ballpeen

1 hour ago, Flugel said:

I have to agree. I think we're begging for trouble pretending 1 more year of Casper the Friendly Ghost at Left Tackle helps this team in any way.  This was like 2022 when the Browns pretended DT wasn't important at all.  End result?  This team couldn't stop the run or keep offensive linemen off the LB Corps. In fact, we had portions of the 2022 season where the entire 1st string of LBers were injured because of it.

Yeah, Wills under contract but does that light his fanny or make him feel entitled 1 more time?  I don't see a lot of playoff teams that have their biggest weakness upfront at Left Tackle. There may be some exceptions to that - like the Browns at the expense of needing 5 different QBs. When Wills went on IR, the Browns won 4 of their last 5 games.  The only one they lost in that stretch was in Cincy.  That day, they rested a lot of valuable starters while starting Jeff Driskell at QB.

Unfortunately, none of this means they'll take a LT.  There's probably going to be a run on them before we draft in round 2.  We'll see what happens...

 

I'd say there is a higher probability we take an interior O-lineman before we would take a LT.  The only reason as I see it is there should be better guards on the board than LT prospects.

But, as you said, we will see what happens.  You never know who might or might no be there.

I don't care one way or the other about the color of the facemasks, but if this board is any indication of the broader public, cool beans.  Looks like JW got it right.

Just a comment on completion percentage.  DB's could mug up on receivers a bit more back then.  No doubt that through training QBs are more accurate, but it's not like QBs of old weren't accurate.  The rules have changed to help increase the percentage. 

It just goes to show that it doesn't matter how or where you made it in to a pro training camp.   All that matters is what you do once you are there.

No doubt highly drafted guys are going to make the team pretty much no matter what, but being undrafted doesn't mean you are a sure cut.  The bottom of the roster is always subject to change.  Building the bottom of the roster is just as important as building the top.

2 hours ago, gumby73 said:

in short.. any player deciding on retiring.. tells his agent what team he'd like to retire from.. signs one day deal.. Player's chose to Retire as Cleveland Browns..

Congrats to both ! 

I understand the 1 day deal.  I guess it makes sense the agent would contact the team about signing his guy to a 1 day deal.

20 hours ago, Flugel said:

For example, NE drafted Kent State QB Julian Edelman in round 7 who began returning punts/kickoffs before he emerged as a Pro Bowl WR.  Prior to that, Cleveland signed another former Kent State QB Josh Cribbs as an undrafted free agent who excelled as a Kickoff/Punt Return Specialist.  He also played WR and some QB in the WildDawg. He made 3 Pro Bowls and earned a 1st Team All Pro honor.  He was also recognized as a member of The NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

I wouldn't mind an equivalent find this year...

Exactly, Purdy could be another.  They don't even need to be that good.  There are dozens of UDFA who ended up solid players. Once they get there, the Browns have to "bid" to get them, and the player needs to make a choice between several offers.  Lot's of factors go in to that decision.  Money, opportunity, and location being the main factors, and not necessarily in that order.

Who started this trend?   

I agree with Nick.  If this is some sort of honorary deal, maybe up the bar a bit. They were both decent players, but hardly candidates for the HOF, or even the ring of honor, or like Haden who was "all in" Cleveland. 

How is this done?  Do the players call the FO to do this or does the FO call the players?

9 hours ago, Orion said:

...truth be told, I view 7th rounders as glorified free agents.  But they're free agents that have to come to your team.  -  A week and a half 'til we're on the clock!

9 hours ago, Orion said:

...truth be told, I view 7th rounders as glorified free agents.  But they're free agents that have to come to your team.  -  A week and a half 'til we're on the clock!

I agree, as I said here:

The Brooklyn Brothers is a decent Italian cooking show.

These guys aren't gourmet by any means, but more simple home cooking, which is probably more authentic IMO.

The Cleveland Browns arrive.  

21 hours ago, Orion said:

It would be easier to attract players to the organization.  Believe it or not, there are players that don't like playing in the freezing wind, rain and/or snow.  Like Anthony Walker who just told his agent to find someplace warm and that he's sick of the cold.  Or Deshaun Watson who doesn't like the cold such that it took a quarter billion guaranteed to get him here.

I'd go so far as to say nobody* likes it.  My question to those who say so is why are nearly all Clevelanders so ready for spring and summer?

Who in here wants Cleveland cold and slop weather to be a year round deal?  Ask any lineman for the public utility in Cleveland if they like being up in the bucket in February.

*  OK, there are always a few simpletons in the crowd.

