Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has dumped
dissatisfied wide receiver Braylon Edwards off on his former team.
Mangini sent Edwards, a former first-round pick whose troubles
have matched his immense talent, to the New York Jets on Wednesday.
The trade involves wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason
Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices.
"It's the right thing for us and for Braylon," Mangini said.
Edwards, in his fifth season, has 10 receptions for 139 yards
but was held to no catches for the first time in his career in the
winless Browns' 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. His
best season came in 2007, when he had 80 catches for 1,289 yards
and 16 touchdowns.
The former Michigan star and former Pro Bowler comes to the Jets
with his share of off-field issues. The NFL is investigating
whether he violated the league's conduct policy following
accusations he assaulted a man outside a nightclub on Monday.
Edwards allegedly punched promoter Edward Givens, a friend of
NBA star LeBron James, following an argument in downtown Cleveland.
Police are also looking into the incident.
Although Edwards hasn't been charged with a crime, the league's
conduct policy states that discipline may be imposed for "the use
or threat of violence."
Mangini said the decision to deal Edwards was not a direct
result of the altercation. He said Edwards did not ask to be dealt.
"This is a fresh start for Braylon," Mangini said. "It's a
great opportunity for him and I expressed to him that I hope he
takes advantage of it."
Edwards is the second big-play offensive weapon traded by
Mangini, who sent tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay in February
for draft picks.
The Jets, off to a 3-1 start, had been looking to replace
Laveranues Coles in the starting lineup since allowing him to
become a free agent in the offseason. They looked into former
Giants star Plaxico Burress' legal status before the draft, and
were mentioned in possible trade talks with Denver's Brandon
Marshall.
San Francisco also filed tampering charges against the Jets in
September, claiming New York was looking into wide receiver Michael
Crabtree, the 49ers' top draft pick. The league is still looking
into those charges.
Edwards has been involved in other off-field incidents. In
March, he was partying with suspended Browns wide receiver Donte
Stallworth in Miami the night Stallworth later drove drunk and
killed a pedestrian. Edwards was not with Stallworth at the time.
Last November, Edwards was fined $150 and given 30 hours of
community service after he was found guilty of driving 120 mph.
It's the second major trade the Jets have made with the Browns
and Mangini. On the first day of the draft in April, New York
acquired the fifth overall pick from Cleveland to select Sanchez
for its first-round pick, its second-rounder (No. 52), and
defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback
Brett Ratliff.
Stuckey, who won the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Cotchery out
of training camp, has 11 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. He
was a seventh-round draft pick out of Clemson in 2007, but missed
his first season with a foot injury. Stuckey had 32 receptions last
season, catching three touchdown passes from Brett Favre.
Trusnik, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio Northern
in 2007, is a special teams ace and backup linebacker. He was
selected as the AFC's special teams player of the week last week
after forcing and recovering a fumble on a kickoff in the Jets'
24-17 win over Tennessee.
