“They have a tough decision to make. That’s not a news flash. I think the whole draft swings at No. 4.” States ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. McShay also believes the Cleveland Browns should use the fourth pick on quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

While I do not believe Tannehill would be the best pick option for the Browns to take with the fourth pick in the draft, I agree wholeheartedly that the remainder of the first round will be centered around what the Browns choose to do with their pick.

No one will argue against the Indianapolis Colts choosing QB Andrew Luck and the Washington Redskins who gave up a king’s ransom for the second pick, will opt for QB Robert Griffin. Very few will argue the Minnesota Vikings will not pick OT Matt Kalil.

This leaves four very good options providing they choose not to trade down: Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne, Trent Richardson, and Ryan Tannehill.

I have already stated I am against Tannehill. With Cleveland likely to have another high first round pick in 2013 and quarterbacks such as Matt Barkley, Tyler Bray, and Landry Jones scheduled to enter the draft, giving Colt McCoy one more year with some tools to work with seems to be the more reasonable option heading into the season.

Claiborne would certainly be an asset on defense; however, the Browns’ bigger need is on offense. The team can shut down opposing offense all day long but it does not help if they are unable to find the end zone.

Blackmon would certainly fill the need for a legitimate No. 1 receiver however; I believe both Claiborne and Richardson are better overall prospects.

This leads me to believe the Browns are targeting Richardson. The running back touches the ball the second highest amount of times per game next to the quarterback. Richardson is a proven success at Alabama and would fit nicely into Cleveland’s West Coast scheme due to his receiving ability. He is often compared to Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, which would give Browns fans some hope. Losing Peyton Hillis in free agency also solidified their need at that position.

Opting for a running back at such a high position may seem to be a risky option, but I do believe Richardson is a special player and could immediately take some of the burden off of McCoy in the offense.

A wide receiver and offensive line help are also two big needs but they can still be addressed with the later first round pick and in following rounds. In any case, whom the Browns choose at No. 4 will certainly help to shape the future of the franchise.

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

Cleveland Browns acquire four additional picks in 2012 draft: A fan’s reaction

Fan’s look: What would you do as the Cleveland Browns’ General Manager?

Cleveland Browns are not asleep in free agency: A fan’s take

Cleveland Browns’ future at Quarterback: A fan’s look

Cleveland Browns’ future at running back: A fan’s look

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.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns President Mike Holmgren told his Seattle radio buddy Monday that he thinks Colt McCoy will rise to the challenge after the Browns went hard after Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

“I know Colt as a person,” Holmgren told Dave Mahler on KJR in Seattle. “He’ll respond as well as anyone in the world to this. I think he’s a competitive guy,”

“He understands this business. He and I had a really good talk before he left in the off-season. And he knew there was going to be competition coming into this next off-season and next training camp.

“I think if you’re just honest with him, then they’ll be able to handle most things. Is there a little side to any of the players that gets touched by something like that? In all honesty, there probably is. But, you know what? It’s a business and you gotta bounce back. And how you bounce back determines what kind of a guy you are.”

Holmgren re-iterated what the Browns have been saying since the end of the season: that they think McCoy can be a winning NFL quarterback.

“I like Colt McCoy as a player,” said Holmgren. “I think he’s a fine player and has a chance to be a fine player in this league. Last year I thought one, he got beat up pretty good. We didn’t protect him quite as well. I thought our running game after Peyton Hillis got hurt wasn’t helping him enough in my opinion. And then we had the lockout.

“So you had a new coach, new system, new quarterbacks. You put all that together and I think it was a little bit of a short deck. So, I’m not down on Colt McCoy at all. But I will always – and as long as I’m in a position like this – we are always going to look for quarterbacks. Make that pile a little bit bigger. Try to create some competition. To try and bring the best out of the people you already have.”

Holmgren said the Browns checked out a dozen quarterbacks this off-season — including former Green Bay backup Matt Flynn — before they decided not to pursue Flynn in free agency. Flynn signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks on Sunday.

Mahler opened his interview by telling Holmgren that he read articles about him being “ticked off, angry and mad” about the Redskins winning the RG3 sweepstakes because of their close ties with the Rams. Holmgren said last week this his offer was “every bit as good” as the Redskins and that he’s not sure anything the Browns offered would’ve been good enough because of the relationships between those teams.

“That, as happens on occasion with the media, was overstated just a little bit,” Holmgren said.

BEREA — The Cleveland Browns won’t join the Peyton Manning chase.

However, they’re still in the hunt for Robert Griffin III.

Offering few clues about his plans for the NFL draft, free agency or how he’ll solve Cleveland’s quarterback situation, Browns general manager Tom Heckert said Thursday the team will not pursue Manning, who is a high-priced free agent after being released Wednesday by the Indianapolis Colts.

“Not really,” Heckert said when asked if Manning was on the team’s radar. “He’s obviously a great player and all that, but where we’re at and where he’s at. … To be honest, we have not talked to him or anything. No, that’s probably not a direction we’re going in.”

