Tag: Sione Takitaki

Report: Patriots agree to terms on deal with former Browns LB Sione Takitaki

Another former Cleveland Brown is New England-bound

The New England Patriots have reportedly agreed to terms on a deal with former Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Per Pelissero, the deal is for two years, $6.5 million with an ability to reach upwards of $10 million in incentives.

Takitaki is a former 2019 third-round draft pick, who spent his previous five seasons in Cleveland. This move was an obvious response to the Patriots losing Mack Wilson to the Arizona Cardinals.

Takitaki can handle the role as an off-ball linebacker with the ability to also contribute on special teams.

He started in seven games and was in on 61 percent of the defensive snaps for the Browns last season, along with contributing in 30 percent of the special teams snaps.

Overall, Takitaki finished the year with 65 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks.

His ability to contribute in multiple roles will come in handy on a Patriots defense that more than held its own in 2023.

LB Sione Takitaki reportedly ditching the Browns for Patriots

Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki has agreed to a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.

Former Cleveland Brown linebacker Sione Takitaki has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the New England Patriots. The deal can be worth up to $10 million through incentives. It’s been a heavy day of NFL rumors, and this one hits close to home.

Takitaki has played the last five seasons with the Browns after being drafted 80th overall pick of the third round in the 2019 NFL draft. The linebacker amassed over 260 during his time with the team.

Takitaki was a special team ace for the Browns and their starting SAM linebacker. Takitaki played the game with a rare intensity that helped motivate the team during the years. Takitaki’s most memorable play was his game-sealing interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2021 NFL playoffs. 

Takitaki should see more playing time with the Patriots, as they can better utilize his versatility. Their multiple fronts should complement his skill set as a larger linebacker.

The Browns have been busy on the first day of free agency. The team re-signed veterans Za’Darius Smith and Maurice Hurst II. They also signed linebacker Jordan Hicks to replace Anthony Walker, who signed with the Dolphins. 

Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki gets very fitting sponsorship

Cleveland’s linebacker picked up an interesting sponsorship

Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki and his wife Alyssa have teamed up with a very appropriately named sponsorship. The two are officially promoting Takis as their go-to game-day snack.

Takitaki is a player that is loved by his teammates and has worked his tail off so to see him have a fun play on words sponsorship is cool to see. The Browns have a decision to make on his future with the team as the linebacker has earned a longer-term contract with the team.

Takitaki isn’t a superstar but he is a consistent player who shows up day in and day out and does his job, you can never have enough players who do that. Free agency is next month but it would be shocking to me if the team doesn’t reach a deal with him before then or early on once free agency is officially open after the new league year starts.

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PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Texans

It was by far the defenses worst performance of the year

The calling card of the 2023 Cleveland Browns defense was nowhere to be found on Saturday as the team only managed nine quarterback pressures and zero sacks as a team. Linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Sione Takitaki were the only noticeable players to step up.

It looked like a good chance for the dominant pass rush to make a rookie quarterback look flustered, but it was the opposite that happened.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik had Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme figured out from the start. He knew what Cleveland was going to throw at them and exactly how to beat that and the Browns looked lost on that side of the ball.

The Browns’ defense just looked unprepared and almost like they thought they could just show up and they would dominate. Now they are on their coach looking towards the future with their 2023 season now complete. Here is a look at the top 10 performances from the blowout loss on the defensive side of the ball according to PFF.

5 free agents for Saints fans to scout in Browns-Texans playoff game

Here are five free agents for Saints fans to scout in Saturday afternoon’s Texans-Browns playoff game:

We’re closing in on kickoff of the NFL’s wild-card round, which is a great opportunity for New Orleans Saints fans to scout upcoming free agents while they compete on the biggest stage. And there are plenty of prospects worth watching when the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns match up.

Whether the Saints are looking to get more explosive in the running game or deeper on the defensive side of the ball, here are five players we’re watching closely:

PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Broncos

Cleveland’s run defense struggled at times in Denver

At times on Sunday, the Denver Broncos were able to just run the ball at will on the defense of the Cleveland Browns. The defense continued to struggle in the first quarter and Denver’s coach Sean Payton schemed up a great gameplan to attack Cleveland’s run defense.

