CLEVELAND (March 13, 2006) -- The Cleveland Browns signed veteran nose tackle Ted Washington to a two-year contract to bolster the team's run defense.
The 14-year veteran -- 6-foot-5 and 365 pounds -- recently was released by the Oakland Raiders for salary-cap reasons. He also has played with San Francisco, Denver, Buffalo, Chicago and spent a season with Browns coach Romeo Crennel in New England.
Washington, a four-time Pro Bowl pick who will turn 38 on April 13, is one of the league's premier run-stuffers.
Washington's agent, Angelo Wright, said the Dolphins, Ravens, Panthers and Jets expressed an interest in Washington but he chose Cleveland because of the Crennel connection.
The signing is the fifth for the Browns since the first day of free agency on March 11 and the first on defense.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