Heckert met informally with reporters for the first time since undergoing heart surgery in February. A few pounds lighter, he recently returned to the office after recovering at home and missing the scouting combine in Indianapolis, where the Browns got an up-close look at Griffin, Baylor’s talented Heisman Trophy winner.

With the No. 4 overall pick, the Browns might have a chance to select Griffin, considered the best QB prospect in this year’s draft behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who is expected to be taken first by the Colts. But with Griffin’s stock soaring and several teams desperate for a franchise quarterback, Cleveland, which also owns the No. 22 pick, might have to trade up to get St. Louis’ pick at No. 2 — if they want Griffin.

The move could be costly.

It’s possible the Browns could wind up in a bidding war with several teams for a shot at Griffin. Heckert treasures draft picks and might be unwilling to part with any of Cleveland’s selections. But the price might be worth it if the Browns, who have three of the top 37 picks, think Griffin can reshape a franchise that has just one playoff appearance since 1999 and was the only AFC North team not in the playoffs in 2011.

Heckert said he has had talks with the Rams, but he wouldn’t classify them as “serious.” He was asked if the Browns would be willing to give up its first-round picks to go higher.

“I’d never say never about anything,” said Heckert, who plans to attend Griffin’s pro day workout March 21.

Heckert called the speculation about a possible trade with St. Louis preliminary and labeled media reports as “crazy.” He also said it’s possible the Browns might hold onto their first pick.

“We feel very comfortable staying at four and getting a good player there, and that could happen,” he said. “And we feel comfortable in moving down and getting more picks, we really do. It’s way early to start talking about this stuff.”

Heckert said the Browns think there are four quality quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. In addition to Luck and Griffin, Heckert said Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill is “untapped” and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden is “super smart.” Heckert said he’s eager to see the 28-year-old Weeden throw at his pro day today.

While the focus has been on jockeying for position to get Griffin, Heckert said the Browns have not given up on Colt McCoy, who had an inconsistent season as a full-time starter.

“We’re not down on Colt McCoy, so I just want to make that clear,” Heckert said. “We still think Colt’s going to be a good player.”

Heckert said there’s comfort in knowing what they have in McCoy. He also thinks adding former Minnesota coach Brad Childress as the team’s new offensive coordinator only will help McCoy, who was plagued by a lack of protection and dropped balls in 2011.

“The question is whether we have enough to see what Colt can do, and I think we do,” Heckert said. “If we catch more balls and protect him better, can Colt be a lot better? Yes. That’s our goal. We still think Colt can play in this league and it’s our job to help him out.”

As for free agency, Heckert won’t change his ways.

Since his days as Philadelphia’s GM, Heckert has resisted the urge to overspend on players. He’ll stick with his method of building mainly through the draft and adding lower-tier free agents to fill particular holes — and the Browns have a bunch.

“We’re not going to go crazy in free agency,” he said. “You look at throughout the history. I know Green Bay didn’t sign one free agent when they won (the Super Bowl) two years ago. I don’t think the Giants signed anybody, or at least anybody you’ve ever heard of as a free agent. You don’t win football games by signing a bunch of free agents. Now, can they help you? Certainly. And if there’s guys that we think can help us, we’ll definitely do it. But it’s easier said than done.”

Heckert’s stance would seem to rule out the Browns making a run at Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn, the prize of this year’s free agent group.

Heckert reiterated the Browns are open to re-signing running back Peyton Hillis, who had a drama- and injury-filled second season in Cleveland. Hillis, who rushed for 1,177 yards in 2010, recently changed agents again and will be an unrestricted free agent.

“If we can work things out, he’d like be here,” Heckert said. “And if we can do it, we’d like him to be here. Whether he has to wait till he sees what happens in free agency, that’s fine with us. We’re willing to do that. We’ll just have to wait and see how things go.”

On other Browns issues, Heckert said:

» The team has not had any contact with linebacker Scott Fujita, who played for New Orleans from 2006-09 and reportedly is entangled in the Saints’ “bounty” scandal.

» He would like to sign veteran kicker Phil Dawson to a long-term contract. The Browns placed their franchise tag last week on Dawson, who has been with Cleveland since 1999 and his coming off one of his best seasons.

» The Browns want to retain free safety Mike Adams and cornerback Dimitri Patterson. Both are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

» Right tackle Tony Pashos underwent ankle surgery Tuesday. Pashos was slowed by an injury to his ankle most of 2011.

BEREA — The Cleveland Browns won’t join the Peyton Manning chase.

However, they’re still in the hunt for Robert Griffin III.

Offering few clues about his plans for the NFL draft, free agency or how he’ll solve Cleveland’s quarterback situation, Browns general manager Tom Heckert said Thursday the team will not pursue Manning, who is a high-priced free agent after being released Wednesday by the Indianapolis Colts.

“Not really,” Heckert said when asked if Manning was on the team’s radar. “He’s obviously a great player and all that, but where we’re at and where he’s at … To be honest, we have not talked to him or anything. No, that’s probably not a direction we’re going in.”

