Browns defender talks out tension after Steelers loss

Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse told reporters on Wednesday that he has cleared the air with his teammates following their road defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The conversation came after Sunday's loss, during which Verse reacted visibly to a penalty against Steelers guard Mason McCormick. Officials flagged McCormick for sweeping the legs of Verse as he leaped for a point-after try. Verse said he was frustrated by the lack of immediate reaction from his squad during the play.

Verse pointed out that a similar hit on teammate Derek Barnett occurred on what he believed was the next field goal attempt. He stated that the repetition of the action caused him to lose his composure because he views his teammates as brothers. The defensive end explained that seeing them treated in that manner upset him deeply.

The 26-year-old admitted that he made his issues with the situation known to the group. However, he acknowledged that he did not fully prepare his teammates for the specific manner in which he addressed the Steelers and their fan base. Verse felt that he should have been better at communicating his intentions beforehand to avoid putting them in an awkward position.

Before the Week 8 matchup, Verse declared that the Browns planned on making Pittsburgh theirs. That pre-game confidence stood in contrast to the team's eventual loss on the road. After the game, head coach Todd Monken addressed the team's approach to handling such moments. On Monday, Monken stated that his message to the players was that they needed to speak with their play rather than relying on verbal exchanges.

Verse responded to the coaching perspective by acknowledging his natural tendency to be vocal. He explained that he likes to attack things and be verbal in his play, talk, and movement. Verse noted that if observers had not figured out this trait by now, it is simply who he is. He admitted that he could have invited his teammates into the conversation earlier, but he reiterated that the team needs to pick up its performance moving forward.