Cleveland Browns news (2/1): Pondering a day without football

Welcome to the Sunday of our discontent.

That is because for the first time in months, there is no football on today. No Cleveland Browns game to stress over. No RedZone channel to watch. No prop bets to keep an eye on. Nothing.

But have no fear, loyal readers, because we have a few recommendations if you need your football fix, although they are of the college variety.

If you are looking for something to watch, Saturdays in the South: A History of SEC Football is well worth your time. The eight-part, 12-hour documetary from Emmy-winning director Fritz Mitchell traces the history of the best college football conference from its post Civil War beginnings up through Nick Saban’s reign at Alabama.

If reading is more your style, then check out Jay Busbee’s Iron in the Blood: How the Alabama vs. Auburn Rivalry Shaped the Soul of the South. The book chronicles the history of the Iron Bowl, with plent of familiar names along the way.

Now that we have your day settled, let’s turn our attention to the Cleveland Browns and the NFL in today’s edition of the Sunday Dawg Chow.

Dawgs By Nature

• Browns mock draft: Definitely something to work with here (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland goes heavy on offense in this two-round mock draft from The Athletic.
• Browns choosing Todd Monken over Jim Schwartz: Long term fall out potential (Abby Mueller) – With reports of some inner turmoil, with the Todd Monken hire derail the Cleveland Browns future plans?
• Browns history: Kevin Stefanski continues to get the band back together with Falcons (Jared Mueller) – Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is adding Alex Van Pelt to Tommy Rees and Bill Callahan as part of his coachiing staff with the Atlanta Falcons.
• Senior Bowl: 2026 NFL draft prospects who could help the Browns (Barry Shuck) – The Cleveland Browns have needs across the board, the Senior Bowl has some NFL draft prospects for them.
• Browns head coach process with Todd Monken includes Jimmy Haslam concerns (Curtiss Brown) – If the hiring of Todd Monken as head coach of the Cleveland Browns proves anything, it proves someone who currently owns the team has yet to learn his lesson when it comes to getting involved in decisions.

Cleveland Browns

• What I’m hearing about why the Browns hired Todd Monken. What about Jim Schwartz? (Terry Pluto) – The final three candidates to be head coach of the Cleveland Browns were Nate Scheelhaase, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Todd Monken. In the end, Monken prevailed because of the Browns desperately need to revive the offense.
• Myles Garrett no longer on AFC roster for NFL’s 2026 Pro Bowl Games (Beacon Journal) – Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett will not be participating in the Pro Bowl flag football game, according to updated rosters announced by the NFL.
• Why Todd Monken could quickly win Browns fans over (cleveland.com) – Deep breaths, Browns fans. It’s been three days since the Cleveland Browns hired Todd Monken as their 19th head coach.

NFL

• Michael Penix Jr. embraces fresh start under Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski (RG.org) – Michael Penix Jr. is looking forward to working with new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski.
• Kickoff returns rise after rule tweaks. Concussions, too. (Washington Post) – The NFL has put the kickoff return back into the game, as demonstrated when Rashid Shaheed began the Seattle Seahawks’ lopsided victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. But there is more tinkering to be done, particularly as it relates to the attempt to curb concussions.
• Patrick Graham named Steelers defensive coordinator by new coach Mike McCarthy (TribLive) – With Mike McCarthy having taken ownership of the offense and calling the plays for it, his most impactful hire for the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff was going to come on defense.
• 2026 NFL Free Agent Rankings: Top 250 players set to enter free agency (Pro Football Focus) – With conference championship weekend in the rearview mirror, the league’s focus has shifted to roster construction, putting free agency into sharper view. So, we are highlighting — and ranking — the top 250 free agents poised to shape the 2026 offseason free agency period.