Good to be wrong

A moment please before beginning while I scrape all the egg off my countenance. Make that a couple of moments. Thank you.

After the Browns placed Austin Watkins Jr. on waivers Tuesday and made him available to the other 31 National Football League teams as they pared the roster to the mandated 53-man limit, fans were upset. I thought for sure he was gone.

But no one, to the surprise -- and subsequent delight -- of those who also believed the club's training camp star was gone, picked him up. Not one bite in spite of the fact Watkins put up 16 receptions of 257 yards,  a couple of touchdowns and numerous clutch catches in four exhibition games.

What's going on here? Is there something new in talent evaluation I missed? Is there a reason numbers like that aren't rewarded? Were there flaws in his performances I missed? 

Surely there had to be someone out on the NFL landscape paying attention to what Watkins was accomplishing. What didn't they see that we all did? 

Is there something we don't know about Watkins? Any off-the-field misbehavior that would scare off scouts? Is he too old at 25? Guess we'll never find out.

Better to enjoy what did not happen and be thankful his presence gives the Browns depth in the event any member of the extremely talented wide receivers room runs into physical problems. Watkins is now one injury away from suiting up.

***

The 15-man practice squad is comprised of Watkins and 11 training-camp teammates thought of highly enough to be invited back after clearing waivers. Quarterback P. J. Walker and offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood also were signed after being cut by the Chicago Bears.

Leatherwood is an interesting case. He played left tackle on the other side of the line from Jedrick Wills Jr. of the Browns at Alabama for a couple of seasons and was drafted as a tackle by the Las Vegas Raiders (17th) in the first round of the 2021 college lottery. 

Problems playing the position at the NFL level caused the Raiders to move him inside at guard as a rookie where he played all 17 games. His problems continued there, too, and the Raiders in a highly unusual move cut the cord after just one season. The Bears picked him up, but he logged just four games last season after missing time with mononucleosis and other injuries. They released him a few days ago.

Cleveland will be Leatherwood's third team in three seasons. In two short years, he is on his way to becoming an NFL vagabond at the age of 24. Guessing here the Browns will make him Bill Callahan's next project in an effort to halt the journey.

The highly-regarded offensive line coach, whose units with the Browns annually receive high praise as one of the league's best, is known for molding and developing struggling linemen, turning them into productive pieces.

Walker, a savvy four-year veteran, was signed to the PS instead of Kellen Mond. He most likely will become the scout team quarterback, whose important job is to simulate the tendencies of that week's opposing quarterback.

New kicker Dustin Hopkins will be backed up on the PS by Lucas Havrisik, who  previously was in camp with the Indianapolis Colts.

***

To no one's surprise, except maybe the Browns', Cade York is now a member of the Tennessee Titans practice squad. He, again surprisingly, cleared waivers and could have re-signed with Cleveland, but chose instead to head back down south.

York returning to Cleveland would have shocked me. He would have been placed on the practice squad behind newly-acquired Dustin Hopkins. Putting myself in his position, why would I want go come back to all that aggravation? That ship sailed the second he was placed on waivers.

"I think you can understand him maybe wanting to go somewhere else and maybe get a breath of fresh air," said Glenn Cook, the Browns' VP/Personnel. Ya think?

York might have to wait a little while to get his chance at retribution. The Titans, as the Browns, have struggled in the kicking department, so they traded the other day for 40-year-old Nick Folk.

***

And finally . . . Say goodbye to cornerback A. J. Green III and welcome fellow corner Khalef Hailassie, the only player thus far claimed off waivers from Kansas City. Apparently General Manager Andrew Berry saw something he liked from the undrafted rookie. Maybe it Hailassie's three solo tackles in the Chiefs' 33-32 victory in the exhibition finale last Saturday.

Hardly knew ye

Surprised Austin Watkins Jr. won't wear the Seal Brown and Orange this season? So was I. Disappointed, too.

Despite a terrific, eye-opening training camp, the big wide receiver failed to make the Browns' final roster cut Tuesday. Fans wondered why. Me, too.

The Browns, perhaps to mollify angry fans, say they'd love to bring Watkins back to the practice squad after he clears waivers in the next 24 or so hours. Fat chance. Every National Football League team has tape of the second-best receiver during the league's exhibition season. 

That tape showed Watkins with 16 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns in four games. He was also first in total yards, average yards per catch, average yards per game and second in yards after the catch.

He won't clear waivers. 

FYI, Chicago tops the waiver list, followed by Houston, Arizona, Indianapolis, Denver, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas,  Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans. If you're concerned Watkins night wind up elsewhere in the AFC North, Pittsburgh is 17th, Baltimore is 23rd and Cincinnati is 29th.

