Browns @ Steelers

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

(AP) -- The NFL's leading receiver from 2013 has begun a year-long suspension, there's a third coach in three years on the sidelines and the team owner is two months removed from being hit with a $92 million fine.

 

Yet somehow, the biggest storyline of the Cleveland Browns' offseason will begin Week 1 holding a clipboard.

 

Brian Hoyer will get the start but all eyes will be on Johnny Manziel on Sunday at Heinz Field, where Cleveland begins yet another new era against a Pittsburgh Steelers team hoping an injection of speed and youth can help it emerge from mediocrity.

 

Winning four or five games for six straight seasons has left the Browns hitting the reset button quite often, but it still registered as a bit of a surprise when they fired first-year coach Rob Chudzinski hours after concluding a 4-12 season with a 20-7 loss in Pittsburgh.

 

That set in motion what even by Cleveland's standards was a tumultuous offseason. It took nearly a month for owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner to settle on Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as the new coach. Haslam agreed in July to pay a $92 million penalty for cheating customers out of promised rebates with his truck-stop company, the culmination of a 14-month federal inquiry. And Josh Gordon, who led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013 despite a two-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, was handed a one-year ban for his latest violation just 10 days before the start of the season.

 

In the midst of all that, the Browns selected Manziel with their second first-round pick - their latest attempt to unearth a franchise passer for a team that's used 11 opening-day starters since 1999.

 

But it'll be Hoyer, not the Heisman Trophy winner, who will be No. 12 after a preseason in which both struggled to distinguish themselves.

 

"This is Brian's job," Pettine said. "I never think of it whether it's a leash or we want a guy to be a game manager. We want him to be confident and go out and play."

 

Hoyer showed flashes in two starts last season before injuring his knee in the third, yet it figures to be only a matter of time before the calls for the rookie begin. But Manziel completed just 50.8 percent of his passes in the preseason, was fined $12,000 for flipping his middle finger at the Redskins' sideline and was ripped by Haslam after photos of his nightclub escapades in Austin and Las Vegas surfaced in July.

 

The Steelers, in fact, expect to see Manziel in some capacity Sunday.

 

"They didn't draft him in the first round to watch," coach Mike Tomlin said.

 

With Tomlin back for an eighth season and Ben Roethlisberger entering his second decade as Pittsburgh's quarterback, there's again a sense of stability for the Steelers.

 

For the past two years, though, that hasn't meant much. After going 12-4 and making it to two Super Bowls from 2008-11, Pittsburgh has been out of the playoffs the last two seasons after a pair of 8-8 finishes.

 

"There is a sense of urgency," receiver Lance Moore said. "We know 8-8 is not what this organization is all about. This organization is about competing for championships and we're going to be willing to do whatever it takes to get back to that."

 

Moore is one of a few new targets for Roethlisberger and the Steelers, who lost receiver Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery in free agency. Fourth-round pick Martavis Bryant is questionable for Week 1, but he'll add some height to group that includes the 5-foot-9 Moore, 5-10 Antonio Brown and 5-11 Markus Wheaton.

 

There's another rookie weapon in the 5-8 Dri Archer, a running back who clocked a 4.26-second 40 at the NFL combine. Archer will split punt returns with Brown and also figures to split out wide in an offense that plans to go no-huddle more frequently.

 

"We have some young people who are capable of infusing some speed, but we're not going to hang our hats on that, and we're not going to talk too much about it," Tomlin said.

 

The Steelers had their own bit of preseason controversy when top-two running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were arrested - and Bell charged with a DUI - after their car was stopped and a bag of marijuana was found a day before their preseason game against Philadelphia.

 

Tomlin said the team chose to handle their discipline internally.

 

Pettine brings a blitz-heavy style over from Buffalo to a defense that was an impressive ninth overall (332.4 yards per game) last season, and his new team will be facing a unit that's no stranger to blitzing in Dick LeBeau's defense.

 

It just might look a bit different. Speedy rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier will start in the middle, second-round pick Stephon Tuitt will see plenty of time on the defensive line, Mike Mitchell will replace veteran safety Ryan Clark and pricey linebacker LaMarr Woodley was released.

 

Cleveland's receiver depth is shaky with Gordon gone - Miles Austin and Andrew Hawkins will start - but Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron should provide a downfield threat for Hoyer.

 

The Browns are also counting on former Texan Ben Tate to step up in his first chance as a full-time back, though that won't be easy Sunday. Cleveland has scored three rushing touchdowns while losing 19 of 21 to Pittsburgh.

 

It's lost 10 straight at Heinz Field by an average of more than two touchdowns and hasn't won a season opener since 2004.

 

Just don't tell Pettine that the odds are against him.

