Browns Plainly Podcast

The day started here at the NFL Scouting Combine with news that the Browns are going to release safety John Johnson III at the start of the new league year on March 15. Johnson was one of the Browns’ big free agent signings a few offseasons ago.

Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe recapped their day at the combine, starting with their reaction to the decision to move on from Johnson. What went wrong with him in Cleveland? What will the Browns do next? Could they pursue Jessie Bates III from the Bengals?

Then they give their takeaways from GM Andrew Berry’s press conference. What’s up with Deshaun Watson’s contract? Will they invest in the defensive line? What did Berry have to say about Greg Newsome II?

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Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow

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The Cleveland Browns are in the process of exploring locations for a potential new stadium with their lease at FirstEnergy Stadium set to expire at the end of 2028. As one might expect, Browns fans across social media were quick to react to the news of a potential new stadium, which according to Prendergast, could include either a dome or a retractable roof. "The Haslams reportedly want a year-round stadium with either a permanent dome or retractable roof to attract to Cleveland more non-football related events such as bigger concerts and shows, larger and annual Rock Hall induction ceremonies, college sporting events including basketball tournament games and more," Prendergast wrote. "Unfortunately, FirstEnergy Stadium is used only about 10-12 times per year, underutilizing 20 acres of prime lakefront land." As for the locations the Browns are reportedly exploring, Prendergast specifically mentions two: where the Main Post Office is currently located at 2400 Orange Ave., southeast of downtown, and just east of downtown’s central business district, north of St. Clair Avenue -- potentially between East 13th and East 17th streets. While most fans on social media appear to favor keeping the team's stadium on the lakefront with the second location, some have expressed concern over how the stadium would be paid for, which Prendergast reports would include at least some level of public funding. "One thing is certain some public funding will be involved whether the Browns play in a renovated or replaced stadium. Only three NFL facilities – Gillette Stadium in New England, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey/New York City and SoFi Stadium in Greater Los Angeles – were built without any public funding, according to a recent article in The Buffalo News," he writes.

Meanwhile the city of Cleveland continues to make repairs at FirstEnergy Stadium. The latest, approved by city council one week ago, total $10 million and includes replacing crumbling, rusted ramps, deteriorated concrete elsewhere in the stadium, plus new lighting, heating and doors. About $8 million will be paid by the countywide sin tax and most of the rest will come from the city’s general fund. The city is responsible for emergency repairs per the lease with the Browns. Carrying out the work will be construction managers M. A. Mortenson Company of Minneapolis and Independence Construction of the Cleveland suburb of Independence, a third source said. Mortenson has completed more than 160 development and construction projects in 25 states in the past decade alone. However, Ohio has not been one of the states in which they’ve built anything. That changed in April when the Cleveland Guardians and the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland hired Mortenson as their construction manager at risk for the $435 million renovation of Progressive Field. Mortenson is partnering with Independence on updating the Guardians’ ballpark as well, with work starting after the baseball season ends this fall.

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The Cleveland Browns have added to Alex Van Pelt's duties as he will now go back to being Quarterback coach as well as offensive coordinator. It seems the theory is less voices can be a difference.

Veteran offensive coach Bill Musgrave has been attained to aide Coach Stefanski and Van Pelt, giving both men a true veteran to lean on.

Also we'll explore the implications of the recent purchase of a minority share of the Milwaukee Bucks by the Haslam family. As the owners of the Cleveland Browns, the Haslam family is likely to be interested in the Milwaukee Bucks – a team located just up the river in Wisconsin. This purchase is likely to be of interest to Cleveland Browns fans, as it may signal the family's intent to take the team back into the playoffs. However, the implications of the purchase on the team and its fans are still unclear. We'll explore what the future holds for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Browns in the wake of the Haslam family's purchase.

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It’s not far fetched to believe that any one of the three major sports teams in Cleveland will play for a championship in the next 500 or so days. 

Both the Browns and Cavaliers have made all-in moves, declaring themselves ready to win now. The Guardians, meanwhile, surprised many with their playoff run last year and have an exciting young core of players with, perhaps, the best manager the franchise has ever had.

We try to answer the question on this podcast: Which coach or manager will win a championship first in Cleveland?

We start by talking to our experts who cover them.

Chris Fedor tells us about J.B. Bickerstaff.

Paul Hoynes gives us the lowdown on Terry Francona.

Mary Kay Cabot tells us everything we need to know about Kevin Stefanski.

Then, Doug Lesmerises, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe try to answer the question: Which manager will win a championship first?

