Browns trade Josh Gordon to Patriots

The Josh Gordon saga ended Monday afternoon as the Cleveland Browns traded their talented, but inconsistent wide receiver to the New England Patriots along with a conditional seventh-round draft pick for the Patriots fifth-round pick.
New England only receives the seventh-rounder if Gordon is inactive for ten games this season.

Gordon had 'allegedly' suffered a hamstring injury filming a commercial Friday night and showed up at the Browns practice facility in Berea on Saturday "looking not himself".
Between that and the injury, the Browns had finally had enough and announced their intention to waive Gordon on Monday, which gave interested teams enough time to place minor bids in for the former Baylor receiver.

Although several teams were said to be in talks with the Browns, the word is from several sources that the Browns simply took the highest offer, which was the fifth-rounder from New England, which one would figure to be a very late fifth and move on from Gordon.
Gordon announced today that his hamstring was now "fine" and he expects to play for the Patriots on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
While that smells very fishy and I might even speculate that this was meant for the Browns to release Gordon, which he could then receive a larger contract from a team of his choice, the Browns being able to trade Gordon removed the plan from the table as he will now have to continue under his current contract, so the Browns may not have taken away Gordon's wish to leave Cleveland, they did make sure that he did not gain financially from his actions.

Gordon was an explosive receiver in 2013 with over 1,600 yards receiving to lead the league but has played in just eleven games since then due to various suspensions and off the field issues.
The natural Cleveland thing is for Gordon to tear up the league with New England, but who really knows what Gordon has left physically (although he still shows glimpses of elite potential) and how he'll deal with any adversity at all, so I understand the appeal to New England, but I also realize how the Browns had to throw up their hands, say that they have tried it all and he just had to go.

The Browns signed veteran wideout Rod Streater to the roster to replace Gordon.
The thirty-year-old Streater has spent time with the Raiders and 49ers before being released by the Bills after training camp.
Streater had a strong 2013 as Josh Gordon did ( 60 catches, 888 yards with Oakland), but since that season, like Gordon, Streater has disappointed as he has just 41 catches since that season.

The Browns also released Zane Gonzalez as expected after yesterday's fiasco and had some potential kickers to take a look at for his replacement.
The selection was Greg Joseph, a rookie from Florida Atlantic, who lost a duel with the Dolphins for their job to draftee Jason Sanders.
I would have preferred a veteran that is more used to kicking in bad weather, but they must see something in Joseph, who did kick a 54 yarder among his 3 for 3 attempts in the preseason.
The problem is that Joseph was successful on just 69.5 percent of his kicks in college, which isn't especially high.
It's really tough guessing on kickers because who knows who is going to be successful and like relief pitchers in baseball- they can come from nowhere and be very inconsistent from year to year.
One thing is sure though, they could not afford to trot Zane Gonzalez out in Cleveland Thursday and expect something good to happen, so I commend them for trying to correct a problem.

Lots of pieces today and a Fightheads episode coming up as well.
Back tomorrow with more!

Browns Kick themselves in Saints Defeat.

For the second week in a row, the Cleveland Browns had a chance to avoid defeat and for the second week in a row, Zane Gonzalez came up lacking as his 52-yard field goal drifted wide with eight seconds remaining as the New Orleans Saints slid by the Browns 21-18 in the Louisiana Superdome.
Gonzalez had missed kicks (a field goal and an extra point minutes earlier) in the contest that would have given the Browns the lead before Gonzalez's 52-yard miss.
Gonzalez had missed an extra point after the one offensive play that the Browns had made happen all game long when Tyrod Taylor threw a 47-yard touchdown to Antonio Callaway, who had outrun the Saints secondary down the seam to what figured to be a lead, if not a win, although Drew Brees in a two minute offense might have something to say about that.
Turns out that it did just that as Brees drove the Saints down the field and a Will Lutz field goal from 44 yards was drilled with seconds remaining to set the stage for the final Gonzalez miss.
Tyrod Taylor finished with 246 yards passing with one score and one interception while Antonio Callaway led the skill players with the aforementioned touchdown with 87 yards receiving.
The now 0-1-1 Browns have a short week as they host the 1-1 New York Jets Thursday night with the Jets being led by a player that you may have heard of named Sam Darnold.

