Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Indians add 7 players to 40-man roster
Body with gunshot wounds found in Canton Township creek
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
The proposed new LeBron mural doesn't do it for me
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Hey, somebody's gotta stick up for the Browns
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Muslim McCarthyism & Death Prayers
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Norma asks if Barkitecture is still at Stan Hywet.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:58 p.m. EDT, Jul 26, 2009
Browns linebacker David Veikune, the 52nd overall pick from the University of Hawaii, has signed a four-year contract and was expected to participate in the team's rookie orientation Sunday, according to a source.
Terms were not disclosed, but the Honolulu Advertiser reported Veikune would sign a $3.5 million contract with $1.8 million guaranteed. Profootballtalk.com reported his signing bonus as just under $1.4 million.
''Probably the most important aspect of the deal was to secure a skill/injury and cap guarantee,'' said Veikune's agent, Ken Zuckerman. ''Other second [-round] contracts were coming in without that and it was very important to us to protect David.''
Zuckerman said Veikune received an increase over last year's 52nd pick and he will get the ''one-timer'' portion of his guaranteed money ($400,000) even if he is hurt or cut.
To make room for Veikune, the Browns waived wide receiver Devale Ellis.
Veikune, 6-2 and 257 pounds, totaled 16 sacks and 25 tackles for losses in his final two seasons at Hawaii, where he played defensive end. In 41 career games (15 starts), he recorded 118 tackles (78 solos), 18 sacks and 28 tackles for losses.
Browns General Manager George Kokinis raved about Veikune's versatility after drafting him in the second round.
''He's got a big-time motor,'' Kokinis said. ''He's got that versatility to put his hand in the dirt and get to the quarterback or stand up and work as an outside 'backer. He's got the size and intelligence to possibly even work inside.
''That versatility, that toughness, that motor was something we went after. He's a strong kid, he had a 35 bench [repetitions of 225 pounds] at the combine, he [vertical] jumped 33 inches, so he's got some explosion to him. He had a 28 on the [Wonderlic] test. He's a smart kid that we could probably use in a lot of positions.''
Just two of eight Browns' draft picks remain unsigned.
They are receivers Brian Robiskie of Ohio State and Mohamed Massaquoi of Georgia, both second-rounders. The Browns' first full-squad practice is Saturday.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
Browns linebacker David Veikune, the 52nd overall pick from the University of Hawaii, has signed a four-year contract and was expected to participate in the team's rookie orientation Sunday, according to a source.
Terms were not disclosed, but the Honolulu Advertiser reported Veikune would sign a $3.5 million contract with $1.8 million guaranteed. Profootballtalk.com reported his signing bonus as just under $1.4 million.
''Probably the most important aspect of the deal was to secure a skill/injury and cap guarantee,'' said Veikune's agent, Ken Zuckerman. ''Other second [-round] contracts were coming in without that and it was very important to us to protect David.''
Zuckerman said Veikune received an increase over last year's 52nd pick and he will get the ''one-timer'' portion of his guaranteed money ($400,000) even if he is hurt or cut.
To make room for Veikune, the Browns waived wide receiver Devale Ellis.
Veikune, 6-2 and 257 pounds, totaled 16 sacks and 25 tackles for losses in his final two seasons at Hawaii, where he played defensive end. In 41 career games (15 starts), he recorded 118 tackles (78 solos), 18 sacks and 28 tackles for losses.
Browns General Manager George Kokinis raved about Veikune's versatility after drafting him in the second round.
''He's got a big-time motor,'' Kokinis said. ''He's got that versatility to put his hand in the dirt and get to the quarterback or stand up and work as an outside 'backer. He's got the size and intelligence to possibly even work inside.
''That versatility, that toughness, that motor was something we went after. He's a strong kid, he had a 35 bench [repetitions of 225 pounds] at the combine, he [vertical] jumped 33 inches, so he's got some explosion to him. He had a 28 on the [Wonderlic] test. He's a smart kid that we could probably use in a lot of positions.''
Just two of eight Browns' draft picks remain unsigned.
They are receivers Brian Robiskie of Ohio State and Mohamed Massaquoi of Georgia, both second-rounders. The Browns' first full-squad practice is Saturday.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 12:09 AM, 07/27/2009
Good Hire. . .
