Browns Gab

Browns running back Montario Hardesty left last night’s game with a left knee injury, and the preliminary diagnosis is a torn ACL, ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Hardesty battled injuries throughout his college career, including a torn ACL in his right knee as a freshman.

A bone bruise to his right knee kept Hardesty sidelined for most of training camp and the first three pre-season games. Losing Hardesty for the season would be a big blow to the Browns’ running game, which was looking to pair the 6-0, 225-pounder with Jerome Harrison (5-9, 205) to hopefully a running back tandem capable of moving the chains and controlling the clock.

With Hardesty out, 2009 sixth-round pick James Davis, who spent much of his rookie season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, is expected to gain more carries, as will Peyton Hillis.

More bad news for rookie running back Montario Hardesty. The Browns back will have an MRI tomorrow and is on crutches following the game, this after he hurt his knee in the second quarter of the Browns 13-10 win over the Bears at Browns Stadium Thursday night.

“I hurt my knee making a cut,” a dejected Hardesty said. “I really don’t know what it is. I can’t say it’s not frustrating. I want to stay positive, get as much information as possible and return my focus to getting better. I’m hopeful whatever it is, I can get back as soon as possible.”

Hardesty said it felt nothing like any of his previous injuries. A bone bruise on his right knee led to Hardesty missing 27 days of training camp and three preseason games. That’s the knee on which Hardesty had surgery to repair the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament tear as a freshman in 2005.

The injury to his left knee occurred on his seventh carry in his preseason debut against the Bears. That’s the knee that reportedly received an arthscopic procedure in 2006.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company, a subsidiary of the adidas Group, has introduced a new line of hats and visors, which features the primary colors and logos of all 32 NFL teams. Golfers across the country can now fly the colors of their favorite teams on the golf course (not on Sundays of course).

Fans can choose from all 32 NFL teams at on-course and off-course retail locations, in addition to select sporting goods retailers. If you are a displaced fan and don’t think you will be able to find your favorite team locally, go to www.taylormadegolfgear.com for a complete selection.

Each hat and visor will feature an NFL team’s logo blazoned on the left panel. The team’s name will also be stitched onto the left corner of the hat/visor. The TaylorMade logo will appear in 3D embroidery on the front panel of the hat.

The hats will be available at retail at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $27.99.

From Espn.com

33. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland Browns

Analysis: Interceptions in the playoff loss to Arizona in 2008 led to a downward spiral for a quarterback who won a lot of games for John Fox and the Panthers. At 35, Delhomme has no chance of being a starter anywhere else if he doesn’t cut it in Cleveland.
Chance of being elite: 0 percent

New England Patriots (12-4)
Tom Brady plus Bill Belichek equals another division crown for the Patriots. Randy Moss and Tom Brady are both in contract years and are on a mission to put the naysayer’s to rest, who are saying the Pats are to old. Look for New England to use the New York Jets as motivation and win the AFC East this year.

Miami Dolphins (10-6)
Here is another team that has a lot of talent but isn’t getting any respect in the AFC East. The Dolphins have added Brandon Marshall to an already dangerous offensive attack. Chad Henne is going to benefit the most with all the talent on that side of the ball.

New York Jets (8-8)
This team is the most hyped up team that hasn’t done a thing in my lifetime. Derelle Revis hasn’t been in camp yet and they are counting on Mark Sanchez who threw 20 interceptions last year and only had a 63.0 quarterback rating. They signed over the hill running back L.T. and traded for suspended receiver Santonio Holmes.

Buffalo Bills (3-13)
Bills Rookie C.J. Spiller looks like he can be an effective running back in this league. The team has a new head coach and is looking for an identity. The quarterback play is suspect and in the AFC East the Bills are going to struggle all season long.

Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
As long as Peyton Manning is in a Colts uniform they are my favorite to win the AFC South. The Colts have young receivers who stepped up last season and should be motivated to get back to the Super Bowl. The Colts will have a big test week one with a match up with the Texans who are trying to take the next step.

Houston Texans (10-6)
Could this be the year the Texans take that next step and make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They have the talent to be a playoff team this year and now it is up to the team to take the next step. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are one of the premier quarterback-receiver tandems in the game today. The Texans could boost there confidence with a win week one against the Colts.

Tennessee Titans (8-8)
The Titans have the best running back in the AFC in Chris Johnson. This is a do or die year for the quarterback from Texas, Vince Young. He had a great year last season after getting the job back from Kerry Collins. Young needs to quiet the critics and have a good season this year. Taking the Titans to the playoffs would do just that.

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
The Jaguars just don’t have the talent to make noise this season. Outside of Maurice Jones-Drew this team doesn’t have much to work with. The Jags can’t compete with the Colts, Titans, or Texans in the AFC South.

San Diego Chargers (10-6)

The Chargers have the best Quarterback in the West and have the most talent in this division. The Chargers usually start slow but will look not to repeat that this season. Ryan Matthews is going to have to carry the load this year for San Diego.

Oakland Raiders (8-8)

Jason Campbell alone is going to improve the team this year. The Raiders will be a much improved football team this season. The team got better defensively through the draft and with the stability of Tom Cable returning the Raiders will have there best season in awhile.

Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)

The Chiefs drafted Eric Berry which should make there secondary better to start the season. Thomas Jones will also help out the Chiefs running game with Jamal Charles. The Chiefs have added experience to there coaching staff with Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel.

Denver Broncos (5-11)

I love Josh Mcdaniels but think he will be fired after the season. Kyle Orton is a below average quarterback with no help at receiver. Mcdaniels selecting Tebow in the first round wasn’t a smart decision with other holes the team could fill.

From ClevelandBrowns.com

The Browns made five roster moves on Tuesday afternoon. The Cleveland Browns today placed defensive lineman Titus Adams on injured reserve and waived the following players: defensive back John Bowie, wide receiver Taurus Johnson, defensive back Gerard Lawson and offensive lineman John Malecki.

From Cleveland.com

Browns quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace will rest Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Bears at the Stadium, coach Eric Mangini said.

Rookie Colt McCoy and veteran Brett Ratliff will each play two quarters, but Mangini said he hadn’t yet decided which will start. He said McCoy is not “where he needs to be” but showed some progress in the third preseason game Saturday in Detroit.

In other Browns news:

* Tight end Ben Watson returned to practice Tuesday after being excused Monday for a personal reason. Right tackle John St. Clair is still excused for a personal reason and was out all last week two.

* Tight end Robert Royal, who walked through the locker with a walking boot on his right foot Monday, was still idle Tuesday.

* The Browns have to cut five players by 4 p.m. today to get down to the limit of 75.

* Mangini said he’s not sure yet how much playing time rookie running back Montario Hardesty will get.

From Profootballtalk.com

Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers has avoided a suspension after getting busted with a gun at an airport.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Rogers will not be not suspended, but he will be fined a significant amount.

According to Schefter, the fine will be about $300,000, although the exact amount isn’t known. Rogers is due $7 million this season, meaning he makes more than $400,000 a week, so a $300,000 fine is actually less than he’d lose for a one-game suspension.

In any event, Rogers is eligible to play Week One. Now the only question is whether he’ll be healthy enough to get on the field.