Cleveland, Ohio – The NFL announced today that Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has been suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for his role in the New Orleans’ Saints bounty system. Fujita played for the Saints from 2006 through 2009 before signing with the Browns.

From Mary Kay Cabot’s story on the suspension:

Fujita can appeal the ruling within three days.

Fujita can participate in organized team activities (offseason practices) and play in the preseason games.

. . . Three of Fujita’s former teammates were also suspended: Jonathan Vilma for a year, to begin immediately; Anthony Hargrove eight games and Will Smith four games.

Do you think the suspension was about right; too many games; or should he not have been suspended?

NFL suspends Cleveland Browns’ Scott Fujita for 3 games: Too many?

(Re-post from last April, as the 2011 NFL draft approached)

Today we finish our countdown of the Cleveland Browns’ 100 best draft picks of all time.

Previously, we have posted the Browns best all-time picks Nos. 100-81, followed by Nos. 80-61 and Nos. 60-41 and Nos. 40-21.

This is not a ranking of the 100 best players drafted by Cleveland. Instead, it’s an estimation of the 100 best Browns’ picks in terms of value. Simply, a Player A taken by the Browns with, say, the 120th overall pick, turned out to be a better pick for value than did a Player B who might have contributed a little more but was a 55th overall pick.

Only players who played at least three seasons with the Browns after being picked by the team in the annual draft were considered. Players acquired through a rare supplemental draft, such as Bernie Kosar, Kevin Mack and Mike Johnson, aren’t included because the mechanics of the supplemental draft are not comparable to the regular draft.

Browns greats such as Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, etc., aren’t included, as they began their Browns’ careers in the All-America Football Conference.

Performance with the Browns only is considered. For instance, future Hall of Famers Doug Atkins, Willie Davis, Henry Jordan and Dick LeBeau were Browns’ draft picks from 1953-59. LeBeau was cut by the Browns before playing for them. The other three were traded by the Browns after just two seasons each as part-time players.

Playoff game performances were considered. Statistics are only for what a player did with the Browns. Statistical considerations in the rankings recognize that the game has become more pass-oriented in the last 30 years or so. Also, some players’ values are enhanced by what the Browns eventually got for them in trades.

Only occasionally is it considered whom the Browns didn’t take. The value of 1976 picks Mike Pruitt (seventh) and Dave Logan (65th) shouldn’t be diminished because they and no other team selected future Hall of Fame tackle Jackie Slater until the Los Angeles Rams took him 86th.

Positions: Offense — QB, quarterback; RB, running back; FB, fullback; WR, wide receiver; TE, tight end; C, center; G, guard; T, tackle; PK, placekicker; P, punter; Rtn, kickoff and/or punt returner; LS, long snapper.

Defense — E, end; T, tackle; NT, nose tackle; LB, linebacker; CB, cornerback; S, safety; DB, cornerback and safety.

Key: ranking number, player, position, year drafted, round/overall pick number, college, years with Browns.

20. Ray Renfro, WR-RB, 1952, 4/48, North Texas, 1952-63. Earned Pro Bowl or second-team all-league recognition in five different seasons. Sprinter’s speed helped him average 19.6 yards on his 281 pass receptions, the 15th best career yards-per-catch in NFL history.. Caught 50 touchdown passes and ran for four more TDs. Caught seven passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the Browns’ 1954 and 1955 championship game wins.

19. Joe Thomas, T, 2007, 1/3, Wisconsin, 2007-10. Assuming he stays healthy, Thomas is on track to move up on any list like this in the future. Made the Pro Bowl team each of his four seasons and named to all-pro first-teams each of the last two seasons. Has started all 64 games at left tackle. (Ranking was made prior to the 2011 season)

18. Gary Collins, WR-P, 1962, 1/4, Maryland, 1962-71. Three-time first-team all-pro. Averaged 16 yards on his 331 career receptions, and caught 70 touchdown passes. After playing as a backup his rookie season, caught 61 TD passes in his six full seasons — many on the famed “(Frank) Ryan to Collins post pattern” — the 61 TDs a remarkable number in a running game-oriented era of 14-game seasons. Scored five touchdowns in postseason play. Three of them (18, 42 and 51 yards) were the game’s only TDs in the Browns’ 27-0 upset win over the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 championship game. Was the Browns’ punter his first six seasons. Led the NFL with a 46.7-yard punting average in 1965.

Video: Highlights of the Browns’ last two regular season games in 1964, and the 27-0 title game win over the Colts, when Gary Collins caught three touchdown passes (videos from youtube.com):

The Plain Dealer’s Browns History Database includes PD stories on every regular season and playoff game the Browns have played in. The late Chuck Heaton, the PD’s longtime Browns beat writer, wrote about the Browns’ title game win over the Colts on Dec. 27, 1964 at Cleveland Stadium.

17. Greg Pruitt, RB-Rtn, 1973, 2/30, Oklahoma, 1973-81. Made the Pro Bowl his first two seasons due in large part to his return game, and made it in 1976 and 1977 because of his play at halfback. Rushed for 5,496 yards as a Brown, averaging 4.7 yards a carry. Caught 323 passes and totaled 43 touchdowns. Missed much of the 1979 season with a knee injury, and was used primarily as a receiver the next two years.

16. Hanford Dixon, CB, 1981, 1/22, Southern Mississippi, 1981-89. Dixon, and the Browns other cornerback, Frank Minnifield, both played man-to-man pass coverage as well as virtually any DB in the 80′s. Named first-team all-pro twice. Missed just three games, not counting the three “replacement player games” during the 24-day players strike in 1987. Intercepted 26 passes.

15. Ken Konz, CB-S, 1951, 1/14, Louisiana State, 1953-59. Served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War before joining the Browns in 1953. A first-team all-pro twice. Intercepted 30 passes (four returned for touchdowns) during regular season games — and had two INTs in the Browns’ 56-10 championship game win over the Lions in 1954, and two more in the 38-14 title win over the Rams in 1955. Led the league with a 14.4-yard punt return average in 1956. Occasionally used as a punter.

