CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns today announced the signing of 15 undrafted free agents.

(Brief player profiles follow)

The players were not selected during the seven-round NFL draft on April 26-28.

Cleveland signed five defensive backs, four offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two linebackers and one defensive lineman.

The Browns also announced that they have waived linebacker Brian Smith.

Browns undrafted free agent signings:

Name                       Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      College                    Hometown

Mike Allen                  DB      6-0      180      James Madison        Powhatan, Va.

Jake Anderson           OL      6-5      305      Akron                      Erie, Pa.

Johnson Bademosi     DB      6-0      200      Stanford                 Silver Spring, Md.

Matt Cleveland           OL      6-3      295      Idaho                      Kent, Wash.

Josh Cooper               WR     5-10    190      Oklahoma State       Mustang, Okla.

Emanuel Davis           DB      5-10    195      East Carolina           Manteo, N.C. 

L.J. Fort                     LB       6-0      230      Northern Iowa        Waynesville, Mo.

Garth Gerhart             OL      6-1      305      Arizona State          Norco, Calif.

Tashaun Gipson          DB      5-11     205      Wyoming                Dallas, Texas

William Green             DL      6-3       250      Florida                     Hoover, Ala.

Antwuan Reed            DB       5-10     190     Pittsburgh               Johnstown, Pa.

Bert Reed                   WR      5-10     180      Florida State            Panama City, Fla.

Jermaine Saffold        WR      6-0      200      Missouri State          Grandview, Mo.

J.B. Shugarts              OL       6-6       305      Ohio State               Klein, Texas

Andrew Sweat            LB        6-0      230      Ohio State               Washington, Pa.
 
Player profiles, from the Browns

MIKE ALLEN – Four year letterman at James Madison University (2008-11)… Began collegiate career as a wide receiver before converting to defense prior to junior season… Totaled 63 career tackles, 10 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… Attended Blessed Sacrament Huguenot High School in Powhatan, Va.

JAKE ANDERSON – Four year letterman at the University of Akron (2008-11)… Did not miss a game in four years, appearing in all 48… Utilized mostly at right tackle… Attended McDowell High School in Erie Pa.

JOHNSON BADEMOSI – Appeared in 48 games at Stanford University (2008-11)… Totaled 122 career tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception… Was also a member of the track and field team at Stanford… Attended Gonzaga High School in in Silver Spring, Md.

MATT CLEVELAND – Three year starter at the University of Idaho (2009-11)… Miss the 2008 season due to injury, but went on to start the next 38 games at left tackle… Attended Kentwood High School in Covington, Wash.

JOSH COOPER – Tallied 161 career receptions, 1,696 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns at Oklahoma State University (2008-11)… As a senior, finished second on the team in receptions (71) and receiving yards (716), while adding three touchdown catches… Attended Mustang (Okla,) High School.

EMANUEL DAVIS – Appeared in 49 career games at East Carolina University (2008-11) with 38 starts… Notched 230 career tackles, nine interceptions, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks… Attended Manteo (N.C.) High School.

L.J. FORT – Appeared in 50 games game at the University of Northern Iowa (2008-11) with 34 starts… Finished 2011 as the Division I FCS national leader in total tackles (184) and tackles per game (14.15)… Named the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and was selected as the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year by both College Sporting News and College Sports Madness… Finished fifth in school history with 356 career stops… Attended Waynesville (Mo.) High School.

GARTH GERHART – Started 35 of the 39 games in which he saw action in at Arizona State University (2008-11)… Opened 27 games at center, five at right guard and three at left guard… Brother, Toby, is a running back for the Minnesota Vikings… Attended Norco (Calif.) High School.

TASHAUN GIPSON – Four year starter at the University of Wyoming (2008-11)… Notched nine career interceptions… As a senior, recorded 95 tackles and three interceptions… Attended Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas.

WILLIAM GREEN – Appeared in 53 contests with four starts at the University of Florida (2008-11)… Totaled 53 tackles and 2.5 sacks… As a senior, saw action in 13 games, notching 21 tackles and half a sack… Attended Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala.

ANTWUAN REED – Four year letterman at the University of Pittsburgh (2008-11)… As a senior, totaled 30 tackles, seven passes defensed and three fumble recoveries, including returning one for a touchdown… Named to the All-Big East second team after final season… Attended Greater Johnstown (Pa.) High School.

