Browns release Karlos Dansby and Dwayne Bowe

The rebuild of the Cleveland Browns continued as the Browns released two players to get younger,cheaper and maybe even faster as the team cut the big contracts of linebacker Karlos Dansby and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

Karlos Dansby is the bigger loss of the two as he played well last season,but not so well that with a contract that would have paid Dansby five million a year over the next two years that a 35 year old veteran was worth sticking around on a rebuilding team.

Dansby finished last season with 63 solo tackles and three interceptions,but for the first time in his 12 NFL seasons-failed to record a sack.
Dansby provided the "intangible of veteran leadership" in his Browns tenure and I have nothing negative to say about him or his effort,but when you can save a few million per year and get similar performance from Demario Davis,a team such as the Browns have to consider it at minimum and pull the trigger the majority of the time.
Dansby will be looking to sign with a contender and he still has enough hop in his step to help someone,but he would have to be the Terminator to push the 2016 Browns into anything near playoff contention,so it works for both parties.

Meanwhile,the Browns also let go Dwayne Bowe,the poster child for everything wrong with the Ray Farmer era in Cleveland.
Bowe,who was given a two year deal by Ray "WR's don't influence the game more than a few plays per game" Farmer worth 12.5 million (9 of that guaranteed) was clearly paid beyond the value of his performance,which was a whopping five catches for 53 yards.
Bowe was a Farmer favorite that Mike Pettine wanted nothing to do with and was inactive more often than not.
The less than I type about Dwayne Bowe,Ray Farmer and anything else to do with this signing the better.
Goodbye and good riddance....

Browns sign Dwayne Bowe

The Cleveland Browns completed a long rumored signing as the Browns inked former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe to a two year contract with terms undisclosed at this time.

Bowe was an impact player at one time,but has become more of a solid possession player as he has aged.
The 30 year old's numbers have slipped since his peak season in 2011,but still caught 60 passes last season,although he did not catch a touchdown pass in the campaign.
Bowe averaged 12 yards a catch,but only 50 yards per game and his longest play was a 37 yard gain.
Clearly,this is not the player that made the Pro Bowl three years ago,but he still is a solid enough receiver to be a decent addition.
Bowe's numbers have slid and he is 30 now,but the Chiefs have had less than terrific passers throwing to him,although if that was a factor in Kansas City,it is very likely to be an issue in Cleveland.

This is not a signing that makes the wide receivers a strong bunch, but Bowe was the best veteran available, with the arguable exception of Michael Crabtree, so you cannot fault the Browns for signing Bowe, although you could have blamed them for not acting earlier.
The Browns clearly had targeted Bowe and signing him after the Chiefs had released him allowed them to pass on other options.

Cleveland is following the Baltimore blueprint of trying to sign released players rather than free agents in order to pile up compensations picks in the 2016 draft.
Only Tramon Williams was a free agent among the Browns signees and I would say the Browns are very likely to add those picks.
The system compensates teams that lose more free agents than they sign and the Browns rank dead last in earning compensation picks since this system was instituted.
For better or worse, the Browns have a plan and for right or wrong, they are sticking to it.
They better as even though some of the new Browns might prove helpful,they aren't going to turn the franchise around.

I still think the Browns need to address the spot in the draft with someone that can get downfield and open up those crossing routes for veterans like Bowe,Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins,so if a player like Kevin White,Amari Cooper or DeVante Parker falls to 12 (one of them might),the Browns still have to give this position serious consideration.
Hopefully, Dwayne Bowe will be more like Andrew Hawkins than Davone Bess and give the Browns something to bridge the gap from bottom dweller than the hoped-for eventual contender status.