14. Jerry Sherk, DT, 1970, 2/47, Oklahoma State, 1970-81. Didn’t miss a game in his first seven seasons, and again in 1978, but was slowed by injuries his last three years. One of the quickest tackles in the league, he was a stalwart run-stopper and a fine pass rusher. Played in four Pro Bowls and was first-team all-league twice.

Video: Highlights of a 27-17 Browns’ win in 1972 at Philadelphia, including some glimpses of Jerry Sherk (72).

13. Bobby Mitchell, RB-Rtn, 1958, 7/84, Illinois, 1958-61. Played halfbaack with Jim Brown at fullback. Rushed for 2,297 yards, 5.4 per carry, and 16 touchdowns as a Brown. Averaged 11.4 yards on 128 receptions, with 16 touchdowns. Returned 62 kickoffs for a 25-yard average and three TDs, and 54 punts for an 11.2-yard average and three touchdowns. Traded with halfback Leroy Jackson, the Browns’ 11th pick in the 1962 draft, to Washington for the first pick in the draft, halfback and 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. Davis was stricken with leukemia that summer, and died on May 18, 1963. Mitchell was used primarily at wide receiver with Washington, where he continued to build on his Hall of Fame career.

12. Clay Matthews, LB, 1978, 1/12, Southern California, 1978-93. The Browns’ all-time sacks leader with 76 1/2. Played in four Pro Bowls and was first-team all-pro once. Played in a Browns’ record 232 games, including 216 starts. Adept at covering receivers out of the backfield and excellent against the run. Clinched the Browns’ 1989 playoff game win over Buffalo, 34-30, with a late interception of a Jim Kelly pass near the Browns’ goal line.

11. Cody Risien, G-T, 1979, 7/183, Texas A&M, 1979-89. Became a starter as a rookie. One of his era’s taller offensive linemen at 6-7, Risien excelled in both run and pass blocking. Missed the 1984 season with a knee injury. Was first-team all-league twice and played in two Pro Bowls.

10. Walt Michaels, LB, 1951, 7/86, Washington & Lee, 1952-61. We’re including Michaels even though the Browns traded him to Green Bay during his rookie season training camp. They re-acquired him via trade the next April. Played in five Pro Bowls and was first-team all-league three times. Helped the Browns to five championship games. Intercepted a pass in each of the two title game wins, 1954 and 1955.

9. Michael Dean Perry, DT-DE, 1988, 2/50, Clemson, 1988-94. Great run-stopper who provided a terrific inside pass rush, with 51 1/2 quarterback sacks. Combination of strength and quickness. Played in five Pro Bowls, and made one or another first-team all-league team in each of his last six seasons with the Browns.

8. Dick Schafrath, T, 1959, 2/23, Ohio State, 1959-71. Replaced Hall of Famer Lou Groza at left tackle in 1960, after Groza retired after starting at the position since the Browns’ inception in 1946. Groza ended his one-year retirement to resume his legendary place-kicking career in 1961. Schafrath made first-team all-pro four times and played in six Pro Bowls. Missed just two games. A strong case can be made that he should be in the Hall of Fame.

Video: From the first segment of the 1965 Browns highlight film, see Dick Schafrath (77) pass protect for Frank Ryan and run block for Jim Brown and Ernie Green (one of the very few games Schafrath missed during his career was the 1965 championship game, a 23-12 Browns’ loss to Green Bay, which he sat out with an injury):

7. Brian Sipe, QB, 1972, 13/330, San Diego State, 1974-83. Sipe was on the Browns “taxi squad” as an inactive roster player in 1972 and 1973. Had mixed results in the several games he played for the poor 1974-75 Browns teams. Took over in 1976 and was the ringleader of the “Kardiac Kids,” known for their late-game heroics. Though the 1980 season ended with the interception of a Sipe pass in the end zone, clinching an Oakland playoff game win, the Browns would have never been there without the season-long brilliance that earned Sipe the NFL MVP Award. Cleveland’s all-time leader in several career passing categories.

6. Paul Warfield, WR, 1964, 1/11, Ohio State, 1964-69, 76-77. After playing halfback at Ohio State, the Browns turned Warfield into a wide receiver during his rookie training camp in 1964. He was first-team all-pro and a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie, and also in 1968 and 1969. Despite missing almost all of the 1965 season with a broken collarbone, Warfield caught 215 passes, averaging 20.2 yards a catch, and scored 44 touchdowns before he was traded to Miami after the 1969 campaign. He had also caught 24 passes for 404 yards and a touchdown in seven playoff games.

Warfield was sent to the Dolphins for their first pick, the third overall, in the 1970 draft. The Browns’ rationale for the trade was that they had to groom a quarterback to eventually replace their Pro Bowl QB, Bill Nelsen, whose knees were getting worse game by game. Cleveland used the pick to draft Purdue star QB Mike Phipps. Phipps replaced Nelsen one game into the 1972 season and led the Browns to a 10-3 record the rest of the way and a playoff berth. Cleveland was on the verge of the playoffs the next year before losing its last two games, and the Browns were a combined 7-21 in 1974-75.

Phipps separated his right (throwing) shoulder in the 1976 season opener, and Brian Sipe took over at QB. The Browns traded Phipps to the Bears and, as part of the deal, got a 1978 first-round pick in return. They used it to take tight end Ozzie Newsome with the 23rd overall pick.

Warfield, a Hall of Famer, helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowls. He returned to the Browns for his final two seasons, totaling 56 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns.

Video: From the Browns’ 1969 highlight film, Paul Warfield helps the Browns to a 38-14 rout of the Cowboys in a playoff game at Dallas.

5. Jim Ray Smith, G-T-DE, 1954, 6/64, Baylor, 1956-62. Spent nearly two years in the U.S. Army before joining the Browns several games into the 1956 season. Played the rest of the campaign at defensive end, before being moved to guard for the 1957 seaon. He proceeded to make one or another first-team all-pro team in each of his remaining six seasons with the Browns, and to play in five Pro Bowl games.

