BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns receiver Amari Cooper isn’t off to the start he is used to plus Phil Dawson will have some company Sunday when he gets inducted into the Browns Legends club.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from Thursday.
Hang in there Coop – Cooper made no excuses for his slow start to the season Thursday. “Just got to play better,” Coper said. “I don't look at the inch here, inch there. I mean yeah, it does play a factor sometimes, but just me knowing my game, knowing myself, just got to go out there and play my brand of football, play up to my standards. So I haven't been doing that for the past couple of weeks. Cooper has caught just five of 17 targets through two games for 27 yards. Cooper admitted he has not been the best version of himself. “Sometimes you just fall off a little bit,” Cooper said. “You need a reminder and that's what the first two weeks kind of gave me and so I'm back on track I would say.” Quarterback Deshaun Watson knows Cooper is going to be there to make big plays. “It's part of the game,” Watson said. “It sometimes depends on the defensive coordinators and the way they scheme sometimes. It's the way that the game is just kind of playing out, but we never lose faith in each other and it’s long season and we’ve just got to continue to work and figure it out. But when it do click, it's definitely going to be very exciting for both of us.” Cooper is making it a point to dial up his intensity during practice this week. “We can always be more intentional,” Cooper said. “I went out there [Wednesday], I treated practice like the game and that's what I'm going to go and do every single day of practice moving forward. Just treating the practice, like the game, attacking it, just like I would the game. I can't say I've necessarily been doing that, but that's what I got to do.”
Legends of the game – Phil Dawson got to make a special phone call to Jim Donovan to tell the Browns long-time radio broadcaster they will be inducted this weekend into the Browns Legends club together on Sunday. “I can't think of anyone better to go in with,” Dawson said. “But that I was going to have the opportunity to be the one to let him know, I mean, I love Jim. He's a friend of mine. It's not just some other Brown that I would've been honored to go in with. Obviously he's going through a lot right now, and on a personal side, my heart goes out to him and his family and pulling for him. But to have the chance to make that phone call and see it bring joy to a friend just takes this thing to a whole new level.” Donovan, who assumed the play-by-play role when the Browns returned in 1999, retired from the radio booth last month after 25 years to focus on another cancer battle. Dawson’s career began the same year with the Browns. “Jim, he had the uncanny knack to remain accurate and true and everything he said yet still supportive,” Dawson said. “I don't know how he found that balance. So whether it was coming off a devastating loss, I'd watched some of his stuff post-game, kind of wanted to know what was swirling around, and Jim just had a knack for here's what happened. He'd inform the public what he saw, yet he did so with such class and I know I appreciated it. I know my teammates appreciated it.” The business of football wouldn’t allow Dawson to finish his career in Cleveland to be able to break Lou Groza’s all-time scoring record, but the 14 years, as difficult as many of them were on the field for the franchise, stick with him today. “That was one that would've been incredibly meaningful to me,” Dawson said. “I was honored to meet Mr. Groza. I mean, how many guys get to do that? My first training camp, I get called over to the tent and I was told Mr. Groza wants to talk to you, and I was like, holy cow, I can't believe this is happening. But leaving when I did was not what I wanted. Just unfortunately, that's how it went. And being so close to that record, that was a hard pill to swallow. I felt like I still had a lot of good football left in me, and hopefully I proved that in the six years I played after I left. But that's how this thing goes. I'm just grateful. I got 14 in Cleveland, so I think now that I'm kind of out of the competitive deal, I think it's fitting that Lou Groza a remains the all-time leading scorer. He is the Cleveland Browns.”
Eye on tackles – Dawand Jones was back on the field Thursday after resting his sore knee on Wednesday. So was Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr., a positive sign going into Sunday’s game with the Giants. Conklin was a full participant for the second straight day but Wills remains limited as was Jones on Thursday.
Hall pass – Rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct Thursday court records show. A no contest plea means accepting a conviction without admitting guilt. Hall received a suspended 30-day jail sentence with two years of probation. Hall was also ordered to pay a $250 fine plus $127 in court costs. Hall was originally charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic violence stemming from an August 12 incident at his Avon home. Hall was accused by his fiancé and her mother in a police report of shoving his fiancé into a wall, breaking a bedroom door, dragging her and pointing a gun and threatening to kill her. Police noted damage within the home in the report and confiscated two guns during their search. A protective order was issued by a judge after Hall’s arrest and arraignment. Hall’s fiancé later recanted her account of events to police. Hall was placed on the commissioners exempt list while the NFL investigates the incident for a violation of the personal conduct policy.
Roster moves – The Browns waived linebacker Nathaniel Watson and waived safety Chase Williams from injured reserve. Watson, a 2024 sixth round pick, appeared in the first two games as a reserve.
Injury report – DNP: RB Pierre Strong Jr. (hamstring), TE David Njoku (ankle), DE Myles Garrett (foot), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (rest); LIMITED: RT Dawand Jones (knee), WR Jamari Thrash (illness), LS Charley Hughlett (foot), DE Zadarius Smith (back), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), DE Alex Wright (triceps/elbow); FULL: OT Jack Conklin (knee); Martin Emerson Jr. (ankle, shoulder), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (gameday concussion evaluation), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (hand)
