TOM WITHERS
FILE - Cleveland Browns offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) blocks in the third quarter an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland, in this Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, file photo. Browns Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio will be activated from the COVID-19 list Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, after missing last week’s playoff win over Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Browns' Bitonio 'pumped' for playoff debut after COVID-19

By Tom Withers Jan. 15, 2021 11:50 AM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Joel Bitonio's neighbors set off fireworks late Sunday night

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) celebrates on the sideline during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Browns' Hunt set for emotional, playoff reunion with Chiefs

By Tom Withers Jan. 14, 2021 05:56 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Kareem Hunt's about to face the team that drafted and

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Positive COVID-19 tests have knocked Stefanski out of Cleveland's wild-card game at Pittsburgh on Sunday night — the Browns' first playoff appearance since the 2002 season. (AP Photo/Justin Berl, File)
Stefanski out of basement, back with Browns after COVID-19

By Tom Withers Jan. 14, 2021 09:45 AM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski doesn't plan a trip downstairs to

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, late Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Buttoned-down Baker: Mayfield showing maturity for Browns

By Tom Withers Jan. 13, 2021 06:31 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield answered every question with thoughtful

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) lines up behind center during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Browns wait for Bitonio, Ward, lose backups to injuries

By Tom Withers Jan. 12, 2021 02:49 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — As the Browns anxiously wait for Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Off sofa, Browns' Stefanski to return after playoff absence

By Tom Withers Jan. 11, 2021 05:22 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Nervously sitting in front of a TV while secluded in his

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) stretches for yardage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Browns get back 3, not top corner Denzel Ward for Steelers

By Tom Withers Jan. 09, 2021 12:28 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns flew to Pittsburgh for the playoffs with some

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Browns finally practice, roster still unsettled for Steelers

By Tom Withers Jan. 08, 2021 02:38 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — They won't have their coach. They've barely practiced, and

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Browns don't practice again as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on team

By Tom Withers Jan. 07, 2021 11:45 AM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield hasn't thrown a football in four days. The

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Positive COVID-19 tests have knocked Stefanski out of Cleveland's wild-card game at Pittsburgh on Sunday night — the Browns' first playoff appearance since the 2002 season. (AP Photo/Justin Berl, File)
Browns' Stefanski: 'We've got to find a way' vs Steelers

By Tom Withers Jan. 06, 2021 12:53 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Confined to his home before the season's biggest game, coach

Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon is helped off the field after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
Browns place Vernon on IR, 2 players cited for drag racing

By Tom Withers Jan. 05, 2021 04:51 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Reeling from coach Kevin Stefanski's positive COVID-19 test,

El quarterback de los Browns de Cleveland Baker Mayfield celebra la victoria ante los Steelers de Pittsburgh, el domingo 3 de enero de 2021. (AP Foto/David Richard)
Cruel twist: Browns lose coach for playoffs due to COVID-19

By Tom Withers Jan. 05, 2021 11:28 AM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Amid a masked, muted celebration in the locker room after the

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Mayfield pushes Browns back into AFC playoffs, prominence

By Tom Withers Jan. 04, 2021 04:19 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield forcefully planted his Browns flag on Sunday.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) grimaces after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Browns lose DE Vernon for playoffs with torn Achilles tendon

By Tom Withers Jan. 04, 2021 01:01 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Olivier Vernon stepped up when the Browns needed him. They'll

Cleveland Browns defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) grabs Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's (2) jersey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Browns end long playoff drought, survive late Steelers rally

By Tom Withers Jan. 03, 2021 04:25 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Squeezing the game ball in his left hand, Baker Mayfield

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski keeps watch before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Cleveland. After days of positive COVID-19 tests, disruptions and delays, the Browns found some normalcy and got to re-open their facility on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, to resume getting ready to play the Pittsburgh Steelers and possibly end a postseason drought stretching back to 2002.(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Browns lose another defender, CB Johnson added to COVID list

By Tom Withers Jan. 02, 2021 03:15 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns have suddenly sprung another hole in their

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Cleveland. After days of positive COVID-19 tests, disruptions and delays, the Browns found some normalcy and got to re-open their facility on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, to resume getting ready to play the Pittsburgh Steelers and possibly end a postseason drought stretching back to 2002. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Browns get to practice as 'weight' of Steelers game sinks in

By Tom Withers Jan. 01, 2021 05:38 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns rang in the new year by practicing. With

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) celebrates with running back James Conner (30) after making a touchdown catch against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Browns can cap 2020 turnaround with win over rival Steelers

By Tom Withers Dec. 31, 2020 04:10 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — One win separates the Browns from completing their turnaround.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Browns lose CB Ward for Steelers game after positive test

By Tom Withers Dec. 31, 2020 10:55 AM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns ended 2020 without practicing for their first game

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won 23-16. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Mayfield: Browns 'in our playoffs, just one week early'

By Tom Withers Dec. 30, 2020 01:29 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield spent time in Zoom meetings, checked his phone