:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59578361/usa_today_10251273.0.jpg)
The NFL career of former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Joel Stave continues.
The Cleveland Browns announced on Monday that they signed Stave while releasing three other players.
Stave, the former walk-on turned captain and all-time winningest quarterback in UW history, has bounced around the NFL since moving on from Wisconsin after the 2015 season. He initially signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent after not being selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, and has since joined the practice squads of the Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, and New York Jets.
The Jets recently waived Stave back on April 13.
Here’s an intriguing stat from Fox Sports Wisconsin’s Dave Heller, showing that Stave has been involved with about a third of the league’s teams:
I forgot Patriots; he's also been with Vikings and Seahawks and now Browns. That accounts for 13 of the 32 NFL teams. #Badgers https://t.co/5ihnkX09As
— Dave Heller (@dave_heller) April 30, 2018
Stave, as noted earlier, ended his Wisconsin career as the all-time winningest quarterback in school history (31). The four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection earned Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP in his final collegiate game, and finished his time in Madison ranked second all-time in passing yards (7,635), touchdown passes (48), passing attempts, and completions (1,031 and 613, respectively).
Brad Nortman reportedly released by Jacksonville Jaguars
While linebacker Leon Jacobs was drafted by the blossoming AFC South organization, the number of former Badgers on that team apparently dropped by one on Monday as the Jaguars reportedly cut punter Brad Nortman, according to CBS47/FOX 30’s Brent Martineau and First Coast News’ Mike Kaye.
As Big Cat Country pointed out, Jacksonville drafted punter Logan Cooke in the seventh round of this past weekend’s draft. Here were their thoughts on the reported roster move that has yet to be announced by the team:
The Jaguars finished 23rd in the league with a net punting average of 41.0 yards per punt. Nortman had just 29 punts downed within the 20 yard line (right around the league average) and had several underwhelming games late in the season.
In his NFL career, Nortman has played for both Jacksonville and the Carolina Panthers. In 96 regular-season games, he has averaged 45.2 yards per punt in 452 attempts, with 147 landing inside the 20-yard line.