Behind Enemy Lines: Arizona Cardinals visit Cleveland Browns

Another week, another trip to the Eastern Time Zone for the Arizona Cardinals.

After playing back-to-back games in Detroit and Pittsburgh earlier this month, Bruce Arians’ 5-2 Cardinals will face the Cleveland Browns Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The game will mark only the third Cardinals’ visit to Cleveland since they moved to the Valley in 1988. The first two haven’t gone well.

Buddy Ryan’s 1994 team was shut out by the Browns 32-0 — in the one and only game Jim McMahon started at QB for Arizona. In 2003, the Browns blew out the Cardinals 44-6 behind 392 yards passing and three touchdowns from quarterback Kelly Holcomb.

All week, we’ll keep you in the loop on everything happening in Cleveland as the Browns prepare for a visit from the Cardinals.

It’s Behind Enemy Lines …

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Friday, October 30

• Browns look for positive gains in run game (WKYC.com)

In last Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome, the Cleveland Browns ran the ball 15 times on first down, and of those attempts, five went for negative yardage.

• Cleveland Browns’ Robert Turbin carries a football and a family burden in his huge arms (Cleveland.com)

Robert Turbin’s arms bulge like creations of a Marvel Comics illustrator. They are so big a Facebook page was started in their honor.

• Cleveland Browns uniform tracker: Orange jerseys debut on Sunday (Cleveland.com)

Heads up: make sure you know how to adjust the brightness on your TV before Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

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Thursday, October 29

• Unique diet helps Karlos Dansby continue to defy his age on the field (ESPN.com)

He continued to watch what he ate after leaving Arizona as a free agent in 2014 for the Cleveland Browns, where he’s continued to be just as dedicated about his body. After watching it work for the 33-year-old Dansby, Browns coach Mike Pettine tried Dansby’s diet.

• Not hiring Bruce Arians one of Browns’ biggest post-’99 mistakes (ESPN.com)

At the time, Arians was the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Owner Randy Lerner had reached out to Arians, but before he could meet with Arians he met with Mangini and became smitten. Instead of moving forward with Arians, he hired Mangini.

• Browns seem to want Josh McCown to start on Sunday (ESPN.com)

Mike Pettine made it more than evident Wednesday that the Cleveland Browns are doing all they can to ensure Josh McCown starts Sunday’s game against Arizona.

The team rested McCown and his sore shoulder on Wednesday and gave starter’s reps to Johnny Manziel, but Pettine’s words spoke loudly that he wants to stick with the veteran.

• Johnny Manziel met Wednesday night with NFL investigator Lisa Friel about domestic incident (Cleveland.com)

Friel was one of four women appointed by NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell last year to help shape the league’s policies on domestic violence and sexual assault.

• Robert Turbin says he hasn’t been 100 percent this season, wants to be ‘huge part’ of team: Cleveland Browns notebook (Cleveland.com)

Cleveland Browns running back Robert Turbin looked like he was 100 percent on his first run in the second half against the Rams on Sunday. Turbin ran right for 22 yards on a first-and-10 play from the Browns’ 47-yard line.

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Wednesday, October 28

• Browns can’t suspend Johnny Manziel, GM Ray Farmer says (ESPN.com)

The Browns’ only option, under the NFL’s rules, was to make Manziel inactive for this past Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams, Farmer said. Only the NFL has the authority to discipline Manziel, because the league investigates potential personal conduct policy violations.

• Ray Farmer: ‘Shame on us’ if Browns don’t get things together (ESPN.com)

Ray Farmer used one word Tuesday to describe the mood in the Cleveland Browns facility.

Urgency.

• Browns QB Josh McCown to start if deemed healthy after shoulder injury (ESPN.com)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown is day to day as he deals with a shoulder injury, but he will start Sunday against Arizona if he’s healthy.

“If our starting quarterback is physically able to play, will we play him?” coach Mike Pettine said Monday. “Yes.”

• The Cleveland Browns Reportedly Want Johnny Manziel To Dump His Girlfriend. They Should Dump Him (Huffington Post)

One would think that this would’ve sparked the end of Manziel in Cleveland. After hopelessly struggling through an unproductive rookie season, he was in rehab this past offseason, so a report of drinking violence mixed with drinking — police smelled alcohol on Manziel’s breath — should’ve been the last strike.

• Don’t expect the Browns to say hello to Manziel before the bye week (Cleveland.com)

Pettine does say nice things about Johnny Manziel when given the chance. So there’s that. He gave him a A-plus for how he’s handled himself inside the Berea complex. He gave credit for not missing much of a beat in game preparation after unhappily returning to the bench following the Tennessee win.

• Four Downs: Browns run D searching for 4-quarter formula for success (ClevelandBrowns.com)

The Browns felt good about their plan for rookie sensation Todd Gurley early in Sunday’s game.

Gurley had 9 yards in his first five carries, and that included a 14-yard gain. At the half, St. Louis had just 44 rushing yards.

 

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