BROWNS RELEASE JUREVICIUS

The new regime in Cleveland is pushing its luck. On the heels of rounding up a bunch of players who were collectively good enough to get Eric Mangini fired as head coach of the Jets, the Browns have parted ways with a hometown hero. Gone is receiver Joe Jurevicius, a veteran wideout who grew up in Mentor, Ohio, rooting for the Browns. “These types of decisions are always difficult ones, especially with someone like Joe, who has meant a great deal to the Cleveland Browns organization and to the fans of Cleveland,” G.M. George Kokinis said. “Eric and I have had extensive conversations with Joe and his representatives. In the end we were unable to reach an agreement that was in the best interests of both parties. We want to thank Joe for his contributions to the Browns and wish him the best of luck in the future.” That’s code for the notion that the Browns wanted to pay Jurevicius a lot less than the $2.4 million base salary he was due to receive in 2010, along with any other roster or reporting or workout bonuses that might have applied. It’s unclear what the Browns were willing to pay, and what Jurevicius wanted. Jurevicius missed all of the 2008 season after developing a staph infection following arthroscopic knee surgery. He had said that he plans to play one more year before retiring. The former Penn State standout joined the Giants in 1998, and also played for the Buccaneers and the Seahawks. He has played in two Super Bowls, losing XXXV as a member of the Giants and winning XXXVII with the Bucs. (He also played for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL; thanks to the commenters who pointed that out.)