The Cleveland Browns were able to create some cap space by restructuring the contracts of Myles Garrett and Joel Bitionio. Now with $34 million worth of space, Cleveland has the most space in the NFL for this season.
On the surface, it appears that the Browns could be making a move for someone noteworthy, but that is not the case. This is Cleveland creating space now to roll over into next year to help with the upcoming financial crunch. As of right now, the Browns are $50+ million over the cap, meaning more moves could be on the horizon this year and next.
Hold the applause for the Browns
While many instantly took to social media to credit the wise decision-making by the Browns’ front office, it may best to press pause on that. These restructured contracts were an absolute necessity. Why? Contracts handed out by Andrew Berry and friends. The reason why this series of events took place is due to the contracts that the team signed players to. The Browns got themselves into this situation and they had to find a way out of it. There was no other option. Cleveland could either restructure the deals now or be forced to move them, or others with large salaries, before next season.
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The one area that Berry and this Browns regime appear to be quite proficient in is handing out contracts with large amounts of money attached. Some deservedly so, others not so much for various reasons. Can people stop applauding Berry for handing out someone else’s money? This does not take as much skill as people think it does. Need proof? Look at the free agent whiffs from Berry during his time as Cleveland’s general manager. Jadeveon Clowney, John Johnson, Austin Hooper, and Troy Hill headline the big-time swings and misses from this front office and coaching staff.
Here is the reality. Doing business in this manner helps them keep the players on the roster together for a little bit longer. While kicking the can down the road allows for more exciting football now (hopefully), at some point that credit card bill will come due, and when it does it will be ugly. The window for the Browns to win is right now and if they are not able to accomplish that, anyone in a position of power will be finding themselves without a job sooner rather than later.