Report: Browns plan to void Davone Bess' guaranteed salary
Browns receiver Davone Bess had career lows in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2013. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
The Cleveland Browns plan to take the position that wide receiver Davone Bess' guaranteed salary for next season is void, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported.
Bess' salary is fully guaranteed for skill and injury, but the Browns reportedly think that his contract was no longer guaranteed after Bess couldn't play at the end of last season. Bess was placed on the non-football injury list last season, and was believed to be dealing with a family issue. He is scheduled to earn a $3.06 million base salary next season.
Bess has run into trouble multiple times this offseason. He drew a team investigation after tweeting out a photo of what appeared to be marijuana. And he was arrested for assaulting an officer at an airport.
In an introductory press conference on Wednesday, new Browns general manager Ray Farmer said the team was "concerned" about Bess.
“We are in communication,” Farmer said, according to Florio. “I can’t comment too much about where the circumstance is. Just understand that we are concerned for Davone, and I think that’s the biggest thing, is to make sure that he gets the help that he needs. ... The biggest thing is that Davone’s care and his concern is our biggest thing right now. The dates are inconsequential. Moving forward, we’ll make the decision that we need to make for our franchise, as well as making sure that he’s going to get the care and the things that he needs in the process.”