After calming down, I got to thinking, trying to rationalize why the Browns' brass made this decision and concluded Watkins was a victim of a loaded wide receivers room. Quarterback Deshaun Watson should prosper with the talent in that room.

If this was last season, Watkins would have been a lock to make the final 53. Just a case of bad timing for the player and the team. There is no question General Manager Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski and the coaching staff thought -- and probably argued -- long and hard before the final verdict.

Guessing it came down to Watkins or David Bell for the final spot. Watkins has more natural talent and makes plays. Bell was a very reliable receiver at Purdue, but didn't get many looks in his rookie NFL season. The big difference probably came down to special teams, where Bell excelled last season.

He saw only 35 targets all last season. Caught 24 (69%) for 214 yards and seven first downs. With the arrival of Moore and Goodwin, he might be targeted even less this season. Watkins would have booked plenty of bench time outside of special teams.

Another factor might have been trying to figure out how much Watkins would see the field. Whose reps would he take? Amari Cooper's? Elijah Moore's? Donovan Peoples-Jones'? Cedric Tillman's? Marquise Goodwin's? David Njoku's? Whose?

Showing up as an undrafted free agent just prior to camp, Watkins wowed just about everyone in Berea, taking the Browns by surprise. Capturing the imagination of the fans made the final decision that much tougher to arrive at.

***

That was the only major surprise in the final trims, although I can't believe defensive tackle Jordan Elliott made the final cut. That decision was more like a minor surprise. I'd love to hear the rationale for keeping him for a fourth season.

The Browns selected him in the third round of the 2020 college draft and he's been a huge disappointment. The 6-4, 305 pounder is not the run stuffer the club thought it drafted to neutralize opposing infantry attacks. Only 77 tackles in three seasons, just 35 solo, a mere seven quarterback hits and a teeny 2.5 sacks.

It's also why the Browns brought in Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris as free agents and Siaki Ika via the draft to anchor what has been a perennial weak spot in the Cleveland defense. Took Berry two seasons to figure that one out.

Elliott quite simply is not strong at the point of attack and can be frequently and easily maneuvered out of position. That he lasted this long is semi mind-boggling. Wouldn't be surprised if Berry scours the free-agent market for another defensive tackle in an effort to make Elliott an ex-Brown.

***

Nine rookies (including all seven draft picks) made the final cut, three of them from Ohio State. Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. offensive tackle Dawand Jones and center Luke Wypler join cornerback Denzel Ward to give the Browns four ex-Buckeyes on the team for the first time in memory.

Nice to see linebacker Mohamoud Diabate and Hickman make the final 53. Both are undrafted free agents certain to receive plenty of action on special teams. They also have shown they can be trusted with reps on occasion on defense.

Diabate's size (6-4, 230) and athleticism and innate ability to frequently be in the vicinity of the football fits nicely into defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's world of aggressive football. The fact he's a strong tackler and makes plays should win him some reps.

Hickman flashed early in the exhibition season with three interceptions, two in one game. Stuff like that garners more just a little attention from the coaching staff. He is also a sure tackler.

***

Finally . . . This is not the roster that will suit up for the season opener at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. It will be massaged a bit either through free agency or a trade or two before that game kicks off. . . . Other new faces on offense are quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and wideout Cedric Tillman. On defense, they belong to cornerback Cameron Mitchell, defensive end Isaiah McGuire, Diabate and Ika.

It had to happen

In a way, I can't say "didn't see that coming." With one big whack, the Browns finally admitted making a mistake of monumental proportions on placekicker Cade York. 

After days and weeks of dodging questions and hemming and hawing on how safe the erratic York was with regard to being confident enough in his ability to kick a football through uprights from great distances to secure a place on the 53-man roster, the answer came silently and swiftly.

In a deal that was consummated Monday, but most likely initiated sometime Sunday, General Manager Andrew Berry sent a 2025 seventh-round draft choice to the Los Angeles Chargers for veteran kicker Dustin Hopkins and waived York after no longer believing in him.

As late as Sunday, head coach Kevin Stefanski danced and then danced some more when pestered by the media if York would be his kicker when the Browns open the regular season Sept. 10 at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. He never answered in the affirmative.

In spite of public verbal back-patting in an effort to assure York things would eventually work out, there obviously was enough concern in the last week or two that caused Berry and Stefanski to inch closer to making a move, one that needed to be made in the best interests of the franchise.

What almost surely pushed them over the edge was York's performances in the last two exhibition games, where it appeared his self-confidence looked shot. Failure to take a late lead against Philadelphia and outright failing to beat Kansas City had to be the last straw.

