Browns Joel Bitonio talks with our Barry Shuck about Kobe, Nick Chubb, Kevin Stefanski, fondest memory, retirement, more

25 questions with one of the most decorated Browns player in history

Every football championship team has a few things in common. A great pass rush, capable cover corners, and a superb offensive line.

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Notice that the quarterback wasn’t mentioned. It is a huge plus to have a great signal-caller, of course, but there have been teams that have won titles with average quarterback play as long as other positions step up. Think Trent Dilfer with the Baltimore Ravens or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Brad Johnson. And yes, most exceptional championship squads were indeed led by a Tom Brady, Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Bart Starr, Sid Luckman, or somebody named Patrick Mahomes.

The offensive line is crucial. When the O-Line plays poorly, the number of sacks increases, completions decrease, the running game suffers, pressures go way up, passing yardage is diminished, and scoring goes down. Then it’s a long day at the office.

The Cleveland Browns have been blessed with exceptional offensive linemen over their decades of playing the pro game.

This trend began with Frank Gatski, who played center for the Browns from 1946 to 1956. He is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (HOF) as well as the Browns Ring of Honor. During this same time, Lou Groza played right tackle although he was most known for his placekicking abilities. He is also in the Hall and the Ring of Honor.

From there, various offensive linemen have dotted the rosters of future Cleveland squads such as OT Dick Schafrath, OG Jim Ray Smith, C Mike Baab, OG Wyatt Teller, OT Cody Risien, OG Abe Gibron, OT Mitchell Schwartz, OG John Wooten, C Alex Mack, OT Doug Dieken, OT Joe DeLamielleure (HOF), C J.C. Tretter, OT Mike McCormack (HOF), and of course, probably the best of the bunch in OG Gene Hickerson (HOF) and OT Joe Thomas (HOF).

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This list cannot be complete without adding offensive guard Joel Bitonio.

Bitonio is the poster child for guys who weren’t really noticed until later in their careers. He grew up a Southern California kid who lived close to the ocean and spent a lot of time on the beach and in the water. It’s what you do when you are a beacher.

He attended Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach (Calif.), just 32 minutes south of Los Angeles and a short distance from Disneyland. Bitonio’s main sport was basketball, where he averaged 12.3 points and 11.2 rebounds a game. But he also played along the offensive line in football. As a senior, he became involved in track, where he tossed the shot put, and he led his division with a top throw of 15.39 meters at the 2009 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Prelims.

But basketball was his true love. So, naturally, he gravitated towards the Los Angeles Lakers, where his idol was Kobe Bryant. Bitonio had Bryant’s poster on his wall, which he won by tossing darts at balloons at the county fair. Sadly, that poster is long gone.

While playing football, Bitonio was a two-time All-league selection and was the “Moore League Lineman of the Year.” He was also First Team All-Conference and named Second Team All-State by MaxPreps.com.

Plus, Bitonio was named to the Long Beach Telegram “Dream Team,” selected annually for both football and basketball.

Despite having an outstanding high school career in three sports, his basketball offers were few and from smaller colleges in either D-2 or D-3. He received more offers to play college football, but that list began with D-2 and D-3 schools, and later became more fruitful with some D-1 offers. Except that list was with several minor colleges. Absent was attention from Power 5 programs such as USC, Washington, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, or Alabama.

Nope. Bitonio’s list is a story from a lot of high school athletes who light up their regional divisions and receive plenty of accolades, and yet don’t get noticed like they should.

Raised Catholic, Bitonio was recruited by Nevada, Fresno State, and San Jose State. Not exactly Power 5 schools, but scholarship offers nonetheless. After all, a full ride is a full ride, complete with a college degree at some point, which would come in handy if this football thingy doesn’t pan out.

He chose Nevada and was able to play Division I football, and later was invited to the Senior Bowl. He played right and left tackle in college. One of his finest college football moments was the November 26, 2010, game when 19^th-ranked Nevada was down 17-0 in the first half, only to defeat #3-ranked Boise State 34-31 in overtime. That just happened to be nationally televised, played in the bitter cold.

In the end, in addition to a college education with a degree in economics and a chance to show he belonged on the gridiron, he came out of Nevada with a future wife. Pretty sweet. There is a story of how he met his future wife, Courtney, in the Q&A section below. His narrative is a lot more compelling. The couple were married in 2016 and now have three children, two girls and a son.

