Browns Cut Jamie Collins; Return to Pats in Play?

The Cleveland Browns have released linebacker Jamie Collins. The move saves the Browns $9.25 million against the cap, leaving behind $2.5 million in dead money. Cleveland acquired Collins from the New England Patriots in 2016 in exchange for a third-round pick. The subsequent offseason, the Browns made him the NFL's highest-paid outside linebacker.

Collins played in 30 games for the Browns. The 29-year-old missed the entire 2017 season due to a torn MCL. He started all 16 games for the Browns last season, leading the team with 104 tackles, recording 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

Collins recovers a fumble in a game versus Atlanta last season. (AP Photo)

Before releasing Collins, the Browns had tried to trade the linebacker but no teams were interested because of the high salary ($10.3 million) he was due in 2019.

Once a dominant player with the Patriots, Collins led the team with 138 tackles in 2014 on the way to a Super Bowl title. He earned his only Pro Bowl selection the following year, amassing a career-high 5.5 sacks in only 12 games.

Collins' release was hinted at by Browns general manager John Dorsey during the NFL Scouting Combine

"There were some inconsistencies,'' he said at the time. "You don't know what leads to it. He may have been nicked. All I know is he's a very talented football player and you can't have enough of those guys on your team."

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that cutting Collins gives the Browns over $80 million in cap space, the third-most space in the league.

The #Browns now have over $80 million in 2019 cap space. Only the #Jets and #Colts (both $100M+) have more, with one week and plenty of moves to go before the league year begins.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2019

A return to the Patriots is not out of the question for Collins. He could take a short-term 'prove-it' deal and serve as a situational pass rusher. Furthermore, the Patriots had discussions with the Browns about Collins at last season's trade deadline.

Collins was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

NFL Awards 2018 Predictions

With the 2018 NFL regular season completed and the playoffs kicking off this weekend, there is no better time to give picks for the MVP, defensive player of the year and all the other major end-of-season awards.

The Associated Press (AP) will announce the individual NFL awards the night before the Super Bowl in Atlanta in the 8th Annual NFL Honors on Feb. 2. Here are my selections.

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the No. 1 seed in the AFC and throwing 50 passing touchdowns, Mahomes is the runaway favorite for the league's most valuable player award. Forced to make up for his team's less-than-adequate defense—which ranked 24th in points allowed per contest—Mahomes put up historic numbers to secure home-field advantage for the Chiefs throughout the AFC playoffs. He had two 6-touchdown games, racked up 5,097 passing yards and was the most dominant player in football.

Runner-Up: Drew Brees, Saints

The NFC playoffs run through New Orleans and Brees is the biggest reason why. The best player on the best team, Brees led the league in completion percentage (74.4) and passer rating (115.7). He threw 32 touchdowns against just five interceptions, spearheading the New Orleans Saints to 13 wins. Unlike Mahomes, however, Brees had a competent defense to compliment his excellent quarterbacking. Furthermore, Brees threw only three touchdown passes in the Saints’ last five games (he sat out the fifth).

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes

Only two quarterbacks in NFL history have thrown for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season: Peyton Manning in 2013 and Mahomes in 2018. That makes Mahomes this season's OPOY.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams

Donald is set to win his second consecutive DPOY Award, despite missing training camp over a contract dispute. The defensive tackle had 20.5 sacks—just shy of Michael Strahan's NFL-record of 22.5—and led the league in QB hits (41) and tackles for loss (30).

Aaron Donald is the league's most dominant defensive player. (Getty Images)

Runner-Up: Khalil Mack, Bears

Mack transformed the Chicago Bears into the best defense in football. The Bears' defense finished first in takeaways (36) and interceptions (27) and No. 3 in points off takeaways (107).

The engine of the defensive unit, Mack was tied for second in the league with six forced fumbles. The linebacker accumulated a team-high 12.5 sacks and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Browns

Mayfield threw more touchdown passes, 27, than any rookie in NFL history. He reached that total despite not seeing any action until Week 3 and not starting until the following game. More importantly, he turned the Cleveland Browns into a legitimate franchise again, leading them to a 7-8-1 record after the team finished 0-16 a season ago. The Browns were in playoff contention until Week 16, something that seemed unfathomable based off how bad things were for the team at this time last year.

