How'd QB Justin Fields Look in Steelers Debut? Browns Tracker

AUG 10 FIELDS REVIEW What did Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin think about Justin Fields' first appearance in a Steelers uniform as he played three series in a preseason debut loss against the Houston Texans on Friday?

The 5-of-6 for 67 yards passing line was OK. The two fumbles were not.

"I thought he did some nice things," Tomlin said. "But obviously he was a component of the (bad) exchange(s), and from my perspective that's dual responsibility on the center and the quarterback. It negated a lot of good things going on in those first couple of drives."

Added Fields, who is battling with Russell Wilson to be the starter for the Browns' rival: "We were just shooting ourselves in the foot.''

AUG 7 CAUSE OF DEATH Former Baltimore Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones recently passed away at just 40 years old, and now there is a determination of his cause of death.

The former NFL player died of natural causes, according to TMZ , with the details involving hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which is a heart disease caused by long-term high blood pressure.

Jones' career highlight came with Baltimore in Super Bowl XLVII win, when 56-yard touchdown catch and 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown helped beat the 49ers.

JULY 2 - SJ PASSES AWAY - On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns announced their mascot, "SJ" passed away. "Swagger J," a Bullmastiff served as the Browns' mascot since Week 10 in 2019 after taking over for his father, "Swagger." SJ was five years old.

"We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved mascot, SJ," the team posted on its social media platforms. "We are so grateful for his many years of loyal support and cherish all of the wonderful memories he helped create for fans young and old."

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JULY 2 - BANE VS. BATMAN? - The beginning of training camp is just weeks away for the Cleveland Browns, and with the start of camp will come the return of players from injuries. The current injury list is quite a lengthy one for the Browns, which features several key contributors like quarterback Deshaun Watson, running back Nick Chubb, and right tackle Jack Conklin.

While fans already have a good feeling about Watson's recovery, who has been the star of multiple social media posts from the Browns as he threw on an every-other-day schedule during the offseason program, the status of Conklin was still unknown.

However, that has seemingly changed as the 29-year-old announced in a recent Instagram post that he is "back" from his season-ending knee injury.

"Nothing is easy after an injury especially multiple. I could never have made it thru with out my wife @caitlyn_conklin she is my rock," Conklin wrote. "I talked to @nchubb27 and there may be one dark knight but the first person to rise from the pit was bane!"

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This is big news for the Browns as they will enter training camp with at least one of their offensive tackles fully healthy.

JULY 2 - COOPER CALLOUT - As the time begins to wind down for the Cleveland Browns before the start of training camp, which is set to kick off with their first practice on July 24, a potential holdout looms for star receiver Amari Cooper .

The 30-year-old receiver who held out of the Browns' mandatory minicamp due to entering the final year of his five-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys has one self-proclaimed goal this offseason: getting paid . However, if a deal is not worked out beforehand, his absence could extend into training camp.

While the Browns are reportedly already working on an extension, a new Instagram Story post from one of the receiver's friends, per Brad Stainbrook, might put the optimism of a new deal being close to getting done in doubt.

"Where is the work from these guys y'all believe in so much," Oneway Estabon questioned on his Instagram Story.

JULY 1 - HOLDOUT - While the Cleveland Browns are already reportedly working on extending the contract of star receiver Amari Cooper , they aren't the only ones with the shadow of a potential training camp holdout hanging over their head.

Their Week 1 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys is dealing with the same possibility as star receiver CeeDee Lamb enters the final year of his rookie contract, with seemingly no extension in sight. This is why he plans on holding out of training camp unless a deal is reached beforehand, as reported by the Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins.

Like his former teammate, Cooper, Lamb did not participate in the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp. While he will face fines for those absences, he is seemingly willing to take it a step further by holding out of training camp.

For more on Lamb's uncertain contract status, click here !

JULY 1 - FASTBALL— While the Cleveland Browns boasted one of the league's best defenses last season, they aren't resting on their laurels. Rather, as coach Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz discussed during the team's offseason program, they are looking for ways to improve their defense.

For Schwartz, the veteran defensive signal-caller and former NFL head coach, who is entering Year 2 with the Browns, getting better means not staying the same.

“We do what we do, and we try to do it really well,” Schwartz said. “But there were some things that we sort of held back last year, just from a standpoint that we sort of triaged it and said, ‘Okay, what can we reasonably expect to get good at to master in one offseason?' So, we had to sort of pick and choose.

But that now gives us a little bit of time because we don't have to work on the fastball. Now, we can add different pitches. We don't want to get away from the fastball, but it does give us a chance to work on changeups and secondary pitches and add to our scheme.”

To continue with the baseball analogy, the Browns' defense already possesses an elite fastball. Now, they want to build off that and work on their off-speed pitches. This could mean working to improve their No. 10 ranked run defense in yards allowed per game with the aim of seeing it match their No. 2 pass defense.

No matter what Schwartz decides to do, it won't be with the aim of reinventing the wheel. Rather, it will be to build off the foundation that has already been laid.

JUNE 30 NO BUST? Here's a weird reason for Cleveland to "need'' to win the Super Bowl ... a media member claims to "need'' it.

“I need a Super Bowl,” said analyst Garrett Bush said, “At some point, you’ve just got to do it!”

Bush is saying it's "Super Bowl or bust!'' as part of his analysis, and we assume it's all in fun. Why?

Two reasons.

One, "I need a Super Bowl'' is something a fan says. Which is fine. So Bush is "playing fan'' here.

Two, there is no "bust.'' The owner isn't selling if they fall short. The franchise isn't moving (again) if they lose. The GM isn't likely to get fired.

So "Super Bowl'' sounds fun, if you're a fan.

And "bust'' is a dumb myth.