One thing you can't label the Cleveland Browns and their G.M. Phil Savage is boring. On the very first official day of the 2008 NFL free agent signing period the Browns have pulled the trigger on 2 trades and re-signed the highest rated QB in free agency, their own Derek Anderson.

Late Friday night the team was working on finishing a trade that would send CB Leigh Bodden and their 3rd round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions for DT Shaun Rogers. This on the heels of a deal that saw the team send it's 2nd round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers for DE Corey Williams earlier Friday.

In acquiring both Williams and Rogers the Browns will be undertaking a large amount of salary between them. Williams is reported to have signed a long-term deal with the Browns that would pay him anywhere from .5 - million in guaranteed money. Rogers is under contract for 3 more years and would cost the Browns nearly million dollars is he plays out the deal without re-structuring. The team also now forgoes picks in the first 3 rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft after trading away their 1st round pick in this years draft to the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and then selecting QB Brady Quinn.

One way to look at it from a fans perspective is the Browns got Brady Quinn, Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers in the first 3 rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft. Not a bad haul at all considering the team had huge needs along the defensive line.

The key now is to get a guy like Rogers, who is a 2-time Pro Bowl player and was a 1st alternate for the Pro Bowl in 2007, to play inspired and at that level consistently. If he is motivated, Rogers will give the Browns the force at NT that they have been longing for since they went to the 3-4 scheme in 2005.

For many this years crop of free agents was very weak in terms of defensive linemen, especially those needed for a 3-4 scheme. The Browns, to their credit, used alternative methods to get better talent and make their football team a playoff contender in 2008.

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