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BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Jadeveon Clowney’s newest transfer with the Cleveland Browns got here off the sphere, a public brawl born of frustration and disappointment.
The workforce responded accordingly.
Clowney was despatched residence from observe Friday, a day after he lashed out on the group and training workers in an explosive interview that successfully ended his second season in Cleveland simply earlier than Pittsburgh’s finale.
Coach Kevin Stefanski declined to instantly tackle Clowney’s standing or present any specifics about his choice to punish the defensive finish because the Browns (7-9), who appear at all times embroiled in drama, ready to face the Steelers (8-8). ) Sunday.
Nevertheless, Stefanski famous that Clowney won’t be making the journey.
“Nothing beats the workforce,” he mentioned.
Offended that he wasn’t getting extra publicity in Cleveland’s protection, Clowney mentioned in an interview Thursday. cleveland.com that he did not really feel appreciated and was “95% certain” he would not be again for a 3rd season.
Clowney additional claimed that the Browns favored four-time Professional Bowl defensive finish Myles Garrett and centered solely on getting him into the Corridor of Fame. She added that she wanted to be “with somebody who believes in me and my capacity.”
Clowney made it clear he has no private points with Garrett, who has 15 sacks heading right into a Week 18 matchup with Pittsburgh.
Garrett mentioned he understands Clowney desires to be simpler, however was dissatisfied with how his teammate ended up expressing it.
“That is our workforce,” Garrett mentioned. “He is my brother. He is my teammate and I want we may speak about this man and us as coaches. We may sit all of us down and simply speak, and it in all probability would. I might take care of it.
“However hindsight is 20/20. He is feeling lots of emotion heading into what has been an up-and-down season, and there is not any excellent method to deal with every little thing. However I would really like him to behave a bit otherwise.’
Garrett mentioned his relationship with Clowney stays “loving” and he didn’t take the feedback to coronary heart.
When requested if he would welcome a Clowney comeback at any level, Garrett mentioned: “We would like volunteers, not hostages.”
“Should you really feel that nobody right here believes in you,” mentioned Garrett, “then go to a spot the place you’re feeling you might be needed, beloved and appreciated.”
Clowney resurrected his profession in Cleveland final season, recording 9 sacks, his most since 2018, and pairing with Garrett up entrance to offer the Browns probably the most harmful move rushes within the NFL.
He re-signed as an $11 million free agent with the Browns in Could, however Clowney’s second season did not go the best way he or the workforce had hoped. In a number of video games, he expressed frustration that the Browns have been altering his project throughout video games to offer Garrett extra favorable matchups.
Since Garrett is without doubt one of the recreation’s premiere gamers, it made sense for the Browns to maneuver him to show the opponent’s weak spot. Clowney did not see it that means.
Defensive position coach Chris Kiffin revealed that Clowney refused to play any discipline aside from third down within the Oct. 23 recreation at Baltimore. For his habits, he was benched for the primary sequence in opposition to Cincinnati the next week.
Kiffin mentioned the choice to maneuver Garrett was a pure one.
“We will put our greatest participant in the most effective place to win,” he mentioned.
Kiffin additionally disagreed with Clowney’s assertion that Garrett was handled otherwise.
“It has been a irritating season for all of us, everyone on this group, defensively and for him,” Kiffin mentioned. “Clearly he did not have the manufacturing he had final 12 months, so he is dissatisfied. I do not agree with how he went about it, however that is what we’re coping with right here at present.”
Clowney got here to Brown’s facility and took part ready assembly together with his fellow defensive linemen earlier than being advised to go away.
Kiffin mentioned he spoke with Clowney earlier than Stefanski fired him.
“I will simply say that I advised the room that I assumed he misbehaved as a person,” Kiffin mentioned.
The turmoil surrounding Clowney is much like final season’s tumultuous state of affairs with huge receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was suspended by the Browns and ultimately traded after weeks of drama.
Stefanski doesn’t imagine there’s a connection between his gamers and workers.
“Each workforce, all 32, all of us take care of issues all through the season,” he mentioned. “Typically they keep residence and also you take care of them, typically you do not. It is rather a lot like household. That is what we do. We act as a household. Typically you make robust choices, however that is who we’re. making an attempt to do.”
Clowney was Houston’s No. 1 general choose in 2014. He spent 5 seasons with the Texans earlier than spending a 12 months with Seattle and Tennessee.
NOTES: Beginning RT Jack Conklin will miss the finale with an ankle damage. He will likely be changed by James Hudson, who beat Steelers star TJ Watt for 4 sacks in final 12 months’s Pittsburgh recreation. … CB Denzel Ward is questionable with a shoulder damage
___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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