OBJ in Cleveland to stay (Brownswire)

Odell Beckham Jr. is in Cleveland to stay.

Ravens vs. Browns injury report: Ravens as healthy as possible Wednesday

The Ravens are as healthy as any team could reasonably be in Week 16 against the Browns, seeing no players miss practice due to injury

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a bit of a rest after playing the New York Jets on Thursday in Week 15. That’ll give them 10 days from last week’s game to this week’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Thanks to that rest and a little bit of luck, Baltimore’s injury report to start this week is squeaky clean. Though four players did not practice on Wednesday, all were for non-injury reasons — likely a veteran’s day off to keep those specific players fresh for the postseason.

Let’s take a look at Wednesday’s injury report for the Ravens vs. Browns in Week 16.

Baltimore Ravens injuries:

Player	Position	Injury	Wed	Thur	Fri	Game status
Mark Ingram	RB	NIR	DNP
Jimmy Smith	CB	NIR	DNP
Earl Thomas	S	NIR	DNP
Marshal Yanda	G	NIR	DNP
Chris Board	LB	Concussion	FP
Ronnie Stanley	T	Concussion	FP

It’s beyond rare for an NFL team to be this healthy at this point in the season and it’s something that could seriously benefit the Ravens in the playoffs. With a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed this week, Baltimore could have nothing to play for in Week 17 allowing them to rest their starters. And with a first-round bye, in that case, the Ravens could actually head into the playoffs with two weeks of rest to get even healthier.

Cleveland Browns injuries:

Player	Position	Injury	Wed	Thur	Fri	Game status
T Kendall Lamm	T	Knee	DNP
Sheldon Richardson	DT	Back	DNP
JC Tretter	C	Knee	DNP
Odell Beckham Jr.	WR	Groin	LP
Tae Davis	LB	Knee	LP
Dontrell Hilliard	RB	Neck	LP
Chris Hubbard	T	Knee	LP
Jarvis Landry	WR	Hip	LP
Eric Murray	S	Knee	LP
Olivier Vernon	DE	Knee	LP
Denzel Ward	CB	Ankle	LP
Porter Gustin	DE	Neck	FP

Key:

DNP – Did not participate
LP – Limited participation (anything below 100%)
FP – Full participation
NIR – Non-injury related

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Is Cleveland imploding and other questions for Browns Wire in Week 16

The Baltimore Ravens get a chance for a little revenge in Week 16. They’ll take on the Cleveland Browns, the last team to beat them this season (back in Week 4). Not only can Baltimore right a wrong, but they can also clinch the No. 1 seed this …

With such an important game and one against a division rival currently in flux, I wanted to get some insider information on what’s going on. So I turned to Browns Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon to get the scoop on what Cleveland has going on this season and what they could be looking at this offseason.

1) Cleveland has been arguably the most inconsistent team in the NFL this season on both sides of the ball. Why is that?

It’s patently unfair to pin everything on Freddie Kitchens, but the rookie head coach has his tentacles in every level of the Browns’ failures in 2019. The team has the NFL’s best running back in Nick Chubb but Kitchens will go several series without using him. They have Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. but throw more designed passes in the red zone to Demetrius Harris. They’re a poorly coached team far too often.

Defensively, injuries and the Myles Garrett suspension have definitely been factors. They played one week with just four of their Week 1 starters on the field and will be missing at least three this Sunday. The entire pass rush was built around Garrett and with him and Olivier Vernon gone, it’s fallen to pieces.

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Odell Beckham trolls Giants: I didn’t buy a house in Cleveland to sell it

Browns WR Odell Beckham poked a little fun at the New York Giants on Wednesday, saying he didn’t buy a house in Cleveland just to sell it.

Shortly before the New York Giants traded wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, general manager Dave Gettleman was quoted on multiple occasions saying, “we didn’t sign him to trade him.”

Obviously that rung hallow when OBJ was dealt, and it’s a quote that has haunted Gettleman from the moment is escaped his lips.

