NFL 2026

[jaylach70 187]

Saturday is my Browns first preseason game playing the Bears. This will be the first game for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse. At first I was shocked that the Browns traded Garrett to get Jared Verse but when you consider that they also got a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round draft picks and that Garret is heading into his 10th season it kind of makes sense. Jared Verse is younger and a Pro Bowl edge rusher. Garrett is getting a bit long in the tooth when considering his position. Only time will tell but I think the Browns MAY come out ahead in this trade with the Rams.

Of course I don't even know if Jared Verse will play in the game but I hope so as I want to see what kind of field presence he has. Happily the Browns/Bears game is at 1:00 PM my time and my Cleveland baseball isn't until 5:00 PM so there will be no conflict.

LOL! @Fishmanic : Yes I'm one of the few that posts a lot in this thread.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford71 186]

I'm looking forward tp the season. I tried to watch some of the games last night, preseason games are pretty bad for the most part. I'll check out some of Bears/Browns on Saturday. At least till my eyes can't stand anymore.

 

[jaylach70 187]

After the Browns/Bears game still no clue as to who will be the Browns' QB. Watson played the first half and showed me nothing even considering he hasn't played since week 7 of 2024.

1) Watson played the first half and never threw a ball deeper than 10 yards. He also showed that he can't move in the pocket.
2) Gabriel took two sacks by just dropping to the ground without even being touched. I want him dropped.
3) Sanders, to me looked the best even though he had a turnover but so did Watson and Gabriel. As with last year, I want Sanders as the starter.

 

[fishorama1 1]

I'm a Philly Eagles fan & have been for many (45+?) years, good & bad. We watched yesterday's preseason game against Baltimore & looked bad. But we should be looking at new possible players, & old not so wonderful 1s, not whether we win or lose. I don't even bother to learn players' names at this point, many will not make the team. Neithe Dalton or McKee looked like good back up QBs, no accurate passing beyond 5 yards, meh.

 

[jaylach70 187]

Well unless something dramatic happens it looks like Shedeur Sanders will be Cleveland's starting QB. Personally I wanted Sanders as the starter as a rookie last year.

Sanders DID have an interception but it was a ball off of the receiver's hands, both hands. Such things happen when you have second and third string players on the field but if any receiver has both hands on the ball it should be caught. Sanders started the game going eight for eight and a TD. He finished his day nine for eleven.

Deshaun Watson was awful again. He also had an interception but it was different than Sanders as it was a combination of a bad decision and bad throw. Watson played the third quarter and I don't think he got a single first down.

While technically still in the mix I don't think Dillon Gabriel is really a factor.

Bottom line is that Sanders moved the team consistently and scored. He also showed good poise and decision making. Neither Watson nor Gabriel can make that claim.

 

[MuddyWaters2]

A bit early for this but...

I can't believe my Browns traded Myles Garrett even though they got a lot. There is a hitch to the third round pick. If the Rams trade Garrett to an AFC North team the pick becomes a first round. Hmmm, Wonder if that third round condition would still count if Garret were to be traded back to Cleveland...

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Jaylach, I'm glad you're a Browns fan. Misery loves company. I am a Falcons fan. We have a similar plight - year after year of hopes, dashed on the rocks.

The Falcons are very good at getting us really excited, fooling us into thinking things are going to go really well, and then bringing the house down in the most weird, stupid, unbelievable ways.

This year we have one QB who is accident prone (Tua Tagovailova) who fumbled the snap on one of the first plays of the pre-season and has so far looked like hot garbage even though a couple of years ago he through over 4500 yards with a completion percentage over 70%. Meanwhile, our other accident prone QB, drafted in the first round after we had just paid another QB (Kirk Cousins) $130,000,000. Penix, true to form, tore his ACL last November. The doctor has declared him physically ready, but he said his mind ain't right (in so many words), so we're waiting around to see if he will get right.

Meanwhile, our superstar rookie defensive end Pierce, got arrested for ramming his girlfriend's car and hitting a police officer with his car, so he's out for 8 games. Within 2 weeks of camp, our other superstar defensive player Jalen Walker got hurt and is out for the year.

I have recorded today's game (against the Colts) but I'm afraid to watch. We haven't even played a single real game and we are already talking about what we should do in the draft next year. <sigh>

Here we go!

 

[jaylach70 187]

WOW! Just saw that Nick Chubb retired. He was, before injuries, one of the best runners around. Personally I admire his decision. It has to be hard to give up the fame but he has has had his knee reconstructed three times including in college. The NFL loses a premier player but, at least, he can still walk.

