The Browns have signed rookie offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey to a four-year contract, the team announced today.

The Browns picked Gilkey in the seventh round (No. 227 overall) of this year’s draft. He started 34 of the 37 games in which he appeared at Chadron State University, where he played left tackle. He received All-America honors and was one of three Division II players invited to the Senior Bowl.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Gilkey has been working at guard with the Browns during organized team activities.

Gilkey is the second member of this year’s draft class to sign his rookie contract with the Browns. Former Notre Dame safety Jamoris Slaughter, a sixth-round pick, also signed a four-year deal with the team this week.

Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo (first round), cornerback Leon McFadden (third round) and defensive end Armonty Bryant (seventh round) have yet to sign.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski met with reporters today after an organized team activity practice. Here is a transcript from the news conference:

(Opening statement)- “We had a good week. I’m pleased with what we got done. A lot of it we focused on situational work again and this week we got more into red zone, two minute situations. We worked that really all week long was red zone. We got a lot of work there. Then the last two days we have worked two minute situations and have done that. I feel good about the progress we are making. We are covering a lot. The energy has been great. We are making our way.”

(On what made them bring Brian Hoyer in)- “He was available and we decided to bring him in. He is a guy who has had experience. He has been around. With our situation right now, you don’t have enough reps to split, they are split a lot of different ways. Having a guy who has had some experience and knows how to play and has been on NFL teams helps.”

(On how Hoyer has looked this week)- “It’s early. He has picked things up quickly and he has a good feel.”

(On if Hoyer’s skill set fits what they wanted)- “Again, he’s had experience. He has a good arm and a good sense for playing. We are working him here and we’ll get more of a look at him as we go.”

(On if the reps will be taken by Brandon Weeden-one, Jason Campbell-two and Brian Hoyer-three and then whatever happens happens)- “That’s how we will have them. We will have them 1-2-3. We are getting some extra reps with the young guys and really working that so Brian has been able to get some extra reps with the threes.”

(On if they didn’t need a fourth quarterback for training camp)- “We don’t necessarily need a fourth. It’s not the worst thing to have a fourth and that’s traditionally what has been done, but we need reps and guys to get reps, especially with a new offense right now so three is a good number for us.”

(On Dion Lewis)- “Dion has done a nice job. He had a couple nice runs out here. He has shown some quickness, can catch the ball and has some skills.”

(On if he likes Lewis’ pass catching ability)- “I do. I’ve liked what I’ve seen.”

(On if Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard switched sides from last week)- “We are working them a little bit on both sides. You have probably seen that with a lot of players out here. We are working them multiple sides. It gives us a chance to work them there in case you need to down the road and just to see guys from different sides”

(On if a player could be more comfortable on one side than another)- “I haven’t noticed it. It would be too early to tell. Where they have been playing and how they have been playing has looked pretty good to me.”

(On why Desmond Bryant wasn’t at practice today)- “He has a legal matter that he is taking care of today.”

(On if Johnson Bademosi is now the leader of the special teams unit)- “I’ve been pleased with him. He has taken that type of role, special teams wise. Obviously, he is learning a new position and playing some safety. His approach has been great and I have been pleased with his progress.”

(On is it an experiment or if Bademosi is a safety until further notice)- "I think he looks pretty good at safety right now. We'll keep playing him there and we'll also get him some work at corner and see how that goes."

(On Brandon Weeden looking better this week an practice than last week and his improvement over the course of OTAs)- "You guys are out here one day a week so sometimes you might see one thing one day and the next day you are out. I've seen a progression with Brandon. With all the guys, some days are better than others and that's the thing working with these guys and these quarterbacks. It's not going to be about what a guy does in one day. We're looking over the course of time and they are doing a good job. They are learning what we are doing. Again, we are really working different situations. Next week, we'll work in different situations, get into backed up, get into some four-minute and some of those types of situations. We’ll continue to throw different things at them."

(On if John Greco being a versatile lineman)- "John is able to play a lot of different positions. He came in and did a really nice job last season. He's smart and he can handle a lot of different things. We've been working him on both sides and he is a valuable guy."

(On the competition at the wide receiver position)- "It's pretty open right now and there are a lot of guys there. Again, here, there is no press coverage and there are some things that will make it a little easier for the offense and the receivers particularly. Once we get into training camp that'll play itself out."

