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5 players the Browns must move on from in 2016
Once again, the Cleveland Browns find themselves in rebuild mode with a new regime calling the shots. When new head coach Hue Jackson analyzes his roster along with new decision-makers Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta, these are the players who should be set free.
1. Johnny Manziel
Manziel was given multiple opportunities in two seasons to seize the top quarterback job, but he's failed at every pass. Sadly, his off-field antics were the biggest contributor to his demise in 2015 as the former No. 22-overall pick actually showed some progress on the field. Nevertheless, Manziel showed once again that he cannot be trusted when he no-showed his medical appointment on the morning of the team's regular-season finale, which he also skipped. Unfortunately, Manziel has destroyed any trade value he had, and Brown may not even be able to convince Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones to unload a late-round pick for a quarterback he's fancied publicly for years.
Jackson has no ties to Cleveland's investment in Manziel, so he'd be better off cutting ties and letting Manziel become someone else's headache next season. Doing so would leave the Browns with more than $4 million in dead cap money, but it's a small price to pay to shed the problem child. Getting cut might also be the best thing for Manziel since he appears to be in dire need of a wake-up call.
2. Dwayne Bowe
Needless to say, Bowe was a colossal bust in his first season with the Browns, and he'll likely now walk away from Cleveland with $9 million in guaranteed salary for his five catches and 53 yards. Bowe never emerged from Mike Pettine's doghouse after a hamstring injury in training camp and was a healthy scratch even when injuries decimated the depth chart. We may never know if it was an issue with his work ethic or attitude, or just simply a decline in play, but it's safe to say that there will not be an encore for Bowe in Cleveland.
3. Paul Kruger
Kruger's production in the sack department fell off dramatically from last season (11 in 2014 to 2 1/2 in 2015), but it may have had to do more with his increased usage in pass coverage. While the finger could be pointed at the departed coaching staff, Kruger's $7.7 cap hit may be too high of a price to keep him in Cleveland. The seven-year veteran will turn 30 in February and it might be time to groom some fresh blood on the outside as the Browns rebuild their defense. Releasing Kruger after June 1 will reap a savings of $6.5 million against the cap while leaving the Browns with $1.2 million in dead money.
4. Tashaun Gipson
Gipson did not exhibit the same ballhawking skills that made him a Pro Bowl selection in 2014. Injuries surely played a role in that, but now that he's an unrestricted free agent, the market for his services will likely be competitive. If for some reason that market doesn't materialize, the Browns should consider bringing him back at a fair price, but it's likely a longshot.
5. Randy Starks
Starks was just average in his first year in Cleveland and played in 44.6 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 15 starts. With a cap hit of $3.6 million, the Browns could probably get similar production at a cheaper price. Unloading the 32-year-old defensive end would also free up reps for younger players like John Hughes and last year's third-rounder Xavier Cooper.
*All salary cap information comes from OverTheCap.com.
