Cleveland Browns

Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports The most successful pro athletes are usually supremely confident. You’ve got to believe you’re the best, to be the best. Cleveland Browns‘ rookie Barkevious Mingo is already brimming with confidence just a few weeks into his NFL career, as he already believes his defense could be the best in the league. “We have a lot of players that can contribute and help this team win. We’ve got a lot of rushers. We’ve got corners on the back end. We’ve got D-linemen that can hold those blocks and get off and make plays. We’ve got linebackers that can come up and tackle the run and get back in coverage as well.” “If everything is going well, I think this defense could be the best in the league.” Now that might sound like crazy talk for a team that’s been in the cellar for years now, but Mingo is just observing what most fans are – the Browns are finally turning things around. But, he’s getting a bit ahead of himself. Cleveland’s defense ranked 23rd last season in yards per game (363.8), and 14th in points per game (23). It was no doubt a solid unit, but it was far from one the league’s best. However, the team made some key additions this offseason – including Mingo, Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant - who all should improve the unit. Things are headed in the right direction for Cleveland, but there’s no way they’ll have the NFL’s best defense. I think we could see this unit work it’s way into the top-10, but right now there’s just not enough talent on the roster to make a claim for this being the best unit in the league. Still, you have to like Mingo’s confidence, and if the Browns ever do have the league’s best defense, you can bet he’ll be a big reason why. Follow Andrew Fisher on Twitter

Show one is in the books. If you missed it you can always listen and download the show here. But for those who would rather keep it here on DBN, we have the episode ready to go right here for you. Listen to internet radio with Dawgs By Nature on BlogTalkRadio We talked everything Josh Gordon, taking a chance on troubled rookies and who will step up and make the next step towards stardom? Don't forget you can listen to next week's show, Tuesday 7pm EST. Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck Go Browns Steelers Suck

Today's Lunchtime Listen is dedicated to the Cleveland Browns. Fellas, here's Bon Jovi singing, "I'll Be There for You.''

Despite spending a half hour debating the merits of this issue, the fighting spilled over to the airwaves. The following is a transcript of the conversation: What do you think, Browns fans? Mike Krupka: Hey TeamThought I'd pull this up and take a look together based on Wood's question today and some of the comments regarding Josh Gordon. Can we link any of these 2nd rounders (and their fall there) to drug use? Better yet, does this recent history show any support that 2nd round WR > or = 1st round WR? 2003200420052006200720082009201020112012 Notthatnoise: To me it looks like the top receivers are almost always taken in the first round, with the exceptions of Desean and Vincent Jackson. You should post this on the site. Josh Finney: I got the exact opposite from this; lots of elite WR in second round, with plenty if bust rate in the first. (Vjax, Jennings, etx) Notthatnoise: Wait, what? What elite receivers are you seeing in the second round? I'll make a list: 1st round: Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, AJ Green, Julio Jones, maybe Demaryius Thomas 2nd round: Anquan Boldin, Vincent Jackson, Desean Jackson, maybe Greg Jennings There's at least twice as many guys from the first round, and most of those guys were in the top ten, with White and Thomas being the exceptions. Remember, I'm not talking about "pretty good" receivers, I'm talking all-pro, carries the offense kind of receivers. Josh Finney: This really belongs on DBN where the unwashed masses [edit: BRILLIANT BROWNS WORDSMITHS] can add their perspective, but.... That line is difficult to draw, but if we're adding Roddy White/Demaryius, I think Jordy Nelson should be on there as well.....but really, the line of "#1 wideout" is flimsy and subjective. 37 total 1st rounders ; 8 "hits" 21%ish. 41 total 2nd rounders 4 "hits" 10%ish Now look at the bust rate for QB's in the first versus QB's in the second. The point that I was making last night is that you CAN find a #1 type of wideout in the second (and below), , but you almost NEVER find a #1 type of QB in the second round. If you've got an asset that is completely unreliable but has first round talent, and you're offered a #1 draft pick and the ability to a) get that extra 11% success rate for a kid that ISN'T a train wreck outside of the facility.... Not saying i'm pulling the trigger, just saying that you have to at the VERY least look at the talent available in the upcoming draft and where the draft pick will be. Notthatnoise: I can understand your argument with Thomas, but White has had over 1100 yards every year for the past six years. Nelson has one season over 1000 and only two total seasons over 700. Besides, if you look at those two lists, I think every guy from the first round is better than every guy from the second. That's debatable of course. As far as the trade goes, I don't think you take a low first round pick for Gordon, because even though he was a second round pick in the supplemental draft, he was an early first rounder if he had gone to the normal draft. Gordon has the potential to be one of those guys I listed, and so far returns are quite promising. In addition, if you break things down a little further, you have 6 guys who were taken in the top 10 and six who were taken 54 picks below that. Clearly your chances of getting one of those receivers drops off of a cliff after the first ten picks. Unless that's the kind of pick we're getting for Gordon, i say no way. I just had an idea. We both agree this needs to get on the site, why don't we just transcribe this (more or less) into an article and let other people weigh in? Josh Finney: I'll throw this up there. Nelson only had one year as a primary target, and he was fantastic in that role. He was hurt last year. Also, something HAS to be used to adjust for the offenses some of t

