CLEVELAND -- Lifelong fans of the Cleveland Browns annually make pilgrimages to the team’s Berea headquarters to attend training camp, and sometimes, celebrity fans are among them on the journey to Northeast Ohio to take in a practice.
Such was the case on August 14, as country music star Brad Paisley visited with the team in Berea, and his trip to Cleveland was featured in the third episode of the HBO Sports documentary series, “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns,” Tuesday night.
“I love it,” Paisley said while walking out to practice. “This is a dream come true for me.”
A Browns fan for many years, Paisley got the ultimate fan experience while in Berea, which included talking about the team’s No. 1 overall pick, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield, with GM John Dorsey.
“How’s his arm? What do you think? Mayfield’s arm good?” Paisley asked Dorsey.
“He’s stronger than you realize,” Dorsey answered. “He’s got a really great release.”
Paisley told Dorsey that he had been hearing comparisons between Mayfield and Favre, but the former Green Bay Packers executive said there was plenty of ground to cover before such talk becomes a reality.
“I can see why people say it because of the mannerisms he does, but you’ve got to earn that respect,” Dorsey said.
Following the conversation with Dorsey, Paisley addressed the team, and with some coaching from second-year tight end David Njoku, broke down the huddle after practice.
“I’ve been a fan since third grade,” Paisley said. “I was a Brian Sipe fan. That’s how far back I go. Go win some this year. I’m really rooting for you, and I can’t wait to see what you do, so win this for Cleveland. Go out there and go get ‘em.”
After addressing the team, Paisley got to meet several players, including offensive lineman Joel Bitonio, as well as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
“I’m glad you guys are here,” Williams said. “Anytime you want to sit in a meeting, you can, but if you’re allergic to the word ‘F#$%,’ you’ve got to get a prescription.”
Along with the interaction on the field, Paisley was given “an exception to the rule” and permitted to visit the “Quarterback RV.”
“My goal when I got here was to infiltrate the RV, and see what’s happening there,” Paisley said to Mayfield.
Mayfield told Paisley the RV was a place for the quarterbacks to get rest away from the facility because “it is so important in training camp to get away from it for little bit,” and then, got some advice on what to do with the recreational vehicle once the preseason work is complete.
“Apparently, the RV company we rented from, they sell the RVs at the end of the season in like October, so I’m sure they’ll get some use out of it,” Mayfield said.
Paisley responded, “No doubt. Are you kidding me? I’m sure there’s some nut job that wants this. Probably me, actually. I’ll park this on the farm. This’ll be like a piece of history right here.”
At the end of their meeting, Paisley had some encouraging words for Mayfield.
“We are rooting for you, man,” Paisley said. “Can’t wait to see what happens.”
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