It?s been a rough week for Antonio Brown. Not only was he knocked out of last night?s loss for a bit, and not only was he caught in a white lie about kicking Browns punter Spencer Lanning in the face, but now he has to pay for it. According to Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Brown was fined $8,268 by the NFL for his Daniel-San crane maneuver last week. Brown was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for booting Lanning in the face while trying to hurdle him last week. Brown said he talked to Lanning after the game and that the punter ?had a sense of humor? about the play. But Lanning came back the next day and said he wasn?t upset, but that conversation never actually took place. So let that be a lesson to everyone in the NFL ? the lying eventually catches up with you.
BEREA, Ohio -- Justin Gilbert's short-term fate is no secret. "Teams are really going to take shots at him," safety Donte Whitner said Thursday. "They understand that he's a rookie. They understand that he's having some troubles out there." To the point that Whitner implied Gilbert on his own gave up 100 yards against Pittsburgh in the season opening loss. "When you're a top 10 pick -- I went through this my rookie year as the No. 8 pick -- expectations are so high to have one or two balls caught on you is really unacceptable," Whitner said. "To give up almost 100, you know, really, you know we don't think it's acceptable. He understands that. He has to work on getting better." This clearly is a new era in Browns football. No longer are players protected or mistakes hidden. Teammates are aiding and supporting each other, but also challenging each other. Even on the field. Whitner admitted he ripped off his helmet during an early Steelers drive and let his teammates know what was happening was not OK. Whitner said he does that "when you're sleepwalking and you want guys to wake up." "Pretty drastic," he said. But worth it. And clearly Whitner is not afraid to challenge a teammate to get better. Especially one like Gilbert, who has to play given the cornerback situation, which means he has to perform. Coach Mike Pettine said guys like Whitner and Joe Haden have been giving Gilbert "tough love" all week. "I'm not sure what he means by that," Gilbert said. "I'm going to have to ask." One element of tough love might be Pettine saying Gilbert could have his playing time scaled back, but if he does it means two undrafted rookies gain playing time -- K'Waun Williams and Robert Nelson, a player the coaches are high on. "That's his decision," Gilbert said of losing playing time. "Not mine." At some point, Gilbert has to play. But the Browns admit there's a fine line between giving a guy time to gain confidence but seeing him lose confidence if he doesn't play well. "At cornerback you have to maintain it (confidence) or you won't be here long, you won't be in this league long," Whitner said. "To me, you gain confidence through practice," defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said. "You've got to practice well. You have to be confident in you technique, and again, you have to be able to take your technique and your fundamentals to the game field. That's the only way you can gain confidence. It's not just going to happen." O'Brien also said that very few rookie corners play well, though the Browns thought enough of Gilbert to take him eighth. O'Brien also said that he did not expect to use as many multiple wide-receiver sets as they did. Pittsburgh used a fullback on just two plays. That approach to personnel grouping put Gilbert on the field more than the Browns planned. "If you would have told me Justin was going to play over 50-something plays, I wouldn't have believed you," O'Neil said. Gilbert's challenge gets no easier with Drew Brees on Sunday, but he needs to play. He said his confidence isn't affected, and Whitner aid he sees nothing that would indicate it is. But in the Browns scheme, the third cornerback has to contribute. "Even if you get beat, you have to come back and make a play to make up for anything that you give up," Whitner said. "He understands that. He's due for a play."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon will be reinstated once the NFL's new drug policy passes -- as early as Friday afternoon -- but likely only for eight games, and it will ruffle some feathers, multiple league sources tell cleveland.com. One league source said Gordon will likely be reinstated for about half the season because his positive test occurred in 2013, as early as January, the source said. But he'd be rolled into the new agreement because his suspension didn't start until after the new league year began March 11. Because Gordon tested positive in the 2013 league year, the NFL and NFL Players Association have negotiated a settlement that would enable him to get back on the field at the end of October or early November. If Gordon also has a DWI hearing in November, and if convicted, would be suspended for two games for that. But a source said that Gordon could try to resolve the DWI early and serve it concurrently. Several league sources have told cleveland.com that if Gordon's suspension is revised, others who tested positive in 2013 will fight to have their suspensions revised. One of those sources said agents will argue that players dating all the way back to the new CBA in 2011 will fight to have their sanctions changed. "It will open a can of worms,'' said one. Gordon's eight-game suspension would most likely be retroactive to last week's opener in Pittsburgh.
