CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Two weeks ago right tackle Jack Conklin spoke about how he intended to make Cleveland his permanent home.
On Monday, Conklin put pen to paper on a four-year contract extension worth up to $60 million with $31 million guaranteed.
The extension keeps Conklin off the free agent market in the spring and a Brown through the 2026 season.
“Really, this is home for us. This is where we want to raise our kids,” Conklin said. “When it came down to it, we didn’t really want to have to go to free agency and take the chance of having to move. I love this organization, this town and the fans. My family feels at home here. This really, exactly like you said, is where we want to make our home forever, and I am happy I get to be here for the next four years and keep on playing for the Browns.”
Conklin’s first season with the Browns in 2020 saw him named an All Pro, a status Cleveland is hoping he returns to once fully healthy in 2023.
After returning from a patellar tendon tear, which ended his 2021 season and he underwent surgery to repair last December, Conklin was named by his teammates the Ed Block Courage award winner for this season.
“Just think about the rehab that he has gone through this past year and how hard he worked to get himself on the field and how hard he works in the building,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He is really a model citizen in that regard in what we look for. He has played good football for us. Just felt like that was a great opportunity for us and a great opportunity for him to get something done.”
Sustained failure – Every regime to run the Browns into the ground has preached ‘sustained success’ as being the driving force behind their decision-making processes. Same goes for the current group, but the Browns have failed to sustain anything but mediocrity since being a play or two away from the conference title game in 2020.
“It is very disappointing because that is always the main goal is to make it to the playoffs and have a shot there,” cornerback Denzel Ward said. “We fell short of that. We are where we are, and we just have to finish strong. Finish strong, that is pretty much the big thing.”
The problem for Stefanski and the Browns is they do not have a talent deficiency problem.
“I think we definitely have the talent to be in the playoffs, compete and contend for that,” Ward said.
The Browns have a discipline, leadership, attention to detail and fundamental execution problem which has led to the 20th losing season for the franchise since 1999.
“It is extremely frustrating,” Conklin said. “We play this game to go to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Not having that chance the last two years is frustrating, and I think we really need to take a look at ourselves and figure out what we can do better at and what we are good at and move forward with those things and really just come together as a team. Be able to have our full team together in this next offseason is going to be huge. Really, the most important thing is the next two games. Looking at it, we can’t go into the dumps and leave these out here. These are two games where we can get better as a team and figure out how to be a better team.”
Keep it simple – Despite bitter cold conditions the Saints found a way to be creative enough in the run game, which included direct snaps to Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, but Stefanski and the Browns only had three players run the ball – Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and Deshaun Watson.
Monday, Stefanski explained his lack of creativity with the run game, which in the past has included receivers.
“Just felt like the exchanges, the quarterback to a receiver or a running back pitching it to a receiver, and just didn’t feel like the conditions warranted plays like that,” Stefanski said. “The conditions really made you think long and hard about center-quarterback [exchange] and the long snapper to the punter. All of those operational things were very front of mind.”
No shut down – With the Browns out of the playoff hunt, Stefanski does not appear poised to change his approach to playing time over the final two weeks with healthy or injured players.
“Those type of conversations, really haven’t gotten into,” Stefanski said. “I know this, every single one of our players wants to compete and wants the opportunity that all of these Sundays provide. I know all of our guys are excited about that. As far as those type of conversations, I haven’t really discussed that yet.”
Even with nothing more to play for than pride, the focus for Stefanski is on their final two opponents.
“We do want to finish strong. You want to finish everything you do,” Stefanski said. “We understand the scenario that we are in, but we also understand that we have an opportunity this week versus Washington and we have another opportunity the following week. That is really where our focus is. Any of those big-picture type of conversations are probably for another time.”
Injury report – Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney remains in concussion protocol according to Stefanski.
Up next – Players off Tuesday, practice Wednesday.