ESPN NFL

BEREA, Ohio -- Like a proud father flipping through a photo album of his children, Eric Mangini leaned forward in his office chair to display the New York Jets' offensive and defensive depth charts to a visitor seated across from his desk.

Mangini pointed at player after player after player after player. These were the guys he once coached. As he rattled them off, he tacked the phrase "was with me" after each name. Mangini articulated the names with an emphasis that reflected their importance to him.

"You go right on down the list," Mangini said from his spacious office that overlooks the Cleveland Browns' practice fields. "It's a core group of guys, and you know so much about these guys. You've had so many shared experiences with them, and now you're playing against them."

Mangini is in between games against his previous employers, referring to these two weeks as his personal version of the film "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."

He gleefully embarrassed the New England Patriots last week and will coach against the Jets for the first time since joining the Browns on Sunday.

Mangini unwillingly departed the Jets 22 months ago. They fired him after a 9-7 season that began with a promising 8-3 start and Super Bowl chatter but disintegrated along with Brett Favre's right arm.

An outsider might assume the games create similar feelings for Mangini. They don't.

Mangini has faced his former mentor, Bill Belichick, several times. They've exchanged many frigid handshakes. Mangini, a former defensive assistant ruled a turncoat for joining the Jets, has a long history with the Patriots. The subsequent Spygate scandal drove the wedge deeper.

Still, the Patriots and Belichick are in his coaching DNA. Mangini is from them, of them.

"Being with Bill as long as I was there," Mangini said, leaning back in his leather chair and eating purple grapes from a cup, "you understand things change and parts change there each week, but philosophically it doesn't change."

His three years with the Jets were more of an association. Unlike his time with the Patriots, though, he had ownership of the Jets' roster. Those were his guys, and many of them remain on Rex Ryan's squad.

"Those are guys that I was instrumental in bringing in and developing and coaching and teaching," Mangini said.

"I told those guys when I left -- I got to address the team -- and I said 'Look, fellas, we were close here, and we made mistakes. There's a new head coach coming in here, and you guys have worked too hard to fight that guy and set yourself back. Embrace that guy and allow him the opportunity to achieve things we could have achieved.'"

Mangini didn't know at the time the Jets would hire Ryan, a gregarious figure who made the transition easier for the players. Most of them quickly embraced Ryan on his own merits, but the fact that he was a stark contrast to Mangini's austerity helped.

The Mangini-Jets breakup has worked out for the Jets. They made the playoffs last year -- with the same 9-7 record that got Mangini fired -- and are considered among the NFL's top few teams, a Super Bowl contender.

It must be noted Mangini played a significant role in giving Ryan a roster to work with. Still, Mangini insisted he's not bitter about his exit. He has acknowledged the concept of the fall guy, and one was necessary. He remains close friends with Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

"It's cool to see them doing as well as they're doing," Mangini said.

Mangini claimed that what's happening in Cleveland has made this week's preparations for the Jets less emotional for him.

Mangini barely survived his first season with the Browns. They went 5-11 but won their last four games. The Browns hired Mike Holmgren to oversee football operations. Holmgren stripped Mangini of some duties, but the product seems to be improving.

The Browns are 3-5 and enter Sunday's game against the Jets with back-to-back victories over the New Orleans Saints and Patriots.

"This has been pretty satisfying," Mangini said. "Getting the job was great because it meant somebody recognized the great work we did in New York. We had a tough last year, but we developed. This year, we're competitive and we're making more steps. It's starting to pay off to some degree."

Mangini's disparate feelings for the Jets and Patriots are evident in his personnel moves.

He and Tannenbaum have made notable trades.

The Browns sent Braylon Edwards to the Jets last year for receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two draft picks. The Jets were able to get quarterback Mark Sanchez through a blockbuster draft-day trade that sent quarterback Brett Ratliff, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and two picks to the Browns for the fifth overall selection.

Mangini, whether with the Jets or Browns, never made a trade with Belichick.

That fractured relationship is unlikely to heal.

"I appreciate what he did for me," Mangini said. "He was a huge part of my life. We were very close friends for a long time. When things started to go south, it sucked.

"Whether it'll ever get to that stage where we're close friends again, I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But at no point will I ever stop appreciating what he's done. I feel I know who the guy is as a person, and hopefully at some point the friendship will resume."

That's why the Jets and Patriots are different for Mangini.

But he wants to beat them just the same.

