BEREA, Ohio — The Browns made headlines during the bye week when they traded former second-round pick Austin Corbett to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2021 draft selection, but it was the player LA allegedly coveted that got even more attention.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Rams were willing to give the Browns former All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters in exchange for offensive guard Joel Bitonio. Although General Manager John Dorsey apparently turned them down, he did manage to entice LA to take on Corbett, and the decision set off a flurry of moves for the defending NFC West champions that saw Peters go to the Baltimore Ravens and disgruntled All-Pro Jalen Ramsey come to Hollywood from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Such rumors can sometimes get to players, but if Bitonio was bothered on Monday, he certainly didn't show it.
"It’s really a non-story from my perspective," Bitonio told reporters, adding that the Browns weren't the ones who shopped him in the first place. "[They] said no and I’m here in Cleveland and I love being here."
The 28-year-old Bitonio, in his sixth pro season, is currently signed with Cleveland through 2022. He admitted he "had no idea" about the trade conversations until someone showed him Schefter's tweet over the weekend.
"It’s what it is," he said. "Every GM is going to ask around and see who’s available and who’s not available."
Bitonio has often seemed like the one constant on an offensive line that has been inconsistent through the Browns' disappointing 2-4 start. Contributing to those issues was Corbett, who despite being a high draft pick only last year could not make the starting lineup and was sometimes inactive altogether.
Corbett and Bitonio were close, partly because the both played at the University of Nevada. Bitonio said Sunday he was "always going to root for" his friend.
"The toughest thing for me so far in my NFL career is how many friends you lose on a week-to-week basis," he added. "I'm excited for him. He has an opportunity down there and hopefully gets a chance to play."
Aside from the trade speculation, some have also wondered if more changes are coming for the Browns O-Line, possibly at left tackle. For his part, though, Bitonio says it won't affect how he goes about his business.
"I am pretty used to it and you get a lot of reps with the guys just throughout individual and thorough all different times," he said. "Obviously, I think 100% you would want the same guy next to you the whole time, but if things have to change, that is what it is.”
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