BERT REED – Four year letterman at Florida State University (2008-11)… Finished career ranked fourth in school history in receptions (170) and 12th in receiving yards (2,022)… Also notched 10 career touchdown receptions, while adding 34 rushing attempts for 243 yards with three scores… As a senior, totaled 29 receptions for 403 yards with five touchdowns… Attended Bay High School in Panama City, Fla.

JERMAINE SAFFOLD – Four year letterman at Missouri State University (2008-11)… Set the school single-season season (913 in 2011) and career (2,221) records for receiving yardage… As a senior, recorded 45 receptions with eight touchdowns and ranked 25th nationally in receiving yards per game (83.0)… Nine career 100-yard receiving performances were also a school record… Attended Grandview (Mo.) High School.

J.B. SHUGARTS – Four year letterman at Ohio State University (2008-11)… Three year starter at right tackle… Father, Bret, was a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987)… Attended Klein (Texas) High School.

ANDREW SWEAT – Appeared in 49 career games at Ohio State University (2008-11)… Totaled 201 career tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack… As a senior, finished second on the team with 72 tackles, while adding one interception and one forced fumble… Attended Trinity High School in Washington, Pa.

Major players acquisitions—the draft and free agency—are complete with the competitive core of all 32 teams’ rosters in place.

After breaking down NFC rosters by division on Tuesday, Sporting News examines the competitive balance in the AFC.

AFC East

Moving up: New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills. The Patriots added assistant coach Josh McDaniels and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to their already potent offense, and first-round pick Chandler Jones and other picks will contribute to a better pass defense.

The Bills went all in for their pass rush, with Mario Williams and former Patriot Mark Anderson arriving as free agents. They also got top cornerback Stephon Gilmore in the draft to help new coordinator Dave Wannstedt’s secondary.

Moving down: Miami Dolphins, New York Jets. The Dolphins are going through major changes at quarterback, coach and coordinators. While they’re starting mainly from scratch, the Jets are stuck in the middle. The Mark Sanchez-Tim Tebow combination brings more uncertainty to their passing game in Tony Sparano’s offense, and holes remain in Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense, especially a pass rusher despite the first-round selection of Quinton Coples.

AFC North

Moving up: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns. The Bengals have worked to make sure they’re not a one-year playoff wonder by upgrading their young offense and adding to a strong defense. They could have splurged in free agency but waited to get all their needed new starters during the draft, including cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, guard Kevin Zeitler and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.

Kevin Zeitler, left, and Dre Kirkpatrick are first-round picks who will help the Bengals move further away from their bungling past. (AP Photo)
The Browns, tired of being division doormats because of their offense, blew it up to start fresh with the promising combination of first-round picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden.

Still standing: Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens must take care of principals Ray Rice and Joe Flacco to keep their budding offense intact. Defensively, it’s a familiar elite crew, only with rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw replacing Jarret Johnson opposite defensive player of the year Terrell Suggs.

The Steelers have age issues short term, but their focus in the draft on offensive and defensive lines addressed those needs.

AFC South

Moving up: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts needed a defensive-minded coach in Chuck Pagan and a franchise quarterback to remove them from unfamiliar doldrums. Just as owner Jim Irsay fast-forwards his franchise from the Peyton Manning era, new Jaguars owner Shad Khan is trying to bring excitement. Receivers Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson are bound to help quarterback Blaine Gabbert shake his woes.

Still standing: Houston Texans. They’re the reigning division champs and figure to feel good about their chances to win the AFC if quarterback Matt Schaub is healthy. Wade Phillips keeps getting more cogs, including Whitney Mercilus via the draft, to keep his 3-4 defense operating at a championship level.

Moving down: Tennessee Titans. They saved safety Michael Griffin, but their defense took hits with the departures of cornerback Cortland Finnegan and defensive lineman Jason Jones. They also must figure out where they want to go at quarterback between Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker after failing to land Peyton Manning.

AFC West

Moving up: Denver Broncos. Here’s the team that succeeded in getting Manning, and if he’s healthy enough to play, expect him to return at a familiar high level. This is already an 8-8 division winner that won a playoff game last season. With Manning replacing Tebow, the Broncos will have the necessary, legitimate passing offense to battled the rest of the AFC’s best. Keep in mind the defense often carried the team last season, and that group should execute better in Year 2 of the John Fox-Von Miller era.

