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Dwayne Bowe

Browns Sign Dwayne Bowe

March 24th, 2015 at 8:21am CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 8:21am: Per Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), Bowe’s two-year deal is worth $12.5MM, with $9MM guaranteed, including a $3.5MM signing bonus. That’s a pretty nice guarantee for a player who has been very mediocre in recent years.

FRIDAY, 10:38am: The Browns have officially signed Bowe, the club confirmed today in a press release.

THURSDAY, 1:07pm: It’s a two-year deal for Bowe with the Browns, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

12:47pm: After hosting him for a visit to Cleveland over the weekend, the Browns have agreed to sign free agent wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport tweets that Bowe was one of Cleveland’s top offseason priorities, adding that the two sides kept working on a deal this week until they eventually reached an accord.

Bowe, 30, 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.

Having brought aboard Jeremy Maclin on a pricey new long-term contract, the Chiefs cut ties with Bowe a week ago, allowing him to hit the open market. The former first-round pick may have drawn interest from other clubs – Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports tweets that the Jags were “lurking” – but his only visit was to Cleveland, with the Browns putting on the full court press to add him.

For the Browns, Bowe will join Brian Hartline on the team’s new-look receiving corps, which almost certainly won’t include Josh Gordon, who is facing a year-long suspension, and Miles Austin, who is on the free agent market. Andrew Hawkins is currently penciled in as the slot receiver to complement Bowe and Hartline, and it’s possible that the team will address the position in the draft as well.

Browns GM Ray Farmer was a part of the Chiefs’ front office back in 2007 when Kansas City drafted Bowe in the first round.

AFC North Notes: Ravens, Myers, Coleman, Bowe

March 15th, 2015 at 5:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

The first wave of free agency is winding down, and many teams have already made their big splashes and are turning their attention to the NFL Draft. Still, the action is far from over. Plenty of front offices are looking at the second wave as a time to find bargains on second-tier free agent names, as well as a number of veterans who either have recently been released or are soon to be cut by their current teams.

As teams look for other options to improve their roster with the cream of the crop free agents already signed, here are some notes from around the AFC North:

  • The Ravens are in the market for wide receivers after losing Torrey Smith to the 49ers, specifically a downfield threat, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Luckily for Joe Flacco, the draft is deep with pass catchers such as burners Philip Dorsett of the University of Miami and Devin Smith of Ohio St., and there are a number of free agent options left on the market as well, including Dwayne Bowe, Michael Crabtree, Hakeem Nicks, and Cecil Shorts.
  • The Ravens are hosting offensive guard Robert Myers of Tennessee State for a private workout, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The team is also one of three that will host a visit with Indiana tailback Tevin Coleman, according to Wilson. The other teams are the Cardinals and Panthers.
  • The meeting between Bowe and the Browns was very positive, writes Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). There continues to be mutual interest between the two sides.

AFC Rumors: Bowe, Johnson, Cameron

March 14th, 2015 at 7:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dwayne Bowe will spend the night in Cleveland and begin his visit after dinner with Browns officials, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports on Twitter.

Bowe’s visit will continue into Sunday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reports.

Displaced from his near-decade-long post as the Chiefs‘ No. 1 wide receiver by Jeremy Maclin earlier this week, Bowe is currently discussing work in a place that’s had worse wideout luck. The Chiefs released Bowe after eight seasons earlier this week after making substantial 2015 commitments to Maclin and franchise player Justin Houston.

A 2007 first-round pick, Bowe has an obvious connection to the Browns, with current GM Ray Farmer having served as the Chiefs’ director of pro personnel from 2006-12.

Down their own No. 1 wide receiver in Josh Gordon, the Browns added possession target Brian Hartline earlier and lost out on retaining their top eligible pass-catcher, Jordan Cameron, in a confusing back-and-forth sequence Thursday. Despite Bowe’s inconsistency, he’d be an upgrade in Cleveland and likely on a friendlier cap number than the $14MM he was to occupy on the Chiefs’ cap this season after signing a long-term extension in 2013.

