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The NFL’s league year does not officially begin until March 13, but that hasn’t kept speculation in check about possible trades and free agent signings.
Right in the center of that speculation vortex are the Cleveland Browns, whose frantic fans are convinced the team is on the cusp of trading for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., currently a member of the New York Giants.
That speculation is fueled in part because of general manager John Dorsey, a renowned “aggressive” general manager who likes nothing more than a big trade. Things have heated up considerably the past couple of days as fans have frantically tried to decipher Twitter clues to determine just when - not if - the Browns will consummate the deal.
NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, who knows a thing or two about the league, appeared on Cleveland radio station 92.3 The Fan on Thursday and threw some sobering news out about the rumored deal:
”I wouldn’t feel confident describing them (the rumors) as serious. I think it’s the time of year where there are lots and lots and lots of conversations.”
In addition, Kinkhabwala revealed that the Giants “laughed” at Dorsey’s offer of right guard Kevin Zeitler, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and an additional unnamed player in exchange for Beckham, who in his five years with the Giants has averaged 78 receptions, 1,095 yards and 8.8 touchdowns per year, while making three Pro Bowls. (Sadly, she did not report if the Giants responded to the trade request with the use of emojis.)
That doesn’t mean a deal is necessarily dead, but Browns fans may want to hold off on putting down that deposit on a Beckham jersey, at least for the moment.