The Cleveland Browns announced on Tuesday they have released tight end Rico Gathers instead of reinstating him from the suspended list.
We've released TE Rico Gathers
Details » https://t.co/MLoWk7KTQB pic.twitter.com/ZTt47YiqGU
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 10, 2019
Gathers was signed on August 11 by the Browns and was placed on the reserve/suspended list. Before the start of last season, Gathers was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana by Frisco, Texas, police.
In March, Gathers reached a plea agreement agreeing to pay a fine for a class C misdemeanor. He was also given a 90-day deferred adjudication which means as long as he does everything in his plea deal he won't have to serve jail time, and the charges will go off his record.
Gathers is a former Baylor Bears basketball star who was drafted in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 draft.
With his size, the hope was that he could become a solid tight end in the league, but it didn't work out, and there are questions going forward if this spells the end of his career.
Article Continues BelowLast season Gathers made the Cowboys roster playing in 15 games, but he wasn't much of a threat catching only three passes for 84 yards.
The Browns have a really good tight end in David Njoku who is one of the better tight ends in the league, but they are still looking for a guy to step up and take over the second tight end spot.
Newcomer Demetrius Harris has not played well since coming to the Browns, and Pharaoh Brown has only proven to be a one-trick pony so far.
It's clear that the Browns still have more faith in those two guys than Gathers, and that's why they moved on from him.