THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
As readers of the OBR Daily Newswire, you are among the elite of Browns fans. You are clearly erudite, wordly and well-schooled in differentiating worthy commentary from folksy nonsense. You put up with a writer who just assumes that everyone knows what xenophobic means and seems happy enough with the small audience of readers who emerge still engaged after wading through repetitive and disturbing morning ramblings.
As an elite audience of readers, you may have often wondered what would happen when the NFL scheduled a football game at the most inconvenient possible time. Tonight, we find out. My prediction: A lot of people are going to tune out as soon as the starters exit. And I'm going to be absorbing well-timed quantities of coffee to stay up.
Still, because the OBR has a number of psychotic participants who don't need sleep, we still plan on doing a post-game show should they all remain awake.
I will not be on the show.
Instead, I will seek sleep at the earliest possible time because I have to get up early and put together this august chronicle, beloved by literally a handful of true believers, including members of my family who I pay to read it.
Despite the late hour, I've already started up a Watercooler Official Game Thread (it's official, so you know it's got to be good).
For VIPs and the more adventurous, we have the Insider Game Thread where you can chat with the OBR team, and the Discord live chat (invite link). I'll be bouncing between all three items as long as I'm conscious.
As for the "game" itself, 98% of the focus will be on Deshaun Watson and the offense, assuming he starts. Given that the team's hopes essentially (once again) lie on Watson's shoulders, there's no other way that this could (or should) play out. Kevin Stefanski has given himself wiggle room with respect to whether Watson will actually play, but the QB has not taken any pre-season snaps against live competition, raising the stakes should Stefanski decide to keep him sidelined.
Nonetheless, today's LINKS OF MODERATE INTEREST offer some thoughts as to what you should be looking for as the team matches up at this ridiculous pre-season location and time. No writer has yet tackled the question of "who did Jimmy Haslam p*ss off to get this schedule?" which I assume will remain unanswered, like most Haslam-oriented questions.
At any rate, the morning links left me uninspired to rant and ramble on some extraneous topic, although I have listed the links below regardless. It's what I do. In fact, it's mostly what I do, other than sit inert and stare into a succession of monitors all afternoon, wondering why we're not playing football at a reasonable goddamn hour.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
3. THERE'S NO STOPPING HIM
Browns Sign K Lucas Havrisik - (OBR)
Browns sign K Lucas Havrisik - (nbcsports.com)
Browns sign K Lucas Havrisik - (clevelandbrowns.com)
Kicker Lucas Havrisik signed before preseason finale - (brownszone.com)
The Browns must really like Havrisik because they've brought him back (again) almost instantly after trading Cade York for a conditional seventh-round pick. After losing Hopkins at a critical point last season, the team seems to have learned a lesson about keeping a spare kicker around. Expect Havrisik to wind up on the practice squad if everything works out.
2. STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO WATCH FOOTBALL ON TV?
What channel is Browns vs Seahawks today? Time, TV, live stream for third preseason game - (sports.yahoo.com)
Here's how to watch Cleveland Browns preseason game vs. Seattle Seahawks - (news5cleveland.com)
What channel is Browns vs Seahawks today? Time, TV, live stream for third preseason game - (beaconjournal.com)
These aren't for you. These are for people who, at the last minute, turn to Google in panic, wondering what channel the game is on. Carry on. I just linked them because things were really grim out there in link-land this morning.
1. WHAT TO LOOK FOR, BLEARY EYED
Five things (not named Deshaun Watson) to watch in preseason finale - (brownszone.com)
Burning questions for the Browns final preseason game against Seattle - (clevelandbrowns.com)
A First Look At The Starting Offense & Other Things To Watch In The Seahawks’ Preseason Finale - (seahawks.com)
I guess some of the writers were on airplanes to Seattle because they sure weren't writing yesterday. This is basically the best of what we have, although some treasures can be found below.
BEST OF THE REST
This Week In Bad Aggregation: NFL training camps and preseason show off aggregation missteps - (awfulannouncing.com)
How Deshaun Watson has improved his lower mechanics and footwork: Film Review - (cleveland.com)
Jerome Ford ready to cruise again at running back - (brownszone.com)
Pro Football Hall of Fame announces new selection bylaw changes, including 1-year wait for coach induction - (wkyc.com)
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
This Beautiful “Plant” Trapped In Amber Turned Out To Be A Dinosaur Tail - (iflscience.com)
When you're buying expensive amber of a plant, double-check it. That's the lesson learned from this amazing piece of amber, which contains not a prehistoric plant but an amazingly well-preserved feathered tail of a dinosaur. It's amazing to see something so old preserved so perfectly, although I feel bad for the dinosaur that sacrificed part of what I'm sure was a very fine tail to create this gem.
PREMIERE: THE OBR OGS PODCAST WITH LANE ADKINS AND BARRY MCBRIDE
THINGS I THINK I KNOW ABOUT THE BROWNS
Andrew Berry 53 Man Roster Building Strategy Philosophy - (Jack)
Browns Sign K Lucas Havrisik - (Pete)
What Cleveland Browns Defense Wants from Final Preseason Game - (Pete)
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 8/23: What Makes Them So Special Anyway - (Barry)
3 Browns Players Fighting for their Future in Cleveland Against the Seahawks - (Casey)
More Cleveland Browns 411 From the OBR Insider Forums - (Barry)
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Greg Newsome injury update?
LA - Left Tackle
If Chubb starts the season on the PUP when can he first play?
Lane follow up on Chubb
Did Chubb suffer a setback in his rehab?
INSIDER CENTRAL (VIP)
Throughout camp I've continuously heard...
Which qb has performed better?
THE WATERCOOLER
Looking ahead to the 2025 Draft
Browns projected to be one of oldest rosters in NFL this year?
OT: Friday Musings
Fred Greetham Appearance on WTAM Wills and Snyder (8/23 AM)
When not inhaling coffee in the late afternoon and swearing at NFL schedule makers, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
CONTACT Barry to sponsor the OBR. We have plans for nearly any budget!
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