Terry’s Talkin’

Highlights: The Browns' 3-9 record mirrors last season's, showing a lack of progress and ranking them among the worst teams since the 2024 season opener. The Browns' special teams unit was labeled a "total embarrassment," having surrendered five punt or kickoff return touchdowns in the last two seasons, the most in the NFL. Terry Pluto blames the coaching staff for the special teams' consistent failures in coverage schemes and player development. A major issue with the special teams is the absence of a player who "captains" the units, as performance hasn't improved even with safety Grant Delpit volunteering. Despite being hired to elevate the special teams, coach Bubba Ventrone's unit has regressed to being "awful," failing to replicate the top-10 success he had in Indianapolis. Following a listener's email, the hosts agreed that with the season lost, the Browns should continue playing rookie QB Shedeur Sanders to fully evaluate his potential. While Sanders has shown progress operating from under center, a major concern is his tendency to hold onto the ball and take sacks, a habit that often carries over from college to the NFL. Terry expresses declining confidence in head coach Kevin Stefanski, whose job security is in question due to the team's stagnant 3-9 record and low-ranked offense. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz: Head coaching candidate?. The two possible futures for the Browns: a leadership change due to a lack of progress, or ownership giving the current regime a two-year window to rebuild. The Cavs' 13-9 start is described as "clunky" and unsettled due to injuries that have forced them to use 12 different starting lineups. There is an ongoing debate about Evan Mobley's inconsistent role, questioning whether he is better suited as an elite all-around defender and rebounder rather than a primary scorer. Donovan Mitchell's heavy workload is a concern, with his minutes climbing over 34 per game, risking burnout before the playoffs. Second-year player Jaylon Tyson is emerging as a leader, earning enough respect from veterans to publicly state the team needed to play harder after a recent loss. The central debate among Guardians fans is whether to accept playoff contention on a small budget or demand the team spend on free-agent hitters to pursue a World Series. Analysis shows the Guardians have the financial flexibility and desperate need to create a "batting factory" to complement their successful "pitching factory." Listener Ed Cohen emails and asks: Why not use MLB's new automated ball-strike system on every pitch? Tennis uses technology to great advantage, he says. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights: Thanks to you, our listeners! Without you we wouldn't be here. Shedeur Sanders' starting debut was "intriguing," marked by poise and a crucial avoidance of mistakes. Sanders' performance demonstrated clear evidence of his discipline to avoid negative plays. Myles Garrett: The best Browns defensive player Terry has ever seen? Coach Kevin Stefanski offered rare, high praise for a Sanders pass, signaling genuine excitement in his own Stefanski way. The disruptive play of interior defensive linemen Mason Graham and Maliek Collins is a key factor in the defense's overall dominance. The upcoming game against the 49ers will be a different kind of challenge for Sanders. A primary goal for the remainder of the season is to thoroughly evaluate the young quarterbacks to inform future roster decisions. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson earned a positive grade for navigating numerous injuries and successfully developing young players. A debate is ongoing about whether Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley can evolve into the MVP-caliber offensive star the team envisions. Terry Pluto argues that Mobley's value lies in his elite defense and unselfish play, and he should not be forced into a primary scorer role. Josh Naylor’s new contract with the Mariners includes a rare full no-trade clause, granting him significant leverage. A listener emails about the gambling investigation involving Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. The Ohio State-Michigan game's importance for legacy persists, with Coach Ryan Day attempting a new, calmer approach to preparation. Terry Pluto recommends the book Ernie Pyle's War for its vivid and powerful portrayal of the experiences of soldiers in World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights: Bernie Kosar's Successful Liver Transplant: Following a successful liver transplant, Bernie Kosar tells Terry he is in "great shape" and good spirits, with the initial critical 48 hours passing without signs of infection or rejection. The Haslams' Financial Support for Kosar: The Haslam family has been paying for Kosar's health insurance for many years, a gesture that has saved him "millions of dollars" in medical expenses accumulated from numerous hospitalizations. Myles Garrett's Historic Performance: Myles Garrett is having an "epic" season, continuing to dominate with multiple sacks against the Ravens and showcasing extraordinary athleticism, putting him on pace to challenge the single-season sack record. The Impact of the Upgraded Defensive Line: The addition of quality interior linemen like Mason Graham and Maliek Collins has been a key factor in Myles Garrett's success, as it prevents quarterbacks from stepping up and forces offenses to account for multiple threats. The Challenging Road for Shedeur Sanders: Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is facing the tough reality of an NFL fifth-round pick, receiving very few first-team practice reps and adjusting to being a developmental player on a struggling team. Rushing Young Quarterbacks: There is significant concern that the Browns are repeating a historical mistake of rushing an unprepared rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, into a difficult situation, similar to past failures with players like Tim Couch and DeShone Kizer. The Browns' Flawed Quarterback Room Construction: The front office is criticized for trading away veteran Kenny Pickett, leaving the team without a seasoned backup and creating an inexperienced