One thing you have to know about is the brand new “Bitonio Family Strength & Conditioning Center.” It is located on the campus of the University of Nevada and is a multi-use facility as a gift from Bitonio and his wife. The “Family” portion of the center’s name is a nod not only to his wife and children, but also to his dad Mike, who passed away when Bitonio was just 19 years old, plus his mom Debbie, who lost a husband while still in their 40s and had to continue with life.

LINK: UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA SUPPORT FACILITIES

In the 2014 NFL draft, Bitonio was selected by the Browns with the third pick in Round 2 (#35). That is considered first-round talent at second-round money, but that would be okay. He would make up for the financial pitfall later in his career as he proved himself. He was drafted in the same rookie class as QB “Johnny Football”.

When Bitonio came to the Browns, coached by Mike Pettine, he was inserted at left guard between C Alex Mack and that guy named Joe Thomas at left tackle. On the other side were RG John Greco and RT Mitchell Schwartz, while Gary Barnidge and Jordan Cameron were the main tight ends. Needless to say, it was a stacked offensive line. Years later, the Cleveland brass would bust this group up for reasons perhaps only they know about. But for the time being, early on in Bitonio’s career, it was a very talented and aggressive group.

Although Thomas was a key mentor to Bitonio, his greatest tutelage came from Greco.

Throughout his NFL career, Bitonio was voted to the NFL All-Rookie Team, named First Team All-Pro twice (2021, 2022), Second Team All-Pro three years (2018, 2019, 2020), and has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven consecutive times from 2018 through this past 2024 season. He was nominated as the Browns representative in 2022 for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Not bad for a kid who had zero interest from Power 5 schools and initially got interest from UC Davis, Sacramento State, and Idaho State before getting better offers from Nevada and San Jose State. Essentially, he had to settle for a lesser-known D-1 program, wasn’t even a first-round NFL draft pick, and yet has cranked out 12 years in a sport in which he gets mauled every single play without fail the entire time he is on the field.

Perhaps every athletic offensive lineman who has been neglected should have Bitonio’s poster on their wall.

And Bitonio has been relatively injury-free since he arrived in Cleveland. In 2016, he sustained a foot injury in Week 5 that kept him out the remainder of the season, while the year before, an ankle issue kept him out of six games. Bitonio underwent knee surgery and suffered a back injury during the 2023 regular season, but missed just two contests. In all, Bits has started 161 games as a Cleveland Brown.

At one time, he had his own little streak going, starting 102 consecutive games from Week 1 of the 2017 season opener through the fourth game of 2023.

Now, Bitonio remains a member of another really good offensive line group. In 2023, the Browns’ offensive line was ranked #3 in the league. And, except for OT Jed Wills who will be replaced by the youngster Dawand Jones, the cast of characters going into 2025 is exactly the same guys. They know each other and already have a knack for protecting each player’s blind spots. So, the future is bright for the O-Line this upcoming season.

This 2025 season will be Bitonio’s 12th year with the Browns and the final year of the extension he signed back in November of 2021.

Dawgs by Nature’s Barry Shuck sat down with Bitonio to discuss the current status of the offense, what in the heck is the Bitonio Family Strength & Conditioning Center, and having to say goodbye to Nick Chubb.

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DBN: You played a lot of basketball at Long Beach Wilson High School and had very good averages for both points and rebounds a game. As your senior season rolled along, what persuaded you to choose to follow a football career instead of basketball?

Bitonio: I always loved basketball, and it was my best sport. In the ninth grade, I realized that I wasn’t going to be 6’-10”. I could tell my future was going to be more into football. But if you were to ask me about my favorite sport when I was in high school, I would have told you whatever sport I was playing at the time was really my favorite. I do think I could have gone to a D-2 or a junior college with basketball, but my better offers were for football. But I loved playing basketball in high school.

DBN: Growing up just outside of LA, you became a huge Kobe Bryant fan. He wore #8 and also #24, which on the Browns were Elijah Moore and Nick Chubb’s numbers. Now that both players are no longer with the Browns, can’t you just declare that you are a receiver or a running back and switch your jersey number to either 8 or 24?

Bitonio: That would be fun. I think now every position can pretty much choose their numbers, except linemen. They are still stuck between 50 and 79. I should come out as number 24. Maybe declare myself a fullback. It was fun when Michael Dunn or Nick Harris were lined up back there as fullbacks.

DBN: Where were you when you heard of Kobe’s accident?

