Browns' Greg Little Addresses Twitter Controversy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little got himself into a bit of trouble with fans when he delivered a semi-celebratory tweet after a loss, but he didn't exactly back down after some receiving criticism. In fact, Little brushed off the Twitter thing completely and shot out a follow-up message saying he doesn't care what fans say. Here is the original tweet that caused a bit of a stir after the team's Week 2 loss:

"I'm in the same boat, as Usain Blot"instagr.am/p/Ppt6sVh0HY/

— Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) September 16, 2012

This is what Little told The News-Herald about the response his comment received heading into Week 3:

"If I cared about every opinion that I got on Twitter, then I wouldn't be able to function," Little said at his locker. "I just don't know what to say to that. It's mind-boggling to me. I can't let things on Twitter get to me and I don't."

The young wide receiver added that his teammates and coaches took no issues with the comment.

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Trent Richardson Nominated For NFL Rookie Of The Week

NFL Power Rankings 2012, Week 3: Browns Hovering Near The Basement

More than a few teams are generally moving up in the weekly power rankings despite Week 2 losses. The Cleveland Browns are among those teams following their close loss to the rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Rookies Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson came out and put up great performances, with the former breaking a franchise rookie passing record.

It was a welcome change from their Week 1 matchup in which they kept things close against the Philadelphia Eagles, but only thanks to multiple Philly mistakes. Joel Thorman of SB Nation moves the Browns up a spot, but it's going to be baby steps, given that they're No. 30 in his rankings:

30. Cleveland Browns (LW: 31, 0-2): Brandon Weeden doesn't look all that great. But Trent Richardson does. This guy could make the Browns relevant.

ESPN isn't quite as kind, as they dropped the Browns one spot to put them in the basement at No. 32. As usual, their reasoning is non-existent, as they talk about Weeden breaking a franchise rookie record. NFL.com's rankings also have the Browns dropping one spot, citing the lacking play from the secondary. They have them at No. 31. Pete Prisco over at CBS Sports kept the Browns in the basement in his rankings.

Brian Billick over at FOX Sports was with SB Nation in moving the Browns up. He bumped them from No. 32 to No. 31, so there's that:

The rookie combination of Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson gave some hope on Sunday, but the Browns are still 0-2 and there are no moral victories in the NFL.

Cleveland does have some tough matchups on the horizon. They've got the Ravens, Giants and the Bengals again coming up, but they have a solid chance to get in the win column for the first time this season on Sunday, when they'll take on the Buffalo Bills.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Browns Vs. Bengals 2012: Reasons For Excitement, But Proceed With Caution

The Browns are 0-2 following two completely different games. Are there things to be excited about with this Browns team, or are there too many problems?

SB Nation's Browns blog, Dawgs By Nature, thinks it's both. There are reasons for excitement, but proceed with caution.

As I just alluded to, this game was almost the polar opposite of last week's. This time around, it was the Browns' offense that did everything it could to help this team pull out a victory, but the defense just kept breaking down in the secondary and it ultimately cost them the game. That doesn't mean there aren't reasons for excitement […]

Yes, the Browns are 0 and 2 on the season, but it's only Week 2. That's still very early. After last week many were demanding improvement of the offense and rightly so. Well, they got it. It wasn't enough to produce a win, but it was enough to create some encouragement.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Mohamed Massaquoi Big Beneficiary Of Brandon Weeden's Improved Play

The Cleveland Browns have a young, inexperienced offense. Jokes about rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden's age aside, the offense really is built on two rookies and some young pieces like wide receiver Greg Little. One of the few viable veteran options for Weeden to go to is wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who is basically an older and more consistent version of Little.

Massaquoi caught five passes for 90 yards on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, at an average of 18 yards per reception. The entire offense played pretty well, but in the end, the more complete Bengals came away with a 34-27 win. Still, the Browns made some great strides on offense against a pretty good Cincinnati defense, and Massaquoi had some quotes, via the Browns' official website:

"We were able to make some of the plays that we weren't able to make last week. We're just going to continue to try and correct those mistakes that we had, just so we can be a little bit more potent, a little bit more explosive and just take some of the pressure off the defense because they're playing phenomenal right now."

Cleveland's defense did have some issues in Week 2, but it has been one of the stronger aspects of the team over the last season. Massaquoi has never been that explosive, play-making receiver, but he's also never had strong quarterback play to rely on. Things will get very interesting if Weeden continues to develop and continues to count on Massaquoi to be his No. 1 target.

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Browns Activate Chris Ogbonnaya Against Bengals, Brandon Jackson An Unexpected Scratch

The Cleveland Browns have some decisions to make at the running back position. They currently have four guys on the roster: rookie Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya and Brandon Jackson. Many thought that Jackson would be getting some carries, but he was a healthy scratch from Cleveland's Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, in favor of Ogbonnaya.