4. Ozzie Newsome, TE, 1978, 1/23, Alabama, 1978-90. Hall of Famer, as one of the tight ends who revolutionized the position with their ability to make plays downfield. All-time Browns leader in receptions (662) and receiving yardage (7,980). Didn’t fumble in his last three seasons. Missed just three games. First-team all-pro twice and second-team five times.

Video: A segment from a Monday Night Football game on ABC in 1979, when the Browns routed Dallas, 26-7. Two Browns’ touchdowns, including an Ozzie Newsome catch of a Brian Sipe pass.

3. Leroy Kelly, RB-Rtn, 1964, 8/110, Morgan State, 1964-73. Hall of Famer. Excelled as a punt-kickoff returner his first two seasons, and as a backup running back. Took over as the Browns’ featured runner after Jim Brown’s retirement in 1966. Rushed for 7,274 yards, leading the NFL twice. Also led in yards per carry twice and in rushing touchdowns three times. Caught 190 passes. Returned kickoffs and punts for 2,774 yards. Led league in yards per punt return once. Totaled 90 touchdowns. Made one or another first-team all-pro team five times and played in six Pro Bowls.

Chuck Heaton wrote in his Plain Dealer game story about Kelly’s great performance running with the football and catching it, too, during the Browns’ 35-17 win over the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 10, 1968, in Cleveland.

2. Gene Hickerson, G, 1957, 7/78, Mississippi, 1958-73. Hall of Famer. First-team all-pro five times and second-team another time. Played in six Pro Bowls. Missed the 1961 season with a broken leg. Missed just two other games. One of the fastest pulling guards ever, he led the way on the famed Browns sweep for Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Kelly and Ernie Green.

1. Jim Brown, RB, 1957, 1/6, Syracuse, 1957-65. Hall of Famer regarded by many as the greatest player ever. Won various NFL MVP awards in four seasons, and was consensus first-team all-pro in every season except 1962, when he got some first-and second-team recognition. Held virtually every rushing record when he retired. Rushed for 12,312 yards and 5.2 yards per carry. Caught 262 passes for 2,499 yards. Scored 106 rushing TDs and 20 receiving TDs. Averaged 104 rushing yards a game over the 118 games in his career, as NFL seasons were 12 games his first four seasons and 14 games his last five campaigns. Ran for 114 yards in the Browns’ 27-0 win over the Colts in the 1964 championship game.

Video: From the Browns’ 1961 highlights film, Jim Brown ties his own record — then the NFL record — with 237 rushing yards in a 45-24 Browns’ win over the Eagles in Cleveland Stadium:

The Cleveland Browns had one of the worst records in the NFL last season. The Browns won only four games.

So as Jamison Hensley of ESPN writes, the Browns should have one of the easier schedules for 2012, right?

The Browns have the third-hardest schedule next season and the toughest one among non-playoff teams. The Browns’ opponents in 2012 had a combined 135-121 record (.527) last season.

One reason for this is the fact that Cleveland plays in the AFC North, which sent three teams to the playoffs last season. So that’s six games against teams with a combined record of 33-15 (.688).

The Browns will have only four games against teams with losing records. Clearly, these upcoming games against Kansas City, Washington, Buffalo and Indianapolis are not gimmies.

More Cleveland Browns

The good and the bad when it comes to picking in the first round (CantonRep.com).

Receivers are the most talented group in the NFL Draft (Cleveland.com).

Why would the Browns listen to the Colts (CBSSports.com)?

Here are a couple of football camps led by Greg Little and T.J. Ward.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur declined to commit to quarterback Colt McCoy as the starter when he’s recovered from his concussion.

“I’m going to cross that bridge when they’re both healthy,” said Shurmur. “Right now, until Colt’s healthy, we’re going to go with Seneca.”

Asked specifically if McCoy will start Saturday against the Ravens if healthy, Shurmur said, “If Colt is OK — when Colt is OK — we’ll talk about that,” said Shurmur. “How’s that? Good answer?”

He said McCoy is improving, is day to day and hasn’t yet been cleared to practice. He also said he’ll know more today about his availability.

But his refusal to name him the starter when healthy marked at least a slight departure from Friday, when he was asked the same question and he said: “Yeah, he’s our starting quarterback at this point. We can try and create whatever from that, but at this point, he’s not playing and Seneca is.”

So, did Shurmur see enough from Wallace in the 20-17 overtime loss to the Cardinals to want to see him again against the Ravens and maybe even the Steelers?

Shurmur spoke in glowing terms of Wallace following his performance in Arizona, one in which he completed 18 of 31 attempts for 226 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown pass to Greg Little. Wallace also fumbled at the Browns’ 5 with seven minutes left in regulation.

“I thought for the most part, especially early in the game, Seneca executed well and got us in the end zone twice,” said Shurmur. “The first drive was really good. We found a way to mix it up with the run and pass.

“We had some possession throws and a deep ball. We had some good explosive runs.

“That’s what you want it to look like — the whole game. I don’t think it’s an indication necessarily of one or the other [Wallace or McCoy], but that’s what you want it to look like.”

He acknowledged McCoy has “done the same thing. In the last few weeks we’ve done that — drive the ball down the field. I wouldn’t say that’s just significant to Seneca. When you call a play, you’re supposed to get yards, and when you get close, you’re supposed to score.

“When you have a chance to make big plays, my thoughts go right back to the first drive. That drive reminds me of the first drive we had against the Bengals.

We were effective running it, we got a couple big plays, then we had a long touchdown pass to finish it. That’s what you want your first drive to look like, to get points right off the bat.” He also added he’d like to see McCoy finish the season if he can.

“It’s important for all your players to make it through the year and compete up until the end,” he said. “You especially want your guys who made the opening day roster to make it all the way through.”

Shurmur indicated some players seemed to pick up their games with Wallace at the helm, and pointed out that there was only one dropped pass.

“I don’t know about him in there compared to Colt,” he said. “I’m constantly evaluating our players as we try to put together a plan to win games. There were some guys who probably showed up and flashed a little better than they have in the last couple weeks. Guys that have made some plays that I was glad to see. Greg [Little] made some plays this week, didn’t drop the ball, I think that’s a step forward. Peyton Hillis ran the ball extremely hard, played the whole game and is no worse for wear, so that’s good.”