Bitonio: I was at the Pro Bowl in Florida. It was the weirdest thing. We were in the locker room getting ready to play the game. T.J. Watt of the Steelers was sitting across from my locker, and he said, “I think Kobe just died.” And I asked him what he was talking about. He was looking at a TMZ report about a helicopter crash. I said, “No way” and thought it was some sick joke. But as the game was about to start, they did a moment of silence, and they said a prayer for him and his family. That was the most somber game ever because all of us guys grew up with Kobe. That was my childhood hero.

DBN: You were in the early stages of college when your father, Mike, passed away. He taught you the importance of hard work along with mental and physical toughness. What inspiration in football and with your own family do you get from him?

Bitonio: From the start, he believed in me. Most kids had the dream of playing professional sports, but I was never for sure that I would play in the NFL. I had heard that 97% of all high school athletes don’t go on to play professional sports. And I believed that. I was in the mindset that I could get my school paid for. I was never the kid who said I was going to be an NFL player. But my dad would say, “Why can’t that be you? Why can’t you be part of the three percent?” He was always vocal at games, rooting for me. He didn’t yell at the refs, but something like “make them work,” which was more directed at me instead of my whole basketball team. He was always positive and reinforcing those moments when I was being lazy to keep working or go run instead of being on the couch too long at home.

DBN: How did you meet your wife, Courtney?

Bitonio: We were both at Nevada. It was a coed dorm, and I went down to the common area watching the Lakers in a playoff game on like the only TV available, I think against the Celtics. She and her friend walked down and started talking to me. I am dialed into this basketball game and trying to watch it. It was a big deal for me, and I wasn’t really paying attention to her. Then that summer, we hung out a bunch and connected as friends. And then started dating in the fall. So, it began with I didn’t want to be rude, but it was kinda like, “I’m trying to watch this game, can we talk later?”

DBN: We want to know more about the Bitonio Family Strength & Conditioning Center that became a reality on the University of Nevada campus, years later, during your NFL playing career. Where did this idea come from, and why call it “Bitonio Family”?

Bitonio: I always appreciated Nevada. They were one of the few schools that had interest and kept up with me. They came and watched me play basketball and thought I was a big kid who could move pretty well. This was all before NIL, and back then, if you transferred, you sat out a year. And I stayed and have a deep respect from the school, and always wanted to give back and help people. Nevada did so much for us, and it’s where we met. It was a no-brainer once we got the details. They told us we could name it whatever we wanted, but I wouldn’t be anywhere without my family. Courtney was on board with the entire process. She knew we wanted to give back at some point and was supportive. She understood what it meant to me.

DBN: What was your first Browns training camp like?

Bitonio: Going back to 2014, it was intense. But I was lucky because I was between Alex Mack and Joe Thomas. So when Alex is telling me we are doing this, and Joe is saying we double team this one guy, you just listen and try not to mess it up for those guys, being the rookie. The mental part was tough with so many meetings. There were a couple of times I would ask a dumb question and get a look back, like, why are you asking that? But those two made it so easy for me. I just had to remind myself not to step on Joe Thomas’ foot or something else so that he didn’t get hurt. That first training camp was tough, especially having to block someone like Phil Taylor, a big, large, fast human being. I had to try to find a way to work things like that. During that time, there were a lot of good players on the Browns’ defense. The hardest thing for me was that I was moved from tackle to guard. And pass blocking for me as a guard, I just wasn’t sure. I was used to setting up as a tackle and not having to use my hands faster. And everyone from the first-string guy to the third-stringer is talented. I had to block Desmond Bryant a lot. He was strong and had long arms, which made the job harder. Billy Winn, John Hughes, Armonty Bryant – those guys.

DBN: Since coming to Cleveland, you have played under five head coaches. Kevin Stefanski has now been with the Browns going into his sixth consecutive season. How important has it been for the team to have consistency at the head coaching job? By the way, how many offensive schemes have you seen?

Bitonio: I think it is very important. If you look at some of the best teams in the league, they have consistency at the head coach. When you bring in a new coach, they usually bring in a new system. When you are playing a 3-4 defense and now the new guy plays a 4-3, a lot of the personnel don’t fit and change over. To have consistency, now we are drafting the right guys to fit our scheme. One of Stefanski’s best qualities is that he doesn’t ride the ship with either positivity or negativity. He’s the same guy every time. Overall, the direction of the team has been very positive. Now, I have seen a lot of different schemes. Kyle Shanahan schemed my first year, and his system was so simple for an offensive lineman. Then John DeFilippo, followed by Hue Jackson. Then Todd Haley came in that last year, who had his own spin on things. That’s four. Then, Stefanski’s first two years were his own system. When Deshaun came in, it was more of a gun. Then with Dorsey last year, we changed a lot of stuff. It was not wide zone anymore and was not as much gap scheme at all. Not as much pulling by the guards. How many is that? Seven?

