ESPN's Dan Graziano reports the NFL is expected to revamp its marijuana policy in the league's new drug agreement, instituting a higher threshold for positive tests and lessening the penalties. It's unclear how much the penalties will be lessened, but at the very least, it means players will no longer be subject to a four-game ban for a first-time offense. Per Graziano, haggling over the arbitration process is the only roadblock to a new drug agreement. The move comes too late for Josh Gordon, but it appears marijuana will no longer be treated as a more serious offense than issues like drunk driving and assault.
Els I wuld think it wuld b the other way around.....if Houst eats some salary they will want a higher pick....if not the pick culd b lower
That's what I'm saying. With 2 1st rd. picks I would offer a 2nd rd. pick and they eat some of his salary for Johnson for 3 years. The problem is he was complaining about not going to the playoffs. I believe they went only 2 times in his career. They had a couple 8-8 seasons too. He is already a star, he already has a lot of loot and awards. Now the Texans are feeling the Dawson effect I'll call it. Pro players play for 2 reasons. Money and to win. When you have the money you want to win. Johnson,Dawson. When you win, you want the money.Whitner, Kruger. Thomas and Mack showed us they want the money. Why? The Browns dont do a lot of winning. But would you play for $12+ million a year on a losing team? I would. Would you rather have that RT in the 2nd rd. or Johnson? Now you could have both. Didn't we have to pay Richardson's salary this year? This is what we have been talking about for almost a week. The Texans agree to pay half that salary, he agrees to come here and then pull the trigger. Offer them a 2nd rd. As I said before. You still have 2 1st rd. picks. This situation is why the Browns need to start putting W's on the board. They wouldn't have to over pay for FA and good players would want to come here. Do you think NE, SF, DEN, GB and Seattle have that problem? NOPE! Why they don't? THEY WIN!
I understand what ur saying, but u pull in a player like And. Johnson I feel he wuld have to b a missing piece to compete for a SB cause his salary will not allow them to sign other guys...this team is not even close to SB contenders so I cant see it happening especially when they just made Haden highest paid DB in football(insane)
This couldn't come any sooner. I am thrilled at this news. It's not even on the same page as the shit you just listed here.
The question comes down to money...on both sides First of all, it isn't $12M+ per year. You are looking at cap money. If a player is traded the original team gets the bonus money escalated to that year. So the Texans will automatically be on the hook for $11.9M in 2014 from his bonus. That money gets taken off the books for the new team(and was the money we had to pay for TRich last season). The only money the Browns would be on the hook for is his salary: 2014 $10M 2015 $10.5M 2016 $11M So now, first, would the Texans be willing to pay $12M in 2014 to trade a perennial Pro Bowler for a2nd round pick, simply because that player says he isn't happy..second would the Browns be willing to pay that salary to a 33 year old player...and 3 if this went down, would the player be any happier in his new home, or would he cause a problem for the new team that is essentially in the same situation as his old team? Tough call...I would love to have him IF he would be happy to be here. Just tough to believe that would be the case based on his issues with Houston. (Edit I might add, the Browns have the cap room to make this move, even after the Haden deal..The Texans would be up against a wall if they do it...I think the Texans will be letting Johnson know, it simply isn't feasible from a contract standpoint and in the end he will understand and come around.
