The talking point seems to be very clear for the Cleveland Browns heading into their Week 8 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers for control of the AFC North: The past is the past; we are not the same
. In many ways, including the departure of HC Kevin Stefanski, DE Myles Garrett, OL men Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, and TE David Njoku, the Browns are not even the same as last year’s unit that the Steelers faced.Cleveland fans are just hoping for a repeat of Week 4’s victory, but would love a trouncing
like the 51-point beatdown back in 1989 that we covered this morning in the Daily Dawg Chow.
One Browns player who hasn’t gotten off to a great start, despite the team’s 5-2 record, is DE Jared Verse. In seven games, Verse has 17 tackles, five QB hits, four tackles for loss, and zero sacks. Despite the lack of stats, Verse has helped the rest of the defense still sit near the top of the NFL as a whole.
He’s also not stopped trash-talking, including taking aim at Pittsburgh:
“Make Pittsburgh ours” is music to Cleveland fans’ ears, but is Verse the right guy to put that out there given his performances this season?
In the end, if the Browns win, Verse wins. If that happens because the former Rookie of the Year has four sacks or zero, it isn’t important. All that matters is winning, but should Verse have toned down his words after a rough start to the season for him individually?
What do you think about Verse’s saying what he did while not having a season that matches his last two? Do you believe bulletin board material matters in the NFL?
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