He agreed with tight end Alex Smith, who said last week that McCoy will be “night and day” in the West Coast offense when he has an off-season to work in it. “I think there’s some insight there,” said Shurmur. “I think the longer you’re involved with anything, the better you get a feel for what you’re doing.”

Wallace had the benefit of a 99-yard game by Hillis, and McCoy has been without Hillis most of the season. When the running back has been in there, he’s been mostly banged up. When he did have a 94-yard game with McCoy as starter, the Browns beat the Colts.

Wallace faced the Cardinals’ 21st-ranked defense (now 20th), while McCoy in the previous four weeks faced the No. 1, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 defenses.

The most recent time the Browns faced the No. 21 defense — St. Louis on Nov. 13 — Little tied his season high with six catches for 82 yards — including a 52-yarder.

Wallace, who is 6-13 as a starter, did show speed and scrambled away from the blitz to find Little singled up on a linebacker for the long touchdown. He also made quick decisions and got rid of the ball quickly. The tempo was good, but he managed only two first downs in his final four possessions and never got past the Arizona 47 in five drives after making it 17-7 in the third quarter. Also, he didn’t have to contend with an Ed Reed or a Troy Polamalu.

A truer comparison between Wallace and McCoy would come against the Ravens’ No. 3 defense and the Steelers’ No. 1 defense.

And that might come whether McCoy is healthy or not.

Browns vs. Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, 4:15 p.m. in University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

Record: 6-7.

Last game: Beat 49ers, 21-19, Dec. 12 in Glendale.

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt, 41-41, fifth year.

Series record: Browns lead, 33-12-3.

Last meeting: Cardinals won, 27-21, Dec. 2, 2007, in Glendale.

League rankings: Offense is 22nd overall (23rd rushing, 20th passing), defense is 21st (19th rushing, 23rd passing) and turnover differential is minus-11.

Offensive overview: Ken Whisenhunt seeks to run a derivative of the Don Coryell West Coast offense, which uses a power running game to set up vertical throws to tight ends and receivers. When fully healthy, they want to play off the hard running of Beanie Wells and get the ball to receiver Larry Fitzgerald and tight ends Todd Heap and Jeff King. But injuries have beset quarterback Kevin Kolb, Wells and Heap. Just as Kolb was finding some rhythm after missing four games with a foot injury, he suffered a concussion. Backup John Skelton has functioned OK, but he is less experienced, less mobile and less accurate. Wells has played through a knee injury and effectively shed the label of lack of toughness. Fitzgerald is fighting through excessive attention on the field. Whisenhunt has tinkered a little with cornerback Patrick Peterson on offense, but he hasn’t been able to lessen coverage on Fitzgerald.

Defensive overview: New coordinator Ray Horton is trying to duplicate Dick LeBeau’s zone-blitz Steelers scheme. The team’s recent resurgence is a result of the defense getting comfortable after adjusting to the 3-4 scheme. All the pieces might not be in place just yet, but the front seven has been formidable of late. Rookie outside linebacker Sam Acho has come on and displaced former starter Joey Porter. Ex-Steeler Clark Haggans is the other rush linebacker. End Calais Campbell and tackle Darnell Dockery have been very good. The areas of pressure have been unpredictable. The last two games they have had five sacks, each time from different players. First-round pick Patrick Peterson has had a learning experience at cornerback. Adrian Wilson is one of the league’s unknown good safeties.

Special teams overview: Peterson leads the NFL with four punt returns for touchdowns and is second in average at 16.3 yards. The kick return game is not as explosive. Kicker Jay Feely is 13 of 18 in field goals with a long of 51 yards. He is 29th with 14 touchbacks. Punter Dave Zastudil is 13th in gross average (45.7 yards) and 23rd in net (37.4). Calais Campbell has two field goal blocks.

Players to watch:

• Cornerback-returner Patrick Peterson: The rookie joined three other players for the most punt returns for touchdowns in a season. He has scored from 89, 82, 99 and 80 yards. He’s added two interceptions and a sack at cornerback.

• Receiver Larry Fitzgerald: One of the league’s consistent playmakers will be making his first career appearance against the Browns. He already is over 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth straight season and has his best yards per catch average (17.6) of his career.

• Defensive end Calais Campbell: He has posted unusual numbers for a 3-4 defensive end — seven sacks, 13 quarterback hits, one interception, six passes defensed. Not to mention the two blocked field goals.

Injury report: QB Kevin Kolb (concussion) had to leave the last game. Beanie Wells (knee) will be limited. OT Brandon Keith (ankle) left the last game.

Small world: Former Browns include receiver Chansi Stuckey, safety Hamza Abdullah, defensive tackle Nick Eason, quarterback Richard Bartel, guard Rex Hadnot and punter and Bay native Dave Zastudil. … Running back Beanie Wells is an Akron native and played at Ohio State. … Head coach Ken Whisenhunt was Browns special teams coordinator in 1999. … Director of pro personnel T.J. McCreight is from Willoughby and was Browns personnel director (2005-08). … Strength coach John Lott had same position with Browns (2005-06). … Special teams coordinator Kevin Spencer was Browns assistant coach (1991-94).

Although the
Pittsburgh Steelers
are tied atop the AFC North, winning the division won’t be easy.

Facing the
Cleveland Browns
in two of their final four games, however, should help their hopes.

The surging Steelers look to win for the eighth time in nine games and continue their dominance over the sputtering Browns
on Thursday night at Heinz Field.

Pittsburgh’s only blemish in its last eight games – a 23-20 loss to Baltimore on Nov. 6 – put a dent in its chances of winning
a fourth division title in five years. The Steelers (9-3) are tied with the Ravens atop the North, but having been swept by
their archrivals, Pittsburgh must finish with a better record to win the division.

