Patriots get DT Shelton from Browns
Cleveland — Danny Shelton always ended his interviews with a smile and saying, "Go Browns!"
It was the Browns turn to say, "Go Danny!"
New Cleveland general manager John Dorsey continued to wheel and deal on Saturday by agreeing to send Shelton, a former first-round draft pick, to the New England Patriots for a third-round pick in 2019, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
Dorsey, the former UConn star who struck three major deals Friday, also sent a 2018 fifth-round pick to the Patriots, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because teams can't finalize trades until the new league year begins Wednesday.
Shelton is the latest first-round draft pick to be dumped by the Browns, whose inability to choose good players in recent years is at the heart of the team's woeful record. Cleveland went 0-16 last season and is an embarrassing 4-44 in the past three seasons.
Since 2010, the Browns have selected 13 players in the first round, and only four remain with the team.
Shelton was selected with the No. 12 overall pick in 2015. The 6-foot-2, 335-pounder, who starred in college at Washington, started 45 of 46 games in three seasons with Cleveland and the team seemed pleased with his progress against the run.
But he didn't make as many big plays as the team hoped and Shelton played out of position last season when Cleveland switched from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3 front and he was no longer playing over the center.
Shelton's departure may give more playing time to Larry Ogunjobi, a third-round pick last year who made one start and finished with 32 tackles and a sack in 14 games.
Dorsey's remake of the Browns isn't over.
On Friday, he sent shockwaves across the NFL with three major deals, acquiring quarterback Tyrod Taylor from Buffalo, wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami and cornerback Damarious Randall from Green Bay. He also traded quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Packers, a move that could impact the Browns' plans in free agency and the upcoming draft.
Dorsey had been expected to target a veteran quarterback in free agency, but Taylor's arrival could change that unless Cleveland wants to bring in another experienced player to compete for the job. Either way, the Browns are likely to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.
Dorsey's whirlwind of deals over the past two days may have been prompted by a concern that free agents would be afraid to sign with the Browns because of the team's struggles and constant turnover.
And while Dorsey has parted with three draft picks in the past two days, he has added talent without touching any of the five picks Cleveland has in the first two rounds this year.
AP: Richard Sherman agrees to deal with 49ers
Star cornerback Richard Sherman agreed to a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, one day after being released by the rival Seattle Seahawks. A person in the league familiar with the deal said Sherman agreed to the contract on Saturday after spending the day meeting with the team. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing had not been announced. ESPN reported that Sherman's deal is worth up to $39.15 million. Sherman played an integral role in the fierce NFC West rivalry between Seattle and San Francisco earlier this decade. His deflection on a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the 2013 NFC championship game against the 49ers led to an interception that sent the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, which they won. Sherman then celebrated a Thanksgiving night win in a road game against the 49ers the following season by eating a turkey leg on the 50-yard line. Now, the player who was reviled so much by 49ers fans is joining their team after the Seahawks decided he wasn't worth his $13 million salary for 2018. San Francisco hopes he can make a big impact even as he turns 30 later this month and is coming off an Achilles tendon injury that cost him half of the 2017 season. Sherman also had a cleanup surgery on his opposite ankle during the offseason. The 49ers had a glaring need at cornerback with 2017 third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon and slot cornerback K'Waun Williams the only players under contract with extensive experience. The Niners believe Sherman can fill that role in a defense modeled by coordinator Robert Saleh after the one that had so much success in Seattle. Saleh was a former defensive assistant with the Seahawks. Sherman became a star in Seattle, bringing a brash attitude and willingness to speak out on any topic to go along with his stellar play. His best seasons came in 2013 and 2014, when Seattle made two Super Bowl appearances, and he has 32 interceptions. Sherman still was one of the better cornerbacks the past three seasons, ranking second in the NFL by allowing just 49.2 percent of passes against him to be caught, according to Pro Football Focus. Sherman played his college ball in the Bay Area at Stanford under former coach Jim Harbaugh, who then went up against Sherman during his four seasons in charge of the 49ers.
Giants release punter Wing
The New York Giants have released Brad Wing, who struggled as their punter last season. The team announced his contract termination Saturday. three seasons. His 36.7-yard net average last season ranked last in the NFL among punters eligible for the final statistics. Short punts in games against Philadelphia and Tampa Bay proved costly in losses. He also had two punts blocked for the first time in his career. Wing's best season was in 2016. His 40.9-yard net average ranked 10th in the league and was a team record for a season. Wing was traded to the Giants in 2015 after punting for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.
Former TE Gedney dies at 47
Chris Gedney, an All-American tight end at Syracuse who played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, has died. He was 47. Gedney's death Friday was announced by Syracuse, where he did commentary for the school's football games and was a senior associate athletic director. No cause of death was disclosed. "Chris was a wonderful co-worker, a friend to all and deeply loyal to Syracuse University and our community," Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a statement. Gedney played seven seasons in the NFL but was hampered by a broken leg, among other injuries. He played in 28 games over four seasons for the Bears and caught 28 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. In three seasons with the Cardinals, he appeared in 45 games and caught 55 passes for 607 yards and five touchdowns. A consensus All-American for the Orange in 1992, Gedney helped lead the Orange to four bowl games and set Syracuse records for receptions by a tight end in a season (34 in 1992) and career (91). He was named to Syracuse's All-Century football team in 2002. Gedney turned to broadcasting in 1996, working as a radio analyst for college and pro games before moving back to Syracuse. He was promoted to senior associate athletic director in 2011 and also was a radio analyst for Syracuse football.