Earlier in the exhibition season, York twice had been given reprieves when penalties gave him a second chance. He still missed both. It was a sign at the time that apparently wasn't taken seriously by the front office before eventually taking on greater importance as the calendar crept closer to Sept. 10. 

Even though the results of these games were meaningless, this part of the season is a training ground to prepare teams for the regular-season grind. A dependable kicker is one of the main ingredients toward success. York was becoming the anthesis to that end, growing worse by the week.

The Browns play every AFC North team in the first four weeks of the season. Stefanski shouldn't have to worry about his unpredictable kicker during arguably the most important part of the schedule. That should be the least of his worries. He won't have that problem with the more reliable Hopkins.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old redhead was originally drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2013 draft and spent the first couple of seasons with the Bills and New Orleans, but never got into a game. He spent the next seven seasons kicking for Washington before moving on to the Chargers.

During his NFL career, the Florida State product has connected on 84.8% of his field-goal attempts and 94.9% of his extra-point tries. His reputation as one of the NFL's most consistent and accurate kickers precedes him.

The roster has been crafted to the point where everyone is all in. Strength abounds on both sides of the football. The goal of this team is not to just make the playoffs. Or win at least one post-season game. They want to play football in late January.

It has reached the point where the players no longer hope they can win. They no longer think they can win. They know they can win. They do not need distractions. York had become a distraction. Even though he was around for just one season, he had to go. 

It's been a brief but hard fall for York, who was drafted in the fourth round of last year's lottery after a heralded career at Louisiana State. He began his rookie season with eight field goals in a row before cooling off (only 16 of the last 24).

As it turned out, he reached the pinnacle of his brief career in Cleveland with a dramatic 58-yard game-winning field goal to knock off the Carolina Panthers in the season opener at home last season. Browns fans exulted. The missing piece of the puzzle had arrived. Until it hadn't. 

And just like that . . . gone.

Fireworks, York & Denzel

Throughout the exhibition season, the Browns' offense sure looked familiar. Like the last two seasons. Pretty much standard stuff with execution the main goal. 

Most of the players participating weren't going to be around for the regular season, anyway. So why bother installing the new --- and possibly radically different -- stuff for other teams to glom onto and prepare for? Stick with the old playbook.

And then Deshaun Watson broadly hinted after the 33-32 loss Saturday in Kansas City that just might be the case, almost boastfully suggesting the 2023 Cleveland Browns offense will be quite disparate without going into specifics.

"It's going to be great," said the quarterback, who will be the ringmaster of the new look. "I think Kevin (Stefanski) is on the edge of wanting to call some things. There are a lot of things that are going to look very different."

Now that's a tease that almost certainly will excite Browns Nation, especially those denizens who miss the early days of Stefanski, whose offense in 2020 was one of the most dangerous in the National Football League with Baker Mayfield in control.

Watson wasn't through. "We have 10 days to get that tuned up and ready to go," he said. "Once September 10th comes around in Cleveland Stadium, it's going to be fireworks. That's the plan. Don't hold anything back and let it all loose. We want to go out there and have fun doing it."

All well and good, but isn't Stefanski known for his conservatism on that side of the football? When Nick Chubb is your running back, you know he's going to get at least 20 touches a game. Air Stefanski might have to dial it back somewhat.

More Watson. "If you don't take your chances and try to be conservative, that's when you kind of get behind the 8-ball and we don't want to do that," he said. "We want to be able to take our chances and give our receivers and playmakers a shot."

Now all Watson and his cohorts -- and Stefanski, of course -- have to do is go out and make it happen.

***

Let's start with the facts: Denzel Ward is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Has been ever since arriving from Ohio State as a first-round draft selection five seasons ago. Voted to two Pro Bowls. One of the league's best press-coverage corners. Cleveland-area product.

That said, it should also be pointed out Ward has never played an entire injury-free season in the NFL. The Browns have played 82 games the last five seasons. Ward has suited up for 66 of them, injuries robbing him of 16 games. 

Two concussions in his rookie season (missed three games); hamstring in 2019 (missed four games); calf in 2020 (missed three games); hamstring in 2021 (missed three games); concussion last season (missed three games). 

And now he is back in concussion protocol for the fourth time in his career after getting dinged early in the Kansas City loss. His troubling history with concussions questions Ward's availability for the season opener against Cincinnati.

If he hasn't been cleared by then, forget who would have to replace him. Right now, Ward has to be thinking how many more concussions does he have to sustain to determine how much longer he wants to be a professional football player.

