Browns safety Tashaun Gipson apparently plans to be free agent safety Tashaun Gipson next month.
A Cleveland.com report Monday said “no substantial talks have taken place” between Gipson to the Browns and said Gipson is “preparing to move on.” Gipson went from making the Browns as undrafted free agent in 2012 to holding the NFL lead in interceptions before an injury cut his 2014 season short.
Gipson was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014, when he finished with six interceptions in 11 games. He had two interceptions in 13 games last season.
Gipson played last season under a second-round restricted free agent tender. He and the old Browns regime never made real progress on a long-term deal, and his comments indicate he doesn’t believe he’s in the new regime’s plans, either. The report said Gipson “hasn’t had much contact with the Browns, and it appears they’re prepared to let him walk.”
His breakout season in 2013 came under defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who’s now back with the Browns. Gipson had five interceptions that season, his first as a full-time starter.
“Those things in the NFL business take care of themselves,” Horton said last week of Gipson’s situation. “I always have appreciated him when I was in the building, and I appreciated him from afar.”