Cleveland Browns

Tight end David Njoku received the franchise tag Monday ahead of the franchising deadline.

We've designated TE David Njoku as our franchise player and tendered 3 exclusive rights players

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 7, 2022

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the news. 

The move extends his tenure with the Browns, who selected Njoku in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.

There was some uncertainty when the 2020 season began about what uniform Njoku would be wearing. He and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, requested a trade prior to the start of training camp, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Njoku eventually rescinded the request, however, and spent both the 2020 and 2021 seasons in Cleveland.

The catalyst for the initial request may have been Cleveland's decision to sign former Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper to a four-year, $42 million deal in free agency. With Hooper in the fold, it was clear that Njoku would no longer be the go-to tight end in Cleveland.

After flashing big-time potential at the University of Miami, Njoku went 29th overall to the Browns in the 2017 NFL draft. He did well during his rookie campaign, hauling in 32 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns.

Njoku took a big step forward in 2018 by setting career highs with 56 grabs for 639 yards and four scores during quarterback Baker Mayfield's rookie season.

With Mayfield entering his second season and the Browns acquiring wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants, expectations were huge for Njoku in 2019. Both he and the Browns fell far short of what their fans hoped for, however.

While Njoku's poor season could be chalked up to a broken wrist suffered in Week 2, Mayfield took a step back in his second season, and the Browns finished just 6-10, resulting in them missing the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season.

Njoku appeared in 13 games in 2020, including five starts, and finished with 19 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five grabs for 66 yards in two playoff games.

Despite signing Hooper, the Browns exercised the fifth-year option in Njoku's contract in April 2020, keeping him under contract for 2021.

Njoku ended up having his best season since 2018, recording 36 receptions for 475 yards and four scores, although the Browns failed to return to the playoffs.

It was widely expected that the Browns would let Njoku walk in free agency because of the presence of Hooper and Harrison Bryant at tight end, but with Cleveland short on weapons in the passing game, it decided to keep one of its most explosive playmakers.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield underwent surgery this offseason to repair a torn labrum, and he's reportedly progressing better than expected.

According to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Mayfield is "ahead of schedule" in his rehab and recovery from the procedure he had Jan. 19.

Mayfield was initially given a timetable of four to six months for his recovery from surgery. Cabot explained that Mayfield's work during the season helped give him a head start in his rehab. Since the surgery was on his left shoulder, he shouldn't have a problem with his throwing motion.

"He's rehabbing at home in Austin, Texas, and doctors are encouraged by his excellent progress," Cabot stated. "Mayfield had to work so hard to strengthen the muscles in his left shoulder during the season that he was ahead of the game in his rehab. The fact that it's his non-throwing shoulder also means his natural motion won't be enormously impacted."

Mayfield's 2021 season was derailed by the torn labrum, as he attempted to play through the injury before shutting himself down in Week 17 when the Browns were eliminated from playoff contention. He wound up throwing for career lows of 3,010 yards and 17 touchdowns as well as a career-worst passer rating of 83.1.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Mayfield has not received a contract extension from Cleveland and is likely to play the 2022 season on his fifth-year option that is worth $18.86 million.

There is speculation that the Browns may look for quarterback help this offseason, whether it be through adding a young backup in the draft or a veteran in free agency who will compete with Mayfield for the starting job.

When Hue Jackson was head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, he invited Art Briles to training camp, saying he would "learn from anybody if they can help us," according to the Monroe News-Star's Ethan Sands.

Briles had just been fired as head coach of the Baylor Bears for mishandling reports of sexual assault against members of the football team.

"I've gotten to know Coach Briles," Jackson said two years ago, according to Sands. "I'm always looking for different ways of doing things. What happened at Baylor's at Baylor."

Jackson added:

I respect what you're saying [about character] and understand that trail, but, at the same time, everybody deserves an opportunity to do what they do. I respect everybody's feeling and I don't condone anything ... but that's not for me to judge. Again, the opportunity to pick his brain ... and get to know him outside of all of that in a different capacity is what was important to me.

