CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – After rookie David Bell caught a touchdown in the back of the endzone at FirstEnergy Stadium the horn sounded, and the team gathered at mid field.
It was time for a barbeque.
And summer vacation.
“Great finish to the offseason program,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Really appreciate this group and how they worked going back to April 19 in the snow globe, of you remember. The guys have done a really, really nice job.
“We have taxed them physically, we have taxed them mentally and really, we got a lot done. Are we where we need to be? No, but now is the time where we can take a break, go charge the battery and get ready to roll come July.”
Several alumni attended the post practice barbeque with players including D’Qwell Jackson, Judge Dick Ambrose, Steve Zahursky, Kevin Mack, Cleo Miller, Greg Pruitt and Bob Golic.
As his team goes their separate ways for six weeks before reconvening at the end of July, Stefanski’s message to them was simple.
“No. 1 is to be safe,” Stefanski said. “As a coach, you hate when your team is traveling all into the globe and you want everybody to be safe – you want them to have fun, like I mentioned you want them to charge the battery but definitely be safe and make great decisions when they are away from here. Then they have to come back in the best shape of their lives. That is kind of what you have to do every time you are getting ready to start training camp.”
York signs – Fourth round pick Cade York signed his rookie contract Thursday leaving Perrion Winfrey as the only draft pick remaining yet to put pen to paper.
York, the highest drafted kicker since 2016, hit a 50-yard field goal with ease Thursday to cap his six-kick series that saw him make them all at the stadium as he continues to show off his impressive leg and accuracy in practice.
Officially official – The Browns announced multiple front office hires and promotions Thursday afternoon, including the official addition of Catherine Raiche as assistant general manager and vice president of football operations.
Raiche, who comes over from the Eagles, will help manage the day-to-day operations of the team and contribute to all strategic roster decisions across player personnel and football operations under EVP and GM Andrew Berry.
Glenn Cook has also been promoted to assistant general manager and retains his role as vice president of player personnel.
Jimmy Raye, who worked with Berry in Indianapolis as the Colts vice president of football operations, has been hired as a senior advisor to the GM.
The Browns made several other changes to the scouting and personnel department including promoting Adam Al-Khayyal to director pro scouting, Sam DeLuca to assistant director pro scouting, Tyler Hamblin to director of football operations and Max Paulus to director college scouting.
Chill out – Right guard Wyatt teller doesn’t get what all the fuss is about among fans when it comes to Nick Harris stepping in at center after J.C. Tretter was cut earlier this year.
“Weren’t they doing that about me, too? That ended up changing a little bit,” Teller said. “I feel there’s nothing going on, there has to be a story. You want to know more about your players. I’m not being rude here. There’s going to be a question mark year in and year out.
“That’s what made last year so weird that there was no question mark. We knew exactly who our receivers were going to be. We knew exactly who everybody was going to be. This year is a little different. We have new guys coming in, guys leaving. We have to transition and grow together.”
Teller believes Harris will have no problem sliding into the middle of the offensive line.
“He fits the scheme,” Teller said. “He fits the marriage of the run and pass perfectly.”
Schwartz returns – Receiver Anthony Schwartz returned after being unable to make the trip to Canton Wednesday due to an illness.