Sports
It’s time to blow up the Browns. Miserable season should lead to an active trade deadline
CLEVELAND — Blow it up. Blow it all up. Set fire to the wreckage, tip it into Lake Erie and let it float to Pelee Island or Buffalo or any point in between. The NFL’s most expensive roster belongs next to the other famous shipwrecks at the bottom, only accessible with flippers and oxygen tanks.
Trade Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson and Jed Wills. Cold call contenders searching for a backup quarterback and send them Jameis Winston for market value (it won’t be much). Elijah Moore can go with him.
I’m not sure anyone here is ready to have the Nick Chubb conversation, but I also don’t believe he’d return much in value anyway.
The larger point is any player who isn’t under contract beyond this season is free to go because this thing is going to get so corrosive by January that no one will survive.
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The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday. This roster should look much different by Wednesday when general manager Andrew Berry has what is sure to be an awkward conversation with reporters over the bye week.
This is about to be the Cleveland Browns’ version of a Presidents Day mattress sale. Buy now, pay later. Zero percent financing with approved credit.
A few players left the locker room after Sunday’s 27-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers with that zombie stare, unsure of how they got here or what happens next.
“I’ve never been in this situation,” one veteran said on his way out of the locker room. “I’ve never been in a spot where the season is over before the bye week.”
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There is never a bad time for a week off in the NFL, but the Browns enter their time off needing to get away from each other and cleanse. Exfoliate. Maybe get a nice foot scrub.
The Browns have invested $337 million in cash spending on this roster, $15 million more than any other team in the league. It’s not only the most expensive roster, it’s the most expensive roster in NFL history.
They have two wins.
They blew up an offense and an offensive coaching staff that fought through incredible injuries and adversity last year to reach the playoffs.
They have two wins.
Firing Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator was clearly a huge mistake. It may have cost them Bill Callahan, too. The design and installation of whatever this is has been a disaster.
The Deshaun Watson trade wrecked the franchise. There’s no other way to frame it. At the time of the deal, off-field baggage aside, Watson appeared to be the better quarterback. But it hasn’t worked out that way. The money they’ve paid him, the future cap hits still looming, the trade capital they sent to Houston and Watson’s inability to perform and stay healthy have slammed shut a contention window that barely ever opened.
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The Browns tanked for two full seasons in 2016 and 2017 to win one playoff game in the seven years that followed. And now it’s over.
Joel Bitonio has a year left on his contract but just turned 33. Why would he want to return to this? Myles Garrett has two years left. At what point does he walk upstairs and ask out?
Chubb is in the last year of his deal. How much does he honestly have left? How much patience does he have left for an organization that squandered the career of one of the best running backs in team history?
The entire offensive line might need to be rebuilt. Those who will be shipped off by Tuesday will need to be replaced.
And all of it must be done despite Watson’s strangling cap hits, which still total more than $170 million. If there is a worse combination of roster forecast and future cap sheets anywhere in sports, I can’t find it.
Winston threw interceptions to all corners of the field Sunday, the secondary can’t do simple things like communicate coverages properly, and the special teams are a special disaster. Blocked kicks allowed. Big returns surrendered.
Jameis Winston today
16-31
0 Pass TD
3 INT
24.5 Pass Rating pic.twitter.com/ytYWdg8XgX— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 3, 2024
The Browns were leaning toward Dorian Thompson-Robinson a few weeks ago. His promotion from scout-team quarterback to backup — even though no one bothered to tell him — was supposed to be for more than one week. Then Thompson-Robinson hurt his finger and the Browns probably figured they owed it to the veterans to play Winston.
Well, there’s nothing left to play for now. Garrett said the Browns could still win out and go 10-7, which is the kind of thing leaders are supposed to say from the lectern. The season is over, and the players all know it.
