CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns had a near-comical moment in the final preseason game, a 21-7 loss to the Chicago Bears, and head coach Hue Jackson took responsibility for the gaffes.
That's totally on me," Jackson said in a conference call Friday. "That's called coaching."
The sequence took place in the second quarter as the Bears lined up for a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
The play was stopped before the snap when officials noticed the Browns had 12 players on the field.
The ball was moved forward half a yard, and Ka'Deem Carey scored.
Except on the touchdown run, the Browns defense had 10 on the field. Ditto for the extra point.
The Browns went from 12 to 10 to 10 in three plays.
Usually assistant coaches are responsible for signaling which players are supposed to be on the field. It's done after the coordinator calls the play. Players then are responsible for making sure the right group lines up.
"I have to make sure that that those things are shored up and taken care of," Jackson said. "There's nobody else's fault. That buck stops with me and I have to make sure that those things are right and done correctly."
The Browns will release the bulk of their roster moves on Saturday, when the final roster has to be down to 53.
On Friday, the team signed defensive lineman Stephen Paea, who is mainly a nose tackle. He was released by the Redskins this week.
The team waived/injured running back Raijon Neal, who left the preseason finale with a serious quad injury that will require surgery. He likely will wind up on injured reserve.
Even with the cuts, the Browns will stay active as they attempt to bolster a roster that needs bolstering. Expect the Browns to make at least five more moves after the cutdown deadline at 4 p.m. Saturday.
They could be one of the more active teams in making post-cut moves.
"We have tried to do anything and everything we can to strengthen our team and get a little bit better here and there," Jackson said. "We will continue to do so.”
Jackson commented on a few players. Among them:
Cornerback Justin Gilbert, a former first-round pick whose hold on a spot is tenuous: "Our goal and our job is to make sure that we keep the best players here. Do I think he has improved? Yeah. Are we going to sit down and evaluate and talk through every opportunity that a young man has had and we can see where they fit for our football team? We are going to do that also.”
On the four drafted receivers (Corey Coleman, Rashard Higgins, Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton): "“We are definitely going to do everything we can to keep those guys here. We drafted them; we think they have bright futures. Obviously, we haven’t made as many plays yet from that group as we would like, but we think that all those guys have an opportunity."
On whether the release of Paul Kruger and the addition of Paea indicate the team may be tilting toward a 4-3 defense: “We will do whatever we think it takes to win football games."
Jackson said the team is still studying what to do at punter following the trade of Andy Lee to Carolina. Michael Palardy averaged 48.6 yards per kick (44.6 net) and had a 75-yarder against Chicago, but also had a 14-yarder. Kasey Redfern averaged 39.5 yards and 34.5 net. The Packers released six-year veteran Tim Masthay this week.
