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NFL Random Thought of the Day

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Cuyahoga County, Haslams go back and forth over new dome versus downtown renovation
By Mike Florio
Published August 11, 2024 05:38 PM

In lieu of renovating their lakefront, open-air stadium, the Browns say they want a dome in Brook Park. They made that clear four days ago.

With a preseason home opener on Saturday night, the political powers-that-be waited until after the game to respond. The reply came on Sunday morning.

Cuyahoga County officials published a letter to Jimmy and Dee Haslam regarding the possible abandonment of the current location. Put simply, they don’t want the team to build a dome.

“Today we are writing to affirm our united commitment to keep the Browns in Downtown Cleveland for generations to come,” the letter explains. “The proposal to build a new stadium in Brook Park does not make fiscal sense for Cuyahoga County residents and taxpayers. Moreover, any proposal that would create an unacceptable risk to the County’s general fund cannot be considered. We believe it is our responsibility and in the best interests of our community to prioritize reinvestment in existing public assets.

“Over the last decade, we have seen billions of dollars of investment into Downtown Cleveland and it is our belief that a strong, vibrant downtown core is critical to our region. Working together, we can expand on the many public investments that have already been made including Progressive Field, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the Hilton Hotel and the Huntington Convention Center, and private investments including the new Sherwin Williams headquarters, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame expansion and the Flats East Bank. A renovation of the downtown stadium will build on those investments and anchor future development on the lakefront.”

The letter concludes with a plea to keep the Browns in Cleveland proper.

“The stadium is more than just a venue,” it reads. “The team represents the heart and soul of Northeast Ohio and reinforces our community’s identity and pride. Browns fans have a deep-rooted emotional connection to the team’s rich history in Downtown Cleveland.”

During the late afternoon, the Haslams responded with a public statement.

“A stadium project that could be a transformational opportunity for this region will take deep thought, objectivity, innovation, and patience,” they said. “The process of renovating or building a new stadium is incredibly complex. We have been reminded many times that the issues with the current stadium resulted from a rushed process that was not thorough and don’t want that repeated. We have received the county’s response and are still in the process of gathering information and doing diligence on both paths.

“It would be short-sighted for Northeast Ohio to rule out any options at this point for a long-term decision of this magnitude.
We look forward to the City of Cleveland’s responses to our detailed questions regarding their [stadium renovation] proposal from last week and we remain committed to collaborating and communicating with all parties involved. Working together and keeping an open mind while thoroughly vetting this project is critical to achieving the goal of finding and executing the best long-term, sustainable stadium solution for this region.”

It’s obvious what’s going on here. The Haslams are using a possible Brook Park dome as leverage to get a better deal for the renovation of the current venue. With relocation not an option, they need something that will maximize taxpayer contributions to the project.

That’s how the game goes. That’s why it’s playing out in the public eye. Both sides want to look reasonable. More importantly, neither side wants to seem unreasonable.

It’s a dance. A chess match. It’s a way for the Haslams to get more bang for their buck, and in turn more bucks from John Q. Public.

They know it’s not easy. What with franchise values skyrocketing and no electorate willing to approve any ballot measure that would finance a stadium, they have to move gingerly. They have to make a decision to stay on the lakefront seem like a real concession, because a real concession has real value when it’s time to shake more cash from the free-money tree.

For now, it makes sense for fans to ignore the dance. Eventually, they’ll work something out. Probably at the lakefront.

Probably after the Haslams reluctantly yield on Brook Park. And probably after they get more public dollars than they would if they didn’t have a local alternative to which they could point and say, “We want that!” before agreeing to stay right where they probably knew all along they’re going to be.
 
Count 5 not 4 INTs...............Final positive assessment of Bennet's performance required extra lipstick on the pig.

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Stetson Bennett overcomes four interceptions to throw game-winning touchdown pass
By Mike Florio
Published August 11, 2024 07:44 PM

Stetson Bennett’s first game action in nearly a year did not go as well as it could have. But there was a silver lining.

The second-year Rams quarterback overcame four interceptions to throw a game-winning touchdown pass, propelling the Rams to a 13-12 preseason win over the Cowboys.