Still standing: San Diego Chargers. They disappointed as projected division winners past two seasons, so the Broncos taking away some of the pressure is a good thing. QB Philip Rivers won’t press so much, and they quietly overhauled their defense with coordinator John Pagan and ideal 3-4 linebackers Jarret Johnson and Melvin Ingram. The key to the Chargers returning to the playoffs is third-year running back Ryan Mathews building on his first Pro Bowl season.

Moving down: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs also didn’t get Manning, leading to uncertainty under center as the Matt Cassel stint continues. They lost cornerback Brandon Carr as a free agent and need talented players Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki to recover from knee injuries. In an even division from a year ago, Denver and San Diego just did more. The Raiders lost a lot more value than they gained in free agency, and their Carson Palmer trade last season left them few draft options.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns will spring rookie running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden on the AFC North this season, but the rest of the division also had solid drafts, even if some lacked the big-name power of the Browns’ first round.

The Bengals’ draft earned rave reviews nationally, and the Steelers, who re-stocked their offensive line, always seem to get it right. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome added a premier linebacker who promises to wreak havoc like so many of the others.

The Browns were the only AFC North team not to make the playoffs in 2011, but hope their new backfield can get them there soon.

“You start with Cleveland, anytime you can get a running back, it shortens the game,” Newsome said during his post-draft press conference. “And them getting a guy like Trent [Richardson] and then getting a quarterback — but not only a quarterback — a quarterback that has some maturity, I think that learning curve may be a lot shorter with him. So, they did a good job.

“Then Cincinnati, Marvin [Lewis] having two first-round picks to get the offensive lineman and the corner that they got [Dre Kirkpatrick]. And then you move on to Pittsburgh.

“So, I think all three teams really helped themselves in this year’s draft, and they just made competing in the AFC North that much tougher.”

A look at the drafts of the Browns’ division rivals:

Cincinnati: National analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden gushed over the Bengals’ draft, and it’s easy to see why. They spent their top first-round pick on a tall, athletic cornerback in Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick and then traded down in the round and picked up a stud starting right guard in Wisconsin’s Kevin Zeitler.

Kirkpatrick is 6-1, 185 and will compete with Nate Clements for the starting job.

“[We like tall] guys that can get hands on the receivers at the line of scrimmage; and he moves his feet laterally well,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer told reporters in Cincinnati. “He does a great job in bump and run. The taller corners have an advantage when they’re going down the field because the ball has to go over the top of outstretched arms.”

The Bengals then shored up their interior defensive line with Penn State tackle Devon Still in the second round and Clemson’s Brandon Thompson in the third.

The Bengals added two receivers to complement A.J. Green: Rutgers’ Mohamed Sanu in the third round and California’s Marvin Jones in the fifth. Sanu had 115 catches last season, but lacks elite speed. Jones is faster and can get open, and should get playing time.

They also tabbed 251-pound Georgia tight end Orson Charles, who’ll create mismatches over the middle and allow the Bengals to play more two tight end sets.

Pittsburgh: The Steelers’ draft wasn’t flashy, but smart and solid.

They began by shoring up their offensive line with No. 24 pick David DeCastro, the top-rated guard from Stanford, and second-round tackle Mike Adams from Ohio State, who made certain commitments to the Steelers after he tested positive for marijuana at the combine. The Steelers were ecstatic when DeCastro, the draft’s highest-rated guard, slipped to them, and he’ll start immediately.

Adams can start on either side, and will compete with veteran Willie Colon. Miami linebacker Sean Spence, taken in the third round, is smallish for the position, but he’s fast, explosive and a sure tackler. Kiper had him rated one spot behind Browns’ sixth-round pick Emmanuel Acho.

Fourth-round defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu will be groomed to replace Casey Hampton down the road. An intriguing prospect is small, speedy Florida running back Chris Rainey (5-8, 180), who will sub for Rashard Mendenhall, who’s coming off ACL surgery.

“I’m a playmaker all around,” said Rainey. “I’m perfect for this offense.”

Baltimore: Leave it to Newsome to trade out of the first round but still land Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw.

Upshaw undoubtedly came highly-recommended from Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, and should provide a formidable edge-rusher to team with Terrell Suggs. He had 15 1/2 sacks the past two seasons and has something to prove after tumbling out of the first round.

