Cleveland.com responds to 'out of context' claim from Browns' Jadeveon Clowney

A public apology issued by Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney on Friday isn't sitting well with a local news outlet. 

"Jadeveon Clowney’s comments last week in his one-on-one interview with (Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer) were quoted verbatim and were an exact and accurate representation of what he said," Cleveland.com sports manager David Campbell said in a statement released Friday evening and shared by Dan Labbe of that same website. "In fact, the key points of Clowney’s complaints were later corroborated by other Browns players and coaches. The context really could not have been any fuller." 

Ahead of the Browns' season finale at the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, Clowney told Cabot he was "95 percent sure" he wouldn’t be back next season. He also suggested the Cleveland coaching staff gave favorable matchups to All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett because the organization is "trying to get somebody into the Hall of Fame when all that matters is winning." 

The Browns sent Clowney home and then ruled him out for the Pittsburgh game that Cleveland lost 28-14. On Friday morning, the 29-year-old offered an apology to Garrett and said he had his words "taken out of context" and "completely misrepresented" by Cabot. 

"During our nine-minute long, one-on-one interview, I asked Jadeveon if he was OK with me writing what he said and he said yes," Cabot explained to Cleveland.com. "During the interview, he expressed his unhappiness with being given tougher matchups at various points during the season and stated he only played third downs against (the Baltimore Ravens) because of it. His own defensive line coach, Chris Kiffin, confirmed this during a media session last week. The story accurately represented his feelings and I did not take him out of context in any way, shape or form." 

Clowney likely will hit free agency when the new NFL year opens in March after having spent two seasons with the Browns. Across 26 regular-season games with Cleveland, he recorded 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 23 quarterback hits and 38 solo tackles.