There are times when you make a trade and you look at what you got, then look at what you gave up and think to yourself "Man we really made out on that one." This was not one of those moves. The Cleveland Browns are still very excited about the pieces they received in their trade with the Texans. When you bring in FS Justin Reid, a 2nd in this draft and a 1st in the next draft how could you not be hype. The other side of the ledger is where the bitterness starts. The Browns sent the Texans premier guard Wyatt Teller, safety and leader of the secondary John Johnson, along with a 4th round pick. This move all boiled down to long term caponomics planning and looking at the deals coming up down the line. Next season Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward's 5th year options will be cashed in and it will be time for big extensions that start in 2023. On top of that Myles Garrett and Nick Chubbs huge deals start to kick in. To complete the perfect cap storm other cornerstone players Jack Conklin, Joel Bitonio, Kareem Hunt, JC Tretter and Jarvis Landry all need to be resigned in 2023. This was really a move the Browns had to make to get in front of the cap strain down the road.

Teller was asking for a BIG BAG to the tune of $19 mil per year. Hard to pay a guard that kind of money with this many stars looking to get paid. Sad to see the fan favorite go but it was a sacrifice that needed to be made. John Johnson was new to the franchise and made a big impression in the locker room from the minute he arrived in Cleveland. Unfortunately, he was also a cap casualty since his contract jumped to an average of $12 mil a year. Moving Johnson allowed the Browns to bring in a younger, faster free safety that fits into their system better. It also made room for Grant Delpit to take on a larger role opposite Reid. 

Sometimes it takes sacrifice to make way for a brighter future, and thats what this move boiled down to. Go Browns!

The Los Angeles Chargers are excited to announce we’ve pulled off a huge trade with the Cleveland Browns to start the 2021 season. Details below:

Cleveland Browns send

CB Greedy Williams

TE David Njoku

HB Kareem Hunt

Los Angeles Chargers send

DT Linval Joseph

2021 2nd Round Pick

2022 1st Round Pick

Coach Grimeys thoughts on the trade

“You hate to see a guy like LJ leave the organization. He brought leadership to that young group and a grit up front. We normally don’t move early draft capital but when you have an opportunity to bring quality young players in you have to make that move. And spreading it out over 2 seasons softens that blow. 

We’re really excited about the players we have coming in. Greedy Williams instantly improves our CB room and becomes a cornerstone with Asante. At only 23 it’s like we’re getting a rookie into our program to develop at the beginning of the cycle. The Chief David Njoku will give us a potent 2 TE attack with Jared Cook and be our guy going forward once Cooks moves on. And the folk hero Kareem Hunt gives us that banger we need for my offenses power run game. His versatility will also give us some flexibility with Ekeler this offseason. In the meantime those 2 will be a dynamic duo for teams to plan for. Being from Cleveland we’re really excited to bring in some of my kind of players to really put our stamp on this franchise.”

After today's practice a visibly angry Marshawn Lynch answered questions from the media at his locker. 

Reporter "Looked like you go into it with a few defenders at practice today. What was that all about?"

Lynch "I'm hot right now. I was gon hang em up last year but Coach Mac (McDermott) called me up talkin bout they need and all this other mess. Now he done switched up and I ain't even seein the field. I wasn't even feelin comin back and I shoulda jus had stayed my a** at the crib"

Reporter: "Why did you come back?"

Marshawn: "Last year when I passed Riggins (career touchdowns) I got so much love from errbody. When I was talkin to Mac he was sayin if I came back he could get me past 2 goats and in that top 5. Man I always looked up to Jim Brown and Walter Payton and if I could up there wit them man I really did some s***. I got pass Brown and now I ain't even gettin the rock."

Reporter: "Do you think you can still reach Walter Payton?"

Lynch: "Hell nah! How I'm gon do that when I got the ball 1 time last week? Tell me how I'm gon get 3 touchdowns off 1 f***** carry bruh. That s*** don't add up" 

Reporter: "Are you satisfied with just passing Brown if you don't reach Payton?"