He’ll also have a great role model in Ray Lewis and some extra motivation twice a year to try to set the edge against his former Alabama teammate, Richardson.

The Ravens added offensive depth with their next three picks: Iowa State tackle Kelechi Osemele, who will most likely play guard, Temple running back Benard Pierce, who rushed for 1,481 yards and 27 TDs last year, and Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski.

Newsome came back in rounds four and five with cornerbacks for this pass-oriented league, size and speed guy Christian Thompson of South Carolina State and possible nickelback and special-teamer Asa Jackson of Cal Poly. They also tabbled 6-5 Miami receiver Tommy Streeter, a deep-threat for Joe Flacco.

The Ravens’ draft received mixed reviews locally, but count on Newsome to have unearthed some gems.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

One thing I love about being a Cleveland Browns‘ fan is the passion of the fan base. We sometimes (more often than not) do not agree with each other about the direction the team is headed, be it the playoffs in a few years or a top five draft pick team for the next five, but it is that passion for the team that I admire most.

The Browns are horrible. It is tough to argue against that fact, yet we still tailgate every home game in the Muni-Lot and still flock to the stadium every game day. We are a loyal group even if we complain incessantly.

At least we are not fans of the Miami Dolphins or Cincinnati Bengals who rank among the worst in attendance. Cincinnati had a playoff year and still had difficulty filling their stadium. Miami just appears to be apathetic about their team in general.

Not Cleveland though, we are a football town through and through.

With the offseason upon us after an abysmal 4-12 season in 2011, the team desperately needs work if it expects to be even moderately competitive next season. They have lost their premier running back in Peyton Hillis to the Kansas City Chiefs and still lack a legitimate No. 1 receiver as well as an effective quarterback.

It appears Colt McCoy is being given a chance to continue to develop. The failures on offense were not entirely his fault due to the weakness of the offensive line and receivers who were unable to make catches, but it is still his responsibility as the leader on the field to be effective, regardless of the tools he is given to succeed.

No earth-shattering moves have taken place in free agency. There was the addition of DE Frostee Rucker. It was a solid acquisition in my opinion but far from being a “game-changer.”

So all that is really left is the NFL Draft, which is set to take place next month. With Andrew Luck expected to go to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III headed to the Washington Redskins, what do the Browns do? Do they hope the Minnesota Vikings do not go for OT Matt Kalil?

Do they go for Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Trent Richardson, CB Morris Claiborne, or even WR Justin Blackmon with the No. 4 pick? With so many needs it is hard to pick what would be the top priority.

What would you do if you were the Browns GM?

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

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

Cleveland Browns end season with loss to Pittsburgh Steelers 13-9: A fan’s reaction

The Cleveland Browns’ experience: 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.

CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk writes how Hines Ward, 36, will get released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a few days. And when that happens, would the Cleveland Browns want to sign Ward at his age?

Well, writes Doerschuk, Jerry Rice was 41 when he joined Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks in 2004 and turned 42 during the ‘04 season.

Doerschuk gives us Pro Football Weekly’s list of the top 100 free agents. Maybe the Browns will consider some of these players.

• No. 4 overall, Mike Wallace (Steelers). He is a restricted free agent. The others on the list are unrestricted. That means it’s unlikely he’s leaving Pittsburgh. It’s still hard to believe the Browns picked Brian Robiskie and Mo Massaquoi when he was still on the 2009 board.
• No. 7 overall, Vincent Jackson (Chargers). You wonder how it would play to a guy like this if you said, “We’ll have Robert Griffin throwing to you. Might be fun.” I didn’t realize he was this old: He’ll turn 30 before he next Super Bowl.
• No. 10 overall, Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs). He led Jackson 1,159-1,106 in 2011 receiving yards, and is younger.
• No. 13 overall, Wes Welker (Pats). Willie McGinest still had some tread left on his tires when Belichick let him slip to the Browns. The 5-foot-9 Welker will be 31 soon and might be beat up.

More Cleveland Browns

Here are several stories on Peyton Hillis and his dreams of the CIA, although coach Pat Shurmur didn’t have any knowledge of Hillis’ aspirations.

Several teams in the AFC North are expected to put franchise tags on players, writes ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

Daily Dawg Chow by Dawgs By Nature blog on the Cleveland Browns.

