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Patricia Breslin Modell, a longtime television actress who became the wife of former NFL team owner Art Modell, died Wednesday, Oct. 12. She was 80 and had been hospitalized for around five months.

Eric Mangini was fired by the Browns after two 5-11 seasons as coach, a move that was expected. The team made the announcement just after 10 a.m. ET. Team president Mike Holmgren released a statement that read: "This decision was not easy for me, and it was one into which I put a great deal of thought. Although we have made improvements this season, my responsibility is to ensure that we establish a program that will allow this team to compete at a championship level. That will continue to be our goal in everything we do. I want to thank...

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Tom Heckert has agreed to become the Cleveland Browns’ new GM, a person familiar with the hiring told the Associated Press yesterday. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details of Heckert’s contract have not been finalized, said Heckert, 42, could join the team as early as today. The Browns recently hired Mike Holmgren as their president and now have found a replacement for GM George Kokinis, fired in November. Holmgren interviewed Heckert last week in between meetings with coach Eric Mangini, who is returning for a second season. Heckert has been...

CLEVELAND (AP)—Former Seattle and Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren is interested in working for the struggling Cleveland Browns. Holmgren said on his weekly radio show on Seattle’s KJR that he has not yet spoken to Browns owner Randy Lerner, who is looking for a “serious, credible leader” football authority to run his struggling team. However, Holmgren did indicate he would welcome the chance to take on a rebuilding project like the 1-8 Browns. “It takes a tremendous amount of energy, but there is a certain appeal there,” the 61-year-old Holmgren. “There’s something in my personality, too, that taking on those...

Josh Cribbs walks with late coach's son on his senior night In a dismal year for the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver/returner Josh Cribbs has proved to be one of the only bright spots. Last month he showed he's equally good off the field. The Pro Bowler traveled to Berea, OH to walk onto the field on senior night with the son of one of his former college coaches. Michael Drake, a senior receiver at Stow High School, lost his father, Mike, in 2005 to lymphoma. He had assumed he'd be accompanied by his mother and sister for senior night introductions...

N.Y.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- This is what happens when two bad teams get together in windy conditions: Browns 6, Bills 3. Billy Cundiff kicked an 18-yard field goal with 23 seconds left for the Browns' first victory of the season, ending a 10-game losing streak over two seasons. They are 1-4. Buffalo dropped to 1-4. Bills returner Roscoe Parrish mishandled a Dave Zastudil punt deep in Buffalo territory late in the fourth. The Browns' Blake Costanzo recovered. Cundiff eventually kicked the field goal. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson was 2-for-17. And the Browns still won. The Bills constantly hurt themselves with...

Yesterday was not a great day for Braylon Edwards. He failed to get his hands on the ball even one time, as the Cleveland Browns lost an overtime heartbreaker to the rival Cincinnati Bengals. Later that night, though, Braylon did allegedly get his hands on a fellow named Edward Givens. The name is blacked out from the police report, but multiple sources told Cleveland.com that Edwards is the suspect. Here's the story that Givens, a promoter of some kind with an organization called Eighty81, told police. "After the club closed, I was outside greeting and saying goodbye to people. Braylon...

McCain Endorsed by Two Cleveland Browns Wednesday, October 8, 2008 9:12 PM By: Newsmax staff While campaigning in Strongsville, Ohio, Sen. John McCain trotted out two of the most popular players for the Cleveland Browns to praise his candidacy, according to a report in the Washington Post. Brady Quinn, a quarterback for the team, and Joe Thomas, a left tackle, smiled and waved with the candidate as a wall of noise erupted from the assembled crowd. "Too often we label people heroes. Get caught up in the moment. But tonight, we have a real hero amongst us," Quinn said in...

Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Brady Quinn

After years of barging over husky defenders on the gridiron, ex-Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown is attempting to tackle two serious video game heavyweights in court. According to Bloomberg, Brown has filed suit against Sony Computer Entertainment America and Electronic Arts over using his likeness in the popular Madden football series. He seeks a court order preventing either company from continuing to use his likeness in the franchise as well as damages stemming from trademark violation. At issue is the starting running back on Madden's "All Browns Team." The character is African-American and bears the same jersey number Brown...

LONDON: Aston Villa of the English Premier League said Monday that it had agreed to a takeover by Randy Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns in the United States.

Baptizing Athletic Excellence - OH HS football playoffs Wow ! A Baptism of athletes early in week.... The beginning of an interesting playoff week for High School Football in Ohio (more in a bit re baptisms) - This is a sports post, a spiritual post ..a warm fuzzy post it is long but hope those who have the time will scan it... Went to high school playoff games at Brown's stadium yesterday - Saturday November 12, 2005. Can this be fall in Ohio.. November 11th & the temps over 60 ! Wow. Had it been 30, I would not...

