DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns News Continued....

I remember during the early incarnation of this board the general feeling was Dawson had a weak leg. Kicker is one of those positions where players usually get better with age.

Dawson is one of those players who has taken on mythical status.

Well-deserved inductee.

Cleveland Browns Might be Best Trade Partner for Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

The Cleveland Browns absolutely have the capacity to trade for San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers would likely be happy to get Amari Cooper in return. The incentives for both teams as well as the reason why it hasn't gone anywhere.

Brandon Aiyuk's situation with the San Francisco 49ers is still unresolved and Amari Cooper is currently involved in a contract negotiation with the Cleveland Browns, so speculation has connected the two teams in a potential swap of wide receivers. Nothing has been reported regarding such a move between the Browns and San Francisco 49ers, but the Browns do have the capability to make such a trade. To this point, the Browns appear focused on Cooper, but if the price is right, there's a case to make Browns should pursue Aiyuk.

Aiyuk is reportedly seeking a contract extension worth an average of at least $30 million per year. The 49ers to this point have shown no interest in meeting Aiyuk's demands. They allegedly tried to trade his teammate, Deebo Samuel, only to find that no one was interested in him because of his bloated contract and the 49ers seem unwilling to make another big commitment at the position. For their part, the 49ers have worked to backfill the position. They just used a first round pick on Ricky Pearsall out of the University of Florida and Jauan Jennings has showed promise.

Speculation has linked Aiyuk to a number of teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers, but nothing has materialized. Some of that is because of the money, that teams the 49ers would be willing to discuss a deal with don't have the cash or cap space to accommodate Aiyuk. Those teams also might be unwilling to give up the compensation the 49ers are demanding to move Aiyuk.

The 49ers are in a difficult spot. They simultaneously can't afford get bad return in a trade involving Aiyuk, but they also don't want to trade him without getting something in return that can help them win now. They have one of the most talented teams in the league and trading Aiyuk for draft picks wouldn't feel great when the team is arguably the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl again.

Holding onto Aiyuk would be worth it if they can win the Super Bowl, but then they risk the possibility of letting him walk or getting much less in a trade if he's sitting under the franchise tag. The Chiefs traded L'Jarius Snead for a third round pick in a deal with the Tennessee Titans. Snead is 27 years old and was the most impactful member of the team's secondary in winning back to back Super Bowls, but everyone in the league knew they had to move him, so it limited their leverage.

So the dream scenario for the 49ers is to trade Aiyuk for another player that can help them win the Super Bowl at a lower cost and get valuable draft compensation in the process.

Under that framework, the Browns are potentially the best trade partner.

Amari Cooper is coming off a year in which he had 1,250 yards receiving and five touchdowns catching passes from four different quarterbacks. 2023 was the best season of Cooper's career and he has been everything the Browns hoped for when they acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2022 season.

Cooper is in the last year of his contract with the Browns and is due $20 million for the 2024 season. He wants a contract extension that offers him a bump in pay and additional security in the form of guaranteed money over the next two seasons.

Given the season Cooper just had and the fact he's going to be 30 years old heading into this year, it is reasonable for him to want to secure what might be the last big contract of his career.

According to theOBR's reporting, the Browns and Cooper's agent have agreed to the money. The issue is guarantees in future years. Cooper wants two and the Browns have yet to commit to providing guaranteed money for 2025.

So until either the situation with Aiyuk or Cooper is resolved, there exists this possibility that a trade could happen.

Cooper could immediately help the 49ers compete to win the Super Bowl while also being at a lower price point than Aiyuk would be on an extension. Adding valuable draft assets will help them as they have a number of big contract decisions coming up, including quarterback Brock Purdy.

Aiyuk looks like a great fit for what the Browns like in their wide receivers. He's not quite as big as Cooper at 5'11 5/8" and around 205 pounds, but he is an explosive athlete that brings physicality into every aspect of his game. He plays bigger than his size would suggest.

26 years old and coming off of a season in which he had 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns with 28 explosive plays, Aiyuk would answer the question of where the Browns go for a #1 receiver. They would have him locked up for the next half decade. Additionally, if the Browns are truly reluctant to give Cooper any guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season, it's all the more reason for them to explore a deal.

In the event the Browns were to agree to a trade to acquire Aiyuk, they would structure the contract extension to have minimal impact on the 2024 salary cap. They'd actually gain cap space in the swap, sending Cooper's contract to the Bay Area. The Browns would roll that cap space over into next season, which would help to account for the increases in the following years. From a cap standpoint, Aiyuk's impact isn't difficult for the Browns to navigate.

Whether it's Cooper or Aiyuk, the Browns will be offsetting the cost of their investments in their wide receivers by getting younger on the offensive line over the next few seasons, bringing in new talent through the draft.

The conversation for the Browns regarding Aiyuk would be two parts. First, it's whether the organization feels Aiyuk warrants the amount of cash they'd be committing to him. Inherent in that evaluation is deciding how much of his success is the result of Kyle Shanahan's offense contrasted against his ability. If they deem Aiyuk worthy of the $30 million per year average, the they would then have to determine how much draft compensation they'd be willing to give up in order to get the deal done.

If the 49ers are insisting on a first round pick, it's likely a non-starter for the Browns. A second round pick might be too rich for the Browns as well. High demands in trade compensation likely explain why there hasn't been any movement with Aiyuk to this point. The 49ers really don't want to move him and they are hoping someone will become desperate enough to meet their price. But if the 49ers are willing to agree to take a third round pick or some form of pick swap to make a deal, the Browns should be interested.

