Browns have busy day of dealing

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Leading the Buffalo Bills to their first playoff appearance in 18 years wasn’t enough for Tyrod Taylor to secure his long-term future with the franchise.

The Bills are starting over at quarterback after agreeing to trade their threeyear starter to the Cleveland Browns on Friday, according to two people with direct knowledge of the trade. Cleveland, 0-16 last season, will send its first pick in the third round of next month’s draft to Buffalo.

The two people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because NFL rules prohibit trades from being announced until next week, when free agency opens and the league’s new calendar year begins.

Also on Friday, the Browns agreed to trade quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers for cornerback Damarious Randall and send two draft picks to the Miami Dolphins for wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

The Bills elected to move on from a quarterback who didn’t fit their long-term plans. They were preparing to release Taylor a year ago, but then he agreed to restructure his contract by reducing it from five years to two.

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott provided no assurances over the past two months Taylor would remain the team’s starter entering next season. The trade was made a week before the Bills were due to pay Taylor a $6 million roster bonus.

His departure leaves the Bills with a significant hole at the position. Nathan Peterman, a fifth-round draft pick last year out of Pittsburgh after previously playing at Tennessee, is the only quarterback left on their roster. One option is adding one of the many experienced quarterbacks expected to be available once the free agency period opens.

And then there’s the growing possibility of the Bills selecting one in the draft in April. With the addition of Cleveland’s third-round selection, Buffalo now has two picks in each of the first three rounds, including the 21st and 22nd overall.

The large haul of draft picks provides Beane plenty of assets to use in trades if he elects to move up higher in the draft order. At the NFL’s scouting combine in Indianapolis 10 days ago, Beane said he planned to meet with every quarterback prospect available to be drafted.

The Browns were expected to target a quarterback in free agency but instead have landed the dynamic Taylor. Though noted for his mobility, Taylor was never able to overcome questions about his deficiencies as a passer and performing in the clutch while posting a 23-21 record in Buffalo.

Cleveland is still expected to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.

End of an era in Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks cut ties Friday with star Richard Sherman, who became one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks during his seven seasons with the team.

The team informed Sherman early in the day he would be released, and he confirmed the decision in a text message to The Associated Press. The move appeared to be building after he met with the team Wednesday to discuss his future. Sherman had declined to comment after that meeting.

“Thank you for helping win championships, shape our culture and define success in Seattle,” the team said in a statement announcing the decision. “We love you and your unwavering competitiveness, confidence and fierce passion for football and life. For that, you will always be a Hawk!”

Sherman was an overlooked fifthround draft pick who went on to become a two-time All-Pro who helped anchor a defense that was the league’s best for several years. He will be 30 years old going into next season and coming off an Achilles’ tendon injury that cost him half of the 2017 season.

But the biggest reason for his release was financial. Sherman was due $13 million for the 2018 season and his release gives Seattle a salary cap savings of about $11 million.

Titans cutting three

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have told backup quarterback Matt Cassel, safety Da’Norris Searcy and receiver Eric Weems they will be released.

The moves announced Friday came a day after the Titans said they plan to cut running back DeMarco Murray.

Cassel, 35, spent the past two years with the Titans, and he started two of his six games played. The 13-year veteran has also played for New England, Kansas City, Minnesota, Buffalo and Dallas.

The Titans signed Searcy in 2015, and he started 33 of 45 games, including six of 16 last season.

Weems caught only one pass last season after signing with Tennessee and was third with 12 tackles on special teams.