Tag Archives: North Carolina

Over the last three years as I searched the internet for accurate stats, it looks like the Cleveland Browns rank second in the NFL in a category you don’t want to be ranked that high in, dropped passes. The Detroits Lions look like they are first over the past three seasons with 126 drops, followed by the Browns with 114 footballs hitting the ground. One of the main culprits that helped the Browns reach that spot, Greg Little, was cut today by the team after three years in Cleveland.

Little was a 2^nd round pick back in 2011 out of North Carolina.  He came with some baggage, as he was suspended for the entire 2010 season at North Carolina by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits and then lying about it to investigators.

The Browns though were willing to take a chance on Little because of the ability they thought they saw in him and his 6’2 – 220 pound frame, thinking he could be a top flight receiver in the NFL. However Little never came close to that.  Instead he would be known for                                                  dropping passes, 29 to be exact over his three years in C’Town.

Little finishes his Browns career with 155 catches out of 311 targets for 1,821 yards and 8 touchdowns. Those numbers average out to 52 catches for 607 yards and 2.6 touchdowns per season. Not nearly the production they were expecting from the 59^th overall pick in the 2011 draft.

Is it somewhat surprising that Ray Farmer cut Little with the potential season long suspension of Josh Gordon still pending? Yes it is. But Farmer must feel that while he has no true number one wide receiver amongst this group of Nate Burleson, Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin, Josh Cooper, Tori Gurley and Charles Johnson, along with a group of undrafted free agent wide outs, it was still best for this team to give those a guys a chance to do what Little couldn’t consistently do, catch the ball!