Cowboys Interested In Nick Foles, Other QBs
2:30pm: The Cowboys are considering other free agent options, including Jimmy Clausen, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
For what it’s worth, the Bucs reportedly are not shopping Glennon, nor have they received calls on him as of late.
2:08pm: Cowboys executive Vice President Stephen Jones said the Cowboys have been in talks with the agent for free agent quarterback Nick Foles, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. However, the team is looking at multiple options to replace Moore. Jones said the Cowboys want to sign a backup QB “sooner rather than later,” but they want to get it right too.
1:47pm: The Cowboys are one of a handful of teams in on Foles, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter). He could sign somewhere as early as today, Garafolo adds.
9:15am: The Cowboys are back in the market for a veteran quarterback. Following Kellen Moore‘s ankle fracture, the Cowboys are considering Nick Foles as an option and discussing trades for other QBs, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Josh McCown of the Browns and Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon could also be considered by Dallas. 
[RELATED: Cowboys QB Kellen Moore Suffers Injury]
Recently, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shot down the notion that the Cowboys would contact Foles, saying that the club would instead turn to its internal options. However, Moore’s injury has changed everything. With Tony Romo‘s primary backup sidelined, Dallas is left with only rookie Dak Prescott and 2015 UDFA addition Jameill Showers. If the Cowboys still intend on the recovering Romo taking every third practice session off, they’ll need to add a capable QB quickly.
McCown‘s status with the Browns has been in some dispute with some reports indicating that the club would only trade McCown if they received a tremendous offer. Meanwhile, other roster projections have had McCown left off of the 53-man roster. After waiving Connor Shaw earlier this summer, the Browns now field Robert Griffin III, McCown, Austin Davis, and third-round rookie Cody Kessler on their depth chart, as Roster Resource shows. McCown was thought to be a trade candidate earlier this offseason, with the Broncos among the teams that reportedly expressed interest. If Cleveland ends up releasing McCown, the team would save nearly $3.4MM on its salary cap.
Glennon, the backup to Jameis Winston, has not played since 2014 and was speculated as a trade target for quarterback-needy teams this spring. The 2013 third-round pick is entering his contract year and may view the Cowboys as a team that would give him a better chance to play given Romo’s health issues. The Bucs reportedly turned down a second-round pick for Glennon in March.
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Browns Sign Neill, Tucker
- In addition to their transactions below, the Browns have also waived/injured defensive lineman Dylan Wynn, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). Wynn will revert to Cleveland’s injured reserve list if and when he clears waivers.
- The Browns announced that they have signed linebacker Jason Neill and offensive lineman Cory Tucker. To make room, offensive lineman Conor Boffeli and linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat were waived.
Browns Notes: RG3, McCown, DePo, Hairston
The Browns have made numerous changes over the past few months, altering their front office, field staff, and roster. If you haven’t been following along, we’ve got you covered — check out our Offseason In Review to learn about Cleveland’s moves on and off the field, and read our Impact Rookies piece to see scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas’ thoughts on the Browns’ expansive rookie class.
Here’s the latest of out of Cleveland:
- The quarterback competition is all but over in Cleveland, and Robert Griffin III is highly likely to be named the starter ahead of the club’s first preseason game, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. Of course, the Browns and head coach Hue Jackson seemed to favor Griffin from the moment they signed him to a two-year deal, so veteran Josh McCown and third-round rookie Cody Kessler never had much of a shot to wrest away the starting gig. Cleveland isn’t likely to carry four quarterbacks on its opening day roster, so either Austin Davis (who signed an extension in September) or McCown is probably going to be released or traded. McCown, for what it’s worth, was mentioned in trade talks earlier this year.
- Although the Browns are pleased with Griffin, the team figures to continue its ongoing search for a franchise quarterback, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta tells Tony Grossi of ESPN.com. DePodesta made the argument that we’ve heard other Cleveland decision-makers espouse, asserting that quarterbacks are valuable enough that a club should never cease trying to acquire difference-makers at the position. The former MLB executive also explained why Cleveland opted to trade the No. 2 overall pick rather than select North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, suggesting that the team may have kept the draft choice had Jared Goff been available. “I think the hardest part, and where we have to stay the most disciplined, as much as you want a player, you can’t invent him if he doesn’t exist,” said DePodesta. “In a given year, there may be two or three NFL-ready quarterbacks at the college level. In another year, there literally may be zero. There just may be not be anybody in that year who’s good enough to be a top 20 quarterback in the NFL.”
- The Browns are bringing in former East Carolina running back Chris Hairston for a workout, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. Hairston, not to be confused with the Chargers offensive lineman of the same name, went undrafted earlier this year, but he did earn an invite to the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp. During his senior season, Hairston rushed 165 times for 754 yards and eight touchdowns, and also added 29 receptions. Cleveland’s roster currently includes a number of backs, with Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, Raheem Mostert, and Terrell Watson among them, but lacks an established option.
