Which one of the quarterbacks are the Browns willing to trade? (TheLandOnDemand)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns’ second batch of roster moves …
How good a poker player is Andrew Berry?
We’ll find out at quarterback, the sport’s most important position.
The Browns’ GM kept all four quarterbacks on his initial 53 because he’s trying to squeeze a future draft pick out of a team needing a backup quarterback. Other teams might wait it out to see if Berry cuts a quarterback to fill another need.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns kept four quarterbacks because “we have four good quarterbacks.”
“Will you have four on September 8?” I asked.
“We’ll see,” he answered. “I can speak for today.”
In another context, Stefanski conceded, “It’s the first 53 it’s not the final 53. So, I’m sure there’s moves to be made down the line here. You know, I don’t envy Andrew these days because these are some tough decisions to make, and he’s got a plan, and we’ll work through it.”
The plan also is to add another running back and tight end. Berry kept only Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong at running back and David Njoku and Jordan Akins at tight end.
Now, to add players who pass through waivers on Wednesday, Berry will have to create room. That’s where the quarterback trade comes in.
It’s believed Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley could be available if another team offers a draft pick or player of need. It’s doubtful both would be traded because the Browns would leave themselves in the same precarious position as last year with only Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the 53 to start the season.
Last year at this time, Stefanski said Josh Dobbs would be his backup quarterback, and then he was traded by Berry a few minutes later.
The coach was asked directly if he considered Winston the top backup this year. He answered, “Yeah, I mean, like we talked about earlier, we’re not setting the depth chart at any position. Obviously, we think very highly of Jameis and all those guys.”
Conklin to left tackle
Stefanski wouldn’t confirm it, but Jack Conklin did – he’s working at left tackle for the first time in his eight-year NFL career.
Jedrick Wills, the starter at left tackle the past four seasons, is cleared to practice but only is participating in walk-throughs at present. So Conklin has three practices this week to get a jumpstart on re-starting his career at the position he played in 35 of 38 starts at Michigan State.
The Browns begin preparations for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, when players return from a three-day Labor Day Weekend break.
“I’m ready to just be on the field,” Conklin said. “Whether it’s left or right, I’m excited. If left’s the side I play, I’m excited for the opportunity. I played it in college. It isn’t a foreign thing to me. I’m just excited to get out there, wherever it is.
“It’s a challenge I’ve already done because I played left all in college and was switched immediately to the right. It’s a little weird with the hips and moving, but otherwise it’s the mental aspect of flipping everything in your head in the opposite. It’s not that big of a deal other than getting the reps.”
Conklin considered his first day at practice a milestone. He said it was 352 days since his left knee was crushed when Cincinnati pass rusher Trey Hendrickson fell on the inside of his left leg.
Unlike Nick Chubb who had two separate surgeries to repair his severely damaged left knee, Conklin underwent one surgery to correct everything – torn ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus.
“So it was the whole shebang,” he said. “But I knew what it took. I had a great mindset toward it. Just a matter of getting back in the weight room and rehabbing.”
Conklin, 30, said he never thought of retiring because he’s proved to himself he can come back from a major injury and he feels he still has years of elite football in himself.
“This is my profession. I feel I can still play at a high level when healthy,” he said. “That was the bummer last year, I felt I was playing some of my best ball in camp and preseason. I have total confidence in myself. I haven’t lost a step.”
All the (right?) moves
To get to their “initial” 53, the Browns:
Waived:
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, wide receiver Ahmarean Brown, wide receiver Jaelon Darden, safety Christopher Edmonds, defensive tackle Siaki Ika, defensive tackle Sam Kamara, tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, linebacker Winston Reid, offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson, tight end Treyton Welch, wide receiver Michael Woods.
Terminated the contracts of:
Cornerback Tony Brown, running back D’Onta Foreman, cornerback Justin Hardee, offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, wide receiver James Proche.
Placed on reserve/non-football illness:
Guard Michael Dunn (designated for return).
Placed on reserve/non-football injury:
Running back Nyheim Hines.
Placed on reserve/PUP:
Running back Nick Chubb.
Placed on reserve/injured:
Center Luke Wypler
Placed on exempt/Commissioner:
Defensive tackle Michael Hall.
Waived from injured reserve:
Safety Brady Breeze.
The initial 53
Quarterbacks (4): Tyler Huntley, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston.
Running backs (2): Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong.
Wide receivers (6): David Bell, Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Jamari Thrash, Cedric Tillman.
Tight ends (2): Jordan Akins, David Njoku.
Offensive linemen (10): Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, Javion Cohen, Nick Harris, James Hudson, Dawand Jones, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jedrick Wills, Zak Zinter.
Defensive linemen (9): Myles Garrett, Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst, Quinton Jefferson, Isaiah McGuire, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Alex Wright.
Linebackers (6): Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Tony Fields, Jordan Hicks, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Nathaniel Watson.
Defensive backs (11): D’Anthony Bell, Grant Delpit, M.J. Emerson, Kahlef Hailassie, Myles Harden, Ronnie Hickman, Rodney McLeod, Cameron Mitchell, Greg Newsome, Juan Thornhill, Denzel Ward.
Specialists (3): Corey Bojorquez, Dustin Hopkins, Charley Hughlett.