Cleveland Browns

Jim Brown wants Cleveland to take a RUNNING BACK with the 1st overall pick in the NFL Draft ... and he's crossing his fingers for Saquon Barkley.

The Hall of Famer was out in D.C. on Tuesday -- just days before he flies out to Texas to announce the 2nd round pick for his former team.

So, with the 1st round kicking off on Thursday night ... we had to ask for Brown's wish list.

"I think Mr. Barkley would be a wonderful addition to the Cleveland Browns," Brown tells TMZ Sports ... "I would hope that they pick him number one."

Brown says he doesn't have any inside information on Cleveland's draft plans -- but adds, "I really like him."

As for the unsolvable puzzle in Cleveland ... quarterback ... Jim says there are 4 solid guys, but he doesn't have a clear-cut favorite.

Johnny Manziel's Comeback SZN is just days from hitting the football field ... so naturally, the ex-Cleveland Browns QB stocked his clothing website with some fresh, new Spring League merch!!

FYI -- Johnny Football's been selling clothes on his website while working to get back into football. With the Spring League kicking off on March 28, Manziel added a few items -- including a #2 jersey -- for his fans following every step of his journey.

The jersey goes for $70 if you don't want it signed ... and an autographed version will set you back another $30.

Troy Aikman says Josh Rosen ain't just any ol' QB prospect ... the UCLA star tosses the ball as good as anyone he's ever seen fire the pigskin on the football field.

We got Aikman in Beverly Hills after he dropped sweat at a SoulCycle class (get it, Troy!) ... and he broke down the consensus of the top 3 arms in this year's class -- Rosen, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen.

Troy had nice things to say about the whole trio ... but gave Rosen the highest compliment imaginable.

"Josh is a real talent. I watched him throw a few years ago at UCLA one summer. He can throw as well as anybody I’ve ever seen," Aikman told TMZ Sports.

Naturally, Troy says that makes Rosen worthy of the #1 pick next month -- but he ain't guaranteeing that's gonna happen.

LeBron James brought tears to a 6-foot-6, 315 lb. man's eyes Monday night ... 'cause ex-Browns superstar Joe Thomas says LBJ's retirement tribute before the Cavs game hit him right in the feels!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the future Hall of Famer about the King showing love with a HUGE hug on the court before the game against the Bucks ... and J.T. says he got so emotional, he had to sneak out of eyesight to gather his emotions!!

"It was a really special moment to get love and respect from an icon like LeBron James, somebody that I've been a fan of since I was 12 years old ... it was really special." Thomas says.

J.T. also points out it was a great way to cap off his career ... 'cause he was was first introduced to Cleveland fans as a rookie when the Cavs were in the Finals in 2007.

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.