Let’s take a quick swing around the AFC North:
- The Browns hired former Eagles’ VP of Football Operations Andrew Berry to be their GM and EVP of Football Operations today, and he will report directly to owner Jimmy Haslam, just like new head coach Kevin Stefanski and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks it’s fair to wonder whether Berry will really have final say over roster decisions, as his contract says he will. Of course, in order to pry Berry away from Philadelphia, Cleveland needed to give him such power contractually, but whether Berry will be permitted to fully use that power is another story. Stefanski and DePodesta may not be keen on consistently yielding to Berry, who was probably the team’s No. 2 choice behind Vikings exec George Paton.
- In 2019, the Ravens made a number of in-season signings to bolster their defense that ended up paying major dividends. Baltimore has already inked one such acquisition, L.J. Fort, to a two-year extension, and Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic believes the club could also look to re-sign OLB/DE Jihad Ward and DT Justin Ellis.
- Many have noted the Ravens‘ need to add pass rushing talent, and much of that discussion has focused on edge rushers. But in the same piece, Zrebiec says Baltimore will think long and hard about selecting a quality pass-rushing interior defensive lineman if one is available near the end of the first round. The Ravens haven’t really had such a player since the heyday of Haloti Ngata.
- Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic lays out a number of moves he believes the Bengals should make this offseason. The entire piece is worth a read for Cincy fans, but one move that Dehner thinks is especially likely to come to fruition is an extension for running back Joe Mixon. We recently heard that director of player personnel Duke Tobin would explore a new contract for his RB1, and such a deal won’t be cheap.
According to his contract, Berry has control of the roster. But the great Mike Florio, long time Browns hater, thinks it makes sense that the Browns will willfully ignore a legal contract and not let him have that control. Just because Berry would be entitled to sue for breach of contract and collect his 5 years of salary plus additional damages, it makes more sense that Jimmy Haslam will want another GM because “analytics.” Florio is an idiot.
When Florio first tasted success, he became blinded by fame. I gave up on PFT and haven’t been back since. Screw him!
PFT is so sensitive that if you disagree w/ their opinion, they simply delete your comment. I couldn’t imagine being so insecure! I quit on them years ago.
Mike Florio is a butt munch.
Nom Nom Nom
Florio must be on something if he really thinks that. If Berry wasn’t going to get control over the roster, he wouldn’t have left the Eagles. There would be no reason to.
Berry literally left for the Eagles last year. He wouldn’t come right back a year later to do the same job he passed up. It makes no sense.
Glad you have the insider information.
I’m not a fan of hiring a GM after the other staff are in place but if your going to take that approach then the primary role of the GM should be to co-ordinate that staff and keep them all on the same page. Having final say on roster decisions would be less important. The Browns made some good hires this off season but success will depend on Haslam resisting the urge to micro manage everything.
not going to lie, but i wouldnt want someone in my organization that would be foolish enough to take the Browns GM job.
That’s right my noys, you haven’t boys, one since #92 Ngata got traded . We need to find somebody like him or a Suggs again. idk what
#bmorenation