"My AD (Jeremy Foley) at Florida actually used to always tell me, 'If you can't get that far, you're not a championship team,' " Meyer said. "We used to talk about that all the time, and I agree with him."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State trailed Michigan by three and had forth-and-short situations deep in the Wolverines territory once in the fourth quarter and once double overtime. 

Both times they went for it. 

"My AD (Jeremy Foley) at Florida actually used to always tell me, 'If you can't get that far, you're not a championship team,' " Meyer said. "We used to talk about that all the time, and I agree with him. So that actually crossed my mind: 'If you can't get that we're not a championship team anyway.'

"And I know it's a very good defense, a rugged defense, but I've got players on our team like J.T. Barrett." 

Those conversions were part of the reason Ohio State beat Michigan, 30-27, in Ohio Stadium on Saturday. 

Let's take a look at the two situations: 

1. The 4th quarter conversion: Ohio State trailed Michigan 17-14 with roughly 8:30 remaining in the game with the ball on Michigan's 13-yard line.

The Buckeyes could have kicked a field goal to tie the game and still had half of the fourth quarter to try and win, but Meyer went the aggressive route. So Meyer called a handoff to running back Mike Weber, who fought for the yard. That critical conversion gave Ohio State the chance to get the go-ahead score with time running out. 

"That's what we do," Barrett said. "Honestly, when it's fourth-and-short, I feel like we can go for it every time. I know field position plays a part of it, but we're on their side of the 50, I'm really jacked about it. Let's go do that, because that's what we do." 

"We are in those situations countless times before the season starts and spring ball. And then when it comes to the season that's what we do. We take risks and we have a great offensive line to go out and get those first downs."

That drive eventually ended with a missed 21-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Durbin. The Buckeyes faced fourth-and-three from the Michigan three and opted to kick. 

2. The double overtime conversion: Ohio State was trailing by three points and faced a fourth-and-1 from the Michigan 16. Some coaches probably would have kicked the field goal to extend the game. 

Meyer gambled the game. And he almost lost. 

The Buckeyes ran Barrett up the middle and the play turned into the most controversial play of the game. Barrett fell near the line first down line and the referees called the play a first down. After a review, the play stood. 

"That stopped the heart for a second," Meyer said. "When the official said they're buzzing me for the spot. And I thought, 'Oh my goodness.'

"Yeah, I was standing right there. I thought he had it." 

RELATED: 

Does J.T. Barrett think he got the OT first down?

Did Jim Harbaugh have the right to be mad?

The Browns have a week off. How should they spend it?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns head into their bye week at 0-12, with just four more chances to avoid becoming the second NFL team ever to go 0-16.  Needless to say, the Browns have their issues. 

But what should be their priority during the week off? Getting Robert Griffin III healthy enough to play? Make Corey Coleman a bigger part of the offense? Simply focus on execution?

There is no shortage of options here.

Check out the poll below and let us know what you think should be the Brown's priority during the bye week. You can explain your answer in the comment section. 

Beckham was celebrating what he thought was a touchdown.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Odell Beckham Jr. returned a punt for what he thought was a touchdown against the Browns on Sunday. So, after reaching the end zone, Beckham began to celebrate.

The routine is something Browns fans often see from opponents: LeBron James' greatest hits. There's the chalk toss and the floor push. You get the picture.

But Browns punter Britton Colquitt wasn't having it. Colquitt made sure to cross paths with Beckham in the end zone, which resulted in the exchange below.

via GIPHY

Colquitt had the last laugh when the Giants were penalized for holding on the play.

via GIPHY

Or maybe Beckham had the last laugh because he scored twice and the Giants won. Whatever the case, a punter and a returner talking loudly in the end zone is always entertaining.

Cleveland Browns are 0-12 and it's hard to know when they'll win a game, but they have to stay with front office and coaching staff.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Josh McCown sat on the turf, close to the 50-yard line.

It was early in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Browns quarterback was staring at the ground.

It seemed McCown reflected the mood of so many Browns fans, his body language screaming, "Can't anything go right this season?"

He had just been busted in the belly by New York Giants defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins. McCown was trying to pass.

The ball squirted out of his hand and floated...

Right into the huge paws of New York linebacker Jean Pierre-Paul. The 278-pounder rumbled 43 yards for a touchdown.

As Pierre-Paul crossed the goal line, a discouraged McCown seemed to shake his head.

That one play was not why the Browns lost, 27-13, to the Giants. But it's a picture of what this 0-12 season has been like for the orange helmets.

Hankins beat Browns right guard Alvin Bailey and slammed his 320 pounds into McCown.

The only reason Bailey was in the game for the Browns was a foot injury to John Greco. He limped off the field, missing his first snaps of the season.

It was 10 plays later that Hankins bulled his way past Bailey to reach McCown.

On the snap right before that disaster, Bailey had been flagged for a false start. You could tell he was overwhelmed by the Giants pass rush.

So Bailey was not supposed to play. Greco rarely gets hurt. But Greco did get hurt. Bailey did play.

And a football disaster followed.

"It's tough right now, it really is," said McCown. "It would be disingenuous to say it's not."

WHAT CAN BE SAID?

McCown cares deeply and desperately wanted to stop the Browns losing streak.

Greco rarely misses a snap. After the game, he left the stadium on crutches with his foot in a walking boot.

The Browns played hard all day, as they have in most games this season.

But that interception took a 14-6 New York lead and pushed it to 20-6 with 11:08 in the fourth quarter.

That really was the ballgame.

While writing this story, I'm asking myself, "Who am I supposed to criticize?"

McCown, because the 37-year-old quarterback is slow to throw the ball? That's how it's always been for him.

He broke a collarbone last year.

He broke a collarbone this year.

He was sacked seven times Sunday. Some of it is the fault of the line, some of it because McCown is slow to react to pressure.

"Josh is doing all that he can," said coach Hue Jackson. "There's not a lot to do on those sack/fumbles. He is not a turnover machine.

"That's not who he is. He is put into a lot of tough spots."

Rip Bailey, because he can't block? Now we know why Seattle allowed Bailey to leave via free agency.

Bailey started eight games in three seasons for the Seahawks. The Browns signed Bailey to a three-year, $5 million deal -- with $1 million guaranteed. It's a modest sum by NFL standards.

Hammer the front office, because they broke up an older 3-13 team and decided to go young?

Some of the moves by the front office can certainly be doubted. Some of the decisions by Jackson leave room for questions.

But this team was a mess heading into this season, and that has been the case for years and years.

FLASHES OF HOPE

Did I expect the Browns to be 0-12 at this point? No.

Did anyone expect them to even be close to a .500 team? If so, they should be flagged for not even paying a minimum of attention to what has been going on in Berea.

Terrelle Pryor continues to make plays worthy of a Pro Bowl receiver. He caught six passes for 131 yards and was facing some of the best defensive backs in the NFL.

Corey Coleman caught a 21-yard touchdown pass. He had two other nice catches on short throws.

I know Briean Boddy-Calhoun was beaten for a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Harris, but Calhoun also knocked down two other passes. He played solid defense most of the game.

Chris Kirksey had 10 tackles. Jamie Collins, Jamie Meder and Emmanuel Ogbah also had some good moments.

While New York scored 27 points, seven came on McCown's interception.