Lynch: "Nah not really. I mean I got in that top 5 and Brown a legend so to pass him is major. But that ain't all I came back for tho. I'm tryin to be one of the best to ever do it and these folks holdin me back!"

Reporter: "Holding you back? What do you mean by that?"

Lynch: "Cmon bruh. They not feedin me. I can't do nothin if I'm not getting the ball. That boy Clark nice, he gon be special. But I'm still a beast too tho. I can still make s*** happen if they feed me. They better figure somethin out tho cuz I'm bout to snap on somebody fo real fo real. Aight I'm done wit this s*** man"

Coach McDermott addressed the media today discuss the plan they put in place and the huge offseason moves the Buffalo Bills were able to pull off. 

Key Departures

QB Carson Palmer

TE Charles Clay

LE Jerry Hughes

RE Randy Gregory

SS Micah Hyde

SS TJ McDonald

FB Patrick DiMarco

Key Additions

SS Keanu Neal 

HB Giovani Bernard

DT Johnathan Hankins

OLB Devon Kennard

RE Noah Spence

HB Emory Clarke (draft)

QB Charles Patrick (draft) 

T Blair Brewer (draft)

WR Frank Stewart (draft)

Coming off our disappointing loss in the Divisional Round of last years playoffs we got right back to work the  very next day. We set 3 main goals for our off season:

1. Create competition at every position.
2. Diversify our offense.
3. Solidify our Quarterback position once and for all.

Creating Competition Across the Board

Since year 1 going from 5-11 to 11-5 in year 3 we’ve enjoyed some success and some guys in the locker room had grown a little comfortable. To take that next step we knew we had to put pressure on our guys and the best way to do that is to threaten their livelihood. The byproduct of this is it creates a very deep roster that can still function at a high level when the injuries start to pile up. Last year we had a pretty big drop off when some key guys went down. Most of the departures were because of guys we brought in to compete turned out to be upgrades. We had no plans on moving on from Micah, he had done big things here, hell he went to the pro bowl. But when we got Keanu it was time for us to part ways. Thru free agency and the draft we’ve created a dog eat dog environment which we think will push these players further then they’ve ever gone. The plan is this will push our team further than its ever been. 

Diversify Our Offense

Last season we put up pretty good numbers but at critical times our offense felt flat. We wanted to add a few wrinkles and elements we were missing. One thing in particular was a receiving running back and we planned on drafting one but we got the steal of free agency when we got Gio late in the process. We’re excited to see different ways we can attack with the diverse backs we have on the roster. We were really comfortable with the diversity in our WR room and we’ve been formulating different ways to take take advantage of their unique skill sets. 

Solidify our Quarterback Position 

Last year we had to go back and forth between Carson Palmer and Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. This threw our offense off and was a big part in our season coming to an end.  So we knew priority 1 was to come into this season with our guy we can be confident in for the next 10 years. When we looked into Free Agency we didn’t see any options there that fit the description. So we knew it came down to Jacoby and the draft. We’re very confident in Jacoby based off glimpses of what he showed last year and he’s only 27. This allowed us to not press coming into the draft to mortgage our future to get our QB 1. Obviously we had the kid out of Michigan State at the top of our board, and I kid you not, we had Charles Patrick as our QB 2. We were going crazy when he was on the board at 26, but we build on best player available here and a guy we had with a top 3 grade was sitting there. So we ran to turn in the card for Clarke, celebrated belligerently for 30 seconds, then embraced the reality of missing out on Patrick. We started to formulate a contingency plan on where to go next, but names kept coming off the board and none of them were Patrick. When our pick came up and his name was on our board still we moonwalked up and turned that card in. No lie we celebrated a little hard after that, we popped the bottles we normally have for after we turn our last card in. It was crazy but we just got a top 3 guy at 26 and a top 15 guy at 58 so it was time to celebrate. Between Brissett, Patrick, and the kid Person we got in the 5th we feel really good about the future of that room.

The AFC playoff picture is just as crazy as the NFCs so let’s just jump on in there.

