Jimmy Haslam Preaches Stability, Patience
- Despite another lost season for the Browns, team owner Jimmy Haslam is, uncharacteristically, preaching patience and stability. La Canfora writes that Haslam recently held a staff meeting for all team employees to make the case for not making coaching and management changes, a meeting that was intended to boost morale. Of course, that does not mean that everyone’s job is safe, but it does indicate that Haslam does not currently plan on the type of major overhaul for which he has become famous. If the Browns finish the season 0-16, however, that could change. Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer confirm La Canfora’s report (Twitter links).
Johnny Manziel Reaches Deal With Prosecutors
Prosecutors have finalized an agreement with Johnny Manziel to dismiss a domestic violence charge against him, as The Associated Press writes. The former Heisman Trophy winner will have to meet certain conditions for a year before the charge is formally dropped. 
This agreement may remove one hurdle in Manziel’s path to an NFL return, but there are obviously a number of issues standing in his way. For one, the league reportedly has a six-game suspension waiting for Manziel in response to this charge, even though he will not serve jail time for it. Manziel must also show that he is making a real commitment to sobriety. Over the last two years, Manziel has made headlines for all the wrong reasons and he has yet to follow through on any of his pledges to get better. If Manziel can’t stay on the straight and narrow, no NFL team will roll the dice on him.
In the last year, two different agents have dropped Manziel. His last agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claimed that there was NFL interest in Manziel as recently as March, though I’m skeptical. Even if that is true, Manziel’s situation has deteriorated even further in the last nine months and any interest from clubs has surely waned.
Manziel has told people close to him that he is eyeing a 2017 NFL comeback.
Robert Griffin III Cleared For Contact
The Browns could soon turn to quarterback Robert Griffin III, as the embattled signal-caller is now fully cleared for contact, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Per Werder, Cleveland will let RG3, Josh McCown, and Cody Kessler compete for the starting quarterback job, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (video link) that once Griffin takes hold of the No. 1 job, he’s likely to hang onto it for the remainder of the season.
[RELATED: Browns Place John Greco On IR]
That the Browns are eager to see what Griffin can offer as the 2016 campaign concludes comes as no surprise, especially given that the winless club is squarely focused on the future. Griffin is signed through the 2017 season, during which he’s set to earn a base salary of $7MM, and Browns exec Sashi Brown said earlier this year (notably, before RG3 suffered a shoulder injury) that Cleveland doesn’t view Griffin as simply a short-term investment.
“To be fair to Robert, he’s young in his career in terms of his development as a quarterback,” Brown said in September. “We will develop him over time. He’s under contract here two years, but we don’t look at it as certainly just a two-year venture or a week-to-week venture. This is something we’re going to have to stick by him, put the right pieces around him and help him learn how to play that position as well. So it’s not a short-term kind of look at him.”
Griffin is still only 26 years old, and though injuries have slowed his once-promising career, the Browns likely feel that enough upside remains that it makes sense to take another look at RG3 before making their decision on his 2017 fate. Still, that probably won’t stop Cleveland from investing more resources at the quarterback position next year, and the club has already been rumored to have shown interest in UNC QB Mitch Trubisky.
NFL Teams Showing Interest In Rugby Stars
Last year, rugby star Jarryd Hayne signed with the 49ers and tried his hand at the NFL. His stay in the league was short, but there are now a pair of rugby standouts that are hoping to follow his footsteps. Australian Rugby League players Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo tried out for teams on Saturday, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
The Bills, Bears, Browns, Packers, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Rams, Jets, Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks, Cardinals, and the 49ers were all in attendance for the workout (Twitter link). Taumalolo, 23, and Holmes, 21, ran passing routes, underwent speed and agility tests, and ran the 40-yard dash, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Taumalolo hears that he could project to fullback, tight end, or linebacker while Holmes was pegged as a wide receiver or safety.
At least four NFL teams expressed interest in taking a second look at the duo, the Australian Associated Press reports. Scouts from the Packers, Eagles, Jets, Chiefs and Cardinals appeared to be the most interested. The AAP writes that both players intend on fulfilling their NRL contracts for 2017, but one has to imagine that they could change their minds if presented with an NFL offer.
Browns Latest Team To Cut Callahan
- Joe Callahan could venture to another city after the Browns became the third team to waive the rookie quarterback this season, doing so to clear a path for a Robert Griffin III return, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Both the Packers and Saints waived the UDFA earlier this season. Each expressed interest in moving Callahan to their practice squad for further development, so the Division III product could have a landing spot with one of his former organizations.
Browns Place John Greco On Injured Reserve
John Greco‘s season is over. The Browns announced that they are putting the offensive lineman on injured reserve with a foot injury. 
Greco injured his foot during the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Giants. The 31-year-old was spotted leaving the game with crutches and a protective boot, so today’s news doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Without Greco, the Browns are down yet another key offensive lineman. Cleveland is already without guard Joel Bitonio and center Austin Reiter and interior lineman Cameron Erving also missed significant time this year. Now at 0-12, the Browns’ bid to avoid a winless season just got even harder.
