The Cleveland Browns are planning to hold their in-person rookie minicamp next weekend.
It is set for May 14-16, and gives rookies and undrafted free agents their first chance to experience Kevin Stefanski’s coaching style.
“It’s a big step in their maturation is getting them here…Per the [Collective Bargaining Agreement], I think a lot of the teams are going to be doing that, that weekend as opposed to next weekend,” Stefanski said on May 1. “We will get our guys here, plan on getting the rookies and the free agents here, get them out on the field, a lot of meetings, a lot of walkthroughs and then some fieldwork, but it will be just our rookie class, [the] draft picks and undrafted picks.”
The Browns rookie minicamp is expected to include first-round cornerback Greg Newsome II, second-round linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and third-round wide receiver Anthony Schwartz.
The Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets held their rookie minicamps this past weekend against the urging of the NFL Players Association.
The NFL has also set several dates for other portions of the Browns’ offseason program:
- OTA offseason workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- Mandatory minicamp: June 15-17
- Rookie minicamp: May 14-16
While the dates are set, the Browns were among the NFL teams that skipped voluntary workouts in April.
A statement from the Cleveland Browns players: pic.twitter.com/VI71lJXWeA
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 15, 2021
The NFLPA, which is led by Browns center JC Tretter, is urging players not to report for OTAs.
Teams are citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the reason why.
In several interviews, Tretter has said the NFL’s safety protocols in the offseason are not the same as they were during the 2020 regular season.
Tretter also said the boycott is not about protecting veteran roster spots.
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