quarterback room similar to the flawed strategy of the 2017 winless season. The Draft Pedigree of Top NFL Quarterbacks: Terry finds data showing that 18 of the top 20 NFL quarterbacks were first-round picks, highlighting the long odds against a fifth-round rookie like Shedeur Sanders becoming a franchise-altering starter. Cavs' Winning Record Masks Underlying Issues: Despite a 10-5 record, the Cavs' performance is described as a "slog," with an over-reliance on Donovan Mitchell due to injuries, a formula considered unsustainable for long-term success. Evan Mobley's game: How should Evan Mobley adjust after an up-and-down start? He appears to be struggling to find his offensive identity and go-to moves. Jarrett Allen's Uncertain Role with the Cavs: Allen's future as part of the team's "core four" is being questioned after being benched in the fourth quarter of multiple games, sparking debate about his long-term fit. Steven Kwan's Future in Cleveland: Can the Guardians afford to re-sign Gold Glover Steven Kwan? Or is a trade a strong possibility? Why the Guardians Released Pitcher John Means: The decision to decline John Means' $6 million option was likely due to poor performance, evidenced by his alarming 7.97 ERA and seven home runs allowed in a short AAA stint. The Mechanics of Blocking Field Goals: A reader punches holes in the theory about moving the holder and kicker further back from 7 to 10 yards. He says it's impractical as the longer snap time and wider angle would give edge rushers a significant advantage in blocking the kick. Andre Szmyt's Quietly Effective Season: After a disastrous first game, Browns kicker Andre Szmyt has stabilized the position, proving reliable by making 15 of his last 17 field goals and all extra points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights: Browns fan sentiment has shifted from despair to anger, with calls for firings and major changes. Terry Pluto argues the 1980s Browns era was defined by consistent success, not just heartbreaking losses like "The Drive." The franchise's identity since 1999 has been a perpetual and unsuccessful search for a quarterback. Why a new stadium will not improve the Browns' on-field performance due to the NFL's salary cap structure. A listener's analogy, endorsed by Pluto, compares a bad offensive line to a bad baseball bullpen that collapses the entire team. The hosts highlight the rare importance of a great offensive line coach, questioning if former coach Bill Callahan would return to the current instability. The loss to the Jets: the "beginning of the end" for head coach Kevin Stefanski? Why the defeat was statistically unprecedented: Since 1950, teams holding opponents under 175 yards with zero turnovers were 225-0 before the Browns' loss. The Browns' special teams have become a glaring liability, allowing an NFL-worst six return touchdowns under coach Bubba Ventrone. A failed fourth-down play against the Jets epitomized the team's dysfunction in both play-calling and execution. Analysis revealed that quarterback play and other factors, not just the O-line, were responsible for nearly half of the sacks allowed. Kevin Stefanski's offense, which once excelled with backup quarterbacks, has severely regressed this season. Terry Pluto fondly remembered the late Lenny Wilkens as a Hall of Fame coach, a great teacher of basketball, and a man of dignity. A new injury to Darius Garland puts pressure on Donovan Mitchell and the current Cavaliers to find alternative offensive schemes. Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been federally charged in a game-fixing scheme involving manipulating on-field events. The indictment identifies Clase as the instigator who recruited Ortiz for a surprisingly small financial payout. The scandal may cost Clase his $6 million salary for 2025 and two team options worth an additional $20 million. A key unanswered question is whether Clase attempted to recruit other players who may have reported the scheme. A listener has a scenario about a stolen base and the new challenge system in MLB for balls and strikes. What Terry and David think it could mean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights: After the podcast took a week off, Terry shares hiking tips for Wayne National Forest near Marietta. Terry has some upcoming book signings for his new book, starting this week. Terry on the Browns’ endless quarterback struggles. Browns shift play-calling duties from Stefanski to Tommy Rees. Will it matter? Reese brings college experience. Terry doubts the change fixes deeper offensive issues, calls it cosmetic. Compares Browns’ offense to broken car needing major repairs. Listener email blames Haslams for Browns’ quarterback chaos and dysfunction. A listener criticizes the Browns for their poor QB evaluations. Terry questions if Sam Darnold or Geno Smith would have changed Browns’ fate. Flacco’s Bengals stats spark debate on Browns’ offensive shortcomings. Browns’ offensive line ranks 31st in true pass set grades. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. praised for versatility and strong blocking. Email asks last fear-inducing Browns receiver; Josh Gordon mentioned. Browns draft priorities: elite offensive tackle and wide receiver. Cavs start clunky but show defensive improvement and effort. Terry suggests a big change off the bench for lineup flexibility. Mobley and Allen pairing debated; Terry favors creative rotation options. Donovan Mitchell praised for leadership and relentless effort on court. Cavs rank third-best regular season record since Mitchell trade. Terry compares Mitchell’s impact to Jose Ramirez for Guardians. Terry recaps World Series and Blue Jays’ surprising run. Ernie Clement’s breakout postseason highlighted as ultimate underdog story. Clement’s journey: waived by Cleveland, now thriving with Toronto. Terry calls for MLB salary cap to fix payroll disparity. Blue Jays’ advantage: Canada-wide market and Rogers-owned media empire. Guardians praised for stability under Stephen Vogt despite payroll limits. AL Manager of Year debate: Vogt vs Schneider after playoffs. Terry previews Guardians’ offseason priorities and looming hot stove season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices