Month: June 2021

Mandatory training camp started today in Berea and everyone is all smiles. More on that later. First let’s start with some bad news, but not unexpected. DT Sheldon Richardson made the split from the Browns official and has signed with the Vikings. The Browns kept in touch with Richardson and his agent since he was cut, but with all the defensive line players already signed by the Browns, his return was always doubtful. On to the good news. It sounds like the Browns had full participation at camp today. WR Odell Beckham, DE Takk McKinley and DE Jadeveon Clowney were all on the field. Beckham was not wearing a knee brace, let me repeat that, Beckham was not wearing a knee brace and participating in practice. More good news, CB Greedy Williams and S Grant Delpit were also participating. Did I mention the Browns have full player participation. They may only be in shorts and helmets, but I’m loving the pictures and videos being shown on twitter.

Prior to practice today RB Nick Chubb, CB Denzel Ward and C J.C. Tretter all spoke to the media. The best news to come out of the interviews was the Browns are in contact with both Chubb’s and Ward’s agents about contract extensions and both said they want to stay with the Browns. I have a feeling both will be signed to extensions, probably Chubb first after the Browns extend QB Baker Mayfield. Unfortunately the odd man out might be RG Wyatt Teller. Someone is going to make him the highest paid guard in 2022 and it’s not going to be the Browns. As I write this, Mayfield is throwing passes to OBJ. I did not expect that today. Beckham’s recovery is amazing. Potential come back player of the year. The only players working out on the side were WR Anthony Schwartz, S/LB Tony Fields, OL Chris Hubbard and DL Malik McDowell.

This roster is the most talented Browns roster I’ve ever seen. For once, when cut down day comes, the Browns will have to cut good players. Browns fans used to look forward to cut down day, hoping the Browns would add players to improve the roster. Now the team will have to cut players because the ones they keep are more talented. This seems like a “Twilight Zone” episode. For those to young to know what I’m talking about, google it. Right now as I write this, the Browns are going through a light 11 on 11 drill. I did not expect that today.

So lets review. The Browns have contacted Chubb’s and Ward’s agents about contract extensions, full participation at mini camp, Delpit and Williams are practicing, Clowney and McKinley are practicing and OBJ doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat. Damn. Enjoy the videos on twitter and Go Browns.

After a year of no OTA’s or mini camp, it’s good to see the Browns back on the field in Berea. What’s causing problems with some Browns fans is that not all Browns players are on the field in Berea. And for some strange reason they’re blaming union president J.C. Tretter. Please stop it. First of all OTA’s are voluntary, repeat voluntary. Second, most of the players at voluntary OTA’s are defensive players. Considering there could be as many as nine new starters on defense, this is a good thing. Third, they’re only doing positional drills, i.e., running around in helmets and shorts. This week, QB Baker Mayfield is having his second passing camp with skill players in Texas. He’s already done this in Florida earlier. Hey ESPN, Baker Mayfield is leader just like Tom Brady. Reports are that Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham and Donovan Peoples-Jones are all in attendance. Great news. It’s also been reported that the starting offensive line has been practicing together for four or five days a week this off-season. Again great news. LT Jedrick Wills is in Berea working on his run blocking. So everyone come back from the ledge.

Last year the Browns won eleven games with no OTA’s, mini camp or pre-season games with a brand new coaching staff. I think they’re going to be okay. The attendance for the zoom meetings have been great and the Browns are very good at zoom meetings. There were a few games last year where the only practices they had were through zoom meetings. Mayfield will not have an incompletion against Kansas City because he wasn’t at OTA’s throwing to WR Anthony Schwartz. If you can prove this to be true, I’ll dedicate a blog and an article to your forecasting genius.

The true test will be when mandatory mini camp starts on June 15. I expect full participation from all players except those who are rehabbing. I’ll wait till next week to get bent out of shape if the attendance is poor. In other news, CB Greedy Williams was on the field last week practicing, which is fantastic news. Safety Grant Delpit put out a video of him doing individual drills in Berea, which is also fantastic news. With John Johnson and Troy Hill showing up this week, the Browns secondary is looking scary. First round draft pick Greg Newsome fired his agent this week, so something is going on with that situation. Hopefully the Browns can get him under contract prior to next week.

Finally the times and dates for pre-season games have been set. After last year without pre-season games and how it effected the way the Browns played the first part of the season, I look forward to watching these games. I never thought I would hear myself say that, but you could really tell how much the special teams play suffered without them. The Browns face Jacksonville and sunshine in their first game Saturday August 17 at 6:00 pm CST, then the Giants for a rare noon CST game on Sunday August 22 against the Giants. The last game will be a prime time NBC game against the Falcons at 7:00 pm CST on August 29. It’s almost time Browns fans. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns.