NFL Schedule 2012: Ravens, Steelers Face Tough Tests

Tough tests surround the powerhouse teams in the AFC North in Week 2, as both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers face tough tasks on Sunday.

Baltimore heads to Philadelphia to take on Michael Vick and the Eagles, who narrowly defeated the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. Still, the Eagles are a very talented team, and should pose to be a tough test for Joe Flacco and the Ravens -- especially on the road.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh plays host to the New York Jets, in a rematch of the 2010 AFC Championship game. Though the Jets looked awful through much of the preseason, they manhandled the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, winning 48-28.

The Browns will head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. Cincinnati is coming off of an embarrassing 44-13 loss, and will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start in the division.

Brandon Weeden will certainly need to play better on Sunday if the Browns want to avoid an 0-2 start -- and send Cincinnati to an 0-2 start of their own.

Still, Week 2 presents an opportunity for Cleveland to pick up a game on at least one AFC North team.

Be sure to check out all the Week 2 matchups over at SI.com. For more on the Browns, be sure to check out Dawgs By Nature.

Josh Cribbs, Travis Benjamin Impressive Weapons In Browns Loss To Eagles

The Browns offense did not impress on the whole during the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but that doesn't mean that there weren't a few bright spots. Dawgs By Nature had some reaction after the opener, and included in that were several positives in the Browns attempt to put points on the board. First, they saw something they liked from the Browns offense:

The highlight of the game on offense, besides Trent Richardson's jarring hit on a defender, was the double reverse to wide receiver Travis Benjamin. I'll try to talk about the specifics of that play at a later time, but how big was Nnamdi Asomugha's hustle from all the way across the field to stop that play? Is he doesn't get to Benjamin, that play turns into a touchdown instead of just a 35-yard gain. Cleveland should have tried to capitalize more on the Eagles in this manner.

There were also positive signs shown by Josh Cribbs on special teams:

With both teams struggling on offense, Joshua Cribbs got plenty of opportunities to return punts and kickoffs. Although he didn't break one for a score, he looked much quicker than he did a year ago and was back to his old self when it comes to fighting off would-be tacklers. He averaged 13 yards per punt return on 6 attempts, and 30.3 yards per kickoff return on 3 attempts.

While Cleveland's defense played very well, the Browns will need more positives on offense if they are going to bounce back with a win against the Bengals on Sunday. Brandon Weeden, the offensive line, and Trent Richardson all had relatively poor showings to start the season. The Bengals defense looked equally poor against Baltimore though, so there is certainly reason to expect the second game to go better than the first.

The game is scheduled to kickoff at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The game can be seen on CBS.

For more on the Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Cleveland Browns Week One Fantasy Football Review

Well, unless you had the Cleveland Browns’ defense by some stroke of pure luck and nothing else in week one, your fantasy football team probably wasn’t a great benefactor of any Browns players.

Cleveland’s defense is currently one of the top available in most fantasy football leagues after forcing Michael Vick to throw four interceptions, one that was taken for a touchdown by D’Qwell Jackson. The numbers don’t figure to be on the rise for the Cleveland defense, which now is going to have to do without star cornerback Joe Haden for a few weeks as he serves a suspension for his failure to notify the NFL that he has an adderal prescreption.

Against the Eagles, you had to figure the Browns’ top individual offensive player was Trent Richardson, even though he’d have a lot of rust to shake off. Well, Richardson struggled to get into the flow of anything, and other than the sweet run where he absolutely mauled through an Eagles defender, Richardson managed only 39 yards on 19 total carries.

The Browns will continue to center the offense around Richardson, especially if Brandon Weeden continues to struggle the way he has, dating all the way back to the pre-season. Weeden had a quarterback rating of around five, and didn’t produce any touchdowns. I think until he proves otherwise, Weeden is a player you want to steer clear from in the fantasy realm.

Because of that fact, until a Browns receiver clearly emerges among this group of guys, I probably would stay away from them as well. Mohammed Massaquoi was targeted a lot against the Eagles, but had just three catches for 41 yards. Josh Gordon continues to show he is capable of making big plays with two catches for 32 yards, and Greg Little didn’t even get on the board with a catch.

