Displaying items by tag: cleveland browns

Sam continues talking to St. Ignatius head football coach Chuck Kyle on being named the Browns Youth Football Advisor. Kyle talked about some of his goals as the new youth advisor saying that repairing the fields is going to be important. Safety is also a concern on Kyle's list saying "We need to make sure kids start out young in flag football." Kyle believes that putting an emphasis on flag football will build the confidence of young players as they grow and move up to tackle football.

The legendary St. Ignatius head football coach joined the Sam Bourquin Show to disscuss his recent hire as the new Browns Youth Football Advisor. Kyle talked about how his meeting with Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and his wife Dee helped him with his decision saying he took it as a great honor in being asked to be directly involved in helping the community and youth athletics. Coach Kyle said after the meeting that he was very excited about the idea, "I really got excited about the idea, in my small way contributing to the community and certainly for youth delopment."  

After one season with the Cleveland Browns, wide reciever Brian Hartline is no longer with the team.

Steve King from Browns Daily Dose.com joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the move and how the team is committed to the four wide recievers they drafted in April.

He said he was not surprised about the move because with a new brain trust in place, moves will be made.

"That's just the way it is," King said. "I think he could have been a tremendous help on this team with all the young receivers and having the ability to teach them about running routes, and catching the ball without having all the physical skills."

Hartline, a GlenOak graduate and former Ohio State Buckeye, had 46 catches for 523 yards and a pair of TD's last season.

One of the most popular Browns in team history was known for wearing #19 and that begs the question: Should his number be retired?

Mark Podolski who writes for the News-Herald and the Morning Journal joined the Sam Bourquin show to offer his thoughts on the matter and what Bernie meant to Cleveland and the Browns organization.

To Podolski, he says it's an open and shut case.

"To me it's a no-brainer," he said.  "I just think there's an argument that can be made that he's the most beloved players in franchise history, he certainly wasn't the best player in team history, but to me that says a lot about a player's association with a team and what the fans think about him."

Mark's column can be read here.

The Browns drafted wide receiver Corey Coleman with the #15th overall pick out of Baylor University. Coleman's former college coach offered his take on how he progressed down at Waco, and what he worked on to get to his dream.

Baylor head football coach Art Briles joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the former Belitnikoff award winner and the winning attitude he will bring to the Browns this upcoming fall.

He said Coleman is a guy that brings a lot of intangibles to the table including speed, toughness, and a willingness to work.

"He's a can't miss guy, and you're going to love him in Cleveland, I'll guarantee you that," Briles said.

Coleman was the first wideout off the board for the Browns in Thursday night's first round in Chicago. Coach Briles says Corey was a serious and diligent worker in his four years at Baylor.

He's a guy that certainly never had an issue with us on or off the football field," Briles said. "He's a pro and pros have certain parameters to stay within, and he's not going to have a problem staying within that."

The NFL Draft is just a little over an hour away and the million dollar question is: Will the Browns stay at 8?

Nate Davis, NFL Writer and Editor for USA Today Sports joined Brad Russell in the Average Sports Show on Draft Night to talk about that and more, saying there ought to be a quality player for them to pick at #8 if they stay put.

"Certainly there ought to be a good guy at 8, there's about 8 or 9 probably really good players in this draft, labelled as can't miss guys," Davis says.

There is speculation that the Browns will trade down and there might be some additional movement going on as well the next three nights in Chicago.

The day is finally here and the NFL Draft will be ushering in some new blood into the rankings of the league, where many childhood dreams will be realized.

Steve Doerschuk from the Canton Repository joined Sammy B to talk a little draft, and he anticipates the Browns will take a chance on former Ohio State star Ezekiel Elliott with the 8th overall selection.

Doerschuk says he's talked to many people about Zeke, and a lot of folks in and around the league say that he's a complete back who can not only run the football, but catch it out of the backfield, and pass protect, which is something that not every running back has mastered by the time they get to the NFL level.

You can catch the Browns radio network draft coverage on 1590 WAKR beginning at 7 p.m.

The big day is just one day away, it's the Super Bowl in Northeast Ohio, yes we are talking about Draft Day.

Steve King from BrownsDailyDose.com spoke with Sam Bourquin Wednesday and he seems to think that the Browns will not be staying with the #8 overall selection tomorrow night in Chicago, and they might get their quarterback later in the first round.

He says Hue Jackson and former Memphis signal-caller Paxton Lynch crossed paths, and Hue was very impressed with Lynch's size and potential.

"I think maybe when it's all said and done that that's who he's talking about when he says he can mold a quarterback he can draft later," King explained.

Hue worked with Bengals QB's Andy Dalton and AJ McCarron in Cincy most recently before being hired by Cleveland. Lynch is projected as a 1st or 2nd round pick.

As the draft approaches for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, it would not surprise many to see them again trade down from #8, but they could stay at that spot and pick up either another lineman, or perhaps an Ohio favorite.

Tom Reed from the Cleveland Plain Dealer says that if the Browns stay at 8, they could take Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, or they could solidify the trenches with Jack Conklin, the offensive tackle out of Michigan State, or go with Ronnie Stanley, the tackle out of Notre Dame.

Reed says it's all about what the Browns want, and what their needs are.

"There's a lot of range there, with things they can do with that #8 pick," Reed explained.

He says that they might take a look at quarterback later in the first round, either Paxton Lynch out of Memphis or local product from Walsh Jesuit, Connor Cook (who played collegiately at Michigan State). 

The Cleveland Browns are just four short days away from selecting #8 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, and while many people think they will trade down, it is also possible the Browns will stay at that spot and pick a quality player there.

Scott Petrak, who covers the Browns for the Elyria Chronicle Telegram joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about where Cleveland may go with their Top 10 selection, and what's going on in the minds of the brain trust as we get closer and closer to Draft Day in Chicago.

"If I had to bet, I'd say they'd stick at 8," Petrak said. "That's because there's so many moving pieces, you have to find the right trading partner, the right guy has to be there at 8 for somebody to want to move up, but I really think that trading down is obviously a pretty good option."

  The Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles swapped the #2 and the #8 overall picks in the first round last week. The Browns have 12 picks in 2016. 