Ogbonnaya took some third-down carries and caught a few passes for 73 yards. He made a real impact on the game, and head coach Pat Shurmur agrees, according to The Plain Dealer:

Shurmur decided to activate RB Chris Ogbonnaya this week instead of Brandon Jackson, who had two catches for 20 yards last week. Ogbonnaya lost a fumble after a catch, but the Bengals failed to convert. He caught all six passes thrown his way for 73 yards, including a long of 21, the one he lost.

"He had a real impact on the game," said Shurmur.

Hardesty, who has served as the Browns' backup and even starter in the case of injuries in the past, has yet to touch the ball in the regular season. This could mean that Ogbonnaya gets his roster spot, which would be a surprise given the feeling in the preseason that he might be on the outside looking in. There's also a chance that Jackson finds his spot up for question, given that he was the one who was scratched in favor of Ogbonnaya on Sunday.

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Joe Haden's Absence Immediately Felt In Sunday Loss To Bengals

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden served the first of his four game suspension Sunday as his team fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-27.

In a game where the Browns secondary was picked apart by Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, many have singled out Haden as the reason for the loss. Head coach Pat Shurmur, however, will not accept that excuse, saying that it's too easy to point the finger at Haden.

But still, Haden's absence was felt. WIth defensive backs mixing and matching and moving into schemes they normally do not play, four Bengal receivers went over 50 yards and Andy Dalton finished with a quarterback rating of 128.2.

Pat McManamon of Fox Sports Ohio writes that the blame goes directly to Haden and no one else.

"And it started with missing Haden. Play him and he locks down a receiver. One good cover guy changes the nature of an entire defense. But he was absent, somewhere watching as his teammates struggled...I heard some folks on Twitter say that Haden shouldn't be faulted for this loss, and in one sense he shouldn't be: He was not on the field.

But the fact he was not may have been the single most important thing that affected the Browns defense."

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Browns Opt To Play Buster Skrine Over Sheldon Brown In Loss To Bengals

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur insisted that the decision to play Buster Skrine at cornerback instead of Sheldon Brown was a coach's decision and was no influenced by the injury Brown sustained last week.

#Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Sheldon Brown was not injured they just decided to go with Buster Skrine

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 16, 2012

Shurmur on why Skrine over Brown "Sheldon is fine, we played Buster"

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 16, 2012

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton went after Skrine for much of the day and exploited the entire Browns secondary, passing for over 300 yards. Shurmur claims that playing Skrine was a coach's decision, but Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward believes that injury has to be the reason Sheldon Brown was held out.

"I'd be shocked if his health wasn't an issue," safety T.J. Ward said. "You ask any team in the NFL what it would be like to go into a game without their two starting cornerbacks, it's going to be pretty difficult. We have other guys who are able to come and fill a job, but the two guys start for a reason because they are the best cornerbacks on your team. ... The big plays hurt us overall."

Brown played only one down Sunday, but that was good enough to extend Brown's games-played streak to 162. Fellow cornerback Joe Haden will miss three more games with suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, so a healthy Sheldon Brown -- if indeed health is the issue -- would be a huge boost for a struggling Cleveland secondary.

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Trent Richardson Rebounds With Impressive Week 2 Performance Against Bengals

Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden wasn't the only player to have an impressive performance in Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Fellow rookie, running back Trent Richardson, overcame a sloppy Week 1 to put up some big numbers in Week 2, and can't be blamed for the team's 34-27 loss. Richardson carried the ball 19 times for 109 yards, and also managed to catch four passes for 36 yards.

What does Richardson have to say about it? He says he just felt more comfortable, according to Ohio.com:

"I think I was just more comfortable with myself that, ‘Hey, I'm still able to run like I used to' and do it much better," Richardson said of his improvement. "In my head, [I was thinking] ‘I've got to run much stronger because these guys are much stronger than the guys in college.' Hopefully I'll come out stronger next week."

Richardson was the team's top draft pick this offseason, and many were disappointed by his play in Week 1. There were those that were critical of his play, mostly because running backs usually make the NFL adjustments quicker than players at other positions. Richardson took a lot of flack thanks to Weeden's 5.1 quarterback rating in his debut, however.

Still, it's definitely a positive sign for the Browns that Richardson is putting up 100-yard games. The fact that he's catching passes is also a positive sign, and now all Cleveland needs to do is figure out how to put it all together to turn his solid performances into wins.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more updates on the Cleveland Browns. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub. Check out SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Rey Maualuga Comes Away Impressed With Trent Richardson

Much was made about the back-and-forth between Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga and Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson leading up to their Week 2 matchup.

