BROWNS Candid Davis answers queries

Cleveland's coach acknowledged his team has many problems to address.
BEREA (AP) -- One of the scalpers standing on a downtown Cleveland street Sunday held a homemade sign that said it all about the Browns this season.
It read: "Free Tickets."
There wasn't a line forming.
And that was before Cleveland got embarrassed 35-0 in its home finale by the Baltimore Ravens, who with a shot at winning the AFC North overpowered the Browns.
In a season of lows, the Browns (4-11) have dropped to a new one. Luckily, they only have one game left -- at Cincinnati on Sunday -- before they can begin rebuilding from the rubble of 2003.
"Everybody has to do some soul searching," wide receiver Quincy Morgan said. "It can't get any worse. It can only go up. It can only go up for the offense. It can only go up for the defense. This is the worst."
It had better be.
On Monday, the Browns were still smarting from their most lopsided loss since the 2000 season finale and their largest defeat since Butch Davis became coach in 2001.
"It was frustrating," said Davis, 20-27 in his three seasons. "It was sad and a bitter defeat. You don't like to lose in the division, and you don't like to lose in the fashion we did."
Davis didn't bother sugarcoating the Browns' fifth straight loss and eighth in nine games. During his weekly news conference, Davis candidly and contritely acknowledged his team has problems -- many of them.
Answers questions
Instead of dodging some of the stickier issues -- the ongoing quarterback controversy, running back William Green's suspension, coaching changes, the offensive line -- Davis took them public, which is something he has been reluctant to do in the past.
He was also tough on himself, offering a refreshing self-evaluation of his performance.
"I recognize that this hasn't been the season that anyone envisioned," Davis said. "Nobody wanted this season to happen. As the head coach, ultimately, it's my responsibility. It's my responsibility to prepare the team and get the team to play well and win games.
"I recognize my own shortcomings and the things I'm not doing well as a head coach. I recognize the things we're not doing well as a football team, and we're going to do everything humanly possible to rectify that."
Davis, who inherited a club that went 3-13, is disappointed he didn't build on a team that went 9-7 during the regular season a year ago and made the playoffs.
However, he said the struggles allowed him to see what he needs to improve.
"That will be my main commitment, to go about fixing those things," he said. "It's difficult to fix some things during the course of the season, but we'll do everything we can to fix it."
List of problems
He's got a long list to work from.
The Browns' muddled quarterback situation remains as confused as it was at the beginning of the season. Due to injuries and inconsistency, Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb failed to emerge.
Now, the Browns have to decide whether to release Couch, who'll make $7.6 million next season, or give Holcomb another shot at the No. 1 job.
Couch is willing to restructure his contract if the Browns want him back.
Davis said it has been impossible to evaluate his quarterbacks while continually having to plug holes in an offensive line ransacked by injuries.
"Yeah, maybe it (the QB situation) is uncertain," Davis said. "It has the potential to clear up once we fix the supporting cast. We have to address the offensive line. That has to be a major part of this offseason."
Green's future is equally vague. The running back is suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse program and is reportedly in alcohol rehab.
Davis doesn't know if -- or when -- the second-year back might be reinstated.
"It's an unanswerable question," Davis said, "because right now I don't know the status or the state of where the stuff is."
Davis also confirmed that wide receiver Quincy Morgan and safety Robert Griffith had a fight in the locker room after practice Friday.
"It escalated more than it probably should have," Davis said. "I talked to both of them, and they dropped it."