August 19, 2025 • 22 mins
The Bark Tank is back for the 2025-26 Cleveland Browns season with your host Andrew Siciliano. On this episode Tony Brown aka AP3X joins Andrew to talk about his time with the Browns so far, and we break down Shedeur Sanders start against the Panthers.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And we're back.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Happy Football twenty twenty five to you and yours.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
That was fun, wasn't it? Everybody?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
It was?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to another season of the Bark Tank, presented to
you by Sugardale. I made a quick trip to the
home office today. We're so happy you're here with us
on a victory Monday as we sit here and record this.
This is the Bark Tank presented by Sugardale. My name
is ANDREWS Ciciliano. After a Brown's victory thirty to ten
over the Carolina Panthers Friday Night lights down in Charlotte
(00:32):
last week, a game in which Shador Sanders friends look
the part. You've seen the highlights by now you've likely
heard the miked up segment that the Browns content team
did such great work with. Check it out in Cleveland
Browns dot Com shaudor micd up and his interaction there
with Miles Garrett on the sideline hysterical. Go check it
out a little bit later when you're done with this pod.
(00:53):
But let's just step back for a couple of seconds
here and get away from the hype and go go
to Friday afternoon, Friday evening when we're in the booth
or or Friday night when we're on the field before
the game began, I said to Nathan Zieger, my partner
in girod Cherry, our partner, down to the sideline, and
I said, guys, as I'm excited, I am as excited
I beg your pardon for this game as I have
(01:14):
been for any Browns preseason game in recent memory. Now,
we've said all summer, ever since the draft, that these
preseason games with a legitimate quarterback battle will mean something,
as will the joint practice with the Panthers, and the
two joint practices coming up this week with the Philadelphia Eagles.
And guess what they do mean something? And guess what
should or Sanders look the part. Forget about the stats
(01:35):
for a second, look at the little things.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Look at the.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Way he moved in the pockets right, and give credit
to Amani Marshall, undrafted rookie free agent running back from
Mapp State who picked up that blitz and then should
or slid to his right, and then he found Caden
Davis and he threw it low where only Davis can
get a great accuracy. Go to the first touchdown where
he's rolling to his left and he throws that layered
(01:57):
ball into the corner in Davis again, makes a very
nice player.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
There's a lot of traffic.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
It's one of those where when you throw it your
leg Oh no, even though they're all twenty two, there
are a lot of hands there, but you do with
great accuracy. Look at the ball that he hit to
Luke Floria down the sideline again, out of the pocket,
Luke with an amazing one handed catch. Those are the
plays you want to see your rookie, or for that matter,
any quarterback make. And he did it with limited reps
(02:26):
in practice.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Now all of you, and I say, you don't mean
necessarily Browns fans.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
A lot of this was just national media noise that
wanted to say, well, bad setup, guys, barely practice, why
do you throw him out there? I counter with this,
who doesn't want opportunity? All of us want opportunity, and
when the lights go on and given the opportunity to
show what you can do, he did it. Who doesn't
(02:55):
want opportunity, Who doesn't want a chance. He was given
the chance. He did the job, and yes, it'll be
fascinating now moving forward. I loved his interview on the
sideline with a friend of Dde Kinkawala on the News
five broadcast. Great job, by the way, Chris and Joe.
I watched when I came home and Addy, of course
he gave himself a c if I recall, like a
(03:18):
grade A letter grade.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Right, he was.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Self deprecating, self critical on the sideline and afterwards on
the podium as well. Right, that's great, like understanding there
is more to improve on. Understanding that was far from
a great game, but understanding that when given the opportunity,
you better believe he seized it.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah he did.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
And now the quarterback competition gets that much more interesting
because Dylan Gabriel is easing back into form. He was
able to practice on Monday. Kenny Pickett did some seven
on seven stuff as well. He's gonna get back Joe
Flacco working with the ones primarily on Monday. People say, well,
what do you read in to the fact that Flacco
(04:06):
didn't play. Well, Look, Flacco is likely going to start,
for my money, this is just me week one. That
could change a lot of time between now.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
And week one.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But the Browns starters did not play and Joe Flacco
is healthy, so you figure it out. At least where
we stood on Friday night Joe Flacco. During the joint
practice on Wednesday, there were eight quarterbacks dressed, including Tyler
Huntley and then the three for Carolina. You had Bryce Young,
Andy Dalton, and Jack Cooker. Joe Flacco threw the best
(04:37):
ball of those eight quarterbacks now standing on the field
on Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
How does it go moving forward?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I don't know, but the headline here and you could
feel good about it is Shador Sanders looked the part
and made the quarterback conversation that much more interesting. Let's
point out other guys that look good as well. I
have said, and I've said it all summer that if
you want to take the quarterback conversation out of it,
(05:07):
just briefly, the other Browns rookies this class from April
will determine the future, truly, just as much as the
quarterbacks will. Mason Graham played well. Carson Swessinger had six
tackles in twelve plays. Asking for a friend.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Is that good? It's good.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Dylan Sampson didn't get much run. Harold fan and didn't
get much run. What does that tell you? It tells
you They're going to be a huge part of this
team from day one. Because if they're barely out there right,
what does that mean? Means they've already showed enough. They're
going to be a huge part of this team. Week
one against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington bank Field on
September seventh. Also looking pretty good, undrafted guys like Luke Floria.
