Category: Browns

Baker Mayfield rebounds from pick to run in TD for Cleveland Browns

The good and bad of Baker Mayfield, an interception and a rushing touchdown

Baker Mayfield was in a matchup Sunday with the quarterback he displaced in Cleveland.

For much of the first half, the Houston Texans’ Tyrod Taylor had the edge.

In fact, on an interception, the Browns’ faithful held its collective breath as it appeared their star quarterback had suffered an injury to his shoulder.

He’s tough, though, and Mayfield returned to the game and completed a Cleveland TD drive with his feet and not with his arm.

Watch as he reaches the end zone for the touchdown that tied the game, after the PAT, at the half, 14-14.

Mayfield’s run matched a TD run Taylor had five-plus minutes earlier that had given Houston the lead.

How Browns are historic favorites vs. Texans in Week 2

How #Browns are historic favorites vs. #Texans in Week 2:

The Cleveland Browns host the Houston Texans in Week 2. In doing so, the  Browns are the big favorites by 12.5 points according to sportsbooks, including our friends at tipico.

Assuming that holds to kickoff, that’s historic in a Cleveland sense.

Since the Browns came back to Lake Erie in 1999, that’s the largest edge they’ve ever been given in Las Vegas as ESPN’s Field Yates points out:

Considering the Browns only made the playoffs one time between 1999 and 2019… that’s not the biggest shock, but it still really puts their recent history into perspective. Cleveland has waited a long time for this team to be put together this well.

And another thing to think about is the Texans.

They’re the big underdog, but they won in Week 1 over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Had they not, how large could the Browns’ edge have gotten?

In 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets gave the Chiefs last season’s largest spread. It was set at 20.5 in favor of KC.

Could Browns-Texans have pushed that territory had Houston lost their opener? Thankfully for the Texans, all we can do is ponder that idea.

[lawrence-related id=136410,136458,136452]

Browns’ Ronnie Harrison ejected for pushing Chiefs’ assistant coach

Browns safety Ronnie Harrison was ejected after an altercation on the sidelines with a Chiefs assistant coach

The Cleveland Browns will be without safety Ronnie Harrison for most of their game with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The DB got into it with Kansas City RB coach Greg Lewis after he was pushed off one of the Chiefs following a sideline tackle.

Originally, the Chiefs were called for a personal foul.

However, New York buzzed the officiating crew and after a review, it was decided Harrison was the guilty part.

The Browns were assessed a 15-yard penalty and Harrison was thrown out of the key AFC Clash in Kansas City.

Rookie CB Greg Newsome II could be a major part of Browns’ new pass defense

The Browns are hoping that first-round rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II can add to their rebooted secondary. Laurie Fitzpatrick takes a look at Newsome’s preseason tape.

Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II was selected by the Cleveland Browns 26th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. With Newsome’s 4.3 speed and 6-foor-1 frame, he was one of the most versatile cornerbacks in the draft playing mostly Cover-3 and Cover-4, but able to keep up with the fastest receivers man-to-man as well. In the five games he played in 2020, he didn’t allow a single third-down completion (0-9). Newsome had an impressive 83.8 coverage grade from PFF (82.3 from Man Coverage and 85 from Zone Coverage) and allowed a 31.7 passer rating when targeted.

Throughout preseason with the Browns, Newsome’s versatility and comfort level from the outside to the inside has shown to be essential in Joe Woods’ defense. Last week, Woods mentioned how game-to-game he plans to play a matchup style defense; which can be the reason why Newsome’s adaptability lead him to be the starter the last few weeks. He is an aggressive player who can match-up outside and inside with his closing speed and high football IQ that can dictate an offense. 

One thing we notice right off the bat about Newsome is his ability to read a play pre-snap and post-snap. As a rookie, Newsome remained composed as the Jaguars offense ran deep crossers to try and catch the corners off-balance.

Newsome was able to make a call to the other corner to make sure that he knew the receiver from the left side was coming his way. Communication like this, from a rookie, is something you love to see.

Right off the snap Newsome has shown the ability to stay in front of any receiver opposite of him. On this run play (below), it’s the receiver’s job is to try and sell a go-route but Newsome stays with him through his release.

What we like about this clip (above) is his ability to get immediate acceleration off the snap to get in front of his receiver making sure he wont be stacked, keeping his leverage.

When Newsome is getting worked through the receivers stem, he is able to stay step for step with receivers and maintain a very good speed and space; then in zone he keep his eyes down field reading the quarterbacks eyes so he can make his play on the ball.

On this play in joint practices (above) the Browns needed a stop in order to end practice; Newsome stepped up for his team and picked off Daniel Jones. Its understandable that Newsome’s second position labels him as a free safety.

One area of his game that needs work is tackling in space. Against the Atlanta Falcons (first clip, below) Newsome was in zone and one his receiver motioned to the opposite side, he became free. Once he saw the running back got a handoff, he was free to make the play on the ball, even though it wasn’t pretty, he did his job and got his hand on the ball carrier.

When Newsome isn’t able to make a tackle in open space, he does everything he can to bring down a ball carrier. Whether that is getting his hand on the ball or a shoelace.

Against the Jaguars week one of preseason, he was matched up against Collin Johnson who stands at a massive 6 foot 6, but Newsome was not intimidated.

Getting off the block wasn’t actually accomplished, but he remained aggressive through the whistle.  Against the Falcons (second clip, above) he was unable to get off the block but actually used the receiver to stop the ball carrier in order to remain in the play making the tackle. Now that is some ingenuity as a slender cornerback!

With the additions of safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill from the Rams in free agency, and (hopefully) the return of safety Grant Delpit from an Achilles tendon injury that cost Delpit his entire rookie season, the Browns are in a much better place to defend the pass than they were in 2020. Newsome looks to be a big part of that regenerated effort.

