DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Terry's Talkin' Browns

I'm not sure how you can say Baker unequivocally deserves no blame. That's just not true. There's plenty of blame to go around for last year, including Baker. If you take an objective view of things, Baker is probably somewhere in the middle of the list of where things went wrong.

But you're doing the exact opposite of other posters. Some posters don't like Baker, the Person so they skew all the blame toward him. You are skewing all of the blame away from him. Neither one is true.

Agree completely.

Is he deserving of some blame? Yes
Does he deserve to be singled out? I don't think so.
Except that he plays Qb

Freddie? yes
Lindley? Probably

But also, Baker, ObJ, Robinson, Hubbard, Dorsey, Randell, Calloway ...

Seems sensible, and I can agree that we had enough blame to go around, and weren't nearly hungry enough. Fair enough finger pointing.

I am reminded more of the focus I want as a fan this year, Japanese model, I believe.

"Don't fix blame. Fix problems." Blaming isn't really progress, well, maybe to some degree.

j/c:

I see the thread has devolved into personalities again. "Lunacy," "clueless," "agenda," "Baker, the person," etc.

Enjoy!

I keep losing threads. Seems like a constant. But I am hoping if we play some good football that it might well prove to be what we want to be about more. Maybe not. Winning is a focus.

I'll explain myself further to you.


Thanks.

Ok, First of all that's hilarious,
2nd, I guess I overrated all the other scores of players the other 40 or so times the Browns cut ties with players who still had productive years.

In a tough AFC in 2020, I don't think the Browns tried and true formuala of New Head coaches and cutting veterans from their roster is going to suddenly pan out differently than the past.

That is hilarious.

Hey Vers, good post.

I hear you about simplifying the offense and teams catching on. I hope to the powers that be something like that eventually happens to Lamar Jackson, like I thought it would this past year. The critique I had with Freddie’s offense last year - besides executing the game plan - was that he seemed to flip a switch. He went from an offense that tailored to Baker’s strengths and then almost flipped a switch to running one more complex. My hope was for there to be more transition. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, but I feel like that was more commonplace with some of the great QBs in the NFL.

I honestly don’t know if that’s what Baker wanted to hear. Good question. I hope not, but I’d be lying if I said I knew. I think the majority of the reaso why Freddie was hired is due both to how the offense performed and his relationship with Baker. He struggled from a leadership aspect though. I hope the new staff knows how to channel Baker. I think he has ambition and determination, but he has a TON of growing and maturing left in him. I hope he goes down that path.

As far as our offense, I just hope we start with what works and work to evolve it into something sustainable.

You would hope that what we see out of the gate isn't the finished product. Just like good players, it takes some time to evolve in to that.

...says the person with the agenda.

I mean, all you need to do is justify why you think Baker is one of 2 people who is at fault for the entire team to be cocky and undisciplined.

I would LOVE to hear your side of why you believe that. Will we ever get an answer? I wonder.

Thanks, and same to you. But, I'm out of this thread. It got ugly. See you around.

Is that really the discussion/debate?

If so, I gotta side with vers on this one. I'm higher on Mayfield than he is, but Mayfield came into the league with a rep for being cocky and undisciplined. When he became the starting QB, he became the leader of the offense and a leader of the team. I don't know if this is a case of 1+1 or 2+2, but you put those two things together and it seems pretty simple to me.

It isn't Baker's fault that Baker may be under developed.


And I agree. "Dumbing" the offense isn't just for the quarterback.

I would 100% disagree that Baker's reputation was cocky and undisciplined. I can tolerate the cocky part. If you're good, you can be seen as arrogant or cocky and let's face it, Baker was REALLY good.

Undisciplined? No. Baker is not and never was "undisciplined." I think if that were true he wouldn't have been the #1 pick.

If you are suggesting that Baker is 1 of the 2 responsible because of the lack of things he's done rather than things he's actually done, then I would tolerate that as a reason and can see where someone might say hes at fault. This was my original question, which was unanswered by the original poster. And still is as a matter of fact.

I've re-watched the Jets and Bills game in the past week...covid and all that.

Anyway...opening drive of the Jets game...Browns march down the field in 10 plays for 76 yards. OBJ had a great catch to get us to the Jets 4. Two classically-inept, red zone playcalls net us a 3rd & 5.