Baker Mayfield threw 27 passing TDs, a rookie-record. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Runner-Up, Saquon Barkley, Giants

In just about any other year, the New York Giants running back would take home the OROY crown. Barkley, a transcendent talent, had seven 100-yard games and 89 receptions—catching nine or more passes in four games—and logged over 2,000 all-purpose yards.

But Mayfield had a far bigger impact on the Browns than Barkley had for the Giants, who only improved their win total (5) by two games from the prior season.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Darius Leonard, Colts

Leonard led the NFL in tackles (163), totaling 19 more than the next closest player. The linebacker had 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts' defense ranked 30th in points and yards allowed. But with Leonard on board this year, the unit rose to 10th in scoring defense and 11th in yards allowed.

Runner-Up: Derwin James, Chargers

One of the most versatile defenders in the league, James, primarily a safety, played multiple positions for the Los Angeles Chargers this season. He appeared in all 16 games and registered 105 tackles, three interceptions and 3.5 sacks.

Coach of the Year: Matt Nagy, Bears

Nagy led the Bears to 12 wins and a division championship. Chicago had finished in last-place in the NFC North four years in a row before Nagy came to town. The Bears' record in the four seasons prior to his arrival: 5-11, 6-10, 3-13 and 5-11. The Bears rose to the No. 3 seed in the NFC under Nagy and closed with a 5-1 division record.

Runner-Up: Frank Reich, Colts

Despite losing five of their first six games, the Colts made the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Reich, a first-year head coach like Nagy, helped guide the franchise to a huge turnaround season after the team finished 4-12 last year.

Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Colts

After missing the entire 2017 season, Luck returned and completed a career-high 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. Luck went eight straight games with at least three touchdown passes and has the Colts in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Runner-Up: J.J. Watt, Texans

The AFC South champion Houston Texans returned to a formidable defense with Watt back in the fold. He missed 24 games over the last two seasons with back and leg injuries before his incredible 2018 campaign. The defensive end had 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles to reassert himself as one of the NFL's most dominant defensive players.

Executive of the Year: Chris Ballard, Colts

In his first season as Colts GM, Ballard emphasized the offensive line in the draft. He selected guard Quenton Nelson in round one and tackle Braden Smith in the second round. Both players helped transform the Colts into one of the best O-lines in football, as the unit surrendered just 18 sacks all season.

Ballard nabbed the aforementioned Leonard in round three and made the prudent choice to hire Reich to be the head coach.

Runner-Up: Ryan Pace, Bears

Pace traded for Mack days before the start of the season and the results of the acquisition speak for itself. He hired Nagy, the likely winner of Coach of the Year, and has the Bears back in the postseason for the first time since 2010.

Patriots Sign WR Corey Coleman

The New England Patriots are signing former first-round draft pick Corey Coleman to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Coleman, a slot receiver selected by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, has struggled to live up to expectations in the pros.

Injuries plagued his first two seasons in Cleveland, which traded him to the Buffalo Bills during training camp. Despite forking over a 2020 7th-round draft pick to acquire Coleman, the Bills—short on offensive talent—waived him during the team’s roster cutdown.

The Patriots are adding wide receiver Corey Coleman. (David Richard/AP)

In two seasons with the Browns, Coleman totaled 56 receptions for 718 yards and five touchdowns in 19 games played. The 24-year-old hopes to reignite his disappointing career by catching passes from legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

The Patriots are taking a chance on another first-round wide receiver disappointment by signing Coleman. Last year, the Patriots acquired 2015 first-round selection Phillip Dorsett, also a slot receiver, in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Dorsett underwhelmed in two seasons with the Colts and was quiet in his first season with the Patriots in 2017, failing to record a touchdown with just 12 receptions on the year. But Dorsett exploded in Sunday’s victory over the Houston Texans, hauling in seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Coleman was scheduled to visit with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, but canceled those plans once the Patriots made him an offer.

With Julian Edelman suspended the first four games of the season, the Patriots played only three receivers on Sunday: Dorsett, Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson. Coleman has a chance to immediately contribute for New England if he can learn the system.

In addition to Coleman, the Patriots signed 27-year-old wideout Bennie Fowler.

