A Beginners Guide to Dealing with Bandwagon Fans

It’s been nearly a week since the Cleveland Browns made their blockbuster trade for superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Fans spent that Wednesday discount nfl jerseys china night and the following days in a state of jubilation, celebrating their first bona fide sports celebrity since LeBron James. Even in such a short period, media personalities and casual fans alike have fallen behind the NFL franchise, using the addition of Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, and a where can i buy nfl jerseys cheap cast of depth-adding talent as fodder for excitement. In a matter of seconds, a gang of photoshopped pictures appeared online, displaying the new talent in color rush brown and orange. It’s something we as fans aren’t used to. For the first discount nfl jersey time in a generation, people want to be one of us.

I get it. Allowing these fair weather folks to enter into the fold may be a daunting task. Seeing someone become invested just as things are looking up is like watching the boss’s nephew get the desk with the window on their first day. No one likes a person who gets the reward without the work. Whether you chose to entertain these people is up to you. I can understand the frustration of watching a kid who’s used the “my uncle is from New England” excuse during the past two decades now claim Browns fandom. But for those willing to participate, here is a guide to surviving these conversations. buy cheap nfl jerseys china

So there you are, enjoying the first signs of spring when you see a smiling face staring at your Browns hoodie. The stranger gives you a look and heads your way. You can tell by their pace that they mean business. You notice that they have no bags under their eyes. No wrinkles carved by frowns or other signs of suffering. buy cheap authentic nfl jerseys They’re a bandwagon fan, and they can’t wait to talk to you about their new team.discount nfl jerseys

It’s natural for a newcomer to begin with recent events and work their way back, usually as far as they can. They’ll ask you about Odell and carry on about Mayfield. The good thing about having a heavy roster is there are plenty of talking points. My suggestion is to treat this dialogue like an aging rock star’s playlist:nfl discount jerseys just play the hits, man. Digging too deep won’t do any good. Chances are this person won’t know about the risks associated with starting Austin Corbett at right guard in place of newly departed Kevin Zeitler. Even if they do remember Pro Bowl rookie Denzel Ward, they will almost certainly be unaware of his issues with concussions. It would be useless to discuss the hole Jabrill Peppers left at strong safety. And on and on and on.nfl jerseys discount

The best thing to do is acknowledge what inevitably led them to the dance. Yes, Baker is the quarterback we’ve been waiting for. Sure, Nick Chubb is a hell of a back. You’re right, Jarvis and Odell were best friends in college. The general idea is to keep things simple. Discussing the depth at outside linebacker might confuse them and make things awkward, and you don’t need any more of that.

March 21, 2019

CB Phillip Gaines Signs New Contract with Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns have re-signed cornerback Phillip Gaines, the team announced Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.buy nfl jerseys cheap

Cleveland claimed Gaines off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in November. He appeared in four games for the Browns, recording nine total tackles. That comes on the heels of him piling up where to buy nfl jerseys cheap total tackles and two pass breakups in seven games with the Bills.

Gaines was a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2014. He spent four years with the team but dealt with a number of injuries during his tenure in Kansas City. where to buy cheap nfl jerseys As a Chief, he had concussion issues, a torn ACL and a dislocated elbow.

The soon-to-be 28-year-old has one interception, 16 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in his career.

Gaines was a two-time All-Conference USA buy cheap nfl jerseys selection during his time at Rice.

March 21, 2019

NDSU Advance to Zion Williamson, No. 1 Duke in Round 1 with Win vs. NC Central

The North Dakota State Bison earned the right to play Zion Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils on Wednesday.

North Dakota State defeated the N.C. Central Eagles 78-74 in a 2019 NCAA men’s basketball tournament First Four showdown between the East Region’s No. 16 seeds in Dayton, Ohio. The Bison will face the top-seeded Blue Devils on Friday.
Tyson Ward (23 points, six rebounds cheap nfl jersey wholesale and three assists) led a balanced attack for the Bison that featured six players scoring seven or more points. The game was tied with less than two minutes remaining when Ward went into takeover mode and scored five consecutive points to create critical breathing room. the Blue Devils are the third-fastest team in the tournament, while the Bison are 312th in the country. Mike Krzyzewski’s team consistently pushes the ball in transition with Williamson and RJ Barrett filling the lane and looking for dunks, Cam Reddish sprinting to the perimeter for open looks, and Tre Jones directing the action as a facilitator.

The only way the Bison can stay within even 20 points is by using the entire shot clock on almost every possession to shorten the game and frustrate the top seed by forcing it to cheap nfl jerseys wholesale china stand around for 30 seconds at a time on defense.

Forcing the Blue Devils out of their comfort zone and into a closer-than-expected half-court game could lead to them pressing and rushing contested shots in an effort to build quick momentum. That’s the one area where they are vulnerable, as they’re shooting a mere 30.2 percent from three-point range this year.cheap authentic nfl jerseys from china wholesale

North Dakota State fares better in half-court sets with its shooting and connected on 36.6 percent of its triples as a team.

If North Dakota State’s shooters pull Duke’s defenders away from the rim, Ward can then exploit openings in the lane down the stretch like he did Wednesday.cheap nfl authentic jerseys wholesale

A half-court shooting contest with limited fast breaks and a controlled style of play will keep the Bison within striking distance for the majority of the game, and they have the shooters to hit the pressure-packed looks in crunch time.cheap wholesale authentic nfl jerseys

Executing against NBA-level talent is much easier said than done, but the Bison at least have a blueprint for a miracle in place for their battle with mighty Duke.

March 20, 2019

Vontaze Burfict Agrees to 1-Year Contract with OAK

The Oakland Raiders reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with veteran linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.nfl jerseys nike cheap

Burfict spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before they released him Monday. He made seven appearances in 2018, finishing with 33 combined tackles and three passes defended.

Burfict hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2013, his second year in the league.

The NFL suspended him for three games in 2016 for multiple violations of the league’s player-safety rules. He had a five-game ban reduced to three games to open the 2017 cheap nike nfl jerseys china campaign, a punishment that stemmed from an illegal hit on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman. Burfict then received a four-game suspension to start 2018 after he violated the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Most concerning, Burfict suffered the seventh known concussion of his NFL career last December. That number doesn’t account for any concussions he might have suffered that he didn’t report or team doctors didn’t diagnose. At the time, some wondered whether he should continue playing in the NFL.

The risk in signing Burfict is obvious.new nike nfl jerseys cheap

When he led the league in tackles (171) and was a Pro Bowler in 2013, he looked to have a lengthy, productive NFL career ahead of him. Instead, a combination of injuries and self-sabotage have combined to stunt his potential.buy nike nfl jerseys cheap

Given his age, things are unlikely to change significantly going forward.

If he can stay healthy and avoid the on-field problems that have plagued him in the past, Burfict might prove to be a productive defender for the Raiders. But that’s the same calculation cheap nfl nike jerseys china the Bengals made for five years, only to be disappointed each season.

This time could be different considering the stakes for Burfict. This could be his last shot at getting a meaningful role for an NFL team. Should he struggle in Oakland, he may have a hard time landing on his feet in another city.

March 20, 2019

Packers News: LB Clay Matthews Agrees to Rams Contract After 10 Years in GB

Veteran pass-rusher Clay Matthews agreed to a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced Tuesday.

Matthews spent the first 10 years nike nfl jerseys cheap of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, who selected him with the 26th overall pick of the 2009 draft.

While the 32-year-old was one of the longest-tenured players on Green Bay’s roster, his departure isn’t all that surprising. He finished the 2018 season with 43 combined tackles and a career-low 3.5 sacks, which continued his downward trend.

After earning six Pro Bowl trips in his first seven seasons, Matthews hasn’t returned since 2015.

Injuries have played a role in his decline. He battled a nagging shoulder problem along with ankle and hamstring injuries in 2016, when he missed four games and made only nine nfl jerseys cheap nike starts. A year later, he missed two games as a result of groin and hamstring issues.

Last September, Packers beat writer Bob McGinn reported Green Bay was already preparing for a future without Matthews: “I’m told that the Green Bay Packers reached this conclusion some time ago. I’m also told that, if the season were to end today, they have no intention of re-signing Matthews after his contract expires nfl nike jerseys cheap at the end of the season.”

Matthews didn’t give the Packers a compelling reason to change their minds during the 2018 campaign.

In January, Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner nike nfl jersey cheap noted edge-defender was Green Bay’s biggest need this offseason: “While Nick Perry’s contract is such that it might not make sense to cut him, he hasn’t come close to justifying his big payday yet. He and Clay Matthews both finished 86th out of 109 qualifying edge defenders in pass-rushing productivity.”

ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky suggested it might have made sense to bring Matthews back if he shifted to inside linebacker, but Matthews always seemed to prefer playing on the outside.cheap nfl jerseys nike

Perhaps Matthews will be motivated to prove the Packers wrong for letting him walk in free agency.nike nfl jerseys for cheap

March 20, 2019

Barkevious Mingo, Seattle Seahawks

It is still a mystery how Barkevious Mingo, a notable 2013 draft bust, somehow managed to start a career-high 14 games in 2018. While true that Seattle was desperate for help on nfl custom jerseys cheap the edge, playing Mingo for over 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps as an edge rusher and linebacker hybrid was a new level of desperation.

Out of 517 defensive snaps, Mingo sacked the quarterback just once in 2018. He also only accounted for three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and a single pass defended. As has been the case for his entire career, Mingo was unproductive as a pass rusher and provided little value anywhere else on defense.cheap custom nfl jerseys

If kept on the roster for 2019, Mingo will account for a hair below $6 million on the cap. Conversely, he could be cut for only $1.1 million in dead-cap penalties. With more than $21 million cheap customized nfl jerseys in cap space already available, Seattle does not necessarily need the money, but they need Mingo’s lack of production even cheap nfl custom jerseys less.