On Wednesday, amid rumors that he’d like to leave Cleveland and has been telling opponents to come get him, Beckham went back to the well and used Gettleman’s own quote to not only troll the Giants, but express his desire to remain with the Browns.

#Browns Odell Beckham Jr.: “I didn’t buy a house here to sell it”

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 18, 2019

“I didn’t buy a house here to sell it,” Beckham told Cleveland reporters.

Ice cold.

Beckham has taken pot shots at the Giants with remarkable frequency since even prior to his trade, but has quieted down quite a bit this season — probably because the Browns have done a nosedive.

To Beckham’s credit however, this latest troll is actually quite humorous. As were some of his other responses to the rumors that he wants out of Cleveland.

Odell Beckham jokes he’s talked to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts about playing for them then adds: “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here (with the #Browns). We’ll figure this thing out.”

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 18, 2019

Most of Beckham’s shtick has grown old and tired, but you’ve got to give credit where it’s due… Beckham came across as quite amusing and genuine on Wednesday, even if some of that humor was used to poke fun at the Giants.

Well done, OBJ. You win the day… This time.

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ESPN’s Mike Greenberg loses it on the Browns: ‘This team needs to just shut up’

The Browns’ frustrating season keeps getting worse.

The Cleveland Browns were labeled one of the most exciting teams in the NFL before the regular season kicked off, and with an influx of offensive talent, many analysts were expecting the Browns to make a potential playoff run in 2019. Instead, the Cleveland offense is an absolute mess, Baker Mayfield has regressed tremendously, and new coach Freddie Kitchens may be on the verge of losing his job.

The Browns entered Week 15 with extremely slim playoff hopes, but Cleveland fell behind early in Arizona and allowed 38 points in a loss to the Cardinals to fall to 6-8 on the season. After the game, Browns running back Kareem Hunt told Cleveland.com that he felt some of his teammates weren’t giving “110 percent” on the field.

On Tuesday, an exasperated Mike Greenberg advised everyone in the Browns locker room to just shut up for the rest of the season.

“This guy’s been on the Browns for like eight minutes, and a team that started with watches, ‘what watch are we wearing?’ And then it went to this, and then it went to that, and now Kareem Hunt is saying ‘you know, I feel like some of the guys weren’t giving 100 [percent.’ This team needs to just shut up! I mean, stop talking for crying out loud. They need an edict in the locker room. The next person who says a word, the kangaroo court is going to fine them whatever the maximum possible is….. This team needs to shut up.”

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WATCH: Cleveland Browns go entire decade without winning season

The Cleveland Browns have accomplished something no other NFL team could: Go the entire decade without a winning season.

The Cleveland Browns have accomplished something no other NFL team could: Go the entire decade without a winning season. Congrats!

The Browns lost 38-24 to the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday, bringing their record to 6-8 with two games left. Not only did that loss mathematically eliminate the Browns from the playoffs, but it also guaranteed that Cleveland will not exceed .500 this season.

That makes it 12 straight years of .500 or sub-.500 football, taking you back to 2007 for the franchise’s last winning season at 10-6.

After the loss on Sunday, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield spoke about how the team will work the last two weeks of this season without playoff contention on the table:

“[We’ll] see what type of men we have in the locker room. You have a job to do. You have to show up on Sundays and play. I know I’m going to do that. I’m going to get the offense ready to play against a very good Ravens team.”

Here’s how the Ravens can clinch the No. 1 seed in Week 16

The Ravens simply need to win and they’ve locked up the No. 1 seed but don’t even need to do that to ensure they’re the top AFC seed

The Baltimore Ravens didn’t get any help from the rest of the league in their quest to lock up the AFC’s top seed in the playoffs. But they still control their fate at 12-2 and can officially clinch their top spot in Week 16.