NFL Predictions 2018: AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers seek their third straight divisional title in 2018. The Cincinnati Bengals last won the AFC North in 2015, but have yet to win a playoff game since the 1990 season. The Baltimore Ravens have missed the postseason in each of the past three years and have not won the division since 2012—the year they hoisted their second Lombardi Trophy. The Cleveland Browns, winless in 2017, were busy in the offseason and hope to challenge their AFC North foes after a decade of incompetence. A preview of the AFC North is detailed below:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

Le’Veon Bell, unhappy with his current contract, missed all of training camp for the second year in a row. He will eventually return, though, and help the Steelers secure their third consecutive AFC North crown. That said, this might be Bell's final season with the Steelers as the relationship between the two sides has strained significantly due to contract disputes over the past couple seasons.

The 36-year-old Ben Roethlisberger has Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and the elusive Bell at his disposal in what should be one of the league’s most dominant offenses.

his could be the final season the trio of Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown play together. — by AP Photo

2. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

The Ravens augmented their receiving core in the offseason, signing Michael Crabtree and John Brown in an attempt to rejuvenate Joe Flacco’s slipping career.

The Ravens were strong defensively last year—particularly proficient in forcing turnovers—so the playoffs remain a possibility through the Wild Card, even if the division becomes unattainable.

But reviving Flacco’s quarterback play seems like a long shot, even with a revamped offensive cast. After all, there’s a reason they drafted Lamar Jackson in the first round.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

It’s baffling that Marvin Lewis still coaches the Bengals. News broke last year that he was planning to leave the team at his own will at season’s end, but those plans fell through. Lewis has returned to coach the franchise for the 16th straight season. He has reached the playoffs in seven of his 15 seasons with Cincinnati, but has yet to win a single playoff contest. It begs the seemingly annual question: what will it take for owner Mike Brown to fire Lewis?

For those with a glass-half-full mindset for the Bengals, it was encouraging to see Andy Dalton play so well in the preseason. The veteran QB and A.J. Green must carry the Bengals offense, which could also get a boost from second-year wideout John Ross if he builds off his preseason success.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

The Browns are certainly an entertaining team and proved to be a terrific choice for HBO’s Hard Knocks. Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor could turn around this anemic offense (before Baker Mayfield likely takes over in 2019), which features receivers Jarvis Landry, Josh Gordon, rookie Antonio Calloway and a capable backfield trio of Carlos Hyde, rookie Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson.

But the NFL is a coaching league, and as long as Hue Jackson—owner of a 1-31 record with Cleveland—is making the final calls for the franchise, the playoffs are a pipe dream.

Myles Garrett Rips Kevin Durant for Joining Warriors, Riding 'Somebody's Coat Tails for a W'

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett looks down upon Kevin Durant for taking the easy path to winning a championship. Garrett explained his frustration with Durant for joining the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2016, fresh off the team’s record-setting 73-win season.

“KD broke the league,” Garrett said on Thursday in an interview with Ken Carman and Anthony Lima on 92.3 The Fan when asked if he watched this year's NBA Finals.

“You hopped onto a 73-9 team and he took the easy way out in my mind,” Garrett said.

Myles Garrett says Kevin Durant broke the NBA by signing with Golden State. (Ron Schwane)

Garrett wisely pointed out that Durant signing with the 73-win Warriors—who narrowly defeated Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals—is not comparable to LeBron James joining the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010. James left the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency because the talent around him was subpar (Mo Williams was the second-best player on the 2009-10 Cavaliers!?!), unlike Durant who was playing alongside future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook. James went to Miami, which had lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2010, to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Durant signed with a Golden State team that had already maintained significant success without him, winning the title in 2015 and reaching Game 7 of the Finals in 2016.

“It's different when LeBron left. He went to [Miami to join] Wade and Bosh but it wasn't something that was already guaranteed, something you already knew was going to have immediate success. [James] had to gel and work things into place.”

The Warriors have won two straight titles with Durant. Garrett, the first overall selection of the 2017 NFL Draft, is not surprised by Golden State’s dominance.

“They were 73-9 before and you put the second-best player in the world on an already all-time great team and of course you're going to have success, pretty easy success. Anyone can have an off night and they can still find a way to win.”

