I already won a bet. 

Steeler Nation in denial about TJ Watt. 

#woofs

51 minutes ago, FairHooker11 said:

 

In a world where things are hard to believe due to news sound clips, networks editorializing news stories, this is actually very believable.

It's disgusting.

Vote 3rd party folks. Send these uni-party idiots to the curb.

15 hours ago, Orion said:

Don Shula.  When he had Bob Griese, he beat you into the ground with Larry Czonka, Jim Kick & Mercury Morris.  When he had Dan Marino, he passed you into the dust with the Super Dupers.  -  An hour ago I told my grandson of how Hue Jackson had first and goal on the Steeler one yard line in OT....and lost the game.   the inept bum

Here's the thing I really don't understand. I had a disagreement on Marino recently with one of my long-time friends.

Miami had a few good/great seasons with Marino, but not really that many. It seemed they under achieved (my opinion). Marino's W/L record in Miami was 147-93

So was it Shula that held them back, or was Marino over rated?

Dolphins page

32 minutes ago, Orion said:

Breer: Browns fired Alex Van Pelt because ownership, Paul DePodesta weren’t happy with Deshaun Watson’s progress

Breer: Browns fired Alex Van Pelt because ownership, Paul DePodesta weren’t happy with Deshaun Watson’s progress - Dawgs By Nature

Oh C'mon!  Does Breer really expect us to believe that Haslem & DePo were behind this?   I mean, does it sound at all like those two to get rid of the only guy to call plays to a playoff victory for us this century?   

Watson's progress!  AVP has had to work with a myriad of QB's the last two seasons....because Watson A) wasn't allowed to play, and b)  was injured most of the time.  It's AVP's fault.  Geeze.

∆Yes sir, silly season is upon us.

13 hours ago, syd said:

what could we get for Conklin if we took on part of his salary ?

A couple bottles of Mad Dog & a 5th rounder🤣

17 minutes ago, nickers said:

Yet the Browns still keep getting smoked over the middle at times... Or on the outside intermediate hitch routes...

True, but remember the offense has an advantage at all times. Good QBs can/will audible.

I thought the Browns did a much better job on 3rd downs this season, but there's always room for improvement.

I'd prioritize the LB position this off season.

1 hour ago, gumby73 said:

 

1) Paying Anthony Walker's mini contracts don't really bother me.. I just think his knee's aren't worth the risk anymore

• I may find 3 at combine tampering period to cut loose 🤣 

This is a concern for me, actually for a long time. I have no beef with Anthony Walker, or frankly any of the LBs.

BUT- in this pass-happy, spread-type era of offense, it's pretty obvious the Browns value DBs over LBs. Makes sense, however I still think the Browns need a difference maker at LB to add to JOK. Takitaki & Walker seem to get lost at times, under Woods & Schwartz.....is it instincts or scheme? I honestly don't know. 

The Ratbirds have Roquan Smith & Patrick Queen. Pretty good combo right there. 

My opinion is the Browns have been weak at LB since 1994. You can't rely on DBs to make all the tackles.

11 hours ago, calfoxwc said:

we'll see. But the pressure will be on in 2024 - the Browns apparently have the toughest schedule.....

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/lists/browns-ravens-steelers-sos-rankings/

 

#1 

Cleveland Browns: .547

 

Definitely tougher but you know how this goes. The rosters of all 32 teams a bit different, injuries, when you face the opponent, etc are factors 

Browns' road games are real tough on paper for sure.

13 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

Now, I'm not sure what exactly happened this year and how he couldn't even make it out of his second season after such a good first...

Sean McDermott has been quoted saying (paraphrasing here) " Josh Allen's style of play is not sustainable long-term." 

McD put the shackles on Allen rushing the ball, essentially eliminating his greatest skill. The Bills were basically a comedy of errors the 1st 10 weeks, losing to the Jets, Denver, & New England. 

McD needed a scapegoat, so he canned Dorsey. That's how I see it. McD won't blame his defense, something he's in charge of (they have heavy $$ investment in their D line, which produced 0 sacks in 2 playoff games).

Hopefully Dorsey becomes a valuable asset here. We'll see. 

12 hours ago, AP1 said:

This is not a defense of Jimmy Haslam. I agree from the Playoff thread the Browns inadequacies start with him.

The following is something I've started to believe.

The DS trade was Haslam trying, rather poorly, to show the fans he's all in. It was his attempt to try to prove to the city, the organization, the worn down and heartbroken base that's he's willing to do what it takes to be a winner. The way that trade was executed was piss poor, but they'd say we gave an effort and put it on the line.

 

Pretty spot on, although I'd like to add that the continuous search for a QB via FA or the draft hasn't worked with Haslam & his FO team(s) since he bought the Browns. He was desperate. So far, yeah it hasn't worked out. If, and it's a big if, DW can stay healthy, then we will see if it was "worth it." 

59 minutes ago, AP1 said:

This game is a perfect example of how much of a craps shoot the NFL Draft really is.

Mahomes was the 10th player selected overall in 2017. Miles Garrett was #1, Christian McCaffrey #2, DeShaun Watson #12.

Baker was the #1 pick in 2018. Lamar Jackson #32.

Am I lamenting the Browns not picking Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson? No. I'm thankful for the guys that have helped the Browns become a playoff team two of the last four seasons.

But the trajectory of the franchise the last half decade would be different if that little instinct the Player/Personnel and Scouting Department saw or felt about certain players was better.

The drafting of Johnny Manziel set the Browns back, way back.

Haslam/Farmer took a promising season (6-3 after a primetime win in Cincy) to 7-9 by force-feeding Manziel. 

