CLEVELAND — The Browns and kicker Phil Dawson failed to agree to a long-term contract Monday, but wide receiver Josh Gordon is signed, sealed and delivered.
Gordon
Dawson
Gordon, the former Baylor wideout who was chosen in the second round of the NFL Supplemental Draft, inked a four-year contract worth $5.3 million.
The pact includes $3.8 million in guaranteed money.
The 6-foot-3, 224-pounder spent last fall at Utah, but was ineligible to play under NCAA transfer rules. Gordon recorded 43 receptions and seven touchdowns in two years at Baylor before being indefinitely suspended after failing two drug tests for marijuana.
First-round picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden remain unsigned, but both have expressed optimism they will report to training camp with the rest of the rookies on July 24.
Dawson, meanwhile, will play this season under a one-year, $3.81 million contract that Cleveland tendered him in March as its “franchise player.”
The NFL deadline for franchise players to sign multiyear deals was 4 p.m., which passed without a deal between the Browns and their longtime kicker.
The same scenario played out last summer with Dawson, whose 1,155 points rank second in team history.
By not locking up the 37-year-old Texan, he will become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2012 season — unless Cleveland franchises him for the third year in a row, which would automatically award him a $5.35 million contract for 2013.
Dawson, who began his NFL career with the Browns in 1999, has played in 199 games. Only Clay Matthews (232), Lou Groza (216), Doug Dieken (203), and Gene Hickerson (202) have appeared in more games with Cleveland.
Around the NFL, 12 of the 21 designated franchise players reached long-term agreements in time, while six will play out their one-year deals, including Dawson.
Detroit defensive end Cliff Avril, Kansas City wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, and San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson each refused to sign their tenders and could hold out of training camp.
The Browns officially begin training camp July 28 with an 8:45-11:15 a.m. session at their Berea headquarters. It is open to the public and free of charge.
Cleveland’s first preseason game is Aug. 10 at Detroit, while its initial home exhibition is Aug. 24 against Philadelphia.
The Browns’ regular season starts Sept. 9 against the Eagles at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Ward woes
Browns starting safety T.J. Ward also is making news, but not in a positive way.
Celebrity gossip website TMZ.com posted a video of an extremely angry Ward leaving Greystone Manor in Hollywood at approximately 2 a.m. Monday. He is shown being restrained by his friends, while his apparent adversary is also being pulled away from the scene.
Private security officers later intervened and discharged pepper spray, but TMZ reported that the Los Angeles police department was not notified of the incident and no charges were filed.
Ward sat out Cleveland’s final eight games last season with a sprained right foot. He has played in (and started) 24 games in his two-year pro career.
Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.
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