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Cleveland Browns should honor Myles Garrett trade request, and let him take fans with him

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Cleveland Browns should honor Myles Garrett trade request, and let him take fans with him


I have always been a contract guy, meaning if you sign a contract you honor it. But even with two years left on his $125 million extension, Myles Garrett should be able to leave Cleveland and take anyone with him who wants to go, including the fans, because, frankly, does anyone still want to be with the Browns?

Cleveland is a loser organization, and I say that having grown up many moons ago as a diehard Browns fan. Red Right 88 nearly did me in. The Drive actually did. I died that day. Then came “Die Hard II, The Fumble,” when toothy John Elway ripped my heart out and stomped it for good measure. 

It actually was a relief when the Browns left for Baltimore. Did it hurt? Of course, but their exit was more of a dull ache than stabbing pain. And at least the orange and brown would not be able to set me up with hope only to dash it on the lakefront breakwall.

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Art Modell is considered a monster for moving the team, and he slimeballed the departure for sure, but back then the Browns were at least respectable. Sometimes even admirable. 

Now? Two words. Deshaun Watson. Two more. Jimmy Haslam. If those names don’t make you wince, you’re probably a Steelers fan. Speaking of Pittsburgh, I remember thinking Haslam was just what the Browns needed when he bought the team in 2012. He had been a minority owner of the Steelers, and many of us figured if the Rooney family accepted him, he had to be OK. Little did we know the Rooneys blessed his departure for good reason.  

Haslam is a billionaire, which at the time he bought the team was a bonus more than what seems now to be a prerequisite of NFL ownership. He had money to spend, or burn. Turns out burn was more like it. The Browns are 54-110 (.329) under Haslam’s ownership. 

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Jimmy owned Pilot Travel Centers, but last year sold his remaining 20% stake in the company, six years after the Feds began snooping into his business to investigate whether he ripped off gasoline customers. Interestingly enough, Haslam also gets accused of ripping off the Browns paying customers by putting an inferior product on the field. A case also could be made that the Browns committed fraud by having the audacity to charge for Johnny Manziel jerseys. 

But I digress. The point is the Cleveland Clowns, Charlie Browns or whatever name you want to call a team that defines haplessness, are not worthy of Garrett’s continued employment. And the big fella from Texas knows it.

Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, requested a trade Monday, explaining that “While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.”

Myles Garrett ranks hgh among best Browns defenders

A perfect way to say you want out. And any Browns fan who blames him for asking to be traded hasn’t been paying attention to the ineptitude surrounding Haslam’s team. Cleveland – the franchise, not the city – does not deserve to keep Garrett, whose 102.5 sacks are the fifth most by any player in his first eight seasons. His 14 sacks this season ranked second in the NFL and made him the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to record 100 career sacks before turning 29. It is no stretch to suggest Garrett is the best defensive player in Browns history. 

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Garrett said in December he did not want to go through another rebuild, which is where Cleveland is after going 3-14. Watson’s return at quarterback is uncertain, which is just as well, given the accused serial massage-ynist has been a $230 million guaranteed bust. With or without Watson, the Browns need a new QB, and Garrett is not willing to wait around for the second coming of Patrick Mahomes, or in the Browns’ case, given their bone-headed draft decisions, Pat Sajak.

Fifteen years ago I wrote a column urging Browns fans to jump ship because the Browns no longer deserved your allegiance. Go root for a winner for a change. That was before Haslam bought the team. Now? I wouldn’t blame Cleveland fans if they begged Garrett to take them with him wherever he goes. 

But wait, the Browns’ front office vows Garrett isn’t going anywhere. They refuse to trade him. We’ll see how long that lasts, but for now it feels unfair, signed contract or not, to not let No. 95 go free. He deserves better. The Browns don’t.

As for that other Haslam-owned team – the Crew

The Crew are not winning friends or influencing people to climb aboard the Black and Gold train.

