The 2010 season was the Cleveland Browns' 58th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 62nd overall. The team extended the longest playoff drought in franchise history to eight seasons after finishing with a 5–11 record, matching their win total from the 2009 season, and placed third in the AFC North. This season was the Browns' first under team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, and their second under head coach Eric Mangini.
Offseason
Personnel changes On December 21, 2009, the Browns hired Mike Holmgren, former Green Bay Packers head coach and Seattle Seahawks head coach and general manager, to take over as the team president. His duties will include personnel management and oversight over all operations.
Although many believed that the institution of Holmgren as president would lead to the firing of Browns' head coach Eric Mangini, he announced his intent to retain Mangini and the entire coaching staff for the 2010 season on January 7, 2010.
On January 10, the Browns hired former Philadelphia Eagles' general manager Tom Heckert as general manager, the first major hire by Holmgren.
Roster changes
Free agents Player The players' free agent tags assume the NFL collective bargaining agreement as of February 2010, with no salary cap for 2010. 2010 team Signed LB Marcus Benard ERFA Browns March 17 LB Blake Costanzo ERFA Browns March 17 SS *Abram Elam RFA Browns June 14 TE Greg Estandia RFA Browns March 16 WR Mike Furrey UFA Redskins June 8 TE Michael Gaines UFA Texans April 23 G Rex Hadnot UFA Cardinals March 11 RB *Jerome Harrison RFA Browns June 14 LB *D'Qwell Jackson RFA Browns June 14 RB Chris Jennings ERFA Browns March 17 FS Brodney Pool RFA Jets March 11 LB *Matt Roth RFA Browns June 14 FS Hank Poteat UFA LB *Jason Trusnik RFA Browns March 12 T Ryan Tucker UFA Retired FS Ray Ventrone ERFA Browns March 5 FB *Lawrence Vickers RFA Browns June 14 G Billy Yates UFA Browns March 18 Player re-signed by Browns * The Browns used a second-round tender on these players
Releases Player Released 2010 team Signed QB Derek Anderson March 9 Cardinals March 17 C Hank Fraley March 3 Rams March 14 TE Steve Heiden March 12 RB Jamal Lewis February 17 WR Donté Stallworth February 9 Ravens February 17
Signings Player 2009 team Signed QB Jake Delhomme Panthers March 13 WR Bobby Engram Chiefs July 8 LB Scott Fujita Saints March 7 C Eric Ghiaciuc Chargers April 8 T Tony Pashos 49ers March 7 TE Alex Smith Eagles May 4 CB DeAngelo Smith Lions April 28 TE Benjamin Watson Patriots March 12
Trades
On March 5, the Browns traded DE Corey Williams and a seventh-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft to the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round pick in 2010.
On March 8, the Browns traded a conditional draft pick in 2011 to the Seattle Seahawks for QB Seneca Wallace.
On March 14, the Browns traded QB Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos for RB Peyton Hillis, a sixth round draft pick in 2011, and a conditional draft pick in 2012.
Also on March 14, the Browns traded LB Kamerion Wimbley to the Oakland Raiders for a 2010 third round draft pick.
On April 2, the Browns traded LB Alex Hall and 2010 fourth- and fifth- round draft picks (Nos. 105 and 137, respectively) to the Philadelphia Eagles for CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong.
Draft
Round Pick Player Position College Signed Notes 1 7 Joe Haden Cornerback Florida July 31 2 38 T. J. Ward Safety Oregon July 26 59 Montario Hardesty Running back Tennessee July 26 From Dallas via PhiladelphiaThe Philadelphia Eagles traded a second round selection (No. 59, used to select Montario Hardesty) to the Browns for a third round selection (No. 71) and two fifth round selections (No. 134 and 146) 3 85 Colt McCoy Quarterback Texas July 23 from New England via OaklandThe Oakland Raiders traded a third round selection to the Browns for LB Kamerion Wimbley 92 Shawn Lauvao Offensive tackle Arizona State July 23 from New York JetsThe New York Jets traded their 2010 third- and fifth-round selections, as well as WR Chansi Stuckey and LB Jason Trusnik to the Browns for WR Braylon Edwards 5Although the Browns have a fifth-round selection, they traded their original selection (No. 137), a fourth round selection (No. 105), and LB Alex Hall to the Philadelphia Eagles for CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong 160 Larry Asante Safety Nebraska July 14 from New York Jets 6 177 Carlton Mitchell Wide receiver South Florida July 7 186 Clifton Geathers Defensive end South Carolina June 28 from CarolinaThe Carolina Panthers traded their 2010 sixth-round selection to the Browns for CB Louis Leonard
The Browns did not have a fourth- or seventh-round selectionThe Detroit Lions traded a fifth-round selection to the Browns for DL Corey Williams and a seventh-round selection.
Undrafted free agents PositionPlayerCollegeSignedCutTCasey BenderSouth Dakota StateApril 30DBBenjamin BurneyColoradoApril 30DBChris ChancellorClemsonApril 30LBAuston EnglishOklahomaApril 30WRJohnathan HaggertyOklahoma StateApril 30DESwanson MillerOklahoma StateApril 30WRDion MortonColorado StateApril 30TJoel ReindersWaterlooApril 30DTKwaku DansoEast CarolinaMay 17WRAaron ValentinPurdueApril 30May 4TETroy WagnerIndianaApril 30May 4
Uniform changes After wearing solid brown pants with their white away jerseys during their 2009 campaign, the Browns returned to wearing their traditional white pants with orange-brown-orange lining for their 2010 away games. Furthermore, they wore white socks with orange-brown-orange piping with these uniforms, bringing back the "classic" Browns away look, as well as marking a departure from the past decade when solid brown socks were worn with both the home and away uniforms. These changes were confirmed during the team's first preseason game against the Packers on August 14 and by Eric Mangini the following week.