Before the Browns break the huddle, the ref calls timeout and walks over to talk to Freddie. OBJ runs over and joins the convo...demonstrably upset. He's wearing an illegal visor and has to sit out until a new one is installed. He's unavailable to play on 3rd & 5 because of his freaking face mask visor. We don't convert and kick the filed goal. Cocky? Undisciplined? Stupid? Selfish? Yes...to all of the above.

The previous week he's wearing a designer watch while we display what will be the example of the 2019 season - the opener with the Titans. He's told not to do that again. Before the Jets game in his designer visor, he's wearing an even more-expensive designer watch. He removed the watch before the Jets game...but not the visor. Stupid...arrogant...undisciplined...and unavailable on 3rd & goal from the 5.

In the Buffalo game we march down the field on the opening drive and Baker throws a beauty to Landry for a TD. Landry jumps up in the face of the DB he beat and gets a 15 yard unsportsmanlike. Siebert misses the long PAT. We win 16-13 in part because Hauscka (sp?) misses a FG at the end. That long, missed PAT darn near put us in OT after we'd lost our way for most of the second half...against an eventual playoff team.

In an interview after the game, Landry is asked if he'd do the 'in-your-face' move again. He says he absolutely would do it again. Cocky? Undisciplined? Stupid? Yes.

I'm sorry, but when your two best-known stars are displaying that level of selfishness, cockiness, undisciplined-behavior and downright stupidity...I find it impossible to place ANY of the cockiness and undisciplined-behavior on Baker or any other player on the 53 for that matter.

OBJ didn't do anything wrong. And Baker is to blame.

If the team is worried about OBJ's watch, then they are mentally weak.

/thread

Hey Tabber, your post reminds me of how Shanahan likes to run his offense. I’m not sure if Kubiak and Stefanski also do the same. He sets up the offense to display certain looks to get the defense to anticipate the play call. Often times they are successful against it, but the. He runs something out of the same look that completely catches the defense off guard. It’s a really good game of chess.

To his credit, Freddie actually did the same thing in 2018 on Chubb’s long TD run against the Falcons. We ran the play out of a previous look we showed in the prior week. The D anticipated the look and stunted their DL right to where we needed them to be to break the long run. It was awesome.

I hope we can incorporate some of those strategies this year.

Grabbing the crotch? The incident with hitting the other player in the head during warmups?

Undisciplined... among other things. That's where the rep comes from. He most definitely had that cloud hanging over him.


While I don't much care for the cockiness and the sound bites that come with it, I also don't really care. I just want him to play well. I do think it took some measure of being undisciplined to approach this past off-season and season the way he's admitted they did.

I think he'll bounce back.

I think the rest of your post highlights that the lack of discipline and cocky attitude most definitely not only down to Freddie and Baker.... I disagree that Baker gets a free pass - his confidence and attitude is/was certainly what some would call cocky ... But he doesn't own 50% of the blame which is what was suggested. Having said that - I think a certain amount of swagger is good - and that's a part of Baker when he and the team play well that actually helps win games and keep a team stepping on the other teams throat without choking (which the Browns have done plenty over the years since the comeback).... What we saw last year was not so much cocky i.m.o as buying into the preseason hype. And that was something the whole team and organization did from King John down in my eyes - we were the media darling and there was no-one grounding the team and telling them not to buy into the hype ... and after we got smacked in the mouth game 1 vs Ten I think Baker looked moody and sulky and not at all cocky/arrogant ... just how I saw it.

It’s my understanding that Stefanski is as similar as it gets to Shanahan

The crotch grab, not something I would do, but it is a part of younger culture. Plunking the guy in the helmet, that was awesome.

He was undisciplined last year with regards to his footwork, and other such mechanical issues.

Hopefully he will work on these this year, and the QB coach will be able to get his footwork straightened out.

While you're right about his footwork, I think that is more of a technical aspect to his mechanics. I think the general discussion was whether Baker was undisciplined in a way to be corrosive to the teams effort and mental preparedness and caused others to be undisciplined. Just how I read the flow of the thread.

barf

hard pass.

Yeah... why would we ever want a well-planned, well-executed offense.

I personally thought Kyle Shanahan had the best offense we’ve had here since 99 .. we were 7-4 with Hoyer at QB and tons of drama off the field. Our run game and PA game were on-point

I think there's a discrepancy in the term "undisciplined" within this thread.

What’s wrong with shanny’s o?

It's too good.

I had to pop back into this thread because of all the BS that is being thrown around and I will pop back out for the very same reason.



There was. Several of us were having an intelligent football conversation about scheme, how players are affected by coaching and scheme, simplifying offenses, the importance of coaching, etc.

