Thoughts and Jokes: From Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield to the USFL

Since GM Andrew Berry has now been through three NFL Drafts, we learned, a little at a time, his thinking with the head coach by Kevin Stefansky Needs. We learned a bit about how they think, how they approach the game and, more importantly, how they see the draft.

But there are other things happening in the world of professional football. Which makes me think.

1. At Tom Brady’s announces that he will go straight to FOX broadcast booth after retiring is not something new. Each network sought Tony Romo 2.0 and i guess FOX needs the biggest fish. However, $35 million a year for someone who is already quite wealthy doesn’t seem very fair. I can provide a list of about 2,000 people who would probably provide the same great coverage who do podcasts and radio shows or who are the voice of certain teams such as the former Browns wide receiver. David Logan who is the voice of the Denver Broncos. And each of those people would do it for $5 million a year, which is a huge pay raise for them. Of course, none of the people on my list have seven rings.

2. The USFL does its thing, but what exactly is it? A development league? I remember when their first version was underway in the mid-1980s, they were fast and furious at veteran NFL players and did a great job of recruiting key recruits as a league rival to the NFL. And next season the XFL will resume with the American Spring Football League and another new league called Major League Football. Are there enough players who don’t play in the NFL or CFL to field that many teams?

3. The Giants released their star cornerback James Bradberry A few days ago. Should the Browns pursue him? Yes and no. Yes, because apart Neighborhood Denzel he would be the second-best corner on the list. And he’s only 28. However, he was expected to earn $10.1 million this year and since he will be in short supply, he will certainly seek a similar, if not higher salary. Bradberry is better than the three guys currently battling for the opposite corner, including Greedy Williams, Greg Newsome and this year’s first draft pick Martin Emerson combined. With Ward’s new contract, he alone is expected to cost the cap of $26.1 million. Would the Browns keep two players and pay them more than $36 million? Probably not, but it wouldn’t be a grand sight to see a pair of Pro Bowlers covering those receivers in the AFC North.

4. The crows return Mike Davis his Atlanta home had more than $100,000 worth of stuff stolen, including a pair of custom cleats that honored his father who died of cancer in 2019. Uh, aren’t these players bank and can’t they afford home security? My dad had a Rottweiler – we were never broken into.

5. I have no doubt that Deshaun Watson will play every game of the season barring injury. All of these civil lawsuits have been pushed back to March 2023 and there is not a single reason for the NFL to put it on hold until all of these cases are heard and/or settled. It just seems strange that these women’s lawyer Tony Buzbee agreed to wait. All of the depositions would be in Texas and certainly would have been a hindrance and an aggravation for Deshaun to have to train and play in Ohio and then over the course of each week going back and forth. To me, that would seem to be exactly what the Buzbee camp would want with a huge settlement possible in the anticipation. I just wonder what was offered to Buzbee to get him to agree to put that aside until the next offseason.

6. A company that produces football cards is Panini. They fly over 40 recruits to their studios in Los Angeles for photos and autograph signings on cards which are then randomly inserted into decks of cards. Part of the process is getting with their respective NFL clubs to ship out their uniforms and equipment for photos and making sure everything is appropriate for their respective players. Plus, get their jersey numbers selected and stitched on a jersey. The list of people to bring is tricky. That’s why they chose 40 guys because who knows who starts when and who will be the next star of the season. there are guys on this list you may never know, or guys you may not hear from until week 4. Six football card companies existed in 2000 when Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round, but not every company created a TB rookie card because he was an off-the-radar guy. Now, you can expect to pay $40,000 for a 2000 Playoff Contenders #144 Brady rookie card. Or for the autographed rookie ticket version, there’s one for sale with a “Buy It Now” option on eBay for $125,000.

7. There is no way the Browns will sign Jarvis Landry. They wrote David Bell who is a slow receiver but has amazing hands and is just as good a blocker as Juice. Lots of No. 80 jerseys will still be seen at FirstEnergy, but Jarvis won’t be returning for $1-3m on a one-year contract as he was set to make $16m with the Browns and asking $20 to other clubs. million. Outraged, DYP will be WR2.

8. College football is about to face a tough road with the NIL. Who’s to stop the mega-money boosters from shelling out big bucks and 5-star houses to come and play for their Alma Mater. It will no longer be to play Nick Saban or Ohio State or Clemson just because of their winning traditions when those same dudes can make money by going to West Michigan and driving a Mercedes instead. It will quickly get ugly. Ultimately, the schools with the wealthiest booster clubs will be in the Final Four each year.

9. It seems Mayfield Baker will be Deshaun’s backup at least until sometime before the trade deadline. As soon as another team’s starting QB goes down, then and only then will Berry get his second-round draft pick. Until then, that will force Cleveland to carry three QBs on the roster instead of two with one on the practice squad.

ten. Kicker Graham Gano of the New York Football Giants is paid $50,000 by the rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux for his number 5 jersey. This year’s first-round pick wore No. 5 as a unanimous All-American linebacker/defensive end out of Oregon and was the fifth overall pick. The money will be donated to “Puppies Behind Bars” which gives service dogs to veterans. Since Thibodeaux hasn’t signed his rookie contract yet, I guess Gano took a post-dated check.

11. The AFC North is certainly a tough division, but be glad the Browns aren’t in the AFC West. Definitely. All the clubs in this division have improved a lot this year and will certainly fight every week. Sounds a lot like the SEC if you ask me.

12. Who was the top draft pick for the Browns this year in my opinion? DT Perrion Winfrey out of Oklahoma in Round 4. The middle of that defensive line was a sieve for many games last year. It’s important to keep these runners from getting into the gut, which also protects our linebackers. I’m disappointed with Jordan Elliot and I think it will be his last year if he is not cut during training camp. expect to see Tommy Togiai and Winfrey as starters. Yes, Winfrey is that good. On the one hand, he was expected to be drafted in the middle of the second round. Winfrey is a tough competitor and high mover who will put effort into every play. He is excellent in pursuit and will chase runners in the outside flats. Exceptional in one-spread defense and versatile in that he can play outside with 4.89 speed. Dominated the Senior Bowl.