There stands Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Plopped on top of the hole from which Municipal Stadium was exterminated.

Off on the north edge of town.

Closer to fish than to humans.

Empty. Out of sight. Locked out of mind.

Well? How do you like it?

Think back to Municipal Stadium, if you are old enough to remember it. Do any images come to mind?

A few occur to us.

The popping sound that echoed everywhere when somebody stomped on an upside-down cup during an Indians game.

The dense roar that arose during Dave Logan’s 1980 catch against the Packers.

The swarms of people coming and going beneath the giant Gate A sign.

The odd quiet when Brian Sipe threw the Red Right 88 interception.

The chief on the roof.

The impossible comeback against the Jets, with people who had left, frantically trying to get back in.

What the old place lacked in beauty, it made up for in personality. It was one glorious monster when it was full and the game was good.

The new place opened in 1999. The stadium rules were different. There was too much secret service in the tone of building security. That was part of what led to complaints that linger still, to a perception of Browns Stadium

as “antiseptic.”

Our two cents — The only serious problem with Browns Stadium is a want of winning.

I have thought that since Sept. 17, 2000, from the moment Courtney Brown sacked Kent Graham on the last play to preserve a win over Pittsburgh.

It sounded like the old stadium that day.

It has sounded and felt that way just a few times since. Teams that fall out of contention early and finish poorly have been the rule.

This roller-coaster ride has been one way, always slow and looking up, never the thrill ride down, never the release. Browns Stadium suffers from guilt-by-association syndrome.

It struck me one night while walking to the stadium before a night game. The place looked positively glorious with the lights gleaming and a residue of sunset painting the lake.

I have walked every inch of the place at one time or another, finding it to offer interesting and varied views of the water, of docked ships, of jet runways, of the skyline.

If the team ever mounted a real hot streak, the atmosphere would take care of itself, I think. The building, a cold symbol of defeat at this point, would warm up.

For now, though, the lockout is on, and a lot of people can’t even stand to look at the place.

Motion penalty?

Failing to find the right answers once, twice and too often more has been a big problem for the expansion-era Browns.

They have made big changes at these key positions at least three times in the last five years (2006-10):

Personnel chief — Phil Savage, Eric Mangini and Tom Heckert took turns running drafts in 2008, ’09 and ’10, respectively.

Defensive coordinator — Todd Grantham, Mel Tucker, Rob Ryan. Dick Jauron takes the reins in 2011.

Offensive coordinator — Jeff Davidson, Rob Chudzinski, Brian Daboll. Enter Pat Shurmur in 2011.

Right tackle — Ryan Tucker, Kevin Shaffer, John St. Clair … and now Tony Pashos.

Right guard — Shawn Lauvao could be the latest entry, following Cosey Coleman, Seth McKinney, Rex Hadnot and Floyd Womack.

Nose tackle — Ted Washington, Ethan Kelley, Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin. Rubin remains but must adapt to a new scheme.

Left defensive end — Orpheus Roye, Corey Williams, Kenyon Coleman. Those three are gone, and the left end in the new 4-3 is … stay tuned.

Right defensive end — Alvin McKinley, Robaire Smith, Shaun Smith, Brian Schaefering. Enter 2011 Round 2 pick Jabaal Sheard.

Some turnover in the NFL is inevitable. Epidemic turnover is unhealthy.

Extra points

Kellen Winslow tells the Tampa Tribune knee pain that has bothered him for years is gone. Six years ago this month, Winslow rode to Canton to watch a stunt motorcycle show, then rode to a Cuyahoga County parking lot, laid on the accelerator, and broke a kneecap in a crash. More than a year later he told us his body would never be the same as it was. He turns 28 next month.

Winslow was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2004 draft. 2010 was his second year with Tampa Bay. He caught 66 passes for 730 yards. Ben Watson, the No. 32 overall pick of the ’04 draft, joined the Browns as a free agent in 2010. He caught 68 passes for 763 yards.

The Ohio State marching band takes turns playing in Cleveland and Cincinnati for Browns-Bengals games. The band played in Cleveland last year, meaning it is committed to Cincinnati this year. Thus, if the Sept. 11 Cincinnati-at-Cleveland is wiped out, it doesn’t kill a date for the Script Ohio people. The Browns are scheduled to play at Cincinnati Nov. 27.

Doerschuk is the Browns beat writer for the Canton Repository. Reach him at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com.

