The Browns had to practice indoors today here in Berea as the rain kept the team inside the Casey Coleman Field house. The team had what would be a Thursday practice today as they prepare to play Chicago on Thursday.

-After Brandon Jackson took all the first team reps yesterday at running back during practice Coach Shurmur was asked today if Montario Hardesty had been demoted, “He was at practice. I saw him. He was out there practicing.

I think you guys had a chance to talk to him, right? He was just sore from the game. He’s fine. I want us to play better, and I don’t want to turn the ball over, but he’s fine.”

-Defensive tackle Billy Winn has made steady progress up the depth charts as he started last Friday’s game over John Hughes.

Coach Shurmur thinks that he will use Hughes and Winn in a rotation while they fill in for Phil Taylor. But he likes the progress of Winn “I think he’s improved in each of the games. He to me is like Josh Gordon. Each week I see something better and different about him. He’s done an excellent job in the preseason.

I think he plays fast, there’s some quickness to him. He finds a way to free himself up in there, which is hard to pass-rush from the three-technique or the defensive tackle position. Especially because you’re dealing with play action and getting your run fit first and what not. I think he’s done a good job of creating a little bit of rush and he flashes.

He’s a good athlete. He’s a skateboard guy, so he’s a good athlete. He can really chase things down, which I think he’s shown.” -There has been a ton of conversation on the NFL’s replacement officials and Coach Shurmur took the high road when discussing them this morning

“Everybody is out there in the preseason busting their fanny to get it right - players, coaches, officials, the people that manage the game, and I’m sure the people who sell hotdogs - we’re all trying to get it right during the preseason so that when we kick it off here Week One, we’re ready to go. They’re working through it like we are.”

 -Sheldon Brown who has had a good camp had a touchdown caught over him last week but Coach Shurmur has no concern over Brown’s talent or age “I’m not concerned about him.

I think what happens is as we become more veteran as players, as coaches there are certain things that you maybe can’t do later in your career that you could do when you were younger, but you compensate with experience and savvy and all that. I’m not dissatisfied with Sheldon. I’m not at all. I think he’s a really good corner in this league.”