Four concussions is serious territory. Ward might love the game, but is it worth getting your brain scrambled to the point where it impacts the rest of your life? Sometimes, it's wise to leave before the situation gets worse.

***

The continuing saga of Cade York rages on as the season opener nears. Stefanski on Sunday responded with a non-answer when asked if the troubled young placekicker will kick in that game. Check out the answer.

"Yeah, I think those types of things, as you know, we always keep those internal as we go through the week, but I'll reiterate I think Cade is very, very talented," he said. It's not that he didn't say yes that matters. It's that he went all-politician and answered a question that wasn't asked.

York thinks so, too, about the very talented part. Here he is after having a game-winning field-goal attempt blocked that could have turned the KC loss into a victory. 

"To be honest," he said, "people gave me pats (of consolation) on the back and crap like that. But I hate pity. Pity pisses me off. I want to be a weapon, I know how good I am. That's been the most frustrating thing the last month, struggling with that. So the real games start soon. Just trying to take a running start into the season and just putting them through all the time."

OK, so will he be the man against the Bengals? Don't ask Stefanski.

***

The Browns Sunday released wide receiver Anthony Schwartz among 14 cuts, trimming the roster to 75. The last 22 names will be released sometime between now and Tuesday at 4 p.m., the deadline for the 53-man roster. There were no surprises in this round of cuts.

Schwartz was a curious -- no, make that shocking -- third-round draft pick in 2021. The Browns wanted speed. Schwartz had plenty of that. Only one problem. He couldn't catch the football. Always believed he was a world-class sprinter masquerading as a football player.

General Manager Andrew Berry twice passed (for Schwartz and offensive tackle James Hudson III) on Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was grabbed by the Detroit Lons in the fourth round and has become one of the league's outstanding young receivers. 

The Pro Bowler has booked 196 receptions for 2,073 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Lions after a productive career at USC. Ironically, Berry loves productive players. Flat our missed here.

What have we learned?

Four meaningless exhibition games now in the books. Time to start taking professional football in Cleveland seriously. 

But first, a question: What have we learned about the Browns the last several weeks? We learned . . . 

Despite all the wonderful things we have heard about how much different, how much better the offense will look this season, we saw little evidence of that in the exhibition finale Saturday afternoon in Kansas City, a hard-to-swallow 33-32 loss after holding a 22-3 first-quarter lead.

Head coach and chief operating officer for the offense Kevin Stefanski has a lot of work to do with that side of the ball before opening up the regular season two weeks from Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

To give you some idea of just how bad it was when the Browns owned the football, none of the three quarterbacks were effective. Yes Deshaun Watson was the quarterback of record when the offense put two touchdowns on the board in the first 15 minutes, but he looked nothing like the terrific practice quarterback we've heard so much about.

He was shaky at best. It took him four possessions to sustain any kind of momentum, generating just 43 yards on the first three before shepherding an 80-yard scoring drive. He completed half of his 10 throws for 93 yards, but 53 of them were on a scrambling heave to a wide-open Amari Cooper in busted coverage that led to one of the scores.

It's not the kind of performance you expect from your starting quarterback as you head toward the regular season. Unless Stefanski has a surprise or three in his arsenal that he hasn't unveiled yet, this offense still looks a lot like 2022.

Backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson, after three showy games, looked ordinary, banking nothing in a couple of quarters. Kellen Mond solidified QB3 with an equally ordinary stint, but he was the quarterback when Cade York's 40-yard field goal recaptured the lead at 30-29 with four minutes left in the game.

If it wasn't for the opportunistic Cleveland defense in the first quarter, this would have been a rout for the Super Bowl champs. A large majority of the credit in the first 15 minutes belongs to the defense, which put up six points and produced a short field for another.

And that brings us to what we learned about the starting defense.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz had to like what he saw in the first half with three interceptions, two (by safety Juan Thornhill and rookie cornerback Caleb Biggers) that wound up in the end zone for a 29-16 halftime lead.

Players were flying all over the field, shutting down a Chiefs offense with Patrick Mahomes II sitting this one out. In four possessions, the defense forced a Harrison Butker field goal after a takeaway in Cleveland territory on the opening possession, consecutive picks by the defense and a punt, limiting the Chiefs to just 46 yards on 16 snaps.

Operating without Myles Garrett, who was watching from the bench, Schwartz's swarming very active defense showed, unlike their brethren on offense, they are more than ready for the regular season. 

Unlike the last few seasons, this unit shows strong signs of almost certainly becoming the offense's best friend, producing short fields all season. In these four games, the defense picked off seven passes and recovered a fumble.

