| 2016 Cleveland Browns season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Jimmy & Dee Haslam |
| Head Coach | Hue Jackson |
| General Manager | Sashi Brown[1] |
| Home Field | FirstEnergy Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 1–15 |
| Place | 4th in AFC North |
| Playoff Finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | Joe Thomas, OT |
| Uniform | |
 | |
| Timeline | |
| Previous Season | Next Season |
| 2015 | 2017 |
The 2016 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 68th season as a professional sports franchise, its 64th as a member of the National Football League and its first under head coach Hue Jackson and de facto general manager Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve upon their 3–13 record from their previous season, finishing 1–15, their worst record in franchise history at the time. They started the season 0–14, tied for their worst 14-game start in franchise history, and in so doing, clinched a losing record for a franchise record ninth straight season, failed to make the playoffs for a franchise record 14th straight season, finished in fourth place in the AFC North for the sixth straight season, went 0–6 within the division, failed to win a road game in a season for only the second time in franchise history (first occurred during the 1975 season), and set a franchise record for most consecutive losses, losing 17 straight games going back to their final three games of the previous season. They also extended their road losing streak to 13 games, a streak that began in Week 7 of the 2015 season, when they lost their final five road games. The Browns were also the first team to start 0–14 since the Detroit Lions went winless during 2008, the first team to finish with a 1–15 record since 2009, and only the 10th team in NFL history to finish with 15 losses. The Browns' lone victory was a 20–17 win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 16.
Despite the team's performance, history was made as OT Joe Thomas became one of only five players in the NFL to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons.[2]
Offseason[]
Front office changes[]
On January 3, just hours after the Browns' final game of the 2015 season, the team fired general manager Ray Farmer, who had been the general manager the past two seasons.[3] Team owner Jimmy Haslam also announced that the team's general counsel Sashi Brown would become the team's vice president of football operations.[4]
On January 5, the Browns hired former New York Mets executive Paul DePodesta to be their chief strategy officer. DePodesta brings over 20 years of experience in the Major League Baseball front offices, but has never held an executive position in the NFL before this.[5]
On March 4, the Browns announced the resignation of team president Alec Scheiner, effective March 31.[6]
Coaching changes[]
On January 3, the Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine. In two seasons with the Browns, Pettine had a record of 10–22, but went just 4–19 after a 6–3 start to the 2014 season.[3]
On January 13, the Browns hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as head coach. Jackson was the Bengals' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons and was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011, in which they posted an 8–8 record.[7]
Roster changes[]
Robert Griffin III at Browns training camp
Free agents[]
| Position | Player | Tag | 2016 Team | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS | Johnson Bademosi | UFA | Detroit Lions | March 10[8] |
| WR | Travis Benjamin | UFA | San Diego Chargers | March 9[9] |
| ILB | Tank Carder | UFA | Cleveland Browns | March 7[10] |
| K | Travis Coons | ERFA | Cleveland Browns | April 4[11] |
| QB | Pat Devlin | RFA | ||
| FS | Tashaun Gipson | UFA | Jacksonville Jaguars | March 9[12] |
| WR | Darius Jennings | ERFA | Cleveland Browns | April 6[13] |
| OLB | Cam Johnson | ERFA | Cleveland Browns | |
| FS | Don Jones | UFA | Cleveland Browns | March 17[14] |
| C | Alex Mack | UFA | Atlanta Falcons | March 9[15] |
| DE | Jamie Meder | ERFA | Cleveland Browns | March 7[10] |
| T | Darrian Miller | ERFA | ||
| RB | Raheem Mostert | ERFA | Cleveland Browns | March 7[10] |
| G | Austin Pasztor | RFA | Cleveland Browns | April 4[16] |
| WR | Terrelle Pryor | UFA | Cleveland Browns | March 17[14] |
| LB | Craig Robertson | UFA | New Orleans Saints | March 22[17] |
| T | Mitchell Schwartz | UFA | Kansas City Chiefs | March 9[18] |
| ILB | Scott Solomon | RFA |
Releases[]
| Pos | Player | Released | 2016 Team | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Dwayne Bowe | March 16[19] | ||
| LB | Karlos Dansby | March 16[20] | Cincinnati Bengals | March 29[21] |
| QB | Johnny Manziel | March 11[22] | ||
| SS | Donte Whitner | April 2[23] | Washington Redskins | October 5 |
| WR | Brian Hartline | May 23 |
Signings[]
| Pos | Player | 2015 Team | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | Alvin Bailey | Seattle Seahawks | March 11[24] |
| LB | Demario Davis | New York Jets | March 16[25] |
| QB | Robert Griffin III | Washington Redskins | March 24[26] |
| S | Rahim Moore | Houston Texans | March 16[27] |
| LB | Justin Tuggle | Houston Texans | March 11[24] |
2016 Draft Class[]
