Photo by Keith Allison

There is a lot of conversation about whether Kizer is franchise QB the team has needed for so long.  He might be exactly what the Browns need at the most important position in the game.  But it is hard to tell when so many throws that are right on target are dropped by a receiver group that is worse than 2 teams I coached in semi-pro football.

The brain-dead people making draft picks have given HC Jackson a team that is green as baby peas.  They let the 1 WR that had 1000+ yards and was new to the WR position go but brought in a guy that could not catch a cold standing naked on the edge of Lake Erie in a sleet storm.  He also has 1 1000 yard season but has been in the league for years.

They also passed up 2 other QBs that could have started the “rebuild” much earlier and given beaten down Browns fans some hope.  If this group made good choices with those extra picks I might agree.  They do not and the proof is the 1 win we have seen in the two years that they have been in control.

If Jet QB Josh McCown comes back to Cleveland and beats the Browns, there will be hell to pay.  He is better than most people think and could pull it off.  At least he has led the Jets to a 2 and 2 season so far.

After a 1 and 15 season, the stands will be filled with a lot of empty seats.  That has to concern Browns ownership.  Tickets for the last home game were selling for $6.00.  A few more losses and season ticket holders will not be able to give their tickets away.

That is what I think.  Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE:  News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK.  Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend.  My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports.  Podcasts can be heard on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library.com/Contemporary/ and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.  Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts.  You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

 DeShone Kizer was my top QB in a very weak class.  Clearly what happened to the Notre Dame program had a lot more to do with very bad coaching, even worse recruiting, and a brain-dead staff than what Kizer did or didn’t do.  But there are a bunch of issues that the Browns will have to address.

The first issue is Kizer’s mechanics.  A combination of a very pathetic O line, the lack of a consistent run game, and a group of wide receivers that couldn’t catch a cold standing naked in a sleet storm on Lake Michigan, his mechanics went south in a hurry.  But we saw him in 2015 and he as much better.

The question is can the Browns coaching staff get him back to his 2015 throwing motion and footwork?

The personnel department did a good job fixing the O line issues (except for RT) in free agency.  That was a good move because the O line in the draft was below average.  Kizer or whoever starts for the Browns will have better protection than last year.  That should also help the running game.  But this will be as difficult a test for the coaching staff as any they have faced last year.

If the staff can fix Kizer’s mechanics and footwork, he has the physical gifts to be an above average QB in the NFL.  If not, a new staff will have a chance next year to help him.  A 1 win season gives very little cover for this staff.

My last piece of advice for the Cleveland Browns coaching staff and personnel department is this:  Win some games BEFORE the London trip or you may be unemployed when you get home.

That is what I think.  Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE:  News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK.  Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend.  My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports.  Podcasts can be heard on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library.com/Contemporary/ and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.  Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts.  You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits .  

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

Photo by Marianne O’Leary

NOTE:  On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports, Tony Williams of Metro NY and I discussed the news of the day and the NNR Mock draft on fryingpansports.com/radio-show.

My view of the world tells me past actions are a good indication of future events.  That does not bode well for Browns fans.  The Browns have had more 1^st round picks than any team in NFL history over the last several years.  And for the most part, those guys are not on the roster.  That is what happens when you put a lawyer in charge of the draft.

Part of that was due to the failure of the top draft people to go to the pro days.  When you go to a player’s pro day, you get to talk to those around the player.  A perfect example was the 2014 draft.

In that draft, the Browns had 2 1^st round picks.  With the 8^th overall pick they selected Justin “No tackle” Gilbert.  Had they gone to his pro day, they would have heard him say “check my film” when someone asked him to catch some punts.

At #22 they selected Johnny “Wreck this league” Manziel.  Had they gone to the Texas A&M pro day, they might have found out he was a heavy drinker and decided against him.

So, I ask the question again.  What will the Browns do in the draft?  From a Browns fan since 1954, I have to guess that they will find a way to screw it up again.

That is what I think.  Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE:  News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK.  Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend.  My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports.  Podcasts can be heard on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com.  He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library.com/Contemporary/ and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.  Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts.  You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits .  

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

Joey Bosa Ohio State buckeyes

NOTE: On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discussed the news of the day, injuries from the previous week, and previewed all of this week’s games including a detailed analysis of the Browns game.

Like most Ohio State fans, I was disappointed at the loss to the Spartans. But more than anything else I was shocked to see Joey Bosa fail to perform in the 1^st big game of the season. For those of us that are draft-nicks, one thing that predicts failure in the NFL is failure in big games in college. A stiff can look good playing against the Sisters of the Perpetually Miserable. But how a player preforms against a big time opponent has always been an indicator of how that player would fair at the next level.