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Bleacher Report, Did The Tribe Win Last Night and Right Down Euclid.

Is Alex Len the new odds-on favorite for the Cavs at No. 1? How has Indians skipper Terry Francona done so far? What has gone right for the Browns this offseason? Got questions about these topics or others for our Indians, Cavs and Browns beat writers? What are you waiting for? Send them in!

CLEVELAND -- Browns offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey hopes Tuesday’s visit to the Cleveland Browns Youth Football Camp inspires the participants to pursue their dreams.

Cleveland Browns: "3 more plead guilty in probe of Pilot Flying J" (AP) - "Three more employees of the truck stop chain owned by the Cleveland Browns' owner and Tennessee's governor pleaded guilty Tuesday in what authorities call a scheme to cheat trucking firms out of rebates." "Barkevious Mingo: 'This defense could be the best in the league'" (Plain Dealer) - "After spring practices and minicamps, Browns first-round pick Barkevious Mingo made a bold prediction about his new defense." "Jamoris Slaughter has eye on successful comeback, starting free safety job" (Beacon Journal) - "Browns rookie free safety Jamoris Slaughter is ready to take the next major step in his comeback attempt and his young career." "Bon Jovi cancellation is an opportunity for Cleveland Browns" (Plain Dealer) - "The temptation is to blame the Browns for the cancellation of the July 14 "Fan Kickoff Concert" at FirstEnergy Stadium with Bon Jovi. But then word came that Bon Jovi also canceled his concert on July 16 at Noblesville, Ind. We don't know all the details of the collapse of the Browns' kickoff concert because the Browns have said nothing of consequence." NFL: "Police visit home of Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez" (AP) - "State and local police spent hours at the home of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez on Tuesday night as another group of officers searched an industrial park about a mile away where a body was discovered the day before." "Russell Wilson faces new pressure" (ESPN) - "Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson spent last week's minicamp doing what he usually does -- saying all the right things. He talked about the need to grow and expand on what he did in his impressive rookie season." "Bruce Arians to use Larry Fitzgerald in multiple ways" (NFL.com) - "The Arizona Cardinals' death spiral over the final three months of the 2012 season was powerful enough to drag Larry Fitzgerald into the abyss. The dynamic wide receiver suffered through the worst statistical season of his nine-year career as Arizona lost 11 of its last 12 games." "Marcedes Lewis: One London game no problem, but two too much" (CBS Sports) - "Jacksonville tight end Marcedes Lewis is one of the leaders of the Jaguars and is also highly respected by players around the NFL. So what he says about the prospects of the Jaguars -- or any other team -- playing games in London matters."

NFL.com recently listed the most underrated and overrated players in Cleveland Browns history and, because we are masochists, we want to talk about the most overrated players first. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that three of the five players come from the expansion era (Peyton Hillis, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, Jr.), with the other two being quarterback Brian Sipe and running back Charles White. While the list of overrated players from this current era could essentially be endless, we have to pare it down in some way. So we ask – who is truly the most overrated Browns player since 1999? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Hopefully Browns fans waited before purchasing a Greg Little jersey at some point over the past two years. According to Dan Murphy, media relations coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Little will no longer wear No. 15: #Browns number update: Davone Bess (@davonebess) will wear No. 15 and Greg Little (@Str8UpGlittle) will wear No. 18 — Dan Murphy (@DMurph_BrownsPR) June 18, 2013 Little is taking No. 18, which is what former Browns receiver Carlton Mitchell wore in training camp and the preseason last year. Bess wore No. 15 as a member of the Miami Dolphins, so it is unclear if he provided any compensation to Little to spark the change.