The Browns gained some salary cap space with the release of two high priced veterans in quarterback Josh McCown and defensive back Tramon Williams.
The 37 year old McCown was under contract for another year at over three million with a 750.000 dollar roster bonus due if on the roster on March 11.
McCown was winless in three starts with the Browns in 2016 and was battered around and missed time with a broken collarbone.
McCown threw six touchdowns and six interceptions,but looked to be finished as a starting quarterback at least,if not period.
Over his two year run in Cleveland,McCown will be best remembered for setting two team records-most passing yards in a game-457 and for being the 1st Browns quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in three consecutive games.
The other release was that of veteran defensive back Tramon Williams,who after being released saved the Browns a March roster bonus of one million and 5.7 million in 2017.
Williams was signed to start at corner,but was beaten out by Jamar Taylor after Taylor was obtained from Miami.
Williams spent most of the season as the third corner and was spending some time at safety as well.
Williams intercepted one pass in each of his two seasons with Cleveland,but was generally thought to be a disappointment as a Brown.
The soon to be 34 year old Williams might be of value as a dime back on a good team,but his starting corner days appear to be finished....
Cleveland made a very popular waiver claim as Clevelander and former Ohio State Buckeye safety Tyvis Powell was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.
Powell was surprisingly undrafted in the 2016 draft and signed by the Seahawks as a free agent.
Powell played in eight games as a special teamer for the Seahawks and was reportedly thought of highly by Seattle,but a roster crunch forced Seattle to waive Powell before their playoff game due to a urgent need at another position (Seattle brought kick returner Devin Hester to the team after the waiving of Powell)
When a player is waived during the playoffs,the process is not announced until the conclusion of the postseason,which is why it took this long (Seattle lost in the NFC semi-finals to Atlanta) for the official announcement to be made,although the Browns having the number one claim and used it,knew that they were going to obtain Powell.
The 6'3 Powell brings some size to the safety spot for a team that needs safety help and clearly wants to be a Brown.
Powell spent a season learning from some of the best defensive backs in the league in Seattle,so hopefully some of that will rub off and help the Browns....
Meanwhile,across town,the Indians added a badly needed lefthanded reliever as they signed Boone Logan to a one year deal for 5.5 million and a team option for 2018.
Logan is expected to be the LOOGY for a bullpen in need of one since Andrew Miller is far more than that role for the Indians.
Logan was 2-5 with 3.69 ERA for Colorado last year,but whiffed 57 in 46 innings and lefthanders (which Logan will almost always face) hit just .142 against him.
If the 32 year old Logan can approach his usual numbers (with relievers is not always the case),he should be a perfect fit for just what the Indians largest pitching need was.
Logan is not a guarantee,situational relievers rarely are,but I feel pretty good about the Indians trying to shore up their weaknesses entering 2017....
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