Bosa did nothing in the MSU game. That is all I needed to see to take him off my board. He might turn out to be a good or even great player. But I can not risk taking a player like that with a top 5 pick in the draft.

Samantha Bunten of NBC Sport and I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK. Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend. My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports. Podcasts can be heard on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits .

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discussed the news of the day, injuries from week 9, and previewed all week 10 games including the Browns/Steelers.

AFC East

Patriots – No question Tom Brady is playing at a very high level. The question is will issues in the D backfield cost them a Super Bowl?

Bills – New coaching staff, solid D but the same old problem—No QB.

Jets – No question the D is one of the very best. They have the same issue as the Bills.

Dolphins – The team quit on their former coach and this team is headed for a total rework.

AFC North

Bengals – QB Andy Dalton has played very well but can they win a playoff game? No.

Steelers – Injuries have decimated this team but the D backfield has never been worse.

Ravens – The only thing that will save HC Harbaugh’s job is the super bowl win.

Browns – It is time to blow up the organization again. The sooner they fire GM Ray Farmer the better the 2016 draft will be.

AFC South

Colts – If things weren’t bad enough Andrew Luck is hurt. The D is pathetic and now the QB is 85 years old.

Texans – Once they stopped flipping coins to decide which QB to start the team has started to win. The D has always been solid. The Colts had better watch out.

Jaguars – Blake Bortles is playing well but needs more weapons. The D is a disaster and needs to be upgraded.

Titans – They drafted a QB and have 2 legitimate starters. They need to trade 1 to get more players.

AFC West

Broncos – Peyton Manning has fallen and he can’t get up. He is clearly not the QB he used to be. The D has saved them often but will not get him to a Super Bowl win.

Raiders – HC Jack Del Rio has this team headed in the right direction. He has a QB and a couple of receivers. One more good draft will make this team very dangerous.

Chiefs – It was clear that KC would struggle on O but the D has disintegrated as well. Maybe the pass rushers’ wallets are slowing them down.

Chargers – Any team that has rumors of moving out of town is bound to be hurt. Phillip Rivers has carried this team on his back for years. This year he is getting even less help than in the past.

NFC East

Giants – Eli Manning is struggling without a run game and an O line in flux. The D needs to generate more pressure on the opposing QB but the injury to JPP has made that unlikely.

Eagles – Chip Kelly has made some strange moves collecting 2 RBS and a QB with serious injury histories. The high speed O will kill the D unless they can make 1^st downs and hold the ball.

Redskins – This team is a dumpster fire and yet they are looking down at the Cowboys. They have no QB and the run game has gone south. The D has never been good.

Cowboys – Jerry Jones has no one to blame but himself. He thought either Brandon Weeden or Matt Cassel could replace Tony Romo and keep the team winning. He was VERY wrong.

NFC North

Packers – The Panthers showed every team how to stop the Pack O—cover the receivers until the D line can sack the QB. The D has fallen off as well in the last 2 losses.

Vikings – The combination of Bridgewater and Peterson have the team in the hunt for a playoff spot. But the D is contributing by holding opponents to 17.5 ppg.

Bears – Cutler will be gone next year. Some coach will think they are the guy that can turn him into an superstar but they will be wrong.

Lions – “With the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select…”

NFC South

Panthers – Newton is playing OK but is not an MVP candidate completing just 53.7% with 14TDS but 9 interceptions. The D has been outstanding allowing 20.6 ppg.

Falcons – They were undefeated until the O played road kill. It has always been the D that did them in.

Saints – Brees is doing all he can but has to wonder who’s side the D is on. The DC is a big part of the problem.

Buccaneers – Winston is learning that the NFL is not like the ACC. He will get it but it will take a while. The D needs more players like LB David.

NFC West

Cardinals – This team is a time bomb waiting for Carson Palmer to get hurt again. As long as he is healthy this team is a Super Bowl contender.

Rams – Foles is not the answer at QB but neither was Bradford. They have the RB in Gurley and the D. All they need now is the QB and some bigger WRS.

Seahawks – Russel Wilson has been sacked 85 times in 8 games despite his mobility. The O line is killing their chances to get back to the Super Bowl. The D has also given up leads late in games.

49ers – Kaepernick will be gone at the end of the season. Some coach will think they are the guy that can turn him into a star and they will be right. Ownership will be sorry they let their HC and QB leave.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK. Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend. My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports. Podcasts can be heard on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits .

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.