Browns’ Josh Gordon Did Not Fail Drug Test
Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon did not fail a drug test this offseason, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. There were previous rumblings that Gordon did not directly violate the league’s substance abuse policy, but this is the first confirmation that we have heard. 
Because Gordon didn’t fail a test, no suspension is anticipated once he returns. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be in uniform for Week 1. Gordon is still in Florida as he works on his mental and physical health, Cabot writes, so he’ll need the go-ahead from his NFL-sanctioned medical team before getting back to football.
Still, the Browns remain optimistic about Gordon’s future and they plan to stick with him as he works towards a full recovery. The club is keeping in contact with Gordon, but at the same time, they’re considering Dez Bryant as insurance.
Over the course of his up-and-down career, Gordon has appeared in 40 games and recorded 179 receptions for 3,089 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2013, he led the league with 1,646 receiving yards.
Poll: Should The Browns Sign Dez Bryant?
The Browns and Dez Bryant are meeting today, but each side has reservations about a potential union. Bryant ducked the Browns’ phone calls for a while and only got in touch with the Browns after GM John Dorsey disclosed that to the public. The Browns, meanwhile, aren’t completely sold on Bryant being a good fit for them. 
The Browns’ internal conflict is understandable as Bryant’s star has faded considerably in recent years. After averaging 91 catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns between 2012 and 2014, his averages plummeted to 50 catches for 678 yards and 6 TDs over the last three years. He also missed ten games due to injury between 2015 and 2016, and some say he wasn’t giving 100% towards the end of his run in Dallas.
Will Bryant be motivated by his release from the Cowboys? It stands to reason that he will, but one can’t help but wonder how Bryant would react to a sharp decrease in targets. Bryant would be in line for plenty of looks if Josh Gordon misses time, but the Browns are hopeful that the troubled star will be ready to go in Week 1. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario in which Bryant is relegated to being the third wide receiver behind Landry and Gordon, and there’s also a group of talented young receivers to consider, including rookie Antonio Callaway.
With reservations and interest on both sides, we want to know what you think. Should the Browns sign Bryant? Click below to cast your vote.
Browns, Dez Bryant To Meet On Thursday
The Browns have Dez Bryant‘s visit in the calendar. Bryant will travel to Cleveland on Thursday, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Browns To Work Out Johnathan Hankins]
The Browns’ interest in Bryant has been known for some time, but it has taken us a while to get to this point. Last week, GM John Dorsey told reporters that Bryant would not return his phone calls. Then, that night, Bryant tweeted that he would in fact be meeting with the Browns. Meanwhile, internally, the Browns are unsure as to whether Bryant will be a good fit for them. Each side will have a chance to weigh the pros and cons this week.
In theory, Bryant could be a tremendous No. 2 wide receiver for the Browns behind star Jarvis Landry if Josh Gordon is not available. If Gordon is available, then Bryant might not be in line for a ton of targets, and it’s fair to wonder whether the veteran would be flexible in that scenario. The Browns could also stand pat in the event of a Gordon absence thanks to the presence of youngsters like Antonio Callaway, Rashard Higgins, C.J. Board, Da’Mari Scott, and Damion Ratley.
Bryant averaged just 12.1 yards per reception in 2017, but his resume suggests that he could be capable of more in 2018.
Browns To Work Out Johnathan Hankins
The Browns will work out defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins on Wednesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. This marks Hankins’ first known meeting with a club since April. 
[RELATED: Free Agent Stock Watch: Johnathan Hankins]
Last year, Hankins was among the league’s most sought-after free agent defensive tackles. It’s not clear why his market has dragged this year, but it’s possible that his camp has been asking for significantly more money than what he has been offered thus far. After all, that’s what happened last year. In 2017, Hankins’ camp told teams that he was looking for $15MM per year. Soon after, the asking price was reduced to a more reasonable $10MM per season, and he eventually accepted a $9MM/year pact from the Colts.
Two of the Browns’ defensive tackles – Trevon Coley and Caleb Brantley – are dealing with ankle injuries, so Hankins could provide the club with a healthy alternative. If signed, Hankins would almost certainly start in the team’s 4-3 scheme. He played in a 3-4 setup with the Colts last year, but Hankins had only worked out of a 4-3 scheme prior to joining Indianapolis.
Hankins didn’t offer much against the pass in 2017, but he was exceptional against the run. In fact, only Damon Harrison and Ndamukong Suh ranked better against ball carriers, according to Pro Football Focus.
Browns Unsure About Dez Bryant’s Fit
The Browns finally got their date with Dez Bryant. However, they’re not necessarily certain about signing him. There is internal discussion about whether Bryant is the right fit for the Browns at this time, sources tell Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland. 
When Josh Gordon experienced a setback in his recovery earlier this summer, the Browns were concerned about their group at wide receiver. However, they’re not feeling quite as desperate after seeing their group of young receivers improve in recent weeks. Beyond Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins, they’ve also gotten positive results out of C.J. Board, UDFA Da’Mari Scott, and sixth-round pick Damion Ratley.
It has been said that Bryant is focused on finding the right fit, but the same goes for the Browns in this instance. When the two sides meet – likely on Thursday – the Browns will also be careful to gauge Bryant’s temperament as they consider the effect he may have on the team.
