For a guy that spent the vast majority of his career as a back-up quarterback, free agent Josh McCown was a hot commodity this free agent period. Friday, the 12-year veteran agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns to be their quarterback in some capacity for the next three seasons, for a reported $15 million.
McCown was 1-10 as a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, completing 56.3 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
The Bucs signed McCown after a career stretch with the Chicago Bears in 2013 when he stepped in for an injured Jay Cutler and completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,829 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one pick.
The Browns needed to add a quarterback in free agency, regardless of what they’re planning in the draft because currently Johnny Manziel is the only QB they have under contract and he’s in rehab trying to save his young career.
This will be the sixth team for McCown after starting his career as a third round pick for the Arizona Cardinals in 2002 out of Sam Houston State.
Redskins Ajouter Francois
Defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois didn’t last the week on the open market. With still 10 days before the opening of free agency, the Washington Redskins wasted no time adding the former Colt to their defensive line.
Several teams were in pursuit of Francois before the Redskins closed the deal including the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. With incentives the three-year deal could be worth $11.25 million with $4 million guaranteed.
Last year with the Colts, Francois recorded 28 tackles, three sacks and recovered a fumble.
The Redskins will not let restricted free agent offensive tackle Tom Compton test the market after signing him to at least a one-year extension. Compton’s contract details have not been disclosed.
Washington drafted Compton in the sixth round of the 2012 draft out South Dakota. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound tackle started the final nine games of 2014 for the Redskins, replacing an underperforming Tyler Polumbus.
Lions Keep Don Muhlbach
Long snappers may not seem like a priority to the casual fan, but if your team doesn’t have one, every special teams unit suffers. That’s why the Detroit Lions re-signed its own long snapper Don Muhlbach to a one-year deal Friday.
Muhlbach was a Pro Bowler in 2012 and made the league minimum salary, $955,000, for his age and position last season. Terms of the new contract were not released. Muhlbach will be playing his 12th season in 2015.
Hardy wants to be reinstated immediately
With the NFL piling up losses in court and arbitration against players suspended over their conduct policy, former Carolina Panthers defensive end is asking to be reinstated into the NFL.
Just Thursday a U.S. District Judge voided Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s suspension. During the regular season a judge lifted former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s ban.
Hardy played in just one game in 2014 in spite of being franchised by Carolina after a Pro Bowl season in 2013. Hardy was charged and convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, but charges were dropped after Hardy appealed the case and his former girlfriend refused to testify against him after receiving some kind of “compensation.” Hardy made $13 million last season.
Even though Hardy spent the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, the NFL says he’s still not been punished by the league.
“He (Hardy) hasn’t been disciplined,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “There’s nothing for him to …seek reinstatement from at this point.”
Even though the NFL hasn’t officially punished Hardy yet, doesn’t mean it will be a major suspension. It could be as many as six games, but some sources suggest that Hardy is looking at a likely two-game suspension, which will make him a much more attractive free agent.
Hardy produced double-digit sacks in 2012 and 2013 and recorded a sack and forced a fumble in the one game he played in 2015.