Browns Give Super Bowl Tickets To Marines Tickets Worth $500 POSTED: 11:15 am EST February 3, 2005 CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns are sending 50 U.S. Marines to the Super Bowl Sunday. According to NewsChannel5, the Marines recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, or are about to be deployed for active duty. "I have never been so surprised and grateful for a gift like this, even on Christmas morning," said Berninger of Martha's Vineyard, Mass. "I am definitely a New Englander and have never been to a college game or an NFL game, let alone the Super Bowl. I can't...

CLEVELAND (AP) - The Browns will pay tribute Sunday to a former player who died in the Vietnam War and has gone unrecognized by the NFL for decades. It has long been reported that Bob Kalsu, a Buffalo Bills lineman, was the only former NFL player killed while serving in Vietnam. But it recently came to the attention of the Pro Football Hall of Fame that Air Force Maj. Don Steinbrunner, a rookie offensive tackle with the Browns in 1953, died in Vietnam in 1967. Steinbrunner, who joined the Air Force ROTC while at Washington State University, was called to...

The President stormed into Ohio, West Virginia, and is scheduled to do the same in Pennsylvania, campaigning for re-election in several cities. He'll be attending the wedding of his nephew, son of brother-Governor Jeb: George P. Bush, next weekend in Maine. The Bush family does not confirm the location or details. He'll attend the wedding after he addresses a campaign rally in Stratham, New Hampshire. Enjoy this Saturday edition of the Dose @ Sanity Island.

Found this on Yahoo! News but I couldn't find it on the ohio.com site. Article follows: Bush's spiral awes Browns By Marla Ridenour, Beacon Journal staff writer BEREA - No matter what the Cleveland Browns think of President Bush's politics, at least they'll remember he throws a tight spiral. The president surprised the team with a 45-minute visit before practice Saturday morning en route to appearances in Canton and Pittsburgh. He shook hands and chatted with players and employees, posed for pictures and threw a few passes to receivers Dennis Northcutt and Andre Davis. "It was definitely the honor of...

Browns In Awe of President By Zac Jackson, Staff Writer This report filed July 31, 2004 President Bush greets Phil Dawson Saturday morning. Photo By John H. Reid III The chance to meet George W. Bush had Browns kicker Phil Dawson feeling downright giddy. That no introduction was necessary—the President recognized Dawson and recalled a game-winning kick he’d made at the University of Texas—left Dawson speechless. Shock and awe, NFL style. Bush visited the team before practice Saturday morning, played catch with the Browns receivers, and mingled with players, coaches, and staff. “It was great to catch a pass from...

CANTON, Ohio - President Bush, defending his record on the economy, told supporters Saturday in an Ohio town where job losses are a major issue that he has a four-year plan for peace and prosperity. "After four more years, the American economy will continue to be the strongest in the world," Bush said as his Democratic rival, John Kerry, campaigned in neighboring Pennsylvania. Bush said factors beyond his control, such as the Sept. 11 attacks and corporate scandals, were to blame for the country's economic problems over the past four years. He also said the economy was weakening when he...

BEREA, Ohio - On a campaign trip through Ohio on Saturday, President Bush made an unscheduled stop for a game of catch — with the Cleveland Browns. Bush visited the Browns training facility, where he was escorted by coach Butch Davis and the team's new quarterback, Jeff Garcia. Speaking about offensive tackle Ryan Tucker, Bush cracked: "He went to the same high school as my wife, but he's not as good-looking." Laura Bush and Tucker went to Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and Tucker played football at Texas Christian University. As he prepared to leave, Bush told...

It's that time of year....time for the NFL Draft. My condolences to Carson Palmer, the latest victim of Klingler-Carter Syndrome, though he's being amply compensated (I wonder if Mike Brown sent him a coach ticket to fly to Cincy). I'm sure the better QB, Byron Leftwich, is quite relieved. I think my Browns will take an offensive lineman, though I slightly prefer cornerback Andre Woolfolk. -Eric

Wow. What a finish to the regular season in the National Football League. We now know the final standings for the regular season, the official playoff rankings, and the playoff schedule. There is a similar NFL thread here (thank you Counter Counter Culture), but that was before Week 17. Now everything is settled and everybody knows who made it and all that good stuff. So, here we are. Post your pics, highlights, scores, predictions and, of course, TRASH TALKING! ------------------------------------------PLAYOFF RANKINGS 2002 AFC Playoff Rankings: 1. Oakland 2. Tennessee 3. Pittsburgh 4. NY Jets 5. Indianapolis 6. Cleveland OUT: Miami,...