Browns make moves, move forward

09.05.2009

The Browns almost have a full roster. Now, the work for the real season officially begins

The team made 23 roster moves Saturday, trimming the roster to 52 players, one below the NFL limit of 53.

The final cuts brought tough decisions but few big surprises, and the work now continues for the players on the roster with the season opener just over seven days away.

"We spent a lot of time trying to put together a roster with as much as balance as we possibly could," Browns head coach Eric Mangini said. "It's a long, well thought out process. And this is never an easy day. These guys worked hard, and it's important to me to have the chance to talk with them and let them know to stay ready, because you never know what might happen."

The Browns waived 18 players and terminated the contracts of five others: DB Hamza Abdullah, RB Noah Herron, DB Corey Ivy, WR David Patten and TE Aaron Walker.

Ivy and Patten were veterans who had previous experience with the Browns; Ivy had played as the team's nickel cornerback for the majority of the preseason.

The roster currently includes 10 linebackers, 10 defensive backs, seven rookie draft choices and two undrafted rookies, LB Marcus Benard and DB Bret Lockett.

"Both Marcus and Bret showed great improvement through camp," Mangini said. "Like all rookies, they still have a long way to go. But I hope they focus on continuing to show improvement and find a way to make the (45-man) gameday roster."

Waived were FB Charles Ali, DB Brandon Anderson, QB Richard Bartel, DB Tra Battle, LB Beau Bell, OL Branndon Braxton, LB Titus Brown, OL Dustin Fry, DL Adam Hoppel, WR Paul Hubbard, RB Chris Jennings, WR Lance Leggett, OL Pat Murray, WR Jordan Norwood, OL Kurt Quarterman, DL Brian Schaefering, OL Isaac Sowells and DL Santonio Thomas.

The Browns still have one spot to fill and will monitor the waiver wire for players waived by other teams, but Mangini said he doesn't have a specific player or group of players in mind.

"Year to year it changes," he said. "It's always an ongoing process. We will look at the waiver wire but we are committed to developing the guys we have and getting them better."