Cam Erving benched, Browns to start Austin Pasztor at LG

By Josh Poloha

When your team is 2-10 and the worst in the NFL, nothing else can really go wrong, right? Well, for the Cleveland Browns, things have somehow gotten just a bit worse. The Browns No. 19 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Cam Erving, has been benched in favor of Austin Pasztor at left guard, head coach Mike Pettine announced on Wednesday.

Erving may only be in his rookie season, but his being replaced by an undrafted third-year player isn’t a good look for either him or general manager Ray Farmer, who has already been known for his fair share of draft screw-ups. Erving was frank discussing the news.

“I am not starting. That is the end of it. I am just not starting,” the rookie said Wednesday. “Get better. Get better. I just have to get better. I played like (expletive). I am not starting.”

Expected to take over at center if Alex Mack decides to opt out of his contract following the 2015-16 season, Erving was given a chance to play guard this season. The Florida State product did not fare well at his new position (he had played center and tackle before), but didn’t point to inexperience as an excuse.

“I am not going to sit here and make excuses,” said Erving. “I said what I said and I meant it before: I am a football player.”

When he has gotten playing time, Erving has had plenty of growing pains, which are expected. His biggest issue has been being been overpowered, and Pettine said that Erving must get stronger this offseason. After being thrown around by division foes like the Bengals’ Geno Atkins and the Steelers’ Cam Heyward, the rookie has realized that the NFL is a different animal than college ball.

“Hey, it’s what I signed up for,” Erving said. “Those are great players, but that’s what I want to be some day. I’ve just got to get better.”

So who is this Austin Pasztor guy replacing Erving, you ask? He was the lineman the Browns claimed from the Jacksonville Jaguars when they traded Terrance West to the Tennessee Titans back in early September. He has made 23 career starts (three at left guard, 20 at right tackle), all with the Jaguars. The 6-foot-7, 308-pound Virginia product was originally signed by the Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2012, but was later cut and signed by the Jaguars.

“We have not lost confidence or faith in Cam,” Pettine said of his rookie lineman. “But Austin is a guy here on campus we also want to see play. He’s been great since he’s been here, works his tail off, knows what to do. We’ll see how he is this week.

“Just felt it was best to switch to those two.”

Left guard Joel Bitonio, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday, believes that his Erving will be back on that field and that he is just having a tough rookie year.

“He got thrown in the fire again. I think he will be OK,” said Bitonio. “I think he is going to come back. I am sure he is going to play some football again this year.”

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