Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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The Browns bolstered both lines of scrimmage Wednesday night, announcing the signings of Robaire Smith and Seth McKinney, two of the more attractive free agent linemen still available in the marketplace. Robaire will immediately be penciled in at one of the starting defensive end spots ... and McKinney will vie for the starting right guard job and also provide insurance to Hank Fraley at center. The Browns bolstered both lines of scrimmage Wednesday night, announcing the signings of Robaire Smith and Seth McKinney, two of the more attractive free agent linemen still available in the marketplace.

These two most recent signings were likely the last major additions the team will make in what has been a very busy off-season for Browns General Manager Phil Savage. The team has signed McKinney and Eric Steinbach on the offensive line, and also resigned center Hank Fraley. On the defensive line, Savage added a couple of Smiths. The aforementioned Robaire from Tennessee, and Shaun from Cincinnati (restricted, still pending). They inked pass rushing outside linebacker Antawn Peek away from the Texans and cornerback Kenny Wright out of Washington. Savage also signed running back Jamal Lewis to a one year deal and dealt holdover Reuben Droughns to the Giants for enigmatic wide reciever Tim Carter.


In McKinney, Savage has added depth to the interior of the offensive line, added flexibility, and potentially may have even found his new starting right guard. McKinney was taken in the third round by Miami in the 2002 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, going shortly after fellow centers (and both Browns at one point) LeCharles Bentley and Melvin Fowler were taken off the board by New Orleans and Cleveland. McKinney has spent his entire five year career in Miami, and missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a disc in his neck. In 2004 and 2005, he started 29 of the Dolphins 32 games at center. Before the injury last year, the Dolphins were set to move him to right guard. Like Steinbach, he can play multiple positions if needbe, adding flexibility to a suddenly improving Browns offensive line. The signing will also likely, and mercifully, end the Cosey Coleman Era here in CTown. McKinney was signed to a one year deal.

The Robaire Smith signing is one I really like. Smith is big (6'4, 315), tough, and nasty ... and appears to be a good fit as a 3-4 defensive end after playing inside in Tennessee next to Albert Haynesworth. He's a seven year veteran out of Michigan State, and was the best defensive linemen left on the market in a year that was very weak at that spot from a free agency standpoint. Like the other defensive players the Browns have signed, Robaire is durable, missing just one game over the last five years ... and also has a history with Todd Grantham as a member of his Texans defense in 2004. Smith offers a clear upgrade to current starter Alvin McKinley.  He was signed to a four year dea worth twelve million dollars, including a four million dollar signing bonus.

Lastly, in other news, the Browns have released fullback Terrelle Smith. Smith's days became numbered when the team drafted Lawrence Vickers out of Colorado in last year's draft.