Tag: Greg Newsome II

Browns rookie CB Greg Newsome has high praise for Denzel Ward as a mentor

Browns rookie CB Greg Newsome has high praise for Denzel Ward as a mentor and a player

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Greg Newsome II has had an interesting ride in his rookie season with the Browns. Cleveland’s first-round pick from Northwestern has had some really strong moments at cornerback, but also battled injuries and adversity in his first NFL season.

Newsome was quick to give loads of credit and praise to fellow CB, Denzel Ward. He spoke highly of Ward’s leadership and mentoring nature in Newsome’s press conference on Thursday.

“I learned a ton from him,” Newsome said of Ward. “Just how to be a pro in general. The biggest thing I learned from him – I have said it before – is just every single day find one thing to focus on at practice and get better at that day. As you do that throughout the season, you will see yourself jumping, becoming more confident and things like that out there on the field. That is probably the biggest takeaway that I learned from him. Just to be a pro all the time, you have to practice how you play; you can’t take a practice off at all.”

So what stands out to Newsome about Ward as a player?

“Everything. He can do it all, literally,” Newsome said with emphasis. “He can play man. He can play zone. You are not going to find pretty much a better corner in the NFL than Denzel Ward. He is a leader by the way he plays and things like that. I honestly feel like he does not have a flaw in his game. He can play press. He can play off. He has tremendous ball skills, as you see him getting picks and pick-sixes. His return skills are good. I feel like he does not have a flaw in his game.”

Newsome has played well in tandem with Ward, but a concussion suffered in practice cost the impressive rookie three games down the stretch. In 11 games, Newsome has 34 tackles and nine PDs. Ward earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2021 for the second time in his four-year career.

4 takeaways from the Browns’ Week 17 loss to the Steelers

Here are four things about the Browns’ Monday night performance that stuck on Tuesday morning after trying to sleep away the disappointment

Cleveland’s final appearance on the national stage for the 2021 NFL season did not go well, to say the least. The Browns lost 26-14 to the rival Steelers in Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football in Week 17 in a game that featured some truly bad offensive performances from both teams.

The loss dropped Kevin Stefanski’s Browns to a disappointing 7-9, and came in the same stadium where exactly one year to the day earlier the Browns wrapped up a postseason berth. It was an ugly change of fate, one that represents one of the lowest points for the franchise in a disappointing year.

Here are four things about the Browns’ Monday night performance that stuck with me on Tuesday morning after trying to sleep away the disappointment.

Browns CB Greg Newsome II clears concussion protocol, still on COVID list

Newsome clears concussion protocol after missing a few games but is still on the COVID list. He should be able to return before MNF:

The Cleveland Browns have two games that could be very important to their season or could be meaningless by the time they get to them. If the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens lose Sunday at 1 PM, the Browns final two games could decide the AFC North champion. If the Bengals win or the Ravens win both of their last two games, Cleveland’s games are meaningless.

The Browns hope to get as many players back for Monday Night Football versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their reserve/COVID-19 list still has a few important players on it while injuries to a few players also linger.

Thursday came with some good news with cornerback Greg Newsome II clearing concussion protocols. Newsome, the team’s first-round pick this season, has missed the previous couple of games due to the injury.

Unfortunately, Newsome is also on the reserve/COVID-19 list still. He was placed on the list on the 22nd of this month making him eligible to return before the team’s game against the Steelers.

Getting Newsome back to go along with Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams should help the secondary. Troy Hill’s return from injury is still questionable at this time but having their other top corners against the Pittsburgh passing offense is vital.

Two Browns corners lauded for parts of their play

In a passing league, the Browns could be set up well at cornerback based on one media’s thoughts on two of their players at the position:

The Cleveland Browns have not had the season that they have hoped but still have a chance to make the playoffs. The odds of them doing so are not high but the chance is still there as they work through COVID-19 and injury issues late in the season.

While the team’s 2021 season hasn’t been what they would have hoped, there continues to be confidence in some of the building blocks. The team had five players named to the Pro Bowl with four of the five recently locked up to long-term deals.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen also just named a couple of Browns cornerbacks on his annual list focused on that position group. Bowen took a look at the best cornerbacks at 25 different skills for a subscriber piece for ESPN ($):

Best closing speed

Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

What are we looking for here? It’s the ability to close in a short area, a vital tool for any defensive back who wants to finish on the ball. And Ward can close with some serious juice. Whether he is driving top down from an off-coverage technique or using that lateral burst to snug up to the hip of a wide receiver at the break, he is lightning quick.

Bowen also noted rookie Greg Newsome II as the second-best rookie at the position behind Patrick Surtain II.

Ward is the Pro Bowler that hasn’t signed a long-term extension with the team. While injuries have caused problems for each this year, the team’s foundation could be set strong if Cleveland is able to secure a multi-year deal with Ward.

Kevin Stefanski, Austin Hooper among Browns returning from COVID-19

Coach Kevin Stefanski and TE Austin Hooper among Browns returning from COVID-19

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The Browns have kept everyone on pins and needles with their abundance of roster moves over the last few days. And the Browns remain quite busy on Wednesday.

In addition to the Greg Newsome II news — the rookie CB is back from concussion protocols but added to the reserve/COVID-19 list — the Browns announced that head coach Kevin Stefanski is back in the building after clearing the required COVID-19 protocols.

Coach Stefanski isn’t the only member of the Browns to return. Cleveland also activated TE Austin Hooper and LB Jacob Phillips from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Practice squad WR Jojo Natson has also cleared protocols and returns to the team.

