Cleveland Browns release Terrelle Pryor
By Thomas Moore
Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (87) catches a pass during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Terrelle Pryor on Thursday, the club announced on its website.
To fill Pryor’s spot on the roster, the Browns claimed running back Robert Turbin off waivers from Seattle.
File this one under the category of “better late than never.”
Pryor was always a long shot to make the Browns roster as he tried to convert from quarterback to wide receiver. While he trained with former All-Pro Randy Moss prior to the start of training camp, Pryor was limited once camp opened because of hamstring issues.
Related: Time to end the Terrelle Pryor charade
He rarely practiced and was able to only appear in the second half of Cleveland’s final preseason game, running the ball twice for nine yards.
“This will be a mistake by them,” Pryor told Northeast Ohio Media Group of his release. “Nothing shocks me in this league anymore.”
Had great time at Cleveland. Happy to get opportunity at Cleveland and good luck this weekend vs jets !
— Terrelle Pryor SR (@TerrellePryor) September 10, 2015
Head coach Mike Pettine hinted on Wednesday that Pryor’s time in Cleveland could be short given his lack of experience.
“Terrelle is here because he showed that promise and that potential, but again, I said once you make the 53 that you have to be a productive member of the team,” Pettine explained. “It’s hard to just have that be a project for a year. We are looking for the returns on that investment to be sooner than later.
“I think he’s shown that he’s capable of it, but for him, it’s about being consistent, knowing what to do, being available from a physical standpoint and then going out there and executing. He’s going to get every opportunity in practice to do that.”
While the release makes sense on a big-picture level (just don’t try to tell that to the scarlet-and-gray section of Browns’ fans), it is odd that Pryor would make the final 53-man roster only to be released five days later.
As a quarterback, Pryor had been traded by the Raiders to Seattle for a seventh-round draft pick, then released by the Seahawks and Bengals.
As expected, the reaction on Twitter about the news was entertaining:
Honest opinion on WR Terrelle Pryor: He certainly has potential but I really couldn't tell much a difference between him and WR Rodney Smith
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) September 10, 2015
@BullandFox @SportsBoyTony You guys sound like you're ranting. He was our 7th WR. He was a long shot at best. It's no big deal.
— Mark Skog (@MarkSkog) September 10, 2015
No melt down today... It's not like they traded TRich... But still.... #Bummed
— Cleveland Kate #D4L (@ClvlndK8) September 10, 2015
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As for Turbin, he is still recovering from a high ankle sprain that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least a month. He spent the past three years with the Seahawks, serving as Marshawn Lynch’s backup, carrying the ball 231 times for 928 yards and no touchdowns.
According to this story from 12th Man Rising, “Turbin is a great backup running back for the Seattle Seahawks. His receiving skills and blitz pickup abilities make him an ideal third-down back.”
However, it is this next part that will sound uncomfortably familiar to Browns fans:
"A great example of what troubles him came in the first quarter of last Friday’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos. Turbin had a path to the end zone, but his inability to properly read the blocking cost the Seahawks a touchdown."
"The blocking on this play is pretty straightforward. Justin Britt, Luke Wilson, Doug Baldwin and FB Brandon Cottom lead, while JR Sweezy and everyone to his left seal the inside. The result is a hole through the B-gap."
"This isn’t inside zone. There’s no attempt to extend the defense laterally or create cutback opportunities. This is about as basic of a run play as they come."
"As Tubin get closer to the hole, the blocking has developed. There’s a clear path to the end zone if Turbin run through the hole as the play is designed."
"Instead, he cuts back to his left where there are two unblocked defenders. By going in that direction, the blocking on the inside is actually pushing some of the blocked defenders into his path."
"A step later it is easy to see how much of a mistake he made. Turbin gets stopped for no gain, but if he’d read his blocking correctly it likely would have been a touchdown."
Yeah, we told you it wasn’t pretty.
But the Browns are not bringing in Turbin to be the starting running back, so we can worry about his inability to correctly read a block for a later day.