The
Pittsburgh Steelers
had no problems getting by without
Ben Roethlisberger
in their latest game, but the franchise quarterback says he plans to play in the team’s potentially significant regular-season
finale in Cleveland.

The progress of a game on the opposite end of Ohio may determine how much.

A first-round bye is in sight for the Steelers with a victory over the Browns on Sunday and some help, but otherwise they’d
likely need to win three times on the road to make a return trip to the Super Bowl.

After suffering a high ankle sprain in a 14-3 win over Cleveland in Week 14, Roethlisberger played through pain in a 20-3
loss at San Francisco 11 days later, throwing three interceptions as Pittsburgh blew a chance to stay in the driver’s seat
for the AFC’s top seed.

Needing two wins and a Baltimore loss to win the AFC North and guarantee at least a first-round bye, the Steelers (11-4) rested
Roethlisberger in favor of
Charlie Batch
last weekend against St. Louis. Batch threw for 208 yards while Pittsburgh rode a 116-yard rushing performance from
Rashard Mendenhall
and a dominant defensive effort to a 27-0 win.

Baltimore held off a late rally by the Browns to win 20-14 that same day, but the division’s current leader – by virtue of
a head-to-head sweep of the Steelers – hardly has it easy in Week 17. The Ravens travel to Cincinnati, where a win would put
the Bengals in the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 6 seed and third qualifier from the North.

A Baltimore loss and Pittsburgh win would give the Steelers the No. 2 seed, and potentially No. 1 should New England falter.
But anything else leaves Pittsburgh as the AFC’s fifth seed with no week off, almost certainly requiring the defending conference
champions to win three road games to reach a fourth Super Bowl in seven years.

It was unclear early in the week if the Steelers would risk Roethlisberger for what amounts to a 50-50 shot at best at a bye,
but Thursday the recently named Pro Bowl passer said he’d give it a go.

“As long as I can deal with pain, I’ll be out there,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t want to let the guys down, so I’ll do
what I can to be out there.”

Coach Mike Tomlin’s offensive coordinator agrees – to a point.

“I want him out there but not at the risk of injuring himself,” Bruce Arians said. “If he can’t move around and get out of
the way, there’s no sense in getting him out there.”

While the Steelers need help from the Bengals – offensive lineman
Trai Essex
said he “might peek a couple of times” at the scoreboard – they’re focused on the Browns (4-11), especially considering they
didn’t put the Dec. 8 meeting away until a 79-yard Roethlisberger-to-
Antonio Brown
touchdown with 2:52 left.

“Cleveland’s going to do whatever they can to put a damper on our season as much as possible,” Essex told the Steelers’ official
website. “They’re not having the year I’m sure they wanted to, but whenever we play against each other it doesn’t matter what
our record is, we’re going to get their best and they’re going to get ours.”

Roethlisberger isn’t the only quarterback to have sustained a potentially significant injury in the first meeting. Browns
quarterback
Colt McCoy
took a helmet-to-helmet shot from Steelers linebacker
James Harrison
late in the fourth quarter, a hit that drew Harrison a one-game suspension and opened the door to Cleveland’s coaching staff
receiving plenty of criticism.

McCoy returned to the game, but was later diagnosed with a concussion. The decision to send him back in led to the NFL instituting
a policy that requires teams to have a certified athletic trainer in the press box help medical staffs evaluate injured players.

One of the harshest critics of the Browns’ handling of the situation was none other than Harrison, who said last week that
Cleveland should be disciplined since he was docked one game.

As for his play, Harrison claims he’s lowered his target area. Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson isn’t so sure.

“Harrison is who he is and whether you fine him, you suspend him, he’s not going to change,” Jackson said.

McCoy, who missed the past two games, has not been medically cleared and is unlikely to return for the finale.
Seneca Wallace
figures to get the call again after throwing for 373 yards, two TDs and an interception in losses to the Cardinals and Ravens.

“We have to try to take advantage of every opportunity and make sure we do it at 100 percent,” Wallace said. “Do it at a high
level and minimize mistakes. Against teams in this division, we can’t give them easy ones.”

As long as Roethlisberger’s been in Pittsburgh, matchups with Cleveland have typically been just that. The Steelers are 13-1
against the Browns with Roethlisberger starting, and he’s thrown seven touchdown passes without a pick in his last four visits
to Cleveland.

