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The Cleveland Browns have a major need at running back heading into 2025 thanks to Nick Chubb's latest injury.
It's looking more and more like Chubb might not be back for next season, and if he is, his effectiveness will likely be limited. The Browns do have Jerome Ford, but it doesn't seem like he has what it takes to be a lead back.
But does Cleveland have any other potential in-house answers?
Britt Gerken of Dawg Pound Daily feels that the Browns may want to monitor fellow halfback Pierre Strong Jr. for the remainder of 2024.
"Strong has not received very much playing time this year, with most of his playing time coming on special teams. In his limited role, he has shown that he is capable of catching the ball effectively out of the backfield with only one drop compared to nine catches," Gerken wrote. "It would be nice to see how Strong does as a lead back where he gets the bulk of the carriers to see what kind of role he could have on the team next year."
Oddly enough, Strong has actually gotten far less playing time this season than he even got in 2023, as he has carried the ball just 19 times for 69 yards this year. Last season, he toted the rock 63 times for 291 yards and a touchdown.
So, is there a future for Strong in Cleveland?
It seems hard to imagine that the Browns view him as a potential featured back, but perhaps he could be a part of a backfield rotation in 2025?
Whatever the case may be, it would be wise for Cleveland to at least give Strong some more touches down the stretch in order to evaluate him.
More than likely, the Browns will either sign a running back in free agency or select one in the NFL Draft, but maybe Strong could carve out a niche for the team next season.
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Steelers lose their third free agent of the week to same team following departure of once-promising trade acquisition
The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Mike Williams from the New York Jets at the 2024 trade deadline. The move provided immediate dividends, as the Steelers won a game against the Washington Commanders thanks to a catch from Mike Williams in his first career game with the Steelers. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of his time in Pittsburgh ,and now he's headed back to where it all started... Chargers sign third former Steeler of the Week, WR Mike Williams "BREAKING: The Chargers are signing WR Mike Williams to a 1-year deal worth up to $6M as he returns to Los Angeles — where he spent the first seven years of his career, sources tell NFL on FOX. Williams is back catching passes from Justin Herbert." - Jordan Schultz, Fox Sports In case you missed the first two, Donte Jackson and Najee Harris headed to the West Coast earlier in the week. Jackson will be a bit of an acquired taste in Los Angeles and for HC Jim Harbaugh. After receiving him in a trade that sent Diontae Jackson packing, many were skeptical of trading for an often-injured corner who is smaller and slighter than what the Steelers normally covet. Najee Harris averaged less than four yards per carry during his time with the Steelers, and he never had that second gear that Pittsburgh saw at Alabama. However, Harris also never played with a good offensive line and was asked to be the bell cow for an offense that changed running schemes multiple times. And still, he reached over 1,000 yards and five-plus rushing TDs every year in Pittsburgh, all the while not missing a start, much less a game. Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh has a type at RB, and Najee Harris fits that type. A road grader with a ton of durability and power, he’s exactly what the Chargers want their lead back to look like. So it’s a move that brings Najee Harris back to his home state of California and brings the Los Angeles Chargers closer to being the offense they want to be: A smashmouth team that throws off play action. As for Mike Williams, the familiarity with the Chargers and the fact that the team still has a need at the WR position made this move easy to see coming.