Ryan Switzer announces infant son’s ‘nightmare is over’ after surgery

Browns practice squad player Ryan Switzer delivers great news on infant son Christian

Tremendous news out of Massachusetts and from Cleveland Browns wideout Ryan Switzer.

The practice squad player, who has spent time with Dallas and Pittsburgh, tweeted on Monday that infant son Christian is out of surgery and the doctors in Boston “fixed our son.”

The 9-month-old has been plagued by bleeding issues and was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ohio.

After doctors in Cleveland were unable to stem the bleeding, Christian was flown to a hospital in Massachusetts, where doctors worked on the infant.

And Monday, Switzer passed along the best news possible: Christian is stable and out of surgery.

Doctors at the famous Boston Children’s hospital identified the issue as a “vascular anomaly” somewhere in his gastrointestinal tract.

Prayers up and continued best wishes to the entire Switzer family, especially young Christian.

Ryan Switzer’s infant son hospitalized again

The infant son of Browns practice squad player Ryan Switzer is back in the hospital due to significant bleeding

Cleveland Browns practice squad WR Ryan Switzer posted the news on Twitter that his infant son is back in the hospital.

Previously, Switzer had posted Christian tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent a surgical procedure around March 7 to try and figure out what was causing the bleeding.

Prayers up for Christian and the entire Switzer family.

It’s Johnny Manziel to Josh Gordon for an FCF completion

Johnny Manziel found Josh Gordon with a pass in an FCF semifinal on Saturday

Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon connected on a pass play Saturday. It was their first combined completion in 2,274 days.

The troubled twosome, formerly of the NFL and now playing Fan Controlled Football, teamed in the first half of a semifinal between the Zappers and Wild Aces.

Watch:

In case anyone was wondering, their previous completion happened in a Cleveland Browns loss to the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 21, 2014.

That year, Gordon said he was ready to go to war with the Heisman-winning quarterback out of Texas A&M.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8vpQEQCRdM

The battles each faced were far different than the ones on the gridiron.

Ryan Switzer reports infant son Christian is resting after surgery

Ryan Switzer’s infant son Christian underwent surgery Sunday and the wide receiver said he is resting

NFL wide receiver Ryan Switzer asked for thoughts and prayers from the Twitterverse on Saturday when his 9-month-old son Christian was hospitalized.

The current Cleveland Browns practice-squad player provided a couple of updates Sunday when Christian underwent surgery.

Switzer said his son had “woke up in his blood” and had tested positive for COVID-19 a day earlier. He said doctors were trying to determine the cause of the bleeding.

Here’ hoping for a swift recovery.

 

NFL WR Ryan Switzer seeks prayers for COVID-19 positive infant son

The infant son of NFL WR Ryan Switzer is hospitalized and battling COVID-19

Current Cleveland Brown and former Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboy WR Ryan Switzer reached out to the Twitterverse seeking prayers for his 9-month-old son, who is in the hospital after being diagnosed as positive for COVID-19.

Switzer spent last season on the Browns’ practice squad.

Best wishes to Switzer, his family, and especially his baby boy for a swift and complete recovery.

This COVID-19 pandemic is terrifying and this is just another example of how scary it remains.

 

Browns’ Wyatt Teller carries massive alligator after hunting it down

What did the Browns’ Wyatt Teller do after bagging a massive alligator in Florida?

Consider this “Swamp People” meets inside the trenches.

Cleveland Browns star offensive lineman Wyatt Teller went gator hunting with the Miami Dolphins’ Zach Sieler.

After killing a huge beast, Teller took matters into his own hands in throwing the prey over his shoulders and carrying it home.

Teller legally hunted and killed the alligator through Clay Gully Outfitters in Lorida, Fl.

(Click on the arrow to see the gator walk.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMDtN4eh6V7/

“We’ve had multiple players out there who have never shot a gun before,” Sieler told the Palm Beach Post in September. “If you’re looking for a real thrill, alligators are pretty intense. It’s alligator season right now so we just killed two 10-footers and almost an 11-footer this morning. It’s a good time.”

Sieler, the Dolphin who lives in his RV, is an owner of Clay Gully Outfitters, the largest year-round, free-range gator hunting outfitter in Florida.

Per CGO’s business statement:

WE OFFER FULLY GUIDED PUBLIC LAND HUNTS, AS WELL AS PRIVATE LAND HUNTS ON OVER 96,000 ACRES THAT WE HAVE LEASED. ALL OF OUR GATORS ARE FREE-RANGE, SO OUR PROFESSIONAL GUIDES ARE ALWAYS SCOUTING TO FIND THE GATOR OF YOUR DESIRED LENGTH. IF YOUR TARGET ANIMAL IS 6 FEET, 13 FEET, OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN, WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT GATOR FOR YOU.

The prices are steep:

PRIVATE LAND (COST ASSESSED BY SIZE OF GATOR)

6FT: $1,200
7FT: $1,300
8FT: $1,500
9FT: $2,500
10FT: $3,500
11FT: $4,500
12FT: $5,500
12.5FT: $6,000
12.5+: $7,000
13FT: $10,000
13.5: $15,000
14FT: CALL FOR PRICING

PUBLIC LAND

6FT. – 8FT: $1,750 (2 NIGHTS LODGING, BREAKFAST AND DINNER INCLUDED WITH LODGING)
9FT. – 13FT: $2,750 (2 NIGHTS LODGING, BREAKFAST AND DINNER INCLUDED WITH LODGING)

Teller’s fiancee, Carly Whiting had an interesting question for her intended husband:

carlywhiting

So is this my wedding gift?

Teller proposed on the Browns’ home field, FirstEnergy Stadium in 2020.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJHsnjWB2H7/