The Browns also made the earlier reports official and waived punter Jamie Gillan, who was still on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Browns CB Greg Newsome II added to Browns reserve/COVID-19 list

Aaron Rodgers is looking to break the Packers passing TD record and will face Ward, Williams and a lot of backups/practice squad guys on Christmas Day:

Despite a lot of hope that the Cleveland Browns could move on from the COVID-19 issues that were a big part of their Week 15 loss, the hits keep coming for the team. After releasing punter Jamie Gillan, who was still on the reserve/COVID-19 list as of Wednesday morning, the team is adding rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II onto the list, among other moves.

Newsome has missed the last two games due to a concussion but there was heightened expectations that he could return this week. With the new COVID-19 protocols, Newsome has a chance to return sooner than in the past but, as seen in Week 15, that did not happen for many players.

Monday, Newsome voiced his displeasure at “fake fans” turning on Donovan Peoples-Jones during Monday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

With Newsome unlikely to play Christmas day and Troy Hill both injured and on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Cleveland secondary will once again be down to many backups. A.J. Green is also on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This week, those backups face Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and the rest of the Green Bay Packers passing attack.

Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams will likely start again on the outside with M.J. Stewart getting the primary nickelback role inside. Brian Allen and Herb Miller could be elevated off the practice squad to fill out the cornerback depth chart.

Greg Newsome notes ‘fake fans’ turned on Peoples-Jones

‘Fake Fans’ says the rookie corner of those bashing DPJ. Based on draft position and age, the young WR needs to develop but the Browns have him as their #1 right now:

The Cleveland Browns have had a rough season with injuries, COVID-19, play-calling and, most annoyingly, drama. While the drama around Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. ended weeks ago, the impact of it has lingered. The team went from having a receiving group with upside and depth to one led by a sixth-round pick, a quality slot receiver and not much else.

In Week 15, even the quality slot receiver, Jarvis Landry, was out leaving Donovan Peoples-Jones as the team’s primary receiver option with Rashard Higgins being dusted off to play as well.

The game started off a struggle for Peoples-Jones. He had two balls knocked out of his hands from good plays by the opposing cornerback. Both balls a high-quality top receiver would be likely to catch.

While Peoples-Jones turned it around later in the game, fans were still highly critical of his performance. So much so that rookie corner Greg Newsome II, missing his second game due to concussion, accused fake fans of turning on him:

As noted, the second-year receiver out of Michigan is still young. His draft stock wasn’t high for a variety of reasons including inconsistency. For his career, Peoples-Jones has 41 receptions for 782 yards and five touchdowns. For a sixth-round pick, those are pretty good numbers. For a team’s top receiving threat, those are paltry.

For the final three games of the season, the Browns don’t have other options so Peoples-Jones will still get targeted. He’ll likely have some struggles as he continues to develop, will “fake fans” turn on him some more? Hopefully Newsome won’t be able to notice and will, instead, be cleared from concussion protocol and be able to return to the field.

Late injury: Greg Newsome II out Sunday due to concussion

Another blow to the team, Newsome will miss the game with a concussion:

The Cleveland Browns got another piece of bad news on Friday. A week that has included tight end David Njoku, linebacker Anthony Walker and punter Jamie Gillan being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list ended with Greg Newsome II getting injured late in Friday’s practice.

Njoku, Walker and Gillan will be out for Sunday’s game as will tight end Harrison Bryant and receiver Anthony Schwartz.

As will Newsome. The cornerback sustained a concussion in practice and will not be cleared in time for the game. The first-round pick has played well this season while the cornerback group has suffered from a myriad of injuries.

Thankfully for Cleveland, the team has depth at the position with Denzel Ward, Troy Hill and Greedy Williams in position for three-receiver sets. The Browns defense is also often running out three safeties as well but Ronnie Harrison is questionable for Sunday’s game.

As has been seen with Schwartz, concussions can linger depending on their severity.

Cleveland Browns first two picks receive high praise

Cleveland #Browns first two picks receive high praise as @joshkeatley16 reviews:

The Cleveland Browns had a rough Week 8 losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in somewhat embarrassing fashion and then the Odell Beckham Jr. soap opera brought a dark cloud over the franchise, but things are looking up for our beloved Browns.

After announcing the release of Beckham, Cleveland took their frustrations out on the Cincinnati Bengals and the good news kept on coming as they announced the contract extensions for Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio for the long term, but that’s not what we are highlighting today.

The Browns have seemingly nailed their first two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft and even though we are only halfway through their rookie seasons, it appears safe to say that the first two rounds were a success and we are going to highlight what PFF and others have to say.

Browns injuries: Harrison back, Wills MRI, Walker uncertain and more

What we know after Monday on the major Browns injuries has some good and some bad:

The Cleveland Browns are 3 – 1. At the end of the season, all that will matter is if they have enough wins to make it into the NFL playoffs and are good enough to compete when they get there.

For now, performance and injuries are the story.

The Browns struggled against the Houston Texans before Tyrod Taylor went out and Baker Mayfield struggled mightily against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. The defense has turned it around quickly, first against the struggling Chicago Bears and then against a very good offense on the road in Minnesota.

As always, the run game continues to do well, despite lower than expected PFF scores.

We reviewed a lot of the good and bad from the Week 4 victory here.

A lot of unknowns coming out of the game revolved around injury but we got updates on Monday that provide some clarity: