Amari Cooper was going ... going ... to San Francisco, but he's not gone. He's probably in his last year with the Browns. (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 …
Amari Cooper is usually one of the most candid interviews among the Browns.
But when it came time to addressing reports of almost being traded to the San Francisco 49ers, Cooper used cliches to describe his feelings.
He said he did not speak with GM Andrew Berry about reports he was included in a Browns trade package for 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Reports were that Berry was willing to deal second- and third-round draft picks, along with Cooper, to the 49ers for Aiyuk, and that Berry had agreed to a new contract package with Aiyuk’s agent.
Aiyuk, who at 26 is four years younger than Cooper, declined to accept the deal. He re-signed with the 49ers last week for $120 million over four years.
“At the end of the day, it’s neither here nor there. So, I’m just focused on playing my best football Week 1,” Cooper said.
At one point during the reports of the Browns’ trade efforts, Cooper posted on his Instagram account, “LOL I wouldn’t mind at all.”
Did that mean Cooper welcomed a trade to the reigning NFC champions? Did that mean he didn’t feel welcome with the Browns as a result of the trade reports?
“The media’s all about sensationalism, so I’ll let you all have fun with whatever you thought that might have meant,” he answered.
Cooper held out from OTAs and minicamp this spring to protest that he had no guaranteed money in the final year of the contract the Browns inherited from the Cowboys when they traded for him. The Browns resolved the situation by guaranteeing the bulk of his $20 million base salary and adding about $5 million in incentives.
But the fact is they couldn’t agree on a short-term extension. As the 2024 season begins, it appears this could be Cooper’s last season in Cleveland. He said he hasn’t spoken to his agent about continuing negotiations with the Browns.
He doesn’t appear disgruntled about that.
“Honestly, it’s not about feeling wanted,” he said. “Because I do understand … think about it like this: you can be wanted, but if you don’t play well you’re not gonna be any longer wanted. End of day, you just have to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is being available for the team and playing up to the standard.”
Cooper has been traded two times. In 2018, the Raiders traded him to the Cowboys. In 2022, the Cowboys traded him to the Browns.
After this 10th NFL campaign for him, Cooper will be 31 and might be looking to test free agency for the first time in his career.
Left tackle update
For the second day in a row, James Hudson was the only left tackle candidate to be a full participant in practice.
Jack Conklin was limited and Jedrick Wills did not practice.
Does it mean Hudson has nudged ahead as the most likely player to start at left tackle? Does it mean Conklin can’t be counted on to play a full load in his first game back since a major knee injury in last season’s opener? Does it mean both players could share the load at protecting Deshaun Watson’s blind side?
“I have faith in all of them,” said left guard Joel Bitonio. “We know [the Cowboys] have great edges, but we have faith in all those guys. James is out there every day going against Myles Garrett at practice. Jack’s played some left tackle in his past life and Jed’s been there the last four years.”
On coordinator day in the media room, it was OC Ken Dorsey’s turn to address the issue.
“That whole scenario, we’re taking that thing day-by-day and kind of seeing where things shake out as we go throughout the week,” he said. “We’re, I think, in a good spot in terms of whoever’s out there playing for us. And we just got to go out and do everything we can to make sure we’re putting our guys in hopefully the best situations possible, whoever’s up front.”
Letting Deshaun be Deshaun
Watson has praised Dorsey as a coordinator who will “let me be me.” Which, in his case, means allowing Watson to use his athleticism to extend plays and make plays with his legs.
At the same time, Dorsey acknowledges the fine line in protecting Watson from getting injured.
“When you’ve got a quarterback with his type of ability, that’s a constant battle and that’s a constant balance,”Dorsey said. “And it’s like there is a time and a place to go out and try to make that play? But there’s also a time place to get down, you know? So, it’s, it is a balancing act for guys that, especially first game of the year, getting back and everything, you got those juices flowing. But we gotta make sure, you know, we’re communicating, staying smart, and it’s a long season and we’re in game one. And so there is that, that definite balance.”
Dorsey was hired because of his experience in coaching dual-threat QBs Cam Newton and Josh Allen.
“The biggest thing that you want to do for these guys is not take away their instincts,” Dorsey said. “There’s that balance of staying within the system while also not handicapping them from what they instinctually do best. And so, I think that’s the big thing, and just understanding … that he’s going to make some exceptional plays for us that no one else in this league can make, you know, and he’s going to be able to do that for us.
“And I think the great thing about Deshaun is he can do that outside of this just normal system, and then he can get back and work a progression and rip it to an outlet or a third progression in the read, just as equal. So, I think it’s just a balance you got to strike with these guys and make sure you don’t put the handcuffs on them in too many ways.”
Brownie bits
After practice, the Browns waived receiver David Bell, who had just returned to practice after missing weeks with a quad injury. Bell was a third-round pick in the 2022 draft. In 31 games with the Browns, Bell had 38 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns. The Browns have yet filled Bell’s roster spot …
The Browns named Andrew Siciliano to take over for Jim Donovan as their radio play-by-play announcer. Donovan announced last week he was stepping back after 25 years as Voice of the Browns to devote all his energy to his ongoing battle against leukemia. Siciliano, a long-time host with NFL Network, subbed for Donovan for three games last year. “I am flattered, and I am grateful to the Browns for giving me this amazing opportunity. It is a humbling honor. Jim’s an icon,” Siciliano said in a press release.