Browns’ Randall sets no limits on expectations

BEREA — Damarious Randall doesn’t shake his head in disbelief over the astronomical expectations placed on the Cleveland Browns this season.

The starting free safety doesn’t even think it’s crazy to talk about the Browns extending their 2019 season all the way to the Super Bowl.

“I honestly didn’t think it was crazy last year,” Randall said Friday after the second practice of training camp. “If you look at the team we had and if you look at some of the close games we lost because of this or because of that — officials here, officials there — at the end of the day, we were a playoff team last year.

“And with the pieces that we added (in the offseason), if we stick together and we stay healthy and we just keep building this team chemistry, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be playing up in January and ultimately in February.”

Traded last year from the Green Bay Packers to the Browns, Randall became one of the defense’s better players and figures to be a focal point this season.

He’s in the final season of his contract and scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. General manager John Dorsey said Wednesday that he has had contract extension talks with Randall’s agent, Dave Butz, but “this thing is going to take a little bit of time.”

Randall acknowledged he’s been paying attention to the booming safety market. The Tennessee Titans made Kevin Byard the highest-paid safety in NFL history on Wednesday by striking a deal on a five-year, $70.5 million contract extension.

“I’m just glad guys are getting what they deserve and just tip your hat to them,” Randall said, stressing he’s focused on making life easier for his teammates, learning the playbook of new Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and winning games instead of his contract situation.

Last season, after the Browns fired coach Hue Jackson and he joined the staff of the Cincinnati Bengals, Randall intercepted a pass and handed the ball to Jackson on the sideline.

Can he top that moment?

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” Randall replied. “This season will be fun. We’ve got a lot of prime-time games, so people are going to see the identity of this team, people are going to see the swagger of this team, and people are going to see why so many people are (bullish about) this team.

“People aren’t crazy. People know what we’ve got here, and it’s going to be fun to see up in September.”

In 15 games last season, Randall had 84 tackles, four interceptions, nine passes defensed and a fumble recovery despite playing through injuries in 11 of those games.

“The plays are going to come,” Randall said. “The game-changing pick-sixes, they are definitely going to come.”