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NFL notebook: Browns listening to offers for No. 1 pick

[March 02, 2018] New Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey called this a "pivotal" offseason for the franchise and is open to all possibilities with the team's top picks in the 2018 NFL Draft next month.

That includes potentially trading the No. 1 or No. 4 overall picks the Browns currently hold.

"My door is wide open," Dorsey said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday when asked if he would consider trading one or both picks to acquire more selections. "My job is to do what's best for the organization, and I'm going to do that."

"There's a lot of things I could do at No. 1," Dorsey added. "Right now we're early in the process. You can't have enough good football players."

--Pro Football Hall of Famer and legendary Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly announced in a statement released by the team that his oral cancer has returned.

Kelly, 58, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in his upper jaw and had surgery to remove it in 2013. The cancer returned in 2014 and Kelly underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

"As our family has faced many trials and triumphs throughout the years, you have blessed us with your prayers. We are asking for those prayers once again. The oral cancer we hoped would be gone forever has returned," Kelly's statement read.

--To Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, the 2018 NFL Draft will be about being part of something bigger than himself.

Even if, Barkley said with a smile, that means he winds up with a team that has only one victory in the past two seasons -- the Browns, who own two of the top four picks.

"That'd be awesome. Something bigger than you," Barkley said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "If you go to a team like that, obviously, they've had some rough years. But I think they're just a couple of pieces away. They do have a lot of young talent. They've brought in a new offensive coordinator. They only won one game, but they were in a lot of games. You want to be a part of something like that. Something that's bigger than yourself. Something that will leave a legacy. Being a part of something special."

--The Seattle Seahawks are open to trading Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett, according to a report from ESPN.

Bennett, 32, signed a three-year, $30.5 million extension with Seattle in December of 2016. He'll carry a cap hit of nearly $7.4 million in 2018, which is notable for the cash-strapped Seahawks.

By trading or releasing Bennett before June 1, the Seahawks would save roughly $2.2 million against the 2018 salary cap while incurring approximately $5.2 million in dead money charges. Bennett is owed a $3 million roster bonus on March 18.

--Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said at the NFL Scouting Combine that cornerback Richard Sherman recently underwent a second, more minor cleanup procedure on his left Achilles tendon but is having a "fantastic offseason." Carroll declined to say whether the team has had any trade conversations specifically concerning the former All-Pro, offering only that, "it's the time of year where there are conversations in all directions."

Meanwhile, safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril continue to make progress, and the team monitors their situations through regular checkpoints. The team is also keeping close watch on running back Chris Carson, who was enjoying a standout rookie season until suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Left tackle George Fant is also continuing his recovery from ACL surgery, and when he is healthy he faces an uncertain role following last year's trade for Duane Brown.

"We'll see how far he can take it," Carroll said. "We'll see how that all fits together."

--Ohio State center Billy Price stopped his bench press workout at the NFL Scouting Combine due to an apparent injury.

Prospects are tested on the bench with 225 pounds on the bar. After clearing three repetitions, Price grimaced and grabbed for his left pectoral and shoulder area and appeared to be in considerable pain.

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A four-year starter for the Buckeyes, Price played left guard, right guard and center.

--Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin is on the trading block and could soon be on the chopping block.

Los Angeles intends to part ways with Austin before he's due a $5 million roster bonus tied into the albatross contract the Rams gave him in 2016, according to multiple reports.

The Rams signed Austin to a four-year, $42 million contract in 2016 on the heels of a 10-touchdown season. The deal includes $30 million guaranteed and runs through the 2021 season. Austin caught just 13 passes for 47 yards last season in Sean McVay's first campaign as Rams coach.

-- Facing a franchise-altering decision at quarterback, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer summarized the predicament this way: "We've got to pick the right one. If not, I'll probably get fired."

All three quarterbacks on the roster are free agents: Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and Teddy Bridgewater.

"All three of our quarterbacks have questions, there's no doubt," Zimmer said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Can Sam stay healthy? Is Case the guy that played for the Rams or the guy that played for us? Can Teddy get back to the player he was?"

--San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch described having quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo under contract as a "liberating" experience.

The 49ers signed Garoppolo to a five-year, $137.5 million contract last month following a five-game run to finish the 2017 season.

"Some fortuitous things came our way last season with the trade for Jimmy," Lynch said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "The best thing about it is now we have him signed going into free agency. That's attracting a lot of people who want to be a part of us. That's exciting."

--Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco is aware of Antonio Gates' desire to play at least one more season, but said he doesn't know if the future Hall of Fame tight end will return to the franchise in 2018.

"We'll talk to his agents this week," Telesco said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "There are still so many moving parts to free agency, and I will probably know more in a couple of weeks."

Gates, 37, caught 30 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns last season. The former basketball star and undrafted free agent out of Kent St. has built a Hall of Fame resume that includes 927 catches for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns over 220 regular-season games in 15 NFL seasons. Coach Anthony Lynn said he would "absolutely" be open to Gates' return, calling him "one of the greatest Chargers of all time."

--A bill proposing to ban tackle football under age 12 passed the Illinois House mental health committee and will go to the full house for debate and a formal vote.

HB 4341, also called the Dave Duerson Act, aims to prohibit participation in organized tackle football for any child under age 12.

Illinois is one of four states seeking to establish legislation to limit the number of years football players are exposed to head trauma.Several prominent medical professionals, including Boston University CTE researcher Dr. Robert Stern and Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO Chris Nowinski, support the Illinois bill. Each argued that limiting the number of years any player participates in tackle football will very likely lower the risk of CTE.

--Field Level Media

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