Jake Delhome Released

[BrownIndian]

BEREA, Ohio -- No matter what happens in Browns training camp, the team will field its 10th starting quarterback in 13 seasons for a season opener on Sept. 11.

Jake Delhomme, who became the ninth different opening-game starter a year ago, was told Wednesday he is being released, a league source confirmed. General Manager Tom Heckert said the club will not confirm any player transactions until after 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The move on Delhomme, which was expected, adds about $2.3 million in salary cap space. Delhomme signed last year for $12.4 million over two years. One-half his signing bonus of $6.14 million would count on this year's cap. But that is more than offset by erasing his scheduled base salary of $5.4 million.

The net savings of plus-$2.3 million pushes the Browns to over $35 million in available room under the $120.3 million team cap. Nevertheless, Heckert remained adamant on not spending it on unrestricted free agents.

"If there's a good player, we're going to go after him. But we're not going to just sign a bunch of guys because they're available," Heckert said.

"There's always exceptions to the rule. Last year, were we active? That's probably the most active we're ever going to be."

Last year, the Browns signed six free agents that stuck with the team. They also traded for four others.

"We've talked with a zillion guys the last couple days. We don't expect to be signing a bunch of guys," Heckert added. "Cap room's not an issue. We'd much rather spend it on our young players we like right now, that we have right now. We'll spend it. There's not a question of us spending the money."

Heckert does have to save cap dollars for eight drafted rookies, 25 undrafted free agents whose names the club won't officially announce till Friday, and also the team's potential free agents he desires to keep.

The last group includes kicker Phil Dawson, who was given the franchise tag by the Browns in February but has not signed it. Heckert said he had a good conversation Wednesday with Dawson and expects him to report to camp with all players on Friday. Dawson can either play for the one-year franchise tender of $3.1 million or agree to a new multi-year contract.

 

Heckert also reiterated that he does not consider signing a wide receiver in free agency a priority.

"We've stated before -- we do like our players, as much as some people might not," he said. "If there's a guy we think can help us, we'll do it. I think there's free agency and guys that will be released. We'll have to wait and see. Would we like to upgrade? Yeah, we would, but I don't know if that's going to happen."

Delhomme's exodus was foretold when the Browns re-signed Seneca Wallace for three years a week before the owners lockout in March. Delhomme, 36, was never seen as a long-term answer, but his Browns career was more short-lived than anyone envisioned when he suffered a high ankle sprain late in the first half of the 2010 season opener against Tampa Bay.

Delhomme missed the next three games, then was rushed in against Atlanta in Game 5 when Wallace also suffered a high ankle sprain. Delhomme was clearly not ready to play, but the former coaching staff did not want to put rookie Colt McCoy in that spot.

McCoy started the next five games as Delhomme transitioned full-time into the role of mentor. McCoy and Delhomme frequently drove to work together as McCoy was forced to jump-start his career a year before the Browns planned. But McCoy also suffered a high ankle sprain in his fifth start, and that gave the job back to Delhomme, who started four games overall. His 2-2 record was the best of any of the three QBs last year.

Delhomme finished with a 63.4 passer rating. He completed 93 of 149 passes for 872 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions.

McCoy is earmarked this season to be the club's 10th opening-game starting QB in the 13 years of its expansion era. Of the nine previous QBs, six did not make it through a second consecutive season as the starter. Those one-time opening-game starters were Ty Detmer (1999), Kelly Holcomb (2003), Jeff Garcia (2004), Trent Dilfer (2005), Derek Anderson (2008), Brady Quinn (2009) and Delhomme.