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NFL Rumors: Cleveland Browns Could Sign Veteran QB Michael Vick

By Evan Massey
Published on: 13:32 PST, Sep 12, 2016

The Cleveland Browns were hoping that Robert Griffin III could turn his career around in 2016 after a rough stretch to begin his career with the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately, that hope didn’t even make it out of Week 1. Griffin went down with an injury and was placed on IR, which leaves the Browns in an interesting situation.

Josh McCown immediately appears to be the best option for Hue Jackson to replace Griffin. There are also a few free agents and trade targets that the Browns could look into.

One of those free agent options is veteran quarterback Michael Vick, who wants to start wherever he signs next.

John Buhler of FanSided opined that the Browns could pick up Vick to replace Griffin. Whether he would be able to start over McCown or not is another question. That being said, bringing him in would be worth the money that it would take for Cleveland.

Vick would be a good fit for the offense that Jackson and the Browns run. He has the speed and ability to get outside the pocket to make plays with his legs or make time for his receivers to get open. His arm is also extremely underrated and he has proven that he has the ability to make big passes down the field, while also completing the medium and short passes that NFL quarterbacks have to throw.

At this point in time, Vick would come on a minimum contract for the Browns. He would have to earn the starting job, but at the very least would be a quality backup for McCown.

Would Vick consider playing for a team like the Browns that likely can’t offer him a chance to play for a playoff spot? That could be one of the main things that keep a deal between the Browns and Vick from happening if Cleveland did reach out to him.

There is a good chance that Griffin could have failed the last chance that he’ll receive as a starter. He has not shown the ability to stay on-the-field and this kind of a disappointment could make Cleveland move on from him at the end of the season.

If the Browns do decide to make a run at signing Vick, it would make for an interesting storyline. Vick is 36-years-old, and there is no telling how much he has left in the tank. Obviously, Vick believes he can still play or he would have retired and walked away from the league.

Other options for the Browns include a trade for Colin Kaepernick or Geno Smith, or potentially trying to sign former Tennessee Titans’ quarterback Jake Locker, who would have to come out of retirement.

McCown is more than capable of taking over the starting job, as he showed last season before going down with a season-ending injury. If he can stay healthy, McCown can keep the Browns’ offense relevant, especially when Josh Gordon comes back from his four-game suspension.

Needless to say, the injury that Griffin suffered has made things very interesting for the Browns.

Don’t be surprised if they start looking around for another quarterback on the trade market or in free agency. They can’t feel comfortable with McCown being the only NFL ready quarterback on their roster. Vick could end up being a perfect fit for them and would likely be available at the right price.

Do you think Michael Vick would be a good pickup for the Cleveland Browns? Would he beat out Josh McCown to be the Browns’ starting quarterback for the rest of the season or at least until Griffin returns? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[Photo by Gene J. Puskar/AP Images]

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