Month: August 2024

Well at least the practices for the games. The NFL season for the Browns starts in less than two weeks and I can’t wait. I’m tired of the over analyzing of the quarterback position and how well a bunch of backups played in meaningless games. By Tuesday at 4:00pm EST we’ll know which of these players will be on the 53-man roster. The real question will which players will make it through waivers and on to the practice squad. Add to the mix, players from other teams that Browns GM Andrew Berry might covet. Despite what the local media and some fans say, Berry is very good at roster building.

For the next two weeks, the main focus will be on the PUP list. It’s hard to believe that more attention will be placed on two starting offensive tackles then a certain talented running back. I expect one or both Jedrick Wills or Jack Conklin to be ready for week one. I base this assumption on two things. First prior to the last preseason game Berry said, “We do expect some of our guys to come back over the next week or two.” Second, if it really was concerning to the team, they would have signed someone. Remember, then it comes to player salaries, the Browns are all in.

Finally, I’m not worried about quarterback Deshaun Watson playing in preseason games. I know the local media is making a big deal out of it, but when it comes to the Browns, that’s how they roll. After watching some of the hits the Browns quarterbacks have taken, I’m glad he didn’t play. Uchenna Nwosu hit Jameis Winston in the ankles, which resulted in a roughing the passer call against the Seahawks. Did anyone really want to see Watson take that hit? If you said yes, you’re not really a Browns fan. Stay safe and Go Browns.

And that problem is the left tackle position. It started at the backup left tackle position, now it’s the starter and the backups. After the game against the Vikings, Noah Weiskopf http://@BrownsWithNoah reported: “#Browns offensive tackle injury updates: – T Hakeem Adeniji will miss some time with a knee injury. – T Jedrick Wills won’t practice this week but continues to rehab. – T Germain Ifedi is okay following hand injury – T James Hudson III is out this week with an ankle injury should be back soon.” He then updated his report later in the day, “Adeniji avoided a serious knee injury upon further testing this morning, per a league source. He’ll miss some time but will be okay.” This is a problem that needs to be addressed if quarterback Deshaun Watson is going to play in the last preseason game against the Seahawks.

Last year this position was a black hole. Guys no one had heard of were starting for a playoff team. These below average players benefited from Joe Flacco, a veteran QB with a quick release. However, Flacco had a bad habit of throwing touchdown passes to the other team. Now, the Browns are less than three weeks away from their season opener against the Cowboys with both starting tackles still on the PUP list and I’m not sure I want Watson to play in the last preseason game.

There’s something amiss with the Browns and Jedrick Wills. He originally was hurt during the 27-0 win over the Cardinals and was placed on IR on November 7, with the designation he could return. Then on December 12, it was announced he had surgery and was done for the season. It took a month to determine he had to have surgery. Really? During minicamp, backup right tackle Dawand Jones told reporters he would be ready for training camp and Wills and Conklin were right behind him in rehab. Conklin further confused the situation, by reporting on his Instagram account he would be ready for training camp. Something doesn’t seem right.

What further confuses this mess is the Browns front office is seldom caught off guard. Center Luke Wypler is injured in the first preseason game and by Monday the team had traded for former Brown Nick Harris, and he was talking to the local media at training camp. The front office thought they had this problem covered by signing Adeniji and Ifedi, two veteran swing tackles. When practices begin for preseason game number three, I’m sure the Cleveland media will ask head coach Kevin Stefanski for comments on the situation and I’m sure he’ll respond with “we’re working through the problems, but injuries are a part of the game. Any roster moves will have to be addressed by GM Andrew Berry.”

