The 2009 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 61st season as a professional sports franchise and its 57th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team placed fourth in the AFC North with a record of 5–11, improving upon its 2008 record of 4–12, after winning their last four games of the season after a 1–11 start. This season marked George Kokinis and Eric Mangini's first seasons as the team's general manager and head coach, respectively; however, Kokinis was fired on November 2 during the team's Week 9 bye week. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Browns missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season, tying a record set between 1973–79.
Offseason
Personnel changes On December 29, 2008, the Cleveland Browns announced that the team had fired general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel after spending four seasons together in Cleveland. Crennel, who joined the Browns with Savage in 2005, left Cleveland with a record of 24–40 (.375) and an 0–8 record against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The team's best record under Crennel was 10–6 during the 2007 season.
On January 7, 2009, the Browns announced that the team had found its replacement for Crennel and that it had reached a contractual agreement with former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini, who was fired after three seasons in New York. Mangini, who joined the Jets in 2006, left New York with a record of 23–25 (.479), including a 10–6 record and a playoff appearance in his first season.
On January 14, the Browns announced that Mangini had named his coordinators: Brian Daboll was hired as the offensive coordinator; Rob Ryan as the defensive coordinator; and Brad Seely as the special teams coordinator and assistant head coach. Daboll was most recently the quarterbacks coach for the Jets from 2007–2008; Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders from 2004–2008; and Seely was the special teams coach for the New England Patriots from 1999–2008. All three worked with Mangini from 2000–2003 as members of New England. Daboll, Ryan and Seely replaced Rob Chudzinski, Mel Tucker and Ted Daisher, respectively.
On January 22, the Browns hired five assistant coaches: Bryan Cox was hired as the defensive line coach; Andy Dickerson as the defensive quality control coach; Jerome Henderson as the defensive backs coach; Rick Lyle as an assistant strength-and-conditioning coach; and Carl Smith as the quarterbacks coach. Cox, Dickerson, Henderson and Lyle spent the previous three seasons with Mangini in New York. Smith was the Browns' quarterbacks coach from 2001–2003 and was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005–2006.
On January 25, the Browns hired former Baltimore Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis as general manager. Kokinis spent five seasons in the Browns' scouting department from 1991 to 1995, and after the team moved to Baltimore, he was a member of the Ravens' scouting department from 1996–1999. He was the Ravens' assistant director of pro personnel from 2000–2002 and was the director of pro personnel from 2003–2008.
On February 4, the Browns hired three more assistant coaches: Alan DeGennaro was hired as an assistant strength-and-conditioning coach; Tom Myslinski as the strength-and-conditioning coach; and George Warhop as the offensive line coach. On February 11, the Browns hired George McDonald as the offensive quality control coach. On February 17, the Browns hired Gary Brown as the running backs coach and Steve Hagen as the tight ends coach. On February 22, the Browns hired Matt Eberflus as the linebackers coach.
On May 6, the Browns promoted McDonald to wide receivers coach.