In other AFC news …

  • Cabot sheds some light on the latest Cleveland talent relocating his talents to South Beach. In the piece, Cabot discusses the Browns’ preference for Charles Clay over Cameron before backing off due to the Bills‘ infatuation with the Dolphins’ transition player. Cameron said in his introductory presser with the Dolphins he never had a verbal agreement with the Browns despite the media reports to the contrary. The other key piece of information from this report: Cleveland offered Cameron to the Seahawks for Percy Harvin last season before the wideout was dealt to the Jets.
  • Stevie Johnson will visit the Patriots on Monday, tweets NBC4 (Washington D.C.) anchor Dianna Marie Russini. This summit comes after Johnson met with the Chargers on Friday. The Patriots already signed Brandon Gibson to bolster competition among their reserve wideouts, although Johnson comes with a higher pedigree. The Jets also are a team that could make a play for Johnson as his former offensive coordinator and quarterback — Chan Gailey and Ryan Fitzpatrick, respectively — reside there, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter.
  • The Chargers’ receiver pursuit also includes ex-Jaguars No. 1 target Cecil Shorts, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

 

FA Rumors: Spiller, Bowe, Falcons, Ridley

March 13th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Luke Adams

The rumors connecting C.J. Spiller to New Orleans continue to trickle in on Friday. After we heard on Wednesday that the Saints are “in the mix” for the former Bills running back, a Thursday report indicated that the team is “very high” on him. Today, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests that strong interest is mutual.

The Saints have already re-signed Mark Ingram to a $4MM annual salary, and were cap-strapped heading into this week, but the team has made a number of cost-cutting moves, and could have more on the way. Spiller will likely command a deal in the same neighborhood as Ingram’s, so it’s possible that New Orleans will have the flexibility to complete such a deal, but nothing’s finalized yet.

Here’s more on free agency:

  • Following up on a Thursday report which suggested that the Browns have interest in Dwayne Bowe, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) classifies Cleveland’s interest in Bowe as “strong.” Even after adding Brian Hartline in free agency, the Browns are probably in need of at least one more starting wide receiver.
  • After paying a visit to the Broncos, free agent safety Darian Stewart is headed to Atlanta to visit the Falcons, source tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Denver had been hoping to lock up Stewart to help replace the departing Rahim Moore, but the former Raven continues to weigh his options.
  • D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution adds (via Twitter) that the Falcons also plan on bringing in a tight end for a visit today, though it’s not clear exactly who that player will be.
  • Stevan Ridley and the Cowboys could be a good match on a one-year, prove-it deal, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe adds (via Twitter) that there’s “definitely interest” on both sides, but nothing is brewing at this point. Even if the Cowboys add a veteran free agent at running back, they’ll probably plan on addressing the position in the draft.
  • Veteran guard Justin Blalock had a good visit with the Lions, and also continues to draw interest from the Rams and Titans, tweets Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. We heard earlier in the week that the former Falcons guard had a visit with the Rams on his docket, so perhaps he’s headed to St. Louis next.

Browns Interested In Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson

March 12th, 2015 at 6:31pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Browns have expressed interest in adding another receiver into the depth chart, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Two names La Canfora gives as possible targets are Stevie Johnson and Dwayne Bowe.

Johnson was recently released from the 49ers after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a pay cut. Johnson was productive at times in limited snaps, but was anonymous for large stretches of times last season. He still managed to haul in 35 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns. The 28-year old pass catcher had his best stretch from 2010-2012, when he caught 237 passes for more than 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns over a three-year stretch.

Bowe, who has ties to Browns general manager Ray Farmer from Farmer’s time with the Chiefs, is also definitely viewed as a potential commodity by the Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). Bowe was released by the Chiefs to make room for the signing of Jeremy Maclin. A former first-round pick out of LSU, Bowe also experienced his best three-year stretch between 2010 and 2012, but since his breakout 15 touchdown 2010 campaign, he has only caught 13 touchdowns in the last four seasons despite remaining relatively healthy throughout. He also headlined a group of receivers that failed to catch a single touchdown in 2014, which does not help his value.

Chiefs Release Dwayne Bowe

March 12th, 2015 at 1:52pm CST by Luke Adams

1:52pm: Bowe has officially been released by the Chiefs, tweets Rapoport. The wideout issued a statement on Twitter thanking the organization for his time spent in Kansas City.

THURSDAY, 1:00pm: The Chiefs are cutting Bowe today, tweets Schefter.

TUESDAY, 12:15pm: Indications point to the Chiefs releasing Bowe this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that it’ll probably take place on Wednesday.

THURSDAY, 2:11pm: Having franchised Justin Houston earlier this week, the Chiefs currently sit more than $5MM over the 2015 cap, and will need to cut some salary from their books by Tuesday. One likely candidate to be affected by those cut-cutting moves? Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Chiefs are expected to either release or trade Bowe this month.

