The Browns have signed 25-year old RB Brandon Jackson to a 2-year, $4.5 million dollar deal.  Jackson played in 16 games (13 starts) for the Packers last year and he carried the ball 190 times for 703 yards (3.7 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also caught 43 passes for 342 yards (8.0 avg) with 1 TD grab last season.  Jackson has now played in 52 games (16 starts) in his first four years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 347 times for 1,329 yards (3.8 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also has caught 110 passes for 844 yards (7.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs so far in his career.  Brandon Jackson will compete with Montario Hardesty to be the Browns’ #2 RB in 2011.  If nothing else, Jackson is a good receiver out of the backfield.  I like this signing for the Browns.

UPDATE:  (9/4/2011) – The Browns have placed Brandon Jackson on the Injured Reserve List due to a case of turf toe.

The Browns have signed 26-year old safety Usama Young.  Young played in 11 games for the Saints last year and he had 23 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 3 passes defensed.  Young has now played in 52 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has 106 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 14 passes defensed and 3 interceptions.  The Browns have a need at safety so this could be the big chance that Young has been waiting for.

The Browns have signed 28-year old linebacker Eric Alexander.  Alexander played in 4 games earlier this season for the Jaguars and he had 3 tackles.  Alexander has now played in 48 games in his first six years in the NFL and he has 51 tackles and 1 forced fumble.  Alexander was pretty much signed to replace LB Blakc Costanzo on special teams as he has been placed on I.R. with a groin injury.  Costanzo played in 10 games for the Browns this year and he had 7 tackles.  In two years with the Browns, Costanzo has played in 26 games in which he has made 21 tackles and he has forced 2 fumbles.  Alexander is capable of replacing Costanzo on special teams.

The Browns have signed 25-year old KR/PR Clifton Smith to return punts and kickoffs this weekend as Josh Cribbs is looking like he won’t be able to play.  Smith played in 2 games earlier this year for the Dolphins and he returned 2 punts for 9 yards (4.5 avg) and 3 kickoffs for 52 yards (17.3 avg).  Smith has played in 22 games in three years in the NFL and he has returned 48 punts for 565 yards (11.8 avg) with 1 TD return.  He has also returned 70 kickoffs for 1,946 yards (27.8 avg) with 1 TD return.  Smith has also carried the ball 12 times for 47 yards (3.9 ypc) and he also caught 6 passes for 28 yards (4.7 avg).  This was a excellent signing for the Browns as Smith has been to a Pro Bowl as a return man.  The Browns waived QB Brett Ratliff to make room on the roster for Smith.

The Browns have signed 28-year old cornerback Eric King.  King played in 4 games for the Lions last season and he had 7 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  He has now played in 56 games in his five years in the NFL and he has 70 tackles and 8 passes defensed.  With Sheldon Brown banged up the Browns had a need for another corner and that’s why they inked King.

The Cleveland Browns have signed 27-year old WR Demetrius Williams.  Williams played in 12 games for the Ravens last season and he caught 8 passes for 142 yards (17.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 44 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has caught 63 passes for 1,008 yards (16.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  The Browns need the help at WR and Williams has some talent so I really like this signing for them.  The Browns have released WR/KR/PR Yamon Figurs to make room on the roster for Williams.  Figurs played in 1 game for the Browns and he carried the ball 1 time for a loss of 4 yards.

The Browns have signed 27-year old WR/KR/PR Yamon Figurs.  Figurs was signed as insurance in case Josh Cribbs/Mohamed Massaquoi can’t start this weekend due to concussions they each suffered last weekend at the hands of cheap shot artist James Harrison of the Steelers.  Figurs played in 1 game for the Raiders earlier this season and he caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg).  He also returned 1 punt for 10 yards and 5 kickoffs for 105 yards (21.0 avg).  Figurs has now played in 33 games in his NFL career and he has caught 5 passes for 103 yards (20.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has also returned 42 punts for 340 yards (8.1 avg) with 1 TD return and he has returned 85 kickoffs for 1,956 yards (23.0 avg) with 1 TD return.  Figurs’ signing leads me to believe that the Browns aren’t too confident that Cribbs will be able to play this weekend.

The Browns have signed 27-year old OG/OT Paul McQuistan.  He played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Raiders last season.  McQuistan has now played in 35 games (12 starts) in his four years in the NFL so far.  McQuistan is a big guy at 6’6″, 315 pounds and he can likely handle guard or tackle giving the O-Line some depth.

UPDATE:  (11/13/2010) – The Browns have released McQuistan.  He didn’t get into any games for the Browns and they won’t miss him at all.

The Cleveland Browns have lost Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme to high ankle sprains which will keep both of them out a while.  Wallace has played in all 5 games for the Browns so far this year and he has completed 63 of 100 passes (63%) for 693 yards with 4 TD passes and 2 INTs (88.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 7 times for 9 yards (1.3 ypc) for the Browns so far this year.  Jake Delhomme had to be shot up just to play last Sunday and he got beat up.  Delhomme has played in 2 games for the Browns so far this year and he has completed 33 of 60 passes (55%) for 324 yards with 1 TD pass and 4 INTs (48.2 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 2 times for -1 yard (-0.5 ypc) this year.  So now the Browns will turn to rookie third round pick Colt McCoy to start against the Steelers in Pittsburgh this weekend.  It will be a big test for McCoy as he didn’t look too great in the pre-season and that was against backup players.  The Browns also signed QB Brett Ratliff off of the Patriots’ practice squad.  He has been with the Browns the last couple of years so he knows the playbook and would be ready to step in if needed this weekend.

The Browns have signed 29-year old WR Sam Aiken.  Aiken played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Patriots last year and he caught 20 passes for 326 yards (16.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 92 games (11 starts) in 7 years in the NFL and he has caught 47 passes for 677 yards (14.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  This was a good move for the Browns who need all the help they can get in the passing game.