BEREA — Browns running back Peyton Hillis was back in team meetings today after sitting out Sunday’s game with strep throat and weakness from a fever and throwing up on Saturday.

“My understanding in talking to the trainers is that he feels better today,” said coach Pat Shurmur.

Shurmur said Hillis spent Saturday night at the team hotel with the rest of the team and that the Browns hoped he’d be ready to play Sunday.

“He was in all the meetings,” said Shurmur. “He was getting better. He got really sick in the middle of the week, then he was getting better, so he was at the team hotel on Saturday night. We were hoping he’d get a good night’s sleep and then get better. Then it didn’t happen.  We were going through the process of getting him ready to play and he felt like he couldn’t go.  I made the comment yesterday, with his illness, I felt like if he couldn’t play, the best thing for him to do was go home and get better.”

Shurmur declined to share his pre-game chat with Hillis: ”We visited. That’s obviously between the player and the coach. He couldn’t go.”

In other Browns news:

* Cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong both suffered strained groins during the Dolphins game and might be limited in practice. 

* Left tackle Joe Thomas suffered a little bit of a knee strain during the game “but our understanding is that he’ll be fine. I just want you to be aware of it in case he may be a little bit limited early in the week.”

* Right tackle Tony Pashos will get more reps this week “and will make an effort to come back even stronger than he did last week.”

* Defensive tackle Phil Taylor’s knee, which originally thought to be an mcl sprain, is fine, Shurmur said.

*  Receivers Mohamed Massaquoi (ankle) and Josh Cribbs (groin) came through the game no worse for the wear, Shurmur said.

Browns need a QB who can win week in and week out. Not play O K every other week. Recent #1 overall picks Stafford, Bradford, and Newton are proof that the guesswork of a first drafted QB is improving by leaps and bounds. Colt is great in front of a mic, but you put him behind center and half is O K and half is not.

BEREA — Browns coach Pat Shurmur said that he’s hoping to have oft-injured right tackle Tony Pashos back at practice this week.

“Pashos is going to try to come back and be ready to roll,” Shurmur said. 

“It’s hard to say how that’s going to progress. He’s going to plan to do more this week.”

Pashos has missed the first two games with a left ankle injury. In his place the Browns have rotated Oniel Cousins and Artis Hicks. Each has recorded one start and both have played.

McGee getting second opinion:
 Injured Browns punter Richmond McGee is seeing the same spine specialist today that treated Peyton Manning.

 McGee, whose agent said he suffered a herniated disc prior to the team’s home opener against Cincinnati, is in southern California to receive a second opinion on the injury from Dr. Robert Watkins in Marina Del Ray, Calif.

 The Browns placed McGee on injured reserve last week. He was replaced by veteran Brad Maynard, who had a big game in the Browns’ win in Indianpolis.

 David Canter, McGee’s agent, said there has been no discussion with the Browns about an injury settlement. “He’s still injured,” Canter said.

 Cribbs honored: Josh Cribbs was named AFC Special teams player of the week by the NFL. Cribbs jumpstarted the Browns in Indianapolis with a 52-yard kickoff return to set up one touchdown and spurred another with a 43-yard punt return in the Browns’ 27-19 win. It’s the fourth time in his career Cribbs won the weekly award. He also has three monthly awrds. 

BEREA — Players and coaches quietly hustled in and out of the Cleveland Browns training facility Friday.

But quiet was the order of the day.

As other teams scrambled to add players and make headlines, the Browns did not announce any signings after 6 p.m. Friday, the time at which NFL teams were allowed to make moves.

General manager Tom Heckert advised earlier in the week not to expect the Browns to make a big splash in the free-agent pool.

Turns out, he was right.

“If there’s a good player, we’re going to go after him,” Heckert said, “but we’re not going to just go out and sign a bunch of guys because there’s a bunch of guys available.”

It was anticipated, however, Cleveland would announce the signing of draft picks. That did not happen, but Heckert has said he and team president Mike Holmgren intend to build through the draft and are proud of this year’s series of picks.

Despite their silence, the Browns appear to have come to terms with all of their choices except their No. 1, Baylor defensive lineman Phil Taylor. Defensive end Jayme Mitchell has all but re-signed to a two-year deal.

But on the eve of new coach Pat Shurmur’s much-awaited first practice, still nothing was official.

It’s still uncertain if running back Brandon Jackson is coming to Cleveland from Green Bay, which has been mentioned this week. Jackson would be a welcome addition as a player with significant postseason experience.

