One of the last guys on the Browns practice field Thursday admits he's basically a lost guy.
With just two days in the books, Miguel Maysonet is playing from behind.
An undrafted rookie running back claimed on waivers earlier this week from the Eagles, Maysonet arrived in Cleveland on Tuesday night. He showed up at Browns Headquarters early Wednesday, took a physical and then started practice -- where he pretty much knew nobody and knew very little about what he was being asked to learn.
For the second time in a few weeks, Maysonet is starting from the very bottom.
"Leaving Philadelphia and not knowing where I might be was wild, because in the waiver process you can end up anywhere," he said. "When the Browns picked me up I was definitely excited and I'm just making the best of it.
"I missed the Eagles OTAs (last week) due to school so I can graduate. Then (last) Saturday afternoon the Eagles called and basically told me they brought in another running back and thought I wouldn't get enough reps to make the team there. And then I had to wait. It was Tuesday and my agent called me and said, 'pack for Cleveland.'
"Then it was back to the airport. I got in Tuesday night, went straight to the hotel and showed up for work Wednesday morning. I got my physical and they threw me in the fire. I'm trying to learn the plays."
Maysonet knew the feeling of needing to find a new football home. He started his college career at Hofstra, then transferred to Stony Brook after Hofstra dropped football.
It was a good move. The 5'10, 210-pound Maysonet ran for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore and junior and almost 2,000 and 21 touchdowns last year, earning attention from NFL scouts. According to multiple reports, the Eagles signed Maysonet after the draft with a bonus for much more than most undrafted rookies get. A little over two weeks later, he was gone.
"I knew from the start this was a business and it can happen to anyone, and a couple weeks in it happened to me," Maysonet said. "I rolled with the punches. I tried to stay positive.
"Welcome to the NFL, I guess."
The Browns could be without starting running back Trent Richardson for the rest of their spring work after Richardson pulled a muscle. The team re-signed Brandon Jackson this week, traded for Dion Lewis earlier in the offseason and added Maysonet. Tw other undrafted rookie running backs have already been released.
Maysonet knows from his brief experience with the Eagles that he'd better catch on fast.
"A lot of guys go undrafted and they still have great careers," he said. "I'm excited to have the chance to keep playing football and hopefully make an impact here in Cleveland."