- Main article: 2016 NFL draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Corey Coleman | WR | Baylor |
| 2 | 32 | Emmanuel Ogbah | DE | Oklahoma State |
| 3 | 65 | Carl Nassib | DE | Penn State |
| 76 | Shon Coleman | T | Auburn | |
| 93 | Cody Kessler | QB | USC | |
| 4 | 99 | Joe Schobert | OLB | Wisconsin |
| 114 | Ricardo Louis | WR | Auburn | |
| 129 | Derrick Kindred | FS | TCU | |
| 138^ | Seth DeValve | TE | Princeton | |
| 5 | 154 | Jordan Payton | WR | UCLA |
| 168 | Spencer Drango | T | Baylor | |
| 172^ | Rashard Higgins | WR | Colorado State | |
| 173^ | Trey Caldwell | CB | Louisiana–Monroe | |
| 7 | 250 | Scooby Wright III | ILB | Arizona |
Notes
- The Browns traded their original 1st round selection (No. 2) to the Philadelphia Eagles for the Eagles' 1st (8), 3rd (77), and 4th (100) round selections, as well as the Eagles' 1st round selection in 2017 and 2nd round selection in 2018.
- The Browns would then trade the No. 8 and its 6th round (176) selection to the Tennessee Titans for their 1st (15) and 3rd (76) round selections and a 2nd round selection in 2017.
- The Browns traded their 3rd (No. 77) and 5th (141) round selections to the Carolina Panthers for their 3rd (93), 4th (129), and 5th (168) round selections.
- The Browns traded their 4th round selection (No. 100) to the Oakland Raiders for their 4th (114) and 5th (154) round selections.
- The Browns traded their 7th round selection (No. 223) to the Miami Dolphins for their 7th round selection (250) and CB Jamar Taylor.
- ^As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Browns experienced during the 2015 free agency period, the team received three compensatory selections for the 2016 draft:[28] selection 138 in the fourth round, and selections 172 and 173 in the fifth round. Free agent transactions that occurred after May 12, 2015 did not impact the team's formula for determining compensatory selections for the 2016 draft.[29]
Josh Gordon's reinstatement and rehab[]
On April 1, wide receiver Josh Gordon applied for reinstatement following an indefinite suspension by the NFL due to repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy, causing him to miss the entire 2015 season. On April 11, it was revealed that Gordon had failed another drug test, and on April 12, the league announced that Gordon's appeal had been denied. He was eligible to reapply on August 1.
On July 25, the NFL announced that Gordon would be reinstated on a conditional basis, and can stay with the team during a four-game ban to begin the season.
Preseason[]
Schedule[]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 12 | at Green Bay | L 11–17 | 0–1 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
| 2 | August 18 | Atlanta | L 13–24 | 0–2 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | August 26 | at Tampa Bay | L 13–30 | 0–3 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap |
| 4 | September 1 | Chicago | L 7–21 | 0–4 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
Regular season[]
Schedule[]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 11 | at Philadelphia | L 10–29 | 0–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
| 2 | September 18 | Baltimore | L 20–25 | 0–2 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | September 25 | at Miami | L 24–30 (OT) | 0–3 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
| 4 | October 2 | at Washington | L 20–31 | 0–4 | FedExField | Recap |
| 5 | October 9 | New England | L 13–33 | 0–5 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 6 | October 16 | at Tennessee | L 26–28 | 0–6 | Nissan Stadium | Recap |
| 7 | October 23 | at Cincinnati | L 17–31 | 0–7 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap |
| 8 | October 30 | NY Jets | L 28–31 | 0–8 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 9 | November 6 | Dallas | L 10–35 | 0–9 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | November 10 | at Baltimore | L 7–28 | 0–10 | M&T Bank Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 20 | Pittsburgh | L 9–24 | 0–11 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 27 | NY Giants | L 13–27 | 0–12 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 13 | Bye | |||||
| 14 | December 11 | Cincinnati | L 10–23 | 0–13 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 15 | December 18 | at Buffalo | L 13–33 | 0–14 | New Era Field | Recap |
| 16 | December 24 | San Diego | W 20–17 | 1–14 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
| 17 | January 1 | at Pittsburgh | L 24–27 (OT) | 1–15 | Heinz Field | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings[]
Division[]
Template:2016 AFC North standings
Conference[]
Template:2016 AFC standings
Personnel[]
Staff / Coaches[]
| 2016 Cleveland Browns staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
| |||||
Final roster[]
| 2016 Cleveland Browns roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
|
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
|
Special Teams
Reserve Lists
Practice Squad
| ||||||
References[]
- ↑ Brown is the de facto general manager. His official title is "Executive Vice President, Football Operations"
- ↑ nfl.com/probowl
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Browns fire Mike Pettine, Ray Farmer. ESPN (January 3, 2016). Retrieved on January 10, 2016.