Then device took over and started w/his usual insults and hijacked yet another thread. It's what he does and somehow he gets away w/it.

I am hoping that in the future, folks will just ignore his divisive tactics and continue on w/legitimate football discussions instead of allowing him--and a few others--to ruin good threads.

And, I'm out. Y'all can have this thread.

The next Josh Cribbs for Cleveland Browns? Unexpected cuts? Steelers in trouble? Hey, Terry!

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/05...in-trouble.html

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio: For many Browns fans, it’s always football season. I was delighted to see a few questions on special teams.

HEY TERRY: I miss Josh Cribbs. Does anyone on the roster have a chance to do what he did in the return game? – Michael Kendall, Memphis, Tennessee

HEY MICHAEL: I miss Cribbs, too. It’s not just the return game. He was a fabulous gunner on the punt coverage team. He was a star QB in the MAC for Kent State and dedicated himself to being an elite all-around special-teams player.

The Browns hoped Dontrell Hilliard could fill that role, but he was mediocre. The Browns are talking about how sixth-round pick Donovan Peoples-Jones could help in the return game. Maybe. But he would have to commit to it as Cribbs did.

Dave Metsch suggested Benny LeMay, the running back from UNC-Charlotte. I was thinking the same thing. I checked his college stats, but I couldn’t find any numbers for special teams as a return man. Of course, Cribbs never did it until he came to the NFL.

HEY TERRY: Will the Browns finally have an effective kicking game? – Mary Kelly, Akron.

HEY TERRY: I haven’t seen anything about our kicking and punting game. Are we set for the season or will there be competition? – Mike Collins, Cuyahoga Falls.

HEY MARY & MIKE: I was worried when the Browns went into last season with a rookie kicker (Austin Seibert) and punter (Jamie “Scottish Hammer” Gillan). Well, Gillan set a franchise record for “net yardage” on punts: 42.3 yards. Overall, he averaged an excellent 46.2 yards per boot. He has a chance to become a Pro Bowler.

This is a huge year for Seibert, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft. He opened the year 16-of-16 on field goals. He finished 9-for-13. He had trouble kicking field goals into the Dawg Pound end, especially as the weather grew colder. He also missed five extra points last season.

As of now, Seibert is the only kicker on the roster. I’m sure they will invite someone to camp to compete with him.

FYI: The Browns have an outstanding special teams coach in Mike Priefer. He knew Kevin Stefanski from when they coached together in Minnesota. He was wisely retained when Stefanski became head coach of the Browns.

HEY TERRY: One of our biggest problems is the egos of certain players getting in the way of TEAMWORK. Can the coaching staff change this? Do we need to get rid of some players? – Kimara DiSalvo, Sagamore Hills

HEY TERRY: Should the Browns consider trading Odell Beckham Jr.? I can already hear the “Get the ball to Odell more” complaints. – Bob Kemmerer, Wadsworth

HEY KIMARA & BOB: The new front office and coaching staff have been preaching the “smart, tough, accountable” football gospel. That is designed to deal with egos. It will be a challenge for them.

From what I can tell, they are in no hurry to deal Beckham. The new regime seems intrigued with his talent and likes what it has heard from him so far. I do expect to hear the “Get The Ball to Odell More” pleas in the media, etc. That will be a challenge for Stefanski.

The fixation on Beckham wasn’t the biggest problem on offense last year. It was the line, coaching issues and a general lack of accuracy from Baker Mayfield. But it was a factor in the disjointed offense. Keith Ely was right when he wrote me about “OBJ was in Freddie’s (Kitchens) ear" and the ball was forced to the receiver.

HEY TERRY: Do you think the Steelers will get a fine or suspension based on James Harrison’s comments? – Doug Merideth, Akron.

HEY DOUG: Harrison claimed on a podcast he received “an envelope” from Coach Mike Tomlin after he knocked former Brown Mohamed Massaquoi out a game in 2010. He was fined $75,000.

The Steelers denied it. Harrison has backed down. It’s hard to believe Tomlin would put $75,000 in cash in an envelope . . . or even write a check that could be traced to the team. But who knows? Nonetheless, I expect the NFL to do . . . nothing.

They’ll probably fine Myles Garrett again . . . hey, it’s a bad joke. Just some bitterness about Mason Rudolph not being suspended for at least a game for his fight with the Browns defensive end last season.

