BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Minutes prior to the second to last OTA of the spring, the Browns announced contract extensions for Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski Wednesday morning.
We also got to hear from Nick Chubb for the first time since he suffered that devastating knee injury last September in Pittsburgh.
Here’s the top non-extension related Brownie Bites from the eighth OTA of the offseason program.
The way back – It’s been nine months since that awful night in Pittsburgh when Chubb saw his season end and a long road back to the football field stare him in the face. Following two surgeries to repair the ACL, MCL and other damage in his left knee, Chubb is on the way back. “I'm getting better every day,” Chubb said. “Taking it day by day, getting better. Yeah, just right now, trying to get stronger.” Chubb isn’t able to practice yet, and he isn’t sure when that will be, as he is still limited to conditioning, running and some weightlifting. “I like where I'm at,” Chubb said. “I'm where I need to be. I would say that the biggest thing for me is getting better every day.” Chubb doesn’t blame Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for the hit, which some fans felt was dirty. “I don't think it's a dirty hit at all,” Chubb said. “I'm not blaming him. It's part of the game.” This is the second time Chubb has suffered grave damage to his left knee. In 2015 at Georgia, Chubb suffered a dislocated knee along with three torn ligaments – his MCL, PCL and LCL. He’s been through this before. “I would say it does help,” Chubb said. “Just knowing how to attack it mentally and knowing I might not be at a certain point through the rehab process that I want to be, but I know taking a day by day and the weeks add up and the months add up and eventually I'll get to where I want to be.” It’s unclear if Chubb will return to being the same dominant back he was prior to this latest injury but he’s ready to prove any doubters wrong. “I use it as motivation,” Chubb said. “I see everything. It's not the first time someone that's counted me out, so I've been here before and I'm not really paying much attention to it, but I do see it and I'm just focusing on getting better.” Chubb, selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, ranks fourth in franchise history with 6,341 career rushing yards trailing Mike Pruitt (6,540), Leroy Kelly (7,224) and Jim Brown (12,312). “He's working like crazy,” Stefanski said. “I know everybody wants to know when and when's he going to do this, when's he going to do that? I know this, he is working like crazy and I get to witness it in our building. I get to see him in our meetings. He's a huge, huge part of our program. He's a huge part of what we do.”
Mental reps – Deshaun Watson took mental reps for the vast majority of practice aside from a couple of throws to receivers early in practice. Meanwhile quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was seeing throwing a football for the first time this offseason. “He just recently got back up to throwing,” Stefanski said. “Different injury, different timeframe, but we will be smart there and just kind of do what the docs tell us.”
First look – Wednesday’s OTA was the first time reporters were able to get an up close view of the new kickoff play. Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone repped it nearly a dozen times including isolated work on blocking engagement techniques for the kickoff and receiving lines which line up at the opposing 40 and 35 yard lines respectively. “I think they get to experience the speed of the play and how much, when you're on that kickoff team, how much sooner the return is on you,” Stefanski said. “That's something that a bunch of guys have mentioned to me. Just back in the old days, you could run 30 yards and find the ball and start to get in your lane and now it's just like you come out of your stance and bam, that play is on you. So I think they're getting a feel for that. I think the preseason will be a big deal and getting some of those reps. I think our practices with the Vikings out here will be helpful in that regard, but so it is still a work in progress for players and coaches.” Ventrone mentioned last week he plans to rep all the skill players in the two return positions.
One to go – The Browns are almost done razing properties on the nearly 16 acres of land the team has acquired for their massive mixed-use development. One house remains standing on the corner of Lou Groza Blvd. and Pearl St. On Wednesday the old Serpentini Chevrolet dealership and body shop was demolished by crews. The Haslam Sports Group aims to build a new headquarters, University Hospitals sports medicine center, community field, rec center for Berea, dorms for Baldwin Wallace University, a hotel, some retail space and a parking deck as part of the project, which is expected to cost over $200 million and will take up to two years to build.
Roster move – The Browns signed safety Brady Breeze, who participated in rookie minicamp as a tryout player. Breeze takes the roster spot vacated by kicker Lucas Havrisik, who was waived Tuesday.
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