This was so close to being the most Jameis Winston play of all-time pic.twitter.com/YopGOhepmh
— Football Digest (@FoootballDigest) November 3, 2024
Thompson-Robinson likely isn’t the answer. He’s too small and can’t stay healthy. But coming out of the bye week, whether Winston is still here or not, is the perfect time to start him on the road against an equally lousy New Orleans Saints roster.
Either DTR surprises everyone, or more likely, the Browns will be bad enough to draft another quarterback in March and start this miserable process all over again.
As for the fate of the front office and coaching staff, anything is possible at this point. Nobody is safe. I thought last year tested the mettle of Kevin Stefanski and his ability to hold the team together through a storm of injuries. He thrived in the moment. This is a completely different challenge. Guys have nothing left to play for except their tape and next contract.
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As the defense was introduced individually before the game, Smith jogged out of the tunnel in his No. 99 jersey blowing kisses to the crowd. If this was his last day in a Browns uniform, that was his goodbye.
Who else will join him?
(Photo of Jameis Winston: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
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The Seattle Seahawks locked down the top seed in the NFC playoffs and a strong path to the Super Bowl on Saturday night with a season finale win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Seattle also finished with their best regular season record in franchise history, clinching 14 wins for the first time ever.
The Seahawks held on to a 10-point victory despite outgaining the 49ers 363 yards to 173, and running 64 plays to San Francisco’s 42.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks fails to catch the ball against Ji’Ayir Brown #27 of the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game on Jan. 3, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire)
Seattle missed a field goal in the fourth quarter and turned the ball over on downs in the first quarter to waste two red zone drives, but dominated on defense to prevent those missed opportunities from coming back to haunt them.
The 49ers wasted their best drive of the night as well when quarterback Brock Purdy was intercepted at Seattle’s three-yard line in the fourth quarter facing a 10-point deficit, which seemingly secured the game for the Seahawks.
NFL WEEK 17 SCORES: AFC NORTH, NFC SOUTH UP FOR GRABS AS PLAYOFF PICTURE ALMOST COMPLETE
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, in his first season on the team, completed 20 passes on 26 attempts for 198 yards and helped set up the only touchdown of the entire game in the first quarter.
Darnold redeemed a disappointing Week-18 game for the Minnesota Vikings last season when he completed just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a battle for the top seed against the Detroit Lions.
Darnold said “Learning from mistakes, and staying calm from the pocket,” made the difference in his performance Saturday compared to a year ago, in a postgame interview with ESPN.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of a game at Levi’s Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had just 127 yards with the late interception, and took a big hit on his final pass of the night, then took a while to get back up. He was eventually able to walk off the field, and Seattle ran the clock out.
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When it’s Harvey Kitani versus David Rebibo in a high school basketball coaching matchup, you know it’s going to be a defensive grind. They demand defensive production, so Rolling Hills Prep and Harvard-Westlake went at it for 32 minutes on Saturday night at St. Francis.
It took four consecutive free throws by Joe Sterling in the final 21 seconds for Harvard-Westlake (17-2) to hold on for a 50-46 victory. About the only mistake Rolling Hills Prep (13-5) made was choosing to foul Sterling, well known as a clutch free-throw shooter. But the Huskies had no choice after a three by Aaron Heinze got them to within 48-46 with 2.6 seconds left.
Sterling finished with 16 points. Pierce Thompson had 14 points and Dominique Bentho added 11 points and 12 rebounds. Nick Welch Jr. had a big game for Rolling Hills Prep with 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting. Carter Fulton added 10 points.
Santa Margarita 72, Fairfax 41: The Eagles (19-2) opened a 21-2 lead after the first quarter and cruised to victory at St. Francis. Brayden Kyman scored 21 points, Kaiden Bailey had 17 and Drew Anderson had 15.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias 67, JSerra 62: Kayleb Kearse finished with 27 points in the victory. Jaden Bailes had 30 points for JSerra.
Sierra Canyon 77, Phoenix St. Mary’s 45: The Trailblazers (13-1) tuned up for the start of Mission League play with a rout in Arizona. Brandon McCoy scored 18 points and Brannon Martinsen had 17.
