Report: Cleveland Browns trade for punter Andy Lee
By Thomas Moore
Aug 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers punter Andy Lee (4) punts the ball out of the end zone with pressure from San Diego Chargers receiver Richard Goodman (15) during the first half at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns have reportedly made a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for punter Andy Lee.
The trade was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cleveland is trading a 7th-round pick in 2017 to San Francisco for three-time Pro Bowl punter Andy Lee, league sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 6, 2015
The Browns will reportedly send a seventh-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft to San Francisco for Lee, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time First-Team All-Pro selection. Lee has been with the 49ers since 2004, averaging 46.2 yards per punt, with a net average of 39.6 yards. The 49ers drafted Clemson punter Bradley Pinion in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft, making Lee expendable.
To make room on the roster for Lee, the Browns released punter Spencer Lanning, who was third in punts attempted, 22nd in average yards per punt and 17th in net yards in 2014, a season that saw the Browns’ punt coverage team lead the league in allowing just seven yards per return. Lanning is probably most famous for getting kicked in the head by Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown during a punt return in the 2014 season opener against the Steelers.
#CLE
— Spencer Lanning (@LanningSpencer) June 6, 2015
Been a hell of a ride. Y'all deserve a championship, hate I won't be here to experience it.
Can't thank you enough for the memories!
In addition to replacing Lee with a younger punter, the move helps with San Francisco’s salary cap. According to csnbayarea.com, Lee is scheduled to earn $2.05 million this season, and has four years and $12.45 million remaining on his contract, which now becomes the Browns’ responsibility.
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An 11-year veteran, Lee exits San Francisco as the franchise leader in punts (941), punting average (46.2), punts downed inside the 20-yard line (300) and net average (39.5). He ranks fifth in NFL history in both gross average and net average. He and Shane Lechler are the only punters to maintain a 45.0 average with at least 900 career punts.
Lee was the longest-tenured member of the 49ers.
The trade means the Browns will head into training camp with a new punter, a new kicker and a new long snapper, meaning special teams coach Chris Tabor will have his work cut out for him.
What do you think of the moves the Cleveland Browns have made on special teams during the off-season?