NFL Notes: Browns, Cowboys, & Chargers

Browns

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns have reached out to “several professionals” regarding WR Josh Gordon in as attempt find him some help. 

• Cabot adds that Cleveland is currently in the process of assembling a support team for Gordon.

Earlier in the day, Hall of Fame receiver and current ESPN analyst Cris Carter mentioned in a radio interview that the best thing the Browns could do for Gordon would be to release him.

“I feel for the kid,” Carter said on Mike & Mike. “My situation was very, very similar. If I’m the Cleveland Browns — and it’s gut-wrenching for me to say this — I really think that the only thing that’s going to help the kid is if they release him.”

Others have mentioned that Gordon’s talent alone is reason enough for them to explore ways to help him get things turned around so that he can focus on football at some point down the road.

ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the the “sense” he’s getting from sources is that the Gordon playing in the NFL again is the “least of the NFL’s concerns” at this point in time.

• Werder adds that their emphasis remains on “changing lives.”

Cowboys

According to Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas, second-year C Travis Frederick will be given more freedom when it comes to pre-snap protection calls this season in an effort to take some pressure off of QB Tony Romo.

“I’m going to try and do as much as I can to take as much as I can off Tony that he was doing before for the offensive line,” said Frederick. “Not necessarily because I was a rookie or this or that, but because, if I can see it better, that’s going to take one thing off his plate and that’s going to help the team as a whole.”

Dallas is obviously taken extra precaution with Romo given that he’s coming off of offseason back surgery.

Frederick, 23, had a strong rookie season that concluded with him ranking as one of the best centers in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Frederick allowed just four sacks, two hits to the quarterback and finished as the No. 7 overall center.

Chargers

San Diego Chargers OC Frank Reich mentioned that RB Ryan Mathews will remain the Chargers’ “primary workhorse” this season.

“Ryan is the pounder,” Reich said, via Chargers.com. “He’s going to be the primary workhorse. He’s our guy.“

With the addition of RB Donald Brown, it seemed as though the Chargers would look to lessen Mathews’ workload this season. However, Reich description of Brown being a “big play guy” could fit leave him as a change-of-pace back.

Mathews, 26, tallied 1,255 yards, six touchdowns and averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 285 attempts last season. If Reich’s words hold true, Mathews could be on the verge of his third season with more than 200 total carries.