In a switch, Greg Little was dropped by the Browns.

In a switch, Greg Little was dropped by the Browns. Lindsey Horan Jersey . The inconsistent wide receiver, whose flashes of excellence were often overshadowed by crucial drops and off-the-field drama, was released on Friday. The 24-year-old Little became expendable after Cleveland added veteran wide receivers Miles Austin and Earl Bennett to its roster on Thursday. Those moves were made for insurance in case Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon is suspended by the league for failing another drug test for marijuana. Gordon was suspended for the first two games last season, but led the league with 1,646 yards receiving. Last week, Browns general manager Ray Farmer said he believed Little could improve. "The young mans talented," Farmer said during the NFL draft. "The question mark would then fall onto can he be consistent and do the things that he has physically demonstrated he can do at times. If he continues to do those things and add a level of consistency, the difference between being good and great is consistency. "When a guy shows you he can do anything, he shows you he can jump up and make the one-handed catch, he shows you he can break a tackle, the question then is can he repeatedly do that over and over again. Thats the difference between being average or marginal and good or great." Littles departure ends a sometimes turbulent three-year run for him in Cleveland. The Browns drafted Little, a former running back at North Carolina, in the second round in 2011. And while he produced — he led the team in receptions in 2011 and 2012 — the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Little let too many passes slip from his hands and he had his share of other non-football issues. Last season, Little vowed to act more responsibly after it was revealed that he crashed his car driving 127 mph — more than 70 mph over the legal speed limit. He called his actions "mindless." Little was cited for drag racing and he expressed remorse for putting his life, and the life of a passenger in his expensive car, in danger. Little was reprimanded by then-coach Rob Chudzinski, who did not reveal his punishment. Little joined the Browns with a history of questionable decision-making. He was issued 93 parking tickets on multiple vehicles with nine different license plates while he was at North Carolina. In November, the school sent a letter of "permanent disassociation" to Little and other former Tar Heels football players for his role in the program receiving NCAA violations that led to criminal charges against five people for violating the states sports agent law. Little and others were suspended in 2010 for accepting improper benefits, including cash and travel accommodations. Little acknowledged his actions distressed others. "Theres a lot of people that Ive hurt," he said, "and I think a lot of the blame should be put on me much less than attacking other people." Little was typically candid when speaking to the media and he seemed to be maturing as a person and player. In 41 starts over three seasons with the Browns, Little caught 155 passes for 1,821 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 41 catches for 465 yards and two TDs last season. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Casey Short Jersey . Weise left the arena with a splint on his wrist and underwent tests to determine whether the tendon is torn. Winger Travis Moen will also miss some time after suffering a concussion in Mondays contest. Sam Mewis Jersey . They say things like "stress is when you dont know what youre doing" and "I wasnt hired to motivate players, I was hired to coach motivated players." They ring as true now as they did when Mularkey heard them the first time playing tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame coach 25 years ago. http://www.socceruswntshop.com/christen-press-usa-jersey/ .com) - The Grand Slam season will get underway Monday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where a new champion will be crowned this year.VANCOUVER - Around this time last year, the Vancouver Whitecaps displayed considerable bravado as they aspired to place among the top teams in MLS. But in 2014, the Whitecaps will have a new coach, a new look and less attitude, starting with Saturdays season-opener against the powerhouse New York Red Bulls at B.C. Place Stadium. Watch the Whitecaps vs. Red Bulls live on TSN tonight at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. "Were all looking ahead with a cautious optimism," Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said before the team held its final pre-season practice Friday. The Whitecaps finished seventh in the Western Conference with a 13-12-9 record in 2013 after becoming the first Canadian team to make the playoffs the year before. New York, which features a star-studded lineup, finished first overall with a 17-9-8 mark. Carl Robinson, a former Whitecaps assistant coach, will try to excel in the top job after Martin Rennie was fired at the end of the last campaign. "Obviously, with a new coach coming in, theres going to be a transition, but hes had a full pre-season to work with a majority of the guys," said Lenarduzzi. "And then, getting the guys that weve added over the course of the pre-season, therell still be I would think a required time for players to gel and for the newer guys to get to know Carl and his coaching staff and their teammates." Robinson has brought in several new players from South America and Europe, including new designated player Pedro Morales, a Chilean midfielder who was signed earlier this week. "We dont want to put too many unrealistic expectations on him, but were hopeful that hes going to produce and well see results of that in goals and assists," said Lenarduzzi. "But ultimately what were looking for from him is to bring out the best in players around him." Other prominent newcomers include attacking Nicolas Mezquida and Sebastian Fernandez, who both hail from Uruguay, and Mattias Laba of Argentina, a designated player who was acquired from Toronto FC. Vancouvers acquisitions have paled in comparison to TFCs splashy off-season signings, but Lenarduzzi did not feel pressured to match them. "I dont think any team in the league feels the pressure to match $100 million spent on three players," he said. As a result of the changes, the Whitecaps lineup features players