Month: June 2020

This week started with a zoom meeting with RB Kareem Hunt and the Cleveland media. The media started with half dozen questions about Hunt’s off season incident in Rocky River Ohio. Hunt expressed his remorse for the incident and again thanked the Cleveland Browns for giving him a chance to play for his home town team. Interestingly he said he would love to sign a long term deal with the Browns. Currently Hunt is under a 2nd round restricted free agent tender for about 3.5 million, which he signed on April 20. Keeping both Hunt and Nick Chubb in 2021 would be any Browns fans dream, but can it be achieved? I’m currently writing an article about that subject for http://www.clesportstalk.com and it should be on the website next week.

The week ended with Head Coach Kevin Stefanski talking to the media. First let me say, I love this guy. When asked about the current situation of coaching players virtually and all the uncertainty of this off season, Stefanski said, “I’m comfortable being uncomfortable.” Stefanski also said, “All off season long, we’ve had a plan, and we’re ready to pivot.” I can’t wait to see this guy coach. There was also news on when the facility in Berea will be opening. On July 24, injured players and quarterbacks can report and all players can report on July 28. The July 24 date is important because if the Browns are thinking about signing another free agent, those players can come in on July 24 for a physical. Finally, the last news items to come from this press conference were some good news and some possible bad news. Coach Stefanski announced Odell Beckham Jr is 100% and ready to go for training camp. The possible bad news is Jarvis Landry is not quite ready yet. Hopefully by July 28, Landry will be ready to go.

The new flavor of the week for Browns twitter is trading for Jags DE Yannik Ngakoue. My question is, why trade a first round pick or more for a one year rental? I wish Browns twitter would please stop. The Browns right now are happy with DE Olivier Vernon. Yes that could change, but he is a good player and I say he stays with the Browns. Remember in the week four win over the Ravens, Vernon got the first sack of Lamar Jackson on Baltimore’s first possession.

Episode five of “Building The Browns” on Youtube aired last Sunday. If you haven’t seen it, please watch it. If you’re a Browns fan it will make you very proud of this organization. This series is always a must see. As always everyone stay safe and if want to watch football in the fall,wear a damn mask.

Go Browns.

First came the news earlier in the week that the Browns offered Jadeveon Clowney a one year deal worth 15 million. Please stop. STOP. If Clowney wanted to play in Cleveland, he would’ve signed the multi year deal that the Browns offered in the early days of free agency. He’s been offered the most money by the Browns with every contract offer. Not going to happen. Next on our list of craziness for the week, should the Browns sign QB Cam Newton? Are you freaking kidding me? Look, I know that ESPN, NFL Network and sports talk radio is running out of content, but Cam Newton? The Browns already have a franchise QB and built an offense best suited for Baker Mayfield.

Finally, Jets Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams has again requested a trade. Of course Browns twitter wants the Browns to trade several first round draft picks for Adams. Safety is not a concern for the Browns. They already have J.T Hassell and Sheldon Redwine from last year and signed Andrew Sendejo and Karl Joseph in free agency. The gem of the safety room is second round draft pick Grant Delpit. He’s a first round talent and will be a force in this defense. Remember, DC Joe Woods last coached the secondary for the San Fransico 49ers. Besides, Adams doesn’t seem like the type of player the Browns want. He’s going to cost too much both in draft capital and salary.

Remember the 2020 salary cap of 198.2 million is based on the revenue to be made in 2020. With the pandemic, this years NFL revenues will be down and the 2021 cap may stay the same or go up very little. The Browns are currently trying to lock up Myles Garrett to a large contract extension and still have the fifth year options for both Mayfield and Ward. Plus the team has to deal with weather to sign Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to future contracts.

The good news of the week came out of the news conference with WR coach Chad O’Shea. O’Shea confirmed that Beckham and Landry are on schedule with their rehabs. He also said the both are more interested in wining than personal statistics. That’s the kind of news I like to hear. O’Shea also said the RB Kareem Hunt might be used as a third wide receiver. What? I love this idea. Imagine a formation with Mayfield under center, Chubb in the backfield, Hooper as the TE, Landry in the slot and OBJ and Hunt lined up wide. Go ahead NFL defense coordinators try and stop it. I can’t wait to see all the different formations this wide zone offense will produce.

As for the other pro leagues, the MLS and NHL are still on schedule and MLB is arguing over 60 or 76 games. In the NBA, the players are starting to question the league’s plans. Kyrie Irving even proposed the players starting their own league. The most shocking thing I learned about the NBA was that Irving is the VP of the players association. Who in gods name voted him VP of the players association? He’s a member of the flat earth society.

The bad news is more and more college and pro players and coaches are testing positive for Covid-19. Besides the NFLPA calling for only two pre season games, some NFL owners are pushing for a delay to the start of the season. Because this country didn’t take this pandemic seriously and a lot of states opened way too early, the possibility of no sports this summer and fall is realistic. I hope I’m wrong, because I think we could all use the distraction. All I can say is if you have to go out, social distance and wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and please wash your hands. Stay safe and Go Browns.

