The Browns introduced their extra brainy new braintrust Thursday as executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta met the media for the first time.
DePodesta is a former Major League Baseball general manager who most recently worked for the New York Mets. Brown was the team’s general counsel before being promoted following the firings of general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine earlier this month.
The Browns hired Hue Jackson as head coach last week, and Brown said Thursday the team is in the process of hiring a vice president of player personnel -- not a general manager -- to oversee the scouting operation. Brown has control of the 53-man roster.
Brown said his new position is not a “huge leap” because he’s been involved with the football side of the building previously. DePodesta said he understands some skepticism about a career baseball man taking a key role with an NFL team, but he said that given time, the Browns can “start being right more than wrong.”
Brown said the team hopes to have a top personnel/scouting hire made “within a week or two” and said multiple candidates have already been interviewed. He said Jackson will have “major input” on personnel decisions, including how the Browns proceed with quarterback Johnny Manziel.
“Obviously, Johnny is on the roster,” Brown said.
Obviously.
Manziel was fined for no-showing a treatment session at the end of the season, but Brown said he’s cleared concussion protocol.
Brown said he’s already met with Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas after Thomas expressed concern about going through another rebuild. Brown said he’s confident Thomas will be “a big part” of the Browns going forward. Wide receiver Josh Gordon has applied for reinstatement, and Brown was noncommittal about Gordon if he’s reinstated.
Brown also said the team is working to hire a new strength and conditioning staff because the Browns dealt with “too many” soft tissues injuries last season.
