A realistic look at this year’s Browns
By STEVE KING
The 2021 Browns are not just going to the Super Bowl for the first time, but they are also going to win it.
That’s right, a Super Bowl championship this season.
There, I said it.
And I mean it.
Not with my heart, though I had to work hard to get rid of that emotion and not let it affect my prediction, but so much more importantly with my head.
Indeed, let’s examine this thing with a common-sense approach.
If you were not a fan of the Browns, what would think if you saw these things?
*An emerging franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield.
*A quality set of wide receivers, including a speedy, stretch-the-field one in Odell Beckham Jr.
*A group of quality tight ends.
*One of the best offensive lines in the league, if not THE best.
*The best running back tandem in the NFL in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
*Probably the best defensive end in the game in Myles Garrett and, with partner Jadeveon Clowney, perhaps the best end tandem in the game.
*Speed at linebacker for the first time in a long time.
*A much improved secondary, especially at safety.
*Speed in the return game, again for the first time in a long time.
*One of the better punters in football in Jamie Gillen.
*A head coach in Kevin Stefanski, who, though just in his second year, has already proven he has the calm to make good decisions in tense situations, the organization to thoroughly prepare his team and the ability to get the attention, and garner the respect, of his players.
*And a team overall that, after finishing 11-5 last year, making the playoffs for the first time in 18 years and winning a postseason game for the first time in 26 seasons, is quite confident, believing that the sky is the limit.
If you saw all that, you would think that the team has an excellent chance to win it all, or at least seriously compete for such.
But because you’re a Browns fan, you are instead looking under every rock to try to find problems.
You don’t need to be positive to see the potential of the Browns, but you shouldn’t be negative, either.
Just be realistic.
And that starts today in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
DE Myles Garrett (9.10.21)
On his mindset for Sunday’s game after playing the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round:
“Go in and go win. It is a big game. They have proven that they can go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. They are one of the best teams in the league. We want to be ranked amongst that group. We have to go in there and attack them.”
On if he likes to get this type of test to start the season:
“I sure do not mind it. I like it. I like to be able to go against the best, and I am sure that the rest of the guys are eager for the challenge, as well.”
On how nice it was to get DE Jadeveon Clowney back at practice today as the Browns prepare to face a Chiefs OL with several new starters:
“They are new, but they have some good guys on their line. Not selling them short. Not going to take them for granted. We have to go out there thinking that they put in the same kind of work that we have. We are going to go out there and test them, but we have to get ourselves sharp before we can go out there and put on the performance we want to.”
On if he was worried about Clowney’s status after missing practices this week due to illness:
“No, I am going to go out there and do what I do regardless. I am sure glad that he is back – will never sell that short. I was not playing with Clowney last year or my first three years so if anything happens, I am not going to be afraid to take on the challenge with the rest of the guys in the locker room because I know they are just as prepared.”
On what stands out from watching film of the playoff matchup against the Chiefs:
“What sticks out? How well (Chiefs QB) Patrick (Mahomes) was playing before he got knocked out. (Chiefs QB Chad) Henne scrambling and no one picking him up – that hurts. I pick up on most of the negative plays. I do not care how many plays I was close, I got a hit or I made a tackle or how well we did. It is the negative plays and how we can clean that up. We were only a couple of plays from being in a completely different situation. How we can improve and how we can sharpen ourselves to take the next step.”
Browns elevate LB Elijah Lee and K Chris Naggar to active roster
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have elevated LB Elijah Lee and K Chris Naggar (pronounced nuh-GAR) to the active roster from the practice squad.
Lee is 6-3, 230 pounds and in his fifth NFL season out of Kansas State. Originally selected by Minnesota in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, Lee has appeared in 50 career games and logged 53 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack, while adding 13 special teams stops. He appeared in eight games with the Browns in 2020. A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Lee will wear No. 52.
Naggar (5-11, 193) is an undrafted rookie that was originally by the New York Jets out of SMU. Naggar began his collegiate career at Texas (2016-19) before transferring to SMU for his redshirt senior season. The 2020 AAC Special Teams Player of the Year made 17 of his 21 field goals (81.0%) and 43 of 46 extra points (93.5) last season. Naggar is a native of Arlington, Texas and will wear No. 8.
A club can carry up to 55 players on its roster during a given week by elevating one or two players from its practice squad prior to the transaction deadline that precedes the game. The rule allows teams a larger pool from which to select their 47 or 48 game-day active players. Any player elevated from the practice squad for this purpose will immediately revert to his team’s practice squad the day following the game.
Key dates ahead
Sunday: Week 1 at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m.
Sept. 19: Week 2 vs. Houston, 1 p.m.
Sept. 26: Week 3 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 2: NFL trade deadline, 4 p.m.