(05:53):
Now unfortunately on that beautiful thirty yard catch down the
right sideline where he tipped to himself, Floria pulled a
and the Browns today have.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Waived him with an injury designation. It's heartbreaking.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
A guy who grew up going to Browns games his
dad Joe season tickets, used to go to camp, used
to go to games with a jersey on. He looks
so good at training camp, so good, and he looked
really good out there with that great catch in front
of the national TV audience. But as soon as he
caught it, he grabbed that hammy and he has the
injury designation. Gage Larvadan friends had the touchdown to the
(06:27):
end around. He was also making plays in practice on Monday,
and he has now a legitimate shot, in my opinion,
to make this team. He's listed on your roster as
South Carolina, but Gage Larvadan played on Miami of Ohio.
Before that, he played at a school in Louisiana, initially
(06:48):
out of high school. He's a New Orleans kid, but
Gage larvadn keep an eye on that name. And again
Larva Daan, not Larvadanian or like a lot of people
have messed it up, it is Larviadan. He stood out
as well. Coming up shortly, we're going to talk to
a guy that stood out on the defensive side that
(07:08):
I love. I'm excited for you to get to know
Tony Brown or as he now calls himself, Apex, and
he may even fingers crossed. He may even bring his
staff with him. You saw the staff as he entered
Bank of America standing on Friday night with shud Or Sanders,
and he got a lot of National pub I'm laughing,
(07:30):
not at Tony Brown or Apex. I'm laughing because I
love the guy, Nathan, and I love the guy. He
truly is one of our favorite people at the Cross
Country Mortgage campus, and I'm excited that you get a
chance to meet him, also standing out for the Browns.
I'm sorry, I'm laughing. I thought Luke Whipler did really
well at Center. He started playing the majority of the
(07:54):
first half. It is vital this year for the Browns
to find depth on the offensive line, Whipler and Zack
Center being two huge pieces, one in his third year,
one in his second year. Zach Center didn't make the trip,
but he should be good to going back in practice
this week. So that is significantly. Luke Whippler and he's
miked up, or rather you could hear him on that
should or twelve minute miked up at Cleveland Browns dot com.
(08:16):
You could hear him talking to your quarterback. I thought
Luke Whipler played well as well. Amani Marshall ran hard
and picked up a block. Ask any coach in the NFL,
any coach right, what do you need from a rookie
running back? It's blitz pick up. Running the football is great, sure,
(08:41):
but can I trust you on third down? The second
should or Sanders touchdown past Decaden Davis happened because of
Amni Marshall, who not only ran well, but was back
in his old stomping grounds played at app State in Boone,
North Carolina. And we should also tip the cap to
thirty five Toatwa. I'm sorry, yes toa tower. Sometimes I
(09:08):
had a mental block on his name. It's the right
way to say it. I memorize it fifteen times. Former
UFL Michigan panther Guy was out of football. Guy was
working at a golf course right UFL called. He scored
six touchdowns in a limited amount of games. He wasn't
in camp. The Browns had some running back injuries. He
get him in a camp. Dude, that guy runs over people,
(09:30):
shoulder square, gets downhill. Look if you might be a
long shot to make the running back room when you
get to camp as late as you do, it's just
a numbers game. But that guy ran through people, all right.
I mentioned our man Tony Brown, also known as Apex.
(09:53):
I am beyond thrilled that you get a chance to
get to know. Like I said, I can't be more happy,
more thankful that this dude is here on the Bark
Tank presented by Sugardale. He brought ex caliber Tony Brown, Apex.
We will get to ex caliber in a second. First
(10:14):
of all, just welcome after a great game to this
pod which is called the Bark Tank.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
So Tony, you are in the Bark Tank.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
My friend, blessed, bless pleasure to be here. I'm honored
to be here. Thank you for having me, Thank you
for having me us aught I got right.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Now everything well, we're blessed and honored as well. Before
we talk about all the national hype and ex caliber
and the entrance on Friday, let's talk.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
About you, because you deserve your flowers here. Tony.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You didn't play a single defensive snap last year special
teams demon than the injury. Then you went on the shelf,
but you played thirty two defensive snaps Friday. And it
wasn't just hey, he's out there. You're hitting people, You're
lowering shoulders and breaking up passes. As the second guy
in you're going stride for stride with a top ten
pick a guy who's four or five inches taller than
(11:03):
you and Ted McMillan, and you're blanketing him. You're not
just a special teams guy. How good did that feel
Friday night?
