BEREA, Ohio (Aug. 11, 2005) -- Rookie wide receiver Braylon Edwards climbed two steps to the podium at Cleveland Browns headquarters and let out a deep sigh.
He looked relieved after a nearly two-week holdout and two days of tense negotiations.
"We're glad it's over with and there's no bad blood," he said.
Edwards, the third overall pick, signed a five-year $40 million contract with nearly $20 million in guaranteed money on Aug. 11, about 24 hours after it looked like he would leave town without a deal.
He was expected to practice with the team Aug. 11, but his agent, Lamont Smith, left town the night before, thinking a deal wouldn't be reached. Smith's flight was postponed by weather in Chicago on Aug. 11, delaying the signing of the contract and causing Edwards to miss his 14th day of training camp.
Edwards said he would have liked to get a practice in but feels he has a grasp of Cleveland's offense after attending passing camp in June.
"When you've played football all your life, football is football," he said.
