BUCKLE UP BROWNS FANS!!! This is the season we've been waiting for

And yes, we can agree to disagree. That's fine.

 

Welcome to my world SAS. lol! That sums up about 90% of my posts on this site.

 

Not really.

• The die hard fan will watch any time, anywhere. Agree.
• The casual fan (outside of the 2 local markets) may watch on Sunday Ticket or live stream. It's no skin off their nose whether they watch the Browns /Steelers or some other game.
• It's the folks who watch golf, Nascar or (heaven forbid) "professional wrestling" that the NFL is after.

 

I agree the NFL is protecting it's brand.

I further assume that the phrase; "no evidence found" is quite possibly another "protect the shield" move. Not an outright statement that "it didn't happen", rather an answer that leaves wiggle room, should it come out otherwise.

 

That is not to say it would justify Myles total loss of control. Mano made a point that being a nice guy outside the lines doesn't hold any credence relative to on field actions.

Some people are perfectly nice 99% of the time, but do not have control over how they react under duress. That is the issue that Myles needs to address. I have not doubt he doesn't "plan" on letting it happen again, but I'm pretty sure if we had asked him prior to the incident, if that was something he would ever do the answer would be the same, so it's not his rational, thoughtful answer that needs answering.

Myles has to IMO seek help to learn how to deal with the triggers that quite obviously set him off. If I'm the NFL I'm looking for him to demonstrate his commitment to do that.

An apology, and remorse simply doesn't address the issue.

 

I don't know, Ken. "No evidence found" is fairly all encompassing. In today's age of whistleblowers, leaks, Twitter and paid by the click "journalists", it would be a huge gaff on the NFL office's part to ignore even a hint of a racial slur.

 

They could put the tape with the Patriot tapes.

 

OK. I'll start by saying I'm a conspiracy nut, so there's that, and your point of the high sensitivity to such an accusation makes it all the more likely in my conspiracy world view.

It's the very last thing the league would want to become "part of the story".

I find it difficult to believe Myles made it up. At the same time, I find it odd that he seemingly never shared that information with one of his team mates. If I had to make a guess why, it's that no one defended his helmet swing, he'd taken what should have been the most celebrated victory for the team and made it shameful. He understood his actions were indefensible and that a racial slur wouldn't change that, so he said nothing.

 

I can't help wonder what, if any support the Browns organization provided for Myles before he went to NY to make his appeal.

If it were me, and he told me what he intended to disclose, I would have sat him down and looked closely at the possible ramifications. Had he told anyone prior, if not, and he got no corroboration he'd be opening himself up to accusations of lying, and as a result a longer suspension.

What worries me is that the Browns have been woefully unprepared / unwilling to resist the NFL office in general, and that it's quite possible they failed to get his story and / or advise him.

My faith in the Management remains questionable, and this is not an area this young mgt team forsaw, thus were not prepared to approach it like a business decision. It is one, and he is one of the team's greatest assets, who should have been protected in any way they could. I'm not talking about defending what he did, but managing it's impact on the team.

So, there's my twisted mind peeking behind the curtain, and wondering how this team handles it's business.

 

Time to move on.

Think about this . . . There's a chance (albeit a slim chance) that the Browns could end up 6-0 in the division, still not make the playoffs and watch two divisional rivals (who they defeated twice each) compete in the playoffs. I haven't done all the math but, I think both the Ravens (for sure) and the Steelers could lose 1 more game and still make the playoffs.

 

I posted this in the game thread too, but another reason for withholding that information initially is:

(1) What if the suspension had been reasonable and based on precedent? If Myles only gets 3-4 games, there's maybe not even a chance he appeals it in the first place. He knew what he did was wrong and accepted blame immediately.

(2) Bringing that up in the heat of the moment only makes the whole situation worse. The media can't do anything with it besides fan the flames and, again, there was still an undecided punishment.

(3) He thought the NFL would handle the situation correctly (laugh, sure)... but he assumes -- as most of us did -- before any punishment is handed out the NFL thoroughly reviews the situation -- which would include tapes. Come to find out that there are no tapes (at least that the NFL is willing to come forward with), so why not throw that out during the appeals process. It's very easy to imagine something like...

Garrett: Did you take a look at all the facts?

NFL: We did. And we're not moved.

Garrett: Even after the words he used?

NFL: What words? We "don't have audio on the incident".

Garrett: He used a racial slur.

Also pretty easy to see why, at that point, the NFL wouldn't overturn the suspension. It was a no-win situation for Myles. If they had the tapes and are lying to keep people from seeing/hearing that, they won't reverse course. Why would they lie? Easy -- a white, quarterback (de facto face of a storied NFL franchise) using a racial slur towards a black player would be devastating to their image. Likewise, if they have the tapes and know what Rudy said, they can't reduce the suspension because people would know *exactly* why... it would confirm that white quarterback of a storied NFL franchise is a racist.

 

Why do the tapes go missing so often in high profile cases? Jeffrey Epstein ring any bells?

 

God. I love a good conspiracy.

 

Stop thinking evil thoughts Lym...Wholly shit. that one turned my stomach. lol!

Even by our hard luck standards, I have a difficult time imagining that scenario playing out....Though I do feel certain that at some point along the line, the absence of #95 is gonna bite us in the ass....

 

Hunt make an interesting dilemma for Browns mgt. Having two "elite" RBs is definitely a luxury, and there is going to be offers.

I gotta be honest, we could really use an A #1 offensive line man and we are no longer rich in draft pics. Dorsey will be listening.......

Any other thoughts on guys who's greatest value may lie in their ability to bring us someone better?

 

Interesting thought. However, they would have to resign Hunt before they can trade him.

 

The Browns are becoming the team that nobody wants to play because of our dynamic RB duo. Hunt and Chubb are a fantastic 1-2 punch coming out of the Cleveland backfield. It's been a headache for opposing defenses. I would try to keep this combo together for years to come.

 

Yeah, I'd like to also, but...
Can we pay and keep both happy? Is having a top flight LT a better investment for the long haul (keep Baker on the field)

It is a business decision, and we don't know what Hunt's asking price will be. Chubb is on his rookie deal, but how will he respond to being the #1 and getting paid like a #2?

If you're Dorsey/Freddie do you give Hunt more to up his price or keep limiting his play to keep his price reasonable? Do you just let it ride, to make this season the best it can be and deal with contracts and season's end.
I like the idea of making this season one to remember, and worry about the team you'll field next year, after we win the Super Bowl.

 

Can anyone name a LB playing better than Joe Schobert right now? Because I don't think it's possible...