Tag: Browns

3 Bold Predictions for the 2025-26 NFL Season.

The 2025-26 NFL season is finally upon us. It was an off-season of holdouts, especially at the wide receiver position. Khalil Shakir (BUF), Rashod Bateman (BAL), Courtland Sutton (DEN), Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (CIN), and Terry McLaurin (WASH), all got contract extensions.

Most recently, the biggest off-season move was made when the Dallas Cowboys traded star DE/OLB Micah Parson to the Green Bay Packers for two 1st round picks and DT Kenny Clark.

It was a top heavy draft, with the Cleveland Browns making a surprise move. Trading the #2 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #5 pick and their 1st round pick next season.

The Jaguars took CB/WR Travis Hunter from Colorado, and the Browns ended up taking DT Mason Graham from Michigan (see previous article on my thoughts on this trade and pick).

With so much movement in the offseason, here are my 3 bold predictions for the season.

1) New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll will be fired during the season.

Daboll has a 19-33-1 career record through his first three seasons as a head coach. He does have a veteran quarterback in Russell Wilson, and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has looked good through camp and preseason.

The early season schedule is tough. Opening with games at Washington, at Dallas, home against Kansas City, and home against Los Angelos Chargers, all in the first four games of the season. He cannot afford to start 0-4, or even 1-3.

They get the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Weeks 8 and 10. I can easily see them being 0-8, and he gets the boot midseason.

2) Trevor Lawrence will throw for over 4,000 yards this season.

Lawrence only played in 10 games last season. With two 1st round draft picks at the wide receiver position in second year wideout Brian Thomas Jr (87 catches, 1,282 yards, and 10 TDs), and Heisman Trophy winner, rookie Travis Hunter (171 catches, 2,167 yards, and 24 TDs, in 2 seasons at Colorado).

New offensive coordinator Liam Coen had Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield in the Top 3 last season. I fully expect him to scheme up ways to make Trevor successful this season.

3) Both Browns rookie players DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger will finish in the Top 5 for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Browns defense under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is stout. Of course, with former DPOTY Myles Garrett commanding double and triple teams, this will leave Mason Graham with 1 on 1 matchups against interior lineman. With his aggression, strong hands, and agility, he’ll win those matchups consistently.

With Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out this season with a possible career ending neck injury (news I broke first before Mary Kay or ESPN), Carson Schwesinger has the speed to run sideline to sideline, and has incredible instincts to sniff out the football.

With Garrett and Graham rushing the passer, and CB Denzel Ward locking down one half of the field, Carson will make double digit tackles every single game.

Write it down. Bookmark it. My 3 bold predictions.

– by Sean McKenzie.

Stats courtesy of…..NFL.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, wallpapers, WKBN, drroto.

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September 4, 2025
Cleveland Browns Training Camp.

Training Camp has concluded for the 2025-26 Cleveland Browns team.

Like many before, it leaves us with more questions than answers.

Injuries have limited the reps for former first round pick quarterback Kenny Pickett and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. They are battling for the starting quarterback position with long time veteran and former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Sheduer Sanders.

Who is going to start at the most important position in the sport? Your guess is as good as mine.

The arrest of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on July 12th for battery, leaves him open to not even making the team. It also gave four-year veteran Jerome Ford more snaps with the first team. Rookie Dylan Sampson had some nice moments in camp, and is (at this point) the backup, with Pierre Strong Jr third string. If Judkins is signed and makes the team, Strong will either be put on the practice squad or outright cut.

Outside of Jerry Jeudy, the battle for the #2 WR position is wide open. The staff had hopes that Cedric Tillman would make some noise, but he hasn’t. It’s been reclamation project Diontae Johnson and Jamari Thrash making the plays.

We know that Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku is going to ball out, but it’s been rookie Harold Fannin Jr, that has been catching everything in his orbit. Multiple sources told me, that he’s been a Top 5 overall performer in camp. He’s going to create mismatches against linebackers and has the speed to play in the slot too.

The starting offensive line is already set with Jones, Bitonio, Pocic, Teller, and Conklin. Former Ohio State player and backup center Luke Wypler has performed well. Hopefully, he’ll stay healthy. The most intriguing person offensive lineman Tevin Jenkins. The coaching staff has played him all over the line in training camp. With the health issues that plague Jones and Conklin, he’s going to play at tackle this season.

