BEREA, Ohio -- Rex Grossman might not have taken his last (practice) snap for the Cleveland Browns.
Asked after practice on Sunday why the Browns decided to cut the 34-year-old Grossman, coach Mike Pettine took his answer in a different direction about the volatility of rosters in the days after teams must cut down to 53 players. That led to speculation that Grossman could be back, perhaps as soon as after Week 1, when his contract would not have to be guaranteed.
“As you know, the 48 hours after the deadline there’s a lot of movement with the roster,” Pettine said. “So I wouldn’t read too much into where it stands right now. There are some guys that aren’t here, potentially could come back; some guys that are here that won’t be here.
“The roster situation right now, it is very fluid, and I think that just kind of comes with the time of year where a lot of names that are out there are guys that you liked in the draft, that you thought were draftable, that you were getting ready to take and somebody else took them. And then you have to weigh those decisions on can we get this guy here? Can we get him ready? Do we put him on the 53? Do we put him on the practice squad? That’s why (general manager) Ray [Farmer] and his crew have been pretty much working nonstop since the end of our game last week.”
Reading between the lines, will Grossman be back? My guess is that ultimately, yes, he will be. Grossman played for four years in Washington when new Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was coaching there. He knows Shanahan’s system. He has experience. He can be a sounding board for Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel, if nothing else.
And given that Hoyer is coming off reconstructive knee surgery and Manziel is a rookie learning an entirely new offensive system, it would be wise for Pettine to have an insurance policy with a veteran signal caller on the roster.
Extra point. Cornerbacks Joe Haden (foot) and Buster Skrine (thumb) practiced yesterday, and Pettine said he expects both will play Sunday when the Browns open the season at Pittsburgh.