Daily Dawg Tags: What does 2016 have in store for Cleveland Browns?

Spanning the virtual globe to bring you the latest news about the Cleveland Browns and the NFL – these are your Daily Dawg Tags for July 7.

The Chinese philosopher Confucius advised that “when it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

That is what the Cleveland Browns are currently doing as they undertake their latest rebuilding effort. The overall goal remains the same – building a sustainable, winning organization – but the team is taking a different approach.

How well the latest plan will work and, more importantly, how long it will take remains to be seen. Things may be rough for a while longer, most notably this fall, but if owner Jimmy Haslam can remain patient it just may pay off.

We take a look at that topic, and more, in today’s edition of the Daily Dawg Tags.

Cleveland Browns:

Is a poor 2016 really a bad thing for the Browns?

"We certainly wouldn’t expect the Browns to go out and tank the season this fall, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they were not upset with a competitive, but ultimately poor, season. Another losing season will be frustrating, but the short-term pain could offer a long-term payoff."

Who is Cleveland’s main rival?

"Based on head-to-head record since 1999 it’s really hard to say if the Cleveland Browns have much of a rival, as each AFC North team has dominated them by 10 or more games since the team returned. So with the Browns you are forced to weigh in other factors. Let’s examine each team in the division."

This is what “Year Zero” looks like for the Cleveland Browns (Yahoo Sports)

"“Year Zero” is a term perhaps invented by former University of Tennessee coach Derek Dooley (and used often by SB Nation’s Bill Connelly) to describe a college coach’s first season, when the coach guts the roster and bottoms out as he finds players who fit his program. Then he starts to really build in his second season on the job. A “Year Zero” season shouldn’t happen in the NFL. This isn’t the Mid-American Conference; even the worst NFL team isn’t that bad. But that’s exactly what 2016 is in Cleveland. This is “Year Zero” for new coach Hue Jackson."

Terrell Watson, the NFL’s unlikeliest player (The Guardian)

"Running back Terrell Watson was left on a doorstep as a baby but overcame learning difficulties to give himself a shot at a professional career"

NFL News:

Ranking the NFL’s Top 10 feuds (ESPN)

"ESPN’s NFL Nation takes a closer look at the juicy interpersonal enmities; jealousies; and (occasionally) contrived personality competitions among players, coaches and administrators."

Calvin Johnson: Concussions played role in retirement (Detroit News)

"Calvin Johnson never was listed on an injury report with a concussion. Yet, in his first interview with a national outlet since his retirement, the former Lions receiver said brain injuries were an issue during his nine-year career."

Move to Los Angeles increases pressure on the Rams (USA Today)

"A we enter 2016, the Cardinals and Seahawks rank among the favorites to win Super Bowl LI. The biggest obstacle in their way, unfortunately, is each other. The easiest path to the Super Bowl, as last year reminded us, is with home-field advantage along the way, and it’s always going to be more difficult for a team like the Cardinals to finish with the conference’s best record when they have to play twice against a team as good as Seattle."

How Andrew Luck got paid (MMQB)

"There was a common belief among agents and NFL executives that Andrew Luck—despite his subpar, injury-riddled season a year ago—would become the league’s highest-paid player in several important categories. Indeed, there may have been more expectations with this contract than any negotiated for a player who wasn’t a free agent, perhaps ever. Let’s examine."