Contract Talks Between Browns & S Tashaun Gipson Are “Ongoing”

Browns S Tashaun Gipson confirmed Friday that contract talks between his representatives and the team are “ongoing.”

However, Gipson didn’t offer any specifics regarding negotiations, but he did say that he plans to be with the Browns “for years to come.”

“I’m just excited to be a part of this organization and I plan on being around this organization for a long time with Mr. (Jimmy) Haslam at the head and the front office and Pett and his coaching staff,” Gipson said, via Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I plan on being here for years to come.”

“The contract won’t be an issue if the contract isn’t settled but we have a lot of time until the season starts,” Gipson said. “Right now I’m here to play football. I’ve talked to all the coaches and they’ve got 100 percent of my effort, my heart and my time and that’s what it’s about.

“My contract, at the end of the day, I feel like I’m going to get what I deserve whether it’s now or whether it’s next year. I can’t control that nor will I pout and complain about it. I will have a smile on my face and go out there and give it 110 percent and whatever happens and happens.”

Cleveland used a second-round tender on Gipson that will pay him $2.356 million for the 2015 season.

Previous reports had said that Gipson could be targeting a similar contract to the one recently signed by Patriots S Devin McCourty, who walked away with a $47.5 million and $28.5 million guaranteed.

With this in mind, there’s a decent chance that Gipson may prefer to test the open market, unless the Browns are willing to make him a very competitive offer.

Gipson, 24, signed on with the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming back in 2012.

Last year, he appeared in 11 games for the Browns and recorded 52 tackles, six interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown, a forced fumble and eight pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 10 safety out of 87 qualifying players.