Browns sign offensive lineman, make other roster moves
By Thomas Moore
Sep 21, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns helmet on the field before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
As rookies arrived in Cleveland for an orientation period prior to the start of next week’s training camp, the Cleveland Browns made a few personnel moves on Wednesday.
The team signed offensive lineman Joe Madsen, placed defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and tight end Randall Telfer on the active/non-football injury list, and placed defensive lineman Tory Slater on the active/physically unable to perform list.
The moves were all announced on the team’s website.
Madsen, who is 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, was originally signed by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia in 2013. He spent three weeks on Green Bay’s practice squad last season in addition to playing for the Los Angeles KISS in the Arena Football League.
Related: Talking Ifo Ekpre-Olomu with Autzen Zoo
Madsen earned All-Big East second-team honors as a junior and All-Big 12 second-team honors as a senior.
According to his draft profile at NFL.com, Madsen:
"Possess a solid, athletic frame. Very consistent with his shotgun snap. Is quick laterally, works well in short areas. Gets to the second level. Consistent in his aiming point, stays within the defender’s frame. (But he) doesn’t deliver much of a jolt on contact, soft hands. Can get pushed back by stronger defensive tackles. Struggles to re-anchor. Feet can get heavy in his pass set. Not a sound cut blocker. Will get caught watching plays."
A native of Chardon, Ohio, Madsen graduated from Chardon High School.
Related: Talking Randall Telfer with Reign of Troy
Ekpre-Olomu reportedly will not be cleared for football activities until September, meaning he may spend the entire 2015 on injured reserve, but if he can comeback from the injury he is the type of player worth waiting for. He was a consensus All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2014, as well as a Jim Thorpe Award finalist as one of the nation’s top defensive backs.
Telfer suffered a mid-foot fracture during USC’s Holiday Bowl game in December and is still recovering from surgery to fix the problem in February. Head coach Mike Pettine said the injury may keep Telfer out for a large part of the upcoming season.
The two players, along with Slater, count toward the club’s active roster, which is now at the league maximum of 90 players, and are eligible to be activated if/when they pass a physical.