Freddie Kitchens doesn't see a reason to take Duke Johnson off a talented Browns offensive roster. (Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Freddie Kitchens cautions not to rule out those "Duke" chants at FirstEnergy Stadium just yet.

He re-iterated Tuesday at the coaches' breakfast at the NFL annual meetings in Phoenix that Johnson is still a valuable member of the Browns even though they signed Kareem Hunt.

"I don't know why it's assumed that we're going to trade Duke Johnson,'' Kitchens said. "I don't know why we would ever want to voluntarily give up a good football player. Duke Johnson is a good football player. Duke Johnson will have a role on our football team. All these guys that are here will have a role.

"I don't know when it just became a necessity to trade Duke Johnson because we signed Kareem Hunt. And I know I've heard that a lot.''

Sources told cleveland.com that Johnson's name came up in trade talks during the flurry of activity at the start of the league year, but no one made the Browns an offer they couldn't refuse. With Hunt suspended for the first eight games of the season, the Browns might be inclined to keep Johnson, at least until closer to the trade deadline in late October when Hunt is due back.

As for Johnson's role being reduced one Hunt returns, Kitchens said, "I told you guys (last season) that we were doing the wishbone. You all didn't believe me. Then you come back two weeks later wanting to ask questions about 'what are you going to do that week?' Hell, you didn't believe me. Why would I tell you then?''

So he'd play all three backs at once?

"Yes,'' he said.

Reminded that the Browns traded Carlos Hyde to get Nick Chubb on the field, he said, "Carlos and Nick are closer comparisons to the type than the other three are.''

Of course, the Giants insisted they weren't trading Odell Beckham Jr. before the Browns made them an offer they couldn't refuse — so stay tuned.

Here are some other things we learned from Kitchens at the meetings.

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Nick Chubb runs for a TD vs. the Raiders. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

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1. Kitchens says Nick Chubb is excited about Hunt

Kitchens said he's talked to Chubb about the signing of Hunt.

"Nick Chubb welcomes the competition,'' said Kitchens. "Nick Chubb is what you want as a player on your football team. And he welcomes the competition. And he's excited about it. And let me tell you something: Nick Chubb can help Kareem Hunt. And again, we're doing everything we can right now to support Kareem Hunt as a person, not the player.

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2. On sky-high expectations

Kitchens was asked at least five times during his hour-long breakfast interview about the high expectations this season, and each time he jokingly responded, "I'm scared to death.''

He reminded questioners that he went to a Super Bowl with the Cardinals and knows a thing or two about expectations.

"Our expectations are going to be high, because that's where we want to go,'' he said. "So that doesn't put pressure on me. To me pressure is waking up without a job, having a baby at home to feed, your wife just left you and you have no money in your pocket.''

Asked if he's ever been in that situation, he quipped, "No, my wife is still here, I think."

He added, "I listen to country music for a reason. Most of all those songs it seems like was written for me."

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Odell Beckham Jr. gears up to face the Eagles. (Chris Szagola, AP)

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3. On what he'll say to Odell Beckham Jr.

Kitchens has talked to Beckham on the phone several times, but he has yet to meet him. What's the first thing he'll say to him when he does?

"Uh, I love you?'' he said, to much laughter. "Like show me how to catch the ball with one hand? I don't know. Just introduce myself and get to know him as a person.

"Ultimately that's what we're going to do with the Cleveland Browns is get to know the people. And then earn trust. They're gonna always trust us. And I've got to trust him, too. It's a two-way street. And he's got to trust his teammates and they have to trust him.''

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4. On Monday's message to the team at the start of the offseason program

Kitchens said he won't spend much time preparing his speech to the team for the start of the offseason program Monday.

"Generally speaking, it's going to be 'check out of yourself and into the team,''' he said. "Everything we do is going to be about the team. Coaches like to say 'check egos at the door' but at the end of the day, they need egos and they need confidence for one-on-one matchups. What I want them to do is have their ego after the team.''

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5. He's ready for prime time

Kitchens joked that he's also "scared to death'' of all the prime-time games the Browns will play this year. The NFL allows up to five such featured appearances.

"I don't know how I'm going to deal with it,'' he joked. "I really don't know if I'm ready for this job, I really don't, man. We had quite a few primetime games when I was in Arizona. We were at the Super Bowl, which was the most prime. The only thing is it changes up your schedule a little bit, whether you practice a little later or a little earlier. Everything else is the same. But that's kind of what I'm trying to make a point with the players, even. Everything is going to be the same every day.''

Some predict he might have to match wits with Bill Belichick in the opener, but he's not fazed by that.

"I don't want to sound like it's not a big deal,'' he said. "It's a big deal for our fans to be on center stage. But I guarantee you it'll be a helluva lot bigger deal if we can win. Monday night game, Patriots, those things don't matter. Just prepare the way you prepare each and every day.''

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Olivier Vernon can be a great mentor for Myles Garrett. (Bill Kostroun, AP)

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6. Olivier Vernon can help Myles Garrett

Kitchens is excited to pair his standout defensive end, Myles Garrett, with Olivier Vernon, who came from the Giants in the Kevin Zeitler trade.

"Anytime you have one (dominating player) on each end it helps both of them,'' he said. "Olivier, I like his motor, I like his work ethic, I like how he approaches the game. He's all business.''

He believes Vernon, a seven-year veteran, will be a great mentor for Garrett.

"I think everything that Olivier brings to the table, Myles can learn from,'' said Kitchens. "Myles is going into his third year. He's got a lot to learn. And some of it just has to do with every day life with the game of football. It's a long season. I think Olivier can help him with a lot of those things.''

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