(On Josh Cooper)- "He has done a nice job. He has had some nice plays out there. He's a versatile guy who has played in the slot and he has some quickness. He has caught the ball well this spring."

(On Brandon Jackson returning)- "With Brandon, I always felt like you can't have enough good running backs. He's a proven guy who has had production in the league. He has been able to have good production catching the ball as well. Just bringing in another guy who was available at that position from my experience, you can never have enough good running backs."

(On if pass catching is a high requirement for his running backs)- "You'd like to have somebody who can do everything. That's typically not what the case is so you look for different things from different guys. That's something that he obviously has shown that he can do."

(On Trent Richardson's injury)- "It's precautionary. We are holding him out. He may miss minicamp in a week and a half. I'm not sure, we'll just take it day-by-day."

(On Jordan Cameron's injury)- "Same thing. He has a groin that he has pulled. Again, we are being more cautionary with these type of things. We'll have to wait and see."

(On Tashaun Gipson)- "He has done a nice job and there are some young guys there, we’re giving them opportunities. That's going to be a competitive and fluid situation and we'll just keep working. Again, when we get into training camp, that'll really play itself out when we get into contact."

Quarterback Brian Hoyer didn’t need directions to the Browns’ training facility after he signed a two-year deal with the team May 17.

After all, Hoyer, a North Olmsted native and St. Ignatius High School graduate, is home.

“Obviously when you’re a kid growing up and you dream about playing professional sports, you dream about playing for your hometown team,” Hoyer said this afternoon following a session of organized team activities. “It really is … a dream come true. I always grew up wanting to be Bernie Kosar and now to get a chance to play quarterback for the Browns, it’s definitely an exciting time.”

Hoyer is third on the Browns’ depth chart behind incumbent starter Brandon Weeden and nine-year veteran Jason Campbell. The majority of Hoyer’s reps were with the third-team offense, but he also worked a little bit with the second unit, completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to running back Montario Hardesty during an 11-on-11 drill.

Still, Hoyer is confident he has the talent to ascend to a greater role.

“No doubt I think I have the capability to be a starting quarterback,” Hoyer said.

Hoyer pointed out he is learning his fourth offense in less than a year. After spending three seasons as Tom Brady’s backup with the New England Patriots, he wound up with the Pittsburgh Steelers in December and then the Arizona Cardinals for the final two games of this past season. Hoyer, 27, has made one start in his career, completing 19-of-34 passes (55.9 percent) for 225 yards and one touchdown with an interception in the Cardinals’ 27-13, season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.

“I’m so far behind these guys,” Hoyer said. “I’m learning from Brandon and Jason and [offensive coordinator Norv] Turner. Obviously there’s a great coaching staff here, so I’ve been asking them a lot of questions and just trying to catch up. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to compete for a spot on this team. Wherever that goes, we’ll see. But I’m just trying to take it day by day right now, improve myself, and hopefully every day the plays get a little bit easier, the calls get a little bit easier and things like that.”

Disaster relief

Weeden is planning to go back to his home state of Oklahoma this weekend to help in relief efforts after tornadoes recently ripped through it.

Weeden’s wife, Melanie, is from Moore, Okla., where a tornado killed 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes. None of her family members were injured, Weeden said.

“I’m going home this weekend to help out, volunteer, do as much as I can,” said Weeden, an Edmond, Okla., native and former Oklahoma State University standout. “I know it’s tough, there’s so much devastation. But just to do my part, I feel like it’s the right thing to do, especially when it hits close like that with your wife’s family. That’s my plan for the weekend.”

Attendance

Running back Trent Richardson sat out practice today with a strained lower-leg muscle in his shin, and he could be sidelined during the Browns’ mandatory minicamp June 4-6, coach Rob Chudzinski said. Chudzinski said holding Richardson out of practice was “precautionary.”

Tight end Jordan Cameron (strained groin muscle), rookie safety Jamoris Slaughter (Achilles), wide receivers David Nelson (knee), Jordan Norwood (unknown) and Perez Ashford (unknown) and offensive lineman Ryan Miller (unknown) did not practice, either.