Sure, the 18-play drive should have ended with what would have been a fifth pick, but it was nullified by a defensive holding penalty on Dallas.

Bennett capped the effort with a five-yard pass to tight end Miller Forristall. For the game, Bennett completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown, and the four interceptions.

Bennett went wire to wire at the position; neither starter Matthew Stafford nor backup Jimmy Garoppolo played. Garoppolo is the presumed No. 2; however, he will miss the first two games of the regular season due to a PED suspension.

Obviously, there were struggles for Bennett. But he fought through the adversity and managed to get the win. Whether that’s enough to get the Rams to entrust the backup job to Bennett for the first two weeks of the season remains to be seen.
 
Watson has finally been officially cleared for contact play. Stefanski has still said that Watson will only be using his pom poms from the bench during the 2nd preseason game. It is probable though that he will participate to some extent in a joint practice with the Vikings before the 2nd preseason game.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Watson has finally been officially cleared for contact play. Stefanski has still said that Watson will only be using his pom poms from the bench during the 2nd preseason game. It is probable though that he will participate to some extent in a joint practice with the Vikings before the 2nd preseason game.
Click to expand...

It will be so nice to watch him fail again. :)
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Former Texan safety Tashaun Gipson is re-signing with Jacksonville (he played for them 2016-2018).
Click to expand...
You didn't mention that he will miss the first 6 games.
www.espn.com

Source: Suspended safety Gipson joining Jaguars

Veteran free agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr., who was suspended for the first six games of the 2024 season, is returning to the Jaguars on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Gipson previously played in Jacksonville from 2016 to 2018. He has been suspended for the first six games of the 2024 season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy. Gipson will complete the preseason with the Jaguars, then rejoin the team following his suspension.
 
JB said:
www.espn.com

Watson won't play vs. Vikes, cleared for contact

Deshaun Watson won't play in the Browns' second preseason game against the Vikings on Saturday, but the QB's surgically repaired throwing shoulder has been cleared for full contact.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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It's now being reported that in the Vikings-Browns joint practice, there will be a very controlled rush of the QB.....................in other words, Watson will wear another jersey that says "Don't Touch Me................If You Can Help It!"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1823153249408659515
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Bengals first-round RT pick Amarius Mims has sustained a Grade II pec tear. The team says he will miss "several weeks." I don't believe that he will be able to return before 4-6 weeks.
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This dude cant catch a break.

I guess some people are just more injury prone than others.

Dude has great talent though. I guess if he misses 6 weeks that means he will miss 3 games?
 
Lions 1st round pick RB Jahmyr Gibbs suffered a hamstring injury in practice yesterday. I have found out that it is Grade II. He missed 2 games last year with a hamstring injury and was hampered by it subsequently. During this offseason, he was reported by the team to be dealing with "an undisclosed injury".............again in fact a hamstring issue.
 
Giants rookie RB Tyrone Tracy has suffered a noncontact knee injury during today's practice. He was carted off in an AirCast. AirCasts are many times thought of as a device placed in the case of fractures. However, cryo cuff (circulating ice water) AirCasts have also been used by some for knee ligament and meniscus injuries. Tracy's injury could very well turn out to be a ruptured ACL.
 
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Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery for torn meniscus in knee
By Mike Florio
Published August 13, 2024 12:51 PM

The first objective of any preseason is to emerge from it as healthy as possible.

For the Vikings and the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history, they’re on the wrong side of this simple pass-fail test.
Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

The threshold question is whether he’ll have the meniscus trimmed or repaired. As to the former, the player can come back quickly. As to the latter, he could miss several months.

The other side of the coin is that a repair maximizes the amount of cartilage in the knee. A trim reduces the cushioning, setting the stage for a potential bone-on-bone situation.

The smart long-term play arguably would be to have the meniscus repaired. That would mean Sam Darnold will be the guy for 2024. With Jaren Hall as the backup. And with McCarthy potentially available in November, or thereabouts.
 
