When it comes to quarterbacks, I"m as lost as Cleveland Browns -- Terry Pluto

Only in Cleveland: The Cleveland Browns since their return to the NFL

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Confession time: When it comes to Cleveland Browns quarterbacks, I don"t know what I want.

Actually, I do know.

I want the same thing you do, and I"m not talking about the elusive "Franchise" quarterback.

When it comes to Browns quarterbacks, finding a combination of competence and durability would be a reason for a standing ovation.

Instead, I"ll stay seated while writing about the Browns 24-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

This was the 10th time that Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has won a game at FirstEnergy Stadium.

That ties former Brown Derek Anderson for the most wins by a quarterback in this stadium, where the expansion era franchise first took the field in 1999. Ex-Browns quarterback Tim Couch is next with nine victories at FirstEnergy.

This is not about replaying how the Browns passed up Roethlisberger in favor of Kellen Winslow in the 2003 draft.

It is to say that I have been writing about wanting to see more of Cody Kessler.

Well, I did in Sunday"s loss.

Sigh...

Kessler started, but was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter with what probably is a concussion. If so, this was the second concussion of the season for the rookie quarterback.

Kessler has started eight games this season. Three times he has failed to survive four quarters because he was injured.

That"s not a good sign, as Kessler can"t stay on the field.

THEN THERE"S PERFORMANCE

Long before his concussion late in the third quarter, this was truly an awful game for Kessler.

It was harder to know if the rookie quarterback was shaken more by the frigid, wind-whipping, teeth-rattling weather -- or the aggressive Steeler defense.

But his decision making was SOOO ... SLOW ... it was painful to watch.

This is not about being impatient with a rookie. Some of the mistakes were from inexperience.

But he took three sacks when he simply held on to the ball for too long.

He seemed confused by the defenses. When his primary receiver was covered, Kessler had problems knowing where else he wanted to throw the ball.

He was 7-of-14 passing for 128 yards. He had an interception. He was sacked four times, and three were on him because he held the ball for so long.

Being the quarterback on the winless Browns may seem like a hopeless assignment.

But I"m grading on a curve, just looking for progress from Kessler.

In the last three games, he has been sacked nine times. With him on the field, the offense has scored 23 points in a little over nine quarters.

I don"t know what to say about Kessler, other than his lack of arm strength was very apparent on this wind-whipped day.

But most alarming, his early season poise seemed missing.

SO NOW WHAT?

When it comes to Browns quarterbacks, I"m just confused.

You can say it"s been like that for me for years, and you"d be right.

Josh McCown has some good and bad moments, but he also can"t stay healthy. He suffered a broken bone in his shoulder in each of the last two seasons.

He"s also 37 years old.

Over the weekend, I wrote that I have no real interest in watching Robert Griffin III play.

But Griffin is working to come back from the shoulder injury he suffered in the opener.

The way this season is going, the Browns may need him to start.

Rookie Kevin Hogan better stay ready, too.

At this point in the 0-11 season, I have no strong opinions on who should start at quarterback for the Browns.

I"m open to suggestions.

My guess is the Browns feel the same way.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2016/11/when_it_comes_to_quarterbacks.html

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Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam subpoenaed for deposition in lawsuit

ESPN Mike & Mike Today 11/21/2016 - Do Cleveland Browns have a coherent rebuilding plan?

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has been subpoenaed to appear in a videotaped deposition in a civil lawsuit against his family business in Tennessee.

Haslam, CEO of the Pilot Flying J truck-stop chain, is scheduled to appear at the deposition in Knoxville, Tenn., on Dec. 13 to answer questions by lawyers involved in the lawsuit filed over diesel fuel rebate fraud.

The business is owned by the family of Haslam and his brother, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. A court notice was filed Friday in Franklin County, Ohio, for Jimmy Haslam to appear at the deposition.

