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OTAs wrap up this week and the Browns will hold their mandatory minicamp next week. Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko got together to talk about what we saw in OTAs, what we expect in minicamp and more. Here is some of what we discussed: - Which quarterback could open training camp No. 1 on the depth chart? - Thoughts on the rookie class so far. - Did the Browns tank last season? - Which Browns players could make the NFL Network's Top 100 players list next season besides Joe Thomas? - Mary Kay shows off her Jay Z and Beyonce knowledge.

The Browns returned to the field this week as OTAs continued. Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko got together to talk all things Browns including: - The acquisition of Calvin Pryor. - What we’ve learned about Gregg Williams’ defense so far. - Brock Osweiler’s performance in camp and whether he could win the starting job. - How the Browns should approach DeShone Kizer and possibly starting him. - The starters along the defensive line. - Is there a situation that would leave Hue Jackson on the hot seat?

All season, we've discussed the potential for a Cavs-Warriors Finals. Now that potential has become reality. Which players are feeling the most pressure as this mega-series looms? Does Kevin Durant need a win to justify his decision to relocate? Does Draymond Green need redemption? Does Steph Curry need to prove he can perform well in the Finals? Does LeBron James need a win to cement his status as the best of all time? Zack Meisel, Doug Lesmerises and Joe Noga dive into some NBA Finals talk as the series we've been waiting for since the end of last summer's Finals finally arrives.

The Browns returned to the field this week for OTAs. Friday, Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko got together to talk about what they saw, what they learned and get caught up on all things Browns in this podcast. Among the topics discussed: - What stood out from what we were able to see? - Brock Osweiler's film comments. - Cody Kessler's diet. - Quarterback competitions and whether they are bad for a team. - Al Saunders' energy level. - Reasons for optimism following this offseason.

LeBron James flexes his muscles and the Cavaliers flourish in a postseason victory. We've seen the formula work on countless occasions. But what if it's Kyrie Irving who leads the way? He carried the Cavs to a Game 4 triumph against the Celtics. Could he one day do that on a regular basis, with James not a part of the equation? Could Irving one day anchor a championship roster, or is he not fit for the part? That's the basis of discussion for the latest episode of the Takes by the Lake podcast, with Zack Meisel and Doug Lesmerises.

Cleveland drubbed the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and Chris Fedor, one of our cleveland.com Cavs beat writers, joins Doug Lesmerises from Boston to break down the victory. Chris thinks Boston's best chance is to let LeBron James go crazy and defend the other shooters, but he also thinks a sweep is ahead. So we also looked ahead to the Golden State Warriors while figuring out if what we are seeing is peak Cavs, and whether this will be good enough to bring home another title for Cleveland.

What is LeBron James really worth as a player? He's making $31 million this season, but the NBA limits how much a player can earn in a season. In an open market, like in Major League Baseball, what would James' value be. In this Takes By The Lake, Zack Meisel and Doug Lesmerises debate whether James on Francisco Lindor is the most underpaid athlete in Cleveland and try to put a price on his value as an athlete. Plus, we look at why the Cleveland Indians don't seem to have any bad contracts on their roster, compared to the Nick Swisher-Michael Bourn days.

When ESPN laid off 100 people recently, what did that tell us about the future of sports media, around the country and in Cleveland? In this episode of Takes By The Lake, former radio host and TV broadcaster Beau Bishop, who left the business full-time and now hosts a Saturday show on 92.3 FM in Cleveland, joins Zack Meisel and Doug Lesmerises to discuss his decision to leave sports media as his primary occupation, his ideas on ESPN and the future of the business, and some thoughts on the Browns and the Cleveland sports scene. Listen to the latest from the cleveland.com sports podcast.

The Browns are set to hold rookie minicamp this weekend in Berea. Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko got together to record a podcast this week previewing that and talking about what to expect. We also dove into a number of other topics including: - Jabrill Peppers starting off his NFL career in the league's drug program. - Steelers' players responding to Myles Garrett's comments about sacking Big Ben. - Could Brock Osweiler end up as the starting quarterback Week 1? - Browns QB depth chart trivia.

The Cavaliers have flipped the proverbial switch, crushed the spirit of their opponents and proven that the regular season means oh, so little. It's been eight up, eight down for the Cavs, who did plenty of sleepwalking during the regular season. The postseason is a different animal, one the Cavs tamed last year and seem poised to make another run at taming this year. In the latest episode of the Takes By The Lake podcast, Doug Lesmerises and Zack Meisel welcome cleveland.com's Joe Noga to discuss whether these Cavs can be stopped.

Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians' 23-year-old shortstop, is playing the best baseball of his career in his third major league season. How does he compare to the rest of baseball, and what's his future in Cleveland. In this Takes By The Lake, the cleveland.com sports podcast, Zack Meisel and Doug Lesmerises examine Lindor's future when he can hit free agency in 2022. Could he take over from LeBron James as the dominant figure in Cleveland sports. But for right now, if he one of baseball's best top 10 players. Zack and Doug work their way through the list of baseball's best and determine exactly where Lindor fits in.

Scott Patsko, Mary Kay Cabot and Dan Labbe look back on the NFL Draft. Topics include: - Picking DeShone Kizer - Favorite picks - Where the Browns are as a team after the draft? - Are the Browns winning the Carson Wentz trade? - Should the Browns have picked Caleb Brantley? - More

The Browns selected three players in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday, but none was a quarterback. When will they answer the question they continue to delay? The Browns collected more assets for 2018, but how can they be sure they'll be in position to secure the top quarterback available? Another day, another laundry list of questions created by Cleveland's football franchise. We get to the bottom of the front office decision-making in the latest episode of Takes By The Lake.

The first round of the NFL Draft is in the books. The Browns added Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers and David Njoku. They also added a first round pick from Houston as part of a trade down from the No. 12 spot to No. 25 (the pick they used on Peppers). Early Friday morning, Mary Kay Cabot, Doug Lesmerises and I got together to talk through the first round and give our thoughts on what the Browns did.

Will the Browns get a quarterback? Has the front office decided on the No. 1 pick? The 2017 NFL Draft is here, and the Browns will open it on Thursday. In this Takes By The Lake, our cleveland.com sports podcast, Zack Meisel and Doug Lesmerises run through 10 last questions about the Browns before they undertake the draft that could transform the franchise.