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00:00Daryl Ryder, he's our Browns Beat reporter.
00:01He's brought to us by Scheiben Jewelers, Cleveland's premier jewelry store.
00:05Daryl, hi.
00:06Hi, Daryl.
00:07Hello, boys.
00:09So, no David Njoku, no Wyatt Teller, no Jack Conklin.
00:14They're moving on from players that played really well here for a period of time.
00:19Is it one of those things where maybe a year too,
00:23you'd rather be a year too early than a year too late?
00:26Or is this the right time to be moving on from some guys who are really critical pieces, Daryl?
00:32Yeah, I mean, I just think it's the evolution of rosters.
00:37Usually six, seven years in one spot is the limit in a lot of sports,
00:44not just the NFL, but baseball and the NBA.
00:47You see that a lot as well.
00:49So, I just think it's a matter of the roster being in transition,
00:53roster and money management being in transition.
00:56So, the writing was on the wall with Wyatt Teller toward the end of last season when he got benched.
01:04And they kept rotating him in and out of the lineup, which led to him getting hurt.
01:10So, the writing was on the wall there.
01:13And then, you know, David Njoku, I think that, you know, money thing,
01:18as well as the emergence of Harold Fannin Jr.
01:20So, yeah, this is just all part of the process of year-to-year roster management.
01:28Are you happy with what they've done in the offseason so far?
01:31It's been okay.
01:32I mean, they brought in a couple starters for the offensive line,
01:35filled in the holes that they created and needed to fill.
01:42Replaced Devin Bush in rather rapid fashion.
01:46I don't know that they're dramatically better than they were a year ago,
01:50but, you know, if they had to play a football game on Sunday, they could.
01:56Where does DeJuan Jones fit, Daryl?
01:59I don't know.
02:01I mean, it depends how healthy he is.
02:03He's not been able to stay healthy.
02:05So, I don't know that he, quite frankly, fits anywhere other than being a reserve role player.
02:12All right.
02:13What do you think they're going to do?
02:14Do you think they're going to fulfill the destiny of bringing in another quarterback,
02:18or are we sticking with what they got here?
02:20Kind of feels like that they're sticking with what they got for now.
02:25But there's always time.
02:28So, you know, the bigger names that people were hoping for are certainly not going to come to fruition.
02:34I don't think Kyler Murray's coming here.
02:36I think there's a pretty good chance he ends up in Minnesota with the Vikings.
02:40But, you know, whatever quarterback they bring in here, I think, is going to be of the journeyman variety.
02:48And, you know, probably going to be setting up a three-way competition if that's the route they go.
02:53They are going to add a quarterback, though.
02:54They have three on the roster.
02:55You always have four in the offseason.
02:58So they're going to add another arm, whether that's through free agency, the draft, or undrafted free agent.
03:04Darrell, does anybody intrigue you for that role?
03:08Or do you think they just need a body?
03:10They just need a body.
03:11I'm not intrigued by anyone.
03:13I'm not even intrigued by the guys they have outside of Shador Sanders.
03:16So it just feels like they're in quarterback purgatory right now.
03:21And the best hope out of it is that Shador Sanders shows that he can do this thing this year.
03:28And then you don't have to worry about it in 27.
03:32The team itself is in purgatory.
03:36You know, the organization right now is trying to begin the process of selling very, very expensive PSLs for the
03:44new Dome and Brook Park.
03:46This team does not win.
03:47You've only had four winning seasons since they've come back in 27 years.
03:53You know, so from a fan standpoint, they're a bad investment.
03:58And I don't think that fans can stomach, you know, another season in which they end up with a top
04:03three draft pick.
04:06Because it'd be, you know, three straight years of just awful football.
04:10And they're kind of caught in between.
04:12They want to win games, but they might need to lose games.
04:17Because I think getting another 2027 draft pick, a first-round pick, I should say, it's going to be really
04:23difficult.
04:25You know, teams around the NFL don't seem to be willing to part with those as easily as years past.
04:32Because everyone's anticipating that this is going to be a big quarterback class, right?
04:41And, well, to get one of those, you've got to have a high pick.
04:44But, again, the Browns don't want to go through another season where they are in position to have a top
04:52two, top three pick.
04:53That means that their fans have had to suffer through yet another miserable year.
04:57But if you win six, seven, eight games, well, then you're stuck in the middle of the first round.
05:05And what does that get you, right?
