Dawgs By Nature
A lot has happened since the Cleveland Browns fired their head coach after the past two seasons created 26 total losses. Lots of new players, an almost new coaching staff, trading away the face of the franchise, not rehiring their defensive guru, and a new free agent and draft class.
This year’s training camp is right around the corner. A full roster of 90 players is under contract as next year’s athletes are busy trying to get in their final vacation time after mandatory minicamp.
RELATED: FORMER BROWNS IN THE UFL PLAYOFFS
GM Andrew Berry has had a very busy offseason and is still tweaking the roster as he sees fit each week.
It just so happens that an entire league is about to complete its season with eight teams’ worth of available players. The United Football League (UFL) is down to its championship game, the “United Bowl,” this Saturday, June 13, at 3:00 pm (Eastern), played at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
The Louisville Kings will square off against the league’s defending champions, the DC Defenders, and will be broadcast on ABC. The halftime performance will be by Grammy Award-winning music icon 50 Cent.
UFL players participate in the league under one-year deals. On the Monday after the season has concluded, each athlete is available to be signed. The season is positioned to conclude in the middle of June so that players can be signed to NFL teams before their training camps begin in late July. This allows every UFL player the opportunity to advance their playing careers since the UFL is a developmental league and not an NFL rival entity.
Last year, 190 players were offered tryouts, and 160 signed training camp contracts. Of that number, 45 UFL players were either listed on an NFL team’s main roster, practice squad, or some sort of injury list.
Despite a full roster of 90 players signed to the current Browns’ roster, there are needs to be filled. The UFL has numerous healthy players who could help this team and provide some quality depth needed at crucial positions.
Pro experience: Buffalo Bills (NFL) – 1 game played with 0 starts, 2 years on practice squad; UFL St. Louis Battlehawks – 11 games played with 11 starts
This signing would strictly be for quality depth along the offensive line. The Browns realistically are thin at backup right and left guard.
Gouraige is a solid blocker who has versatility in that he has played left guard and both offensive tackle spots while at Florida. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and started in his sophomore year, then went on to start every game for three seasons. Right now, the Browns have Zion Johnson as the starter at LG with Kendrick Green as his backup.
His frame more resembles a basketball player, not so beefy and wide, but long. He is...
