Playing violently is the name of the game for Danny Shelton

Danny Shelton’s first appearance on an NFL stage made him look like something of a gentle giant, as he hoisted Commissioner Roger Goodell off his feet with a draft day bear hug while wearing a traditional Polynesian ensemble. Shelton also showed a fun side during the Browns’ joint practices in Buffalo when he tried to scare/surprise his former Washington teammate Andrew Hudson, though Hudson didn’t exactly jump out of his shoes.

https://vine.co/v/epdpu1pL6PL

That whimsical demeanor, however, is reserved for off-field matters. Shelton, a 339-pound defensive tackle, says that violence is the name of the game when battling for supremacy in the trenches. Shelton only made one tackle in the Browns’ preseason opener against the Washington Redskins. He is ready to make a bigger impact in game No. 2.

“[I] definitely wanted to play more violently,” Shelton said after Tuesday’s joint practice with the Bills in Rochester. “That’s something that I practiced these past two days. I feel more prepared now. I feel more prepared for my second game.”

Shelton showed a glimpse of that violence during a drill on Tuesday. He bull-rushed Bills veteran center Eric Wood into the backfield, letting out a yell afterward. (The Bills look to have won that particular play, as the running back slipped by Shelton and through the line, but the rookie’s sheer power is encouraging nonetheless.)

https://vine.co/v/epYlXDdbVVu

When asked what it meant to play more violently, Shelton said that aggressiveness is essential. It isn’t hard to see what Mike Pettine, Ray Farmer, and company saw in Shelton when they made him the No. 12 overall pick of this year’s draft.

“Just coming off the ball more aggressive, using my hands more aggressively,” he said. “That’s just what makes up a great defensive lineman, and that’s what I want to be.”

Shelton specifically pointed to Bills guard Richie Incognito as an opponent that he is looking forward to playing against. Incognito, a 10-year veteran and 2012 Pro Bowler, is noted for his mean streak as well as for being an underhanded player; in 2012 he placed second in a Sporting News poll of the dirtiest players in the league.¹ Incognito’s more unsavory attributes further came to light in a high-profile bullying case centered around Incognito and former Dolphin teammate Jonathan Martin.

Shelton isn’t sweating it.

“He’s one of the lineman that I always wanted to go against,” said Shelton of Incognito, “Because I know for sure I’m going to get competition from him. [The joint practice was] just a great time to go against some great linemen.”

Incognito got a taste of what the Browns rookie can do, as Shelton reportedly threw him to the side in a 9-on-9 running drill Tuesday.

“Man, he’s a big guy,” Incognito said. “He takes up so much space. He’s got a good foundation. He’s strong.”

With Shelton at defensive tackle and Incognito at offensive guard, expect the two to butt heads plenty at FirstEnergy Stadium Thursday night. With nearly 700 pounds between them and a shared affinity for violent play, Shelton will get his best chance yet to show off his mean side.

1. Former Detroit Lion and current Miami Dolphin Ndamukong Suh “won” the vote. [↩]