Bazzana finished 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored, all career highs, powering Cleveland’s offense in a game that quickly became a showcase for one of baseball’s most exciting rookies. His first homer traveled 382 feet, and his second, a three-run shot in the fifth inning, carried a projected 406 feet to right-center. By the time he added an RBI single in the seventh, Bazzana had authored the kind of performance that can turn a promising rookie season into something much bigger.

Bazzana became just the 4th Cleveland rookie since 1901 to have 2+ HR, 4+ Hits and 5+ RBI in a single game. He joins Oscar Gonzalez 9/9/22 4H, 2HR, 5RBI Ben Broussard 7/11/03 4H, 2HR, 5RBI Hal Trosky 4/24/34 4H, 2HR, 6RBI

A Night Built for the Highlight Reel

The Guardians needed a spark after dropping the series opener in Houston, and Bazzana provided it immediately. His leadoff blast gave Cleveland a 1-0 advantage before the Astros had recorded an out. After Houston tied the game in the second, Bazzana singled in the third and scored on Kyle Manzardo’s two-run homer, helping Cleveland reclaim control.

Then came the swing that broke the game open. In the fifth, with Steven Kwan and Patrick Bailey aboard, Bazzana crushed a three-run homer to push the Guardians ahead 6-1. His seventh-inning RBI single gave him five RBIs on the night. Cleveland cruised from there behind Joey Cantillo, who delivered eight strong innings with nine strikeouts.

Rookie Season Keeps Getting Louder

What makes Bazzana’s performance even more impressive is the larger context. The first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft made his Major League debut on April 28, 2026, and he has already looked comfortable in a lineup asking young players to shoulder real responsibility. After Saturday’s breakout, his season line climbed to a .274 batting average with seven home runs and 23 RBIs.

Those numbers tell the story of a rookie who is not merely surviving his first taste of the majors he is changing games. Bazzana’s combination of plate discipline, bat speed, power and athleticism has given the Guardians a dynamic presence near the top of the order. His left-handed swing already looks capable of punishing mistakes, and his confidence seems to grow with every big moment.

More Important With Cleveland’s Lineup Hurting

Bazzana’s rise has become even more meaningful because Cleveland’s lineup is dealing with a wave of injuries to key bats. José Ramírez landed on the injured list with a left hamate fracture and underwent surgery, with the club expecting a recovery of roughly six weeks. Angel Martínez is also sidelined with a left foot fracture and is expected to miss several weeks, while Chase DeLauter was placed on the injured list with a right rib cage fracture after crashing into the outfield wall.

That kind of injury cluster would test any offense, especially one trying to stay competitive in a tight division race. Ramírez is the franchise centerpiece, Martínez had been one of Cleveland’s most productive power sources, and DeLauter’s rookie impact had helped deepen the lineup. With so much thump temporarily unavailable, Bazzana’s ability to create instant offense at the top of the order is no longer just exciting…it is necessary.

More Than a Hot Night

One game does not define a career, but games like this can reveal what a player is becoming. Bazzana became the type of problem Houston could not solve. He was aggressive enough to attack early-count strikes, disciplined enough to stay within himself, and talented enough to turn a mistake into instant damage.

For Cleveland, that matters more than ever. The Guardians are trying to build momentum in the American League Central while navigating injuries. Bazzana’s emergence gives them a rookie with star-level upside in the middle of the summer push. His career night against the Astros was not just a box-score explosion; it was a reminder that Cleveland may have found a cornerstone capable of helping carry the offense when it needs him most.

The Bottom Line

On June 20, 2026, Travis Bazzana gave Guardians fans a glimpse of how special his rookie season can become. Four hits. Two homers. Five RBIs. Three runs. A blowout win on the road. For a 23-year-old rookie still writing the opening chapter of his Major League story, it was a statement night. Also, perhaps a preview of many more to come.