March 20, 2019

A.J. Klein, New Orleans Saints

Over the past few years, the Saints have owned a surplus of mediocre linebackers—consistently fielding linebackers who were not particularly impactful while not clearly detriments. custom nfl jerseys cheap 2018 signing Demario Davis is the exception, but the notion largely rings true.

Former Panther A.J. Klein is one of that mediocre bunch. Klein is a functional linebacker who won’t often botch his assignments completely, but seldom makes impact plays. He recorded seven tackles for loss in 2018, which is not a poor number, but isn’t indicative of a disruptive player. Klein’s seven tackles for loss were tied for 88th in the league and put him only one tackle for loss over former Bucs linebacker Kwon Alexander, who played six games in 2018.customized nfl jerseys cheap

As such, Klein could be cut to make custom nfl jerseys room for one of the few key free agents left such as pass-rushers Justin Houston and Clay Matthews or tight end Jared Cook.

Klein has a $6 million cap hit in 2019 but can be cut for a $2.4 million dead-cap penalty. The move would save a total of $3.6 million for the Saints, boosting their available cap space to over $20 million.

The Saints may be done in free agency and customized nfl jerseys may not need the cap room, but Klein serves little value with Davis, Alex Anzalone and Craig Robertson all rostered. Klein should be the first to go if the Saints scrape up some cash for one last big signing.

July 23, 2018

Cleveland Browns: Who Is the New Left Tackle?

Trying to replace a guy who made 10 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and who has been a six-time first team All-Pro is no enviable challenge. However, that’s exactly nike nfl jerseys cheap what the Cleveland Browns have to do now that Joe Thomas has retired.

Left tackle is easily Cleveland’s biggest question mark heading into training camp. It won’t matter if it’s Tyrod Taylor or Baker Mayfield under center if opposing pass-rushers regularly have a free path to the quarterback. Whether it’s Shon Coleman, rookie second-round pick Austin Corbett, 2014 first-rounder nfl jerseys cheap nike Greg Robinson or even guard Joel Bitonio—who played left tackle at Nevada—someone has to solidify the position.nfl nike jerseys cheap

“Coleman is leading the charge (at left tackle),” offensive line coach Bob Wylie said, per Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. “But we have a lot of bodies.”

Having a lot of bodies doesn’t always nike nfl jersey cheap produce a surefire starter, though. Cleveland needs to see if it has one in the group.

July 23, 2018

Josh Gordon Won’t Be at Browns Training Camp as Part of Treatment; ‘Doing Great’

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon said he will not be at training camp when it opens this week as he continues a treatment program.customized nfl jerseys

Gordon posted this statement on Twitter:

“To my Cleveland Browns and NFL family, I am reaching out to you all personally and letting you know that I am not only doing great physically but mentally as well.nfl custom jerseys cheap

“You will notice that I will not be in Cleveland for the start of training camp. Rest assured this too is a part of my overall health and treatment plan. I appreciate the awesome support I have received from teammates, friends, fans, and the Brown’s organization. Just like you, I am excited to start the season and cheap custom nfl jerseys I have every intention of being ready and available to join my teammates soon to help bring winning football to our fans.

“With the help of the NFL, NFLPA,cheap customized nfl jerseys and the Browns’ organization, I have been able to utilize the resources available to me that will ensure my well-being on and off the field. By continuing to follow the plan set up by our medical director and his team and taking this time before this season starts, we believe it will help me maintain the progress I’ve made for not only today but for many years to come.”cheap nfl custom jerseys

Gordon, 27, has played in just 10 NFL games over the last four seasons in large part due to repeated violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.

July 21, 2018

Orlando Magic: Center

The following sentence, submitted by the Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks, should thrill Orlando Magic fans since he’s discussing one of their own:

“He could develop into one of the best centers official nfl jerseys cheap in the NBA by the time he reaches his prime.”

Sounds incredible, right? There’s only one catch—Tjarks wasn’t talking about No. 6 pick Mohamed Bamba or $12.7 million man Nikola Vucevic. To cover all bases, he wasn’t referring to fellow Magic centers Timofey Mozgov or Khem Birch, either.

No, Tjarks poured that praise onto last summer’s sixth pick, Jonathan Isaac, who might have his brightest future at a position occupied by four other players on the roster. Further muddling this mix, his current home is at the 4, where Aaron Gordon just orchestrated a breakout season so convincing that Orlando nfl authentic jerseys spent $84 million to secure his next four seasons.

Stockpiling young talent is generally fine for rebuilders, but how are the Magic ever going to align these puzzle pieces? It’s not like they can expect their floor generals to figure it out when D.J. Augustin, Jerian Grant and Isaiah Briscoe comprise one of the Association’s worst point guard groups.nfl authentic jerseys cheap

Vucevic needs to go, whether in a trade now or when his contract expires next summer. Mozgov and Birch are placeholders who should battle each other for mop-up duties. But Orlando must assess the long-term viability of the Gordon-Isaac-Bamba nfl jersey wholesale trio. Maybe there’s a minutes mix that keeps all three satisfied and effective, but there’s a decent chance the Magic will be forced to choose two keepers sooner rather than later.