Cleveland (4-8) could have helped the Steelers on Sunday with a home game against Baltimore, but not surprisingly came out
with another sluggish performance and lost 24-10, dropping to 3-18 inside the division since 2008.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, put together one of its best performances of the season Sunday, beating Cincinnati 35-7 for its third
straight victory.
Ben Roethlisberger
threw for 176 yards and two scores to
Mike Wallace
,
Rashard Mendenhall
had two touchdowns and
James Harrison
collected three sacks to lead a defense that held the Bengals to a season-low point total.

“These are the games that are going to put you in place to make your run,” linebacker
James Farrior
said. “We’re just trying to keep up in the division.”

The Steelers appear to have a good chance to keep pace with Baltimore.

Pittsburgh, which finishes its season at Cleveland, also visits NFC West-champion San Francisco and hosts two-win St. Louis.
The Ravens still have games at San Diego and Cincinnati and home contests against Cleveland and winless Indianapolis.

Neither team appears to have a difficult remaining schedule, but given the Steelers’ history with the Browns, they may have
an edge.

Pittsburgh has won 14 of 15 against Cleveland and seven in a row at Heinz Field since a 33-13 loss in 2003. It has won the
last three in Pittsburgh by an average of 20.7 points.

In the two meetings last season, the Steelers outscored the Browns 69-19, with Roethlisberger passing for 537 yards with five
touchdowns and an interception and Mendenhall scoring three TDs. The defense had 10 sacks and five interceptions.

Making matters worse for the Browns, the Steelers are playing well and are healthy – something Cleveland can’t claim.

Pittsburgh has held its last two opponents to single digits and forced eight turnovers during its winning streak after only
getting four in its first nine games.

Offensively, the Steelers are averaging 116.3 rushing yards in their last three games after averaging 86.3 in their previous
three.

“It’s getting closer to the playoffs and it’s time for us to get better,” said Wallace, who leads the Steelers in receptions
(58), receiving yards (977) and receiving TDs (8).

Pittsburgh did play the final three quarters Sunday without
LaMarr Woodley
because of a tender left hamstring, but part of that decision had to do with the team up 28-7 at halftime. He is expected
to play Thursday, and again could find himself on the sideline with his team up big.

The Browns had little luck moving the ball Sunday against Baltimore’s vaunted defense, finishing with 233 yards, including
59 on the ground. Cleveland’s defense also couldn’t stop the run, allowing the Ravens to rack up 290 rushing yards.

“You have to have thick skin and a short memory, and you move on,” coach Pat Shurmur said.

The Browns, 30th in total offense (290.7 yards per game) are preparing for a similar brand of football, however, from the
Steelers, who are first in total defense (273.8), and running the ball with more consistency.

“It’s going to be real tough,” cornerback
Sheldon Brown
said. “Both are physical football teams and you know they’re going to have a physical presence throughout the contest.”

It will likely be even tougher with
Colt McCoy
playing with a right knee sprain.

McCoy was injured Sunday on a hit by Ravens defensive end Arthur Rhodes. Although he missed only one play, the injury was
initially considered severe enough to keep him sideline for this game. He is now expected to start, but his mobility will
likely be limited.

McCoy, 0-7 within the division, has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three straight games, but hasn’t received much help
– Cleveland leads the league with 35 dropped passes.

He also might be without
Peyton Hillis
again after the running back strained his hip against Baltimore. Hillis rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries and caught a pass
for 52 yards in his second game back after missing five straight with a hamstring injury.

BEREA, Ohio — Browns running back Montario Hardesty knows what you’re thinking.

He knows you think his latest injury, the torn calf muscle, means he really is injury prone and that he’ll never be able to stay healthy.

But he’s out to prove you wrong, beginning with Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

“I’ve got five games left this year and then 16 next year and 16 the year after that,” Hardesty said. “I know I can stay healthy because I played my last three years in college without missing a game. I’ve just got to keep fighting through this.”

Hardesty will return against the Ravens after missing four games because of an injured calf muscle, which he hurt early in the San Francisco game Oct. 30. The injury came on the heels of Hardesty’s return from the torn left anterior cruciate ligament that kept him out all last season.

“I know what it seems like, but this is football,” he said. “I’ve had some big injuries, but a lot of people have, including a lot of running backs. I’ve played 40 to 50 games in a row, and I know I can do it. I just have to take care of my body and hope that these things don’t come up anymore.”

Hardesty, who also tore the ACL in his right knee as a freshman at Tennessee, is aware that secondary injuries often occur after major knee surgeries. The calf injury is to the right leg, opposite last year’s ACL.

“Sometimes they say you overcompensate and do things with the other leg you normally wouldn’t do,” he said. “I don’t know if that was the case.”

“I just have to make sure I’m ready.”

That’s why Hardesty determined last week during warm-ups in Cincinnati that the calf wasn’t ready.

“It felt good all week, but I didn’t really get to that point where I was really just bursting and exploding like I have to in a game,” he said. “I was staying around the 80, 85 percent mark. I really wanted to play.”

This week, Hardesty sat out drills until Thursday and then was limited for his two days of work. But resting early in the week seemed to do the trick.

“On Friday of last week going into the game, I was a little sore, but now I feel great,” he said. “I felt good running around, and I had burst and all of that stuff.”

Hardesty is listed as questionable for the game but fully expects to play.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” he said. “I’m confident and excited to get back out there. I’ve got five games left, and I plan on going out there and having my best five games.”

Hardesty said he thinks he can handle a full load if called upon.

“When I’m in there, I’ll be ready to play,” he said.

Coach Pat Shurmur was impressed with how good Hardesty looked cutting and running in team drills Friday.

“He did a little more than we thought, so we’re hopeful that he’ll be more of a factor than he would’ve been last week,” Shurmur said.

Hardesty will join fellow backs Peyton Hillis and Chris Ogbonnaya, giving the Browns a full complement of healthy backs for the first time in eight games (Oct. 2 against the Titans). Hillis returned from his pulled hamstring last week against the Bengals and looked a lot like the 2010 Hillis, with 65 yards on 19 carries. Hardesty and Hillis have appeared in only three full games together this season.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Hardesty, who most likely will receive a limited amount of reps. “I know Peyton was very excited about getting back out there last week, and I’m just as excited about getting out there this week. In our room with me, Peyton and Ogbonnaya, we all want to play well, and we all want to win, so it’s like a mini-competition amongst ourselves. You want to do well and you want everyone else to do well. It’s going to be fun just getting everybody back out there in the same game.”