Maualuga said that Richardson has done "nothing spectacular." Richardson responded, saying "I let my game speak for myself."

But at the end of the day, the two shook hands and discussed their conflict. This time, writes Zac Jackson of FoxSportsOhio.com, Maualuga came away impressed.

"He came out and made a statement," Maualuga said. "He had a good game...We shook hands. We're moving forward. I'll see him in a few weeks."

The Cleveland Browns lost the game, but Trent Richardson was phenomenal, finishing with 109 yards rushing, 36 yards receiving and two touchdowns. It was the game Richardson was focused on, not the media-driven dispute between him and Maualuga.

"We're just playing football," Richardson said. "It don't matter what anyone says."

The Browns and Bengals meet again Week 6 in Cleveland.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more updates on the Cleveland Browns. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub. Check out SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden Show Progress In Browns Week 2 Loss To Bengals

The Browns dropped to 0-2 on Sunday but Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden set new rookie marks in the loss. Ryan Alton takes a look what their progress means for a Browns organization building a new identity.

Browns WR Greg Little 'In The Same Boat, As Usain Blot' After TD

Browns Injury Report: Billy Winn, Alex Smith Sustain Concussions In Loss To Bengals

Cleveland Browns' defensive tackle Billy Winn and tight end Alex Smith both suffered concussions in the 34-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to Will Burge of ESPNCleveland.

Smith is in his eighth year out of Stanford. The 6'4, 258-pound tight end caught three passes for 30 yards against the Bengals.

Winn is a rookie out of Boise State, and he was playing in just his second game for the Browns. He has recorded two tackles this season. Winn's injury coupled with the sprained foot suffered by defensive end Juqua Parker is leaving the Browns light along the defensive line.

Parker is in his 12th year and came over to the Browns from the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason.

For more on the Browns, head to Browns blog Dawgs By Nature and stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For all things pro football, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

AFC North Standings: Browns Alone In Last Place At 0-2

The Cleveland Browns were unable to hold off the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, losing by a score of 34-27 and dropping their record to 0-2.

Now one of only six winless teams in the NFL, the Browns find themselves in last place in the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are all 1-1.

The Ravens defeated the Bengals in Week 1, but fell to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, 24-23. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick scrambled into the endzone with under two minutes remaining to steal the game from Baltimore. Joe Flacco was 22-of-42 for 232 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Week 1, but they found their way into the win column Sunday against the New York Jets, 27-10. Ben Roethlisberger was 24-of-31 for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and the Pittsburgh defense held Mark Sanchez and the Jets to only 129 passing yards.

In NFL history, only 12% of 0-2 teams have been able to qualify for the playoffs. The Browns look to move out of last place and into the win column next week against the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland.

Click here for complete NFL Standings.

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D'Qwell Jackson A Bright Spot For Browns Defense In Loss To Bengals

Although the Cleveland Browns defense was suspect in the team's 34-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was able to have a great game. He registered five tackles, an interception and a career-high three sacks.

Jackson became the first Browns defender to register three sacks since Kenard Lang who had three against the Baltimore Ravens on September 12, 2004. Furthermore, Jackson became the first Browns player since Randy Hilliard in 1991 to have an interception and at least two sacks in the same game.

On the season, Jackson has eight tackles to go with the three sacks. He now sits at two interceptions after two weeks. If the defense has more efforts like this one, Jackson's role is going to become more and more important as the weeks go on.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more updates on the Cleveland Browns. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub. Check out SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Cleveland Secondary Shredded In 34-27 Loss

Playing in their first game without suspended cornerback Joe Haden, the Cleveland Browns' inexperienced secondary struggled mightily to pick up the slack on Sunday afternoon in a seven-point loss to Cincinnati.

Along with yielding 318 passing yards to Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, the lack of Haden's presence, coupled with an injury that rendered corner Sheldon Brown ineffective, made for a tough day on Cleveland's stable of young defensive backs. And as SB Nation's Browns blog Dawgs By Nature points out, next week's game against Buffalo becomes another question mark after such a middling Week 2 performance:

The secondary was unbearable for Cleveland. I originally thought they would only be without Joe Haden, but it turned out that Sheldon Brown did not play either (if he did, he was very limited). The result was a comfortable day throwing the ball for Andy Dalton filled with missed tackles, soft coverage, and big plays for Cincinnati.

Do things go up or down next week against Buffalo? As long as this team has some offense, I think fans will be a bit more optimistic. And, to make some people feel better, the Browns will still be only one game out of a first-place tie for the division lead heading into Week 3.

