Vince Young Browns' Career Last just a week and a half, end shortly after Browns Draft, Manziel and co.

Cleveland Browns part ways with quarterback Vince Young after just 11 days

BY BRYAN ROSE

Vince Young hasn’t played a regular-season down since 2011. (Bill Frakes/SI)

While the vast majority of fans were rooting for the Cleveland Browns to draft a quarterback last week, one person hoping against that was backup Vince Young.

Of course, the Browns ended up selecting Johnny Manziel with the No. 26 pick, and just 11 days after signing a contract with Cleveland, Young was released on Monday morning, the announcement coming from team owner Jimmy Haslam during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon.

Young was signed alongside fellow quarterback Tyler Thigpen on May 1 and had hoped to impress during training camp, but the fact that Cleveland decided to part ways with him before even getting him on the field may say plenty about Young’s future.

MORE: 2014 NFL draft grades: How’d your team do? | Best undrafted FAs | More NFL draft

Alongside Young, fellow quarterback Alex Tanney (known for his impressive “trick shot” passing), cornerback Brandon Hughes, defensive lineman Brian Sanford and running back Fuzzy Whittaker were also given their pink slip.

As for the former Texas star, Young is just days away from turning 31 years old and hasn’t played a regular-season down in the NFL since 2011. There still may be a team or two willing to take a roll of the dice come training camp, but Young’s future prospects continue to dwindle.

Johnny Manziel has the top-selling NFL jersey since April 1

Johnny Manziel was drafted on May 9, but still has the top-selling NFL jersey since April 1. http://t.co/x0L9i1LmqZ pic.twitter.com/tF4Jrj8CoC
— The Buzzer on FOX (@TheBuzzeronFOX) May 12, 2014

Jimmy Traina

+FOX Sports

Elsa / Getty Images North America

Just how popular is Johnny Manziel?

When it comes to jersey sales, no player in the NFL is more popular right now.

According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, Manziel has the top-selling jersey on the NFL's official website since April 1.

He was not drafted until May 8.

Even LeBron has one.

Miami #Heat star @KingJames got his #Browns #1 @JManziel2 jersey. Did you? pic.twitter.com/QMp5s2pKpl
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) May 9, 2014

In terms of NFL rookie jersey sales, St. Louis' Michael Sam is second behind Manziel, while Jadeveon Clowney ranks third.

Manziel tops rookie jersey sales

By The SportsXchange

Johnny Manziel's No. 2 +Cleveland Browns jersey is the top-selling jersey on +NFLShop.com since April 1, +ESPN reported Monday.

The NFL will not say how many Manziel jerseys were sold, but did say that its official website store sold nearly as many Manziel jerseys during last weekend's draft as it sold Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, and Tim Tebow jerseys during their drafts combined.

There was a line outside the Cleveland Browns' team shop at FirstEnergy Stadium when Manziel jerseys went on sale at 11 a.m. Friday.

+Miami HEAT star LeBron James wore a Manziel jersey on Friday during his team's flight to New York. James' business partner, Maverick Carter, works with Manziel.

+Nike, which endorses Manziel and is the NFL's official uniform supplier, is selling Manziel jerseys in every version and size. The company also made special Manziel Browns shirts that read "Johnny Football" and "Manziel or Nothing" and a women's shirt that reads "My Manziel."

The second-most popular rookie jersey this year is +St. Louis Rams  defensive end Michael Sam, the first openly gay player ever drafted. Sam's jersey was not even available until 9 p.m. ET Saturday when he was selected in the seventh and final round.

"We think this is a sign of what we've been saying all along, that Michael's inclusion in the NFL is bringing fans into the game who weren't previously consumers of the NFL game," said Sam's agent, Cameron Weiss.

+Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, +Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and +Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles rounded out the top five rookie jerseys sold. Clowney was the No. 1 overall pick, Bridgewater was the last pick of the first round and Bortles was the first quarterback chosen and third pick overall.

Holmgren "Regretting" not Coaching the Browns While the GM?

Mike Holmgren: 'I really should have coached' the Browns

Mike Holmgren forgets that he didn't want to coach the Browns. (USATSI)

By Ryan Wilson | CBSSports.com

After a forgettable three-year stint as +Cleveland Browns president, Mike Holmgren is probably better known as the guy who used Cleveland's two 2012 first-round picks on Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden than a Super Bowl-winning coach with the +Green Bay Packers.

The year before Holmgren took over, the Browns were 5-11 under Eric Mangini. The team went 5-11 again in 2010, Holmgren's first year on the job, and Mangini was fired. Pat Shurmur replaced Mangini and won four games in 2011 and five games in 2012.

Holmgren now says he should have been on the sidelines instead of in the front office.