Hardesty will make his return against the league’s third-ranked run defense (91.5 yards per game). The Ravens are No. 1 in the NFL in allowing 3.4 yards per rush, and limited Frank Gore of the 49ers to 39 yards on 14 carries (2.8 average) in the Ravens’ 16-6 victory on Thanksgiving Day. The Browns have averaged 4.6 yards per carry the past three games after averaging 3.2 the first eight games.

“We just have to be ready to face the challenge and go out there and play ball,” Hardesty said. “We have to match the intensity of the Ravens. I think it’s kind of fun to come back and play against a team that’s so good against the run. Coming out, we can’t let them dictate the game, we’ve got to dictate our own game and just let our run game go that way.”

Hardesty was just starting to round back into shape when he felt the twinge in his calf on a pivot route in San Francisco. The week before, he plugged away for 95 yards on 33 carries in a victory over the Seahawks, and for one game he was the workhorse back the Browns envisioned when they drafted him in the second round in 2010.

“Before I got hurt, I was starting to fit into the offense,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll have my five best games and we’ll get five wins. I really want to finish strong.”

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

BEREA, Ohio — If Josh Cribbs were given a little truth serum or maybe some holiday eggnog, he’d probably let loose about how he thinks he can be doing more to help the Browns win.

He started to go there after the Bengals game, but stopped before he went too far. Wednesday, he was asked if he cared to elaborate beyond Sunday’s statement that “I’m trying to take advantage of the opportunities, the little ones that I get.”

Specifically, he was asked if he’s happy with the way he’s being used.

“Uh … I just won’t answer that,” he said.

Cribbs said he doesn’t want to say anything that could be construed as selfish, “because all I care about winning.”

Is it possible he’s in the team’s doghouse for speaking out a few times this season?

“I would hope not,” said Cribbs, who caught flak before the Rams game for hinting the Browns might use the Wildcat. “Because every time I step on the field I’m giving it all I’ve got.”

But for some reason, Cribbs was targeted by Colt McCoy only four times against the Bengals, while Greg Little had 13 passes thrown his way. Cribbs had one catch for eight yards in the 23-20 loss and Little caught five for 57 yards and a TD. In the previous four games, three of Cribbs’ 13 catches were for touchdowns, and he leads the team with four — one TD for about every seventh catch.

“We all know [Cribbs] is a playmaker,” said McCoy. “I think he has the things that he does really well and we need to take advantage of those things.

“But when he’s on the field, just like I have confidence in Greg, I have confidence in him. I’ve got confidence in all those guys and we continue to work, we continue to grow and I think week to week we all feel a little more comfortable.”

Cribbs reiterated that he’s grown weary of the losing.

“I am fed up,” he said. “I want to win this year. Everybody says ‘we’re building, we look good.’ I don’t really care about the building process, because I want to win now. I’m not worried about next year, next year. I want to win now. So, that’s how I feel.”

Cribbs, in his seventh season, said the losing gets harder each year. He’s never been to the playoffs and has had only one winning season.

“I feel like I want to see a playoff, you know, as bad as our fans do. I feel like a fan sometimes when I speak because I hear them talk everyday, I run into them on the street.

“It hurts me not to win for them. That’s my ultimate motivation. … You got a lot of fans that their whole joy in life is watching the Browns play, hoping that they win, bringing their kids to the game. … When we don’t win, you know, the city feels down. So we need to win, plain and simple.”

Back at work: McCoy was fully participating on Wednesday, despite the right elbow injury he suffered in Cincinnati. He wore a sleeve on the elbow, but said it’s fine. He also said his shoulder didn’t bother him at all on Sunday.

Sitting out: Montario Hardesty, who’s missed the past four games with his calf injury, sat out practice on Wednesday. So did T.J. Ward, who’s missed the past three games with his foot injury.

“We’re going to give [Hardesty] a little rest today just to see if we can jump-start his healing as we go forward,” said coach Pat Shurmur of his running back. “We don’t feel like he re-injured himself, we just feel like we want to help speed up the healing process and we feel like at least a day here might do that.” Ward, a second-year safety, is running, but hasn’t attempted drills yet.

Meanwhile, safety Mike Adams sat out Wednesday with a shoulder injury suffered in the Bengals game. If he can’t play, rookie Eric Hagg will replace him.

Stepping in for Fujita: Kaluka Maiava is set to step in as the starting weakside linebacker and Chris Gocong will move to the strong side with Scott Fujita (hand) out for the season.

“You can’t replace Scott Fujita,” said Maiava. “He’s a great leader, a great teammate and player, but he got hurt unfortunately and it’s the next guy up. I’ve been ready. Whenever they need me to fill in, I’m in there.”

Maiava hurt his knee in Cincinnati and was limited on Wednesday, but said he should be fine to play Sunday. Brian Schaefering replaced Emmanuel Stephens at right end in practice, but Shurmur said the Browns plan to fill the spot by committee. Former starting right end Jayme Mitchell was also limited with his ankle injury. Fullback Owen Marecic (concussion) participated fully.

A missed opportunity? Shurmur admitted that the Browns really liked Ravens rookie receiver Torrey Smith in last spring’s draft. He was picked one ahead of Little in the second round, 58th overall, out of Maryland.

Were they so honed in on Little that they would have taken him even if Smith had been available?

“No, I wouldn’t say that,” said Shurmur.

“We liked him a great deal,” he continued. “There’s no question that we thought he’d be a great receiver. Any time good players go to teams in the division, you don’t like to see that. He’s a good player and he’s playing well for them for sure.”

Time change: Kickoff for Sunday’s game at the Stadium has been moved to 4:05 p.m. as part of the NFL’s flex scheduling.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Some pregame scribbles before kickoff between the Browns and Bengals.