Just now, TexasAg1969 said:

So we trade away an OL and then we drop one in favor of a DE. Any bets on which OL we take 1st in the draft? I'm having to revise my DL take back to the inevitable OL, unless of course it's Ainias Smith.😘

I have no idea.  I won't have much of an idea until we are maybe 5 picks away from our selection.  The variables are too numerous to have any sort of accuracy other than lucky guess.  Throw a dart at any name of guards and you stand just  as good a chance.

16 hours ago, mjp28 said:

I like the wood scale .... and it's true.   Like the bat scale from whiffle ball bat to the Louisville Slugger.

You need to  "fill those pants up" .... from Jim Tressel when he was at YSU.   And when he got those pants filled up they won 4 of 6 NC tries.  It does start up front.

I don't see how we don't draft a O lineman this year.  Maybe 2.  Both Teller and Bitonio are somewhat questionable moving forward after this season.

Much is made of LT's, but IMO the most important part of a O line is the middle 3 in passpro.  As long as the QB has that wall in front of him, allowing a step or two forward, as long as whoever is playing at tackle protects against inside rush, that step or so forward destroys the DE's angles and puts him right in to the tackles angle allowing him to just get in the way and ride the DE outside.  

I think if you asked any QB, they would rather have a clean middle.  A rush up the middle puts them in that "deer in a headlight" position. That's the panic position for a QB.

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

Honestly, I don't know...

But generally between Guardians, Cavs and Browns games, plus concerts at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, and Playhouse Square, downtown seems pretty busy on the weekends.

Would a ballpark village in Brookpark be the same, especially considering the anchor tenant in reality is barely there? Of course, a dome would allow them to try and attract the Final Four, etc...

I guess we'll see. 

Fair answer.   Nobody really knows.  The Cavs and Guards would still bring in crowds.  Concerts, the Dome would take some and probably/ possibly bring in some the Rocket doesn't.

In the end I think Haslam is going to make the move.  My feeling and my feeling is if I was Mr. Billionaire, if the city wasn't going to give you what you wanted and not pick up some cost and I had to pay the full bill, I would move to where I had it all and the way I wanted.

I suspect you and anybody else would too as well.

6 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

What I think the Haslams want is a dome in Brookpark surrounded by a ballpark village of sorts. 

I just question if there really is a demand for that out in Brookpark? You really think 20somethings are going to pass on going to downtown for... a TGIFridays in Brookpark?

This should be interesting. 

I don't think it would be a TGI Fridays, so to speak.

I think a lot of people would go to bypass downtown.  You might lose some people who live on the east side, but people on the west or south side would easily go.  

I don't live in the area, so I have no clue, how busy is the Barley House as an example on an everyday Saturday night? I can't imagine a flock of people heading downtown.  It's probably full of central city dwellers.

3 hours ago, Flugel said:

Understood. I need my day job so I don't buy the magazine/guide to try to be like Mel Kiper Jr; and I hope no one else does either.  It's more of a last minute Cliffs Notes summary of research and rankings of guys at all positions - many that weren't televised in the region I live in very often. For example, a guy like BYU WR Puka Nacua last year or Brock Purdy (Mr Irrelevant) in 2022.  Most of the guys we've heard/seen a lot about are often drafted within the 1st 2-3 rounds of a 7 round draft.  On the 3rd day of the draft when it starts moving faster - names of selections appear and sometimes you don't even see their quick highlights until 10-15 minutes later.  That's when I'm really happy to have the resource to look up the guy the Browns picked.

As for the price, they stamp those prices right on the bar card on the bottom left corner of the magazine cover. And if they're going to over-charge a consumer - you're the guy I'd hand select to argue that all the way down to a discount Ballpeen.

Lindy's Sports Pro Football Mag was only $10.99 so I drank less beer that weekend.  Unfortunately, that still didn't help me find the 6 pack in my mid-section.  Should I put that on a milk carton?  "Has anyone seen Pus-Gut Flugel's Abs since 1982? Okay, did anyone ever see them before that?"  

Athlon Sports NFL Draft was a little more at $12.99. 

Don't get me wrong.  I don't care if some like that.  I wasn't trying to insult those who do.  I was just speaking for myself.  You are probably right on cost.  I haven't bought a draft guide in a long time.  The net overloads me with that information.  II was thinking of fantasy draft guides. Those seem to run in the $17 range.

Also, the draft is only interesting when your team sucks or you are actually in the draft and you are 4-5 picks away from your pick.  When you pick 4th, draft forums are non stop because it is pretty easy to cross off 2-3 players from a draft board and start to discuss players who you actually have a shot at drafting.  When  you are picking in the 2nd round, it's futile to try to pinpoint guys we might draft.. 

