The Browns added veteran offensive lineman Marcus Spears to the ball club
today, further bolstering an offensive line which may soon find itself missing
erstwhile holdout Ross Verba.
BerniesInsiders.com subscribers were told via Ask the Insiders several
weeks ago that the Browns had tried out Spears, a fact which was also
mentioned on our radio program. No other media outlet had reported on the
team's interest in Spears.
Spears will be entering his 11th season since graduating from Northwestern
State-Louisiana and has spent time with the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs,
and Houston Texans. He has been a backup most of his career, and was a regular
starter only during the 2001 season with the Chiefs. Spears started three
games at right tackle for the Houston Texans last season. Over his career,
Spears has appeared in 104 NFL games.
The move provides the team with more flexibility at the tackle position,
which was considered thin even prior to the likely replacement of Ross Verba
with L.J. Shelton. Spears gives the team veteran depth at tackle, which
previously had only Greg Robinson-Randall as a player with any significant
experience in a backup role.
In order to fit Shelton and Spears into the lineup, the team has elected to
cut defensive backs James Boyd and Jamall Johnson.
- BDMc