Sunday Dawg Chow: Browns news (10/24/21)

Cleveland Browns:

• Ease his pain? That’s exactly what Browns QB Case Keenum, 1-0, can do for Baker Mayfield (Canton Repository) - This is just some OG who has followed the Browns for six decades talking, but ... Baker Mayfield is the man. Mayfield, when healthy, is the man at quarterback this year if he can make it back. Mayfield, if healthy, is the quarterback next year. Mayfield, if healthy, is QB1 up to the point it becomes clear it is not worth blowing up the salary cap to keep him.
• Browns coach Kevin Stefanski noncommittal on Baker Mayfield vs. Steelers but hopeful Nick Chubb, Jack Conklin can play (Beacon Journal) - Halloween might not be filled with many thrills for Baker Mayfield this year. Coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t make any promises Friday about whether the starting quarterback of the Browns will be permitted to play when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit for an Oct. 31 showdown at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Questionable Malik McDowell penalty from Week 6 leads to a fine as well (Browns Wire) - The Cleveland Browns have already played their Week 7 game with a 17 – 14 victory on Thursday Night Football over the Denver Broncos. The NFL is just finishing up with some business from the Browns Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
• D’Ernest Johnson: Three years ago, he was working on a fishing boat. Now, Cleveland Browns running back is a match-winning NFL player (CNN) - In 2018, D’Ernest Johnson wasn’t signed by any NFL team after failing to be drafted. So, he took up a job on a fishing boat in Key West, Florida, reeling in mahi mahi to make ends meet. Now, three years later and having put in the work, Johnson is a match-winning NFL running back.

NFL:

• Giants’ Saquon Barkley, Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey show risks of building around RBs (ESPN) - When the New York Giants (1-5) and Carolina Panthers (3-3) take the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, running backs Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey will be parked on the sidelines. Over the past two seasons it has become an all-too-familiar position for these dynamic playmakers. Such is life as an NFL running back. It’s a dangerous occupation, one reason it’s such a risky proposition for a team to build its offense around that position.
• This is the best Lamar Jackson we’ve ever seen (The Ringer) - After a litany of injuries, the Ravens have needed the former MVP to be better than ever. He’s delivered—and now the only question left is how long he can sustain this.
• Saints’ Chris Hogan retires at 32; former undrafted Bills, Patriots WR hangs it up after 8-plus seasons (CBS Sports) - Five games into his first season with the Saints, Chris Hogan is saying goodbye to both New Orleans and the NFL. Signed this offseason as wide receiver depth, the 32-year-old pass catcher was placed Saturday on the reserve/retired list, as NFL Media noted, officially closing the book on a career that spanned eight teams and more than 10 years.