Bigalow80

It's free agency...the next guy up always gets paid more. That's the name of the game and GM's know it, if you want to get that player. Did you see what Murray and Burris just got in the open market?!

The Browns at least now have options. They can go a number of different ways when it comes to trading or drafting. I think the browns have their eyes on 2 specific players in this draft that they think they can get at 10 if everything falls in their favor: One of the LT prospects (I don't know who) or Isaiah Simmons. I think if the draft goes a certain direction all options could be on the table. If the chargers get Brady, they aren't taking a qb. The cardinals probably aren't taking a WR in the top 10 anymore and the Colts are no longer a threat to trade up for a qb. This could mean the Brown could be in a position to trade down with a team like TB, NE, JAX or MIA. Options is the name of the game and they have those now. They could also trade with WASH for Williams and try to draft and develop a guy later in the draft.

I wonder if the decision to let Kirksey go, has any effect on Schobert? With the added amount of money be used to potentially just tag Joe for one year...no right or wrong answer, just a thought

The Browns have not done what Atlanta did and stated that they are definitely not going to resign certain players with Schobert yet. I believe all they said was that they were going to let him test the market out. They already missed their chance to sign him to a less lucrative deal a year or so ago, so I don't necessarily think that it's a bad thing to let him see what he can get. He may listen to offers and see that no one is going to pay him 15+ million per year. The Browns would then know what the market is dictating. I wouldn't be surprised if they put a transition tag on him just to have the opportunity to match. Every team has to make tough decisions.

I believe the dead money only applies to the Jaguars if he is traded because of the signing bonus. This is similar to what happened with OBJ last year. I could very well be wrong. I'm not a capologist. In addition, the Jaguars COULD tag him but that would cost about $19 million and they only have $21 million in cap space. This gives them very little room. The players the seahawks gave up were garbage, Mingo is a special teamer and Martin played in 14 games with 11 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year. They were throw ins. I'm sure the Browns could do the same. This trade isn't perfect, but the idea is to be creative. I'm sure the Ivy league guys could make it much more palatable to the cap. The whole concept for me was to find a way to get really good players on this team while maximizing value.

Random thought, if the Jaguars really want to get rid of Nick Foles and his gigantic contract. Do you think the Browns would dig up an old Sashi trick and trade for him? Before everyone freaks out, here is my possible scenario: Nick Foles, Yannick Ngakoue, and the 20th overall pick to Cleveland Cleveland's 2nd Round Pick (#41) to Jax Here's the rub...The Browns are going to have to pay Ngakoue, although he would be on the Franchise tag so it could be for just one year. This is similar to what the Seahawks and 49ers did last year when they traded for tagged players. The 49ers signed Clark to a big deal, and the Seahawks let Clowney play off the tag. Ngakoue is going to get ELITE money and the Browns are going to have to eventually pay Myles Garrett on the other side in two years, but we can worry about that down the road because the Browns can always tag MG. This would allow the Browns to easily cut Vernon and save money there, unless he wants to restructure his deal and then the defensive line becomes not fair, but I highly doubt Vernon would do that. Foles has proven to be a good back-up qb and he can be cut after next year with no dead money so it's essentially Brock Osweiler 2.0 but only with a better qb. The Browns would be moving from #41 to #20 which is the equivalent of two, 2nd round draft picks*. They would be able to address BOTH offensive tackles or OT and Safety or whatever combination you want while also upgrading their defensive line. The jags win by getting cap space. The Browns win by getting a second first round draft pick and a stud DE which would make the line an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE for teams with a quality but expensive back-up qb. It sounds crazy, but it could actually work. This is a way to be aggressive but wisely filling the roster while also active in FA and spending your cap space. I believe they would still have enough cap space to still sign a high end FA (Conklin, Bulaga, Ward, Smith, Schobert) but instead of multiple they would probably only be able to afford one. In case you are wondering, as of right now the only real player that would be a FA from the team is Ogunjobi. Garrett and Njoku would have 5th year options picked up. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/yearly/cap/roster/ *Trade Chart below: https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp?RequestTeam=CLE

If Simmons or Okudah fall to the browns at 10 they are sprinting to the podium with the card. To hell with the offensive line, those two guys are elite . Even if they get to the chargers at 6, it would not surprise me to see the Browns trade up to get one of them, especially Simmons. He is so versatile that Joe Woods could have a field day.