Another seven followed an Isaiah Crowell fumble, recovered by New York on the Cleveland 25-yard line. Two plays later, the Giants scored.

So this was the second week in a row the Browns defense showed some progress. They allowed only 17 of the points in last Sunday's 24-9 loss to Pittsburgh.

JACKSON'S RESOLVE

But it's 0-12 and you have to wonder if the Browns will win a game this season.

"I get where the fans are and how they feel, they deserve better," he said. "I've never been through anything like this before, but I'm not going off a cliff. I knew what I signed up for."

He paused.

"But I won't lie, being 0-12 is the hardest thing ever," he admitted. "I don't like this. It's a hard deal."

No doubt about that.

Jackson insisted he has full support of owner Jimmy Haslam and the front office.

"They've been great to me from top to bottom," he said. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to feel like this next year. I can promise you that."

Next year seems a long way off, but the Browns have no choice.

They have to stick with the front office. They have to stick with Jackson and simply do a better job drafting and assembling the roster.

It's their only chance to begin to see any real improvement.

The Cleveland Browns did what losing teams do on Sunday against the New York Giants. Browns quarterback Josh McCown was mediocre-to-bad in a 27-13 defeat.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback Josh McCown went 25-of-43 for 322 yards and one touchdown in the Cleveland Browns' 27-13 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. McCown was sacked seven times and lost two fumbles.

Here is a capsule look at the Browns' dropbacks after a DVR review of the Fox Sports telecast:

Losing, Inc: The Browns (0-12) have lost 15 in a row dating to last season.

Streaking: The Giants (8-3) have won six straight.

What losing teams do: The essence of the Browns' performance was captured early in the fourth quarter. The Browns trailed by just one score, 14-6.

On first-and-10 at the Cleveland 5, McCown threw a superb deep ball to receiver Terrelle Pryor for a 54-yard gain.

*On first-and-10 at the Giants 41, McCown threw a screen pass to fullback Danny Vitale. The pass was inaccurate enough that Vitale fell to the ground, and the Giants swarmed him for a 4-yard loss.

*Browns right guard Alvin Bailey committed a false start.

*On second-and-19 at the 50, McCown dropped back from under center and wanted to throw deep on the right side. Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins easily beat Bailey and hit McCown, forcing the ball into the air. Giants end Jason Pierre-Paul grabbed it and rumbled 43 yards for the fumble return for touchdown.

A Fox camera showed Pryor squawking with someone on the Cleveland sideline.

Giants, 20-6. Ball game.

Not much happening: McCown periodically made quality plays, and he was dealing with a leaky offensive line against a formidable Giants front. However, McCown missed too many throws that were available when the Browns remained within striking distance. And his numbers were padded by the Giants having given him select throws because of a two-score lead in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.

McCown's overall grade: D

Piece by piece: Here is a breakdown of each Browns dropback:     

FIRST QUARTER

First possession (0-0)

3rd-and-3 @ Cleveland 27

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to TE Gary Barnidge on right for 11 yards.
• Skinny: McCown beat second-level blitz. Barnidge made catch near boundary. No YAC.

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 38

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to RB Isaiah Crowell on right for minus-1 yard.
• Skinny: Extended handoff easily diagnosed.

3rd-and-13 @ Cleveland 35

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to RB Duke Johnson Jr. over middle for 9 yards.
• Skinny: Delay-of-game penalty on previous snap. Giants conceded checkdown.

Second possession (0-0)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

• Result: McCown, from under center, incomplete intended for WR Corey Coleman over middle.
• Skinny: No chance for completion.

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to WR Terrelle Pryor on right for 14 yards.
• Skinny: Pryor caught fastball at Cleveland 36.

(On 1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 34, McCown, from shotgun, handed to Johnson, who threw incomplete deep to Pryor on right.)

3rd-and-8 @ Cleveland 36

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor over middle.
• Skinny: Low throw off Pryor's hands several yards short of sticks. CB Janoris Jenkins PBU.

SECOND QUARTER

Third possession (0-0)

3rd-and-8 @ Cleveland 6

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for WR Andrew Hawkins on left.
• Skinny: S Andrew Adams PBU near boundary at Cleveland 23. Adams did excellent job of shadowing Hawkins on out-cut. Hawkins wanted PI, but he was begging.

Fourth possession (0-0)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 12

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Coleman on left for 13 yards.
• Skinny: Coleman caught screen pass at Cleveland 11. LT Joe Thomas with good block to spring him.

(On next play, Crowell rushed and fumbled. Giants recovered and turned possession  into a touchdown.)

Fifth possession (Giants, 7-0)

2nd-and-9 @ Cleveland 21

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Crowell on left.
• Skinny: Essentially a throwaway under pressure.

3rd-and-9 @ Cleveland 21

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor on middle/right.
• Skinny: Pryor dropped short pass. Probably would not have gotten first down.

(Browns punted and Giants fumbled. Browns recovered.)

1st-and-10 @ Giants 30

• Result: McCown, from under center, incomplete intended for Barnidge on left.
• Skinny: McCown over-shot open Barnidge near boundary at Giants 10. Bad miss.

2nd-and-10 @ Giants 30

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Crowell over middle for 9 yards.
• Skinny: Checkdown. Crowell dived for extra yard.

(On 4th-and-1, Crowell rushed for 2 yards.)

1st-and-10 @ Giants 19

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Crowell on right for 9 yards.
• Skinny: Crowell made something out of nothing by making S Landon Collins miss.

(2:00 remaining)

3rd-and-goal @ 2

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete on throwaway to right.
• Skinny: Empty backfield, five receivers. McCown rolled right and found nothing. Replay showed good coverage by Giants across end zone.

(Browns kicked field goal.)

Sixth possession (Giants, 14-3)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Coleman on left.
• Skinny: Pass batted at line of scrimmage.

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor NULLIFIED by Giants DB Eli Apple PI.
• Skinny: Apple blatantly interfered near boundary.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 40

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Coleman on left.
• Skinny: Apple almost intercepted on left sideline. Coleman facemask penalty.

1st-and-25 @ Cleveland 45

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, sacked by DE Jason Pierre-Paul for minus-5 yards.
• Skinny: McCown had no chance.

2nd-and-30 @ Cleveland 40

• Result: McCown complete to Pryor over middle for 22 yards.
• Skinny: Pryor caught fastball.

3rd-and-8 @ Giants 38

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Hawkins on left NULLIFIED by Giants CB Trevin Wade.
• Skinny: Wade held Hawkins coming across.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 33

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Pryor over middle for 14 yards.
• Skinny: Pryor beat Jenkins.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 19

• Result: McCown, from under center, spike.
• Skinny: :32 remaining at time of spike.

2nd-and-10 @ Giants 19

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Johnson on left for 12 yards.
• Skinny: Excellent play by McCown to get something out of nothing. Sidearm throw.

1st-and-goal @ 7

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor on left.
• Skinny: Jenkins appeared to get away with PI in end zone.

(Browns kicked field goal as time expired.)

THIRD QUARTER

Seventh possession (Giants, 14-6)

2nd-and-6 @ Cleveland 27

• Result: McCown, from under center, complete to Coleman on left for 4 yards.
• Skinny: McCown did well to escape blitz pressure and throw accurately off back foot.

1st-and-15 @ Cleveland 43

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Pryor on right for 9 yards.
• Skinny: McCown rolled right and connected with Pryor at sideline.

