Swine flu has been getting a lot of publicity these days. And when almost a dozen members of the Cleveland Browns—Jerome Harrison, Alex Mack, Anthony Madison, Brodney Pool, Shaun Rogers, Robert Royal, Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, Lawrence Vickers, Corey Williams, Kamerion Wimbley—came down with some sort of influenza this week, it prompted me to ask the National Football League if they had a policy on the infamous H1N1 virus.

I sent an email to VP of Corporate Communications Brian McCarthy and he told me all NFL clubs received the following memo from Commissioner Roger Goodell:
“If a club has at least six …read more

The Cleveland Browns aren’t actively pursuing a trade for quarterback Brady Quinn. But they are getting phone calls. And they’re listening. The Browns are in the middle of a “rebuilding phase”—if you want to call it that. And their 1-4 record proves it. I guess. Derek Anderson took over the starting quarterback role two weeks ago and even though he only completed two passes last week against Buffalo (seriously, I think I could’ve done that), he’s still the starter and Brady will hold the clipboard, so to speak, for the foreseeable future.
Browns head coach Eric Mangini said what he could …read more

The winless Cleveland Browns (0-4) make their defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, available to the media once a week. And it’s usually a spirited, honest exchange of words with the Cleveland press. Coach Ryan tells it like it is. And he’s rarely at a loss for words. Regarding his team’s overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, coach Ryan (the twin brother of N.Y. Jets head coach Rex Ryan)—without being prompted by the local media—questioned Bengals kicker Shayne Graham’s game-winning, 31-yard field goal with four seconds left.
Coach Ryan didn’t agree with the end result:
“You can watch the tape. I’m not …read more

The Cleveland Browns have traded disgruntled receiver Braylon Edwards to the N.Y. Jets for receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two undisclosed Draft picks. Terms of the deal were not known at the time of this post. Braylon is signed through 2009, so I don’t know whether he’ll be getting a new deal. And if there isn’t an extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, he will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2010.
It’s been a season of turmoil for the Braylon (and the entire Browns organization, for that matter)—who never realized his full potential in Cleveland. In four …read more

Brady Quinn will be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns when they open the 2009 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. Browns head coach Eric Mangini didn’t reveal who the starting QB would be—he was trying to fool the Vikings by not announcing his decision—but word got out pretty quickly after Brady took the first team snaps in practice today. Even Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens got in on the disclosure, announcing it on his Twitter page today.
I don’t know why coach Mangini was keeping this decision a secret anyway. It isn’t like prep work for Brady Quinn …read more

I love looking at depth charts this time of year. And if you check out ClevelandBrowns.com, you’ll notice QB Derek Anderson has the lead on Brady Quinn for the starting quarterback position—at least on “paper”—even though, from what I’ve been hearing, Brady has looked better during the team’s practice time, showing a great deal of poise, maturity and, of course, arm strength.
Browns head coach Eric Mangini won’t admit to it, however, insisting nothing has been decided yet:
“My goal is to give each the opportunity to prove they are the starter. We’ve split reps equally. We’ve split situations equally. And they’ll …read more

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth today that he is suspended indefinitely without pay from the National Football League, effective immediately. Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter to Donte’:

“The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable. While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.”
“The conduct that …read more

Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth settled his criminal and civil cases resulting from a drunk driving accident that killed 59-year-old Floridian Mario Reyes back in March. After pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter, Donte’ will get 30 days in jail, two years of house arrest and eight years of probation. He will donate $2,500 each to Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Parents of Murdered Children. And he will lose his driver’s license forever. Donte’ has already been taken into custody and his 30-day prison sentence is underway.
Cleveland Browns GM General Manager George Kokinis made the following statement:
“The Browns are very conscious of …read more

The starting quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns is still a question mark for new head coach Eric Mangini. Both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are competing for first-team QB honors and if today’s minicamp practice was any indication, coach Mangini is still a long way from finding the answer to his quarterbacking dilemma.
While many perceive the Browns to be in an enviable position with two potential starters, neither player is taking command of new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s game plan the way the team had hoped. In fact, during two-minute drills this afternoon, both quarterbacks finished their work with …read more

Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth was charged with DUI manslaughter today. An arrest warrant was filed in Miami for a March 14 accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes.

Donte’s blood-alcohol level after the crash was .126, well above Florida’s legal limit of .08, according to results of a blood test. If convicted, he would face a maximum 15-year prison sentence. The Browns released the following statement today:
“The charges levied against Donte’ Stallworth are very serious and we are disappointed he has put himself in this position. We are saddened by the circumstances that have taken place and our thoughts and …read more