2012 Cleveland Browns Team Preview: Rookie Infusion

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE

The Browns enter the 2012 season under familiar circumstances, hoping a big jump is on the horizon, their team poised to make its losing ways a thing of the past. Last summer was filled with a similar optimism. Despite a 5-11 record in 2010, supporters were quick to point out that seven of those losses were by a touchdown or less. Team President Mike Holmgren had cleaned out the front office and brought in his own guys with the hiring of head coach Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron. Running back Peyton Hillis was coming off a season in which he piled up 1,654 total yards with 13 scores, and rookie quarterback Colt McCoy had engineered victories over the vaunted Patriots and defending Super Bowl Champion Saints. Cleveland was trending up.


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