This will make Irish and SAS very happy . . . There is a player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame that had connections to early area NFL teams -and- he wore the number 2. His name? ---------------------------> Lyman *OK*
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two years ago, Joe Haden was suspended for four games for using a drug called Adderall. Now, he's the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. That's a tribute to Haden, who signed a six-year deal worth $68 million -- with a stunning $45 million guaranteed. Yes, the Browns probably "overpaid" for their Pro Bowl cornerback. But Haden is only 25. He wanted to stay here. He has made enormous progress in the direction of maturity. After his suspension, he vowed to step up and grow up. And he did just that. Yes, there is a lesson in this for Josh Gordon, who reportedly failed yet another drug test. The star receiver may be facing a suspension of at least eight games, and perhaps the entire 2014 season. Gordon was drafted in 2012 and received a $2.3 million signing bonus as part of his five-year, $5.4 million contract. He was due to make $825,000 this year, and $1.1 million in 2015. A strong, drug-free 2014 season would have put Gordon in line for a Haden-type contract extension. Now, Gordon will have to prove that he can stay out of trouble. His future contracts most likely will be heavy with non-guaranteed money. That was another element making it easy to pay Haden. The Browns have the cash. Lots of cash, and they don't have to worry about setting aside a lot of it for Gordon. Before Haden's deal, they led the NFL with $29 million in salary cap room. Thank you very much, Joe Banner. The Browns had the financial freedom to match the five-year, $42 million offer that Jacksonville delivered to Alex Mack. Yes, the Browns now have the NFL's highest-paid center in Mack. The highest-paid left tackle in Joe Thomas. The highest-paid cornerback in Haden. By paying their own guys, they send this strong message to the other players: "If you produce, we want to keep you and we'll prove it with a big contract." For a franchise that has had a dubious reputation (on a good day) in the NFL, the Mack and Haden contracts are reasons for hope. The Browns are also talking to Jordan Cameron about a contract extension, and perhaps they will be able to make a deal with their young tight end. Cameron just hired Tom Condon (a tough negotiator) as his agent. But Condon knows the Browns are serious about retaining their key players. That's another good sign for Owner Jimmy Haslam and his new front office.
Lake Catholic graduate and former News-Herald Player of the Year Eric Kettani will be in the Browns rookie minicamp May 16-18 as a tryout player, according to NationalFootballPost.com. Kettani, 5-foot-11, 240 pounds, is a fullback. He will compete with NFL veteran Chris Pressley, whom the Browns signed in free agency during the offseason, if he is asked to return to the full squad minicamp next month. Kettani, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, graduated from the Naval Academy in 2009. The Patriots signed him as an undrafted rookie and signed him their practice squad. He has also spent time on practice squads with the Redskins and Chiefs. It is the time he spent in Washington that might give Kettani enough of an edge to at least be signed for the June minicamp. Training camp would be the next step as he continues to pursue an NFL career while serving in the Naval Reserves. Kyle Shanahan, the Browns offensive coordinator, was the O.C. in Washington when Kettani was on the Redskins practice squad in 2012. That means Kettani already knows the offense that the rookies will be learning this weekend. The Kirtland native was with the Redskins on June 3, 2013, when he was promoted from lieutenant junior grade to lieutenant. Former Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner, along with Kettani?s father, participating in the ceremony to pin the new lieutenant bars on Kettani?s uniform.
There's no guarantee of Josh Gordon's future in Cleveland. The Browns third-year wide receiver led the NFL in receiving yards last season but he could be facing a one-year ban from the NFL for failing a(nother) drug test. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam doesn't see this as the end however. Only the beginning -- he expects Gordon to stick with the team "for a long a time to come." "Josh is learning and growing and improving as a person," Haslam said via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "He's learning how to work hard. He's learning how to be a professional. Josh is a smart young man. All of us have made mistakes when we were that age. "We're counting on Josh being a good football player for the Browns for a long time to come." Haslam didn't directly confirm Gordon failed a drug test and declined to comment on the situation but did say he's been "pleased" by Gordon's "professional growth." "We spend a lot of time with all of our core players and Josh is obviously one of those," Haslam said. "We have all spent a lot of time talking to Josh and I'm not going to comment on the situation but I'll say this, but I've been very pleased with his professional growth over the last year and the way he handles himself." The bottom line is this: a full-year suspension, which is what was initially reported for Gordon's punishment, would drastically change things. Greg Little and Andrew Hawkins would migrate to the top of the depth chart at wide receiver and that's a terrifying prospect. But even more terrifying is keeping Gordon around if he's one strike away from being booted for even longer. Haslam's confidence could be lip service but it could also be an indication the Browns think Gordon will face less punishment than initially reported.