HEY TERRY: Who is someone unexpected who won’t make the final cut unrelated to a salary cap move? – Robin Stanley Reese, Lordstown

HEY TERRY: Were you surprised the they picked Olivier Vernon’s option? – Tom Goodsite, Norwalk.

HEY ROBIN & TOM: While Browns GM Andrew Berry said during the draft Vernon was in the team’s plans . . . plans can change. As far as I know, no option was picked up. According to overthecap.com, Vernon’s $15 million contract is guaranteed on June 1. They can cut him before that and not pay him a dime.

I wonder if they are trying to rework that deal. That’s a lot of money for a guy who has missed 15 games in the last three seasons, including six in 2019.

As for Robin’s question about a surprise cut, no one came immediately to mind. But I wonder if someone such as veteran cornerback Terrance Mitchell could be in trouble. Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams should be the starting cornerbacks.

They guaranteed $145,000 to undrafted free agent A.J. Green and they like him at cornerback. They signed veteran Kevin Johnson for $3.5 million and incentives up to $6 million, according to overthecap.com. Mitchell may need a strong camp.

HEY TERRY: I’m concerned the Ravens will pick up Jadeveon Clowney. Do you know anything about this? – Maria Moore, Akron.

HEY MARIA: I wouldn’t worry about the Ravens. They have only about $10 million in salary cap space, according to overthecap.com. Philadelphia ($24 million) or Tennessee ($20 million) have been mentioned in the media. The Browns have the most cap spaced in the NFL ($38 million).

Some teams are concerned about Clowney’s knee and some other injury issues. Not sure where he ends up. As I wrote last week, he has the same agent (Bus Cook) as Garrett, and the Browns are talking about an extension for Garrett with Cook.

HEY TERRY: How do we maintain hope, always looking forward and always “rebuilding.” Will our team be playoff contender in the next five years? – Ellen Cassidy, Charlotte, N.C.

HEY ELLEN: The next five years! Yikes, I hope so. In the last eight games of 2018, the Browns were 5-3. While their five wins were over teams with losing records, the Browns showed promise partly because they were disciplined and well-coached by Gregg Williams. An upgrade in coaching can help, and the offensive line is better. Besides, all Browns fans know how to endure pain!

I like Terry, but man, he sure picked a lot of dumb questions to answer in this article.

More lies.

I asked a question about why you thought Baker deserves half the blame for the Browns being cocky and undisciplined. YOU said it, not me. And you still haven't answered the question. Perhaps you should just "play fair" like everyone else for once?

Care to answer the question instead of hijacking a thread with your typical hit and run insults?

Maybe they were the only questions he got this week?

What’s the deal with Olivier Vernon? Linebackers? What’s the plan? Terry’s Talkin’ Cleveland Browns

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/05...and-browns.html
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns went into the off-season with a realistic view that they can’t fix everything on the roster.

Priorities were set, major holes were to be filled.

Browns fans saw the approach. Big money (Jack Conklin) and a first-round pick (Jedrick Wills) were used on the offensive line. They also drafted center Nick Harris in the fifth round.

New coach Kevin Stefanski loves tight ends. He believes good tight ends will help QB Baker Mayfield. So big money (Austin Hooper) and a fourth-round draft pick (Harrison Bryant) brought two pass-catching tight ends to the Browns.

When it comes to defense, the Browns take the front/back approach.

They view the line “as the engine" for the defense.

They want the line to bring as much pressure as possible on the QB so they don’t have to constantly blitz with linebackers and safeties.

Cornerbacks are important. The more, the better, especially if they can cover receivers without a lot of help from safeties.

ABOUT OLIVIER VERNON

My sense is Vernon will open the season with the Browns unless they can come up with someone who is a better option. They consider Vernon a good defensive end, the only concern is durability.

Earlier in the week, I wrote the Browns had to make a decision on Vernon’s $15 million contract by June 1. That’s wrong. They have until a week before the regular season opens to cut him without having to pay him.

Perhaps they will find a middle financial ground by reworking his contract.

Vernon has to be aware Jadeveon Clowney has not been a hot item on the free-agent market. I heard he’s still looking for a rich multiyear deal.

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has the same agent as Clowney (Bus Cook). The Browns are working on a long-term extension for Garrett, and that makes it easy for them to be aware of the status of Clowney.

Vernon missed six games last season because of injuries. He seemed hobbled in at least two others. In 2017 (four missed games) and 2018 (five missed games), he had high ankle sprains.

