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- CLEVELAND - Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor has undergone surgery to repair a torn chest muscle he injured while lifting weights. - The Cleveland Browns say they are headed in the right direction, but Las Vegas isn’t buying it. - CLEVELAND - The Browns have cut running back Armond Smith and signed linebacker Emmanuel Acho, one of their 11 draft picks. - BEREA, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns have signed eight of their 11 draft picks. The club announced Saturday that they've signed offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz, defensive lineman John Hughes, wide receiver Travis Benjamin, linebacker James-Michael Johnson, offensive lineman Ryan Miller, defensive lineman Billy Winn, defensive back Trevin Wade and fullback Brad Smelley. - BEREA, Ohio - Clay pigeons became clay particles. In the blink of an eye, Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden's powerful right arm turned the tiny targets into dust.
FoxSports Browns News
- Maybe the only two positions set in stone for the Browns are starting left tackle (Joe Thomas) and starting left cornerback (Joe Haden). That includes quarterback.
The Browns took Brandon Weeden with the 22nd overall pick, but they are emphasizing he'll have to earn the job. His first chance to show what he can do comes Friday with the start of rookie minicamp. Of course, that means he will be throwing passes to rookies.
Weeden, Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace will compete for the starting job until things change.
"It's going to be interesting to say the least," Browns president Mike Holmgren said. "They're all good guys and they understand the competitive situation they're in.
"Do they have to like it? I'm not asking them to like it. But they've handled it very, very well like I thought they would."
MEDICAL WATCH
--DT Phil Taylor underwent surgery underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle that was suffered while lifting weights. While coach Pat Shurmur said recovery time will be "months, not weeks," a source told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that "everybody's optimistic he's going to have a significant impact on the team this season."
FRANCHISE PLAYER: K Phil Dawson (tendered at $3.81 million); signed tender March 19.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--P Brad Maynard did an excellent job filling in after the Browns lost two punters with injuries, but he won't be back because Reggie Hodges has recovered from an Achilles injury that wiped out his season in training camp.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
--LB Titus Brown (not tendered as ERFA) is a solid special teams player and capable backup, but he is coming off a knee injury. Re-signing him is not a high priority.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--T Mitchell Schwartz (2/37): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT John Hughes (3/87): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Travis Benjamin (4/100): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB James-Michael Johnson (4/120): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--T Ryan Miller (5/160): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Emmanuekl Acho (6/204): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT Billy Winn (6/205): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--TE Brad Smelley (7/247): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Oniel Cousins: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--K Phil Dawson: Franchise FA; $3.81M/1 yr.
--OG John Greco: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
--LB D'Qwell Jackson: Potential UFA; $42.5M/5 yrs, $7M SB/$1.3M RB/$3.4M base guarantee '12/$3.6M base guarantee injury '13.
--WR Jordan Norwood: ERFA; terms unknown.
--CB Dimitri Patterson: UFA; $16M/3 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
--DL Brian Schaefering: ERFA; $615,000/1 yr.
--TE Alex Smith: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--DE Juqua Parker: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DE Frostee Rucker: UFA Bengals; $21M/5 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Mike Adams: UFA Broncos; $4M/2 yrs.
--T/G Artis Hicks: UFA Dolphins; $2M/1 yr.
--RB Peyton Hillis: UFA Chiefs: $2.6M/1 yr.
--P Richmond McGee (released).
--DE Jayme Mitchell (released).
--OT Tony Pashos (released/failed physical).
--OG Eric Steinbach (released).
--LB Brian Smith (released).
--C/G Steve Vallos: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
- First-round pick Brandon Weeden isn't guaranteed a starting spot. Then again, neither is first-round pick Trent Richardson.
But logical reasoning indicates both are favorites to be in the backfield for the opener.
Coach Pat Shurmur said no one is guaranteed a starting spot, especially rookies.
"I think that is the speech I give all of the rookies," Shurmur said. "Again, I know what we are all trying to get at with this stuff, but we drafted these players for a reason. We drafted them with the idea that they could come in and start or until they start, could be effective role players. But, they have to come here and do it. By doing it, that's when we talk about competing. That's where they are at and they understand that. We are catching these guys coming out of college and they have been competing as athletes since they were very young boys, for most of them. They understand that and of course we remind them of it. I've reminded all of them of it. They don't expect anything will be given to them because that was the case when they went to college as well. I am sure they all will look at this as this is just another step in their football careers. We don't give anybody anything. They have got to earn it in our eyes."
