Less than a week after benching Kevin Johnson, the Cleveland Browns have booted him entirely, with ESPN.com confirming that the club on Tuesday afternoon released the five-year veteran wide receiver.

 

The move, given Johnson's productivity and popularity during his tenure with the team, is somewhat dubious. The former Syracuse star has never been a favorite of the Butch Davis coaching staff, however, and was a frequent subject of trade rumors.

 

Davis had tried to trade the receiver as early 2001, his first year as Cleveland's coach.

 

He was demoted last week because coaches felt he had not blocked well in the running game and Johnson reacted by publicly noting he has been the Browns' leading receiver in every season with the team. That likely did not play well with team officials. Then again, the demotion did not play well in the locker room, where veterans have questioned some of Davis's past moves, and the Tuesday release of Johnson probably will send shock waves through the roster.

 

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction," Davis said in a statement. "We have been trying for almost three seasons to help Kevin perform to the level of expectations we have had for him. I am disappointed our staff has not been able to get him to accept the expectations we have of how the wide receiver position should be played."

 

Johnson, 27, is subject to league waivers.

 

If he is claimed by another team, he must report, since the trade deadline has passed. But because he is a "vested" veteran, he has the right to declare himself an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season. If he is unclaimed by Wednesday, which is anticipated, then Johnson becomes free to sign with any team.

 

His base salary for 2003 is $950,000, which means any team assuming his current deal will owe him a pro-rated portion based on remaining games, or about $391,000. Johnson was under contract through 2006, with scheduled base salaries of $1.45 million (2004), $1.4 million (2005) and $2.65 million. There were annual workout bonuses of $100,000.

 

But he is also due a $2 million options bonus in 2005 and that almost certainly will preclude any club from claiming him on waivers.

 

Never noted for his speed, Johnson nonetheless led the Browns in receptions in each of his first four seasons in Cleveland, and topped the team in catches again this year. Many scouts feel he has the best hands of any wide receiver in the NFL and that, while he lacks the playmaker skills of a "lead" wideout, is a prototype No. 2 wide receiver.

 

"Kevin had a diminished role in our offense, and he was not happy with it," Davis said. "We have a number of young, talented receivers in Quincy Morgan, Andre Davis, Dennis Northcutt, Andre King, Frisman Jackson and C.J. Jones. As a result, we did not foresee Kevin's role expanding in the future.

 

"This will enable him to get a fresh start, and it will allow our young receivers to continue to develop and improve. We wish Kevin all the best."

 

A second-round pick in the 1999 draft, and one of the few players remaining from the franchise's first year of its second incarnation, Johnson played in 73 games and started in all but one of them. He had 315 catches for 3,836 yards and 23 touchdowns. His average per catch this year, of just 9.5 yards, is well below his career standard of 12.6 yards, but there figures to be a strong market for Johnson among teams seeking to add a productive receiver for the stretch run.

what in the hell?

Less than a week after benching Kevin Johnson, the Cleveland Browns have booted him entirely, with ESPN.com confirming that the club on Tuesday afternoon released the five-year veteran wide receiver.

 

The move, given Johnson's productivity and popularity during his tenure with the team, is somewhat dubious. The former Syracuse star has never been a favorite of the Butch Davis coaching staff, however, and was a frequent subject of trade rumors.

 

Davis had tried to trade the receiver as early 2001, his first year as Cleveland's coach.

 

He was demoted last week because coaches felt he had not blocked well in the running game and Johnson reacted by publicly noting he has been the Browns' leading receiver in every season with the team. That likely did not play well with team officials. Then again, the demotion did not play well in the locker room, where veterans have questioned some of Davis's past moves, and the Tuesday release of Johnson probably will send shock waves through the roster.

 

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction," Davis said in a statement. "We have been trying for almost three seasons to help Kevin perform to the level of expectations we have had for him. I am disappointed our staff has not been able to get him to accept the expectations we have of how the wide receiver position should be played."

 

Johnson, 27, is subject to league waivers.

 

If he is claimed by another team, he must report, since the trade deadline has passed. But because he is a "vested" veteran, he has the right to declare himself an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season. If he is unclaimed by Wednesday, which is anticipated, then Johnson becomes free to sign with any team.

 

His base salary for 2003 is $950,000, which means any team assuming his current deal will owe him a pro-rated portion based on remaining games, or about $391,000. Johnson was under contract through 2006, with scheduled base salaries of $1.45 million (2004), $1.4 million (2005) and $2.65 million. There were annual workout bonuses of $100,000.

 

But he is also due a $2 million options bonus in 2005 and that almost certainly will preclude any club from claiming him on waivers.

 

Never noted for his speed, Johnson nonetheless led the Browns in receptions in each of his first four seasons in Cleveland, and topped the team in catches again this year. Many scouts feel he has the best hands of any wide receiver in the NFL and that, while he lacks the playmaker skills of a "lead" wideout, is a prototype No. 2 wide receiver.

 

"Kevin had a diminished role in our offense, and he was not happy with it," Davis said. "We have a number of young, talented receivers in Quincy Morgan, Andre Davis, Dennis Northcutt, Andre King, Frisman Jackson and C.J. Jones. As a result, we did not foresee Kevin's role expanding in the future.

 

"This will enable him to get a fresh start, and it will allow our young receivers to continue to develop and improve. We wish Kevin all the best."

 

A second-round pick in the 1999 draft, and one of the few players remaining from the franchise's first year of its second incarnation, Johnson played in 73 games and started in all but one of them. He had 315 catches for 3,836 yards and 23 touchdowns. His average per catch this year, of just 9.5 yards, is well below his career standard of 12.6 yards, but there figures to be a strong market for Johnson among teams seeking to add a productive receiver for the stretch run.

what in the hell? This move is beyond stupid. Many teams will be fighting to get Johnson. Expect teams like Carolina, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, New England, and others fighting for playoff spots that lack very good recievers to be interested.

I love the Clowns.

 

This is great.

$391k is a pretty good pickup to supplement our s*** a** WR core for the remainder of this season. his salary is way too much for 2004, 2005, and 2006 though.

Just to try to give some explanation as to why this move was made, according to stuff I've read in the local papers lately. The Browns pretty much consider Kevin Johnson to be a "stats" guy and that his moods tend to be better when he catches 7 balls and they lose than when he catches 2 and they win. And, despite what that article says, most of the veterans see this and aren't happy about it.