave Hackenberg of the Toledo Blade.

The top job for Pat Shurmur is to bring back some hope for the team, writes Chad Conant for the Marion Star.

The Browns should keep Colt McCoy as their starting quarterback, Tom Misson writes for newsnet5.com.

Game-by-game review of the Browns’ season. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

Why the Browns shouldn’t pursue Peyton Manning. By Steve DiMatteo for the blog “Dawg Pound Daily.”

There’s not much to expect from a Mike Holmgren/Tom Heckert press conference, wriites Craig Lyndall for the blog “Waiting For Next Year.”

Browns players are still optimistic about the future, despite the 2011 win-loss record, writes Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot hosts News and Notes with Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Kaluka Maiava, D’Qwell Jackson and Colt McCoy as they prepare for the game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Browns coach Pat Shurmur has challenged quarterback Colt McCoy to carry his team through the AFC North gantlet that begins Sunday against the 6-4 Bengals.

“I’m looking for him to lead the charge in terms of ‘show improvement and win the game’ and I think that’s what we’re looking for as we go forward,” said Shurmur. “The way I look at it, we’re 4-6 and we’re trying to win this game as we push into the second half of this season. Hopefully we get on a roll here and then we can do something beyond January 1. We’re putting all our efforts into beating the Bengals and Colt is no different.”

The Browns have given McCoy this season to prove that he can be the quarterback of the future — and what a better way to do that than against five AFC North foes in the next six games, including three in 12 days.

“We’re going to find out how good we are because we know how competitive our division is,” said Shurmur. “In the next few weeks, we’re going to find out where we’re at.”

Fortunately for McCoy, the running game missing most of the season is showing signs of rebounding. Montario Hardesty will return after missing three games with a torn calf muscle and Peyton Hillis expects to play after missing five games with a pulled hamstring. In addition, Chris Ogbonnaya is coming off back-to-back games of 90 and 115 rushing yards.

The trio will try to rock the Bengals’ third-ranked run defense.

“It helps when you can run the football,” said McCoy, who’s probable with a sore right shoulder. “The defense has to respect that. Then all of a sudden you get some gimme throws here and there and you get in a rhythm.”

The Browns have gotten better in recent weeks at protecting McCoy and picking up the blitz. Rookie left guard Jason Pinkston is improving each game and Ogbonnaya, who will serve as the third-down back vs. the Bengals, is strong in blitz pickup. They’ll need to be on point against an aggressive Cincinnati defense, one that’s 10th in the NFL with 26 sacks. The Bengals are on pace for 42, which would be the most in coach Marvin Lewis’ nine seasons.

“Cincinnati has a really good defense,” said McCoy. “They do a lot of different things. They come after you, they play a lot of different coverages behind their pressures. I really have to do a good job myself of having my eyes right, knowing where the traps are, knowing where the coverages are going to be because it’s never the same. They’re very well-coached and they’re always in the right spot and they’ve gotten home a lot.”

Thanks in no small part to the running game, McCoy has played much better the past two weeks, completing 72.5 percent of his passes.

“Things are coming together for us a little bit,” said McCoy. “Everyone is becoming a little bit more comfortable. We’re doing some things better, we’re getting lined up better, we’re running routes better, we’re running the football a little better and when you put all those together it allows you to feel more comfortable out there. The last two games I felt like the receivers have especially done a good job. They’re starting to not think about things and play fast.”

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has received high praise for the Bengals’ 6-4 record this season, as McCoy has taken heat for the Browns’ 4-6 mark. But their stats are very similar:

• McCoy is completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 21st in the NFL and Dalton is completing 59.3 percent for 23rd.

• McCoy has passed for 2,181 yards for 20th in the NFL and Dalton has passed for 2,239 for 18th.

• McCoy’s rating is 79.2 for 22nd in the NFL and Dalton’s is 79.6 for 21st.

• McCoy has thrown 11 TDs and seven INTs and Dalton has thrown 15 TDs and 12 interceptions.