“You never want to lose to Cleveland,” Steelers safety
Ryan Clark
said. “When you are in this city, when you play for this organization, that’s a game you don’t want to lose.”

Read More: Troy Polamalu (SS – PIT), Seneca Wallace (QB – CLE), Phil Dawson (K – CLE), Isaac Redman (RB – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 13-straght points and maintain a 13-9 lead over the Cleveland Browns heading into the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh opened the half taking the ball down to the the Cleveland 11-yard line before having to settle for a Sean Suisham field goal and then finally cracked the end zone for the first time when Isaac Redman ran the ball seven yards for six. The play capped a seven-play drive as the Steelers took advantage of good field position after Troy Polamalu intercepted a Seneca Wallace pass.

Seneca Wallace bounced back and moved the Browns into the red zone on their next drive by throwing to Josh Cribbs and then running the ball himself for 20 yards. But after taking a sack on third and long, the Browns settled for a 49-yard field goal by Phil Dawson.

Redman has handled the running back duties admirably for the Steelers, putting up 70 yards on 17 carries. Wallace leads the Browns with 44 yards rushing but has completed just 7 of 20 passes for 102 yards.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation’s main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The only big name on the inactive lists of the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers is LaMarr Woodley.

Woodley has battled hamstring problems of late. He didn’t play in the first meeting Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh. Jason Worilds will start for Woodley. Headhunter James Harrison mans the other starting linebacker spot.

The Browns inactives are: Receiver Jordan Norwood, quarterback Colt McCoy, receiver Rod Windsor, defensive back James Dockery, center Steve Vallos, defensive tackle Kiante Tripp and right tackle Tony Pashos.

Artis Hicks will start for Pashos. Oniel Cousins may also play.

Other Steelers inactives: Running back Mewelde Moore, linebacker Chris Carter, center Doug Legursky, defensive end Al Woods, offensive tackle Jamon Meredith and receiver Arnaz Battle.

Coordinator news: ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the Browns indeed will hire an offensive coordinator in 2012. It’s a story Cleveland-area media reported months ago when Browns President Mike Hollmgren first said a coordinator was in the offing for next season.

Mortensen speculated on ex-Andy Reid assistant coach and Minnesota head coach Brad Childress as a leading candidate. Childress’ name has been circulated in previous local reports, along with that of Mike Sherman, former Holmgren aide in Green Bay.

Childress and Sherman are represented by Bob LaMonte, who controls the Browns’ executive front. LaMonte is a long-time friend and business associate of Holmgren, and also represents General Manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur.

One longshot candidate who is outside the LaMonte inner circle is Karl Dorrell, who is part of the lame-duck coaching staff of the Miami Dolphins.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot hosts News and Notes with Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, D’Qwell Jackson, and Greg Little before they play the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Read More: Tony Pashos (OL – CLE), Dimitri Patterson (DB – CLE), Peyton Hillis (RB – CLE), Kaluka Maiava (LB – CLE), Mohamed Massaquoi (WR – CLE), Jordan Norwood (WR – CLE), Shawn Lauvao (OL – CLE), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), Owen Marecic (FB – CLE), Quinton Spears (LB – CLE), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns

As the Cleveland Browns prepare for their regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, they’re still hoping to get a few players healthy.

Wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi (foot) and Josh Cribbs (groin) returned to full participation in practice on Thursday, joining fullback Owen Marecic (ankle), guard Shawn Lauvao (ankle) and cornerback Dimitri Patterson (hand), who returned to full participation on Wednesday according to Dave Bryan of Steelers Depot.

Bryan also said that defensive lineman Scott Paxon (hand, calf), running back Peyton Hillis (elbow), linebacker Kaluka Maiava (hand) and linebacker Quinton Spears (head) were limited in practice while quarterback Colt McCoy (concussion), wide receiver Jordan Norwood (concussion) and tackle Tony Pashos illness were all held out of practice.

For more on the Steelers, please visit Behind the Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s Steelers blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit SB Nation Cleveland and Dawgs by Nature, SB Nation’s Browns blog.

Joe Thomas – a left tackle for the Cleveland Browns – will be heading to his fifth straight Pro Bowl. He will also be starting for the game. Josh Cribbs and D’Qwell Jackson have been named as alternates.

“It’s a tremendous honor any time you get named to the Pro Bowl,” said Thomas. “For me to represent the Cleveland Browns for a fifth time is kind of hard to believe. It never gets old.”

