Browns release WR Robiskie

By Tony Grossi

Cleveland Plain Dealer

BEREA

The writing had been on the wall for weeks, but the ending to receiver Brian Robiskie’s career with the Browns still came as a cold towel to the face.

Robiskie was waived in the middle of his third unfulfilling season with the Browns, the team he once served as a ballboy while his father, Terry, was an assistant coach.

His place on the roster was taken by backup running back Thomas Clayton, who was signed because of injuries to Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty.

Robiskie, the first of three Browns’ second-round draft picks in 2009 and the 36th overall selection that year, began the season as a starter. But he had no catches in the first three games and dropped down the depth chart. He was active but did not play Sunday in San Francisco.

In six games, Robiskie had three catches for 25 yards — the lowest figures among the Browns’ five wide receivers.

Robiskie was a star at Chagrin Falls High School while his father was a Browns coach. He went on to Ohio State and finished eighth on the Buckeyes’ all-time list with 127 receptions in 51 games.

But his production in the NFL game never approached expectations raised by his Buckeye roots. He had seven catches as a rookie in 2009 and 29 last year. The switch to the supposedly receiver-friendly West Coast offense of new coach Pat Shurmur was supposed to revive Robiskie. But it didn’t happen.

His exit was much more muted than his arrival. His release was noted in just one line in the team’s press announcement about the signing of backup running Thomas Clayton.

Clayton, who had two stints with the Browns last year, was signed after a tryout.

The need for another back arose when Hardesty was pulled early in the San Francisco game with a partially torn calf muscle. With Hillis already out for the second game in a row with a hamstring muscle injury, the Browns were forced to play former Houston Texans practice squadder Chris Ogbannaya for most of the San Francisco game.

Hardesty is expected to be out at least two weeks. Hillis’ status is day-to-day. If Hillis can’t play Sunday, Ogbannaya would probably make his first NFL start in his hometown of Houston against the Texans.

Hillis is embroiled in another controversy after allegedly failing to show up for a promoted appearance at the Cleveland Boys and Girls Club on Monday night.