Defensive end Desmond Bryant was not at practice because he was tending to a legal matter, Chudzinski said.

Rookie offensive tackle Chris Faulk (knee) worked out on an exercise bike at the beginning of practice and later stood on the field while wearing a helmet as the team conducted a walk through.

Highlight of day

Weeden completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who beat the coverage of cornerback Buster Skrine to catch the perfectly placed ball.

Chudzinski said he has seen progression from Weeden throughout OTAs.

Extra points

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said the team would experiment with Johnson Bademosi and Buster Skrine as kick returners. … Jason Pinkston worked at left guard with the first-team offense. John Greco served as the first-string right guard, and Shawn Lauvao practiced at left guard with the second unit. … Jabaal Sheard practiced at left outside linebacker with the first unit while Paul Kruger worked on the opposite side. Last week, Sheard was on the right side and Kruger on the left. … Rookie cornerback Leon McFadden, a third-round pick in this year’s draft, practiced today after sitting out last week because he was still in school at San Diego State University. McFadden worked with the second-team defense. Skrine practiced with the first-team defense opposite cornerback Joe Haden. In the nickel package, Skrine moved to the slot, and Chris Owens played on the outside.

Running back Trent Richardson and tight end Jordan Cameron are not practicing today during organized team activities, a Browns spokesman said.

Richardson is sidelined with a strained lower-leg muscle in his shin, and Cameron is sitting out with a strained groin muscle.

The Browns will practice from 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. today. Coach Rob Chudzinski and players are scheduled to be available for interviews afterward.

The Browns signed wide receiver Tori Gurley and waived fourth-string quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, the team announced this morning.

The release of Lewis, which was first reported Wednesday night, came less than one week after the Browns signed quarterback Brian Hoyer and inserted him into the third slot on their depth chart. Reporters will get their first look at Hoyer, a North Olmsted native and St. Ignatius High School graduate, with the Browns when organized team activities (OTAs) resume at 10:45 a.m. today in Berea.

The 6-4, 230-pound Gurley signed with the Baltimore Ravens on Jan.1 and was waived on May 13. Last season, he spent time on the practice squads of the Minnesota Vikings (three weeks), Oakland Raiders (one week), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (two weeks) and San Diego Chargers (three weeks).

Gurley spent the entire 2011 season on the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent from the University of South Carolina. He tallied 75 career receptions for 905 yards and six touchdowns in two collegiate seasons.
 

The Browns have waived fourth-string quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.

Pro Football Talk first reported the move tonight.

Lewis’ departure was foreshadowed by the Browns signing quarterback Brian Hoyer on Friday and inserting him into the third slot of their depth chart behind incumbent starter Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell.

Lewis made his NFL debut and lone start Dec. 30 in the Browns’ season-ending, 24-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lewis completed 22-of-32 passes (68.8 percent) for 204 yards and one touchdown with an interception for a passer rating of 83.3.

Lewis, 25, spent the majority of the past two seasons with the Browns, bouncing back and forth from their practice squad and active roster. But Lewis, a product of Duke University, is considered a better fit for the West Coast offense employed by ex-Browns coach Pat Shurmur than the system of current Browns coach Rob Chudzinski because he doesn’t possess the caliber of arm strength required for a vertical, downfield passing game.

Former Boise State linebacker Tommy Smith has not signed with the Browns after all, but a deal could still be reached in the future, his agents said.

KLASS Sports, the agency that represents Smith, said Tuesday that its client traveled to Cleveland Monday night and signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent the following day. However, KLASS conceded this afternoon that its announcement was premature.

Although the Browns flew Smith to Cleveland, they never finalized a contract with him. Smith left town today, though he still might eventually join the team depending on the makeup of its roster as the offseason unfolds.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Smith, an inside linebacker, participated in the Browns’ rookie minicamp May 10-12 on a tryout basis. As a senior last season, Smith started all 13 games for Boise State. He finished third on the team with 61 tackles, including four for loss and a sack.

Jimmy Haslam, whose purchase of the Browns was unanimously approved in October, apologized to fellow NFL owners for the negative attention an ongoing federal investigation targeting his family business, Pilot Flying J, has brought upon the league, USA Today’s Jarrett Bell reported.

