Browns rookie goes from sleeping on the road to scoring a TD

BEREA, Ohio — Hours after setting the NFL abuzz with a blinding punt return landing within the Cleveland Browns’ preseason opener final week, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi was again the place he’s most nights.

On the Browns’ coaching facility. Figuring out alone. All the best way till 6 within the morning.

On a Cleveland squad loaded with stars like Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr., Sheehy-Guiseppi — who did not even play highschool soccer, talked his manner right into a tryout he wasn’t invited to, whereas sleeping exterior as a result of he could not afford in any other case — has emerged as one of many NFL’s greatest tales this coaching camp.

To have a good time 100 years of professional soccer, Peyton Manning travels the nation to see the individuals and locations that made the NFL the NFL.
Watch on ESPN+ » Extra »

“I’d simply describe [myself] as somebody attempting to chase their goals, simply doing what they love and never listening to anyone else,” he stated. “Simply doing what they’ve a ardour for.”

Since signing with the Browns earlier this 12 months, Sheehy-Guiseppi, 24, has captivated teammates and coaches together with his extraordinary backstory, unsurpassed work ethic and resilient — if virtually irrational — mentality.

Improbably, he is now all of the sudden pushing for a spot on Cleveland’s 53-man roster as a return specialist, which normal supervisor John Dorsey affirmed throughout a Monday interview on 850 AM WKNR. Dorsey known as Sheehy-Guiseppi’s growth in such a short while with the Browns “marvelous.”

“The vitality he brings to this crew is one thing which you can’t actually substitute,” echoed broad receiver Jarvis Landry. “I am glad he is right here. He has a possibility and he is profiting from it.”

Sheehy-Guiseppi’s path so far smacks of a film script straight out of Hollywood.

Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi celebrates his 86-yard punt return for a landing on Aug. eight within the preseason opener in opposition to the Redskins. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire

He initially had goals of taking part in school basketball together with his brother, Devin. However not like his brother, Sheehy-Guiseppi did not make the crew at Mesa (Arizona) Group Faculty. Undeterred, he began working monitor, till a automotive accident derailed that, too.

“I began lifting quite a bit. … that is once I was sort of like, ‘I believe that soccer factor is cool,'” he stated. “I simply preferred the roar soccer provides, and I used to be simply sort of pondering like, ‘That is me proper there.'”

With out invitation or discover, Sheehy-Guiseppi began exhibiting as much as the summer time soccer exercises at Phoenix Faculty, forcing the coaches to permit him to hitch the crew. There, he turned an NJCAA All-American in 2016, main the nation in kick return yards and touchdowns.

Sheehy-Guiseppi fell in love with soccer and wasn’t about to offer it up, even after no FBS scholarship presents arrived or calls from the professionals got here.

Virtually three years later, via a buddy, Sheehy-Guiseppi stated he realized of an NFL scouting exercise in Miami. Browns vp of participant personnel Alonzo Highsmith could be there. Sheehy-Guiseppi wasn’t invited this time, both. However that wasn’t about to cease him. He regarded up Highsmith to seek out out what he regarded like and flew from Arizona to Miami. As soon as there, he sweet-talked his manner into the exercise by appearing like he knew Highsmith, who admitted to the crew’s web site within the spring he “knew nothing about him.”

“My mother has given me the data to assume exterior the field and simply attempting to make use of issues to your benefit,” Sheehy-Guiseppi stated. “Meet all people you may presumably meet and use that to your benefit.”

Sheehy-Guiseppi impressed Highsmith with a blazing 40 time of four.38 seconds, incomes an official tryout with the Browns in Berea. Drawback was, the exercise wasn’t for one more week. And Sheehy-Guiseppi, out of money, did not need to ask his mom, or some other member of the family, for cash. So he signed up for visitor passes to get right into a 24-hour health middle through the day, sleeping on grass exterior a sports activities efficiency facility, the place he educated, at night time, all whereas making ready for his probability with the Browns.

“All of the work [I] put in, all of the moments I used to be within the fitness center in Arizona, sleeping in there, simply all of the moments I stayed up all night time pondering,” he stated. “I needed a possibility. To get a possibility, to profit from it.”

Browns gamers mob Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi after his punt return TD. “I used to be gasping for air, however I felt all of the love,” Sheehy-Guiseppi stated. Jason Miller/Getty Photos

Sheehy-Guiseppi has made probably the most of it with the Browns and has carried over his eccentric work habits via coaching camp.

Coach Freddie Kitchens admitted on a number of events he is caught Sheehy-Guiseppi understanding on the Browns’ facility within the morning hours and has needed to “ship his ass dwelling to get some relaxation.”

Not that Sheehy-Guiseppi all the time complies.

“Lots of the blokes, they be attempting to ship me dwelling on a regular basis and I be attempting to only keep in right here,” he stated. “After they depart, I am like, ‘All proper, I’ll are available now. I do know nobody’s in there at one, so I’ll go in there at one.”

That dedication got here to fruition within the preseason opener in opposition to Washington. Sheehy-Guiseppi was so excited for his professional soccer debut that he misplaced his cleats. Beckham, who wears the identical measurement, got here to the rescue, providing his.

“He blesses lots of people with the footwear,” Sheehy-Guiseppi stated of Beckham. “If anyone needs a pair, he provides them out.”

Luckily for Sheehy-Guiseppi, the cleats had been already damaged in. As a result of late within the fourth quarter, his probability to discipline a punt lastly arrived.

“Proper earlier than he went out from the sideline, me and Odell [were] speaking to him, telling him, you about to take this one to the home,” Landry stated. “Simply catch it first.”

The whole lot you want this week:
• Full schedule: All 16 video games »
• Takeaways from Week 1 »
• Transaction tracker: Prime information »
• The right way to shorten the preseason »
Extra NFL protection »

Sheehy-Guiseppi practically did not. However after briefly bobbling the ball on the 14-yard line, he discovered a seam down the sideline and bolted away into the top zone.

Earlier than he might actually have a good time the landing, teammate Ish Hyman clotheslined him to the bottom. D.J. Montgomery then jumped on prime of him. Nearly the remainder of the Browns’ sideline adopted go well with.

“I used to be gasping for air, however I felt all of the love,” Sheehy-Guiseppi stated. “That was a surreal second. … a second I have been ready for a very long time.”

Regardless of how lengthy he waited for it, Sheehy-Guiseppi did not bask within the second for lengthy.

He was again within the facility that night time till the morning. The next afternoon, he was nonetheless sporting a weighted vest together with his helmet on a full hour after practiced had ended. The subsequent day, he was the final to go away the follow discipline once more, catching passes from a jug machine.

“I do not know if I am an inspiration,” he stated. “I get impressed by little issues — I can see somebody in right here understanding, sweating and that evokes me.

“If I can encourage someone to do nice issues, then I hope they get impressed.”