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I'm not really surprised I need to explain it to you.
He is a prime example of the end results when fans and top NFL management place the blame on the coaching rather than the fact that the GM failed them by giving them crap talent to work with. You have a crap roster you end up with crap results.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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Bubba Ventrone was terrible at his job in Cleveland. The Browns special teams were as bad as the offense. Only the defense played well in 2025. And only the defense had the talent to play well. Who the GM gives you to put on the field matters no matter how hard people try to pretend it doesn't. Just ask Mike Vrabel. But you may wish to wait a couple of weeks. He's kind of busy right now with the Superbowl coming up. Just like Pepperidge Farm. Titan fans remember. If the Pats did not fire their coach and hire Vrable they would not be in the super bowl. Coaching matters. Also, if the Rams were soooo good at hiring special teams coaches they would not have had to fire their own special teams coach in November. Now depending on just how bad that coach was they may have improved. So did the Browns when Ventrone left the building.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
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Who is the ST's coach now and how does that improve anything? Until and unless the roster is upgraded nothing was improved. Once again, ask the Titans. If the Pats did not fire their coach and hire Vrable they would not be in the super bowl. Coaching matters. Exactly. Yet Vrabel, who you says matters, couldn't win in Tennessee. Now what do you think the reason is he "didn't matter" in Nashville but does "matter now"? Hmmmmm......
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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The big question is what is Jim Schwartz going to do?
I thought he was under contract for 2026.
What I did not know was that the Browns have a team option for 27.
He is making $5m a year.
Since Schwartz is "under contract" for 2026, he is legally obligated to perform his duties for the Browns unless they release him.
What he CANNOT do: He cannot unilaterally leave to take a "lateral" position (another Defensive Coordinator role) with a different team. The Browns have the legal right to block interview requests from other teams for such positions.
What he CAN do: Per standard NFL rules, teams typically cannot block a coach from interviewing for a Head Coaching position. If he were to retire or quit without a release, the Browns would retain his "contractual rights," effectively preventing him from coaching elsewhere until the contract expires.
2. The 2027 Club Option: Team Control
A "club option" is a provision that gives the team the sole power to extend the contract for an additional year.
The Club's Power: The Browns can decide by a specific deadline whether to "pick up" the 2027 season. If they do, Schwartz is legally bound to that year under the pre-negotiated terms (salary, bonuses, etc.).
The Coach's Limitation: Schwartz cannot "opt out" or refuse the option if the team exercises it. If the team declines the option, he becomes a free agent.
[Mutually Agreed Release: If Schwartz is truly unhappy (reports suggest he was "done" after being passed over for the HC job), teams often choose to release the coach rather than keep a disgruntled staff member.
Compensation/Trade: Legally, a team can "trade" a coach by releasing them from their contract in exchange for draft picks or cash from the new team.
Offsets: If the Browns were to fire Schwartz, they would typically owe him his remaining salary, though this is usually "offset" by what he earns at a new job.
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If Schwartz calms down and reaccesses the situation.
Maybe he comes to the conclusion he would be better off fulfilling his contract.
He could still be a HC candidate in the future for another team. Or, stay as a DC here or go somewhere else.
He has a strong bond with many of the defensive guys.
It is not Monken's fault he got the job. In many ways Monken and Schwartz could be a good working pair. Same age. Same type of personality.
Jim is not in a position of leverage. Other than burning bridges and making it ugly I don't see he has many options.
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OR an elevation to what many see as a token title of "assistant HC".
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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Is there still no word of the introductory Press Conference for Monken?
This is giving me a glimmer of hope that they're working things out with Schwartz. 🤞
HERE WE GO BROWNIES! HERE WE GO!!
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If I were JS, I would swallow my pride and fulfill my contract. Show that you're a team first and standup guy. You have a top 5 D that might get even better with some injured players coming back and possibly an addition or 2 in the draft and FA. Not to mention if we have any kind of O next year the D won't be on the field as much which can only help. Repeat what you did this past season and i'll bet he gets some HC offers after 2026. JMO
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If I were JS, I would swallow my pride and fulfill my contract. Show that you're a team first and standup guy. You have a top 5 D that might get even better with some injured players coming back and possibly an addition or 2 in the draft and FA. Not to mention if we have any kind of O next year the D won't be on the field as much which can only help. Repeat what you did this past season and i'll bet he gets some HC offers after 2026. JMO This definitely sounds like a winning formula. The only thing that would prevent this (imo) would be a serious collapse on defense.