Vernon is 29, which isn’t extremely old for a defensive end. In his first five NFL seasons, he didn’t miss a game. In the last three, he’s missed 15.

The Browns can wait before making a final decision on Vernon. Meanwhile, they can shop for another defensive end.

ABOUT THE LINEBACKERS

1. I probably value linebackers higher than the current Browns. Remember their front/back approach. The Browns seem to be taking the same approach to linebackers as the Philadelphia Eagles...or former Browns GM John Dorsey. In their view, it’s not a spot to spend big money.

2. The Browns have the NFL’s most salary cap room ($38 million), according to overthecap.com. They not only are working on a mega-deal for Garrett, they also have to consider Larry Ogunjobi, who will be a free agent after the season. They want to keep the veteran tackle.

3. Coming up next season is the 2019 draft class of Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Denzel Ward. The Browns can’t talk extensions for them until 2021, but they have to plan for the future cap spending for their key young players.

4. One of the discussions the Browns had was paying middle linebacker Joe Schobert or Vernon. They decided on Vernon because they believe if he can stay relatively healthy, he’ll make a major impact as a pass rusher.

5. Dorsey wasn’t able to sign Schobert. New GM Andrew Berry didn’t put a lot of salary cap room in his direction. Schobert received a 5-year, $54 million deal ($21 million guaranteed) from Jacksonville, according to overthecap.com.

6. In the defense designed by new coordinator Joe Woods, the premium for linebackers is being placed on speed and coverage skills. They obviously also want sure tacklers. Pass-rush linebacker such as Clay Matthews III doesn’t appear to be in their plans – at least right now. As training camp approaches and Matthews still has no significant offers, perhaps that changes.

ABOUT THE BROWNS

1. The Browns are counting on the young guys, two of them being Dorsey’s picks in 2019: Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki. The other is 2020 third-round pick Jacob Phillips and veteran free agent B.J. Goodson.

2. The Browns will play three linebackers, or even only two at times in their new defense. Let’s talk about 4-3 scheme. In the middle (Schobert’s) spot will be a duel between Goodson and Wilson.

3. It’s possible Phillips can emerge as the middle linebacker, but it’s hard to project a rookie. He also could be in line to battle for one of the outside linebacker spots.

4. The door is wide open for Takitaki to play one of the outside linebacker spots. The Dorsey front office took Takitaki in the third round. He had some injuries early in camp and during the season and never could get into the regular rotation.

5. There are four key linebackers for three spots: Goodson, Wilson, Takitaki and Phillips. But it’s possible the Browns will use rookie safety Grant Delpit or veteran safety Karl Joseph near the line of scrimmage. That means they’d need only two linebackers.

6. It’s still early to figure out the linebacker situation. The lack of spring minicamps because of COVID-19 doesn’t help. Perhaps they will add someone else.

7. When it comes to the Browns’ undrafted free agents, a lot has been written about cornerback A.J. Green. But I’ve heard the Browns scouts and coaches are very excited to see if Liberty safety Elijah Benton will look as good on the field as he did on video.

8. The Browns were excited to bring Princeton QB Kevin Davidson to camp. They thought the undrafted free agent was going to San Francisco. Something happened and he became available. He could be a practice squad player in 2020.

Can the Browns come to rescue of Cleveland sports fans? New idea for defensive end

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/06...ensive-end.html



By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It comes down to the Browns.

In this spring and summer of disease, death, destruction, economic collapse and anger in the streets, Cleveland sports fans need the Browns.

They need the Browns to be decent. They need the Browns to be interesting. They need a reason to sit in front of the TV on fall Sundays and escape from all the dismal news of 2020.

Yes, it comes down to the Browns for Cleveland sports fans. Most of the NBA is starting, the Cavaliers will be left at home to think about the 2020 draft. Major League Baseball ... I don’t even want to talk about that self-absorbed industry which has so little interest in compromise in this summer of self-sacrifice.

Maybe they will come to their senses and play. But I don’t trust them ... the MLB players and owners.

Neither should you.

WHY SPORTS MATTERS

Sports doesn’t change real life. But sports is a diversion. Sports can be bring unity. Fans of every income, race and political background can come together to cheer for Nick Chubb. What a wonderful running back and admirable pro.

Part of the reason we love sports is some of the discussions on the possibility of Baker Mayfield returning to his 2018 form actually lead to rational discussions.

Was the problem the offensive line? Hey, he was sacked 40 times! Or was it Freddie Kitchens, a clueless rookie head coach when the pressure was on. How about forcing the ball to Odell Beckham?

