Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns return to local radio

by News Staff

The Cleveland Browns are back on local radio. The All New Eagle, 95.3 and 101.1 FM WZLR Radio is the new radio home for the Browns in the Miami Valley beginning with Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs through the 2019 NFL season. “The No. 1 piece of feedback we hear from the community is the lack of hearing the Browns on the radio on Sunday,” said Nick Roberts, Cox Media Group Ohio Vice...

Browns fire head coach Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator Todd Haley

The Associated Press

Hue Jackson’s failed, flawed tenure with the Cleveland Browns is finally over. The team fired its embattled coach on Monday, ending a run of futility nearly unmatched in NFL history. Jackson, who went 3-36-1 in two-plus seasons, was dismissed on Monday by general manager John Dorsey, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because...

Browns trade former Ohio State standout Carlos Hyde

by John Boyle, Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns today traded running back Carlos Hyde to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fifth-round draft pick in 2019. Hyde, a former standout at Ohio State, was leading the Browns with 382 yards rushing and five touchdowns. The move figures to free up more carries for rookie Nick Chubb, the Browns’ second-round pick this year, and veteran Duke Johnson, a third-round pick in 2015. Through...

Baker Mayfield leads Browns to first win in 635 days: Social media reacts

by John Boyle

The Cleveland Browns got back in the win column after 635 days Thursday. In his NFL debut, quarterback Baker Mayfield, the team’s first overall pick in this year’s draft, brought the Browns back from a 14-0 deficit to beat the New York Jets 21-17. Here’s how people reacted to the win on Twitter:

PHOTOS: Cleveland Browns snap 19-game winless streak

by John Boyle

It’s about time: Cleveland Browns snap 19-game winless streak

by Tom Withers, The Associated Press

For the first time in 635 days, the Cleveland Browns found a way to win. Baker Mayfield showed them how. The No. 1 overall pick replaced injured starter Tyrod Taylor and sparked the Browns, who got two 1-yard touchdown runs from Carlos Hyde and beat the New York Jets 21-17 on Thursday night for their first win since Dec. 24, 2016. And so ends Cleveland’s 19-game winless streak, the NFL&rsquo...

Browns trade Josh Gordon to Patriots

by John Boyle, Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade wide receiver Josh Gordon to the New England Patriots, the team announced. Cleveland reportedly will receive a 2019 fifth-round pick for Gordon. The Patriots also will receive a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick. The Browns announced Saturday they would release the talented but troubled wide receiver. "This afternoon we informed Josh Gordon...

Bengals/Browns by the numbers: 2018 kickoff edition

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns are trying to stop so many Hard Knocks (1-31 the past two seasons) and the Cincinnati Bengals are hoping to climb back into the playoffs as the 2018 NFL season kicks off its first Sunday action. Here are some numbers about Ohio’s NFL teams: 0-17, 0-17: The Browns have two 17-game regular season losing streaks sandwiched by their lone victory of 2016. One 17-game skid...

Centerville grad claimed on waivers by Browns

by John Boyle, Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns claimed Centerville High School graduate Ifeadi Odenigbo on waivers Sunday. Odenigbo, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end, was one of five players reportedly claimed by the Browns. “At the end of the day, I think that we are a better football team on both sides of the line of scrimmage ,” Browns GM John Dorsey said. “I think that our skill groups have a lot of...

NFL preseason: Bengals and Browns back in action this weekend

by Marcus Hartman

The second week of the NFL’s preseason began Thursday night with the Packers, Redskins and Patriots getting wins. It continues tonight with the Cleveland Browns in action against the Buffalo Bills, a game that will be carried on WHIO-TV Chanel 7. Both teams have interesting quarterback situations. The Browns seem intent on starting the season with Tyrod Taylor at the helm while...

A Browns win will release thousands of free beers into the world

by Marcus Hartman

The next time the Cleveland Browns win a regular season game, the first round is on Anheuser-Busch. The team and the company revealed Tuesday several Bud Light Browns “victory fridges” will be place around the Greater Cleveland area (including at FirstEnergy Stadium), and they are set to be opened remotely as soon as the next Browns win occurs. Here’s more from cleveland...

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Veteran Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey: ‘The sky is the limit for us’

by Carlos 'Big C' Holmes, Contributing Writer

The Cleveland Browns are trending in the world of football during training camp after the first episode of this season’s HBO series “Hard Knocks” aired last week. The team has grabbed the attention of many in what appears to be the transition of a winless franchise to a possible contender. Veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey was one of the players featured in episode No. 1. He&rsquo...

