A TIE?!?
How, in the world of professional sports, is a tie even possible? It feels like when on the first day of class the professor asks, "What's your favorite movie?" (as if that's a way to ever get to know a person) and there's always one person that goes into WAY too much detail and say "ummm I really don't have a favorite, it's between blah blah and blah..." How can you not have a favorite? How can you play a game and there NOT be a winner? Do they all just get participation medals?
On one hand, I think it's funny to look at it from a Pittsburgh perspective and realize, that's a team fighting for a #1 overall seed in the AFC and they have to get out of Cleveland extremely disappointed. How many times do we have to see the headline, "Ben Roethlisberger is the winningest quarterback in First Energy Stadium history," like great! Hey while we're at it, how many different Browns QBs have there been since 1999? I wonder if there's a jersey about it.
Here's my idea: You take every active player from each team and ask them on how to pronounce "carmel." Whichever team has the most "care-UH-mels," loses.
Or just do a field goal kicking competition. Or flip a coin. Guess a number between 1-69. I don't care, but pick a goddamn winner. I feel like I had OK sex and never came. I need a conclusion, I need to know how it's over.
Don't judge me on this article alone, future employer, I'm sure there's something else in here you can find that's not repulsive... or not. Fuck it.
Something funny I was thinking about yesterday before kickoff: The NFL is constantly littered in controversy. There's the whole 'kneeling' controversy, pissing off all the "Make America Great Again" fine citizens. There's the constant criticism of Commissioner Roger Goodell for his hypocritically light punishments for domestic abusers and harsh punishment for marijuana smokers. There's CTE, which has shown terrifying, overwhelming evidence that the men that play this game are sacrificing their long term well being. There's the constant, game changing TERRIBLE officiating.
Every week, it seems like something awful that's non-football related is making football headlines. Yet, the NFL remains by far the most popular sport in America. Personally, there is something about watching an NFL game on a Sunday afternoon that can't be replicated by any other sport watching experience. The NFL could literally cover up a series of murders and I'd be like, "well everybody eventually dies anyways, how many touchdowns is Drew Brees gonna throw today?"
ABOUT THE GAME
Tyrod Taylor stunk today. Weather conditions aside, only targeting Josh Gordon 3 times simply is not good enough. The man makes plays, just throw it up there and see what happens. Had he not severely underthrown him with regulation running out, you may have just seen the type of impact he is truly capable of. On the other hand, Jarvis Landry was targeted 15 times (with 7 completions). I know that I do not know the x's and o's of football and reading coverages and that's perfectly fine, but you have to find a way to get the ball to your best playmakers. Or at least try. Especially when you're struggling offensively. The Steelers defense is not what it used to be, especially with Ryan Shazier, by far their best defensive player, missing. You have to put the ball in the hands of your playmakers. Simple.
Penalties on the left side of the offensive line. Anything to do with the uncertainty involving the left tackle position, including a musical chairs esque revolving door of potential starting left tackles? I mean at one point Shon Coleman was considered a possible starting left tackle and he DIDN'T EVEN MAKE THE TEAM. I know we're accustomed to having the best left tackle in football and that hasn't translated to wins, but nonetheless, it's one of the most important positions in all of sports. And that position needs to be better. Too. Many. Penalties.
DENZEL
Denzel Ward! What a day to be a Nordonia alum. He was just outstanding. Not even including his 2 potential game changing interceptions. He was a stud in the tackling game, which isn't a surprise after watching him at Ohio State. Despite his 180 pound frame, he plays like he truly enjoys putting somebody on their ass. Did you watch him on Antonio Brown? He was lining up close enough to him to tell you what his breath smelled like, and that wasn't by design. That's just his comfort zone. He blanketed him all day, including on Brown's touchdown reception. Nothing you can do there but tip your cap as 2 future hall of fame players connected on a play that 99% of the time would've been an incomplete pass. I am very excited about this young man's future.
"Bless 'em!"