I’m not one to panic and I’m not panicking now, but something just doesn’t feel right. Kind of like all those false trade rumors about Brandon Aiyuk. It just doesn’t feel right between Wills and the Browns. Hopefully there’ll be more clarity the beginning of this week. Frankly I’d rather be talking about Nick Chubb’s rehab progress. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Like most preseason games, the Packers vs. Browns game was hard to watch. But then again, these games are not for entertainment. After thinking about it for a couple days, I realized one major mistake by the Browns, the defense had no containment. I know it’s only a preseason game with the vast majority of starters not playing, but this was a big problem last year. You might want to work on that Browns. As for the long touchdown pass by the Packers, where the hell was the free safety? He broke to the other side after the ball was snapped and let our fourth string safety out on an island. Bravo to Jordan Love for seeing the coverage. That’s what good quarterbacks do best. The best players on defense who stood out to me were DT Michael Hall, DE Isaiah Thomas, LB Devin Bush, LB Mohamoud Diabate and safety Brady Breeze. On offense QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, WR Jamari Thrash, WR David Bell, WR Cedric Tillman and WR Ahmarean Brown. QB Jameis Winston also played well for one drive. Next week the Browns will play the Vikings and because they are scrimmaging with them this week, there will be very few starters playing in the game.

In other news, QB Deshaun Watson is cleared for contact. That’s good news. Let’s hope he’ll play at the start of the last preseason game against the Seahawks. A series or two would be fine with me. Unfortunately, the Browns did have a major injury during the game, backup center Luke Wypler fractured his ankle. Then yesterday, Andrew Berry traded for former Brown Nick Harris. Great move. As for the other trade that’s got the never-ending focus of the local media, I don’t put any stock in the Instagram post by WR Amari Cooper. He’s a ten-year veteran who is playing for a new contract in 2025. He’s a professional’s professional and won’t rock the boat. Besides, prior to the game Saturday he was seen on the field joking around with both players and coaches.

Finally the stadium issue is back in the news. I hate to tell everyone but, there’s going to be a new domed stadium in Brook Park. The land has been purchased and is currently being cleared. There won’t be a renovation of the current stadium because structurally it can’t hold a dome. The city and county politicians need to stop thinking about their political careers and do what’s best for downtown, let the Haslem Group help you develop the lake front. They’ll invest money in it because it will make them money. Just remember, the local city officials were against the Gateway Project (the baseball and basketball arenas) when that was proposed. Worked out pretty well in the long run. Downtown businesses will figure out a way to make money on gameday. They could host pregame parties and include shuttle buses to the new stadium. Good business owners can be very creative when there’s a profit on the line. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Yesterday the news broke that the Brandon Aiyuk trade was very, very real. According to reports, it’s down to the Browns and the Patriots. Both teams have presented trade packages to the 49ers, and they have accepted both. It’s now up to Aiyuk to choose his team. If he just wants money, then he’ll probably pick New England. If he wants to win, he’ll probably pick Cleveland. I had heard he wanted to stay on the west coast, so he might be holding out for another team to jump in.

The rumored compensation for Aiyuk is a veteran player and a draft pick. Everyone is assuming the player will be WR Amari Cooper. This could make sense cap wise, but there a lot of moving parts. It makes more sense to trade WR Elijah Moore. The dead money hit would only be about $3 million. That’s doable. Of course, the Browns would have to give Aiyuk a contract extension and I trust the Browns front office to make it a team friendly deal.

If the player is not a wide receiver, then the only other player who makes sense is Wyatt Teller. If the Browns feel comfortable with Zack Zinter and Michael Dunn, then it could be Teller. The Browns offensive line is always the highest paid position group and that will need to change moving forward. The overall cap savings (saving minus dead money) would be around $12 million. Other than Moore and Teller, the money doesn’t fit, i.e. Newsome or Conklin.

As for the draft pick, I hope it’s no higher than a fourth. Some have made this out to be a situation where the 49ers are trying to dump a problem player. I look at it as a future money dump. San Fran is fine this year cap wise, $53 million under the cap. However, in 2025 they might be as much as $38 million over the cap and QB Brock Purdy becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. Watching all the giant contracts quarterbacks are currently receiving, the 49ers are going to have pay dearly to keep him.

Now we wait. Stay safe and Go Browns.