BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It appears that Dee and Jimmy Haslam have found the long sought after continuity they’ve been looking for.
Chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta has signed a contract extension with the Browns, keeping him with the club.
“He's going to be with us for a significant amount of time,” Jimmy Haslam said Saturday.
“We're super excited about that.”
DePodesta, who spent over two decades in Major League Baseball, was hired by the Browns in 2016.
“Paul is incredibly smart and a great thirst for learning, so having him part of the organization and guiding the process and being here consistently for here has made a huge difference,” Dee Haslam said.
DePodesta’s new deal is “in line” with the five-year agreements that executive vice president and general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski signed when they were hired last year.
While 2020 was difficult, it crystalized the Haslam’s belief they finally found the right combination to run the Browns.
“The job they did last year just had to be the hardest year for anybody to lead a sports organization told us a lot,” Jimmy Haslam said. “We felt good from the get-go but working through that like they did and seeing them work together and not panic when things happened - just keep grinding, keep concentrating, keep building the roster, keep getting better, we came out really feeling well.”
D-Fence – So about that whole ‘the defense is going to need time to gel’ thing. Saturday was dominated by that side of the ball led by safety John Johnson III who had a pair of pass break ups and interception of Baker Mayfield.
The secondary made it tough on the receivers all afternoon.
A.J.
Green, who is getting some reps with the ones, stuck with Jarvis Landry and forced an incompletion on a play. Green isn’t shy about making his presence felt – physically or verbally.
Big 3 – The Browns are excited about their dept at tight end, especially at the top of the depth chart with Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku.
“We are almost in a room of three No. 1s,” tight ends coach Drew Petzing said. “When you have three guys of that level of talent and they all do different things well, it is our jobs as coaches to put them in a position to go out and be a part of our success. I think they were last year, and they will certainly continue to be this year as we get going.”
The coaching staff especially loves the fact that Hooper, Bryant and Njoku are interchangeable and can play every position well.
Hooper spoke Saturday about spending time with Mayfield this offseason in Austin, Texas and down in Florida to work on their chemistry – on and off the field.
“There are things in the offseason I made a point to address with myself and to get better,” Hooper said. “Spending more time with Baker definitely has helped me with my confidence more than anything and being in the same offense and knowing what to expect and what is expected of me.”
Parkey perfect – Cody Parkey made all six of his kicks Saturday during team special teams work, hitting from 30, 32, 35, 37, 41 and 43 while Chase Mclaughlin made five of six. He missed from 41.
Return rotation – While the coaches preach not to read too much into who is getting reps where, we are still keeping a eye on the competition and one of those battles is at kick returner.
Saturday, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer went with a rotation of D’Ernest Johnson followed by Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie running back/receiver/Mr. Do Everything Demetric Felton.
Warming up – Saturday’s practice had some pace to it as the final session of the ‘ramp up’ period. With players off Sunday, the tempo of Monday’s should be the same before they put on pads Tuesday.
Roster add – The Browns signed receiver Davion Davis.
Originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019, he has appeared in two NFL games. He participated in the Browns June minicamp as a tryout player.
Davis assumes the roster spot vacated by Derrick Willies, who was placed on the reserve/retired list Friday.
Part of the plan – Myles Garrett was given the day to rest along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Grant Delpit.
Injury report – S Ronnie Harrison (hamstring), LB Tony Fields II (foot) did not practice. DE Takkarist McKinley left the field a few times due to illness. He left Friday’s practice due to heat.
Puppy pound counter – 10 puppies were adopted Saturday bringing this year’s total to 15 through two days. Since the program’s launch in 2015, 587 puppies from the Northeast Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have been adopted by Browns fans at training camp practices.
Up next – Sunday is an off day. Camp resumes Monday with practice at 2:25.