WATCH Baker Mayfield tosses 2 TD passes in Browns preseason debut

by Marcus Hartman

Baker Mayfield made his NFL preseason debut Thursday night, completing 11 of 20 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown as the Cleveland Browns beat the New York Giants 20-10. Here’s a look at every throw and run from the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. He threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku in the second quarter and logged another score on a 54-yard catch-and-run connection...

5 things to know about the start of the NFL preseason

by Marcus Hartman

After the annual appetizer of the Hall of Fame Game, the NFL’s preseason kicks off for real Thursday night. Twelve games are on the docket with both of Ohio’s NFL teams in action. 1. The Bengals play host to the Bears. Cincinnati’s starters probably won’t play much, but it will be the first opportunity for a large audience to see what Bill Lazor has done with...

Josh Gordon to miss start of Browns camp

by Jay Morrison, Staff Writer

After Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon tweeted this morning he will not be with the team for the start of training camp, general manager John Dorsey issued a statement in support of Gordon. “We will continue to support Josh as he receives the care needed to maintain his progress,” Dorsey said in the statement. “We are going to respect his privacy while he is away from the...

WATCH: Cleveland Browns ‘Hard Knocks’ trailer from HBO

by Marcus Hartman

The Cleveland Browns begin training camp Wednesday. It will be no ordinary preseason in Berea as NFL Films cameras will be there to follow the team and document preparations for a 2018 season. Football fans hardly have a hard time getting hyped for the season — and that is particularly true of Browns backers — but just in case, HBO released a trailer for this year&rsquo...

All 4 Cleveland Browns preseason games to be nationally televised

by Marcus Hartman

The Cleveland Browns will be first at least once this year in the NFL. They are set to kick off the NFL Network’s coverage of the preseason Aug. 9 when they take on the New York Giants. That game, the first of 15 to be shown live by NFLN this preseason, will include the top two picks in the last NFL draft — Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield and Saquon Barkley of the Giants...

PFF tabs an Ohio State Buckeye to make immediate impact for Browns

by Marcus Hartman

Pro Football Focus named Browns cornerback Denzel Ward among the 20 players most likely to have an immediate impact with new teams in the NFL this fall. A rookie from Ohio State, Ward was the No. 4 pick in the draft in April. The Browns were next-to-last in the NFL in interceptions last season with seven. They ranked 26th-ranked pass defense in the league as measured by FootballOutsiders...

Johnny Manziel to sign a CFL contract and resume football career

by via SEC Country, Diehards

It looks like Johnny Manziel will continue to press on with his football career. He will just have to go north of the border to do it. The post Johnny Manziel to sign a CFL contract and resume football career appeared first on Diehards.

History lesson: Ohio State and the Cincinnati Bengals go way back

by Marcus Hartman

The Cincinnati Bengals did more than buck a recent trend when they selected two Ohio State players in the 2018 NFL Draft. Southwest Ohio’s pro football franchise also got back to its roots. Given the perceived animosity between the Queen City and the Scarlet and Gray over the years, that probably comes as a surprise to at least some folks. Let’s set the record straight...

Sports Today: Maybe this is just who Homer Bailey is

by Marcus Hartman

I feel for Homer Bailey since he hasn’t gotten much run support this season, but so far 2018 has provided a lot of support for my theory he is someone who generally pitches just well enough to lose. After getting the decision in a 7-6 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday night, Bailey’s career record is 66-67. Seems about right, doesn’t it? So far this season the Reds...

Super Bowl odds: Bengals and Browns both bringing up the rear

by Marcus Hartman

Maybe Vegas wasn’t impressed with what the Bengals or Browns did in the NFL Draft? Bovada released updated Super Bowl 53 odds Tuesday, and they have both Ohio teams bringing up the rear. That’s right, a dollar bet on the Bengals or Browns will bring back $100 after both teams saw their odds get longer over the past month. Those 100/1 odds are the worst in the league and...

NFL Draft: Where Ohio State players are headed next

by Marcus Hartman

After seven Ohio State Buckeyes were chosen in the 2018 NFL Draft, several more found potential homes in the league in the following two days. The most notable story is also the most confusing. Initially, quarterback J.T. Barrett was reported to be heading to the Indianapolis Colts. Then he was said to be getting a tryout with the Saints instead. Now he reportedly has a 3-year...

NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns add 3 more players on Day 2

by Jay Morrison, Staff Writer

Update, 9:26 p.m. The Browns added Miami (Fla.) defensive end Chad Thomas with the third pick of the third round (67th overall). A four-year player and three-year starter for the Hurricanes, Thomas had 11 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. He’s also a music prodigy who has produced for Rick Ross. Update, 7:20 p.m. The Browns picked Georgia running back Nick Chubb with the third pick of the second...

NFL draft reaction: Browns, Ravens make bold moves while Bengals play it safe

by Marcus Hartman

Baker Mayfield was certainly a bold pick by the Cleveland Browns. Of all the quarterbacks available, I would have liked to have Mayfield or Lamar Jackson the most because the flaws of the other three scare me more. Josh Allen is not an accurate passer. Sam Darnold turns the ball over too much. Josh Rosen brings injury concerns. There are no perfect prospects, but those...

Ohio State DB streak continues as Browns end Buckeyes draft drought

by Marcus Hartman

Ohio State’s recent defensive back draftapalooza continued Thursday night when Denzel Ward was selected No. 4 overall by the Cleveland Browns. The pick made Ohio State the first school in the common era (since 1967) to have five defensive backs taken in the first round in three years. That run started with Eli Apple in 2016 and continued with Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker and Gareon...

NFL Draft: Browns take Mayfield, Buckeyes Ward in first round

by Jay Morrison, Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns selected Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the fourth overall pick after taking Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall. The New York Giants took Penn State running back Saquon Barkley second, and the New York Jets picked USC quarterback Sam Darnold third. This is the second time in three years an Ohio State player has gone in the top four picks after San Diego...

Ohio State NFL draft preview: 5 things to know

by Marcus Hartman

The 83rd NFL draft is set for Thursday-Saturday in Texas, and Ohio State is expected to be heavily involved again. Here are five things for Buckeye fans to know before it begins: Eleven Ohio State players were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, and more got to work out for NFL scouts during the team’s pro day. Land of 10’s Scott Dochterman predicts Jerome Baker, J.T. Barrett...

NFL draft: 1 player is an overwhelming favorite to be Browns’ pick

by Marcus Hartman

The NFL draft begins Thursday night. The Cleveland Browns are picking first. Those two things we know. What is uncertain is who they will take. There is no shortage of speculation on who might be their choice, though most seem to agree they will take a quarterback. At least one sportsbook sees an overwhelming favorite. Sam Darnold is getting 5/12 odds from Bovada...

5 things to know about the NFL draft

by Marcus Hartman

The 83rd NFL draft is this week in Arlington, Texas. Here is what you need to know before the league’s annual talent grab kicks off: For the first time, the entire draft will be available on broadcast television as Fox will simulcast the NFL Network’s coverage of rounds 1-3 on its broadcast channel. ABC will simulcast ESPN’s coverage of rounds 4-7. Along with the...

Johnny Manziel reveals just how unready for NFL he was to succeed with the Browns

by Marcus Hartman

Remember when the Cleveland Browns used a first-round pick in the NFL draft on Johnny Manziel? Well, it turns out that was an even bigger mistake than anyone might have realized at the time. Just ask Manziel. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner told the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday just how unprepared he was for the NFL – and how little the Browns did to make up for his shortcomings...

Hartman: NFL invites more problems with latest rule change

by Marcus Hartman

Did the NFL just take another step toward banning football? That’s a fair reaction to the new rule against “lowering the head” the league announced Tuesday. I realize a lot of early freak outs on social media turn out to be overreactions, but in this case extreme concerns are justified. Literally applying the rule as written would significantly...

Changes are coming to the NFL draft broadcasts

by Marcus Hartman

The NFL has announced new ways fans can watch the draft in April, including one that could be intriguing to college football fans in particular. NFL Network and ESPN will continue broadcasting the annual talent distribution festival, and Fox is jumping in as well via a partnership with the league’s channel. For the first time ever, the entire draft will be available on broadcast...

Sports Today: Here are upset picks, the Final Four and your national champion

by Marcus Hartman

I had the brilliant idea to do bracket picks immediately and lock those in then come back and do another set that would be my official picks then compare the two. I ended up hardly making any changes. This morning I put Seton Hall in the Elite Eight, and a larger part of the reason than I would like to admit is that I felt like I needed to make SOME change to justify the entire experiment...

