The Browns released backup quarterback Connor Shaw on Thursday. This isn't a surprise, necessarily, since the team signed Robert Griffin III this offseason, drafted Cody Kessler in May, and have veteran Josh McCown on the roster.
What is surprising -- or, at the very least, embarrassing -- is that, a day later, the Bears ended up with Shaw after the Saints mistakenly announced to the rest of the league that they intended to claim him off waivers, according to ESPN.com's Adam Caplan.
Specifically, the Saints sent an email to the other 31 NFL teams -- instead of only to the league office to claim Shaw. Presumably, the Bears saw the email and claimed Shaw first.
The Bears had waiver-claim priority by virtue of a worse 2015 record. Of course, maybe Chicago had every intention of claiming Shaw anyway, but we're guessing it didn't help that the Saints announced their intentions via an email blast.
Some July 1 NFL intrigue. Saints (accidentally?) leaked they were putting waiver claim in for Connor Shaw. Bears jump in and get him first.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) July 1, 2016
@caplannfl Reply All strikes again
— uno v2 (@uno_v2) July 1, 2016
@caplannfl@PSchrags should have sent a raven
— Dynasty Doc (@DFF_Feuker) July 1, 2016
Meanwhile, let's not overlook what this means for the Bears' roster.
Connor Shaw joins Brian Hoyer, David Fales and Dalyn Williams as Bears quarterback depth behind Jay Cutler.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) July 1, 2016
So yeah. The Saints, who talked previously about adding a fourth quarterback, currently have Luke McCown and Garrett Grayson behind Drew Brees.
