Pirate Galaxy » He will compete with Stanton for backup position."

/>Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteDawgs EDTShareTweetShareShareBrowns Sign QB Garrett Gilbert of the AAFSoobum Im-USA TODAY SportsWith the demise of the AAF T. J. Carrie Color Rush Jersey , suddenly there were hundreds of available players to be signed to free agent contracts. These free agents, however, have actual playing time stats with success or failure ratios. The AAF’s leading QB, Garrett Gilbert (6’-4”, 230 pounds), has signed with the Browns according to Adam Schefter of ESPN and then announced on FOX8 news in Cleveland. Gilbert, age 27, played for the Orlando Apollos which was the best team in the AAF at the time of its closure. He played under the tutelage of QB guru Steve Spurrier and was the league’s leading passer. His stats include 2,152 passing yards with 13 TDs and only three INTs. Orlando also led the league in total offense. The signing is more geared to provide Baker Mayfield’s backup Drew Stanton a capable competitor for the backup position, and if nothing else allows the club to have three capable QBs in training camp. Usually most teams also bring in a younger player as the fourth man as camp fodder. Oddly enough, Gilbert and Mayfield went to the same high school in Austin, Texas at Lake Travis HS. Gilbert had competed in ESPN’s Elite 11 competition for high school quarterbacks and a highly-recruited prospect. He also played in the Under Armour All-America Game and was a five-star recruit by Rivals.com. He was named USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year. After accepting a scholarship at Texas, he came in for an injured Colt McCoy and finished the BCS National Championship Game in 2009, a 37-21 Alabama victory. Two years later, he transferred to SMU after sharing the starting QB spot and then a successful shoulder surgery after getting hurt in the opening game against Rice in 2011. At Texas, he had 14 starts with 3,301 yards, 13 TDs and 23 INTs. He also rushed for 400 yards and six TDs. While with SMU https://www.brownsfanshop.com , he started all 23 games in two seasons. He passed for 6,460 yards, 36 TDs, 22 INTs with a 66.5% completion ratio his final year in 2013.Gilbert was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth-round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was involved in the final cuts and then signed to the Rams practice squad (PS), but was released again two months later. The New England Patriots signed him to their PS in December and was a part of the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. He was considered the third QB behind Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. The following June, New England waived him. The Detroit Lions claimed him off waivers and participated in training camp, but was cut when the club had to get down to 75 players. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsThe Oakland Raiders claimed him and was signed to their PS where he spent two years before being cut after the 2016 season. He signed with the Carolina Panthers who placed him on their PS. In October, he was elevated to the 53-man roster as the third QB. In 2018, starting QB Cam Newton had been sidelined with an injury and his backup Taylor Heinicke became injured in the last game of the 2018 season. Gilbert came in and finally made an NFL playing field. He went 2-3 for 40 yards, sacked once and ended the game with a 109.7 rating. Four days later, he was again cut. In November of 2018, he was the seventh overall pick of the Apollos in their player draft. In Week Two, a 37-29 victory over the San Antonio Commanders, Gilbert tossed 393 yards with two TDs and was named AAF Offensive Player of the Week. All the Ravens had to do to make the playoffs was beat the Browns.It’s not as easy as it used to be.Baltimore needed a late fourth-down interception to stifle Baker Mayfield’s momentum, secure a 26-24 victory over Cleveland and wrap up the AFC North.The win ended the season for the Steelers, who had closed out their own victory over Cincinnati minutes earlier and were standing on their home field, cheering for the Browns as they watched the end of the game in Baltimore on the scoreboard.Mayfield had trimmed a 13-point deficit to two and had the Browns on the march, but C.J. Mosley tipped and picked a fourth-down pass with 62 seconds left to seal the win.It prevented a nightmare repeat of last year Browns Customized Color Rush Jerseys , when all the Ravens had to do was beat the Bengals at home to clinch, but gave up a 49-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left to fall.Meanwhile, the Browns had a chance to finish with a winning record the season after going 0-16. Despite falling short (7-8-1), they show every sign of a team that will be in contention for the foreseeable future. Mayfield, the first pick in the 2018 draft, threw three touchdown passes and finishes with the rookie record for TD passes with 27.In case you missed it, here were some other highlights from the final week of the regular season in the NFL:BETTER LATE: The Indianapolis Colts took the last available playoff spot, defeating the Titans 33-17 in the 256th and final game of the regular season Sunday night. The Colts, only the third team in history to make the playoffs after a 1-5 start, play at Houston next Saturday in the wild card round. The defending-champion Eagles beat Washington and captured the NFC’s sixth seed when the Vikings lost to the Bears. All of Philly will be watching Nick Foles this week to see if he recovers from a chest injury in time for the game at Chicago on Sunday. Other games next weekend: Seahawks at Cowboys on Saturday and Chargers at Ravens on Sunday.NEAR MISS: Nothing’s been easy for the Arizona Cardinals this season. That didn’t change Sunday. Needing only a loss on the road against a playoff team — the Seahawks — to secure the top pick, the Cardinals nearly blew it. They were tied at 24 heading into the final seconds. Sebastian Janikowski got them off the hook by making a 33-yard field goal to hand the Cardinals their league-leading 13th defeat and put them on the clock for the April 25 draft. Possible pick: defensive lineman Nick Bosa of Ohio State (Cards took QB Josh Rosen last year). Waiting in the wings were the Niners, who fell convincingly, 48-32 to the Rams, but only lost 12 games this year and will settle for the second pick.ANYONE CAN DO IT: Kyle Williams lined up in the backfield, ran out to the flat, made the catch and turned up field for a nine-yard gain. Nothing too special — except that Williams is a defensive end, playing in the final game of his 13-year career — all with the Buffalo Bills. Williams wasn’t the only one given a rare chance to show off his hands. Quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Ryan Tannehill each caught touchdown passes. Also moving outside his comfort zone was Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater , who lined up for what looked like a field-goal attempt Cleveland Browns T-Shirts , but took the snap and threw a perfect pass to Levine Toilolo for a touchdown against Green Bay.EXPENSIVE SEAT: It might have been the most expensive seat in the NFL on Sunday. Inactive due to injury, Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette spent much of his team’s 20-3 loss to the Texans sitting on the bench, talking with teammate T.J. Yeldon (who was active but didn’t play) and seemingly disinterested in the action. Tom Coughlin was not impressed. “They were disrespectful, selfish and their behavior was unbecoming that of a professional football player,” the team executive said in a statement after the game. Previously, the Jaguars notified the fourth pick of the 2017 draft that his suspension earlier this season voided the guarantees for his $7.1 million salary over 2019 and 2020. To be continued …JOIN THE CLUB: Among those finding themselves in rare company Sunday: Saquon Barkley. With help of a 68-yard touchdown run, the Giants back joined Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James as only the third rookie to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage. (Barkley also had a “slam dunk” touchdown run.) Also, Patrick Mahomes joined Peyton Manning as the second QB to throw for 5000 yards and 50 TDs in the same season.LATER, COACH: The Buccaneers let their latest loss sink in for about three hours before cutting ties with coach Dirk Koetter, who leaves Tampa with a 19-29 record over three seasons. The Jets said goodbye to Todd Bowles, who went 24-40 over four years. On Monday, Adam Gase (Miami), Vance Joseph (Denver), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati) and Steve Wilks (Arizona) got their pink slips, as expected.