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NFL 2012: Predicting Every Cleveland Browns Game

Sat, 19 May 2012 19:00:05 GMT

The Cleveland Browns have compiled a 9-23 record in the first two years of the Mike Holmgren era. When the Super Bowl winning coach came to Cleveland there was hope he'd bring stability to a franchise that had been in turmoil since coming back into the league in 1999.

But after a solid draft, it seems there is hope. The Browns plucked running back Trent Richardson with the No. 3 pick and then took 28-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden with the No. 22 pick in last month's draft. Both looked great in shorts and playing against air at a recent rookie camp.

But just as things looked like they could be going the Browns way, second-year defensive tackle Phil Taylor tore a pectoral muscle and may be out for the year.

Sometimes it seems like the team is jinxed.

Be that as it may, there is a season to play and a schedule that is rank third toughest in the league. The Browns play in a division where every team, with the exception of them, made the playoffs in 2011.

That said, we'll peer into our crystal ball and see how the 2012 Browns will fare:

Begin Slideshow

Judge: Otto Graham the No. 2 QB of All Time

Sat, 19 May 2012 08:30:03 GMT

Jonathan Vilma's Suit Against Roger Goodell

Sat, 19 May 2012 07:09:37 GMT

Could Josh Cooper make the squad and help receiving corps? - Browns Comment of the Day

Sat, 19 May 2012 04:05:40 GMT

"I think our WR depth chart is different however. I think Josh Cooper actually makes the team and lines up as the 3rd WR in the slot. He has great hands and has a rapport with Weeden already from college. I think he will actually be a pretty nice player. He won't be a number 1 ever, but every team needs a guy with good hands who can go over the middle behind the linebackers and pick up a 1st down." - sgtkickarse

Weeden and Richardson Interviewed at NFLPA Rookie Premiere

Sat, 19 May 2012 03:33:35 GMT

Browns' receiving corps, remembering Kerry Wood and encouraging words for LeBron James : Blog Roundu

Sat, 19 May 2012 02:48:37 GMT

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Waiting For Next Year, BrownsDraft.com, and Mike Polk Jr.

Cleveland Browns' Greg Little could have a Pro Bowl season, says Mary Kay Cabot (SBTV)

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:05:41 GMT

The addition of Brandon Weeden could help Greg Little become a Pro Bowl receiver.

McCoy and Weeden set to battle in Cleveland (National Football Post)

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:00:02 GMT

Who has the edge in the fight for the starting QB job?

Sights and Sounds: Rebuilding Together 5/17

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The Cleveland Browns, as part of "Hats Off to Our Heroes" program, teamed with Rebuilding Together Cleveland to revive a local Cleveland home owned by Army veteran.

Browns help military veteran

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns spent Thursday afternoon giving back to a local veteran who earned several military distinctions while fighting in Vietnam.

McCoy, Yount appreciate military veterans

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy and long-snapper Christian Yount learned at a young age to appreciate those who serve in the military.

Greco goes back to Boardman

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

BOARDMAN, Ohio -- Browns offensive lineman John Greco went back to his hometown of Boardman, Ohio, to kick off a youth football camp and attend a United Way dinner on Thursday evening.

Browns bring Football Friday to Youngstown

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur and several Browns alumni took part in the Football Friday luncheon at the Maronite Center in Youngstown Friday afternoon.

Cleveland Browns A.M. Links: Early depth chart; Richardson and Weeden on the future; which wide rece

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:31:21 GMT

Predicting the Cleveland Browns' depth chart.

Richardson, Weeden to Compete in NFLPA Premiere League Flag Football Game

Fri, 18 May 2012 21:52:03 GMT

Cleveland Browns: Which receiver will have the best season? Poll

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Which wide receiver will have the best season for the Browns?

7 Players the Cleveland Browns Will Depend on in 2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:04 GMT

"Teamwork is essential. It allows you to blame someone else."—Unknown Cynic

Though football stands as an example of the ultimate team game, the Cleveland Browns face a production deficit in three essential areas: the rushing game, the passing game and defensively against the run.

The Browns' 2012 draft class will need to hit on all cylinders when they arrive back in Berea this summer to prepare for a cruelly-conceived third-strongest-in-the-league schedule, according to ESPN.

Six out of 16 games automatically pit the Browns against 2011 playoff squads, as the AFC North featured three in 2011. But even the matchups against teams with losing records look dubious at first glance: Washington, Kansas City and Buffalo feature remade units with high-profile draft picks and free-agency signees galore.

Indianapolis has cleaned house from the Peyton Manning era and will enjoy the services of the draft's top prospect: quarterback Andrew Luck.

Browns Backers: Rolling with the punches is kind of our thing at this point, so before we get all huffy about how the NFL likes the Steelers better—they do, let's get over it—it's important we consider that no wins will come easy this year (not that they ever do.) and we need not worry about a 2007-like mirage.

If these Browns demonstrate they can compete this year, the quality of their competition will provide outstanding battle-testing.

Browns Backers, brace yourselves: We're going to see what we need to see, not what we want to see.

Begin Slideshow

The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the 2012 AFC North Draft (Shutdown Corner)

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:02 GMT

With the draft over and all wrapped up, we thought it would be a good idea to get back on the phone with our buddy Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN's "NFL Matchup," and talk about the NFL by division. Who did themselves the most favors in the draft, and who came up short when addressing their roster deficits? The Shutdown Corner Podcast Greg Cosell on the NFC West draft We started off with the NFC West last week , and we now move to the hyper-competitive AFC North. Appropriate, given Greg's recent post on the NFL Films Blog praising the Cincinnati Bengals' draft strategy . With that in mind, we asked Greg what he thought the Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers did to bolster their teams. Related: [Cosell on�� quarterbacks ,�� running backs/wide receivers ,�� tight ends/offensive line ,�� OLB/DE/DT stars , the ILB/DB class , and overall draft review ] Baltimore Ravens OLB Courtney Upshaw, and how he'll be tasked to replace Terrell Suggs: "The Ravens are very versatile with their fronts. Suggs would line up in two-point and three-point stances. He played a number of different positions and alignments -- that's what the Ravens do, and Upshaw fits that role. I don't think anybody's going to say that he's going to do what Suggs has done for a number of years -- Suggs is a pretty damned good player -- but the way Upshaw plays, I think he could eventually become similar to that guy." Cincinnati Bengals OG Kevin Zeitler: "I seem to be in the minority here, and we'll never know how the Bengals felt because David DeCastro was gone when they picked, but I thought Zeitler was a little more complete than DeCastro -- I thought he was a better athlete. I thought he had more scheme-versatility, and he fits very well in a zone run game. I'm not sure DeCastro does. Now, DeCastro fits in the power run game better; that's what he did at Stanford. But given what the Bengals want their guards to do, I think Zeitler was the better choice, and would have been the better choice had DeCastro been available." The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the 2012 AFC North Draft The Cleveland Browns' first-round selections of Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden: "Theoretically, you could look at it this way -- they ended up with Richardson and Weeden instead of Ryan Tannehill and Doug Martin. And I think Richardson/Weeden is the better combination ... in fact, I don't think, I know. Richardson, we don't need to discuss ... I thought he was the best player in this draft. Weeden has some concerns. He was the best pure pocket passer in this draft, but he's got meaningful and troublesome issues with pressure. That's a serious red flag when you transition to the NFL."

Browns visit flag football camp 5/17

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:01 GMT

Browns offensive lineman John Greco attends a flag football camp in his hometown of Boardman, Ohio.

Daily Dawg Chow (5/18/12)

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:30:10 GMT