Jadeveon Clowney: ‘95% sure I won’t be back; I need to be around somebody that believes in me’ (2024)

BEREA, Ohio — Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney believes Sunday’s finale in Pittsburgh will be his last with the Browns because he wants to go where he’s valued.

“Ninety-five percent sure I won’t be back,” Clowney told cleveland.com on Thursday. “But there’s still that 5 percent. You never know what can happen.”

Clowney, who missed four games this season because of an ankle injury and concussion, said he’ll likely be gone because he doesn’t think the Browns put him in the best positions to excel.

“I just feel like I need to be around somebody that believes in me and my ability,” Clowney, who will turn 30 on Feb. 14 said. “(It can’t) just be me believing in myself. I believe in myself more than anybody.”

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Clowney, who has only 2.0 sacks this season compared to 9.0 last season, said he’s not slamming the door shut on being back next because of a possible staff shakeup. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods has been on the hot seat this season, and may or may not be back. The defense has played much better the second half of the season, but Woods will still come under scrutiny after the season for the second straight slow start by the unit.

At this point, it could go either way, and Clowney didn’t criticize Woods or blame him for anything.

“There’s supposed to be a lot of changes around here next year, so they might not be back — and I might,” Clowney said.

The root cause of his unhappiness — which has lingered throughout the season — is that he feels the Browns have removed him from favorable matchups at various points throughout the season, and put Myles Garrett on a lesser offensive lineman instead to showcase their star defensive end.

Garrett, whose 15 sacks this season are 2.5 shy of Nick Bosa’s league-leading 17.5 with the 49ers, is aiming for the sack title, and still has his sights on NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Jadeveon Clowney: ‘95% sure I won’t be back; I need to be around somebody that believes in me’ (1)

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“You’re all trying to get somebody into the Hall of Fame when all that matters is winning,” Clowney said. “Everybody got here for a reason, and we can all make plays. I know I am.”

Clowney, playing on his second straight one-year contract here — this one worth $10 million — made it abundantly clear that he has no beef with Garrett, who’s a good friend and a great complement when they’re on the field together.

Last season, Garrett set the club record with 16.0 sacks while Clowney had his nine, tied for the second-most in his career. Garrett even called the two the “best pass-rush duo in the NFL.” Garrett also lobbied hard for the Browns to re-sign Clowney in the offseason.

“I don’t even think (Garrett) notices,” Clowney said of the position switches. “I ain’t trying to say it’s him. I try to get along with everybody I play with. Me and him don’t have a problem. It ain’t his fault. It’s just B.S., and I don’t have time for it.”

He said the Browns have “got their own guys, and I ain’t one of them, so it’s time for me to get my exit slip.”

The Browns weren’t available for comment because Woods conducted his Thursday press conference before the locker room opened, and head coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t available on coordinator day. Defensive line coach Chris Kiffin will meet with the media on Friday morning in a previously scheduled interview, and Stefanski will also talk on Friday.

Clowney said things came a head before the 23-20 loss to the Ravens Oct. 23rd when he discovered before the game they were flip-flopping him with Garrett and putting Clowney over 2019 first-team All-Pro Ronnie Stanley.

“We practiced all week, and we get in the game and they want to move me,” he said. “I’m not doing that (stuff). I’m old. I’ve done my job.”

He opted to play only third downs that game because of the switch, winding up with only 23 snaps for 36%.

“I don’t have time for that,” Clowney said. “I’ve made my money. I’m doing this because I love the game, but keep (doing things like that) and making me not love the game.”

He said he understands the Browns wanting Garrett, their own No. 1 overall pick in 2017, to excel, but that there’s enough to go around for both.

“Let’s say it. Let’s be honest,” he said. “(It seems to me) they don’t want me to outplay nobody.”

He said he could’ve “easily” had 10 sacks this season if things had been different and “I’ll be right back there next year. I feel better this year than I did last year at this point.”

The No. 1 overall pick of the Texans in 2014, Clowney said it can be here the way it was with J.J. Watt in Houston, where Clowney had a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2017 and 9.0 in 2018.

“I played with J.J. Watt, I was 20 years old at the time, 21, and it was all right for him to be deciding where I line up and (stuff),” he said. “He had already been two-time Defensive Player of the Year. It was cool. I made three Pro Bowls when I was there.”

Clowney said he started getting frustrated early in the season “and look at how my season started going after that. I started worrying about (stuff) I shouldn’t be worrying about. I’ve just got to get back to doing my own thing.”

He said it’s unfortunate because he wants to play with Deshaun Watson, his former Texans teammate, “but I’ve just got to go somewhere where someone believes in me.”

He said he plans to discuss the matter with Browns GM Andrew Berry in his exit meeting, and feels that Berry believes in him.

