Balsy

At any rate it looks like the Browns dug into the MAC research a bit this year and picked up a few MAC players in the UFA: DE Jamal Marcus -- Akron (I think/hope he makes the team) DE Ladell Flemming -- Northern Illinois CB Najee Murray -- Kent State

Agreed, but they needed a QB in this draft, and I think this is a calculated dice roll. It's cleveland, he's going to end up playing this year. I highly doubt a Brock Osweiler/Cody Kessler tandom is going to light the NFL up to a point where you can't play Kizer at some point in the season. He was once considered a top-5 prospect before going 4-8. With Hue Jackson being the "QB Whisperer" than perhaps that's the reason they took the dice roll?

Jamal marcus will make the Browns roster, barely, but I have faith he will as a backup.

Browns take DeShone Kizer with pick #52 overall in the second round. Personally, I wanted Davis Webb with the first third round pick, but he didn't last to that position either. I like Kizer's size, I liked Webb's better. I will stick by my prediction that Osweiller isn't going anywhere. He has NFL experience, and you're paying $16-million for him regardless. Might as well let him compete. Osweiler will be the starter, and I bet Kizer will be the backup. I can't imagine that the Browns wouldn't play him this year at some point. With the draft capital they have next year they have to get a good look at him, and make the decision to either go after another QB or stick with him (an earlier Dak Prescott??). I'm not sure how I feel about the pick, other than it being a decent roll of the dice. If he shows something of possibly being the guy for years to come you're in perfect position to build a turn around team in 2018 with 2-1s, and 3-2s. If he doesn't show promise you're still in position to land a QB of your liking in 2018. What do you guys think? The DT added in the 3rd seems like an okay pick. Clearly they're going defense in this draft. DE, S, DT. I'd still like to see a LB, and a CB in the 5th.

Recap on the Browns Draft/My Thoughts. No. 1: DE Myles Garrett No.12: (Trade Down to 25; Get First Rounder in 2018) No. 25: S Jabril Peppers No. 29: (Trade Up; Gave 2017 2nd Round, and their 4th Round pick ) TE David Njoku I went to bed after they traded down from No. 12. I was initially disappointed by the Trade Down, especially while Malik Hooker and OJ Howard were still on the board. But apparently the analytics was able to pull in a decent S and a TE as well as a 2018 First Round pick. Slam Dunk if I have to take it on face value. I like Njoku, I like Garrett and I like Peppers. In William Defense, I think Peppers will thrive at the SS position. Personally, I think the Browns did an excellent job of staying patient and not going into a panic to overdraft a QB. I don't believe any of the QBs selected in round 1 will be a success in year 1, and they're set up with 2-1s, 3-2s next year to get the QB that they want in the draft if they don't find one in a later round. I think Webb will be a Cleveland Brown when this year's draft is all said and done. Overall, completely happy with the Brown's Draft in the first round, despite the initial worry.

Yes he's currently a practicing physician.

Great points, from both of you; and I get the enthusiasm...I'm starting to feel better about the Browns (pending what they do in this draft). My biggest concern of course is the idea of asset acquisition; when do you stop acquiring "chance" and take quality. Statistically speaking yes you do have a better chance of hitting on a good player by trading out of 1, picking at two lower picks. But the last decade of history has shown that trading down for more picks does nothing for you if you don't actually find a player worthy of the pick, which goes to evaluation of talent. Yes the book is still out on their evaluation of talent (one year isn't enough I agree), but so far I'm not impressed. But lets be real here, probably most criticism is from 17 years of watching garbage, bad decisions, which isn't fair to judge them on. Side Note: I'd love to see one of the Zips players in the draft to land in a Browns uniform...probably as a UFA, but it would go a long way to making me feel like the Browns are actually paying attention and doing their homework. The steelers have made a significant effort to watch MAC talent, and go out and get it. The Browns really missed on Jatavis Brown, and Akron is pretty easy for Browns brass to pay attention to being 40-min drive, where most players would probably be over looked.

Some 12-million subscribers lost in 6-years is substantial, 1-million subscribers in the past two months. Each subscriber is valued at about $7. That's $7-million of revenue lost in a 2-month period, and $84-million over the last 6-years. Thats kinda unbelievable. ESPN needs to cut it's premium tie with cable, and fast IMHO. I don't have cable myself (like an increasing number of millennials), but love ESPN. If there was a service out there where I could pick and choose what I want (actually consume) for a lower price, I'd be all over it...ESPN being something I actually want. But in order to get ESPN they for a long time forced you to get some sort of more expensive service where ESPN is a part of a more premium package. Thanks, but no thanks. Sling TV is still kinda the same deal, but at least it's $20 a month, and I can cancel it whenever I want.