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Well, first and most foremost, it was a blessing just
to be out there, to have the opportunity to be
what I needed to be for my brothers on the field,
not just for myself. It always, uh, you know, fulfills
a hole in you whenever you know the work that
you put in you know, you get the outcome that
you that you saw in your brain, that you envisioned
(11:34):
from the work that you put in prior to So
it was a very nice feeling to be that guy
who I said I was gonna be for myself, for
my family, and for my brothers.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
And it sends a message because with MJ down, I
mean next man up at corner, did it send the message,
Hey man, I can be that guy. I can be
a guy that it isn't just in on teams and
isn't just chilling with Bubba, like I can be someone
who contributes defensively.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
In the defensive back room, the corners room specifically, we
pride ourselves on you're only as strong as the weakest link.
Everyone in the defensive back room comes in the room
with the mind state of a starter. Because football is
one hundred percent injury rate, there's no guarantee that one
corner will play the whole season, and you're only as
good as the next man up. So in my brain,
(12:24):
I'm always preparing like I'm a starter. I'm always you know,
preparing that I'm the next man up. And I also
want to say I'm still gonna be there for Bubba
regardless of anything in that role. But you know it didn't.
It's not surprising or shocking. I don't think to anyone
in the room, you know the success that I had
what I was in, or that anyone has while I'm in,
and there will be continued success in the dB room
(12:44):
because that is the mindset that we attack practice with
every day.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yeah, we were not surprised.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Nathan and I call on the game upstairs, were in
no way surprised. We loved it too. When you're going
up against tat McMillan, what was that matchup? Like, here's
a top ten guy, a guy that he's getting all
this hype. You know, Bryce Young is gonna look at him.
He was in there in the second half as well,
and you're going stride for stride and get physical and
manning him up.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, it's uh, you know, we just see numbers out there.
It's not you know, it's the NFL. It's not you know.
I've I've this is my eighth year in NFL. I've
seen and covered illustrious names that there's names and numbers
on the field. There is no point out there when
I'm oh, this is X y Z, this is not
this is just this is the guy that's in front
(13:29):
of me. I'm gonna stick to my technique and I'm
going to force him to do something based off of
my technique. I'm not going to change my technique based
off of him. There's going to be a receivering matrix
based on you know, the receivers strong suits off their number,
not off their name. So it's always off the number
where they're aligned that you know, the personnel grouping. Those
are things that go through my brain. It's never like heyo,
(13:50):
this is who it is. You know, I am who
I am APEX.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So, first of all, you are not a member of
Sugar Sanders entourage, as I heard some people referred to
you online.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
You heard that, right, I definitely heard that.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I've heard that.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I remember the rage during your eighth NFL season.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
You're a good football player. So I was on the
bus that music was playing on the bus. You guys,
you guys get off the bus and you had the
big entrance. First of all, that was your uh speaker
that you were Okay, how big is that speaker?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Bag?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
And that was my bagman said, I was hearing his bed.
That was my bad.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Okay, how big is that speaker? I can't give it was.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
It was like it's like, uh, I guess three ft
three feet all I guess okay?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
And that was Shador's unreleased song correct okay, and it
kept playing on a loop.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yes, okay, how did you guys come up with this?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
So I'm a veteran right on the team is a great, great,
awesome young player. I have a lot of respect for
what he represents as a son, as a football player,
and as someone who persevered a situation that everyone in
(15:04):
the world saw that everyone in the world that was
watching in my life right, And this goes along with
the staff.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
I have a.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Gift to empower people with me being my authentic self
and me having like the power of what's the word
I'm looking for. I'll find it later in this part,
but like, I want to empower people. So, as I
was talking to and we found out he's starting, I'm
very close with him since the first day I met him,
(15:35):
Like I told him, Hey, I want to be the
guy you can go to whenever you know with anything, bro,
when you're head, when you bump jell no wall, we
don't understand this.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
And so we were developing great rapport.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
All through OTA's up to now, and when I found
out he had to start, I'm like, Yo, this is
my opportunity.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I want to make sure that that.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
He is exactly what he needs to be on game day,
regardless of any other factors to have to do with anything.
Forget that outside world, forget this that that that Hey shave.
Should there Sha be like what do you need for
you to be your best out there on the field,
And like we got to talking like this is what
I'm gonna need do do do do? I'm like, all right, listen.
(16:14):
As a young player, you can like second guess like
oh man, but people are gonna judge like they did judge,
like they're gonna judge me if I do what You're
gonna Listen, Bro, at the end of the day, you
are the one playing. You are the one throwing the ball,
You are the one taking the steps. You are the
one that's gonna lead us on the field today, regardless
of what rounds you went, regardless of how everything shook out.