Browns Links: Gordon, Bryant
- Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson addressed the return of newly reinstated receiver Josh Gordon on Thursday (via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com). “He in earnest wants to make the most of this opportunity, and he knows his situation and so we’re going to get around him, give him that opportunity,” Brown stated regarding Gordon, whom the league suspended for 29 of the Browns’ previous 48 regular-season games – including the entire 2015 campaign – because of substance abuse violations. Gordon will also sit out the first four games of this year. However, the highly talented 25-year-old has a clean slate with Jackson, who’s in his first season with the Browns. “I don’t have a lot of history with Josh that way,” said Jackson. “But his history is preceding him, and I think he knows that and I think the only way to deal with a player in these situations is to kind of hit the restart button for him and he has to go do it.”
- The Browns have no plans to cut linebacker Armonty Bryant in the wake of his misdemeanor drug conviction, Brown said Thursday, as Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer tweets. An additional suspension could be coming for him, however. Bryant will already miss the first four games of the season because of a suspension.
Desmond Bryant To Miss 2016 Season
JULY 28th: The Browns officially announced that Bryant has been ruled out for the season. To fill his roster spot, Cleveland signed tight end David Reeves.
JULY 13th: The Browns announced that Bryant will be forced to miss the 2016 season due to his pectoral injury.
JULY 12th: The Browns appear to have lost one of their best defensive players for the duration of the 2016 season, as defensive lineman Desmond Bryant underwent surgery today to correct a torn pectoral muscle, according to Anthony Lima of CBS Cleveland/92.3 The Fan (Twitter link). Given that he’s facing a five-to-six month recovery, Bryant is likely to miss the entire 2016 campaign.
[RELATED: Reviewing the Cleveland Browns’ offseason]
Bryant, 30, had been expected to start at defensive end under new coordinator Ray Horton, but his absence will now open the door for younger players to see more snaps. Xavier Cooper, who appeared in 14 games last season but started none, is a candidate for an increased role, as are John Hughes and rookie pass-rusher Carl Nassib. The Browns had hoped that Nassib would add weight this summer in order to slide inside on passing downs, but with Bryant out of the picture, Nassib could see more snaps on the outside immediately.
Cleveland’s defense couldn’t afford any more losses, as the club had already ranked 29th in defensive DVOA in 2015 before losing starters Tashaun Gipson, Donte Whitner, Karlos Dansby, and Craig Robertson over the past few months. Bryant, for his part, was likely the best player remaining on the defense outside of cornerback Joe Haden, as he led the Browns in sacks last season with six. Pro Football Focus assigned Bryant a middle-of-the-pack rank among interior defenders, though he did grade much better as a pass-rusher than against the run.
Bryant is signed through the 2017 season, but the Browns can easily get out of his contract once he gets healthy. Bryant is due a $7MM base salary in 2017, and will only have $1MM remaining in signing bonus proration. Therefore, if Cleveland doesn’t think Bryant is going to be worth his salary next season, it can release Bryant and save $6MM against the salary cap.
For a majority of clubs in the NFL, the loss of a starter would spur a search of veteran free agents still left on the board, but that isn’t a calculation for the Browns. In the midst of a full-scale rebuild, Cleveland has no incentive to replace Bryant with an experienced player, both because the club is better served letting its young options see more playing time, and because adding a veteran won’t help the club’s long-term development (even if it would make the team a bit better in the present).
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Latest On Josh Gordon
After being conditionally reinstated by the NFL yesterday, wide receiver Josh Gordon is still on “thin ice” with the Browns’ leadership team, and the club’s new coaching staff will be watching him closely, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), who adds that Cleveland has become “weary” of Gordon’s antics. Nevertheless, Browns executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown was supportive of Gordon in a statement issued yesterday.
[RELATED: Impact Rookies — Cleveland Browns]
“With the league’s decision to afford Josh the opportunity to resume his career, he will be with us for the start of training camp,” said Brown. “At that time, we will discuss directly with Josh the direction of our team, our expectations of our players and a plan to support him on and off the field.”
Brown was placed on the non-football injury list today with a quad injury, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, but he should be able to return to practice in a few weeks. In a somewhat unprecedented move, the league will allow Gordon to not only play in all four preseason contests, but permit Gordon to attend team meetings during his suspension. Meanwhile, Gordon’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is confident that the Browns are willing to welcome the former star wide receiver.