DBCooper said:
ramblinfan.com

The LA Rams must pull the plug on the brief Stetson Bennett experiment

The Los Angeles Rams gave Stetson Bennett the entire game in their one-point preseason victory versus the Dallas Cowboys, but it might be time to pull the plug
ramblinfan.com ramblinfan.com

Who was the QB guru on here touting last year that Stetson would be a better NFL QB than Stroud?

Oh yeah, he only posts when things go bad.
Click to expand...

And If I recall he said he would draft him over Stroud. I know for sure he said he’s a first rounder to him. There’s some bad takes, and then there is taking Bennett over Stroud.
 
WR Chase Claypool has suffered a significant turf toe and has been placed on IR. If the Bills and Claypool agree to an injury settlement, he would later have the opportunity to re-sign with the Bills or another team. But if he remains on IR until Aug 27 without a designation to return, he will not play this season.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:

This article HAS been updated with details!............another sick Browns story...............​


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​

Updated Report: Browns Michael Hall arrested Tuesday after dispute Monday night​

No details available at this time, will continue to update the story on the Browns top draft pick

By Jared Mueller@JaredKMueller Aug 13, 2024, 10:22am EDT
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I thought he was a candidate in the second for Houston. But if this is true it’s pretty clear he’s “not Texans worthy.”
 
Some aren’t surprised by alleged incident involving Mike Hall Jr.
By Mike Florio

Published August 13, 2024 08:14 PM

Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., a second-round selection in the 2024 draft, is accused of pointing a gun at a woman’s head and dragging her down a hallway on Monday night.

While only allegations at this point, some around the league aren’t surprised.

Pre-draft research, per a source with knowledge of such research, gave multiple teams pause about picking Hall. Per the source, Hall was off multiple draft boards.

Cleveland’s decision to take Hall with the 54th overall pick in the draft sparked surprise in some circles. And the current situation, if/when formal charges are filed, potentially will result in paid leave. After the charges are resolved, Hall also could be suspended without pay.

It’s unclear whether the Browns had concerns about Hall, based on their own research, and opted to take a chance or whether they didn’t come across anything that would have made Monday night’s incident not a huge surprise — if he’s indeed guilty as accused.

Regardless, the team that gave up three first-round picks and three other draft selections (along with $230 million fully guaranteed) for a quarterback who was suspended 11 games under the Personal Conduct Policy now has to worry about the possibility that they’ve wasted a second-round pick.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
During the last Combine, Fautanu was reported to have been medically red-flagged for "a knee issue that would be expected to significantly affect his longevity in the NFL." Many questioned the validity of the report. But from what I have been able to discover is that he has been found to have significant articular deficit in his right knee. In the past I have always pointed out the way a right vs left-side OL can be affected differently for a right vs left-sided arm/shoulder or lower extremity injury. Fautanu is being switched to the right side in order to transfer the major mechanical forces to his left knee, and minimize further trauma to his right knee...............hopefully preserving additional longevity in the NFL.

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Fautanu: Adjusting to right tackle just a matter of time
By Josh Alper
Published June 4, 2024 09:52 AM

Steelers first-round pick Troy Fautanu signed his first NFL contract on Monday and that means he can devote his full attention to transitioning to the professional ranks.

Part of that process includes getting comfortable with playing a new position. Fautanu played left tackle at Washington, but will be playing on the right side in Pittsburgh and he discussed how much of an adjustment he’s making in order to get ready to man the spot this fall.

“You constantly push off one leg thousands and thousands of times,” Fautanu said, via Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “Then you switch to the other side, and you aren’t really used to pushing off the other leg. It’s just a matter of time. I’ve already talked to my strength coaches. They already know it’s an area I want to improve — the strength of my left leg. I’m so right-leg dominant after playing the left side so long; it’s just something I’ve got to work on.”

The Steelers picked up left tackle Broderick Jones in the first round in 2023 and a successful transition for Fautanu should set them up with bookends on the offensive line for years to come.
Click to expand...
All the stress shifted to the left knee...........MCL injury.

The team says he will be out 2 weeks. He'll be lucky to be ready short of 4 weeks.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1822328523865948322
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery for torn meniscus in knee
By Mike Florio
Published August 13, 2024 12:51 PM

The first objective of any preseason is to emerge from it as healthy as possible.

