Six players the Cleveland Browns ran off, but should not have

Carl Nassib and Josh Gordon

Carl Nassib’s departure was a head-scratcher. Nassib was another right side pass rusher that the Browns seem to have drafted every year since 1999. There was no doubt that he was not going to beat out Myles Garrett for the first string job on the right side, though he probably would have done well in a platoon with Emmanuel Ogbah, as was the case last year.

Surprisingly, however, he was waived at the end of summer camp, just in time for Tampa Bay to claim him and train him up for two crucial sacks of Baker Mayfield in Tampa’s overtime victory over Cleveland in Week 7. Nobody seems to understand why Nassib did not at least make the team. Perhaps—and this is just speculation—Nassib’s interest in investing caused him to be associated with Kendricks, whose financial miscues seem to have exceeded someone’s red line.

Josh Gordon was given away, again to the Patriots, because of his latest crime. The Browns apparently were willing to forgive the last thousand or so infractions over his suspension-riddled career, but apparently had the idea that they would not forgive one more little tiny thing in 2018 or his time would be over with the Browns.

Well, there were some problems, and so the Browns gave up. Before the Browns Week 2 game against the New Orleans Saints, Gordon filmed an unauthorized commercial video at the Browns facilities, pulled a hamstring during the filming, and the next day reported late, lied and got upset. Keep in mind that without Gordon, there would have been no tie with the Steelers in Week 1. Nevertheless, the Browns decided they could not tolerate any more.

Now he is in New England, with his locker next to his new pal, Tom Brady. Gordon caught Brady’s 500th TD pass, and also caught the game clinching touchdown on Monday night against the Packers. Do the Browns feel pleased with themselves for taking such a strong stand against tardiness and not following proper procedures for utilizing facilities? Hopefully so, because it certainly isn’t about scoring touchdowns or winning football games.