The 2011 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team had hoped to improve on its 2010 season, where it finished with a record of 5–11 and placed third in the AFC North, however, the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14. This season marked the second season under the leadership of team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, as well as the first season under head coach Pat Shurmur. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Off-season
Personnel changes
On January 3, 2011, one day after the 2010 season, the Browns fired head coach Eric Mangini. In two seasons with the Browns, Mangini had a record of 10–22 and a disappointing 2–10 record against division opponents.[1]
On January 13, the team hired former St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to replace Mangini as head coach. Shurmur served as the Rams' offensive coordinator from 2009–2010, and was an offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999–2008. This is his first opportunity as an NFL head coach.[2]
On January 21, Shurmur made his first addition to the coaching staff, by hiring Dick Jauron as defensive coordinator. Jauron, who most recently served as the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary coach, has served as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995–98, head coach of the Chicago Bears from 1999–2003, and head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2006–09.[3] Jauron replaces Rob Ryan, who became the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.
On January 25, the Browns hired Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. Tabor most recently served as the Chicago Bears' assistant special teams coach from 2008–2010.[4] Tabor replaces Brad Seely, who became the special teams coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.
On January 31, the Browns added four new coaches to their staff. The Browns hired former Oakland Raiders defensive line coach Dwaine Board as defensive line coach, former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Billy Davis as linebackers coach, former University of Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple as quarterbacks coach, and former NFL wide receiver Mike Wilson as wide receivers coach.[5]
The rest of the Browns' position coaches were retained from Mangini's staff. The Browns have not hired an offensive coordinator, as Shurmur intends to call the offensive plays for the team.[6]
Scheme Changes
This season marks the Browns' transition into the West Coast Offense of Coach Pat Shurmur and the 4–3 defense of defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.
Roster Changes
Free Agency
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Player re-signed by Browns |
F The Browns placed the franchise tag on Dawson
Signings
Trades
2011 Draft class
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The Browns did not have a 3rd[32] or 6th round selection.[34] The Browns traded their original 7th round selection[35] but later received a new 7th round selection as a compensatory pick.
Undrafted free agents
* Weatherhead also played for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.
Uniform changes
On June 16, it was announced that the Browns would be wearing white jerseys for all home games. The Browns had previously worn white at home during the 1950s–1980s and again in the early 2000s.[42] Because the home team for all Browns' away games chose to wear their colored jersey, the Browns wore the same uniform for all 16 games for the first time in franchise history (although the Browns wore their brown jerseys for three preseason games).
Staff
Cleveland Browns 2011 staff |
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Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
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Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
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Roster
2011 Cleveland Browns final roster |
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics 53 Active, 11 Inactive, 8 Practice squad
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Preseason
Schedule
The Browns' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Roster Moves
After the third preseason game, all NFL teams had to reduce their rosters to 80 players. On August 28, The Browns released eight players, the majority of them being undrafted free agents.[39][43]
After the final preseason game, all teams had to reduce their rosters to 53 players. The Browns released 25 players and placed two players – RB Brandon Jackson and G Eric Steinbach – on injured reserve. Notable players released include QB Jarrett Brown and DB Coye Francies.[38]
Regular season
Schedule
LEGEND:
- Bold indicates division games.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CLE (8:36) – Phil Dawson 20 yd field goal
Browns 17, Bengals 13 Drive: 10 plays, 50 yds, 4:50
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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The Browns began the season with a division game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals struck first, with two Mike Nugent field goals and a Jermaine Gresham touchdown reception. Down 13–0, the Browns struck back, with Colt McCoy completing two touchdown passes to give Cleveland the lead at halftime. Phil Dawson gave the Browns an insurance field goal, but late in the fourth, Bengals backup QB Bruce Gradkowski caught the Browns defense slow out of the huddle and hit A. J. Green for a 41-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner. With the 27–17 loss, the Browns started the season 0–1.
Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts
Game information |
First quarter
- IND (10:31) – Adam Vinatieri 39 yd field goal
Colts 3, Browns 0 Drive: 10 plays, 67 yds, 4:29
Second quarter
- IND (14:15) – Adam Vinatieri 27 yd field goal
Colts 6, Browns 0 Drive: 10 plays, 78 yds, 4:40
- CLE (7:53) – Evan Moore 16 yd pass from Colt McCoy (Phil Dawson kick)
Browns 7, Colts 6 Drive: 11 plays, 55 yds, 6:22
- IND (3:53) – Adam Vinatieri 52 yd field goal
Colts 9, Browns 7 Drive: 10 plays, 34 yds, 4:00
- CLE (0:15) – Peyton Hillis 1 yd run (Phil Dawson kick)
Browns 14, Colts 9 Drive: 10 plays, 80 yds, 3:28
Third quarter
- IND (6:52) – Adam Vinatieri 36 yd field goal
Browns 14, Colts 12 Drive: 9 plays, 42 yds, 3:52
Fourth quarter
- CLE (10:57) – Phil Dawson 20 yd field goal
Browns 17, Colts 12 Drive: 7 plays, 19 yds, 3:49
- CLE (3:55) – Peyton Hillis 24 yd run (Phil Dawson kick)
Browns 24, Colts 12 Drive: 3 plays, 28 yds, 0:55
- CLE (2:59) – Phil Dawson 23 yd field goal
Browns 27, Colts 12 Drive: 4 plays, 9 yds, 0:24
- IND (0:24) – Dallas Clark 6 yd pass from Kerry Collins (Adam Vinatieri kick)
Browns 27, Colts 19 Drive: 12 plays, 83 yds, 2:35
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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The Browns took on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, with both teams looking to rebound from losses. The Colts moved the ball well early, but had to settle for two Adam Vinatieri field goals to take a 6–0 lead. The Browns answered with an Evan Moore touchdown reception from Colt McCoy. The Colts briefly regained the lead on another Vinatieri field goal, but the Browns responded with a Peyton Hillis touchdown run to take a 14–9 lead into halftime. The Colts added another field goal in the third, but the Browns scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth to put the game away and defeat the Colts 27–19. With the win, the Browns improved to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 3: Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Dolphins |
7 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
Browns |
0 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
17 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CLE (10:37) – Phil Dawson 30 yd field goal
Browns 10, Dolphins 10 Drive: 9 plays, 68 yds, 4:23
- MIA (2:29) – Dan Carpenter 41 yd field goal
Dolphins 13, Browns 10 Drive: 14 plays, 70 yds, 8:08
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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The Browns faced the Miami Dolphins without their leading rusher Peyton Hillis in a Week 3 matchup. The Dolphins took an early lead, converting a Colt McCoy interception into a 7–0 lead on a touchdown pass from Chad Henne. The Browns tied the game on a touchdown pass from McCoy to Joshua Cribbs. The Dolphins took the lead again on a Dan Carpenter field goal, and took a 10–7 lead into halftime. The Browns again tied the game in the third with Phil Dawson's field goal. The Dolphins added two more field goals, and had the Browns down six points in the final minutes. McCoy led the Browns down the field, and hit Mohamed Massaquoi on a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Browns a last-minute, 17–16 victory. With the win, the Browns improved to 2–1 and it also became the first season since 2007 to where the team was actually at least a game above .500.
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 4: Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Titans |
7 |
14 |
10 |
0 |
31 |
Browns |
3 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
13 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns dropped to 2–2, heading into their Week 5 bye.
Week 6: at Oakland Raiders
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns fell to 2–3.
Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Seahawks |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Browns |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the win, the Browns improved to 3–3.
Week 8: at San Francisco 49ers
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns fell to 3–4.
Week 9: at Houston Texans
Week Nine: Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Browns |
3 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
Texans |
14 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
30 |
at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 71,511
- Referee: Alberto Riveron
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns fell to 3–5.
In reaction to this game, Cleveland comedian Mike Polk filmed a video at Cleveland Browns Stadium in which he berated the Browns and dubbed the stadium a "factory of sadness", a nickname that has caught on for both the stadium and the Browns themselves.