Not until the 1st round is over  will it be possible to even have a fair shot of picking our guy.

On 4/12/2024 at 7:11 AM, Dutch Oven said:

I would prefer they stay downtown, but wouldn't be upset if they did the Brookpark thing.

And this is a private business. Interesting how all you free-market capitalism is king guys get all Bernie Sanders when it comes to these billionaires getting stadiums for their sports teams - stadiums that skyrocket the value of the teams they own.

The Haslams bought the Browns for $1 billion dollars, a team now valued at four times that amount. They had so much money from flipping their RICO-investigated truck stop business that they could buy the Columbus Crew AND buy a big chunk of a NBA team that competes with the Cavaliers. 

Let THEM build the palace they want. Let THEM maintain the palace they want.

If it comes to that, I am sure they probably will.  The rest of what you said sounds like sour grapes to me.

On 3/10/2024 at 5:44 PM, Ibleedbrown said:

Any of you guys watch cooking shows? It’s sort of a Sunday morning thing my gf and l do, and much to her chagrin it’s how l discovered Mary Berg. She’s a total dreamboat my dudes. Very animated, kinda nerdy, and very charismatic with great facial expressions. I could watch her for hours. 

She’s Canadian, so that’s close to Cleveland, right? 

Yep welp, linky mclinkerson…

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/mary-makes-it-easy

I like cooking shows a lot.  I have never seen her.  I will check it out.

A few Youtubers i like..

Jean Pierre

Sam the cooking guy

On 3/10/2024 at 10:53 AM, mjp28 said:

Well good Sunday morning my  TBB Fans,  this is something that I just came across this morning.   I sent it to some of my email friends .....  here's yours !

The 25 best Italian restaurants in Cleveland.

Road trip?

Sunday,  March 10,  10:35 am

Hi my friends this is a nice little site that I just stumbled upon,  OMG !   Check it out and pass it along.   ▪︎-->   ou laer, of the Best Italian Restaurants in Cleveland <https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/25-of-the-best-italian-restaurants-in-cleveland/Slideshow/43862224/43862226>

 

And remember to   one !

Nice list.

I grew up in Bay Village, so I mostly know west side eateries since I usually gravitate that way when seeking a good meal. Fratellos and Brunos get most of my attention, but I also like Buccis and Lucca West.

In a way I like 7th rounders.  I see it as a way to get a jump on the undrafted guys....if that makes any sense.

On 4/9/2024 at 8:53 PM, Flugel said:

If you're old school like some of us - go buy a draft Magazine and it'll get you up to speed with the names, positions and rankings within the position groups.

I did at one point, at least until they started to cost $18.  It not that $18 is prohibitive, it's just that it doesn't matter all that much.  It's not like I seek to be a Jr. Mel or something.

8 hours ago, Orion said:

Ya know those padded bonnets for the helmets that some of the players use in practice and/or scrimmages.  Some day those will be mandatory.  

Kind of reminds me of some football video game my kid had when he was young.   You could make the player have this huge head...lol....some of you probably remember...I don't remember the name of the game anymore.

Just now, ballpeen said:

They will.  Cleveland doesn't have the money.  But, the state and country will chip in because they have some money.

 

Why do you seem so intent to keep the team in the city when the city seems intent on being half assed about things?  

 

 

Sure, lets keep the team in a half ass stadium, spend a billion dollars, and in ten years have to build a domed stadium.   Small thinkers with a Wal-Mart mentality.

On 4/9/2024 at 5:56 PM, Dutch Oven said:

The city doesn't own the Browns, the Haslams do,

It's their private business, let them buy the land and pay for a stadium. 

They will.  Cleveland doesn't have the money.  But, the state and country will chip in because they have some money.

Why do you seem so intent to keep the team in the city when the city seems intent on being half assed about things?  

Sure, lets keep the team in a half ass stadium, spend a billion dollars, and in ten years have to build a domed stadium.   Small thinkers.

4 minutes ago, Dutch Oven said:

It definitely can be an advantage.

I think its been shown over the years that it hasn't been for the Browns, though. 

I disagree.  I don't see any advantage.  At most it might be an equalizer.  But as you said, it hasn't equalized a darn thing for us.

I am sure the city will screw this one up like they screwed it up in 95.

Only a vocal minority of fans think playing in the cold and snow is cool and some sort of an advantage.  I don't think players like playing in crap weather.