The major difference is that Dalton’s No. 1 receiver, rookie A.J. Green, has caught six TD passes and McCoy’s, Greg Little, has yet to catch one.

“[Dalton's] probably about where they thought he’d be,” said Shurmur. “He’s doing a very good job. They’re doing what fits for their team. They’re very good at running the football, they’re very physical up front, they’ve got some outstanding playmakers and they’ve got a young quarterback they’re developing. They keep him out of harm’s way in some ways because they can run the football and they don’t ask him to do a lot of very heroic things. But you can see his playmaking abilities show up in the stuff they’re asking him to do and I think that’s a credit to them.”

The Browns contend their record could just as easily be 6-4 as well.

“Yeah, I mean, you think of two plays,” said left tackle Joe Thomas. “The first game of the season against Cincinnati, if they don’t throw that touchdown pass before we line up, we may win that game. Take one from them, give it to us. If we get the field goal two weeks ago, we’re 6-4 and they’re 5-5. I’m sure every team in the NFL can say that. We’re right there and we feel like we’re making the right progress.”

In addition to a full complement of running backs, McCoy also has receiver Mohamed Massaquoi back and is developing timing with his other receivers. Cribbs has caught three TD passes in four games and leads the team with four.

“Colt is coming into his own,” said Cribbs. “They’ve opened up the playbook for him a little bit and allowed him to spread the ball around to different receivers and Colt loves it. He’s fitting well in the system, he knows what the coaches want and who they want to catch the ball. All of these division games are a great chance for him to prove what he can do.”

Sitting out: Defensive end Jayme Mitchell has been ruled out with his ankle injury.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Browns Stadium.

Both teams are 3-6. Win-loss records don’t necessarily assure a certain level of entertainment value, good or bad, one way or the other.

Given, though, the nature of both teams’ struggling offenses, only the improbable would find the game with featured billing on post-game NFL highlight shows.

Nate Ulrich covers the Browns for the Akron Beacon Journal and Vito Stellino tracks the Jaguars for the Florida Times-Union.

Ulrich previews the Browns-Jaguars game by asking Stellino some questions about the Jaguars, including: 

Q: What should the Browns be worried about most when they face the Jaguars?

A: “That they can’t score. The Browns have scored nine points [and allowed 58] in the first quarter this year. If the Jaguars take the lead, then they can play conservative. The Browns’ best chance is if Gabbert throws interceptions. But if [the Jaguars] get ahead, play conservative, play good defense and run the ball, that would favor them. What [the Browns] have to worry about is they have to certainly go out and score early and then force the Jaguars not to be quite as conservative as they can be. Jones-Drew had 25 carries and backup [Deji Karim] had nine, so those two ran the ball 34 times [Sunday in the Jaguars’ 17-3 victory] against the Indianapolis Colts. I would think that’s their best formula, and they would probably do the same thing against the Browns.”

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi’s story that the Browns got away with an illegal play in their 13-12 loss to the St. Louis Rams last Sunday; Grossi’s scouting report on the Jaguars; videos by David I. Andersen of Browns quarterback Colt McCoy being interviewed on Wednesday and of Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot previewing the Browns-Jaguars game; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns-Jaguars game; and much more.

Sideline to sideline

It’s difficult to evaluate Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, says Jamison Hensley, via ESPN.com video.

It’s premature for fans to call for the firing of Browns coach Pat Shurmur, Mike McLain writes for the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

A transcript of Pat Shurmur’s Wednesday press conference, on clevelandbrowns.com.

The Jaguars passing game vs. the Browns pass defense, by Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Weekly.

Some Browns players quotes from Wednesday, on clevelandbrowns.com.

The Browns are trying to identify their offensive problems. By Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Browns notes, including updates on wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and running back Montario Hardesty, by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

All of the Browns’ 2011 draft picks are contributing, Fred Greetham writes for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Cleveland Browns Team Report on USAToday.com.

Montario Hardesty hopes to find his place in the Browns offense, Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository.

Eight reasons the Browns’ offense is among the NFL’s worst. A Bleacher Report slideshow.

