The Browns have signed 34-year old WR David Patten to a 1-year deal.  Patten played in 5 games for the Saints last season and he caught 11 passes for 162 yards (14.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 147 games in his NFL career catching 324 passes for 4,715 yards (14.6 avg) with 24 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 13 times for 106 yards (8.2 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Patten played with the Browns during the 2000 season appearing in 14 games in which he caught 38 passes for 546 yards (14.4 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also returned 22 kickoffs that season for 469 yards (21.3 avg) for the Browns.  This signing was to protect the Browns in case Donte’ Stallworth goes to the pokey.

The Cleveland Browns have signed 31-year old cornerback Corey Ivy to a 1-year deal.  Ivy played in all 16 games for the Ravens in 2008 and he finished with 52 tackles, defensed 3 passes, had 2.5 sacks and he forced 1 fumble.  Ivy has now played in 110 games in his NFL career and he has made 278 tackles, defensed 25 passes, has 9.5 sacks, forced 5 fumbles and he also intercepted 3 passes (0ne that he returned for a TD).  Look for Ivy to battle Hank Poteat for the job as the nickel corner in 2009 for the Browns.

The Browns have signed 26-year old running back Noah Herron.  Herron did not play last season with the Bucs.  He has played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 85 times for 273 yards (3.2 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Herron has also caught 29 passes for 211 yards (7.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  As of right now Herron would be #3 on the Browns’ depth chart at running back but that could change after the draft.  If the Browns use an early pick on a running back (a definite possibility) then Herron will have to make the team on special teams.  Herron has returned 8 kickoffs for 143 yards (17.9 avg) and he has 12 tackles in his NFL career.  This was a so-so move for the Browns as Herron will likely replace Jason Wright unless the Browns make some more moves at RB.

The Cleveland Browns have signed 31-year old OT John St. Clair to a 3-year, $9 million dollar contract.  St. Clair played in 16 games for the Bears last season (all starts) at left tackle.  The 6’5″, 315 pound St. Clair has now played in 107 games (55 starts) in his 9-year NFL career.  This was a good signing for the Browns as St. Clair will likely start at right tackle over Floyd Womack and Ryan Tucker.

28-year old WR Donte’ Stallworth ran over man in Miami yesterday killing him.  The authorities are testing Stallworth’s blood to see if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Stallworth just received a gigantic bonus from the Browns yesterday and I hope for his sake he wasn’t celebrating.  He pretty much stole the money from the Browns based on his play last season.  He played in 11 games for the Browns in 2008 and he caught 17 passes for 170 yards (10.0 avg) with 1 whole TD grab.  Stallworth has now played in 95 games in his NFL career and he has caught 296 passes for 4,383 yards (14.8 avg) with 32 TD grabs.  It will be interesting to see if Stallworth plays for the Browns in 2009 or spends some time in the pokey.

The Browns have signed 31-year old inside linebacker Eric Barton.  Barton will likely team up with D’Qwell Jackson on the inside of the Browns’ defense which will tighten up against the run in 2009.  Barton played in all 16 games for the Jets last season and he made 119 tackles, defensed 4 passes, had 1.5 sacks and he forced a fumble.  Barton has now played in 136 games in his NFL career and he has made 744 tackles, defensed 21 passes, has 20 sacks, forced 8 fumbles and he has 4 interceptions.  Finally, the Browns signed a ex-New York Jet with some talent.

The Browns have signed 30-year old Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack.  Womack is a big guy at 6’4″, 328 pounds and he should start at right tackle for the Browns unless they re-sign Kevin Shaffer.  Womack played in 15 games (14 starts) for the Seahawks last season.  He has now played in 90 games (47 starts) in his NFL career so far.  This was a good signing for the Browns as Womack can handle guard if he had to but he should start for the Browns in 2009 at tackle.

The Browns have released 29-year old OT Kevin Shaffer.  Shaffer was one of Phil Savage’s big signings during his tenure but the problem with Shaffer is that the Browns’ paid him like a left tackle.  He couldn’t handle that job and was bumped to the right side by Pro Bowler Joe Thomas.  Shaffer played in 15 games (all starts) last season for the Browns and he played in 47 games (all starts) in his three seasons with the team.  The Browns might try to re-sign Shaffer at a smaller amount of cash.

The Browns have released 34-year old WR Joe Jurevicius. Jurevicius didn’t play last season as he was recovering from an amazing 7 known knee surgeries in less than 12 months ending December of 2008. Jurevicius played in 29 games in 3 seasons with the Browns and he caught 90 passes for 1,109 yards (12.3 avg) with 6 TD grabs. He likely has finished his career playing in 133 games in the NFL in which he caught 323 passes for 4,119 yards (12.8 avg) with 29 TD grabs. It’s a shame that Jurevicius’ career with the Browns ended this way.

The Browns have signed 31-year old DE/LB David Bowens to a 4-year, $7.2 million dollar contract.  Bowens played in all 16 games for the Jets last season and he made 40 tackles, defensed 3 passes, made 4 sacks, forced 2 fumbles and he intercepted 1 pass.  Bowens has now played in 136 games in his NFL career and he has made 220 tackles, defensed 23 passes, sacked the opposing QB 32 times, forced 7 fumbles and he intercepted 1 pass.  If Bowens has anything left in the gas tank he should help the Browns’ pass rush some so this was a signing worth the risk.