Weeden Taken Back By The Signing Of Hoyer

brian-hoyer

Brandon Weeden admitted Friday he had no advance knowledge that the Browns were signing quarterback Brian Hoyer, but he’s not worried about how it will impact the quarterback competition, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

“I was surprised, but that’s the nature of the beast,” Weeden said Friday at the Cleveland Browns Foundation charity golf outing at Westwood Country Club. “It’s part of this business and if you start worrying about it, that’s too much to worry about. That’s my mentality going forward.”

Weeden said he hasn’t been told what the Browns have in mind for Hoyer, 27, and that it’s not his concern.

“I have no idea,” Weeden said. “I’m worried about me.”

Browns Fans! Enter The New Era Photo Day Contest!

Cleveland Browns (ANGLE)

New Era, the official on-field headwear of the National Football League, is teaming up with the NFL to launch the Back to Football Photo Day contest. So what this means is that Browns fans will now have the chance to join the ranks of Trent Richardson to also become THE face of the Browns.

The contest, which is live at www.speakwithyourcap.com or through New Era’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/neweracaps?fref=ts) will require Browns faithfuls to submit photos of themselves showcasing how you personally “speak with your cap.”  Whether you wear your cap sideways, backwards or flexed at the brim, show how you are bringing your own style to the game.

32 fans (1 per team) will ultimately be chosen and win a complimentary trip to New York City for two. The winners will enjoy a four-day VIP experience and will be professionally styled in their favorite team’s looks for a New Era photo shoot that may be used for a year-long advertisement and promotional campaign.

LaCanfora: Cribbs Inks Deal With Oakland

Browns Sign Players Following Minicamp

The Browns today signed defensive back Akeem Auguste, punter T.J. Conley, defensive lineman Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, defensive back Abdul Kanneh and linebacker Ausar Walcott, the club announced.

All five players participated in the team’s minicamp this past weekend on a tryout basis. In addition, the Browns waived defensive back Kevin Barnes, wide receiver Mike Edwards, defensive lineman Paipai Falemalu, punter Jake Schum and defensive back Ricky Tunstall.

A four-year letterman at the University of South Carolina (2008-10, 12), Auguste appeared in 43 contests with 22 starts. He totaled 133 career tackles, one interception, 10 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack. Born October 10, 1989, the 5-10, 185-pound Auguste is a native of Hollywood, Florida and attended Chaminade-Madonna High School and Fork Union Military Academy.

Originally signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2009, Conley spent training camp with the Jets in 2009 and 2010 before emerging as the team’s starting punter in 2011. He appeared in all 16 games in 2011, booting 92 punts for 3,926 yards (42.7 average) with 32 punts inside the 20-yard line. Conley spent training camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. A four-year letterman at the University of Idaho (2005-08), Conley led the NCAA in punting (47.4 average) as a senior. Born August 29, 1985, the 6-1, 215-pound Conley is a native of Walla Walla, Washington, where he attended DeSales High School.

Originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Jean-Baptiste spent four weeks on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad last season. A four-year letterman at Baylor University (2008-11), he appeared in 49 games with 21 starts and totaled 94 career tackles, five sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Born March 8, 1989, the 6-1, 330-pounder is a native of Houston, Texas, where he attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.

Kanneh spent two seasons at New Mexico Highlands University (2011-12), where he totaled 107 career tackles and nine interceptions, with four returned for touchdowns. He also returned 21 kickoffs for 425 yards (20.3 average) with two touchdowns and 13 punts for 215 yards (16.5 average), while also blocking five kicks. Born September 9, 1990, the 5-10, 185-pound Kanneh is a native of London England, and attended Potomac High School in Virginia.

A four-year letterman at the University of Virginia (2009-12), Walcott appeared in 45 games with 22 starts. He totaled 128 career tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Born January 1, 1990, the 6-2, 230-pound Walcott is a native of Hackensack, N.J., where he attended Hackensack High School.

