Roster

Safety Nick Sorensen signed a three-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. Sorensen, who excelled on special teams last season after joining Cleveland, played in nine games with the Browns in 2007. The 29-year-old ranked fifth on the team with 14 special-teams tackles, making a season-high four in a win over Baltimore on Nov. 18. "Nick joined us midseason last year and did an excellent job on special teams and also provided veteran leadership," Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "He will be a part of our core special teams unit and serve as a quality backup safety." An eight-year veteran, Sorensen has also played for St. Louis and Jacksonville.

Browns DB Brodney Pool had three tackles, an interception and a half-sack Sunday at Baltimore.

The Browns and FB Charles Ali agreed to a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.

Cleveland rookie DB Eric Wright and three other Browns starters missed practice Wednesday with knee injuries. Wright sprained his right knee on his first play in Sunday's overtime win at Baltimore and could miss significant time. He was helped off the field and carted to the locker room for treatment. Wright underwent an MRI exam earlier this week, but Browns coach Romeo Crennel, taking a page from former boss Bill Belichick, was tight-lipped when asked about the player's condition or his chances of playing this week against Houston. Earlier this week, Browns play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan reported the team expected Wright to miss four to six weeks. If Wright can't play, Daven Holly likely will start in his place. Holly started 12 games last season and three this year. DL Shaun Smith and DL Ethan Kelly also missed practice with knee problems.

Browns LB Leon Williams appeared in all 16 games in 2007 with nine starts. He had career-highs in sacks (four) and tackles (85, with 63 solo).

Browns rookie QB Brady Quinn barely saw the field in 2007 with the emergence of Derek Anderson. It's likely Quinn will remain a backup again in 2008, with Anderson expected to return as a restricted free agent. Quinn appeared in two games in 2007 and completed 3-of-8 passes for 45 yards.

Notable inactives for the Chargers-Broncos Week 5 game include: Chargers QB Charlie Whitehurst (No. 3/emergency QB), CB Paul Oliver, FB Andrew Pinnock, FB/WR Legedu Naanee, LB Anthony Waters, TE Jeff Chandler and WR Eric Parker. For the Broncos, DB Hamza Abdullah, RB Mike Bell, DB Steve Cargile, TE Stephen Alexander, WR Javon Walker, DT Antwan Burton and DE Simeon Rice are inactive.

Browns DL Robaire Smith started all 16 games in 2007 and finished with 55 tackles (41 solo) with four sacks. This was Smith's first year with Cleveland after stints with Houston and Tennessee.

The Browns' list of inactives for Week 14 at the Jets includes QB Ken Dorsey, DB Ricardo Colclough, DB Kenny Wright, WR Travis Wilson, LB David McMillan and DL Louis Leonard.

Browns WR Tim Carter appeared in 16 games in his first year in Cleveland in 2007 and finished with eight catches for 117 yards and one touchdown. Carter came to the Browns after five seasons with the Giants.

The Lions traded Shaun Rogers to the Browns for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in the April draft. The deal was announced Saturday by the Lions, a day after a trade with Cincinnati fell through that would have shipped the talented but inconsistent defensive tackle to the Bengals in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks.

The Cleveland Browns on Monday released the following players: K Jesse Ainsworth, DB Therrian Fontenot, DL Orien Harris, WR Mike Mason, WR Kendrick Mosley, TE Buck Ortega, WR Efrem Hill, FB JR Niklos, DB Justin Sandy and DL Alvin Smith.

Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson made 26-of-30 field goals in 2007 with a long of 51. He also made 42-of-43 extra points. Dawson benefited from the Browns offense becoming a force in 2007.

ESPN reports that Browns backup TE Steve Heiden had surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back, according to his agent. He is expected to attend training camp assuming his rehab goes well.