AFC North

The North is where the AFCs Pandoras Box opens and all the crazy scenarios jump out of. The Bengals and Browns both come into week 17 at 10-5 so if they both win their both in the playoffs but could end up in very different spots. The 2 seed is up for grabs and 11-5 is the golden ticket to get you there. The Browns, Bengals, and Bills could all hit that mark if they win. If they both lose that puts them in the crowded 10-6 room and you don't want to be in there because not everyone is coming back out. Neither team is playing a heavy hitter so they both should get the W and start trying to figure out if they're playing or resting wildcard round. 

Owner Eric Greco and the Browns are ready to get this party started “Playoff time is the best time and the Browns want in! It all starts with a win today vs the Rams and we are in! This season didn’t go at all the way we planned, but we still managed to put ourselves in a position to make some noise in the playoffs. The DAWG Pound is ready and we hope the rest of the League is as well”

Bengals Coach Crandall gives insight on conversation he had with the team "I was real with the guys in the locker room. They all know there will be even more changes coming in the off-season and guys who have been here a long time may be gone. So I told them heading into the playoffs to play for the guy next to you, your family, this team and the fine hardworking people of Cincinnati. If we do that, I don't know how we can't be successful."

AFC East

Buffalo Bills secondary is being held together by duct tape after losing 2 starting CBs but they are still in control of the AFC East. At 10-5 they have a slight chance of finishing tied with the 9-6 Jets but they are lazer focused on handling business week 17 against their division rival Patriots. A fired up Coach McDermott said "After that frustrating loss last week we're looking forward to taking care of business against the Pats. Then back to sharpening the ax for who ever gets put in front of us." 

But not all hope is lost for the Jets because if they beat the Dolphins and get to 10-6 and somehow both the Browns and Bengals lose and drop to 10-6 and the Madden Gods pick them in the tie breaker and the sun rises west to east and the... Ok they're not getting in. 

AFC South

So the Colts are 12-3 and on fire right now. They could finish with the 1 seed in the AFC but the Panthers who are fighting for their playoff lives are standing in the way of that. If the Colts drop this one then they could go from first round bye to a wild card slot playing on the road because the 11-4 Titans are lurking in the shadows ready to snatch the division right out of their grasp. With the Titans playing the Texans looks like the pressures on the Colts to finish the job, get to 13-3 and close the door on the Titans face.

Coach Pagano broke down where the Colts are right now “We've had a great season this year with a lot of production coming from our run game, which we're not used to. We're happy to finish the season 13-3 which solidifies our position as the number 1 seed heading into playoffs. But, our leading receiver T.Y. Hilton broke his ribs our last game and is out for 5 weeks. We're confident that our group of receivers can make up for his production. With the team we have and the seeding we were able to get the sky's the limit with this squad. We have our eyes on the Super Bowl, but we've gotta get there one game at a time.”

The Jaguars are lurking in the shadows right now next to the Titans but their hunting a different game, a wild card slot. Sitting at 9-6 they could jump into the 10-6 prayer circle with the Jets and wish for the sun and moon to trade places so they can get in the playoffs. 

AFC West

This divisions records are.... are.... well they have room for improvement. The Raiders are the front runners at 8-7 but they are also playing a Packers team with an outside chance to sneak in the playoffs if A LOT of things happen. But, yes Lloyd, I'm saying theres a chance. The Chiefs are in striking range at 7-8 and are in really good shape because they play the Chargers who are only fighting for a top 3 draft pick. So if Raiders lose and Chiefs win they could jump into the tie breaker scenario pool together too.

Hunt for the Postseason Part 1

Week 17 is here and that means it's almost time for things to get REAL! Let's take a look at where everyone stands and what critical games will decide who's in the tournament and who's going fishing. 

NFC West

The 9-6 Arizona Cardinals have their division in hand at this point and will be on the field playing a wildcard team next week. Mr. Ehrich had this insight to offer “We started the season off on a roll, going 7-1 through week 10, but since then we’ve gone through a rough stretch going 1-5. Heading into week 17, we look to get a motivating win to get back in the winning way, and head into the playoffs with some confidence” 

NFC North

This is where things get really interesting. The 12-3 Vikings not only have the division locked up but will finish either the 1 or 2 seed and have a bye for the first round. They will more than likely be the 2 seed behind the 13-2 Falcons because both teams can rest their starters and still beat their week 17 matchup. At 11-4 the Bears have a sliver of hope at winning the division if they win and Vikings lose this week. Problem is Vikings are not losing to the Broncos (sorry Juggs). Good news for the Bears is they are in the driver seat for a wildcard slot because if they beat the Giants they'll be the only wildcard team at 12-4. 

