What's next for the Browns and Amari Cooper? Is Deshaun Watson's rehab ahead of schedule? Hey, Mary Kay!

The Browns defense was one of the top units in the NFL in 2023, buoyed by defensive player of the year Myles Garrett and a handful of other high-priced veterans like Denzel Ward, Dalvin Tomlinson and Juan Thornhill. The thing that really completed the defense, however, were the youths, recent Andrew Berry draft picks who are playing on rookie deals and playing well. Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe picked out two in particular as they discuss a few topics from their 15 keys to winning the Super Bowl series -- linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. They spend Wednesday's Orange and Brown Talk podcast discussing the impact each player makes and how they've managed to fit in and thrive in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Browns tight end David Njoku had a breakout season in 2023, especially in the season's second half, and expectations are high for him in the Browns' new offense. How high could his ceiling be this season? Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe continue looking at keys to the Browns winning the Super Bowl on Tuesday's Orange and Brown Talk podcast with a look at Njoku and what the Browns should expect from their start tight end. How can he build on a productive second half of the season? How has he compared to expectations during his career? Are we too hard on Njoku and why? They dig into what could be a big season for him under new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and his role in the Browns' talented pass catching corps. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Browns and wide receiver Amari Cooper are at a contract impasse after Cooper skipped the team's mandatory minicamp two weeks ago. He wants a new deal and the Browns have a decision to make as far as how to approach their star wideout. Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe begin a look at their 15 keys to winning the Super Bowl series -- with stories running throughout July -- by looking at Cooper and why he's so important to the Browns on Monday's Orange and Brown Talk podcast. They start with how the Browns will or should approach Cooper's contract and how a deal could get done before they get into why Cooper is so important to this team reaching its goal this season. They also discuss the possibility of a swap for 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk and delve into what the receiving corps would look like without Cooper. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Amari Cooper's minicamp holdout, he continues to be the main topic on the minds of Browns fans. Mary Kay Cabot and Ashley Bastock start Thursday’s Hey, Mary Kay! edition of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast by answering a question about what GM Andrew Berry had to say about Cooper in a recent interview. They also discuss why trading Cooper, even for a younger player like Brandon Aiyuk, would be out of character for this regime. The two also answer questions about QB Deshaun Watson and his shoulder rehab, starting with the significance of Berry saying the quarterback is "ahead of schedule." Then, they dive into choice routes: Will they make the offense more complicated? Why haven't the Browns and Kevin Stefanski implemented them into the offense earlier? Finally, the two throw out some names on both sides of the ball when discussing who could be "sleeper contributors," in the vein of Dawand Jones in 2023. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking about "Hard Knocks" can be "contagious" for Browns fans. On Monday, news came out that the Browns will be featured on “Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North," and on this episode of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast, Mary Kay Cabot and Ashley Bastock are offering a preview and their thoughts on what to expect. The two discuss how this is the first time "Hard Knocks" has focused on an entire division, as well as all the storylines that make the AFC North compelling -- particularly with each team's quarterbacks. They also go through the Browns' schedule and try to piece together some of the key games the cameras will chronicle, as well as go through the difficult logistics of filming during the season. Finally, it's a trip down memory lane with a look back at the last time the Browns were featured on "Hard Knocks," which was during training camp in 2018. Ashley and Mary Kay go through the drama that came to light at the time, the different highlights -- including Jarvis Landry's "contagious" speech -- and how the organization is in a very different place six years later. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re starting the week on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast by looking ahead to The Greenbrier and the start of training camp. Sure, there’s a break between the offseason program and training camp, but it doesn’t mean that players can’t have momentum coming out of the spring. Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe spend the podcast by listing Browns players who had strong springs and could carry that momentum into the summer and training camp. They cover a bunch of areas of the team, moving from the back end of the defense to names who stood out on offense. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Browns are off for the summer but the business side of the league doesn’t stop. They have a situation to figure out with wide receiver Amari Cooper, who held out of mandatory minicamp, seeking a contract extension. Mary Kay Cabot and Dan Labbe start Friday’s Hey, Mary Kay! edition of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast by answering a question about what a reasonable number would be for Cooper. They also discuss if the Browns could consider trading Cooper and get into the ins and outs of the situation. Then they talk about OTAs and the vibes around them, why Myles Garrett has struggled to finish strong in recent years and the left tackle situation. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had one of his best days of the offseason program on Thursday and his best day of all the practices open to the media. It was an encouraging spring for the team's starting quarterback coming off of major shoulder surgery. Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe discussed Watson's performance on Thursday's Orange and Brown Talk podcast recapping the day at minicamp. First, they talk about Myles Garrett pulling up with a hamstring injury and if it's something to worry about. (Spoiler alert: It's not.) They also discuss the strong spring second-year wide receiver Cedric Tillman had and his opportunity in minicamp with Amari Cooper not reporting and Jerry Jeudy not practicing due to injury. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wide receiver Amari Cooper was once again not in attendance during Wednesday's Browns minicamp practice, which is where Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe begin Wednesday's Orange and Brown Talk podcast. They discuss what it means that Cooper wasn't there for Day 2 and if it only adds to the feeling this could drag out longer. They also talk about what terms the Browns could cook up to make an extension with Cooper work for both sides. Then they talk about Myles Garrett, who spoke on Wednesday. How can he make sure he finishes the 2024 season strong, right as the Browns schedule toughens up? What standard should Garrett be held to after winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award? We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper didn’t show up to mandatory minicamp and head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed his absence is unexcused. Cooper is holding out and the Browns will have to navigate a tricky situation. Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe start Tuesday’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast by discussing Cooper’s holdout and how the Browns will approach the situation with their No. 1 receiver. Then they discuss what Deshaun Watson had to say after practice about where he’s ranked in the league and if it means anything to him. We were Voted best podcast by Cleveland Magazine readers! Want to become a Football Insider subscriber? Get more info here. Music credits: Ice Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3898-ice-flow License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices