Browns signed DB Kevin Barnes to a one-year contract. Barnes, 26, appeared in two games with Detroit last season after being acquired in a preseason trade from Washington. He didn't make the statsheet. Barnes has experience at safety, outside corner, and slot cornerback, but he's been a bust since the Redskins selected Barnes 80th overall in the 2009 draft.
Duff_Beer_Doug In the recent history of FA signings, how does the Cleveland fan-base view the signing of Paul Kruger? Jason, Shawn and I had the discussion of the biggest signing on the defensive side of the ball and I would say that Kruger should be viewed as the top signing this off-season for defense.
I'm not Duff . . . but I like the acquisition. In reality, we probably paid higher that market value but when you have a decade and a half of futility on your resume, you have to ante up in order to attract free agents. (A Super Bowl contender could have had him for a lot less). Add in the fact that we're transitioning (again) from a 4-3 to a 3-4, and he looks like a good fit.
Tim- Kruger is a pass rusher and not so much a run defender. In our scheme, switching from the 4-3 to the 3-4 this year, he was a definite need filled. We had maybe 2-3 LB's worth a dang who are more qualified as MLB's and they'll be converting one of our DE's (Sheard? Can't remember) to OLB. We have a lot of holes to fill for the 3-4 at starting LB and either Kruger or Avril was our big ticket purchase. Kruger was probably the better of these two and you have to throw in that our division rival, Baltimore, lost him and we filled a huge need. So, I guess it counts a bit more for the Browns in getting him. Not sure that I would say he was the best defensive guy out there, but he was for the Browns. He is among the highest paid FA's but he's getting the going rate for a LB that had some pretty good stats. Can't say his stats can be reproduced with the Browns. He had some great defensive teammates in Baltimore who more than likely helped him get single coverage and allowed him to get the sacks and make some big plays. Time will tell. Beat me to it Lym.
The switch to the 3-4 was the biggest reason that we considered Paul a great addition to the Browns. The price might be steep but its tough to put a value on game day impact for a team that needs impact players.
Browns signed P Jake Schum. Schum averaged 39.0 yards per punt in 2011 at the University of Buffalo. The Browns will bring in several players to compete for the punting job. Yippee a punter!!!!! (Saracasm font off)
Browns signed K Brandon Bogotay. A 2011 undrafted free agent out of Georgia, Bogotay spent the majority of his collegiate career blocked by Blair Walsh. He'll be part of a competition to replace Phil Dawson.
Browns re-signed exclusive rights free agents WR Josh Cooper and LS Christian Yount. Norwood caught 13 passes in two games last season before a foot injury landed him on injured reserve. He'll compete with Josh Cooper for slot duties. The Browns are hosting free agent David Nelson for a visit on Thursday. Nelson would vault ahead of both Norwood and Cooper if signed. Regardless of whether Nelson is brought aboard, Norwood won't be guaranteed a roster spot in camp
Browns signed WR David Nelson to a one-year contract. Nelson, 26, tore his right ACL in Week 1 last season after compiling a 61/658/10.8/5 stat line in Buffalo's Pistol Spread in 2011. Essentially a tight end at 6-foot-5, 220, sure-handed Nelson was the Bills' primary slot receiver, although his role in new coach Rob Chudzinski's Cleveland offense may not be determined until training camp. Nelson should be all systems go for offseason workouts
Hmm... Joe Jurevicius went about 6'5" and 230 pounds and was as sure-handed as they come. Sure enough, he did a ton of damage out of the slot receiver position and kept those chains moving back in 2007. Also no secret that Norv Turner loves to feature tall wide receivers in his offensive packages. This guys fits that old mold to a tee... assuming he's healthy which is a *big* if.
I like the David Nelson signing....He became a favorite of Ryan Fitzpatrick in Buffalo because of his sure hands.
Is anyone upset about the Ravens signing Elvis Dumerville and now Rolando McClain? I am. Someone please make me feel better about that.
Not really a free agent, but........ Browns acquired RB Dion Lewis from the Eagles in exchange for LB Emmanuel Acho. A fifth-round pick of the Eagles in 2011, Lewis lost backup duties to Bryce Brown during training camp last season. Still, he's just 22 years old and has shown flashes while averaging 4.75 yards per carry on 36 career attempts. Lewis will try to push Montario Hardesty for the change-of-pace role behind workhorse Trent Richardson in Cleveland. Acho, a 2012 sixth-round pick, missed his entire rookie year with a torn meniscus in his knee. Related: Eagles Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
BEREA, Ohio ? Two weeks after signing a young place-kicker with no NFL experience, the Browns have added a well-traveled veteran in hopes of finding Phil Dawson's replacement. Shayne Graham, a 35-year-old familiar with the challenges of kicking in the blustery environs of Cleveland and Pittsburgh, agreed to a one-year deal worth $940,000. The deal is the 2013 minimum for a player with his experience. Graham, who spent seven of his 12 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, will compete against Brandon Bogotay, 23, a former University of Georgia kickoff specialist. They have the unenviable task of stepping into the void left by Dawson, a fan favorite who earned Pro Bowl honors last season before signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Dawson was the last player remaining from the Browns' 1999 expansion team. Graham is the NFL's fifth most accurate kicker all time, converting 85.4 percent of his field-goal tries. But since his seven-season run in Cincinnati (2003-09) ? which included a 2005 Pro Bowl appearance -- he has worn the jerseys of five other NFL teams. He spent last season with the Houston Texans, making 31-of-38 attempts and setting a career high with 28 touchbacks. His 138 points established a new Texans mark and were fifth most in the league. He has plenty of experience kicking at FirstEnergy Stadium and Heinz Field, considered two of the league's trickiest venues because of the wind and late-season conditions. He's appeared in 155 career regular-season games and converted 245 of 297 field goal attempts for eight teams. His competition, Bogotay, spent the past year working with kicking coach Gary Zauner in Phoenix. He impressed at a recent kicking combine and chose to sign with the Browns instead of the Seattle Seahawks. Several other teams also expressed interest in Bogotay, who spent his three seasons at Georgia in the shadow of Blair Walsh, now a Pro Bowler with the Minnesota Vikings. Brownies: Florida linebacker Jonathan Bostic will visit with the Browns, DraftInsider.net reported. NFLDraftScout.com projects Bostic as a fourth-round pick. ... Browns guard Jason Pinkston, who missed most of last season with a blood clot in his lung, tweeted Monday he has been medically cleared to return. ... The Browns open a three-day voluntary minicamp Tuesday.
New coaches in new cities create new opportunities for old fringe players. Such as it always has been, it is in Cleveland again. The Browns announced they were bringing wide receivers Legedu Naanee and Seyi Ajirotutu in for minicamp on a tryout basis. Both played under new Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner with the Chargers, then Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski dragged them both to the Panthers when he was offensive coordinator there. Aside from being hard to spell and knowledgeable of the system to be installed, it?s hard to know what they?re bringing to the table. But they?re bringing it, this week.
It's fine if we don't all believe in taking a WR in the first round, but can we not at least admit that all the interest in them this offseason (including adding David Nelson) means we at least need some upgrades?
its all about competition . new regime new faces . the ones from last year will have to prove themselves which i have no problem with . whatever makes the Browns better quicker i am all for . turn this shit around . i am not getting any younger here