HERE WE GO BROWNIES! HERE WE GO!!
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If I were JS, I would swallow my pride and fulfill my contract. Show that you're a team first and standup guy. You have a top 5 D that might get even better with some injured players coming back and possibly an addition or 2 in the draft and FA. Not to mention if we have any kind of O next year the D won't be on the field as much which can only help. Repeat what you did this past season and i'll bet he gets some HC offers after 2026. JMO That certainly sounds like a plausible scenario. The other possible scenario is that he stays and does as you are suggesting and makes it known the Browns refused to honor his wishes by forcing him contractually to stay. That would send a very strong signal to future coaches when the Browns hop back on the coaching carousel. Nothing would be more Browns than that.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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They are not going to put TM in front of a mic without the Schwartz dilemma solved.
The whole press conference would be a mess.
No doubt that Todd and Jim will have a meeting.
In the end I think they work it out. Emotions drain and you are left with logic.
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If you have a contract, you should honor that contract. That would be the admirable thing to do. I think in the long run JS would look better if he did. Again JMO
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The Browns are expected to have $27.6m in cap space.
If they make a June 1st cut of Bitonio and Njoku that number could go to $65m. There are other restructures that could happen.
The Browns could make some key moves in free agency. They could restructure the OL and receiver room with a combination of free agency and draft selections.
The OL needs positional depth as well as better starters. Free agency is a good place to shop for guys that can be good backups.
This past year the OL depth was horrific.
There is a path forward to success.
On offense get at least mid level consistent play at quarterback.
Improve the OL from starters to depth.
Upgrade the receiver room.
Establish consistency from the run game.
Improve the overall performance of Special Teams especially coverage units.
Continue the defensive playing personality of constant quarterback pressure.
I am confident that Monken with better offensive personnel will improve the offense.
I am hopeful that Schwartz will remain as DC and continue with what has been an established defense.
Number one is of course better performance and consistency from the quarterback.
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In 2024 the Patriots won four games.
They are in the Super Bowl.
Wow. It can be done.
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I agree with your post Bone. Monken seems to want to work with Shedeur which I feel is important. With proper coaching I feel Shedeur is capable of at least mid-level play. I stated on another post that our D could be even better if JOK comes back and with Emerson returning along with an addition or 2. JS coming back would be important so I hope things can be worked out. Our O being better would also help the D as it wouldn't be on the field as much. Much work to be done before September. We need to have another good draft and FA signings.
Last edited by Homewood Dog; 02/02/26 08:43 AM.
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There were times this past year that the OL was so bad it was an embarrassment to watch.
There were guys playing that looked like they did not belong on an NFL field.
The Cleveland Browns finished the 2025 NFL regular season with the league's lowest-ranked offensive line according to several major analytical metrics. Allowing a league-high pressure rate of 45.5%.
Jerry Jeudy led the NFL with a 15.1% drop rate.
When you are at the bottom there is only one way to go.
Monken is a highly experienced offensive coach. He knows what needs to happen in order to have success.
The Browns will make a total commitment to fixing the offense.
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I read the same stats. I also read some stats on our ST and they weren't good either. That's why coaching changes had to be made. TM is bringing many of the coaches he had at Baltimore with him and to me that's a big positive. Coaches that worked for a well-run winning franchise can only be a positive in my view.
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I read the same stats. I also read some stats on our ST and they weren't good either. That's why coaching changes had to be made. That's what the Titans were saying when they fired Vrabel. He's coaching in the SB. It's amazing just how much the talent level can effect stats.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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In 2024 the Patriots won four games.
They are in the Super Bowl.
Wow. It can be done. I may be in the minority, but strength of schedule also factored HEAVILY into that turnaround. If I'm wrong, then fine (I don't really have a dog in this fight)... but I'm expecting the Patriots to get boat-raced by Seattle.
