Kyle Shanahan named as the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator

It didn't take former Washington redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to land on his feet.

After a stint in Washington where he was often criticized, Shanahan was named the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. 

Shanahan will direct the offense under new head coach Mike Pettine.

In 6 seasons as a coordinator, Shanahan’s offenses have finished in the top 10 in yardage 4 times and top 10 in scoring twice.

As a coordinator, he has had some marginal success working with a variety of quarterbacks including Robert Griffin III, Rex Grossman and Donovan McNabb with the Redskins as well as Matt Schaub with the Houston Texans. In his 4 seasons working in Washington Shanahan reportedly clashed with McNabb and Griffin.

Shanahan wil have his work cut out for him as the Browns' offense was offensive last season as the team finished 27th in points scored and 28th in rushing. The Browns have a major decision at quarterback. They must figure out whether Brian Hoyer is the answer since he was playing well before a knee injury or try to salvage former first round pick Brandon Weeden. Backup Jason Campbell also took first team snaps as well.

Most expect the Browns to select a quarterback with the fourth pick in the NFL Draft. The team has been rumored to high on Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel. Whoever ends up being the signal caller in Cleveland will have Josh Gordon to throw to who had a breakout year.

Reggie Bush says Lions preparing to be without Calvin Johnson this week

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice which opened up speculation whether he would play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Reggie Bush isn't so sure. Bush isn't holding out hope on seeing Johnson in uniform on Sunday. Bush says the team is prepping for Sunday's game as if Johnson won't be playing.

"Yeah, that's what we have to do," Bush said. "He didn't practice today, so that's what we have to do. We have to prepare as if he's not going to play."

The offense struggled in last week's 22-9 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Bush is hoping that his teammates can raise their game and bounce back from last week's lackluster showing.

"We knew what was at stake last week, so now, our sense of urgency has to go up, as a unit," Bush said. "Everybody has to step. We all have to do a little bit more this week. Our focus has to go up a little bit more. Our sense of urgency has to go up a little bit more."

Easier said than done. Cleveland is no Green Bay but the Lions must make more big plays in all facets of the game if they hope to pull out a win with or without number 81 on the field.

Rams' Jeff Fisher upset with Bernie Kosar

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher isn't pleased with former Cleveland Browns signal caller Bernie Kosar. 

Kosar was critical of the Rams backup quarterback Kellen Clemens while he was serving as the Browns's color commentator during the team's first preseason game. The Rams fell behind early in a 27-19 loss and Kosar stated that  ''I can't stand watching him play'', while Clemens was in the game. He also had some other pointed comments about Rams players and coaches.

Clemens finished the game by completing 6 of 13 passes for 116 with a touchdown and two interceptions.

After the Rams' Saturday practice, Fisher let it be known that Kosar was out of bounds about what he said about Clemens.

"First off, let me say this: the Cleveland Browns' organization is a first class organization from top to bottom and it has been that for years and years and years," Fisher said. "I guess I'm a little disappointed. I feel bad for them that they had someone doing their broadcast feel the need to speak that way about players, specifically on our team and coaches for that matter.

"I'm just surprised that Bernie has such a lack of respect for players and this game. To be honest with you, I lost a lot of respect for him. It's highly unlikely he knew anything about our football team, but felt the need to make those comments. I don't think they were justified."

''Bernie's got his issues; they're well documented,'' Fisher said. ''Kellen played well, he played hard, he made plays.''

Translation: Bankruptcy and a porn star daughter.

If you ask any football fan they might've agreed with Kosar, but as the coach Fisher has to have his players' back or risk a possible mutiny when things get tough.

Bengals and James Harrison break off contract talks

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker is still looking for a team. It looked like he would continue his AFC North tour with the Cincinnati Bengals but reports say that talks have broken down between the team and Harrison and the Bengals may go in another direction. The Bengals reportedly are interested in Karlos Dansby.

 Harrison was cut by the Baltimore Ravens before being picked up by the Steelers and making a name for himself. If he can't come to terms with the Benglas I don't see him staying in the division with the Cleveland Browns.

Harrison was asked by the Steelers to take a 30 percent pay cut but he refused. Even though Harrison is a five time Pro Bowler, he might have overestimated his value.