Since the FBI and Internal Revenue Service raided the headquarters of Pilot Flying J April 15 in Knoxville, Tenn., Haslam has issued several apologies and denied his knowledge of an alleged fraud scheme the FBI says cheated trucking-company customers out of millions of dollars of rebates they were promised for buying certain amounts of diesel fuel.

Haslam, the CEO of Pilot Flying J, continued to maintain his innocence while explaining his side of the story to his NFL brethren Tuesday during the league meetings in Boston, according to the report. He addressed the other owners for about five minutes before a lunch break. It wasn’t on the agenda, but Haslam asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell if he could speak to the group.

“I thought it was important,” Haslam told USA Today. “We're partners in the NFL. I wanted to address them face-to-face.”

Haslam became a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008 before striking a deal this past summer to buy the Browns from Randy Lerner for about $1 billion. Steelers President Art Rooney II told USA Today he “was shocked” when he first heard about the accusations against Pilot Flying J, which is owned by Haslam and his family.

“I felt like it's nothing Jimmy would become involved in,” Rooney said. “I feel like I know Jimmy. … He’s not someone who'd be breaking the law.”

Haslam and Goodell met last month about the investigation, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has no plans to ask Haslam to surrender operational control of the Browns during the probe. No charges have been filed in the case.

So at this point, the league is sticking by Haslam. And he assured his peers he wouldn’t let them down.

“I know he feels a sense of embarrassment,” New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told USA Today. “He said they're going to do everything they can to get it under control and put it behind them, and that he felt bad for the attention that it brought to the Cleveland franchise and the NFL, and he was going to make it right.

“He handled himself in a very professional way and spoke about what the NFL and the Cleveland market means to him, how important it is that he make both parties proud," Kraft said. "They have a huge company. Maybe they didn't have all the controls that they wanted. He was very impressive in explaining that. I thought it was classy.”

Haslam seemingly earned points among the owners for his most recent speech. He also offered to meet in private with any of them who want further explanation, according to the report.

“Personally, hearing Mr. Haslam explain his full situation, I was very touched by it,” New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch told USA Today. “The complexity of the situation, I don't fully understand. But he was open. I admire him for taking a very proactive position.

“He is the new kid in town in terms of NFL ownership. And to sort of deal with an issue like this in the first quarter is impressive.”

The Browns announced they have claimed undrafted rookie running back Miguel Maysonet off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles and waived undrafted rookie running back Jamaine Cook, a product of Midpark High School and Youngstown State University.

The Eagles signed Maysonet, a former Stony Brook University standout, after last month’s draft and then cut him Monday.

As a senior last season, the 5-foot-9, 209-pound Maysonet rushed for 1,964 yards and 21 touchdowns. As a junior, he ran for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Maysonet would join a crowded stable of running backs in Cleveland. The Browns have Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Brandon Jackson and Dion Lewis on their roster.

The Browns announced they signed rookie free safety Jamoris Slaughter, a sixth-round draft pick from Notre Dame, to a four-year contract in addition to signing two undrafted free agents, wide receiver Michael Edwards and safety Kenronte Walker.

The Browns waived free safety Eric Hagg, linebacker Ryan Rau and undrafted rookie running back Robbie Rouse. They also re-signed running back Brandon Jackson to a one-year contract, a previously reported move.

Hagg, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, started the first two games of the 2012 season before he was demoted. He later started the final two games of the season after T.J. Ward, Tashaun Gipson and Usama Young suffered injuries.

This offseason, the Browns have inserted Gipson into the top slot on their depth chart at free safety. Ward is locked in as the starting strong safety.

The release of Hagg indicates the Browns believe Slaughter will be ready for training camp after suffering a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon Sept. 15 against Michigan State, undergoing surgery and sitting out the rest of the season. Slaughter and Johnson Bademosi, who’s switching from cornerback to free safety in his second NFL season, are expected to compete with Gipson.

Hagg started four of the 12 games in which he appeared last season and tallied 22 tackles and a pass defensed. As a rookie in 2011, he played 10 games and compiled 10 tackles, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.

The Browns claimed Rau of waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles last month. They brought Rouse to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and then signed him May 11.

Below is information the Browns provided in a news release about Slaughter, the two undrafted rookies they signed – Edwards and Walker – and Jackson.

