Browns sign LB McGinest to three-year contract
BEREA, Ohio (Ticker) - Linebacker Willie McGinest has reunited with his former defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
The Cleveland Browns signed McGinest to a three-year contract worth $12 million on Wednesday.
McGinest, 34, spent his entire 12-year career with the New England Patriots and played in a club-record 18 postseason games. He is the NFL’s all-time playoff leader with 16 1/2 sacks, including 4 1/2 in a wild-card round win over Jacksonville last January.
But the Patriots saved $7 million under the salary cap by releasing McGinest earlier in the month, but hoped to re-sign him at a lower price.
But they weren’t willing to pay as much as the Browns, who are shopping for linebackers in coach Crennel’s 3-4 set. Crennel was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator from 2001-04 when they became the second team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span.
“We are excited to add someone of Willie’s caliber and experience to our team,” Crennel said. “He will provide us leadership on defense and with our younger players. I look forward to working with him again.”
A two-time Pro Bowler, McGinest started 146 of 171 games with New England and recorded 700 tackles, 78 sacks for 511 yards, four interceptions, 55 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and 15 fumble recoveries. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1996 and 2003 and ranks third on the team’s all-time list in sacks, behind Andre Tippett (100) and Julius Adams (79.5).
The departure of McGinest comes a day after the Patriots lost wide receiver David Givens, who signed a five-year, $24 million deal with Tennessee.
Cleveland also signed guard Bob Hallen to a two-year contract on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
A native of Mentor, Ohio, Hallen, 31, spent the last four years with the San Diego Chargers after playing four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He has started 46 of 87 games.
The Browns have been active since the free agency period started on Saturday, signing center LeCharles Bentley, tackle Kevin Shaffer, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, defensive tackle Ted Washington and punter Dave Zastudil to multi-year contracts. Bentley, Jurevicius and Zastudil are also Ohio natives.
