BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – As the calendar flips to 2025, the Browns find themselves trying to finish off 2024 before taking the deep dive into what caused the mess they will have to clean up.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from New Years Day.
In the dark – Kevin Stefanski has yet to reveal who is starting the finale in Baltimore Saturday according to both quarterbacks. “I have not been told on whether who's starting, who the two is, who the three is, none of that,” Bailey Zappe said. “I'm sure Stefanski still deciding who that is and he'll tell us whenever obviously he sees fit.” If Zappe does get the start, he would become the 40th different starter since 1999 and mark the third time since the team came back they went four deep at the position in a season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has struggled the last two weeks completing 44 of 81 passes for 327 yards and three interceptions plus a lost fumble, four intentional grounding flags and six sacks. “You don't have time to sit and sob when it's the last game of the year,” Thompson-Robinson said.
Best of ’24 – Defensive end Myles Garrett, who became the first player to register 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons, was named the 2024 Joe Thomas Award winner for the second year in a row and fourth time overall as the Browns best player this season by the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. “Our team was better last year, but it's hard to say that Myles isn't better this year,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “I mean, he is leading the NFL and Sacks are tied. He's leading the league in tackles for losses.” Left guard Joel Bitonio was also named winner of the Dino Lucarelli ‘Good Guy Award’ for the second consecutive season and fifth time overall for his cooperation with reporters and community engagement. “We've all been here for a while together,” Bitonio said. “But I appreciate the recognition and I know you guys have a tough job to do and hopefully I'm here to help a little bit.”
Candid assessment – Bitonio will contemplate retirement in the offseason but he plans to let management know what he believes went wrong this season and how they can fix it. “I'll have my chance to let them know what I think is going on,” Bitonio said. “And they actually listen very well. They ask guys, they want to know the thought process and stuff like that.” The six-time Pro Bowler feels this is one of the most frustrating seasons of his 11-year career, but he also believes they don’t require a massive rebuild. “I know they're going to have to rebuild some aspects of the roster, but I don't think it's far,” Bitonio said. “I think coach Stefanski is a good coach. I think we're going to have a good system in place. It comes down to executing, it comes down to doing your one elevens, but I don't think we're that far off from being a contender.”
Keepin’ the faith – It might have been a volatile season for kicker Dustin Hopkins, but special teams coordinator and associate head coach Bubba Ventrone’s belief in him remains steadfast. “I think he's handled it, I would say in a professional manner,” Ventrone said. “I think that he's doing everything he can to get it right, has hit the ball well the last few weeks and obviously we had one opportunity last week that he converted on, which was good, but have a lot of confidence in him moving forward and being our kicker, so I think that obviously it's been an inconsistent season for him.”
Notable quotable – Ventrone on departing team consultant Mike Vrabel: “I'm going to really miss him. Obviously he was like a big brother to me as whenever I was a young player in New England and then obviously being able to cross paths again here. It was great to have him around. I obviously have a ton of respect for him. He is an incredible football mind. Whoever ends up hiring that guy is getting an incredible person, former player and hell of a coach, so I love Mike and I'll miss him.”
Injury report – DNP: TE David Njoku (knee), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion), RB Jerome Ford (ankle), LB Jordan Hicks (concussion), DE Myles Garrett (thigh), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder); LIMITED: S Grant Delpit (shoulder, knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee), DE Cameron Thomas (back), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (knee), Blake Whiteheart (knee), QB Jameis Winston (shoulder), WR Michael Woods II (knee); FULL: LB Devin Bush (elbow), OT Germain Ifedi (Achilles), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee)