Music credit:

Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Looking for the latest Browns news? You've come to the right place! In this video, we'll discuss the team's potential free agent targets and discuss their chances of signing Bobby Wagner. The Cleveland Browns are poised to make a run at the NFL's best linebacker in free agency. With rumors swirling and teams showing interest, it's sure to be an exciting offseason for the Browns! Stay tuned to this channel for all the latest Browns news and rumors! The Cleveland Browns are looking to win now and the best linebacker in football just hit the free agent market.

Cleveland had a rough run in 2022, though the team’s first-year issues weren’t much of a surprise. The Browns went all in on quarterback Deshaun Watson last offseason and are poised to be competitive in the AFC North Division if the quarterback can return to his pre-suspension form. Several units on the roster are stacked with Pro-Bowl level talent, though the linebacker group, which was plagued by injury last year, is in desperate need of an injection of talent. On Thursday, February 23, perennial All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner broke ties with the Los Angeles Rams and will be looking for a new home when the NFL’s free agency period opens on March 15.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news on Thursday afternoon. Thea The Los Angeles Rams and top linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to mutually part ways making Wagner a free agent. Wagner’s desire to win, which Schefter noted, could be an issue for the Browns should the team decide to court him. However, the franchise’s commitment to playing for the present is clear based on the moves it made last offseason.

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The NFL world will descend upon Indianapolis next week for the NFL combine. Along with the draft's top prospects, coaches, GMs and scouts will take over the city for a week as the NFL Draft process officially kicks off.

Browns GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski will both address the media. On today's Orange and Brown Talk Podcast, Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe discuss the questions they have for the two.

From topics involving new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to the type of receivers the Browns like, they take turns throwing out the questions they have for the two of them next week.

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Music credit:

Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has added two new corrdinators, starting with Jim Schwartz replacing Joe Woods on defense and Bubba Ventrone replacing Mike Priefer to run special teams.

Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe take a look at Stefanski's new-look staff on Thursday's Orange and Brown Talk Podcast.

They start by discussing Ventrone and how he'll help rejuvenate special teams and get kicker Cade York back on track.

Then they look at Stefanski's staff and what he's looked at as he's tried to remake it going into Year 4.

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Music credit:

Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Kevin Stefanski boasts a 26-24 record over 3 seasons as the Cleveland Browns‘ head coach. That actually compares favorably to how a lot of Hall of Fame-caliber coaches started their NFL careers. But Stefanski is trending in reverse, starting out with an 11-5 campaign and coming off a 7-10 effort in 2022. And that has more than a few folks wondering if Stefanski should be on the hot seat in 2023. This is despite some solid offensive rankings that don’t placate fans who question his play-calling and player usage. And hiring a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience isn’t going to lessen any pressure Stefanski feels. It’s All About The Quarterback During the Christmas weekend broadcasts, NBC ran a graphic of great coaches’ records without their most famous quarterback. Bill Belichick, for example, has a losing record without Tom Brady. And that trend was followed by more Hall of Fame coaches than not across recent history.

As underwhelming as Watson was in December, Stefanski deserves a normal season with Cleveland’s franchise quarterback. Anyone who can win playoff games with an inconsistent Mayfield and turn Brissett into a top-10-rated passer does.Of course, failing with Watson at the helm will only accelerate Stefanski’s departure from the Browns. It might even spell the end of the untouchable Paul DePodesta and his stability-wins-championships mantra. Fans’ Angst Proves Things Are Better With Stefanski Brissett’s statistically-impressive performance in 2022 might earn him a starting job somewhere else next season.

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Jackson is joined by Brad Ward of The OBR and the All Eyez on Cleveland podcast to discuss the dismissal of Special Teams coach Mike Priefer and the likely hiring of Colts Special Teams coach Ray "Bubba" Ventrone.

They also discuss Brad's latest article where he did a "Mock Free Agency" of what the Browns can do to fill the holes on the roster.

Article: https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/LongFormArticle/Cleveland-Browns-Brad-Ward-Free-Agency-Mock-204884297/#204884297_1

Follow Brad on Twitter: @WardOnSports

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The new league year is getting closer and closer and, with the NFL Scouting Combine taking place next week, things will really start heating up for the Browns and the rest of the league.

Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe discussed some of the recent stories that have gone up about the Browns on cleveland.com, including the key dates Browns fans need to know as they venture into another important offseason.

Then they discuss the 2020 rookie class and how they would rank the players picked before they move on to this year's draft and try to figure out if GM Andrew Berry will stay on brand and fill an obvious need or if he will do something unexpected, like last year.

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Music credit:

Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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