The Browns raised a few eyebrows with the moves they made to get down to the
NFL’s mandated 53-man roster. They have made no moves at the quarterback
position and, at least for now, will go with Derek Anderson and Ken Dorsey as
backups to Charlie Frye.
As reported earlier on The OBR website, Ross Tucker was released as the first
step in a series of transactions that wound up with Hank Fraley coming to
Cleveland from the Philadelphia Eagles. By releasing Tucker,
the Browns will not have to give up the seventh-round draft choice they had
agreed to with the Patriots.
The most notable veterans from the Browns roster of last year were RB Lee
Suggs, WR Frisman Jackson, LB Nick Speegle and FB Corey
McIntyre.
RB William Green was placed on injured reserve and will miss the season,
although he may be released if the team and Green can agree on an injury
settlement. LB
Clifton Smith was waived-injured.
Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel showed they are not afraid to let go of draft
choices as the final three draft choices of 2005 were released in Speegle, OL
Andrew Hoffman and OL Jonathan Dunn.
This year’s sixth-round draft choice, Babatunde Oshinowo was released in
favor of Ethan Kelley.
The remaining players released were: WR Kendrick Mosley, OL Dave Yovanovits,
LB Justin Kurpeikis, TE John Owens, CB Therrian Fontenot, DL Darrell Campbell,
QB Darrell Hackney, DB Jereme Perry and DB Andrew Pace.
Suggs was a fourth-round draft choice of Butch Davis in 2003 and showed
promise with three-straight 100-yard games to finish the 2004 season with 744
yards. However, injuries kept him off the field for much of his time with the
Browns.
Jackson
is in his fifth NFL season and originally made the Browns in 2002 as a converted
quarterback to the wide receiver position. He was signed as an undrafted free
agent by Butch Davis. With the Browns, he caught 40 passes for 490 yards,
including one touchdown. He caught a touchdown pass from Derek Anderson in the
Browns 20-7 loss to the Bears last Thursday night.
McIntyre was in his third season as the backup fullback, playing mostly on
special teams.
The moves of Suggs and Green mean Jason Wright will be the backup running
back to Reuben Droughns and Jerome Harrison. Wright played extensively in the
final preseason game and averaged 4.6 yards per carry on seven carries against
the Bears, including an 18-yard run.
OL Alonzo Ephraim does not count against the roster because he has a
four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. DB Daven Holly is suspended for one week for a conduct violation.
The Browns will announce a practice squad on Sunday.