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Savage says big trades for Williams, Rogers legitimize defensive line
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Monday, Mar 03, 2008
BEREA: A year ago, the Browns used a pricey free- agent signing and the third overall pick in the draft to rebuild their offensive line in dramatic fashion.
The acquisition of former Cincinnati Bengals guard Eric Steinbach and rookie left tackle Joe Thomas showed quick results. They helped new running back Jamal Lewis rush for 1,304 yards and first-year starting quarterback Derek Anderson throw 29 touchdown passes.
The Browns hope their defensive line can make the same stunning transformation after two huge — literally and figuratively — trades on Friday for Green Bay Packers defensive end Corey Williams and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
Going into the start of free agency, the Browns had just two defensive linemen under contract — Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith.
General Manager Phil Savage gave the Packers a second-round pick for 6-foot-4, 313-pound Williams. Because Williams was the Packers' franchise player, the Browns had to sign him to a long-term deal. Williams received a six-year, $38 million contract with $18 million in bonuses and guarantees and $27.5 million for the first four years.
Williams is expected to take over for left end Orpheus Roye, whose contract (with a $3 million salary for 2008) was terminated on Wednesday. But Williams, who had seven sacks each of the past two seasons, said he can play either side.
''Corey is a very good young player, he's been very durable, he showed a lot of versatility this year. He's a good teammate and good in the locker room,'' Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said of Williams last month at the NFL Combine.
Then on Friday evening after a trade with the Bengals fell through, the Lions sent 6-4, 370-pound Rogers to the Browns for
a third-round pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden. According to the NFL Players Association, Rogers is slated to earn $4.25 million in 2008, $5.25 million in 2009 and $7 million in 2010.
''To add Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams to our defensive line makes that legit,'' Savage said Saturday. ''We added Eric Steinbach and Joe Thomas to the offensive line last year and made that legit.''
Seven-year veteran Rogers might prove to be a challenge for coach Romeo Crennel. Rogers is a two-time Pro Bowler, but his attitude, consistency and conditioning have often been questioned. He never speaks to the media. He once jokingly said at the Lions' complex, ''Cut me. I'm a cancer.'' Last June, he allegedly groped a woman at a strip club. He served a four-game league suspension in 2006 for taking a banned dietary supplement and underwent knee surgery.
''A lot of people need motivation to be at their best, but that's part of coaching,'' Crennel said. ''It's documented he has great ability and can be a disruptive force along the front. We're going to coach him as hard as we can and see what happens. I think we'll be pleased with what comes out.''
Rogers' ability has never been in doubt. Even after he showed up at the 2001 combine in a wheelchair with a cast on his right ankle for an injury he played with most of his senior season at Texas, he was still selected by the Lions in the second round, 61st overall.
Rogers has also shown amazing athleticism for a man his size. Last season, in a 44-7 victory over the Denver Broncos, he returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown and had a career-high 21/2 sacks.
''I called him 'the server' because he keeps serving sacks for everybody because he's so disruptive,'' Lions coach Rod Marinelli said after that game. ''Now he's starting to be the stealer. He's starting to take them.''
On Saturday, Williams called Rogers ''a great player,'' from what he'd witnessed in their NFC North Division battles.
''He's the type of player who can easily take over a game,'' Williams said. ''He plays hard, stays in the backfield.''
The Browns made the front seven their No. 1 offseason priority after the re-signings of Lewis and Anderson. Last season, their defense ranked 30th, 27th against the run. Only five teams had fewer than their 28 sacks.
Savage believes the addition of Rogers and Williams will help third-year linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, just like the upgrade of the offensive line, quarterback and running back did for third-year receiver Braylon Edwards last season. Wimbley had five sacks in '07, down from 11 his rookie year.
''We've added 14 sacks in the last 24 hours and you would think that is going to add at least four or five sacks to Kamerion's total next year,'' Savage said.
Crennel knows the arrival of Williams and Rogers brings no guarantees.
''Only time will tell how big of a splash it is,'' Crennel said.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: A year ago, the Browns used a pricey free- agent signing and the third overall pick in the draft to rebuild their offensive line in dramatic fashion.
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