Heckert met informally with reporters for the first time since undergoing heart surgery in February. A few pounds lighter, he recently returned to the office after recovering at home and missing the scouting combine in Indianapolis, where the Browns got an up-close look at Griffin, Baylor’s talented Heisman Trophy winner.

With the No. 4 overall pick, the Browns might have a chance to select Griffin, considered the best QB prospect in this year’s draft behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who is expected to be taken first by the Colts. But with Griffin’s stock soaring and several teams desperate for a franchise quarterback, Cleveland, which also owns the No. 22 pick, might have to trade up to get St. Louis’ pick at No. 2 — if they want Griffin.

The move could be costly.

It’s possible the Browns could wind up in a bidding war with several teams for a shot at Griffin. Heckert treasures draft picks and might be unwilling to part with any of Cleveland’s selections. But the price might be worth it if the Browns, who have three of the top 37 picks, feel Griffin can reshape a franchise that has just one playoff appearance since 1999 and was the only AFC North team not in the playoffs in 2011.

Heckert said he has had talks with the Rams, but he wouldn’t classify them as “serious.” He was asked if the Browns would be willing to give up its first-round picks to go higher.

“I’d never say never about anything,” said Heckert, who plans to attend Griffin’s pro day workout March 21.

Heckert called the speculation about a possible trade with St. Louis preliminary and labeled media reports as “crazy.” He also said it’s possible the Browns might hold onto their first pick.

“We feel very comfortable staying at four and getting a good player there, and that could happen,” he said. “And we feel comfortable in moving down and getting more picks, we really do. It’s way early to start talking about this stuff.”

Heckert said the Browns think there are four quality quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. In addition to Luck and Griffin, Heckert said Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill is “untapped” and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden is “super smart.” Heckert said he’s eager to see the 28-year-old Weeden throw at his pro day today.

While the focus has been on jockeying for position to get Griffin, Heckert said the Browns have not given up on Colt McCoy, who had an inconsistent season as a full-time starter.

“We’re not down on Colt McCoy, so I just want to make that clear,” Heckert said. “We still think Colt’s going to be a good player.”

Heckert said there’s comfort in knowing what they have in McCoy. He also thinks adding former Minnesota coach Brad Childress as the team’s new offensive coordinator only will help McCoy, who was plagued by a lack of protection and dropped balls in 2011.

“The question is whether we have enough to see what Colt can do, and I think we do,” Heckert said. “If we catch more balls and protect him better, can Colt be a lot better? Yes. That’s our goal. We still think Colt can play in this league and it’s our job to help him out.”

As for free agency, Heckert won’t change his ways.

Since his days as Philadelphia’s GM, Heckert has resisted the urge to overspend on players. He’ll stick with his method of building mainly through the draft and adding lower-tier free agents to fill particular holes — and the Browns have a bunch.

“We’re not going to go crazy in free agency,” he said. “You look at throughout the history. I know Green Bay didn’t sign one free agent when they won (the Super Bowl) two years ago. I don’t think the Giants signed anybody, or at least anybody you’ve ever heard of as a free agent. You don’t win football games by signing a bunch of free agents. Now, can they help you? Certainly. And if there’s guys that we think can help us, we’ll definitely do it. But it’s easier said than done.”

Heckert’s stance would seem to rule out the Browns making a run at Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn, the prize of this year’s free agent group.

Heckert reiterated the Browns are open to re-signing running back Peyton Hillis, who had a drama- and injury-filled second season in Cleveland. Hillis, who rushed for 1,177 yards in 2010, recently changed agents again and will be an unrestricted free agent.

“If we can work things out, he’d like be here,” Heckert said. “And if we can do it, we’d like him to be here. Whether he has to wait till he sees what happens in free agency, that’s fine with us. We’re willing to do that. We’ll just have to wait and see how things go.”

On other Browns issues, Heckert said:

» The team has not had any contact with linebacker Scott Fujita, who played for New Orleans from 2006-09 and reportedly is entangled in the Saints’ “bounty” scandal.

» He would like to sign veteran kicker Phil Dawson to a long-term contract. The Browns placed their franchise tag last week on Dawson, who has been with Cleveland since 1999 and his coming off one of his best seasons.

» The Browns want to retain free safety Mike Adams and cornerback Dimitri Patterson. Both are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

» Right tackle Tony Pashos underwent ankle surgery Tuesday. Pashos was slowed by an injury to his ankle most of 2011.

BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns won’t join the Peyton Manning chase. However, they’re still in the hunt for Robert Griffin III.

Offering few clues about his plans for the NFL draft, free agency or how he’ll solve Cleveland’s interminable quarterback riddle, Browns general manager Tom Heckert said the team will not pursue Manning, who is now a high-priced free agent after being released by the Indianapolis Colts.

“Not really,” Heckert said when asked if Manning was on the club’s radar. “He’s obviously a great player and all that, but where we’re at and where he’s at … To be honest, we have not talked to him or anything. No, that’s probably not a direction we’re going in.”