05:08So, and I think that part of the anticipation that they had with trading down with Jacksonville,
05:14letting them draft Travis Hunter and sliding down to five, and you take Mason Graham,
05:19was that, okay, well, we're going to have two first-round picks in 26 and be positioned to go up
05:24and get one of those quarterbacks.
05:26Then, of course, the Jets had their big fire sale at the trade deadline, and they collected a bunch of
05:31first-round picks.
05:32So the Jets can outbid the Browns for whatever they want to do.
05:37So, yeah, I feel like the Browns are caught in no man's land right now when it comes to where
05:43they are as an organization,
05:44where they are at the quarterback position, and winning versus trying to field the best team that can lose your
05:55way
05:55into another top pick in the draft.
05:59They're not in a great spot right now.
06:01Darrell, what did you think about the Ravens backing out of the Max Crosby deal?
06:04I thought it was Bush League.
06:07Was it more Bush League because they were able to pick up Trey Hendrickson?
06:11Yeah, I mean, everyone knew that's what they were doing when they backed out of it.
06:15Like, I mean, everyone knew what was going to happen, and then guess what?
06:22It happened.
06:23And then there was the reporting that came out that they were negotiating with Hendrickson with Crosby in their building.
06:31Although DaCosta said, Eric DaCosta, their GM, that we wanted to pair Hendrickson with Max Crosby.
06:37Yeah, okay.
06:38Just throwing that out there.
06:39Yeah, okay.
06:40His words, not mine.
06:41No, I know, Jeff.
06:43I don't want to accuse him of lying, but he was lying.
06:48But, yeah, that whole press conference yesterday was a farce, too.
06:53Yeah, nobody's more gutted than Eric DaCosta about this.
06:57I know.
06:57Just totally tormented by that.
06:59Meanwhile, they were able to sign a comparable player while keeping both first-round picks.
07:06They're a franchise that, if I remember correctly, I don't think they've –
07:09the Crosby trade would have been the first time ever they traded a first-round draft pick.
07:13So, they get to keep both of their picks, get a comparable player, and get him cheaper.
07:18Yeah, okay.
07:19Yeah, yeah.
07:20Eric DaCosta's gutted.
07:21He's gutted.
07:22He's gutted.
07:24And you know who their team president is, right?
07:27Yes, his name is Sashi.
07:33Sashi put the paperwork in the shredder before it got sent to the league office.
07:38That's a pretty good line, Daryl.
07:40Well done there.
07:42Let me go back to the Browns for a second.
07:44You do know who the advisor to the owners, Steve Biscotti, is, don't you?
07:49Do you know who their advisor is?
07:52Hugh Jackson?
07:54Ron Shapiro.
07:55Oh, boy.
07:56Mark's dad.
07:57Yeah, well, he was a big-time agent.
07:59Eric's father-in-law.
08:00Well, yeah, honestly, though, I think they got some good advice.
08:03I mean, it worked out really well for them.
08:06Well, it did, didn't it?
08:06I mean, you know, Max Crosby's been through a bunch of surgeries recently.
08:11Keep your picks.
08:12Get a guy.
08:13Yeah.
08:14Like, it actually worked out well for them, which is very disappointing.
08:19Daryl, I'm going to go back to the Browns for a second.
08:22They've missed out, if you want to phrase it that way, and I did, sorry, on some of the
08:28key wide receivers who have changed teams so far in free agency and with trades.
08:33However, there are still some competent pros out there.
08:36If they sign one of those guys, draft a guy in the first two rounds, add them to Jerry
08:42Judy, Cedric Tillman, Isaiah Bond, whoever else might show up, are they okay at wide receiver?
08:49I mean, listen, they were never spending big money at that position this offseason.
08:54I feel like that they're going to draft one or two more guys here.
08:59Yeah, maybe they signed a second, third, fourth tier wide receiver to throw in that room.
09:06But they were never spending big money at that position this offseason.
09:10So, like, I honestly, Jeff, I'm not surprised that we're sitting here a couple of days into
09:15free agency and they haven't added to that room yet because I never really felt that that
09:21was a priority.
09:24What was priority was offensive line and they signed a couple of guys and traded for a guy,
09:30right?
09:33They, you know, brought in a blocking tight end.
09:35Again, they needed another tight end and he may, I mean, he may not even make the team.
09:41We'll see.
09:43So they, and, and replacing Devin Bush.
09:46So, so Andrew Berry addressed all the areas that I thought he was going to address already
09:50in free agency.
09:51And again, that doesn't mean that they're done because I don't think so.
09:54I think again, you know, some lower tier free agents are definitely on their radar, but I
10:00just, I really feel like the significant wide receiver room or additions to the wide receiver
10:06room are probably going to come with one of their first round picks in the draft.
10:11Darrell Ryder joining us.
10:12He is our Browns and Cleveland beat reporter.
10:15You name it, he's covering it, but all over the Browns with, with the additions on the offensive
10:21line, Darrell, I'm thinking a little out of the box here.
10:24Does that have any impact on what they might do at six?
10:30Because, I mean, you needed at least four, you signed three, but does that change their
10:36thinking if a tackle is there at six that they really like?
10:39And what I'm thinking is leaning defense, because there could be some really good defensive
10:44players on the board at six.
10:46I don't think anything that they've done to this point, Jeff, materially affects their
10:51approach to the draft.
10:53Okay.
10:53In fact, I think what they've done might even tee up what they want to do in the draft,
11:01which is a left tackle and a wide receiver.
11:04Okay.
11:04So I think that nothing has changed with the moves that they have made as far as altering
11:12those plans.
11:14Hey, Darrell, looks like we got a punter, huh?
11:17Yeah.
11:18Hey, Darrell, I guess he's all happy.
11:20I know, I can't wait to hear Andy mispronounce his name for yet another 12 months.
11:26Okay, Bruder.
11:29Are you done?
11:31Cruel.
11:32Yeah.
11:32It was cruel and unusual punishment.
11:34Also factual.
11:35Corey Bjorkes.
11:39Just say it faster, Andy.
11:41Corey Bjorkes.
11:41Nobody will get it.
11:42If you go through puberty, where's Bjorkes?
11:45Add puberty to speed, and that's what you get right there.
11:48I don't even care at this point.
11:49I'm not going to lie.
11:51It's easy.
11:51I like the dude.
11:52What's the big deal?
11:54Bahorquez.
11:54That's what I said.
11:55He can't pronounce his name.
11:57Bahorquez.
11:58No, that's the first time you've ever said it that way.
12:00That is not true.
12:01Kayla, it's the first time he's ever said it that way.
12:03Yes.
12:04He says it with two syllables every time, and he misses the middle one.
12:09I don't want to say it by its own.
12:10Corey Bahorquez.
12:14Just call him Corey.
12:15That's right.
12:16Hey, CB.
12:17Who's had his back?
12:18I don't care if I say his name wrong all the time.
12:21Who has said, and you said the other day he was gone.
12:24You thought they were going in a different direction.
12:26I posted the video this morning.
12:30If you listened to Byron's store during his introductory press conference, first off,
12:36when he mentioned all the players he was excited to work with on special teams, which included
12:39Andre Schmidt, Corey Bahorquez was not listed, and I'm not saying that was intentional, but
12:45I did pick up on that.
12:47Well, Schmidt is a pillar of the team.
12:49I know.
12:50I mean, what a find by Andrew Barry, right?
12:53He's a pillar.
12:55Is that what he had?
12:56A cornerstone.
12:57A free agent kicker.
12:57Cornerstone, that's what it is.
12:58A free agent kicker.
13:00Yeah.
13:01But I posted the clip from store when he was specifically asked about Bahorquez, and if
13:10you listen to him, first of all, he sounds like he's afraid of his own shadow, but set
13:13that part of aside for a minute.
13:15But if you listen to what he said, it did not sound like that was a ringing endorsement
13:20that they were excited to bring back Corey Bahorquez.
13:22Well, that paid the man.
13:23That's all that matters.
13:24I mean, okay.
13:26Yeah, by punter standards, I guess they did.
13:28Yes, they did.
13:31But yeah, I was just as surprised as you were, Andy, because reading the tea leaves, it sure
13:37sounded like they weren't all that interested in the man.
13:38It's not that I was surprised.
13:39I knew he was the man.
13:40I knew they were going to keep him, and I knew that you were just speculating hot air the
13:44other day.
13:45That's all.
13:46And as long as you've been able to mispronounce his name for this line, you might as well
13:49keep it rolling.
13:50I got news.
13:50I just don't care.
13:51Don't care.
13:52Everybody knows Corey's our punter.
13:53He's a pretty good dude.
13:54CB.
