Bengals release backup

QB; ink free agents

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals released backup quarterback Josh Johnson on Monday, two days after they took Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron in the fifth round of the draft.

Andy Dalton is the unchallenged starter heading into the season, with newcomer Jason Campbell in the No. 2 spot. McCarron, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, was still available at the 164th overall pick.

The Bengals also signed 10 undrafted college free agents: linebacker James Davidson (Texas-El Paso); offensive tackle Curtis Feigt (West Virginia); guard Dan France (Michigan State); tight end/fullback Ryan Hewitt (Stanford); guard Trey Hopkins (Texas); safety Isaiah Lewis (Michigan State); receiver Colin Lockett (San Diego State); receiver Alex Neutz (Buffalo); fullback Nikita Whitlock (Wake Forest) and running back James Wilder, Jr. (Florida State).

 

Young doesn’t last

long with Browns

CANTON (AP) — The Browns have released veteran quarterback Vince Young a few days after drafting Johnny Manziel.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon. Young’s release follows the club’s selection of Manziel, Texas A&M’s dynamic and polarizing quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft.

The team signed Young and quarterback Tyler Thigpen on May 1. Young was thrilled to be getting a chance to revive his career, but will now have to try to do it elsewhere.

Young hasn’t played in an NFL regular-season NFL game since 2011. The 30-year-old has a 31-19 career record.

A former Heisman Trophy finalist in, Young spent five seasons with Tennessee. He started three games for the Eagles in 2011. He spent part of the past two preseasons with Buffalo and Green Bay.

 

Cavaliers fire Brown as

coach a second time

CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Brown’s second shot with the Cavaliers lasted one season.

Brown was fired Monday for the second time in four years by owner Dan Gilbert, who last April brought back the only coach to get the Cavs to the NBA finals but then dismissed him after the team failed to make the playoffs.

The Cavs went 33-49 under Brown, who had four years remaining on his contract. Brown was fired last year by the Los Angeles Lakers just five games into his second season.

“This is a very tough business,” Gilbert said in a statement. “It pains all of us here that we needed to make the difficult decision of releasing Mike Brown. Mike worked hard over this last season to move our team in the right direction. Although, there was some progress from our finish over the few prior seasons, we believe we need to head in a different direction. We wish Mike and his family nothing but the best.”

Gilbert also said David Griffin would be retained as general manager. Griffin had been the interim GM since Feb. 6, when Gilbert fired Chris Grant.

Just a year ago, Gilbert admitted he made a mistake in firing Brown the first time.

 

Manziel’s jersey leads all rookie players’ sales

NEW YORK (AP) — The 249th pick in the NFL draft has the second most popular jersey of all the players selected last weekend.

Michael Sam’s Rams jersey was the No. 2 seller among rookies on NFLShop.com. Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when St. Louis took him late in the seventh and final round Saturday.

The top seller was quarterback Johnny Manziel’s. In fact, more Johnny Football jerseys have been purchased since April 1 than those of any NFL veteran.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy says NFLShop.com sold nearly as many for Manziel from Thursday to Sunday as it did for Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Tim Tebow combined during their respective draft weekends.

No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney had the third most popular rookie jersey, followed by the other two QBs taken in the first round: Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles.

The jerseys don’t ship until the team notifies the league of the number given to the player.