CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns' week can't get any bigger!
They're playing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the New York Jets in two days and Browns legend Joe Thomas is set to be inducted. Meanwhile, Tuesday was the first training camp practice open to fans at the team's facility in Berea.
After spending nine days privately practicing in West Virginia, hundreds of fans gathered at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea to witness the new Browns team, hoping to see glimpses of Super Bowl potential.
“I'm really excited, pumped up for this season," said fan Margie Wittine. "Hoping that Deshaun comes through for us.”
She, like many others, is hoping quarterback Deshaun Watson will lead an improvement over last year's 7-10 losing season.
“Definitely looking to see the relationship between the Deshaun Watson and some of his receivers, especially the new guys," said Frank Dragolich. "I also want to see some intensity out of the players out here today."
Another other focus for fans was the defense.
"This team is only going to go as far as our defense takes us," Dragolich continued. "I mean, as many weapons as we've got on offense, we're still a defensive-minded football team.”
Hal Wittine is putting his faith in Jim Schwartz as new defensive coordinator.
“He's really setting the tone for a really much more aggressive defense this year," he said. "So, I'm really looking forward to that because our defense has been really passive the last few years. We haven't been aggressive and I think to succeed in the NFL this year you need to really be aggressive, and they've upgraded the personnel to fit that mode as well."
A cool new thing about this summer's eight open training camp practices is that each one has a theme, such as superheroes, throwback, or military appreciation.
Tuesday's theme was youth football with the Browns hosting the inaugural Jr. Browns Classic Flag Football Tournament for kids.
“I’m feeling good," said James Hennings, a receiver for the Garden Valley Falcons. "Can’t wait to get the game started and watch the Browns train. I’m excited.”
His father, also James Hennings, is the head coach of the team:
“It means everything for them because you know as a young athlete any opportunity that you get to feel like a pro, it makes them that much more excited, makes them work that much harder," he shared with 3 News. "And this is not a game. It's the training facility. So, it emphasizes work. We see what happens on Sunday, but we don't see what happens during the week leading up to Sunday. This is giving them an inside view on the work ethic that goes into being a professional athlete."
The Browns next open training camp practice is on Sunday.