That's all I could think about watching Jarvis Landry today. The man is a straight up baller. We could talk about his 7 catches for over 100 yards, being one of only 2 Browns receivers to register multiple catches (David Njoku with 3 catches for 13 yards the other), the fact that he was targeted a whopping 15 times by Tyrod Taylor, or his remarkable catch along the sidelines in which he had to stop running at full speed to catch an underthrown ball on his fingertips as he was falling on his rear end. But how about his physicality and attitude? Him blocking downfield and drawing a personal foul early in the game got me reallllly excited in the type of player this guy is - he got his money and he ain't satisfied. This isn't some Dwayne Bowe or Kenny Britt type shit. This guy just loves football, and he is ready to be one of the top 10 receivers in the league. He is absolutely the guy we all saw in 'Hard Knocks'
BRIGHT FUTURE
Myles Garret is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The man is a force to be reckoned with. At times, the Browns were better off playing defense versus playing offense because of the impact that Garret's pressure can create. He almost single handedly won them a football game this afternoon. He said after the game that this is nothing special for him, just who he is when healthy (paraphrasing). He looks like a young Julius Peppers. Reportedly, the Sashi Brown regime was very torn on who to draft with the first pick of the 2017 draft. There was a very serious push for Mitch Trubisky, supposedly led by Paul DePodesta (the same man that said Carson Wentz wasn't a top 20 NFL QB). The Sashi Brown regime got a lot of things wrong, but they didn't get this pick wrong. Get excited, fellow Browns fans.
THE SASHI
Speaking of Sashi Brown, this feels relevant. The Browns very nearly traded a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for AJ McCarron at the NFL trade deadline last season. Brown failed to get the paperwork in on time, to the ire of owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam and coach Hue Jackson. McCarron couldn't even beat out Nathan Peterman, who was TERRIBLE for Buffalo today in route to losing by over 40 points! to the Baltimore Ravens this afternoon. Sashi, we are all grateful. Still can't forgive you for Carson Wentz, but way to go out a hero.
OTHER TIDBITS ABOUT THE GAME
- Hue Jackson was adamant before the game that Josh Gordon wouldn't start, yet on the first play from scrimmage, Gordon was the only wide receiver on the field. LOL. Hue...
- Duke Johnson with only one catch on a day when the offense can't complete a ball down the field? Need more creativity here from Todd Haley.
- What the hell was that penalty on Myles Garrett on Joe Schobert's interception? Seriously?
- Picked up John Conner on fantasy before the game. It's always weird to have Steelers players going when they're playing the Browns, but if they're gonna score they're gonna score. Might as well get something out of it.
- Josh Gordon played a season opener. For the first time since 2012. AKA his rookie season. Every season since then, he has been suspended for at least the first 2 games of the regular season. Incredible.
- Saw this stat on Twitter: Since the Browns came back in 1999, teams with a +5 turnover differential are 132-4-1. The Browns are responsible for 2 of the losses and the tie. Honestly I'm surprised all 4 don't belong to the Browns.
How, in the world of professional sports, is a tie even possible? It feels like when on the first day of class the professor asks, "What's your favorite movie?" (as if that's a way to ever get to know a person) and there's always one person that goes into WAY too much detail and say "ummm I really don't have a favorite, it's between blah blah and blah..." How can you not have a favorite? How can you play a game and there NOT be a winner? Do they all just get participation medals?
On one hand, I think it's funny to look at it from a Pittsburgh perspective and realize, that's a team fighting for a #1 overall seed in the AFC and they have to get out of Cleveland extremely disappointed. How many times do we have to see the headline, "Ben Roethlisberger is the winningest quarterback in First Energy Stadium history," like great! Hey while we're at it, how many different Browns QBs have there been since 1999? I wonder if there's a jersey about it.
Here's my idea: You take every active player from each team and ask them on how to pronounce "carmel." Whichever team has the most "care-UH-mels," loses.
Or just do a field goal kicking competition. Or flip a coin. Guess a number between 1-69. I don't care, but pick a goddamn winner. I feel like I had OK sex and never came. I need a conclusion, I need to know how it's over.
Don't judge me on this article alone, future employer, I'm sure there's something else in here you can find that's not repulsive... or not. Fuck it.
Something funny I was thinking about yesterday before kickoff: The NFL is constantly littered in controversy. There's the whole 'kneeling' controversy, pissing off all the "Make America Great Again" fine citizens. There's the constant criticism of Commissioner Roger Goodell for his hypocritically light punishments for domestic abusers and harsh punishment for marijuana smokers. There's CTE, which has shown terrifying, overwhelming evidence that the men that play this game are sacrificing their long term well being. There's the constant, game changing TERRIBLE officiating.
Every week, it seems like something awful that's non-football related is making football headlines. Yet, the NFL remains by far the most popular sport in America. Personally, there is something about watching an NFL game on a Sunday afternoon that can't be replicated by any other sport watching experience. The NFL could literally cover up a series of murders and I'd be like, "well everybody eventually dies anyways, how many touchdowns is Drew Brees gonna throw today?"