3rd-and-6 @ Giants 48

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge on right/middle.
• Skinny: Barnidge open at Giants 40, but McCown threw wide to Barnidge's left. Bad miss.

Eighth possession (Giants, 14-6)

2nd-and-9 @ Cleveland 13

• Result: McCown, from under center, complete to Pryor on middle/right for 18 yards.
• Skinny: Pryor found hole in zone at hash mark.

2nd-and-8 @ Cleveland 33

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, sacked by DE Olivier Vernon for minus-3 yards.
• Skinny: Not much McCown could do.

3rd-and-11 @ Cleveland 30

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor on left.
• Skinny: McCown threw wide of diving Pryor at sideline beyond stick.

Ninth possession (Giants, 14-6)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 37

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Crowell on right for 6 yards.
• Skinny: Crowell made catch near sideline and fought for extra yards.

3rd-and-3 @ Cleveland 44

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for TE Seth DeValve on left.
• Skinny: McCown threw wide of diving DeValve at Giants 48. DeValve covered by Collins but available if throw is on-target.

Tenth possession (Giants, 14-6)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 8

• Result: McCown, from under center, complete to Johnson over middle for 5 yards.
• Skinny: Basic dink.

FOURTH QUARTER

2nd-and-5 @ Cleveland 13

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Johnson on left/middle.
• Skinny: Pass low. Johnson near stick. 

3rd-and-5 @ Cleveland 13

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, sacked by Pierre-Paul for minus-8 yards.
• Skinny: McCown not sure of what he wanted to do in pocket.

Eleventh possession (Giants, 14-6)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 5

• Result: McCown, from under center, complete to Pryor over middle for 54 yards.
• Skinny: Pryor beat Apple on deep post.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 41

• Result: McCown, from under center, complete to FB Danny Vitale on left for minus-4 yards.
• Skinny: Screen had no chance because McCown threw low to Vitale, who fell down while making catch at Giants 45.

(Browns false start on Browns RG Alvin Bailey.)

2nd-and-19 @ 50

• Result: McCown, from under center, hit while preparing to release. Ball popped into air and Pierre-Paul returned it 43 yards for touchdown. 
• Skinny: McCown initially hit by DT Johnathan Hankins, who beat Bailey.

Twelfth possession (Giants, 20-6)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Higgins over middle/right for 19 yards.
• Skinny: Giants facemask tacked on.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 41

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Crowell on right for 11 yards.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 30

• Result: McCown, from under center, complete to Crowell on left/middle for 13 yards.

• Skinny: Giants conceded dink.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 17

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, sacked by Hankins and Vernon for minus-4 yards.

2nd-and-14 @ Giants 21

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to Coleman on left for 21-yard touchdown.
• Skinny: Coleman "broke'' Jenkins' ankles with out-cut.

Thirteenth possession (Giants, 27-13)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to DeValve on left/middle for 21 yards.

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 46

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to DeValve on left for 8 yards.

2nd-and-2 @ Giants 46

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Hawkins on left.
• Skinny: McCown under pressure. Pass behind Hawkins at Giants 40.

3rd-and-2 @ Giants 46

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to WR Rashard Higgins on left for 15 yards.

1st-and-10 @ Giants 31

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Coleman on left/middle.

2nd-and-10 @ Giants 31

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, sacked by Jenkins for minus-9 yards.

3rd-and-19 @ Giants 40

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor on right.

4th-and-19 @ Giants 40

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Coleman on left.
• Skinny: Up for grabs inside Giants 10.

Fourteenth possession (Giants, 27-13)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, complete to DeValve over middle for 10 yards.

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 30

• Result: McCown, from shotgun, strip-sack by Pierre-Paul.
• Skinny: Giants recovered.

Browns coach Hue Jackson had a lengthy postgame meeting with upper management, but assures folks "I'm going to be here.'' He also welled up with tears after the 27-13 loss to the Giants about being 0-12. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns coach Hue Jackson showed up late for his postgame press conference after about a 40-minute meeting with his bosses, but assured folks his job is still safe. Then, he welled up with tears when talking about how hard 0-12 is following Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Giants.

Asked if he'll take some time over the bye week to get away, he said, "I'm going to be very honest with all of you. I don't know how to do that yet. Because being 0-12 is probably the hardest thing ever.''

With that, he stopped, fought back the tears, pursed his lips and tapped the side of podium about eight times to compose himself.

He apologized for making making reporters wait so long, but said it wasn't to gather himself after his 12th straight loss.

"Oh no,'' he said. "Not at all. I was in a conversation with some people I need to have a conversation with. I probably got talking a little long-winded back there. Because again, I don't like this. I don't think anybody does. This is a hard deal. I was having conversations with our upper management about some things that I saw and some things that we've got to just continue to correct and look at to get better, so that's what it was more than anything.''

Did he receive assurances again from upper management that his job is safe and that they'll stay the course?

"I'm not worried about that,'' he said. "I'm going to be here, and I've said that to you guys before. Let me go on record saying I have full support of Jimmy and Dee (Haslam) and Sashi (Brown) and his crew. We're not apart or splintered or whatever term you guys want to use. There's none of that going on.''

He stressed that "in these times of toughness and times of crisis, you have to have good strong conversations. It's healthy and it's good. That's how you don't go through these things in the future. You work through those things and you talk to them so that you can come on the other side.''

Terrelle Pryor ripped by Janoris Jenkins even more after the game than before

He reiterated that the bosses have been supportive and that it goes both ways.

"But I don't like losing,'' said Jackson. "I never have and I never will. I've had my butt kicked up over my shoulders enough this season that I really don't need my butt kicked any more. I've got to figure out how not to get my butt kicked.''

He noted that such conversations with upper management take place after every game. They just usually don't take as long. Jackson normally takes the podium about 15 minutes after the game.

"I just took more time talking to them,'' he said. "That's all it was. We brief about injuries, and then we have conversations about where we think we could do better. (The public relations director) came in, tried to get me out, I needed to keep talking and, again, just thinking back through it all, it's been a long 12 weeks.

"Unfortunate for the men in that room over there we haven't been able to get them a win yet. We'll self-scout and see where we are and go from there.''

Jackson re-emphasized that "this will be the last time that we ever feel the way we feel. I know that in my heart. If you're going to get us, you'd better get us now. I'm not feeling like this next year. No way. Uh-uh.''

For the fourth time since he was hired, he also promised that he'll win a championship here.

"It's easy to point a lot of fingers at a lot of different people,'' he said. "The best place to point it is at me. I don't think I'm ever going to change that statement, even when we win the Super Bowl.''

It was more evident than ever just how hard Jackson is taking this winless season.
 
"I'm a fighter, we've got a bunch of fighters in that room,'' he said. "I don't lose many fights. I've never lost many fights. So we're going to keep swinging. I've lost a lot right now. More than I've ever lost in my life fighting. But we're going to keep fighting. We're going to fight the right fight and that's what we're going to do.''

Jackson refused to say that the complete rebuild was too much.

"I'm not going to get into all of that,'' he said. "We have the team we have, and we're going to just keep coaching the heck out of it and try to get it better.''

He acknowledged that he'll do a lot soul-searching and midnight oil burning over the bye this week.

