The Browns didn't wait until their first pick on Sunday, No. 122 overall, to get the linebacker they wanted. So they traded with Dallas to move up to No. 104 to select UNLV's Beau Bell.¶
Cleveland surrendered the 122nd pick, along with its fifth-rounder, No. 155.¶
Known as a big hitter, Bell, 6-1 1/2 and 250 pounds, totalled 320 career tackles, second on the school's all-time list. He added 10.5 sacks, 27 tackles for losses, six forced fumbles, one recovery, five pass deflections and four interceptions, one for a touchdown.¶
The Cowboys were also the Browns' trade partner last year when Cleveland nabbed quarterback Brady Quinn 22nd overall.¶

Browns tight end Steve Heiden expects to be cleared for full activity by the end of May after undergoing minor surgery on his back, Heiden's agent Jack Wirth said Friday.

Wirth said Heiden would need three weeks to recuperate. Cleveland's veteran minicamp is scheduled for June 10-12.

"It was very minor, a simple procedure," Wirth said. "They didn't even know if they were going to do it, they were just going to treat it with cortisone. He said, 'Why don't we clean this up so I don't have to keep taking shots?"'

While he didn't use the word staph, Browns general manager Phil Savage confirmed Thursday's report on Cleveland.com that wide receiver Joe Jurevicius contracted an infection after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee in January.

"At some point following that procedure, he acquired an infection from which he is recovering," Savage said in a statement released Friday. "He has been rehabilitating here in Cleveland and is expected to take part in the team's off-season activities."

The team will hold organized activities in May and a minicamp in June.

Savage may be thankful the story didn't come to light during free agency. The staph infection center LeCharles Bentley contracted after tearing his left patellar tendon in training camp of 2006 has jeopardized his career. To no one's surprise, Bentley continues to train in Phoenix as he attempts a comeback this summer. Receiver Braylon Edwards, tight end Kellen Winslow, safety Brian Russell and linebacker Ben Taylor have also had bouts of staph since June, 2005.

The Browns have had their facility inspected and treated since the first breakout and Jurevicius may not have picked up the infection in Berea.

Browns alumni Reggie Rucker, Ricky Feacher and Sam Tidmore will sign autographs as the team co-sponsors the Cleveland Clinic's Sixth Annual Minority Men's Health Fair Thursday.

The event will run from 5-8 p.m. in the lobby of the Clinic's Crile Building (the A Building), on East 100th Street between Euclid and Carnegie avenues. Parking will be free in the East 100th Street garage.

Free screenings will be available for prostate cancer, bone density, heart disease, oral cancer, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, high cholesterol, glaucoma, high blood pressure, HIV, kidney function, HIV, Hepatitus C, skin cancer, body mass index, dental problems and stress/depression.

Also offered will be educational talks on such topics as quitting smoking, stroke prevention, nutrition, exercise, organ donation and colorectal cancer.

For more information, call 216-444-6400 or visit www.clevelandclinic.org/mmhc.

The Browns' 10-6, near-miss playoff campaign in 2007 was expected to bring national television exposure.

So preseason "Monday Night Football" may be just the tip of the iceberg.

While the release of the NFL's regular-season schedule could be at least a week away, Cleveland will play before a national audience on Monday, Aug. 18 when it visits the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

The 8 p.m. game will be televised on ESPN.

Cleveland's preseason opponents were announced Thursday, with dates and times to be determined.

The Browns will open with a home game Aug. 7-11 against the New York Jets, then go on the road for two straight weeks. After the Giants' trip, they will take on the Detroit Lions in Ford Field Aug. 21-25, then conclude at home against the Chicago Bears Aug. 28-30.

The NFL preseason kicks off in Canton on Sunday, Aug.3 (8 p.m., NBC) when the Indianapolis Colts take on the Washington Redskins in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Pittsburgh free agent linebacker Clark Haggans is scheduled to visit Cleveland Tuesday and Wednesday, his agent Jeff Sperbeck confirmed Monday.

Haggans, 31, an eight-year veteran, could give the Browns a pass-rush threat opposite Kamerion Wimbley. Haggans has totalled 32.5 sacks the past six seasons, with 58 tackles and four sacks in 2007. He became a regular for the Steelers in 2004, with 57 total starts in that span. He's also recorded 315 career tackles (210 solos) and 18 passes defensed.

