@icecube said:

They need a real change. A serious, real change.

The Haslams HAVE made a change -  a real change.  They bought all the land and are moving to Brookpark.

So, if you want to park - you pay the Haslams;  If you want to eat - it's at their restaurants or those that pay them their 'property tax'.  If you want to stay in a hotel, you'll stay in theirs or those that pay the Haslam property tax.  If you want to gamble, it's at Casino Haslam or those who pay the tax.  If you want to lay your own brown pile, you'll tap your credit card at the nearest Haslam super bowl.

Oh, at some point they'll have to keep some semblance of a football team on the field to keep the cash rolling in.  Or do they?  We keep buying the tickets and everything else when they were 1-15 and 0-16, so....

@orion said:

It's looking like Houston is going to have two, quite high, first round draft picks.  And we're vying for the 35th pick.

... and most Browns fans will want them to draft a QB and play him in the first game...

@canton-dawg said:

 This one made me laugh...  Thanks Canton Dawg.  I'm also in Canton.

We just need the voice over for that commercial edited a bit...

"If you've been exposed to Cleveland Browns football between the years 1982-2022, you may have been exposed to Toxic Football and are entitled to compensation..."

Do you think Misny can win this case and Make... Them Pay?

Oops.  Sorry... in a 4- or 5-way tie involving the Colts, the Titans would first be eliminated by the Colts due to the divisional record.

If this happens, then of the 2 or 3 remaining teams - Browns-Colts or Brown-Colts-Raiders - the Browns win with better Conference record.

I believe that the only way they get in is if there is a 4-way or 5-way tie. 

Steelers and Titans have to lose both remaining.  Browns and Raiders and/or Colts have to win both remaining.  If this is the case, Browns and Steelers use divisional tie-breakers first, which the Browns win by division record.  With 3 or 4 teams remaining, head-to-head rule won't apply as they didn't all play each other.  Browns would then win over Titans and Raiders and/or Colts because of Conference record.

If Raiders and Colts don't win both and it is a 3-way tie, then Titans are in.  Browns and Steelers still use divisional tie-breaker which Browns win by division record.  Browns lose to Titans due to head-to-head, as Browns lost in week 1 to Titans.

"Best" 3 chronologically - Crennel, Pettine, Williams

Worst 3 is a tie - Jackson, Jackson, Jackson and Mangini, Mangini, Mangini

Many have commented on Mayfield's "regression" this year.  It's a little comical to talk about regression for a second-year QB, I think.

Last year he threw into double coverage a lot... a LOT... and got away with it.  

This year he's trying to do the same - throw into double and triple coverage and rely on the strength of his arm to get the ball there... and is throwing more interceptions as a result because teams have better preparation for him.  He hasn't developed a finesse pass, yet.  Just throw it hard.  Understandable.  He's only in his second year.

So, now he's gun shy.  Doesn't want to throw interceptions, so he's late... or second guesses himself... or - worst of all - tries to throw even harder.  Classic sophomore season.

Did you REALLY expect anything else?  If so, then just review the overwhelming history of QBs who started playing right out of college... it's not pretty.  And it goes to show that this RARELY works.  You can't expect instant gratification.  It just doesn't work that way.  Never did.  Still doesn't, despite the expectations of teams and fans.

As an end note, I would point out that there is history on his side in the form of other hard-throwing QBs who struggled in their first few seasons until they learned the game.  John Elway comes to mind.  We can talk Mayfield in 2022 and we'll see what we're saying then.

Is it really THAT much of a surprise?

Change your coaching staff.  Second year (and still unproven) QB, different O-line, some new receivers...  Suspect LBs and secondary...  To buy the Kool-Aid that we were sold all summer and from the Vegas odds-makers... 

This was an 8-8 team from the start, in the first year of - yet another - rebuild, but with the team talent skipped a year to the second year of - yet another - rebuild.   The schedule killed them, as you can NEVER evaluate a rebuilding team before the first half of the season - when they're still learning to play with each other.  We were sold the idea that we FINALLY had the MESSIAH!  The QB to save the NFL.  We would score TDs on EVERY possession.

It bothers me more that there still isn't any discipline on this team after 8 games, as the unnecessary penalties are killing them.

And I'm more concerned with the defense, because you just don't win in this league without it.  The D-line is geared towards pass rush/sacks and isn't stopping the run.  The LBs and secondary are awful at times.  No one knows how to tackle - just hit (although that isn't THAT surprising , since that's what they're coached to do)  Defense wins championships... and we don't have a championship caliber defense yet.

After Buffalo, the schedule favors them.  8-8.  Just like they should have been from the beginning.

The core of any sport is to score points and keep the other team from scoring points.

You don't win championships without winning games and you don't win games without a defense.

And if you are content with losing games as long as they are entertaining... that is exactly what the NFL is counting on.

