Usually, day one of an NFL training camp is not very exciting. There’s some stretching, a short practice and some interviews with coaches and key players. Day one of Browns training camp was different. Here’s a recap.

Prior to heading to West Virginia, it was announced wide receiver Amari Cooper had agreed to a new one-year contract. According to https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/cleveland-browns the Browns converted $18.79 million of Coopers base salary into a signing bonus and added two more void years, saving the Browns 15.032 million of cap space. Cleveland now has $29.6 million in cap space. I was shocked Cooper and his representatives agreed to a one-year deal, but when Cooper was interviewed, he said he wants to stay with the Browns past this year. I’m sure the Browns will explore that possibility as the season progresses.

The team also reported which players would be on the active PUP list and the NFI (non-football injury) list to start training camp. To no one’s surprise running back Nick Chubb, left tackle Jedrick Wills and right tackle Jack Conklin were listed. The surprise was defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and safety D’Anthony Bell were also listed. As for the NFI, running back Nyheim Hines (no surprise) and cornerback Greg Newsome (big surprise) were listed. Later in his first media availability, head coach Kevin Stefanski reported Newsome already had hamstring surgery and Tomlinson would be having a knee scope soon. Both are expected to be ready for the season opener. The loss of Newsome will allow second year player Cameron Mitchell and rookie Myles Harden more practice time, but the loss of Tomlinson is very concerning. He’s the number one defensive tackle who gets between 65 and 70 percent of the snaps. Yes, it will allow second round pick Michael Hall, rookie Jowon Briggs and second year player Siaki Ika more practice time, but Tomlinson is too important to the success of the improved run defense.

Finally, during the same news conference, Stefanski confirmed he would again be calling plays for the offense. He’s a great play caller, having coached a team to the playoffs twice, won eleven games twice, had ten different quarterbacks and won Coach of the Year twice, all since 2020, but I thought with the hiring of Ken Dorsey, he would transition into more of an overall head coach. My reasoning is last year, the team found their CEO of the defense in Jim Schwartz. Stefanski let him totally control the defense and it worked out quite well. I thought the same would apply to Dorsey and the offense. It’s a brand-new style of offense emphasizing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson’s strengths. More run pass option, empty backfield, pre-snap motion and less tight ends. If Kevin Stefanski can play call someone else’s offensive and be successful, then he deserves to be Coach of the Year again.

Finally, it’s great to see Mike Vrabel in Browns gear. This hire might be the most underrated move the Browns made in the off-season.