I do believe the Browns have the right to revoke media privileges though. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the last straw for Tony and he is no longer allowed to be on the Browns beat.

The 49ers have 17 unrestricted free agents...some of the names you might recognize. We're getting the band back together!!! https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/san-francisco-49ers/

I like the idea of most of those guys: Armstead, Conklin (bulaga is another one), Keenum, and Ward...I just had a hard time with the author whom kept referring to the DC as Joe Berry and the multiple mistakes...Clearly written by someone who doesn't get into the details of his work.

Remember they are going to be changing to a much more zone blocking type of scheme. Kush may not fit into that role as well. No qualms with whom they released. Carrie was a nice bonus to have and a great teammate but not at that salary.

I'm curious, but I have not heard mention of the Browns using the Franchise or Transition tag on anyone especially Schobert. Quick recap of what each entails: Franchise tag: A one-year, guaranteed contract offer that prevents a player from hitting unrestricted free agency. The salary is based on the five-year average cap percentage for the tag at each position, stemming from the top five salaries at each position. Transition tag: Also a one-year, guaranteed contract based on the five-year average cap percentage for the tag at each position, but the transition tag stems from the top 10 -- not top five -- salaries at each position, so it's a bit cheaper. Most importantly, this tag allows players to sign offer sheets with other teams, but the original club has five days to match. It looks like the franchise tag for a LB is around 16 million. https://overthecap.com/franchise-transition-and-rfa-tenders/ https://overthecap.com/position/inside-linebacker/ https://overthecap.com/position/4-3-outside-linebacker/ https://overthecap.com/position/traditional-linebacker/ I think that Schobert would fall into the more traditional linebacker role so I would guess his next contract is going to look something very similar to Deion Jones or Myles Jack. Is it worth spending that much money on a LB knowing that there are a bunch of contracts that are about to come up with Garrett, Baker, etc. At some point the cap becomes an issue and they don't want to end up like the Jags or Vikings. I'm not advocating one way or the other on signing Schobert, I'm simply asking whether it is worth signing him to a long term deal or sign him for one more year and try to draft more guys to develop. Also, if they let him walk, there is a good chance that they are going to receive some sort of comp pick in 2021. I'm not sure if that is worth it or not.

I'm sure Baker's Lawyers have quickly sent her and the radio show a cease and desist order if this is entirely made up.

They say Baun wants to play off ball linebacker...guess who is comp is? yep, one Joe Schobert. They say their games are very similar in that both were hybrid DE's in college but had the athleticism to play off ball. I still think depending on how the board is set-up to fall, the Browns will seriously consider trading down from 10 into the 13-16 range and taking a guy like Josh Jones. Which would drive fans more crazy if they "theoretically overdraft a guy" like jones at 10 or if they trade down in general? I have a sense it would be the trade down...

So far, the football play itself is average. However, I really like some of the new rules. The extra official for spotting the ball, the 25 second play clock with a running clock are nice. Not sure the NFL would go down that far, but if they reduced it to 30 seconds, that would make a huge difference. I also like how all the players have a receiver in their helmets so they can hear the play from the sideline. I don't know why the NFL doesn't do this? It makes too much sense and definitely speeds up the game. Obviously, the sky judge is also a winner. Finally, the way kick-offs are done is a big win for me. It makes the play way more interesting. Not sure how they get around the "on-side" kick situation but I wouldn't mind seeing a 4th and 15 from your own 35, like in the pro bowl. The other huge win is the "9th team". I didn't mention this in my previous post, but essentially it is another 40 man roster that is a practice squad for ALL teams to utilize. For example, these 40 players will practice on a daily basis working on the fundamentals, generic plays, etc. However, if team X loses a LT for the season, that team then has the option of bringing a player from the 9th team onto their roster. That player is then replaced on the 9th team from someone off the streets. Essentially, it is a rolling practice squad for teams to use and can continue to develop players. Zero chance the NFL would ever do such a brilliant move purely for financials, but this is a great move for the XFL. It may not pay off now, but if the league survives a few years, I think it is going to pay dividends. I'm in-different on the extra points. It's fine but a little too gimmicky. Overall, I think the XFL has a chance to survive provided the money is there to keep it afloat.

