Cleveland Browns should sign Jared Odrick
By Joel W. Cade
The Cleveland Browns should sign Jared Odrick to stabilize a defensive line in transition. But will his counter-culture ways scare off the Browns?
The Cleveland Browns need defensive line help. With the hiring of new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the Browns will be switching from a 3-4 base defense to a 4-3 base defense. The scheme shift will require current Browns defensive linemen to play a different style of football. To help ease the transition, the Browns should consider bringing in recently released lineman Jared Ordrick.
David Canter of DEC Management, who represents Jared Odrick, tweeted on Monday that the Jacksonville Jaguars have informed Jared Odrick that he will be released.
Per Pro Football Talk’s Darin Gantt, Odrick was in the second year of a five-year contract with the Jaguars.
"The 29-year-old was two years into what was billed as a five-year, $42.5 million deal. He was due a $2 million roster bonus on March 13 and a $6.5 million base salary this year, of which $3.5 million would have been guaranteed. He led the Jaguars in sacks in 2015 (which is relative), but played in just six games last year after an elbow injury."
Odrick is a free spirit who takes a non-traditional approach to his offseason training regime. His routine was highlighted last year by Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com. She quoted Odrick as saying:
"People get blinded by the religion of football. Players, coaches, fans. But the best way to stay in the business is to keep your personal business running, and the best way to do that is to break some molds. Seek out knowledge on your own. Have individual thoughts. Be a little counter-culture."
ESPN staff writer Michael DiRocco reported that Odrick’s offseason behavior, although acceptable, “caused some minor friction in the building.”
A stumbling block for an agreement between the Browns and Odrick may be his counter-culture mentality. Like it or not, football is a team game with a team mentality. Any NFL team will need to be able to count on Odrick to be a part of the team culture and atmosphere. If it caused minor friction in Jacksonville, is there any reason to believe it will not cause the same friction in Cleveland?
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On the field, Jared Odrick is an experienced 4-3 defensive lineman who could help the Cleveland Browns. Odrick’s greatest asset is his versatility. During his time in Jacksonville, Odrick lined up at all four defensive line positions. From any position on the defensive line he can take on double-teams and be an effective run stopper. He can also effectively rush the passer from any position on the defensive line.
Odrick is also the owner of possibly the coolest sack dance of all time.
At minimum, the Browns should kick the tires on Odrick. If his off-the-field behavior is acceptable and the terms of an agreement can be hammered out, his on-the-field play could be a boon for a team with a young roster transitioning to a new defensive scheme. If the price is right, Jared Odrick could help stabilize the transitioning Browns’ defensive line.
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What do you think? Is Odrick’s non-conformist attitude while playing a team sport too risky for the Browns?