He had his best year in 2010 at Green Bay, rushing for 703 yards on 190 carries. He also caught 43 passes for 342 yards.

On the Packers’ postseason run to a Super Bowl title, he averaged 4.3 yards on 16 carries and 9.6 yards on eight receptions in four games.

Meanwhile, the fate of veteran kicker Phil Dawson still was up in the air. The Browns’ all-time leader in field goals, and the lone remaining member of the 1999 expansion team, figured his career in Cleveland was done after last year’s 5-11 finish. Then the Browns designated him the franchise player in February, and Heckert has held conversations with the 36-year-old this week.

If and when Dawson returns, he will play for his sixth coach in Cleveland. At least three different management teams have spoken with him about a possible long-term deal, but were out the door before negotiations became serious. Dawson never complained publicly, and instead went out and posted an 82-percent accuracy on field goals. That is good for 10th in NFL history.

When the Browns announce their additions, they’ll have to work quickly. Shurmur intends to install a West Coast offense and change the defense to feature four down linemen, instead of four linebackers.

Perhaps fourth-round choice Owen Marecic, of Stanford, can help in both areas. Drafted as a fullback to possibly replace free-agent Lawrence Vickers, Marecic’s claim to fame is scoring twice in 13 seconds on both sides of the ball in 2010..

Against Notre Dame on Sept. 25, Marecic rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, then grabbed his first career interception as a linebacker and took it back 20 yards for another score in Stanford’s 37-14 win.

Cleveland opens the preseason at home Aug. 13 against the Packers. They open the regular season at home Sept. 11 against Cincinnati.

BEREA – The four-month NFL lockout did not shut down the city’s need to prepare for the Cleveland Browns training camp.

“We know what we need to do and have already done some of those things,” said R. James Brown, the city’s service director.

Negotiation talks continued this week with team owners and the NFL Players Association. This week a U.S. magistrate judge entered the talks. The lockout began March 12. The Browns first game is set for Sept. 11 in Cleveland against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Training Camp historically begins at the end of July. Last year the camp started July 31.

According to a Cleveland Browns spokesperson, the organization will not release training camp dates until they are firm, and that is “dependent” upon the “resolution of the labor situation.”

Brown said he is “confident” the lockout will end this week.

“We will probably get a call as soon as possible from the Browns. We are ready for them and the camp,” Brown said. “I am a huge fan of the training camp. We are the only city in Ohio that hosts a training camp. Cincinnati goes to Kentucky.”

The city owns the Browns facility in Berea. Brown said the city paints the striping in the facility’s parking lots and refresh the crosswalk on Lou Groza Blvd. as well.

“We are in the process of doing that right now,” he said Monday. “Most of it is already completed.”

The Browns provide banners that the service department hang on Bagley Road, Beech Street and other localized areas.

The Front Street overpass, which opened in November, has poles to hold the banners, if needed.

“We’ve had conversation about that,” Brown said. “This year is the first time we are able to use Front Street in quite a while. It will be neat to see traffic coming over and entering the city for the camp.”

A major change this year is the reconstruction of Beech Street between Bagley Road and East Fifth Avenue. Camp visitors often use Beech Street north of Bagley to park in the Baldwin-Wallace College’s Kleist parking lot as well as walk down its short length to the camp’s gate. That stretch of Beech Street is expected to be completed Aug. 17.

Brown said the contracting company must provide some type of access for pedestrians should the camp occur while that portion of Beech Street is closed to traffic.

“Whether is a gravel walkway or allow them to go on the grass, they will have something to make it safe to walk,” Brown said.

Karen Husak, B-W’s director of parking services, said the college gladly permits training camp visitors to use its lots.

“We allow use of our lots as long as camp runs and school is not in session,” she said.

Husak also said Kleist parking lot will be available for parking but traffic must enter through its Bagley Road access, not the one on Beech Street, which is under construction.

‘We are preparing for training camp as well,” she said. “We gladly allow use of our parking lots as long as training camp runs, provided school is not in session.”

B-W’s first day of fall classes is Aug. 29. Husak said the lots are available for training camp until Aug. 24.

The city will post signs on streets around the training camp entrance, such as Third, Fifth and Beech, saying parking is for residents only. Those who live in these area receive stickers from the Browns organization to place on their windshield showing permission to park on the street.

Brown said he enjoys the thrill of training camp.