Browns Coach Rob Chudzinski Talks After Rookie Mini Camp

Rob-Chudzinski_02-640x480_20130111113007_320_240

(Opening statement)- “How’s everybody doing? Thanks for coming out. It’s good to get back with a little football again here. We had the rookies in today. It’s really nice to get a chance to see them, get out with them for the first time and actually see them on the field and see what they can do and have our coaches around to get to know them. We had basically a normal minicamp day. Similar to the ones we had with the veteran minicamp initially there. We had a walk-thru this morning. We threw a lot at these guys. We gave them a chance to learn it and go through it on the field walking then go out and practice this afternoon. We started on the field this afternoon and then ended up inside. A Lake Erie sprinkle hit us a little bit, but we got a lot done. I’m really pleased with today.”

(On if he felt the need to address Armonty Bryant personally)- “I did. It’s a serious matter. Now that Armonty has gotten here, I had the chance to sit down with him and talk about my expectations – make those expectations clear with him. I feel like we have a good support structure here. I think we have good guys in the locker room, some guys who are excellent mentors. You look at D’Qwell Jackson, Davone Bess and those guys, anybody that follows them and follows their example will learn how to be a professional. Ultimately, Armonty needs to show that he is going to be accountable and I expect that out of him.”

(On his early impressions of Bryant)- “Well, I just met him for the first time face-to-face yesterday. I think he is very remorseful for the things that have happened. He understands me and what I expect of him and is ready to make amends.”

(On if he can tell when players apologize seems real or not)- “Time will tell. You have to give guys every chance, every opportunity. Again, I feel really good the structure that we will have around him to give him every chance. Again, he will be evaluated constantly just like all our players are. Time will tell.”

(On Bryant has a chance to be a sleeper who brings more than expected)- “We’ll see. He’s real raw. He has ability. There are a lot of guys who are raw and have ability, and it really just depends on his commitment level and work ethic.”

(On if they thought about not bringing Bryant in)- “We discussed all of the options. We ultimately decided that we wanted bring him in, sit down and talk to him and that’s the process we went through.”

(On if Bryant’s situation distracts from building a positive team environment)- “I don’t think it does. I think what we are doing here, there’s a feeling in the air. If you look at the vets – that’s one guy out of many guys – what the vets are doing and the energy that’s in the building right now. I feel great about what we are doing and accomplishing overall.”

(On if he attended Barkevious Mingo’s workouts or if this was the first time he saw him in a uniform)- “This is the first time that I have seen him in a uniform live. Obviously, watching tape on him and seeing him at the Combine. Those were the exposures I had to Keke. He came and visited us as well as one of our 30 visits.”

(On if Mingo looked different than on tape)- “He looked pretty quick and pretty fast. He moved around the field pretty well. It’s always different when you see guys live, in person and you are close on the field to them. He had a good day and he really picks things up well. That’s the thing that stood out to me as well.”

(On if Mingo needs to add 15-20 pounds)- “I don’t know if it’s 15-20 pounds. That remains to be seen. Different guys have different body types and different weights that they play the best at. You look at guys from Jason Taylor all the way to some of the bigger guys. Really, it’s a matter of getting them in here, spending some time with coach (Brad) Roll and bringing them up to speed. All those things will work themselves out.”

(On if everything today was normal)- “Just normal. Some guys made some good plays. I saw Leon McFadden make a nice play driving on a ball and deflected it away from a receiver. Some guys always catch your eyes. You go in and watch the tape – that’s the biggest thing. We will watch tape tonight and see some of the guys. It’s always good to see some of the tryout guys come in that you don’t know anything about at all and really haven’t much of. Some of those guys flash. It’s good to have them for a couple days because you get another two days, two practices of evaluation. Usually by the weekend you have a pretty good sense for what those guys are and what they can become potentially. If they can help us, whether it’s now or down the road, practice squad, all those types of things, you are hoping to find guys.”