Game 3 of the Finals supports Garrett’s assertion. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson struggled to get anything going offensively that night. Curry (11 points) had a horrific shooting night—missing 13 of 16 shots, including nine of his 10 three-point attempts—while Thompson was held to 10 points. But Durant bailed out his teammates with an otherworldly performance, scoring 43 points (15-of-23 shooting) with 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Now a two-time Finals MVP, Durant has played tremendous in each of the past two postseasons with the Warriors. But the fact remains that Durant is dominating on a roster that was already a powerhouse without him.

A competitive drive would prevent Garrett from ever hopping onto the best roster in the league just to win a championship, he says.

“If I were him I would've never made a move like that in the first place,'' he said. “Me, I'm too competitive to try and ride on somebody's coat tails to get a W. But for him, you might as well stay at the spot you're at now. There's no point in leaving since you've already taken that moniker where he's been called the snake and cupcake and all that. You might as well stay and just keep on winning.”

It’s hard to argue with any of Garrett’s criticism for Durant.

Durant undoubtedly took the easiest path to a championship. While a member of the Thunder, Durant almost dethroned the Warriors with the help of superstar teammate Russell Westbrook. Leaving the Thunder for the Warriors—a month removed from the teams’ seven-game Conference Finals showdown—was a snake move, no matter how you spin it.

Garrett, who shined with Cleveland when healthy (11 games played) in his rookie season, is preaching to the choir of many NBA fans who are upset with Durant. The media far too often coddles Durant, who spited his former Oklahoma City teammates and coaches passive aggressively with burner Twitter accounts, while also whining about the criticism sent his way for his move in free agency.

It’s refreshing to hear a fellow professional athlete speak out against Durant, who has coasted to consecutive championships.

Anthony Fabiano Promoted to Browns' Active Roster, Will Dress Sunday vs. Patriots

          Former Harvard University offensive lineman Anthony Fabiano will be active for the first time in his NFL career when the Cleveland Browns (0-4) host the New England Patriots (3-1) at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday (1 p.m. ET), according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

          Promoted from the practice squad to the team's 53-man roster, the six-foot-three, 303-pound rookie will serve as the backup center. John Greco, an eighth-year versatile offensive lineman, is set to start at center.

Anthony Fabiano (77) earned All-Ivy League honors three times in his collegiate career. (AP Photo)

          Cameron Erving, a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, started the year at center but suffered a bruised lung in Week 2 versus the Baltimore Ravens and remains sidelined on a week-to-week basis.

          Typically lined up at the left guard position, Greco shifted to center for Cleveland’s Week 3 contest at Miami. Greco returned to guard last week as Cleveland’s brand-new offensive lineman Austin Reiter—signed off the Redskins practice squad on Sept. 20 just days before the Browns’ road tilt at Washington—started at center. Reiter played effectively in Cleveland’s defeat but tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, landing him on season-ending injured reserve.

          Fabiano was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Ravens, before being waived on Aug. 29. He latched onto Cleveland’s practice squad on Sept. 5—less than a week before the team kicked off its season at Philadelphia. Fabiano’s impressive display in practice—coupled with the team’s decimating injuries to its offensive line—has opened the door for the 23-year-old to dress for the first time in his pro career.

          Though Fabiano—who a week before the 2016 NFL Draft was deemed the most athletic offensive lineman in the country among soon-to-be-rookies—plays center in practice and is now second-string on the depth chart at the position, he has experience at all spots across the offensive line. In his tenure with the Harvard Crimson, Fabiano started games at left tackle (11), right guard (10), left guard (seven) and right tackle (one).

*Information from ClevelandBrowns.com was used in this post.

Richardson's Career was Doomed Following Trade from Browns

                Trent Richardson’s career has hit rock-bottom. Richardson, selected No. 3 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft, was released by the Oakland Raiders on Monday. He played just one preseason game for Oakland, totaling 19 yards on five carries. The 25-year-old missed the beginning of training camp while suffering from pneumonia.

                A highly touted running back out of Alabama, Richardson had a (relatively) strong rookie campaign. He rushed for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding 367 yards and a score on 51 receptions. He managed these numbers despite playing nine games with broken ribs. It should be noted, though, that Richardson only averaged 3.6 yards per carry—which stands now as his career-high.