Overall, you’d have to give Cleveland’s week one fantasy football output a D-, saved only by the performance of their defense which appears to have been an unlikely repeat performance.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 2: Cleveland Browns Still At Or Near Bottom

The Cleveland Browns kept things very close against the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to a strong defense that made life tough for quarterback Michael Vick. But the Brandon Weeden-led offense wasn't able to get much traction to reward the defense for its strong play. In fact, Weeden put on one of the worst performances of the week, and fans are actually calling for Colt McCoy to get the starting nod. That can never be a good sign.

SB Nation's Joel Thorman actually gave the Browns a little respect in his Week 2 power rankings, bumping them up from last place to No. 31.

31. Cleveland Browns (LW: 32, 0-1): Better effort than I thought against the Eagles. And Trent Richardson is kind of a badass. Brandon Weeden, on the other hand, could use some help.

Thorman moved the Browns up at the expense of the Miami Dolphins, who lost to the Houston Texans, 30-10, to start out their season. Other power rankings around the Internet aren't giving the Browns much credit for keeping it close against the Eagles, though. ESPN kept them at No. 31, while the National Football Post kept them at the very bottom of their own rankings.

Brian Billick of FOX Sports had them at the bottom of his rankings as well, and here's his analysis that goes alongside the ranking:

Brandon Weeden looked as bad as RG3 looked good. The defense, led by Joe Haden, looked impressive, but after testing positive for PEDs, Haden will be shelved for four weeks. The better strategy for this D: Rather than force interceptions, force them to punt . . . at least then Josh Cribbs has a chance to return it for points

Tongue-in-cheek aside, the bit about Haden being suspended for four games is definitely noteworthy. Of course, it's also noteworthy that Billick had the Eagles at the very top spot in his Week 1 rankings. Despite moving them down a full 10 spots in Week 2 based on their struggles against the Browns, he did not elect to move the Browns up at all.

For more on the Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Browns Vs. Eagles: Dropped Balls Add To Brandon Weeden's Struggles

Brandon Weeden had an awful NFL debut, but Browns' coach Pat Shurmur isn't placing all of the blame for the poor performance on the rookie quarterback. Shurmur felt the team's receivers could have done more to help Weeden during the opener, and he got into specifics about it. All quotes are via Cleveland.Com.

On Greg Little's drop:

When the ball hits you in the neck, you've got to catch it

On Owen Marecic's drop:

The ball was thrown to the fullback -- not a perfect throw, but catchable. So all in all that was just bad football.

On Travis Benjamin:

If the ball is thrown in a position where the defender has a good chance to get it that ball needs to be defended by the receiver

Shurmer has confirmed the Weeden will again get the start in Week 2 despite many fans calling for backup Colt McCoy to play. Weeden and the Browns' receivers will have an opportunity to show improvement as they head to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on Sunday. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NFL, check out SB Nation Cleveland.

Eagles Vs. Browns: Cleveland Rookies Overwhelmed In Debut

Cleveland Browns rookies Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson struggled in their first NFL game, eliciting some concern from SB Nation's Browns blog Dawgs By Nature.

Weeden played historically bad, yes. But, he wasn't the only one with a poor outing. Trent Richardson, in his first real game since the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, only averaged 2.1 yards-per-carry on 19 rushes. He missed all of preseason after having his knee scoped. His only highlight of the day came on a game-long 9-yard rush where he knocked off the helmet of safety Kurt Coleman...

That was a solid hit, indeed. However, the Browns needed more from their young running back than 39 yards on 19 carries, however unfair it may be. And, while Weeden's 12-of-35, four-interception performance opened plenty of eyes for the wrong reasons, things weren't entirely his fault, as other units failed to step up.

The Browns' offensive line also struggled against a very good Eagles' Wide 9 defensive line. Meanwhile, the wide receiver corps is what we've come to expect. To quote the infamous Dennis Green line, "They are who we thought they were." Despite that, the Browns have to demand more from them if they want to win games.