(On the health status of Jamoris Slaughter and Chris Faulk)- “We were looking at them and today we were going to evaluate them on the field, while we were out there working out. Slaughter we are expecting to be back ready for training camp, maybe he will be ready sooner. I don’t know, but we are planning on training camp for him. For Faulk, we are looking at basically the same thing. We will see and make that determination for sure after this is over.”

(On Chris Faulk and what they saw in him)- “George Warhop watched him on tape and some of our scouts, who had seen him earlier in the season, did as well. He’s a big guy and that’s the first thing that stands out to you – his size. Certainly coming back from the injury he’ll have a lot of work to do. As a player who played at LSU, played and started games and competed in that conference, obviously there is something there. Again, we’ll see. It’s a long way between where guys are now and where they want to be. That’s

Browns Add Depth To O-Line With Pickup Of Rashad Butler

Rashard Butler

The Browns have another player on their offensive line to add some needed depth, as the team has come to terms with free agent OT Rashad Butler.

He was a third round pick of the Carolina Panthers back in 2006.

The team is yet to confirm the roster move.

The tackle has played 42 NFL games, all with the Houston Texans, but just two over the last two seasons. An elbow injury limited him to two games in 2011 and he missed all of last season with a torn triceps.

Browns 7th Round Pick Armonty Bryant Arrested For DUI

2013 NFL Combine

It’s more issues for Browns 7th round pick Armonty Bryant, as he was charged Monday with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Bryant was arrested on Friday in Ada, Oklahoma, according to a police report. He was charged in Pontotoc County District Court and a court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.

According to an arrest affidavit, Bryant was stopped early Friday near the stadium at East Central University, where he was a standout player for the Division II school. His blood-alcohol level was 0.098 percent; the legal limit in Oklahoma is 0.08.

He was the 217th overall pick by the Browns last month, and after he was picked Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said that Bryantis “past the mistakes that he has made and ready to move on. He has matured.”

He had already racked up one arrest on a felony charge of marijuana distribution in a school zone. He pleaded no contest.

Following Bryant’s DUI arrest, the team said in a statement it is aware of what happened and is “collecting more information.”

Bryant is scheduled to take part in rookie minicamp beginning Friday in Berea.

Campbell And Weeden To Have Camp Battle For Starting QB Spot

Jason Campbell

Backup quarterback Jason Campbell will be given a legitimate shot to beat out Brandon Weeden for the starting job, and the competition between the two is more than just lip service, league sources said.

That’s one of the main reasons the Browns have been reluctant all off-season to tout Weeden as their guy for 2013.

On the final day of the draft, when asked if not drafting a quarterback meant the Browns were committed to Weeden, coach Rob Chudzinski said, “I feel good about the group. How all that plays out, we’ll see and know in time. I’m excited about Brandon and the progress he’s made thus far, learning the system to the point we are right now, which is still very early.

“I’ve also been pleased with Jason and the role he’s taken in being there. We want to give these guys every opportunity to succeed and give Brandon, since you are asking about him specifically, every opportunity to succeed.”

Pressed on if they’re moving forward with Weeden as the starter, Chudzinski said, “We’re going to proceed as we’re proceeding right now. Brandon is getting the reps with the first team and working with the first group. A lot of this will remain to be seen when get into pads and we get into real football instead of the football where you run around in shorts on air.”

Chudzinski’s remarks were consistent with what he said during the voluntary minicamp April 16-18, in which Weeden took the first-team reps.

“It’s early in the process,” Chudzinski said. “Campbell will get some reps with the ones as well along the way. But this is a long, long process and there’s a long time between now and our opener. We’ve got plenty of time and this is just the first step.”

Chudzinski echoed those sentiments in an interview on 92.3 The Fan Thursday to kick off the start of the radio partnership.

“I expect both of these guys to compete,” Chudzinski said. “I don’t know any other way. Anybody that’s on a team is competing from my standpoint. We want to put these guys in a situation, give them every chance to succeed and we’ll see how that all plays out. I’m hoping that the best man wins the job and that he gives us a chance to win.”