Month: July 2025

Yesterday, the Browns put the pads on for the first time in training camp. Things were popping. From what I’ve heard, the intensity is there. That makes me happy.

Salary Cap Update: The Browns are currently $19.1 million under the cap. Again as like I said last week, plenty of salary.

Kemmy Pickett’s Injury: Strained hamstring. Monday head coach Kevin Stefanski gave little information, which is normal despite what members of the media say. He did say Pickett would miss the latest block of practices, so he might be back next week.

Practice Monday: Having pads on made a big difference with the offensive line, although I’m still a little worried about depth. Barton Jackson took some reps at right tackle allowing Cornelius Lucus to concentrate on left tackle. While, Dawand Jones has lost a ton of weight (he’s at 292), the coaching staff is still in a wait and see mode on Jones. They want to make sure he stays in shape before he starts at left tackle. Last year before the injury he was +400 lbs. Luke Wypler looks like he can take over if Ethan Pocic gets hurt. My main concerns are Zak Zinter and Teven Jenkins. Zinter has been inconsistent, and Jenkins is still not all the way back from injury. If the Browns keep only three offensive tackles, Jenkins is key to that plan because he has played some LT. I still think they keep four.

The defensive line is going to be great. It would surprise me that anyone else besides Isaiah McGuire starts opposite of Myles Garrett. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger is a player. He’s bigger than most people think and he’s fast. Real fast. He’ll be fine with the green dot. Keep an eye on UDFA Donovan McMillon, he’s always around the ball. I’m not worried about the secondary. On offense, Jerry Jeudy and Diontae Johnson are a quarterback’s dream. Both run great routes and separate extremely well. Harold Fannin is going to be a weapon. Dylan Sampson is faster in real time than on film. Newly signed running back Toa Taua is making the best of his situation, He might be the short yardage, short term fix this team needs.

QB Battle: Because of Pickett’s injury, the rookies are getting more opportunities. Just be careful on what you see on social media. Sanders fans are making a big deal out of his last pass for a touchdown. If it were a real game, he would have been sacked prior to stepping up in the pocket. You can see the defensive lineman ease up. As for the preseason games, I expect both rookies to play in all three. I’m curious to see if Flacco plays in any of them, hopefully a little in the last one. Every year the starters play in the scrimmages then don’t play in the preseason game. I can’t wait for the pearl clutching from the media and the Stefanski haters to complain. I’m fully convinced most of the Sander’s fans on social media are not Browns fans. Finally, this team wants to win this year and Flacco gives them best chance to do that. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Browns veterans report to Berea today and Browns training camp officially starts tomorrow. Here’s some quick notes to get you in the mood.

Salary Cap: According to Over The Cap, the Browns are $17.6 million under the cap. I remind people of this, because despite the perception they have no cap room, they have cap room. They could create more room whenever they want, so salary is not a problem for this front office.

Quarterback Battle. Despite the false noise from everyone on social media and the stupidity of some members of the media, the Browns do not have the quarterbacks ranked in any order. It’s truly a competition. I’ve been told the team expects to be successful on the field in 2025 and will name the best starter to achieve that success. They don’t want to start a rookie, but if a rookie is their best option for success, so be it. They have not decided on a starter; Browns GM Andrew Berry has not told the coaches who will start and there is no depth chart. The situation will get clearer as training camp continues. As for the rookies, the coaching staff is very impressed with the progress both have made since OTA’s.

Running Back. The organization has told Quinshon Judkins to stay away from training camp to get his personal and legal situations in order. The team doesn’t want any distractions and are still gathering information about the incident. As for signing another running back, right now the team wants to see what they have. Jerome Ford will step in as the primary back for now. The only free agent I would be interested in would be Gus Edwards. He may be 30 years old, but he can still fine the end zone in short yardage situations. If the Browns feel the need to trade for a back, keep an eye on the Denver Broncos. They have five running backs in camp, Audric Estime, Blake Watson, Jaleel McLaughlin, R.J. Harvey and J.K. Dobbins. Harvey was drafted this year and Dobbins just recently signed. All are intriguing, but Watson would be the best option on this list.

Quick Hits. Right now, unless the team can sign a veteran tight end on the cheap, the Browns plan on giving Harold Fannin every opportunity to thrive in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. Despite the false rumors on social media, Mason Graham is not out of shape. He looks bigger but still weighs the same. The coaching staff is very pleased with his knowledge of the playbook and has absorbed everything thrown at him. He has been working with a pass-rush specialist and two had-fighting experts. Finally two URFA to watch in training camp, DE Adin Huntington and S Donovan McMillon. I’ve mentioned both in past writings.

