Daily Dawg Tags: Cleveland Browns in fight for No. 1 pick
By Thomas Moore
Spanning the virtual globe to bring you the latest news about the Cleveland Browns and the NFL – these are your Daily Dawg Tags for Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Cleveland Browns:
Browns chasing Tennessee for No. 1 overall draft pick
"Following Sunday’s victory the Cleveland Browns have slipped behind the Tennessee Titans for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Browns are one of three teams – along with the Titans and San Diego Chargers – who currently have 10 losses, but the Titans will hold the tiebreaker because they have played the softest schedule this year. Tennessee’s strength of schedule is .473, followed by the Browns (.509) and Chargers (.521)."
"Lost a little bit in the news on Monday that the Cleveland Browns were placing cornerback Joe Haden on season-ending injured reserve was the announcement that the club signed wide receiver Rannell Hall. Hall, a 6-foot, 200-pound rookie from Central Florida, spent eight weeks on Tampa Bay’s practice squad after signing with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in 49 games for the Knights, totaling 145 receptions for 2,051 yards and nine touchdowns."
Browns moving up in latest power rankings
"The Cleveland Browns got a big bump in the weekly NFL power rankings thanks to Johnny Manziel and a win over the San Francisco 49ers."
Dwayne Bowe: “I’ve never been through anything like this” (cleveland.com)
"Receiver Dwayne Bowe, the poster boy for everything that’s wrong with the Browns this season, knows he can still play even though he can’t get on the field."
End of Nate Orchard’s sack drought an encouraging sign (clevelandbrowns.com)
"Until Sunday, Nate Orchard had yet to pick up his first NFL sack. When he finally did and wound up with a team-high two by the end of Cleveland’s 24-10 win, he wasn’t the only one thrilled to get off the schnide."
NFL News:
Are the Titans a lock to start the 2016 NFL Draft? (Titan Sized)
"After a devastating loss both emotionally and from the play on the field, are the Tennessee Titans destined to land the top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft?"
For NFL’s contenders, a good backup QB is hard to find (USA Today)
"Two of the most influential players in the AFC title chase could end up being Brock Osweiler of the Denver Broncos and AJ McCarron of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Indianapolis Colts’ Matt Hasselbeckhas had a hand in it, too, as have the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Vick and Landry Jones."
LeGarrette Blount reportedly done for season (ESPN)
"New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount will miss the remainder of the season because of a left hip injury, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and multiple reports."
Peyton Manning will return, but when will he play? (Predominantly Orange)
"Is Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning close to returning to game form? He is expected back at practice Wednesday, but when is he expected to play again, if at all?"