                Two games into the 2013 season, the Browns traded Richardson in exchange for a first-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts—a move Cleveland was highly scrutinized for making at the time, but are now universally praised for pulling off. Despite high hopes, Richardson never materialized into a formidable running back with Indianapolis. Richardson averaged just 2.9 yards per carry after being acquired by the Colts in 2013 and followed up with 3.3 yards per attempt last season. Even though they paid a high price to acquire the running back, the Colts parted ways with Richardson following a disappointing 2014 season.

                A major draft bust, Richardson was unable to make the Raiders roster. He signed a two-year $3.9 million deal with Oakland in the offseason—with a whopping $600,000 guaranteed (what were the Raiders thinking?). One of the league’s all-time disappointments, Richardson arrived to camp overweight, leading to his release.

               The struggles of Richardson since his departure from Cleveland underscore how talented the Browns' offensive line has been in recent years. The Browns’ O-line made Richardson look like a capable NFL running back, something the bust has proven to be otherwise since being shipped to Indianapolis. Major props should be handed to Joe Thomas, one of the greatest left tackles in league history, two-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack and veteran guard John Greco.

               The highly-respected Browns’ offensive linemen were able to mask the weaknesses of Richardson. They helped Richardson compile 11 rushing touchdowns in his first year as a pro, breaking Jim Brown's franchise record for most rushing TDs by a rookie. Richardson, who simply cannot break out for big runs, was destined to fail once he departed Cleveland and their formidable offensive line.

               Fast forward to present-day and Richardson’s NFL career may be finished. As for the state of the Browns offensive line? The unit has actually strengthened in the past few seasons with guard Joel Bitonio shining as a rookie last season and with the team adding Florida State standout Cameron Erving with their second 1^st-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. 

Texans Make Wise Move in Naming Hoyer Starter

                Brian Hoyer has been named the Houston Texans starting quarterback, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport has reported. Hoyer had been battling with Ryan Mallett for the QB job throughout training camp.

                The Texans inked Hoyer to a two-year, $10.5 million deal this past offseason. The 29-year-old started the Texans’ preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers while Mallett started Saturday's game versus the Denver Broncos. Mallett finished Saturday’s contest with a 75.3 passer rating, failing to make his case to overtake Hoyer for the starting gig.

                Hoyer posts a 10-7 career record as a starting quarterback. Spending the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, he won 10 of his 16 starts. He is the first Browns quarterback to post a winning record since Vinny Testaverde—who played with Cleveland from 1993-95—and the only to do so since the franchise was revived in 1999. Hoyer led the Browns to a 7-4 start last season, before losing his job to rookie Johnny Manziel in Week 15. In 13 starts and 14 appearances overall last season, Hoyer threw for 3,326 yards and 12 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.

Brian Hoyer will be under center for the Houston Texans when the 2015 season kicks off. (Andrew J. Phillip/AP)

                Handing the quarterback duties to Hoyer, a seven-year pro, was a logical move by head coach Bill O’Brien. Mallett, a third-round draft selection in 2011, has made just two starts in his career. The Texans made the correct choice in settling the quarterback battle with Hoyer holding an edge in experience, consistency and decision-making, and throwing less practice interceptions than Mallett. Hoyer gelled with the Texans starters in the first preseason contest. He threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts III on Houston's first drive and also connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a 2-point conversion to give the Texans an 8-0 lead in an eventual 23-10 victory.

                The statistics for Hoyer last season—32^nd (out of 33 qualified QB’s) in completion percentage (55.3) and 30^th in QBR (39.8)—were not pretty but the veteran QB was able to record more wins (7) than losses (6), something no quarterback has done for roughly two decades for the once-proud but now woebegone Browns franchise. Hoyer spearheaded the Browns to the greatest road comeback in NFL history against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 a season ago. He also garnered immense praise last year from former teammate Joe Thomas, one of the most dominant and respected left tackles in league history.