The Browns wanted to draft Weeden all along, but they were hoping they would not have to use the 22nd pick to do it.
That plan changed when the Titans took wide receiver Kendall Wright with the 20th pick.
"We were trying to have our cake and eat it, too," team president Mike Holmgren said on the ESPN radio show Mike and Mike in the Morning. "Once the receiver was taken, then I said, 'If we're committed (to Weeden) and we were thinking about even moving up from 37, let's take him now."
Coincidentally, the last time the Browns took a quarterback in the first round they also used the 22nd pick to take him. Five years ago the Browns drafted Brady Quinn 22nd. The Browns gave up their second round pick (36th overall) and first-round pick in 2008 for the pick used on Quinn.
If Weeden starts, as expected, it means the Browns got four starters from the picks acquired from Atlanta last year when they traded the sixth overall pick to the Falcons -- defensive tackle Phil Taylor, wide receiver Greg Little, fullback Owen Marecic and Weeden.
--DT Phil Taylor injured his left pectoral lifting weights at the team facility on Thursday.
He was scheduled for an MRI and speculation was he has a torn muscle. His recovery time would be at least four months.
The Browns released a statement saying their 2011 first-round pick would be "further evaluated on Monday to determine a course of treatment."
A stout defender who can tie up double-team blocks, Taylor had 59 tackles and four sacks as a rookie.
--Rookie minicamp for the Browns runs Friday through Sunday. Most of the attention will be directed toward first-round draft choices running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden, but also on display will be defensive tackle John Hughes and wide receiver Travis Benjamin.
The Browns had the 67th pick, but traded back 20 spots to add the 120th overall pick to their bundle of choices. They took Hughes 87th and Benjamin with the 100th overall pick. Fourteen wide receivers were drafted before Benjamin.
--Linebacker James-Michael Johnson is the player the Browns took with pick 120 acquired from the Broncos. He could back up D'Qwell Jackson in the middle if he doesn't start outside. He started 43 straight games at Nevada and made 299 tackles. He had 39.5 tackles for loss.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The idea of targeting someone and putting money into a pot for that reason is wrong."-- Team president Mike Holmgren on bounties when asked how the Browns will address the issue with their players.
- Scott Fujita is fighting for more than three paychecks while appealing the three-game suspension levied on him by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his alleged involvement in the Saints infamous bounty scandal.
The Browns linebacker is also fighting for his good name in the league and in the communities of New Orleans, Cleveland and anywhere else he has left his mark.
Fujita, who signed with the Browns as a free agent in 2010, last week was one of four current or former Saints suspended by Goodell. Saints defensive end Will Smith was suspended four games and linebacker Jonathan Vilma was banned for the entire 2012 season. Former Saints defensive end (now with the Packers), was suspended eight games.
The bounty program ran from 2009-2011. Fujita issued a statement Monday strongly denying he contributed money to a pay-for-pain bounty pool while he played for the Saints in 2009. Fujita played for New Orleans from 2006-09
"I disagree wholeheartedly with the discipline imposed," Fujita said. "I've yet to hear the specifics of any allegation against me, nor have I seen any evidence that supports what the NFL alleges in its press release. I look forward to the opportunity to confront what evidence they claim to have in the appropriate forum. Until then, I stand by my previous comments.
"I have never contributed money to any so-called 'bounty' pool, and any statements to the contrary are false. To say I'm disappointed with the League would be a huge understatement."
Fujita and the other three players involved filed papers reserving their right to appeal the suspensions at a later date.
The NFLPA filed a grievance soon after the suspensions were announced challenging Goodell's jurisdiction to impose penalties and his authority to rule on appeals since the alleged violations occurred before the new CBA went into effect last Aug. 4.
Soon after the story surfaced former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams admitted running the bounty program. He apologized but still was suspended indefinitely by Goodell.
Saints coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season and General Manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games. Payton and Loomis appealed their suspensions. Goodell denied their appeals.
Fujita in March told Peter King of Sports Illustrated he rewarded teammates financially for big plays such as sacks and interceptions but said he never paid into bounty fund.