"I know I will,'' he said. "I've got to find a way. I don't want to be down in the scoring zone and can't score. I haven't had that feeling in a long time. Normally you call a play and you know how it works and you score. I didn't become football illiterate overnight. I have to get this ball in the end zone and haven't been able to do it.''

Jackson said "I've never through this but I'm not going to fall off the cliff or anything like that. These guys, these players, this organization, Dee and Jimmy and Sashi and the group, they mean too much to me for me to ever feel like that. But do I get disappointed, frustrated? Yes. I don't want you to think I don't get mad or sad or disappointed. I go through all those emotions.

"But at the same time, I know what I signed up for, I know there are injuries and the things we've been through this season, where we are and where we're trying to go. You can either beat yourself up and I do that enough, or you can put your head down and keep fighting and push through this. And that's what we're going to do as a football team, as an organization.''

Jackson is heartened by the fact his players are still fighting so hard. The defense held the Giants to 14 points if you take away the two Browns turnover that resulted in 13 points.

"I don't just want to give that to the young guys because Joe Thomas fights. Danny Shelton fights. (Chris Kirksey) fights. All of our guys fight. Joe Haden fights,'' he said. "I don't think we have a guy that's not fighting.

"That's what makes it so hard. When you're fighting so hard and you play as hard as you can and you still come up short. There's an answer in there somewhere that's going to give us what we want and we've just got to keep searching for it.''

Like with so many things concerning J.R. Smith, you really couldn't make up his 1-of-22 shooting slump, or what he intends to do about it. Watch video

PHILADELPHIA -- Like with so many things concerning J.R. Smith, you really couldn't make this up.

First of all, Smith is shooting 1-of-22 in his last two games. Not a misprint.

Secondly, the Cavs won both of those games, including Sunday's 112-108 victory over Philadelphia in which Smith took an 0-for-11.

And then we have the following, an only in Smith's world kind of response to a question about whether he's superstitious and might go that route to break this slump.

"I can't say I'm not going to change anything," Smith began. "I changed something last year. One of my good friends, him and my dad are really tight. He's an old, old, old Italian guy. He told me to walk out of my front door backwards. When I get home, hopefully I'm not still shooting like this in Milwaukee, but when I go home, I'll probably do it again."

Nevermind that the Smiths are from New Jersey, and this story is SCREAMING for a cheap, stereotyping of the fine man who had J.R. doing the moonwalk out of his house. That's for you.

Also, in quizzing several Italians (your author has some Italian blood) and scouring the Internet, walking through the front door backwards doesn't seem to be a thing.

And you can probably guess when Smith decided to switch things up last year. During the Finals, of course.

J.R. Smith's shooting chart for Sunday.NBA.com 

Smith said he did it before Game 4, but, assuming he really walked through his own front door backwards, it was probably later in the series. Smith was 7-of-13 with five 3-pointers in a 30-point blowout win over Golden State in Game 3, and 3-of-10 (2-of-8 from 3-point range) in an 11-point loss in Game 4 -- which put the Cavs behind 3-1 in the series.

What's more likely is Smith strolled backwards on his way out the door to catch the plane to Oakland for Game 5. The Cavs never lost again in the Finals and Smith was 13-of-33 in those wins.

"It worked last year, so I'm doing it," he said.

Smith, in the first year of a four-year, $57 million contract he sat out the entire preseason to get, is definitely struggling offensively. His points (8.7 per game) and 3-point shooting (33 percent) are well below the 12.25 points and approximately .390 shooting percentage from 3-point range he's posted the last two years with the Cavs.

But right now, with the way Kevin Love (92 points, 26-of-47 shooting the last three games) and Kyrie Irving (84 points, 32-of-55 shooting over same stretch) are going lately, Cleveland hasn't really needed Smith.

Kyrie scores 39, LeBron triple-double in win

Or, at least, Smith has been given room to shoot his way through this, which is what he has right now.

"At this point, it's like an ongoing joke for us in the locker room because you still end up winning games," Smith said.

The Cavs have missed Channing Frye in each of the last two games because of the death of his father. Frye is the team's pre-eminent sharpshooter thus far, shooting 48.5 percent from deep.

Without Frye and Iman Shumpert, and with Smith struggling to score, Lue had to ride Irving (39 points, 41 minutes) and LeBron James (26 points, 13 assists, 10 boards in 42 minutes) especially hard.

Smith's mind turned to James Jones, who seldom plays but was called upon Sunday and buried two 3s. He said Jones was an example of why the Cavs haven't missed a beat while Smith shoots through his slump.

"I've got boys at home all the time are like, 'Man, I can do what James Jones do'" Smith said. "I'm like, 'No you can't. Seriously, if you got out there and played against him right now, not only would he destroy you, but you can't do what he does. You really can't.'

"And then he comes into games like this and people will say, 'it's just Philly.' No, it's a big situation for our team when we needed him and he came in and provided that."

Coach Tyronn Lue continues to insist Smith is the Cavs' best defender. Smith recorded a block against the Sixers and three steals Friday night against Dallas.

But, it's worth repeating, Smith was 1-of-11 (1-of-10 on 3s) against those Mavericks, and his 0-fer Sunday included seven errant 3-point tries.

"Keep shooting. I mean, that's what he does," Lue said. "He makes shots and as a shooter you're not going to make every shot. Right now he's in a little bit of a slump, but, tonight defensively he was great.

Hue Jackson held an emotional press conference in which he promised his team and, by extension, this fan base will never feel so beaten down again. While he often says this season is "on me," next season really is.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This waterboarding session is three-quarters over.

So, too, Hue Jackson's free pass.

At some point the most disarming coach in the league will have to stop being the losingest coach in the league.

And even more, he must become a coach whose prep work and game-day performance can support the talk of "chasing greatness."

For now, everybody is part of the same blooper reel. Jackson is prominent when the credits roll. It goes with the job.

For now, Jackson is the Monty Python black knight shaved limb by limb in a sword fight who nevertheless remains brave and bold in the face of a huge disadvantages.

The latest example came Sunday when Jackson dropped "Super Bowl" into the conversation, interspersing that with a genuine moment when he also revealed the heavy personal toll of losing every game.

"If you're going to get us, you'd better get us now," said Jackson, who became emotional when asked if he would give himself a few days away from Berea during the bye week.

The rest of the NFL has -- for 12 straight weeks now -- answered him by saying, "Um, OK. Thank you. We will."

Jackson was late to Sunday's press conference, following Josh McCown to the podium. He said his weekly post-mortem with "upper management" went long. He assured everyone he has the full support of owners Jim and Dee Haslam and football operations chief Sashi Brown.

Fans booing the field goal decision. They should. 0-11, down 14-3, and you're kicking FG's? #browns @cleveland19news @WOIOSports @Browns

-- Tony Zarrella (@TonyZ19) November 27, 2016

Be aware... #Browns pic.twitter.com/y0DYHZZ4I1

-- McNeil (@Reflog_18) November 27, 2016

"Oh, c'mon," he said, "I'm not worried about those things. I'm going to be here. That's not what the conversation was about. We're not apart or splintered or whatever term you guys want to use."

It's no wonder if Jackson believes this is rock bottom and that similar depths are a near impossibility next season. It looks a lot like it.

Jackson keeps saying it's "hard," and who can argue that? It's so bad, though, it has a slight upside.