As the NFL slowly comes back to life with more individuals allowed in team facilities, the NFL announced virtual meetings will come to an end on June 26. That’s a signal that players not rehabbing at the facilities will be heading back to the building, providing the NFLPA also agrees. The NFL also instructed teams that coaches after that date can meet with 30 players at a time. It’s a start. What excites me about this announcement is free agent visits and possible physicals can now be scheduled. The only player I want the Browns to bring in on a visit is LB Nigel Bradham. I understand the Browns don’t put a lot of value on the linebacker position, but the LB room needs an experienced player. On defense the Browns can move second round draft pick Grant Delpit into the LB position on third down due to his coverage and tackle skills, but the team needs one more experienced linebacker.

There were rumors that the Browns were going to bring in DE Everson Griffen for a visit. I can not verify this rumor, so it’s still only a rumor. Although Griffen would be a nice addition, I still think the Browns are happy with DE Olivier Vernon and will let him play out his contract. Besides the linebacker position, I really don’t see a weakness in any other position group, baring injury. As a Browns fan, you always have to add baring injury.

Like I said earlier, the only thing holding up the NFL’s schedule is the players union and I agree with the players. The players are the one’s taking the greatest risk with the reopening of facilities and training camps. The NFLPA has proposed eliminating two preseason games. I think we can all agree two preseason games a year is plenty as long as teams with new coaching staffs get to open their training camps earlier. We’ll all have to wait to see how all this plays out.

As for the other pro sports, the NHL, NBA and MLS are moving forward and MLB is still fighting over money. After shooting themselves in the foot not once, not twice, but three times, MLB is aiming at the other foot. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stated this week that baseball will be played this year. If no agreement is made, MLB will revert to the March agreement they have with players union playing 50 games. Are you kidding me? 50 games? The world champion Nationals started last year 19-31, so 50 games is not an option. I hope MLS is ready to take it’s place in the big four of pro sports, because baseball is about to have one big funeral.

That’s it for this week. Keep an eye out for my articles on http://www.Clesportstalk.com. My latest is a look at our new rookie head coach Kevin Stefanski. Also you can follow them on twitter @CLEsportsTalk. They post great highlights from Cleveland’s past on twitter. Everyone please stay safe and GO Browns.

Yesterday the NFL announced that coaching staffs can return to their facilities today. It was further noted that teams could have up to 100 people in the facilities at one time. This is subject to local and state regulations. Right now the NFL’s focus is for players and coaches getting together for the start of training camps in July. Currently the only players allowed in the facilities are players rehabbing from injuries. This is both good news and bad news for the Browns. The bad news is no OTA’s or mini camps. However the good news there is going to be a training camp for Kevin Stefanski to install his offense. Hopefully the virtual meetings have been making an impact.

Speaking of virtual meetings, OC Alex Van Pelt told the media this week that WR Odell Beckham, Jr. has been staying as close to the team as possible during the meetings. Van Pelt says Beckham has been a “model player.” Word is both he and Jarvis Landry are ahead of schedule on their rehabs. Browns fans have to admit that the lack of participation in OTA’s and mini camps by Beckham was one of the major factors in the teams downfall last year. Besides Beckham, the poor tackle play, Kitchen’s piss poor play calling and Mayfield’s lack of dedication were the other factors. Glad to see Beckham stepping up.

Van Pelt noted that QB Baker Mayfield has been improving his footwork to handle the west coast offense. I have the feeling the Browns are going to lead the league in play action pass in the wide zone/west coast offensive. Mayfield has excelled in play action in his two years in the league. He also said Mayfield is dropping in on other position group meetings like RB and WR. Hey, look our QB is a team leader. Have you noticed while national media types are tearing down Mayfield, he hasn’t said a word? In his meeting with the media a couple of weeks ago, Mayfield said, “It’s time to shut up and work.” That’s my quarterback.

Hopefully the last Browns/Clowney news. It was reported this week that the Browns offered Clowney 12 million a year in a multi year deal. Of course he turned it down. Like I said last week, they don’t need anymore big signings. The Browns need to sign their remaining draft picks and use any cap left over to address next year. The salary cap is based on future revenue, so the 198.2 million cap for 2020 was based on the revenue the league would generate this year. Obviously because of the pandemic, the league revenues will be down in 2020. So the expected large increase in the cap for 2021 probably won’t happen. Again as I said last week, with carry forward cap space and expiring contracts, the Browns could have up to 100 million in additional cap space. Besides, as my wife, Karen, says if Clowney doesn’t want to be in Cleveland, then screw him.

In other pro sports, It appears the NBA, the NHL and MLS are set to make their returns. Where’s MLB you ask? They’re still arguing over money. It appears there will be no Major League Baseball this year and with the MLB CBA expiring after the 2021 season, a looming lockout is on the horizon for 2021. I’ve never seen a bigger self inflicted wound in pro sports since boxing. There was a time in this country when boxing and baseball were the two biggest sports. Of course all it takes is one positive test and it will all be shut down again. Looks like the cautious approach by the NFL is the smart approach.

Finally, I saw on twitter videos of how the Browns are cleaning their facilities, so it looks like another episode of “Building The Browns” is being filmed. Keep an eye out for it and watch. It’s a great change of pace from watching past Browns games. Also my second article for http://www.clesportstalk.com , (@CLEsportsTalk) just hit the website. It’s about the origins of Browns Backers Worldwide and my personal experiences with the Middle Tennessee Browns Backers. Give a read and give them a follow. It’s a great website for Cleveland sports and much more. I hope everyone is staying safe and Go Browns.