The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
August won’t be easy for Browns, Berry
No preseason games could be challenge with roster
Like everyone else working in an NFL from office, the novel coronavirus pandemic is making the job of Browns first-year general manager Andrew Berry more difficult than normal.
Berry has the final say on the Browns’ 53-man roster. Evaluating his own players won’t be so difficult, but plucking players off the waiver wire could be a challenge with no preseason games to watch, Berry admitted Aug. 4 during a Zoom conference.
The NFL and players’ union agreed to cancel all preseason games because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“I know we’re starting a little bit later than normal, but we’ll have plenty of practices to see all of our veterans, see all of our bubble guys and see all of our young guys,” Berry said. “If you think about it in a normal year, it’s nice to have those preseason games, but really, the majority of the evaluation process does come throughout those daily practices.
“The biggest challenge comes as you evaluate other rosters externally. Now, we still do have plenty of information from whether it’s veterans across the league and their pro career or younger players in terms of their college career.
“It’s always nice to have
those — call it 80-100 snaps during the preseason — but I feel confident that we’ll be able to navigate that really well once we get closer to the cut-down date.”
Rosters must be down to 53 by 4 p.m. Sept. 5. The Browns’ roster is currently at 79 after activating running back Dontrell Hilliard and safety Jovante Mofatt from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Berry might be looking for a defensive tackle when other teams start making roster cuts. Andrew Billings has chosen to opt out for the 2020 season because of COVID-19. He would have made $3.5 million had he played, but now will receive only a $150,000 stipend. His contract tolls over to 2020.
Meanwhile, the Browns have a hole in their defensive line rotation behind starters Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson. Billings’ decision creates opportunities for Eli Ankou, Daniel Ekuale and Jordan Elliott.
“In terms of Andrew, we believe in having depth along the defensive line,” Berry said. “We think that
we have a number of guys who are really talented players. We have added a number over the course of the spring. It really is going to be a next man up mentality. It’s no different than if you are dealing with an injury in season.
“We understand that (opting out) is a difficult decision. It is very, very personal. We support the three guys who have opted out so far, and I look forward to them being back with the team next year.”
Second-year guard Drew Forbes and undrafted rookie tackle Drake Dorbeck opted out last week.
Berry also touched on several other items during the Zoom conference:
• Berry said he was surprised when David Njoku asked for a trade last month, but he has since spoken with the fourth-year tight end. Njoku on Aug. 1 tweeted “I’m all in, Cleveland. Time to work.”
“I won’t go into necessarily the specifics of the conversation that I had with David, but what I can tell you with David, really even since the spring and definitely since he has been back, he has been very engaged with our coaching staff and our performance
staff,” Berry said “He has shown up in terrific shape. I do think that there is an element with getting back around your teammates, your coaches and the excitement of training camp.”
Njoku was concerned he would lose playing time to Austin Hooper, a tight end signed by the Browns in March.
• Berry was asked about wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. telling the Wall Street Journal the NFL should cancel the season because of COVID-19 and that NFL owners don’t treat players “as humans.”
“Having a player of Odell’s stature on the roster, obviously, he generates a lot of attention,” Berry said. “Odell is very mindful that he has to be conscientious with his words.
“That being said, we have had plenty of dialogue and conversation with Odell, not only just through the summer but certainly as he has returned to Cleveland, and that has been a positive thing. He has really been focused on working hard. He has been very engaged in everything that we have done in the classroom. He is really focused on having a great year.”
• Berry commented on
the impact third-string quarterback Garret Gilbert being on the reserve/COVID-19 list could have on fellow quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum. The three quarterbacks have not been in a meeting room together.
“I will again give credit to Kevin (head coach Kevin Stefanski) and our medical staff in terms of how thoughtful they have been and in terms of the planning, specifically during this critical first 14 days as we form our bubble, so to speak,” Berry said. “Really, all of our meetings have been virtual up until this point.
“With the facility redesign, when our guys really do come back into the building for meetings and various activities, everything is really, really well spaced out and everything is really, really well done to make sure that guys are social-distanced and safe and we would prevent really any issues inside the facilities.”
Teams are prohibited from announcing whether a player on the reserve/COVID-19 list tested positive, or whether he might have been around a person infected with the virus.