CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns returned to work Monday as they prepare for a trip to Denver this weekend.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Monday’s availability.
Questioning effort – Two weeks ago safety Juan Thornhill found himself in a position no player wants to be in – having his coaches question his effort. The play in question was a 71-yard touchdown by Saints receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling that saw Thornhill trailing the play in slow motion. “We talked about it and they was saying, I need to get more effort on that play,” Thornhill said. “And me, I know it, they know it. Everybody knows that I need to get more effort. So it is nothing I can hide from. It's obvious I didn't try as hard as I possibly could and it just won't happen no more.” Thornhill acknowledged after Thursday night’s win over the Steelers as a former teammate of Valdes-Scantling he gave up on the play. “It definitely hurt when you're a competitor, a guy that takes pride in his effort, like playing hard at all time and then someone calls you out on the play, meaning you didn't give enough effort,” Thornhill said. “It hurts. It stinks for sure. That's why I went into that [Steelers] game, I was just going to play as hard as I possibly could and leave it all on the field regardless of, I don't care if the guy was 30 yards away, 40 yards away, I was going to play as hard as I can and that's me from here on out, just leave it all on the field.” Cleveland’s defense has given up a multitude of explosive pass plays this season and Thornhill seems to be the guy taking a lot of the blame. “A lot of people don't understand it,” Thornhill said. “Just like if you're watching it on TV and you see me chasing the ball down and no one next to the ball carrier, you automatically assume it's on me. But I mean that's part of the game. I'm a free safety. I'm the last line of defense. So if something bad goes wrong, I'm there to make it up. If I don't make the tackle, it's similar to the quarterback. A lot of people are going to point fingers at you, but it's fine. I'm able to take the heat and I'm cool with that.” The last two games the Browns have been rotating Thornhill and Ronnie Hickman on the field. “I feel like Ronnie earned the opportunity to be on the field,” Thornhill said. “He's a really good player. He makes a lot of plays. So when they came down to me and told me that they wanted to see Ronnie play a little bit more, I mean, I understand. The guy, he has made plays, so why would you have him sitting on the sideline when he can get on the field and make plays.”
Air up there – The Browns will travel to Denver Saturday for Monday night’s game. “Are you trying to get me to say altitude,” Stefanski said. “Yeah, I mean it's something you talk about as a team, but it's like any element, whether it snow or wind, rain. It's like the elements. You deal with it.” While Stefanski doesn’t want to make the mile high altitude a thing, Thornhill wasn’t shy about acknowledging the impact it has on opponents. “The altitude is real for sure,” Thornhill said. “They try to say that it's not real. They just try to brainwash you into it. I played that every single year when I was in Kansas City and it is a real deal if you're not preparing for it hydration wise, pushing yourself in the altitude room, things like that. You're going to feel it for sure.” The Browns are just 4-14 playing at Denver. “I think it's a tough place to play regardless for any team that goes in there. We went in there last year and did not win, so it's a good football team. It's like all these tough environments that it's hard to win on the road. So our focus obviously is going to be playing good football to put ourselves in position to get a win.”
Not ready – Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has missed the last two games and has started four of the five games he has played this season as his surgically repaired knee continues to be problematic. “He's trying it’s just, he's going to keep doing everything he can to try to make it to the games, just not ready yet,” Stefanski said. “It's like all these injuries, you have to treat the symptoms, treat how the guy feels and he is doing everything he can. It's just, it's not responding just yet, but hopeful that it does.”
Following protocol – Stefanski did not have any injury updates other than tight end Geoff Swaim and receiver Cedric Tillman remain in concussion protocol. “We'll see how they come out of it the next few days,” Stefanski said.
Good sport – Safety Rodney McLeod is the Browns nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award this season.
Injury report – DNP: WR Cedric Tillman (concussion), TE Geoff Swaim (concussion), OT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), TE Jordan Akins (undisclosed)
