Cleveland Browns news: Reunion quelled, a legend talks, and more QB silliness

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 30: Quarterback Mike Phipps #15 and wide receiver Paul Warfield #42 of the Cleveland Browns talk on the sideline during a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on September 30, 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 30-27. (Photo by Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Dawgs By Nature

• Browns history: A rare Paul Warfield interview, catching up with the 1964 champion (Barry Shuck) – “If there is a single athlete who can be pointed out as having an excellent athletic career, it has to be receiver Paul Warfield.”
• NFL free agency: Jadeveon Clowney spurns the Browns (Jared Mueller) – “Jadeveon Clowney has had a bit of a resurgence as a pass rusher, which would have helped offset the loss of Myles Garrett after he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. But Clowney decided on Sunday that a reunion in Cleveland was not as tempting as a reunion with the Houston Texans, the team that selected him first overall in the 2014 NFL draft.”
• Browns QB battle: What if Watson or Sanders are not the best options? (Thomas Moore) – “The Cleveland Browns are just four days into their latest, but far from greatest, quarterback training camp battle with no clear winner at the moment. And the “word in the locker room” is that the best quarterback on the Browns right now is not named Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders.”
• Which Browns’ rookie will have the best year in 2026? 4 more share their picks (Barry Shuck) – “We asked several Browns experts to pick a rookie player and then describe why they thought that new guy could become the best of his class. For this upcoming season, when it’s all said and done, which player will be this year’s best rookie?”

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Cleveland Browns

• By rejecting Browns narrative, Jimmy Haslam reveals real plan (Beacon Journal) – “Are you sitting down, Browns fans? You should be because it’s time for a candid conversation about the big-picture state of the franchise with Jimmy Haslam.”
• ‘The ball is oxygen:’ Browns defense embracing DC Mike Rutenberg’s philosophy early in camp (cleveland.com) – “Throughout the spring, new Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg was teaching one main philosophy. “The ball is oxygen.” Through four days of training camp, it’s evidently taking hold for this defense amid Cleveland’s quarterback battle.”
• Todd Monken says QB competition won’t be decided until offensive installation is complete, preseason games begin (Browns Zone) – “The incessant quarterback talk isn’t going away anytime soon. Todd Monken reiterated Saturday he will take his time in naming a starting quarterback. In fact, in his eyes, the competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson won’t really get going until the eight days of offensive installations are complete next week. He amended an earlier claim that he wasn’t even evaluating the quarterbacks.”
• Browns being patient in naming a starting QB as Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders split reps (The Athletic) – “The first week of training camp for the Cleveland Browns ended with both players who are competing for the starting quarterback job, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, throwing interceptions in a late-game situational drill. And though there are multiple reasons that new coach Todd Monken isn’t ready to name a starter, a flurry of turnovers in the back half of a fast-paced Saturday practice reinforces the uncomfortable state of affairs.

NFL

• Rams hold Garrett out as deals with ‘a little soreness’ (ESPN) – “Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett is dealing with “a little soreness in his lower half,” coach Sean McVay said on Sunday, keeping the pass rusher out of practice for the third consecutive day.”
• Packers tackle Zach Tom changes name to honor father’s Nigerian ancestry (postcrescent.com) – “Since he was drafted in 2022, Zach Tom became one of the NFL’s best right tackles wearing his birth name on the back of his Green Bay Packers jersey, but he always had another name in mind.”
• Bucs guard Cody Mauch has Baker Mayfield’s back amid contract fallout (Tampa Bay Times) – “The day after Baker Mayfield publicly expressed his disappointment with Bucs ownership over contract negotiations, he appeared to honor his vow to focus on football. Mayfield spent the fourth day of training camp slinging darts to his usual targets, at one point making an impressive connection with top receiver Emeka Egbuka. Cody Mauch, a member of the Bucs’ tight-knit offensive line, defended the quarterback after camp wrapped up for the morning.”

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Kam Williams believes Kentucky can reach the goal of 30 3s per game this season

When Mark Pope arrived at Kentucky, he wanted his teams to attempt at least 30 3-pointers per game, but that has not happened through his first two seasons.

During the 2024-25 season, Kentucky averaged 25.3 3-point attempts per game, which ranked No. 78 nationally. This past season, the Wildcats averaged just 23.9 3-point attempts per game, ranking No. 154 in the country.

Now, with Pope essentially having a brand-new team in Year 3, the goal remains the same: attempt 30 or more 3-pointers per game. With the roster he has assembled, that goal could finally become a reality, thanks to shooters such as Milan Momcilovic, Kam Williams, and Trent Noah.