Chaminade 70, Palos Verdes 44: Temi Olafisoye had 17 points for the 18-1 Eagles.
Thousand Oaks 53, Oak Park 46: The Lancers won their 16th consecutive game to stay unbeaten. Gabriel Chin had 14 points.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 67, Layton Christian (Utah) 64: NaVorro Bowman led the Knights (13-4) with 24 points. Josiah Nance added 16 points.
Bishop Montgomery 71, Palisades 68: Austin Kirksey had 24 points and Tarron Williams scored 22 points to help Bishop Montgomery improve to 15-2. Freshman Phillip Reed scored 24 points for Palisades.
Crespi 60, Modesto Christian 49: The Celts improved to 13-6.
St. John Bosco 62, Chandler (Ariz.) Basha 54: Christian Collins scored 31 points and Max Ellis had 22 for the Braves in a win in Arizona.
Mayfair 69, Cypress 56: Josiah Johnson’s 27 points helped Mayfair improve to 8-5.
Inglewood 98, Pasadena 97: Jason Crowe Jr. made the game-winning shot in overtime and finished with 51 points for Inglewood.
Girls basketball
Harvard-Westlake 51, Phoenix Desert Vista 39: Freshman Lucia Khamenia finished with 24 points for Harvard-Westlake.
Brentwood 59, Cardinal Newman 53: The Eagles improved to 9-4. Kelsey Sugar scored 24 points.
Saugus 57, Birmingham 52: Kayla Tanijiri had 16 points for Birmingham (13-3).
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Only one more week of the 2025 NFL regular season remains, as Week 17 brought about some more playoff implications and even 2026 NFL Draft key positions.
The biggest takeaway from the slate of Week 17 is that two divisions in the NFL — the AFC North and NFC South — will be determined by whoever wins key matchups in Week 18.
First, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers getting upset by the Cleveland Browns at home, as Aaron Rodgers couldn’t find Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a controversial game-ending play in the end zone. That loss sets up the AFC North title game between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, which is only possibly thanks to a road victory where Derrick Henry scored four touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.
Then, despite both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers losing their respective matchups, the NFL tiebreakers make their Week 18 bout the NFC South title game.
Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
And while everyone was focused on the NFL playoff picture, the two-game 4 o’clock slate gave us the New York Giants against the Las Vegas Raiders, the winner of which owning the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
The Giants would’ve solidified the pick with a loss, but Jaxson Dart and the Giants’ offense blew out Geno Smith and the Raiders to relinquish the pick, which now belongs in Sin City.
NFL WEEK 16 SCORES: PLAYOFF PRESSURE LEADS TO THRILLING FINISHES ACROSS LEAGUE
Here’s how every NFL game played out:
THURSDAY, DEC. 25
– DALLAS COWBOYS 30, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 23
– MINNESOTA VIKINGS 23, DETROIT LIONS 10
– DENVER BRONCOS 20, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 13
Dak Prescott (4) of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after his team’s touchdown against the Washington Commanders in the second quarter of a game at Northwest Stadium on Dec. 25, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
SATURDAY, DEC. 27
– HOUSTON TEXANS 20, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 16
– BALTIMORE RAVENS 41, GREEN BAY PACKERS 24
SUNDAY, DEC. 28
– CINCINNATI BENGALS 37, ARIZONA CARDINALS 14
– CLEVELAND BROWNS 13, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 7
– NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 34, TENNESSEE TITANS 26
– JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 23, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 17
– MIAMI DOLPHINS 20, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 17
– NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 42, NEW YORK JETS 10
– SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 27, CAROLINA PANTHERS 10
– NEW YORK GIANTS 34, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 10
– PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 13, BUFFALO BILLS 12
– SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS-CHICAGO BEARS (TBD)
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MONDAY, DEC. 29
– LOS ANGELES RAMS-ATLANTA FALCONS (TBD)
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