Heckert met informally Thursday with reporters for the first time since undergoing heart surgery last month. A few pounds lighter, he recently returned to the office after recovering at home and missing the scouting combine in Indianapolis, where the Browns snared an up-close look at Griffin, Baylor(‘s talented Heisman Trophy winner.

With the No. 4 overall pick, the Browns may have a chance to select Griffin, considered the best QB prospect in this year’s draft behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who is expected to be taken first by the Colts. But with Griffin’s stock soaring and several teams desperate for a franchise quarterback, Cleveland, which also owns the No. 22 pick, might have to trade up to get St. Louis’ pick at No. 2 — if they want Griffin.

The move could be costly.

It’s possible the Browns could wind up in a bidding war with several teams for a shot at Griffin. Heckert treasures draft picks and might be unwilling to part with any of Cleveland’s selections. But the price might be worth it if the Browns, who have three of the top 37 picks, feel Griffin can reshape a franchise that has just one playoff appearance since 1999 and was the only AFC North team not in the playoffs last season.

Heckert acknowledged that he has had talks with the Rams, but he wouldn’t classify them as “serious.” He was asked if the Browns would be willing to give up both its first-round picks to go higher.

“I’d never say never about anything,” said Heckert, who plans to attend Griffin’s pro day workout on March 21.

Heckert called all the speculation about a possible trade with St. Louis preliminary and labeled media reports as “crazy.” He also said it’s possible the Browns might hold onto their first pick.

“We feel very comfortable staying at four and getting a good player there, and that could happen,” he said.

“And we feel comfortable in moving down and getting more picks, we really do. It’s way early to start talking about this stuff.”

Heckert said the Browns believe there are four quality quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. In addition to Luck and Griffin, Heckert mentioned Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill “untapped” and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden “super smart” during his 30-minute interview session. Heckert said he’s eager to see the 28-year-old Weeden throw at his pro day on Friday.

And while the focus has been on jockeying for position to possibly get Griffin, Heckert said the Browns have not given up on Colt McCoy, who had an inconsistent season as a full-time starter.

“We’re not down on Colt McCoy, so I just want to make that clear,” Heckert said. “We still think Colt’s going to be a good player.”

Heckert said there’s comfort in knowing what they have in McCoy. He also believes adding former Minnesota coach Brad Childress as the team’s new offensive coordinator will only help McCoy, who was plagued by a lack of protection and dropped balls last season.

“The question is whether we have enough to see what Colt can do, and I think we do,” Heckert said. “If we catch more balls and protect him better, can Colt be a lot better? Yes. That’s our goal. We still think Colt can play in this league and it’s our job to help him out.”

As for free agency, Heckert won’t change his ways.

   Since his days as Philadelphia’s GM, Heckert has resisted the urge to overspend on players. He’ll stick with his method of building mainly through the draft while adding lower-tier free agents to fill particular holes — and the Browns have a bunch.

“We’re not going to go crazy in free agency,” he said. “You look at throughout the history. I know Green Bay didn’t sign one free agent when they won (the Super Bowl) two years ago. I don’t think the Giants signed anybody, or at least anybody you’ve ever heard of as a free agent. You don’t win football games by signing a bunch of free agents. Now, can they help you? Certainly. And if there’s guys that we think can help us, we’ll definitely do it. But it’s easier said than done.”

Heckert’s stance would seem to rule out the Browns making a run at Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn, the prize of this year’s free agent group.

Heckert reiterated the Browns are open to re-signing running back Peyton Hillis, who had a drama- and injury-filled second season in Cleveland. Hillis, who rushed for 1,177 yards in 2010, recently changed agents

again and will be an unrestricted free agent.

“If we can work things out, he’d like be here,” Heckert said. “And if we can do it, we’d like him to be here. Whether he has to wait till he sees what happens in free agency, that’s fine with us. We’re willing to do that. We’ll just have to wait and see how things go.”

On other Browns issues, Heckert said:

– The team has not had any contact with linebacker Scott Fujita, who played for New Orleans from 2006-09 and is reportedly entangled in the Saints’ “bounty” scandal.

– He would like to sign veteran kicker Phil Dawson to a long-term contract. The Browns placed their franchise tag last week on Dawson, who has been with Cleveland since 1999 and his coming off one of his finest seasons.

– The Browns want to retain free safety Mike Adams and cornerback Dimitri Patterson. Both are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

– Right tackle Tony Pashos underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday. Pashos was slowed by an injury to his ankle most of last season.

The Cleveland Browns are probably in search of quarterback when it comes to the upcoming NFL Draft, and it appears they have strong interest in Robert Griffin III. But what if the Browns pass up Griffin and take someone else?

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how Andrew Luck and Griffin III are not the only quarterbacks in the draft projected to have successful NFL careers.

What about Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M?

Tannehill, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, is bigger and stronger than Colt McCoy, but he has red flags sticking like post-it notes to his scouting report. He broke his foot in January, and he started only 19 career games at quarterback for the Aggies. McCoy had more than twice as many victories in college (45) than Tannehill had starts.