Jackson's tenure with the Browns ended in 2018, and in December he was hired as head coach of the Grambling State Tigers.

Briles is set to join the program as offensive coordinator, but, according to Koki Riley of the Monroe News-Star, Grambling State hasn't told the University of Louisiana System that it plans to hire Briles. A majority of the 16-person board must approve the hiring.

Briles has not coached since he was fired by Baylor.

The Cleveland Browns and offensive tackle Jack Conklin reportedly agreed to a restructured contract Saturday.

According to ESPN's Field Yates, Conklin was due $12 million in non-guaranteed salary in 2022, but the reworking of the deal will now net Conklin $8 million fully guaranteed, and he will have the opportunity to make up to $12 million based on playing-time incentives.

Yates added that the move will ensure Conklin stays on the team in 2022 and save the Browns $4 million against the salary cap.

The 27-year-old Conklin has spent the past two seasons with the Browns after originally playing for the Tennessee Titans from 2016 to 2019.

While the 2016 No. 8 overall draft pick out of Michigan State has never been named to a Pro Bowl, he was a first-team All-Pro in 2016 as a rookie with the Titans and again in 2020 with the Browns.

Conklin has primarily played right tackle during his NFL career, and he is part of a Cleveland offensive line that is considered to be among the best in the league.

After appearing in at least 15 games in four of his first five NFL seasons, Conklin dealt with injuries issues last season, missing 10 contests with a torn patellar tendon.

Cleveland still ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game last season at 145.4, but quarterback Baker Mayfield struggled, completing just 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The return of a healthy Conklin should help Mayfield and the Cleveland offense as a whole in 2022, though.

The Browns starting offensive line of Conklin, Wyatt Teller, J.C. Tretter, Joel Bitonio and Jedrick Wills Jr. is in line to return next season.

If that holds true, the Browns will be a threat to rebound from their 8-9 record in 2021 and return to the playoffs in 2022.

Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett gave quarterback Baker Mayfield a vote of confidence Friday. 

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Garrett said: "I mean, he's my quarterback. He's my guy. He stuck by us, I'mma stick by him."

Mayfield and the Browns are coming off a rough 2021 season, as they finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs after going 11-5 and making the playoffs for the first time since 2002 in 2020.

Cleveland used the No. 1 overall pick on Mayfield in 2018, and there have been plenty of ups and downs in his career thus far.

He seemed to be firmly establishing himself as a franchise quarterback in 2020 when he completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns and a career-low eight interceptions. Plus, he led the Browns to a playoff win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Expectations were through the roof entering the 2021 campaign, as many pundits considered the Browns to be among the top contenders to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Mayfield's play took a huge downward turn, however, as he went 6-8 in 14 starts and completed just 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

One potential culprit for his struggles may have been a shoulder injury suffered in Week 2 that nagged him for the rest of the season and caused him to miss some time.

Mayfield underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in January and expressed hope that it will help him return to his "true self" next season.

As of now, Mayfield is the Browns' unquestioned starter for 2022, but things are a bit murky after that.

Cleveland exercised the fifth-year option in Mayfield's rookie contract; however, it has yet to sign him to a long-term extension, and he is set to become a free agent after the 2022 season.

If Mayfield can return to the level he played at in 2020, an extension may be in his future, but if his play in 2022 more closely resembles 2021, the Browns may be in search of a new signal-caller next offseason.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry opened up on his disappointing 2021 season, revealing he came back early from a significant knee injury that hampered his performance.

1/2 Reality behind all this is I came back to play in the best shape of my life, I got hurt week 2 with a high grade MCL Sprain,Partial quad tear and bone bruise. Then came back way to early and ended up staying hurt the entire season. You never heard me mention anything about it

— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) February 22, 2022

Landry is heading into the last year of his contract and is set to make $14.3 million in base salary. He's considered a potential, if not likely, cap casualty after recording only 52 receptions for 570 yards and two touchdowns last season.

