Browns
Jason La Canfora reports that many around the league are bewildered by the Brownsโ decision to trade a 2017 compensatory pick to the Patriots for LB Jamie Collins, given that he could end up being a rental for them in the end.
โThey havenโt won a game and they might not win a game, with or without Collins,โ one NFL general manager told La Canfora. โSo I get that they can evaluate Collins in their system now, and they have the ability to franchise him โฆ but why not just keep the pick, and just sign the player in March? Is that worth a third-round pick? Did they think someone else was going to make this trade if they didnโt?โ
Multiple sources have told La Canfora that the Browns have yet to engage in serious extension talks with Collinsโ agent Bus Cook. To make matters worse, the Browns lost some leverage in negotiations when they traded away a draft pick for him.
La Canfora believes the Browns may end up franchising Collins next year, which would cost them around $15 million fully guaranteed for the 2017 season.
A rival executive mentioned that the Browns are already talking internally about the possibility of them recouping a third-round compensatory pick for Collins if they canโt re-sign him next year.
โTheir scouts are already talking like, โIf we donโt re-sign him, weโll get a supplemental third in 2018,โโ a rival exec tells La Canfora. โThat tells me the owner still might not be spending any money and they might not sign any UFAs (unrestricted free agents) again. What theyโre saying internally is that if we donโt re-sign him weโll get the pick back the next year.โ
- Collins told reporters that heโs a workaholic and never received an $11 million per year offer from Patriots, adding: โIโm not Von Miller. Just so you know.โ (Scott Petrak)
Chiefs
- Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday that RB Jamaal Charles (I.R., knee) has been dealing with pain in both of his knees and is subsequently undergoing exploratory surgery today. (BJ Kissel)
- According to Reid, the thinking regarding Charlesโ injury is a potential meniscus issue.
Falcons
- The Falcons officially ruled out RB Tevin Coleman and DE Dwight Freeney for Thursday nightโs game against the Buccaneers.
Steelers
- Jason Cole of B/R, citing a source close to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, reports that Big Ben โfully expectsโ to play in Week 9โs game against the Ravens.
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