The Cleveland Browns are set for a position battle at the quarterback position between veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. However, after it was announced that embattled quarterback Brendan Sorsby would forgo his legal battle to play for the Texas Tech Red Raiders this season after a sports betting controversy to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, the Browns have been heavily floated by fans and pundits as a potential landing place.
In an interview last week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke on the situation and what kind of things would factor into whether the franchise would consider adding Berry to the roster.
“I think there are two things,” Berry told Anthony Lima and Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. “There are two questions I ask, because we’re all human and I’d imagine everybody that’s on this call and listening to this show, I’m sure everyone has made mistakes. I really ask two questions: I ask, No. 1, is this a bad person, or did they make a bad decision? And then the second piece is, what are they doing after the fact … to correct the behavior. Is this a pattern of decision-making? And if so, have they done something to stop the pattern? Or is this an isolated incident? Because the reality of it is, we’re all going to screw up. And some, certainly, mistakes are greater in magnitude than others.
“But I think the most important thing in Brendan’s case is what he does from here. Obviously, it’s a great first step to get the help that he needs. But then it’s like, OK, what is around him? What is he doing to make sure that he can maintain healthy habits moving forward? So, it seems like it’s a very good start there. Obviously, I don’t know all the details at this point. But I think, probably, within society, so to speak, we could all use a little bit more grace.”
Berry also touched on how, in light of some character concerns, a quarterback’s leadership qualities need to shine.
“I also think that probably the more important things are the internal leadership — so how does this player prepare? How do they relate to their teammates? Are they coachable to the coaching staff? Are they an anchor when there’s tough moments in the game? Because that’s the stuff that actually makes the biggest impact,” Berry said. “And those are the people, that’s the biggest constituency that the individual has to lead and serve. So, that’s really more the priority than what I would say as maybe the more marketability, [piece of it].
“But you like to have everything. You’d like to have everything, ideally. But very few players fit that, though.”
The NFL supplemental draft has not been held since 2023, and a player hasn’t been drafted in one since 2019.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.