For the Vikings and the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history, they’re on the wrong side of this simple pass-fail test.
Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

The threshold question is whether he’ll have the meniscus trimmed or repaired. As to the former, the player can come back quickly. As to the latter, he could miss several months.

The other side of the coin is that a repair maximizes the amount of cartilage in the knee. A trim reduces the cushioning, setting the stage for a potential bone-on-bone situation.

The smart long-term play arguably would be to have the meniscus repaired. That would mean Sam Darnold will be the guy for 2024. With Jaren Hall as the backup. And with McCarthy potentially available in November, or thereabouts.
Click to expand...
Just found out that McCarthy underwent a meniscus REPAIR as opposed to a trim/excision. His 2024 season is over, but his career is potentially better preserved.
 
Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor left Today’s practice on a cart.............although his injury was to his shoulder............but as it turns out, he rode in the front seat. :rolleyes: They are calling the injury "not concerning." But any shoulder injury to an OT has to be somewhat concerning.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Some of the lower ranked helmets certainly struck me as much more appealing than the #1 ranked Broncos' (the #8 Broncos helmet seems to me much more appealing). In fact, I don't see the appeal of the #1 Broncos helmet at all.
Click to expand...

I liked the Vikings better but I did like that broncos one.

#2 and #3 are the best!
 
The Browns talking about "culture" after the Watson fiasco" :toropalm:

Q [to Stefanski]: “I know you talk a lot about culture and all that, do you worry about the message it sends that even though the legal process has to play out, it appears there weren’t consequences at this point? He was just allowed to practice?”

The whole dialogue is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!:

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Media tried many different ways to get Kevin Stefanski to deviate from Mike Hall Jr. talking points
By Mike Florio
Published August 14, 2024 08:16 PM

Earlier today, we posted an item regarding Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s no-comment comments on defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., who was arrested Tuesday after allegedly putting a gun to a woman’s head and allegedly dragging her down a driveway on Monday.

The Browns have since posted the full audio of the press conference, along with an unedited (to their credit) transcript. The total exchange reveals a persistent attempt by the media to get Stefanski to say something. He persistently refused to give the media anything, other than the words the team decided he’d constantly utter.

“I know you guys have questions about Mike Hall,” Stefanski said during his introductory remarks. “Respectfully, I don’t have much to add. I’m going to let legal proceedings play out, but I understand that you have to ask a question, but I really don’t have much on that subject. But with that, I’ll take any questions.”

He presumably was hoping he wouldn’t get any questions about Hall. He did.

Here are all of the Hall-related questions from the press conference.

Q: “Kevin, he is free to be with the team and work out, obviously, right?”

A: “Yes.”

Q: “What went into the decision to have him practice today?”

A: “I can’t get into all the details, guys. I’ll just tell you, we’re going to let the legal proceedings play out.”

Q: “As a staff, did you feel comfortable having him practice today?

A: “He practiced today.”

Q: “He left practice today, do you know why?”

A: “[He] was injured, but don’t have the details.”

Q: “Kevin, when situations like with Mike Hall occur, I know you said you can’t comment, but did you have a discussion with Andrew Berry because I know you had a situation earlier in the offseason where a player had an issue, and he was cut the day after. With Mike Hall, he’s arrested, charged with domestic violence and he plays the next day. Do you have a conversation with Andrew about how to go about it or who came to the decision?”

A: “Yeah, respectfully, and I understand the question, I don’t have much to add.”

Q: “I know you talk a lot about culture and all that, do you worry about the message it sends that even though the legal process has to play out, it appears there weren’t consequences at this point? He was just allowed to practice?”

A: “I understand the question. I would tell you, we really just have to respect the process.”

Q: “I get what you’re saying, but do you understand that some people take that as a bad look, that a day after he’s arrested for domestic violence, he’s on your field?”

A: “I understand what you’re asking honestly, but for us, we have to trust in the process, and really, it’s that.”