The middle of Saturday's three interceptions gave Watson a short field at the Chiefs 16. Three plays later, tight end David Njoku hauled in a pretty fade from the 12, easily the quarterback's best throw of the afternoon.

Now about that hard-to-swallow loss. We learned . . . 

It's time Stefanski steps up and admits there is at the very least some level of concern with regard to York, his very unreliable placekicker. If he continues to say, almost defiantly, that he is not worried and remains confident in the second-year kicker, he's not dealing with the truth.

It's safe to say at this point that Stefanski, as he is wont to say, better not have "a ton of confidence" in his kicker. This has turned into a major problem that needs to be addressed pronto. Time to bring in another kicker? You really need to ask that?

At this point, it's not about winning or losing games anymore. It's about what is wrong with this young man. Nothing seems to be getting through to him with regard to how important he is to this team, to the program. One can only wonder what his teammates are thinking as he continues to fail in clutch situations.

Forget his six-for-six perfectos in practice from various distances. They mean nothing. All it proves is he's terrific in practice and a whole bunch gets lost in translation when the actual games are played. I'd much rather him look terrible in practice and kick them right down the middle when it counts.

This game could have been won with a 43-yard field goal. Similar situation in the tie with Philadelphia in the last game. York had a chance to put the Browns up with six minutes remaining, but was wide left from 41 yards.

In this one, Mond had put York in position to make a 40-yarder that regained the lead a possession earlier. Butker got the lead back with a 44-yarder right down the middle, as were all of his boots. This time, Mond got York, who also had missed an extra point earlier, to the KC 25. 

The confidence Stefanski has in York hasn't reached me yet and I couldn't help myself. I foresaw a negative result. Wide left, wide right, certainly not down the middle. I never gave consideration to a block. This time, the blocking up front broke down and Chiefs defensive tackle Phil Hoskins swatted away the low trajectory takeoff.

Overall, York is four for eight on field goals and perfect on five points-after, although his miss against the Chiefs was wiped out by a roughing penalty and the Browns were successful on a two-point attempt. He's been successful from 43, 37, 43 and 40 with misses from 49 (wide right), 46 (wide right), 41 (wide left), and 43 (blocked).

Memorable training camp

Is there any question the Browns' 2023 summer training camp will be remembered mostly as the one that featured two play-making undrafted free agents and a fifth-round rookie quarterback who plays the position like a young veteran? Rhetorical question.

It's rare in training camp to see the likes of linebacker Mahmoud Diabate, wide receiver Austin Jenkins Jr. and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson step right up and let their eye-catching performances introduce themselves to not only the coaching staff, but to Browns Nation as well.

And now after three exhibition games, where the Browns overwhelmed one opponent, underwhelmed another and whelmed the third, Saturday's afternoon's finale in Kansas City will be the final test for Diabate and Jenkins, who most likely will see numerous reps after the starters play for about a quarter.

Both arrived as unknowns trying to make the regular roster with the odds clearly stacked against them. They were late signees considered initially as nothing more than camp fodder.  DTR, by virtue of his draft status, was a lock. His solid performances thus far is a bonus that has excited the fan base.

The other two are on the bubble. Or are they?

Diabate is the kind of lean, mean and quick linebacker who appears to fit perfectly in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's attacking scheme. He also has the knack of showing up near the football quite often. You can't teach that. Tackling also does not seem to be a problem. 

Based on what we've seen in three games, Jenkins deserves to make the final roster on a team that predominantly throws the football. He runs extremely disciplined routes; owns terrific hands; wins a majority of 50-50 balls; and he makes plays in general.  

To calm down the excitement for Diabate and Jenkins, it can be argued neither young man has played against starters on other teams. We have no idea how they would fare. But if you use that as a barometer, there's a chance you might make the wrong move and cut a future starter for some other team. 

It won't be easy for these two to reach their goals. The Browns are stacked at wide receiver with Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell and rookie Cedric Tillman with Marquise Goodwin nursing an injury.

Diabate, meanwhile, would bring fresh air to the linebackers room. Returnees Anthony Walker Jr. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Sione Takitaki are coming off surgery, Tony Fields is in his fourth season and Jordan Kunaszyk and Matthew Adams are there for special teams.

It's a gamble General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski will address over the weekend as they descend into the bunker to decide who winds up on the regular 53-man roster by 4 p.m. next Tuesday. 

From this viewpoint, both deserve to be in uniform and contributing when the Browns welcome the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener Sept. 10.

***

Funny how things work out just when you think you've made one decision and move on to the next. That's exactly what happened Thursday when Stefanski announced Dobbs would be QB2 behind Watson.

