Pre-Season Schedule
• Saturday, August 10 @ Minnesota Vikings W 27 - 15
• Saturday, August 17 DETROIT LIONS W 24 - 23
• Monday, August 26 @ Green Bay Packers L 20 - 27
• Friday, August 30 CAROLINA PANTHERS L 19 - 20

Alfred Lerner 1933-2002: The Temple-Tifereth Israel in University Circle Friday was filled with more than 2,000 of Lerner's friends and colleagues from all walks of life, including business, medicine, sports and politics.

Mourners included NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich, Gov. Bob Taft, Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell, former FBI director Louis Freeh and Gen. James L. Jones, commandant of the Marine Corps.

The entire Browns football team and its coach, Butch Davis, arrived in three touring buses.

There were also a half-dozen NFL owners, former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome, local business leaders such as Albert Ratner and Mal Mixon, and Indians owner Larry Dolan.

Backup QB Kelly Holcomb started the season while Couch nurses a bruised arm.

The Cleveland Browns today acquired tight end Steve Heiden from the San Diego Chargers for the Browns 7th round draft choice in the 2003 NFL draft. The Chargers also have the option of switching 6th round draft choices with the Browns in 2003.

Final Cuts
• TE-Rickey Dudley released.
• OG-Tre Johnson released.
• FB-Kevin McLeod released.
• DE-Arnold Miller released.
• DB-Calvin Spears released.
• DL-Cecil Caldwell placed on reserve-injured (knee).
• TE-Chris Eitzmann placed on reserve-injured (shoulder).
• DB-Earthwind Moreland placed on reserve-injured (groin).
• LB-Michael Smith placed on reserve-injured (hand).

The Browns released 11 players Tuesday in accordance with the NFL’s 65-man roster deadline. Linebackers Lenoy Jones and Marquis Smith and defensive tackle Marcus Spriggs.Offensive lineman Brad Bedell OL Richard Mercier, WR Abram Booty, DB Emmanuel McDaniel, DB Dyshod Carter, OL Gaylon Hyder, TE Alvin Morrow, and K Jay Taylor.

Many rumors surfaced about Ricky Williams and Cris Carter. The Browns did try to work a deal with the Saints but the asking price was way to much and the Browns passed on Ricky! Carter is at the end of his career and wanted to much money and the Browns said see you later! The Browns still would like to sign D.E.Keith McKenzie and I sure hope they do! The Browns will keep bringing in free agents till the draft...not that many big names left!

• 4/26 Browns free agents RB Jamel White,signed a one-year contract and K Phil Dawson,signed a four-year contract with the Browns.

• RB Ben Gay was released! He finished the season with 172 rushing yards, an average of 3.4 per carry, and averaged 22.3 yards per on 23 kickoff returns. Gay average was higher then RB James Jackson who I think sucks!

• Agreeing to new one-year deals with the team were OL Shaun O’Hara, DE Derrick Ham and LB Anthony Denman. O’Hara finished the 2001 season as the team’s starting left guard and also made four starts at center in 2000.

• CB Cory Fuller and the Browns recently renegotiated Fuller’s contract. As the case with all player contracts the Browns would not release financial terms, however, the Browns did confirm that Fuller had accepted pay cuts in base salary in each of the next two years.

• The Browns traded MLB Wali Rainer and pick 79 of the draft to Jacksonville for pick 76, which the team used to select Maryland OL Melvin Fowler.

• The Browns have named Buddy Morris as the club’s head strength and conditioning coach and in the offseason conditioning program between 58 and 62 players are working out every day.                                                                                                                        

• The Browns and DE Tyrone Rogers have agreed on a two-year deal.      

• Inside linebacker Earl Holmes agreed to terms on a five-year deal Friday and jumped ship from Pittsburgh,Holmes(6-foot-2, 245) has averaged 100 tackles per season and has recorded 9.5 sacks and one interception in six years as a professional.                                            

• OL Barry Stokes (6-foot-4, 310) has played for seven NFL teams since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He has played both guard and tackle in 27 NFL game appearances, including three starts.

• Browns re-signed LB Lenoy Jones to a one-year contract.

• The Browns and free agent WR Chris Sanders have agreed to terms on a one-year contract that will bring the seven-year veteran back to the Buckeye State.

• The Browns and Tre Johnson agreed to terms on a one-year contract Tuesday that will bring the eight-year veteran back to Cleveland and—if he’s healthy—back to the starting lineup.

• D.E. Kenard Lang - Lang has 21.5 sacks in five years as a pro, including four last season. His best year was 1999, when he recorded six sacks and 22 quarterback pressures. He was the 17th overall selection in the 1997 NFL Draft and started 52 games in five seasons with the Redskins. Not has good rushing the passer then McKenzie but plays well against the run.

• Safety Robert Griffith - Griffith (5-foot-11, 197) joins the Browns after spending his first eight NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 2000 season and his career totals include 17 interceptions and 792 tackles. Great run stuffer!

• OL Ryan Tucker - Tucker (6-5, 305) was a vital cog in the Rams’ offensive juggernaut the past few seasons, starting 31 games over the past two seasons at right tackle. He paved the way to MVP seasons by Marshall Faulk (2000) and Kurt Warner (2001) and was a key backup on St. Louis’ Super Bowl Championship team in 1999. Great addition to our offensive line!

• Got Miami RB JJ Johnson for a seventh round draft pick.

On 4/25/01 - Curtis Enis was forced to retire. The decision was his, and driven exclusively by his health as it related to his knee. On 3/2/02 Enis had a change of heart and notified Dwight Clark he will report to camp this year?