Back in March, the Browns signed wide receiver Dwayne Bowe to a two-year deal worth $9MM guaranteed. What might not be guaranteed, according to one person in the know, is his roster spot for 2015. On the Browns’ radio network earlier tonight, color commentator Solomon Wilcots said that he spoke to coaches who indicated that Bowe needs to deliver tonight in order to make roster (via 92.3 The Fan’s Anthony Lima on Twitter).
Bowe, 31 in a few weeks, missed nearly three weeks of training camp with a sore hamstring and it seems as though the coaches are less than thrilled with what they’ve seen out of him since his return. Still, one has to wonder if Bowe is actually on the roster bubble or if talk of him being a roster casualty is more of a motivational technique for the veteran wide receiver. It would be shocking to see the Browns release Bowe and pay him millions without ever taking the field in a game and, besides, the Browns already coughed up a lot of dough to release Phil Taylor from his deal.
The veteran was part of the underachieving and record-setting group of Chiefs wide receivers that managed to go the entire 2014 season without catching a single touchdown pass. It was the third straight mediocre season for Bowe, who has averaged approximately 59 receptions and 743 yards per year since 2012, on the heels of back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons in 2010 and 2011.
Even amid Bowe’s steady decline, seeing the Browns do this without additional proven options would be strange. But it’s not like they’d be missing a Pro Bowl-caliber player if they did make this move. The financial component is what would surprise here.