Cleveland Browns sign Gary Barnidge to contract extension
By Thomas Moore
Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) runs the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns are holding on to one of the few bright spots on offense as they have agreed to a contract extension with tight end Gary Barnidge.
The Cleveland Browns signed tight end Gary Barnidge to a contract extension on Thursday, the team announced on its website.
The news mean that, for one day at least, it is all not doom, dysfunction and despair in Berea.
Barnidge, who is in his third year in Cleveland and seventh year in the NFL, has a team high 60 receptions and seven touchdowns, and is second on the team in receiving yards with 817 (those numbers also put him third among all tight ends.)
The #Browns extension for TE Gary Barnidge is for 3 years, north of $12M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 10, 2015
He entered the season with career totals of just 44 receptions, 603 receiving yards and three touchdowns, making this year a pleasant surprise for everyone involved.
“It’s a tremendous honor that Cleveland has the faith in me,” Barnidge said of the contract extension. “I want to be here whenever we turn this thing around. I know we haven’t had the season we wanted this year but I’m looking forward to the future and getting everything turned around.”
With four games remaining on the schedule, Barnidge as the opportunity to leave his imprint on the Browns’ single-season record book.
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Barnidge has three 100-yard receiving games this year, leaving him one away from tying Milt Morin‘s team record for tight ends, and is two touchdown receptions away from tying Ozzie Newsome‘s team record for tight ends.
If he surpasses 1,000 receiving yards, Barnidge will become just the third tight end in franchise history – joining Newsome and Kellen Winslow – and the 10th player in franchise history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
“This is good news for both Gary and the Cleveland Browns,” general manager Ray Farmer said. “Gary is someone that does things the right way, both on and off the field. He’s a true professional and we are excited to have him remain a Cleveland Brown.”
Barnidge took over the starting tight end role after the Browns “lost” Jordan Cameron to the Miami Dolphins in free agency, who gave Cameron a two-year contract with $12.5 million in guaranteed money. For that investment, the Dolphins have received 26 receptions, 306 yards and two touchdowns, while the Browns have a tight end that may well end up in the Pro Bowl.
Told you it was a good day for the Orange and Brown.