The Cleveland Browns have signed DB Gary Baxter and FB Charles Ali each to a one-year contract, the club announced today.
Baxter, 6 foot 2 and 210 pounds, missed the 2007 season as he continued his rehabilitation on the patellar tendon injuries in both knees. Last season Baxter was listed as inactive for the first six regular season games and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 23, 2007.
Browns' offseason moves:
Players retained:
» QB Derek Anderson
» OL Lennie Friedman
» RB Jamal Lewis
» S Nick Sorensen
» DB Gary Baxter
» FB Charles Ali
New players acquired:
» OG Rex Hadnot
» DT Shaun Rogers
» WR Donte' Stallworth
» DT Corey Williams
“Gary has shown great determination in his attempt to come back and we feel this contract will give him the opportunity to do just that here in Cleveland,” said Phil Savage, Cleveland Browns Senior Vice President and General Manager. “We look forward to having him at close to 100 percent by training camp.”
Baxter, 29, is entering his eighth season in the NFL. Baxter joined the Browns in 2005 as an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore and started five games after missing the regular season opener due to a concussion and suffered a season-ending right pectoral injury vs. Detroit on Oct. 23, 2005. In 2006, Baxter started three games after suffering a left pectoral injury and then suffered the season-ending patellar tendon injury vs. Denver on Oct. 22, 2006.
“This is very important for me to sign a one-year deal here and to finish something I started,” said Baxter. “This has been a long process but right now everything is going well and I'm going to continue my quest to make history. Both Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel brought me back and that shows a lot of loyalty and respect on the Browns' behalf. They know how hard I've been working. I'm running and feeling good--I'm putting in everything I've got. Things are looking very positive.”
During his seven-year NFL career with Baltimore and Cleveland, Baxter has totaled 323 tackles, 57 passes, eight interceptions and three sacks.