Browns newcomer Richmond McGee had a wild first week

Browns newcomer Richmond McGee had a wild first week

Associated Press

BEREA

New Cleveland Browns punter Richmond McGee finally settled down Sunday.

Sort of.

The Browns were off, and McGee needed the breather.

“It’s been a wild few days, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” McGee said.

He didn’t plan on resting much anyway, utilizing every minute he could get to put his personal life back into some semblance of order.

McGee’s world was turned topsy-turvy when the Chicago Bears released him last Monday. He went back to his job as a stock trader the next day in Austin, Texas, and was there for a few hours when his fortunes turned again after Browns punter Reggie Hodges was lost for the season with an Achilles’ tendon injury.

“I got a call at 4 [p.m.] and was on a plane to Cleveland at 6,” McGee said. “I tried out the next morning, signed a few hours later and pretty much all I’ve been doing is practicing.”

The 28-year-old McGee has put all his time into trying to capitalize on his best shot at an NFL starting job. Meanwhile, his laundry list of duties has piled up. One of his first chores Sunday was shopping for clothes.

“I just packed a bag and left,” McGee said. “I guess I had enough confidence that at least I took two changes of clothes, but that was about it.

“I need a day. At the same time, I don’t want any time off. I want to impress the coaching staff every minute I can. This is a big opportunity.”

After one year on Philadelphia’s practice squad and two more in that role in Chicago, McGee has yet to kick in a regular game. That could change with a good exhibition season, starting Saturday against the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

New coach Phil Shurmur intends to find out if McGee can do the job by the time Cleveland opens the season Sept. 11 against Cincinnati.

“He has a chance to make this team, better chance than most, because he’s here,” Shurmur said. “He’ll have a chance to perform in the preseason games and we’ll make an evaluation.

“If somebody is available we’re interested in, we’ll have to make a comparison.”