2009 Cleveland Browns season
[5] On January 25, the Browns hired former Baltimore Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis as general manager.
[45] Winslow was selected sixth overall by the Browns in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft and played five seasons with the team.
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.
Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends Defensive linemen Defensive backs Special teams 80 Active, 2 Inactive Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends Defensive linemen Defensive backs Special teams Practice Squad 53 Active, 3 Inactive, 8 PS Running backs (RB) Wide receivers (WR) Tight ends (TE) Defensive linemen (DL) Defensive backs (DB) Special teams Reserve On September 4 and 5, the Browns released the following players to get down to the 53-player limit: S Hamza Abdullah, FB Charles Ali, CB Brandon Anderson, QB Richard Bartel, CB Tra Battle, LB Beau Bell, T Branndon Braxton, LB Titus Brown, C Dustin Fry, RB Noah Herron, DT Adam Hoppel, WR Paul Hubbard, CB Corey Ivy, RB Chris Jennings, WR Lance Leggett, G Pat Murray, WR Jordan Norwood, WR David Patten, G Kurt Quarterman, DE Brian Schaefering, G Isaac Sowells, DE Santonio Thomas and TE Aaron Walker.
After trading field goals in the first quarter, RB Adrian Peterson scored the first touchdown of the game, giving Minnesota a 10–3 lead.
But K Phil Dawson kicked his second field goal and WR Josh Cribbs returned a punt for a touchdown and the Browns took a 13–10 lead into halftime.
The Browns' deficit increased in the second quarter as Hauschka nailed a 33-yard field goal, while McGahee got a 15-yard touchdown run.
In the fourth quarter, Cleveland managed to get on the board as kicker Billy Cundiff made a 29-yard field goal.
Afterwards, Baltimore closed out the game as quarterback Joe Flacco completed a 72-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Derrick Mason.
Cleveland trailed early in the first quarter as Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.
The Browns continued to struggle in the second quarter as defensive end Robert Geathers returned a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown.
In the end, the Bengals emerged victorious with kicker Shayne Graham kicking the game-winning 31-yard field goal.
[67] at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Third quarter Fourth quarter After a heartbreaking loss to the Bengals, the Browns headed to Buffalo, the site of their last win in Week 11 of the 2008 season, trying to avoid tying a franchise record 11 straight losses.
In very windy conditions, the Browns' hero was punter Dave Zastudil who pinned the Bills within their 5-yard line three times.
Afterwards, Green Bay pulled away in the second half with kicker Mason Crosby booting an 18-yard field goal in the third quarter and Rodgers finding wide receiver James Jones on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
The Browns' defense held up well early, limiting the Bears to three field goals by kicker Robbie Gould (a 37-yard and a 29-yard in the first quarter and a 32-yard in the second).
Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, the 1–8 Browns flew to Ford Field for a Week 11 interconference duel with the 1–8 Detroit Lions.
Detroit answered with quarterback Matthew Stafford completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to running back Aaron Brown.
The Chargers took the lead back in the first on a field goal by Nate Kaeding and a long touchdown reception by Mike Tolbert.
The Browns hosted the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on a night with subzero wind chills for a Week 14 duel.
In windy conditions, Phil Dawson hit a pair of 29-yard field goals and Chris Jennings had a 10-yard touchdown run to put the Browns up 13.
Jeff Reed nailed a field goal before the half to draw the Steelers within 10 and hit another in the third to bring them within a touchdown.
With the win, the Browns improved to 2–11, snapped a twelve-game losing streak against the Steelers and won against them for the first time since 2003 when they defeated the team 33–13 in Pittsburgh.
The team also won their first home game since an October 2008 victory, against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Matt Cassel's final desperation pass ricocheted off the cross bar, and the Browns defeated the Chiefs 41–34, with their highest point total of the season.
In the fourth, Zach Miller caught a 6-yard pass from David Garrard to close within 10, but Dawson added another field goal.
On the final play of the game (and the season), Miller caught another touchdown pass from Garrard but it was not enough and the Browns won 23–17.
On January 6, WR/KR Josh Cribbs was named AFC special teams player of the month for December.
During the month, Cribbs earned AFC special teams player of the week honors twice and set an NFL record with eight career kickoff returns for touchdowns.
[72] KR Josh Cribbs and T Joe Thomas were recognized for individual accomplishments as they were named to the AFC roster for the 2010 Pro Bowl.