Back - Questionable for the start of 2008 training camp

Cleveland nose tackle Ted Washington's season ended Wednesday when the Browns placed the massive 17-year veteran on injured reserve. Washington began the season as a starter, but was inactive for two games as Ethan Kelly started in the 39-year-old's spot. The Browns said Washington has an injured left knee. "Ted has been working through some knee issues that finally have caught up to him," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said in a statement. "We appreciate his effort to this point and know he will continue to help us any way he can in going forward."

Browns QB Ken Dorsey (3rd QB), DB Ricardo Colclough, DL Ethan Kelley, WR Travis Wilson and DL Orpheus Roye have all been listed as inactive for Week 13 at Arizona.

Browns TE Darnell Dinkins appeared in 15 games in 2007 and finished with one catch for 8 yards and no touchdowns. Dinkins is the third tight end for Cleveland behind Kellen Winslow and Steve Heiden.

The Cleveland Browns signed RB Chris Barclay, TE Jonny Harline, DB Tim Mixon, DL Chase Pittman, DL Melila Purcell, WR Steve Sanders and WR Syndric Steptoe to the practice squad Monday. Six of the eight players (Barclay, Louis, Pittman, Purcell, Sanders and Steptoe) were with the Browns during training camp, including three 2007 draft choices (Purcell, Pittman and Steptoe). Harline is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Brigham Young who spent training camp with the Indianapolis Colts. Mixon is an undrafted rookie free agent out of California who spent training camp with the Chicago Bears.

Notable inactives from the 49ers-Browns Week 17 game include: 49ers QBs Shaun Hill and Trent Dilfer, DB Marcus Hudson, CB Shawntae Spencer, LB Derek M. Smith, DL Damane Duckett, DL Atiyyah Ellison and WR Jason Hill. For the Browns, DL Orpheus Roye, LB Antwan Peek, DB Ricardo Colclough, DL Melila Purcell, WR Travis Wilson and QB Ken Dorsey.

Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand was added to the AFC squad on Monday, giving the Cleveland Browns at least four representatives for next month's game in Hawaii. Pontbriand will join kick returner Joshua Cribbs, wide receiver Braylon Edwards and left tackle Joe Thomas in Honolulu for the Feb. 10 game. Before this season, the Browns hadn't had a player make the Pro Bowl since linebacker Jamir Miller in 2001. Pontbriand was not a replacement. He was chosen by San Diego's coaching staff, which as the losing team in the AFC championship, gets to coach the AFC team. "I'm thrilled," Pontbriand said. "Making the Pro Bowl is a goal I was always hoping for but never thought I'd see this early in my career. It's going to be a memorable experience."

Browns DB Eric Wright appeared in 14 games with 13 starts in 2007, which was his rookie year out of UNLV. He finished with one interception, one sack and 76 tackles (71 solo).

CB A.J. Davis was released from the practice squad, meaning the Lions got essentially nothing from Oakland for quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Mike Williams, the 10th pick of the 2005 draft. The Lions drafted Davis with the fourth-round pick they got in the trade.

Browns RB Lawrence Vickers did a good job blocking for Cleveland in 2007. He had 14 starts in 16 games and ran 15 times for 43 yards. He also had 13 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Vickers job was to block for the running backs as the team's fullback.

Running back Jamal Lewis has agreed with the Browns on a three-year contract the team announced Thursday. Lewis was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week, but the Browns didn't want to risk losing him after he helped them win 10 games in 2007.

Cleveland Browns added another prime target for newly re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson on Saturday, agreeing with New England veteran Donte' Stallworth on a seven-year contract. "Donte' will be the major addition to our offense this year," Browns GM and senior vice president Phil Savage said. "He will bring legitimate speed, quickness and playmaking ability to the receiving corps and add a different dimension to the skill players we already have in place."

The Cleveland Browns terminated the contract of defensive lineman Orpheus Roye on Wednesday, cutting loose one of their most productive players ahead of free agency. A 12-year veteran, Roye battled knee injuries the past two seasons. The 35-year-old was sche