You can count on the interior of the offensive line with Pro Bowlers Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller manning the guard spots. Center Ethan Pocic is underrated and has performed well as the starter. It’s the tackle spot that has the most questions.

The defensive line is led, of course, by all-world, all-universe, and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. He didn’t do much at training camp, but let’s but truthful…. we don’t him to. Defense tackle Maliek Collins was getting constant pressure, and Browns first round pick defensive tackle Mason Graham performed well. The spot opposite of Garrett is still wide open. It’s between Isaiah McGuire and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. The latter of the two, played better two sources at camp told me.

I was the first to report way back in January, that starting linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s neck injury was career threating, well before Mary Kay Cabot or anyone else was talking about it. He’s not playing this season. Second round pick Carson Schwesinger has had an absolutely dominate training camp. My sources inside have told me that he IS going to be wearing the “green dot” for the defense.

The secondary took a big blow with the season ending injury to starting corner Martin Emerson Jr. Pro Bowler Denzel Ward as usual made plays all camp long and is a stalwart, but who is going to play opposite of him? Will defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz keep corner Greg Newsome in the slot or move him outside? Do the Browns really want Tony Brown manning the outside? The safety position seems set with Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman. The depth behind them is lacking and training camp didn’t show much promise either.

Dustin Hopkins is going to get one last chance to rebound from a truly terrible season kicking, after signing an extension. Punter Corey Bojorquez continues to do great. It’s looking like wide receiver Deandre Carter is leading on kick and punt return duties, but the Browns have been snake bitten at that position since Josh Cribbs left.

The Browns first preseason game of the year is on Friday, August 8th at 7:00 PM (EST) on NFL Network.

– by Sean McKenzie

Follow me on X (Twitter) @JoeAmerican6771 and allsportsfancom.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, thelandondemand, yahoosports, brownsnation, beaconjournal, cleveland.com, athlonsports, usatoday.

August 4, 2025
Shedeur Sanders Signs Rookie Contract, LB Warner Signs Big Contract, NHL Referee Gets Stitches, and more.

NFL NEWS.

Cleveland Browns 5th round quarterback Shedeur Sanders has signed his rookie contract.

It is a 4-year, $4.6 million dollar deal. with a $447,380 signing bonus.

I’m not going to talk about his “slide” in the draft. I’ve already done an article on that, plus we all know that story, it’s been beaten to death.

I’m “on the record” with my prediction that Sanders will be QB2 when the season starts.

The San Francisco 49ers have made LB Fred Warner the highest paid “off ball” linebacker in the NFL.

They came to terms on a 3-year, $63 million dollar contract extension, with $56 million dollars guaranteed. This new deal keeps Warner the red and gold through the 2029 season.

The linebacker had 131 total tackles, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 INTs last season, all of which earned him his 4th All-Pro appearance and 3rd straight.

NHL NEWS.

Veteran NHL referee Chris Rooney received stitches Sunday night after taking a high stick to the face by Panthers Defenseman Niko Mikkola, during the 2nd period of the Maple Leafs/Panthers pivotal Game 7.

Medical personnel from both teams attended to him, and a stretcher was brought out; however, he refused and skated off the rink under his own power.

Rooney hopes to return to resume duties during these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

MLB SCORES.

Guardians\Twins game was suspended in the 4th inning due to rain. Twins were up 2-1. Game resumes tonight at 6:10 PM (EST).

Marlins beat the Cubs 8-7.

Reds win 7-1 over the Pirates.

Red Sox beat the Mets 3-1.

Diamondbacks get the win over the Dodgers 9-5.

The Cardinals beat the surging Tigers 11-4.

Question of the day – What is your favorite sport to watch?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB.

Photos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, profootballnetwork, PFF, and SI.

May 20, 2025
Cleveland Browns 2025 Regular Season Breakdown.
The Cleveland Browns 2025 season schedule was released on Wednesday night.

Looking at the scheduled, I noticed a few things first, before I started getting into the X’s and the O’s, as well as the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.
- For the 1st time since 2017, the Browns are taking part in the International Series. Cleveland travels to London, England to take on my friend Nick’s, Minnesota Vikings in a very early morning Week 5 matchup. Game starts at 9:30 AM (EST) on NFL Network.
- The Browns do not have a “primetime game” this season. In fact, Cleveland only has 3 games, that do not start in the 1 PM window (Weeks 5, 11, and 12).
- Cleveland’s farthest distance to travel is only to Las Vegas to play the Raiders in Week 12 (2,076 miles).
The schedule is very balanced for the Browns this season. There is only 1 “back-to-back” road game trip (Weeks 8 and 10), however, Cleveland has their Bye week between those two games (Week 9).

A potentially great thing for the Browns, is that 4 of their final 6 games are at home. If Cleveland somehow, some way, finds themselves in the playoff hunt, homefield advantage is always nice to have.

The Browns open the 2025 season at home against division and in-state rival Cincinnati. Cleveland has not won a season opener at home since 2014 (against the Saints).

Cleveland REALLY needs to get that win in Week 1, as their next 5 straight games, are against teams that made the playoffs last season (Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Pittsburgh).

Having that Bye week smack dab in the middle of the season again, is a nice break for Cleveland.

In Weeks 12, 13, and 14, the Browns play teams that finished in last place within their own divisions, in the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and the Tennessee Titans.

Cleveland finishes the regular season with back-to-back divisional games. Week 17 against the Steelers is the final home game of the season, while Week 18 is once again, against the Bengals, this time in Cincinnati.

The #1 question on every Browns fans mind, is about who the starting quarterback will be. Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are paired along 2 rookies, in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

The answer is, there is no answer right now. They plan to let them all fight it out. Personally, I think Joe Flacco will start the season, with Shedeur Sanders as QB2, and Gabriel as the 3rd stringer. I believe Pickett will end up being traded before the regular season starts.

The over/under win projection sits at 4.5 games right now; after coming off of a dismal 3-14 season in 2024. I think the Browns can beat that mark.

My first response upon seeing the 2025 schedule was the Browns can win at least 6 games, Cincinnati, Minnesota, New England, New York Jets, San Francisco, and Tennessee.

Question – What do you think about the Browns schedule and how many games do you think they can win???

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL and Cleveland Browns.

Pictures and videos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, Cleveland Browns, and YouTube.
May 17, 2025
NFL News, New Champion, Legend Retires, Hall of Famer Announced, NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup, and more.

NFL NEWS.

Quarterback Derek Carr has decided to retire, after 11 seasons in the NFL. The former Raiders and Saints QB attended Fresno State and was the 36th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He finishes his career throwing for 41,245 yards, with 257 TDs and 112 INTs.

Rookie mini camps were held over the weekend. Jaguars #2 pick WR/CB Travis Hunter took snaps on the offensive side of the ball. HC Liam Coen said that Hunter will get defensive reps next week. Browns #5 pick DT Mason Graham made headlines after he was caught vomiting on the field. HC Kevin Stefanski blew it off saying that he simply ate too much.

MMA NEWS.

Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) defeated Belal Muhammad (24-4) to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion, in an absolute slugfest. The judges gave Jack the UD win with scores of 48-47 (x2) and 49-46. Jack has now won 18 straight fights. His last lost coming way back in 2016.

Some things just seem to stay the same. Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) defended her Women’s Flyweight Championship for a record 10th time, defeating Manon Fiorot (12-2) by UD. 48-47 (x3).

Featherweight legend Jose Aldo (32-10), retired in the octagon after losing to Aiemann Zahabi (13-2).

Former Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame later this year.

Belfort (26-14) burst onto the scene when he won the UFC Heavyweight Tournament back in 1997, at only 19 years of age.

In 2013, his legal use of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) became a worldwide sports controversy. The Nevada State Athletic Commission later banned TRT, from competition without medical proof of necessity.

He holds career wins against legends Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, and Dan Henderson.

NBA Playoffs.

The #4 seeded Indiana Pacers defeated the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109, to take a 3-1 series lead.

PF Pascal Siakam led the team with 21 points. C Myles Turner had 7 rebounds, and PG T.J. McConnell had 8 assists.