"I'll take your word at face value. I have never met you but I assume you have a face..lol"
-Ballpeen
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It makes no difference to me how the Patriots got to the Super Bowl.
They played the schedule and won the games.
The Browns announced that the intro Todd Monken press conference is tomorrow Tuesday at 12:00.
That tells me they have their answer about Schwartz.
So a lot of questions will be answered tomorrow.
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In 2024 the Patriots won four games.
They are in the Super Bowl.
Wow. It can be done. I may be in the minority, but strength of schedule also factored HEAVILY into that turnaround. If I'm wrong, then fine (I don't really have a dog in this fight)... but I'm expecting the Patriots to get boat-raced by Seattle. Yeah, easiest schedule in the league. Still, from 4-13 to 14-3. Then, holding three playoff opponents to a combined 26 points will start to dissolve some of that discussion. I see a low scoring classic. But a boat race would be the exception. Seattle with a double-digit, early lead is something NE is just not built for.
HERE WE GO BROWNIES! HERE WE GO!!
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The Browns are expected to have $27.6m in cap space.
If they make a June 1st cut of Bitonio and Njoku that number could go to $65m. There are other restructures that could happen.
I don't understand this. Bitonio and Njoku are both free agents and neither are under contract. They cannot be June 1st cuts. Bitonio currently carries a dead cap hit of $23.5M in 2026. Njoku has a dead cap hit of $24.3M in 2026. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/14444/joel-bitoniohttps://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/21770/david-njoku
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The Top 5 free agents the Browns must bring back in 2026 Joel Bitonio (LG): The heart and soul of the O-line.
He was the only starting lineman to stay healthy enough for all 17 games in 2025. His veteran leadership is priceless. Can the Browns talk him out of retiring for one more year to help ease the pain of an offensive line rebuild? Devin Bush (LB): Thriving in this Jim Schwarz defense, he led the NFL with two pick-sixes and 164 interception return yards in 2025. He posted a career-high 125 tackles and three interceptions, capping the year as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Hopefully Cleveland won't be priced out of his services by other interested teams. Ronnie Hickman (S): A homegrown undrafted starter who led the secondary with a 75.3 PFF coverage grade. At just 24, he racked up 103 tackles and two interceptions while playing 98.5% of defensive snaps. Being aware of budget constraints, Hickman would be a cheaper alternative than outside free agents to continue his partnership with Grant Delpit. Andre Szmyt (K): Became automatic after missing a game winning kick in game 1. Got redemption when he hit a record 55-yard walk-off winner against the Packers in Week 3. Hit 88.9-percent of field goals, and was 25-of-26 in extra points. For a position that has haunted this franchise for years, re-signing Szmyt is non-negotiable. Martin Emerson (CB): A shutdown corner whose 2025 season was cut short by an Achilles injury. Before the injury, he was a cornerstone of the defense; bringing him back on a "prove-it" deal ensures Cleveland's secondary would be a true force alongside Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell. Bonus-Corey Bojorquez (P) In another season of special teams coverage liability, Bojorquez proved once again to be reliable. He led the NFL for a second straight season in total punting yards. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/top-5-free-agents-browns-212440025.htmlBrowns TE David Njoku: Free agency calls, career in Cleveland over? Njoku’s contract has run out. There haven’t been any reports of Browns GM Andrew Berry attempting to re-sign him. Nothing is being leaked or discussed about Njoku being on the roster in 2026 and beyond.https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/browns-te-david-njoku-free-123633755.html
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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Ah, this makes sense. I knew that was wildly inaccurate information regarding Bitonio and Njoku. That may have been the case had the Browns made them pre-June 1st cuts last year (when they were actually under contract). AI throws out some crazy BS sometimes.
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That was a good read, thanks. Bush and the kicker need to be retained. I won’t blame Joel if he retires, but it would be mighty nice of him to play one more year.  Njoku’s future in Cleveland was sealed when Fannin opened eyes as a rookie tight end. He played some good ball for us, I won’t bash him as he’s going out the door. He will get someone to pay him, more than we are willing to.
![[Linked Image from i28.photobucket.com]](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/shadedog/mcenroe2.jpg) gmstrong -----------------
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