<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/browns-news-bailey-zappe-weighs-in-on-future');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bailey Zappe weighs in on Browns future after Week 18 loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bailey-Zappe-weighs-in-on-Cleveland-future-after-Week-18-loss.jpg"></figure><h1>Bailey Zappe weighs in on Browns future after Week 18 loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-04T20:16:11-08:00">January 4th, 8:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-04T20:19:02-08:00">January 4th, 8:19pm</time><address><a>Lorenzo J Reyna</a>Lorenzo J Reyna has joined ClutchPoints as Associate Editor of NFL &amp; NCAA Football. He's equipped with past experience for both realms through his recent stops at Pro Football Network and Heavy while also writing for 247Sports. His Twitter/X handle is @LJ_Reyna and his Instagram is @lj_zo_rey.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Browns</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Browns emerged as the place that handed Bailey Zappe one more chance as a starting quarterback. His season ends with a 35-10 blowout loss at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.</p><p>Was Saturday his final game with the Browns, though? And does the former New England Patriots starter envision himself coming back to Cleveland?</p><p>Zappe has bought into the Browns’ culture led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Barry. <a href="https://x.com/DanielOyefusi/status/1875713145177829755" rel="noopener">That signals his desire to stay</a>, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN after the game.</p><p>“I just think I see the vision of what (Kevin Stefanski) and (Andrew Berry) and all these guys have been here for a long time, the vision that they want this organization to get to,” Zappe said regarding to why he hopes to stay put.</p><p>Zappe is heading to the offseason as a restricted free agent. Cleveland, though, faces major offseason questions.</p><h2><b>Bailey Zappe’s Browns future is pending</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bailey-Zappe-of-the-Browns-.jpg"><figcaption>Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Zappe became the third different starting QB for the Browns. Cleveland has cycled through multiple different starters since last year — which saw the Browns roll with six different starters behind center.</p><p>Cleveland is still facing a potentially changing QB room in 2025. Especially after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-2025-nfl-draft-guarantee-after-loss-to-ravens">Browns locked up a guaranteed top three pick</a> in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. The Browns have the option of turning to Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward inside the first three selections. The Colorado and Miami star, respectively, are projected to land inside the top five come April. The Browns, though, already signed off on one QB move before the season ended.</p><p>DeShaun Watson has delivered an oft-injured career since signing his five-year $230 million deal back in 2022. Watson and the Browns, however, restructured the deal in December — allowing him to return for the 2025 season.</p><p>Meanwhile, backup Jameis Winston is a free agent. Winston signed a one-year deal during the last offseason. He could command some attention in the ’25 market after throwing for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.</p><p>Zappe isn’t a bet to command a high free agent value. The 25-year-old has started in 15 games since 2022. He’s mustered 2,223 passing yards with 12 touchdown throws but has sustained 14 interceptions.</p><p>Resigning Zappe rules out turning to the NFL Draft for a QB. But after falling to 3-14, Cleveland has positioned itself to make some necessary changes before the 2025 season. Some fans started believing Stefanski wasn’t returning and facing a firing. But an Oyefusi and Jeremy Fowler ESPN report on Jan. 2 indicates Browns players <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43237220/cleveland-browns-2024-season-2025-offseason-deshaun-watson-kevin-stefanski-andrew-berry-jimmy-haslam" rel="noopener">still support their coach.</a></p><p>Zappe, meanwhile, clearly isn’t envisioning playing anywhere else in 2025. How high of a free agent priority he is for Cleveland remains up in the air.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bailey Zappe weighs in on Browns future after Week 18 loss