A notice posted in NFL locker rooms warns players they are prohibited from rewarding teammates with non-contract incentives. By the letter of the law, that would mean a quarterback who buys his offensive linemen watches, televisions or vacations for protecting him all season is guilty.
In a statement released last week, the NFL concluded Fujita "pledged a significant amount of money to the prohibited pay-for-performance/bounty pool during the 2009 NFL playoffs when he played for the Saints. The pool to which he pledged paid large cash rewards for 'cart-offs' and 'knockouts,' plays during which an opposing player was injured."
The suspensions, if upheld, begin with the first game of the 2012 season. The implicated players are allowed participate in all offseason and preseason activities.
The suspension if upheld would cost Fujita 3/17ths of his salary which works out to about $645,000.
Soon after signing with the Browns, Fujita was named to the NFLPA executive committee. He was outspoken last year as he and other union leaders successfully campaigned for rule changes designed for player safety.
Moving kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 and shorter offseason programs were among the changes won by the union.
- Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor has undergone surgery to
repair a torn chest muscle he injured while lifting weights.
- Maybe the only two positions set in stone for the Browns are starting left tackle (Joe Thomas) and starting left cornerback (Joe Haden). That includes quarterback.
The Browns took Brandon Weeden with the 22nd overall pick, but they are emphasizing he'll have to earn the job. His first chance to show what he can do comes Friday with the start of rookie minicamp. Of course, that means he will be throwing passes to rookies.
Weeden, Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace will compete for the starting job until things change.
"It's going to be interesting to say the least," Browns president Mike Holmgren said. "They're all good guys and they understand the competitive situation they're in.
"Do they have to like it? I'm not asking them to like it. But they've handled it very, very well like I thought they would."
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: K Phil Dawson (tendered at $3.81 million); signed tender March 19.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--P Brad Maynard did an excellent job filling in after the Browns lost two punters with injuries, but he won't be back because Reggie Hodges has recovered from an Achilles injury that wiped out his season in training camp.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
--LB Titus Brown (not tendered as ERFA) is a solid special teams player and capable backup, but he is coming off a knee injury. Re-signing him is not a high priority.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--T Mitchell Schwartz (2/37): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT John Hughes (3/87): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Travis Benjamin (4/100): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB James-Michael Johnson (4/120): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--T Ryan Miller (5/160): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Emmanuekl Acho (6/204): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT Billy Winn (6/205): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--TE Brad Smelley (7/247): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Oniel Cousins: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--K Phil Dawson: Franchise FA; $3.81M/1 yr.
--OG John Greco: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
--LB D'Qwell Jackson: Potential UFA; $42.5M/5 yrs, $7M SB/$1.3M RB/$3.4M base guarantee '12/$3.6M base guarantee injury '13.
--WR Jordan Norwood: ERFA; terms unknown.
--CB Dimitri Patterson: UFA; $16M/3 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
--DL Brian Schaefering: ERFA; $615,000/1 yr.
--TE Alex Smith: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--DE Juqua Parker: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DE Frostee Rucker: UFA Bengals; $21M/5 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Mike Adams: UFA Broncos; $4M/2 yrs.
--T/G Artis Hicks: UFA Dolphins; $2M/1 yr.
--RB Peyton Hillis: UFA Chiefs: $2.6M/1 yr.
--P Richmond McGee (released).
--DE Jayme Mitchell (released).
--OT Tony Pashos (released/failed physical).
--OG Eric Steinbach (released).
--LB Brian Smith (released).
--C/G Steve Vallos: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
Yahoo Sports
- CLEVELAND (AP) Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor has undergone surgery to repair a torn chest muscle he injured while lifting weights. -
Given today's economy, any recent college grad would consider themselves lucky to have two viable options. Andrew Sweat, former linebacker at Ohio State, does have two options, and he's choosing to be a 1L instead of an LB.
He had a chance to make the Cleveland Browns roster as an undrafted free agent, but instead declared on Twitter that he was heading to law school .
Fair enough. Sweat did sustain a concussion in college and if that, plus the ongoing concern surrounding football-related head injuries, has persuaded him that the NFL isn't a good option, then it doesn't seem like it's an unreasonable decision. Not that it would be my place to call it reasonable or unreasonable.
