AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Steelers

Bengals

Bengals OC Joe Callahan believes RB Joe Mixon is an “every down” running back and expects him to stay on the field as long as possible. 

“I don’t want Joe to leave the field, personally, and I think he’s up to that challenge,” said Callahan. “He has some things he has to improve pass-protection-wise. Joe shouldn’t come off the field, he should be on the field every down. He’s aware of that.”

Callahan said he also feels “really good about” RB Samaje Perine as their No. 2 option, while sixth-round RB Chris Evans provides a “multi-faceted skillset” as a pass protector and receiver. 

“Samaje (Perine) has been an excellent pass protector when called upon,” said Callahan. “We feel really good about (Mixon and Perine). How that role shakes out after that is up to the competition after that. Chris fits that mold of a guy who has a multi-faceted skillset. He can go protect, he’s smart enough to diagnose, and he’s got the strength and pass-catching ability to be a threat there. It’s going to be a fun competition to be around, but ultimately I see Joe as the primary guy to start in all facets of the running game.”

Browns

Browns GM Andrew Berry said second-round LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah‘s unique style isn’t a fit for every team, but is for the Browns. 

“I do think Jeremiah is a little unique in the manner in which he produces so he’s not going to necessarily be everybody’s flavor or fit,” Berry said, via Cleveland.com. “You’re talking about a player who is a little bit undersized for a classic linebacker.”

“You’re talking about a guy who was used in a variety of roles at Notre Dame, and that’s not necessarily going to be the right fit or maybe quite as highly valued of a skillset depending on the defensive system. All I can say is for us in (defensive coordinator) Joe’s (Woods) scheme, everything he does well marries with what we want our linebackers to do in this defense.”

• Berry mentioned the team is comfortable with where new DL Malik McDowell is to take the risk of signing him: “There’s going to be players that make mistakes in their life…it’s more about what the individual has done since that point and really how aggressively they’ve been to turn their lives around…We felt comfortable with the direction his life has taken.” (Mary Kay Cabot)
• Berry also said the team will stay in contact with DL Sheldon Richardson if it makes sense: “Stance is very similar to what I said about Sheldon the last couple times. We do keep in contact with Sheldon and his reps and if it’s the right fit, we certainly welcome him back with open arms. But, it obviously has to work on both sides” 
• Berry says that the team needs to continue building off of last season and not make any major changes: “From our perspective, probably the biggest mistake we could make is all of a sudden to completely shift our approach and get away from the things that got us to where we were last year. Our focus is very narrow, it’s working hard and improving every day.” (SiriusXM NFL Radio)

Steelers

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert called first-round RB Najee Harris a “well-rounded” player who can make the routine NFL runs and also contribute as a receiver and blocker. 

“Najee is a well-rounded running back that played in a pro system,” Colbert said, via ProFootballTalk. “He made NFL runs routinely, and he could also play in the passing game, both as a receiver and as a blocker. He’s basically a three-down back coming from an NFL-like system, plugging into a similar type system. He made NFL runs at the collegiate level. He did it at a high level. He helped them win a national championship, so hopefully he can help us win some games.”

• Steelers CB Justin Layne has a felony gun charge dropped after pleading guilty to misdemeanor possession of criminal tools in a case stemming from a traffic stop on April 23 in Ohio. (Brooke Pryor)
• Layne received six months of probation, 32 hours of community service, a $500 fine, and was ordered to pay court costs.