DBN: Fans have some negative thoughts about Stefanski’s mostly calm demeanor on the sideline (and his Denny’s play menu). What don’t fans know about his passion or emotion that the players get to see? Or is he always pretty low-key?

Bitonio: We get to see him on a daily basis. I have seen coaches yelling at a player or the ref during a game. That does nothing positive. It might look like they care from a fan’s perspective, but calling out guys is not winning football. He is calm and low-key, but his message is, this is what is expected. He does have those moments behind doors, but I don’t think everyone needs to see it. He is very passionate as a head coach. Now, (RB coach) Duce Staley will let into us. There are strengths as a coach and he plays into that well. If you have a low-key coach, you have to have on staff a guy who is going to go off on players.

DBN: Did the hiring of OL coach Bill Callahan change your life?

Bitonio: Yeah. I have been fortunate to have a lot of good O-Line coaches my whole career even though my first four years in the NFL, I had a different O-Line coach each season. Callahan elevated my technique and my game. I had never jump set before he got to Cleveland. He showed me how to work on it, and I did, and it made me a better player. His details are a huge factor and work to our strengths as players. Of course, it helped that Nick Chubb was running behind us. Callahan definitely helped my game and was a great hire by Stefanski.

DBN: You have been blessed with having exceptional centers to work next to: Alex Mack, J.C. Tretter, and now Ethan Pocic. What is it going to take for Ethan to finally get recognized and be named to his first Pro Bowl?

Bitonio: It’s tough because we, as offensive linemen, have very few stats. I think Po has been so solid. He’s always trying to learn. Last year, he was a little banged up, but the year before, I thought he would finally get some recognition. He is a big, strong lineman. If we get the run game going this year, he will take that next step. And it’s hard to get recognized when your team has a bad year. Jerry Jeudy came in and made the Pro Bowl last year, with us having 14 losses, but there are stats to back him up. We, as offensive linemen, depend upon others seeing our efforts without any numbers behind them. There is a correlation with everything. He has been playing very well for us the last couple of years. But he is all business. I will tell him, “Po, it’s Tuesday. We’re not at gameday yet, so just relax a bit.” He is always very locked in.

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DBN: One of the worst days of our Cleveland Browns life was hearing that Nick Chubb had signed with the Texans. Former Browns RB coach Stump Mitchell told us he expects Chubb to return to his old form. Can you see Chubb having a Saquon Barkley-type rebound season?

Bitonio: That was a bad moment for me as a player. I had the same reaction when they got rid of Greco, who was my mentor and friend. It was like, oh no, this can’t happen. And J.C. was one of my best friends, and suddenly he was gone. And Nick being signed. That was probably the big three in my Browns career. I texted him after he signed and said, dude, I wish you were back. And not just being a running back, but there is a big relationship between a back and the guys up front. I was so appreciative of what he did and for being the player that he is. Nobody has worked harder in the game and then tried to get back into the game. The work he put in, the focus that he has. With Joe Mixon also being on the Texans, I can see Nick being that 15 touches a game guy and getting five yards a carry. His recovery has been amazing. He came back in a year, which is crazy for that type of injury. As a friend of his, I hope he has a great season.

DBN: Last year, the offense got away from Stefanski’s West Coast offensive style. We have been told that the Browns will get back to running the ball. Are you in favor of this?

Bitonio: Yeah, you have to coach what you have. Last year, we were being coached on different things. For us, we have always had this wide zone, play-action offense with a lot of tight ends in a versatile offense. All these years, that is what we were. Anytime you can fire off and run the ball, do some keepers, some play-action, it’s huge for us.

DBN: In 2023, the Browns won 11 games, were the highest Wild Card seed, and had a playoff game against the Texans. The thought process was that Cleveland would be making a playoff run for several seasons in a row. Then last year, you lost 14 games. Did that season break you?

Bitonio: It was tough. I did give consideration to retiring. I was frustrated. Now, I don’t know if I would have the same conversation if we had gone to the playoffs again, and maybe were a 10-win team. But after having a successful year, followed by losing 14 was difficult. I questioned why I was playing this game. What am I doing here? The fact that we had a terrible season was not what I was expecting. I sat back and waited for a little bit. I talked to Stefanski, then they brought in (Mike) Bloomgren and advanced Tommy Rees. He said they were going to draft a quarterback and make all these moves. I wanted to go out on a higher note than what we experienced last year.