The benefit for him is nothing sticks to the head coach: his quarterback evaluation of Robert Griffin III; the drafting of Cody Kessler instead of Dak Prescott for instance; the curious game-management decisions; taking field goals instead of trying for TDs in a lost season. All feel like nits picked in an 0-12 avalanche.

Jackson has a habit of taking the blame week after week for so many things above and below his pay grade that he makes harping on his flaws and mistakes feel like piling on.

Jackson isn't the reason for 0-12. But is he the way out of it? Next year there will be no dodging that.

Jackson and McCown traded praise Sunday. McCown talked about the way Jackson "is leading the team and the energy that he brings no matter what our record says." Jackson said he "doesn't want people to get the idea (McCown) is a turnover machine...that's not what he is."

McCown is 1-10 as a Browns starter over two seasons, matching his 2014 season in Tampa Bay. Jackson was 8-8 in his only season as a head coach in Oakland. That was five years ago.

Jackson is telling Browns fans they deserve better. And that he's going to deliver the high times.

But all we really can say so far is he's good at staying positive. He sells it better than some head coaches before him. As for evidence beyond that, there isn't much.

"I am not feeling like this next year," Jackson said. "There is no way. Uh-uh. No. I am a fighter...and I don't lose many fights. I have never lost many fights."

It's a pretty good bet Jackson won't feel this way in 2017. That's also a pretty low bar to clear. It's hard to win a game in the NFL. I get it. It's harder to go 0-12 or 0-16.

The year after the Lions went winless in 2008, they drafted Matthew Stafford and finished 2-14. They went 6-10 in 2010.

Going winless is a sign the road ahead is also bleak. It's not a launching pad to respectability, all the sins that made it possible never revisited again. It doesn't work that way.

Jackson choked up briefly when he was asked if a brief bye-week escape from football could do him some good.

"I am going to be very honest with all of you," he said. "I don't know how to do that yet because being 0-12 is probably the hardest thing ever."

No arguments there. At least until we see what next year brings.

Pryor went into the game angry that Janoris Jenkins disrespected him. But the cornerback ripped even more after the Browns' 27-13 loss. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If you thought the Giants' Janoris Jenkins disrespected Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor before the game, it paled in comparison to what he tweeted afterward.

Following the Browns' 27-13 loss to the Giants, Jenkins called Pryor a derogatory name on Twitter, and twice tweeted that "he sucks.''

Pryor, who caught six passes for a game-high 131 yards, took the high road, tweeting back "you are a great corner. Solid defender! You played a solid game. God Bless !! Good luck rest of year.''

When asked on Twitter if Jenkins is a top-three corner, Pryor said, "Easily. Worth every dime.''

Pryor was also complimentary of Jenkins in his postgame interview.

"I've got a lot of respect,'' Pryor said. "I'm not going to go that way. Did it anger me? Yeah, I was mad because, whatever, I'm not going to go there, but I respect every player in the league, because it's hard to stay in this league and it's hard to be great in the league. I respect those two players and it is what it is at the end of the day and it is what it is.''

Midweek, Jenkins dismissed Pryor in an interview with Giants reporters.

Asked if Pryor would be a big challenge for him, he said "no.''

Why not?

"He's another receiver,'' he said. "Just bigger.''

He also didn't mention Pryor when asked what challenges the Browns present, instead naming Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. He did throw Pryor in as a possible fourth quarterback, but only called him No. 11.

Safety Landon Collins chimed in, saying Pryor wasn't as fast or quick as the Bengals' A.J. Green, and that Jenkins "is going to be able to beat some of his routes before he gets to them."

Pryor tweeted on Friday, "talk is talk. We will see Sunday. Never wanted to play the game as much as I do this Sunday!''

Pryor then went out and had his third 100-yard game, including a 54-yard catch over rookie Eli Apple, a fellow former Buckeye.

Jenkins also had a good game, with five tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss and two passes broken up.

At the end of the first half, Pryor caught passes of 22 and 14 yards to help the Browns get inside the 10, but his pass to Pryor in the end zone on first and goal from the 7 fell incomplete when Jenkins grabbed him by the shoulder before the ball arrived. No flag was thrown, but Pryor gestured to the official he felt it should've been interference.

The Browns settled for a field goal, the second time in the game they got inside the 10 and couldn't score a TD.

"My performance wasn't good enough because I didn't do enough to contribute for us to win,'' said Pryor. "No touchdowns, which is most important. I don't care if I have 5, 6 yards if I'm scoring touchdowns and helping the team. Putting points on the board would be a big game for me.''

You are a great corner. Solid defender! You played a solid game. God Bless !! Good luck rest of year https://t.co/Lomh8ke4YW

-- Terrelle Pryor SR (@TerrellePryor) November 27, 2016

@TerrellePryor You a Sh*t Eater to me, u really sucks.. #

-- Mr.Clampz2.0 (@JjenkzLockdown) November 27, 2016

Lol, cause he sucks, he caught balls n Zone coverage.. HeASh*tEaterToMe

-- Mr.Clampz2.0 (@JjenkzLockdown) November 27, 2016

Easily. Worth every dime https://t.co/gv4fgLIeWf

-- Terrelle Pryor SR (@TerrellePryor) November 27, 2016

 

The Giants teed off on Josh McCown, the Falcons thanked the Browns and more.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you've got a pass rush that's struggling, the Browns will cure what ails you.

The Giants came into Sunday's game at FirstEnergy Stadium ranked 29th in sacks with 18. They sacked Browns quarterback Josh McCown seven times. That performance comes one week after the Steelers, who entered last Sunday's game tied for last in the league with 13 sacks, recorded eight against Browns quarterbacks.

"Hopefully, everybody as we figure out what's going on in these plays where we're getting sacked, we can get better and improve in those areas," Browns quarterback Josh McCown said after the game. "Like I said last week and I haven't seen the tape today, usually it's a little bit of everything."

The highlight sack for the Giants came in the fourth quarter when Johnathan Hankins recorded a strip sack of McCown and Jason Pierre-Paul caught the ball out of the air and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown.

Pierre-Paul added three sacks of his own, including a strip sack on the Browns' final offensive play of the afternoon.

Insult to injury: While the Browns offense slogged along on Sunday, former Browns receiver Taylor Gabriel was having a big day for the Falcons. He caught four passes for 75 yards and two scores, including a 25-yard catch and run that saw him leave Cardinals defenders in his wake on the way to his second touchdown of the day. He has five catches for 151 yards and three scores in his last two games.

The Browns waived Gabriel in their roster cut-down to 53 back in September. Don't think the Falcons -- or at least the person who was running their Twitter account on Sunday -- are unappreciative.

Thanks! @Browns pic.twitter.com/uyn0nwCN7f

-- Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 27, 2016

Greco goes down: The Browns lost another offensive lineman on Sunday. Starting right guard John Greco left the game with a foot injury and did not return. He was replaced by Alvin Bailey, who appeared to get beat on the play that led to the Pierre-Paul's fumble return touchdown.

Greco was seen leaving the stadium on crutches and in a walking boot.

Duke Johnson suffered a stinger in the game, but returned.

Boddy-Calhoun steps up: Browns undrafted rookie cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun played well on Sunday, registering four tackles, one for loss and two pass defenses. Boddy-Calhoun has received opportunities throughout the season due to injury. The Browns were without Tramon Williams on Sunday.

