Tag: Joel Bitonio

All-Pro offensive linemen advocate to return to wide zone scheme in 2025

As the Browns look for a new offensive coordinator, All-Pro OL Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin advocate to an offensive return to their roots

The Cleveland Browns have fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, and All-Pro offensive linemen Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio are begging the team to return to their offensive scheme that worked.

Conklin and Bitonio both expressed how head coach Kevin Stefanski’s roots are in wide zone and that is why the Browns found great success offensively, even under quarterback Jacoby Brissett (top-10 offense before Deshaun Watson returned from suspension).

For Conklin specifically, that is the entire reason the Browns signed him and he was named as an All-Pro in 2020. It’s what he does best. Here is what Conklin had to say on the offensive scheme this past season and into the future:

“Where we had the most success was as a wide zone team. We brought in guys that do that and that do that and we’ve been very successful doing that. So I just hope that’s what we return to.”

For Bitonio, who is contemplating retirement over the next coming weeks, he added a similar sentiment. He even added that a move back to the old offensive scheme is what he expects:

“I think that’s what coach Stefanski is comfortable with. … I think it’s what we’ve had the most success with.”

The Browns are no longer catering the offense around the quarterback, and even more obvious that Stefanski is back in the driver’s seat. Expect a return to a functioning NFL offense.

What is next for the Browns’ longest-tenured player?

Will he retire or will he be back in 2025?

Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (tied with long snapper Charley Hughlett) is the longest-tenured player on the Cleveland Browns.

But for how much longer?

Last week, Bitonio expressed some concerns about his long-term health, age, and team success as his 11th NFL season has come to a close. Bitonio stated he did not see himself putting on another team’s helmet and would retire a member of the Browns, but he expressed some doubt on the timeframe of when that would happen.

Speaking after the loss to the Ravens on Saturday, however, Bitonio used language that made it sound like he may not be done just yet. Here is what Bitonio had to say on an abysmal 2024 season:

“I was not expecting this. I don’t think the team was expecting this. We’ve got to find a way to turn it around. We’ve got to find some answers. We’ve got to look in the mirror. It was a disappointing season.”

Outside of the extreme disappointment, the “we” language that Bitonio is using makes it sound like his retirement may not be imminent. While the Browns drafted a guard in Zak Zinter in the third round last April, potentially planning for their life beyond Bitonio, he does have one year left on his contract in 2025.

We won’t know until Bitonio himself gives an answer, which is expected after he takes some time off to talk to his family and see how his body is feeling. Getting Bitonio back for one more year to give the team another 365 days to reinforce their offensive line and roster before losing another big part of their locker room.

Sights and sounds from the first half as the Ravens hold a 14-3 lead over the Browns

Sights and sounds from the first half as the Ravens hold a 14-3 lead over the Browns

Baltimore holds a 14-3 lead over Cleveland in the season finale, but all fans and experts can wonder is whether Zay Flowers sustained a serious injury when he was forced to exit with a knee injury.

Flowers had one catch on two targets before exiting, and his injury came shortly after Rashod Bateman was slow to get up after a big hit. Even with the Browns playing stout defense, the Ravens are 30 minutes from clinching the AFC North.

Derrick Henry has six carries for eight yards, and the Ravens have been held to 76 yards rushing in the first half.

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Browns All-Pro lineman comtemplating retirement after the season

Left guard Joel Bitonio is putting everything on the table this offseason.

As the 2024 season winds down for the Cleveland Browns, so may the career of All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio.

Drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft, Bitonio has spent all 11 seasons of his NFL career in Cleveland. When asked about his time in Cleveland, Bitonio gave an honest answer about where he stands at this point in his career.

Bitonio gave a firm commitment that he would finish his career in Cleveland but was unsure of the timing of when his time on the football field would come to an end. And he didn’t rule out that these last two games could be his last.

“Truthfully, it’s mostly personal just like how my body feels going into another season. You put a lot on your body. We’ll just go from there, talk with the family and see where we’re at.”

Despite a clean bill of health most of his career, Bitonio missed games last year with a back injury. At 33 years old now, the grind of an NFL season is taking its toll on the veteran.

