THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
It's become a cliche on social media, but it's the only phrase that fits the way I feel right now: F**k cancer. Seriously. F**k cancer.
Cancer is causing Jimmy Donovan to retire.
Since 1999, listening to Jim Donovan has been one of the delights of being a Cleveland Browns fan. There haven't been many. He could generate excitement even amid another moribund loss in another deflating season. There were a lot of seasons where all we could point to were Donovan's thrilling play-by-play, the commiseration of our friends, and the relief of whatever brain-numbing tool you used to get yourself through the horror of another 5-11 season, followed by another front office reboot.
His commentaries were always fair and even-handed, even though the team employed him. He was willing to tell the truth in the face of possible wrath from his bosses and never got enough praise. Donovan was one of the best, leaving behind a series of heart-stopping calls and moments that were twice as thrilling because they were broadcast through his voice.
But now he has to leave his beloved radio booth behind to focus on his fight against cancer, and we should all respect that. Dammit.
Cancer took my father.
My father and I were very different people. He was an outdoorsman and an athlete. He loved hunting when he was young, fishing and golfing throughout his life. He was notoriously handy, able to fix nearly anything broken, and driven to do it. He was handsome, successful, extroverted and popular, and somehow managed to live through the challenges of raising a nerdy, bookish son who gravitated to computers and science fiction books and played golf with much the same grace that a salmon takes to volleyball.
But he loved me, and I admired and loved him, and the Cleveland Browns and a passion for rooting for our favorite sports teams brought us together. He was immortal to me until cancer took him away.
Cancer has taken so many away from us, including my universally beloved father-in-law, another Browns and Buckeyes fan whom I bonded with over sports and fantasy football.
Nature, in the form of cancer, takes away those we love from us, and now it's taking away one of the greatest play-by-play voices of all time, a voice we were blessed to listen to for 25 years and one of the few positive attributes of the expansion-era Browns.
F**k cancer.
Good luck, Jimmy. Fight that bastard.
Here are some LINKS OF MODERATE INTEREST on a subdued day for the OBR Daily Newswire.
5. BROWNS COMPLETE PRACTICE SQUAD
Browns Finalize Practice Squad - (nfltraderumors.co)
Browns sign RB D’Onta Foreman, add five to practice squad - (clevelandbrowns.com)
The Browns have filled some potential gaps in their roster with the latest additions to the practice squad. They brought in a player of exciting potential with tight end Cameron Latu from the Niners, another TE in Blake Whiteheart, and a backup running back in Gerry Brightwell. Special teamer and cornerback Mike Ford also rejoined the team, as we reported earlier.
4. BROWNS RE-SIGN FOREMAN, DROP HUNTLEY
Tyler Huntley released; D’Onta Foreman re-signed - BrownsZone with Scott Petrak - (brownszone.com)
Browns release Tyler Huntley, re-sign D'Onta Foreman - ESPN - (espn.com)
Browns releasing QB Tyler Huntley, bringing back RB D'Onta Foreman - (news5cleveland.com)
The weird Tyler Huntley saga is over, as the Browns were apparently unable to coax anyone into giving up a draft pick for him. Any team that was interested knew the Browns weren't going to keep four quarterbacks on their roster, so they waited for the inevitable waiver to happen, which it did.
Also inevitable was that the Browns would bring D'Onta Foreman back, which they also did yesterday. With the quarterback and running back depth charts looking sane again, we can now move forward.
3. DENZEL WARD SPEAKS
Denzel Ward said didn’t consider retiring after latest concussion, loves playing football - (brownszone.com)
Browns' Ward: Didn't consider retirement after fifth concussion - (espn.com)
Denzel Ward: "I feel very proud to be a captain" | Press Conference - (clevelandbrowns.com)
'I'm a football player': Browns Pro Bowler Denzel Ward won't let 5th concussion deter him - (beaconjournal.com)
I think it's natural to worry about Denzel Ward now that he's officially suffered his fifth concussion as a football player. While the NFL is far more sensitive to concussions than it was in the olden days, it's still quite a serious thing and enough mystery about how the human brain reacts to these things that there should be a concern. But the player has done his research, and the team's medical staff has cleared him to return to practice, so those of us who have medical degrees from Google can probably calm down a bit. Let's hope we don't see him in the protocol again.