NFC South

Things get really really interesting in the South because this picture is clear as mud at this point. Falcons have been clear number 1 team this season (Colts may disagree after beating them last week) and pretty much have the top playoff seed on lock. 

Now the Panthers and Buccaneers is where the intrigue is at. They are both 10-5 and both play tough AFC teams with reasons to play for. The Panthers play the 12-3 Colts at home while the Buccaneers play the 8-6 Jaguars on the road. If they both win and finish 11-5 or both lose and finish 10-6 (which could bring the Packers back into the picture) would throw the tie breaker scenarios into a tailspin. And these scenarios are to complex to dive deep into so we'll just see where the dust settles if that happens. 

Buccaneers Coach Pitta is proud of the strides his team has made this season "We hope to make the playoffs but if we don’t we can still say we had a good season. It’s a huge progress from 4-12 last season."

Coach Rivera offered some insight during his recent press conference "This season was challenging. We struggled to find an identity early in the season, which was especially hard with Christian going down for six weeks with an injury. Once he came back, we were able to get the ball rolling offensively and find a groove with him, Cam and Russell Spears carrying us to the best offense in the league. Now we have to hope to get some help and win our final game to get into the playoffs. If we do, I think we carry the momentum of seven straight wins into the playoffs."

NFC East

At 9-6 the Dallas Cowboys have this division locked up at this point and will be playing one of the many different wildcard teams that could make it out of the NFC.

When Hall of Famer Bruce Smith took the reigns of his beloved Buffalo Bills last season he envisioned the team jumping right into the same type of success he experienced when he was terrorizing QB's on their way to Super Bowls. He was quickly brought back to reality after a disappointing 5-11 finish on the year. Smith met with the media to recap the offseason and discuss the organizations outlook on the upcoming season. 

 "I'll be the first to admit that lst season was more challenging than we anticipated. Losing 2 cornestone players in Watkins and Darby had a huge impact on both sides of the ball and it was hard to make up that production on the fly. Combine that with some untimely injuries and you end up with an ugly year. There were some bright spots with young players like Tre'Davious White and Shaq Lawson showing a lot of promise but we knew going into the offseason that we we needed to aggresively improve this roster.

Up front we already had a lot of problems protecting Tyrod and opening lanes for Shady last year, then mix in Richie (Icognito) retiring and we knew the offensive line needed to be a priority this offseason. Picking up Lane Taylor in free agency and drafting blue chip prospect DeMarlo Meyer in the second round were huge upgrades for us at Guard. After these moves we see this line as one of our stronger units now.

We also had problems generating explosive plays in the passing game so when we saw Perriman on the block we jumped all over that. We took some criticism from the media over trading Peterman after the QB showed promise last preseason for a WR on the verge of being a bust. But with Tyrod in his prime still, Nathan would'nt have made the impact on the field Perriman has the potential to now. The risk/reward on the move was well worth it to us. Jakeem Grant made the Pro Bowl for us as a returner last year and we're excited to see what he can do playing a much bigger role on offense. He's spent the whole offseason working on footwork and route running to become a more polished reciever so we're confident he'll have a big impact this year.

Our secondary was a mess last year and needed an overhaul so thats exactly what we did. Started out by bringing in cornerback Prince Amukamara and safeties TJ McDonald and Lonnie Balentine. Then in the draft we got some guys that we are really high on and have the potential to be really special. We really think Kerr and Wayne will be future stars in this league.

In total we added 22 new players to the roster this offseason. After the dust settles from training camp and preseason we could have 9 new starters. We think we did one hell of a job improving this roster but the true test will come between those white lines. That will show us what type of job we've done."