NFL: Cleveland Browns announce Joe Thomas is retiring

by Marcus Hartman

Joe Thomas is done. The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday afternoon the 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle has decided to retire. In a press release from the team, Thomas said the decision was difficult but “playing in the NFL has taken a toll on my body and I can no longer physically compete at the level I need to.” He also praised Browns fans for their loyalty and the...

Carlos Hyde vs. Jeremy Hill: Final answer

by Marcus Hartman

Remember when the Cincinnati Bengals passed on Ohio State star Carlos Hyde to draft Jeremy Hill out of LSU instead? It happened four years ago, and it is worth revisiting with news of Hyde planning to sign with the Cleveland Browns this week. Was it the right move or not? He ran for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2014 despite starting only half of the games that...

Cleveland Browns to sign former Ohio State star Carlos Hyde, per report

by Marcus Hartman

The busy Cleveland Browns offseason will include acquiring a former Buckeye. According to multiple reports, Carlos Hyde has agreed to a three-year contract with the Browns that he can sign Wednesday afternoon. Hyde was the Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2013 when he ran for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games. He is eighth in Ohio State history with 3,198 rushing yards...

Report: Bengals losing free agent to Browns

by Marcus Hartman

Chris Smith is heading north to continue his NFL career. According to multiple reports, the defensive lineman will sign with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday after spending last season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith was a productive reserve in 2016 after being acquired via trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 6-foot-1, 266-pounder had 26 tackles, including three sacks. ...

Cleveland Browns NFL draft selections and order

by Marcus Hartman

The Cleveland Browns have a chance to provide a major upgrade to two positions early on the first night of the 2018 NFL Draft. They pick No. 1 overall as a reward for having the worst record in the league last season then will pick again at No. 4 thanks to having given Houston the chance to draft Deshaun Watson last year. The latter decision is among those that have the team still on the...

Sports Today: Can the Browns go wrong with the NFL draft’s first pick?

by Marcus Hartman

I already posted my seven takeaways from NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock’s annual pre-combine conference call yesterday, so check those out if you would. Here’s something else I found interesting: His top two quarterbacks both have pretty sizable red flags, at least if you are talking about using a high first-round pick on them. That of course could present quite a conundrum for the...

NFL draft: 7 takeaways from Mike Mayock’s NFL combine preview for Bengals, Browns and Buckeyes fans

by Marcus Hartman

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock took part in a conference call Monday to preview the NFL Scouting Combine coming up this week in Indianapolis. He dropped a few nuggets that could be of interest to fans of the Bengals, Browns and Ohio State. With the Browns picking No. 1, they can get any quarterback they want. Mayock has USC’s Sam Darnold at the top of his board ahead...

Film Room: The good, the bad, and the attitude of top NFL draft prospect Josh Rosen

by Oliver Connolly, Diehards

Josh Rosen is the most polished quarterback in an NFL draft class filled with raw, unadulterated, could-be, might-be prospects. Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen will all get first-round consideration. They all have the ability to move around and make plays out of structure. Some evoke the most vapid of scouting terms &mdash...

Cleveland Browns victim of vicious ‘Jeopardy!’ Twitter trolling

by Marcus Hartman

Welcome to 2018, where a group of smart people didn’t know anything about football, but social media managers know the Cleveland Browns are bad. The Twitter handle for classic gameshow “Jeopardy!” capitalized on a viral video from a recent episode by taking a shot at the 0-16 Browns, who have one of the largest fanbases and worst teams in the league. Ouch. This...

Film Room: Josh Allen — the good, the bad, the ugly of mysterious NFL draft prospect

by Oliver Connolly, Diehards

Wyoming’s Josh Allen is the most divisive prospect of this draft season. The gigantic quarterback has the tools NFL teams crave: Size, mobility and a huge jump-out-your-seat arm that has to be seen to be believed. Sounds perfect, right? Not so fast. Allen is a classic traits vs. production prospect. His performances in 2017 were, to be kind, wobbly. He completed just 57 ...

Joe Thomas goes to bat for Hue Jackson: ‘Nothing says Browns can’t make playoffs next year’

by Marcus Hartman

Say this for Joe Thomas: More than a decade as a Cleveland Brown has not robbed him of the ability to look on the bright side. The veteran offensive tackle wrote detailed defense of his head coach, Hue Jackson, published at SI.com on Tuesday. While Jackson seems to have lost the faith of many fans and media after going 1-31 in his two years in Cleveland, Thomas backs Jackson&rsquo...

Myles Garrett named to PFW All-Rookie team

by Gabriel Burns

The first overall pick lived up to the hype. After a seven-sack debut season, the Browns’ Myles Garrett was named to the All-Rookie team by the Pro Football Writers on Tuesday. Garrett collected seven sacks despite playing only 11 games and starting nine, slowed by an ankle injury. He added 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Garrett was the only Brown to make...

Browns become second team in NFL history to finish 0-16

by Associated Press, Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns joined the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams in NFL history to go 0-16 when they failed to find a way to beat the backup-laden Pittsburgh Steelers in a 28-24 loss on Sunday. Cleveland had a chance late in the fourth quarter, but quarterback DeShone Kizer’s fourth-down pass to Corey Coleman bounced off Coleman’s hands and fell incomplete. And for the 16th time in...

This week in Bengals history: Nov. 26

by Jay Morrison, Staff Writer

The Cincinnati Bengals have played six times on Nov. 26, and they are 3-3 in those contests. Here is a look at each game: Nov. 26, 2006 – Cincinnati Bengals 30, Cleveland Browns 0 at Cleveland Browns Stadium Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes to Chris Henry and one to T.J. Houshmandzadeh as the Bengals improved to 6-5. Following the first TD pass to Henry, Shayne Graham kicked his 158th...

Sports Today: Bengals loss a blip, or sign of things to come?

by Marcus Hartman

The Cincinnati Bengals’ season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens could not have gone worse. That isn’t hyperbole. There are virtually no positives to take away from it aside from no one being seriously injured. The way Marvin Lewis’ team looked Sunday, that won’t matter in the long run because they can’t win with this collection of players if they can&rsquo...

Sports Today: Cincinnati Bengals ready to get started for real

by Marcus Hartman

The Cincinnati Bengals made their final cuts, set their practice squad then made a few more moves. They kept seven receivers, and they got a lot younger. The Bengals also got a little smaller on the defensive front, trading high-potential, low-yield Wille Clarke for short-but-productive offseason acquisition Chris Smith. Four of the players drafted in April didn’t make...

Sports Today: NFL’s terrible rules screw Bengals again

by Marcus Hartman

The further criminalization of physical contact in the NFL caught up with the Bengals late Sunday night when news broke Vontaze Burfict is facing a five-game suspension. My knee-jerk reaction was five games seems like an awful lot, even for a repeat offender. I thought I should sleep on it, and this morning I still feel that way. But, hey, rules are rules, right? Well...

Sports Today: Cleveland Browns vindicate Hue Jackson, prove coach’s point with latest anthem protest

by Marcus Hartman

Hue Jackson gets the big picture surrounding the national anthem demonstrations in the NFL more fully than 99 percent of the people who have said or written about it in the past year. The Cleveland Browns coach was right to point out using the Star-Spangled Banner and the American flag as vehicles of protest has steered the coverage and discussions off course consistently since the first time...

Sports Today: It’s a Cincinnati Bengals game day

by Marcus Hartman

Cincinnati Bengals fans, the long wait for preseason game No. 1 ends tonight with Marvin Lewis’ team hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jay Morrison already laid out his six things to watch tonight and hit all the most important aspects of the game I can see, such as they are when the outcome doesn’t matter. I am with Jay in wanting to see how Trey Hopkins performs on the offensive...

Osweiler to get the start at QB in Browns’ preseason opener

by John Boyle, Staff Writer

Brock Osweiler will start the Browns preseason opener Thursday night against the Saints, coach Hue Jackson announced Monday morning. The Browns have four quarterbacks — Osweiler, Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan — in camp vying for the starting job. “At this stage in the evaluation process of our quarterbacks, we are going to have Brock start the preseason opener against...

Browns show promise in training camp

by Carlos "Big C" Holmes - Staff Writer

BEREA — The Cleveland Browns have taken a positive approach to improving their 1-15 record from a season ago. The Browns were one of the biggest winners on draft day and did an admirable job addressing some needs in free agency. Now it’s time to see if the offseason acquisitions will mesh with existing talent and help win games. Judging by the first few days of training camp the...

Sports Today: Rejoice as football plans come into focus

by Marcus Hartman

Good news: The slowest sports week I can remember* this year is almost over. Ohio State announced yesterday training camp will begin for the Buckeyes next Thursday. Heroic OSU SID Jerry Emig also gave us a way to kill some time yesterday by publishing the 2017 media guide. I’m not afraid to admit I used to love going through those when they were still printed (but I’d rather pretend...