3/3 I have put the ball in CLE court by telling them I would like to stay but if not then I’m confident enough in myself to be a better healthy me this year and moving forward to helping do my part in winning a championship elsewhere.

— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) February 22, 2022

The Browns are expected to see major changes to their passing game this offseason after a miserable 2022 that called into question Baker Mayfield's future with the franchise. Cleveland finished 27th in passing yards and 26th in team passer rating, with a battered Mayfield ranking among the worst starting quarterbacks in nearly every statistical category.

Mayfield is set to go into 2022 playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract after looking like a potential $40-million-a-year player at this time a year ago.

Landry has been a reliable underneath safety valve for Mayfield throughout his career, but Cleveland desperately needs some downfield explosion. Odell Beckham Jr. was supposed to provide just that but never clicked with Mayfield before being a midseason cut after his father ripped the Browns quarterback on social media.

Beckham, who one of Landry's best friends, went on to sign with the Los Angeles Rams and win a Super Bowl. 

While speaking with reporters Friday ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. admitted that he felt bad about how his tenure with the Cleveland Browns came to an end earlier this season. 

“One of the biggest regrets that I have is about the way that things ended. There really was no closure. It just happened so abrupt. So a lot of things were out of my control. By the time I woke up, the video was already posted. It was just unfortunate.”

The LSU product played in Cleveland for two-and-a-half seasons after being drafted by the New York Giants 12th overall in 2014. He spent five seasons with the Giants from 2014 to '18.

Beckham's tenure with the Browns ended somewhat messy. His father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted a video to Instagram displaying times when quarterback Baker Mayfield either missed his son entirely or didn't throw the ball to him when he was wide open.

Beckham reportedly never apologized to Mayfield for the video, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter, and was placed on waivers shortly after. He then signed a one-year deal with the Rams in November. 

After joining the Rams, the 29-year-old told reporters that he signed with the franchise because everything felt right in his heart. 

I took a lot of time in the decision-making, and it wasn't to build anticipation or nothing. This is my life and I feel like I've been through a lot. I'm at a point in my life where I'm ready to play football. I've dedicated, I've sacrificed a lot to be here. It just happened that this felt right in my heart and in my soul.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Beckham has been playing some of his best football in recent years. The three-time Pro Bowler caught 27 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games. He has been even better in the playoffs, catching 19 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown in three games. 

Beckham also expressed interest in remaining with the Rams beyond this season, telling reporters that L.A. "feels like a home." If his team wins the Super Bowl on Sunday, the chances of him running it back in L.A. could increase. 

The mere mention of Baker Mayfield on social media will cause an avalanche of responses from the internet ether. He's easily one of the NFL's most divisive figures. 

Mayfield also serves as the most logical path forward for the Cleveland Browns in 2022.

But the organization shouldn't bank on a bounce-back year without having a contingency plan. A quarterback selection on Day 2 of April's draft will create competition and a fallback option at the game's most important position. It would also give the 2018 No. 1 overall pick an opportunity to prove himself during the fifth year of his rookie contract. 

The commitment the organization already made to Mayfield is an important part of this approach. No franchise should become beholden to the sunk-cost fallacy, but multiple factors will come into play in this situation, starting with the quarterback's contractual status. 

A year ago, a Mayfield extension after a standout 2021 season seemed inevitable. After all, Cleveland appeared to be a team on the rise, as it was coming off a playoff victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers and gave the Kansas City Chiefs all they could handle in the divisional round.

From Week 7 on, the league MVP, Aaron Rodgers, was the only quarterback to receive a higher passing grade than Mayfield, according to Pro Football Focus. The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner also set the NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes in 2018 (which Justin Herbert surpassed two years later with 31). 

Cleveland had every reason to believe in its supposed franchise quarterback.

All the goodwill both the team and its quarterback built disappeared rather quickly during a disappointing 8-9 campaign, though. Mayfield garnered and deserved the lion's share of the blame after he regressed. The quarterback suffered a torn labrum and fractured humerus bone in his non-throwing shoulder in Week 2 and never looked the same for the rest of the season.