The Jaguars are hoping to get their offense going against the Browns, writes Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Rams lost to the Cardinals last week because of a blocked field goal — and they returned the favor Sunday against the Browns.

Replays showed Rams defensive end James Hall — who also flinched before the snap to cause a disastrous chain of events — apparently got his left hand on Phil Dawson’s 22-yard field goal attempt and caused it to veer wide left by about six inches.

“I thought the ball coming off my foot still had a chance to go in,” said Dawson. “I was surprised when I saw it heading left.”

The kick — ill-fated from the start — would’ve given the Browns a 15-13 lead with about 2:10 remaining. Instead, the Rams escaped out with a 13-12 victory.

It was Hall who applied the double-whammy — not only getting a piece of the ball, but also bobbing his head early and causing the Browns’ line to move. When Hall flinched, Browns’ linemen Brian Schaefering and Alex Mack both reacted and stepped to the right early. Two-time Pro Bowl long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand rushed his snap, and it went off Mack’s right foot, which normally wouldn’t have been there yet.

Holder Brad Maynard — one of the best in the league at that job — managed to get the ball down after it bounced toward him — albeit with the laces facing Dawson.

Dawson, whose timing was now off, still managed to hit it well enough to go through — until Hall got his left hand on it. Hall plowed through after defensive tackle Gary Gibson drove guard Jason Pinkston to the ground, and made the play with his back to Dawson.

Afterwards, Dawson was furious at the refs for missing Hall’s head-bob, which set off the chain of events and ultimately cost the Browns a shot at the victory.

“Usually the snap is first and all the movement follows,” said Dawson. “You get this [flinch] by the defense and we react and then here comes the snap, now the leg’s in the way. So, it’s either offsides, or it’s a false start on us. It’s one or the other.”

Regardless, Dawson would’ve had another attempt.

“I was screaming at the official,” he said. “I said, ‘it’s either defense in the neutral zone or false start. It can’t be nothing.’ He said ‘we have a guy watching. I said, ‘apparently not very well.’”

Dawson said the Browns will most likely sent the tape into the NFL office, but of course, it’s too late.

“We’ll probably get an apology, but that doesn’t change much,” he said. “I’d just like to hear their explanation.”

Dawson said he was trying to be extra quick because “it was a short game-winner. They had gotten off the edge pretty close on one before. The tradeoff when you’re trying to be quick is there’s no time to digest anything.”

Dawson, who had made all four of his attempts before the final one, lamented, “the most hated words for me is chip shots. ‘Oh, this is just a chip shot.’ Only guys that have lined up to kick in this league know there’s no such thing.”

The Browns have had two other field goals blocked this season, both in the 6-3 victory over the Seahawks — although this one does not technically go down as a block.

“After I took my second step I was thinking, ‘Are we going to abort this or are we actually going to try to kick it?’ Brad did an awesome job,” said Dawson. “All of a sudden there’s the ball. I tried to all of a sudden swing my leg under it.”

Pontbriand, who may have slightly double-clutched because of the pre-snap movement, assumed full blame despite how it all transpired.

“It was an inopportune time, and I pretty much cost our team the victory,” he said. “It’s pretty tough to handle. I just know it was a bad snap and I messed up at a very terrible time.”

Pontbriand said the fact that the snap went off Mack’s foot is no consolation.

“If that’s the case, I still don’t feel any better about it,” he said. “I can play better than that and it should never have come close and I cost the team the victory. It’s on me. I have a narrow window to snap. That’s my job. And this is my fault.”

He added, “everything felt fine until I saw the ball out of my hands and it was almost immediately wobbly and I don’t even really know which way it went. I wasn’t perfect and we need to execute as a team and I’m the one who starts that play and I need to do a better job.”

Maynard summed up the feeling of the entire unit.

“This is one of the lows of my career right now,” he said. “We let the team down.”

Plain Dealer staff writer Dennis Manoloff contributed to this report.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — On the surface of it, the Cleveland Browns’ AFC North might qualify as the NFL’s premier division.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2; the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, each 5-2; the Browns, 3-4.

