Browns Snag Vet Burton, Power Up Offense

0:00On April 28th, the Cleveland Browns missed out on Patrick Ricard, that beast fullback from the Ravens, who just signed with the Giants, but they didn't. Waste time. They scooped up veteran Michael Burden right after the draft to fill that gap. Burden is a 34-year-old pro with 11 NFL seasons under his belt, bouncing around from the Lions to the Bears, Washington, Saints, Chiefs, and Broncos, bringing that gritty experience to Northeast Ohio. Back in the Kevin Stofansky days, the Browns ditched the fullback spot, using guys like Back-Up Center Nick Harris, or even a defensive tackle in Jumbo. Packages instead, and their last true fullback, was Andy Johnovich, five years back in 2021. Now with Todd Monk in calling plays, he's got Burden as a key piece in his scheme, remembering how he maximized Ricard in Baltimore. Burden might not be. That 300-pound wrecking ball, but he fits the puzzle. This move locks in some old school power for the offense, setting the stage for what could be a fresh grind ahead in Cleveland.