Cleveland Browns

Joe Thomas says Baker Mayfield's Twitter feuds aren't distracting the team -- matter of fact, he believes the QB's beefs can be the fuel that leads the Browns to the playoffs!!!

Baker's never been a fan of criticism ... and he's always willing to speak his mind -- see here, here and here.

TMZ Sports spoke with the future Hall of Famer/Cleveland Browns legend/ex-NFL Fat Guy/current Greek god-lookin' fella about Mayfield's ever-growing list of enemies ... and asked if all the drama will be an issue for the team.

But, Thomas sees it as a GOOD thing ... telling us it's what keeps Bake motivated.

"I think when Baker is engaging people and firing back at Rex Ryan and Colin Cowherd and Antonio Brown, he's kind of playing off who he is going back to his college days."

Of course, Thomas is referring to the fact Baker was overlooked heading into college -- he went from a 2-time walk-on to a Heisman Trophy winner and the top pick in the 2018 draft -- and how he's always kept that chip on his shoulder ever since.

"He does his best work when his back's against the wall when everybody seems to be out to get him .... he really feels he has something to prove in that moment and that's when you get the best version of Baker Mayfield.

Thomas says he wouldn't be surprised if Bake goes out of his way to start even more beef ... because the whole team will be motivated by it.

NFL all-time sack leader Bruce Smith says there's one player in the league right now that reminds him of himself, and it's none other than Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett.

Bruce has 200 sacks -- the only member of the 200 sack club in league history -- and says he loves the crop of young, nasty, hungry defensive talent in the NFL right now.

"Von Miller, I can't say enough about him ... Aaron Donald. Stud. He gets after it and gets it done. Then you have Khalil Mack."

As much praise as he heaped on all those guys, there was only one talent that Smith described as looking in a mirror from the past.

"Myles Garrett reminds me of myself. Tremendously talented young man. He's strong, he's big, he's faster. I consider him to be able to put together a breakout year this year, and be one of the top choices for defensive player of the year."

FYI, Garrett currently sits at 26.5 sacks for his career ... leaving him only about 183 behind Bruce for the all-time record.

Baker Mayfield is teeing off on Rex Ryan for calling him "overrated as hell" ... saying Rex's opinion doesn't matter -- and he's out of the NFL for a reason!!

The coach-turned-analyst took a shot at the Cleveland Browns QB on ESPN's "Get Up!" on Tuesday following the team's loss to the Rams ... saying Mayfield's not as good as people think.

"I bought into the dang hype," Ryan said. "What's he doing right? Here's a guy right now that's a one-read guy and then he's gonna improvise."

Ryan also bashed Baker for being slow and inaccurate down the field.

Mayfield was asked whether Rex's comments added "fuel to the fire" on Wednesday... and that's when he ripped into the coach for not having a football gig.

"It's whatever," Mayfield said. "In the wise words of Freddie Kitchens -- 'if you don't wear Orange and Brown, you don't matter.' Rex Ryan doesn't have any colors right now for a reason, so it's okay."

BOOM.

Baker has a history of going after media members who are critical of him -- just ask Colin Cowherd.

It'll be interesting to see how these comments shake out though -- considering Rex had a consistent career as a coach in the NFL from 1999 to 2016 ... and has a Super Bowl ring from his stint as a defensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens.

As a head coach, Rex also took the NY Jets to the AFC title game in his first 2 seasons with the team. His career record as an NFL head coach is 65-68 with 4 playoff wins.

Baker has led his Browns to 8 wins in 16 games since being selected as the #1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

There was ZERO chance Odell Beckham was going to get Michael Crabtree'd on Sunday night ... 'cause the star WR straight-up refused to wear his chain against Aqib Talib!!

If you somehow missed it ... Talib and Crabtree had an EPIC beef a couple years ago -- with Talib snatching Crab's gold chain on TWO separate occasions in 2016 and 2017.

Obviously, Odell saw all the drama ... and wanted NO part of it when the Browns took on the Rams -- because he told Talib on the field Sunday, "I had to not wear my chain tonight!"