If Tannehill is Plan B for the Browns, they might have to take him higher than is he ranked by most draft analysts, but they wouldn’t have to use the fourth pick on him, writes Schudel.

So what would the Browns be getting if they have to settle for Tannehill? NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says Tannehill is better than Jake Locker, who went eighth to the Titans last year, and Christian Ponder, who went to the Vikings with the 12th pick. Neither distinguished himself as a rookie last year.

More Cleveland Browns

The Browns are unwilling to trade their No. 22 pick to the Rams, writes Nate Ulrich on Ohio.com and Mary Kay Cabot on Cleveland.com.

Braylon Edwards is No. 1 when it comes to this list compiled by Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com.

Josh Cribbs says the CIA possibility for Peyton Hillis was created by Hillis’ agent, writes Jeff Schudel on MourningJournal.com.

Here’s some blog information on the Cleveland Browns in the Daily Dawg Chow.

Peyton Hillis is being railroaded out of Cleveland by the unsubstantiated reports on his character. This is total and utter BS. Browns management has been leaking this to the media. The fact the PD carries this unsubstantiated report is CLEARLY to lower his value and ruin his career. I guess the PD is truly now in bed with the Browns, as if replacing Grossi didn’t prove it before.

Hillis should not be franchised, but he should have been traded last year when all of this started. A 4th round pick would have been commensurate with his value. Holmgren is too stubborn and stupid to have done that, however. And Browns fans are clueless. Don’t enjoy the show…won’t relax…won’t enjoy the ride.

Running back Peyton Hillis may have played his last game with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns made the decision not to use their franchise tag him. So there’s a good chance Hillis will leave via free agency.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter writes how throughout the past season, Hillis has wavered about whether he wants to continue playing football, and even considered joining the CIA, according to team sources.

It is unclear if he actually pursued a career with the CIA.

Hillis told Browns coaches as recently as the end of the season that he was contemplating retirement, though it now looks as if he will continue playing, the sources said.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert told ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Wednesday that the team would like to keep Hillis if the contract is reasonable.

You have probably already heard that linebacker D’Qwell Jackson will be back with the Cleveland Browns, as they have signed him for $42.5 million for five years. This means that the franchise tag is still available.

It is unlikely that this franchise tag will be used on Peyton Hillis. They probably will not use it at all, but if it were to be used, kicker Phil Dawson will probably be the guy that they use it on.

“The franchise salary for Dawson will be about $3.8 million, and for Hillis, it would be about $7.7 million to $8 million,” reports Cleveland.com.

Hillis finished the 2011 season strong, but the majority of the season was spent on the bench for Hillis, for some random injury or illness. If I were the Browns I would cut ties with the seemingly cursed running back. Up until the last few games of the 2011 season, Hillis simply seemed disinterested in playing for the Browns. I understand that injury happens, but this guy was injured more often than LeBron James chokes in the fourth quarter.

Personally, I would send Hillis packing and give Chris Obgonnaya his spot. Obgonnaya does have some growing to do, but he did quite well this season given the total picture of this team.

The Browns will likely re-sign Phil Dawson. Dawson is truly a great player and a veteran on this team. Other free agents that the Browns will likely pick up include Mike Adams, Marcus Bernard and Dimitri Patterson.

Dawson has stated that he planned to continue to play football, but stated that he was not completely sure if he would remain with Cleveland. Hopefully, the Browns will talk to him and get him to stay on the shores of Lake Erie.

If the Browns will franchise anyone, they will have to do so by March 5, 2012, so we will soon know if they take this route.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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

BEREA, Ohio — On the eve of the NFL Combine, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said draft experts are jumping the gun in assuming the Browns will trade up to pick Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and cast aside Colt McCoy.

“I think what happens is, there’s a lot that gets said and written at this time and it’s very interesting to everyone,” said Shurmur at the Browns’ training facility. “Folks are making predictions while we’re still gathering information. That’s the important part. That’s the exciting thing about the combine.”

Shurmur acknowledged that the chance to spend time with RG3 is one of the things he’s most anticipating in Indianapolis, where more than 300 college prospects will be evaluated by all 32 NFL teams. Teams can conduct private interviews with up to 60 players.

“First of all, I’ve never met [Griffin],” said Shurmur. “That’s why this combine is going to be so important for me. He’s obviously very accomplished as a college quarterback and as we go through it all, we’ll determine whether he’s what everybody says he is.”

If RG3 is all that, the Browns might have to trade up to No. 2 with the Rams to get him. If they determine he’s not their guy, they might try to draft Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill later in the round.

But for now, they’re convinced that McCoy will be better in 2012 and that he can win for them. Last season, he finished 27th in the NFL with a 74.6 rating.

“I’m expecting that he will be [dramatically better], absolutely,” said Shurmur. “And the thing that’s encouraging to me is that he’s a guy you know is going to work at it.”

Shurmur, who spent seven seasons as a quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia, thinks the ceiling is high for McCoy once he’s well-versed in the West Coast system.

