Joel Bitonio said he will only play for the Cleveland Browns next year, and his health and family will help him decide if he wants to play in 2025. (Cleveland Browns)
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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 practice and interviews …
Joel Bitonio doesn’t know if Sunday’s home finale will be the last one of his career, but he said he wants to retire as a Cleveland Brown and will not play for another team.
Bitonio, 33, is completing his 11th NFL season, all with the Browns. He is healthier than at this time last season, but the wear-and-tear is taking a toll. He said he will decide in a couple weeks if he wants to return for the final season of his contract.
“It’s mostly personal, just like how my body feels going into another season,” Bitonio said. “It’s an amazing game … but it’s a stressful game. You put a lot on your body. Like, how are you going to feel in 10 years or 15 years or 20 years? So we’ll just go from there, talk with the family, and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Last week, defensive end Myles Garrett, who turns 29 on Friday, said he wants to hear ownership’s plan overall, beginning with quarterback, and does not want to suffer through another rebuilding period.
Bitonio is less concerned about that at his age.
“I’m going to be a Cleveland Brown, I think, for my career,” he said. “So if I come back, whatever decision they make a quarterback is what decision they make. I’m not as young as Myles, where you have some options other places. So for me, it’s more going to be how I feel personally, how my family feels and all that stuff.”
Near the end of his career, left tackle Joe Thomas had a chance to approve a trade to Denver and join Peyton Manning last pursuit for a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos. Thomas declined to chase the ring and retired with only one post-season appearance in 11 seasons with the Browns.
Bitonio will follow Thomas’ lead.
“I’ve been here for 11 years and there’s been some losing and things like that. But we’ve had some moments where we’ve won and we’ve had some and we’ve had some [good] runs here,” he said. “And those memories are always great for me. But they’ve given me so much. And I love this organization and what they’ve done for me and my family.
“At this point in my career, like, I just can’t see myself putting on a different helmet. Like, it just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Bitonio is under contract through 2025 with no guarantees at a salary cap cost of $14.3 million. Because of prior salary conversions to reduce his cap numbers, Bitonio will count $8.574 million in dead money after 2025. A contract restructuring could be in order.
No demands from Denzel
Like Garrett, cornerback Denzel Ward is a part of the defensive foundation built by the Browns. But Ward, a native of Northeast Ohio, said he doesn’t need to be involved in conversations about ownership’s plan to win in order to play through his contract.
“I'm ready to win as well,” Ward said. “We're competitors and winners, and we're just looking to try to find a way to get to the top and obviously not have a losing season like we have now.”
As for the plan, Ward quipped, “When they show Myles I'll just look over Myles' shoulder and see what the plan is and I'm ready to go forward with it, whatever it is.”
Buy a vowel
The Browns haven’t changed their approach with Dustin Hopkins after missing a PAT, his only kick, in Cincinnati.
“We have a lot of confidence in him to get it right and we think that this is the best thing just for him to be able to work through it,” special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said.
So why bring in another kicker, Andre Szmyt (pronounced: Schmdt), to replace Riley Patterson on the practice squad?
“Just an option to have,” he said.
Hopkins leads the NFL with 12 missed kicks (9 field goals, 3 PAT). Baltimore’s future Hall of Famer, Justin Tucker, is second with 10 misses (9 field goals, 2 PAT).
“I’ll say this, there are times where guys have a little hiccup in their process, whatever you want to call it,” Ventrone said. “I mean, even the best in the game, Justin Tucker, had one in the middle of the season and he’s hit the ball really well the last two or three weeks. Look, we have confidence … he’s a veteran, Dustin, and we feel like he’s going to be able to figure it out.”
Brownie bits
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was still listed as limited with a calf injury, the result of a strain on the second play of the Cincinnati game. But he said it feels a lot better. “Nothing could ever slow me down. If it’s not broken or torn all the way off the bone, I’ll play with any injury there is,” he said.
Quarterback Jameis Winston also was still limited with a shoulder injury. It appears the Browns intend to keep Bailey Zappe as QB2 for the Miami game …
Receiver Cedric Tillman also was limited and remains in concussion protocol …
Tight end David Njoku (knee) and defensive end Okbo Okoronkwo (knee) were DNPs …
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (elbow) was put on injured reserve. James Proche, who fumbled the opening punt against Kansas City two weeks ago, was promoted to the active roster.