Game 6 is Tuesday night, in Cleveland at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets 92-87, to tie the series at 2-2.

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 points and 6 assists. C Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 rebounds to lead the team.

Game 5 is also on Tuesday night, in Oklahoma City, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

The A3 and defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, defeated the A1 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0, to tie the series at 2-2.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got his 5th career playoff shutout, stopping all 23 shots attempted.

Tempers flared at the end of the game, when Maple Leafs C Max Domi (Pussycat Max, as I call him), landed his latest in a long career of cheap shots, this time on Panthers C Aleksander Barkov.

Game 5 is Wednesday night, in Toronto, at 7:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

The C2 Dallas Stars defeated the C1 Winnepeg Jets 5-2, to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Stars RW Mikko Rantanen continues his incredible playoff run with another 3 points (1G/2A). Full game highlights below.

Game 4 is Tuesday night, in Dallas, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

MLB NEWS.

Phillies beat the Guardians 3-0.

In a battle of division leaders, the Mets beat the Cubs 6-2.

League leading Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 8-1.

Surprising Tigers lose to the Rangers 6-1.

The Rockies actually win a game!!! Beating the Padres 9-3.

OTHER NEWS.

Congratulations to my Aunt Chris’ as her Toledo Walleye defeated my Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 and advance to the Western Conference Finals in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Question of the day – Did your favorite team make the playoffs?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB, ECHL, NBA, bleacherreport, UFC.

Pictures and video courtesy of…..wallpapercave, UFC, ECHL, bleacherreport, and YouTube.

May 12, 2025
The Cleveland Browns 2025 NFL Draft Review.

After a 3-year absence from picking the in the 1st round, thanks to the Deshaun Watson fiasco, the Cleveland Browns made their return in a big way.

They made their first trade before the draft even started. Then decided to keep it going, making multiple trades during the draft.

They started with the #2 pick, but decided to trade it to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #5 pick, in addition to the Jaguars 1st round pick in next year’s draft.

With that pick, they took Mason Graham, DT, Michigan. He was my one of my top two players. Graham is a hardhat, blue collar type of player. He plays through the snap; he sheds blockers and can rush the passer from the interior. Something the Browns have been sorely missing for over a decade now. Lining him up next to Myles Garrett, will cause problems for opposing offensive lines.

With the 33rd pick, the first in the 2nd round, the Browns took Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA. Carson is a do everything player. His 115 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions, proved his ability to play sideline to sideline. He can drop back into zone coverage and cover tight ends and running backs. He hits the hole hard on the blitz, and does a nice job against the run.

I reported months ago, that the neck injury to Browns starting linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, was much more serious than the team let on. There’s a chance the he never plays again, so taking Schwesinger here was a good pick.

Three picks later, with the 36th pick, the Browns selected Quinshon Judkins, HB, Ohio State. Judkins is a hard-nosed, between the tackles, power back. He doesn’t have the speed to take it 90 yards on any play; he has the speed to pick up the chunk plays needed to keep the offense on the field. He showed that he has the capability to catch the ball out of the backfield and showed improvement when picking up blitzers. He’s a faster Kareem Hunt for Browns fan.

With the 67th pick, the Browns selected Harold Fannin Jr, TE, Bowling Green. I love this pick! Fannin is a catching machine. He play on the line of scrimmage, in the slot, and the Falcons even played him out wide at the X sometimes. While he does need to improve his blocking technique, his playmaking ability is undeniable, and he played his best football during Bowling Green’s biggest game. The vaulted defenses at Penn State and Texas A&M had no answers for him at all. Fannin along with Browns Pro-Bowl TE David Njoku, gives the Browns a hellava combination for 12 personnel formations.

With the 94th pick, the Browns selected Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon. Gabriel had 63 career starts in college, with 3 different teams (UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon). He makes quick decisions, and his 155-32 touchdown-to-interception ratio shows that he doesn’t put the ball in danger that often. Yes, he’s short at 5’10”, but his ability to scramble and move within the pocket, keeps hit “batted balls” stat low.

With the 126th pick, the Browns took another running in Dylan Sampson, HB, Tennessee. Sampson is a short, fast, and sneakily powerful running back. He has a nose for the endzone scoring 22 rushing touchdowns last season. He was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year last season with 1,485 yards rushing as well. He can take it to the house at any time, from anywhere on the field. He needs to improve his blitz pickup and blocking ability. He only had 19 catches last season. To be fair, he wasn’t asked to that a lot at Tennessee though.

With their final pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, selected Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado. See my previous article.

FINAL GRADE.

When you add everything together, the Cleveland Browns get an A+.

They came away with 6 players who will start on Day 1 or be meaningful contributors to the team.

Along with securing a 2nd first round draft pick in the 2026 class, it’s impossible to deny that the Cleveland Browns got better not just for this upcoming season, but for the next 3 to 4 seasons to come.

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NCAA, Cleveland Browns.

Photos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, brownsnation, brownswire, USA Today, Cleveland Browns, duckswire,

April 27, 2025
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Nightmare.

The NFL Draft is a culmination of many factors for players. The years of blood, sweat and tears on the field. The dog days of summer conditioning in August, where you can barely drag your feet as coach calls it to an end. The excitement and bonding on the bus rides. The sacrifices made by their moms and/or dads, to make every practice and game.

For most the journey starts at the peewee level, then middle school, junior varsity, varsity, then onto college. Dreams of hearing their names called out by the commissioner, after getting that phone call from the teams’ head coach.

Shedeur Sanders got privileged start. As everyone knows, his father is Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. He grew up around the game his whole life. His father coached him his formative years. From high school, to Jackson State, to Colorado.

Coming into the 2025 NFL Draft, almost all the media “experts” and pundits had him rated as the #2 ranked quarterback in the class, only behind Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward.

Sanders finished his four years of college football completing 70.7% of his passes, for 14,347 yards, with 134 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. He had an additional 17 rushing touchdowns.

Those are great numbers, in a very down quarterback draft class. So why wouldn’t he be rated has high as he was? Why wouldn’t he or anyone expect him to go high or at least in the 1st round?

The world watched as he not only fell out of the 1st round, but he also didn’t even go in the 2nd round. He didn’t go in the 3rd round. He didn’t go in the 4th round. It wasn’t until the 144th pick in the 5th round, for him to get that phone call and hear his name called.

The Cleveland Browns took him. The team with the worst quarterback history in the league, traded up to get him.

Why did he fall so far?

On Day 3 of the draft, word started leaking out about Sanders showing up to interviews unprepared and trying to dictate the teams. New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll “called him out about it, and Sanders didn’t like that” according to NFL insider Todd McShay.

ESPN insider Adam Schefter even stated that “he might not be one of the first quarterbacks taken on day two.”

As the picks and rounds went on, it was apparent to everyone that has common sense, that not only did the NFL scouts and coaches did not view Sanders as a Day 1 starting quarterback, but this was a product of media hype run amuck.

Us fans had to sit back and listen to the insufferable whining of Mel Kiper Jr, Rich Eisen, and others, completely drown out and not report on the other players, whose dreams came true. Letting their personal relationships with his father Deion, get in the way of what truly makes the NFL Draft so special.

There simply were not very many “quarterback needy teams” this draft cycle. Add into the fact that this was an extremely deep class at running back, wide receiver, defensive line, offensive line, and cornerback.

In my own personal rankings, I had Shedeur as my #2 ranked quarterback. Certainly, ahead of Dillion Gabriel, who the Browns drafted in the 3rd round with the 94th pick.

Yes, he does hold onto the football too long at times. Yes, he does take some incredibly dumb sacks. Yes, he does try to do too much. Yes, the “media circus” around him is annoying.

What he is though, was the most accurate passer in college football last season, completing 74% of his passes. What he does do, is stay in the pocket and take a hit to deliver the football.

What Shedeur and all the other “experts” and fans need to remember, is that the greatest quarterback of all-time is Tom Brady, and he was taken with the 199th pick.

Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, did not even get drafted.

As a lifelong Browns fan myself, I hope he goes out there and lights it up.

I hope he goes out there and shows that he is a franchise quarterback.

WELCOME TO THE DAWG POUND SHEDEUR!!!

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..NCAA and ESPN.

Photos courtesy of…..totalprosports and YouTube.

April 27, 2025