Bitonio did add that the rough 3-12 season the Browns are going through is weighing heavy on him as well. At some point the cost-risk analysis tips in favor of hanging up the cleats:

“The goal now, you’re in Year 11, Year 12, you want to try and win games. It’s hard to go out there and have 3 wins right now. That’s been tough. It’s tough on your body. You just don’t feel as good on Monday when you’re losing games.”

During his time with the Browns, Bitonio has been a dominant mainstay at the left guard position. He has even played left tackle for the Browns in a pinch when needed. Throughout his 11-year career, Bitonio has been named to six Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro twice.

As the Browns take on the Miami Dolphins at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday, there is a real chance it could be Bitonio’s last.

Bill Belichick selects three Browns stars on his midseason list

NFL Legend Bill Belichick selected LG Joel Bitonio, DE Myles Garrett, and CB Denzel Ward to his mid-season award list.

Bill Belichick selected his midseason All-Pro team on his podcast Thursday. The Coach’s Podcast is hosted by Belichick and former head coach Matt Patricia. The coaches were joined by former Browns’ front office executive Michael Lombardi to break down the best players this season. The group went over every offensive, defensive, and special teams position. 

Belichick selected three cornerstone pieces of the Browns’ franchise. Left guard Joel Bitonio, defensive end Myles Garrett, and cornerback Denzel Ward were at the top of the list. Unsurprisingly, no Browns players were selected for a Special Teams award. The three were brief in their complements.

Belichick admired Bitonio’s toughness this season when he kicked out to offensive tackle. The group acknowledged Garrett is the best defensive end in the NFL. Belichick believed Ward was the best cornerback before his injury. The group expressed their concern for Ward’s latest concussion.

The Browns have built up a talented team of stars. After a disastrous season start, fans hope those stars can lead the team to the playoffs. They probably need a few other players to leap to superstar during the season. Hopefully, Belichick’s end-of-season list will feature a few more Browns players.

Injuries to key DBs highlight Ravens’ struggles with pass defense in loss to Browns

The Ravens entered this game dead last in the league in pass defense, so the Browns were well aware they could exploit the secondary.

Those who call the NFL a league of parity (not “parody,” OMG! That common malapropism drives me insane) could certainly point to today’s 29-24 win by the Cleveland Browns over the Baltimore Ravens.

Worst beat first in the AFC North division as Baltimore’s five-game win streak ended, as did Cleveland’s five-game losing skid.

Jameis Winston, who many football pundits have declared “washed” for some time, finished 27 of 41 passing for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while leading the Browns’ offense to heights that had not been seen under their franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson this season.

The Ravens entered this game dead last in the league in pass defense, so the Browns were well aware the secondary was a position group that could potentially be exploited.

And things worsened for Baltimore even before a single pass was thrown, as Nate Wiggins (illness), Marlon Humphrey (ankle), and T.J. Tampa (IR) were all ruled out.

More change was still to come in the defensive backs position group, as Marcus Williams was benched for being largely ineffective this season. The Ravens’ pass defense has been a persistent problem this year, but it’s not as bad as it may seem.

Baltimore is so stout against the run that opponents consistently find themselves having to rely on their passing attacks heavily. Also, the Ravens entered the day in first place, with a 5-2 record, and teams with winning records tend to find themselves ahead, and even well ahead, most of the time.

And what do you do when you’re behind, often well behind?  You pretty much have to pass.

So, while today was undoubtedly a shocking surprise defeat, all is not lost.

Ravens take a step back in shocking 29-24 loss to the Browns in Week 8

Ravens take a step back in shocking 29-24 loss to the Browns in Week 8

Baltimore has a penchant for blowing late fourth-quarter leads, but on Sunday, the Ravens took a step back toward the inconsistent unit that lost two straight to start the season.

In what can only be described as a shocking loss, the Cleveland Browns had their most impactful performance without Deshaun Watson in a 29-24 victory over first-place Baltimore in Week 8.

Lamar Jackson started the game 6-6 passing but finished 23-38 passing, for 289 yards (7.6 avg), two touchdowns, and zero interceptions with a 101.8 rating. Just like Baltimore had their five-game winning streak snapped, star running back Derrick Henry came back to earth, rushing for only 73 yards (6.6 avg) and one touchdown on 11 carries.

After missing two practices during the week with an ankle injury, second-year wideout Zay Flowers posted another 100-yard game, logging seven catches for 115 yards on the afternoon.