Brownie Bits

1) Zane Gonzalez will have to go.
You just cannot miss extra points and field goals in this league and even though neither of the two misses was easy kicks (44 and 52) you expect NFL kickers in the perfect kicking conditions of the Superdome to make it at least plausible to nail them both.
The Browns are bringing kickers to Berea today to challenge Gonzalez, so they are likely to have a new kicker for the Thursday night game against the Jets.

Editor's note: Zane Gonzalez will be waived with an injury settlement as apparently, he's been kicking with a groin injury.
While I am sympathetic to this hampering his effectiveness, why did the Browns trot him out with an injury?

2) Underrated star? Larry Ogunjobi, who had two sacks and another called back by a penalty.
Ogunjobi might be the one player that Sashi Brown will receive some credit for selecting when the Brown regime is truly able to be graded fairly.
Sure, the opponents are double-teaming Myles Garrett, but good defenses have players that can brush blockers one on one and make teams pay for the double-team, but the Browns often haven't had players that have been able to take advantage- Ogunjobi might be a player that can.

3) I was just befuddled by a fourth and one play call in the first half.
Not that the Browns went for it, on the Saints side of the field (would have been a long FG, but this was before Zane Gonzalez started missing kicks), I was fine with that part, but what I wasn't fine with was the play, a run up the middle with Duke Johnson, the smallest back the team has and one more noted for his elusiveness and speed, not his ability to put his shoulder down and drive forward.
This brought back those wonderful memories of the Bill Belichick days when the Browns would run the smallish Eric Metcalf up the middle constantly with poor results.
Liked the going on fourth down, hated the personnel used.

4) Tyrod Taylor's long touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway gave the Browns the lead, but the most important item to take away from that play was the speed shown by Callaway, who burst by the secondary and showed the type of deep speed that the Browns haven't had since, Ahem Josh Gordon.
It will take considerable time to completely forget the off the field worries that come with Antonio Callaway, but it's pretty clear that he has plenty of physical tools.

5) This is going to be a defense that is going to continue to grow, but they kept the team in the game yesterday and allowed just 62 yards on the ground.
I mentioned Larry Ogunjobi earlier, but the Browns have others that have surprised such as C.J. Carrie on one corner and defensive end Chris Smith played well in place of injured Emmanuel Ogbah.
Still room for growth, but I see hope.

6) Carlos Hyde is averaging under three yards a carry, but I'm not giving up on him yet.
Some of the struggles are part of the developing offensive line and others are a back that thrives on use, not getting enough carries to wear down defenses.
I think he'll be OK.

7) I really have liked what I have seen from Damarious Randall at free safety.
Jabrill Peppers (who has been better at the strong safety as well) was miscast there and Randall has played better as the rangy centerfielder that is needed at that position.

8) The Browns defense forced only 13 turnovers in 2017, they have forced eight in two games.
The Gregg Williams defense is one based on big plays/turnovers along with plenty of heat on the quarterback.
I hate "bend not break" defenses and love to watch attacking defenses, so I'm very happy so far,
I still think the Browns need another big play linebacker, but I'm seeing progress and it's entertaining progress to date.

9) Jarvis Landry saw seven targets, caught five of those, but without Josh Gordon, he needs to see more passes.
Look at how the Saints use Michael Thomas (13 targets, 12 catches), without Gordon, the Browns need to feed Landry and allow him to move the chains.

10) The Browns could be 2-0, instead they are 0-1-1.
I'm still not down very much on the team as I've seen good things, especially on defense.
The honeymoon ends Thursday against the Jets.
Sam Darnold in town, a team that they should beat at home- win and things are progressing.
Lose and who knows what happens.

Back later with yes, the just announced Josh Gordon trade.

