NFL Notes: Browns, Eagles, Giants, Texans

Browns

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says that he believes this is finally the year that the team will turn things around.

“I’m highly confident that this will be the year when the Browns begin to turn around and perform at the level they should,” Haslam said Monday, via the Chronicle-Telegram.

Haslam also spoke highly of HC Hue Jackson and how the coaching staff has been working with the front office.

“I’m highly, highly confident we got the right guy to lead the ship and that’s head coach Hue Jackson,” Haslam said. “Last year was a helluva tough year. It was no fun for anybody. Going 1-15 is not what we’re all about and not our expectation. But I give Hue and the coaching staff a tremendous amount of credit for keeping the enthusiasm and the morale and the energy extremely high.

“The difference between this year and last year in terms of feeling in the building is noticeably different. We were able to obviously bring in some top-flight talent during the offseason, have what we believe to be a very successful draft.”

Eagles

• Eagles HC Doug Pederson told reporters on Monday that Isaac Seumalo will start off with the first team as their left guard. (Jeff McLane)
• According to Pederson, DL Fletcher Cox, LT Jason Peters, and P Donnie Jones aren’t in attendance for the start of OTAs. (Jeff McLane)
• Pederson said that Jason Kelce is their starting center, but Stefen Wisniewski and Seumalo will get occasional reps. (Jeff McLane)
• In regards to LB Mychal Kendricks, who has reportedly been on the trading block, Pederson mentioned that he has had a great attitude. (Jeff McLane)
• The Eagles plan to have Patrick Robinson and Jalen Mills start off working as their first-string cornerbacks. (Jeff McLane)
• As of now, “there is no timetable” on Beau Allen‘s (pectoral tear) return. (Jeff McLane)

Giants

• Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr was not in attendance at the start of the first day of voluntary OTAs on Monday. (Dan Duggan)
• However, a source tells Jordan Raanan that Beckham is likely to be at OTAs on Thursday.

Texans

Texans GM Rick Smith mentioned that he expects to see “exponential growth” from second-year receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller.

“It’s a difficult position to play in our league,” Smith said, via the Houston Chronicle. “There’s a lot of learning. There’s a lot of physical demands on that position. The expectation and the progression from a career, there’s exponential growth expected from Year One to Year Two.

“And it’s because, in a lot of respects, they know pro football a lot better, the rhythm of the season, the demands, everything is just different. It’s heightened. To the degree that a guy can come in and process that and play with some success as a rookie, that’s good. That next year is when you tend to see that biggest jump.“