Bowe, 30, 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 season since 2012, on the heels of back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons in 2010 and 2011.

The Chiefs have already signaled a commitment to retooling their wide receiving corps, parting ways with Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins earlier in the offseason. It appears that Bowe will be next, in some form or other. With three years still left on his contract and annual base salaries of $10.75MM, $9.75MM, and $9.75MM, Bowe likely won’t attract much attention on the trade market — especially when other more established wideouts like Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall are also being shopped.

If the Chiefs ultimately decide to cut Bowe, it would create $5MM in cap savings, which would go a long way toward getting the team under the cap for the 2015 league year. However, it would still leave $9MM in dead money on the books. Designating Bowe as a post-June 1 cut would create more 2015 cap room, but the team would have to wait until after June 1 to actually gain access to that cap room, and it would push some of Bowe’s dead money onto Kansas City’s 2016 cap.

If Bowe were to become available, he would likely generate plenty of interest, even during a month when many noteworthy receivers are expected to hit the open market. Potential suitors for the former first-round pick may suspect that his poor production in recent years can be attributed in part to a Chiefs offense that relies on short, safe passes, limiting Bowe’s upside.

FA Rumors: Ravens, Bush, Knighton

March 12th, 2015 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Look for the Ravens to be players on the receiver market once it comes into better focus, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes. The Ravens could be waiting on guys like Dwayne Bowe and Mike Wallace to be cut since their preference is always to gravitate towards guys who have been released. Signing released players doesn’t hurt the team’s status for compensatory draft picks, and they generally come cheaper that way, too. More from around the NFL..

  • Free agent running back Reggie Bush is set to meet with the Patriots and 49ers, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 (via Twitter).
  • A head coach told Russini (on Twitter) that teams are afraid to sign Terrance Knighton because he’s out of shape.
  • Defensive back Sterling Moore is coming to Tampa for a visit with the Buccaneers, Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune tweets. The Cowboys elected not to tender a contract offer to the cornerback earlier this month. The Vikings were also said to have preliminary interest in him earlier this week.
  • Packers free agent cornerback Tramon Williams is back home thinking things over after his visit with New Orleans, but the Saints remain in play, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets. The Vikings also reached out to Williams this week.
  • Patriots free agent linebacker Akeem Ayers is currently visiting with the Rams, Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch tweets. Ayers was sent from the Titans to the Pats in a mid-season trade.
  • The Giants have expressed interest in safety Darian Stewart, but no visit has been scheduled yet, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). Stewart is in Denver today, then headed to Atlanta.
  • There was talk that the Dolphins were meeting with Falcons free agent cornerback Robert McClain with the intent of signing him, but that’s on hold right now, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter links). Money is tight in Miami and they have other needs to fill, so he’ll remain on their radar while they look at other areas first.
  • The Cowboys brought in former Browns running back Ray Agnew for a workout, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). That was presumably prior to signing fullback Jed Collins, however, so there might not be a spot for Agnew in Dallas anymore.

AFC Rumors: Cameron, Bulaga, Langford, Raiders

March 8th, 2015 at 11:16pm CST by Rob DiRe

Tight end Jordan Cameron has become one of the most sought after free agents in the league during this “legal tampering” period, drawing interest from the Browns, Raiders, Broncos, and Seahawks, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The Jaguars would also be in the mix if they are unable to sign Julius Thomas.

Here are some other rumors from around the AFC:

  • One name the Bills could target heavily in free agency is versatile offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga, writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). Graham writes there will be plenty of competition for his services.
  • The Broncos have scheduled a visit with defensive tackle Kendall Langford, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The 29-year old veteran would provide a stout body for either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense.
  • In addition to Denver, Langford is scheduled to visit the Colts, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN (via Twitter). Langford already met with the Lions, Jets, and Saints.
  • The Raiders are interested in Cameron to fill their tight end woes, but are also targeting Jermaine Gresham, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN (via Twitter). The team is trying to work out a deal with the former Bengal by Tuesday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • Williamson also wrote an overview of the Raiders’ free agent options after top targets Ndamukong Suh and Randall Cobb agreed to deals this Sunday.
  • With Cobb and Jeremy Maclin signing big money deals, and Torrey Smith leaning towards the 49ers, the Raiders will have to look at veterans released to fill their wide receiver woes, writes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). Percy Harvin, Andre Johnson, and Dwayne Bowe could all be options for the Raiders.
  • The Titans have expressed interest in pass rusher Brandon Graham, reports Paul Kuharsky of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • The Titans are also targeting a number of players, and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean dives into ten topics the team will address this offseason. Among other things, Wyatt mentions the team needs to continue to pursue cornerbacks, writing that the team has expressed interest in Cary Williams, and could also chase Tramon Williams and Buster Skrine.