Q: “Kevin, I know you’re probably going to repeat the same thing but with Mike, if everything goes well physically, since he took that hit today, is the plan for him to keep practicing if he’s available while this process plays out?”

A: “I think, again, not going to talk past today. I’ll just tell you, we need to respect the process here.”

Q: “Would you say you take these off-the-field issues on a case-by-case basis? Or do you kind of have the same policy for every player, regardless of whether or not they’re a high pick, low pick or free agent?”

A: “Yeah, I can’t get into specifics . . . other than to tell you, we’ll continue to let the process play out.”

Good for the reporters who pressed Stefanski, forcing him to repeat the talking points over and over again — making it clear that he was simply reciting the same thing. Even if it wasn’t his call to stonewall, it’s more than proper for the media to make clear the fact that the Browns opted to let Hall practice two days after he allegedly committed domestic violence and one day after he was arrested for it, and all that the Browns have to say for themselves is they’re “respecting the process.”

It is a bad look. And hiding behind “the process” doesn’t make it any better.

Actually, it could have been worse. Stefanski could have been asked whether the Browns knew or had reason to know they were drafting a player with the 54th overall selection who might engage in such behaviors. He probably would have reiterated the pre-planned talking points, but it’s still a question that needs to be asked. Along with every other question that reporters asked on Wednesday.

The next question becomes whether the process will include the league putting Hall on paid leave. Given the allegations against him, it won’t be a surprise if that occurs.
 
Browns CB Denzel Ward did not participate in the team’s joint practice with the Vikings today. Evidently, he sustained a concussion when he hit his head on the ground during the Browns Monday practice, and is now in the Concussion Protocol. This is Ward's 5th documented concussion since being drafted #4 by the Browns in 2018. Who knows what his real total lifetime count is. :thinking:
 
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There is very little research on the use of these specific cleats in real-time situations. Virtually all of their article cites refer to old studies of different cleat styles and grass types. They try to make their case by extrapolation...........not actual long-term experience. Necessary long-term college/NFL testing is not available for this new system. The basic laws of nature tells you that if you decrease sticking traction and increase release, you can create a situation where non-contact injuries may be decreased at the expense of suffering other injuries. At this point in time, I remain skeptical that the publicity may not match the reality.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1823806118952333590
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
The next question becomes whether the process will include the league putting Hall on paid leave. Given the allegations against him, it won’t be a surprise if that occurs.
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That is going to happen. I'm wondering if Rashee Rice gets the same treatment. Where is the precedent for allowing a player with 8 felony charges pending to see the field?
 
Lucky said:
That is going to happen. I'm wondering if Rashee Rice gets the same treatment. Where is the precedent for allowing a player with 8 felony charges pending to see the field?
Click to expand...
Both should be removed from the field in regular season. Both are being allowed to practice now.

The language of the Personal Conduct Policy authorizes placement of a player on the Commissioner Exempt list “when a player is formally charged with: (1) a felony offense; or (2) a crime of violence, meaning that he is accused of having used physical force . . . to injure or threaten a person.”
 
Bills LB Matt Milano has suffered a torn biceps during a tackling drill. He will undergo surgery and will be out indefinitely. Last year, he lost part of the season to a broken leg.

This will be a long recovery and will typically not affect performance upon return, but will affect games subsequently played.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Bills LB Matt Milano has suffered a torn biceps during a tackling drill. He will undergo surgery and will be out indefinitely. Last year, he lost part of the season to a broken leg.

This will be a long recovery and will typically not affect performance upon return, but will affect games subsequently played.
Click to expand...

Out all year or?..
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
There is very little research on the use of these specific cleats in real-time situations. Virtually all of their article cites refer to old studies of different cleat styles and grass types. They try to make their case by extrapolation...........not actual long-term experience. Necessary long-term college/NFL testing is not available for this new system. The basic laws of nature tells you that if you decrease sticking traction and increase release, you can create a situation where non-contact injuries may be decreased at the expense of suffering other injuries. At this point in time, I remain skeptical that the publicity may not match the reality.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1823806118952333590
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Seems like these cleats would encourage balance issues leading to ankle and knee injuries? Maybe that's the other issues to which you are referring.
 
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