                 "He's [Hoyer] a lot like Tom Brady," Thomas told The Cleveland Plain Dealer last year. "When you look at the way he competes and the way he demands the most out of everybody around him, it's no coincidence that those guys played together. (Hoyer) has a lot of those same mental attributes and that's a great thing for a quarterback to have."

               With Hoyer under center, the Texans will look to make the postseason for the first time since 2012.

Ray Farmer, Cleveland Browns the Winners in Round 1 of 2014 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns Head Coach Mike Pettine (left) and GM Ray Farmer (right) answer questions from the media following the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Farmer has done a commendable job this offseason bolstering the Browns' roster, giving Pettine plenty of talent to work with in his first year as a NFL head coach. (AP Photo)

It’s hard not to admire what Cleveland Browns rookie general manager Ray Farmer accomplished in the opening round of his first-ever NFL Draft. Farmer, spearheading the Browns’ new regime, came away with the top-rated cornerback in the 2014 NFL Draft in Justin Gilbert, the best advertised quarterback in the rookie pool in Johnny Manziel and acquired a 2015 first-round pick from the Buffalo Bills, all within the first day of the 79^th Annual NFL Selection Meeting.

            Farmer wasted no time in making a splash in his first go-around in selecting rookie talent. Cleveland was far and away the most active team in round one of the draft as Farmer maneuvered up and down the selection board quicker than Kevin Costner did in the recent Browns-centered film “Draft Day.” Farmer refused to be complacent in his operations, the way that his unsuccessful predecessors, Mike Holmgren and Mike Lombardi, were in their failed attempts to rebuild the franchise. Farmer and the Browns front office capitalized on the overambitious Bills’ management, who traded away their first and fourth-round picks in next year’s draft to swap spots in the current draft with Cleveland, who were originally slated to have the fourth pick in the 2014 Draft. The Bills selected highly touted wideout Sammy Watkins after moving up in the draft. The Browns, meanwhile, slid to the ninth overall selection, which they ultimately traded up a spot with the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a fifth-round choice in 2015, for the rights to draft Justin Gilbert, the corner out of Oklahoma State that dazzled scouts with his raw speed and athleticism.

            The addition of Gilbert bolsters the Browns’ formidable secondary, a critical aspect of new head coach Mike Pettine’s defensive system. Gilbert will play across from Pro-Bowl cornerback Joe Haden, who is coming off his best season as a pro. Farmer believes Gilbert will be a perfect in Cleveland.

            “Justin Gilbert the player -- He’s long, via ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon. “He’s fast. He’s explosive. He’s a playmaker. He plays like a Brown. Number one thing we talk about when we talk about corners is they’ve got to cover like Browns. He’s got great arm length. He’s got the speed. He’s got the ball skills.”

            Adding Gilbert to a secondary that had already acquired hard-hitting two-time Pro-Bowler Donte Whitner via free agency was an exciting step for the upstart Browns. However, the decision by the Browns’ brass to trade up four spots with the Philadelphia Eagles to select Johnny “Football” Manziel is what made Cleveland the talk of the draft.

            Easily the most polarizing player waiting to be chosen, Manziel brings instant media hype and attention to a franchise that has not a winning season since 2007. The first-ever QB to win the Heisman Trophy as a freshman, Manziel gives the Browns an identity at a position they have struggled with immensely in the past decade-plus. The former Texas A&M quarterback that lit up the college football world with his play-making abilities and off-the-field dramatics will look to return Cleveland to their football glory days.

Before Manziel can dream about leading the Browns to their first championship since 1964, he will first have to upsurge purported starter Brian Hoyer. Pettine has already acknowledged that it will be “very difficult” to beat out incumbent first-string quarterback Hoyer, who went 3-0 as a starter with the Browns in 2013 before an ACL tear cut his season short. With all that said, you don’t bring Johnny Football to town without the intention of him being your guy under center at some point in the very near future.

As with all quarterbacks chosen in the draft, there is no telling whether Manziel will be a whopping success or a major bust. However, Manziel’s history of winning should be an encouraging sign for a club that has not exceeded five wins in any of its past six seasons. Manziel provides the Browns the type of sizzle that franchises need to jumpstart its rebuilding process.