“We stand alone in Ohio in providing a summer training camp for a professional sports team,” he said. “I think it’s a big deal. And we want others to know how important and thrilling this is to our city.”

See more Berea news at cleveland.com/berea.

Contact DuMound at (216) 986-7538.

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The 2011 Cleveland Browns High School Player Development camps began this week.

One of them is at Baldwin-Wallace College this week through June 9.

More than 2,000 student-athletes will attend the camps at various locations where teamwork and individual skills are taught. Each participant receives a planner that provides tips on time management and prioritizing needs in the classroom.

On June 25, the Cleveland Browns will host the HSPD Regional 7-on-7 Tournament at the Cleveland Browns Stadium where 20 athletes from each camp will compete with a chance to be selected to the Browns National 7-on-7 team. Following the regional tournament, the Browns will select 12 players for a 7-on-7 team that will participate in this year’s national tournament, which the Browns will host on July 8-9 at both the team’s facility in Berea and at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The NFL High School Player Development program addresses challenges facing high school football programs across the country. It serves as a free resource for both high school players and coaches. The program emphasizes safety and concussion awareness, character development and life skills as well as football fundamentals.

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Published: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7:24 PM     Updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7:28 PM

New Orleans — It’s still too early to handicap the top of the NFL Draft accurately, but it’s sounding as if the Browns may have a real option of trading down from the No. 6 spot.

“I think we’re open to it this year,” President Mike Holmgren said at the NFL league meetings. “We have a couple of [needs] I’d like to deal with, specifically. We’d move down for the same reason you’d always trade back.”

That reason would be to acquire an extra pick to patch another need without sacrificing a desired player with the first pick.

The Browns elected to use their top pick last year, No. 7 overall, on cornerback Joe Haden. General Manager Tom Heckert said there was no demand from other teams to move up.

This draft could be a lot different.

“This draft might fall kind of funny because of the quarterbacks,” Holmgren said.

At league meetings this week, there was speculation quarterbacks Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert could both be taken within the first three picks. If one is left for the Browns at No. 6, San Francisco (seventh), Tennessee (eighth) and Minnesota (12th) all could be interested in moving up.

“I think anytime you have a quarterback situation, that probably changes things,” Heckert said. “There’s a chance both are gone [by No. 6]. There’s a chance both are still there. I don’t know. I do know this: There’s more than six players that are really good that people are going to like. Definitely.”

Coach Pat Shurmur said, “I think [sixth] is a pretty interesting place to pick. We’ll have good choices there. I think there’s a handful of guys that could be available, and they’re all very attractive.”

In separate interviews this week, the Browns’ top three football minds all made reference to team “needs.” It is very apparent they feel the team needs to match up well with what will be available to them.

The Browns haven’t hid the fact they need defensive linemen to fill in their new four-man front defensive scheme. Holmgren also said he’s looking for “a home run hitter” on offense. Heckert will seek to fill two needs with his top two choices, No. 6 and No. 35. Taking linemen with each of those picks — one on a pass-rushing end and one on a tackle — is not out of the question.

The need to address “needs” is more relevant this year because the labor dispute stopped free agency before it started. Heckert acknowledged Tuesday that in a normal off-season, he probably would have signed a starting defensive lineman in free agency by now.

As it is, tackle Ahtyba Rubin is the only bona-fide defensive line starter on the Browns’ roster at this time.

“We’ll make it work,” Heckert said. “It’s not a dire situation, I don’t think.”

Still, Heckert said he will “definitely” attend the pro day workout of Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers on April 1. It would be Bowers’ first workout in front of scouts since he had knee surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus. Heckert also has April 8 circled on his calendar. That’s the date Bowers returns to Indianapolis to have his knee re-checked by NFL doctors. All teams then will receive that report.

Despite rampant reports questioning Bowers’ knee, Heckert said the top sack specialist in the draft is very much “in the mix” to be a high pick.

Bowers joins Alabama tackle Marcell Dareus and Auburn tackle Nick Fairley at the top of a very deep group of defensive linemen in this draft. The entire Browns’ football operation — minus Holmgren — attended the pro day workouts of Dareus and Fairley.

In other draft-related news:

•Heckert and Shurmur had to miss Georgia receiver A.J. Green’s pro day workout Tuesday. Shurmur indicated he would visit with Green prior to the draft.