To make matters worse, reserve cornerback Eric Hagg also left Sunday's game in the first half with an eye injury and will likely be another name added to the injury report next week. Despite a decent effort considering the circumstances, the starting duo of Buster Skrine and Dimitri Patterson simply didn't force Cincinnati receivers to work hard enough for their catches in Sunday's loss.

And with Haden suspended for three more games and Brown's status for next week uncertain, Cleveland's batch of youngsters will certainly need to mature in a hurry in order for Pat Shurmur's defense to turn things around.

Head over to Dawgs By Nature for more Browns coverage, and check out Cincy Jungle for more on the Bengals. Also be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

Brandon Weeden Sets Browns Rookie Record For Passing Yards

After an absolutely abysmal Week 1, Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden bounced back in a huge way against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, throwing for a team rookie record of 322 yards.

Weeden completed 26-of-37 passes while throwing for his first two touchdowns of his career. His quarterback rating for the game was 114.9, a far cry from his score of 5.1 in Week 1.

He broke the record that was set by Eric Zeier when he threw for 310 yards against, ironically enough, the Cincinnati Bengals on October 29, 1995.

Although the Browns lost the game, the performance should encourage fans that Weeden can be a competent NFL quarterback. Next week will be a telling game for Weeden, as he takes on the Buffalo Bills.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more updates on the Cleveland Browns. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub. Check out SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

Trent Richardson Highlights Browns Loss In Cincinnati With 2 Amazing Touchdowns

Browns Vs. Bengals Final Score: Cincinnati Wins Despite Efforts from Richardson, Weeden

Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden recovered from underwhelming NFL debuts with two touchdowns each, but it wasn't enough to drop the Cincinnati Bengals, who prevailed 34-27 at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday.

Richardson scored on a 32-yard gain in the second quarter and again on a 23-yard pass from Weeden in the third quarter while Weeden went for 322 yards and no interceptions.

The Browns moved the ball well in Week 2 and limited their turnovers following an ugly game against Philadelphia in the season opener. They put up 398 yards as the run game came alive at the hands of Richardson, who produced 109 yards on the ground off 19 carries. He also had four receptions for 36 yards.

But long touchdown passes came back to haunt Cleveland, as did one botched play in punt coverage. The Browns gave up a 44-yard pass from Dalton to Brandon Tate in the third quarter and a 50-yard pass to Andrew Hawkins with 10:44 to play in the fourth. Adam Jones scored less than two minutes into the game with an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown.

The big winner: Andy Dalton

The Bengals quarterback threw for 318 yards to lead his team to a rebound victory following the Week 1 disappointment against the Baltimore Ravens. He had three touchdowns and one interception on the afternoon.

The big loser: Cleveland's special teams

Had it not been for punt coverage that couldn't get a handle on Pacman Jones after Cleveland's first offensive possession, this would've been a game considering the great games by both Richardson and Weeden. Both teams had 21 first downs, and the Browns put up 439 offensive yards to the Bengals' 375.

Odds: The oddsmakers were spot on in this one. The Bengals came in as seven-point favorites and left as such.

What's on the schedule?

The Browns have a home date with the Buffalo Bills on tap while Cincinnati heads to FedEx Field to take on the Washington Redskins next week.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more updates on the Cleveland Browns. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub. Check out SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

Browns Vs. Bengals Score: Richardson's Second Touchdown Keeps Cincinnati Within Reach

With a 24-17 deficit, the Cleveland Browns are hanging with the Cincinnati Bengals heading into the fourth quarter after another stellar touchdown by rookie running back Trent Richardson. The No. 3 overall pick in the draft took a Brandon Weeden pass 23 yards for his second score of the day with less than 30 seconds to go in the third quarter.

Three minutes into the period and with the Bengals leading 17-10, quarterback Andy Dalton found Brandon Tate for a 44-yard touchdown pass.

The defenses held strong as both sides, and D'Qwell Jackson picked off Dalton's pass to give the Browns solid field position at their own 47-yard line to set up Richardson's score. The Browns running back has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on 17 carries after three quarters. Meanwhile, Weeden has showed well in his second career game by going 15-for-24 for 183 yards and a touchdown pass.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more on the Cleveland Browns or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Juqua Parker Injury: Browns Defensive End's Return Is Questionable

Cleveland Browns backup defensive end Juqua Parker is questionable to return after suffering a foot injury in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Press box announcement: #Browns DE Juqua Parker has injured foot. Return is questionable. #NFL

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 16, 2012

Signed this offseason, Parker was playing well before he was carted off the field. A 15-yard penalty by D'Qwell Jackson negated what would have been Parker's first sack as a member of the Browns. Parker, in his 12th season out of Oklahoma State, spent the last seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Browns have been hit with a couple of injuries to the defense so far against Cincinnati. Tackle Billy Winn left earlier with a concussion and safety Eric Hagg suffered an eye injury early on but returned in the second half.