"My coaches have a lot of trust in me and we had great preparation throughout the week," Boddy-Calhoun said after the game. "We have two great guys on the other side in Jamar (Taylor) and Joe (Haden), so I knew that I was going to get targeted a lot today.

-----

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The Ravens know the rules, and they used them wisely vs. the Bengals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ravens were lined up to punt from their own 23-yard line with 11 seconds left on Sunday, clinging to a 19-12 lead against the Bengals. But instead of punting, the Ravens proved that somebody on the coaching staff reads the NFL rulebook.

After the ball was snapped, punter Sam Koch started backing up toward the end zone. The rest of the Ravens, meanwhile, turned the play into a holding exhibition. On purpose. 

Absolutely brilliant move by John Harbaugh. Just hold everyone and kill the clock. pic.twitter.com/KEhsBKFA9V

-- Banks (@BarstoolBanks) November 27, 2016

The idea was to hold the Bengals long enough for time to run down, allowing Koch to step out of the back of the end zone as time expired. The CBS commentators seemed puzzled by the play, at one point marveling over how none of the Bengals were rushing Koch. They also thought the Bengals would get another play because of all the holding penalties on the Ravens.

They were wrong.

As the referee explained, because the result of the play was a safety and time had expired, the game was over. The Ravens won, 19-14.

via GIPHY

The Browns are four wins away from a winless season. If it happens, will they be able to claim progress? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With his team at 0-12, Hue Jackson is searching for signs of players getting better. He cited wide receiver Terrelle Pryor. He cited the fight and improvement in middle linebacker Chris Kirksey. Then he started looking at little things.

"I see some young players, I see guys shedding blocks and making tackles," Jackson said. "I see guys at the point of attack doing certain things, gap blocking a little bit better than what we were. I see some of the receivers still emerging."

After that, he acknowledged what we've all seen dating back to the first week of the preseason.

"I do see improvement across the board but it's not enough," Jackson said. "It's not enough to win at this level."

A few minutes earlier, standing in front of his locker, left tackle Joe Thomas found himself, as he has before, talking about the future, trying to find progress in yet another lost season.

"This is where we are and obviously we're building for the future right now, the amount of young guys we have," he said. "But we'd like to get a win in the last four weeks to kind of validate some of the progress we've seen."

That word -- validate -- is a big one. How do you validate something if you can't point at something tangible? How do you say there's progress if the weekly pass/fail grading system of the NFL stamps a fail on every test?

Can there be real, meaningful progress without wins?

Jackson believes there can be, at least for now.

"Yes. Yes," he said when asked that very question. "Because you have to learn what it takes to win. You've got to know and learn and know what it takes to win in this league."

To be clear, Jackson was asked and answered in the context of 0-12 -- with four more chances still to win a game -- not in the context of going 0-16.

"This football," Jackson added, "is a hard, driving, grinding business and it's not for everybody."

Thomas has been in the business of football for a while. This is the Pro Bowl left tackle's tenth season and so many of those seasons have been at the start of some grand rebuilding plan that never came to fruition. He joked that being ten years in and being involved in a youth movement could spur some self-pity, make him want to roll up in a ball, but an NFL week is too packed to take too much time to think about it.

"When the season's over and you reflect on it, sometimes you think about things like that but these seasons, they go too fast and there's so much packed into every week that you really don't have time to reflect on all that," Thomas said.

Losing, though, hurts, and it was Thomas himself who said a few weeks back, "Every time you lose it kind of takes a little chunk out of you and those are scars that don't heal very quickly."

On the scars of losing and the hope it will all be worth it

Sunday he revisited that sentiment, pointing out that, in the NFL, you only get so many chances.

"You put your heart and soul in every single week," he said. "Not to knock the NBA or Major League Baseball, but when you lose those games you kind of shrug your shoulders and say, 'We've got another one tomorrow.' In the NFL those opportunities are so rare, that you take the losses a lot harder."

That's the dark side of this grand rebuilding plan. The 2016 season, if it wasn't before, is now a throw-away. In the organization's grandest dreams, it's a footnote to an unthinkable turnaround. In their worst nightmares it's a mistake that could take a decade -- or more -- from which to recover. Hearing Jackson at the podium postgame declare, "if you're going to get us, you better get us now" only serves to reinforce that notion.

2016 was never about winning. Going winless, though? That can't be progress.

There has to be validation. I think Jackson knows that. I think Jackson, like his players, doesn't want the stain of 0-16 on his record. I think he understands the damage that losing can do -- that NFL careers are fleeting and lost seasons are years off of players' NFL existence.

The future has always been this plan's ultimate goal. Whether it will work or not is still very much up in the air. It would be more encouraging if this current draft class were making a consistent impact on games. On paper, going 0-16 is just a record, a path to the No. 1 pick. It can have a real effect. Football, as Jackson said, is a hard, driving, grinding business.

"You've got to know what it takes to win in the National Football League and I think we're going to get there, I truly believe that," Jackson said. "Right now, we're not. Our record says we're not, so that's obvious."

The Browns have had teams win meaningless games and ultimately go nowhere. Eric Mangini's team won four games in a row to end 2009 only to start the following season by losing five of six games. So maybe one meaningless win in December wouldn't change anything.

Besides, even if 0-16 happens, it appears there will be a Year Two of this experiment. This season seems destined to get, as Bud Shaw wrote, one big free pass. That doesn't mean, though, that anyone will be able to look at this and, with a straight face, say the Browns got better.

"You've got to find a way in these last four weeks to try and get a win," Thomas said.

Without that win, we can point at baby steps, we can point at signs of player development, we can even just shrug our shoulders and hope that this painful season will have a payoff down the road.

Progress, though? That doesn't happen at 0-16. If the Browns get there, that has to be rock bottom, where there's no place to go, hopefully, but up.

-----

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Alabama again received all of the first-place votes in this week's AP poll.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football remained No. 2 in this week's Associated Press college football, which was released Sunday afternoon. That's likely where the Buckeyes will be on Tuesday night when the next College Football Playoff rankings come out.

The Buckeyes beat Michigan, the current No. 3 team in the playoff rankings, on Saturday. So they weren't going to fall. It was possible they might garner some first-place votes in the AP poll this week, but those all went to Alabama again.

Michigan dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 in the AP poll after its 30-27 loss to Ohio State.

Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Washington and Michigan made up the top 5. The Big Ten has four teams in the top 10, including No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 8 Penn State.

Iowa is one of six new teams in the poll this week, joining Stanford, Virginia Tech, Navy, South Florida and Pitt. Stanford went from unranked to No. 17.

Bill Landis AP poll ballot Week 14

Here is the entire AP college football poll for this week:

1. Alabama (61 first-place votes)

2. Ohio State

3. Clemson

4. Washington

5. Michigan

6. Wisconsin

7. Oklahoma

8. Penn State

9. Colorado

10. USC

11. Oklahoma State

12. Florida State

13. Western Michigan

14. West Virginia

15. Florida

16. Louisville

17. Stanford

18. Auburn

19. Virginia Tech

20. Navy

21. LSU

22. Iowa

23. Nebraska

24. South Florida

25. Pitt

Robert Griffin III is expected to return after the Browns bye week. He needed Hue Jackson for validation after washing out in Washington. Now they both need each other.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Hue Jackson plucked Robert Griffin III from irrelevance in Washington and made him his 2016 starter.