• Selected in the sixth round (175th overall), Slaughter appeared in 39 games with 19 starts at the University of Notre Dame (2009-12). He totaled 98 career tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defensed, two sacks and one fumble recovery. Slaughter started the first three games as a senior before an Achilles injury ended his season. He saw action in all 13 games with 10 starts at safety as a junior and totaled 45 tackles, one interception, two passes defensed, two sacks and a forced fumble. Born December 22, 1989, the 6-0, 190-pound Slaughter is a native of Stone Mountain, Georgia and attended Tucker High School.
• Edwards was initially signed by the Browns on April 30, 2013, and was waived on May 13 after participating in the team’s rookie minicamp. He was a two-year starter at the University of Texas-El Paso (2011-12) after transferring from Mt. San Antonio College (2010) in Walnut, California. He recorded 101 career receptions for 1,477 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons at UTEP. Born December 14, 1989, the 5-11, 200-pound Edwards is a native of Glendora, California, where he attended Glendora High School.
• A two-year letterman at safety at the University of Missouri (2011-12), Walker appeared in 25 games, recording 115 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, one pass defensed and three defensive fumble recoveries. Walker redshirted the 2010 season after transferring from City College of San Francisco, where he notched 36 tackles, five pass breakups, two sacks and one interception in two seasons (2008-09). Born July 28, 1990, the 6-0, 210-pound Walker is a native of Fayetteville, N.C., where he attended Westover High School.
• Originally drafted by Green Bay in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2007 NFL draft, Jackson has seen action in 54 games with 16 starts, and has rushed for 1,383 yards on 355 carries with seven touchdowns. He has also caught 112 passes for 864 yards and two touchdowns. In 2010, Jackson opened 13 contests and set career highs in nearly every category, including rushing attempts (190), rushing yards (703), rushing touchdowns (3), receptions (43) and receiving yards (844) as the Packers captured Super Bowl XLI. He was also one of the best running backs in pass protection that season as his combined number of sacks and quarterback hits allowed was one out of 100 snaps in which he was pass blocking. That figure tied for fifth among all running backs with at least 75 pass blocking snaps. Jackson signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent from Green Bay in 2011, but missed the entire 2011 campaign with a toe injury. During the 2012 season, Jackson appeared in two games and rushed for 54 yards on eight carries and caught two passes for 20 yards. A native of Detroit, Michigan, the 5-10, 216-pound Jackson attended Horn Lake (Miss.) High School and was a three-year letterman at the University of Nebraska (2004-06).

The Browns will waive free safety Eric Hagg today, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.

Adam Caplan of TheSidelineView.com first reported the news.

Hagg, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, started the first two games of the 2012 season before he was demoted. He later started the final two games of the season after T.J. Ward, Tashaun Gipson and Usama Young suffered injuries.

This offseason, the Browns have inserted Gipson into the top slot on their depth chart at free safety. T.J. Ward is locked in as the starting strong safety.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Hagg started four of the 12 games in which he appeared last season and tallied 22 tackles and a pass defensed. As a rookie in 2011, he played 10 games and compiled 10 tackles, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.

Former Boise State linebacker Tommy Smith signed with the Browns today after participating in rookie minicamp earlier this month on a tryout basis, KLASS Sports, the agency that represents Smith, told the Beacon Journal in an email.

The Browns have yet to announce the move.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Smith, an inside linebacker, arrived in Cleveland on Monday night and signed his contract today before practicing with the Browns as they resumed organized team activities (OTAs), according to KLASS Sports.

This week’s block of OTAs runs today through Thursday. Only Thursday’s practice is open to the media.

As a senior last season, Smith started all 13 games for Boise State. He finished third on the team with 61 tackles, including four for loss and a sack.

Former Browns wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs recently signed with the Oakland Raiders, and he discussed his departure from Cleveland during an interview Monday with NFL Network’s NFL Total Access.

Here are some highlights from the conversation:

On his thoughts regarding his eight years in Cleveland:“I have to top that … here in Oakland. I feel like I had a great, successful run in Cleveland. I have a fresh start now, so I’m anxious to get at it, anxious to get back out there on the football field.” 