“We got to know him quite a bit at the combine and through the initial stages of this process,” Shurmur said. “I think he’s a fantastic kid, a terrific player. As we go forward here in the next few weeks, we’ll get some more detailed information . . . There’s a very good chance I’ll go and see some of these players individually.”

•Heckert said Alabama receiver Julio Jones is also drawing strong interest league-wide and might be another player that attracts teams to the top 10.

“No question about it,” Heckert said. “Everybody’s talking A.J., A.J., A.J., but different people have Julio up there.”

•Shurmur conceded it will be difficult for him to pass up an offensive playmaker with the first pick. Green and Jones are the only two — besides the quarterbacks — considered in the top 10.

“You know, it’s intoxicating to go after the playmaker,” Shurmur said. “But our team has needs in areas that we can address [with the top pick]. So I think that’s the way we need to approach it.”

•Heckert said he hasn’t determined how far he would be willing to move down. That limit depends on the final makeup of the Browns’ draft board.

“We’ll probably start sitting down with Pat this week and going over the board,” he said.

•Heckert said he expects to attend “probably” two more pro days and “maybe” one or two private workouts.

Published: Monday, March 07, 2011, 6:13 PM     Updated: Monday, March 07, 2011, 6:14 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As NFL free agency remains frozen in the league’s labor imbroglio, team personnel departments are locked in on the pre-draft scouting season.

Good thing, too, because the pro day workouts are coming fast and furious.

About two dozen major college programs have pro day workouts this week – often at different locations at the same time. These schools have about 20 players projected for the first round of the draft working out for close inspection by NFL teams.

The Browns will be making the rounds, dividing their team executives, scouts and coaches to get multiple looks at players.

Browns President Mike Holmgren said he still enjoys scouting and visiting with quarterbacks and intends to attend some of the pro days. With Colt McCoy anointed the team’s starter and Seneca Wallace re-signed to a three-year contract, it’s likely that Holmgren will be looking for a developmental quarterback possibly to displace Jake Delhomme.

The Browns’ primary needs, of course, are at defensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, offensive tackle and backup running back. Here’s a list of this week’s pro day workouts and possible players of interest to the Browns.

Tuesday

Arkansas: Quarterback Ryan Mallett has a first-round arm. Offensive tackle DeMarcus Love is a mid-round developmental player.

Auburn: This one should draw all the NFL scouts with defensive tackle Nick Fairley and quarterback Cam Newton on display. There’s also long and lanky receiver Darvin Adams and offensive tackle Daniel Ziemba, projected for rounds 2 or 3.

Oklahoma: Defensive end Jeremy Beal is an undersized pass rusher who might remind Browns GM Tom Heckert of Philadelphia’s Trent Cole.

Wednesday

Alabama: Browns figure to be front and center at the Crimson Tide workout. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus; receiver Julio Jones, fresh off his torrid combine clockings; and late-round, gym-rat quarterback Greg McElroy should be of interest. Mark Ingram also should garner a crowd for those looking for running back in the first round.

California: Somebody from the Browns has to attend to get a close look at rising defensive end Cameron Jordan. Other prospects include pass-catching running back Shane Vereen, middle linebacker Mike Mohamed and free safety Chris Conte.

Colorado: This is Cornerback U. this year with two potential NFL starters in Jalil Brown and Jimmy Smith. Both will go before the third round. First-round offensive tackle Nate Solder is also on hand.

Oklahoma State: Persons of interest to the Browns include scatback Kendall Hunter, middle linebacker Orie Lemon and defensive end Ugo Chinasa.

Texas A&M: Outside linebacker Von Miller is considered one of the best pass rushers in the draft and a perfect fit for Arizona’s new 3-4 look at No. 5. If he’s available at No. 6, he’s got to be considered by the Browns, too.

Wisconsin: Defensive end J.J. Watt was the player chosen for the Browns in Mel Kiper Jr.’s last mock draft. Quarterback Scott Tolzien needs to find some zip on the ball to avoid undrafted status.

Thursday

Clemson: Top-rated defensive end DaQuan Bowers won’t work out until April 1 to give his injured knee time to heal. Other prospects who could intrigue the Browns are defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins, mid-round cornerback Marcus Gilchrist and late-round corner Byron Maxwell.

Miami: Two cornerbacks of note are Brandon Harris — perhaps the draft’s third-best — and DeMarcus Van Dyke, whose 4.25 40 time at the combine was the fourth-best all time. Also, defensive end Allen Bailey is considered a potential first-round pick.