That makes the division teams a combined 19-10. Subtract the two games played thus far within the division — the Bengals’ 27-17 win over the Browns and the Ravens’ 35-7 rout of the Steelers, both in Sept. 11 season openers — and the teams are 17-8 in games played against foes outside the division.

Don Banks of Sports Illustrated’s SI.com, in his “NFL Midseason Report: 2011,” writes that the AFC North is tops, but… 

• BEST DIVISION — AFC North: The Steelers, Ravens and Bengals are all dangerous two-loss teams, and even last-place Cleveland is a competitive 3-4. The secret to the division’s success? It drew the weak NFC West and AFC South in the league’s scheduling format this year.

The Browns get a chance to enhance the AFC North’s reputation when they visit the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (5-3) on Sunday.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Jodie Valade’s story that Browns running back Peyton Hillis says this season has “been a humbling experience;” Tony Grossi’s Browns Insider; the Browns Insider weekly video show, with Dennis Manoloff, Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot talking about the Browns; a Starting Blocks Browns vs. Texans poll; and, much more.

Post patterns

Defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin is playing at a Pro Bowl level, Steve Doerschuk writes for SportingNews.com.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden against Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson. By Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

How about the Browns running a hurry-up offense? That, and Browns notes, by Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

The Browns are second in the NFL in dropped passes, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.

Getting the football to the Browns’ playmakers. By Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

What the season has been like for Peyton Hillis. By Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Colt McCoy is playing better than he’s given credit for, writes Brian Murtaugh for the Bleacher Report.

Browns injuries update, by Scott Petrak for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

Facing Houston’s zone blocking, by Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

What do you want to see from the Browns against the Texans? By Craig Lyndall for WaitingForNextYear.com.

How the Browns-Texans game will play out, by John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Gary Kubiak isn’t a lock to remain as the Houston Texans coach, writes Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns haven’t played in any of the first 45 Super Bowls, including the three seasons (1996-98) during which Cleveland didn’t have an NFL franchise.

And, here’s a bulletin: The Browns won’t play in the 46th Super Bowl, either. Well, we’re pretty sure they won’t.

Thus, the 2011 season is, more than anything, about building for the future.

Mike Wilkening of ProFootballWeekly.com provides brief updates of how the Browns’ rookies are doing, referring to their performances in Cleveland’s 20-10 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday.

About the most visible Browns’ rookies, Wilkening writes:

DT Phil Taylor — Taylor recorded his third sack of the season and forced QB Alex Smith to fumble, but Smith was able to recover. In seven starts, Taylor has 25 tackles.

WR Greg Little — Targeted a game-high 11 times on Sunday, Little managed just four catches for 28 yards with a long catch of nine yards. On the season, he’s caught 29 passes for 260 yards (51 targets).

DE Jabaal Sheard — Sheard made his seventh start and recorded three tackles, with his biggest stop coming when he teamed with MLB D’Qwell Jackson to stop a 3rd-and-goal run by 49ers RB Frank Gore from the Cleveland two short of the goal line. Sheard has recorded 24 tackles and 2½ sacks on the season.

OLG Jason Pinkston — The 6-3, 305-pound Pinkston made his seventh start at left guard. The Browns rushed once off left guard for three yards. Pinkston was flagged for a facemask penalty, which San Francisco declined.

The Browns (3-4) visit the Houston Texans (5-3) on Sunday.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi’s story that the Browns waived wide receiver Brian Robiskie to make room on the roster for running back Thomas Clayton; Terry Pluto’s blog that the improvement of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith shows it’s too early to give up on Browns QB Colt McCoy; a Starting Blocks Browns-Texans poll; an interview with Mary Kay Cabot, talking about the Browns, on Starting Blocks TV; and, much more.

Goal to goal

A report on the Waiting For Next Year blog on the contract extension that has maybe been offered to running back Peyton Hillis.

The Browns’ third-down problems, by Dave Kolonich for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Judge Dick Ambrose, the former Browns linebacker, spoke at the Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon on Monday. By Steve King for clevelandbrowns.com.

