Report: Cecil Shorts Focus of Browns WR Search
At noon today, Saturday March 7th, teams can start talking with agents for players all over the league. The Cleveland Browns have been mentioned as suitors for Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts. Shorts is seen as a good receiver who has dealt with poor quarterback play in Jacksonville. The six foot tall, 200 pound Shorts doesn’t fit the prototype #1 receiver that most want to see the Browns get this off-season but he could be who they are targeting:
Focal part of wide receiver game plan. Four days to Cecil Shorts.
— Steve Doerschuk (@sdoerschukREP) March 6, 2015
Shorts, the 4 year veteran, is from Kent, Ohio and played his college ball at Mount Union. He has never played in more than 14 games in a season, only 13 the last two years, but has put up numbers that could help the Browns as a good to great #2 guy. Last year, again in 13 games, he had 53 catches for 557 yards and a touchdown. 26 of hi 53 catches went for first downs. His best season came in 2012 where, in 14 games, he had 979 yards on 55 catches and 7 touchdowns.
Whether Shorts is interested in coming home to Cleveland after years with the Jaguars is another story. He made this statement in an interview, as reported by Fox Sports:
"So what’s he seeking?“Uh, winning. I just care about winning, man,” he said with a laugh. “When it comes down to it, I’m kind of fed up with this losing stuff. I’d do anything I can to help this team win. But you’re going to get a reliable guy. I’m not going to be any trouble during the season or the offseason. Just a reliable guy that’s going to be there and show up on Sunday.”"
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So Shorts might be fed up with this losing but could the lure of coming home, the Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer combination and a little extra money make it worth it to him to possibly endure losing once again in Cleveland? It looks like, according to Doerschuk that the Browns might try to make it difficult for him to say no.
We profiled Shorts for you here (New Window)
We should find out in the next day where many of the players are going, or at least rumors. Last year it was Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby that they focused on and go relatively quickly. This year it could be Cecil Shorts and either Trent Cole or Jerry Hughes.
What do you think about Cecil Shorts being the Browns focal point in attacking their receiver need?