Everyone enjoy the videos of players walking into the facilities and remember the media shows up tomorrow and so will the clown show. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Well Browns fans, we were so close to making it to training camp with a clean off-season, so close. As many of you know, Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested Saturday in Fort Lauderdale Florida. He spent the night in jail and was released Sunday after paying a $2500.00 bond. The charge was “touch or strike/battery/domestic violence.” According to Florida law it’s a first-degree misdemeanor. The victim appeared to have injuries, specially bruising. The woman and Judkins apparently were in a relationship in May of 2024 but were traveling to Florida as friends. The incident occurred on July 7, five days prior to the Judkins arrest. According to Judkin’s attorney, the victim was, “encouraged to take advantage of my client, and that’s why she made the after-the-fact report, quite frankly.” The five-day delay in pressing charges does raise an eyebrow, but sometimes victims of domestic violence have to be persuaded to file charges, it’s not an easy decision.

As of today, Judkins has yet to sign a contract, as do 29 other players taken in the second round. The two second rounders who have signed, including Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, both received fully guaranteed contracts. The rest of the second rounders are waiting for the same. Does this arrest complicate Judkins signing? Not really. I expect him to be signed prior to rookies reporting Friday. As for the NFL’s personal conduct policy, he will get suspended without pay and miss games. But this won’t happen until the legal process plays out. The league is investigating and that investigation will determine if Judkins is placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. According to the NFL rule book, ” Players who are placed by the Commissioner on the Exempt list prior to the determination of discipline and any appeal therefrom under the Personal Conduct Policy will be paid while on the Commissioner Exempt list and credited for the regular and post-season games missed against any suspension ultimately imposed.” Browns DT Michael Hall was placed on the exempt list last year on August 27 and was reinstated after missing five games on October 7.

Of course, there are fans and media members blaming Browns GM Andrew Berry. He did draft Perrion Winfrey and Michael Hall, two players with red flags, but Judkins had not red flags. He has never been in trouble before and was considered the second or third best running back in a very strong running back draft. All 32 teams found no problem in his past. This is why this is unusual behavior for Judkins. I’m going to wait till the details come out before I condemn a young man for this arrest. I’ll wait till I know the situation he was in and the circumstances of the charges. Other than that, I’m looking forward to training camp starting this week and by this time next week people will be arguing over who should start at quarterback. Stay safe and Go Browns.

It really isn’t difficult to figure out the Browns 2025 quarterback situation. When the team starts training camp later this month, the picture will quickly become clearer. Right now, the Cleveland media is really upset they have to wait. Let’s clear some erroneous reporting (clickbait). I’ll start with the notion Browns GM Andrew Berry will decide the starter. His contract clearly states he will pick the 53-man roster and head coach Kevin Stefanski contract clearly states he picks who plays on gameday. It’s been this way since they were hired and with their contract extensions. The owner makes no decisions, nor does the Chief Strategy Officer, not with this front office. Has the owner meddled in the past (Johnny Manzel), yes. The Watson trade was a cooperate effort, they all agreed a better QB was needed prior to the 2022 season. Yes, Haslam said the final buck rests with him because he writes the checks for the bucks. End of story. If you still don’t believe me, then prove it with facts not hearsay, rumors or conspiracy theories. Don’t bring up Tony Grossi’s article about Paul Depodesta, because that story disappeared quicker than the 2024 offense.

Some members of the local media are further debasing themselves by telling the fans Kenny Pickett will start because Andrew Berry wants him to start. They’re basing their theory on a feeling. Honest to God that’s what one said this morning. Based on a feeling. I have a feeling if the Guardians were playing better or the Cavs had made it to the NBA Finals, he wouldn’t have that feeling. Just an observation. Of course, his circular logic is they traded for Pickett, so Berry wants him to be the starter. Let’s go back in time to when the trade was made. At that time the Browns had a quarterback room consisting of a very injured Deshaun Watson and DTR. Yikes. No one knew if Kirk Cousins would be available. Sam Darnold would require a big contract. Russell Wilson was not an option and thank God Aaron Rogers wasn’t an option. As for the NFL Draft, at that time the consensus among draft experts was this was a bad quarterback draft and that has yet to be determined. Berry protected the team by trading for a former first round draft pick and getting rid of a former fifth-round draft pick. If Pickett can start, then so be it, but that will be determined in training camp and be decided by the head coach and the offensive coordinator. The same goes for Joe Flacco.

As for the Watson playing in 2025 fixation by another local reporter. It’s not going to happen. He tore his Achillies tendon not once but twice. I don’t give a damn how well he feels, the only reason he’s still on the roster is so they can dump him when his contract won’t hurt the team’s spending power and that’ll be the second day of the league in 2027. He’ll be a post June 1 cut so the team can spread his remaining contract over 2027 and 2028. For 2025, he’ll be placed on the PUP list and then transferred to the injured reserve. What they do with him in 2026 hasn’t been reveled yet, but I bet it will be creative.

Here’s what’s going to happen in my opinion. Pickett will get number one reps to start camp. Flacco doesn’t really need the early reps, he knows the offense. Besides, if Pickett looks good early, there’s a better chance they could trade him. All I know is what I’ve been told, the team is putting a priority on being successful in 2025. They don’t want either rookie to start and right now aren’t planning on starting either one. The Browns will play the best player that puts the team in a position to win on the field. That will be determined in training camp. I do know it will either be Flacco or Pickett. Stay safe and Go Browns.