Browns sign top draft pick Bell
Cleveland Browns07/22/2008 9:28 PM BigCProfootball.com has learned that the Cleveland Browns have signed fourth-round draft pick LB Beau Bell to a four-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Cleveland surrendered its top three picks in the 2008 draft because of trades, making Bell its "Top Dawg" at No. 104 overall. The Browns traded their '08 No. 1 pick to Dallas during the 2007 draft so they could pick quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round at No. 22 overall. They sent their No. 2 choice to Green Bay for defensive end Corey Williams, then shipped their No. 3 — plus cornerback Leigh Bodden — to Detroit in exchange for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Bell surprisingly slipped to the fourth round on Day 2 of the draft and that's when the Browns made their move. Bell received a phone call from head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage informing him that the team was going to trade up (from No. 122) to select him. Read more