Cleveland Browns Draft Recap

Time for the look back at the Browns draft and finally wrap things up for the 2017 draft.
I hope to have Scott Dryden on the podcast soon for his thoughts on the draft.

Some of these thoughts may come as redundant after my in-draft posts,but others will be new as picks have time to sink in a bit.

Many people disagreed with me before the draft about my take on the quarterback position (more on that below),which was not forcing an early round quarterback because you needed one because it "was so important".
It is very important and clearly the most important on any football team,but the Browns had so many needs that I felt that the team needed players that could make an larger and faster impact than a quarterback that was questionable,just to say that you tried.
That's why I loved the Browns sticking with Myles Garrett as the best player in the draft.
Garrett gives the Browns an elite pass rusher that they have lacked for years and his speed and talent should bring even more production out of Emmanuel Ogbah.
Kudos to the Browns for picking the best player and not reaching for a quarterback,especially when (at least looking at it from a year out) there are three legitimate players that could be top level quarterbacks (Josh Allen of Wyoming,Sam D'Arnold of USC and Josh Rosen of UCLA) available for a team that even with a good draft will be unlikely to be drafting outside the top 10,and maybe not even the top 5.

I was less than thrilled with the Browns trade down with Houston from 12 to 25.
Mainly because the Browns had a chance to choose a huge playmaker at safety in Malik Hooker of Ohio State and passed to get a first rounder in 2018.
Now,to be very fair,that pick may help the Browns maneuver to move up,if needed,to get the quarterback of their choice next season,so it could prove helpful,but this so smacks of the old Browns-trading for a following years number one,passing on an impact player and watching that pick rest in the lower third of the first round.

I was even less thrilled with the pick of Jabril Peppers at 25.
Peppers is touted as a playmaker that didn't make many big plays on defense (unlike Hooker) and as a player that you can do many things with the ball in his hands,except on defense,he doesn't see the ball that much.
Peppers strikes me as too small to play linebacker,lacking instincts at safety,but that doesn't mean he won't have his uses as a returner and gimmick offensive plays.
In other words,a Devin Hester type-except those types usually aren't first rounders.

I do like the talent of the third first rounder-tight end David Njoku of Miami.
Big,agile and talented,Njoku is still learning this game,but has the physical talent to be a difference maker at tight end.
Njoku's blocking needs work,but he's not being picked to block,he's being brought in to be seam breaker and receiver..

The Browns did attempt to address the quarterback position in round two with Notre Dame's Deshone Kizer.
Kizer was thought to be a possible high pick entering the draft,but slipped some.
Kizer has some questions (accuracy,field vision and decision making),but has a strong arm and by picking him here,the Browns won't feel "all in" on him and should the team have the chance to pick one of those three passers next season,it won't be a setback to do so..

The defensive line was addressed in rounds three and six as the Browns took two players roughly rated the same,but off the field reasons made the difference.
Third rounder Larry Ogunjobi of Charlotte needs to get stronger,but should plug into the rotation as an all around defensive tackle,while sixth rounder Florida's Caleb Brantley needs to get legal issues solved or he'll never make camp as a Brown.
If Brantley actually plays,he brings a pass rushing element to the defensive tackle rotation that the Browns currently lack.
Ogunjobi was one of a bunch of players that I would have been fine with in the third round on the line,although I did like Chris Wormley of michigan a little better,while Brantley is a second round talent when motivated and without his off the field issues.
I was fine with gambling on Brantley in the sixth,with the caveat that the Browns release him if his legal case proves wrong doing.
The Browns claim to want to build things the "right way",here is a chance to show the other teams in the division that talent doesn't always come first.

I really liked the tradeup into round four for cornerback Howard Wilson of Houston.
I also liked Desmond King of Iowa,but I saw a lot of Houston games last season and I think Wilson should see plenty of action as a third or fourth corner.
I like the ball skills that Wilson brings to the table and I can see Wilson having the potential to eventually start..

