BEREA — The pen of Browns GM Tom Heckert has struck again.

Heckert has signed linebacker Chris Gocong to a three-year contract extension. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the deal to be worth $16.8 million.

Gocong, 27,  was drafted in the third round by Philadelphia in 2003 when Heckert was Eagles vice president of player personnel. Heckert traded for Gocong in his first season as Browns general manager last year. The deal also brought cornerback Sheldon Brown in exchange for linebacker Alex Hall and fourth- and fifth-round draft picks in 2010.

Gocong missed most of training camp with a neck stinger. But he has played every game once the season started. He shared a sack in the Miami game and added two quarterback hurries.

Gocong is the fourth core player to receive a contract extension this year by the Browns. The others were left tackle Joe Thomas, tight end Evan Moore and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.

The Browns also are trying to extend the contract of running back Peyton Hillis.

Read More: Quinn Porter (RB – CLE), Brian Sanford (DL – CLE), Rod Windsor (WR – BUF), Tyler Clutts (FB – CLE), Dominic Alford (OL – CLE), Jarrod Shaw (OL – CLE), Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns

A day after cutting down to 53 players, the Cleveland Browns added six players to their practice squad for 2011, all six having spent training camp with the Browns.

The team can add up to eight players to the practice squad so a couple of moves are expected over the next few days as the team prepares for a Week 1 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium. 

The practice squad includes:

Dominic Alford(OL)

Jarrod Shaw(OL)

Tyler Clutts(FB)

Quinn Porter(RB)

Brian Sanford(DL)

Rod Windsor(WR)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns, 14-34 the last three seasons, are counting on the improvement of their young players and the NFL draft to build toward contender status.

There is no reason, for now, to dismiss that strategy.

Regardless, the signing period — which followed the end of the lockout — for unrestricted veteran free agents has so far netted the Browns nothing.

USAToday.com, on it Cleveland Browns Team Report, notes:

That wild and frenzied signing time in free agency between the end of the lockout and the start of training camp netted the Browns just one player for 2011 – safety Usama Young, and he missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury.

Running back Brandon Jackson (turf toe), the other unrestricted free agent signed before the start of training camp, was placed on injured reserve Saturday when the Browns trimmed their roster to 53 players.

The Browns open their 59th NFL season next Sunday, when they play their AFC North Division rival Cincinnati Bengals at Browns Stadium.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot’s report on the Browns’ latest roster moves; her story on tight end Evan Moore’s new contract; Tony Grossi’s opinions on the Browns’ training camp; some Browns info on “Terry Pluto’s Talkin;’ ” Grossi’s “Hey, Tony!;” Starting Blocks polls on what the Browns’ win-loss record will be, and where they will finish in the AFC North.  

Goal to goal

Browns and NFL notes by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

The Browns’ biggest problem is a lack of depth, Scott Petrak writes for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

A look at the Browns on CBSSports.com.

The role wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi will play, by Scott Szurleg for the Bleacher Report.

Ten questions about the AFC North. By Mike Rutsey for the Toronto Sun.

NFL cut day, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Chris Pokorny of the Dawgs By Nature blog writes about the Browns’ latest roster moves.

James Walker of EsPN.com gives his opinion on some roster moves by the Browns.

Evan Moore earns a contract extension. By Matt Florjancic of clevelandbrowns.com.

Browns notebook by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

By John Bena

– Senior Editor

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Aug 29, 2011 – With three preseason games in the books, the Cleveland Browns now begin the task of cutting their roster down to 80 by August 30th, before the massive cut to 53 by September 3rd.  The Browns play their final preseason game of 2011 on Thursday night in Chicago.

The NFL changed the rules a bit in 2011 following the Lockout.  They allowed teams to carry 90 players during Training Camp, then, instead of the normal first cut to 75, allowed teams to keep 5 extra players after Tuesday’s first cut until the final cut on Saturday.

More than just rosters, the NFL has also updated their game-day active rosters, going from 45 to 46.  This changes essentially ends the era of ‘emergency quarterbacks’.  In the past, the 3rd quarterback was actually inactive, but could dress in uniform and come into the game in an emergency.  Now, teams do not have to name a 3rd quarterback and any quarterback on the active roster can come into the game at any time.

We’ll keep you up to date of any roster moves the Browns make over the next several days.

Read More: nfl roster cuts nfl cuts 2011, 2011 roster cuts, Cleveland Browns

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