If LeBron James completes his contract, he’ll have spent nine years in Los Angeles, but “home” will always evoke the image of Cleveland. When James was drafted as the Cavaliers’ number one pick, the city saw him as “The Chosen One,” a savior for the team. His dynamic presence became essential not only to the franchise but also to the broader community, and people quickly learned not to cross him—an NFL player discovered this firsthand.
While James ascended to Cleveland sports stardom, Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards was also making a name for himself. Known for his talent, Edwards drew comparisons to Randy Moss, with a standout season of 16 touchdowns. However, a 2009 altercation outside a Cleveland nightclub marked the beginning of his end in the city, and a “fresh start” awaited him in New York.
The incident might have been unfortunate for Edwards, but it became a memorable moment for then-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum. After a tense game, Edwards ran into trouble outside the club, where he punched Edwards Givens, a friend of LeBron James. The incident attracted police attention, and within two days, Edwards was traded. While Cleveland saw his departure as a relief, for the Jets, the timing was ideal.
“Rex [Ryan] tells me on the plane ride back, ‘Call Roger Goodell; let’s just cancel the season,’” Tannenbaum recalled, noting how the Jets had been struggling in the AFC. But Edwards’ scuffle seemed to be a turning point. “That night, Braylon Edwards gets into a little scuffle with LeBron James’ friends. Eric Mangini calls me the next morning, and Braylon Edwards is a Jet. The rest is history,” Tannenbaum explained.
Edwards contributed to the Jets’ back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances, though they couldn’t make it to the Super Bowl. Afterward, he was traded to the 49ers and briefly returned to the Jets for his final three games. His best season with the Jets was in 2010, when he recorded 904 yards and seven touchdowns.
Edwards had already caused some tension within the Browns organization, missing offseason camps with head coach Eric Mangini and being involved in various incidents. But the nightclub altercation on October 5 was the last straw. LeBron James publicly criticized Edwards for his behavior, calling him “childish.”
Givens, a club promoter, had been working when the incident happened, and James was shocked when he heard about it. Reflecting on his distant relationship with Edwards, James questioned why the receiver would target one of his closest friends. “My friend is 130 pounds. Seriously. It’s like hitting one of my kids. It doesn’t make sense,” James told ESPN.
Years later, Braylon Edwards finally shared his side of the story, which differed significantly from LeBron James’ version. In a 2019 interview on the D.A. Show, Edwards claimed that he was actually “jumped” by four men that night. He also mentioned that he and James had a friendship before the incident, though they eventually cut ties due to the animosity that followed.
