ROCKY RIVER — There's a lot that Browns Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio has expert knowledge in thanks to his decade's worth of NFL experience. The exact way to handled the months between the end of one season and the start of the next training camp isn't necessarily one of those.

Still, Bitonio was asked on Monday while at the Cleveland Browns Foundation charity golf outing to give his thoughts on the reported proposal by the NFL Players Association that's targeted at just those months. While he may not have direct knowledge of what's in the proposal, he knows enough to express a general opinion.

"Yeah, I don't know the exact details, but I do think there is some science behind like a better ramp-up period," Bitonio said. "… I think body-wise and, guys actually being able to train in off season, I think it's probably the smartest move. I don't know if people schedule-wise and stuff are, are very used to certain things. So we'll see how that goes. But, um, I think science like in a ramp-up period and training in the offseason all those things seem like it's a smart move."

That's basically the gist of the working proposal that was originally reported by the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero last Tuesday. The proposal wasn't finalized and wasn't expected to be formally put forward until later this summer.

However, distilled down to its most basic, the proposal calls for an end of the two-month voluntary offseason program as it's currently constructed. That program, which comes in three mostly three-week phases, is capped by 10 on-the-field practice sessions followed by a three-day minicamp.

The proposal calls for that offseason program to be abolished. It would instead start the ramp-up program in mid-June, which would build directly into the mid-July start of training camp.

"I think it's more of like a three days on, one day off type of thing is what I heard," Bitonio said. "And so, yeah, you're gonna be training, you're gonna be running, you're gonna be doing some position work, but I don't think it's gonna be, like, a training camp practice.

"It's still gonna be, like, half days and things of that nature where you're just trying to get used to being in pads. I mean, not being in pads but being on a football field and moving like a football player."

The initial reaction to the proposal has been almost universally negative. Front-office executives and coaches have expressed doubts because of the impact it could have on family vacations in the summer, since the NFL essentially shuts down for that month between the end of minicamps and start of training camp.

It's a similar argument from the players. In fact, one of the more outspoken individuals against it last week when it was proposed was Bitonio's teammate, defensive tackle Shelby Harris.

"I’m so confused how they are trying to twist this into saying players want to start camp the end of June (upside-down smiley face emoji)," Harris posted on X. "(N)obody wants anything to do with this change."

Bitonio understands the pushback. However, he also believes much of it is coming without the full picture.

Part of what has kept Bitonio in the loop is conversations he's had with former teammate JC Tretter, the ex-Browns center who is the former NFLPA president and remains heavily involved in the players union.

"I think it depends too with age, like, if you're a young guy, like, you probably want four or five months off in a row, but some young guys might not want four or five months," Bitonio said. "They're, like, 'I need to get back to work' if you have kids. You know, I could see a different idea.

"So, there's definitely gonna be some differing opinions, but I think we trust what's, you know, best for our bodies and in preparing for a season."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joel Bitonio sees 'some science' behind NFLPA offseason proposal