Veteran guard to sign four-year contract
By Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com


The toll road that leads from Foxboro to
Cleveland, where former New England Patriots
defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel is the new
coach, is officially open for business.

In Crennel's first free agency signing period as
Browns coach, ESPN.com has learned that veteran
guard Joe Andruzzi, who started all but three
games for New England during its run of three
Super Bowl titles in four seasons, has defected
to Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent.

Andruzzi, the first Patriot to leave to play for
Crennel, agreed Wednesday to a four-year, $9
million contract. The deal will be signed later
this week.

By acquiring Andruzzi, the Browns have begun the
refurbishing of one of the NFL's worst offensive
lines. At the combine last week in Indianapolis,
first-year general manager Phil Savage used the
term "dire straits" to describe the state of the
Browns' interior line.

Even with the addition of Andruzzi, who was a
stabilizer on New England's blocking unit when it
suffered through injuries, Cleveland will
continue to pursue veteran offensive linemen.

Andruzzi, 29, began his career as an undrafted
free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 1997.
The former Southern Connecticut State player was
signed by New England in 2000, after the Packers
released him.

A tough in-line blocker and good pass protector,
Andruzzi has started in 76 of his 95 career
appearances.



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"Tail-end Charlie in a Purple Heart Box"

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