Hey, Mary Kay: Since free agency is dealing almost exclusively with defense, does that mean that we can expect a draft loaded with offense? The defense was already pretty good while the offense was woeful, yet Rucker was signed and Patterson re-signed. No one that scores points. Is there any offensive difference-makers in our future? — Jason Bilicic, Tucson, Ariz.

Hey, Jason: Yes! I bet the Browns will add playmakers with two of their three first picks, which are No. 4, No. 22 and No. 37. Help is on the way.

Hey, Mary Kay: As a season ticket holder, please tell me this is just a nightmare! How can the Browns literally sit back, and by doing so, essentially get worse from last year. Will the regime try to convince us again that the receivers will come around? How could a group that sure looked like they gave up on Colt last year (not traveling with team, etc.) now try to re-sell him as the answer?

Even the re-treads like Orton are taken. — Jason Balogh, Concord

Hey, Jason: I think you’ll feel a lot better after the draft. If the Browns stay at No. 4, they’ll probably pick Justin Blackmon or Trent Richardson. Look for some playmakers in later rounds too. If Colt has some help, he’ll be a different QB.

Hey, Mary Kay: Do you know for a fact that the Browns did in fact actually try to move up to get this RG3 dude? I still do not think they are that dumb? They need much more than a (maybe) ready for NFL QB. — Tom Lane, Mentor on the Lake

Hey, Tom: They definitely did go hard after RG3, and Mike Holmgren said Thursday that his offer was “every bit the offer that was chosen.” The Redskins gave up three first-rounders and a second-rounder. We’ll see who’s dumb or brilliant in a few years.

Hey, Mary Kay: How can the Cowboys and Redskins sign all these free agents when the NFL has has slashed their salary cap due to violations during the uncapped 2010 season? — Jimmy Brock, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Hey, Jimmy: The Cowboys were docked $10 million, spread over two years, and the Redskins lost $36 million, also spread over two years, according to the Washington Post. That left Washington with about $12.5 million to spend, and it’s all in how you structure the contracts.

Hey, Mary Kay: Any chance the commish comes down hard on the Redskins for Bountygate like he’s about to on the Saints and Greg Williams and takes away the Skins’ first-round pick this year, thereby potentially nixing the RG III trade and opening the door for the Browns? Do you think the Rams investigated that possibility at all, especially since Greg Williams is their coordinator? — Matt L, Madison

Hey, Matt: I’ll have what you’re having! Wow! It’s nice to see that hope still springs eternal in Browns Town. No, I don’t see the ‘Skins losing their first-rounder this year and RG3 miraculously winding up here.

Hey, Mary Kay: Since the Browns’ greatest team deficiency is speed, does it make any sense to draft a wide receiver or running back who isn’t exceptionally fast? — Paul Thiel, Crescent Springs, Ky.

Hey, Paul: Bengals receiver A.J. Green ran a 4.5 on his Pro Day last year, and transformed the Bengals offense with 65 catches for 1,057 yards and 7 TDs. Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon ran an impressive 4.46 on his pro day and is plenty fast enough to light it up.

Hey, Mary Kay: If Peyton Manning signs with Tennessee, what level of interest would the Browns have in Matt Hasselbeck? Yes, I know he’s older than most NFL starters, yet his knowledge of Holmgren/WCO would be perfect! He would walk right onto the team understanding the WCO and all of its ins and outs (check downs, timing patterns, etc). And as I remember, he lit up our defense last year with quite a few beautiful passes! — Eric Dobson, Austintown

Hey, Eric: I think Hasselbeck, who led Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks to a Super Bowl, would be a fantastic mentor for Colt McCoy and a good bridge quarterback. A couple of years learning the West Coast offense behind Hasselbeck could lead to great success for McCoy. Some of the best WC quarterbacks, including Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers, have had to wait their turn behind great ones.

Hey, Mary Kay: Are the Browns going to consider Brandon Jacobs now that the Giants released him? — P. Cleary, Tallmadge

Hey, P: Don’t see it happening. The Browns aren’t targeting big-name free agents such as Jacobs.

– Mary Kay

On Wednesday, March 14, NationalFootballAuthority.com reported that the Cleveland Browns are interested in trading for Houston Texans running back Ben Tate. The Texans re-signed Arian Foster to a long-term deal early in the off-season which makes Tate more expendable.

I’ve wanted the Browns to take Alabama RB Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the draft since the season ended. I think he’s one of the best talents to come out of college in his position since Adrian Peterson left Oklahoma. Many experts believe that clubs should never take an RB that high in the draft, but when a player like Richardson comes around, you almost have to pick him.

Richardson is the unique package of speed, quickness and toughness which makes him a future star. He runs low, has great vision, and is solid out of the backfield. I think the Browns would be foolish to pass on him, unless they find a deal that could seal up a major hole on the roster. I think that deal could be a trade for Ben Tate.

Though he’s not as explosive as Richardson, Tate is an outstanding talent who would feature well in the Browns offense. He ran for 942 yards on just 175 carries for a 5.4 yards-per-carry average and four touchdowns in 2011. Tate also exhibited some pass catching skills late in the season and finished with 13 receptions for 98 yards.

I don’t want the Browns to pass on Richardson, but if they can get a playmaker like Tate and still keep the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, then I think they should go for it. If the Browns can get Tate and select Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon with their pick, they would have two explosive players to help quarterback Colt McCoy for at least the next five years.

A deal for Tate would give the team some options. Of course, that depends on what the Browns send the Texans. Let’s speculate (and only speculate) that Cleveland sends Houston a third-round pick. The Browns could also pass on Blackmon and trade down hoping to get Michael Floyd. That would also leave the team with plenty of flexibility for the rest of the first two rounds.

I think Trent Richardson would look outstanding in a Browns’ uniform, but if the team can make a deal that would help add more playmakers to the roster, then it’s time to get it done. Hopefully, the Browns can make the deal for Tate and get the ball rolling for 2012 and beyond.

A native of Northeast Ohio, Derek Ciapala grew up in a family of Cleveland Browns’ fans. He has been following the Browns since 1987 and still hopes to see the team play in the Super Bowl one day. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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 (AP) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Every year, NFL Films puts together a season recap for each team in the league. Even if a team had a terrible year, they attempt to put a positive spin on things. They’ll certainly have a challenge on their hands when they piece together a highlight reel for the 2011 Cleveland Browns.

What’s funny is that even in seasons when the Browns had a terrible record, and there have been many of those types of seasons lately, they still have a signature win or two against far superior teams. In 2008, a year when the Browns finished 4-12, they did manage a victory over the defending Super Bowl champs – the New York Giants – on Monday Night Football. It wasn’t much, but at least fans could hang their hats on one great win.

In 2009, Eric Mangini’s first season as head coach, the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time in six years. It jumpstarted the team to four straight wins to end the season.

And while 2010 was another disappointing year, it did have some great moments, including wins over the Patriots and Saints. Plus, fans were treated to the emergence of running back Peyton Hillis, who bowled over opposing defenses and leapfrogged his way into fans’ hearts and onto the cover of Madden 2012.

This year, the Browns have managed just four wins. Those opponents have been less than stellar – their combined record is just 14-38. A win over the hapless Colts, a forgettable 6-3 win over Seattle, and narrow victories over the struggling Jaguars and Dolphins are all NFL Films will have to work with. The wins have been ugly and the losses even worse.

It’s doubtful they’ll show the Browns defense getting caught with their pants down in the season opener against Cincinnati. They’ll probably avoid the lowlight of handing the ball off to a tight end down at the goal line against St. Louis and then missing a go-ahead field goal due to a bad snap. The season has been filled with these types of miscues.

Off the field, things aren’t much better. The Peyton Hillis controversy was bad enough early in the season. But now the Colt McCoy concussion storm has grown into a full-blown hurricane, so much so that Browns President Mike Holmgren had to address the media on Wednesday.

Browns fans should be asking themselves, “Is this rock-bottom?” Can it get even worse for this team? Short of losing Josh Cribbs or Joe Haden to career-ending injuries, the answer is no. The team has shown little improvement in 2011 and needs a talent infusion during the off season.

Theoretically, the Browns could win one of these last few games against the Steelers or Ravens but probably would be better served to lose. That way, they improve their draft position. And to the editors at NFL Films tasked to piece together the 2011 Browns highlights, good luck to you all. Nobody blames you if you skip the job altogether.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren admitted the team didn’t check Colt McCoy for a concussion after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison nailed the quarterback with a helmet-to-helmet hit last Thursday.