The Browns hope to improve in Week 2, as they head south to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

For more on the Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Pat Shurmur Shrugs Off Calls For Colt McCoy To Replace Brandon Weeden

The Cleveland Browns didn't have much of a battle in training camp when it came to the starting quarterback position. Since the team used a first round pick on him, Brandon Weeden was the assumed starter and earned the job over Colt McCoy after limited competition prior to the start of the season. On Sunday, Weeden had a very poor game, going 12-for-35 on his pass attempts with 118 yards and no touchdowns against a whopping four interceptions.

Following the game (and really, during it), there were a lot of people calling for Weeden to be benched in favor of 2011 starter Colt McCoy. However, Head Coach Pat Shurmur isn't going to make a change like that at this point in the season, according to a Tweet from Daryl Ruiter:

Shurmur on fans wanting Colt - "Brandon Weeden is our starter and is going to get better. That's what I'm going to tell them"

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 10, 2012

A Tweet from Mary Kay Cabot added more from Shurmur, in which he said that Weeden "has to look at this game and make the corrections, which are obvious. He's watching the game." At this point in the season, it's clear the Browns don't want to make a snap decision and pull Weeden. He's a rookie quarterback and, despite his age, he'll have a long go at developing before Browns fans are happy with his performances.

On top of that, there's the matter of the team having spent a first-round pick on him. It wouldn't make sense to put that kind of investment in a quarterback if he's going to sit behind a player who might be good for one or two more wins per season. McCoy isn't exactly the proven quarterback at this point, either.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NFL, check out SB Nation Cleveland.

Eagles Vs. Browns: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly From Cleveland's Week 1 Loss

The Browns opened the season with a loss for the 13th time in the past 14 years. It was a particularly ugly day for rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden. Ryan Alton weighs in on all the negatives, and some positives, from Sunday's loss to the Eagles.

Trent Richardson Struggles In Browns Debut Against Eagles

Trent Richardson came into the NFL with huge expectations, but disappointed in his NFL debut. He accumulated only 39 yards on 19 carries for the Cleveland Browns in their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In Pat Shurmur's post-game press conference, transcribed by SB Nation's Cleveland Browns blog Dawgs By Nature, the head coach discussed Richardson, how he fared in his debut and how he is expected to perform moving forward.

"I think they're an outstanding defense, and we need to do a better job of running the football. We tried to run Trent and I think he held up pretty well. I would say this; he'll play better next week. I would say that, and I think he'll tell you the same thing."

The blame of the Brown's offensive ineptitude does not lie solely on Richardson's shoulders. There were many to blame. The offense scored only three field goals. And Shurmur is not discouraged about his rookie running back at all. If anything, he's excited about Trent's future.

"Trent, now that's a competitor. We had to put a leash on him to get him out of there. He won a couple times getting back in there. That's what you want from a guy that plays that position. He's going to play a lot of great football around here for a long time."

Trent did run hard at times and managed to produce this bone jarring hit on Eagles safety Kurt Coleman.

The Browns look to rebound next week against the division rival Cincinnati Bengals.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NFL, check out SB Nation Cleveland.

Brandon Weeden Reflects On Miserable Debut With Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden had a very poor debut on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he had a positive outlook after the game, telling reporters that the team was going to "turn it around." One of the selling points on Weeden coming into the draft was his maturity, and Cleveland will be leaning on that attribute heading into Week 2.

The most disappointing part of the game, according to Weeden, was the he felt like, at the end of the day, he didn't give his team a chance to win.

Fortunately for me, I've had games where I haven't played as well but I felt like I had given my team a chance to win. And today, there were times where I didn't really do that; that's the part that gets me the most.

(via Waiting For Next Year)

Weeden completed 12-of-35 passes on for 118 yards on Sunday, throwing no touchdowns and four picks. His quarterback rating was 5.1

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NFL, check out SB Nation Cleveland.

Sheldon Brown Injury: Browns CB Suffers Shoulder Stinger In Loss To Eagles

The Cleveland Browns made it out of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles injury free, but with one exception: cornerback Sheldon Brown left the game with a shoulder stinger. Head coach Pat Shurmur noted the injury in his post-game remarks.