Browns beat out Bills for Kevin Costner movie

Two of the more snakebit franchises in the NFL went head to head off the field recently. But for once it was the Cleveland Browns that came out on top.

The Browns reportedly beat out the Buffalo Bills for the right to be the franchise in the Kevin Costner movie, Draft Day.

The movie, which was to depict Kevin Costner as a fictitious Buffalo Bills general manager trying to restore his team to past glory, will instead be shot in Cleveland, with the actor portraying the Cleveland Browns GM.

Like most reasons for anything related to business decisions, it all came down to the money. Shooting in Cleveland was cheaper than shooting in Buffalo therefore the Browns will get the nod.

“At the end of the day, it was a money thing. I think Mr. [Ivan] Reitman really wanted to shoot here, but it just came down to the cost factor. What we were told is that the Cleveland incentives were better,” said Tim Clark who heads the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission .

“I feel the worse for the Buffalo Bills, because they worked real hard to convince the film company that Buffalo was the place to shoot this, and that Buffalo was America’s team.”

Buffalo Bills being America's team. Since when? I guess I missed the memo on that one.

This will be the second time a movie will be based on a Cleveland sports franchise as Draft Day hopes to be as successful as Major League. I guess the silver screen is the only place where a Cleveland franchise gets to be a winner.

Jim Brown says Browns fans need to move on

After watching the Baltimore Ravens clinch another Super Bowl victory, long suffering Cleveland Browns fans had to be stinging. Just for people who don't know, I'll give you the cliff notes version.

The Browns had been close to reaching the Super Bowl a few times, only to be snakebitten  at the wrong time (The Drive, The Fumble and Mike Davis' interception). Fast forward to 1996. The Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. Since then the Ravens have become a successful franchise and claimed two Super Bowl trophies while the Browns haven't won a playoff game since their reincarnation.

Hall of Famer and former Browns great Jim Brown says that the Browns fans need to move on and let it go.

"That's old news now," Brown told me Saturday at "NFL Honors." "Baltimore has proven themselves on the football field. We can't take that away. Art did not make the correct move in my opinion, at the time. It hurt the people, but now it's time to get over it."   

Given the city's sports history and heartbreak I can see why it's a bitter pill to swallow but it's time to let those old wounds die. It's Baltimore's team now, so deal with it.

Josh Cribbs ticketed for going 103 mph

Josh Cribbs created a lane for himself in the NFL by being a speedster on the field, returning an NFL record eight kickoffs for touchdowns. However being a speedster on the road doesn't cut it in the eyes of the law.

Cribbs was ticketed in Cleveland for going 103 mph in a 60 mph zone.

Cribbs was issued a speeding citation on Friday night at 8:45 p.m. for driving 103 miles-per-hour in a 60-mph zone.
According to a copy of the speeding ticket issued to Cribbs obtained by Fox 8 News, the former Pro-Bowler was driving on I-71 near Fulton Avenue in a 2010 Bentley when he was clocked going 43-mph over the limit.


Instead of complaining about the ticket Cribbs took to Twitter a praised the police for doing their job and admitted that he was at fault for speeding.


Yes I was pulled over for speeding, going too fast, luckily the police were on the job. Wasn't going that fast the entire time obviously but wrong is wrong, gotta face the music just like anyone else:(


Much Respect to the police officers who pulled me over! I will lead better on the road now as well as on & off the field!!!


Slow it down Josh.

Hillis On The Lions' Radar?

There were a lot of drama surrounding Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis. After a breakout 2010 season, injuries and controversy limited Hillis to 10 games and his production took a dive. Long live the Madden curse.

Hillis will be a free agent and it's looking like the Browns may be willing to let him hit the market. None of the decision makers in Cleveland sound too keen about bringing Hillis back next season. The prevailing thought in Cleveland is that Hillis will end up leaving Cleveland since his asking price is too high. Hillis wants $10 million in guaranteed money and the Browns only want to give him $4 million.

Where could Hillis wind up. No one really knows. ESPN.com blogger Jamison Hensley says that the Washington Redskins or Detroit Lions could kick the tires on Hillis.