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/browns-news-make-wrong-kind-nfl-history-with-bailey-zappe-week-18-start');   ga('set', 'title', 'Browns make wrong kind of NFL history with Bailey Zappe Week 18 start');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cleveland-makes-wrong-kind-of-NFL-history-with-Bailey-Zappe-Week-18-start.jpg"></figure><h1>Browns make wrong kind of NFL history with Bailey Zappe Week 18 start</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-04T15:25:34-08:00">January 4th, 3:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-04T16:21:28-08:00">January 4th, 4:21pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Browns</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Browns have been riding the quarterback carousel for so long that fans are probably immune to feeling dizzy at this point. The Dawg Pound has experienced it all– excitement, false hope, nausea, heartbreak, anger and despondency. It has been a torturous ride, one that is only ramping up. Following <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-deshaun-watson-injury-update-kevin-stefanski">Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury</a> and overall unsuccessful tenure thus far, more pain is coming.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ravens-news-nate-wiggins-bailey-zappe-pay-early-pick-6">The Browns started Bailey Zappe</a> at QB in Saturday’s regular season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, which only underscores the perpetual anguish the organization has thrust upon the community. Zappe is Cleveland’s <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1875637884818223234" rel="noopener">40th different starting quarterback</a> since the team returned to the NFL ahead of the 1999-2000 season, 10 more than any other franchise, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.</p><p>That’s right, even the Bears, a squad that is still waiting for its first 4,000-yard passer, is in a different sphere when it comes to signal-caller instability. It is already difficult for fans to feel optimistic after a miserable campaign, but this ignominious distinction may bring out the paper bags. Actually, this might call for two bags.</p><p>Jokes aside, the Browns are on hard times. Last year, Joe Flacco delivered them the most joy they have experienced under center in ages. A 39-year-old cannot provide prolonged solace, however. It is almost as if the 2023-24 run was all a dream, with the nightmare resuming this season.</p><h2><b>Browns might have to go searching once again</b></h2><p>Misjudgement and dysfunction are entrenched in their culture, making it extremely difficult to implement any lasting change. Cleveland is trending toward a 3-14 record, which will put it in prime position to select a new QB in the 2025 NFL Draft, if it so chooses. The Watson experiment looks to be a catastrophe that will threaten to set the organization back even further. Though, maybe someone new can stop the bleeding.</p><p>Yes, that is the mantra fans regularly lean on when the guillotine collapses down on another quarterback, but all the Browns can do is just try to learn from their mounting mistakes and identify players who can comprise a sustainable football team. It may be time to get back on that horse in April.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Browns make wrong kind of NFL history with Bailey Zappe Week 18 start

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/ravens-news-nate-wiggins-bailey-zappe-pay-early-pick-6');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ravens’ Nate Wiggins makes Bailey Zappe pay with early pick-6');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ravens-news-Nate-Wiggins-makes-Bailey-Zappe-pay-with-early-pick-6.jpg"></figure><h1>Ravens’ Nate Wiggins makes Bailey Zappe pay with early pick-6</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-04T14:27:22-08:00">January 4th, 2:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-04T14:27:23-08:00">January 4th, 2:27pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Ravens</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Bailey Zappe did not get the warm welcome he was hoping for in Week 18. Making a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-cleveland-names-bailey-zappe-starter-season-finale-ravens">start for the wailing Cleveland Browns</a> against the Baltimore Ravens, Zappe threw an interception on his second pass attempt of the game to rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins.</p><p>While looking for Elijah Moore in the flat, Zappe’s pass fell well short, giving Wiggins his <a href="https://x.com/espn/status/1875661560183394679" rel="noopener">first career interception</a>. The standout rookie returned the turnover 22 yards untouched down the left sideline to put the Ravens on the board.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">NATE WIGGINS PICK-SIX 😈</p><p>The rookie’s first INT is a TD 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CLEvsBAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CLEvsBAL</a> | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ <a href="https://t.co/F1Xdj9gWz1">pic.twitter.com/F1Xdj9gWz1</a></p><p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1875661560183394679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p> </p><p>Zappe completed his first pass of the game, a 21-yard dart over the middle of the field to tight end Jordan Akins. However, the interception would spark the beginning of the end for the former social media sensation. Zappe ran just one more drive — resulting in a turnover on downs — before he was benched for Dorian Thompson-Robinson.</p><p>Through the Browns’ first three drives, Zappe completed just one of his three attempts for 21 yards and the interception. His paltry numbers gave him a passer rating of just 19.4.</p><p>The Week 18 start marked Zappe’s return to action for the first time since Week 18 of the 2023 season. The former fourth-round pick spent the first two years of his career with the New England Patriots, where he briefly took the NFL world by storm in 2022 while Mac Jones nursed an injury.</p><p>However, the Patriots moved on from both Jones and Zappe in the offseason, selecting Drake Maye and Joe Milton III in the 2024 NFL Draft. Zappe played most of the 2024 preseason with the Patriots before being among the final roster cuts.</p><p>Zappe signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad shortly after, where he spent the first half of 2024. He signed with the Browns’ practice squad the week after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-deshaun-watson-carted-off-gruesome-achilles-injury">DeShaun Watson suffered a season-ending torn Achilles</a>.</p><h2><b>Ravens CB Nate Wiggins’ standout rookie season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Baltimore-Ravens-CB-Nate-Wiggins.jpg"><figcaption>Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Wiggins has been a key piece of the Ravens’ secondary in 2024. The first-round pick has emerged as the team’s starting cornerback opposite of Brandon Stephens, allowing Marlon Humphrey to shift down into the slot. Entering Week 18, he had 12 pass breakups, second on the team behind Humphrey.</p><p>Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Wiggins was considered one of the top cornerbacks of the incoming class. He has met and exceeded all expectations, performing as one of the best defensive rookies in the league throughout the year.</p><p>While the Ravens’ secondary has been tested all season, Wiggins has continued to excel every week. The 21-year-old entered Week 18 with a 66.9 player grade from PFF, ranking among the top 35 percent in the position. He has allowed <a href="https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/nate-wiggins/144143#seasonStatsWidget" rel="noopener">just 31 receptions</a> on 459 total coverage snaps, according to PFF.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ravens’ Nate Wiggins makes Bailey Zappe pay with early pick-6

