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Dawgs were ready to run him out of town on a rail.
Can't say I could blame them, at the time. That loss hurt.

I love redemption stories. Sunday was fun to see.
I wish him well. He earned my (weekly) fandom with his late-game heroics.

He saved CLE from an extra NFL quarter... when anything could happen. WAY TO ICE THE GAME, ANDRE!

This just occured to me ........ How deep is the Browns DL?

It is so deep that we gave away Jawon Briggs to the Jets near the end of training camp ..... and all he's done for the Jets in 3 games is have 6 tackles, 4 solo, 2 stuffs, with a sack and a forced fumble ....... and we really haven't missed him at all.

That is Jim Schwartz. He knows what he wants on his defensive line and as coordinator he puts emphasis on the D line. This goes back to his days with the Titans as D coordinator in the early 2000's with guys like Jevon Kearse and Albert Haynesworth as his anchor's on that unit.

Not sure why the browns stopped using Sampson as much. Thought he played really well against the bengals. I understand junkins is the starter but Sampson only played 5 snaps, seems strange to me.

He’s now more a 3rd down back… but he can’t block yet.

They are just trying to keep our QB's ALIVE.

Yeah, especially with Flacco we need all the blocking we can get with such bad OTs

Spoke to a friend last night - was speculating we will see DW again. Very soon. H said lots of chatter about how awesome he looks in training .... my response was "like each of the last 3 pre-seasons where he looked phenominal and then crapped the bed when he played on Sundays?" .... I hope this does not come to pass.

I say play DW when he’s ready! Let him earn his dough!!! Actually if that happens and he looks good maybe we’ll get a trade offer. It could turn into Baker Mayfield part 2 LOL 😂

I hope we play DW when we are 2-10 and he embarrasses himself again for 1-2 games then we turn to the rookies

I don't even want to see him on the sideline much less play in a game.

Me neither.

WE need to try something with our OT's. Our drafted rookies are doing well, let's grab a couple of rookie OT's ----

Some practice squad OT’s

HOLLIN PIERCE, Eagles
LUKE FELIX-FUALALO, Eagles
TYLER MCLELLAN, T.B.
LORENZ, METZ, T.B.
MARCELLUS, JOHNSON, Colts
GERAD LICHTENHAN, Ravens
GARETH WARREN, Steelers
MASON MILLER, Lions

Ditto

we need anything else at OT. It can't hurt to just try new guys every few weeks hoping to catch one

Yeah, I think DW will definitely end up playing some games after the rookies get a shot. It doesn't matter though because the way this O-line and WRs are playing it will be impossible to win games. I could see where we don't cut DW, keep DG and SS and then DON'T draft a QB in 2026 because that would be the smart thing to do. We need to draft a real WR and a new offensive line and it needs to happen BEFORE we draft a QB. No buddy we can draft will survive behind this O-line.

The very best thing we can do if there is no stud WR in this draft is to trade back multiple times and pick up as many 2nd round picks as we can so we can draft quality offensive line. We will still have two picks in 2027 to draft a QB. After a year of playing together that new and very young offensive line will be better prepared to block for our future QB. Also, I think for Sanders to have a chance to shine and possibly become a viable starter then he needs a better than average offensive line to keep him upright and prevent him from getting worse happy feet then he already does. I mean Sanders has some good qualities in him IF we can just avoid ruining him by starting him too soon.

It has to be done through the draft. We have no salary cap money to even sign free agents for next season. It's also another reason DW will most likely be our starting QB in 2026 because the Browns will want to give him a chance to redeem himself one last time before they cut him in 2027 when the cap hit won't be impossible. It just totally sucks and there is nothing that can be done about it.

The Watson situation is a little different than what you state. If he plays through 2026, his contract will expire - no reason to cut him since he will not be under contract. The Browns just don't offer a new one to him. Unfortunately, there's a cost that's associated with Watson leaving. Due to the restructures Berry has done on Watson every year thus far. Depending what he does in 2026 with Watson's 2026 base salary of 46M, that dead cap number payable on or around March 1, 2027, will be between 55M and 100M give or take.

At season's end in 2025, the Browns will have 44 players under contract for 2026. Those 44 players comprise a Cap Spend of over 318M which is roughly 23M over the proposed cap of 295M.