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The team just sold their best player, forward Cucho Hernandez to Real Betis of Spain’s La Liga in return for a transfer fee of about $16 million. That’s a lot of money, but as our Michael Arace writes, it will be nearly impossible to replace the 25-year-old with a player of similar talent.   

Hey, it’s a business. I get it, but this business is doing its best to make loyal fans feel like second-class cheerleaders. 

First, Crew majority owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam moved the team’s regular-season game against Messi Miami from Columbus to Cleveland, where on April 19 a city that lives for the Browns, loves the Guardians and occasionally looks up to notice the Cavs, will welcome … MLS. Certainly, a multitude of Crew fans from Columbus will make the trek. But why should they have to? (Answer: greed. Huntington Bank Field holds more than three times as many spectators as Lower.com Field).

And now Crew fans don’t even get to see Messi against Cucho. Or Cucho against anyone, except when streaming La Liga matches. Talk about a double whammy. Again, business is business. But it just feels like Crew fans are the ones to suffer, which is bad for business.    

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Listening in

“It hurt my heart as a Mavs fan.” – Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, lamenting the trade that sent Luka Doncic from Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Off-topic

Some people watch the NFL RedZone, preferring to view  scoring highlights to sitting through an entire game. I get it, because I’m the same way with episodes of Seinfeld. I used to watch the entire show, but lately have switched to watching hilarious snippets on Instagram. Am I contributing to the short-attention-spanning of society? Guilty as charged. 

roller@dispatch.com

@rollerCD

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Cleveland, OH

PHOTOS: Ominous clouds spotted over NE Ohio amid storms, strong winds

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PHOTOS: Ominous clouds spotted over NE Ohio amid storms, strong winds


CLEVELAND (WJW) – Ominous clouds have been spotted over Cleveland and Northeast Ohio as a round of rain and thunderstorms made its way across Northeast Ohio on Tuesday evening.

The FOX 8 weather team captured these timelapse photos from The Flats just after 6 p.m., showing a shelf cloud passing over downtown Cleveland.

“Ominous looking shelf cloud engulfing downtown Cleveland!” FOX 8 Meteorologist Dontae Jones wrote on X. “A line of rain and storms are moving through Northeast Ohio this evening with gusty winds.”

Several FOX 8 viewers also shared photos of ominous clouds hanging over Northeast Ohio.

  • Euclid storm cloud from Tuesday, Oct. 21
  • Storm cloud in Cinnamon Lake on Tuesday, Oct. 21
  • Cleveland storm clouds on Oct. 21n
  • Cleveland storm clouds on Oct. 21n

According to FOX 8 meteorologists, Tuesday night’s batch of rain will contain a few thunderstorms with up to 40-60 mph wind gusts. Some small hail or graupel are possible too.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Ashland and Richland counties, but the alert has since expired.

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Keep up with the latest weather conditions here.



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The NRP Group Celebrates Opening of 316-Unit The Collins Luxury Apartment Community in Cleveland’s Vibrant Scranton Peninsula | MultifamilyBiz.com

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The NRP Group Celebrates Opening of 316-Unit The Collins Luxury Apartment Community in Cleveland’s Vibrant Scranton Peninsula | MultifamilyBiz.com


CLEVELAND, OH – The NRP Group, a vertically integrated, best-in-class developer, builder and manager of multifamily housing, announced the grand opening of The Collins, a 316-unit luxury community on the Scranton Peninsula in Cleveland, Ohio. The development has transformed a long-underutilized waterfront site into a vibrant new neighborhood, adding modern housing, open space and direct access to downtown Cleveland, Tremont and Ohio City.

Just steps from the Cuyahoga River and a short drive to downtown Cleveland, The Collins offers highly amenitized residences designed for a wide range of residents. The project responds to the city’s growing need for high-quality, modern housing while activating a key part of the Scranton Peninsula.

