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.