Offensive tackle Roderick Johnson is athletically talented,but needs lots of strength work and technique work as well.
Johnson's size and athleticism made him a worthwhile project in the fifth round and he does have big time experience from his time at Florida State...

I also liked both seventh round picks.
Arizona State kicker Zane Gonzalez holds NCAA records and won the Lou Groza award last season.
Gonzalez has a big leg and will make a move to unseat Cody Parkey as the Browns kicker.
No matter how good your kicker is,I'm of the mindset that your kicker needs to be challenged in camp every year,even if you don't spend a draft pick on a challenger.

I remember seeing Matthew Dayes,the N.C.State running back against Clemson this year and being impressed.
He's a little small at 5'8,but catches the ball very well and I can see him possibly sticking as a third round back.

I give the Browns a high grade for this draft.
I'm always hesitant for grading because you just don't know,but just for fun,let's go A-,missing an A only because the questions that I have with Jabril Peppers and the dislike for trading down from 12.
Pretty good work for the most part-I have to say I'm mildly surprised and reasonably pleased..

2017 Draft:Cleveland Browns Day Three

Remember I told you about having plenty to do on the blog?
Well, after two posts yesterday, I went to the Frederick Keys-Carolina Mudcats and surprisingly had my whole family with me!
Great time and a really good pizza, which surprises here in Maryland whenever that happens.
I also wrote that I had plenty to still write about and I'll start with the final day of the Browns draft.
I'll make further notes on posts to come at the bottom of the page.

The Cleveland Browns traded up twice on the final day of the NFL draft, made some interesting decisions, and just might have wound up with their best draft class in years.
I'll have a total recap with grades later in the week, but for now, let's stick to day three!

Cleveland did not have a fourth-round pick after trading it to Green Bay in the trade to land David Njoku but swung a deal to trade two of their three picks in round five to obtain Houston corner, Howard Wilson.
I loved Iowa's Desmond King here as well, but I watched quite a bit of Wilson last year as I watched a lot of Houston games and was impressed.
Wilson is six foot (nice size for a CB) and has great ball skills (5 picks,15 knockdowns).
I preferred Desmond King of Iowa, but I'm high on Howard Wilson, he needs to work on his tackling a bit, but I think he is going to push for playing time.


The Browns traded up again in round five to corral Roderick Johnson, an athletic offensive tackle from Florida State.
The good news-Johnson won the last two ACC O-lineman of the year awards and his nearly 6'7 frame with long arms shows that he has the potential to develop into a fine player.
The bad news is-his technique needs a lot of work and he needs to spend lots of time getting stronger or he never would have lasted into round five.
Johnson is a project, but one worth working with at this stage of the draft.


Cleveland took a risk in their only selection of round six with the choice of defensive tackle Caleb Brantley of Florida.
Brantley was expected to be a day two pick before an alleged battery incident two weeks before the draft.
If Brantley is cleared of these charges and actually shows up in Cleveland (Sashi Brown says if Brantley is not cleared, the team will release him), he brings a similar-sized player to third-round pick Larry Ogunjobi with a pass-rushing ability more than a run-stuffing type.
This was a risky selection, but I'm ok with it as long as the Browns have some teeth behind their commitment for a team that won't tolerate off-field issues...


The Browns had two seventh-rounders and used the first on the best kicker in the draft in Zane Gonzalez of Arizona State.
Gonzalez was the Lou Groza award winner, hit a long of 59 yards in his career, holds the all-time record for field goals made (96), and hit 82 percent of his attempts. My friend Joe Plum watches a lot of Arizona State games and he thinks the Browns have a good one here.
Gonzalez will challenge Cody Parkey for the kicking job.


Cleveland finished their draft with the next to last pick and grabbed Matthew Dayes, a running back from N.C.State.
Dayes rushed for over 1,000 yards last season and is an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield.
A bit undersized at 5'8, Dayes has a chance to stick as a scatback and pass catcher.


I still have to do a full grade of the draft, my trip to West Virginia, Inbox cleaning-lots to do!!