DBN: How close did you come to retirement?

Bitonio: It was more than losing 14 games. I didn’t know who the left tackle was going to be, and what was our quarterback situation like? During the off-season, it was truly a decision. I sat at home for a month or two and discussed the possibility with my wife. I went through the process of retiring or not. I knew I could still play at a high level. I was healthy. I still wanted to play football. Then I had discussions with Stefanski and Andrew Berry, and they convinced me that changes would be made. Now, they weren’t going to tell me who they were going to draft, but that the quarterback situation would be different, and the style of offense we were going to run. Then they brought in Coach Bloom, and that decision was a big part of what I decided to do. He and I went to dinner a couple of times, and he gave me his philosophies. But at the end of the day, I realized I wasn’t ready to be done. I want to play more and I want to play in Cleveland.

DBN: What are you expecting with this Tommy Rees offense?

Bitonio: There are a lot of similarities to Stefanski’s offense. Tommy has played college football at a high level and, as a coach and offensive coordinator, has run some big program offenses. He was there for Nick Saban and at Notre Dame. And he was successful. I see his offense as Coach Stefanski’s with some wrinkles in there. Build the defense, and have a ball-control offense. The goal is to return to what we had in 2023 as long as we can protect the football. And ball-control gives us the best chance to turn this around.

DBN: How much time have you spent with new offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren, and what’s he like? Do you see any Bill Callahan in him?

Bitonio: I was at all of the off-season programs. I was working out with the guys. Bloom is, I called him a dick in one of my other interviews. I told him, “I called you a dick but it was in the nicest way possible.” When you are an O-Line coach at any level, you have to have intensity and spark desire. This guy has that fire. He was with Stanford and Andrew Luck when they were running the ball. And with Callahan with the New York Jets. I was excited when I heard he was a Callahan disciple. His detail is very similar to what Callahan used. Like what he expects in situations like near the goal line, what we want to do against this specific D-Line. There is so much that goes into O-Line play, but he has that part of it down. Like Callahan, you have to know what each guy’s strengths are and their weakness are to prepare for who we are going against. You have to know how to attack the guy in front of you each game.

DBN: A lot of the offensive line’s performance is dependent upon the quarterback’s play. When you have a guy who stays in the pocket and can get a pass off on time, this makes it easier for the line. When the quarterback holds onto the ball too long or is slow to make his reads, or is out running around, doesn’t this give the advantage to the defensive line?

Bitonio: Take Tom Brady. I don’t know what his average time to throw was, but the ball is coming out on time to his targets. He always knew how much time he needed in the pocket. There are different styles of play, like with Lamar Jackson. With an O-lineman, it is all about who you are playing next to, who is playing quarterback, and who is the play-caller. When the ball is not coming out in a reasonable amount of time, that is a tough life for an offensive lineman trying to contain this guy who is as big or bigger than you. If you are throwing it 40 to 50 times a game, that is very difficult. But if you have good play action and are running the ball with success and only have to drop back 10 to 15 times, the offense can be very successful.

DBN: Isn’t it true that offensive linemen love to run block and hate pass blocking?

Bitonio: Pass blocking takes more out of you; if you run instead, you take away the pass rusher’s speed, which is his main advantage. Plus, you know in advance where the play is going. When Nick Chubb was playing at a high level, he made our blocks a lot easier because of the timing. And let’s say we call for a three-step drop, and the quarterback is not at six yards. There is a problem with that. Or we call for a deeper protection, and he is at six yards; you are depending on having the depth for your blocking, and he is too close to the line, and then everything gets jammed up, and the defender is in his lap. All of these things play a huge factor. Now, if you have a scrambling quarterback, it is difficult to know where your quarterback is during the game. And there are sacks with scrambling because you aren’t sure where to move your defender. And they have the advantage because they can see into the backfield, whereas the backfield is behind us as blockers. If you are confident that the quarterback is going to be in the right spot in the pocket, then you block the guy and make sure he doesn’t get past you.

DBN: Back in 2023, Joe Flacco only played six games, but the Browns won four of those. With his return, you are already familiar with him as a quarterback and as a person. Do you see his experience and demeanor finally getting some consistency with the quarterback position?