(16:34):
It just so happens that the first time the Browns
putting jerseys on, you should are all the starter. So
that's the only thing that matters. So we need to
attack this game exactly as you envision yourself being in
the NFL. Like I talked to him about how you know,
the interviews he said, how he talked how he could
change a franchise, how he could do this. I'm like,
this is a great moment in order to prove it
(16:57):
to you, not just to yourself, but like to the world,
to anyone that you thought doubted you, Like, this is
the opportunity. So as we were talking through like, yo,
I gotta go, I gotta go full Shadeer, I'm like, Okay, Bell,
let's go full. So I'm like, so that was That
was the biggest thing. I like to empower young guys
because I love everything represents as second generation of excellence.
I have the highest level of respect for what his
(17:18):
father's done with his children and for what his father
brought to the NFL, to the game of football. You know,
I met Dion when I was a senior in high school.
With the Undarmer game, my shoulder popped out and he
had a quick conversation with me just about perseverance. And
I don't even know if he remembers, but you know,
that's the amout I look up to and so just
in that respect that I had for his father, like
(17:39):
I felt the responsibility to empower this young man to
go have a to feel as comfortable in his skin
as he can to go beat a great player that
he is.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah, and we saw that on the field on Friday night.
I used to work with this old man at the
NFL network, So I feel old here all of this. Tony,
real quick, because we got like a minute remaining. Let's
say hype amphetically because it's.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
A quarterback competition.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Don't know yet who's going to start in Philadelphia, but huh,
let's say Kenny Pickett came to you it's going to
start and so and said, Apex, I want to walk
through the tunnel with you and your speaker. What song
is Kenny Pickett playing?
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Kenny Pickett is probably gonna play What's the Guy to
See Tennessee Whiskey? And yes, yes, he's probably going to
play a type of some type of country pop, but
like like the pop kind of not rap, but like
the country pop just a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
That's what probably? What what what Kenny Pickett will play?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Okay, this is good. What would Dylan Gabriel play? D G?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
D G might play like original apex.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
I got a lot of music that that nobody has
heard yet, but one of your Yes, but believe Cleveland
Browns fans, you're storing some good stuff though.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
But yes, gg you probably played one of the unreleased apex.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
So what would Snoop Huntley play?
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Snoop might come with some Kodak okay, I can go there.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
And then finally, Tony Bryan apex. What would Joe Flacco play?
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Ah, Joe Flacco.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
God, that's a good one, honestly, To be honest, I
don't think that I've even I don't think I've even
seen Joe vib to music yet, to be honest, I haven't.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I haven't even.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
Seen I haven't even seen Joe like he's hurts from
my music, but I haven't actually seen him like vibe
to music yet. So just to go out on a limb,
to go out on a complete limb, maybe Drake, I
don't know, Maybe Drake, I don't know. I don't know,
and I'm just I don't know. I don't know what Joe.
That's a that's a that's a big question mark.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
I don't know that one.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
I been Tony, come on, he might just look at
you and just go the hell out of here. Man.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I don't know what Joe, Man, I don't know what's smoking, Joe.
I don't know that one.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
That's a good one, Apex, Tony Brown. I appreciate this.
I hope we can continue it later. Happy to see
you play the way you did on Friday. Brown's get
a win. Thirty unanswered and now it is on to Philadelphia. Man,
good luck, I will see you. Thanks, and for the record,
I just want to make something clear. It's APEX with
a three ap three X is how our friend Tony
(20:30):
Brown spells his name.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Love him. We will have him back.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Looking ahead to Philadelphia, as we mentioned, Browns have two
days to joint practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Friday is an off day, and then a.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Matinee on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Rod Cherry, Nathan ziegerret
yours truly, please join us at one o'clock. Let's go
around the AFC North real quick. Let's give you some
other news in the league. Time now for what's sizzlin.
Brought to you by Sugardale. In the AFC North, the
(21:01):
Ravens played on Friday and they had yet another injury,
this time it's Robert longer Beam. You may not know him.
He's a sixth round rookie corner out of Rutgers. I
had one of his games last year. He's a physical
corner that would have given them some really good depth
this year. It's also a very deep position. Regardless he
goes on injured reserve, Robert longer Beam is out for
(21:22):
the season. In Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers did not play in
the Steelers preseason opener. However, Skyler Thompson looked pretty good. Also,
there is news out of Pittsburgh reportedly that both Cam
Hayward and kicker Chris Boswell aren't necessarily holding in, but
they have him been doing much, especially Hayward, and that
both would like new contracts. And in Cincinnati, the Browns
(21:46):
Week one opponent September seventh at Huntington bank Field, Joe
Burrow Jamar Chase looked the part certainly on Thursday night
as they played the entire first quarter. So gone are
the days of the Bengals playing no in the preseason.
They say they don't want to be rusty week one.
We got a couple of weeks until Week one. We
(22:07):
will see if that actually works. In the Browns home
opener at Huntingdon bank Field.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Let's go to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Tune in next week for another edition of The Marktank,
presented by Sugardale.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Happy to be back with you, Happy to.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Be back after a Browns victory. Be sure to like subscribe,
tell your friends all about it. My name is Andrew Siciliano.
