What about Julio Jones? Browns Super Bowl sideshow? Expectations for Greedy? Hey, Terry

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Every season is football season to Browns fans, especially when there is a reason to be excited about their favorite team. Here are some questions:

Hey, Terry: Would Julio Jones be a good fit in Cleveland? – Larry Means.

Hey, Larry: I knew this question was coming. I’d love to have Jones, but the Atlanta receiver makes $15.3 million in 2021. The Browns already have two high-priced receivers in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. They also are in the $15 million range.

Part of the reason Atlanta is willing to deal Jones (who wants to be traded) is the team has a salary cap mess. It has only $1 million in cap space. So if Atlanta deals Jones, it doesn’t want a $15 million receiver in return. Cleveland doesn’t look like a logical landing spot for him.

Hey, Terry: I want you to know many fans don’t give a hoot about the Super Bowl Browns sideshow. Just play good, hard-nosed football, continue to make logical roster moves and we are hooked. – Kyle Barberic

Hey, Kyle: This is a fascinating comment. Because underneath the surface of the Super Bowl talk is a deeper desire: Fans want a team worth watching, a team that makes them proud. They don’t want last year to be a fluke.

It’s why the Browns of the late 1980s are still revered by many older fans. Yes, there is frustration – The Drive, The Fumble, etc. But in writing my series about former players such as Brian Brennan, Bernie Kosar, Kevin Mack and Reggie Langhorne – I forgot how much fun those teams were to watch.

Fans have suffered so much. I long for them to have their Super Bowl moment. But to reach that level, the team needs to do what you suggest: “Play good, hard-nosed football and continue to make logical roster moves.”

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods faces a huge challenge as his team opens the season in Kansas City. John Kuntz, cleveland.com

Hey, Terry: Do the Browns have enough time to be ready for the Chiefs in Week 1? I can’t even remember our last opening game win. – Michael Kendall.

Hey, Terry: What do you see as the greatest obstacle facing the Browns this season? – David Bladt.

Hey, David and Michael: I’ve been thinking about the same thing. Facing the Chiefs in the opener with as many as nine new starters on defense … and the game is in Kansas City. Oh boy. Like a year ago when the Browns were crushed 38-6 in the opener, the first game shouldn’t be a major indicator of how the season will end up.

For what it’s worth, the last Cleveland opening day win was Sept. 12, 2004. Jeff Garcia led the Browns to a 20-3 victory over Baltimore. They closed that season with a 22-14 victory in Houston. The overall record? 4-12. Butch Davis opened as coach, Terry Robiskie coached the last five games.

David’s question about the biggest obstacle is putting together the defense with so many new faces. My guess is defensive coordinator Joe Woods will also change the system around. For example, how will he use rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah? This also leads to the next question.

Hey, Terry: What is a reasonable expectation for Greedy Williams this season? – Justin King

Hey, Justin: I have no clue. My guess is the Browns are also uncertain, although it makes no sense to speak them out loud. Williams has worked hard to come back from the nerve damage in his shoulder that wiped out all of 2020. The team doesn’t want to discourage him.

Williams played 12 games as a rookie in 2019. At best, he was so-so. But other than QB and perhaps left tackle, the hardest position for a rookie to play is cornerback.

The Browns have Pro Bowler Denzel Ward at one corner. They drafted Greg Newsome II in the first round. They signed Youngstown product Troy Hill as veteran free agent. M.J. Stewart Jr. had some good moments at cornerback last season.

Depth is a big deal at the position. If Greedy comes back strong, that’s a huge bonus. But it’s hard to count on him given the injury history.

Former Browns GM John Dorsey added real talent to the roster.

Hey, Terry: Who gets credit for the Browns roster? Andrew Berry or John Dorsey? – Luis Rivera.

Hey, Luis: The answer is … YES … both of them. And yes, Sashi Brown, too. When a team has three GMs in six years, they all helped put together the roster. The tear-down job started by chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta and Brown set up the team with high draft picks that Dorsey turned into Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb.

Brown drafted Myles Garrett. Berry also was part of the front office from 2016-18. I do think Dorsey’s impact has been lost because of his choice of Freddie Kitchens as coach. Don’t forget Dorsey traded for Wyatt Teller, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. He also signed Kareem Hunt.

Here’s a key point: The combination of DePodesta, Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski helped bring the most out of the players they inherited a year ago. Then they added players to fit the type of team and style Stefanski wants.

Hey, Terry: Have the Browns drafts in the last few years been as good as they seem, or are we just used to having one pick every couple of years pan out? – Ryan Smith.

Hey, Ryan: Since 2016, they have drafted Pro Bowlers Garrett, Chubb, Ward and Joe Schobert (made it in 2017, now with Jacksonville). They drafted Mayfield, who turned into a winning NFL QB. Berry’s 2020 first-rounder was Jedrick Wills Jr., who immediately started at left tackle. That was a huge pick because it’s a key position. Yes, it’s better.

Cleveland Browns kicker Cody Parkey will face competition from Chase McLaughlin.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Hey, Terry: Why don’t the Browns place a great emphasis on a great field goal kicker. I see the Cincinnati Bengals drafted a good one. – Mike Brubaker.

Hey, Terry: Andrew Berry made a quiet move when he picked up Chase McLaughlin. I know good kickers bounce around until they hit their stride. McLaughlin’s accuracy inside the 40 is phenomenal. I love the fact he can actually attempt a 50-yard field goal. – Cal Carlisle.

Hey, Mike and Cal: The Browns drafted kicker Zane Gonzalez in the seventh round in 2017. He struggled as a rookie with the Browns. He spent the last 2 1/2 seasons in Arizona, where kicking in the dome is much easier. He’s been solid, converting 82 percent of his field goals.

In 2019, the Browns picked Austin Seibert in the fifth round. He was cut after the first game of the 2020 season, replaced by Cody Parkey. Seibert was signed by the Bengals, and was perfect on eight extra points and was 6-of-8 on field goals. The Bengals took Florida’s Evan McPherson in the fifth round of the 2021 draft.

So the Browns have shopped the draft for kickers. Cleveland is a hard place to kick. Cal mentioned the signing of Chase McLaughlin, who has been with several teams. For his career, he is 12-of-12 on kicks inside the 40. He is 6-of-11 from 40-to-49 yards. And 4-of-5 from 50 yards and longer. He’s 31-of-32 on extra points.

He is good enough to battle Parkey, who missed more extra points (4) than field goals (3) last season. Parkey doesn’t have a super-strong leg. That’s why he didn’t even attempt a 50-yard field goal. His longest was 46 yards.

Hey, Terry: Are there days you just don’t feel like writing? If so, how do you overcome that feeling? – Dave Koontz.

Hey, Dave: Yes, there are days when writing is harder than others. But God gave me the ability to write quickly and (hopefully) clearly. And I’d rather write for my money than “work” for my money. I worked at the old Fazio’s food warehouse while in school. I taught five classes of social studies a day for six months at Lincoln West to earn my teaching certificate. Those were real jobs compared to what I do now. I like sports, but LOVE to write and tell stories. That’s the key to having done this since the Millard Fillmore administration.

RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS

The long winding road bringing a worried Kevin Mack to the Browns

Hey Terry, any comparison between the Browns now and in 1981?

Hey Terry Tribe: No Lindor, what about Jose?

Dennis Gates on his new CSU contract

Terry’s Talkin’ Cavs Kevin Love, salary cap problems

Terry’s Talkin’ Browns: Draft is over, so how does it look?

What’s next for Koby Altman? Hey Terry on Cavs

–

Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Here’s where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.