Mississippi State: Two mid-to-late-round linebackers to look at, Chris White and K.J. Wright.

Nebraska: Prince Amukamara, cornerback, requests the honor of your presence at his royal workout.

Friday

Ohio State: Defensive end Cameron Heyward will be the first Buckeye taken in the draft, but he won’t work out until March 30 to give his surgically repaired left elbow more time. The Browns may want to look, anyway, at weakside linebacker Ross Homan, undersized linebacker and safety prospect Brian Rolle, running back Brandon Saine, receiver Dane Sanzenbacher and speedy cornerback Chimdi Chekwa.

Purdue: Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan is in the group of eight or nine defensive ends expected to go in the first round.

Texas Christian: Quarterback Andy Dalton would be a good fit in the Browns’ West Coast offense. He’s projected anywhere from the third to the fifth round.

 

New Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur will focus this week on assembling his staff, especially the coordinator positions.

Eagles senior assistant and secondary coach Dick Jauron, who’s a candidate for Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator post now that the team has fired Sean McDermott, is still set to interview with the Browns this week.

Jauron, 60, is one of three candidates for the Eagles job. The other two are former Falcons and Seahawks coach Jim Mora and recently fired Rams defensive coordinator Billy Davis, sources told thePhiladelphia Daily News.

It’s unknown if the Browns plan to interview McDermott, Mora or Davis, who all have ties to either Shurmur or Browns president Mike Holmgren.

Shurmur was set to hire Denver’s Mike McCoy and Jauron before things changed over the weekend. McCoy opted to stay in Denver under John Fox, and Jauron became a candidate in Philadelphia. One name to remember for the offensive post is Nolan Cromwell, the St. Louis Rams receivers coach who once worked under Holmgren.

There’s a chance that Shurmur will retain respected special teams coach/assistant head coach Brad Seely. It’s unknown if any of the other current assistants will stay.

Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was hired to run the Dallas Cowboys’ defense, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed in Miami last week, but there’s been no word on whether or not he’ll be offered a job.

Former Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable filed a grievance to recover $120,000 that the team fined him during the final year of his contract.

A person familiar with the fines spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The story was first reported by ESPN.

The person did not say why the Raiders withheld the money from Cable’s paychecks. ESPN reported owner Al Davis was upset that the Raiders lost two days of organized team activities in June for violating NFL rules.

The grievance will be heard by an arbitrator appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell.

Therefore, in this week’s “Thought of the Day” in the AFC North blog, we survey the Dawgpound to see how Browns fans would feel about this hire. Shurmur would be the third head coach for Cleveland since 2008 and the most important decision president Mike Holmgren makes in his tenure.

Is Shurmur the right coach to lead the Browns back to prominence? He has an offensive pedigree and did a good job with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford in St. Louis. Working with Colt McCoy will be important. Also, the division has had recent success with hiring former assistant coaches in Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh.

In contrast, the Browns organization isn’t nearly as stable as the Ravens and Steelers. Since 1999 all of their hires without head-coaching experience have been disasters in Cleveland. Should the Browns have gone for a bigger name with a proven track record of winning?

Share your “Thought of the Day” comments on Shurmur potentially leading the Browns in 2011 below, or to our division inbox and AFC North Twitter page. We will run the best responses throughout the week.

POSTED: 5:45 pm EST January 4, 2011

CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cleveland Browns will interview Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for their head coaching job.

Mularkey said Tuesday he has been contacted by the Browns and Denver Broncos. He said he will speak with both teams “at the end of the week.” Mularkey previously coached the Buffalo Bills and has been an offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh and Miami, as well. The Falcons have a bye this week.

The Browns are looking for their fifth coach since 1999 after Eric Mangini was fired. Team president Mike Holmgren began a wide search on Monday, just hours after firing Mangini, who went 10-22 in two seasons.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is missing his second straight day of practice to rest sore ribs.

Hillis was injured in Sunday’s loss to Baltimore when Ravens safety Ed Reed drilled him on his second carry. Hillis, who has rushed for 1,164 yards this season, also sat out Monday’s outdoor workout. Browns coach Eric Mangini believes Hillis will be ready to play this week against Pittsburgh in the season finale.

The Steelers have the NFL’s best rushing defense and the Browns (5-10) need him to play.

If Hillis can’t go, Mike Bell will get the bulk of carries. Bell, acquired in an October trade from Philadelphia, gained a season-high 27 yards last week.