Last season, Momcilovic shot a blistering 48.7% from 3-point range while averaging 7.5 3-point attempts per game. Meanwhile, Williams had a bit of a down year, shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc on 3.3 attempts per game, largely because of the transition from the AAC at Tulane to the SEC at Kentucky. Another factor was his foot injury, which limited him before he returned late in the season.

As for Noah, he shot 33.3% from 3-point range, the same percentage he posted as a freshman. Although it appeared to be a down shooting season, it really wasn’t, and he looks poised for a breakout junior campaign.

Previously, Pope told Momcilovic that he has the green light to shoot, even if his 3-point percentage drops, because he wants him taking more shots than he did at Iowa State.

The same approach applies to Williams and Noah, who should not be afraid to let it fly.

“He kind of tells us that, me and (Milan Momcilovic), pretty much every day. And Trent as well,” Williams told reporters last week. “He’s kind of telling us all the time, you want our percentages to look differently. If our percentage is too high, then that’s a problem. Just different things like that.”

While Kentucky has yet to average more than 30 3-point attempts per game under Pope, Williams believes this year’s roster has the talent to accomplish that goal.

“I’m pretty sure,” he said when asked about hitting that mark. “I feel like we have a great shooting team and there’s definitely a strong emphasis that we can use this year and take advantage of this year, because we have a lot more shooters on this year’s team than last year’s team. We can make a lot of noise, for sure.”

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Ben Johnson: Luther Burden competes like Amon-Ra St. Brown, wants to be the best

Bears coach Ben Johnson says wide receiver Luther Burden is poised to build off his promising rookie season in 2025 and become one of the best receivers in the NFL. Maybe the very best.

Asked on Fox 32 in Chicago about saying Burden is destined to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Johnson says he recognizes that Burden is among an elite group of players who are special in the way they compete.

"They kind of flip a switch when they go on the field and they feel like they're invincible and they're the best players out there," Johnson said.

Johnson was the Dolphins' wide receivers coach when Jarvis Landry was one of the NFL's best receivers in Miami, and more recently coached Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Lions. Johnson said both of those players are like Burden in the way they compete on every single down.

"St. Brown in Detroit, who I have a strong affinity for, he plays the game the same way. I feel that from Luther," Johnson said. "He wasn't a full-time starter for us a year ago, but the snaps that he did have, he's got that competitive edge and desire to be great, and it's carried over into the spring and summer as well. He's been a regular in our building, working with our strength staff. He wants to be the most conditioned player on the team. wants to be one of the strongest receivers on the team and just continues to soak in all the knowledge."

Last year Burden caught 47 passes as a rookie, finishing second among the Bears' wide receivers in receptions behind D.J. Moore. This year Moore has been traded away, and the plan is for Burden to get more passes thrown his way. Johnson thinks Burden is more than ready.

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The time is now for DJ Ivey to prove he belongs

After overcoming a devastating knee injury, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Ivey enters the biggest season of his NFL career with an opportunity to earn a permanent role in the secondary.

DJ Ivey

• Height: 6-foot-1
• Weight: 192 pounds
• Age: 26
• College: Miami (FL)
• Hometown: Homestead, Florida
• Experience: 3 years

Cap Status

Ivey is entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract after the Bengals selected him in the seventh round (246th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.145 million while carrying a cap hit of approximately $1.17 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season.

Background

Seventh-round draft picks rarely enjoy long NFL careers. Many never make a 53-man roster. Ivey has already beaten those odds.

A five-year starter at Miami, Ivey entered the NFL with the size, length, and athleticism teams covet in an outside cornerback. The Bengals believed he was worth developing, and he rewarded that faith by making the roster as a rookie.

Unfortunately, just as his role began to expand during the 2023 season, Ivey suffered a torn ACL that ended his rookie campaign and forced him to spend much of the following year working his way back to full strength.

Rather than allowing the injury to define him, though, Ivey quietly continued developing.

He appeared in every game during the 2025 season, providing valuable depth in the secondary while becoming an important contributor on special teams. Although he played only limited defensive snaps, he finished the year with 12 tackles and three passes defended, showing encouraging progress whenever his number was called.

Outlook on the 2026 Season and Beyond

Cornerback may be one of the deepest positions on Cincinnati’s roster, but that doesn’t mean opportunities won’t come. In today’s NFL, injuries are inevitable, and teams often rely on four, five, or even six cornerbacks over the course of a season.