Read More: 2011 nfl mock draft, 2011 nfl draft, nfl mock draft, mock draft, 2011 cleveland browns offseason needs, 2011 browns prospects, Shaun Rogers (DL – NOS), Marvin Austin (DT – North Carolina), Colt McCoy (QB – Texas), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), Cleveland Browns, North Carolina Tar Heels

37. Cleveland Browns – Marvin Austin, North Carolina Tar Heels

In the first round, the Browns got a strong offensive weapon for quarterback Colt McCoy when they landed A.J. Green out of Georgia. Green is a can’t-miss talent that fell because the Cincinnati Bengals have significant quarterback needs, and the Browns were perfectly happy to catch him when the Cardinals didn’t so much as glance in his direction. After spending a premium pick on premium offensive talent, they’ll need to spend another premium pick on the best defensive talent they can find.

Marvin Austin fits the bill right here at pick number thirty-seven. He can go in the first round, and is probably a late-first talent, so they get good value and don’t have to reach to fill this big need on defense. Austin will fill the void that Shaun Rogers occupied prior. He’s got the size and the skill to do all things on the line, rushing the passer and stopping the run.

The reason he’s not in the first round though: consistency issues, plus a fair bit of rust after being suspended by the NCAA. He could disappear at times, but Cleveland will be banking on him being there more often than not. 

By Steve Doerschuk

For Sporting News

An analytical look at the Cleveland Browns heading into the 2011 NFL draft:

Team needs

1. Defensive lineman. Last year, the Browns barely had enough players to run a rotation for a three-man front. Now, additional bodies must be found to feed new coordinator Dick Jauron’s 4-3 scheme. Starters Shaun Rogers and Kenyon Coleman were released in February, further thinning the position. Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers seems an obvious option, if available, with the No. 6 overall pick. He has the classic build and physical tools of a top-shelf 4-3 end. Alabama’s Marcell Dareus, who could be a force at tackle, also is being considered.

2. Wide receiver. Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, both 2009 second-round picks, have been disappointments so far. However, many feel they were miscast as No. 1 and No. 2 receivers, respectively, and could be effective if a true No. 1 wideout is found. Massaquoi’s former Georgia teammate, A.J. Green, is perfect for Cleveland if he’s available at No. 6. If the Browns wait until Round 2, Pitt’s 6-5 Jon Baldwin or Maryland’s Torrey Smith are options. Smith is more of a burner than Baldwin, and the Browns have a need for speed.

3. Right tackle. The Browns are in great shape on the offensive line with left tackle Joe Thomas, left guard Eric Steinbach and center Alex Mack, but there are problems at right tackle. New Browns coach Pat Shurmur says the trenches will be a priority. Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi would be a good right tackle option if he’s available when the Browns pick early in the second round. Arkansas’ DeMarcus Love played left tackle in 2010 but has the size and strength to do well on the right side. He is an option in the middle rounds.

4. Cornerback. Eric Wright seemed to be approaching elite status in 2009 but lost his confidence and gave up some monster plays early last season. Eventually, he landed on injured reserve, and last year’s No. 7 overall pick, Joe Haden, shined in his role. After investing so much in Haden, the Browns may try to get lucky in the third or fourth rounds this year. Utah’s Brandon Burton, Ohio State’s Chimdi Chekwa and Michigan’s State’s Chris Rucker are on the radar.

5. Quarterback. One of the big questions this year is whether the Browns are sold on 2010 third-round pick Colt McCoy as their QB. Cleveland isn’t likely to spend a first- or second-round pick on a quarterback but might pick a QB to develop behind McCoy and Seneca Wallace, who was re-signed this month. Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick is athletic enough to groom in a West Coast offense.

6. Middle linebacker. Switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme dictates chasing an inside linebacker. Scott Fujita is versatile enough to try the middle, but he’s coming off a knee injury and might be a better outside linebacker. Greg Jones was a prolific tackler at Michigan State and could be a nice fit for Cleveland. LSU’s Kelvin Sheppard has the feisty temperament Cleveland G.M. Tom Heckert likes and would be a decent option in the middle rounds.

7. Right guard. Last year’s third-round pick, Shawn Lauvao, struggled as a rookie due to injuries and personal issues. Lauvao will get another chance in 2011, but Cleveland needs depth at guard and center and could bring in a youngster to push Lauvao. Mid- to late-round candidates include Auburn’s Lee Ziemba, Lehigh’s Will Rackley and Connecticut’s Zach Hurd.

