CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
I often start my Sunday bloviations with a note as to how little was published in the Cleveland Browns mediasphere the day before. Things were slow yesterday. Slllllloooooooow. So slow that people even read the morning bloviation because there wasn't much else.
The credentialed media outlets were dozing beyond a couple of articles, so I wandered into my feed directory named "crap pile" to see the latest "analyst says" or "insider suggests" drivel, which almost always turns out to be some radio yahoo spouting nonsense as they fill up their required airtime. Apparently, there's a market for this stuff, but I generally give up on it after being disappointed by the headline leading me to some part-time talking head filling up airspace between Window Nation commercials. Bah. Should have learned my lesson months ago.
Still, things were peaceful enough that Mahamoud Diabate's signing with the Titans was able to get a little bit of media attention. Diabete's exit wasn't heralded or splashy - he was simply not tendered by the Browns as a restricted free agent, making him able to sign with any team. Which he did. Diabate's departure is making much in the way of waves as he wasn't slated to start, but did provide a nice cog in the Browns' defensive engine the last few years. It's just a sign that the new coaching staff is looking at the roster and making decisions, and one decision is that they could find as good or better production for the dollar elsewhere. It doesn't portend a big signing, only that the coaching staff is at work, evaluating players, and making decisions that differ from the last regime.
While the minor move was at linebacker, the major upcoming move is clearly at wide receiver. The Browns are not exactly making a secret of it, as they host receiver after receiver for top-30 pre-draft visits. USC WR Makai Lemon, Boston College WR Denzel Boston, Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr., and others have made their way to Berea in recent days. The Browns are clearly looking not for depth, but for talent at the very top of the roster at the position. There's no real pattern to the visits other than production - there's not a "type" of receiver the Browns are looking for that has emerged out of the visits. Meanwhile, ex-Niners WR Jauan Jennings is still floating around in free agency — a guy who could step in and contribute immediately — but the draft seems to be where the real focus is.
Makai Lemon, USC
Makai Lemon, USC (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Speaking of wide receivers, old friend Odell Beckham, Jr., apparently made a good catch during a flag football exhibition game this weekend, which he hopes will catapult him back into the league. Not in Cleveland, where it seems the clock moved to the 16th minute of OBJ's fame. But the wide receiver doesn't seem to want to move on or give up, so he's still in some headlines.
A couple of miscellaneous notes:
WELCOME TO THE PARTY, PAL: Years ago, there was a dream that independent team sites like the OBR could be bolted together into a network for high-quality sites catering to fan communities. Starting around 2020, some influential people in the industry began to think that the NFL was "oversaturated" with content, and so they decided to focus on college sports instead. As a result, network sites shifted their focus entirely to college sports, fearing competition in the NFL space. As college sports have increased in popularity, though, the types of media entities that sprang up for NFL football are now springing up for college football. Namely, like the NFL, colleges are getting into the media business with their own info-promotion media companies. The thing about capitalism is that voids are quickly filled, and college sports will attract the same type of competition that had networks convinced the NFL was too scary a realm to compete in. Personally, I think that, even in a busy market, there is room for quality content and passionate fan communities.
TY SIMPSON HYPE EBBING? I wrote several weeks ago that Ty Simpson was "having a moment" of sorts, as analysts desperate for quarterback draft picks not named "Fernando" gave a fresh look at his sole season as Alabama's starter. Now that line of reasoning is starting to get some pushback, as draft analyst Matt Miller of The Athletic appeared on the Rich Eisen Show to restate concerns about Simpson, suggesting he seems to fit into the high second round a little better than the first.
SURE, YOUR WHINING IS VALID: During the hiatus from 1995-1998, Browns fans had no team to root for, so many of us turned our attention to rooting for whoever was playing the "Baltimore Ravens", which was the team stolen from Cleveland. I had a lot of fun with it back in the day, even created a website I called the "Ravens Suckzone" to make fun of them when they lost (which was often). There were some in the Ravens fanbase and media who took exception to this, asking Browns fans to behave in a completely different way than they themselves did when the Colts were swiped from them. These weenies provided more fodder for humor, but eventually faded from view as the Browns returned, and things calmed down a bit. I'm reminded of this as Seattle looks set to get an NBA team back and a few of the team-swipers from Oklahoma City are waiting on an "apology" from rightfully upset Seattle fans before returning the team's history. Some things never change.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
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THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
New AI Glasses for Dementia 'Sees' Objects With Labels Projected on Lenses to 'Significantly' Improve Lives
As I've noted before in this space, Alzheimer's disease has impacted me personally, with a number of elderly family members hit with the disease or other forms of dementia later in life. It's so difficult for these individuals to navigate the world around them, and it wears on their families as well. But now, technology may be able to help with AI glasses that can label objects, send reminders, etc. I'm in general a fan of technology, as I believe it can be used for good as well as ill, and this is an example of how new technology can do something beyond helping people to keep up with texts or play VR racquetball.
WRAPPING UP
When not waiting for his AI glasses, 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.
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