Detmer Leaves 49ers For Browns

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 23, 1999 / 3:02 AM EST / CBS Sportsline

Ty Detmer is headed to the Cleveland Browns after agreeing to a seven-year contract and a trade from the San Francisco 49ers, sources told The Associated Press on Monday.

Detmer, who had the right to turn down a trade and did so several weeks ago, will earn nearly $3 million next season and $14 million for the entire contract.

The Browns and 49ers agreed to the deal, but Detmer did not approve it until Monday night, said a source who asked not to be identified. The seven-year NFL veteran and winner of the 1990 Heisman Trophy was on a hunting trip in Utah when he agreed to the trade and the contract.

The Browns and 49ers worked on a deal involving Detmer for about two weeks. Cleveland's president is Carmen Policy, who formerly held that position with San Francisco, and the Browns' general manager is Dwight Clark, a former 49ers player and executive.

San Francisco sent defensive end Roy Barker and tight end Irv Smith to the Browns on Feb. 12, after the Browns took 49ers cornerback Antonio Langham in the expansion draft Feb. 9, saving the 49ers considerable salary cap space.

Detmer, 31, signed with San Francisco before last season as a free agent after two years as a starter for Philadelphia. He also spent four years in Green Bay as Brett Favre's backup.

He would likely be Cleveland's starter and a tutor for Tim Couch if the Browns use their first pick in the draft on the Kentucky quarterback.

Cleveland is believed to be offering a swap of picks in the fourth round and a fifth-round pick for Detmer, who has completed 407 passes for 4,807 yards and 27 touchdowns in 44 NFL games.