“I’ll be ready next year to get (after it again),” he said.

If things don’t work out with the Browns, they might still see him a couple of times a year.

“I could still end up in the division next year,” he said.

In a previous version of this story, it said Clowney played only on third downs during the 13-3 victory over the Ravens Dec. 17th. It was actually during the 23-20 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore on Oct. 23.

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Jadeveon Clowney: ‘95% sure I won’t be back; I need to be around somebody that believes in me’ (2024)

FAQs

Jadeveon Clowney: ‘95% sure I won’t be back; I need to be around somebody that believes in me’? ›

I just feel like I need to be around somebody that believes in me and my ability,” Clowney, who will turn 30 on Feb. 14 said. “(It can't) just be me believing in myself. I believe in myself more than anybody.”

What did Jadeveon Clowney say? ›

According to Cleveland.com, Clowney said last week that he was "95% sure" he wouldn't be re-signing with the Browns because they were "trying to get [Garrett] into the Hall of Fame instead of winning games."

Why was Jadeveon Clowney dismissed? ›

Clowney was sent home from practice on Friday, one day after he harshly criticized the organization and coaching staff in an explosive interview that effectively ended his second season in Cleveland just ahead of the finale in Pittsburgh.

What is Jadeveon Clowney doing now? ›

Panthers agree to terms with pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney on two-year, $20 million contract. Jadeveon Clowney and the Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms on a contract, the team announced Wednesday. Clowney, 31, returns to the Carolinas after 10 seasons in Houston, Seattle, Tennessee, Cleveland and Baltimore.

Is Jadeveon Clowney any good? ›

Clowney was named to his first Pro Bowl and awarded second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2016. He was also named to The Sporting News All-Pro team for recording 6 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, 52 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 passes defensed in 14 starts.

What did Jadeveon Clowney say to Mary Kay Cabot? ›

Speaking to Cabot, the 29-year-old expressed dissatisfaction with how he's been used by the Browns' coaching staff and appeared to allude to the team favoring star defensive end Myles Garrett. “Let's say it. Let's be honest,” Clowney told Cabot. “[It seems to me] they don't want me to outplay nobody.”

Is Jadeveon Clowney and Noah Clowney related? ›

Jadeveon Clowney is not Noah's brother. But Larry Byrd is his dad.

Why did the Browns release Jadeveon Clowney? ›

Prior to the final game of the season, Clowney was dismissed from practice and ruled out of the game after making comments in a locker room interview where he said he was "95% sure" he wouldn't re-sign with the team after the offseason and questioned the team's usage of him and teammate Myles Garrett.

How much money has Jadeveon Clowney made? ›

Over the course of nine seasons, Clowney's cumulative earnings have reached an impressive $80.552 million, encompassing his salaries, signing bonuses, roster bonuses, and performance-based incentives.

Why did Jadeveon Clowney leave Seattle? ›

Clowney's market also simply didn't develop the way he thought since he has not had a double-digit sack season, which is typically what it takes to get the kind of huge deal he wanted. That, combined with health concerns, kept him on the market far longer than anyone thought.

Is Jadeveon Clowney in Madden 24? ›

Jadeveon Clowney Madden NFL 24 Player Ratings - Left Outside Lineback - Baltimore Ravens - Electronic Arts.

What was Clowney 40 time? ›

Jadeveon Clowney clocks a 4.53 40-yard dash Monday at the NFL Scouting Combine - Reactions here .... CBS Sports Jadeveon Clowney is a MONSTER. He clocked in at 4.47 seconds in the 40. That's faster than Johnny Manziel.

Has Jadeveon Clowney signed with a team yet? ›

The Carolina Panthers are signing defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is for two years, $20 million and worth up to $24 million, according to a league source.

Has Jadeveon Clowney made a Pro Bowl? ›

The New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens were seen as the favorites to land Clowney, a three-time Pro Bowl pick. Clowney, 31, racked up 9.5 sacks in 17 games (15 starts) last season for the Ravens. That matched his career high for sacks, accomplished in 2017. The Panthers will be Clowney's sixth team.

Who is Jadeveon Clowney best fit? ›

Best fit: Miami Dolphins.

There's also the matter of how happy Clowney appeared at the end of the season, as told by Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who ran across Clowney's agent at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Does Clowney have a Super Bowl ring? ›

However, he has already vastly exceeded expectations for him coming into the league and he has a Super Bowl ring. Three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney was drafted first overall by the Houston Texans in 2014.

How much money has Jadeveon Clowney made in the NFL? ›

Over the course of nine seasons, Clowney's cumulative earnings have reached an impressive $80.552 million, encompassing his salaries, signing bonuses, roster bonuses, and performance-based incentives.

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