The post Travis Bazzana’s career night shows why Guardians’ rookie is becoming must-see baseball appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Group A

Mexico

Coach:                                     Javier Aguirre

Star Player:                            Raul Jimenez

How made it:                         Co-Host

What to watch for: They lack technically skilled players like in years past. Jimenez’s stint as Fulham’s striker has been good, but at 35 years of age, like many of the El Tri, have aged to a point where that could be a problem. This is a team that can make it to the round of 16 or can flame out early. 

South Korea

Coach:                                      Hong Myung-bo

Star Player:                             Son Heung-Min

How made it:                         Undefeated in qualifying

What to watch for:                Injuries are killing this club. South Korea has star power and solid players, but these players have been or are just coming back from injuries or lack of playing time with their clubs.

Czechia

Coach:                                      Miroslav Koubek

Star Player:                             Patrick Schick

How made it:                          FIFA Playoffs

What to watch for:                 FIFA’s 41st ranked team has a solid coach with experienced players. Schick was a force in the German Bundesliga.

South Africa

Coach:                                      Hugo Broos

Star Player:                             Teboho Mokoena

How made it:                         Defeated Nigeria in qualifying

What to watch for:                Hard to give an idea of this club. They are experienced, with a great coach. They are truly eleven working together as one.

Group B

Switzerland

Coach:                                     Murat Yakin

Star Player:                            Granit Xhaka

How made it:                        Undefeated in qualifying

What to watch for:               They will make the round of 16, but can they make it out of that to the quarters? They made it to the final 8 teams in the Euro Championship. Healthy and ready to make their mark on the 2026 WC.

Canada

Coach:                                     Jesse Marsch

Star Player:                            Alphonso Davies

How made it:                         Like Mexico and US, co-hosts

What to watch for:               Solid defensively, but injuries, touch group, and never won a World Cup match. Weird traveling, too. First game in Toronto, then cross country to Vancouver.

Qatar

Coach:                                      Julen Lopetegui

Star Player:                             Akram Afif

How made it:                         Won the three-playoff final versus UAE and Oman

What to watch for:                Lopetegui got the gig when it looked like they were not making the WC. But attention to defense and quick counters were key. Can the defense stay sharp? Tough group!

Bosnia/Herzegovina

Coach:                                      Sergej Barbarez

Star Player:                             Edin Dzecko

How made it:                         Defeated Wales and Italy for the last spot

What to watch for:                Aggressive defending, speed in their youngsters, but that enthusiasm can lead to unpredictable outcomes. 

How to watch…thanks to Yahoo Sports!

How to watch 2026 World Cup live, stream links, TV channel, dates, times and Groups

Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
Where: 16 stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the USA — Details
Streaming: All 104 games available to watch on Peacock (en Espanol)
TV channel: Telemundo (92 games) and Universo (12 games)

The post FIFA World Cup Breakdown: Groups A and B appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Basics of the Injunction

The Texas judge ruled in favor of Sorsby’s claim that since the NCAA had declared him ineligible after he admitted he bet on Indiana football while he played for them, the decision would end his collegiate career and deny him the opportunity to earn his NIL and possible future NFL money. Here is the main piece as per On3.com

“This court finds that applicant has demonstrated that he will suffer a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury if this court does not issue this temporary injunction because he will be unable to participate as a member of Texas Tech University’s 2026 football team.” 

Sorsby’s legal team also included two key ideas. First, they claimed that the NCAA was penalizing the athlete for suffering from a gambling addiction, which is a violation of their own constitution. They recorded that he had completed a residential treatment program for gambling. Secondly, Jeffrey Kessler, Sorsby’s labor lawyer, argued that the student “never bet on a game in which he played and never manipulated a game he participated in.” The team offered to the court to serve a two-game suspension as a way to show cooperation in the NCAA’s investigation.

What judge ruled on this?

