'I can't pass that up': Shelby Harris excited for chance with Cleveland Browns defense
PHILADELPHIA — It was a no-brainer for Shelby Harris.
Why did the veteran defensive tackle sign with the Browns? Why not?
"I felt like of all teams I was talking to, they're the most primed to win," Harris said after his first practice with the Browns on Monday, the first of two joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles. "How could I turn down the chance to play with those guys up front? Playing in (defensive coordinator Jim) Schwartz's defense, him coming out of retirement, him coming and coaching, I can't pass that up, man. … It wouldn't have been possible to say no to that."
Harris, a 10-year pro who played last season for the Seattle Seahawks, is the latest of a long line of moves the Browns have made to try to upgrade their defensive line room around defensive end Myles Garrett. The first move was to hire Schwartz, whose defense has been renowned for being very friendly for defensive linemen.
While Garrett received help at the end position with a trade for Za'Darius Smith, the free-agent signing of Ogbo Okoronkwo and the drafting of Isaiah McGuire, Harris is another bit of reinforcement for the interior of the line. He joins free-agent signings Dalvin Tomlinson and Maurice Hurst II, plus third-round draft pick Siaki Ika.
The draw, though, all started with Garrett, who left Monday's practice with a foot issue. Harris didn't know what caused the injury, but it didn't cause his excitement to wane.
"Man, that's a big one," Harris said. "You got Pro Bowl guys in Z and Myles, and then Dalvin will be a Pro Bowler and Ogbo, who's a great rusher himself, and then with Jordan (Elliott) and everyone. To be in this group and to have talent from top to bottom, it makes my job a lot easier."
The acclimation was made a lot harder only by the competition Harris was going against on his first day of practice. It's not that a day going against the Browns' normal offensive line — especially the interior of that line with guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller and center Ethan Pocic — is always a walk in the park.
However, if you're going to face another offensive line, the one the Eagles are putting out there isn't high up on the list of choices. Unless the goal is to sharpen one's self, which is why the Browns elected to practice one again with Philadelphia.
"It was good, man," Harris said. "Honestly, I've been here, what, five days? It's my first practice, so it was the first time putting the cleats on and it just felt good to be back out there. They're one of the better O-lines in the league, so it's work I needed."
It was a solid day's work for not just Harris, but the Browns' defensive front. It wasn't a flawless day by any stretch, especially against elusive Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell, who was a particular pest in the passing game.
Garrett's injury, as well, put a bit of a dark cloud over the end of the proceedings. The All-Pro, though, was all smiles as he signed autographs and posed for pictures with kids.
Still, there were a number of times when the defensive line did exactly what everyone hopes it can eventually do when the games matter. Both Garrett and Smith were regularly in the vicinity of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, especially when Schwartz ran those two along with Okoronokwo for three pass-rushers among the four linemen.
"I feel like we had upfront, from what I saw, it seemed like we had a good day," Harris said. "We'll go back and watch the film, but it's just camp, it's time to get better and then day by day build it brick by brick, and we added one of those bricks today."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns made it hard for Shelby Harris to 'say no' to chance
