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Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
I am a real Digital Content Manager, at least that's what they called me back in my FOX Sports Ohio days (which are a decade old). I know how this stuff works like a real-life corporate bigshot. So, trust me on this: The purpose of news outlets is not to help the team. No, the primary purpose of news outlets is to generate revenue for the corporation that owns them.
This is why today's coverage of Myles Garrett's portion of yesterday's news conference interviews focused on his advocacy for re-signing Nick Chubb and his comments about putting Aaron Rodgers in his "quarterback graveyard." These are two storylines that sell and garner clicks, rather than necessarily having a significant impact on the success or failure of the 2025 Cleveland Browns edition.
It's not bad journalism. It's good marketing. The people who write stuff want to get you to read and appreciate that stuff, so they (or their editors) focus headlines on things they think will get readers' attention (conflict, humor) rather than worrying about how often Myles Garrett will line up inside.
It's not an approach they have created, it's an approach we have created by our choices in what we read. The fact is that providing more detailed content with greater respect for the reader is a financially challenging one.
I'm fortunate in that I'm left mainly alone by CBS Sports and 247 to run the OBR, rather than dealing with someone constantly hovering over spreadsheets, yelling at me that our margins are insufficient. During the dismal 2024 season, when fans were tuned out, I opted to run the OBR at a low margin rather than cut back on coverage or resort to clickbait. But most DCMs don't have that luxury (or foolishness). They're measured on margin, clicks, page views, and engagement, and they'll do what they need to achieve it.
So, if you're wondering why some in the Cleveland media—or media anywhere—seem intent on "stirring the pot" rather than delving into what these practices mean, don't blame them—they're doing what they need to do to stay afloat. Blame the news-consuming public who choose to click on the more salacious stuff rather than a dry analysis of 2-gap coverage.
This is the system of capitalism as it operates, not a case of anti-Browns bias. We have met the enemy and he is us.
THE DAILY SHEDEUR: Those seeing a deeper involvement with All Things Shedeur are in for a treat today as the quarterback spoke with the press and helped deliver some headlines. So, if you wondered why Sanders slept with his flashlight on, today is your day. Sanders got through his media time just fine, answering questions with savvy and maturity that comes from experience with the media:
Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
MYLES SPEAKS! He of the off-season headlines and high 2025 expectations spoke to the media yesterday, generating a lot of articles which mostly took one of two different angles to his time at the mic. There are the "Graveyard" articles:
And there are articles with a Nick Chubb focus:
And some that go in a different direction:
BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!
NATIONAL LISTICLE OF THE DAY:
One reason for optimism for every team ahead of the 2025 NFL season - (pff.com)
YES, THE MEDIA CAN GET WORSE. MUCH WORSE:
Whatever you do as a sports fan…make sure to never engage with content you recognize as AI.
It’s worthless fluff. Companies who choose to deploy this approach need the people to assure them that they will fail if they stay on that course. https://t.co/1hgvPTQ286
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) June 10, 2025
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
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