Cleveland, Ohio – Welcome to today’s edition of Starting Blocks TV. Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright proved they don’t have any dancing skills, but Yarborough and Wright were in step with today’s Hey, Mary Kay! questions from readers.

Today’s guest, Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, explained how quarterback Brandon Weeden, not Mitchell Schwartz, is the key to the overall value of the Cleveland Browns’ draft. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper says Schwartz is the key.

Will Trent Richardson rush for more or less than the 1, 341 yards that Adrian Peterson rushed for during his rookie season? That’s the question in today’s Starting Blocks poll. Mary Kay said Richardson will surpass that number.

SBTV returns on Monday.

Join cleveland.com’s Glenn Moore and various Plain Dealer writers, including Mary Kay Cabot, Dennis Manoloff and Terry Pluto, for a live chat during the draft. They will be breaking down each pick and giving you their opinions on what the Browns and other teams have done in the draft.

Also, be sure to look for our live video broadcasts during the draft, which will include Browns analysis of their picks with Mary Kay Cabot.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Welcome to today’s edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough.

Today’s guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot. She talks with Chuck about yesterday’s Browns conference call with season ticket holders, in which team president Mike Holmgren said the team made a legitimate effort to trade up in the draft to take QB Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick.

Mary Kay also talks about what might be ahead for the Browns in free agency; and what the future might hold for Browns QB Colt McCoy.

SBTV will return Monday. Have a great St. Patrick’s Day weekend..

The emotional release of Peyton Manning by the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday wasn’t close to how Bernie Kosar left the Cleveland Browns many years ago.

It was the complete opposite.

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how Manning’s departure was a complete  contrast to Nov. 8, 1993, when Bill Belichick, cut Bernie Kosar because of what Belichick said were Kosar’s “diminishing skills.”

Belichick turned Kosar, already a hero in the eyes of Browns fans, into a martyr that day. Headlines in newspapers the next morning were as big and bold as “Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor,” and that is no exaggeration.

Two hours before Belichick and Browns owner Art Modell met with the media, they met with Kosar to deliver the news. Cutting Kosar was Belichick’s idea, but Modell backed it 100 percent.

The departure of Kosar began early that season when stories of Kosar and Belichick disagreeing on offense in the 2 1/2 years Kosar played for Belichick were legendary, but Belichick said that is not why he benched and then cut Kosar.

“I’ve even heard I sat Bernie because I don’t like him,” Belichick said a week or so later in a Sports Illustrated story. “Anyone who thinks I’d do all this work and then sit some guy because I don’t like him — that’s insane. All the decisions I made are for what I feel gives us the best opportunity to win.”

More Cleveland Browns

GM Tom Heckert says it’s unlikely the Cleveland Browns will go after Peyton Manning, writes Mary Kay Cabot on Cleveland.com.

Tony Grossi leaves The Plain Dealer and moves over to radio station WKNR, writes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The one constant for the Browns since they returned in 1999 has been kicker Phil Dawson bracing fierce winds on the lakefront and nailing his kicks.

Fortunately for them, that won’t change in 2012.

The Browns franchised Dawson for the second straight season, which will be his 14th in a Browns uniform. He will make about $3.8 million, which represents the requisite 20 percent raise for a second straight tag. Last season, he made $3.125 million.

The Browns can continue to work on a long-term deal with Dawson, 37.

But for now, they’re happy to have wrapped up Mr. Automatic, who’s coming off what he considered to be the best season of his career.

“I certainly gave my heart and soul to this team this year,” Dawson said after the season. “I feel pretty good about how I kicked the ball. I really missed one kick all year. I feel pretty good about that. I’ll let it all sink in and make that decision when the time comes.”

Dawson played in all 16 games last year, converting 24-of-29 field-goal attempts and all 20 PATs for a team-high 92 points. He also made seven field goals of 50 yards or more, which tied for most in the NFL and fell one shy of the league record.

What made his season even more impressive is that he adjusted to three holders and two long-snappers after Ryan Pontbriand was released. Two of his kicks were blocked, and another was deflected after the snap went off a lineman’s foot. He missed a 38-yarder but contends it was good because it sailed over the upright.

Dawson nearly tied the NFL record with eight kicks of 50 yards or more but was 1 yard shy on his final kick of the season, a 49-yarder in the season-ending loss to Pittsburgh.

“I wish I was thinking a little clearer,” he said. “I might have moved it back an extra yard. One yard from history.”

Dawson returned to the Browns last season despite the fact he sold his house in Westlake and moved back to Austin, Texas, where his wife, Shannon, and their three children lived during the season.

But it didn’t stop Dawson from moving into second place on the Browns’ career points list with 1,155, second only to Hall of Famer Lou Groza’s 1,349. Dawson also stands first on the Browns’ all-time field-goal list with 276, and is first in team history with an 83.1 percent conversion rate, 10th best in NFL history.

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

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Welcome to today’s edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Bill Lubinger.