In a trying year, Greco has been a bright spot for the Browns. The right guard ranks as Pro Football Focus’ 19th ranked guard with roughly even grades for his run blocking and pass blocking. His overall grade puts him ahead of guys like Allen Barbre, Jack Mewhort, and Alex Boone.
The Browns are on their bye this week. Next up for Cleveland is a Dec. 11 date against the Bengals.
Hue Jackson On Job Security, 0-12 Start
After Cleveland fell to 0-12 with a loss to the Giants on Sunday, Browns head coach Hue Jackson had a meeting with his bosses and showed up 40 minutes late to his press conference. Jackson then assured reporters, including Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, that his job is secure. “Let me go on record saying I have full support of Jimmy and Dee (Haslam) and Sashi (Brown) and his crew,” stated Jackson. “We’re not apart or splintered or whatever term you guys want to use. There’s none of that going on.” Jackson, who’s in his first year with the rebuilding Browns, was fighting back tears and said “being 0-12 is probably the hardest thing ever.”
Browns Notes: Greco, RG3, McCown
Browns right guard John Greco injured his foot during the third quarter of today’s loss to the Giants. The 31-year-old was taken to the locker room and didn’t return to the contest. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets that Greco was spotted leaving the stadium accompanied by crutches and a right boot.
If Greco is forced to miss time, it’d be another hit to an injury-riddled Browns offensive line. The team is already without guard Joel Bitonio and center Austin Reiter, while Cameron Erving has also missed time with an injury.
Let’s take a look at some other notes out of Cleveland…
- The Browns want to see what they have in Robert Griffin III. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noted on NFL GameDay Morning that the organization wants to see several more starts from the signal-caller (via Conor Orr of NFL.com). Of course, that all depends on whether rookie quarterback Cody Kessler is unable to return from his concussion. Griffin was placed on the injured reserve following the Browns’ season-opener, and the quarterback ended up returning to practice earlier this week.
- ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi wonders if quarterback Josh McCown may have made his final start with the Browns today. The 37-year-old is now 1-10 as a starter over the past two seasons, including today’s loss to the Giants. The veteran is owed $3.625MM next season, and he’s due a $750K roster bonus in March.
- If the Patriots were willing to part with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Cabot believes he’d be a great addition to the Browns. Of course, that wouldn’t necessarily prevent the organization from taking a quarterback in the draft. Cabot says the team could still target North Carolina signal-caller Mitch Trubisky regardless of whether they acquire a quarterback via trade or free agency.
Pluto: Browns Should Focus On Re-Signings
- Instead of using their projected $64MM in 2017 cap space to make outside hires for quick-fix purposes, the Browns should focus that money on retaining Jamie Collins and Terrelle Pryor, whom Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes would be top-10 picks in this coming draft. Future expiring-contract players Joel Bitonio and Christian Kirksey should be re-signed as well before they hit the walk-year point so many recent Browns have, Pluto notes, with the recent glut of defectors helping put the franchise in the position in which it currently resides.
Ray Horton Discusses Job Security
Ray Horton‘s first season in Cleveland hasn’t gone as planned. The Browns’ defensive coordinator has struggled mightily through the team’s first 11 games. Not only are the Browns winless, but the defense ranks towards the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category.
To make matters worse, a report earlier this month from CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora indicated that Horton could be on the hot seat. La Canfora reported that Horton “is facing a very uncertain future.”
“Horton is a very unpopular pick in various quadrants of the organization to return as defensive coordinator but is supported staunchly by [head coach Hue] Jackson,” the reporter wrote.
Horton addressed these reports yesterday. Unsurprisingly, the long-time coach told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that he’s not worried about his job security.
“I don’t live that way, I don’t want my kids to live that way and I don’t want my players to live that way,” said Horton. “I would think, ‘man, what an awful life if you have to worry all the time about stuff.’ You do the best job you can in life with what you have, meaning personally. Do I worry that way? I think you guys know me very well. I try to be very honest and very fair. I don’t live that way.”
Horton cited the mediocre records of Tom Landry, Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson when they were first getting started in the NFL, noting that it takes some time to build a competent team or unit.
“I’m not comparing myself to them, please do not think I am – but you go through things in this business,” he said. “Locally, you look at the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had LeBron, LeBron left and LeBron came back. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and to answer your question very bluntly, I don’t live that way. I never have, and hopefully, I never will.”
Is the coach at least seeing some improvement from his defense?
“It’s hard to see maybe from the score and the record, but we are getting better,” said Horton. “Our guys are getting better, and we’re going to put this together. I’m encouraged every day because our guys are getting better. They’re understanding more. They’re seeing more. They’re getting live action out there.
“When you talk to coaches on other teams, they see it. A lot of times, it is hard to see the forest through the trees, but we have some guys that are playing very well that are going to be the foundation of our team. They’re going to be the ones that help us get over the top.”
Following two seasons with the Titans, Horton returned to the Browns this offseason. The 56-year-old was Cleveland’s defensive coordinator in 2013.