Source: Osweiler among those released

Brock Osweiler, the quarterback nobody seems to want, is among the players released, a league source says.

The Brock Osweiler experiment is over.

Osweiler, the quarterback nobody seems to want, guard John Greco, kicker Cody Parkey and defensive end Xavier Cooper on Sept. 1 were informed they will be cut on Sept. 2, a league source said.

None of the four was part of a group of 18 roster moves made on Sept. 1.

Cutting Osweiler, whom the Browns still owe $16 million (unless another team signs him) leaves Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler as the only quarterbacks behind rookie starter DeShone Kizer.

Coach Hue Jackson hinted in a conference call earlier Sept. 1 the Browns would go this route.

“I just think when it’s all said and done, you have to make sure you keep the best players that you feel that can help you win,” Jackson said. “Experience is important, but at the same time, I think talent level and where we are and what we’re trying to accomplish is important, too.”

“You have to make sure you keep the best players.”

– Browns coach Hue Jackson.

Osweiler, a 2017 sixthround draft pick and a 2018 second-round pick were acquired from the Houston Texans on March 9 for a 2017 fourth-round pick. The Browns were willing to take on Osweiler’s guaranteed $16 million salary to acquire the second-round pick next year. Osweiler was mentioned as an afterthought in a news release announcing the trade.

“We’re really excited to acquire a second round draft choice in this trade,” Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown said in a statement. “Draft picks are extremely important to our approach in building a championship caliber football team. We are intent on adding competition to every position on our roster and look forward to having Brock come in and compete.”

Jackson gave Osweiler the chance to win the quarterback job by giving him the first two preseason starts, but Osweiler flopped miserably both times and did nothing in training camp to show

he should be the starter.

Jackson would not reveal who won the job of backup quarterback behind Kizer, or even how many quarterbacks the Browns plan to keep. Jackson has input, but the final say on all roster moves goes to Brown. Hogan and Kessler are still on the roster.

“I like to have as many (quarterbacks) as I can have,” Jackson said. “I would like to have at least three if we could, but if we decide to go with two and we feel that’s best for the organization, then we’ll do that, too. One thing I know, we’re going to have a starter. We have to have a backup. After that, however this unfolds is how it’s going to unfold.”

Greco, acquired by the Browns in a trade with the Rams at the start of training camp in 2011, is the second veteran in three days to be cut. Cornerback Joe Haden, a 2010 first-round pick, was released on Aug. 30 and quickly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cutting Greco is an indication left guard Joel Bitonio will be ready for the opener Sept. 10 against the Steelers after missing the last three preseason games with a knee

injury.

Parkey was beaten out by rookie Zane Gonzalez, who made a 53-yard field goal against the Bears and outkicked Parkey in a close competition in training camp.

Cooper, a third-round pick in 2015, started two of 27 games played in two seasons. He had 1.5 sacks in 2015 and none last season.

Cutting Cooper is a reflection of how much the Browns have improved, but let’s pump the brakes a few times before getting all giddy about the defense after a 4-0 preseason.

I don’t pretend to have access to the playbook of Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, but I am willing to bet Ben Roethlisberger won’t hand off nine straight times in the first three series in the season opener Sept. 10 the way Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky did on Aug. 31 in Chicago.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees didn’t play in the preseason opener and the Buccaneers’ top two receivers, DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans, sat out the third preseason game.

The most realistic test came in the second preseason game when Giants

quarterback Eli Manning played most of the first half of a game the Browns won, 10-6.

None of this is to say what we saw from the Browns defense was a mirage — only that holding teams to field goals or shutouts in the regular season is unrealistic, especially when the Browns offense is likely to have more than its share of three-andouts.

“What I’ve seen from our defense is what I’ve seen from practice and what I’ve seen in games,” Jackson said. “Whether teams are vanilla or whatever they want to do, the fundamentals of playing defense still have to show up. That’s shown up throughout preseason. That’s shown up through training camp.

“We feel like we were really able to establish an identity along with (defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams and his staff of what we want to be. We were aggressive, relentless to the ball, didn’t miss many tackles and didn’t allow the offense in the end zone many times. We were able to limit big plays, and we got after the quarterback. Those are all ingredients of a winning defense.”

Brock Osweiler will be cut on Sept. 2.