Brown was part of a Cleveland defense on Sunday that intercepted Michael Vick four times. The Browns have not elaborated on how much time Brown might miss, but stingers usually aren't too serious. Here is Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature on Brown's injury:

If it forced him to miss any games, I still have confidence in the team's depth at cornerback, since they can activate Trevin Wade. Now, if Joe Haden gets suspended and Brown is out, that's another story.

Brown had 48 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2011.

For more on the Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Brandon Weeden Begins NFL Debut Against Eagles By Getting Trapped Under American Flag

VIDEO: Browns Can't Finish Off Eagles

Eagles Vs. Browns 2012: Brandon Weeden Disappoints In Debut

The Cleveland Browns almost pulled the upset over the Eagles on Sunday, but a late Philadelphia rally turned the tide. SB Nation Browns blog Dawgs By Nature wasn't happy with rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden's performance in the loss, but also noted that it was just Week 1:

I'm very disappointed with Weeden's performance, because this is not the level of incompetence I expected. In the long run, though, we need to stay focused as fans. For as bad as Weeden was, you don't give up on the quarterback you committed to after his first game as a rookie. Hopefully Weeden is humble about this, re-gathers himself, and comes back with a better performance next week against the Bengals.

Related: Pat Shurmur's Post-Game Presser: Weeden Looked Like a Rookie

Weeden finished 12-35 for 118 yards and four interceptions.

Dawgs By Nature has you covered for all the latest on the Browns while Bleeding Green Nation has all the latest news and analysis on the Eagles. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for coverage around the league.

Eagles Vs. Browns Final Score: Michael Vick's Late Heroics Give Philly Win

The Cleveland Browns fell in crushing fashion in their 2012 opener, as a late touchdown gave the Philadelphia Eagles a 17-16 win.

Brandon Weeden struggled in his debut at the Browns' starter, completing just 12-of-35 passes for 118 yards and four interceptions. Trent Richardson was also quiet in his Browns debut, gaining just 39 yards on 19 carries.

The lone Browns touchdown on the afternoon came on an interception that was returned to the end zone by D'Quell Jackson, to put the Browns ahead 16-10 in the third quarter. The Browns forced Eagles quarterback Michael Vick into four interceptions, but they failed to stop him late as he threw for over 300 yards.

LeSean McCoy also gave the Browns trouble on the ground, as he rushed for 110 yards on 20 carries. His ability to gain first downs set up the final touchdown.

The Browns will look to rebound next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more on the Cleveland Browns.

Eagles Vs. Browns Score: Cleveland Cuts Into Philly's Lead

The Philadelphia Eagles lead the Cleveland Browns 10-6 after three quarters as Cleveland flipped a turnover into three points to cut the deficit.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden threw an interception on his first pass attempt of the Browns' second possession of the second half, but Michael Vick returned the favor on the ensuing Philadelphia possession.

Cleveland's L.J. Fort picked off Vick's pass and returned it 10 yards before the Browns finished off the drive with a 42-yard field goal.

After the Vick interception, the ugly afternoon for Weeden continued. He fumbled on the first snap, but Trent Richardson recovered. After a first down pass for 13 yards, Weeden was sacked but got hit on a roughing the passer penalty to advance the ball to the 25 yard line, which gave the Browns' Phil Dawson a good look for the field goal attempt.

Weeden completed 10-of-29 passes for 98 yards on the afternoon. He's thrown three interceptions.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more on the Cleveland Browns.

Eagles Vs. Browns Score: Vick Leads Philly On Touchdown Drive To Lead At Half

The defenses have led the charge and the quarterbacks have struggled, but Michael Vick led the Eagles on a touchdown drive that took just 32 seconds to give Philadelphia a 10-3 lead over the Cleveland Browns at halftime.

Cleveland rookie Brandon Weeden struggled in his first NFL game, completing 7-of-19 passes for 68 yards and two interceptions.

