CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NFL Network's Steve Wyche said Tuesday that Trent Richardson really likes quarterback Brandon Weeden but feels that Weeden struggled to read defenses at times last season -- and the Browns had to dial down their offense because of it.

The Browns running back chatted briefly with Wyche off camera after an interview on the network's NFL AM from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Wyche said Richardson first told him how excited he is to work with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner since Turner likes to feature his backs, such as former San Diego Charger LaDainian Tomlinson.

"He also told me a little bit more about Brandon Weeden," Wyche told co-host Mark Kriegel. "He said as a rookie, [Weeden] really had trouble reading defenses from time to time and they had to skew their offense a little bit, sometimes somewhat predictable. [Richardson] thinks things are going to open up a little bit, but he really does like Brandon Weeden."

During the on-camera interview, Richardson predicted Weeden will be the starter this season.

"I think he'll be my quarterback," Richardson said. "We can't put too much on Brandon, especially as a rookie. . . . We want to make sure he believes, he knows he's going to be our quarterback. When it comes to stuff like that, we've just all got to be behind him."

Richardson gave himself a mediocre grade for his rookie season, in which he rushed for 950 yards and 11 TDs and caught 51 passes for 367 yards and a TD.

"For most people, they say I had a great season, but I think it was OK," he said. "I probably say it was a C-plus, something like that. But for me, man, I expect more than that. I had 950 rushing, but I did have like 450 in receiving. It's different when it comes to receiving and you lead the team in receptions [he was actually second] and stuff like that. When you're doing a lot and playing with broken ribs and having knee surgery before the season, it's big."

The third overall pick, he acknowledged he was never healthy last season. He had knee surgery before the season and suffered broken ribs during the campaign.

Richardson said coach Rob Chudzinski has called on him to lead the team in 2013.

"I told him, 'Coach, I'm going to be in the best shape you know I can be, and if you want me to be a leader this year, I'll be a team captain, a leader, whatever it takes to be that guy,' " Richardson said.

He said he has his sights set on the playoffs this season.

"For the most part, I'm pretty sure that we're going to be a playoff team," he said. "I expect it. We are hoping, and we are knowing that we are going to be there next year."

Breaston on the way: Free-agent receiver Steve Breaston, cut by the Kansas City Chiefs last week, will visit the Browns today and is also scheduled to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A seventh-year pro, Breaston (6-1, 175) has also reportedly drawn interest from the Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans.

Breaston, 29, who signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2011, became their second-leading receiver that season with 61 catches and two TDs. But last season, he lost his job to Jon Baldwin and fell out of favor with the Chiefs' coaching staff. He started only four games and caught seven passes for 74 yards.

Cribbs isn't hopeful: Receiver Josh Cribbs' agents met with the Browns last Friday in Indianapolis, but Cribbs told 92.3 The Fan Tuesday that he's not optimistic about being back for a ninth season.

"Right now, it doesn't seem like the interest level is there with the upper management," he said.

Although the two sides touched base at the combine, Cribbs, who's represented by Peter Schaffer and J.R. Rickert, said things are at a standstill.

"My plan is to stay with the team as much as possible, even if it's a slight pay cut, but at the same time, not huge pay cuts, and I'm trying to work with the team," he said. "I want to be a Brown and end my career here." Holmgren to Raiders? The Oakland Raiders are talking to former Browns President Mike Holmgren about a leadership role with the club, sources have told ESPN's Bill Williamson and John Clayton.

Holmgren has a good relationship with Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie from their days together in Green Bay.

Holmgren, who's vacationing in Europe, has already visited with the Raiders, ESPN reported, and part of the job would be leading the charge for a new stadium. Extra points: The Arizona Cardinals are exploring the possibility of trading for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, according to the Arizona Republic. CBS Sports reported Sunday that the 49ers already have a deal in place with an unidentified team, possibly the Chiefs.