Browns bring in Gaines to add depth at tight end

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns signed free-agent tight end Michael Gaines on Wednesday.

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Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Gaines has spent parts of six seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. He was released by the Bears on Oct. 17 after playing in one game. He has played in 74 games -- 41 starts -- and caught 79 passes for 819 yards and five touchdowns during his NFL career.

The Browns are thin at tight end. Steve Heiden, who had offseason reconstructive surgery, missed last week's game in Pittsburgh, and Robert Royal left the game with an unspecified leg injury. Royal was one of 12 players who stayed home Wednesday with the flu.

With Heiden and Royal out, the Browns lined up guard Hank Fraley as a tight end in their loss to the Steelers.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press