Browns’ pitiful start has faithful fans grumbling

Cleveland’s week off ends with preparations to play the defending champions.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Looking nothing like an expected AFC contender, the Cleveland Browns stumbled into their open week with one win and the league’s second-most penalties.

False start indeed.

This was supposed to be the year the Browns put it all together. Instead, through four games, they’ve done little more than disappoint their loyal fans again. The leaves on the Buckeye trees have barely begun turning autumnal shades across Northeast Ohio and already there’s a fear that football season is as good as over.

As bad as it’s been, the Browns (1-3) understand things could be much worse. They ended their 0-for-’08 losing streak last week with an ugly 20-12 win at Cincinnati, beating a Bengals team forced to start Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback in place of injured Carson Palmer.

Hey, a win is a win.

“Guys feel better about things getting a victory,” kicker Phil Dawson said. “But we all understand that we’re still in a hole and this is just one step in getting out of this hole. Hopefully we can come in and get some good work done this week and come back next week and get some momentum going.”

That will be tough. The Browns will return to the field on Oct. 13 for a Monday night matchup against the Super Bowl champion Giants, who embarrassed Cleveland during the preseason, scoring 30 consecutive points in the first half and knocking out quarterback Derek Anderson with a concussion — one of five Cleveland starters to go down with an injury that night.

The exhibition loss triggered a slide the Browns are still trying to stop.

The off week is allowing Cleveland’s injured players more time to heal.

Wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth, who pulled a right quadriceps muscle during warmups before the opener against Dallas, expects to make his debut against the Giants.

Stallworth has yet to show any return on the Browns’ seven-year, $35 million ($10 million guaranteed) investment in him.

He said he was “pretty close” to playing last week, but the added rest this week should do the trick.

“I’m excited to take my cheerleading outfit off and put on a Cleveland Browns uniform,” he cracked.

Whether it’s Stallworth or right tackle Ryan Tucker, who has yet to play following offseason hip surgery, Cleveland’s offense can use an infusion of something. A unit that produced 402 points last season has managed only 46 in four games and 17 of those — or 37 percent — came in the fourth quarter against the Bengals.

“I don’t think we can go any further down,” wideout Braylon Edwards said. “We’re definitely moving in the right direction.”