Wimbley, Cleveland's first-round pick in 2006, set the team's rookie record with 11 sacks, but followed that up with just five in 2007. Outside linebacker Antwan Peek, signed as a free agent from Houston to take some of the pressure off Wimbley, was hampered by injuries most of last season.

A fifth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2000, Haggans was a walk-on at Colorado State who left as its all-time sacks leader (33).

The Browns are searching for a linebacker who could reap the benefits of the defensive line overhaul that brought Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams to Cleveland.

Peter Schaffer, agent for five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Al Wilson, said Friday afternoon there was nothing to report, but that the Browns remain on Wilson's radar screen.

The eight-year veteran and six-year captain of the Denver Broncos has reportedly visited Cleveland and Detroit. Released by the Broncos last April, he sat out 2007 with a neck injury suffered in a collision with teammate Gerard Warren. Wilson is reportedly trying to recoup his '07 salary of $5.2 million.

Jason Chayut, agent for pass rushing defensive end Kalimba Edwards, said Friday afternoon he had not been contacted by the Browns. Edwards, who has 26 career sacks in six seasons, was released by Detroit Thursday.

Cleveland tried to sign Edwards during free agency 2006, but the Lions' second-round pick in 2002 elected to remain there. That prompted the Browns to draft Kamerion Wimbley in the first round instead of nose tackle Haloti Ngata.

"This is all pretty new, he was just released yesterday," Chayut said. "We'd listen to anything."

Asked if Edwards, a six-year veteran, would be open to a switch to outside linebacker opposite Wimbley in the Browns' 3-4, Chayut said, "I don't think he'd be against it."

Profootballtalk.com is reporting that Pittsburgh linebacker Clark Haggans has a visit scheduled in Cleveland next week and the eight-year veteran appears to be a good fit for the Browns' scheme. He's totalled 32.5 sacks in the past six seasons.

Another linebacker available is Takeo Spikes, a 10-year veteran recently released by Philadelphia. The two-time Pro Bowler known for his intensity underwent rotator cuff surgery in December and was bothered by ankle and hamstring injuries in 2006. Spikes' agent Todd France has not responded to email or voice messages.

Linebacker Chaun Thompson, Cleveland's second-round draft pick in 2003, signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans Friday. He made a surprise visit to Houston after supposedly closing in on a two-year contract with the Browns. Thompson can play both inside or outside, but was most valuable in recent years on special teams. He'll compete for a starting spot with another ex-Browns linebacker Kevin Bentley, who signed as a free agent from Seattle.

An Internet report said Cleveland and Detroit have shown interest in receiver Troy Brown, 36, a 15-year veteran whom New England has told is no longer in its plans. Brown underwent knee surgery before the 2007 season and played in just one game for the AFC champion Patriots.

In 2004, Brown served as an emergency cornerback for then-New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, now the Browns coach. Teammate Ellis Hobbs told the Boston Globe after a Jan. 12 game against Jacksonville that Brown was ready to return to defense. Cleveland has a vacancy in the secondary after cornerback Leigh Bodden was sent to Detroit in the deal for Rogers.

Trading for defensive tackles Corey Williams of Green Bay and Shaun Rogers of Detroit left the Browns without a pick in the first three rounds of the April 26-27 draft.

Cleveland surrendered its No. 1 to Dallas last year on draft day to select quarterback Brady Quinn. Then Friday it gave up a second-rounder for Williams and a third-rounder for Rogers.

But general manager Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel didn't seem concerned.

"Brady Quinn is the first-round draft choice, Corey Williams is the second-round draft choice and Shaun Rogers is the third-round draft choice. We've jumped out in front and had our draft early," Crennel said. "As a result of having an early draft we were able to get experienced players who have been productive in the NFL."

Savage said, "Brady Quinn, Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers, I would take that draft every year. I've always been very proud of our success in the draft, particularly the first two rounds. But the third round, at least in my experiences and the drafts I've been part of, have been spotty at best. I'm not proud of that track record.

"Heck, I would never have gotten this job based on third-rounders. You can go look it up in the record book, it's like, 'Why did they pick some of those guys?' But in the fourth round, sixth round, free agents, we've done great in those areas. That's why I still hold out hope we can do some positive things in the draft."