That's not including the cost of replacing or resigning some key starters and backups all of who's contracts end at the end of the season: Newsome, Emerson, Teller, Bitonio, Njoku, Pocic, Conklin, Flacco, Bush, with backups Tyron-Shoyinka and Shelby Harris. The Dead Cap on just these players is right around 80M which will be calculated into the Cap spend if they are not resigned. Keep in mind that starter Jones is out for the third consecutive year which surely presents another possible replacement needed.

Jeremy Fowler
@JFowlerESPN
Trade: The Browns are trading for Texans tackle Cam Robinson for a swap of late-round picks in 2027, per sources.

Hey Steve, according to ESPN, "If the Browns designate Watson as a Post-June 1 release in 2027, they would be left with a dead cap charge of around $135 million, with a significant portion of that hit in 2027" so I think it's pretty much impossible for them to cut him. They will most likely extend his contract to stretch out the cap hit so they can still function as a team. If I were the Browns, I would cut him and take the penalty and be done with it. This season is already a wash anyways.

Not to be difficult, those numbers you are quoting are a 2026 Post June 1 cut with dead cap numbers of 55M in 2026 and 80M in 2027. In 2026, if Watson plays that season with the Browns, he becomes a FA on or about March 1, 2027. The Browns cannot cut a player whose contract has expired so the Dead Cap on Watson would become immediately applied to the Browns cap spend on or about March 1, 2027. That Dead Cap application would then be about 55M in 2027 providing the Browns don't restructure him again in 2026. Right now, that cap number for 2026 is $80,716,514 with no restructure. If Berry intends to restructure Watson in 2026, that Dead Cap application for the Browns in 2027 would be approximately 100M and his 2026 Cap Charge would be about 90M.

In simple terms, the Browns signed Watson to a 5-year 230M totally guaranteed contract. Through this present season 2025, the Browns have recorded $92,999,192 in cap charges for Watson (4-years). That will leave the Browns $137,000,808 that they do not have on the books as of yet. No matter how you cut it, it's going to cost the Browns cap charges of $137,000,808 between 2026 and 2027. The only way to get more time to account for the prorated bonuses is for the Browns to extend him. Of course, Watson has to agree and IMHO, Watson will not resign for less than 50M-60M per season which will make the problem worse just for more years. Plus, you still have Watson.

Not to be difficult, those numbers you are quoting are a 2026 Post June 1 cut with dead cap numbers of 55M in 2026 and 80M in 2027. In 2026, if Watson plays that season with the Browns, he becomes a FA on or about March 1, 2027. The Browns cannot cut a player whose contract has expired so the Dead Cap on Watson would become immediately applied to the Browns cap spend on or about March 1, 2027. That Dead Cap application would then be about 55M in 2027 providing the Browns don't restructure him again in 2026. Right now, that cap number for 2026 is $80,716,514 with no restructure. If Berry intends to restructure Watson in 2026, that Dead Cap application for the Browns in 2027 would be approximately 100M and his 2026 Cap Charge would be about 90M.

In simple terms, the Browns signed Watson to a 5-year 230M totally guaranteed contract. Through this present season 2025, the Browns have recorded $92,999,192 in cap charges for Watson (4-years). That will leave the Browns $137,000,808 that they do not have on the books as of yet. No matter how you cut it, it's going to cost the Browns cap charges of $137,000,808 between 2026 and 2027. The only way to get more time to account for the prorated bonuses is for the Browns to extend him. Of course, Watson has to agree and IMHO, Watson will not resign for less than 50M-60M per season which will make the problem worse just for more years. Plus, you still have Watson.

Y'all keep forgetting

The Browns could receive money from their Deshaun Watson insurance policy in 2026, after the 2025 NFL season concludes. The insurance payment, which could be up to approximately $55 million or more, acts as a salary cap credit and provides the Browns with relief in the 2026 salary cap year.

As I said 8 months ago Watson will be cut after June 1st 2026.

Just so we're clear, a 2026 pre-June 1 cut will cost the Browns $131,163,378 in cap money and a 2026 post June 1 cut would be $80,716,514 in 2026 and $50,446,864 in 2027. Sorry, I inverted the numbers earlier. So, even with the 55M insurance payment, the Browns are still on the hook for approximately 77M in cap charges.

