Cleveland Browns Sign Free Agents

More than 1,000 days since they were last seen on a football field, there are Cleveland Browns players again.

The expansion team signed its first players Tuesday, giving the club its first on-field identity and football-starved Cleveland fans some players to call their own.

The NFL had granted the Browns exclusivity to sign "street" free agents -- players not under contract -- since Dec. 17, but the club waited until Tuesday to announce the signings.

The new players are: wide receiver Corey Bridges, linebacker Darion Conner, defensive back Corey Dowden, defensive tackle Bill Duff, quarterback John Dutton, and defensive tackle Albert Reese.

"We really didn't want to put the pressure of being the first player signed by the Browns on one person," said Dwight Clark, director of football operations. "What we wanted to do was announce six guys or more, so there's not really one guy that signed first."

Clark said the club was "trying to get guys we felt had a chance to eventually make the 53-man roster." And although many of the players available are "special-teams types" and will be long shots to make the team, Clark said the Browns aren't handing out white jerseys and orange helmets for fun, either.

"We didn't just sign these guys just to sign them," he said. "It's too early to tell about a lot of these guys, but after we get a better look at them and through a couple of minicamps we'll know a lot better."

Quarterback John Dutton is one of the few, the proud, the Cleveland Browns. (AP)

Clark was fmiliar with four of he players -- Conner, Dowden, Reese and Duff -- from his time with the 49ers.

Conner, who played in college at South Carolina, was the Philadelphia Eagles' top special teams players in 1997 and recorded 101/2 sacks with the Saints in 1994.

"Why he is not playing for anyone is real surprising," said Clark, who described Conner as a "great pass rusher."

Reese was signed by the 49ers as a free agent in 1996 and played five games for them in '97. Clark said Reese, who played at Grambling, is an "above-average player and a guy who could make the 53-man roster."

Dutton, who set passing records while in college at Nevada, was one of the final cuts by the Miami Dolphins this summer. Clark said Dutton had an impressive workout for player personnel director Joe Mack.

"His footwork was better than anyone anticipated," Clark said of the 6-foot-4 player. "It'll be interesting to see how he does."

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