Texas judge Ken Curry ruled on the case in Lubbock County, where the university is located. The original judge, Phillip Hays, recused himself without providing a reason. It was later found that Judge Hays grew up in Lubbock and has two degrees from Texas Tech, one being his law degree from the school.

The NCAA immediately appealed but Texas law makes the earliest it could possibly be heard be sometime in February, 2027, well after the football season ends.

Up in Arms over the ruling

ADs from numerous schools and many journalists expressed outrage over the decision. Big 12 athletic directors like Mark Harlan (Utah) and Gene Taylor (Kansas State) were openly critical. Troy Dannen from Nebraska has asked his coaches to refuse to schedule Texas Tech in ANY sport. So did Josh Brooks from Georgia.

Prominent journalists against the Texas judge’s decision were Pat Forde (Sports Illustrated) and Scott Van Pelt (ESPN). Dan Wetzel, also of ESPN, wrote in a column that this decision will cause permanent damage to the NCAA. His best line? “There are 8.3 billion humans on one side of this…and Judge Ken Curry on the other.”

Who is Brendan Sorsby?

Ron Jenkins/Getty Images for ONIT

Brendan Sorsby has played for Indiana University (2022-2023) and the University of Cincinnati (2024-2025). Reports are that he signed a five million dollar NIL contract with Texas Tech after the season ended for the Bearcats. Shortly thereafter, the NCAA began its investigation. They found and Sorsby did not deny that he made thousands of bets for himself and others. There are records of him transmitting money to family/friends for them to place bets. His betting was not just for his team but also player props for teams playing against his teams.

The NCAA may be weird at times, but they got this one right in making him ineligible for the 2026 season. The injunction against the NCAA has the makings of bringing an enormous earthquake to college sports, and not just football. But all the other sports for women and men.

As more becomes available, we will share with you all.

What do you think of this ruling? What should the ramifications be for Sorsby?

Please share in the comments!

The post Sorsby Wins Injunction for the 2026 CFB season and the sports world is shocked! appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Here’s more for your sports gourd. Taking me back decades when I was all over my Dad to take me to games, there was an underlying reason, as I needed (wanted?) to see certain players!  I needed to see Mantle, Maris plus when certain Tribe hurlers toe the rubber as well as opponents, I had to be at Municipal Stadium to see them in action too! Sudden Sam, Luis Tiant, Sonny Siebert plus the visitors Whitey Ford, Mell (Not TODD) Stottlemeyer, Al Downing, were players I HAD TO SEE!

My point, look at tonight’s pitching match up: the BIG RIG Gavin Williams opposed by Will Warren. There’s a good  shot one of these gents will start for the A.L. in the All-Star game. Yup, grab the kids, your significant other and head to Progressive Field especially tonight. 6:40p first pitch!

I’ve been thinking “will the real Guardians please stand up, please stand up!” Who are they? I feel they are the team that took 2 of the 3 from NY just a week ago and put up 6 runs on 9 hits Saturday vs the Rangers.

I have to come clean on something else too! I have supported Kenny Atkinson for his tenure here. I was OK with trading Garland but not into  acquiring Harden. Two things got under my skin on the postseason: Kenny not using a time out to stem the blue and orange Knicks comeback when the Cavs squandered a 22 point 4th quarter lead with less than half the 4th to go AND his comment that (to paraphrase): “that the Cavs were actually up analytically 2-1″ when they were actually down 3-0.” I have heard moronic, flat out stupid statements before but that one was the cherry on the sundae. I picture  the Knicks reading, hearing those words, and saying, “let’s blow this fool away in his building in game 4”!

I know I have been somewhat quiet lately and I need to share that I have just fought off a horrific infection that made me feel worse than when I had Covid. Yeah, I’m back!

As always Munch On Sports is powered by the Ken Ganley Auto Group and Ken Ganley Aurora Chevy.

Please take care of each other and always remember, it’s your world, pay attention. Enjoy every sandwich and for now, ADIOS AMIGO, LONG MAY YOU RUN.