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Eric Hagg Injury: Browns DB Returns For Second Half, Gets Beat On Touchdown

Cleveland Browns defensive back Eric Hagg has returned to the field for the second half of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but his eye may still be bothering him. Not long after his return to the field for the beginning of the second half, Hagg was beaten by Bengals wideout Brandon Tate on a 44-yard touchdown pass.

#Browns DB Eric Hagg started the second half after previously leaving the game with an eye injury.

— Cleveland Browns (@OfficialBrowns) September 16, 2012

It appears that the Bengals may be targeting Hagg as a possible weak spot in Cleveland's defense. An inexperienced player making just his second career NFL start, Hagg is facing quite the challenge with Tate and A.J. Green receiving passes from Andy Dalton this afternoon.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on theBengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Eric Hagg Injury: Browns DB Leaves Game With Eye Injury

Cleveland Browns defensive back Eric Hagg has left Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an eye injury, as the team announced. His return to the game is questionable, so undrafted rookie Tashaun Gipson will likely get most of the snaps at free safety for the rest of the game.

Hagg, 23, has emerged as a starter with the Browns early this season after appearing in 10 games with the team during his rookie season in 2011. A seventh round pick out of Nebraska last year, he battled injuries as a rookie but has slowly gained the confidence of the coaching staff.

In Hagg's place, Gipson is getting significant playing time in his second career NFL game. After going undrafted out of Wyoming, Gipson made his professional debut last week. Now he's being asked to face an offense that includes A.J. Green.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Browns Vs. Bengals Score: Cincinnati Leads At The Half

The Cincinnati Bengals lead the Browns 17-10 at the half, but Cleveland can thank rookie running back Trent Richardson that the one-touchdown deficit isn't larger.

Richardson scored his first career touchdown on a 32-yard gallop in the second quarter, and he has 13 carries for 84 yards through the first two quarters. Phil Dawson got the first score for Cleveland, nailing a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter after a short drive was sparked by a 38-yard return by Josh Cribbs.

Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden has looked better after a rough first outing. He has completions on 9-of-15 passes for 121 yards without a turnover.

But the Bengals have kept it somewhat even on offense. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton has thrown for 104 yards on 9-of-14 passing, and he hit A.J. Green on a 10-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.

The Browns have more than doubled up the Bengals on the ground with 101 rushing yards to Cincinnati's 48.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

GIF: Trent Richardson Scores First Touchdown

Rookie running back Trent Richardson scored the first touchdown of his career to bring the Cleveland Browns within four points of the Cincinnati Bengals. Taking a handoff up the middle, Richardson cut to the right side of the field before making a dive into the corner of the end zone to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Bengals.

The run was 32 yards, one yard better than his total yardage in Week 1. After the lackluster debut of 31 yards on 19 carries, Richardson is already showing much better in Week 2. He has eight carries for 58 yards after the run at the 8:05 mark in the second quarter.

The highlight-worthy run comes after Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga's comments that Richardson "didn't do nothing spectacular" in the season opener. Richardson told The Plain Dealer that he wasn't going to talk back to the Bengals' linebacker, but instead would let his play do the talking.

So far, his play has been loud and clear.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Billy Winn Injury: Browns DT Heads To Locker Room With Concussion

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Billy Winn has left Sunday afternoon's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an apparent concussion, as Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland reports. The Browns have officially announced that the 2012 sixth round pick is a head injury and his return is doubtful.

#Browns DL Billy Winn suffered a head injury and is not expected to return to the game.

— Cleveland Browns (@OfficialBrowns) September 16, 2012

Winn, 23, was drafted by the Browns with the 205th overall pick out of Boise State this year. In his NFL debut against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, he recorded two tackles as the Browns forced a talented offense into committing five turnovers.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Browns Vs. Bengals Score: Pacman Jones' Punt Return Gives Cincinnati Lead

The Cleveland Browns trail the Cincinnati Bengals 7-3 going into the second quarter after giving up a touchdown off a punt return.

Less than two minutes had expired in the game before the Bengals got on the scoreboard. After a four-play drive by Cleveland, a 53-yard punt by Reggie Hodges was taken by Adam Jones at the Browns' 19-yard line and returned for a touchdown with 13:13 to play in the first quarter.

Cleveland responded on the next drive starting with a 38-yard kick return by Josh Cribbs. From the Browns' 36-yard line, a nine-play drive led to a Phil Dawson field goal from the 50-yard line to put Cleveland on the scoreboard.