Yesterday, the NFL was buzzing as the Cleveland Browns and the Eagles have swapped first-round picks, with Philadelphia selecting at #2 overall, and the Browns moving down to the #8 overall pick.

Andrea Hangst from the Orange and Brown Report joined Brad Russell in the Average Sports Show to talk about her initial thoughts on the move and what it means for the Browns moving forward.

"Right now it looks like a big win to me, they have 12 picks this draft, they have an additional first round pick next year,  they have a second rounder in 2018, I think it's a really smart move when you look at all the picks they acquired from Philadelphia," she said.

"That brings a lot more value to the team I think, potentially at least than anyone they could have picked with that second overall selection."

Hangst believes the Browns could select UCLA linebacker Myles Jack with the #8 pick. He does bring some health concerns with the knee, but can stop the run and work in coverage as well. Another possibility could be Ohio State star Ezekiel Elliott, who could provide playmaking ability at the running back position.

The Cleveland Browns have decided to trade down in the 2016 NFL draft in exchange for more draft picks.

The Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles will swap first-round picks this year. The Browns sent their number 2 pick to Philadelphia in exchange for the 8th pick. The Browns also get Philadelphia's first round pick next year.

The Browns stock up with Philadephia's picks in the third and fourth rounds this year, and also a second-round pick in 2018.

The Browns will also send Philadelphia a conditional fourth-round pick in 2017.

(ClevelandBrowns.com) Cleveland acquires Philadelphia's 2017 first-rounder

The Browns and Eagles agreed Wednesday to a trade of first-round picks and other selections in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 drafts.

Cleveland will trade Philadelphia its 2016 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) and a conditional 2017 fourth-round selection for Philadelphia's 2016 first-round selection (No. 8), third-round selection (No. 77), fourth-round selection (No. 100) along with the Eagles' 2017 first-round pick and a 2018 second-round pick.

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On the Web: Cleveland Browns, www.clevelandbrowns.com

The Josh Gordon story has taken yet another turn after his petition for reinstatement to the NFL has been denied.

Tom Reed from the Cleveland Plain Dealer joined Brad Russell in the Average Sports Show to talk about the troubled wideout and what's next for him as he continues to battle his issues with substance abuse.

Reed says that Gordon can lobby for reinstatement again in August. He was suspended in Feburary of 2015 for a failed drug test and reportedly failed another one recently.

Tom says he sees a young man who hasn't made the most of what he's been given.

 "We're talking about a guy who's played 5 games since 2013, and it's been one of the biggest wastes of talent in sports I've ever seen."

With the NFL Draft around the corner, the Cleveland Browns' opponents are thinking about their draft needs heading into April and ways to get better.

Jay Morrison, who covers the Bengals for the Dayton Daily News joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the Bengals needs at wideout, especially with the loss of both Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones to free agency.

 "You don't know if that (drafting a wide reciever) is going to line up for them at #24, they obviously need one, but there's no guarantee they will take one at that position," Morrison said.

Jay also talked about the addition of Karlos Dansby to the linebacking corps and how his leadership on the field and in the locker room will help the young linebackers in Bengal country.

With the 2016 NFL Draft being just 29 short days away, the ongoing debate remains: Who will the Browns select with the #2 overall pick? 

DJ Boyer from Draftsite.com joined Brad Russell in the Average Sports Show to talk about the possibilities, who the Browns will go with at either #2 or #32 in the first round, and who will the Tennessee Titans take with the first overall selection.

Boyer says North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and California's Jared Goff are the two top targets at the quarterback position. He says that even though the Browns signed former Washington signal-caller Robert Griffin III last week, having that franchise quarterback is a part of their long-term plans, something that is not certain for Griffin's future.

Boyer also broke down the draft needs for the AFC North, saying the Bengals need to look at reciever, and one that comes to mind is former Notre Dame wideout Will Fuller.

"At the wide receiver position, there's not another player that improved his stock more in the combine than Will Fuller," Boyer said. "He has all the tools, he just needs the consistency and can live up to that #24 overall billing." 

He has the Pittsburgh Steelers going with Mackensie Alexander out of Clemson going to them at #25 to shore up that secondary.

The Browns have another quarterback on the roster, and Robert Griffin III is his name. After much talk and rumor the last few days, the former Baylor star is in the fold.

Andrea Hangst from the Orange and Brown Report and Scout.com spoke with Brad Russell about the move to bring in the veteran QB.

When asked about how RGIII and Hue Jackson are going to coexist, Andrea was optimistic about the process, saying the two men will work well together because they believe in each other.

"One of the few things he's needed is a coach that truly believes in him, he didn't really get that with Shanahan in Washington, and he never felt that with Jay Gruden, so it's going to be a better environment when he's playing for a guy who wanted him and wanting to resurrect his career," Hangst explained.

After much speculation and chatter, Robert Griffin III is now a Cleveland Brown.

The former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback out of Baylor is now in the 216 after four years in Washington, and is looking for a career revival in Cleveland.

Steve Doerschuk from the Canton Repository spoke with Sam Bourquin on Thursday just shortly after the news broke out.

Steve says he's confident that new Browns coach Hue Jackson can get Griffin to be a solid quarterback.

"If RGIII is to be restored, Hue Jackson is the guy who can do it," Doerschuk said.

Griffin made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year of 2012 and led Washington to a playoff appearance that year before various injuries took their toll.

It remains to be seen if the Browns will spend their #2 overall pick on a quarterback, but with many holes to fill, it's unclear what direction the Browns will go.

After days of talk, former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has signed with the Cleveland Browns.

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(Cleveland Browns, news release) The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent QB Robert Griffin III.

"We are excited to add Robert to our team," said Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown. "Robert possesses a unique skill set at the quarterback position. He has played at a high level in this league and is intent on doing everything in his power to return to that level on a consistent basis. After meeting with him, having him work out for us and doing our diligent research, we felt it was right to grant him an opportunity with our organization. We were able to see and feel his passion and commitment to re-establishing himself as a starting quarterback in this league and his embrace of the hard work that will be is essential to his development. We've been clear on the importance of improving and stabilizing the quarterback position for our franchise. We have said that the draft is and will be our primary focus, but we will always look to complement the draft through free agency, and this is one of those examples. We look forward to working with Robert and getting him in the building with his teammates at the start of the offseason program on April 4."

