From Behind the Steel Curtain, Shannon White writes an interesting article on the AFC North. If you want to see how the enemy views this world, you should check this out (but it's more a "human interest" piece than analytical).
And he's mostly correct: To date, the Steelers hate, but respect, the Ravens. They simply have contempt for the Bengals, and don't really have an opinion of the Browns.
About what you'd expect.
The interesting part of this to me was how Shannon (rightfully) bashes psychopath Vontez Burfict (the dirtiest player in the NFL).
Earlier, he had mentioned how Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed bashed Hines Ward. Well, Hines Ward was also a vicious headhunter who liked hitting guys in the head with his helmet on blocks.
We could go on to James Harrison and others. Like many Steeler fans, Shannon doesn't seem to "notice" the pattern of cheap shots on his own team (especially since Head Enabler Mike Tomlin took over from Cowher).
But I didn't know that after Big Ben's motorcycle accident, while Browns and Ravens players were sending "get well" messages, at least two Bengals players were saying stuff like "I hope he dies".
There's something wrong with these guys. Marvin Lewis isn't like Tomlin, and doesn't defend the indefensable (thus encouraging it)...but he sure doesn't discourage it, and I wonder if the inmates are running that asylum.
At any rate, Shannon doesn't even get to the Browns til the last couple paragraphs, but here he talks about the influx of talent, and how he expects the 2018 Browns to be actual challengers to his team in 2018.
And that's about right. I run all over the place, and have talked to a lot of Steelers fans. Haven't had a fight yet. In fact, we get along great (well okay I'm digging for opinions and info, so they get to talk about their team and stuff, which helps).
And they're not all toothless yinzers: They GET that the 2018 Browns aren't the 2017 Browns, and they look forward to more interesting games.
Shannon White opens his article up quoting some ignorant Bears fans saying "at least they're not the Browns yuk-yuk".
These are casual fans, though. They repeat stuff they hear or read about their own team, but really are more interested in being part of the "gang" than in the game of football.
It's frustrating for me, because I often find out that I know more about their teams than they do (quickly), and it gets awkward, because they know it too.
Fantasy Football has changed things a lot these days. I play weekly on Draft Kings, and my fellow fantasy guys and I can debate and talk all night...and we know EVERYBODY (well at least the offensive skill guys).
My most fun debates/discussions are with Steeler fans who also play fantasy.
They know about Duke, Njoku, Gordon, Landry, and Taylor. And what the defense is shaping up into, as well.
I tell them, Gordon can pass up Brown. They don't laugh at me whatsoever. I point out that if Duke Johnson had had all the reps Ebineezer Bell got, he would have punked him. They can't argue with that.
We go back and forth on Big Ben vs Tyrod, but that gets complicated, because they're so different, and while Ben is historically more productive, Tyrod is a lot "cheaper", and we're debating which is the better value at their respective prices.
But nobody snickers or rolls their eyes at me, and when we drill down into more Browns vs Steelers specifics, it's great. It's a discussion, and not two guys yelling at eachother.
I can tell you this now, though: These SMART Steelers fans do NOT take the 2018 Browns lightly. I haven't caught even a whiff of arrogance or overconfidence from them.
They do think their team will win both games (they can't help it), but expect it to be a dogfight and a nail-biter.
And those Fantasy-playing Steelers fans also see that the 2018 Ravens and Bengals are less talented than the Browns.
A bunch of fantasy-playing Steelers fans will be drafting Josh Gordon if he's cheaper than Antonio Brown, Tyrod Taylor, and Njoku (over any Steelers tight end). And they'll probably take the Browns defense and special teams over their own as well.
Is any of this sinking in yet?
I haven't played in conventional fantasy leagues yet, but if I do this year, I would:
1: STRONGLY consider Tyrod Taylor. Baker Mayfield has amazing upside, but Tyrod won't LET him on the field in 2018 unless he's injured. He's never had a supporting cast like this, and he's auditioning for his next contract (his future).
Everybody else will fight over the more obvious quarterbacks, but I'd use my top pick on a Johnson or Bell or Antonio Brown or something intead, and get Tyrod later.
2: Cross my fingers and hope Josh Gordon slides a little...but not wait too long.
3: Scoop Njoku up cheap.
4: Draft the Browns defense before the middle (and special teams too if applicable; the special teams are looking real good right now).
This will be a top 8 defense easily, and it will get sacks, turnovers, and score points. It's stacked. Loaded. It will look like Gregg Williams' defenses always looked up until 2017.
5: Hope Landry slides some too. He might, because he's not the "big dawg" here, and fantasy GMs will hesitate on him here due to Duke/Njoku/Gordon/the other running backs etc.
6: Hope to scoop Duke, Chubb, Coleman/Callaway *we'll get a better bead on this as things unfold. One or the other will be the third receiver, and both are lethal weapons* in the bargain basement.
Full disclosure I have never drafted a season-long team, and that's why my suggestions never mentioned specific rounds.
My pal Waittilnextyear (sp?) plays season-long fantasy, and if I try that this season I will interrogate him about that stuff.
I HAVE SPOKEN
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