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Cleveland Browns

First-year head coach Davis begins reclamation project

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2001 schedule Head coach: Butch Davis (first season) Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium Browns all-time record: 390-312-10 2000 rankings: Offense, 31st; Defense, 26th 2000 team statistics 2000 season results Browns alerts from CNNSI.com! City Page: Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland opens its training camp at the Browns Training Facility in Berea, Ohio, on July 23.

By Jarrod Breeze, CNNSI.com

The Chris Palmer experiment is over after only five wins in two years. The Brownsdismissed their expansion head coach and tabbed Miami's Butch Davis from the college ranks. Maybe that will work better, since Cleveland is loaded with players not far removed from their collegiate glory days, including top draft pick defensive tackle Gerard Warren.

The Browns can make the playoffs if ... Davis can work the same magic with the Browns as he did in turning around the Hurricanes’ program. Only problem is, the Miami team he left could probably beat the Browns, or at least make it interesting. The Browns had the league's worst-ranked offense (220.6 yards and 10.1 points per game). The team's leading receiver, Kevin Johnson, in terms of receptions and yards, didn't catch a touchdown pass. Nor did Dennis Northcutt, who was second on the team with 39 catches.

Pivotal games: The Browns won't be in the holiday spirit with a December that begins and ends with games against Tennessee. In between are games at New England, home to Jacksonville and at Green Bay.

On the hot seat: Franchise quarterback Tim Couch was beginning to feel the heat last season before a thumb injury ended his season after just seven games. Still, the expansion Browns first-overall pick led the team in passing with 1,483 yards. But he threw nine interceptions to just seven touchdowns.

Up-and-coming: Rookie Travis Prentice was a pleasant surprise as a third-round draft choice, leading the team in rushing with 512 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 37 passes for 191 yards and a TD.