Cleveland Browns taking a long look at their unpolished ‘Big Reindeer’

BEREA, Ohio — In a now-famous YouTube video that has produced more than a half-million views, Joel Reinders smashes defenders like bugs on a windshield.

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The 21/2-minute video is a highlight reel of Reinders’ one full season at Canada’s University of Waterloo in Oakville, Ontario, hastily requested by agent Gil Scott to attract NFL interest.

“I was bigger than everybody, so I stood out,” said the Browns’ rookie offensive tackle prospect. “The biggest guy I played against was probably 6-3, 250.”

At 6-7 and 320 pounds, Reinders still stands out as one of the biggest players at Browns camp. But he’s got a few teammates on the defensive side who can look him in the eye, such as rookie linemen Clifton Geathers (6-7, 300) and Kwaku Danso (6-5, 336).

“It’s not anything I’m used to,” Reinders said. “Off the field, it’s uncommon for me to run into someone like that. Now I’m literally running into them every play.”

Reinders’ size and surname (it’s pronounced RINE-ders) has made him an instant curiosity among spectators early in camp.

“Robert Royal calls me the Big Reindeer,” Reinders said. “Coaches say I have a lot of potential because of my size.”

As an undrafted free agent signed to fill out the team’s rookie camp, Reinders already has survived two roster cuts. He is one of seven undrafted players — among 10 originally signed — to advance to training camp.

“I like him,” coach Eric Mangini said Monday. “He’s really big, athletic. He’s holding his own. He doesn’t have a lot of experience, so he’s fighting that a little bit. He gets a little better each practice. With his limited exposure to playing and the continued coaching that he gets, we will see some nice jumps. Early on, I’m really pleased with what he’s done.”

All of which is not that surprising to Scott, who long ago cornered the NFL market on Canadian players.

“Yeah, he’s a long shot considering that he played, what, 11/2 years at a Canadian school,” Scott said. “But I’ve had a number of guys over the years, and guys with his size and athletic ability every team wants.”

Reinders went to Waterloo on a basketball scholarship. He switched to football his third year. He played eight games at right tackle in his career. Scott discovered Reinders at the Canadian league’s evaluation camp — the CFL equivalent of the NFL combine — just 20 days before the NFL draft.

“I compared his times to those at the NFL combine and he would be third or fourth in all of them,” Scott said. “He was thinking of the CFL. I told his parents I think I can get him in the NFL. You just can’t find guys 6-7 and 310 with his athletic ability.”

Reinders grew up playing hockey and basketball, so that accounts for quick feet uncommon for a tackle his size.

Scott emailed the link of Reinders’ highlight video and also that of his E-Camp workouts to NFL teams. Three wanted to sign him after the draft, and he chose the Browns, who seemed most interested.

Despite already being signed by the Browns, Reinders was drafted in the CFL’s second round by Toronto.

“He would’ve been the first player taken in the CFL draft if he hadn’t already signed,” Scott said.

Reinders said it would have “blown me away” to know two years ago that he would eventually be competing in an NFL camp. He compared the level of play at Waterloo to that of a Division III American college football program. But he thinks he’s tasted enough of the NFL to believe “I can do this.”

Reinders has gotten more reps with the second team at right tackle because projected starter Tony Pashos has been out with cold symptoms.

“Rookie camp was something else. I definitely struggled with that, just because I’m not used to the amount of plays,” he said.

“Now I’m learning a lot from Floyd [Womack] and John [St. Clair] and Tony [Pashos], when he’s in. Eric Steinbach actually has really helped me out in meetings. I sit right behind him and if I make a mistake he kind of turns around and whispers a little something about my technique or something. Then seeing Joe Thomas every day in the film room is something else. He’s almost robotic the way he moves.”

For someone with so little exposure to the game, every day is a learning experience. Reinders is particularly looking forward to the Browns’ exhibition opener at fabled Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Aug. 14.

“I’ve never actually been to an NFL game before, so that will be my first,” he said.

PICTURE: Gus Chan / The Plain DealerRookie Browns lineman Joel Reinders puts his size to good use in this blocking drill against linebacker Jason Trusnik Monday at the Browns’ training camp.