2. BROWNS RESTRUCTURE WATSON DEAL
Deshaun Watson contract restructure: Implications for Browns - (espn.com)
Brownie Bites: Browns restructure Deshaun Watson's contract, again; release Tyler Huntley - (audacy.com)
Browns restructure QB Deshaun Watson's contract, create nearly $36M in cap space - (news5cleveland.com)
Deshaun Watson's cap numbers skyrocket to $72.935 million in 2025 and 2026 - (nbcsports.com)
Alright, all I know about the Browns restructuring the Watson's deal is what Jack tells me, because he understands the cap like no one else I've encountered, so I just read this:
Why The Cleveland Browns Restructured Deshaun Watson Contract - (obr)
1. JIM DONOVAN FOCUSES ON THE BATTLE
Thank You Jim | The 'Voice of the Browns' calls it a career after 25 years - (clevelandbrowns.com)
Jim Donovan stepping down as radio voice for the Cleveland Browns amid cancer battle - (wkyc.com)
Jim Donovan announces he will no longer call Browns games, will devote ‘everything I have’ to cancer fight - (cleveland.com)
Jim Donovan announces he will no longer call Browns games after cancer returns - (brownszone.com)
Jim Donovan stepping away from Cleveland Browns radio broadcasts due to health reasons - (beaconjournal.com)
F.C.
BEST OF THE REST
How Browns CB MJ Emerson is creating culture, chemistry with personalized handshakes between his teammates - (news5cleveland.com)
Browns assistant GM Catherine Hickman talks about Brandon Aiyuk rumors, roster - (beaconjournal.com)
NFL Trade Rumors: 49ers Star Brandon Aiyuk Has Zero Interest in Going to Cleveland - (profootballnetwork.com)
Here are this season's captains for the Cleveland Browns - (news5cleveland.com)
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
SETI searches for alien life in over 1,000 galaxies using unexplored radio frequencies - (space.com)
SETI Starts Looking For Highly Advanced Extragalactic Civilizations in 2,880 Galaxies - (iflscience.com)
People shrug off headlines like this because they assume there will be no odd signals coming back except perhaps for some new but explainable stellar phenomenon. But if there is, these headlines could precede one of the most significant events in human history. Knowing that this could happen any day or time gives one another reason to wake up every morning, right? That, and having to earn a living. Mostly the latter.
Damn capitalism with the whole "earning a living" thing. We should be able to sit around and talk football all day and still scrape together enough money to drink a beer sometimes.
Wait, nevermind. I just described my lifestyle. As you were.
Why The Cleveland Browns Restructured Deshaun Watson Contract - (Jack)
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 8/29: Conklin Returns, Denzel Practices, and Watch What You Say Around Rover - (Barry)
Cleveland Browns to Release QB Tyler Huntley, Sign RB D'Onta Foreman - (Pete)
Lane Adkins: What We've Been Told Pre-Labor Day Quick Hits - (Lane)
Browns Greg Newsome Confident to be Ready for Cowboys; Mo Hurst Back; Add RBs, TE, More as Re-Shuffle Roster - (Fred)
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Javion Cohen vs Michael Dunn
Any chance a move is coming after the cap move with Watson?
Which players are at "The bottom of the roster?"
Has Berry Gotten Extra 12/17 of Roster Spot from Practice Squad?
Huntley released just now
Your comment regarding Wills
Jack - Watson extra year
Can Conklin start at left tackle?
THE WATERCOOLER
NFL YouTube Picks Browns over Cowboys (7 Votes to 3).
OT: The Eve of the Buckeye Season
LiveWire Thread for 8/29 - Twitter, Articles, Videos-OPEN THREAD
Yates: Watson Restructured
'Voice of the Browns' Jim Donovan calls it a career (Merged)
When not raging against the primary facts of human existence, 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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