Some did criticize, though. Eli Mystal, a former lawyer and current editor of legal blog Above the Law, took Sweat to task over bailing on the NFL, saying the decision was "the biggest mistake of his life." Deadspin followed suit .
Sweat responded, again via Twitter.
I suppose that does add another layer of sense to things. His dad can get him a job in the legal field, so unless Andrew Sweat was raised in an "Andrew has two daddies" situation and the other one is Pat Shurmur , then the law thing is probably more of a slam dunk. It would be hard to fault a guy for taking the sure thing.
- Running back recovering from surgery to remove tumor - Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. The latest entry: Brandon Boykin, the Georgia cornerback selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 28th pick in the fourth round (123rd overall).
Overview: Just before the draft, the Eagles traded disgruntled cornerback Asante Samuel to the Falcons for a seventh round pick. Samuel made the Pro Bowl three times in four years with the Eagles, but many fans were happy to see him go. Philadelphia Daily News columnist Marcus Hayes called Samuel "a fraud, wrapped in a mirage, inside an illusion," in a hyperbolic preach-to-the-base post-trade column that reflected the ultimate Philly bias: if you don't hit like a freight train, then you stink. And Samuel, for all his coverage skills, hit like a baby wipe.
Boykin will not replace Samuel in the starting lineup — that will be Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's job — but he will get first dibs on the slot corner role. And Boykin, for all his athleticism, cannot tackle. Somebody get Marcus Hayes a scented candle.
Boykin played cornerback, returned kicks, and had a small role in the Georgia offense. According to the team website, he majored in magazines. Magazines? Writing for them? Selling them? Cutting pictures of celebrities from them? Or maybe he majored in ammunition supply shacks. Whatever he learned in college, Boykin must become a more reliable tackler to earn a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
Strengths: Boykin can fly. He has recovery speed in the open field and can track the deep ball. He often runs down screens from behind and can make the touchdown-saving stop.
Boykin has three years of starting experience and is very aware in zone coverage. He frequently played "off" at Georgia and was good at reading and reacting to plays in front of him. He also moved to the slot at times and demonstrated quick reactions in underneath zones. He has potential as a route-jumper.
Boykin will be able to contribute in the return game and will be very dangerous with an interception in his hands.
Weaknesses: Oh, the tackling. Boykin lunges at the ankles of ballcarriers in the open field. His angles are bad. He gets wired to blocks. He is soft and tentative in run support. He can drag down receivers after the catch, but that is about it. He is small, and he plays small. His tackling issues may make it hard for him to contribute on special teams. - The players union is scheduled to have its grievance against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell heard Wednesday, with the NFLPA questioning the league's authority to punish players for participating in an alleged bounty program with the Saints.
ESPN
NFL.COM News
New York Times
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Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill could be a first-round draft pick, even though he started only 19 games at quarterback in college. - Brad Childress, who spent five seasons with the Vikings before he was fired after 10 games in 2010, will join Pat Shurmur’s staff for the Cleveland Browns. - 
As a native Clevelander and a lifelong die-hard fan of the Indians, the Browns and the Cavaliers, what’s left of my heart goes out to the fans of St. Louis. - Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said that as long as he could deal with the pain in his sprained left ankle, he would play in the regular-season finale Sunday against Cleveland. - Colt McCoy, the Browns quarterback, was not cleared to practice again Wednesday, keeping him sidelined since he was hit in the face mask by Pittsburgh’s James Harrison on Dec. 8.
Yahoo Photos
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Cleveland Browns head football coach Pat Shurmur speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Club luncheon in Canton, Ohio, Monday May 14, 2012. (AP Photo/The Repository, Bob Rossiter) MANDATORY CREDIT
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Cleveland Browns linebackers James-Micheal Johnson (50) and L.J. Fort, rear, run through a drill during NFL football rookie camp in Berea, Ohio on Sunday, May 13, 2012.
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Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple watches quarterback Brandon Weeden prepare to pass during NFL football rookie camp in Berea, Ohio on Sunday, May 13, 2012.
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Cleveland Browns defensive lineman John Hughes runs through a drill during NFL football rookie camp in Berea, Ohio on Sunday, May 13, 2012.
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Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Michael Schwartz stretches during NFL football rookie camp in Berea, Ohio on Sunday, May 13, 2012.
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