Absent sentimentality, the Browns would have traded a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixths for two great years of Cooper. They would then flip Cooper and a third round pick to get Aiyuk for four or five years. It's the difference between potentially giving Cooper a three-year deal averaging perhaps $22.5 million (number provided by Jack Duffin) versus a four or five-year deal with Aiyuk averaging around $30 million per year, plus draft assets.

However, Cooper has been great for the Browns and they know what to expect from him. It works. The locker room might not be in a hurry to see him leave. Deshaun Watson recently spoke on Cooper's behalf, saying, "He's the best in the game, and I believe that. He shows it each and every year. He showed it the last two years with different quarterbacks. So, I think you got to put him up there, if not the best."

The front office of the Cleveland Browns must act in the best interest of the team. More than likely, that will result in an extension for Amari Cooper, but if they remain at an impasse in this contract negotiation and the 49ers are willing to soften their trade demands in order to get a player back they that can help them contend right now, the Browns should pull the trigger. Acquiring Brandon Aiyuk would help the Browns now and allows them to sustain as a threat for the next several seasons.

https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland...ential-swap-of-wide-receivers-233028680/

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Interesting take and this isn't the first time this spring/summer Aiyuk has been connected to the AFC North, or the Browns, for that matter. Something like this coming to fruition seems wildly low, but the Browns would be getting younger at the position. In the end, I think the Browns hope Jeudy is that young, long-term solution at WR and Cooper's leadership and JJ comments about Cooper being someone he's looked up to will help him make that next step.

In the end, I think they find a way to take care of Cooper.

Cedric Tillman SZN

Browns defender arrested on DUI charge in Florida, allegedly crashed into restaurant

Lonnie Phelps reportedly refused to cooperate with police

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2024/...lorida-allegedly-crashed-into-restaurant

....is there a reason they used someone else's (Nick Harris's?) pic?

Thanks for the memories, Lonnie!

Browns waive DE Lonnie Phelps

Phelps spent the 2023 season on the Browns' practice squad

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/new...dq9IkL_pBPNK8_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

That didn't take long. But when as player isn't a key member of the team it's a lot easier to do.

This thread is the only memory I have of Lonnie Phelps, and I read it about 25 seconds ago.

Welp, there goes the season.

J/C

Apparently we hired a new head of athlete health and performance.

link

Sounds like a new position to me. Just another layer to try to prevent preventable injuries. I don't see any downside.

Just another example of the Haslam group spending the money to try to provide every resource possible. It may not prevent anything, but it can't hurt. I am not even sure how one would measure results? Some of the injuries listed weren't preventable. Some that one might consider preventable are still going to happen from time to time. I guess it would start with range of motion. Increase that rage and the player doesn't pull a hamstring, then you might be able to say it was a positive result.

That's just Jimmy trying to keep Mac happy

Yes, mac's dreams are coming true. Maybe there is something to "When you wish upon a star!"

GM..It sounds as if you are not impressed with this Nabhan hire..?

I'm not impressed either! First, what sort of experience does Mr. Nabhan have..?
...Has he been employed by any college football programs..?
...Has Mr. Nabhan worked with any other NFL franchises..?
...When it comes to comes to working in the NFL Mr Nabhan appears to have ZERO EXPERIENCE dealing with football injuries.
...It appears that being hired by the Browns will be Mr Nabhan's opportunity to pad his resume to include NFL experience.

Here is what I've been able to find concerning the resume of Mr Nabhan...He is a faculty member of SPORTSORACLE (https://www.sportsoracle.com/) and An expert in Physical Therapy.

Dustin is a Doctor of Chiropractic with specialty certifications in sports medicine, strength and conditioning and musculoskeletal ultrasonography. He most recently served as the Vice President, Sports Medicine, Research & Innovation for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee where his primary duties included direction of patient care at Olympic Training Centers and oversight of research and injury prevention programs. He was appointed to the Team USA medical staff at the 2012 & 2016 Summer Olympics, 2014 & 2018 Winter Olympics and was Medical Director for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games and 2019 Pan American Games. Dr. Nabhan is an active clinician researcher, currently pursuing a PhD on the topic “Applied elite athlete health promotion through medical screening and monitoring” through the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. He is a Senior Associate Editor for the British Journal of Sports Medicine and a reviewer for several sports medicine journals.

While his resume pertaining to the Olympics sounds impressive, I'm hoping Dr. Nabhan can help the Browns reduce their injury rate.

How shameful to hire an expert in sports medicine for a professional sports team!!! I didn't need purple for that did I?

Maybe we should have hired the nurse from a local automobile plant.

The guy has all kinds of education and credentials, but what does he know?

Yep, bring on the Ford plant nurse.

Neither impressed nor unimpressed. I don't know enough about the guy but I will find out.

GM..if you are in the Cleveland area and in need of some chiropractic care, maybe I can get you hooked up with the new guy...

You couldn't get him hooked up with your ex-girlfriend much less the new guy.

Come on man. You know that's funny right there.

Game day is more fun when you get to yell "CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" That's just science.

"Nick Chuuuuuuuuubbbb!!!! Hasta la vista, baby!"

It's obvious we should never count him out.

He’s VERY strong, as we have all seen. His foot speed is legit, but even if he loses a half-step, he can run over people. I’m looking forward to his first home game, whenever that is and I look forward to the chants, even before Nick takes one to the house.

Speed and very strong will be such a huge crucial and important part of the season.

I agree.

Every team’s qb room on that list made me think YUCK.

I might not believe that taking things in steps isn't important. Thinking about just winning the next game is taking steps. Lot's happens between the first game and winning the Super Bowl.

But I agree, Seize the Day.

Steeler fans are losing their mind LOL. I would love to see TJ's stats if he were double and tripled as much as Myles is. He also never faces any LTs, who are generally the best tackles

This is insane.

There are no other words.