NFL 2011 - Browns Pick Up Three Off Waivers to Prepare for Opener

Browns Pick Up Three Off Waivers to Prepare for Opener
NFL 2011

Cleveland, OH

One week before the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns tweaked their roster.

The Browns obtained three players off waivers, let go of three players and rounded out their practice squad with the signings of six others.

Claimed off waivers was quarterback Thaddeus Lewis (St. Louis), linebacker Quinton Spears (Miami) and defensive lineman Emmanuel Stephens (Atlanta). To make room, the team waived defensive lineman Auston English and linebacker Benjamin Jacobs, and terminated the contract of defensive lineman Derreck Robinson.

Cleveland also signed the following six players to its practice squad after they were waived by the Browns Saturday: offensive linemen Dominic Alford and Jarrod Shaw, fullback Tyler Clutts, running back Quinn Porter, defensive lineman Brian Sanford and wide receiver Rod Windsor.

Lewis signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He was on the team's 53-man roster for the season-opener last year before spending the rest of the season on the practice squad. In preseason with St. Louis in 2011, Lewis hit on 23-of-32 passes for 266 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Lewis was a four-year letterman at Duke where he threw for 10,065 yards with 67 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. He set school career records for passing yards and touchdowns.

Spears signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent this year. He registered a sack with the team in the preseason. The 6-4, 234-pounder began his collegiate career at Prairie View A&M as a walk-on wide receiver before being converted to defensive end.

Stephens signed with Atlanta as an undrafted college free agent in 2010 and spent all of his rookie season on the Falcons' practice squad. The 6-3, 255-pounder was a two-year letterman at the University of Mississippi (2008-09) after transferring from Blinn Community College.