"We are excited about Robert joining the Cleveland Browns," said Browns Head Coach Hue Jackson. "He brings starting experience to our team and organization. He's a young, athletic, talented passer and he's really just starting out in this league. Just like every player on our team, Robert will have to earn every opportunity he gets. He will compete with the rest of the quarterbacks on our roster and he helps improve our QB room, which was one of my goals upon taking the job. It's a special room and we want to put special people and players in that room. We are looking forward to working with Robert, as well as the rest of the quarterbacks on our roster. We have a lot of work to do to prepare to be the best QB room in the NFL and we look forward to the challenge that lies ahead."

"I'm excited about the opportunity to join the Dawg Pound and help build something here in Cleveland," Griffin said. "Coach Hue and Pep (Hamilton), I had a great meeting with them. I really believe in what they preach and how they can help not only me as a player but this team win games and that's what we're all about.

"I'm just excited to come in and compete. Nothing's ever been given to me in my life, so I just want to go out and compete with the guys and grow with this team. I feel like that's all I'm really focused on. I cherish the opportunity to get another chance to play this beautiful game."

Griffin is 6-2, 218 pounds and entering his fifth NFL season out of Baylor. Originally selected by Washington with the second overall pick in 2012, Griffin has appeared in 37 games with 35 starts. He has completed 679 of 1,063 passes (63.9 percent) for 8,097 yards with 40 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 90.6 rating. He has added 1,480 career rushing yards with eight scores.

Griffin set NFL rookie records for passer rating (102.4), interception percentage (1.27) and rushing yards by a quarterback (815) en route to being named 2012 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection. He led the Redskins to a 10-6 record and their first division title in 13 years. Griffin totaled 3,200 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding 815 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Starting 13 games in 2013, Griffin recorded a career-high 3,203 passing yards, as he became the fifth quarterback in NFL history to record 3,000 passing yards in each of his first two seasons. He started seven games in 2014 and registered 1,694 passing yards. Last season, he was inactive 15 games and dressed but did not play in another. He was released by Washington on March 7.

He started 40 games at Baylor and earned the Heisman Trophy following the 2011 season. He completed 800 of 1,192 career passes (67.1 percent) for 10,366 yards with 78 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He added 2,254 rushing yards with 33 touchdowns. In 2011, Griffin led Baylor (10-3) to its first 10-win season since 1980, as well as the program's first bowl victory in 19 years. Griffin graduated from Copperas Cove (Texas) High School and set numerous high school and college track and field records. He was born in Japan, where his parents were stationed for the military.

As the Browns continue their full-scale rebuild, there's a lot of stuff to talk about including whether or not the Browns should sign Robert Griffin III or Colin Kaepernick, let Joe Thomas go play for a winner, and just who is going to line up at offensive line in Week 1.

Steve King from BrownsDailyDose joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about all those topics and more, saying that coach Hue Jackson is going to have a lot of work ahead of him here moving forward.

 One of the key news from the offseason thus far is the ankle surgery for Pro Bowl CB Joe Haden. He is expected to miss some significant time with the recovery.

"This team can't afford to lose any of their key players and expect to be competitive, much less win," King said. 

 Sam and Steve said maintaining cohesion on the offensive line is a major concern, and regardless of who will be the quarterback for the Browns this upcoming season, they're going to have to protect the signal-caller and keep him upright.

 "That line right now is pretty shaky, and if they let Joe Thomas go, it will be even worse." 

With NFL Free Agency just hours away, the Browns are having to make some decisions as far as keeping some key players and adding new ones to the roster, in hopes of a solid and significant turn-around. 

Scott Petrak, who covers the Browns for the Elyria Chronicle Telegram joined the Average Sports Show to talk about free agency and some of the key names being thrown out either for the Browns, or for other teams.

When it comes to current Browns center Alex Mack, Petrak says that he wouldn't rule out a return to the Browns, despite opting out of his contract.

"I think he's willing to stay, he likes it here," Petrak said. "Having said that he did opt out, he turned down the 24 million left on his contract, he's looking for a raise, and he's going to hit the market."

 When it comes to wide receiver Travis Benjamin and defensive back Tashaun Gipson, Petrak offered his take on whether or not either one of those gentlemen would come back to Cleveland, but he's pretty confident Benjamin will return.

 "He was valuable for the Browns last year as a receiver and a returner, he stayed healthy all season and despite his frail frame, he stayed healthy, so I was impressed with him."

Cleveland Browns president Alec Scheiner is leaving that position at the end of this month.

A team release says Scheiner is "stepping away" as president, and will continue to serve as a team consultant through the end of 2016.

Scheiner has been team president since 2013.

(Cleveland Browns, news release) Alec Scheiner is stepping away from his position as President of the Cleveland Browns as of March 31, 2016 and will continue to serve as a consultant to the team through the end of 2016.

"We greatly appreciate Alec's commitment and work as President of the Cleveland Browns," said Browns Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. "Alec is extremely capable and has helped us establish some very positive inroads with a significant focus on our fan experience, FirstEnergy Stadium and our business partners. He was integral to the rebuild of our organization, the renovations of our stadium and training facility, and many of our strategies on the football side of our business. His guidance has helped us accelerate our learning curve as NFL owners and that is something we will always appreciate. Alec is ready for the next challenge in his career, as our new structure would limit the opportunity for his leadership. He is one of the most talented executives in the industry, and we are fully confident that Alec will be successful in whatever permanent role he takes next. We wish him and his family only the best."

Scheiner served as President of the Browns since January 2013. During his tenure, Scheiner oversaw the transformation of FirstEnergy Stadium as well as the renovation of the team's practice facility in Berea. Under his stewardship, the Browns business made unprecedented strides. Scheiner overhauled the fan experience on game day as well as the team's digital, audio and broadcast media.

"I have had an incredible experience with the Browns," said Scheiner. "Cleveland is amazing and the fans are uniquely passionate. I want to thank Dee and Jimmy Haslam for the opportunity to do what I truly love: rebuilding an organization with a group of people who have shown unparalleled hard work, commitment to their team and city. I look forward to helping the Browns over the next several months as I determine my next challenge."

