Browns sign long snapper Christian Yount to replace Ryan Pontbriand

Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson (4) walks off the field with long snapper Ryan Pontbriand after the opening practice at the NFL football training camp in Berea, Ohio Saturday, July 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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The Browns signed long snapper Christian Yount today to replace Ryan Pontbriand, whose uncharacteristic slump cost him his job. Pontbriand's nine-year career with the Browns ended today when he was waived.

Pontbriand, 32, established a reputation as one of the best long snappers in the NFL after former Browns coach Butch Davis selected him in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2003 draft. Pontbriand made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2008.

But Pontbriand, who's pictured to the far right with Browns kicker Phil Dawson, struggled this season.

Pontbriand's rolling snap this past Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals robbed Dawson of a legitimate chance to make a 55-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, and the Browns fell 23-20. Two weeks earlier, Pontbriand had a low snap that deflected off the right foot of lineman Alex Mack and disrupted the timing on Dawson's unsuccessful 22-yard field goal attempt in the Browns' 13-12 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

Yount has appeared in seven games this season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they signed him as an undrafted free agent in July. He was waived on Oct. 25 after the Buccaneers activated long snapper Andrew Economos from the physically unable to perform list.

Yount appeared in 51 games at UCLA from 2007-10.