NFL Notes: Browns trade linebacker Barkevious Mingo to Patriots
A major disappointment in Cleveland, Barkevious Mingo, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 draft was traded to New England on Thursday.
The Browns received a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft for the linebacker.
Mingo, a former LSU standout, has recorded just seven sacks in three seasons and spent much of last season on special teams.
Mingo’s size – 6-foot-4, 240 pounds – and speed have made him intriguing, but Cleveland’s coaching staff couldn’t find the best way to utilize him. The Browns moved the 25-year-old Mingo from outside linebacker to inside earlier this summer.
Cleveland declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Mingo’s rookie contract in May. With the trade of Mingo, left tackle Joe Thomas and cornerbacks Joe Haden and Justin Gilbert are the only first-round selections by Cleveland from 2007 to 2014 that are still with the team.
The Browns now own Philadelphia’s 2017 first-round pick, Tennessee’s 2017 second-round pick, New England’s 2017 fifth-round pick, Indianapolis’ 2017 seventh-round pick and Philadelphia’s 2018 second-round pick. Cleveland has conditionally surrendered its 2017 fourth-round pick to Philadelphia and its 2017 sixth- or seventh-round pick to San Francisco.
It is the second move New England has made this week after dealing center Bryan Stork to Washington.
While the Browns have had trouble finding somewhere to play Mingo, he has shown a diverse skillset while getting 97 tackles and seven sacks in 46 games.
The Patriots don’t have a great deal of depth behind veteran linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Jaime Collins and Jonathan Freeny, so Mingo could possibly make an impact there.
There’s also an opportunity for him on the outside, with two of the Patriots’ pass rushers that were projected to have key roles this season – Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard – working their way back from injuries.
Foster leads Dolphins
Running back Arian Foster had a 2-yard touchdown run in the Miami Dolphins’ 17-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Orlando, Florida.
Foster, who joined the Dolphins during the offseason and is coming off an Achilles injury, had his most extensive playing time with his new team in the third preseason game that was played at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. The four-time Pro Bowl running back played in just one series in the first half, but he made the most of the limited opportunities by sparking the Dolphins to their lone touchdown drive of the half with five carries for 10 yards, capped by his 2-yard scoring run in the second quarter.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, coming off an impressive outing against the Cowboys, didn’t put his team in many scoring positions, but he did move the ball effectively.
He completed 20 of 29 passes for 155 yards while leading the Dolphins to a score in one of two red zone opportunities.
Quick kicks
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