Roster changes
Free agents Player 2009 Team Signed FS Mike Adams UFA Browns March 6 FB Charles Ali ERFA Browns March 23 TE Brad Cieslak ERFA/UFA SS Steve Cargile UFA Giants January 16 CB Travis Daniels UFA Chiefs March 10 LB Andra Davis UFA Broncos March 2 TE Darnell Dinkins UFA Saints March 18 LB Kris Griffin UFA CB Daven Holly UFA SS Sean Jones UFA Eagles March 6 DT Louis Leonard ERFA TE John Madsen RFA LB Willie McGinest UFA G Seth McKinney UFA Bills April 9 WR Syndric Steptoe ERFA Browns March 6 RB Jason Wright UFA Cardinals March 16 G Scott Young UFA Broncos March 13 Player re-signed by Browns
Releases Player Released 2009 Team Signed CB Terry Cousin February 9 QB Ken Dorsey February 9 P Mike Dragosavich February 9 Colts February 13 QB Bruce Gradkowski February 9 Raiders February 10 WR Joe Jurevicius March 11 RB Allen Patrick April 25 LB Antwan Peek February 9 K Jason Reda February 9 T Kevin Shaffer March 12 Bears March 25 G Eric Young February 9
Signings Player 2008 Team Signed LB Eric Barton UFA Jets March 13 LB David Bowens UFA Jets March 12 LB Blake Costanzo UFA Bills June 17 T George Foster UFA Lions June 5 WR Mike Furrey UFA Lions May 5 RB Noah Herron UFA Jets March 18 CB Rod Hood UFA Cardinals May 26 CB Corey Ivy UFA Ravens March 19 DE C. J. Mosley UFA Jets March 6 WR David Patten UFA Saints March 23 CB Hank Poteat UFA Jets March 9 TE Robert Royal UFA Bills March 5 LB Bo Ruud UFA Patriots April 30 T John St. Clair UFA Bears March 17 G Floyd Womack UFA Seahawks March 13
Trades On February 27, the Browns traded tight end Kellen Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for its second-round selection in the 2009 NFL draft (50th overall, used to select Mohamed Massaquoi) and its fifth-round selection in the 2010 NFL draft. Winslow was selected sixth overall by the Browns in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft and played five seasons with the team. During his career with the Browns, he accumulated 219 receptions for 2,459 yards (11.2 YPC) and had eleven touchdown receptions.
On April 25, during the first round of the 2009 NFL draft, the team traded its first-round selection (5th overall) to the Jets for its first- and second-round selections (17th and 52nd overall), defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff.
2009 draft class
Draft Player College Signed Notes 1 Alex Mack C Cal July 25 2 36 Brian Robiskie WR Ohio State July 30 Mohamed Massaquoi WR Georgia July 28 David Veikune DE Hawaii July 26 4 104 Kaluka Maiava LB Southern Cal July 24 6 177 Don Carey CB Norfolk State July 15 Coye Francies CB San Jose State July 15 James Davis RB Clemson July 15 The Browns did not have third-, fifth-, or seventh-round selections in the draft.
Draft notes
Undrafted free agents Player College Signed Cut LB Marcus Benard Jackson State May 1 CB Corey Boudreaux San Diego State April 27 May 4 T Branndon Braxton Oklahoma May 1 September 5 WR Brent Casteel Utah April 27 May 4 G Marlon Davis Alabama April 27 LB Jonathan Foster Central State May 1 July 15 DE Adam Hoppel Cincinnati April 29 September 5 LB Phillip Hunt Houston May 1 S Bret Lockett UCLA May 4 TE Mike Massey Michigan May 1 May 4 CB Nate Ness Arizona April 28 July 15 WR Jordan Norwood Penn State April 26 September 5 CB Antonio Smith Bowling Green April 28 May 4 S Jason Venson Central Florida April 26 June 5 S Bryan Williams Akron April 27 June 15
Legal troubles for WR Stallworth On March 14, Browns wide receiver Donté Stallworth was involved in a fatal accident in which he struck and killed pedestrian Mario Reyes with his car in the early morning in Miami, Florida. Stallworth then stopped his vehicle and called 9–1–1. Reports showed that Stallworth was driving under the influence; his blood-alcohol level was 0.12%, above Florida's legal limit of 0.08%. He was charged with DUI manslaughter and a warrant was issued for his arrest on April 1 and he surrendered to police on April 2. On June 16, Stallworth pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison, two years' house arrest and eight years' probation. Many believed that the sentence Stallworth received was too lenient as he could have served up to 15 years in jail. Stallworth also reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the victim's family. On June 18, the NFL suspended Stallworth indefinitely On August 13, the NFL officially suspended Stallworth for the entire 2009 season and made plans to reinstate him after the Super Bowl.
Uniform changes In 2009, the Cleveland Browns wore brown pants for games in which they wear white jerseys. These were worn in the 2008 pre-season. New additions to this uniform combination are striped socks.
