Browns: Team was right to not offer Sheldon Richardson any more money

Sheldon Richardson rebuffed the Browns and their better deal after release.

Sheldon Richardson was none too happy that he was cut by the Browns and lost out on his $12 million pay for the 2020 season. Even though everyone knew he would be. Some criticized cutting Richardson as late as they did, mere weeks before the draft and long after free agency had officially started. This made it harder for Richardson to find the deal he wanted.

The Browns may have done this deliberately, thinking they could release him late, offer him a much less expensive deal, and get him to re-sign knowing full well no one could match their offer. That’s a theory and a sound one at that.

Turns out though that Richardson rebuffed the Browns’ offer and opted to re-join the Minnesota Viking, the team he left to join Cleveland in the first place. He’d signed a deal that tops out at $4.35 million in incentives, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Cleveland deal was higher than that, though it wasn’t mentioned by how much.

Sheldon Richardson turned down more money out of “principal”.

That’s the story that Mary Kay Cabot is reporting, though the general suspicion is that Sheldon Richardson would’ve rejoined the team if they offered more money to the pride-wounded veteran. A move that would’ve made no real sense whatsoever.

Richardson was a fine player, but not one that was worth the deal he was currently on, and honestly thinking about him getting paid north of $5 million a year isn’t much better. Richardson was overpaid, to begin with, and getting out of his deal was the best thing for the Browns.

The best bet is to see what the youngsters can do. There’s always talent in free agency and with more and more leagues popping up, there are more and more opportunities for players to show they’re worth a look. Some of them may be able to provide the same productivity as Richardson.

He may have allowed the team to have some flexibility and depth at the position, but he wasn’t exactly a game-changer and the Browns were right to stand pat at whatever number north of $4.35 million that they offered.

The Browns probably should have been better at releasing Richardson earlier than they did, but hopefully, they learn to not abuse the trust they have with their players by making some rather unethical decisions.