Daily Dawg Chow: Browns news (12/4/19)

Cleveland Browns:

• “Browns Release Defensive End Chris Smith” (AP) - “Smith played in nine games this season. The Browns signed him as a free agent in 2018 after one season with Cincinnati. He played three years in Jacksonville.”
• “Can we have a disciplined discussion about fixing the Browns before jumping right to ‘fire Freddie’?” (cleveland.com) - “In the last 10 years in the NFL, since the 2010 season, 97 men have been employed as full-time head coaches. How many were fired after a single season?”
• “The curious case of what to do with Freddie Kitchens” (WFNY) - “The defeat at the feet of a Duck Hodges led Steelers really burns. With the season on the downswing, the conversation now turns to Browns Head Coach Freddie Kitchens.”
• “Browns shift from salvaging this season to saving this era” (ESPN) - “Mathematically, the Browns’ playoff hopes aren’t quite toast yet. At 5-7, the ESPN Football Power Index still gives them a 5.2% shot of somehow sneaking into the AFC’s sixth wild-card spot.”

NFL:

• “Panthers Make the Tough, But Correct, Call to Fire Ron Rivera” (MMQB) - “It can be true that Ron Rivera was the best head coach in Panthers history—a known mensch around the league and a person who has developed a great deal of talent, especially on defense.”
• “Roundup: Jets place LB C.J. Mosley (groin) on IR” (NFL.com) - “The Jets’ unrealistic-but-mathematically possible playoff hopes suffered a significant blow Sunday with their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.”
• “Jerry Jones calls Jason Garrett ‘the guy for the job’ then leaves door open” (CBS) - “If Jerry Jones is committed one way or another about Jason Garrett’s future as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach, he’s doing a pretty good keeping his intentions hidden.”
• “Source: Arizona Cardinals’ Josh Shaw appeals suspension for gambling” (ESPN) - “Arizona Cardinals defensive back Josh Shaw has appealed his suspension for violating the NFL gambling policy, a source familiar with the matter told ESPN on Tuesday.”