Tom Brady has endorsed the ability of Brian Hoyer, his former backup who is now starting for the Cleveland Browns.

"He has everything it takes physically and mentally to play the position," said Brady told Cleveland.com in and email exchange. "He loves football and works hard at getting better."

Brady texted a note of congratulations to Hoyer after winning his first start.

"We talked football whenever we were around one another, but he was solely responsible for his work ethic and improvements over the years," Brady said.

The Cleveland Browns are not putting Joe Thomas on the trading block despite calls from "several teams" inquiring about his availability.

Thomas is one of the NFL's best left tackles.

The Browns traded Trent Richardson last week in a move suggesting that the team was giving up on the current season and collecting assets.

The Cleveland Browns traded Trent Richardson this week, which wasn't a huge shock to Joe Thomas.

"Nobody on any team is untouchable," said Thomas.

"About the only people safe are the ones that came here this year in the first round that were drafted by the guys that are making the calls right now," Thomas said. "That's the way it is. I've been through four coaching staffs right now and GMs. And if you're not drafted by them, there's no safety in this business."

The Browns have had a lack of continuity in recent seasons.

The Cleveland Browns generally do not see Brandon Weeden as their quarterback of the future.

Weeden was a first round pick of the previous regime last season.

Weeden is a pocket passer with good size and a strong arm best suited for a vertical offense.

Mike Holmgren criticized the Cleveland Browns for trading Trent Richardson after just two games of the 2013 season.

Holmgren was with the Browns in 2012 when the franchise selected Richardson.

"Philosophically, if I am the coach and someone came in anywhere and did that, I'd say 'OK, fire me, or I'm going to quit. Or we're going to both go into the owner and talk about this and the we'll see who's still standing."

The Browns acquired a first round pick in 2014 for Richardson.

"How do you make your team better by trading your best player?'' said Holmgren. "He's the best offensive player. He's a valuable, valuable guy.''

Holmgren likens the Browns' direction to tanking.

"To me, they're putting all their eggs for next season,'' said Holmgren. "They started off 0-2, they couldn't score any points, I think it was a little bit of a knee-jerk reaction. There's a little bit of a 'what's going on?' I don't know this for sure but I can sense it."

Willis McGahee will sign with the Cleveland Browns pending a physical.

The Browns traded Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday.

McGahee spent last season with the Denver Broncos.

The Browns have traded former first-round pick Trent Richardson to the Colts for a first-round pick, according to a league source.

Richardson rushed for 950 yards and a Browns rookie record 11 touchdowns last season.

The previous regime of the Browns drafted Richardson.

The Cleveland Browns will start Brian Hoyer in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings.

The preseason featured a quarterback competition between Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell, while Hoyer was expected to be the third string.

Hoyer is a favorite of Michael Lombardi, general manager of the Browns.

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns 14-6 behind a pair of goal line touchdowns in the second half.

Baltimore had a narrow +0.3 advantage in the Trench Counter, with six additional first downs but one turnover to none from the Browns. The Ravens had a +16 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Joe Flacco went 22-for-33 for 211 yards and a touchdown just hours after his wife gave birth to the couple's second child. 

Ray Rice carried 13 times for 36 yards, but strained his hip flexor and left the game in the fourth quarter. Bernard Pierce carried 19 times for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Brandon Weeden went 21-for-33 for 227 yards, while Trent Richardson carried 18 times for 58 yards.

Trent Richardson had just 13 carries for 47 yards in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins.

Norv Turner wants the Cleveland Browns to give Richardson at least 20 carries this week.

Richardson didn't receive a single handoff in the fourth quarter.