AFC Notes: Browns, Jets, Patriots

Browns

New Browns DE Olivier Vernon says he has spoken to Browns GM John Dorsey about the team’s “vision” and he’s “ready to get it rolling.”

“I spoke to [Cleveland general manager John Dorsey] a few times, and I just like what I heard from him as far as his vision and what he’s trying to do,” Vernon said via the Akron Beacon-Journal. “It’s been a lot of rough years for the Browns, so it can only last so long. The plan is set up. We’ve just got to execute it.

“I know what I bring to the table. You know? They say you’re going to get what you pay for. So you’re going to get what you traded for, and I’m glad to be here. I’m glad to be embraced by this organization. They want me here, and I’m just ready to get it rolling.”

Jets

• Rich Cimini confirms that Eagles VP of player personnel Joe Douglas is the favorite for the Jets’ GM position. 
• Cimini also lists Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly as two candidates to keep an eye on.
• Regarding former GM Mike Maccagnan, Cimini reports that he wasn’t a dynamic leader and his methodical decision-making “chafed” HC Adam Gase. 
• Matt Miller of B/R reports that things began to fall apart between Gase and Maccagnan after Anthony Barr backed out of his agreement with the Jets. Miller says that this led to Gase privately asking those around him if Maccagnan knew what he was doing.
• A high-level evaluator tells Miller that the Jets’ decision to promote Gase to interim GM “is the biggest mistake anyone in the NFL has made in years. Gase is crazy. He’s the most paranoid person in the world. This will be like Todd Haley on crack.“

Patriots

• Patriots’ veteran TE Ben Watson‘s one-year, $3 million deal carries a base salary of $1.45M, a signing bonus of $600,000, a roster bonus of $18,750 per game active, and $650,000 through possible incentives. (Nick Underhill)