CLEVELAND — HBO’s cameras have revealed Todd Haley as tough-talking, demanding and irreverent.
Though “revealed” might not be the best word since that was his reputation in Pittsburgh, along with other less flattering descriptions Ben Roethlisberger might care to add.
►MORE | Bud Shaw's coverage
To the question raised in online headlines in 2017 — “Did Todd Haley really tell Ben Roethlisberger to STFU?” — we can only say who knows for sure. Well, maybe. Yeah, sure.
In Tuesday’s penultimate episode of “Hard Knocks,” the Browns offensive coordinator screams at Jarvis Landry (of all people) for not trying harder to run down a pass that Stretch Armstrong couldn’t have pulled in.
“Catch the ball and make a play, please,” Haley yelled over his shoulder. “That looks like Friday bulls***.”
That was the Haley who rubbed players and other coaches the wrong way in Pittsburgh.
(I know what you’re thinking. As soft as the Browns have played in some seasons, rub away, Todd, rub away.)
He will no doubt do the same here. It’s his personality. The cameras caught up with him later in the Philly game when he explained himself to Landry.
“You’ve got to push these guys by doing it over and over and over again,” Haley told Landry. "Because if one of these young guys sees one time that you stop or don’t go all out, then that’s what the (expletive) they do. I just see it over and over again. And one of them has got to elevate and help us. I’m sorry for yelling, though.”
They hugged it out, which is the way it usually starts with Haley but rarely ends.
Attention to detail on offense, whether it’s Haley’s attention or another competent offensive coordinator’s, would be a huge upgrade over the past two seasons when Hue Jackson was spread thin.
As much talk as there is about an improved receiver corps, Haley knows it’s still thin and somewhat fragile.
HBO giving us undependable Josh Gordon sitting at his locker convinced he pretty much already knows the playbook made you think, really? Since when?
Haley will be a better judge of that.
- Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz sought out Mayfield following Thursday’s game. Said Schwartz: “I never played but if I did I wished I played like you. I like your style.”
Maybe this was said to Johnny Manziel back in the day.
If only by a pit boss.
- When Hue Jackson tells his team on "Hard Knocks" that “you gotta trust me on this,” no, I don’t think he remembers saying the same thing about the Cody Kessler pick.
Or he at least thinks they don’t remember.
- If Jackson telling staffers to turn up the music and offensive line coach Bob Wylie wanting it turned down happened in the same practice, that spells trouble.
For anyone who finds themselves sitting next to Jackson and Wylie at an Al Green concert.
- The latest episode of "Hard Knocks" did not quite jump the shark. But when a Baker Mayfield training camp pass in slow motion was treated like Montana-to-Clark, it was an indication material might be getting thin.
- Even more of an indication than hearing Carl Nassib name his pimples Peter and Paul.
- Genard Avery is called “a walking muscle.”
So I’m happy to say my copyright on “doddering flab” is still uncontested.
- Ohio State verified that Houston head coach Tom Herman accompanied fired Ohio State coach Zach Smith on a trip to a strip club while recruiting in 2014. Herman was Buckeyes offensive coordinator at the time.
According to the university’s investigation, Smith spent $600 during the excursion. The school said it was his own money. He did not seek reimbursement for the expense.
I mean, what kind of a guy do you think he is?
- NBA players are free to wear shoes of different colors but “sharp protruding objects” are still prohibited for some good reason.
- Also prohibited: gleaming chrome.
Somebody in NBA headquarters is not a fan of "Mad Max" movies.
- According to ESPN, LeBron James wore 51 versions of his LeBron 15 shoe last year. Did he stop at 51 only because 52 was a stiletto?
- A reporter asked Patriots coach Bill Belichick if he already knew the players he would look to claim from other camps if they become available when rosters are cut.
Said Belichick: “Yeah, we look at all 31 teams, yeah. What do you think we're doing? We're in camp. We don't have watermelon rolls and badminton contests and all that. Yeah, we're working on football. We look at our team, we look at all 31 teams."
You don’t ask Belichick that question for the same reason you don’t ask Kim Kardashian if she has her eye on somebody on the off chance she becomes available again.
- The Celtics announced Gordon Hayward will report to training camp. Those of us who saw him go down in person at The Q in last season’s opener will have to take their word for it because we no longer have the stomach to watch.
- The Reds are 1-17 in the appropriately named Homer Bailey’s starts this season. There are many better ways to analyze pitching statistics in baseball other than won-lost record. But let’s just agree It’s never good when a starter has the success rate of a You Said It contributor on eHarmony.
- Man United manager Jose Mourinho walked out of a press conference demanding more respect from the media after reminding his audience he has more Premier League titles (3) than all other managers combined.
“Respect,” Mourinho said over and over as he left the room following a 3-0 loss to Tottenham.
Is this a good time to ask if you're holding badminton contests at practice?
- Michigan Tech has a quarterback named Steele Fortress.
If I ever snickered during roll call the first day of college classes, I would like to take this opportunity to formally apologize to Harry Lipp.
- Steele Fortress might be the best name in college sports, at least until San Antonio Cornerstone Christian sophomore General Booty graduates.
- Booty is related to a long line of quarterbacks with the same last name, including former Brown Josh Booty. His name is not to be confused with all the Browns players of the past whose absences from practice fell under the label General Soreness.
- Sam Darnold says he will not be disappointed if he’s the No. 2 quarterback when the Jets season begins, or surprised if he is No. 1.
Sounds like a guy who will never become too high, or too low, or too honest.
- To be fair, Gregg Williams didn’t call Denzel Ward stupid. He said the tackle he tried to make against the Eagles was stupid. Surely, Ward feels better after that clarification.
- Kansas City's Tanoh Kpassagnon says the NFL is making it “physically impossible” to tackle.
Or at least as hard as it is to spell his name on deadline.
- Andrew Luck is back as Colts starter after two years of shoulder issues.
“I feel way more confident,” Luck said.
And I feel confident in saying the Browns will win more games with Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield than the Colts will with Luck this season.
And I say that knowing my last big prediction — that pet rocks would replace dogs and cats — fell a little short.
- Don’t want to say the idea of Josh Allen as Bills starter is a dire move, but for some reason it conjures Ramsay Bolton being thrown to the wolves in "Game of Thrones."
- The Cabana Cafe in Beverly Hills jokingly added a $1 million surcharge to Astros pitcher Justin Verlander’s breakfast bill. The notation: “Dodgers Killer.” It was the second most outrageous charge on Verlander’s bill next to $28 for “two eggs any style.”
Unless in Beverly Hills the choices are “golden” and “Faberge.”
- The Patriots released wide receiver Kenny Britt, who didn’t participate in full training camp practice all summer.
You don’t say.
- When players like Britt can no longer look forward to playing for The Barge, they apparently find it tough to keep their edge.
- Rams running back Todd Gurley is singing the praises of being inactive for preseason games.
“That is everyone’s dream, to not play in the preseason,” Gurley told reporters. “Some guys just like being out there to get a feel for it and to see. But not this guy.”
That’s not everyone’s dream.
Some people dream of not being charged full price for NFL preseason games.