“I do believe the Browns are a big part of Josh getting reinstated,” Rosenhaus said today on Pro Football Talk Live. “I do believe that Sashi Brown …had a lot to do with this. I believe that Hue Jackson is very committed to working with Josh Gordon. I believe that Jim Brown, who’s an integral part of this process who got to know Josh and has served as a mentor in some respects had a lot to do with this. I really do think that the Browns are committed to Josh and want to see him succeed.”
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Browns Waive A.J. Stamps
- The Browns announced that they have waived defensive back A.J. Stamps. The move makes room for the return of wide receiver Josh Gordon to Cleveland’s 90-man roster. On Monday, the NFL announced that Gordon has been conditionally reinstated by the NFL and will be eligible to return in Week 5, provided that he stays on the straight and narrow between now and then.
Josh Gordon Reinstated By NFL
Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated, the NFL announced today. However, Gordon will be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season and his return will be conditional. Gordon must continue with his treatment plan in order to be allowed back for Week 5. In the interim, Gordon will be permitted to play in preseason games. During the suspension, he will also be allowed to be in team meetings. 
Since his entry into the league in 2012, Gordon’s NFL career has been tumultuous to say the least. He missed the first two games of the 2013 season following a drug suspension, but then went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. Gordon celebrated his 25th birthday this offseason.
Hopes were high for the 2014 season, but Gordon’s off-the-field issues resurfaced, as he was first arrested for DUI, and then suspended for one year after again violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was eventually reinstated after only 10 games as part of the NFL and the players’ union agreeing to a new drug policy, which reduced the sentences for some players-in-limbo.
Now, Gordon must demonstrate that is exercising better judgement in order to see the field again. He must also make a strong impression on new coach Hue Jackson. Ultimately, it is Jackson who will decide whether the wideout fits into his program. If not, the Browns could theoretically trade or cut Gordon.
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Latest On Josh Gordon’s Future
The meeting Browns receiver Josh Gordon had with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday could bode well for the suspended star’s potential reinstatement to the league, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Goodell wouldn’t have summoned him to New York if the commissioner didn’t believe Gordon had begun taking the necessary steps toward a return, according to Cabot.
[RELATED: Browns Sign Nick Hayden]
Various substance abuse-related suspensions have cost Gordon 29 of the Browns’ past 48 games, including all of the 2015 season, and the league denied his previous petition for reinstatement in April after he failed a drug test. Gordon, 25, is next eligible to apply for reinstatement Aug. 1, and he could rejoin the Browns immediately if Goodell allows him back into the league. Goodell will first need evidence that the ex-Baylor standout has gotten past his substance issues, though, and then the Browns will have to show a willingness to welcome back the immensely talented Gordon.
It might help Gordon’s cause that owner Jimmy Haslam has taken an interest in his well-being, per Cabot. But Gordon’s future (or lack thereof) in Cleveland is likely to rest with new head coach Hue Jackson, who will decide whether the wideout fits into his program. If not, the Browns could trade or cut Gordon – who, with three accrued seasons, doesn’t have enough service time to avoid waivers.
The last time Gordon took the field for an extended period of time, in 2013, he performed like one of the league’s best players, racking up 87 receptions, a jaw-dropping 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. His ability, youth and the rebuilding Browns’ dearth of talent could lead the club to plug him back into its lineup opposite rookie first-round wideout Corey Coleman, who also attended Baylor. It’s worth noting, too, that Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III played at Baylor with Gordon.
“Josh is family. We went to Baylor together. I love the guy,” Griffin said during his introductory conference call in Cleveland in March (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
In the event Gordon returns, he’ll make a relative pittance this year, $1,068,406, before becoming a restricted free agent next offseason.
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Browns Sign Nick Hayden
The Browns have added a 90th player to their roster, signing free agent defensive lineman Nick Hayden to an undisclosed contract, per a team announcement. Cleveland is now the fourth NFL organization for Hayden, who entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Panthers in the 2008 draft.
The Browns’ signing of Hayden, 30, comes on the heels of the season-ending surgery fellow D-lineman Desmond Bryant underwent earlier this month to repair a torn pectoral muscle. While Hayden isn’t on Bryant’s level, he logged extensive playing time as a Cowboy from 2013-15 and emerged as a durable option in Dallas. The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder started in 47 of a possible 48 regular-season games during his three years with the club and picked up 130 tackles, including a career-high 48 in 2015 while playing in 55 percent of its defensive snaps. That output didn’t impress Pro Football Focus, however, which ranked Hayden just 115th out of 123 qualifying interior defenders last year.
The majority of Hayden’s action last season came against the run, and the Browns finished 30th in the league in rushing yardage allowed and tied for 26th in yards per attempt yielded. Hayden could help their cause in that regard, or at least provide depth along a line that features Xavier Cooper, Danny Shelton and John Hughes as projected starters, as Roster Resource indicates.
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