“The Collins demonstrates what is possible when you invest in Cleveland,” said Aaron Pechota, Executive Vice President at The NRP Group. “As a Cleveland-based company, we are proud to support the city’s growth by reimagining this long-underutilized stretch of the Scranton Peninsula into a vibrant, well-connected neighborhood closely tied to downtown and everything that makes this city special. By leading early investment in this rediscovered area, we are bringing new energy and opportunity to one of Cleveland’s most central neighborhoods.”

Located at 1957 Carter Road, The Collins is close to major employers and medical centers including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth, along with cultural and dining destinations such as the West Side Market, Great Lakes Brewing and Irish Town Bend.

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Designed by BKV Group, The Collins spans over seven acres and comprises two five-story apartment buildings and three townhome buildings. Apartments range from studios to three-bedroom layouts. Townhomes include private entry, rooftop balconies and two-car garages. All homes are designed with high-quality finishes such as stainless-steel GE appliances, polished quartz countertops, modern cabinetry and luxury vinyl plank flooring.

Indoor amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, resident clubhouse, conference room, private breakout pods and a pet spa. A fifth-floor lounge provides sweeping views of the river and city skyline. Outdoor amenities emphasize connection and community. The Collins features a resort-style pool, firepits, grilling stations and a woonerf-inspired plaza designed for events, food trucks and neighborhood gatherings. Wide walkways prioritize pedestrians and connect directly to the Towpath Trail, with free onsite bike rentals available for residents to ride the trail to Irish Town Bend, Ohio City and downtown Cleveland.

“Dollar Bank is proud to support a project that reimagines what urban living can look like in Cleveland,” said Bill Elliott, Executive Vice President and Regional Lending Director at Dollar Bank. “Financing developments like The Collins allows us to channel capital into projects that create long-term local value by adding housing, green space and connectivity that strengthen neighborhoods and help drive Cleveland’s economic future.”

Dollar Bank served as the construction lender. The Ohio Department of Development provided critical funds through its Brownfield Remediation and State Opportunity Zone Programs. The Ohio Water Development Authority provided gap financing as well. The City of Cleveland also provided tax abatement and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). All were crucial in achieving a successful project.



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Cleveland City Council holds special meeting regarding the lease at Huntington Bank Field

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Cleveland City Council holds special meeting regarding the lease at Huntington Bank Field


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland City Council members are holding a special meeting Monday morning regarding the current lease at Huntington Bank Field.

The deal allows the Cleveland Browns to leave downtown and build a new domed stadium in Brook Park.

And, the money from HSG will go to the lakefront transformation and prepare the current lake stadium site for redevelopment.

On Friday, the city and HSG signed another deal to allow the Cleveland Browns to renew their lease on a year-to-year basis through 2030, in case the new Brook Park stadium is not finished in time.

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Work officially began on the new Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park on Oct. 2.

HSG announced that AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company are the construction managers for the new Huntington Bank Field.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place in early 2026 and HSG hopes the stadium opens in 2029.

Highlights of agreement

  • HSG to pay the City of Cleveland the sum of $25 million by December 1, 2025.
  • HSG to raze the current Huntington Bank Field in downtown Cleveland to a pad-ready and state at the Browns’ expense. This cost is estimated to be $30 million.
  • Beginning on January 1, 2029, pay the City of Cleveland $5 million on or before January 1 of each calendar year until January 1, 2033, totaling $25 million over five years.
  • Upon termination of the Lease, HSG to invest no less than $2 million per year over the next 10 years on a mutually agreed Community Benefit Projects totaling no less than $20 million.
  • Parties to mutually support infrastructure plans related to road and air travel with respect to both the Brook Park stadium mixed-use project, the modernization of Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, and the development of the Cleveland lakefront, including the redevelopment of the Burke Lakefront Airport property.
  • City to support the continuing progress and timely completion of transformational Brook Park stadium and mixed-use development.
  • Both parties will voluntarily dismiss all lawsuits with prejudice related to Browns Huntington Bank Field move to Brook Park, OH.



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