New York Yankees Get Excellent News Out of Gerrit Cole's Elbow Surgery
The New York Yankees got devastating news this week when it was revealed that ace Gerrit Cole would miss the entire season because of an elbow injury. However, if you're looking silver linings, the Yankees got great news out of the surgery, Per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com: Gerrit Cole’s UCL surgery included internal bracing, according to the Yankees, which can reduce inflammation and speed recovery time. Generally speaking, this could mean he is closer to a 12-month recovery than if he had the procedure with the traditional method. Given when the injury occurred, there is even a slight chance that Cole could be ready for Opening Day in 2026. For example, Spencer Strider had Tommy John surgery early in the 2024 season and is set to come back by late April of this year. Lucas Giolito of the Red Sox had internal bracing done last spring training and was on track for an Opening Day return this year until he injured his hamstring. The 34-year-old Cole is one of the best pitchers of his era, having gone 153-80 over a 12-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and Yankees. A six-time All-Star, Cole won the American League Cy Young Award in 2023 and has won two ERA titles. He dealt with elbow issues last season but returned to go 8-5 in 17 starts as the Yankees won the American League pennant. He pitched just 95 innings for the season, striking out 99. The Yankees will open up the season on March 27 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Former Steelers RB Najee Harris seemingly takes shot at Pittsburgh after arriving in Los Angeles
'He had problems with David's intensity and work ethic': Dennis Rodman didn't respect David Robinson while they played together on Spurs
For two seasons, NBA icons Dennis Rodman and David Robinson were teammates on the San Antonio Spurs. And according to Jack Haley, who played with Rodman and Robinson, Rodman didn’t respect Robinson one bit. “Dennis had a real problem in his respect for David Robinson as a player,” Haley said in Roland Lazenby’s book Blood On the Horns: The Long Strange Ride of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. “He had problems with David’s intensity and work ethic in practice. One thing about Dave: Dave could be the most talented player and athlete in the NBA. … Therefore, he’s not a big practice guy. Not a big work ethic guy. By [January], Dave would have sat out 30 practices. It’s tendinitis. It’s, ‘I’m sore today.’ Whatever it was, Dennis is a practice guy, and it didn’t sit well with Dennis. That caused a lot of problems… “Dave tried everything … imaginable to bond with Dennis Rodman, to get through with Dennis Rodman to form a friendship. I’m good friends with Dennis and I’m good friends with Dave. Dave would ask me, ‘Why don’t the three of us go to lunch? Why don’t we sit down and try to talk?’ He would try to talk to Dennis about basketball to form a bond. Dennis wouldn’t respond. Dave is very religious. He felt that part of his quest was to get through to Dennis Rodman on a religious level, to try to turn his life around. That didn’t work out at all.” The Spurs traded Rodman to the Chicago Bulls in 1995 and Robinson was delighted about the move. Rodman finished his San Antonio career with averages of 5.6 points, 17.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks in 128 games. The Bulls benefited significantly by adding Rodman, one of the best rebounders in NBA history. Chicago won three consecutive championships and went 72-10 in 1995-96. Rodman averaged 5.2 points and 15.3 rebounds with the Bulls, who beat the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals and the Utah Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals. Rodman won three straight rebounding titles in Chicago. The Bulls won three NBA titles before acquiring Rodman. However, Rodman said in The Last Dance docuseries that Chicago wouldn’t have won three more rings without him. “You got the great Michael Jordan, the great Scottie Pippen, the great Phil Jackson, but if you take me away from this team, do they still win a championship? I don’t think so,” Rodman said in The Last Dance. “I love Michael Jordan to death. I love Scottie Pippen, all these guys, but they really don’t do the things that I do. I’m the only guy who does all the dirty work, taking abuse from other players. I wanna go out there and get my nose broke. I wanna get cut. Something that’s gonna really just bring out the hurt, the pain. I wanna feel that.” Rodman won five championships during his career, while Robinson won two. Both players are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Mike Krzyzewski Didn’t Hesitate When Revealing the 'Toughest' Loss of His Coaching Career
Alexander Ovechkin sent a gift to Calgary Flames for helping to beat Leon Draisaitl
Alexander Ovechkin took some time during the 4 Nations Faceoff break to reflect upon his career and his chase of Gretzky's goal record, and one player he thanked in particular was Flames defender Rasmus Andersson. Ovechkin is closing in on the goal record, now only 9 goals away from setting the new record, and has paid homage to Gretzky while in Edmonton and throughout the season. Alex Ovechkin thanks Rasmus Andersson for helping to beat Leon Draisaitl According to a recent report from Calgary Flames reporter Eric Francis, Ovechkin sent Rasmus Andersson a signed stick to thank him for making a defensive play against Draisaitl in the final game of the 2018-19 season. The stick is signed by Ovechkin, and reads with a message that says "Intended for Ovie use only." For Andersson, it's a fantastic gesture from a legendary player for a routine moment. Leon Draisaitl was just one goal away from tying Ovechkin's total of 51 goals, which would've taken away the sole Rocket Richard trophy for the Capitals superstar. It's hilarious to think that while counting his trophies over the 4 Nations break, he stopped to think about Andersson's block the snuffed out Draisaitl's final goal. Andersson wasn't the only one to receive some memorabilia from Ovechkin in recent weeks. Former goalie Pascal LeClaire also received a signed jersey, commemorating the first goal Ovechkin scored in his great career. While Draisaitl may have narrowly missed out on the Rocket Richard trophy in 2018-19, he'll surely be awarded it this season. In 61 games, Draisaitl has an incredible 47 goals - 11 more than William Nylander in second place. At the end of his career, Leon Draisaitl may also be looking back on moments like these and sending out memorabilia of his own. After all, Draisaitl is only 500 goals back of Gretzky's record himself.
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