“Heck, I think he can be very good,” said Shurmur. “If he plays at a high level like I think he can, when he makes these improvements, that means he can help us win football games and I think that’s what you’re looking for at the end of the day — put the ball in the end zone and win games.”

The key for McCoy is he’ll have his first off-season to work with the coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

“I think it will make a big difference in my mind for me in his [second year] with me being here,” Shurmur said. “I’m expecting him to attack this off-season and get as good as he can get within our system. He’ll do that. He really works at things and I think that’s going to help him.”

He said McCoy is fully recovered from his concussion and has been taking some time off to hunt and fish.

“He’s going through the off-season basically healthy, getting his body and mind right,” said Shurmur, who added that the things McCoy needs to improve on are quantifiable.

“Whether it’s footwork, a better feel for the progressions, a better feel for the targets he’s throwing to — all of that gets refined when you have an off-season,” he said. “A lot of things I saw that he needs to improve on can be done by just working on it, everything from decision-making to the timing of his throws, accuracy to general footwork and fundamentals. He’ll have now an off-season where if we ran a play 20 times during the year, he can look at a cutup of that play with the pace slowed down and really critique himself.”

Shurmur disagrees with analysts who say McCoy doesn’t have the arm strength to throw the deeper passes.

“I think he can throw the deep ball,” said Shurmur. “Most quarterbacks have to throw the deep ball in rhythm and that comes down to fundamentals. I’ve seen him throw some very good deep balls. I don’t think that’s an issue.”

Although Eagles coach Andy Reid, Shurmur’s mentor, said Shurmur and Childress both understand that it takes four years to fully develop a quarterback, Shurmur said they “want to speed up the process. As long as the players are here, we’re not giving up on them. We believe that the guys we have are going to help us win games and we’re going to develop them.”

Shurmur indicated the Browns would be willing to adapt their West Coast offense if they draft RG3, who has a big arm and world-class speed to take off and run with the ball. He’s been in a spread offense throwing out of the shotgun, but will have to learn to operate under center.

“I think what happens is the offenses tweak a little bit,” he said. “Pro offenses are somewhat multiple. You’re under center, you’re in the gun, you’re in empty, you motion to empty, you play with three tight ends. We all have that as part of our package. What you try to do, though, is get the very best players you can and then within your system and how you teach you do a little bit more of this and less of that. I think that’s what you try to do, then you maximize their strengths.”

The Browns will know a lot more by the end of the week just how much they might have to tweak their scheme.

Shurmur addressed a number of other topics during his interview. Afterward, offensive coordinator Brad Childress also addressed the media:

• Shurmur said he’ll call the plays, but collaborate with Childress, who will be upstairs.

• He said the Browns are willing to use the franchise tag one of several players. A source told The Plain Dealer they’ll franchise D’Qwell Jackson if they can’t sign him to a multi-year deal. “He’s a guy we want back,” said Shurmur. If they do sign him, they have the option of using the tag on another player, such as kicker Phil Dawson or running back Peyton Hillis. Deadline for franchising a player is March 5.

• Shurmur sounded very positive about Hillis. “I really liked what I saw when he was in there playing healthy.”

• He was noncommittal about a role in 2012 for guard Eric Steinbach, who’s recovering from back surgery and is due $6 million in 2012. He said Steinbach is working out, but didn’t know his specific timetable. He said he still sees Jason Pinkston as a guard even if Steinbach is ready for full-time duty.

• Shurmur spoke highly of cornerback Dimitri Patterson and safety Mike Adams, which indicates the team is trying to re-sign both. He said Patterson can be a starter, not just a nickelback.

• Shurmur sounded as though the Browns are leaning toward signing a veteran wide receiver in free agency. “It’s important if you add leadership” in every one of your position groups, he said. The key, he said, is that the veteran can still play.

• Childress said he “saw some great finishes by” RG3 last year. He acknowledged that teams should play to a player’s strengths.

• Childress said the fact that Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill played 30 games at wide receiver “speaks to his athleticism” and hand-eye coordination. He said Tannehill would be more well-versed in the West Coast offense from working under Aggies coach Mike Sherman.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Berea — As he makes plans for his second season, Pat Shurmur’s next decision might shape his future as Browns coach.

Shurmur said he will launch a search for an offensive coordinator, a position he chose not to fill in his first season.

Doubling as his own coordinator in his rookie season as a head coach, Shurmur’s offense finished 29th in yards and 30th in scoring, and suffered some in-game brownouts that were explained as “communication” problems.

These included a fumbled handoff to tight end Alex Smith, who was rushed into the huddle as a replacement for fullback Owen Marecic at a critical point in a 6-3 loss to St. Louis, and botched clock management that cost the Browns at least a short field goal try at the end of the first half in a 20-14 loss in Baltimore.

Shurmur said he intended all along to hire a coordinator in his second season when he failed to find “the right guy” a year ago.

“We’re going to work quickly, but I’m not going to be hasty,” he said of the search. “I want to get the right guy. That’s a relationship that’s very, very important.”

Shurmur seems more inclined to give the right candidate play-calling responsibilities — something he would not do last year. He said, “That’s one of the details we’ll get worked out as we go through the process.”

