DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Terrelle Pryor's extension unlikely to come by season's end, Isaiah Crowell still aiming for 1,000 and more

Terrelle Pryor's extension unlikely to come by season's end, Isaiah Crowell still aiming for 1,000 and more

cleveland.com

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns are unlikely to reach an agreement with Terrelle Pryor on a contract extension before the end of the season, a league source told cleveland.com.

They've had talks with Pryor's agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, and some have even taken place here in Cleveland. But with only three games left, it's unlikely to happen until after the season.

If they can't reach an agreement by the start of the new league year on March 9, the Browns can always franchise Pryor and buy themselves more time. The franchise number for receivers in 2016 was almost $15 million, and that number will climb to almost $16 million by March.

The Browns are also looking to extend linebacker Jamie Collins, acquired in a trade with the Patriots for a third-round compensatory pick.

Pryor has three games left to reach the coveted 1,000-yard milestone and needs 142 yards to get there, about 43 a game. During Sunday's 23-10 loss to the Bengals, he was limited to one catch for three yards, which dropped him from No. 11 in the NFL in receiving yards to No. 22 with 858.

With Robert Griffin III back under center, Pryor was targeted only three times, including an ill-advised flea-flicker out of the end zone that Griffin fired into triple coverage and had intercepted. Meanwhile, first-rounder Corey Coleman was targeted 11 times, and caught only three for 26 yards.

It was Pryor's lowest output of the season by far, and came on games of 97 and 131 yards.

Afterward, Jackson lamented not getting the ball more to Pryor.

"We want to get him involved,'' said Jackson. "You have to remember the other team is trying to take him away. We have to find more ways."

Pryor, who was upset after the game by his lack of production, admitted it was frustrating.

"There were a lot of times the Bengals had three or four guys on me and Rob goes through his progressions," he said. "Some plays weren't really plays for me. ... We missed some key blocks to break open (Isaiah Crowell), myself not staying on a couple of blocks. He could've broke through on a touchdown and I was punching myself in the head over that.''

He acknowledged "not every game's going to be geared towards me having a great game, and I understand that and I know I can't control where the ball goes. ... After watching the game all's I could come up with is I've got to be better. When I don't have the ball in my hand, I've got to play better. It's simple.''

With Griffin and Coleman unable to connect, the Bengals doubled and tripled Pryor.

"When Coach Hue saw they had a lot of people coming over toward me and stuff like that, he switched play calls to other guys,'' said Pryor. "And it makes sense. He's one hell of a coach and he knows what he's doing.

"Maybe we can be better this week. Maybe we won't. You never know. For me, I have to keep fighting that thing on my shoulder that every time I'm not going to touch the ball. I have to keep on playing without the ball to help my teammates be better.''

It won't be easier this week. The Bills are fifth in the NFL with 33 sacks and seventh with only 229.6 passing yards allowed per game.

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2. Isaiah Crowell still aiming for 1,000

Crowell is coming off a 113-yard game against the Bengals and needs 282 to reach 1,000 yards. After the first four weeks he was on pace for far more than that, but then the running game stalled. In the past nine games, he's rushed for 29 yards or fewer on six occasions. In four games, he didn't reach double digits in carries.

Last week, he carried the ball only 10 times despite big chunk plays of 30 and 42 yards that led to both scores.

"I wish I had more opportunities just because when the running game finally started to pick up I feel like I didn't have enough opportunities to help my team as much as I could have,'' he said. "The lanes were there so I feel like we should take advantage of them but we didn't, so we gotta live with what the coaches want to do."

But Crowell still feels he can get to 1,000 if the Browns commit to the run, something Jackson intended to do this season.

"I feel like if it was how it was last week, I feel like it's capable [of happening],'' he said. "I still think it's in reach."

Crowell hasn't reached 20 carries in a game this season, and eclipsed 15 only twice. Both times, he surpassed 100 yards.

If the Browns stick with it Sunday in Buffalo, the Crow just might fly. The Bills are 28th against the run with 125.8 per game.

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3. Twin Lisfrancs

Joel Bitonio still can't believe fellow guard John Greco underwent Lisfranc surgery on his right foot. Bitonio had his right foot operation in October, and Greco's was this week -- both with Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina.