In Cleveland in the third round, Savage selected quarterback Charlie Frye of Akron, the starter who was traded to Seattle last September, and receiver Travis Wilson, who has two career catches, all as a rookie in 2006. Among the forgettable names taken in that round in Baltimore when Savage worked under Ozzie Newsome from 1996-2004 were Tennessee running back Jay Graham, Louisville quarterback Chris Redman, Wisconsin offensive lineman Casey Rabach, Georgia running back Musa Smith and Washington State receiver Devard Darling.

Savage felt better that the 2009 draft had not been touched.

"We were kind of able to take our medicine now and our whole draft is in tact next year," Savage said. "Would we have given up a pick next year to get some of these things done? We talked about it."

Asked what everyone was going to do on draft day, Crennel joked and said, "Probably eat too much."

Browns general manager Phil Savage is willing to listen. But he's not in a rush to renegotiate tight end Kellen Winslow's contract that has three years remaining because Cleveland has other priorities.

First up is free agency, which begins Friday. Then thoughts must turn to finding defensive players in the April 26-27 draft to revamp the front seven of a 30th-ranked unit.

Winslow's agent Drew Rosenhaus said last week at the NFL Combine that he'd discussed the matter with the Browns. Winslow first said he'd like a new deal during an interview with Sirius NFL Radio at the Pro Bowl.

While Winslow has posted two outstanding seasons and is among the league's best tight ends, he's signed through 2010. His contract carries salaries of $4 million in 2008, $4.5 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010.

"We'd listen to anything," Savage said Thursday. "Right now is not the right time to be talking about it because our focus is on other things. Not to take anything away from his value to our team. That's a question I guess everyone would ask, 'Why would you do something with three years remaining on a contract?' Especially when the Browns have shown tremendous patience in dealing with Kellen and giving him an opportunity to come back."

Savage was referring to Winslow's 2005 motorcycle accident, which has resulted in four surgeries on his right knee. Riding a motorcycle was a violation of his contract and the Browns could have sought to recoup part of his $6 million signing bonus and a $4.4 million option bonus.

"The Browns easily could have gone a totally different route and changed the course of history for him and this team," Savage said. "Quite a lot if we'd decided to do other things. We didn't do that because we felt he was a good player and he's shown he is a good player."

As for a recent report by the Columbus Dispatch that the Browns and Winslow are at odds over surgery on his left shoulder, Savage said, "The shoulder, he ended up playing most of the year with it. You would assume it could be strengthened some over the off-season. I'm not going to say one way or the other whether we prefer (it) or not. It's his body. He sought some different opinions and has opted not to do it at this particular time."

Rosenhaus said at the combine that Winslow's shoulder is fine. It was separated late in a loss at Oakland on Sept. 23.

On Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Browns general manager Phil Savage sounded pessimistic and disappointed about the prospects of getting quarterback Derek Anderson signed before the start of free agency. But there are reasons to believe not all is lost.

Over the weekend one league source called Anderson a "one-year wonder" and an Internet report Monday night on Scout.com said Anderson's agent heard more of the same during his time in Indianapolis.

Even the "one year" estimate may be generous, considering Anderson threw nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the last seven games. Needing only to beat Cincinnati Dec. 23 to clinch a playoff berth, Anderson tied his career-high with four interceptions. He still finished with a 10-5 record as a starter and threw 29 touchdown passes, one shy of Brian Sipe's team mark.

But the reported chilly reception in Indianapolis and Anderson's poor performance in the Pro Bowl could convince agent Mark Humenik of Athletes First to come around to the Browns' way of thinking on a three-year deal.

Cleveland may have to sweeten the pot, but might be willing considering its relatively low payroll for its top two quarterbacks in 2007. Anderson made the league-minimum of $435,000 last season, while rookie Brady Quinn earns $2 million as a backup. Even with Quinn due a reported $4.3 million roster bonus in March, the Browns may look at the big picture, realize those are bargain prices and up their offer to make sure they get another year to evaluate Anderson.

The Scout.com report may be only the beginning of the rampant speculation and wild rumors that surround free agency. But even if there has been no breakthrough in talks, there may have been an awakening on the Anderson side based on conversations in Indianapolis.

Anderson becomes a restricted free agent at 12:01 Friday. In a worse-case scenario, Cleveland
will offer him the highest tender of $2.562 million by 4 p.m. Thursday. But it may not come to that.