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Training Camp

Top 10 moments from Browns training camp

It's hard to believe it, but the Cleveland Browns 2015 training camp is over.

For nearly a month, players were cooped up together in a hotel, coaches burnt the midnight oil preparing for the season and Browns fans from across the country gathered almost every morning in Berea to watch their beloved football team up close and personal.

Here are our 10 favorite moments from camp.

1)     *Danny Shelton vs. Buffalo offensive line*

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Our most viewed social post during the monthlong training camp came from Pittsford, New York, where the Browns and Bills held joint practices for two days last week. On the Vine, Shelton annihilates Bills center Eric Wood while screaming, "That's the way we fight!" 

Said Bills Pro Bowl left guard Richie Incognito: "Man, he's a big guy. He takes up so much space."

2)     *Josh McCown's breakout day*

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Day 2 of training camp back in July was an absolute aerial assault from McCown. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe said it was the best training camp practice he's ever been a part of in nine years in the NFL. Even Donte Whitner tweeted: Hats off to our WR core & QB for what they did in practice today...#GiveCreditWhereCreditIsDue

3)     *Unveiling the camouflage practice jerseys  *

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During Cleveland's 2014 training camp, coach Mike Pettine introduced a jersey competition at the end of every practice pitting the offense against the defense in various pressure situation drills. Pettine upped the ante in 2015, helping design a digital camouflage remix. Players and members of the Dawg Pound approved.

Media members?

"I've seen how some of you in this group dress," Pettine said jokingly to reporters' questions about the new look. "So I don't know if I'm going to be very open to fashion advice."

4)     *Big guy field goal competition *

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The most compelling and fan-friendly competition for the new practice jerseys came Aug. 6. The steamy Thursday practice ended with the entire team encircling the goal posts. Pettine challenged the offensive and defensive linemen to kick a 19-yard field goal.

The first 10 failed – hilariously we might add. Phil Taylor's kick never left the ground. Nearly 10 minutes went by with every lineman whiffing. 

Lo and behold, Alex Mack bailed out the offense with a teardrop kick for the win.

5)     *Terrelle Pryor's reverse pass to Travis Benjamin *

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Pryor burst onto the scene during his first few days as a Brown, hauling in virtually every pass thrown his way.

"He certainly looks the part," said Pettine.

The play that drew the most noise from the crowd wasn't an acrobatic catch, though. In an 11-on-11 drill against the first-team offense, Pryor took a reverse handoff, rolled to his right and launched a 40-yard rainbow past two diving Browns defenders and into the arms of Travis Benjamin.

6)     *Johnny Manziel's touchdown pass in the Orange and Brown scrimmage*

The NFL Network was on hand for Cleveland's inaugural Orange and Brown scrimmage at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The national audience wasn't disappointed.

In the second half of the scrimmage, Manziel made one of his best throws of the summer. Out of the shotgun formation, the 22-year-old's eyes and body shifted heavy toward the right side of the field. But in a split second, Manziel looked left, adjusted his footwork and threw a rocket to wide receiver Josh Lenz for the touchdown. 

7)     *Pierre Desir's interception *

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Desir has missed the latter portion of training camp with a hamstring but showed the coaches enough to prove he's developing at a high rate.

When Tramon Williams received a customary day of rest, Desir was tabbed as his replacement in the starting lineup – and he balled out. He picked off a Manziel pass and receivers were getting battered at the line of scrimmage with his 6-foot-2 frame.

8)     *Danny Shelton's sideline tackle of Marlon Moore*

Back to Columbus we go for the Orange and Brown scrimmage. Shelton was the game's standout performer, mostly for collapsing the pocket and plugging holes in the run game.

But the play that stood out was his 10-yard pursuit of Moore, who was breaking away for a big gain. Shelton leveled him near the sidelines, showing the Dawg Pound he never gives up on a play.

"I know he's not the fastest guy but when he gets there, it packs a punch," Pettine said. "I was just happy to see Marlon get up from that shot."

9)     *Landon Feichter interception *

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The very last play in training camp came from one of the Browns' most unheralded members. A tryout signee, Feichter has seen significant playing time recently because of injuries to Tashaun Gipson and Jordan Poyer. The coaching staff has taken a liking to the Purdue alum, nicknaming him "Flex" after Funkmaster Flex, a popular MTV Disc Jockey in the late 1990s.

On the last play from scrimmage in training camp, Feichter jumped a McCown pass for the interception. He was mobbed by teammates.

10)  *Puppy Pound*


*In the corner of the Browns' extravagant training camp setup was the "Puppy Pound," a location for adopting dogs in need.  In total, 63 dogs found new homes, all likely to bark together when Cleveland scores touchdowns this season.

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