The Cleveland Browns have arrived, and they brought a bloodhound.
Jared Verse has become a leader on this surprise 3-1 team, setting the tone with his physical play and incessant trash-talking. He doesn't take a single play off, forcing offensive linemen into a 60-minute boxing match.
That relentless mindset was more apparent than ever in Thursday night's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, when the Browns pulled off a last-second upset to move to the top of the AFC North. While Verse didn't fill the stat sheet, he forced the Steelers to account for him on every play and revived a longstanding rivalry in the process.
After the game, Verse told reporters, "They were talking crazy. I'm like, y'all double teaming, y'all sliding, y'all garbage. I was talking crazy to them. I don't got no respect for anybody that plays too dirty, that does too much extra s**t after the game, excuse my French. So, I can't wait to see them again. It's gonna be a good time when I see them again."
Verse doesn't need jaw-dropping stats to deliver on his trade value. He has already become the leader the Browns hoped they were getting.
Jared Verse has given Todd Monken's Browns the exact identity they need
If you just looked at the numbers, you would come away thinking that Verse has been a disappointment through four games of his Browns career. With no sacks and limited pressures, he hasn't come close to mirroring Myles Garrett's production.
Verse didn't have a sack against the Steelers. In fact, he didn't have any pressures and finished with just two tackles. But he was one of the most noticeable players on the field.
The Steelers built their protection plan to stop him. They chipped him, double-teamed him, or slid protection his way throughout the game. The former first-round pick never backed down, though, and his mentality seemed to spread to the rest of the team.
The defense rallied to the football, ball carriers fought for extra yardage, and both sides refused to quit after nearly losing their grasp on the game.
Even between plays, Verse is setting the tone for Cleveland. He's getting in opponents' faces, letting them know that he's not going to back down.
That kind of identity is necessary for a team that was counted out before the season started. The Browns aren't going to match up with the talent of their opponents in every game, but their tenacity can level the playing field.
The Browns will host the Steelers in Week 8 for their second and final matchup of the year. You can bet that the Steelers will remember the physical beating they took against Cleveland in Week 4.
Even if the Browns don't turn this hot start into a playoff appearance this season, they have firmly put to bed any concerns about incompetence. This team isn't going to accept defeat against anyone. Verse won't let that happen.
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