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week Ten: St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Rams |
0 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
13 |
Browns |
3 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns fell to 3–6.
Week 11: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Eleven: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Jaguars |
0 |
7 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
Browns |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the win, the Browns improved to 4–6.
Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week Twelve: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Browns |
7 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
20 |
Bengals |
7 |
0 |
10 |
6 |
23 |
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 57°F, Rainy
- Game attendance: 48,260
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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After being swept by the Bengals for the first time since 2009, the Browns dropped to 4–7.
Week 13: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week Thirteen: Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Ravens |
0 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
24 |
Browns |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST[44]
- Game weather: 51°F, (Light Rain)
- Game attendance: 63,648
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With their 7th straight loss to the Ravens, the Browns fell to 4–8.
Week 14: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns dropped to 4–9. And as a result they officially clinched 4th-place in the AFC North.
Week 15: at Arizona Cardinals
Week Fifteen: Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
Total |
Browns |
7 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
Cardinals |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
20 |
at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST/2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 60,443
- Referee: Scott Green
- TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Browns fell to 4–10 and finished 1–3 against NFC Opponents.
Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With their 8th straight loss to the Ravens, the Browns fell to 4–11.
Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Seventeen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Steelers |
0 |
3 |
10 |
0 |
13 |
Browns |
0 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter CLEVELAND: Dawson 26-yard field goal (6:03)
Cleveland Browns 3, Pittsburgh Steelers 0
CLEVELAND: Dawson 45-yard field goal (1:06)
Cleveland Browns 6, Pittsburgh Steelers 0
PITTSBURGH: Suisham 19-yard field goal (0:00)
Cleveland Browns 6, Pittsburgh Steelers 3
Third quarter
PITTSBURGH: Suisham 29-yard field goal (9:43)
Cleveland Browns 6, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
PITTSBURGH: Redman 7 Yd Run (Suisham Kick) (5:27)
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Cleveland Browns 6
CLEVELAND: Dawson 49-yard field goal (1:59)
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Cleveland Browns 9
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
- PIT – Roethlisberger, 221 yards
- CLE – Wallace, 177 yards
Top rushers
- PIT – Redman, 92 yards
- CLE – Wallace, 44 yards
Top receivers
- PIT – Brown, 90 yards
- CLE – Cribbs, 91 yards
Top tacklers
- PIT – Timmons, 6 tackles
- CLE – Jackson, 13 tackles
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With the loss, the Browns finished the season 4–12 and last place in the AFC North.
Standings
References
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- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[permanent dead link]
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- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 On Day 1 of the draft, after trading with Atlanta (see below) the Browns traded their 1st and 3rd round picks (Nos. 27 and 70, used to select Jon Baldwin and Justin Houston, respectively) to the Kansas City Chiefs for their first round selection (No. 21, used to select Phil Taylor)
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 On Day 1 of the draft, the Browns traded their 1st round pick (No. 6, used to select Julio Jones) to the Atlanta Falcons for their 1st (No. 27, traded to Kansas City), 2nd (No. 59, used to select Greg Little), and 4th (No. 124, used to select Owen Marecic) round picks, as well as the Falcons' first and fourth round picks in 2012.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 On day 3 of the draft, the Browns traded their two 6th round picks (Nos. 168 and 170, used to select DeMarcus Love and Mistral Raymond, respectively) to the Minnesota Vikings for their fifth round pick (No. 150, used to select Jason Pinkston).
- ↑ In March 2010, the Browns traded their seventh round selection (No. 209, later traded to Detroit) to the Seattle Seahawks for QB Seneca Wallace
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 36.7 36.8 36.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 37.7 37.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.steelersdepot.com/2011/12/steelers-week-17-sunday-game-against-browns-flexed-to-415-kickoff/
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Franchise |
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Stadiums |
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Key personnel |
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Culture |
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Lore |
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Rivalries |
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Playoff appearances (30) |
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Division championships (12) |
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Conference championships (11) |
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League championships (8) |
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Retired numbers |
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Hall of Fame inductees |
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Current league affiliations |
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Former league affiliation |
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