Skip Bayless Claims Bailey Zappe Will Be Browns’ No. 2 QB Amid Joe Flacco’s Exit
Thanks to a perfect storm of quarterback injuries and a 1-3 start with the Cleveland Browns, the 41-year-old veteran Joe Flacco is officially headed to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick and the cost of a plane ticket. For the former Super Bowl MVP, he now gets the pleasure of throwing to Ja’Marr Chase on Sunday afternoons, and for Cleveland, it’s yet another draft pick for them to work with.
Pretty straightforward, everybody wins. Well, everyone except Shedeur Sanders, who will still be QB3 on the Browns’ depth chart. Veteran Bailey Zappe is currently trending towards being the backup to Dillon Gabriel in Week 6. And according to Skip Bayless, Sanders being overlooked once again is a rather easy prediction to make at this point.
“Bailey Zappe was once drafted by Bill Belichick to replace Tom Brady,” Skip recalled. “If Belichick loved him, trust me, [Kevin] Stefanski loves him, and he will be elevated. He will be elevated to number two… He has no use for Shedeur Sanders. It’s going to take the owners stepping in and saying “no” to Stefanski,
In addition to noting that the Browns’ head coach will likely be “on his way out after this year,” Bayless also reasserted his belief in the 2024 Golden Arm winner. Going as far as to proclaim that
Ever since the infamous draft-day debacle that saw Sanders go from being a first-round pick to a day-three selection, fans and analysts alike have been campaigning on behalf of the former Colorado Buffaloes player. The departure of
As Bayless suggests, the Browns seem to have next to no interest in the idea of Sanders seeing reps as a starter at any point in the 2-25 regular season. Naturally, that has caused many to wonder what the point is in
Unfortunately, time is the only thing that will likely be able to answer that question. The good news, however, is that we have plenty of football left to keep us preoccupied until then.
Mike Tomlin Calls Browns’ Quinshon Judkins a “Complete Back” Ahead of Week 6 Matchup
The Cleveland Browns are set to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gushed over one rookie on the Browns.
As Tomlin was asked about the Browns’ roster, he quickly pointed out rookie running back Quinshon Judkins as someone to watch. Tomlin believes Judkins can change the game and is someone the defense needs to game-plan for.
“This week, I mentioned their running game. I can’t say enough about what I’m seeing from (Quinshon) Judkins,” Tomlin said on Tuesday. “You know, this guy has played in four games (and) he started three. He had absolutely no training camp to speak of.
“And that really highlights what it is that we’re looking at, kudos to him and kudos to them for what he and they are able to produce,” Tomlin added about Judkins. “He’s a tough runner. He’s good inside, he’s got good patience and pick and vision on interior running. He finishes off his runs with violence.”
It’s surprising praise from Tomlin towards a Browns player. Even though Judkins didn’t have a training camp, the veteran coach is blown away by how good he has looked to begin the season.
Tomlin Calls Judkins a ‘Complete Back’
Tomlin’s praise of Judkins didn’t stop there.
Instead, the Steelers coach called the rookie running back a complete back. He also believes Judkins is a perfect replacement for Nick Chubb to really complement the Browns’ running game.
“He had a 60-yarder or so he got called back in London last week,” Tomlin said. “That kind of highlights that I’ve seen this guy a lot. Obviously, we got a couple of his teammates from Ohio State, and so I’ve seen a lot of his video, man. He is a complete back. He’s the type of guy who can wear a defensive unit down. Certainly fits their mold as an awesome replacement, if you will, for Nick Chubb, and I think it’s going to do nothing but get better with him and them.”
Judkins has rushed for 347 yards and 2 touchdowns on 72 carries this season. He’s added 9 receptions for 62 yards.
Browns Coach Gushes Over Judkins
Tomlin wasn’t the only coach to praise Judkins.
Instead, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has also been impressed with the rookie back. Speaking to reporters on Oct. 6, Stefanski said the rookie is a fiery competitor and has been impressed with his play.
“Yeah, He’s a tough out,” Stefanski said of Judkins. “He’s kind of showing us and everybody the type of player he is. You know, have to remember that he got here late and has continued to get better each and every game. He’s a fiery competitor and he had a bunch of plays there, obviously had one called back for the holding, and I understand why that was called. But he continues to make hard yards when there’s hard yards to be made. And then when it’s blocked clean, as it was a few times yesterday, you see that he does have the ability to go. So, a young player again, that will only get better each week.”
Judkins has cemented himself as the starting running back for the Browns. But, he will have his hands full against a very good Steelers defense in Week 6.
