Forner Browns director of football operations Mike Lombardi endorsed team president Mike Holmgren's handling of the Peyton Hillis contract negotiations Sunday on the NFL Network's "NFL GameDay Morning."

Lombardi said there's no need for the Browns to rush to wrap up a new deal for Hillis, who is sitting out his third game of the season today at San Francisco with a hamstring injury. The Madden 12 cover boy has totalled for 211 yards (3.5 average) on the ground after amassing 1,177 last season.

During Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll found plenty of reasons to get frustrated. Especially when three calls didn’t
go the Seahawks’ way in the second quarter.

Carroll challenged quarterback Charlie Whitehurst’s fumble
after a sack by safety T.J. Ward, which was recovered by linebacker D’Qwell
Jackson. But the review showed that Whitehurst was already losing the ball
before Ward’s hit.

Thoughts on Browns-Raiders, Harbaugh-Schwartz and today’s
trade deadline.

I’ll be stunned if Browns’ running back Peyton Hillis is
playing for someone else tonight. No. 1, because he’s got a hamstring injury.
Since he’s in a contract year, I don’t know who would give up a
draft choice for a player who might be with them for half the season or less.

The Oakland Raiders, 3-2 going into Sunday's home game against the Browns, seem to be gaining a national following. That includes former 49ers and Lions coach Steve Mariucci and former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin of the NFL Network.

The Raiders won at Houston 25-20 on Sunday, a day after the passing of legendary owner Al Davis.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus will be profiled on Sunday's edition of "60 Minutes" (CBS, 7-8 p.m.) and expect plenty of moxie from the man who represents more NFL players than any other.

“I really believe that the NFL would fall apart without me,” Rosenhaus says on the show, according to a CBS press release.  “That may sound cocky, that may sound arrogant, but I amtelling you the truth.”

Here's the statement from Ohio State regarding the suspensions of Marcus Hall, DeVier Posey and Daniel Herron for Saturday's game at Nebraska:

"The Ohio State University Director of Athletics Gene Smith announced today that, as part of the university’s continued investigation with the NCAA to resolve any remaining football compliance issues, violations have been discovered and three football student-athletes have been declared ineligible for the football game this weekend against the University of Nebraska.  Those players are Marcus Hall, DeVier Posey and Daniel Herron. The university has submitted a request for reinstatement on behalf of each student-athlete, but it is anticipated that each will sit out at least the game this weekend.

Here's a nugget from Sports Illustrated's Peter King to further enforce the reality of the Browns' situation: They still haven't beaten a team with a winning record.