Both starting guards with the almost identical Lisfranc midfoot injury.

"I saw them working on his foot and I thought 'gosh, this is deja vu all over again,''' Bitonio said. "I feel like that's pretty unlucky the way it happened, two starting guards with the same foot injury.''

He talked to Greco and everything went well.

"He's in good spirits right now,'' said Bitonio. "It's kind of a wait and see recovery. I've heard it could be up to a year, but it's kind of like an ACL. It just depends on the severity and how you go about it. The longer you stay off of it in the beginning, the quicker you can come back.''

If the linemen heal quickly, the Browns could be in good shape next year. In addition to the two guards, center Austin Reiter will be back from his torn ACL.

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4. From Super Bowl contender to winless in Cleveland

Rookie running back Darius Jackson, claimed off waivers Wednesday from the 11-2 Cowboys, will take playing over a shot at the Super Bowl any old day. In Dallas, he was inactive all 13 games while Zeke Elliott was tearing it up.

"I came here for a reason, to help build the team and we're all in it together,'' he said. "We're all going to try and get a win this season."

A sixth-round pick of the Cowboys out of Eastern Michigan, Jackson was told about a dozen teams put a claim in for him.

"It means a lot,'' he said. "It shows that a lot of teams were interested in me and believed in me and that's all I needed."

Jackson, who can help on special teams, rushed for 16 touchdowns last year at EMU.

"Sitting for 13 straight games, I was a part of something special but obviously I was geeked to get on the field so if I get that opportunity I'm going to be beyond excited,'' he said.

Pryor would be stupid to sign an extension at this point. He should force the team to use the franchise tag.

We are going to lose Pryor or Collins.

I'm not worried about Pryor leaving. Collins is a different story.

We should have gotten Pryor's extension done a long time ago, that would have allowed us to franchise Collins. Now, if Pryor and his agents are smart, Pryor will have to be franchised, meaning Collins will be gone.

Pryor hasn't been doing himself any favors lately. Franchise tag Pryor? That's hysterical.

Right now he's the tallest midget. He has some talent, definitely a "me" first guy...and that ego can be ok given the right situation.

I expect the Browns to put Pryor on the back burner at this point in time. Oddly, I was down on Collins early on, but his steady has been noticeable.

Why is extending Pryor out of the equation? You're not making any sense unless you're being pessimistic.

Pryor is going to have close to 1,000 yards receiving in his first real year at receiver with the craptastic combo of RGIII, McCown, and Kessler throwing him the ball. If he makes it to free agency he will make at least as much as the franchise tag.

I don't even understand what he's arguing. Is he saying Pryor won't agree to any contract extension in the offseason?

we need them both..

Pryor is about to crack a 1000 yards receiving, and that's with six different QB's throwing the ball.

Collins' play has gotten better by the week seems like to me..

I would Franchise Collins and with Pryor stating he wants to play for Hue as long as Hue is here...gots me thinking working out a new contract would be easier then trying to hammer out one with Collins.

I undertand cfrs point. On an 0-13 team it would seem Pryor holds the cards from a negotiating standpoint. However, Pryor has not really proven anything that warrants top money. He's the leading the receiver on an 0-13 team. As they'd say on the A to Z podcast, Congrat.

Pryor has flashed talent and ultimately the Browns should work out a favorable deal. The notion of franchise tagging him is absurd, however.

Pryor's year is akin to Barnidge's big year. Somebody has to catch the ball. Take it with a grain of salt.

Any player who is healthy should try and get to free agency. If Pryor were to sign an extension now, he would be doing himself a disservice. Good players make the most money when multiple teams are bidding for them. Tavon Austin got $30 million guaranteed, Pryor would easily get that on the open market.

I'm aware of how free agency works. However, why does any of it mean Pryor won't resign here?

I don't think anyone's saying he wont resign after he finds his market value in FA.

But he can't find his value if he just signs whatever offer we give him right now..

I'm sure his agent has done some not so legal tampering and asked around, but you can't go by the 100%..

As long as we don't offer him a deal, and then snatch it away like an old man with a fishing pole the day after FA starts..