Last year's Super Bowl was the epitome of that.  Both teams chose to play NO defense and it was one of the most boring games I've watched.  All pass, all the time and all scoring.  And it took ONE - just ONE - defensive play at the end to win the game.

@clevfan4life said:

dont even get me started on horton and pettines 3-4 defenses. That acheme just diesnt wirk in cleveland i dont know why

It didn't work because you need stud LBs for a 3-4.... Browns didn't have any and didn't draft any.

We wanted QBs.

@canton-mike said:

Regardless of injuries, these players were all part of our game day roster(s). Here is my issue with the defense......

TACKLING!!! It's a fundamental & proper tackling is NOT a hard shoulder block into the ball carrier (exception is when a "bump" sends a sideline hugging runner out) or reaching out & grabbing their shirt sleeves. A good runner will just move WITH the force & often just bounce off on their way to additional yards. Wrap the runner up & put 'em on the ground!! I don't care how far down the depth chart a player is, they need to be taught & play with solid fundamentals.

Regardless of game plans, playcalling et al, execution is IMPOSSIBLE to maintain if our fundamentals are poor.

End of my rant.

Mike

Sorry Mike, but tackling is no longer a "fundamental".  The "hit", the biggest "impact collision" you can make is what is coached now.

But it really doesn't matter about defense in today's NFL, either.  So, there really isn't much point about railing on about whether or not they tackle.

@lbc-mike said:

Might as well watch the Cavs now.

Ummm.... I have been watching the Cavs and.... well... 

Spring training starts in 3 months!

@mjp28 said:

I normally don't buy into these conspiracy-type things anymore than bigfoot or who really killed Kennedy and all of that -but- it might be tempting......not that I'm saying they (whoever they is/are) did anything. But how many decision makers or key players nedd to be involved (a DB blows a coverage and a guy runs 80 yards for a TD)?  A nearby $1.5 Billion stadium getting ready, want to make a big splash?

A rookie QB steps in and just lights it up, one side or maybe both involved....if they could prove it, if someone talked it could ruin the sport.

And I heard just tonight the River's Casino in Pittsburgh a short drive from me will be up and running for sports gambling in November. What now especially in basketball just a few guys needed to shave points, a backer puts a few million on one side, pays off 2 or 3 guys?

NAH, that could never happen.  Never. 

Won't be but a few years before gambling pads are available at every seat in every stadium, let alone on your phones.

So, when you see those shots of QBs on the sidelines with a pad, you can be sure they'll be checking the current line, placing a bet, then trotting out for the next offensive series...  ?

So, yeah...  greatest thing to happen to sports since sliced bread...

The Super Ball.

I remember those.  Had many of them.

I'm sure in today's world they would be banned, though.

@browns149 said:

Watching the raiders tonight.  It is obvious they are not trying to win.

Tanking in the NBA is normal. Baseball not so much. It takes way to long to get a 1st round pick to the majors

But the NFL would be the best league to tank for. They only play 16 games. Most teams can’t win unless they have a good QB

I have a feeling that this is going to be the norm from now on

The teams that need a QB will lose until they get a QB that they don’t have to pay for 5 years

And after 5 ears the Qb will either price himself out of the team, or the team will have already paid him 

Your assumption is only valid if the team is dedicated to building through the draft - such as Haslam has stated numerous times since he bought the Browns.  (therefore, implied 'no costly free agent signings')

From what I've read, there's only one guy available in the draft next year who could be an NFL "franchise" QB.  Even if they get him, it's pretty long odds that he actually IS a "franchise" QB  - ironically appropriate for a team moving to Vegas.

Honestly, not the way I saw it.

Defender did what he was coached to do.  Mayfield was upright, trying for first down when defender 'launches' his body at what-would-have-been his chest.  Not trying to tackle, but create a collision impact.

Only, Mayfield starts to slide and defender - already being in mid-air - hits him helmet to helmet.

Didn't look like he intended to hit him high and in the helmet.

It's the result of coaching the value of hitting over tackling.

Hard to lay this all on the players when they are coached and taught to do a lot of these bonehead things.

Lineman are taught to hold.  95% of it doesn't get called, so play the percentages.

Defense is taught that tackling is wrong, that it's 'old school'.  In today's NFL they are coached to create the hardest impact and collision.  Most guys don't even try to use their arms anymore.  They're taught to hit high and hard, even if it leads to helmet first collisions.

When you stiff-arm a guy, grab his face mask and twist it off.  That never gets called.

If I'm teaching guys to skirt the rules, it's kind of hard to dock their pay when they get caught.

Actually, I'm more surprised that so many of these guys are still in the league, let alone #2 on the depth charts.

Defense wins championships.

Always has. Always will.

We saw NO defense from both teams until ONE play.  THE game deciding play was on DEFENSE.

Curious that 4 of the top 5 DEFENSIVE teams are in the championship games.

I hate all this 'this is more important than that' prattle.  Especially in the NFL.

The game has two sides to the equation - score points and keep the other team from scoring points.  Always has, Always will.