Staff Cleveland Browns 2010 staff Front office Owner – Randy Lerner President – Mike Holmgren Executive vice president of business operations – Bryan Wiedmeier General manager – Tom Heckert Vice president of football operations – Mark Schiefelbein Vice president of football administration – Matt Thomas Director of player personnel – Jon Sandusky Director of college scouting – John Spytek Director of pro personnel – Keith Gilbertson
Head coaches Head coach – Eric Mangini Assistant to the head coach – Luke Steckel
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Brian Daboll Quarterbacks – Carl Smith Running backs – Gary Brown Wide receivers – George McDonald Tight ends – Steve Hagen Offensive line – George Warhop Assistant offensive line – Andy Dickerson Offensive assistant – Dan Shamash Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Rob Ryan Defensive line – Bryan Cox Linebackers – Matt Eberflus Defensive backs – Jerome Henderson Defensive assistant – Ben Bloom
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Brad Seely Assistant special teams – Tracy Smith
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Kent Johnston Assistant strength and conditioning – Rick Lyle
Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 14 at Green Bay Packers W 27–24 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap 2 August 21 St. Louis Rams L 17–19 1–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 3 August 28 at Detroit Lions L 27–35 1–2 Ford Field Recap 4 September 2 Chicago Bears W 13–10 2–2 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–17 0–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 September 19 Kansas City Chiefs L 14–16 0–2 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 3 September 26 at Baltimore Ravens L 17–24 0–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 October 3 Cincinnati Bengals W 23–20 1–3 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 5 October 10 Atlanta Falcons L 10–20 1–4 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–28 1–5 Heinz Field Recap 7 October 24 at New Orleans Saints W 30–17 2–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap 8 Bye 9 November 7 New England Patriots W 34–14 3–5 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 10 November 14 New York Jets L 20–26 3–6 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 20–24 3–7 EverBank Field Recap 12 November 28 Carolina Panthers W 24–23 4–7 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 13 December 5 at Miami Dolphins W 13–10 5–7 Sun Life Stadium Recap 14 December 12 at Buffalo Bills L 6–13 5–8 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–19 5–9 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 16 December 26 Baltimore Ravens L 10–20 5–10 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 17 January 2 Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–41 5–11 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cleveland Browns began their NFL season at Raymond James Stadium for a showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, the Browns had the early lead as QB Jake Delhomme connected on a 41-yard touchdown pass to WR Mohamed Massaquoi, but the Buccaneers responded with a Connor Barth field goal. In the second quarter, the Browns increased their lead on a touchdown run by RB Peyton Hillis. Near the end of the half, the Browns were driving down the field until Delhomme threw an interception that allowed the Buccaneers to score a touchdown in the half's closing seconds. In the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers took the lead for good on a 33-yard touchdown pass from QB Josh Freeman to WR Micheal Spurlock.
With the loss, the Browns began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Browns played their home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs looking to bounce back from a close loss in Week 1 against the Buccaneers. With starting QB Jake Delhomme out with an ankle injury, Seneca Wallace started the game for the Browns. Chiefs K Ryan Succop started the scoring with an early field goal. In the second quarter, the Browns scored on a 1-yard run by RB Peyton Hillis, but soon gave the lead back on an interception returned by CB Brandon Flowers. However, the Browns took a 14–10 lead into halftime on a deep touchdown pass from Wallace to WR Josh Cribbs. After the half, the Browns' offense stalled, and Succop kicked two more field goals to give the Chiefs a 16–14 victory.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 0–2.
Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens
Still looking for a win the Browns flew to M&T Bank Stadium for an AFC North rivalry match against the Ravens. In the 1st quarter the Browns took the early lead when kicker Phil Dawson made a 28-yard field goal, which didn't last very long after QB Joe Flacco found WR Anquan Boldin on an 8 and a 12-yard TD pass. After that the Browns replied and eventually got the lead back when RB Peyton Hillis made a 1-yard TD run, followed in the 4th quarter by QB Seneca Wallace completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE Benjamin Watson. Then the Browns fell behind when Flacco made a 27-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin, followed by kicker Billy Cundiff nailing a 49-yard field goal.
With the loss, Cleveland fell to 0–3.
Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Still looking for their first win of the season, the Browns went home for a Week 4 AFC North duel with the Cincinnati Bengals in Round 1 of 2010's Battle of Ohio.
Cleveland got the early lead in the first quarter as kicker Phil Dawson got a 30-yard field goal. The Browns added onto their lead in the second quarter as quarterback Seneca Wallace completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Evan Moore. The Bengals answered with kicker Mike Nugent's 24-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Carson Palmer finding wide receiver Terrell Owens on a 78-yard touchdown pass. The Browns would close out the half with Dawson getting a 31-yard field goal after linebacker Scott Fujita blocked a Bengals field goal attempt.