The lawsuit was filed by companies that declined to participate in an $85 million settlement between Pilot Flying J and 5,500 trucking companies. Pilot also paid a $92 million federal penalty to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Haslam has denied any knowledge of the fraud and has not been charged. The company"s board of directors has admitted legal responsibility for the fraud.

In April 2013, the FBI and IRS agents raided Pilot"s corporate headquarters in Knoxville and seized company records.

Haslam bought the Browns for just over $1 billion in 2012.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2016/11/19/Cleveland-Browns-owner-Jimmy-Haslam-subpoenaed-for-deposition-in-lawsuit/2731479583370/

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Cleveland Browns" stumble toward record futility continues

Browns vs. Bengals (Week 7) | Game Highlights | NFL

CLEVELAND -- The records keep falling, but not the way the Cleveland Browns want them to.

Sunday"s 35-10 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys was the Browns" ninth loss in nine games this season and 12th in a row, dating back to 2015.

No previous Browns team had ever lost 12 games in row, over one season or two. And the Browns have been playing in the NFL since 1950.

There"s more, as the Browns continue a slide toward NFL ignominy:

Complete 2016 schedule

Statistics

Scoreboard

Standings

The Browns are 0-9 for the first time since 1975, and a loss Thursday in Baltimore would set a team record.

The Browns are 1-19 over their past 20 games, another franchise first.

In 2015 and 2016 they are 3-22.

Since starting the 2014 season 7-4, they are 3-27. Three. And. Twenty-even.

Playing at a competitive level has never seemed so far away.

Dallas won this game in dominant style. The Cowboys are a far better team than the Browns, and their offensive line is one of the game"s best. It showed as Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and was barely touched, while running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris combined for 148 yards.

That powerful front controlled the game for Dallas, which rolled up 424 total yards. The Browns helped by three times lining up in the neutral zone -- how does this happen three times in a game? -- and by blowing coverage on all of Prescott"s TD throws.

The Browns opened with a field goal drive and were down 7-3 when they had a field goal try hit off the upright. Aside from a seven-play touchdown drive that made it 21-10 in the final minute of the first half, that was it for the Browns.

As Dallas was adding to its second-half lead, the Browns had 28 yards of offense in the second half -- 6 in the fourth quarter.

Dallas started the game favored and expected to win. That they carried it through with an exclamation point didn"t make it any easier to watch.

Source: http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/20657/cleveland-browns-stumble-toward-record-futility-continues

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Cleveland Browns" stumble toward record futility continues

Only in Cleveland: The Cleveland Browns since their return to the NFL

CLEVELAND -- The records keep falling, but not the way the Cleveland Browns want them to.

Sunday"s 35-10 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys was the Browns" ninth loss in nine games this season and 12th in a row, dating back to 2015.

No previous Browns team had ever lost 12 games in row, over one season or two. And the Browns have been playing in the NFL since 1950.

There"s more, as the Browns continue a slide toward NFL ignominy:

Complete 2016 schedule

Statistics

Scoreboard

Standings

The Browns are 0-9 for the first time since 1975, and a loss Thursday in Baltimore would set a team record.

The Browns are 1-19 over their past 20 games, another franchise first.

In 2015 and 2016 they are 3-22.

Since starting the 2014 season 7-4, they are 3-27. Three. And. Twenty-even.

Playing at a competitive level has never seemed so far away.

Dallas won this game in dominant style. The Cowboys are a far better team than the Browns, and their offensive line is one of the game"s best. It showed as Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and was barely touched, while running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris combined for 148 yards.

That powerful front controlled the game for Dallas, which rolled up 424 total yards. The Browns helped by three times lining up in the neutral zone -- how does this happen three times in a game? -- and by blowing coverage on all of Prescott"s TD throws.

The Browns opened with a field goal drive and were down 7-3 when they had a field goal try hit off the upright. Aside from a seven-play touchdown drive that made it 21-10 in the final minute of the first half, that was it for the Browns.

As Dallas was adding to its second-half lead, the Browns had 28 yards of offense in the second half -- 6 in the fourth quarter.

