THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
I'm back after a day of recuperation and immobility. On Friday at about 10 a.m., I was happily trotting to my mailbox to check the mail or do some other innocuous task. I walked out onto our front porch, successfully navigated the single stair to our sidewalk with incredible grace for a large humanoid, and started to walk down the sidewalk. Suddenly, my right ankle gave out for reasons unknown, followed by my right knee twisting at an unsafe angle, and down I went.
There I lay for a few moments, contemplating the futility of my existence when matched against the omnipresent force of gravity, which has been working against me for years and years. I got up, completed my task, and returned inside. Over the next few hours, though, my ankle continued to complain, my knee tightened up, and I generally became immobile. I elevated and iced the thing and quickly got my son to find me a cane to help me get around.
Within hours, I went from a happy and fully mobile human to an incapacitated lump. I had procured a dumpster and a new lawnmower for a weekend that was intended to be full of outdoor activity to clean up yard and garage debris, but now it looked like a feeble attempt to thwart the destiny set forward for me by the Gods.
So, it's a major deal that I could corral my small, squirmy puppy this morning and make it all the way down the stairs to my office so I can put together this Newswire today after taking a day off. I have to admit, given the higher-than-usual response I got to my "No Newswire" post than I usually get to the Newswire itself, I briefly considered shifting to a scheme where I could come up with a continual set of excuses for not doing the Newswire each day - each more elaborate than the one before - just to see if I how long I could keep that going.
Alas, I'm back doing the same old thing with an aching leg and a limited tolerance for the mostly paywalled stuff that passes for draft analysis this time of year. I frankly skipped most of it, knowing full well that no one else in the Cleveland media knows what Andrew Berry is going to do at pick 54 than the rest of us, and having muted enthusiasm for sending people to paywalled guesses of limited value.
I'm ready for the draft. I'm tired of talking about it. Let's go.
5. COULD WE BE FREE OF MEL KIPER?
Could someone snatch NFL Draft rights away from ESPN? - (awfulannouncing.com)
A speculative article from Awful Announcing concerning the NFL's Draft rights, which have been locked in the iron grip of ESPN and the NFL's network for seemingly forever. I tend to have an issue with their Day 3 coverage, in particular, and the assumption that there's no continuing interest in the picks once the "big names" are off the board. To keep track of who is being picked, we generally have to resort to finding NFL Draft boards which are being updated in real-time and TV analysis of selections virtually disappears.
I'd love to see some competition here rather than the same-old draft coverage. At least the coverage is so slanted towards big names and popular teams that it opens up possibilities for sites like ours to cover the draft ourselves, as we'll do again this year starting on Thursday night with live streams on Youtube and Twitch, running throughout the draft.
4. A NICE LITTLE DRAFT SUMMARY
Cleveland Browns NFL Draft 2024 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs - (theathletic.com)
I typically try to avoid sending people to paywalled articles because it leads to frustration. Still, if you're an Athletic subscriber and if you've been living under a rock for the last nine months and if you've just emerged and want a recap of the Browns draft situation, this one is relatively succcinct. I do respect the work Dane Brugler puts into "The Beast" and his draft prep.
3. THE NEW KICKOFF RULE HAS CHANGED THINGS
New kickoff rule has Cleveland Browns 'trying to understand' impact on game, personnel - (beaconjournal.com)
The Browns have been loading up on guys who might be helpful with the league's new kickoff, described in here via Andew Berry's quote from his recent press conference: "I think the blocking schemes that you see on kick return will be different, and I think the body type for kickoff coverage players is going to potentially change pretty significantly because you're taking a lot of speed and space out of the traditional play. I think you're going to probably see bigger body types, guys that are really good with their hands and that can, I would say, traditionally get off blocks as opposed to maybe use their speed and quickness to avoid a block just because of the setup rules."
Perhaps that explains why the Browns currently have eight defensive ends on the roster, why they signed a guy like Germain Ifedi, who appeared mostly on special teams in his last year playing. Maybe it doesn't. Right now, few in the NFL have actual experience with this new kickoff, so there a lot of, as Berry puts it, "working hypotheses" about the type of player needed.