1. We suck

2. Last year we didn't retain any of our good free agents

3. There will be a ton of teams with cap room

1. Lots of teams suck and still keep guys.

2. And? After the disaster this season has been, do you think the FO hasn't learned? Just because a FO does something once, doesn't mean they're going to keep doing it. Do you think they're simply never going to resign good players ever?

3. Your only solid argument.

Pryor will get Tavon Austin money ... around 10-12 million per year IMO.

This is all Joe Banner's fault! Our current FO is blameless.

Why? I fully believe that both he and his agent know what his market value is. If the money/package is acceptable and he truly wants to play here, then why wait...

That's it! Fan the flames...

I pick Collins and trade Pryor.

Why would Pryor be stupid to sign an extension at this point?

If Pryor leaves and Jamal Adams is gone before our second pick, I'd be all for taking Mike Williams with our pick from Philly.

Which is a bummer. We don't have enough good players to let any of them leave.

Collins is hopefully the priority if it comes to choosing who to franchise.

Does a person make more money when there are multiple entities bidding for their services or one entity offering them a contract?

If he wants to sign an extension to stay with Hue Jackson, then I cannot blame him for signing now. But he could easily go into free agency, see what other teams offer, and then go back to Cleveland if he wants.

Last off-season Marvin Jones got $20 million guaranteed. His career high in receiving yards was 816. Pryor currently has 858 yards.

Pryor should not sign an extension.

(I hope he does.)

I agree with you that it is in Pryor best financial interests to hit the FA. I would be shocked if the Browns used the franchise tag on him, however.

Make Pryor a fair offer now. If he says he wants to test the market, we ask, "do you mean like Mitchell Schwartz?". The precedent has been set.

Shocked? Pryor's annual average salary is going to be something close to the franchise number as it is, why not use the tag to try and retain him?

If Pryor doesn't sign an extension, I would be shocked if we didn't use the franchise tag. This team cannot afford to let anymore talent walk. Can you imagine our offense without Pryor?

"Do you mean like Mitchell Schwartz, the guy who made just as much money as he would have here and is contending for the one seed?"

Great argument.

Boy I don't know..playing for the Browns is such an honor, we have all-pros just lined up for miles waiting to become a member of this great fraternity.

No, Generally not and in the case of Pryor, certainly not. Pryor has expressed an interest in remaining with the Browns, mainly with Hue Jackson.

If we tag him, he'll get between 15 and 16 million for one year. I'm pretty sure he'd get less than that on a long term deal.

So, while on the surface it would seem smart to get himself into a bidding war, he's doesn't have that much to gain. His agent knows his value and the going rates.

Making a deal now makes it an easier off season. So for me, I'd say it would be a GREAT time to do the deal.

Pryor and his agent will have to be careful here. Remember Mitchell Schwartz last year in a similar scenario? IIRC, Schwartz's offer was good only until the FA period opened, at which point the offer was pulled off the table. Perhaps the FO has a policy in this regard...

I think you don't realize that the Browns were the loser in that deal and Schwartz was the winner.

I'll say it, Pryor is worth top 15 WR money for 4 years. Only player who shows fight every Sunday since Josh Cribbs. Granted, Pryor's fight is rather selfish, but it's a start. We have so much cap space that a good contract for a WR and ILB will put a dent into it, but nothing serious. It looks like if RG3 is our QB, we'll just be throwing the deep ball non stop, so we might as well throw it to the 6'5 WR instead of Corey Coleman.

Collins should be top priority ... Love Pryor try to sign him and Collins but if I had to chose who to Franchise it would be Collins ... JMHO

He would probably make less than that on a yearly basis, but he will at least double that in guaranteed money.

It's not like no one will offer him a contract if we "Schwartz" him. Schwartz is the currently the third highest paid right tackle in the league and he plays for a team that doesn't suck.

am i being naive?

why can't we keep both? i don't understand why posters are talking as if we have to choose either Collins or Pryor.

why can't we keep both? we have way more than enough money to do so.

You only get 1 franchise tag, so you can't force the issue on both. If you can convince one to sign up then you can still tag the other and keep them both.