September 13th, 2018 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
NFL Analyst Brian Baldinger previews the Week 2 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints.
Whoops! NFL Admits Error in Throwing Flag on Garrett During Tie with Steelers
The NFL admitted Monday that the Browns’ Myles Garrett shouldn’t have been flagged for roughing on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that led to a touchdown on the next play, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The mistake could’ve been the difference in the game, which ended in a 21-21 tie in overtime.
NFL V.P. of Officiating Al Riveron told NFL Network Monday that Garrett didn’t land with most or all of his body weight on Roethlisberger, and therefore it wasn’t a foul.
“The rule specifically says ‘most, if not all, of your body weight,'” Riveron said. “So we want that player to make an effort.
“And the last three or four weeks, we have pulled extensive video to show the clubs exactly what we’re talking about, and we probably last week showed 5-to-1 or 6-to-1 of legal hits, or legal contact, as opposed to illegal contact. Because the question we get all the time is, well, what do you want our players to do? Well, they have to not put the weight on the quarterback.
“And this one [on Garrett] yesterday showed, even though there is some body weight on Ben, this is not what we would consider contact that rises to the level of a foul.”
Roethlisberger, facing a third and 7 from the Browns’ 8, threw the ball away in the back of the end zone with Garrett bearing down on him. Garrett hit him after the throw, and was flagged half the distance to the goal, but the hit appeared legal.
On the next play, James Conner ran in from the 4 to make it 7-0 with 11:16 left in the half.
Browns coach Hue Jackson, also believing the hit was legal, got in the face of referee Shawn Smith and gave him an earful. But it was too late.
“There were quite a few times I talked to the officials about things I saw and calls that they made,” Jackson said. “The call on Myles Garrett, I do not get that.
“They said that it was roughing the passer. That led to a touchdown.”
Steelers vs Browns Wednesday Injury Report
Today is the first official injury report for the 2018 season as the Browns and Steelers get set for battle Sunday in Cleveland.
Here’s a look at the report distributed earlier today by the NFL.
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | TE Vance McDonald (foot) | |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | LB James Burgess (concussion), CB E.J. Gaines (knee) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | LB Genard Avery (glute), DT Trevon Coley (ankle), TE Seth DeValve (quadricep), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), T Desmond Harrison (knee) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Damarious Randall (knee) | |
Browns LB Mychal Kendricks Released After Being Charged with Insider Trading
Browns LB Mychal Kendricks has been released after being charged earlier in the day Wednesday with insider trading. TMZ Sports has the lowdown.
White collar crime doesn’t sit well with the Browns — the team just released linebacker Mychal Kendricks in the wake of his insider trading charges.
Kendricks has admitted to breaking federal laws by trading perks for tips in a scheme to make an ill-gotten fortune. Officials say Kendricks turned $80k into roughly $1.2 million using private information that wasn’t available to the public.
Kendricks issued a public apology for his role in the scheme — accepting blame and saying he’s ready to deal with the consequences.
Those consequences could be steep — he’s facing serious prison time if convicted. And, since he’s already confessed, he’ll almost certainly be convicted. Clearly, the Browns want no part of his legal drama and decided to simply cut bait Wednesday.
Kendricks was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl winning team last season, and was expected to be a big part of the Browns’ D in 2018.
Kendricks has even been featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ this season — and this should be a very interesting storyline … if they decide to make his new legal situation a part of the show.
Returning WR Josh Gordon Ruled Out for Thursday’s Preseason Game vs Eagles
To the surprise of no one really based on him just coming back, the Browns will not have the services of wide out Josh Gordon on Thursday when the team takes the field against the Eagles at First Energy Stadium on Thursday night.
Here’s the story from the Plain Dealer:
“No, Josh is not playing this Thursday night. No,” Jackson said. “That’s for sure.”
Gordon returned from his treatment program at the University of Florida, but hasn’t yet been cleared to practice. His return to the field will be a collaborative decision on the part of his medical team, the NFL, the Browns and Gordon.