 

"Browns at Steelers in Week 1, in your first game as an NFL head coach?" he told the Browns' official website. "It doesn't get any better than that."

Really hope Hoyer shows up so he can keep Jonathan Manziel on the bench.

[BC 331]

This is going to be one hell of a field goal battle. Who the hell is the Steelers starting runningback this week? Yikes. I may actually take the Browns here. In fact I will.

 

Browns 12

Steelers 3

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Ban yourself.

[BigBen07 285]

This is going to be one hell of a field goal battle. Who the hell is the Steelers starting runningback this week? Yikes. I may actually take the Browns here. In fact I will.

 

Browns 12

Steelers 3

3 points? Seriously? This isn't 1990.

 

26

16

Edited September 7, 2014 by BigBen07

[BC 331]

The Browns have one of the best corners to cover Antonio Brown, not saying Haden shuts him out completely but Pittsburgh isn't lighting up the scoreboard especially with a one dimensional offense.

 

Edit: Ah okay, the pot suspension was delayed. That explains it

Edited September 7, 2014 by BC

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Joe Haden is overrated. Steeler receivers have always had great success against him. He gets burned way too often to be considered a top corner.

[BC 331]

..

Edited September 7, 2014 by BC

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

In their one matchup last year(Haden only played vs Pit once due to injury, I guess), Antonio Brown caught 5 passes for 80 yards and a TD while being covered by Haden.

[Sarge+ 3,436]

You realize the Steelers are without Leveon Bell, Legarette Blount, Lance Moore, and Martavis Bryant? That leaves Brown, Wheaton, Miller, Spaeth, and that third round twig. Not seeing how Pittsburgh is an auto lock here. I mean yeah it might be an upset but its not that crazy.

 

We're not an auto lock to win, but you thinking we're only going to score 3 points the entire freaking game is absurd.

 

 

Cleveland's offense isn't going to do shit. You realize that, right? They are gonna lose the field position battle almost the entire game. Their D is decent, but it will get tired. You really think they will keep us out of the end zone all game? Don't be ridiculous. As Air and I already pointed out, Haden can't cover Brown.

 

Also, where are you getting that Bell and Blount aren't playing? Failing pretty hard here, BC.

Edited September 7, 2014 by Sarge

[BigBen07 285]

BTW, Bell and Blount are playing tomorrow. Better keep up to date.

[Attyla the Hawk 197]

Pittsburgh should score 13 by mistake. So I'd say it's more like 19-12. Something super goofy like that.

[KempBolt 498]

Pitt scored around 30/game during the second half of last season. They burned Haden when they played him, and Gilbert has predictably looked like crap in preseason. Pettine's defense is exceptionally complex even for the NFL-- it's not at all unlikely that the Browns take a while to "get it."

 

10

 

24

Edited September 7, 2014 by KempBolt

[RazorStar 4,025]

40

6

 

Start watching for Hoyer the destroyer, stay for the riots.

[Bay 2,003]

lolBC

 

Steelers by at least 10.

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

Browns declared RE Desmond Bryant, CB Pierre Desir, RB Glenn Winston, CB Robert Nelson, LB Eric Martin, OL Paul McQuistan and DL John Hughes inactive for Week 1 against the Steelers.

It's a quiet list for a team entering Week 1 at largely full health. Bryant is week to week.

 

 

 

 

Steelers declared WR Martavis Bryant, WR Lance Moore, NT Daniel McCullers, CB Brice McCain, QB Landry Jones, OG Chris Hubbard and G/C Wesley Johnson inactive for Week 1 against the Browns.

The No. 118 overall pick of May's draft, Bryant is week to week. Currently no better than No. 4 on the depth chart, Bryant is without re-draft value. Moore is week to week, as well.

[Cherry 1,302]

17

 

13

[Sarge+ 3,436]

BC...

 

[Bay 2,003]

:roflcopter:

[Sarge+ 3,436]

 

Pls someone re-size that for an avatar. Pls.

 

lmaoBrownsforeverandever

 

lmaoBC

[RazorStar 4,025]

Antonio Brown is gonna get fined so hard.

[BC 331]

Never doubt Big Ben. That strike where he had 5 Browns on him and then hits a covered Antonio Brown.

[Tridentdawgpound 1,043]

If Brown got tossed like he should have we might have won but as it is life is devoid of all happiness.

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Tommy sad.

 

What about Jabaal Sheard ripping Michael Palmer's helmet off intentionally? Sheard should have been tossed.

[Tridentdawgpound 1,043]

Sheard didn't kick a guy in the face. Brown did. Brown kicked a guy in the face.

 

Kicked a guy.

 

In the face.

 

Kicked him in the face.

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Intentionally ripping someone's helmet off is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous than a guy getting kicked in the face with his helmet still on.

 

No need to be upset.