Or maybe Mayfield simply didn’t work as hard as he should have and developed some bad habits with his throwing motion?

We’ve all heard at least some of these debates. There is no “blue state vs. red state” mindset when it comes to the merits of the Browns QB.

Instead, we’re talking about the new coaching staff, the upgraded offensive line and how Mayfield will handle offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt changing his footwork. Somehow the Browns need to return Mayfield to the QB who set an NFL rookie record with 27 TD passes in 2018.

THERE IS TALENT

The Browns have two Pro Bowl-caliber running backs in Kareem Hunt and Chubb. They have two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers in Jarvis Landry and Beckham. They have one of the NFL’s premier defensive ends in Myles Garrett.

These guys can be entertaining to watch. That’s what we need: entertainment. It’s why troops began playing something resembling baseball in the middle of the Civil War.

We need a break that doesn’t end up in some type of emotional fracture.

NO BIG PREDICTIONS

The Browns have a rookie head coach in Kevin Stefanski, a new defensive coordinator (Joe Woods), offensive coordinator (Van Pelt) and offensive line coach (Bill Callahan). All are bringing new schemes and playbooks to the team.

COVID-19 has knocked out the mini-camps. Not sure what impact it will have on the regular training camps in late July.

All that hurts a franchise with a new coaching staff. Mayfield needs be on field for 11-on-11 practices against real players to create a muscle memory for his new footwork. It’s not fair to expect the Browns to get off to a fast start. But please, no repeat of 18 penalties and that 43-13 Week 1 loss to Tennessee in 2019!

Discipline and staying away from a tidal wave of pre-snap penalties is something any good coaching staff can implement even early in the season.

But how about a team that is interesting? A team that plays better as the season goes along? A QB who grows with the new coaching staff?

I’ll take that.

And yes, they should at least have a winning record.

ABOUT THE BROWNS

1. I can’t recall where I heard this, but I liked the idea of signing a veteran defensive end. Just not Jadeveon Clowney. How about Everson Griffen, who had eight sacks in 15 games last season? He also had 24 QB hits and played 78 percent of the snaps.

2. The 32-year-old Griffen had been with Minnesota since 2010. He is considered a good guy. Stefanski and Joe Woods know Griffen well from their time with the Vikings.

3. A nice one-year contract for Griffen makes more sense than a long-term deal for Clowney. Depending upon Griffen’s price, the Browns can either keep defensive end Olivier Vernon or cut him. Vernon’s $15 million deal is not guaranteed until a week before the regular season.

4. Vernon has missed 15 of 48 games over the previous three seasons. In that same span, Griffen has missed seven. He made the 2019 Pro Bowl. Perhaps Griffen is looking for a multi-year deal and that’s why he is still unsigned. But I like the idea.

5. The Athletic’s Chad Graff reported Griffen wants to visit teams in person, and that may finally be possible with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted. The Browns value defensive linemen far above linebackers when it comes to spending. Keep an eye on Griffen.

6. Every week, I receive a few emails wondering why the Browns don’t sign Clay Matthews III. After all, they need help at linebacker. Matthews is a magic name to Browns fans, his father being Clay Matthews Sr.

7. My sense is if the Browns wanted the 34-year-old Matthews, they would have signed him by now. He was waived by the Rams to save salary cap money. He had eight sacks last season. But it’s clear he is in decline – especially when most defenses value linebackers who can cover tight ends/running backs in passing situations.

8. I believe Matthews can still be effective as a pass-rusher with the right defense. Not sure that’s Cleveland, where Woods sounds as if he plans to play mostly two linebackers and five defensive backs.

9. In his conference call, I asked Woods about the use of linebackers: “I would like to transition into a dime system. But it’s going to take time ... and I’d like to have a nickel package where we have two linebackers on the field.”

10. The Dime Package often involves six defensive backs and one linebacker. The Browns are sorting through Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, B.J. Goodson along with rookie Jacob Phillips. I don’t expect them to make any significant moves at linebacker.

Pluto said that Vernon's salary became guaranteed on June 1. I didn't know that. I do know that it is now June 7. So by taking no action they have pretty much cemented their commitment to Vernon for 2020.

In my mind, it further reduces if not eliminates the possibility of signing Clowney. I, for one, am happy about that. If they want to increase the depth at DE I'm all for it. There are other options that I feel would be better for team chemistry and franchise finances.