One of the players a lot of the experts have the Cleveland Browns taking with the #2 overall pick is former Cal quarterback Jared Goff, and we reached out to his high school coach to give us some insight into what makes the signal-caller from the west coast tick.

Mazi Moyaed, the head coach of Marin Catholic HS in California joined Brad Russell in the Average Sports Show to talk about his former QB and the leadership he brings on and off the football field.

When asked about what kind of leader he was in high school, Mazi said he exemplified leadership and confidence throughout his time at Marin Catholic.

"He's a great player obviously, phenomenal leader, he's always been one of the guys," Moyaed said. "He's embraced by the community, and he embraces the community, he gives people his time, he's well-mannered, but when he's on the field, he's very competitive."

 Mazi says scouts have been calling him asking about Goff, his maturation over the years, and how his skill set translates to the NFL. Moyaed says that Goff's smarts set him apart from everyone else and he always stays calm and cool under pressure.

 "He really processes things well and just gets it going."

The Browns are in a position to draft a top-notch quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft, and there are a couple of guys on the team's radar.

Longtime Walsh Jesuit head football coach Gerry Rardin (now retired) spokewith Brad about the exlpoits of former Warrior signal caller and Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook  and how his resilency and mental fortitude will serve him well moving forward to the NFL.

 "He just worked on every possible area of his game," said Rardin. "His best trait is that he never let the last play bother him."

During his career at Michigan State, he bested current Washington Redskins' quarterback Kirk Cousins' mark for most wins by a QB in Spartan history.

 The other big name that people have been talking about is former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, whose stock rose after a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

 Ron Wingenback, the head coach of Century High School in North Dakota also joined Brad to talk about his former quarterback and what he brings to the football field.

"Carson's a very good learner," Ron said. "He wanted to know everything he needed to know about the opponent, and that made him a very good quarterback in high school and in college."

February as you know is Black History Month, and the Cleveland Browns put a special program on for the student athletes from inner-city Cleveland at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Browns wideout Steve Sanders joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about being one of the panelists at the event, and what it means for him to give back to the community and touch people's lives.

Sanders said he was excited to be a part of that special group.

"It was a great time at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it's just an iconic place, so they toured for about 45 minutes, they listened to us for about an hour, and we were able to give them our knowledge and talk to them about sportsmanship and leadership," he said. "It was an outstanding afternoon."

 He was joined by former Browns Greg Pruitt and Felix Wright on Thursday afternoon.

Sanders recalled playing for coach Urban Meyer while at Bowling Green, and he said that he picked up a lot from Coach Meyer, including being a better person away from the playing field.

I got a chance to share that with the audience yesterday, and I could just see their faces light up when I mentioned Urban Meyer, and I told the kids it was his mission to make everyone on that team (at Bowling Green) better in life."

Sanders played with the Browns from 2006-2008.  After football, Steve's authored a book as well as  traveling around the country speaking with various coaches and athletes about personal development.

In addition, he's also done some analyst work with WKYC-Channel 3 in Cleveland, talking about the Browns.

Browns training camp could still move to Columbus, but it looks like state money won't be involved in moving it from Berea.

Cleveland.com reports that Columbus officials are dropping their request for 5-million-dollars in state funding for the project.

The head of the Columbus Partnership wrote in a Columbus Dispatch column calling the group's intents "misunderstood", saying the group never intended to use state money to poach from another region.

Talks about moving the Browns training camp still continue. The team announced that this year's camp will still be in Berea.

CBrent Larkin, former editorial director of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, originally reported on Cleveland.com on the request for state money to build a facility that would house Browns training camp and youth sports. 

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On the Web: Cleveland.com, www.cleveland.com
                   Columbus Dispatch, www.dispatch.com

The ongoing saga with Johnny Manziel continues, and it appears as though the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A & M will go down as one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history because it appears he can't shake his demons.

WFAA's Dale Hansen joined me to talk about Manziel and the downward spiral that he's been on, and what can possibly save him.

Hansen says he doesn't quite understand the public's fascination with "Johnny Football."

"Johnny Manziel to me is the Kim Kardashian of the NFL," Hansen explained. "He's famous, but he hasn't done anything, and I happen to be one of those 'old guys' who doesn't understand it," he says.

He says that quarterbacks and other NFL players have struggled in their early years, but worked hard to be great. Hansen also says that the drinking and the partying for which Manziel has been known for has overshadowed what he's been accomplishing as a football player and he's the only one who can reverse his fortunes.

 Dale Hansen was one of the reporters who broke the story on SMU's cheating scandal in the 1980's. One of the players at the center of the scandal was David Stanley, who succumbed to drugs and alcohol abuse. Dale says he sees some eerie parallels between Manziel and Stanley.

A proposal to move the Cleveland Browns training camp to Columbus is attracting some political controversy.

An article by Cleveland.com's Brent Larkin unveiled a plan that would have Ohio taxpayers to help pay for the Browns to move their training camp closer to Ohio State.

Larkin tells WAKR.net that wording highlighting a facility for youth in the proposed state funding plan was worded that way for a reason.

"The way they worded this, they clearly wanted this to slip through unnoticed, Larkin tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol. "I blame the business leaders in Columbus for that, far more than I blame the Browns."

State Representative Mike Dovilla represents Berea. He says it's not just about his district.

"If we allow this to happen, and allow for one region of the state, to steal taxpayer money and send it to another for a private function like this...it ought to be funded privately, if that's what they wish to do," Dovilla tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol, "It's Berea that's on the chopping block today, it could be your hometown tomorrow."

The team itself has weighed in on the controversy.

A Browns statement confirms the talks to relocate training camp to Columbus, but the team says it'll hold training camp in Berea this year.

The team says "Columbus is a good location" for the team's training camp for "multiple reasons", but says the reported Columbus project is being considered by leaders there as a "serious option"...and that they're in discussions with what the team calls "potential partners".

The Browns say they will "throughly evaluate all options" and will continue to hold open practices in Berea for fans.

The team also says it would "incur all the costs associating with moving and holding operations" at a site away from Berea.