Bad habits developed, and previous issues in his mechanics became exacerbated. His feet were rarely tied to his upper body, which created off-target throws and turnovers even when certain attempts were available. In fact, Mayfield's 56 interceptions are the most by any quarterback since he entered the league. 

The give-and-take with him can be maddening. Some might look at this season's injuries—which extended to a balky knee and heel bruise—and excuse some of the quarterback's play

Backup quarterback Case Keenum told reporters after the season:

"I did have a front-row seat to one of the gutsiest, toughest performances of a quarterback playing in a season that I have ever seen. ... I think his entire season he was battling a lot of things. He is one of the toughest guys I know, and he is a fighter. He came to fight every single day and pushed through a lot of adversity just to get on the field on Sundays."

Even so, Mayfield took the field almost every week and needed to produce. He didn't. 

The Browns now reside in the worst possible spot for any franchise: They're mediocre and lack a clear picture of what to do behind center. Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Herbert aren't leaving the AFC anytime soon. Every other team in the conference is playing catch-up. 

Viable alternatives aren't readily available either. Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson aren't guaranteed to go anywhere, and Cleveland wouldn't top the star duo's list of potential suitors even if they did. The Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders sit in a similar position to the Browns with Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr. Jimmy Garoppolo, who expects to be traded, proved he's every bit as limiting as he is helpful during the San Francisco 49ers' success in recent years. 

The NFL remains a league of haves and have-nots. Either a team has a true franchise quarterback or it doesn't. The position serves as the delineation between those organizations that legitimately compete for Super Bowls on a yearly basis and those that don't.

In Cleveland, Mayfield could still turn out to be the guy, depending on which version shows up this fall. But he still has a lot to prove and has only one remaining season to do so. General manager Andrew Berry, meanwhile, can't leave this offseason without another option in case things go south. The Browns have too much talent to waste it for a second straight season. 

Mayfield will almost certainly be the starter unless something drastic occurs. The team previously believed in him and already picked up his fifth-year option. However, these things don't mean Berry and Co. should be content. 

Keenum, who turns 34 next month, is an excellent backup. At the same time, he doesn't have upside as a starter. Besides, the Browns can release him and save $7.1 million instead of having him absorb $8.4 million of the upcoming salary cap. 

The Browns are essentially left with one proper way to address the position while still moving forward with Mayfield in the short term: the draft.

Former NFL general manager Ron Wolf believed in drafting a quarterback every year. Others no longer adhere to this approach, but it's logical. Wolf had Brett Favre in place, and the ironman never missed games. Yet, the Packers benefited multiple times from drafting and developing other signal-callers, only to ship them elsewhere. 

While the situation isn't exactly the same in Cleveland, the Browns can adhere to Wolf's tactic to build the most competitive, talented quarterback room possible for the upcoming season and possibly longer. 

Here's the catch: A suspect quarterback class should prevent the Browns from considering any prospect in the first round. Instead, the addition of a premium wide receiver to help Mayfield or another pass-rusher to replace Jadeveon Clowney should take priority. 

Day 2 should be the sweet spot, as Cleveland has three selections among the second and third rounds. (The Browns are expected to receive a compensatory pick for the development of executive Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whom the Minnesota Vikings hired as their general manager this offseason.) 

Because of the uncertainty surrounding this year's quarterback class, how the prospects stack up individually and where they could fall is dubious at best. Will a team take a chance on one of these prospects much earlier than expected? Who could be on the board much later than projected? No one even knows who QB1 is yet. The designation will vary, depending on which team board is being discussed. 

Last week's Senior Bowl didn't clear up matters. 

One NFC executive told CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, "Coming off last week, you'd have to say that [Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett is] the guy."

La Canfora's report went on to say Pickett could be selected as high as sixth overall. 

But an AFC executive told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler: "[Liberty's Malik Willis] played better last year than this year, but he's super athletic, runs well and has a quick release. That's going to be tough for some to ignore."

