Browns to sign K Greg Joseph following Gonzalez meltdown

0

CLEVELAND (AP) — Zane Gonzalez is getting kicked to the curb.

The Browns plan to release their wayward kicker on Monday after his four misses on Sunday cost Cleveland its first win since 2016 with a 21-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

On Monday, the Browns tried out several kickers and intend to sign free agent Greg Joseph to replace Gonzalez, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing.

Joseph was with the Miami Dolphins during training camp and the preseason, but he was beaten out for the starting job by Jason Sanders.

The 24-year-old Joseph kicked for four seasons at Florida Atlantic. He’ll have minimal time to get up to speed with the Browns, who host the New York Jets on Thursday night. Joseph made 7 of 9 field-goal attempts in four exhibitions.

Gonzalez’s meltdown in the Superdome was the latest malfunction for the Browns, who have played well enough to win their first two games but remain winless since Dec. 24, 2016.

He misfired on two extra points and two field-goal attempts, including a 52-yarder in the final seconds — with owner Jimmy Haslam standing under the crossbar — that would have forced overtime on Sunday. After his last kick sailed off course, Gonzalez sat alone hanging his head while sitting on the Browns’ bench before being consoled by Saints kicker Wil Lutz.

“It’s on me 100 percent. Can’t blame it on nobody else,” Gonzalez, a seventh-round pick in 2017, said afterward. “Sucks that we were so close to that win and it’s been so long and just let everybody down.”

The Browns are also exploring trades for wide receiver Josh Gordon, whose checkered career in Cleveland reached a breaking point on Saturday when he reported to the team with a hamstring injury that kept him out of Sunday’s game.

General manager John Dorsey initially said in the statement that the team would release Gordon, but the Browns are looking to see if they can get something for the former Pro Bowler.

Gordon has played in just 11 games since 2014 because of numerous drug suspensions.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

FILE – In this Aug. 13, 2018, file photo, kicker Greg Joseph works during a drill at the Miami Dolphins NFL football training camp in Davie, Fla. A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Browns will sign free agent kicker Greg Joseph to replace Zane Gonzalez, who missed four attempts in Sunday’s loss at New Orleans. Joseph was picked over several other kickers who in came in for tryouts on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald via AP, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/09/web1_121378354-e07e3c4cc3c6464086bf6f0b73ae1c09.jpgFILE – In this Aug. 13, 2018, file photo, kicker Greg Joseph works during a drill at the Miami Dolphins NFL football training camp in Davie, Fla. A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Browns will sign free agent kicker Greg Joseph to replace Zane Gonzalez, who missed four attempts in Sunday’s loss at New Orleans. Joseph was picked over several other kickers who in came in for tryouts on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald via AP, File)

FILE – In this May 30, 2018, file photo, kicker Greg Joseph warms up during an NFL organized team activities football practice at the Miami Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla. A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Browns will sign free agent kicker Greg Joseph to replace Zane Gonzalez, who missed four attempts in Sunday’s loss at New Orleans. Joseph was picked over several other kickers who in came in for tryouts on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/09/web1_121378354-41c383330400429c8a047c8dc9539180.jpgFILE – In this May 30, 2018, file photo, kicker Greg Joseph warms up during an NFL organized team activities football practice at the Miami Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla. A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Browns will sign free agent kicker Greg Joseph to replace Zane Gonzalez, who missed four attempts in Sunday’s loss at New Orleans. Joseph was picked over several other kickers who in came in for tryouts on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

By TOM WITHERS

AP Sports Writer

No posts to display