The Cleveland Browns will open their 2010 preseason Saturday at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.

The AFC North blog got an extended look at the Browns in training camp this week. Here are three things we'll monitor in Saturday's preseason game:

• In Cleveland, it starts with the quarterbacks. Jake Delhomme has a lot to prove in his first season with the Browns. He's coming off the worst year of his career, and the preseason will be an opportunity for him to show flashes that he can bounce back . Backups Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy also have a chance to show what they can do. During my time in training camp this week, Wallace has been the best quarterback. He's made plays on the run and showed a surprisingly strong arm.
• Rookie cornerback Joe Haden should get a lot of reps against Green Bay. Haden, the No. 7 overall draft pick, probably won't start in Week 1, but the Browns hope to see improvement from Haden between now and the regular season. Haden has been a step slow reading the offense and breaking on receivers' routes. Thinking less and relying more on his football instincts would help speed up his learning curve.
  
• Will the receivers step up? I haven't been impressed with Cleveland's receivers in training camp, but game situations are much different. Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey must begin to produce.

Remember to check back with the AFC North blog this weekend as we recap all the preseason action.

Offensive coordinators Bruce Arians, Cam Cameron, Bob Bratkowski and Brian Daboll have something in common: They're lightning rods for fans throughout the AFC North.

They are among the most talked about assistants in the division, and in many ways it's a very tough spot to be in. When things go right, the players executed. But when things go wrong, it's the offensive coordinators who get blamed for poor play calling. All four face different challenges in 2010.

Here's a look at the coordinators for each team:

Offensive coordinator: Bruce Arians

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 7

Biggest challenge: The start of the season will be trying for the Steelers as star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serves his conditional six-game suspension. With good behavior Roethlisberger could return after four games, which is the expected outcome. But Pittsburgh has had the luxury of Roethlisberger making magic out of broken plays and will need to be more structured and conventional to win during the first month of the season. Expect Arians to earn his money trying to scheme without his best offensive player.

Biggest strength: Even with the trade of Santonio Holmes, the Steelers still have a good group of veteran skill players. Hines Ward is coming off another 1,000-yard season, Heath Miller is the top tight end in the division, and tailback Rashard Mendenhall is a budding talent. Also look out for second-year receiver Mike Wallace. The NFL game didn't seem too big for him as a rookie, and Wallace seems primed to break out in his first year as a starter.

Biggest weakness: For Pittsburgh, it's scoring touchdowns. Despite a 4,000-yard quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers, the Steelers averaged 23 points per game last season. That's not a bad number, but you would expect more points with the amount of yards Arians' unit produced last year. The offensive line struggled mightily in the red zone, and Willie Colon's season-ending Achilles injury doesn't help. Mendenhall also needs to get better at getting the tough yards, especially with Roethlisberger not in the fold early.

Forecast: I don't have particularly high hopes for Pittsburgh's offense with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon under center. Teams will stack the box against Mendenhall until Pittsburgh proves it can pass. The offensive line also has questions. But once Roethlisberger comes back, this unit is talented enough to get hot in the second half of the season. But will it be too late?

Offensive coordinator: Bob Bratkowski

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 24

Biggest challenge: The biggest hurdle facing Bratkowski and the Bengals' offense is creating balance. It was very one-dimensional last year, particularly late in the season. Outside of Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco, there were no legitimate threats in the passing game. As a result, Cincinnati overhauled its offense via the draft and free agency by adding receivers Antonio Bryant, Jordan Shipley and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

Biggest strength: Despite the flashy additions in the passing game, the running game remains the most proven commodity for Cincinnati. Cedric Benson is coming off a career year and his first 1,000-yard season, and Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard are decent backup options. The Bengals' offensive line also is very good at controlling and moving the line of scrimmage. But the unit wasn't as solid in pass protection for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Biggest weakness: Right now the biggest question for Cincinnati's offense is at fullback. The Bengals have finally moved forward without Jeremi Johnson, who was constantly battling weight problems. Now the unproven Fui Vakapuna looks like the early favorite to win the job. Look for Cincinnati to run a lot of multiple-receiver and tight end sets this year. So the fullback position may not be as important.

Forecast: The Bengals will rely on a lot of new parts, including Bryant, Gresham and Shipley. But if a majority of these options pan out, Cincinnati could be a dangerous unit. Benson's off-field issues may be something to watch in case a suspension is looming. But other than that, expect Bratkowski and the Bengals to be much better than last year's No. 24 ranking.

