Cleveland Browns

LaDainian Tomlinson says Saquon Barkley is basically L.T. 2.0 -- but tells TMZ Sports that ain't enough for him to go #1 in the NFL draft.

We asked LaDainian about all the Saquon comparisons people have been making when we got the Chargers legend at LAX ... and he couldn't agree more.

"He’s a little bit bigger than I am -- but they’re awesome comparisons," L.T. said.

"The lateral movement, quickness, the power, he can catch the ball ... all that stuff."

But even with all that talent, L.T. told us there's a good reason the Browns won't take him with the first overall pick ... and he says that's GREAT news for the Giants at #2.

Here's a small silver lining for Cleveland fans ... no matter how embarrassing their 0-16 season was, ex-Browns star Buster Skrine says there's one team his old squad can still beat:

'BAMA!!!

TMZ Sports asked the N.Y. Jets stud whether the best college football team can beat the NFL's worst team ... and Buster says they're 2 totally different beasts in favor of the Browns.

Speaking of the Browns' winless season, Skrine hopes Jets fans NEVER plan a parade for locking the No. 1 overall pick like they did in Cleveland.

BONUS -- Skrine says he's the most fashionable guy in sports ... and he lets his boots do the talking.

Here's former USC quarterback Matt Leinart weighing in on current USC quarterback Sam Darnold -- keeping it all the way 100 about Sam's big decision on whether to enter the NFL Draft.

"I don't know if you wanna go to the Browns!"

True.

Leinart was at LAX after USC got smashed by Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl -- where he told us he's not too concerned about Sam's draft stock after the game.

"I don't think he played as bad as people think," Leinart said ... "He'll be alright. We'll see what he does. He may come back to school, who knows?!"

Leinart famously stayed in school to play his senior season -- and ended up getting drafted 10th overall in the 2006 draft.

UCLA QB Josh Rosen could mean to the Browns what LeBron James means to the Cavs ... if he's willing to give it 100% -- so says former UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel.

Rick -- Bruins HC from 2008-2011 -- told us it's only a matter of time before the Browns find their Bron ... so why not Rosen??

"Someone's gonna be the hero of Cleveland -- look what LeBron James did for the Cavaliers. It's all possible. It's just going in there with the right attitude," Neuheisel told TMZ Sports.

Josh is reportedly thinking about going back to UCLA if Cleveland gets the #1 pick in the draft ... but Rick says that's not the right move for Rosen's future.

No job? No problem!

Johnny Manziel is still living VERY large -- despite the fact he hasn't had an NFL paycheck in a very long time.

The embattled QB pulled up Wednesday to Barneys in Beverly Hills -- one of the most expensive stores in town -- in the driver's seat of a custom Rolls-Royce.

Later that night, he hit up Warwick in a Givenchy sweatshirt, which retails for more than $1,000.

He's also planning a wedding, renting expensive places to live and traveling. So, the question is ... how can he still afford to live so lavishly?

The answer? Manziel is said to have raked in about $7.8 mil from his rookie deal with the Cleveland Browns -- plus, he made a ton of cash from endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Snickers.

Plus, the family reportedly has oil money -- though it's unclear if Manziel has access to it.

One of Josh Gordon's ex-teammates says the troubled NFL star is on track for a HUGE comeback ... telling TMZ Sports he knows the Browns receiver is as focused as ever on football.

We spoke with N.Y. Jets star Buster Skrine -- he played with Gordon on the Browns -- who says he's pulling for his old friend to put his past behind him and ball out on the field.

"I asked him to come to New York (this summer), he was down in Florida training. He was like, 'Man, I'm focused. Blase, blase,' so I knew it was a complete turnaround for him," Skrine says.

And get this -- Skrine was out donating 250 turkeys and 200 pounds of veggies for Thanksgiving with his foundation when we ran into him.

Jim Brown is softening his opinion on Colin Kaepernick's kneeling demonstration -- telling TMZ Sports he's decided he's "fine" with NFL players protesting during the national anthem.

The NFL legend had previously lashed out against the protesters back in August -- saying, "I'm an American. I don't desecrate my flag and my national anthem."

But that was months ago ... and when the Cleveland Browns icon was leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills on Sunday, he wanted to make it clear he's changed his tune.

"I think if [NFL players] wanted to kneel and it was within the rules of the game, it's fine with me," Brown said.

He added, "I really don't want to speak for anyone else, and I don't want to be negative about too many things."

Brown's comments came just a few hours before Colin Kaepernick was named GQ's Citizen of the Year.

Jim Brown ain't ready to give up on the Cleveland Browns just yet ... 'cause the NFL legend tells TMZ Sports he "absolutely" believes the Brownies can get at least one win this season.

We spoke with the Hall of Famer outside Il Pastaio in Bev. Hills about the 0-8 Browns ... and while it might seem impossible to Cleveland fans, J.B. has faith the team will turn things around.

