Browns' Haslam Impressed By Credentials Of New VP/Player Personnel Andrew Berry

Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III is "gushing over the Browns hiring" former Colts Pro Scouting Coordinator Andrew Berry as VP/Player Personnel, according to Nate Ulrich of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Haslam said, "He’s only 28 years old, but we checked references extensively on him just like we did on (new head coach) Hue (Jackson), and they came back, I would say, extremely positive." He added, "We felt like Andrew was the best fit for us. ... In football circles, he’s one of those young and upcoming talents that you hear about, and we’ve been hearing his name for the last several months. Andrew is really intelligent. He’s very organized. He’s very process oriented" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/29). In Cleveland, Tom Reed notes Berry is the "third Harvard-educated member of the front office," joining Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta and Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown. Haslam said that Berry "has been on the Browns' radar for several months," and his name "surfaced at several NFL functions he attended during the season." Although Berry's background is heavy in pro player evaluation, the owner "stressed he's spent time on the college side, as well" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/29).

SWITCHING TEAMS: In Detroit, Josh Katzenstein notes the Lions on Thursday "announced the hiring" of Kevin Anderson as Chief of Staff & Assistant to the GM. Anderson had been Patriots Dir of Player Development, a position "he held the past five years." He "effectively replaces" Senior VP/Football Operations Cedric Saunders, whom GM Bob Quinn "fired last week" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/29). Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, Hal Habib notes Dolphins Exec VP/Football Administration Dawn Aponte "is staying" with the club. Reports, "which didn’t pan out, had her joining the Lions" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/29).

MEDICINE MAN: In Boston, Bob Hohler reports the "latest departure from the Patriots" is Medical Dir Dr. Matthew Provencher. He "also resigned Thursday as chief of the sports medicine service at Massachusetts General Hospital." The hospital’s Chief of Sports Medicine "has traditionally served" as Patriots Medical Dir (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/29).