Offensive coordinator: Cam Cameron

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 13

Biggest challenge: Managing egos will be a unique challenge for Cameron. With the exception of quarterback Joe Flacco, every starting skill player for Baltimore has been to the Pro Bowl. That's a lot of talent and a lot of players who want the ball. Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Le'Ron McClain, Todd Heap and Willis McGahee all feel they can help the team win. But there will be weeks when Cameron must tell Boldin he's a decoy and games when Rice will get only 10 carries. How will they react? Winning solves a lot of problems. But if this team experiences a significant losing streak, look out.

Biggest strength: Versatility is something that Baltimore's offense has lacked in the past. But that's no longer the case. The Ravens should be able to win games on the ground and through the air this year, which was the goal this offseason for general manager Ozzie Newsome. Boldin's acquisition was huge for the passing game, and Rice still hasn't reached his ceiling as an NFL running back. Cameron believes Baltimore has the potential to be a top-five scoring offense, and on paper there's no reason to doubt that.

Biggest weakness: There aren't many weaknesses on this unit. But if I had to nitpick, Baltimore's depth on the offensive line isn't the greatest. Injuries happen all the time in the trenches. An injury at offensive tackle to Michael Oher or Jared Gaither, for example, would result in a significant drop-off in talent.

Forecast: There is a lot of preseason hype surrounding the Ravens, and the offense shares those extremely high expectations. This unit has talent, depth and a developing third-year quarterback in Flacco, who, if healthy, should put up career-best numbers this season. As long as Cameron can get everyone to play nice and share the football, this offense should be one of the NFL's most effective units.

Offensive coordinator: Brian Daboll

Team: Cleveland Browns

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 32

Biggest challenge: The Browns do not have a lot of talent to work with offensively. During Cleveland's four-game winning streak to end last season, Daboll had to get by with a lot of running and Wildcat formations with Josh Cribbs. Much of Cleveland's success will hinge on veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme, who had more than twice as many interceptions (18) last year than touchdowns (eight). If Daboll can get a bounce-back season out of Delhomme, that will be a good starting point for Cleveland's offense to improve.

Biggest strength: The left side of the offensive line is one of the NFL's best. Joe Thomas is considered by many to be the best left tackle in football, and Eric Steinbach has been a quality guard for years. Cleveland also hit in last year's draft with first-round pick Alex Mack, who appears to be one of the league's up-and-coming centers. This trio provides some stability to an otherwise unstable offense.

Biggest weakness: Cleveland's offense has several holes but the biggest is at wide receiver. Mohamed Massaquoi had a decent rookie year, but he's likely not ready to be a No. 1 receiver. Brian Robiskie had a good offseason but remains unproven, and Chansi Stuckey isn't a game-breaker. The Browns this week also added veteran Bobby Engram, who turned 37 this year. A case can be made that this is the worst group of receivers in the league.

Forecast: The Browns were ranked last in '09, so there's nowhere to go but up. There are a lot of question marks, and I don't see enough upgrades across the board to be optimistic about this unit. Whether Delhomme at this stage of his career is an upgrade over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson also remains to be seen.

A lot has been made of the Cleveland Browns' recent acquisition of veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme. But perhaps an even bigger question is who will catch passes from Delhomme this season?

The Browns have a proven commodity at quarterback. But the receivers Delhomme is working with this year have very little experience or success at the NFL level.

Leading up to the draft, Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson wasn't shy in saying the Browns may have the worst receiving corps in the NFL. At the very least, they don't stack up at that position compared to division rivals like the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Surprisingly, the Browns didn't address the receiver position until the sixth round when they drafted rookie Carlton Mitchell. But in all likelihood, that won't be enough.

Someone who is already on the roster will have to step up for Cleveland. Second-year player Mohamed Massaquoi made good strides in his rookie year with 34 receptions for 624 yards. He's currently the team's No. 1 receiver, which may be a role that's a notch too big for Massaquoi at this stage of his career.

Former second-round pick Brian Robiskie didn't show much last season but will get plenty of opportunities to earn a starting job this summer. Chansi Stuckey, Syndric Steptoe and return specialist Josh Cribbs make up the rest of a suspect group that has a lot to prove this year.

