Browns right defensive end Jared Verse and left tackle Spencer Fano have been going head-to-head throughout training camp, including one matchup that turned into a fight, with Verse ripping Fano’s helmet off and taking him to the ground, then Fano reversing and getting on top of Verse before teammates stepped in. Verse loved it.
Verse told reporters he gained respect for Fano for the way Fano fought back against him, and Verse think that’s just what the Browns need.
“I think fighting’s necessary when it comes to football,” Verse said. “I’m very disrespectful when it comes to the way I compete, especially when I try to drive my teammates to another level. So I wouldn’t expect him any less than to retaliate because that’s the type of player he is.”
Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year who arrived in Cleveland in the Myles Garrett trade this year, said he is seeing rapid improvement in Fano, whom the Browns selected with the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft.
“Going against him, he’s gotten so much better these past couple weeks,” Verse said. “In the time we’ve been together he’s gotten so much better, and because he’s getting better, he’s getting to the point where I’m starting to learn things from him, I’m learning my tendencies and what he’s picking up on, so it’s making me a better player as well.”
Fano comes to every practice ready to battle with Verse, and Verse loves that about his rookie teammate.
“A lot of rookies would go against me, against top edges in the league, and back down, be a little nervous, be a little timid, but he’s never shown that,” Verse said.
The Browns are counting on Verse and Fano to be two of the key pieces in their rebuilding effort. Verse thinks some practice-field fights now could be setting the team up to have something to celebrate down the road.
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