Aside from a scoot by Weeden for 25 yards and a 35-yard run by receiver Travis Benjamin, the Browns have struggled to move the ball on the ground as well. Rookie back Trent Richardson has 11 rushes for only 25 yards.

Tied at 3-3 for most of the first half, Philadelphia finally got the ball moving with less than a minute before heading to the locker room. Starting on their own 26-yard line, the Eagles got the ball in the end zone thanks to a 46-yard pass from Vick to Jeremy Maclin that set up a second Vick-to-Maclin connection for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The five-play, 74-yard drive took only 32 seconds.

Michael Vick threw for 209 yards on 17-for-28 passing and one interception in the first half.

The Browns scored in the first quarter on a 43-yard field goal by Phil Dawson after D'Qwell Jackson recovered a fumble by Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy at midfield.

Check out Dawgs By Nature for more on the Browns.

Animated: Trent Richardson Trucks Eagles Kurt Coleman

Eagles Vs. Browns Score Update: Cleveland Leads After First Quarter

The Cleveland Browns used a fumble by Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy to score a field goal and take a 3-0 lead despite having little offensive production in the first quarter of Sunday's season opener.

D'Qwell Jackson recovered the fumble at midfield and Phil Dawson scored on a 43-yard field goal set up by rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who hit Mohamed Massaquoi for a 25-yard pass on the drive.

The Eagles had six first downs to the Browns' one in the first quarter and had an efficient 3-for-4 rate on third downs. Cleveland could only muster 30 total yards, as running back Trent Richardson made his debut with three carries for four yards in the first.

Michael Vick and the Eagles offense moved well. He was 8-for-11 for 97 yards so far. McCoy had 18 yards on the ground.

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

Cleveland Browns To Name Joe Banner Top Executive Under New Ownership

The Cleveland Browns will name Joe Banner the team's top executive when Jim Haslam officially takes over as owner next month, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. The league still has to approve of Haslam's purchase of the team at meetings next month.

Over the summer, Banner left the Philadelphia Eagles after roughly 18 years in the organization, spending the last decade-plus as president. He helped to turn Philadelphia into one of the marquee franchises in the league, a major landing place for key free agents each offseason.

La Canfora says that Banner has been working with Haslam since the initial meetings between him and former owner Randy Lerner, so he's already becoming increasingly involved in the team's business. He will report directly to Haslam once officially hired.

Dawgs By Nature has you covered for all the latest on the Browns while Bleeding Green Nation has all the latest news and analysis on the Eagles. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for coverage around the league.

Trent Richardson Injury Update: Browns RB Will Start Sunday Against Eagles

Injured Cleveland Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson will start Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com:

Good AM. Couple nuggets: Browns RB Trent Richardson (knee surgery) will start today. And LB Scott Fujita is unlikely to play, per sources.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 9, 2012

Richardson, a first round pick out of Alabama, had knee surgery on Aug. 9. He did not play the entire preseason. He had been doing rehab work until Monday, when he returned to practice, and he was practicing in pads by the end of the week.

The Browns had previously said that if Richardson were healthy enough to play, he would be the starter in the season opener.

Dawgs By Nature has you covered for all the latest on the Browns while Bleeding Green Nation has all the latest news and analysis on the Eagles. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for coverage around the league.

Scott Fujita Unlikely To Play Sunday Against Eagles

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is still unlikely to play Sunday, but he could dress, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com:

Also, like I said earlier, Fujita a likely healthy scratch, tho roster issues elsewhere could force Browns to dress him. Leg not an issue.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 9, 2012

Fujita was originally suspended for the first three games for his role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, but he was one of four players to successfully appeal and have his suspension lifted. Fujita injured his ankle early in the preseason and has missed significant practice time.

The Browns play the Eagles at 1 p.m. Sunday. Cleveland's defense will get a boost from another formerly suspended player who won his appeal, defensive back Joe Haden.

Dawgs By Nature has you covered for all the latest on the Browns, while Bleeding Green Nation has all the latest news and analysis on the Eagles. Check out SB Nation's NFL hub for coverage around the league.