A year ago, Shurmur interviewed at least three candidates for coordinator. Two took jobs elsewhere — Bill Musgrave with the Vikings and Mike McCoy re-signed with Denver under new coach John Fox. The third reported interviewee was Mark Whipple, who joined Shurmur’s staff as quarterbacks coach.

Shurmur said Tuesday the new coordinator “may come from the staff,” which points to Whipple as a contender.

Whipple was offensive coordinator at the University of Miami in 2009 and ’10. He previously worked one season in Philadelphia with Shurmur on Andy Reid’s staff and was quarterbacks coach for the Steelers from 2004 to ’06.

Other potential candidates could include Brad Childress, who worked with Shurmur in Philadelphia for six years, the last four as Reid’s offensive coordinator; and Mike Sherman, who was a Mike Holmgren assistant coach in Green Bay and his offensive coordinator one year in Seattle before returning to Green Bay as head coach. Sherman was fired as Texas A&M head coach last month and reportedly will receive NFL head coach interviews.

Shurmur said he would not identify candidates for the job. He said of Childress: “I know Brad very well. He and I worked together for a long time. I think he’s a terrific coach.”

Asked if the candidate has to have experience in the West Coast offense, Shurmur said: “I’m trying to find the best guy, so a guy who speaks our language . . . I think might have a little bit of a leg up.

“The coordinator role is like having another decision-maker amongst your staff that has the title of being able to say we’re going to do this or do that. I think it’s important that I get the right guy. His final role . . . there’s a lot of different models. There’s eight or nine teams where the head coach calls the plays, and they have a coordinator. And then there’s other teams that have a different [setup].

“The offensive coordinator is responsible for the offensive coaches. He’s mainly responsible for putting the plan together, directing the offense and doing a lot of things that I did as a head coach.

“The game-day thing, calling plays, that’s a fun thing for all of us to do. I want the best guy I can get. If he’s outstanding at calling plays . . . listen, I want to win games, so I’m going to get the guy that helps us win.”

The hire comes at a critical time in the franchise’s endless search for respectability. In their expansion era, the Browns have ranked 23rd or worst in offense in 12 of 13 seasons. They were eighth in 2007 under coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who is being mentioned as a head coach candidate in Jacksonville.

The Browns are contemplating a thorough upgrade on offense, which could include a new quarterback, new receivers and possibly a new running back.

Shurmur declined Tuesday to speculate on the future of quarterback Colt McCoy and again refused to say he wanted potential free agent Peyton Hillis to return as the feature running back.

As for any other changes to his coaching staff, Shurmur said he didn’t plan any “at this point.” He left open the door, pending coaches being made available by other teams.

The Browns had several breakdowns on special teams — yielding two kick returns for touchdowns and a touchdown on a fake punt, having two field goals blocked and having two critical long snaps go awry. But Shurmur defended special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.

“I think as players and coaches, we all need to improve. And I did see some improvement in areas that make me think we’re going to get better,” Shurmur said of the special teams.

Photo By Gene J. Puskar, File/APCleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy missed the final three games of the regular season with a concussion after a hit by Pittsburgh’s James Harrison on Dec. 8. The Browns finished 4-12 in 2011.

By TOM WITHERS

Associated Press

BEREA — The growing pains were agonizing, the mistakes numerous, the progress difficult to spot.

The Cleveland Browns had another one of those seasons.

Losing, though, has its rewards in the NFL, which compensates its worst teams with high draft picks to help them get better. After going 4-12, the Browns, with one of the league’s youngest rosters, will have the No. 4 overall selection in April and Cleveland fans are already frothing at the chance to bring in a college star like Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III to be their savior.

As he packed his bags for the offseason Monday, Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown issued a warning to that line of thinking.

“My thing is, if you’re dependent on a draft pick to come in here and change your life, then you’re kidding yourself,” he said. “This game is too hard.”

It certainly has been for the Browns, who haven’t made the playoff since 2002. They’ve lost at least 11 games in each of the past four seasons and a minimum of 10 in eight of the past nine. Green Bay (15) won more games this season than the Browns (14) have won in the past three seasons — combined.

And consider this stat: The defending Super Bowl champion Packers outscored the Browns 560-218.

So while some think Griffin, the Heisman Trophy winner, is the answer to all of Cleveland’s prayers, Brown believes the Browns already have the players they need to win consistently.

“The guys here have to step their game up to another level because they’re experienced,” he said. “Most rookies get hurt because they get tired and they don’t understand the speed and the strength of this game at the professional level. So I’m never sold on high draft picks.”

It was a turbulent first season in Cleveland for coach Pat Shurmur, who because of the NFL lockout didn’t have an offseason to install his new West Coast offense or get to know his team on the field. He made his share of mistakes, but Brown, who was previously with Shurmur in Philadelphia, is confident Browns president Mike Holmgren hired the right coach.

Shurmur has his detractors, but there’s no denying that the Browns, who went 0-6 in the rugged AFC North, played hard for him.

