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The bond between a player and a coach is strong enough to last through many things. Just usually not free agency. If they have the chance to get back together, oftentimes, they do.
Scott Petrak of the Elyria Telegraph reported Wednesday free agent defensive lineman Alex Carrington visited the Browns, moving him one step closer to the expected move of reunification with former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.
#Browns had free agents Paul McQuistan (OL) and Alex Carrington (DL) in for visits.
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) March 19, 2014
Pettine was hired as the (14th option) head coach of the Cleveland Browns this offseason after a successful stint in Buffalo as the team's defensive coordinator. While there, he developed a strong and deep group of pass rushers, Carrington being one of them.
A deal shouldn't be considered imminent, but the Browns have the cap space available, and Carrington has made two visits earlier in Pittsburgh and Oakland, giving him plenty of market perspective. The appeal of his old defense with his old coach may just be too much for him to pass up.
And that may have been his plan all along.