While Stefanski fed the media the news Dobbs was the man, Berry and Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort came to terms on a deal that would send Dobbs and a seventh-round pick to the quarterback-strapped Cardinals for a fifth-rounder.

Kyler Murray is recovering from knee surgery and isn't expected back until early November. Ossenfort needed help with the likes of Colt McCoy, Jeff Driskel and rookie Clayton Tune available. Drew Petzing, his offensive coordinator, was the Browns' quarterbacks coach last season and liked Dobbs.

So the two GMs got what they wanted. Ossenfort a seasoned quarterback and Berry, who loves draft picks, another draft pick. And now everybody's happy, especially Browns fans, as DTR moves up to replace Dobbs.

The end.

***

The move was made shortly after Ossenfort swapped productive linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants for a seventh-round pick. Swapped? More like robbery in broad daylight. It was an outright gift. 

I wonder if Berry was aware of Simmons' availability. The 6-4, 240-pounder was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft and played linebacker for three seasons in Arizona, racking up 258 tackles, including 204 the last two seasons, 138 of them solo.

He asked to be switched back to safety this season, a position he played at Clemson for two years before switching to linebacker in his junior season. He's played a couple of exhibitions this year at safety for the Cards and did not look good. That's when they pulled the plug and shipped him to the Giants.

Meaningless

It isn't often you get a chance to see an entertaining exhibition game in the National Football League. In fact, it's extremely rare.

Monday night's nationally televised game between geographic rivals Washington and Baltimore produced such a game. Five lead changes and a last-minute field goal from 49 yards added up to a come-from-behind 29-28 victory by the Commanders over the Ravens.

Most of the emphasis at this time of the NFL season is placed on constructing 53-man rosters, Most teams rest their starters. Entertaining football is a rarity. Winning and losing are not paramount. It's nice if you win; not devastating if you don't.

Preparing for the regular season has become an exercise in getting ready to play 17 games that mean something. No, make that everything.

In the NFL, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association, this is like spring training in baseball. Games are played, but the results do not count until the regular season. Been that way for a very long time. 

So when the Ravens compiled a 24-game winning streak in games that do not count, it rates nothing more than a footnote that deserves far less attention enterting the Commanders game than some members of the media have given it.

I call these exhibitions meaningless because in the grand scheme of life, that's exactly what they are. There is no value to them from a scoreboard standpoint other than reflecting the final score. Victories and losses do not count toward the regular season.

Exhibition results in no way forecast how a team performs in the regular season. I remember the Browns a long, long time ago lost every exhibition game one season and then went on to win the NFL championship (before the Super Bowl).

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh apparently doesn't see it that way. Perhaps stinging a little from the loss, he lashed out at those who consider exhibition football games meaningless, sort of taking it personally.

"You never played the game," he began his rant. "You never were out there in a pre-season game. You never were fighting for a spot on the field. And yet you have the audacity to say the effort somebody puts into that, to fight and win a game like that is meaningless."

Of course, members of the media never played the game. So that means they were never out there. And yes, they weren't fighting for a spot on the field. That's not their job. Their job is to write and report about what they observe. And I wouldn't call it audacious to label games like this meaningless. 

Why not? Because it's true. They are meaningless. Most fans do not attach importance to them. The final score in these games render them meaningless. It means nothing. Always has.

Harbaugh continued, "I can't respect anybody who says that because of the effort these guys put into it. And that's why I'm so proud of these guys for the way they fought. It doesn't matter, win or loss. (There he said it.) It matters the way they went about their business. And I'm proud of that and always will be."

(I wonder how Harbaugh would fare if he had to write a 500-word game story.)

It's been 24 straight victorious exhibition games since the Ravens boss uttered words like that. Sure sounded a lot like he was assuaging the feelings of the players who failed to extend the winning streak.

Many of those players come into training camp knowing they don't have much of a chance to make the final roster. A lot of them stick around in order to get reps and an opportunity to be seen by scouts from other teams. Exposure is what they seek.

Easy and hard

Trimming the Browns' so-called final roster by 4 p.m. a week from Tuesday will be simultaneously easy and difficult. So-called final roster because it will be massaged frequently once the final 53 players are determined and remain in transitional mode throughout the season.

Unlike previous seasons, when roster cuts were spread over a four-week training-camp period, this one will be one and done under the new rules. One major whack. That means 37 of the current 90-man roster . . .  gone just like that.

So why easy and difficult? Easy because this roster is so talented and deep, an overwhelming majority have already played their way onto the roster. Difficult because decisions thus have to be made on whether to keep training-camp surprises by players the front office does not want to lose.