Comments on Brian Robiskie being waived by the Browns, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Josh Cribbs should get some time at running back, with Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty hurting, writes Daniel Wolf for the National Football Authority.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur sees progress where maybe others don’t, Jeff Schudel writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

The Browns defense remains a bright spot, writes Vic Carucci for clevelandbrowns.com.

The Texans couldn’t beat Vince Young. Can they defeat another former University of Texas QB great, the Browns’ Colt McCoy? By John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

The Browns sign Thomas Clayton and waive Brian Robiskie, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Browns offense falls in the AFC North Stock Watch. By Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. 

SAN FRANCISCO — Maybe the Browns just needed another trip out west to locate their missing West Coast offense — one that’s ranked 27th with only 16.2 points per game.

“It’s the pink elephant in the middle of the room,” said receiver Greg Little.

“We’re all scratching our heads,” said quarterback Colt McCoy.

“It’s frustrating,” said tight end Evan Moore. “It’s not that hard.”

But it has been for the Browns, and it won’t be a trolley ride Sunday against the 5-1 49ers, especially without starting receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) and perhaps running back Peyton Hillis (hamstring). The 49ers are 11th in total defense — second against the run.

“This will be the best defense we’ve played all year,” said McCoy.

Not exactly what this points-challenged offense needs right now, is it? Consider some of these numbers:

• The Browns are 31st in the NFL with 4.3 yards per play;

• They’re 29th with only 10 touchdowns;

• They’re 31st with only 13 trips inside the red zone; and

• They’ve have been outscored, 34-3, in the first quarter.

But tight end Alex Smith indicated that a change of pace will be in store.

“We have a couple of things up our sleeves to try to try to get our tempo generated,” he said. “It’s not radically different. We’ll just try to be fast-paced and keep the defense off it’s toes. Until we get our tempo right, I don’t think we’ll have success.”

Could the Browns be planning to open in the no-huddle to bust out of their first-quarter slumber?

“That’s another aspect of it, but at the end of the day, it’s about executing the plays as fast as we can,” said Smith. “If we can pick up the pace, it will help us out a lot.”

McCoy insisted that the current protocol, beginning with 15 or so scripted plays, is progressing just fine. “I think we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “[But] the no-huddle has been a good part of our offense when we’ve got our backs against the wall. We work on it a lot in practice, so we’ll see.”

More than anything, McCoy said, it’s a matter of this young offense continuing to hone the West Coast scheme.

“You go back and watch it from Joe Montana to Steve Young to anybody’s who’s run it, it’s an offense where it’s rhythm, it’s timing [that makes it succeed],” said McCoy. “You get the ball out and let guys make plays — and we’re going to stick to that. It’s what we do, and we’re getting better week-to-week. The one positive from last week is that we stayed on the field for 40 minutes. Now we’ve just got to get in the end zone.”

That type of ball control will be difficult against the 49ers’ second-ranked run defense – which yields 74.7 yards per game. They’re the only team in the NFL not to give up a rushing touchdown this season and haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 28 straight games, the longest active streak.

“We faced the best run defense last week [in yards per carry] and now we’re facing the second-best,” said running back Montario Hardesty, who churned out 95 yards against the Seahawks. “They defend the run very well with seven guys in the box. It all starts with their linebackers. They’re tough, physical and fast to the ball, but we’re up to the task.”

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas gushed over the 49ers’ front seven in general.

“There’s big-time studs across the front, they’re built to stop the run, and in my opinion they’ve got the best linebacker in the NFL in Patrick Willis,” said Thomas. “He doesn’t miss any tackles. You look at their guys on the outside, they’re outstanding, They do everything you want out of a front seven, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

He knows he’ll get a tough battle from former Bengals right end Justin Smith, who leads the 49ers with an amazing 32 pressures.

“Justin is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL,” said Thomas. “He’s been doing it a long time, he’s extremely durable, he’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical. He plays with a relentless motor. He’s a guy that’s going to be really hard to block. I remember playing against him my second game of my career [against Cincinnati] and it was a battle every single play.”