Here is an update on the latest happenings Friday in the AFC North:

• A Baltimore judge dismissed a lawsuit against Ravens defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs.
• Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh explains why he left the team for the Seattle Seahawks.
• Cleveland Browns receiver Chansi Stuckey will donate $10 to the Red Cross for Haitian Relief for every point Clemson's basketball team scores against Duke Saturday.
• Here is an interesting profile on new Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler.
• New York Jets head coach, and former Ravens defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan doesn't want to see Baltimore safety Ed Reed retire.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 8:

	Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire
	The Ravens need Willis McGahee to help invigorate the running game.

Slowing Elvis: There are many great matchups to watch in Sunday’s high-profile game between the undefeated Denver Broncos (6-0) and Baltimore Ravens (3-3). But perhaps the most important will be NFL sack leader Elvis Dumervil against Baltimore’s offensive tackles. Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither (neck) said he plans to return, but he has been in and out of practice this week. Baltimore could certainly use Gaither against Dumervil and a Denver defense that’s allowing just 11 points per game. Rookie Michael Oher is holding his own. But Baltimore’s offensive line is at its best when both tackles are healthy and productive.

Where is McGahee? As a backup to Ray Rice, tailback Willis McGahee averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving) in the first three weeks. The Ravens were 3-0 in that span. But in the past three games, McGahee has 13 carries for 12 yards and zero touchdowns. Baltimore has gone to the pass more often, and Rice registered most of the run attempts. But at some point look for the Ravens to focus back on the ground game, and it could start against Denver.

Little help: Here is an awful stat for the Cleveland Browns: Their second-leading receiver in terms of yards is Braylon Edwards, but the former Brown hasn’t been on the team since Week 4. Rookie Mohamed Massaquoi has taken over as the No. 1 receiver with 17 catches for 300 yards. But Brian Robiskie, Chansi Stuckey and Mike Furrey haven't done much to help the team since Edwards was shipped to the New York Jets. In Week 7, Cleveland's receivers couldn't get open in a 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The group also has problems with drops.

Dead even: For those keeping track, the AFC North vs. NFC North battles are even at 4-4 as we approach midseason. The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0, with wins over the Packers and Chicago Bears. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-1, with a loss to Chicago and wins over the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. The Browns are 0-2, with losses to Green Bay and Minnesota, and the Ravens also lost to the Vikings.

Big targets: There are several reasons Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco is much happier this year. Not only is his team in first place, but Ochocinco is among the NFL's most targeted wide receivers. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown the football in Ochocinco's direction 63 times, fourth most in the NFL. Ochocinco has 39 receptions for 573 yards and five touchdowns. Pittsburgh receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward are also tied for eighth, being targeted 55 times each.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

The Cleveland Browns’ blockbuster trade that shipped receiver Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets was the biggest story in the AFC North this week. So it’s only natural our readers had tons of questions on the subject.

Richard from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: So the message Browns coach Eric Mangini's sending to his players is: Play really well one year, then fall off the map the next year, and we'll get you out of Cleveland as quickly as possible?

James Walker: Not exactly, Richard. The message from the Edwards trade is get with the new program or get out. Edwards’ personal conduct had just as much, if not more, to do with his lack of production in this trade. Every situation is different, but Mangini is looking for players who fit his values for building a team. It’s not all about statistics.

---

Bobby wants to know what to expect from new Browns receiver Chansi Stuckey once he learns the playbook.

James Walker: From the people I’ve talked to this week who are familiar with Stuckey, I’m told he is a smart receiver who excels in the slot. That leads me to believe Stuckey fits best as a No. 3 receiver, but I will reserve judgment until I see him with my own eyes in a Browns uniform. Sometimes players get labeled with teams and a change of scenery and offensive system could lead to different things. In the meantime, the Browns are hoping players such as Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie and Joshua Cribbs can step up and take over the two starting roles, at least until Stuckey catches up. Massaquoi had a breakout game last week against the Cincinnati Bengals with eight catches for 148 yards.

---

Vivek from New York City wants to know if people are being too critical of Mangini for taking in too many former Jets.

James Walker: Vivek, I agree there was premature criticism of Mangini’s Jets ties before he even coached in his first game. But now that we’re into the regular season, criticizing Cleveland’s performances on Sundays are fair game. It’s a fact that Mangini now has nine former Jets on his team and none have done enough to prevent the Browns from an 0-4 start. Safety Abram Elam, defensive end Kenyon Coleman and linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens are starters and contributing. But through four games none of these acquisitions from New York have been impact players.

---

Chris from Cleveland, Ohio and Mike from Chicago want to know if I thought Cincinnati Bengals kicker Shayne Graham made the field goal against the Browns in overtime.

James Walker: Chris, when I first saw the kick last Sunday my initial reaction was that it may have sailed a little too far to the right. But after seeing the replay about a half-dozen times since, it's extremely close and I’m not sure. I know Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan feels it was a missed kick. I’m sure the Bengals' coaches feel it was a made kick. But the referees were the only people under the uprights and had the best angle. So you have to trust their judgment.

---

Craig from Lwood, Ohio, wants to know if quarterback Brady Quinn’s career in Cleveland is over.

James Walker: Craig, where is "Lwood" Ohio? I’ve been to every corner of the state the past six years and never heard of it. With Quinn, he’s fallen out of favor with the coaching staff with his performance the first two-and-a-half games. And similar to Edwards, Mangini also didn’t draft Quinn so there are no strong ties to keep him if the team doesn't feel he's the long-term solution at quarterback. But Quinn also has two years left on his contract and it’s an incentive-laden deal to the point where it doesn’t cost the Browns much if he’s not playing. There are reasons for both sides so it’s hard to say definitively four weeks into the season.

---

Hung Phan from Fort Worth, Texas, wants to know the deal with wide receiver Mike Furrey playing some safety last week.

James Walker: The Browns are lacking quality depth in the secondary so Mangini is trying different things. Furrey played a lot of snaps at safety in sub packages. Mangini learned from his days with the New England Patriots that sometimes a receiver can be effective in the secondary on a limited basis. Former Patriots receiver Troy Brown was successful as a cornerback in the slot several years ago.

» AFC: East | West | North | South » NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Five nuggets of knowledge about this weekend’s games:

	Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
	Carson Palmer owns a 6-3 record in nine starts against the Ravens.

Who is No. 1: Sole possession of first place is on the line Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) travel to play the Baltimore Ravens (3-1). This is the biggest game to date in the AFC North and will set the tone for the first half of the 2009 season. The Ravens and Bengals have split the past six meetings, but Baltimore swept the season series in 2008 in convincing fashion, outscoring the Bengals 51-13.

Palmer vs. Ravens: Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer is one of the few quarterbacks who’ve had consistent success against Baltimore’s stout defense. Palmer is an impressive 6-3 in nine starts against the Ravens. He’s had some of his best days against Ray Lewis and Co., throwing for 2,235 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games. Palmer will need another great performance against Baltimore to catapult Cincinnati into first place in the division.

O-line shuffle: One of the top, young offensive tackle duos probably won't be whole as the Ravens' Jared Gaither is not expected to play Sunday following a recent neck injury. The left tackle’s probable absence will lead to some shuffling. Rookie right tackle Michael Oher will move into Gaither’s spot on the left side, and backup Marshal Yanda will make his first start of the season at right tackle. Oher and Yanda held their own on short notice last week in the second half against the New England Patriots.

Mendy is in: Is there a running back controversy brewing in Pittsburgh? Perhaps. Steelers starting tailback Willie Parker (toe) probably will sit out his second consecutive game against the Detroit Lions (1-3), which means Rashard Mendenhall will get another start. In Mendenhall’s first start in Week 4, the 2008 first-round draft pick rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, earning AFC player of the week honors. Parker struggled this year when healthy, so if Mendenhall has another big game Sunday against the Lions, a starting job may not be waiting for Parker when he returns.

Different look: How will the offense of the Cleveland Browns look without Braylon Edwards? The Browns made their second significant change in as many weeks, trading the former Pro Bowl receiver to the New York Jets for receiver Chansi Stuckey, reserve linebacker Jason Trusnik and two draft picks. In Week 4, Cleveland benched former starting quarterback Brady Quinn in favor of Derek Anderson and it provided a spark. Now rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will take over Edwards' role as the No. 1 receiver. Massaquoi had a career game in Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati with eight catches for 148 yards. He will start opposite Josh Cribbs or fellow rookie Brian Robiskie.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:

• Can Cincinnati Bengals tailback Cedric Benson get 100 yards rushing against the Baltimore Ravens?

Morning take: History says no. Benson is having a good start to the season, but 39 straight teams have tried to notch a 100-yard rusher against the Ravens and all have failed.

• Ravens cornerback Chris Carr is expected to relinquish his kick return duties to rookie Ladarius Webb.

Morning take: Carr’s early fumble last week against the New England Patriots was a big play. Rule No. 1 in returning kicks is ball security. But Carr will still return punts.

• Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu (knee) had a limited practice for the second straight day.

Morning take: It looks like Polamalu might be a game-time decision. But it’s important that he doesn’t rush back. He needs to consider his long-term health.

• New Cleveland Browns players Chansi Stuckey and Jason Trusnik were greeted Thursday by a lot of familiar faces.

Morning take: Stuckey and Trusnik are the eighth and ninth former Jets now in Cleveland. That’s two more players responsible for changing the culture with the Browns.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- The AFC North blog spent Wednesday at Cleveland Browns headquarters following the blockbuster trade of receiver Braylon Edwards.

Edwards

Here are some notes and observations:

• Browns coach Eric Mangini definitely sent a message to his team. There’s a strong feeling in Cleveland’s locker room Wednesday that no player is safe until after the Oct. 20 trade deadline. Cleveland is 0-4 and going nowhere. So it may not be the last trade as the Browns begin building for the future.
• Although Edwards didn’t speak with the Browns’ media before leaving, I’m told Edwards is happy that he’s out of Cleveland. He wanted a change of scenery and was pretty much counting the days to free agency. This is the final year of a five-year contract and he didn’t plan to re-sign with the Browns.
• Rest assured Jets coach Rex Ryan talked to his twin brother, Rob, to get a scouting report on Edwards before New York signed off on the deal. Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator in Cleveland and spent enough time with Edwards this year to get a feel for whether the receiver could mesh well with his twin brother as head coach.
• As far as my personal opinion, Edwards’ tenure in New York can go either way. He usually plays hard on good teams, so it could work out with the Jets. But Edwards also can get frazzled easily if he has a bad game. He often thought Cleveland’s media was too harsh on him, so I can’t imagine how he would react following a bad game with the relentless New York media. From Cleveland’s perspective, I have no problem with the Browns getting something when Edwards wasn’t returning next year. But they should have made this move in the offseason when Edwards’ value was higher.
• According to some of the former New York Jets with Cleveland, receiver Chansi Stuckey is a smart player. He is at his best in the slot, which makes you wonder if he’s starting material or just a No. 3 receiver. Ironically Stuckey had one more reception (11) this season than Edwards (10) through four games.
• Finally, Mangini dodged the question twice of whether trading Edwards for Stuckey, special-teamer Jason Trusnik and two draft picks instantly makes the team better. The truth is it doesn’t. Cleveland is a worse team Wednesday than it was a day ago. But the Browns could’ve gone winless without Edwards in the first month of the season. So with two additional players and reportedly third- and fifth-round picks in 2010, the Browns can only hope the trade works out best in the long-term.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns second-round pick Brian Robiskie said he was surprised by Wednesday’s trade of receiver Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets.

	Tom Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images
	Brian Robiskie could see some playing time now that Braylon Edwards is out of Cleveland.

Then Robiskie realized it’s an opportunity for the rookie to see the field.

"That’s something that a lot of us can’t really worry about and something that a lot of us definitely can’t control," Robiskie said. "So for me, I’m just going to try to move forward and try to take advantage."

Robiskie was expected to be a productive member of Cleveland’s 2009 rookie class. The Ohio State product was considered one of the most polished receivers coming out of this year’s draft. But so far Robiskie has been inactive in two of four games and has yet to catch a pass.

Robiskie will be among three receivers competing for a starting job this week opposite fellow rookie Mohamed Massaquoi when the Browns (0-4) face the Buffalo Bills (1-3). Mike Furrey and Josh Cribbs are the two other receivers, and recent acquisition Chansi Stuckey eventually will be thrown into the competition.

But it's Robiskie who was drafted for moments like this. He was taken in the second round along with Massaquoi to be the future of Cleveland's passing game.

"It’s another real nice opportunity for Brian Robiskie to continue his path," Browns coach Eric Mangini said. "This creates some opportunities for him to play and he’s done some good things. So we have to see what he does."

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- There is a running joke in northeast Ohio that the Cleveland Browns should wear green jerseys this year and rename themselves the Cleveland Jets. That came after new head coach Eric Mangini acquired seven of his former players from New York last offseason.

On Wednesday the Browns acquired two more former Jets in receiver Chansi Stuckey and special teams ace Jason Trusnik in exchange for former Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards. It was the second trade in six months between Mangini’s current and former team.