I’m usually one of those people who will give teams the benefit of the doubt, but that’s not happening this time. Holmgren noted that the Browns medical and training staff didn’t see the hit because they were treating other players at the time. However, that doesn’t mean no one else on the team’s sideline didn’t watch the play.

The Browns coaching staff should have known better. Concussions are becoming commonplace in the NFL, and head coach Pat Shurmur should have held McCoy out long enough to get him examined. By sending McCoy back into the game, he risked his quarterback’s health and the organization’s reputation.

Remember, this is the same team that already has a poor reputation due to the team’s issues with staph infections in its training facilities from 2006-2008. The Browns can’t afford to have their intentions questioned when it comes to the well-being of their players.

I believe Holmgren when he states that McCoy “didn’t display any signs of a concussion,” but he’s the team’s president, not a doctor. Shurmur is a coach and not a member of the medical staff. Both Shurmur and Holmgren aren’t the ones who should be deciding if McCoy is healthy enough to play. When in doubt, the team should be calling a member of the staff over and to have McCoy looked at.

I don’t believe the team did anything out of a lack of concern for McCoy. Instead, I think coaching staffs don’t know what to look for when a player has a potential head injury. The NFL needs to do more to protect its players, including setting up mandatory training with each team to ensure that everyone knows what symptoms to be aware of. Perhaps there should be a rule that states anytime a player is laid out by a helmet-to-helmet hit, he must sit out a full series. I understand there are competitive ramifications with a rule like that, but something needs to be done to protect the athletes.

A native of Northeast Ohio, Derek Ciapala grew up in a family of Cleveland Browns’ fans. He has been following the Browns since 1987 and still hopes to see the team play in the Super Bowl one day. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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

By Will Graves, Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger needed only one good leg for the Pittsburgh Steelers to continue their mastery of the Cleveland Browns.

The Pittsburgh quarterback played through a painful high ankle sprain in the second half to pass for 280 yards and two touchdowns, the last a 79-yard scoring strike to Antonio Brown with 2:52 remaining to help the Steelers win for the eighth time in their last nine games.

Roethlisberger went to the locker room for X-rays following a gruesome second-quarter sack but returned to start the second half, passing for 178 yards after the break.

Pittsburgh (10-3) moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore in the race for the AFC North title.

Colt McCoy passed for 209 yards but also threw two interceptions for the Browns (4-9), who lost for the 15th time in their last 16 meetings with the Steelers.

The Browns had a chance after safety Mike Adams picked off Roethlisberger’s pass and returned it to the Cleveland 44. McCoy led the Browns deep into Pittsburgh territory before his pass was picked off in the end zone by William Gay.

The Steelers took over at the 20. After a running play went nowhere, Roethlisberger found Brown open down the right sideline. The second-year wide receiver spun away from a defender, then beat Cleveland safety Mike Adams to the end zone.

Brown finished with five receptions for 151 yards and a score, though the game will be remembered not for his dazzling catch-and-run but Roethlisberger’s remarkable play.

Despite a pair of turnovers deep in Cleveland territory, the Steelers were in complete command until the game — if not Pittsburgh’s season — appeared to change midway through the second quarter.

The Steelers were leading 7-3 when Roethlisberger dropped back to past on first down at the Pittsburgh 1. He moved up in the pocket to avoid pressure when Cleveland’s Scott Paxson corralled Roethlisberger’s left leg while teammate Brian Schaefering hit the quarterback in the chest and sent him toppling over awkwardly.

The two-time Super Bowl winner was down on the Heinz Field turf for several minutes before getting up and walking slowly to the locker room.

Backup Charlie Batch was ineffective in relief, failing to complete either of his two passes while taking a sack.

Roethlisberger gamely walked back onto the sideline to start the second half, and received a huge ovation from the crowd after hobbling to the Pittsburgh huddle.

Laboring through every play — even handoffs were a chore — Roethlisberger somehow completed 8 of 12 passes in the second half.

The Steelers needed every one of them after the Browns stuffed Pittsburgh at the goal line early in the fourth quarter to stay within striking distance at 7-3.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Hines Ward doesn’t see dominating the Cleveland Browns as simply a part of his job, but a civic duty.

