A cinder block: DeShone Kizer’s best friend
August 15, 2017Don’t sleep on the Jay Bruce Trade
August 15, 2017There seems to be only one sure thing about the offense of the 2017 Cleveland Browns: Isaiah Crowell should flourish behind the team’s new-look offensive line. A line that some consider one of the best in the NFL.
Crowell has the talent and that offensive line will only make him look that much better. How much better, you ask? The 24-year-old wants to be considered a top-5 running back in the league. Falcons’ DeVonta Freeman’s new five-year, $41.25 million extension made him the highest paid running back in the NFL. Both Crowell and Freeman averaged the same amount of yards per carry (4.8), but Atlanta gave their running back many more opportunities.
Crowell is tired of not being considered a Top 5 back and he wants to prove he is capable. Part of his frustration is the amount of carries — or lack thereof — that he has received during his first three years in Cleveland, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “It’s just obvious that you think about it. I feel like it’s great for him. I feel like he’s a great player and he deserves it,” he said. “I feel like he changed the market. I feel like it’s a great deal for him and I feel like it’s just a great deal for all the running backs who are out here right now that deserve to get paid. So I’m happy for him.”
In 2017, he will play under a one-year, $2.746 million deal because the Browns signed him to a second-round tender this offseason. Although he has never reached the 1000-yard plateau, the running back is worth much more than that contract, which he will look to prove this season. “I just feel like God controls everything, so I’m just trying to just be patient. I know my time is coming. I’m just being patient and just stay working and keep working hard and just trying to be the best I can be,” he said. “It’s time for that to change. That’s why I’m just trying to go out here and prove myself, just each and every play when I’m out there on the field, so that won’t be the case.”
An undrafted free agent in 2014, Crowell has been quite a good signing for the Browns so far, and his stock will likely improve this season. In 2016, he had just 198 carries (20th in the NFL) for 952 rushing yards (15th) and seven touchdowns to go along with 40 receptions (53 targets) for 319 yards. In seven games, he rushed for 28 yards or less, not due to his talent, but due to the lack of carries that he was given. That likely won’t happen in 2017.
Crowell is not only on a contract year, but with a much better offensive line and more weapons on offense, the running back will not only receive more carries, but will make the most out of those opportunities as well.
With Duke Johnson spending some of his time as a slot receiver this year, it will give the Browns the ability to have two of their best playmakers on the field at the same time. It will also allow Crowell to have as many carries as possible. Given the questions that currently surround the quarterbacks and receivers, head coach Hue Jackson will likely lean on his running back much more this season than he did last season, which will only help Crowell going forward. Although he’s playing on a cheap contract this season, the running back is betting on himself. “I know what type of player I am, what caliber of player I am. The main thing I can do is just work hard and just really just try to help my team get some wins. That’s the main thing,” he said. “I feel like it’s a constant battle,” he said. “Each year I have to prove myself how good of a player I am. But I’m used to it. It’s not a big deal. It is what it is.”
The Browns do want to extend their running back and keep him around for the foreseeable future, but they have to come to an agreement on an extension. After hiring super-agent Drew Rosenhaus last month, Crowell knows that he will likely receive a big payday next offseason if he can prove himself again on the field.
Crowell may not have eclipsed the 1000-yard mark during his first three seasons in the league, but if he is given a sufficient amount of carries this season, he should not only prove just how good he can be, but he will cash in next offseason.
19 Comments
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Off topic, though related to Crowell’s quotations above: We truly have replaced the phrase “I think” with the phrase “I feel like.”
I think this is more than just a development of language, and actually reflects a new, modern way of getting through the world – and I don’t think it’s good. On dangerous levels, I think we’re actually trading what we know for what we feel. Not good. We no longer have opinions so much as we have feels, which is great, because you can’t ever disagree with feels.
“I feel like, therefore I am” is our new mantra. This is not how we get to, and colonize Mars, people.
“This is not how we get to, and colonize Mars, people”
But it certainly increases the pool of volunteers
Detective Alonzo Harris said it best: “It’s not what you know. It’s what you can prove.”
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What a great documentary. Sad ending.
Damn Russians…
You know who also said that? Lt. Daniel “Danny” Kaffee, son of the great Lionel Kaffee.
It doesn’t matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove! So please, don’t tell me what I know, or don’t know; I know the LAW.
I’d like couple million dollars tax free and a night out with Scarlett Johansson, but let’s just say I’m not holding my breath.
Lt. Daniel Kaffee agrees.
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Dammit, should have read all the way down
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“oh , B-BO … that’s so sweet … jump in here with me & we can hold our breath together ” https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/320f595baf7fe117dc4ebebd965cad223c1f2c38c6bded189a8e8519707c0d3b.gif
nahhh … she’s not that hot … https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3afecf2a0b9c3a371679e25a3bdbdecce4f0f242a577af7ecaa3881d7cc58f86.jpg
I’m all for the man proving himself … i just hope he’s thinking about the team before himself.
I feel like you’re probably correct in that statement.
You make a good point, socially. With all of the (credit: Bill Burr) “FOR ME” going on in today’s world, people feel more legitimized using their feelings to make decisions than thoughts. Probably because, as you said, you can’t change how someone feels, but you should be able to change how they think.
I blame Pabbie Troll from Frozen – “The heart is not so easily changed, but the head can be persuaded.”
I think you’re trying to provoke me, and that hurts my feelings.
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