The post Munch Musings – All good in my old neighborhood Guardians Edition appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

The offensive jump is the clearest reason his case feels different this season. Rocchio opened June batting .279 with a .358 on-base percentage, and a .393 slugging percentage, while adding 11 stolen bases and 28 RBI in 62 games. His strikeout rate has remained impressively low, a sign that his growth is rooted in improved approach rather than a short hot streak. Advanced measures have backed up the progress too, with strong contact skills and above-average overall production for a middle infielder. That matters even more for a Guardians club that has needed lineup balance and situational hitting as it pushes to stay atop the AL Central.

“Playoff Rocchio” is now an every game occurrence

There is also a real clutch factor to Rocchio’s season. He’s  hitting .391 with runners on base from the No. 9 spot, an unusually productive profile for the bottom of the lineup. And one that has repeatedly says he’s comfortable in. He also already owns a walk-off single this season, the kind of moment that reinforces what Cleveland has been seeing for months. Rocchio is becoming a player who looks comfortable when the game tightens and the margin for error disappears.

Rocchio talks about how hitting in the nine spot has been working for him #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/8nTJfecM1r

— Natalie (@nats_sportschat) May 12, 2026

And the glove still matters. Rocchio’s defensive track record was already strong before the bat took a step forward. He finished a previous full season with 11 defensive runs saved, tied for second among qualified major league shortstops, while also posting positive outs above average. In a sport where shortstop remains one of the premier positions, that kind of reliability is not a bonus. It is a separator. Plenty of players can compile nice first-half batting lines. Far fewer can combine them with premium defense at a position that anchors the infield every night.

Rocchio’s 2026 highlights have reflected that dual value. Highlights this spring and early summer have featured everything from a walk-off single against Kansas City to a slick play at shortstop against Washington to a 105.6 mph solo home run against Texas on June 6. Those flashes are not empty highlights. They are snapshots of a player whose game is becoming more complete and more dangerous.

Definition of “Guards ball”

His rise has also fit the personality of this Guardians team. Cleveland does not need Rocchio to chase home run titles to justify an All-Star nod. It needs him to be the connective tissue in winning baseball. He has done that by getting on base, extending innings, stealing key bags, finishing defensive chances cleanly, and giving the lineup quality at-bats in spots where opponents used to breathe easier. On a first-place club, that kind of consistency should carry weight.

If the All-Star Game is meant to reward players who shape winning, Rocchio has earned serious consideration. He may not have the loudest stat line among American League shortstops, but he has one of the most complete profiles. Rocchio’s strong defense, improving offense, speed, composure, along with a growing list of timely plays should give him the nod. For Cleveland, he already looks like an indispensable player. By midsummer, the rest of the league should recognize him the same way. You can vote for Rocchio and other Guards’ players here 

The post Brayan Rocchio belongs on the 2026 All-Star Team appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Group I

Group J

Group K

Group L

We plan on having a breakdown by Groups over the next few days. Plan on having watch parties? Enjoy the football/soccer over the next few weeks!

The post FIFA World Cup 2026 starts soon! Here are the Groups! appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

We fans love to compare baseball players of today to those of our or our parents/grandparents time. Cleveland fans have been doing this for as long as I remember. But the other day, something hit me when I was watching Travis Bazzana lace a double to increase the Guardians lead over the Yankees: Travis looks like Mickey Mantle!

Mickey Mantle

Quick history of Mickey for those too young to know. Mantle was a star outfielder for the New York Yankees. A switch hitter, Mick (his nickname) played his entire career for the Bronx Bombers. His lifetime average is .298, with 2,415 hits, 536 home runs and 1,509 RBIS. He won seven World Series titles (while playing in 12 of them), and still holds many of the offensive World Series records like HRS (18), runs (42), walks (43) and still holds the highest on-base AND slugging percentages.

He was an incredible mix of speed and power in his 5’9”, 195 pound frame. How is this, you might ask? That’s what we are trying to present here.

