BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Andrew Berry lost a pair of quarterback stare downs and blinked twice Thursday morning.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from Thursday.
Cap room fix – With looming cap obligations hanging over the Browns come 2025, Berry couldn’t resist restructuring Watson’s contract for the second straight year by converting all but the veteran minimum of $1.121 million of Watson’s 2024 salary into a signing bonus. The move created another $35.8 million in cap space giving the Browns $62 million in room – the most in the NFL. That’s the good news. The bad news is that if Watson does not play well or stay healthy enough to warrant a contract extension, the Browns are going to be saddled with a massive cap hit in three years if they are forced to move on from Watson when his five year, $230 million contract expires after the 2026 season. Watson, who has played in just 12 games with the Browns, has rehabbed from surgery to repair a broken bone in his right throwing shoulder and is set to start Week 1 against the Cowboys at home on September 8. This is the third time Berry has restructured Watson's contract this way.
Not ready to retire – After suffering what is known to be his fifth concussion in the NFL during a head-to-head collision with receiver Elijah Moore on August 12, cornerback Denzel Ward never thought about retirement. “I love playing this game,” Ward said. “Being with the guys out here, I really don't see myself doing too much other stuff, so unless I'm just really physically unable to play this game, I don't see myself stepping away from football no time soon.” Many former NFL players are dealing with the effects of concussions later in life but Ward has visited with specialists, who have assured him it is safe for him to continue playing. “It's not necessarily more severe each concussion, just what I learned, each concussion is its own specific concussion and you got to give that time to heal and then once that's healed and ready to go, once you get back out here you're good,” Ward said. “So it's not like concussions are building on top of each other if you give it time to heal, but I think before what guys were getting in trouble with a long time ago, they get a concussion, not fully healed, then they'd go right back out there and play.” Ward has cleared the protocol and is set to play the opener against Dallas September 8.
No deal – Berry hoped to pry a draft pick out of someone, anyone for quarterback Tyler Huntley, which is why he kept Huntley on the initial 53 for nearly 48 hours. Bluff called. Nobody was interested so Berry released Huntley leaving the Browns with Watson, Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the active roster.
Come back – Releasing Huntley created a roster spot for running back D’Onta Foreman, who was re-signed after his contract was terminated Tuesday. The Browns only kept two backs on the initial roster: Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong.
Captain, my captain – Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named the team captains, voted on by the players, Thursday: long snapper Charlie Hughlett, left guard Joel Bitonio, quarterback Deshaun Watson, defensive end Myles Garrett and Ward. “That's a great honor for those guys that's voted on by their teammates,” Stefanski said.
Practice squad adds – The Browns signed running back Gary Brightwell, cornerback Mike Ford Jr., receiver Tulu Griffin and tight ends Blake Whiteheart and Cameron Latu to the practice squad. The team also released long snapper Rex Sunahara from the practice squad.
Roll Call – DT Quinton Jefferson (undisclosed), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), LB Nathaniel Watson (quadriceps), WR David Bell (quadriceps) not practicing.