This is a totally different XFL than it was many years ago. Yes, Vince McMahn is still the money behind it, but they actually have some creative ideas to help keep the games interesting. Gone are the WWE style games. It's going to be more traditional in that sense. However, there are differences. I will tune in for at least a couple of games because i like some of the tweaks they are making and I think they will make it into the NFL. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/xfl-rules-differences-vs-nfl-overtime-kickoffs-explained/1if7a6vb6kb271966993zxdynx No more extra points. 1 point: Run a play from the 2-yard line 2 points: Run a play from the 5-yard line 3 points: Run a play from the 10-yard line kick-off is different Both teams line up on the receiving teams, 30 yard line. No one can move until the player receiving the ball catches it or it is on the ground for 3 seconds. Then, it's game on. This encourages kick off returns but decreases the velocity overtime Overtime shall consist of 5 “Rounds”, staged in alternating single-play possessions as is customary in NHL shootouts or MLS penalty kicks. A “Round” will consist of one offensive play per team. Each possession starts at the opponent’s 5-yard line and the offensive team has one play to score. The team with more points after 5 rounds is the winner. Referees Referees are all mic'd and there is a "sky judge" who can buzz down to overrule calls Double forward pass: "If a team completes a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage, that team may throw a second forward pass, as long as the ball has at no time crossed the line of scrimmage. ... Once the ball has passed the line of scrimmage, no forward passes are permitted." This is something that's not allowed in the NFL or college football, so it could lead to some interesting play designs. But overall, it's a fairly minor rule that we'd only expect to see a few times throughout the season. Much faster play clock: The XFL has a 25-second play clock compared to the NFL's 40-second play clock. A difference of 15 seconds may not sound like a lot, but this change will definitely be felt on the field. Expect a much faster pace of play as teams must hurry up their play calling. Something to note, however, is the NFL clock starts once the play is ended and the XFL's clock starts once the ball is spotted for play. Comeback period: During the 2-minute warning (the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarter), there are a few tweaks to allow teams more time to come back, hence "comeback period." From the XFL, "On plays that end in the field of play, the game clock will be stopped until the ball has been spotted and 5 seconds have run off of the play clock." This makes it so a team cannot run the clock out until there is only one minute remaining (assuming the opposing team has no timeouts). In the NFL, a team can run the clock out when there are two minutes remaining. Running game clock: "Outside the last 2 minutes of each half, the game clock will run after incompletions and out of bounds plays." This will take some getting used to for football fans, but the objective is to just make games go as quickly as possible. Teams have two timeouts per half instead of three: Another pace of play change, less timeouts equals faster games. Players need just one foot in bounds instead of two: Yet another pace of play rule, makes it easier to determine catches, leading to faster reviews.

Wow. Somewhere in my head I thought people were past the idea of giving a shit if someone was a man or a woman in charge, but clearly chauvinism is prevalent everywhere. IMOP, her role is to make sure everyone is on the same page with everything from meetings, to trips, to equipment to analytical data, etc. She is the organization behind the chaos that occurs when you have to run a team. She takes care of the minutia so that Stefanski doesn't have to deal with it. This is why it's such an important role. There are so many things going on from a week to week basis that has absolutely nothing to do with the game but is critical to how the team is run. I have worked on the medical side of football for almost 20 years and I can tell you, especially away games, it takes an extremely large amount of communication to ensure that everyone has what they need. And that is just one aspect! Stefanski can focus on the FB aspect of the game. She can focus on the other parts. It's equally beneficial. She learns how to develop a program and how a team is run, and he can delegate through her. She's going to learn things about how to run an organization more than she is going to learn about the X and Os. Great hire. Wish Freddie would have been forward thinking enough to have a position like this...

