CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
I hope all is going well for you today, and that you have your favorite morning beverage in hand as you prepare to peruse this Massive Morning Missive.
I guess this morning we have to ponder the experience of one Paul Depodesta, who quit yesterday as Chief Strategy Officer of the Cleveland Browns, one of the least successful football teams, to go take over operations of the Colorado Rockies, one of the least successful baseball teams, as his "next challenge".
By any measure, Depodesta's time with the team was unsuccessful, as evidenced by the team's record. The team was awful when he joined the organization, and it remains terrible to this day. All the synthesis of processes and analytics he brought to the organization hasn't impacted the product visible to consumers.
So, people are pointing to Depodesta's time as a failure, and he'll have to live with that. One hopes he learned vital lessons from his experience with the Browns that will help him succeed with the Rockies, although it doesn't matter at all to the long-suffering Browns fans who witnessed his time in Cleveland.
Or actually, in California, working remotely with the Browns and occasionally visiting Cleveland. Whatever.
The tricky part of doing this is the same as trying to put a hammer a nail into water or shadowboxing with a ghost: There's little substantial evidence to point at Depodesta simply because his role was so behind-the-scenes (he hasn't spoken to the media in over three years), and little is known about his opinions on vital issues involving the team, including the Deshaun Watson trade.
We know a bit about certain decisions. He wasn't a fan of Carson Wentz, didn't want to hire Hue Jackson, and advocated for Sean McDermott, for example. That's pretty much it. His role in the Deshaun Watson deal—the defining decision of the Browns' experience in the 2020s—is entirely unknown.
Fans painting Depodesta as the architect for the Browns failure over the past decade are doing so without compelling evidence, other than his membership as part of the organization. I have no idea whether or not he deserves the criticism and cries of "good riddance" that are being offered in our forums and elsewhere right now.
Paul Depodesta and Jimmy Haslam
Paul Depodesta and Jimmy Haslam (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
One hopes that he's learned valuable lessons from this experience. But, if he has, they won't help the Browns, which moves into the future (hopefully) with employees who Depodesta taught what he knew, so at least that organizational knowledge is not lost.
But as far as praising or cursing Paul Depodesta for his role in the Browns' continued misery since 2016? That's beyond anyone outside the organization, because the executive was so sheltered from prying eyes. He's a shadow who escapes specific blame because of his inscrutability. You will see many articles about what his departure means, but here's scant evidence to base any conclusions upon.
Which means, to all of those who care about the Browns, that we're uncertain whether we're better off or worse off without him. Regardless, Jimmy Haslam remains the man in charge, and ultimate responsibility for success and failure rests with him. The record is not good.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
OBR DAILY GOODIES
OBR VIDEOS
Cleveland Browns Two-Minute Practice Check-In: 11/6/25 - (youtube.com)
Browns 3D-Will a play caller change help the offense find it's feet - (youtube.com)
OBR ARTICLES
End of an Era: Cleveland Browns Paul DePodesta Returns to MLB, Leaves Football - Sam
Browns Tommy Rees, Dillon Gabriel Want Fresh Start Coming Off Bye; Carson Schwesinger, Shedeur Sanders Updates - Fred
Cleveland Browns Film Room Harold Fannin Jr Continues to Perform - Sam
Cleveland Browns Post-Trade Deadline 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft - Sam
Cleveland Browns 5 Things I Want to See Over the Second Half of the Season - Sam
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 11/6: Enthusiasm from Offensive Quarters - Barry
OBR MESSAGE BOARD POSTS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Do u trust this organization to trade up?
Next Up EVP
Depodestas Departure
Question for Jack
How much does the Browns O miss AVP & Callahan?
Depodesta Out first of many changes
Formations on Offense, some of the cause of the offensive woes?
Njoku Emotional after Trade Deadline
2027 QB class
Formations on Offense, some of the cause of the offensive woes?
Klint Kubiak
Dart Follow up
is Berry cheap?
THE WATERCOOLER
TNF Raiders vs. Broncs
DePodesta and The Rockies
Cleveland Browns too many pass attempts
November 6, 1995
Gruden on Sideline Play Sheets
LiveWire Thread for 116 - Twitter, Article, Videos
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
Polar Bear Gleefully Eating a 1,400-Pound Pumpkin Donated for His Dinner iS a Sight to Behold - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
This polar bear is so damn happy that I got a massive kick out of seeing him devour a humongous pumpkin. I have no insights to share, just photos of a pleased bear to serve as today's "Lift".
WRAPPING UP
When not counting pennies, 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.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
CONTACT Barry to sponsor the OBR. We have plans for nearly any budget!
OBR Across the Internet
OBR on BlueSky
OBR on Twitter
OBR on Threads
OBR on LinkedIN
OBR on Youtube
OBR on Twitch
Handy Links
Sign up for our newsletter
Sign up for breaking news text alerts
OBR Unpublished RSS Feed
If you have made it this far, you must subscribe to the OBR. Them's the rules.