The Ravens needed both the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots to lose in Week 15 while beating the New York Jets on Thursday night. Though Baltimore handled their business, defeating New York 42-21 in another blowout win, both the Chiefs and Patriots easily handled their poor competition as well.

With all eyes on Week 16, the Ravens can continue their march to the top of the postseason seeding simply by beating the Cleveland Browns. A win would put them at 13-2, and with just one game remaining, not enough time for any other team to surpass them.

The Browns are fresh off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals and sit at 6-8. While Cleveland isn’t eligible to make the postseason yet again (their 10th consecutive season without a playoff berth) and have been inconsistent this season, anyone thinking they’ll be an easy win would be foolish. The Browns beat up on Baltimore back in Week 4, 40-25 — the last loss the Ravens have had this season.

But that’s not the only way Baltimore can lock up the No. 1 seed in Week 16. Below are the other scenarios for this week.

Ravens clinch No. 1 seed:

1) Ravens beat Browns

1) Browns beat Ravens
AND
2) Bears beat Chiefs
AND
3) Bills beat Patriots

Ravens clinch No. 2 seed:

1) Browns beat Ravens
AND
2) Bears beat Chiefs

1) Browns beat Ravens
AND
2) Bills beat Patriots

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Josh Gordon suspended for violating league’s substance abuse policy

Seattle Seahawks receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended indefinitely and without pay for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Seattle Seahawks receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended indefinitely, and without pay, for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse.

Gordon has a long history of substance abuse issues, having missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons for violations of the league’s policy.

He returned and played in five games with the Browns in 2017 and 12 between Cleveland and New England in 2018 before getting suspended, again, on December 20, 2018.

The Patriots kept Gordon around and he appeared in six games with them this season before he was placed on waivers and claimed by Seattle.

Upon claiming Gordon, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll indicated the team had a plan in place to help prevent this kind of event from happening.

“Hopefully, we’re putting together a really good plan,” Carroll said. “He has a really clear process that supports him. We’re all aligning to make sure that continues and he feels very good about that.”

Gordon has seven receptions for 139 yards in five games with the Seahawks this season.

Carroll will address the media at 3:00 p.m. PT. on Monday and will presumably provide more information on this developing story.

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Ravens injuries: LT Ronnie Stanley, ILB Chris Board still in concussion protocol

The Baltimore Ravens could be without left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who missed Week 15’s game against the NY Jets in the concussion protocol

The Baltimore Ravens simply need to beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 and they’ll lock themselves in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But they could have the tall task of beating a division rival without one of their best players.

According to coach John Harbaugh, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and linebacker Chris Board are still in the concussion protocol.

Both players missed the Ravens’ Week 15 42-21 win over the New York Jets. But with Cleveland likely attempting to play spoiler over Baltimore and looking to pick up a key win to potentially save jobs, missing Stanley would be a huge blow to the Ravens’ offense.

Stanley has been playing at an insane level, stepping up his game this season. He’s allowed just six pressures and no sacks through 13 active games, something that seems almost unheard of in this era of football. Of course, Baltimore features the top-ranked rushing offense in yards, touchdowns and yards-per-carry average — something Stanley is a big portion of.

Board hasn’t played much on defense after the Ravens signed L.J. Fort and Josh Bynes in the middle of the season. However, Board has gotten a number of snaps on special teams for Baltimore. And as a key reserve inside linebacker, Board would likely be counted on if there was an injury to Bynes or Fort.

With such a key game upcoming and with the playoffs looming in the future, the Ravens have an interesting question to ask themselves. While few teams have a chance to sit their players to rest up before the postseason, Baltimore might look to be extra cautious with Stanley returning in these final two games. But with a full week before the Ravens have to suit up against the Browns, there’s plenty of time for Stanley and Board to get healthy and back into the lineup.

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Cleveland Browns go entire decade without winning season (Brownswire)

The Cleveland Browns entered rarified air on Sunday, becoming the only NFL franchise to go the entire decade without a winning season.