Browns give LB Chris Gocong three-year contract extension

Associated Press

BEREA

The Cleveland Browns extended linebacker Chris Gocong’s contract by three years, another signing to keep the team’s core together.

Gocong is in his second season with the Browns, who acquired him before last season in a trade with Philadelphia. Gocong spent four seasons with the Eagles, where he was with Cleveland general manager Tom Heckert.

The 27-year-old Gocong had four tackles last week and was credited with a half-sack in Cleveland’s win over Miami.

Heckert has made it a priority to sign Cleveland’s young players with a promise to extensions. In the past month, the Browns have extended the contracts of Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas, tight end Evan Moore and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.

The team is in talks with running back Peyton Hillis and linebacker D’Qwell Jackson about extensions.

Ravens

OWINGS MILLS, Md.

Warren native Prescott Burgess was signed on Wednesday after the Ravens placed cornerback Domonique Foxworth on injured reserve after he failed to sufficiently recover from a knee injury.

A linebacker and sixth-round draft choice by Baltimore in 2007, Burgess has seen action in 37 career games. He led the Ravens in special teams tackles in both 2010 (15) and 2009 (a career-high 34).

Bengals

CINCINNATI

Cedric Benson is content with how his appeal hearing went. Now the Bengals running back has to wait to see if he’ll have to serve a suspension for an offseason arrest.

Benson’s appeal of a three-game suspension was heard on Tuesday, with no decision by the league. Benson says he’ll be available to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium, but there’s no guarantee beyond that game.

Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, the team’s union representative, is upset that eight players — including Benson — are facing discipline for incidents that happened during the NFL’s lockout.

The Bengals have given tryouts to running backs Larry Johnson and Clinton Portis, but coach Marvin Lewis said they weren’t in reaction to Benson’s possible suspension.

HALL OF FAME CANDIDATES

CANTON

Retired coaches Bill Cowher, Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer are among the modern-era candidates for the 2012 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cowher is eligible for the first time, as are Keyshawn Johnson, Tiki Barber, Drew Bledsoe, Stephen Davis, Rod Smith, Will Shields, Troy Vincent and Mike Vanderjagt.

In 2008, the Hall made it mandatory for coaches to be retired five consecutive seasons. Before that, coaches were eligible immediately upon retirement, allowing Parcells to be a nominee in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and Schottenheimer in 2000.