Bryant, 29, hasn’t topped 1,000 yards receiving since 2014 and his 12.1 yards per reception in 2017 was the lowest average of his career. But he can still post up opposing defensive backs near the end zone and he’s motivated to silence his critics in 2018.
Callaway Was Disciplined With Preseason Game
The Browns were seemingly dealt a big blow last week when receiver Antonio Callaway was arrested. News of the arrest came right after the team had traded away Corey Coleman to the Bills, and not too long after Josh Gordon left the team for an indefinite period of time. Callaway seemed poised to start as a rookie, but his arrest clouded the whole situation.
Callaway apparently did not inform the team of his arrest, and the Browns only found out through media reports. Many speculated the Browns would discipline him internally for failing to tell the team about the incident, but it appears no suspension will be forthcoming. Coach Hue Jackson said after practice today that the team’s punishment for Callaway was playing him nearly the entire game in the preseason opener, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (Twitter link). It seems like Callaway dodged a bullet, as many organizations would’ve been a lot more displeased with his failure to inform them of his situation.
Browns To Meet With Dez Bryant
The Browns are expecting a visit from free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant during the middle of next week, likely Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport notes that Bryant has been waiting for the right fit, so Bryant’s sense of how well he meshes with the personnel in Cleveland could be as important as whatever contract offer they make. 
On Thursday, GM John Dorsey told reporters that Bryant would not return his phone calls. The unorthodox decision to make that news public appears to have paid off. On Thursday night, Bryant tweeted that he would in fact be meeting with the Browns.
Bryant’s willingness to play for Cleveland had been in doubt, but it sounds like he’s at least open to the possibility. And, without a clear group of suitors here in August, Bryant may not have a ton of options left. That’s not to say that landing with the Browns would be a bad outcome for Bryant – this year’s Browns are clearly a more talented bunch than last year’s, and he will have extra opportunities to shine if star Josh Gordon misses regular season games. Even if Gordon is good to go, there should be plenty of deep ball opportunities for him, and he can take advantage of softer coverage as teams focus Gordon and slot star Jarvis Landry.
Latest On Antonio Callaway
- After being cited for marijuana possession over the weekend, Browns receiver Antonio Callaway intends to fight the charge by arguing the drugs weren’t his, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Cleveland management wasn’t made aware of Callaway’s arrest until media reports surfaced, and the club made it clear to Callaway that his actions were unacceptable, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. However, general manager John Dorsey believes Callaway did not actually smoke marijuana on the night he was cited, and indicated the Browns have a “low tolerance” policy — in contrast to a “zero tolerance” approach — for minor transgressions. Callaway, a fourth-round rookie out of Florida, is already impressing in his first NFL action tonight as Cleveland faces the Giants.
Dez Bryant Says He’ll Visit Browns
Browns general manager John Dorsey said earlier today that he can’t reach Dez Bryant in order to set up a visit, but the veteran wideout is now indicating he will in fact meet with Cleveland. “Starting my visits next week…I’m coming to the Land to see you Mr Dorsey,” Bryant tweeted on Thursday night.
While the Browns have been intrigued by Bryant for some time, Bryant’s willingness to play for Cleveland had been in doubt. Bryant simply tweeting that he’ll meet with the Browns next week certainly doesn’t make the prospective visit official, but if he’s willing to sit down with Dorsey & Co., there’s no real reason why a meeting wouldn’t occur.
Cleveland is in need of help at the wide receiver position: not only is the club waiting for Josh Gordon to return to practice (he’s currently dealing with off-field issues), but it just traded presumptive starter Corey Coleman to the Bills on Sunday. At this point, the Browns are planning to start Jarvis Landry and rookie wideout Antonio Callaway in two-wide sets.
Bryant, 29, certainly comes with risk, as he hasn’t topped 1,000 yards receiving since 2014, while his 12.1 yards per reception in 2017 was the lowest average of his career. But he can still post up opposing defensive backs near the end zone, and would be a tantalizing option for most quarterbacks. Recently, Bryant has expressed interest in signing with the 49ers, while Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report indicated that league insiders’ “best guess” is that Bryant will land with San Francisco.
Dez Bryant Won’t Return Phone Calls From Browns
The Browns’ interest in Dez Bryant has been well-documented over the past couple of weeks. Apparently, that interest is not being reciprocated. On Thursday, GM John Dorsey told reporters that he would meet with Bryant next week, “if he returns a phone call. He won’t return any phone calls,” (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com).
With Bryant apparently disinterested in joining Cleveland, Dorsey says the team will meet with other receivers in the coming days – ones that hopefully do have interest in suiting up for the Browns. That list may include Brandon LaFell, who is reportedly on the team’s radar following his release from the Bengals.
Earlier this week, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reported Cleveland was under the impression that Bryant is “not seriously interested” in joining the Browns, and Dorsey’s comments jibe with that sentiment. The Browns traded wideout Corey Coleman to the Bills on Sunday, so they’re currently relying on Jarvis Landry and rookie Antonio Callaway as their starters, at least until Josh Gordon returns to the club.
While a number of teams have been tangentially linked to Bryant since he was released by the Cowboys, no clubs aside from the Ravens and Browns have been directly interested in the former first-round pick. In fact, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com has reported many teams are unwilling to consider Bryant even at the minimum salary. Bryant had been expected to land a new deal inJuly, so the clock is now ticking on the veteran wideout.