NFL Browns extend Davis' contract

The Cleveland coach is signed through the 2007 season.
BEREA (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns gave coach Butch Davis a two-year extension Friday despite a season in which the team lost 11 games.
The extension keeps Davis with the Browns for four more seasons, through 2007 and gives him the additional title of executive vice president.
Davis joined the Browns in 2001, taking over a two-year-old expansion team that had won just five games in two seasons.
He led the Browns to the playoffs in his second season but injuries and a lackluster offense kept the Browns from building on that success in 2003.
"He inherited a challenging situation in January of 2001, and we are in a much better position today than we were three years ago," Browns president Carmen Policy said in a statement.
"We certainly have not achieved the lofty goals we have established for ourselves, but I am convinced we are not as far away as some may believe."
Announcement not publicized
The Browns announced the contract extension with little fanfare or even a news conference.
The move, which Policy had said would be made after the Super Bowl, provides the Browns with coaching stability as they look to attract free agents.
"We have a very healthy cap situation, and we head into the offseason encouraged about the likely opportunities to improve through free agency and the draft," Davis said in a statement.
He thanked team owner Randy Lerner and Policy for showing confidence in him.
Lerner said he's looking forward to a productive offseason.
"I have total faith in Butch Davis as a person and as a head coach to lead us in the right direction," Lerner said in a statement.
Add two coaches
The Browns on Friday also hired Kennedy Pola as running backs coach and Fred Graves as wide receivers coach.
Pola was an assistant coach at USC the last four seasons, the last two as running backs/special teams coach.
Graves was the wide receivers coach with the Buffalo Bills the last three seasons and spent the previous 26 seasons as an assistant at Utah.
With the Browns coaching staff completed, Davis' offseason priorities shift to re-signing free agent wide receiver Dennis Northcutt and linebacker Brant Boyer. Davis also is expected to try to improve their offensive line through the draft and free agency.
Davis still must choose between Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb at quarterback.
The quarterback dilemma hung over the team all season along with other distractions, including the release of wide receiver Kevin Johnson for not blocking and the indefinite suspension of running back William Green, who violated the league's substance-abuse policy.
Fired three assistants
The season ended with Davis firing coordinator Bruce Arians and two other offensive assistants. It was the second straight season in which the Browns dumped a coordinator. Defensive coordinator Foge Fazio was fired after the Browns blew a lead in the playoffs against Pittsburgh.
The Browns, however, have stuck by Davis. Their commitment to him comes as they look to add former Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf as a consultant.
Davis said after the season ended that he wanted to make staff "enhancements" aimed at improving player evaluations.
The team did not disclose financial terms of Davis' extension. Indications were that it is in line with the $3 million a year he got under his original contract.