From Gil Brant, who forgets more about football in one day than any of us will ever know... http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...ziel-khalil-mack-will-be-among-impact-rookies
So anyone want to bet on Johnny B Good being the starter? My guess is Hoyer is thrown to the wolves (see games 1, 2, and 3) then with the likelihood of losing at least 2 of those and a bye week to make the switch....... Hello Johnny! All the talk of Manziel "being the back up" is setting that up, and at the same time buying the Browns coaches some time to work on his training, but I find it very hard to believe this isn't the plan, consciously or otherwise. If Hoyer can somehow get the Browns 2 wins in those first 3 weeks, then by God we have ourselves the luxury of a QB war, and our Savior may actually have to sit for a few more games. If Hoyer is a late bloomer and truly "arrives" well we got us some serious trade bait in one of them. Seems like a win / win to me. Sincerely hoping Hoyer is the guy we saw last season, and that Johnny is "all that" too. They got me again.......... I am excited for the season ahead, goggles firmly in place, and the IV for Duff's brew ready to drip. Go Browns
Nope...No trade bait, unless you are talking about trading Manziel and paying Hoyer. Brian is a free agent at season's end...
My previous post is why Manziel WILL start sooner than later. Frankly, the team has more invested in Manziel than Hoyer. Hoyer will be gone at season's end unless he is simply SO GOOD, they decide to give him a starting contract at or near the bye. I just don't see it happening, with Manziel being drafted, I believe this teams future has already been decided. Hoyer is on loan and is trying out for his future team in a Browns uni...Might be able to get a 6-7th rounder for him early in the season if he shows a lot in preseason and they plan to start Johnny right away. A team would risk that in hopes they could sign him to a contract extension.
I don't see the Browns trading Hoyer. Who's left if Manziel should go down to injury? Thigpen and Shawn Connor. Between those two, I'd rather see the clip board get the nod to start at this point. With Hoyer gone and a Manziel injury, the Browns may as well not show up for any more games and just forfeit. I don't see Haslam signing off on that. He still seems like he wants a winning team or a semblance of one showing up every Sunday. Besides, with the "news breaking" of our run heavy scheme, what are they going to do, set the rushing attempt record for a season and run the ball 35-40 times a game?
BEREA, Ohio -- Wide receiver Earl Bennett scored his final touchdown as a Chicago Bear at FirstEnergy Stadium last year. The 6-1, 205-pound wideout reportedly hopes to call the venue home next season. The Browns have signed the 27-year-old who spent his first six NFL seasons with the Bears, according to Jake Jones of KFBB-TV in Montana. The Browns have not confirmed the transaction. The club didn't select a receiver in the 2014 NFL Draft and reportedly could lose All Pro Josh Gordon to a one-year ban for another failed drug test. Bennett hardly would be seen as a replacement to Gordon, but he'd give the club another experienced pass catcher. He caught 32 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns last year. He registered a 4-yard TD grab in the Bears' 38-31 victory over the Browns on Dec. 15, 2013. He's only recorded more than 50 catches once in his career. Bennett, a 2008 third-round choice from Vanderbilt, has 185 career receptions for 2,277 yards and 12 TDs. His best season came five years ago with 54 catches for 717 yards. The Bears released Bennett in March after he refused to take a pay cut. Chicago's receiving corps is led by the dynamic tandem of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. #Browns sign Earl Bennett, formerly of Chicago. Not a game changer, but solid guy nonetheless.
Oh I agree Crex, I hope you didn't mis-interpret my post. I don't see the Browns trading Hoyer or condone it if they thought about it. I was just answering the post about his "trade bait" value from the previous poster. Losing him to free agency is much less harsh than the risk of a Manziel injury and no Hoyer to step back in. BY FAR!! BUT, as far as rushing the ball 35-40 times a game...they DO need to do that, which will hopefully put them at around 50/50 on pass/run ratio. I certainly hope this defense continually gives the ball back to the offense and top teams average close to 70 plays per game...so 35 runs to 35 passes sounds about right to me.
I like the Bennett signing...He isn't going to light the world on fire, but there are very few Josh Gordon's or Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery tandems for that matter. He had little chance to shine in Chicago and he can contribute more in Cleveland. Again, I agree 100%, not a direct replacement to Josh Gordon, but a crew of 6-7 WRs is what we need right now to hold the fort until Gordon returns.
Cleveland Browns TE Jordan Cameron fired his agent, Michael Hoffman of Premier Sports, and hired CAA Sports to serve as his agent. Cameron is seeking a contract extension. He's in the final year of his rookie deal that will pay him $645,000.
I read some where that his old agency turned down 2 extension offers from the Browns. I think he wants someone to be a little more aggressive while the Browns are in the giving mood...