So long, everybody,
And we're back.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Happy Football twenty twenty five to you and yours.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
That was fun, wasn't it? Everybody?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
It was?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to another season of the Bark Tank, presented to
you by Sugardale. I made a quick trip to the
home office today. We're so happy you're here with us
on a victory Monday as we sit here and record this.
This is the Bark Tank presented by Sugardale. My name
is ANDREWS Ciciliano. After a Brown's victory thirty to ten
over the Carolina Panthers Friday Night lights down in Charlotte
(00:32):
last week, a game in which Shador Sanders friends look
the part. You've seen the highlights by now you've likely
heard the miked up segment that the Browns content team
did such great work with. Check it out in Cleveland
Browns dot Com shaudor micd up and his interaction there
with Miles Garrett on the sideline hysterical. Go check it
out a little bit later when you're done with this pod.
(00:53):
But let's just step back for a couple of seconds
here and get away from the hype and go go
to Friday afternoon, Friday evening when we're in the booth
or or Friday night when we're on the field before
the game began, I said to Nathan Zieger, my partner
in girod Cherry, our partner, down to the sideline, and
I said, guys, as I'm excited, I am as excited
I beg your pardon for this game as I have
(01:14):
been for any Browns preseason game in recent memory. Now,
we've said all summer, ever since the draft, that these
preseason games with a legitimate quarterback battle will mean something,
as will the joint practice with the Panthers, and the
two joint practices coming up this week with the Philadelphia Eagles.
And guess what they do mean something? And guess what
should or Sanders look the part. Forget about the stats
(01:35):
for a second, look at the little things.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Look at the.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Way he moved in the pockets right, and give credit
to Amani Marshall, undrafted rookie free agent running back from
Mapp State who picked up that blitz and then should
or slid to his right, and then he found Caden
Davis and he threw it low where only Davis can
get a great accuracy. Go to the first touchdown where
he's rolling to his left and he throws that layered
(01:57):
ball into the corner in Davis again, makes a very
nice player.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
There's a lot of traffic.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
It's one of those where when you throw it your
leg Oh no, even though they're all twenty two, there
are a lot of hands there, but you do with
great accuracy. Look at the ball that he hit to
Luke Floria down the sideline again, out of the pocket,
Luke with an amazing one handed catch. Those are the
plays you want to see your rookie, or for that matter,
any quarterback make. And he did it with limited reps
(02:26):
in practice.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Now all of you, and I say, you don't mean
necessarily Browns fans.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
A lot of this was just national media noise that
wanted to say, well, bad setup, guys, barely practice, why
do you throw him out there? I counter with this,
who doesn't want opportunity? All of us want opportunity, and
when the lights go on and given the opportunity to
show what you can do, he did it. Who doesn't
(02:55):
want opportunity, Who doesn't want a chance. He was given
the chance. He did the job, and yes, it'll be
fascinating now moving forward. I loved his interview on the
sideline with a friend of Dde Kinkawala on the News
five broadcast. Great job, by the way, Chris and Joe.
I watched when I came home and Addy, of course
he gave himself a c if I recall, like a
(03:18):
grade A letter grade.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Right, he was.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Self deprecating, self critical on the sideline and afterwards on
the podium as well. Right, that's great, like understanding there
is more to improve on. Understanding that was far from
a great game, but understanding that when given the opportunity,
you better believe he seized it.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yeah he did.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
And now the quarterback competition gets that much more interesting
because Dylan Gabriel is easing back into form. He was
able to practice on Monday. Kenny Pickett did some seven
on seven stuff as well. He's gonna get back Joe
Flacco working with the ones primarily on Monday. People say, well,
what do you read in to the fact that Flacco
(04:06):
didn't play. Well, Look, Flacco is likely going to start,
for my money, this is just me week one. That
could change a lot of time between now.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
And week one.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But the Browns starters did not play and Joe Flacco
is healthy, so you figure it out. At least where
we stood on Friday night Joe Flacco. During the joint
practice on Wednesday, there were eight quarterbacks dressed, including Tyler
Huntley and then the three for Carolina. You had Bryce Young,
Andy Dalton, and Jack Cooker. Joe Flacco threw the best
(04:37):
ball of those eight quarterbacks now standing on the field
on Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
How does it go moving forward?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I don't know, but the headline here and you could
feel good about it is Shador Sanders looked the part
and made the quarterback conversation that much more interesting. Let's
point out other guys that look good as well. I
have said, and I've said it all summer that if
you want to take the quarterback conversation out of it,
(05:07):
just briefly, the other Browns rookies this class from April
will determine the future, truly, just as much as the
quarterbacks will. Mason Graham played well. Carson Swessinger had six
tackles in twelve plays. Asking for a friend.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Is that good? It's good.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Dylan Sampson didn't get much run. Harold fan and didn't
get much run. What does that tell you? It tells
you They're going to be a huge part of this
team from day one. Because if they're barely out there right,
what does that mean? Means they've already showed enough. They're
going to be a huge part of this team. Week
one against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington bank Field on
September seventh. Also looking pretty good, undrafted guys like Luke Floria.