On if he is mad that he wasn’t able to finish his career in Cleveland: “I had some great times in Cleveland – it [was] just a lot of turnover among the organization. I had four or five head coaches, four or five GMs, five different offensive playbooks, two different owners. I’m looking for some stability. I am upset I wasn’t able to finish my career in Cleveland; love the fan base, but at the same time this is an opportunity right now for a fresh start. Change can sometimes be a good thing and I think it will be.”

On if he is healthy: “I’m healthy. I have a world to go before the season starts. First thing’s first is getting back out there, getting acclimated to football. I had an offseason scope; nothing too big on that end. I’m anxious to get back out there on the football field, meet my new teammates and just get started.”

On why he chose to sign with the Oakland Raiders: “Oakland seems like a good fit for me; same type of blue-collar town that Cleveland had. The fan base, it rivals Cleveland; Cleveland has a great fan base and so does Raider Nation. I’m proud to be welcomed in like the fans have. Great coaching staff, very personable guys out here. They really want to win; I could see that on my visit. This is just like Cleveland as far as a tradition of winning and that’s what they have here in Oakland, and I’m anxious to help them get back onboard with that.”

On if he can compare the Dawg Pound in Cleveland with the Black Hole in Oakland:  “I don’t really want to compare them; you’ll get in trouble with that. But at the same time I wanted to talk about the tradition of winning and both teams have a good tradition of winning; probably more Hall of Famers here [in Oakland]. My job and my goal is to get that back here in Oakland, to get this team right and to help them do that.”

The DeKalb County medical examiner told NFL.com McMillan was fatally shot. Fox Sports Ohio reported McMillan, 31, was killed in an apparent robbery attempt.

The Browns drafted McMillan, a former defensive end at the University of Kansas, in the fifth round in 2005. He spent three seasons with the Browns, serving as a backup outside linebacker and special teamer.

The Beacon Journal has left messages with the DeKalb County Police Department and the DeKalb County medical examiner's office, but they were not immediately returned.

As the Browns transition from a 4-3 defense to new defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s 3-4, multi-front scheme, Craig Robertson is receiving the biggest break of his young NFL career.

The 6-foot-1, 229-pound Robertson, a second-year pro who went undrafted out of the University of North Texas, has been working at inside linebacker with the first-team defense this offseason.

Robertson discussed his opportunity and more with reporters during the 14th annual Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Tournament today at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River. Below are some highlights from the interview.

What do you like about Horton’s defense?: “It lets you be a player. You’re not constricted to doing certain things. You just go make a play. Go find the football. Make the tackle. We’ll live for another play. Then we’ll make something happen on defense.”

What are some things you’ll get to do in this defense that you didn’t get to do last year?: “Probably play with more confidence. Now I have three or four times as much confidence as I had last year just from actually knowing the defense and trying to actually learn the ins and outs of the defense, not just knowing what I’m doing but knowing what everybody is doing.”

Is this the opportunity you’ve been working toward?: “Whether I’m No. 1 or No. 10, I would have the same attitude. Every year, it would be the same thing for me. I treat it like I’m not supposed to be here, so I always work hard regardless. It doesn’t matter where I’m at. I’m still going to be the same person.”

Now that you’ve been working with the first-team defense, are you determined to hang onto this opportunity and start?: “I’m just determined for one to start winning. That’s all I’m worrying about. I’m not worried about starting or [being] second or third. We haven’t even put on pads, let alone put in a game plan yet. So we’re still trying to learn the defense, and I’m just still trying to enjoy it and have fun with it.”

Are you surprised a big break in your career presented itself with a new regime coming in?: “I’m not surprised. God does everything for a reason. All you can do is have fun with it. You can’t really stress about it. You can’t [be] too high or be too low. Just stay even-keeled and have fun with it.”

What can you say about another young inside linebacker, James-Michael Johnson, and his ability to push you?: “It’s not just James-Michael Johnson. It’s L.J. [Fort]. It’s Tank [Carder]. It’s Adrian Moten. It’s every guy in that room. It’s not just one guy. So we’re all going to push each other, and we’ve been doing since day one.”

What do you think of rookie outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft?: “He’s made some plays. He’s quick. He has long arms. He’s able to drop back in coverage. People were kind of wanting to see that, and we saw it in the first couple of OTAs.”

