Around the NFL | More news & notes

Cleveland Browns: The Browns have exercised the fifth-year, $5.5 million contract option on powerful defensive lineman Phil Taylor’s rookie deal. Taylor, a first-round pick in 2011, is now under contract through the 2015 season. The team had until Saturday to pick up the option.Browns first-year coach Mike Pettine said after watching Taylor during a three-day minicamp this week that Taylor “is a great fit for what we want to do on defense.” Taylor says he hopes to be in Cleveland for his entire career and “be part of the team that turns this franchise back into a perennial winner and championship contender.” Last season, Taylor moved inside to the nose position in Cleveland’s 3-4 defense and had 57 tackles and two sacks as the Browns finished ninth in the NFL in total defense.

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers have exercised their 2015 contract option for linebacker Aldon Smith, making the decision despite the star defender’s legal trouble that included an arrest at Los Angeles International Airport just more than two weeks ago. The team faced a Saturday deadline to decide on Smith’s immediate future, and general manager Trent Baalke suggested last week the team would keep the fearsome pass-rusher around. The 49ers will provide Smith with the support he needs to deal with his rash of off-the-field issues. Yet Baalke has made it clear there must be positive change, and soon. San Francisco realizes Smith still could face a suspension from the NFL for his DUI last September. He had 81/2 sacks and 34 tackles in 11 games last season, making eight starts.

New York Jets: Michael Vick is the new No. 1 for the New York Jets. The veteran quarterback initially chose earlier this week to wear No. 8 with his new team, but announced on Twitter on Friday that he was going with jersey No. 1.

“After trying on the (No.) 8 I decided that it’s not the right fit for me,” Vick wrote. “I’ll be going with the (No.) 1 officially. Thank You.” Vick had worn the No. 7 through high school, college at Virginia Tech and throughout his NFL career with Atlanta and Philadelphia, but that jersey number belongs to current Jets quarterback Geno Smith.

Jacksonville Jaguars: General manager Dave Caldwell says it would be “relatively surprising” to have receiver Justin Blackmon on the field next season. Blackmon is suspended indefinitely without pay for repeated violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. He was previously suspended the first four games of last year for violating the policy. He played four games before getting suspended again — at least for a year. But the Jaguars aren’t counting on Blackmon to return after eight games in 2014.

Associated Press