Browns running back Trent Richardson has a solid start to the day with seven carries for 26 yards.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, or you can hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Scott Fujita Returns To Starting Lineup

Injured Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is ready to return to the field for the Cleveland Browns. Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports that Fujita will start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals:

#Browns LB Scott Fujita slated to start at strongside LB. Replacing undrafted rookie LB L.J. Fort, who had good day last week.

— Scott Petrak (@ScottPetrak) September 16, 2012

Fujita was originally suspended for the first four games of the season due to his role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, but he successfully appealed the suspension in court. He was injured and missed most of training camp and the preseason and just started practicing earlier this week. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said earlier this week that Fujita would play Sunday, but didn't specify how much or in what role.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on theBengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Inactive Players Announced For Sunday's Game

The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals have announced their inactive players for Sunday's game.

Inactive for Cleveland are: Thaddeus Lewis, Jordan Norwood, Brandon Jackson, Ray Ventrone, James-Michael Johnson, Oniel Cousins and Tank Carder.

Inactive for Cincinnati are: Dre Kirkpatrick, Donald Lee, Jason Allen, Richard Quinn, Ryan Whalen, Bernard Scott, Carlos Dunlap.

The Browns also announced that Dimitri Patterson will start at cornerback for the suspended Joe Haden and Buster Skrine will start for Sheldon Brown at the other cornerback spot, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal:

#Browns CB Dimitri Patterson starting in place of suspended Joe Haden was expected. CB Buster Skrine starting for Sheldon Brown surprising.

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 16, 2012

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on theBengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Browns vs. Bengals 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

This Sunday the Bengals face the Browns in the battle of Ohio.

Browns Injury Update: Joe Thomas, Scott Fujita Ready To Play Sunday

The Browns got some good personnel news Friday, as tackle Joe Thomas and linebacker Scott Fujita will play Sunday, according to head coach Pat Shurmur.

#Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Joe Thomas' knee is fine and he will play Sunday

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 14, 2012

#Browns coach Shurmur said LB Fujita had good week of practice, will play Sunday. Role unspecified.

— Scott Petrak (@ScottPetrak) September 14, 2012

Thomas has been dealing with a left knee injury that limited him in practice on Wednesday. Fujita's suspension for his role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal has been lifted and he practiced he practiced for the first time since the renouncement on Wednesday.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Browns Frostee Rucker Ready For 1st Return Trip To Cincinnati

Browns defensive end Frostee Rucker said he has no bad feeling toward the Cincinnati Bengals, for whom Rucker played the past six seasons.

That doesn't mean there isn't extra motivation this weekend, when the two Ohio teams meet.

From Akron Beacon Journal:

"The guys in Cincinnati know how I play," said Rucker, who will serve as a game captain. "Obviously there's nothing dirty about the way I play football. It's just really high spirited, high energy and really physical. They've got a good group over there, and we've got a great group over here. We're gonna get after it."

Rucker signed a five-year, $21-million deal with the Browns in March to cross the state. He's been a big hit in the locker room with his music selection. Rucker had three tackles in the Week 1 loss to the Eagles.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Brandon Weeden Working On Chemistry With Greg Little

The Cleveland Browns didn't get off to a great start in the first game of the Brandon Weeden era, but the rookie quarterback says things should improve this week as he continues to work on the chemistry between himself and his receivers.

Weeden talked to the News-Herald this week about quite a few things, but his chemistry with Greg Little was one of the more interesting topics of the conversation:

Greg and I talk through a lot of stuff," Weeden said in the locker room after practice Wednesday. "It's hard physically for him to run routes over and over and over. You've got to talk about doing it. We're getting there. I can't say we're 100 percent as far as comfort level on everything we do, but I think we're getting better. I think you look at the first week against Detroit (in preseason), we had a mishap and we got better moving forward the next couple weeks. It's just spending extra time with each other and talking through things. We're not where we need to be yet. Fortunately, we have a minimum of 15, 16 games left. We have a lot of football left to fix those mistakes.

Little, expected to be one of Weeden's top options this season, was unable to catch any of the four balls his quarterback threw toward him in the opening week. It sounds like that might change this weekend against the Bengals, however, as the chemistry issues continue to get ironed out.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Joe Thomas Injury: Browns LT Confident He'll Be Ready For Bengals Game

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas has been dealing with a left knee injury that led to limited practice on Wednesday, but Thomas says he will play on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran OT has compiled a streak of 81-game consecutive games played that started when he was a rookie in 2007, and it appears that run will continue during Week 2. Here is what Thomas told Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald on Thursday:

"When you get to be an old man like me, you need to take a few reps off on Wednesday and Thursday," Thomas joked in the locker room. "I'll be fine."

