Published: October 07, 2009 12:31 pm      

Jets acquire WR Braylon Edwards from Browns

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini dumped Braylon Edwards off on his former team Wednesday, trading to the New York Jets a wide receiver whose off-field troubles have matched his immense talent.

"It's the right thing for us and for Braylon," Mangini said.

The Browns got wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two undisclosed draft choices in return for Edwards, who has 10 receptions for 139 yards but was shut out for the first time in his career in the winless Browns' 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Sunday.

Edwards, in his fifth season, did not arrived at the Jets' training facility in time for practice Wednesday morning, but general manager Mike Tannenbaum said he's expected to start immediately "if everything goes as expected."

That includes the team's next game Monday night at Miami.

"It's just another piece that we wanted to add," Tannenbaum said. "We're excited to get Braylon. We think he's going to help us. It was a position that we liked, but it was also a position we felt that if there was an opportunity to improve, we were going to go ahead and try to do that."

The former Michigan star and Pro Bowl selection comes to the Jets with his share of off-field issues. The NFL is investigating whether Edwards violated the league's conduct policy following accusations he assaulted a man outside a nightclub on Monday.

Edwards allegedly punched promoter Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James, following an argument in downtown Cleveland. Police are also looking into the incident.

"We're comfortable with adding Braylon," Tannenbaum said. "We'll cooperate with all the authorities, and we're glad he's here. We did our due diligence."

Although Edwards hasn't been charged with a crime, the league's conduct policy states that discipline may be imposed for "the use or threat of violence."

Mangini said the decision to deal Edwards was not a direct result of the altercation. He said Edwards did not ask to be dealt.

"This is a fresh start for Braylon," Mangini said. "It's a great opportunity for him and I expressed to him that I hope he takes advantage of it."

Edwards is the second big-play offensive weapon traded by Mangini, who sent tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay in February for draft picks.

The Jets, off to a 3-1 start under rookie head coach Rex Ryan, had been looking to replace Laveranues Coles in the starting lineup since allowing him to become a free agent in the offseason. They looked into former Giants star Plaxico Burress' legal status before the draft, and were mentioned in possible trade talks with Denver's Brandon Marshall.

"We've been talking with Cleveland for a while and talking about different combinations and finally we were able to get a landing spot that was good for them and good for us," Tannenbaum said. "We're excited to add Braylon to our team."

San Francisco also filed tampering charges against the Jets in September, claiming New York was looking into wide receiver Michael Crabtree, the 49ers' top draft pick. The league is still looking into those charges.

"We deny the allegation, and it's with the league," Tannenbaum said.

Edwards has a year remaining on his contract, but the Jets had no immediate plans to sign him to a new deal during this season.

"Right now, our intentions are that he's going to be here with the contract we acquired in the trade," Tannenbaum said.

Edwards has been involved in other off-field incidents. In March, he was partying with suspended Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth in Miami the night Stallworth later drove drunk and killed a pedestrian. Edwards was not with Stallworth at the time.

Last November, Edwards was fined $150 and given 30 hours of community service after he was found guilty of driving 120 mph.

It's the second major trade the Jets have made with the Browns and Mangini. On the first day of the draft in April, New York acquired the fifth overall pick from Cleveland to select Sanchez for its first-round pick, its second-rounder (No. 52), and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff.

Stuckey, who won the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Cotchery out of training camp, has 11 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. He was a seventh-round draft pick out of Clemson in 2007, but missed his first season with a foot injury. Stuckey had 32 receptions last season, catching three touchdown passes from Brett Favre.

Trusnik, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio Northern in 2007, is a special teams ace and backup linebacker. He was selected as the AFC's special teams player of the week last week after forcing and recovering a fumble on a kickoff in the Jets' 24-17 win over Tennessee.