Jarvis Landry Softball Game Press Conference Notes: What We Learned About Cleveland Browns Before Minicamp

Jarvis Landry's Celebrity Softball Game gave us more than just a few viral clips of Baker Mayfield hitting homers at Eastlake's Classic Park. It gave us an opportunity to take a dive into where the Browns stand heading into minicamp.

Before the event, several players including Mack Wilson, Jedrick Wills, Jarvis Landry, Bernie Kosar and more met with the media.

Here's a few notebook scribbles from those availabilities and what we learned.

Roster Competition

The Browns have one of the most complete rosters in the entire NFL. After a solid draft, several players will have to compete to earn one of 53 spots.

One of those crowded position rooms is the linebacker unit, which added veteran linebacker Anthony Walker in free agency as well as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields II in the NFL Draft.

Browns 2019 draft pick Mack Wilson or veteran Malcolm Smith could be at risk of being replaced in upcoming minicamp and training camp this summer.

"I wouldn't say it motivates me," Wilson said of the Browns adding more of his position. "I was able to understand it's a business."

Wilson believes that the competition will be beneficial for the entire room.

"They feel like we were slacking at linebacker, or needed depth at linebacker, so they went and drafted two linebackers," Wilson said. "It'll bring out the best in all of us."

Stay or Go: OTAs

It feels as if voluntary OTAs have become a hotbed topic ever since Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not report after his trade in 2019.

These workouts are completely voluntary, but much discussion is made about which players choose to attend. Last week, the majority of the skill players met up with Mayfield in Austin, Texas for their own workouts away from the facility.

Among those players that actually showed up to Berea for OTAs was second-year offensive tackle Jedrick Wills.

"There was no reason to hold out," Wills said of his decision.

NFLPA President and Browns center JC Tretter has repeatedly stated that these workouts are voluntary and encouraged player to make decisions on whether or not to report on their own.

Wills said that Tretter, along with Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin were training at T3 Performance together last week.

"We had great chemistry last year and I feel like we'll get even better this year," Wills said.

Browns Sustaining Success Into 2021

The Browns finally found success in 2020 under Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry. Building on that success is the next challenge for this organization to take the next step forward.

Bernie Kosar is the perfect sounding board to preach sustaining success to this organization. He quarterbacked the Kardaic Kids during their playoff runs in the 1980s and knows a thing or two about making the postseason in consecutive years.

Kosar praised Landry for bringing his teammates together for a celebrity softball game. He drew parallels to his teams in the 80s because of the comradery and passion they had for the community and their fans. 

"I really believe that's how we kind of did it in the '80s," Kosar said. "Look at all the players that are here today within the team. The teammates want to stay here. They want to be in Cleveland. They want to help out the community and their fellow brothers on the team."

Gaining Respect Around The League

It took a trip to the AFC divisional round of the NFL playoffs, but the Browns are finally getting some respect around the league.

Raiders wideout Henry Ruggs III praised the Browns for adding key members to the defense this offseason.

"That's one that you wake up for," Ruggs said. "They got a pretty good secondary. They got pretty good pieces and they've got the veteran leadership, too. They have everything you need."

Putting this bluntly, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce just seemed like he wanted to be in Cleveland. Wearing a throwback Manny Ramirez jersey with a Chief Wahoo hat, Kelce said he can't wait to face his hometown team in the season opener. 

Kelce said the Browns and the Chiefs were "definitely neck and neck for sure" and that the playoff score was a little closer than the Chiefs had hoped for.

Kelce closed by noting that he has been a Browns fan his entire life and holds a soft spot in his heart for the organization that has now rebounded.