Browns safety Abe Elam, in his first public remarks since signing his tender, says there will be no hard feelings despite not receiving a long-term deal from the Browns.
Browns safety Abram Elam, in his first public remarks since signing his tender, says there will be no hard feelings despite not receiving a long-term deal from the Browns.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns starting safety Abe Elam, who signed his one-year tender recently, wrote on his blog at www.abeelam.com this week that there will be no hard feelings despite the contract dispute.
Elam, who started 16 games last season and made a team high 88 tackles, was hoping for a large, multiyear deal. Instead, he received the second-round tender of $1.759 million. The Browns have also said they might still negotiate long-term deals with some of the former restricted free agents.
"I signed my tender last Monday so I'll still be a Brown this season,'' Elam wrote. "There won’t be any hard feelings. I hope the fans understand that the NFL is a business and as a professional you have to understand the business part of the game. I’m happy to have a job and be able to play for one of the great football towns in Cleveland. I’m just excited to get back to work and hopefully I can help us turn things around and win some games for the greatest fans in the league.
Elam, who skipped the voluntary organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, will receive competition in training camp from veteran Mike Adams and rookies T.J. Ward and Larry Asante. Based on the blog, Elam apparently has no plans to hold out of training camp for the long-term deal.