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.
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]
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.
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).
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]
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
Week 2: Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
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
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
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
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
0
10
0
3
13
Browns
3
6
3
0
12
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: November 13
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), (Cloudy) / Windy Gusting to Gale Force
^Leahy, Sean (January 3, 2011). "Cleveland Browns fire coach Eric Mangini". USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
^Withers, Tom (January 13, 2011). "Browns' hire Pat Shurmur". Associated Press. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
^Withers, Tom (January 21, 2011). "Browns name Dick Jauron defensive coordinator". Associated Press. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
^"Tabor named special teams coordinator". ClevelandBrowns.com. January 25, 2011. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
^Florjancic, Matt (January 31, 2011). "Browns add to coaching staff". ClevelandBrowns.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
^"Shurmur press conf. transcript-1/14". January 14, 2011. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
^"Lions sign RB Bell". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n"Browns sign kicker Dawson, draft picks". Associated Press. July 30, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.[permanent dead link]
^"49ers sign ILB Costanzo". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
^"Browns Franchise Dawson". ClevelandBrowns.com. February 22, 2011. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
^"Cowboys sign SS Elam". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
^ a bWithers, Tom (March 3, 2011). "Key Players Re-Sign with Browns Hours Before Becoming Free Agents". Associated Press. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
^ a b"Browns announce roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 1, 2011. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^"CHIEFS SIGN CB BRANDON CARR AND S SABBY PISCITELLI". KCChiefs.com. August 4, 2011. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
^"Browns re-sign Derreck Robinson". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 1, 2011. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^"Jaguars sign OLB Roth". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
^"Browns re-sign TE Smith". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^"Dolphins sign ILB Trusnik". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^"Texans sign FB Vickers". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
^Lutui, Deuce (July 31, 2011). "Cardinals Sign Free Agent OG Floyd Womack". Retrieved August 19, 2011.
^"Lions sign CB Writht". Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^ a b cGrossi, Tony (July 28, 2011). "Cleveland Browns make it official, confirm release of QB Jake Delhomme and two others". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
^ a b c d e f"Browns make roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
^"Cowboys Sign DE Coleman". Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^"Colts Claim DeVree off Waivers". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^"Saints sign veteran DT Rogers". The Sports Network. March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
^ a b c d eDiMatteo, Steve (August 3, 2011). "Browns Sign Punter Richmond McGee and Two Undrafted Rookies". Dawg Pound Daily. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
^"Report: Browns agree with CB Patterson". Pro Football Weekly. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^Cabot, Mary Kay (July 31, 2011). "Cleveland Browns trade for Rams guard John Greco". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^Jonas, Nick (August 2, 2011). "Browns ink first-round pick Taylor". Sports Network. Retrieved August 2, 2011.[permanent dead link]
^ a bOn 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)
^ a bOn 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.
^ a bOn 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).
^ a b c d e f g h i jCypert, Thomas (July 30, 2011). "Browns Start Camp with Steinbach & Massaquoi Injured, 21 Undrafted Free Agents". Cleveland Browns Forum. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^ a b c d e f g h i"Browns sign undrafted free agents". The News Herald. July 26, 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
^ a b c d e fUlrich, Nate (September 3, 2011). "Browns' 53-man roster by position and list of cuts". Ohio.com. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
^ a b c d e f g"Cleveland Browns waive 8 players Sunday". WOIO. August 28, 2011. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
^ a b c d e f gPetrak, Scott (September 3, 2011). "Browns Cut 17 Players, Have 10 More to go Tonight". Chronicle Telegram Online. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
^ a bRados, Paul (July 26, 2011). "Browns add a handful of undrafted free agents". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
^
Florjancic, Matt (June 16, 2011). "Ask Matt". ClevelandBrowns.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
^Gesk, Michael (August 29, 2011). "NFL Roster Cuts: Cleveland Browns Released Eight To Get To 80 Players". SBNation. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
^Schefter, Adam (November 21, 2011). "NFL announces Week 13 flex plan". espn.com. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^"Steelers Week 17 Sunday Game Against Browns Flexed to 4:15 Kickoff". December 25, 2011.
External links
2011 Cleveland Browns at Pro Football Reference (Profootballreference.com)