Also making it difficult is the league rule that requires players, unable to play due to injury problems that have sidelined them, be included on the final list before being eligible to be transferred to another status. That includes receiver Marquise Goodwin and defensive linemen Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas.

Which means General Manager Andrew Berry probably will have to scramble and engage in roster maneuvering to open up those three spots. 

By my count, 48 starters and major contributors are locks to make the team. They include nine defensive linemen, five linebackers and eight defensive backs; nine offensive linemen, five wide receivers, three running backs, three quarterbacks, three tight ends and three specialists.

That leaves five spots left with about a dozen players living on the bubble. Most notable on that list are wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr., linebackers Jordan Kunaszyk and Mahmoud Diabate, offensive lineman Drew Forbes, receiver David Bell, defensive linemen Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai, safeties Ronnie Hickman Jr. and D'Anthony Bell and return specialist Jakeem Grant Sr.

Watkins and Diabate have played eye-catching football during the exhibition season and would be no-brainers in other situations. It has reached the point, though, where several other crystal-ball practitioners already have them penciled in. Same with Kunaszyk, a special teams standout.

As expected, all seven members of the Browns' college draft class are safe. General Manager Andrew Berry like to keep his selections for at least two or three seasons before dropping the hammer. Undrafted platers like Hickman and Diabate have an outside shot at swelling the rookie class this season to nine.

If nothing else, it will be interesting watching Berry, who doesn't sit still for a moment on days like this, work his magic as he sculpts his roster. That could include, among everything else, the possibility of a deal or two.

This 'n' that

Kevin Stefanski, it would appear, is a very stubborn football coach. Shocking, I know. It is quite evident in his approach to the handling of enigmatic placekicker Cade York.

On the one hand, the Browns' head coach has become almost adamant that York, whose performance last season and early in the exhibition season has been disappointing, will be fine. I'm not worried, he maintains. Thus, you shouldn't be, either.

York has been the subject of numerous questions by the Cleveland media after badly missing, for him, too many easy field-goal attempts. Stefanski is pestered relentlessly, as he should be. Yes this is still the season of meaningless games, but c'mon, this cannot be dismissed.

It's now at the point with the beginning of the National Football League's regular season dead ahead that York's difficulties need to disappear. Stefanski won't publicly acknowledge it, but he knows York's success, or lack thereof, is attached to his job security.

In close games, placekickers become the most important player on the team. They all too often in the waning moments of a close game are the difference between winning and losing and face more pressure to succeed than any other position on the roster.  It's part of the job.

From all other standpoints, the Browns are a very talent-enriched team. The offense is potentially one of the most dangerous in the NFL. The equally-talented defense, which underperformed and underachieved the last three seasons, has a new coordinator who espouses belligerence and attitude.

Questioned once again in the wake of York missing back-to-back field goals in the final two minutes of Thursday night's 18-18 tie in Philadelphia, Stefanski held his ground even when the media suggested  bringing in someone to challenge his kicker.

"It's preseason, so everyone is working through their preseason,"Stefanski said. "He's like any other player on our roster. . . . He's got to work his way through it. . . . You're constantly trying to perfect your craft." 

The question then becomes how much longer will he be allowed to work his way through it? Sept. 10 will be here sooner than you think. Disdaining the possibility of bringing on another kicker lends fuel to the fire.

"That's our decision," Stefanski said in a case-closed sort of way. "Cade is our kicker. (Period. Me) We support him. We have a ton of confidence in him. It's really as simple as that." Thought, but not said: "Let's move on."

Guess here is Stefanski is smart enough to know he can't publicly acknowledge his concern with York, whose terrific kicking in practice is as meaningless as the results of exhibition games. He sees little or no pressure in training camp.

Subsequent negative results in games, where pressure is the great equalizer, suggest the problem with York might reside between his ears. He seems to be thinking (overthinking?) too much, guesses your humble amateur psychologist.

***

Deshaun Watson wants to start the final exhibition game in Kansas City next week and play at least a quarter. He shared his thoughts with the media after the tie in Philly.

"I would love to be out there," said the quarterback, who has played only one series thus far (in the Washington loss) and looked good. "I know Kevin doesn't want to play us the whole game, but get a little rhythm going for maybe a quarter. . . . and just to have that test I think would be fun."

Stefanski declined to comment on the situation. "I'll let you guys know next week," he said coyly. "He's (Watson) not supposed to spill the beans."

It was a bit surprising he rested his starters in the so-called dress rehearsal game in Philadelphia and then come back in the final game with the crew that played in the Washington tie.