"We haven't beaten a lot of teams the last few years," Thomas said. "If we're ever going to be the playoff team we want to be, we have to win in the AFC North."

The Browns take on the Bengals at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Cincinnati.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. To read about the Cincinnati Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden Look To Rebound In Week 2

The Browns hit the road for a Week 2 matchup against division rival Cincinnati. Ryan Alton previews what Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden must do to rebound from their unremarkable debuts.

Week 2 NFL Picks: Browns Vs. Bengals, Experts Say Cleveland Has No Shot

A sampling of 23 NFL experts brings a unanimous prediction that the Browns will lose to the Bengals in Week 2.

Browns' Brad Childress Has Confidence That Brandon Weeden Is Ready

Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brad Childress believes that rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden is ready to be an NFL starter, despite Weeden's rough debut in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In his Thursday afternoon press conference, Childress addressed several questions about Weeden, who was 12-of-35 for 118 yards and four interceptions in the Browns' 17-16 loss to the Eagles. When asked if Weeden is just not ready now, he responded with this:

"I don't feel that way. I don't think he cowered in the face of it. I thought he had a good demeanor during the course of the game."

He went on to speak in detail about each of the interceptions that Weeden threw, then answered a question about Weeden's inability to hang on to the football after a couple of hits that he took during the game.

"All it takes, literally, is a finger on that ball. It comes out, and those long arm pass rushers are able to reach around tackles and touch it sometimes."

Childress was also asked if the Browns are working on mechanics with Weeden, who overthrew a few passes in his debut. Again, the offensive coordinator didn't push much blame onto the first-year signal caller.

"No, I think he got the pocket pushed in on him on the last one. That ball was high and kind of sailed on him."

While it would obviously be flawed to judge Weeden after one game against a tough defense, one has to wonder how much confidence the Browns really have in the 28-year-old rookie out of Oklahoma State. How he performs against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 will certainly tell a lot about that.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Rey Maualuga's Comments Spark Determined Trent Richardson

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson did not take kindly to comments made by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga on Wednesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer.

When asked if the comments will be in his mind come game time, Richardson responded with "most definitely," as well as with this warning for Maualuga and the Bengals' defense:

"I let my game speak for itself, so if they want to see how mad I am, or how upset they got me about the comment, you'll see Sunday."

Richardson certainly didn't have a stellar debut, and Maualuga wasn't the only one to say something about it. Even Richardson acknowledged that he hasn't "done anything yet." However, the rookie is fired up for the game between the in-state rivals, and won't shy away from trying to knock Maualuga's helmet off like he did to the Eagles' Kurt Coleman, as Richardson told Cabot.

For more on the Browns, be sure to visit Dawgs By Nature. Additional coverage on the Bengals can be found at Cincy Jungle, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for all of your pro football needs.

Joe Thomas Injury: Browns LT Practicing With Knee Wrapped

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas appeared to be at full strength in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday by a left knee injury. He had the knee wrapped Thursday.

#Browns LT Joe Thomas limited Wed w/ knee injury, but continued practicing today. Had left knee wrapped. #NFL

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 13, 2012

Thomas, in his sixth season out of Wisconsin, has an 81-game streak of consecutive games played that started when he was a rookie in 2007.

The Browns' offensive line has been beset with injuries, with backup Oniel Cousins and starting center Alex Mack plus offensive guard John Greco also on the injury report from Wednesday. Greco (calf) and Cousins (ankle) were limited in Wednesday's practice as well.

Thomas is key to the Browns, a team struggling on offense as it is. His job is to protect rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden's blind side. With Thomas back in practice at full-go, he should continue his streak of games this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. To read about the Cincinnati Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle.

James-Michael Johnson Injury: Rookie LB Not At Practice Again, Likely Out Vs. Bengals

The Cleveland Browns are still very iffy at the linebacker position. Scott Fujita managed to free himself of the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, at least temporarily, but still missed the Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to a leg injury. Then there's James-Michael Johnson, who also missed Week 1 with a ribs/oblique injury. Cleveland is down to starting an undrafted rookie linebacker in L.J. Fort.

It's looking like that will continue in Week 2. Scott Petrak reported via Twitter that Johnson missed practice again on Thursday. Mary Kay Cabot followed that up with her thoughts on Johnson, suggesting that he'll sit on Sunday:

Safe to say #Browns rookie LB James-Michael Johnson (oblique) will sit vs. Bengals. LT Joe Thomas was limited Wed, had left knee wrap today

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 13, 2012

Fort picked off Michael Vick in his NFL debut on Sunday, so the Browns aren't exactly in bad hands. Still, with how thin they are at linebacker (Chris Gocong is also out for the season with an Achilles injury), Johnson is sorely missed. It would be a blow for him to miss another week, especially with a division rival on the schedule for Week 2.