Jim Schwartz and company have got to figure out why the unit has had so many slow starts and find a way to eliminate them. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was fantastic in this game, his best as a pro, he was all over the field making plays all day. He was playing fast and confident downhill in run defense and even added a sack that happened so fast I almost missed it watching live.

It sounds like Myles Garrett may have avoided major injury after the shoulder injury he sustained on Sunday. The team badly needs Denzel Ward back after an awful showing from Greg Newsome II who played his worst game as a pro.

Here are the top 10 defensive performances in Denver according to PFF.

Browns Studs and Duds: Whose play stood out in the disappointing loss vs. Broncos?

Examining the studs and duds in the Cleveland Browns disappointing loss against the Denver Broncos

The Cleveland Browns suffered a bitter defeat against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The team’s spirits were riding high after a handful of wins propelled the Browns into a race to be the AFC North champion. That feeling quickly ended against another wildcard competitor despite another strong showing from linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

The Broncos beat the Browns thoroughly. The Browns made things extremely difficult for themselves; they played poorly with no composure. The Broncos were far more prepared to play the Cleveland Browns than the other way around. 

The team seemed to deflate after quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was knocked out of the game on a penalized hit. The Browns were quickly winning the momentum of the game before that moment. The Browns immediately compounded the problem by fumbling the ball on the next play to set up an easy Broncos touchdown. Replacing the starting quarterback while climbing out of a two-score deficit proved too much for the Browns. 

The Browns will have a bad taste in their mouth after this game. They know they’re a much better team than the Broncos. And they know that the Broncos bullied them into a loss. Hopefully, our group has too much pride in themselves to get punked again this season. 

Here are the studs and duds from this humiliating defeat to the Broncos. 

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PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Ravens

Another overall solid day for the Browns defense

The defense of the Cleveland Browns was dealt a difficult hand with injuries to Denzel Ward and Juan Thornhill during the game but found a way to slow down the Baltimore Ravens. Two of the Ravens’ touchdowns were because of a muffed punt and a pick-six and outside of that overall they played well.

Special teamer Mike Ford was thrust into action as a corner in this game and held his own overall including an interception in the first half. It was just another day at the office for Myles Garrett who just continues to build his resume for Defensive Player of the Year. Another sack and a half for Garrett but the biggest play he made was on a third down when he chased down Lamar Jackson to force a punt in a one-score game.

Overall they had some slow moments at times where the Ravens just made some big plays but it was a good day overall. Here are the top 10 defensive performances from Sunday according to PFF.

PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Cardinals

The defense absolutely dominated from start to finish Sunday

Anytime you can hold the opposing offense to less than a hundred net yards regardless of the opponent it is quite the accomplishment. The defense of the Cleveland Browns had the most dominant performance I can remember. Holding the Arizona Cardinals to less than two yards per play is as impressive as it comes. Turnovers from linebacker Sione Takitaki, defensive tackle Shelby Harris, and cornerback Denzel Ward certainly helped.

The defensive line didn’t allow rookie Clayton Tune to settle in at all as he was constantly under pressure all day long. Cleveland had 25 total quarterback pressures and sacked Tune seven times with defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson getting three himself.

The way the defensive line is playing makes the defensive backs’ jobs so much easier as they know they don’t have to hold the coverage all day. Denzel Ward is playing like a top-ten corner after a down year and Martin Emerson Jr continues to show he is the real deal in his second season.

Here are the top 10 defensive players from the shutout win according to PFF on Sunday.

Browns create another turnover as Sione Takitaki picks off Clayton Tune vs. Cardinals

The Browns are all over Clayton Tune and the Cardinals as Sione Takitaki is the latest to get in on the action

The Cleveland Browns have created their third turnover of the game against the Arizona Cardinals. After cornerback Denzel Ward got the first interception on the day, linebacker Sione Takitaki now gets in on the action, taking advantage of a poor Clayton Tune throw. This puts the Browns back in excellent field position yet again as they already hold a 20-0 lead over the Cardinals.

Tune now sits at 6-of-13 passing with 27 yards and two interceptions on the afternoon against the vaunted Cleveland defense. A tough situation for any rookie, let along a fifth round pick to make a debut in.

Takitaki has been one of the more solid, dependable players for the Browns over the past five seasons since he was drafted in the third round in 2019. Even after suffering a torn ACL late in last season, Takitaki has returned in full force for the Cleveland defense.

He is truly an unsung hero of this defense.

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