But 32 pressure in six games? Can that be right?

“In Cincinnati, he didn’t always have a lot of sacks, but he hit the quarterback all the time,” said Thomas. “He’s a guy who never quits. Even if he’s blocked, he’s still getting through at the last minute. He’s good and underrated.”

The 49ers have also held opposing quarterbacks to a 77.7 rating, fifth in the NFL, and they rank first in the league with 49 passes defensed. They’re tied for third with 14 takeaways.

“Their defense is playing lights out right now,” said Little. “With Mohamed out, I definitely want to take on the responsibility of being a bigger playmaker.”

Josh Cribbs will replace Massaquoi in the starting lineup and second-year receiver Carlton Mitchell will see action on offense as well as special teams.

“We’re fighting, we’re clawing, we’re trying to do everything we can to score points,” said McCoy. “I can’t tell you how hard we work. I’ve spent a lot of time with the receivers, and it’s going to happen. We’ll be ready this weekend and hopefully we’ll start fast and play well.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

SAN FRANCISCO — Maybe the Browns just needed another trip out west to locate their missing West Coast offense — one that’s ranked 27th with only 16.2 points per game.

“It’s the pink elephant in the middle of the room,” said receiver Greg Little.

“We’re all scratching our heads,” said quarterback Colt McCoy.

“It’s frustrating,” said tight end Evan Moore. “It’s not that hard.”

But it has been for the Browns, and it won’t be a trolley ride Sunday against the 5-1 49ers, especially without starting receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) and perhaps running back Peyton Hillis (hamstring). The 49ers are 11th in total defense — second against the run.

“This will be the best defense we’ve played all year,” said McCoy.

Not exactly what this points-challenged offense needs right now, is it? Consider some of these numbers:

• The Browns are 31st in the NFL with 4.3 yards per play;

• They’re 29th with only 10 touchdowns;

• They’re 31st with only 13 trips inside the red zone; and

• They’ve have been outscored, 34-3, in the first quarter.

But tight end Alex Smith indicated that a change of pace will be in store.

“We have a couple of things up our sleeves to try to try to get our tempo generated,” he said. “It’s not radically different. We’ll just try to be fast-paced and keep the defense off it’s toes. Until we get our tempo right, I don’t think we’ll have success.”

Could the Browns be planning to open in the no-huddle to bust out of their first-quarter slumber?

“That’s another aspect of it, but at the end of the day, it’s about executing the plays as fast as we can,” said Smith. “If we can pick up the pace, it will help us out a lot.”

McCoy insisted that the current protocol, beginning with 15 or so scripted plays, is progressing just fine. “I think we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “[But] the no-huddle has been a good part of our offense when we’ve got our backs against the wall. We work on it a lot in practice, so we’ll see.”

More than anything, McCoy said, it’s a matter of this young offense continuing to hone the West Coast scheme.

“You go back and watch it from Joe Montana to Steve Young to anybody’s who’s run it, it’s an offense where it’s rhythm, it’s timing [that makes it succeed],” said McCoy. “You get the ball out and let guys make plays — and we’re going to stick to that. It’s what we do, and we’re getting better week-to-week. The one positive from last week is that we stayed on the field for 40 minutes. Now we’ve just got to get in the end zone.”

That type of ball control will be difficult against the 49ers’ second-ranked run defense – which yields 74.7 yards per game. They’re the only team in the NFL not to give up a rushing touchdown this season and haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 28 straight games, the longest active streak.

“We faced the best run defense last week [in yards per carry] and now we’re facing the second-best,” said running back Montario Hardesty, who churned out 95 yards against the Seahawks. “They defend the run very well with seven guys in the box. It all starts with their linebackers. They’re tough, physical and fast to the ball, but we’re up to the task.”

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas gushed over the 49ers’ front seven in general.

“There’s big-time studs across the front, they’re built to stop the run, and in my opinion they’ve got the best linebacker in the NFL in Patrick Willis,” said Thomas. “He doesn’t miss any tackles. You look at their guys on the outside, they’re outstanding, They do everything you want out of a front seven, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

He knows he’ll get a tough battle from former Bengals right end Justin Smith, who leads the 49ers with an amazing 32 pressures.

“Justin is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL,” said Thomas. “He’s been doing it a long time, he’s extremely durable, he’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical. He plays with a relentless motor. He’s a guy that’s going to be really hard to block. I remember playing against him my second game of my career [against Cincinnati] and it was a battle every single play.”

But 32 pressure in six games? Can that be right?

“In Cincinnati, he didn’t always have a lot of sacks, but he hit the quarterback all the time,” said Thomas. “He’s a guy who never quits. Even if he’s blocked, he’s still getting through at the last minute. He’s good and underrated.”

The 49ers have also held opposing quarterbacks to a 77.7 rating, fifth in the NFL, and they rank first in the league with 49 passes defensed. They’re tied for third with 14 takeaways.

“Their defense is playing lights out right now,” said Little. “With Mohamed out, I definitely want to take on the responsibility of being a bigger playmaker.”

Josh Cribbs will replace Massaquoi in the starting lineup and second-year receiver Carlton Mitchell will see action on offense as well as special teams.

“We’re fighting, we’re clawing, we’re trying to do everything we can to score points,” said McCoy. “I can’t tell you how hard we work. I’ve spent a lot of time with the receivers, and it’s going to happen. We’ll be ready this weekend and hopefully we’ll start fast and play well.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns began the season with a group of young, unaccomplished (at the NFL level) wide receivers.

The situation is even more urgent now, given that the wideout who has made an occasional big play — Mohamed Massaquoi — is questionable for Sunday’s game at San Francisco against the 49ers. He suffered a concussion during Cleveland’s 6-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday.

Carlton Mitchell might get the chance to catch some Colt McCoy passes. Craig Lyndall writes for WaitingForNextYear.com that the Browns might as well find out what they have at the end of the wide receiver depth chart and, he writes:

In addition to Mitchell, I would hope as the passing game continues to struggle that we would eventually also get a look at Jordan Norwood. As I said in the comments yesterday, I know Jordan Norwood is just a little guy, but he is probably also the fastest and quickest of the receivers. In training camp, he was getting open while people were touting him as a faster version of Chansi Stuckey. Of course, being who I am, I was dreaming about him becoming a Wes Welker for the Browns, which obviously hasn’t happened up to this point.

It just seems to me as this passing game continues to struggle that the Browns would want to continue through the process of seeing what everyone on the roster can (and can’t) do. Also, as McCoy struggles against gameplans that always (ALWAYS!) include blitzing early and often, it seems to me that someone like Jordan Norwood would be a good candidate to steal reps from Josh Cribbs even. If the Browns can’t get open and the defense is blitzing like crazy, wouldn’t you want your fastest, quickest cutting guy to be on the field so he could get open right away on slants and crosses?

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi’s report that running back Peyton Hillis missed practice today with a sore hamstring; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns-49ers game; Browns safety Mike Adams’ interview on Starting Blocks TV; Browns Insider, the weekly video show, this week previewing the Browns-49ers game with Dennis Manoloff, Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot; and, much more.

Goal to goal

Breaking down film on the Browns’ field goal protection, on WaitingForNextYear.com. Cleveland had two field goal tries blocked during Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Browns’ improving defense is getting a boost from its safeties, writes Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

The Browns remain confident in quarterback Colt McCoy, Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository.

The Browns’ pass blocking vs. the 49ers’ pass rush. By Mike Wilkening for ProFootballWeekly.com.

Carlton Mitchell finally gets to play. By Daniel Wolf for the National Football Authority.

The Browns haven’t forgot their former wide receiver, Braylon Edwards — now with the 49ers. By Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

The 49ers go against the Browns’ version of the West Coast offense. By Samuel Lam for the San Francisco 49ers Examiner.

The Browns are preparing to face a rested 49ers team. By Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

Transcript of coach Pat Shurmur’s Thursday pre-practice press conference, on clevelandbrowns.com.

Transcript of defensive coordinator Dick Jauron’s Thursday press conference, from the Akron Beacon Journal.

Cleveland Browns Team Report on USAToday.com.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Browns Stadium in a matchup of 2-3 teams.

The Browns might be without running back Peyton Hillis, who injured his left hamstring in the first quarter of Cleveland’s 24-17 loss to the Raiders in Oakland last Sunday.

Hillis’ career took a temporary turn when he tore his right hamstring three years ago, when he was a Denver Broncos rookie. He may well have been on his way to establishing himself as Denver’s long-term answer at tailback before the injury set in motion a set of circumstances that allowed the Browns to get him at moderate cost — trading quarterback Brady Quinn to Denver for Hillis and two late-round draft picks prior to the 2010 season.

(A recent cleveland.com story detailed Hillis’ career since his college days at Arkansas, and how he has had to prove himself time and again)

On Nov. 6, 2008 in Cleveland, Hillis got a chance to run with the football for Denver after four Broncos tailbacks had been injured. His numbers weren’tt spectacular– eight carries for 24 yards — but he picked up crucial first downs in short-yardage situations as the Broncos overcame a 23-10 Browns lead to win, 34-30.

Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository writes about Hillis’ current injury, and that his injury in 2008 changed things for the Broncos and Hillis. Prior to the game against the Browns, writes Doerschuk, Hillis….:

He had broken out as a receiver a week earlier, not getting a single carry, but catching seven passes for 116 yards against Miami.

He followed up the Cleveland game with a 10-carry, 44-yard game against Atlanta, then accelerated to 74 yards on 17 carries against Oakland.

Broncos fans were hooked when he hit Eric Mangini’s Jets for 129 yards on 22 carries one week later. He just kept getting better every week, even as opponents got more film to study.

He was on his way to another big game a week later, with 58 yards on his first eight carries against the Chiefs.

Late in the first half, he jumped to make a circus catch and was pounced on by defensive backs Jarrad Page and Brandon Carr. His right foot got stuck. His hamstring got mangled. He missed the last three games with the hamstring tear.

Then-Head Coach Mike Shanahan said at the time, “It’s always tough to lose a guy like that, but he will be good for the future. He’s proved that he can play tailback in the National Football League, and that one catch he made was probably as good a catch as you could make … unfortunately, he pulled his hamstring making that catch.”

The Broncos were 8-5 after the Chiefs game but lost their last three games without Hillis. Shanahan was fired. Under his replacement, Josh McDaniels, Hillis was healthy, but he carried just 13 times for 54 yards in the entire 2009 season.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot’s story that Browns president Mike Holmgren says that contract talks with Peyton Hillis are at a standstill for now; Cabot’s update on the Browns’ injuries; the weekly video edition of the Browns Insider, with Cabot, Dennis Manoloff and Bud Shaw talking about the Browns; Plain Dealer Twitter updates from today when Mike Holmgren talked with the media; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns-Seahawks game; Cabot’s Browns Insider; and, much more.

Goal to goal

Former Browns running back Jerome Harrison has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, though the long-term prognosis for his health and even his football career is good. By Adam Schefter, and according to sources, for ESPN.com.

Concern about injuries among the Browns’ defensive backs, and Browns notes, by Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Stop breaking down every word that Mike Holmgren says. By Criag Lyndall for Waiting For Next Year.

AFC North teams are setting the NFL standard for defensive play this season, Jamison Hensley writes for ESPN.com.

Browns notebook, highlighting running back Chris Ogbonnaya, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Mike Holmgren tries to defuse any drama surrounding the Browns, Daniel Wolf writes for the National Football Authority.

Anthony Campomizzi, writing for Dawg Pound Daily, wonders if Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is regressing this season.

The AFC North quarterback watch — including the Browns’ Colt McCoy — by Jamison Hensley on ESPN.com.

Seattle Seahawks coverage on the Seattle Times.