Don't worry, Talib didn't take it as an insult ... he actually laughed about it and said to Beckham, "Stop that sh**, O!"

But, while Odell's chain might have survived the night ... his game didn't exactly -- Talib shut down the receiver, allowing only six catches for 56 yards.

Tough trade-off.

By the way, Talib and Crabtree eventually squashed their beef at a Texas Go-Kart track last March ... with the guys having a long heart-to-heart outside the place.

We're told the two bro-hugged after chatting and the drama is now dead.

Gregg Williams is firing back at Odell Beckham ... claiming he's NEVER coached teams to play dirty -- and then he straight-up seemed to question if the dude was actually a great receiver!!!

Odell threw the Jets' new DC under the bus Thursday ... claiming his Browns teammates told him Williams ordered players to injure him when the two squared off in preseason in 2017.

"I had players on this team telling me that that's what [Williams] was telling them to do, take me out of the game," Odell said.

When Williams -- who was severely punished for being one of the alleged orchestrators of "Bountygate" back in 2012 -- was asked about the allegations Friday, he clapped back.

"We don't do that," Williams said. "Never done that anywhere I've been. We don't do anything to hurt the team ... We just don't do it."

Then, Williams appeared to take a HUGE shot at Odell ... 'cause when a reporter was asking about Beckham being a dynamic player, Williams cut him off and questioned if that was a fact!!

"That's your opinion?" Williams said. "What's New York's opinion? The Giants' opinion? What did the Giants do? So, that's not a question for me."

SHAAAAAAAAAAAADEEEE!!!!!

Williams won't get the chance to cover Odell on Monday when the Jets play the Browns ... but he will be dialing up the defenses.

If future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas wanted to make an NFL comeback, the dude wouldn't be returning to the O-Line ... 'cause the guy looks less like a hog and more like a GOD!!!

Remember ... the 34-year-old -- who holds the record for most consecutive snaps played -- usually weighed around 312 pounds during his 11-year career with the Cleveland Browns. But, the days of XXXL t-shirts are HISTORY -- Thomas says he's lost nearly 60 pounds since retiring in 2017!!!

So ... how did he do it??? Thomas says he's been swimming like a maniac ... and the results are incredible. Seriously, look at this physique. Abs. Arms. Shoulders. Is it getting hot in here???

The Browns legend (10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer) says he got back into the sport because he's had 5 knee surgeries and needed low-impact workouts to prevent more injuries.

To say the swimming is working would be an understatement ... and Thomas says he's hoping to swim for the rest of his life.

Get this man a Speedo contract!!!

A Cleveland Browns fan was hospitalized Sunday after suffering a seizure and falling off of a van while tailgating in the stadium parking lot ... and it was captured during a live news broadcast.

40-year-old Andy Shepherd -- a die-hard Browns fan -- was standing on his van taking pictures of the pre-game celebration when he suddenly collapsed and fell off the van, slamming onto the concrete.

It just so happens a reporter from Cleveland 19 News was broadcasting live from the parking lot while covering the game ... and the footage went viral.

What people didn't know ... Shepherd's son says his father is epileptic and takes medication to prevent seizures. The family says the fall was a result of an epileptic episode and they're upset some people are making a joke out of the situation.

Shepherd was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a broken shoulder, broken ribs and a fractured skull. His son also claims he's dealing with a blood clot and needs surgery.

The good news ... Andy's son says his dad is on the mend but he's still in the hospital. He's started a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical costs.

Tennessee Titans defensive back Logan Ryan is PISSED at a Cleveland Browns fan who splashed him -- and his teammates -- with beer after a TD ... and now he's calling on the NFL to punish the guy.

It all went down in the 4th quarter of the Titans blowout victory over the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland ... right after Tenn. star Malcolm Butler scored on a pick-6.

You can see Butler, Ryan and other Titans jump into the stands to celebrate with a Titans fan -- when a guy in a Browns jersey starts throwing his beer on all of the opposing players.