WR Rumors: Marshall, V-Jax, Wallace, Harvin

February 27th, 2015 at 3:07pm CST by Luke Adams

With Reggie Wayne‘s NFL future still up in the air, the Colts have explored the possibility of bringing in a veteran wide receiver to start opposite T.Y. Hilton, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). According to Cole, the team has internally discussed players like Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace, and Vincent Jackson as potential targets. Not all of those players will become available in the next few weeks, but one or more could be traded or released, and if the Colts had their pick, Marshall may be their top choice, per Cole.

While we wait to see if any opportunities open up for the Colts, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has a few more tidbits for us on the wide receiver market. Let’s dive in….

  • Cole noted in the above video that Jackson likely isn’t going anywhere, and La Canfora agrees that it looks like he’ll be back with the Buccaneers. However, it doesn’t seem as if Jackson will be willing to take a pay cut, sources tell La Canfora.
  • La Canfora also touches on the Marshall situation, noting that if a team were to call asking about a possible trade, “it’s not like [the Bears] wouldn’t pick up the phone.”
  • According to multiple general managers, Wallace is the only wideout being “actively shopped” at the moment. The Dolphins continue to explore a deal, and La Canfora suggests Wallace himself would be interested in returning to the Steelers, though it’s not clear if that interest is mutual. $3MM of Wallace’s base salary for 2015 becomes guaranteed on March 13, so that may act as a deadline of sorts for Miami.
  • Percy Harvin won’t accept a pay cut to stick with the Jets, and trading him would likely be impossible, so he looks like a good bet to be cut. If that happens, many teams would want to pick him up on a short-term deal, says La Canfora.
  • We can expect the Dwayne Bowe situation to come to a head soon — paying him $11MM with a $14MM cap hit is a luxury the Chiefs can’t afford, so Bowe may be willing to accept a pay cut, knowing he won’t make close to that amount on the open market.
  • With cap numbers for Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson on the rise, and Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd eligible for free agency, La Canfora wouldn’t be surprised if only one of those four players returns to the 49ers for next season — if that.
  • Johnson and the Texans had a bit of a stand-off a year ago, and with the veteran wideout carrying a $16MM into the 2015 season, the two sides may be headed for another interesting summer. La Canfora isn’t convinced Johnson will remain in Houston long-term, but says “time will tell.”
  • Two Dolphins wideouts have already been released today, and according to Armando Salguero the Miami Herald (Twitter links), Rishard Matthews asked the team to be cut or traded as well. However, Miami has denied that request for now, says Salguero.

AFC Mailbags: Bowe, Jags, Revis, Ravens

February 21st, 2015 at 11:34am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags to answer questions from readers. Let’s start with some whispers from the AFC…

  • Adam Teicher doesn’t believe the Chiefs want to cut wideout Dwayne Bowe. Despite the wideout’s $14MM salary in 2015, the Chiefs would be thin at the position if they were to cut the veteran. Without Bowe, the team would only have De’Anthony Thomas and Albert Wilson as established receiving threats.
  • Michael DiRocco isn’t a fan of trading the Jaguars first-round pick. The writer is seeking an elite pass-rusher with the selection, and he isn’t optimistic the team will be able to draft that kind of player if they move down the draft board.
  • Looking at some skill positions on offense, DiRocco doesn’t think the Jaguars will prioritize the running game in either the draft or free agency. Reversely, DiRocco could envision the team signing and drafting a tight end.
  • Rich Cimini is under the impression that Darrelle Revis will stay with the Patriots. If the cornerback were to become available, the writer favors the Jets as a destination over the Bills. While Revis has a great relationship with Rex Ryan, Cimini ultimately believes the All-Pro defensive back wants to play in a big market.
  • The Ravens offseason focus on receivers will depend heavily on whether Torrey Smith returns to Baltimore. If the wideout (or organization) decides to move on, Jamison Hensley could see the team pursuing a wideout in either the draft, free agency, or trade. One name the writer suggests is Saints receiver Marques Colston.
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