Darnold denies rumor he'd return to USC to avoid Browns

It remains to be seen whether Sam Darnold will return to USC for his junior year or if he'll head to the NFL, but he's made it clear that avoiding the Cleveland Browns won't be a factor in his decision.

"I didn't say anything about the Browns," Darnold said after practice on Monday, as per ESPN. "I've never said anything bad about (an NFL) team. They know I would never say anything."

The rumor stems from a report from Albert Breer of the MMQB earlier in the month, saying Darnold would wait to see who has the top picks in the draft before making his final choice.

Per @AlbertBreer, Sam Darnold will want to wait and see who has the top pick or two in the NFL Draft. If it's Browns, he could stay at USC.

- Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWTAM) November 1, 2017

Darnold is widely expected to be one of the first players selected should he declare for the draft, with the quarterback-needy Browns among the teams likely to have a top pick. If the season ended today, Cleveland would have the No. 1 overall selection for the second straight season.

The redshirt sophomore has thrown for 3,462 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Trojans this season, and leads the team into the Pac-12 championship game this Friday against Stanford.

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