Month: July 2022

Browns Training camp is finally here. Players report this week, and it couldn’t have come soon enough. There are still a few lingering questions, but soon the interweb will be full of videos, analysis and opinions. Well, there’s already too much analysis and opinions, but at least the promise of actual games is right around the corner. However, there is still some unfinished off-season business.

Deshaun Watson Suspension. After the league leaked, they would be happy with a twelve-game suspension, the NFLPA leaked if they felt the suspension was too long, they are prepared to sue the league. There are predictions on the suspension from a year to no games and a heavy fine. Judge Susan Robinson is reportedly going to take her time with a ruling, but a decision could be announced by the end of this week. In other words, no one knows anything, except for Judge Robinson.

Perrion Winfrey’s Contract. Winfrey remains the only Browns draft pick not signed. Both the team and Winfrey’s agent are in contact and both sides hope a deal will be finished by the time the players report this week. Because of the NFL’s slot system for rookie deals, Winfrey is due to receive an estimated $4.6 million, four-year deal with around $1 million signing bonus. The hang up appears to be an additional $25,000 workout bonus the Texans gave their fourth-round pick running back Dameon Pierce.

As training camp starts, I’m most interested in watching how the defensive tackle and wide receiver positions shake out. There are plenty of bodies at both positions, but the experience needs to improve. According to https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space, the Browns have the most cap space in the league, over $48 million. So, signing a veteran is not out of the question. I would feel better if the Browns signed another DT (Ndamukong Suh?), but I’m also eager to see how the players already on the roster perform. Like Taven Bryan, Jordan Elliot, Glen Logan, Tommy Togiai and Perrion Winfrey at defensive tackle. At wide receiver, my eyes are going to be glued to David Bell. There are also reports that DE Tak McKinley’s rehab is ahead of schedule and both he and the Browns have a mutual interest.

By this time next week, there’ll be shaky cell phone videos from Browns reporters, and I’ll watch every freaking one of them. It’s time for some Browns football. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.

I’m waiting for training camp to start, I’m waiting for Baker Mayfield to be traded, I’m waiting for a Deshaun Watson decision, I’m waiting for twitter to enter the seventh level of hell after the Deshaun Watson decision. The good news is June was the last month this year without football. So, I got that working for me. When it’s this quiet, it’s hard to find something to write about, lists are apparently very popular. If you want my thoughts on how I think Judge Susan Robinson will rule in the Watson case, here’s a link, https://clesportstalk.com/my-thoughts-on-the-watson-case/. It amazes me how some Browns fans have determined this was their last straw for the fandom. I think about all the bad quarterbacks and draft picks since 1999. I think about the endless head coach/GM turnover since 1999. I think about 1-31. I think about how I’ve stayed loyal all those years, waiting for the payoff. The payoff is here.

Sure, you can say the team sold their soul for the Super Bowl by trading for Watson, but the same people wanted them to sell their soul for Aaron Rogers or Russell Wilson or Jimmy Garoppolo. Or worse, trade for Matt Ryan or Marcus Mariota and draft another rookie quarterback high in the 2023 draft. Does Doug Peterson, Jeff Garcia, Trent Dilfer, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer ring a bell. The never-ending cycle of dysfunction. This is a very talented team and I root for this team. I want the Browns to win and will always want the Browns to win. I root for Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Kareem Hunt, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, JOK, Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome and John Johnson, III.

I’ve seen this before. When I was president of the Middle Tennessee Browns Backers, Art Modell (crook) moved the Browns to Baltimore. For three years myself and a group of very loyal Browns fans held the club together waiting for the team’s return. Did the club lose a few members over those three years? Sure. But when the team came back, the club gained far more. That’s what makes Browns fans special and the most loyal fan base in the NFL. You can kick us, demean us, punch us in the stomach, but we’re still here. When Browns Backers gather for game one of the season, it’s a community. After two years of Covid, I’m looking forward to watching the Browns with my fellow Middle Tenness Browns Backer. There’s nothing like it.

Browns training camp starts July 27. By then we’ll know if Watson is suspended, Baker Mayfield will be on another team, (as I write this, Mayfield was traded to Carolina) and I’ll be watching videos posted on twitter of training camp. Despite a minority of fans who have switched teams and sold their season tickets, I’ll still be a Browns fan. Go Browns.

Details on the trade:

The Browns are trading Baker Mayfield to the Panthers for a 2024 conditional 5th-round draft pick, per

@RapSheet

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

More: The #Browns will pay Baker Mayfield $10.5 million this season, which means they trimmed over $8 million in cash and salary-cap space. The #Panthers will pay Mayfield ~$5 million. Mayfield agreed to trim ~$3.5 million off his base salary.

It’s over and if anyone tells you this isn’t value, they don’t know what value is or they’re a Baker Bro. I guess some members of the national media are disapointed he won’t be playing for the Browns.