Tyler Thigpen

Extra Points: Myers, Barnes, Devlin, Thigpen

Former Texans center Chris Myers told Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that he had offers to sign with multiple teams in the “past few weeks” but he had already come to grips about wanting to retire. Myers announced on Wednesday that he is stepping away from football. Myers, who turns 34 next month, was a sixth-round draft pick in 2005, going 200th overall to the Broncos. The former Miami Hurricanes lineman became Denver’s full-time center in 2007, then joined the Texans in 2008, starting every game for the team over the course of the next seven seasons.

  • Former Jets, Chargers, and Ravens pass rusher Antwan Barnes is drawing interest from a few NFL teams, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • Former Dolphins quarterback Pat Devlin will be working out for the Browns on Thursday, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Devlin was with the Bears until he was released in June.
  • Tyler Thigpen is another option for the Browns as an extra quarterback, Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer tweets. Thigpen was in camp with Cleveland last summer and GM Ray Farmer is a fan of his.

Jets Cancel Workout For QB Tyler Thigpen

7:59pm: The Jets have cancelled their workout with Thigpen, a league source tells Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Anderson (Twitter link) hears that the Jets don’t have imminent plans to work out either Thigpen or Grossman.

7:44pm: A Jets source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that the thinking for the team at this time is to go into their preseason opener against the Lions “with the three arms that we have.” No surprise here, but the Jets won’t be signing anyone prior to Friday, when they’ll get a look at Thigpen.

6:08pm: The Jets will work out quarterback Tyler Thigpen on Friday, a league source tells ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini (on Twitter). Thigpen could be called upon to provide the Jets with depth in the wake of today’s incident which left starter Geno Smith with a broken jaw.

Thigpen, 30, joined the Browns on a one-year deal in May 2014 after a strong performance at their minicamp. He was cut in August to make way for Rex Grossman, but he returned to the roster late in the season when Cleveland needed depth at the quarterback position. A seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft, he saw his most significant action during the 2008 season, when he started 11 games for the Chiefs and put up respectable numbers, including 2,608 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. Since then, he has served as a backup in Kansas City, Miami, Buffalo, and Cleveland.

Speaking of Grossman, Sexy Rexy is reportedly a possible target for the Jets, though he’ll need a couple weeks to get ready as he recovers from an injury.

Browns To Sign Tyler Thigpen

11:00am: To make room, Cleveland has waived Ray Agnew, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal tweets.

10:06am: Thigpen will likely back up Connor Shaw against Baltimore, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.

9:56am: Rex Grossman wasn’t interested in the opportunity, but another signal caller was. The Browns have signed Tyler Thigpen, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (via Twitter).

The Browns were without a healthy quarterback heading into their season finale against the Ravens. Rookie Johnny Manziel suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s loss to the Panthers. The Browns’ original starter for the 2014 season, Brian Hoyer, is nursing a shoulder injury. In addition to that injury, a source says that Hoyer is dealing with a badly bruised bicep, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. While his status for Sunday’s intra-divisional tilt has not been disclosed, it seems possible that he might not be able to go, leaving Thigpen to start.

Thigpen, 30, joined the Browns on a one-year deal in May after a strong performance at their minicamp. A seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft, he saw his most significant action during the 2008 season, when he started 11 games for the Chiefs and put up respectable numbers, including 2,608 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. Since then, he has served as a backup in Kansas City, Miami, and Buffalo. While he made a strong impression on the team, Thigpen was released in August to make room for Grossman.

Browns Sign Rex Grossman

WEDNESDAY, 12:57pm: Grossman’s one-year deal with the Browns is worth the minimum but includes $50K in guaranteed money, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.

TUESDAY, 8:40am: The Browns have reached an agreement to sign free agent quarterback Rex Grossman, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk). The signing reunites Grossman with Cleveland offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, after the duo spent multiple seasons together in Washington.

Although Grossman hasn’t seen regular-season NFL action since starting 13 games for the Redskins during the 2011 season, he has spent the last few years in Washington, and continued to draw interest this offseason. In addition to frequent speculation throughout the spring and summer that the veteran signal-caller, who turns 34 this month, may land in Cleveland, Grossman also worked out for the Dolphins this week. After that audition, we heard that Grossman was scheduled to visit another club, so it appears that Cleveland was that team.

With Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel battling for the top spot on the Browns’ depth chart, there’s still an opening for the No. 3 job. Grossman figures to have the inside track on that spot, particularly since the team has announced the release of quarterback Tyler Thigpen (Twitter link).

During his last stint as a starter in 2011, Grossman threw for 3,151 yards and 16 touchdowns, though he also racked up 20 interceptions. Presumably, if he earns a spot on Cleveland’s regular-season roster, Grossman will be relied upon to provide veteran guidance for the rookie Manziel and the relatively inexperienced Hoyer. If Grossman ends up seeing any snaps for the Browns during the 2014 campaign, it’s likely a sign that the club’s season has gone off the rails.

Browns Sign Tyler Thigpen

2:29pm: The Browns have officially signed Thigpen, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).

1:11pm: It’s a one-year pact for Thigpen, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

1:05pm: The Browns have agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Tyler Thigpen, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Thigpen had a “very strong” performance at the Browns’ minicamp this week, and La Canfora had suggested earlier this afternoon (via Twitter) that the 30-year-old was expected to sign with the team.

Thigpen, a seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft, saw his most significant action during the 2008 season, when he started 11 games for the Chiefs and put up respectable numbers, including 2,608 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. Since then, he has served as a backup in Kansas City, Miami, and Buffalo.

AFC Notes: Bills, Browns, Draft, Jaguars

A new report from John Kryk of the Toronto Sun suggests that an overlooked clause in the Bills’ non-relocation agreement with Erie County and the state of New York expressly prohibits the sale of the franchise to anyone who intends to relocate the team prior to 2023. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz (via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak) report that the newly-discovered clause probably doesn’t change much for the team, since a new ownership group could say it won’t sell the franchise, then change course by 2020.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Browns are hoping to avoid another Alex Mack situation by reaching an agreement on a long-term extension with tight end Jordan Cameron before he hits free agency, but so far those talks haven’t progressed a whole lot, says Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
  • Free agent linebacker Zac Diles, who was with the Titans last season, is participating in the Browns‘ minicamp on a tryout basis, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal. Meanwhile, as we heard yesterdayVince Young and Tyler Thigpen are also in attendance, and the Browns figure to sign one of the two QBs after the minicamp, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that Cincinnati tight end Blake Annen visited the Texans, while Kryk tweets that McGill offensive tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif didn’t make it to previously-planned visits with the Browns and Colts due to scheduling issues. Both Annen and Duvernay-Tardif worked out for the Eagles.
  • The Jaguars are eyeing mid-to-late-round linebackers, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, who says (via Twitter) that Louisville’s Preston Brown worked out for the club.

Young, Thigpen To Work Out For Browns

10:39am: Young won’t be the only quarterback trying out for the Browns this week. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter), GM Ray Farmer told reports that Tyler Thigpen will be auditioning as well.

9:06am: Former third overall pick Vince Young is hoping to land a spot on an NFL roster this season, and at least one quarterback-needy team appears willing to give him a chance. According to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, the Browns are bringing in Young for a physical, and will have him work out at the club’s minicamp this week. If Young impresses, it could result in a contract from Cleveland and an opportunity to earn a regular-season roster spot.

Young, who turns 31 next month, was in camp with the Packers in 2013 and the Bills in 2012, but was released prior to the regular season in both instances. The former Pro Bowler hasn’t seen any real NFL playing time since 2011 with the Eagles, when he started three games for the club. In his limited action that season, Young threw just four touchdowns to nine interceptions.

When Berman reported over the weekend that Young had hired a new agent (Brian Overstreet), he also quoted the signal-caller as saying he was receiving “some calls, some interest” from NFL teams. If that’s the case, perhaps the Browns won’t be the only club to give the former Texas Longhorn star a look.