It would be surprising to see the Browns invest a contract in Hillis after all of the dramatics during the season. If the Browns don't re-sign him, it will be interesting to see what teams want him. The Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins could be potential suitors. 


Both teams have a need a running back, although the Lions could be strong at the position if any of their backs can stay healthy. Being a Lions fan I would rather see them invest money elsewhere. Namely on defense.

Mangini Never Stood A Chance

When Mike Holmgren took over the football operations for the Cleveland Browns Head coach Eric Mangini was pretty much toast. He was already on thin ice since the players weren't responding positively to him and there seemed to be a near muitny on his hands. Considering what happened when he left the New York Jets things weren't looking good for him.

Mangini was fired after going 10-22 the last two years. In my opinion Mangini never stood a chance once Holmgren was hired. See, Holmgren has a winning pedigree coming from the Bill Walsh coaching tree in San Francisco and being part of Super Bowl winners there. He led the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowls, winning one. So when the Cleveland Browns asked him to run their football operations it wasn't a point of if Holmgren would get rid of Mangini, but when.

Mangini comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree. They too have a winning pedigree, but it hasn't worked in Cleveland. First Romeo Crennel, now Mangini. Belichick coaches also seem to have a know it all attitude which hasn't helped any of them. I don't know too much about Crennel, but take a look at how Charlie Weis, Josh McDaniels, and Mangini are perceived. Boorish, prickly, and like the smart-aleck that you knew in school. I'm pretty sure that didn't help Mangini in Cleveland. Neither did back to back 5-11 records. I'm sure some of the players are glad he'll be gone.

Look on the bright side though, Mangini still had two years and $8 million left on his contract, so he'll still get paid not to coach.

Champagne Dreams Gone In The Wind

For the Cleveland Cavaliers organization and their fans their championship dreams are LeGone. Gone down to Miami, with the dozens of fans and thousands of others that have jumped on the bandwagon in South Beach. Right now is a desperate time for Cleveland and their fans. A group of people that have had the dagger in their heart over and over. The champagne dreams they had had with LeBron are now replaced with thirst and the taste of Steel Reserve.

From way back in 1954, when Willie Mays robbed Vic Wertz in the World Series, sports in Cleveland hasn't been the same. Sure they still can hold on to the black and white footage of Jim Brown running over the Colts back in 1964, but that's about all they have to hold on to. Let's see, there was 1981 when Mike Davis picked off Brian Sipe on that cold day in Municipal Stadium. How about The Drive and The Fumble in consecutive years, the latter which the fans of Cleveland ran Earnest Byner out of town. Never mind he was the reason the Browns were in the position they were because of him. There also was another AFC title game loss to the Broncos. There was The Shot, which brought Craig Ehlo into kids' bedrooms across America (posterized). Brad Daughtery's bad back, Danny Ferry being a bust. Art Modell moving the Browns franchise out of Cleveland. The city to reap the benefits of a Super Bowl winner, Baltimore. There was 1994, when the Indians finally righted the ship only to have a  the rug pulled out from a possible World Series winning team due to a strike/lockout. There was World Series loss to Atlanta. The memory of Joe Table (Jose Mesa) not being able to close the deal against the Marlins in 97. Or was it 98? The playoff loss to the Steelers in which the Browns wasted a sizable lead. The ALCS where the Indians blew a 3-1 lead against the Red Sox.

Cleveland's luck looked to change for the better when the Cavs drafted LeBron James. He led them to the brink of the playoffs, then went on to crash the big stage,dethroning the Detroit Pistons as kings of the East. He never made it back to the Finals,as the last two years proved to be disappointing, bowing out to the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics in six games both years. Which leads us to this. Owner Dan Gilbert says that the "curse" will go down south with James. Sorry Dan, this ain't the Bobby Layne Lions curse here. The champagne will be replaced with Steel Reserve and Cleveland fans will remain thirsty for another 50 plus years, because as I see it right now there is no hope with the Browns, Indians, or Cavaliers. Hey Clevelanders, at least you have the Buckeyes and old Jim Brown footage. How about this, you guys can come up here and pull for our perennial losers, the Detroit Lions.