Two Cleveland Browns players out with injury…..

Joel Bitonio, a left guard, conducted interviews with media on January 23 during the 24th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. The five-time All-Pro was questioned by the media about the Browns’ decision to replace offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, which stands as the team’s largest offseason decision to date.

“I loved AVP. He was a great guy and did a lot of good things for us,” Bitonio said, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I know him and [head coach Kevin] Stefanski and really the whole staff did a great job of getting us in the right plays. I knew nothing about [Van Pelt’s] until I saw it on Twitter like everybody else, so it’s always a little bit of surprise.”

Bitonio went on to say that Stefanski, rather than general manager Andrew Berry, may have been the one to decide to let go of Van Pelt.

“I believe Coach Stefanski merely wants to make more adjustments. He participated in special teams last year, as well as some activities on defense and offense this year, Bitonio continued. However, I only have positive things to say about an AVP. He was one awesome guy. With us, he genuinely personified the play-for-your-brother mentality, and you never want to see guys go.