The Browns can take advantage of the uncertainty if something unexpected occurs. While this class certainly presents question marks, there's something to like about each of the top QB prospects. 

Willis has the most upside as a raw athlete who possesses high-end arm talent. Buzz built at the Mobile, Alabama, showcase that he could be the first quarterback off the board. 

The dichotomy between these two prospects is fascinating since Pickett is often considered the most pro-ready option, but he has the lowest ceiling, while Willis is jam-packed with potential but might have the furthest to go to become an NFL passer.

Then, there's Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, who didn't particularly impress during Senior Bowl week yet performed well in the actual game and had a few high-level throws. Bleacher Report's scouting department graded Ridder as the only first-round talent among the entire group. 

B/R scout Nate Tice wrote:

"Overall, Ridder is a competitive player who showed a leap in improvement throughout the 2021 season. He's athletic but doesn't just rely on his legs to make plays happen and constantly showed an advanced understanding of Cincinnati's offense with his pre- and post-snap operation. His ability to operate from the pocket with his polished movement and balance, while still maintaining the athleticism to create plays when things break down, is a fun package."

Some combination of those signal-callers, if not all three, could be off the board in the opening frame. Or, one might slide.

The idea of one of them doing so may be fanciful to some. Based purely on positional value, that's a logical thought. Then again, the Browns found a way to draft Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second round after the standout inexplicably slid despite being a consensus first-round talent in 2021. So, the possibility is there, particularly when so much skepticism exists with this group of signal-callers. 

The options don't stop with the top three. 

Ole Miss' Matt Corral is a quick-release artist who fires from multiple arm angles. Concerns about his potential involve his slight frame at a listed 6'2" and 205 pounds and the fact that he played in a simplistic, quarterback-friendly scheme. He might be the perfect candidate to groom for a year before he's ready to start. 

North Carolina's Sam Howell, at 6'1", 220 pounds, is most often compared to Mayfield for their similar builds and competitive natures. Howell is slightly thicker and a little better runner, but he wasn't nearly as efficient in college. However, the idea of bringing in a similar talent to keep the offense intact might appeal to head coach/play-caller Kevin Stefanski. 

Western Kentucky's Bailey Zappe shouldn't be overlooked, even though he doesn't have the raw arm strength some others do in this class. Zappe broke FBS records with 5,967 passing yards and 62 touchdown tosses during the 2021 campaign. Considering the production and skill set, he's reminiscent of Keenum when he left the Houston Cougars in 2012. Zappe could slide right into Keenum's spot and eventually challenge for the job. 

Cleveland's primary offseason goal should be to build up the quarterback position so it's not a hindrance. Who that signal-caller will be remains in question.

Maybe the Browns mirror the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected Jalen Hurts in 2020 while Carson Wentz was still on the roster. Wentz is gone and Hurts has earned the job. This couldn't have occurred without some foresight by Philadelphia's front office and a willingness to invest another high pick in an intriguing quarterback prospect. And Berry did spend a year working with the Eagles front office before he became the Browns general manager. 

Mayfield is the obvious option in Cleveland for at least one more season. However, Berry can hedge the franchise's bet with another smart investment to make sure the position is set—whether Mayfield proves he's the long-term answer or another up-and-comer gets a shot to start. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski. Salary-cap information via Spotrac unless otherwise noted.

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson backed off a prior insinuation that team owner Jimmy Haslam offered him money to lose games during his three-year tenure.

Jackson, who was hired as Grambling State's head coach in December, made a series of Twitter posts Tuesday about his time in Cleveland after former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the Dolphins, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and the NFL alleging racial discrimination.

"Trust me it was a good number!" Jackson, who served as the Browns' coach from 2016 until midway through the 2018 season, wrote on Twitter when questioned about Haslam's alleged offer amid a purported desire to lose games in order to improve draft position.

He attempted to clarify the situation during an interview Friday with CNN's Anderson Cooper.

