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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Three more employees of the truck stop chain owned by the Cleveland Browns' owner and Tennessee's governor have pleaded guilty in what authorities call a scheme to cheat trucking firms out of rebates.

After coming back from a torn Achilles in college, Browns sixth-rounder Jamoris Slaughter isn’t just content to make the roster. He’s thinking about a starting job. Slaughter didn’t participate in OTAs or minicamp, but said he’ll be ready when training camp begins. “I’m cleared at this point to do everything, so I’ve been feeling really…

COMMENTARY | It has happened only four times in the Super Bowl era. To go from dead-last in total yards one season to the top 10 in yards the next can take a number of different variables -- there is no exact science to making the jump.

As the Browns try to reverse a decade filled mainly with bad performances, they need to get out of their own way. It’s apparently harder than it looks. Sure, the federal Pilot Flying J investigation has no direct impact on the football team.  For now.  If, however, owner Jimmy Haslam gets indicted for customer rebate…

The Browns announced Monday that a Bon Jovi concert scheduled for July 14 at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium has been cancelled. No reason for the cancellation of the “Fan Kickoff Concert” was given. The Browns directed ticket holders to seek refunds from the outlets from which the tickets were purchased.  [Editor's note:  That's refund.  Not rebate.  Refund.]…

Coming this year, fans will be permitted to bring less stuff into the stadium and players will be required to wear more stuff onto the field. Neither are happy. Browns receiver Greg Little says he won’t comply with the requirement that players were thigh and knee pads, a mandate that returns in 2013 after a…

After losing Dustin Keller to the Miami Dolphins in free agency, the New York Jets have finally addressed the tight end position, signing veteran Kellen Winslow to a one-year deal , Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports. Winslow joins a tight end group that has been headlined by Jeff Cumberland, who stepped up for an injured Keller to post career-highs with 29 receptions, 359 yards and three touchdowns last season. Behind Cumberland, the Jets had Konrad Reuland and Hayden Smith, an Australian-born rugby player who is still adjusting to American football, so depth at the position has been an issue. If Winslow can stay healthy — and that's a mighty big "if" — he has a good chance of winning the starting job during training camp. A chronic knee injury has limited Winslow's ability to practice in recent seasons, which is something the Jets will have to monitor throughout his stay with the club. Winslow, who will turn before reporting to Jets' training camp in July, has caught 438 passes for 4,848 and 23 touchdowns during his 93-game career with the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots. Winslow is coming off a disappointing 2012 season that began with him clashing with first-year Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano. The Buccaneers traded Winslow to the Seattle Seahawks, but he would not make the 53-man roster as he was limited in practice and had just three reception for 34 yards in the preseason. In September, the Patriots signed Winslow after losing Aaron Hernandez to a high ankle sprain. Winslow dressed for one game with the Patriots, catching one pass for 12 yards in four offensive snaps before he asked for and received his release. Winslow would sit out the remainder of the season and did not reappear on the NFL radar screen until he participated in the Jets' three-day minicamp on a tryout basis.

While Oregon lost and Notre Dame nearly lost their head football coaches to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, it appears the coach of another FBS program was a priority for that NFL club as well. Wednesday, Kevin Sumlin acknowledged to the San Antonio Express-News that he’s “had plenty of opportunities [for NFL jobs], both as…

Franchised left tackle Ryan Clady will not be in attendance for the Denver Broncos' mandatory mini-camp this week, but the Broncos and Clady's camp have discussed a long-term contract for the first time since last July, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports. Clady, who has three Pro Bowls on his resume, is reportedly seeking a deal similar to the seven-year, $80.5 million extension that Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas signed on Aug. 22, 2011. Thomas' deal included $44 million partially guaranteed money and averaged $14 million per year in "new money" over the all-important first three seasons of the contract. Clady has yet to sign his franchise tag, which carries a fully guaranteed base salary of $9.828 million. Though unsigned, that tender currently counts against the Broncos' 2013 salary cap. As of Monday, the Broncos had just over $8.5 million in available cap space with their top three 2013 draft picks left to sign. A thaw in the negotiations dos not come as a surprise as the two sides have less than five weeks to reach agreement on a multi-year extension. This year's deadline for teams to sign franchised players to a multi-year extension is 4pm ET on Monday, July 15. Once that date passes, Clady, and the other seven franchised players, can only sign a one-year contract that cannot be extended until after the regular season finale on Dec. 29. Since Clady does not have a signed contract, he is not required to attend this week's mandatory mini-camp and will not be subject to fines by the club. Head coach John Fox does not seem concerned about Clady's absence, telling season-ticket holders in a Monday night fan forum that Clady probably would not be participating in the practices even if he were in attendance.

Update: Richardson (lower leg) is slated to start a running program in two weeks, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.