Rashard Higgins went way up for this contested catch. (Cleveland Browns)
Browns held the upper hand in first practice with Giants
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns’ joint practice with Giants and interviews …
The last play the Browns ran on offense was a Baker Mayfield touchdown on a desperation throw to Rashard Higgins, who leaped above two Giants defenders for an outstanding grab.
The last play the Browns ran on defense was a Greg Newsome interception of Daniel Jones, which ended the day with the defense whoopin’ and hollerin’.
As the Browns walked off the field triumphantly, the Giants ran gassers.
Advantage, Browns?
Nobody was keeping score, but it sure looked like the Browns had a good day.
Except for injuries to linebackers Jacob Phillips (elbow) and Sione Takitaki (hamstring), the Browns had a number of highlight plays on the first practice of two with the Giants. Such as:
* In one-on-one drills, tight end David Njoku plucked a catch over the helmet of ex-Browns safety Jabrill Peppers and held on while tumbling to the end zone. A few plays later, Njoku high-pointed safety Xavier McKinney on a contested catch.
“I think Dave works real hard on his craft,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I think it shows up in his run-blocking, his pass-catching, his route-running, his catching. He’s an example of a guy really working on his craft. I think he’s getting better.”
* Jarvis Landry caught everything in sight, including a one-handed special. Landry had a standout day beating safety Logan Ryan and cornerback James Bradberry – the best the Giants put out there in their secondary.
“He’s a very competitive dude,” Stefanski said. “He wants to win every drill, win when they do releases, win one-on-ones. That sets a tone for our team.”
* Greedy Williams had a breakup on a long pass down the sideline, probably his best play of training camp in his comeback from that year-long shoulder injury.
“Knew when to bring his hands up and defend the pass. Real nice play by Greedy. To be back where he is speaks volumes to the type of competitor he is,” Stefanski said.
Hold that temper
Stefanski and Giants coach Joe Judge did a good job delivering the message of playing smart without fighting. The leadership councils of both teams met before they took the field to go over the rules of engagement agreed to by the coaches.
There were only two minor instances when tempers could have flared up, but didn’t.
Giants cornerback Rodarius Williams -- older brother of Greedy -- broke up a pass to JoJo Natson and then stood over Natson for a few seconds. No flag was thrown for taunting, but Giants DB coach Jerome Henderson was not pleased and removed Williams from the drill.
Defensive tackles Malik Jackson and Andrew Billings were a little upset with an entanglement and one of them shoved Giants center Nick Gates. But Gates just walked away.
“We had our fighting already for camp,” said the Giants’ Ryan, who referred to the team’s infamous brawl on its first padded practice earlier this month. "They have a really good head coach, and they have a really good system, and scheme, and good players over there. They're really professional. So it was just work. It was good work.”
Hey, Freddie
Like most fired Browns coaches, Freddie Kitchens won’t get any respect from fans or media. But Nick Chubb gives him nothing but love.
“I’m excited to see Freddie,” Chubb said before practice. “Freddie, that’s my guy. He’s my first NFL running backs coach of my career. The biggest thing for him I remember, when I stepped on the [practice] field, he’d say, ‘Make today your best day.’ He said any time you’re in the NFL think about that. Only worry about today. I got to get better today. Nothing else matters.”
Chubb has continued to follow the advice, he said. He treats every day as a chance to better his game.
Kitchens, who was fired as Browns coach after a 6-10 record amid high expectations in 2019, was Giants tight ends coach last year and now is a senior offensive assistant to head coach Joe Judge. The new title reflects more responsibility for Kitchens all over the offense, particularly on the offensive line.
Now it can be told
Remember when left tackle Jedrick Wills had to leave the divisional playoff game against the Chiefs after the very first play? Wills said he suffered a high ankle sprain when a Kansas City player fell on his left ankle.
“It was tough,” Wills said. “I went back to the locker room. They did everything they could. I got about four different tape jobs. Tried to loosen up. I had a very high ankle sprain that lasted about two months of rehab after the season. It was tough just watching those guys [finish the game] on the phone, on the app. So I’m very excited for that first game [in Kansas City] this year.”
Wills said he’s totally comfortable playing left tackle in his second training camp after transitioning from right tackle as a rookie. He’s also leaner after a weight loss from 328 to 313 while reducing his body fat to 18 percent.
Wills practiced despite getting an ankle tangled up on Wednesday. He was beat for at least one sack.
Brownie bits
Takitaki left with a hamstring injury and Phillips injured an elbow. They happened early in practice and moved Malcolm Smith and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah onto the first-team defense …
On the final touchdown from Mayfield to Higgins, Stefanski said he almost whistled the play dead because of a virtual sack. Higgins' soaring catch over two Giants defenders was impressive, nonetheless. "I guess that would be the game-winner, so we can't allow that to happen," said Peppers …
Among the Browns sitting out were safety Grant Delpit, cornerback Denzel Ward, defensive end Myles Garrett, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, receiver Odell Beckham Jr., receiver Anthony Schwartz and cornerback M.J. Stewart …
Before the practice, the Browns signed receiver JoJo Ward (5-9, 175 pounds) and terminated the contract of defensive tackle Damion Square. Ward, undrafted out of Hawaii in 2020, spent last season on the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals …
Rookie Demetric Felton worked exclusively as a running back with the second-team offense.