With the NFLPA closing in on a new drug policy and Browns receiver Josh Gordon for the year, Browns fans and fantasy owners are waiting impatiently for word on whether the #FreeJoshGordon concept will become a reality. Per multiple sources, it?s still not clear when Gordon will return. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported on Sunday that Gordon will miss eight-to-10 games. Earlier today, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Gordon will miss eight. On the surface, the new rules suggest Gordon shouldn?t be suspended at all. He tested at 16 ng/ml, one over the old limit of 15 ng/ml. With the limit increasing to 35 ng/ml, Gordon in theory should have his ban released completely. One source tells PFT that Gordon?s suspension won?t be zero, due to other factors. Possibly complicating matters is that the positive triggering the one-year suspension occurred on March 5, six days before the date on which the league year began. Gordon will now have a separate problem under the new substance-abuse policy, given the increased penalties for a first-offense DUI. Upon conviction, Gordon will be facing a two-game suspension. But he could be months from conviction, which means that the suspension probably wouldn?t apply until the 2015 season. The bigger question for now is how the new policy will apply to Gordon?s current circumstances, and when he?ll be able to return to action.
Happy for Josh that he will get to play again, but can't quite understand the difference between Welker who is OK'd to play right away, as if it never happened, and Gordon getting a 8 * 10 game suspension. Adrian Peterson........WTF ! What is the NFL's role in this stuff? Protect the brand. Protect the brand. Protect the brand. True and also what I would expect of any company. Up until now they have chosen to do that by covering up and marginalizing a lot of indiscretions, but it has also, obviously lead them to cover up things way beyond that. Troubling times for the shield. Change is coming, hopefully for the better. Feels like there will be a lot of dirty laundry aired in the months and years ahead.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Josh Gordon "has been notified" his suspension will be reduced from 16 to 10 games, "pending final approval" of the NFL's new drug policy. Profootballtalk.com has now joined the Plain Dealer and ESPN's Adam Schefter in reporting Gordon's suspension will indeed be ten games, reduced from 16. The new substance abuse policy reduced the ban. PFT's Mike Florio reports Gordon will be subject to another two-game suspension stemming from his offseason DUI arrest, but Florio considers it "unlikely" that the additional ban will be enforced during the 2014 season. So Gordon's projected return date this year is November 23 against the Falcons. That's Week 12.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Jordan Cameron (shoulder, questionable) is not expected to play Sunday versus the Saints. Cameron didn't practice at all this week, and was looking like an extreme long shot to play. If he can't go, Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray will handle tight end duties for the Browns. Owners looking for a plug-and-play tight end can eye Dwayne Allen, Travis Kelce, and Delanie Walker as quality streaming options.
The Browns will be without one of their top passing game targets on Sunday. Tight end Jordan Cameron (shoulder) has been declared inactive for today?s game against New Orleans, the Browns announced on Twitter. With Cameron out, Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge are the primary tight ends for Cleveland. The Browns have also ruled out outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo (shoulder). Jabaal Sheard is likely to fill in for Mingo in Week Two. The Browns also made wideout LaRon Byrd, cornerback Pierre Desir, defensive lineman John Hughes, defensive lineman Ishmaa?ily Kitchen and tailback Ben Tate inactive. Tate (knee) had already been ruled out. Terrance West will start in his place.
Two things I've noticed so far. 1. Dansby is a lot better than Jackson. 2. West is quicker than Tate. Shanny's offense is nice. I live it. Love the roll outs.
I repelled the invasion . the house is all CLEAR %) hate that the Saint scored to end the half . Lets go offense . start the second half right *DRINK*
