With the Browns vs Ravens, we have seen the future of the AFC North...sorta.
Big Ben will indeed retire eventually, and Andy Dalton is all battlescarred and getting dinged up as well, so those guards are going to change sooner rather than later.
Mayfield vs Jackson is a clash to look forward to for the forseeable future.
I personally have to stipulate that I see Jackson's cieling as Micheal Vick, vs Baker's as Rodgers/Brees/Werner, so we're not really talking about equals here.
Still, Jackson is even faster than Vick--more than one coach wanted to turn him into a wide receiver (and still draft him in the first or second round). He's off the charts as a runner.
By the time age and punishment beat this out of him, smart coaches will have refined his mechanics and pocket skills.
As we saw, prior to his shoulder issues, the historically inaccurate Cam Newton was completing over 72% of his passes in 2018, and Jackson is capable of that...eventually.
Until then, Harbaugh will of course torture the Browns defense with this freak, and manage to remain a huge pain in the ass long after the Ravens lose (or better yet keep) all their elderly players and the talent-gap grows wider.
The Browns are the youngest team in the AFC North, and all three other teams are already in comparative decline.
Corbett hasn't even been able to get on the field. It's easy to forget that Callaway, Chubb, Ward, and Mayfield were all just rookies as well. And you're all sleeping on Dameion Ratley by the way. You shouldn't.
The Sashi Brown drafts were also better than the Browns' rivals overall (I stipulate that Hue Jackson was very helpful in this, as he made sure the Browns had high draft picks).
Guys like Njoku, Higgins, Schobert, Ogunjobi, and Peppers are core players (see how I left Garrett out here?), and there are others like Ogbah and DeValve who might remain useful in roles and as quality depth.
Why should this trend change now? The Bengals will have the highest draft picks this year (in a weak quarterback draft haha), but the other three teams are bunched up in the middle of the rounds (I assume the Browns are highest at 17).
The Steelers drafted Rudolph last season (smart!) so they might possibly have Big Ben's successor on board, but the Bengals have to hope Dalton can last awhile longer.
The Steelers have other issues, though. The internal strife between Ben and Antonio looks real, Bell has rode himself out of town, and Tomlin is taking heat.
I hate to admit this, but they should still have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL next year, and that's why they can just "plug in" assorted running backs and still steamroll everybody *snap-snap you payin attention Ebineezer?*
But what's going to happen here? Ben might indeed retire (or not). Antonio Brown seems to have pissed on everybody else's shoes once too often, and is probably already "on the market".
(Note to Antonio: Smith-Schuster is better than you. Stick a pin in that oversized head of yours.)
But I digress: In 2018, Dorsey drafted the aforementioned players, and also got rid of Britt instantly, and brought in FOUR back-end veteran players; he rebuilt the whole secondary with young veterans BEFORE he drafted Denzel Ward!
He also added both the current starting offensive tackles and Darrin Fells (Njoku's bookend).
You have to know that he's still flush with cap-space, and will do this again. And THIS time, just like Head Coaches, players WANT to play for the Browns.
He's got trade options. The Brown contracts are two and three years old (affordable), so he will consider trading veterans.
Don't be shocked by anything: the potential tradeables include Zeitler, Tretter, and Collins.
But I redigress: The future's so bright, we gotta wear shades. We got John Dorsey. We got Baker Mayfield. Chubb Garrett Njoku Callaway Schobert Peppers Randall Ward Mitchell (yeah him: Rodney Mitchellfield).
Another free agent crop and draft? Do you think the Ravens, Bengals, or Steelers will keep up with Dorsey?
Is any of this sinking in yet?
Wow, right?
THIS JUST IN: Good for Gregg Williams standing up for himself! If you think Gregg is "making up" the other teams that want to interview him, you need deprogramming.
Look at the stunning and instant turnaround after he took over. Are you blind? Don't you get why everybody wants him?
More Stockholm Syndrome, I guess.
Anyway good for Gregg: "Don't screw around with me!"
A bunch of candidates are competing for a limited number of jobs. Gregg Williams can't screw around with his other potential employers, or he'll get left out.
I hope this pushes John Dorsey (*remember Haslam officially said HE was in charge of the search dammit*) into taking the "bird in hand", and not wasting his time interviewing half the NFL seriously:
If I'm Gregg Williams, I want Dorsey's balls on a spit! How DARE he dismiss what I accomplished and make a big show out of finding my replacement?
And I repeat: Williams isn't "making it up", or "exgaggerating", okay? He IS a hot Head Coach candidate, for O B V I O U S REASONS DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?
See I thought this through a couple weeks ago. It's why I said Dorsey needed to make a decision, and not screw around.
Check back a few posts. I said Williams would be a hot Head Coach candidate, and that Dorsey shouldn't try to fix what aint broken.
Naturally, Williams prefers to stay where he is, and might accept less money and a shorter-term contract to do so. Naturally, he would also retain Kitchens...I mean...DUH.
Anyway, I got Gregg's back here, and if I'm him: I interview for the BENGALS job first.
Mary Kay dug deeper on this. Gregg wants to stick around here, for the same reasons that all the other HC candidates want to replace him.
I'm sorry: If Dorsey doesn't "settle for" Williams/Kitchens, he will have screwed up. Mark it down. Check back in 4 years.
...sorry, but insanity drives me nuts.
...zing it's ok I'm used to it. That was a joke. "Insanity drives me nuts" okay nevermind it's hopeless okbye
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