The Cleveland Browns are meeting and evaluating players at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. Today’s guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, who checks in from the Combine with the latest. (See the latest online combine coverage here.)

Mary Kay also answers fan questions from her Hey, Mary Kay! column. This week’s questions are about whether the Browns would need to give up more than the No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks in this year’s draft to obtain QB Robert Griffin III; whether free agent DE Mario Williams is someone the Browns should court; and whether kicker Phil Dawson might sign a new contract and remain with the Browns.

SBTV will return Monday.

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

Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace will go out this season the same way he came in: determined to prove he should be the Browns’ starting quarterback.

With Colt McCoy officially ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Steelers, Wallace will make his third straight start, and he indicated it shouldn’t have taken so long for him to get his chance.

“At the end of the day, I can control what I can control,” he said. “Yeah, I get frustrated that, hey, I feel like I deserve a shot or I want a shot. But at the end of the day, it’s just a matter of making sure I lead my teammates in the right direction. The rest will take care of itself.”

Asked if he should he have a chance to compete for the starting job next season, Wallace said: “Maybe so. I don’t know. I’ll let you guys evaluate that.”

Before the season, Wallace, who had just signed a new three-year deal worth $9 million, told The Plain Dealer that he’d do everything he could to beat out McCoy for the starting job in camp.

“I still want the opportunity to go out and be able to play myself, so I’m not just going to sit back and watch,” he said then. “I’d rather go out there and play.”

During an interview Thursday on FM/92.3, Wallace said it’s been “very tough” for him to sit all season.

“Do I feel like things always are fair? No. And that’s just the way it is. . . . It was Pat [Shurmur's] decision to give Colt an opportunity, and that’s what it was.”

A nine-year pro, Wallace reiterated what he told The Plain Dealer in June — that he wasn’t going to share all his knowledge of the West Coast offense with McCoy because he wanted to beat him for the job.

Asked during Thursday’s interview how much mentoring he’s done with McCoy this season, Wallace said: “Not much. Not much. That was Jake [Delhomme's] deal. He did a lot of some stuff with him last year. But that’s not my thing. It’s just one thing I don’t do. I came in with the mind-set I wanted to compete, whatever case that was.”

Wallace said he’d answer any questions McCoy might have about the West Coast offense, but he wouldn’t offer unsolicited help.

Also during his radio interview Thursday, Wallace changed his tune a little about the botched ending of the first half in Baltimore. Instead of assuming full blame for not spiking the ball as he did after the game, he put some of it on Shurmur. He said the players looked over to the sideline after tight end Evan Moore wasn’t ruled out of bounds and the clock was ticking down.

“I don’t know if Pat was ready to have his next call, or whatever the case may be,” Wallace said. “It was just a miscommunication between us, at that point.”

Jackson, Adams honored: The local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America voted linebacker D’Qwell Jackson as the Browns Player of the Year, and safety Mike Adams was voted the winner of the Good Guy Award for his cooperation with the media and for the way he carries himself in the community and with his teammates.

“I guess it means a lot,” Adams said, laughing. “It also means you guys are slipping because I’ve been here for five years and you finally got it right. I commend you guys for finally getting it right. I appreciate it. It’s an honor. I always try to tell the truth and tell as much as I can without giving any secrets away. I try to be as honest as possible, straightforward and just try say what I’m feeling, and I guess a lot of people respect that.”

Adams, who’s contract is up after this season, said he’d love to be back with the Browns.

“It’s my first choice, but I have to embrace change if change happens,” he said. “I’ve been around this business a long time. I’ve seen guys I never thought would get released get released. I think I did a good job this year. I definitely think I showed I’m a starter and I showed that I can make plays, get my team lined up and make the right calls.”

He said the Browns have given no indication they want him back.

“There’s been no numbers, no contract talk,” he said. “But that’s OK because I didn’t want it to mess me up mentally.”

But he wants to be around when the good times roll.

“When we went 10-6, that feeling was like no other — and we didn’t even go to the playoffs,” he said. “I want to experience that here again.”

Hicks to start: Artis Hicks will start Sunday at right tackle in place of Tony Pashos, who has been out all week with a stomach issue. Pashos has also been battling an ankle injury.

“People always remember what they saw last, so you always want to leave your best stuff out there,” Hicks said.

He’s gearing up for outside linebacker James Harrison, who lines up all over.

“In their nickel packages, they’ll move him inside, he’ll come over, he’ll rush on the right side. When you have a guy like that who’s capable of creating havoc, you want to get him moved around and try to get matchups with him all game.”

Hicks said he won’t get hung up on trying to get revenge on Harrison for his hit on McCoy on Dec. 8.

“All I focus on is what’s happening right now in front of me,” he said.

Injury update: Several key Steelers are probable, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (ankle), safety Troy Polamalu (knee), Harrison (neck), center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) and receiver Mike Wallace (ankle).

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.