(05:53):
Now unfortunately on that beautiful thirty yard catch down the
right sideline where he tipped to himself, Floria pulled a
and the Browns today have.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Waived him with an injury designation. It's heartbreaking.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
A guy who grew up going to Browns games his
dad Joe season tickets, used to go to camp, used
to go to games with a jersey on. He looks
so good at training camp, so good, and he looked
really good out there with that great catch in front
of the national TV audience. But as soon as he
caught it, he grabbed that hammy and he has the
injury designation. Gage Larvadan friends had the touchdown to the
(06:27):
end around. He was also making plays in practice on Monday,
and he has now a legitimate shot, in my opinion,
to make this team. He's listed on your roster as
South Carolina, but Gage Larvadan played on Miami of Ohio.
Before that, he played at a school in Louisiana, initially
(06:48):
out of high school. He's a New Orleans kid, but
Gage larvadn keep an eye on that name. And again
Larva Daan, not Larvadanian or like a lot of people
have messed it up, it is Larviadan. He stood out
as well. Coming up shortly, we're going to talk to
a guy that stood out on the defensive side that
(07:08):
I love. I'm excited for you to get to know
Tony Brown or as he now calls himself, Apex, and
he may even fingers crossed. He may even bring his
staff with him. You saw the staff as he entered
Bank of America standing on Friday night with shud Or Sanders,
and he got a lot of National pub I'm laughing,
(07:30):
not at Tony Brown or Apex. I'm laughing because I
love the guy, Nathan, and I love the guy. He
truly is one of our favorite people at the Cross
Country Mortgage campus, and I'm excited that you get a
chance to meet him, also standing out for the Browns.
I'm sorry, I'm laughing. I thought Luke Whipler did really
well at Center. He started playing the majority of the
(07:54):
first half. It is vital this year for the Browns
to find depth on the offensive line, Whipler and Zack
Center being two huge pieces, one in his third year,
one in his second year. Zach Center didn't make the trip,
but he should be good to going back in practice
this week. So that is significantly. Luke Whippler and he's
miked up, or rather you could hear him on that
should or twelve minute miked up at Cleveland Browns dot com.
(08:16):
You could hear him talking to your quarterback. I thought
Luke Whipler played well as well. Amani Marshall ran hard
and picked up a block. Ask any coach in the NFL,
any coach right, what do you need from a rookie
running back? It's blitz pick up. Running the football is great, sure,
(08:41):
but can I trust you on third down? The second
should or Sanders touchdown past Decaden Davis happened because of
Amni Marshall, who not only ran well, but was back
in his old stomping grounds played at app State in Boone,
North Carolina. And we should also tip the cap to
thirty five Toatwa. I'm sorry, yes toa tower. Sometimes I
(09:08):
had a mental block on his name. It's the right
way to say it. I memorize it fifteen times. Former
UFL Michigan panther Guy was out of football. Guy was
working at a golf course right UFL called. He scored
six touchdowns in a limited amount of games. He wasn't
in camp. The Browns had some running back injuries. He
get him in a camp. Dude, that guy runs over people,
(09:30):
shoulder square, gets downhill. Look if you might be a
long shot to make the running back room when you
get to camp as late as you do, it's just
a numbers game. But that guy ran through people, all right.
I mentioned our man Tony Brown, also known as Apex.
(09:53):
I am beyond thrilled that you get a chance to
get to know. Like I said, I can't be more happy,
more thankful that this dude is here on the Bark
Tank presented by Sugardale. He brought ex caliber Tony Brown, Apex.
We will get to ex caliber in a second. First
(10:14):
of all, just welcome after a great game to this
pod which is called the Bark Tank.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
So Tony, you are in the Bark Tank.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
My friend, blessed, bless pleasure to be here. I'm honored
to be here. Thank you for having me, Thank you
for having me us aught I got right.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Now everything well, we're blessed and honored as well. Before
we talk about all the national hype and ex caliber
and the entrance on Friday, let's talk.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
About you, because you deserve your flowers here. Tony.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You didn't play a single defensive snap last year special
teams demon than the injury. Then you went on the shelf,
but you played thirty two defensive snaps Friday. And it
wasn't just hey, he's out there. You're hitting people, You're
lowering shoulders and breaking up passes. As the second guy
in you're going stride for stride with a top ten
pick a guy who's four or five inches taller than
(11:03):
you and Ted McMillan, and you're blanketing him. You're not
just a special teams guy. How good did that feel
Friday night?
