Stripes

Let's recall also that despite the talent of the Bengals defensive line on paper, last season the whole unit played like trash for the most part. There was severe underachievement. Maybe they aren't that damn good.

Bad teams drafting for need (or at least narrowly within a small set of position groups) are doing it wrong, in my opinion. I wouldn't be opposed at all to a freak DE.

They were a pretty popular chic pick to challenge for the division. Those Ravens finished 9-7 (which doesn't diminish the significance of that game to us and especially to Carson Palmer). It's a distant parallel anyway, so the relevance is minimal. I think the best argument for the Browns this season might be that the AFC North sucks.

The Bengals didn't really beat anyone in 2004 either before they broke free of their own chains the next season. I don't think that means a whole lot.

I will say that I don't think it's an unreasonable guess to say that Cleveland will win the division. Their trajectory was very much upward before the big trades, and I don't think those do anything to stall that momentum. People putting them in the freaking Super Bowl clearly need to calm down, but winning the division? That's not an outlandish projection. It may only take 10 or 11 wins, and that's not impossible for the Browns. I expect about 9.

1. Pittsburgh 2. Cleveland 3. Cincinnati 4. Baltimore

and it's @ Pittsburgh We're screwed.

Just realized I pegged them at 0-7 on the road and 6-2 at home (0-1 in London). Shrug

@ SEA - L vs SF - W @ BUF - L @ PIT - L vs ARI - W @ BAL - L vs JAX - W vs LAR - L vs BAL - W @ OAK - L vs PIT - L vs NYJ - W @ CLE - L vs NE - L @ MIA - L vs CLE - W 6-10

They're going to rely heavily on offense to compete all year. They opened the season on a horrendous offensive drought. They've improved enough to sweep the terrible Marlins though. 4-8 with a home series against St. Louis will be a nice indicator of whether they're crawling out of the dumpster.

I watched their hope opener. I haven't been able to get around seeing another game yet, but I am rooting for them.

Later, doofus

Let's not forget that the Browns also grabbed Kareem Hunt. We got Hart though. We got Hart.

Mayfield to Beckham and Landry, eh? I've prepared my butt for a 40 point loss to Cleveland.

A Ross trade wouldn't make much sense because it'd amount to a lot of dead money and probably nothing better than a 4th round pick.