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

“If a football team goes out there and competes week in and week out, through thick and through thin — and it was very thick this year — but we didn’t quit. So that tells me that the leader is in place.”

Shurmur will discuss his rollercoaster rookie year Tuesday, and Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert are scheduled to meet the media Thursday, when they’re sure to be grilled about the team’s tricky quarterback situation.

Colt McCoy made 13 starts this season, but missed his final three games with a concussion. The Browns have a better sense of what McCoy is, and there’s a strong argument to be made for sticking with him in 2012 after investing so much time into his development.

But if the Browns — particularly Holmgren — don’t think McCoy can take them to a Super Bowl, they may look for a starting QB in free agency, a trade or the draft. With Stanford’s Andrew Luck expected to go No. 1 overall to Indianapolis, the next best choice could be Griffin, who resurrected Baylor and would be counted on to do the same with the Browns.

Brown, for one, isn’t counting on Griffin to ride in to the rescue.

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

Crazy would describe Cleveland’s wild season, which included costly injuries, endless drama around running back Peyton Hillis, dropped passes, and tough losses. The Browns lost six games by seven points or less, dropping their final three by a total of 13 points.

But close doesn’t put anything in the win column, and kicker Phil Dawson, whose 13th season with the Browns may have been his best, said the near misses can only help if players learned something from them.

“We were in a lot of games. It’s death by inches, though,” said Dawson. “Are we that close, or is that just the nature of the league? It depends on your personality, how you’re going to view that. In my little world, if my plant foot misses the spot by a quarter-inch, I miss the kick.

“That will probably tell you how I look at it. Everybody looks at themselves critically and figure out how they can improve. If we do that, now these close games are coming out in our favor. Hopefully that’s the way guys respond to it.”

Brown, too, thinks the Browns are nearing legitimacy.

“We’re very close,” said the 10-year veteran. “It’s one or two plays each game. You just have to find the playmakers and they just have to understand the sense of urgency and make the play.”

That sounds like a broken record, but Brown said he hasn’t felt this way before — not with the Browns.

“I didn’t tell you this last year,” he said. “I thought we were way off last year.”

The Browns put their franchise tag on Dawson this season and may do so again. The 36-year-old said he had a positive exit interview with team management and was encouraged by Heckert’s recent comments that the team would like to have him back. It would be hard to imagine the Browns not re-signing him.

Dawson has served his time — hard time — in Cleveland. The Browns have gone 68-141 during his tenure, and Dawson would hate not to be here when things finally get turned around. After waiting so long, he would hate to miss out on the good times.

“I don’t want to be Moses,” he said. “I don’t want to lead the people right to the edge and not get to go in. There’s going to be so many things, I can’t prioritize them at this point. We just lost to the Steelers 20 hours ago and that still hurts. I need to get home and eat a burrito.”

Hopefully, it will go down easier than this season.

By Tom Withers,

Associated Press

9:18 PM Monday, January 2, 2012

BEREA — The growing pains were agonizing, the mistakes numerous, the progress difficult to spot.

The Cleveland Browns had another one of those seasons.

Losing, though, has its rewards in the NFL, which compensates its worst teams with high draft picks to help them get better. After going 4-12, the Browns, with one of the league’s youngest rosters, will have the No. 4 overall selection in April and Cleveland fans are already frothing at the chance to bring in a college star like Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III to be their savior.

As he packed his bags for the offseason Monday, Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown issued a warning to that line of thinking.

“My thing is, if you’re dependent on a draft pick to come in here and change your life, then you’re kidding yourself,” he said. “This game is too hard.”

It certainly has been for the Browns, who haven’t made the playoff since 2002. They’ve lost at least 11 games in each of the past four seasons and a minimum of 10 in eight of the past nine. Green Bay (15) won more games this season than the Browns (14) have won in the past three seasons — combined.

And consider this stat: The defending Super Bowl champion Packers outscored the Browns 560-218.

It was a turbulent first season in Cleveland for coach Pat Shurmur, who because of the NFL lockout didn’t have an offseason to install his new West Coast offense or get to know his team on the field. He made his share of mistakes, but Brown, who was previously with Shurmur in Philadelphia, is confident Browns president Mike Holmgren hired the right coach.

Shurmur has his detractors, but there’s no denying the Browns, who went 0-6 in the rugged AFC North, played hard for him.

Shurmur will discuss his rollercoaster rookie year today, and Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert are scheduled to meet the media Thursday, when they’re sure to be grilled about the team’s quarterback situation.

Colt McCoy made 13 starts this season, but missed his final three games with a concussion. The Browns have a better sense of what McCoy is, and there’s a strong argument to be made for sticking with him in 2012 after investing so much time into his development. But if the Browns — particularly Holmgren — don’t think McCoy can take them to a Super Bowl, they may look for a starting QB in free agency, a trade or the draft.

Cleveland’s wild season included costly injuries, endless drama around running back Peyton Hillis, dropped passes, and tough losses. The Browns lost six games by seven points or less, dropping their final three by a total of 13 points.