(Cleveland Browns, statement) "When we first explored the potential opportunity to hold training camp out of town, we conveyed that we would make the decision based on what is best for our football operations and their preparation for the season. Our football group believes it would be a positive, as it is for nearly a dozen teams in the NFL. In relocating training camp, we would incur all the costs associated with moving and holding our operations at a remote site. Clearly, we need a facility from which to operate and are in discussions with potential partners. Columbus approached us regarding creating a site that would serve area youth for recreational purposes the 11-plus months a year that we are not using the space, but those are discussions and plans that Columbus leaders are working through, which we will review as a serious option. Columbus is a good location for us for multiple reasons, including to give more convenient opportunities to our fans across Ohio to experience their team in person. We will continue to thoroughly evaluate all options while remaining committed to hosting open practices for fans at our year-round facility in Berea. The 2016 Browns training camp will be held in Berea."

After just two years with the organization, it appears as though the Cleveland Browns will part ways with Johnny Manziel after his latest incident in Dallas.

Scott Petrak, who covers the Browns for the Elyria Chronicle Telegram joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the 

"If you expect a guy to be your franchise quarterback, you (as a player) have to be 100 percent committed to the job, and Johnny obviously wasn't, and it took a lot of incidents for that to get into the Browns' heads," Petrak said.

Speculation around the league has the Browns cutting Manziel when the new season starts in March.

Owner Jimmy Haslam said it's disappointing any time a first-round pick doesn't pan out, but Scott says it's a little deeper than that.

"A lot of people had given up on him (in the organization), but Jimmy stood by him, liked him, and wanted to give him as many chances as he could."

One of the top executives with the Browns released a statement today on Johnny Manziel...and it could be the beginning of the end for Johnny's career in Cleveland, with his release apparently likely next month according to numerous reports.

Executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown says they've "been clear about expectations" for all players both "on and off the field."

He goes on to say that "Johnny's involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation" of the organization.

There is still no official word on what will happen to Johnny, but Brown says that his status with the team "will be addressed when permitted by league rules."

Cleveland.com and ESPN reports that the Browns intend to release Manziel on March 9th, since they can't release him next week due to salary cap issue.

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(Cleveland Browns, news release) Statement from Cleveland Browns EVP of Football Operations Sashi Brown on Johnny Manziel

"We've been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny's continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time."

Big news out of Berea as the Cleveland Browns have hired Hue Jackson as their head coach and a lot of people are applauding the move, saying the Browns are headed in the right direction.

Nate Ulrich from the Akron Beacon Journal joined the Average Sports Show Thursday just one day after the move was made.

Ulrich says he sees this as a big positive for the Browns moving forward.

 The next step according to Nate includes the hiring of a General Manager, one who isn't afraid of the Browns' new power structure and the analytics approach, and also putting a coaching staff together that will get the best results not only on the practice field, but on Sundays as well.

The Browns have hired Hue Jackson as head coach, and many people have a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the team and the direction that they are heading.

Brent Sobleski from the Bleacher Report joined Brad Russell to talk about the move and what it means for the Browns.

"This feels completely different," says Sobleski. "This isn't the same old Browns, this is going out there and selling your vision, and not settling."

Jackson is a proven commodityin the pro football world, having been the head coach at Oakland and was recently the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.

 He was named the coach after Mike Pettine posted a 3-13 record in his second season as the Browns head coach.

The Browns coaching search has come to a close as Hue Jackson becomes the team's 8th head coach since their rebirth in 1999.

Steve King from BrownsDailyDose.com joined the Sam Bourquin Show Wednesday to talk about the move and the fact that the new braintrust of Jimmy Haslam, Sashi Brown, and Paul DePodesta found their guy, the man they believe will get the Browns franchise where it needs to go.

"They felt that if he went to New York, he was gone," King said. "Hue had an interview in New York for the Giants job, he had a good conversation with Jimmy Haslam, and how he's the coach, so it was a good move that the Browns got the guy they wanted."

The Browns have made Hue Jackson their new head coach, and now it's time to hit the ground running.

Scott Petrak from the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the Browns' new head man and what he plans to do in order for the team to be competitive in the NFL.

Petrak says one of the things he wants to establish early is who the next General Manager is going to be.  The next move is to establish who will quarterback the team.

"The question is if not Johnny (Manziel) then who?" Petrak asks. "You have to establish that position with who you want to draft."

 Jackson comes from Cincinnati as the offensive coordinator for the Bengals.

The Cleveland Browns have officially hired their next head coach.

The team has announced the hiring of Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson to take over the job vacated when the Browns fired Mike Pettine after the 2015 season.

In a statement released by the team on Wednesday afternoon, Jackson says it's "a tremendous honor and privilege" to be the Browns coach and "part of the Dawg Pound".

Jackson was also a candidate for head coaching vacancies in San Francisco and with the New York Giants.

He'll be introduced to the Cleveland media tonight at 6:30.

(Cleveland Browns, news release) Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam on Wednesday named Hue Jackson, a 29-year coaching veteran with 15 years of NFL experience, as the team's 16th head coach.

Jackson, 50, comes to Cleveland after four seasons as an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, the final two of which as offensive coordinator of one of the league's most productive, balanced units.

"It's very exciting for us to name Hue Jackson as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns," Jimmy Haslam said. "He embodies all the qualities that will provide strong leadership for our football team. He is highly experienced, deeply passionate about winning, and relentless in trying to find ways to put his players in the best position to succeed. He possesses that unique ability to reach the entire locker room in a way that demands accountability while getting the buy-in and team-first mentality that leads to positive results. I think our players will love playing for him. Dee and I warmly welcome Hue and his family to Cleveland."

Jackson is set to land in Cleveland later this afternoon and will meet with reporters at 6:30 p.m. inside the media center at the team's facility in Berea.

"What a tremendous honor and privilege to be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and a part of the Dawg Pound," Jackson said. "I'm so looking forward to it and have so many people to thank. Obviously Jimmy and Dee Haslam for this opportunity, going through the process of meeting Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta. What an exciting time to have an opportunity to work with people like that."

