Sunday Dawg Chow: Browns news (5/3/20)

Cleveland Browns:

• How many players are locks for the Browns 53-man roster? (The Dawg Land) - There is a lot of talent on this Browns roster so don’t be surprised to see some senior players challenged for a roster spot, especially if someone’s special teams play impresses.
• Nick Harris has fan favorite potential (Beacon Journal) - Nick Harris took a black permanent marker to a white T-shirt and wrote, “WE DONT LOSE TO COUGS.” Later, Harris rolled up his purple jersey to reveal the message after he and the Washington Huskies defeated the rival Washington State Cougars in November for the program’s seventh consecutive victory in the Apple Cup. Cleveland sports fans would probably erect a statue if a Browns player were to apply the same treatment to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Why the Browns took who they took in the draft (Terry Pluto) - One of the reasons the Cleveland Browns draft went so well is GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski got to know each other when Stefanski first interviewed for the coaching job in 2019. That’s important.
• Myles Garrett Only 2017 Top-5 Pick to Get 2021 Contract Option Picked Up (Bleacher Report) - Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was the only member of the 2017 draft class’ top five picks to get the fifth-year option in his rookie contract picked up.

NFL:

• NFL set to release full 17-week schedule next week (ESPN) - The NFL isn’t altering its fall plans. The league will release its 2020 schedule late next week without any major changes, league spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed — including a Sept. 10 opener, the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 and visions of fans in the stands.
• Bears have declined Mitch Trubisky’s 5th-year option. So what does it mean? (Chicago Tribune) - It’s now official. The Bears have elected to decline the fifth-year option on quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s rookie contract, a league source confirmed to the Tribune on Saturday. So what factored into the team’s decision? What are the risks and rewards of this move? Here’s a look at eight key questions.
• Andy Dalton Reflects On Bengals Run (bengals.com) - Andy Dalton arrived amid a chaotic offseason, left Thursday in the middle of a pandemic and never once in the nine years, five post-season berths and two AFC North titles in between did the focus and faith of the Bengals winningest quarterback ever waver.
• Alex Smith: It’s ‘so absurd’ that Colin Kaepernick doesn’t have a job in the NFL (Yahoo Sports) - Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith is still recovering from the horrendous leg injury he suffered in 2018 — which was the subject of an ESPN documentary that premiered on Friday. Smith talked about that injury on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” on ESPN Radio on Friday, but also addressed his time playing with Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco.