The Facts: As part of HC Mike Pettine’s ongoing mission to become more involved with the offense, the second-year head coach is delving deep into the playbook of new OC John DeFilippo and cramming this offseason. “I have flash cards to help me learn a lot of the formations,” Pettine said Friday. “It was like being a rookie. Give me a book, and I’d learn it just like a first-year player would learn it. But it’s been great. I feel very rejuvenated as a coach.”

Diehards Line:When the Browns hired DeFilippo as a first time NFL coordinator in January to replace Kyle Shanahan, who resigned earlier in the month with two years remaining on his contract, Pettine vowed to stray from his expertise on the defensive side of the ball and focus on the offense. Pettine has labeled veteran journeyman Josh McCown the favorite to enter the season as the starting quarterback partly because Johnny Manziel is coming off a stay lasting more than 10 weeks in an inpatient rehabilitation facility specializing in alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon has been banished from the NFL until at least February 2016 for recurring violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy, and former Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron left the Browns as a free agent in March. All of which are reasons why Pettine has repeatedly stated he wants the offense to minimize the importance of the quarterback position. “We want to run the football,” Pettine said. “That’s an important part. That’s going to be a cornerstone of what we do.” Good news for Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West and rookie Duke Johnson. Not so much for those hoping for a quick-strike, big-play attack.