Landing Manziel, coupled with the pickup of Gilbert and an additional first-round pick in next-year’s draft, is a superb initial day at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall for Farmer and the Browns. Now, the attention shifts to the second round and beyond, where Farmer will be counted on to improve the Browns’ offensive line and wide receiver corps. As any successful GM will tell you, championships are not just built in the first round of the draft, but also with wise selections in the rounds that follow. For Farmer, though, it’s so far so good as the mastermind calling the shots.  

Week 3 Roundup: Panthers Obliterate Reeling Giants; Maligned Browns Temporarily Silence Critics Behind Brian Hoyer

Carolina Panthers 38, New York Giants  0

The Carolina Panthers have suffered some excruciating losses in the Ron Rivera era. Since Rivera took over the coaching duties in 2011, the club has posted a dismal 2-14 mark in games decided by 7 points or less. The Panthers (1-2) shredded some of their frustration from their recent gut-wrenching losses by compiling arguably their most satisfying win in Rivera's tenure on Sunday, demolishing the hapless New York Giants (0-3) 38-0 in front of their home crowd in Charlotte.

The front-seven of the Panthers continues to look like one of the best in football after another notable effort on Sunday. The Panthers made Eli Manning’s life a living hell, sacking the two-time Super Bowl champion seven times (6 of which came in the first half) as the Giants offense looked pitiful all afternoon.

Cam Newton flashed his dynamic skills at quarterback, tossing three touchdowns passes and rushing a TD score in the Panthers most lopsided victory in franchise history. Newton amassed 223 passing yards and threw two touchdown passes to Brandon LaFell and one to Ted Ginn Jr. Playing out of the read option on some designated run plays, Newton rushed for 45 yards on seven carries, including a TD run that witnessed him drag defenders into the end zone with him before he let out a ferocious yell.

Cam Newton fired up the Panthers home crowd in their 38-0 thrashing of the sinking Giants. ( Mike McCarn- AP)

The Panthers' blowout victory should temporarily halt questions related to Ron Rivera’s job security. Rivera and the Panthers head into their bye week 1-2, but their defense is playing at a championship level. If the Panthers can consistently play this caliber of defense, then they have a realistic shot at making their first playoff appearance since 2008.

The Giants, meanwhile, have been an utter disaster through the first three games of the 2013 season.  The G-Men have been outscored 115-54 (an average of 38.3 to 18 per game). They have a recorded a mere 133 rushing yards through their first 3 games, the fifth fewest yards to start a season in the Super-Bowl Era, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The club is in complete disarray after totaling just 18 first-half yards and three turnovers in the contest, bringing their season total of giveaways to a whopping 13.

The 38-0 loss was the worst defeat for the Giants in the Tom Coughlin era. 

Cleveland Browns 31, Minnesota Vikings 27

The Cleveland Browns were ridiculed the entire week after trading running back Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2014 first-round pick. The deal was perceived as the waving of the white flag by the Browns. Richardson, the third overall pick in the 2012 draft, was viewed as a cornerstone piece of the Browns’ future by former team president Mike Holmgren. Holmgren blasted the shocking trade made by the new regime spearheaded by GM Mike Lombardi.  Other critics asserted the club had quit on the 2013 season and had entered full-NBA-tank-mode before the calendar had even flipped to October.

Determined to silence their detractors, the Browns coaching staff and players mustered an impressive 31-27 road win over the Minnesota Vikings behind third-string QB Brian Hoyer, who threw for 321 yards in the victory. The Browns (1-2) gave the nod to Hoyer over backup Jason Campbell with purported starter Brandon Weeden sidelined with a thumb injury. Hoyer may have snatched Weeden’s job after engineering a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to propel the Browns to their first victory of the season. Hoyer did throw three interceptions, but he also fired three touchdown passes, a feat Weeden has yet to accomplish in 17 career starts.

Jordan Cameron is suddenly emerging as one of the league’s most intriguing young tight ends after his three score game against the Vikings (0-3) on Sunday. Cameron totaled 66 yards on his 6 receptions (3 for TD’s), including the go-ahead grab in the back of end zone with 51 seconds left.

Josh Gordon, fresh off a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, hauled in 10 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown.

The Browns were able to send a clear message to their fans, the critics and to to the rest of the NFL today that they have no intentions of quitting on the season and will not roll over against any opponent.