Browns just hired a 28 year old Harvard grad as their new GM.
Hiring of Andrew Berry completes Browns unique front office
Hiring of Andrew Berry completes Browns unique front office
The
Cleveland Browns can't say they're operating the old-fashioned way.
The hiring of Andrew Berry completes the formation of an intriguing and unique front office. Berry will be team's vice president of player personnel and will be in charge of finding the players.
Berry spent four years as coordinator of pro scouting for the Colts after graduating Phi Betta Kappa from Harvard in 2009.
The guy in charge of it all in Cleveland, Sashi Brown, will have final say in personnel. He is running football after managing the salary cap and negotiating contracts.
The director of strategy is Paul DePodesta, a former baseball guy working in football for the first time.
The "business as usual" sign is definitely not out in Berea, Ohio.
Berry is not exactly a household name. The first three pages of a google search of him produces 27 links to stories about him being named the Browns VP and two from his time at Harvard, where he was graduated in 2009.
The website
BuzzTrends.com reported that Wednesday was the first time Andrew Berry trended on Twitter.
The only quote found about Berry from his time with the Colts came in March of 2014, when GM Ryan Grigson discussed the entire team's scouting structure.
"Andrew Berry, Kevin Rogers, Jimmy Raye -- those guys are not yes men,"
Grigson told USA Today. "I love that and I foster that because I got to where I am because I had an opinion. And I need that. Those guys are great because they give me perspective every day."
That thought is echoed by people who know Berry. They describe him as unassuming, bright and hard-working. He was liked and respected in Indianapolis, and people with the Colts feel strongly he can be successful in Cleveland.
Berry will bring smarts to a front office with a lot of Harvard ties. DePodesta graduated from Harvard undergrad and Brown went to Harvard Law.
Whether that means wins is yet to be seen.
If nothing else, the Browns will overwhelm folks with IQ points.