I actually heard something about this early this morning. I think you might be right and in reality it would make sense. This team is going to lose defensive parts to it over the next season or two, it is inevitable. Ward is a piece that I think is integral to having a championship defense, however, Berry has set this team up to have all of their eggs in the offensive basket. By making the move for Watson, you MUST give the high price QB every tool they need to WIN you games. They didn't buy him so that he would be a piece to a puzzle, they bought him to win games for the franchise. In order to do that, they will be sacrificing defensive parts. Ward will probably be the first to go, then it will be only draft replacements for players like Clowney. This is the last year we have to pay defensive players big contracts, then Garrett will be the lone wolf, getting his money to sell tickets. Everyone around him will be mediocre players on middle of the road contracts to fill the spots we can't fill with rookies, while on their rookie contracts. They are going to need to be the top scoring offense in order to win a Super Bowl, but that is what they are now setup to be making the big move. Two things need to happen, 1) Work out a contract extension that Ward is willing to sign, 2) find a team willing to part with a first and probably 2nd round draft pick to finish off their defense, with the cap room to pay him. Everyone knows my feelings on Watson, but the contract will make moves like this necessary moving forward.
Along those lines: does offering Clowney a 3 year deal make sense, where we can trade him for draft position next year? I agree, this is our "take our shot" year #1, and all in before Watson's $ kicks in hard. We're going to have to expect a lot of roster churn to support that big contract. We'll have to lose guys who we'd like to keep, and need the coaching staff to develop players brought in to be players quickly.
Hi, yeah, jaded me again. Sorry... If they want to be a top scoring offense, they've got a LONG way to go. Watson, as a starter with Houston: 17th, 11th, 14th, 18th. And never higher than 15th in passing outside of 2020 when he again went 4-12 (that year was 4th in yards, 8th in scoring through the air). Stefanski, as play-caller: 8th, 14th, and 20th. His Top 10 season (Minnesota), he had Kirk Cousins' lowest career output as a starter and the team finished 14th in pass scoring, 6th in rush scoring. If you're thinking of leaning into the run game, that's great, but he finished 15th and 5th there with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Sorry, but this isn't the play-caller or the QB to get them to #1 overall on offense (and again, they'll have to score over 32 PPG with Joe Woods' defense... 42 PPG if they trade Ward).
Man, that's an awful big chance you would be taking, unless the only guaranteed money was in year one. It would be nice to have trade bait, in case you get a young pass rusher in the draft and he shows he can take over next year. However, next season the cap will need to be manhandled to be under when the league year begins. Adding to that issue may not be the best thing for the Browns front office. You are never assured you will have a trade partner and when you are cap strapped, that trade pool gets even shallower as teams think they can wait and possibly get the player without losing trade capital to do it. Tough call, but good talking point!!
Yeah, I'm not saying they WILL BE the top offense, I am saying they made their decision that is going to be the Browns MO... Now, succeed or failure is going to be decided in the coming season(s). I think this regime is on a short leash after making this deal with the devil. I give them two years to produce a Super Bowl or they are gone.
Me, two years from now after this whole group is poop-canned and I can return to rooting for my team:
Deshaun Watson as a rookie with a good team (2017): 3-3 record, tears ACL for the second time in a non-contact drill Deshaun Watson with a loaded team (2018-2019): 21-10 record, 1-2 record in the post season, cannot get it done when it matters Deshaun Watson, asked to be a Top 10 QB with a bad roster (2020): 4-12, demands a trade, quits on team Kevin Stefanski (OC) with a loaded team (2019): 8th scoring offense, 16th yardage offense, 1-1 in the post-season Kevin Stefanski (HC/OC) with an even more loaded team (2020): 14th scoring offense, 16th yardage offense, 0-1 in the post-season Kevin Stefanski (HC/OC) with a somehow even more loaded team (2021): 20th scoring offense, 18th yardage offense, misses post season, plays broken QB in nine of final 10 games when he shouldn't have Kevin Stefanski (HC/OC) & Deshaun Watson with probably not their best overall team rosters (2022): ???
@SAS I've sat here trying to keep my trap shut for a couple weeks but, your schtick is getting old. Real old. I get it. Your man crush is being replaced. You're dejected. But, the fact of the matter is that the front office of the Cleveland Browns (who, BTW, have forgotten more about football than any of us will ever know) have decided to move on at the QB position. Just deal with it and spare us all the inane, cherry picked stats and snarky comments. Most of us on here are fans of the team . . . not a name on the back of a jersey. I encourage you to keep posting. It is a free site and a free country. But, again, spare us the constant flow of drivel. I really don't want to put you on ignore.
