CLEVELAND (AP) — Amid a masked, muted celebration in the locker room after the Browns ended the NFL's longest playoff drought, coach Kevin Stefanski asked for a game ball and then told Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio to step forward.
Stefanski flipped the ball to Bitonio, who had survived seven long seasons, 0-16 in 2017, the Johnny Manziel mess and numerous coaching changes.
“You're going to the playoffs, 75,” Stefanki told Bitonio.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Squeezing the game ball in his left hand, Baker Mayfield looked at the giant scoreboard showing highlights of Cleveland's glory days.
In the stands, masked fans hugged, high-fived and took one last look at the final score — Cleveland 24, Pittsburgh 22 — just to make sure.
The Browns, winless just three seasons ago and so bad for so long, are in the playoffs.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns chief of staff Callie Brownson will handle game-day duties for Cleveland's tight ends on Sunday in Jacksonville, a first in team history for a female.
Brownson, who was hired by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski shortly after he came to Cleveland earlier this year, will fill in for coach Drew Petzing. He did not travel to Florida with the team after his wife, Louisa, gave birth to the couple’s first child on Saturday.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns not only managed without star Myles Garrett for one game, they won.
They'll have to try to do it again.
The dynamic end will miss this week's game against Jacksonville as he continues to recover from the COVID-19 virus. Garrett tested positive last Friday and sat out Sunday's 22-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. was in a much better place emotionally and physically. This was going to be the season he changed minds.
He was determined to make 2020 — and its many obstacles — a special year, re-establish himself as one of the NFL's best players and lead the Browns back to the playoffs, along with with best friend and teammate Jarvis Landry.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had his second negative COVID-19 test in 24 hours, clearing him to rejoin his teammates and play in Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.
Beckham was kept away from Cleveland's facility and didn't practice for two days after feeling ill on Thursday and being sent home. In keeping with NFL coronavirus protocol, he had to twice test negative before being allowed back.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield found Odell Beckham Jr. and maybe some of his missing swagger.
Mayfield threw two touchdown passes, Nick Chubb ran for two scores and 124 yards and the Cleveland Browns gave coach Kevin Stefanski his first NFL victory Thursday night by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 35-30 on the NFL's 100th birthday.