Although the Browns won’t move training camp from their Berea headquarters this summer, they will take it on the road for a brief business trip.
The Browns will head to Florida to participate in two joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the days leading up to the Aug. 26 preseason game between the teams at Raymond James Stadium.
The two sides will practice together Aug. 23-24 at Bucs headquarters in Tampa before resting the day prior to their exhibition matchup, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter told reporters on Thursday. The Bucs will also practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in August.
“Training camp’s a long grind,” Koetter said. “It’s great to go against other people and other looks, and it’s a good way to test where you’re at. It’s almost like you’re having two practices at once — your offense is practicing on one field, your defense on the other, instead of going against each other. ... I’m just a big believer in seeing the different looks.”
It’ll be the second consecutive summer in which the Browns have practiced with another team. They worked with the Buffalo Bills for two days last August at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, N.Y., then traveled back to Cleveland and hosted the Bills in a preseason game.
The Browns conducted those joint practices last year under Mike Pettine and the previous coaching staff. Like his predecessor, new Browns coach Hue Jackson wants to give his players extra opportunities to test themselves against opponents.
Deal done
The Browns announced they signed outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah to his rookie contract.
The second-round draft pick (No. 32 overall) from Oklahoma State received a four-year deal, which is worth $6.6 million and includes a $3 million signing bonus, per OverTheCap.com.
“Officially a member of the Cleveland Browns!!! All glory to God!” Ogbah tweeted.
The Browns have signed seven of their 14 picks, including wide receivers Corey Coleman (first round), Jordan Payton (fifth) and Rashard Higgins (fifth), offensive lineman Spencer Drango (fifth), cornerback Trey Caldwell (fifth) and linebacker Scooby Wright III (seventh).
Special guests
Jackson invited former Browns players Bernie Kosar, Hanford Dixon, Steve Sanders, John Thierry and Felix Wright to Thursday’s organized team activity practice. The Browns tweeted photos of Kosar talking to their players on the field.
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.