Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is gone. His legacy in Cleveland won’t be forgotten, and not for good reasons.
The effort to bring baseball-style analytics to the overall operation of a football team did not work, save for a pair of playoff appearances in nearly a decade with the organization.
In an interview with Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post following DePodesta’s arrival as president of baseball operations with the Colorado Rockies, DePodesta was asked a very specific question. What was his role in the decision to trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson?
“Here’s what I would say, and I truly believe this,” DePodesta said. “I believe that most of the decisions, especially the big ones like that, are organizational decisions, right? I’m not a believer in the ‘King Scout’ situation where there is one guy who makes every call. . . . The jobs are too complex, the decisions are too hard. They impact too many different things. So I always think these sort of collective decisions, it can be hard to get unanimous [opinions] on those types of things. Everyone who was a part of that? We all own that. We just do, that’s part of the deal.”
That’s fine, but DePodesta’s title was “chief strategy officer.” If anyone was responsible with the strategy for trading away three first-round picks (and more) while also paying Watson a five-year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract despite a looming suspension arising from more than 20 civil lawsuits alleging inappropriate conduct during massage sessions, it was DePodesta.
Between the picks (and the relatively low salaries that go with them) and the contract and the suspension and P.R. damage and the return on the investment, it was the single worst transaction in NFL history. The bomb exploded on everyone — including the guy who had the job of coming up with overall team strategy.
Still, DePodesta’s reference to the difficulty of getting “unanimous” opinions suggests that someone in the building was against either the trade or the contract, or both. One of these days, after all relevant employees have moved on and any applicable buyouts have been paid in full, maybe we’ll find out who, if anyone, tried to stand up and say that this may not be the best move for the Browns to make.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud missed Sunday’s comeback win over the Jaguars with a concussion and his status for Week 11 remains unclear on Monday.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said at a Monday press conference that Stroud remains in the concussion protocol. He will have to clear it in order to play in Nashville against the Titans this week.
Davis Mills started in Stroud’s place and went 27-of-45 for 292 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Ryans also announced that safety M.J. Stewart will miss the rest of the season with the quad injury he suffered on Sunday. Stewart started the last three games for Houston and had 25 tackles and a forced fumble in his nine appearances.
Right tackle Tytus Howard and safety Jalen Pitre also remain in the concussion protocol as the Texans move into Week 11.
Backup quarterback Davis Mills engineered the Texans’ second-biggest comeback in team history.
The Texans trailed 29-10 in the fourth quarter before Mills threw two touchdowns and ran for another, delivering an improbable 36-29 win over the Jaguars. Houston improved to 4-5, while Jacksonville fell to 5-4.
Mills was 11-of-20 for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, finishing 27-of-45 for 292 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins and a 7-yarder to Dalton Schultz before running for a 14-yard score on third-and-goal with 31 seconds left.
The Texans outgained the Jaguars 167 to 11 in the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars, trailing 30-29, had a chance to win it on a Cam Little field goal. Trevor Lawrence completed a 12-yard pass to Parker Washington to the Houston 43 with seven seconds left, but the play was negated by a holding penalty on Chuma Edoga. On the next snap, Will Anderson sacked Lawrence, who fumbled the ball in the air and Sheldon Rankins caught it and ran 32 yards on the final play of the game.
It was a stunning loss for the Jaguars, who led 10-0 early off two Texans turnovers, 20-10 at halftime and 29-10 into the fourth quarter. Jacksonville, though, was stymied on offense, with only 213 yards and two turnovers.
The Texans sacked Lawrence five times, including 3.5 by Danielle Hunter.
Lawrence was 13-of-23 for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception as well as the last-play fumble. Washington scored on a 7-yard reception and a 73-yard punt return.
Parker Washington has a 7-yard touchdown reception and a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown, and the Jaguars lead the Texans 20-10 at halftime despite only 87 yards.
The Texans had two turnovers after only one possession. Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills never saw Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones, who stepped in front of Christian Kirk for an interception on the third play. That led to a 32-yard Cam Little field goal.
Texans returner Tremon Smith then fumbled Little’s kickoff with Ventrell Miller forcing it and Danny Striggow recovering it at the Houston 19. That led to Washington’s receiving touchdown.
The Jaguars’ scoring drives covered 26, 19 and 40 yards.
Trevor Lawrence went 6-for-12 for 57 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Travis Etienne Jr. had nine carries for 44 yards.
The Texans have 198 yards, with 54 coming on the final play of the half, which ended with Nico Collins pushed out of bounds at the 7.
Mills is 12-of-17 for 167 yards and an interception, with Collins catching four for 101. Woody Marks has seven carries for 32 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans lost safety M.J. Stewart, who was carted off and quickly ruled out with a knee injury.
The Jaguars have 45 yards. They lead the Texans 17-0.
Jacksonville scored its first 10 points on drives of 26 and 19 yards after Texans’ turnovers. Their latest touchdown came on Parker Washington’s 73-yard punt return.
Washington also scored on a 7-yard touchdown reception.
Trevor Lawrence is only 4-of-7 for 25 yards and a touchdown. He also fumbled, though the Jaguars recovered.
It hasn’t mattered.
With Davis Mills playing for C.J. Stroud, the Texans have generated only 61 yards with an interception. They also fumbled a kickoff return.
