April 2014 - Cleveland Browns Wiretap

Manziel Compared To RG3 By Kyle Shanahan

Jun 4, 2014 3:33 AM

Johnny Manziel has reminded Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan of Robert Griffin III during his early workouts.

"Johnny and Robert are very similar," Shanahan told USA TODAY Sports. "They're both talented guys who can make plays with their legs. But there comes a time in the NFL when they're going to keep you in the pocket, and you're going to have to have that ability to make the throws with your arm and mind.

"And Johnny, just like Robert, has that arm talent and intelligence to do that."

Manziel has been everything Shanahan had hoped.

"Perception becomes everyone's reality, but Johnny has been here working his tail off day and night, doing everything we ask," Shanahan said. "He's really attacked it every day, done a good job even as each week gets harder as we throw a lot more at him.

"I've been very impressed."

Jim Corbett/USA Today

Tags: Cleveland Browns, IQ

Discuss
Josh Gordon Issued Speeding Ticket, Passenger Had Marijuana

Nov 24, 2014 12:47 PM

Josh Gordon was issued a speeding ticket over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

According to the citation, Gordon's 2014 grey Mercedes-Benz SUV was clocked going 74 miles an hour in a 60-mile-per-hour zone north of state route 82 on Interstate 71 North at 9:43 p.m. on Sunday, May 25.

Gordon is summoned to appear in court on Wednesday, June 4 to dispute the citation.

"We are gathering information regarding the situation," Browns general manager Ray Farmer said in a statement released by the team. "We will not have any further comment until the appropriate time."

In addition to his speeding ticket, Gordon's passenger was issued a citation for possession of marijuana in an amount under 200 grams during the traffic stop. The marijuana was found in a blue bag with identification, and Gordon's passenger admitted it was theirs on the scene.

Matthew Florjancic/WKYC

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Legal

Discuss
Browns Add Morocco Brown to Front Office

Nov 25, 2014 10:21 PM

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with Morocco Brown, who was formerly pro personnel director of the Washington Redskins.

Brown spent six seasons with the Redskins after being hired from the Chicago Bears.

Brown will likely serve as assistant general manager to Ray Farmer.

Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Greg Little Claimed By Raiders

Jul 23, 2014 11:44 AM

Greg Little has been claimed by the Oakland Raiders.

Little was released last week by the Cleveland Browns.

Little was a second round pick at wide receiver in 2011 out of North Carolina.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

Discuss
Greg Little Cut By Browns

Oct 31, 2014 9:17 PM

The Cleveland Browns have cut Greg Little.

Little was the team's second round pick in 2011, No. 59 overall, obtained by Cleveland in the blockbuster deal with the Falcons that netted Atlanta Julio Jones. 

Little averaged just 52 catches and 607 yards per season in his three years in the NFL.

Will Brinson/CBS Sports

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Waiver

Discuss
Bills Wanted To Move Up To No. 1 To Select Sammy Watkins

May 21, 2014 12:40 AM

The Buffalo Bills were so enamored by Sammy Watkins that they attempted to move up all the way to No. 1 to ensure they were able to select him.

The Bills eventually moved up from No. 9 to No. 4 to select Watkins, giving up their first round pick next season and a fourth rounder as well.

“We went with Houston right off the bat,” Bills' director of player personnel Jim Monos said. “We tried to go to No. 1. They weren’t having it. They knew who they wanted, so we started working our way right down.”

The Browns called before the Texans submitted their pick for Jadeveon Clowney to confirm that the Bills were still interested. The Bills were unsure what the Jacksonville Jaguars were thinking with the No. 3 pick.

“We really didn’t know,” Monos said. “Jacksonville never tipped it. We had just heard so much that they needed a receiver. We thought that this was going to be Sammy. We knew that if Jacksonville didn’t take him we had a shot.”

Curtis Crabtree/ProFootballTalk

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

Discuss
Browns Sign Miles Austin

Jun 2, 2014 1:27 PM

The Cleveland Browns have signed Miles Austin.

Austin is a two-time Pro Bowler who had 1,000-yard seasons in 2009 and '10, and two years ago had 943 yards.