I guess my biggest area of agreement with SAS is his questioning of Stephanski. I think he's smart, but not sure he's as good with the Jims and the Joes. Every problem child on the team has disappeared. I don't get a strong sense of leadership, or maybe it isn't leadership but "command" of the ship. He seems to favor consensus over direction. His O always feels like that too. No sense of purpose. I don't know..... I'd like to see some fire, and less nice guy, but that's completely subjective, and I recognize that. On the other hand he's been given the keys to a team with real talent, and has yet to live up to it. In my opinion he struggles to work well with or collaborate with talented, and outspoken players. I'm hoping he grows into more than the arbitor he seems to be so far. Timid is a word I'd use. I'm not so sure his religion of continuity in the staff is not being over played. Just some thoughts that support SAS's judgement that he hasn't shown us much. IMO
One more thought on roster moves: don't we have an awful lot of RBs? I thought one of the 3 would be goners this year, and I'm not convinced the FO doesn't still plan to move one of the guys before the season starts. Hunt is the most likely, as he has more status in the league, and is frankly a luxury for a team with a true #1. D'Ernest and Domitric, are pretty solid options IMO, for offering a blow for Chubb, and offering both a change of pace and recieving skills. A team looking for draft capital might be very tempted to make such a move. Or maybe their playing the long game and will let the season start and then if some team has their backfield screwed by injury, take advantage of them mid season when their playoff hopes are on the line. That would allow them to insure Chubb for a time, and possibly present a real oppty to improve next year's draft pick options. I feel like RB and Cover guys are needed, but could be bait for the right offer.
lmaoooo -- "it's a free country, but post what I want to see or I'll block you". Really?! For starters, snark has always kinda been my thing. And second, my criticism has zero to do with TFQB, but if you don't want to hear it, I respect that.
I think to the Steelers who cracked the WR scouting code after Limas Sweed and never misses. If an F/O can get into a groove like that, you can pick up a mid- or late-round guy whenever, plug them in, get value immediately, and even possibly trade them for more parts on down the line. Then I think to the fascination with New England QB's since they lucked into Tom Brady and for a while everyone was snatching up ex-Patriot QBs, despite them all being cheeks. In that case, the system (and really turns out, one dude) made the mold and then broke it. So is Cleveland a top tier running scheme? My money's on yes because Stefanksi's offense is a direct descendent of Mike Shannahan's who cranked out stud RBs from guys off the street back in the aughts. And not so much a feature of the F/O cracking the code since the three top guys - Chubb, Hunt, and Johnson - were all brought in under John Dorsey's watch.
No trials for civil cases against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will be held during 2022 season Watson's attorney and the attorney representing the plantiffs have agreed not to schedule trials on the civil cases from August 1, 2022 through March 1, 2023. What does that mean to the commish? IDK.
lol! I appreciate the drivel, but I also see Lym's point... Let's face it. You can make the best QB in the league look like Turd Ferguson, and you can make the worst QB in the league look like a star. It's not a skill many possess, but impressive nonetheless. I just want to see the Browns win.. My best take: Don't look too professional athletes for your moral compass.
I'm out here just trying to provide a service. In this case, it's just challenging the narrative (by some) that DW is some elite QB. Maybe there's something I'm missing, but he's still the third-best QB in our own division. Never said he wasn't good. Did say he's not worth mortgaging the future and especially bringing on the associated baggage. If the Browns truly wanted to upgrade, they had the means/resources to pursue literally anyone. Aaron Rodgers would have been available and is an elite QB. Tom Brady was semi-retired for a moment and is an elite QB. Russell Wilson was available and is an elite QB. All not just upgrades over TFQB, but someone who legitimately can win a Super Bowl because (spoiler ahead) they've done it already.
I thought they pointed to some comments made at the owner's meetings by Goodell that seemed to indicate that a year-long suspension wasn't happening. The NFL viewed the decision by the grand jury not to pursue charges as a good thing. As you said, friend...
Actually what was said is that he would not be put on the Commisoners exempt list, which would essentially make him a suspended with pay player. I do think this signifies a 2022 season of his service. If the Browns are really going to let him play while waiting on the trials of 22 women, then it’s time to get the draft day trade ready for Baker. They need to know their limitations and what they are willing to bow to because of them. They have Baker on a 1 year deal, if they are continuing down this path, which no one has any reason to believe they wouldn’t. Then it’s time to attempt to get rid of as much is that contract as they can. Without getting a long term contract with Baker’s camp, my thoughts are eating about $8M of the contract and a 3rd round draft pick. Seattle should be willing to do that considering what they are currently going into the season with…unless of course they are tanking the season to get as high a pick as possible to draft their next QB. 2023 actually had some viable candidates, unlike 2022.
