SB Nation Cleveland - Browns Preseason: Roster Cut Down To 53 As Preseason Wraps Up

Week 1 NFL Picks: Eagles Vs. Browns

2012-09-06T13:32:34Z

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

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Browns Injury Update: Chris Ogbonnaya Back At Practice

2012-09-05T18:16:37Z

Cleveland Browns running back Chris Ogbonnaya was back at practice with the team on Wednesday after missing time with a high ankle sprain, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. He's expected to be active for the team's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ogbonnaya, 26, missed the final two games of the preseason while recovering from the ankle sprain. There was some speculation that the injury could cost him a roster spot, but the Browns have opted to keep four running backs going into the season.

Most teams typically limit themselves to just three running back options, but the Browns have kept four on the roster given starter Trent Richardson's ongoing knee issues. He's expected to be healthy for the beginning of the season, but Cleveland should have plenty of carries to distribute early in the year.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs by Nature or stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Browns Never Intended To Give Away Colt McCoy

2012-09-05T18:00:02Z

The Cleveland Browns have received interest in quarterback Colt McCoy, but they've never planned to give him away for little or no return, as Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reports. The Browns have been asking for a solid draft pick in exchange for last year's starter.

Playing in 13 games last season, McCoy had mixed results, showing little improvement from his rookie season in Cleveland. He completed 57 percent of his passes for 2,733 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, good for a 74.6 passer rating.

Given the uninspiring performance by McCoy, the Browns went out this offseason and drafted Brandon Weeden in the first round of the draft. He was named the starter weeks ago, forcing McCoy into a backup role just one year after being the primary starter at the age of 25.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs by Nature or stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

2012 NFL Schedule: Week 1 Poses Challenge For AFC North Teams

2012-09-05T12:00:37Z

The NFL season kicks off on Wednesday night when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Super Bowl champion New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

The remainder of the NFL's Week 1 schedule kicks into gear on Sunday including a challenging start for the Cleveland Browns and the rest of the AFC North. The Browns will be the only division team not playing under the prime time lights when Brandon Weeden makes his regular-season debut at quarterback for Cleveland against Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday evening, the spotlight turns to the Pittsburgh Steelers as they open their season at Denver to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos at 8:20 p.m. on NBC's Football Night in America. The Steelers should face an emotional atmosphere in Denver where fans hope Manning can build on his legendary career with his new team.

An AFC North intraconference battle wraps up the division schedule on Monday night when the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens are among the teams favored to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl let alone win the AFC North and they can take their first step in that direction with a division win in Week 1.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs by Nature or stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

NFL Power Rankings: Cleveland Browns Named League's Worst

2012-09-04T15:18:25Z

Sorry, Browns fans. If you're looking for good news about your 2012 season, don't ask Joel Thorman, who has ranked the Browns 32nd out of 32 teams in his Week 1 NFL Power Rankings. He said, "I would have ranked them even lower, if I could have." OK, he didn't say that, but he's also not too optimistic about Cleveland's chances.

The Browns are a young team (third youngest in the league, actually), and have some exciting pieces. But Thorman clearly doesn't think that this is their year.

Consider that their division is perhaps the best in the NFL. Thorman puts the Ravens and the Steelers in his top 5. Last year, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati all finished in the top seven in yards allowed.

In addition, the Browns have rookie starters at quarterback, running back, and offensive tackle. There is reason for optimism, but just not for this season.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs by Nature or stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Benjamin Watson Injury: Browns TE Says He'll Be Ready For Opener

2012-09-03T17:14:09Z

The Cleveland Browns were pretty poorly off when it came to injuries during the preseason, but they're slowly getting players back. Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports via Twitter that you can add tight end Benjamin Watson to that list. Ulrich reports that Watson said he'll be ready to play on Sunday.

Sunday, the Browns will open their season against the Philadelphia Eagles, which is certain to be a tough matchup. The Eagles are always a strong team, and the Browns have so much inexperience on the offense, getting Watson back would definitely be a positive. Brandon Weeden, Trent Richardson, Greg Little - those are all some really inexperienced guys, while Watson has played nine years in the NFL.

Watson missed most of training camp and didn't play a single snap in the preseason with an injured leg. There haven't been many updates on his status throughout the whole process and most assumed he'd be inactive for the first game of the season, so this is definitely good news if what he says is accurate.

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.

Dimitri Patterson, Ray Ventrone Return To Browns Practice

2012-09-03T15:47:50Z

The return of Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson to practice Monday was significant news for the team, but another important player, cornerback Dimitri Patterson, also returned from injury to practice, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal:

Also #Browns CB Dimitri Patterson (right ankle) & SS Ray Ventrone (right hamstring) returned to practice. #NFL
— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 3, 2012

With Browns cornerback Joe Haden facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, getting Patterson, who missed most of the preseason with his injury, back in the lineup will help the depleted secondary. The return of Ventrone, a backup to strong safety Eric Hagg, should also help the secondary.

Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland also noted a minor move on the Cleveland practice squad:

On another note, the Browns brought back defensive end Brian Sanford to the practice squad. To make room, linebacker Solomon Elimimian was eliminated.

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.

Tom Heckert Relying On Browns' Rookie Class In 2012

2012-09-03T12:54:34Z

The Cleveland Browns will enter the season with 15 of the team's 53 roster spots occupied by rookies. Although general manager Tom Heckert acknowledges risks in that strategy, he told Brian Dulk of the Lorain County Chronicle-Telegram it was the right decision:

"It could come back and bite me in the butt," Heckert said. "But we told (outgoing owner Randy Lerner) when we came in, ‘Hey, we’re going to do things the right way.’ Whatever happens happens.

"Keeping 15 rookies was obviously nothing we planned, but we want to give the best 53 guys those spots, no matter at what position. It worked out that way, and we’ll see how it goes."

Heckert also noted in the interview that it was coach Pat Shurmur who made the final call on keeping quarterbacks Colt McCoy and rookie Thaddeus Lewis as backups to rookie Brandon Weeden and cutting veteran Seneca Wallace. Heckert told Dulk the team also has no interest in signing veteran backup A.J. Feeley.

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.