Many are surprised that Thomas, let alone any of the Browns, made it into the Pro Bowl. With their record this year. This may give the Browns some confidence though and this could help them heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game.

Thomas will get a chance to play with the best in the league again in Honolulu. He will join tackles, Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins and D’Brickashaw Ferguson of the New York Jets.

Joe Thomas has been a dedicated member of the Browns’ team over the last five years. He has been a starter and while the Browns’ offense has faltered on many occasions, he continues to go back out there and give it his all. He will need to maintain this level of play for the AFC team in the Pro Bowl. Of course, he will have more help with this set of teammates, but he is also competing against the best of the best. The Pro Bowl truly is a whole other level of play.

On quarterback for the AFC, they will have Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The AFC wide receivers will be Wes Welker of the New England Patriots, A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals, Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins.

The AFC is looking pretty solid. Looking at the NFC, the matchups are pretty even and Thomas and his teammates have a definite chance to bring a win.

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.

Read More: James Harrison (LB – PIT), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy could return for the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a story in the National Football Post. McCoy has been out with a concussion since Dec. 8 — coincidentally in a game against the Steelers — but could receive clearance to practice as soon as Wednesday.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur didn’t exactly guarantee McCoy’s return, but definitely did not rule out his participation in comments to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

“I can’t cross that bridge yet,” said Shurmur. “We’ll know more Wednesday when we start practicing for the Steelers and then we’ll talk about it then. And I’m not trying to be vague. That’s the case.”

James Harrison received a one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit that gave McCoy the concussion, although he did remain in the game. He was not diagnosed until the next day, when he revealed that he did not remember parts of the game. McCoy has had a solid, if unspectacular year, throwing 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

For more on McCoy’s possible return, be sure to check out Browns blog Dawgs by Nature.

By MIKE KEATING

The Review

CANTON TWP. — A former Cleveland Browns quarterback shared his thoughts on the current signal caller when he addressed the Pro Football Hall of Fame Club at its weekly luncheon Monday afternoon.

Before he suffered a concussion against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which forced him to miss the next two games, Colt McCoy was the daily focal point of attention by Cleveland sportstalk shows. Many of the hosts and the callers believe McCoy, who is in his second year with the Browns, isn’t the long-term solution.

Mike Pagel, a pregame analyst on the Browns radio network, is unsure, offering several reasons.

“I think it takes 3-5 years for a young quarterback to understand the game,” Pagel explained. “He’s playing with a bunch of young receivers in a complicated offense, guys who have to make adjustments on the fly. He’s also had to deal with the Peyton Hillis (strep throat and hamstring) issue.

There also are two rookie guards, two tight ends (Benjamin Watson and Alex Smith) are beat up, and he also has a third-year starting center (Alex Mack).”

Pagel, 51, who was the understudy to Cleveland starting quarterback Bernie Kosar from 1986 to 1990, says first-year head coach Pat Shurmur was delivered an unfair hand before his first Cleveland training camp, although he held him accountable for one decision.

“Two things went against him,” Pagel opined. “The NFL lockout killed the organization, because you have a new head coach with a new coaching staff who hasn’t worked together starting late. However, I thought he made a mistake trying to be both head coach and offensive coordinator. Head coach and offensive coordinator are two full-time jobs.”

When queried on the forthcoming NFL College Player Draft, Pagel offered his wish list for General Manager Tom Heckert.

“The Browns need another defensive end, a playmaking outside linebacker, another cover cornerback, four wide receivers and a running back,” he smiled. “I wouldn’t draft a running back in the first round, because I think you can find a good one later, unless you get a chance to draft a ‘can’t miss prospect.’ My guess is they will focus on the defense first and beef it up, drafting another defensive end and a playmaking outside linebacker.”

Since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1999, the Browns sport an odious won-loss record. With one regular-season game remaining against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns are only 68-140. They have only posted two winning seasons in 13 years. This year’s team is 4-11, producing its 11th season of double-digit losses.

With five head coaches and four general managers, there has been no continuity with the expansion Browns. There also has been no philosophy, a topic Pagel expanded.

“There is no Cleveland Browns way of playing football,” he stated. “They have never had a method or set direction on how to play. They don’t have the right mentality on winning. They hope to win; they don’t know how to win.”