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What the release of Phil Taylor means for the Browns defensive line

Mike Pettine promised at the start of training camp there would be tough decisions to make about constructing the Browns’ roster.

Terminating the contract of former first-round pick Phil Taylor certainly qualified.

“Just given the depth that we had in that room, we knew we were going to have to make some difficult choices,” Pettine said. “We just felt it was the right decision for all involved.”

The release means several things. Pettine mentioned Taylor’s tedious recovery pace from knee surgery was a factor.

But in broader terms, the defensive line has evolved into a completely different unit.