Swing thoughts in the 50’s and 60’s

In the 50’s and 60’s analytics was yet to surface. There was no launch angle or exit velocity readings (velo), only average. There were different approaches to the swing. Line drives were encouraged, hands were lower, close to the waist, and the bat was vertical or “tipped” slightly. Bat speed and generating it had different approaches. Swing up or swing level or swing downward? It was a sport that showed different players had different success with their swings. Same holds true today.

Some would say your lead foot (the one leading to the pitcher) and toes should “squash a bug” resulting in a hip turn. But when it came to The Commerce Comet (other Mantle nickname), his swing has elements that young hitters should emulate. Keep two very important things in mind: Mantle had a major shoulder injury late in the 1950’s that hampered his left-side swing. And though his right-handed hitting numbers were gaudier (.329 versus .289), most pitchers were righty which is why Mick had more at bats as a lefty. And his power numbers reflect that (372 dingers from the left and 164 from the right).

The Mick’s swing

Mantle did a slide with his stride foot (see leading foot). His hands would be about at his waist level and the bat was pointing to the sky. His back, left foot would be close to the back white line in the batter’s box, with his right foot about shoulder width apart. 

Joey Myers at Hitting Performance Lab has a great take on both Mantle’s left AND right swings. Mantle’s stride is a long one, starting when the pitcher is basically at the top of his release. But Myers mentions the Mick’s weight transfer AND foot pressure. His strong turn of shoulders and hips is driven by the legs and his trailing knee will basically be at a 90 degree angle. He keeps his weight on the inside of his trailing foot, allowing his body to coil and unleash tremendous power. His leading foot’s weight is on the outer portion of his foot acting like an anchor to keep his body and arms on the plane he likes.

Travis Bazzana

For those who don’t know the kid from Australia, Travis was the #1 pick in the 2024 MLB draft. His rise through the minors was fast. A fiery second sacker, Guardian fans see similarities to him and Grady Sizemore. But Mantle is a much better comparison. Let’s dive in.

Here’s a great TikTok video on Travis’ swing.

@lawsonaaronllb

Here’s a good slow-mo look at Travis Bazzana. He’s got a pure swing with tons of pop. What sticks out to you? Send this to a friend who needs it Save it for when you need it Follow or DM me if you need a hitting coach #baseballtips #hittingdrills #batspeed #baseballswing #fyp

♬ Walk In – Slowed – Lxzt

Bazzana has his hands higher like many hitters today. His lower body and legs, though, are almost carbon copies of Mantle’s at the start.

Notice the higher hands. Now Travis will not SLIDE his lead foot but pick it up and stride to the pitcher. His weight starts on the back foot but as he steps forward, like Mantle, his left knee is pointing at the pitcher, hips open and his lead foot sees the weight transition to the outside. His head stays on plane, never moving up or down. Focused. But this allows his body to uncoil around his spine and hips.

Travis’ Swing

Mark DeRosa does a nice job of discussing this.

Though the bat starts vertically, notice how the bat end goes forward as Bazzana begins to coil his left side, that weight on his inside right foot. Mickey and many good hitters in the 1950’s did the same. Ted Williams is a classic example. They were trying to create momentum. Some did it with the movement of the bat forward, knowing they would whip it through soon. In today’s terms, it’s similar to a golfer’s backswing where the shoulders wind the club back generating the energy that will be released with the help of the hips and legs.

Ted Williams

Travis stays in his crouch longer than Mickey. But that could be because of Mantle’s long knee and shoulder issues.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brandon Barnes | Performance Specialist (@bbperformancelab)

Make no doubt. They both have eerily similar swings from great fundamentals.

I am in NO WAY comparing the playing styles or predicting that Travis will someday be like Mantle. I am only showing how similar their swings are. 

But, if Travis continues to show a drive to improve and a desire to be the best second baseman in MLB, the Guardians will reap a huge reward by making him the number 1 pick in the 2024 draft.