- ↑ Jackson, Zac (January 3, 2016). Haslam gives Sashi Brown roster control, denies Marrone interview scheduled. NBC Sports. Retrieved on January 10, 2016.
- ↑ Paul DePodesta named Browns Chief Strategy Officer. ClevelandBrowns.com (January 5, 2016). Retrieved on January 10, 2015.
- ↑ ESPN (March 23, 2016). Cleveland Browns Transactions - 2016. ESPN. Retrieved on March 23, 2016.
- ↑ Wesseling, Chris (January 13, 2016). Cleveland Browns hire Hue Jackson as head coach. NFL.com. Retrieved on January 15, 2016.
- ↑ Birkett, Dave (March 10, 2016). Detroit Lions add special teams ace in Cleveland Browns DB Johnson Bademosi. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on March 11, 2016.
- ↑ Williams, Eric (March 9, 2016). Chargers reach deals with WR Travis Benjamin, TE Antonio Gates. ESPN. Retrieved on March 9, 2016.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Browns re-sign LB Tank Carder; sign DL Jamie Meder, RB Raheem Mostert. ClevelandBrowns.com (March 7, 2016). Retrieved on March 11, 2016.
- ↑ Browns' Travis Coons: Re-signs with Browns. CBS Sports (April 4, 2016). Retrieved on April 27, 2016.
- ↑ McManamon, Pat (March 9, 2016). Jaguars add safety Tashaun Gipson for 5 years, $35.5M, source says. ESPN. Retrieved on March 10, 2016.
- ↑ Browns sign restricted free agents and exclusive rights players. ClevelandBrowns.com (April 4, 2016). Retrieved on April 10, 2016.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 ESPN (March 17, 2016). Cleveland Browns Transactions - 2016. ESPN. Retrieved on March 17, 2016.
- ↑ McClure, Vaughn (March 9, 2016). Falcons address one big need with center Alex Mack. ESPN. Retrieved on March 9, 2016.
- ↑ ClevelandBrowns.com (April 4, 2016). Browns sign restricted free agents and exclusive rights players. Retrieved on April 4, 2016.
- ↑ Doe, John (March 22, 2016). Saints, LB Craig Robertson reach 3-year deal. ESPN. Retrieved on March 24, 2016.
- ↑ McManamon, Pat (March 9, 2016). OT Mitchell Schwartz leaving Browns for Chiefs. ESPN. Retrieved on March 10, 2016.
- ↑ Sessler, Mark (March 16, 2016). Cleveland Browns release receiver Dwayne Bowe. NFL.com. Retrieved on April 1, 2016.
- ↑ Wesseling, Chris (March 16, 2016). Karlos Dansby released by Cleveland Browns. NFL.com. Retrieved on April 1, 2016.
- ↑ Marcum, Jason (March 29, 2016). "Bengals sign Karlos Dansby; Brandon LaFell still in play". SB Nation. Retrieved on April 1, 2016.
- ↑ McManamon, Pat (March 11, 2016). Johnny Manziel Waived by Browns. ESPN. Retrieved on March 11, 2016.
- ↑ Reilly, Steve (April 5, 2016). "Browns release veteran starting safety Donte Whitner". The Duncan Independent. Retrieved on April 6, 2016.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 ESPN (March 16, 2016). Cleveland Browns Transactions - 2016. ESPN. Retrieved on March 16, 2016.
- ↑ Chris Pokorny (March 16, 2016). Browns Reportedly Sign ILB Demario Davis, Who Could Start for Ray Horton. Dawgs By Nature. Retrieved on March 16, 2016.
- ↑ Schwab, Frank (March 24, 2016). Robert Griffin III signs with the Cleveland Browns. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved on March 24, 2016.
- ↑ Browns sign Rahim Moore, former Texans safety, to 1 year deal. Cleveland.com (March 16, 2016). Retrieved on March 16, 2016.
- ↑ Over The Cap.
- ↑ Florio, Mike (March 31, 2015). June 1 free-agency deadline moved to May 12. ProFootballTalk. Retrieved on March 31, 2015.
External links[]
| This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors). | 
|