Staff
Roster
Opening training camp roster Cleveland Browns 2009 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks Derek Anderson Brady Quinn Richard Bartel Brett Ratliff
Running backs Charles Ali FB James Davis Jerome Harrison Noah Herron Jamal Lewis Lawrence Vickers FB
Wide receivers Josh Cribbs Mike Furrey Paul Hubbard Lance Leggett Mohamed Massaquoi Jordan Norwood David Patten Brian Robiskie Syndric Steptoe
Tight ends Steve Heiden John Madsen Robert Royal Martin Rucker Aaron Walker Offensive linemen Branndon Braxton T George Foster T Hank Fraley C Dustin Fry C Rex Hadnot G Alex Mack C Kurt Quarterman G Isaac Sowells T John St. Clair T Eric Steinbach G Joe Thomas T Ryan Tucker T/G Floyd Womack T
Defensive linemen Kenyon Coleman DE Adam Hoppel DE Louis Leonard NT C. J. Mosley DE Melila Purcell DE Shaun Rogers NT Ahtyba Rubin NT Robaire Smith DE Shaun Smith NT Santonio Thomas DE Corey Williams DE Linebackers Eric Barton ILB Beau Bell ILB Marcus Benard OLB David Bowens ILB Titus Brown OLB Blake Costanzo ILB Alex Hall OLB Phillip Hunt OLB D'Qwell Jackson ILB Kaluka Maiava ILB Bo Ruud ILB David Veikune OLB Leon Williams ILB Kamerion Wimbley OLB
Defensive backs Hamza Abdullah SS Mike Adams FS Don Carey CB Abram Elam SS Roderick Hood CB Corey Ivy CB Gerard Lawson CB Bret Lockett SS Brandon McDonald CB Brodney Pool FS Hank Poteat CB Nick Sorensen SS Eric Wright CB
Special teams Phil Dawson K Ryan Pontbriand LS Dave Zastudil P Reserve lists Marlon Davis G (Left Camp) Braylon Edwards WR (active/NF-Inj.) Coye Francies CB (active/NF-Inj.) Donté Stallworth WR (Susp.)
80 Active, 2 Inactive
Week 1 roster Cleveland Browns 2009 week 1 roster Quarterbacks Derek Anderson Brady Quinn Brett Ratliff
Running backs James Davis Jerome Harrison Jamal Lewis Cedric Peerman Lawrence Vickers FB
Wide receivers Josh Cribbs Braylon Edwards Mike Furrey Mohamed Massaquoi Brian Robiskie
Tight ends Steve Heiden Robert Royal Martin Rucker Offensive linemen Hank Fraley C Rex Hadnot G Alex Mack C John St. Clair T Eric Steinbach G Joe Thomas T Phil Trautwein T Floyd Womack T
Defensive linemen Kenyon Coleman DE C. J. Mosley DE Shaun Rogers NT Ahtyba Rubin NT Robaire Smith DE Corey Williams DE Linebackers Eric Barton ILB David Bowens OLB Blake Costanzo ILB Alex Hall OLB D'Qwell Jackson ILB Kaluka Maiava ILB David Veikune OLB Leon Williams OLB Kamerion Wimbley OLB
Defensive backs Mike Adams FS Abram Elam SS Marquis Floyd CB Coye Francies CB Gerard Lawson CB Brandon McDonald CB Brodney Pool FS Hank Poteat CB DeAngelo Smith S Nick Sorensen SS Eric Wright CB
Special teams Phil Dawson K Ryan Pontbriand LS Dave Zastudil P Reserve lists Donté Stallworth WR (Susp.) Syndric Steptoe WR (IR) Ryan Tucker T/G (IR)
Practice Squad Marcus Benard ILB Titus Brown OLB Keith Grennan DE Corey Hilliard OT Chris Jennings RB Lance Leggett WR Pat Murray G Brian Schaefering DE
53 Active, 3 Inactive, 8 PS
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 15 at Green Bay Packers L 0–17 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap 2 August 22 Detroit Lions W 27–10 1–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 3 August 29 Tennessee Titans W 23–17 2–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 4 September 3 at Chicago Bears L 23–26 2–2 Soldier Field Recap
Releases