The Browns were at it again Thursday as they attempted to rain on the parade of North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.
Wentz had a phenomenal showing during the scripted portion of his pro day workout in the Fargodome, completing 63-of-65 passes with one drop, per NFL.com.
But when it concluded, Browns associate head coach-offense Pep Hamilton took control like he did last week during the pro day of California quarterback Jared Goff. Hamilton used a green Gatorade squeeze bottle to squirt water on the ball, simulating how Wentz would throw in the rain. He employed the same tactic with Goff.
The first wet-ball pass Wentz threw zoomed into the turf. He rebounded with two consecutive good throws and a wobbly completion before missing high to cap the session. He completed 2-of-5 passes with a drop during Hamilton’s experiment.
“I just had to get used to the first [wet ball] and obviously it went right into the dirt,” Wentz told NFL Network. “But I got the feel for it after that. ... Anytime you’re playing with a wet football, it’s not going to be perfect. I mean it was pretty doused. That would’ve been torrential downpour there.”
Inclement weather was a central theme of the pro day. Snowstorms led to canceled flights, and Hue Jackson of the Browns was the only NFL head coach to attend the workout as a result, per NFL.com. Jackson was joined by Hamilton and vice president of player personnel Andrew Berry. They stood directly behind Wentz while he dazzled.
“I would say A, if not an A-plus on the pro day,” said NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who graded Goff’s workout as a B. “If you take the Gatorade bottle out of it, nearly flawless.”
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock deemed the workout “outstanding.”
The only criticism was Wentz’s inconsistency while throwing the wet ball. Goff completed 3-of-4 passes with a wet ball.
“I thought Goff handled the extras a little bit better than Carson Wentz, but not to the extent that I say, ‘OK, that just changes everything in the workout,’ ” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. “It was just that I thought with Goff when they doused the ball, I thought the ball came out of his hand just fine and everything worked out well.”
Regardless of the water stunts, many draft analysts have predicted the Browns will select Wentz second overall on April 28. Goff, the other top-rated quarterback in this year’s draft class, received effusive praise from Jackson this week during the NFL owners meetings.
Still, most gurus think the Browns ought to pick Wentz (6-foot-5¼, 237 pounds, 10-inch hands) because he’s bigger than Goff (6-4, 215 pounds, 9⅛-inch hands), and some believe that means he’s a better fit for the AFC North.
On the other hand, Goff is widely considered better prepared to play right away in the NFL than Wentz, who played lower-level college football.
North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman actually fueled the narrative.
“I don’t have any concerns from a physical standpoint,” Klieman told NFL Network. “It’s just, will he have to play right away? Give him a chance to grow and develop. ... Maybe not put him in the fire too quickly.”
For what it’s worth, the Browns have already put him in the water.
Together again?
After signing with the Browns on Thursday, quarterback Robert Griffin III expressed excitement about a potential reunion with former Baylor University teammate Josh Gordon. An All-Pro receiver in 2013, Gordon is waiting to learn whether the NFL will reinstated him after banishing him for the entire 2015 season because of violations of its substance-abuse policy.
“I love the guy,” Griffin said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with him and the league or with the team. But he always knows he has a brother in me, so if the opportunity comes that he can get reinstated and play for the Browns ... it would be a lot of fun.”
Gordon wrote on Twitter a reunion with Griffin “would be nice.”
Happy with Hue
Griffin said the chance to play for Jackson was a factor in his decision to join the Browns.
“He’s got a proven track record of working with quarterbacks, working with teams and molding an offense to what the team has,” Griffin said. “... I’m real excited to have another opportunity to grow with a coach who believes in me. That’s big. Now I’ve just got to go out and prove it.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.