Zach Orr’s defense played without two starters at cornerback, and Jameis Winston carved up the Ravens. The former Heisman Trophy winner went 23-38 passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns.

The Browns took the lead when Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass — his third of the game — to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds left as Cleveland erased weeks of frustration.

Baltimore will now look to regroup with Bo Nix and the upstart Broncos heading to M&T Bank Stadium in Week 9.

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Browns considering moving All Pro G Joel Bitonio to LT

The Browns might kick Bitonio out to left tackle with a multitude of injuries at the position

The Cleveland Browns are looking for solutions at left tackle after a slew of injuries have battered their tackle room. The Browns called in reinforcements to the 53-man roster, signing Germain Ifedi from the practice squad and Sebastian Gutierrez, and Ricky Lee III to the practice squad. The move bolsters the end of the depth chart, but the Browns still have no answer at the starter position. The Browns are mulling starting Joel Bitonio at left tackle. 

Stefanski told reporters earlier this week that Bitonio could be an option at left tackle. Joel Bitonio should be the starting left tackle until Jedrick Wills Jr. returns from injury. Bitonio finished the Giants game at left tackle. He had an emergency start at left tackle in 2021. Bitonio has previously said he doesn’t want to play the position, but will if asked. 

Bitonio’s resistance to playing left tackle is well-founded. Bitonio is a model of consistency. He is the longest-tenured Browns player on the roster. He hasn’t played left tackle since his college years. He is a Pro Bowl guard and is paid like one. 

Bitonio should explore playing left tackle for the foreseeable future. He is likely the best option remaining. It may also help his legacy. Bitonio has been selected to six All-Pro teams in his ten seasons. Bitonio has been overshadowed by his fellow draft mate Zack Martin’s career.

Bitonio has an interesting way to differentiate his career from Martin’s if he succeeds at left tackle late into his career. It may give him the push he needs to enter the Hall of Fame. 

Browns overtake Eagles for NFL lead in players earning over $10M per year

Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns are tied with 13 players earning over $10M per year

Championship teams are built through the draft and shrewd free-agent acquisitions, and in this new day of the NFL, huge salaries are a prerequisite for overall franchise success.

Before Wednesday morning, Philadelphia and Cleveland led the NFL with 12 players earning $10+ million per season.  The Browns now have the top spot after the team agreed to a three-year extension with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, worth up to $39 million, including a $25 million guarantee.

Browns

– Deshaun Watson: $46M
– Myles Garrett: $25M
– Denzel Ward: $20.1M
– Amari Cooper: $20M
– Jerry Jeudy: $17.5M
– Joel Bitonio: $16M
– Jack Conklin: $15M
– Dalvin Tomlinson: $14.25M
– Wyatt Teller: $14.2M
– David Njoku: $13.687M
– Grant Delpit: $12M
– Za’Darius Smith: $11.5M
– Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: $13M (max)

Eagles

– Jalen Hurts: $52M
– Saquon Barkley: $12M.5
– A.J. Brown: $32M
– DeVonta Smith: $25M
– Dallas Goedert: $14.5M
– Jordan Mailata: $22M
– Landon Dickerson: $21M
– Lane Johnson: $20M
– Bryce Huff: $17M
– Josh Sweat: $10M
– Darius Slay: $13M
– James Bradberry: $12.5

The Browns have the NFL’s second-highest payroll at $244,730,743, behind the Atlanta Falcons, who are shelling out a league-high $249,538,227 in cap space.

Philadelphia is 30th in the league, paying out $182,873,638 in total cap space this season.

Browns Podcast: Cleveland’s interior O-line is one of the NFL’s best

Interior offensive line is a major strength of the Browns

Training camp is finally here, as the Cleveland Browns will report and head for The Greenbrier this week. One position that they don’t have to worry about at all is the interior offensive line. The trio of Ethan Pocic, Joel Bitonio, and Wyatt Teller is as good as it gets in the NFL.

However, it was a bit of a down year for Bitonio, who had a nagging back injury that seemed to limit him for much of the year. But it was probably the best year we have seen from Wyatt Teller since 2020, who was fantastic and back to mauling people in the run game.

The run game wasn’t great at times last year, and the team will need to lean on these big, strong interior guys if they want to fix it in 2024. You can hear more about this great group of guards and centers in the latest episode by clicking here.