According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Cleveland Browns have signed the following eight players to reserve/future contracts: RB Armond Smith, WR Owen Spencer, OL Dominic Alford, OL Stanley Daniels, OL Jarrod Shaw, LB Craig Robertson, DB David Sims, and K Jeff Wolfert.
Several of those names should sound familiar. Smith spent some time on the team's active roster before being replaced by former Texans running back Chris Ogbonnaya. Smith finished the year on the Browns' practice squad, as did Alford, Robertson, Shaw, Sims, and Spencer. Wolfert was with the team in the preseason but was not on anyone's practice squad this season. Daniels has previously spent some time with the Broncos.
What are "reserve/future" contracts? Anyone who was signed to an NFL active roster cannot enter free agency until March. Anyone who was on a practice squad though became free agents at the conclusion of the regular season. Therefore, the Browns basically "re-signed" the players they are interested in having another look at during the offseason programs or in training camp next season. In other words, it's really just a formality that has to be done to keep your practice squad in tact.
0 recs | 11 comments
Wolfert has serious power. Forgot what preseason game it was but I think he hit a 49 yarder dead center.
Heavysoviet - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Actually Wolfert looked pretty damn good all pre-season and Kickers aren’t so subjective. Either you make the kick or you don’t. I would rather have Dawson back but he’s still a kicker so if he wants to be a dick about it when the Browns obviously want him back then cya.
HenryDawg - January 3, 2012
Obviously i think they are planning for the next few years since dawson might retire soon. And they want to keep wolfert around untill he does, and get him used to the team and everything.
lightninmcqueen - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Dawson has alternated between talking about how he wants to be with the Browns and how he wants to be somewhere else. I hope he just signs with the Browns for a nice contract, but if he wants to be somewhere else, then fine, he’s still a kicker at the end of the day.
HenryDawg - January 3, 2012
Did you read the article on NFL.com? Haha he talks about how he doesn’t want to become mosis and miss the browns becoming great. And that we are almost to the promised land. And how it would be just a shame if he retired now.
lightninmcqueen - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Don’t forget that he also had to get home and eat a burrito.
The Licensed Optimist - January 4, 2012
I don’t recall him saying he wanted to be somewhere else. Was that part of a contract posturing thing?
JustBob - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
Maybe, probably. Also I probably read it from Grossi so its almost certainly not true.
HenryDawg - January 4, 2012
I do feel sorry for him, though. Spent all his good years with a struggling franchise when I’m sure he could have easily gone to someone else. I hope we can win for him.
Heavysoviet - January 4, 2012
If he’s a good kicker for the money, then Phil becomes expendable. No room for hugging a damn kicker. Nothing against Phil, but always look forward.
dabooo - January 4, 2012
I would like him to retire as a Brown. He won’t go to the HoF but he’ll be part of our RoH.
Brownie's Year - January 4, 2012
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