Cleveland Browns and Steelers trending in opposite directions

The “rivalry” between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers has been a one-sided affair for the better part of the last two decades, but now, the teams are trending in opposite directions.

The Steelers have dominated the Cleveland Browns since the latter’s return to the NFL in 1999 going 35-7-1. Last season, the Browns ended their playoff drought and knocked the Steelers out of the playoffs in the Divisional Round 48-37 in a game that wasn’t even all that close as the Browns jumped out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead.

NFL free agency kicked off last week and Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry has put on a complete clinic to improve the Browns roster. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, was cash-strapped and couldn’t do much to retain some of their players or sign other players.

Sports Illustrated updated its power rankings after the beginning stages of free agency and listed the Browns at fourth and the Steelers sixth.

A year ago, Berry devoted much of his attention to building the offense around quarterback Baker Mayfield. Last week he focused on defense, especially the secondary, which was a weak part of the team last season due in large part to a plethora of injuries.

Berry was able to sign two key members of the Rams No. 1 ranked passing defense in safety John Johnson III and Youngstown native, cornerback Troy Hill. Johnson said it was an “opportunity of a lifetime” to sign with Cleveland as he seems them heading in the right direction.

Along with Johnson and Hill, Berry signed veteran linebacker Anthony Walker, veteran defensive lineman Malik Jackson, and EDGE rusher Takk McKinley, who the Browns tried to claim off waiver three different times a season ago. Walker said, “I want to win and that is why Cleveland is the place I chose in free agency.”

These moves, plus the re-signing of wide receiver Rashard Higgins and linebacker Malcolm Smith, will give Berry plenty of options in the upcoming draft to continue to build a roster that can possibly be a Super Bowl contender. The Browns and EDGE rusher Jadaveon Clowney reportedly have “mutual interest,” according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

As aforementioned, Pittsburgh wasn’t in a position to spend money this offseason. In fact, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had to restructure his contract so he wouldn’t be a huge cap hit for the upcoming season and give his team a little cap flexibility. This was in the midst of talks swirling around on if Big Ben would be the Steelers signal-caller in 2021.

EDGE rusher Bud Dupree, who is coming off an ACL injury, signed with the Titans. That could be a proven loss to the Steelers defense, one of the best units in the league last year. Cornerback Mike Hilton went to divisional foe Cincinnati. Fellow cornerback Steve Nelson asked for and was granted his release and is now a free agent. Pittsburgh released six-year linebacker Vince Williams as well.

Wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster reportedly turned down more money from both the Chiefs and Ravens to return to the team that drafted him. Smith-Schuster turned down an opportunity to play with Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. That was a bit surprising, but nonetheless, he is returning to the Black and Gold.

Chase Claypool had a stellar rookie campaign in 2020 and could be a big-time receiver down the road. Earlier this week, a video surfaced of Claypool kicking a man, who was on the ground, in the head during a Southern California bar fight. This is the same player who said the Browns didn’t win with class when they bounced the Steelers out of the playoffs.

Odell Beckham Jr. is constantly talked about as if he is a distraction. The only three things Beckham (seemingly) does that we all know about are rehab his injured knee, tweet out and cause mass hysteria amongst Browns Twitter, and play Call of Duty. So which of the two is more of the distraction?

Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and columnist for TribLive.com wrote a column about the “me-first” culture of the Steelers with the likes of Smith-Schuster and Claypool. This is the exact opposite of the Browns.

Cleveland took a huge step forward last season and has since made progressions to ensure that the success is maintained. Pittsburgh started off hot and got to 11-0 before faltering down the final stretch of the regular season and then postseason, finishing 1-5 in their last six games. Not only did Cleveland defeat Pittsburgh in the playoffs, but they did so a week prior in the regular-season finale to qualify for the playoffs.

Heading into the 2021 season, the Browns have a high-octane offense that returns all of the weapons from 2020, and now a revamped defense that is sure to make them better and potentially take the next step forward. Pittsburgh will come in not as strong defensively with the free-agent losses, an aging quarterback who lost his starting center, Maurkice Pouncey, to retirement, and young receivers who seem to find the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Free agents want to go to Cleveland as they are a team on the rise and not the laughing stock of the NFL. Pittsburgh has a lot of unanswered questions to deal with and a salary cap that is a mess.

These aren’t the “same ol’ Browns” anymore, but these also aren’t the same ol’ Steelers anymore.