Pryor had never met Meyer but talked to him when Meyer was recruiting Pryor to Florida. This was Pryor’s first visit to Ohio Stadium since he left the program in 2011.
Because he didn’t cooperate with Ohio State’s investigation into whether players received free tattoos for memorabilia, Pryor was banned from returning to the university for five years, but Ohio State lifted the ban because Pryor was coming with the Browns.
Pryor said it was surreal to walk out of the tunnel again, but he wasn’t disappointed he couldn’t play.
“It’s all business,” he said. “I’ve got to handle my business. My business is to get fresh and be ready to make plays. That’s all I can do.”
While Pryor tries to make the Browns as a wide receiver, the Browns continue to evaluate their quarterbacks. Josh McCown is still firmly the No. 1 quarterback, coach Mike Pettine said this week, but McCown shared first-team reps Friday with Johnny Manziel.
McCown completed 3 of 6 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown pass to former Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline. Manziel completed 9 of 11 passes for 93 yards with two touchdowns.
“The thing that jumps out (about Manziel) is he’s much less antsy in the pocket,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “He sets his feet. That’s something you really didn’t see much last year. He’s trusting his reads. I thought his accuracy was very good today.”
Pryor left the field with a swarm of reporters around him and fans lining the front row of the stands screaming at him to sign autographs and pose for selfies. He managed to answer questions and appease the fans at the same time.
Pryor thinks he can transition to wide receiver after three seasons in the league as a quarterback because he’s a hard worker.
“I can be great at whatever I put my mind to,” Pryor said.
Pryor’s move coincides with Braxton Miller’s move to hybrid back at Ohio State. Miller started as a freshman for the Buckeyes in 2011 when Pryor left the program.
Asked to explain why two of the biggest names in recent Ohio State history would make that switch, Pryor said, “There’s less opportunity in the NFL. There’s not a lot of reps. It’s not like college where you get a lot of reps.”
And his advice to Miller would be, “Just stay in the playbook. Watch the receivers who have been doing it for a while.”
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