Ex-Browns Linebacker Explains Why He Was Never Re-Signing With Cleveland

The Browns apparently had no shot at retaining one key member of their defense from 2023.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) pumps up the crowd as the clock winds down in the / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

Anthony Walker Jr. became a fan favorite in Cleveland over his last two seasons. Apparently the Browns never had a shot at bringing him back for a third one.

The 28-year-old linebacker decided to take his talents to South Beach last month and explained why joining his hometown Dolphins was an easy decision.

“It wasn’t hard at all," Walker said. I stressed to my agent it was very, very important to get me out the cold. I was sick of it. I hadn’t been home in a while. I was in the Midwest since I was 17 years old. It was about time I got some warm weather and when he said Miami and I was like let’s get it done. Obviously being home and all that stuff is great and everything like that, but an opportunity to continue to play this game at the highest level is something that I’ll always cherish.”

Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) returns a / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It's no secret Cleveland's weather can sometimes be a deterrent for free agent players to sign with the Browns. That's the case across the board for all three pro sports teams in town as well. Still, Walker was a captain and key leader for the team these last two years, on top of becoming very active philanthropically in the local community.

His two seasons in Cleveland were also marred by injuries. First was a torn quad just a few weeks into the 2022 campaign. Then his 2023 season was cut short due to a knee injury.

No one can blame Walker for wanting something new or wanting to play closer to home. Still, his presence in the locker room will be sorely missed.

The Browns worked fairly swiftly to fill Walker. Jr.'s spot in the middle of the defense by signing nine-year veteran Jordan Hicks when free agency opened last month.

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