The Facts: After trading last year with the Dolphins for Bess, the Browns gave Bess a new contract. It included $3.067 million in guaranteed base salary for 2014. Per a league source, the team plans to take the position that the guarantee has voided.

Diehards Line: As PFT's Mike Florio explained, while the salary is guaranteed for skill, injury, or cap, Bess landed last season on the non-football illness list. While the Browns exercised their discretion to pay his salary for the rest of 2013, the team believes (Florio is told) that the guarantees evaporated as a result of his inability to play in 2013. Bess would have the right to challenge the voiding of his guarantee, and the final determination will hinge on the language of the contract between Bess and the Dolphins. Under Article 4, Section 9(g) of the labor deal, teams and players may negotiate the circumstances under which future salary guarantees will void. Bess has been dealing with "personal problems" that apparently led to a recent arrest in Miami -- among other things. It should be noted that voiding the guarantee doesn’t mean he’ll be cut; there’s a chance the Browns will give him time to recover, and an opportunity to earn his non-guaranteed salary. ... Stay tuned.