Safety Ray Ventrone also missed practice.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. To read about the Cincinnati Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle.

Browns' Reporters Survive Shurmur/Jauron/Childress Extravaganza Of Mundane

Rey Maualuga: 'Nothing Spectacular' About Trent Richardson

The Cleveland Browns invested heavily in their offense this offseason by spending two first-round picks on it in the form of running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden. Richardson was taken with the No. 3 overall pick and is clearly the future of the franchise (at least, that's what Cleveland hopes). Richardson will spend his career being the bell-cow for that offense provided he stays put, and not many are worried about his lackluster performance in week one.

If you ask Rey Maualuga of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland's Week 2 opponents, you'll find he took that performance to heart. In fact, he said Richardson hasn't shown "anything spectacular," according to Paul Dehner Jr. of CBS Sports.

"He can run you over and you can miss a tackle, at the same time, from what we've seen he didn't do nothing spectacular," Maualuga said. "From running screens, missing passes, trying to find a hole when he's running the ball. He just didn't do anything spectacular from what I've seen. I'm pretty sure he's going to want to get after it once he plays us."

Of course, his statement appears a bit more level-headed when you put it all together, but it would be a mistake for a veteran like Maualuga to expect to see top tier play from a rookie making his first start. Basing your perceptions on a player's first game in the NFL is a big mistake, and Richardson is just the kind of player who seems likely to make someone eat their words for a statement like that.

Then again, there are some prominent people skeptical of Richardson. People like a former star for the Browns, running back Jim Brown, who said he didn't see "anything outstanding" and that he was "ordinary."

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. To read about the Cincinnati Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle.

Browns Vs. Bengals: Brandon Weeden Says 'It Can't Get Any Worse'

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden was able to crack a joke about his poor Week 1 performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. In talking about his upcoming game with the Cincinnati Bengals, Weeden told Tony Grossi:

"It can't be any worse than it was the first week and I mean that jokingly. We're all going to have rough stretches. I think obviously mine was the first week. I look at the mistakes I made, and you guys saw them. Guys were wide open and I missed them. That's not my character. That's not the way I usually throw the football."

Weeden may have been joking, but it's not that far from the truth. In his first NFL start, Weeden posted a 5.2 passer rating, going 12-35 for 118 yards with four interceptions. The Bengals had a strong passing defense last season, but allowed 308 yards passing to Joe Flacco and the Ravens in their Week 1 loss.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. To read about the Cincinnati Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle.

Browns Dimitri Patterson Will See Increased Action With Joe Haden Suspended

Without Joe Haden at cornerback for the next four games, the Cleveland Browns will turn to Dimitri Patterson as the starter. At Wednesday's practice, Patterson, in his seventh season, lined up with the first unit at left cornerback in place of Haden.

Haden is serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances after testing positive for Adderall in the offseason. Haden will be eligible to return after the Browns' game against the New York Giants on Oct. 7.

The Browns' starting right cornerback, Sheldon Brown, returned to practice on Wednesday and was not on the injury report after suffering a neck stinger in the Browns' Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It is expected that in three receiver sets Brown will remain on the right side, but Patterson will shift to cover the slot receiver and Buster Skrine will come in to cover the left side.

The Browns take on the Cincinnati Bengals at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Cincinnati.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland.

NFL Odds Week 2: Browns Vs. Bengals

The Cleveland Browns are 7-point-underdogs when they travel across Ohio to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The line has not moved since opening at 7 points; however, the over/under has dropped. The over/under opened at 40 points but has settled between 38 and 39 depending upon which sportsbook you use.

In their Week 1 matchups, it was actually the Browns who covered and the Bengals who did not. The Browns covered as 8.5-point underdogs, nearly upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles before falling 17-16. The Bengals, however, got manhandled by the Ravens and did not come close to covering as 7-point underdogs, losing by a final score of 44-13.

Both teams are looking to avoid an 0-2 hole and the Bengals are hoping to avoid an 0-2 start within the AFC North. Neither team's offense got going in their opening game, a fact they hope to change against defenses that gave up over 300 yards passing in their Week 1 losses.

Betting lines for the complete slate of Week 2 games can be found at OddsShark.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. To read more about the Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle.

Browns Injury Update: Scott Fujita, Sheldon Brown Return To Practice

Scott Fujita and Sheldon Brown each returned to the Cleveland Browns' practice on Wednesday, while linebackers Ray Ventrone and James-Michael Johnson sat out.