Dallas started the game favored and expected to win. That they carried it through with an exclamation point didn"t make it any easier to watch.

Source: http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/20657/cleveland-browns-stumble-toward-record-futility-continues

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Cleveland Browns Scribbles: Nice moments for Nassib, Schobert and Ogbah, Coleman rusty -- Terry Pluto

REBUILDING THE CLEVELAND BROWNS! MADDEN 17 CONNECTED FRANCHISE

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook as they face the Chicago Bears in the final preseason game on Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium:

1. It"s really hard to develop any grand themes from the final preseason game. For the Browns, the good news is Robert Griffin III didn"t get hurt. He didn"t look bad. I have been guardedly optimistic about Griffin for much of the preseason. Nothing in this game changes that opinion.

2. Rookies Carl Nassib and Emmanuel Ogbah are defensive linemen with speed. That"s why there is reason for optimism about these selections. Nassib batted down a pass. The stat sheet said it was only his second of the preseason, but I swear he has more than that. Ogbah was credited with his second sack of the preseason. I thought Nassib also had a hand in that.

3. The main point is Ogbah (a second-round pick) and Nassib (a third-round pick) look like NFL players and have not been overmatched in the preseason.

4. One of the reasons -- not the main one -- the Browns cut Paul Kruger is Joe Schobert. The Browns have been impressed by the rookie from Wisconsin. He has had some nice moments on special teams and you do notice him when he"s playing outside linebacker.

5. Outside linebacker Nate Orchard didn"t start. Not a good sign, given Kruger was cut. The Browns were playing Ogbah and Schobert more. Cam Johnson also saw some action at outside linebacker.

6. The Browns threw a 12-yard pass to Isaiah Crowell. It was the kind of short pass that required a nice touch, and Griffin delivered it just right. Jackson wants to get the backs involved in the passing game. Crowell caught only 28 passes on his first two seasons. Jackson believes he can be a weapon catching b***s out of the backfield.

7. Last season, most of the passes to running backs went to Duke Johnson (61 catches). Jackson has some plays where Johnson lines up as a wide receiver. Once the regular season opens, it will be fun to see how Jackson works his backs into the offense. Josh McCown threw four passes to running back Terrell Watson. The Browns are using some screen passes, and that should help against blitzes. In the first half, running backs caught six passes. Fullback Malcolm Johnson caught a 3-yard pass.

8. Corey Coleman caught his first pass. The Browns first-rounder missed the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury. He has looked rusty, dropping a perfect pass on a crossing route. Coleman was targeted four times and had one catch for 10 yards.

9. It"s been a disappointing preseason for Coleman. The rookie from Baylor has been hampered by the hamstring injury and since coming back, it"s been rocky. He looked very good in the spring minicamps.

10. The Browns anticipate Coleman playing a key role. That means they have to really get him ready in practice.

11. The Browns only threw one pass to Terrelle Pryor. It still appears he will be a starting receiver. I believe Jackson has some plays ready to put the ball in Pryor"s hands once the games count.

12. Josh Gordon caught three passes for 29 yards. He was mauled on a long pass, but no interference was called. Gordon looks sharp as he heads into his four-game suspension. Now, the Browns have to work to keep him that way as he sits out. He can be in the practice facility, but is not allowed to practice. He can take part in individual workouts.

13. Former Browns QB Brian Hoyer was 12-of-16 for 112 yards. He is secure as the Bears backup quarterback.

14. Two really bad things in the first half. Patrick Murray missed a 31-yard field goal ... wide right. No rush. No problems with the snap. Nothing but a lousy kick. The Browns defense was flagged for having 12 men on the field. On the next play, they had only 10 as the Bears scored on a 1-yard touchdown.

