Nick Chubb was still trying Monday to get a handle on his struggles and cope with the 22-17 playoff loss to the Chiefs. “I hold myself to a high standard of playing at a high level every game, and I did not do that yesterday,” said Chubb, who dropped three passes. “I had a couple of errors, so I am down about that, too. “Coach, he said today that the feeling of how we feel right now, hold onto it until it can fuel us for this offseason coming up and for next year. That is what I am doing. Hold onto this feeling for a while, get back to work later and see where we are.” Chubb was the offense’s best player this year and voted to his second straight Pro Bowl. In 12 regular-season games he rushed for 1,067 yards, a 5.6 average and 12 touchdowns. He added 16 catches for 150 yards after devoting himself to improving his receiving skills, which made the drops Sunday that much more upsetting. “It was tough. It did not go my way at all,” he said. “Can only learn from it. It happened. “I am just mad at myself because that is something I worked so hard to improve on was catching the ball in the offseason, and up until yesterday it has been working for me. I can only learn from it and get back to work, and when the time comes again, be ready for it.”
The Browns struggled to get the run game going against the Chiefs, as Chubb rushed five times for 12 yards in the first half. He started the second half with rushes of 23 and 18 yards and finished with 13 carries for 69 yards and a 5.3 average. It wasn’t enough, as the Browns couldn’t get one more touchdown. “Really just one takeaway from the game yesterday is just in that moment, you have to make it happen,” Chubb said. “You can’t have any mistakes. Everything matters. It is win or go home. I think we understand that. Next time we get the opportunity, I hope everyone fully understands that, me included. “We only have that one moment, one game to make it happen, and you can’t afford to have any mess-ups or mistakes. That was a great lesson learned yesterday.” Chubb, a second-round pick in 2018, is eligible for a contract extension after finishing his third season. That’s not yet his focus. “I am just still thinking about yesterday and not really looking forward to that stuff right now,” he said. “Just continuing to work. It will pay off for me eventually and we will see.”
COME BACK SOON
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. missed the run to the playoffs as the rehabs the surgically repaired knee that was injured Oct. 25. He tweeted during the game Sunday. “My heart aches on that one….” he concluded. Coach Kevin Stefanski texted with him Monday morning. “I know he is working really hard to get better in his rehab,” he said. “I am excited to get him back here. I know it was not easy for him being away from his teammates, especially as these games got bigger and into the playoffs. I know he definitely wanted to be a part of it.” ** Stefanski expects two more LSU alumni back next year. Rookie safety Grant Delpit (Achilles) and second-year cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder) didn’t play at all this season after injuries in training camp. “I am excited about both of those guys,” Stefanski said. “Unfortunate injuries. They are just going to continue to rehab and work through those injuries. That is the exciting part for us is to get some of those guys back next season.”
NO SUSPENSION
Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen won’t be suspended for the helmet-to-helmet hit that caused receiver Rashard Higgins to fumble out of the end zone for a touchback near the end of the first half, NFL Network reported. A penalty wasn’t called, but the league will review the play to see if a fine is warranted. ** Defensive end Myles Garrett said some Chiefs players accused linebacker Mack Wilson of headhunting on the neck-high tackle that led to quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ concussion. “I know how it was perceived, but Mack is not a dirty player,” Stefanski said. “We do not coach our guys to hurt anybody ever. “We are all hoping and praying that Patrick is feeling OK, and we want him to be ready to go this week. I hope there are no hard feelings. I know Mack’s intent was definitely not to hurt him at all.”
STICK AROUND
Stefanski doesn’t plan to change any members of his coaching staff after going 11-5 and winning a playoff game. “I do expect the coaching staff back next season,” he said. “Really proud of this group. They worked very, very hard in some tough circumstances. People stepped up when some of us were out. Really, I loved the way our group worked together and were very much trying to solve problems in the season as they came about.”