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/browns-news-cleveland-names-bailey-zappe-starter-season-finale-ravens');   ga('set', 'title', 'Browns name Bailey Zappe starter for season finale vs. Ravens');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cleveland-names-Bailey-Zappe-starter-for-season-finale-vs.-Ravens.jpg"></figure><h1>Browns name Bailey Zappe starter for season finale vs. Ravens</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-02T13:10:49-08:00">January 2nd, 1:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-02T13:10:49-08:00">January 2nd, 1:10pm</time><address><a href="https://medium.com/bingeable">Sonny Giuliano</a>Sonny Giuliano is an experienced sports writer for ClutchPoints who has been covering the NFL, NCAA Football, NBA, and NCAA Basketball for well over a decade. Originally from the small town of Elba, New York, Sonny received his degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Browns</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>At 4:30 PM on Saturday afternoon, when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-vs-ravens-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-18-2024">the Browns and Ravens kick off in their 2024 regular season finale in Baltimore</a>, it will officially be Zappe Hour in 374 miles away in Cleveland, Ohio. According to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal, third-year quarterback Bailey Zappe will <a href="https://x.com/ceasterlingABJ/status/1874909248423178671">become the fourth quarterback</a> to notch a start for the Cleveland Browns this season. With the start, Zappe will become the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-pj-walker-adds-to-insane-list-of-cleveland-starting-qbs-since-1999">40th quarterback to start for the Browns</a> since the franchise returned to the NFL in the 1999 season.</p><p>Zappe was signed off of the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad back in October, shortly after Browns embattled starting quarterback <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-deshaun-watson-season-over-achilles-tear">Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending achilles tear</a>. After multiple unsuccessful weeks starting Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, it’s paved the way for Zappe earn the ninth start of his career.</p><p>In his first two seasons in the NFL, Zappe started eight games for the New England Patriots, going 4-4 while throwing for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Zappe was a perfect 2-0 during his rookie season and had a cup of coffee as a national sensation, with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/patriots-news-mac-jones-gets-honest-about-new-england-fans-booing-him-and-chanting-for-bailey-zappe">fans in Boston clamoring for an extended opportunity to enjoy “Zappe Hour.”</a> Now in the final week of the season, it’s fans in Cleveland who get that chance, though a matchup with the Ravens might not yield favorable results.</p><p>The Ravens are somewhere in the neighborhood of a 19-point favorite against Cleveland this Saturday, which makes sense given the fact that Baltimore can secure the AFC North title with a win, and exact some revenge from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-jameis-winston-hilariously-quotes-eminem-after-beating-ravens">a stunning defeat at the hands of Jameis Winston and the Browns</a> earlier in the season.</p><p>It can’t get much worse for the Browns than it has been, but frankly, for the sake of their 2025 1st Round pick, it wouldn’t be the worst outcome in the world if it <i>did </i>get much worse in Week 18. As things stand right now, Cleveland owns the 2nd overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, setting them up to potentially take their quarterback of the future, the top player on their board — Travis Hunter, perhaps? — or to trade the pick to a QB-needy team that is willing to part ways with numerous draft assets to move up.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Browns name Bailey Zappe starter for season finale vs. Ravens