He's been getting hammered by the media this week in every interview he has done. At least he has been willing to go out there and take it on the chin. Let's hope he puts the work in the offseason.

No issues here. If she is good, great move by Stefanski. Her resume seems to point that direction. The Haslams are terrible owners but one thing they are not afraid of is diversification. They are willing to hire (and fire) whomever. Stefanski said he wanted a diversified staff and he is certainly putting his money where his mouth is. The best part about it is that he is not making these hires out of "convenience". These are all well thought out and people he wants on his staff.

I'm very openly a fan of the latest moves but the point of Flores is an important one. That Miami team intentionally torpedo their season. Flores, coached the hell out of that terrible team to 5 wins. Does anyone else not recognize that Hue Jackson can't find a job ANYWHERE?!! Nobody wants to hire him. Everyone including myself and the media, lauded the Browns when they hired him at the time but hindsight being 20/20, we couldn't have been more wrong. Once again, Dorsey has been ousted now twice within two years from two separate organizations (one of which has gone on to the SB without him). That has to tell you something about his management style. The Browns even tried to retain him recognizing his ability to see talent. I'm skeptical of some of the latest moves with Wolf and Van Pelt, but there's only so much an organization can do to retain people who a) are able to come b) want to stay. Wolf wanted out even after the attempts were made by Berry to keep him. IMOP, this was probably because his butt got hurt with Berry being promoted and he didn't. Highsmith is not going to another organization, he's essentially retiring. I think the Stefanski really wanted McDaniels or LaFluer from SF as OC, but SF blocked those guys, as is their right to do. This team has too much talent to go 1-31. Let's see what happens once the off-season parades are over and we can have a better idea of how well this "team" is put together. To preemptively judge how this organization is going to be run is ridiculous.

I don't think this is going to be an issue. In general, Garrett is considered a very good guy with no off the field issues or problems. If he can show that he has taken steps to try and control his "anger" than this should be a slam dunk return to play. Considering all the things other players do to draw attention to themselves, this can be written off as a moment someone just completely lost their cool. Which, considering his general calmness off the field, IMOP means something set him to crazy mode but that's inconsequential at this point.

If the Browns put a second round tender on him and someone makes him a contract offer in which the Browns DO NOT match, are people going to be mad about it? I honestly don't know how I feel. He's a hell of a football player but clearly has problems. Can the Browns find another RB in the 2nd round which is as good as he is? tough question but one in which Mr. Berry will have to answer very soon.

I actually think the announcement might be an NFL thing. They probably want anything football related to not be done the week of the Super Bowl to prevent it from drawing away any attention. It's as stupid as the coaches from SB teams can not be named head coach thing. Curious, what happens if the "brain trust" works this time? It is a completely different set of circumstances than what it was during the Sashi era. What will it take people to convince them that this is a success? Division winner? playoffs? SB? SB win? I'm just curious because I think this is going to be the most successful regime the Browns have had in 20 years but I'm in the minority on this board. People are going to lose their heads if they trade down in the first round of the draft even IF it is the correct football move.

it's the millennial draft...everyone gets a participation trophy and they need you to feel good about yourself

I'm all on board with this hire. He is considered one of the best up and comers in the front office. He has experience working for the Colts with Polian (old school), Sashi (analytics), and Roseman (blend) over his short career in the front office. I think he has now seen how a front office can be run from multiple angles and he is going to adapt. IMOP, he is a great blend of what we need in that front office as he has worked everything from a scout to college and pro personnel, to contracts and business management. I think he is going to empower guys like Wolf and Hightower to do what they are good at which is scouting and the analytics people to do what they do best. I know people are going to crush him about the Sashi era (I hope he gets asked about it in the press conference) but he can only learn from that situation and become better.