Eagles Vs. Browns: Game Time, TV Schedule, Injury Updates And More

Cleveland hosts Philadelphia Sunday in the season opener for both teams.

Browns Rookie DT Billy Winn Likely To Start Alongside Ahtyba Rubin

When the Browns kick off their season Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, they'll likely do so with their sixth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft starting on their defensive line. Rookie defensive tackle Billy Winn, pick No. 205 in April, is expected to start in the opener next to Ahtyba Rubin.

With Phil Taylor still recovering from a chest injury suffered while weightlifting in the summer, the Browns were in need of a defensive tackle to step up for the team in time for the opener. While John Hughes has been, and still is, listed as the defensive tackle that would fill in for Taylor, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports it will be Winn instead.

Winn appeared in three preseason games for the Browns, starting two, and recorded six tackles.

For more on the Browns; check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. Also, be sure to play SB Nation's Pick 6 Football every week this season.

NFL Picks Week 1: Eagles Vs. Browns

Analysts covering the NFL rarely agree, but they seem fairly certain that the Philadelphia Eagles will beat the Cleveland Browns in week one at 1 p.m. Sunday.

All fourteen experts picking games for ESPN went with the Eagles. All eight analysts for CBS Sports chose Philadelphia and all three picking for Yahoo! Sports think the Eagles will prevail.

The Browns are coming off a 4-12 season and will be led by a rookie quarterback in Brandon Weeden. Fellow rookie first round pick, running back Trent Richardson, is still recovering from surgery and it's unclear how much he'll be able to contribute.

The Eagles, a team that fell short of expectations after many predicted they'd be a Super Bowl team last season, finished 8-8, one game out of first place in the NFC East.

For more on the Browns; check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. Also, be sure to play SB Nation's Pick 6 Football every week this season.

Brandon Weeden Is Better Than You At Sports

NFL Asks Browns To Recognize Art Modell Before Opener Against Eagles

The NFL has asked that teams around the league have a moment of silence or other appropriate gesture to honor former owner Art Modell. All teams were asked to perform the gesture on Sunday before kickoff, including the Browns hosting of the Eagles. Earlier, Neal Gulkis had stated that it was a team decision to recognize Modell in some way on Sunday. The organization may have come to their own independent conclusions to do something at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but it appears they also had no choice after being asked by the folks on Park Avenue.

Clearly, this shines a national spotlight on the City, and I can't imagine a moment of silence would go very well and result in a good look for Browns fans. It's a relief that the "other appropriate gesture" part was appended on to the League's request, and here's hoping the Browns think of something creative.

Stick with this StoryStream for more on Modell's passing. For all things Browns, head over to Dawgs by Nature.

Browns Will Recognize Art Modell Prior To Opener Against Eagles

The Browns will recognize former owner Art Modell prior to Sunday's home-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Tom Withers of the AP. Modell died of natural causes at 87 years old on Thursday morning, instantly prompting a flood of both positive and negative reaction across the league.

There had been debate about whether the Browns should have a moment of silence before Sunday's game. It's not clear exactly what the team will do to recognize the former owner, but spokesman Neal Gulkis indicated that the team made the decision on their own -- it was not mandated by the league:

#browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said it was a browns decision. Team wants to show respect and dignity for family community and fans on modell

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 7, 2012

While Modell did not own the current Browns organization, he did own the former Browns for more than 30 years before moving the team to Baltimore, making him one of the most hated figures in the city's history.

Stick with this StoryStream for more memories of Modell from around the league. For all things Browns, head over to Dawgs by Nature.

Brandon Weeden, New-Look Browns Make Debut Vs. High-Powered Eagles & Michael Vick

Injuries, Suspension At LB Give Browns Rookie L.J. Fort Big Opportunity Against Eagles

It's no secret that the Cleveland Browns are thin at the linebacker position. They've got just two players -- D'Qwell Jackson and Kaluka Maiava -- who actually have any experience in the NFL, and then they've got essentially nothing. Well, nothing in regards to proven talent. They do have somebody waiting for his opportunity to show what he can do: rookie linebacker L.J. Fort.

