NFL notebook: Goodell reportedly to meet with Browns’ Garrett

[January 30, 2020]  NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with suspended Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in the next 60 days, Cleveland.com reported Wednesday.

According to the report, Goodell told Cleveland.com before his annual State of the NFL address in Miami that he could not characterize how the meeting will go, but a source told the outlet he expected Garrett to be reinstated at that time.

Garrett was suspended indefinitely after the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-7 on Nov. 14. Near the end of the game, a brawl broke out between the two teams, with Garrett ripping the helmet of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph off Rudolph's head, then swinging the helmet and striking Rudolph in the head.

Garrett appealed the suspension but the ban was upheld, costing Garrett the final six games of the Browns' season. According to reports, Garrett has been a frequent visitor to the team's facility in Berea, Ohio, this offseason.
 

--Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder following the end of the regular season, ESPN said.

The recovery time for his procedure to repair a partially torn labrum is typically a couple of months, per the report.

Trubisky suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of a Week 4 win against the Minnesota Vikings and missed the Week 5 loss to the Oakland Raiders. In 15 starts during his third NFL season in 2019, the 25-year-old Trubisky completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 3,138 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

--The Browns parted ways with vice president of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith and assistant general manager Eliot Wolf, multiple outlets reported.

Highsmith, who had held the position since January of 2018, told ESPN it was a mutual decision. The NFL Network later reported that Wolf and the team also mutually agreed to part ways.

The Browns have not issued an official statement about Highsmith, 54, and Wolf, 37, who were hired by former general manager John Dorsey. Before joining the Browns, Highsmith was a senior personnel executive with the Green Bay Packers from 2012-17.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during a press conference before Super Bowl LIV at Hilton Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

--Larry Eisenhauer, a former All-Pro defensive end with the Boston Patriots from 1961-69, has died at age 79. The New England Patriots announced his death.

Three times, Eisenhauer made the AFL All-Pro team and he also was a four-time AFL All-Star selection. The Patriots chose him in the sixth round of the 1961 AFL Draft, and he spent his entire nine-year career with the franchise.

A New York native, the 6-foot-5 Eisenhauer played at Boston College. In 115 games with the Patriots, he had 47.5 sacks -- eighth most in franchise history. He was named to the Patriots' 1960s All-Decade team.

--Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace underwent should surgery this week, the Buffalo News reported.

He did not play in Buffalo's Jan. 4 playoff loss to the Houston Texans due to an ankle injury suffered in the regular-season finale against the New York Jets. Back in Week 9, he was listed as questionable with a shoulder injury for a matchup against the Washington Redskins.

Wallace, 24, started all 16 regular-season games during his second NFL season. He recorded 76 tackles (66 solo) with two interceptions and nine passes defensed. His final play was an interception of Jets quarterback Sam Darnold in Week 17, but he was hurt making the play.

--Field Level MediaB

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