Jackson interviewed with the Browns' search committee Sunday after the Bengals' AFC Wild Card loss to Pittsburgh and again Tuesday in Cincinnati. He was the seventh of seven candidates to interview for the position over a five-day stretch.
"We shared a lot of ideas between each other. We shared a vision for the organization and what we want to accomplish," Jackson said. "At the end of the day, we have some very real goals we want to attain and we understand it's going to take a lot of hard work to do that."

Jackson's had his hands on many aspects of the Bengals' last four seasons, which all ended with at least 10 wins and trips to the playoffs. He started on the defensive side of the ball as a secondary/assistant special teams coach -- his first such assignment since he began his coaching career in 1987. He switched to the area where he's coached most -- running backs -- in 2013 before taking over in 2014 for Jay Gruden, who left to become head coach of the Washington Redskins.
The Bengals went from 15th in scoring offense in 2014 to seventh this season thanks largely to the improved quarterback play of Andy Dalton, who set a career high and franchise record with a 106.3 rating, which led the AFC and was second in the NFL. After losing Dalton to injury in Week 14, Jackson guided quarterback AJ McCarron to a 2-1 record in the final three games of the season, as the Bengals clinched the AFC North title, their second of the past four seasons. The Cincinnati running game produced two 700-yard rushers in Jeremy Hill (794) and Giovani Bernard (730) for the first time since 1988. Tight end Tyler Eifert experienced a breakout season after hauling in 13 touchdown receptions, the most by a Bengals tight end in franchise history and the most by a Cincinnati player since 2001. Wide receiver A.J. Green added 10 receiving touchdowns on 86 receptions for 1,297 yards. Eifert, Green and offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth were selected to the Pro Bowl.

In Jackson's first year as offensive coordinator for Cincinnati, the run game posted its highest yards per game average (134.1) since 2000. Dalton passed for 3,398 yards, Green totaled 1,041 receiving yards and Hill rushed for 1,124 yards as a rookie.

"Hue Jackson will be a tremendous leader for our football team," said Sashi Brown, executive vice president of football operations. "He has vast knowledge and expertise, invaluable head coaching experience, and his players have thrived under his tutelage. His track record of relating to players as people off the field while also getting the most out of them on the field will help us establish a culture of accountability and the expectation of winning. Hue understands and embraces the collaborative work that needs to be done to positively impact our results on the field. He will be a terrific partner in our efforts to build a winning football team."

In his one season as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011, Jackson went 8-8 and finished in a tie for first in the AFC West. The Raiders missed out on the postseason because they were on the wrong side of a tiebreaker with the Denver Broncos but notched their best record since 2002. The Raiders ranked ninth in the NFL in total offense and seventh in rushing offense despite a midseason injury to quarterback Jason Campbell.

Jackson has been an offensive coordinator at six different spots, four in the NFL -- Cincinnati (2014-15), Atlanta (2007), Washington (2003), Oakland (2010), USC (1997-2000) and Cal-Berkeley (1996). A quarterback in his playing days who served as a dual-threat option for Pacific University in 1985 and 1986, Jackson has worked mostly with quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers during his 29 years of coaching.

Jackson spent 14 years at the college level, going from a graduate assistant at Pacific all the way to offensive coordinator at USC, before receiving his first shot at the NFL. Jackson survived a coaching change between 2001 and 2002, working under Marty Schottenheimer for the first season and Steve Spurrier for the second. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati's longtime head coach, was the defensive coordinator on the 2002 squad. Lewis left to become Cincinnati's head coach in 2003, the same year Jackson was promoted to offensive coordinator.

Lewis first hired Jackson in 2004 following Spurrier's resignation to coach wide receivers, a spot he occupied through the 2006 season. Before joining the Raiders in 2010, Jackson spent two seasons (2008-09) as quarterbacks coach for Baltimore, helping the Ravens advance to the playoffs both years. He was vital in the development of Joe Flacco, who was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 2008 and became the first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games.

"I'm a very enthusiastic person. I exert a lot of energy in coaching," Jackson said. "I love coaching all aspects of it: offense, defense and special teams. I've had an opportunity to be involved in all of it. At the end of the day, we're going to do a great job of hiring a great staff."

I think what our fans will be proud of and excited about is we're going to be a football team that's going to play very excited football. We're going to be passionate about what we do and we understand there's a lot of work involved in order to meet our goals."

Bio Blast
Hue Jackson

Age: 50
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
College: University of Pacific

NFL experience: 15 years

2016-present: Cleveland Browns (head coach)
2014-2015: Cincinnati Bengals (offensive coordinator)
2013: Cincinnati Bengals (running backs coach)
2012: Cincinnati Bengals (secondary/assistant special teams coach)
2011: Oakland Raiders (head coach)
2010: Oakland Raiders (offensive coordinator)
2008-09: Baltimore Ravens (quarterbacks coach)
2007: Atlanta Falcons (offensive coordinator)
2004-06: Cincinnati Bengals (wide receivers coach)
2003: Washington Redskins (offensive coordinator)
2001-02: Washington Redskins (running backs coach)
1997-2000: University of Southern California (offensive coordinator)
1996: University of California-Berkeley (offensive coordinator)
1995: Arizona State (quarterbacks coach)
1992-94: Arizona State (running backs coach)
1990-91: Cal-State Fullerton (running backs/special teams coach)
1989: University of Pacific (running backs/special teams coach)
1988: University of Pacific (wide receivers/special teams coach)
1987: University of Pacific (graduate assistant)

(Previous coverage) The Cleveland Browns are reportedly about to announce their new head coach.

And he was at the top of the Browns radar

Multiple reports out say Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, is finalizing a deal to become new coach of the Browns, a move that could be announced by the team today.

Jackson was also a candidate for head coaching vacancies in San Francisco and with the New York Giants.

The Cleveland Browns are still searching for a head coach and there are a few solid candidates out there from Sean McDermott from the Carolina Panthers, to Hue Jackson from the Cincinnati Bengals, Whoever it is, it will be a unique and challenging experience, due to the new front office structure and the implementation of analytics in choosing a roster and making football decisions.

Steve King from BrownsDailyDose.com joined the Sam Bourquin Show on Monday to talk about the ongoing search.

