Browns sign Stallworth, trade for DT Rogers

Cleveland has wasted no time adding players in the early days of free agency.

CLEVELAND (AP) — After a busy first day of free agency, the Cleveland Browns didn’t stop to rest.

The Browns added another prime target for newly re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson on Saturday, agreeing with New England veteran Donte’ Stallworth on a seven-year contract.

Cleveland also acquired Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in the April draft.

The moves came one day after the Browns signed Anderson to a three-year contract and traded for Packers defensive lineman Corey Williams.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Stallworth has played six years and 84 games in the NFL with New Orleans, Philadelphia and the Patriots. He has 279 receptions for 4,213 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Last season with New England, Stallworth had 46 receptions for 697 yards and three touchdowns. He had a career-high 70 receptions and 945 yards with New Orleans in 2005.

“Donte’ will be the major addition to our offense this year,” Browns GM and senior vice president Phil Savage said. “He will bring legitimate speed, quickness and playmaking ability to the receiving corps and add a different dimension to the skill players we already have in place.”

Stallworth was taken in the first round, 13th overall, by New Orleans in the 2002 draft. In his rookie season with the Saints, he had a career-best eight touchdown receptions.

Rogers’ deal was announced Saturday by the Lions, a day after a trade with Cincinnati fell through that would have shipped the talented but inconsistent defensive tackle to the Bengals in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks.

The 6-foot-4, 340-pound Rogers, a two-time Pro Bowl player, has 29 sacks and 253 tackles in his career.

Bodden spent his first five seasons with the Browns. He has 208 career tackles, 12 interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.

Rogers is among the most dominant defensive players in the league when he is motivated. But he failed to live up to expectations at times because of weight and off-the-field problems.

He was at his best early last season, when he lifted Detroit to a rout over Denver and a 6-2 record.

Rogers intercepted a pass and rumbled 66 yards for a score, broke up a pass, had four quarterback hits and 2 1/2 sacks, one of which he followed with a somersault.

But Rogers faded in the second half of the season and the Lions did, too, finishing with only one win in eight games.

He did, however, have a career highs in sacks (seven) and forced fumbles (four) after playing in all 16 games for the fourth time in his seven-year career. He also has blocked 11 kicks, four more than any other player since 1991.

Rogers has a rare combination of size, speed, strength and nimble footwork, but he struggled to stay on the field in 2006.

He was suspended by the NFL for four games for taking a banned substance to control his weight. He had knee surgery while he was away from the team, didn’t play after becoming eligible, then was put on injured reserve with four games left.

Rogers missed just four games over his first five seasons in the league after the Lions drafted him in the second round in 2001, overlooking injury concerns some teams had about him coming out of Texas.

Detroit signed him to a six-year contract in 2005.