BOCA RATON, FLA.: Browns coach Hue Jackson hopes to be creative with roles the staff will assign quarterback-turned-receiver Terrelle Pryor and outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo.
Jackson coached Pryor as a quarterback with the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and the Cincinnati Bengals last year. After the Bengals cut him in June, Pryor switched to wide receiver, spent training camp with the Browns and eventually caught on with them late in the season. He had one catch for 42 yards in three games.
But Jackson still thinks Pryor has potential as a quarterback, and he’s trying to decide on which position the former Ohio State standout should focus.
“I’m kind of working through that as we start to put pieces on our team,” Jackson said Tuesday during the NFL owners meetings at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. “I have a lot of respect for Terrelle and what he tried to do a year ago. He’s very talented, in my opinion. I’ve known him as a quarterback, and I think he’s always had ability to play quarterback in the National Football League. He’s demonstrated the ability to play receiver, so to me, he’s a weapon. He’s somebody that we can do a lot of different things with, and we’ll see where he fits pretty soon.”
The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Pryor has been sending workout videos to Jackson about every other day. Asked if Pryor is throwing or catching in the videos, Jackson said, “All of it. And trust me, he is as competitive as they come and he wants to play, and that’s what I love about him.”
Jackson wants to settle on a position for Pryor before the offseason conditioning program begins April 4. One thing Jackson is sure about: Pryor is not a tight end.
How about a potential third quarterback?
“In the back of my mind, he’s a lot of things,” Jackson replied. “So we’ll figure it out.”
As for Mingo, defensive coordinator Ray Horton indicated last month he would experiment with him in a new role, which sounds nebulous at this point.
“He’s a linebacker, hybrid,” Jackson said, “whatever you want to call him.”
Is he a pass rusher?
“Yeah, but we’re going to put him in a spot to showcase his talent and ability,” Jackson said.
The 6-4, 240-pound Mingo, the sixth overall draft pick in 2013, has just seven sacks in three seasons.
“Our plan is to put him in position where he can make plays,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to find a place for him because of his skill set because he is able to run, he’s long. Obviously, everybody’s wanted to put weight on him, and I think we’ll be impressed. I think he’s got his weight up. I can’t wait to see him in person. The guy has some characteristics that you like, but he needs to come be a big-time football player.”
Stay or go?
A day after head of football operations Sashi Brown said the Browns don’t plan to trade nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, Jackson made an even stronger statement.
“Everybody wants to know if we’re trading Joe. Joe’s not going anywhere,” Jackson said. “That’s one of the quarterback’s best friends, especially if he’s right-handed. So I feel good about Joe and what Joe means to our organization. He’s one of the best left tackles in football. I don’t think I would be doing us a good service by making sure he’s gone. We need him here.”
There’s also been speculation about three-time Pro Bowl strong safety Donte Whitner being cut.
Jackson was noncommittal when asked about the Cleveland native’s future with the team.
“He’s one of the better safeties in this league,” Jackson said. “He’s been a tremendous competitor. He’s from the area, and I think he has a desire and want-to to be here. So we’ll see how that all unfolds. But he’s been a great player in this league.”
Another chance
Cornerback Justin Gilbert has been a colossal disappointment, but Jackson said he thinks the eighth overall pick in the 2014 draft can still develop into a difference maker. The Browns need a drastic turnaround from Gilbert with two-time Pro Bowl corner Joe Haden in danger of missing the beginning of next season after undergoing ankle surgery.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Jackson said. “I’ve told all those guys, ‘Everybody’s slate’s clean. You earn what you get.’ So when our guys come back, that’s what they have to understand. Whatever’s gone on here in the past doesn’t matter. If you love football and you want to play and you think you have the ability to play in the National Football League and be one of the best, then you’ve got a chance to play here for us. So we want to create the environment for him to be all he can be because he has tremendous talent.”
Extra points
• Asked which areas of the team he likes, Jackson mentioned running backs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, Pro Bowl tight end Gary Barnidge, Thomas, guards Joel Bitonio and John Greco, nose tackle Danny Shelton, outside linebacker Paul Kruger, defensive end Desmond Bryant, recent free-agent acquisition Demario Davis and fellow inside linebacker Chris Kirksey, cornerbacks Tramon Williams, Haden and Gilbert.
• Jackson said wide receiver is “an area that we need to address obviously. ... I like to have bigger, faster guys play the position.”
• Jackson said “I’m sure we do” need to add a No. 2 tight end to pair with Barnidge.
• Jackson said he’d like to know why Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook, a Walsh Jesuit High School graduate, wasn’t a captain. “Normally a quarterback is,” he said.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.