2. THE BROWNS CAN DRAFT FOR THE FUTURE
Browns head into NFL draft this year with eye on 2025 and beyond - (news-herald.com)
Just like it's an idiotic exercise to judge the Cleveland Browns 2023 draft after a single year, it will be foolish to try to judge what they do in 2024 right away. This is because the Browns depth chart is solid enough that the team doesn't have to focus on immediate needs and can look to see what they might need next off-season. They can also look at the type of players who might need a year or two to develop.
Sometimes, I link stories because they reveal something new or have new information. Sometimes I link them simply because I agree with them.
1. BROWNS CONTINUE TO ALIGN BEHIND NEWSOME
Browns Not Looking To Trade CB Greg Newsome - (profootballrumors.com)
OBR: Should the Cleveland Browns Pick Up Greg Newsome's 5th Year Option? - (youtube.com)
Everyone seems to be singing the same tune these days around Greg Newsome: The Browns will pick up his fifth-year option and will keep him around, for this season, at least. Everything we've heard from the team says the same thing, yet the rumors will persist until after the draft.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
The Joy of Sports: How Watching Sports Can Boost Well-Being – Waseda University
Watching sports is good for you. Please feel free to print out and hand this story on an extensive Japanese study to your family members who complain about your TV viewing habits, stressing that it's important for your well-being and that of others to plop down on the couch and enjoy watching 14 straight ours of football every Sunday. IT. IS. GOOD. FOR. YOU.
"Both subjective and objective measures of well-being were found to be positively influenced by engaging in sports viewing. By inducing structural changes in the brain’s reward system over time, it fosters long-term benefits for individuals. For those seeking to enhance their overall well-being, regularly watching sports, particularly popular ones such as baseball or soccer, can serve as an effective remedy"
I knew it. You knew it. Now we have scientific proof.
As far as I know, no Browns fans were harmed performing this research.
YOUR MORNING NEWSWIRE SOUNDTRACK
Jake and Andrew are back for the weekend edition of the pod. They cover all listener questions for the 2024 NFL Draft including what players are of interest for a trade-up, who to avoid altogether, dream outcomes for 54 and 85, and more.
OBR VIDEO
OBR ARTICLES FROM YESTERDAY AND FRIDAY
Things I Think I Know About The Browns Three Tackle Dilemma UDFA Visits Draft Priorities and A Trade Back - (Brad W.)
Cleveland Browns Top30 Visit Scouting Reports Playmakers - (Ian V. )
Reviewing The Cleveland Browns 2024 Cash Budget Spending - (Jack)
Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Betting Questionable Odds On Their First Pick - (Jack)
EXCLUSIVE Meet NFL Combine Record Holder Garret Greenfield - (Noah)
2024 Cleveland Browns In-Depth Mock Draft Week Nine - (Andrew)
Salary Cap Cost Of The Cleveland Browns 2024 Draft Class - (Jack)
Cleveland Browns Top30 Visit Scouting Reports Pass Catchers - (Ian V)
Why Browns Shouldnt Prioritize Wide Receiver in 2024 NFL Draft - (Pete)
Browns Podcast All Eyez on Cleveland Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Goals Live Mock Drafts and Predictions - (Brad W)
Cleveland Browns Mock Draft and Analysis from Brad Ward 2 0 - (Brad W)
Cleveland Browns 2024 NFL Draft Top Options at Pick 85 - (Cody)
Cleveland Browns News 419 AB Speaks Watson Throws and Visits Finish Up - (Barry)
FROM THE FORUMS
Meanwhile, here are some new threads in the OBR’s discussion forums:
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
What is Jed Wills and Jack Conklin’s trade value?
How is the '23 secret weapon Hopkins recovering from his injury?
THE WATERCOOLER
LiveWire Thread for 4/20 - Twitter, Articles, Videos-OPEN THREAD
Revisiting the 2020 draft
What to expect during the draft 2024
Another Raven not punished by NFL
Apologies: No Newswire Today
OT-Bill Tobin Dies
LiveWire Thread for 4/19 - Twitter, Articles, Videos-OPEN THREAD
Fanatics and the NFL
WRAPPING UP
When not dancing with the grace and movement of an injured tree sloth, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
CONTACT Barry to sponsor the OBR. We have plans for nearly any budget!
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