That led to Pettine being fired, Shanahan leaving, Hue Jackson being hired.....ugh, my head hurts.

8 hours ago, syd said:

Cleveland Browns

Browns OC search: Which candidate do you hope the Browns

Lindy Infante's son or grandson😁

5 hours ago, syd said:

and hopefully thats it. Remember 2007 D.A's magically lucky year ? (and yes I do believe it was Josh Cribbs getting us a short field to play on, is the reason we did so well) so where was I ? oh yes please no more than 2 primetime games or the jinx will be in

DA. Was great until a sadness in Cincy 😥

13 hours ago, syd said:

Ranking all 32 teams (including the Browns) by their 2024 strength of

Interesting, but we all know how this goes. Different rosters, injuries, etc come into play for all 32 teams.

IF the Browns can repeat the 8-1 home record ( ok, only 8 home games in '24), then splitting or above splitting the road games, say 5-4, it's playoff time again. #woofs

I'd expect a home primetime game, maybe 1 on the road. 

2 hours ago, ballpeen said:

I agree. 

 

There guys being hired have more to do with the offensive concept we wish to attain over any real specifics about the position.  It all points to hiring a coordinator who will fit the new concept.

Stefanski is the only guy who counts.  If he wants the coach, then we will hire him.

 

If we found the coordinator we wanted, he would be on bord by now.  This is looking like the guy we want is still coaching his players in the playoffs.

 

Kubiac is my odds on favorite  to be offered the position.

Makes sense. 

To a degree, I also think DW has some influence on this. 

On 1/22/2024 at 9:39 PM, AP1 said:

Excellent point, so we're officially at the threshold in the NFL, because it has already happened in the MLB and the NBA, where it's difficult to compare eras.

So today's QB's won't necessarily get in on QB play, being athletic dual(ish) threats. A 17 game season, faster paced offenses, more favorable rules/officiating and so on.

Mahomes is a future HOFer because he's a generational player.

What about

Allen? he reminds me of Elway. Took Elway 15 years to win a SB

Burrow?

Hurts?

Herbert? total enigma. Is it him or Brandon Staley?

Lamar? possibly because the media loves him; he needs to last a dozen years IMHO, this is only year 5 I think

Lawrence?

Tua?

Russell Wilson? I doubt it, many Seahawks resented him, said he was selfish.

The other guys have a lot to prove. 

20 hours ago, Canton Dawg said:

Warren Moon was inducted into the HOF more or less based on his longevity in the NFL.

He achieved success in the CFL, but he never made it to the SB.

I always thought it funny, that at one point in time the AFC Central had QB’s named Bernie, Bubby, Boomer, and Warren. 😃

Moon threw the prettiest spiral. 

I always thought Kosar, Esiason, & Moon were better than Jim Kelly. Kelly had that K-Gun hurry up that defenses struggled with. Additionally, he was a finger-pointer, nothing was ever his fault.

I found actual footage lol

8 hours ago, AP1 said:

The Bill methodically put that last drive together to win the game, then decided they wanted to play for OT.

Two deep throws to nowhere and a wide right later, they join the rest of the league in the off-season. 

Their last two plays before the FGA and the fake punt are three of the most questionable play calls a team made all season. 

Yeah it was really weird. Dink & dunk down the field, use Allen's legs, then bam, hero ball. 

Josh Allen has a ton of heart, but wow, the 2nd down pass in the end zone was terrible, and he probably could have ran for at least 5 yards on 3rd down, but threw it away. 

KC just knows how to win. Ratbirds, nevermore....go KC.

1 hour ago, tiamat63 said:

 

 Any heavy handed critique lobbed at the coaching staff after how they over performed this season is idiotic at best. 

That's how I look at it. The Browns sure overcame a ton of injuries. 

Yes, the season ended with a thud- personally I never saw that coming. 

I remain optimistic about the coaching staff & Andrew Berry.

1 hour ago, Flugel said:

 

Playoffs this year, more than ever, seem to be about who is healthier IMO.   

 

Agree. 

They'll never turn back the clock, way too much money involved. 17 games is too many. 14 games was darn near perfect, but if memory serves correctly, 1978 they went to 16 games.

There's a certain degree of luck on healthy players. Look at the Ratbirds....the prior 2 seasons, they were pretty banged up. This year, not so much. 

5 minutes ago, Flugel said:

I was not impressed with Diggs at all yesterday.  When I lived in Rochester, NY (where the Bills have their training camp) - people never understood why I hated Denver.  Seeing KC constantly ending Buffalo's playoffs probably gives them a better understanding of how you can learn to hate a team.

Yep. Mahomes is Buffalo's Elway. The difference to me is Mahomes is way more consistent and can beat teams in many ways. 

I realize the KC fatigue around the NFL but I think Mahomes is the best QB in my lifetime. 

Esiason said after the game the Chiefs only ran 43 plays, 4 were kneel-downs. Yet they scored 27 points. Unreal (plus Hardeman fumbles at the goal line). 

Well, they got what they wanted, KC at their place, and still lost.

Diggs, drops a bomb. Josh Allen misses a wide open WR in the end zone. FG wide right. 

Before all of that, KC drops a pick 6, fails to jump on a fumble. Yikes.

I think their fan base may be just as tortured as ours. See below, they shut down their fan forum, wow. 

Yeah. I never liked the 49ers.

T Bay still alive!

DeSantis

Well, looks like Trump vs Biden (yawn). I didn't like the guy, but the Rs are pinning their hopes on Trump, basically handing the White House back to the Ds.

We're in trouble as a nation.