Jackson did not need to elbow his way to the head of the line to make that happen.

Smart? Fool's gold?

Option B is ahead in the polls after another injury to RG3. But to be fair we never found out conclusively. Griffin didn't make it through the season opener.

Twelve losses later, though, we can reach one clear conclusion. Quarterback and head coach desperately need one another. Oh, and one more clear conclusion. Time is short.

Of all the knife twists and downturns of this 0-12 season, the last four games could provide the best measure of all since they could bring a reunion between a QB talent drafted No. 2 overall and a coach with the reputation of a whisperer.

Jackson is right when he says he isn't going anywhere, no matter if the Browns go winless.

The organization would be foolish beyond previous definitions if it made a coaching change after its offseason roster stripping and decision to play as many first- and second-year players as possible.

But Jackson's voice as the lone football man in the organization is still important. His opinion on quarterbacks is most pertinent of all. That's what's at risk this season. That's what could be salvaged or further tarnished in the final four games.

Jackson raved about RG3 after a private workout. He issued the now famous "trust me" on the drafting of Cody Kessler one round ahead of Dak Prescott.

Kessler would no doubt look better playing behind the Dallas offensive line and turning and handing off to Ezekiel Elliott. Would he look like Prescott?

As a famous head coach once said, I can only go by what I see. No. Kessler wouldn't look like Prescott, not even after a long morning of tailgating.

Sashi Brown and Jackson are striking the same theme. That they support each other. They knew it would be tough. Maybe not this tough but no one is running and hiding, or falling off a cliff.

What if RG3 bombs in his return? What if he shows well?

Are the Browns positioned to identify, evaluate and develop a player at the most important position in football?

Would they bring in another football man after hiring Paul DePodesta from baseball to devise a strategy and after putting a lawyer in charge of the football operation?

Or do they still believe in Hue so strongly that they'll repeat the same process, give him the final decision on Griffin vs. a coveted QB draft pick?

There's a lot riding on the final four games for Jackson and RG3, who may need each other even more than before.

No coach ever dreams of going 0-12, and Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson is feeling the pain right now.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hue Jackson's heart.

That's what Cleveland Browns fans saw after Sunday's 27-13 loss to the New York Giants.

Being 0-12 just hit Jackson hard.

That record -- 0-12 -- goes next to his name.

Yes, the front office had a lot to do it with, dumping several veterans and loading up with rookies.

As Jackson said, "I know what I signed up for."

He did...

But he didn't...

He knew the Browns would probably have the youngest roster in the NFL.

He knew team vice president Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, player personnel director Andrew Berry and some other key front office people were all rookies in their current jobs.

He knew the Browns are ... well ... the Browns.

Until further notice, the Browns are a franchise where coaches and general managers end up losing and being fired quickly.

But no coach expects 0-12.

Jackson is a man of enormous energy and confidence. Regardless of the circumstances, he never imagined being 0-12 at this point.

ABOUT THAT MEETING

Immediately after every game, Jackson meets briefly with Brown, DePodesta, Berry and the medical staff.

Part of it is to give a quick update to his bosses, along with gaining information about injured players.

For example, it was obvious offensive lineman John Greco had sustained some type of major foot injury on Sunday. The front office was going to immediately need that information to start shopping for another lineman.

Jackson is emotional after most losses, and he was even more so after Sunday's game. It wasn't that something dramatic happened. The front office was not grilling the coach.

It was simply that Jackson's heart was aching, not simply because of the 0-12 record. It took him a little longer to decompress than normal, and he took the extra time.

He also was receiving encouragement from his bosses, who know Jackson is the point man for the criticism right now.

ABOUT THE TRUTH

Jackson sees his players working hard, trying to do what the coaches ask.

Right now, there is not enough talent, not enough depth. There's not much more the players can give the coaches in terms of effort.

It's why Jackson mounted an unsolicited defense of quarterback Josh McCown in his opening remarks after the game: "Josh McCown is playing as hard as he can play. He is battling. There is nothing he can do about those sack-fumbles ... He is getting hit as the ball comes out. I don't want people to get the idea this guy is a turnover machine."

But the painful truth is McCown is a 37-year-old career backup who had a broken collarbone last year, a broken collarbone this year, and several other injuries.

In the last three years with Tampa Bay and the Browns, McCown has a 2-20 record as a starter.

He's a great guy in what is probably his final pro season. He'll make an excellent coach. But you don't consistently win in the NFL with Josh McCown at this stage of his career.

Against the Giants, the Browns started six players who have been waived by other teams. They started four rookies. The only starters who have made a Pro Bowl were Joe Thomas, Joe Haden and Jamie Collins.

I counted nine Browns who played Sunday who had been cut by other teams. Eleven rookies played.

I'm not even going to get into all the injuries, but they have been significant.

This is a team that had lost 18 of its previous 21 games before the start of this season. So let's put the 0-12 record in some context.

I guess you can argue the new Browns regime messed up a team that was 3-13 last season, but exactly what does that mean?

ABOUT THE PAIN

Some of Jackson's game plans and play calling can be second-guessed.

Certainly, the front office has made some serious mistakes.

I'm not going into an in-depth account of all that right now.

I'm just saying what Jackson brings to the Browns is leadership. Some of the football sideshows of the last few years are gone.

The departure of Johnny Manziel helped, but the Browns had several other off-field issues recently. They even had an assistant coach resign right before the 2015 opener after the police were called to his home.

The truth is Jackson inherited the biggest mess in the NFL -- and the front office made it even more challenging. They decided to play for the future, build through the draft and take a major won/loss hit on the field.

Everything about this long-term approach was going to be painful, humbling and frustrating in 2016.

Last Sunday, Jackson just felt it.

I don't fault him for that.

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the first time with the Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Nov. 21-27, marking the third time Love has earned conference player of the week honors in his career, and first with the Cavs.

The Cavaliers went 3-0 last week behind Love's 30.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He scored 40 in a win against Portland on Wednesday while setting an NBA record with 34 points in the first quarter.

In three games, Love shot 55.3 percent from the field and 65.5 percent from 3-point range. He was also a perfect 21-for-21 from the free throw line.

Love won player of the week honors twice with Minnesota in 2013 and 2014.

The 34-point quarter on Wednesday was the second-highest individual scoring quarter in NBA history. Love also set Cavaliers franchise marks for points, field goals made (11) and 3s (8).

Love sets Cavaliers single-quarter scoring mark

Love added double-doubles with 27 points and 10 rebounds against Dallas on Friday and a 25-point, 11-rebound effort against Philadelphia, despite taking five stitches above his right eye early in the first quarter on Sunday.

On the season, Love is averaging 22.3 points and 10.7 rebounds in 31.7 minutes per game.

Love gets stitches above eye, returns

He is one of only two NBA players to average at least 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in 2016-17. The other is New Orleans forward Anthony Davis.

Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors was named the Western Conference Player of the Week.

According to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch, Hooker said he plans to return to the Buckeyes next season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Malik Hooker went from first-year starter to one of the best defensive backs in college football this year, and many assumed the redshirt sophomore was headed to the NFL. 

Apparently that isn't his plan. 

According to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch, Hooker said he plans to return to the Buckeyes next season. 

"Right now," Hooker told the Dispatch, "It's 100 percent sure I'm coming back to Ohio State." 

