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The Browns are bringing back the versatile Friedman on a 1-year contract. He played in all 16 games (2 starts) last year. He has played in 81 games (34 starts) over his 8-year career. He’s a good backup lineman that played well for the Browns in 2006.
The Browns have paid LeCharles Bentley a $1.5 million dollar option bonus even though he didn’t play a down in 2006 and won’t play one in 2007. Bentley has played 5 seasons in the NFL and he’s played in 57 games (all starts). The Browns are hoping that he’ll add to that total in 2008 for them.
The Browns have signed DE Robaire Smith and DT/NT Shaun Smith to 4 year contracts. Robaire Smith played in 15 games last season for the Tennessee Titans and he made 44 tackles, 1/2 a sack and defensed 2 passes. The 6′4″, 310 pounder is a good run stuffer and the Browns need all the help they can get there. Over his career, R.Smith has played in 96 games and he’s made 246 tackles, has 15.5 sacks, defensed 18 passes, forced a fumble and recovered 3 fumbles.
Shaun Smith was a restricted free agent that was plucked from the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in 13 games and made 10 tackles and defensed 1 pass. The 6′2″, 325 pound Smith has played in 34 games in his three year NFL career and he’s made 46 tackles and defensed a pass.
Robaire Smith will start from Day #1 for the Browns but Shaun Smith will have to beat out Ted Washington. If Shaun Smith can’t beat out Washington to start then he won’t be worth the money the Browns are paying him.
McKinney is coming off of a back injury that kept him out all of last season. If he is healthy look for him to start at right guard for the Browns. McKinney has played in 61 games for the Miami Dolphins in 5 years (34 starts). He is a player with a mean streak that should help the Browns’ running game and he’s a big guy at 6′3″, 310 pounds. This was a good signing for the Browns as they need to get better along the O-Line.
The Browns have felt that Smith’s play has started to decline so they got rid of him. He played in all 16 games (8 starts) for the Browns last season and he carried the ball 8 times for 14 yards (1.8 ypc) and he caught 8 passes for 21 yards (2.6 avg). The Browns will give second year fullback Lawrence Vickers a shot to replace Smith this season in the Browns’ backfield.