2017 Browns Season Position Preview: Safety
September 7, 2017I’m retiring my Cavs Championship gear: While We’re Waiting
September 8, 2017On the same day that it was reported defensive end Myles Garrett could miss the entire month of September with a high ankle sprain, the Cleveland Browns released safety Calvin Pryor III after a scuffle with a teammate Ricardo Louis. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport first reported the news.
Sources: #Browns are expected to release S Calvin Pryor just a few days before the opener after a fight with a teammate before practice.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2017
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the fight was with wide receiver Ricardo Louis.
The Browns teammate that got into a fight with Calvin Pryor is WR Ricardo Lewis, sources say. No word on his fate.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 7, 2017
The Athletic’s Zac Jackson reported head coach Hue Jackson confirmed Pryor’s release.
Hue confirmed Calvin Pryor was released, says he "hopes" Ricardo Louis will not be released.
"We're moving on."
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) September 7, 2017
The Browns acquired Pryor from the New York Jets this offseason in a trade for veteran linebacker Demario Davis. The Browns took on the $1.6 million guaranteed contract, while the Jets took back the non-guaranteed contract of Davis. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported Pryor’s attitude was a bigger reason for the Jets to look to get rid of him compared to the minor savings on the cap.
Pryor’s attitude also soured people in the organization. They felt he had an inflated opinion of himself and didn’t buy into Bowles’ program. Look at it this way: They could’ve easily kept him as a backup — salary-wise, it was doable — but they wanted him out of the locker room ASAP.
They were curious to see how he’d respond to the Adams and Maye additions, and when he didn’t show up for the first day of OTA practices … well, it confirmed their impression of him. On Tuesday, he was demoted to third string.
Being released from the Browns before playing a regular season snap might be a death knell for the career of the disappointing former first-round pick. Pryor will have to convince yet another team that he can work hard and be a team player despite all career evidence to the contrary thus far.
For the Browns, the decision by the front office to only roster four cornerbacks and four safeties appears to be folly. With defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams preferring to play nickel defense to counter three-wide offensive sets, there is an argument to be made that there are zero backup safeties currently on the roster for Sunday’s Week 1 game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. It also puts more pressure on Ibraheim Campbell to step up as he will have to play many more snaps.
There are still three days until the Browns play a regular season game and the bad news keeps piling up on the Browns.
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Missed Haiku Friday
It’s already Saturday
I will try next week