Currently nine of Cleveland’s 53 players are made up of former Jets—or 17 percent of Mangini’s roster. Technically it’s in general manager George Kokinis’ contract to make roster decisions. But it’s very evident Mangini is calling the shots with so many players being shipped in from New York.

The results have been sub-par. Players such as safety Abram Elam, defensive end Kenyon Coleman and linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens are all contributors but none have made enough impact to help the Browns (0-4) win a game this season.

Cleveland Jets The Browns have nine former New York Jets on their roster. Player Position Acquired Eric Barton LB Free agent David Bowens LB Free agent Kenyon Coleman DL Trade Abram Elam S Trade C.J. Mosley DL Free agent Hank Poteat CB Free agent Brett Ratliff QB Trade Chansi Stuckey WR Trade Jason Trusnik LB Trade

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- If the winless Cleveland Browns are willing to trade former Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards, they can trade just about anyone.

Mangini

"I’m definitely surprised," Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said.

That was the resounding reaction Wednesday in a shocked locker room after Cleveland’s blockbuster deal to send Edwards to the New York Jets.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini reiterated that personal conduct is very important. Through trading Edwards, Mangini’s message was clear: Get with the program or get out.

"That’s been the message since he got here," Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas said. "You’re going to do things the way you’re coached to do it and the way you’re told to do it. If you’re not, then we’ll find somebody else."

Mangini added that, contrary to popular belief, he had trade talks with teams other than the Jets.

But in the end, New York once again provided the best package for Edwards. Cleveland in return gained receiver Chansi Stuckey, special-teams ace Jason Trusnik and two draft picks in 2010. It was the second trade in six months between those two teams.

Moving forward, it’s still to be determined who Cleveland’s starting receivers will be Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will take one spot, while fellow rookie Brian Robiskie, Josh Cribbs and Mike Furrey will compete for the other starting job. Stuckey is out of the running for now as he has to learn the playbook.

Every pass-catcher from the high-powered offense of the Browns in 2007 is now gone. Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. were both traded in 2009 and Joe Jurevicius was released last offseason.

"There’s just times where you just move forward and we got to get better," said Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, who was also surprised by the move. "The 11 guys that we put out there, we got to find a way to get it done and execute the plays no matter who those guys are."

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Receiver Braylon Edwards' tenure with the Cleveland Browns came to an end Wednesday in a move that was long overdue. These recent allegations and his lack of production only hastened the trade to the New York Jets.

	AP Photo/Mark Duncan
	The Browns have agreed to trade wide receiver Braylon Edwards to the Jets.

Cleveland was never a good fit for Edwards. His boisterous, big-city personality often came off as too brash in such a blue-collar city. A trade to New York is an ideal landing spot for the former Browns receiver.

Edwards will be a free agent after the season and made it clear that he wouldn't return. So the winless Browns (0-4) got Jets receiver Chansi Stuckey, special-teamer Jason Trusnik and two draft picks.

Edwards was rarely happy with the Browns. In the 2005 draft, he believed the Miami Dolphins would take him with the second overall pick. But when the Dolphins selected tailback Ronnie Brown instead, leaving the Browns to select Edwards at No. 3, the receiver seemed disappointed at the prospect of coming to Cleveland (or not going to Miami).

The initial hunch was correct.

With the exception of some good moments in 2007, Edwards’ tenure in Cleveland was mostly a disappointment. He was a late arrival to training camp and later suffered a season-ending knee injury in his rookie year. He’s been among the league leaders in drops the past two seasons in addition to several off-the-field incidents that often served as distractions.

Catches of the Day • Walker: Browns had to trade Edwards • Graham: Jets GM on Edwards deal • Sando: Expectations for Crabtree • Fantasy Focus on Edwards, Crabtree deals • Karabell: Winners in Edwards-Stuckey deal • NFL Nation: Edwards coverage | Crabtree coverage

Edwards also butted heads with coaches and teammates through the years. One of the more infamous moments came when he was yanking former Browns quarterback Charlie Frye's jersey on the sideline while arguing with other players.

Edwards also had a strange complex as a University of Michigan alum playing in Ohio State Buckeye country. He thought he never got a fair shot, but that was terribly overrated. Browns fans mostly were upset with Edwards’ drops and inconsistency.

The arrival of coach Eric Mangini, who is a disciplinarian, made it just a matter of time before Edwards exited Cleveland. The Browns couldn’t find the right deal in the offseason but they were able to make their second trade in six months with Mangini’s former team.

Getting a fresh start is best for Edwards and the Browns.