Cleveland Browns

Jim Brown is happily enjoying his crow today ... 'cause the Browns legend tells TMZ Sports he was so wrong about Baker Mayfield -- he actually thinks Cleveland's got a shot at the playoffs now!!

You'll remember ... Jim was one of the least pleased people in Cleveland when his ex-squad chose Baker over Saquon Barkley with the top pick in the NFL draft.

But, after watching Baker's 21-17 comeback performance against the Jets last week ... he's all in on the selection now ... even apologizing to John Dorsey and co.!!!

"They didn't go with what everybody said, including myself," Jim tells us.

"They went with what they thought was correct, and I really appreciate being able to say to them, 'I guess you were right.'"

In a shocking move to absolutely zero people, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has finally given the keys to his offense to Baker Mayfield ... officially.

"I informed the group this morning that we're going to start Baker Mayfield and Tyrod will be the backup if healthy," Hue told reporters at his morning press conference.

"He's earned it, by the way he's played," Jackson noted.

"Now the other added pressure of being out there first is there. But I think he can handle it. He's demonstrated that."

Tyrod Taylor will be the backup ... once he's medically cleared to return to action after the apparent concussion he suffered on Thursday night.

Mayfield absolutely tore up the NY Jets during his NFL debut -- filling in for Taylor with 2 minutes left in the 2nd half. He led the Browns to a come-from-behind victory with more than 200 passing yards ... and even caught a 2-point conversion.

Next up ... Oakland.

Baker Mayfield's gonna have to wait until NEXT WEEK before he officially becomes the starting QB for the Browns -- which begs the question, WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?!

Cleveland's head coach, Hue Jackson, says he needs the weekend to process everything and won't touch the depth chart until AT LEAST Monday

"I've given the players the weekend off obviously, so I'm going to take my time because I have some time," Jackson told reporters Friday.

"And, I'm going to get an opportunity to meet with them here Monday morning and kind of go from there."

Some say Hue's just being respectful to Tyrod Taylor -- who was the 1st-string guy until he was knocked out of Thursday's game with a possible concussion.

Baker came in with 2 minutes left in the 1st half and LIT IT UP -- going 17-23 for 201 yards in a wild 21-17 come from behind thriller.

"I wanted to really watch tape and talk to the staff and talk to John [Dorsey] and then make a decision from there," Jackson says.

This is AWESOME!!!

Baker Mayfield's high school football coach, Hank Carter, tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be more proud of his former QB ... and tells Cleveland to strap in, it's gonna be one helluva ride!!!

Baker played for Hank at Lake Travis High School in Texas -- where the QB led the Cavaliers to the 4A state title in 2011. Dude racked up 6,255 yards and 67 TDs during his HS career.

So, we had to ask Coach Carter how he felt about Baker's insane NFL debut -- and guess what, HE WAS FIRED UP!!!

"It's fantastic! I'm so proud of that guy!"

Coach Carter says Baker's been loaded with potential for years -- and he's "not surprised" the guy is having success at the top level.

In fact, Carter says there's one thing Browns fans need to keep in mind -- this is just the beginning!

"No one will outwork that dude. That's the thing [the fans] gotta understand. He will not be satisfied with the success they had last night."

Congrats!

Shirtless J.R. Smith made his return Thursday night ... and we all have Baker Mayfield to thank for it -- 'cause the Cavs star WENT CRAZY after the rookie led the Browns to a win!!!

It all went down at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland ... where J.R. had luxury box seats to see the Baker-led Browns finally win a game for the first time since 2016.

You'll remember ... the last time J.R. celebrated a massive Cleveland victory -- he went topless in public for hours ... rockin' no shirt for the entire Cavs' championship parade.

Well ... about midway through the second half of the Browns-Jets game -- J.R. promised to make another shirtless appearance if they pulled out the comeback.

And then Baker did it -- AND OFF WENT THE SHIRT!!

"It's over! Let's go! Let's go!" a topless J.R. screamed after the win. "We outchya! No shirt shorty! We out here!"

If you thought NY Jets running back Isaiah Crowell was going to take it easy on his former team on Thursday Night Football ... you thought very wrong.

Crowell just scored his second TD of the first half to the put the Jets up 14-0 over the Browns, and to celebrate ... he wiped his butt with the ball and threw it in the stands for the Cleveland fans.

That's right, it was touchdown No. 2.

Crowell spent his first 4 years in the NFL with the Browns -- enduring a 1-31 record the past 2 seasons -- before heading to the Jets this offseason.

Carlos Hyde is about to have a hell of a birthday night ... 'cause dude's about to have a baby -- then play against the New York Jets!!!

The Browns star running back is currently at a hospital in Cleveland, waiting for the birth of his child -- NFL Network's Omar Ruiz reports.