13:55We're going to sit here and debate whether he can hit the coffin corner or not, whatever,
13:58but I mean, it is what it is.
14:00They got a guy that can flip the field again.
14:02That's all that really matters.
14:03Darrell, how's Quinchon Judkins?
14:05And is he going to be ready for the start of the season?
14:07Yeah, I would think that he's going to be good to go.
14:10I think a lot of these guys coming off injuries should be in good shape come training camp.
14:16But yeah, my anticipation is that Judkins will be out there week one if he's healthy.
14:22So maybe he doesn't suffer another, you know what I'm saying?
14:25He should be fine from his current recovery, and then hopefully he doesn't have any setbacks
14:31along the way.
14:32Do you see them adding anybody there at running back?
14:34I like Rocket Sanders myself.
14:37I don't mind having him around.
14:39I kind of feel like that, you know, again, you're at the point of roster construction
14:45where you need to be fiscally responsible.
14:49You don't want to spend a whole lot of money.
14:51And right now, you know, Sanders would be a very efficient player to have on the roster,
14:59not only from on-the-field performance, but from a salary standpoint as well,
15:04because he doesn't cost you a whole lot of money.
15:06So, you know, again, I anticipate they'll add a running back here this offseason,
15:14but that guy I think will be competing for a job during training camp.
15:20Darrell, let me ask you another question here.
15:23Wow.
15:24The Dome this week and the funding for the Dome and the temporary injunction
15:30because of the lawsuit, what does that mean?
15:32What does that mean to the fans?
15:33What does that mean, period?
15:35Well, it just means that the state cannot pull from the unclaimed funds
15:43to finance any stadium project.
15:47I like how the Browns are taking the headlines for this.
15:52Yeah, there's like 15.
15:54The Guardians, the Cavs, the Bengals, the Blue Jackets,
15:57all are asking for money.
16:00Toledo's got a stadium project that they're asking for money for.
16:03Wasn't the new soccer stadium they were asking for a little bit too?
16:06Yep.
16:07Yeah.
16:07But the Browns are the headliner because they're, you know,
16:11as of now they're slated to get the biggest chunk of it.
16:14But all it means is that while that lawsuit plays out in court,
16:22the state can't use those funds.
16:25And so, you know, that didn't mean, because some people were taking it as,
16:30oh, the judge struck down what was passed with the budget last year.
16:35That's not what happened.
16:36And all that happened was that is that the judge said the state can't touch those funds
16:42until this lawsuit has been resolved.
16:45So just tell me if I'm wrong on this, Daryl.
16:48It did say, though, the judges normally don't give that kind of injunction there
16:51unless they think the lawsuit has a chance of winning.
16:55Yeah.
16:56I mean, there's why it's going to get played out in open court.
17:01And, you know, look, the lawmakers that came up with that idea,
17:05you know, a lot of people say that the Browns came up with it.
17:08They didn't.
17:09All the Browns did was ask for the state funding, $600 million for the project.
17:14And if people remember, you had three different proposals.
17:19You know, the governor wanted to tax gambling, I think.
17:26The House wanted to issue bonds,
17:30which then would have affected the state general fund
17:35and what they could do with state credit and all that kind of thing.
17:38And then the Senate came up with this idea,
17:42and they ultimately went with this idea of creating this stadium performance fund,
17:48$1.7 to $1.9 billion out of a $4 to $5 billion unclaimed funds fund,
17:56money that had been sitting there for over a decade,
17:59using that, borrowing from that to fund these projects,
18:04and then at the same time using tax revenues from these projects
18:09to then backstop the fund.
18:14So basically that right now, the state funding aspect is on hold.
18:19The Browns are putting forward for the stadium $1.2 billion plus cost overruns.
18:29The city of Brook Park, I think, is around $400 million.
18:32I don't have my pie chart in front of me.
18:36And they're already digging the hole.
18:37So there is some time for the state to, you know, come up with their contribution.
18:44But, yeah, if the lawsuit does get won and this gets struck down,
18:50then the state of Ohio has to come up with a different way of coming up
18:53with that $600 million that they agreed to.
18:55Daryl, thank you, buddy.
18:56Thanks, Daryl.
18:58You betcha.
18:59It's Corey Bohorkas.
19:01You got it, Daryl.
19:03Thank you, Daryl.
19:05Daryl Ryder.
19:06Daryl Rudy.
19:07Brought to us by Shiba Jewelers, Cleveland's premier jewelry store.
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