Cleveland (92.3 The Fan) – UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is visiting the Browns Thursday at their facility in Berea.
Since late last fall, Rosen has had to shoot down speculation hat he wants nothing to do with the Browns.
“It’s impossible to formulate opinions when you haven’t really done any research on the actual place,” Rosen said at the NFL Combine in March. “I’m probably going to visit there, hang out with them, and whoever picks me, I’ll be excited to play for whoever wants to.”
Over the last 2 weeks his former head coach Jim Mora stirred up a hornets nest by saying on NFL Network that Rosen would not be a “fit” with the Browns, but rather with Pat Shurmur and the Giants instead. Mora has since “clarified “ those remarks but failed to mitigate the damage done.
Rosen tried to downplay the challenge of joining the 0-16 and 1-31 Browns at the Combine.
"The NFL is a very daunting organization. Every team you go to has its own unique set of challenges, and the Browns have a unique set of their own challenges," Rosen said. "Wherever I end us, I'm excited to take on those challenges and hopefully overcome some obstacles."
The prospect of playing in cold weather doesn't scare Rosen.
“That’s football weather," Rosen said. "I’ve seen some of the cool shots in the history of the NFL on TV or some of those snow games in the Super Bowl with the Patriots. That’s ball.”
Rosen is the third quarterback to visit this week.
Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield visited on Tuesday and USC’s Sam Darnold was in town Wednesday. Wyoming’s Josh Allen is expected to make his official visit next week.
All 4 quarterbacks are in consideration to be selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In 3 seasons as a starter Rosen threw for 9,340 yards with 59 touchdowns and 26 interceptions for the Bruins. He also missed a significant portion of his sophomore season due to a shoulder injury.
While some might question his desire or love of the game, Rosen feels his experience makes him NFL ready.
“I went 16-0 in high school and won a state title. I went 6-6 in college my final year before going to NFL. I’ve learned a lot more from the losses. You learn how to deal with adversity," Rosen said. "I’ve had new coaches every year. You learn how to deal with some guys in the locker room that were bought in but are starting to sell out a little bit, so you have to make sure everyone’s together. The ship sails as you go. I’ve learned how to be that steady rock through the process and make sure your teammates can really rely upon you.
"Off the field, I’ve learned how to conduct myself a lot better. I’m not gonna change who I am. I still am me. There’s just a time and place for everything. That’s what I’ve learned, and in all these interviews you have to own your mistakes. I may not have broken the actual letter of the law, but I understand that I have made mistakes in the past and I have grown from it. It’s a process that never stops. You’re never gonna become the perfect person, and I think you have to constantly push to become better and better each and every day as a person, as a player and everything.”