Johnson Bademosi made his mark as a rookie this past season playing special teams for the Browns, and he also showed promise in limited action as a cornerback.

But Bademosi, who went undrafted out of Stanford University, is now undergoing a position change with a new coaching staff in place. After spending most of his life playing cornerback, Bademosi has been working exclusively at free safety as of late. Tashaun Gipson is atop the depth chart at free safety, though Bademosi is hoping to push him.

Bademosi discussed his new role and more with reporters during the 14th annual Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Tournament today at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River. Below are some highlights from the interview.

What are your thoughts on moving from cornerback to free safety?: “It was an idea some of our coaches had. I’m kind of up for anything. Anyway I can help the team I’m willing to. I’ve heard the more you can do in this league, the longer you’ll play in this league. Whether it’s long snapper, corner, safety, Wildcat quarterback, I’m willing to do it. I’m willing to learn.”

You’re built like a safety -- 6-foot and 200 pounds: “People have said that. The way the league is now there are a variety of sizes at positions. You’ve got big corners and small corners, big safeties and small safeties. It just kind of depends on what you prefer.”

What experience do you have at safety?: “Not too much. I’ve been a corner for pretty much all my life, and I’ve done a good job at corner. So now it’s just a means of learning safety. It’s a new thought process, new checks, new responsibilities.”

How tough is that transition?: “It’s different. I’d say physically, it’s not as demanding as corner. But it’s demanding in a couple different ways as far pre-snap reads and responsibilities to make certain checks and calls. At your job, sometime they put you in a new position and you have to learn how to operate in that fashion, and that’s what I’m doing now.”

There are some opportunities for starting jobs at safety and corner. What gives you the best opportunity to get on the field?: “It’s hard for me to say. We’ve got a lot of great players on the team at both the corner and safety positions. There’s a lot of competition at both positions.”

Are you confident specials teams can continue to perform well without Josh Cribbs, who recently signed with the Oakland Raiders?: “Cribbs was a really productive player, and he was special. It shows in what he’s done in the past. But like any other year, no year is the same, and the team is different every year. We’re just going to progress and get better as a unit.”

Cribbs and free agent Ray Ventrone took pride in being leaders on special teams. Do you look to do that?: “Bubba (Ventrone) was a leader and Josh was a leader, and I learned a lot from those guys. I’m going to try to take what those guys taught me and hopefully teach that to others and just build on what I did this past season.”

“Brian brings experience and a solid reputation to our squad,” Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said in a statement. “We are looking forward to getting him out on the field.”

The Browns will insert Hoyer, a North Olmsted native and St. Ignatius High School graduate, into the third slot on their depth chart and give him a chance to ascend the ranks. Hoyer's arrival likely foreshadows the departure of fourth-string quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.

“Thanks for all the support,” Hoyer wrote today on Twitter. “I'm excited to have the opportunity to come home and play for the Browns. It really is a dream come true!”

The Browns have Brandon Weeden penciled in as their starting quarterback, and Jason Campbell will continue to push him while taking reps with the second-team offense. In the videos posted below, Weeden and Campbell reacted to the addition of Hoyer during the 14th annual Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Tournament today at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River.

The Browns have agreed to a two-year deal with former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Brian Hoyer, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.

Adam Caplan of TheSidelineView.com first reported the deal tonight.

The Cardinals cut Hoyer on Monday. He will now enter the mix of quarterbacks with his hometown team as Brandon Weeden, 29, fights to retain his starting job and veteran Jason Campbell, 31, pushes. Hoyer’s arrival means third-string quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, 25, could be on his way out of Cleveland.

Hoyer, a North Olmsted native and graduate of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, has been in the NFL for four seasons but has only one career start on his resume. In his lone start, Hoyer, 27, completed 19-of-34 passes (55.9 percent) for 225 yards and one touchdown with an interception in the Cardinals’ 27-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 last season.

In 2009, Hoyer signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie from Michigan State and served as Tom Brady’s backup for three seasons. After the Patriots cut him last year, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was eventually released Dec. 8. The Cardinals claimed Hoyer off waivers and signed him to a second-round tender as a restricted free agent in March before releasing him this week.