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BEREA Gordie Howe Jersey , Ohio (AP) The retirement of Joe Thomas left a gaping hole at left tackle for the Cleveland Browns.

Left guard Joel Bitonio is willing, but not necessarily eager to succeed his close friend at the position.

”If they want me to do that, like, cool, whatever makes the Browns better,” Bitonio said. ”But I think left tackle is the toughest spot on the line, and after playing left guard for four years, going on five now, it would definitely be different.

”I don’t think it’s a thing where I have to volunteer for the spot, but if we get down the line and something needs to happen, we’ll see what happens there.”

Though Bitonio isn’t a household name outside of Cleveland, he is one of a handful of known quantities on a team that went winless in 2017 and is 1-31 in two seasons under coach Hue Jackson.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder was a second alternate for the Pro Bowl and did not miss a play last year, helping the Browns average 4.46 yards per rush to rank sixth in the NFL.

Offensive line coach Bob Wylie acknowledged that bumping Bitonio Jake Ryan Jersey , an All-Mountain West left tackle at Nevada, to the outside is tempting, but not palatable because it would simultaneously create a weakness at guard.

”The state of the left tackle is our state of the union,” Wylie said. ”But (moving Bitonio) is the last option. If you were going to go from A down, that would be Z. That would be Z.”

Thomas was the face of the franchise for 11 seasons, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections and playing 10,363 consecutive snaps before suffering a career-ending torn left triceps last Oct. 22 against Tennessee.

Third-year pro Shon Coleman has the first shot to fill his shoes, while second-rounder Austin Corbett and former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson are in the mix. Coleman was pulled off the field Sunday during practice and received an audible scolding by Jackson.

Center JC Tretter, right guard Kevin Zeitler and Bitonio each expressed hope that one of the top three candidates can win the job and keep their three-man interior unit intact.

”I’m excited to work with them again and, hopefully, be a dominant inside group,” said Bitonio, a second-round selection by Cleveland in 2014. ”I’ve become really good friends with JC and Kevin, so we’re kind of bonding and I think the sky is the limit. We’re continuing to grow together.”

Tretter said the uncertainty at left tackle hasn’t affected Bitonio during training camp Matthias Farley Jersey , nor does he expect it to, because he is a ”real pro.”

Jackson wants to make a decision before the Browns’ third preseason game on Aug. 23 against the Eagles, putting Coleman on the hot seat to produce or force the staff to contemplate option Z.

”I know that Joel will do anything for the football team, but hopefully we do not have to go to that,” Jackson said. ”But if we do, we do. Once we get a feel for what we have there, then as a group we’ve got to make a decision on how to continue to move forward.”

Bitonio is hoping for the best, and hoping to stay where he feels most comfortable. All 47 of his NFL games have been played as a starting left guard.

”Right now, I’m really focused on playing left guard and trying to get whoever is playing next to me ready to play left tackle,” he said. ”I think anything else is something that’s pretty far down the line.”

NOTES

Rookie QB Baker Mayfield impressed Jackson with several sharp passes. ”Baker is deadly accurate with the ball,” the coach said. ”He’s an outstanding listener who has been everything a quarterback can be for an organization so far.” . DE Myles Garrett, the top overall pick in 2017, and RB Duke Johnson were given the day off, along with LB Jamie Collins. WR Corey Coleman also was scheduled to rest Gustav Forsling Jersey , but declined the offer. . Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel attended the late afternoon practice.

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The Browns remain interested in former Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant while managing without Josh Gordon.

Bryant emerged as a possible backup plan for Cleveland after Gordon stepped away from the team to receive treatment to address his health associated with a recovery from drug addiction. The Browns don't know when Gordon will be back, and in the interim they have discussed signing the temperamental Bryant, who spent eight sometimes combustible seasons with the Cowboys.

Following Friday's practice, Browns coach Hue Jackson would not comment on whether Cleveland's interest in Bryant has progressed to contract talks. On Wednesday, general manager John Dorsey said Bryant was under consideration.

"We are always looking for good players," Jackson said. "We can't get enough of those kind of guys, guys that can make plays with the ball. John is going to keep churning this thing as much as he can, keep finding talent and then see if it fits for us."

The 29-year-old Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowler, could help the Browns offset a prolonged loss of Gordon. But until they know more about Gordon's situation, the team may not want to make any substantial commitment to Bryant.

And while the Browns discuss adding him, Bryant gave Cleveland and any other suitors more to think about with a Twitter rant aimed at the Cowboys on Friday. The team declined a $5.5 million option on Bryant in April, dropping him for salary-cap considerations.

Earlier this week, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said in a radio interview that quarterback Dak Prescott had it tough last year "with @DezBryant in his ear."

Bryant fired back with several profane tweets.

Bryant's history of being difficult with coaches and teammates could be enough to drive the Browns away. However Youth Fabian Moreau Jersey , the team may be willing to take a chance without knowing Gordon's status and after wide receiver Ricardo Louis was ruled out for the season following neck surgery.

In their search to upgrade their roster further, the Browns hosted former Washington cornerback Bashaud Breeland and former Cincinnati cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones on Friday. Neither player signed, but they are both under consideration.

Jackson has a strong relationship with Jones as the pair worked together with the Bengals.

Jones does have a long list of off-the-field transgressions, but Jackson said he would not have any problem with the team signing him.

"I do know Adam," he said. "I know what kind of player he is and what kind of person he is. If that happens, if he is on our team, I would love to have him on our team, but he is not right now so we will keep off of that."

Browns running back Duke Johnson believes Jones could bring the team a needed toughness.

"The thing I think I like most about Pacman is the chip he plays with," Johnson said. "We need more guys on this football team that plays with a chip and goes out there and fights tooth and nail for the team."