Browns quick hits: Man of the Year honoree Joel Bitonio happy to use 'really big platform'

BEREA − Joel Bitonio was a stranger in a strange land in the spring of 2014.

Bitonio had just been selected as the Browns' second-round pick in the draft. Cleveland was a long way from his roots on the West Coast, be it his home state of California or Nevada, where he played college football.

Yet, the big offensive guard found the welcome mat put out from him. Now, eight years later, Bitonio admits he's found a home three time zone away.

"I feel like Cleveland's always accepted me since I got here," Bitonio said Thursday. "I've been in West Coast in my whole life, California, Nevada, and then come out to Cleveland. So it is a big jump, it's just different way of life. What really got me was the Eastern time zone of game starting so late and stuff like that really messed me up. But no, the people have always been accepting for me and me and my wife have, we've loved it here, you know what I mean? Been awesome. And so the community's always supported us and that's easy for me to go back and support the community when we can."

That community support by Bitonio and his wife Courtney is what led him to be the Browns' honoree for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, which was announced on Tuesday morning. It's the first time the All-Pro left guard has earned the honor, which recognizes on- and off-the-field accomplishments.

The four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection has been a key contributor for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. He's also helped with a variety of other activities, including A Kid Again Ohio.

For Bitonio, the importance of the award was something, much like his roots now in the community, that took a bit of time to develop.

"I think it does take a few years, because you hear about it but you don't really understand about it," Bitonio said. "… I think the older you get in the league, the more you realize you have a pretty big platform here, financially and with name recognition and the team backing. So for you to be able to go out and do community work and stuff, I think it just goes. I don't think you ever do it to be like, yo, I wanna win this award or anything like that. But if you get the recognition for it, I think it's something you can build your platform on and help use the money to help other foundations that mean a lot in your life."

Bitonio and the other 31 honorees will be up for the league's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honor, to be announced the Thursday prior to Super Bowl LVII. He will also be honored by the Browns prior to the Dec. 17 home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jaelon Darden's addition no reflection on Donovan Peoples-Jones

Donovan Peoples-Jones ended a more than seven-year punt-return touchdown drought by the Browns with a 76-yard return in last Sunday's win in Houston. That earned him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Wednesday.

That same day, the Browns claimed one of the league's top punt returners, Jaelon Darden, off of waivers from Tampa Bay. Darden leads the league in punt returns (31) and punt return yards (330), while is seventh in average return at 10.6 yards per return.

"Any time you have a player with Jaelon’s ability, you are always looking to improve the roster," special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said Thursday. "That has nothing to do obviously with Donovan. Donovan is doing a great job. I am not looking to swap anybody out. I just think Jaelon for the future… Donovan plays a lot of offense. He plays darn near every snap on offense. At some point, he is going to get tired. At some point, he is going to need a break. Jaelon provides that ability to be a really good dual returner for us, if need be."

Peoples-Jones is averaging 14.8 yards on 13 returns. He doesn't qualify for the league leaders due to the number of returns, but his current average would rank second in the league if he did have enough to qualify.

Greg Newsome II still not over dropped first interception

Just before the half in last Sunday's win at Houston, Greg Newsome II had his chance. His first interception was right in his hands, and the second-year cornerback dropped the ball.

Five days later, Newsome was asked if he had managed to move on from the dropped pick.

“Yeah I got over it," Newsome said Thursday. "Nah I have not got over it, but I’ll get over it soon.”

Newsome has appeared in 22 career games since being the No. 26 overall pick in the 2021 draft. In that time, opposing quarterbacks have targeted him 108 times, with him being credited with 11 career pass defensed.

Yet, Newsome remains without an interception. At this point, easy or hard, he's not getting picky how difficult the play is to make in order to get the pick.

“No, I kinda want to go get it and I think that one in the game was a perfect opportunity that I just played it really well so," Newsome said. "Obviously I’ll take an easy one, obviously, but I’m trying to go out there and get one.”

Chase Winovich, Pharaoh Brown only absences from practice

The only two players not on the field for the Browns' Thursday practice were defensive end Chase Winovich and tight end Pharaoh Brown. Right tackle Jack Conklin, as has been the case each Thursday, worked to the side with a trainer.

A knee injury sidelined Winovich, who had practiced the previous day. Brown was the latest player to miss due to illness.

The three players who missed practice due to injury or illness on Wednesday − cornerbacks Denzel Ward (illness/ankle) and A.J. Green (knee) and tackle James Hudson III (illness) − were all back on the field on Thursday.

Nick Chubb a finalist for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Running back Nick Chubb was one of eight finalists selected by a panel of former players for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Chubb and the other seven finalists were pulled from an initial list of 32 representing every team in the league.

The other seven finalists were Baltimore's Calais Campbell, Las Vegas' Maxx Crosby, Houston's Jerry Hughes, Tampa Bay's Lavonte David, Minnesota's Dalvin Cook, Green Bay's Aaron Jones and San Francisco's Kyle Juszczyk, a Cloverleaf High School product. The eight were selected by a panel comprised of former players Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler.

The award is presented each year to a player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition. The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joel Bitonio happy to use platform to help adopted home Cleveland