BEREA -- Greg Little has come a long way in a short period of time, but he feels he's ready to step up his game to an even higher level.
"I understand the profession of the business in that what you put in is what you are going to get out of it," Little said.
Little, 24, said he spent a lot of time working on all aspects of his game in the offseason, including working with Brandon Weeden to develop a better chemistry.
"I think it will be good for him and for both of us working together," Little said. "We worked hard on that in the offseason."
Little caught 114 passes for 1,356 yards, including six touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Browns, but he's not satisfied. The 6-2, 220-pound receiver from North Carolina said he's learned to use his size to his advantage against smaller defensive backs.
"As a bigger receiver, I've learned to use my body to screen off the defensive backs, when I can," said Little, who caught a pass on a crossing pattern from Weeden near the goal line in the team scrimmage near the end of practice.
Little is driven to get better. He was the first receiver off the field and went directly to the JUGs machine and was working on catching passes from very close range.
“I just don’t want to leave any opportunity for me to get better,” Little said. “I just feel like I’ve got to take advantage of every, single day and the time that I have in the building and away from the building to get better. I think a lot of speculation is on the receivers to do better, and I’m just taking it on myself to push my fellow receivers just to get better too.
“Oftentimes, the bigger plays come from the wide receivers in the NFL, and we just want to be among the ones that are competing at the highest level.”
Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski has liked what he's seen from Little.
“I’ve been really pleased with Greg all along,” Chudzinski said. “He’s made really big strides in the spring. He still has a long ways to go and a lot to learn about football and playing receiver and the details of the position. That’s the biggest thing I stress with all the guys.
“Guys have potential, but it’s about knowledge, it’s about detail, and it’s about drive. Those are the things, to reach your potential you have to focus on. That’s what we’ve been talking a lot about."
Little is looking forward to having a breakout season in the Browns new vertical offense under new coordinator Norv Turner.
"I think the sky is the limit of me," he said. "The preparation I did will allow me to achieve all of the goals I set for myself."
Extra Points
-- DL Desmond Bryant (back), RB Montario Hardesty (hamstring), DB Jamoris Slaughter (achilles) and OL Chris Faulk (knee) were on the side working with trainers during practice. OL Ryan Miller (head), OL Oniel Cousins (ankle), FB Brock Bolen (calf) did not practice.
"There's no new news with Ryan," Chudzinski said. "He's now under the NFL's concussion protocol program. I saw him last night and he was doing well."
Chudzinski said Bryant had some back spasms and held him out. The coach called Hardesty and Bryant's injuries 'day-to-day'.
-- DB Tashaun Gipson sprained his shoulder when he collided with WR Josh Gordon and he sat out the remainder of practice. Chudzinski said he was not concerned with Gipson's injury.
-- LB Paul Kruger and LB Barkevious Mingo had good practices and both players got to the quarterbacks.
"It was good work for (Mingo)," he said. "He flashed on the pass rush. It was a good day for him.
"Paul had a couple of nice pass rushes, as well." Mingo went right by OL Martin Wallace to sack QB Jason Campbell, and Kruger blew by OL Mitchell Schwartz to get to Weeden.
-- According to Browns spokesman Zac Gilbert, the Browns are going to send NFL compliant clear bags to season ticket holders prior to the first regular season game. The NFL has a new procedure of what is allowed into NFL stadiums starting with the first regular season game. The bags will have the Browns helmet logo on them.
-- The Browns are back at practice from 4-6:30 pm Monday and then have a scheduled off day for Tuesday.
