March 2018 - Cleveland Browns Wiretap

Browns, 49ers Lead NFL In 2018 Cap Space By Huge Margin

Jan 24, 2018 10:50 AM

The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers will lead the NFL in cap space in the 2018 offseason by a wide margin.

Spotrac currently projects the 49ers to have $119,909,412 in salary cap space available, assuming a league-wide salary cap of $178 million plus the $59,518,621 in remaining cap the team will roll over from 2017. The Browns project to have just over $112 million.

The next closest team are the Indianapolis Colts at $35.6 million.

The 49ers would like to agree upon a contract extension with Jimmy Garoppolo that could be front-loaded.

"I think we'll always be aggressive," Kyle Shanahan said. "I think we were aggressive last year. I think being aggressive is you've got to look at what your options are and what you believe is the right way to go. Whatever you decide on that, being aggressive is going out and getting those guys. I think that's exactly what we did last year, maybe not a lot of high guys that seemed like it, but we went and got all the guys that we wanted to, that we targeted from the beginning. I didn't feel like we lost on anybody. We'll go into this year the same way."

Six of the top-10 spenders in free agency in 2017 reached the playoffs as it has become one of the NFL's best competitive advantages.

Nick Wagoner/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Browns Hire Todd Haley As Offensive Coordinator

Jan 24, 2018 9:00 AM

The Cleveland Browns have hired Todd Haley as offensive coordinator.

Haley had been offensive coordinator of the Steelers since 2012.

Haley had received a strong endorsement from Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner; Haley was Arizona's offensive coordinator when the Cardinals lost a dramatic 27-23 game to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor

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Ben McAdoo Interviews For Cleveland's Offensive Coordinator Job

Jan 16, 2018 12:42 PM

The Cleveland Browns are interviewing Ben McAdoo for their offensive coordinator vacancy.

McAdoo was fired as head coach of the New York Giants on Dec. 4th.

McAdoo spent seven years in Green Bay with John Dorsey from 2006-12. 

Mike Mularkey is also on Cleveland's radar for the job.

Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor

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A.J. McCarron 'Wanted That Opportunity' To Be Traded To Browns

Jan 16, 2018 9:03 AM

A.J. McCarron was nearly traded to the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline, but the deal fell through when the paperwork wasn't sent to the league office in time.

McCarron was excited at the possibility, figuring he could try and win games as a starter in Cleveland instead of standing on the sideline with the Cincinnati Bengals.

"As a competitor, I wanted that opportunity, just to be able to showcase and help a team win ball games," McCarron said on WNSP. "I think I would have had some success playing for Hue [Jackson]. I would have loved the opportunity to go up there and get them a win, more than one win. As a competitor, that's all you can ask for."

The Browns reportedly didn't submit the trade through the official league channels in time.

"It was an odd deal," McCarron said. "I got a text from my agent at 3:34 saying 'hey, there's a possible trade going down. Stay by your phone. I'll let you know.' I got another call from him right at 4 saying 'from what I know, it's a done deal. I'll call you back in a minute and let you know.' The next call I got was at 4:03 and he's 'hey, the trade didn't go through. They didn't get the paperwork in on time.' Everybody has a story. I'm sure Cleveland has their own story, Cincy has their own story. But it's just one of those things, when you think you've seen everything, you're shown a little bit more. I think the only people who truly know what happened were the ones leading the whole situation on both sides."

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor

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Browns Hire Eliot Wolf As Assistant GM

Jan 10, 2018 11:06 AM

The Cleveland Browns have hired Eliot Wolf as assistant general manager.

Wolf previously worked with Browns' general manager John Dorsey with the Pacers.

Wolf received interest from the Raiders this offseason while the Packers attempted to keep him.

Jason La Canfora/CBS Sports

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor

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Browns Were Willing To Trade No. 4 Overall Pick For Jimmy Garoppolo

Jan 8, 2018 3:45 PM

The Cleveland Browns were willing to trade the Houston Texans' first round pick in 2018 as a starting point for Jimmy Garoppolo. The Texans' pick has landed at No. 4.

The New England Patriots traded Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a second round pick while also adding Brian Hoyer as Tom Brady's backup.

Cleveland attempted to engage the Patriots multiple times leading up to the deadline.

The Browns' front office was baffled by how the Patriots were unwilling to negotiate with them on Garoppolo after they had made two trades together in 2016.

Terry Pluto/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Alonzo Highsmith Leaves Packers Front Office To Join Browns

Jan 3, 2018 9:27 AM

Alonzo Highsmith has decided to leave the Green Bay Packers to become the vice president of football operations for the Cleveland Browns.

Highsmith has been with the Packers for nearly two decades. He said he didn't think he would be considered as a replacement for Packers general manager Ted Thompson, who will not return in that role next season.

"We discussed so many ideas and all kinds of stuff," Highsmith. "I was exposed to so much stuff today. That's why I thought it was as great opportunity. It feels good to go somewhere that you feel like you're trusted."

Highsmith reunites with new Browns GM John Dorsey, the former Packers director of college scouting.

Rob Demovsky/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor

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Infographic: Five Teams Rank In Top-10 In Offense, Defense DVOA

Jan 2, 2018 2:53 PM

The NFL has five teams ranking in the top-10 in DVOA on both Offense and Defense at the end of the regular season in the Vikings, Rams, Saints, Steelers and Eagles.

The Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, Falcons and Patriots also rank in the top-10 on offense, while the Jaguars, Broncos, Panthers, Ravens and Cardinals rank in the top-10 on defense.


RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team, Infographic, IQ, Stats

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