Cleveland, OH
Top Free Agent Shows Clear Interest in Joining Browns
The Cleveland Browns will be one of the many teams this offseason looking to add to their linebacker room.
Heading into NFL free agency next week, the Browns could lose linebackers Anthony Walker Jr., Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips, Matthew Adams, and Jordan Kunaszyk. And not to mention, Cleveland only has $6.7 million in cap space to work with this offseason.
Therefore, they’ll have to make some tough cuts and rework a couple of contracts to make the necessary additions to the linebacker room. However, if the Browns decide to go shopping on the free-agent market, there’s one linebacker with Ohio ties who wants to play for them.
Former Ohio State linebacker Jerome Baker liked a tweet on Twitter/X that said he would look good in the orange and brown. Baker was released on Wednesday by the Miami Dolphins after the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement.
Seems like Jerome Baker definitely would not be opposed to coming home #Browns pic.twitter.com/19YUYgBfll
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) March 6, 2024
The 27-year-old linebacker is a Cleveland, OH native and played his college ball at Ohio State. Baker only played in 13 games this past season due to injuries but still managed to produce 78 combined tackles, four quarterback hits, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and 1.5 sacks.
The 6-foot-2 Baker would be the perfect complement to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, giving the Browns an athletic linebacker unit that can hold its own in pass coverage.
The Browns currently have the third-best odds to win the AFC North next season (+550 on FanDuel Sportsbook), but the potential addition of Baker would somewhat shorten those odds, along with improved play from Deshaun Watson.
More Browns news and analysis:
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
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David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
NBA fans might have gotten an early look at this year’s Finals on Wednesday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-122 in one of the most exciting games of the season thus far. Heading into the contest, there had never been a team on a 15-game win streak face off against a team on a 10-game win streak. Ultimately, it was Cleveland that kept its win streak going as it made it 11 in a row.
The game was highlighted by a plethora of lead changes, but Cleveland had the edge heading down the stretch. The Thunder got right back into the game, however, cutting the Cavs’ lead to just two points with a minute and a half to play.
Cleveland, feeding off a rowdy home crowd, held strong on defense, though, while also getting the shots it needed on the offensive end to escape with the win.
It was a slow night for Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, who had just 11 points, but Cleveland’s frontcourt stepped up as Jarrett Allen had 25 points, 12 boards and six assists while Evan Mobley had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a big night with 31 points, but it wasn’t enough to carry his team past the Cavs.
Delayed Draw @GB_Delayed_Draw
No matter who wins this game, it’s been a fun battle. Wouldn’t be sad to see a Thunder/Cavs finals this year.#ThunderUp
The Cavaliers now hold the best record in the NBA at 31-4 and have all the makings of a Finals team. While the Thunder dropped to 30-5 with the loss, they’re still in the driver’s seat in the Western Conference.
Cleveland and Oklahoma City will meet again in just over a week, and the second contest should be just as interesting as the first.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Firefighters battled a fire Wednesday afternoon at The RainForest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
The RainForest is currently closed for construction, and a zoo spokesperson said all animals and staff are safe.
According to firefighters, the 2-alarm fire damaged the exterior and roof of the exhibit.
Firefighters say workers were using a torch to cut metal on the building exterior, and vegetation ignited.
The RainForest closed on Sept. 9, 2024. It’s expected to reopen in 2026, housing gorillas and orangutans.
Cleveland firefighters say the fire was ruled accidental. No injuries were reported.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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