As a general rule, playing the regulars in the final exhibition has become a no-no for most teams, mainly because of the risk of possibly losing a starter or two to injury before the regular season begins.

Another guess: Stefanski will gamble and play the starters against the Chiefs for at least two possessions depending on how they fare.

***

It's pretty safe to predict Dorian Thompson-Robinson will shy away from blocking anyone on opposing teams whenever (if?) he gets reps in a regular-season game. The rookie quarterback was rebuked by his head coach after throwing two blocks on the same play in the Philly game. The second one for a blind-side block drew the scolding.

"He knows the rule you can't block back," Stefanski said. "I love the kid's effort. I love the feistiness. I love that he wants to throw his body around. His teammates love that. But I don't love hurting the team with a (15-yard) penalty."

Meh deadlock

A tie in football, someone once said, is like kissing your sister. Thursday night's exhibition deadlock between the Browns and host Philadelphia Eagles was a little more interesting than that. 

The Browns scored their 18 points every conceivable way, posting a safety for the second straight game; Austin Watkins Jr. hauling in another touchdown pass; rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson displaying  inconsistency for the first time. in his first start; and Cade York booting three straight field goals.

York could have won the game with a fourth with two minutes left in regulation. But then he reverted to form, missing two attempts -- he gained a reprieve from the 47 (wide right) when the Eagles were flagged for an illegal formation on the first -- and was wide left with the second from the 42.

It kind of spoiled a dominating -- nearly 39 minutes of ball control -- and yet frustrating all-round effort on both sides of the football from those battling to make the final 53-man roster. The final definitely does not reflect how dominant this one was.

From the outset, it became obvious head coach Kevin Stefanski wanted to see if DRT could handle a heavy passing load. He called 30 passes in the first 44 plays in the first 30 minutes and the young kid was not the sharp quarterback of the first two meaningless games.

He threaded the needle several times to Watkins, but completed only 13 of his 25 throws for 164 yards. The closest he came to the end zone was the opening possession, which was aborted when running back John Kelly Jr. was stripped of the ball at the Eagles' two.

The poise was there, though. He did not panic when cornered, frequently escaping just when it seemed he would be sacked. He even threw a key block on a late first-quarter 11-yard run by Demetric Felton Jr., but overzealously delivered a second at the tailend of the play and was nailed for an illegal blind-side block.

You've got to admire his willingness to do anything to help a play succeed, but I wouldn't be surprised if Stefanski strongly suggests he stick to running and throwing the football. Remember what happened when Baker Mayfield attempted a tackle after a pick a couple of years ago?

Yep, it was the beginning of the end for him in Cleveland and turned him into a professional football vagabond at a very young age.  

Stefanski dialed Watkins' number eight more times after a six-target first half. It included a spectacular one-hand grab and a juggling reception on a 32-yard scoring hookup with Kellen Mond in the third quarter. He finished the evening with seven catches for 139 yards.

Considering what he has done in three games, I'll be stunned if the Browns release Watkins. He's the kind of playmaker this club needs. Granted he's doing this against backups, but no one else is. He has clearly played his way onto this roster.

The swarming and very active Cleveland defense, meanwhile, limited the Eagles to just 27 plays and 102 yards in the first 30 minutes, making life miserable for veteran Marcus Mariota, creating two turnovers along the way, including another Ronnie Hickman Jr. interception. 

A strong eight-tackle (seven solo) effort by outside linebacker Mohamoud Diabate in just a little over a half surely had to catch Jim Schwartz's attention. The 6-3, 225-pounder was seemingly all over the field, making play after play.

Midway through the second quarter, Diabate alertly punched the football out of hands of Eagles running back Trey Sermon deep in Philadelphia territory, setting up York's second field goal en route to an 8-3 halftime lead.

Also catching Schwartz's attention were the six sacks as the pass rush relentlessly hammered Mariota and backup Tanner McKee, seemingly coming from every direction on the field. They were spread among seven players, just two with a chance of sticking around.

McKee revived the Eagles' offense in the second half against the Browns' third stringers hoping to catch the eye of scouts from other teams around the National Football League. Sermon popped a 33-yard scoring dash up the middle to give the Eagles a 10-8 lead on the first series of the second half.

The Mond-Watkins connection regained the lead two series later and York made it an eight-point game in the opening moment of the fourth quarter with field goal number three. McKee knotted it with six minutes left, hooking up with Brady Russell from 22 yards, adding a successful two-point try.

Two ways of looking at York so far: He is getting better. Three in a row definitely substantiates that. But  he lacks the clutch gene so important to those who aspire to be among the best. In the land of woulda, coulda and shoulda, York didn't.