New Browns GM Andrew Berry will have to explain his role in a building a 1-31 team in his first go-round as Sashi Brown's top personnel assistant. (AP)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
When the Browns embarked on Football by Analytics 1.0, aka, the New Browns Order, in January of 2016, Andrew Berry was appointed vice president of player personnel.
He was 28 and had worked the previous six seasons as pro scouting director of the Indianapolis Colts after one year as a scout. Berry was the youngest of the new football operations quartet that included Paul DePodesta, chief strategy officer; Sashi Brown, executive vice president; and coach Hue Jackson.
Four years later, they’re launching Football by Analytics 2.0, aka, Revenge of the Nerds.
Berry returns to the Browns after one season as vice president of football operations of the Philadelphia Eagles. Now 32, he holds the title of general manager – owner Jimmy Haslam’s fifth GM in eight years.
The new football triumvirate has Berry in the middle flanked by Moneyball guru DePodesta and rookie coach Kevin Stefanski. Each reports separately to Haslam.
Before Berry was officially named, Haslam said the GM would have full authority over the 53-player roster. It’s assumed that Berry also would have final say on the draft and be the point man in all trades – although Haslam did not specify those duties.
So when Berry holds his first press conference as GM on Wednesday, the obvious questions will center on his role in shaping the roster that produced the two worst seasons in franchise history – 1-15 in 2016 and 0-16 in 2017.
What moves were Berry responsible for? Where did his evaluations go awry? Why will it be different this time around?
It’s doubtful Berry will answer the first two questions. Everything was supposed to be done on a “collaborative” basis back then, just as Haslam is preaching now.
For the record, in a sit-down interview with a group of media on April 22, 2016, Berry said, “I’m involved in all the strategic decisions we make on the personnel side in conjunction with Hue, Paul, our whole team.”
Asked who would assemble the Browns’ draft board, Berry said then, “It’s a group decision. It’s Sashi and Paul and Hue and me.”
Asked who specifically would make the major player decisions, Berry answered, “The four of us get together and collaboratively try to make the best decisions for the club. Those discussions can span from throughout the personnel staff, throughout the coaching staff, throughout our strategy group. It’s not necessarily just this strict formal arrangement where there are only four people discussion. They’re a function of everybody in the building.”
So a review of the Browns’ major player transactions are appropriate.
2016
Free agent departures
Center Alex Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, safety Johnson Bademosi, receiver Travis Benjamin, free safety Tashaun Gipson, linebacker Craig Robertson.
Veterans released
Quarterback Johnny Manziel, receiver Dwayne Bowe, linebacker Karlos Dansby, receiver Brian Hartline, safety Donte Whitner.
Free agent signings
Linebacker Tank Carder, quarterback Robert Griffin 3, receiver Terrelle Pryor, linebacker DeMario Davis, safety Rahim Moore, linebacker Jessie Tuggle, guard Alvin Bailey, offensive lineman Austin Pasztor, running back Raheem Mostert, kicker Travis Coons.
Trades
Acquired linebacker Jamie Collins from New England for 2017 third-round pick.
Traded No. 2 overall pick to the Eagles for No. 8 (first round), No. 77 (third), No. 100 (fourth), plus 2017 first- and second-round picks.
Traded No. 8 overall and No. 176 (sixth) to the Titans for No. 15 (first), No. 76 (third), plus 2017 second-round pick.
Traded No. 77 and No. 141 (fifth) to the Panthers for No. 93 (third), No. 129 (fourth) and No. 168 (fifth).
Traded No. 100 (fourth) to the Raiders for No. 114 (fourth) and No. 154 (fifth).
Traded No. 223 (seventh) to the Dolphins for No. 250 (seventh) and cornerback Jamar Taylor.
Draft picks
Receiver Corey Coleman (first), defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (second), defensive end Carl Nassib (second), offensive tackle Shon Coleman (third), quarterback Cody Kessler (third), linebacker Joe Schobert (fourth), receiver Ricardo Louis (fourth), safety Derrick Kindred (fourth), tight end Seth DeValve (fourth), receiver Jordan Payton (fifth), offensive tackle Spencer Drango (fifth), receiver Rashard Higgins (fifth), cornerback Trey Caldwell (fifth), linebacker Scooby Wright.
2017
Free agent departures
Receiver Terrelle Pryor, safety Jordan Poyer, offensive lineman Austin Pasztor, defensive end Stephen Paea.
Veterans released
Cornerback Joe Haden, tight end Gary Barnidge, quarterback Robert Griffin 3, quarterback Josh McCown, receiver Andrew Hawkins, cornerback Tramon Williams.
Free agent signings
Linebacker Jamie Collins, punter Britton Colquitt, receiver Kenny Britt, cornerback Jason McCourty, center JC Tretter, guard Kevin Zeitler.
Trades
Acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler from Texans for 2017 sixth-round pick and 2018 second-round pick for 2017 fourth-round pick.
Traded linebacker Demario Davis to Jets for safety Calvin Pryor.
Traded No. 12 (first) to Texans for No. 25 and 2018 first-round pick.
Traded No. 33 (second) and No. 108 (fourth) to Packers for No. 29 (first).
Traded No. 145 (fifth) and No. 175 (fifth) to Broncos for No. 126 (fourth) and No. 252 (seventh).
Traded No. 181 (fifth) and No. 188 (sixth) to Jets for No. 160 (fifth) and No. 224 (seventh).
Draft picks
Defensive end Myles Garrett (first), safety Jabrill Peppers (first), tight end David Njoku (first), quarterback Deshone Kizer, defensie tackle Larry Ogunjobi (third), cornerback Howard Wilson (fourth), offensive tackle Roderick Johnson (fifth), defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (sixth), kicker Zane Gonzalez (sixth), running back Matthew Dayes.
Bottom line
1.The Browns traded the pick the Eagles used on quarterback Carson Wentz, and traded the pick the Texans used on quarterback Deshaun Watson.
2.Taken No. 10 in 2017, two spots ahead of the No. 12 pick traded and used by the Texans on Watson, was Patrick Mahomes.
3.The only draft picks who ended the 2019 season on the Browns roster were Joe Schobert, Rashard Higgins, Myles Garrett, David Njoku and Larry Ogunjobi. Schobert and Higgins are unrestricted free agents.
4.The only free agent signing still on the Browns roster is JC Tretter.