“Our fans tend to work better on Monday any time we get a chance to beat up on (them),” the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver said with a laugh.

Or Friday, in this case.

The ever-diplomatic Ward is kidding, of course. True, the streaking Steelers (9-3) have turned the series with their longtime rivals into a decidedly one-sided affair heading into Thursday night’s game at Heinz Field.

Yet ask Ward which of the two dozen games he’s played against the Browns (4-8) stands out, and the 14-year veteran quickly points to Cleveland’s only win in the last 15 meetings, a 13-6 victory two years ago that effectively ended Pittsburgh’s bid for a playoff berth and consecutive Super Bowl titles.

“They have beat us in some cases where we felt like we could just beat them just because we’ve had success over the years,” Ward said.

The Steelers have won seven of their last eight following a 2-2 start and need to keep the pressure on Baltimore in the race for the AFC North title.

Pittsburgh put together perhaps its best performance of the season in a 35-7 beatdown of Cincinnati last week. The defence shut down the upstart Bengals behind James Harrison’s three sacks while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit Mike Wallace for a pair of scores.

It’s proof, the Steelers insist, that they haven’t played their best football yet. Maybe, but their best football might not be required against the Browns, who have looked overwhelmed and overmatched against quality opponents.

Pulling off an upset on national television would do more than give first-year head coach Pat Shurmur the signature victory he so desperately craves, but also provide quarterback Colt McCoy with a much-needed boost.

McCoy is 0-7 against AFC North opponents in his brief career. While the team’s issues go far beyond McCoy’s inexperience, he hasn’t exactly taken a step forward in his second season.

Cleveland is 30th in the league in total offence and McCoy is 30th in the league in yards per attempt as the Browns have struggled to create big plays of any variety. Holding onto the ball has been an issue. According to Shurmur, Cleveland leads the NFL in dropped passes, not exactly the way to instill confidence in a quarterback going through some very public — and very painful — growing pains.

The Baltimore Ravens pummelled McCoy in a 24-10 win last week, knocking him down repeatedly and spraining his right knee. McCoy didn’t miss so much as a snap in practice during the shortened week, but he’ll be facing a defence that’s starting to show signs of its usual December nastiness.

“They’re tough physical guys, they fly around, they’re a veteran group and they play together well,” McCoy said. “They know the twists, they know the blitzes, they know which gaps you’re going to in.”

And they know it no matter who is in on the field.

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley may sit out after aggravating his strained left hamstring in the first half against the Bengals, though the Steelers have hardly missed a beat with Jason Worilds filling in.

“We talk about the standard being the standard, and this is the time of year we have to live up to it,” Worilds said.

The Steelers lived up to it against the Bengals, putting away a team with a ferocity they’ve lacked at times. Pittsburgh rolled up 28 points in the second quarter and scored touchdowns in each of its four trips inside the Cincinnati 20.

It was the kind of cruelly efficient play the Steelers talked about with regularity in the pre-season, when wide receiver Mike Wallace half-joked about setting an NFL record for yards receiving and Roethlisberger kept saying this was the most talented group he’s played with since coming to the league in 2004.

“I hope we’re not peaking yet,” Roethlisberger said. “Hopefully, we’re still going upward. It’d be nice to peak somewhere in like, uh, early February.”

To get there Pittsburgh needs to take another step forward. The Steelers have made a habit of letting bad teams stick around late into games. They needed a late field goal to beat still-winless Indianapolis in September, and a last-second defensive stand to stop injury-ravaged Kansas City two weeks ago.

They’d prefer to not keep putting themselves at risk. It happened all too often in 2009, when their hopes of winning back-to-back Super Bowls for a third time ended with a late-season swoon. The Steelers lost five straight to knock them out of playoff contention, the last defeat coming on that miserable, windy day in Cleveland.

“I think we let up a little bit,” Roethlisberger said. “We got overwhelmed with the weather and thinking that it was going to be an easy game.”

It wasn’t. Lately, however, it’s also been the exception when these two teams meet. Pittsburgh swept last year’s games by a combined 50 points. If the first 12 weeks of this season are any indication, the chasm between the clubs hasn’t narrowed. Shurmur knows to make the rivalry great again, it has to.

“We have to find a way to rekindle it by coming down, and playing a game we have a chance to win,” he said. “That is what it takes.”