AFC Notes: Browns, Patriots, Texans

Browns

Michael Lombardi heard from a source a few weeks ago that the Browns might be on “Hard Knocks” next year.

The Browns are among six teams that can be forced to appear on “Hard Knocks” this summer.

Regarding the possibility, Browns GM John Dorsey said he’d be okay with it.

“You know what? They’ll do that, but it’s OK,” Dorsey previously told Cleveland radio station WKNR. “I’m OK with it. I mean, you know what? It is what it is, but I’m OK with it.”

Patriots

• While there had been talk of the Patriots trading up for QB Baker Mayfield in this year’s draft, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe says that it’s more likely that New England wanted to meet with him and conduct a workout. In order to do so, they had to give the impression to Mayfield’s camp that they were serious about trading up for him.
• Volin points out that Matthew Slater’s two-year contract with the Patriots is really a one-year deal with a team option for 2019. The Patriots have until the final day of the 2018 league year to trigger or decline the option, which would pay him a $400,000 roster bonus due on the first day of the 2019 league year.
• New Patriots DE Adrian Clayborn has $1.5 million in playing-time incentives that aren’t considered to be easy to reach. In fact, Volin explains that Clayborn gets $300,000 for 55 percent of snaps, $300,000 for 60 percent, $400,000 for 65 percent, and $500,000 for 75 percent.
• The Patriots signed TE Troy Niklas to a deal that includes 660,000 in performance/playing-time incentives, which could be viewed as an indication that he has a chance to be the team’s No. 2 tight end. Niklas can earn $60,000 for 15 catches, $100,000 each for 20, 30, 40, and 50 catches, and $100,000 each for 40 percent and 50 percent of snaps.

Texans

Texans HC Bill O’Brien was noncommittal about G Jeff Allen‘s status with the team after they recently placed him on the reserve-physically unable to perform list.

“I’ll keep that between myself, [general manager] Brian [Gaine] and Jeff and the medical people here,” O’Brien said, via the Houston Chronicle. “I think that’s the way we’ll keep it for now. We’ll let you know further details when it’s appropriate.“