"No, I was never offered money like Brian had mentioned," Jackson said. "I think this is a totally different situation but has some similarities."

He added: "When you talk about incentivizing a four-year plan that led to the team not being able to play as well, that people benefited off of that—that's different. But at the same time, it has some of the same similarities to it."

While Jackson didn't provide direct evidence of Haslam's alleged actions, he told Cooper he's kept documents and that information "will come to light at the right time."

"I told Jimmy that what he was doing was very destructive, to not do this because it's going to hurt my career and every other coach that worked with me and every player on the team," he said. "And I told him that it would hurt every Black coach that would follow me. And I have the documents to prove this."

A Browns spokesperson released a statement Wednesday saying Jackson's allegations are "completely fabricated," and Haslam also denied the claims in an interview with Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel on Thursday.

"Unequivocally, Hue Jackson was never paid to lose games," Haslam said. "That is an absolute falsehood. And it's also an absolute falsehood that I laughed while we were losing. Most people who know me would say, 'That's not how Jimmy would react to losing.'"

The Browns owner added Jackson "never ever accepted any responsibility for our record during that time period."

Cleveland posted a 3-36-1 mark during Jackson's tenure, including a winless season in 2017.

In Jackson's defense, the Browns used six different quarterbacks during his first two seasons and none of them were NFL-caliber starters: Cody Kessler, Josh McCown, Robert Griffin III, Charlie Whitehurst, Kevin Hogan and DeShone Kizer.

Going 0-16 in 2017 allowed them to select Baker Mayfield with the first pick in the 2018 draft.

Mayfield struggled during the first half of his rookie season (78.9 passer rating) but started to find his stride over the final eight games after Jackson was let go (106.2 passer rating).

Cleveland reached the divisional round of the playoffs last season, but its overall record over the past three years is still a modest 25-24, so the jury is still out on whether the team's roster reconstruction plans were successful.

Jackson didn't provide a timetable for when he'll come forward with more details about his allegations against the Browns.

Jason McCourty, who was a member of the 0-16 Cleveland Browns in 2017, is backing up suggestions from Hue Jackson that the team wasn't trying to win games. 

Speaking on his Double Coverage podcast (starts at 9:45 mark), McCourty said "there is no way" the Browns were trying to win games. 

McCourty did add none of the players were privy to any conversations about tanking, but "it was very obvious" the Browns weren't putting their best foot forward in 2017. 

Jackson, who coached the Browns from 2016 to 2018, implied on Twitter this week that team owner Jimmy Haslam was giving him bonus money with each loss during the winless season. 

Trust me it was a good number!

— Hue Jackson (@huejack10) February 2, 2022

Haslam has denied any suggestion of paying Jackson to lose, however, telling Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel that Jackson "has never ever accepted any responsibility for our record during that time period."

Jackson went on SportsCenter (h/t Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post) to clarify what he meant by his original comment:

"Well, I need to really explain that because I think people have taken that and run and said, ‘Hey, I think you were in on something that happened.' What I was trying to make sure people understood is that we were paid for—you’re gonna see it as losing—but the way the team was built, there was no chance to win, and win at a high level. You’re in a situation where what you have to do is do the best you can. My record that year was 1-15."

Accusations of NFL teams tanking came up this week as part of Brian Flores' class-action lawsuit accusing the league and all 32 teams of racial discrimination in the process of hiring coaches. 

Flores said in the lawsuit that Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered to pay him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season as an incentive to improve the team's draft position. 

Ross has denied the allegation, saying in a statement it is "false, malicious and defamatory."

The 2017 Browns joined the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams in NFL history to finish a season 0-16. 

Jackson led the Browns to a 1-31 record over his first two seasons as head coach from 2016-17. He was fired midway through the 2018 season after the team got off to a 2-5-1 start. 

McCourty's only season with the Browns was in 2017. He was traded to the New England Patriots in March 2018 and spent three years with the club. The 34-year-old signed with the Dolphins as a free agent last offseason.