My best wishes to you, Mr. Chubb. You gave Cleveland a LOT of thrills.

 

[Fishmanic71 187]

The Pats had a come from behind win in the final minutes of the game.

 

[MuddyWaters2]

WOW! Just saw that Nick Chubb retired. He was, before injuries, one of the best runners around. Personally I admire his decision. It has to be hard to give up the fame but he has has had his knee reconstructed three times including in college. The NFL loses a premier player but, at least, he can still walk.

My best wishes to you, Mr. Chubb. You gave Cleveland a LOT of thrills.

Smart man. He wasn't good after that 2nd knee injury- no point abusing his body more. Amazing thing is he had just as bad a knee blow out when he was at UGA and came back to have a pro career that would be the envy of most running backs to ever play.

I just saw a mini- documentary on Mike Webster of the Pittsburg Steelers. He was the poster boy for that condition that affects football players' heads. I forget what it's called and too lazy to look it up, but y'all know what I'm talking about.

Mike Webster was literally SUPERGLUING his teeth back in his head when they would fall out (at this point he was divorced, homeless and living in his truck that had one window covered with a trash bag.

Apparently he also had to use a stun-gun to knock himself out and get sleep because his destroyed spine hurt so bad. I love football, and the more violent the better- especially years ago- but man, it's not worth that. Especially then- the league didn't do a thing for him or any of them.

 

[MuddyWaters2]

Falcons played well yesterday, to my surprise. It was the scrubs, not the starters (except for Pierce who will be suspended the first 8 games), but still nice to see. The Colts looked like the Falcons did in week 1. They couldn't put a drive together.

I do believe you can tell something about the team during pre-season and I think the Falcons showed some cohesiveness and good energy. When Goodson (25) scored on a 49 yard run, the entire team ran on the field, including guys not dressed out. They got a penalty for it, but who cares. Glad to see them showing some fire.

Most surprising was Jack Strand, undrafted QB the Falcons picked up from Minnesota State. He's huge, cannon arm, and looked relaxed and threw lasers on Saturday. He won't be a contender for a while, but nice to see we have SOMETHING happening in the QB room. Cooper Rush played in the first half and he looked a lot better than he did in the first game, so that was good.

Also, Penix is cleared to play now, so should see him this coming week and hopefully in the next game for at least a few series. I have no faith that either he or Tua Tagovailova will play well and/or last the season, but nice to see him at least ready to get out there and try.

 

[jaylach70 187]

Sigh... And the Browns announce that Watson will be the starting QB week one.

 

[MuddyWaters2]

Sigh... And the Browns announce that Watson will be the starting QB week one.

I heard some discussion on that on local sportstalk- I think they have to do that to either get what they should have out of him or rule him out. If he starts well, then good- at this point it's kind of like gravy- if not, then they can confidently count it as water under the bridge.

The Falcons were desperate to get him, but between the 2 Stupids, the Browns out Stupided the Falcons on that one. Not to be outdone though, the Falcons paid Cousins $130mm and then drafted Penix who had already had 3 knee surgeries in the first round. All that after treating the best player the Falcons ever had (Matt Ryan) like he was just disposable trash. Ha! We at least tied on the Stupid meter....

 

[jaylach70 187]

I heard some discussion on that on local sportstalk- I think they have to do that to either get what they should have out of him or rule him out. If he starts well, then good- at this point it's kind of like gravy- if not, then they can confidently count it as water under the bridge.

The Falcons were desperate to get him, but between the 2 Stupids, the Browns out Stupided the Falcons on that one. Not to be outdone though, the Falcons paid Cousins $130mm and then drafted Penix who had already had 3 knee surgeries in the first round. All that after treating the best player the Falcons ever had (Matt Ryan) like he was just disposable trash. Ha! We at least tied on the Stupid meter....

LOL! The Browns will NEVER get out of Watson what they paid. Thankfully I believe this is Watson's last contract year. Shoot, he hasn't even been on the field for a regular season game for almost two years.

 

[MuddyWaters2]

it'll be interesting to see what he can do. I heard a lady who writes for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland on a radio talk show today talking about it. She said that it's very unlikely that he can recover any goodwill with the fans in Cleveland and she was saying that folks are really angry about not going with Sanders. One thing is for sure, though- if he goes and wins, all that will go by the wayside. "Just win, baby!"

 

[jaylach70 187]

Now I don't know what I want... Browns' Dillon Gabriel gets his first full half of play and puts up 27 points against the Pats in the first half. Granted that neither team was playing starters but 5 straight scoring drives is impressive.