 "I think its going to be one of the guys everyone is talking about, (Matt) Patricia, (Teryl) Austin, and Hue Jackson," King said. "There might be some coordinators for teams who are still in the playoffs, but those guys are the ones most people are talking about."

The rebuilding continues in Berea, and one of the former Browns coaches offered his take on what it's going to take to get it right in Cleveland.

Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano joined Brad Russell and Sam Bourquin from the I-X Center to talk about the rebuilding process and the fans who are seeking a winner.

"It's going to take three years," Rutigliano said. "Somehow someway we're going to get out of this nightmare."

Coach Sam says it's all about having the right quarterback under center, as well as having the right playmakers in place to make things happen.

He also says having a guy in the front office who knows football is key for success.

"We need Bill Polian in here (former GM of Buffalo and Indianapolis) who knows how to evaulate talent."

Rutligliano says he's tired of the revolving door in Cleveland, saying Jimmy Haslam needs to follow a model of consistency and it does no good to keep firing coaches year after year.

The Kardiac Kids will always hold memories for Browns fans for a long, long time and one of their former players wrote a book about how they captured the hearts of sports fans in Northeast Ohio during that time.

Former Browns punter and kicker Don Cockroft made an appearance at the40th  annual RV Supershow at the I-X Center in Cleveland to talk about the book and the frustrations that he and former Browns alumni and fans have been experiencing as it relates to the team.

"I'm very proud of the book," Cockroft said. "It took about four years to put the book together, put together all the interviews, and so forth." The name of the book is the 1980 Kardiac Kids: Our Untold Stories.

The book is over 600 pages and can be seen here.

 As a former player, Cockroft feels the same frustration as Browns fans all over the country and in Ohio.

"I just hope and pray Jimmy (Browns owner Jimmy Haslam) makes the right decisions," he said."

With all the news going on with the Cleveland Browns, there's many different schools of thought on the analytics and the sad state of affairs up in Berea.

Brent Sobleski from the Bleacher Report joined the Average Sports Show on Wednesday to talk about Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta being hired by Jimmy Haslam to try and get this thing turned around.

"These hires were so far out of the box, it even caught me off guard," Sobleski said.

"My issue is the context of these hires and we don't know what exactly their roles will be."

The Browns finished #32 out of 32 teams at the end of the regular season power rankings put together by Brent and the folks at Bleacher Report.

The coaching search is also a hot topic of discussion and Brent seems to believe that the new head coach needs to not be a "yes" man for Jimmy Haslam and buy into the philosophy and believe in the current structure.

One of the men on the Browns' radar is former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone, who is currently serving as the offensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Vic Carucci joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about Marrone and what direction the team is heading in terms of evaluations, analytics, and trying to be competitive.

"They (the Browns)  are really heading down a pioneer path with this all in approach and commitment to analytics," Carucci said. 

 "Marrone and the Bills did use some analytics while with the Bills, and in my experience covering the team, I'm not sure he was 100 percent on board with it."

Carucci doesn't seem to think the analytics approach that Cleveland is looking to implement with new chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is the way to go, considering football is a different game than baseball, involving more emotion, split second decisions on the field, and so forth.

The Cleveland Browns confirmed that they've made their first interview for the team's head coaching vacancy - Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase is first up.

(Cleveland Browns, news release) The Cleveland Browns on Wednesday interviewed Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase for the team's head coach opening.

Gase met with the Browns' five-person search committee, which includes owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta and Korn/Ferry International consultant Jed Hughes.

Bio blast

Adam Gase - Bears offensive coordinator
Age: 37
Hometown: Ypsilanti, Michigan
College: Michigan State
NFL experience: 13 years
2015-present: Chicago Bears (offensive coordinator)
2013-14: Denver Broncos (offensive coordinator)
2011-12: Denver Broncos (quarterbacks coach)
2008-10: Denver Broncos (wide receivers coach)
2008: San Francisco 49ers (offensive assistant)
2007: Detroit Lions (quarterbacks coach)
2005-06: Detroit Lions (offensive assistant)
2003-04: Detroit Lions (scouting assistant)
2001-02: LSU (recruiting assistant)
2000: LSU (graduate assistant)

LeBron James is weighing in on Johnny Manziel, after reports that Johnny was "Johnny Party", who was allegedly in disguise in Las Vegas the day before the Browns' final game of the year.

Manziel is in the fold of LeBron's marketing company, LRMR.

Before the Cavaliers played the Washington Wizards...LeBron was asked by reporters in Washington about the latest Johnny news.

"I think it's more of a concern for him individually," James told reporters in Washington D.C. before Wednesday's shootaround. "I'm not sure, I don't know all of the details on it, I really haven't really been all up on it, but I've heard a little about it and it's sort of a distraction."

LeBron says he hopes Johnny will get things put together.

"It's just a distraction for not only himself, but for everyone that's around him, including family, people that represent him, people that are around him," LeBron said. "He'll figure it out at some point, we all hope."

The line of Johnny Manziel questioning started with reporters asking him if he used an alias when he visits Las Vegas.

No, LeBron says, he's just himself.

The Cleveland Browns have hired Paul DePodesta from the New York Mets as their Chief Strategy Officer. The main question is: Can he help the Browns?

Tony Williams from Metro New York joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the Browns' new man in the front office and if the analytics approach, the "moneyball" strategy is the elixir that will turn around their luck as a franchise.

"He (DePodesta) is a new-age guy, he's a numbers guy," Williams said.

"I don't want to sound like a grumpy old man, but I'm really not big on analytics, I like eyeball tests," he continued. "Paul is an intellegent guy, he played football at Harvard, so there's hope."

Williams also discussed the legacy of former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and what he meant to that organization.

The Cleveland Browns are making lots of moves, and with so many things in play, you want to know what's next.

Browns beat reporter Nate Ulrich from the Akron Beacon Journal joined the Sam Bourquin Show Tuesday to talk about the firing of Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer and if owner Jimmy Haslam will ever get it right.

"I think it was a good move to turn the page as far as the GM, but I'm not sure about Mike Pettine, he made tough decisions, but the defense was bad and losing 18 out of 21 was bad as well."

Fast forward to the moves made yesterday and today with Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta joining the organization, it leaves a lot of people with a lot of questions.