I'm a believer in Hue and Williams. I have NO faith in Sashi, Paul and Haslam. Some of their moves have been TERRIBLE. Letting players that you've grown from late round picks into usable/decent starting talent has been a terrible move; Tashaun Gipson for starters. They certainly have set themselves in a position to make a big step, but their track record after one draft isn't promising. My prediction for QB: Brock Osweiler will be the starting QB for the Browns come game one. Nothing against Kessler, but I just think he's not better than a backup. I know everyone has been talking about the Browns dealing Osweiler but I have a feeling they won't find any takers, and there's nothing to lose by bringing him to camp. Him coming to camp, he's a man with nothing to lose, go out there and play your heart out. I think he's going to surprise. He's not the QB of the future, but at this moment this is how I see it. If the first pick is ANYTHING other than Garrett I will vomit.

+1. I love when she starts saying the stuff as if she has a skill set superior to that of others, or that the clerk was uneducated. Clearly you weren't educated enough to know that if you go bitching out people in a public place, as a public figure, it will come to bite you in the ass.

Overall I had a fun day. I left a little early unfortunately. I absolutely loved the surplus sale, and was kinda blown away that there was a long line to even get in at 11. I got a nice real Jersey, a couple of Zips Baseball t-shirts and the Z gloves for like $60. Totally worth the wait, but by the time I got there the vultures (yes you damn zips fans are vultures) had already picked over the good sizes in jackets/polos. I thought overall the game was unimpressive, I don't think that's outside the norm. They basically ran a few base plays out of the same formation pretty much the entire game it looked like. There were a lot of really talented players who weren't playing today, so very difficult to guage the team either way. I thought Nick Johns had better decision making and field vision than Kato, but I think Kato had a better throw. At this point I'd honestly say that I that Woodson is still the top. I felt after watching the game it's Woodson - 1, Johns - 2, Nelson - 3.

I do. Because you're basically being the guy who wants to judge the whole season on practice. Chill out.

There's a LOT of players not playing today.

They used to have them at Zees, you could buy them there in like the cookie section from time to time. Of course this was when I was on campus like 5 years ago....but they weren't all the time. They'd be there randomly. So they probably mass produce them for conferences and things, and when they make them the extras are sold through Zees.

Sorry guys, I don't care if we're the only ones there and there's 15 of us...I'm still going to enjoy it...so to hell with attendance.

I work with teenagers everyday...so unfortunately I'm exposed to their, language, on a daily basis. Swag they do use on occasion, but now they most use "on fleek". So you've got to go make sure to grab yourself some swag, so you can be on fleek in the office? Or something like that... I'm always scratching my head...and I'm relatively young...

Spring game is next weekend, here is a thread to discuss all things spring game. From the Zips: Zips Fest, including inflatables and activities for the kids, will open in the Field House at 11 a.m. Please enter through the Football Helmet on Vine Street. The stadium gates open at 11 a.m. with kickoff slated for Noon between the Blue and the White squads. Team rosters will be announced next week. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to purchase authentic Zips' gear during a Surplus Sale on the main concourse. Available for purchase are: old game jerseys (including football), t-shirts, polo shirts, jackets, winter jackets, pants, shoes, football cleats, track spike, and more. Has anyone purchased the surplus stuff before? Is it good? I'm interested in checking it out this year...do I need to bring cash with me? Or do the accept cards?

Now I'm pumped for Zips Football! Can't wait for the spring game, next weekend!!!

TB's the man.

+1,000,000. My dad an I frequently have this conversation. I currently do not have cable (television); though I do have Sling TV (which I can change my level of subscription instantly...$20 a month, and can cancel it for the summer when I don't watch television. The problem is, for schools like Akron, is IDK if we benefit from the artificial more than we benefit from the reality. Because the nasty side to online services, is they compensate by actual viewership and not pretend viewership as cable does. To Kreed's point: I already think it's a viable option to Cable. Most of my friends do not have cable, and the others always actively talk about ditching it. Cable is on it's deathbed unless it adapts to the younger generation: (al le carte).

Because no one gives-a-damn over there.

So basically the same thing we had with KD, no change. I'll take a chance on no-change basically the same, with the possibility of elevating the program because of something new. In fact, I think I'm a little more energized/excited about Zips basketball (on the anticipation alone) to see what is in store for the Zips. I enjoyed KD's run while he was here, but now that he's officially gone I'm looking forward to something new.

It looks like we're about to head down the road of "Dambrot built teams/schemed around winning the MAC regular season, while Groce and other coaches build/schemed to win the MAC Tournament" discussion.

See you in Detroit. Go Zips!

is that maintaining 16 teams?