Cleveland Browns Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Josh Gordon

By Andrew Ortenberg | at September 16, 2018 5:52 pm

The day after the Browns’ shocking announcement that they would be releasing former All-Pro receiver Josh Gordon, more news on the troubled wideout is continuing to pour in. After initially stating Gordon would be cut, Cleveland quickly reversed course and made it clear they were going to look to trade Gordon and get something back in return.

The Browns apparently would prefer to trade him out of conference, and Gordon himself has his eye on two NFC teams. Gordon would prefer to be traded to either the 49ers or Cowboys a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Both teams have issues in their receiving corps and would make sense as possible destinations.

49ers GM John Lynch confirmed to reporters that the team did call the Browns about Gordon, saying the “team is doing its due diligence” according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports (Twitter link). Gordon grew up in Texas and played his high school and college ball there, so it makes sense why he’d want to go to Dallas. Kyle Shanahan was briefly his offensive coordinator in Cleveland, which might explain his attraction to San Francisco.

Another issue surrounding Gordon is his health. It was reported yesterday that he injured his hamstring during a promotional shoot and not at practice, and that the injury was one of the reasons the Browns were cutting ties with him. “Gordon is traveling tonight to see a specialist tomorrow to learn the severity of his hamstring injury” a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The severity of the injury could be a determining factor in what sort of compensation the Browns get in a trade.

11 comments Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys San Francisco 49ers

Several Teams Have Inquired On Josh Gordon

By Rory Parks | at September 16, 2018 8:54 am

Shortly after the Browns announced their plan to release Josh Gordon yesterday evening, we heard that rival clubs were already calling Cleveland to inquire about trading for the troubled wideout before he hits the open market. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk lends further credence to those reports, writing that a few teams have indeed discussed a trade with the Browns.

It is not surprising that teams would be interested in the tremendously-talented Gordon from a pure football perspective, but it would be surprising if a club surrendered draft capital to acquire him if there were truth to the speculation that Gordon had suffered a relapse in his battle with substance abuse. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Browns’ decision to part ways with Gordon is not drug-related, though he did injure his hamstring during a team photo shoot. Given Gordon’s history, of course, it is fair to be skeptical of the circumstances surrounding his impending departure, and one league executive said, “if [the Browns] are letting him go, something is up” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Josina Anderson).

But assuming that Gordon has not run afoul of the league’s substance abuse policy, we could see the Browns strike a deal to send him elsewhere, though there are no concrete reports as to which teams have expressed interest. Florio speculates that the 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, and Cowboys could be in the running, but Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets that he does not expect Dallas to make a play for Gordon.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, citing the 49ers’ previous interest in Gordon, says he would not be surprised if San Francisco were one of the clubs willing to trade for him, though he suggests that any trade would include only conditional compensation (Twitter link). Any team that does trade for him would take on the balance of Gordon’s $790K contract this year — a bargain if he can stay on the field — and would have the right to keep him under club control with a a restricted free agency tender in 2019.

Rapoport tweets that Gordon himself is most interested in the Cowboys and 49ers, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the Browns intend to trade Gordon to an NFC club (Twitter link).

13 comments Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Newsstand San Francisco 49ers Josh Gordon

Latest On Gordon, Browns

By Andrew Ortenberg | at September 15, 2018 9:38 pm

Josh Gordon news continues to come flying in in the wake of the Browns‘ stunning announcement earlier today. There have been plenty of developments, including reports of a possible relapse and that the Browns will look to trade Gordon rather than release him.

The Browns would clearly prefer to get assets back rather than cut him for nothing, and it appears they may get their wish. “As many as five teams are researching possibly trading for Gordon” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link) who notes that “Cleveland has a market.” It’s unclear what any potential compensation would be, but it likely won’t be anything too valuable. A later round pick, perhaps even a conditional one, seems more likely at this point despite all of Gordon’s talent.

In the aftermath of the Gordon news, many immediately began suspecting the Browns would reach back out to Dez Bryant, who they had brought in for a visit and reportedly made an offer to. But Bryant’s name “hasn’t come up around the building lately” and the Browns are “not certain he wants to play football” according to Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link).
It was initially reported that Gordon would go on waivers, and any team could claim his contract if Gordon was let go, but that’s not true. Gordon would become a free agent if the Browns aren’t able to work out a trade as former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry explains (Twitter link). Gordon spent at least three games on a roster for a total of four seasons, barely meeting the threshold to avoid waivers.

27 comments Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Josh Gordon

Browns Will Look To Trade Josh Gordon

By Andrew Ortenberg | at September 15, 2018 7:33 pm

New details are pouring in on the shocking release of Josh Gordon. It was reported by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that Gordon “wasn’t himself” at the team facility earlier today and that the team suspected he had relapsed.

Now it’s being reported that the Browns will attempt to trade Gordon before releasing him by Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Schefter writes there are”teams already calling the Browns” and that sources think the Browns are “far more likely to trade Josh Gordon than release him.” It also makes sense for the Browns to try and get assets back for him rather than dumping him for nothing. The Browns’ initial statement where they said they would be releasing Gordon “on Monday” and not right away always seemed curious and this helps explain why.

Since Gordon has spent time on a roster during at least four seasons, he won’t be subjected to waivers if he were released. He would be free to sign with any team and potentially spark a bidding war. As such, it makes sense that teams would try to swing a trade for him to get him at his current relatively cheap contract.