There were a few key words in that sentence: "Right now."

If he gets a first-round projection and sees how much money could be on the table, it's always possible he decides to head to the NFL. 

However, it has to be taken as good news for Ohio State -- "right now" -- considering the native of New Castle, Pa., has been one of the team's biggest playmakers. 

Hooker had a pick-six in Ohio State's double-overtime win over Michigan on Saturday. Hooker led the Big Ten with six interceptions this season, three of which he returned for touchdowns. 

"I'm keeping it in perspective just by being humble," Hooker said. "That's because the same way things are given to you they can be taken away at any given moment.

"So just being a humble guy, as if I'm not a player that's known nationally, I feel like I'm still working for the spot that I have."

Get live updates from media that covers the Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Hue Jackson will address local media after Monday's practice, which is scheduled to end around 5 p.m.

Get live updates from today's press conference right here from cleveland.com Browns reporters Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko, as well as other media covering the team.

This post has live updates in the Twitter widget below and also in the comment section, where you can join in the discussion. Check elsewhere on cleveland.com/browns for complete coverage of the team.

Harbaugh ripped the officials after Ohio State's win over Michigan on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Big Ten issued on Monday a public reprimand of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and announced that the university would be fined $10,000 for Harbaugh's postgame comments on the officiating in Michigan's loss to Ohio State on Saturday.

Harbaugh said he was "bitterly disappointed" in the officiating in the Buckeyes' 30-27 double-overtime win, in addition to going into detail on specific incidents in the game where he thought the refs made the wrong call.

The biggest came on a fourth-down run by J.T. Barrett in the second overtime where it looked like Barrett might have been short of the first down marker, which would have ended the game and gave Michigan the win. The play was ruled a first down on the field, reviewed and upheld upon that review.

"It wasn't a first down. By that much (he said extending his arms)," Harbaugh said. "It wasn't a first down. I'm bitterly disappointed in the officiating today.

"That spot, the graphic displays and interference penalties. One not called on us on Grant Perry who was being hooked before the ball got there and then a previous penalty they called on Delano Hill, the ball was uncatchable and by the receiver. I'm bitterly disappointed in the officiating. Can't make that any more clear. My view on that first down is that it was short."

The Big Ten deemed that Harbaugh violated its sportsmanship policy, which in part states:

"The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials."

The Big Ten said it would not have any further comment on the issue.

Cody Kessler was cleared from his concussion and practiced Monday, and John Greco was placed on IR with his foot injury.

BEREA, Ohio -- Quarterback Cody Kessler was cleared from the concussion protocol on Monday and starting guard John Greco was placed on injured reserve with a right mid-foot sprain.

In addition, the Browns waived fourth-string quarterback Joe Callahan, who was claimed off waivers by the Browns on Oct. 24th. The Browns are now down to four quarterbacks: Josh McCown, Kessler, Robert Griffin III and Kevin Hogan.

The loss of Greco, the starting right guard, represents another huge blow for the embattled offensive line, which has surrendered 15 sacks the past two games.

"John has been one of the most valuable members of our line,'' said coach Hue Jackson. "Anytime you have a guy that can play guard and start at guard for us but can play center like that, which he's had to do several times this year and we didn't miss a beat, that's a huge loss for us. He has had a really good season, but probably if you asked John, he'd say it's not where he wants to be. I'm looking forward to getting him back as soon as we can."

Greco, who started nine games at right guard and two at center, went down with a little more than three minutes left in the third quarter of Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Giants. He was replaced by Alvin Bailey, who promptly gave up a seven-yard strip-sack on Josh McCown. Jason Pierre-Paul recovered and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown.

Hobbling out of the stadium on crutches and in a boot, is the second starting offensive lineman to suffer a serious foot injury this season and land on injured reserve. The first was Pro Bowl-caliber left guard Joel Bitonio, who suffered a Lisfranc midfoot fracture in October and underwent surgery. He's expected to make a full recovery in time for next season.

Jackson said Greco's injury is similar, but not believed to be as serious as Bitonio's. It's not yet known if he'll require surgery.

The Browns are also still reeling on the line from the loss of center Alex Mack and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in free agency.

The loss of Greco is a double-whammy considering he can step in at center at any time, and has done so on several occasions this season, including twice this season in a place of Cam Erving.

He didn't miss an offensive snap all season until sustaining a foot injury yesterday in the third quarter against the Giants. But it's the second straight year Greco and Bitonio have both finished the season on injured reserve, Greco with a knee injury last year and Bitonio with an ankle.

With Greco down, he'll be replaced by either Alvin Bailey or former first-round pick Jonathan Cooper.

The Browns also claimed offensive linemen Matt McCants off waivers from Oakland. McCants (6-5, 309) was originally drafted by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2012 draft out of Alabama-Birmingham. He's spent the past four season with the Raiders.

Kessler, who suffered a concussion two games ago against the Steelers, was on the field for the early portion of practice open to the media on Monday.

Jackson acknowledged that the Browns will proceed with caution with the rookie QB.

"As I said a while back, it's important that we do the right thing for him because it's been two concussions,'' he said.

The Browns have their bye this week, but might have all four quarterbacks to choose from when they face the Bengals.

"Oh boy, that would be fun,'' said Jackson. "That would be the first time in a long time. They all have the chance to be out there, and I hope that is the case. We will know more once we get back that following Monday exactly where we are."

Griffin will undergo another exam this week to see if he'll be cleared for full contact.

Randall Telfer thumb surgery

The Browns' tight end underwent previously-scheduled thumb surgery Monday, but is expected back soon, Jackson said. He said it was a routine clean-up.

Gary Barnidge tweaked knee

Barnidge rotated some with Seth DeValve against the Giants because of a knee issue.

"He had a little tweak of the knee that happened in the game,'' he said. "I just wanted to make sure we did not over-work him. We kind of rotated him a little bit, trying to make sure we looked out for his health."

Bye-bye

Jackson's bye week sendoff Tuesday?

"Let's be a pro,'' he said. "We need every guy that leaves here to show back up here. Now is a time for things to pop up across the league. I want our players to be mindful of that and make sure where they are and how they conduct themselves and handle their business the right way when they are away from here because that is very important, as well because we need everyone to make it back here and be back the following Monday ready to practice and get ready for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Even Jackson will take a small break

The players will disperse Tuesday and come back next Monday. As for Jackson, he'll try to tear himself away for a bit.

"As I said yesterday, I honestly do not know how to do that,'' he said. ".I need to teach myself how to do it. I know my kids would like for me to do it. I just think what is important is to just keep searching. I owe our fan base and our organization and these players an opportunity to win a game, to win. The next one up is Cincinnati. We are going to do whatever it takes to get ourselves in that W column.

"We have a lot of work to do. We have to find out more about ourselves but also what we think is going to help us when we get ready to play Cincinnati. We'll take a little time, but the staff knows there is work to be done, too."

On the response to showing emotion

Jackson heard from friends and colleague after welling up in his post-game presser Sunday.

"Yeah. Oh yeah, too many texts. I have had to delete them,'' he said. ".I had to delete a lot of them. It is what it is. I am what I am. What you guys see in me is what you're going to get. I'm not a phony and I'm human like everybody else. You might see more of it than that over the course of time here. That is just the way it goes, but it will all be classy and respectful of everybody.''