K’Waun Williams and his agent fired back at the Browns on Wednesday night over a contentious disagreement about the health of the nickel cornerback’s right ankle.
Williams decided to appeal through the NFL Players Association the two-week suspension and fine he received from the Browns after getting a second medical opinion on his ankle during a 5 p.m. appointment at the Cleveland Clinic, his agent, Evan Krakower, said.
During the appointment, a doctor told Williams he needed surgery to remove bone spurs that are pinching his ankle, Krakower said.
“In order for him to perform at the professional level required of his position, he’s going to need to have surgical intervention,” Krakower said by phone.
A Browns spokesman said via text message the team had no comment on Krakower saying his client was told he needed surgery because the “suspension was for a violation of multiple team rules.”
University Hospitals is the official health care partner of the Browns. The team switched from the Cleveland Clinic to UH in 2014, ending a 40-year partnership.
In a news release announcing the suspension and fine, the Browns said Williams was disciplined for “multiple violations of team rules.” NFL Network reported the fine is worth one game check, which would be $35,294 for Williams. The punishment was doled out Tuesday night and formally announced Wednesday morning.
A person familiar with the team’s stance described the situation as follows: Williams bailed on Friday’s 17-11 preseason-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers by refusing to play. He left Green Bay claiming he’d retire, then returned to the Browns the next day and said his ankle was injured. He didn’t mention an ankle injury until the day after he said he would retire, and he fully participated in practices preceding the game.
Williams’ camp contends the following: He had an X-ray and MRI on the ankle around the time organized team activities began in the spring because there was an issue with it. Williams aggravated the ankle Aug. 6 in a scrimmage at Ohio Stadium. A video recorded by Cleveland.com shows him limping during the scrimmage. Williams received treatment on the ankle before the preseason opener.
“We firmly believe that K’Waun’s failure to play was a result of his physical condition and to his concerns for his future health, of which most significantly was an ongoing ankle problem,” Krakower said in a prepared statement. “... It is extremely puzzling that the Browns comments have ignored the significant treatment they have provided K’Waun to his ankle up to the night in question.
“In light of his previous service to the team and his injury history, we believe the Browns suspension and fine are excessive in nature at best, and totally unwarranted at worst. A punishment of this excessive nature of a player, with a previous exemplary record on and off the field, is inappropriate.”
In the statement, Krakower added, “The NFL has stated that player safety is paramount. We believe in this incident the Brown’s [sic] intimate knowledge of Mr. Williams physical ailments, when weighed against their plans to use him in the first preseason game of the season, contradicts that policy. ... We firmly believe that this incident resulted from a lack of communication and understanding of all parties involved. When emotions are involved in discussions, and unreasonable solutions are given, without time for reflection, knee jerk reactions can be expected.”
The two sides obviously aren’t on the same page, and the saga will likely end in divorce.
Williams, 25, had been a productive nickel corner for the Browns the past two seasons after signing with them as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Based on his performances, he would have trade value, though his ankle problem and three diagnosed concussions in the past two seasons could interfere.
Should the Browns trade or release Williams, the San Francisco 49ers would be the most logical landing spot. 49ers defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley recruited Williams from the University of Pittsburgh to the Browns. 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil, who held the same role with the Browns the past two seasons, loves Williams, too. Williams was without a doubt the darling of the previous Browns coaching staff.
The new regime, though, traded with the Miami Dolphins for Jamar Taylor on April 30, the final day of the draft. Taylor, 25, has served as the defense’s No. 1 nickel corner in training camp.
Roster move
The Browns waived offensive lineman Erle Ladson. He spent 15 weeks on their practice squad last season.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.