When an opportunity arrives, the Bengals need someone they can count on. That is where Ivey comes in. While he has already proven he can overcome adversity, now he must prove he can become more than just quality depth.

The Bengals have invested heavily in rebuilding their defense, and competition throughout the secondary will be fierce. If Ivey continues the steady development he has shown since returning from injury, he has every opportunity to carve out a meaningful defensive role while remaining one of the club’s most valuable special teams players.

But with guys like Ceyair Wright, Bralyn Lux, and Ja’Sir Taylor also vying for roster spots, Ivey needs a good showing in camp and the preseason just to ensure he keeps his spot on the Bengals’ 53-man roster.

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Jets’ Harrison Phillips echoes cries for stadiums to use real grass after World Cup change

Like many NFL players, Jets veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips noticed the grass field being used at MetLife Stadium this summer for the World Cup.

Phillips, who is active in the NFL Players Association, said he hopes NFL teams can find a way to use grass in all the stadiums.

MetLife will go back to turf for the football season.

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“It’s a very complicated argument. but I want to stand firm that players prefer good, natural grass,” Phillips said.

Phillips said he believes team owner Woody Johnson is open to discussing changing the field to grass, but it is complicated since both the Jets and Giants use the stadium, and it is hard to maintain grass fields in the colder months.

Phillips acknowledged some players will not want to play on a poor grass surface if that is the alternative.

“I think that there is an answer,” Phillips said. “I do believe that we can try to make players happier and get closer to what they want.”

Harrison Phillips arrives to practice at training camp in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Phillips pointed to the Jets getting a remodeled training center as evidence that Johnson will spend money to help players.

“I’ve been blown away by how much our owner wants to support our players,” Phillips said. “We’re going to have one of the best facilities not just in the National Football League, but in all of professional sports. That’s an owner that says, I want to win and I want to do whatever the players need for that.

An aerial view of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ as seen on September 6, 2025. NYPCS for the New York Post

“If there is a way to get the players what we want and natural grass is feasible and we can show that that’s going to make us a healthier team, I believe our owner would definitely hear that out.”

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QB Geno Smith had a strong performance Saturday, throwing no incompletions during the team drills or in seven-on-sevens.

He went 11-for-11 in team drills with four touchdowns during a red zone-heavy practice.

“It’s good to see that from your starter,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “Listen, he’s worked his butt off, from the offseason going to the beginning of training camp, of understanding exactly what we’re doing. I think him and Frank [Reich, offensive coordinator] are on the same page.

“I think our quarterback coaches are doing a hell of a job of teaching him and actually expanding his knowledge as far as what we’re trying to do. The one good thing about Geno is as long as he’s been in this league, he’s still learning.”

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The Jets have an off day Sunday. They have their first padded practice Monday. … The team signed DL Ben Barten and waived LS Garrison Grimes.

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NY Giants news, 8/1: Top 100 NFL players, Friday’s training camp practice, more

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here is the news you need to know for Saturday.

Ranking the top 100 players in NFL history | CBS Sports

Lawrence Taylor is in the top 10

Giants’ Arvell Reese already showing length can be a factor | New York Post

A practice report from Paul Schwartz.

John Harbaugh is answering your leadership questions all season. Here are his first 7 responses | The Athletic

This is pretty cool.

From Big Blue View

• NY Giants training camp report, Day 3: Darius Alexander makes the play of camp
• Jaxson Dart getting an under center education in Giants’ offense
• John Harbaugh: ‘Good chance’ he has discussed backlip with Cam Skattebo

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Cardinals RB Tyler Allgeier on welcoming Jeremiyah Love: "There's no point being a jerk"

As a rookie with the Falcons, Tyler Allgeier ran for 1,035 yards — and then the Falcons used the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on running back Bijan Robinson. This year, Allgeier left the Falcons for the Cardinals in free agency — and then the Cardinals used the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on running back Jeremiyah Love.

Allgeier says he's fine with that.

Talking to reporters for the first time since Love's arrival in Arizona, Allgeier said he's doing everything he can to help the rookie acclimate to the NFL, even though he knows Love is being groomed as the starter and Allgeier will get a lesser role in the offense because Love was drafted.

"It's not like there's any bad blood, we're just building that relationship and we're pretty close right now," Allgeier said. "There’s no point in being a jerk about it. That's not going to get you anywhere in life, in this business, in this sport."

Allgeier said he knows the Cardinals drafted the player they think can most improve the team, and he embraces that.

“The front office has their reasons and I think it's another weapon on the offensive side. I think it was a great pick, great player, great competition in the room," Allgeier said. "I knew what I was getting into."

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