[CBFF] Browns trade draft pick for Bears lineman Friedman

[Jim Ferolie]

Yeah, pretty cool, huh. Course it's just a "potential" seventh-rounder.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Madsen" <jerrywm at gmail.com>
To: <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:12 PM
Subject: [CBFF] Browns trade draft pick for Bears lineman Friedman


Did Jerry Angelo get a draft pick for a player who was likely to get cut?

Jerry

------------------------------------------------

Thursday, August 24, 2006
Browns trade draft pick for Bears lineman Friedman
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

In the latest attempt to bolster a center position ravaged by injuries
and retirement, the Cleveland Browns on Thursday acquired veteran
offensive lineman Lennie Friedman from the Chicago Bears in exchange
for an undisclosed draft choice, ESPN.com has learned.


By most measures, the addition of Friedman, a seven-year veteran who
will now be playing for his fourth different franchise, would be
considered a minor deal. But his acquisition takes on additional
meaning because of the remarkable circumstances under which the Browns
have operated at center in training camp.

Friedman, 30, is the eighth different center acquired by Cleveland
since the end of the 2005 season. He is expected to serve as the
backup to Ross Tucker, acquired from New England in a trade 2½ weeks
ago, and provides the Browns a versatile lineman who can play center
or guard.

Cleveland thought it had secured the center position for the long term
when it signed LeCharles Bentley, a two-time Pro Bowl player in New
Orleans, as an unrestricted free agent early in the spring. But
Bentley, regarded by some as the top player at any position in this
year's unrestricted pool, was lost for the season when he suffered a
ruptured patellar tendon on the first day of camp.

His backup, Bob Hallen, who was also added as a free agent this
spring, abruptly retired, citing back problems. Another reinforcement,
Todd Washington, also decided to retire only a few days after agreeing
to a contract. Alonzo Ephraim, who had moved into the starting spot by
default, was suspended by the NFL for four games for a violation of
the league's substance-abuse policy.

Under league rules, Ephraim is permitted to continue practicing with
the team and can participate in the preseason games, but his
suspension begins with the start of the regular season.

The Cleveland coaches seem confident that Tucker will be a viable
starter, and the former Princeton star has done a nice job of quickly
assimilating the offense, but the Browns were still seeking another
proven player at the position. And so Friedman is the latest player
through the team's revolving door at center.

In stints with Denver (1999-2002), Washington (2003-2004) and Chicago
(2005), the former Duke star has appeared in 65 games and started 32.
His best season was in 2001, when he started 14 games at guard for the
Broncos. He appeared in 11 games for the Bears last season, all as a
reserve.

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