I would expect a post June 1st cut with the Browns making good on the $55 million insurance claim. Then taking the remaining hit in 2027. The problem could be Watson's health and if he returns without missing entire season the insurance claim will be much less. Although, I believe the Browns have sat Watson down and explained you have already received the entire $230 million and if you want any chance to play again, we need you to miss this entire season. If you do that, we will sing your praises like they have since training camp began. Watson has been a huge plus in the QB room. Watson has really helped Sanders grow. etc... Things the FO has said to help Watson possibly have another team take a chance on him. If he does not, they will still post June 1st cut him and tell every GM in the league not to touch him.

I believe if he missed the entire 2025 season, the Browns could recover around $44.3 million in cap space for that year, which would be reflected in their 2026 cap budget.

Wouldn't that also be before any of the insurance money gets added back to the cap?

Just what we need. Watson serving as a mentor to Sanders. That should turn out well.

lol Watson should be made to steer as far away as possible

Yes. However don't be surprised if the Browns make another change with DWs contract to spread the cap hit out 2 or 3 years.

I'm certainly no expert in that department but can the Browns simply do that arbitrarily without watson signing off on and agreeing to do that?

Watson has to sign off but he has already received every penny of his $ so as long as the agreement does not keep him here longer, I do not see him having an issue.

Info for your thoughts: The Browns can Maximum restructure Watson's contract for only 2026, they have already done that the prior years. The Browns can only restructure the Base Salary. The prorated Bonus is due the year previously assigned through restructures. The Browns can choose to spread out that new restructure total over 2-5 years only. Watson's Base Salary for 2026 is 46M. The Browns can restructure that base pay into a prorated bonus minus the league minimum for a tendered veteran, about 1.4M in 2026. The other 45,720,000 would be evenly distributed between 2 and 5 years. A 5-year distribution (most common) would be about $9,144,000 per season the next 5-years as long as he's still on the team.

For the most part, NFL teams don’t even have to consult players before redoing their deals in this fashion. Most clubs have baked automatic conversion clauses into contracts that allow them to orchestrate restructures as they choose. Those types of restructures — converting payments into signing bonuses that prorate over the rest of the contract — are typically known as “simple restructures.”

But teams can go even further and create additional cap space by conducting a “maximum restructure.”

In a maximum restructure, a club will either extend the player’s contract or tack on void years at the end of the deal. Void years are essentially dummy seasons that exist for no other reason but to prorate a player’s signing bonus.

While teams can execute simple restructures without asking the player, maximum restructures usually involve the player’s consent since they include a contract renegotiation.

If a player is released, retires, or traded the void years are triggered, the remaining signing bonus proration accelerates onto the team’s salary cap that season, potentially creating significant penalties. So, if the Browns cut Watson in 2026, the 4 void years currently on his contract would become due immediately that 2026 season. Currently, the Browns have 4 void years on Watson's contract. Another example would be Njoku, Pocic, Teller, Bitonio, and Conklin. Their contracts expire at the start of the new season on or about March 1, 2026. The moment they hit Free Agency, all of the void years become instantly charged to the 2026 Cap which is $75,255,327 for these 5 players.

It's important to note that while restructuring contracts can provide short-term cap relief, it often comes with long-term consequences. By pushing cap hits into future years, teams may find themselves dealing with significant dead money (money counting against the salary cap for players no longer on the team) in the future, which can limit their flexibility in subsequent seasons.

Don't know much on who Matt Zenitz is, but he works for CBS Sports. Maybe more will report on this as well.

A much needed change. Have to inject some life into the offense and cut back on the turnovers.

Thanks for the memories Grandpa Joe!

"Expected" and "current belief" doesn't mean it's happened. There hasn't been an official announcement by the team as of yet. It's certainly possible at this stage and could very well happen. But it hasn't actually happened yet.

Rizzo is saying the same thing...

Cornerback.

I have a hard time seeing how a third round rookie is going to be the savior of an offense whose main problems are a line that can't consistently block and pass-catchers that can't consistently catch. That said, Vikings D (Flores) blitzes more than anyone else. Theoretically, a more mobile and decisive QB could help us out... though if we do fall behind then I would expect more of the same regardless of who is under center.

I also don't like turning things over to DG on what is essentially a short week.

I hope we can continue to see a larger role for Judkins... he hasn't racked up a ton of yards but he's been very effective with the ball in his hands (4+ yards per carry and has that knack of falling forward after contact).

I think we may also be playing with the Viking defense because of how exotic they get and game plan specific