AFC Notes: Browns, Steelers, Antonio Brown

Browns

Browns GM John Dorsey said QB Baker Mayfield is “mature beyond his age group” and he is excited for his future in Cleveland. 

“He’s mature beyond his age group and I’m just happy he’s a member of the Cleveland Browns organization and I can’t wait to see what he does next year,’’ Dorsey said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Clevland Plain Dealer. 

Dorsey added that he knew that Mayfield would be a starter back in November and October, but he did not want to influence the coaching staff. 

“I knew in my heart of hearts what he was back in the month of October, November, but I think you keep that to yourself and you listen to everybody,” Dorsey said. “You don’t want to influence the room and you want the room to have Baker earn their respect and I think he did that for everybody in the organization.’’

• In regards to Browns LB Jamie Collins‘ future with the team, Dorsey said they must “self-assess” their roster and gather input from the new coaching staff: “We have to self-assess our team. We’ve been concentrating on other things. Normally, we have that assessment already. I don’t think we’re ready to make that full assessment of where we are. We will take the input of the new coaching staff and we will see what they have to say moving forward and see in what direction we are headed.“

Steelers

Steelers RB James Conner says he never felt any pressure to have to replace Le’Veon Bell in the team’s offense. 

“It’s what I have always asked for,” Conner said of becoming the starting running back, via Steelers.com. “Not the situation it was. I didn’t ask for that. But the opportunity to be a starting NFL running back. I didn’t really feel any pressure because it was everything I was asking for. I didn’t look at it as pressure because it’s what I wanted. It was a great opportunity.”

“It wasn’t ever my place to say anything,” Conner added. “Even when I am playing well I don’t say much. I am not one to talk much and promote things. It was a funny position to be in. I didn’t have control over anything. I could only control what I did on the field.

“When my teammates said they believed in me, I didn’t pay attention to the outside world, what they thought. I just came to work every day. It was a funny position to be in, but I started all year and things worked out.”

Antonio Brown

• Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey told reporters at the Pro Bowl on Wednesday that he’s “very optimistic” something can be worked out with WR Antonio Brown and the team. (Mark Kaboly)
• Pouncey mentioned that “time heals everything” in regards to the relationship between Brown and QB Ben Roethlisberger: “You can’t tell me that a great phone conversation or a sit down can’t get things right. Time heals everything.” (Mark Kaboly)
• According to Pouncey, the reported walkthrough between involving Roethlisberger and Brown never happened. (Mark Kaboly)