It looks like Ryan tried to swat the guy's beer away when he saw what was happening -- and early Monday morning, he tweeted about the situation -- tagging the NFL, the NFL Player's Association and the Browns in the hopes that something will be done.

"They can pour beer on us because we’re just athletes right? We’re just entertainment & since they purchased a ticket they can act how they want?"

Remember, just last season the New England Patriots banned a fan for LIFE for throwing a beer at Chiefs star Tyreek Hill after a long touchdown run.

In fact, the Pats say they worked with law enforcement to help get the fan prosecuted.

The Cleveland Browns sucked ass on Sunday ... but at least Odell Beckham looked stylish during the blowout!

The superstar WR sported a Richard Mille RM 011 Orange Storm Men's Watch on his wrist while his Browns took on the Tennessee Titans.

Guessing Beckham thought the swag would help him ball out ... but the only thing it did was draw criticism as the Browns got smashed by Marcus Mariota's squad at FirstEnergy Stadium in a 43-13 loss in Cleveland.

Beckham played okay -- 7 catches for 71 yards and 0 TDs -- but it'll be interesting to see if he rocks the watch again next week coming off of such a disappointing 1st week.

Oh, and yeah ... he's almost certainly gonna get fined by the NFL for wearing the watch.

Baker Mayfield simply can't believe the NY Giants selected Daniel Jones with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft ... saying the move "blows my mind."

Mayfield made the comments while doing an interview with GQ -- the reporter says they happened to be sitting by a TV when ESPN ran a segment on Jones, the rookie out of Duke.

That's when Mayfield said, "I cannot believe the Giants took Daniel Jones ... blows my mind."

Some people are interpreting the comments as a shot at Jones -- others say Baker was just vocalizing how EVERYONE felt about the pick ... considering so many draft experts had other QBs like Dwayne Haskins ranked higher than DJ.

If you're wondering, the Browns do NOT play the Giants during the regular season this year.

The GQ reporter continued the conversation about NFL quarterbacks -- noting that a ton of so-called "experts" never seem to accurately predict which college stars will make good pros.

Baker added, "Some people overthink it ... that's where people go wrong. They forget you've gotta win."

He continued to explain what makes a great QB -- "Either you have a history of winning and being that guy for your team ... or you don't."

So far, no comment from Jones.

Here's Odell Beckham grabbin' some balls off the field ... thirst trappin' with a selfie in his skivvies!!

The Cleveland Browns superstar posted a pic in his boxer briefs on Monday ... channeling his inner Calvin Klein model and grabbing his crotch.

"Here’s a pic of me and a world class lamp," OBJ joked ... adding, "When y’all first start talkin and she asks u to send a selfie but u got a lil creep in u"

FYI -- Odell is part of CK's fall underwear campaign ... along with other huge names like Naomi Campbell, Diplo and Bella Hadid.

Of course ... the dude's getting roasted by some trolls ... but also getting a lot of love from his admirers.

OBJ ain't the only Browns stud showing off his underwear ... remember Baker Mayfield's epic PSD photo shoot with a REAL tiger??

Hey ... if you got it!!

Baker Mayfield is teeing off on the Big 12 Conference for penalizing players who mock Texas' famous "Hook 'em Horns" hand gesture ... saying the world is getting way too sensitive.

Conference honchos announced last month that any player who directs a "Horns Down" gesture towards Texas' team or student section will be hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Baker -- who was a big advocate of the hand sign during his time at Oklahoma -- thinks it's a bunch of BS ... sounding off on the decision on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" on Friday.

"I think it's very soft they're implementing a rule about it," Mayfield says. "It shows the sensitivity of today's day and age."

Of course, the QB isn't shy to let his emotions fly on the field -- from crotch-grabbing to flag planting -- so it's no surprise he's pissed.

To say Machine Gun Kelly has high expectations for his Browns would be an understatement .... 'cause the Cleveland rapper/actor isn't hoping for a winning season or a playoff berth ...

