ARE BROWNS READY FOR JOE BURROW'S BENGALS 'EYE CANDY'? CLEVELAND TRACKER

JULY 4 'EYE CANDY' The Bengals offense, led by QB Joe Burrow, has a reputation for being scary enough. But Burrow says the unit is making changes ... and is issuing a warning of sorts to rivals like the Browns.

"With the personnel we have this year, we'll be able to do a lot more with personnel groupings," Burrow said, via the team's website. "Putting different people in different spots … And doing a lot of different things as far as eye candy and making teams adjust their personnel based on ours."

"Eye candy'' is about deceptive looks. And the "people''? Star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are back in the fold, and Burrow - who missed nearly half of last season with a wrist injury - is set to be fully healthy.

All in all? The AFC North is about to be arguably the NFL's most competitive division.

JULY 2 - COOPER CALLOUT - As the time begins to wind down for the Cleveland Browns before the start of training camp, which is set to kick off with their first practice on July 24, a potential holdout looms for star receiver Amari Cooper.

The 30-year-old receiver who held out of the Browns' mandatory minicamp due to entering the final year of his five-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys has one self-proclaimed goal this offseason: getting paid. However, if a deal is not worked out beforehand, his absence could extend into training camp.

While the Browns are reportedly already working on an extension, a new Instagram Story post from one of the receiver's friends, per Brad Stainbrook, might put the optimism of a new deal being close to getting done in doubt.

"Where is the work from these guys y'all believe in so much," Oneway Estabon questioned on his Instagram Story.

INLINE

Browns WR Reveals 2024 Goal: 'Trying To Get Paid!'

JULY 1 - HOLDOUT - While the Cleveland Browns are already reportedly working on extending the contract of star receiver Amari Cooper, they aren't the only ones with the shadow of a potential training camp holdout hanging over their head.

Their Week 1 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys is dealing with the same possibility as star receiver CeeDee Lamb enters the final year of his rookie contract, with seemingly no extension in sight. This is why he plans on holding out of training camp unless a deal is reached beforehand, as reported by the Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins.

Like his former teammate, Cooper, Lamb did not participate in the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp. While he will face fines for those absences, he is seemingly willing to take it a step further by holding out of training camp.

For more on Lamb's uncertain contract status, click here!

JULY 1 - FASTBALL—While the Cleveland Browns boasted one of the league's best defenses last season, they aren't resting on their laurels. Rather, as coach Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz discussed during the team's offseason program, they are looking for ways to improve their defense.

For Schwartz, the veteran defensive signal-caller and former NFL head coach, who is entering Year 2 with the Browns, getting better means not staying the same.

“We do what we do, and we try to do it really well,” Schwartz said. “But there were some things that we sort of held back last year, just from a standpoint that we sort of triaged it and said, ‘Okay, what can we reasonably expect to get good at to master in one offseason?' So, we had to sort of pick and choose.

But that now gives us a little bit of time because we don't have to work on the fastball. Now, we can add different pitches. We don't want to get away from the fastball, but it does give us a chance to work on changeups and secondary pitches and add to our scheme.”

To continue with the baseball analogy, the Browns' defense already possesses an elite fastball. Now, they want to build off that and work on their off-speed pitches. This could mean working to improve their No. 10 ranked run defense in yards allowed per game with the aim of seeing it match their No. 2 pass defense.

No matter what Schwartz decides to do, it won't be with the aim of reinventing the wheel. Rather, it will be to build off the foundation that has already been laid.

JUNE 30 NO BUST? Here's a weird reason for Cleveland to "need'' to win the Super Bowl ... a media member claims to "need'' it.

“I need a Super Bowl,” said analyst Garrett Bush said, “At some point, you’ve just got to do it!”

Bush is saying it's "Super Bowl or bust!'' as part of his analysis, and we assume it's all in fun. Why?

Two reasons.

One, "I need a Super Bowl'' is something a fan says. Which is fine. So Bush is "playing fan'' here.

Two, there is no "bust.'' The owner isn't selling if they fall short. The franchise isn't moving (again) if they lose. The GM isn't likely to get fired.

So "Super Bowl'' sounds fun, if you're a fan.

And "bust'' is a dumb myth.

JUNE 18 HARVEY SIGNS The Dallas Cowboys plan to sign Browns LB Willie Harvey Jr. after his successful run in the UFL.Cleveland once used Harvey as a helper … and now Dallas could use some depth, which the 5-11, 230-pound UFL all-star could very well provide.

MAY 16 BOWLING The NFL schedule announcement isn't just about the teams and the football anymore.It's also about the media teams. Like the Cleveland Browns' crew that created their video to promote this week's slate release.Inside, a bowling alley-themed birthday party with an acknowledgement of each opponent, from the Week 1 Dallas Cowboys on, in a clever matter.To wit ...INLINE Let's go bowling!

MAY 16 - BROWNS WAIVE STEELERS EX - Just days after picking him up off waivers, the Cleveland Browns announced Thursday that they have waived offensive tackle Kellen Diesch.

2024-07-04T18:51:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd