Frustrated Browns Pile It On

Earl Little looked up at the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter and had a flashback to steamy Saturday afternoons playing in college.

“It was like being back at the University of Miami beating up people,” the Cleveland Brown safety said. “Man, it felt great.”

After a week of controversy, soul searching and self-inflicted wounds, the Browns took out their frustrations on Arizona with a 44-6 victory Sunday.

Kelly Holcomb passed for 392 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns showed no signs of disarray while rolling to their most lopsided victory since 1989.

James Jackson had two touchdown runs and Phil Dawson kicked three field goals.

The Browns (4-6) had lost three in a row and seemed to be in turmoil.

Tuesday, Coach Butch Davis released Kevin Johnson, Cleveland’s leading receiver, and Thursday the NFL suspended star running back William Green four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse program.

“We needed to make a stand,” Davis said. “This was put up or shut up time for us. This was the defining moment of the season. This was not about vindication or validation.”

Cleveland out-gained Arizona, 481 yards to 187. The Cardinals (3-7) didn’t cross midfield until late in the first half.

Holcomb finished 29 of 35 with no interceptions, and completed passes to eight receivers.