FREE TO GO
Several key players are set to become free agents in March, with all but Higgins on the defensive side. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, end Olivier Vernon, linebackers B.J. Goodson and Malcolm Smith, safeties Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo and cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell and Kevin Johnson all played a lot this season. Ogunjobi was a third-round pick in 2017, and Mitchell played nearly every snap this year in place of Williams. WELCOME HOME
The Browns were greeted at the airport by a number of fans. “Our fans are incredible,” Stefanski said. “It is something that people told me about, and I got to experience it this season in a different way. I can’t wait to experience it with 67,000 strong in FirstEnergy next season. “An incredible fan base here in the city, in Northeast Ohio and around the world. I have heard from a bunch of them. We appreciate their support. I wish we were still playing football for them.”
EXTRA POINTS
Garrett, left guard Joel Bitonio and right tackle Jack Conklin were voted to the All-NFL team by the Professional Football Writers of America. ** Rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills left Sunday after one snap with an ankle injury. Stefanski said he’ll need a couple of weeks of rehab but not surgery. ** The Browns signed 14 players from the practice squad to futures contracts: safety Elijah Benton, receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, tight end Jordan Franks, cornerback A.J. Green, guard Cordel Iwuagwu, quarterback Kyle Lauletta, defensive end Cameron Malveaux, tight end Kyle Markway, kicker Matt McCrane, linebacker Montrel Meander, center Javon Patterson, fullback Johnny Stanton, tackle Alex Taylor and receiver Derrick Willies. ** Former secretary of state Condoleeza Rice and actor James Caan tweeted about the Browns season. “Thank you @Browns. Can’t wait until next year!” Rice tweeted. “Great season @Browns,” Caan tweeted. “Cleveland should be proud End of tweet”
His rookie season with the Browns didn’t go the way Grant Delpit envisioned. Drafted in the second round and projected to start right away at safety as part of a rebuilt secondary in Cleveland, Delpit tore his Achilles early in training camp and missed the entire 2020 season.
Delpit is antsy to get out onto the field and show Browns fans what they missed out on with his injury. The LSU product is rehabbing hard in preparation to make up for lost time in 2021.
“I’ve put so many hours in the weight room,” Delpit told hosts Jason Gibbs and Andrew Gribble on The Best Podcast Available this week. “That’s just part of life when you’re playing in the league. I’m doing everything I can to get on the field.”
He knows it’s been frustrating for fans and for those who support him. Delpit is ready to pay them back for their faith in his talent.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said, “but hopefully I can give the fans what they want, give myself what I want and what my family wants.”
He's done quite a bit of that over the past year. First, he needed to wait to find out where he'd be drafted in the 2020 draft. Delpit, the 2019 Jim Thorpe Award winner and standout safety from LSU, went into the draft with first-round prospects, but he waited until Day 2, when the Browns called him to inform him he was coming to Cleveland.
But more patience was needed. Delpit tore his Achilles after the first week of training camp and never had a chance to officially start his rookie season. He wouldn't have a chance to make his NFL debut until 2021.
"The toughest part was just knowing that you work your whole life just to get somewhere, and then anything can happen off the wall and you're forced to sit back and watch," he said in an interview with Best Podcast Available. "That's the toughest part, but it's life, so it happens."
Delpit, however, can see the finish line for his rehab and the starting block for his first full NFL season. He said he's a few months away from returning to full health, which means he'll be in a good spot for training camp, where he'll look to prove himself as the same talented, versatile safety the Browns valued when they selected him 44th overall in 2020.
"I've put so many hours in the weight room," he said. "That's just part of life when you're playing in the league. I'm doing everything I can to get on the field."
When Delpit does return, he'll play around a few different and new faces that should help turn the Browns defense into one of the most improved units in 2021.
Starting with his own position group, Delpit is expected to play a key role with free-agent addition John Johnson III, who played every defensive snap with the Los Angeles Rams last season and brings an aggressive, fast-paced style to the secondary. Ronnie Harrison Jr., whom the Browns acquired via trade last season in the days after Delpit's injury, is a talented and young prospect, too.
