After a week off, Terry’s Talkin’ is back with a lot on its plate: the Browns’ quarterback call, the final roster shakeup, the Guardians’ stretch run, and whether the Cavaliers really got better after their recent moves.
The Browns made their choice last week by naming Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback, and Terry Pluto and host David Campbell dug into the reaction. Pluto laid out three reasons Browns fans could still find some good news in the move, even if the decision itself didn’t exactly light up the fan base. He also pointed out something simple but important: Watson probably won’t play all 17 games anyway, since very few NFL quarterbacks do these days because of injuries or just plain ineffectiveness.
One of the sharper questions from the episode was whether Watson missed a chance to win people over. Instead of leaning into accountability after his rough play, he went defensive and talked up his own hard work, which may not have done much to calm frustrated fans.
The quarterback room got even more complicated when backup Dylan Gabriel was placed on injured reserve with a back injury. There’s also a belief floating around that the move could be a strategic stash rather than just a straightforward injury situation.
There was plenty to say about the Browns beyond quarterback, too. Taylor Green has clearly caught their attention with his raw athleticism, and that kind of explosiveness gives them a potential situational weapon for Wildcat looks and other creative uses. Pluto also noted that under Todd Monken, the Browns are sending a message about 2026: the sloppy presnap penalties on offense are going away.
And after the final cuts, the Browns are carrying the second-youngest active roster in the NFL, at just over 26 years old. The organization is also optimistic that kicker Andre Szmyt can bring some long-term stability to a position that has been anything but settled.
On the baseball side, the Guardians are entering the last month of the schedule in solid shape, sitting in second place in the AL Central and trailing the White Sox by 3.5 games. Pluto said the team has been helped by strategic midseason additions to the lineup, and Jose Ramirez has been one of the biggest reasons for the push. He came back from injury early, but he’s been scorching at the plate and backing it up with elite exit velocities, which is exactly the kind of loud contact the Guardians needed.
Rookie Chase DeLauter has also kept the offense moving. Despite dealing with physical setbacks, he’s emerged as one of the AL’s most consistent hitters and is sitting at .293.
Then there’s Tanner Bibee, whose 5-14 record tells a misleading story. Pluto described it as a huge statistical anomaly driven by terrible run support, not a reflection of Bibee’s actual pitching, which includes a 3.88 ERA and a heavy workload of quality starts.
The episode also included a prospects report, with Pluto saying the Guardians’ minor league system still has some top-end bats coming.
From there, the conversation turned to the Cavaliers and the big question: are they better than they were a few months ago? Pluto tried to sort through that, and he also passed along what he’s been hearing about James Harden and his new three-year, $97 million deal.
In Other News...
Cavs Pipeline Added A Guard Worth Watching Closely
The Cavaliers development pipeline picked up another intriguing backcourt piece this week when the Cleveland Charge landed guard Kadary Richmond in a four-team trade that also sent Malaki Branham to the Osceola Magic. Richmond has already gotten a small taste of the NBA this season with the Washington Wizards, but most of his work came with the Capital City Go-Go, where he showed a well-rounded game as a lead guard and kept himself on the radar.
For Cleveland, the move is about more than just adding depth. Richmond gives the Charge another guard worth evaluating in a system that has become an important part of the organizations bigger picture, and the deal also brought back a 2027 first-round G-League draft pick. The real question now is how quickly Richmond can carve out a role and turn a fresh opportunity into something that matters for the Cavs long-term guard inventory. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Broadcast News Leaves One Franchise Voice In Question
The Cavaliers new multi-year broadcast agreement with DAZN brings a fresh look to how fans will follow the team, and the club made sure to identify the on-air personalities set to be part of the arrangement. It is a notable shift for a franchise that has long treated its television and game-day voices as part of the teams identity, especially with a familiar cast expected to carry the new setup forward.
Austin Carrs name, though, was absent from the announcement, leaving one of the most recognizable figures in Cavaliers broadcast history in an uncertain spot. Carr has been a longtime franchise voice, and with no official statement clarifying any change, his role in the new era remains unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Big Man Is Getting One More NBA Chance
The 76ers have brought Tacko Fall back into the NBA mix ahead of the new season, giving the towering center another chance to stick at the highest level. Fall spent the 2021-22 season with the Cavaliers, and since then he has continued his career overseas while waiting for another door to open in the league.
At 7-foot-6, Fall remains one of the most recognizable big men in basketball, with his size and shot-blocking still the traits that keep him in the conversation. Philadelphia is now the latest team willing to take a look, and for a player who has bounced between opportunities, the challenge is the same as ever: turn a fresh signing into a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]