Featured Image courtesy of Brian Booher, The News Herald

The post Travis Bazzana and Mickey Mantle: Eerily Similar Swings! appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Travis talked postgame about the different feelings between being drafted 1st overall or making his MLB debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/8BLGxg650R

— Natalie (@nats_sportschat) April 29, 2026

Through his first 30 games, Bazzana is batting .294 with 32 hits, 8 doubles, 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, 13 runs scored, and 8 stolen bases. He has also posted a strong .389 on-base percentage and a .450 slugging percentage, good for an .838 OPS, while already being worth roughly 0.9 to 1.0 WAR. Those numbers show a player who is not just surviving his first taste of the majors but helping the Guardians win right away.

Bazzana in the leadoff

What makes Bazzana’s start even more impressive is how quickly he has settled into a vital role. Manager Stephen Vogt recently moved him into the leadoff spot, and Bazzana has responded by becoming a tone-setter at the top of the order. In a five-game stretch batting first, he went 8-for-19 with 5 doubles and a home run. Bazzana’s showing exactly why Cleveland believes he can be a long-term catalyst. Since moving to the top of the lineup on May 23, he has produced an OPS over 1.000 in that role. That combination of contact, extra-base pop, and aggressive baserunning has added another dimension to an offense that thrives on pressure and smart baseball. Which is exactly the style of “Guards Ball” Cleveland is so proud to play.

Cleveland’s success so far this season has come from getting contributions throughout the roster. Bazzana has fit that formula perfectly. The Guardians entered early June at 34-27 and in first place in the division. Bazzana’s emergence has helped deepen the lineup around established stars such as Jose Ramirez.

Confidence with skill

He has shown patience with 15 walks, impact with 11 extra-base hits, and athleticism with 8 steals in 10 attempts. For a rookie middle infielder, that is a strong all-around profile. More importantly, his confidence has stood out. He looks comfortable against major league pitching and he is creating scoring chances. Bazzana is already playing with the kind of poise Cleveland hoped to see from one of baseball’s top prospects.

There is still a long way to go this season, and pitchers will continue adjusting to him, but Bazzana has already shown why the Guardians were so excited to bring him to Cleveland. He has given them quality at-bats, speed on the bases, steady infield play, and a spark near the top of the lineup. If he keeps hitting around this level, the conversation will not just be about a promising rookie debut. It will be about a young player helping push a contender forward. So far, Travis Bazzana has looked like more than the future of the Guardians. He is an important part of their present success.

The post Travis Bazzana is giving the Cleveland Guardians a lift appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Myles Garrett had become the face of the Cleveland Browns. He was supposed to retire a Brown and enter the Hall of Fame down the road in Canton. If you are a young Browns fan you grew up with the high flying defensive edge rusher. To the older generation of Cleveland fans, Garrett was special too. Maybe he could help lead their favorite team to that all elusive Super Bowl. 

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen in his nine year stint in Cleveland. Maybe that was or wasn’t a factor in the Browns decision making when it came to their star player. Regardless, Garrett was traded this week from the Browns to the LA Rams in a decision that caught many fans off guard.. There’s a lot to unpack with this story. 

When you look up Garrett’s Instagram account he goes by #flash_garrett and his own bio reads “Athlete… My life is my message”. Garrett’s message over the years he was a member of the Browns was a confusing mixed bag of thoughts and ideas. The “flash” in his name referenced the old super hero Flash Gordon, who Garrett had suggested he was more like because he had to overcome the pressures of playing in the NFL, like Flash did in the Justice League in the comic book world.

He will go down as one of the very best to play the game of football as a Brown and in the NFL for that matter. He’s a shoe-in as a first ballot Hall of Famer when his time arrives. However, he was also a controversial figure and when he shared messages out to the world (via social media posts, interviews, and press conferences) there were more questions than answers made.