15. I thought rookie quarterback Cody Kessler looked a bit overwhelmed in the third quarter.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2016/09/cleveland_browns_scribbles_som.html

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Cleveland Browns 53-Man Roster Projection (First Cuts Projection)

Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons Full Game 2016 NFL Preseason Week 2 18 08 16

Three preseason games have come and gone for the Cleveland Browns. With the team needing to trim their roster from 88 to 75 players by 4:00 PM ET on Tuesday, August 30th, it is time for me to unveil my second 53-man roster projection of the season. This edition is based on the weeks of training camp reports and performances from the three preseason games.

Pos Final Roster Players Cut QB(3) Robert Griffin IIIJosh McCownCody Kessler Austin Davis RB(3) Duke JohnsonIsaiah CrowellTerrell Watson Raheem Mostert*Glenn WinstonJahwan EdwardsRajion Neal FB(1) Malcolm Johnson Robert Hughes WR(7) Corey ColemanTerrelle PryorAndrew HawkinsRashard HigginsTaylor GabrielRicardo LouisMarlon Moore Jordan Payton*Darius JenningsJosh BoyceEd Eagan TE(3) Gary BarnidgeRandall TelferSeth DeValve E.J. BibbsConnor Hamlett*J.P. HoltzDavid Reeves OL(8) Joe ThomasJoel BitonioCameron ErvingJohn GrecoSpencer DrangoShon ColemanAustin PasztorAlvin Bailey Dan France*Garth GerhartKaleb JohnsonMike Matthews*Cory Tucker DL(6) Danny SheltonJohn HughesEmmanuel OgbahCarl NassibJamie MederXavier Cooper Nick HaydenNile Lawrence-StampleChigbo AnunobyKenton Adeyemi* ILB(4) Demario DavisChristian KirkseyTank CarderDominique Alexander Justin TuggleScooby Wright* OLB(4) Paul KrugerNate OrchardJoe SchobertCam Johnson Jason Neill S(4) Jordan PoyerIbraheim CampbellDerrick KindredRahim Moore Pierre Desir*Don JonesSean BakerTim Scott CB(6) Joe HadenJamar TaylorTramon WilliamsJustin GilbertCharles GainesTrey Caldwell K"Waun WilliamsTracy Howard*Eric Patterson*Mikell Everette ST(3) Andy LeePatrick MurrayCharley Hughlett Travis Coons

The list above contains 53 players that I kept, and 35 players that I cut. I did not include OLB Armonty Bryant and WR Josh Gordon, because will start the year on suspension lists.

General Roster Projection Notes

• Since the first addition of my list, I removed the following six players from my 53-man roster projection:

  1. FB Patrick Skov2. WR Jordan Payton3. ILB Scooby Wright4. OLB Barkevious Mingo5. CB K"Waun Williams6. K Travis Coons

  All five of the roster moves are tough decisions since they are bubble players.

• Since the first addition of my list, I added the following six players from my 53-man roster projection:

  1. FB Malcolm Johnson2. WR Taylor Gabriel3. ILB Dominique Alexander4. OLB Cam Johnson5. CB Jamar Taylor6. K Patrick Murray

  I will explain each of the roster decisions in the positional bullet points below.