1. This game probably won’t mean much in terms of the standings. If the Browns win, they are 5-6. If the Bengals win, they are 7-4. But the game will have an impact on the fans’ state of mind.

2. If the Browns win, there will be a sense of progress. They finally beat a team with a winning record. They beat a team in the AFC North. And they beat the Bengals.

3. The Bengals were 6-2 before losing their last two games to Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The Bengals’ success really annoys many Browns fans. They have a rookie quarterback. They were coming off a 4-12 season. Yes, they drafted A.J. Green, but weren’t they supposed to be rebuilding or something?

4. Then came the 27-17 loss to the Bengals in the home opener. Most Browns fans remember that was the game where the defense fell asleep and no one called time out as Green caught a 41-yard touchdown pass.

5. But Cedric Benson also was busting loose for a 39-yard touchdown run with 1:49 left. Not only did the Browns look disorganized on defense, they were flagged for 11 penalties. It was a nightmare of an opener for rookie coach Pat Shurmur.

6. That TD run by Benson was the longest of the season against the Browns. The 11 penalties is their single-game high. Only Tennessee (31) and Houston (27) scored more points on the Browns — who have held the opposition under 20 points in five games this season.

7. Have the Browns improved from that day? Can they win their second game on the road? If the Bengals lose this game, they will be 6-5 and on a 3-game losing streak. There will be a sense in Cincinnati that the 6-2 start was fools’ gold, that even the Browns have beat them.

8. The Bengals have defeated the same four teams as the Browns — Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Miami and Seattle. The difference is the Bengals beat Tennessee (which hammered the Browns, 31-13) and they beat those guys in the orange helmets.

9. For Shurmur and his players, it will be a huge confidence boost to beat a team in the AFC North — especially with four games remaining against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Bengals have the No. 6-rated defense, No. 3 against the run. If Peyton Hillis and/or Montario Hardesty stay healthy, can the Browns actually run the ball? Can Colt McCoy keep making progress, as he has the last two games? I’m curious to see it.

10. In the last two games, Andy Dalton has been picked off five times — compared to three touchdowns. Baltimore and Pittsburgh will do that to a young quarterback. Can the Browns put some heat on him? This really does have a chance to be an interesting.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden is looking forward to his rematch with Bengals receiver A.J. Green.

In the season opener, Haden held the standout rookie to no catches . . . until the Bengals caught the Browns napping late in the game. Bengals QB Bruce Gradkowski called for a quick snap and hit Green for an easy 41-yard go-ahead touchdown.

Green has 41 receptions and six TDs this season despite missing the Bengals’ game against Baltimore last Sunday and the second half against Pittsburgh the week before with a knee injury. Green leads NFL rookies with 635 receiving yards and is second among rookies in receptions, trailing only the Browns’ Greg Little (42).

“I look forward to [playing against Green] a lot,” Haden said. “He’s one of the best receivers we have in the division. He’s gotten better as [rookie quarterback Andy] Dalton‘s gotten more mature. They have a good connection. He goes to him a lot. It just seems to be working really well with those guys.”

Haden, who faced Green twice in college, broke up five passes and had a near-interception in their first meeting.

“We had a lot of time to study them,” said Haden. “We were on top of our game.”

Haden said it might be tougher this time around.

“He’s a deep threat and he has really good speed,” Haden said. “He can jump and he’s an all-around really good receiver. It will definitely be a challenge to cover him. It should be a good matchup.”

Browns defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, head of the league’s No. 1 pass defense, knows Green has improved since Week 1.

“A.J. Green is a phenomenal young talent,” he said. “He’s playing really well. You can see the things that he can do down the field, he goes up, he’s a big target, he runs well, runs good routes, has good hands. He’s a tough, tough guy. He’s going to be a good player in this league for a long time. He’s going to be a tough matchup for whoever’s on him. I just hope whoever’s on him is up to that challenge.”

Haden has broken up 16 passes this season, but last week dropped two potential interceptions and has yet to pick one off this season.

“It means I’m around the ball a lot, but I should catch some of them,” Haden said. “I’ll try to work on that.”

Pashos absent: Right tackle Tony Pashos was absent from practice Friday because his wife was in labor with their first baby. Coach Pat Shurmur said he expects Pashos to play Sunday. Artis Hicks worked in Pashos’ place.

Mitchell idle: Defensive end Jayme Mitchell has missed two straight days with and ankle injury and is questionable for Sunday. In case he can’t play, the Browns promoted defensive lineman Kiante Tripp from the practice squad. To make room, the team waived running back Thomas Clayton.

Tripp spent training camp this season with the Falcons after signing as an undrafted free agent July 27 out of Georgia. The Falcons waived him Sept. 2 and he has spent the past seven weeks on the Browns’ practice squad.

Mitchell lost his starting job last week to Emmanuel Stephens, who has had four tackles each of the past four games.

Shurmur said he wasn’t surprised to learn Mitchell told reporters he wasn’t happy about his demotion.

“I would expect him to not be happy about that,” he said. “I spoke to him twice [Friday] and we spoke [Thursday] so we’re just working our way through that.”

Marecic questionable: Fullback Owen Marecic (concussion) is questionable, though Shurmur said he has a chance to play despite missing practice all week.

By Nate Ulrich

Akron Beacon Journal

BEREA

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has absorbed some brutal hits this season, including the shot he took Sunday from Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith.

Despite the scare, McCoy won’t be sidelined, coach Pat Shurmur said. That’s good news for the Browns (4-6), because McCoy has had two of his best games in the past two weeks, and Shurmur is looking for his young quarterback to keep improving.

“I think there are some areas where he’s exerting himself more,” Shurmur said. “I thought starting the year that Colt was a rookie.

“This is going into Week 12, and I think he’s had the benefit of those other games he has played. There are some areas where I see he’s getting it. Then there are other areas where we’re still working.”

On second-and-goal from the Jaguars’ 7-yard line, McCoy threw a pass to running back Chris Ogbonnaya in the back corner of the end zone, and safety Dawan Landry was called for pass interference. After the play, McCoy rose to one knee but had to be helped up by left tackle Joe Thomas.

