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Todd Haley’s dad played for the Steelers Youth Antonio Brown Jersey , so he grew up in a household where enemy lines were clearly defined.
”I hated the Browns,” Haley said.
Not anymore.
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After six successful seasons guiding one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses in Pittsburgh, Haley is starting anew in Cleveland with the winless Browns, a team he once reviled but always respected.
Haley was hired last month by Browns coach Hue Jackson, who after two seasons of handling coordinator duties, is turning over both his offense and play calling to the former Kansas City head coach. It’s another new challenge for Haley, who was dismissed by the Steelers in the ugly aftermath of their playoff loss to Jacksonville.
Haley opened his introductory news conference on Wednesday by touting a few of his accomplishments during ”six really good years” coaching stars Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell with the Steelers, but then made it clear he has moved on.
”I’m looking forward,” he said, ”not back.”
For Haley, the Browns, coming off a historic 0-16 season, present a new challenge in a coaching career that has had other tests. Following his departure in Pittsburgh, Haley said he was attracted to the Cleveland gig because of his familiarity with Jackson, working with new general manager John Dorsey and bringing back the Browns, who are just 1-31 the past two seasons.
”I had some options, but this really appealed to me – the challenge aspect of it,” he said. ”I think there are pieces in place to be successful. I went out to Arizona to be a coordinator, and Arizona had not had much success.
”A lot of people thought I was crazy for leaving Dallas when I did, but man, when you are a part of turning it around and having success, playing in big games and having success in big games Womens Antonio Brown Jersey , there is nothing like it.
”That is what appealed to me – the challenge and the people I was going to be working alongside of.”
Haley felt the same way in Pittsburgh, almost up to the time that the Steelers chose not to renew his contract, cutting him loose three days after the AFC North champions were beaten 45-42 by the Jaguars. Haley had been criticized for several decisions in that loss, most notably two fourth down-and-short plays that the Steelers failed to convert.
There’s no second-guessing in Cleveland. At least not yet.
Haley has spent the past few weeks familiarizing himself with the Browns’ roster, which is expected to undergo some major changes this offseason through free agency and the NFL draft.
The Browns own the Nos. 1 and 4 overall picks and will likely use the first choice to select a quarterback. Haley didn’t bite when asked if he preferred USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield or Wyoming’s Josh Allen, the consensus top QBs available.
However, Haley said it’s exciting to be in position to get one of them.
”When you have a couple of really high picks like we do, it is a great opportunity,” he said. ”As my father always said to me, `When you are picking in the top 10, Todd, you better be right most of the time.’ That will be the challenge for everybody involved.”
Dick Haley played cornerback for the Steelers from 1961-64, and stayed in pro football after retiring as a player personnel director for Pittsburgh and the New York Jets.
Todd Haley learned at an early age about the Browns-Steelers rivalry, and for the first time he’s on the other side of it.
The enemy has changed.
”I always want to beat whoever we are playing,” he said. ”Blood is thicker than water. Everybody always asked me, we had Steelers stuff stocked up for six years, and people are amazed that when you go somewhere else, you put it in a box and see who wants it.”
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WASHINGTON — Having already won their first series at Nationals Park since April 2016, the Philadelphia Phillies will go for the sweep of Washington on Sunday night.
Phillies right-hander Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.08 ERA) faces Nationals right-hander Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.66).
Pivetta was drafted by the Nationals in 2013 and went to the Phillies in 2015 as part of the Jonathan Papelbon trade.
After struggling for three straight starts — giving up 13 runs in 14 innings — Pivetta allowed two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals last time out Youth Alejandro Villanueva Jersey , striking out a career-high 13 batters.
“That’s some of the best stuff I’ve seen him have all year,” catcher Andrew Knapp told mlb.com. “The curveball was electric.”
Pivetta got 11 swings and misses with the curveball.
“It was nice to have it back,” Pivetta told mlb.com. “It all started with my delivery. I was staying up through it, not trying to rush too much and it worked out.”
It his first start — and second big-league appearance — the 24-year-old Rodriguez picked up a win against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. He allowed five runs, four hits and three walks in five innings.
Rodriguez and Satuday’s losing pitcher, Erick Fedde, are filling in for injured starters Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson.
The Phillies have outscored the Nationals 17-5 in the fist two games of the series. On Saturday, Maikel Franco had four hits and Carlos Santana homered to back Aaron Nola in a 5-3 victory.
“That was just a tremendous all-around baseball game,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Franco. “It’s so interesting how we’ve been looking for him to be not just a hitter but a defender and a baserunner and an all-around athlete.”
Franco drove in a run and scored twice, including the go-ahead run when he scored just ahead of the tag on Jesmuel Valentin’s sacrifice fly.
The Phillies, who have won six of seven, pounded out double-digit hits for the second day in a row in Washington.
“They have a lot of patient hitters,” Fedde said of the Phillies. “I think that’s what makes it tough. Guys aren’t swinging at bunch of junk, so you have to attack them.”
The Phillies have now won four straight series for the first time since May 2016 and are 2-0 in what will be a stretch of 10 games against the Nationals and the New York Yankees.
Anthony Rendon homered and Daniel Murphy had a two-run single for Washington, which has lost three of four while scoring nine runs.
“Look, I’ve got all the confidence in the world we’re going to start hitting,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “We’ll start scoring some runs. Right now, the bullpen is a little beat up. We’ve got to get them going again.”
Rendon is doing his part. In his las 15 games, he is batting .382 with seven doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs.
Hellickson (right groin strain) will make a rehab start Sunday for Class A Potomac and then is expected to rejoin the Nationals’ rotation.
Hernandez said first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (right oblique strain) is about a week from beginning a rehab assignment.
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