NFL
AFC NorthFor the last few years, this has been a three horse race. A competitive division which has produced a team challenging late into the playoffs. And the Cleveland Browns.
Don't worry. I'm not about to tip the Browns for the division. They're not there yet. But they are significantly better than last year.
Some teams at the bottom of the pile are messes. They have overpaid supposedly star players who have criminally underperformed or are plagued by injury. They have coaches who you wouldn't trust to run a tombola. They draft to sell jerseys rather than to help the team improve. The Browns haven't done that. Rather, they have swapped some of their talent for draft picks, they have brought in experienced talent, particularly in the offensive line and they have picked sensibly. It's very much a rebuild, but it's a rare thing to see a team rebuilding so logically, compared with the car crash of a franchise it has been for a few years. Head coach, Hue Jackson, has a plan and he's being allowed to put it into action. How often would we see that in the Premier League? ("Don't worry", says Mr Abramovich/Levy/Sullivan/
Usmanov "If we disappoint for a few years, so be it")
The offensive line is a huge deal for a team trying to win games. It's really hard to win consistently if you can't make holes for your running back and can't protect your quarterback. In a summer, the consensus seems to be the Browns have gone from papier maché to a good sturdy brick structure up front.
On defense, the team is better but still a work in progress. The choice of edge rusher Myles Garrett was a no brainer and the trade for safety Calvin Pryor was smart. New defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams will make things interesting there. He will produce results but he's a volatile sort (wiki is your friend there).
In reality, this is an improved team but a distance from the likes of the Steelers in the division.
One team threatening to go in the other direction is bitter rival the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns were moved to Baltimore in 1995 controversially. It led to the head coach, one William "Bill" Belichick, to leave...and never be seen or heard of again...
The Ravens are light in most positions on the field. They have a good first 11 on both sides but little behind. On offense, the highest paid player in the league, Joe Flacco, needs to be much more consistent than he was in 2016, if the Ravens are to do well. The running game is not strong and the passing options are limited. It's a fragile team that will often be reliant on stopping the opposition from scoring 20 points and hoping to get enough to win. This isn't a recipe for disaster by any means but neither is the current personnel inspiring faith.
Cleveland is more likely to finish fourth than Baltimore in the division.
However, Baltimore to finish fourth is 11/2 with Choral/Red Shouty Man. That seems generous.
Better still, though, Cleveland to finish 3rd is 15/2 with Sportin' Bet. Six wins might be enough for that. It's a delicious price IMO.
It's time for Fred to get in the Dawg Pound
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Recommend £40 on Cleveland Browns to finish 3rd in the AFC North at 15/2 with Sportin'bet
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