"It's out of the box thinking," Ulrich said. "Can the Harvard guys work with the football guys and make this thing work?" "It'll be interesting to watch," he added.

The circus continues in Berea, and the Cleveland Browns are looking for a new General Manager and Head Coach.

The "Voice of the Browns" WKYC's Jim Donovan joined the Sam Bourquin Show on a "Black Monday" to talk about the feeling heading into FirstEnergy Stadium Sunday and what the feelings were from not only Donovan's perspective, but the fans' perspective as the Browns played another meaningless game in the month of January against the Steelers.

"It was an eerie feeling," Donovan said.

"Going into the stadium it was like going into Heinz Field, because everybody was wearing a black and gold Steelers shirt and waving their Terrible Towels."

 "Those are the fruits of being 3-13, that happens when you lose a lot, you lose control of the stadium."

Steve King from BrownsDailyDose.com said he expected the firings of Farmer and Pettine to happen, but he says applauds owner Jimmy Haslam for doing what had to be done.

"You can't move forward until you clear the path and that's what he did."

The Cleveland Browns are rebuilding...Again. The Browns have fired another GM and head coach...Again. When will it stop you ask?

Our own Sam Bourquin has his take on the Browns' misfourtunes.

 "We have a seven-layer Browns burrito (of dysfunction) in Berea," says Bourquin. "We still don't have a quarterback, we have a left tackle (in Joe Thomas that doesn't know if he wants to be a part of this mess, and I don't blame him."

He also discussed the addition of Sashi Brown to the organization, saying that he does not understand why he would have control over the 53-man roster and other football decisions.

- - -

(Cleveland Browns) The Cleveland Browns on Sunday night relieved General Manager Ray Farmer and Head Coach Mike Pettine of their duties.

Farmer joined the organization in March of 2013 as the Assistant General Manager and was promoted to General Manager in February of 2014.

Pettine was named the 15th full-time head coach of the Browns on January 23, 2013. In two full seasons with the team, he compiled at 10-22 record.  

Owner Jimmy Haslam released the following statement:

"We greatly appreciate Ray’s and Mike’s dedication and hard work while with the Cleveland Browns. We’ve made this decision because we don’t believe our football team was positioned well for the future. We are all disappointed with where we are and we take full responsibility. We will approach the search for our next football coach and executives to lead our football operations with a clear vision regarding what we need to do to build a successful organization. We will be methodical in looking for strong, smart leaders with high character who are relentlessly driven to improve our football team, willing to look at every resource possible to improve, and who embrace collaboration to ultimately make the best decisions for the Cleveland Browns. We are fully committed to bringing our fans the winning organization they so clearly deserve.”

The Browns-Steelers game to close out the 2015 season has plenty riding on the line: for the Steelers, it's still playoff hopes. For the Browns, it's hopes of the top draft pick and the fate of the front office.

Apparently fans are picking up on this; either Browns fans still want to show the colors, or Steelers fans are taking advantage of ticket availability to cheer on their team in what used to be hostile territory.

In weeks past thousands of tickets -- upwards of four-thousand were online for the San Francisco game --were still available on StubHub.com, some for as low as under $9 apiece. Not so for the season-ender, as the ticket resale website is offering tickets for the Sunday matchup has a litte over one-thousand tickets and prices closer to face value of $50 apiece.

On the official NFL Ticket Exchange site, there are more than 2,200 tickets still available at similar prices. 

Given the growth of support for Pittsburgh in northeast Ohio and the fan base only 112 miles away, it's not surprising Steelers Nation is looking to score a ticket here for what used to be a fierce rivalry. These days instead of fights and insults, the Steelers-Browns contests usually draw sympathetic smiles and hangdog responses.

The 1:00 kickoff will be simulcast in Akron on 97.5 WONE and 1590 WAKR. Both stations are owned by Rubber City Radio Group, which also owns WAKR.net.

The Cleveland Browns will faceoff against rival Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday without starting quarterback Johnny Manziel, in a game that has a lot riding on it for both teams. The Steelers with a win could be on their way to the playoffs, but they need the New York Jets to lose. The Browns are battling for the number one overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft with the Tennessee Titans. Chris Trapasso, of CBSSports and NFL.com, joined the Sam Bourquin Show to discuss who the Browns may select if they indeed do get the first overall pick. Trapasso talked about the Browns might not want to bring general manager Ray Farmer back due to his lack of success in the draft in year's past.

With the ever-changing landscape of the National Football League, Sam Bourquin spoke with Zac Jackson from ProFootballTalk.com to talk about Johnny Manziel being placed in the league's concussion protocol, amongst other items.

With Johnny possibly being ruled out for the season finale against the Steelers, the Browns will likely turn to Austin Davis to quarterback the team.

Jackson says moving forward, the Browns will have a decision to make as far as keeping Johnny or letting him loose.

 "It's just disappointing in a season full of disappointments for him (Manziel) and the organization," Jackson explained.

Head coach Mike Pettine says Johnny came into the building complaining of concussion-like symptoms.

 Zac also discussed Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch and his lackluster performance in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn, as well as the whole stigma surrounding "system quarterbacks.

It's now official from the Browns - quarterback Johnny Manziel has been diagnosed with a concussion, which puts him in the NFL's concussion protocol.

Coach Mike Pettine says Manziel reported concussion-like symptoms this morning.

Further details -- like when he was injured -- were not released, though the team says Manziel took "a couple of hard hits" in Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pettine says if Johnny is out on Sunday, which now appears likely after a concussion diagnosis, Austin Davis would step up.

(Cleveland Browns, news release) Johnny Manziel was placed in the league's concussion protocol Wednesday afternoon, setting the stage for Austin Davis to likely make his second start of the season Sunday against the Steelers.

Manziel, who took a couple of hard hits in the Browns' loss last week at Kansas City, complained of concussion-like symptoms when he arrived at the Browns facility in Berea on Wednesday and underwent tests. He did not practice, as Davis led the first-team offense during the early portion that was open to reporters.

Davis has appeared in two games, starting one since he signed with the Browns in September. He's 32-of-48 for 307 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Browns lost, 37-3, in his start earlier this month against the Bengals.