There was also mystery surrounding Gordon’s hamstring. It was initially reported Gordon would miss the Browns’ Week 2 game against the Saints with a hamstring injury. Gordon “hurt his hamstring at a promotional shoot, not at practice” according to Schefter (Twitter link). Gordon suffering the injury likely contributed to what people are describing as “trust issues” between Gordon and Cleveland. Be sure to keep checking back, as this story will almost surely develop further.

17 comments Cleveland Browns Josh Gordon

Browns To Release Josh Gordon

By Andrew Ortenberg | at September 15, 2018 6:28 pm

UPDATE: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has details via Twitter on the release, reporting that Gordon was late to the team’s facility today and that it was an “overall trust issue for a player already on thin ice.” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports Gordon was “not himself” when he showed up to the facility and “there was concern that perhaps he had relapsed and was struggling with his substance use again.”

The Browns will release receiver Josh Gordon on Monday the team announced today (Twitter link).

It’s an absolutely stunning move and one that will send shockwaves across the league as the team has previously stuck with Gordon through everything. He’s battled a hamstring injury since he returned to the team earlier this summer, but had a touchdown catch in their Week 1 opener. The Browns’ statement, from GM John Dorsey, reads as follows:

“For the past six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally and wanted the best for him, but unfortunately we’ve reached a point where we feel it’s best to part ways and move forward. We wish Josh well.”

It was announced earlier today that the Gordon would miss the Browns’ Week 2 game against the Saints with a hamstring injury, although that now appears to have been made up. It always seemed fishy since he had practiced fully each day this week.

Kay Cabot’s reporting indicates the Browns thought he had relapsed and showed up to the facility under the influence. Whatever it was, they’ve kept him on the roster through multiple suspensions and substance abuse related absences before so it must’ve been deemed pretty serious.

Gordon will finish his career in Cleveland with 180 catches for 3106 yards and 16 touchdowns. Overall, it’s a sad day as it seemed Gordon had finally gotten his life back on track and was in a good place with the Browns.

35 comments Cleveland Browns Josh Gordon

Hamstring Still Plaguing Josh Gordon

By Sam Robinson | at September 15, 2018 2:19 pm

Josh Gordon trekked to the Browns facility Saturday complaining of hamstring trouble, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), and that’s resulted in the team ruling him out for Sunday’s game against the Saints. Gordon did not travel with the Browns to New Orleans.

This escalated rapidly. Gordon was expected to suit up in Week 2 after playing in Week 1. But the receiver with a notorious penchant for unavailability was slow to return from his latest hiatus because of hamstring pain. Cleveland will attempt to stun New Orleans without him, and Gordon will miss yet another game. After Sunday, the 2013 All-Pro will have missed 55 of the Browns’ past 66 games.

0 comments Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger Joe Mixon Josh Gordon

Dorsey Was "Blindsided" By Chiefs Firing

By Andrew Ortenberg | at September 13, 2018 10:39 am

Browns GM John Dorsey never expected to end up in Cleveland. When the longtime NFL executive was fired by the Chiefs last June, Dorsey was “blindsided” by the move according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. After four seasons in Kansas City, Dorsey was forced out in what amounted to a power grab by Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

Dorsey helped turn Kansas City around from a 2-14 team to one with a string of playoff appearances in a row, and even won an Executive of the Year Award with the Chiefs. He’ll now be tasked with turning around the Browns in similar fashion, and walked into a GM’s dream scenario with seemingly endless draft picks and young players to develop. Dorsey’s reign will be closely tied to the development of first overall pick Baker Mayfield. Kay Cabot thinks “Dorsey getting fired by the Chiefs may prove to be the the best thing that ever happened to the Browns”, and while there’s still a lot left to prove, things finally seem to be on the right track in Cleveland.

Speaking of the Browns, when their former first round pick Corey Coleman recently signed with the Patriots, it ended up saving the Bills some money according to Joel Corry of CBS Sports (Twitter link). Buffalo traded for Coleman earlier this season, absorbing all the guarantees left on his contract, but cut him before the season began. Luckily his contract had offset language in it, and the Bills will recoup $592K this year from his deal with New England.

3 comments Buffalo Bills Cleveland Browns Houston Texans Corey Coleman John Dorsey Le'Veon Bell Seantrel Henderson

Emmanuel Ogbah To Miss Time

By Sam Robinson | at September 12, 2018 1:00 pm

Emmanuel Ogbah‘s run into injury trouble again. Hue Jackson didn’t believe the third-year edge defender suffered a high ankle sprain but said (via ohio.com’s Nate Ulrich) it was “something like that” and that Ogbah will miss time. Chris Smith entered the fray as Myles Garrett‘s sidekick following Ogbah’s first-quarter injury and should be expected to start Sunday against the Saints. Recent waiver claim Anthony Zettel should have a role, too, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com notes. Ogbah saw a foot injury halt his momentum last year and end his season. His development was part of the reason the Browns selected Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb.
The Browns‘ left tackle position contributed to several NFL news cycles this offseason, due to Joe Thomas‘ retirement and the layered search for his replacement. But Jackson insists no change will commence between Week 1 and Week 2. Desmond Harrison will remain the Browns’ left tackle, per Jackson (via the Lorain Morning Journal’s Jeff Schudel, on Twitter). The rookie UDFA made the start, despite Greg Robinson and 2018 second-round pick Austin Corbett residing on the roster. Pro Football Focus graded Harrison as the second-worst full-time tackle in his debut, and Rotoworld’s Evan Silva adds (on Twitter) Harrison allowed the most hurries of any lineman last week.