• Quarterback: This position seems pretty settled right now, and I expect Cleveland to carry three quarterbacks this season. Robert Griffin III is the clear starter, but Josh McCown is receiving too many reps and Cody Kessler is receiving too few reps for there to be a situation where Kessler makes it over McCown. Cleveland would really have to be impressed with a Cowboys trade package to not have McCown on the roster, and even in that case, I think they"d make Austin Davis the No. 3 guy.
• Running Back: We know Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson will be big parts of the offense, but the third back is still up-in-the-air. I went with Terrell Watson because I could see him playing a role in some short-yardage situations, and he might look better if he actually got some time with the first-team offense. I like Raheem Mostert"s speed, but he wouldn"t have much of a gameday role besides kick returns, and that can go to someone like CB Justin Gilbert or WR Marlon Moore. I also put FB Malcolm Johnson on the roster. The fullbacks have been utilized very little during the preseason games, but Johnson has seen some work in the first two series of the game and has had a role on the special teams units. His blocking hasn"t been too bad either.
• Wide Receiver: The biggest shake-up I made was cutting WR Jordan Payton. With how good WR Terrelle Pryor has come along and WR Josh Gordon inevitably coming back in Week 5, Cleveland won"t be needing all four of their draft picks at the position. WR Ricardo Louis has been nursing a minor injury and could be an IR-stash, considering they"d like to develop him more. However, I think they"d rather he be able to learn from the inactive list throughout the season while he"s healthy. Payton didn"t have a very high stock heading into the draft, so it"s tough to imagine him landing on another team"s 53-man roster. That"s where having the right roster-building skills will pay off, since he can be kept on the practice squad. I also inserted WR Taylor Gabriel into the mix. I think he"ll be here for depth purposes for a couple of weeks, and then when Gordon is activated, he"ll get the boot.
• Tight End: After three preseason games, we haven"t learned a whole lot about the tight ends after TE Gary Barnidge. We do know that TE Randall Telfer has been used in a lot of two-tight-end sets with Barnidge, so his roster spot for that niche role seems pretty secure. TE Connor Hamlett has been more involved in camp than TE Seth DeValve, but I don"t think Hamlett"s importance is that significant to warrant a roster spot over your fourth-round pick.
• Offensive Line: There was no change here. I think the right tackle position has yet to be decided, but I think all of the contenders will still make the team, regardless. OL Alvin Bailey was the closest player to being cut in favor of OT Dan France, but that was before France"s poor showing against the Buccaneers. If the team has any concern about C Cameron Erving"s ankle heading into the season, they could have C Garth Gerhart up as an insurance policy so they don"t have to move RG John Greco out of his spot.
• Defensive Line: I"m happy to see DE Emmanuel Ogbah and DE Carl Nassib poised to see increased roles on the defensive line, but this team is also going to really miss having DE Desmond Bryant as a good all-around player. NT Danny Shelton has not looked good, and certainly nothing like a first-round pick. Overall, the defensive line (and the defense in general) seems pretty bad, but I also see this group being pretty settled. DL Nick Hayden could sneak on the roster if the coaches don"t trust their youth yet, but if you"re going to be bad, I say at least let the youngsters get their work over an average-at-best veteran.
• Linebacker: There were two changes at linebacker. ILB Dominique Alexander is in, while ILB Scooby Wright is out. It"s not as though Alexander has lit the world on fire, but more so that Wright can just be stashed on the practice squad and hasn"t received much of a role on special teams this preseason. ILB Justin Tuggle could squeeze on to the roster if he has a strong fourth preseason game. The other change is that OLB Cam Johnson is in, while OLB Barkevious Mingo is out (by forced trade to New England). I"d seen signs that Johnson was winning favor with the coaches, and now that Mingo is gone, he more naturally slides up the depth chart.
• Safety: None of the safeties have stood out this preseason, so it looks like the team will go with the status quo of their top four guys.
• Cornerback: This is the most polarizing position on the team. CB Joe Haden is safe, and with his recent promotion(s), CB Jamar Taylor should be fine too. Everything else is fair game. Even though CB Justin Gilbert has been with the first-teamers most of camp, he could get the boot. CB Tramon Williams, a veteran, has already been phased out of his starting role. I still like what CB Charles Gaines can bring to the table, and if CB K"Waun Williams" relationship with the team can"t be repaired and if Williams is indeed being phased out, why not have Gaines there? CB Trey Caldwell has missed almost all of camp, but I think the coaching staff believes in him enough to warrant a roster spot.
• Special Teams: The change we have here is a swap at kicker: Patrick Murray is in and Travis Coons is out. Murray has been the better kicker this camp, both of field goals and kickoff distance.
• The single asterisks on the cut side represent my projected practice squad, which includes RB Raheem Mostert, WR Jordan Payton, TE Connor Hamlett, OL Dan France, C Mike Matthews, DL Kenton Adeyemi, ILB Scooby Wright, S Pierre Desir, CB Tracy Howard, and CB Eric Patterson.
• If I had to take a wild guess at the 13 moves Cleveland will make to get down to 75 players, it would be the following:

  1. RB Glenn Winston2. RB Jahwan Edwards3. FB Robert Hughes4. WR Ed Eagan5. TE J.P. Holtz6. TE David Reeves7. C Mike Matthews8. OG Cory Tucker9. DL Nile Lawrence-Stample10. OLB Jason Neill11. S Sean Baker12. S Tim Scott13. CB Mikell Everette

Feel free to share your roster projections here, or some changes you would make to mine.

Source: http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2016/8/27/12678476/cleveland-browns-53-man-roster-projection-first-cuts-projection

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Josh McCown visiting Cleveland Browns today and tomorrow, source says

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Longtime veteran quarterback Josh McCown is visiting the Cleveland Browns today and Wednesday, a league source told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

It means the Browns' process of overhauling the quarterback position is officially underway.

McCown, 35, was released last week by the Bucs with a year remaining on his two-year deal. Since then, he's visited with the Bills, Bears and Jets, but planned to take his time and visit more of the eight teams interested in him. Most other free-agent quarterbacks won't hit the market until March 10, so McCown can afford to take his time.

A 13-year pro, McCown is viewed by the Browns as the perfect mentor for Johnny Manziel or any other young quarterback they decide to bring in, a source said.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said at theNFL combine Wednesday that the Browns are looking for a starting quarterback in free agency and the draft because they can't count on Manziel right now given his situation. Manziel has been in rehab since Jan. 28, and the Browns don't know how it will all play out.

"That's probably accurate (that we need to find a starter) just because you look at the uncertainty of where he is,'' Pettine said. "Just given the small sample size we still don't know based on what he was going through whether or not he is that answer.

"There's too much unknown. I'd obviously be scared if we had a game this weekend. It's a position we're well aware of where our depth chart is. We'll look to address it here in the coming months."

In 2007, McCown was coached by newBrowns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was then Raiders quarterbacks coach. McCown went 2-5 as a starter that year, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But the two enjoyed working together and would look forward to the opportunity to do so again, a source said.

A third-round pick of the Cardinals in 2002 out Sam Houston State, McCown is the older brother of former Browns quarterback Luke McCown, a fourth-round pick in 2004 who started four games for the Browns before being traded to Tampa Bay on draft day in 2005.

The Bucs, who own the No. 1 overall pick and might draft Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, released McCown after a disappointing season in which he went 1-10 and threw 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. McCown, who was replaced during the season by Mike Glennon but then reclaimed the starting job, earned a 70.5 rating, second-worst in the NFL to Jacksonville rookie Blake Bortles.

The sub-par season followed a stellar year with the Bears that earned McCown his two-year, $10 million free-agent contract with the Bucs. In 2013, McCown threw 13 touchdowns and only one interception en route to a 3-2 mark for the Bears. He finished with a 109.0 rating.

If the Browns sign McCown, it could mean the end of Brian Hoyer in Cleveland. Hoyer, who's set to become a free agent next month, is expected to receive several opportunities to compete for a starting job, which is what he wants.

McCown, on the other hand, made it clear at the end of the season that he'd accept a mentor role with the Bucs if that's what they wanted.

"Whatever they ask me to do, I'll do it and do it the best I can, whatever helps this team,'' he told the Tampa Tribune. "That's my stance on it regardless of whether it's me or anyone else (who's starting).

"For a player of my age, he can't play forever anyway. So, somebody has to come in and play and be ready to go. Whether that's next year or whatever, I just want to help whoever it is that's here.''

McCown's release makes it less likely the Bucs will trade Glennon, who's been rumored to be on the Browns' radar.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam also recently stressed that the Browns are on a mission to find a winning quarterback and will leave no stone unturned until they find their man. McCown isn't expected to play that role, but could help DeFilippo implement his system and the tutor the young quarterbacks.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/02/josh_mccown_will_visit_clevela.html

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WEWS named official broadcast TV and digital partner of the Cleveland Browns ...

