Browns pick up def. tackle Bunkley from Eagles

By Mary Kay Cabot

Cleveland Plain Dealer

BEREA

The Browns acquired a former first-round defensive tackle on Saturday while they waited for their current one to sign his contract.

The Browns traded a fifth-round pick in 2012 to the Eagles for Broderick Bunkley, the 14th overall selection in 2006 out of Florida State. He was drafted one pick after the Browns drafted Bunkley’s FSU teammate, linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, after trading down a notch with the Ravens.

The trade happened on the same day that Browns first-round pick Phil Taylor, the 21st overall, held out of the first day of camp. The two sides continued to work Saturday to get Taylor into camp in time for today’s practice.

Late Saturday night, the Browns acquired offensive guard John Greco, the Boardman High graduate, from the St. Louis Rams.

Greco joins another Boardman graduate, Steve Vallos, on the Browns’ roster.

Bunkley was selected by the Eagles in Browns GM Tom Heckert’s first year as general manager there. He’s the fourth Eagle Heckert has acquired since taking over the Browns job last season, joining starters Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong and unrestricted free agent running back Mike Bell.

Bunkley, primarily a run-plugger in Philadelphia, improved the run defense dramatically after cracking the starting lineup in 2007. The Eagles went from being ranked in the 20s against the run in the previous eight years to top five rankings from 2007-10.

Bunkley (6-foot-2, 306 pounds) was a full-time starter from 2007-09, but started only five games last season largely because of a nagging elbow injury.

Bunkley became expendable when the Eagles signed free agent defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins to a five-year deal.

On Saturday, tight end Ben Watson left practice with a head injury. It’s apparently a concussion but the Browns didn’t say officially.

“It’s fun to finally be out here,” said coach Pat Shurmur, Cleveland’s sixth since 1999.

“It’s fun because we’re back out here playing and coaching, and that’s what players and coaches do,” he said.

Not everybody participated in helmets, shorts and light shoulder pads for the spirited practice of nearly 21/2 hours, but quarterback Colt McCoy said Shurmur’s message to the team was a ringing one.

“He wants to have a passionate, productive football team,” the second-year quarterback said. “I think everybody took that to heart.”

Kicker Phil Dawson wore a baseball cap and smile after signing his tender agreement as Cleveland’s franchise player, returning on a one-year contract. He thanked fans for supporting him when it looked as if he had played his last game for the team in January.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.