Cleveland's new era begins with the old Nemesis Steelers

Tell Ben Roethlisberger that the Browns compete with the Pittsburgh Steelers go so far as to invite a Cleveland resident to jump into the lake in January.

Roethlisberger has more wins at Cleveland's First Energy Stadium than any other Browns quarterback and is 22-2 against the Browns.

So, when the Steelers make the little trek Sunday with a boost of optimism from Dawg Pound, the Browns are absolutely right to catch up before the "rivalry" can be redefined.

However, both teams have to contend with their own drama before the opening game of Sunday's regular season.

For Cleveland, simply winning a match was a challenge. The Browns were 0-16 in 2017 and won a match in 2016.

The status of Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell is a major problem. It is increasingly likely that the talented but unhappy Pittsburgh running back will be a defender for the first game and well beyond. On Thursday morning, he had neither reported nor signed his franchise offer of $ 14.54 million from the team and waived $ 855,000 for every match he was missing.

The Steelers, champions of the division last year at 13-3, remain stacked, starting with Roethlisberger, and seem ready to give way to Bell's sophomore James Conner.

Still, Bell's situation has invaded the locker room.

"What are you doing?" Said guard Ramon Foster at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I guess it's a guy who does not care, so we'll treat him as such.

"I hate that. He is seven times what I win, twice as much as Al (Villanueva, offensive tackle), and we are the guys who do it for him. "

The Maurkice Pouncey Center was just as bitter, calling Bell "selfish".

"Obviously, it's Le'Veon on the Steelers," Pouncey said. "We are the Steelers. At this point, it is bigger than business. Now that time is running out and you have $ 14 million to come and your team really wants you here … at this point, we have Conner.

Roethlisberger was more diplomatic.

"He's one of the best in the business, so every time you have a guy like him, you want him on the field with you," said the quarterback. "I have to prepare to be as ready as possible to go there on Sunday and face a very good defense."

He is right, if the pre-season results are reliable. It starts with defensive end Myles Garrett, who was a terror this summer.

Last season, Garrett said he wanted to "shoot down" Roethlisberger, but Garrett missed the first meeting of the teams and Roethlisberger was absent from the second.

"I want to go to the passer," he said of his luck this season. "I want to play games. I want to be dominant. I have to go there and show that I am really a threat. Maybe after some rushes, whether I come back or come back there, they may have to turn to those who really succeed. But I plan to go back a little bit.

In attack, Browns coach Hue Jackson creates a bit of intrigue at the left tackle, where rookie Desmond Harrison could start, Joel Bitonio moving to the left guard. They will protect the new quarter Tyrod Taylor, who was acquired Buffalo Bills during the off season.

And then there is the general pressure to beat Pittsburgh.

"It's the equivalent of making the playoffs here, almost a Super Bowl win," said receiver Josh Gordon. "But a win is a win, we just want one at a time."

Or just a victory, period.

The only player in Cleveland who appears to have been injured is linebacker James Burgess (concussion). With the exception of Bell's absence, no other Pittsburgh player should be unavailable.

Gordon was not able to participate in the pre-season after missing out on training camp to enter a treatment facility at the University of Florida. But Gordon should be available Sunday, even if he is not a starter. The Browns can count on another newcomer, receiver Jarvis Landry, against Gordon. Cleveland also added running back Carlos Hyde, but he has not left back Joe Thomas (retired).

-Media level of field