CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
PAUL DEPODESTA SPEAKS: The Denver Post has the details and transcript of ex-Browns Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta as he talked to the media in Colorado after taking over the Rockies Baseball Operations. He hadn't spoken with the Cleveland Browns in quite a while, and he touched on some Browns-related topics. I, in exchange, have thoughts. Not good ones, necessarily, but they exist, and I might as well commit them to digital papyrus.
Here are some of my favorite quotes, along with my thoughts after reading them.
WHY HE TOOK THE ROCKIES JOB: "I've used this phrase before, but I'm a bit of a sucker for a challenge."
Alright. What do the Cleveland Browns represent, then? Making the Browns not awful consistently has only been a "challenge" for the past 26 freaking years. Finding a quarterback for the team is just slightly harder than physicists coming up with a Theory of Everything.
The Browns aren't a big enough challenge? Really? At least the Rockies made it to the World Series when a similar feat is well beyond our beloved Browns. In that case, though, the only thing that can explain them is paranormal forces of evil dooming the organization, a possibility that I haven't completely dismissed when it comes to the Browns. DePodesta didn't have to move to the Rocky Mountains to find a challenge.
REGARDING DESHAUN WATSON: "Here's what I would say, and I truly believe this. I believe that most of the decisions, especially the big ones like that, are organizational decisions, right? I'm not a believer in the 'King Scout' situation where there is one guy who makes every call... Everyone who was a part of that? We all own that. We just do, that's part of the deal."
It's nice to see that the wagons have been circled yet again, as the DePodesta/Berry/Stefanski/Haslam gang offer up the same old rhetoric as to why no one needs to be held accountable. And to be honest, I'm not sure I care if someone is singled out and fired. It doesn't change where we are. As I said the other day, it's almost admirable that Haslam is taking this on himself.
Paul DePodesta and Jimmy Haslam
Paul DePodesta and Jimmy Haslam (Photo: Getty)
What it is, however, is yet another sign that the NFL isn't anywhere close to what other businesses, that aren't part of a monopoly, have to endure. The notion that a group of people blow a quarter-billion dollars, multiple draft picks, and waste years of their consumers' lives and no one gets punished for it at all is inconceivable in a normal business.
OBR SUBSCRIPTION DEAL GETS STUPID: With the addition of UFC and Boxing to the already packed Paramount+ Premium offering in 2026, Paramount will raise the price of the subscription to P+ alone to $14 per month.
If you weren't aware, OBR subscribers who renew get Paramount+ Premium for FREE. So, um, the bundled OBR/Paramount+ subscription costs less than buying Paramount+ alone.
Basically, it's reached the point where it's a ridiculous deal if you're into having Paramount+ at all, love UFC and other sports, or want their programming. It's absurdly good and supports our efforts here, plus getting you more OBR for your Browns-related "pleasure". Go here to take advantage of Paramount's generosity.
Of course, the OBR is worth it by itself. We have more in store in the weeks ahead. You get this daily early-AM tripe as part of it, after all. Plus, it keeps me occupied, stopping me from fomenting revolution out of boredom.
BROWNS AND DESHAUN WATSON: The Browns keep delaying Deshaun Watson's 21-day practice window, I suspect, in part because they want to push out the Deshaun Watson "issue" of taking up a roster spot if they activate him. And other issues.
I think this is a good idea, mainly because the Browns will have to get a restraining order to keep me from posting my thoughts about it to the OBR front page and our various partners who syndicate this Massive Morning Missive should Deshaun Watson ever see the field wearing a Cleveland Browns uniform ever again. I don't want to see him in a Cleveland Browns uniform playing football again, and the team should have the resources not to put their fans through that.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
CLEVELAND BROWNS GOODIES
OBR VIDEOS
Pete and Joe: What Now? - (youtube.com)
0Browns 3D-Browns do some roster tinkering, is Wright hurt? Draft thoughts - (youtube.com)
OBR ARTICLES FROM YESTERDAY
Cleveland Browns 2026 Running Back Prediction - Jack
Cleveland Browns Announce Roster Moves - Joe
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 11/11: Betrayals, Dropping Eyes, and It's Not My Day - Barry
PFF Report Card Grades and Data from the Cleveland Browns Week 10 Loss to New York Jets - Sam
FROM THE FORUMS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Is the line weaknesses causing QB growth to be stunted?
Jags trade revisited
Trading a coach?
Browns coaching is bad - who gets the blame?
The Wide Receiver Group
Noise within organization !
Browns coaching is bad - who gets the blame?
Dillons poor throws because of small hands?
INSIDER DISCUSSION (VIP)
Cam Thomas
THE WATERCOOLER
OT: Stranger Things Final Season
Our coaches in Cleveland
Rank the Browns Job
Dylan Sampson
Chubb loses starting role with Texans
OT: Alien: Earth
New Way for the Browns to Score
A mock from the #4 hole
OT: Fireplace Replacements
The Official Last Member Standing Thread Week 11
OT-3D printers
OT: What is your streaming strategy?
Everyone needs this pick me up
Happy Veterans Day
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
How to be ambitious without losing your soul - (bigthink.com)
I worked alongside people who are now rich. I was very ambitious and aspired to reach the pinnacle of the consulting world, but I didn't. When I was in consulting, I thought it was the greatest job in the world… until I had kids who I desperately wanted to be with, and an opportunity to party with the Cleveland Browns as my main gig. For years, I angled my way into in-torn assignments, but ultimately reached the point where my salary could only be justified by flying me all over the place.
I'm not sure how to "have it all". To be ambitious without losing your soul or putting aside those things important to you outside of work. BigThink.com apparently has figured this out, so kudos to them.
WRAPPING UP
When not seeking a bigger challenge, 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.
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.