Defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker will hopefully add the pass rush across from Jabaal Sheard that Jayme Mitchell was unable to deliver.
Frostee Rucker was a part time starter for the Bengals last season and set career highs in both tackles and sacks in his fifth year in Cincinnati.
Rucker was a third round draft pick by the Bengals in 2006 out of USC.
Rucker is reported to be more of a well rounded end than a pure pass rusher and the Bengals had placed a high priority on keeping him,but the Browns were able to sign him with the promise of being the full time starter along with a five year contract worth 21 million and eight of that being guaranteed.
My question with Rucker is this-If Rucker is a defensive end that could make a difference,why did it take him five years to produce and reach the starting lineup?
If Rucker can maintain last years level performance,then this is not a terrible signing,but there is a considerable chance that the Browns signed a lesser player coming off his career year.
I'll keep an open mind on Rucker,but I am not totally confident in the signing at that cost.
Juqua Parker was -Surprise- a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for the last seven years.
Parker had no fewer than five sacks a year for the previous five seasons before the 2011 campaign,so Parker is capable of providing a pass rush,but he finished 2011 with just a sack and a half and is now 33 years old.Parker is expected to be part of the end rotation,which hopefully will be able to limit his plays and therefore keeping him fresher.
Parker signed a one year deal that could reach three million dollars,if Parker hit all of his incentives,which does not seem likely.
The Browns also kept a few of their own players that Tom Heckert seems to think so highly of.
The most notable of these was corner Dmitri Patterson,who did play well,especially late last season.
Patterson was signed from the Eagles before last season as a nickel back and considering the three year,sixteen million dollar contract,the Browns must have been pleased enough to sign him at start at corner next season.
If that moves slow footed Sheldon Brown to safety,where he should be more effective,then I am all for it.
The Browns also inked deals with tight end Alex Smith and offensive lineman Oneil Cousins to return to the team.
Smith is the teams best blocking tight end among the non-Ben Watson bunch that that includes Evan Moore and Jordan Cameron,but is not of the type that should be a starter.
Cousins was claimed off waivers from Baltimore and played in a handful of games early in the season when the right side of the line was hampered by injuries.
Cousins was so good that he could not bump a guy (Tony Pashos) that played most of last season on a foot that had a ruptured tendon and was pretty bad when healthy,off the field.
Nothing to be steamed about there,but nothing to be excited about either.
And that comment pretty much covers all the Browns free agent activity.
Photo Credits
Rucker:Bengals.com
Parker:Unknown
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