BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Rookie defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey wasn’t on the practice field Friday, and he likely won’t be barking Sunday either.
“Perrion was disciplined,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
Stefanski declined to provide any details related to the discipline or what led to it.
All Pro defensive end Myles Garrett indicated that whatever took place was not an isolated incident and clearly everyone from coaches to players has had enough.
“We all have to step up and say something, but sometimes silence speaks louder than words,” Garrett said. “We’ve used our voice a couple of times, and at the end of the day he’s got to learn how to be a pro, and Kevin took it into his own hands, and he felt like that was the right thing to do. I’m behind my coach’s actions fully.”
Winfrey won fans over with his eccentric barking during a Zoom conference with reporters after he was selected by the team in the fourth round, but he has since through the offseason and training camp dialed back his big persona in front of reporters.
Friday afternoon, his locker was stocked neatly, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“It was pretty common knowledge, and it was easy to see,” Garrett said of what got Winfrey into hot water. “So it wasn’t like we had to bring it to [Stefanski’s] attention. His actions were very apparent.”
Creeping up on Clay – Garrett is 1.5 sacks shy of the official Browns sack record held Clay Matthews Jr. and he could break it easily Sunday against the Jets.
“What’s important to me is winning,” Garrett said. “So whether I tie it or I don’t or I break it, whatever it is. But I want to be very impactful in the game. I want to be able to be a game changer for my team. But if I don’t break the record, that’s not going to sadden me. There will be many more games, another game next week so I know he’s a great player and he’s had a line of great players. I hope to get it. But at the end of the day, it won’t wear me down if I don’t.”
The NFL didn’t recognize sacks until 1982 meaning Matthews has been shorted his actual total for the Browns, which is 75 according to Pro Football Focus.
“If he got 70-plus, I feel like I’ll eventually pass that as well,” Garrett, who referenced the late Deacon Jones who claimed he had 250 career sacks during his career, said. “I don’t know if I’ll get 250, but I’m just going to keep on trying to at least stand on the shoulder of giants.”
Contested catches – Donovan Peoples-Jones caught a team-high six passes for 60 yards in their Week 1 win at Carolina.
“I think it opens it up for the team,” Peoples-Jones said. “The more plays I can make, other guys can make plays. When other guys make plays, I can make plays, so it just really helps the team.”
He also proved his ability to catch in traffic.
“Definitely not easy to do,” Peoples-Jones said. “Great play calls allowed me to get open. Great trust in Jacoby [Brissett] that he’s going to deliver a catchable ball and trust in myself that I can make that play.”
Trust is critical on the field – on both sides of the ball and Peoples-Jones earned that last week from his quarterback and coaches.
“It means a lot to me that [Brissett] trusts me,” Peoples-Jones said. I just want to make that play for him, the team, for this whole organization.”
Elf off the shelf – Brownie at the 50 doesn’t seem to be as big of a hit within the locker room as it is among fans.
Garrett laughed when asked about it Friday.
“I don’t know what to think about that,” Garrett said while appearing to search for a diplomatic response. “It’s original, it’s unique. I’ve always been more of a fan of the dog. I mean, we’re the dawg pound but we’ve got an elf and a helmet. I think we’re a little bit confused on what route we want to go creatively. But if we have something that everyone can stand behind as far as fans and we can rally behind it, I’m all for it.”
Stefanski made Brownie cool again.
“I do not know about that,” Stefanski said.
Since 2020 Stefanski has worn the original Brownie on a hoodie with the text “Cleveland Browns Equipment Staff” encircling the logo. Fan interest caused the team to make apparel available to buy during training camp.
“Not my area of expertise,” Stefanski responded when asked about the midfield logo. “Great decision, whoever’s decision it was. Are the fans happy about it? Then I am happy about it. Sounds good.”
Tight end David Njoku voted for the modern version of the helmet field design. When told the Browns won seven championships, Njoku’s eyes lit up.
“That sounds nice,” Njoku said.
The players don’t know or understand the history of the logo that appeared on the program of the team’s inaugural game against the Miami Seahawks in September 1946.
“Seven championships with the elf,” Garrett said. “If we get an eighth championship with that elf, I might come in here with a little elf outfit on.”
Injury report – OUT: OT Chris Hubbard (elbow/illness); QUESTIONABLE: RT Jack Conklin (knee/rest); EXPECTED TO PLAY: TE David Njoku (Non injury related-personal), WR Amari Cooper (rest), WR Michael Woods II (illness), DE Isaiah Thomas (hand)
Up next – Browns host the Jets, 1 p.m. Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.