Let’s start with the players union. Last Friday, the NFLPA voted to play no pre season games. I seriously doubt the NFL owners will go along with this prospect, but you never know. The union is also stressing the league pay more attention to health officials in order to protect players. The league then issued a statement that any player can opt out of playing the 2020 season. If a player feels it’s safer for himself and his family not to play in 2020, then they can sit out the season. This bares watching.
The big news last Friday was TE David Njoku asking for a trade before training camp. Go to http://wwwCLEsportsTalk.com for my opinion on this. The article covers some potential trade situations. Personally, I don’t think the Browns should trade Njoku, but I hate distractions. Just click on the Browns link to read the article. This week it was also announced that the Browns and DE Olivier Vernon had worked out a contract restructure. Vernon’s contract for 2020 is now $11 million guaranteed. This gives Vernon security for 2020 and the Browns an additional $4.5 million in cap space. It also means the pursuit of DE Jadeveon Clowney is over. Finally. Like I’ve said in previous blogs, I’d rather have Vernon on the the last year of his contract, than Clowney on the first year of his contract. This give the Browns about $41.8 million in cap space.
Also in the last seven days the Browns signed two more draft picks. Third round pick DE Jordan Elliot and first round pick LT Jedrick Wills. Elliot signed a four year contract worth $4.6 million and Wills signed a four year contact, with a fifth year option worth $19.7 million. This leaves only second round pick S Grant Delpit and the second third round pick LB Jacob Phillips unsigned.
Finally, the Browns first opponent Baltimore, announced they would only allow 14000 fans in the stands for game one against the Browns. This years sports landscape is getting stranger and stranger by the day. From the news that the Ivy League is shutting down it’s fall sports, to the possibility that the state of Texas won’t play high school football, to The Ohio State announcing they will only play conference games this year. It appears that fall sports are in serious trouble. So if you love fall sports, wear a mask in public, social distance and wash your hands. Everyone please stay safe and Go Browns.