Cleveland Browns roll into minicamp

BEREA, Ohio - This time running around in shorts and helmets is for real. The Browns start the first mandatory offseason conditioning workouts, also known as minicamp.

The mandatory part is what makes minicamp different than OTA. So, what does that mean? Kicker Phil Dawson needs to show up. Otherwise that is it. The storylines remain the same.

Quarterbacks Brandon Weeden, Colt McCoy, and Seneca Wallace are all practicing. The question is, who will be taking the first snap at mini-camp and when the season starts?

All eyes are still on Weeden, the 22nd pick overall in last month’s draft. The 28-year-old former minor league baseball pitcher will have a ton of pressure on him to learn the system and learn the system fast.

Then you have Colt McCoy. He is the man on the outside looking in on a job that was his until the Steelers James Harrison lowered the boom on him with just three weeks to go in the season. McCoy suffered a concussion that would shape the future of the way concussions will be looked at from now on.

Wallace has said that he is ready to be the back-up quarterback on this team.

This will also be Pat Shurmur’s first full offseason with the team. Last year, the lockout stopped the Browns head coach from getting a head start with one of the NFL’s youngest teams.

The Browns still need to figure out contracts with both first-round picks, running back Trent Richardson and Weeden. Both are can practice without a contract at mini-camp.

Another place the media will be keeping an eye on is at the wide receiver position. Greg Little will be expected to grow as a player and the team’s top threat. Fourth-round draft pick Travis Benjamin will get a chance to show his speed.

Both team president Mike Holmgren and head coach Pat Shurmur are expecting a healthy Mohammed Massaquoi to contribute this season.

One more OTAs and a minicamp are coming up before the actual training camp.

The mini-camp will run through June 7. Then the final OTA  is June 12 through June 15. OTAs and mini-camp are not open to the public.