BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Myles Garrett isn’t the only player frustrated by losing and a key piece to their offensive line ponders retirement.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Thursday.
End of the line – Sunday’s game could be the last by the lakefront for left guard Joel Bitonio. “We'll see how we're doing in a couple of weeks after the season,” Bitonio said. “It's very hard to make a decision when you're in the middle of it. You're going through that daily grind, you know what I mean? So I'm going to finish the year as strong as I can and see how we feel in a couple of weeks and go from there.” Bitonio has one more year remaining on his contract and he has no plans to go ring chasing. “At this point in my career, I just can't see myself putting on a different helmet,” Bitonio said. “It just doesn't make sense to me.” Bitonio has heard the second-guessing Hall of Famer Joe Thomas received when he declined a trade to Denver before the Broncos went on to win Super Bowl 50. “It's easy in hindsight to be like, oh yeah, Joe should have gone to Denver that one year, but you don't know what would've happened when he goes out there and stuff like that,” Bitonio said. Bitonio, now 33, was a second-round pick in 2014 and he has made the last six Pro Bowls was named an AP All-Pro first teamer twice and second teamer three times. “Cleveland gave me a chance and I've been here for 11 years and there's been some losing and things like that, but we've had some moments where we've won and we've had some runs here and those memories are always great for me, but they've given me so much and I love this organization and what they've done for me and my family,” Bitonio said.
Winning time – Myles Garrett isn’t the only Browns draft pick from the great rebuild frustrated by the losing. “I'm ready to win as well,” cornerback Denzel Ward said. “I know Myles is too. We’re competitors and winners and we’re just looking to try to find a way to get to the top and obviously not have a losing season like we have now, so we're just really just looking for how to get there.” Garrett wants the front office to show him their blueprint for fixing the mess the franchise is in. “When they show Myles I'll just look over Myles' shoulder and see what the plan is and I'm ready to go forward with it, whatever it is,” Ward said. Ward’s best season as a pro that has him leading the league in pass breakups has pretty much gone for naught in 2024 with the team 3-12. “I think the biggest thing, everybody just want to win,” Ward said. “We’re all competitors out here, no one wants to have a losing season and lose a majority of our games. Our biggest thing is trying to find a way to win and however we’ve got to get to that. We’ve got to work harder, try to get there.”
Says it all – Dorsey was asked if he feels with some coaching that Dorian Thompson-Robinson can be a starting quarterback in the NFL. “I think right now I'd love to be able to answer [that], I was just so focused on what we're trying to accomplish right now,” Dorsey said. “I think that all quarterbacks improve as they get into the league and they get reps and they get game reps, and I think Dorian's going to continue to grow as a player with every single rep he gets and where that leads in the future is to be determined. But hopefully right now his focus and all of our focus is really on winning this game.” Translation: nope. Thompson-Robninson, who played through a calf injury in the 24-6 loss to the Bengals, threw for just 157 yards while completing 20 passes with two interceptions. “Nothing could ever slow me down if it's not broke or torn all the way off the bone, I'll play with any injury there is, and that's just kind of how I've always been,” Thompson-Robinson said.
Hope for Hopkins – It remains to be seen if Dustin Hopkins will kick against the Dolphins after Hopkins missed his only kick against the Bengals – a PAT. “I thought he hit the ball pretty decent during the week, missed a couple kicks, which happens, and I felt like the pregame warmup was solid,” special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said. “Obviously we had one opportunity in the game and he missed the PAT. So no, I think he's just trying to figure it out honestly.” On Tuesday the Browns sighed former UFL kicker Andre Szmyt to the practice squad. “Look at this like a tryout for Szmyt for two weeks, even if he doesn't kick in the games,” Ventrone. “I think it's always good to be able to get eyes on a younger player regardless of what position it's at.” Sitting Hopkins for the final two weeks is also a consideration. “That's obviously an option,” Ventrone said. “Coach held him out of the game prior to the Cincinnati game. I think that we'll just make a decision at the end of the week and figure out what we think is best for him and our team.”
Roster moves – The Browns signed receiver James Proche II to the active roster from the practice squad and placed defensive tackle Shelby Harris on injured reserve due to an elbow injury. Taking Proche’s spot on the practice squad is defensive Michael Dwumfour, who was signed and released earlier this year.
Injury report – DNP: TE David Njoku (knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee); LIMITED: CB Martin Emerson Jr. (back), OT Germain Ifedi (Achilles), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee/shin), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf), WR Cedric Tillman (concussion), QB Jameis Winston (shoulder); FULL: LB Devin Bush (shoulder), LB Khaleke Hudson (back)