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James Burgess has waited -- and worked -- for his opportunity with the Browns

BEREA, Ohio -- Willie Middlebrooks, the former first round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, wasn't quite finished talking about his nephew, James Burgess, as the interview was wrapping up and he was asked if there was anything else he wanted to add.

"Don't be surprised," Middlebrooks said about Burgess.

Well, you should probably be a little bit surprised. Burgess went undrafted out of Louisville and spent 2016 living life beyond the bottom of an NFL roster, bouncing from practice squad to practice squad, spending time in Miami, San Diego and Jacksonville before ending up in Cleveland at the end of last season.