He’s currently on the active/non-football injury list, which permits him to attend meetings and conditioning sessions, but not practice.
All eyes seem to be on Gordon in terms of if he will be ready for opening day against the Steelers at home.
Free Agent Wide out Dez Bryant Leaves the Browns Complex Without a Deal
Dez Bryant’s visit with the Browns ended late Friday morning, but the two sides will continue to talk, a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Bryant and his agent, Kim Miale of Roc Nation arrived in Cleveland on Thursday afternoon and stayed through Friday morning. A league source told cleveland.com that Miale and Browns GM John Dorsey spoke again on Friday morning and the two sides will continue their discussions.
Bryant was excited about the visit, which included time spent at the Browns facility on Thursday and dinner that night. Likewise, the Browns were impressed with him, but it was more a chance for the two sides to get acquainted and see if it was a fit.
One league source said early Friday morning that a deal was not expected today.
The Browns host the Bills tonight at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Bud Light Announces the Cleveland Browns ‘Victory Fridge’ to Reward Fans When Browns Finally Win
On Tuesday morning, news broke that Bud Light will be introducing a “Victory Fridge” for the Cleveland Browns. The purpose of this fridge is to reward the fans when the Browns snap their winless streak that dates back from the 2017 season.
Below is the Press Release from Bud Light regarding the Browns’ Victory Fridge:
New York, NY (August 14, 2018) – A Cleveland Browns victory is about to taste even sweeter.
Bud Light and the Cleveland Browns today announced the creation of the Bud Light Cleveland Browns “Victory Fridge,” a smart-technology refrigerator that will automatically unlock after the Browns capture their first regular-season victory of the 2018 NFL season.
Beginning today, Bud Light and Ohio-based wholesaler House of LaRose will install the Bud Light Cleveland Browns “Victory Fridges” at bars that have purchased the fridges in Cleveland, inviting fans to gather at their favorite watering holes for a chance to be a part of the well-deserved victory celebration. At the very moment the Browns achieve that long-awaited victory, the Bud Light Browns Victory Fridges will simultaneously unlock, giving fans 21 and over the chance to enjoy the sweet taste of victory together.
Victory fridges will also be placed at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium and Bud Light will be there to help fans celebrate when the Browns bring home that first win.
“The Bud Light Browns ‘Victory Fridge’ is a fun way to celebrate and reward a fan base that has never wavered in enthusiasm or dedication for their team no matter what happens,” said Andy Goeler, Vice-President of Marketing, Bud Light. “We’re proud to show our support for Cleveland, and we’re always looking to bring NFL fans and friends together for memorable experiences. It’s going to be fun to be part of the celebration when the team earns their first victory of the season.”
Powered by Bud-E Fridge smart technology, the Bud Light Browns Victory Fridge is the brand’s latest innovative technology to help create unique experiences for NFL fans.
“Our top priorities are to build a consistently winning team and to create unique experiences for Browns fans, and the Bud Light Cleveland Browns Victory Fridges will give our fans a special opportunity to celebrate our first win of the 2018 season,” said Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins. “We have the most passionate, loyal fans in sports, and we are excited to partner with Bud Light on this promotion that they created specifically for Northeast Ohio due to Browns fans’ unmatched support of our team.”
To get all the latest information on the Bud Light Cleveland Browns “Victory Fridge” and other exciting programs, follow Bud Light on Facebook at Facebook.com/BudLight, on Twitter at @BudLight and on Instagram at @BudLight.
Check Out the Whole First Episode of ‘Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns’
Episode one of ‘Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns,’ was a huge success for the Browns and their fans from the reaction of Tuesday’s debut.
The next four weeks will be very interesting to watch as the Browns finally get to take the field against some other teams, but for now there’s no doubt that the first episode on HBO turned some heads.
If you missed the first episode, or want to watch it again, click the video below!
