CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
Today's Newswire is brought to you by, um, me. We don't have a sponsor for this beast at the moment. If you would like to sponsor the Massive Morning Missive or other site features, contact me, and we'll give your business love that borders on being uncomfortable for both parties.
Remember that Browns news links are updated throughout the day via the Daily News Ticker gadget right here. Some people said they miss me highlighting a few articles in this space, so I'll try to start doing that as well for people who see this article on the OBR.
BEING WRONG ABOUT DEANDRE CARTER
I want to apologize for yesterday's Newswire. Not that this is unusual, I typically feel a little apologetic about foisting my views on things like sunsets and Browns player moves on those who feel compelled to click on my article. In this case, I'd like to apologize for focusing on an incorrect post from the usually reliable insider Jordan Schultz, who indicated that the Browns were intent on cutting WR/KR DeAndre Carter. Once again, I've learned the lesson to wait until someone local like Lane Adkins confirms the information.
It turns out that Carter wasn't cut and has (at least for now) made the 53-man roster. I used the false information to opine on the decision to cut Carter (which I approved of). It was not a criticism of the player's undeniable talent, but rather a comment on the composition of the Browns' wide receiver room. I still consider a player who is more or less dedicated to kick returns to be a luxury for a team that needs to develop young talent and help its quarterbacks as much as possible.
With the exit of Diontae Johnson, the team's receiver room is embarrassingly thin on proven wide receiver talent. The current group (Jeudy, Tillman, Thrash, Carter, Larvadain and newcomer Isaiah Bond) has only one proven receiver. There is some interesting talent that has 0-2 years of experience on the roster, but I'd feel much more confident if there were another veteran receiver in this group.
If the Browns consider Harold Fannin to be another receiver at tight end, I understand, but again, he's just a rookie and still unproven.
The Browns may today trade or pick up a wide receiver with more experience of success in the league, in which case Carter might still find himself on a practice squad and be moved up and down to the roster with regularity. I'm simply not comfortable with this WR room, and hope to be proven wrong.
MIKE HALL IS A MONSTER BONUS
Slipped into the team's official list of transactions was the notice that Mike Hall has passed his physical. I've been an unabashed Mike Hall advocate ever since I pushed the Browns to pick him in the 2024 NFL draft, and his return to the team will augur an even more fierce pass rush rotation at defensive tackle, making the team (especially with the emergence of Adin Huntington) absolutely ludicrous in this department.
While the Browns' excess of talent on the defensive line might normally portend a deal of one of their talented players for some offensive help, I am not anticipating that at this time, simply because defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has such sway within the organization, and loves having a deep rotation of talent to keep the pass rush ferocious and fresh. And the Briggs truck already left town, too.
MIchael Hall
The interior line just got even better. (Photo: Getty)
Of all the reasons to look forward to a season that may be a bit rough in the won/loss department, put the Browns' defensive line at the front of my list. I know some fans are all about offense, but I am really looking forward to seeing this group unleashed on occasionally innocent quarterbacks. What the first team did to poor Dresser Winn last Saturday will probably have that quarterback re-thinking his intended career choice. This is going to be fun.
ON DESHAUN WATSON
There's some speculation in the local press about Deshaun Watson's potential return and whether it might have influenced the Browns' decision to trade QB Kenny Pickett. Watson is reportedly making progress in his rehab and appears to be on track to potentially be ready at some point during the season, if needed.
I'd rather watch a game managed by Snoop Huntley, or Snoop Dogg himself, than see Deshaun Watson again.
I, along with most of the media, was fooled last year by Watson's preseason confidence and athleticism, and I hoped for average quarterback play at the very least. His tendency to improvise, mysterious depth of dropbacks, and the decline in his processing speed several years ago led to a horrible start for the offense. It was a complete disaster. Browns fans tuned out as the season progressed, with horrific consequences for my Sunday afternoons and this site's traffic.
There are many reasons I want this team to move on from Deshaun Watson, and I don't desire to see him in a Browns uniform again. However, if I understand the Browns' typical logic correctly, there might be a desire to revive any value associated with that quarterback "asset" in the off-chance that someone could be persuaded to give up a draft pick or other compensation to acquire him. This is so unlikely that it's not worth re-creating the fans' experience of that era again. Keep Watson on IR all year.
The Watson era is over. Keep it that way.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
OBR STUFF
VIDEOS
Pete and Joe Talk Browns! - (youtube.com)
Browns 3D- Browns trade Kenny Pickett, Finalize 53 man roster - (youtube.com)
Two-Minute Check-In: Cut Down Day - (youtube.com)
ARTICLES**
The Seven Cleveland Browns Players Most At Risk Of Departing Before Week One - WRITER
Updated Browns Moves to get to 53 Cut Dustin Hopkins, Diontae Johnson; Dillon Gabriel No. 2; Hall Update - WRITER
Cleveland Browns News Headlines 8/26 - WRITER
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 8/26: Twilight and Brief Stays - WRITER
Cleveland Browns Quarterback Accuracy Charting Preseason Week 3 Update - WRITER
FORUM POSTS**
Killian Zierer (VIP)
Wide receivers on waivers (VIP)
Are the Browns built to lose gracefully? (VIP)
Talent available after cutdown (VIP)
Wide receivers on waivers (VIP)
Follow-up on Judkins questions. (VIP)
Please explain the specifics on (VIP)
anyones eyebrows raised over KS and Huntley? (VIP)
Take a flyer on hunter renfrow? (VIP)
Would the Browns……grab Tony Jefferson (VIP)
Allar? (VIP)
Confidence in Gabriel? (VIP)
Browns trading up for dart or Simmons? (VIP)
Jack: Financial implications of todays roster moves (VIP)
Whats the holdup at RB? (VIP)
Practice squad (VIP)
Judkins (VIP)
Waiver order (VIP)
Will there be a 53cut board (VIP)
Qb situation 2026? (VIP)
KT Leveston (VIP)
Follow-up On Judkins Question (VIP)
Pre-Draft Evaluation of Hunter (VIP)
Njoku Extension (VIP)
Secondary Depth (VIP)
WR Noise (VIP)
Estime (VIP)
Estime Cut Yesterday (VIP)
OT: Athletes you remember but only recently appreciated
Steelers carrying 4 qbs
Watson is coming back this year
Raiders Sign Amari Cooper
The Official Call Your Shot Browns Record For 2025 Season:
Audio: Fred talks Cut-Downs on WTAM
Cool Flacco video with Aditi
Hopkins released!!
Official 53-man Roster Announced
OT: Engagement
Which is Worse…
Report of 6 UDFAs on Today's 53 Man Roster
RIP to the internet.....LOL
LiveWire Thread for 826 - Twitter, Video, Articles
Physical training camp paying off?
Just Three Spots Left: Browns Vintage Fantasy League!
UDFA strategy paying off?
Browns Acquire OL from Rams
Browns releasing Diontae Johnson
Polymarket Ranks Schwesinger among Top "Steals"
Looks Like Pierre Strong Cut
my thorough analysis watching every rep of our new left tackle
Report on Coming Judkins Suspension
FEATURED BROWNS LINKS
CBS mocks Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Browns, as they expect Arch Manning to head back to college. This is probably the fifth different QB I've seen the Browns pegged as selecting in this year's draft. College football at places like Indiana, LSU, and South Carolina will be extremely interesting for Browns fans to watch this year. The QB class is loaded.
The Shedeur Sanders coverage continues to be unique. Let's leave it at that. USA Today ponders what Sanders will do now. Here's a guess, folks: He'll sit on game day and continue to develop every other day. So much attention on a fifth-round pick. It's stunning and weird, even more so that coverage on guys like Johnny Manziel.
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
'Futurama' is back on Hulu, and Season 13 looks bigger and better than ever (video) - (space.com)
Australian Woman Shocked When Ohio Social Media Helps Reunite Her with iPad Lost 2 Years Ago - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
Exoplanets engulfed in steam are taking center stage in the search for life in our galaxy - (space.com)
A couple of items of what I consider to be good news to share with you today, including one with an Ohio connection. I regularly take advantage of this area of the OBR Daily Newswire to share positive thoughts about my favorite entertainment programs. Still, I can't encourage fans enough to watch Futurama, which consistently offers some of the most intelligent humor in cartoon form.
I have to admit that most of what passes for comedy on television flies right past me. I tend to squirm more than laugh at situational comedy, but the writing on Futurama, which isn't afraid to be smart or reference science, remains a gift. It's been a significant influence on my sense of humor, and phrases from the show, such as "Take that, causality!" dominate my personal list of pop culture quotes.
WRAPPING UP
*When not watching cartoons, 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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