HE WANTS THE FREAKIN' SUPER BOWL!!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Colson about his hometown Brownies now that they're on the rise with stars like Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry and Myles Garrett ... and let's just say the dude's expecting to make a trip to Miami in early February.

"Championship," MGK says. "You know where we're going ...100%"

But, that's not the only hardware Kels wants the team to get this season ... he expects Bake to keep Patrick Mahomes from winning back-to-back MVPs!!!

The Cleveland Browns are once again standing by Kareem Hunt -- saying they investigated an incident at a Cleveland nightclub involving police ... and feel confident the RB did nothing wrong.

TMZ Sports posted video of Kareem speaking with police officers outside of the Barley House party spot on June 29 ... after witnesses say Hunt was involved in a "small argument" with a friend.

Hunt was neither arrested nor detained that night and left without incident -- but it was a concerning video for Browns fans considering Hunt is on very thin ice following a string of violent incidents in 2018, including a physical altercation with a woman.

With Browns training camp opening up on Wednesday, GM John Dorsey and head coach Freddie Kitchens were asked about the most recent incident ... and they both expressed support for the 23-year-old star.

"Freddie and I both had a chance to sit down with him," Dorsey said. "He understands there's no guarantees in life. He is going about exactly what he has been going about. He is working his fanny off on the field as well as off the field as well.

Kitchens echoed Dorsey's backing ... and even seemed sympathetic towards Hunt.

"You know, it's never been harder to be a player in the National Football League. Everything they do is under a microscope."

"With the advancements of social media and all that kind of stuff, every little thing -- it doesn't matter how little or how small -- it's always gonna be made into a bigger deal."

"Kareem's always gonna have our support, we're going to continue to support him just like we do every player that we have."

Dorsey believes the league has considered the matter to be resolved ... essentially saying he doesn't expect any punishment to come from the incident.

Kareem was released by the Kansas City Chiefs back in November after we published video showing Hunt getting violent with a woman at a Cleveland hotel.

Terry Bradshaw sure sounds like a guy who thinks Odell Beckham should just be quiet when it comes to his Giants departure ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports OBJ's recent comments were "crazy!"

"He ought to be happy he's in Cleveland making a nice dollar and they want him there," the Steelers legend says.

Odell made serious headlines Monday after he went scorched earth on the G-Men in a new GQ article ... ripping his old squad for trading him to Cleveland this offseason.

"I felt disrespected, because I felt like I was a main reason at keeping that brand alive," Odell said. "They were getting prime-time games, still, as a 5-and-11 team. Why? Because people want to see the show. You want to see me play. That's just real rap."

When we got Terry leaving Craig's on Monday night ... we had to ask the Hall of Fame QB about Beckham's comments -- and Bradshaw seemed to think they're BS.

"Really?" Bradshaw said shaking his head ... "Totally disagree. Yeah, that's crazy!"

That's when TB turned to our camera guy and issued a strong message to Odell -- telling him to just be quiet and enjoy the Browns!!

Of course, Odell's old team won't play his new team this year (we know, bummer) ... but the Giants and Browns ARE set to meet in 2020.

AFC North quarterbacks better watch out ... 'cause Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett has been training with Stipe Miocic ... and the UFC heavyweight says he was blown away by his power!!!

Stipe and the Pro Bowl defensive end focused on power work and and combinations in the cage earlier this week ... and Miocic says Garrett was loving every second of it -- and was crushing it!!

"He's an absolute beast," Miocic tells TMZ Sports. "Whatever that dude does, he's good at."

The Cleveland sports hero is a HUGE Browns fan ... so he says he's down to train Garrett's teammates like Baker Mayfield and OBJ to help out his beloved Brownies in any way.

We asked if Garrett would be able to hold his own in an MMA fight someday down the road ... and it's clear Stipe thinks he's got a legitimate shot.

"He's just gotta stand there and punch someone one time. That dude's got power. He's got a LOT of power."

Stipe has his own fight around the corner -- a rematch with Daniel Cormier at UFC 241 -- and he's got one message for DC.