Scary sight for the Browns: No. 1 pick Garrett limping off the field

Associated Press

Myles Garrett limped off the field Wednesday, a scary sight for the Cleveland Browns. The No. 1 overall draft pick sustained an injury to his left foot late in practice while rushing quarterback Brock Osweiler during a two-minute drill. The severity of the injury is not yet known, and the Browns are hoping it’s not serious. Garrett, who missed time earlier this spring with an unspecified injury...

Sports Today: Bengals rocked, Browns rolling, Ohio State speaks and basketball, basketball, basketball

by Marcus Hartman

So, NFL free agency officially started yesterday, and it was pretty much a disaster for the Cincinnati Bengals. The possibility of losing guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency was always there, but I think most people expected them to at least keep tackle Andrew Whitworth. They’re both gone, and the offensive line that was shaky to begin with is currently in shambles. Barring a big...

Browns to sign Bitonio to extension; signing center from Packers

by John Boyle

The Browns are signing guard Joel Bitonio to a contract extension, according to multiple reports. Bitonio, 25, played in only five games for the Browns in 2016 because of a foot injury. The 2017 season would have been the final year of his four-year rookie deal with the Browns. Bitonio was a second-round pick in 2014. The Browns also are reportedly signing center J.C. Tretter, who spent the last four...

Sports Today: 2 Reds positives, Browns QB talk, another Buckeye could be a Bengals fit and more

by Marcus Hartman

Reds win! Reds win! Reds win! OK, normally this is not headline news in March, but in this case one has indeed belonged to the Reds for the first time. (We may be heading into a season in which positives are few and far between, so just roll with it…) The Cincinnati 9 beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 yesterday to improve to 1-6 on the spring. Far more significant: Amir Garrett...

Sports Today: NFL combine, Ohio State buzzer-beater, NBA developments and local gems galore

by Marcus Hartman

Welcome to NFL Combine week! (The annual event actually overlaps two weeks, but this is easier shorthand, OK?) There are lots of storylines, starting today when many of the league’s coaches and personnel staffers meet with reporters to talk about the state of their teams. This draft year already includes a lot of intrigue around the quarterbacks, who seem to be going through...

Projected top pick prays for Cowboys trade to avoid Cleveland Browns

by B.J. Bethel

Myles Garrett, the Texas A&M defensive end and projected top pick for the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL draft, is begging for divine intervention. Or at least Jerry Jones’ intervention. Garrett filmed a video of himself begging on his knees with his hands clasped for his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, to trade for the Browns No. 1 pick so he doesn’t have to play in Cleveland. In...

Joe Thomas has thoughts on who Browns should take No. 1 in the NFL draft

by Marcus Hartman

Joe Thomas has been with the Browns long enough to be a de facto member of the front office. Shoot, maybe they should just give him the team because it’s unlikely any member of the organization has done their job as well for as long as he has. Here’s a test of the long-time left tackle’s football knowledge: He wants the Browns to draft someone he would block instead of...

Johnny Manziel has Twitter advice for President Donald Trump

by Marcus Hartman

Johnny Manziel is back on the scene not just in time for the Super Bowl but also to help out our 45th president as he settles into the Oval Office. The former Browns quarterback offered some important social media advice for President Donald J. Trump on Monday. “Yo @POTUS even I know to stay away from the notifications section on twitter. (Expletive) will drive you crazy, lead the...

Fans raise enough money for Browns ‘0-16’ parade

by Marcus Hartman, Staff Writer

If the Cleveland Browns can finish off a historic season, should the town and its fans celebrate? That is the question percolating in northeast Ohio these days. At least cost won’t be a problem. A GoFundMe started to raise $1,999 to cover the costs of putting on a parade in honor of the once-proud franchise going 0-16 (if it loses its last two games) has far surpassed that goal. It is already...

7 things to know for NFL Week 15: Bengals-Steelers, Browns-Bills, etc.

by Marcus Hartman

Week 15 of the NFL season is upon us. Here are the things you’ll want to watch for around the league, starting in Cincinnati with the Bengals against the Steelers. Cincinnati enters the weekend in third place in the AFC North, but the Bengals could still improbably win the division if they beat the Steelers this week, the Texans next week and the Ravens in Week 17. Of course, the Steelers...