Getting JJ3 and having Delpit coming up behind him is an incredible turnaround from just a year ago. We're set up well.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Man, it would be SOOOOO freaking awesome to have all three return to stud form and really make this team better. It sucks that they're question marks, but this definitely sounds like good news.
Hopefully, we will have mini-camps this year and they can all get on the field!
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Phase 1 Changed from 2 weeks to 4 weeks (runs April 19 to May 14) All meetings will be virtual No on-field work allowed Teams to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for all players, staff, and families
Phase 2 Changed from 3 weeks to 1 week (runs May 17 to May 21) All meetings will be virtual On-field drills are allowed with no contact and at a walkthrough speed; however, offense and defense cannot line up opposite each other. Starting with Phase 2, the league will resume the same COVID-19 safety policies that were implemented in team facilities during the 2020 regular season.
Phase 3 No changes to length of time or dates (remains May 24 to June 18) Teams may hold in-person or virtual meetings OTAs and mandatory minicamp will be allowed as usual
One other notable item is that teams will be allowed to once again hold a rookie minicamp. That event will take place on one of the two weekends immediately following the 2021 NFL Draft, meaning it can take place from May 7-10 or May 14-16.
What Stefanski pulled off last year with all of the Covid protocol for a first year NFL HC is nothing short of remarkable. With having so much more preparation time with the team this season, the sky is the limit.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I spy with me little eye the ESPN panel of "experts" just analyzing and debating away and getting it warmed up for tonight's second leg of draft mansplaining and tell us your feelings.
Too much yelling for me. Turned it, the mute wasn't enough.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
Aaron Wilson @AaronWilson_NFL William Farah on new Browns DT Malik McDowell: 'He's been forced to do a lot of growing and maturing these past few years. He's been extremely humbled and he has rededicated himself to his craft.'
I liked him in 2017 when he came out. Draft gurus had him ranked with the top 2 or 3 DTs, and he was the 35th pick of that draft. We'll see if he's got any gas.
The Browns have become a very high quality team, on and off the field. The character level on our squad makes this an ideal place for someone who has turned the corner and wants to truly put their past in the rear-view.
A great team, great coaches, great FO, great support system... if any such player is given the opportunity to (re)realize their dreams, I would imagine they would feel like this is a "chance of a lifetime".
What does this mean for 'Sheldon Richardson Watch 2021'?
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
I hope he's straightened his life out, because that was really uncomfortable to watch.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
He hasn't played football in over 4 years. He's been arrested over 4 times.
Good luck to him, I guess, but this has no bearing on the state of our D-line and/or whether or not any additional moves will be made.
Nothing to see here.
Absolutely Not True. Let's go over the details.
When he take the football field and lines up what kind of player are you getting?
6'6 300 DT, looks like a DE who was drafted 35 th overall in 2017, ( Now he had a head injury, medical but if he's cleared to play, he's 24 years old, and he's about to be rushing the Quarterback!)
Players like this don't get drafted 35th overall "If they have no bearing on the state of your D-Line."
This is another Long Tall Quick DL who can get into the backfield and down a Quarterback, and has to be double teamed. Ya know, Like Clowney, Like Malik Jackson, Like Myles Garrett, Like Takk McKinley, Like J.O.K., Like Taki Taki, Like Jordan Elliott, Like Phillips, Like Wilson who blocked 3 kicks,
What this does, is this provides Rest snaps for another player to sub back in with fresh legs.
He would not forget how to play This kind of Football in 4 years off,
"No Bearing on the D line?" This is HUGE for the State of Any D line! Browns sign Malik McDowell DT 6'6 300, free agent from Seahawks, from Michigan State, originally drafted 35th overall in 2017.
And the One group the Browns didn't address in this draft was DE, and this is a Gem at DE as far as on field quality that just It's unbelievable. Praise God!
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
