By @cleeverizon
- Despite having over $50 million dollars in cap space, the Browns did not sign any of their own free agents or use the transition or franchise tag on any of their players, including oft injured tight end Jordan Cameron and QB Brian Hoyer. So at this point and time the Browns are letting go more players than they have draft picks.
As of now, the Browns own 10 picks including [round in ()] - Nos. 12 (1), 19 (1), 43 (2), 77 (3), 108 (4), 112 (4), 139 (5), 173 (6), 186 (6), 204 (7).
The players who are set to become unrestricted free agents come March 10th along with Hoyer and Cameron are: Ahtyba Rubin, Jabaal Sheard, Miles Austin, Buster Skrine, Marlon Moore and Sione Fua. Cleveland also has four players who are restricted free agents. The Browns have until March 10 to tender qualifying offers to them should they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation for them. Tashaun Gipson, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Johnson Bademosi. Since the franchise/transition tags have been in effect, the Browns have franchised one player (Phil Dawson) and transitioned one (Alex Mack).
- Two key wide receivers were franchise tagged yesterday, Dallas' Dez Bryant and Denver's Demaryius Thomas. The Detroit Lions did not place the franchise tag on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. For a list of notable franchise/transition tags and free agents, click
HERE.
- The Texans gave Andre Johnson permission to seek a trade. Houston said he would have a reduced role next season. Johnson asked to be traded or cut instead. He has two years and $21.5 million remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to make $11.5 million ($10.5M base/$1M roster bonus) in 2015.
- Bulls guard Jimmy Butler will not need surgery, but will be out 3-6 weeks with a sprained left elbow. He is averaging 20.2 PPG & 5.9 RPG this season.
- The NBA suspended James Harden one game and will miss one game check for kicking LeBron James Sunday. The NBA upgraded the call to a Flagrant 2 foul. He'll miss tonight's game in Atlanta.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets made a series of moves yesterday as they traded defenseman James Wisniewski & 3rd round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson & 2nd round pick. The Blue Jackets also agreed to terms on a 3-year contract extension with forward Cam Atkinson. They also acquired defenseman Justin Falk and a 2015 fifth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Jordan Leopold.
- The first black player to play for the Chicago White Sox and former Cleveland Indian Minnie Minoso has passed away at the age of 90. Minoso spent parts of four seasons with the Tribe and hit 45 homers combined in '58-'59.
- Spring training starts today in Goodyear,Arizona as the Indians face the Reds. Zach McAllister will get the start and the batting lineup will go as follows:
1. SS Jose Ramirez
2. C Yan Gomes
3. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
4. 1B Carlos Santana
5. RF David Murphy
6. 2B Mike Aviles
7. DH Tyler Holt
8. LF James Ramsey
9. CF Tyler Naquin
- Finally, a possible stadium design for the St. Louis Rams to stay in St. Louis was released. The riverfront stadium that sits on the banks of the Mississippi River would cost a proposed $1 billion and seat 64,000. While there's no guarantee that this would keep the Rams in St. Louis, this could be a good start to convince them to stay.
