Daily Dawg Chow: Browns news (5/30/13)

Cleveland Browns:

• "Guilty pleas by 2 of Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J employees reveal details of scheme" (Plain Dealer) - "Two Pilot Flying J sales employees pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal conspiracy charges for their role in a what federal authorities say is large-scale scheme to defraud unsuspecting trucking companies."
• "Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns' offense poised to surprise" (NFL.com) - "The Cleveland Browns' offense has been short on surprises in recent years. The unit has finished among the NFL's worst in each of the past three seasons, ranking a dismal 25th in total offense (and averaging just 18.9 points per game) in 2012."
• "A surprise Browns player to watch this year? Keep an eye on Johnson Bademosi making switch to free safety" (ESPN Cleveland) - "More Bad is good: A week doesn’t go by in which I don’t receive a question asking why the Browns haven’t signed Arizona Cardinals free agent Kerry Rhodes as a one-year stopgap at the free safety position. The answer may be Johnson Bademosi."
• "Jim Brown on rejoining Browns: ‘Here I am, so y’all didn’t get rid of me’" (Beacon Journal) - "NFL icon Jim Brown couldn’t resist gloating about having the last laugh. Three years after former Browns President Mike Holmgren removed him as an executive adviser to Randy Lerner, Brown is once again a member of the franchise."

NFL:

• "Gronk to have back surgery" (ESPN) - "New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will undergo back surgery in mid-to-late June, a source tells ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Gronkowski, who is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, will have the procedure performed by noted spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins."
• "Texans RB Arian Foster won't practice until camp" (AP) - "Texans running back Arian Foster's strained right calf will keep him off the practice field until training camp this summer. Foster was injured in an offseason practice on Tuesday. Tests revealed no further damage, but the strain will keep Foster on crutches for at least a couple of days."
• "Buccaneers WR Steve Smith retiring from the NFL" (AP) - "Former New York Giants receiver Steve Smith has announced his retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith played six NFL seasons, helping the Giants win a Super Bowl as a rookie and leading the NFC in receptions two years later, when he was a Pro Bowl selection."
• "Adrian Peterson practices at OTAs" (ESPN) - "Adrian Peterson was back on the practice field Wednesday for the Minnesota Vikings, just three months after having surgery for a sports hernia, and told reporters he's close to 100 percent."