Just over a year ago, Garrett got a contract extension from the Browns. At the time everyone was a bit surprised by the move as we’d been hearing from the former No. 1 draft pick of the 2017 NFL Draft that he wanted out of Cleveland to go play for a better team. He even went on a media circus blitz during the Super Bowl week in New Orleans trying to convince Cleveland to let him go. That didn’t happen and he ended up taking the money to stay in town.

Initially, when Garrett came to the NFL he had several other hobbies outside of football, like creating poetry and writing children’s books about dinosaurs. He would talk about compassion and promote peace in his social media posts. With that as the start up to his career it showed he wasn’t just about football so it shocked fans when he lost his marbles in the closing moments of a 2019 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that defining moment of a young NFL star’s career, he went ballistic attacking the Steeler quarterback Mason Rudolph with a football helmet after reported words were exchanged between the two.

That peaceful and compassionate person image we had of him outside of football was shattered. He was indefinitely suspended at the time and missed the last six games of that season. He came back to start the 2020 season but it marked a big moment in his career. 

These past nine years have been full of ups and downs with Garrett. There’s also been this underlying question about his leadership and what type of locker room guy he really was especially when the camera’s were off. 

He had off the field issues especially when it came to  driving a car too. Over the years he’s been caught for speeding on multiple occasions. He even had a horrific roll over accident back in 2021 where he wrecked his vehicle due to speeding.. But he continued to drive recklessly after getting a speeding ticket again this past season. I know some may not consider this type of reckless behavior to be an issue because they care more about what Garrett does on the field of play. However, I believe it points out the lack of leadership qualities that are necessary to really help a team. Garrett’s shenanigans over the years became a distraction to the team. Did it cause losses as a whole? Probably not, but it played a factor. 

Despite the off the field problems, he still became the face of the franchise as the Browns defense continued to get better. However, that didn’t lead to wins. Statistically, he was amazing, breaking records left and right. He broke the season sack record this past season with 23. He had 10 sacks or more in eight straight seasons. Only in his rookie campaign did he have seven sacks. He collected an astounding 125.5 sacks in his Cleveland career. 

But the victories were sparse even when Garrett was breaking records. This past season he scored five sacks in a game against the New England Patriots but the Browns lost the game by 20 points.

So when the Browns were approached by the Rams about trading Garrett, the team listened this time. A year ago, the team didn’t listen and were adamant that they planned on having Garrett as a member of the team for life. 

The timing of this latest chapter and the trade have some criticizing the team. What Cleveland is getting in return for trading Garret is a part of that debate. Some say it’s not enough in what the Browns got in return. For the record the Browns are getting 3rd year player defensive edge Jared Verse and a 1st (2027), 2nd (2028) and 3rd round (2029) draft picks over the next three drafts. 

I think the Browns couldn’t pass up this opportunity to strengthen their team long term. The Browns are prepared to open up a new domed stadium in 2029. Their sights are set on having a competitive and winning team by then. They’ve gathered some new young talent and adding more pieces to that mix like Verse, who will replace Garrett at that edge position just seems logical. 

The bigger problem for the Browns continues to be who will be the franchise quarterback and help the team win. Some believe this trade gives Cleveland more opportunity to go after a potential new quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. I’m still behind giving the second year player Shedeur Sanders that opportunity first. 

Garrett grew up being a Cleveland Brown. If you think of anyone you know that grows up between the age of 21 and 31 they go through a lot of changes from how they think about life to starting a family. 

It was time for a change and Garrett was ready. I think that most of us Browns fans are ready too.

I know the initial shock of the move was Earth shattering. But it happened and we would be wise to move forward. Go out and support this new Browns team that is brand new with a new coach in Todd Monken. 

Garrett meant a lot to this organization, the city and the fans. He will definitely be missed. His messages were confusing at times and that leadership skill set wasn’t always there but he meant a lot to the pride that Browns fans carry universally and that took a hit with the trade.

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