“I really just should have coached the team, but he [owner Randy Lerner] didn't want me to," he told +The MMQB.com's Peter King last week.

Holmgren's probably right; he had plenty of on-field success in Green Bay and later Seattle. Plus, the fact that he was outraged when the Browns shipped Richardson out of town last September raises questions about his talent-evaluation skills.

"How do you make your team better by trading your best player?'' he said at the time. "He's the best offensive player. He's a valuable, valuable guy."

Richardson, it turns out, was terrible. The Browns were right to dump him on Indianapolis for an additional first-round pick. Just like they were right to dump Weeden, the quarterback Holmgren identified two years before as the team's future.

The problem: Holmgren could have coached the Browns if he wanted. Days before he was hired as team president in Dec. 2009, he indicated that the job offer could include a return to the sidelines. But as +CBS Cleveland's Daryl Ruiter notes, Holmgren made it clear -- several times -- that he wasn't interested.

“At this stage of my life that's not what my first priority is,” Holmgren said after firing Mangini on Jan. 3, 2011. “I've relished the role that Randy Lerner had confidence to give me.”

We get why Holmgren might want to revise history -- nothing tarnishes a legacy quite like trying to salvage the Browns and failing miserably -- but the team's biggest problem wasn't going to be solved by where Holmgren stationed himself on Sundays. Because without a franchise quarterback, Paul Brown couldn't have coached that team to more than six wins.

Mike Holmgren: 'I really should have coached' the Browns http://t.co/2E5NeMhbP5 via @cbssports

— Eye on Football (@EyeOnNFL) April 21, 2014

49ers Have a Contrast in Style in Bethea signing, replacing Whitner

H/T to +San Francisco 49ers - 

Part of their series getting to know new players, with safety Antoine Bethea, whom San Francisco signed as a free agent from the +Indianapolis Colts. 

Safety, Antoine Bethea, signing his contract offer sheet with the San Francisco 49ers.
Photo Courtesy: +San Francisco 49ers (AP)

1. He hasn't missed a start in six seasons.

That’s 96 consecutive starts in the regular season for those of you scoring at home. Bethea last missed a start in 2007. He suffered an injury and missed the final three games of the regular season, the year he made his second Pro Bowl team. Since then, the 5-foot-11, 206-pound defensive back has been a reliable force in the NFL. Bethea has started every game he’s appeared in since joining the Colts as a sixth-round draft pick eight seasons ago.

2. His style of play is different than the safety he's replacing.

Unlike Donte Whitner, San Francisco’s new strong safety doesn’t have any plans to alter his last name. Sure, he doesn’t have a surname that lends itself to a clever moniker, but Bethea’s on-field reputation is known more for sound fundamentals than jarring hits. Bethea was not penalized in 2013, while Whitner was flagged for five unnecessary roughness penalties. In total, Bethea produced 110 tackles. Whitner also made no bones about his feelings when meeting with the media. Bethea, on the other hand, said he’s not one for speaking his mind to reporters. “You’re not going to hear me say too much,” Bethea said.

Antoine Bethea: "Excited to be a Part of this."

3. He has experience playing both safety positions.

Secondary coach Ed Donatell confirmed what many of us already assumed: Bethea will begin his 49ers career at strong safety and has the ability to line up at free safety. Bethea said he envisions and interchangeable system is which San Francisco can be less predictable with its pre-snap looks. Bethea doesn’t want to be a single-high safety, nor does he want to only be a box safety tasked with run-gap responsibilities. The versatility of Bethea and Eric Reid will allow defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to mix up his looks and tailor his defense to the strengths of each safety.

4. He has used his small-school college experience as motivation.

NFL free agency was a big deal for Bethea. He was not recruited heavily out of college, but he was valued highly by the 49ers when the free agency period began. Bethea attended Howard University and was the 207th overall pick in his draft class. “Being able to have a team come talk to you and really want you within the first hour of free agency, it meant a lot,” Bethea said. The veteran safety didn’t shop around and make visits with any other team. He agreed to terms with the 49ers and signed his contract the following day. Bethea is also different than three of the team’s offseason additions in the sense that he’s a late-round draft pick joining his second team. Cornerback Chris Cook (34th overall in 2010), quarterback Blaine Gabbert (10th in ‘11), and offensive tackle Jonathan Martin (42nd in ‘12) and all were top-50 talents who are looking to better their careers with a second organization.

5. He came to the 49ers to win a second Super Bowl.

Bethea won a Super Bowl and lost another chance at a ring with the Colts. He certainly knows what a championship-caliber team looks like. When the eight-year vetertan signed with the 49ers, the possibility of winning another Super Bowl was very much in mind. "It's one reason I'm here in San Fran," Bethea said. "A great opportunity to get another ring. That's what I'm here to do." Bethea has a wealth of postseason experience, too. He's been to the postseason in seven of his eight seasons with the Colts, with a Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck-less 2011 season being the lone exception. Bethea is joining a 49ers team that has been to the conference championship game for three consecutive season. Should San Francisco return to the big stage, Bethea will be fit to handle the moment.