Fort is set to start for the Browns, even though he was likely going to be back on the depth chart if there wasn't a run of injuries and a suspension. Scott Fujita is serving a three-game suspension for his alleged involvement in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, while fellow rookie James-Michael Johnson has a ribs/oblique injury that will keep him out for Week 1.

There was a quote from Fort on The Plain Dealer in which he expresses his excitement:

"I have to say, this is the most excited I've been in my life," Fort said Thursday. "I mean, this has been my dream since I was like 8 years old. And it's finally become a reality. It's awesome."

It's not going to be an easy outing for Fort. It's tough for linebackers to make the transition to the NFL, as their responsibilities change so drastically from college to the big game. On top of that, Fort's primary objective will be spying Michael Vick for the game... a tall task for even the most seasoned linebackers. Vick will look to exploit Fort's lack of experience through the air and on the ground.

Still, if Fort can come out and make a big play or two, he might earn himself more and more playing time going forward, even when other players return from injuries and suspensions. It's a big opportunity for the undrafted free agent.

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.

Cleveland Browns Ticket Prices: Cheapest In The NFL

Team Marketing Report released its annual look at NFL ticket prices and fan experience and, via ESPN.com's Darren Rovell, the Cleveland Browns have the lowest average ticket price in the NFL:

The teams with the cheapest average tickets: Cleveland Browns ($54.20), Buffalo Bills ($58.36) and Jacksonville Jaguars ($59.54).

TMR says 10 teams raised ticket prices by at least one percent this year, up from the nine that dared to make increases coming into the lockout last season. The largest increase? The Chicago Bears at 9.3 percent. The average cost of a beer at a game is up 15 cents from last year to $7.28, the study found.

According to the report, average ticket prices league-wide were up 2.5 percent. The New York Jets and New England Patriots have the most expensive average ticket prices in the league.

For more on the Browns; check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. Also, be sure to play SB Nation's Pick 6 Football every week this season.

Browns Injury Updates: Offensive Line Banged Up Heading Into Opener Against Eagles

The Cleveland Browns have only eight offensive linemen on their 53-man roster, and two of those are injured leaving the team with potentially just six o-linemen healthy for Sunday's opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

That would be five starters and one reserve.

Oneil Cousins (ankle) and John Greco (calf) missed Thursday's practice, but coach Pat Shurmur made sure the media knew that there is still time for those players to return from injury.

Shurmur has both Cousins and Greco as game-day decisions. The Browns so have two offensive linemen on the practice squad but could look to sign a veteran.

The Browns' starters on the line figure to be Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston, Alex Mack, Shawn Lauvao and Mitchell Schwartz.

Also on Thursday, team president Mike Holmgren offered his condolences on the passing of former Browns owner Art Modell.

Holmgren told the Akron Beacon-Journal that Modell wanted him to come to Baltimore to interview for the head coaching job there in 1999. Holmgren never made it to Baltimore; he went to Seattle first and the offer from the Seahawks was too good for him to pass up. Holmgren was the Seahawks coach from 1999 until the end of the 2008 season.

For more on the Browns; check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. Also, be sure to play SB Nation's Pick 6 Football every week this season.

Week 1 NFL Picks: Eagles Vs. Browns

The Browns open their season on Sunday when they welcome Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles to town.

The Browns finished the 2011 season 4-12, losing their last six games of the season. They have a new cast of characters leading the offense this year with first-round picks quarterback Brandon Weeden and running back Trent Richardson as the focal points. The Browns are hoping Richardson is ready to play, as he missed the preseason after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. However, he has recently returned to practice.

Cleveland also hopes to have the services of third-year CB Joe Haden who is currently in the process of appealing a four-game suspension for a positive drug test.

The Browns should expect to experience some growing pains in this game, relying on two rookies to carry the load. The Eagles will be looking to build on the end of their 2011 season, which they closed out with four straight wins. Assuming Vick can stay healthy, the Browns won’t be able to keep pace.

Final score prediction: Eagles 24, Browns 13

For more on the Browns; check out Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland. Also, be sure to play SB Nation's Pick 6 Football every week this season.