The Browns took a 23-3 lead with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter.

Yet https://www.brownsfanshop.com/Ricardo-Louis-Jersey , Baker Mayfield played all 69 snaps as backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert remained on the sideline.Coach Freddie Kitchens said he never considered taking out Mayfield.“No. He’s our quarterback,’’ Kitchens said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “I wanted to make that last third down. Not to say that Garrett couldn’t, but I wanted Baker to do it.’’There were obvious reasons why the prudent thing would have been to pull Mayfield. Odell Beckham called out Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams earlier in the week for dialing up dirty hits, and the Browns saw how injures can happen when Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian was injured on an illegal hit by Myles Garrett.But Kitchens said his philosophy is to play until the clock hits zero no matter the score.“We’re going to finish the game,’’ Kitchens said. “That’s what we preach is finish the game David Njoku Jersey , and that’s what we’re trying to do. We were trying to get a first down.” General manager John Dorsey wisely chose Olivier Vernon over Minnesota’s offer of DE Everson Griffen." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteDawgs EDTShareTweetShareShareBrowns reportedly turned down Vikings trade offer for Kevin ZeitlerBrace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsThe Cleveland Browns were able to bolster their pass rush by trading for defensive end Olivier Vernon in March. But Vernon might still might be a member of the New York Giants if the Minnesota Vikings had gotten their way.According to Andrew Krammer of The Star-Tribune, the Browns were in discussion with the Vikings about trading guard Kevin Zeitler to Minnesota in exchange for defensive end Everson Griffen:It is not clear who initiated the trade talks, but Browns general manager John Dorsey looks to have made the right call by acquiring Vernon, who is 28 years old and coming off a season where he earned a grade of 86.3 last season from Pro Football Focus, over Griffen, who is 31 and earned a grade of 68 from PFF last season.Speaking of Vernon Larry Ogunjobi Color Rush Jersey , who has two years left on the five-year deal he signed with the Giants in 2016, Monday Morning Quarterback’s Andy Benoit had an interesting note in his article about the Browns draft needs. According to Benoit, the Browns may be looking for a defensive end in the upcoming draft so that Dorsey will have the flexibility to release Vernon after just one year in Cleveland:While there has been some chatter about Vernon being a candidate for a re-structured contract at some point, this is the first time we’ve seen someone float out the idea of Vernon being a one-and-done player with the Browns.According to spotrac.com, Vernon carries a salary of $15.5 million in each of the next two seasons, but there is no dead money that would hit Cleveland’s cap space if Vernon were to be released. It seems a bit of a stretch to think that Dorsey would cut Vernon after just one season Sheldrick Redwine Jersey , especially since it cost the Browns one of the league’s best guards to acquire Vernon. More likely, the Browns will look to work out a new deal with Vernon that will give him some more financial security.