WEWS/NewsChannel 5has announced a new media partnership with the Cleveland Browns beginning with the 2015 season. NewsChannel 5 will broadcast all of the teams preseason games and provide innovative year-round programming that will satisfy the hungriest of Browns fans.

Our consistent goal is to continually communicate with our fans and connect with them in unique ways, said Alec Scheiner, president of the Cleveland Browns. We are excited about this partnership with WEWS and this new opportunity to give our fans inside access to the players and organization throughout the entire year. Along with their talented production team, we look forward to continuing to produce exceptional preseason game broadcasts and year-long weekly programming that will offer our fans in-depth Browns content.

As the first TV station in Cleveland, NewsChannel 5 is incredibly proud to partner with one of the most iconic sports franchises in the country, said Ed Fernandez, divisional general manager of Scripps. As the new official TV and digital partner of the Cleveland Browns, we promise to provide our audiences with a 52-week, multi-platform experience so they can get closer to the team they love the most.

After the 2014 season, NewsChannel 5 and the Cleveland Browns will jointly determine and announce more details of the multi-year deal including the broadcast schedule, the talent for the Browns shows and additional partnership opportunities for fan engagement.

Source: http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/browns/wews-named-official-broadcast-tv-and-digital-partner-of-the-cleveland-browns-starting-in-2015

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Congressional aide accused of passing counterfeit cash at Cleveland Browns ... - The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 39-year-old staffer in U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty's office pleaded not guilty Tuesday tousing fake $100 bills at Sunday's Cleveland Browns game.

Veronica Brownlee was arrested at FirstEnergy StadiumSunday after police said she and Arion Robinson, 39, bought small items - mostly from a first-level concession stand - using counterfeit $100 bills, hoping to get real money back in change.

A concession stand worker noticed a $100 bill Robinson used was fake and told an officer working security, according to a police report. Officers stopped Robinson and Brownlee, and during a search they found four counterfeit $100 bills inside Brownlee's shirt and a ripped one in her sock. She later said she tried to destroy the money because she was scared, according to the report.

Robinson had one fake bill, according to the report.

Brownlee told police the money belonged to Robinson. She said she got to the game early and was by herself on the fifth level before Robinson got to the stadium. When he showed up, the two met at the first level.

When they saw police coming, Brownlee said Robinson handed her a wad of money and told her to put it in her shirt because they couldn't search her, according to the report.

Robinson said the money was Brownlee's and they divided some of it between them. He said he was giving it back to her when police came.

A concessions employee gave police five bills they had received that had the same serial number as the bills they took from Brownlee. One of them was used on the fifth level, and the rest were from the first level, the report said.

Police at the jail found ripped pieces of two more fake $100 bills in Brownlee's coat pocket, according to the report. Several of the bills had the same serial number.

Between the two of them, Brownlee and Robinson had $999 in legitimate money, including $660 in $20 bills, which police said was evidence they continued using fake $100 bills to make small purchases to get change, according to the report.

Prosecutors charged each of them with one count of criminal simulation, a misdemeanor in Ohio.

Brownlee was hired by Beatty, a Columbus-area Democrat, in February 2013 as a casework manager. Beatty spokesman Galen Alexander said Brownlee matched constituents needing services to the correct federal agency.

Through a spokesman Monday, Beatty said her office is awaiting more information about Brownlee's case before addressing the situation.

"As the judicial process moves forward, I want to be crystal clear that there is no tolerance for violating the law in my office," Beatty said.

Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Marilyn Cassidy set bond for Brownlee and Robinson, both of Columbus and both with no prior criminal history, at $1,000, meaning they'll each have to pay $154 to be released.

"Don't accept any $100 bills," Cassidy said to her bailiff.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/11/congressional_aide_accused_of.html

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