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Well, first and most foremost, it was a blessing just
to be out there, to have the opportunity to be
what I needed to be for my brothers on the field,
not just for myself. It always, uh, you know, fulfills
a hole in you whenever you know the work that
you put in you know, you get the outcome that
you that you saw in your brain, that you envisioned
(11:34):
from the work that you put in prior to So
it was a very nice feeling to be that guy
who I said I was gonna be for myself, for
my family, and for my brothers.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
And it sends a message because with MJ down, I
mean next man up at corner, did it send the message,
Hey man, I can be that guy. I can be
a guy that it isn't just in on teams and
isn't just chilling with Bubba, like I can be someone
who contributes defensively.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
In the defensive back room, the corners room specifically, we
pride ourselves on you're only as strong as the weakest link.
Everyone in the defensive back room comes in the room
with the mind state of a starter. Because football is
one hundred percent injury rate, there's no guarantee that one
corner will play the whole season, and you're only as
good as the next man up. So in my brain,
(12:24):
I'm always preparing like I'm a starter. I'm always you know,
preparing that I'm the next man up. And I also
want to say I'm still gonna be there for Bubba
regardless of anything in that role. But you know it didn't.
It's not surprising or shocking. I don't think to anyone
in the room, you know the success that I had
what I was in, or that anyone has while I'm in,
and there will be continued success in the dB room
(12:44):
because that is the mindset that we attack practice with
every day.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yeah, we were not surprised.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Nathan and I call on the game upstairs, were in
no way surprised. We loved it too. When you're going
up against tat McMillan, what was that matchup? Like, here's
a top ten guy, a guy that he's getting all
this hype. You know, Bryce Young is gonna look at him.
He was in there in the second half as well,
and you're going stride for stride and get physical and
manning him up.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, it's uh, you know, we just see numbers out there.
It's not you know, it's the NFL. It's not you know.
I've I've this is my eighth year in NFL. I've
seen and covered illustrious names that there's names and numbers
on the field. There is no point out there when
I'm oh, this is X y Z, this is not
this is just this is the guy that's in front
(13:29):
of me. I'm gonna stick to my technique and I'm
going to force him to do something based off of
my technique. I'm not going to change my technique based
off of him. There's going to be a receivering matrix
based on you know, the receivers strong suits off their number,
not off their name. So it's always off the number
where they're aligned that you know, the personnel grouping. Those
are things that go through my brain. It's never like heyo,
(13:50):
this is who it is. You know, I am who
I am APEX.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So, first of all, you are not a member of
Sugar Sanders entourage, as I heard some people referred to
you online.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
You heard that, right, I definitely heard that.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I've heard that.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I remember the rage during your eighth NFL season.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
You're a good football player. So I was on the
bus that music was playing on the bus. You guys,
you guys get off the bus and you had the
big entrance. First of all, that was your uh speaker
that you were Okay, how big is that speaker?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Bag?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
And that was my bagman said, I was hearing his bed.
That was my bad.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Okay, how big is that speaker? I can't give it was.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
It was like it's like, uh, I guess three ft
three feet all I guess okay?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
And that was Shador's unreleased song correct okay, and it
kept playing on a loop.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yes, okay, how did you guys come up with this?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
So I'm a veteran right on the team is a great, great,
awesome young player. I have a lot of respect for
what he represents as a son, as a football player,
and as someone who persevered a situation that everyone in
(15:04):
the world saw that everyone in the world that was
watching in my life right, And this goes along with
the staff.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
I have a.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Gift to empower people with me being my authentic self
and me having like the power of what's the word
I'm looking for. I'll find it later in this part,
but like, I want to empower people. So, as I
was talking to and we found out he's starting, I'm
very close with him since the first day I met him,
(15:35):
Like I told him, Hey, I want to be the
guy you can go to whenever you know with anything, bro,
when you're head, when you bump jell no wall, we
don't understand this.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
And so we were developing great rapport.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
All through OTA's up to now, and when I found
out he had to start, I'm like, Yo, this is
my opportunity.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I want to make sure that that.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
He is exactly what he needs to be on game day,
regardless of any other factors to have to do with anything.
Forget that outside world, forget this that that that Hey shave.
Should there Sha be like what do you need for
you to be your best out there on the field,
And like we got to talking like this is what
I'm gonna need do do do do? I'm like, all right, listen.
(16:14):
As a young player, you can like second guess like
oh man, but people are gonna judge like they did judge,
like they're gonna judge me if I do what You're
gonna Listen, Bro, at the end of the day, you
are the one playing. You are the one throwing the ball,
You are the one taking the steps. You are the
one that's gonna lead us on the field today, regardless
of what rounds you went, regardless of how everything shook out.
