Cleveland Browns: 20 Worst free agents signings in franchise history

Cleveland Browns worst free agents signings No. 7: Ross Verba, Offensive Tackle

Times change because in today’s NFL paying $4 million a season for an offensive lineman isn’t breaking the bank. Back in 2001 though, that was a healthy deal.

Cleveland gave former Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Ross Verba that much for four seasons after the former first-round pick played out his rookie contract. The Browns did not get a good return on investment.

Verba was like a turnstile for Cleveland and goes down as one of their worst signings ever. He played out his whole contract, but had to sit out a whole season before being given a shot again. That shot didn’t last long.

Since leaving the NFL, Verba has found himself in some hot water due to gambling issues. His run-ins were documented by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:

"“Prosecutors in Clark County, Nevada, say Verba was arrested in Phoenix this week and is charged with three counts of writing bad checks to the Palms, a Las Vegas casino, in January of 2008. Verba is in jail and is fighting extradition to Nevada. This isn’t the first time Verba has been in trouble relating to gambling debts. In 2007 he was arrested on charges of writing bad checks to pay a $50,000 debt at another casino, Wynn Las Vegas. Verba eventually paid the debt, and those charges were dropped.” — Florio, Pro Football Talk"

Hopefully, he got things in order, but nothing will undo how bad he was with Cleveland.