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/browns-news-bring-back-bailey-zappe-less-than-24-hours-release');   ga('set', 'title', 'Browns bring back Bailey Zappe less than 24 hours after release');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cleveland-brings-back-Bailey-Zappe-less-than-24-hours-after-release.jpg"></figure><h1>Browns bring back Bailey Zappe less than 24 hours after release</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-03T15:50:09-08:00">December 3rd, 3:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-03T15:58:27-08:00">December 3rd, 3:58pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Browns</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Browns got the full Jameis Winston experience Monday night in a wild loss to the Denver Broncos. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-fans-lose-it-jameis-winston-wild-mnf-statline">Winston compiled an absolutely bananas stat line</a>, completing 34 passes for a franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns. However, the 10th-year veteran also threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns in the 41-32 loss.</p><p>Prior to the team’s Week 13 Monday Night Football matchup, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-cleveland-waives-bailey-zappe-flurry-moves-before-mnf">Browns released quarterback Bailey Zappe</a>. A mere 24 hours later, Cleveland has reunited with the third-year passer. After <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1864054150423564450" rel="noopener">clearing waivers</a>, Zappe was re-signed to the Browns’ active roster, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero on X.</p><p>Zappe was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the New England Patriots. He began his career as the third-string quarterback but ended up appearing in 14 games over two years with the team, including eight starts. He went 4-4 as New England’s starting QB but was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/patriots-makes-big-bailey-zappe-decision">waived by the Patriots</a> following the 2023 season.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chiefs-news-bailey-zappe-lands-kansas-city-practice-squad-patriots-release">Zappe landed with the Kansas City Chiefs</a> as a member of the practice squad just before the start of the 2024 season. But after Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles tear, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-cleveland-signs-chiefs-qb-after-deshaun-watson-injury">Browns signed Zappe to the active roster</a>.</p><h2><b>Bailey Zappe is back with the Browns Tuesday after being waived Monday</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Bailey-Zappe.jpg"><figcaption>Scott Galvin-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With Winston named Cleveland’s new starter and Dorian Thompson-Robinson operating as his backup, Zappe became the team’s third-string QB. After his release and subsequent re-signing, he will resume that role on the depth chart.</p><p>The Browns fell to 3-9 following Monday night’s loss to the Broncos and the team has long been out of the playoff picture. However, Cleveland’s games have become must-watch events with Winston under center. The 30-year-old signal caller <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/browns-news-absolutely-nfl-history-jameis-winston-made-broncos">made NFL history against the Broncos</a> as the only passer with 450 yards and multiple pick-sixes.</p><p>The Browns are 2-3 since installing Jameis as the starter in Week 8. While it seems that Cleveland can only beat AFC North rivals, with Winston’s two wins coming against the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s safe to say the former first overall draft pick will be the Browns’ starter for the rest of the season.</p><p>Of course, should disaster strike, Cleveland once again has an experienced NFL starter on the roster in Zappe. The Browns will travel to Pittsburgh for a rematch against the division-leading Steelers in Week 14.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bailey Zappe

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Browns name Bailey Zappe starter for season finale vs. Ravens

Browns bring back Bailey Zappe less than 24 hours after release

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