McCoy’s throwing shoulder was hurt, and it became more obvious in the third quarter after he was sacked by linebacker Paul Posluszny on third down.

McCoy got up slowly and ran off the field with his right arm hanging at his side. When he reached the sideline, he whipped off his helmet and threw it.

Still, McCoy didn’t miss a snap. He will practice all week in preparation for Sunday’s road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4), Shurmur said.

“He got banged around a little bit and, yeah, it was his shoulder,” Shurmur said. “But he’s fine. We didn’t go through any major evaluation of him, so he’s fine.

“Don’t ask about the MRI. I don’t think he had one. I don’t think he needs one.”

McCoy pinched a nerve in his right shoulder during the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, the final game of his college career.

He said the injury lingered and bothered him throughout last season, when he was a rookie with the Browns.

Shurmur said he doesn’t know if McCoy’s current injury is related to his old one. However, Shurmur is certain McCoy has grit.

“I’m gaining a very strong appreciation for how tough he is,” Shurmur said.

“And that really is the cornerstone of what makes a good football player.”

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns’ trophy collection isn’t especially impressive this season.

A 3-5 Browns record is what it is. But the quality of the three wins, well….Cleveland has wins over the NFL’s only winless team (Indianaplis Colts), over a one-win team (Miami Dolphins) and a two-win team (Seattle Seahawks).

But, opportunity knocks. Looking ahead just a bit, the Browns could get to .500 by winning their next two games: against the St. Louis Rams, who are 1-7, on Sunday, and against the 2-6 Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 20. Both games will be at Browns Stadium.

First, the Browns game against the Rams on Sunday. St. Louis was 7-9 last season with Pat Shurmur as its offensive coordinator. Shurmur, of course, is in his first season as the Browns’ head coach.

The Rams’ game results this season, in order: 31-13 loss to Philadelphia; 28-16 loss at the New York Giants; 37-7 loss to Baltimore; 17-10 loss to Washington; 24-3 loss at Green Bay; 34-7 loss at Dallas; 31-21 win vs. New Orleans; 19-13 loss (overtime) at Arizona.

The Browns’ results: 27-17 loss to Cincinnati; 27-19 win at Indianapolis; 17-16 win vs. Miami; 31-13 loss to Tennessee; 24-17 loss at Oakland; 6-3 win vs. Seattle; 20-10 loss at San Francisco; 30-12 loss at Houston.

Cleveland’s history with the Rams goes back to before the Browns existed. The Rams’ franchise began in Cleveland in 1937, and continued here through 1945. The Cleveland Rams played their last game before moving to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 1945, and it was for the NFL championship. The Rams defeated the Washington Redskins, 15-14, before 32,178 fans who braved sub-zero temperatures at Cleveland Stadium.

The Browns were born in 1946, and after winning all four championship games in All-America Football Conference history (1946-49), joined the NFL in 1950. Ironically, Cleveland won the 1950 NFL championship by defeating the Rams, 30-28, at Cleveland Stadium. In 1951, the Browns lost the NFL title game to the Rams, 24-17, at Los Angeles. Then, in 1955, Cleveland captured the league title with a 38-14 rout of the Rams in LA, in quarterback Otto Graham’s final game.

Click on to the games in the paragraph above to read The Plain Dealer’s game stories. They are included in cleveland.com’s Browns History Database, which includes Plain Dealer game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history through 2010.

The Browns and Rams have played 18 regular season games, with a 9-9 split. The teams have met just three times since the Rams moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis prior to the 1995 season, the Rams winning twice.

The last game between the teams was on Oct. 28, 2007, when Cleveland won at St. Louis, 27-20, making the Browns 4-3 and the Rams 0-8. Tony Grossi wrote The Plain Dealer’s game story. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson completed 18 of 25 passes for three touchdowns with no interceptions. Braylon Edwards caught eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns and Joe Jurevicius had five catches for 76 yards.

Cleveland Browns host the St. Louis Rams: Who will win and by how much?

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Robiskie(notes) joined the Jacksonville Jaguars back on November 2, just a day after he was cut by the Browns. This news went largely unnoticed by the mainstream Cleveland media due to the ongoing saga regarding Peyton Hillis(notes) and the other offensive struggles of the Cleveland Browns.

Robiskie was the fourth pick in the second round in the 2009 NFL Draft for the Browns. There were high expectations for him coming in that he never did meet.

In two and a half years in a Browns’ uniform Robiskie caught 39 passes for a total of 441 yards. He scored three touchdowns in his career, all during the 2010 season.

In Cleveland, Robiskie was often criticized for failing to get separation from defenders in addition to being “soft” when hit. His playing time was often limited.

Much like his experience in Cleveland, Robiskie joins a Jacksonville Jaguars team that lacks a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

Mike Thomas(notes) is listed as such for the Jaguars but through eight games he has only acquired 31 receptions for 333 yards. He has one touchdown to his name this season. Jason Hill(notes) is also putting up less than spectacular numbers recording 19 receptions for 306 yards through seven games. He has three touchdowns on the season.

Will Robiskie be able to step up and fill a big role in the Jaguars’ offense? The answer to that question is both uncertain and unlikely given his past performance. Much like the Cleveland offense, the Jaguars lack depth. They have one star in running back Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) and a rookie quarterback in Blaine Gabbert(notes).

Surely he will be given more opportunities than he ever had in Cleveland. I sincerely hope he succeeds. I enjoyed watching him at Ohio State and was excited when he was drafted by the Browns. Unfortunately, he did not meet expectations while he was here.

Browns’ fans will have an opportunity to see Robiskie on the field again come Sunday, November 20 when the Jaguars travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns. It should be an interesting experience for both fans and Robiskie alike.

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

Browns’ loss to Texans opens eyes to big picture: A fan’s take

Browns’ Hillis to miss more games: Fan Reaction

Peyton Hillis saga continues for Browns: A fan’s take

Cleveland Browns release Robiskie, sign Clayton: A fan’s reaction

Hardesty to Miss Games for Cleveland Browns: A fan’s take

Sources:

All data provided by NFL.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Browns fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.