CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans! After a day of being laid low by the Shingles vaccine, I have returned. Praise the deity of your choice for this incredibly fortuitous display because there's, um, been so much, er, Browns news to comment on during the bye week. Right. I'm still kind of out of it and sleepy, so please excuse what may turn into nonsensical rambling below.
It has not escaped my notice that I receive more upvotes on the forums when I don't post a bloviation than when I do. I'm not sure how to interpret this, but I appreciate all the well-wishes.
At least Ohio football fans have the Ohio State vs. Penn State game to watch today. I really want to see Utah vs. Cincinnati so I can check out the Utah tackles and Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby, but I may have to DVR it to watch tomorrow because my body rejects the notion of 10 PM starts.
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
The Case for Shedeur: I upvote many posts across our forums. Sometimes I do it because I'm just appreciative that someone reads my articles; sometimes it's because someone posts a well-thought-out post or a funny aside. In general, I upvote posts when I appreciate the effort that goes into offering a well-thought-out take.
An example of a post I upvoted is BlueGrassDawg84's "The reason why you have to go to Sanders now". I may not necessarily agree with it, but it's logical and makes its point effectively. Part of the analysis is that the Browns need more time to evaluate Sanders because he's "all or nothing" when it comes to his place on the depth chart.
I still believe, unlike many, many Browns fans, that Dillon Gabriel can be afforded a couple more starts in this doomed season because four games is still a small sample size to make any decision about his future, especially with all the other weaknesses in the Browns offense. I'll probably get a negative response from this statement because many fans have "seen enough" of Gabriel, which I understand.
The difference, perhaps, is that I have little faith in the ability of any one individual to turn around the team's offensive ineffectiveness. I also believe quarterbacks receive an outsized credit or blame for an offense's success or failure for what is still a team sport. But, whoa, Gabriel has looked bad to date, and I totally understand why fans want to see other options.
I'd still give Gabriel another two games to start turning it around, and for Sanders to start getting some first-team reps.
Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders (Photo: Getty)
Trade Talk: At 2-6, there's a lot of talk that the Browns will deal off additional players for more draft assets. They did this last year with Za'Darius Smith, and most of the buzz that's believable out there circles around TE David Njoku and the team's defensive line depth (e.g., Joe Tryon-Shoyinka).
Andrew Berry already has ten draft picks to use this year, to add to a team that's already played over a dozen rookies and first-year undrafted free agents. The question, I suppose, is whether the team needs more draft picks, given how crowded the roster already is with young players.
But Berry is very good at dealing off picks that might be wasted for better picks in future drafts, or bundling picks to move higher in the draft. He could go to a dozen picks or more before I would worry that the team might be flooded with young players who wouldn't be able to make the roster.
Adding to the buzz around trade selections is the recent Charles Robinson story that the Eagles are "Super Hot" for Myles Garrett and would be willing to trade three first-round picks for him. Unfortunately, as Woooha points out, those picks would be very late first-rounders, and it doesn't seem worth it given where the Eagles are likely to finish in the upcoming few seasons. Of course, the financial straightjacket the Browns would find themselves in after dealing away Garrett would limit Berry's cap flexibility.
I find some of these rumors ludicrous, but you know, clicks make the financial world go round for sports news providers. I'm fading fast, into the fog I go.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
ORANGE AND BROWN REPORT GOODIES
BROWNS VIDEOS
Pete and Joe on the Browns running game... - (youtube.com)
Browns 3D- Latest MYLES GARRETT RUMOR, Thoughts on the rookies halfway through - (youtube.com)
BROWNS ARTICLES
3 College Football Matchups to Watch This Weekend - Sam
Where the Cleveland Browns Stand at the Bye Buyers Sellers or Neither at the Trade Deadline - Fred
Skipping Bye Week Press Conference a Misstep for Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry - Pete
Cleveland Browns Must Prepare for Cloudy 2026 Quarterback Class - Sam
Cleveland Browns 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft Bye Week Edition - Sam
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 10/30: The Giant Leap - Barry
BROWNS MESSAGE BOARD POSTS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Any thoughts on Bernies Oct 30th take on KS and Gabriel?
So why havent we heard from the GM?
Is Caleb Downs more valuable
Most realistic ideal situation going into 2026
If the browns win 5-6 games does stefanski survive?
Fannins Blocking
Can anyone confirm this scuttlebutt on Sanders?
A Request on posting
If the browns win 5-6 games does stefanski survive?
Can anyone confirm this scuttlebutt on Sanders?
Schedule Tab and Record
Hope in 26 follow up 3
Question for web dork or Pete
Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders - Do they get study videos?
INSIDER DISCUSSION (VIP)
Depo ….
6th year and not competitive?
THE WATERCOOLER
Mark appreciation
Dolphins fire GM
OT: Blast from the past.
CFL Big Hit! Huge Lineman Knocks Out DB
Sanders to start against the Jets?
Reality check!
AI Struggles to Explain Browns Ineptitude
OT: Happy Halloween!
Travis Hunter Goes On IR
Rumors Eagles interested in Myles
LiveWire Thread for 1031 - Twitter, Article, Videos
Im Sorry, No Bloviation Today
Best and Worst draft?
TNF Dolphins Rats
OT: Is there an AI bubble in the stock market?
For Those Ripping the Zinter Selection in '24
36-24-32
PLEASE READ: What You Get with a VIP Subscription
Q & Cory on '26 QBs
LiveWire Thread for 1030 - Twitter, Article, Videos
24-10-0
YouTubeTV Subscribers May Lose Channels
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
A 14-year study of 25K people finds hopeful people live better lives - (goodgoodgood.co)
Scientists are building cyborg cockroaches to create the world's smallest search and rescue workers - (goodgoodgood.co)
Ancient Stone-Lined Basin Discovered at Roman Town Reveals Engineering Brilliance Predating Concrete - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
Powerful solar storms may help life get going on alien planets. Here's how - (space.com)
Two-Headed Wind Turbine Could Solve Every Challenge in the Offshore Industry - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
I have a confession to make. I fell asleep three to four times while writing the above bloviation, so I don't think my brain can yet handle offering anything positive, a task for which I gathered the above links. All are either cool or hopeful, so please feel free to compose your own lift segment based on your favorite. Outstanding ones will be upvoted personally by me in the response thread.
WRAPPING UP
When not enjoying the side effects of miracles of modern medicine, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and spouts this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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