Bitonio: He is coming in already knowing the situation. He is just one of the guys, which is the coolest thing ever. He obviously has the experience, but he is also poised and a competitor. He is a big dude and is probably the tallest guy in the huddle except for Dawand. He can see over everyone and is a lot stronger than you would think. He knows how to work the pocket and still has that mentality. Despite what you have read, he has been working with the younger guys; it’s just the way he carries himself.

DBN: In the limited time you have spent with the two rookie quarterbacks, how do they look, and how are they different players?

Bitonio: Both are here to learn. I did get a couple of reps with both of them in mini-camp. They are asking the right questions in meetings. There is so much to know for an NFL quarterback than in college. It is night and day protection-wise. All of these things are so important. For both of them, they have the right people teaching them. I have seen the focus with each quarterback. I have seen Dillon step up in the pocket and make an NFL throw. I saw Shedeur throw into a tight window, which is also an NFL throw. What they both will need is consistency, which will come. Both should learn before they are rushed into the lineup. But I see NFL throws and decisions from both of them, which is a pre-req for being an NFL quarterback. Other than one being left-handed and the other right-handed, you can tell the experience level in both is high, coming from the college level. Dillon has been in more of a timing system, whereas Shedeur had to improvise a lot of plays. They both can throw on the run and I can see them in this system. I have noticed their football IQ is all high. Both guys can play in this league.

DBN: During the draft, Andrew Berry selected not one, but two running backs. Did this surprise you that he got two young runners? At the time, Nick Chubb was still in play for the Browns. Did you see this as the end of Nick Chubb’s time with the team?

Bitonio: Yeah, that was surprising that he took two guys. At the time, I was hoping Nick Chubb would find his way back to the team. In mini-camp, Q would make this crazy cut. He has the combination of size and athletic ability. He is pretty impressive. Now, after seeing them in practice, I see the mentality of why Andrew Berry drafted them both. They are different runners. They both are good route runners, and we will see how their blocking skills are once the pads go on. Sampson was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, so that means something. From what I have seen so far, they are both very dialed in. I think we are in good shape with Ford and Pierre, and now these two guys.

DBN: Here is a huge issue we see. With the exception of Joe Thomas, everybody along the offensive line gets injured at some point. Jack Conklin is one of the best tackles in the league when he is healthy. Dawand Jones is a young superstar. The problem is, neither can stay on the field for very long before getting hurt. Since coming to Cleveland in 2020, Jack has missed 34 games. Dawand has only played two seasons and has already missed 13 games. And then both tackle positions are filled with a long list of second-tier guys, which disrupts the entire group. What is the solution to keeping these two on the field, and were you surprised they didn’t re-sign Michael Dunn?

Bitonio: Nobody wants to be injured, and there is nothing you can do about it except work on getting back. A lot of Jack’s injuries were crazy. And Dawand, this off-season he has really tried to maintain his weight. I don’t know his exact number, but he is down. All this off-season, Jack has been in there training and developing, and working his core. You hope that both of them can stay healthy. Both know how to be banged up and still play. Then Andrew Berry signed Cornelius Lucas, who has played a lot of football and is a really good player, and probably the best swing tackle in the league. But hopefully we won’t have to call on him to start. This guy can play if we need him, along with Teven Jenkins, who has also played tackle in the past. I was surprised we didn’t draft a young tackle to develop. If all five of us can remain healthy, I don’t see why we can’t reclaim the status of being one of the best O-Line groups in the league. Yeah, Dunn was my guy. He has done some amazing things for this team and can play most positions, including center. That is a guy who they can bring in during training camp or right before Week 1 and not miss a beat. He’s always in shape and just that type of guy. With us, he was always ready to go and would play anywhere needed. I am a big fan of Dunn.

DBN: Deshaun Watson isn’t gone – he remains hurt. Do you think we will see him under center again for the Browns at some point?

Bitonio: I am not sure. I know he’s been in the facility and working. He seems like he is in a good place. I don’t know anything about his timetable and if he is even cleared to play. I don’t have an answer for that situation. I know he is working to get as healthy as possible and play football again. He wants to play and get back out there. I just don’t know all the circumstances.

DBN: What is your fondest moment of being a Cleveland Brown?

Bitonio: The playoff game when we beat Pittsburgh. Coach Stefanski gave me a game ball after that game, and that was super emotional. Those games are what you work for. Also, my first win as a Brown was against the Saints, winning it with a last-second field goal. That was pretty cool and a fun memory. Another small moment is with Baker’s first win against the Jets. Opening up all those beer coolers, and just hadn’t felt that way in a long time after losing so many games.

Jared Mueller contributed to this article