(16:34):
It just so happens that the first time the Browns
putting jerseys on, you should are all the starter. So
that's the only thing that matters. So we need to
attack this game exactly as you envision yourself being in
the NFL. Like I talked to him about how you know,
the interviews he said, how he talked how he could
change a franchise, how he could do this. I'm like,
this is a great moment in order to prove it
(16:57):
to you, not just to yourself, but like to the world,
to anyone that you thought doubted you, Like, this is
the opportunity. So as we were talking through like, yo,
I gotta go, I gotta go full Shadeer, I'm like, Okay, Bell,
let's go full. So I'm like, so that was That
was the biggest thing. I like to empower young guys
because I love everything represents as second generation of excellence.
I have the highest level of respect for what his
(17:18):
father's done with his children and for what his father
brought to the NFL, to the game of football. You know,
I met Dion when I was a senior in high school.
With the Undarmer game, my shoulder popped out and he
had a quick conversation with me just about perseverance. And
I don't even know if he remembers, but you know,
that's the amout I look up to and so just
in that respect that I had for his father, like
(17:39):
I felt the responsibility to empower this young man to
go have a to feel as comfortable in his skin
as he can to go beat a great player that
he is.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah, and we saw that on the field on Friday night.
I used to work with this old man at the
NFL network, So I feel old here all of this. Tony,
real quick, because we got like a minute remaining. Let's
say hype amphetically because it's.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
A quarterback competition.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Don't know yet who's going to start in Philadelphia, but huh,
let's say Kenny Pickett came to you it's going to
start and so and said, Apex, I want to walk
through the tunnel with you and your speaker. What song
is Kenny Pickett playing?
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Kenny Pickett is probably gonna play What's the Guy to
See Tennessee Whiskey? And yes, yes, he's probably going to
play a type of some type of country pop, but
like like the pop kind of not rap, but like
the country pop just a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
That's what probably? What what what Kenny Pickett will play?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Okay, this is good. What would Dylan Gabriel play? D G?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
D G might play like original apex.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
I got a lot of music that that nobody has
heard yet, but one of your Yes, but believe Cleveland
Browns fans, you're storing some good stuff though.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
But yes, gg you probably played one of the unreleased apex.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
So what would Snoop Huntley play?
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Snoop might come with some Kodak okay, I can go there.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
And then finally, Tony Bryan apex. What would Joe Flacco play?
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Ah, Joe Flacco.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
God, that's a good one, honestly, To be honest, I
don't think that I've even I don't think I've even
seen Joe vib to music yet, to be honest, I haven't.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I haven't even.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
Seen I haven't even seen Joe like he's hurts from
my music, but I haven't actually seen him like vibe
to music yet. So just to go out on a limb,
to go out on a complete limb, maybe Drake, I
don't know, Maybe Drake, I don't know. I don't know,
and I'm just I don't know. I don't know what Joe.
That's a that's a that's a big question mark.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
I don't know that one.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
I been Tony, come on, he might just look at
you and just go the hell out of here. Man.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I don't know what Joe, Man, I don't know what's smoking, Joe.
I don't know that one.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
That's a good one, Apex, Tony Brown. I appreciate this.
I hope we can continue it later. Happy to see
you play the way you did on Friday. Brown's get
a win. Thirty unanswered and now it is on to Philadelphia. Man,
good luck, I will see you. Thanks, and for the record,
I just want to make something clear. It's APEX with
a three ap three X is how our friend Tony
(20:30):
Brown spells his name.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Love him. We will have him back.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Looking ahead to Philadelphia, as we mentioned, Browns have two
days to joint practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Friday is an off day, and then a.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Matinee on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Rod Cherry, Nathan ziegerret
yours truly, please join us at one o'clock. Let's go
around the AFC North real quick. Let's give you some
other news in the league. Time now for what's sizzlin.
Brought to you by Sugardale. In the AFC North, the
(21:01):
Ravens played on Friday and they had yet another injury,
this time it's Robert longer Beam. You may not know him.
He's a sixth round rookie corner out of Rutgers. I
had one of his games last year. He's a physical
corner that would have given them some really good depth
this year. It's also a very deep position. Regardless he
goes on injured reserve, Robert longer Beam is out for
(21:22):
the season. In Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers did not play in
the Steelers preseason opener. However, Skyler Thompson looked pretty good. Also,
there is news out of Pittsburgh reportedly that both Cam
Hayward and kicker Chris Boswell aren't necessarily holding in, but
they have him been doing much, especially Hayward, and that
both would like new contracts. And in Cincinnati, the Browns
(21:46):
Week one opponent September seventh at Huntington bank Field, Joe
Burrow Jamar Chase looked the part certainly on Thursday night
as they played the entire first quarter. So gone are
the days of the Bengals playing no in the preseason.
They say they don't want to be rusty week one.
We got a couple of weeks until Week one. We
(22:07):
will see if that actually works. In the Browns home
opener at Huntingdon bank Field.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Let's go to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Tune in next week for another edition of The Marktank,
presented by Sugardale.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Happy to be back with you, Happy to.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Be back after a Browns victory. Be sure to like subscribe,
tell your friends all about it. My name is Andrew Siciliano.
So long, everybody,
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