Browns Notes: Joel Bitonio surprised by Walter Payton Man of the Year nod

BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Left guard Joel Bitonio was named the Browns nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award on Wednesday and his family was able to surprise him with the announcement.

“That was pretty special,” Bitonio said. “It's one of those things you see guys win the award for the team every year and they do a lot of good things in the community. I think the Browns and the Browns Give Back do a great job of encouraging guys to get out in the community and to see that award over the years and finally get it for myself, it's pretty special.

“My mom was here. I knew she was here, but then they kind of left and surprised me and let me know I won it. So that was pretty special. It's a very cool honor and I was extremely honored to be it for the Browns.”

Bitonio has been named to the last four Pro Bowls, has been named to the AP All-Pro team four consecutive years (2018-21), selected to the PFWA All-NFL team twice (2020 and 2021) and recognized on the Sporting News All-Pro Team in 2020 and 2021.

While Bitonio was recognized more for his work in the community than on the field, Kevin Stefanski acknowledged what the 2014 second round pick and longest tenured member of the team has meant to him since taking over as head coach in 2020.

“He is an extremely talented football player. I have been around some good guards. He is up there. He is really, really good,” Stefanski said. “He is athletic, powerful, good in the run game and good in the pass game. Move him out to left tackle, plays great at left tackle. On the football field, he has been extremely valuable to us. Then off the field, extremely valuable to this football team but very helpful to me personally, just having a veteran who you can trust and who has kind of been through it all. It has been very helpful.”

Bitonio was the Browns’ 2018 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award winner and he is the only three-time PFWA Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award recipient, which recognizes a player’s professionalism and cooperation with media members.

Picked off – Cornerback Greg Newsome II nearly had his first career interception last week in Houston, but he dropped the ball.

“I have not got over it, but I’ll get over it soon,” Newsome said Thursday.

Newsome did a great job of jumping a route and nearly coming away with a pick of Texans quarterback Kyle Allen but he committed the cardinal sin for a defensive back – looked at the open field before securing the ball.

“Yeah, first career one I’m catching it and looking at the end zone at the same time so the next one I’m just going to focus in on catching it first and not worry about that,” Newsome said.

As for what he wants his first interception to look like, having one fall into his lap like John Johnson’s Sunday isn’t what he has in mind.

“I kinda want to go get it and I think that one in the game was a perfect opportunity that I just played it really well,” Newsome said. “Obviously I’ll take an easy one, obviously, but I’m trying to go out there and get one.”

Newsome missed out on a pick-6 and playfully gave fellow corner Denzel Ward some grief for Ward’s easy scoop and score against the Texans.

“He just, maybe he’s just living right,” Newsome said. “He gets the ones that’s right to him, easy. No, I was just excited for him. It was just a fun moment. I was just confused. I looked back and the ball was just in his hands and he was running into the end zone.”

Top trash talker – Newsome named himself as the Browns’ top trash talker Thursday.

“As you've seen in the last Mic’d Up, I always try to bring a lot of energy and things like that, but I'm definitely probably the most chattiest,” Newsome said. “So I think it gets everybody going, honestly. When I see me fueled up and fired up, I feel like it brings everybody else along. So it's definitely going to be fun out there.”

Remembering what Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase had to say about him in August, needless to say Newsome aims to be on his ‘A’ game defending, and talking to Chase Sunday.

“Super excited but at the end of the day as long as we win I’m okay with it,” Newsome said. “So that’s out main goal, that’s my main goal, is to get a win but definitely super excited to get him back out there.”

Final 8 – Browns running back Nick Chubb was named one of eight finalists for this year’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

Chubb, who has become the Browns annual nominee, will find out Super Bowl weekend at NFL Honors if he finally won.

Injury report – DNP: TE Pharoah Brown (illness), RT Jack Conklin (rest), DE Chase Winovich (knee); LIMITED: WR David Bell (thumb), WR Amari Cooper (rest, hip), CB AJ Green (knee), OT James Hudson (illness), TE David Njoku (knee), CB Denzel Ward (ankle, illness); FULL: DE Myles Garrett (rest, shoulder), DE Alex Wright (knee)

Up next – Practice Friday.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Nick Cammett/Getty Images