While Brown didn't have much to say about the team fumbling on the potential AJ McCarron trade ... he assured us "the Browns are doing the best they can."

If there's a strip club record book, Dwayne Bowe is headin' for it ... 'cause the ex-NFL star dropped an insane $25k on strippers in just 20 MINUTES this weekend ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Bowe -- who led the league in receiving TDs in 2010 -- hit up VLive in Dallas with a couple friends on Saturday night ... and our sources say he made it rain for a brief, yet efficient, 20 minutes.

We're told 33-year-old Bowe and his crew hung around for a few hours and enjoyed themselves ... and even did some dancing of their own, while putting several women through nursing school.

Fun Fact -- Bowe made $9 million with the Browns in 2015, which translates to $1.8 million per catch that season.

He also reportedly made $54 MILLION during his NFL career.

Mike Vick has a message for his friend, Calvin Pryor -- if you wanna stay in the league, STOP FIGHTING!

Vick and Pryor played together on the NY Jets in 2014 -- and Vick says he's his "little homie" -- so we had to ask about the fight that led to Pryor getting the axe in Cleveland.

MV7 says game week can turn players a little more agro than usual -- but he's gotta temper the temper if he wants to stay employed ... and Vick knows that from experience.

"We take conduct serious, and the coaches I always played for always stressed that," Vick says. "Not under Andy Reid, or Rex Ryan, or Mike Tomlin, or Jim Mora or Dan Reeves."

Tre Mason is laser-focused on leaving his troubled past behind and returning to the NFL ... teaming up with old Auburn teammate Ricardo Louis for major off-season workouts, TMZ Sports has learned.

Mason missed the 2016 season after several run-ins with cops -- including an intense police chase on his ATV. He was released by the Rams earlier this March.

But Louis says Mason is puttin' in work every day to get back in the league in 2017 ... and once Mason finds a new team, Louis expects the running back to pick up right where he left off.

As for Louis, he says he's disappointed in his rookie campaign in The Land and dedicated his off-season to improving every aspect of his game ... and we've got the video.

RGIII says it's up to God whether he'll play NFL football again ... with sources close to the QB saying he believes everything happens for a reason ... including losing his job.

Griffin was cut from the Browns earlier Friday ... and there's been speculation he might not have very many NFL chances left due to injuries and inconsistent play.

We spoke to someone in the QB's inner circle who says although Robert 100% still wants to play ... he's telling people close to him it's all in the hands of the man upstairs.

"He believes in faith and fate. If it's God's plan for him to play again he will."

RGIII posted a picture to his Instagram moments ago to thank Cleveland for all the support with the hashtags #Theworkcontinues and #Imhungry.

10 reps on the bench press is bad ... REALLY BAD ... so says Cleveland Browns stud lineman Joe Thomas who says Christian McCaffrey needs to hit the weight room HARD.

We just spoke with Joe about the NFL combine -- and asked the 10-time Pro Bowler if Christian's poor strength showing will affect his draft stock.

"As we all know, there's no bench press on the football field," Thomas said ... "For the most part, your film from every Saturday in the Fall is what should matter."

Thomas also reveals the one question rookies MUST NOT GET WRONG at the combine -- and it's actually pretty hilarious.

Plus, Joe also tells us about BBQ joint, Mission BBQ, and how it's taking over! Who's hungry?

Call him the eternal optimist ... but Jim Brown says he sincerely believes the Cleveland Browns can turn things around next year.

The NFL legend was leaving Craig's in West Hollywood when he spelled out why the Browns won't be a smoldering dumpster fire in 2017.

For what it's worth, we shot Robert Griffin III a few weeks ago and he told us he's more motivated than ever to rack up some Ws next season.

Vacation is over for Robert Griffin III -- the Cleveland Browns QB says he's already snapping back into training mode because he's gotta make sure the team doesn't suck in 2017.

RG3 had been relaxin' in Bora Bora with his girlfriend, Grete Sadeiko ... but now that he's back, the former Heisman Trophy winner says he's all about BUSINESS.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman has been named in a police report stemming from an alleged fight at an apartment complex on Saturday ... but is adamant he did nothing wrong.

Sources tell TMZ Sports ... Coleman was involved in a massive brawl that broke out in a Cleveland apartment complex around 4 AM on Saturday.

We're told the incident involved 2 groups of people -- Coleman was allegedly part of a 4 person group. The other group had 6 people.

At some point, an argument broke out and it got physical. We're told someone was injured in the melee and was taken to the hospital with bruises and ruptured eardrum.

Coleman's exact involvement is unclear -- but his agent, David Mulugheta, has issued a statement denying wrongdoing.

"Unfortunately Corey Coleman's name has surfaced in a police report concerning an incident that occurred in the lobby of the apartment complex in which he lives," Mulugheta says.