ABOUT THE GAME
Tyrod Taylor stunk today. Weather conditions aside, only targeting Josh Gordon 3 times simply is not good enough. The man makes plays, just throw it up there and see what happens. Had he not severely underthrown him with regulation running out, you may have just seen the type of impact he is truly capable of. On the other hand, Jarvis Landry was targeted 15 times (with 7 completions). I know that I do not know the x's and o's of football and reading coverages and that's perfectly fine, but you have to find a way to get the ball to your best playmakers. Or at least try. Especially when you're struggling offensively. The Steelers defense is not what it used to be, especially with Ryan Shazier, by far their best defensive player, missing. You have to put the ball in the hands of your playmakers. Simple.
Penalties on the left side of the offensive line. Anything to do with the uncertainty involving the left tackle position, including a musical chairs esque revolving door of potential starting left tackles? I mean at one point Shon Coleman was considered a possible starting left tackle and he DIDN'T EVEN MAKE THE TEAM. I know we're accustomed to having the best left tackle in football and that hasn't translated to wins, but nonetheless, it's one of the most important positions in all of sports. And that position needs to be better. Too. Many. Penalties.
DENZEL
Denzel Ward! What a day to be a Nordonia alum. He was just outstanding. Not even including his 2 potential game changing interceptions. He was a stud in the tackling game, which isn't a surprise after watching him at Ohio State. Despite his 180 pound frame, he plays like he truly enjoys putting somebody on their ass. Did you watch him on Antonio Brown? He was lining up close enough to him to tell you what his breath smelled like, and that wasn't by design. That's just his comfort zone. He blanketed him all day, including on Brown's touchdown reception. Nothing you can do there but tip your cap as 2 future hall of fame players connected on a play that 99% of the time would've been an incomplete pass. I am very excited about this young man's future.
"Bless 'em!"
That's all I could think about watching Jarvis Landry today. The man is a straight up baller. We could talk about his 7 catches for over 100 yards, being one of only 2 Browns receivers to register multiple catches (David Njoku with 3 catches for 13 yards the other), the fact that he was targeted a whopping 15 times by Tyrod Taylor, or his remarkable catch along the sidelines in which he had to stop running at full speed to catch an underthrown ball on his fingertips as he was falling on his rear end. But how about his physicality and attitude? Him blocking downfield and drawing a personal foul early in the game got me reallllly excited in the type of player this guy is - he got his money and he ain't satisfied. This isn't some Dwayne Bowe or Kenny Britt type shit. This guy just loves football, and he is ready to be one of the top 10 receivers in the league. He is absolutely the guy we all saw in 'Hard Knocks'
BRIGHT FUTURE
Myles Garret is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The man is a force to be reckoned with. At times, the Browns were better off playing defense versus playing offense because of the impact that Garret's pressure can create. He almost single handedly won them a football game this afternoon. He said after the game that this is nothing special for him, just who he is when healthy (paraphrasing). He looks like a young Julius Peppers. Reportedly, the Sashi Brown regime was very torn on who to draft with the first pick of the 2017 draft. There was a very serious push for Mitch Trubisky, supposedly led by Paul DePodesta (the same man that said Carson Wentz wasn't a top 20 NFL QB). The Sashi Brown regime got a lot of things wrong, but they didn't get this pick wrong. Get excited, fellow Browns fans.
THE SASHI
Speaking of Sashi Brown, this feels relevant. The Browns very nearly traded a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for AJ McCarron at the NFL trade deadline last season. Brown failed to get the paperwork in on time, to the ire of owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam and coach Hue Jackson. McCarron couldn't even beat out Nathan Peterman, who was TERRIBLE for Buffalo today in route to losing by over 40 points! to the Baltimore Ravens this afternoon. Sashi, we are all grateful. Still can't forgive you for Carson Wentz, but way to go out a hero.
OTHER TIDBITS ABOUT THE GAME
- Hue Jackson was adamant before the game that Josh Gordon wouldn't start, yet on the first play from scrimmage, Gordon was the only wide receiver on the field. LOL. Hue...
- Duke Johnson with only one catch on a day when the offense can't complete a ball down the field? Need more creativity here from Todd Haley.
- What the hell was that penalty on Myles Garrett on Joe Schobert's interception? Seriously?
- Picked up John Conner on fantasy before the game. It's always weird to have Steelers players going when they're playing the Browns, but if they're gonna score they're gonna score. Might as well get something out of it.
- Josh Gordon played a season opener. For the first time since 2012. AKA his rookie season. Every season since then, he has been suspended for at least the first 2 games of the regular season. Incredible.
- Saw this stat on Twitter: Since the Browns came back in 1999, teams with a +5 turnover differential are 132-4-1. The Browns are responsible for 2 of the losses and the tie. Honestly I'm surprised all 4 don't belong to the Browns.
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