He immediately becomes a likely starter, with or without Josh Gordon.

Pat McManamon

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

Discuss
Browns Sign Earl Bennett

Jun 11, 2014 5:56 PM

The Cleveland Browns have signed Earl Bennett.

The Browns will potentially be without Josh Gordon for the entire season on a suspension.

Bennett had 185 receptions for 2,277 yards and 12 touchdowns in six seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Curtis Crabtree/ProFootballTalk

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

Discuss
Bridgewater Didn't Want To Be Picked By Browns

May 19, 2014 11:38 PM

Teddy Bridgewater said he wouldn't have wanted to play for the Cleveland Browns had they drafted him with the 22nd overall pick.

Bridgewater eventually was picked with the 32nd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.

"There was a chance, but I actually told my agent that's not the place where I wanted to be. Throughout this entire process I felt comfortable with the Minnesota Vikings. Every visit that I had with the team, you know, there was a family environment and the players, great guys. A great group of guys. So I felt comfortable wanting to play here."

Dan Patrick Show

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Draft, Draft Misc, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Browns, Joe Haden Agree Upon Long-Term Deal

May 20, 2014 12:40 AM

The Cleveland Browns and Joe Haden have agreed upon a new deal.

Haden has been one of the NFL's best cornerbacks since coming into the league in 2010.

Haden's deal includes a $14 million signing bonus, $22 million fully guaranteed at signing and another $23 million guaranteed for injury.

Michael David Smith/ProFootballTalk

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor, Signing

Discuss
Browns Deny Switching From Bridgewater To Manziel In Final 10 Seconds
The Browns have denied a report that the team originally had Teddy Bridgewater's name on their draft card with the No. 22 overall pick.

ESPN

Browns Tell Manziel To Act Like A Backup QB
Johnny Manziel's new teammates are happy to have him, but they're not ready to anoint him as the Browns' starter at quarterback.

ESPN

Browns Release Vince Young
The Browns selected Johnny Manziel in the first round of last week's draft and they also have Brian Hoyer on the roster.

RealGM Staff Report

Browns Won Two Most Lopsided Trades Of Draft
The Browns used Buffalo's strong desire for Sammy Watkins into an extra first rounder in 2015.

Bill Barnwell/Grantland

Josh Gordon Facing One-Year Suspension For Failed Drug Test
Josh Gordon was one of the NFL's best receivers in 2013

ESPN

Patriots' Scouting Report On Manziel: Comes From 'Outlaw Bloodlines'
Bro Bible published an internal scouting report from the New England Patriots on Johnny Manziel.

Tom Ley/Deadspin

Browns Tried To Trade For Kirk Cousins In February
After drafting Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick on Thursday, the Browns feel set at quarterback with him and Brian Hoyer.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

ESPN Mentions Manziel Nearly Four Times More Than Any Other Draftee
Jadeveon Clowney was mentioned 29 times despite being the first overall pick of the draft, nearly four times less than Johnny Manziel.

Timothy Burke/ESPN

Browns Sell 200 Season Tickets Within 25 Minutes Of Picking Manziel
The Browns will already have Manziel jerseys available for purchase at their team shop on Friday.

Tony Grossi/ESPN

Vikings Tried To Trade With Eagles For Johnny Manziel
The Vikings tried to trade up to No. 22 with the Eagles to select Johnny Manziel, but the Browns made the better offer.

Jay Glazer/FoxSports

2014 NFL Draft: Complete First Round
Teddy Bridgewater was a candidate to go first overall to the Texans back in January, but they instead went with Jadeveon Clowny and the QB was selected by the Vikings at No. 32.

RealGM Staff Report

Browns Invested $100,000 On Advanced QB Study
A $100,000 advanced study concluded that Teddy Bridgewater is the best quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Sal Paolantonio/ESPN

One Team Trying To Jump Ahead Of Browns At No. 26 For Bridgewater
The Browns could also select Teddy Bridgewater at fourth overall.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Browns Strongly Linked To Drafting Johnny Manziel No. 4
The Browns haven't selected a quarterback with a pick higher than No. 22 since taking Tim Couch first overall 15 years ago.

Tom Withers/AP