Mike Tomlin, the former Steelers coach who just moved to NBC’s broadcast team, is already dropping truth bombs that get under players’ skin. Last Sunday, during his first stint with the network, Tomlin channeled his old receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, hitting everyone with the classic line: “The Browns is the Browns.”
Cleveland Took It Personally
You bet your bottom dollar they heard that loud and clear in Cleveland. And guess what? It lit a fire under them. That comment apparently had a huge impact on the Browns, fueling them for their Week 2 game against Tampa Bay. Browns coach Todd Monken didn’t mince words after that game, saying, “Browns are gonna Browns. F*** that, OK? The guys took that to heart.” You can feel the intensity there, right? That’s the kind of raw emotion that tells you Tomlin’s words struck a nerve.
Tomlin’s “You’re Welcome” Heard Round the League
Monken’s passionate quote even made it onto this past Sunday’s *Football Night in America*. And how did Tomlin react? He laughed it off! Straight up chuckled at the whole thing. “I’m glad that I can still motivate although I’m not coaching anymore,” Tomlin said, with a clear smirk, no doubt. He added, “It’s good to be heard. . . . You’re welcome. You’re welcome.” Talk about rubbing it in! That’s pure, unadulterated bulletin board gold right there. Tomlin knows exactly what he’s doing, even from the broadcast booth.
This Ain’t The First Time
The wildest part is, this isn’t the first time “The Browns is the Browns” has helped Cleveland. When JuJu Smith-Schuster first dropped that line, the Browns turned around and absolutely thumped the Steelers in the playoffs. Smith-Schuster himself even acknowledged that his own words “probably” motivated the Browns “a lot.” So, Tomlin repeating it? It’s like he handed them a playbook on how to get hyped. It just proves that bulletin board material can seriously benefit the team that’s on the *receiving* end of it.
What’s crazy is that even out of coaching, Tomlin is still living rent-free in Cleveland’s head. His words are clearly still a powerful motivator for that team. The question is, how long can one little phrase keep them fired up? And will another one of his observations end up on their locker room wall next? You just know every time Tomlin opens his mouth on NBC, the Browns are gonna be listening.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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