CANTON, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns showed their football smarts in the NFL expansion draft.
Playing within the rules established by the league, they picked 37 players -- only one older than 30 years old -- but used up only $18.062 million in salary cap room, leaving them with $39 million to spend in the free-agent market.They stocked their offensive line with a mixture of youngsters and proven veterans, big guys who can protect a quarterback like Tim Couch or open holes for a running back like Ricky Williams.
They selected 10 defensive backs, many of whom also played on special teams on their previous teams. And following a rule of good theater, the Browns finished with a bang to send their fans home smiling.
"We're young. We're cap-friendly. We're energetic. I think we've covered our bases," Browns president Carmen Policy said.
It appears so.
Surrounded by bronzed Hall of Fame busts of Jim Brown, Lou Groza and Leroy Kelly, the Browns entered the next phase of their NFL return by picking more no-name players on Tuesday.
Priming for the Browns' return this season after a three-year absence, Cleveland selected Detroit center Jim Pyne with its first pick, and then capped its day with the surprising selection of Antonio Langham, a former Brown.
Drafting Pyne No. 1 set the tone for a draft in which the Browns spent wisely -- only two players have salary cap costs over $1 million -- and loaded up on young players with upside potential.
Cleveland bypassed bigger-named players in order to save money in the short-term while being successful well into the millennium.
In addition to the 10 d-backs and nine offensive lineman, the Browns picked up five linebackers, four running backs, four wide receivers, four defensive lineman, and one quarterback, Tampa Bay's Scott Milanovich.
Also picked was former BYU defensive back Tim McTyer, of the Philadelphia Eagles.