Carlos' soon-to-be-baby-mama had labor induced last night ... so the little Hyde is expected to come out any minute.

The plan from there??

HEAD TO FIRSTENERGY STADIUM TO GET THE BROWNS THEIR FIRST WIN SINCE 2016!!!

Talk about an upgrade -- Josh Gordon just got shipped from Cleveland to New England where his new quarterback is TOM BRADY!!!

The Browns announced they were parting ways with the embattled WR on Saturday -- after he injured his hamstring in a photo shoot.

The Browns had felt they had reached their breaking point with Gordon -- after sticking with him through multiple suspensions stemming from substance abuse issues.

Cleveland had initially (reportedly) planned to cut Gordon but then realized there was a market for the superstar wideout ... and eventually hammered out a deal with the Patriots.

In exchange for Gordon, Cleveland will get a 5th round draft pick.

As for Gordon's hamstring -- ESPN's Adam Schefter says he's healthy enough to play THIS SUNDAY if needed.

Josh Gordon is reacting to reports he's being shipped out of Cleveland for "breaking the team's trust" -- and he ain't exactly broken up about it.

The Browns announced on Saturday they're moving on from the troubled WR after he injured his hamstring during a photo shoot.

Gordon was on thin ice with the team after racking up multiple suspensions over the years for substance abuse. The latest incident (though not substance-related) was clearly the breaking point for the Browns.

Gordon couldn't help but laugh at the reports that Browns management couldn't trust him anymore ... though he hasn't exactly opened up about his side of the story yet.

He did give a few shout-outs to some of his Browns teammates -- including Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway and Tyrod Taylor ... calling them "Brothers 4 life."

So, what does it all mean? Seems Gordon doesn't think the reports are accurate or that he's getting a fair shake.

Devon Cajuste -- the breakout star of "Hard Knocks" -- says he's received real interest from other NFL teams after getting cut by the Browns ... but he's got a Plan B in case it doesn't work out.

The 25-year-old showed real promise during the HBO docuseries -- and made some solid catches in the preseason -- but was told he needed to work on his blocking.

Cajuste says teams have already reached out to him ... but not to sign him right away. They're more interested in having him in their back pocket in case there's a need for a TE later in the season.

That's okay with Devon ... he's still working out 4 hours a day -- every day -- so he can be ready when the call comes.

And, if it doesn't work out in 2018, he's prepared to play in the Spring League -- a showcase for free agents looking for an NFL team.

The good news ... Cajuste says "Hard Knocks" has done wonders for his life OFF the field -- he's been getting DMs from interested ladies and other people interested in crystal healing.

Yes, crystal healing!

Cajuste is an expert when it comes to the healing power of crystals (part of his collection was featured on the show) and now Devon says he's thinking about starting a podcast or YouTube channel dedicated to the craft.

Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports he's straight-up perplexed by Dez Bryant's plan to wait until the season has begun to sign with a team ... saying the receiver NEEDS a squad ASAP!!

Remember ... Dez was hot and heavy with the Browns earlier this month -- but he turned down their offer and then said he's going to wait until "a lil bit later in the year" to find a roster.

Count Michael in the camp that thinks that's a silly decision ... 'cause he tells us his no. 1 piece of advice to Dez would be to get on a team NOW.

"I do know who's representing him, and I'm just a little bit confused with the direction that they are trying to go here," Michael says.

"I would tell him to find a team and get on a team. Find a team. Get on a team. Get back to belonging somewhere. Right now, you're like a vagabond where you don't have a team and you're wondering."

FYI ... Irvin says he has NO DOUBT Dez can return to All-Pro form -- he just needs to go somewhere as soon as possible so he can show that Week 1.

By the way ... Michael also tells us he loves the fit Teddy Bridgewater found when he was traded from the Jets to the Saints on Wednesday, saying T.B. can be the future after Drew Brees.

Before Mychal Kendricks was charged with insider trading, he sold out his ex-Philadelphia Eagles teammates to the Browns ... giving a full scouting report on the guys he played with last year.

It was all captured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" -- when defensive coordinator asked the linebacker to come up with a list of weaknesses he learned about his teammates during his time in Philly.

Kendricks didn't even hesitate -- putting together a Eagles cheat sheet like a double agent ... and then presented all of his info during a team meeting before they clashed in last week's preseason game.

Here's the info ...

"Uh, let's start with Nick Foles. Playing with Nick Foles, I realized on his long balls, his deep balls, he has like a teardrop effect. He's tall and he likes to drop that literally from the sky. So corners, and the timing's just a little slower on that ball coming in."

"86 [Zach Ertz], I think, is the best receiver on the team. Notice I said 'receiver.' When it comes to blocking, you f*cking hit his ass over and over, he doesn't want any smoke."

"Big V, Vaitai. He's so big that his size allows him to do what he does. You see, but he doesn't have the quickest feet and he's not the strongest. He doesn't trust his feet at all. You get on him, his confidence will go down."

Look, we get it ... sometimes teams will bring in players for their knowledge about their former team -- but this one felt especially snitchy.

White collar crime doesn't sit well with the Browns -- the team just released linebacker Mychal Kendricks in the wake of his insider trading charges.

Kendricks has admitted to breaking federal laws by trading perks for tips in a scheme to make an ill-gotten fortune. Officials say Kendricks turned $80k into roughly $1.2 million using private information that wasn't available to the public.

Kendricks issued a public apology for his role in the scheme -- accepting blame and saying he's ready to deal with the consequences.

Those consequences could be steep -- he's facing serious prison time if convicted. And, since he's already confessed, he'll almost certainly be convicted. Clearly, the Browns want no part of his legal drama and decided to simply cut bait Wednesday.

Kendricks was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl winning team last season, and was expected to be a big part of the Browns' D in 2018.

Cleveland Browns star linebacker Mychal Kendricks has admitted he participated in an insider trading scheme -- and now he's been hit with federal criminal charges.

Kendricks -- who was on the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl team last season -- allegedly made around $1.2 MILLION by making trades based on non-public information he got from a friend, which is illegal.

In exchange for the tips, Kendricks allegedly hooked up his friend with perks including cash, NFL tickets and a visit to a Teyana Taylor music video shoot.

Officials say Kendricks would speak with his friend using code words -- almost an acknowledgment that what he was doing was wrong.

Kendricks is facing serious prison time if convicted.

Seems the 27-year-old's strategy is to comply with officials and cut a plea deal because he's already publicly admitted to the crime.

"I would like to apologize," Kendricks said in a statement Wednesday morning ... "Four years ago, I participated in insider trading, and I deeply regret it."

"I invested money with a former friend of mine who I thought I could trust and who I greatly admired. His background as a Harvard graduate and an employee of Goldman Sachs gave me a false sense of confidence."

"While I didn’t fully understand all of the details of the illegal trades, I knew it was wrong, and I wholeheartedly regret my actions."

Kendricks says he's been cooperating with authorities and will "accept full responsibility for my actions."

"Although I did not take any of the profits for myself, I am committed to repaying all of the funds gained illegally and accept the consequences of my actions."

The Browns have just announced Kendricks will not make the trip to Detroit for the final preseason game on Thursday.

A 22-year-old woman claims she was raped in an apartment where 2 Cleveland Browns players live -- telling police a friend of tight end David Njoku had sex with her after she fell asleep at their pad.

Njoku is NOT accused of any wrongdoing but has been interviewed by police over the incident.

According to the police report, the woman claims she went to the upscale downtown Cleveland apartment complex where Njoku lives with WR Rashard Higgins early Saturday morning after a night of drinking with her friends.

The woman claims she fell asleep in Higgins' bed, but when she woke up a 3rd man -- Kashwayne Nelson -- was having sex with her. She immediately tried to call 911 but Nelson allegedly pulled the phone away and grabbed her by the hair.

The woman says she managed to leave the apartment and later got in touch with police.

When cops arrived, they spoke with Higgins -- who said he had hooked up with the accuser earlier that night but had left the apartment because he couldn't sleep.

While Higgins was out of the apt., Nelson allegedly snuck in and raped the woman.

Cops also spoke with Njoku -- who acknowledged Nelson is his friend who also lives in the apartment -- but Njoku says he was in his bedroom the entire evening and didn't know anything about the incident.

Ultimately, cops arrested Nelson on suspicion of rape. Cops also say he gave them a fake ID when asked for identification -- so he was also booked for obstruction of justice.

The Browns issued a statement to Ohio.com saying, "Rashard immediately notified us of the situation and he and David fully cooperated with the police while being interviewed."

Johnny Manziel says he was initially EXCITED about being drafted by the Browns -- but when he finally got to Cleveland ... all he wanted to do was leave.

"Once I landed and went to Berea, Ohio for the first time, I was like, 'Can I go back to college?'"

"I don't know anybody, I don't know where I'm at. It's cold. I don't like it," Manziel told Kevin Hart while taking an ice bath on his show, "Cold as Balls."

Manziel opens up like a book to Hart -- talking about everything from his drug use in college to wanting kids with his new wife, Bre Tiesi.

On the drug topic, Manziel said while playing at Texas A&M he felt like "I was the guy who had to party to be able to play good."

Manziel said he later realized he didn't like who he had become and wanted to change his life for the better.

"I'm at a point now where I can look back, I can reflect and realize that I was one way -- that was wrong. What can I do moving forward? Because I can't change how I was."

"That's all I can do and just try to stack enough good days together and stack enough things together to get back to where I wanna be."

Johnny says he's determined to work his way back to the NFL.

He also farted during the interview.