NFL flop Brock Osweiler can’t take a trick

IF YOU think Jarryd Hayne’s on too much money for someone who’s not performing, the tale of Brock Osweiler is even worse.

Brock Osweiler’s travelled down a rocky road.

NFL player Brock Osweiler could be on the move again, Cleveland hopes.

The Browns have begun shopping Osweiler anew, according to ESPN, seeking a team that needs a backup quarterback after naming rookie DeShone Kizer the starter for its third pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.

Five months after picking up Osweiler in a throwaway deal with the Houston Texans — and looking to re-trade him before conceding to include him in the training-camp depth chart this month — the Browns reportedly are not expected to play him on Saturday.

It’s a new low for the 26-year-old, who spluttered mightily and got benched in Houston last season after posting the second-lowest passer rating (72.2) in the NFL. The Texans initially signed him to a $95 million four-year deal but offloaded him after just one year, and Cleveland is reportedly keen to follow that lead.

Getting shopped by the Browns — of all teams — is rough. Getting shopped by the Browns because he’s losing a starting nod to a rookie is ugly.

To put into perspective just how ugly that is, the Browns were so awful they won their first game in over a year on Christmas Day (AEST) 2016 to break a 17-game losing streak. If you can’t get a game for that franchise, where are you going to get a game?

However, the odds of getting out of Cleveland are low, even if the Browns still absorb much of his contract. He avoided answering questions about his future after practice on Wednesday.

“That’s something I’m going to stay away from,” Osweiler said when asked if he would request a trade.

“I think that’s a great question for our general manager,” he responded to a question about his prospects of winning the starting job.

Osweiler had a rough time with the Texans.

The Browns had sounded smitten with their new piece during OTAs in June, perhaps genuinely, perhaps trying to help his trade value. Browns head coach Hue Jackson sang Osweiler’s praises after a practice in May, telling reporters he has been “outstanding” on the field and in the locker room.

Now, Osweiler is left grasping at straws about his job security.

“I’ve told you guys all along, I’m always going to just focus on the things that I can control,” Osweiler added. “Right now, that’s being a great teammate, that’s continuing to prepare, be a pro, stay in the playbook and continue to strive to be a better player every day.”

Jackson indicated he’s seen enough to give Kizer — the second-round pick out of Notre Dame — a shot with the first team, sending Osweiler, who started Cleveland’s first two pre-season games, to the bench.

“He has made a lot of progress by investing the time necessary to learn our offence, working hard to improve on his fundamentals while also effectively moving the offence in pre-season games,” the second-year coach said of Kizer in a statement released on Wednesday.

“We are very excited about seeing DeShone in the role of starter for this week, as he is certainly positioning himself well to earn the starting job heading into the regular season.”

In two games, Kizer has completed 19-of-31 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown. The Browns have scored 23 points on his drives as opposed to zero with Osweiler under centre.

It could be back to the drawing board for Osweiler, who showed enough promise in his final season with the Broncos when he replaced Peyton Manning and led them to the playoffs (and an eventual Super Bowl win).

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was republished with permission.

Originally published as NFL flop Brock Osweiler can’t take a trick