Browns get their RB, sign former Texans' RB and multi-faceted Ben Tate

LET'S DO THIS CLEVELAND!! #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/jMKDIV1OmA

— Ben Tate (@BenTateRB) March 15, 2014

Browns Tweet leaks partial of their FA Board

Not that any of those teams, names is anything that the NFL fan didn't know..

Someone on Reddit says #Browns leaked free agent board when Farmer came out for the presser...@DustinFox37 pic.twitter.com/T1tu600CRp

— Dawgs By Nature (@DawgsByNature) March 12, 2014

T.J. Ward, a wanted man, by a reported 11 NFL Teams

Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward has drawn interest from 11 teams, Browns still in mix

Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward could be gone when free agency begins Tuesday. (PD File)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward has drawn interest from about 11 teams during the free agency negotiating period, and the Browns are still in the mix, a league source told cleveland.com. The Browns began talking to Ward's agent, Josh Arnold, at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, and have engaged in talks since then. One team expected to pursue Ward is the +Denver Broncos, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Former Browns general manager Tom Heckert, who drafted Ward in the second round of the 2010 draft out of Oregon, is the Broncos Director of Pro Personnel.

Broncos expected to pursue Cleveland SS T.J. Ward when market opens Thursday. http://t.co/NHGhH8UmJC via @denverpost — Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 10, 2014

Another team that's checked into Ward is the +Detroit Lions, according to +NFL.com. They released safety Louis Delmas and are looking to replace him. However, they have only about $10 million in cap space, and would probably need to restructure Ndamukong Suh ($22 million cap number for 2014) to lure Ward. The +Philadelphis  might also be on the list because Ward played for coach Chip Kelly at Oregon. Of the 11 teams, interest is strong from at least several. Others might not be able to meet his asking price -- which could be upwards of $8 million a year.Ward, 27, is receiving plenty of action because he's so highly rated. Profootballfocus.com has him ranked as the third best safety in the NFL behind +New England Patriots' Devin McCourty and the +New York Giants' Will Hill. Ward is also the site's top-ranked safety against the run, and 12th-best in coverage. For comparison's sake, Bills free safety Jairus Byrd, who's believed to be on the Browns radar, is the eighth best safety in the NFL according to profootballfocus.com. As of Sunday afternoon, the Brown hadn't yet inquired about Byrd.

AND THIS is precisely why we cannot emphasize enough! The rating(s) that is released by +Pro Football Focus are meaningless. The manner in which the ranking is formed is skewed and far too flawed. PFF's do get one accolade for being consistent. A manner in how the rating system set to make average players better and the better players appear average Ward's agent released a statement last week saying that he had several talks with the Browns about an extension for Ward, but had been unable to reach an agreement. "Detailed contract discussions with multiple front office executives of the Browns began last month at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis,'' he said in the statement. "Since then several conversations have occurred in an attempt to secure a new deal for T.J., but we've yet to agree on terms that work for both sides. “T.J. has proven himself to be not only an elite NFL safety, but an elite and top NFL player league wide which is evidenced by him earning both All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition this past season. With the passing of the franchise/transition tag deadline, we remain open to further discussions with the +Cleveland Browns in working towards a long-term deal and look forward to that possibility. "However, if things don't work out in Cleveland, we likewise look forward to the opportunity that can coincide with becoming an unrestricted free agent. Several factors will be considered before making a final decision that will provide best for T.J. and his family.” Ward told foxsports.com last month that he wanted to return to Cleveland. "That's definitely my goal," he said. "I want to stay there. I've been there from when things were rough and for me to be a part of it when we get on top would be something very special. Hopefully, we can raise that Lombardi Trophy. It would be great for Cleveland. It would be great to bring a championship there and for me to say that I was there when we weren't good and now we're on top would be great. But he also sounded resigned to the fact that he might be gone. "I'm definitely looking for the situation where it can provide for me best,'' Ward said. "If not (Cleveland), I'll have to be somewhere else.'' As of mid-February, he hadn't yet met coach Mike Pettine, but heard good things about him from Byrd, Ward's former Oregon teammate "I heard from Byrd that Pettine's a good coach. He has a great scheme and he allows players to make plays. He tailors the defense to what people do best. If I'm back I'm sure it'll be a pleasure to play for him.'' If the Browns don't re-sign Ward, they'll most likely either look for another strong safety in free agency or draft one.