Five-year history

Top-of-the-draft mistakes keep plaguing the Browns, going back to preferring Kellen Winslow over Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Haloti Ngata would also have been far superior to Kamerion Wimbley in ’06. Avoiding a trade that cost a future first-round pick for Brady Quinn in 2007 might have saved the Romeo Crennel regime.

A defensive superstar, Clay Matthews, would have been the ticket over merely a good center, Alex Mack, in 2009. Steals, such as 2008 sixth-rounder Ahtyba Rubin, have been too few and far between, while mistakes, such as spending two second-round picks in 2009 on pedestrian receivers, have been too frequent.

2006: C+

2007: C+

2008: C-

2009: D

2010: B+

Just one question

Q. Have you assured coordinator Dick Jauron you will address the shortage of defensive linemen?

Team president Mike Holmgren: “We absolutely talked about that before he even accepted the position. We know what we have to do to make life easier for him, and (G.M.) Tom Heckert certainly does. That’s a pretty easy one to call just from a numbers standpoint. We are switching our defense from a 3-4 to a four-man line. That would be an area (of need). Dick trusts us. If you have to shore it up, you shore it up.”

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Is he or isn’t he, and are they or aren’t they?

Is Colt McCoy, heading into his second season, the quarterback the Cleveland Browns are confident in and have committed to as their offensive leader for the next several seasons?

Are the Browns telling the truth when they claim that McCoy is the player they hope will lead the team to contender status?

That’s the NFL draft for you. Keep ‘em guessing. Maybe the April 28-30 draft will provide insight into what the Browns really think of McCoy.

Here’s one line of thought regarding the Browns and McCoy: In its current mock draft, ProFootballWeekly.com comments on McCoy, and predicts that the Browns will take with the No. 6 pick in the first round:

Marcell Dareus | DT | Alabama [Jr.]
Privately, the Browns are not as confident in Colt McCoy as they have been posturing; he still has a long way to go and might never be a bona fide solution to the QB quandary that has buried the Browns since Bernie Kosar was released during the 1993 season. Since then, the Browns have cycled through 20 different starters, and a quarterback such as Cam Newton should not be ruled out. However, Mike Holmgren has shown he can develop quarterbacks from the middle rounds and is looking to clean up the franchise, having shown NT Shaun Rogers the door and shifting to a 4-3 defense. If Dareus remains available; and questions about his maturity easily could allow him to slip; new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron could have a staple of his defense for years to come.

Contrarily, look at what walterfootball.com, on yardbarker.com, has to say about why the Browns will pick:

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
With McCoy entrenched as the franchise quarterback, the Browns need to provide him with a blue-chip weapon.

A.J. Green, who could easily be picked by the Bengals at No. 4, is still the top receiver in this draft class despite the fact that Julio Jones ran a much faster 40 on a fractured foot. And don’t pay attention to his low Wonderlic score (10). Roddy White notched a 4 on his Wonderlic, and I don’t think the Falcons regret drafting him.

As the draft approaches, The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com’s Browns coverage will include draft-related stories, rumors, commentary and projections from PD Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot, PD columnists and other reporters.

For instance, Grossi answers readers’ questions about the Browns draft in his “Hey, Tony!” column; and columnist Terry Pluto comments about the Browns draft in “Terry’s Talkin.’ “

More mocks

All seven rounds on draftsite.com.

The first two rounds on NFL.com.

First-round mock drafts from:

The National Football Post.

The SBNation.com.

Two of them on CBSSports.com.

The NFLDraftSpecialist.com.

Shaun Rogers didn’t want to wait to see what was going to happen with the CBA before finding a new home.  The New Orleans Saints didn’t want to wait to find some beef for the interior of their defense.  A perfect fit.  

Rogers, the former Browns lineman, signed a one year contract with the Saints and let everyone know via Twitter:

“It’s official WHO DAT NATION here I come.”

In 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, Rogers has amassed 37.5 sacks but concerns about some off the field issues make Rogers a risk for any team that signs him.  Rogers was arrested for carrying a gun in his carry-on baggage at the airport last year and received discipline from the NFL.

Browns GM Tom Heckert thinks going to a good team for the first time in his career could turn Rogers around.

“Shaun’s a different cat,” Heckert said, according to the Plain Dealer. “Shaun’s whole thing – and he’s stated a million times – is that he’s never been on a team that’s any good. Every team he’s ever been on has been bad. Right or wrong, I think it’s taken a toll on him.”

“I think if he went to a good team, things might change. I don’t know,” Heckert said.